NationStates Jolt Archive

[OoC: Some guidelines: No OoC only posts, and generally use characters. Otherwise - I don't care about tech levels or whatnot - if you're capable of obliterating my nation in one fell swoop I'm sure you can exercise restraint and RP like a civilised person. Also - Arani is a nation consisting of fantasy and sci-fi stuff (in case you didn't know - this part at least is set underground, seeing that we started as a drow nation) - if you find that so terrible as lots of people seem to now - well, you've been warned
Edit: This stuff is probably less needed now I've gotten the thread moved from II to NS...]

"Tomorrow, as you all should know, is the 100th anniversary of the day the civil war ended.," the teacher began the lesson, talking from the front of an artificial cavern to the children, all of whom paid rapt attention to her. It would have been, after all, far too disrespectful to do otherwise, and they were all interested in this lesson, one of the great stories of Arani which was told nearly every year in the same fashion, but was so filled with adventure and power that it was more exciting than most fiction.

Once more the teacher began relaying the story, starting with the end of the AMND-GDODAD war by the nuclear bombing of Fardinia and to the usurping of Sinrë's rule by Annilon and his hurried flight into the Underdark with his small band of mostly metapsychic followers. Annilon's 'freedom of religion' law, which allowed Lloth worship to thrive while he implicated all other faiths - especially that of Eilistraee - as traitors. The general apathy of the world to the situation save from Kaenei, Sith Rose and Blyclaaf, which amounted to nothing, and the joining of Kalessin to Annilon's side and Prince Irlbilse's arrival. The joining of the old enemy Whispering Voices to Sinrë's side and their betrayal (or was it?) when faced by the summoned Kalessini demon.

All during this Blyclaaf had stood firm in military force against Annilon, yet Annilon's advisor Nazgar was a superior tactician and caused the flooding of Blyclaaf, killing millions, while surface battles were disasters on both sides.
It was because of Di'yerni, a prisoner of Annilon, that both sides lost so many. By previously latent matapsychic powers she escaped, though often she is called either a demon or a goddess. It was she that destroyed Fardinia.

Fardinia - the surface cousin of Arani - was invaded by Annilon's forces who quickly gained control. Di'yerni, it is said, used her powers to make the entire surface a wasteland from which it still hasn't recovered. Many Fardinian citizens were mutated by drow magic, creating brutish soldiers which after the war escaped into Fardinia and have been a menace ever since.
Sinrë and his allies began recapturing cities. In one of these a demon made an attempt on the life of Lithien, the cousin of Sinrë, which she slew. Within another of these cities the resurrected Nartin had attacked Sinrë, this just before the rebels made their attack on Naraquil.

The teacher's disjointed account of the war switched back to telling of early days - where Annilon's tactical genius and ruthlessness killed 150 million people in Blyclaaf by flooding the nation. This she immediately tied in with the invasion of Fardinia, in which estimated billions were killed or mutated into vile creatures, and the chemical weapon attack on Derto which killed 75 million.
The lecture turned to Sinrë's attack on Naraquil, the fall of both leaders and almost all their followers, and the dark age which came upon Arani until the founding of The First Council. So finally the rambly lesson came to an end, with the students filled with awe with the events of a hundred years ago, and a renewed feeling of the great age they now enjoyed.

***

Neshi sat with her back against the ancient wall, now crumbling after a millennia of defending the Naraquil Palace. She stared at where she knew the scorch marks to be, burnt into the stones of the courtyard a hundred years ago today, though invisible in the dark. While the candle she had brought with her had been blown out long ago, she was fine with sitting in the near complete darkness of the Underdark, lit only by very faint illumination of the city beyond.

Lighting within the city had just been turned on, it being generally accepted in Arani as being morning, the lights being provided for the few humans which still lived in the underground city - she amoung them, youngest of the ruling council of Arani. She should be with them now, it was a long way from here to where she would have to be within a few short hours, when dull electric lights were replaced with candles as part of the mood setting for the ceremony to come. Here was calming, however, soothing her worries, gazing at the sight of both a tragedy and relief from a hundred years ago. This spot is said to be where Di'yerni had fallen from the sky, the entire city being where the war ended, bringing on the dark age that had lasted for years. She wondered whether they were truly free of it yet, or whether some other turning point in the future would be where historians would point at and go 'The darkness ended here'.

But then, maybe they had already done so. She had slept in cryo for the past eight years, and was hopelessly out of touch with the world. It had taken that long for the doctors to discover a cure for the unexpected genetic disorder that had mutated out from the experimental meddling with her DNA which had threatened to kill her. Rather than lose yet another of the Council, it was decided that she would be frozen in equally experimental cryogenic technology in the hope that a cure would be found, which had happened sooner than most predictions had indicated.

It was another hour before she finally stirred herself from contemplating, mounting the lizard which had waited patiently for her and hurrying it through the ruined palace gardens - avoiding crumbling structures where ever possible. Many times looking up at the partially collapsed spires she felt that they could come toppling down at any moment - and indeed some had during the battle and in the years afterwards. No one had ever restored anything here nor aided in its destruction since the war, that it still stood mostly in one piece was a testament to the skill of the drow from a former age - when drow rather than half-breeds ruled Arani.

