NationStates Jolt Archive

Stephen Strain, President-for-Eternity of the People's Republic of Spyr, stood in his office reading over the communique he had just recieved. He had been aware of the rapidly degenerating state of affairs between his own nation and its neighbour and ally, the kingdom of Tord, but it seemed that he had underestimated the extent of the internal strife tearing at the kingdom.

Barely a hundred metres away, in another room, Queen Patricia of Tord was socializing with the upper echelons of the Spyran government, having recently arrived on a state visit. She was young and inexperienced... not yet having grasped the realities of her position as monarch, and blissfully unaware of the events now transpiring in her own domains. Strain knew he should inform her, but he was not sure exactly how... the situation was delicate. How does one inform someone that their own brother has betrayed them?

And that seemed to be exactly what had happened. The queen's brother, Prince Glenn, seemingly supported by extreme elements of the Tordian military, was now calling himself King. The communique in Strain's hands outlined the commandment from 'King' Glenn, ordering all Spyran military assets out of Tord within twenty-four hours, or they would be driven out forcefully.

Strain could understand Glenn's resentment of Spyr. Tord was, after all, the militarily inferior of the two nations, by a wide margin, in both numbers and technology. But, the two nations had long held an understanding, wherein Spyr assisted in the defence of the region, and Tord focussed on health and social spending, sharing medical breakthroughs. This understanding, solidified by treaty, seemed to have been entirely abandoned by Glenn, and Strain feared that the prince's belligerent militancy would lead to bloodshed... perhaps even to open conflict. But, for the security of both nations, and of the region, Strain knew he could not allow Glenn to usurp the legitimate monarch and threaten to bring about a state of violence in Tord.

He turned to a nearby aide, and ordered a message dispatched to all Spyran military units in Tord.

'Hold fast and continue to fulfill your duties. Respond to any threat from the illegitimate 'king' Glenn with all due force... you stand as defenders of both nations, and you cannot falter.'

Glenn watched as the weapons were unloaded from his allies ships.
At first he thought it an idle fancy, freedom from Spyr's militant grip, his Kingdom would no longer have to worry about doing the wrong thing in Spyr's eyes, it would be free of influence, and fianally able to defend itself. While Spyr had not taken any hostile actions towards his Kingdom yet, he knew they let it well known they possesed superior militant ability, and if the Kingdom of Tord ever tried anything that might rub against Spyr's plans, that damned president would force his way in and install a puppet monarchy with ease.
He regretted having to go against his sister so, his supposed "rightful" sister. His dearly departed father, god bless him, had changed the age old traditions, nay, laws of his Kingdom when he announced the firstborn child, whether male or female, was to be heir to the throne.
Glenn did not have anything against women, or his sister, but he knew that she was too emotional and weak, much like her sex, and that he was the rightful strong heir to the throne. Already he had prooved himself in battle as a knight, and had climbed the ranks of the Tord military swiftly despite his young age. He was inspirational to both the old and the young, and had gained a great deal and favour and power over his sister already, it was only a matter of time before the bulk of the populace saw this too. He intended to make the Kingdom of Tord the strongest it had ever been, strong enough to defend and deter any hostile outsiders.
But now, he had to concentrate on the task at hand, if the Spyr "enforcer" scum did not leave whithin the time he gave them, he would have quite a battle on his hands, in a way, he hoped he would.

Patricia had been trying to stop the tears for some time, after being told of her brothers actions, she had gracefully excused herself and requested a room to meditate on the matters, very Queenly. But as soon as she was alone she had burst out in tears, and she could not stop them.
Why? Why would he do this? The Kingdom had been close friends with Spyr for a long, long time, and now, barely a month into her Queenship, her Kingdom was faling apart. Her father's peaceful legacy threatened.
She was just glad her youngest brother Luke was away from all this. Gentle, kind Luke, he will be heartbroken to hear of this.
a quiet knocking came from the door
"Queen Patricia? Are you alright in there? You have been in there for some time, you are nee-"
Patricia: "Yes Alexi, I-I'm fine, I will be out in a moment."
Digging on reserves of willpower she did not know she had, she composed herself and wiped off the last tears, her face was reddened from crying, but there was nothing to do about that. She took a deep breath and opened the door.
her helper President Stephen had appointed to her, Alexi Hay, one of Stephen's senior officers, was waiting just oustside, looking rather worried.
Alexi: "Miss Patricia, can I get you anything?"
Patricia: "No thank you, I am fine, I need to see Mr. Strain immediately"
Alexi: "he may be tied up in a meeting at the mo-"
patricia: "I have just discovered my own brother may be starting a war with between my own Kingdom and your country, I must speak to him at once."
Alexi: "yes, of course, right this way"
He leads the Queen through the hallways to a main meeting hall, and going through security scanners and indentity verifications, they come to some large doors.
Alexi opens the door and turns to say something to Patricia, but she strides on through.
Stephen: "-and be sure to have them ready in case-"
upon seeing Patricia, he looks up
Patricia: "President Strain, you must withdraw your forces immediately, we must try to resolve this peacefully, and I believe if Glenn is apeased at the start, he will be more open to talk" *she hiccoughs slightly*

President Strain looks up in surprise as the queen enters the room.

"Patricia-ki... I do not think you fully appreciate the consequences of what your brother is doing. He has claimed the position of monarch, an used that monarchial authority to order our force to 'retreat'.

If we were to do so, we would be acknowledging that authority, at least in the eyes of the people of Tord, and they would see Glenn as the rightful King.

Our only hope lies in making sure that the people understand that you are the rightful Queen, before Glenn can decieve them and realize his own personal ambitions of sitting on the throne."

From the back of the room, the Spyran Minister of Knowledge, Joseph Feeyatamo, steps forward.

"Mr. President, Queen Patricia... there may be a way to deal with this situation, that is to our advantage.

Our forces, if they remain, will be targets for Glenn's bloodlust, and every one of his supporters who falls shall build him higher in his people's eyes. But, we cannot avoid this by withdrawing under his orders.

So, we can simply withdraw after making it clear that we do so at our own behest, through an announcement by the Queen. This visibility will also help the people remember that, as exciting as it may be to follow a rabid madman, there is a calm and legitimate hand at the helm, guiding them towards peace.

Of course, we cannot broadcast such a message from Spyr..."

Minister of War Casper Rynn grins.
"Feeyatamo, you little worm, I think I may just have a way to do it... Tord may not be as modern as Spyr, but it still has infrastructure. If we do a lightning insertion of troops, and Queen Patricia, we can make the broadcast from Tordian television and radio stations!"

President Strain looks somewhat concerned at the nature of the plan proposed by his ministers.

"Perhaps it can be done... what are your thoughts, Patricia-ki?"

Patricia: "I agree wholeheartedly with this plan, minister. I am certain the peasants are still with me, they are good christians. I will take my military divisions here in Spyr with me, should we meet up with any of Glenn's supporters, not even they would fight their own people. I am ready to depart immediately, there is little time to waste."

(how do I delete these darn things?)

[four hours later, on the Lyong highway, linking the nations of Spyr and Tord...]

The combined host was gloroius to behold. At the fore, the light tanks of the Knights Questing preceded rank upon rank of Tordian cavalry, plate armour gleaming and banners flying in the breeze. Behind them, a small force of Spyran ceremonial cavalry stood, their black laquered armour seeming paltry in comparison with their Tordian counterparts.

The main body of the Spyran took up the rear, sixty tanks and a number of troop transport vehicles carrying combat infantry. Amongst the Spyrans, a smattering of Tordian vehicles could be seen carrying Knights Questing infantry.

At the head of the column, behind the vanguard of Tordian tanks, stood three riders. On the left, Templar Raphael of the Knights Questing order. On the right, General Alexi Hay of the Spyran 1st Army. And, between them, Queen Patricia of Tord.

Patricia looked over at Alexi, then turned to Raphael and gave a nod. The Templar raised his sword to the sky, and shouted a command.

"Forward ho!"

With that, the force began its advance towards the capital of Tord.

General Hay rode beside Queen Patricia, lost in thought. He knew the plan was simple... the Queen had access to only one of her knightly orders, and the usurper Prince Glenn had at least two. Thus, despite the Queen's initial reluctance, it had been decided that Spyr's conventional infantry and armour would deploy along the highway and make sure it remained secure, accompanied by the few soldiers of the Knights Questing, who would insure that the local populace did not mistake the operation for an invasion.

The queen and the Knights Questing cavalry, numbering some 800 knights, would proceed into the Tordian capital of Sol Sanctum, where the Queen would make her announcement from the throne of Tord... while horsemen were not the most tactically effective force in modern warfare, the sight of them riding through the streets in parade lines would serve as a valuable symbol for the people.

He himself, under orders from the President, would be accompanying the Queen for the full extent of the journey, along with some of Spyr's own cavalry. Unlike the Tordians, Spyr's horse units were merely ceremonial... they were trained soldiers, but their role was one of parades and the historical re-enactment of battles, and there were only two hundred of them coming along. Then again, any more and it might look like Spyr, and not the rightful Queen of Tord, was the force behind this operation.

Hay looked over at Queen Patricia, who was just a few metres away. She was holding hrself straight, radiating a sort of regal beauty, and her face bore a look of unshakeable determination. Yet, he could not help but feel an air of innocence about her... he hoped to the gods that the operation, that the whole damn mess, could still be resolved without any blood being spilt.

Simon was in a fouler mood than usual.
Despite his voiced dislike of Glenn from the very beggining, the Knights of the grail would not let him or the retinue Glenn left with him into the Old Quater of Tord's capital city after that young fool had walzed in flingging the term Kingship is the Knights of the Grail's faces, and then plopping his soft rump on the throne and declaring himself king.
He had even held the Grand Templar Nicholas back from trying to strangle the presumptuous prince, and saved the old fools life by dooing so.
But what does Nicholas do as soon as Glenns host leaves the city? He turtles up and forbids the Knights Errant entry.
Now, by the reports that just came in, Patricia was approaching the city with a host her own calvalry and her own personal Spyran dogs.
While he, the supposed and what should be the official commander of the Kinghts errant, was stuck with a contingent of 100 calvalry that was more loyal to a boy a league away than to their own Knight templar commander!
He was not having a good day.
As they climbed the crest of a hill, Patricia's force came into view, a few young knights clutched at their swords, a few even drew them in anticipation.
Simon: "put those away you trigger happy idiots, do you think we have a snowballs chance in hell at even scratching that force?"
Knight 1: "Glenn gave us orders to-"
Simon:"shut your goddamn mouth and dont do a bloody thing unless I tell you to, until then, just bounce on your horse and look happy thinking about your young hero far off who's going to get us all fucked up the ass."
------------
Alexi was as worried as the Knight beside him looked, a hundred mounted Knights Errant, Glenns Knights, had just come into sight, and they were riding steadily towards the convoy.
Queen Patricia said something to the Templar Raphael, and he held up his fist and yelled: "all knights, halt!"
The convoy clip clopped to a halt swiftly, Raphael then motioned to a Paladin, who clutched his hand to his chest, and rode out with a dozen knights to meet the Knights Errant.
The two forces slowed to a halt until they met each other, and the Paladin, and the leader of the Knights Errant, Simon he guessed, but could not be sure at this distance, conversed for a few moments. Simon held out his hand, and the Paladin slowly nodded. Simon then held up an open hand, and bellowed a command, Alexi could hear "dismount" cleary.
Simon jumped from his horse, and started walking towards Patricias forces, his other knights looked at each other, then, bit by bit, they too dismounted and followed in an organised regiment.
Patricia's knights, hands on pommels, encircled the walking knights, and Patricia rode out to meet them. Alexi spurred his horse on to follow her.
As she neared the Knights Errant, Simon put his hand to his chest, and knelt before her, once again, his young knights looked at each other, but one by one followed suit.
Simon then drew his sword, and the sound of Patricia's hundreds of Knights swords followed suit,
Alexi reached for his revolver himself, ready to shoot at the first knight that approached her majesty.
Simon then turned the sword around, and laid it at her feet, pommel pointing towards her, and said:
"to you, my Queen, The rightful ruler, the only ruler of Tord, I give my life, my honour, my pledge of knighthood. You have been destined and chosen by the Lord our God as our ruler. This is so, and it cannot be shaken by heathans words nor impertinent youth. this nation, and its people, are eternally yours."
Patricia picks up his sword, passes the blade over his two shoulders, and bids him:
Patricia: "Arise, good sir knight, it warms my heart you still hold true, you are a good man, your hearth is true and just, I bless you for delivering these souls from themselves."
Alexi released the grip he had on his sidearm, and noticed the rest of the Knights Errant looking about worriedly, some where looking poleaxed, some sad, some where praying fervrently under their breath. One by one, they gased upon their Queen Patricia, and Alexi saw realization dawn on many of their faces, some even began to weep, then, almost as one, they drew their swords and laid it at their feet, pommel pointing towards their queen, and recited their pledges to the Queen.
Patricia: "Arise good knights, you have yet to attone, and there is much work to be done, come"
She then mounted her horse once more and headed out to resume the convoy, motioning for them to resume the march. Alexi cursed himself for not bothering on learning how to ride horses as he steered his horse around to follow. He looked around and saw the Knights Errant joining the ranks, and smiled, wew, crisis averted.
Just before they reached the outskits of the city, Alexi noticed a thin cloud at the front of the column.
Alexi: "oh shit, GAS!" he was not the first one to notice it, but it was too late, the clound engulphed several tanks, and some halted, some went off course and continued to trundle along, and some looked unharmed.
Raphael ordered a swift fall back, and the tanks ground to a halt and started to back up, at least most of them did.
Many figures with masks were aproaching from the direction of the cloud, swords drawn.
Patricia: "NO!"
despite all that was hapening, Queen Patricia was staying where she was, hoping to reach the fallen tank crews.
Alexi grabbed her reigns and clumsily turned them around.
Alexi: "Your majesty, it is not safe, we must fall back."
Patricia came to her senses.
Patricia: "yes, of course Alexi, thank you."
Raphael: "Open fire!"
The mounted knights that were equipped with guns had arranged them selves into a firing position, and the cloud seemed to have dissapated already. The knights fired at the figures, finding their mark occasionaly, but it was difficult, the masked figures used the tanks for cover.
Alexi started training his own sidearm on the figures, but could not get a clear shot.
Raphael: "Advance"
the tanks ground to a complete halt, the knights put away their guns and drew their swords, and advanced on the remaining lurkers among the tanks.
Patricia:" take as many prisoner as possible"
Alexi noticed she looked close to tears.
The knights made quick work of the skulkers, and mounted Spyran units had come around and found the originator of the poison gas, she had tried to release more, and so had been killed, but had been prevented from releasing any more.
Alexi:"your majesty, we should move on, we have very little time left."
Patricia nodded to Raphael
Raphael: "RESUME FORMATION...FORWARD."
And so the convoy departed once again, a small contingent left behind to deal with the few prisoners and wrap things up.
And so They Traveled through the city streets of Tord's capital, Sol Sanctum. They were received like heroes, the sides of the streets, windows, balconies, fences and trees packed with cheering peasants. He had always wanted to visit the city, and had been looking forward to this reception, but could not help feeling sad at the cost paid to enter the city, he could only imagine the grief the Queen must be feeling, as he looked at her, she put on a brave smile and waved at the people, but he could see the sadness in those eyes, as if something had gone from them...







Alexi accompanied Patricia as she climbed the steps into the Throne room, she conversed with the ancient Grand Templar Nicholas.
Nicholas:"I have failed you my Queen, your brother was here long enough to place himself on the throne, and I was only able to keep out his minions after he had departed."
Patricia:" you have performed admirably, and I think your for your efforts, I am just thankful to see you are unharmed. Is everything prepared for my announcement?"
Nicholas: "yes your majesty, it requires but your presence."
They entered the throneroom and Patricia strode up to the throne, cameras set up to receive her, just before she reached it, Alexi wispered:"good luck"
Patricia smiled faintly, and then took her seat to adress her Kingdom for the first time.

In the mean time, a great comotion was takng place, in Thelas High Command, orders were being scrambled, soldiers were running this way and that, but as they say, there is order even in chaos. Some how, the orders got sent, two massive carrier fleets were diverted, one, the Minas Tirith would reach the eastern coastline in 4 days, and provide air support for the Tord army, the second fleet, headed by the Ultra Massive Super Carrier Orthanac would head t a possition off of the Western coast of Spyr, just in international waters, they would reach their possition in two weeks. Aboard the Orthanac were 50,000 troops, tanks, and about 500 planes, they would be a detterent to Spyr incase of war.

As the fleets were sent, another type of renforcment was sent, planes, massive transports loaded with 20,000 Fast Responce Infantry (Think of and Armored Cav division without the Armored or the Cav, they carry even less supplies than the paratroopers) and 2,000 engineers.

Once the engineers reached Tord, they would redeploy to the borders and start making enrechments and fortifacations, not to mention setting up a massive network of SAM sites.

In the second renfocment wave, there would be around 500,000 Morchant Tirith (Heavy Shock Troopers) and full tank support, and another 50,000 combat engeneers, these engineers would start to build airbases near major cities and fortresses allong the border.

The third wave would consist of infantry weapons for the loyal Tordian army, and planes, crews for said planes, helicopters, crews for helicopters, and ammo for all three.

President Strain looked over the reports with growing concern. It seemed that units from Thelas were approaching positions within Tord... wether their involvement was on behalf of the Queen or the usurper was unclear, but either way their presence would not make things easier.

Since Tord and Spyr were divided by a string of high mountains, whose few passes were manned by Spyran garrisons, he was certain that any offensive operations could be identified and reacted to... though, he would have to order those outposts reinforced. That, and incresed coastal defence, would require the mobilization of the National Emergency Levy, to cover policing and civil duties, a drastic measure, but not the most serious of his concerns.

A good number of Spyran units were stationed within Tord iself, as part of the Lyong Treaty mutual defence program, including a naval battlegroup anchored in or near to Tord's only harbour, the city of Broken Saints... as well as many Spyran nationals living in Tord, in a civilian capacity. Glenn's rebel forces would likely see all Spyrans as targets for attacks, and if the arrival of the Thelas troops aggravated the situation....

President Strain closed his eyes, trying to find a moments peace from the current turmoil.

Then, he turned to his senior military officers, and began issuing orders.

OOC:Intresting, I would say surport the line of succession, upsurpers should not be allowed to take control.

Lord Ken read reports about the Kingdom of Tord and went to bring this up to King Alern, he would find this most intresting.

Far off in the centeral Pacific, one of the most deadly Thelasian weapons was crusing, a Balistic Missile Submarine. The TNV Achas Roval was in a normal operations pattern, she was a standard Convensional Missile Boat, armed only with conventional weapons. The captain was starring at the orders he had recevied by Emergency Fax, they were to engage Magneto Drives and go super-silent as they crusied to 200 miles off of the coast of Spyr, they would rondevou with their sister ship the Morn Roval, a Chemical boat, and take up a strategic position. The captain knew that Thelas had no inhibitions to using Chemical weapons, they could not effect Thelasian troops, all Thelasian troops use hermiticaly sealed combat suits, and if used against millitary targets, could not include massiive amounts of civilian casualties.

As the two balistic missile subs changed course, deffence plans were being made, the 20,000 light troops would set up positions guarding the passes while the engineers built the mountain top fortresses and SAM sites, then, the second wave of engineers would build entrenchments, at least better ones than the troops built, at the passes. Thelas Satilites had been diverted to a geo-stationary orbit over the region to give live feed data on Spyr forces, and the geography of the region.

[OOC: For those of you not familiar with the region, or the nations involved, information on quite a few matters can be found here (http://www.freewebs.com/strain/lyong.html).

