NationStates Jolt Archive

The Silvery Ship slipped through the cotton like clouds. It had been a long trip , lightyears to be exact though the engines made things alot faster. The golden sun had just begun to rise and as the golden beams of light shown brighter and brighter the stars began to disappear from the sky. It was a good sight to see the mists of Elara once again and as the ship touched the ground with a hissing sound the large metallic door of the ship open creating stairs that lead to the ground below.

Roland sniffed the air and smiled , the clank of armor and the ships power cutting off was the only sounds to be heard , then...silence. Emperor Roland Meridius was followed closely by his two Imperial Guards as he walked down the path to the kneeling Elarian man waiting for him.

Roland motions for the man to rise. "Rise Thelos , how have you been old friend?

"Ive been well Sire , no doubt there is much you wish to ask me."

The two men continued to chat litely as they entered the Imperial Palace and walked into the Great Hall. The room was only lit by torches which gave a dim flickering light. As the two men sat Roland began to talk.

"How is Elarian Adejaani relations?"

"The old wounds are healing m'lord but hate is still harbored in many."

"Rome wasnt built in a day , these things take time." "At least progress is being made." "Any word from Admiral Hester?"

"No Sire , we've lost communications with them but we are working to find the problem."

"This troubles me , check our satellites as well as Communication Centers , be sure its not a problem on our end." "I pray to the Gods that all is well." "And what of my wife , where is she?"

"Last I heard she was in Adejaani assisting with the new Goverment there."

Roland lifts his left hand and touches his head. He appears in a bit of pain.

"Please try to contact my wife , tell her Im home."

"Immediately your Imminence." Thelos says as he stands and bows deeply. He then steps two steps back and walks away to deliver his message.

Roland looks up to his Banner and Crest in the wall infront of him. The sound of thunder ends the once peaceful silence. A storm was brewing , perhaps a sign of the Gods...

"What do you mean gone?" Judge Harry Bell, President of Adejaani, slurred as he ran his hands over his face before looking out the window. Between reconstruction of the country, mourning the losses in Adejaani itself and in the Sha'Ra conflict had been taking its toll on him. He looked decidedly haggard and ancient. "I don't think the country could take another dose of news this bad. But someone has to tell him. Send Ryan and Granger....."

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Secretary of Intelligence, Doctor Anne Ryan and Admiral Jain Granger walked through the halls of the Elaran Imperial Palace. Granger, in particular, looked uncomfortable in civilian clothes, but Ryan didn't seem to notice. She was too busy mulling over the news.

"Emperor Meridius." Ryan began a few minutes later, standing in front of the Elaran Emperor and his deputy. "I do believe you know Admiral Granger....." Granger bowed slightly and Ryan continued. "I must be the unfortunate bearer of bad news, sir. Your wife's plane has been shot down in transit....."

Roland stands quickly knocking the chair he was sitting in over. A shocked look comes over his face.

"Wha....whos responsible?!" "Is...is there a chance shes alive??" "Where is my child??"

Roland grabs Grangers shoulder , appearing uneasy.

"Tell me something!" Roland yells as one hand is on the hilt of his Elarian Sword and a small tear rolls down his face. His face becomes angry and an almost insane look comes about him.

Granger stood there immobile while the Elaran Emperor shook her. Ryan stepped forward, ready to intervene. "Look, sir, we believe it was radicals or terrorists. The aircraft was brought down by surface to air missiles, which were inventoried at an Adejaani Land Forces base which had been compromised for a while, but that leak was plugged."

Ryan pulled a folder from her briefcase and extracted some photos from it. "The aircraft landed pretty intact, only having lost one of its engines. When Search and Rescue got there, they came under fire. When regular units moved in, they found the flight crew and aides with gunshot wounds. I'm afraid your wife and child were taken by these terrorists....."

Roland removed his hand from Granger shaking his head.

"And how am I to know that these are terrorists and not really from the Adejaani Government." "I know many were opposed to Natty and I marrying."

Roland picks up his chair and sits down. He sighs and looks to Ryan.

"Forgive me , this has just ....got me worked up."

Roland looks to Granger as a warrior would look to another warrior.

"You must find these people old friend." "I pray you find them before I do..."

"Actually, Emperor, before you go start pointing fingers....." Ryan paused to glare at the Elaran deputy. "For some time now, while you were gone, it seems there's been some Elaran complicity. While there are parties within Adejaani that wish for our nations to remain apart, we are aware of similar groups within Elara."

