NationStates Jolt Archive

Housdon Int'l. was the main transport hub for travel in Imitora. While Northampton's Cavel Int'l. was the main point for world wide travel, Housdon, in the center regions of Imitora, was used more for inter region travel. In was a home away from home for buisness men, tourists, military men and women in transit, and the occasional religious nut job.

Today was the day of teh occasianal religious nut job. Imitora was a Catholic nation, with over 82% of the nation being Church going Catholics. The man walking through the main terminal was part of some new found new age relgion that believed in peace and love, at the destruction of others. In his back pack, a small aresol spray can sit, waiting for use. Inside teh can was a simple nerve agent. Nothing special, nothing fancy, just a nerve agent.

As he walked, he faked a trip, his bag falling open, and teh can rolling out. In the busy airport, no one noticed. He stood up, then walked off. Half an hour later, the can hissed loudly, and sprayed its contents out into the air. The closed airport, designed so that no biological agents could get in, kept the nerve agent inside the building. It quickly spread through the air circulation system, and into other parts of the airport. Within five minutes, the entire airport was silent, over 850 people dead.

The fire prevention system sensed the introduction of the agent, and thinking that it originated outside, it shut the doors down, locking everyone inside, and sealing the exposed windows and doors. The system made to prevent death only helped it. Half an hour later, due to rush hour traffic, the first of the rescue vehicles arived, far to late to do any help.

The screens of TVs showing coverage of the events show an unmistakable sceene. Bodies are strewn throughout the airport, some with pools of blod around the nasal and oral areas, showing blood having been coughed up. Men and women in black and yellow biohazzard suits walk around, checking for left over contaments. So far, none had been found. On TVs world wide, a black 760iL can be seen rolling up to the airport, and First Speaker Fortier stepped out. He looked around, and approached the door, brushing away reporters and replying to every question with 'no comment'. Those who knew Fortier well knew he was in a different state of mind. The look on his face hand't been seen since the attempted assasination of previous First Speaker Ormsby. He walked over to a fire fighter, spoke breifly, and returned to the reporters.

He brushed off his black suit jacket, and looked into the cammeras. "This is the official statement regarding what has happened. This is obviously a terrorist attack of large proportions, you dont need me to tell you that. What I can say is this. First, we donot yet know who is responsible for this attack, yet. However, I will personaly make sure that we find whomever is responsible for this attack, and make sure that they are brought to justice. Second, we will find out who supported the group that made this attack, and bring down the wrath of God on them. Third, their will be no mercy on anyone who hinders our search for those who have brought this tragedy upon us, and for those who think that we are bluffing, look to the former nation of Deazeman. They once were a mighty nation, large and powerful, but look now. And they only killed one Imitoran. That is all, for further questions, I will direct you to Press Representative Regan Murphy."

Fortier then returned to the BMW, were he slid into the back seat. The door was closed by an ISS operative, and the car left the sight.

Vice President bottom had just returned from his trip in the territories. This news was troubling but not altogether unwelcome. Intelligence services had been indicating for some time that this nation was most vulnerable to internal rebellion rather than external threat. Hell, Bottom thought, what could wipe out an entire space fleet powered by antimatter? Not much. he would keep tabs.

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Official Press release from the Executive office of the President

The people of Fultonia mourn the loss of these brave allies and innocent civilians. We hope these people are avenged and the purpetrators brought to Justice.

Foriter looked at the message from Jefferson's office. It was the standard diplomatic, 'we're sorry, sad to see, weep a tear, f*ck you' message. He made a mental note to send a response of thanks, and then went back to work. THe room was filled with advisors. "So, whats next?"

"Well sir, we're doing everything we can. We've reintirmed pro-Deazemani types, as well as the rags. But thats all we have lead wise for now. Most of the time, these are followed up with letters claiming responsibility, but not this time. It doesn't follow the normal type of attack."

Fortier just nodded. "Keep on it, and get me in touch with McManus."
_____

The news shook the world. So far, in Imitora, all persons that were memebers of proDeazemani and so far 80% of non Catholics had been detained. Camps had been set up, in old fasion, with barbed wire fences and machine gun emplacements, keeping people in, and people out. However, that was the least of Fortier's worries.

In many cities across the southern coast of Imitora, riots were breaking out. For the past forty years, Imitorans had lived under intense laws and privacy invading initatives with the promise it would keep them safe. And it had. Since its inception as a nation, Imitora had never come under anyform of attack or strife. Sure, every now and then there were civil struggles, but they werre all worked through. But now it was appearnt. The lack of civil rights, the presure on citizens, and the recent attack, had broken the cammels back.

Riots had broken out in 12 cities so far, and they were violent. Police were not effective, all pervasive didn't mean outnumbering. Most citizens were armed as well, and many freely opened fire. With the 158th Urban Pacification Unit out on training in Hodgania, it was imposible to keep the riots down.
____

In Northampton, which was yet untouched by attack, a lone man sat in his living room, cleaning a rifle. It was a bolt action Artic Warefare Magnum, firing a .308 Lapua Magnum round. He continually boresighted the scope, and often looked over to the box of bullets next to him, looking at the self packed rounds. He then looked at the TV, with news about the riots. He had other plans.

Riots were quickly spreading across the nation, and soon, several cities, including Housdon, Certon, Verdon, and Westhampton. Northampton was on the brink, with protests day after day of the government. All calling for Fortier to step down, and let them elect a new leader.