Erm, and since you might miss it, seeing as isnt obvious, clicking the image for an appropriate nation will briing up further details, if any exist].

OOC:Thanks that makes it easier.

OOC: Trust me Territoria, you might not want to involve yourself, there is a pretty powerfull alliance involved here, just it has not acted yet, and many of the members of this RP know nothing about it.

On another note, Thelas is a Future Elven nation, I use Grav-Ships and so forth, just for this RP I am using normal ships, if every one would be okay with this, I might want to change some things, as in, yes Future stuff, but none of my space fleets and so forth, what do you guys think?

OOC: Trust me Territoria, you might not want to involve yourself, there is a pretty powerfull alliance involved here, just it has not acted yet, and many of the members of this RP know nothing about it.

On another note, Thelas is a Future Elven nation, I use Grav-Ships and so forth, just for this RP I am using normal ships, if every one would be okay with this, I might want to change some things, as in, yes Future stuff, but none of my space fleets and so forth, what do you guys think?

NOTES ON SPYRAN MILITARY DEPLOYMENT

Spyran militar units in the PRS:
PRS military forces are on high alert, deployed along the Spyr-Tord border and the eastern seabord, in defensive positions. Spyran fighter planes and naval vessels are engaged in constant patrols, supported by AWACS aircraft and one of Spyr's own observation satellites.

Those Spyran submarines that were in port when the Thelas units began their approach have since departed their moorings.
[OOC: they are also patrolling along the eastern coast]

Population centres have had their military garrisons mostly pulled to the borders. Large concentrations of citizen levy troops have taken up the civil defence role.

There are two substantially heavy concentrations of forces along the border with Tord, one at the Fort Lyong Joint Defense Command base, on the Lyong highway between Sithin and Sol Sanctum where it crosses the border, and the other at the Ming-fa pass, through which the rail system connects Temple to Naisho. Both have had their strength bolstered with the addition of several armoured divisions.

There also remain several Tordian military units within the PRS, though most have been pulled back to assist their Queen. Those who remain includ about a hundred officers and infantry still working at Fort Lyong, fifty swordsmen at the Tordian embassy in Sithin, and two garrisons, each of five men, on Spyran-controlled islands at the tip of the penninsula.

Spyran military units in Tord:

(Units authorized by Queen Patricia to assist in her return to Tord):
Sixty tanks and approximately 3800 officers and infantry, accompanied by Tordian infantry, deployed along the highway between Fort Lyong and Sol Sanctum.
Two hundred ceremonial horse cavalry deployed around the St. Tord's Basilica in Sol Sanctum.

(Units already deployed to Tord under the Treaty of Lyong):
Sixty fighter aircraft, 1500 support staff, and 160 infantry stationed at a base attatched to the airport in Broken Saint.
Two missile frigates, PRSS Abigor and PRSS Bassarab, docked in the harbour of Broken Saints.

The rest of the Spyran 2nd Naval Battlegroup, at anchor within a 100km radius of Broken Saints: one battleship (PRSS Dragon), 1 missile cruiser, 3 missile frigates, 3 missile destroyers, 2 corvettes, 2 missile boats, 10 cargo transports, 1 troop transport (carrying 160 infantry and twenty landing craft), 6 fuel transports.

[OOC: the two submarines attatched to the 2nd Battle Group are on patrol in the waters around sothern Tord and MetaKen].

(Units in Tord for other reasons):

10 offcers and 40 infantry working in the Spyran embassy in Sol Sanctum.

2 officers and 5 infantry in each of two Spyran consulates, one at Temple, and the other at Broken Saints.

[more OOC: Thelas, I dont think anyone can RP on NS without expecting to run into gravships from somewhere at least once. While, as a modern tech nation, I'd prefer not to have space fleets, lasers, and dimensional drives trashing my masses of conscript infantry.... I secretly covet gravship technology, and thus cant really justify myself trying to ignore it.
Some future techage shouldnt be a problem... im hoping this wont result in any weapons-use anyway...]

Okay, good, I am going to bring in the Orthanac Two fleet, one of Thelas’ Grav-fleets, and don’t worry, I hold to the adage, “An AK-47 will work just as well as a Charged Particle Cannon”. Just something about my soldiers, they wear a full body armor on their legs, chests, arms, and a full face helmet. The armor is a Silk-Steel build, Silk-Steel is a special type of silk, made the same way worms make their silk, the proteins are modified as to have a stronger tensile strength than Kevlar or normal silk. Have you ever heard of the Land Warrior program? Think of a infra-red, night vision, normal light, camera, and a microphone attached to the rifle, relaying information to the helmet, that displays it on a Heads Up Display. Thelasian soldiers are equipped with this.

See info on some of my weapons here: http://www.nationstates.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=42242&highlight=

Note: Thelas soldiers use the GC-5 as their main rifle, that is the camera on top.

[OOC: hehehe.... im familiar with the GC5, I think Spyr bought a run of 3500 of them from you a while back, along with 60 or so Sabre MBTs... not that thatll help much if combat actually breaks out...]

If combat breakes out, expect to see hundreds of Sabre MBTs.

EDIT: What are you tanks, planes, and other vehicals?

Alexi watched Patricia as she talked, a sense of awe coming over him as he listened, the tears and sadness he had seen in her face replaced with compassion and determination.
Patricia:
"People of Tord, you are good and just people, I care for each of you as I would my own child, you know what harship is, have faced it before and prevailed.
Though it pains me to say so, my Brother Glenn, is power hungry for a throne that is not, nor will ever be his. He has threatened the peace of this fair Kingdom, and has threatened the friendship with our neighbours. He has embraced the way of violence in the hopes of gaining your approval and assuming the role of ruler.
I will not let this happen, by the grace of God, no harm will come to anyone during this dispute.
My father was well loved, he was a kind and just King, and through the power he had, he passed it onto me, and all the firstborns after me.
Now, as Queen, I have need of you, my people, to deny my brother of his wayward acts and designs. Strike no blow, launch no insult, all I request is that you rally and let Glenn know that you care for him, and know that what he is doing is wrong. This will lead him and save him from the path of damnation.
For this, the people of Tord must be left alone, without outside influence. All forces, whether Spyran, Metaken, or any other, are asked to leave my Kingdom so that we may overcome this curse ourselves, your concern and friendship is more than welcome, but this can only be overcome if we do it ourselves.
Finally, for my brother and those following him, know that you are nver, NEVER beyond redemption, I still love you, as God still loves you, and want to help you, all you must do is to let me.
God be with you."
Alexi wiped away a tear as she finished and climbed down from the throne. She looked exausted, and he realised she hadn't any sleep since hearing of the conflict, exerting herself physically and mentally.
She started to stumble, but Alexi swept up to her and suported her.
Patricia muttered "I tried."
Alexi whispered back "you did well, you did well"
Patricia gave a faint smile and closed her eyes, a single tear escaping her eyelid, and leaned further on Alexi
Alexi embraced her and led her along, whispering "Don't worry, you have already ensured no more blood will be spilled, its okay."
he half believed it himself
Patricia whispered barely audibly: "I'm saced, so scared"
Alexi: "You have protected your people, and I promise, I will protect you, you can rest now, I have you"
Patricia smiled again and seemed to relax "...bless...you..."

The President's orders were clear: If Spyr was to depart Tord, that departure was to be complete and thorough.

In the north at Broken Saints, the Spyran-built military aircraft depot was dismantled quickly, blowtorches and crowbars reducing what had once been a large garrison to merely a flat stretch of concrete. Spyran aircraft lifted off and flew east towards the People's Republic, as the support staff, their families, security troops, and consulate staff marched to the docks and boarded naval vessels, along with the civilian nationals residing in the city.
Once all the people, resources, and documents had been fully loaded, the Spyran 2nd Battle Group departed the area, cruising southward down the coast until they reached the naval base at Naisho.
Boats from this base brought the Tordian garrisons on the southern Spyran islands back to the shores of Tord

In Temple, the staff of the consulate coordinated the departure of the local Spyran nationals, and themselves, via the highway and rail system linking Temple with Naisho. Once these persons had reached their destination, concrete roadblcks were extended across the routes, blocking them off from further use.

At Fort Lyong, the remaining Tordian staff were given orders to return to their homes, where they would be most needed in the times ahead. Nationals, and ceremonial cavalry, departed up the road, followed by tanks and infantry, and the southern gates of Fort Lyong were closed for the first time since their construction. General Hay withdrew to the Spyran embassy, with the existing staff and 160 infantry to ensure security.

The two nuclear power plants in Tord were brought off-line, as the Spyran technicians packed up all Spyran components, plans, manuals... the same occured wherever a joint Spyr-Tord project was underway, with the Spyrans eventualy withdrawing, carrying all that was thiers, and vanishing over the border.

Artemis Brian had a simple enough mission: go to Tord and buy some land from a wealthy farming couple that wanted to retire.

By the time he had arrived at the airport, rebellion had broken out, and he realized that he had no guarentee that he'd be leaving for a while, or that he'd even survive this.

He whipped out his cell phone and called HQ back in New Montreal. They were adamant: not only buy the land, but keep a look out for any signs of panic and buy up any cheap resources that presented themselves - land, mining rights, factories, whatever.

As he ended the call he remembered that the New Montreal States Consolidated Beef and Pizza Delivery Company was nothing if not opportunistic. And perhaps also homicidally insane.

Regardless, he rented an SUV with all the options and set out on the 2-day drive to the piece of coastal land that he was supposed to be buying. Upon arriving he was able to negotiate a reasonably good deal and called up HQ again to confirm that the price was right. HQ replied that not only was that a good deal, but that he had recieved the title of "Head of Lyong Peninsula Operations and Acquisitions" with a staff of 20 that would be arriving shortly, and a salary that was over double what he had been making up to that point. He also recieved orders to set up a headquarters somewhere.

The idea of setting up shop in a city that might become a war zone or a radioactive pile of rubble at any moment didn't appeal that much to Artemis. After some thought he realized that the best place to set up shop might be where he has just landed. Granted, it would be isolated, but it wouldn't make that much of a target either.

He called up HQ and told him about his idea. They commended him for his "can-do" spirit and ordered him to send agents out to find deals across the lands.

As soon as everything was set up, he headed back to the capital. He wasn't about to put married staffers at risk when a confirmed bachelor like himself was available.

Glenn turned off the TV after watching the speech for the fith time.
Glenn: "We move on Sol Sanctum."
Within the hour all of Glenn's forces were on the moove, heading south for the capital. Peasants were linning his march almost the whole way, begging him to stop his crusade even praying for him.
He did not let it show, but it shook him to see that so many of the people he thought he had in his hands were so adamantly against his cause. He WAS the ightful ruler, he was stronger, more powerful....it was only right that he should assume the throne.....wasn't it?
(Glenn's forces move Towards Sol Sanctum, where Patricia and her forces are).

Glenn walked through the streets, he had to leave his horse behind before he even got into the city.
He was followed closely by his retinue, and his main army was trying to enter as best they could further back.
Glenn had expected some resistance, but he hadn't expected this, not at all.
The streets were packed with Tord's citizens, as well as the window, balconies, treets, railings and statues, it seems the city had come out today to "welcome" their prince. They tugged at his armour, begged him to stay his hand, return from darkess, that they still loved him, that he was not on for forgivenss, it went on and on.
Progess to the throne was slow, but he was closing the distance steadily, and still had not encountered any of his sister's forces.
-----------
Patricia waited anxiously seated on the throne, dark thoughts and doubt swirling in her head. Would it come down to a fight? Would her own blood kill her? Or worse, would she be forced to kill her brother?
She wished Alexi were here, she had felt so secure and calm in his arms...
The Grand Templar Nicholas limped up to her, he had recently sustained a leg injury after falling on the steps. He didn't deserve this, she thought, he was a kindly old man, that deserved a nice cottage in the coutry to enjoy the last years of his life. He had insisted on staying by her side, ever loyal to the ruling Monarch.
She remembered when she was a child, she had found a wounded bird in the royal garden. She cried over it as it chirped faintly. Glenn insisted on killing it and ending its pain, and was about to, when Nicholas came upon the two of them. He gently cupped the bird in his calloused hands and said a prayer for it. They had walked with the old man to the infirmary, all the while "Granfather", their nickname for him, explained to them that life was sacred.
"We are all God's creations." he said," Life is a prescious gift, we must treasure it dearly."
It was then that she realised she wanted to be a Sister of Mercy. Her hopes of becoming one were dashed when she found she was to inherit the crown...Glenn hadn't spoken to her for a week afterwards...
Nicholas: "My Queen, your brother is minutes away. Though it pains me to say so, I must insist that you vacate the city, there is still time to leave."
Patricia: "I know Grandfather, but my decision to remain has not changed, this ends here, today."
Nicholas gave a shaky bow and hobbled to her side, whispering:
"Stubborn and confident, you are a fine Queen."
She prayed it was so.
-----------
Just ouside the Temple, Glenn met the most detterent force yet, if it could be called that.
He encoutered a wall of the most fanatic citizens, wailing at him, begging him to desist his "March of Folly".
They grabbed onto him and his men, in a desperate hug of sorts. He tried to push through them, but more and more came, until he stumbled and began to fall.
Glenn: "Away! Get away from meeeeeeee!"
His last word was accompanied by the sound of his blade being drawn.
He took the hair of the person grabbing his chest and visciously yanked her off. As the next person tried to rush him, he hacked them away. He wasn't sure how badly he injured the civillian, but he and many surrounding people were sprayed with blood, accompanied by a scream.
Glenn: "Drive them back! Drive them away! They dare to defy me!"
His retinue drew their swords and started to swing at the closest civillians, the people thinned quickly, and a path was made for them, a couple bodies cluttering the way.
Glenn looked around, adrenaline pumping and his eyes wide and blood shot on a blood soaked face. He sheathed his sword, and walked swiftly up the steps into the temple.
Once inside, he past rows of Patricia's soldiers, all looking stony faced straight ahead, not hindering his progress at all. Glenn smiled slightly at this, and strode onward. "They have already accepted me as King, and Patricia no doubt awaits to confirm my position," Glenn thought as he walked on.
He entered the throne room to see His sister aseat on the throne, her highest Knights and templar at her sides.
Glenn drew his sword and advanced on her.
Glenn: "Presumptuos bitch! THAT is MY seat."
Patricia arose calmly, looking regal and in control.
Patricia: "Dear brother, welcome home. I love you, just as God does, but you are not King, nor will you ever be, as decreed by our sacred laws and traditions. I am the kingdom's Queen, did you not see the people? OUR people, they see your madness, and forgive you nonetheless. In the name of God, put down your sword and bend the knee."
Images of the incident on the steps flashed through Glenns mind. He was struck by seeing his sister now, as he never had before. He had thought her frail and incompetent, but standing before him was a holy, strong, and compassionate Queen. His father, God bless him, had changed the traditions before his death, but it was within his rights, the Monarch's word was law. But the most powerful were the rightful rulers...the strong survived...and the weak perished....he was the stronger....and he would prove it!
"We shall see who bends to who. Defend yourself!"
Glenn lunged at Patricia, as he did so, his retinue and Patricia's drew swords and made to advance.
Before he reached her she cried, "No! Hold, there will be no blood spilled in God's house!"
At this all but Glenn stopped, even his own men, they seemed mesmerized by the Queen. Her retinue looked worried and anxious, but obeyed their Queens command.
However, Glenn was still running full tilt at Patricia, his sword held out before him. Time seemed to slow for him as he thought:
"My god, she isn't even lifting a hand in defence! She thinks me weak, that I don't dare go through with the strike. I will prove which one is stronger in one blow. I...will...drive the point right throug hher throat....I can....I can..."
SHING-CLANG
Nicholas, who had remained motionless until now, had drawn his sword and parried the youth's charge in one smooth move. The swords strained against each other for a moment, hovering inches from Patricia's throat, who looked somewhat shaken but composed. Nicholas uttered,
"In the Name of Lord god on high." His voice stabbing with temper and visciousness. "I will protect Her majesty from the most vile of Satan's devices, from all that would do her harm, from you. You, Glenn Tord, child of Daniel Tord, and child still, have chosen to attack the most holy being on earth, Queen of the Kingdom. You have chosen to dishonour those that love you, the Orders of the Knights, and yourself. You have chosen wrong. Defend yourself, if you have the gall, protect your darkness from my rightgheous blade."
Glenn was shaken and hurt at this, "What have I gotten myself into?! What have I done?!" he thought frantically. Each of the Grandmasters words ringed with truth in Glenns ears.
Sweat pouring down his face, Nicolas strained and forced Glenn's sword away. Glenns stumbled back, and the Grandmaster leapt forward, dropping his cane.
They stared at each other for a moment, looking each other in the eye with swords raised, and the room watched with baited breath. Then, as one, they lunged at each other, swords ringing as they fought.
Nicolas's body was screaming in pain, but he paid it no heed. He was weeping inside, but he paid it no heed. Though the boy who was like a grandson to him, he had struck at the woman he saw as a grandchild. He was bound by duty, morals, and God to fight this boy before, and so he did. His arm started to go numb, but he kept fighting, sweat was pouring out of him. He continued fighting, when a searing pain stabbed his chest, but still he fought on. He knew the end had come, his chest was on fire. He knew he had moments left, but he kept his pace.
Glenn fought the great man he respected most, tears swelling in his eyes, but he held them back. He had thought to rally the country and bring an untold age of glory and wealth to the country, under his rightful rule. All that was left to stop him was this old man, this beloved and cherished old man.
Sweat was pouring out of Nicholas, and he had a pained look on his face. Glenn continued to fight the man that he had learned all his skills from, the one man he had never bested in battle, even his father had lost against him in training. Eventually, Glenn's sword found its mark in Nicholas's chest, just as Nicholas's found its mark on Glenn's shoulder.
Blood flew from Nicolas's mouth, but Glenn did no flinch as his shoulder cut. He was locked on Nicolas's eyes, and saw that he was moments from death.
Nicolas fell to the ground, and Glenn caught him and lowered him there, their swords released and forgotten, fallen to the ground.
Glenn held Nicolas's head up, staring wide eyed and terrified.
Nicolas smiled warmly, he was the kindly Nicolas once more, and cupped Glenn's face in his gauntleted hand while he uttered:
"God bless yo---"
Nicolas's eyes closed and his hand fell to the floor as he went limp, his last breath escaping his body and ascending to the heavens.
........................
All the Knights in the room sheathed their swords, nealt, and started to pray.
Glenn knelt, weeping over Nicolas's corpse.
Patricia stood there, too chocked to say anything.
Glenn turned kneeling to Patricia, He put two fingers to his heart, then his lips, he stood up, and touched the fingers, still wet with blood to patricia's cheek, then knelt back down, weeping openly.
Minutes later Patricia emerged on the steps, followed by Glenn. The crowd stood by silently, leaning close to hear what had hapened, News cameras going in close up.
Glenn stepped up beside Patricia and shouted:
"PEOPLE OF TORD, ALL HAIL QUEEN PATRICIA."
He knelt to her as the crowd cheered. She touched his head, and he rose, they looked at each other for a moment, and then he hurried into the crowd, and was soon lost in its tides.
She stood there a bit longer, saying a few more words to the crowd, and then went back in to grief for Nicolas and atend to other matters arising from the conflict.
--------------------
Hours later Glenn stood at the railing of a ship, watching his beloved kingdom recede in the distance. He would miss it sorely, but he had caused it and its people in it so much pain and misery, and had thought and done terrible things, it did not deserve his taint. He had taken a group of roughly a hundred strong of his men that refused to leave his side. Templar Joan walked up and embraced him.
Joan: "You did right, you are a noble man, the throne would have been right for you."
Glenn: "No, I have wronged the Kingdom, my family, and God. I have much to attone for, and consequently, so do you. I don't know if we should ever be able to return to those fair lands."
Joan: "Come what may, I will never leave you until Kingdom come."

