NationStates Jolt Archive

It had been a few years since the ESUS Database; the expansive miracle of modern technology was destroyed by a covert operative. Already, 1% of the data that had once existed had been restored. That 1% constituted about 90,000 Terabytes of the encrypted and compressed data that could be easily accessed by the member nations. Already, star charts were in the process of being rebuilt.

The Siesatian central computer was one of the systems assisting in the reconstruction. Channeling data from all its sources, from the farthest sensor arrays, to the colonies in Sol, it processed the information, and fed it to the server. It also helped by processing some of the data retrieved from the other computer systems of the other national computers.

Suddenly, a report from an ESUS affiliated trading ship pinged. It had been trading with an outpost on Earth when the crew had met with a group of what were described as, ‘Rat people’. The ship, from a small backwater nation who had enlisted to haul cheap cargo for some of the ESUS Member Corporations, had never heard of Burmecians, and had found it amazing to find any of these creatures on their home world.


The simple ping reverberated throughout the network. It was not long (.1034 * 10^-37 Nanoseconds) before the report ended up in the president’s message server. From there, it was filtered out from the junk mail, and made its way to the priority reports, under the ominous title, ‘Non Siesatian Burmecian Contact detected. Recommend Immediate Contact.’


President Jessica Crescent, separated by her distant ancestor, Freya Crescent by 12 Generations, still had memoirs of her years as a Dragon Knight all over the office. Several deadly weapons hanging above many pictures of the deadly sun soaked desert of Cleyra, where she stood with classmates, students, and friends. Including one suspicious picture of her class, and a group of armor clad humans, anyone who knew anything about the Dragon Knights, would know that the Arizona Nova Grey ops had been the only human unit skilled enough to successfully train with them.

She sat, reading through on a motion for a new Temporal Facility in a backwater colony, when the computer behind her beeped urgently. Placing the motion on the desk before her, she reached over, and activated the holographic interface. The message struck her like a ton of plasteel bricks… It was the fastest executive decision ever made…



Central Siesatian News Channel

Early this morning, President Jessica Crescent announced a startling discovery by a trading vessel from Earth. An anomaly beyond all reason, which is a group of non Siesatian Burmecians, in a country by the name of The Republic of Carthago Deuce. Details are few, but it is rumored that the 1st Fleet is currently on her way to the Sol System to investigate this momentous occurrence. Sociologists are excited by the prospect to examine any changes in the ideological or sociological structure in a culture that probably got separated many years back.




The first fleet warped into the system. It was the first time ever the fleet was being used for celebratory purposes. Even the massive Freestar VI, the flagship of the nation, was pressed into service. Upon arrival at earth, they began a slow orbit over the nation.


Message to Carthago Deuce:

This is the Unified Worlds of Siesatia First Fleet, we are here on a mission of scientific curiosity. Word has reached our nation that members of a race known as Burmecians reside in your nation. We wish to send down representatives, to meet with your nation’s leaders and top Sociologists about this matter. You will understand our curiosity when we land.

~Captain Wroughlance, Captain of the USS Trafalgar~

TO: Captain Wroughlance, USS Trafalgar

FROM: Fleet Admiral Brennus, Senior Officer, CCF

REGARDING: Scientific Inquiry


I have been instructed by President Lars Frode to allow you to dispatch two small transports, with moderate escort if you see the need, to Carthago Deuce. One bound for our capital on the main island and one for the smaller island to the Southwest of Carthago Deuce.

The transport bound for our main island, Carthago Primoris, should contain any diplomatic personnel who are to open relations between our two nations. The second transport bound for the smaller island, Solum Burmecian, should contain any scientific personnel you have.

The first transport was launched almost immediately. Cruising down at a steady pace, it held the diplomatic personel, including the captain, the secretary of foreign activities, and a young lady in full dragon knight uniform.

She had always prefered to remain in cognito. Many of the diplomatic bigwigs of other countries payed more attention to the secretary of foreign activities... the large raptor being the imposing, powerful being he was... He generally drew most of the attention, giving her time to study the situation, before revealing herself. It had worked like magic with the ESUS Civil war.


The ship began the final descent to the designated landing pads.... The group stepped out to meet any greeting party.



Meanwhile, a scientific shuttle was en route to the island specified... Arriving, a group of Cultural Experts disembarked the shuttle to greet their hosts.

As the first transport touched down the Carthaginian diplomatic team moved out to greet their new guests.

The first one out of the diplomatic limo was Lt. Colonel Henrik Alasdair, in full dress uniform, who was almost imediatly standing next to the opening hatch. As a uniformed burmecian steped from the craft he snapped to attention, saluted, and said "Good afternoon, ma'me.".



(OOC- Would you give a more detailed description of your people in your next post, please? It would just make it a little easier for me.)

