NationStates Jolt Archive

Somewhere in the deserts of the Sudan, Roycelandian East Africa

"Akhmed, the preparations to return the Pharaoh's treasure to his tomb are well underway. The truck should be here within the hour, to take them back to his Tomb."

"And the Colonial Guard?"

"We will deal with them if they come. Osiris will protect us, for we are doing His bidding."

Somewhere nearby

"This is where you will find those who have stolen the Treasures of Pharaoh Ramset IV, Lieutenant" The old Goat Herder explained to the Colonial Guardsmen. "They need to be preserved, not put back in the ground. This is why I help you."

"We appreciate it. Johnson!" Lieutenant Stewart Griffin called. "Bring our friend his reward."

A trio of Camels, each with saddlebags laden with gold bullion, and several containers of water, were brought to the Goat Herder. "Compliments of the Roycelandian Government. Go in Peace."

"Allah's blessings be upon you" replied the Goat Herder as he left with the Camels and his reward.

The Goat Herder had indicated a series of caverns in a rocky outcrop near an oasis- the perfect place to hide stolen treasures.

"Right, let's get this over with."

The small Colonial Guard unit, complete with Meerkat Light Tank, approached the Caverns, and were greeted with small arms fire.

"Looks like we've got the right place!" Lt. Griffin said. "You know what to do..."

The Meerkat's 40mm Cannon opened up on the area where the gunfire could be seen, and the Colonial Guard moved in, firing their Lee-Enfield Rifles.

The firefight was unusally prolonged, with several Colonial Guard being seriously injured, and 3 of them being killed by fire from the Arab Raiders.

When the smoke finally cleared, however, all the Arabs were either dead or too badly wounded to fight, and the Guard moved in to secure the treasure.

"Most of it's here... looks like they've moved some of it, Sir..." said a young Colonial Guardsman, holding a shiny gold relic of some sort.

Lt. Griffin grabbed one of the seriously wounded Raiders and stuck his Webley pistol against his head. "TELL ME WHERE THE REST OF THE TREASURE IS! And no Lies! For Every Lie you tell me, I shall kill you!" He cocked the hammer on the large revolver.

"I'm going to die anyway. I'll never tell you!" spat the raider in Arabic

Lt. Griffin didn't speak Arabic, but he knew the sound of someone not telling him what he wanted to hear. The Webley fired once, the shot echoing around the cavern. The Raider's head disappeared in a red mist and clumps of giblets at the same time.

"Find someone else and make them talk!" he commanded as he strode outside. Blasted Raiders. He had a good mind to hunt them all down and kill then, but the orders from Port Imperial were clear: Get the treasure and return with it. And no repeats of the Wadi Halfa incident either, thank you very much.

"Griffin to Nest, Griffin to Nest- 2/3rds of the eggs have been found. Still looking for the others. Will report when we know their location. Over and out."

Lt. Griffin looked off into the desert. Somewhere out there was priceless treasure, and it was in the hands of a bunch of dirty Arab Raiders. Well, this was an ideal oppurtunity to kill several ducks with one shell...

Port Royal, Roycelandia

His Imperial Majesty Emperor Royce I received the breathless Diplomatic Courier in his Study.

"Your Majesty, I have the artefact you specifically requested. It's the miniature Golden Bust of Pharaoh Ramset IV, with his ceremonial Pharaonic headdress."

The small, shiny bust (it was less than six inches high) seemed to radiate with pure golden rays, eminating from within. Mesmerising was one word for it. Priceless was another. Stolen was another one, but anyone who used that word near His Majesty was liable to find themselves deported to Frostbite Island faster than you could say "Polar Bear".

"Ooooh... Shiny" His Majesty said. He handled the priceless bust for a few minutes, then placed it on top of a pile of papers on his desk.

"To think, artesans laboured to build that little miniature work of art, and it survived 4,000 years buried in the sands of the Sudan..." the Courier said.

"And they had the foresight to make it exactly the right size and shape for my new Paperweight!" His Majesty finished. "Where's the rest of the Pharaoh's Treasure? It needs to be in the Musuem so everyone can see it."

"They're working on it, Your Majesty..."

Ryan Bennet took off his pitch helmet and wiped his brow with his handkerchief.
"Pray tell, Mr. McNeil, when do you think we will arrive?"
"We should be at the tomb in about, five hours. Now if you want to remount, sir, we'll be going off." answered McNeil, one of Bennet's guides. The other, Mohammed, looked off into the distance. Bennet wondered how he could decipher one dune from another.
Bennet was the son of Charles Bennet, a board member and executive at the National Bank of Emaria. Ryan was currently a student at King's University. But he was taking his holiday as part of an expedition, partially funded by his father, into Africa, exploring ancient site and tombs.
Bennet wiped his brow again and the group set off.

The Sudan, Roycelandian East Africa

A small village with an Arab name of some sort

The Bazaar was alive with activity. Colonial Guard were in town, so the rumours went, looking for the remainder of a stolen treasure.

Quite why they had chosen this small village to visit was beyond the comprehension of the village elders, but they were polite and courteous to the khaki-clad soldiers, who returned their courtesty in a similar manner.

"I was wondering", Lt. Griffin said to the Village Chief over coffee and tobacco, "If you could help me with something."

The Chief nodded. "It is always my pleasure to help His Majesty in any way I can."

Lt. Griffin was pleased. They were showing the proper respect.

"Have you seen a Pharaoh's treasure recently? Lots of gold, shiny stuff, rubies, and so on. It was stolen and His Majesty would like it back..."

McNeil laughed to himself as he looked at Bennet, who was resting his feet inside the tent the group had erected. His face, arms, and legs were a bright red, and he walked with a strange limp, as Bennet had said both of his legs pained him.
McNeil turned to the entrance of the tomb. Two short columns and a frame were visible on the side of a rather large dune. Mohammed and McNeil both thought it odd that the door was not intact.
"Do you think it was grave robbers?" McNeil asked the other earlier.
"It is possible." answered Monhammed. "But this is a very remote location, and records show that was very sturdy cover. I doubt simple grave robbers could have accomplished that feat."
"Well, we shall see tonight, when venture into the dark depths, haha."
"Yes..."

Two hours Later, after the usual admiration of the Chieftan's cattle, tales of poverty and unworthiness to receive an envoy of The Great Emperor, Lt. Griffin finally had the information he needed. There was an ecampment of Raiders perhaps 70kms to the west, and it would stand to reason some of the treasures might be there.

"Ok chaps, mount up, we're going for a drive!" Lt. Griffin called, noting with mild displeasure that the back of the unit's Deuce-and-a-half trucks was filled with fine rugs, coffee pots, and other trinkets from the bazaar.

meanwhile, somewhere else in the desert

"The theives will want this back, Abdul. Even though it is the property of the Pharaoh, they have better guns than we do."

"Patience, Mohammed. Our faith will allow us to persevere. Mustafa will take the first watch. We must return the treasures to the tomb, and seal them in forever, lest others steal them again."