Let justice be done [Archive]

Pantocratoria

20-12-2006, 08:05

PANTOCRATORIAN IMPERIAL GOVERNMENT

Department of the Attorney General
Office of the Hon. Sébastien Jambart IC MP
Attorney General
To:
Monsieur Douglas Jardine
Deputy for Justice
Iesus Christi

Monsieur,

RE: Request for the extradition of Dr Peter Graves (our ref. M-2006-4317)

I received your letter requesting the extradition of Reverend Dr Peter Graves and note all you write. It is my legal obligation to inform Dr Graves and the Reichskamphen Government of this request.

Dr Graves is visiting Pantocratoria as the envoy of the Emperor of Greater Prussia to discuss a humanitarian matter. As the nations of Greater Prussia are at a state of war with the nations of the Reich, and as Pantocratoria is neutral in that armed conflict, I hope you will appreciate the delicacy of this situation, and the difficulty of the position of the Imperial Government.

Dr Graves is not Reichskamphen's Ambassador to Pantocratoria nor is he embassy or consular staff. As such there has been no formal extension of diplomatic immunity to Dr Graves, however, that immunity would generally be understood to extend to persons in his position. This certainly renders Dr Graves immune from prosecution by the Crown for crimes allegedly committed in Pantocratoria, at least by the established precedent of my predecessors. However, Dr Graves enjoys, under Pantocratorian law, no such immunity from foreign prosecution. There is, however, ambiguity, as to whether or not Dr Graves is immune from extradition. At present I am seeking advice from the Office of the Solicitor General as to whether Dr Graves enjoys immunity from extradition, and will be sure to advise both your government and the government of Reichskamphen of the result.

Even if that advice is to the effect that Dr Graves may indeed be extradited, no such extradition will take place unless the Iesian Government can establish that Dr Graves stands a reasonable chance of conviction if prosecuted in Iesus Christi. As a guard against human rights abuses, by law this reasonable chance of conviction must be established according to Pantocratorian standards. As Dr Graves is at present only visiting Pantocratoria for a short period of time, I have asked that this Extradition Hearing be convened with some urgency, preferably within the next forty-eight hours. To move forward this process, I have written to Messeigneurs de la Justice of the Criminal Court, asking them to convene an Extradition Hearing forthwith. I invite you to employ a Pantocratorian bar-registered solicitor to establish that Dr Graves standards a reasonable chance of conviction.

Yours Sincerely,

Sébastien Jambart
The Honourable Sébastien Jambart, Imperial Counsel, Member of Parliament
Attorney General

Iesus Christi

20-12-2006, 14:49

To: The Honourable Sébastien Jambart, Servant of his most Faithful Catholic and Imperial Majesty, the equal of the apostles, the Emperor of Pantocratoria

We thank you for the prompt and direct attention this case is receiving – it is comforting to see that Pantocratoria takes these grave crimes as seriously as we do.
We in Iesus Christi also understand the delicate situation your government is in, but I wish to inform your government Iesus Christi currently considers itself at war with no foreign power or powers. - the slight disturbance that currently afflicts the Reich is hardly serious enough for Iesus Christi to consider itself to be at war. In fact I can assure you no-one within our entire government is at all interested in this so-called war.

This aside we are aware unity between our countries in recent years has somewhat strained but we are confidant that our mutual faith and belief in the rule of justice will over come any past enmity.
Naturally the written reports outlining the prima facie case against Mr Graves will be forwarded ASAP along with any other documents you consider needed to satisfy your government. We are also more than prepared to receive one of your own also enforcement officers if you require any first hand investigation to ensure this extradition goes smoothly.

We have every confidence in your World renowned fairness, and have every hope that your laws will uphold our just request.

Yours in Christ

Minister Douglas Jardine

Reichskamphen

21-12-2006, 02:34

Pschycotic Pschycos

21-12-2006, 04:20

Pantocratoria

21-12-2006, 06:15

TO: All parties involved.

RE: The possible extradiction of Reverend Graves

Seeing as there is currently a state of war between the GPE and the Reich, we must insist that any extradiction be held off until after the war, and until it can be made certain that he will not be made hostage.

As such is my duty to a citizen of the nation that holds the ruling crown of the empire, I must insist that while a state of war exists, I will do all in my power to block an extradiction to Iseus Christi, even if it includes physical violence.

Signed,

Shogun Nakamura Taiki,
Fourth of the Nakamura Shogunate.

PANTOCRATORIAN IMPERIAL GOVERNMENT

Department of Foreign Affairs
Office of the Hon. Demetrios Raoul MP
Minister for Foreign Affairs
To:
Shogun Nakamura Taiki
Psychotic Psychos

Monsieur,

It is with absolute contempt that the Imperial Government regards the unwarranted threat of the illegitimate use of force against Pantocratoria by your government.

Rest assured that due process and the rule of law will dictate the course of events in response to the request by the government of Iesus Christi that Pantocratoria extradite Dr Peter Graves. I am advised by the Attorney General that an extradition hearing has been convened and will hear the evidence supporting and opposing such an extradition. I am also advised by the Attorney General that the Solicitor General is clarifying the status of foreign envoys in regards to immunity from extradition. If the Solicitor General advises that Dr Graves enjoys immunity, or the Extradition Hearing finds there are no grounds for extradition, then Dr Graves will not be extradited. If the Solicitor General advises that Dr Graves enjoys no such immunity, and the Extradition Hearing finds that there are grounds for extradition then so it will be.

There is a defined process and in a civilised society the rule of law demands that such due process be followed. Your threat to illegitimately use force will not influence the outcome of that legal process whatsoever. The Imperial Government demands an immediate and public apology.

Sincerely,

Demetrios Raoul
The Honourable Demetrios Raoul, Member of Parliament
Minister for Foreign Affairs

Pantocratoria

21-12-2006, 06:42

To: The Honourable Sébastien Jambart

Your Emminence,

The Government of his Imperial Majesty, Joseph-Napoleon, as well as myself request these charges leveled by Iesus Christi to be received with the utmost level of incredulity as records will clearly indicate that I (Peter Graves), have never once travelled to Iesus Christi or any other Reich nation. Nor has the PCGPE ever established a single Church or mission within the Reich.

As a charge of pedophilic rape would require my physical presence, I believe these charges hold no water and should be considered as such.

I am providing, for your examination, my travel records which have been compiled by the Imperial Gendarmes for this purpose. Should you wish to see any further information regarding the subject, feel free to inquire it of me during my visit to your wonderful nation.

God Save the Emperors, both mine and yours.

In Christ,
Rev. Dr. Peter Graves
High Lord Protector of Reichskamphen
Moderator of the PCGPE
Head Pastor of the New Geneva Imperial Cathedral

PANTOCRATORIAN IMPERIAL GOVERNMENT

Department of the Attorney General
Office of the Hon. Sébastien Jambart IC MP
Attorney General
To:
Rev Dr Peter Graves
High Lord Protector of Reichskamphen

Reverend,

RE: Request for the extradition of Dr Peter Graves (our ref. M-2006-4317)

Thank you for your cooperation in the speedy resolution of this matter. I have asked Messeigneurs de la Justice of the Criminal Court to convene an urgent Extradition Hearing to consider any evidence the Government of Iesus Christi presents as well as the travel records and any other evidence you should wish to provide. This hearing may dispose of the matter simply if the balance of the evidence demonstrates that it is unlikely that a prosecution of you would be successful. If the hearing finds on the balance of the evidence that a prosecution against you on these charges has a reasonable chance of success, then the matter will be resolved by the advice of the Solicitor General as to whether or not an envoy such as yourself is understood to enjoy immunity from extradition.

We are therefore convening the hearing immediately in an effort to resolve this matter as quickly as possible. An Extradition Hearing is presided over by three judges drawn from Messeigneurs de la Justice of the Criminal Court. These judges will consider evidence supporting the charges presented to them by counsel for the Government of Iesus Christi. Against this, they will consider evidence refuting those charges presented to them by any counsel which you retain, or indeed, you yourself should you elect to represent yourself. The judges will then retire to consider whether the evidence presented sustains a reasonable chance of seeing you convicted if considered at an actual trial. This is not the same as being found guilty, nor is the threshold a level of reasonable doubt, but rather, whether a prosecution against you has a reasonable chance to succeed on the balance of the evidence.

The hearing should not take more than two business days, and may even be shorted if little evidence is presented in support of the case for extradition. I humbly suggest that you retain counsel or attend the hearing personally. I must, however, insist that you not leave Pantocratorian jurisdiction until the matter has been resolved - we do not anticipate a long wait.

Yours Sincerely,

Sébastien Jambart
The Honourable Sébastien Jambart, Imperial Counsel, Member of Parliament
Attorney General

Reichskamphen

21-12-2006, 08:26

*Encrypted Private Communication*

To: His Imperial Majesty, The Shogun of Psychotic Psychos
From: His Imperial Highness, The Emperor of Greater Prussia

Shogun Taiki,

I appreciate your attempts on behalf of our good Reverend Graves, and I know he does as well. However, your methods of debate and rhetoric in this matter are questionable. I believe the evidence presented by Iesus Christi...or lack thereof...should sufficiently clear the Reverend. If it does not, then we will see what options are available to us. However, I do not think a threat of violence to a government that can be of assistance even in a humanitarian sense during this conflict is a particularly productive endeavour. As your announcement was made on behalf of the Empire, I do have the authority to request some form of appology on your behalf.

I do not wish to dissuade you from acting in the future in what you believe are the best interests of the Empire, as you have always done so, but I would dissuade you from using inflamatory langauge in such an extremely delicate situation.

Your Friend,

Joseph-Napoleon
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To: The Honourable Sébastien Jambart

Your Emminence,

I understand the gravity and full implications of my situation. I will not leave Pantocratonian jurisdiction, but I do request an augmentation to my security detail as I believe my two Imperial Guard Platoons may no longer be sufficient during this delicate situation.

I also would hope that the judge would consider that the forms of justice in Pantocratonia and in Greater Prussia are vastly differant than the vigilante justice that can be found in Iesus Christi. If they do not have the necessary evidence, they will fabricate it. And, even if they don't fabricate it, in a trial in Iesus Christi, I will be found guilty simply for who I am not what I have done. So I would hope that possibility for a conviction will be considered under Pantocratonian and not Iesian law. Please inform me post haste of the details regarding this.

Your Servant,

Rev. Dr. Peter Graves.

Pantocratoria

21-12-2006, 09:24

PANTOCRATORIAN IMPERIAL GOVERNMENT

Department of the Attorney General
Office of the Hon. Sébastien Jambart IC MP
Attorney General
To:
Rev Dr Peter Graves
High Lord Protector of Reichskamphen

Reverend,

RE: Reasonable chance for conviction threshold in Extradition Hearing (our ref. M-2006-4317)

In response to your request for clarification as to what constitutes a reasonable chance for conviction in the Extradition Hearing, as I advised the Government of Iesus Christi, to guard against potential human rights abuses, Pantocratorian extradition law states that the evidence presented must be such that if the prosecution was to proceed in a Pantocratorian court it would have a reasonable chance for conviction.

In response to your concerns for your personal security, I will pass those concerns onto the Imperial Domestic Intelligence Service for assessment and onto the relevant authorities for due consideration.

Yours Sincerely,

Sébastien Jambart
The Honourable Sébastien Jambart, Imperial Counsel, Member of Parliament
Attorney General

Tarasovka

21-12-2006, 14:10

OOC: Random thingy because otherwise says message is too short for some reason.

Grand Duchy of Taraskovya
And
Grand Ducal Dominions

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Shogun Nakamura Taiki
Concerning
Threat of violence against Pantocratoria

Your Excellency,

It is with surprise that the Grand Ducal authorities have had word of threat of violence against the Pantocratorian Empire. Whilst not sharing any collective security alliance with the aforementioned State, it is my personal duty to inform the Shogunate that the heiress presumptive to the Taraskovyan throne, Her Royal Highness Archduchess Vethara of Taraskovya, is presently spending Gregorian Christmas holidays at the court of His Imperial Majesty Andreus of Pantocratoria.

Her Royal Highness is not only the heiress presumptive and sister to the Grand Duke of all Taraskovya, she is also a revered and honoured personality in the Grand Duchy. Taraskovya would not be amused if anything came to harm her or even as close as disrupt her holidays after the recent tragic loss of her daughter.

It is, thus, my pleasure to inform you that the Grand Ducal Parliament has met in an extraordinary and emergency session and voted to extend security guarantees to the Pantocratorian Empire for the duration of Archduchess Vethara’s stay. To be brief and direct to the point, at the cost of abandoning all diplomacy: touch Pantocratoria and your children shall never see the next day’s dawn.

We trust the Pantocratorian judiciary to make a fair and objective decision. And we deem so should the Shogunate.

May the Gods you pray to watch over You and Your people,
High Count Ithun of Var-Gellath
Minister of Foreign Affairs

Allanea

21-12-2006, 15:02

In the meanwhile, an Allanean magazine publishes a Special Wartime Edition. On the inner pages, the Graves 'scandal' is detailed, and pictures are attached. Those are obviously pornographic pictures, detailing ten of the most prominent members of the Iesus Christi government in compromising positions with really-young children.

Added are first-person accounts of people who remember that have been sexually abused iby the Iesus leadership in their childhood. None of the accounts self-contradict in the slightest detail – though this is helped by them being only quoted in 'excperts'.

For the first few seconds, a reader of the magazine may believe even that the pictures are real. Then, he will notice that something is off, and the pictures seem slightly 'polished'. Then he will notice the following message, written in small italics at the bottom and top of every page: All models used in the magazine are 16 years old or over. All photographs modified in GIMP.

Cherry Ridge

21-12-2006, 23:57

The Archdiocese of Carmel
Office of the Archbishop

To Whom it May Concern Regarding the Matter of the Accusation of Pedophilia against the Reverend Peter Graves by the Government of Iesus Christi.

Your Highness/Eminence/Excellency/Honor,

I am writing as a witness to the character of the accused, Peter Graves. I have known the Reverend for quite some time, and can testify to the character of the Reverend. Though we differ greatly in our views on Christian theology, and have on occasion entered into heated debate, I have not the slightest doubt as to the honor of the accused. I can not believe for a second that the Reverend would rape a child.

Though I a Catholic prelate, and he a Protestant minister, in league with Ian Paisley, I must testify on his behalf. Indeed, we even differ in our opinions of the war. I urge you to make the right choice and deny the extradition request by Iesus Christi.

Christ the Savior, Save us From Sin. May God bless you and keep you.

+ His Most Eminent Lordship, Joseph Cardinal Marco, By the Grace of God, and the Favor of the Apostolic See, Archbishop of Carmel

Pschycotic Pschycos

22-12-2006, 00:36

Open Address to all Parties

My threat was not intended to be against the nation of Pantocratoria. My own nation's laws dictate that the nation requesting an extradiction must do the transporting. My threats were geared toward Iesus Christi, a nation I am at war with.

I extend my deepest apologies to Pantocratoria for this grave misunderstanding. The Imperial Shogunate does not lightly threaten anyone, especially not neutral parties. Any insult, dishonor, mistrust, or likewise that you have suffered as a result is deeply regretted.

Sincerely,

Shogun Nakamura Taiki

Iesus Christi

23-12-2006, 11:47

SIDEBAR: To whom it may concern.

Iesus Christi does not presently consider itself in a state of hostilities with any nation(or nations) nor have we been in conflict with any nations recently. I mean...if we were at war..we'd know wouldnt we? Surely we wouldnt being sitting safe, unharmed and totally untouched having a lovely christmas...the Justices ministry just had a wonderful Christmas BBQ on the beach...was quite lovely and preacefull....
This aside...

The nation of Iesus Christi expresses sympathy to those nations who believe such hostilities exist between Iesus Christi and their government –The Iesus Christian government wishes to assure any such government that Iesus Christi doesn’t take such hostilities seriously at all..in fact….I can personally assure you Iesus Christi doesn’t take either those supposed hostilities or governments seriously…

Merry Christmas
Douglas Jardine.

To: The Honourable Sébastien Jambart, Servant of his most Faithful Catholic and Imperial Majesty, the equal of the apostles, the Emperor of Pantocratoria

Brother in Christ.
An Iesus police sealed nondescript package is winging its way to you(well…more correctly..winging its way to your Police force…)
In said package you’ll find:
Two statements from the victim. One from the time of the event and one recently taken for use in your own proceedings.
Photographic evidence of the victims extensive injurys.
Photographic evidence(CCTV) that Mr Graves was in Iesus Christi.
Photographic evidence(CCTV) Mr Graves was visiting the child’s residence on the night in question.
Eye witness statements placing Mr Graves at the victims residence.
Photographic evidence of Mr Graves attempting to solicit underage sex in a park
Photographic evidence of Mr Graves soliciting for homosexual sex in a park
Statements from two Protestant 'ministers' confirming the reason for Mr Graves visit to Iesus Christi and that indeed that he was in Iesus Christi.

Clearly we believe this evidence provides a prima facie case against Mr Graves.
Hoping you have a wonderful Christmas.
Let Justice be done

Douglas Jardine.

Pantocratoria

23-12-2006, 18:36

Iesus Christi

24-12-2006, 02:01

To: The Honourable Sébastien Jambart, Servant of his most Faithful Catholic and Imperial Majesty, the equal of the apostles, the Emperor of Pantocratoria

My Brother in Christ

Yes, clearly we misunderstood. We thought you'd look at the evidence and judge for yourself....but we are more than happy to send Inquisitor Joan Hellis and Inquisitor John Garr to present out case for extradition.
I hope you can forgive our misunderstanding...we do things differently in Iesus Christi...but when in Rome eh! ha ha!

Wishing you a Merry Christmas

Douglas Jardine.

Pantocratoria

27-12-2006, 07:26

In a half-panel chamber in the Palais de la Justice in New Rome, the Extradition Hearing was about to commence. It wasn't a particularly grand or impressive chamber, which were generally reserved for trials, but a relatively simple room, finished in a very stately fashion with columns in the corners, and a large, long desk of solid oak, enclosed on all sides but that facing the back wall. In the front panel of the bench was carved an image of Christ the Pantocrator, looking across the courtroom with wise eyes, a book of law in hand. Facing this desk were two smaller desks, facing the front bench, more mobile types, large enough for two people to sit comfortably at, or three people to squeeze behind. Enough chairs for three per table were provided. A microphone sat on each of these two desks, and three microphones sat on the large desk, along with papers and gavels. Behind the long desk, on the side wall, was a side entrance door, but the main entrance to the chamber was a double door between and behind the two smaller desks.

A small desk sat alongside the wall, facing the two smaller desks, with a computer on it, and the court reporter already seated at it. She was a woman in her mid-twenties, and it wasn't her job so much to type what was being said - advances in modern technology meant that proceedings were recorded by the microphones at each desk, and the text of what was being said appeared on her screen as it was said. It was her job simply to make sure that the computer had performed this automatic task correctly. The technological advance of the speech-to-text computer software had not, in fact, reduced the number of staff required for the court to operate after all.

Once the Iesians and Graves and his counsel had taken their places, a bailiff entered via the side entrance and stood by the side of the long table. Moments later, three men in their late middle age followed after him, dressed in black silk robes with scarlet hoods, wearing long white periwigs which reached their shoulders. All present in the court room were expected to rise until the judges sat, and all the Pantocratorians present did so.

"Oyez! Oyez! Oyez!" called the bailiff. "All manner of persons having any business before Messeigneurs de la Justice of the Criminal Court Sir Davide Leloyné, Henri Beaumaison, and Louis-Charles Bechemel gather and give attendance."

The judges made their ways to their seats and sat down. They ruffled through the papers before them and set things just so, before the bailiff moved towards them, bowed, and presented a file to each of them.

"Messeigneurs, the matter of the extradition of Dr Peter Graves, here present, to the Republic of Iesus Christi." the bailiff informed the court.

Sir Davide banged his gavel.

"The matter of the extradition of Dr Peter Graves, here present, to the Republic of Iesus Christi." Sir Davide repeated. "The plaintiff may now proceed to present the case for extradition."

Derscon

28-12-2006, 00:32

SIC, naturally

Star Office, Imperial Palace

"Bloody hell." Tsar Xavier was reading over the briefing on his desk before taking a swig of vodka. Blazhei Voikinov and Marshal Darii were both in the office.

"Reverend Graves has never been to Iesus Christi," Blazhei said. "I've met Graves when he was still with Doctor Paisley. I swear, he never left his side."

"Indeed," the Marshal said. "And after he moved to New Geneva, he never left. Granted, it was because we had the city surrounded, but he never left. And since then, no planes have gone from New Geneva or Reichskamphen to the Reich, and Graves has been effectively weighed down by his work in the Imperial Capital." Tsar Xavier nodded.

"Indeed. These charges are bunk of the highest magnitude. Clever ploy on the Reich's part, though."

"What happens if Pantocratoria decides to extradite him?" Blazhei asked.

"Then we move in to intercept them, either before they send him or in-flight." The Foreign Minister, who had been silent for the meeting, finally spoke up.

"That wouldn't exactly look very good. Pantocratoria may respond militarily." Xavier glared at the Foreign Minister.

"Then we respond in kind. However," he continued, softening the stare. "Pantocratoria usually opts for a diplomatic solution in any conflict -- I don't suspect they will do much about it except maybe cut off trade, but it's not like we don't have any other trading partners. And the Reich already hates us, being members of Greater Prussia, so I frankly don't give a damn about their opinion."

Blazhei nodded. "Indeed. However, as Graves did nothing, I don't think any of that will be necessary. The Pantocratorians are intelligent and honourable. I am confident that they will find Graves innocent and release him. The Pantocratorians don't go out of their way to pick fights."

Austar Union

28-12-2006, 06:13

Article in the Political Monthly Magazine: World Section
Extradition
Written by, Amanda Courtney Fox

As the trial begins, I watch on as the Judge Sir Davide opens the courtroom. What must he be thinking? Is he entirely looking at the political aspects of the case, or has he managed to limit his view to the scope of the evidence presented. Has he been swayed by the opinions of millions of Prussians, or even have favor towards the various ministers of the Reich?. With these questions in the hearts of probably millions of people around the world, I would like to propose a new question to you all - what would come as of the result of a successful extradition.

Greater Prussian Empire, a pompous and overinflated region; only just waging war against the Reich and failing, an extradition of Reverend Graves could serve to be a mighty blow, considering the various roles he has played in that confederation of Nations. What's more interesting, are the various claims that should Graves be extradited, the government of Iesus Christi will be invariably ignoring such things as human rights, and therefore Graves may be the subject of torture and possibly execution. As a result, diplomats and representatives of the Prussian Empire have been particularly militant as of late. Hostilities toward even the Pantocratorians for even considering the matter have been shown, and several political speculators fear for the safety of Judge Sir Davide presiding over this particular case.

Is it true then, that the Greater Prussian Empire can be likened to the Italian and American Mafia, for when one of its senior members are the subject of court hearing, it is not uncommon for the Judges and Jury to receive certain messages to be swayed one way or another? We have seen that via their support of the Allanean terrorist state, even the nations of the Prussian Empire could be accused of war crimes - supporting a nation which responds with strategic striking against civilian populations, leaving millions dead. Not to mention the illegal invasion of the Edolian Peninsula, also the subject of much controversy. Nevertheless, it is fair to say that the international reputation of this region has been tarnished by his Emperor's unfaultered support of Allanean aggression throughout the known world.

Many questions indeed. And if the Greater Prussian Empire took the role of the Mafia in this Extradition Hearing, it would not surprise me in the least.

OOC: Some random stuff because the post was too short, according to Jolt.

