NationStates Jolt Archive

(OOC: Translating a NS2 story to NS... At some point it will become open which others can join but for now it's closed to everyone but me.)

Gregory Hansfield, was a small-time crook who wanted to enter the big-leagues. His first step was a major bank heist. Now one could go in and pull a gun, but then who knows who else had a gun in there ann it was almost guaranteed that every staff member in there also had a gun. Most of them automatic, there could even be a RPG.

And then there was a fact that if even one staff member pressed a button the bank vaults would shut down so tight that you'd destroy the building before you'd even get through the first sealed door. This was something that would need finese, it would need skills. It would need someone better than Gregory...

The thing was when he was young he used to work with this guy he was a sorta friend. As close to friends as 2 selfish thieves could be with a fella called James Dalton, he is now actually faily high up in the Donatello family, an organised crime syndicate and had a lot of contacts. Now he was willing to give his old friend a chance, they'd do it together with support from appropriate contacts.

There he was sitting in a beamer waiting for the signal, Greg, as he prefered to be called was bored, he'd been sitting outside all day. He needed to be ready when called, the operation hinged on the irregular schedules of the security personnel that dealt with large cash transfers, all he had to do....

And there it was, an armoured truck was coming down the road towards him, it stood out as plain as day. It flicked it's security lights once, yep, that confirmed it, he was to go around the back, palce, a small explosion on the brick wall and if everything come together they would have an escape route as some idiot dupes tried to rob the place with guns.

Once you are on the inside, it's easy to get out but that's the hard thing to begin with. He was the one that had done all the research, made the plan, and now he was the getaway driver. This was it this was his first majot payday. He was all tingly with anticipation but the job wasn't done yet, there was so much that could be done, and everything could fall apart at any second. That was part of the excitement, he was just glad that he was apart from the main part of the action where the chance of injury if something did go wrong was high.

The explosives were set and ready, plastic explosives, sort of like C4 but with just that little bit extra kick. There was a place he set up before to shelter from the explosion when it came. Having checked once more that no one was around he settled in and then pressed the button. The familiar rush of air, the sound and the diminished compression wave. He let himself smile things were going well.

Once the debris had settled he got up and walked to the newly created hole in the exterior of the building. The dust was still thick in the air as he stepped in... Odd he thought there would be light the schematics had this as a corridoor. You'd have light in a coridoor surely... "Hello?" he curiously asked as the smile faded from his face. Damnit, he knew it was too easy now who had gone and made the monumental stuff up.

Greg slowly and cautiously entered having a short coughing burst as he did so his eyes still hadn't quite adjusted to the unexpected darkness. He paused, waited and listened... hearing nothing. This was very odd, he'd have expected to have heard something.... He eventually made out a door in the darkness and headed towards it. The knob turned easily and quietly the door queaked slightly but there didn't seem to be any response he opened the door fully and stepped in, another dark room almost pitch black except for the faint light entering through the open door behind him. He took a step forward trying to see in the dark... From what he could tell it was an empty room.

This was getting freaky now, the police would be there soon and he didn't have time to work out what happened. It was time for him to run and pretend he didn't do anything which was perhaps what he did best... but the door suddenly closed behind him, there was someone else breathing who was hidden behind the door. "I've been waiting for you, Gregory. I don't like being stolen from Gregory." There was a bang and a flash from the muzzle of a gun, he'd been struck. There was only one thing left for him to do, he collapsed to the floor and fell unconcious. What the heck was going on? Was it a set up all this time?

He didn't have much time to contemplate these questions before he was out cold, but there was still another to be asked, how much time does he have to live?

He ached all over and moaned, he couldn't see anything but that was because his eyes were closed. Though eventually his eyes did open and that didn't change the situation, as he became aware of his surroundings he realised that he was restrained despite not being able to see, he knew he was in a whole lot of trouble but that was about it.

He couldn't see... Was he blind? or was there simply no light? Who did this? Are they going to kill him. The panic was rising along with the questions he yelled and pulled and struggled against his bonds. It didn't do any good nothing happened at all he only left himself even sorer and that bit more tired.

