NationStates Jolt Archive

By now it was being broadcast to news networks worldwide interested in Aerion, and throughout Aerion itself. The Lord Chancellor, second in line to the Royal Regency to replace the now dead Royal Regent had been gunned down by a sniper while stepping out of his limousine to enter the Royal Palace in Astevane, in what was supposed to be one of the most secure areas in all of Aerion. He was pronounced dead on the spot. The gunman had somehow evaded the underground tunnel’s security system, and had gotten away. Rumors were already flying that this may have been an “inside job” and someone high up in the Royal Government had him done in or one of the many groups who opposed him rising to power.

Members of the Privy Council, the Royal Cabinet were already publicly blaming the assassination on the People’s Liberation Army of Aerion, the communistic terrorist association that had been responsible for the King’s airship exploding and him going into a coma, as well as the blowing up of the Royal Opera House which killed many within Aerion High Society. But some were saying this was different, though the Captain of the Royal Guard who was officially responsible for the Lord Chancellor’s protection was also blaming it on the PLA. They seemed to be the best scapegoat..

There were already plans for an emergency session of the Privy Council to select a new successor for the Royal Regency. Though many of the Great Officers of State and the Ministers on the Privy Council were keeping themselves locked in their own homes, leaving the duty of running the Ministries to their Deputies, and using their private security forces to guard the inner perimeter while distractingly allowing the Royal Guard to carry out their duties in other spots. Even the Royal Governors of the Provinces in their own Provincial Capitals were keeping themselves locked in their Palaces. The situation was truly escalating………….

High Arcanist Balthazar watched the news on the holoscreen. With the Lord Chancellor of Aerion dead, and the King in coma, a vacuum of power that left him unsettled generated. Surely there would be many within the Grand Kingdom ready to seize the crown, and the political turmoil would be great in the months to come.
Relations with Aerion, the Technocratic Republics' southern neighbor, had always been peaceful and cordial, if a bit distant, so there was no direct issues with who claimed the crown or how. However, many corporations from the Federation had business there, and with the great level of political intervention there was in Aerion's corporate world, any threat to it's stability was also a threat to business. And in the later years the Arcanists had come to like the role of the Federal Business Combine, once they understood that the world of trade and commerce was as tricky as the world of magic and spellcasting.

Balthazar, who currently held the place of Surrogate Supreme Arcanist of the Federation in replacement of lord Mordenkainen and lord Bigbi while they remained on their visit to the Omeldor-1, would have to make the Federation's concern known to Aerion. A letter sent through ambassador Dassar would suffice for now, although if bigger problems arise he would have to take a stronger stance.


To: Grand Kingdom of Aerion
From: Surrogate Supreme Arcanist of the Magocentric Federation of Technocratic Republics

It is of our concern that the future election of a King within the Grand Kingdom may represent political instability within Aerion, and thus we offer our collaboration in order to make the process as clean as possible. Both the King and the recently deceased Lord Chancellor have our deep respect and condolences. We only hope for the situation to be resolved quickly and efficiently, and the guilty to be found. Know that the Grand Kingdom has the full support of the Federation for matters of intelligence in order to locate the perpetrators.

To: The Surrogate Supreme Archanist of the Federation of Technocratic Republics
From: Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Koalejen Tathar

Your Excellency,

We thank you for your concern, though feel we may handle the internal security of our nation on our own. There will be an emergency meeting of the Privy Council shortly, and they will select an successing Royal Regent. The Privy Council consists of all Officers of State, and Ministers. Therefore there will be a strong consensus, we hope. We thank you for your concern, and will contact you if we need your help.

Koalejn
His Majesty's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs

News reports indicate that investigations by the Royal Guard, responsible for investigating the assassination, have turned up cold. What is baffling everyone is how the assassin got around Aerion's complex security system. Each citizen in majority of urban or semi-urban areas is bar coded, and in a computerized database. Only the highest officials, corproate and government, or members of special agencies are not under the same surveillance and tracking as the majority of the population. There are extensive cameras in many areas. The news, under pressure, has not been reporting negatively and is still blaming the assassination on the People's Liberation Army of Aerion, the communistic terrorist group..

(OOC: If you are a nation that has interacted with me in the past, you may have more intelligence reports than the news is reporting. If you wish to know anything and have interacted with me in the past, just telegram me.)

News Headline: Senior Officer of the APLA CAPTURED!

A senior officer of the Aerion People's Liberation Army was captured today by the Royal Guard outside of the Commerce District of Astevane, the capital. He is being held in custody at a secret location, and is in the process of being interrogated now. The name of the person has not been released, but it is assumed this capture is tied into the assassination of the Lord Chancellor.

We will keep you posted with further news.

bump

Saerat, a man with long flowing black hair and even blacker eyes, sat at his desk deep in the lands of Christac. He was reading through his usual paperwork less adverts, more rights for homosexuals... when the television in the corner went on.

...ord Chancellor of Aerion has been shot leaving his limo, as he walked to the Royal Palace in Astevane, Sara Julba is on scene...

He looked up suddenly, who had turned that on?

A seat next to him turned to reveal a woman with long blond hair, wearing white from head to toe, with a large silver cross hanging from her neck.

"It’s an interesting story sir, I suggest you watch it" she said before turning back to face the television monitor.

"Hannah, I didn't think you were back from that meeting till next week" Saerat said, still a little jumpy from the shock of seeing her.

"What can I say, something came up, watch this!" She said a bit impatiently

Saerat turned to watch the report. Once it had finished he turned to face Hannah.

