NationStates Jolt Archive

Lieutenant Masters stares at Sergeant Holliday in disbelief. "You're sure about this report? They're openly conducting a political rally? In the Heartshire Square Park? Are they insane?"

Holliday shrugs uncomfortably. "The media is asking for permission to cover this, Sir. Obviously, they want to attract attention and they're not afraid of the consequences. They're daring us to go get them."

"Permission denied," Masters says flatly as he stands to fetches his uniform jacket. "We'll just have to oblige these seditious scum, right Sergeant?"

"Yes, Sir," Holliday replies unhappily. She makes a quick pass over her equipment belt to make sure everything is in place. She has her own suspicions of what's going on, but she's worked under Masters for too long. He's not the sort of officer who appreciates initiative. Then she starts making calls for the Treznor Imperial Guardsmen to descend on the Heartshire Square Park in force.

****************************************************************

"Bloody Hell!" Masters yells as the political rally is quickly and efficiently broken up by his Guardsmen. "Damn you, Holliday! Why didn't you tell me?"

"You can't do this to us!" shouts a woman as she struggles with the Guardsman trying to load her onto a prisoner transport. "We were here before your Empire! We'll be here long after you're all turned to dust!"

"I didn't know, Sir," Holliday replies quietly as she supervises the loading of prisoners. "Get your head down, there!" she snaps at the recalicitrant woman. Satisfied that the job is well in hand, she moves closer to Masters to speak quietly. "But I suggest we pass this one up the line, Sir."

"What are you talking about, Sergeant? This is no different from any other raid on subversives. They're just a little dumber than most. We've got a procedure for this."

Holliday hitches the belt around her waist a little higher and squares her shoulders. Masters doesn't like initiative, but she knows he'll try to pass the buck on her if she doesn't cover her ass. "Sir, we've never had to arrest elves, before. Certainly not an entire clan of them. I'm going on record as advising you to make a direct request to the Guard Commander for instructions. This is a time-bomb waiting to go off."

Masters stares at her for a moment, his jaw set stubbornly. But finally he nods. "All right, Holliday. Have it your way. But if the Commander kicks it back down to us, it's your ass on the line. Remember that."

Holliday nods and stifles the sigh she desperately wants to relief. "Yes, Sir." She turns around to get back to work and spies a camera crew still filming. "Hey! You there! Arrest those journalists! There's been no permission for any recordings here!"

"Bloody Hell," Treznor mutters as he goes over the report again. Then he glances up at Ben Vitner, his Minister of Intelligence. "And you didn't have any surveillance on this Lemenyo family? No hint about their activities?"

Ben shrugs uncomfortably, a rare sensation for him. "They'd never done anything to draw attention to themselves before. They communicate with people in Menelmacar, but they're fairly wealthy and do a lot of international business. We have a file on their international communications and they've kept themselves scrupulously clean."

Treznor frowns even deeper and calls up the file. "What are the chances that their communications in Menelmacar means they're talking to family there?"

"Pretty definite. The Lemenyo line isn't nobility, but they're respected merchants. They've got branches in just about any nation that will have them to pursue their trade. They specialise in fine art and silver, but some digging suggests they usually take a hand in local politics whenever possible. According to what records I could dig up pre-Empire, this family was pretty influential in the old Drona Republic. When you showed up and established the Empire, you destroyed their political base. I don't know why they haven't acted before now, though."

Treznor leans back in his chair and glares at the ceiling. "Whatever their reasons, their connections mean we can't just make them 'disappear' like the other troublemakers. That'll set a bad precedent; that Park was pretty busy that day, and I'm sure word leaked out in spite of the arrests the Guardsmen made. We've got to find some way to spin this before it gets out of control."

"We could always play the anti-elf card. They have been meddling in local affairs for generations, now."

Treznor shakes his head quickly. "Absolutely not. We're tied to Menelmacar by treaty and alliance, and I'm not going to spit in Sirithil's face."

"We could focus on the manipulations of the Lemenyo family in specific. They're fairly self-centred, and their impact on their local communities hasn't always been for the public good."