***

The five members of the Second Council stood together with the Blyclaafian group, consisting of the President, President's wife, Chief of Air Force, Chief of Navy, Supreme Military Commander and Foreign Minister. The mourning 'ceremony' had been going on for most of the day, with all those involved showing their respect in their own manner. Soon, however, it would be time for the obligatory speeches, and a large crow was assembling in the streets where the address would be made. All five of the Council would speak, as well as the Blyclaafian President and their Foreign Minister. Chances are that most of them would be kept short and to the point, as to speed on the state funded feast which all would be invited to take part in.
Arelesh, unofficial leader of the Council, walked out onto the makeshift podium, and the already solemn crowd was totally silenced. His speech lasted all of three minutes, thanking the people and the Blyclaafian group, and briefly lamenting what happened a hundred years ago and the many lives lost. Lerene Imorto followed him, giving a few minutes of optimism about the state of Arani since the war. Tiurun Asoftan, the only full blooded drow in the group, came next onto the podium and spoke in short soft sentences about how Arani could rival its greatness in battle as in the old days but direct its energies towards its enemies in order to become great as a whole. Having him vacate the stage swiftly, Narkran Lentil came up and spoke of future greatness and power for Arani, elaborating slightly on Tiurun's speech, though holding back from any real details. Finally Neshi came up, briefly apologising for her absence and assuring everyone that Arani's citizens would continue to prosper, and that there would never again be a war within Arani's borders. She then introduced the Blyclaafian President and ushered him on.

The President finished his speech about the conditions in the Blyclaafian colonies. And with the end of the speeches for the time being, dinner was ushered on. The meal was fit for many kings and in proportions for the whole city of Naraquil, the scene of the final battle of the Aranian Civil War. With jocularity and cheerfulness, everyone began eating the meals as they came to them. Edible fungi, Rothe steaks, giant lizard cutlets, some Blyclaafian beef bits and other things were provided for the hundreds of thousands of people who now call the iconic city home.

Shortly after the meal, the Blyclaafian Foreign Minister was asked to make his way up to the podium to make his speech. He got up to the podium and wished everyone good evening before looking down at his notes and seeing blood. He raised a hand to his nose, which upon his inspection revealed that his nose was bleeding. Retrieving a handkerchief from his pocket, he pressed on with his speech. Everyone else could see the blood running down from his eyes and down from his ears, yet the Foreign Minister had no idea what was happening. After a few seconds, he stood up, appearing white as a sheet. He then buckled in half, vomiting up what would seem like most of the blood in his body.

People feinted, others vomited themselves, their bile showing a much different colour to the Minister’s blood and others just looked shocked. The Minister then looked up at the President, his vision hazed by the blood in his eyes, before collapsing, dead.

The President’s voice bellowed out among the others that were being thrown around. Questions of “who has done it?” and “what happened?” were the main things being thrown around. After a few minutes, some Blyclaafian guards came in with two middle-aged men, dirty as if they hadn’t washed in days.
“Begging your pardon, sir,” the ranking guard said to the President, “but we found these two sneaking around outside.”

Narkran met the eyes of Neshi from across the table and raised a glass discreetly in toast. She really was magnificent, he considered, and he saw her flush slightly returning the gesture. It was a shame that she was human, even though he realised that as one of the things which attracted him to her, but it would mean her death so shortly - and worse, her withering from age. Being half-drow he could expect to live long past her. Soon regeneration technology might be available, however. Regardless of whether it was or not, he could not help but admire her as she was now - perfect.

Though she had just come from the freezer and undergone treatment for her deadly illness, all signs of it had gone, except perhaps for the weariness she displayed. The organisations for the feast had been taxing, with so many unexpected problems coming up at the last moment which she, for whatever reason, had decided to take on herself. Well, now she could enjoy the fruits (or in this case: fungoids) of her labour. Narkran grinned and drank, allowing his glass to be taken away along with the remainder of the food when he put it down. The meal disappeared with efficiency around him, and up stood the Blyclaafian Foreign Minister to prepare for his speech - hopefully more inspiring than the President's. Honestly - who cares about the conditions of the Blyclaafian colonies - this was a memorial - not a political debriefing.

Politely, he looked towards the Minister and let his face assume an interested expression while his ears stopped listening. Something he ate wasn't quite agreeing with him, probably that damn orange stuff. Never should trust fungus from below the Endalier colony, they had some strange ideas. Preoccupied as he was, he didn't notice the dying Minister. His ears, tuned in to hear Neshi's voice at all times, heard her gasp and he glanced towards her. She stared rigidly, and panic grabbed him - what was wrong with her? Movement around him gained his attention, and he looked back to the Minister just in time to see him double over and throw up a torrent of blood. The noise around him rose as did the guests, many in panic. Turning his head around frantically now he saw some others bleeding. Insanity took over.

Back across the table he looked, to see Neshi face-down on the table. His heart flittered, there was no pool of blood about her, but that meant nothing. Who knew what was going on. He scrambled over the table and pushed his fingers to her neck pulse. Good, she was still alive, unlike several others he could see. Don't worry about them the selfish part of him thought. She's the only one who matters here. Get her away

Cries of fear and uncertainty came from everywhere - he ignored them, he couldn't have answered them anyway. A fuck-up this big was Arelesh's problem. Lifting up the unconscious young woman he hurried towards Naraquil's hospital and cursed himself for a fool about the time where he's help overturn the idea of emergency medical vehicles. Oh shit what if the doctors have all gone and gotten themselves killed he thought as he rushed into the reception, having legged it a good way through the city. Fortunately it was not so - they were just getting started on that - eating leftovers from the feast which had been saved for those who could not possibly have left their work to attend.

"Don't eat that!" he yelled, the panic in his voice stopping them immediately, and they gawked at their prominent patient and her rescuer. "And don't just sit there - help her! And call in everyone you bloody well can, you're going to need them. ... Shut up and do it!"
They jumped to his call - it was best to when deranged people - especially deranged leaders - ran into your waiting room with an unconscious person and started yelling orders at you.

***

The four Council members gathered around her bed, each worried in their own way, but nevertheless used the time to discuss the problem. They had been released from treatment an hour ago - the bacteria having being eliminated from their systems without causing any major damage. The same could not be said for a thousand others, who were dead or otherwise affected by the bug. Considering how many had been infected, this was nearly a positive result: If it hadn't been an act of war.

