NationStates Jolt Archive

After the inauguration party:

“One obstacle down, one to go,” muttered Sir Richard Tri, straightening his tie. Most of the party guests had already left; only he and a few of Jeff’s most trusted advisors (such as, perhaps, Dr Niven? ;)) remained.

“Now, what say we go try to figure out what in Sam Hill is going on?”

((ooc: Sorry for the excessively short post; this is Larkinia’s party, so I figured I’d try not to infringe on his country too much. ;) As usual, I’ll bulk it up with vaguely related stories about Iansisle.))

-----

The VII Rifles regiment could be considered one of the more storied units in Iansislean military history. However, no one was prepared for this sort of a situation, even one of the oldest regiments in the Royal Iansislean Army Corps.

Ever since the government had declared martial law in Ianapalis three days ago, the VII found itself heavily engaged in urban warfare against their own countrymen. Fire fights broke out all over the city on a near hourly basis; already, Lieutenant Ernest Worthins’ platoon had lost one man dead and another two wounded by a variety of small arms fire and molotov cocktails.

Worthins’ unit was patrolling 41st Street between MacDunn and Grand. They were still only on the fringes of the Industrial Sector, but the fighting didn’t seem any less intense here than it was in the deepest part of the urban jungle. Ahead of him, Worthins could hear two voices chattering back and forth in some Gallagan tongue, and it was all he could do to keep from grimacing. He didn’t like having a Gallagan Army platoon assigned to him as ‘support’ - the battles in defense of St Walburg had taught him just how useful John Company’s troops were in support. His leg, which had never properly healed, started aching again.

Not that Ernest Worthins would ever admit it, but taking a bullet into the meat of his left thigh, which had mercifully missed his femoral artery, was probably as much a fault of bad Iansislean tactics as the ‘cowardice’ of a Gallagan unit outnumbered on the ground by an enemy with complete aerial superiority. After all, if that rifleman hadn’t had the nice perfect figure on a horse with nothing but a sabre and sidearm to aim at, Worthins never would have been shot. Not that he’d ever admit that, of course.

They were nearing the end of their patrol route, a block or two of crumbling brick tenement houses ramshackle even by the standards east of MacDunn Street, when two shots rang out in the fast encroaching twilight. A Gallagan private grabbed his shoulder and screamed; two or three soldiers shot their rifles in the direction from which the shot had come.

“Don’t waste your bullets! He’s gone from the window by now!” screamed Worthins. “Sergeant Aran, around to the back entrance! The rest of you, with me!”

-----

“There they are,” breathed Nicholas Ferdinand, sighting the first Gallagan face come walking down the street. His palms were sweating badly; it was a miracle he could hold the cheap Camstol revolver at all.

Of all the places Nicholas imagined himself on his twenty first birthday, this certainly wasn’t it. He’d been born to an upper middle class family out in the rural stretches of Shadoran. His father, who worked for the town’s IanCorp postal office, had been rich enough and Nicholas’ grades good enough to earn a trip to Royal Standard University, the heart of Iansislean higher education. And until a month ago, he’d been just another average student; worried about his grades, his best girl, and next year’s tuition payment.

He’d also, like most of his classmates, attended Charles Bradsworth’s rallies in Unity Square and Jameston Place. A lot of what the young orator had said struck home with younger Nicholas. The corporations and their aristocratic backers were raping Iansisle, slowly but surely. He had seen the wretched poor in the industrial sector; he had seen the agricultural heritage of the Shield eroded by mechanization and ‘progress’; he had seen the factories pouring dark smoke into the clear blue sky; he had seen the poor immigrants huddled on the shore, waiting for a better life from a country that couldn’t provide for its own.

And now, sweat cascading from his hands and tears from his eyes, Nicholas Ferdinand took careful aim and squeezed his trigger - once, twice. A spray of red, and a man went down. He knew he should run; he knew that, but he couldn’t. His feet were frozen solid to the ground, even as bullets bit into and shattered the faded brick.

“Come on, Nick!” cried Alice Johns, pulling desperately at Nicholas’ coat. “They’ll be up here any second! We’ve got to move!” Only then did Nicholas break out of his trance. He turned and stampeded down the preplanned escape route. Downstairs, the door burst open. Three loud, heavy rifle shots, and a baby started crying. Then he was down the stairs and into the alley, right on his Alice’s heels.

“Halt!” There were troops at the other end of the alley. Nicholas kept running. There was the dumpster - eight yards, six, five...

Someone fired a warning shot into the air.

Three more yards. Alice reached it ahead of him, bounded up the dumpster and to the top of the wall. Behind them, someone called something. Alice’s shoulder erupted in an explosion of flesh and bone. She cried in pain and fell back behind the wall. Nicholas reached the dumpster, put one leg up on top of it, and grasped desperately for the top.

Nicholas’ last conscious thought, even as the black crept in at the edge of his vision, was to wonder where the great red splotch on the wall in front of him had come from.

(ooc: I may never be around to contribute anything worthwhile these days, but stories still need tagging... ah.. done.)

only he and a few of Jeff’s most trusted advisors (such as, perhaps, Dr Niven? ;)) remained.

*whistles innocently*

"Yeah," Jeff said as he walked over to Katherine.

"You've got to go, don't you."

"Sorry sweetheart," he said kissing her, "Something's come up."

"I don't even get to see you on the night after you're sworn in?" she asked.

"I'll just be gone a few hours, up to Lyone probably, look around and come back."

She nodded, "I guess I have to share you with the country for the next few years."

"Remember what I said, if this comes between us, I'm quitting."

"Oh no you're not," Niven said. "Now come on, we've got to go."

Jeff, Niven, Richard and enough security men to storm Dun Adien loaded up on two aerodynes.

OOC: Wow...please tell me this isnt about Christin, if it is, I take it back...Also, if your troops ever need good urban combat training and what not, well, you know where to look...Other wise tagged, oh, and you might wanna check out my question on the thread about your new jet...and lastly, should Largent try something stupid past what hes already done, do you want the ISS agents to go full code red, or just let your guys handle it? Oh, and of course, *tag*

(LOL, I-man, check your TG. Imi, Let Largent do something stupid before capping him... er... stupider I should say. Trying to break into an Imitoran's manor.. yeah that'll go over like two pregnant polevaulters...)

Richard, glad as ever to get a ride on modern aircraft, fitted himself in next to Jeff.

"I had a chance to slip away during the party," he said. "Called some of my men back in the Commonwealth; it turns out only forty men are still alive today who are knights of the Northern Order."

