NationStates Jolt Archive

Commander Ivanova stood the side as the last of the boxes were brought in from Highport. She signed off on the transfer and handed the itemized list to the Captain of the mansions security detail. He looked it over briefly and signed off on it then handed the clipboard back to the Commander.

"I'll be returning to Highport", the commander said as she checked the signature then tucked the clipboard under her arm. "The Gawdley teams should be arriving shortly and will be headed by Tanis."

"Kay", Baghtru said as looked at all the boxes on the floor of the foyer.

Ivanova turned sharpley and left the mansion.

"Let's get this stuff to the situation room", Arleena said as she entered the room. "I suppose we can get it unpacked. I'll open the shaft to the tunnel for whatever power and main processors need to be placed there."

Baghtru looked at the boxes, the narrow spiral staircase and then Arleena who was just looking back at him. Without saying word he grumbled something in orcish and grabbed one of the boxes.

"I heard that", she said, grabbing one herself, "say that again and I'll drain you dry."

She had cut communications with her delivery team when she heard the unmistakeable sound of heavy boxes being dropped carelessly, and the grating, annoying voice of the vamp-bitch herself, Arleena. Sighing, Tanis signed off on the requisition order, arranged her desk then stood and left her small office.

Coming down the stairs, she saw Baghtru shouldering a large crate. Before he could take a step, she called out to him, first using the High Elf language, then switching back to standard.

"Why wasn't I informed that these goods had arrived? I haven't taken inventory yet, or authorized the movement of this equipment."

Tanis looked at Arleena sharply, knowing full well who HAD given the orders. The half-elf smiled grimly at the vampiress, and let the disdain show in her voice.

"...or has Her Majesty decided that she can do my job better?"

Tanis held her breath for a moment, unsure whether Arleena was about to throw the crate she held so easily in her hands. The half-elf had dealt with many bloodsuckers in her time, but Arleena was more powerful than any she had ever met. Still, Tanis was the betrothed of King Turquine, and enjoyed his protection while she worked on the new computer systems being installed on DragonsReach.

The thought of him twisted her heart and caused her breath to catch. She missed him immensely, and feared for him constantly. All she wanted was for him to come back home to her, and take her away from the violence and intrigue that had plagued their lives recently. But he was a busy man, and until he returned, Tanis was stuck here, playing with technology and dealing with...her.

She returned her gaze to Arleena, noting the barely-restrained anger in her eyes. Tanis smiled sweetly, enjoying the vampire Queen's frustration.

Baghtru set down the crate and eyed Arleena. He knew he didn't have a snowballs chance in hell if she went off but it was his job to keep the peace in the mansion. He would try to. Not because it was his duty, which it was, but because Laura pulled him out of slavery and treated him kindly.

Arleena dug her fingers into the wood of the crate setting down with one hand as an exclamation came from outside. Ivanova came back through the doorway, seemingly dragged as by an invisible hand.

"What he HELL is going on?", she asked no one in particular.

"It seems your future queen has a stick up her ass about the procedures for delivery", Arleena said.

Baghtru groaned and sighed.

Ivanova looked at the sheet again. Everything looked in order. Delivery signature, receiving signature. Every crate accounted for. She looked at Tanis, "I'm not sure I understand, Ma'am. Per my orders everything is in order unless there's orders I'm unaware of?" Her tone wasn't confrontational or challenging, only strictly military neutral as it was most of the time. The time it wasn't was when she was off duty and then only rarely.

Tanis smiled, sweetly yet sarcastically, as she stepped onto the landing. Ignoring Arleena's barb, she turned to Ivanova and bowed slightly, her smile for the commander containing real warmth.

"Everything your team has done has been perfect, Commander, and I appreciate you personally taking control of the situation. I will let the King know of your efforts. Please, we won't detain you any longer. Tell your crew that they have my thanks."

Tanis turned to Baghtru, ignoring Arleena.

"Well, handsome...looks like you n' me will be hauling crates for awhile. We get it done quick, and the beers on me. If you don't mind starting now, I'll be right with you." The smile she gave him was filled with warmth for the gruff warrior.

As he shouldered a heavy crate with surprising ease, Tanis turned and walked directly the the vampiress, Arleena. Less than a foot separated the two, and Tanis had to look up to meet the Queens eyes. Her voice was quiet, measured, and filled with smouldering anger.

