NationStates Jolt Archive

It was all falling apart for palapatine, the rebels where surviving attacks and drawing support. Worst of all the Austian press had finally published the pictures of the devistation in Nuevo Kowloon, the bodys lying in the streets. The papers hadn't published yet what had happened but if they did, any foragner in Aust would report back to their country, he could see it now, his rule would be distroyed. The Austian people would rise up.
He had one choice, he would pass new laws. HE dipped his pen in the ink and began to write.

'I, Emporer Palpatine of Aust, herby revoke the Freedom of Press act. All newspapers and other forms of media must be passed through my hands and legalised or censored before being published upon pain of death. Also all Foregn nationals will be taken prisinor tonight and made into slaves of Aust all planes in and out of Aust is banned as is all traffic through our ports.'
He commisianed it and within the hour hundreds of thousands of Austian soildiers moved in on the houses of foregners, breaking down doors to take those inside captive.

We of Xaniqall condemn these despicable acts and urge condemnation from world powers and possible military action should they not be stopped. We pledge support to any resistance to these acts, in the form of money, arms or any other means we can supply at this time.

The Emperor shrugs and goes back to sleep, saying, "There are no 5CN nationals in Aust anyways..."

------------------------------Private Communique-----------------------------

Comrade Glonek, Leader of the Marxist Democracy of Kamerovia,

It is with the utmost horror and shock that I, leader of the MDK, discover that the Austian people are being forced into isoloation. However, it is with outrage and surprise that I find that 30 holders of Kamerovian passports and therefore still, in the eyes of this government, Kamerovian citizens have been taken captive by Austian security forces. We must warn the nation of Aust, you have 3 days (RL) to return the Kamerovian citizens to the Kamerovian government. If not I shall be forced to authorise our forces to seize the prisoners ourselves.
I feel for your people;

13 Chavchavachadze Avenue,
Belgraz Square,
Old Belgraz

It was all falling apart for palapatine, the rebels where surviving attacks and drawing support. Worst of all the Austian press had finally published the pictures of the devistation in Nuevo Kowloon, the bodys lying in the streets. The papers hadn't published yet what had happened but if they did, any foragner in Aust would report back to their country, he could see it now, his rule would be distroyed. The Austian people would rise up.
He had one choice, he would pass new laws. HE dipped his pen in the ink and began to write.

'I, Emporer Palpatine of Aust, herby revoke the Freedom of Press act. All newspapers and other forms of media must be passed through my hands and legalised or censored before being published upon pain of death. Also all Foregn nationals will be taken prisinor tonight and made into slaves of Aust all planes in and out of Aust is banned as is all traffic through our ports.'
He commisianed it and within the hour hundreds of thousands of Austian soildiers moved in on the houses of foregners, breaking down doors to take those inside captive.

Sarah watched from the cage. It was part of the "New Game", the Emperor had been less-than-pleased about the mess she'd made (predictably). He'd administered various implements of pain, (and was frustrated at her continued defiance-or at least, put up a good show of being frustrated...) and had her placed in a "Lamp Cage" style restraint behind his (newly dry-cleaned and re-covered) throne.
"Well, now that was clever." she said from her position as a wall-hanging.
The Emperor snorted, and continued studying his field-commanders' reports.

"Right smart, instead of dealing with public outcry intelligently, and maybe setting your enemies on each other, you've gone and arrested everyone from outside your borders still in the country... My, I wonder what your remaining Allies will say, when their people are breaking rocks in your mines..." She laughed at him.

He turned around. "It does not matter what they say, as long as I have control." he replied.
She shook her head, and pressed her face against the wrought-iron of her cage, straining her hips in the process.

"You're not. In control, somewhere, I think you know that... You're Afraid, Palpatine. I'm in chains, in a cage, with all the marks your best torturers could put on me, and YOU are the one who's afraid." She smirked her half-ruined child's face at him, "You're like a kid who's eaten too much candy, 'Emperor', your tummy hurts now, but you daren't come out of the pantry for fear your mummy will catch you." Her voice was a sing-song of derision.

He snarled, "I should have you killed for that." he said.

She shrugged-a difficult accomplishment in her prison. "Then, I will be free, and you will still be enslaved by your fears." She said rationally, adding, "Sounds good to me, when do we start?"

Instead of replying to her, Palpatine rang a bell, and Dinh appeared. The Emperor had taken to letting the boy wear pants while on duty-it wasn't for modesty of the servant, but because the Emperor felt that his Manservant should be clothed around the concubines-and the Palace Guard.
"Clean her cage, Dinh-and when you're finished, draw me a Bath and fetch Two Bibbis and lay out the Blue uniform-I'm going walking out tonight... and make sure the boots are polished properly."
Dinh nodded, and complied in silence.

"he's arresting all foreigners, something in the domestic intel reports spooked him." Sarah signed in silent-speech. Dinh's eyes were unreadable behind his day-glasses (a requirement now-as a manservant, he had to work efficiently and quickly in lighted areas.) He frowned, and removed the disposeable liner from the bottom of the cage, hiding the movements of his fingers from the secure-cams and guards in the room.
"Every time you piss him off, one of our people suffers. Stop it." he signed covertly back.
She shook her head almost imperceptibly, and finger-danced (While looking like she was clutching the bars in discomfort) "No. The angrier he gets, the more mistakes he makes. The new combination to the safe is 3-4-35-62-4-15, the blue folder."
Dinh's head gave a slight shake- "No. it isn't safe right now. I think the last leak triggered him, and I won't risk their lives more than is absolutely necessary." He slid the tray with its new liner back into the cage bottom.
Sarah snorted in disgust, and rolled her eyes. "We're all dead, Dinh-sooner or later, we all escape the prison of life." The comment fed on their frequent arguments in the rare private moments-amply recorded by Camera, witness, and the Emperor's other servants.
"Not to me." he said firmly, and headed off to do his duties.

This act is condemmed by the Holy Empire and its Allies.

It was going on midnight, the empoer was seated on his throne, still awake. Above him Sarah slept.
"Sir, we have messages from all parts of the world demanding release of their citizens" Jeff rold the Emporer, "heres one from Kamerovia." The Emporer looked at it. "You may leave Jeff, go home. Before you do though make sure these arrangements are seen to for tomorrow.
"You may release the girl from her cage tomorrow and tie her to a piller on a chain of metal that will be atached to her arms and legs. HAve her branded again on her forehead this time. The waste provblem will be sorted by laying out a 'litter box' like cats use. She can sleep on the floor. The boy will be chained to the same post as her for the nights in the same way, but may be freed in the morning. Also bring up the boys freind and put, put him in the cage the girl was in, attach eletric wires to parts of his body, the most painful parts, and make sure that if I press a button on my throne he will be painfully eletricuted, that will keep the other boy under control. Have this done for tomorrow night. Now off you go."
"Sir." Jeff turned smartly and left. Waiting for a few minuates until jeff left, the Emporer keyed his Vid-com to look at Dinhs room, the child was sleeping. "Dinh!" The emporer roared into the mike, so he jumped with fright. "Dinh, come here at once. Bring me ink and paper, and that old antique writing table in the hall." The Emporer had made Dinh put it out their this morning. "I expect you to be here in five minuates." He sat back and waited, the boy came within 4:54 seconds, lugging the writing desk with him, the writing equipment slung over his back. "Now place them in front of me." Dinh did so. "Good you arn't as stupid as you look, get yoursdelf a chair from the hall, turn the desk 90 degrees and pull it back a few meters. Then transcribe what I say." Again he waited for Dinh too do as he said. "now write.

To Comrade Glonek
From; The Desk of Emporer Palpatine.
We are sorry that you feel this way about what has happened to our people but I remind you that what happens in Aust is may bisness and no ones elses. We apologise about what has happened to your citizens and accept your warning as due. However at the present time we may not release your people until the current alert is over, they have been arrested under new terror rulings. The ARP have recently given statements that some of their agents are from other lands and they will attack Austians. We also know that they are being supplyed by other countrys citizens weather the action is known by their respective goverments or not. to protect my peoples livlyhoods and lives we have been fr=orced to take all foregn nationals into custcy until the alert is over and the ARP destroyed. This is why we have come into isolation. We assure you that you citizens will be treated by the same standed that we treated the Nuevo Kowloonian PoW's, which is to the highest standeds of care and cortocy. I( must inform you that 13 of your people have been killed eather trying to resist arrest or trying to escape from arrest. 2 more have been short for high treason. They where found with bombs and plans to blow up the Houses of parlemnet. their bodys will be returned to your country. This regretful actions by a few has ment that your people will have to stay in prision until proven guilty. Again we apologise. if your armed forces do attack howver we assure you that we already have several nuclear weapons aimed at you nation and will not hesertate to bring more to bare. Any attempt by you to free the prisinors will result in their death and the deaths of the rescuers.
I apologise for any inconvinence.

Emporer Palpatine of Aust.


"Now seal it boy and send it to
13 Chavchavachadze Avenue,
Belgraz Square,
Old Belgraz." Dinh wrote it down and sealed the envalope. "And boy, how would you like to see your freind again Alex. You may see him tommorow. Now send the letter and off to bed. Goodnight."

The Executive Committee condems your actions against citizens of various nations, as of yet we are unable to determine if citizens of The Incorporated States of Tom Joad are being held by your forces,
should this be the case the position of the Executive Committee will be as such, The Incorporated States of Tom Joad will not negotiate for the release of any citizens held by hostile forces or governments.

Tom Joad Executive Committee
<signed>
UN Delegate Atlantis

The Executive Committee condems your actions against citizens of various nations, as of yet we are unable to determine if citizens of The Incorporated States of Tom Joad are being held by your forces,
should this be the case the position of the Executive Committee will be as such, The Incorporated States of Tom Joad will not negotiate for the release of any citizens held by hostile forces or governments.

Tom Joad Executive Committee
<signed>
UN Delegate Atlantis
We balive their are 12 citizens of your held by us.
We are sorry that you feel this way about what has happened to our people but I remind you that what happens in Aust is may bisness and no ones elses. We apologise about what has happened to your citizens and accept your warning as due. However at the present time we may not release your people until the current alert is over, they have been arrested under new terror rulings. The ARP have recently given statements that some of their agents are from other lands and they will attack Austians. We also know that they are being supplyed by other countrys citizens weather the action is known by their respective goverments or not. to protect my peoples livlyhoods and lives we have been frorced to take all foregn nationals into custcy until the alert is over and the ARP destroyed. This is why we have come into isolation. We assure you that you citizens will be treated by the same standed that we treated the Nuevo Kowloonian PoW's, which is to the highest standeds of care and cortocy. I( must inform you that 13 of your people have been killed eather trying to resist arrest or trying to escape from arrest. 2 more have been short for high treason. They where found with bombs and plans to blow up the Houses of parlemnet. their bodys will be returned to your country. This regretful actions by a few has ment that your people will have to stay in prision until proven guilty. Again we apologise. if your armed forces do attack howver we assure you that we already have several nuclear weapons aimed at you nation and will not hesertate to bring more to bare. Any attempt by you to free the prisinors will result in their death and the deaths of the rescuers.
I apologise for any inconvinence.
Emporer Palpatine.

---------Librii Goverment--------
The Allied States of Librii will send 500 LightningFIRE Fighter jets, 1,000 Heavily-armed soldiers, and enough supplies for the Army to be there 5 months to free all the people held prisoner for this decspicaple act.

Signed,
Jack Bastable
President of Librii

---------Librii Goverment--------
A HANMT-A-S-D radar is above your nation Aust. If you make any move to fire nuculer weopons they will be shot down imeaditly, with no regard to where they are. The troops are already in your border, in fact, they are in your capital. Make any move and they will detonate C-4 placed all around your capital.

Signed,
Jack Bastable
President of Librii

Librii, you can't just do that - its called godmoding, and no-one likes it.

Librii, you can't just do that - its called godmoding, and no-one likes it.sry, didn't know, and the US really is devolping a laser to shoot nuculer missles down.

and why can't i place C-4s? all the soldiers have to do is act like normal citezens, and plant the C-4s where no one can see them. Plus, i can send fighters and troops.
I'm not trying to say that what i said is right, cause i geuss it's not, but i'm just pointing out there is some reality in those words.

"To: Comrade Glonek
13 Chavchavachadze Avenue,
Belgraz Square,
Old Belgraz.

From; The Desk of Emporer Palpatine.

We are sorry that you feel this way about what has happened to our people but I remind you that what happens in Aust is my business and no ones else's.

We apologise about what has happened to your citizens and accept your warning as due.

However at the present time we may not release your people until the current alert is over, they have been arrested under new terror rulings.

The ARP have recently given statements that some of their agents are from other lands and they will attack Austians.

We also know that they are being supplied by other country's citizens, whether the action is known by their respective goverments or not.

to protect my livlihood and life we have been "forced" to take all foreign nationals into custody until the alert is over and the ARP destroyed.

This is why we have come into isolation.

We assure you that you citizens will be treated by the same standed that we treated the Nuevo Kowloonian PoW', which is to the highest standeds of care and courtesy. I must inform you that 13 of your people have been killed eather trying to resist arrest or trying to escape. 2 more have been short for high treason.

Their bodies will be returned to your country when it is convenient for us.

This regrettable action by a few has meant that your people will have to stay in prison until found guilty.

Again we apologise. if your armed forces do attack, we assure you that we already have several nuclear weapons aimed at you nation and intend to bring more to bear. Any attempt by you to free the prisoners will result in their death and the deaths of the rescuers.
I apologise for any inconvinence.

Emporer Palpatine of Aust."



Dinh finished scribing the letter, and read it over again-correcting the Emperor's grammar wasn't difficult, nor was editing the letter. slipping the off-print image from the Mines into the letter itself wasn't difficult either. He sealed the envelope, and turned. "Emperor, sir, it needs to be sealed." he said, gesturing at the wax and signet on the Emperor's own desk.
Palpatine frowned, and nodded, "True..." he took the envelope from the antique desk, looked at the excellent handwriting on the envelope, sniffed it, weighed it in his palm, smiled, and proceeded to apply the Imperial seal. Dinh left to post it.

Sarah stirred about halfway through the Emperor's dictation. She watched Dinh walk off with the letter, and said, "Quisling." Palpatine looked up.
"Quisling? Hardly. Quisling was a willing convert, Dinh there, every time he looks at me, I know He'd kill me in an instant if he thought he could. I can feel it right through those glasses of his. He is just doing what he knows he must-unlike you."

She Yawned. "You're getting a new brand tomorrow." Palpatine added, and tapped his forehead.

Sarah shrugged, "Make sure they get the unscarred parts, or it won't be legible-a bit like your own handwriting isn't."

He frowned, then laughed. She peered down at his desk, from her perch, and noted one of the reports. "Friendly Fire? Your Generals must be more incompetent than I thought... or someone is trying to make his Emperor look the fool. Not a hard thing to do, really." she sighed.

He frowned, "What is it this time?" he asked, glowering.

Sarah shrugged, "Since you've had me hanging here, you've done half a dozen things to start wars with more than a dozen different nations, mounted a frontal assault in open country on a fortified mountain position, and while Dinh and I are well-observed, your friends have been slipping things out of your safe and... well..." she shrugged, "Not my problem."
He reached up, and grabbed her chain, pulling her face up to the bars.
"Doing WHAT?" he snarled.

Sarah chuckled, "Probably leaking that information that's gotten out. Your 'Loyal' subjects are starting to tire of you."

The Emperor was suddenly no longer sleepy. "Who?" he hissed.

Sarah rolled her eyes, and sighed, "I don't pay attention to the names of your lickspittles, I haven't a clue what his name is, nor do I want to know-see, if I don't know, I can't rat him out. But, it's funny, he kisses up more than anyone else in the Palace guard. I would suggest looking for the brownest nosed-flatterer on staff, just reach behind you, and feel for the one kissing your ass the most often... That's the one who's out to betray you."

Palpatine searched her face, looking for... something, then, he stepped back. "The leak did not originate in the Palace. You're trying to be clever." he said.

She nodded vigorously, "That's right, I can tell you, but you don't have to believe it. Keep believing what you want, eventually, you'll finish screwing up, and I'll be free of you." She said intensely.

Palpatine turned away from her, sat down, wrote another letter, and looked back up at her, looking troubled.

"Why?" he asked. Sarah shrugged, "Figure it out. If I tell you that someone here is ratting you out to the outside, then you won't believe it's one of your own, and he can keep working. You've got securicams and guards watching every breath Dinh and I make, it's not like either one of us could get away with it-and Dinh wouldn't, he's a weakling who thinks he's doing the right thing, when the right thing would be to put a letter opener through the back of both our skulls. You, for being who you are, and me, as a mercy-shot. Denial of senses is a form of torture itself-I can't [i] feel anything , but I'm still trapped in this sagging flesh-suit."

---------Librii Goverment--------
A HANMT-A-S-D radar is above your nation Aust. If you make any move to fire nuculer weopons they will be shot down imeaditly, with no regard to where they are. The troops are already in your border, in fact, they are in your capital. Make any move and they will detonate C-4 placed all around your capital.

Signed,
Jack Bastable
President of Librii
OOC: your attack is ignored.
1) My foprces would eat yours for breakfast. 1,000 troop, I can raise over a million, I have conscription and Aust city is over 1 billion pop.
2) How did they get their No inside-outside traffic rember, you will have to para drop them and I have planes to stop you doing that.
3) Your satallite would be shot down, by my space defence grid, SPDG, was built by me and SLOA as well as the coalition of honour to protect against enermy attacks.
4) Their are many other reasons. (You wouldn't be able to afford the planes ect).

NK, we should make a collection of all the Alex and dinh posts.


IC: Alex woke to cold hands dragging him from his bunk, he kicked out but met not resistance and fall to the floor. "You have a meeting with the empoer some one" said before he was gagged and blinded by a peice of cloth.

---------Librii Goverment--------
A HANMT-A-S-D radar is above your nation Aust. If you make any move to fire nuculer weopons they will be shot down imeaditly, with no regard to where they are. The troops are already in your border, in fact, they are in your capital. Make any move and they will detonate C-4 placed all around your capital.

Signed,
Jack Bastable
President of Librii
OOC: your attack is ignored.
1) My foprces would eat yours for breakfast. 1,000 troop, I can raise over a million, I have conscription and Aust city is over 1 billion pop.
2) How did they get their No inside-outside traffic rember, you will have to para drop them and I have planes to stop you doing that.
3) Your satallite would be shot down, by my space defence grid, SPDG, was built by me and SLOA as well as the coalition of honour to protect against enermy attacks.
4) Their are many other reasons. (You wouldn't be able to afford the planes ect).

NK, we should make a collection of all the Alex and dinh posts.