((nah, don't worry, Imi - this has been in the works for some time. This thread, Lark's inauguration, my part of the KIST thread, and Pinpricks (which is the Future™, technically) are all related.

As for Largent, I don't care. Whatever's best. I was just having fun with him. ;)

Oh, by the way - I've no idea where Christin is right now. James ditched her in Larkinia and caught the first Bankfield back to the Shield. Not very nice, I know, but he's in a bad mood.))

TG checked / replied, Lark

OOC: Shes caught in the middle of the street fighting...lol, jk. Nah, shes back home crying, cuz Robert also ditched her. He was using her as a means to an end... :twisted:

"Only forty men are still alive?" Jeff asked, getting more confused by the minute. "If this wasn't some criminal after all..."

"Sir, the wreckage of the Airplane had two other men inside, it didn't look like a theft to me." Browning said, "I'm sure Admiral Tri will be able to tell us if it would have had diplomatic insignia on it."

"Two other men?" asked Richard. "How strange! How did these other men look?"

*slugs forum like Roger Clemens with Mike Piazza*

((I...er... umm... *looks back*))

Browning gives the group a quick description of the two dead men in the plane.

((here's the quote, for anyone who cares: ))

There were three men in the wreckage.

One wore the bright scarlet of the Royal Iansislean Flying Corps. He had been badly abused by electrical fires, and his skin was charred a deep black. There was no pulse.

A second, from the passenger compartment, was also dead. He wasn't badly burned; however, his brown uniform was stained red and his face destroyed. There was a large hole, probably from the 20mm cannons on a MPAF-8, from right behind where the body was found. The uniform and dark skin told their own story; it was the uniform a Gallagan subaltern in the Company's army.

A third man had several large burns. His body was shaking violently as the rescue teams pulled him from wreckage. The bloody discolorations offset what had once been noble features and the edges of his fine suit were singed and melted. His left hand was clutched to his chest and closed around something. That something was about as six inches in diameter and was apparently silver under the thick coat of blood that covered it.

"You say the first man was up front? Hmm- a red uniform, or what was left of it. Sounds pretty official to me. And the other one was a Galler?" Sir Richard never saw any need to bother with political correctness.

"Fishier still. If there was just the pilot, I could understand - he'd need him to fly the Bankfield. But why would he drag some Galler along too? Bouchet would have to know that would get John Company all over his ass."

Tri wondered if those lights in the distance were Lyone.

((Lights? Oh yeah.. I'm sensing a disturbance in the Force.. it's.. a clue! ;) ))

Jeff bit the inside of his cheek at the less than flattering terms used. "That might mean that he's not who the pilots said he was."

The aerodynes crested into Lyone and were brought on an immediate approach to Lyone University Trauma Center.

(Driving home, you got it from here for a few)

"And, if Clyde Bouchet wasn't onboard, why would those pilots be so eager to shoot the flyer down?" asked Tri.

"Well, I'm afraid we just keep asking too many questions," he said as the aerodynes landed in Lyone. "There's only one way to get to the bottom of all this - the old fashioned way."

(Sorry it took so long dude))

The first aerodyne landed on the roof of the Trauma Center and the security teams swept out and cleared a path for Jeff, Niven and Richard.

The second 'dyne landed and Jeff, Richard and Niven were led from the roof down three flights into a room where a man was lying, burned from the accident.

((That’s ok - sorry I vanished last night. Sleep kinda snuck up on me ;).))

Richard goggled as he saw the young face behind the burns. “That’s - that’s,” he stumbled, before shaking his head.

“That’s not Clyde Bouchet, or even a close approximation. That’s the Viscount Inswick, son of our minister of foreign affairs.”

Jill turned to Kathrine, "Hmph leave me behind will they? Men, go running off and leave other matters laying about the place...."

OOC: Lark, is Lyone gonna turn into something like Sierra Leone or Somalia? If it is, with your permission, I'd like to get involved, it'll help me get ready for a course I'm takin next semester.

((Sorry Imi, Lyone isn't really like Sierra Leone))

((That’s ok - sorry I vanished last night. Sleep kinda snuck up on me ;).))

Richard goggled as he saw the young face behind the burns. “That’s - that’s,” he stumbled, before shaking his head.

“That’s not Clyde Bouchet, or even a close approximation. That’s the Viscount Inswick, son of our minister of foreign affairs.”

(no worries man! I was getting clubbed by that as well)

"Inswick's son?" Jeff asked. "Why is the RIAF shooting at Count Inswick's son?"

He turned to Browning, "And you were flying the pilots to Golden Agate?"

"Yes sir," he told Jeff. "We've kept them seperate after they landed."

Why do I feel like I'm running an episode of the "Marx Brothers".

"Load them onto a couple of aerodyne and get them here. I want to know why they were shooting at Inswick's son."

-----

Jill turned to Kathrine, "Hmph leave me behind will they? Men, go running off and leave other matters laying about the place...."

Katherine looked into her wine glass a second and smiled a Jill, "Yeah, I'm sure Dad wouldn't have left you if it wasn't important."

OOC: Well, if you either of you do do a scenario like that, hit me up

"Inswick's son?" Jeff asked. "Why is the RIAF shooting at Count Inswick's son?"

He turned to Browning, "And you were flying the pilots to Golden Agate?"

"Yes sir," he told Jeff. "We've kept them seperate after they landed."

Why do I feel like I'm running an episode of the "Marx Brothers".

"Load them onto a couple of aerodyne and get them here. I want to know why they were shooting at Inswick's son."

"Can he talk?" asked Richard.

Jill fumps down in a chair..."Hmph, who's the one who got attacked by a Vampire in London? Old make noise like two elephants humping in the brush that's who. Playing the young woman who needs to get protected doesn't suit my style, at all." She looks at a doorway behind Kathrine, "I think you have an escapee from the nusery again..."

The doctor looked at Jeff and Richard, "I think he can, he's on painkillers now so he might be a little loopy."

-----

"Well, I think he's only got the best intentions..."

Katherine looked behind her to see Conner walking around in the hallway outside the ballroom. She excused herself a moment and walked out. Picking him up she kissed his cheek, "Why aren't you in the nursery?"

"I couldn't sleep. I was looking for Meow Meow."

"Now now honey," she said rocking him, "I'm sure he's all right. He's a big adult tiger now."

Jeeves walked into the hallway, "There you are," he said to Conner. "Sorry madam, he snuck away while I was getting ice cream for the children."