His breath was heavy and laboured until he heard something, well he thought he did... yes, he sure he did. Something had made a noise... "Hello? ... Someone there?" to be quite honest he didn't expect anyone to respond, perhaps it was rats or some other animal... he had little hope that would come out of this alive.

"Yes, Mr Hansfield... Yes we are." a voice from the darkness spoke, it was a gruff gravely male voice... It sounded older perhaps mid-50's. This was a developement that he didn't expect. He was going to ask a question but it was answered before he could ask it. "We've been waiting here, waiting for you to awake and to ask that very simple question."

"Yes... but..." once again Gregory was interrupted... "The answer to 'Why you' is simple... you tried to rob us... granted not directly, but you still did."

"Isn't that abit 'Kaiser Soze' from The Usual Suspects?"

"Perhaps it is abit trite but it makes people think not only twice but three or four times. We don't like getting stolen from... "

"But... how did you know?"

"Ah, that's the question isn't which part of the group ratted you out? Well, that's something you won't have to worry about there is something more important than money... it's trust and your friend betrayed that trust. Let's just say he's recieved due reward."

"So what are you going to do with me?" his mind was racing a mile a minute, who was it? what did they do to him, what are they going to do to me. He still couldn't see.

"Depends on your answer to my next question... Do you want to work for us?"

Now this puzzled him quite a bit... work for them... but... what? this didn't make sense.

"Your plan, it had a certain flair to it, You identified the flaws of the bank and took advantage of it. Thanks to you were able to identify the security flaw and move our money elsewhere... We would like to have you work for us, it's your choice and no grudges if you say no... You will never hear from us again, but this is your chance to really make a difference. That is why you planned the heist in the first place didn't you? Play with the big boys? Well, if you work for us you will be fighting with the heavy weights. Are you up for it?"

There was so many things for him to think about he didn't even know who he was being offered a job for. And was it genuine? Whoever they were they could kill him any time, there was no reason to jerk his chain. So this had to be on the level.

But was this really what he wanted? Did he really want to work for people that knew everything about him, could this be the only way he could be happy? So many questions without any answer's but only one that mattered.

"Yes... I Do."

"Are you sure? There is no turning back from this."

"Yes, I am. I would always be wondering what if, and I just know that I'd always be looking over my shoulder wondering if you were there waiting for me. I don't want to be one of those people that disappears and no one cares... I want to have meaning, have purpose."

"Don't we all Gregory... Don't we all." There were the scuffling of feet as what he guessed 2 people walked towards him they started to loose the cuffs around his ankles and around his hands. The light in the room turned on, he could see 2 men, in suits uncoffing him, but not much all his eyes needed to adjust and once they did they saw a third man, the man who had been speaking, dark glasses, suit his shoes where reflecting the light... there was something else. Someone lying down... he was dead... was it the man betrayed him? Though he soon recognised the body, it was James Dalton... his supposed friend.

"James..."

"Now I don't need to tell you what would happen if you betray us." the man spoke again, removing his glasses, "but now you are one of us... come, I'll take you to a place where you can rest before we get you some new clothes. We can't have you run around in those now can we?"

He didn't what was wrong was his clothes apart from the fact that they weren't suits... there was something about wearing a suit though that seemed attractive. He had a bit of trouble though one of the men that unclasped him was there helping him along. This was indeed interesting, the only question that remained now was... "What have I gotten myself into."

This was quite weird, he was doing his first major bank robbery and suddenly he found himself set on a course he had no control over. He had accepted the offer, he felt he didn't have any option... despite being told that he did.

Anyway, the point was that his life was out of control, he was being taken to to the Tailor's. His new friends seriously started taking care of him, providing him with new lodgings, a new car and now a new suit. He was totally unused to this sort of generosity which only made him think that they were trying to placate him for some reason.

After a few more days it didn't take long until they started to invite him to social gatherings, introducing him to their family members ingratiating him into the group. It was almost like they were welcoming a long lost cousin that had been lost with no money half-way around the world. Which then it all finally clicked... They treated each other as family, betraying one, would mean betrating the family, which would betraying everyone.

No wonder they didn't like James' betrayal they must of seen it as a betrayal of a family member, he didn't think of James as a family member but... to be quite honest he perhaps was the closest thing to family that he had since... before.