IC: Alex woke to cold hands dragging him from his bunk, he kicked out but met not resistance and fall to the floor. "You have a meeting with the empoer some one" said before he was gagged and blinded by a peice of cloth.

---------Librii Goverment--------
A HANMT-A-S-D radar is above your nation Aust. If you make any move to fire nuculer weopons they will be shot down imeaditly, with no regard to where they are. The troops are already in your border, in fact, they are in your capital. Make any move and they will detonate C-4 placed all around your capital.

Signed,
Jack Bastable
President of Librii
OOC: your attack is ignored.
1) My foprces would eat yours for breakfast. 1,000 troop, I can raise over a million, I have conscription and Aust city is over 1 billion pop.
2) How did they get their No inside-outside traffic rember, you will have to para drop them and I have planes to stop you doing that.
3) Your satallite would be shot down, by my space defence grid, SPDG, was built by me and SLOA as well as the coalition of honour to protect against enermy attacks.
4) Their are many other reasons. (You wouldn't be able to afford the planes ect).

NK, we should make a collection of all the Alex and dinh posts.


IC: Alex woke to cold hands dragging him from his bunk, he kicked out but met not resistance and fall to the floor. "You have a meeting with the empoer some one" said before he was gagged and blinded by a peice of cloth.

OOC: For clarification, THIS IS NOT ME! I am Austar Union, this is Aust. k?

* emperor highcheeks lays back down and starts to laugh*

" this is why we moved into space.'

* by the way, i condemn these horrible acts and blah blah blah, yak yak yak, etc.*

Foreign Commissary Statement
We must convey, with the utmost regard for your actions committed so far, that no ISTJ citizen was known to be conducting illicit operations within your borders, neither do we believe that is or ever was the case.

Your version of events is certainly something to contest, either you are grossly miss-informed or else intent on causing an alarming turn of events, in which case blatent provocation can and will only result in the gravest of circumstances between our two nations.
The detainment of a foreign powers citizens under such circumstances is most alarming, which is why we feel the situation warrants the use of an attempt at diplomacy.

Coded Transmision
Our terms are simple; the release of all ISTJ citizens, including corpses, a de-escalation of actions by the Emperor and to be negotiated settlement of compensation of both parties. This is to be a single exchange, our people in exchange for a withdrawl of our statement.

---------Librii Goverment--------
A HANMT-A-S-D radar is above your nation Aust. If you make any move to fire nuculer weopons they will be shot down imeaditly, with no regard to where they are. The troops are already in your border, in fact, they are in your capital. Make any move and they will detonate C-4 placed all around your capital.

Signed,
Jack Bastable
President of Librii
OOC: your attack is ignored.
1) My foprces would eat yours for breakfast. 1,000 troop, I can raise over a million, I have conscription and Aust city is over 1 billion pop.
2) How did they get their No inside-outside traffic rember, you will have to para drop them and I have planes to stop you doing that.
3) Your satallite would be shot down, by my space defence grid, SPDG, was built by me and SLOA as well as the coalition of honour to protect against enermy attacks.
4) Their are many other reasons. (You wouldn't be able to afford the planes ect).

NK, we should make a collection of all the Alex and dinh posts.


IC: Alex woke to cold hands dragging him from his bunk, he kicked out but met not resistance and fall to the floor. "You have a meeting with the empoer some one" said before he was gagged and blinded by a peice of cloth.

[ooc] Agreed. it's some of the better stuff I've done. I may take an evening when the traffic's light and go through, put 'em in a word document or something, set up a freewebs site, and post the whole thing, less the stuff that got out of hand...

OOC: Heres some of their story, begining with the first mention of Dinh. I'll leave you to post the last bits, I'm tired after all that posting.

OOC.5 The longest post I've ever made.

These are posted my Nuevo Kowloon.

Bin Loc village...

"...approaching from the south. Casualties are---high, estimates --- five-hun--enty-three million... Air Def----enters are recall-------servists..." Hoa Pham turned the radio off, and looked outside, at the streams of fire rising in the distance.
"What's going on, Father?" his daughter asked from inside the house.
"We are being invaded." he said. and turned. "Wake your brothers and sisters, and your mother. It won't be long now..." as he said it, he heard the footsteps outside.
"John, I expected you to come a bit later." Hoa said, and turned to the open door.
John Franklin was standing outside, cradling his rifle.
"Sorry to be early, Hoa, but the District Leadership has activated all the Militias between level four and level five." Franklin said.
Hoa nodded, "It's true, then... very well. That includes my oldest, doesn't it?" he asked.
Franklin nodded, "High School Seniors are part of it-your wife is exempt from the call up because of the younger children."
Hoa nodded again, and opened the hall closet. He reached in, and extracted three rifles.
His two oldest sons came out of their rooms, Thomas looked sleepy, his brother Dinh adjusted the dark glasses on his face.
"Boys, do you have-?" Dinh lifted his pack, "Already done, father, both of us."
Hoa nodded, and handed his sons their rifles. "Fine, keep your heads down, and stick close." They joined the others gathering at the Village armoury.
Meanwhile, those too young (or too old) began filtering into bolt-holes prepared over decades by generations of families, of villages, under the direct protection of those exempted from the call-up-mothers with young children, mostly, or the sole surviving military-aged children of elderly or disabled parents.
The Muzzle-flashes exploded below. Dinh was a Junior in the Village School, but the Army Counselor was already helping him plan for graduation.
He sat as still as the trees, as his brother Thomas (voted most likely to need retraining by the senior Class) collapsed.
The Austians were pretty-well camouflaged for night operations, Dinh could make out their shapes as they moved about. The flashes from their muzzles lighting the area like searchlights.
He chose one-near the rear of the grouping, and aimed.
"Boom!" He switched targets, focusing on one carrying some kind of support-weapon. "Boom".
His shots were chosen carefully, and he jacked one round at a time through his rifle-a gift from the Army Counselor, it wasn't the standard Garand, it was an M-1917 fitted with a scope-and the scope was in turn fitted with a light-blocking filter, to ease his sensitive eyes.
He rotated the bolt, and moved- sliding behind a rubber-tree, as the Enemy began to rush his last position.
They stood out, to him, like men in the street wearing dull clothes might to someone who lives in daylight. He spotted one that seemed to be giving orders. Centre the crosshairs, lead... right below the chin...The sensation of a glass-rod breaking-and-"Boom".
He slipped into the undergrowth. Going back for Tommy would be pointless now, the foolish older brother, if he was still alive, would either be finished by the invaders, or taken prisoner.
Though things will be harder when the sun rises... he thought ruefully.
Behind him, a line of Claymores and bouncing betties erupted-showing that the enemy had reached the crest of the hill, and had managed to not see the simple trigger until it was too late.
Hmmm... I don't remember leaving those there...

not far from the drop zone

Lt. Farmer's Platoon spotted the parachutes, and radioed them in, then, they moved southward, away from the area the bulk of the ASS troops were coming down.
"That's the Plantation, isn't it?" Hoa Pham asked. The Lt. nodded, "Yeah... it is. fancy that. Do you suppose they know they're landing in a minefield?"
Hoa shrugged, "Maybe. if it were me, I'd have one of those fighters go back and get a cannister of fire-suppressing foam, then use the blown airfield for an LZ."
The two old men looked at each other. "Do you really think they'd consider bringing ordnance to put fires out?" Farmer asked, as they marched.
"No. We would, but somehow, I don't think they're thinking that way." Hoa answered.
They reached a stand of old hardwood, and spread out.
"How long before they head for the Village?" Hoa asked, passing time.
"Not long, I give 'em thirty minutes." the Militia Leutenant replied.
The south edge of the Plantation erupted.
"Well, they found some of the mines the kids put in..." Another series of detonation-flashes lit the night.
"And the ones your kids put in. At this rate, we're going to have to get more. They're going to use them all up..." Farmer whispered wryly.
Hoa shrugged, and slid up behind a large tree root.
"don't count the payments till the Harvest is in- those boys're gonna be hot when they realize how much area's been mined around here-foreigners seem to think you have to stand up toe-to-toe and fight 'Honourably' like a damn fool..."
Another series of detonations erupted.
"They've got Night vision devices...they should be more careful where they step." Farmer whispered.
Hoa shook his head, "with all due respect, sir, there are at least ten of them coming this way. I suggest you get down, and pick a target."

Posted by Aust
Here's one sir." Sargnet Halmish pulled out a large enermy from the bushes, "we saw another younger one going up North toward the village, we've got a team after him. He's young and leaves traces, should have him with us in about 5 mins. He's going in a straight line so we've got a team heading to cut him off. We spotted some enermys moving to the south, near that minefeild,"

Posted BY NK
Dinh Pham was drugged. They were keeping him that way for now. Drugged, bound with cable-ties, and finally a virtual rope of strapping tape.
He didn't remember being captured, but in that state, he wouldn't remember much for days-or at least, he shouldn't be able to.
He could remember the surprised look on his first face-to-face enemy-the goggled mouth open below a night-vision goggle when he put the bayonet in-right before the darkness took him.
He wasn't sure, but he thought he missed the artery when he shoved the blade into the man's groin.
In his drugged haze, he could smell blood and urine over and over again-the blood and the Urine that poured down his arm, soaking his shirt...

Posted By Aust
Lutent Shivers (Timesplitters) took the photos and E-mailed them too the emporer. She suddenly noticed the boy who lay drugged and bound next to a crete in the corner, he was like many other prisinors, some of whom where being abused, but he was covred in bllod and sweat. The guard studdyed him, the boy had a good face, a cute one at least and would look good with a bit of cleaning up. "Who is that boy?" She asked a private. "Some kid sir. Visious basted tryed to bite me and kill me he did. With a bayonet. Missed of course just scraped me, but still."
"I'd like to keep him, as a slave of course."
"Sure sir. Your allowed one arn't you your an officer."
"Right. Wd've got unload these slaves and I want that one. Have him undrugged, striped, branded with my mark and taken to my room. I'll provide cloaths for him. Does he speak english?"
"Don't think so sir."
"Fit him with a translator. I don't speak what shit he does and I've got one already. In fact and strip him here for you." She did so, unbinding him and taking his cloaths, he was she decided a fine looking boy. She retied his ropes and drew them extra tight, drawing blood. She didn't care those cuts would heal.
"Keep him bound in my room, I don't want him wreaking things." She looked through the plane window, and saw it was snowing. the other guard saw it too.
"Won't he get cold sir? I mean he might die. The drugs are wearing off now."
"So? It'll do him good. If he dies I'll get another one."
"Yes sir.

Posted by NK
Lutent Shiver's quarters, half an hour later...
His captors were kind enough to leave him in the middle of the floor, unguarded, as the drugs wore off.
The cold air also slowed the drying of the blood from his hands and feet.
He looked around the room. They hadn't bothered to turn on a light, so he could (in the overbright conditions) make out most of the layout.
did you know that blood works as a lubricant?
it's acidic as hell (Human blood can rust steel blades in minutes, which is why it's important to wipe off a bayonet, and why Surgeons use stainless tools...) but it's also slippery.
The furnishings weren't made with child-safety in mind, or prisoner holding-these were military quarters.

"Anything can be escaped if you're desperate enough, see? this Tiger chewed his foot off to get out of the trap... this one was likely set by one of our ancestors, to catch a Jap or Frenchman." The memory, of his father taking him out into the jungle to hunt for a predator that was taking livestock off their land came back He had been ten then, and hanging on every word.
Okay, so... what will I sacrifice to get out of the trap? he started to evaluate his situation-at least, at this moment in time.
He curled his fingers back, and felt the plastic joining his wrists.
Cable ties, they hogtied me with cableties...

He rolled upright, kneeling with his back arched to breathe.
The end of a zip-tie is tapered, and the catch inside is just about the right size. [ooc-this part's true, especially the Panduit(c) brand.) He felt where it came out the top, and started bending it backward, until he reached the end.
He closed his eyes, and kept working at it, until the tie was looser.
She hadn't reapplied the strapping-tape, and he'd been too screwed up to notice it before, but the glue-residue was still there.

Freeing one hand allows the other hand to be freed, and the feet.
The one around his neck was the last one off.
He squinted his eyes, and forced them to focus on the clock.
It had taken forty minutes.
The first thing he did, was eliminating light-sources in the room until an acceptable level of darkness could be attained-one that would place whoever was coming at a disadvantage.

He remembered another trip into the jungle outside of their home, and his father showing him another old trap-this one was now the home of a poisonous snake.
"The cobra probably moved in last winter, and couldn't get back out. see the bones? it turned the pit-trap into a hunting ground..."

He began inventorying his environment.

People keep the damnedest things in their rooms. like cooking oil, or vinegar.
Or cleaning supplies.
Interesting things can be done with bleach, ammonia, cooking oil, and laundry detergent... and most of those things are part of grade 7 Chemistry Class.
he found dishes, eating utensils, and a few pans, as well as a hotplate-coffeemaker.
Dinh likes coffee, and makes it fairly well.
He measured out the coffee, added the water, and started a pot brewing while he turned his attention to finishing his accounting.

Lots of possible weapons, they wouldn't leave a potentially dangerous prisoner alone with potential weapons, would they? He felt the burn, and could see it now.
One would think that they would put some effort into breaking an animal before they branded it... he thought grimly.

Posted by Aust
Shivers stepped into the room. It was dark too dark. Her soildier sence was immedietly on high alert. You didn't get in the ASS without being a good soildier. She had 13 years of training and was as fit as a person could be. The boy came at her with a knife. He slashed, but her vison had ajusted now and she jumped back, sticking out her foot tripping him. He fell to the floor and rolled.
She kicked him hard in he chest, at the burn, her foot concted well, winding him. She then kicked he knife out of his hand and fell on him holding on. Forcing the boy to the floor. The boy was strong and he made a despret heave, she was thrown back into the wall. She was stunned and the boy turned looking for his knife or some weapon. She saw a good weapon, viniger. A squeevzy bottle too. She picked it up and took off the cap.
She also drew her knife. The boy turned a carving knife in his hand. She fired the viniger and it hit him dead in the eyes. He dropped his knife and clutched his eyes. Acid=eyes=not good. it was a natural human reaction to clutch your eyes. and his body knew that Knife=acid=eyes=even worse. She kicked him hard in the stomoch and he doubled over. then again in the crotch. He lay on the floor, wipeing his eyes. She took the chance to take off her jumper and other cloaths. The she lept upon him and held the knife to his throat she also examind his body more throughly. He had a good, body an athlets body and it was slick with sweat and blood. She pinned im with her legs and slashed with her knife, opening up a cut in the shape of a S marking him as hers. He cried out with pain and his hands left his eyes and she clutched his body close and....

NK post
inside Aust, Lutent Shiver's quarters, Hammerfall plus thirty minutes...