She handed Conner to Jeeves, "Now go with Jeeves and behave yourself and I'll be in to check on you in a minute."

She walked back into the ballroom and sat down with Jill, "Thanks."

"Ah well, at least I don't have to worry about that right now. I have no idea how to be a parent actually, scares me more than trying to take out a division of Imortians"

She shook her head as she looked back towards the nursery.

Katherine laughed, "Well, it's definitely an acquired skill. I would have said the same thing until I had the twins. But I wouldn't have given them up for anything now. I've only heard bits and pieces about where you met Jeff and Dad, how did you get pulled into this little.. crew?"

Katherine laughed, "Well, it's definitely an acquired skill. I would have said the same thing until I had the twins. But I wouldn't have given them up for anything now. I've only heard bits and pieces about where you met Jeff and Dad, how did you get pulled into this little.. crew?"

"Ann Gretchen's roomate in boarding school" She points to herself. "I got pulled in getting Jeff from trying to run off and stop Ann from...well let's say things became quite messy when you were in your coma..."

She shrugs..."Of course I would have a thing for men with blue eyes and Scottish Broughs now wouldn't I?"

"All right, son," said Richard, turning to the younger Inswick. "I need some answers."

"T-traaa," started Inswick. "Traap. Your Majesty - don't..." He started dozing off.

"No!" shouted Tri. "What do you mean, 'trap'?"

OOC: I think he means that it was a trap?

Jeff looked over at the doctor, "Can you.."

The doctor sighed and punched in something on the computer connected to the IV drip. "Talk fast guys."

-----

"Really?" Katherine asked. "So Jeff was going to stop Ann from something akin to 'certain death'?"

I'm going to need to talk to Jeff a little more about this.. situation.

OOC: I think he means that it was a trap?

OOC: :lol: NO! He's saying we need to run a trap play! I'll hand the ball to I-man, you run behind Imi and keep the linebackers away, then... ;)

Jeff looked over at the doctor, "Can you.."

The doctor sighed and punched in something on the computer connected to the IV drip. "Talk fast guys."

((To Imi: :P))

"Talk straight!" shouted Tri. "What was a trap, and don't do what?"

"The trap...we didn't know. It wasn't our fault."

"What was a trap?!" demanded Tri again.

"My father told me...to give this to President Williams." Inswick's left hand, ripped to shreds by the Star, tried to extend. "He'll understand. He'll understand."

OOC: In other news, Capt. Obvious was promoted to general....

Jeff looked over at the doctor, "Can you.."

The doctor sighed and punched in something on the computer connected to the IV drip. "Talk fast guys."

-----

"Really?" Katherine asked. "So Jeff was going to stop Ann from something akin to 'certain death'?"

I'm going to need to talk to Jeff a little more about this.. situation.

Jill scrunches up her nose. "His interpertation of 'certain death', you know both Jeff and his father need to gain a little more appreciation of the prowress of us woman. I mean for crying out loud, Ann held together a group of marines and civilians after her commanding officer died and she lost a hand, while a frikin cadet. And she was better trained that most in melee and armed combat...she started almost at Conner's age."
She stands and paces a bit.

((Lark, TG!

Imi; all right - what's a trap? :P))

"He'll understand. He'll understand."

((Jeff... understand? Oh what a lie that was! ;) ))

Jeff looked at the star again. What in the hell does Inswick want with me now? I thought flying here meant I was done with him. Is this one of those 'one knight to another' deals or something?

Jeff cleared his thoughts, "What? What did you father want? What does he need?"

He turned to Richard, " 'Your Majesty'?" he asked, "You think he means James? And if James was caught in a trap..."

(back at ya)
-----

Katherine watched as Jill started pacing. "Yeah, they do need to get out of this mindset they're in. We can take care of ourselves, for crying out loud."

Jill stops and looks at Kathrine for a moment. (realizes that he had a crush on both in high school) "Are you being sarcastic there? I wasn't aware of you having any military training."

Jeff looked at the star again. What in the hell does Inswick want with me now? I thought flying here meant I was done with him. Is this one of those 'one knight to another' deals or something?

Jeff cleared his thoughts, "What? What did you father want? What does he need?"

"What we all need," croacked Inswick. "H..." And he collapsed back on the bed, perhaps for the last time.

He turned to Richard, " 'Your Majesty'?" he asked, "You think he means James? And if James was caught in a trap..."

"A trap laid by whom, though?" asked Richard. "I don't know, Jeff - this man's father tried to have you killed once - maybe it's a trap for you."

"No I wasn't being sarcastic, and no I haven't had any military training. But I think it's time I learned something, with Jeff off all of the time, I've been thinking I can't be some wallflower with the children here. Damnit someone has to make sure they'd be all right if it hits the fan."

"A trap laid by whom, though?" asked Richard. "I don't know, Jeff - this man's father tried to have you killed once - maybe it's a trap for you."

"Well, if it is then it's worked," Jeff said standing up and walking to the door. "I'll fly out there now and.."

"Ummm.. Mr. President," Browning said.

"... deal with Inswick and..."

"Mr. President."

"... See what in the hell is wrong with James..."

"Mr. President!"

Jeff turned and looked at Browning.

"I regret to inform you, sir, that you can't just up and fly anywhere anymore. You're the president of Larkinia. Unfortunately you have to take a break from being an Iansislian Superhero and take care of problems here in a less action-packed way."

Jeff peered at Browning, "I could have you shot for that."

"No you couldn't sir."

((Sorry my last few posts have been so crappy - ever so tired. *goes to bed*))

"No I wasn't being sarcastic, and no I haven't had any military training. But I think it's time I learned something, with Jeff off all of the time, I've been thinking I can't be some wallflower with the children here. Damnit someone has to make sure they'd be all right if it hits the fan."

"Ah, I think your seeing if I'll give you some hints on self protection? You realize that whatever Larkinian security apperatus protects Jeff also applys to you and the children?" Jill asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Yes it does, but there are times that it seems like that security isn't enough. I mean the children and I were sitting in another mansion in this country as a hostage a few years back. If something does get through security, I don't plan on being some little victim."

"You know, Jeff and I got into a similar discussion about why he couldn't go running off anymore to play superhero. If Jeff asked nicely I'm sure he'd be allowed to hire a swordsmaster to protect and teach his children and wife the fine points of self defense..." The question is are you prepared to deal with all of the mutual obligations that entails?