But it seemed it had been. Guards had captured two of the perpetrators, who were obviously of Phrynese descent. It wouldn't be long before they were made to talk. Then action would need to be taken. It was obvious what - the annihilation of the perpetrating nation, but the question lingered: why would anyone attack Arani and Blyclaaf? It seemed, quite simply, like the most retarded idea imaginable.

... Oh well.

The Foreign Minister, Jay Gnossis, was sitting in his office and relaxing. That is, listening to some Beethoven, preferably, the Seventh Symfony. According to him at that moment, nothing could or should go wrong.
But it did. His secretary phoned in.

"Yes?"
"Uhm...there has been an incident."
"An incident? What? Where? How?"
"The anniversary of the Great War between Annilon-Arani, Blyclaaf and us. That one that we weren't invited to. According to early reports it was a poisening of some sort. The effected was almost everyone, symptoms is supposed to be like Ebola."
"....."
"Sir?"
"Oh my sweet suffering Jesus. How long ago did it happen?"
"Hard to tell, but roughly 1 hour ago."
"Is the President informed?"
"Yes."
"Phone his secretary and tell him to arrange a meeting with the President. Now."
"Yes Sir."

--------

Soon afterwards Jay Gnossis and the President had their meeting.

"Mr. President, has the Intel any preliminary reports about who could have done it?"
"No, regrettfully no. But they say that who, or what that was behind this attack clearly has some clear reason, guts and opportunity to it. But exactly who could it be, they can't tell."
"Darn. With you premission I while write together a statement go public with it."
"No, I will write it. And call the Council of Arani and inquire if they need assistance. We might have at eachothers throaths, but that was a long time ago."
"Yes Mr. President."

------

The statement:
"A dastardly act of terrorism has been done unto Arani. The target was the 100th peace Anniversary of the end of the Great War and those who was there, a Blyclaafian delegation with the Blyclaafian President and his wife and other highranking officials and the Second Counsil of Arani as well. Derto will stand by Arani, as we have before. If Arani asks for help, we shall give it. With no hesitation. May God watch over those who was attacked with all his might and glory. Unite and Prosper."

The knock at the door went unanswered. Slowly, the young Leiutenant opened the door to the Field-Marshall's office. Peering in, the young officer found the Field-Marshall asleep at his desk.

Tiptoeing in, with the folder in his hands and his helmet on his head, he made his way, slowly, to the Field-Marshall's side.
"Sir." He whispered.
The Field-Marshall replied with a strong grunt.
"I need to speak with you, sir."
The Field-Marshall rolled his head over to look up at the Leuitenant before returning to the position he was found in.
"What do you want, Leuitenant?"
"Sir, there's been a biological attack on the Aranian Civil War Anniversary dinner."
The Field-Marshall sat up slightly, his arms supporting him as he squinted at the Leiutenant.
"What? By who?"
"Reports say that our guards found two Phrynese men, dirty as all hell, sneaking around the banquet area." the Leuitenant replied, reading the information on his sheet.
"What's happening with those two?"
"They're being interrogated by the Aranians. The President also asks you to put an invasion force together for the possible invasion of Phryne. The Cheifs of the Air Force and Navy are slowly recovering from the attack and will push their orders when they are fit."
"What of our Supreme Military Commander?" the Field-Marshall asked, as he sat back in his chair.
"He is no more, sir."

*********___________************______________***********
The helicopter's engine droned down as the three officers piled out of the machine and headed for the mess hall. After opening the doors and allowing the air conditioning to take it's effect on them, after the heat of the outside, they walked into the mess hall.
"Attention!!!" a Master Sergeant called out and the whole mess hall stood at attention, facing the direction of the three officers.
"As you were," Major Markson cried out and the hall sat back down and kept eating. "An order came through this morning. An order that you all will most probably remember for the rest of your life. Training's over, boys. We head out to Mobilisation Point 1 tomorrow afternoon."
With that, he left the hall, leaving the two Captains.

"The bug is reacting strangely in her," the nurse told Arelesh. "There are no other cases in which the victim has reacted so, and we worry that it might have something to do with her previous illness."
"Right," he said. "And uh - what can you do about it?"
"We're hoping for an antibiotic soon, but, of course, our health system is hopelessly underfunded," she replied, obviously trying not to make it sound like an accusation. Arelesh felt somewhat guilty, and promised silently that he's make a press for more medical funding next time the Council met.
"Okay, and the disease is contained? There's no chance of it contaminating the rest of the city?"
"It seems that most are immune to it, actually. Only a relatively few unlucky ones aren't, which is a quite amazing chance."
"Excellent. I'll see that money is diverted immediately to health care. Now I'd best leave."
"Of course sir, let me show you out."

***

"What news?" Narkran asked as Arelesh as he came down the ancient stairs which were only now falling into disrepair. They were in the palace's dungeons, which hadn't been used for a hundred years since Annilon was overthrown - of course, they had seen so much use then as to make up for any neglect they might have felt at being abandoned over the last century.
"They say that the disease is contained, and that the chance of it spreading is quite remote."
"And Neshi?" he asked, making it unintentionally clear that had been all he was interested in.
"Still unconscious, they don't have a clue. There's been no change in her condition. Have you gotten anything from the prisoners yet?"
"Not yet. Of course, so far our interrogation methods have been rather light. It shouldn't be too soon before they break when we start getting more primitive in style. Would you care to help?"
"No problem."

It took two hours for them to get what they wanted by traditional Arani methods of interrogation. Armed with new information they left the dungeon and hurried to meet with the Blyclaafian President.

***

Response to Derto:

"We are glad for our old allies support once more, and hope that we can put the considerable differences from the past behind us. It is sad that it takes a calamity to unite us once more, but that is the way the world works. Let us hope a calamity on our enemy will occur soon. Please send an ambassador, the Council feels that we have much to discuss."