Iesus Christi

28-12-2006, 08:08

Inquisitor John Garr stood and bowed towards the rightful authorities.
“Thank You for allowing this case to be heard, Milords. The People of Iesus Christi extend their warmest thanks for the promptness and the honestly with which this case has been handled.” Garr used the Iesus title of Milord over the native titles…there was no disrespect intended for Milord was an ancient honorific title dating back to the age of the Iesus kings plus it allowed Garr to avoid displaying his terrible pronunciation.

Garr Continued “The case for extradition is simple…Mr Graves is alleged to have committed terrible crimes in Iesus Christi. The dutiful authorities in Iesus Christi have found there is a Prima facie case to be answered by Mr Graves in Iesus Christi, further we believe this crime is meets all international standards and is sufficiently serious to justify his extradition from this noble country.

MiLord honourable servants of his most Faithful Catholic and Imperial Majesty, the equal of the apostles, He whom Mary intercedes for, the Emperor of Pantocratoria. What Mr Graves will say is irrelevant…for without a doubt these following points prove that according to this lands laws…there is a Prima facie case against Graves…
I present to this court Photographic evidence from security cameras that Mr Graves was in Iesus Christi at the time of the offence. Undeniable Evidence placing Graves in Iesus Christi…
Next we see Photographic evidence from security cameras showing Mr Graves visiting the child’s residence…followed by eye witness statements placing Mr Graves also at the same residence.
Next I present to you statements from two Protestant 'ministers' confirming the reason for Mr Graves visit to Iesus Christi and that indeed that he was in Iesus Christi…..Graves had apparently came to Iesus to start a protestant sect of some sort…this aside..these two ‘Ministers’ have no reason to lie and swear to the fact that Graves was in Iesus Christi….

Lastly I present to this court the Photographic evidence of the victims extensive injuries and the childs own testimonies. You will note the child’s extensive injuries and the fact the child clearly identifies Graves as his attacker….This isn’t some fake case or some nonsense case…this is a real flesh and blood child who’s life has been ruined because of that man sitting there….
We don’t care about Graves..or his faith or any other political nonsense…we don’t care about his supporters claiming someone has been with him constantly for the last 20 years…we don’t care about such ridiculous defence tactics…we just care about this child who was violated..we care about Justice!

Garr sat down and than quickly stood up again “ One more thing MiLords…I can attest that out of honour to this lands noble law…Iesus will not put to death Graves for these crimes should he be extradited and found guilty in Iesus Christi…”

Pantocratoria

28-12-2006, 19:17

OOC: Milord is quite acceptable as it is simply English for the form of address which would be used for a Pantocratorian judge. Translators have been provided by the Court.

Palais de la Justice, New Rome

"How does the plaintiff respond to allegations to the effect that the criminal charges against the respondent are fabricated without base entirely for political gain?" asked Sir Davide. "The evidence presented is more than sufficient to proceed to trial, and to have a reasonable chance of conviction too, in my opinion, if it is genuine. The matter of whether the evidence is genuine or not must be dealt with to some extent here, since we are discussing the extradition of the respondent, a very grave and possibly imperilling inconvenience, which the Court must not impose lightly. It is the opinion of the Court, with due respect to our colleagues in Iesus Christi, that the respondent's interests will not be well-served by deferring consideration of the legitimacy of the evidence in question to the courts of Iesus Christi. I therefore advise the plaintiff, that this Court must be convinced, on the balance of probabilities, that the evidence before it is genuine."

"Before we move on to the respondent, the Court would like to satisfy itself about several matters concerning the evidence involved and any extradition to Iesus Christi." began Bechemel. "If the child was violated anally, then the charge in a Pantocratorian court for such an offence would be Sodomy, for which a sentence of between twenty and thirty years would be normal, under the sentencing recommendations in place in Pantocratoria. Would the sentence the respondent would receive in Iesus Christi, if convicted, exceed such a period?"

"I will at this moment note with some emphasis, that the standard to be met, in all considerations by this Court, is not whether a thing is certain beyond reasonable doubt, but whether a thing is likely on the balance of probabilities, as in all civil proceedings." Beaumaison said for benefit of the foreigners on both sides who were not necessarily familiar with Pantocratorian law.

The Resurgent Dream

28-12-2006, 19:35

To:The Right Honourable Demetrios Raoul, Foreign Minister
From: The Honourable Liam Mac Diarmaid, External Secretary

Like many other powers, the Commonwealth has regarded the recent extradition proceedings against Dr. Peter Graves with a measure of concern. The Commonwealth's concern about the case itself arises from a number of causes. The first is the more or less open mockery directed at Dr. Graves's faith and the implicit appeal to sectarian hostilities which follows from this tone of derision. Secondly, the Commonwealth considers the prima facie standard advocated by Iesian counsel problematic in dealing with cases of this sort and hopes that Pantocratorian authorities will remain firm in rejecting this standard and, moreover, adopt a stricter standard than the balance of probabilities standard currently being applied. The prima facie standard is based upon the assumption that the state requesting extradition is honestly reporting evidence available to them and that the evidence will subsequently be examined in a court where the rule of law prevails. When the rule of law does not generally prevail in the state requesting extradition and when there is reasonable cause to believe that the state requesting extradition is interested in presenting false evidence against the accused on political or religious grounds, as seems to be the case currently, it seems as though a much higher evidentiary standard is required in the interests of justice, one requiring certain proof of the evidence. Moreover, it seems that depositions from persons not established in freedom and security in Pantocratoria should not be admitted. It is certainly no proof of their validity or uncoerced nature that they are attributed to Protestant ministers. This being said, the Commonwealth considers that Graves's diplomatic status is legitimately open to question given that Pantocratoria did not consent to receive him or any envoy from Greater Prussia and thus we are content, having stated our concerns, to leave the individual case of Graves to the operation of current Pantocratorian law.

Of more serious concern to the Commonwealth are some of the statements made by Pantocratorian authorities regarding the issues to be addressed in the extradition hearing, particularly the apparent ambiguity in Pantocratorian codifications of international conventions on diplomacy. It is also of some concern that any ambiguities at all should exist regarding who possesses diplomatic status and exactly what their rights are in the minority of states which consider themselves to abide by international diplomatic conventions.Therefore, the Commonwealth requests the following:

1. Consultations between Commonwealth and Pantocratorian diplomats and legal authorities with the aim or concluding a treaty, addendum to an existing treaty or a binding agreement specifying the specific rights, duties and immunities of diplomatic agents and other persons attached to diplomatic missions exchanged between the Commonwealth, Pantocratoria and the Resurgent Dream in the course of its independent diplomacy with Pantocratoria

2. An understanding between the Commonwealth and Pantocratoria to work together towards the goal of bringing about a formal codification of diplomatic norms by the agreement of all or the core those states which consider themselves to abide by conventional diplomatic norms

3. Consultations between Commonwealth and Pantocratorian diplomats and legal authorities over potential dangers to Commonwealth nationals arising out of Pantocratoria's extradition obligations to states where the Commonwealth does not consider the rule of law to exist in the conventional sense.

All of the above is, of course, meant without prejudice to the relations maintained by both Pantocratoria and the Commonwealth with states which openly decline to recognize some or all conventional diplomatic norms and without insult to the sovereign right of such states to pursue such a course.

Iesus Christi

30-12-2006, 08:03

John Garr nodded and quickly launched into his reply “Milord’s…the law enforcement agencies simply have no reason to fabricate evidence. Mr Graves is nothing to us politically…the Iesus people could care less about what these people do with themselves outside of Iesus... The public understanding of Graves is he is a body from a backwater that is only known for its violence and its ever decreasing gene pool…..
Still. We must concede that indeed it is true that Mr Graves has said ‘we are in a war between good and evil and in a battle between good and evil, Catholicism is always the latter.’ But his hatred of the Church is a matter for a higher power to deal with, not ours…God knows his own.
MiLords…there is no other reason for us to be here except the obvious one.…we desire justice for a child…
The simple answer Milords is that Graves carried out this crime…it is absurd to think Iesus Christi would convince Protestant ‘preachers’ and children to lie…it is not the rational answer to assume Iesus manufactured all the photographic evidence..the simple answer is that Graves is guilty of child rape.

Milord’s being this case is extreme in its brutality and the rape of the child particularly severe as the pictures indicate...the Iesus government would seek no less than thirty years hard labour if Mr Graves was found guilty…"

Pantocratoria

30-12-2006, 08:34

"Very well." Sir Davide said, accepting the responses to the Court's queries, already having realised that there was essentially nothing the Iesians could be expected to say beyond what was said as to whether the evidence was fabricated or not. "Dr Graves, as the respondent, you now have a right to challenge the plaintiff's request on whatever grounds you may, including challenging the authenticity of the evidence present."

"As a matter of procedure," Bechemel clarified. "It would be usual for your counsel to respond to the plaintiff's arguments for extradition, then the plaintiff's evidence, and then to present any evidence you should wish to enter, including testimony from Dr Graves himself or any other person."

"That being explained, I invite the respondent to make his submission to the Court." Sir Davide nodded.

Pantocratoria

07-01-2007, 06:46

After a few moments of silence from the respondent's table, the judges looked each other impatiently. Sir Davide leaned forward into his microphone again.

"I said that I invite the respondent to make his submission to the Court." Sir Davide repeated.

"Dr Graves, you are the respondent." Bechemel reminded.

Derscon

19-02-2007, 18:44

OOC: Hey, look, a thread! I'll see if I can get a post up in the near future.

Pantocratoria

09-04-2007, 16:48

OOC: Hey look! Nobody has replied quite some time later. I want this thing wrapped up and dealt with. We all get busy and goodness knows I neglect enough threads, but you have posted in other threads recently, so I'm bumping this one in the hope that you'll post something in this.

Derscon

10-04-2007, 03:21

OOC: Whoops. :p

Consul Pfalzgraf Nazarei Kutoniiovich Varakhii Druzhinov, an attorney of the Andropov family of Derscon, was the primary procurator for Doctor Graves, temporarily being appointed as a Greater Prussian legal consul. He listened to the Iesians' testimony with patience, keeping his smirk to himself when they showed the "photographs" of "Doctor Graves" with a child. When the defence was called to speak, Nazarei stood and addressed the tribunal.

"Your Honours, I shall spare you the empty words of flattery and cut right to the point. The entire case of the prosecution is fabricated -- full of lies -- designed simply to be a political stab at the Greater Prussian Empire. Let me begin with the smaller materials. Namely, the photos.

"First, as you can see by the security cameras, this man in question has a clear complexion. The camera shows the right side of the face very clearly, and it is unblemished." Nazarei Kutoniiovich then walked over to where the Reverend Doctor Graves was sitting.

"However, take a look at the right side of the Reverend Doctor's cheek. As everyone can clearly see, there is a birthmark here, a little to the front and right of the ear.

"Due to the picture of the camera being how it is, if there was a birthmark such as the one present on Doctor Graves's cheek, it would be clearly noticable. However, as you can see by the photo, there is nothing there." He walked back over to one of the cameras.

"Second. The man in the cameras, here shown in this photo presented by the prosecution, has his weight evenly distributed on his legs -- you can see this from his posture. Here again, in all of the other photos, he is of well phsical being. Doctor Graves, however, has a permanent leg injury from an incident some time ago in his late teens -- clearly younger than the age of the man in these photos -- that gives him an uneven walking pace, causing a limp in his left leg. Here are the medical papers to prove this." Deputy Counsul Sablinov stood up from his seat and brought them to the judges. In it were many copies of medical forms and referrals about the injury -- most dated many, many years ago, to the time of the injury. And from there, a steady increase of medical papers, from several different Pharmacists, detailing the medication prescribed for his injury.

Druzhinov nodded to Sablinov as he sat down, turning to address the Judges once more. "I think it is clear that the man in these photos is not Reverend Graves. Of course, this still may not settle the question of whether Doctor Graves was in Iesus Christi. And the answer to this question is simply 'no.'

"Since the formation of the Greater Prussian Empire, the GPE and the Reich have never had any sort of relationship. Flights, ships, and all other forms of travel and trade were forbidden from the very beginning. Travel records dating back to five years before Reverend Graves' birth, to the present, taken from five different nations that have handled foreign travel outside immediate Prussian allies, as well as the Greater Prussian travel records, clearly show that the Reich has never been a destination of any Greater Prussian ship since the foundation of the Empire, never-the-less since the life of the Reverend Doctor Graves.

"To even think that a Greater Prussian would ever set foot on Reich soil is a perposterous notion, never-the-less a member of the Greater Prussian High Command -- and a Free Presbyterian Minister, at that.

"Your Honours, I pray that you clearly see what has been brought before you, and rule appropriately, and that God guides you in your decision." Counsul Druzhinov bowed to the judges with respect, and then headed back to his seat, waiting with patient respect, along with the rest of the Prussian delegation, for the ruling of the Pantocratorian Court.

Pantocratoria

10-04-2007, 05:47

"Monsieur Druzhinov, are you a medical expert?" Sir Davide asked for the opening question of the respondent's case. "I look at these photographs and, not being an expert in the analysis of photographs in regards to the presence or lack thereof of medical conditions, see nothing in particular which leads me to believe that the man standing in them is crippled, lame, or perfectly able-bodied. It is customary for evidence of that nature to be presented via the testimony of an expert of some nature. I am prepared to order a recess of one day to allow you to procure such an expert and for the plaintiff to procure an expert of their own, both of whom may offer testimony, if it is agreeable to both parties."

"I note that the respondent did not address the testimony of the victim and witnesses provided by the plaintiff." Bechemel inquired. "Does the respondent intend for this evidence to go unchallenged?"

"I cannot say that I do not find the respondent's assertions that it is impossible that Dr Graves ever visited Iesus Christi, for the reasons the respondent has thus far provided, to be absurd." Beaumaison said honestly. "Dr Graves is a learned person of some intellect, it seems improbable that the only route to Iesus Christi of which he could conceive would be, in effect, a straight line, between Greater Prussia and the Reich. That he would not be able to travel to an intermediary country, such as Pantocratoria for instance, and then travel to Iesus Christi without there being any record of a ship departing Greater Prussia for the Reich is an absurd piece of reasoning implicit in accepting the arguments thus put forward in support of this contention that Dr Graves could never have visited Iesus Christi. Now, it may be the case that Dr Graves has in fact never visited that place, but whereas the plaintiff has offered proof positive, which isn't to say that it is beyond refute by any means, but whereas the plaintiff has offered proof positive, the respondent has fallen into the trap of presenting proof negative. It is impossible, through lack of evidence, to demonstrate that a thing did not happen, only, through the presence of evidence, to demonstrate that it did. I would therefore ask that the respondent deal with the evidence offered by the plaintiff and drop this particular line of reasoning. The court will hear fresh evidence on the matter of whether Dr Graves visited Iesus Christi, it will not, however, hear any more of this particular argument."

Derscon

11-04-2007, 02:34

Deputy Consul Mikhail Sablinov stood up after being motioned to by Consul Druzhinov to address the tribunal, after their response.

"Your Honour, while Pfalzgraf Druzhinov is not a medical expert, I compiled those pieces of evidence shown, and I would be considered a medical expert. My credentials are attached to the documentation. I am a retired colonel of the Imperial Reserve Medical Corps of the Soli Deo Gloria division of the Greater Prussian Imperial Guard, having served on my time not on active duty as chief of the Physical Therapudic Recovery Directorate of the Royal Hospital in Drakongrad."

Consul Druzhinov nodded to Sablinov, and stood up to address the tribunal as Sablinov sat down. He ignored the complaints against his argument, feeling that any debate over such would be fruitless and a waste of his time.

"Your Honours, I would like to turn my floor to Yamada Takumi, president of Yamada Hot Springs Incorporated -- the facility in Pschycotic Pschycos where Doctor Graves recieved some of his treatment -- for he has volunteered to come here and present his evidence anad documentation of Doctor Graves' presence at the facility during the time of the alledged 'rape.'"

Pantocratoria

11-04-2007, 07:13

"Monsieur Druzhinov..." Sir Davide began, quite shocked and incredulous. "Are you... seriously... providing an alibi now, despite the fact that in all representations made by the Greater Prussian authorities, and indeed earlier in your case, there was no such alibi? Despite the fact that no prior mention was made of this conveniently timed trip coinciding exactly with the date on which Dr Graves is alleged to have committed this offence in Iesus Christi?"

"If the respondent was in another country at the time, it seems highly improbable that the court's time needed to be wasted with all that talk of travel records!" Beaumaison snapped. "The court is forced to consider the possibility, counsel, that this alibi is only being produced now because your first argument was discounted as being immaterial!"

"The court will hear any testimony offered," Sir Davide began, looking to Yamada Takumi as he was led over to the witness stand. "But Monsieur Takumi, I must warn you that the penalty for perjury is severe and in criminal matters and matters involving criminal extraditions, the penalty includes mandatory prison time."

The bailiff produced a Bible and held it out to Takumi.

"Please take the Bible in your hand and repeat after me," the bailiff began. "I swear by the angels and the saints to bear true witness, to tell the whole and unembellished truth and nothing else, God help me."

Pschycotic Pschycos

11-04-2007, 21:25

OOC: It's a-commin'! Just give me a little to get it!

Derscon

12-04-2007, 02:56

Druzhinov raised an eyebrow at the very unprofessional outburst by the judges on the tribunal.

"Your Honours, obviously, I had this information present and made already, as Yamada Takumi has been here the entire time. I chose to hold off in its presentation as it involves personal letters from the royal family of Derscon, as well as some classified security footage. While it technically has been declassified for use in this trial, it is typical to try and avoid using such material if at all possible.

"Also, to dispel any thoughts you might have about strange convienences, the time spent in the facility was well over two months, much longer than the supposed time that Iesus Christi is claiming Dr. Graves stayed in their nation. Mr. Yamada will be able to explain more."

Pantocratoria

12-04-2007, 04:54

"The witness may have been present but the court has heard nothing of the events to which counsel alluded until this time. The court can only wonder at the respondent's motivations in presenting the apparently superfluous arguments to the effect that it was impossible that the respondent visited Iesus Christi. It certainly reflects on the credibility of any further testimony on the matter." Sir Davide snapped back, particularly disapproving of being addressed as Your Honour. "The court will, nevertheless, hear the testimony. The court will also consider any evidence the respondent may wish to enter in support of Monsieur Takumi's testimony after that testimony has been presented."

Pantocratoria

12-04-2007, 07:25

PANTOCRATORIAN IMPERIAL GOVERNMENT
IN STRICTEST CONFIDENCE
Department of the Attorney General
Office of Sir Louis-Manuel Téssalie IC GPE
Solicitor General
To:
Hon. Sébastien Jambart IC MP
Attorney General

Minister,

RE: Status of Dr Peter Graves with reference to extradition(ref. M-2006-5525-SC)

Dr Peter Graves travelled to Pantocratoria uninvited and presented no formal diplomatic credentials to His Imperial Majesty nor the Imperial Government. Although it was understood that the purpose of Dr Graves' visit was diplomacy, in the absence of diplomatic credentials, Dr Graves had the same legal status as any other private visitor to Pantocratoria. As such, Dr Graves enjoys no immunity for any crime committed within Pantocratorian jurisdiction, nor does he enjoy any immunity from extradition.

Yours Sincerely,

Louis-Manuel Téssalie
Sir Louis-Manuel Téssalie, Imperial Counsel, Knight Grand Cross of the Pantocratorian Empire
Solicitor General

Allanea

12-04-2007, 18:24

Message to The Honourable the Attorney General, The Honourable Sebastien Jambart IC MP, From the Allanean Government

Dear Sir!

As you know, the famous Reverend Graves is currently held in your nation, awaiting extradition to Iesus Christi .We in Allanea, however, believe he should first be extradited to the United States.

For long, we have investigated the murder and rape of 15 teenage girls and a boy that occurred during Graves' visits to Allanea (for ostensibly religious purposes such as sermon tours). However, it is now apparent to the investigation that Graves had done this for religious reasons. As such, we are now forced to formally file charges against him for the murder, rape, and kidnapping of 16 girls in Aissur, San Nereiana, and Kalandia.

Apparently, the girls were brought to him by operatives within the Evangelical Community in Allanea, who had also taped the horrendous crimes on video. Apparently, they wanted to blot the face of Mr. Graves out via computer editing, and then redistribute the pictures to pedophile ring. Attached are also the confessions of those who aided procure the girls.

The following evidence is available and will be sent to you:

1.Video of girl being molested and killed by Graves.
2.Video of girl being whipped while tied to a bed, by Graves as she screams out for mercy.
3.Video of young boy being beaten and then killed by Graves
...
16. Testimony given by Miranda James, Graves' secretary during his first visit to Allanea.
17.Testimony given by Jacob Holmes, the man who kidnapped two of the girls in San Nereiana.
18.Testimony given by Moses Johannson, the father of the boy.
...
234. Testimony given by Office Nigel Thornton, the officer who arrested Jacob Holmes and discovered the videos attached above.
235. Pathological examination report of the body of Jankele Johannson

We would like to askyou to hold the necessary hearings as soon as humanly possible.

Sincerely yours,

Fiona Lovegood,
Allanean Department of Justice

Pschycotic Pschycos

12-04-2007, 23:45

There's always one of those people. The religious ones who are fanatical about exactly their religion and belief. Yamada Takumi was just one of those people. He was Christian, but swearing to angels and saints bugged the living heck out of him. He placed his hand on the bibile, "I swear, with God and Jesus as my Lord and Savior, that I will tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, may I be executed if I don't."

Pantocratoria

13-04-2007, 05:24

The bailiff looked to the judges with a degree of uncertainty. The judges exchanged some glances and nods, and then Sir Davide leaned forward to speak.

"Monsieur Takumi, I take it that you have an objection of conscience against taking the oath in the prescribed form?" Sir Davide clarified. "Is it your intention that the oath you have just offered be taken as substitute for the oath in the prescribed form? And is it your understanding that, having taken such an oath, any false testimony offered by you would constitute perjury, a crime with serious penalties? If the answer to these questions is yes, please say so, and then responding counsel may proceed with questioning."

Pantocratoria

13-04-2007, 05:42

"Extraordinary..." said Sir Louis-Manuel Téssalie as he read the Allanean letter which the Attorney General had just handed him. "And such a body of evidence..."

"Yes..." replied Sébastien Jambart, removing his glasses in order to rub the bridge of his nose. "We might really have a violent child molester on our hands here. And although naturally it couldn't influence your professional advice, I suspect, Sir Louis-Manuel, that you, like me, had assumed that the Iesian charges were made-up for political reasons."

Sir Louis-Manuel regarded that it would've been unprofessional of him even now to agree to that statement, and thus remained silent, and reclined further into the couch, crossing his legs as he did so. His silence was an answer of sorts - of course he agreed with the Attorney General's assessment. He just couldn't say so. Unlike Jambart, he was a public servant, not a politician.

"Well... the Allaneans are Greater Prussian allies..." Jambart continued, realising he wouldn't get an answer. "And have little apparent reason to falsify evidence."

"And Dr Graves enjoys no special diplomatic privileges." Sir Louis-Manuel pointed out. He knew the conclusion Jambart would have to reach.

"Well... I had wanted to avoid this over what the cabinet had assumed was an Iesian propaganda stunt..." Jambart sighed. "But maybe it isn't. In the light of all the evidence we've been provided by the Allaneans... and the Foreign Minister agrees, I should say, Sir Louis-Manuel, agrees that the Allaneans have no immediately apparent political reason to charge Graves, and thus we should regard their extradition request as we would a request for any other fugitive... in the light of all that evidence, I believe we ought to arrest Dr Graves. Do you share that opinion, Sir Louis-Manuel?"

"Monsieur, it is an entirely appropriate decision." Sir Louis-Manuel agreed.

"Very well. I'll direct the Crown Prosecutor to have Dr Graves arrested as a fugitive." Jambart nodded. He rose to his feet. "Thank you for your advice, Sir Louis-Manuel."

"It is always a pleasure to be of service, Attorney General." Sir Louis-Manuel replied, getting off the couch and onto his feet.