OOC: In all fairness, I gotta plug one of my many fine camps...

IC:

Amy, walking out of the inaguration now that Jeff was gone, dropped a brocuhure on the table Katherine was sitting at. In advertised Camp Life, a survival camp that, in 6, 8, or 10 weeks, offered training in world weapons, hand to hand combat (Krav Maga, Beginers Wushu, and the so called 'Semper Fu'), fencing (both European and Japanese), wilderness survival, and control of emergency situations. Further, custom courses were offered that would train in specific areas, and all courses were tought by certified, former ICMC operation specialists (i.e. SOU). The 10 week course also offered a side course entitles "Attitude is Everything: How to be a Bad Ass".

“He’s right, much as I hate to admit it,” said Tri. “You’ve got a lot of commitments now, too many to take on something like this. But I've got an idea - I could go back to Iansisle, see what’s up, and report back to you.

“And if you don’t hear from me,” he added as an afterthought, “then you’ll know something is wrong.”

Jeff sighed, exasperated, "You're both right, I know you are. Hell, Jill and I had this discussion already tonight at the party. Before you go Richard, let's talk to those two pilots from Pretty Beth and see what they have to say for themselves. How long until they get here, and why did you fly them to Golden Agate at all?"

Browning looked back at Jeff, "Well, Mr. President, we were going to question them in Golden Agate, we didn't expect you to go off half-cocked and fly to Lyone on the night of your swearing in, and they will be in Lyone within the hour"

"Well, you know," Niven said to, "If you can't go, I could to go Iansisle."

"No, the last thing I need to do is worry about you Dad."

Niven laughed, "Son, I think I can take care of myself."

Richard coughed and shifted uncomfortably while Browning was reading Jeff the riot act. “That’s probably my own fault,” he intoned, “if I hadn’t been so eagre to go see Inswick - or Bouchet, or whoever this was supposed to be - then we would have been back in Golden Agate.”

“I don’t think there’s any reason to be alarmed,” he continued, looking at Dr Niven. “I mean, this is dreadfully unusual - but we can’t rule out the possibility that it was all a mistake. Worse have been known to be made in Iansisle. Besides, I really ought to be getting back tomorrow, anyway.”

"No, it's not your fault Richard," Jeff said. "it's something that needed to be done."

Another man walked into the room, "Sir, they're on final approach, we can put them in seperate conference rooms."

"Good," Jeff said to the man. "Dad, Richard, I'll leave this to you two to start." He turned to Browning, "You are going to stay here and we're going to have a little talk."

Richard glanced from Jeff to Browning and back. “Of course, Jeff. We’ll meet you soon.”

As he and Dr Niven walked to the proper area: “So, what’s your take on all this, doc?”

As Niven and Richard closed the door, they heard Jeff's voice start up, "Now who in the hell do you think you are! ..."

Niven chucked to Richard, "Well, for that, my take is someone's about to be demoted... As for this, my first opinion is yours, that this could be some kind of trap by Inswick. But I think we'll find out more in a few minutes."

The man led the pair up another floor and through a hallway to one door. Opening it, the two men saw a pilot sitting at a table with two guards inside.

The pilot had his head down. His scarlet uniform was ruffled from a long flight and being shipped from one end of Larkinia to the other.

"I sure hope that's someone actually in charge," he said without looking up. "I'm getting mighty sick of being shipped around like some sort of common in an allied -" One look at Tri's uniform was enough to give him a physical shock. "Sir!"

Although the Flying Corps Fleet Arm and the Navy were two separate branches, the First Sea Lord was the supreme commander in all military affairs. Even the Air Grand Marshal was answerable to the Admiralty.

"That's right, son," replied Tri. "Now, Doctor Niven here - who you will also address as sir - and I have some questions to ask you. You will answer them to the best of your ability, or I'll have your commission. Clear?"

“Aye aye, sir - crystal clear.”

“Doctor? Would you care to have the honor of the first question?”

(("Ummm.. Not really." Niven replied. :P ))

"Why did you lie about who you were chasing in the first plane?"

"Lie?" The man's voice was confused. "We weren't lying, sir. Did Bouchet die in the explosion? I'm sure our police could identify him."

"The man sitting in another room of this hospital isn't Bouchet, but Viscount Inswick. Son of the Foreign Minister."

"You know, Jeff and I got into a similar discussion about why he couldn't go running off anymore to play superhero. If Jeff asked nicely I'm sure he'd be allowed to hire a swordsmaster to protect and teach his children and wife the fine points of self defense..." The question is are you prepared to deal with all of the mutual obligations that entails?

"I'll run that by Jeff when he gets back. I'm sure he'd see the wisdom in letting us learn how to defend ourselves at least." Katherine said as she sipped her wine.

"The man sitting in another room of this hospital isn't Bouchet, but Viscount Inswick. Son of the Foreign Minister."

"Viscount Inswick? Hah - some sense of humor you have! Yes, I'd love to shoot him, but..."

The pilot was faced by a row of grim faces.

"You - you're serious?"

"Deadly serious," replied Tri. "Have you thought of what you're going to tell the Earl?"

"But...but, it wasn't supposed to be him! My brief said the flyer was stolen by Bouchet, who was trying to escape!"

There was a note of desperation in the pilot's voice.

"There were three people in the flyer," Niven said. "How would he have convinced two others to assist a known criminal into stealing the plane?"

"Bouchet's been known to use a gun as his negotiator," warned the pilot.

"So you assumed that he was holding two people hostage in order to fly the plane to Larkinia, where a great number of treaties would have forced them to send him back to Iansisle to stand trial. When he was asking for permission to land and talk to the president? Who gave you the briefing?"

"I assumed, as per our briefing, that there was only one person in the flyer," he answered defensively. "Was I supposed to fly next to him and count through the windows?"

"Captain Birch gave us the briefing himself," he continued, "with orders straight from the Admiralty - Bouchet was not to be allowed the chance to escape into Larkinia or any other country."

"I don't know what you should have done. What did the people in the flyer say when you established radio contact with them?"

He looked to Richard, "What can you tell me about Birch? And any way you could find the orders from the Admiralty?"

"We never received any answer to our wireless messages." The pilot was still on the defensive. "But we never actually fired on them!"

"Birch? He skippered a destroyer in several actions against the Chiangese. I met him when he posted and when he got Salvador last year; young, like most our officers now, but a good man."

He bit his lower lips. "As for the orders, I don't know. Maretown would make most the decisions while I'm out, but Linhower would have to approve them. I'd have to go to Salvador or Ianapalis to find out what's up."