You have to admit it was certainly nice. Though of course it could not last he asked to visit the man that was essentially the father of the family. Henry Jones, it was him where the phrase "Keeping up with the Jones's" was formed.

"Greg, it's time we brought you into the family business, I've been impressed you've fitted in so well."

"Uh, thank you... What will I... uh, be doing?"

"Oh... security. We've got a casino and we've had some recent problems.. failures in supposed secure vaults. Anyway, we need you to improve and then run security there. You've got an interesting way of looking at things, and when you help the family the family helps you."

He was quite taken aback by the suggestion, being in charge of security at a casino? Was this a challenge? Did they expect him to take it up and then punish him for being ambitious? Where they going to set him up? or did they really think that he would do a good job.

Everything sounded like they thought the latter and for the limited time he knew them it didn't seem their style to betray him. Especially now that they considered him family, or was that just what they wanted him to think?

There was alot that passed through Greg's cynical mind as he pondered the question though it came back to one thing. At the moment, he had all the cards he'd do whatever he wanted to do and there was no stopping him no matter what he said.

"I'll do it if you want but... I don't know why me... I'm sure you've got plenty of options."

"And, yes that is apart of it... but come with me and you will see..."

"Thank you." Greg smiled as they headed off to see the Casino where he would soon start work.

The Car drove through the heavily congested streets going much faster than they should even occasionally driving on footpaths or through parks, all the pedestrians that were in the way could do were try to dodge or get flattened underneath.

Either way the Car was certainly heading for the Casino district, full of casino's, prostitutes and beautiful looking men and women with their fast cars. Each passing moment they were getting closer to their destination, little did Greg realise that he'd be working in the largest, most popular and richest Casino in all of the Realm "Caesar's"

"You own Caesar's?!" Gregory exclaimed as Limo pulled up infront of the casino in question.

"Not me per-see, the family does through a complex arrangement of multiple businesses and organisations, you wouldn't of heard of the security breaches but we're tasking you with improving security. Though if you think a member of the family is betraying us, you'll need proof, if there isn't it's your head not theirs."

He didn't mince his words, they were placing alot of pressure on him and that compounded by the fact if it weren't just a systemic weakness then he'd have to take time to find the evidence necessary to take him down.

"Well, Come in and I'll show you around." Henry smilled, the limo doors were opened and Henry led the way into the Casino. Doors were opened they made their way through the security checkpoint without even a sideways glance they were inside, both were armed and no one blinked twice.

Henry Jones came to a door which read "Authorised Personnel Only." He typed in a code a Green LED lighted up and the door was pushed upon into what was the secure area of the Casino. They entered a long coridoor at the far end was some glass double doors, obviously some sort of command centre.

It was the central security hub, people worrying about communication devices, basic thievery, card counting and numerous other ways to cheat the system. There were 4 other people in their manning the system. "This is Gregory Hansfield, He'll be the new Chief of Security. Gregory, this is Jack, Michael, Ellen and Geoffory. 3 men, 1 girl. Ellen, I want you to show Gregory around the Vaults, show him the system as much as you can, Michael next you'll show him the survalience system.Phyiscal reconituier as well as system wise. Geoff, you'll show him what happens on the floor with the Pit Bosses and Jack. I want you to set up a number of practice situations the main types of cheaters we get here. The run of the mill stuff."

They all nodded in greeting and acknowledgement of the orders, though Jack and Ellen did say "Hi" and "Hello Greg" respectively as well. Ellen started her part of the induction and things seemed to just race on from there.

* 6 months later *

Things were going great at the Casino he had slipped right in, he had soon identified some security concerns. Including only one secured door between the rest of the world and the security control centre. There were some improvements needed to the main vaults and some changes of methodology for the pit bosses but perhaps the single major change was an major increase in the surveilance coverage of camera's in the place. practically every Inch of the place was covered by at least 3 different angles.

