NationStates Jolt Archive

"And who shall feed you when you are hungry?", called the enigmatic figure to the slowly growing crowd. There was not as much response as he would have liked, and it made him uneasy. He half expected a government agent to leap out of the crowd and fire at him there and then. He shook these fears off and continued with his speech, "The Government that seized control all those years ago is nothing but a puppet for the church! We are told we have as much freedom as they can give, but I could be arrested simply for making this statement! If you help me into power, I promise that I will..."

"Geez, what a loudmouth", muttered Al Sattar, to his cigar. "As if nobody has had the same idea." He had been watching the man from the crowd for half an hour now, and the speech appeared to have gone full circle. From Freedom, to the economy, to economic freedom, to freedom again. He was nothing new, and would not last 5 seconds in a real government. Throughout the seven wonderful years of the Holy Republic, there had been many counter-revolutions and threats to power. None of them had succeeded, not so much from government intervention, but by their own apathy. Nobody wanted to go through the horror of another revolution, apart from perhaps these lunatics.

"...'His holiness' can burn! 'His holiness' can suffer!..." The crowd was beginning to cheer...there were almost enough people to take action now.

Al counted down softly, 5, 4, 3, 2...1.

There were screams in the crowd, a man held up a gun and cheered, "Yeah, revolt! Revolt!" The chant spread rapidly through the crowd, the leader of the speech seemingly suprised at this course of action. Once he had been forgotten, the man in the crowd, Al Satter, moved away and took out his radio, "Ready for pacification"

The crowd by now had grown to a decent size of riot-crazed individuals, intent on what they thought would be an overnight revolution. An armoured car came around the corner, entering the otherwise quiet square, the rioters ran to it...

...and into its guns. A mounted machine gun, costing the government a hefty sum to purchase, was on the car, mercilessly cutting through the rioters. The leader of the pack was lfeeing from the scene, out of the square, into the unrelenting arms of Agent Satter.

Tomorrow's headlines played the story for all it was worth:

COUP ATTEMPTED IN ERTWELL BY ARMED RADICALS - GOVERNMENT TAKES SWIFT ACTION

The square was almost empty of witnesses, nobody could say otherwise.

His Holiness Nathaniel Arman sat down with this newspaper in the capital, and grimaced. Attempted rebellions were on the up and up, and nothing could be done while retaining the brilliant civil rights record of the country.

No, a more subtle approach was needed. He sighed and shook his haed. For once in his life, he would have to respond to events dictated by others. And he hated it.

((OOC: Ok, I'm trying an RP set in "The Holy Republic Of Tamashii Gekido" =) This is OPEN, with roles including, but of course not limited to, a government worker, a rebel supporter, a foreign agent of intervention...etc etc. I am always avalible on MSN, just check my profile. I am fairly new to NS (Not RPing) so, er, don't eat me if I've done something wrong))

The Republic's 'Iron Grip' on its power had slowly been slipping away from it. His Holiness had to do something now to set his power in stone, or see it slip away from him either in a rebellion, or drowned in waves of foreign, oppertunistic intervention.

((OOC: All my baser instincts tell me not to do this, but...*Bump* If Im' doing something wrong, please tell me...))

((OOC: Ok, I'm kinda getting desperate here. Could somebody tell me how to start up an RP well? Thanks =) I've read all the stickies and whatnot, but the quick move to page 7 unnerved me a little...))

((It's a great way to start off. It's not that it is bad; people just haven't looked into it yet. Give it a little bit and someone will find it.
I'm TAGing this for a later IC post. I would post now, but I must be off. I'll be playing two foreign agents. One from Risban's intelligence agency and one from a rogue intelligence agency based in Risban.
So, post coming up in about... eh, probably five hours.))

Tag- I'll play a ISTWA Commando Team that gets caught up on vacation here if that's alright? Only 4 guys, no weapons besides pistols, not much.

((Rough (Very, sorry. No photoshop skills.) map of Tamashii Gekido can be found here (http://www2.propichosting.com/Images/421548490/24.jpg) . Remember that you are quite free to create any kind of small town or villiage in any of the regions. Only the major cities are set))

"Your Holiness, the reports from Ertwell are in!" Shrieked the private, handing the collection of papers shakily to his master.

The small, spectacled man nodded and took the papers calmly. He uttered a few soft words, the obligitary blessing, onto the private and waited for him to leave.

The reports seemed quite optimistic at first, but soon told a grim tail.

