NationStates Jolt Archive

(OOC: For those interested parties, i.e. ANH, Underaloz, etc..., this post starts a month after the Gala Party at Dun Adien and Conner's birth, since I'm bored out of my mind here at work, I thought I'd get started on this.)

Parliament Hall of Larkinia, Midday
Diplomatic sector, Golden Agate

With the midday sun shining off of the glistening white building and the newly fallen snow, Larkinia Admiral and Ambassador to Iansisle, Jeffrey Williams walked up the steps to the white marble entrance and hallways of the Parliament Hall.

He'd been recalled from his posting in Iansisle abruptly and ordered to stand before the Foreign Affairs Commission of Parliament. He wanted to know why. He brushed the auburn hair out of his eyes and squared his shoulders as he walked toward the building.

Two news reporters with a camera walked up to Jeff as he approached the building.

"Ambassador Williams, do you have a moment?" one asked as the other ran the live TV link-up.

"Not really," Jeff smiled at them, "I'm just in time for this meeting. Besides, I don't think there's anything I can tell you. You probably know more than I do, I have no idea why I'm here."

"All right then," one of the reporters said tentatively, not wanting to lose the scoop. "Can I get an interview afterwards? An exclusive??"

"We'll see what we can do," Jeff winked and walked into the building.

-----------

Foreign Affairs Commisison Office

MP James Weisman and MP Nickolas Jacob were talking when the military man walked in. Not the military man they were expecting, however.

"Is the meeting ready?" Lance General Marcus Johnson said.

"Yes," Weisman replied. "He should be here any minute."

Johnson nodded, one of the few officers to have survived the abrupt change of leadership in the Presidential Palace he knew the winds of change were stirring again. This time he intended to play more of a role.

"We have the necessary authority to reassign him," Weisman continued, "Besides, it's just the type of assignment he needs, it'll be easy, he goes in, gets our diplomats out of the meeting and then returns to the ship. He doesn't even have to go in, that's what the strike team's for."

Johnson sat down at the conference table with the two men. Three more parliamentarians walked in and sat down with them. A minute later Jeff walked into the room and saluted the General before he sat down at the table across from them.

"Well gentlemen," Jeff started, "What can I do for you?..."

"Admiral Williams," Weisman replied, "First we would like to thank you for your years of service to Larkinia and your outstanding record as Ambassador to Iansisle."

Jeff sipped a glass of water. "If I may," he said as he set it down, "I don't think you recalled me from duty just to tell me that I'm doing a wonderful job. And I sense a 'but' coming up."

"You're right Admiral," Jacob said. "I'm sure you were updated on the simmering uprising in Tharkold."

Jeff nodded and let the man continue.

"We have a diplomatic team in country, busy trying to negotiate a cease fire. However, the ruling military junta has walked out of the talks and are moving in on the rebels.

"Admiral, we have been authorized to return you to active duty aboard the LSS Arkadia, to go to Tharkold and try to restart the peace talks, and return our diplomatic team to the Arkadia as quickly as possible. If the first option fails, then you must recover the diplomats."

Jeff's eyes steeled over in anger for a moment, before he realized he didn't have a choice.

You tore me away from my family for THIS! To broker a peace agreeme... this'll never work!

Jeff nodded, slightly in resignation.

"When do I leave?"

Johnson responded to Jeff, "Immediately. A plane is waiting for you at GA International to take you to Lyone, where the Arkadia is waiting."

Sir Archibald S. Hughes, Knight of Weshield and one of only two non-Tharians to hold a Ministry under the new Liberal Coalition, let loose with a gigantic sigh. He had inherited the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from the Lord MacIntyre, who had made it something of a personal goal to run the single most inefficient and disorganized office possible. Fortunately, his aide (a rather singular gentleman by the name of Edwards) had managed to salvage something of a working ship from MacIntyre's disaster, and was now helping Hughes patch everything together.

Reaching under the desk, a Jameston Place maid came up with something marked 'Tharkold Civil War -- Most Important!'. The report was about a month and a half old. Hughes held it up to Edwards with a questing arch of his eyebrow.

"Ah, right - I remember that. Our file on that is rather minimal, I'm afraid, Minister. However, the Larkinians had some special interest in it, and I thought it would be best that the Minister looked it over."

"Apparently, he thought different," commented Hughes wryly as he flipped through the thin file.

(in other words, taggified! ;))

(Gotta love the MoFA, at least it's slowly getting straightened out... ;) )

Jeff stood and walked out of the room as the meeting concluded. The group of men opposite him disbanded and walked to their respective offices.

Johnson slid into a waiting car and was driven back to Larkinia Military Command.

----------

LNN/ANH News Report, the next week

"Welcome back to LNN, we now go to Correspondent Johannes Doe, currently at the Larkinian Embassy, outside of the Tharkold Capital of Matara Dalerin."

"Thanks Steve," a burly man in his mid-30's with a crew cut replied. "I'm here in the Embassy courtyard. As you can see behind me, there are groups of refugees moving through the valley toward the embassy, trying to ask for sanctuary.

"On the other end," he said pointing toward the city, "Are reports of armed soldiers moving toward the Embassy. Ordered to keep the refugees from entering Matara Dalerin, or anywhere for that matter.

"The wild card in the upcoming standoff is this Embassy, which has been trying to broker a peace between the warring factions. No one knows yet whether the Embassy will give the refugees safe haven, or turn them away.

"However, according to reports leaked from Larkinian Military Command, the LSS Arkadia Battle Group, commanded by reactivated Admiral Jeff Williams (*yea*) is currently en route to Tharkold waters and is expected within the day. If the military does decide to intervene and force the cease fire, these forces will be ready to strike."

Doe's broadcast is broken up by automatic weapons fire.

"Howev...*crackle* .. ilitary will not be enoug..*flash-bang* ... "

The anchor looks back into the camera.

"That was Johannes Doe from Tharkold. We'll be back after these messages."

Aboard LSS Arkadia, just outside Tharkold territorial waters.

"Jeff, this is a really bad idea," Captain Christopher Markson said to his former Academy friend. "You're in command of the fleet, you can't go charging into Tharkold to get the staff out."

Jeff smiled at Chris as they walked toward the waiting helicopters. When he arrived on Arkadia he was quickly surprised to see Markson in command of the Guardian, one of the other battleships in the group. Markson had told Jeff that he was on rotation out of the Larkinian Space Command for a cycle, and was glad to be back someplace there was actual gravity and fresh air.

"Chris, my mind's made up. I'm going with the strike team to the Embassy. I want to know what's so damn important that I had to leave Kate, Conner and the twins behind." Jeff replied as he threw on the bulletproof vest and picked up one of the 10 mm assault rifles. "You're in command of the battle group til I return."

"The hell I am," Chris said as he grabbed a rifle and vest, "If you're going on this fool's errand, then so am I. Steve," Chris said turning to the first officer who had approached them. "You're in command, Admiral Williams said so."

Markson looked back at Jeff, "If you think you're leaving me here to miss all the fun, you're nuts."

At least he had found the source of that damn smell, thought Hughes as he arranged a picture of his twenty eight year old son on his desk with a triumphant grin. Just then his intercom, which had only been installed yesterday, buzzed loudly, causing Hughes to almost jump out of his skin. He slammed down on the 'talk' button, his heart still racing. "Yes, Ms. Jennings?"

His secretary sounded rather disinterested in the fact that she had almost killed her boss. "SubMinister Edwards here to see you, Minister," was her calm reply.

"Thank you, Laura," he said after a moment spent adjusting his tie. "Show him in. Oh, and Laura, take a message: See Mr. Thorten about speaker volume. Thank you."

Edwards walked in. "Bad news on the Thrakold situation, sir." He didn't waste any words. "The situation on the ground in falling apart and Larkinia's sent in a battlegroup..." Edwards paused. "Commanded by one Rear Admiral Jeffery Williams."

Hughes swore quietly. "That wouldn't happen to be the same person as Ambassador Sir Jeffery Williams, would it?"

"Unless there are as many Jeff Williams..es as there are Alan Belmores, I'd say it is, Minister."

Hughes swore a little more loudly and picked up his phone. "The Prime Minister ... and the High King will want to know about this!"

Ruling Palace, Matara Dalerin

Prince Razvan Natazhia sat in one of the bedrooms of the palace. He'd been keeping tabs on the Larkinian activity through LNN broadcasts and phone calls from his friends in the area.

He'd made a deal with the devil, he wasn't too sure about it now. He was far down the ruling family, he knew without shaking things up, he'd never take the reigns of power. However, now the uprising gave him the opportunity he needed...

His thoughts were interrupted by the ring of the cell phone.

"Yes?" he said.

"It's started. The team is in the helicopters and heading to the embassy. His orders are clear, get the team out. Nothing more."

"With the embassy cleared out..." he started.

"You can move your Knight, checkmate in two." the voice said before the phone line died.

Razvan stood up. He walked out of the room and signaled to his guards. It had to be quick, while the soldiers were focused on the refugees moving toward the Larkinian Embassy.

The helicopters closed in on the embassy quickly, making little noise Jeff was hoping for the element of surprise.

Surprising the embassy staff, that'll be nice. Jeff thought with a wry grin, after all this was a little more than some surprise inspection.

"ETA is three minutes Admiral," the pilot said on the intercom.

"OK people, gear up," Jeff said. "If this works out right, we'll be in and out in no more than ten minutes."

----------

LNN News Update
Breakdown in Tharkold

"Welcome to this special update. Reports on the situation in Tharkold are changing quickly. There are unconfirmed reports of gunfire heard at the Ruling Palace in Matara Dalerin, and a report that the king and royal family are dead.

"We are unable to get our news team into... wait a moment... The ruling party is confirming that there was gunfire in the palace.. and the family is currently missing..."

Larkinian Embassy, outside Matara Dalerin

The choppers touched down in the courtyard and the strike team jumped onto the grass and sprinted toward the main building.

A group of men and women were waiting in the entranceway as the soldiers approached and took up defensive positions. Jeff approached the ambassador and her staff.

"Ambassador Roberts?" Jeff asked as he walked up. "Admiral Jeff Williams. Ma'am, we're here to get you out."

"Thank God you've arrived," she said. "Things are getting out of hand here!"

"It's all right, if we can load up onto the helicopters we can get out of here."

----------

Approaching the Embassy gates

The first group of refugees reached the gates, looking inside they saw the helicopters and the staff quickly rushing into them. They knew that when the diplomats started leaving, things were already out of the frying pan and in the fire.

They started banging on the gates, desperate to get inside the embassy's protective walls.

"Help us!" One woman shouted at the soldiers on guard.

"Please, take my children with you!" another shouted, holding her son up, "They'll kill him!"

The soldiers looked at each other and one called into his radio.

"Admiral, we have a situation at the main gate...."

----------

"Admiral, we have a situation at the main gate...."

Jeff looked towards the main gate, and the throngs of people quickly approaching.

He turned to Markson, "Chris, keep loading the staff on the choppers, I'll be right back."

He ran to the guards at the gate. "Sir, they want in. They want.."

"I know," Jeff told him sadly, "I know what they want."