"It's always sad when a figure head is killed like that" He said looking at the floor and shaking his head

"We have to do something" Hannah said, a tone of seriousness clear.

Saerat looked shocked. "What does this have to do with us?"

"Nothing...it’s just that..." She trailed off and blushed slightly

"Is this to do with Jonny moving to Aerion?"

"No!" She shouted back "this is to do with our best sniper goes missing over Aerion's air space, and now there has been a snipping!"

Saerat knew that she made a good point. "I'll look into it" He said.

Hannah swirled the chair round. By the time the front was back in view, all that could be seen was the cushion, Hannah had gone again.

This snipping business was probably a fluke, but why not try it?

He sat there for a moment and thought. If a team was sent, he would have to make sure he could keep an eye on them, he did not want to make a bad situation worse. He would send five.

He opened up his laptop, after pushing files of it and started sending a message to the Privy Council, who he had heard were running the country at this point.

To whom it may concern

The nation of Christac would like to offer our support during these no doubt difficult times. We ask that we be allowed to send a peaceful diplomat, and four un armed escorts to Aerion, to represent Christac and our possible investment in this country in the near future. (OOC - Say no and I will simply leave this story)

Saerat Helmz
Head of State
Christac

That would do he thought to himself and clicked send.

To Saerat Helmz:

Your Excellency,

We would be pleased to have you in our nation, however at the moment the capital city of Astevane is locked down except to high level corporate traffic, Royal Government business, or military. We cannot allow further foreign visitors at this time. You may however be received at the city of Damonar, on the western coast.

Sincerely,
Koalejn Tathar
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs

"Your Holiness?" Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Rashcrov knocked.

"Enter." Alexei opened the door to see the Holy Emperor standing at his desk.

"Have you heard, Your Majesty?"

"Yes, I have. Come sit with me." The Emperor lounged in his large leather seat behind his desk. He picked up a cup of tea and inhaled, filling his lungs with the theraputic scent of lemon and honey.

"How could this happen? Aerion is one of the most secure countries in the world. Such a tragedy. . . " The Prime Minister's voice trailed off.

"What is even more tragic, is that there was an unmarked plane that flew into our borders and landed at the Brad R. Preston Imperial Air Force Base. General Vastios believes that a rogue element is harbouring the assassin in our country."

"No! Impossible!" The Deputy Prime Minister stood and paced.

"Impossible until now." The Emperor took out a large seal and wax, along with a sheet of paper and pen. He began to write:

TO: The Grand Kingdom of Aerion
FROM: His Sovereign Majesty, Emperor Orion of the Holy Empire of Stransworthe, Supreme Governor of the Protectorate of Southern Stransworthe

Deputy Minister Tathar,
It is with great sorrow and pain that this letter comes to you. On behalf of the entirety of the Empire and Protectorate of Stransworthe, I offer your my most sincere condolences in this time of great political and emotional turmoil. The Holy Empire of Stransworthe stands ready and willing to assist you in all ways necessary.

Secondly, an unmarked aircraft from Aerion landed at the private air force base near the border of the empire. If you know anything about this, please let me know. The Government will be sending a team out to investigate the sudden and unexpected arrival of said plane.


Sincerely,
Orion
Holy Emperor of Stransworthe
Supreme Governer of the Protectorate of Southern Stransworthe

The Emperor folded the letter in half and sealed it with the Imperial insignia.

The Deputy Minister took the letter. "I will personally deliever it to Tathar."

"Be careful, for the roads to Aerion may not be as secure as once thought." The Emperor stood before giving his young deputy the Holy Blessing.

"Safety is on my side," the Deputy Minister bowed out of the door before closing it softly.

To: His Sovereign Majesty, Emperor Orion of the Holy Empire of Stransworthe, Supreme Governor of the Protectorate of Southern Stransworthe

From: Koalejn Tathar

Your Majesty,

We believe the jet in question was carrying an high ranking corporate executive, and is not of concern. We keep very close monitoring over aircraft entering, and exiting the country. Please do not detain the person, it is most likely an executive.

Sincerely,

Koalejn Tathar
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs

To: Deputy Minister Tathar
From: The Holy Empire of Stransworthe


Dear Minister Tathar:

The plane you described has been noted, and an official ambassador deployed to greet the disputed executive. No harm has come to the executive, and room has been provided in the Imperial Palace for our foreign visitor. We just wish we could have been warned in advance!

Cordially Yours,
Brad R. Preston
Prime Minister of the Holy Empire of Stransworthe
Lord Sovereign of the Protectorate of Southern Stranswrothe

P.S. The Emperor is currently in a meeting with the Archbishops of our lands, and has delegated his responsibility to me.

Hannah walked down the steps of the plane, after it had landed in Damonar. Her long white coat flapped along the steps as she did so. She got to the bottom, and turned to face the door.

She would have to play the part of a security guard for the time being

She looked around the horizon for a moment, saw nothing of threat and said "All clear" into her mouthpeice.

A woman wearing a multi coloured shirt and a brown trench coat walked down the stairs, she had a wooden cross round her neck; something from her boyfriend, and carried a bible with her. She was followed by three other people, all of which wore nothing but black.

Hannah whispered into the cuff of her coat, which she presumed to be the only secure line at this point "remember, we are security, nothing more for now people"

When she was sure they had all heard her message, she went up and joined them next to the stairs.

She saluted the woman with the cross to make the security act complete. The woman smiled at this.

"Don't let it go to your head Hazel" Hannah said as she put her hand back to her side.

She was about to reply when a group of local men approached them from the airport.

Who are these people?