The changes were approved by the rest of the security team and they instrumental in implementing the changes within their own specialties Ellen with the Vault, Michael with the surveillance system, Gregory with what happens on the floor and Jack was instrumental in making security upgrades within the supposedly secure areas. Of course there were some teething problems with this new system but work was being carried out on it and the increased surveilance had already paid dividends. It caught a team of card counters using small but discernable motions to convey signals between each other. All in all everything was surprisingly going well, much better than Gregory thought it would be at this time anyway.

As for him, he was doing marvelously well. His well paid job allowed him to move up in the world, he had secured bank loans for a new car and a million dollar house, having not much else to spend his money on apart from the basics of living he started saving what he could. There wasn't really anything that he wanted to do with his money and when you didn't have much growing up you soon understand the power and how to handle what money you had. It was almost as if a childhood dream had come true for Gregory. He was important independently wealthy and had people he could rely on, however there was one thing missing. With work as hectic as it had been there had been no chance of a social life outside 'the family' let alone any chance for a love life ass by the time he got home he was absolutely wrecked. However with most of the upgrades complete or 'mostly' done things were finally starting to 'calm' down to normal.

Gregory was sitting on a chair in the central security hub helping Michael adjust one of the new camera's properly..

"Yep, That's good I can see a few of the poker machines up to the north and the side of the change counter to the south. It's good." Gregory spoke into digitally encrypted radio system for internal communication within the Casino for security personnel.

"Good, this shit finally over. See you back in the hub. Michael out." Michael secured the camera cover back on and started heading back. As he was just about to pack up the ladder, the phone rang inside the central security hub which surprised Gregory slightly, the phone ringing was not a very common occurance. Having picked up the phone he found it was Henry Jones.

"Hey, what's up?" Gregory spoke to Henry as family, which in truth Gregory was starting to feel that bond develop fairly strongly.

"Hmmm, yeah."

"We're almost done now. The surveilance system has had it's last tweak just a few seconds ago."

"Right."

"Okay."

"Well, if you want privacy the best bet is pretending that our guest is some sort of freight. Perhaps not the most comfortable but no would think twice as long as the change over is done discretely."

"Yeah, okay. That's fine. I'll see you soon and I'll let you know when our guest has arrived."

Gregory hung up the phone, Gregory picked up his radio again, "Gate, this is Gregory. We're expecting a new emergency shipment. It will be arriving soon and I'll be there at recievals waiting for it." "Recieved"

"Michael, We're getting two EIP Guests, I'll need you to take over while I greet one them. I'll be at the Docks. The other, is Mr. Jones." "Understood, I'll be there soon."

Gregory waited for Michael to arrive which took a few minutes, and then he headed down to receivals... "Greg... Mr. Jones has arrived he's heading to his special room. As instructed no cameras are there."

"There is no other suspicious activity around?"

"No..." there was silence for a moment "The gate just informed me that the truck has arrived, It's a white unbranded truck are you sure you want it go through?"

"Yes, I'm nearly there at receivals. Let them through."

"They're through. Good luck."

Gregory turned one last corner hearing the beep, beep of a reversing truck and then seeing it as it came up to the receival dock. It stopped and the back started to roll up seeimgly of it's own accord. There was a single man. He was wearing a nice black suit, shiney shoes and a gun in his holster. "Sir, I'm going to have to take that gun for now, you can have it back when you leave."

The man slightly nodded as he unclipped the holster and lay the gun on a nearby crate. "Thank you, Mr. Jones is inside if you would follow me please." Gregory sized the man up, he looked familiar but couldn't quite place him.

He led the man through the secured areas of the casino passing various check points on their way to the room where Henry Jones was located. They arrived and Gregory opened the door. "Mr. Jones, your guest is here." "Ah, good, Thank you." Gregory moved back and let the man enter the room before closing it behind him.

"Greg, you do know who that was right?" It was Michael talking to Gregory over the radio again.

"No, Who?"

"That was Senator Lee Vernon, a supposed anti-organised crime crusader... He's never met with Henry before but he's corrupt as the lot of them and in about half a dozen different lobby groups pockets."

"Hmm, well, if he's never met Henry before... I wonder what's going on now?"

"Who knows we'll just have to wait and see..."

"I'll be up there soon to keep you company. How are the others doing?"

"They're going fine. The new vaults are undergoing sensor calibrations, so they should be done soon, and the others should be back from their various training sessions soon."