Pschycotic Pschycos

14-04-2007, 00:20

"Ahem, yes. I am sorry. I have an apparent lack of forethought. I figure, why ask angels and saints to intercede when I can just go to the head? But yes, the general idea is the same. Where would you like to begin?"

Pantocratoria

14-04-2007, 07:06

"Monsieur Takumi, the respondent's counsel will ask you questions, to be followed by the plaintiff's counsel. I must ask that you respond to all questions in full unless the answers to those questions would incriminate you under Pantocratorian law." Sir Davide advised the witness. "If the answer to a question would incriminate you, you must advise the court that you cannot answer on grounds that answering could incriminate yourself, and you will be immediately asked to leave the witness stand. You are not to enter testimony except by answering questions asked by counsel or by the court."

"Responding counsel may proceed with questioning the witness." Beaumaison advised the Greater Prussians.

Pantocratoria

23-04-2007, 07:57

Before the Dersconi counsel rose to question Takumi, the chamber's main doors opened and three men entered, two in police uniforms, and one dressed in a wig and the black and scarlet robes of an Imperial Counsel. The Imperial Counsel carried an official writ in his hand. All three men bowed to the judges at the bar. The judges looked amongst themselves.

"Messeigneurs, begging the court's pardon for interrupting its proceedings, I seek permission to approach the bench." the barrister, one Guillame Richemont IC, said.

"Granted." Sir Davide replied. He banged his gavel. "Proceedings are temporarily suspended."

Richemont approached the bench, and the judges each disabled their microphones with the press of a button. Richemont handed his writ to Sir Davide and the four men conferred in hushed tones, with the judges occasionally looking at Dr Graves throughout. Finally, Sir Davide nodded, and flicked his microphone back on. Richemont backed away to the sides of the policemen.

"In light of information received from the Crown Prosecutor, this court has declared itself in recess until further notice." Sir Davide said. "Monsieur Takumi, you may step down from the stand, the court thanks you for your time. I would ask that you and counsel for both the plaintiff and respondent remain in New Rome until the court advises otherwise, so that we may remain in contact with you more easily."

"All rise!" the bailiff commanded as the judges rose from their seats, gathered their notes, and then departed the court room via the side door through which they had initially entered. With the judges out of the room, Richemont and the police moved over to stand by Graves and his lawyers.

"Monsieur le Docteur Pierre Graves," Richemont began, opening the writ in his hand and reading from it. "I hereby place you under arrest in accordance with this warrant signed by Monseigneur de la Justice Louis-Constantine Peronicles of the Criminal Court and counter-signed by the Crown Prosecutor of New Rome, Sir Matthieu Fiche. You are charged with sixteen counts each of kidnapping, rape, and murder in the United States of Allanea. Anything which you may say shall be held against you in a court of law, and I advise you that you have a right to remain silent, and a right to legal representation in your defence."

Richemont handed the writ to Sablinov so that he could see the arrest warrant in full, before nodding to the officers, who asked Graves to place his hands behind his back before cuffing him.

"You will be taken to a nearby police station for processing and detention until a bail hearing which has been scheduled for ten o'clock in the morning tomorrow." Richemont advised Dr Graves. He looked to Graves' defence counsel. "The Office of the Crown Prosecutor presented the evidence provided to us by the Allanean Department of Justice to the Criminal Court to obtain that warrant. You will therefore find all the evidence against your client at this time in the court's records."

Richemont also looked over to the Iesian Inquisitor. "As will you, monsieur. The evidence is a matter of public record."

Pantocratoria

19-05-2007, 09:51

At the bail hearing, Dr Graves was remanded to custody in light of the very serious charges against him in Iesus Christi and Allanea. The civil extradition hearing was suspended and both extradition requests were taken together as one case to be presented by the Crown Prosecutor against Dr Graves. The case was made to the same three judges in a full panel hearing of the criminal court - even criminal extradition hearings were not jury cases. The same three judges presided. In the prosecution's case, the Iesian evidence, and then the Allanean evidence which was even more plentiful and convincing by virtue of the fact that it came from an ally of Greater Prussia. After presentation of all the evidence (OOC: which has been now gone over at some length in this thread and so I won't repeat it here), Dr Graves and his legal team was free to present their case.

OOC: I am sick of this thread being ignored by Reichskamphen and Derscon. I know Reichskamphen hasn't been posting but Derscon is extremely active, just not here. If no case is presented soon, I am going to proceed as if the defence rested without presenting a case.

Presbyterian Church NS

26-05-2007, 08:26

Dr. Kenneth Stevens, the interim head of the Presbyterian Church in Nationstates, formerly, the PCGPE, the denomination Dr. Graves had once headed, sat calmly at his desk reading the news that came in from Pantocratonia. Needless to say he was extremely distressed and disturbed at the inadequate defense that had been provided to one of the most prominent Imperial figures by his government, especially in light of the fact that Dr. Graves had never once visited Iesus Christi. He had been in Allanea a few times to oversee church planting for the PCGPE but there were very few times in such trips where sufficient footage couldn't be produced to account for his whereabouts.

Dr. Graves had been a practical prisoner in New Geneva for the past 5 years and had he visited Iesus Christi, he would have immediately been found out by the Iesian military and captured and executed. As one of the most famous ministers in the world, and a symbol of Imperial tradition, there was little time when he wasn't in the public eye either during his three years as High Lord Protector of New Geneva or for his 10 year tenure as the head of the PCGPE.

Most of the man's life was on camera and it took very little for Church authorities to produce this footage. And as such Rev. Stevens began to assemble a crack legal team to defend his pastor.

Within a day, lawyers from the PCNS would be arriving in Pantocratonia to assist the GPE's legal team and to provide additional evidence to clear the name of Dr. Graves.
--------------------------------------------------------------

Rev. Stevens also dispatched church authorities to Allanea to pay a visit to the head Church of the denomination in Allanea, a church that was built during the Reign of Joseph-Napoleon and seemed almost a scale model of the immense Imperial Cathedral. The minister there was installed and ordained by Rev. Graves and was the best man possible to address his Government's attack on the character of the good reverend and to get the government to drop these charges.

Pschycotic Pschycos

26-05-2007, 17:18

OOC: Just so you know, Derscon is extremely busy IRL. We're RL friends, and he's up to his neck with exams, etc... It's not that he *won't come here, it's that he *can't really

Pantocratoria

27-05-2007, 06:21

"The defendant may proceed." Sir Davide prompted the now enormously oversized legal team Dr Graves had which consisted of both the Dersconi barristers and the lawyers sent by Dr Stevens.

After all the furore provoked by radio shockjock Alain Jeans' claims that Graves had raped an Emperor's Maiden (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=12689082&postcount=20) at Chantouillet when he had met with the Emperor, claims which Sir Davide didn't credit because neither a victim nor witnesses had been forthcoming, it was probably for the best, the chief judge reflected, that this wasn't a jury case. As his eyes passed over the defence witnesses waiting to testify, including Takumi, Sir Davide reflected that the fuss Takumi made about his oath to tell the truth wouldn't have gone down well with a jury either. His eyes settled again on Dr Graves as he awaited the defence's efforts to demonstrate that there was no case to answer to any of the dozens of charges against their client in Iesus Christi and the United States of Allanea.

Aerion

28-05-2007, 03:51

The Aerionian Star, one of the most popular but more scandalous tabloids in the Grand Kingdom of Aerion that was circulated nationwide had somehow caught the story, and put on the lower front page a picture of the Reverend, and within one of the incriminating pictures they somehow obtained.

Reverend Pedophile Rapes Girl at Pantocratorian Palace
Serial pedophile committed crimes in Allanea, Iesus Christi, and Pantocratoria.

"In what has become an international incident, Reverend Dr. Peter Graves, an Protestant Minister and High Lord Protector of Reichskamphen was arrested in Pantocratoria for raping and committing other abuses on children. Among these was a young girl, an orphan that was part of the Emperor’s Maidens, a group that is composed of young girls that serve in various roles at the Imperial Court and are taken care of until married off. While not yet officially charged with this crime, there is evidence that Dr. Graves performed this act.

Reichskamphen officials vehemently deny all allegations against Dr. Graves, including even that he has ever been to Iesus Christi the first accusers, and some allies in the Greater Prussian Empire first threatened war against Pantocratoria for arresting the Doctor. Though Allanea, which has close relations with Reichskamphen has presented some of the accusations.

Dr. Peter Graves was Lord High Protector of Reichskamphen and Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of the Greater Prussian Empire. He is famous in that part of the world for being a well known Christian Minister, and famous figure of the faith.

The acts of depravity committed by Dr. Graves are numerous, and no doubt more pictures and videos will surface of these acts."

Presbyterian Church NS

28-05-2007, 04:33

One of the newly arrived lawyers from the PCNS stood up to address the court. He wore a black suit with a gray metalic pinstripe tie and a small cross pin on his lapel.

"Thankyou your honour." he bowed politely. "Dr. Graves has asked us to represent him in lieu of the Dersconi legal team for reasons of gross incompetance on their part." The lawyer took a drink from a glass of water on the desk infront of him.

"I appologize, but I hope you will bear with me as it is a bit difficult to take a case like this in midstream from seemingly uneducated lawyers. Under normal circumstances I would ask to dismiss due to inadequacy of Council...but Dr. Graves is in far to poor of a condition to endure much more of this."

"Your Honour, I intend to show you beyond doubt that Rev. Dr. Peter Graves has not visited the country of Iesus Cristi and therefore was incapable of committing the crimes there. Furthermore, I intend to illustrate that there was no point during Dr. Graves' highly organized trip to Allanea that he ever had sufficient time and privacy to commit the crimes."

The Lawyer stepped from behind his desk. " I intend to demonstrate this through the use of valid and confirmed Credit Card statements, Travel Records, Classified Imperial Documents that will now be made public, and a stockpile of hundreds upon hundreds of hours of footage that will be made available to the court. Obviously I will display a representative sample only, but the entirity of the footage will be made available to the court. I also intend to demonstrate that these films are falsifications aimed at the destruction of a man simply because of his faith and his national origin. I hold the justice system of Pantocratonia in high regard for the fairminded approach it takes to every case and I would hope that your honour would accord me the same fairmindedness even in the face of all such media hype."

Pantocratoria

28-05-2007, 06:43

"Counsel, you will refer to members of the Court as monseigneur, not as your honour." Beaumaison began. "Further, it is customary to introduce oneself to the Court."

Once the church lawyer had introduced himself properly, the presiding judge, Sir Davide, looked to Graves.

"Dr Graves, is it your intention that Monsieur <Insert Name> should assume principal responsibility for your defence from Monsieur Druzhinov?" Sir Davide checked. When Dr Graves confirmed, Sir Davide continued. "Very well. Monsieur <Insert Name>, you may proceed, but I must caution you, it is not the role of this court to weigh whatever evidence you provide against the evidence provided by the prosecution. The question before this court is whether Dr Graves has a case to answer on each of the charges against him. This court will not weigh video footage provided by Iesus Christi and the United States of Allanea and presented by the Crown Prosecutor against video footage provided by a constituent nation of Greater Prussia, Dr Graves' ecclesial community, nor any other source, and decide which is more likely to be authentic. Such matters must be dealt with by the actual trial courts, should Dr Graves be extradited. The same goes for other documentation. I therefore advise you, monsieur, that the case for the defence ought restrict itself to reasons justifying the outright dismissal of chargess."

It was going to be a hard case to make. Calling the validity of the prosecution's evidence into doubt would've been potentially sufficient in a criminal prosecution in Pantocratoria, as it would've caused reasonable doubt as to the defendant's guilt, but the court was considering extradition, not the guilt or innocence of the defendant. Only by demonstrating the defendant to be obviously innocent could the lawyer expect success.

OOC: Seriously, it's spelt Pantocratoria. With a second r. Please stop calling it Pantocratonia.

Presbyterian Church NS

28-05-2007, 16:35

The Lawyer, Sir Davide Aristide, looked squarely in the judge's face, astounded. "I would ask you, monseigneur, to consider the following."

He paused, trying to find words strong enough but appropriate enough as well.

"Let us presuppose for a moment, that on the day of this court's decision, you had seen the evidence that we had here presented, and were yourself convinced that Dr. Graves was an innocent man. However, as you mentioned, it is not the duty of the court to interpret evidence, only to see if there is sufficient evidence to stand trial. In any other country of the world, yours included, Monseigneur, we would gladly submitt to this because we know that a fair trial would produce the desired outcome as our client is 100% innocent. In Iesus Christi however...it doesn't matter 10 cents if we produce all the evidence in the world or Christ descends and sit's on his shoulder. He will be found guilty because he is a Protestant Prussian. He will not get a fair trial in Iesus Christi, I dont care what protestations we may soon hear from the Iesian Council, it has been proven time and again, and any body that would pretend that Iesus Christi sports a fair and balanced justice system is out of their minds. Monseigneur, if you are unable to consider the evidence, then no one ever will, and the responsibility will lie here for sending an innocent man who came peacefully and diplomatcally to your country to prison or to his death."

Pantocratoria

28-05-2007, 17:13

OOC: He has to have the same name as the chief judge just for ambiguity's sake I take it :P

IC:

Sir Davide Leloyné, the presiding judge, regarded Sir Davide Aristide from the bench as he implored the court to effectively try the case, with what could be best described as simultaneously a degree of understanding and a degree of impatience.

"Counsel, you shall hear no protestations from an Iesian counsel, as none is present. As you are newly arrived, permit me to introduce Monsieur Guillame Richemont IC, assistant to the Crown Prosecutor." Sir Davide said, indicating to the Pantocratorian prosecutor who had presented the Iesian and Allanean evidence in the case against Dr Graves. "Monsieur Richemont, if you please, from what sources did the Attorney General, and through him, the Crown Prosecutor, receive the evidence which you have presented against the defendant?"

"And it please the Court, monseigneur," Richemont began, rising to his feet and bowing his head politely. "The Crown Prosecutor received, from the Attorney General, various evidence forwarded to the Department of the Attorney General by Monsieur Douglas Jardine, Iesian Deputy for Justice, and by Mademoiselle Fiona Lovegood, of the Allanean Department of Justice."

"Very good, Monsieur Richemont." Sir Davide nodded to the prosecutor, who sat down, and returned his attention to Sir Davide Aristide. "Counsel, it is clear that you regard that the defendant will not receive a fair trial in Iesus Christi. That may be so. Is it also your opinion that the defendant will not receive a fair trial in the United States of Allanea?"

Presbyterian Church NS

29-05-2007, 03:51

Sir Aristide thought about the question that the Chief Justice had posed.
Aristide was vaguely familiar with Allanean law as he had to deal with some Imperial cases that involved Allanean authorities.

"No, monseigneur, I harbor very few doubts about the Allanean legal system or whether or not he will recieve a fair trial. For all else that is said about them, they are a free country and justice is a top priority for them."

Presbyterian Church NS

29-05-2007, 03:53

Pantocratoria

29-05-2007, 04:22

"Counsel, I trust that the point is self-evident then... the defendant is being sought for extradition to both the United States of Allanea and to Iesus Christi, not simply the latter." Sir Davide replied. The judges watched the extraordinarily inconveniently named defence barrister for a reply. "The fact that the defendant is a Protestant Prussian would not seem to be an impediment to receiving a fair trial in Allanea, then."

Presbyterian Church NS

29-05-2007, 04:57

Sir Davide pondered a moment and then replied. "In answering, monseigneur, I would like to clarify a point. His being a Protestant Prussian is not the reason he will recieve an unfair trial in Iesus Christi. The reason he will recieve an unfair trial is because there is almost no other kind there. He could be a Catholic Iesian and I would still insist to this court that he would not recieve a fair trial. For this same reason, I don't believe that his being a Protestant Prussian or a Catholic Iesian, or a Buddhist for that matter would be the cause of him recieving or not receiving a fair trial in Allanea. He would recieve one because the legal system is fair there."

He picked up his glass of water and took a quick slug. He wasn't used to saying so much to answer a yes or no question. But this was especially important.

"And If the court still considers extradition to Iesus Christi a viable possibility in light of all of this, I would reiterate my call for this court to take a closer look at this case than procedure would normally dictate so that the fairest outcome can be reached...justice is, after all, the purpose of the justice system, not necessarily legalism. And if my client stands a chance, however marginal, of being extradited to a country where evidence has little or no meaning, I believe it is the duty of this court, not necessarily as officers of the state of Pantocratoria, but as fellow human beings to make sure that another fellow human being is not falsely imprisoned or executed."

Pantocratoria

29-05-2007, 07:36

"If it were within the consideration of this Court, counsel, the Court might consider that assurances have been made to the Attorney General by both parties that the defendant would not face the death penalty nor any other penalty significantly more severe than the penalty for an equivalent crime in Pantocratoria." Henri Beaumaison, on Sir Davide's right, said. "The Court might consider that assurances have been made to the Attorney General that the defendant would face fair trial in both the United States of Allanea and in the Iesian Republic. The Court might consider these assurances to be at least as compelling as the argument to the contrary, which in the case of Iesus Christi, you are making."

"If it were within the consideration of the Court at all." Sir Davide added. He believed in the letter of the law as it was written, as did most of the conservative legal establishment. He did, however, believe that there were courses of argument which Dr Graves' defence had not yet attempted to pursue, which, if they could be substantiated, would be compelling. "The Court cannot consider contradictory evidence with a mind to weighing the comparative credibility thereof in the manner of a trial. The Court will willingly consider any evidence presented by the defendant which establishes as false the evidence which supports the prima facie case against the defendant on each charge."

Allanea

29-05-2007, 08:02

Your Honor." - rose Fiona Lovegood - "I see a problem. Both me and my Iesian colleague - by the way, I hope they overthrow Bridgette and Mathew as possible, and join North Star, former Gods Own, and St. Dominic in the community of free, democratic republics - both me and the Iesian colleague have video and witness statements as basis for our testimony. The defendant, as I understand, has similar video and statemetns as basis to his claim of being completely innocent. This, of course, make it a he-said-she-said argument - not the type of thing suited to this kind of process, where the idea is for us to prove that we have some sort of basis for our prosecution or for the defendant to prove our prosecution to be completely baseless."

"Perhaps - if Dr. Graves really believes himself to be guiltless and Allanean courts to be fair, he should agree to be extradited to Allanea - where he will surely be acquitted, if he's innocent, that is?" - Fiona Lovegood sneers openly. - "Of course, your Honor, I find it hard to believe he is - but if I thought otherwise, I wouldn't be prosecuting him."

Pantocratoria

29-05-2007, 08:11

"Mademoiselle Lovegood..." Sir Davide began in surprise. He didn't realise that the officials who had requested Dr Graves' extradition were in attendance, especially considering that their presence was entirely unnecessary. He banged his gavel. "Ahem. Order in the Court. Mademoiselle Lovegood, in this Court, you are not prosecuting Dr Graves, His Majesty is, via the Crown Prosecutor. Therefore, I gently remind you that only the prosecutor and the defendant, or rather counsel for the same, are to address the Court, and ask that you resume your seat and allow defending counsel, Sir Davide, to speak."

"I beg the Court's pardon, messeigneurs." Richemont apologised. Representatives of the Allanean and Iesian authorities were present with him as a courtesy to them both, as they were obviously interested parties.

"Sit down, Monsieur Richemont. Sir Davide, you may proceed." Beaumaison declared.

Presbyterian Church NS

29-05-2007, 08:12

Sir Davide rose to speak, "If it please the court, I am sure both the Soviet Union and Adolf Hitler's Nazi Germany, both of which remarkably resemble the Iesian Reich, would both have claimed to give a fair trial. It ultimately depends upon the recent history and laws of each nation. The laws of Iesus Christi are entirely dependant on its rulers and are subject to revocation by their mere whims if it need be. Allanean laws are based on a democratic Constitution. Any person, further, that has studied the recent history of Iesus Christi will find a history of state sponsored genocide, all of these executions without trial or jury. There is no such thing as justice or a fair trial in a country that more resembles Nazi Germany than anything else."

The PCNS cousel then declared definitively.
"Dr. Graves will agree to extradition to Allanea because he believes he will recieve a fair trial. If he is found guilty or innocent, he can be assured that it will have been reached by a jury of his peers and in a fair and impartial manner."

Pantocratoria

29-05-2007, 08:21

"Dr Graves, is it your intention to waive your right to an extradition hearing in regards to the 16 counts of murder, 16 counts of rape, and 16 counts of kidnapping for which you are wanted in the United States of Allanea?" asked Sir Davide.

Presbyterian Church NS

29-05-2007, 08:29

"Yes, Monseigneur, if this means immediate, and I emphasize immediate, extradition to Allanea without any stop in Iesus Christi where he could be detained." Sir Davide responded.

Allanea

29-05-2007, 08:33

"Ladies and gentlemen, the law is clear. If the Pantocratorian government decides to extradite Dr. Graves to Iesus, it's clear that he must first face trial in Allanea for his much more severe offenses. If it doesn't, well..."

Pantocratoria

29-05-2007, 08:43

"Mademoiselle Lovegood, sit down!" snapped Sir Davide, banging his gavel. "Dr Graves, you cannot conditionally waive your right to an extradition hearing. Even if you waive your right to an extradition hearing to the Allanean charges the Iesian charges would still be outstanding and you would have to remain in custody in Pantocratoria until this Court completes its deliberations. After this Court completes its deliberations, assuming that it finds there is no case for you to answer in Iesus Christi, the Attorney General would see to your extradition. In the event that this Court finds that there is indeed a case for you to answer in Iesus Christi, the determination as to whether to extradite you to Allanea or Iesus Christi first would be a political determination to be made by the Attorney General, not by this Court. The law is clear - you must answer the Crown Prosecutor's case for extradition on each charge on which you do not waive hearing before any extradition takes place. I therefore ask again, is it your intention to waive hearing for extradition on all of the charges against you brought by the United States of Allanea?"

Presbyterian Church NS

29-05-2007, 08:49

"Yes, this is my intention."

Pantocratoria

29-05-2007, 09:18

"Very well, it is so noted." Sir Davide replied. He banged his gavel. "The Court will adjourn until tomorrow, where the defence may present its case against extradition to Iesus Christi on the remaining charges."

"All rise!" the bailiff commanded as the judges rose from their seats and left the court room.

Pantocratoria

30-05-2007, 08:29

"Oyez! Oyez! Oyez!" called the bailiff. "All manner of persons having any business before Messeigneurs de la Justice of the Criminal Court Sir Davide Leloyné, Henri Beaumaison, and Louis-Charles Bechemel gather and give attendance."

The judges made their ways to their seats and sat down. They ruffled through the papers before them and set things just so, before the bailiff moved towards them, bowed, and presented a file to each of them.

"Messeigneurs, the matter of the extradition of Dr Peter Graves, here present, to the Republic of Iesus Christi and the United States of Allanea." the bailiff informed the court.

Sir Davide banged his gavel and the court resumed its session. The judges opened their files and arranged their papers for a few moments before Sir Davide leaned forward, looking in the direction of the defence, and spoke.

"The defendant may proceed." Sir Davide said.

Allanea

31-05-2007, 03:50

In the meanwhile, the ordinary course of things continued – including trade between Pantocratoria and Allanea. Allaneans still took their flights to Pantocratoria and back, and ships with cargo moved back and forth between the nations. One of these ships was SS Shiny Rose, an enormous cargo craft equipped with two helicranes.

On the second day of the trial the craft would be still very far – 240 kilometers – away from the Pantrocratorian national waters.

