NationStates Jolt Archive

Delta and Epsilon stepped from the Halls of the Dead and into the glaring sunlight. As they walked down the steps, the Sentinals parted for them. They may have stopped Epsilon, but they knew who Delta was, even though they knew he was also supposed to be dead.

The people staring at the two knew he was supposed to be dead as well. He ignored them and both walked the streets of St. Freeksburg, coming to the palace of Damien Dreadfire. Niether answered questions as they strode into the building. Delta glared a void filled glare at any who got in his way, until they stepped aside.

He knew Damien was here... somewhere. Pushing open the doors to Damien's audience chamber, bathed in red from the tinted windows, he walked up to the throne and looked about. No one was here... so he closed his eyes and... with the powers he had honed in his time in the stone, he 'spoke' to the Warlord. If you would be so kind as to join me in your throne room, Damien...

As an afterthought, he also tried to find the aura of the One in the palace... but he could not. Either he was not here or was hiding his presence.

"What?!" Delta bellowed at some secretary that brought him word that Damien was enroute to Pantera. He turned to look at Epsilon. "Then we do this without Sentinal support." he said and stalked away, the former agent in tow.

One comandeered jet later, the two were on their way to Europe, Epsilon sending word to Omega that the time was six hours.

------

Stepping onto Imperial soil again was a good feeling, as Delta walked through the troops of the Skye Garrison. "Marines! I have returned. Let all those who oppose the Imperial Banner tremble!" he yelled, before entering the Palace.

Stepping to the throne and taking his seat there, several creatures entered the room. Creatures showing their true forms... Delta spoke in an allmost fearl language. >My allies... let us reforge Europe to our liking.<

The assembled beasts and demons cackled and yelled and screamed in delight as they united their power.

Over the city, a great storm started to rage. It spread outwards in all directions at an astounding rate, causing panic across the nation as The Storm grew out. In Gholgoth, a similar storm was brewing, caused by Gar and the other creatures of the Blessed Shores. The churning of the sky went on and on, but never strayed more than a mile out of Imperial borders.

And not one broadcast to the Empire was replied to. Not even the news stations were on the air.

----

The streets were full of people running to and fro. Panic had swept the nation. If it was not stopped, the Empire would fall and collapse in on itself. That was why Epsilon and the Marines swept into the streets, coralling the people, Civils at the front to provide psychological impact. Gunfire erupted a few blocks away. "Dammit Delta... you had damn well better know what you're doing!"

Fisk came up beside her. "He does. But I don't. Wish to hell I did, so I could figure out why I did all this." He shouts, over the din. "Now start tasering these rioters!"

----

Finally, one message was sent out, to the nations of Gholgoth. Do not enter the lands of Crimmond. Only the Empire will suffer what it must to survive. Your peoples need not suffer as well.

The great storm consumed all the sky the people of the Empire could see... It covered the whole of all lands controlled by it and blocked out all the light of the sun.

And then the sky fell. The storm dropped down on the Empire and covered the whole of it in a dense fog. The edges were contstanly filled with lightning, most likely to keep out any curious soldiers sent to find out what happened.

The only area sparred were the Baltic Docks, where Crimm workers had all but stopped work on the Panteran ships.

It lasted for three days and then the results could be seen. What were brasslands were arid reaches. What were forest covered mountains were stripped bare. And the population centers...

The European Empire of Crimmond was once a place of light. A place of intelectual eliteness and moral codes that protected the weak and helpless of the world. After the Storm rose, though... only the strong would survive the harsh reality of the Empire now.

Khan Delta stood on the balcony of the Imperial Tower. It was the largest building in the city of Myer and commanded a view unsurpassed. Once it had been a view of smog, acidic rain, industrial decay and suffering. Now it was a dark and forboding place of a different sort. A place of brutally efficent factories that produced suprisingly little pollution, of arid conditions and of air that smelled of toil, not chemicals. All that remained the same was the suffering.

Epsilon came to his side and looked out with him. "If I had known what you had planned, Delta, I would have left you in that rock."

"I know. That is why you didn't know." He answered, without any more harshness than usual. The fact he and his allies had transformed the nation from a decaying paradise into a still constructing hell, fit only to be ruled by those in touch with what most called the occult. Delta called it Power. That was all well and good, but he had much to do.