Elect. It was a term the government hadn't dealt with in near 10 years. The belief was that no one would even know how to run an election. Of course, taht was assuming the people got their way, and that was an unlikely event. Because for that to happen would require Fortier to even ackowledge the protests, and to do that, he would have to leave the war room.

He was in a meeting with Connor McManus, head of the 3rd Light Security Force, and former commander of the 15th Urban Combat Infantry Unit. McManus was decorated and smart, two things that gained him respect.

"Honestly, First Speaker, the situation is a simple one. You dont even need me to solve it. Just go to all our enemies and orty them. Problem sovled."

"Connor, what we need is to keep this quiet. Our old school, blow the hell out of everyone, force them to the peace table, kick 'em in the nuts, f*ck you have a nice day tactic isn't gonna work. We need to go from the inside, route the bastards out, and gouge out their f*cking eyes."

McManus just nodded. "Well, I still have intell forces out there, trying to pick up what they can. My advice is to go talk to your people. They are a wee bit pissed, and calming down the riots will keep things a bit more frosty."

Fortier nodded. He signaled to an aide, and then went back to looking at press reports.
____

Outside the Government Office and First Speaker's Home in Northampton, the aide appeared on a balcony above the crowd. He waited a good ten minutes for them to quiet before speaking, and then, his words were clear and concise. "Ladies and Gentlemen, tommorow at 5:00pm, First Speaker Fortier will adress the nation from the Northampton Convention center. Tickets will go on sale in 2 hours, all rights are held to refuse entray to anyone. Thank you."

Despite the increasing presence of riot police, the protesters gathered without fear. Normaly, the presence of the black clad police officers with shotguns and riot armor would have scattered even the most determined, but not today. Today they were one. Today, they were strong. They shouted and chanted as the limo carying Fortier pushed by, and some even tried to jump out in front of it. ISS agents, upset they werent allowed the time to properly secure the area, observed thw crowd with a renewd vigalence.

The limmo stopped short of the door, and Fortier stepped out, flanked by ISS agents. He entered the hall, and strode confidently towards teh front amid the flash of cammeras, and pushed forward past video recorders. He approached teh stage, walked up the short stair case, and approched the podium. He looked out, and waited till the flashes stopped and the crowd quieted.

"Ladies and gentle..." he stopped as the window to his right crashed, glass shards flying through the air, and the feeling of deep warmth in his right shoulder increased. Then, he felt a sting, then cold, the warm again. Next, the ground, the hard impact. Then sliding along the stage, then being covered by ISS agents. Blackness. Pain. Nothing.

"F*ckin a we got a shooter, red red red!" one agent shouted, pulling out his .45 Kimber Custom.

"I see him, we got a runner, black shirt and blue jeans, big gun, taking the shot," one of the ISS snipers said over the radio. Their was the crack of a shot from a Remington 700 firing a .308 Lapua Hollowpoint. "He's down, confirmed hit."

Fortier had been hit in the shoulder by a similar round, a .308 Lapua Magnum round. It had entered his shoulder, then ripped into his chest cavity, before puncturing a lung, then exiting out below his abdomen. A black ISS MH-60I sitting on the roof of the building was started up, and by the time Fortier had been loaded on, it was enroute to Northampton's Dersco Medical Center.
___

Ryan Berstow, Minister of Internal Affairs, looked at the report. He then looked at the document sitting in front of him. There hadn't been a need to get a succesor for a President or First Speaker in over 45 years. This was a bad situation. Since the revising of the articles which outlined First Speakership or Presidentship, nothing had been written in regarding the replacement of an incapacitated or otherwise inable First Speaker.

He heard the door open and looked up. A young girl, maybe 24 at the oldest, walked into the office. She had a smallish frame, and dirty blonde hair that accented her face. Her clothes were simple, a black jacket over a white blouse and black skirt with heels, and she wore a small amount of makeup. "Ummm, hi," she said, somewhat meekly.

"Who are you?" he almost barked at her, his eyes staring daggers. She backed away, almost as if he had.

"I'm Anna Frateli, the Colonial Speaker. You called an emergency meeting Minister Berstow?" Her voice sounded young an innocent, and he knew she was. She was never meant to be a Speaker, but she was the intern for the Colonial Speaker, who was murdered on his way home from work just under a year ago. The colonists were upset that their rep was girl who was born and rasied in Imitora, not in one of the colonies. But then again, none of the other speakers really had any power at all, so it didnt matter.

He looked her over, and noting that she was teh first to arrive, spoke quickly. "Congrats, your the new First Speaker of Imitora." Her jaw dropped. "Fortier was shot, I'm sure you've heard. Hes in the hospital right now, and we dont know how hes gonna be. Till he gets out, your in charge."

"But..."

"No buts, its an executive order," he lied. Of course, she didn't know that, and there was nothing she could really do about it anyway. He pulled out a Bible and handed it to her, then pulled out a small sheet of paper. "Do you, Anna Frateli, swear to uphold and keep the duties of this office, protect the nation in all its times, offer no mercy to those who tempt to violate the sanctity and soverignty of the nation, bring peace to the people, and represent the people of The Grand Domain Of Imitora, Its Lands and Colonies, and Its citizens until other wise relieved of these duties, no matter the cause?" She nodded. "Then by the power given to me through executive order number 2257 under Former President Elizabeth Waitkus as Minister of Internal Affairs, I hearby proclaim you as the First Speaker of Imitora, Commander of Her Military, Representative of Her People, and Leader of Her Lands. Lets go meet your cabinet."