Thelos stepped closer to Ryan his eyes glaring with intensity.

"Outrageous!" "You spread lies like a plague!"

Thelos leans down to Roland and begins to speak a bit calmer but still quite angry.

"Cant you see Sire , they want us Elarians to fight each other." "They want dissent among our people." "Then what , when the timing is right and we are weakened after fighting each other they will launch their own campaign against us." "We will be nothing but their blue slaves as they want!"

Roland sighs holding his head in his hands in deep thought.

Granger finally piped up for the first time. "And I sincerely doubt that, as it'd be the other way round. Elarans are among the finest warriors I've ever seen. I shouldn't even bother also, of noting how Adejaani and Elara alike have fought side by side during the Sha'Ra conflict." Granger paused, looking straight at Roland.

"I assure you, sir, Adejaani stands with Elara, but it seems there are some of us, who don't want a stable, if uneasy peace between us."

Roland lifts his head.

"Thousands upon thousands or brave Adejaani and Elarian died on the battlefields together as brother and sister Warriors." "You will show them respect Thelos."

Roland looks to Ryan and Granger , his face now calm but troubled.

"What does Adejaani plan to do about this situation?"

Ryan took up the conversation once more. "We have leads, but the general indications are, that those parties desiring unrest are larger than we thought, even encompassing highly placed civilian, military and government personnel, in both countries." Ryan said, barely looking up from her folder as she extracted a list of names.

"I must warn, you, Emperor, that even if we return Empress Harrington-Meridius and the Heiress to you, the issues we have here are much deeper. We'll be dealing with the beliefs of our people and not just a group of rebels. When we find out where the terrorists holding the Empress and the Heiress are, we will let the Elaran hostage-rescue teams extract them."

Roland nods. "These problems will be met with a firm fist." "This will not be easy , hatred runs deep in some." "Ryan......I want my wifeand child back unharmed...." "Elara has a branch that remains quite secretive not many know of it , they will conduct their own investigation."

Roland gets up and walks over to a window and gazes at the coutyard below. "I only hope that this is not as big as you make it sound Ryan."

Thelos huffs as he walks by Ryan being sure to brush his shoulder against her.

"I have business to attend to...." Thelos says quickly as he begins to walk to the door. He holds some sort of device in his hand and it appeared to be blinking.

Ryan's phone also rang and she politely excused herself to take it, leaving Granger and Roland alone. "You know, Emperor....." Granger began, then paused to find the right words. "On some level, I can understand what those dissidents are on about. At the wedding, I did wonder how the unusual mix were to happen. Personally, I'd feel..... Well, I don't think I'd particularly..... Enjoy someone with blue skin....."

Granger coughed. "But that's just me on a very personal, deep level. Frankly, as far as I'm concerned, on the battlefield, anyone who can fight like an Elaran, doesn't matter if they're pink, blue, green or any other color, they're all right in my book."

Roland laughs as he turns and looks deep into Grangers eyes. "Thats why Ive always liked you Granger , we are warrior kindred spirits you and I." "You must understand this union was the first in which an Elarian has married a non Elarian." "This was strange for me as well , I had hoped it would bring our people closer together." "Ironically it drove them further apart." Roland walks closer to Granger , he now stands right infront of her looking into her eyes with his haunting ice blue Elarian eyes. "As for enjoying a person based on skin color , well dont judge what you havent tried." "I love my wife despite how differently we may feel on many key issues." "I love her for being her , pinkskin and all." "Though she has tested my patience quite alot." "Adejaani is a strong ally to the Empire , no matter how close we've come to going at each others throats at some points." "Its soldiers are as brave as battle hardened Elarian Warriors , it was an honor to fight with them..."

Granger didn't know how to respond. "Well just between you and me, sir, I'm glad you Elarans are on our side. No matter what happens in the future between our two countries, I'm glad we fought the Sha'Ra."

Roland sighed as he smiled , continuing to look deep into Grangers eyes. "Please dont call me Sir Granger , youve known me too long for that." Roland turned and walked back to the window. "I fear for the future Granger , I do not want the sons and daughters of Elara and Adejaani killing each other." "I fear we will push each other to that if we do not act quickly."

"That's the really bad thing about this. It's always one or two or several people that cause the problems. Then everyone else gets swept along. It's typical crowd mentality, everyone getting involved, no longer afraid. That's why Riot Control Police tend to go for the ringleaders, the insurgents. But you are right. I fear those that wish to cause our nations harm will drag our nations down together."