[OOC: Well, that was intersting... though, I have a sinking feeling we havent heard the last of them. Hopefully we can demilitarize the border again... Im sure the populace is a bit annoyed at being levied for civil defense]

The PRS is happy to congradulate the Kingdom of Tord in its resolution of the internal difficulties it as been experiencing. We look forward to the normalization of relations between Spyr and Tord, and we hope that we can resume the mutual understanding of the regional situation, that existed before this unusual abberation occured.

Prince Glenn, and all those who participated in his revolt, including all members of the Orders of the Cross and of the Rose, for threatening the lives and interests of Spyran nationals, have been tried in absentia, and been found guilty of 6862 counts of Conspiracy to Commit Murder, carrying a total sentence of 137,240 years of incarceration. Should any such individuals come into the possession of Spyran authorities, these sentences shall be carried out immediately.

An elf walked down the streets to the palace, he was probably the first elf that the people of Tord had seen up close, with out the full body armor of the troops, he walked into the palace and bowed to Queen Particia, "Milady, I am abasador Shenira, I come here to offer an agreement." THe abasador stood up, "An agreement that we offered to your brother before we found out that he had neither the power nor the athority to make a deal of this nature. I invite you to become part of the Thelasian Star Empire.

By joining you will gain many advantages, full military protection by the Impirial Millitary, Financial Aid, Free Trade, Millitary Equipment and Supplies, all this in return for allowing Thelas to use your millitary in a time of war."

The ambasador stood awaiting her responce,

"Also, about the four fortresses that have been constructed at entery points on the Spyrian border, we have estimated that each fortress will only need 500 men to keep it ready incase of war, any less men, and you will sacrifice the spped in which it takes the fortress to go to battle mode. I assume 500 is better than 5,000 men, the fortress' battle compliment."

Patricia replied:
"I thank you for this offer and wish to continue peaceful relations with the Star Empire of Thelas, something that would benefit us both.
However, I will not be joining the Empire, this is an independent Kingdom, and will remain so, and I will never vanquish full command of our military assets to a foreign power.
I would be more than happy to open peaceful relations between our countries, and could have an embassy set up for you within the month, should you be interested in such a relationship.
As for the fortresses, they will be dismantled, I have no need of protection from my closest ally, those fortresses were made because of the conflict my brother created, their only function is to keep Spyr out, which will only encourage animosity and suspiscion. I thank you for your concern and aid, though your military is not needed here."
(OOC: I'm guessing at this point, Thelas's military has mooved out?)

Patricia replied:
"I thank you for this offer and wish to continue peaceful relations with the Star Empire of Thelas, something that would benefit us both.
However, I will not be joining the Empire, this is an independent Kingdom, and will remain so, and I will never vanquish full command of our military assets to a foreign power.
I would be more than happy to open peaceful relations between our countries, and could have an embassy set up for you within the month, should you be interested in such a relationship.
As for the fortresses, they will be dismantled, I have no need of protection from my closest ally, those fortresses were made because of the conflict my brother created, their only function is to keep Spyr out, which will only encourage animosity and suspiscion. I thank you for your concern and aid, though your military is not needed here."
(OOC: I'm guessing at this point, Thelas's military has mooved out?)

OOC: They are in process, it is a logistics nightmare to move over 500,00 men.

IC: The diplomat noddded, "I must leave now, I hope that we can continue this discussion in the future."

The officers involved in the conflict that supported Glenn are being sent to an island prison off the Coast of Tord, to spend the rest of their days in solitude, rethinking their transactions and living in a medieval setting.
Those that would condem Patricia are having mouth guards placed on them for five years, to have a hole with which to eat through a straw, and which keep them from opening their blasphemous mouths.
To those that took a less active role but still supported Glenn will have a permanent mark on their record and be kept from any advancement.

Glenn and Joan were retiring in their cabin on the ship, they had been at sea for forty days, supplies were running low, and still no idea where to go, but Glenn was still adamant on not returning to Tord.
They had just finished arguing over the conflict and Glenn's changed ideals for the upteenth time, and were finally driven to bed by sheer exhaustion.
Glenn was already in bed, and Joan was freshening up, despite Glenn's state of dossileness towards the Queen, Joan still loved him visciously. What she was planning was for his own good.
Joan entered the room
Glenn: "Come Joan, let us forget about our disagreements from hence forward, I failed, thank God, for I was wrong, that should be the end of it."
Joan: "but YOU are the rightful heir, the only reason you do not sit on the throne now is because of the misguided decisions of your father. Why did you stop? You had it! You-WE were so close!"
Glenn: "When I saw Nicholas die, I realized how wrong I was, from the start....he was like a grandfather to me."
Joan: "that foolish old man was blinded by age, he followed the prettiest thing close to him, he was not a true christian."
Glenn looked at her, fire burning in his eyes
He closed them and sighed.
Glenn: "I am going to forgive you that grave insult because you are misled and of my love for you, let us forget of this and get some sleep."
Joan: *exasperated sigh* "Very well."
She brought a glass of water with her and took a drink.
Joan: "Do you want any?" *giggle* "My mouth is parched from all that shouting earlier."
Glenn: "Bless your heart. *gulps water* "You're a good....woman....Joan.!"
Joan started to get on top of him
Glenn: *in a weak voice* "J-Joan...wh...what's...going on?..Wha...re...yo doing...."
Joan: "shhh, just be quiet, its for the best. I am saving your Kingdom, my love, just let your instincs take over."
She mounts him and grips his manhood
In a burst of strenght, Glenn grabs her arm and tosses her off.
*thud*
Glenn: "NNNnnnnooo! We are not married...Th-This...is....wrong! I...can't..."
Glenn tries to sit up, but his strenght gives way and he falls back down.
Joan: "OOooh, fiesty, that's why I like you darling. Now sit tight, this is destiny."
She mounts him once again, and he is unable to do anything but weakly mumble.
Glenn: "p---ll--ea--se....I...love...you....don't...
Joan laughs as Glenn's sex betrays him, he did not pass into the bliss of unconsciousness until many hours later.

Glenn stared at the ground in front of him as he walked onto the beach from the water, it had been awhile since he had felt solid ground, many of his men were laughing and thanking god to finally feel secure fround beneath their feet, but Glenn seemed not to notice.
A bleakness had descended upon him, moreso than when they had first left.
Joan and a few of her friends walked behind and to the side a ways back, Glenn overheard Joan:
"I am with child"
and then much giggling from her friends.
He clenched his teeth and walked faster, barely holding back the tears.
This was his first time outside of his beloved Kingdom, and even he was unsure of what to do, but he had to remain invincible in the eyes of his men, they were depending on him, and he had to be strong...he would be strong, strong as stone..strong as a castle fro mthe story books.
Glenn: Artemis, Ben, Leon, you come with me, we must scout the surrounding area, the rest of you, remain in that clearing up ahead, we shall be back soon.
He prayed they found a spring soon, he needed to bath, to cleanse himself, though he doubted he should ever feel clean again.
Joan watched him go with a feline smile, let him play his wargames, she would reing him in and point him where to go soon enough, that whore on the throne would not warm its seat for much longer.
(Glenn's forces land on a beach to the North West of the Penninsula, exact location to be disclosed at a later date (when I can actually figure out where they devil they are). For now I'm treating them as being on unclaimed territory in the wilderness...for now).

Far off in the water, a shipp slid bellow the waves, the TMV Hensit, a Prowler class millitary destroyer, sat, keeping a close eye on the exiles, unlike the other ships in the Orthanac fleet, the Hensit belonged not to Gravship Command, but to Thelas Millitary Intellegence. The main commander of TMI only answerd to two people, General Theallas and Commander Netari. As the fact was that Theallas was away, Netari was in command, and Netari knew an oportune war when he saw one.

All it took was one battle, and Thelas would have 500,000 troops in Tord, and then, if the war went well, Thelas would have three new member states, Tord, the leader would of course want the prottection of the empire, to keep any other rebels down. Spyr would try and help the rightfull Tord regeim, and be invaded in the end by Thelasian forces, and lastly, that smaller state to the South would see the Thelasian Empire on all sides and accespt the invitation before Thelas decided to invade.

From the pinnacle of the great Fortress of the Tides, the Saiyan scout could see the smoke rising from the numerous tiny fires scatered along the shoreline. In the silence of the night he could scarcely hear the voices, which were speaking in a tounge foriegn to him. The hair on his tail stood on end as he could feel that something was not right. "Grand Druid!" he yelled as he sprinted down the long stairwell leading to the bed chambers of the Grand Druid of Water. "Wake up, wake up!" he screamed as he banged on the wooden door at the rooms entrance. "You have to wa...", the door was opened my a old man, dressed in blue robes, weilding a wooden staff in his hand, at which had a blue crystal at it's peak. The man stood, looking deep into the eyes of the scout, and the scout looked back into the blue eyes of the Druid which seemed to be constantly flowing. The Druid stood before him as if he had been expecting him. His body was not frail or cripple, as would be thought of a man that no person knew the true age of. His presence alone was soothing to the young scout, almost putting him into a state of serenity.

Before the scout could even open his mouth the Druid spoke. "Yes my son, I know, wake the others and summon them to the Seeing Pool. Go quickly now!" "Yes wise one." answered the scout as he swiftly left the corridor. "I fear the changing of the tides has begun."

--------------
The Seeing Pool of Tide was a sight to behold. In a city of such beauty, this pool was the greatest beauty of all. The Grand Druid walked into the damp chamber, removed his sandals, and shut the door. Suddenly, as if by an illusion, the roof, walls, and ground around the pool vanished and were replaced with lush grass, tall trees, and a blue sky. The Grand Druid joined his brothers in the circle around the pool.

"We all know why we are here, you have all seen it in your visions as clearly as I. Outsiders come to our land, passing through our sacred waters, bearing, of all things, fire! I can not see whether these aliens are here for good or ill and that is why I have gathered you all here at this late hour. Please join your hands and step into the pool." As if in a state of hypnosis, the Druids linked hands and stepped into the water, right foot followed by the left. A blue aura sepped from the water and began to surrond the pool and the Druids.

"Look into the pool my brothers, and we shall see the true agenda of these defilers." The ripples in the pool suddenly ceased and the pool became as clear as glass. They all saw it, the intruders huddeled around the fire, and in the glint of the flame they saw the face of a man. This man did not speak and smile like the rest. Instead he stared at the sand, drawing, what seemed to be two lines which intersected in the middle, with a long stick. This symbol matched the one on his cloak which he helled tightly around his body.

The aura faded and the Druids stepped out of the water. "There is the one we must speak with, he will have the answers we seek. Brother Rivers, dispatch Flotsam and Jetsam. Tell them to retrive the one and return him here...alive and unharmed."

OCC: Flotsam and Jetsam two brothers who are are elite assasin/spy druids that are part of the Tidal Order.

Joan smiled as she laid down beside the campfire, she watched Glenn, at the edge of the camp, scribbling in the sand like he usually did as of late.
She noticed he hadn't been getting much sleep lately, perhaps she could try and bring him to bed...
It did not matter, she had gotten what she wanted from him. She signed and rolled over into a contented sleep.

Glenn didn't notice the sun was up for a good while, he looked up from the sand finally. Only the sentries he had assigned were up, he nodded to them as he walked past, into the forest.
He walked for hours, in no particular direction, he wasn't even sure he could find his way back. But that didn't matter to him anymore, God had left him, faith had left him, all that was right had turned out wrong....he just wanted to find a place to die.

Two figures appeared out of the forest beside him, he realized they had been there for awhile, but he hadn't noticed them. Startled and angered at his ignorance, he yelled and drew his sword. But just as his wat drawn, it was knocked from his grip. His sword was knocked from his grip, the first lesson he was taught, by Nicholas himself, was to never, NEVER let your sword go, yet these strangers had disarmed him with such ease and celerity!
The other figure jumped and knocked Glenn ot the ground, pinning him with an iron vice.
He seemed helpless once again, and panic started to set in, jsut as a scream started in the botom of his throat, they released him and hauled him to his feet.
they spoke a few words to him that he did not understand, and after seeing the look of confusion on his face, they pointed and motioned for him to accompany them. Once of them retrieved and returned his sword as they set off. Bewildered and weary, he followed, hardly caring what came next.

Off of the coast of Tord, that same grav-ship sat waiting, froom deep in her belly, a dropship shot out. Flying over the waves, the twelve man vessel shot twoards the exiles...

The rising of the sun in the eastern sky quickened the pace of the two Druids and their cargo, noticing the pace increase, followed suit. Flotsam and Jetsam, brothers of the Tidal Order, were content with letting their "captive" walk freely behind them as they escorted him to their destination. They had a feeling that he would not try to run, and if he did, he would be no match for their speed and agility. They would have him again before two of his steps fell upon the lush ground, and if he did try to escape, he would not again, be walking so freely through their sacred land as he currently did.

Flotsam could hear the man chanting to himself in a dialect unknown to him and noticed the he had not looked up since their trek had began. He pondered what the man might be thinking about. Even for a man who was so unknown to him, he could feel that sorrow had fallen onto his heart. In a way, Flotsam had some form of sympathy for him.

Not a word was spoken for the duration of the journey and as they approached the glorious Fortress of the Tides, Flotsam noticed the mans head lift, as if by enchantment, to gaze at great marvel. Jetsam then passed the man a small blue pill from his pocket. "Swollow it." Flotsam said, "So that you may pass into our sacred Temple." The man stared at him in confusion so Jetsam simply motioned to him. The man, without hesitance, swallowed the pill.

Flotsam and Jetsam took the mans hands and led him across the great moat surronding the fortress. Long and wide it was and the man seemed to look shocked that he was merely stepping on top of the water, almost as if he was scared some grave misfortune was going to befall him. Flotsam nugged him along and soon they came to the Great Waterfall of the Typhoon, which was the enchanted gate to the Fortress. It roared as it slammed into the moat bellow. Strangely the man threw the stick he was carrying into the falls, which instantly obliterated it. Again, Flotsam saw that look of fear in his eyes.

Through the falls the led him and into the courtyard. The massive yard sounded as if it were surronded by water. The man was staring at the water which was coming through the walls, threw numerous fountains and trickeling along the ground.

"Jetsam, look..." said Flotsam. "The stanger seems to be shocked that he is not wet after passing through the falls." "Yes, he does look rather shaken up." responded Jetsam." "Nevermind that now, the Grand Druid will explain everything to him, lets hurry and get him to the chambers." "I don't think the pill has effected him yet, he must be strong willed." said Flotsam. As if on que, suddenly the man fainted and Jetsam, with a flowing sweep, caught him and carried him gently, up the stairwell to the Grand Druids chamber.

--------

The Grand Druid was surprised by how quickly the stanger awakened from the effects of the potion. The mans eyes slowly opened and the Grand Druid could see his pupils dialate as he focused and adjusted to the light.
Kneeling before him, with a smile on his face, the Druids eyes connected with the strangers. "Welcome my son, you are safe here. I will leave to rest now but I will return shortly for I much desire to speak with you." His eyes, heavily fell down and the Grand Druid left the room.

Brother Link, go to the Water Orb and inform the other elementals at once. Obsidian, Blaze and Skye must be informed of the landing of these strangers at once. "Yes Grand Druid." replied the brother. He quicky darted away, down the hall. "Oh and Brother Link!" "Yes master?" he answered. "Please neglect to tell them that we have one of the strangers in custody." "But...why master?" "Do not ask questions brother, please do as I say." said the Grand Druid. "Yes, I am sorry master." and he proceeded once again down the hall.

The Grand Druid reached into his pocket, removed a key, inserted it into the lock of the room in which the stranger was resting, and turned it till he heard it lock. "You are safe now." The Grand Druid dissapeared into the shadows of the hallway.

Commander Chas Teregara pushed his way through the trees, heading north. Around him, his infantry company was also moving, deployed to watch for any approaching hostiles. They were under orders to take no offensive action, but they still remained ready for any sign of danger.

Teregara thought back to why they were here. The People's Republic of Spr had recently brought the nation of Helekar into the Treaty of Lyong, and now that Spyran troops were deployed on Helekar's northern border, the President wished to make sure no hostilities erupted. Thus, Teregara's company had been given aerial reconnaisance photographs depicting a population centre, and orders to reach it and make contact with the natives.

Teregara hoped he wouldnt have to keep up the march for too much longer... he was looking forward to sharing a bowl of hot tea with the local tribespeople, after which he could radio in a report and head home.

That is, as long as the natives didnt try to kil him first...

far to the South, a group of soldiers had a much different mission. The dropship had flown in low over the forests, trying to fly under any RADAR instilations, after it found a reasonable landing area, it set down. The twelves man crew inside jumped out even before the engines turned off, in fact, the engines never did turn off. They unloaded their pacs, and got moving, running into the thick cover around them. After seeing that the commandos were hidden, the dropship flew off, still keeping close to the trees.

The soldiers, sat around a small steel table that had been set up, on it was a map of the lyong peninsula, the soldiers were speaking by their radios,

"Alright, no doubt you have been wondering why were are here. The mission is simple, the cause hell. We will move North, twoards where TMI thinks there are Northern Tribesmen. We will rondevou with a tribe that appears friendly to our cause. In other words, a tribe that hates both Spyr and Tord. When we find them, we will convince them to move closer to the coast, preferably into Tord, the Tordian army is not as well equiped as the Spyrian Army.

Once they have been moved, several more teams will land, this time with Thelasian weapons and supplies. The weapons will be older chemical weapons (OOC: Remember, Thelas is a future-tech nation, chemical weapons to these guys are what we think of todays as normal guns), and we, allong with any other spec ops forces, will train them. Any questions?"

"No Sir!"

"Let's get moving."

The team of soldiers moved North, to where the TMI satilites had reported that these tribesmen lived.

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-12/518112/thelascartoon.gif

[OOC: This was drawn OOC during the Glenn incident crisis, to reflect the paranoia of the Spyran people towards Thelas. Im just rather frightened that it now turns out that paranoia may be justified...]

The cave hall of Obsidian, in the capital of Obsidian itself, was a magnificent cave which was burries deep into Mt. Quake, the largest moutain in Kaioken. The people of Obsidian are the minners and workers of the nation, but do not be fulled by their casual demeanor, for they posses a quiet strenght and resiliance.

The Grand Druid of Earth, a tall, solid man, stood before the sacred Wall of Terra, gazing at the ancient runes which littered it's front. "Grand Druid, message from the King!" bellowed a worker as he ran from a cave opening toward the Druid. The Grand Druid turned to the man, his towering presence evident. "Thank you young one, now return to your duties." The Druid took athe envelope and ran back to that which he had came from.

The Grand Druid broke the royal red wax seal which was ensigned with a pheonix. His eyes widened as he began to read the letter:

Dear Grand Druid Goku,

I very much wish that I would be writing this letter to you during less grave circumstances. I beleive that you know what I am going to tell you. The balance of the elements is shifting. It has been brought to my attention by the City of Tide, that outsiders have landed on our coast. They are dealing with the matter effectively for now.

Also, the Tower of Skye has reported of a moderate amound of troops entering Kaoikent through the Helekar boarder. I am assinging you responsibility to intercept this force and deal with them according to their intentions.

I would send the Royal Druids myself but Ultima is tied up in other matters to do with a third invasion on our land by a being very unknown to us. We are make preperations and the Druids of Spirit are doing all they can. I will speak with you again soon for I am calling a Council of the Elements in the near future. For the first time in 5000 years, we must but aside our differences and convene to discuss the issues at hand. I will send word when a date and time is decided. For now, please do as I request and report back what you find. Thank you old friend, my the Elementals bless us.