They don't want to die like sheep in the slaughterhouse...

Jeff turned back towards the gates, "Please, if you remain calm we'll be back to..."

"Don't lie to us! You won't be back!" people were calling out, "Don't leave us to die! Please!" they pled with him.

Jeff looked back to the choppers, Markson was signalling to him to come on.

"Take our children, save them!" One woman carrying a child said.

She's the same age as the twins, Jeff thought as he looked at the woman's child.

"Save my wife, she's pregnant!"

Jeff looked off in the distance, there were some small signs that soldiers were in the distance closing in on the embassy. He looked back at the refugees, then at Markson, and finally at the ground for a moment.

"Open the gates." he said quietly.

"What??" one of the guards said.

"OPEN THE GATES!" Jeff roared, rushing forward to open the gates and let the refugees in.

Markson watched as Jeff opened the embassy gates and the refugees flooded into the compound.

What in the hell is he doing!?!?

"Jeff," he called into his headset, "What in god's name do you think you're doing??? You can't..."

"I can't let them get slaughtered Chris! Damnit this is what we're trying to stop!"

"You're not authorized to take in refugees!"

"What are they going to do Chris?? Send them back? Not with a reporter on the Arkadia" Jeff said pointing in the direction of Doe and bringing the refugees into the courtyard.

Markson jogged over towards Jeff, "Jeff, it's a shame, it's not right, I understand that too well! We can't do this!"

Jeff smiled at him, "Yeah we can, it's the right thing to do."

"We don't have enough room!" Chris replied. "Jeff! We can't save everyone!"

"No we can't Chris, but we can save them."

Jeff signaled the strike team to his location. "Gentlemen," he said after they arrived. "We're getting out of here. However we've got some guests coming with us. We're going to pack as many of them as possible into the choppers, but that's not enough room.

"I can't order any of you to stay, I won't do that to you. I, however, am staying behind. The refugees are going in my place. If any of you want to stay, then we can work on a way to get the remaining refugees out of here before the soldiers arrive. If you want to stay, say so now, and we'll get them out of here."

Ambassador Roberts' aide, a middle-aged man with salt-and-pepper hair and a deep tan, walked forward.

"Admiral," he said. "I'm Sean Thomas, one of the Ambassador's aides. You're orders are to make sure the staff gets out of here safe, am I correct?"

"Yes it is." Jeff said.

"Then I'll stay behind. As a member of the staff, you have to stay behind and make sure I get home safely, correct," Sean said with a twinkle in his eyes.

"While you men decide, let's start loading them up. Women and children first!"

The helicopters strained under the weight of the additional passengers, but after dropping as much spare weight as they could spare before taking off. They'd loaded up less than half of the refugee group, there were 72 still on the ground with Jeff, Chris and 15 more of the strike team soldiers, and two of the ambassador's aides.

"Jeff, have I said this is a bad idea?" Chris asked as they watched the choppers fly in the distance.

"Yeah you have," Jeff smiled at his friend, "All we need to do is wait for the choppers to come back and pick us up and we'll be fine. Home in time for dinner."

----------

Aboard the Helicopters...
LNN Update

"This is Johannes Doe, live from, well... from a group of helicopters leaving the Larkinian Embassy in Tharkold.

"A team that was sent to pick up the diplomatic group here has followed their hearts. In addition to the diplomats, these choppers are filled to the gills with refugees who had arrived at the embassy doorsteps moments before take-off.

"Many of the strike team members, including Admiral Williams and Captain Christopher Markson, have remained behind with the remaining refugees until these helicopters return to pick them up..."

Behind Doe, viewers can see the dark clouds beginning to form...

----------

Office of Vice Admiral Jeb Thompson, Larkinian Military Command, Golden Agate

Vice Admiral Thompson's coffee shot out as he watched the LNN report. He quickly picked up the phone and dialed Operations Command.

"Who in the hell ordered for us to start picking up refugees?? What is this some kind of taxi service??... No one ordered it? Then what in the hell is going on? ... I'll be down there in a minute!"

He slammed the phone down and stormed out of his office.

Aboard the Helicopters...
LNN Update

"This is Johannes Doe, live from, well... from a group of helicopters leaving the Larkinian Embassy in Tharkold.

"A team that was sent to pick up the diplomatic group here has followed their hearts. In addition to the diplomats, these choppers are filled to the gills with refugees who had arrived at the embassy doorsteps moments before take-off.

"Many of the strike team members, including Admiral Williams and Captain Christopher Markson, have remained behind with the remaining refugees until these helicopters return to pick them up..."

Razvan looked up at the screen hearing these words. It wasn't supposed to be like that. They were supposed to leave the refugees alone. No one was supposed to know...

He picked up his phone and dialed a number quickly.

"Talk fast!"

"What in the hell is this?? It's not supposed to be like tha.."

"I know, apparently someone disobeyed their orders regarding the refugees. We're trying to figure out what happened now. We'll get to the bottom of this. In the meantime you might want to keep more refugees from entering the area. What's the latest on your end."

"Checkmate in one, king's pinned."

"Good." The line went dead.

Razvan turned to a guard. "Tell the soldiers the rebels started killing the royal family, tell them to start shooting at anything that moves out there."

Via Biagio
Downtown Sicilia, Agrigento
_______________________

"Mr. President, I hate to interupt your morning jog but we have a situation at home!!"

The President looked at his aid with grave concern, "What? out with it man!"

"Your son's report card came today."

Mario sighed in relief. "I thought you were going to tell me that an ally was in trouble."

"Well..."

"If it involves someone with the name Jeff...."

"Actually sir, it does."

"Va bene, then it can wait another lap"

"Yes sir."

(Ag, :lol: :lol: )

The rain was falling hard as the choppers approached the battle group. Lightning and thunder clapped through the sky, shaking the small group of aircraft.

As the choppers landed on the Arkadia, a team of MP's (real MP's) were waiting for Doe and his cameraman to walk off of them.

"We need to talk with you sir," one of them said.

At the Embassy...

"What do you mean you can't send out another group of choppers?!" Jeff asked into the radio.

"Just what I said Admiral," Captain Steve Daras, first officer and current captain of the battle group, responded. "The weather's too rough! We can't get anything off of the deck!"

"Great..." Jeff muttered.

"Admiral," Daras said, "right now you're on your own. We don't have an evac plan for you worked up yet."

"Admiral!" one of the strike team called out from his post watching the approaching soldiers. "We've got a problem here."

"Hang on Steve," Jeff said dropping the radio phone and running out to the Embassy wall. "What is it?"

"Troops moving this way, and it looks like they're shooting first and not asking questions at all," Sargeant Mike Richers said as he looked out through binoculars as gunfire was heard in the background.

Damn, we've gotta move out ASAP.

"Sargeant, get ready to move out, we need to take as much stuff as possible from the embassy. Guards weapons, any type of computer where we can get an uplink to the LSC satellites, food, anything."

Jeff sprinted back to the main building, "Everyone, we've got to go, grab what you can. David," he turned to another soldier on a computer, "Anything yet?"

"Right here sir," David Padorame, First Sargeant and computer jock, replied. "Looks like... 6 days due east of here is the quickest way out of here. We can go through the forest and the mountain pass here," he pointed to a part of the screen.

Jeff watched as the display came up.

"Sir, Radio, Vice Admiral Thompson on the horn, sounds pissed!"

Jeff picked up the receiver, "yes Vice Admir...."

"Damnit Williams! What in the hell do you think you're doing?? No one authorized you to take on refugees! Now instead of having the diplomats AND my strike team nice and cozy on the ships, I have a group of refugees, half of whom are screaming about us going back and getting their husbands!"

"Sir... but it's the rig..."

"Who in the hell do you think you are?? Unless you've been given permission to totally rewrite our rules of engagement, which I know you haven't, you're out of line!"

"Yes, I understand sir..."

"And now with the weather we can't even pick you up if we wanted to, which I have to tell you is a topic for debate right now at Mil-Com!"

"Yes sir I...."

*click*

"Oh, look, they've got those, eh, belly-thwapper things!" exclaimed Rear Admiral Cedric Mayfield, pointing in awe at the scream. The rest of the gathered brass ignored him.

"This is getting serious, Admiral," said Captain Conroy quietly to Grand Admiral Tri, who nodded.

"We've got some sort of unit in that area, don't we?"

Conroy winced. "Sort of, Admiral. We've got the light cruiser Odysseus on patrol in that neck of the woods, but..."

"An Aegean, not escorting a convoy or on anti-submersible patrol? Why?"

"Frankly sir, because Odysseus is old, long overdue for a refit, and we have some serious questions about her captain."

"John Northrupt?! Nonsense! He's a bloody Hero of Salvador!"

"Yes, Admiral, but..."

"Make to the MoFA: Admiralty stands ready to use light cruiser Odysseus to aid Larkinian evacuation. Have them forward that to the Larkinian embassy here."

New Larkinian Embassy, an apartment near the bay

Javin read the communique to come from the MoFA closely.

He penned a quick letter thanking Sir Hughes...


Dear Sir Hughes,

Thank you and all of Iansisle for your concern regarding the situation for our diplomats in Tharkold.

On behalf of the Larkinian Government, I would like to accept your generous offer of use of the Odysseus. If it could meet with the Arkadia Battle Group outside of Tharkold waters, we would be happy to coordinate our plans with you, if we still have plans to recover the Admiral and the strike team.

Sincerely,
Javin Katana, Larkinian Ambassador to Iansisle

----------

At the Embassy

The strike team grabbed as much equipment as they could and handed some to the refugees.

"About time they became useful for something," Pvt. Lance Gibson said.

"Enough of that, private," Markson said.

Jeff watched as the government soldiers moved through the forest, catching a glimpse of a person here and a gun there.

"We're going to have to move through the back of the embassy," he said to Padorame, "Get everyone moving. 7 of us will stay here until the last refugee gets out to give cover fire."

----------

LNN Special Report
Breakdown in Tharkold

"Welcome back to LNN. An update on the situation in Tharkold. Reports from the government have confirmed that the Royal Family, save the current ruler, Prince Razvan Natazhia, have been confirmed assassinated by rebel forces.

"We go now to Johannes Doe, on board the LSS Arkadia"

"Steve, things are looking more desperate out here in the Pacific. A storm has moved into the area, making all launches from the battle group impossible.

"Prince Natazhia has decreed that any violation of territorial waters or airspace will be responded to with force. We have no further reports from the strike team or refugees, except that government forces were moving in on the evacuated Larkinian Embassy."

Dear Sir Hughes,

Thank you and all of Iansisle for your concern regarding the situation for our diplomats in Tharkold.

On behalf of the Larkinian Government, I would like to accept your generous offer of use of the Odysseus. If it could meet with the Arkadia Battle Group outside of Tharkold waters, we would be happy to coordinate our plans with you, if we still have plans to recover the Admiral and the strike team.

Sincerely,
Javin Katana, Larkinian Ambassador to Iansisle

"Oh, dear," said Edwards, reading the return note. 'if we still have plans to recover the Admiral'? That doesn't sound happy at all."

"Indeed," agreed Sir Archibald, reclining and tapping his fingers together. "Pass that on to the Admiralty..." he grimiced briefly. "But don't include that conditional!"