"Right, thanks."

And so now all Gregory had to do... was wait.

Gregory made it back to Michael at the central security hub fairly quickly, everyone was there. Ellen had finished the callibration of the new Vaults and had some time to kill before they started to transfer all the money and goods from the vault. It was planned to happen that night when it was quieter and they could have alot more control over the patrons in the Casino. Geoffory and Jack were back as well, their course had finished as well.

Henry and Senator Vernon were still behind closed doors in one of the few rooms that had no video surveilance. The crew were hanging around the hub working the normal surveilance and wondering about what they were talking about.

"What I'm hearing from the more politic-savvy casino-goers is that he's looking to get the top job." Jack offered to the conversation

"What? You mean... President?" Gregory wasn't sure how to respond to this.

"Yeah, so I think he's hitting Henry up for money. Presidential campaigns are as costly as running Casinos."

"Well, perhaps... but perhaps it's more than money.. perhaps he wants to you know... he wants to enlist the help of the family."

"Do you think Henry would do that? I mean he is a staunch anti-organised crime personality, it would be like giving money to the enemy."

"Hah, you obviously don't understand the power of perception... It's not always the truth. You know the Fat Texan scam... that whole scam is based around the bait faking whale status garnering all the attention while the Lanky European steals right out from under everyone's nose. If this guy knows about the family and then comes and sees Henry here. Well, then, we got to give him a chance. But then again it's up to Henry." Jack once again spoke up

"Hey, they're coming out smiling and shaking hands... You better get down there Greg and see what's going."

"I'll be in touch over the radio." Gregory indicated the radios, though it really didn't to be said especially with everything that was being said.

Henry Jones and Senator Lee Vernon were engaged in small talk. "Ah, there you are Gregory, this is Senator Lee Vernon. We're going to help him win the upcoming election." Henry looked towards the Senator with a smile while the Senator and in return. "And when I win I'll help keep your competitiors in check. I win, you win, that's what this country was founded on mutually beneficial business opportunities."

"Well. Good to hear sir, Senator... So how are we going to do that?" to be honest Gregory was a bit bemused, would this really work?

"Just leave up that up to us, Oh, would you please organise a 3.5 million winning streak for the Senator, he's going to be making use of our facilities."

"Alright... I presume you want me to introduce you to the floor discretely?" of course he could always insist that the Senator leave through the Docking bay as he came but in truth he wanted the Senator out of his Life as soon as possible, he didn't like politicians at all, just wind-bags, all talk for nothing, just moth peaces for under the table deals fo this one. He bet the man hadn't had a single independent thought his entire life, but then he'd just delay it and make him face it later in the day.

"Thank you."

"The Casino floor is this way, which games would you prefer so I can talk with our dealers."

"Craps, perhaps a bit of Roulette and Blackjack."

"Okay, How much money do you have on you?"

"I've got my card I can make a 500 Liberty dollar withdrawl."

They both walked and talked down the secured corridors, Gregory got all the details that he needed and arrived to the door that lead out in the public area of the Casino. He opened the door and looked out there was a large group coming through the Senator could use that as a cover to slip out from the secured areas without arosing any suspicions. It went fairly smoothly. The Senator slide into the side of the group, they didn't notice because they were too involved talking to themselvesto notice an they shielded the Senator from the sight of anyone else.

Gregory, closed the door carefully and quietly and made his way back to the central security hub. He got on the radio and got onto the earwigs in with the dealers. The Senator was to win and win big. The central security hub was to confirm identity of the senator at each table, and will keep a running total. When they reached the magic 3.5 million mark the senator would be forcefully asked to leave and 'ejected' from the Casino. The plan then would be for him to have a major press conference at the door. Denouncing Casino's, greed and crimes dedicated to getting it. "The Realm has had enough of unbriddled corporate and financial greed, and I will be it's new sheriff. Today, I announce my desire to clean up the economy and clean up this great nation of ours, not as a Senator... but as President. I will be contesting the upcoming election and I will work for the common Libertarian keep your hard earned money in your hands not in these unscrupulous scam artists. As a Senator and future president. This is my word that I give you today!"