Presbyterian Church NS

31-05-2007, 04:13

"Thankyou, Monseigneur." Sir Davide Aristide (OOC: Believe it or not, I didn't realize what the Presiding Judge's name was when I concocted this) the head council for Dr. Peter Graves stepped from behind his table. "If my understanding of Pantocratorian law is correct...for the extradition to procede, there must be reasonable grounds for a Pantocratorian prosecutor to bring the case to court. Further, there must be an assurance that the penalty would be the same for that of an equal crime in Pantocratoria. However, I must propose a question to Monseigneur...is there consideration taken in Pantocratorian law in regards to the legal system and methods of conviction in countries where defendants shall be extradited to? Is there any consideration given to whether or not the justice system in a given country is fair and impartial? To reference a comment made on the trial by a representative of the Resurgent Dream earlier in this crisis...extradition to a country where the rule of law is disregarded certainly is a problematic situation both in regards to the world at large's view of the legal system that committed such an act, and in regards to the internal consistency of a legal system that sought to provide fair and impartial justice to all concerned, and then abandoned a defendant to suffer very probable great injustice."

Aerion

31-05-2007, 04:15

On the second day of the trial, the expedient Aerionian reporters were already in the courtroom with support staff outside. Those in the courtroom were directly from the Aerionian Press Agency (APA), a non-profit cooperative owned by various broadcast and news corporations. They had come by business supersonic jet to Pantocratoria to take immediate reports on the story. There were also reporters from the Aerionian News Network <ANN>, a broadcast media corporation. In all 4 Aerionian reporters were in the courtroom. One whom was female was directly from Aerionian News Network <ANN>, taking quick notes on a notepad. Another reporter from the APA was a sketch artist quickly sketching the major scenes in the courtroom no doubt to be distributed the following day. The other two APA reporters were jotting down notes, and observing the proceedings for their articles and reports later.

All of the reporters were smartly suited in rather conservative business style suits, though two of the reporters wore 1920s shoes, an popular Aerionian style.

It was not quiet certain why the Aerionian press had taken an interest in this story, but it was no doubt because of the often observance of other monarchies such as Pantocratoria, and that this situation had almost become an international incident. Another reason was that as many were atheist or agnostic in Aerion, especially in the cities, some in the press took a particular joy in casting religious leaders in a negative light seeing them as deceptive.

In whatever case, the press were there, inside and outside the courtroom.

Pantocratoria

31-05-2007, 04:39

"Counsel, this Court does not sit in judgement of Iesus Christi!" Sir Davide replied. "The considerations you mention are political ones, the domain of the Imperial Government, not of this court. The Imperial Government has imposed certain conditions on extraditions to Iesus Christi. Amongst those conditions are included the defendant's right to a fair trial, a waiver of the death penalty, and an assurance that no prison sentence will be given which is significantly longer than a sentence for a comparable crime in Pantocratoria. The Imperial Government is satisfied with those conditions. Direct your case to the defence of your client!"

Presbyterian Church NS

01-06-2007, 03:25

When the presiding judge announced that the legal system of Iesus Christi would give his client a fair trial...this was the first instant when Sir Aristide realized what was going on here. 'Is this a show trial or a genuine attempt at justice?' he thought to himself, knowing full well that it was turing into the former.

"Very well, if it please the court, I would like to call a witness. Mr. Matthew Peck, an Executive Vice President of the Credit Card company, American Express."

Pantocratoria

01-06-2007, 04:27

The judges nodded in response to Sir Davide Aristide's request, and the bailiff went to open the barrier which divided the public from the barristers in order to admit the witness. He then moved over to the stand and picked up a Bible.

"Matthew Peck, come forward and take the stand." Sir Davide Leloyné said, summoning the witness to the witness box. When Peck was in place, the bailiff held the Bible out to him.

"Please take the Bible in your hand and repeat after me," the bailiff recalled - naturally he had memorised the oath years ago. "I swear by the angels and the saints to bear true witness, to tell the whole and unembellished truth and nothing else, God help me."

Once the witness was sworn in, Sir Davide Aristide was able to proceed with questions.

OOC: Since the witness and the barrister are both your characters I'll let you RP the whole testimony - if the Crown Prosecutor raises objections we'll handle them at the end of testimony, even if it wouldn't really work like that.

Allanea

01-06-2007, 07:04

In the meanwhile, the helicopters began to take off towards the city. Ostensibly, they were offloading some form of sensitive cargo – a shipment of quality computer equipment that was valued at an immense sum of money by it's buyer, or something like that. The paperwork was all in order, and the helis would – supposedly – make only three flights to harbor and back before the ship proceeded on it's course towards it's main destination – supposedly another harbor.

For the first two flights everything was normal. On the third flight, the two large cargo helis changed course, and instead of delivering the cargo where they were supposed to, turned and flew over the capital itself at their full speed.

OOC: If there is a problem (i.e., using helis to unload trade ships is illegal in Pantocratoria and thus they would not even be allowed to make their first flight) or such, please talk to me over IRC.

Pantocratoria

01-06-2007, 11:27

OOC: Checked IRC - you're not there. New Rome is inland, it isn't a port city. There is a map you can look at on the wiki page (http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/Pantocratoria). It isn't necessarily not in helicopter range, mind, but it'd take a little while to get there and we'd really have rather a lot of warning. Try to catch me on IRC over the next couple of days and we'll work out something to adjust your post and make it work.

Allanea

02-06-2007, 01:06

OOC: I am aware of New Rome being inland. I also telegrammed you.

Reichskamphen

03-06-2007, 07:12

OOC: Will post tommorrow

Pantocratoria

03-06-2007, 14:34

New Rome Air Traffic Control Centre

"Turkspit..." swore Neville Galatos as he watched the radar blip representing the Allanean helicopters (flight AV3498 and AV3512) veer off course. "It really isn't complicated, I would've thought, to hold the damn shaft steady for a few minutes..."

He picked up his microphone and pressed the button to start transmitting.

"Flight AV3498, flight AV3512, you're both off course. Over." Galatos sighed. He made a few clicks of his mouse to reprogram AV3498's course, and then the helicopter which was supposed to be following it, AV3512. "OK I've got a new course for you here. I'll get you to turn North East, forty two degrees, at your current altitude, and that will bring you onto a new line. You'll need to drop your airspeed too, in your current location. Over."

Allanea

03-06-2007, 15:46

The reply of the pilots was simple – given that there was no reply.
One of the pilots, though, picked up the microphone and blew into it for a few seconds, creating really loud and obnoxious static, making it seem that someone was, perhaps, saying something – it just wasn't being heard properly.

The helicopters simply proceeded towards their target, the court building, at their full speed, the city roofs moving swiftly below.

At 300 kilometers per hour, they wouldn't need to wait long.

Pantocratoria

03-06-2007, 16:25

New Rome Air Traffic Control Centre

"AV3498, AV3512, you're now entering restricted airspace!" Galatos warned. "Repeat! AV3498, AV3512, you are entering a no fly zone! Raise your altitude and leave the restricted area immediately! Come in! Over!"

New Rome Emergency Response Command Centre

"Two unauthorised aircraft have entered the no-fly zone, sir." reported Adjutant Marie-Jacqueline Charpentier. "Air Traffic Control has been attempting to re-establish contact for several minutes. No reply from either aircraft."

"The chances that both of their radios went down at once are fairly slim." remarked Lieutenant Colonel Pierre Morphos. He put his hand on Charpentier's shoulder as he leaned in to observe the screen on her console, which showed an aerial map of the city with lit up markers showing the helicopters moving fast over the Old Quarter. "Low altitude... dangerous to shoot them down... Here, put that map on the projector."

Charpentier pressed a few buttons as Morphos moved over to the Air Service officer waiting at another console. The projected screen on the wall which all the consoles in the underground Emergency Response Command Centre faced switched over from a combined output of a number of different monitoring devices and was replaced with the view from Charpentier's screen.

"Listen up..." Morphos shouted. "Those red dots you can see up there are freight helicopters, off course and in the no-fly zone. They're low altitude and so we've got very limited options. Shooting them down is dangerous and so we'll only use it as a matter of last resort. Set up exclusion zones around the key targets in the zone. Squadron Leader? I want the payloads on two birds to go live and I want them capable of bringing down our intruders ASAP."

"Yes, sir!" replied the Air Service Squadron Leader, Manuel Philippos. He picked up a telephone and pressed a red button next to it which by-passed all the usual authentication and authorisation processes. "Switch payloads on Training Flight 8 to live, patch them into the ERCC, and set them to interdiction patrol over the zone."

"Surface-to-air missile defences will be used as a matter of last resort at this altitude. Nobody but me gives the order unless you see those dots enter the exclusion zones... Charpentier, mark the zones." Morphos ordered. A number of yellow circles appeared around key targets - the Criminal Court was not amongst them.

Allanea

03-06-2007, 16:43

Radio communications

"Sir, your RADAR must be wrong. Our GPS system tells us quite clearly that we are about five hundred miles away from the restricted zone and leaving fast, we really don't understand what you're talking about." – the pilot of one of the helicopters noted calmly as the helicopters began to approach their final targets.

And then he nodded to the men behind him.

It had begun.

One of the helicopters flew on a strafing approach past the court, dropping two devices that looked for the world like commercial cooking gas cans on the roof and next to the entrance. There were loud bangs – sounding a bit like weak explosions – and then the building and it's vicinity were enveloped in grayish vapor.

The vapor was a fentanyl-based knockout-gas, similar to that used by the Old Russians during one of their infamous hostage-rescue operations.

The helicopter proceeded to land in front of the court building, seconds after passers-by and police guards began to inhale the knockout gas.

The men that emerged were dressed in full-body armor suits, which, among other things, provided them with their own NBC protection – and unlike the passers-by, they would not pass out.

Their mission was simple – half of these men rushed into the courthouse via the front door, the other half protected the entrance and the helicopter.

On the roof, another helicopter landed. The first two men - or perhaps women, you could not tell through the armor – rushed rapidly towards one dome, then another, until they found the one under which Graves was being tried.

They aimed their weapons – large, revolver-action 40mm Grenade launchers – into the windows. They fired 12 times, the grenades flying in but not exploding. Rather, the projectiles began to hiss, delivering the same knock-out gas into the room.

Seconds later, three large 'potato-masher' grenades -RG-41 series - dropped through different windows. Again, they spread gas, not explosive shrapnel.

And, not even waiting for the gas to begin to take effect, ten men began to descend through the windows by rope.

Pschycotic Pschycos

03-06-2007, 17:16

Takumi, who was still in the room in the event that he was needed, had one thought before passing out, "oh shit, not again."

OOC: :P

Reichskamphen

03-06-2007, 18:33

Things in the room seemed to come to a stop. The examination of the witness ceased as Graves' council looked around warily. An extreme commotion was heard down the hall.

At first Graves' soul began to soar...he thought it was Imperial troops come to rescue him. Then as he saw plumes of gas skirt by the window, he knew that this was far from the case.

He immediately stood up and began to pray aloud. "Father, if we should die today, forgive these men, I pray, for the false witness they bear against me. Father protect us all, friend and foe, Protestant, Catholic, Athiest...protect us all by your grace from impending doom...and if we should die today, we pray that we may all stand before your Glory. Amen."

Then, the gas began to seep into the room with the grenades. Graves slipped silently into unconsciousness as he heard the screams dieing around him.

Pantocratoria

04-06-2007, 07:17

Criminal Court Palais de la Cour Criminelle, New Rome

The judges passed out fairly quickly when a gas grenade landed on the bench in front of them. Sir Davide, who was half way onto his feet when he passed off, slumped forward and dangled over the edge of the bench. His periwig fell off his upside-down head and onto the marble floor, revealing his own grey hair beneath. Most of the people in the room were down quickly too. Guillame Richemont, who was an ex-cop and had escaped from his fair share of close calls, had the presence of mind to pull his scarlet Imperial Counsel robes to cover his mouth and nose as he hit the ground and took cover behind his desk. Unfortunately a barrister's sleeve did not a good gas mask make, and the quick thinking only bought Richemont a few more seconds of consciousness than most of the other occupants of the court room. He spent those extra few seconds watching Graves pointlessly showpony, reflecting that the audience he no doubt intended for his protestations of innocence had, at that moment, better things to do with its time. Like pass out, which Richemont, like everyone else, Graves included, promptly did.

New Rome Emergency Response Command Centre

"They're attacking the Criminal Court. Gas attack of some description." shouted Charpentier over the commotion in the command centre as she received reports over her headset from the buildings around the Palais de la Cour Criminelle. "Colonel? The helicopters have landed at the Criminal Court and are attacking it with gas... and... armed men, sir..."

"Somebody get me the satellite imaging online!" Morphos shouted. He moved over to his own desk console, and picked up the telephone receiver which was on a direct line to the New Rome Infantry Legion's HQ. "This is Colonel Morphos at the ERCC. We have a bio or chemical gas attack at the Palais de la Cour Criminelle. Two helicopters worth of armed combatants, exact number unknown. We need soldiers on the ground as soon as possible. They need to isolate the building and neutralise the attackers.... no, their objective is unknown... those are the earliest responders? ... Very well, proceed, and my compliments to the General. ERCC out."

He hung up the phone and turned back to the other staff in the ERCC as a real-time satellite display of the precinct around the Palais de la Cour Criminelle appeared on the projector screen. The two helicopters were clearly visible, one in front of the building, and the other on the roof.

"Which court room is that, that dome they're entering?" Morphos asked Charpentier, who was already pulling up the Palais de la Cour Criminelle's floor plans.

"Court room number three, sir." Charpentier answered.

"Find out what's going on in court room number three..." Morphos nodded. "We have fifteen minutes before the Army's first response team arrives there. Sound a general air raid alarm across the city, and put all government buildings in the Old Quarter on alert."

Aerion

04-06-2007, 08:33

The Aerionian press from the Aerionian Press Agency <APA> that were outside during the attack turned their cameras directly onto the helicopters as they descended and the gas bombs dropped. Because of the technology of the cameras and their wireless connection to the van outside, the images were transmitted directly by satellite to the APA’s station almost immediately. The reporters on the street, perhaps unaffected by the gas bombs at that distance from the building, though most likely. The camera on the tripod kept rolling even as some of the press passed out, though the smoke obscurd the images.

In the court room the four APA reporters, and the fifth from ANN had passed out rather quickly in the area they were sitting, two draped over the seat.

Back in Aerion, the APA broadcast the images and recorded video to ANN (Aerionian News Network) and other networks.

Broadcast on ANN’s 24/hr world news channel, ANN World News, and some ANN networks was the live footage along with scrolling information. On ANN World News the broadcast was almost immediate.

LIVE BREAKING NEWS
(An Eastern Aerionian female news anchor with short stylish black hair, characteristic tan skin, and an rather plain black women’s business suit) (The footage of the helicopters landing is shown)

“It has been reported that in the course of the trial of internationally known Reverend Dr. Peter Graves for pedophilia, armed men with helicopters have attacked the chief Pantocratorian Criminal Court in New Rome, the Palais de la Cour Criminelle building. Two helicopters can be seen in this image descending toward the building, and as can be seen they dropped cannisters dispensing some unknown gas of chemical type. We will keep you updated on this situation in the coming hour.”

Pantocratoria

04-06-2007, 08:41

Criminal Court Palais de la Cour Criminelle, New Rome

In front of the Criminal Court, there was a crowd of about forty protestors with various signs decrying Graves for the alleged rape of an Emperor's Maiden, a charge levelled at him by well-known right wing radio shock-jock Alain Jeans. Before it had even had a chance to disperse, its members were falling over and passing out as a result of the toxic gas. As the helicopter touched down an air raid siren started sounding, first throughout the Old Quarter, and then throughout the rest of the city, and various emergency contingency plans went into effect.

Allanea

04-06-2007, 09:31

The Operation

"Go! Go, we do not have much time!"

From here, the operation was technical. The operatives rushed into the courtroom, waving their large DMG-83 (http://forums2.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=12594184&postcount=4) light machineguns, DR-83 (http://forums2.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=12514789&postcount=1) rifles, and other Doomani weapons, firing them into the ceiling for emphasis as they screamed: "Deus Vult! God punish the infidel! For Emperor Maximus! For our glory!"

The actual action was even simpler. Graves was the first to go, bundled up carefully and carried out on a stretcher to the helicopter in front, where two doctors inspected him carefully, making sure he did not overdose on the sleep-gas. The other people to be removed – the Allanean prosecutor, the Dersconi personnel, Takumi – were rudely handled, with steel cuffs on their legs and feet. Similar treatment was given to the Pantocratorian judge, sir David, and Richemont himself. Some of those men were hoisted to the roof, and some to the heli on the front – where the operatives also stuffed two of the anti-Prussian protestors, just in case.

Fifteen minutes later, the helicopters began to take off. The Iesian prosecutor was not taken on board.

Twenty minutes later, the broadcast was heard, sent out on all frequencies the pilots could access:

This is a warning, I repeat, a warning.

We possess hostages from Allanea, Derscon, Pantocratoria, Reichskamphen and Psychotic Psychos aboard the aircraft, ten men in total. We recommend that you contact the governments of these nations to verify this warning.

Thank you for your valuable time. We would ask you to contact us by radio after three hours. Do not make any silly moves.

This is all.

Deus vult! God bless Emperor Maximus!

The Embassy

When this call was made, the Allanean Ambasador to Pantocratoria, Isabelle Katalyan, became extremely distressed. She called the Pantocratorian authorities.

"What the damn hell is going on? Someone just kidnapped an Allanean citizen from the goddamn court! What the bloody motherfucking hell is going on? I wish to know what is going on, and I wish to know how exactly the Pantocratorians plan the rescue the hostages, and if the goram Pantocratorians cannot rescue the hostages, well I ask for permissions for the Allaneans to do it!"

Pantocratoria

04-06-2007, 11:05

OOC: Isabelle Katalyan is the Pantocratorian Ambassador to Allanea, not the other way around - I think you might have misinterpreted the table on my wiki. I'll just call your ambassador "Madam Ambassador" for the moment.

Criminal Court Palais de la Cour Criminelle, New Rome

There was, of course, nobody to hear the "Deus Vult" performance in the courtroom, as everybody was unconscious, including the court recorder. Video and audio recording devices were forbidden in the courtroom, and thus the pantomime went unobserved. The first Pantocratorian troops, wearing fully enclosed safety suits with rebreathers and filters to guard against biological and chemical attack, began arriving just after the helicopters took off, and began sealing off the area.

New Rome Emergency Response Command Centre
Two minutes after take-off...

"Sir, the pilots in the two C-32 Locust (http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/Locust)s report they have a long-range missile lock, and a clear shot now that the helicopters have taken off." reported Squadron Leader Philippos, holding his hand over the mouthpiece of the red telephone receiver he held to his ear so that the pilots on the other end of the line didn't hear him relaying their report to Morphos.

"Duly noted." Morphos nodded. In the time it had taken the operatives to retrieve Graves and the hostages from the courtroom, he had determined that it was Graves' trial in which they were interfering, and had also heard from the Air Traffic Control Centre that the point of origin of the helicopters was an Allanean cargo ship which had, at the time of their launch, been at port at Adrienople. That information had been relayed to the Imperial Navy. "Our bogeys have already launched one chemical attack. Most of the area has been evacuated... or at least it should've been by now. Get a containment team to get rolling. Bring them down."

"Very good, sir." Philippos clicked his heels together. He uncovered the mouthpiece on his phone. "Ducklings this is Mother Goose. Execute."

Philippos flicked a switch to put the flight's VOX on loudspeaker so that the whole ERCC could hear it. Morphos looked to the radar image displayed on the projector as the radio chatter started.

"Mother Goose this is Ugly Duckling. Acknowledge execute order. Weapons live, lock positive." came a pilot's voice. "Little Duckling, on my mark."

"Roger Ugly Duckling, ready on your mark." came another pilot's voice.

"Three... two... one... mark... missiles away. Mother Goose, this is Ugly Duckling, missile time to intercept, nine fiver seconds..."

Morphos held his breath as he watched the green blips representing the missiles close rapidly on the red blips representing the helicopters. The loudspeaker cackled to life again, this time with another radio message.

"This is a warning, I repeat, a warning.

We possess hostages from Allanea, Derscon, Pantocratoria, Reichskamphen and Psychotic Psychos aboard the aircraft, ten men in total. We recommend that you contact the governments of these nations to verify this warning.

Thank you for your valuable time. We would ask you to contact us by radio after three hours. Do not make any silly moves.

This is all.

Deus vult! God bless Emperor Maximus!"

"What the hell was that?" Morphos asked.

"Signal... from one of the bogeys looks like, sir." replied the radio systems officer.

"Sir, the ground response team at the Criminal Court reports that Graves, one of the judges, the Crown Prosecutor... and possibly others are missing from courtroom three...." Charpentier shouted even as the troops relayed the information to her through the headset.

"Turkspit." the Colonel swore. It was too late to abort now, even if Morphos had wanted to give the order. There were only a few seconds left. The missiles hit the helicopters.

Imperial High Command, Secret Location beneath New Rome

As the Foreign Minister, the Chancellor, and indeed the whole Imperial Cabinet were presently being evacuated to safe locations, MATER decided that the Allanean Ambassador's call would have to be answered by a member of the Imperial High Command. Naturally, as the identities of most members of the Imperial High Command were secret, MATER put his voice through a voice disguising filter before she connected the Ambassador's call to one of the telephones sitting on the round table in the midst of the Imperial High Command bunker. An anonymous general picked it up.

"General," MATER began. "I have the Allanean Ambassador on the line."

"Thank you, MATER, put her through." the General replied. He then listened to the Allanean's foul language before replying. "Madam Ambassador, this is Imperial High Command. The New Rome Emergency Response Command Centre is handling the situation, I can assure you... in fact... their commanding officer's direct line here is ringing, please wait a moment..."

He set down the Ambassador's call and muted it, before listening to MATER relay Morphos' report on another line. He then unmuted the Ambassador's call and addressed her.

"Madam Ambassador, I've just been told that the helicopters who launched the attack on the Palais de la Cour Criminelle were launched from an Allanean vessel." the General told her quite calmly. "To launch a direct assault on Pantocratorian soil, on our very capital, is audacious beyond measure. An act of war, even. I trust that the Allanean Government had nothing to do with it."

He hung up the phone without relaying the second part of the information that he had received - that the helicopters had been shot down.

Allanea

04-06-2007, 11:21

"Approaching anti-air munition on six!"

"Approaching anti-air munition… go now!"

The 'extended fuel tanks' attached to the sides of the helis literally ripped apart from within. It was easy – they were, after all, made of cardboard. The helicopters had never needed extended range to cross the distance to New Rome. Instead, the mock-ups concealed arrays of micromissiles, an advanced version of the kind used by F-16I aircraft and tanks to defend against just this sort of thing, arrays of decoy launchers.

"Going, going…"

One of the blue blips approaching the helicopters disappeared. The other looked that it was going to impact – for just one harrowing moment – and then went right by the heli.

"Oh my god. Oh my god. Oh my god." – whispered the pilot. – "I quit. That's just it. I quit. I hate this job so fucking much."

"Drop. Drop below RADAR range. Activate SEPS and prepare for chaff laucnhes. Send out another message."

This was a bad idea.

Allanean Response from the Embassy

"Sir, I received a report that you fired upon a vessel carrying the Allanean prosecutor, Fiona Lovegood, as hostage. As far as I am aware, the Allanean government does not operate within Pantocratoria, and therefore this constitutes an act of war. I advise for you to not try and kill any Allanean hostages, because if you try this again, the Allanean will consider it an active declaration of war, and will act accordingly. Instead, I suggest an Allanean team be called in to deal with the situation.

Yours, Virginia Mallet"

OOC: Panto, you need to speak to me on IRC. Please do so before posting.

Knootian East Indies

04-06-2007, 13:08

Yellow.

Knootian military preparedness skipped two levels as the news broke, at a few muttered words from the Knootian Defence Forces military mainframe. The dim lights of the self-sustaining bunker under the Foreign Affairs and Defence ministry lit up to bathe the underground facility in full light, preparing for the arrival of the military brass. The Executive Order confirming the increase in alertness officially came in eleven minutes later, signalling that the minister was on her way.