The Inquisition had been transformed. It was now loyal to him. And they made sure the effects of the storm on the populace lasted as long as it should. The people were turned into completely loyal workers. The mind control was needed. It would wear off, but by then, they would be naturally used to their conditions and rebellion would be low.

The Banner of Might, the image of the Earth impaled by a broadsword, interrupts all signals to and from Crimmond. For twenty seconds a recording drones that this is an official speech from the Emperor to the European Empire, Gholgoth, The Greater Prussian Empire and the world. Afterwards, the flag is seen hanging behind the podium. No one is in sight.

In a bright flash, the flag known as the Banner of Might burst into flames, quickly turning to smoke and ash. If one were watching form inside the Empire, there would be stunned silence, with mutterings of treason. But, as the smoke clears, another flag is seen.

http://www.nationstates.net/images/flags/uploads/crimmond.jpg
(OOC: Refresh if you see the Banner of Might)

A deep, booming voice that all adults in the Empire know and dread, speaks. “You will not bow down or show reverence to that rag any longer. Just as you will no longer bow down or show reverence to the bastard Varchak.” Stepping to the podium, the man who died almost five years earlier removes his hat and stares at the camera, void filled eyes carrying a chill to the viewers. “I am Khan Delta. And now I have sought retribution on those that committed genocide on their own people.”

A video played of Civils storming a complex and hauling out a screaming Varchak. With no thought of censoring, he is shown being stripped nude, tried of crimes against humanity and executed by a bullet to the temple.

“To the people of the Empire, I have little to say. I have returned and I have only just begun my retribution…” For the first time in broadcast, The Beast inside the body of a Sentinel smiled. The smile held no mirth though and only made him seem more like a wolf. “To the enemies of the Empire, I have only one thing to say.”

His image was replaced with video from orbit. Other nations could confirm it was live feed of Asia, specifically lands claimed by Roania, as a map showed, before it switched to a sea level view. The whole island becomes a sun, expanding outward and then collapsing in on itself, creating the horrifying and all too familiar mushroom cloud.

“Armageddon.”

http://home.earthlink.net/~alpha_zero_usm/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/deltareturn1.jpg
Khan Delta

OOC: Did you err...nuke Roania?

IC: Napoleon was not the first to see the broadcast, the Arch Duke von Reichsburg recorded it and brought the recording to an emergency meeting with the Emperor and his staff.

The seven great Marechals of the Empire, Marechals Brune, Duchant, Sancerre, Bernadotte, Goya, Kesling, and Mailleur were all present along with Arch Duke Joseph, who was the Emperor's Brother, Prince Henri de Ritorneau, who was the Foreign Minister for the Empire, Victor Bergonzi the Intelligence Czar, and the Emperor's Chief Advisor, Marechal Kazansky.

"Sattelite images indicate some quite horrible things occuring in Crimmond, Majesty." Bergonzi added after they had all viewed the recording.

"What is necessary?" Napoleon asked, leaning back in his leather armchair whilst most everyone except for Arch Duke Joseph and Marechal Kazansky stood.

"I believe it will create quite a big problem for us diplomatically if we allow something like this to occur within an Imperial state." Prince Ritorneau, the Foreign Minister informed the monarch. "They are just as much a member of Greater Prussia as Reichskamphen or Derscon...and we wouldn't allow something like this to happen here. We have requirements and obligations to the people of Crimmond."

"If I recall correctly, Crimmond's joining of the Empire went little noticed within their own borders. I highly doubt that if we were in such a situation, Crimmond would bend over an extra inch to help us in any way." Arch Duke Joseph smirked as he pulled out a pocket flask took a small sip. "I think the only requirement we have is to our own people. You saw that madman with his nuclear threats. We only have sorrow to get by dealing with that thing."

"Our own people?" Prince Henri turned to the Arch Duke quarrelsomely, "They ARE our own people."

"You tell that to them." Arch Duke Joseph continued to stare forward ambivalently, not raising his tone even a fraction of a decibal.

"Militarily," Napoleon spoke above them, as to end the dispute "What is our situation?"