"This is a Realm News Network, Election Update..." The TV News voiceover announced, Gregory was flopped on the couch, after a hard day at work he was exhausted. It was apart of his daily ritual watch the news get a drink and either just drift of to sleep watching TV or head to bed.

"This is the Realm News Network, and I'm Lawrence Falburg. And in the news today Senator Lee Vernon has been confirmed as the Libertarian Conservative Party's Presidential nominee today in the Party Primaries as last week his major rival for the position withdrew under a cloud of suspicion as it was discovered that he had strong links with the 'Yakuza' crime syndicate. The Department of Public Prosecutions is currently looking over the evidence and no charges have been laid at this point."

"As for the Democratic Republican party, the other main party in Libertarian politics, things have gone much smoother. Andrew Bond, Governor of Lower Liberty, has won the primaries leading his main rival by a margin of 8%. Other contenders for the position is the Enviro Party's Edward Peters, and Independent candidate Al Redan. According to the latest Hammer Polls, Andrew Bond has a slight lead over Senator Vernon with 50% vs 49% of people who would vote for them if the election was held today, the remaining 1% was split between Edward Peters and Al Redan. With 2 months of campaigning left it is still anyone's game, 2 months is a long time and pracitally anything can happen.

This Lawrence Falburg for an RNN Election update."

Gregory turned the TV off, the election had been bombarding him for almost a year already. Allegations, counter-allegations, electral probes... It all seemed like a comedy side-show, and now he knew that is was all an effort to distract from the reality of electral policy. Neither candidate actually gave any policy, and anything that could be construed as policy was so vague or generalised that it was essentially meaningless. He felt obligated by the deal that Henry made to vote for him, but really? Why does anyone even care about politics?

That night he had a rough night sleep, he was plagued by this election, What if he didn't want there to be a government at all? Why should he vote for a man that would say one thing and then get into bed figuratively with his supposed enemy. A man that could do that couldn't be trusted to give someone the right time of day, let alone when he's backed into a corner who knows what the viper might do. Eventually he came to a conclusion, he needed to Talk with Henry Jones about this he'd do it in the morning. After all the fanfare of officially opening the security system was going to be then too, it would be a great time for the Casino's and the families enemies to show them up infront of the assembled media.

The team would have to be alert and on their toes, the system would have to undergo diagnostics before hand and hopefully all the pit bosses know what is now expected of them and can use the new system. It was 3 AM now... and no point in trying to go sleep now, he might over-sleep, and well, he doubted that he would get anything meaningful anyway knowing the discussion that he was going to have with Henry.

And so he had a shower got dressed in his work clothes, grabbed his keys and a few a few other various sundries and went on his way to the Casino.

"Hey, Boss... What's going on?" asked one of the security officers that patrolled the place regularily. Gregory usually wasn't here at night and so it was unusual for him to be there... especially around 3 AM. "Just going to go and do a run a diagnostics check... I shouldn't be long."

"Understood, Have a good morning."

Gregory chuckled at the idea that was morning yet still black as the darkest night. He had heard around that it was the darkest just before sunrise. It didn't seem to make sense to him but who really knew what the truth was, but he entered the central security hub, everything seemed to be working perfectly. The Camera's, the sensors in the vault were reading expected parameters. Everything was ready... and normal until he noticed Jack was walking through the Casino. Well, not that it was something wrong but it certainly wasn't normal.

He decided to go down and meet with Jack and see what was going on, though as it seemed he was heading up to the central security hub anyway, Gregory decided to wait. Just as Jack was a few seconds from the door Greogry moved and made himselflook busy.

"Gregory... Didn't expect to see you here at this time."

Gregory acted shocked as if he had a short jolt of electricity run through his spine. "Oh, Jack... Didn't see you there. Yeah, I couldn't sleep just going through some the diagnostics for the opening tomorrow. Everything seems fine for now. So, what are you doing here as well?"

Gregory still was going through some of the daa logs of the vault, looking for any anomolies during that time, he hadn't found any though to be honest he hadn't been looking that much.

"Oh, sometimes I can't sleep either and I just like wondering around."

"Oh, okay. So, anyway, big day tomorrow. You ready?"