Dinh felt a weight on his legs first. then, he opened his eyes, and realized that the windows were both gone, and blocked. Well, it couldn't have been that good-we were still fighting... He sat up, and looked around.
The wall-locker was against what was now the floor, and the door was now on the ceiling.
Lovely. I wonder what happened... He could remember the thunder, and the rumble-but not much past that.
He checked himself first.
Well... looks like I lucked out-all still here. He heard breathing, and turned.
She was pinned under the coffee table, and he could see the spreading stain of blood from her left leg.
He almost felt a spike of malice, but suppressed it-enemy or not, this Shivers would be dead in a few minutes of blood loss if he didn't do something.
Can't claim to be a better person if you don't act on it... he thought, remembering his father's words.
He took a lamp-cord (she won't be needing that, and the damn thing is blinding when it's on anyway), and used it to fashion a tournequet.
Then, he inspected the wound.
Clean... looks like window-glass-she was ass-on the window... He made sure the bleeding was slowed, and searched through an upended 3-drawer chest.
He found a tube of Krazy glue, a roll of tape, and a sewing kit with green silk thread-probably for the dress uniforms in the overturned locker.
Well, I hope she doesn't wake up just yet... He carefully drew the chunk of window out of her leg, and, using some of her own kitchen utensils (Liberally spread around the quarters by whatever had overturned the building), he set to work.
Krazy Glue (Cyanoacrilate) was originally developed to close injuries in steroid-pumped atheletes.
Dinh used it to "Spot Weld" torn blood vessels that he couldn't quite get the needle to sew into.
It was long work, and occasionally, she groaned, but the table (a device made of wrought iron and gaudy as hell) worked well to immobilize the work area, so her thrashing never quite reached the point of disturbing his sewing.
The Box of tissues was used up, by the time he finished-along with two rolls of toilet paper and a dozen plain cloth Handkerchiefs from what was probably meant to be her "Inspection" drawer.
She woke up as he finished wrapping the wound with the tape-the last two clean napkins folded up as a dressing over the stitches.
"Wh-what happened?" she asked-she had lost more blood than Dinh liked to think about, but she was alive and conscious now.
"Boom. You've been hurt pretty badly, and lost a crapload of blood. It looks like the base was hit with something pretty big. Can you see how many fingers I'm holding up?" he asked.
She peered at him. " 'stoo Dark in here, I can' see a thing..." she said.
Crap, that's right, she's a daysider... "Sorry, I forgot-your eyes don't work well in this light. Gimme a minute." he said, and looked around the chaos. There was an angle-headed flashlight with a red filter on it. The light would be blinding, but she'd be able to answer his questions.
He tossed it onto her belly. "Flashlight, turn it on and point it at my voice." he instructed her, then he turned away, and held up his hand, "How many fingers?" (He held up three, averting his eyes to avoid what was coming.)
"Three-wait, you're-?" she started, and stopped.
"Yeah, I'm naked-so're you. Whatever else was going on, something bounced the building over. Now if you'll put that damn light out, I can see if there's something you can drink to replenish what you've lost-like juice or broth or something, then I have to find a blanket that's not full of glass to throw over you, since the heating is down. Once that's done, I can see if there's a pair of shoes or something in here, and find some pants."
She kept the light trained on him. "You speak english." she commented.
He nodded, "Yeah, so do you-I speak four languages, that's why the Regular Forces were already talking recruitment-you want to put that damn light out, now? My eyes aren't going to adapt to the illumination like yours do, and right now, I'm mobile without a chance of reopening an arterial wound and bleeding to death." The light went out.
"Thanks." he picked his way to the fridge, and only got one cut on his feet for the trouble. Inside its darkened interior, he found four bottles of sports-type drinks. "Well, these'll have to do..." he took them, and walked back over. "Here. it's still sealed, so you know I'm not poisoning you." He handed the bottle to her, "drink up."
He watched her open the bottle, and swallow several gulps.
"Why didn't you just escape?" she asked him, after swallowing.
Dinh shrugged, "You weren't a threat anymore, and to be a better man means more than just talking superior morality-it means acting[i] on it... besides, you can see out there in the daylight, and I can't." He found a heavy woolen blanket, and shook it out. after a careful inspection, he laid it over her.
"That doesn't do you any good with me pinned here." she pointed out.
He nodded, "Yeah, but now that you're awake, I'm not sure that plan really pulls the plow-see, I can't [i]trust you, once you're free, but I can't leave you here to possibly starve to death or dehydrate."
He found a pair of BDU pants-they were a little large in the waist, and long, but with a belt, they could fit-sort of.
Her shoes were another thing entirely-they were far too small.
"They'll come for me." she asserted firmly, adding "You'd be better off helping me up."
He looked at her, she was still looking in the direction he'd been standing a moment ago.
"I'm over here? I actually thought of that-but it's been half an hour, and I haven't heard a sound from what I have to assume is outside, although there Was someone screaming outside the door-didn't sound like he got very far before something heavy fell on him and cut the noise off." He shook out a shirt, checked it over-she apparently had quite the collection of civilian clothes. He pulled it over his head, and walked back over.
"Hold still, I have to check my work." he said.
He lifted the blanket off, and looked at the white square in the middle of the tape-where he'd left it open to breathe.
No stain-the stitches were right.
"Well, it's sealed, at least." he said.
"That's nice." she commented dryly.
He looked around the room, and found something that might work as a lever.
He marked it's location, and started looking at the rest of the contents of her locker.
"I don't know anything about you." he said, "other than you look damn good when you're not pounded the shit out of..."
He opened it, and went through it.
Something he found, fixed the decision.
"Okay, I'm taking the table off." he told her.
She laughed, "Why? you trust me all of a sudden?"
He shook his head, though she wouldn't see the movement.
"No, I'm taking it off of you for reasons you probably would never comprehend." He got up, and grabbed the rebar, then, he set the end under the table, and lifted.
"I can't remember the greek's name, but with enough lever, you can move the world." Dinh told her, as he lifted.
The wrought-iron monstrosity came up, shifted, shifted a bit more.
He grunted under the strain, and felt debris digging into his feet.
It finally tipped off of her.
He dropped the bar, and tossed her a set of clothing-bra, panties, wool socks, tee-shirt, jacket, and pants.
"Bravo." she stood up, and flicked the light on-flashblinding him for a moment, she didn't attack, she just needed the illumination.
"You're not looking, are you?" the question was almost disappointing.
He shrugged, "Everyone deserves a little dignity in a crisis." he said, adding, "Whether they choose to have any is an individual decision, but everyone deserves the chance." He leaned against the upended counter, and picked pieces of glass and drywall out of the soles of his feet.
The light didn't go out, but its intensity was turned down-not as bright, but still uncomfortable.
"Okay, what changed your mind?" she asked him again, from less than a foot away-she'd managed to cover the distance without a sound while he was looking away.
"This." He held up a picture from her scrapbook-actually, from her Family's scrapbook.
It was a black-and-white image of her Grandfather as a very young man.
"I don't understand?" she said.
"That picture was taken three days before Blood Pass fell, your Relative is one of the three Austian Liason officers who died with the first of the first at Blood Pass. I recognized the photo from one my Grandma used to keep, along with the citation letter on the next page. Your family is good, ergo, you can't be unsalvageable, and saving your life was the right decision." He told her.
"I see." her tone was almost disappointed. She tapped him on the shoulder, and asked, "Where did you learn...ah... to sew up cuts, kid?"
He shrugged, "Primary career path was going to be Corpsman-I'd already completed the first six months' extra school. Secondary was Night-Sniping, If doc Suze had been in another Village instead of mine, I'd have been in the shelter as the Doc-she was there to collect a mental patient for transport, when your forces attacked and the roads closed."
She moved away from him, and the light was pointed down.
"Ah... why that career?" she asked.
He shrugged, "Easiest way into Med school is a tour as a corpsman on the boats-and medical's what you want if you want to do the kind of research I want to do. It sucks having to wear number-eleven light filters to go outside during the day, and it sucks to have to wear heavy sunglasses on a full-moon, plus the sunburns from ordinary lightbulbs are murder on the ol' skin. There's probably eighty million people in Nuevo Kowloon who can't go outside when the sun's up, ya dig? and about fifty million of those can't use a computer without wearing sunglasses either. It's Genetic Damage, and sure, I can see in the dark, and some people might think that's cool-but the tradeoff is worse than you could ever imagine."
She stopped.
"You haven't heard, have you?" she asked.
He turned and squinted at her. "Heard what?"
She told him, and watched his knees just give as he sat down and started to weep.

Posted by Aust
Shivers was moved by the boy crying at the distruction of his nation, but then she proberly would too if it had been Aust. "I'm sorry kid." She said "But what can we do, I mean you may as well get over it. it's happened and now your a slave. Thats life."
"A slave?" The boy stopped crying and looked up. No one had told him.
"Look on your arm, or your cheast, it has the slaves mark, my mark" He looked and saw the brand in the shape of a inverted S and the scar also in the shape of a S. "Yours, S stands for Shivers right."
"Yes. I'm sorry, not much I can do. It could be worse I guess, you could be someone elses slave. At least I am okay. I'm sorry about the scar, I was angry." His mind flashed back to the fight, the viniger in his eyes the pain in his cheast the fell ing of being...
"you!"
"Yes. I'm so sorry, I didn't mean it I mean, I did mean it but, it was a mis-understanding ."
"Okay, I mean I don't think that this is entirely your fault." Shivers smiled he'd fallen for the, I'm a nice person roteen.
"Now lets get out of here. Is their anything heavy?"
"is this good?" He haded her a broken beam.
"Good. Do we have light."
"Yes,"
"Turn it on." He turned it on and the bright ness hurt his eyes. Interesting thought Shivers aversion to light I could use that. She made her way to the door and smashed it with the beam, it opened, light from a broken cealing stung her eyes but she could see clearly enough, a giant hunk of metal and bodies, lots of bodies. The boys was cowering in the corner wimpering. "to much light." He moaned.

Posted by NK
Dinh observed her while playing up the sensitivity.
Well, I could have been wrong...
He contemplated this, then, he stopped shamming.

and laughed.

"For an Elite, you certainly are dense." he said, his voice clear.
She turned around, and flashed him with the light again.
"What??" she demanded.
"Why work harder than you have to? The connecting walls between this room and the next are ordinary stud-and-plasterboard." He picked up a stool as he turned, and walked over to the kitchen wall.
WHAM! WHAM! WHAM! He set the stool down, and muttered something under his breath, then he made an edge-hand, and broke the now exposed wall-studs.
"If I had been thinking, and not under the influence of those drugs, I might have killed you in our little dust-up." he informed her, and added, "Now quit straining my sewing, I didn't save your life so that you could bleed to death acting the fool." he turned his back quite deliberately on her, and walked into the next room. There was a booted foot sticking out from under a Wall-locker, but he couldn't hear any breathing. He checked the size.
Hmm. my size, imagine that! He took the dead man's boots as Shivers came in, light Blaring. "Hope he wasn't a friend of yours." Dinh commented, adding, "This was probably the guy I heard while you were out, seeing as the foot's still warm...wait, you can't see that."
He pulled the boots on, and laced them up-a reprieve from the broken glass and fragments.
"What do you see?" she asked.
He shrugged, "Not as much as some, more than most- I know one guy, he was a Senior when I was in brat-boot, who said he could actually see thermals-body heat. Creepy, I think he was lying, but sometimes I almost see it too..." he felt around on the floor, something glittered through his clenched eyes (which were, as to be expected, watering badly.)
"Raybans!" He scooped them up, and put them on. "Now, you won't blind me by accident." The sunglasses weren't all that effective, but they were better than the alternative.
"Now, if you'll point that, thataway..." he pointed back through the hole.
She cleared her throat, looking at the broken 2x4 studs.
"Where did you learn to do That?" she asked.
He saw what he wanted-the bed, or more exactly, the bed frame.
"Aunt Myra, she's kinda white, like you-teaches grade two physical excercises." he said, and lifted the frame into place.
"uh-huh... you're going to say everyone back home was as good as you?" she asked skeptically.
He shook his head, "Nope, I'm a wimp. got the brain, Tommy got the body, but no brains at-all." He climbed up the bedframe, and balanced, grasping the doorknob. It turned, and he focused his leverage by looping his feet in the bedframe and pushed upward.
"You're still my slave, you know." she commented.
He shrugged, "Whatever, that just means you're legally accountable for anything I do." the door up banged open, and he lifted his head up.

The corridor was a scene out of a blood-and-guts disaster movie. patches of hateful light streamed down, lighting up areas and casting reflections. The smell of dead, and the smell of gas was strong up here.
He grabbed proof, and dropped back down. "don't light any matches." he said, "There's daylight above us-looks like you-sized holes, but I can't look out side, even with these on... and the walls are sticky."
He tossed the carbine at her, "here, you might need this. the barrel doesn't look like it's bent, but I won't vouch for the action. some jackass designed it of carbon-fibre and aluminum instead of steel and wood."
The Carbine was an Mp5k "Tactical" and Dinh was referring to it with the same tone of contempt someone else might have for a leaky garbage-can or poorly made toilet.
He heard her run through a function check.
"No good." she said. He shrugged, "figures, stamped-metal-aluminum-plastic piece of crap..." His busy hands stopped, and he smiled, "Okay, I've got a sling here for you, I go up, you climb, last five feet, I help you out of the hole." he went back up the doorway, and dropped the bedsheet-sling down.
"Are you strong enough?" she called up.
Dinh shrugged, "Maybe-you'd better hope I am-a fall will rip that mess right open again, and I appear to be the only Medic within shouting range."
The lifting-out process took a handfull of seconds-Shivers clearly had no interest in dying in here.
Dinh squinted, and endured the pain long enough to look over the hallway.
There was a man in different clothing-like the men who had him drugged.
Shivers was panting. Dinh made his way carefully to the fallen medic, and picked up the bag. It smelled of disinfectant, feces, and blood.
he came back over to the darkest part of the shadows, and opened it.
"Hmmm... paralytic, paralytic, don't know what this one is...or this one... what kind of medic doesn't carry any painkillers or stimulants? there we go..." he fished out a plastic bottle filled with a liquid.
"What's that for?" Shivers asked.
Dinh held it up, then rolled it over, with a needle in a sealed plastic baggie.
"Painkillers, if this guys blood-packs had survived, we'd be set, now, if you'll come on over, I need to check that dressing, your BP, and your Heartrate."
She was tentative, and held the light in a manner suitable for flash-then-club moves.
He checked her over clinically.
"A little fast, and you're definitely a quart or two short..." he tapped her belt-buckle, "Pull 'em down, this won't hurt a bit." he said.
She gripped him by the neck while he checked the dressing. Dinh simply ignored the proximity of female flesh, and pretended to himself she wasn't a fascist sociopath.
"Dressing's still good. pull 'em up." he said. a blast of cold air washed through, carrying the smell of charred earth and death with it.
She went to the first hole that was "Her size", and looked out. after a moment, she turned, and shook her head. "No good. too high up for me, hell, it's too high up for you."
Dinh shrugged, shouldered the bag, and followed her.
She checked again further down the hall, where the wall they were walking on dipped downward. Dinh dashed to the next patch of shadow, and waited with his eyes closed, soothing them from the abuse.
"No good, the hole's fine, but it's just more of the same." she said.
He forced his eyes open, as they reached an intersection half-flooded in daylight from above.
Something skittered in a familiar way as his foot caught a body on the floor, and he followed the sound.
"Hey!" he heard her say, as he scooped it up.
the sound a pair of Dayglasses makes when they skid is something only someone whose day-to-day life depends on them would know.
He fiddled with the strap, and took off the ray-bans.
The prescription was a little weaker than his- ten and a half arcwelding grade, but it was tolerable.
"So I didn't hallucinate them after all." he commented, adding, "You got more of us-you did think to kill Amy Cu'ong, right? she's not loose?"
Shivers looked uncertain.
"Why her, in particular?" she asked, redirecting the conversation and evaluating the new situation.
He sighed, "Because, Miss Shivers, Amy Cu'ong has an IQ that's about thirty points higher than mine, and she gets off on hurting people, hurting them in ways that are both disgusting, and fatal. She's smart enough to get away with it on lack of evidence, but she's arrogant enough that just about everyone in the district knows-knew... believe me, you don't want her prowling loose." He looked out the next hole himself. So far, she'd been telling the truth-the next opening was almost a hundered meters further west, in what looked like a room.
"What brought that on?" she asked.
Dinh shrugged, and knocked open the doors on the end of the intersection, finishing what the disaster had started.
"She wears ten and a half-it's a pretty rare prescription, and the other three people in the district that wear it were out that night with the Militia."
they walked down another upended hallway.
"Those are ten-and a halfs?" Shivers asked.
Dinh nodded, "Yeah, I wear an Eleven most of the time, twelves in summer, but these are at least mildly tolerable... here we go. nice grade down, the rubble's not too loose, and it looks like we've got flat once we get clear." He stepped out, and paused, "I don't think anyone's coming to look in on you anytime soon." he said, and gestured outward.
"But you could be wrong." she answered from behind him.
Dinh shrugged, "Yeah, I could... but I don't see any emergency vehicles, crews, search teams... nothing but a big orange blob over thataway, and I smell sulphur."
Posted by Aust (alex’s story starts here)
------------ 3 miles away from the boarder ---------------------------
Alex, stood holding his T-15 sniper rifle, around him where as many as 100 men and women from his village Al-Ling. Earlyer in the day reports had come in from the east that a group of Phyrric soildier who had got passed the line. But that didn't worry him. Their where around 1000 Aust Troopers persuing as well as a lot of armed civillians around. The Phyrric soildiers where advancing towards. Ast-nasta, a city to thenorth on the main road. The only well known road through the mountains. And an ambush was ready. It was about to begin. An orange flare went up from his right and the shooting began, the Austians fired Quad mounted machine guns, rifles and just about every other weapon they could lay their hands on, even bows and arrows. Their was a bang as someone fired an anceint hunting rifle.
Alex looked for a target, he saw one a Phyrric officer ordering men to return fire. He fired his Sniper Rifle taking the man out. Pritty soon the Phyrricians where mountaing a effective defence but thay had lost many. Alex fired one last shot then threw the gun over his back and jumped onto his quad. He drove off home, his activites finished today. Thats was the fith time he had ambushed that one group of soildiers today. And soon they'd be reach Arc'de Horn a small part of the road only wide enough for 5 men abreast with steep stide that you needed specilist gear to climb. Their where paths up eather side but they where dangerous and only the locals used them. At 08:00 the entire force of locals had arranged to ambush them, as well as people from Ast-nasta, their would be a hell of a lot of people, over 4,000 at least and many of those would be hidden that was just from the villages, Ast-nasta had promised to send as many people as it could spare. it had a population of 1.5 million so they expected at least 250 thousand, as the city would have a TA force of 900,000.

------------------------------------------
shivers saw the sun begin to set and pointed to a spring nearby next to an pld elm tree, "We can make camp their, the tree will give us firewood and the spring water, as for food I brought some tinned stuff with us from the camp. About your goggles, it's coming up to summer soon and since the Elvindom war we have had even stronger summers thn usual, it's like where on the equator, will they be strong enough?"
"No," He replied, Shivers hid her half smile at the infomation.
"well it's mid spring now and summer is constant daylight, at the moment it'll change, still winter constant darkness. Well have a day to night cycle for the next few weeks." She shopped off on the elm trees branches and began to prepare a fire. What do you want, we have soup, makaroni, pizza, meatballs or beef, better the beef it won't last long." They ate and then bedded down, "I'll take first watch." Shivers told him, " I'll wake you at two. Judging from the state of the base their won't be many survivors so tomorrow I'll go and get a jeep and we can head out. If we head south we can make it to Al-tena, and then on to Al-Ling near the Line. My parents and younger brother live their, he's called Alex, you might like him. You can stay with them while I go to fight."
"Sure" he muttered sleeperly and then went to sleep next to the stream, claiming it helped him sleep.
Shivers waited for about an hour and then cheaked he was asleep using someting she had taken from the medics bag. It cheaked his brainwaves, they where normal and it estermated he'd be in REM for at least another 2 hours. Shivers went up and picked up his Dayglasses. They where lying next to his legs where she could pick them up easly. She examined them carefully and then walked a little further down the stream that flowed from the spring. It into a large river and she threw it in at the deepest part, dropping a rock upon the to make sure they stayed their and where broken and then she walked back to amp and waited out the night. Waking the boy at 2 as agreed. He didn't notice the theft though she asked wether he would need them, he told her he didn't need them thanks to his night vision.

Posted by Aust
The ARP oprative made his way towards the small camp, he didn't know who was their but he guessed they could tell him what the hell had gone on. He drew his gun and was within 200 meter when someone shouted out, "Stop!" He turned and saw a boy sitting their, incredibly he had seen him on a pitch black night with no equipment. Interesting, the oprative thought and he holstered his gun, then the first rays of sun began to shine over the horizion and he saw the boy a little better, he was tanned and was wearing a wight over large T-shirt with millatary jeans, the boy turned and looked for something, then he cried out, "My dayglasses their gone!" He turned and held his hand up to sheild his eyes from the sun, that although weak seemed to blind him. A woman woke with the cry, and looked around, she asked the boy about where his Dayglasses where and then saw the man. She went up to him then, with her skills as a ASS trooper killed him with one blow, she dragged his corpse and threw it into the remains of the base. She also found a jeep, over turned but she guessed that her and the boys strength could turn it over, even her strengh was enough, it had a key in the egnistion so she prepared to leave.