Regards,
King Vegeta

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

Goku's re-sealed the letter and tossed it into the fire of the forge. He walked into one of the doors in the central chamber and came to a enormous wooden door, engraved with 5 symbols. The Saiyan standing beside was motionless. "Brother, awaken The Five immediatly." said Goku. "Yes Grand Druid." The boy took a key from his pocket and unlocked the door. The 5 symbols on the wood began to glow in a soft light, which slowly became brighter. The boy then oppened the door and there stood five Saiyan males, all the same height and stature.

"I have summoned you to intercept a force that has just passed our boarders. Do not engage with aggression, please do take caution though. These people seem to be very efficient and ordered. Find out why they are here and report back upon completion. Understood?" "Yes Grand Druid." The Five, replied in unison.

-----------------------
Ruby, Jade, Saphire, Amber and Diamond stood in the forest clearing. They could see the birds flying from the trees, and could here the sound of marching, perfectly unified, coming from ahead. Slowly their Saiyan eyes located the outsiders. A man was leading them, and they could see a look of determination on his face. He looked up and saw The Five standing in a straight line, arms behind their backs. He approached...

Commander Teregara stopped short, seeing five figures standing in the clearing ahead. The lead troops dropped, covering potential fire angles, but Tegara nervously waved for them to stand down.

Taking off his helmet, he approached the figures.

"I am Commander Chas Teregara, representative from the People's Republic of Spyr. We have no hostile intent... we wish merely to learn of your people, and to open mutually beneficial relations between these lands and our own.

Would it be possible for you to conduct us to the proper authority in this realm?"

"Yes." replied Jade. The man seemed to shocked that they could speak his language as he had heard them conversing prior in a foreign tounge.

"We will take you to the Grand Druid of Earth, he is the master of this realm. Please follow us, bring your forces along for we will provide them with fresh food and drink, you seem to have travelled a great distance. We only ask that you do not stray from the path we lead, for these lands are sacred to our people."

The man knodded and led by Diamond, The Five set off, followed by the man and his entourage. "Ruby, do you think they are here to help us?" asked Amber. "I do not know, but I do feel they may have been sent to us by the elementals...for good or ill I cannot tell." replied Ruby. "Let us lead them hastilly, for the Grand Druid will be waiting."

-----------

An hour later the partied reached the entrance to the cave of Obsidian. "This is the entrance to our temple, we ask that you remove your helmets and disarm. We will store what you request in our protection. Please come in and be welcomed."

The Spyran infantry, a hundred and sixty men in total, reluctantly removed their weaponry, backpacks, and helmets, piling them neatly together. Most retained their basic body armour, not quite comfortable removing such a regular part of their combat uniform.

Finally, commander Teregara turned to his guides and gave a polite bow.

"We thank you for your hospitality. Please take care of our posessions until we take them up once again."

"Of course. Please follow us." replied Ruby.

They men were led into a chamber, a room completely carved from the belly of the mountain itself. It was warm and dimly lit. In the distance, the sounds of the mine could he heard. In the center of the room there were large stone tables.

"Please, sit." said Ruby. He then waved his hand and from all corners of the room came saiyans bearing plates of fresh fruit, meat and bread. Also cold water, straight from the falls of Tide.

"I hope your men enjoy the food, it should be surpsingly nourishing for them." said Ruby. "Now sir, I will ask you to follow me to the Grand Druids chamber."

Ruby walked away and the man followed, up the long stone stairwell to the stone door of the room in which the Druid sat. The door opened, "Enter please, I will leave you two to your discussions. Do not be freightened."

With that the man entered and Ruby departed. The room was again, carved entirely of stone and very dimly lit. The man was barely able to make out the figure of the Druid sitting in his stone chair.

The Grand Druid stood, and the candle lit his chiseled face. "I've been expecting you Commander Teregara, please be seated and tell me why you have come to Kaioken..."

Glenn got up after awhile, he had no idea how long he had been sleeping, and had no idea where he was.
Then he remembered the strangers in the forest, and the trip.
He got up and tried the door, but it was locked.
He resignedly sat down on his bed and took out his rosary. He was about to go through his hail Mary's, but as he began, the words had a foul taste on his tongue and seemed empty, unmeaning.
In a sudden burst of frustration he threw the beads against the dor, causing the pendant to break, and beads went flying all over the floor. After that he merely sat and waited for whatever his hosts had in store for him.

Nervously, Teregara sat down.

"I have come under orders from my President... the leader of my nation. We live in troubled times, where change occurs every day, and few things remain the same once challenged by modernity. In order to bring our people happiness and prosperity, my President believes that we must work together, sharing knowledge and experience, and standing beside each other as brothers-in-arms against those who would seek to harm us."

Teregara paused and brought a folded paper out from a pocket.
He extended it towards the druid.

"This is a copy of the Treaty of Lyong (http://www.freewebs.com/strain/treaty.html), an agreement between ourselves and many other lands, in which we agree to defend each other from attack, to cooperate economically, and to work together so that all our peoples may prosper. It is my President's hope that you will consider joinng us in the fellowship of this Treaty, or at least contemplate its merits, and that we shall b able to enter into a time of mutual trust and peace."

The Grand Druid looked down at the parchment on the stone table in front of him as if transfixed by it. "Commander, I am sorry, but I am not the man that can complete this transaction for you. For such a commitment and bond between our two nations you will need to speak with King Vegeta in Ultima. I realize that this may be inconvient for you but it is the order of things for our people. If there is any futher assistance I can be to you let me know."

OOC: Amazing isn't it... Really though, if you plot the history of my RPs, you would notice that my main leader, General Theallas is away in Cyberutopia, and that the nation is ruled by Commander Netari. Netari wants to rule the nation himself, and is much more of a traitor, back stabber and schemer than Theallas is.

Teregara stood up, returning the treaty document to his pocket, and bowing deeply.

"Even if you cannot assist us in this matter, I thank you for your time and hospitality. If it is not too much trouble, I humbly request that you direct me and my men to the location of your king, in order that we may make our proposal to him."

"Once again Commander, I do appologize for the delay. Thank you for your interest in our Nation and I am sure I speak for the other Grand Druids when I say that your concern and effort is greatly appricated."

Goku reached out his hand, rough and strong like the stone which surronded them. The Commander met Goku's hand with his own and noded.

"Now, you can take the main highway to our capital Ultima. This road is highly guarded but I will send word to the troops to let you pass without incident. Once you reach the capital, give this stone to the gatekeeper. He will guide you from there. Best of luck to you and may the Elementals Bless You."

The Druid passed the stone to Teregara. It was engraved with a strange rune. Teregara could only assume is was a symbol of the Obsidian Order. With that the two men bowed and Teregara left the chamber. In the main hall the Commanders escort was finished their meal and were being re-equipped with their weapons and other items. Shortly their after the party left the gates of Obsidian and set out on the road to Ultima.

The door leached open and Grand Druid Goten entered once more. He saw that Glenn was still sitting in his chair, eyes bowed to the earth.

"I do appologize for the longevity of your wait and I also for keeping you in these chambers like a prisoner. I should have known more curtisy but these are wary times I fear. Now, I guess you would like to know why I have brought you here. Please listen openly as I explain." said Goten.

"I was aware of you're presence before you set foot on Kaioken, a man with such a heavy heart does not tread lightly in mind, body or spirit. It was not difficult to connect with a heart in such turmoil. I do not know what has put you into such grief but I fear that it has many branches. As you know, I am the Grand Druid of Water and am therefor connected to it more so then any other. I had a vision before you arrived, a vision of a stone being tossed into a flat pool of water, this small stone then created tiny ripples which got larger and larger as the progressed.

Glenn lifted his head, as if shocked by the almost frightening amount of truthfulness in the Druids words.

"Something you did long ago, has created many other issues for you and still haunts you today. It is up to you to divulge your reasons, for I can not cure them for you, but I may be of some assistance. Also, you must realize that these intrusions into our sacred land, which are becoming more and more frequent, will not be tolerated any longer. We do not strive to provoke conflict but we do ask to be respected."

Glenn sighed deeply, he wasn't sure if he was relieved or dissapointed that his death was not yet upon him.
Glenn: "Very well then, I will tell you of where I came from, and what brought me here."
Glenn then went on to describe The Kingdom of Tord, and the conflict that he had created, there was a deadness in his voice when he talked of Nicholas, and a sadness when he mentioned his sister, Patricia. When he got to the part where he fled, he skipped to landing on Kaioken's shores. Goten felt he was leaving something out.
Glenn: "And so, I'm hunted and wanted for execution by both my own Kingdom and Spyr, I left, not wanting to face justice, and wanting to save those tied closest to me...but I am failing even at that. All I want is to...well, I'm not sure what I want, I want it to never have hapened, I want everything to be right again. heh *he ran his hand through his hair*, I childish fancies, for now, I search for a purpose, a way to mend and bring peace to the region I suppose. So now you know who I am, what I have done...I know I don't deserve to live, you may carry out justice as you see fit, I await your decision."

Joan had assumed command rather quickly and completely, the knights had pledged their loyalty to her after she explained Glenn had gone on a pilgrimage sent by God, she told them he had told her he had received a vision from God and had to depart alone to aquire the weapons they needed to resume their rightful power in Tord.
Most of her entourage of the Kinghts of the Rose had accompanied her on the voyage, along with most of their bochemical supplies. With that, and a well timed attack on Sol Sanctum, they could assume control in one decisive blow.
As for Glenn, she immagined he had wandered into the forest to die, a pity, he had been such a gorgeous man, but unless he came to his senses, utterly useless.
She was about to gather her Knights and set them to Marching Further inland, perhaps they could convert and hire some natives to join their cause, if not, well, there were plenty of chemical containers.
Just then a small ship arrived on the beach, she recongnized it to be Thelasian. Her knights all got up and watched the ship warily, they were not certain which side they were on after they had been forced to flee, and some had their hands on their holsters and hilts.
She motioned them to stay their hands, it was best to appear confident, and, if indeed this force was here to dispatch he knights, they would be not match for her numbers.
She walked forward boldly to the dropship, and her host approached it in a half circle.
Some armoured elves disembarked from the ship, and she waited for their greeting.

Stephen Strain, President-for-Eternity of the People's Republic of Spyr, stood in his office reading over the communique he had just recieved. He had been aware of the rapidly degenerating state of affairs between his own nation and its neighbour and ally, the kingdom of Tord, but it seemed that he had underestimated the extent of the internal strife tearing at the kingdom.

Barely a hundred metres away, in another room, Queen Patricia of Tord was socializing with the upper echelons of the Spyran government, having recently arrived on a state visit. She was young and inexperienced... not yet having grasped the realities of her position as monarch, and blissfully unaware of the events now transpiring in her own domains. Strain knew he should inform her, but he was not sure exactly how... the situation was delicate. How does one inform someone that their own brother has betrayed them?

And that seemed to be exactly what had happened. The queen's brother, Prince Glenn, seemingly supported by extreme elements of the Tordian military, was now calling himself King. The communique in Strain's hands outlined the commandment from 'King' Glenn, ordering all Spyran military assets out of Tord within twenty-four hours, or they would be driven out forcefully.

Strain could understand Glenn's resentment of Spyr. Tord was, after all, the militarily inferior of the two nations, by a wide margin, in both numbers and technology. But, the two nations had long held an understanding, wherein Spyr assisted in the defence of the region, and Tord focussed on health and social spending, sharing medical breakthroughs. This understanding, solidified by treaty, seemed to have been entirely abandoned by Glenn, and Strain feared that the prince's belligerent militancy would lead to bloodshed... perhaps even to open conflict. But, for the security of both nations, and of the region, Strain knew he could not allow Glenn to usurp the legitimate monarch and threaten to bring about a state of violence in Tord.

He turned to a nearby aide, and ordered a message dispatched to all Spyran military units in Tord.

'Hold fast and continue to fulfill your duties. Respond to any threat from the illegitimate 'king' Glenn with all due force... you stand as defenders of both nations, and you cannot falter.'

I am the blue lizard!

Simon was in a fouler mood than usual.
Despite his voiced dislike of Glenn from the very beggining, the Knights of the grail would not let him or the retinue Glenn left with him into the Old Quater of Tord's capital city after that young fool had walzed in flingging the term Kingship is the Knights of the Grail's faces, and then plopping his soft rump on the throne and declaring himself king.
He had even held the Grand Templar Nicholas back from trying to strangle the presumptuous prince, and saved the old fools life by dooing so.
But what does Nicholas do as soon as Glenns host leaves the city? He turtles up and forbids the Knights Errant entry.
Now, by the reports that just came in, Patricia was approaching the city with a host her own calvalry and her own personal Spyran dogs.
While he, the supposed and what should be the official commander of the Kinghts errant, was stuck with a contingent of 100 calvalry that was more loyal to a boy a league away than to their own Knight templar commander!
He was not having a good day.
As they climbed the crest of a hill, Patricia's force came into view, a few young knights clutched at their swords, a few even drew them in anticipation.
Simon: "put those away you trigger happy idiots, do you think we have a snowballs chance in hell at even scratching that force?"
Knight 1: "Glenn gave us orders to-"
Simon:"shut your goddamn mouth and dont do a bloody thing unless I tell you to, until then, just bounce on your horse and look happy thinking about your young hero far off who's going to get us all f--- up the ass."
------------
Alexi was as worried as the Knight beside him looked, a hundred mounted Knights Errant, Glenns Knights, had just come into sight, and they were riding steadily towards the convoy.
Queen Patricia said something to the Templar Raphael, and he held up his fist and yelled: "all knights, halt!"
The convoy clip clopped to a halt swiftly, Raphael then motioned to a Paladin, who clutched his hand to his chest, and rode out with a dozen knights to meet the Knights Errant.
The two forces slowed to a halt until they met each other, and the Paladin, and the leader of the Knights Errant, Simon he guessed, but could not be sure at this distance, conversed for a few moments. Simon held out his hand, and the Paladin slowly nodded. Simon then held up an open hand, and bellowed a command, Alexi could hear "dismount" cleary.
Simon jumped from his horse, and started walking towards Patricias forces, his other knights looked at each other, then, bit by bit, they too dismounted and followed in an organised regiment.
Patricia's knights, hands on pommels, encircled the walking knights, and Patricia rode out to meet them. Alexi spurred his horse on to follow her.
As she neared the Knights Errant, Simon put his hand to his chest, and knelt before her, once again, his young knights looked at each other, but one by one followed suit.
Simon then drew his sword, and the sound of Patricia's hundreds of Knights swords followed suit,
Alexi reached for his revolver himself, ready to shoot at the first knight that approached her majesty.
Simon then turned the sword around, and laid it at her feet, pommel pointing towards her, and said:
"to you, my Queen, The rightful ruler, the only ruler of Tord, I give my life, my honour, my pledge of knighthood. You have been destined and chosen by the Lord our God as our ruler. This is so, and it cannot be shaken by heathans words nor impertinent youth. this nation, and its people, are eternally yours."
Patricia picks up his sword, passes the blade over his two shoulders, and bids him:
Patricia: "Arise, good sir knight, it warms my heart you still hold true, you are a good man, your hearth is true and just, I bless you for delivering these souls from themselves."
Alexi released the grip he had on his sidearm, and noticed the rest of the Knights Errant looking about worriedly, some where looking poleaxed, some sad, some where praying fervrently under their breath. One by one, they gased upon their Queen Patricia, and Alexi saw realization dawn on many of their faces, some even began to weep, then, almost as one, they drew their swords and laid it at their feet, pommel pointing towards their queen, and recited their pledges to the Queen.
Patricia: "Arise good knights, you have yet to attone, and there is much work to be done, come"
She then mounted her horse once more and headed out to resume the convoy, motioning for them to resume the march. Alexi cursed himself for not bothering on learning how to ride horses as he steered his horse around to follow. He looked around and saw the Knights Errant joining the ranks, and smiled, wew, crisis averted.
Just before they reached the outskits of the city, Alexi noticed a thin cloud at the front of the column.
Alexi: "oh shit, GAS!" he was not the first one to notice it, but it was too late, the clound engulphed several tanks, and some halted, some went off course and continued to trundle along, and some looked unharmed.
Raphael ordered a swift fall back, and the tanks ground to a halt and started to back up, at least most of them did.
Many figures with masks were aproaching from the direction of the cloud, swords drawn.
Patricia: "NO!"
despite all that was hapening, Queen Patricia was staying where she was, hoping to reach the fallen tank crews.
Alexi grabbed her reigns and clumsily turned them around.
Alexi: "Your majesty, it is not safe, we must fall back."
Patricia came to her senses.
Patricia: "yes, of course Alexi, thank you."
Raphael: "Open fire!"
The mounted knights that were equipped with guns had arranged them selves into a firing position, and the cloud seemed to have dissapated already. The knights fired at the figures, finding their mark occasionaly, but it was difficult, the masked figures used the tanks for cover.
Alexi started training his own sidearm on the figures, but could not get a clear shot.
Raphael: "Advance"
the tanks ground to a complete halt, the knights put away their guns and drew their swords, and advanced on the remaining lurkers among the tanks.
Patricia:" take as many prisoner as possible"
Alexi noticed she looked close to tears.
The knights made quick work of the skulkers, and mounted Spyran units had come around and found the originator of the poison gas, she had tried to release more, and so had been killed, but had been prevented from releasing any more.
Alexi:"your majesty, we should move on, we have very little time left."
Patricia nodded to Raphael
Raphael: "RESUME FORMATION...FORWARD."
And so the convoy departed once again, a small contingent left behind to deal with the few prisoners and wrap things up.
And so They Traveled through the city streets of Tord's capital, Sol Sanctum. They were received like heroes, the sides of the streets, windows, balconies, fences and trees packed with cheering peasants. He had always wanted to visit the city, and had been looking forward to this reception, but could not help feeling sad at the cost paid to enter the city, he could only imagine the grief the Queen must be feeling, as he looked at her, she put on a brave smile and waved at the people, but he could see the sadness in those eyes, as if something had gone from them...







Alexi accompanied Patricia as she climbed the steps into the Throne room, she conversed with the ancient Grand Templar Nicholas.
Nicholas:"I have failed you my Queen, your brother was here long enough to place himself on the throne, and I was only able to keep out his minions after he had departed."
Patricia:" you have performed admirably, and I think your for your efforts, I am just thankful to see you are unharmed. Is everything prepared for my announcement?"
Nicholas: "yes your majesty, it requires but your presence."
They entered the throneroom and Patricia strode up to the throne, cameras set up to receive her, just before she reached it, Alexi wispered:"good luck"
Patricia smiled faintly, and then took her seat to adress her Kingdom for the first time.

Oh simon! When will you learn?

I am the Blue Lizard!

After retrieving their supplies, the Spyran infantry set out towards Ultima at a brisk pace... time was of the essence...

Goten looked at the face of Glenn, full of turmoil and strife. He could see the tears welling in his eyes. "My son, I must say that I greatly dissaprove of your actions in your homeland and that you should be severly punished for what you have done..." Glenns eyes lit up, he seemed to enjoy the fact that he may be put to death or worse, because of his crime. "...but I also see that you have suffered enough, what you are feeling now is a punishment worth than death, and I, for one, do not feel that you deserve death, for you are just a man, who at the time, was doing what you thought was right."

Glenns head lowered once again, and his shoulders sank back down. "Grand Druid, I do not now if I wish to live my life like this forever...it is.....it is.....to hard." Glenn said in a struggeling manner. "Glenn, death, would be the easy way out, I know you are a strong man who has also done much good in your life. Take what you have and re-build. Show everyone that you have learned . As a Christian yourself, you must know the forgivness is never unattainable. Attain it Glenn, find it again, you must. I feel that you still have a part to play in all this...but I do not know what exactly....although I still feel there is something you are keeping from me."