Across the Knootian Federation, conventional forces were signalled to become active and ready for immediate deployment or defence. Elements of the navy, including a flotilla of nuclear-retaliatory submarines, were redirected to make full speed for the open sea. Nearer to Pantocratoria, those ships on regular Atlantic patrol were sent messages to stick around and await further orders.

Scrambling even faster than the military was the Knootoss News Network. Reporters in Pantocratoria were activated, and new ones called from their offices to deploy into their French-speaking Atlantic neighbour. "Breaking News" about a terrorist attack on the very heart of Pantocratoria was accompanied by aggressive pre-recorded tunes, as attractive female anchors repeated what little information was available to them.

Pantocratoria

04-06-2007, 13:21

New Rome Emergency Response Command Centre

"Mother Goose this is Ugly Duckling. Two times negative impact. Over." came the pilot's voice over the radio.

Some members of the command centre staff sighed with relief. Others looked on impassively or with frowns on their faces. Morphos, on the other hand, was answering a phone call.

"Colonel, by order of the Imperial High Command, you are to pursue and destroy the hostile aircraft which just attacked New Rome, even as they leave your area of responsibility." the robotic but feminine voice of MATER ordered Morphos. "The Imperial High Command is scrambling more interceptors at airbases across the mainland, however the interceptors under your command are best placed to destroy the targets. Do you understand?"

"Yes, MATER. Is High Command aware that they may have hostages on-board?" Morphos asked.

"The Imperial High Command is fully aware of the situation. You are to carry out your orders. God save the Emperor." MATER replied.

"God save the Emperor!" Morphos replied, snapping to attention as if speaking to a real person, before hanging up the phone. "Squadron Leader, order the Ducklings to maintain pursuit, and to destroy the targets. I don't care if they have to use their cannons to do it."

"Very good, sir." Philippos said. He picked up the telephone. "Ducklings this is Mother Goose. Hunt and kill the prey. Close to cannon range if necessary."

"Mother Goose this is Ugly Duckling. Your instructions are understood, over."

At Sea, off the coast of Adrienople

HIMS Richelieu and two Wraith-class fast missile frigates were quickly moving to intercept the ship from which the helicopters had been launched. While Richelieu was the command ship, the two frigates, HIMS New Jerusalem and HIMS Octavian were moving at their top speed of 50 knots, and were already well within range for their respective 200 AI-controlled guided missiles. Richelieu began a radio signal to the Allanean vessel.

"HIMS RICHELIEU TO ALLANEAN CARGO VESSEL <<name>> STOP", the message began. "YOU ARE COMMANDED IN THE NAME OF THE EMPEROR TO LAY ANCHOR SURRENDER AND PREPARE TO BE BOARDED STOP IF YOU DO NOT COMPLY YOU WILL BE DESTROYED STOP YOUR REPLY IS AWAITED AND REQUIRED STOP"

Allanea

04-06-2007, 13:31

Aboard the aircraft carrier Ayn Rand

“According to our intel, the Knootians appear to be scrambling.
Is CAP being maintained, admiral?”

“Yes, Sir!’

“Very well, that is good. What is the CAP radius at the moment?”

“One hundred fifty kilometers, sir.”

“This is really bad, you know that. It’s below even the most puny air-launched torpedo range. And now… it’s a really bad idea to keep it that small. It should be at statutory two hundred fifty.”

“Yes, Sir, but the Pantocratorians would be upset…”

“They already are upset. Let them be upset. Take off a dozen more aircraft and bring the CAP range to two hundred and fifty clicks. Furthermore, let me communicate with the Knootians.”

“Yes, Sir!”

Message to the Knootians:

Do you have any special forces in flight range? We need to take over that ship before the terrorists return to it.”

[b]Aboard the helicopters/b]

“Damnit all,” – swore the pilot as the city remained behind. –“I don’t think they believed us about the hostages.”

“Yeah, that’s the general interpretation of ‘lobbing two anti-air rockets at us. Look, we’re out of the city. Take us even lower. Low as you can go.”

“Very well.”

“And you, Simon…”

Fiona Lovegood was rudely slapped awake.

“Talk. Now!”

A microphone was shoved in her face.

I am Fiona Lovegood, the United States barrister at the Graves trial. The Pantocratorian judge is here with me... Oh God, they’re torturing the hostages!

In reality the operative merely kicked the judge several times until he was awake.

“Your buddies do not believe we have you.” – he slapped the judge too – “Now, talk. Say whatever you like, it won’t matter. But I’d prefer for you to identify yourself.”

Pantocratoria

04-06-2007, 13:43

Nobody on the surface in Pantocratoria heard the radio transmission from the helicopters, as the Imperial High Command was blanket jamming radio signals. Only the Air Service's own frequencies were kept open for minimal necessary radio communication with scrambled interceptors. The two Locusts which formed the Ducklings flight could hear the message through the jamming signal faintly, however, and started relaying that they could hear voices which may have been hostages back to the ERCC.

"Very faint, sir, but Ugly Duckling believes that the bogeys are trying to transmit the voices of their hostages. A woman's voice and then an old man's." Philippos reported.

"We have our orders, Squadron Leader. If there are hostages on-board, then so be it." Morphos replied. "Shoot them down."

"Very good, sir."

Knootian East Indies

04-06-2007, 13:53

Message to the aircraft carrier Ayn Rand

"This is the Knootian Defence Force Battlecruiser Johannus Hendrykxx on regular Atlantic patrol.

Unidentified combat vessel - you are requested to identify yourself and explain your presence and intentions in North Atlantic waters. We have informed our central command and are moving to intercept pending further communications. Please acknowledge."

Allanea

04-06-2007, 13:55

Aboard the helicopters

“Keep steaming ahead.”

The helicopters continued ahead at their full speed, on an extremely low altitude. They could see no aircraft in their vicinity, and the low altitude kept them below range of conventional RADAR. The helicopters’ own system helped, too, but everybody knew it would be only a matter of time someone found them anyway. They were after all not stealth aircraft.

But in the meanwhile, they were approaching their target.

“Ten more.”

Aboard the aircraft carrier

“Scramble more aircraft. I will not have them shoot down anything that has our hostages on board. And activate Plan Emerald.”

The Allanean carrier and the ships surrounding it began to launch rockets – not any kind of weapons, but simple, low-technology rockets. Their warheads sent out RADAR waves at various frequencies – basically, RADAR emitters without any shiny electronics. Simultaneously, passive RADAR jamming was activated to horizon length.”

Within minutes, everything within about 500 kilometers range of the carriers became RADAR-blind.”

This is the United States Ship Ayn Rand, routine patrol in these waters, escorted by battlegroup. Currently, Allanean citizens have been attacked nearby, and this became a rescue mission. Sorry if you can’t see us due to the EW. Our coordinates are…

Knootian East Indies

04-06-2007, 14:24

Message to the aircraft carrier Ayn Rand

"This is the Johannus Hendrykxx again. Bit far from Haven to be on routine patrol eh?

We have detected the source of radar interference that is centred around... well... you. We do not have hostile intentions towards you but kindly request that you cease electronic warfare forthwith and explain its purpose.

This is our turf, and I hope you understand that we're a little jumpy around here, what with that terrorist attack on Pantocratoria. Now what about that ship you mentioned? Maybe we can help?"

Message to Imperial High Command, Pantocratoria
Using a secure comm protocol, CAESAR and MATER connected to relay the following message:

An Allanean Carrier Battlegroup has been detected in North Atlantic waters conducting electronic warfare at the following coordinates.... CAESAR estimates the probability of said Battlegroup being on regular patrol to be less then zero-point-zero-zero-three percent.

Allanean Carrier Ayn Rand has established communications on Knootian frequencies, suggesting that they possess superior knowledge of the recent terrorist attack on your nation. A full replay of direct communications between Allanean and Knootian vessels will be made available to MATER as they come in, using this protocol.

The Knootian Defence Force has raised its alert status and is sending out ten Rapid Response Battlegroups to project overwhelming naval force in North Atlantic Waters pending further identification of the possible threat. Please copy on the desirability of joint operations. CAESAR standing by.

Abt

04-06-2007, 14:43

Headquarters ARDF, Belgorod, Abt

Allanean ships in the Western Atlantic are detected, location and vectors analyzed, information logged and filed off. Reports from Pantocratoria are compiled, analyzed, resumed and filed off. Movement of ships in response to the Allanean intrusion is studied and filed off. A report containing all of the above information is compiled and sent off to the computer of the Minister of Defence, with updates following on regular intervals or whenever something happens.

So far, Abt was simply monitoring the situation closely. No additional ARDF activity was initiated.

Pantocratoria

04-06-2007, 15:45

In the Air

You had to admire the ingenuity of the helicopter pilots. They had done everything conceivable to minimise the chance of a successful attack. The simple fact remained, however, that the two Locusts already chasing the helicopters, even with the helicopters moving at full speed, were far faster than a helicopter, not to mention the fact that interceptors had been scrambled at bases all over Pantocratoria. The radar jam didn't successfully cover most of the distance between the helicopters and New Rome, either, although at the altitude they were flying the helicopters only occasionally showed up on radar in any event. Unfortunately for the helicopters, the Locusts had started their pursuit long before either of those conditions were true, and with a maximum airspeed of mach 2.1, the Locusts had well and truly caught up to the helicopters. They continued to fire their missiles, and if necessary they closed to the range of their 20mm cannons and ripped into the choppers with hot lead.

Imperial Cabinet Emergency Bunker, somewhere beneath New Rome

Thibault Drapeur, Demetrios Raoul, Spiro Bolkus, Gregory Nikomedes, Manuel Sebasto, Genviève Vaspin and Henri Santiago were the first ministers to arrive in the Imperial Cabinet's emergency bunker, at a secret location deep beneath the Old Quarter, each of them having been rushed there individually along separate routes by their security staff. Most of the rest of the Imperial Cabinet was in the city and was being rushed to the bunker as well via various safe routes, but Drapeur was determined not to wait for them.

"We need a full report from ERCC and the High Command..." Drapeur ordered the staff who had been brought to the bunker along with their ministerial masters.

"Chancellor..." began an officer in an Imperial Army Legions uniform who entered the emergency cabinet room from a side door which connected it to a military communications centre. "The Imperial High Command would like to brief you."

"Well that's good, I'd like to be briefed." Drapeur replied, quickly taking a seat at the cabinet meeting table.

"Yes, Chancellor." nodded the officer, who turned to the communications centre behind him and nodded.

"Chancellor, ministers, can you hear me?" asked a disguised general's voice emitted from a secure-line speaker phone on the table.

"We can." Drapeur replied. He knew better than to ask the name of the person to whom he was speaking. "What's going on?"

"These are the facts as they are known at this time, sir." the General began. "An Allanean cargo vessel dispatched two helicopters, supposedly delivering computer equipment, on their third sortie from Adrienople to New Rome. Once over the city, the helicopters diverted their course and entered the no-fly zone over the Old Quarter."

"Gregory Nikomedes here. Why weren't the helicopters shot down before they entered the zone?" asked Nikomedes, the Defence Minister.

"Minister, it seems that the Air Traffic Control Centre didn't flag the helicopters as a security threat until they were practically into the no-fly zone." the General explained. "Once within the zone, the ERCC Commander was concerned about the risk of collateral damage from the falling wrecks of the helicopters if they were shot down. We can discuss the full response later, though, if you don't mind Minister, I'd like to stick to the important points."

"Please proceed." Drapeur nodded.

"Thank you, Chancellor." the General replied. "The helicopters landed at the Palais de la Cour Criminelle, one in front, one on the roof. They employed a poisonous gas to render the crowd outside and the occupants of the building unconscious. A heavily armed extraction team then entered one of the courtrooms. It is possible that they took hostages. Within fifteen minutes the teams re-embarked their aircraft and took off. Five minutes after that, a message was broadcast by the lead helicopter in which the pilot claimed to have hostages from Allanea, Derscon, Pantocratoria, Reichskamphen and Psychotic Psychos. That message described the hostages as 'ten men in total'. It was no more specific than that, and did not identify the hostages in any other way, nor enumerate how many hostages originated from each country."

"Hostages..." murmured Drapeur. He rubbed his brow with his hand. "Go on."

"The Allanean Ambassador immediately attempted to contact the Imperial Government. As all ministers were being relocated at the time to your present location, I fielded her call. She demanded that an Allanean team be allowed to attempt to recover the alleged hostages." the General relayed. "Our interceptors then attempted to down the helicopters, unsuccessfully initially."

"Initially?" asked Demetrios Raoul as he lit up a cigarette.

"We anticipate that the helicopters will soon be destroyed." replied the General. "The Allanean Ambassador then sent the High Command a message, saying that she understood that we had just fired upon a helicopter containing Fiona Lovegood, the Allanean prosecutor."

"Wait, I thought you said that the first message didn't say who the hostages were?" Drapeur interrupted.

"That is correct, Chancellor." the General replied. "The first message only mentioned that one or more Allanean men had been taken hostage. I have subsequently confirmed with the troops who secured the Palais de la Cour Criminelle that Mademoiselle Lovegood was missing. That information has not been released to the public nor communicated over any insecure line."

"Well, no small mystery the Allaneans knew she was a hostage, hey?" Raoul snorted.

"Indeed... uhh... I believe that voice to belong to the Foreign Minister?" the General guessed.

"Sorry, yes." Raoul replied between puffs of his cigarette.

"Indeed, minister. On the basis of the helicopters being launched from an Allanean vessel, and on the Allanean Ambassador's insider knowledge that one of the hostages was Mademoiselle Lovegood, we believe that the Allanean Government either colluded with a terrorist group to organise this attack, or organised itself." the General concluded.

"I see..." Drapeur replied after a few pensive moments.

"At present, an Allanean naval battlegroup in international waters has launched a number of aircraft, and is conducting electronic warfare, deploying RADAR jamming equipment. The Allanean battlegroup has sought the assistance of Knootian vessels in the area to secure the ship which launched the attack, apparently in the hope that the Knootians would be able to beat the Imperial Navy to the ship in question. Deploying RADAR jamming equipment is a sure sign that this military activity is directed against us, rather than at a group of terrorists." the General relayed.

"I see." Drapeur repeated, this time with more steel in his response. "Is that all from High Command?"

"That is all for now, Chancellor." the General replied.

"Thank you." Drapeur replied, before turning to the officer still standing at the door to the communications room. "Get me the Allanean Ambassador on the phone, now."

Secure reply to CAESAR

Dear CAESAR,

Joint operations are extremely desirable. The information you are re-transmitting is proving extremely interesting, and has been directed to the appropriate authorities.

Two carrier groups, HIMS Southport Battlegroup and HIMS Imperator Andreus Battlegroup, are presently in Pantocratorian waters and are on high alert. All assets based in the Pantocratorian Archipelago have moved to maximum alert levels according to appropriate fatherland defence plans. Any Allanean or unknown military aircraft which crosses over into Pantocratorian airspace will be treated as hostile.

I can't wait for your next message,

MATER

Signal to the Ayn Rand

To the Admiral commanding the Ayn Rand and her battlegroup, with compliments,

The Imperial Navy is presently moving to intercept a vessel which launched a terrorist attack against the heart of the Pantocratorian fatherland. From your surprising action in launching RADAR disruption devices, I assume that you are attempting to assist, but allow me to assure you that Allanean assistance is unnecessary.

Please do nothing further which may inadvertently or otherwise disrupt the Imperial Navy's anti-terrorist operations in our territorial waters. In light of your no doubt accidental electronic warfare attack against our vessels, we shall only be able to interpret as hostile any Allanean aircraft which enter Pantocratorian airspace. This would have unfortunate consequences as I'm sure you can appreciate.

I therefore thank you for your no doubt sincere, but unfortunately misguided attempts to assist us, but ask that you cease them immediately.

This will be my only warning,

Lord First Admiral Phocas of the Bosphorous
Supreme Commander, Imperial Navy

Allanea

04-06-2007, 16:28

This post has been removed pending edits.

Knootian East Indies

04-06-2007, 16:34

Exactly six point eleven minutes later, the soft male voice of CAESAR 3.0 once again accessed MATERs secure communications channel.

Message to MATER
CAESAR has been authorised to explore our mutual compatibility, and to establish the necessary protocols needed to coordinate our forces in the North Atlantic.

Flagship Battlegroup Thana has been redesignated Collective Naval Action Unit One. As the tactically superior battlegroup, commanding the tactically superior force, it will assume formal command of the operation in accordance with our mutually approved plans, should hostilities commence.
Carrier Battlegroup Southport has been redesignated Collective Naval Action Unit Two.
Carrier Battlegroup Imperator Andreus has been redesignated Collective Naval Action Unit Three.
Long-range Battleship Battlegroup Gulzigheid has been redesignated Collective Naval Action Unit Four.
Long-range Battleship Battlegroup Onkuisheid has been redesignated Collective Naval Action Unit Five.
Carrier Battlegroup Central-West Atlantic under the command of the Gozewijn of Knootcap has been redesignated Collective Naval Action Unit Six.
Carrier Battlegroup North-West Atlantic under the command of the Jan III of Knootcap has been redesignated Collective Naval Action Unit Seven.
Light Carrier Flotilla Hamerhaai has been redesignated Collective Naval Action Unit Eight.
Provisional Battlecruiser Battlegroup Tanah Burung has been redesignated Collective Naval Action Unit Nine.
Provisional Battlecruiser Battlegroup Sirithil nos Feanör has been redesignated Collective Naval Action Unit Ten.

CAESAR requests that MATER formulates a tactical plan using available Collective Naval Action Units, in accordance with the appropriate fatherland defence plans.

In the unfortunate eventuality that this conflict escalates, the Knootian Defence Force general staff suggests that CAESAR and MATER utilise their extensive capabilities to form a backbone for the electronic coordination of inferior allied forces. CAESAR requests low-level access to your secondary communication protocols in order to facilitate the establishment of deeper linkage, with the objective of solving any compatibility issues that may arise.

CAESAR is awaiting your response...

Allanea

04-06-2007, 16:39

OOC: again, into the IRC mobile.

Reichskamphen

04-06-2007, 17:46

As the Imperial High command monitored the ongoing situation, the starfleet was put on alert, the last remaining effective asset of the once proud Imperial Guard. At the initiation of hostilities, three medium sized atmospheric vessels containing several smaller fast response vessels.

*Coded Message*

To: Allanean Operational Command
From: Captain Martin Fields, ISS Napoleon Bonaparte

Currently, three medium sized atmospheric vessels and several fast response vessels are entering the earth's atmosphere. We need IMMEDIATE word from you on whether or not you wish any of these vessels to procede to your aide. If we don't hear immediately, these ships will procede into Greater Prussian Airspace far away from the zone of action and it will take considerable time and effort to get them to you.

-Cpt. Fields

Pantocratoria

04-06-2007, 18:32

OOC: You left IRC before I could ask, how did the Allanean rescue choppers find the rafts? Not an objection, just a question. Also, how did the choppers get there so fast? When did they leave? They would have to have left before the RADAR shield went up in order to be there in time. Why were they not detected?

Also, Reichskamphen, I'd appreciate it if we could keep space ships out of the RP. If you insist, we can keep them, but I'd really rather not.

Reichskamphen

04-06-2007, 18:34

OOC: thats fine.

The ships proceeded into Greater Prussian Airspace as nothing was heard from Allanean Command.

The Resurgent Dream

04-06-2007, 18:34

Oberst/Colonel Josef Obermoser frowned slightly as he looked at the Feldwebel/Technical Sergeant in front of him. “This is almost unreal. Who would be idiotic enough to even try a hairbrained stunt like that?”

“Sir, we are talking about the Prussians, the Reich and the Allaneans,” mentioned Major Sabine Cerny from where she stood beside his desk. She couldn’t help but conceal a small smile. It really was almost funny. Almost.

“The Pantocratorians should have shot them down. Any word on why they didn’t?” Obermoser asked.

“They didn’t want to use ground to air missiles at that altitude, sir. Too great a risk,” Technical Sergeant Werner Aehrenthal mentioned.

Obermoser nodded and put aside the papers he had been working for. He rose from his desk and started down the hall towards the Command Center. Cerny and Aehrenthal followed without being told, something Obermoser didn’t bother to check. When he entered the Command Center of Badem Kagerlund Air Civil Defense Force Base, the officers and men at work at the various consoles jumped to attention and saluted. He offered a brisk “As you were,” before turning his attention to the large screens which dominated the room.

“The General Staff has a liason officer with the Pantocratorians, don’t they?” Obermoser asked no one in particular.

“Yes, sir.” Cerny confirmed. “Lieutenant Thibaud Hainault. He was here in May.”

Obermoser nodded. “Major Cerny, I want you to get in touch with the Department, the General Staff and, if possible, the Pantocratorians. I want to know exactly what’s going on and what it is they’re planning on doing about it.”

Obermoser walked down towards the large table which marked the center of the room when a small alarm went off. He looked immediately to the large screen which showed that first response flights had been launched from all Confederal Air Force bases in Kagerlund and Finara, that an Allanean sea force had arrived in the area and that Force B, the primary Confederal naval force in the Pantocratorian Isles, was headed in that direction and had gone to high alert status. Less than a minute later, Cerny said “Chancellor Salvenmoser has placed all Kagerlund Civil Defence Forces and Municipal Militias under Confederal command. Finarans have done the same. Commodore Daig Pace in theatre command of all Confederal forces. Militia call-up protocols and integration protocols now active. Launch all available planes.”

Obermoser blinked slightly. This was certainly sudden but with the Allaneans, one had to be prepared to go into action on a moments notice and Obermoser certainly was prepared. “Launch all first response planes. Prepare all planes for launch. I want all squadrons airborn as soon as it’s humanly possible.” He glowered slightly as men and women rushed to get their planes into the fight. The skies between the Pantocratorian Isles and the Allaneans were soon filled with Confederal military aircraft launched from Force B, Kagerlund and Finara even as Force B itself made its way towards the enemy.

Reichskamphen

04-06-2007, 18:55

Marechal Brune held his head in his hands as he watched the fiasco unfold over the wires.

Apparantly some Starship captain had gotten the idea into his head that he should help.

His friend and colleague, Rev. Graves was almost on a show-trial without the possibility of justice in Pantocratonia. He didn't know what to do...had no clue. So, he did the only thing he knew to do. When the Allaneans presented the plan for rescue, he signed off on it. With his own hand, he may have sealed the Empire's fate as a viable world political body. Plenty of other idiots had already essentially finished the job for him...but the thought that his desperation to seek justice could have resulted in this.

He knew how stupid the idea sounded, what it would do...but he felt it was all he could do. The only other option was to let an innocent man rot away in Iesus Christi.

BZZZZ

He pressed the Buzzer on his desk in the Imperial Guard Headquarters in New Geneva. His assistant immediately walked through the door.

"Monseigneur Marechal?"

"Burn the papers, destroy the file evidence. And issue a statement of non-involvement under my name."

"Yes, Monseigneur Marechal." the assistant bowed, saluted, and quickly turned away to work toward his tasks.

As quiet returned to the room, he looked around at the antique furniture, the valuable tapestries and artwork that adorned his office. The full bar and attached winecellar.

It was suddenly then that he had a preminition that all of this would soon be gone...forever. He knew it within his heart of hearts. The Empire nolonger had an Emperor or a direction...or an Army for him to command for the most part. It was only a matter of time now.
-----------------------------------------------------------------

Press Release from the office of the Greater Prussian High Command

We, the members of the Greater Prussian High Command, speaking for the Imperial Government in the absence of an Emperor, cannot denounce in harsh enough terms the kidnapping of our Rev. Graves and several other foreign nationals in the heigneous vigilanty raid on the Palce of Justice in New Rome. Though information is not exactly clear as to who the culprits are...we assure you that when the culprits are found they shall be made to pay dearly.