"Then how did the flyer end up damaged? Someone must have fired on them, who did?"

"I don't know!" replied the pilot hotly.

"Watch your tongue!" snapped Tri.

"I don't know, sir," said the pilot in a much more subdued, but still somewhat defiant manner. "Maybe the folks who tried to intercept him earlier."

"And might you have any idea who would have intercepted them before you? And keep one thing in mind," Niven said his temper slowly shortening, "Right now you are the only plane to have been seen chasing after Inswick and his two crewmen who are now dead, since you're sitting here currently. Right now, you can be blamed for those deaths, regardless of orders. I'm sure the higher-ups would like to let you take the blame for this rather than accept responsibility for killing the son of the foreign minister."

The pilot brooded softly for a minute. Tri's nod lent potency to Niven's words.

"The captain mentioned that RIFC ground-based units had tried an intercept before the Bankfield left Iansislean airspace. He mentioned that two units claimed hits, but you know..."

"We don't," snapped Tri.

"Well, sir, people tend to claim hits all the time, but they're only rarely true. I just figured, from the way that thing was moving, that they hadn't been hit."

Niven nods and turns to Tri, "Can you find out those hit reports for us?"

"With a call to Conroy, yes I could," nodded Tri. He checked his watch. "Of course, it's three am on the Shield right now - is it worth waking him, do you think?"

"I think so," Niven said, "Keep in mind, if Inswick finds out his son was shot down, many people's heads will roll, and I'd like to know who gave them the faulty information about who was in that plane."

"Right." Tri vanished for a long period of time (in case Niven wants to ask any questions. ;))

He returned shaking his head. "I got in touch with Conroy, Maretown, and Linhower. They all say the Admiralty got its information from the Flying Corps. The Corps got its information from Commonwealth Relations. See-Are got its information - you'll love this - from Foreign Relations."

"Right." Tri vanished for a long period of time (in case Niven wants to ask any questions. ;))

((Oh dear... a hint. I was thinking that maybe Tri would want to ask some questions :P ))

"Why would Inswick's son be on a plane heading into Larkinia and saying he had something to give Jeff? Has anything strange been happening in Iansisle recently? Inswick is certainly no friend of Jeff's..."

Niven listened to Tri's explanation.

"Oh you have to be kidding me. Did you talk to Inswick?"

((Well, sort of - I was just wondering. Grr - I'm getting tired again. This whole working thing is really throwing my schedule off! (in bed by eleven pm? That's like the middle of the afternoon! ;))

Oh, and who would you prefer answer those questions? Sorry if it's obvious; I'm kinda tired ;)))

"Not to Inswick personally. His head assistant, though - a chap named Edwards - who assured me that the information came from a 'reliable source.' Wouldn't say whom, though; told me that would compromise the source."

((He's asking the pilot, but whoever wants to answer can answer))

"Hmmmm..." Niven thought. "Is there a way to talk to Inswick directly? I doubt even he would order his son shot down. And it sounds like this secret source might not be as accurate as they wanted it to be, and he might want to know that as well.

"Maybe we should just go visit Inswick."

((sorry; now that I read it again, I can’t think of any other explination :oops: ))

“How should I know?” the pilot answered to the first question. “Nothing stranger that normal; no mile long dragons or vampires, even,” took care of the second. A shrug replied to the last comment.

---

“Probably. He’s sound asleep right now, and I didn’t want to wake him up to such bad news,” sighed Tri. He bit his lip slightly and looked away. A quick brush of his eye and he was back to scheming.

“Well, we could go visit Inswick. I don’t know how much good it will do - I have my own theory of events.

“Someone, probably with a vested interest in not seeing Imitora and the New Highlands reunited - did I mention that the younger Inswick was slated to be the first Iansislean ambassador to the Grand Domain since the Razing? - paid off Edwards to set this thing in motion. Edwards calls Commonwealth Relations, citing national security not to reveal his source like he did for me, and next thing you know a Shieldian ambassador is shot down over Larkinia - and Mr Edwards pockets a cool couple grand in generals.

"Tragic, yes, but that's just how Iansisle works, I'm sorry to say.”

"Well then the least we can do is tell Inswick what happened, and let him deal with Edwards the way he sees fit."

"If you insist," shrugged Tri. "I hate to say it, but I don't think we owe Inswick that much. I can't prove it, but I know he had something to do with that crash in Gallaga that was supposed to kill Jeff."

((Ooooooh, sneaky))

"He did, did he?" Niven said. "Ah yes, you're right, he was the one who 'volunteered' Jeff."

Niven thought a moment, "We could go warn him, then ... remind him of what he did."

"Right after his son died?" asked Richard, a slight tremble in his voice. "No, I'm not charitable enough to offer my condolences, but I'm not malicious enough to rub salt in his wounds."

"No no, I wasn't going to rub salt into his wounds," Niven said. "I'm not that coldhearted.

"Right, so if we leave him time to mourn, we can check around CR and see what's what."

"I didn't think so," said Richard with a slight smile. "I - I'm sorry for being so worried about this enterprise. It's just that, well, ever since I lost Robert, I can sympathize with Inswick...somewhat.

"I also think that snooping about would be a great idea."

((oops - sudden bed time, man. Sorry to ditch you again, but I can hardly see straight (and the forum being less than reliable probably helped that condition along ;)))

"I didn't think so," said Richard with a slight smile. "I - I'm sorry for being so worried about this enterprise. It's just that, well, ever since I lost Robert, I can sympathize with Inswick...somewhat.

"I also think that snooping about would be a great idea."

"I understand Richard, I kinda know what it's like too. I'm worried, but I'm worried about what this might start. If Inswick sent this for a real reason, and not as some bullsh*t trap, then he was trying to get in touch with Jeff, and if he's trying to get in touch with Jeff given their past, then something very wrong is going on."

"Well," nodded Tri, "I suppose there could be a real reason. Of course, Inwick's Bankfield was damaged and being chased by military aircraft; you'll pardon me for being a skeptic, but couldn't he just claim important information for Jeff as a way of making sure Larkinia let him land?

"And, if there is something terribly wrong on the Shield, I can't see what it would be. I've called seven people in the highest ranks of government, and they all sounded normal; at least, for being woken up in the middle of the night."

"Yes, he'd do that and get permission to land. But regardless if he's liable for some kind of crime, then he'd be returned to Iansisle. Although I should defer to your knowledge of the Shield. If seven government officials have said that everything's all right, then your theory sounds more sound."