Glenn did not move or speak. "Grand Druid!" a voice yelled from down the corridor. Suddenly a young Druid came rushing in, out of breathe. "Gra...nd.....Druid....scouts.....more....out....siders.......coast..." The young one could barely speak. "Alert the others." responded the Druid, "Tell everyone to be prepared for anything." "Yes master." The boy departed.

"What is going on out there Glenn? What are more outsiders doing in our lands? Please tell me all you know...then I have something for you."

Joan had assumed command rather quickly and completely, the knights had pledged their loyalty to her after she explained Glenn had gone on a pilgrimage sent by God, she told them he had told her he had received a vision from God and had to depart alone to aquire the weapons they needed to resume their rightful power in Tord.
Most of her entourage of the Kinghts of the Rose had accompanied her on the voyage, along with most of their bochemical supplies. With that, and a well timed attack on Sol Sanctum, they could assume control in one decisive blow.
As for Glenn, she immagined he had wandered into the forest to die, a pity, he had been such a gorgeous man, but unless he came to his senses, utterly useless.
She was about to gather her Knights and set them to Marching Further inland, perhaps they could convert and hire some natives to join their cause, if not, well, there were plenty of chemical containers.
Just then a small ship arrived on the beach, she recongnized it to be Thelasian. Her knights all got up and watched the ship warily, they were not certain which side they were on after they had been forced to flee, and some had their hands on their holsters and hilts.
She motioned them to stay their hands, it was best to appear confident, and, if indeed this force was here to dispatch he knights, they would be not match for her numbers.
She walked forward boldly to the dropship, and her host approached it in a half circle.
Some armoured elves disembarked from the ship, and she waited for their greeting.


The Thelasians stood, at first just watching the exiles, then, one of the elves stepped forward, he was not wearing the Silk-Steel armor of the others, or for that matter, he was not wearing the sword and stars insignia of the soldiers. “I am here on a diplomatic mission from the Thelasian Star Empire, I am here to speak with either your leader, or a certain ‘Glenn’ exiled from Tord. I come with an offer for you…”

Meanwhile, activities were taking place far away from the Lyong peninsula, a massive battle fleet set sail, aboard were 500,000 troops, 50,000 K-Mags, and 100,000 Infantry Support Mechs. Along with this massive number of troops and equipment, were supplies, weapons, old Saber Tanks, Shadow Strike Helicopters, Tiger Claw Assault Choppers, and Infantry Anti-Air Weapons, many more than were needed by a force equipped with Energy Weapons.

In orbit, a Spyran satellite stares silently, its focus coming to rest over Thelasian territory...

"Leftenant?!"

"Yes, corporal, what is it?"

"Some sort of substantial movement from Thelas, sir!"

"Substantial? What do you mean?"

"We arent in a position to get a good image, sir... I cant give you any numbers. But, its got to be pretty big."

"Trajectory?"

"Unknown, sir."

"Then, it may be nothing. But, inform central command, and try to keep an eye on where this is going..."

On the ground in Spyr, Citizen Levy units are quietly being mobilized to supplement coastal defences on the eastern coast, freeing up regular military troops to assist in the fortification of Helekar.

A communique is issued, to the Thelasian government, from the Spyran ambassador in Thelas

On behalf of my nation, I humbly request a clarification of the Thelasian government's stance towards our nation, and our peninsula in general. It is our hope that we might come to an understanding which includes respect for our respective sovereignty, and stipulates the preservation of peace between the Star Empire of Thelas and the Lyong Peninsula.

Your humble servant,
Aren Cheng
Ambassador, PRS

Glenn look at Goten, perplexed.
"I have no idea what's hapening...nor who these other outsiders might be...could be Thelas, that nation I mentioned earlier...but I doubt it, we lost, I don't see what interest he'd have in us anymore.... I must get back to my people, now! I shouldn't have left them in the first place, it's my fault they're here, I must guide them before...before she...before they do anything drastic!"

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

Joan sniffed at the request to talk to Glenn
Joan: "Glenn is gone, and you will not find him, I am the leader now, what business brings you here?"

Commander Teregara led his men with haste along the road to Ulitma. He was surprised at the speed at which they were travelling. The men seemed full of energy and moral. "Boy, I'm still stuffed!" he heard one of them say. Teregara smiled to himself.

Over the hill they saw the first point of Ultima, the tip of the Tower of Light. It truly was a spite of marvel in the city. Made interily of ivory and diamond from the mines of Obsidian. The party approached the gates to the grand city. They were in awe at the size and beauty of the city, for such a small and primitive race, they had constructed many magnificant structures.

There were two men of great stature, in white armour, standing at gate to the city. The men of Spyr were shocked to see their tails wrapped around their waste. "I have something for you." said Teregara. He removed the letter from his pocket and handed it to the guard. He silently took the letter from him, looked Teregara in the eyes, and yelled at the gatemen to open the gates. Quickly and without a sound, which was strange to Teregara, the gates opened. Standing directly infront of them was a man dressed in white robes. "Follw me, the King is expecting you." said the man.

Teregara and his troops followed them into the magnificant city. They soon came to the doors to the white tower they had seen while approaching the city. It almost hurt their eyes to look at it. "At the Kings request, I have been told you not to disarm yourselves, against my better judgement, but the King beleive it to be a guesture of trust between you and his highness." said the man. "Please continue to follow me, leave your troops at the entrance, they may look around the city as the wish."

Teregara spoke to his troops and they dispearsed. "Lets proceed." said Teregara. The stairs up the tower were long and spiralling. Teregara started to feel sick after about 10 minutes of walking around and around. Finally they came to the doors to the Kings Hall, the Hall of Light. The doors were guarded by to huge men, with masks and armour. They did not move or speak. The man pushed the door open, "Please follow." he said. Teregara entered and as he walked down the ivory floor towards the throne at which the King sat.

"Hello Commander." said King Vegeta. "Thank you for making your journey here. Please tell me what I can do for you..."

Teregara removed his helmet, and bowed deeply.

He then launched into the same story, and proposal, he had told to the Grand Druid, before removing the treaty document from his pocket, and bowing deeply once again, offering the document to the King.

The officer nodded, suits me fine, "I come with an offer of supplies, our government has heard that you are still wishing to restore a strong ruler to the government of Tord. We offer you weapons and supplies to reach that goal. Tanks, more powerfull than any the Tordian army has, Helicopters invisible to RADAR, missiles that will take down any plane or Helicopter. All for one simple request in return. When you are victorius, you will join the Thelasian Star Empire.

You will not need to worry about Spyr, we have plans to take care of them..."

The Grav-Fleet abruptly turned East, away from Lyong, the massive naval armada then slipped below the waves.

Message Sent to Spyrian Diplomatic Office,

"Thelas is interested in peace between our two alliances, we would like to open dialog."

After the message was sent, the now submerged fleet turned back West.

Spyran reply to Thelasian Government:

We are relieved that you too seek peace between our two peoples. Spyr is both willing and eager to consider mutual cooperation, and would like to see an opening of each other's markets to goods from the other, so that we may prosper together. Perhaps also the establishment of summer study and exchange programs for our youth attending post-secondary institutions would lead to increased understanding and friendship between Spyr and Thelas.

"I understand the beneifits of this treaty to both my nation and yours and I also appreciate the time and effort you have taken to bring this to my attention. As you know, my people are weary of outsiders. I know that you do come here with the best of intentions but I do not beleive my people would be happy with such an abrubt alliance with a nation we know little of."

"The times of trouble that you speak of, do affect the whole land and there for I offer a temperory accord between out nations to aid eachother in working through these days of trouble. This agreement will only be governed by our honour, morals, and our words. I will supply all that I can to help this land achieve peace once again. Once this is achieved, we can talk of a treaty between our lands, as my people get to know your people, slowly but surely, a friendship will develop. These bonds take time to grow and we will be more than happy to help them flourish."

"I hope you understand my stance, I bid you to accept our accord, and unite for the common good."

Teregara nodded, and bowed deeply once again.

"I apologize for the abruptness of my coming, and admit that we did not expect you to agree immediately. Please, keep the treaty proposal to consider, as we build stronger ties of friendship between our peoples.

Due to our shared defensive interests, I have been instructed to offer the services of my company, some hundred sixty riflemen and RPG troops, to assist in defending your coastline and borders with the Penninsula, if you have need of us."

Joan studied the Elf for a moment before she replied, resting her hands on her bloated belly, she was a few months along.
Joan: "Very well, I agree to your proposal, you were a handy ally in the crusade months ago, and we could use your arms. What are these plans of yours? I suggest we consolidate our forces here, giving my knights time to equip and train, then work our way along the coast to Tord. We should have little to no opposition until we reach one of the main cities, I know how my Kingdom operates, and am certain there are still some there that know our cause is right."

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

Glenn got up and started pacing back and forth in the room
Glenn: "I should depart now, maybe I can rally my knights to help you investigate these outsiders." He said to Goten.

From: Tord Ambassador to Thelas
Subject: Query
Her Majesty the Queen wishes to know what your military deployment to the East's purpose is, should you have an enemy or problem spot that needs attention, the Queen will most likely wish to help you in your endeavours as an ally.

"Of course we will retain your proposal and would be happy to sit at the table with you again on these matters in the future. I also thank you very much for your offer or aid to our land but as I stated before, my people are weaty of outsiders, and would not take kindly to out siders with weapons in our sacred land. I feel we are able to protect ourselves from the time being."

Teregara saw the King's tail release it self from around his waste and move freely behind him.

"All that I request from you is that you aid our nation if we are unable to handle a military threat from an opposing people. We will also heed this request, be it your nation or any other in this land, that requires aid. All we require at this time is the friendship of Spyr and we can give the same to you."

"I hope I have not caused you too much confusion. Again thank you for your offer. You are a patient man and I thank you for this effort. It will not be forgotten. I look forward to meeting with you again in the near future. If that is all, have a safe journey home and may the Elementals bless you Commander Teregara."

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

"Glenn, you may do as you wish, you have never been a prisoner here. Please do what you need to and if there is any assistance I can provide, do not be afraid to ask me." Goten said.

Teregara bowed, and thanked the King once again.

"We are aware that you have a port city... If it is not too much to ask, might we request its use, so that my company may load unto ships and be taken home?"

"Of course Commander, I will inform Tide of your comming. I'm sure the High Druid would like to meet you also if time permits. Have a safe journey. Please take this as a sign of our commitment."

King Vegeta hands Teregara a ivory ring. It is engraved with five symbols which Teregara can deduct are symbols of the five elements the Saiyans worship.

"This a ring bearing the Royal Seal of Kaioken. Please deliver it to your President and tell him that he is welcome in our Kingdom. Thank you again good Commander, and may the Elementals be with you. Enjoy your time in the City of Tide."

Joan whispered a few words to one of the knights
He put his hand to his chest and disapeared into the forest.
"That should take care of those whose misguided loyalty remains with Glenn" She thought to herself.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Glenn:" I thanks you Goten, I shall depart right away, I hope our paths cross again."
With that he proceeded to leave, with the thought of returning to his people by the coast.

Joan studied the Elf for a moment before she replied, resting her hands on her bloated belly, she was a few months along.
Joan: "Very well, I agree to your proposal, you were a handy ally in the crusade months ago, and we could use your arms. What are these plans of yours? I suggest we consolidate our forces here, giving my knights time to equip and train, then work our way along the coast to Tord. We should have little to no opposition until we reach one of the main cities, I know how my Kingdom operates, and am certain there are still some there that know our cause is right."

The elven commander just nodded, and stepped forward¸ “I have half a million men, tanks, planes, and equipment headed for Tord right now. My forces could simply assist you with air strikes and infantry, but, that would cause more problems than it would solve. The people would think that you were just a puppet of the Thelasian Star Empire, the plans so far are simple, we give you the arms and training needed to defeat the Tordian Army. As I have heard to date, it is not very advanced. Then, if Spyr attempts to get involved, Thelas will intervene, keeping Spyr out while you restore a strong leader to the throne.

If Spyr does intervene, Thelas will give you full air and naval support, our ground forces would be deployed along the borders, keeping out supplies and reinforcements. As is, we cannot offer much support other than arms and training, although that might be enough.”

Upon arrival at Tide, the Spyran infantry company assembles a small radio transmission tower, and sends a coded report to a Spyran communications post in Helekar. Soon, a set of transmissions culminate in movement from the 3rd Battle Group of the Spyran navy, as a transport vessel and escort warships set course for Tide.

The Spyrans in Tide disassemble their transmitter, and await the arrival of the naval vessels.

The Horn of Tide blasted through the city like a great wave, the pungent sound reaching into every corner of the city. Even the deaf could here this call. The citizens of Tide new what this sound meant, it had only been heard once before in recent memory. Quickly and silently the Saiyans halted all non-necessary functions and workings and proceeded to their homes. Until the horn sounded again, the people of Tide where to remain in their homes. Only primary personal where to remain outside to keep the city operating.

The people could here the footsteps of the Battle Druids marching through the streets and many opened their windows to see this rare sight. Helicopters could be heard in the distance and the people knew something was amiss. As the moderate force approached the coast of Kaioken they saw what was party of Spyrian troops that they had been briefed on.

High Druid Piccolo approached who he was told was Commander Teregara.
"Hello Commander, I am aware of your purpose here, and I am also aware of your agreement with our King, therefor I have come to provide what support we can, if needed. This is just a base force, and we are able to call on more battle druids as well as a few air supereority fighters and combat helicopters. Our military is insignificant compared to that of Spyr, but we are still willing to aid you in anyway possible. Our Covert Ops Units may be of use to you. They are some of the best trained assasins in the Lyong Penninsula. We have also put the city on temporary alert, incase anything does arise, it is no inconvience to us as our people are always ready for these types of situations given our mercenary nature. Can we be any assistance to you?"

Glenn heard the eerie horn as he walked through the streets of Tide, he wasn't sure what it meant, but he could see the citizens dropping what they were doing and heading for their homes...perhaps a religious practice of some sort?
As he rounded a corner he saw a group of the Natives speaking with....Spyran troops!
He dashed back behind the corner, breating heavily. Had they seen him? They almost assuredly recongnized his clothing and armour, he had to get out of there, quickly! He turned and ran the opposite way, winding his way through the strrest and around buildings. He would work his was around the outer city until he was a safe distance away to proceed south to his forces...he hoped Joan hadn't done anything....he hope the Spyran hadn't found them yet....he hoped many things, but did not pray.

The Great Halls of Karak-Rhun were abuzz with activity. There were many rumors that were going about that there were many newcomers to the land, even some of the Grungni-forsaken Elgi! Everyone wanted information, and the dwarven Rangers couldn't help, as the High King told them to keep a lid on the situation.

High King Baragor Uhndal sat in the capital's audience chamber with his top aids.

"We must find out who is tresspassing upon our domain!" said one dwarf.
"Let them be, we have the Ungrin Ankor, let the others above worry about them," shouted another.

"Quiet!" roared the High King. "We must come to a consensus!"

"If I may your Highness," spoke a younger Dwarf. It was Arek Storm, the young court attache from one of the outlying stronghold.

"Go ahead."

"Why not speak with the other nations in the region again, like the Pillars of Memory say we did so long before. We may be able to co-operate with them, drive away the Elgi, and make a tidy sum on the side. "

"So much has changed since then Beardling," said the High King. "But, you do raise an interesting point. Far too long have we lived in seclusion. We should re-take our place as one of the mighty Empires in the region!"

"But your Highness," said another Dwarf. "Our secrecy has been what has enabled us to remain untouched by battles fought by the others. We now put all Dwarven lives at risk!"

Echoes of agreement echoed throughout the hall.

"There was once a time when we Dwarves we a much prouder people, when we longed for combat. I know that desire is still within us all, and it will strive us to greatness. Complain about a little danger! Bah! In my day, we had more danger to worry about from the cave rats! They were nigh on 6 feet long, and had teeth like small swords! In any case, let it be known, send forth a messenger!"

It was decided to use the old Alliance maps to find out where the former capital was, and they sent forth their messenger.

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

"Why did I get chosen for this errand...... next time i'll learn to keep my damn mouth shut!"

Arek trugged along the road to the heart of the former Empire, to Sithin. He had run accross many things that were wrong with the map, as it was blatantly outdated. The map was probably older than the High King himself, and that was saying something.

Arek saw a human working a field near the road.

"Excuse me."

The man turned around with a start.

"Well, you don't see many folk around here walking the road alone. What do you want, and if it be my money, good luck, as we out here don't got none."

"Why would I want your human money, unless it is gold. Bah! No, i'm looking for the city of Sithin, head of the August Empire."

"August Empire? Son, that hasn't been around for a loooooooong time. Where do you live, under a rock for the past millenia or so? And you don't look like you're normal around these parts....."

"I'm nigh on 70 years old, much older than you human. And we Dwarves wonder why we don't associate with you any longer...."

"You're a Dwarf? I thought they only existed in folklore?"

"No, we're as real as your kind are. Now, to Sithin?"

"Oh yes, that's the capital of Spyr......"

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

Arek arrived at Sithin, grumbling about the long journey and how the ale was sub-par the whole way. He went to the government offices, and requested to see the leader of this new country.

"President Strain is occupied at the moment, please have a seat," said the worried-looking secretary.

"This is a matter of the utmost importance! I have here a signed letter from the High King of the Dwarven realm stating my business."

"Your a Dwarf? Riiiiiight.... I'll just call security."

"Blast it, you foul wench! Why am I 4 feet tall with a huge beard! Why does it look like I've never seen the sunshine for extended periods of time? Here, this is the map I was using to find this place."

He pulled the map out, the secretary looked at it, and ushered Arek into the President's office immediately.

"President Strain, I assume you are head of this region? We of the Dwarven Realm of Dawi Grung wish to region the collective of nations in this area, what formerly was the August Empire."

Tegara bowed to the High Druid.

"Thank you for your gracious welcome. We merely require some shelter for ourselves and equipment until our naval assets can redeploy to retrieve us, which should take no more than a day.

My government has informed me of the potential volatility of the situation here on the penninsula, but I am hopeful that nothing will come of it, and thus there should be no danger to Tide. However, should matters escalate to the south, we will humbly request your assistance, as we shall expect you to do if it is your nation that is threatened."

President Strain was rather surprised when he was informed of a dwarf seeking an audience... unlike most of the humans on the peninsula, he had read the ancient histories, but it had been ages since the last caravans had travelled the trade routes to the underground halls of Dawi Grung.

When he had heard Arek's words, he had been even more surprised, and rather relieved. Having just received word that Kaioken would not be signing the Lyong Treaty immediately and that Tordian cavalry were stirring up the tribes of the north, reopening ties with the dwarfs would be an incredible stroke of good luck.

He bowed his head slightly to the dwarven emissary, and brought out a bound document.

"This is the Treaty of Lyong, an agreement of mutual defense, trade, and cooperation amongst the peoples of this region, for our combined prosperity and happiness. We would be honoured if you would make Dawi Grung a signatory, so that we may once again see the wealth and peace of the August Empire era."

"As a representative of the Dwarven people, we will gladly sign the Treaty of Lyong," said Arek as he signed the document.

"Be forewarned however, should the Elgi come, we would not look upon it.... kindly..... if they were allowed free and unrestricted access to everything. I'm sure a man of your scholarly status knows of the reasons why we do not trust them, eh?"

"We have an embassy waiting for your staff in Karak-Rhun. Now, about the new developments, we Dwarves wish to know what has been going on as of late..."

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

The High King recieved word that a treaty had been signed with the remnants of the August Empire. He was overjoyed at the prospect of the Dwarven Realm comming back into power. He immediately dispatched envoys to all the other capitals of each of the other respective treaty signees to open trade talks, and instructed Arek to remain in Spyr as the head Dwarven liason to the Spyrian government.