"Very good, sir," nodded Edwards, closing the door behind him.

----

"Orders from Admiralty, Captain!" called Odysseus' wireless operator, hadning the sheet to Northrupt, who nodded.

"Very well. Helm, plot a course and take us up to maximum speed. I want to be there inside of six hours!" He licked his chops: at long last, his chance to make up for the cowardice at Salvador had presented itself! "And tell Major* Newman that I want his marines ready as soon as possible!"

(*Major Newman is actually a captain, but gets a 'honorary' promotion because there can only be one person called 'captain' on a man-of-war)

EDIT: Off for an hour or so! Back soon!

The government soldiers moved quickly towards the embassy, closing quickly with it.

At the embassy, Markson took control of moving the refugees out of the side exits as quickly as possible while Jeff and six other soldiers took cover from where they expected the advancing soldiers to come from.

"Hurry," Chris said to the refugees as they passed by, "Follow the Sargeant to the path out."

"Don't fire unless they fire first," Jeff said into his headset. "We don't want to start a shooting match."

"Jeff, have I told you about your plan recently?" Markson asked, the grin evident in his voice.

"Yes you have Chris," Jeff said with a smirk.

"OK, just checking."

As the soldiers moved in, Captain Samuil caught a glimpse of the refugees as they made their escape.

"The rebels are fleeing! Aided by the trecherous Larkinians! Open fire!"

Shots rang out from the trees as 10 mm fire burst onto the complex. Samuil took smug joy when he saw three of the fleeing 'rebels' fall to the ground as they were hit.

"Bring up the heavy hitters!"

Two men with shoulder-mounted rockets moved up in the tree line and started to draw down on the embassy.

(Cool, see ya in a bit Iansisle!)

*zip*

*zwip*

Jeff felt the bullets fly by and heard the screams of the people as they were hit.

"Short, controlled bursts, try and conserve your ammo," Jeff said.

"Open fire!"

The seven assault rifles sang out back into the forest. Jeff used the cybernetic enhancements in his eye to zoom in on the area he thought they were firing from. He zoomed in just in time to see two men shouldering rockets.

Shit!

"Fall back! Rockets incoming!"

Chris turned in time to hear two quick 'Fwooosh'es and see a fiery explosion from the front of the Embassy.

Jeff and the six other team members began to move back when the rockets fired off. The rockets connected with each side of the gate and the concussion threw the men back against the building.

Jeff stood up slowly and looked around at the men still standing from the explosion. One private was kneeling on the ground near Jeff and he reached over to pull him up.

The private wasn't kneeling, but impaled on a block of the wallthat had fallen in. Jeff realized that as soon as he tried to help him 'stand'.

"Rest in peace man," he whispered as Padorame ran over and grabbed the man's gun and ammo.

"Go go go!" he said to Jeff as the men fired back into the gate.

The team fell back through the gate and onto the mountain pass, where Chris was busy setting up a 'present ' for the advancing troops.

"This should slow them up a bit," Markson said to Jeff.

Jeff looked back at the troops as they started to move in the Embassy, catching a glimpse of the strike team moving through the doorway.

"Here they come!" Jeff said.

"Set! Let's go!" Markson said as the soldiers ran down the path, "Jeff, I always forget, which way were those supposed to point?"

The government troops reached the doorway and one opened the door. The explosions were heard fora good mile-and-a-half.

*BOOM*

Villa Presidenziale
Sicilia, Agrigento
_____________________

After a nice hot shower and a long talk with his son about certain attendence issues Mario found himself ready for work.

He picked up the phone, a direct line to Agrigentian Military High Command, which was just a few blocks away.

"Gandolfo?"
"Yes, what do you suggest?"
"si, d'accordo"
"Ma..."
"We really cannot do anything yet, we know very little about the situation."
"Si"
"Great idea"

He gently put down the receiver and cupped his hands around his face. Maybe the Iansisles will know more about this, he thought.

The refugee group began to move toward the mountains on the small path before them.

"Spread out," Jeff told the strike team, "And let's see if we can keep the refugees together, so we don't spread too thin."

----------

Larkinian Military Command

Vice Adm. Thompson watched the latest report to come out of LNN.

"This is just great, LNN is giving us more intel then we can get with the weather turning crappy," he muttered. "Do we have a plan on extraction for the team?"

"Do we even really want to?" one of the sargeants at a computer asked himself softly.

"What was that?"

"Nothing sir."

Captain Mark Daves turned to Thompson, "If they head north, then we can meet them here," he used a laser pointer to point out the opening. "It's not too safe, but it's open terrain to get choppers in to pick them up.."

Lightning cracked overhead as Odysseus dug her bow into the rolling seas. The Admiralty hadn't been kidding: it was heavy weather. Water streamed off the light cruiser's 6" gun mounts, but she bounced back up. The Aegean may be slow and cumbersome - managing about a maximum of twenty six knots in easy seas, perhaps only twenty two in this weather - but they, like most pre-Stalwart Iansislean designs, were built to last. The 7,800 ton Odysseus could laugh at the best Mother Nature had to throw at her and come back fighting.

"I don't like this, skip," admitted young Lieutenant Commander Benjamin Lewis quietly, who was standing with Northrupt on the bridge as Odysseus rolled far to port. "The weather's rummy, and we haven't even got proper charts of the area." He waved disdainfully at the ancient depth soundings spread across her navigation table.

"Do you know how many men went down with King James, Mr. Lewis?" asked Northrupt, staring not at the chart but out Odysseus' forward window as she plowed into another wave. His voice was quiet, but his eyes were filled with a burning fury. "Eight hundred," he continued, just as quietly. "Eight hundred men," he repeated, "with wives, children, mothers and fathers. All murdered by some heartless bastard who sat five hundred miles away pushing buttons."

Lewis looked around to make sure no ratings were within earshot, then leaned in closer. "Begging the captain's pardon, but what does Salvador have to do with our current situation, sir?"

"Everything, Mr. Lewis, everything!" snapped Northrupt, suddenly spinning about. "Mr. Keeler, do we have wireless contact with the Larkinian fleet yet?"

"I'm trying, skip, but the storm's providing a lot of interference!" replied his wireless officer, shrugging helplessly. "I'll let you know as soon as I hear anything, sir."

"Very well. Mr. Needler, any word from the Major?"

"Yes, sir! His company's fully roused, and will be ready for action within the hour! He hopes, though, sir that you won't be putting him in launches in this weather."

"I'll do what I must to satisfy my orders!" snapped Northrupt, "Come hell, high water, or the Beddgelerns!"

---

Repeating communication:

Come in, Larkinian battle group Arkadia. This is His Iansislean Majesty's Cruiser Odysseus, requesting instructions. Repeat....

Presidential Palace, Golden Agate

Takeo Katana read the file on the situation with Tharkold.

Damnit Jeff, you're head's gonna roll this time... he thought sadly

He reached over and picked up the ANH bat-line.

Time to call the boys...

----------

Come in, Larkinian *crackle(* Arkadia. This is His Iansi *crackle* ty's Cruiser Odysseus, requesting instructions. Repeat....

Captain Daras heard the repeating message.

"This is LSS Arkadia, meet us at coordinates, *insert here*. Repeat..."

----------

A few hours later, in Tharkold

The refugee group finally stopped at a mountain stream to get some much needed rest.

Chris pulled Jeff aside and the two men walked upstream.

"Jeff, I don't know how much more these refugees can take. God knows how long they've been walking before they reached the embassy."

"I know Chris," Jeff said, "But we can't give up on them, and they can't give up on themselves. They have nothing to return to, as do we. There's no embassy now, no safety for us or them. Our only hope is to get clearance for the choppers and meet up someplace open and get the hell out of here."

"Sir!" Padorame said, "I've got a link here!"

Chris and Jeff walked back and looked over his shoulder, "What do you have?"

"Here we are," he said pointing to the screen. "I can't locate the government troops. But if we follow this stream up, we'll run into a couple of villages, then we can break south and there'll be a small glade we can be picked up. Probably one chopper at a time, but we can get out of here."

At the burned out Larkinian Embassy

Captain Samuil raged at the stupidity of his officer, who was nothing more than a pair of smoking boots now.

He picked up the radio phone and called back to military headquarters.

"We need to prepare the mountain stalkers," he said. "The rebels have run into the mountains. We need to make sure there is no haven for them..."

A few hours later, his forces had massed at the burning rubble. "Let us follow them, quickly we have no time to lose!"

The soldiers quickly found the trail of the fleeing refugees and followed it.

----------

Live Press Conference

Prince, now king, Razvan Natazhia stood at the podium.

"We have evidence that our Larkinian 'peacemakers' have betrayed us to the rebels! here," he points to a picture of the refugees escaping on a screen, "We see them giving aid to rebels!

"We demand that the coordinates of the rebels be given to us! Or we will have to destroy a rebel enclave for every 6 hours of silence!"

Takeo Katana watched the press conference impassively and was quickly asked for a response by LNN, which follows....

Bite me, slappy.

"Commissioner Gordon...er, I mean, Prime Minister D'Carlonia here," said a red-faced Tharian, who had been fully prepped on the situation.

----

"This *pop* Arkadia, meet *crackle*ates, *insert here*. *fizz*..."

"Sorry, skip, that's the best I can make out," shrugged Sub Lieutenant Keeler. "At least we got the co-ords all right."

"At least," agreed Northrupt dryly. "Mr. Lewis, please help Mr. Needler get the proper course set up to the location of the Larkinian fleet. Make the proper corrections and maintain maximum possible speed. I'll be in the cabin with Major Newman. You have conn."

(Hey, Lark, are Jeff and co. anywhere near the beach?)

"Commissioner Gordon...er, I mean, Prime Minister D'Carlonia here," said a red-faced Tharian, who had been fully prepped on the situation.

:lol:

"Yes Prime Minister D'Carlonia," Takeo said, "This is Takeo Katana, we'd met at the High King's Gala earlier. We are very appreciative of your help. I wanted to ask if you had any intel of the area where Tharkold is located you could share."

----

"Sorry, skip, that's the best I can make out," shrugged Sub Lieutenant Keeler. "At least we got the co-ords all right."

"At least," agreed Northrupt dryly. "Mr. Lewis, please help Mr. Needler get the proper course set up to the location of the Larkinian fleet. Make the proper corrections and maintain maximum possible speed. I'll be in the cabin with Major Newman. You have conn."

(Hey, Lark, are Jeff and co. anywhere near the beach?)

(They can be there soon... ;) )

Jeff and Chris walked around, getting the soldiers and refugees up after a rest. "Come on, we've gotta get a move on," Jeff said. "We can't stay too long or they'll find us."

The men, women and a few children even, stood up and started to trudge up the river, hoping they would be able to mask their tracks.

----------

Larkinian Military Command

Thompson read through the latest weather updates for the Tharkold region.

"It's not going to let up is it? It's like a damn typhoon out there..."

----------

"Sir," Corporal Mike "Eagle" Thunderriver said from his position at point, "We've got compa.."