"Yeah... Should be fun."

Gregory chuckled a bit "Fun is not what I would call it, going to be a security nightmare."

"Well, come one... Let's go to bed and get a couple of hours sleep. Not much more we can do here. and as you said it's going to be a nightmare and we can't have you deprived of sleep."

"True.. neither can we have you deprived of sleep either... alright... I'll go back and try. See you later."

"See you then."

Gregory went back to his room puzzled about a lot of things but for once he managed to get some sleep, tommorrow indeed would be a big day.

Really, it was quite ironic Gregory was filled with dread for this big day, yet it went as smooth as clock work. Well, of course there were some minor incidents a couple of idiots that thought they could foul the system, but they were the only fouls. The truth about that day was it was a slow day, slow for a normal day at any Casino in the area and almost a dead day for a Casino like Ceasar's.

However Gregory still had this feeling of dread, he didn't trust lulls, lulls happened before the storm. He wasn't one to be lulled into a false sense of security about anything but he did know one thing. If anyone was to break into the vaults they'd need to have intimate knowledge of the security system and a large well funded crew skilled in the art of deception. Tough for now it wasn't something of a major concern yet he knew that he couldn't be complacent, there is anything that criminals are, Its' resourceful.

Later that night at home he coudldn't get past thinking that something happened to prevent an attempted major heist from happening that day. It could of been anything, faulty information, someone stabbing them in the back, literally thousands of ways. If he knew criminals, as indeed he was one, then they'd try again. Perhaps not immediately but sometime... maybe during the election, or maybe not.

Time ever sped onwards towards the election, our friendly Senator against the Governor. It was a tight race until unexplicably the polls showed a decrease in people supporting the Senator for the presidency. Analysis seemed to show that the Senator was loosing the young gun nut demographic. Apparently they misread his "anti-organized crime" agenda as an "anti-unorganised crime" agenda and stared to desert him. As a way to counter act this he started making appearances at shooting ranges, gun conventions. Making statements that "it is in every man and woman's interest to be able to defend themselves from these gangs." This helped him in the flagging polls but it was a question of whether it was too little too late.



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Election Night

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"This is the Realm News Network - Counting the Votes, Election Special, it's just turned 6pm and all the election booths Realm-wide are now closed, We'll constantly bring you the latest reports, analysis and predictions until we have a winner. For those of our viewers that don't know how the Presidential election works, We'll explain it to you now. Each sub-Realm, Liberty City, Liberty South and so on get a set amount of seats for the Ellectoral College. The party with the most votes in each sub-Realm will get to fill all the electoral college seats with people to vote for the President of Liberty Realm. Let's now look at the latest polls and see where do you think the voting has gone today?"

"It's really a question of whether Senator Vernon has done enough, latest polls indicate him still well behind his main rival but there was been a lot of recent campaigning on both sides and dirty politics."

"Yes, that's right, both candidates have had to deal with accusations that they are in bed with various corporations, and they've both been attacking and defending against these accusations, as well as trying to get their own message out. It certainly has been one rough week of campaigning for the candidates and it is still anyone's race."

"Indeed that is... as the old election saying goes. the only poll that matters, is the one on election day."

"What about exit polls?"

"Well, obviously exit polls weren't around when that saying was created, but I'm sure you get the gist."

"Oh, yes, I do, and speaking of exit polls, here is break down of the results of the exit polls..."


----------------

Later That Night

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"And there we have it folks the votes have come in and we have a candidate who has won the necessary Electoral College votes to become President of Liberty Realm. Congratulations, Andrew Bond, of the Democratic Republican Party, a narrow victory by only 2 Electoral Votes. The official electoral vote will be held on Monday next week but as it's a rubber stamp process, we here at RNN welcomes our new President."

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Andrew Bond's Victory Speech

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"It's been a hard exhausting road through the primaries and right up to today. Thank you voters of Liberty Realm your show of confidence in me has shown itself in the result today. I'd like to thank all the workers who have worked so tirelessly to help me in my campaign and most importantly my family, my wife and children. Without their support I wold not have made it into politics in the first place. Liberty Realm is now truly a place of freedom. I thank you all."