OCC: Just so you all know, Elgi is dwarven for Elf, and the Ungrin Ankor mentioned in the first post was the dwarven tunnels, or Underway

"Consider it done." said High Druid Piccolo to the commander. "You may use what storage we have on our docks and we will erect tempory shelters for you and your men, also we will access our food reserve so that you're troops may eat." Piccolo stated.

"This should be done within the hour, at which time we will return to the city and lift the alert. Our people will return to their duties and we will infrom them not to get in the way of your operations. Our troops will be on standby if something does change. May the Elementals bless you, have a safe journey home."

"Thank you, Piccolo-ki, may the spirits of Heaven and Nature bless you as well."

Soon, the Spyrans were in their shelters, waiting for their vessels while enjoying the excellent food that had been provided for them.

----------

A Spyran transport ship, accompanied by a missile frigate and ASW destroyer, sails quickly through the ocean towards the coast of Kaioken. Due to the current concern (one might say 'paranoia') of the the military high command, the destroyer is actively searching for any nearby sub-oceanic vessels that may be approaching the flotilla, while radar attempts the same procedure for air vehicles.

Joan had grown tired of waiting, and now that Glenn was out of the way, there was nothing stoping her from moving on to Tord.
She had rallied them, and they were now boarding the ship to head to Tord, they would travel only at night, and stay close to the shore, bypassing that bothersome Helekar region.

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

Glenn could see the shore ahead, but still no sign of the encampment...no matter, he had probably emerged a few miles away, and would simply walk until he found it, then everything would be find, there would be no more mistakes, or tragedies.
As he walked along, he thought he saw something white in the distance, offshore, he hurried along, then noticed he was treading on something strange. Charred wood and ashes...there were small pits of them...The old camp he realized with panic. He looked up at the white fleck again, squiting, he could make out the sails of the ship.
Glenn: "NOOOOOOOOO!"
He dropped ot his knees, he had failed once again, once again, he had caused a tragedy.
he was ready to lie down and die when he realized there was still hope.
getting up, he botled in the opposite direction, back towards the city. Maybe they would have transport, if the Kaiokens didn't, the Spyrans surely did, and he was willing to pay his life in return for warning the Penninsula of the danger.

Missionaries that had traveled through Helekar had finally reached Kaioken on the North East front.
some went North, some started following the coast East, and others started following the river to the interior. All of which planned preaching the word to any natives they ran across.

"King Vegeta, word comes from Obsidian!" yelled the Councillor as he stormed through the doors of the Hall of the Elementals. "What is it?" responded the King, "What news do you have for me on this fine day?"

"Obsidian Elite Scouts have spotted, what seem to be, more outsiders that have entered our lands."

"MORE!?!?!?!" screamed the King. "This will no longer be tolerated! We are a nation, like any other, and as such we have laws about undeclared entrance into our lands. This will no longer be tolerated!!! Kaioken will not be a door mat for all peoples who feel the need to whipe their vile feet in our lands. It is time that we show the true nature of our people, these outsiders will find they have an unfortunate fate awaiting them within these boarders."

"Y....Y...Yes my leige." whimpered the Councillor. He had never seen his King in such fury. "I agree completely w...wi....with your highness. What do you command?"

"How many Sniper Class Duirds do we have stationed in Obsidian and the surronding area?" asked King Vegeta. "One hundred, now armed with state of the art rifles your kingship." answered the Councillor. "Excellent, have all but one of these defilers eliminated and bring the one who survives to me, I would like to speak with him."

"As you wish my lord." said the Councillor as he scurried off. "Oh, and Councillor...keep this clean and quite, our troops have a reputation to uphold." stated the King. "Of course sir." responded the Councillor.

The Spyran ships at last cruised into view of Tide. The two warships took station in the ocean outside the port and dropped anchor, while the transport headed in to dock.

Glenn hurried through the streets to the Fortress of Tide, he ran up to it and addressed the first guard he saw.
Glenn: "Good sir, I must speak with high Druid Goten immediately, it is of great import!"
Guard: "What is your business with the high Druid, outsider?"
Glenn: "I have information on a group of my people that were-er, are in Kaioken."
Guard: "Very well then, follow us."
The guards led Glenn up into the familiar chambers of the High druid.
Goten: "Glenn, it is good to see you again, what brings you here my son?"
Glenn: "There is a fanatical group of my people that have departed from your shores carrying vast amounts of poisons, and I fear they will attck my own Kingdom shortly! I realise this doesn't concern you, even moreso now that they are no longer in your land, but I need help to catch up with them, they must be stopped at all costs!"
----------------------------------------------------
Pat, a Knight of the Rose, strode through the streets of Tide.
"Perhaps Glenn ended up here" he thought to himself, he looked forward to finding him, feeling sure that Glenn wouldn't have gone far.
As he turned a bend Towards the docks, he saw some large ships docking, but he could not make out where they were from due to crates and people getting in the way.
*Onboard a Spyran ship* Officer: "Sir, there's a Knight in that crowd"
Commander: "hmm? A Knight? From Tord? What would they be doing here?"
the Spyran officer takes out electronic binoculars, then gasps, recognizing the sigil on the knights robes and armour.
Officer: "Sir, its a knight of the Rose!"
Pat strode through the crowd, getting close to the Ships, and finally he saw men in uniforms, and recognized them to be Spyram.
"oh no" he thought to himself. Turning around, he started to make his way back, but found the going slow due to the crowds.

Watching the retreating knight through the binoculars, the commander shouted orders to the crew around him.

"Inform commander Teregara's unit and the Kaioken authorities. Someone, stop that man!"

A group of Spyran marines (leaving their rifles behind, but still carrying their sidearms and swords) rush down the gangplank, and attempt to make their way through the crowd towards the kinght.

High Druid Piccolo sat in his war room when he recived an incoming message on his computer. Over the intercom a voice sounded...

"Sir, we have a incoming hail from a Spyrian vessel docked in our waters." "Patch him through to my computer, secure line and encode the message." Piccolo responded. "Yes sir."

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

The Grand Druid looked at Glenn with concern "Who are these "fanatics?" amd what do they want here?" The tears welling in Glenns eyes and the look of ergency on his face answered for him. "Very well, I have 3 options for you.

1.We have an F-42 Air Superiority fighter in our hanger that can get you to Tord in less than half and hour. We have a small airstrip, not used to commercial flight, but we would need a place to land inside of Tord and I don't find it likely they will let an unknown aircraft land in their territory. We can approach under stealth but only for so long.

2.We also have a MI-28 attack helicopter which will take quite a while longer to get you to Tord but we can land almost anywhere you wish although there is still the problem of detection upon arrival and Tordian forces attacking us.

3.Finally, I can have my agents smuggle you into Tord but this may take days and by the time we get you there it may be too late. My agents are fast alone, but others slow them down and if you are caught, they can not be responsible for protecting you.

The option is up to you, whatever you see is best, you know your country better than I. If you have any other ideas please share them..."

Pat heard shouting behind him, dammit, they probaly saw him. He lurched and pushed through the crowd.
Behind him, the officers struggled against the masses, which started to give way to a group of officers brandishing weapons.
Pat: "Dammit! Get out of my way!"
He broke through the crowds and started sprinting towards the streets, shortly after he broke through, the Spyran people did too.
He is weighed down by his armour, so the Spyran officers will catch up quickly...if they don't shoot him dead first...your call Spyr.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Glenn thought about Goten's option for a moment, then came to a decision:
Glenn: "I will take the fighter jet to Tord, I know that my sister would not have it shot down, even if it is unidentified, the patrols will catch it and communicate us to land at the nearest airport, some Tord, or Spyran, depending on who catches us first, will escort us to the landing, after which myself and the pilot will be taken into custody. The Pilot should be released in a matter of hours, but an execution will await myself, but it will be worth it if I can warn them first, we must go now!"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Joan thanked God that they had not been caught yet, surely it was God's will that she retrive the throne, a storm had come up that threatened to sink the ship and drown the crew, but they had survived, and avoided ditection due to it, she was sure.
Joan: "Beach the ship, we travel on foot from here on"
She knew they hadn't reached Tord yet, but it would be near to impossible to land undetected on Tord shores, they would make their way along this accursed heathan land.

Joan looked back on the ship that had taken them so far, the ship her child had be conceived on. Ah well, cherish the old, embrace the new. She turned and set out towards Tord, not looking back.

"If that's what you think is best." replied Goten. "I will arrange to have you flown to Tord at once." "Thank you Goten." replied Glenn.

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

"Commander Piccolo, another urgent message...it's from Grand Druid Goten!." "Thank you, I will take it in my office." replied Piccolo. He opened the doors to his large war room in which the curtians were closed and maps and other military charts were sprawled across his desk. He walks slowly around he desks, sits down, and takes a deep breath...*computer screen on*. "Good day sir, how may a help you?" says Piccolo. "Hello old friend, I need to ask you a favor, there is no time to explain, you need to trust me...."

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

"Thank you very much Piccolo, may the Elementals bless you." *computer screen off* "Allright then, I have arranged for our best pilot class Druid to meet you at the airstrip. The fighter is fuled and ready to go. If you take this doorway, you will be there as quicky as possible." says Goten as he points to the stone fountain in his room. He approaches the fountain, and twists the figures hand. To Glenns surprise the water shuts off and the fountain rotates out of place, leaving a dark hole leading underground. "Follow this until you get to the gate...the pilot will meet you there.....good luck my son, and may the Elementals Bless you, I know we will meet again."

"Thank you for everything Goten." answered Glenn. "I hope we may cross paths again."

The Spyrans continued to give pursuit. Finally, a Spyran leapt towards the Tordian, landing on his back and bringing him to the ground with a crash as the other Spyrans drew their pistols and circled round.

"Good work, men," muttered the marine sergeant... in Spyr, the military and the police were one and the same, and this had been a textbook fugitive capture. He knelt down, face-to-face with the struggling knight.

"By the authority of the Tordian government, through the LJDC and the government of Spyr, I hereby take you into custody, to be delivered to the proper Tordian authorities so that you might answer for your crimes."

[OOC: took a liberty with catching him... I can edit if needed]

Following the trail from the beached galleon had been pathetically easy. The southern men of the Helekaru could read sign in the plains left by rabbits and other small game; following a company of Tordian fops held no challenge.
The horsemen's leader, a craggy faced warrior known as Tarugin, knew General Yunsung paid hansomely for stealthy raids into the lands now given to Seung Mina's lunatic shaman-riders... lands once held by Yunsung before Helekar had fallen under the falcon and blade. He spit at the thought of Mitsurugi's claim of being Emperor... the spirits would not abide this. Not one. So Yunsung's men had begun raiding into the fief of the great warrior priestess, a secret defiance to watch troop movements... and had run across the men of the One God.
Yunsung would pay handsomely for their heads and equipment. He always rewarded success. There was one thing he valued more than these foreign weapons: information. The people called him the Unbloodied, paying respect and insulting at the same time, but the name was truthful: he never acted unless victory was assured. These Tordlings might be valuable, if kept alive. And if not, there was still the bounty of their armor and guns.
Tarugin sent the bulk of his hundred riders to lay in wait for the Tordlings, while he and a few bodyguards set forth to parley...

Glenn nodded to Goten, "I certainly hope we do." He followed the passage way down, where after a bit he saw the plane and pilot waiting for him.
Pilot: "Hello Glenn, I have been brifed on the situation, and will be flying you to Tord, I am the best fighter Pilot in Kaioken, I promise to get yo uto Tord, it will be a quick flight, but after we reach Tord, I cannot assure everything will go smoothly.
Glenn: "Nice to meet you, thank you for helping me, it means a great, great deal. Everything should be fine when we reach Tord, we'll be told to land, and accompanied in to the nearest airport, after that, your mission will be complete, and you should be able to return here."
-----------------------------------------------------
Glenn sighed as he looked out the cockpit at the fast approaching land, he had mixed emotions about returning home, he loved it dearly, but knew he didn't deserve to come back.
Pilot: "We will be arriving shortly Glenn.."
Glenn: ".....Thank you once again for helping me , a patrol should be finding us soon, and after that it should be much as I explained, we'll be forced to land and taken into custody, you'll be released in a matter of hours, and I...well, it will be worth it to warn them...."
Glenn looked back out, whatever his feelings, he hoped they weren't too late.
----------------------------------------------------------
Pat spit in the officers face
Pat: "May you burn in hell you heathan scum, the day of reconing will come, there's nothing you can to do stop it!"
Pat struggled a bit as they hauled him to his feet and led him off.
(OOC: That's okay Spyr, that's pretty much what I was expecting to happen, its up to you what happens to him now, if you want ot rp him, just treat him like a fundamentalist/zealot Christian that doesn't like you)
-----------------------------------------------------------
A scout came back from his rounds breathing heavily, he went tp to Joan, saluting fist to heart and bowing.
Scout: "Majesty, there are some natives that wish to...well, have an adience with you, they look to be tribal leaders of some sort..."
Joan raised an eyebrown and gave one of her frightening smiles.
Joan: "Bring them to me, guarded, unnarmed, and dismounted, this could proove...intereting...."
"Interesting indeed, she thought to herself, these unworthy heathans could be seeking redemption from their foul ways, they were beyond redemption of course, but it would be fun to use them."
The helekar people who wish to parley are greeted on the edge of the Tord host, and are bid to disarm and dismount if they wish to speak to the one in charge.

[OOC: a fundamentalist/zealot Christian that doesn't like me? oh, joy...]

With little fanfare, Teregara's company and the prisoner are loaded aboard the transport, which casts off and departs Tide, pausing to pick up its escort vessels before heading full speed towards Broken Saints.

" Do they even know what they are asking? " Tarugin grinded his teeth, seething at the insult the outsiders at hurled at his feet. They had demanded a surrender of his weapons and horse; to do so would be the greatest dishonor. A man who can not ride into the clearing at the end of his path is no warrior. Would the outsiders have him die swordless, like a commoner?
" Tell your leaders they can meet with us here, one for each of us five. You'd do well to obey, if you want to make across these plains alive. "

Joan raised her eyebrows at the messengers report.
"Is that so? Well then, let us show our respect for these "honorable savages"."
"Honorable savages." She thought ot herself. "Now I have seen everything."
She singled out four of her best knights, made sure they were equipped with broadsword and pistol, and set out the group awaiting her presence.
Keeping her four knights in front of her, she addressed the Helekar people.
"What is it you want...Helekar rider? I am on a mission from God, I do not appreciate delays."

Tarugin gave her a toothy grin. He'd seen feisty women like this amoung Seung Mina's warrior-priestesses; devout, fanatical, and dangerous. " I am Tarugin, warrior to Yunsung. No man or woman crosses these lands without the say of the Warlord, and a tithe to the throne. " A lie of sorts, the borders having been re-drawn months ago, but what did outsiders know of this? " You will accompany us to Xankyutu, or your God's mission will end today. "

At Tarugin's reply, Joan threw back her head and laughed
"Hahaha! My people have been coming and going as they please across your dung covered, horse loving lands for generations! It's a wonder you haven't been stamped out yet! And should you raise a hand at us, I'll strike you and your heathan people down with the hand of God. You will either help us, leave us, or die, your choice."

The Kaioken plane sped along to Tord, they were a mintue away from land when they were hailed by a patrol, two patro fighters came into sight shortly after.
It hapened as Glenn had suspected, The Piot explained he was going to Tord to deliver a message, and was flanked by the patrol planes and big go in for a landing at Tords port, Broken Saints.
The pilot complied, and a few minutes later they were landing, all the while Glenn had been quite silent.
As the pilot opened the cockpit, an entourage of Tord officers were there to greet him, some were armed, but none looked hostile towards him, instead, they greeted him and bid him and his co-pilot descend from the plane.
the Pilot did so, but Glenn remained seated, head down for the time.
Tord officer: "Welcome to the Kingdom of Tord, we are glad ot receive you, and have arranged a conference room where you may deliver your message."
At that moment, Glenn started to get up, and was almsot immediately recognized, the Officers then had their weapons drawn, all shouting at once."Get Down!" "Stay where you are!" Make one moove and you're dead!" "Hands up!"
after a moment, the lead officer took control.
"Descend, betrayer, slowly."
Glenn did as he was bid, the pilot stepped off to the side. As soon as Glenn reached the pavement, he was tacked by 3 of the officers, pushed to the ground, and handcuffed.
The Pilot and Glenn were led away under heavy guard to the Airport complex, Glen looked longingly at the Tord earth with beautiful green grass sprouting from it, and tried to walk over to it, but was yanked harshly away and pushed onward.
Once they reached the conference room, Glenn was sat in a chari and had weapons trained at him, while the Pilot had two guards flanking his chair.
Glenn explained to the officers assembled of the movements of the exiles, and what he believed their intentions were, after which, he was hauled off to a holding cell. The Pilot was questioned a bit, and then given leave to explore Tord as he wishes, under escort. The pilot chooses to stay by Glenns side, and it is arragned he can stay near Glenn after he is transpoted to Sol Sanctum for Judgement.

OOC: Sorry I have not been around, I was involved in a "lovers Dispute" in Aelosia.

IC:
The group of soldiers, now covered in grasses and camoflague moved forward slowly, they had heard that tribesmen lived in this area, because of that, the twelve man unit was slowlycrawling, prone, through the grass.

********************

Else where, four Thelasian satilites had moved into a geosyncranous orbit over the Lyong peninsula. Images were being relayed back to Thelas High Command, but a seperate feed, mixed in with the satilites normal radiation scanners (I use some scanners that fire radiation at earth, and then look for the bounce back) was another feed, being sent to a location somewhere in the Sea of Japan.

Each satilite had live feed video scanners, capable of reading a newspaper from up in space. One of the satilites was moving much faster than the rest, it was looking for Joan, once they knew where she was, they could send another team down with sample weapons.

********************

In the sea of Japan:

From the air, it seemed that black knive cut through the water, creating white wakes in the water, then, the knives seemed to sink again. In reality, the gravships had submerged again, and now cruised below the water, coming closer to Lyong.

The fleet sped past the point, cutting it VERY close to Meta-ken waters. The fleet then moved to a position 200 miles off of Tersharo.

The three Spyran ships continued to head southwest through the ocean, eager to return to the 4th Naval Battle Group, and to deliver their prisoner to the Tordian authorities in Broken Saints.

[the three vessels have been cruising in a roughly straight line from Tide, towards Broken Saints, which would take them through the waters off Tensharo. As on their journey to Tide, they are activey searching for surface, air, and sub-oceanic threats, though its probably not very likely that they'll actually run into your submarinal fleet at 200 miles out... depending on its size and dispersion].

(Joan and the exiles are in West Helekar...South of Tensharo..right Helekar?))

The three Spyran ships continued to head southwest through the ocean, eager to return to the 4th Naval Battle Group, and to deliver their prisoner to the Tordian authorities in Broken Saints.

[the three vessels have been cruising in a roughly straight line from Tide, towards Broken Saints, which would take them through the waters off Tensharo. As on their journey to Tide, they are activey searching for surface, air, and sub-oceanic threats, though its probably not very likely that they'll actually run into your submarinal fleet at 200 miles out... depending on its size and dispersion].

OOC: The fleet itself is large, it has more ships than a US fleet, but the ships are clustered together, close enough for a person to swim between the ships on one held breath (well, a person could swim between the ships, if they were not sitting at the bottom of the sea.)

IC: One of the satilites, the one looking to Joan, suddenly stopped, thrusters firing as it held position. Several pictures were taken, and then sent to a point off of the peninsula. The satilite continued to watch that part of Lyong, holding position.