*zip*

Thunderriver's call was cut short as bullets quickly fell on the advancing party. A corporal helping to carry a couple of children was cut down in front of Jeff, who picked up the unharmed children and carried them to cover behind some of the smaller boulders on the river while the refugees and soldiers split along the river bank.

Jeff put the kids down and picked up his rifle, "Chris, take four men, I'll take three from this side and we'll try and outflank them."

"How Jeff, we don't know where they are!?"

As Markson replied, the fire fell silent.

Thunderriver crept forward and scanned the area.

"All clear... I don't know where the hell they went."

Padorame piped up, "We should be coming up on the first village soon..."

Northrupt looked up in annoyance as there was a knock on his closed cabin hatch. "Yes, yes, come in!"

Lieutenant Needler stepped through, flashing a picture-perfect salute before closing the door behind him. "Captain Northrupt, sir, Commander Lewis reports that we are less than an hour from the Larkinian fleet. He..." Needler paused. "He also requests to know the captain's instructions, sir."

Northrupt stared at the young lieutenant, wondering if he wondered just how insubordinate that question was. Probably, given the pause. Still, he had more important things to worry about. "I intend to carry out my orders in the name of the King," he replied evenly. Needler gulped noticably.

"I-in that case, sir, I've been requested to know what those orders are."

With a shake of his head, Northrupt peeled off a order sheet from the Admiralty's encrypter and put on his glasses.

"To: Captain Junior Grade John Northrupt, Commander HIMS Odysseus.
From: Grand Admiral Sir Richard Tri, First Sea Lord

Captain Northrupt: You are to take your ship to rendezvous with the Larkinian battlegroup Arkadia off the coast of Tharkold. Upon contact, you shall use any and all means at your disposal to ensure the safe return of all Larkinians still ashore. Take special care to ensure that Ambassador Sir Jeffery Williams is among those recovered safely.

God speed, and Fail not in this Task.

Grand Admiral Sir Richard Tri, First Sea Lord
Approved: Sir Bernardo Pittero, First Lord of the Admiralty
In the name of His Iansislean Majesty, High King James III"

Needler's eyes widened as Northrupt removed his reading glasses. "The Sir Jeffery Williams!? No wonder!" he started quietly, before remembering himself and standing straighter. "If it would not be too rude of me, sir, how do you propose to recover the Ambassador?"

Northrupt sat back and grinned. "I'm glad you asked, Mr. Needler. Major Newman and I have just been talking about that very thing. The current working plan is to make for the best sheltered cove we can find, and try and get Bullet in the air."

"Bullet, sir? In this weather?"

"We're hoping it will be a little better closer to shore, Mr. Needler. After Bullet is aloft, it will locate the Ambassador and his party and lead them towards our position. In the meantime, Major Newman and his company will land, and go out to meet them."

"I hope it'll work, sir!" exclaimed the young lieutenant, saluting. "Er, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to inform the Commander about your plans."

"Thank you. Dismissed," said Northrupt, saluting Needler as the young officer walked out, full of gossip.

----

"Of course, President Katana. It is an honor to hear from you." D'Carlonia the winced at the follow up question. "I'm afraid, sir, that you know as much as we do at this point in time. Odysseus is sending continual updates to the Admiralty, but that's our only source of information."

"We should be coming up on the first village soon..."

The group saw the smoke first, fresh, oily black, billowing up above the trees.

Next, was the stench. One that some of these soldiers had sensed before, and that the refugees knew all too well. The acrid scent of decaying and burned flesh, the buzzing of flies..

The group moved over the hill and saw the houses of the village.

Burning.

Bodies littered the small dirt roads, some already eaten by the animals of the forest. The refugees and soldiers tried to cover the eyes and ears of the children that were left with the group, hiding the scenes of death and the soft wimpers of those left alive as they faded into oblivion.

Jeff walked forward into the town square and looked up. A body, unrecognizable at this point, was hanging from a post in the square. Beaten, bruised and then burned, Jeff looked up at the corpse.

"Who... why...."

His question was left hanging, he never heard the cracks, the first thing that brought him back to reality was the sharp pain of a bullet as it tore across his temple.

He dropped to the ground, followed quickly by five of the refugees who had followed him into the square and were struck with rapid fire.

"Sniper!" Chris shouted as another of the soldiers fell after a bullet struck him.

Thunderriver pulled up his rifle, quickly scanning the area. He caught the glimpse of the sun from the scope.

Bingo

He squinted and squeezed off a round. A moment later, the man fell out of the church tower and slammed into the ground.

Chris and another soldier rushed over to Jeff and the other refugees.

"Medic! MEDIC!"

Corporal Christian Jordan, team medic and resident clergyman to boot, rushed over to those injured. He pulled out a small light, and used some of his water to wash away the blood. He sighed in small relief, "He's all right," he said, "it grazed his temple, superficial. Bunch of blood, not real damage."

"I told you I was all right Chris," Jeff said as he sat up.

"Yeah, well God knows he was aiming for your head, the hardest part of your body," Chris grinned.

Jordan looked at the other men, they weren't as good, four were dead and the fifth's pulse was fading rapidly. He tried to revive him, but a minute later, the pulse vanished.

"We should leave, sir," Jordan said quickly, "We're too open here."

"Sir," Padorame said. "We've got a signal coming in."

Jeff sat up and listened as the radio began sqwaking, "...kadia calling strike team, come in strike team over. Repeating, this is LSS.."

He picked up the receiver, "This is Admiral Williams to Arkadia. Damn Steve, you're voice sounds good right about now."

"Jeff, you're OK! That's great. I've got some good news, and some bad news."

"What's the good news?"

"The weather is starting to clear up."

"That's great, and the bad news?"

"We're still not cleared to pick you up."

"Great..."

"However, if you happen to be at the northeast beach head, the HIMS Odysseus is coming to the area, and we might be able to 'escort' them to the beach to pick you up...."

Jeff nods to himself, "OK, but don't be late, they're right on our ass!"

"Thank you. Dismissed," said Northrupt, saluting Needler as the young officer walked out, full of gossip.

Sir," one of the men in the bridge said to Captain Daras, "We've got radar on the Odysseus"

"Move into position to meet with them," Daras said as he threw down the latest HQ communique in disgust. "I've got a new plan to get them out of there..."

"Of course, President Katana. It is an honor to hear from you." D'Carlonia the winced at the follow up question. "I'm afraid, sir, that you know as much as we do at this point in time. Odysseus is sending continual updates to the Admiralty, but that's our only source of information."

"Ahhh, I understand. Would it be possible to set up a forward base at Iansisle temporarily for the wounded coming out of the region? The Mercy and Haven are in other parts of the world currently."

"We're in business, sir," grinned Keeler as the Arkadia reported contact with Admiral Williams. "They're having him head for the northeast beach head to meet up with us!" Every person on the bridge knew they weren't to make a scene by celebrating, but there was a general air of lightening. In fact, every single one of them had cheered up immeasurably since finding out is was the famous Sir Jeff they were off to save.

"Give them out thanks, Mr. Keeler," said Northrupt, who was standing near the navigation table. Helm, come starboard five points, and accelerate as fast as this tub will go. I want to make sure we're waiting for them. Mr. Needler, make sure every launch is ready to go, and the marines know what they're about."

He rubbed his hands together as the Odysseus fought her way forward.

Edit:

"Sir, another message coming in from Arkadia!" exclaimed Keeler

(sorry, jumped the gun ;))

Tharkold Forward Naval Base

"Duke Nargus," a young man said from the radar bay. "We have one ship entering territor... two.. three ships, two from the enemy fleet, and one unknown."

"Set up forward gun embankments. They must be moving to distract us, intensify units on all beachheads."

----------

Captain Samuil received his orders over the radio after leaving the next village they 'visited.'.

"Men, double time to the beaches, they're going to try a naval rescue! An early bonus for each Larkinian kill!"

"Ahhh, I understand. Would it be possible to set up a forward base at Iansisle temporarily for the wounded coming out of the region? The Mercy and Haven are in other parts of the world currently."

"Of course, Mr. President!" exclaimed D'Carlonia, always eager to help out an ANH member - despite their role in suppressing the Dianatranian revolution. "Where would be best: Tharia, Weshield, Upper Mansford, or Noropia?"

"Oh, don't worry about ships, Mr. President! I can have the Admiralty sally every ship in the Home Fleet and every craft in the Flying Corps if it would help bring your boys home!"

(No worries :))

Jeff and the refugees moved quickly through the jungle, as the children and more elderly refugees started falling behind, each of the soldiers would help carry them for a while as they rested.

Chris ran next to Jeff, "We're running out of steam, not to mention ammo," he said.

"I know, but if we can make it to the beachhead, they'll be waiting for us."

"You seem sure of that," Chris said looking at his friend.

"They won't let us down, I know they won't."

"Of course, Mr. President!" exclaimed D'Carlonia, always eager to help out an ANH member - despite their role in suppressing the Dianatranian revolution. "Where would be best: Tharia, Weshield, Upper Mansford, or Noropia?"

"Oh, don't worry about ships, Mr. President! I can have the Admiralty sally every ship in the Home Fleet and every craft in the Flying Corps if it would help bring your boys home!"

"I do appreciate this Mr. Prime Minister," Katana said. "Probably Noropia would be the best location.

"Would it be possible to fly out there to be waiting for any return of our men? And just as importantly, can you tear yourself away from your duties long enough to meet me out there so I can thank you?"

To: Iansislean *insert proper ministry here*
From: Agrigentian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Subject: Recent Troubles in Larkinia

In regards to the current conflict in Larkinia we are very much in the dark. While we wish to help our Ally we have not been able to establish contact with them. If you would be able to provide any information or any means of communication directly with the Larkinian Government we will be eternally thankful.

Larkinia Military Command

Vice Adm. Thompson read the latest report on the weather and the quickly deteriorating situation.

At last!

"We're looking good, weather-wise! Give the all clear for the launch, give them as much cover as they ne.."

"I don't think so Admiral," a voice behind him said.

He turned and saw Lance General Johnson standing there.

"It's not yet safe enough for a launch." Johnson said calmly. "We will know when it is time."

"I disagree General, and since this is the navy, I'm assuming respons..."

"Ahhh, but you are asking my pilots to take part in this deceitful rescue attempt for a man who did nothing but violate orders. I will not clear it."

Captain Samuil read the latest intelligence from the Navy. He quickly consulted his map.

"Here, they are going to meet at the beachhead! Quickly, set up a crossfire, I want that last half-mile to the beach to be impassable!"

The man surged forward setting up the trap, anticipating the fight.

"I do appreciate this Mr. Prime Minister," Katana said. "Probably Noropia would be the best location.

"Would it be possible to fly out there to be waiting for any return of our men? And just as importantly, can you tear yourself away from your duties long enough to meet me out there so I can thank you?"

"President Katana, it would be my absolute pleasure to meet you in...in Turnish," said D'Carlonia. "There's a large aerodock there, as well as a fleet base. I'll have Grand Admiral Tri put what ships he can at sea. I look forward to seeing you face to face again."