Niven turned to look at the door a moment, "should we go tell Jeff?"

"Yes, I think that would be best. Er - " Tri glanced back at the pilot. "What should we do with him? Let 'im cool his heels a bit longer?"

"Yeah," Niven said, "Let him try and think about how he'll explain this to his superiors."

Niven opened the door and followed Tri out, leaving the two guards in the room with the pilot, "I don't like this Richard, Inswick could always use this as a way to put a stake between Larkinian and Iansislian relations."

The two men boarded the elevator and were whisked back down to another floor.

"Inswick may be vindictive, but he's not too smart," said Tri. "Dirwisham is the real driving force behind the government.

"Er, perhaps I phrased that badly," he continued, "I don't think there will be too much fall out between our governments over this incident. The Alliance means too much to the people, and the people mean too much to the government, especially with general elections looming.

"Inswick may be mad enough to blame Larkinia, but he won't move without Dirwisham's approval. And Dirwisham is too crafty to alienate Larkinia."

"I hope your right Richard. If it's election time in Iansisle, then there's going to be a lot of bad blood flying around from both sides. Makes me wish Jeff hadn't gone into politics at all..."

The elevator doors opened and as Niven and Richard stepped out Jeff's voice was heard throughout the hallway.

"I don't give a f*** who you are and who you think you are!! Do I need to remind you who's the president here??"

((TG. Larkina))

(gotcha and replied to)

"Speaking of bad blood," sighed Richard, pausing outside the door. "Do we dare?"

Niven looked at Richard a moment, "I think we should before one of them ends up not walking out of the room."

"Good idea." Richard swung the door open.

The door opened to Jeff and Browning standing eye-to-eye with each other, each man fuming for different reasons.

They looked to the door suddenly as it opened. Jeff looked a little relieved, "Dad, Richard."

"You all right Jeff?" Niven asked. "I don't think I've ever heard you yell like that before."

"Yeah, everything's fine," Jeff replied. "What did you find out?"

"Not much," shrugged Richard. "The pilot claims not to have known that it was Inswick junior in the Bankfield. I'm tempted to believe him, actually - this has all the smacking of some sort of parliamentary piss-fight."

Jeff nods, "Great. OK, so on the assumption that the pilot is telling the truth we can go with the idea that the C.C.P. is trying to use Larkinia to drive a wedge between Inswick, Dirwisham and Tarriff and the more liberal parts of parliament. Just before elections that might bite them in the ass, if the public sees those three and their group as sympathetic, then they can use this to boost their position and gain votes."

"I was thinking it was an attempt to split the Conservation Party between Inswick and Dirwisham," shrugged Richard. "Conservation and Tradition are the only parties in the coalition projected to make major gains in the elections, whereas the Liberals - the Democratic Socialists, in particular - should gain quite a few seats.

"If the Liberals can split Conservation in two and Free Trade and the Imperialists perform as poorly as expected, they could take control of the plurality."

"I think I understand," Jeff said. "And it seems to make sense when you put it that way. Do you think it'll work? Inswick has been Dirwisham's lapdog, do you think he'll have what it takes to stand up to him?"

"Maybe. It depends on how firmly the Liber - er, whoever did this - can pin the blame on the navy and Larkinia. Dirwisham'll never touch either one of those, but Inswick might in his grief and rage."

Tri sighed. "I know - knew - Inswick...the younger, that is. Well, both of them. The elder doted on the boy, and the younger upon his father. That's why junior got the juciest posting the foreign department could come up with after his tests were finished. I think it has a good chance of working."

"Great," Jeff mutters, "OK, going on Richard's theory that Inswick is going to blame the military and our government for this, how should we prepare for the ensuing sh*tstorm..."

"With any luck, it'll stay localized," shrugged Richard. "I - I know you must think us barbaric, but this is just how politics works on the Shield. A lot of noise, and after the elections - nothing."

"No, no one thinks Iansislians are barbaric, you have just the same amount of backbiting and trechery as any other nation during an election." Jeff chuckled. "So what do you propose?"

"Well, I should get back to Ianapalis and see what I can do from there. Meanwhile, you should get a statement released to the press. They don't need to know any real details - just a brief sketch of what happened. Make sure IanCorp gets ahold of it as well as the local rags. That's all I can think of, at least."

"Right," Jeff nodded, "I'll get someone to work on that when we get back."

"You going to need a ride back to the Shield?" Niven asked Richard, "I was going to swing by Jeff's estate on a well-deserved vacation and I can take you to Dun Adien if you need."

"I think I need a vacation already," Jeff said.

"I could use one, if you don't mind," shrugged Richard. "Conroy and Maretown probably have the situation under control already, but it'd do well for the First Sea Lord to come out and comment on what happened."

"Well then, it's a plan. We'll head back to Golden Agate quickly, I'll pick up Jill and then we can fly out to Iansisle," Niven said.

Jeff nodded, "Let's go."

"What about the two pilots?" Browning asked.

"Take them to the hotel, under guard. Keep them on different floors until Iansislian authorities can take them, after we question them some more."

"I'll get some people on it as soon as I can get back to the Admiralty House," promised Richard to the picking up comment.

"Well, doctor, onward and upward?"

Jill was now looking around the place trying to find a ride back to the Embassy...

(And with a hey diddie diddie and a Hot cha cha.. ;) ))

The two Aerodynes landed back at the presidential palace. Jeff, Niven and Richard walked out of one while the remaining security (sans Browning who was keeping an eye on the pilots' security) walked out of the other.

Jill stops at a window...looks out at the landing pad...and walks to a doorway. "I hope you were meeting with a Head of State Mr. President, otherwise I'd say your going to have to be buying roses in truckloads for the First Lady..." She looks at Niven, "And really, you shouldn't encourgage this type of behavior...D.E.L.E.G.A.T.I.O.N, you needed to reinforce that idea."

((Oh, hell :?))

Richard just blinked blankly at Jill.

((Er, they've never been introduced, right? If they have, then Richard is just...er, senile! Yeah, that's it. ;)))

"Head of State? Well.. but... er... it wasn't quite that bad. But someone from Iansisle was shot down over Larkinian airspace, and they said they had something for me.. and .." Jeff started to try and explain.

Niven looked at Jeff then Jill, "But dear, it was important, and some kind of diplomatic situation might still need to be called for." He looked at Richard, "Oh Richard, this is Jill of Zeeland-Mabel, from Alcona and Hubris. Dear, this is Admiral Richard Tri of Iansisle."