Posted by Aust
Dinh couldn't see. He'd expected it-the first he'd done after Shivers lay down, was look for the glasses and they weren't there. She left a trail a blind man could follow, though. clumsy... right to the edge of the stream.
But the glasses were wrecked.
Do I wake her up? no... let her have her games for now. Her error will soon be apparent.
The lurker in the darkness wasn't getting closer. Dinh toyed with the idea of alerting Shivers-but thought better of it when he returned to the camp.
The darkened glass shards included a pair of chunks big enough to use, and he would need time and a sewing kit to mount them-time he knew he didn't have.
The fact that she killed someone without even trying to find out who they were told him volumes about her character as a person, and about her actual, as opposed to book-level, intelligence.
stupid. stupid and clumsy, like Tommy, only with tits. This is Karma, it has to be, I left Tommy to them, so now I get Tommy a little older and female to take care of...
So, he couldn't see for the time being.
He bumped into the jeep, and felt a spreading bruise.
"Can you lift it?" she asked.
He shook his head, "Over a thousand pounds, by the feel of it-I need a lever, and something to work as a fulcrum-and I need to See what I'm doing, whether it's jammed by anything that would prevent it being turned over. this place have a welding shop?"
She answered him, "No."
He shrugged, "Sorry, can't overcome physics this time, no mechanical leverage, and I can't see to do the job."
She slapped him. He remained calm. "Whipping the animal does no good when the plow's jammed or the legs are lamed." he said, "either way, you have to think and observe. fact: the Jeep weighs more than I can lift-period, you've given me no tools to lift it with, and I can't see to use any tools that might turn it over, because someone with size-eight feet decided to play dominance games instead of just accepting that I wasn't going to abandon them or attack them." He leaned against the Jeep's steel body, "You rip those stitches open, you're going to need to sew them up yourself-I can't do it this time for you, and the work is delicate. Why else do you think i was so paranoid about your condition in the first place?"
She was silent, but he he could hear her breathing, and knew he was making her angry.
Angry enough to think instead of just reacting, or angry enough to do something even more catastrophically stupid? he wondered.
"Okay, you wait here, I will find the tools to right the vehicle." she said.
He nodded, "Where, pray tell, would I be going? I count Zero directions I could take that would land me anywhere better than with you, at least, at the moment. You did remember to search the man's body? He might have friends, and they're certainly not going to be all that amenable to you for killing him-they might even be a touch resentful, since you didn't bother to find out what he was doing here, or who he was beforehand, you also didnt' bother to find out if there were or are more."
she stalked off, muttering, while he sat there, in the shade of the overturned vehicle.
I wonder if she took a hit to the head, and I just didn't see it?
Posted by Aust
Shivers went below, leaving the boy in the sun, if he was blind it could be an advantage but she'd have to watch her back. She found what she was lookeding for, a leaver. It was metal and also their was a jack. That was good. She had another look round, and located the familly rooms, in their their where clothes for people the boys age as well as food and sunglasses, maybe they'd help. She didn't know but she could try. She found a rucksack at the far side and put the food in it along with some cantines of water. Their was a magnafying glass as well so she took that to save her matches. What else did she need, she had food and cloathes. Blankets, it could get cold soon and nights in Aust where bitter. She took too and made her way to the jeep. She dumped the load next to the boy and went back for some more. Another rucksack to put more food in, and sunglasses. They might help his eyesight. She was starting to regret loseing his Dayglasses. She made it back to the jeep, finding some peterol onway. She'd comeback for it.
"Right kid. I've got everything, a leaver food and clothes survival equipment. Whild I get the jeep over you, go get some water. I guess you can find a spring, it makes a sound. I'll point you in the right direction, keep going in a straight line until you hear or feel it, then fill these canteens." She thrust them at him. "Then come back." He went off and she turned away, using the leavr to move the jeep. Luckally it was on tilting land and it went over easyly, the keys where still in ignition, and the driver, now decised was in the seat. She flung his corpse out and looked at the petrol meter, full. That was good, a jeep like this with a pital mounted machine gun could go for over 400 miles without refueling. She need to go and get the perol. "Oh, kid, Phin or whatever your name is, are you done yet."
"Yes!" He yelled back.
"Good, come back then." He set off going the wrong way, towards one of the holes. "S**t!" shivers swore as he fell, screaming down one of the holes.
She ran, full speed, towards the hole, swearing as she went. She reached it, the boy was lying their, face down, his arm was cut open on some glass, and his leg was at an angle that proberly wasn't where itshould be, then again, his other arm was in the wrong position too. "Hold on!" she yelled. The kid just groaned.
Shivers ran back to the jeep, their was edical equipment thier, the boy might need a crutch as well. She vaulted into the jeep and pciked up it's medical kit as well as the one the boy had found. Carrying both she ran back towards the hole.
Now she had to get into it.
The drop was 6 or 7 meters, much too far for hur to jup, even if their wasn't glass on the floor. She found andothr hole, a few meters away and found a foothold. She climbed down throwing the medical kits down first, hopeing they didn't break. This tunnels drop was only about 2 meters, and she made it easyly not ripping her stiches. She went down a sloping tunnel till she found the boy, their was a lot of glass around and she knew that she shouldn't move him, but she wouldn't be able to examine him in this light. She thanked god that she was a trained medic. She pulled him and he screamed. Too much glass. She had too clear a path, and she did, the boy was loosesing blood fast, so she wrapped a bandage around his left arm, hopeing that it would hold and pulled the 10 inch long shard of glass out, he screamed like hell, but she had heard screams on the battlefeild and took no notice.
The bleeding was slower now and she hoped it would stay slow. She pulled the boy into the open air, he opened his eyes for a second and then closed them again as the light hit them. He was unconcius. She decided to roll him over, she did. His front had a lot of glass in it, but those where small paices, and she could remove them later. She cheaked him over, a dislocated shoulder and a brken leg, not to mention the massive gash on his arm. She gave him some morphine to keep him quiet while she cleaned him up, taking off this bloodstained and ripped clothes to wipe the blood off and take out te glass. Their was a lot of glass and it would hurt like hell, thank god he was unconcius. He would be okay, she had seen worse. Her boyfreind had once had his arm ripped off by a tiger, now that bhad hurt.
She put hos arm in a sling, but as for his leg, it was two clean breaks, she should put a cast on it but she had no plaster, she just bandaged him up. He now looked like a mummy, his cheast bandaged where he had broken a rib and his sling and his leg and all. Not to metion the countless sticking plasters she had put over the cuts. His cut on his hand had stopped bleeding and she put some anti-septic on it to stop it becoming septic, she did that to all his other cuts. At least he wouldn't die of gangreen.
She now had to get him to the jeep, it was 200 meters away and it would take time to get him their. The sun was coming on it's downward decent, it must be around 6, he hoped he'd wake in the night. She carryed him by firemans lift too the jeep and the covered him with blankets, and put some clothes on him leaving his old one to turn to dust. Then she slept they could st off tomorrow. She hadn't had anything too eat since lunch, nether had he but it was just too tireing, mabey he would wake in the night. She slept.

Posted by NK
Dinh was cold. he was cold, and that meant...
He opened his eyes. Stars blazed above him. He felt his injuries, so he used his good arm to check.
Right leg... okay, I need a splint. This many bandages means I was probably bleeding...damn my head hurts.
"There are times when I... really... need to take my own advice." Dinh said aloud.
Shivers mumbled, and sat up. "What's that?" she asked.
Dinh looked at her, "I said, there are times when I really need to take my own advice-like not walking around when I can't see where I'm going. How's the cut?"
She looked in his direction from her sleeping position. "It's fine, I'm just a little (yawn) fatigued, You've been out for about seven hours."
Dinh frowned. "That's a long time-even for a fall. Nice work on the field-dressings, but..." he patted his broken leg, "You should've splinted it- a splint is what you do when you can't make a cast because of conditions."
She shrugged, "I wrapped you before I got you out of the hole, a splint would've interfered, and then I so [yawn] tired..."
Dinh nodded, "Good reason. makes sense. Maybe I need one of those white canes-hell, I should have thought of that..." he frowned.
She got up, and came over.
"You're shivering." she said.
He nodded, "yeah, I'm... did you use a painkiller on me?"
She nodded, "Yeah, Morphine."
He sighed, "That explains the cold, and the numbness-morphine lowers your blood pressure while it kills the pain. I must be pretty hosed up."
She squatted down, "dislocated shoulder, multiple cuts, broken rib. you know about the leg, and whatever I couldn't find because you were out."
He sighed, "Damn. how far did I fall?"
She grinned, "Seven meters down, maybe another two and a half sideways. It took me forever to find a way down there, I half-expected you to bleed out."
He gave her a long look. "Thanks. I take it the Jeep runs?"
She nodded, "It runs-and we've got 400 miles worth of fuel. to get us to civilization."
Dinh sighed, "Well, I guess it's going to be a while before I'm much use. Sorry about that." he said.
She shook her head, and chuckled, "You can do my books or something until you're mobile on your own."
He looked at her pallor, "Have you eaten?" he asked in a serious tone.
"Uhm... no. I was too wiped out to eat when I got you back up here." she told him.
Dinh frowned, "You lost a lot of heart-juice, and you're still not recovered, you need to eat."
She stifled a chuckle-"You are more screwed up than I, and you're worrying about my eating habits? What were you, the village nag?"
Dinh actually laughed, "No, that was Mrs. Diep, nag-nag-nag...I swear her kids thought..." his mood darkened again, and he seemed to sink down.
"Thought what?" Shivers pushed.
"Her kids thought she was going to nag them to the end of the world." he finally said, adding, "They weren't far wrong-at least, for them-they lived about six miles outside of town, to the east. They're dead now." He turned moody.

Posted by Aust
The jeep bounced down the small mountain tracks that where on the way to Shivers home, she knew these so well and she breathed in the fresh air. "See this kid! This is my home, where I lived and grew up, a nice place."
"No, I don't see it, I'm blind rember."
"oh, yeah. We'll be thir in five mins, just over this mountain and then where thire." The sm all village appeared on the horizan, a few kids pottered about and the farmers gathered their grain. Shivers drove down and everyone looked up watching the jeep come down the path. Alex ran out, glad to see his cousain. "Sisi, what are you doing here?" He asked, his farther following. "Long story, Al. my base got distroyed, any enermy around here?" He nodded
"yes, about 200,000 of them, we've been ambushing them all day. There making for the city."
"But none here."
"No, this place is remote enough, a few planes passed over but no troops."
"Thank god. Can you get a room set up for me and one for my passanger."
"Passanger?" She jerked her thumb towards Dinh, who was jying in the back of the truck. "Yeah, this is Dinh, he's my slave. don't ask one of the emporers new rules. Anyway, he's from Nuevo Kowloon and he's indured, he can't see well in the day. In fact he's blind got good nightvision. He needs a room to stay in. At the moment I think he's asleep. So if we move him now he'll wake up after dark. You can talk to him then." They carryed the boy into the house and into the spare room where they layed him on the bed with his stuff. Shivers removed his bandage, it was healing well. She also put a splint on his leg. She told her mother to give him some food when he woke up and too keep the lights turned off. Then she got into the jeep and with Alex her uncals and her farther she made towards the ambush.
------------------
The road was small and the sides steep, in fact men could only walk along it 6 abreast, and the ambushes where waiting. They where waiting for the Phyrric troops. 20,000 ambushes linded the steep slopes of the sides, 1 mile long, impossable to get too except by secret paths, At the other end of the george where 6 rows of 2 tanks, manned by the ASS who had mounted rocket launches on them as well as the tanks own arnaments, behind that where 14,000 Aust troopers and 240,000 civillian defence groupes all rady to fight. The enermy came to the start of the george. no one fired they kept on comeing. Then the tanks and the ambushes opened fire. Shivers and Alex where among them. Thousands of bullets hammered into the tightly compact Phyrric troops, blocking the road. they returned fire killing a few men. On of the Aust tanks exploded but the ones behind fired on. People forght to get to the front line to fire upon the enermy. 9 anti-tank mines went off as well as 18 bounching bettys. The Autians where holding and the battle of Ridgeville had begun.

The austians would work shifts, half of the ambushes who lived near by would fight for 6 hours and then return to their villages to be replaced.

Posted by NK
Dinh woke up with throbbing pain his leg, shoulder, and head. On a bed.
He sniffed, the sheets were clean, the room was... clean.
The walls were right-side up...and it didn't hurt to see. he lay there and evaluated the room.
Wooden furnishings, dresser... two lamps, closet... he continued silently counting items, cataloguing them for later references-such as when the owners of the house came in and turned the lights on.
Someone came up to the door, and Dinh closed his eyes. A painfully bright wall showing every blood vessel in his eyelids in stark relief erupted-she'd turned the lights on.
"Are you awake?" a voice asked. The voice sounded like a middle-aged woman.
"Yeah, I am... where's Shivers?" he asked.
"She's up above Ridgeville, fighting an invasion from Phyrric." The woman said matter-of-factly.
Dinh sighed, and frowned, "She's got a leg-wound, she needs to see a doctor and make sure I sewed up that artery right-if it tears, she can die of internal bleeding."
The woman walked over, and he felt her sit on the bed. "You care?" she asked.
Dinh sighed, "yeah. she had about eighteen inches of window driven through the major artery in her right leg when her base took the hit, and she lost about a quart and a half of her blood type on the floor before I woke up and sewed her up... Why did she leave me here?"
The woman laughed drily, "She left you here because you're busted up, and she needed to be out there defending her home."
Dinh laughed.
"That's what I was doing when I was captured back home-only I was in good shape, with no injuries." he said.
He heard her suck in her breath. "You-you're blinded by lights, though..." she said.
He nodded, "Yeah, but after the sun goes down, I don't need NVG's, I just have to wear really, really, really, dark sunglasses if I want to have a normal conversation with you in lighting you're comfortable with."
She touched his face. He winced. "Sunburn." he said, adding, "It'll tan out eventually, I've been spending a lot of time outside and in places with artificial lighting lately."
He felt her stand up, and the bandages and splints around his right leg being checked. By the feel of it, she knew what she was doing.
"You are quite young to be a soldier, Dinh." she commented.
He shrugged, "I'm not-at least, I wasn't yet- I still had two years of school before my number was supposed to come up, but I was already talking to the Navy Rep about a status as a Corpsman on one of the Riverboat teams."
she laughed, "Corpsman-what's that?" she asked, sounding amused.
" 'The Immediate treatment of wounded and Injured Marines in less than ideal condtions, the Corpsman is trained in emergency trauma surgery, poison control, and other critical tasks relating to the health and welfare of the Marines in his Squad.' Once I finished my two-year stretch, I already had the grades for academic advancement to medical school

Posted by Aust
Alex arrived back from the pass, he felt tired but he decided to go in and see the new arrival. That made Dinh sound like a baby., He smiled and opened the door. The boy was lying on the bed. Alex switched on some NVG's that he had borrowed from shivers and closed the door, they could both see now. "Hi." said Alex unsure how to start the coversation. "Your Dinh arn't you. I'm Alex, Sisi told me all about you."

Posted by NK
Dinh heard the door open and close, and waited. The painful light didn't come on, but he heard a young man's voice.
"Yes. I am..." Dinh peeked. Alex was wearing a bulky NVG set. "Thanks for leaving the light off." Dinh grinned.
"How many fingers am I holding up?" Alex asked.
Dinh shrugged, "Three, on your left hand, and it looks like you've got a small cut on the index finger that's gotten dirty." Alex dropped his hand, and said, "You really can see, can't you?"
Dinh nodded, "I was about to ask for something to read, being laid up with a busted peg sucks the big one."
Alex took a seat on a chair, "Yeah, it does..." there was an awkward pause.
"How's the Leutenant?" Dinh asked.
Alex almost jumped. "She's fine- or she was, anyway, a while ago. they've got a bunch of Phyrrics bottled up in the pass."
Dinh nodded, "Figures. Passes are bad terrain for an attacker, and good to defend at."
Dinh propped up on his good arm. "It must be pretty close by, I heard airstrikes about twenty minutes ago." Alex nodded, "Yeah, the Civilian forces were pulled out about then... The Phyrrics had some guys with them, up above us, maybe ten guys total... they were out in the dark, and they didn't have night-scopes, but they had a bunch of silenced stuff..."
Dinh looked surprised. "How good a look did you get?" he asked.
Alex sighed, "enough to take out one that was belly-down next to a radioman."
Dinh nodded, "You see any patches?" he asked.
Alex thought carefully. "Looked like a cartoon mouse in black with dumpy fatigues under a quarter-moon, it was right here-" he touched a spot on his chest, about where the breast pocket would be.
Dinh sighed, "That's Third of the Second, you saw ten because there were ten, I expect if Third Marines is out there, then they were assessing the best way to get around you without civvie bloodshed."
Alex cocked his head, "Why?" he asked.
Dinh shrugged, "Killing civilians wastes ammo-the Marine units are even stickier about it than the Army is-was."
Alex whistled, low, "Why tell me outright?" he asked.
Dinh shrugged, "You were pulled out, you're here, if you don't shoot at them, they won't shoot back-you're a civvie, see? The Aust Troopers in that position are fair game, so're any of your army in uniform, but non-combatants are a big, fat, no-no, and that's institutional going back to the ChiCom wars. Auntie Susan was a Medic in the Phyrric war, she said that first armoured went to bayonets to avoid hitting the civilians the Rebels were using for human shields. I don't think the Marines're much different that way-they'll probably take four times the dead to avoid doing... that."
Alex looked a little confused, "Really? isn't that, like, totally impractical?"
Dinh shook his head, "Not if you're as good as they are, it's not. you saw ten guys, but, see, there's a whole battalion of night-people, people like me, with the Second Marines, so you saw ten, there's probably nine-hundered plus running around you didn't see, and you won't-not until they're ready to attack. When they are, it'll be over quick, cause they won't blunder through relying on firepower and awe, they'll come in smart, pinpoint strikes to paralyze the defense, then go for vulnerabilities in the defensive line-they're probably looking for things you haven't thought about that they can use."

Posted by Aust
"thats not good for us, is it." Alex said
"Nope." replied Dinh
"Well, the Aust troopers can fight as well, it'd be nasty but you would win to easly. I wonder when Phyrric troops arrive here, I mean they can'y just skirt round us for ever."
"Sure,"
"When they do their going to get a suprise of their life."
"they are." For once dihn sounded suprise.
"Yep, mines everywhere surrounding the village. I don't recon the enermy will get past the city. It's got walls the size of a mountain and has more firepower than a bregade of ASS. Hard to take."
"They'll still take it."
"I don't think so. God, I feel sorry for you I mean losing all your familly and everything. The emporer is a right idout." Once again Dinh sounded suprised. "you don't like the emporer, i thought you all loved him thats why you forght so hard against the enermy."
"No, we attually don't like him, but we all swore an oath on his corination to protect him and Aust and so we will, it'd be honourable to stop fighting for him," Alex yawned "I'd better go and get some shut eye, I've been up all day fighting hard, and i'll be doing the same tomorrow, I'm in the next room if you want me, just call. Night."
"See ya."Alex left and closed the door.

Posted by NK
Dinh sighed as he heard the door close, and went back to studying the ceiling.
Well, they're sure the Phyrricians will try to take the city-and furthering THAT misinformation is probably the kindest thing I can do-A fortress is a two-way wall, if you can't get in, then the Defenders can't get out... He reached over to the small bedside table, and picked up the glass of water.
And if they can't get out, then the Phyrricians will bypass this place, maybe leave a token 'Seige' force to keep them inside-inside where they're safe, where they won't be hurt...
He sipped the water, and frowned.
What kind of idiot swears to protect a Man over his own People? Dinh couldn't understand the idea of that at all. He fumbled around in the drawer, and found a pad of paper.
Better than nothing... he also found the stub of a pencil, and began to write down the things he had learned so far, knowing full well that it would be read, dissected, and examined.
Well, it's a better way to die, than direct suicide.