OOC:
Humans: I don't need to explain these.
Burmecians: Don't need to explain these either!

Raptors: http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/Siesatia#History_of_Siesatia_.28Abridged.29

Think, sentient dinosaurs.


IC:
Jessica saluted in tradtional fashion, and stepped aside to let the Secretary of Foreign affairs to exit the shuttle. The Secretary stepped out and introduced himself.
"Nathanial Lockheed, a pleasure Mr.?" he said, and listened to the answer.
"May I introduce my esteemed collegues, Jonathan Wayfield..." he said, gesturing to the human with the pad... "And Miss Jessica Crescent." he said, diliberately avoiding titles.

"I am Lt. Colonel Henrik Alasdair, your steward during your time in Carthago Deuce. I will be in charge of those seeing to your needs and security, and attempting to ensure that your stay is a comfortable one." he replied, dropping his salute when she did. Momentaraly acknowleging what appeared to be a dinosaur amongst the Seisatians with a queer look, he requested that they follow him to the limo.

"We were thinking that you would like the afternoon and evening to relax, and have any sort of serious disscussion that you were interested in tomorrow." he said once the party had changed vehicles.

((OOC- Sorry about this post not being very good, but it's the best I can do at the moment. I'll make a better one tomorrow, and cover your other group.))

"Agreed. We shall take you up on that offer, is there any chance I could find a decent sattalite link up? We have a COMMSAT up above you at the moment, and I would love to relay our intentions for the evening back up to our ships." Nathanial asked... "Crescent?" he asked,

"I think I will head to my assigned quarters to compile some reports, and rest." she said... "Are there any good resturaunts around here?" she asked the Colonel.

If your transport can contact your satellite, it would probably be the surest connection. If not then I'll attempt to find you something. We could give you a moment to contact your fleet before we leave, if you like Mr. Lockheed?" replied Lt. Colonel Alasdair.

"As for resturants, there are several exellent establishments here in our capital. Once you're settled at your hotel just have the staff contact me, and we can find somewhere to eat."

***

As the second transpord touched down at the desegnated landing site on Solum Burmecian, a trio (a Human and two Burmecians) approched the craft.

"I will attempt to use the SCOPE transmitter, it would only be a 256 Gigabit connection, but that might work until I can get a transmitter down here." Lockheed said, and allowed himself to be led off to his quarters by one of the guards...

"Thank you Colonel." Jessica said as the colonel responded to her question. And left for her quarters.


~~

The shuttle set down on the tarmac, engines coming to a complete shutdown. Captain William Battlehorn, and two diplomatic aides stepped out of it, to be greeted by two burmecians and a human.

He swiftly saluted, and stepped out of the way to allow the scientists onboard the shuttle to begin unloading their materials.

"Captain Battlehorn of the USS Grey Wind, reassigned for scientific duty." he introduced himself.

((OOC- Err. . . Jessica's group is/was still at their transport, about to leave. Alasdair was offering Nathanial an opportuniy to contact the fleet before they left.))

One of the Burmecians stepped forward, extending her hand. "Good afternoon, Captain. I am Wei Paora, head of Burmecian cultural studies at the University of Draocia. My associates," she says motioning towards her companions, "Dr. Lennart (the human) and Dr. Aintza (the other Burmecian) will be facilitating your studies. Please come with us."

As Wei turned to lead Battlehorn to his waiting limo Aintza extended his hand to the foreign Captain, introducing himself as Erramun Aintza, who was the foremost authority on early Carthaginian/Burmecian history. This was followed by Dr. Lennart doing the same, introducing himself as Valentin Lennart; head of archiological studies at the University of Draocia.

OOC: Oops. I thought it had taken off already.

"Dr. Veridian Raitd, Foremost expert on Mana Energy..." The Captain introduced a Burmecian on his left. "Dr. Grey Sierra, Ancient Gaian historian." he said to the Cleyran on his right. "And this is Major Samantha Weir, of the UWSMC." he gestured to the human woman in the olive green fatigues.

"As you may be aware, we are here to find out how your colony came into excistance on earth... and also to deliver any information on what happened on Gaia since." he said...

((OOC- NP about Jessica's group))

As Secretary Lockheed contacted the fleet Lt. Colonel Alasdair and Jessica Crescent waited in the limo.

"May I ask you a question, Miss Crescent? I'm just curious about how Seisatia discovered the presence of Burmecians in Carthago Deuce. I mean . . . very few Burmecians have emmigrated, we haven't had any dealings with a space-borne society other than yourselves; and that was quite awhile ago. And the only Burmecians that came up durring the Korridinian peace talks were your downed pilots.