In the private office of the President. Where he sat alone with some reports.
He shuffled the papers...trying to grasp the current situation.
The aranians has accepted the offer.
"Very well then", he thought. "Better inform the military about this and......the civilian authorities. They need help....my God....they need help. If the reports of lacking medical resources are correct. "
When his gaze fell upon a different paragraph he let slip out a little "Oh....".
"They want an ambassador....now is as good time then never to reopen the diplomatical channels. Who should we send...."
He scribbled down three names....Aegnor Rómmanon, Danuta Heizerowska and Otto Mahnstrahle. All good diplomats....but which one?
Aegnor? No....could need the experiance, but don't have it.
Danuta? Hmm.....no...I need her here....for the eventual situations here...I'll keep her in reserve.
That means that only Otto is left. Then Otto Mahnstrahle it is.

6 hours later, Otto left Derto headed to Arani to be Dertos first aranian ambassador in more then 100 years.

The Blyclaafian President left the room after having been informed of the recent developments. Information which had been extracted from the prisoners was dodgy at best. Vague hints of an insane scheme to take over Blyclaaf and Arani by killing their leadership. Arelesh remained sceptical. Only the looniest of megalomaniacs would come up with something like this, especially someone leading a nation as small as Phryne. Narkran, on the other hand, was more open to believing their story. Sure, they could be lying or not know the truth, but it wasn't a badly executed plan really. There was no way it could have resulted in taking over the two nations openly, but with a bit of sneakiness it could have worked. The other two present members of the council - Lerene and Tiurun, had not shared their opinion on the matter.

"Alright, we now have a Dertonian ambassador coming here. Which of us are going there to meet with him, and who'll keep an eye on things here?"
"Well, we can hardly have such an important guest and not have our glorious leader not there to welcome him, so I guess you'd better go, Arey. Personally I'd rather stay here - maybe Lerene could go with you. Diplomacy wouldn't go too far astray here," said Narkran.
"I've no objections," said Lerene. "Will he be going to a surface location, or the Airhole?"
"Surface, at Derebleth. We figure it would be more comfortable for him. Some find the Underdark intimidating. Oh, and Tiurun - could you see about getting our forces into condition. I know some have started preparations already, oversee it."
Tiurun nodded. "It should not be too hard. Though we have not been at war for a long time, our forces should be ready. If they're not I'll see that heads roll."
"Of course. Let us go then."

***

The train system which the First Council had implemented at the end of their reign took the two council members towards the surface quickly. The city of Derebleth was not excessively far from Naraquil, and they arrived just before the plane carrying the Dertonian ambassador touched down. "Greetings," Arelesh said in Derto's language. "You are Otto Mahnstrahle I presume. I am Arelesh, and this is Lerene. We are grateful to Derto for this gesture of friendship, and did sincerely mean what we said about hope for putting the past behind us. Come, let us talk somewhere more comfortable."

"Yes, it would nice to go somewhere more comfortable," Otto said politely, and followed the two half-drow to the reception desk, where Arelesh asked to hire three lizards.
"I suppose this isn't as high-tech as you'd expect in Derto, but this is how we travel short distances here. You don't mind?" said Lerene.
Otto was slightly shocked with the notion of riding lizards, even though it was in the brief summary he received. "I don't mind. I must say. It will be a new experience for me. Are they calm, even for a beginner?"
"Very calm. They'll respond to your verbal command, which is useful for inexperienced riders. They're certainly not dangerous."
"Well ... that eases my nervousness. Good to know that ... any useful verbal commands I should know?"
"Just basic things to get where you're going - forward, left, right, stop, sit - that sort of thing," she took hold of the lizard which the airport staff led to her. Two more were brought out, one which Arelesh took ahold of, and one which was seated next to Otto.
"Thank you," Otto said, and carefully climbed into the saddle. "This is a new experience, indeed."
The other two mount up smoothly. "It's only a short way to the government building. You should be a proficient rider by the time we get there, however," Arelesh grinned and spun his mount around.
"I hope so too. Forward?"
The lizard moved forward slowly, sensing its rider's inexperience. Lerene and Arelesh controlled theirs without verbal commands, and made sure to herd the other in the right direction.

The ride took about fifteen minutes, the streets being generally empty of traffic today. Derebleth wasn't a very hasty city, being mostly residential in this part, and most people already at their work or, for those who preferred to live at night, at home asleep. The government building was unimposing in style. It was open at all times and accessible to the public, the officials at Derebleth being unusually welcome to feedback and criticism.

They dismounted and led the lizards to a pen, where they would stay until needed again. It would have been possible to take another quicker way into the building by riding straight up the wall into a chute above, but they feared ambassador would not look kindly to that. An informal meeting room was waiting for them on the third floor.