"Highness," Marechal Brune who had hitherto been standing quiet like a good soldier as the politicians discussed their matters, began to speak, "our position is one by which we can likely be victorious in a liberation type operation. But it would come at great cost. Out analysis indicates that they really dont have a formal army to speak of, only really the Inquisition and the remnants of other forces. The main downside would be the barren nature of the land, and the unpredictable reception of the people. We also believe," he looked at the other Marechals who nodded in acknowledgment, "that this fellow may well use nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons on our troops. This would be a great waste of damn fine infantry."

"Indeed." Napoleon sighed somewhat.

"Well we have to do something." Prince Henri declared.

"Yes, we do." Napoleon agreed. The disappointment in Joseph's face was clear.

"Perhaps we insert a few SpecOps teams...a couple of Hussar regiments...get them to scout around and give us a better idea of what is going on there from a ground level perspective." Marechal Kesling suggested.

"And while doing that, it would be a good idea to begin preparing an expeditionary force. Solo Christo just returned from Haven, I believe that would be a good Division to build it around." Marechal Goya added.

"Very well. Begin mobilizing an expeditionary force of 250,000 around the Solo Christo Division, and insert the necessary number of SpecOps teams...but don't be extravagent." Napoleon leaned up in his chair. "Dismissed."

[OOC: Not exactly. A small, unpopulated island off his coast. Delta wants intimidation. Not M.A.D.]

The military of the Empire, despite the flawed intelligence, was quite intact. The massive Marine Corps still controlled what would be Air Force, Army and Navy in addition to Marine duties. It can be assumed this intelligence is flawed due to teh allmost xenophobic nature of Crim foriegn policy.

"Did you have to set of a nuke?" Omega asked, after he returned from Gholgoth, where the Imperial lands had also been affected(though not to such a great degree). "I mean... you could have proven your point other ways."

Delta shook his head at the mand, sighing. "You don not understand my point to the world. ANY who threaten my lands will not recieve mercy. I have no intentions of using nuclear weapons against any population centers. But I want them to think I will."

-----

As the great storm cleared completely, the true contrast between the lands was revealed. Even as one approached Crimmond, things seem to start dying. Trees and grass looking like they have seen drought for years... perhaps teh land would recover in time, perhaps not. Marines patrolled the Imperial side of the border, with planes, helicopters and groundtroops.

While penetration of the Empire was feasible, speaking it's language was not as easy. A great mix of Russian, German, Polish and Yiddish was used. The great mixed language was quite difficult to learn.

-----

General of the Army Maximus Decimus Meridius barged into the room. "DELTA!" he roared, pointing at the said 'man'. "Why couldn't you stay dead, eh?! The Empire was flousihing, despite Varchak. He was going to be killed soon enough. But look at what you did! You've killed us. You have killed us and you're too stupid to know it!"

Delta let the General rant. Better to let him say his peace... feel that he has told Delta exactly what he wanted. And to let him dig a hole for himself. After he was done, Delta stared at him, blank void filled eyes fixed on him. "You sir... are not informed of my plan. Therefore you have every right to say what you did. I am glad to hear Varchak would have been killed soon." Because it means I will have to watch you carefully. "Now then, General. I want you to ready the Corps. I know our enemies are many now. Prepare for war. Set the Shadow Packs* to the oceans. And the Anti-Missile Missiles to the skies."

As the General left, Delta wondered who would strike first.

OOC: I'm a patient man, Crimmond. Slow to anger, not quick to retaliate, and all that. So, I'll let it go. Rest assured, however, you pull a stunt like that ever again and I will use more chemicals on just one of your cities then was used on the entire Western Front in WW1. I thought the idea of a Cold War was that it was to be...you know... cold.

IC: The Government of the Divine Imperium was... irked. That's the best and safest word for it. Or, at least, the Imperial Viceroy was. The Lord Chancellor and the Tsar being away on 'business', it was a rather less-powerful government that met today.

Options for possible retaliation was limited. No one had died in the blast, though valuable mining centres had been destroyed. Unfortunately, to blast Northern Europe would be a bit tricky, since there would be too many people around the place for an uninhabited island to even exist that would be worth nuking.

The response, then, was to say and do nothing, but to prime the Fire of Saint Michael for retaliatiotory strikes. And to make sure that the automatic trigger for the chemical sprays was in complete readiness.