Our condolences to the government and People of Pantocratoria. We ask that if we can help, for you to let us know.

May the Grace of our Great Triune God be with you now and grant you peace in the wake of this unforseen calamity.

Sincerely,

Marechal Alexandre Brune
(speaking for the Imperial High Command)

Pantocratoria

04-06-2007, 19:46

OK, so the more I go through our discussions and the events of this thread, the clearer things have become to me.

At first you thought I wouldn't shoot down helicopters with hostages on board. I told you that I would.

Then you brought in the ambassador warning war and told me on IRC that I would at least pay attention to that. I told you that her threats of war were empty when Allanea was the one who committed an act of undeclared war first, and so that didn't scare me off either.

Then, with my permission, after you found out I intended to destroy the choppers, you edited the post to add in going "too low for RADAR". Nevermind the fact that the RADAR in the nose cones of the Locusts behind the helicopters would still have picked up the choppers.

Then you insist that in 30 minutes the Locusts could only have taken one or two shots at the helicopters on the basis that they would need to fly huge loops. The loops part may be true - but you don't need to strafe a helicopter to fire missiles at it. The Locust could hang back and fire off all 11 remaining missiles in one volley before it had to do a loop to remain behind the choppers. There being two aircraft, an arrangement could've been come to in which one of them was always behind the choppers while the other one was doing its loop. Also, the choppers carry an extraordinary amount of 100% effective chaff (which works against all sorts of missiles, radar guided or not - I didn't specify which sort, so I won't get too pissy about that).

You can argue that these things weren't posted as happening. The attack on the choppers was RPed in a general form. The specifics were not RPed as I thought we had an OOC understanding (the same belief led me to say OK to your editing your post about altitude), but certainly nothing posted contradicts any of the scenario I described above. But sure, it seems reasonable to assume that my aircraft would have done everything they could to not kill their target.

Meanwhile, half of my airforce completely misses the helicopters on the basis of their location not being known, even though there is no reason why the Ducklings could not relay their location, since I have established that the Ducklings could maintain a RADAR lock. Even if a RADAR lock could not be maintained, your post denied hundreds of fighters the chance to even try to search for the helicopters.

Finally, these helicopters arrive at a point, drop off rafts, let off everyone to jump in them, and then get rescued by Allanean helicopters which had to fly over 400km to get there (400km away from the shoreline, which starts from the west coast of the Exarchate of New Jerusalem since the rafts are in the straits between the mainland and that island). They would've had to have started long before the RADAR shield went up but I never detected them. Their automatic pilot then hovers the helicopters back up, turns them around and flies them forward.

Tarasovka

04-06-2007, 19:52

OOC: The following has been duly encrypted, re-encrypted, coded, twisted both ways, turned into a spiral and passed through a straw.

Bureau of Analysis and Planning // Military Intelligence Department // National Security Ministry
Analysis Brief ZAK.04.06.1152.OV.12.K
Full Priority // Encryption I

Grand Duke of all Taraskovya
Minister of Defence
TNDF High Command
Into Hands Proper

This is a brief. For full information and background please see Analysis ZAK.04.06.1152.OV.12

General Disposition:

Situation still unclear on the ground in Pantocratoria. Responsibility for New Rome attack has not been claimed. First analysis of the assault suggests extreme professionalism of the attackers, high discipline and audacity. From information available, no fatal casualties have been reported. Command’s Analysis thus estimates a high probability of government or government supported or hired Special Forces operatives carrying out the operation.

Heightened activity of Confederal, Pantocratorian and Knootian forces. Intrusion of an Allanean carrier group into western atlantic waterspace.

Current Analysis:

Identity of Attackers

Probability of unaffiliated organization carrying out such an operation is minimal. It does not fit the logic of a terrorist organization to cause no fatal casualties, and yet to take hostages for escape. Terrorists would instead aim to cause as much damage in property and lives as possible.

Operation has surely been planned, carried out or ordered by a capable sovereign government, either through the means of its own Special Forces, either through using private Special Forces of the type fielded by such organizations as the Black Widows or the Minstrel Knights Free Mercenary Corps. Even in case of a private force, the parent organization is bound to be important in size and capacities, thus making its identification easier.

Possible goals of the operation, as judging by the context:
a. Exfiltration of one Doctor Graves from Pantocratoria, preventing extradiction to Iesus Christi;
b. Iesian attempt to seize one Doctor Graves from Pantocratoria.

Taking into consideration the fact that the Iesian government chose in the first place to bring the affair to light and go through legal proceedings, that the Iesian government has strived to defend its case in court, we deem it less probable that attackers are Iesian. We deem it extremely likely that the attackers are from Reichskamphen or Allanea, the two other sides the most interested in the affair.

Intercepted communications from the Allanean carrier group on “routine patrol” in the vicinity of the Pantocratorian Archipelago deserve attention. Allanea does not enjoy a high reputation with Western Atlantic nations. Intercepted Knootian communications suggest they are not used to seeing Allaneans in Atlantic waters.

The appearance of an Allanean carrier group within the general event zone at the time of the event cannot be explained by a coincidence.

Stand Off

Information available suggests a possible stand off between Knootian, Pantocratorian and Allanean naval elements in the zone of events. Obvious misbalance of forces in favour of Knootian-Pantocratorian-Confederal side.

The Western Atlantic Command has placed the Group of Forces – Spanjaboria on immediate reaction state in light of any hostile developments on the ground. Strategic Artillery units remain on stand by pending acceptation of activation by the Spanjaborian side.

Suggestions and Recommendations:

Taking into consideration the extreme likelihood of Allanean involvement in the attack against New Rome, we suggest that the High Command issue orders to the Haven Command to do the same and activate all Strategic Artillery units of the Group of Forces – North Haven and of the Group of Forces – South Haven.

In case of proven Allanean responsibility for the New Rome attacks, it would constitute an act of war against a Western Atlantic nation at a time when His Majesty the Grand Duke of all Taraskovya is in the region on a visit to Spanjaboria. We, thus, recommend the Grand Ducal Government to study the possibility of activating the Allanean Contigency Plans Package.

This concludes the present brief.

OOC: Will the Grand Ducal Government follow the MID reccomendations?
Will the Haven Command be put on Immediate Reaction State?
Will other Commands follow?
Will Allanea survive the day without being brought back to sea level?
All of this in the next episode of Atlantica Universalis.

Allanea

04-06-2007, 21:52

OOC: No. THis is not how the thing took place, period. I've explained this in IRC and you seemed to agree. Please query me via IRC when available, Panto.

Knootian East Indies

04-06-2007, 22:30

OOC: I second Panto's interpretation. It is extremely unlikely these choppers would have made it.

Pschycotic Pschycos

05-06-2007, 00:44

OOC: Despite my own character being hostage (:P), I also agree that those choppers shouldn't have made it.

Pantocratoria

05-06-2007, 02:24

OOC: No. THis is not how the thing took place, period. I've explained this in IRC and you seemed to agree. Please query me via IRC when available, Panto.

No. I don't have the time to hang around in IRC for the next few days because of work, besides which, so far every time I have gone on IRC, you have OOCly discovered what my next IC move will be and then attempted a metagame solution to counteract it. Nothing in any of my post excludes "how the thing took place". You're simply choosing to decide for yourself which specific actions I took in order to justify your helicopters getting to the water. If you thought that my post lacked sufficient detail, that would be fair enough. You could've prompted me to provide sufficient detail. What you can't do is fill in that detail in my actions yourself in order to best suit your plans. And on IRC we didn't even discuss how your rescue choppers magically appeared there.

A segment from your TG:

And by the way, detecting liferafts is fairely easy if you *know* you're looking for liferafts.

The technology invovled is FLIR, Forward Looking Infra-Red, which is normally used by drug interdiction to detect formations of marijuana plants or by combat helicopters to detect infantry on the ground.

You knew you were looking for life rafts? Your own post seems to imply that at least one of the pilots didn't expect to be going down there. But putting that aside, how long have your rescue choppers been there? It would've taken them a long time to fly from the ships to that location, longer than the RADAR shield has been up. Why weren't they detected? The reason is simple: they just appeared there ICly when you found out OOCly that using hostages as a human shield wasn't going to work.

So simply put, I'm not going on IRC to "work this out" again, because every time we do so it results in more metagaming. Whether you're doing it intentionally or not, that is what you're doing. Additionally, I don't have the time in the next couple of days to hang around on IRC for a conversation which will likely take a while. Events could not have unfurled as they did in your post, nor was it fair of you to simply declare that over 30 minutes had passed and that the helicopters made it to the water. Even Pschycotic Pschyos agrees with me :D But then, he might just be mad at you for trying to use Takumi as a human shield...

Reichskamphen

05-06-2007, 02:38

OOC: Frankly, I think the fact that there is an argument over this is ridiculous. It can be settled and should be, assuming we are all mature human beings...and as I know all people involved...I know we normally are.

The Resurgent Dream

05-06-2007, 04:30

OOC: Reichskamphen, that's like saying that if you were playing cards and someone pulled an Ace out of their sleave, you should be able to work it out. Boris was metagaming, a form of cheating, and now he's trying to BS his way out of it. It's Panto's country. It's a country with a reasonable, modern defense system. The helicopters couldn't make it. Period.

Reichskamphen

05-06-2007, 06:30

OOC: I'm not saying Panto or Boris was right. Im not saying what could or couldn't have happened. Im not saying that we even need to compromise. I'm just saying lets fix this and move on, because such argument over this point is unprofitable. Lets decide to either blow the d*** thing up, or let it go, and be done with it.

Allanea

05-06-2007, 08:07

Xirnium

05-06-2007, 08:36

Angläthmäthern Palace, Headquarters of the Xirniumite General Staff

The sudden appearance of an Allanean carrier battlegroup in waters proximate to Pantocratoria, and at the very same time that a daring terrorist strike had been carried out in the heart of New Rome, was such a singular coincidence that it could scarcely have escaped notice by curious observers abroad. Of extreme interest to Xirniumite commanders and strategists was the vessel’s peculiar conduct immediately following the surprise gas attack, including its rapid launching of military aircraft and its electronic warfare efforts to confuse and deceive radars and surface-to-air missile sites for hundreds of kilometres in every direction.

Almost immediately, a working hypothesis connecting the highest levels of the Allanean state to the terrorist attack on New Rome was adopted the Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces high command as a reasonable starting point for planning an appropriate response. Military reconnaissance satellites were diverted into orbits more suitable for closely monitoring the tactical situation in the region. Xirniumite warships in the area were placed on heightened alert, and travel advisory warnings were issued for Pantocratoria by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The closest substantial Xirniumite naval force in the area was that of the Second Far Atlantic Squadron, temporarily away from its normal zone of operations and conducting final shakedown tests with three new light carriers that had been recently attached to its formation. Capable of carrying out full fleet actions and engaging capable, modern foes on the high seas, the Second Far Atlantic Squadron represented Parliament’s sovereign authority abroad and ability to safeguard Xirnium’s external commercial interests and globe-spanning oceanic communications. Its celebrated flagship, the XNS Néldalmänyä, “Portent of Sorrow”, was contacted by the Admiralty on an encrypted channel, with orders to immediately suspend all manoeuvres until further notice and await more detailed instructions.

A very quiet and cautious, yet deeply suspicious, response.

Knootian East Indies

05-06-2007, 10:45

OOC: I'm with Will as well. And realistically, the choppers are dead. I suggest Boris edit his post to reflect that.

Pschycotic Pschycos

05-06-2007, 17:40

Even Pschycotic Pschyos agrees with me :D But then, he might just be mad at you for trying to use Takumi as a human shield...

OOC: Haha, no, I didn't mind that. He's really an expendable character that I don't care about :P I just agree that it is unrealistic that the choppers would've made it.

And I agree with Reichskamphen also, blow it or let it go.

The Resurgent Dream

06-06-2007, 04:29

By now, the Confederals had launched several waves of aircraft from Kagerlund, Finara and the one supercarrier and two standard carriers in Force B including fighters, bombers, multipurpose assault planes and military assault helicopters and they had had time to enter the proximity of the Allanean ships, making a broad loop without directly passing over, much less engaging, the Allaneans. They were circling, waiting. As it became apparent that the Pantocratorians weren’t quite ready to start shooting, the Confederals began a shift system for their aircraft based upon the fueling and maintenance needs of the craft and the travel time between the Allanean forces and the relevant bases and carriers and designed to keep the maximum number of combat ready aircraft with alert pilots in the air at any given time.

Force B itself was adopting a position with the support and command vessels hanging back, the three carriers moving forward into a good launching position, the five guided missile destroyers taking a position in front of the carriers and the twelve frigates forming a sort of screen, fanning out in front of the destroyers. Of course, no weapons had actually been fired and the foremost Confederal vessels were just in sight of the Allaneans. But the missiles were in range.

Meanwhile, Force C was coming south and west from the Melian Islands and Force D was coming north and east from Gandara, the former seeking to position itself to the north of the Allaneans and the latter to the south, with Force B on the east and Force E launching from North Roanoke to the west.

The Confederal Navy, Army, Air Force and Marines as well as the Kagerlund and Finara Civil Defence Forces networked with both MATER and CAESAR to coordinate their military actions with those of the Knootians and the Pantocratorians. They expressed a willingness to participate in whatever action the Pantocratorians found necessary, a willingness confirmed in a private message sent both to Chancellor Drapeur and Emperor Andreus by President Kairis. Seeking to broaden the coalition, Confederal ambassadors reached out to the Abtians, the Xirniumites, the Otiacicohans, and the Amestrians to join with the Knootians and the Confederals in supporting Pantocratoria and to deploy at least some of their naval and air forces accordingly. The Allaneans, the Confederals argued, were committing a crime against peace which undermined the security of the entire region. The nations of the region, however, had it in their power to decisively repel the Allanean attack and any Prussian support that might be forthcoming.

With all that taken care of, it seemed like the Confederals would be playing the waiting game. All Confederal forces which had any immediate role to play were either deployed or in the process of deployment. They were ready and willing to meet the needs of the emerging situation. The initiative now lay with the Pantocratorians or possibly with the Allaneans.

Amestria

06-06-2007, 05:18

OOC: For what its worth I agree with Panto, those helicopters should have been blown out of the sky.

In any case, from the perspective of the story it does make a rather nice ending; Graves is blown up while being kidnapped by terrorists or, alternatively, illegally extracted by the Allanean military. In the meantime, tensions are increased, conspiracy theorists are given something to talk about, and Graves becomes a Prussian-Allanean Protestant martyr/Pantocratorian Catholic bogyman.

Seeing as how at one point Reichskamphen considered having Graves die in jail of natural causes, I doubt he has any objections to his death being a little bit more spectacular.

Allanea

06-06-2007, 16:37

OOC: A dozen telegrams for panto, and waiting for him on IRC.

Pantocratoria

06-06-2007, 16:44

OOC: Just wanted to say that Allanea and I are working out a solution via TG and I think we're pretty close.

Allanea

06-06-2007, 17:04

OOC: Just wanted to say that Allanea and I are working out a solution via TG and I think we're pretty close.

I wrote a post I think is satisfactory. It has been telegrammed to you.

Pantocratoria

06-06-2007, 17:20

I wrote a post I think is satisfactory. It has been telegrammed to you.

Yep, the post you TGed to me is good! When I wake up this thing can get moving IC again :)

Allanea

06-06-2007, 17:24

OOC: THis post has been approved by Panto.

IC:

"Two more rockets, seven and five!" – the heli navigator shouted. Again, the missile defense flared alive.

"You know that they're not going to get us with there." – grinned the pilot.

"They aren't – unless we run out. You know, some people are just not going to make it."

"What do you mean?"

And then, a powerful explosion rang next to one of the helicopters.

"Damn you all! Damn you, idiots! They've snagged my fuel line, darn it! Delta, I have to descend!"

"I will land too, then."

"You've gone crazy! I tell you, you've gone crazy!"

The injured helicopter, it's blades still spinning haphazardly, descended the last thirty meters separating it from the ground.

The other one landed near, the crews working feverishly to remove hostages from the craft. The first pilot was, however, flummoxed.

"What the hell are you doing? Go on! To the sea!"

"You are an idiot, are you not, James? It's over." - the commander switched into Rejistani.

We can't get Graves out of here. So any kind of proceeding to fly will just put his life in more danger. It is pointless. We will be sacrificing the lives of hostages for nothing. Go! Move them out of the craft!.

The tied-up hostages were swiftly removed.

"Why have we done this?" – blinked the first Pilot. – "Couldn't they have stayed in the choppers?"

"No." – said the apparent commander of the choppers, and then swung his rifle. – "Deus vult! Deus vult!"

The two pilots fell dead. Their clothes were unlike the

"Why the hell did you do that?" – swore one of his subordinates.

"They could have talked. They were weak. Now, let's go."

Minutes later, the operatives dragged the hostages away from the helis and beat them a little. The doctors, too, were executed. There was no other way.

"Very well, then." – said the commander. "Let's get back into the chopper."

"But you said we can't make it."

"We could." – he switched to Rejistanian again. But the chances are too small. The hostages should not be endangered – but we are here by choice, we should. And besides – you want to surrender to the Pantiespeople? They'd likely torture us. Or give us to the real Doomani.

"I'm not going there."

"As you wish."

The helicopter rose, leaving only three men behind. "How come you know to pilot an helicopter, chief?"

"Not very well… worry not, I'll get us out of here. But first… Mickey, Simon , and Joe are as good as dead. We must ensure that it happens before they talk."

The operatives agreed with that logic. Seconds later, if the hostages were conscious, they could hear the screams "Deus Vult! Deus Vult!" and see the three operatives falling.

And minutes later, they could see the second helicopter get turn apart by steel-cored training 20mm autocannon munitions.

Aerion

08-06-2007, 22:40

The New Monastery of Blessed Mary Theotokos
Royal Embassy of Aerion to Pantocratoria

When the air raid alarms began sounding, and the word was given to evacuate the Old Quarter Ambassador Exellius was sitting in the Ambassador’s Office in what was the old Abbot’s chambers in the the New Monastery of Blessed Mary Theotokos, an old monastery that had been granted to Aerion by the Emperor for purposes of establishing an embassy some time ago.

He was startled, and immediately got up to look out the window. He could not see much from his window, just the gardens of the embassy, and beyond. No smoke, no fire, no planes. He wondered what was going on.

His secretary rushed in, “Sir, the Old Quarter is being evacuated, and Ms. Ostaun is saying that government officials have already been evacuated so we are not able to get into contact with them.” Ms. Ostaun was the Deputy Head of Mission, the Ambassador’s Deputy, and the real career diplomatic service officer as the Ambassador was a political appointee.

The Ambassador looked stunned, “But what is going on? Why would air raid sirens be going off here, how did any enemy planes get here?”

Just then an message came through on the Ambassador's dataphone, a message that had been wired into the embassy’s communications center from the Ministry then to the Ambassador. The message inquired what was going on, and it said that the Ministry in Aerion had heard reports of the Palais de la Cour Criminelle criminal court being attacked. He knew the message was top priority so had been sent to his dataphone, but would be handled by other embassy staff. Other messages were coming through as well, messages from the embassy Minister-Counselors.

The secretary knew the Ambassador was probably going over papers, and signing off on reports so had not watched the news. It had been all over ANN, she had already heard about it. As the Ambassador looked at the dataphone, she knew he knew the situation then, “Sir, your car is waiting outside to take you to a safe location outside of the city. “

A few moments later the embassy’s Security Attaché, Marlowe Hectun, rushed into the Ambassador’s office. “Ambassador, lets get you out out of here. I have an escort ready for your car. We have already secured the embassy, and will keep it safe after the evacuation.” Despite the evacuation, an squadron of Royal Marines as part of the embassy security detail would remain to protect the embassy grounds, and valuables.

With that, Marloew rushed the Ambassador down to the embassy drive that entered the embassy grounds on the side. His personal aide whom was indisposed on duties had quickly rushed to the Ambassador, and followed quickly.

The black Adinas Star Motor Coach sat in the drive, it was an secured super-luxury limousine bearing Aerion’s flag on one side on the front, and on the other side the Ambassadorial Flag of Aerion which had the Royal Government crest centered in a gold wreath on a purple background. The limousine had been granted to the Ambassador for his use as the post to Pantocreatoria was considered particularly prestigious.

The limousine pulled out of the guarded gates of the Royal Embassy, escorted by two motorcycles, and an SUV with Royal Marines. The convoy quickly rushed toward the outskirts of the city….

Meanwhile, vans evacuated some other staff and important documents just in case as several embassy sections held emergency meetings. The Minister-Counselor for Political Affairs Rupert Mydun, and the Political Affairs section were particularly busy attempting to assess the situation without contact with Pantocratorian government officials. They were watching news channels, making phone calls, reporting back to the Foreign Ministry in Aerion, and hoping this did not become a full blown international incident. They were evacuating their offices in the embassy as well, with Rupert Mydun’s sedan pulling up just in time. The Minister-Counselor rushed out of his offices, and to the awaiting car as the driver rushed out of the embassy toward the secure location the Ambassador was on his way to.

Pantocratoria

11-06-2007, 14:22

MATER to CAESAR

Thank you very much for mobilising the Collective Naval Action Units. Were you being naughty deliberately though when you suggested that the commander of Collective Naval Action Unit One would be in overall command of any joint action taken because Collective Naval Action Unit One was the tactically superior force? According to the informal understanding which exists between the Imperial High Command and the Knootian Defence Forces, command goes to the commanding officer of the tactically superior force in cases where the Pantocratorian and Knootian commanding officers are of the same rank. In this case, Lord First Admiral Phocas is in the theatre, holding a rank equivalent to one rank above Marine Vloot-Admiraal, and will therefore be taking overall operational responsibility for the allied taskforce.

I'm sure you won't mind terribly, as you and I will be able to communicate to field commanders directly, in order to better assist Lord First Admiral Phocas in the performance of his duty. I am granting you access to my lower-level communication protocols so as to allow us to co-ordinate our joint operations between us.

Signal to USS Ayn Rand from HIMS Imperator Andreus

To the Admiral commanding the Ayn Rand and her battlegroup, with compliments,

As a result of, and in reaction to the unprovoked attack against New Rome, Pantocratoria and her allies have moved to a state of alert. I have assumed command of the allied naval assets in the region totalling some fourteen Pantocratorian, Knootian, and Confederal battlegroups.

Being in command of the same, and with the authority of the Imperial High Command, in the name of the Emperor, I require that you, and such forces as are under your command, withdraw at once.

Your presence here in the light of these unprovoked and illegal attacks on Pantocratoria, which were themselves an act of undeclared war against the Pantocratorian Empire, can only be construed as being in support of these attacks and as such, can only be regarded as hostile. I must therefore oblige you to at once withdraw.

Lord First Admiral Phocas of the Bosphorous
Supreme Commander, Imperial Navy

Flight Ducklings, somewhere over north west mainland Pantocratoria

"Mother Goose, this is Ugly Duckling." the lead pilot began. "We have engaged and destroyed one bogey, the other appears to have landed. Transmitting co-ordinates..."

Flight Viking, somewhere over north west mainland Pantocratoria

Flight Viking compromised three R-31 Faulkners, and was amongst the dozens of flights scrambled to intercept the bogey helicopters. It carried a mixed-armament - each aircraft's 12 weapon hardpoints were divided between anti-aircraft missiles and bombs, principally PR755 clusterbombs. Flight Viking was a pre-planned rapid response mission in the event of an attack on the Pantocratorian homeland. Its standard mission in such an event, which in this case had been overridden by the need to intercept the helicopters, was to patrol coastal regions for enemy landings, specifically infantry and light vehicle landings, and to destroy as many targets of opportunity as presented themselves. The flexible nature of the Faulkner meant that they could also engage enemy fighters attempting to provide air cover to such enemy landings.