"The only thing I have up my ass these days is YOU, Leenie." She had taken to calling Arleena by this name, simply because she knew it would bother the regal and somewhat snooty vampire. Since thay had been left behind to deal with the ongoing computerization of DragonsReach, the two women had been at odds with each other. Today was no different, and Tanis was pretty sure that tomorrow would bring more of the same.

"Let me try to explain this to you one more frellin' time, sweetheart: this is MY show to run. The Kingdom is yours, the computers are mine. I don't tell you who to behead, and you don't tell me how to do my job. Capiche?"

Tanis was pretty sure the vampiress didn't even know what "capiche" meant, and hopefully she might even take it as an insult. The half-elf was playing a bit, knowing full well that her betrothel to King Turquine granted her protection, and a modicum of power herself. Still, Tanis held back with Arleena for the most part, knowing that she was a bloodsucker of the highest order, and a dangerous one at that. She stared at her, hard, then turned and grabbed a box, struggling to lift it. She was strong, elven strong, but the crate was massive. She saw Arleena smirking slightly at her efforts.

"You REALLY want to help me? Make yerself useful then..." Tanis tossed a meaningful glance towards the remaing boxes.

"

"As you pointed out, I have a kingdom to run", Arleena said as she headed up the steps to Laura's office. She hated being active Queen as much as Laura hated being Queen but she was sure she'd drain this bitch dry if she had to be around her any longer. If she was anyone else, or rather engaged to anyone else she wouldn't think twice about do so but the king was one of a number of people she could count on one hand about whom she would be wary in going up against. She sat down and examined the piles on the desk, sighing. "How do you do it?" she asked no one in particular as she picked up the first of many sheets.

Baghtru set down the heavy box with ease and turned to head back down.

"Your in a hurry", Anestia said as she turned from her position at the antiquated computer.

"Beers on Tanis once the boxes are up here", he said, "besides I'm head of security and with the royal snit Leena is having theres liable to be a deader down there if I don't get down quick.

"Butting heads again are they?" Anestia asked.

"Yeah", he said and headed for the spiral stairway down.

Anestia just chuckled and went back to her work, eyeing something odd in the standard messages.

She watched as the Queen returned to her duties, such as they were, and smiled in satisfaction. This round had no clear winners, but since Tanis had been able to slip in a "Leenie", she felt she had come out ahead. Putting her back into it, she hoisted a crate and began the long journey up the stairs.

The computer center was a mess, unopened crates littering the floor, wires and cables snaking madly about the room. Tanis placed her box in a corner, and stepped out of the way to let Baghtru pass, slapping him on the shoulder.

"Good work, big man...I don't know what I'd do without you. Just a few more boxes, and then we're done."

As he left, Tanis turned her gaze to the beautiful Drow warrior who sat at an old computer terminal, her forehead frowning in deep concentration. She was very lovely, but the half-elf knew that as pretty as she was, Anestia was even more deadly, which is why she hadn't been surprised when she found out the the Drow and Steele had more than a passing aquaintance. She was the type of woman that would appeal to her boss...strong, dangerous and drop-dead sexy. She approached Anestia unnoticed.

"Hey partner...whats up? You have that look on your face again..."

"It's this antiquated piece of goblin shit", Anestia said trying to reign in the run away computer. "It keeps telling me that files are being accessed. I damn well KNOW files are being accessed, I've been accessing them all day."

To one more experienced with computers it was obvious by looking at the tell tales that the system was being hacked from the outside.

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Baghtru lifted another crate to his shoulder then picked up the one that Arleena had conveniently left a hand hold in and headed back up the steps. Years of raiding with his orc tribe, pit fighting as a slave of the zhents and fighting in thier army and adventuring with Lauralin before taking up his post in the mansion served him well. Carrying the heavy boxes up the stairs didn't even leave him winded as he continued moving the equipement.

"It's this antiquated piece of goblin shit", Anestia said trying to reign in the run away computer. "It keeps telling me that files are being accessed. I damn well KNOW files are being accessed, I've been accessing them all day."


Tanis smiled inwardly, knowing how frustrating technology must be to someone accustomed to solving a problem with a broadsword. Leaning over Anestia's shoulder, the half-elf scanned the screen quickly. Something didn't seem quite right.

"Do you mind?" she asked absently as she pulled a stool up beside the Drow. Activitating her wrist comp, she unlatched a small cable, patching herself directly into the computers sub-system. A quick scan determined that Anestia hadn't caused any problems herself, but that the system was being accessed at a remote location and that the intrusion had bypassed the security firewalls that Tanis had set up only yesterday. While they were not yet configured for full functionality yet, the standard protocols should have been enough to keep out even a very persistant, and talented, cyber-hack.