***
Sitting down in the limo, Aintza turned to the Seisatian researchers.

"I feel that if you wish to know how we got here, you might want to know who our forefathers were." he said, taking the tone of a story teller, "It had been several years since a great evil had been vanquished. We have very little information about the evil itself, other than that it destroyed Burmecia and Cleyra, and most of both of their populations. In any case, several years had passed and Burmecia had been reestablished as a city, though the population had yet to fully recover. The king decided that for the safety of his people he would decentralize the population by creating small colonial settlements on the other continents of Gaia. Four colonial expiditions were made without a soul lost. A fifth and supposedly final expidition was made, though, and on this one something went wrong. Your records may indicate that the fifth expidition was was inexplicably lost at sea. . ." Dr. Aintza trailed off at this point, in part to catch his breath and in part to allow his listeners to come to a fairly obvious conclusion on their own.

Crescent Group**

“The ESUS has a massive trading system, cornering every part of the Intergalactic trade network. We have several colonies on Earth, and hired a trading vessel to ship out several goods, including some that were bought by some private businesses in your country. The captain mentioned spotting some Burmecians, and detailed it in his log, which was transmitted through the Intergalactic Relay System, and back to the Main Computer, which flagged it as Important, and sent it to the President, who ordered the immediate investigation.” She said, not bothering to mask her high degree of confidential knowledge.

**Scientific Party**

“You might be surprised to hear that most of the expeditions were lost soon after the colonies became supposedly stable. Without a trace. Two of them did however; did successfully create colonies, one off the coast of the Forbidden Continent, which to this day retains that name. And the other on an island just south of Daguerro.”

“The Great evil you are referring to is the Mage Army of Alexandria. I would also inform you that Alexandria, and indeed, all human life on Gaia ceased to exist after the 12th Great War. Which was in fact, only 200 years after the mist wars. This stabilized the planet, and allowed the pursuit of pure science to flourish. The whole event however, is regrettable. It was another 2 centuries later, when the recently exiled Siesatian Government, and 400 million citizens reached Gaia, in time to thwart an attempt to stir civil war among the world government. They were later welcomed, and the United Burmecian Kingdom, became the Unified Worlds of Siesatia, which currently boasts 2.4 Billion Citizens, 1.2 billion of which are Burmecian, and Cleyran.” The Socialogist said...

"But what happened here? How did the Humans of Earth, who are suspicious and xenophobic by nature, accept Burmecians here? And how did the society progress while on a so called, 'Dead Planet'. A dead planet, is a planet devoid of Mana Energy, which is the key to most of the way they work, providing the base for life. I am sure I don't need to explain the Gaia Theory, and the connection with Mana Energy?"

"Unfortunatly I'm not familiar with either 'Gaia theory' or Mana energy. Earth being a dead planet would explain some rather confusing activities described in some of the diaries and jounals, though. I would also like to say that what happened to our expidition might also have happened to the other colonies, which would mean there might be still other Burmecians in the universe which neither of us know about." said Ainzta to the Socialogist, "As far as we can tell, there was some sort of a "freak-event" that threw our expidition through space and time to the reefs just off this island, wrecking our ships, about two hundred years before the Campagin of Unification which brought an end to the human infighting on the islands of Carthago Deuce. The humans discovered us ten years after the Campaign."

"The reasons Burmecians haven't suffered discrimination here have their roots partialy the way the eastern islands of Carthago Deuce were populated, partialy in the. . . er, ahem, 'interest' the first Crown Prince, later the second King, of Carthago Deuce had in Burmecian women; which eventually led to his marrying one. And finaly because when the humans first came upon us there wasn't any part of our culture they could really look down on. We could talk, build, grow crops, raise animals, and we were at least as clean as they were. Probably more so. Oh, and we hadn't been constantly fighting with and enslaving eachother, which they had."

***

When Nathanial had returned to the limo, they headed for the Golden Dragoon hotel (the official residence of all foreign diplomats to Carthago Deuce who did not have an embassy). As they entered the lobby they were greeted by a large satue of an old mounted dragoon, sabre in one hand and carbine in the other, and a classical septet playing Mussorgsky's 'Promenade'. They went immediatly to the elevator.

"Your personal effects should already be in your rooms waiting for you. said the Lt. Colonel. "When you are ready to eat, please ask the hotel staff to contact me."


((OOC- Sorry I was rushed with the last part.))