((just in case you're wondering, I'm waiting for A+H. Richard, being the staunch conservative he is, would probably have a very..unique response to an emancipated woman. Just waiting to see what Jill does ;).))

"Head of State? Well.. but... er... it wasn't quite that bad. But someone from Iansisle was shot down over Larkinian airspace, and they said they had something for me.. and .." Jeff started to try and explain.

Niven looked at Jeff then Jill, "But dear, it was important, and some kind of diplomatic situation might still need to be called for." He looked at Richard, "Oh Richard, this is Jill of Zeeland-Mabel, from Alcona and Hubris. Dear, this is Admiral Richard Tri of Iansisle."

Jill just stood there for a second...most people knew that saying "of" defined her with the stigma of being an orphan, no parents, no blood. She smiles and bows slightly "Nice to meet you Admiral, if you'll excuse me for a moment..."

She took her fustration out on the President. "Alright, what would you do If I now told you that the Ruhrian Embassy in Knootoss just shelled your embassy and the Navy had a sub waiting to respond but needed your authorization to do so? Hmmm? Did you have the gear capable of mainaing contact with your military and civilain subordinates while you were meeting with the nice man who needed to whisper secrets in your ear. Did he divulge his secrets to you and no one else?" She said in a somewhat questioning voice.

"And whatever the diplomatic situation is, does it need the equivilant of using a full carrier taskforce to deal with it? I know you might not like it, but you do have a State Department around here don't you?"

"I'm stuck in teacher mode...you realize your wife is so worried about you not being around she wants to get trained in unarmed combat and small arms?" She finishes off with Jeff shaking her head.

Jeff just stood there like a deer in the headlights... not even a buck, but an innocent-eyed baby deer.

"I.. but we.. er.. but.. he died," Jeff started. "But we .. All they had to.. she decided what??"

Niven looked at Richard and whispered, "Glad she's not that mad at us."

OOC: Remeber, if she applies for the ten week course, she'll also be tought how to act like an ICMC Marine...

OOC: Remeber, if she applies for the ten week course, she'll also be tought how to act like an ICMC Marine...

((LOL, that's just who Jeff needs to be married to, an ICMC Marine ;) ))

Richard was just thinking Damn - I was hoping to get to kiss her hand when Jill exploded. He was perhaps even more taken aback by it than Jeff.

“Really,” he whispered back to Niven. “Maybe we should just wait in the aerodyne until this blows over!”

She looks at Niven again,
"Mad, I'm not mad. I'm disappointed, Jeff has resposiblities...he's not an admiral, he's the admiral's boss now. He gets the decsions that mean life and death, happiness or horror for thosuands...perhaps millions. Yet, he is investigating the odd behavior of two allied aircraft and their occupants. And it sounds as if the only thing gained from sending him out and not just you and the Admiral dear is...frequent flier miles?" She asks in a mocking tone.

((Grr...who has been deleting double posts in Iansisle's thread?! *shifty eyes*))

She looks at Niven again,
"Mad, I'm not mad. I'm disappointed, Jeff has resposiblities...he's not an admiral, he's the admiral's boss now. He gets the decsions that mean life and death, happiness or horror for thosuands...perhaps millions. Yet, he is investigating the odd behavior of two allied aircraft and their occupants. And it sounds as if the only thing gained from sending him out and not just you and the Admiral dear is...frequent flier miles?" She asks in a mocking tone.

Richard didn't know what to say. Of all the impudent behavior!

((Ah that cause this problem? The things you find out every day...))

Yeah... frequent flier miles.. for when Katherine and I get the hell outta here was Jeff's first response, but he wisely kept it inside.

"I agree dear," Niven said, weighing if he should mention the first thought was it was reported that a criminal wanted to talk to Jeff. "We've come up with some interesting ideas on what might be going on. And while Jeff remains here," he added waving Jeff towards the Palace, "Richard, I and I was hoping you, have flight arraignments to go to Iansisle and see what is going on. Well Richard will see what's going on, and since Jeff's Manor is empty, I thought some vacation might be in order for us."

((Back in a few gang, heading back home))

((hehe. Yeah, from the best I can tell, deleting double posts (or, well, any posts ;)) causes phantom pages. No worries, man - I'm trying to spread the information, one bit at a time!))

"... and since Jeff's Manor is empty, I thought some vacation might be in order for us."

How scandalous! thought Richard, his ears turning a bright red at the implication. He just managed to nod and mumble assent at what Dr Niven was saying.

((ooc: I might be heading bedwards pretty soon here, Lark. Thank God, it's my weekend at last! Hopefully, I won't be going to sleep so early the next couple days.))

((Hmm,))
IC: Jill's eyebrow went up. "Well that does sound like a reasonable, well thought out idea, are you prepaired for us to act as your proxy? Mr. President? And should I be going as your father's main squeeze or as a represenative of Duke Williams? Or is this a NRUF deal?"

"I think that you going as both my father's main squeeze and as a representative of the government is a good idea. If you go as his main squeeze, then people won't ask about you also being a representative of the government, if we don't want them to know."

"So wait, I'm now in the employ of the Larkina Government? Does that mean I get to bank at the Larkina Federal Employee Credit Union? (sorry inside joke). Or how I read those instructions are, maintain a profile as a trophy girl while investigating the matter? So under light cover without NRUF clause. And if I have to come out of cover what am I?"

(NRUF? You lost me there)

"How about it Jill, you want a job with the government? I understand if you don't want to because of your current committment. Actually, if you and dad would just like some time together, then you don't have to worry about any instructions other than to have a good time, and if you happen to see anything out of the ordinary to let me know. Richard has to return to Ianapalis for his position in the government.

"If you do have to come out of any cover, then say you are investigating a reported hijacked plane, for the president of Larkinia. That was the excuse that the pilots who shot Foreign Minister Inswick's son."

"Ah Mr President, like any good Beuracrat I know to take my vacations while on state buisness...nothing like having the state pick up the tab." She says slightly sarcasticly.

OOC: No Reconginition Under Failure (or if you are captured or killed the secretary will disavow anyknowledge of your existance)

Good Night...just found a Klatchian Political Cartoon... :lol:

"Richard has to return to Ianapalis for his position in the government."

"Quite right," agreed Richard softly for no better reason than to say something.