"It's a thought, but keep that one as backup. I hate to say it, but we're going to have to call Menelmacar and get their help. With luck, we won't find a gravship orbiting over our heads by morning. Maybe Sirithil will agree to having them deported back to their homelands."

Ben nods and makes a note on his datapad. "Yes, Sir. Anything else?"

"Yeah, that Lieutenant responsible for arresting them? Promote the man. And watch him. If he was smart enough to recognise the political disaster this represented, then he's smart enough to make a good impact on the Guard."

"Yes, Sir. I'll let Pete know."

Ben leaves quickly, unusually grateful at being able to escape with his head intact. Meanwhile, Treznor turns to his data terminal and begins typing.

To: Her Eternal Majesty, Lady Sirithil Nalosaurawen Finlaurë Aineldalië Minyavendë nos Fëanor, Elentári of the Eternal Noldorin Empire of Menelmacar, High Queen and Lady Protector of Elvenkind, Commander-in-chief of the Menelmacari Imperial Defense Force, Empress of All Elves, Thelas, Eärendil, Vinyarda, and Ceres, Guardian of America, the Congo, Roania, and the Emirates
From: Devon Treznor, Emperor
Encryption: Triumvirate standard
Subject: A sticky situation.

It has recently come to my attention that one of the Noldorin merchant families have been influencing local governments as well as local trade. Members of the Lemenyo Clan were unfortunately arrested today by Imperial Guardsmen during an illegal political rally in a public park. I've clamped down on the local media, so right now only you and I know about it.

This creates something of a problem for me. Our normal procedures can't be applied, as the consequences of such treason would involve the death of these people. In the interests of fostering peace between our nations, I invite you to talks on what to do about them. I'm just as happy to deport them so long as I can receive guarantees that they'll never try to foment rebellion in my Empire again. In the meanwhile, they're screaming for communication with their family back in Menelmacar. As a show of good faith I'm willing to allow someone to represent them and handle their communication during their incarceration.

Respectfully,

Devon

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To: Her Eternal Majesty, Lady Sirithil Nalosaurawen Finlaurë Aineldalië Minyavendë nos Fëanor, Elentári of the Eternal Noldorin Empire of Menelmacar, High Queen and Lady Protector of Elvenkind, Commander-in-chief of the Menelmacari Imperial Defense Force, Empress of All Elves, Thelas, Eärendil, Vinyarda, and Ceres, Guardian of America, the Congo, Roania, and the Emirates
From: Devon Treznor, Emperor
Encryption: Triumvirate standard
Subject: A sticky situation.

It has recently come to my attention that one of the Noldorin merchant families have been influencing local governments as well as local trade. Members of the Lemenyo Clan were unfortunately arrested today by Imperial Guardsmen during an illegal political rally in a public park. I've clamped down on the local media, so right now only you and I know about it.

This creates something of a problem for me. Our normal procedures can't be applied, as the consequences of such treason would involve the death of these people. In the interests of fostering peace between our nations, I invite you to talks on what to do about them. I'm just as happy to deport them so long as I can receive guarantees that they'll never try to foment rebellion in my Empire again. In the meanwhile, they're screaming for communication with their family back in Menelmacar. As a show of good faith I'm willing to allow someone to represent them and handle their communication during their incarceration.

Respectfully,

Devon
Emperor Devon:

I would be most pleased to attend a discussion on this matter. In fact, I am overjoyed that you have brought this to my attention; so many times it seems as though one nation after another is bent on pressing me into wars I have no real desire to fight. Your striving to find a peaceful solution is most refreshing.

I would be pleased to send representation for the Lemenyo family. It has always been my position that deportation to Menelmacar is acceptable to my administration if the deportees are permitted to retain what assets can be moved, and liquidate what cannot. One cannot, after all, be expected to start a new life if rendered destitute.

I look forward to hearing back from you in terms of when and where would be most convenient for these discussions. I will also immediately send Curundil nos Menelmehn to handle their case; you will find him knowledgeable and cooperative, though he will fulfil his function as advocate to the best of his considerable ability.