At the fleet, the manner of operations was not so calm, the picket ships had detected the Spyrian fleet, and the admiral in charge of the Thelasian fleet was worried to say the least. He had three choises, one, to destroy the Spyrian ships, and then move from position. He could move from position ahead of the destroyers, and hope that they would not be detected, or he could hold position and pray that no one saw the massive fleet. He chose the last option.

Captain: "Anything to report on radar/sonar, lieutenant?"

Lieutenant: "No, sir... should I be looking for something?"

Captain: " No, no, lieutenant... just a funny feeling..."

More like a shiver up my spine... but we'll rejoin the 4th Battlegroup soon enough.

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

At last, the Spyran ships arrived at Broken Saints, where the passengers were unloaded, and a fresh pair of warships were sent northward to resume coastal patrol duty.

The Knight of the Rose is slowly moved out of the brig, his struggling causing difficulty for the Spyrans, who were hesitant to subdue him using brute force. At last, he was delivered to the local Tordian constabulary for processing.

Trunks, the pilot that had effectively handed Glenn into the hands of Tordian and Spyrian officals, felt as if he had not accomplished his mission for the first time in his career as a Druid. He did not truly understand why Glenn wanted to return to his homeland...a homeland that was so quick to judge and persecute him, but he supported him in his decision and likewise wanted to remain with him. He tried to take in every minute as he passed through the new and unknown landscape that was Tord. He hopped he would have a chance to see more of it in leisure someday.

In the forests west of Michi, Ber Zhang was cursing her luck as she sat huddled in her hiding spot, in a cliff high above one of the many small river valleys that cut the landscape of the area. As a Shoushi(tracker) hired by the Man-zoku she, and her fellow Karimoru-zoku, kept watch for odd activities in the forests between the Hiku-doma lands of the Mai-zoku and the Taka-doma lands of the Man-zoku. Anything her tribe, known for its tracking abilities, noticed was immediately reported to the nearest Kalasu-zoku tree village, who would then send word through their raven messangers. Then the nomadic Karimoru-zoku would move on.

But lately, something was different. The Man-zoku council had asked Karimoru-zoku tribes men to stay in the area, and watch certain passes. In return, the tribes were paid in arms and different goods. Ber Zhang, one of the best Shoushi from her tribe, had been ordered to watch over a certain river valley. Ber hadn't excepted anything to happen, the Man-zoku were known for their paranoia and nervousness.

Something had happened though. She had been sleeping lightly, enjoying the cool mountain night air, when she was woken by the sound of movement in the valley below. In the moon light, she could see them...she counted eight men, maybe more she couldn't see, moving stealthily through the trees.

'They might not be so easy to notice if they weren't wearing those stupid grass suits,' she thought to herself. 'Well, better report this to the Man-zoku. They'll certainly want to know of foreigners in their lands, espcially since they're coming up on one of the rivers that leads to Michi. And the sooner I report, the sooner my tribe can get out of here.'

With that thought, Ber slipped out of her hiding spot and into the night, as silent as a shadow. She knew the land, knew how to move in it and was soon in Kalasu-zoku village, waking the messangers to send a report to Michi.

OOC: Now that I know that my men are in the forest, I am going to have them take off the suits, stats on Thelasian combat armor:

Armor: Three inch Silk Steel (Think of normal silk, but make of steel thread), dipped in a Titanium composite. Black Paint on the Armor is formulated to absorb and disapate Infra-Red radiation.

Sensors: Night vission built into helmet, helmet also displays Thermal Imaging, Maps, and Laser Scanners.

More to come later.

IC: The Thelasians, although appearing silent, were talking quitly on their radios, built into the helmets. "We should take off these damn suits, in the plains they work well, but out here?" The squad commander responded, "Okay, just be quick about it" In several minutes, the suits were off, leaving just the black, non-reflective, of the armor.

"Okay lets' go" The soldiers now blended into the forest much better, in the morning they would move slower, but now, they moved at a good pace. Their natural agility helping them in the thick under brush. Unlike many human soldiers, these men did not leave massive paths of destruction. Only one or two broken brachens showed their movment.

OOC:

Armor: Three inch Silk Steel (Think of normal silk, but make of steel thread), dipped in a Titanium composite. Black Paint on the Armor is formulated to absorb and disapate Infra-Red radiation.


... three inch woven steel thread, coated in composite titanium? Seems like rather hefty armour...


... their natural agility helping them in the thick under brush. Unlike many human soldiers, these men did not leave massive paths of destruction. Only one or two broken brachens showed their movment.

... especially to be sneaking around in without leaving traces, even with elven agility.

OOC:

... their natural agility helping them in the thick under brush. Unlike many human soldiers, these men did not leave massive paths of destruction. Only one or two broken brachens showed their movment.

... especially to be sneaking around in without leaving traces, even with elven agility.

OOC: They also have no knowledge of the landscape, unlike the native, human tribes men, who have been living on the land for three thousand years.

The rare Shoushi of the Karimoru-zoku can follow near any path, so long as the being is part of Nature. Especially if they are in the Karimoru-zoku's native land, the Taka-doma.

Are the elves just going to continue up the river crevice?

The High King checked over the final preparations for the contruction units being sent to Tord. He was amazed that Tord had agreed so quickly to his proposal of the naval base on Tord's coast. This could prove to be a profitable venture, which was greatly need, seeing how the cost of preparing for war were having a significant impact on the budget. He then saw off the planes on their way to Tord.

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Evidence of the Dwarven warmachine being mobilized was everywhere. The new base in Tord, the implementation of a plan to have a country-wide, inter-linked anti-aircraft system, and the minefields that were growing daily. For all of "assurences" of the Elgi's mission of peace, the Dwarves didn't buy it. "The only good Elf is a dead Elf,", a traditional Dwarf saying, is evidence enough of that.

The High King sent out diplomatic parties to North Yaman, Kaioken and Helekar, stating that the Dwarves will protect them to the best of their ability should an attack occur, however requesting they pool military information.

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

Arek groaned. He knew of all the developments back home, and how he was there for none of the fun. All of his friends were out celebrating the introduction of a new Dwarf handgun into the military forces, designed by a good friend, and he was stuck in Spyr doing paperwork. Nothing exciting ever happend to him.

He did not know how soon he would be proved wrong.

Tarugin laughed, a cold rumble devoid of true mirth. " The Man-Jesus has no power here. Invoking him will only anger the spirits, which you'd do well to appease. Your words are hollow... until the Emperor, thrice curse his hide, signed paper with you foreign devils, none of your missionaries set foot on our land who didn't pay for it with their innards. So I'll ask ye again: come peacefully, or you'll be standing in the clearing at the end of your path by nightfall. " Tarugin decided to mark this mad-woman out if battle came... her head would make a fine trophy for the General.

The Emperor of Helekar, Mitsurugi of the Red Falcon, sat in one of the taller buildings in Helekar. In recent days he'd tried to take up the art of painting, not to pass time but as an excuse to avoid the constant barrage of petty bureaucrats, each devout in the belief that their small world must be dealt with immediately. He'd been suprised to find he enjoyed painting. Right now the low reds and earth tones of his capital were mixed with the light hues of the sky and--- a slight noise interupted his trance.
" What is it? " The young soldier behind him had been one of those who'd joined with after the first victories. He could hardly remember any of their names... yes, this one was a Hakodo, Ten Hakodo maybe. They all looked the same to him now.
" Emperor, a thousand apologies, I know not to interfere, but a small man has come from the north... he claims to be of the lost Dawi Grung, masters of stone and metalwork. "
A disturbing development, Mitsurugi thought... a herald, or a refugee??? " Invite him to speak with me. Here, if it pleases him. Have the servants bring something appropriate... hmm, what do the dwarven-folk drink??? Do we even remember? Nevermind. And be quick about it. "
The soldier hurried away, almost running in his haste, leaving Mitsurugi to wonder about the reappearance of dwarves...

At this Joan's eyes narrowed, she made a small smile, tilted her head and put her hand to her cheek as if in deep thought.
She studied Taraguin for a moment, then responded.
"I should like to see what this "leader" of yours has to offer, we shall accompany you to see him, I hope for your peoples sake he has something to contibute."
Joan then turned on her heel and walzed off back Towards her host, her guards still keeping hands near hips, eyeing the riders warily.
Joan then stopped and turned her head back towards Taraguin
"And should you try anything, "she gave a full smile. "You, your men, and your people's burning corpses shall light the night sky, by the grace of God."
She then turned back towards her host and started to give orders to head out, following the Helekarians to their destination.

In Sol Sanctum, the Capitol of Tord, there was an even less pleasant meeting, if that was possible.
Glenn was sitting in a brightly lit stone room, with a bare stone table in its center.
"Standing" wasn't the right term for it; he was slouching while encased in a non-spiked iron maiden.
He hadn't been too uncomfortable so far, he heard his guards talking of branding him as vile traitor, others about drawing and quartering him, but it had been decided the Queen should speak to her brother before anything was decided. He wasn't sure whether to be thankful.
The pilot from Kaioken stood next to him, uninhibited by any constraints, this was the only person's company Glenn was glad of, he couldn't understand this outlanders loyalty to him...no, loyalty wasn't the right word, certainly no one owed him loyalty, especially not this proud people, he was...a sort of honour that kept the Kaioken pilot near.
Pilot: "I shall leave you know, I can hear your visitor coming, best of luck to you, Glenn."
At that Glenn finally noticed footsteps getting closer to the door, a Tord knight opened it, the Knight motioned to the pilot, who nodded his head to Glenn and then stepped out of the room, the knight then announced:
"Queen Patricia the first of Tord."
He then bowed low as Patricia entered the room, followed by two Paladins. Glenn caught a glimpse of a Spyran uniform just outside in the hallway, but the Spyran did not enter, "small blessings" he thought to himself.
Glenn had been both excited and dreadful about this inevitable meeting, as Patricia, the rightful Queen Patricia, he had finally realized, his dear, dear sister, looked every bit the ruler of Tord. The sunlight gleamed off her robe, and dust motes danced about her hair, her majesty seemed like that out of fairy tales.
The knight made to close the door behind him, but Patricia raised her hand.
"No-" She sounded different from last he talked with her...which had been after he had had an argument with her in her office just after she was crowned, she sounded stronger, completely in charge, a far cry from, what he had thought to be, sounding like a frightened little girl no even a year ago... "-I will speak with him alone." She sounded colder now too, the warmth that he had always heard in her voice seemed diminished, muffled by the heavy metallic mantel she was forced to bear.
Her escorts looked uneasy about leaving her alone in the room with such a dangerous traitor, but they made their bows and left, closing the door behind them.
She then floated over to the opposite end of the table, placing her hands on its stone surface; she stood there, they just looking at one another for awhile.
Glenn lowered his gaze, unable to meet her eyes, though he noticed they were glistening before he looked away.
Patricia: "Have they hurt you brother?"
Brother....BROTHER he thought to himself, after all that he had done, she referred to him as brother, he had been expecting more for something like traitor, or dog, he deserved it, he WANTED it, but yet she called him brother.
Glenn remained silent
there was another silence
Patricia: "If you have been mishandled in any way-"
Glenn: "Your knights have done nothing but treat me with the honour and dignity becoming of a true knight, of which I do not deserve, you should have me killed, and be done with it."
Patricia: "DO NOT.....Do not say that brother, I have no desire to have you killed."
Glenn: "And yet kill me you must, you know what will happen if you do not."
Patricia: Giving a slight, sad laugh "Oh brother, maybe you have not yet learned your lesson, I am Queen, my word is law, come what troubles will if I let you live, God will protect me, will protect us."
Glenn: *shutting his eyes tight after giving off a muffled sob* "I am so, so sorry sister, perhaps you are right, you are queen, and what you say is the will of.....Patricia, God is not always there to protect, God's power is not...infinite..."
Patricia: "Brother-"
Glenn: "Please, dear, dear sister-"
Patricia felt a pang in her heart as Glenn said those words, he had always used those words, "dear, dear" whenever emotions were running high, as a child, he had accidentally pushed her off a tree branch in the royal garden right after teaching her how to climb, he had leapt down after immediately, he did not deny the wrong he did, nor was he afraid to face judgment, but he was cut by his own guilt and the hurt he had caused her, he rocked her gently, while repeating "I am so sorry, my dear, dear sister" Until her weeping had subsided, she suspected he wept as well, though never where she could see.
Glenn: "For my crimes against Tord, I must die, for my wrongs against humanity, I must die, I have started something that, dear god, I don't think I can stop....Sister, I have hurt and been hurt, I have no joy on this earth...please, let me rest."
tears started streaming down Patricia's face as he said those words, after which he too started to weep, more openly and strongly than he had ever wept in his life. He had grown up thinking it was a sign of weakness, something his sister should never see him do, but down he wept, muffled echoing sobs in the iron maiden.
Patricia swept around the table and put her arms around him, an embrace perverted by the iron maiden.
Patricia: "No one deserves to die, especially not you, dear, dear brother, I know you, you have a good soul, a kind heart, you know you have done wrong, and will pay for it yes, but not in death, you are yet young, you have much left to do, if anything, you must live for my love for you."
Glenn: "Sister, it is your love for me that you must let me die, others will see it as a weakness, and you must be strong, as I know you are, show the world you are strong, I do not fear death, I yearn for it, my very existence will act as a symbol for heretics to try and overthrow you, for outside forces to move upon you. Death is what I need, it is the only thing left for me, by leaving me alive, you are making act the part of the traitor that I am, or at least was, by having me killed, you let me die with what honour and love I have left, should you let me live, I will rot in the public eye, and die hated, defiled....ending my torment is the greatest boon you could deliver unto me, one that I do not deserve, but what must be done..."
Patricia:"...I know Glenn, I knew all along, but I would not admit it...I do not know what has happened to you Glenn, but...I will grant you this boon, my dear, dear brother, know that I love you, just as God does, I will always love you, and know that I will see you among our ancestors and friends in heaven."
Glenn burst into tears once again, unable to say another word, his sobs sounded relieved, he felt not happy, but peaceful for the first time in what seemed a long, long time.
Patricia held back her tears long enough to go back to the door.
She knocked on it, and the Knight bowed to her, she demanded the keys in a strong and forceful tone, behind the knight, the Kaioken and Spyran could be seen watching, distracted from a conversation they had been having. the Kaioken had a look of worry, the Spyran a look of earnest concern.
The Knight looked dumbstruck, but gave the keys to Patricia while bowing aqwardly.
Patricia then shut the door quickly, and broke out in sobs as she strode over to the Iron maiden. She unlocked it, and sister and brother embraced for the first time in too long, weeping into each others shoulders.
They sat down in a corner in a patch of sunlight, the dust motes drifted slowly down around them, as if the room itself were weeping.
They rocked each other for a long, long time, it looked out of place, an angelic figure in celestial robes cradling a bedraggled prisoner, both oblivious to the world but for each other.
Patricia: "I am so sorry, my dear ,dear brother....my dear, dear brother....-"
The setting sun cast a red pallor on the figures, it swept upwards from their sleeping figures, they hadn't moved since they had sat down, leaving them in the darkness that surrounded them.

The Kaioken pilot spent a little while waiting outside the chamber where Glenn was being questioned, then invited to a waiting room where he was greeted by a Tordian in a military uniform and a bearded elderly man in robes.
the Elderly man addresed him first
"Hello Trunks, and once again, welcome to Tord, I'm sorry if we haven't shown you muc hhospitality to this point, we are very glad to have you here. I am here to lead you to some accomodations which have been arranged for you, and Jonus here *he points to the military officer, Jonus nods*, will be giving you a Tour of the city should you so desire. Also, I was wondering if you wouldn't mind telling myself and some students of your ways and culture in Kaioken, a subject I am most interested in."

[OOC: yey, its back as mysteriously as it vanished!]

[*bump* to avoid deletion while we wait forsomeone to POST!]

OOC: this place looks pretty lonely. If Chris, Harrison, Danny and Al don't come back, I will start a hunger strike! I must post more also, but atleast I'm trying...

[OOC: Yes... why is it that there are 4 people who should be posting on this thread, and it's the closest one to DEATion?]

Tarugin's troops made their way slowly across the plains of southern Helekar, with the Tordian warriors in tow. Tempers had flared numerous times as the devout knights quarreled with the hardy plainsmen, and many of them had broken noses and bruises, but no one had been killed. Finally, the travellers reached Xantyku, regional seat of General Yunsung.

Xantyuku itself was a large brown and green growth on the land, small streets and alleys createing a sense of patchwork creation that permeated through into the city's spirit. The cramped buildings had been erected without a greater vision of the community as a whole; roads hadn't been so much as planned as mashed into being by thousands of feet and hoaves over the years. One great road, called the Way of the Prince after some long forgotten noble, ran like a dark welt, winding from the city's south gate to Yunsung's palace in the northern section.

The Tord warriors were surrounded by Tarugin's warriors as they passed through the city gates. The rank smell of unwashed humanity threatened to overwhelm the Tordish visitors. Tarugin's men formed a guard circle around them as they made their way past angry mobs of Helekari peasents. The warriors were suprised to see a large, crudely carved cross thrust out of the mass, to shouts of " The Man-Jesus comes! Hail the One-God! " which started much yelling in the crowd, before the zealot and his relic disappeared in a whirlpool of screams and fists.

Joan and a handful of bodyguards were allowed into Yunsung's grand chamber. A middle-aged man, his shaven scalp tatooed with strange images of men and women in various positions of coupling, General Yunsung the Unbloodied was a fearsome man to behold.

" Welcome to my hearth, Joan of Tord... we have much to discuss, you and I. First, do you support this self-styled Emperor, Mitsurugi of the Red Falcon? My scouts claim your wrecked ship hailed from the waters of his land. "

At this Joan got angry,
"Your people are backwards indeed if they think that the great Kingdom of Tord is ruled by a foreing emperor, Tord is its own Kingdom. I am against this emperor, he encroaches on all that he can, and is spreading his taint into all of the Penninsula, I intend to do away with him once my plans come to fruition."

OOC: Yeah for Postage! Though I must say that the Tord one is a tad confusing...

[OOC: Cmon, NY, its JOAN.

"God will rotect me from this vile of anthrax" Joan.

"If I rape the prince whose claim to the throne has failed, ILL have a direct claim to the throne!" Joan.

So dont be so confused by

"Geography and remembering what happened yesterday is for heathens" Joan.]

(OOC: okay okay, I see your point, *sigh*, from here on I'l try to think out my storylines a bit more.
and for the record, I don't like Joan either.)

"Thank you for your hospitality sir." replied Trunks. "I would very much enjoy a tour of your fair city...although, I don't know how much I can tell of my homeland. I am no scholar, just a simple pilot. I will do my best never the less."

Yunsung feared many things... it was in his nature to fear. Many people believed that the greatest warriors knew no fear, that in the face of implacable odds they laughed and charged into the fray. The truth, of course, was that fear was the very basis for power... an enemy you fear is an enemy you are prepared for, an entity one recognizes as a threat. Overcoming one's fear of the external is an internalization of the struggle against the foe... in fact, it is where the battle is won. Yes, Yunsung feared many things... and high on the list was the fanatically devout.

" Then we have somethings in common, my dear... some very interesting things. Emperor Mitsurugi is a violent man, he'd stop at nothing to raze Tord to the ground, send his reavers to rape and pillage your whole land. My scouts report he has even purchased battle tanks from Spyr, and we both know that that vile dog that sits on the throne in Sithin would love to sink his fangs into your land. Perhaps enough to send my own beloved people, the Helekari, in as a decoy assault. Perhaps we could come to an agreement where such an... unfortunate event can be stopped? Hm? "

Yunsung feared many things... it was in his nature to fear. Many people believed that the greatest warriors knew no fear, that in the face of implacable odds they laughed and charged into the fray. The truth, of course, was that fear was the very basis for power... an enemy you fear is an enemy you are prepared for, an entity one recognizes as a threat. Overcoming one's fear of the external is an internalization of the struggle against the foe... in fact, it is where the battle is won. Yes, Yunsung feared many things... and high on the list was the fanatically devout.