"What kind of fool swears an oath to preserve the life of a Politician? If the Ruler is good, then no Oaths are necessary-his actions will grant him the loyalties of his people without an Oath, and if he is not-then such an Oath is clearly predicated on false pretenses, and has no power to bind the soul, beyond what the mind grants it.

Honour... as I lay here, I know that Honour in obedience to a dishonourable man is dishonour that stains the whole line-a stain that will take generations to be erased.

I have truly come to a land of madmen."

He re-read it again, sighed, smiled, signed, and dated it.
He turned the page, and began writing down a table of derivatives in base-eight.
After filling up one page with numbers, he turned to the next, and started writing down everything he could remember about field-expedient antibiotics, including which ones were found in which plants, in what climates.
The Rosy fingers of dawn poked from behind the blinds before he could finish, flooding his vision in red lights until he could no longer see the page, and had to stop.

Posted by Aust
Alex prepared to leave the village for another day of hard fighting, he knew that technically, he shouldn't be fighting, but he also knew that he had too. It was a matter of honour.
Honour, the more he thought about it the more it seemed strange to him, honour was what life revolved around in Aust. It was like the sun that all the stars followed. Honour ment not to break promises and if you did to try to make up for it. He didn't like the Emporer, no one did, everyone knew that what he did to NK was awful and evil but on the Emporers corination he and all the rest of the austian people had sworn an oath to protect and support him. And the ARP had broken that oath theirfore theuy must be defeated. It was all far too complicated.
Then you had to put chivalry into the equation and well, in the end it made no sence to uphold honour but people still did, just because that was what Austians did and had always done, still if you can't change it now then you never will. I could help Dinh escape and then we could find the ARP and help them to defeat the Emporer and... he dismissed the thought of breaking the promise he had made to Sisi about keeping Dinh safe and keeping him from escaping instantly it would be dishoinourable, again it came down to honour.
But who needed honour no one upheld it except yourself, their was no doubt that the Empo

|Bump

Comrade Glonek, Leader of The Marxist Democracy of Kamerovia

We find your threats most disturbing, yet we must notify you that if the occasion were to occur, we could muster full support of the Communist Internationale, which holds 8 nations, all at least 1 billion population. Furthermore, if it was required, we could activate our old alliances with the socialist, soviet and communist regions worldwide, including the awesome power of the Red Bloc Army. If even more strength was required, there are further, distant alliances of the past (for example, with the Anticapitalist Alliance) which could bring even more nations to your land. Please do not act rashly, nuclear weapons will find you only worldwide condemnation and porbably invasion on a large scale. Release the prisoners; they are not terrorists; your government are the terrorists, and the MDK do not tolerate terrorism.

13 Chavchavachadze Avenue,
Belgraz Square,
Old Belgraz

Peoples' Federation of Scandinavia, Foreign Office

We wish to confirm the claims made by the Marxist republic of Kamerovia. Aust's actions are in violation of international law, and as such we must insist Aust follows Kamerovian demands, lest you risk massively detetoriation of relations with Scandinavia and the rest of the 4th Communist Internationale.

As a pre-emptive measure of protection for our allied nation Kamerovia, we have shipped ABM countermeasures of a classified nature to the largest Kamerovian cities, should Aust be reckless enough to deploy tactical ICBM.

By order of,
Søren Søndergård,
Premier of the Northern Peoples' Federation of
Denmark, Norway and Sweden.

i am ally with aust on this one
unless some1 can give me a good deal or a good reson to fight for them,i will remain on austs side. btw i have an army of 250 million and a very high gdp :D

[code:1:2e1eefa607]
To: Red Scandinavia and Kamerovia
From: The chair of his imperial highness Emporer Palpatine of Aust
Written by: Dinh of Nuevo Kowloon
We shall not release the prisinors until our interrgations are complet however those who are not suspects will be release, we shall release 120 of your people out of the 200 we took prisinor the remaining captaves will be interrogated further before being charged or release. We still have
64 men
10 women
6 children captave.
Aust will not use WMD's and has never (except onece) used WMD's. Conventual and biological weapons hurt more. (As NK found out. Not a single survivor except our prisinors)
[/code:1:2e1eefa607]

OOC: GDP - The total market value of all the goods and services produced within the borders of a nation during a specified period.

In other words using GDP to justify having an army of 250 million is very stupid and I'm also of the conclusion that you are very stupid. What exactly is everyone else doing in your country?

IC: Foreign Commissary Statement
The reaction of Aust to international condemnation has been nothing short of provocative and tiresome, as a result of this The Incorporated States of Tom Joad is forced, by the action and in-action of Aust, to declare a state of growing discontent. Should the situation continue to deteriate then the choices before us all can only narrow.

OOC: GDP - The total market value of all the goods and services produced within the borders of a nation during a specified period.

In other words using GDP to justify having an army of 250 million is very stupid and I'm also of the conclusion that you are very stupid. What exactly is everyone else doing in your country?

IC: Foreign Commissary Statement
The reaction of Aust to international condemnation has been nothing short of provocative and tiresome, as a result of this The Incorporated States of Tom Joad is forced, by the action and in-action of Aust, to declare a state of growing discontent. Should the situation continue to deteriate then the choices before us all can only narrow.
The nation of Aust is sorry that Tom Joad finds our responces in adiquet but we would like to warn you that we are not to be trifled with and would like you to withdraw your statement.

OOC:
Oh back off Aust :roll: Your taking people and turning them into slaves is going to give you a lot of attention :wink:

I.C:
[i]Are any Dimmimaran citizens in Aust?

OOC:
Oh back off Aust :roll: Your taking people and turning them into slaves is going to give you a lot of attention :wink:

I.C:
[i]Are any Dimmimaran citizens in Aust?
OOC: Technically this is in the past, on most threeads I'm RPing after Palpatine has been disposed, if this works out then it'll be the last thread in a line of threads about this evil Emporer acent to power.

Don't you have an embassy in Aust, after the SLOA-you argument, I'm sure we astablished Embassys, if you do then they'll be prisinor.

Checks on our own immigration records has revealed that 5 of our citizens are working in your country as expatriates. The Republic of Anime-Otakus demands the unconditional release of her citizens, and denounces these actions that violate international law.

Kouichi Kimura
President
Republic of Anime-Otakus

Checks on our own immigration records has revealed that 5 of our citizens are working in your country as expatriates. The Republic of Anime-Otakus demands the unconditional release of her citizens, and denounces these actions that violate international law.

Kouichi Kimura
President
Republic of Anime-Otakus
We will release them as soon as where sure ytheir not Terrorists, may I have the names, and ages of your citizens.

OOC: Can you all give me a few names/ages as well for a RP?

dont relese any of your captives aust
send them to me and they will serve the rest of there lives as slaves bwhahahahahahahahahaha

OOC

caramel cod>> You're ignored, unless you downsize that army and actually roleplay instead of posting bullsh-t.

From the foreign office..

Unless Aust sheds complete light on the methods of 'interrogation' and releases prisoners found innocent, Scandinavia remains in opposition to Austs course of action. We're not averse to using sanctions, infiltration and espionage to wrestle the truth from your emperor.

OOC:Nice RP Aust!

IC: As long as Shinoxians in Aust have not been harmed, Shinoxia fully backs Aust's Emperor and supports his right to holding these foreign nationals.

Shinoxia will take moves to ensure that no foreign power tries to retake your captives.

James O'Kelly
High King of Shinoxia

OOC: Shoxtonia, I've got another 14 pages of it on word yet to be proccesed.

Camel Cod, I'm ignoring you until you read the sitickys.

IC: To red Scandinavia
We hope no action will be taken between you and Aust will accour, and we will not give you the liberty of seeing our methods.

OOC: RS, maybe you could RP a bit when an agent infiltrates and sees the donditions down the mines. Oh and the conditions Dinh and Alex are being kept in.

BIMP

Televised International Broadcast

"Citizens of The Incorporated States of Tom Joad, foreign guests and members of the international media I must now inform you that the nation of Aust has rejected all current offers of negotiation, further more they have acted with the utmost disregard for the citizens of this nation and many others. They have failed to provide any evidence for international scrutiny, rejected all attempts at lifting the veil of secrecy of their methods and openly threatened the use of force against all who oppose them.

Despite many diplomatic measures Aust has rejected the very idea of releasing its captives, the situation has steadily deteriorated and the Executive Committee has been left with few alternatives but to issue a final ultimatum to the citizens of Aust and its leader, Release all citizens of The Incorporated States of Tom Joad, failure to begin transportation to have them flown home within the next twenty-four hours can and will only result in the gravest of consequences for all concerned.

In preparation for any consequences, should Aust fail to comply, a national curfew is being put in to effect, martial law has been fully declared and the deployment of strategic assets is well underway. At this time I can only offer my desire to see the safe return of all our citizens, be they held against their will or on the frontiers of this nation, standing ready to defend all that they hold close to their hearts.

At this time the option of peace and compromise has almost gone, yet it is not to late to avoid what could only be a conflict fought in vain. This offer of peace is extended to all nations currently engaged in the hostage situation."

That broadcast, direct from the Executive Committee's meeting room, is so far the only such broadcast made in the history of the ISTJ. Few can deny that the confrontation with Aust has reached the highest levels and taken on the most deadly of risks.

The Republic of Lorkhan is greatly disturbed by the actions of Aust. We too are dealing with the blight of terrorism, but this does not excuse the lack of civil rights you have given to foreign peoples.

It is to our understanding that sixteen people from the nation of Lorkhan have been held captive in your prisons. Their names are as follows

Amber Marlett, 32, F
Yokorliv Zimmet, 58, M
Mark Hugor, 19, M
Jeff Dahmer, 30, M
Allison Christianson, 18, F
John Molotov, 22, M
Simon Potroniv, 22, M
Alexus Potroniv, 25, F
GG. Allun, 19, M
Wolfen B. Axor, 28, M
Illian Kolokov, 60, F
Kirell Pendior, 40, M
Ezekial Zorbon, 29, M
Patrick Mullek, 17, M
Peter Mullek, 10, M
Oscar Stienburg, 33, M

These prisoners WILL be released within 48 hours and extradited to our nation. If in the highly unlikely event that any of these citizens are terrorists, our courts shall deal with them. To ignore these demands would be to incur the wrath of Lorkhan and it's highly esteemed Stormtrooper force, and very likely any other nation that wishes to see an end to your tyrany.

And remember, conscripts do no good if they do not know how to fight.

OOC: Thanks.

IC: To: Tom Joad
We shall not release your citizens and we assure you that if you decide to declae war then the conciquinces will be servire. At a press of a button I have the power to anialate your entire nation without using nuclear weapons. I have done so before to larger nations than yours and I shall do so again, if you do not back down. Indeed only 1 year ago I annalated the nation of Nuevo Kowloon without Nukes. And my weapon stock is larger now.
Emporer Palpatine.


To: Lorkhan
We assure you that our army is not made of conscripts, our ASS have a reputation of being one of the highest trained forces in the world, and the Aust troopers are all very hearvly armed. Also, rember if you enter Aust, the wrath of the people will be upon you as the forces of Phyrric found out. (He invaded, with 900,000 men, I sent 500,000 to deal with him, by the time I got their over half his men where dead due to civillian attacks.

In the mines
Peter Mullet, struck his pick into a rock once more, being rewarded with a tiny amount of coal falling from the rock, his brother, Patrick was next to him.
He was cold, scared and far away from home, with n9o idea where he was or what was happening.
Men had burst into his home at 3 in the morning, he had been dragged out of his bed and throne to the floor, and he could rember nothing else but black.
Thwn he had found himself here, naked, with just a pick and being told to get as much coal out of rock as possable. He had done so.
He stopped for a second and the yelped with pain as an overseers whip slashed his back. He swore and the regretted it as the whip came down again.
He rembered the younger women being dragged off to meet the Emporer, for reasons he could not guess, but his brother could.
Two austian guards came along and grabbed him hauling him roughly way, his back slicing the bare rock, and bleeding as it was cut open. He too would se the Emporer.

We assure you that our army is not made of conscripts, our ASS have a reputation of being one of the highest trained forces in the world, and the Aust troopers are all very hearvly armed. Also, rember if you enter Aust, the wrath of the people will be upon you as the forces of Phyrric found out. (He invaded, with 900,000 men, I sent 500,000 to deal with him, by the time I got their over half his men where dead due to civillian attacks.

I do not care about your army or your civilian mobs. I care about my people. Release them or feel the wrath of the A.I.S. 60 year old men and women are not terrorists.

YEAH ill kill you before aust does hahahaha! i kill enemys of aust! ALL MUST DIE!!!!!

Aust, you must release all the foreign citizens now. We will not be responsible for our actions if you dont.

Foreign Commissary Statement
Only a leader on the brink of mental collapse toys with war, disregard for your nation is not a concern, however regard for damage that such a war would bring to our nations and other nations which would be swift to act should conflict erupt.

The deadline still stands, with six hours remaing, a sign of contrition is but a small gesture and we have still seen no proof, definitive or otherwise, as to the guilt of the citizens held hostage. Claims by yourself are not worth much, especially considering your tempremental behaviour recently.

As of we now we still see a chance for a peaceful resolution to what may still be a minor mis-understanding, the list of opposition to your actions does mount though and it would be foolhardy of you to believe you could come through a conflict unharmed.

The deadline has past Palpatine. Our Stormtrooper Force, and Republican Air Brigade are preparing to leave the country now to free the wrongly accused citizens of Lorkhan. You still have from now till the time we get there until prisoners are released. Do not gamble with a war against the coming force. You would lose.

-Grand General Kekfa

"Damm!" PAlpatine swore. "It's all your fault Dinh. Go and put your hands in an oven." The boy walked off, not to bur his hands but just to get out of the EMporers presance. "Well, they've taken the bate, I mean their tiny insagnificant blobs compared to Aust."
"send the Air Force to reapel their air amarder and send the 6th and 7th wings of fighters to escort the 1st wing of bombers (1 wing equals 100 planes) to bomb their capital. How many missiles do we have?"
"Around 580,000, sir."
"launch 250,000 at Lorkhan, at all his major citys and 250,000 at Tom Joad, at the same types of targets. How big is the Lorkhan air amarder?"
"I will find out sir."
"Send twice the amount of fighters than planes they have to shoot them down and the send the rest of my fihters and bombers to destroy Lorkhan."
"Yes sir."
"Oh and have the 1st fleet set off to bombard Lorkhans boarders and citys."
"Yes sir."

To Aust
Dear Friend,
We have always been at peace, and some time ago I helped your nation defeat the kingdom of Elvindom, although only minorly. What are you doing? This is blatant imperialism! Luring small nations into your grasp isn't the kind of thing I thought a respectable person wouldn't do. Now now, Palpatine, dont make me do something I would regret.

To Aust
Dear Friend,
We have always been at peace, and some time ago I helped your nation defeat the kingdom of Elvindom, although only minorly. What are you doing? This is blatant imperialism! Luring small nations into your grasp isn't the kind of thing I thought a respectable person wouldn't do. Now now, Palpatine, dont make me do something I would regret.
OOC: PAlpatine isn't even a Austian or a the true Emporer, he stole the throne from the child Emporer and killed the him, after making the child sign a document that made himself Emporer. His one ambission is to take Aust back to the days when it was evil and a war like state as well as a massive imperial country. He's reintrodused slavery and taken us back into the CoE. The idea of this was to get rid of him once and for all.

IC:

Hogsweat.
I hope that you don't wish to declare war on us, my freind as not only would it be long and hard and bloody but I would win. I have already nearly defeated these foolish nations, do not make me do the same to you.

Scandinavian Foriegn Office

Then our demands have clearly not been met. The Scandinavian People's Army is being placed on a state of increased readiness, and we remain in opposition to Austs unjust treatment of held Kamerovians and other foreign citizens.

Inside the mines

MET((RS' military intel)) Captain Tue Poulsen, clad in the impressive cote of an Austian officer walked to the high-security area with as much calm as he could muster. 'Stay sharp' he told himself, wishing he could cool down - He'd been practicing Austian till he had no accent, and was familiar with the military codes and customs used here... There was no reason he couldn't pull it off.

Still, part of him just wanted to shoot his way out. He took a deep breath and walked up to the first guard post, reaching for his ID pass.

Deleted

Once the hostilities with Endless Crimes have ended, we will free these people. Mark my words Palpatine. Mark My words.

Slowly, and carefully, the Kamerovian team began to load their kit onto the waiting NightHawk; one of only 5 in active Kamerovian service. All were reserved for the Spetznaz. Flashbangs, smoke, HE and Fragmentation grenades were loaded into each man's webbing, along with each specialist's equpiment. Mp5-SDs were slung across each man's back, in addition to their AK-74MS' and silenced Berretas. Two snipers loaded their customised rifles, both variants of the light-fifty Barret, next to the heavy weapons of the Echo Fireteam. Captain Ishmak gave the signal, and the helicopter began to spool up. Men jumped inside, making last minute checks. The Kamerovians were on high alert.

OOC: Tag for a later post.

to:The O Faolains
We assure you your citizens are fine. we are still doing our interragations

Hogsweat
If you truely think you can free them then you are a fool.

Red Scandinavia
OOC: Nice post.

We assure you all the citizens are fine and we hope that we shall not have any conflict on this matter.





All Austians have been put on Delta Red Silcon alert. (our highest alert.)

Citizens of The Incorporated States of Tom Joad, I must announce that Aust has proven itself to be a violent, tyrannical and unstable nation. For this reason the Executive Committee has affirmed the release of strategic weapons and all available forces in the defence of the nation.

At this time we cannot reveal the consequences our nation faces, we can reveal though that our nation does not stand alone in the struggle to end the tyranny of Aust. We stand united with the nation of Lorkhan which also faces the treacherous acts of Aust, now we declare an open hand to any nation that can summon the nerve to join us in what will become a fight of devastating consequences.
To all nations we must declare an exclusion zone around Aust, any shipping found will be fired upon and all aspects of confrontation will be met with extreme force.

ISS Astute
“Message received, authenticated and awaiting your orders Captain”

Crumpling the message in his hand Captain Leonid paused, then came in to action, “Bring her to launch depth, one-third back and prepare for surface contact”

In a three thousand miles radius of Aust sixty vessels replicated those orders, in randomly staggered launches they fired their missiles and dived. Ready, waiting and thirsting with vengeance against any shipping that should cross their bow.