---

The general quarters alarm sounded as Odysseus surged into sight of the coastline alongside the Larkinian ships. The Aegean class had once been mounted with twelve 6"/42 guns in four turrets, but after her refit, the need to squeeze in a lift for her seaflyer, her new boilers, and the new depth charge launchers had reduced that to only 9 guns, two turrets forward and one aft. She also carried eight 3.5" guns, two double mounted on each broadside, and several other heavy AA mounts (from 2pounder 'pom-poms' to .50 caliber machine guns). An understrength company of sixty-eight marines, 'Major' Newman at their head, waited to board their motor launches.

"Keep on the lookout for any shore batteries, everyone," whispered Northrupt as he scanned the distant shore.

To: Iansislean *insert proper ministry here*
From: Agrigentian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Subject: Recent Troubles in Larkinia

In regards to the current conflict in Larkinia we are very much in the dark. While we wish to help our Ally we have not been able to establish contact with them. If you would be able to provide any information or any means of communication directly with the Larkinian Government we will be eternally thankful.

(They're still talking on the ANH bat-phone if you want to get in touch that way)

(Yes, hurry boy-wonder! ;))

Corporal Thunderriver scouted ahead once more when he caught a glimpse of men in the forest ahead.

"Sir, we have an ambu..."

The bullets zipped into the corporal from his right, smacking into him, he fell to the ground in agony.

Jeff heard the report and the gunfire, "Ambush! Down now!" He set down the child he was carrying and picked up his rifle just before bullets started to whiz around him.

"Chris, the beach is just on the other side of that line," Jeff said in between gunshots.

"Yeah, but we can't go through them," Chris said before stopping long enough to pump lead into a charging soldier. "Maybe we can get around them though."

Jeff nodded then called into his headset, "Set up a defensive line, veering left, we're going to move the refugees out that way and peel off to protect them."

Another of the strike team fell as they crept into position, using the trees as cover, Markson and one Corporal Julian North started to lead the refugees through what little protection they could give them.

The soldiers started peeling away one by one and rushing forward to set up another protection area in front of the refugees. Jeff started to pull back then heard the groaning coming from his right. He turned and saw Thunderriver lying in a pool of blood, still alive.

"Cover me Chris!"

He sprinted over to him and looked down, he wasn't looking too good, but he'd live if they got to a hospital soon.

"Come on," Jeff said picking him up and half-carrying him back to the line.

Chris covered Jeff until he ran out of ammo. Another team member fell next to Chris, missing vital parts of his skull.

Jeff sprinted back to the line with the corporal until he felt the 10mm bullets rip through his own leg and back. He fell forward, pulling himself and Thunderriver into the tree line again.

He sat up in time to see Corporal Jordan running to give the refugees more cover.

"Come on Jeff-o," Chris said with a grin, "You got us into this mess, you can't get out that easily."

Jeff pointed to the Corporal, "Carry him out, I'll be right behind you," he said as he tied a torn piece of his shirt around his leg and stood up with his rifle. He limped back to his place in line, where the last team member fell, "We're 150 yards from the beach," he looked out at the ocean, and saw the faint outline of three ships taking fire from the shoreline.

I knew they'd come for us....

His thought was cut short by more screams from the refugees.

"President Katana, it would be my absolute pleasure to meet you in...in Turnish," said D'Carlonia. "There's a large aerodock there, as well as a fleet base. I'll have Grand Admiral Tri put what ships he can at sea. I look forward to seeing you face to face again."

"I am looking forward to that also, I'll see you soon."

He ended the call and then picked up the other line as he set up Larkinia One for an immediate take off.

"What?? Johnson wha? He... who?? He won't?? You're kidding! I'll be right there!" He stood up and stormed out, ordering his driver to take him to Military Command then to GA Int'l.

ooc: Hey, maybe its just 2:49 AM talking but I am really confused :D . Lark, if you could just contact me IC I would be thoroughly thankful.

(No worries!)

IC: Takeo pulled out his cell phone as the driver tore through the streets heading to the Mil-Com headquarters.

"Yes, Mario?? This is Takeo Katana, I need to speak with Mario as quickly as possible please!"

"Bullet's away!" called a young rating, pointing as the float plane build up to its take off velocity and lumbered gracelessly out of the water. The seas had been much too rough to put her down in and a wave had nearly dashed her against the side of Odysseus, but Senior Aerocraftman Humphrey Franklin had gotten her aloft. Now, the wood and cloth biplane, Cross of St. Patrick proudly emblazened on her tail and the bottom of her wings, plowed forward at all of one hundred knots, her pilot keeping low and shooting towards the beach with god knows what intention.

"We're taking fire from the shore, skip!" called a rating, rather without need as a near miss splashed just a hundred yards ahead of Odysseus, spraying her forward with shards. "It's all rather low caliber!"

"Guns, I need a solution on those shore batteries!" bellowed Northrupt at Lewis through the intercom.

"Just about...got it!" came hollered back up, followed by the sound of Lewis giving his gun crews instructions. "Ready to fire on all three turrets, skip!"

"Shoot!" bellowed Northrupt, and nine six inch guns roared in answer.

"Skip, Major Newman wants to know if he should launch!" called a petty officer.

"Do it! As soon as possible!"

"Skip, they'll get murdered if they take a hit from those shore batteries!" exclaimed Needler in shock.

"We all take risks, Mr. Needler! For now, try and keep their attention focused on us!" Odysseus's guns roared again and again, almost four rounds a minute each, as as the marines boarded their six high speed motor launches and ripped off from the cruiser.

The Secre...erm.. Personal Assistant responded with an inhuman calmness. "Please hold"

While Con Ti Partiro played over the telephone she gingerly pressed the button on her intercom and spoke with a soft clear voice, "Mr. Corleone there is a call for you. From a Sig. Tacchio, line one."

"Thank you Joesphine", he muttered rapidly while his right arm jolted for the receiver.

"Mr. Katana!! Yes, I have been trying to get in contact with you for quite some time. We are in the dark over here. I am very concerned about your current situation. Are you in need of assistance?"

Larkinian Military Command

"No!" Johnson said, "I will not assume the risks necessary with..."

The central door burst open at that point and a very, very irate Takeo Katana stormed into the room.

"You will assume that risk, General!" he said. Turning to Vice Adm. Thompson he said, "you'll order those F-14's and choppers airborne now! The least we can do is give the ships in the area some cover!"

----------

Aboard LSS Arkadia

Dawes put the phone down, "Well it's about damn time! Launch everything we've got! Set course for that beachhead, all ahead flank!"

The battle group quickly stormed into the territorial waters as wave after wave of planes and choppers launched from their decks.

----------

Approaching the beach

Another soldier fell under the onslaught of bullets, Jeff ducked behind a tree for cover, "Chris, how many?"

"Six of us! Counting you and me! We can't cover the refugees much longer!"

"All we need to do is hit the beach," Jeff coughed as he threw his now-empty rifle down and pulled out his Glock.

"Come on Jeff," Chris said pulling his friend up, "Your turn to peel up."

Jeff nodded and sprang ahead as well as he could to get in front of the dwindling refugee group.

"Thank you Joesphine", he muttered rapidly while his right arm jolted for the receiver.

"Mr. Katana!! Yes, I have been trying to get in contact with you for quite some time. We are in the dark over here. I am very concerned about your current situation. Are you in need of assistance?"

"Yes, I am afraid to say we are President Corleone," Takeo said, "We have a.. high-spirited individual on the ground in Tharkold..."

sounds so much better than 'Renegade Admiral'

".. and we are attempting to clear away the resistance for a rescue. But due to incompetence in my officer corps, we are behind the Eight Ball on this one. Do you have any ships in the area I could beg for an assist from?"

50... 45 yards from the tree line

Chris had just run up to replace Jeff at the front of the line. He handed Jeff another rifle he'd grabbed on the way up. Chris winced from a fresh bullet wound to the shoulder as he bounced against the tree.

"Come on!" he shouted to the refugees as they crept forward. Chris turned and saw another group of soldiers on the beachhead.

"They've got us pinned!" Chris growled as the new soldiers advanced toward the treeline.

"Tharkold...Tharkold", he said, the name elluding him. "I do not beleive so, but I will send a Rapid Reaction Catamaran Force as soon as possible." Or as soon as we find out where the hell that place is, he didn't add.

"I believe my navy has been tinkering around with some sort of Flying Boat, or Sea plane for rescues. I'm sure we can do something about this."

"It might be," Katana replied. "We were trying to negotiate a cease-fire between the two warring factions there, as you can guess, we failed. It's in the Pacific. We have a fleet there, but inter-department bickering cost us time after a recent storm vanished."

"That is good news for us, we are located rather centrally in the pacific. Now, I will get my military heads together, we will do something. You need but ask for us and we shall help."

(back in a bit, gotta take off from the office and head home)

Lance Corporal Alduson would later swear he saw the round that almost struck LC-OVI. She was the last parasite away from Odysseus, and a round targeted at the light cruiser slammed into the water just behind their craft. The launch tilted crazily, then slammed back down right side up. However, shrapnel from the round tore into the marines, killing Private John Bootman instantly and injuring several others, including the sarge and the naval rating manning the engine. Alduson fought his way back, pushing the naval man, who was clutching a large piece of metal extruding from his shoulder, out of the way and manned the helm.

Back on the ship itself, Northrupt found himself tossed to one side as Odysseus took a hit on her starboard quarter forward. Another near-miss in the same area killed two men racing to control the damage, which was luckily not bad. He gritted his teeth as still another shell burst over the port bow, making everyone duck.

On the beach, Newman leapt out of his boat into two feet of water. Brandishing his sabre (everyone else had the good sense to use their rifles), he lead the charge up the beach, screaming "For the Glory of King and Commonwealth!" for all he was worth. He was so inspiring that none of his men, save those cut down by enemy fire searched for cover, even after the major had taken a bullet to the leg and collapsed in a screaming mass. Instead, they sought out targets with the training of an Iansislean Marine, their heavy M74Bs barking as they advanced steadily. They may not even be semi-automatic, but the M74B had the reputation for being most accurate, and its .303 slug packed a punch.

Jeff winced and grinned at Chris through clenched teeth, "You see," he said gasping in air, "I told you they'd come."

Chris smiled at Jeff, "Yeah," he said sadly looking at the bodies of the men who died before ducking bullets fired from the trees.

Jeff turned to the refugees and pointed at the line of advancing Iansislian Marines, "Get ready to run for it," he told them, "Stay low, under the brush and the weeds so you won't be seen."

"What about us?" Thunderriver asked as he tried to sit up, the morphine kicking in a little.

"We're going to cover their run from this side," Jeff said.

----------

Approaching the beachhead

Lt. Doug Spitzer and his wing of F-14's closed the distance between the ships and the land quickly.

"Angel One to Big Poppa, come in."

----------

"Angel One to Big Poppa, come in."

Jeff picked up the radio, "Yeah, we read you, over."

"What's your situation skip?"

"We're pretty bad, bad guys all over us."

"What's the plan, over?"

"Give us 30 seconds, then come in and fire on this location."

Chris and Thunderriver looked at Jeff and Jordan said "Is that a good idea sir?"

"Copy skip. 30 and in."

The wing of F-14's dropped their speed and opened their wings to fire.