The PR755 low altitude clusterbomb was a Pantocratorian munition designed after experiences in the Pantocratorian-Esperi War, in which Pantocratorian troops had to fight through jungle against the Esperi army. The heavy jungle cover made it difficult for Pantocratorian bombing flights launched from HIMS Imperator Andreus to effectively engage enemy infantry and vehicles moving through the jungle. While napalm proved effective at dealing with the jungle cover, the Imperial High Command was dissatisfied and commissioned a range of new armaments which could be dropped by an aircraft into a general target area where the target's exact location could not (or need not) be pin-pointed, and which could kill the soft targets within that area. It meant that the PR755 was ideal to clear beaches and coastal forests alike, and could simply be fired in the general direction of the enemy.

"Viking this is Control..." began the voice of the flight's mission control commander over the radio. "We have a bogey, possibly downed, possibly landed, at the coordinates being transmitted into your computers. We estimate a dozen or so enemy commandos may be on-board. Unknown anti-air capabilities. They may be attempting to disperse into local terrain so as to evade capture by ground forces. No civilian settlements nearby, you are cleared to use PR755s on wide dispersal. Leave none alive. Over."

"Control this is Viking 1, confirm receipt of your orders. Moving on target coordinates. Over." Viking 1 replied. The pilot switched his vox over to the flight's own channel. "Vikings this is Viking 1. We have new target coordinates from Control. Set your PR755s to the target altitude and stay with me. Adjusting heading. We'll make three runs to make sure we've got them all. Two weapons each pass, wide dispersal. Enemy has unknown anti-aircraft capability so keep your eyes open for tracers and missile lock. Approaching target zone..."

Near the downed helicopter...

Guillame Richemont began coming to a few minutes after the Allanean PLU commandos had left. He shook the grogginess out of his head and looked around. Lying next to him on his right side was Dr Graves, and lying next to him on the other side was a miserably groaning Sir Davide Leloyné, who had been brought to in the helicopter and roughed around rather a lot for an old judge. Richemont looked down in dismay at his bound hands and feet - all of the hostages (even the ones who weren't really hostages) had been so bound. Short of squirming, he wasn't going anywhere fast, nor were any of them. He supposed that he'd have to lay back and wait for death, or rescue, whichever came first.

"My wig... is back at the court..." Sir Davide groaned to Richemont as the prosecutor tried to sit-up, which was quite difficult with his hands and feet so-bound. "If we are to be killed by these savages... I should've liked to have been properly dressed for it."

"I don't know why they'd take us just to kill us, monseigneur..." Richemont replied, squinting in an effort to identify the bodies near the helicopter. His glasses had been left back at the courtroom along with his own wig, not to mention Sir Davide's much finer, infinitely more impressive full-length periwig.

"The Allanean prosecutor... Mademoiselle Lovegood... back on the helicopter, made me say something into a radio, I can't remember what. I'm not sure I even said anything coherent at all." Sir Davide observed, trying to look around. His vision was even worse that Richemont's, which was unsurprising given the judge's advanced age.

"Working with them, you think?" Richemont asked, finally sitting up straight.

"Still a detective, eh, Monsieur Richemont?" Sir Davide attempted to chuckle. "Don't know why anybody would go into that sort of work, grisly business..."

"I was saving for law school." Richemont replied, with a touch of irritation. "I wish I had my glasses... it looks like those men by the helicopter have been shot..."

"Were you a St Louis man, Monsieur Richemont? You seem like a St Louis man, although... maybe St Sophia... Which college were you at?" Sir Davide asked.

"I didn't go to the University of Christ Pantocrator, monseigneur." Richemont replied.

"Oh..." Sir Davide replied distastefully. "I'm very sorry for you, Monsieur Richemont."

"Please, don't be, monseigneur." Richemont snapped now, annoyed that the old judge was blathering about universities in the middle of a situation like this. "I got my scarlet silk without the help of your precious alumni organisation, after all... damn my eyes... are those planes up there?"

Richemont's planes were, unfortunately, PR755 clusterbombs, falling gracefully before splitting apart into hundreds of tiny bomblets which scattered themselves about the area, landing on the hostages, the corpses, the helicopter, hapless wildlife, and everything else in the area. The bomblets exploded with a great deal of violence, each one doing particular damage to the so-called "soft target" that comprised the human body. Richemont was covered with a mixture of dirt, brains, blood and entrails as the hostages to his right were indiscriminately slaughtered by the clusterbombs, just a moment before the hostages on his left were similarly blown apart. Richemont didn't feel it, but his legs were blown off by the same bomblet which killed Sir Davide. Before the pain signals could reach his brain, another bomblet exploded where Dr Graves had been just a few fractions of a second before, this one blowing the rest of Richemont apart and scattering his entrails over an area of about five metres in diameter around him.

And that was just the first pass. In a few moments, perhaps a minute, perhaps less, another set of clusterbombs fell into the area and broke apart into hundreds more bomblets, shredding the dismembered corpses and ripping up the countryside. With the scene already looking like something from the Book of Revelation, a third and final set of clusterbombs hit, decimating the entire area yet again.

"Viking to Control... mission complete, over and out."

The Resurgent Dream

11-06-2007, 22:46

((OOC: Edited to remove a couple inconsistencies pointed out to me))

Princess Diana paced her room in the secret bunker she had been hustled off to along with the Pantocratorian Imperial Family. She was metaphorically waiting on the edge of her seat, as were most people in the Confederated Peoples, to hear what exactly the Pantocratorians intended. Everything depended on the Pantocratorians. Diana frowned slightly to herself as she sunk down into a chair bolted to the floor. She rose to her feet once more as she heard someone at the open blast door to her bunk. “Come.”

Princess Morgan slid into the room. The women embraced and kissed one another on each cheek. “It might be war.” Morgan said in Greek. She was learning the language and could use the practice Diana didn’t say anything. “It should be war.” Morgan continued. Again, Diana remained silent. This time she resumed her seat. Morgan sat down next to her. “Are they going to elect a Grand Marshal?”

Diana shook her head slightly and answered in the same language. “They aren’t doing anything else. We’ve already gone ahead with forward mobilization to the point where scores of missiles, bombs and torpedoes are ready to fire. We’re moving to surround the Allaneans on all four sides. Shooting could begin within a second of the order being given We can’t do anything else until Pantocratoria makes some direct response to the Allanean attack above and beyond shooting down the enemy helicopters themselves.”

Morgan nodded a little. “I don’t want to begin lobbying for a war but Allanea has already committed an act of war against Pantocratoria. It is hard to see how any response other than immediately sinking those Allanean ships could be adequate or could avoid making Pantocratoria look weak.”

“We’ve asked the other powers in the region to begin forward deployments.” Diana said. “The Xirniumites look like they’ll be agreeable, the Abtians less so. There hasn’t been word from our other missions as of yet.”

Morgan nodded. “It would be a shame if all these ships and planes were deployed for nothing. But then again, what’s the point. These nasty little savages are crushed every week and they seem to worm their way back up to pester decent people. Not that that makes any sense.”

“Their strength is illusory.” Diana said. “The mastery of bluster and intimidation common to all barbarian peoples. That’s why a firm answer from the international community causes them to crumble to dust each and every time. Then they pretend to reform as they try to rebuild and then they have the same false strength constructed in less than a month. It is a tedious pattern but that is no reason Pantocratoria should tolerate this insolence.”

Morgan nodded. “It is in the hands of the Government, I suppose. I have learned not to expect much strength or decisiveness in foreign affairs from the Socialists.”

“I really shouldn’t comm….” Diana began when she heard someone else at the door. “Come.” Diana said simply.

Lieutenant Karl Raindl, the military attaché at the embassy, entered the room briskly, bowing to both ladies and glancing from Morgan to Diana. “You may speak in front of Her Highness, Lieutenant.” Diana said.

Raindl nodded. “The Pantocratorians have issued an ultimatum to the Allanean ships, Your Highness. Force E has come into position and has assumed a battle formation. Forces C and D are still some distance away, although they are within range to launch their aircraft. We could be engaged in combat within a few minutes.”

“An ultimatum? They should have ordered a surr…” Diana started to say.

“The Pantocratorians have also announced that they are assuming command of all allied forces.” Raindl added. “It was worked out with the Department in accordance with the Provisional Lutherstadt Protocol.”

Diana arched a brow slightly. “I am not sure that that will hold after the election of a Grand Marshal, if one takes place, but it will work for now. Have the Pantocratorians come up with any battle plan contradictory to our own?”

“I’m not sure, Your Highness.” Raindl said. “Strategic and tactical information is being made available only as strictly necessary.”

The Resurgent Dream

12-06-2007, 06:54

The Intelligence Division of the Department of Defence was headquartered along the outskirts of the Agora with a coordinating office located in the Department’s main building across from Union Park. The Division was a flurry of activity at the moment with reports on possible Allanean activities coming in from all over the world. The job of the Division, the responsibility of Director Ceren Mustapha, was to provide the military with the information it would need to hit the Allaneans hard and fast if it came down to that. And, as dozens of people under her rushed to do their jobs, she found her attention occupied by a great many things at once, something hardly unusual in her position. She was rapidly shifting between conversations even as she glanced at the muted televisions showing Confederal and Pantocratorian coverage.

“Nothing, nothing, nothing.” she protested as she shoved some reports, all apparently having been found useless, across her desk. “I miss Wake.”

“Ma’am?” asked a young Special Agent, looking up from what he was working on.

“Pretend I didn’t say anything.” Mustapha said with a tortured smile. “What do you have for me?”

“Not much, I’m afraid…”

Allanea

12-06-2007, 08:15

OOC: This is a bit of a fast-forward and I am aware of it. Doesn't matter, since whatever occurs here does not really affect Panto's nation or anybody else's. Just wrapping up my involvement is all.

IC:

All was over. The aircraft carrier and the battlegroup surrounding it would retreat to their previous position. The ship from which the helicopters took off would be found adrift and perfectly empty near the Pantocratorian shore. Nothing would be found there proving it to be an Allanean ship – in fact, it would turn out that the ship under the same name, registered to the shipping company in question, was in Haven the entire time. The registry on the ship adrift near the territorial waters of Pantocratoria would turn out to be fake.

The Allanean embassy in Pantocratoria would condemn the tactics use by the Pantocratorian government.

The Department of Justice would 'discover' the accusations leveled in Allanea against Graves to have been 'fake, planted by Catholhic conspirators in the very heart of the Allanean justice system'. Proof would be provided that the charges were fake – not that it mattered now. Still, a dozen 'catholic conspirators' would be put on trial and disappear into the bowels of the Allanean prison system – only to emerge days later under new names in different parts of the country.

And finally, the raid would have one final consequence – for the Special Operations Office and the men who had planned and executed the operation.

Perhaps, had Sir David heard of it, he would even have been satisfied.

Two months later, very deep underground

"Marshal Noyban. You have failed completely in your planning and execution of Eaglewing. Let me demonstrate."

"First of all, the very notion of sending men by helicopter needed more work. You should have procured some of the stealth VTOL cargo craft that Dat' Pizdy Corporation produces, for instance."

"Second, it was clear from the start that the Pantocratorians are hell-bent to have the Iesians succeed in their task – they've always been too friendly to the Iesians. Even if you consider the fact that anybody that even allows a Iesian embassy inside their country is too friendly to the Iesians. The only decent response to an extradition request by Iesus Christi is 'fuck off and die in terrible suffering', followed by the execution of a dozen of their diplomats… but I was talking about your failure."

"Brigade General Noyban, as the head of the Special Operations Office under the Department of Defense, you have been responsible for the planning, execution, and eventual failure of operation Eaglewing."

"Your failure could have been avoided if you planned the operation more carefully – or if you chose braver men, who would not have landed the helicopter instead of flying it onwards towards the RADAR exclusion zone, where it would have surely eluded the Pantocratorian aircraft with casual ease – or by a dozen other small corrections to your plan, none of which you had thought of in time."

"As such, and in my capacity as Commander of Army Group Merkaz, second only to the Fieldmarshal himself, in my power to judge in the time of war and in the field of battle, and to deliver the Queen's Justice where I consider it lacking, I rule you guilty of criminal incompetence of the highest degree."

"I hereby condemn you to fifty-five years in prison. Take him away."

"Gentlemen, we have a final problem to deal with. While… the former head of the Special Operations Office was… grossly incompetent, the failure is not solely his. The failure belongs to the entire Office, and in fact possibly to Allanean special operations doctrine as it has hitherto existed. I believe the details of needed reform are to be worked out and submitted to me. I will then talk to the Fieldmarshal. Oh, and Eaglewing?"

"Yes, Marshal?"

"There never was any Eaglewing."

Amestria

12-06-2007, 10:18

(OOC: these events occur before Allanea’s time warp.)

Seeking to broaden the coalition, Confederal ambassadors reached out to the Abtians, the Xirniumites, the Otiacicohans, and the Amestrians to join with the Knootians and the Confederals in supporting Pantocratoria and to deploy at least some of their naval and air forces accordingly. The Allaneans, the Confederals argued, were committing a crime against peace which undermined the security of the entire region. The nations of the region, however, had it in their power to decisively repel the Allanean attack and any Prussian support that might be forthcoming.

Officials from the Amestrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Defense politely listened to Ambassador Saby and explained to him that Amestria had no naval or terrestrial military assets within the immediate vicinity of “the incident” or even near the Pantocratorian archipelago. And why should it, when Confederal, Pantocratorian, Knootian, and Xirniumite naval patrols were more then sufficient to protect Amestrian shipping throughout the Western Atlantic?

They further pointed out that the State of Amestria had no military or self defense treaties, be they voluntary or binding agreements, with the Empire of Pantocratoria, the Confederated Peoples of the Resurgent Dream, the Democratic Republic of Knootoss, or the Republic of Xirnium; so Amestria had no legal or moral obligations to provide military support.

It was casually commented on that Amestria already had a number of extensive trade, monetary, and travel sanctions/restrictions placed upon Allanea, effectively preventing all commerce and almost all travel between Amestria and Allanea, a pragmatic proactive policy of self protection that others nations in the Western Atlantic seemed to lack and would do well to copy.

Of course the Amestrian Government offered diplomatic support, and the Foreign Ministry released a public statement that both condemned Allanea for its blatant act of international terrorism and voiced approval of the Pantocratorian ultimatum to the Ayn Rand battlegroup.

Knootian East Indies

12-06-2007, 14:00

((OOC: Likewise I am not fast-forwarding 2 months.))

Statement by a visibly shaken Prime Minister Jan Willem Daatman

"Shocking events have unfolded in Pantocratoria within the last couple of hours. An act of war was perpetrated by fanatics who are utterly indifferent to the value of human life. This murderous Allanean disruption into the international justice system is a threat to peace and freedom in the entire Atlantic region.

In these circumstances, all Knootian people stand by the Pantocratorian people. We express our friendship and solidarity in this difficult hour. They were not only attacks on the people in the Pantocratoria, our friends in the Atlantic, but also against the entire civilized world, against our own freedom, against our own values, values which we share with the Atlantic peoples. We will not let these values be destroyed – in Knootoss, Pantocratoria or anywhere in the world. We, the civilised nations of this world, are going to have to come together to defend them.

I am confident that the Pantocratorian government will deliver an appropriate response to these attacks, after careful deliberation with its allies. I will personally be in touch with the Pantocratorians to make sure that Knootian expressions of solidarity are executed in a swift, efficient and appropriate manner.

That is all."

Allanea

12-06-2007, 14:05

OOC: Note I didn't ask you to. I don't see the need for everybody to state how they are 'not' fast-forwarding...

Pantocratoria

12-06-2007, 14:57

Communiqué sent to all friendly governments with embassies in Pantocratoria

To: N, Ambassador of N

Your Excellency,

Earlier this morning, an illegal and unprovoked attack was launched against the Palais de la Cour Criminelle in the heart of the Old Quarter of New Rome. The Old Quarter is, as you know, the home to many government buildings and many foreign embassies, and we were obliged to evacuate the Old Quarter as a result of these attacks.

The belligerents came in helicopters and launched a non-lethal chemical weapon attack on the court building and its surrounds, incapacitating hundreds of predominantly Pantocratorian civilians. The belligerents removed ten persons, including a number of foreign nationals, from one of the courtrooms, re-embarked their helicopters, and left the court building within fifteen minutes. The identities of these ten people will be revealed when consent has been obtained by their respective families or governments.

The helicopters were engaged and destroyed outside of the New Rome city limits by the Pantocratorian Imperial Air Service. There were no survivors. Prior to their destruction, Pantocratorian authorities were contacted by the Allanean Embassy, demanding that the Imperial Air Service cease shooting at the helicopters which had attacked our capital. The Allanean Ambassador, in the course of this communication, revealed that one of the people removed from the courtroom was Mademoiselle Fiona Lovegood of the Allanean Department of Justice. At that time, this information had not been made public - it had not even yet been confirmed by the Pantocratorian ground response team which was then in the process of securing the court building. That information could therefore only have come from the helicopters themselves.

Coupled with the information which your intelligence agencies and indeed, some cable news agencies, would have already reported, that is to say, that the helicopters originated from an Allanean civilian cargo ship, that an Allanean carrier battle group arrived near Pantocratoria's economic exclusion zone and launched an electronic warfare attack on Pantocratorian and allied naval assets in the region, the Imperial Government can only assume that the United States of Allanea was complicit in the attacks against our capital. Certainly the Allanean Embassy was in contact with the belligerents or was previously aware of their plans.

As a result, the Imperial Government has been forced to expel the Allanean Embassy. You are receiving this letter as a courtesy, as I felt it necessary to explain the series of events which have compelled this course of action. Please rest assured that the territorial integrity of your embassy and of all foreign embassies in Pantocratoria will be respected, despite this action which has been forced on the Imperial Government.

Yours Sincerely,

Demetrios Raoul
The Honourable Demetrios Raoul MP
Minister for Foreign Affairs

OOC: More posts coming

Allanea

12-06-2007, 15:03

OOC: The helicopters were not of Allanean build. They were built by Dat' Pizdy Corporation, in Soviet Bloc. As for the knowledge that Fiona Lovegood was aboard the aircraft, that is simple - embassies - including I presume yours - are always spy dens, full of REALLY good radio equipment. It's not likely any embassy inthe city would have missed the all-spectrum broadcast - though simple, civilian receivers may have not.

Pantocratoria

12-06-2007, 15:29

OOC: Your all spectrum broadcast didn't identify the Allanean citizen on board. And it is the very fact that your embassy is a den of spies which requires its removal! I will, however, edit my post about the Allanean build of helicopter.

IC:

To: Virginia Mallet, Ambassador of the United States of Allanea to the Imperial Court of Christ Pantocrator

Your Excellency,

As a result of the unprovoked attack on the Palais de la Cour Criminelle in New Rome, an act which most would construe as constituting an act of war, in which the Allanean Government was complicit, I must inform you that His Majesty's Ambassador to the United States is being withdrawn. I must also inform you that the Imperial Government requires that you be withdrawn too, along with your entire embassy. You and your embassy staff will be provided with an armed escort, for your security, which will take you to New Rome International Airport where a flight will shortly be awaiting your departure for a neutral country, at your earliest possible convenience within the next 24 hours.

It is with relief that I note the retreat of Allanean naval assets in the region, and I trust that your government does not seek to further inflame the situation. After you withdrawal, the Imperial Government will be in contact with the Allanean Government regarding the steps which will be necessary to bring this troubling situation to an end.

Your government may nominate another embassy to handle matters pertaining to Allanean citizens travelling in Pantocratoria for this period.

Yours Sincerely,

Demetrios Raoul
The Honourable Demetrios Raoul MP
Minister for Foreign Affairs

Allanea

12-06-2007, 15:38

Two hours after the Allanean embassy left, the Pantocratorian embassy in Allanea was removed received an identical warning to get out of the city.

OOC: I don't really know etiquette and stuff like that as well as my IC diplomats probably do, so assume a proper procedure was followed.

Knootian East Indies

12-06-2007, 16:11

Telephone conversation between Chancellor Drapeur and Prime Minister Daatman

"Prime Minister Daatman, Chancellor." said Drapeur's personal assistant. Drapeur nodded and picked up the telephone in his office in the emergency bunker.

"Prime Minister, Thibault Drapeur here." Drapeur began.

"This is Daatman speaking. " The Knootian Prime Minister furrowed his brow in a serious fashion as he held the receiver. He was well-aware who he was about to talk to, but it was always the Dutch-speaking manner to say a name before continuing a telephone conversation. Even with all the human resources available to him now, it was a habit he had kept.

"Prime Minister, pardon me for skipping pleasantries. I hope that we'll have a chance to exchange them shortly after the immediate crisis is over." Drapeur excused himself for not asking after Irene and the like. "I'm calling to let you know how much the Imperial Government appreciates your rapid response in the Atlantic to the attacks on New Rome, and to share information with you."

"You're welcome. Please go ahead and let's not waste time." Daatman returned simply. He was hardly one to expect pleasantries in the current situation.

"Merci." Drapeur replied. "We have compelling reasons to believe that these attacks launched on the Palais de la Cour Criminelle were commissioned or at least authorised by the Allanean Government. We believe that they were attempting to retrieve Dr Peter Graves, whose extradition hearing was being heard at the time of the attacks..."

"I received a similar analysis of events in Pantocratoria" Daatman agreed. "Which is why I have authorised elements of our fleet to be placed under the command of your Lord First Admiral. I think it is vital that we have a joint response here. United front, if you will. If the Allaneans have the guts to do this to you, they certainly won't hesitate to do it to us. I want that battlegroup of theirs out of the Atlantic as soon as possible."

"Reports I have just received, Prime Minister, just before I made this call, indicated that the Allanean battlegroup has retreated." Drapeur advised.

"It has? ... a moment please." Daatman wavered, covering the mouthpiece of his telephone for a brief moment. A few muffled sentences were exchanged by the Knootian Prime Minister and some assistant before he returned to the conversation. "Ah... so it has. Well, that's something at least." He paused a brief moment, before inquiring with some hesitation. "May I inquire if the Imperial Government has yet deliberated on a possible response?"

"I've just instructed the Foreign Minister to withdraw our ambassador, and expel the Allanean Ambassador." Drapeur began.

"Will that be all?" Daatman asked, trying to hide mild surprise.

"Well... no..." Drapeur said. It wouldn't be all, either, he just didn't know what the next part would be. "We're considering our options. Prime Minister, I'd be very interested in hearing your views."

"Well...." Daatman began. "I certainly would not want to appear overly belligerent, but if this battlegroup is directly involved with the attack it might make for an effective.... target." The last word was spoken with visible reluctance. "Cutting all diplomatic ties would seem to me the very minimum. An economic response might be more... difficult." He tried to weigh his words. "I admit, it is difficult to conceive of an appropriate military response to such a vile act of terrorism, when it is perpetrated by a state. If this had happened in Knootian Colombia, there would be a harsh military response for sure. But we can hardly retaliate by blowing up the Allanean Supreme Court, can we?" He sighed.

"I'd like to think that there's a peaceful solution... which... still sees a reasonable response." Drapeur said. He found Allanea's actions more than a little confronting to his whole notion of foreign policy and the behaviour of states, and it was hard for Drapeur to conceive of a solution. "Economic solutions rarely seem effective... and would probably hurt Pantocratoria as much or more..."

"Quite" Daatman mused. "My worry is that the Allaneans will just withdraw their fleet and deny any wrongdoing. Barring any direct response to Allanean hostility, there is surely a window for collective action to prevent something like this from happening again. My generals have some ideas about possible military cooperation that didn't make it in our original Treaty negotiations"

"I think that these events have demonstrated that it would be very worthwhile for us to sit down together with other Atlantic powers and discuss some of those ideas, Prime Minister." Drapeur said.