Your Holiness,

I would like to inform you that all rumours of the Ertwell regions falling prey to counter-revolutionary forces are utterly false. Scatterings of unorganised troops occasionally cause trouble in the lowlands and around Ertwell itself, but these are quickly quashed by your magnificent security forces.

However, my scouts to the East tell a different tale of the highlands. Mechanised troops, planes, armour, exist in low number but in grand organisation on the peaks. I fear they may soon attempt to attack Ertwell and cut off any passage to the West.

I urge you to grand the army emergency powers during this troublesome time, so that Tamashii Gekido can be under your enlightened rule for many years to come.

Your loyal servant and proud follower,

Alan Sattar,
Commander, Intelligence Corps, Ertwell Regions

Arman sighed, heavily. The country was falling apart...quietly. Vidate was out of control of the government, everybody knew about it. 'Major' Riit had somehow gained the support of the security forces in the region, probably through money and empty promises of glory, and had marched through Vivian forest.

Everything beyond the sea was on the edge. Security forces were spread far too thin, the equipment too poor and old. A single good victory from the rebels could topple the government for good.

"You requested my presence, my lord?" bespoke a taller, stronger man, at the doorway of the spacious room.
"Ah yes, commander...you are of course aware of the situation in Vidate?" Of course he was, thought Arman, but he wasn't going to tell it to me straight.
"Hah! But a trifle. It shall be over soon" Very slick, thought Arman. Roudn one to you.
"I am thinking of requesting international intevention" He spoke quietly, understanding exactly what the commander's response would be.
"My Lord! They would pillage these lands of yours!..." Commander Lim was commander of the Ravvloc and Hervloc security forces. He did not have to experience any hardship, other than the rebel forces coming from the south...but the response he had given that was like that of hitting a mosquito with a cannon.

"No, they would stop the rebels from doing just that...perhaps I could simply use the wealth of our remaining territories to purchase some help for our military?"
Lim grew red, "Sir! Our forces can crush the rebels easily with HALF our forces"
"No, they cannot. You are dismissed. You are ordered to destroy the Ergot Uprising as quickly as possible, then you will be deployed to the Vidate Heartlands, with assistance."

"Burn them in the forest. Destroy everything, Lim. And let everybody know that is just what you did."

He nodded to the tall man, and began to draft a telegram to anybody who would listen.
Lim's troops will soon march into the Ergot forest, to destroy any presence they can find. Arman was confident in him...the man was a devious fool, but he was still a military man, and would slaughter the poor fools like a military man should.

OOC:The Tech-Com Corporation will be selling weapons to the rebels. They may even offer the service of a regiment of their private mercenarie. But as for direct intervention of the Red Tidean Goverment. Thats out.

IC:Top Secret Message To the Tamashii Gekido Freedom Fighters From Tech-Com Corporation

"We are willing to sell you our weapons... tanks, planes, guns, missiles, hell even ships if you have the money. It depends on wether you can afford it or not. Here is some of our equipment:

MBT-66: This State-of-the-Art Main Battle Tank has 37% more armor than a M1A2 Abrams, yet moves at the same speed. The reason for this is instead of using the Abrams Steel-DPU Advanced Composite Armor, we use Titanium-DPU Advanced Composite Armor. Titanium is 40% stronger than steel yet lighter. The MBT-66 armament consists of one 140mm ETC Cannon, one 7.62mm co-axial machinegun, and one top mounted 12.7mm(.50 Caliber) machinegun. It has all the electronics you would find on a M1A2 SEP(Special-Electronics Package). Its gun is capable of firing HEAT(anti-APC/IFV/LBT), SABOT(Anti-MBT), and HE-FRAG(Anti-Infantry) shells. Cost:10 million USD per tank

APC-45:This Aormored Personnel Carrier is capable of carrying 10 men inside. It has a fully rotatable turret armed with two 23mm rapid firing FLAK guns. These guns are also effective against infantry and unarmored veichles. 3 million per APC.

M-100 Assualt Rifle:This rifle fires about 100 meters more then the AK-74, 10 more Rounds Per Minute, and has a slightly larger clip(34 instead of 30). It utilises 6.5mm rounds and can come with either a gunsight or laser scope. Fires in semi-auto, auto, and burst. Cost:1200 USD per gun.

MDM-1 Anti-Tank Rocket Launcher:Has the same effective range as the M-100 Assualt Rifle and can be fired inside buildings. Unguided, lightweight, portable, and reloadable. Fire from above or behind the tank for maximum penetration. 2400 per launcher.