In the ISTJ sirens sounded, broadcasts told people to stay in their homes and attempt shelter, a nation of over two billion ground to a halt. Except for the military which remained prepared and ready for the eventual strike, ships of the Naval Defence Force scrambled to assemble missile screens. Privately many commanders doubted there was sufficient hull numbers to provide anything more than 50% coverage.
Interceptors traced slow circuits in the sky, checking their gauges and watching the skies.

OOC: I don't have a navy, I'm Land Locked, so good luck sinking Innocent vessels.


IC: The missiles reached maximum valocity and began to angle downwards to hit the enermy citys. They each had a large warhead, non-nuclear, but they could bring down a block orf houses with one hit. ETA: 3 hours.

OOC: I'd like to join, if you guys feel its too late though, telegram me, given the size of your country, and it's age, it almost has to have af few Jitanese citizens there

IC:

The Jitanese Imperium formally protests the actions of the austian emperor palpatine, we demand the release of our citizens and furhter do we demand that the Emperor Palpatine explain his actions to the international communitry and make a formal apology and amends for these actions.

OOC: I'd like to join, if you guys feel its too late though, telegram me, given the size of your country, and it's age, it almost has to have af few Jitanese citizens there

IC:

The Jitanese Imperium formally protests the actions of the austian emperor palpatine, we demand the release of our citizens and furhter do we demand that the Emperor Palpatine explain his actions to the international communitry and make a formal apology and amends for these actions.
OOC:Sure it's fine for you to join in.

IC: We shall give you the same answer we have given every other country, they are being interrogated and Aust carrys out it's actions ALONE.

OOC: cool, thanks

IC: than we must regretfully inform you that the empire will be taking action against you, both econmically and militarily, we WILL take our citizens back by force if you do not comply, I urge you in strongest possible terms to release these prisoners or face threat of war

OOC: cool, thanks

IC: than we must regretfully inform you that the empire will be taking action against you, both econmically and militarily, we WILL take our citizens back by force if you do not comply, I urge you in strongest possible terms to release these prisoners or face threat of war
OOC: So now palpatines trapped, he can't release them and he can't keep them.

IC: We shall return them after our interrogations are complet.

OOC: very much so

IC:if your interrogations last longer than 1 day (RL) the empire will commit forces to secure their release. Expect DRASTIC retaliations if these citizens are in any way harmed,

IOOC: Rember the hole object is to get rid of Palpatine not Destroy Aust.

IC: We shall return them at any thime we wish, and as for you citziens being harmed a few cuts and bruises don't matter do they?

BUMP

BUMP

(OOC: You'll have to forgive me for my lack of participation. I'm having a horrible time trying to acess these boards for some reason. I keep getting an error of some sort. I'm very lucky to have accessed the boards now. So let's work on an honor system of some sort and pay more attention to uhh Tom Joad than Lorkhan...hell...Tom Joad's the only real threat anyway haha.)

IC:

Erik Kain sat in his throne surrounded by his hand picked royal guard and Grand General Kefka. Sweat was beginning to roll down his cheek, and his nerves were racing. He was already in the middle of a war with House Akarthia, and now he was going to go to war with a nation that could easily dispose of his own. It was the love for his people, his people whose freedom he fought and spilled blood for. That was why he had sent his forces to extract prisoners. He had promised his people that they would never again be forced to live under tyranny. Now he was fulfilling that promise.

"Missles are coming straight for Nod and strategic cities. Tell me you've got defenses operational Kefka."

"Indeed we do my lord. Our entire naval fleet is on alert and preparing to take any missles out with our own Interceptor's. The Republican Air-Force is preparing to shoot down any projectiles, and of course The Arc is undergoing defense preperations. Without the help of other nations, this is not a war I believe we can win, however we will be able to hold off missle attacks until support arrives."

"Good." Kain said clapping both his hands together.

"We will not waste our resources yet. Remember our first priority is to get rid of the current Akarthian problem. For now we will support Joad with resources while defending our nation from attack. Dismissed."

Kefka walked off silently leaving Kain behind to overlook his city. Many streets were already filled with blood due to the Akarthian purge. His people had just been freed from the bloodshed of an eight month coup. Now they were in the heart of battle again. Kain was slowly beginning to realize. In Lorkhan, war was the only king.

Grand Stafford supports the nations that are fighting for the liberty of these nations. There is no finer practice in our world than that of democracy, and the Emperor of Aust has denied that right to several citizens. We're sending three battleships, and aircraft carrier to help defend the waters of Lorkhan. Two battleships will also be sent to the nation of Tom Joad to help defend his nation and send supplies.

CEO of Grand Stafford: William W Walters

(OOC: You'll have to forgive me for my lack of participation. I'm having a horrible time trying to acess these boards for some reason. I keep getting an error of some sort. I'm very lucky to have accessed the boards now. So let's work on an honor system of some sort and pay more attention to uhh Tom Joad than Lorkhan...hell...Tom Joad's the only real threat anyway haha.)

IC:

Erik Kain sat in his throne surrounded by his hand picked royal guard and Grand General Kefka. Sweat was beginning to roll down his cheek, and his nerves were racing. He was already in the middle of a war with House Akarthia, and now he was going to go to war with a nation that could easily dispose of his own. It was the love for his people, his people whose freedom he fought and spilled blood for. That was why he had sent his forces to extract prisoners. He had promised his people that they would never again be forced to live under tyranny. Now he was fulfilling that promise.

"Missles are coming straight for Nod and strategic cities. Tell me you've got defenses operational Kefka."

"Indeed we do my lord. Our entire naval fleet is on alert and preparing to take any missles out with our own Interceptor's. The Republican Air-Force is preparing to shoot down any projectiles, and of course The Arc is undergoing defense preperations. Without the help of other nations, this is not a war I believe we can win, however we will be able to hold off missle attacks until support arrives."

"Good." Kain said clapping both his hands together.

"We will not waste our resources yet. Remember our first priority is to get rid of the current Akarthian problem. For now we will support Joad with resources while defending our nation from attack. Dismissed."

Kefka walked off silently leaving Kain behind to overlook his city. Many streets were already filled with blood due to the Akarthian purge. His people had just been freed from the bloodshed of an eight month coup. Now they were in the heart of battle again. Kain was slowly beginning to realize. In Lorkhan, war was the only king.
OOC: Good RP.

IC: Air Commander ney, the bravest of the brave, clambered into his F-15, along with the rest of his wing to attack the nation of Lorkhan, he knew that, the enermy where under heavy bombardment and would be destroyed anyway. With him came the enire Aust Air Force, over 19,000 bombers and 24,000 fighters, some where old but they all worked and they where all armed to the teeth.
Thgey planned to do a Dresden on Nod and the rest of the citys, then the ASS and Aust Troopers would land and take the survivors prisinor. He asked Ground Control about the numbers of enermy fighters. "minimal" was the reply. This would be easy.
Commander Ney was in the air and a nation would fall.

Deleted

OOC: You type bold by putting
The you type

Aust city has over 800 million people in it and the Imperial palace is in the center.

you have failed to comply with the demands of the empire, this will be met with gravest force, if our citizens are not set free within the hour, we will dispatch bombers to begin destroying your military installations, do not force us to destroy you

You may try to do that but I am afraid that the Aust Air Force will destroy you.

All fighters pull back to Aust to defend the country from enermy attack. 1st and 2nd wing as welll as the bombers will stay to attack lorkhan.

OOC: would this be a good time to bring up the tech difference?

IC; our bombers are shielded, and will be accompanied by fighter escort, pray that we don't feel the need to station a capitol ship in orbit

OOC: would this be a good time to bring up the tech difference?

IC; our bombers are shielded, and will be accompanied by fighter escort, pray that we don't feel the need to station a capitol ship in orbit
OOC: Do you want to come down to my tach level, or shall i come up to yours.

OOC that depends, if you really want to stay modern, i keep a few squadrons of F-18's around, just in case

OOC: I wouldn't mind going futuretech, just to try it out.

OOC: I wouldn't mind going futuretech, just to try it out.

OOC; what have you got for future tech?

Official Ninjanian Declaration
"We have received information that Lorkhan has had war declared upon itself. We fully support our AIS ally, and are sending the 1st Armored which shall prepare Anti-Air sites, and shall provide any support. All military personel are placed on high alert, and shall return fire from attack. We are sending various amounts of fighter/bomber support, to patrol Lorkhanian(sp?) waters, and major cities. We hope this event doesn't escalate, and we can all return to a peaceful terms with each other."

TOTAL Forces being sent to Lorkhan:
1st Armored:
18,000 XM8,LAW
210 M3 Bradleys
180 BMP-3
270 Crusaders
120 Type 99 Artillery
210 Type 90 MBT
60 Challenger 2 MBT
230 T-90 MBT
50 M1A1
100 M1A2 MBT
2,000 HMMWV;(250 Avenger;350Tow;400M2;1,000 support)
100 M6 Bradley
100 Raytheon Mom-23 Hawk
50 Patriot Missiles
150 Tiger LBT
100 RNI-AM8 Buford LBT
200 MK-48 LSV
60 AH-60 Apaches
150 CH-47 Chinook
(this forces will be spread throughout Lorkhan)

Anti-Air Units:
500 MIM-72/M48 Chaparral
500 Patriot Missiles
1,000 Raytheon Mom-23 Hawk
(These will be spread out near Lorkhan's coast, airfields and major cities)

Aircraft:
60 F-16 Falcons
85 F/A-18 Hornets
100 MIG-27
20 F/A-22 Raptors
80 Gripen Fighters
100 MIG-33
20 KC130 Tankers
(these will be sent to various Lorkhan air fields)

All these forces are merely defensive and shall not fire unless Lorkhan airspace is violated.

From: Prime Minister Nikitov

To: Leader of Aust

Cease all hostile actions towards Lorkhan or face Full conventional war with all of AIS.

do to the actions being undertaken to route out akarthian terrorists the following units are in Lorkhan and at their disposal.
3 armored divisions
10 light armored divisions
20 mech infantry divisions
20 light mech infantry divisions
1 armored Cav. reg
1mech airborne reg
1 airmobile reg.
9 Bomber Wings
20 fighter Wings
6 air refueling wings
4 air mobility wings
2 command and control wings
2 air command wings
2 stealth strike wings

plus 15 Naval Battle Groups and 4 Ohio Class Ballistic Missile Subs off the Lorkhan coast.

Under the command of Lorkhan's Grand General Kefka, thousands of fighters took to the skies tonight to defend Lorkhan's major cities from attack. Lo-Tech's newly released "Arc" cannon was also prepared in the capital city of Nod. Anti-Air units have been strategicly placed around the capital and any place of signifigance. Diplomacy is still an option Palpatine. It is not too late to withdraw your forces and talk about this like gentlemen.

Cp would like to announce the arrival of an additional
3 armored divisions
4 Mobile Smart AAD systems
10 CPI Smart AAD Systems

Under the command of Lorkhan's Grand General Kefka, thousands of fighters took to the skies tonight to defend Lorkhan's major cities from attack. Lo-Tech's newly released "Arc" cannon was also prepared in the capital city of Nod. Anti-Air units have been strategicly placed around the capital and any place of signifigance. Diplomacy is still an option Palpatine. It is not too late to withdraw your forces and talk about this like gentlemen.
OOC:1000's of fighters, at your nations age the largest amount of fighters you would have is around 500.
Patriots, without leaving your country incradably undefencded then i don't see how you could muster that many men, in such a short space of time, it would take ages for them to get to Lorkhan anyway.
Lorkhan do you have a map of your nation?

IC: To: Lorkhan
From: Aust
We may still talk, we have terms here
1) You surrender with honour.
2) Any colonys become Aust protectoats.

Aust, you are humourous. You know very well that he would never accept your terms. I say you should crush his nation, kill his leaders and their leaders families.
I would like to be your nations ally. If a wise Prince cannot be stronger than his neighbours in his quest for power, then he should join as a friend with the stronger in the stronger Prince's quest for additional power.

~Prince Nicholas VII
The Principality of Machiavellian Dream

Aust, you are humourous. You know very well that he would never accept your terms. I say you should crush his nation, kill his leaders and their leaders families.
I would like to be your nations ally. If a wise Prince cannot be stronger than his neighbours in his quest for power, then he should join as a friend with the stronger in the stronger Prince's quest for additional power.

~Prince Nicholas VII
The Principality of Machiavellian Dream
If you want to be my ally sure, you can have the right hand side of his capital if he doesn't surrender.

Aust, you are humourous. You know very well that he would never accept your terms. I say you should crush his nation, kill his leaders and their leaders families.
I would like to be your nations ally. If a wise Prince cannot be stronger than his neighbours in his quest for power, then he should join as a friend with the stronger in the stronger Prince's quest for additional power.
If you want to be my ally sure, you can have the right hand side of his capital if he doesn't surrender.

Pardon me, but what direction is the right side?


~Prince Nicholas VII
The Principality of Machiavellian Dream

Well, go to the center of his nation, look north, to the right is your bit to the left is mine.

Deleted

The Trident missiles screamed from their tubes, the motors kick started and they continued their flight towards centeral Aust. The micro-computers calculated terminal approaches long before they'd even entered Aust airspace.
The nine-hundered and sixty MIRV missiles, totalling 11,520 400kt warheads, proceeded on their course and at pre-determined positions released decoys, physical and ECM, seperated warheads and finally bore down on each primary target.

The Aust missiles entered the extereme range of ISTJ airspace at maximum velocity, diving for their targets made them difficult to intercept and the predictions made earlier certainly seemed to be holding weight. The first line of defence was the external picket ships of the NDF, followed by hundreds of CAPs. This was repeated in sections with the final line of defence being made up of fixed and mobile surface batteries, the alarms had ceased to sound for some moments and for the first time in sixty years barely a mechanised sound could be heard across the country.
The only continual sources of noise were in the Designated Zones, denied accurate knowledge of the external events they were up in arms but for once SO19 did not intervene in their riots, instead police forces opened fire with disregard.

The offers of support have been greatly appreciated, we fear that your suport may arrive too late to be useful in the attack however we hope they can be used in support of the after effects caused by the missile strike. The senior members of government have been evacuated to a location external to The Incorporated States of Tom Joad, the government will survive this can be assurred.
Strategic assets of ISTJ do not just include its nuclear forces, these other assets have also been deployed and whilst they are unable to be used in the immediate time frame their role will be to cause maximum disruption after the nuclear strikes.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yield 400 kilotons
Thermal radiation radius (3rd degree burns) 8 kilometers
Air blast radius (widespread destruction) 5.3 kilometers
Air blast radius (near-total fatalities) 2 kilometers
Ionizing radiation radius (500 rem) 2.6 kilometers
Fireball duration 3 seconds
Fireball radius (minimum) 300 meters
Fireball radius (airburst) 370 meters
Fireball radius (ground-contact airburst) 480 meters

OOC:1000's of fighters, at your nations age the largest amount of fighters you would have is around 500.
Patriots, without leaving your country incradably undefencded then i don't see how you could muster that many men, in such a short space of time, it would take ages for them to get to Lorkhan anyway.
Lorkhan do you have a map of your nation? )
(OOC: it is entirely possible to have that many fighters, ecspecially if the bulk of the fighters in my air-space have been sent over by allies. And it's just as possible for CP to send that many troops as it is to prepare and send 9,000 bombers and fighters to a nation over night.)

According to reports coming in from the Ministry of Defense, bombardment on our cities has begun, but to our people we say do not fear. Our fighters and defenses are fighting back to tyranic forces of Aust. Five pilots have been taken prisoner and are now undergoing interrogation. To their families back in Aust, they are being well fed and handled. Palpatine, we will not lay down our arms until our people are released from their chains. And even if we did give you our colonys, it would be your own grave. They are infested with terrorists and war tribes. We have your pilots in an undisclosed location, and if you wish to exchange your pilots for our citizens we are more than happy to agree as long as you pull out your forces.

-Erik Kain

Communique to Aust leader Palpadine

The Conglomerate Empire of MMI implores your administration to release the Lorkhan prisoners as soon as possible. The nation of Lorkhan is a member of the Alliance of Indepenent States (A.I.S.) region of 43 nations and over 13 billion people (in addition to some other powerful friends). Our alliance is served to protect its own members. We do not wish to go to war. On the contrary, we will do anything to prevent it. However, we will defend our own, make no mistake.

Lorkhan expresses its wish for you to release its prisoners. That is not much to ask considering the small number of people involved and personally identified to you. This is not something big enough to go to war over and we feel a suitable alternative agreement can be reached between Aust, Lorkhan, and the A.I.S. Again, none of us wish harm on the country of Aust. In fact, our intelligence and study of your country (OOC: reading this thread :D ) indicate that the people of Aust may not be supporting the Emperor.

As a consequence of the current situation, the Emperor of MMI has informed our Department of Defense to take some actions on behalf of the protection of Lorkhan. At this moment, we are installing 10,000 Raytheon MIM-23 Hawk Surface-to-Air missile defense batteries (forum purchase verified) in and around Lorkan cities and coasts. They will be functional soon and many more will be delivered in the future.

Moreover, we have permission to RP the Righteous Nation of Inyurface (OOC: while he's on vacation). They will deliver the following around Lorkan in defense; six Seawolf Class attack nuclear submarines, 12 LA Class subs, and 2 Ohio Class subs.

The Emperor of MMI has informed MMI BlackOps divisions to stand on alert. We feel the people of your country should know what your leader is doing. We may try to use psyops to "broadcast" into your country to undermine Palpatine.

But in the end, we seek a peaceful outcome. Maybe we can come to some agreement. Remember, that diplomacy is always better than outright conflict. That way, we both save our expensive resources and hardware for future engagements. The Emperor proposes a solution: in agreement for the release of the Lorkhan prisoners, our country will never seek to actively undermine the Palpadine administration in the future (unless at war of course). This would resolve the conflict for all involved. Who knows where it would lead.

From the Secretary of the Emperor, MMI Emperor's Office

http://home.comcast.net/~mmiempire/aMMIempflagsmall.jpg

OOC: MMI, I had sent this force long ago during the akarthian problem. I had mobilzed for 6 ns months and the movement of forces took 2 NS months. while at the same time, I am holding a decently sized force to protect my country. roughly 10 divisions, 15 air wings, 10 Naval Battle groups. Plus I employ a youth Corp. ages 8-17. convicts, women, and the elderly are the bulk of my workforce. Plus I still have my mothball divisons i can throw at an invader, until help arrives.

We agree with the nation of MMI. We definitly do not want this war, in fact we even pulled back our black-ops teams that were nearly on the boarder of your nation in hopes that we could return our citizens through diplomacy. Lorkhan is already at war with terrorism. We have no time to waste with external problems, and as much as you seem disliked by your own people we have no intentions to over-throw you from the seat of power. All we want is our people returned, at the very least the elderly and the women. Make no mistake though. Lorkhan has one of the most well trained spec-ops divisions in the world, and we will go to any extent to send our troops into your nation to take out political targets if you wish to carry this war foward.