Her brow furrowed in concentration as she tried to trace the intruder. A few moments later, she banged the desk in frustration, her attempt to track the hacker ending in a blank wall. Whoever was in the system now was good. Thankfully, the database and system controls were still in a beta state, and not yet accessible. The intruder would not find much of any import, but the fact they got in so easily disturbed her.

Not wanting to alert the hacker to her awareness, she quickly logged out, but not before attaching a leech to the hacker's footprint. With any luck, she would have a clear trail to follow once they had left the system. Turning to Anestia, she tried to cover the worried frown in her eyes.

"Umm...listen, maybe you should take a little break...let me see if I can find the problem..." Tanis didn't want to alarm the Drow, knowing full well that the mention of an intruder in the system would probably lead to a dagger stabbed through the CPU. Anestia was a lady who acted...quickly and decisively. That, and the thought that if the Drow was worried, she may inform Arleena, who would then find away to blame Tanis for everything. As Anestia nodded and stood to leave, Tanis returned her gaze to the computer, her brow furrowing in concentration.

Anestia reached the spiral stairway and then stepped aside allowing Baghtru entry.

"Done for the day?" he asked.

"No, stupid thing is acting wackier than yellowback in a wyrms den. I'm getting some drow wine." She stepped around Baghtru and headed down the stairs.

Baghtru put down the two heavy boxes and looked over at Tanis. "Everythings up, I'm ready for that keg of beer", he said good naturedly as he walked over.

"Now where the frell didja go?" Tabis muttered to herself, reverting to the gutter-speak she learned so many years ago. The intruder had seemingly vanished, but the half-elf was unsure if he was gone, or simply hiding. The computer was a relic, and was about to be replaced. Tanis reached out and powered down the network. Unplugging the machine, she put it aside for later...she could dig deeper, but under controlled conditions.

Once the new network went online, it would be virtually impenetrable. Tanis looked over at the half-unpacked crates of gleaming new computers, suddenly in a hurry to get the new system up. The cyber-hacker that had been in the system had heightened Tanis' sense of urgency. She stood up, noticing Baghtru in the doorway. Realizing he had spoken, she looked at him apologetically.

"Sorry, big guy...I got caught up cleaning up Anestia's little mess..." she smiled at the warrior, the long-running joke bringing a smile to Baghtru's face. Anestia was known for her...impatience with things that she could'nt kill.

"You know what? I think a keg or three sounds good...and of course, you'll reserve a dance for me?" she gave him a wink, her smile lighting up her face. Taking Baghtru by the arm, she let him lead her to the pub.

Baghtru nodded at her statement, "Yeah if don't bleed she can't deal with it", he said grinning. He led her to his favorite tavern. It was a small place, though it did have live entertainment. He pulled out a chair for, manners having been hammered into him by Laura, though after a while he didn't mind so much since it usually pleased the woman in question. The tavern was family owned and the prices were reasonable, but more to Baghtru's liking was the fact that the liquer wasn't watered down and the food was excellent.

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Dakaan pulled the jack plug from the implant to his brain and sat back. Someone was good with computers in Dragonsreach. 'I may need to up my fee', he thought. Then again going back on a deal with Shadowspawn was never a wise idea. The main frame was still online but someone had shut down the system where the files were stored. Arleena wasn't foolish enough to keep the files in the main frame, he had learned that much. It was easier to destroy the local system and leave the main open. He sighed and stood up, walking over to his bed. He would rest for awhile and then try again.

She barely noticed the quality of the food, the coldness of the ale or the laughter and warmth of the group in the pub. Tanis's mind was dancing with the strange encounter that had recently played out. The DragonsReach system had been hacked, the security system breached by a very talented individual. There had been no trace of entry, or exit, and even the leech that she had attached to the faint footprint she found, failed to return any solid information to her. In fact, if not for Arleena's interference in todays shipment, there was a good chance hte hacker would have never been seen.

His downfall had been the ancient computer system that had been hooked to the network. It's processor had been unable to accomodate more than one user at a time, leading to numerous "accessing files" delays, which in turn frustrated Anestia enough for Tanis to notice. Conversely, that same system prevented the half-elf from being able to respond to the threat. If the new system had been set up, no one would have noticed the stealthy intruder.