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Lee Vernon's Concession Speech

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"I owe my congratulations to Governor Bond, it had been a close election and my team and I were just pipped at the post. I'd like to pass on thank you for all the help off everyoen on my team. I know you all did the best you could but one of us had to lose. In this case it just happened to be me. I will return to my post as Senator and will work with my new president as befitting a Senator of this great nation."


... Really Early Next Morning ...

There was a knock on Gregory's Door, it was a loud knock, as if someone was anxious for him to open the door. Gregory stumbled to his feet and over to the door, the sun was still below the horizon and first whiffs of light could be seen. It was Henry Jones, alone at his door. This was unprecedented.... "Ugh... come in." Gregory stammered unsure of what else to do. "I won't be long, We've go 2 days to force at least 2 electoral votes to change... I need you're help. I don't have time to organise much... and I trust you. I need you to intimidate these electoral voters to saying Lee Vernon instead of Andrew Bond. I've got a list here of all the Democratic republicans voters. Otherwise it's curtains for us. He's going to expose everything unless we make him president."

Oh, how things had changed in a matter of a split second for Gregory going from 'on top of the world' to going to trial before being murdered by same random inmate in jail. Of course he could always post a bond, then flee the country, but that really wasn't him.

What was however was that he knew he could make it so that he kept everything. All he had to do was to make sure that two "Democratic Republican" Electoral Collegiates changed their votes to the conservative party.

Surely they'd have something on them that he could hold over their heads... but there was a problem he was running out of time, he didn't have enough to do the proper research. Which meant creating the material himself.

Gregory looked over the list and 4 names immediately jumped out at him... One of them was a frequent visitor of the Casino's "massage" parlour where they indulged the man's sensual desires. Of course the man was married, and another one he had found him "approaching" young girls of around 16 years in the Casino.

They were the 2 that he'd focus on and the 2 that were most vulnerable to this type of attack. For the first one was easy, all they had to do was take a number of stills from the Casino security cameras (yes, they are in these "massage" rooms). And threaten the man, and beat his car up a bit to show you mean business.

The second was much more complex...

First... Gregory had to find out where he hung, which incidently was were most young people hang out. the local mall. Get camera footage of him talking to one of the gitls and then bribe her to record a false statement saying that was 'intimate' with her.

That would be enough to make anyone gregory's lapdog in this day and age, and so he he put his plan into action the next day, and everything was in the bag. He had secured the two votes needed.

--------------

"This is a Realm News Network Breaking News Update." The TV announcer announced with the RNN logo being nicely animated on the screen.

"This is the Realm News Network, and I'm Lawrence Falburg" the news Anchor announced. "In a shock Electoral College vote today there is a new President of the Realm. The Electoral College voted just minutes ago for Senator Lee Vernon, this move has no electoral precedent and it seems that the party are stunned. We are getting reports that the Democratic Republican Party are looking for ways to contest this vote and the Libertarian Conservative Party is in a bit of a state of shock. More news on this matter as it comes to hand."

----------------

Another RNN Breaking News Update would come on air about 5 hours later approaching 4 o'clock in the afternoon...

"The move by the electoral college today to vote Senator Lee Vernon as the next president against the electoral votes assigned to each of the candidates has been the subject of much discussion today by the Democratic Republican Party as they have scrambled to find a way to invalidate the vote. However according to party insiders they have not been having much success in this venture and 'it looks bleak' for the parties presidential nominee.

President-Elect Lee Vernon on the other hand has released a public statement in which he thanked the college that it "saw through party lines" and gave the position "to the best Candidate for the job".

-------

The month dragged on but but the result stayed the same, each time they failed, they chances diminishing with every second. The inaugguration was just moments away and they had until then to somehow overturn the electoral votes, but they didn't. Lee Vernon was inaugurated as the 23rd President of the Realm, and things were better than they had ever been for Gregory.

OOC: THIS THREAD IS NOW OPEN!!!

Anyone is welcome to contribute something from diplomatic overtures, to reaction to the election results, to characters coming to the Realm to start a new life or tourists.

I'll try and get a mod to change the thread title any minute.

Bump... come on no one interested?

Bump - no one?