They sat down, with Otto beginning the conversation. "The points of interest for today, should be the restoring of mutual diplomatic channels, and the help effort from Derto. Those are the two points I want to discuss. Otherwise we should talk about the points of interest according to you."
Arelesh: "Restoring of diplomatic channels is, of course, the utmost of importance to us, and we may as well start there. What would you propose in this regard?"
Otto: "The opening of embassies in each other's capitols. We open one in Naraquil, and you open one in Hazney. But until then, we could make do with simple diplomats, as us."
Arelesh: "Naraquil may not be the best of places to host an embassy. The city has long since stagnated, and is mostly just a site of historical significance now. Also - your embassy staff may have problems with living below ground, as most of those who live there now are either drow or half-drow, and so there is very little lighting. A surface city would make a much better site."
Otto: "Then why not the fair city of Derebleth? It would still be close to Naraquil, and be topside. Best of two worlds."
Lerene: "Here would be a fine place for an embassy. Now, can we move on to the help effort?" There was a nod from Arelesh.
Otto: "Yes. That would be of outmost importance, if the reports we are receiving has any truth it in."
Lerene: "Most of those who were infected by the bug have died, nearly a thousand people. This we can cope with ourselves. However, there are several special cases where the bug has had different effects, such as in one of our own Council members Neshi. Arani, having very little invested into health research, wonder at the state of Derto's and whether it could be of use here in these cases?"
Otto: "We might not have anything regarding, this specific bug. But we have good medical knowledge, both civilian and militarian. If this bug is some kind of biological warfare then military might have some information. Otherwise ...we would do our very best. We have resources. For something like this ... we could always divert more money and resources."
Lerene: "We would, of course, be able to compensate you for any research done for our benefit."
Otto: "It wouldn't be necessary. For you to compensate us, see it as an act of goodwill and charity."
Lerene: "We are most grateful to Derto and their generosity. Would it be best for us to move the patients to Derto, or for your people to come here?"
Otto: "I would have to contact Hazney. But I would guess that a transfer would be better, Otherwise we would be forced to ship equipment and personnel in a greater scale, then just transferring the patients."
Lerene: "Of course. Is that all for this topic?"
Otto: "For now at least."
Arelesh: "I'd like to bring up possible retribution against the perpetrators, who we believe to be the nation Phryne, though we are yet to challenge them. What is Derto's stance?"
Otto: "We stand by you, and that is our President own words. We are to support you in your hunt for the guilty and those who have responsibility for this act."
Arelesh: "Excellent. We are glad to have Derto standing beside us once more."

The meeting broke up shortly after, with Arelesh informing the other member's of the Council of the outcome of the meeting, while Lerene entertained the ambassador for lunch consisting of various Arani delicacies.

The wall crumbled under the force of his fist. His eyes glowed red, the tears that ran from them got caught in the hair that now covered the area around his eyes. The hair reached all the way out to the tip of his muzzle, and was spread all over his body.
"How could they do this to me!?" he yelled at the top of his voice.
The door opened slightly, a young woman poked her head in slightly.
"Assaultian, you alright dear?" she called out, more scared than not.
He turned to her, his eyes slowly changing colour to a calm blue.
"Yes"

Assaultian, Emperer of Phryne for the last hundred years, lives a life of pain. A refugee from Fardinia during the Aranian Civil War after Annilon's attack and subsequent mutation of much of the population, he moved to Phryne and conquered it with is mutated physical features.

"Your Emperorness," one of his henchmen called. "We haven't heard from our operatives in Arani for two days."
Assaultian grunted, before whiping the drool that dangled from his mouth on his arm. His face now showed more like a bull. The henchman stood down at his feet, barely able to reach the hip of the monster.
"We're going to be in trouble shortly" He yelled into the control room of his office. "Have Special Order Gharta put into play!!"

Narkran oversaw the moving the oddly effected patients himself - twenty-one of them in total, with all but five having awoken. Neshi was one of those.

"They are ready, my lord," one of the nurses informed him, and he nodded curtly at her.
"Load them on, then."

It took only a short time for all of the patients to be loaded into the train, which would head quickly to the surface, where they would be then moved to a plane, which would take them to Derto.
If any of those fuckers are thinking of post-war revenge, I'll kill them. Painfully he thought in a burst of paranoia, which he quickly suppressed by assuring himself of the civility of the Dertonian people. Despite that we launched a chemical weapon attack on them...

The train started moving, and Narkran headed back to the building which the Council had commandeered for their use. No doubt he had work to do...

At a military hospital, somewhere in Derto.

A doctor was taking his round of the newly arrived "special" patients. The readings was unclear and so was the test they had taken. The doctor, whose name was Dr. Landén, was baffled. But as it was right now, he couldn't do anything. It troubled him. He muttered silently for himself in the corridor, "Hmpf...why are these people not dead? What do they have in common? Hmm...."

Meanwhile at the airbase that the planes carrying the "special" patients flew from, in the messhall two pilots had a discussion.
...
"I mean...why do we help those monsters? They gassed my grandmother and 70 million others."
"I know that Peterson, but. It was about 100 years ago. Water under the bridge. Nations has kissed and call it even in shorter timespans then this."
"Yeah? So? Why couldn't we just have dropped the airpressure in the cabin so our cargo would have died?"
"Okey....you clearly have some major aggresions, Peterson. Drop it. The President has said what the military and the nation should do, and we should follow it. He isn't the President for nothing. He is the President."
"Hmpf...yeah...but I didn't elect him, it was either him or someone just like him. I stayed home instead."
"Peterson...you know we are friends, but don't speak to loud about it. I dontä want you to drag me into something that I don't like."
"Okey okey" Says Peterson as he grabs his dinnerplat and walks away.

[ooc: Sorry for how horrible this all probably looks, but there's no way I'm going to pretty it up - making it look like this took long enough...]

*In the government building of Derebleth*

Arelesh, Lerene, and Tiurun entered the meeting room and waited in silence for the Blyclaafian and Dertonian representatives, with some obvious tension between them. Well, tension between Arelesh and Lerene, anyway, Tiurun as always was aloof. It was not long before Blyclaafian representatives arrived: Commander-in-Cheif, Johannes Walken, the new Blyclaafian Foreign Minister, Yarhi Rose and the Consultant to the President, John Fillmore. The Dertonian delegation came in at the appointed time, consisting of Ambassador Otto Mahnstrahle, the Minister of Defense Glenn Furstn and the Foreign Minister Jay Gnossis.