-Lord Erik Kain

OOC: Yes the austians do not like palpatine.

IC: In a gesture of Freindship, Aust is pulling back it's planes and will fire no more missiles, however the prisinors will be kept.

OOC: Yes the austians do not like palpatine.

IC: In a gesture of Freindship, Aust is pulling back it's planes and will fire no more missiles, however the prisinors will be kept.

This is a very good development. Negotiations are impossible during conflict. It is now possible to start some useful dialogue between Aust and Lorkhan. We hope that ultimately, a brokered deal and cooperative agreement may be reached resulting in prisoner release.

It is good to see you have withdrawn your forces. However; we will maintain our defense forces and Lorkhan will continue to stand at high alert for security purposes. We wish to continue this issue through diplomacy and negotiating. We shall keep any Aust soldiers as prisoners of war until the transfer of our people is complete. They will be well fed and treated in our care. If you would like to negotiate the return of your pilots for our citizens arrangements can be made at anytime in a neutral area.

-Lord Erik Kain
http://ourworld.cs.com/TheMa5kedNudist/nodpic01.jpg

Official Teh Ninjas Statement
We applaud your acts of peace. Our forces shall remain inside Lorkhan to ensure of no more attacks, and protect our anti-aircraft stations. Our government hopes that negotiations for the release of Lorkhan's citizens can begin as soon as possible. We hope for a peaceful ending for this incident.

MMI applauds Aust and Lorkhan for the beginnings of their negotiations of peace. For Lorkhan defensive purposes, MMI has delivered 5000 more Raytheon MIM-23 Hawk Surface-to-Air missile defense batteries for installation. We would also like to offer the services of a negotiating team, if needed, in order to continue this good turn of events. The MMI Department of Defense has requested a carrier task force to return to home and not proceed to Lorkhan's coast.

We accept youre oofers for a diplomatic team.

The rapid progress of negotiation is quite impressive, shame that such talks did not involve the ISTJ. As such the missiles launched and being prepared for launch against Aust will continue. The use of nuclear weapons was not an easy one, however the Executive Committee was left with no alternative to meet the destruction that Aust wields against our nation and its citizens.

The Incorporated States of Tom Joad Foreign Commissary

The layers of defence put in place have taken their toll on attacking forces, however reports of casulties and damage have not yet been released and so the effectiveness of the defence can not be assertained.

OOC: Aust>Didn't know you were a landlocked country. Oh by the way, its a snub to be addressed by the Foreign Commissary but then again you wouldn't know that.

We accept youre oofers for a diplomatic team.

Very well. Our negotiating team has set up council at a neutral location. We expect both Aust and Lorkhan officials to attend. We will start the meeting with the proposal of prisoner exchange -- Aust to give up Lorkhan citizens previously named earlier in the thread, and Lorkhan to give up prisoner of war pilots. It has been a while now since the Lorkhan citizens were in custody and they should have been interrogated thoroughly by now. Therefore, their release should be the next logical step. Lorkhan has no need to keep Aust POW's since conflict appears suspended so their release should also be a next logical step. Both countries should ensure that all prisoners involved recieve humane treatment.

The rapid progress of negotiation is quite impressive, shame that such talks did not involve the ISTJ. As such the missiles launched and being prepared for launch against Aust will continue. The use of nuclear weapons was not an easy one, however the Executive Committee was left with no alternative to meet the destruction that Aust wields against our nation and its citizens.

The Incorporated States of Tom Joad Foreign Commissary

The layers of defence put in place have taken their toll on attacking forces, however reports of casulties and damage have not yet been released and so the effectiveness of the defence can not be assertained.

OOC: Aust>Didn't know you were a landlocked country. Oh by the way, its a snub to be addressed by the Foreign Commissary but then again you wouldn't know that.
OOC: It's generally accepted that a nation less than a month or 2 months old cannot have nukelear weapons.

IC: Seeing as you have threated nukelear weapons I'm afraid that Aust will have to use our own hige supply of nukes. Now lets see, your about 70 million strong and you will have around 30 major citys so 1 nuke for each city.

in one of the nuklear weapons sites
"Sir, we have orders to fire 2 nukes at Tom Joads capitals and others at every city with a population of over 1 millon, then after thats done and if no surrender has come or their is any retaliation then we fire at all the towns with a pop of over 50,000."
"Okay lets fire."
The Nukes fired.

[code:1:9633eb6635]
We shall send 20 men and guards nto guard the prisinors.
[/code:1:9633eb6635]

Secret IC: Inside the Imperial palce men women and children where getting ready. all where members of ASASB and where ready to fight and die. They where having make up and plastic surgery so that in every way, right down their bodys they'd look like exact replicas of the prisinors, instead of the real prisinors the MMI would be getting fakes.

OOC; aust you never replied to that space tech question

OOC: Seeing as you have threated nukelear weapons I'm afraid that Aust will have to use our own hige supply of nukes. Now lets see, your about 70 million strong and you will have around 30 major citys so 1 nuke for each city.

OOC: Umm...Tom Joad last I checked was somewhere over 2 billion. You're way off man.

IC: Negotiaters and armed guards alike marched aboard a jet plane destined for the neutral zone. Close behind them a large black truck pulled up. Republican guardsmen stepped out and brought along all the prisoners captured during the breif air-raid. They all looked in good condition, however they were in need of a good shave. The prisoners boarded the aircraft and a few minutes later it had taken off.

OOC: Seeing as you have threated nukelear weapons I'm afraid that Aust will have to use our own hige supply of nukes. Now lets see, your about 70 million strong and you will have around 30 major citys so 1 nuke for each city.

OOC: Umm...Tom Joad last I checked was somewhere over 2 billion. You're way off man.

IC: Negotiaters and armed guards alike marched aboard a jet plane destined for the neutral zone. Close behind them a large black truck pulled up. Republican guardsmen stepped out and brought along all the prisoners captured during the breif air-raid. They all looked in good condition, however they were in need of a good shave. The prisoners boarded the aircraft and a few minutes later it had taken off.
OOC: Damm, I'm way off, I thought (From post count) that he had been formed on may this year. I'm going to need significantly more nukes :twisted: However the same rule still applys, 1 nuke for every city with pop over 1 million and 3 for your capital.

Jitano, for you I don't mind going up to future tech, I'll use star wars tech.
IC:

Maybe Aust should consider peace talks with Toad

Secret IC: Inside the Imperial palce men women and children where getting ready. all where members of ASASB and where ready to fight and die. They where having make up and plastic surgery so that in every way, right down their bodys they'd look like exact replicas of the prisinors, instead of the real prisinors the MMI would be getting fakes.


OOC: Interesting :)

IC: We await both party officials to the neutral zone to set the conditions for prisoner exchange.

OOC: Please stop using the purple writing, it's blinding me.

IC: The Austian delegates began to arrive in a hurculese transporter, that held the prisinors.

OOC: Please stop using the purple writing, it's blinding me.

IC: The Austian delegates began to arrive in a hurculese transporter, that held the prisinors.

OOC: Sorry for the blinding! 8)

IC: We now wait for Lorkhan to get this exchange underway.

The Lorkhan transporter touches down on it's destined landing area and the diplomats all step out towards a small motorcade that will take them to the neutral zone. Close behind them a squad of Republican Forces escort the prisoners to a prison truck which will head to the neutral zone in a seperate motorcade.

Upon arrival the diplomats escorted by their team of bodyguards introduce themselves to the Austian delegates.

"The pilots are on their way to this destination as we speak. Now I assume you're ready to hand over the innocent citizens of Lorkhan?"

The Lorkhan transporter touches down on it's destined landing area and the diplomats all step out towards a small motorcade that will take them to the neutral zone. Close behind them a squad of Republican Forces escort the prisoners to a prison truck which will head to the neutral zone in a seperate motorcade.

Upon arrival the diplomats escorted by their team of bodyguards introduce themselves to the Austian delegates.

"The pilots are on their way to this destination as we speak. Now I assume you're ready to hand over the innocent citizens of Lorkhan?"

The MMI negotiator, Sir Charles Underwood turns to the Aust delegate for the reply ....

Suddenly, over the Cities of Aust, B-52's and B-1 Bombers appear in the sky raining bombs on the towns and cities of Aust

http://www.nationstates.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=152060

:twisted: :twisted: :evil: :twisted:

Deleted

Falangist Reich Foreign Ministry issues travel warning for all Reich citizens who wish to travel to Aust. For our citizens' security all traffic connections between Falangist Reich and Aust have been suspended.

The Lorkhan transporter touches down on it's destined landing area and the diplomats all step out towards a small motorcade that will take them to the neutral zone. Close behind them a squad of Republican Forces escort the prisoners to a prison truck which will head to the neutral zone in a seperate motorcade.

Upon arrival the diplomats escorted by their team of bodyguards introduce themselves to the Austian delegates.

"The pilots are on their way to this destination as we speak. Now I assume you're ready to hand over the innocent citizens of Lorkhan?"

The MMI negotiator, Sir Charles Underwood turns to the Aust delegate for the reply ....
"we will hand them over, but we must stress that we are not entirley sure they are innocent, but I'm sure that you'll give them a firm debreifing and maybe they'll yeild to you."

OOC: have you released my citizens yet?

OOC: have you released my citizens yet?
OOC: Rember, the citizens will be Austians made to look identical in everyway to your people.

IC: The citizans will be released.

OOC: Rember, the citizens will be Austians made to look identical in everyway to your people.

IC: The citizans will be released.

OOC: Yes, I will RP the plastic surgery on the citizens.

The negotiator, Sir Charles Underwood looks pleased "Very well, as both parties have agreed to prisoner exchange, let it be done. Aust your pilots are not free to return to your country. Lorkhan, your citizens are free to go home. As standard practice, all prisoners should be examined by doctors and medical personnel to make sure they are healthy and not abused."

Also, MMI has finished assembling 5,000 additional Hawk Surface-to-air missile batteries in Lorkhan for defensive purposes. This brings to a total of 20,000 SAM batteries assembled and armed within Lorkhan. We will now begin transferring SMART anti-ballistic missile batteries to Lorkhan as well as the first transports are already on their way.

"we will not flee the enermy prisnors until our troops are free."

A small convoy of about five military grade vehicles pulls up to the negotian area. Republican forces begin to release the prisoners one by one into the building where the negotians are taking place. Once they are inside, doctors make quick checks to make sure all is well and that they have not harmed themselves to make it look as if Lorkhan had abused the prisoners. After all is well, the doctors release the prisoners. The pilots are escorted into the negotiation room at a safe distance from both parties just to assure no one is hurt.

"There are your pilots ambassador. Now give us our people and I shall see to it that your soldiers are returned."

The Prisinors where put oin a plane to Aust, "Here are your prinors," Said the Envoy handing over the 'prisinors' he climbed abord the plane.

"Excellent" the diplomat said as doctors checked the several freed hostages.

"They all appear in good health sir!"

"Great. Give them their pilots, and we'll be done with this."

The RAF releases the pilots and they are sent on their way, meanwhile the hostages are sent on a plane back to Lorkhan.

OOC: Either way you look at it, we're gonna find out that these are fakes. So umm...Palpatine will be gone soon.

OOC: He will be gone soon.

IC: the Austians loaded up their piolets and flew off.

We are pleased that the prisoner exchange went smoothly. We commend both sides for their forthcoming efforts at peace. Let this be a beginning to a common trust between both parties.

Apperently not all is at it seems. It's been a month since the transaction of prisoners, and ever since our natives got back to their homes we've heard reports of strange happenings. At first we dismissed this, after all they had just returned from a terrifying ordeal. However, a recent problem has caught our eye.

One of the former hostages had reported to a lab for blood work recently, and results show he does not suffer from the HIV virus. Before he had gone over to Aust he did have the HIV virus. As far as we know, there is no cure, and even if there were it would be held by the top officials...certainly nothing to spare on a prisoner.

Care to explain?

-Surpreme Chancellor Erik Kain

(Yeah! I edited it. :-P)

OOC: NIcely done.

IC:
Aust does have a vacine to HIV and aids and we use it on all people who come into our country, even if they do not have HIV, it's to prevent contamination.

From:
Emporer Palpatine.

Secret IC
"He's on to us."

Strange that you have a vaccine to a virus that threatens the lives of millions, but are not willing to sell it to the world. A vaccine against HIV would make you billions. If what you say is true, then forgive us, but it did indeed rise suspicion.

-Surpreme Chancellor Erik Kain
http://ourworld.cs.com/TheMa5kedNudist/nodpic01.jpg

[Secret IC]

Erik Kain sits back in his recliner as he overlooks the city of Nod. Festivals continue to carry on through the streets celebrating a time of peace and unity. He refused to go to war now, if ever. He promised peace, and that was what he would give his people.

"They are liars sir. I say we get as much of our allies as we can and we bomb that scumbag to the center of the Earth." Grand General Kefka suggested as he prepared to call Central Command to ready bombardments over Aust.

"We will NOT subject ourselves to another war Kefka. Lorkhan is a country of peace and prosperity, not a country of blood thirsty savages. We will go to whatever extent we must to insure that we do not go to war."

"So what do we propose we do sir? Knock on Palpatine's front door and ask politely to tell us the truth?"

"Your sarcasm is not welcome at the moment Kefka. We have both seen the chaos of war side by side. You more than anyone else in this office should know that it is no game. We will investigate this matter further. Get SPF (Special Police Force...equivlent to the FBI) to dig up as much information on those released as possible. I want shadow agents following them around the clock, taps on their phones, cameras in their bathrooms. We must drag the waters sort of speak before we make blind accusations. Meeting dismissed."

Kefka grunted and walked off, making sure to emphasize his distate in Kain's tactics by slamming the door shut behind him. Once Kefka held Kain in highest regard as a excellent leader and warrior, but Kain had become soft in his eyes. This was a problem that would need to be fixed.

Strange that you have a vaccine to a virus that threatens the lives of millions, but are not willing to sell it to the world. A vaccine against HIV would make you billions. If what you say is true, then forgive us, but it did indeed rise suspicion.

-Surpreme Chancellor Erik Kain
http://ourworld.cs.com/TheMa5kedNudist/nodpic01.jpg

[Secret IC]

Erik Kain sits back in his recliner as he overlooks the city of Nod. Festivals continue to carry on through the streets celebrating a time of peace and unity. He refused to go to war now, if ever. He promised peace, and that was what he would give his people.

"They are liars sir. I say we get as much of our allies as we can and we bomb that scumbag to the center of the Earth." Grand General Kefka suggested as he prepared to call Central Command to ready bombardments over Aust.

"We will NOT subject ourselves to another war Kefka. Lorkhan is a country of peace and prosperity, not a country of blood thirsty savages. We will go to whatever extent we must to insure that we do not go to war."

"So what do we propose we do sir? Knock on Palpatine's front door and ask politely to tell us the truth?"

"Your sarcasm is not welcome at the moment Kefka. We have both seen the chaos of war side by side. You more than anyone else in this office should know that it is no game. We will investigate this matter further. Get SPF (Special Police Force...equivlent to the FBI) to dig up as much information on those released as possible. I want shadow agents following them around the clock, taps on their phones, cameras in their bathrooms. We must drag the waters sort of speak before we make blind accusations. Meeting dismissed."

Kefka grunted and walked off, making sure to emphasize his distate in Kain's tactics by slamming the door shut behind him. Once Kefka held Kain in highest regard as a excellent leader and warrior, but Kain had become soft in his eyes. This was a problem that would need to be fixed.

We assure you we do have a vaccine and we do not send it to other nations as it's very rare.

secret IC:
(A text sent to all Lorkan 'hoastages')
[code:1:ef6fda73ea]
The birds have flown, they know, get out of the country immdietly but don't let it look suspicous.
[/code:1:ef6fda73ea]

The Allied States of Shessara extends an offer of amnesty and sanctuary to Palpatine should the situation in Aust get out of control, provided he release all Shessarans within Aust.

The Allied States of Shessara extends an offer of amnesty and sanctuary to Palpatine should the situation in Aust get out of control, provided he release all Shessarans within Aust.

The Allied States of Shessara extends an offer of amnesty and sanctuary to Palpatine should the situation in Aust get out of control, provided he release all Shessarans within Aust.

The Allied States of Shessara extends an offer of amnesty and sanctuary to Palpatine should the situation in Aust get out of control, provided he release all Shessarans within Aust.

The Allied States of Shessara extends an offer of amnesty and sanctuary to Palpatine should the situation in Aust get out of control, provided he release all Shessarans within Aust.

The Allied States of Shessara extends an offer of amnesty and sanctuary to Palpatine should the situation in Aust get out of control, provided he release all Shessarans within Aust.

The Allied States of Shessara extends an offer of amnesty and sanctuary to Palpatine should the situation in Aust get out of control, provided he release all Shessarans within Aust.

The Allied States of Shessara extends an offer of amnesty and sanctuary to Palpatine should the situation in Aust get out of control, provided he release all Shessarans within Aust.

The Allied States of Shessara extends an offer of amnesty and sanctuary to Palpatine should the situation in Aust get out of control, provided he release all Shessarans within Aust.

The Allied States of Shessara extends an offer of amnesty and sanctuary to Palpatine should the situation in Aust get out of control, provided he release all Shessarans within Aust.

The Allied States of Shessara extends an offer of amnesty and sanctuary to Palpatine should the situation in Aust get out of control, provided he release all Shessarans within Aust.

The Allied States of Shessara extends an offer of amnesty and sanctuary to Palpatine should the situation in Aust get out of control, provided he release all Shessarans within Aust.

The Allied States of Shessara extends an offer of amnesty and sanctuary to Palpatine should the situation in Aust get out of control, provided he release all Shessarans within Aust.

The Allied States of Shessara extends an offer of amnesty and sanctuary to Palpatine should the situation in Aust get out of control, provided he release all Shessarans within Aust.

MMI is pleased at the result of the negotiations and now its team heads home.

Also, depending on Lorkhan's wishes and how the situations goes, the MMI DoD may dismantle its 20,000 SAM batteries deployed throughout the country.

OOC: Sincere apologies for my complete lack of posting for so long, this forum seems to be worse for me right now than ever before. Anyway, this is the sixth time I've tried posting this and I'm more than a little annoyed with the idea of doing it again for nothing.
So basicly going to have to come to a decision, I can't put up with being unable to respond and it doesn't look good for anyone else either.