“Really? Well, we must discuss them over dinner!” the scientist said, excitedly…

“What about technology? Economy? Ideology? Did they change at all over the period you were cut off from outside influence? Ours certainly did, went right into the construction of airships designed for war. It became quite a profitable business after a while, allowing the continued expansion, which eventually culminated in the Second Mist War. After which, the territories of Dali and Treno were ceded to us. Luckily, it remained peacefully, until around 1836, when we went to war with Alexandria, and Lindblum… indeed, with all human kind. Massive Biological, chemical, and nuclear… not to mention the horrific Mana Bombs were dropped, obliterating entire cities and destroying colonies. We were the last standing, but at a terrible cost. Lindblum had been reduced to a shell of its former self… Alexandria was left a ghost town after the Biological attack during the summer of 1839. Daguerro, used as a final keep, fell only two years later due to attrition. Human life ceased to exist on Gaia, Hammier 12, 1840… It was not exactly something to be proud of, but it did stabilize the planet, which had already begun to fluctuate, as sea levels were rising at an astounding rate of 2 feet a year, the war stopped that… it was not until the Refugees of the United Lunar States of Siesatia showed up, that we were able to correct this via the construction of a solar shade, which returned the atmosphere to it’s previous level.” The Science advisor rambled…


*** Crescent Party ***

“Thank you Lt.” Lockheed said,

Jessica admired the golden statue (I’m assuming it’s golden, hence the name, Golden Dragoon) before being shown into her room. It was not yet evening, which left her with ample time to send a few reports back to the Council, which wanted reports directly from her on her status, and anything she had found out… it reminded her of her military days… Deciding to dispense with the formal knight attire, she dressed in a formal-casual silk-metal weave, which was in actuality, a very find metal thread, which felt, for all purposes, like silk, and a pair of loose fitting pants.

Finishing her latest report, she slid what looked to be a copper bracelet over her wrist, and a curved knife in a sheath under the right leg of her pants. No use in being ill prepared, she thought, remembering the bungling of security in Cherry Ridge, culminating in the attempted assassination of her father, who responded in kind by flipping the assailant over the balcony…

Picking up the phone on her desk, she dialed the Lt. Colonels number, and asked where to meet him…

"Hold on dear, I've got another call coming through and it's probably from the Golden Dragoon. I'll talk to you in a moment." said Alasdair to his wife, his conversation with whom had been interupted. "Lt. Colonel Alasdair, Carthaginian Combined Forces, speaking."

***

"Trust me, Mr. Advisor, there is no better place in Carthago Deuce to learn where we've come from, how, and where we might be going than the place we are bringing you now." interjected Valentin as both the Advisor and the limo slowed.

The reason the limo had slowed is that it had arrived at the front gate of its destination, that being the University of Draocia. The institute was over four hundred years old, and the most respected in the nation. Retaining much of the ornate achitecture and stonework of Old Burmecia (though the buildings had a much more angular appearence, as they did not benifit from the great and fairly consistent supply of concrete had by their otherworldly forebears) the like of the place was not to be found anywhere else in Carthago Deuce. The limo passed through the gate without incident, winding its way deeper into the grounds.

((OCC- Would you be interested in RPing an assasination attempt?))

OOC: I would be dissapointed if we didn't... which party?

"Pardon if I am interupting anything..." Jessica started... "I was wondering where we would be having dinner. What to wear, ect?"

*** Scientific Party ***

They watched the structures go past... it was an interesting blend of art and engineering... retaining the steep roofs, which were designed to sheet the rain off.

"Fantastic... how old are some of these? Certainly not younger than a century. Even we don't build them like this anymore!" the sociologist said... astounded at the nearly pristine structures.

((OOC- I was thinking Jessica's party. Should I RP the assasin?))

(Science party)

"The oldest building here is four-hundred and fifty-five years old, but most of the others are somewhat younger. Between four-hundred and ten and three-hundred and seventy years old." replied the historian, "The University was orginialy much smaller than it is now. It was the first large masonic endevor undertaken since the original landing, at a time when our population was still compartatively small. As time went on though, a village slowly grew up around the campus. In 1595 the village grounds were made a part of the campus, and several of the structures we are now passing were built. Ten years later the Human and Burmecian populations "officaily" met. Being the impressive educational facility that it is many human intelectuals wanted to attend, which required a second expansion around thirty years later."

***
(Jessica's party)

"I've made reservations for you, the Secretary of Foreign Activities, and your Captain should either like to join us, at a local resturant. As to what you should wear, something semi-formal would be suitable. Your uniform would also work. . . Yes, and please meet me in the lobby in ten minutes." said the Lt. Colonel.

"You still there, Kai? . . . Yes, it was. Odd, though, it was Miss Crescent calling. I thought they would be following the Secretary. . . Ah, well. I'll talk to you again soon, dear."

OOC: Sure.

"Fascinating. And technology, how did it advance?" He said, still admiring the structures around him...


*** Crescent Group ***

Jessica stayed in the outfit she already was in. It would start becoming painfully clear she was more then just a Dragon Knight guard. Something she hoped would be noticed.

Waiting in the lobby with Nathanial, she gazed intently at the mounted dragoon. It was a shame how far her own country had come, she almost longed to be apart of the golden ages, of the mist wars, and even before. It must have been glorious...

OOC: Sorry, was rushed.