Arelesh: "Greetings, honoured guests. Please take a seat." he waited for them to be seated before continuing. "We are, of course, here to discuss the matter of Phryne, who we suspect to have engineered the attacks on Arani, and what action we are to take against them. I would ask first up, what are each of your nations willing to contribute towards an offensive effort?"
Yarhi: "Since the attack was made against our leaders in your country, we will contribute all that we can"
Jay Gnossis: "The President has informed that Derto will support Arani and Blyclaaf with whatever we can. If it will be with direct military force or with logistics, we shall do it."
Arelesh: "Good, we are most grateful."
Johannes: "That, of course, brings us to the question of 'is there going to be an invasion?'"
Arelesh and Lerene simultaneously: "More than likely." "Not if it can be prevented."
Glenn: "It could turn out that such a thing is needed. But it could do with a blockade and limited military efforts to replace the current regime of Phryne. Cheaper in both manpower and money."
Johannes: "Which could still lead to a revolt and we'd have to invade completely anyway"
Arelesh: Smiles angrily. "That would be letting them get away a bit to easy, don't you think?"
Jay: "But isn't the goal to replace the regime, however I could understand your desire to punish them harder."
Lerene: "I think Glenn has the right of it. There is no need to invade, only force them to submit passively."
John: Looking at Arelesh. "Annexation by either Blyclaaf or Arani would do them the service they need"
Jay: "But gentlemen, please. Do we really need an annexation? Why just not put under a joint protectorate and then release it when they have stabilized themselves? This is also one thing that our President thinks."
Arelesh: "I am not quite sure whether you understand how ... let's put it bluntly - how pissed off we are over this attack. Simply barricading them away and letting them sort it out themselves isn't a very ... satisfying result. We would like to send a message through this."
Yarhi: "That's exactly how people are reacting in Blyclaaf. They need punishment for even thinking about attacking us. In our minds, a full scale invasion is the only way to go"
Jay: Looks to Otto and Glenn, then speaks. "Then so be it. We have told you what Derto thinks of it, but we shall still support you no matter what."
Lerene: "Please people, there are less aggressive ways which we can inflict revenge!"
Johannes: "But there is no way that is sweater"
Otto: "As Glenn earlier said, a blockade is simpler and cheaper in many ways. A blockade with bombings is a punishment. It will topple the regime, and we can go in and apprehend the guilty ones."
Lerene: "Why do we really need to punish the entire nation? Can we simply not send in people to capture the guilty and bring them back to some dungeon far beneath the ground?"
John: "But what if it is the entire nation that is out to get us? How can we drag a few million people down to a dungeon?"
Glenn: "A good suggestion. Might be hard to do, but possible. And as a response to John, if you chop of the head of the snake, what can the snake do?"
John: "Wait for another snake to take it's place"
Arelesh: "We are still unsure of what Phryne is truly like - for all we know they might be ravenging barbarians waiting to strike out at Arani for ... For I have no idea what! It is best to take complete action now rather than risk them rising. We have no time for detailed planning lest we look weak. Already our response is too long delayed!"
Otto: "But if we strike too hard, the population that might loathe the regime, can rise up Against us, if we invade. It would be difficult to handle."
Arelesh: "Why handle it? Leave them in ashes and leave."
Jay: "WHAT? Am I hearing right, leaving an entire populace of a nation to fend for themselves after their lands have been destroyed? Derto might have difficulties in accepting this."
Yarhi: "Then don't"
Lerene: "Are we going to divide this alliance already? Let's settle this by a vote."
Jay: Glances to his companions. "Yes, it sounds like to only possible solution." The three Blyclaafians look at each other in uncertainty.
Arelesh: "By all means. I vote for a full scale invasion."
Otto: "Wait....do we each nation have one vote? Or not? We must decides that matter first."
Lerene: "Individual votes of who is here - Arani has no one leader."
Otto: "Ahh....but still you have a council, that decides for Arani, right?"
Arelesh: "That would be us. Narkran will abide by our decision here."
The three Blyclaafians begin talking amongst themselves
Lerene: "I vote against invasion."
Yarhi: "All three of us vote...against full scale invasion"
Arelesh: Blinks in surprise.
Jay: "I speak for the President of Derto, and thus for Derto, when I vote against a invasion."
The delegation from Derto looks a bit surprised when they hear what the Blyclaafians voted for
Arelesh: To the Blyclaafians. "May I inquire to your reasons?"
Johannes: "If we invade and conquer, as is your plan, it'll be our responsibility to repair and reorganise the country, as they will then be a part of our countries. An Aggressive Blockade will most certainly choke them, destroying their infrastructure and we won't have to touch them afterwards"
Arelesh: "Maybe you missed where I advocated leaving them to fend for themselves after invasion? But if we're not invading, then what? We have no idea what our special forces would encounter there."
Jay: "Yes, we won't need to touch them, but I guess that the President will think as I am doing now, when I say that at least Derto will help Phryne rebuild there country."
Johannes: "Arelesh, we aren't talking just special forces. Continuous bombings, shellings by the Blyclaafian Navy. Complete crippling of them. And then we could have a minor invasion to act as a police force of some sort"
Glenn: "Good point Arelesh, but we should have air-supremacy and a major intel-advantage over them. That our Special Forces should make it anyway."
Arelesh: "Intel-advantage? Don't make me laugh. We'd barely heard about this country until they attacked us. And if we wait any longer before declaring against them to gather it, well, we cannot do that."
Yarhi: "They would most definitely be at an advantage when it comes to intel. They knew where the event was being held and they had an idea what was happening when"
Glenn: "Yes, but when we start moving against them, at least Derto will use all our techniques and equipment in our arsenal."
Arelesh: "Fine then. Let's break now and plan later. I hope you've made the right decision..."
The three Arani council members stand and leave the room, while the three Blyclaafians stay on talk amongst themselves about what they could do.
Otto: So do we. Besides....we can change our minds." As they stand up along side with the Aranians and walk out after them