MDM-4 Surface-Air Missile: Is capable of effectively targeting all types of aircraft, Cruise Missiles, and Short Range Ballistic Missiles(like the SCUD) at all levels of height. A battery of them comes with Laser-Guided, IR Guided, and Radar-Guided Missiles, the first two are for targetting low-mid flying viechles, the latter targets mid-high flying veichles. A battery also comes with a specialised high powered radar array capable of detecting and targetting most Low Signature(read:Stealth) aircraft. A battery usually consists of 6 of these fine weapons. The MDM-4 is even capable of targetting large bombs(such as a FAE or MOAB), though only the laser guided missiles are capable of doing this. The MDM-4 is a stationary weapon that must be disassembled to move and assembled to fire. The launcher holds 6 missiles(radar-guided) or 12 missiles(IR and Laser-Guided). A single radar array can guide a battery of MDM-4s. The total cost for a Launcher WITH missiles costs about 21 million USD per launcher. The radar array costs 10 million USD.

M-1 Tunguska RT Mobile Anti Aircraft System: This is a modified Tunguska Mobile Anti-Aircraft Gun/Missile System. Instead of firing 8 SA-19 Missiles, it fires 8 QMSAM(Quick Manueverable Surface-Air Missiles)-10 and -20 missiles. These missiles move at Mach 5 and are either Laser(-10 version) or IR (-20 version) guided. Both versions have a 93% success rate against low-flying aircraft and cruise missiles. This will cost 12 million USD per launcher WITH the missiles.

LRASM(Long Range Anti-Surface Missile)-50: This is NOT a cruise missile but instead a long range missile effective against ships, bunkers, and structures(effectiveness against target type depends on warhead). There are two versions, a air launched one and a surface launched one, the former haveing a slightly shorter range of 110 miles instead of 115 miles. There are 4 warheads, deep penetration, anti-structure, anti-ship, and chemical delivery. The missile moves above mach-1 and is a surface skimmer making it difficult to hit with CIWS. It costs 3 million per missile.

We hope these products will fit your needs well. Please contact us soon.

PS:We prefer that you have a place to deliver these weapons."
End Statement

OOC: I'll probably be joining in, playing a foriegn agent or two from my government. However I can't make an IC post at the moment, I will once I get the chance.

Imperial Palace, Risban City- The Situation Centre

Alexander Perkins, Imperial High Minister of Foreign Affairs, walked down a hallway in Imperial Palace, the capitol of the Grand Imperium of Risban. He passed through two lavish and heavily-guarded doors, being checked for weapons as he did. He walked down a hall in the Command Centre, located deep within the massive palace, and through another door into the Situation Centre. The room was darker than the others, full of computers and various machines. On the computers were maps of Green Sun, the northern coast of The Macabees in the Imperial Armies Region, and Upper Xen--all places where Imperial Troops were currently in active duty. Television screens showed various national and international news stations...
"What have you got?" inquired Perkins as he sat down at a table, looking at two thin, gaunt men looking at him. One was considerably older. He was Myles Abrahms, one of the most mysterious people in the entire Imperium. He headed the Ministry of Intelligence and practically made the Prometheus Group (what the Ministry of Intel is dubbed) the power it was. Standing beside Abrahms was Marcus Janus, the Deputy Director of Intelligence. He was at least twenty years a junior to Abrahms, and quite skilled. It was said he would head Prometheus one day.

"Problems in a nation that has just entered our radar," said Abrahms, handing Perkins a portfolio on Tamashii Gekido. "They're a rather strict theocratic republic. One of our spy satellites just picked up some pictures of a conflict taking place..."
Perkins frowned, going over the portfolio and pictures.
Janus continued. "We now know of uprisings in the southeast, north, and midwest areas of the nation. Neither their government nor a rebellious faction has released a public statement yet."
"Well then," said Perkins, setting the file down. "What do you want?"
"Permission to send agents in to come in aid of their legitimate government," said Abrahms. "Information gathering for the most part, to keep us informed. They may intervene and assasinate or kidnap when necessary."
"So no deployment of any more forces then?"
"Correct, sir," smiled Abrahms. "We don't want to divert too much of the Emperor's attention away from Green Sun and the Imperials Armies Region, especially with so many Risbanian citizens in danger. We are going to us the Holy Republic of Tamashii Gekido as a little experiment for Prometheus... We also have heard rumors of possible Shadow involvement. So, we want to keep an eye on that too."
"Alright then. I'll have Emperor Scorpius approve it then," said Perkins, standing. "Try not to get any agents killed. Lord Plutus would have a fit if we have to pay for any replacements."