"I am glad to hear that, Chancellor" Daatman offered with a curt nod and a smile - even if his conversation partner was thousands of miles away. "May I suggest a Conference of Atlantic Powers? It should preferably take place in New Rome, and on fairly short notice. I"ll bring my list of ideas." For a brief moment he was quiet, but before the Chancellor could reply he did continue in a more serious tone. "Should your government decide on a more... immediate... response, know that our military equipment is at your disposal. It will be entirely your decision."

"Thank you, Prime Minister, I appreciate that, and I'll be sure to consult you before we commit to anything of that... nature..." Drapeur said. "If there's nothing else, Prime Minister, I have to call the Confederal President to discuss the situation with her."

"I understand. God bless you, sir. And goodbye."

"Good bye, Prime Minister, and thank you again." Drapeur said, and then hung up the phone. He looked to his personal assistant. "I need to speak to Kairis right away."

Iesus Christi

13-06-2007, 02:46

Today, after listening to seventy two hours of witness testimony and scientific evidence the three judges of the Iesus People’s Court ruled that Mr. Graves was innocent of the charges brought against him. Senior justice George De’Valon commended both the defence and prosecution for a “Highly intellectual and honest case”.
Minister for Justice Douglas Jardine commented that “This case proves without a doubt that Iesus is a land of justice and fairness… a confirmation of the amazingly high standard of justice in our land…”
Inquisitor James Belich acting for the defence agreed with this assessment adding “It is a pleasure to be part of a system that is so fair minded and open to the truth…we are a lucky people here in Iesus Christi! God has blessed us with a system that truly works.”
Due to unforeseen circumstances Mr. Graves was unable to attend the trial, thus the ruling was given in absentia.

Dei Verbum. The Iesus Number One Daily Paper!

The Resurgent Dream

13-06-2007, 06:18

Commodore Jógvan Patursson, commanding officer of Force C, stared in silence at the blips moving across the screen. Those little dots were actually Allanean ships and, in their retreat, they were coming closer to his command. Men and women stood at their battlestations throughout the Force. They stood prepared to fire missiles, torpedoes and guns. Planes were launched from the three carriers under Patursson’s command and adopted a defensive patrol.

“What are our orders, sir?” Lieutenant Commander Wagih Mahfouz asked as he stared at his own console, coordinating the ship’s weapons systems with satellite and aerial reconnaissance data. Mahfouz was following the various Allanean vessels fairly closely and his display also contained all available data on crew, tonnage, armament and other factors relevant to the probable performance of each individual enemy vessel.

Patursson looked long and hard at Mahfouz before turning to the communications station. “Put me through to the Imperator Andreus.” He waited a moment until the young man at communications nodded and then walked over to put on one of the headsets connected to the station. “This is Commodore Patursson in command of Force C. Allanean battlegroup is approaching the edge of the box formed by Confederal Forces. If unengaged, Allaneans ships will be clear within less than one hour. Please advise.”

Mahfouz looked over at his commander in silence, as did most of the bridge crew. He knew that the same mood of anxious waiting pervaded every bridge, every station, every cockpit in Force C. In a few moments, one of two things would happen. Force C would stand down and the Allaneans would continue with their retreat or the Confederal, Pantocratorian, Knootian and Xirniumite forces would be engaged in a full-scale naval engagement which could only end with the Allanean ships being sunk to the bottom of the sea but also with the men and women or Force C, given their proximity, bearing the brunt of allied casualties. And they were waiting, as they had been waiting since the confrontation began, not for orders from their superiors but for a decision from the Pantocratorians. It could only increase the tension that most of them, including Mahfouz didn’t know what answer they wanted. Like most who have seen actual service, they did not romanticise combat and the prospect of battle and then war had little appeal to them. Still, it galled them to see the Allaneans just up and sailing off without a shot fired after all that had happened.

Patursson was staring at the communications console, one finger lightly tapping against the console. His light blue eyes moved across the bridge, seeking out the faces of his senior staff. He gave them a tired smile before returning his position to the console itself, listening. He leaned forward over the shoulder of the officer at the station, adjusting a knob slightly.

Pantocratoria

13-06-2007, 06:41

"Commodore, this is Phocas." the Lord First Admiral replied into the jet black telephone receiver he held to his ear. He and his staff were in the fleet command centre, which was separate from but adjacent to the Imperator Andreus' bridge. They were moving about a large table covered in an LCD display which depicted the entire theatre and the last known position of all the ships, allied and enemy, deployed, making notes in tablet PCs. The new command centre room was a good deal more advanced than the old man was used to, but unlike many people of his age (especially Pantocratorians), he was a great proponent of technological innovation, at least insofar as his navy was concerned. And Phocas did think of it as his navy, it was hard not to.

And at that very moment, it was hard to resist ordering his navy to sink the Allanean battlegroup for their insolence. The Allaneans were badly outnumbered, and their electronic countermeasures, although effective, were a double-edged sword - they blinded both sides equally well. And the superiority at sea was nothing - considering how close they were to the Pantocratorian mainland, the Imperial Air Service could block out the sun with aircraft launched from their homebases at this range. Nevertheless, Phocas had orders from the Imperial High Command, orders which he didn't entirely understand but which he assumed were based on either the interference of a peacenik Socialist politician or on the High Command's assessment that the aforementioned type of political leadership might not have the stomach to back-up as decisive a military action as sinking the Allanean battlegroup would prove to be. Phocas looked at Force C's deployment on the theatre display table, and remembered that Patursson was awaiting his answer on the other end of the line.

"Commodore, the Allanean battlegroup is retreating as I ordered them to do so." Phocas replied. "They are not to be fired upon unless they come about."

With that the old man hung up the phone and received the latest reports on the status of the various carrier air groups.

Pantocratoria

13-06-2007, 09:47

"Chancellor, the Confederal President." indicated Drapeur's PA. The Chancellor nodded and picked up the phone.

"Madam President, this is Thibault Drapeur." Drapeur began.

"Chancellor, this is Viscountess Kairis." she answered. "I wish we were speaking under more pleasant circumstances."

"Likewise." Drapeur replied. "Madam President, I know that a great deal of intelligence has already been shared about the situation here, through our pre-established mechanisms, so I will presume that you don't need much of an update. Is that presumption accurate?"

"It is. I've been briefed on all available allied intelligence regarding recent events." Kairis said.

"I have recently instructed my Foreign Minister to withdraw our ambassador to Allanea and expel the Allanean Embassy." Drapeur continued. "I expect that will happen rather quickly. We are still formulating a response to this incident, and I would appreciate your input."

"The most obvious opportunity for a military response passed when the Allanean ships were allowed to escape. However, I think it might be prudent to more proactively pursue the exclusion of the Allaneans from the region. They aren't the threat that they pretend to be but they also don't seem amenable to any sort of constructive or diplomatic engagement. Perhaps, in the modern world, containment couldn't work but exclusion might work on the regional level."

"When you say exclusion of the Allaneans from the region, what do you mean, Madam President?" Drapeur asked.

"I mean exactly that. Not just the severance of diplomatic relations but trade sanctions, travel restrictions, banning them from our ports...It all depends on what is diplomatically feasible." Kairis clarified. "Ideally, excepting asylum seekers, this entire region of the world would be closed completely to Allanea, militarily, economically, diplomatically and in terms of personal travel."

"I see..." Drapeur replied hesitantly. "I do have concerns about the impact that might have on our respective economic interests, especially for consumers."

"Neither Mr. Palmer nor Mr. Prower predicts a significant effect on the Confederal economy would result from increasing existing restrictions on trade with Allanea to the level of complete exclusion of Allanean commerce from our markets." Kairis said. "If there is a potential serious effect on the Pantocratorian economy, that could certainly be addressed in any regional arrangement."

"Well... that's an option... worth considering." Drapeur said tentatively. "Did you have any other thoughts?"

"I think that the security issues raised by these events could profitably be integrated into the upcoming discussions on regional security and cooperation in Xirnium." Kairis added.

"I was actually considering that perhaps they could be discussed at the next meeting for Treaty of Courtland signatories..." Drapeur suggested. "Since Xirnium and the other participants at the regional discussions you mention aren't actually signatories to that treaty, that is."

"Every treaty signatory still active in international diplomacy is invited to the talks in Xirnium." Kairis pointed out. "The Courtland discussions would include no nations not invited to the talks in Xirnium and would exclude a substantial majority of the region."

"I'm not sure that sensitive security arrangements ought to be discussed with that majority of the region which finds itself outside of our existing treaty framework." Drapeur replied.

"I am not sure that we can have a regional security framework without the region." Kairis said.

"Quite." said Drapeur. "Well, we'll discuss that at another time. I thought I should convey to you, Madam President, that the Knootian Prime Minister has assured me that the military assets of the Knootian Low Countries in the region are at our disposal should the situation escalate further. I think we ought to discuss expanding our defence co-operation with Knootoss sometime in the future at whatever venue is convenient."

"I think that is a wise course for Pantocratoria to take." Kairis said. "The Knootians certainly made a valuable contribution during this crisis."

"Ideally, there would be a way we could affect meaningful change in Allanea's military adventurism posing as foreign policy..." Drapeur said. "But history shows us that there is no reforming Allanea by the sword, and I struggle to see any other way which would be effective. The policy I have pursued, Madam President, throughout my time in office, has been to engage with other nations in such a way as to affect meaningful change, change I think not only in the national interest, but in the interests of world peace. I would like our response to these attacks to be constructive in a similar sense... I don't see how regional exclusion would significantly reform Allanean foreign policy."

"I do not think it is possible to approach Allanea in that manner, Chancellor." Kairis said. "A false reform is part of Allanea's regular pattern. I don't think there's any good to be accomplished playing along with them."

"Well... thank you very much for your support and support of the Confederated Peoples throughout this situation. I'll be sure to remain in touch as things develop." Drapeur said.

"Thank you." Kairis said.

Aerion

13-06-2007, 13:11

High above Pantocratoria, above the Atlantic, and above Earth Aerionian GEOINT satellites monitored the situation and the naval battle groups. They were being watched by the Geospatial-Intelligence Divison of the Royal Intelligence Service, the division charged with analyzing data from satellites. Their role was to simply analyze the data, and send it upward in the Service. Meanwhile the HUMINT assets, or human intelligence assets of the Royal Intelligence Service were also reporting

The RIS was of course not the only one keeping watch of the situation, in this case they actually had come in later than Foreign Affairs. As soon as the evacuation alarms had sounded, the Foreign Affairs Operation Center had been monitoring the situation closely. They had been in constant contact via satellite uplink with embassy officials. It was the Ministry's communications, crisis management, and news center. It was up and running 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It prepared briefings for the Lady High Chancellor, Minister, Deputy Minister and Ministry officials.

The Grand Kingdom of Aerion
Astevane
The Royal District

The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs had been informed, but not alerted to the situation until the actual battle groups had began moving, and an international incident including war among nations had been imminent. She then had called an emergency situational meeting with the country teams, and country desks composed of specialists for each country involved in the situation. They were fairly easy to pull together as most were in the same building, the large Esolina Palace which was the headquarters of the Foreign Ministry, among other Royal Government offices.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs had been in the Great Baths ironically being serviced by an towel boy, but notably of legal age. The Great Baths was a palatial complex where many of the high society of Aerion gathered for public bathing, albeit divided between men and women. An unusual custom comparatively to other nations, public bathing was an custom Aerionian high society drew from the ancient Roman Empire. Aerionian high society drew many such customs from the ancient Roman Empire, France, and Italy.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs was fed up with being interrupted by the ringing of his dataphone on the nearby marble table, and so instead of answering it he threw it into the water of the small pool nearby. It fell to the bottom of the pool amidst the floating candles.

The Deputy Minister simply pressed end on her dataphone angrily, knowing the Minister was away as always. She hated royal political appointees. She thought that with a salary of over 1 million Aerionian Gold Leaves, the Minister could at least take her phone calls and do his job.

The meetings continued, but fortunately the situation was over soon enough, with the sounds of war coming to an end.

Unfortunately, the political fallout of the situation was not, and the Deputy Minister knew she would have to fully brief the Lord High Steward on the situation, who would then possibly brief the Crown Prince himself. She did so, and the process continued.

Aerion

13-06-2007, 13:13

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c193/athell/NSRoleplay/government_coat_of_arms.jpg
Official Statement of the Royal Government of Aerion

The Royal Government of the Grand Kingdom of Aerion officialy condemns the actions of the Government of the United States of Allanea. These actions, including illegally entering Pantocratoria with military intent, and attacking an Pantocratorian judicial government building constituted an act of war against the Pantocratorian people.

Such acts cannot go without reaction, and therefore we officially state that we are limiting trade, and economic exchange with the United States of Allanea. As well the 10,000 CBBC branches in the Grand Kingdom of Aerion shall be forced to close for a period of 3 days. It will also be recommended to Aerionian corporations to cease investments into Allanean corporations associated with the Allanean Government.

These actions are taken in part because we are deeply bothered by such a blatant act of war against the Pantocratorian people, and also that Aerionian citizens working as reporters within Pantocratoria were harmed in this attack. One ARN reporter that suffered from severe asthma died from an asthmatic attack resultant from the gas used in the attack.

The Royal Government, and the Aerionian people are deeply disappointed in the actions of the Allanean Government.

Allanea

13-06-2007, 13:20

Offices of the Department of State

“So… how exactly did you know that Fiona Lovegood was there?”

“I didn't. The original open broadcast (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=12731992&postcount=86) by these people said they had Allanean hostages. So I asked them about hostages - I did not of course know who exactly it was."

The Undersecretary looked concerned. “Look here. I am persuaded that this is some form of counterterrorist operation by our government, which failed miserably. But I possess no proof. Let me demonstrate.”

“The ship supposedly registered in Allanea has turned out to be the wrong ship – the real freighter ship with that name was actually somewhere else. No crew members of the fake-Allanean ship were captured alive.”

“The Pantocratorians act surprised that you knew that there were Allanean hostages aboard – or rather, one hostage. But in fact, the broadcasts, which the Pantocratorians for some reason tried to conceal, both denoted the presence of the hostages.”

“Correct, but we can’t…”

“We can try. First of all, I want you to upload .mp3 files of the broadcasts to the Department of State website. I am sure that the Pantocratorian citizenry will be pleased to know their government willingly killed their very own judge, prosecutor, and two innocent bystanders.”

“That won’t…”

“Obviously people will still know about us. Do you know that the official version of the Kennedy assassination wasn’t true? And yet can you prove it?”

“Eh…”

“Shut the hell up, Ambasssador. You failed, remember? The Pantocratorians ejected you. Anyway, I don’t know why the carrier batltegroup obscured the RADAR transmissions… nor do I care. Officially, we were trying to prevent the Pantocratorians from shooting down the hostages. Stick to that. Further, do you have any unofficial contact with the Pantocratorians? I want you to send out feelers through these channels. See if they’ll accept apologies for the actions of the Ayn Rand Battlegroup in interfering with their operation.”

Reichskamphen

13-06-2007, 19:13

Amestria

13-06-2007, 22:18

Dr. Graves sat silently in his cell in Pantocratoria. He had been informed only minutes ago that Iesus had dropped the Charges...he still didn't know the fate of Allanean Charges, but it didn't really seem to matter. As he had pleaded no contest to the Allanean extradition, and the Iesus matter was finished. It seemed he was headed out of Pantocratoria one way or the other, in chains to Allanea...or back to his Church in New Geneva.

His appearance had aged by more than ten years in the short time he had been held, and his health was faltering a great deal. Even if he became free...Graves didn't know if he would ever return to public life...or any part of his old life ever again.

Reichskamphen, according to Pantocratoria's post, Dr. Graves was blown up into tiny little pieces, along with the other hostages, by a ton of cluster bombs dropped by the Pantocratorian airforce...

Guillame Richemont began coming to a few minutes after the Allanean PLU commandos had left. He shook the grogginess out of his head and looked around. Lying next to him on his right side was Dr Graves, and lying next to him on the other side was a miserably groaning Sir Davide Leloyné, who had been brought to in the helicopter and roughed around rather a lot for an old judge.

Richemont's planes were, unfortunately, PR755 clusterbombs, falling gracefully before splitting apart into hundreds of tiny bomblets which scattered themselves about the area, landing on the hostages, the corpses, the helicopter, hapless wildlife, and everything else in the area. The bomblets exploded with a great deal of violence, each one doing particular damage to the so-called "soft target" that comprised the human body. Richemont was covered with a mixture of dirt, brains, blood and entrails as the hostages to his right were indiscriminately slaughtered by the clusterbombs, just a moment before the hostages on his left were similarly blown apart. Richemont didn't feel it, but his legs were blown off by the same bomblet which killed Sir Davide. Before the pain signals could reach his brain, another bomblet exploded where Dr Graves had been just a few fractions of a second before, this one blowing the rest of Richemont apart and scattering his entrails over an area of about five metres in diameter around him.

Iesus only dropped the charges because Dr. Graves was killed...

Due to unforeseen circumstances Mr. Graves was unable to attend the trial, thus the ruling was given in absentia.

Allanea

14-06-2007, 08:03

Allanea

14-06-2007, 10:12

o.o.c: that could happen but would be stupid. he in fact is dead - that is the logical conclusion.
I think the point is that father graves isnt in a pantocrtoria cell as Reichskamphen post, he seems to have missed the cluster bomb post thats all.

His character, his decision to make. People have survived worse odds IRL. I suggest he should take it up directly with Panto.

North Star

14-06-2007, 10:12

OOC: Quite possible that he has survived the bombing, has been heavily injured, or whatever. It's Reichskamphen's character. It's perfectly his right to state his character survived. Hell, if he wants to, he can have Graves discover superpowers and become SuperCalvinist and tear the Pantocratorian bombers apart with his bare hands. Additionally, Reichskamphen, the Allanean charges have been 'discovered to be the work of Catholic bastages' and dropped.

o.o.c: that could happen but would be stupid. he in fact is dead - that is the logical conclusion.
I think the point is that father graves isnt in a pantocrtoria cell as Reichskamphen post, he seems to have missed the cluster bomb post thats all.

Reichskamphen

14-06-2007, 15:40

OOC: Whoops! Thats what I get for not reading everything...lets try this again.

IC: Every flag in the Greater Prussian Empire flew at half staff. Thousands of people gathered in the streets of New Geneva to see the flag draped Coffin of the once High Lord Protector of the realm pass by. The coffin, of course, was more or less empty as no remains of the Reverend larger than a fingernail were found after the explosion. The only thing contained inside was Dr. Graves old, worn out Bible that he read from every day, even during his imprisonment in Pantocratoria. Amid the diplomatic fiasco that had ensued as a result of Pantocratoria shooting down a helicopter full of foreign hostages, the Imperial Government of Pantocratoria had been kind enough to return atleast that one little book.

Marechal Alexandre Brune and Gerhardt Volckner, the Mayor of New Geneva were two of the distinguished pallbearers that carried the coffin from the Parliamentary Palace, where it had been laying in State for three days, to the front steps of the New Geneva Presbyterian Church, formerly the Imperial Cathedral.

The crowd stood mournfully by as the procession passed, preceded and followed by elements of the Sola Fide Division of the Imperial Guard in full parade uniform, that is the 1806 uniform worn by the armies of Napoleon the Great. Many of the crowd had actively worked and fought with Dr. Graves and Marechal Brune as they defended New Geneva from Dersconi armies only three years ago. These people were to be easily distinguished from the rest of the crowd as the offered a military salute to their fallen leader's coffin even though they wore only plain clothes. Only a day before, crowds had taken to the streets burning Pantocratorian and Iesian flags. The crowds had set up a gallows where they hung and then burned effigies of the Emperor of Pantocratoria, Matthew Iesus, and the Pope.

Huge waves of anti-Catholic sentiment coursed through this normally tollerant city. The people needed someone to blame, and hate-mongers among them incited them against these easy targets.

After two hours of the peaceful (though not entirely calm) protest, Marechal Brune released a statement ordering the people to disband as they were doing dishonour to the memory of Dr. Graves by this uneducated and insensitive demonstration. Though most of the people soon left, soldiers were mobilized to push the last of the protestors off the streets so preparations could begin for the funeral ceremony.

Brune shielded his eyes from the bright sun as he climbed the steps into the Cathedral. His eye suddenly caught sight of the engraved Corner Stone of the Cathedral. It read:

"This building is erected to the Glory of God, not of man, and expressly for his worship and praise. Let the banners of the King go forth from this place in bright array.

Dedicated By: Emperor Napoleon IV
Founding Minister: Dr. Peter Graves"

"How empty this place shall be without him..." Brune muttered to himself, shedding a single tear...the first he had shed in a long time.

Allanea

14-06-2007, 15:53

Allanea, as some people know, is an imperialist power. Not a President sits out his term before the Allanean infantry conquer another shore by rifle and bayonet. From the Orange Republic, to Atopiana, to Roanoke-Island – every few year, the Allanean banner rises over a new shore, some island, perhaps.

In the meanwhile, Roanoke was still very sparsely settled.

And so – in a chain of events that, at least officially, was unrelated to the recent crisis, two separate government agencies, the Bureau of Land Management and Distribution, and the Health Department, wrote separate letters to the Peacock Holdings Company. The first was offering the company 10,000 square kilometers of land on Roanoke Island, where Peacock Motors had already held factories, and subsidies from the Department of Commerce should it decide to in fact open factories there. The second offered a substantial subsidy to Peacock Pharmaceuticals specifically, should it decide to open a chain of hospitals in the big Allanean cities.

Whether it really had nothing to do with the current crisis was anybody's guess.

Cherry Ridge

26-06-2007, 00:02

As Joseph Cardinal Marco, the Archbishop of Carmel, was stuck in Rome, he was unable to attend the funeral. However, he watched live from his laptop, on the GPNN, as did the very large majority of all Prussians. However, he did send an envoy on his behalf, Father Michael V. Cesari. Father Cesari was in New Geneva priot to the funeral, as he was meeting with representatives of the Presbyterian Church at the cathedral over an important matter unrelated to the imprisonment. He had worked with Dr. Graves prior to his going to Pantocratoria to help rebuild Reichskamphen.

As he ducked through the streets, he noticed the Pope's effigy being hanged and burned. He remembered that he had his roman collar on, and no doubt would be asked by the raving lunes if he was Catholic or Anglican or some other sort of high church protestant. His car was parked just up the street from the gallows, and it was inevitable that he would pass through the crowd. As he was getting his key's ready, he wsa grabbed by a man taller than him, though not by much, with a gang of four next to them. "What'er ya doing here, Father." Father Cesari snapped quickly, "Meeting with representatives of the church Doctor Graves founded." He was pushed to the ground, but quickly rolled over, and before he was shoved again, tripped the man, and calmly walked passed the group of Imperial Guardsmen watching the crowd. He noticed a Ridgian guard, and asked to see his bullhorn. He obliged, and Father Cesari reminded the crowd that Dr. Graves had worked with Catholics to aid in rebuilding Reichskamphen. With that, he thanked the man, entered his car, and sped off to his hotel.
---
At the funeral, Father Cesari sat in the section of honored guests, along with Reverend Hamilton, Moderator of the United Presbyterian Synod of Cherry Ridge. Katrina, the Queen of Cherry Ridge, had attended as the governmental delegate; along with Lord Francis of Carmel (and a woman friend of his), her husband's second cousin, and commander (de jure) of the Ridgian army, and a former Imperial Guard officer; and an assortment of other officers. King John had been away with Prince John of Derscon on extremely important business. Both groups had followed the procession, and shook hands briefly before departing.
---
After the funeral, all had departed, save for Father Cesari. He had been sitting in the New Geneva Cathedral, thinking of Reverend Graves and praying for Greater Prussia, Iesus Christi, and Pantocratoria. As he descended the steps, he noticed Marechal Brune and caught his eye. He nodded, and descended the steps.

NationStates Jolt Archive

Let justice be done