***

The three Arani council member walk into the room ahead of the others and take their seats, shortly afterward the three Dertonian representatives walks in and sits down. The Blyclaafians are still sitting there.
Arelesh: "So, shall we get back to business? Such as planning precisely how we're going to punish a country passively?"
Glenn: "Yes. I suggest to attempt to block all in and outwards trade and shipping the Phrynians does. Combined with pinpoint bombings to the infrastructure....we could have results and at least weaken them for a eventual invasion."
Johannes: "Combined with a Airborne Invasion of the border between Phryne and whoever is on the other side of that border, we could cut them off completely"
Lerene: "As I suggested before, we should target and capture their leadership. Blockades are all very nice, but it was their leader who called the strikes. However, we still aren't entirely sure who this leader is besides a name: Assaultian."
Glenn: "Do we have a possible location, for this "Assaultian"?
Arelesh: "We could use the usual Arani tactic of tunneling beneath - with some planning we could come up beneath their government building, and now wouldn't that be a nice surprise?"
Glenn: "That would be marvelous. Maybe combined with a airborne cavalry from the roof?"
Arelesh: "We have no idea where he might be. And of course, landing of the roof would be fine too. We should be able to totally entrap them."
Glenn: "Yes, at least make it harder for them to evade capture."
Tiurun: Spoken softly. "I would like to broach the subject of metapsychics, as the Council has trouble coming to any conclusion on the matter. It has been policy for a long time now that metapsychics we kept ... out of the way. I suggest we should use them, recruit them once more ... but my colleagues have reservations."
Johannes: Looks around the room silently.
Glenn: "Ehm...that could be of use, I have read reports of their....effectiveness in combat."
Arelesh: "Tiurun, this is no place for this discussion. We've seen what metapsychics can do ... have done, to our nation. It is best that they be left out of this - forgotten about, preferably."
Yarhi: "Agreed"
Jay: "Yes...they are powerful, but can do horrible things."
Tiurun: "Horrible things is what we need."
John: "I propose that we keep this war as conventional as possible. Anyone agree?"
Yarhi and Johannes: "Agreed."
Glenn: "Horrible things can be done with conventional weapons. Yes, I agree and I think that the President will agree as well."
Johannes: "The power of our armed forces can cripple them without going to the extent of torture"
Tiurun: "I am not sure that you quite understand what you are passing up, but do as you will." He sits back in his chair and resumes looking on with disinterest.
Glenn: "Even if they possess metapsychics, even they can't survive a airfuel bomb dropped on their general area."
Arelesh: "Now that we have that matter out of the way. How will we co-ordinate this? Arani lack ships for a blockade, though we can use vodyanoi. I trust that your naval forces are up to the task?"
Johannes: "The Blyclaafian Navy and the Blyclaafian Air Force will be able to give all they've got to the task"
Glenn: "Of course. Our Navy and Airforce combined with the Blyclaafian forces should be more then enough."
Johannes: "And, if it is decided that we are going to invade via airbourne, The Blyclaafian Airbourne troops should be able to take that job"
Glenn: "And our Airbournes could assist you as well."
Arelesh: "Good then." He pulls out a most likely inaccurate map on which they begin to plan their war on.

"Settle down, fellas!" Captain Maiden called out into the crowd from D company of the 2nd Airborne Division.
"What's up, Captain?" Leuitenant Iron asked as the group began to quieten.
"We have our orders for the action's against Phryne"
The room went quiet as everyone looked at the board that had a 3d image of Phryne appear.
"Our mission is to block every convoy and merchant thing going into and out of Phryne on their border with a yet undetermand country. Simple procedure, really. Jump in, shoot anything that goes out, check anything that goes in."
"So, when do we ship out?"
"In a week, so get ready, boys." Captain Maiden said, before dismissing the men of D Company.

___________________________________________

The Blyclaafian Navy Ship "Eaglin" housed the Admirals from the Blyclaafian Navy for their breifing.
The breifing was short, as again, this was a fairly basic mission. Stop all convoys and supplies entering Phryne and bombard their cities and such when ever they were ordered to.
The first fleet, consisting of 14 Destroyers, 6 Cruisers, 6 Battlecruisers and 3 Battleships left the harbour later that evening.

"They declined," Tiurun spoke down the line. "We shall have to do something drastic if this metapsychic xennphobia continues much longer."
"Yes," spoke another voice down the line. "But regardless we shall continue on in secret. When shall you return so we may continue our therapy?"
"I am not sure, but do not think it shall be soon."
"A pity. What of Neshi?"
"She is in Derto. Why?"
"Oh, nevermind. We'll talk later, okay?"
"Very well," Tiurun hung up and returned to his plans.

***

Message to Phryne:

'The Second Council of Arani, the President of Blyclaaf, and the President of Derto hereby demand the surrender of your nation and national leaders or they shall be taken by force, in retaliation for the attack on Arani and the leaders of Blyclaaf. You have two days to reply, and if our demands have not been met, Phryne will be invaded. We shall not negotiate - the choice is yours.'

The message came through on the old, outdated machine.
"Thank god people seldomly use encryption when they talk to us" the signalman said.
After reading the message twice to confirm that it says what it says, he dashed into the CO's office. Handing the message to the CO, the signalman ran back to his post to wait to send a reply.
The CO picked up the phone and uttered the words, "We have a problem"

_______*******_______*******______________
"Deny everything. "We don't know what you are on about." Say that, surely they'd beleive us. We're only a small country anyway" Keelan (formally known as Assaultian) yelled out at his assistants, who scurried off to reply the messages to Arani, Blyclaaf and Derto.
"It would seem that my plan failed because of two nitwits" Keelan said to his 'mistress' Mysti. "Now, prepare everyone for war, quickly my dear"
"Yes, Keelan" She said as she scurried off to deliver his last message to his army commander.
The anger against Arani and Blyclaaf began to surface again, as his eyes turned to the shade of red that everyone hated. He drooled from his muzzle and he clenched his head in his hands. The scream he let out would've easily made anyone within the soundproof room shrill with pain.