((OOC- Are there any groups on Earth that would want to assasinate your leaders? And NP about your post.))


"As far as technology goes, we're pretty much in the same boat as many other Earth-bound nations. We rely on wave and tidal generators for power which is rather unique as far as we can tell, and have a recycling system that is about 90% efficent." said Ainzta, "But I'm really not the person you should be asking about technology." he finished with a smirk.

***

Lt. Colonel Alasdair entered the Golden Dragoon in his Half-dress uniform. As he moved into the lobby he saw the imposing Secretary, and the comparatively slight the Dragon Knight standing next to him staring at the statue, seeming somewhat more deminutive in her civillian clothing. He crossed the room briskly, unconciously in step with the septet's rendition of Bolero.

"It was dragoons such as this one that allowed for the rapid unification of our islands. An asymetrical blitz, which the natives were almost completely unable resist. Fortunatly they realised that very quickly." said Alasdair to the Burmecian, then turning so that he was facing both of his wards continued, "Please come with me, our limousine awaits."

OOC: Well, unfortunately, yes. There are a few rogue groups who disliked our occupation of the moon for so long. And then anyone who dislikes our sudden surge of trade and influence with the recapture of Station 12. Heck, I am sure there are also the religious whacks that think earth is for humans only.

"That is no small achievement in itself. Many earth nations continue to use fossil fuels and nuclear energy as their chief source, when we have offered time and again to extend solar energy at prices almost a quarter of what it takes to mine and process the coal and oil.” The Sociologist said, “We use Temporal Impellors to create the energy for our cities and starships, the ultimate source of power.”

*** Crescent ***

Dragoons being used to attack innocent villagers… it disturbed her, but she had made some nasty calls herself…
“Alright colonel.” Nathanial said… it was lucky it had been a limo, being almost 18 feet long, he would never in 65 million years have been able to fit into a normal car.

Jessica followed, climbing in, and seating herself opposite of the Secretary. Who was busy examining the earth car.
“Rolls Royce? Or a similar manufacturer?” he asked, showing a knowledge of earth cars. It wasn’t common knowledge that he collected a few.

((OCC- I'm sure there's a native 'human's are best, especialy us violent one's' type group that thinks this would be an exellent time to make themselves known. The attempt will come when they are leaving the resturant.))

"What exactly is a 'Temporal Impellor'?" asked Dr. Lennart.

***

"I must apologize, I don't know who produced this vehicle. Though it is probably domestic product." replied Alasdair to the Secretary, "The driver might know, if you'd like me to ask him for you?"

He then turned toward Jessica to address her distaste at his description of the the Campaign of Unification.

"Please do not misunderstand the action takens by General Geoffrey Merit and his riders. If they hadn't conquered the peoples they found then they might still, to this very day, be engaged in their tribal 'Flower Wars'. I hope you agree that this is an exellent alternative to the semi-organized slaving engaged in before his arrival, which left alone might have one day extended to the Burmecian colonists which brought you here."

Several minutes later they exited the limo and entered the resturant with little fanfair. It was pretty obvious that few people knew of the other worldly diplomat's arrival yet, though there were several onlookers. Once the trio had entered the resturant one of said onlookers rapidly moved around the corner while removing a cellphone from her pocket.

"I just saw them enter Blodwen's, so you'd better get into position now. . . There were three of them, a Forces officer and a Burmecian, and some dragon looking guy. . . Yeah, I said dragon guy. . . I don't think any of them were armored, and it looked like only the officer was armed. . . Just hurry up, we don't know how long they're gonna be in there.

As the three entered the resturant they came into a spacious room painted in greens and whites, with a variety of flowers growing on vines which were creeping up walls and wrapping around pillars. The greeter almost immediatly led them to the back of the resturant, and into an elevator. After a short ride up they were let off in a small hall and led onto a comparatlively private balcony, also addorned with flowers, though all were of the same species. On either side of the door they were led out from was a small fountain, a horse rearing on one side and a very dynamic hart and hind seeming to dance on the other.

"You will be attended to momentaraly." said the greeter.

"A temporal Impellor is a core, which channels the very energy emitted by the fourth dimension, that being time itself. It is one of the keys to our technology, even though it is only about 200 years old. Before that, we used plasma harvested directly from a sun."

***


Jessica was looking down the long menu... she settled on a light salad for a starter, and a local dish that sounded similar to a filet mignon. She chatted animatedly, waiting for the server to return.

OOC: The Colonel might want to unmask her right now to generate a conversation. It would be painfuly clear by now she is not exactly who she claims to be.

The three Carthaginians looked across the limo rather incredulosly. It sounded like free energy, but then again as the saying goes 'Someone pays for everything'.

"Does your drawing energy from the fourth dimension cause any harm to. . . well, anything?" asked Wei.