Imperial Palace-- The Office of Zorag
Lord Richard Gaius Zorag sat in his office, frowning as Marcus Janus finished his report. The Deputy Director had come right from his meeting with Alexander Perkins to speak with Zorag.
"Yes, I was aware of the hostilities in Tamashii Gekido," said Zorag, the Minister of Industry and a super-wealthy CEO, as well as part of Parliament. "Their government would be a potentially powerful ally if accepted into our fold. However, if we push a new rebellious government in that attempts a democratic system, it will be easy for us to support a general to come along and set up a military dictatorship. We could start from scratch there as well... Deploy agents into the country just to keep an eye on things for now. No action, yet. Let us wait to see how things go."
"Yes, m'lord," said Janus, bowing.

General Lim was not a violent man by nature, but haven been given an attacking force consisting primarily of flamethrowers, on a forest, does not allow for much subtlety.

"Gentlemen...in these forestlands are the rebelling scum. We have been ordered to utterly destroy them, take no prisoners from these heretics...disMISSED!" The captains assembled before him saluted, and made their way to addressing their troops.

Lim shuddered. He had the terrible feeling this was going to go very wrong. But one thing was certain, Ergot forest would burn today.

---

Major Riit paced in his hastily constructed base of operations. It was only just underground, but sheltered by the trees surrounding it. He had just received a very interesting message from his satillite linkup, from 'Tech-Com'. Apparently, they would sell to his rebellion...

This was a problem. Not only did Riit have nowhere the weapons could be delivered to, but money was a problem. He had only defected from the TG military recently, and money there was scarce - The rebellion had even less cash to spare.

He began to draft a message to Tech-Com

I am Major Riit, of the largest and most prominent rebellion in the Republic of Tamashii Gekido against the heinous rule of Nathaniel Arman.

I am not able to wire any money to you, but we are able to pay in cash. There is a port west of Vidate, in the Dati region, that is partially controlled by our forces. I am quite willing to send a representative there.

As for products, we are currently making the 'Final Push' to take Vidate. The highland forces are many, but they are hardly our allies. As for the Erbot forest uprising, they are fools to attack so close to the capital.

We will require:

200 M-100 Assualt Rifles (240,000 USD)
Two(?) MDM-1 Anti-Tank Rocket Launcher (No price was supplied)
Two APC-45s (No price was supplied)

This order is small, but you will appreciate money for the rebellion is scarce.

OOC:I have now edited the post to include the price of the rocket launcher and APC.
IC:
Top Secret Reply from Tech-Com Corporation
"Very well. We expect the money to be there. If you need any more goods just contact us. We have more items then listed on that price sheet. If you want a specific kind o viechle/weapon. Please contact us in the future. Your total comes to 6,244,800, thank you."
End Message

A Tech-Com cargo freighter steamed towards the docks of Vidate

Arman tapped his cup of tea thoughtfully. The reports from the initial assualt of Ergot Forest had just come in.

Massacre,
Both sides take heavy losses,
A Forest in flames.

Something had gone wrong. Lim had sent a message that he would not be retreating, and would press on until the uprising was in full retreat. This was all over the news...

Arman did not want to have to take such drastic action, but he thought it was a must.

"From this day", came the broadcast on all of Gekido's channels, "From this day, all media transmissions are property of the great Holy Republic. Any unauthorized transmissions will be dealt with severely. Martial law is now enforced. Stay tuned for vital messages from the great Holy Republic..."

Feelings in the Grand Imperium of Risban were becoming tense. Their region, their Consortium of Shadows, had come under invasion. Their closest ally was about to be conquered by an enemy force. An island they owned in Imperial Armies had just been completely overrun by a pirate fleet, causing Imperial forces to retreat for the first time since World War II.
Thus, with so much to be focused on, the majority of the populace did not know of what was happening in Tamashii Gekido, and the few that did did not care. However, there was a select group that did care... The Prometheus Agency, otherwise known as the Risban Imperial Ministry for Intelligence. But no, they were not the only one. Deep within the Grand Imperium, lurking in the shadows, were others with interests abroad....


The Office of the Minister of Industry, Imperial Palace, Risban City
"Sir, they have declared martial law," said Marcus Janus, sitting in the office of Lord Richard Gaius Zorag. "Their government has control of all of their channels."
"My, I'm beginning to like this Holy Republic," said Lord Zorag, a wide grin on his face. "I want to get in contact with their leader. It is time to extend our fold."
"B-... But my lord, Prometheans are spying there," said Janus. "If they find out that someone from Risban is contacting Gekido's leader..."
"They will not, for you will see to it that people are given tips of their whereabouts," said Zorag. "Have them all killed. Perkins will not allow Abrahms to send any more people to be lost, what with Retreat Island and Green Sun being in turmoil."
"Yes, my lord..."