" Then we have somethings in common, my dear... some very interesting things. Emperor Mitsurugi is a violent man, he'd stop at nothing to raze Tord to the ground, send his reavers to rape and pillage your whole land. My scouts report he has even purchased battle tanks from Spyr, and we both know that that vile dog that sits on the throne in Sithin would love to sink his fangs into your land. Perhaps enough to send my own beloved people, the Helekari, in as a decoy assault. Perhaps we could come to an agreement where such an... unfortunate event can be stopped? Hm? "

The whirring sound of spinning rotors echoed through the skies of Helekar, as the Raven TRs soared through the air on there way towards Kintohara. On board, Ambassador Yuko Ogura looked over the brief she had been given by her superiors in the Ministry of Diplomacy. They were simple and to the point.

-SPEED AND SOLIDIFY POWER AROUND MITSURUGI.

-HAVE HELEKARU LOCATE TORDIAN INSURGENTS ALONG WESTERN COAST.

-6TH ARMY DEPLOYMENTS ENSURE NORTHERN BORDER SEALED, YAMANI-HELEKARU COMMUNICATION BLOCKED. PREVENT LOCAL COMPLAINT.

[OOC: Sorry people, NS hasn't been letting me use the forum as of late. Blast. Anyways, i'm back up and running]

Karr was annoyed, as usual. Why did he HAVE to be sent to the land of the savages? What had he done to deserve this. Over 80 years of his existance had he given to the family of the High King, but they sent him here. They claimed it was a mission of the utmost importance, but Karr could not see how this was possible.

The young one who had greeted him returned.

"Excuse me, sir? The Emperor would like to speak with you," he said.

"It's about time! We dwarves may be long lived, but still...." Karr grumbled.

"My apologies. This way if you would."

Karr followed the lad, hoping that this could still prove to be worth his while.

"Long ago, these tribes thought of us as mystics and helpers. The we suddenly stoped helping them, yet they continue to exist to this day. Do we not owe it to them, and to ourselves, to find out what has happend to them, and if they would like our guidance once again?" said a Noble.

The debate had been raging for nearly a full day in the King's audience chambers. The King had had enough.

"You would all argue until our beards grew well beyond a league long. I have decided. We shall send out a scout team to find out what has gone on in the settlement we aided in constructing. Re-open the tunnels to the south, repair them as well as sending the scouting team. We may need use of them again. Drugar Storm, you shall lead the expedition."

"You Highness, I have a stronghold to run. Surely there is someone else better suited and-" began Drugar.

"No, I have chosen you for this task. That is all. You are all dismissed, and Drugar you best get packing. Select two dwarves for you diplomatic party, 4 of our Rangers and a stonesmith. You depart tomorrow."

"Yes sir."

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

Drugar's party drudged through the dilapitated tunnels. Why would anyone with any pride have left these tunnels to cave in? They were dwarven engineering alright, but this area of the mountains was very active, thus requiring maintenance much more often than the other tunnels.

After a while, the came upon a crack in the tunnel wall, that led to some other tunnel networks, obviously not dwarven in contruction.

They saw a figure ahead........

As Drugar and his squad moved towards this figure, which had not yet noticed them, they found the tunnels opened to a larger cavern. The cavern had a much larger tunnel leading off to the right of the Dwarves, away from the inner mountian and out towards the cave systems of the highlands. Candles and old remants of fires littered the cavern, and made it appear like a sacred place....a temple. The most interesting thing about the cavern was the walls, which were decorated and painted with images of animals and creatures of all sorts. Here, a lowland deer runs from the wolf pack, there a mountain goat cracks horns with another for territory...and over shadowing all the other paints was the Raven, watching all the scenes.

The figure, cross legged, was seated before two sculpures...his back cast a shadow over the Bear, up on its hind legs and bent forward, and the Dragon, long and with a raised back, its jaws ready to bite at the underbelly of the Great-bear. The two sculpures fit with each other though, even though both stone creatures radiated a feeling of anger...they were like two pieces of a circle.

Drugar had been so focused on the scrulpures that, when the sitting man quickly stood, he jerked in surprise and pointed his weapon at the man. Tall and dressed in robes of the Tsuchinoki, he wore a cermonial Bear skin over his clothes. As he slowly turned, the bear head could be seen, acting as a hood over his head.

"Any of your weapons will not be needed. But if you insist..."

As his voice faded away a deep rumbling could be heard from down the larger tunnel. A rumbling, like the sound of growling...

The Shaman stept forward and bowed to the Dwarves.

"I am Shintaku-ki, an Utaki(Priest of Song), formerly of the Kama-zoku(Bear-tribe) and, as you can see, I still perform some of their...older customs."

[OOC: Here's the lay-down. Priests of the Tsuchinoki(Priests of the Land) are not the only religious figures in the Lands of the Wan-zoku. All Animists follow the same ideas and theories of the Tsuchinoki, but some groups have more Shamanistic tendancies(Animal powers, focus on one animal, spiritworld travelling, etc.). These groups are the "small" tribes, that constatute 20% of the population, but are actually five of the nine Tribes. The Okami-zoku(Wolf-tribe) have, at the moment, an old woman who directs the scattered Packs of that tribe. Juni Chian has no ties to the Tsuchinoki however, which is different from most Shamans, who prefer to enter the Tsuchinoki, but still perform their duties as Shamans.

Yes, this goes against the Tsuchinoki ideal of seperation of Tribe from Priesthood. Imagine Catholics Priests who believe in Fae folk, or little people, and help the people of their parish respect the old spirits. This is the role of the Shamans. Also, the mythologies of the tribes with stronger Shaman bents-Okami-zoku and to a lesser extent, Geren(Giant), Kuma(Bear) and Kalasu(Raven)-zoku, all have different leanings in their respectives stories...like, a story about the freeing of the human race from the Raven spirits by the first wolf, etc.]

[OOC: And Dawi Grung...not all tunnels lead to Shi-Daoken. It's not Rome, and though you may used to have known the way, two thousand years can change the path. However, you know that the Kuma-zoku(as well as the geren-zoku) are close to the mekura-zoku, much more than any other tribe...most see them as mysterious and quiet...reclusive.]

Karr was brought to a small observatory room, atop the palace of Kintohara; it had been the workshop of some long-forgotten noble or warlord with a penchant for art, and the man's pieces hung about the walls. Mitsurugi had grown fond of the place in his recent months in the capital, and its seclusion from court hangers-on... and spies. A relic from the palace museum, a carved wooden chair made for the dimensions of a dwarf, had been hastily carried to the observatory while Karr was escorted there. A tray with a pitcher of strong ale and stone mugs had replaced the jars of paint on Mitsurugi's table.

" My apologies, Ambassador Karr of Dawi Grung, but these are dangerous times, and this is one of the few safe places my men have found. Would you care to sit and join me for ale, and tell me the tale of your journey to the plains of Helekar? "

OOC: Dawi, I'm waiting on your reply here...

OCC: Tord, I'm waiting on your reply also.

OOC: Since its difficult to have Mitsurugi in two places at once... we introduce a new main character. This is not some lame excuse to kill a main character... ^_^

A small honor guard of veteren Helekari swordsmen formed a semi-circle around Den Wakiyo, wearing the new ceremonial armor of a commander. As the Kintoharan priesthood slithered into running the country, the generals tried to create stop-gaps within the political machinary. Wakiyo had been 'honored' with just such one of these positions, overseeing foreign affairs.
A tilt-rotor craft from Spyr swooped down onto the roof of the eastern wing of the imperial palace. Its dark metal gleamed in the sunlight, making it seem more like a hungry bird-of-prey than a construction wrought by men. Den could not help wishing they had had craft such as this... what was it like to soar like a red falcon, to see the plains from the eye of birds?

The tilt-rotor slowly settled onto the roof, kicking up a light cloud of dust as it did so. As it came to a stop, the side hatch opened, and a pair of soldiers leapt out, fixing a step into place before snapping to attention.

From the hatch descended the tilt-rotor's senior passenger, a woman in her mid-twenties, wearing the uniform nd golden braid of a Spyran officer. The long tails of her black coat billowed in the breeze... for those familiar with Spyran uniforms, such a jacket marked her as not a combat soldier, but a political officer.

The woman walked towards Wakiyo, and bowed.

"Hiri yo, Helekaru. Wa de Spyr-tohnoken no Ogura Yuko-gewei..."

[and now, back to the reader-required Universal Translator]

"... and I have come to assume the post of Spyran ambassador to Helekar*, and to discuss matters of policy which concern the security and prosperity of both our lands."

[* the current 'ambassador' is Leftenant-General Kentaro Machinaga, who was the officer who commanded the 180 Spyran tanks that initially rumbled through Helekar way back when. He's been reassigned to secure the mouth of the Golden River, as part of the LJDC defence strategy. Which means the tanks are leaving Helekar... though, left over from the Thelas crisis, there are still three of the eleven Spyran Armies deployed extraterritorially (Tord, Helekar, North Yaman, with units beginning to move into Kaioken/Tagan, in an initial advisory capacity]

Wakiyo bowed deeply from the waist. " Welcome, Ambassador. I am Commander Den Wakiyo, although all I am given to command these days are pieces of paper and carts of rice. " He said this with a smile, though, that spoke of a pride in his work. " The Emperor is busy with a guest, he will give you an audience tommorow. As Minister of Foreign Diplomacy, I will be the liason with your government; my first duty is to see to your comfort. Rooms are being prepared at a small manor, given over to any dignitaries your government has sent. Servents will see to whatever you require in the meantime. "


OOC: In the initial post, there was something about Yamani-Helekaru communication being cut off... could you elaborate? Its not like we're in constant radio contact, so you must have meant a physical blockade of our trade routes with Arentaka in NY... if I even have trade routes with NY, which I can assume I did, because according to the UN rankings, Keith's people are starving... although what would we trade for??? Hmm... I'm going to post on the other forum...

[Actually, NY is likely self-sufficient food-wise... its got a smaller population to support than Spyr or Tord. The cut-off has been accomplished by Spyran 6th Army units, deployed at various points along both sides of the Ogawa river, who turn back anyone trying to get through without authorization.]

Joan: "I am pleasantly surprised to see such an...intelligent savage, and even more surprised of our shared hatred of Strain. having him put out of the way would be most advantageous, and save my kingdom the bother in the future. My first and formost priority is to reclaim my throne in Tord, however, what do you have in mind exactly? do you know of Strains whereabouts?

Ogawa smiled.
"I'm certain whatever accomodations you have available will do nicely.
However, if you will excuse my abruptness, there are issues which must be discussed between us... perhaps once we have gone over them, you will be able to better advise your emperor*, and I will have gained a Helekaru perspective on the matter.

As you are no doubt aware, there are currently negotiations ongoing as to the contents of the Lyong Treaty, and these require a great deal of consideration. You may have been informed that Spyran troops were recently asked by members of the tribes north of the Ogawa river, to protect their fledgeling state from being taken advantage of. Thus, we blocked free passage across the river, unless the passers had authorization from within. With their state emerging from its berthing throes, it is hoped that this security measure can soon be lifted, and intra-peninsular trade can expand once more."


[* The word kengesho is likely to be used here, as you havent mentioned Mitsurugi being a divine ruler, which would mean the use of the ti suffix.]

OOC: Yes, Mitsurugi has no claims to be of any blood-line realted to the royal one, and his title of Emperor is not backed by any divine power. There are probably religious fanatics who think he should be, some who don't, some who think Strain is the One True Emperor, and so on and so forth, but it all boils down to High Priestess Seung Mina's secret alliance with the Band of the Red Falcon during the early days of the war; what she says is almost doctrine. She supports him, the priests support him, even if they grumble about it later, but there isn't a whole lot of religious hoop-lah about it.

Wenkiyo nodded, " Yes, what little trade we have with the tribes-folk of the Sawa-zoku has been turned back down the river to Kintohara. We've begun to hear of this blockade. If they were to seek our aid in whatever struggle is raging behind their borders, would you turn back our forces from aiding them? Or are your troops there to keep the conflict from spilling out into the plains? The plans for a rail and road network in Lyong need ammendment if the Emperor is to agree to their construction in Helekar; highways seem silly if cars are prohibited. But, Yuko-gewei, there has been movement to see that policy abolished... why don't we talk about it while I drive you to your manor? " Their slow walk had taken them to a parked red dune buggy, a small-two seater. " As you can see, even Helekar is not immune to change, and there are ways around old, impractical laws."

"Indeed, the whole penninsula has been rising on the wings of progress... as a nation which has climbed high already, Spyr seeks now to help others lift themselves up as they see fit.

It is our utmost hope that we can convince Helekar to allow the construction of the highways along the coast... the movement of transport trucks along a route that touches Tagan, Kaioken, Helekar, and Tord would allow both the easy transport of economic goods, and of military assets in times of conflict. In Spyr, we have no ban on cars, but they are little used... high fuel and vehicle taxes keep the numbers down, in order to keep our vehicle pool dedicated to cargo movement, not private travel, which is provided for by public transport and the popular man-powered vehicle, the bicycle.

As for the blockade in North Yaman, we are there on the request of the Yamani, to protect them from interference as they form into a nation-state. Those with permission from the Yamani are allowed through, and we hope that the Yamani, who have begun to solidify themselves internally, will soon request the removal of the troops and re-opening of the borders."

" The Emperor will surely see the benefit of integrating into a network of rail lines. There has long been opposition to motor vehicles amongst the priestesses, however, and their leader has the ear of the Emperor himself. The highway itself will have to wind clear around any of our sacred sites, for fear of polluting them with smoke and noise. It will take time for all parties to agree to a map, if the idea is even agreed upon.
There is fear that automobiles will one day replace the noble horse on the plains of Helekar, crippling the spirit of our people. You will likely see the ban lifted on cargo vehicles, but the large, petrol drinking cars of the West will never taint our lands. "
" If a true government is formed in North Yaman, we will have to send an emissary to speak with them; such a large shift in the power balance of this area will only spook the warriors to the northeast, and frighten villagers near the mountains. "

"Rail transport can fulfill our mutual needs for a time, while the details of highways are worked out. However, unless Helekar wishes to continue to expand its fossil-fuel locomotives, whose emissions can be far worse than those of automobiles, it may be wise to consider modernized electric power infrastructure. Perhaps when the new fusion power generators are completed, some Helekaru could be sent to Spyr in order to recieve education that would allow to utilize the technology as needed."

" The common people are fearful of the most modern technologies from Spyr; it is difficult for them to see tanks and tilt-rotors as anything but omnious demons of iron. With familiarity, comes understanding... the Emperor's hope is to gently introduce them to modern wonders. A time of fossil-fuel machines is necessary, as we learn to adapt to your foreign technology, and find a place for it within our lives. These machines have been in Helekar for sometime, and their ways are known to us. Locomotives will be a stepping stone for us, something we can build for ourselves rather than purchase from outsiders. We are a stubborn people, Yuko-gewei, and we will join the future riding our own strength. You are right, though, that we are in need of Helekaru engineers; perhaps some will be willing to leave their ancestral homes to learn from your Spyran scientists, of these fusion generators. Such an offer is welcomed, from our Spyran brothers. "

"Indeed, it is the difficult task of every state to understand its people, and what they need.

Both our nations share the same noble Lyongian spirit... Spyr has simply travelled further along the path known as 'modernity' than have our brethren of the peninsula. This path has provided us with great benefits, and has allowed us to stand tall and secure upon the international stage. It is our desire to share the benefits we have found with our fellow Lyongians, so that we may all share in ever-increasing prosperity and security, and this is why we have gone out and offered of ourselves to other nations. We only hope thay you will accept those things that will aid you, and percieve the benefits of greater cooperation amongst Lyongians, and the greater Universality."

OOC: Dawi Grung, where are you??? I need to finish Mitsurugi's talks with Karr... or was this a fiendish trick to trap Mitsurugi in a never-ending storyline of stasis??? Screw continuity, soon, Ogawa gets to meet him...

" Then you understand me: what our people need is not devices of iron and steel, but a new understanding of the world, and to find our own place in it. Spyr's accomplishments give us an example of the path we must travel, and a beacon to guide us, but in the end our own legs must do the walking. "
The small dune buggy cruised up to a manor house on the outskirts of the city proper. It was old, built along the traditional lines of Helekar architecture. Light snowfall had blanketed the house, but the curving wood of the roof, and the earthen tones it had been painted in, lent it a greater antiquity than it likely had in truth.
" I hope this will do, Yuko-gewei, for your time here in Kintohara. I would show you the manor, but I have work to do back at the palace; an empire to manage, you see. Tommorow, I will returnfor your audience with the Emperor. "

Yuko dismounted from the buggy and looked up at the house, before turning and bowing.

"I thank you, commander Wakiyo, for your hospitality, and look forward to our further interactions."

It would all be so simple if only they would let us uplift them, she thought to herself, ... I can now understand why the Commerce and War Ministries so often attempt to empoly a heavier hand. Anyone who experiences the prosperity of modernity will immediately agree that their lives have improved... but across the penninsula, leaders of the downtrodden refuse to let go the chains which bind the people to them...

President Strain, you say we must be patient, that they are merely ignorant and not counter-Revolutionaries leeching off the Universality. But if we wait for them to absorb the knowledge you attempt to teach them, then every moment more people suffer and die...

Glancing up at the grey sky and catching sight of a snowflake, Yuko banished such thoughts from her mind. She was igifeai, and she had a duty to perform.

Mouth of the Golden River, Southwest coast of the Lyong Penninsula.

Leftenant General Kentaro Machinaga surveyed the area from the roof of the trailer which was serving as his temporary office. Around him, in the two square kilometres of Kaioken appropriated for Fort Gochu, straight rows of prefabricated sheet-metal and plastic housing had been set up for the 180 tanks, and support, which made up his division. Also present were the bunkhouses and storage silos for construction workers and engineers, and the 1500 men from the Kaioken 21st Druidic Infrantry-Ground Force Division who were forming part of the garrison, with the tents and quickly-erected wooden stables of the 500 Helekaru cavalry interspersed throughout the area.

Gazing across the mile-wide river, Machinaga saw the grey forms of the Daihatsu boats sailing towards the Tagan side of the river, carrying the five hundred Yamani riflemen, and some support staff, who would supplement the Spyran infantry division and construction staff that had landed in the appropriation from Tagan.

On both sides of the river, facilities were under construction, with the prefabricated housing already nearing completion, and the components of twinned fusion reactors well on their way to full assembly. Terminals for ferries and heavy concrete fortifications would soon be under construction, provided raw materials and labour could be obtained locally, and then the naval docks on the Tagan side, and Special Operations command and training facilities on the Kaioken side, could be established. Machinaga was looking forward to seeing it in its final incarnation... he had been promised that the combined fortification would be a truly impressive sight, flying the seven flags of Lyong for all to see.

He had been in Helekar when the Japann war had broken out... fate had cheated him of the opportunity to smash the Bonstockian imperialists. But, with intelligence reports of that nation's naval expansion... over ten superbattleships and twice as many supercarriers... a naval fortification such as this would be a likely site for combat in the face of renewed aggression. Perhaps he would yet have a chance to find victory and honour...

To a great deal of fanfare, the half-completed PRSS Munak entered the harbour at Barak Varr, pulled by tugs which maneuvered it around dwarven warships and dredging trawlers, placing it in its berth. As the gangplank descended, scientists from Spyr, Dawi Grung, Tord, and Kaioken, along with their assistants and equipment, rushed aboard, eager to begin tests and installation of equipment.