***

"Miss Crescent? I mean no offence, but is there more to you than you've said? I suppose it's just a little odd that the Secretary would have such an elite individual acting as his security and that he brought a security detail of one. Why have you come?" asked Alasdiar after a short lull in the conversation, while waiting for their meal to arrive (having ordered a lamb stew).

"When the impellors are used correctly, they draw the power with no harm to the Time-Space Continuum. Due to the very nature of time, the energy is used, but, in a sence is not. The only side effect is Temporal Radiation, but that is easily phased out."

***

Jessica had been expecting the statement... she had never expected her disguise to work for even this long...
"You are correct... I am not, Colonel Jessica Crescent... I was General Jessica Crescent of the Dragon Knights, I am currently... President Jessica Crescent of the Unified Worlds of Siesatia, Descended 12 generations from the ledgandary Freya Crescent." She said quietly...

"As for security... I don't think anyone would try anything while an entire battlefleet was above the planet." she said... how very wrong she was... "I am sure my identity will stay a secret for now colonel? My security is no concern of Carthago, I have taken care of myself for the past 27 years of my life, I would pity anyone who thought I would be unarmed."

After the Socialogist had finished the Carthaginians quietly considered what changes this could bring, if properly applied.

The limo stoped before a rather large building as the bells on campus struck six.

"I will now lead you to your quarters. Once you've made yourselves at home I will see to it that you are given a more complete tour of the grounds." said Wei, stepping from the vehicle.

***

"Please don't let me talk down to you, Madame President, but no amount of training or experience will ever stop a bullet." said a smirking Lt. Colonel, "If that were the case then I might still be out in the fleet, instead of relegated to duties such as these. And please remember that my species has repeatedly shown a propencity for erratic, stuipid behavior. I'm not saying that you aren't safe here, just that I wouldn't recomend relying on our collective sanity."

Alasdair was about to continue when the food arived.

The scientists aggreed, and settled down to unpacking their belongings... They agreed to take the grand tour in half an hour.

***

Jessica laughed,
"Believe me colonel, I would love to be back out with the fleet, or out fighting pirates in some remote space lane... The only thing I've cut with a blade lately is this steak." she said... "Which is quite good, I might add."

"As to a bullet, well, it may not stop a bullet to the head, I do have a measure of protection..." she said, before raising the steak knife and seemingly plunge it into her arm... she waited for the colonels surprised reaction, before lifting the blade, which had seemingly crumpled against the straingth of the material of her shirt. "Simple inhibitor field inlayed with the Viranium-Tritanium alloy fibers. Won't stop energy weapons, but it would stop blades and bullets in their tracks... Would you care to shoot me?" She laughed... "I might also add that I... literally... have tricks up my sleeve..." she said, and pulled an almost imperceptably thin wire from her sleeve. "I trust you know what garrot wire is... or our own version of a flash bang grenade." She said, motioning to one of the beads on the shirt.

"As to collective sanity, there is noone crazier than myself, and you might remember that."

"There is a reason we bring foreign diplomats here, Madame President." said a smirking Alasdair, "But I must ask, firstly, how that shirt of your's breathes, and secondly, how you intend to continue eating having folded your knife so?"

"Well, I could always get a new one... As for the shirt, I have no idea. Microfibers should allow for air, heck, this stuff feels like pure silk..."

Alasdair chuckled at that. "It almost seems as though you were expecting something . . . please trust me when I say that Burmecians are quite integrated into our society and that you are quite safe." he said, then turned toward the secretary, "Though you may get an odd look once in a while, sir, but I doubt anything more. Are you enjoying your meal?"

***

((OOC- Sorry it took me so long to post, just started college. I should still be posting at least once daily though. I'll address the scientific party tomorrow.))

Nathanial finished his salad. Which would look very odd indeed, it was not mentioned that the raptors were vegetarians.

"Very good, Hydro-Genetically grown foods will never match the organic stuff. And don't let your scientists tell you otherwise." he said,

Jessica laughed at the secretary and answered,

"You would be surprised that there are many outside my nation who would wish me harm. It was I who ordered the recapture of Station 12, which has both boosted trade in the sector, and cut others off with a Siesatian Dominance in some fields. As you might imagine, a cut of over 200 billion dollars in trade for some nations might cause a stir. Not to mention the fact that I have supported the recapture of our Lunar Bases on the Earths Moon, and the repopulation of the ancient underground cities the origional Siesatians built, which happen to be under several countries, who don't like the thought of us being under them. We haven't even found them all yet, only about 6 of the 18 origional."

(OOC- Sorry it's taken me so long to post, school is _really_ draining. I will definatly get an IC post up tomorrow, probably around 5:30 pm, GMT -8 hours.)

Edit: I'm going to have to push it back further, check around 10:30, GMT -8.