(OOC: TJ, the problem is in the NS board server. I've come to find it gets really busy during 1-5 o clock EST, and then again at around 7-10 EST. Your best bet is to try and get on early or late, or in between the window. I've gone through it several times. That's why I write all roleplays in word, and then put them on the board. If it doesn't work, you can always come back later and try again. It causes a lot less frusteration)

IC:

http://ourworld.cs.com/TheMa5kedNudist/SPF.jpg
[code:1:a573550206]Note to Surpreme Chancellor Erik Kain; Top Secret

Our agents have confirmed that a number of the former hostages have flown out of the country to different regions around the world. We have asked family members, and they claim that they are all on buisness trips or vacations...odd considering the last time they went out on a trip they were incarcerated. Shall we continue to pursue?

Lorkhan Special Police Force
[/code:1:a573550206]

"Tell them to call off the chase."

"Excuse me Surpreme Chancellor?" Kain's aid asks quite confused.

"This is no longer a domestic matter and I will not waste our resources by sending our agents in to discover something we already know. Call back all SPF forces. Prepare the Hand, and get me my battle armor. I am going to to talk with Palpatine about this matter personally..."

(I didn't say where your agents are going, and I assume that they are not stupid enough to get passports straight back into Aust.)

OOC; your right their flying toi Austian allies as we speak.

IC: Palpatine watched, and was please by what he saw, he had done it he had saved Aust. However the enermy may strike back, a wounded animal is more dangerous than a live one. "Triple the palace guard, stop all planes and people except for those who are Austian from entering the country. Tell ASAIB to go onto red alert as will the ASS." He commanded.

Aust's missiles met mixed layers of determination, some flew through the layers without even being targeted by a single tracking system whilst others faced multiple interceptors launched against them.

After a frantic twenty minutes the predictions had come true, it was now down to the surface batteries who's limited range meant that the missiles would be less than a minute from impact when the missiles would be able to strike them down.

Crude jamming machines, manufactuered by the populace years ago were activated in the vain attempt at reducing the destructive capabilities, only a few jammers sophisticated enough to effectively steer the missiles of course were available and in the right locations.

When the missiles finally struck the ground only sixty percent had been intercepted at a rough estimate, the sound if not the shock waves were felt through out the country. Civilian communcations were crippled, military communications faired relatively well as for the most part they were not conducted over hard lines or by traditional VHF frequencies.

Word on casulties stated them as being in the hundereds of thousands and emergency services as being unable to operate due to the severly damaged transport network.

Palpatine smiled at the damage reports coming in, he had sent a U2 sattaligt over he enermy nation and he could see the horror he had wrought. He thought for a second and then saw that the enermys capabilitys had not been completly nutralised. Began to broadcast more instructions. "Ready the RAAF. Pull them back from attacking that communist and cnocentrate on Tom Joad I want the first wave to attack to target, anti-missile and AA guns as well as any working airfeild, make them mainly fighters and fighter-bombers. Then send in the bombers, all of the to attack the citys. The 1st 30% will use bunker busters. They shall aim at hospitals and servises, like police and fire bregade. The second 30% shall aim at the same targets with naplam and fire bombs. The last 40% will use namplam and cluster bombs to attack resdential areas. Once the bombers are clear send up as many missiles as possable, converntianal this time. then where the bombers and fighter are refueled they can attack again, same plan as last time. Keep this going for the next few days.

The only option available to the ISTJ had been used, they were now in final descent, having crossed bordering nations without challenge they entered Aust's airspace and entered terminal dives.

The multiple warheads strove for their individual targets; communications centres, strategic military facilities and of course the capital. Programmed to airburst above selected targets the aim was mass destruction. Within the next few minutes they would strike, the stroke of The Incorporated States of Tom Joad would not go un-noticed today or ever again in Aust.
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Limited numbers of available aircraft were used to attempt assesments of the damage, evacuate those who could be saved and move teams to suppress civilian uprising. As all aircraft capable of intercepting the missiles had been launched, as well as surface vessels the actual military impact to the ISDFs layered defences still existed completely intact, now the process of rearmament and refueling was begun.

The key members of the government and military had long been evacuated to safer areas, they listened to the reports and made notes on crisp paper, monogrammed with the seal of the ISTJ.

"When will we know?"
Attention focused on the tracking monitors.

High above the atmosphere, 3,000 manned satallites of the Aust Missile Defence Grid aimed their lasers and own missiles at the enermys missiles. The grid, built by the coalition of honour, prepared to fire. The avrage hit rate in tests was 89%, but the defence grid had been used once and then the hit ratio had been 56%. However scince then the crews and equipment had been improved, every stallatie had got a lock and together, they fired. 3,000 millsiles launched with little puffs of gas aiming for the enermy missiles.
Only 73% of them hit and destroyed the enermy, and still 27% came on to destroy Aust.
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In Aust city all citizens where ordered to their nuklear bunkers, like all other people in Aust. the emporer made his way to his own bunker/command center. All avalible aircraft where attacking Tom Joad so now nother could stop the remaining missiles. The Emporer knew that death would be the only result of this, maybe the death of Aust and he had no choice. "Fire all missiles!" he commanded, the enrermy had given him no choice, their citys would be destroyed, as would their millatary and Aust would reak it vengence.

The surviving missiles were now left to their own individual fates, the engines burning fuel by the second and still they continued. The micro-processors calculated locations, approach angles, fuel consumption and hundreds of other minute details all of which were intended to wreak the most devastation upon Aust. At their predetermined altitudes the warheads would airburst, the expansive pressure waves would crush buildings, cripple unprotected communications and ignite exposed flammable materials far beyond the reach of the actual blast waves.

“They’ve launched again, its unlikely we’ll achieve anything more than stalemate if we continue exchanging blows” It was a brave thing to even think such a thought, let alone bring the subject of negotiation up for discussion.

“What sort of damage are we likely to sustain if we continue?”

“Total. Civilian infrastructure is already severely damaged and further strikes would render it inoperative completely, as for the military we’re still operating at maximum strength, at least in terms of naval and airpower. The MI have suffered severe losses however a large proportion, enough to maintain order in some areas, have survived inside of complexes we constructed and continued to upgrade after the unification. Strategic assets are enough to render total destruction upon Aust, assuming they all made it through the defences, however based upon what we’ve just seen we’d still be able to neutralise their ability to return fire”

“We’d need a third party, launch our remaining assets anyway, we cannot afford to be at a stage where we have no options being used. Make approaches to suitable candidates anyway”

Bump for Aust.

OOC:Thanks TJ. Just for all other nations this is between us only and it takes place in the past, due to the fact that this serise of threads started in late december.

IC: The rest of the Austian missiles launched.

To: Tom Joad.
From: Aust
We shall terminate our Nukes if you terminate yours. We wish to have peace talks.

Aust.

"Sir! We've detected further Austian launches.... we've also received an offer of peace talks... it's conditional on the termination of our strike, it could be an elaborate ruse though"

The assembled members waited for a response from the leader of The Incorporated States of Tom Joad, for nearly a minute their leader remained immobile until he leaned forward, hands clasped together.

"Relay this to Aust, The termination of our strike is completely conditional on the immediate termination of yours, this is obvious and as such leaves us both vunerable. However in regard to our joint survival we shall comply, this is an act of sense but take care not to mistake it for weakness"
Suddenly weary he let himself sink back in to the chair and his arms fall to his sides.

As the message was relayed to Aust so were the orders to terminate the strike, personnel who days before had only ever practised such procedures found themselves writing ammendments to the manual as they completed their tasks.
The termination command was transmitted in a series of rapid pulses, after being acknowledged by each missile they altered their trajectories, disarmed themselves permanently and fell to Earth, had it been any later the missiles may well of ended up in the hands of anyone but with their final positions logged salvage vessels could be sent to recover them. Hopefully.

"Sir! We've detected further Austian launches.... we've also received an offer of peace talks... it's conditional on the termination of our strike, it could be an elaborate ruse though"

The assembled members waited for a response from the leader of The Incorporated States of Tom Joad, for nearly a minute their leader remained immobile until he leaned forward, hands clasped together.

"Relay this to Aust, The termination of our strike is completely conditional on the immediate termination of yours, this is obvious and as such leaves us both vunerable. However in regard to our joint survival we shall comply, this is an act of sense but take care not to mistake it for weakness"
Suddenly weary he let himself sink back in to the chair and his arms fall to his sides.

As the message was relayed to Aust so were the orders to terminate the strike, personnel who days before had only ever practised such procedures found themselves writing ammendments to the manual as they completed their tasks.
The termination command was transmitted in a series of rapid pulses, after being acknowledged by each missile they altered their trajectories, disarmed themselves permanently and fell to Earth, had it been any later the missiles may well of ended up in the hands of anyone but with their final positions logged salvage vessels could be sent to recover them. Hopefully.
The Austian missiles, too where terminated.

Restrained exchanges of relief were made by everyone who learned of the news, it seemed the brief yet brutally violent engagement was over. Now they'd have to agree on a settlement,
"Relay this to Aust, Now that we have both made the first step we must continue onwards to reach lasting measures so as to prevent such an exchange from occuring again. Of primary concern at the moment though is the restoring of order within the nation, entrance of a third party is an acceptable measure to ensure both sides are equally treated."

For the first time in days the leader of The Incorporated States of Tom Joad allowed himself the luxury of retiring to his quarters and actually resting his eyes, it did not last for more than a quarter of an hour though as he was thrust from this minor pleasure by the notification that the Austian aircraft heading for the nation were still on course.

OOC: Time to get your third party involved, I brought up the bombers now so as to tie up lose ends.

OOC: Forgot about the planes.

IC: The Austian planes where turned back. A reply was sent.
We agree. We shall try to find third party that suits us both.

OOC: Aust, does EVERYONE know you have turned into an evil empire? You used to be such a respectable nation. :headbang:

IC:Furor Atlantis declines allyship with Aust, and instead will formally switch stances to NEUTRAL if you admit your unconditional surrender as the reason you backed out of Modern Atlantis.

We can rest on this issue of slavery, as absolutely no Furor Atlantean citizens are roaming in the country of Aust, our recent enemy.

OOC: Furor this RP takes place in the past, you're not involved. Oh Aust please post a few details on the damage that wreaked upon your nation during my first strike.

IC: The confirmation of the bombers withdrawal was a good sign indeed, though a sudden cease-fire had been declared peace was certainly not at hand, however at least some efforts could be directed towards salvaging the economy and totally suppressing the Designated Zones residents who'd taken it upon themselves to protest.

"Until the entrance of a third party is made I believe that some steps can be made between us directly now, it has been noted that communication between our two nations was needlessly delayed due to the need for messages to be relayed through several sources. The employment of a direct line, after a switchboard, would save much time. We hope you consider this small point"

Austian Casukltys- 1.9 million.


We shall attempt to set up a direct line.

The last few weeks had been tough on both sides, tensions were still high but now with the establishment of direct communication between both leaderships the militarys could at least be sure that they wouldn't be caught unawares because the politicians couldn't talk fast enough.

The last of the ISTJ's warheads had been recovered, without incident thankfully though ever since the conflicts sudden violence transport in the area had hit an all time low. ISTJ SSBNs were leaving the area, many to return home and await potential re-deployment, SSNs still scoured the depths around the ISTJ mainland in search of the ever present threat of invasion from some unknown source.

As discussions began between both leaders something very puzzling was realised by Emperor Palpatine, he was dealing with one person and that one person had introduced themselves as the Executive Committee. Deception knew no boundaries apparently, not that it really mattered in fact it simplified matters greatly. The first sitcking point were the terms of a formal and lasting peace, whether it was to include economics benefits or compensation for parties involved as well as the return of ISTJ citizens still held in Aust, regardless of their physical condition.

"I do not see why I, and my people should pay for the damage you caused yourselves by attackjing my nation." Palpatine told the Executiv commitie, "I think that if anything you should give the hundreds of Austians injured comensation, instead you say that I should pay you, for the damage to your nation after you prevoked a attack. Are you out of your mind?"

We of the Executive Committee note with some incredulity that the Emperor still clings to the faint notion of being the victim in this affair, unless the fact that ISTJ citizens were held against their will for reasons both ludicrous and insulting as well as the summary execution of several of the ISTJ's citizens.
It is due to those reasons which the incident between our nations occured, unless the Emperor in of the idea that he can maintain his grip on power whilst his nation burns to the ground then he is certainly proceeding in the correct manner.
Yet we both know that such a course would be fruitless, minimal reperations are to be expected especially considering the scale of damage inflicted by both sides. On to other more easily negotiable matters perhaps? The return of all ISTJ citizens and all information relating to their time spent in your custody, including any suspicions of your staff as to their activities, although the ISTJ denies any knowledge of individuals operating within our borders planning any such actions as your described in prior communications we shall peform an investigation.
Assuming the information from yourselves is made available.

We of the Executive Committee note with some incredulity that the Emperor still clings to the faint notion of being the victim in this affair, unless the fact that ISTJ citizens were held against their will for reasons both ludicrous and insulting as well as the summary execution of several of the ISTJ's citizens.
It is due to those reasons which the incident between our nations occured, unless the Emperor in of the idea that he can maintain his grip on power whilst his nation burns to the ground then he is certainly proceeding in the correct manner.
Yet we both know that such a course would be fruitless, minimal reperations are to be expected especially considering the scale of damage inflicted by both sides. On to other more easily negotiable matters perhaps? The return of all ISTJ citizens and all information relating to their time spent in your custody, including any suspicions of your staff as to their activities, although the ISTJ denies any knowledge of individuals operating within our borders planning any such actions as your described in prior communications we shall peform an investigation.
Assuming the information from yourselves is made available.
We shall release the ISTJ citizens, (Now classed as POWs) once peace nogotiations are finished. We also will release information on there activities in Aust that we used as everdence to arrest them

In SABBAS
"get a dossier on those Tom Joad citizens ready. MAke sure it has conclusive proof that they where planning attacks on Aust."
"sir."

Then let neogtiations progress faster than they are currently, something I believe we can both agree on is that closer co-operation is perhaps required to avoid future incidents, the establishment of direct communications has obviously already benefited these talks despite being so far very brief. Economic expansion by private sector forces would be very lucractive to all involved and is perhaps a more reasonable solution to direct reperations.

Then let neogtiations progress faster than they are currently, something I believe we can both agree on is that closer co-operation is perhaps required to avoid future incidents, the establishment of direct communications has obviously already benefited these talks despite being so far very brief. Economic expansion by private sector forces would be very lucractive to all involved and is perhaps a more reasonable solution to direct reperations.
It would be good for both partys if Economic expation cqan be accived. However we balive that we should firt concentrate upon how to stop another war before our econermys.

Very well then, we can see you wish to head straight for the complex issues and leave the small stuff for dignitaries.

Let us consider the following the ISTJ's initial draft treaty:

"The parties involved in the conflict had agreed that the continuation of hostilities is both damaging, fruitless and beyond reasonable comprehension which is why on this day (Insert date) the signatories agree to the following terms in the interest of a lasting peace
All military forces on both sides will be reduced to pre-conflict levels, on a mutually occurring basis. Both sides shall refrain from engaging in practices known to cause heightened tensions, such as mock engagements and aerial reconnaissance in to sensitive areas, though non-binding it shall be seen as an act of faith to stand by the requirements.
The establishment of permanent embassies within the signatories capitals is to be known as an intrinsic detail of the treaty signing, direct communication is beneficial however for more routine matters embassies are more suited to such actions. Embassy staff are to be granted diplomatic immunity, expulsion of diplomatic staff is to be agreed as an acceptable method and not as a hostile action.
Both parties are required to notify each other when they raise the readiness levels of their military beyond routine levels, deployment of future weapons platforms or systems is to be made with regards to possible affects upon the opposite party and the systems destabilising effect.

This initial draft should provide the basis for a formal treaty.

Very well then, we can see you wish to head straight for the complex issues and leave the small stuff for dignitaries.

Let us consider the following the ISTJ's initial draft treaty:

"The parties involved in the conflict had agreed that the continuation of hostilities is both damaging, fruitless and beyond reasonable comprehension which is why on this day (Insert date) the signatories agree to the following terms in the interest of a lasting peace
All military forces on both sides will be reduced to pre-conflict levels, on a mutually occurring basis. Both sides shall refrain from engaging in practices known to cause heightened tensions, such as mock engagements and aerial reconnaissance in to sensitive areas, though non-binding it shall be seen as an act of faith to stand by the requirements.
The establishment of permanent embassies within the signatories capitals is to be known as an intrinsic detail of the treaty signing, direct communication is beneficial however for more routine matters embassies are more suited to such actions. Embassy staff are to be granted diplomatic immunity, expulsion of diplomatic staff is to be agreed as an acceptable method and not as a hostile action.
Both parties are required to notify each other when they raise the readiness levels of their military beyond routine levels, deployment of future weapons platforms or systems is to be made with regards to possible affects upon the opposite party and the systems destabilising effect.

This initial draft should provide the basis for a formal treaty.
We agree with this treaty.

OOC: The last bit dosn't effect us, as we have conscripion (between 14 and 20) and after that every person in Aust is expected to oin the reserves.

OOC: That was one simple treaty negotiation, feel free to add to it because I came up with it on the fly.

IC:
Such speedy decisions, perhaps now economic matters can play a more direct role in our talks?

OOC: Well there was nothing wrong with it and Palpatine just wants to get this over quickly.

IC: We balive that we could give your companys space to build on the outskirts of Aust City

OOC: I think we can avoid the need to go in to specifics of detail about the economics matters and simply leave it as both nations agreeing that private corporations from either will not face prejudice if they decide to operate in an opposite nation.

IC:
We offer similar options to any interested parties from Aust and will take some measures to insure their ease of establishment. May the peace be long and fruitful for us both, let such incidents never be far from our minds in future incidents.

OOC: I think we can avoid the need to go in to specifics of detail about the economics matters and simply leave it as both nations agreeing that private corporations from either will not face prejudice if they decide to operate in an opposite nation.

IC:
We offer similar options to any interested parties from Aust and will take some measures to insure their ease of establishment. May the peace be long and fruitful for us both, let such incidents never be far from our minds in future incidents.
OOC: Okay.

IC:We agree and wish you good will, the reports on your citezens have been sent.

The reports were duly received and their contents carefully compared to the information available, some anomalies started to appear though.

SO12 Foreign Commissary Division
"Check this out, according to the military service records for this guy he's short sighted and suffers from a muscular disorder which prevents him from actually operating mainstream weapons, only a customised weapon could actually be used by this guy and this isn't the only inconsistency we've found so far"

"I'll pass it on upstairs, keep matching up the inconsistencies and have me a report ready for the morning"
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We are pleased to have received the reports so speedily, although a full report cannot yet be offered we have so far found little evidence to support an organised movement and are thus attributing any organisation behind the actions of our citizens as being entirely native to Aust.