"Of course, and you'll be staying at the finest manor house in.. on the manor!" Jeff said as the group walked back into the Palace's ballroom. "If any politicos in Iansisle give you a hard time, you have them give me a call."

"That's right," Jeff said to Richard as he picked up a bottle of champaigne and two flutes. "Now if what Jill says is right, I have a lot of making up to do to the First Lady."

"I suppose I can excuse you for that," laughed Richard, clapping Jeff on the shoulder. "Give Kate my compliments - and tell her not to be too mad!"

"And Jill, dear, if any politicos in Iansisle give you a hard time, feel free give me a call too. I may not be as influential as our friend Jeff here, but I'm a lot closer to the ass that needs kicking."

"Yeah, and I can be on a flight to Ians.. damn, I can't anymore," Jeff mused. "You do realize what a pain in the ass being president is going to be to my lifestyle."

(check your T-G I-man)

"It's all right, Jeff - I'll just let Dirwisham and company know they'll have to burn you in effigy only from now on." Tri chuckled; maybe it was supposed to be a joke?

(checked / replied.)

"That reminds me," Niven said with a grin, "I need to have him killed."

"Now now Dad. You don't need to worry about that," Jeff said with a mischevious grin of his own. "Now if you'll all excuse me, I have to be going."

(and back again)

"Until later, Jeff," Richard called after him.

((g'night, dude! A+H, if you want to play this out a little longer, I've got official Larkpermission to play Niven and Jeff - God knows it won't be as good as him, but I'll give it a shot. ;)))

OOC: Well I'm not sure what you guys are up to..I was going to let Lark go running about the place with Jill, sort of "The sister I never really had, and didn't really want," for good old Jeff. :wink: Or perhaps we should say Jeff's step-mom? :lol:

Oh, well I've got a pile of thing due by the end of this week so, I likely won't be on much...I've also got two wars to try and stop.

edit: Oh, and Conner gets...

A fluffy new Klatchian Tiger Cub! Note: You have to train it to stay quiet otherwise it's roar will cause you to lose bowl control! (Luckly Cubs only cause a milder form of fear...)

((Well, I need this thread to conclude before I can continue pinpricks, so I put it to a vote:

A) We wait for A+H (no prob for me)

B) Lark plays Jill for a couple days (your character, A+H, so your decision. But Lark's really good at playing other people's characters, as I know from all too often personal experiance ;))

C) We come up, OOCly, with an ending. I type up a little story, we all brush our hands off and pat each other on the back for a job well done. (Neat, but not as much fun)

So, which should we have?))

I vote for A or B.. that way Jeff can get righteously mad :P

I vote for A or B.. that way Jeff can get righteously mad :P

((I'm leaning towards B myself ;) - not that we want Jeff righteously mad - at least, not for another month or so!))

((Heh heh heh, well, he'll be mad enough when he gets impeached a month after that ;) [/secret OOC knowledge]] ))

((ouch - poor Jeff. I'd feel a little worse for him if this sort of thing didn't happen to him every time he turns around ;).

In other news, we seem to be leaning toward 'B' - of course, we'll need A+H's explicit approval to go that route!))

((LOL, well, it'll depend on how the "Something Wicked" thread goes. The military will have no problem throwing him on the sacrificial fire if necessary. And being the pessimist I am, I always figure Jeff'll get screwed over somehow, what I can say, I guess he inherited all of the bad luck from Doc's family ;) ))

I thought I said you could do B?

Just let Jill pick up her stuff from my Embassy in the Golden Agate.

((oops - I must've missed that. Oh well - can and will do. Thanks, man.))

((wow...a dp seperated by 25 minutes. Go me!))

The dark black water of the north Pacific flew by under the rushing aerodyne. Sir Richard slept; it seemed ages since he'd done that in a proper bed. Half the time, it was on a cot in the Admiralty house; the other half, he simply didn't sleep.

They made for the Northern Straits. Sentry Island's bulk rose on the right while the rocky projection of Cape Jackson dominated the left. As they zoomed over the still waters, the bright lights of the Shield's second city came into full view. Two million men, women, and children lived, slept, and worked in Fort Jackson. The ancient castle home of House Laughlin, which was actually several hundred years older than Dun Adien (and looked it, too) sat on the edge of a cliff overlooking the city.

Six hundred miles later, they came to Ianapalis. As usual, the western half of the city was awash in light - street lamps, the last few office goers in the International and Whitman Towers, headlights on motor-cars, and a million other sources gave off a warm, cheery glow. Also as usual, the eastern half of the city was darkness incarnate. The stillness of the post work day world broken every few minutes by a bright flash. Not that it was too unusual; the murder rate in industrial Ianapalis rivaled even that of Detroit or most small wars.

(Did the Doc and Jill accompany Richard on this voyage?

*looks at textbook for Media Theory... No more Marxism.. make the bad man stop!!! * :P )

(Did the Doc and Jill accompany Richard on this voyage?)

((I'd assume so, unless they suddenly decided not to go. ;)

Having fun in your summer classes? :P))

((This class is only slightly less painful than an alien anal probe... not that I'd know what that is, but I've heard stories... no not those kind of stories... geez.. ;) ))

((Man, this is no fun. I can't even misinterpret your words properly :P. What’s, if I dare ask, the class about? Well, other than media theory...and anal probes. ;)))

((Heh heh... it's a class on Media Theory and Influence. Basically it's supposed to be a class about nothing. But the professor's a devout Marxist, and one hell of a hard grader to boot. So he's lecturing us on the Marxist and Neo-Marxist view of media and it's influence on the working class.

There's so much new info on Marxist theory he's trying to ram into our heads, and not enough time to get it. I think a quarter of the class has dropped out already.))

((Ouch. No fun. I hate ideologically charged teachers, no matter if I agree with them or not. I just think that politics aren’t something that should be brought into the classroom more than needed. Unprofessional, if you ask me. Best of luck to you, man; I know you’ll do fine.

I also hate taking summer courses. Looks like I’ll be taking one next term, though :?.

Oh, are you going to be up much later?))

((probably not, I have to be up in three and a half hours for class... ugh.. just three more weeks. Shoot me now...

Thanks for the good wishes though, I can use all I can get right now ;) I think I'm gonna crash, g'night dude, sorry.))

((Ew, no fun. Get yourself a good night's sleep (or at least the best possible ;)). I'll catch you tomorrow.

Oh, and I was just asking 'cause there's a post coming out soonish that involves Larkinia. Be on the lookout for it tomorrow! 'night, man!))