"You'll have to forgive me, but I'm unfamiliar with Station 12." said the Lt. Colonel in a somewhat apologetic tone, "I'd like to know more about these underground cities, if you don't mind."

OOC: Sorry, electrical storm blew out our internet service, and I spent yesterday helping set up a lightning rod.

IC:
"Station 12 was built nearly 400 years ago, it was our last, and greatest project, meant to bring in nearly 4 trillion dollars a year. Something that would have given us enough power to regain our bases and colonies, but it was not to be, we abandoned it after only 30 years of use. We locked it down as best our abilities, but pirates melted their way in, and used it as a base until recently, when we took it back." The secretary said, "When we left Sol, we embarked on a twelve year trek through space. We passed through a nebula, and in fact lost a couple ships to temporal rifts. We emerged through to find a system with two E+ Class planets. They were inhabited, but chaos was brewing, we offered our intervention, and assisted in stabilizing the region. We were about to leave when we recieved a strange request. There were two continents that were largely uninhabited on Gaia, and the entire moon of Terra. The Burmecian king offered them in exchange for their debt, we reluctantly accepted. It only took 2 years for our two nations to combine under the banner of the Unified Worlds.... I remember it like it was yesterday..." he said, reflecting on it... "I was only 37 at the time."

"As for the cities..." Jessica interupted... "They are the remnants of Siesatian culture, a once proud nation that held territories in every part of the planet. There were 18 Cities, massive, made to hold 4 million citizens apiece. Then, after being driven from this planet, they made their home on Earth's moon for a time, building a massive underground city. Before long, earth nations, previously unable to reach us, threatened war. The Siesatians left, over 80 million citizens fled on every ship availiable, and two colony ships set to launch only 4 years later. The city is still there, basically undisterbed. And ready for any future inhabitants who happen to have the ability to activate our technology."

"Crap." said Patrik Panagiotis. The highschool student had been looking through his telescopic sight (mounted on a Carthaginian produced Mosin/Nagant borrowed from the arsenal at his local community center) aiming at the center of the saurian man's torso, when he saw his female companion crumple a knife on the sleeve of her shirt.

Pulling out his cellphone punched in a number. "Eva , this is Patrik. I'm not sure this is going to work, the rat girl just broke a knife on her shirt. It could be bullet proof. At best I think I could get one of them if that's the case."

"That's fine Pat. Calm down. I'll finish 'em when they try to come through in here. Just don't screw up."

"Sure, Eva. Good luck."

With that the young man hung up and returned to his weapon. He took careful aim, placing his cross-hairs over what he assumed was center mass of the dinosaur's head, and pulled the trigger.

***

Lt. Colonel Alasdair was about to ask another question, quite amazed at the scale at which these offworld people acted, when a the round tore through his thigh. The sudden pain was followed by the sharp report of a rifle.

"Both of you! Get down! Now!" said the injured man, gritting his teeth as he sliped out of his chair under the table along with the President and Secretary. Once again gritting his teeth he checked his injury, and deciding that the round hadn't broken his femur or passed through any major blood vessels drew his dress revolver.

"Madam President. . . erf. . . please ask the guy on the other end of this radio to make the area secure and call the local police. he said handing her a small radio, "And Mr. Secretary, I feel ah . . . we would be much better off inside the building than under this table and will be needing your help moving.

His request seemed to be punctuated with another report, who's round passed through the table and just inches above the President's shoulder and sprayed her neck with small splinters.

(OOC- He was aiming at the Secretary's head, but had forgotten that the Mosin/Nagant he was using was engineered, and sighted in, to be fired with its bayonet extended. As he didn't do this his shot went wide and hit the colonel.)

Within an instant, her soldier's reflexes kicked in, and she flattened herself against the wall, and making herself a smaller target. Her mind kicked into overdrive... The opponent was using a rifle, and most human rifles had scopes with lens. Another shot punctured the wall when she almost automatically pulled one of the FlashBangs from her hidden arsenal, and chucked it over the table before covering her ears and eyes just before almost 5 million candlepower blasted through the building, and lit up the surrounding area, followed by a sonic boom of reports as the sonic detonation package kicked, sending a couple hundred decibles of sound out. Might make your ears bleed, but there would be too much damage, and unfortunate side effect, she though, as the shooter would be too far away to hear it, but he would certainly have seen it, especially through a zoom scope. Waiting several seconds, she grabbed the Colonel, and pulled the big secretary to his feet.

Pulling the group along she fumbled with the radio before relaying the instructions. She knew they were exposed, but if the ships in orbit were doing their job, they would have the support they needed soon.

(OOC- Think we could reduce the thousands of decibles to hundreds? Thousands is a little exessive, esspecialy with those sensitive Burmecian ears.)