"That is good news for us, we are located rather centrally in the pacific. Now, I will get my military heads together, we will do something. You need but ask for us and we shall help."

Takeo nodded to himself, "Thank you Mr. President, we do need your help. Iwill call back soon, I have to kick someone's ass at the Military Command Center."

ooc: goodnight all.

30.... 29.... 28... 27....

Jeff pushed Thunderriver to the refugees, "Carry him to safety," he said. "And tell the Marines to take cover!"

26... 25.... 24.... 23... 22..

"Go!" Jeff yelled as the remaining soldiers emptied their clips into the trees as the refugees went out toward the oncoming marines.

21.. 20... 19... 18.. 17...

"Jeff, Jordan, go!" Chris shouted.

Corporal Jordan grabbed Jeff and pulled him toward the safety of the advancing marines.

16... 15... 14.. 13...

"Padorame , Michael, let's get the hell out of here!" Chris yelled into his his headset.

The three men bolted for the weeds and brush.

"Go! Go! Go!" Chris shouted, "Move i...."

*thwack* *smack*

Chris' breath was cut short by two bullets to the back...

12... 11... 10...

Jeff turned around in time to see Chris get hit and fall into the brush.

"Chris!!" Jeff shouted, tearing himself away from the medic and sprinting to Chris as fast as he could..

Most of the marines had now fallen to the ground, their rifles seeking out targets as Odysseus hammered at the shore batteries.

"We got refugees over here!" called a young private, pointing at the line of men, women, and children.

Lieutenant Frank Zimmerman, who had suddenly become the senior officer on site, glanced over at them and made a snap decision. "Cram them if you can into launch five and get them back to Odysseus straight away! We'll cover you!" And the lieutenant rolled back to continue firing as the young private ran out the the line, head bowed, directing them towards the ancient-looking (but actually quite new) shore boats.

Everyone heard the F-14s screaming overhead, but Zimmerman was worried. He still hadn't seen the Ambassador...

ooc: goodnight all.

OOC: G'Night Ag! TAke care!

ooc: goodnight all.

('night, dude ;))

"There he is, sir!" called a young Shieldian corporal by the name of Griswall, pointing at Jeff and the medic. They marines called for him to hurry, still trying to provide covering fire, and got ready to fall back on the boats.

Then Jeff turned back.

"What the hell is he doing!?" demanded Zimmerman, watching in disbelief as Williams cut back towards the wood...and the airstrike.

9... 8...

Jeff reached Chris quickly and picked him up.

"You stay with me, god damn it!" Jeff said pulling his friend upright.

7... 6...

Jeff stood up enough to pull Chris toward the marine line, far enough away from the firing zone he thought.

5...

He felt the last bullet slam into his chest, finally shredding the muscle tissue.

4... 3... 2...

He heard the scream of the F-14's overhead as he picked up Chris and sprinted to the Marine line.

1

The F-14's launched their missiles into the tree line, setting trees on fire, blowing chunks of the attacking wave away.

"Good Lord!" was the most common exclimation from the Iansislean lines, though "Sweet Mary mother of God!" and some things less worthy of printing (after all, how could shit be holy?) were also heard. As the holocaust died down, the incoming fire petered out for a moment, and Lt. Frank Zimmerman, R.I.M., decided that his chance to be a hero had arrived at last. Shouting "cover me!" to his men, he rushed forward, eyes searching for a target to where he had last seen the Ambassador and the man he had been carrying...

(Check TGs)

Zimmerman scrambled over the rise. The amount of blood laying around certainly didn't look promising, but he was sure he should recover the bodies...or whatever was left of the bodies. Down on the beach, a couple marines started loading the wounded and dead bodies into launches as a fully loaded number five took off.

Then Zimmerman saw it, under a tree clear of the blast zone, a tangle of limbs and flesh. As two more enlisted marines ran up behind him, he untangled the two, and recognized the top one as Sir Jeffery himself. He looked in a bad way, missing his left leg below the knee (Zimmerman thought it was probably around somewhere, but wasn't desperate to search for a severed shin), but both he and his companion were breathing. Taking Sir Jeffery up on his back, Zimmerman reached down for Chris, but the two marines arrived in the nick of time. One took Markson up in his arms and ran for the boats, and the other covered Lt. Zimmerman as he ran.

Just as bullets started reaching out for the launches, Zimmerman and the last of the marines hopped in, ducking below the lightly armored sides as the navy ratings hastened to pull them away from shore. Although a few bullets reached out for them, most of the enemy was 'persuaded' away from the shore by the two pounder cannons mounted on the bow of the landing craft. Soon, the last five were racing to catch up with the refugee's ship while the fleet loomed in the distance.

Jeff... well what can be said at this point... Jeff bled. ;)

----------

LNN News Update
Rescue in Tharkold

"Welcome back. Here aboard the LSS Arkadia hopes are running higher as reports that, thanks the the crew of the Odysseus the remaining refugees and Admiral Williams and his team are en route back to the battle fleet.

"Not much is know about their condition, or what will happen next. Sources in the Larkinian Military Command tell us that there have been calls for a court-marshall against the Admiral and his team."

(Go ahead and RP the arrival of the fleet into Iansisle, I'm sure they'd love to see another military fleet, again, in the area ;) Back in a bit!)

Northrupt smiled as the last marines, Larkinians, and refugees were taken aboard. He ordered the Odysseus to stand into bluer waters and stood on his bridge in triumph.

At last, perhaps even suddenly on the quietly victorious bridge, Northrupt called out "Yeoman!"

"Yes sir?" asked a frankly slightly scared rating.

"Make to Admiralty: 'Have come across Ambassador Williams and stood out to sea. Request orders.'"

There was a delay as the messages were sent, decrypted, replied to, and decrypted back on Odysseus. At last:

"Message from the Admiralty! 'Return to Turnish at best possible speed.'" The man paused, then looked up with a smile. "'Maneuver well executed.'"

---

The operation may not have met with much enthusiasm in Larkinia, but it was hailed as a great victory in a state desperate for martial success of any sort.

Odysseus and the Larkinian ships were met by the heavy cruiser Laughlin, the light cruisers Briareus and Patroclus, and four destroyers of the Home Fleet on their approach to Turnish, which were under orders to assist in any way possible. Displaying the slight wound on her starboard forward quarter like a medal of honor, the aged light cruiser sailed proudly into Turnish, small civilian boats watching flitting about her and the much larger, more impressive Larkinian vessels. At last, Captain Northrupt was walking down a stretch of red carpet towards the Larkinian President and the Iansislean Prime Minister and First Sea Lord.

There he was informed that three different kingdoms - Weshield, Eastern Wyclyfe, and Vesshampton - had offered to make him a Knight of their domestic orders, but that High King James himself wanted to make Northrupt a Knight of the Empire. He was also informed that he was being bumped up to Captain Senior Grade and put on the short list for flag command because of his ‘wonderful’ handling of the situation. Lt. Zimmerman found himself being promoted to captain and being put in charge of the marine platoon on the destroyer Gallant, as well as being knighted by Upper Mansford. ‘Major’ Howard Newman also found himself in line for knightship, and a bump up to an actual major. Northrupt was then offered command of the heavy cruiser HIMS Shadoran, currently in final fittings at the Jorgenson and Sons yards in Ianapalis.

He glanced back at Odysseus, the turned back to Admiral Tri with a grin. “No, sir, if it’s all right with you, I’d like to patch up the old girl and take her out again.”

President Katana smiled at Captain Northrupt, "Thank you Captain. Congratulations on a job well done Captain. I would like to present you with the Larkinian Star of Valor," Katana said bowing to the man. "The highest military honor in our country. I can think of no one more deserving of this than you."

Katana pinned the medal on the man and bowed again.

Captain Northrupt, a north-east Shieldian blonde, blushed deeply and saluted President Katana as the Star of Valour was pinned on. "Thank you, Mr. President. I assure you that I can think of no greater honor than receiving this."

Grand Admiral Tri led the applause for Captain (SG) Sir John Northrupt (KIO), Star of Valor recipient and a Hero of Salvador.

Katana smiled and saluted him back.

"If you will excuse me Captain, Admiral, Mr. Prime Minister, I must go check on the men," Katana said bowing after seeing the first of the soldiers get off-loaded.

Edit: Cool, G'night Iansisle! I'll start on pt. 2 as we wrap this up.

There was the sound of a flyer arriving in the background - a big, fancy Bankfield transport, unusual perhaps for Turnish.

"Oh dear," said Tri quietly. "I knew I shouldn't have told James..."

Meanwhile, Captain Northrupt nodded to his superiors. "That sounds like a good idea, sir. A few of my men were wounded in the attack; I should see how our sickbay is doing."

(EDIT: oops...I think that's bed time for me. Night, Lark! And thanks for letting me be such a bloody romantic! ;))

"Oh no," Katana said, imagining how James would react. "Let me see how Jeff is doing, and if he's in any condition to receive visitors."

Katana bowed and walked toward the makeshift medical center. He'd found Jeff's bed, and after one look knew James' reaction.

(after we wrap this up, here's part 2

http://www.nationstates.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=108348&highlight=)

MM Ferale
Coast of Tharkold
_____________________

A single thin periscope pierced the blue waters. They were behind schedule, by as long as a month perhaps.

"Where is this bastard of a ship???", beamed the Captain, looking out over the calm waters.

"Sir, are you sure we are in the right place?"

"Yes, we were ordered to destroy the Iansislean Odysseus, at this exact spot."

"Sir, all due respect, but those orders were issued on November 13th!! Perhaps it simply moved"

The Captain cuckled. "Son, the Ministry of War is never wrong! There is only one thing that could've moved that ship, and I doubt that he'd be in that godforsaken country", he replied, pointing to land.

(You just missed them, they went that way! *points toward Ianapalis :P)

Richard heard the schreeching of automobile tires down below, and he winced as the High King came racing down the shore path, Weathers, Princeton, and Lawrence struggling to keep up. The thundering monarch came to a rest right in front of him senior military man, who did the best he could to keep from cutting and running.

"Where is he Richard!" It was more of an order than a question, but the Grand Admiral was obviously not too keen on responding. "RICHARD!"

"On the Larkinian ships, majesty," replied Tri, pointing at [proper ship]. James considered the Grand Admiral one more time, then thundered off in the appointed direction.

(Uh-oh ;) Looks like Jeff's not out of the fire yet...)

James stormed toward the Arkadia, as he walked up to the first group of guards, the men saluted and asked "Who can we help your find your majesty?"

As the guards were talking with James and trying to help him, the refugees started filtering off of the Arkadia. As they walked off, they heard voices from another part of the make-shift base, fresh off of the Odysseus.

"Mama! Mama!"

"Hey, we're over here!"

The two groups ran back together, families returning to each other, the new widows of those who died crying with each other, children being picked up and kissed by parents and separated loved one sharing an embrace on the docks. The moments were quickly shared with the rest of the world by LNN and (undoubtedly) IanCorp, which were broadcasting live.

After the refugees were together, the wounded were carried off of the Arkadia and Odysseus on stretchers, carried connected to IV units pumping plasma into their broken bodies. The LNN cameras lingered on Jeff and Chris for a while, a long while...