Secret Telegram to: His Holiness Nathaniel Arman
The Holy Republic of Tamashii Gekido

Greetings, Arman. The actions of your government have gained my attention, and the attention of my comrades. We wish to accept you, and only you, into a fold of power and secrecy, commonly known as the Society of Shadows. More information will be presented if you prove you can be trusted.
With the power of the nations of the shadows behind you, nothing will be able to destroy you.


Signed,
~Lord Z.~

((Heh! Sorry for the poor post, but I haven't much time. Consider it a bump))

Riit stood on the docks he had set aside for the delivery and took deep drags of his cigar. His security detail was limited, but experienced. Two Republic snipers had been taken out hours before he had gotten here.
He did not trust Tech-Com...any company trying to make a profit out of a struggle such as this does not deserve to be trusted. The freighter came into view, and he raised his two briefcases. The men on either side of him did the same, there was no need for a lack of trust here. After all, the chances were all of the men were covered by at least half a dozen rifles.
"Mr Riit...glad we could be business"...

--

The convoy moved westwards fast. It was not good to be caught in government-held land with enough weapons to take on such a poorly defended city as Vidate.
At least, this is what Riit thought. Right up until the sniper's bullet entered his brain. It was not his last thought, his last thought was 'Ow', but for the sake of this narritive, it shall be declared his terminal thought.

The convoy was quickly surrounded by government jeeps. A fatal flaw had been made in Riit's plan. He had made sure nobody found out about his movements by only letting a few people in his rebellion know about his plans. This also meant that nobody knew where he was, and he did not bring along soldiers capable of commandeering the APCs. The death of Riit did not even make the national news.

"Friends and comrades", spoke Lim, from the command jeep. He noticeably had only a single eye, having lost the other in Ergot forest. The attack was messy, and still continued! Manpower was stretched thin, they were going to have to use all the tricks in the book to quash the rebellions. "You are very, very foolish men."

Two hours later, a man who looked like Major Riit declared he vowed to attack the Highland uprising with new weapons, purchased from Tech-Com corperation, and that the attack of Vidate was being put on hold. The entire uprising was moving West...

--

"The society of shadows...how very dark."
"Yes sir...I have news from lim. Operation Cuckoo has succeeded, and he is returning to Ergot.", Private Titvay spoke softly.
"Very good, very good..." This heardly quelled his fears at all. Martial law had put down obvious support in the farmland, and removing Riit with their own specimin had undoubtedly taken away the imminent danger of losing Vidate. But the heartland support was not commanded by Riit...they were still there. And contrary to what he was telling his general, the Ergot Forest uprising was not being pushed back, it was growing.

"I do not trust this 'Society'...it seems too much like being put into a sphere of influence I cannot control. My will must be final!"
"Of course, my lord." Titvay bowed, he feared his master, more than anything else.
Nathaniel wrote a single sentence on a message sheet.

And how can you prove I am to be trusted, if you are not watching me?
Nathaniel Arman, Lord and Leader of Tamashii Gekido

He went to the windows.
He could see the forest burning from the palace.

"My lord, Arman has sent his response," said Marcus Janus as he walked into Lord Zorag's office, handing the message to the CEO. "I sense he wishes to remain free of obligations and constraints."
Richard Gaius Zorag, Grand Master of the Society of Shadows, frowned as he read the response. He sighed, tossing it aside. "Pity... It would have been much easier to support the government already in power. Oh well. As they say: There are many fish in the sea."



A telegram, encoded, was shortly sent off in response.

Oh, my dear Lord Arman... The Society of Shadows is always watching. Always. We see everything. We know everything. That is why we exist. That is why we are what we are. We will know if we can trust you or not.
However, if the Holy Republic does not wish to join our circle, we are sure that there are others in your land willing enough.
Though, you have not angered us, and gaining control of your nation is of no lucrative benefit. Thus, we will not attempt to turn the tide against you. Be warned, though. We are always watching.

There are several spies and agents from the Prometheus Group, an intelligence agency that works for the Grand Imperium of Risban. Their bodies will soon be found, dead. We ask of you to dispose of the bodies when authorities find them. Fire cleans everything.

Ipsa scientia potestas est,

Lord Z.