_*_*_**_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*
Soldiers, hundreds of thousands of them, lined every street, every building, every hidy whole in every town along the Phrynian coast. Prepared for battle, they were not, but willing to fight for their country, they were.

As President of S8in Gorge sat in his office doing the much hated paperwork, Mitch his assistant came screaming into his office shouting.
“SIR, SIR!! The time has come, we have been ordered to prepare our forces. They are going to attack Phryne. What are we going to do?”
Settle down Mitch it’s not that bad I have been in contact with Phryne they have there forces ready for battle and we will ready ours.
“But Sir, how can we attack your allies?” Screamed Mitch “They need our Help, and you said we were there lifeline.”
“Oh how right you are Mitch, but are you willing to take on Derto and his forces? Not to mention Blyclaaf and Arani. If we go along with our orders and bide our time then no one will suspect a thing.”
Mitch spoke in a calmer manor “So what are we gunna to do Sir?”
“Prepare the Armed forces. Oh and Mitch, Get me the commander of the Sesnicks on the phone.”
“I beg your pardon Sir, The Sesnicks?! Why on earth do you want the Supreme Elite Forces?!”
“We are going to attack Derto!!” The President sat there with an excited look on his face.
“With all due respect sir you were the one that said we should ‘Bide our time’” Mitch had a slightly panicked look on his face, “What is it you plan to do?”
“We’re going to smoke screen ‘em, we will send our troops and follow their orders and when the timing is right we will send in the Sesnicks and attack there homeland.” The Prez chuckled. Mitch shook his head and left the room. The president lent over and picked up a file that was lying beside him, The file read ‘Daily Reports’ but when the president opened the file and read the heading of the first page. The Heading read:

Operation Smokescreen
*****
Backdoor attacks, Sector 5
Sesnick Takeover
………………………………………..

The file was wrinkled and had smudges on it, It was clearly a carefully thought out plan of attack. Gorge flipped through the pages and skimmed the pages. Mitch came walking through the door with a pen and paper.
“Excuse me Sir; I have the connection number of a secure line”
“Thank you Mitch that will be all”
Mitch left the room and shut the door behind him. The president dialed the number and waited for connection. “Give me the commander, this is P.G.” he said with a muffled voice. The commander came to the phone.
“What’s the news Gorge Is it time?”
“Yes I’m afraid it is, I have mobilized the selected troops and now it’s your turn, Head to section 5 and wait for the orders, the minute your there call me.”
The president hung up the phone and with a sigh of relief he took a sip from his hip flask.
With this the phone rang, Gorge picked up the receiver and listened…......

He heaved and hurled all over the side of the Destroyer, BNS Harbinger.
"Able-seaman, sir" an officer said as he swayed with the ship over the waves.
"Ahhh, fresh blood. Hasn't got his legs yet?" Commadore Dakar replied with a slight chuckle.
The Harbinger, along with the rest of the Blyclaafian Naval Detatchment was positioned in their spots along the Phrynian coast. The Battleships and Battlecruisers waited for the command to begin firing upon the cities and the cruisers and the destroyers stopped all other vessels from nearing Phryne.
"And now we wait for the bosses to give us the go ahead" Commadore Dakar said as he began walking back to his quarters.

The laboratory had a smell on uncleanness about it, as though those who had taken over this shameful relic of Arani's history hadn't quite swept out all the corpses from the cupboards yet. Certainly there were still several skeletons lying in the lower levels where scientists, hasty to leave after Annilon's fall a hundred years ago, had left their unwilling test subjects to starve in the glass holding boxes.
These pitiful remnants had been cleared from this area, their places taken now by fresh specimens ready for dissection. A man wearing a white coat flicked his ultrasenses over them and pointed mentally to the one he had selected.
His assistants opened the single entrance to the box and took mental hold of the one chosen, directing her body to follow them. No matter her internal struggle for control, it defied her, and went meekly.
How old?
Thirteen. Found her on the streets - strong latencies.
I shall prepare He pushed a button, releasing a tray filled with tools and components, and a much ridged tube. Taking control of the girl's body briefly, he forced her to strip off her clothes and lie face down on the operating bench in the middle of the room. After some adjustments to her position he handed her back to his colleagues.
Are you sure there is no chance of us creating another Di'yerni? {concern} one asked
Even if we do, we shall have complete control of her, and can terminate her at any time
The surgeon took a scalpel from his tray and held it to the very top of her neck. Ready?
They affirmed, and he began his cut - down the centre of her back until it reached her tailbone, then made several other incisions to be able to peel the spin back from her spine, holding it open with his psychokinesis. His assistants dulled her pain and held her still until he had used another, larger knife to sever all the nerve connections. She lost all feeling in her body, but they drew away her horror and kept her alive, holding back the flow of blood and keeping her breathing, heat beating, and all else working as best they could.
The surgeon sawed through her spine in two places - at the bottom and at shoulder level. Without finesse he tore it from her back and set it aside, the redactor doing all they could to stop her turning into a trough of blood.
Taking the tube from the tray, the surgeon fitted it inside the girl's back. Once he had it sitting there on the unbleeding bed of severed blood vessels, he bent his own redactive power to the task of connecting the broken nerves to the artificial spine.
That should do it he spoke to his colleagues several hours later. See that she's stabilised, and we'll go get lunch. Volunteers to stay behind and see to her?
One indicated that he would, and so the rest weaned her of her need for them, while the volunteer took full control of her life.
Then they went to lunch.

"Get ready fellas!" Captain Marshall called out to the rest of the men in his transport plane. They were sitting on the seats, nerves running through them like water through a tap.
The red light flicked, and the men stood up. The planes rumbled through the air, throwing the men off balance a bit.
The green light broke through the dark plane light the sun of a morning. The men began jumping out of the planes, over Phryne, to act as a blockade. They touched the ground and began about their previously set missions.