Meanwhile, Takeo stood on the bridge talking on his trusty cell phone with Minister of State Michael Davis.

"Yes... what do we do now? Well we have... I know we have a PR problem in the making, that's why I hired you! ... Yes... we have to give them Larkinian Citizenship. I won't let them be taken back there. ... Johnson? Oh we'll have to deal with him when I get back to Golden Agate. ... No... Admiral Williams and Captain Markson aren't looking too good. They're rushing them to emergency surgery now. ... Yes... I know they will..."

As Jeff was being carried away on one of the stretchers, one little girl, no older than seven, ran over to him from her mommy.

"Mithter," she said pulling on the blanket covering the unconscious Jeff, "Wake up mithter! We're here, wake up!"

Her mother ran over and picked her baby up, "Not right now, he can't hear you. He's... sleeping. I'm sorry," she said to the corpman quickly.

"It's all right ma'am, we understand," the corpman said with a small smile.

As Jeff was being carried away on one of the stretchers, one little girl, no older than seven, ran over to him from her mommy.

"Mithter," she said pulling on the blanket covering the unconscious Jeff, "Wake up mithter! We're here, wake up!"

Her mother ran over and picked her baby up, "Not right now, he can't hear you. He's... sleeping. I'm sorry," she said to the corpman quickly.

"It's all right ma'am, we understand," the corpman said with a small smile.

This small clip, along with the footage of the injured Iansislian and Larkinian soldiers being carried into the makeshift hospital, ran time and again on LNN and major Larkinian network domestic and international broadcasts.

"And this, ladies and gentlemen is the true spirit behind Larkinia and Iansisle. They were willing to step into a shit hole that no one else did and in addition to pulling out our embassy staff, brought out as many refugees as they could, saving them from mass graves."

"I agree that these men are heroes for their actions. They took their own lives in their hands to protect those who were unable to defend themselves. They are the true definition of heroes."

"It wasn't us, these guys are the ones you need to talk to." he said jerking a thumb towards Captain Northrupt and the Iansislians. "Without them saving us, we'd all be rotting in a forest in Tharkold."

(Uh-oh ;) Looks like Jeff's not out of the fire yet...)

James stormed toward the Arkadia, as he walked up to the first group of guards, the men saluted and asked "Who can we help your find your majesty?"

(sorry this reply took so long...a friend of mine just flew in from Philly (and boy are his arms tired!) ;))

The low IanCorp presence at the media feeding frenzy could perhaps be attributed to the fact that not only was Turnish an RM&M town, but very little of import ever happened there. A few minor reporters, most for local papers and teneral theatres, crowded about the dock. A few tried to follow the High King, but were met at the end of the Arkadia's pier by grim faced K.I.G. men who reminded them where the real story was. With both the First Sea Lord and the Prime Minister in attendence, most simply shrugged and abandoned the chase.

Meanwhile, the crew of the Odysseus still on their feet were beaming with pride and drumming up their own accomplishments. One Chief Petty Officer was sure to hold up a young refugee to look for her mother, earning him a few snapshots and a promise of making the Star-Tribune. Even the officers, normally aloft, stoic and unreachable, celebrated along with the enlisted men.

Across the way, James took a deep, calming breath. "I...I wonder if the Ambassador is in any condition to recieve visitors?" Admiral Tri had not shared his information on the nature of Jeff's injuries with James - for a very specific reason - but James had to be here, at least to give Jeff a piece of his mind concerning heroics.

Back on Odysseus, the first bodies were being carried out. First came the severely wounded, on stretchers and kept alive with Larkinian medical assistance and Celebornian technology, some eight of them, seven of whom were marines. Then came the lighter injuries, those able to move in wheelchairs or under their own locomotion. These included (now a full) Major Newman, limping along in crutches with a white cast on his leg, twelve other marines and six sailors. The dead, eight marines, all of whom had been recovered from the battlefield or LCVI, had been buried at sea in accordance with Iansislean naval tradition.

However, the Iansislean press paid little attention to the injured marines and sailors. This was a glorious victory, and the wouldn't sell as many seats in the theatres by showing negative scenes.

Across the way, James took a deep, calming breath. "I...I wonder if the Ambassador is in any condition to recieve visitors?" Admiral Tri had not shared his information on the nature of Jeff's injuries with James - for a very specific reason - but James had to be here, at least to give Jeff a piece of his mind concerning heroics.

The two guards looked at each other, "Sir.. he's in the infirmary, being prepared for surge..." one started before he was cut off by President Katana who had put away his cell phone and was walking back down towards the docks.

"He's this way, your majesty," Katana said pointing to the men who were unloading the team members from the ship. "We have to hurry, there's not much time, and he might not even be awake to hear you."

Katana led the King toward the first stretcher, where a little girl was being carried away by her mother.

Jeff's eyes started to flutter as the painkillers began wearing off. He looked in the distance and saw James and Takeo approaching. James, all six of him that appeared in Jeff's blurred vision, appeared pretty pissed off.

He was also vaguely aware of a woman carring a child apologizing to the corpman.

"It's OK ma'am," Jeff rasped to her.

"Mister President?" asked James, arching an eyebrow. Through his concern for Jeff, a small section of the back of his brain asked why he wasn't even being informed when the head of a foreign country - especially one as closely allied to Iansisle as Larkinia - was visiting the Commonwealth. He shook the thought away and followed Katana, glancing for a moment at the little girl. However, most of his attention was focused on the prone figure in a stretcher.

"Oh, Lord, Jeff," mummurmed James while looking over his friend. He could only imagine what he looked like back on the beach. "What have you done to yourself this time?

As Jeff's eyes fluttered open, James felt most of his anger at his stupid actions melt away. "That does it, Sir Jeffery," he said quietly. "I'm never letting you off the Shield again."

"Mr. President," Jeff said quietly bringing his arm up in as much of a salute as he could, "I have to go back out sir, I have men in the field..."

"I understand Jeff," Takeo said, "It'll be all right."

Jeff's head rolled over and he looked at the refugee group then back at Takeo and James, "Chris, the team and the refugees need medical attention sir."

"Yeah, and so do you Admiral," Takeo said, "We're taking you to the hospital now."

As Jeff's eyes fluttered open, James felt most of his anger at his stupid actions melt away. "That does it, Sir Jeffery," he said quietly. "I'm never letting you off the Shield again."

Jeff smiled at James, "Hey James," he said, trying to reach up with his hand and grab James', he hadn't been gone that long, when did James grow another three hands on his right side? After a couple of futile attempts he dropped his own to his side. "Would you believe I took the wrong flight out of G.A. International? I didn't think so..."

He nodded towards the other officers on the Arkadia, "Don't let them tell you differently James, we did the right thing... we did the right thing..."

James caught Jeff's hand half way, giving it a little squeeze with his own. He couldn't help but smile a bit. "I hate it when that happens Jeff. Don't worry; they're taking you to the hospital now. Everything's going to be just fine..."

As Jeff was wheeled away, James stood back with President Katana. After having seen every Iansislean in the world celebrating madly, he couldn't understand Jeff's last statement. "What did he mean?" he asked quietly of Takeo. "'Don't let them tell you differently?' Do you know?"

Takeo waited a moment to consider the ramifications then told James, "Walk with me your majesty, someplace away from these cameras."

As the two men walked back on board the Arkadia and slipped into the captain's quarters. Takeo started explaining what he could.

"There were some in the strike team, and in the battle group that thought we should not have picked up the refugees, and returned them to Tharkold. That the refugees weren't worth the risk to the soldiers. That it was a foolish and arrogant move on the Admiral's part. Those members of the strike team that disagreed with Jeff flew back on the choppers, those who agreed that he was 'doing the right thing' stayed and helped move the refugees."

Takeo offered James a glass of water from the small fridge in the room.

"Your statement about never letting Jeff leave the Shield might have been a little premature. On the flight over, I had three calls from high-ranking flag officers, starting with the Minister of the Space Forces, Fleet Admiral Nicholas Barilla. Each wanted to know what I was going to do about Jeff's flagrant refusal to obey his orders.

"They each informed me, in their own way, of their intentions to pursue court-marshal proceedings against Jeff and his team. And there is nothing I can do yet to stop them."

Takeo waited a moment to consider the ramifications then told James, "Walk with me your majesty, someplace away from these cameras."

James considered the request briefly, then shrugged in acceptance. He had been on many warships before, from the mighty Behemoth to the graceful Queen Jessica and been around thousands of modern conveniences, but Arkadia didn’t fail to take him by surprise. Still, he forced himself to follow Takeo through the maze to the captain’s quarters.

He listened quietly through the list of accusations against Jeff with a shake of his head and a quiet snort. After accepting the water with a ‘thank you,’ he shrugged. “I don’t think many people could accuse Jeff...pardon me, Ambassador Williams, of not being just a little foolish. There are times when I think...”

However, before James could complete that sentence, Katana informed him gravely of just what was about to be done to Jeff. He was not a military man, and certainly less of an expert on Larkinia’s procedures than Iansisle’s, but he knew well enough the penalty for the sort of charges that were likely to be leveled against his friend. Quickly, he rattled through a half dozen ideas in his head, each progressively more ludicrous than the last, from refusing extradition (it didn’t occur to him that he’d also have to resign from the New Highlands Alliance to do that) to fleeing with Jeff and his family far from Larkinian jurisdiction.

At last, he shook his head hard, and with a slight tremor in his voice, looked up at President Katana. “Well, I’ve just thought of most everything I can, and not a single viable option in the lot. There’s got to be something I can do; for Christ’s sake, Mr. President, he has children!”

He listened quietly through the list of accusations against Jeff with a shake of his head and a quiet snort. After accepting the water with a ‘thank you,’ he shrugged. “I don’t think many people could accuse Jeff...pardon me, Ambassador Williams, of not being just a little foolish. There are times when I think...”

"I quite understand your majesty," Takeo said with a small grin, "I've found he can be quite the handful, thick-headed, head-strong, all of that.

"There are times when you think what?"

At last, he shook his head hard, and with a slight tremor in his voice, looked up at President Katana. “Well, I’ve just thought of most everything I can, and not a single viable option in the lot. There’s got to be something I can do; for Christ’s sake, Mr. President, he has children!”

"I know he does," Takeo said sipping his water. "They have a new one also, do they not? It was bad timing for Parliament to recall him.

"The good news for Jeff is that according to Larkinian Military Justice, One flag officer from each branch, Army, Navy and Aerospace must be willing to pursue charges against another flag officer. And so far I haven't had a complaint from a Naval officer, or.. a Naval Flag officer," he amended.

"Your majesty, right now we need to focus on him recovering to the best that he can. It looks like he has a lot of physical therapy ahead of him.

"However, if he is found guilty of the worst of the charges brought against him, the penalty is clear. Death by firing squad."

Larkinian Military Command
Lance General Marcus Johnson's Office, early evening

Johnson picked up the phone, the line ringing directly to him after he dismissed his secretary for the evening.

"Yes?"

"Marc, have you seen the latest reports on LNN?" Aerospace Fleet Admiral Nicholas Barilla asked on the other end of the line.