Alasdair was quite suprised at the President's strength, and glad for it as she pulled him into the hall (even if she was a little rough with his leg). Suggesting that the trio move into the elevator for the moment, they did just that.

"Could either of you give me a strip of cloth to use as a bandage?" he asked, hissing, as the elevator doors closed. It the unexpectedly began decending.

***

"That sounded like a grenade. F*ck, I guess I'm gonna have finish this." Eva thought to herself as she waited for the elevator doors to open. She was fairly calm compared to the rather chaotic exit the staff and patrons of Blodwen's were attempting to make, which was good for her as no one saw the compact 10mm pistol in her hand.

Her shock and surprise were indescribable as the doors opened, revealing the officer, burmecian, and saurian she had seen earlier. She immediatly raised her pistol and screaming, was able to get off two shots at the Secretary before the elevator's ocupants could stop her.

OOC: Fixed

Jessica tore a piece of her pantleg off and handed it to him right before the doors opened. There was a kid, no older then a high school student standing at the elevator, she began to move towards the exit when the student when the girl screamed, and was able to launch a devastating roundabout kick, followed closely by a jab to the back, using the momentum gained by the kick. But she didn't have time to stop the shots...

One of the slugs imbedded themselves in Nathanial's side, while the other richoched and left itself lodged in a piece of cherry wood paneling. He leaned up against the wall, but would be fine. As one man put it... 'The only way to kill these damn things is to blow them apart!'

(OOC: This scene assumes the girl is too injured to stand, correct me if I am wrong)

Jessica picked up the fallen weapon and pocketed it before moving the injured youth to a corner...
"Next time, three shots for three targets, use the pull of the gun to create a sweeping motion." she said, before throwing one of the unspent shells at her.

Then she made her way back to the two.
"Well colonel, the food was great, but the after dinner entertainment was only lukewarm... I don't belive I shall be leaving a tip."

"I think they'll understand." said Alasdair, as a plainclothes government security officer ran over.

Seeing that the Secretary and Lt. Col. were wounded he called the EMTs, relaying that they had two gunshot wounds.

The Secretary and Lt. Col. were then put on gurnies (sp?), taken to a pair of ambulances (the President being offered the passenger's seat in the one containing Alasdair). Three ambulances then left the scence, in a convoy escorted by four police on motorcycles, and headed for the the Thomas Brennus National Hospital.

(Just wanted a quick change of setting, and to get Alasdair's leg doctored. I'll get back to the other party soon.)

OOC: Sorry, spent my weekend at a friends house.

They reached the hospital, and were instantly met by a group of Zone Air Patrol pilots from a nearby base, who had flown in to recieve the secretary. Saurian physiology being different from human, it would be better if their own surgons extracted the projectile.

Jessica refused to be taken away by the ZAP pilots, and waited in the lobbey, keeping tabs on both patients... drawing the weapon she had taken from the young human girl, she looked it over, dissasembling it, and then reassembling it, going over the various mechanics, and functions. It was intreging seeing a weapon so antique it didn't either incapacitate, or kill on contact... survivable wounds were not common with plasma assault rifles or neuro rifles.

'I wonder what happened to that girl?' she asked herself before delving back into her most recent investigation of the shell before her, using one of her laser cutters which was normally reserved for cutting glass or effecting repairs on a weapon, to cut it open and investigate. inside, she found gunpowder... "Psh." she said, looking over the projectile's construction. No canards, no exploding or penetrating substance, it was just a metal slug... "Primative little basterd" she said to noone in paticular as she dissasembled the gun, and pocketed the pieces.

Kai Alasdair rapidly crossed the nearly empty hospital loby.

She'd become aware of the assasination attemp when the news program she'd been watching was interupted for a breaking report about a shooting of a CCF officer and foreign diplomat at Blodwen's resturant in Tiamat and immediatly made her way there. After a somewhat convoluted search she'd found that her husband had been taken to Thomas Brennus.

Addressing the petite human girl behind the counter she inquired about her husband. He was still being worked on and she should wait here, the girl replied.

Looking over the room she saw few people, one being another female Burmecian. She decided to sit next to her.

***
Scientific Party

As the appointed time had passed, messengers were sent to the Seisatian's rooms to lead them back to the main foyer. There they were once again greeted by Wei and brought to a limo.

"What aspect of us would you like to learn about first?" she asked as they seated themselves.

Jessica completed her examination and put the weapon away. Smiling at the woman beside her.
"Colonel Jessica Crescent." She introduced herself, using the false rank again. "Im with the diplomatic party from Siesatia."


***

"Religion... In Siesatia, the former religion has all but died out, 99% of the country is officially athiest. At this point in our technological development, immortality and destruction of all desease is practically within our grasp. Something we have done without the nasty cybernetic implants other nations are so fond of. But how has religion evolved here? Its an interesting topic, the Brocan Devide..."