Sincerely yours,

http://www.weirdozone.0catch.com/projects/nationstates/sirithil/sirithilnosfeanor.gifLady Sirithil nos Fëanor
Elentári of the Eternal Noldorin Empire of Menelmacar
"We have known freedom's price. We have shown freedom's power. We will see freedom's victory."
~US President George W. Bush
We Love the Iraqi Information Minister (http://www.welovetheiraqiinformationminister.com)
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"No, absolutely not," says Manveru Lemenyo, Patriarch of the family. "We will not be forced out of our homes like...vermin. We are of the Noldor, most ancient and revered of the Great Races. We will not be turned out of our homes and driven from our chosen lands by the likes of them."

Curundil frowns and taps the papers on the table. "No one is questioning your lineage, Master Lemenyo," he replies quietly. "But this document grants the ruling government the right to execute you and your family for this display. The fact that they haven't, and that I am here, is testament to their willingness to compromise for a peaceful solution we can all live with."

"My husband speaks the truth, and he speaks for all of us," declares Ealanvar, Matriarch of the family. "This Man fears the might of the ancient Noldor and the strength of Lady Sirithil nos Fëanor, that is why he hesitates to put us to death. Too long have we suffered injustice at this insignificant Empire of Men. Too long have we been denied our rights to pursue our trade freely and openly. Too long have we lived in fear of anti-elf sentiment. In too many lands we lose ground where we have lived and prospered for centuries, accepted evacuation and deportation in the name of peace. Here we take our stand. Here we die, if need be, that we be known as Noldor, proud and unbent!"

The solicitor sits back in disgust and eyes the Lemenyo family warily. The entire clan is nodding their approval. Political activists. Great. Oh well, they'll love my bill. "All right. But you've still violated the laws of a sovereign state independent of Menelmacar. By fighting deportation, you make yourself subject to those laws. How do you plan to proceed?"

Manveru takes a piece of paper and writes quickly. "Go to the Treznor Imperial Bank, and give them this number and password. They have instructions to surrender the contents of safe deposit box corresponding to that number to whomever gives them that password. Take the contents of the box back to our family in Menelmacar. They'll know what to do."

Curundil accepts the paper unwillingly. "What's in this box?"

"An optronic data disk containing a pre-recorded statement for our family. They'll provide you with all the support you need."

"That's highly irregular. You're not being tried in Menelmacar, you're being tried in Treznor."

"It is our intention to bring Treznor under trial by the world. Let the world see what we have to show them and see how long they stand."

"And what am I to do in the meanwhile? You're to appear before the Magistrate tomorrow morning."

Ealanvar smiles beatifically. "You're a solicitor. Stall. Deal. Plead. Do whatever you have to do, just buy us the time we need for that disk to get into the right hands. Then you'll have all the firepower you need, and an unjust government of Men will fall. I promise you that."

It was early the next morning that Curundil nos Menelmehn, Menelmacari attorney-at-law extraordinaire; senior partner of Menelmehn, Menelmehn, and Aeglos; and chief legal counsel to Lady Sirithil nos Fëanor herself...

...wandered into the nearest branch of the Treznor Imperial Bank. He stood patiently in line for a teller, and smiled gently at her.

"I need access to box 3872, please... and the password, apparently, is" He blinked delicately a moment. "Teddy bear." Well... I guess it's not the sort of password one would think would be selected by a proud merchant factor of the Noldorin gentry, he mused.

Two hours later, he was on a gravship flight into Silharthad, Menelmacar, nervously turning an optronic crystalline data disk over and over in his fingers... and it was a first class seat. Manveru's disk, he had mused to himself. Fine. It's also Manveru's money. Two hours after that he was at a house in Silharthad's northwestern suburb, handing the disk to one Ferinthir Lemenyo. "I represent your cousin, Manveru," he said after introducing himself. "He asked me to bring you this disk..."

http://www.weirdozone.0catch.com/projects/nationstates/sirithil/sirithilnosfeanor.gifLady Sirithil nos Fëanor
Elentári of the Eternal Noldorin Empire of Menelmacar
"We have known freedom's price. We have shown freedom's power. We will see freedom's victory."
~US President George W. Bush
We Love the Iraqi Information Minister (http://www.welovetheiraqiinformationminister.com)
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