"I've talked with Thompson again," Johnson said. "He's not ready to file for a 46-1-B."

"I don't really like this," Barilla responded.

"This is a court-marshall offense, Nick," Johnson replied. "Plain and simple. I don't like it any more than you do. But we can't let a flagrant refusal to follow orders like this stand. We're already fighting a split in the officer corps from Grant's coup attempt which could blow up in our faces at a moment's notice. We need to make an example of him."

"I've already prepared the paperwork. He's in surgery now. We should consolidate our case against him. I've spoken with Vice Admiral Tanaka, and he might be willing to proceed, if our case holds up to his inspection."

Larkinian Military Command
Navy Vice Admiral Josh Tanaka's Office, North Wing

Tanaka sat at his desk, staring out across the mountains as the sky slowly turned from a golden-orange to a deep, twinkling blue. He reached over and poured himself another cup of coffee, it was going to be a long evening for the 53-year-old, oldest serving admiral in the Larkinian Navy.

He read the email sent to him from Fleet Adm. Barilla again, and once more as the night started to fall.

He didn't think too negatively of Admiral Williams, then again, he didn't think much of the youngest man to become an Admiral in the Larkinian Navy. He had disagreed with Grant when he gave him the field promotion for what he considered nothing more than getting knifed at King James' Coronation Gala and acting as a refueling station for the choppers during the Imitoran coup. What's worse, he was promoted just prior to being knighted, by a foreign leader! He still hadn't gotten his mind wrapped around that one.

He punched up Jeff's Academy and service records on another window.

Voted 'Most Likely to be Court Marshalled', how... appropriate. Demerits for everything from stealing the Academy Commandant's Car while dating his daughter, to shaving a rival frat's mascot before a rugby game. Nothing to serious. ... Looks like it continued for his first few commands, then he straightened up after the first trip to Iansisle... Married, three children, one who was just born. Why was he given that assignment?? ... Wait, Kobiyashi Maru? What's that?

Tanaka punched up the classified files on Jeff's incident while leading the patrol ship in the Succession War.

That was him?? Why didn't anyone catch this sooner??

Tanaka punched up a number on his office phone quickly.

"Yeah, Nick. Put my name down for the complaint, so we can file it."

(hey, man...I'd just like to apologize for my irregular posting in this (and other) threads of late. I think I caught some sort of bug...it's zapping most of my energy :(. I'll try and get back in saddle as soon as possible.)

(Hey, it's all good man, I know exactly what you're talking about, I've been there earlier this fall. Take your time and get better!)

(You can be honest, it's another poster isn't it... :P ) ;)

(Edit: Although if Cele were here, I was thinking a righteous rant by Dr. Niven would fit in great here ;))

(*wipes lipstick off* No, no! Whatever would give you that impression? :oops: ;))

"However, if he is found guilty of the worst of the charges brought against him, the penalty is clear. Death by firing squad."

James winced. "I was afraid you'd say that..." Comptemplatively, James walked paced in the room, his hands searching without luck for a pocket to hide in. "Do you know?" he asked suddenly, "That, for a time, we actually considered bringing up Admiral Kennington on charges of cowardice in the face of the enemy for refusing to take the Grand Fleet into the firing zone at Salvador? It was a sight - the First Lord of the Admiralty made a great show of prancing about in front of IanCorp, prattling on about 'honor needing avenging' and other such nonsense. Their Lordships held a joint meeting of the civilian and naval boards, and decided not to go through with it after all.

"A year later, the First Lord was out on his rear end, and the entire Iansislean world realized what a disaster Kennington's 'cowardice' had prevented." James laughed dryly, without any real humor, and glanced back at President Katana.

"Forgive me, Mr. President. I'm sure I'm preaching to a very orthodox choir. I didn't mean to lecture. It's just..." James' right hand clenched and unclenched. "Even if this ends up being a paper tiger, the fact they even tried to pull it makes me want to throw up."

(I'm off to bed...later man. ;) I hope I get the chance to participate more tomorrow)

EDIT: Heh, I wanted to introduce 'The Most Honorable the Earl of Niven' on that Knootoss thread, but I wouldn't want to speak for his character being there. Is he out on field...thingamabobs again?

James winced. "I was afraid you'd say that..." Comptemplatively, James walked paced in the room, his hands searching without luck for a pocket to hide in. "Do you know?" he asked suddenly, "That, for a time, we actually considered bringing up Admiral Kennington on charges of cowardice in the face of the enemy for refusing to take the Grand Fleet into the firing zone at Salvador? It was a sight - the First Lord of the Admiralty made a great show of prancing about in front of IanCorp, prattling on about 'honor needing avenging' and other such nonsense. Their Lordships held a joint meeting of the civilian and naval boards, and decided not to go through with it after all.

"A year later, the First Lord was out on his rear end, and the entire Iansislean world realized what a disaster Kennington's 'cowardice' had prevented." James laughed dryly, without any real humor, and glanced back at President Katana.

"Forgive me, Mr. President. I'm sure I'm preaching to a very orthodox choir. I didn't mean to lecture. It's just..." James' right hand clenched and unclenched. "Even if this ends up being a paper tiger, the fact they even tried to pull it makes me want to throw up."

(I'm off to bed...later man. ;) I hope I get the chance to participate more tomorrow)

EDIT: Heh, I wanted to introduce 'The Most Honorable the Earl of Niven' on that Knootoss thread, but I wouldn't want to speak for his character being there. Is he out on field...thingamabobs again?

(LOL, nice one.. ;) )

(He might be, it's been a few days since he's been on, or he could be at, or recovering from, another of those bitchin' parties he was telling us about from Halloween... where there's sex, booze... umm.. more sex... ;))

IC: Takeo nodded sadly, starting to sitting down on top of the small desk against the porthole, he looked down and stopped, picking up a well-yellowed, antique meerschaum pipe and a case. Turning the case in his hands he and James saw the initials D.A.W.

"D-A-W.." he said softly, "Jeff'll want this."

He sat down after pocketing them. "You are preaching to the choir, your majesty. I don't want to see anything happen to him, especially not this. My hands are tied. After the situation with Grant, we set up the military judicial system to work independantly of the president, so no abuses could take place, at least.. that's how it's supposed to work.

"I'm proud of what he did. I believe in it, which is why it'll be horrible to award him a medal, although which medal I'm not sure, just in time for him to be executed.

"But you are right about them in front of IanCorp, LNN will be all over this story, and public opinion will back the Admiral I'll bet you. Nothing better for the public's opinion of him than to know what happened, why it happened, and what he prevented. Him giving up his life to save those unable to help themselves, that might be what saves him from a date with a bullet."

----------

Jeff's stretcher rolled past P.M. D'Carlonia and Grand Admiral Tri. He raised his bandaged hand again and saluted them in much the same way he did to President Katana.

"Sir ... Richard" Jeff said to Tri as his eyes finally focused on him, "We did the best we could. I'm so sorry... about your men..." He looked back to Chris' stretcher, "Make sure they take care of Chris, he's looking pretty bad."

He turned to D'Carlonia, "Mr. Prime Minister, you probably don't remember the last time we'd met, at the Gala James threw recently. It's ... it's a pleasure to see you ... again," he said starting to fade after getting more morphine shot into him and he slipped back out.

(He might be, it's been a few days since he's been on, or he could be at, or recovering from, another of those bitchin' parties he was telling us about from Halloween... where there's sex, booze... umm.. more sex... ;))

(*considers that his evening plan for New Years probably involves watching all six original Star Trek movies, playing monoploy, and drinking apple cider*

*gets very depressed* ;))

"D-A-W.." he said softly, "Jeff'll want this."

James saw Takeo holding the pipe and case, and smiled to himself. "Yes, I imagine that he would." He shook his head, gazing out over Turnish harbor through the porthole.

"But you are right about them in front of IanCorp, LNN will be all over this story, and public opinion will back the Admiral I'll bet you. Nothing better for the public's opinion of him than to know what happened, why it happened, and what he prevented. Him giving up his life to save those unable to help themselves, that might be what saves him from a date with a bullet."

"Public opinion..." muttered James, still looking out the porthole. "public opinion. You know," he exclaimed, "there are four billion* Iansisleans out there who are convinced that Jeff is a hero, and would probably be willing to write letters to that effect to send into your military tribunal! All we'd have to do is mobilize them." He smiled craftily, "and I know someone who owns a good amount of IanCorp stock!"

(* number based on vote return from last election)

Jeff's stretcher rolled past P.M. D'Carlonia and Grand Admiral Tri. He raised his bandaged hand again and saluted them in much the same way he did to President Katana.

"Sir ... Richard" Jeff said to Tri as his eyes finally focused on him, "We did the best we could. I'm so sorry... about your men..." He looked back to Chris' stretcher, "Make sure they take care of Chris, he's looking pretty bad."

"Sir Jeffery," said Richard, a tear glimmering in the corner of his eye as he returned the salute. "We all take risks in the line of duty." He followed Jeff's eyes. "And I'll make sure Commander Markson gets nothing worse than the absolute best."

He turned to D'Carlonia, "Mr. Prime Minister, you probably don't remember the last time we'd met, at the Gala James threw recently. It's ... it's a pleasure to see you ... again," he said starting to fade after getting more morphine shot into him and he slipped back out.

D'Carlonia wasn't quite sure how to react. He knew that Jeff was a friend of the Callahanian lord, and a friend of the crown wasn't a friend of Tharia, but found himself oddly moved. In some ways, the refugees reminded him of his own countrymen, fleeing the natural disasters the Tharian Range chose to throw at them from time to time, and the official Admiralty report had already reached Jameston Place. "A pleasure to see you as well, Sir Jeffery," he managed to say without losing control of his voice as he watched the young Rear Admiral fade into a drugged stupor.

(He might be, it's been a few days since he's been on, or he could be at, or recovering from, another of those bitchin' parties he was telling us about from Halloween... where there's sex, booze... umm.. more sex... ;))

(*considers that his evening plan for New Years probably involves watching all six original Star Trek movies, playing monoploy, and drinking apple cider*

*gets very depressed* ;))

(*Well you have plans at least, I'm still working on what the heck to do, might get together with my friends and go to a club*)

"Public opinion..." muttered James, still looking out the porthole. "public opinion. You know," he exclaimed, "there are four billion* Iansisleans out there who are convinced that Jeff is a hero, and would probably be willing to write letters to that effect to send into your military tribunal! All we'd have to do is mobilize them." He smiled craftily, "and I know someone who owns a good amount of IanCorp stock!"

(* number based on vote return from last election)

(Iansisle, where you can vote early and often!)

"You know, that might not be a bad idea. We can deliver them to the papers and LNN at least, that's gotta help!"

"Sir Jeffery," said Richard, a tear glimmering in the corner of his eye as he returned the salute. "We all take risks in the line of duty." He followed Jeff's eyes. "And I'll make sure Commander Markson gets nothing worse than the absolute best."

"Yeah," Jeff said, "Acceptable risks are just that... I dunno if this qualifies.

"Thanks for keeping an eye on Chris.. I apprecia..."

Jeff passed out as the corpsmen moved the stretcher into the hospital.