Her concern at this point was not the who, but the how. She drained her beer mug, not even acknowledging Baghtru as he refilled it. Her mind was running through all her options, and her frown of concentration added worry lines to her forehead. Suddenly, she smiled, her face relaxing. Tanis had a plan, one that hopefully would work. She decided to implement it first thing in the morning. In the meantime, she had some serious drinking to get to.

Slamming her fist down on the table, she tossed a handful of gold coins into an empty mug. The sound of her fist drew the eyes of the other patrons, who smiled in anticipation of what was to come.

"CHALLENGE!" Tanis yelled at Baghtru, grabbing a pitcher of beer, and pushing one towards him. She was aware of the bets rapidly being placed around her. Their drinking contests had become legendary around the pub, and greatly anticipated. So far, they were fairly even in results, and it was impossible to pick a sure winner on any given night. The bartender quickly brought over more pitchers, two in each hand.

Smiling at Baghtru, she lifted a pitcher into the air, toasting the crowd.

"Well, big man, time to get whupped again. Try and give me a run for my money tonight, ok?"

Her grin was feral and deadly, but filled with love and warmth for the gruff warrior that faced her.

Baghtru laughed and nodded taking another pitcher. His eyes locked with Tanis' waiting for the signal when a man stepped forward. "Captain Uth Matar? We have a situation."

Baghtru lowered the pitcher and looked at the man. "Your of the city guard, that's Brooks territory."

"She's away guarding the Queen, Sir."

Baghtru looked longingly at the pitcher and then sighed and stood up. He straightened his shirt and checked his swords. "This better be good", he told the man.

"It's murder, Sir."

Baghtru frowned and followed the man out tossing three gold to the father at the bar.

"Be well, Captain", he told Baghtru, his words heartfelt.

She had listened closely to the rushed exchange, and nodded to Baghtru as he tossed her a look of apology. Tanis understood the man's ideals...business before pleasure. As the grizzled warrior left with the Captain, Tanis sat back in her chair, sipping her beer thoughtfully. Death was no longer an everyday occurrence on DragonsReach, and murder even less so. She was confident that Baghtru would take care of the situation, and call her in if her specialized skills were needed. In the meantime, Tanis had her own situation to consider.

Draining her mug, she ran through her thoughts yet again. Someone had tried to breach the DragonsReach firewalls, and in fact, had made it into the framework of the sub-system. Only the fact that a single, decrepit terminal was maintaining the network at that time saved them from a massive security breach. She refilled her mug, the thick foam threatening to overflow. Tanis hadn’t been able to find a trace of the intruder in the system since then, and this disturbed her more than anything else. She hoped she hadn’t scared the cyber-hack off, and that he would try again. This time she’d be ready for him.

Finishing her drink, she stood and waved down the bartender. She spoke with authority towards the door.

“Put that on my tab, and a round for the house as well. Oh, and keep my seat warm…” Tanis gave the bartender a small wink, and left the pub. She made a beeline for the control center, the guards moving out of her way as she virtually ran by them. Entering, she eyed the various crates and boxes that lined the walls of the room. Mentally composing a list, the half-elf went shopping for the various components she needed to trap Casper. She smiled to herself, thinking the name appropriate for the ghost in her machine.

Baghtru arrived at the scene and surveyed the carnage. Blood and entrails were scattered about the floor, wall and even the ceiling. It was worse than he and Brook on thier worst day. A metal cylander was on the floor that had apparantly been on blocks in the center of the room, the door had been bashed outward and the hinges indicated that something had broken out, not into it. A chair with wires sat in a corner with electronic equipement of some kind and various instruments of torture, things which Baghtru, from his time as a slave, and a recalcitrant one at that, was more than passingly familiar. A computer system, a rather complex one was smashed. He knew he couldn't get any information from that. The corpses, or rather the pieces of the bodies were strewn about. It would be hard to find the weapon that did this, he knew, but he'd try. The crime was recent and blood still dripped down onto him from the ceiling, though it didn't bother him in the least.

"Bag and tag it all", he said, "and make sure you don't ruin any of the evidence. Send it to the mansion to the office I share with Brook, I'll look it over there."

"And the remains sir?" asked on of the constabulary, a grizzled veteran of the black dragon elite unit, one of the first one in the law enforcement department.

"My office, I want to see it first."

"Sir", said another man who was younger and trying to keep down his lunch as he spoke.

"Yeah?"

"I have a set of tracks leading away, nothing special leading in, at least normal usage tracks but that it."

"Show me."

The man led Baghtru to the tracks and began following them as Baghtru followed him.

In the meantime the others began tagging the evidence and bagging it then sending it to Baghtru's office.