NationStates Jolt Archive

OOC: Basically, Sarzonia and I are going to play out a letter-based character RP where a light force of Romandeosian Royal Army personel go to Sarzonia for what is official just innocent cross-training, but is really more than that. Please do not post here IC without at looking for permission from one of us. Thank you.

IC:

“Attention all hands, this is the pilot speaking. We are currently approaching Portsmouth, Sarzonia, and we will be landing soon. Please secure yourselves and any assorted luggage immediately to avoid injuries during the landing process.”

Folding his newspaper and tucking it into the bag at his feet, Colonel Robert Crisp (RRA) lifted said bag up and tied it securely shut, and then set it back down. Having done so, the infantry officer checked the packed tan Army duffel bag stored in the rack above his head in order to make sure it would not fall down on top of him or anything during the landing.

“Have you got everything in order, Colonel?” asked a bright female voice to his right. He looked to his right at his adjutant, a young woman with tigers-eye brown eyes, light blond locks to her shoulders, and a cheerful smile named Major Clarice Levrentis.

“I believe I do,” he answered.

Major Levrentis nodded and looked behind herself at the other RRA soldiers behind them in the rows of seats. When she was satisfied that they were all getting ready, she stretched her legs one last time and leaned back in her seat.

“Have you ever been to Sarzonia before, Major?” Crisp asked after a moment.

“No, Sir,” she answered. “I’ve never been out of Romandeos at all before this.”

Nodding, Crisp checked his two bags again. Inside the Army duffle bag, atop other things he had packed, was a letter addressed to his wife, Laura.

Dearest Laura,

I have arrived safely in Sarzonia, and will soon be starting on my latest assignment, cross training with the Incorporated Sarzonian Army. I hope I won’t be here too long, but, such is not up to me so much as it is up to the High Command. I am told that, if I am successful in my duties here, it is possible I could receive a promotion. If that happens, I am told the likely next step is a transfer to the General Staff Headquarters, which would allow me the luxury of spending more time around the house with you and the girls.

In any case, I have to cut this letter short and get going, but I will write again soon, when it is possible for me to do so. Tell the girls I miss them and hope to be back soon.

Sincerely,
Robert.


~ Romandeos.

Private Jared Clark was silent as the countryside sped past him in the hybrid car he was driving. Instead of the desolation and sheer foreignness he faced in Inkana just months before, not to mention the foreboding feeling of wearing a dress uniform at the Senate hearings on army reforms, he was riding through familiar terrain now.

As he made a right turn off Interstate 26 onto Chauncey Boulevard, he reflected for a brief moment on the route his army career was taking. From being a simple private thrust into the war against the Doomies, he soon became a symbol of the Incorporated Sarzonian Army and its disgraceful performance in Inkana. In his mind, the glare of the television cameras exposed his nerves, both facing an international audience and his fresh faced inexperience in battle.

He had no idea why he was being given this assignment. Even though Major General Mike Quinn personally asked him to take part in it, the reason he was being asked was never clear, and Quinn was uncharacteristically reticent when Clark asked his commanding officer why.

“It will all be made clear to you when you get there,” the general told him. “Keep me abreast of what’s going on.”

Finally, the unmarked service road he was looking for came up and he turned right. The foliage was just beginning to change colours in the crisp autumn air and Clark fought to keep from getting lost in the beauty of the countryside near Portsmouth. He had to look for the deer crossing sign that was marked with the word “here” spray painted underneath the black drawing of an antlered creature. Finally, he saw it with an arrow pointing to the right. He made the turn, and he saw several people, including one in a Sarzonian colonel’s uniform.

He got out of his car and the colonel approached him.

“Private Clark?”

“Yes, sir,” Clark said, saluting the colonel.

“Colonel Quinn,” the colonel said, extending his hand for Clark to shake. Noting the look of confusion on Clark’s face, he smiled. “David Quinn, commandant of the Blue Cobras,” he added in a stage whisper. “And I’m General Quinn’s younger brother.”

Clark nodded with a slight, embarrassed smile. He knew that, but amidst the swirl of thoughts and emotions he had surrounding this new assignment, he couldn’t wrap his mind around it. He looked around and saw a few men standing there in uniforms that looked vaguely familiar, and some other uniforms and people who looked completely strange to him.

“We are going to have a joint training mission with them,” Colonel Quinn said. “Everything will be made more clear when we give the joint briefing later tonight. In the meantime, go ahead and unpack and write letters if you want. But any mobile phones or pagers have got to go.”

Clark sat down after unpacking his canvas bag and set about writing a letter.

24 November 2005

Lisa and David Clark
23 Brighton Road
Tacoma, Truxtun, SXI 248

Dear Mom and Dad,

I just got here. I wanted to let you know I was safe. I hope Katie did her homework during half term. That school she’s going to now isn’t any easier than when I went there. Is Cody adjusting to uni?

They’ve sent me here to train with the Blue Cobras and I believe a unit from Romandeos, but they’re not telling me much of anything. All I know is the commanding officer is David Quinn. He’s a colonel who happens to be the kid brother of General Quinn. He’s the commandant of the Blue Cobras and we’re going to be working together, though why I’m here is still a mystery.

I guess we’ll find out soon enough if Parliament’s army reforms package will do anything. Somehow, those reforms seem like band aid solutions to the whole problem with our army and I really don’t know if the training programmes are going to do much. I know the Scandavian army is one of the best and I know Romandeos has an excellent reputation, but they’re going to have to perform miracles. I don’t know if they can do it.

Anyway, give Cindy my best and tell her I love her.

Love,

Jared

For most soldiers of the RRA, the piercing blue eyes of Sergeant Andrea Sage were some kind of unholy creations, which one should avoid at any cost. Her evil stares were enough in most cases to freeze unruly soldiers with pure dread, and had even made some Officers look for a quick way to disappear from time to time. Her bad attitude was nearly bearable if one took into account her reasonably attractive physical appearance, but most could not keep their mind on that in the face of her generally very sour disposition. Despite this, the harsh NCO had incredible skills, and that had earned her a position as a Platoon Sergeant.

“All right, soldiers,” she barked to the soldiers of Three Platoon, Charlie Company, Third Infantry Battalion (3/C/3) “Grab your shit and let’s get a move on. If you slow us up even half a second, I hope you can run fast, because I sure can. Once you have deplaned, move into your positions and await further orders from me or Lieutenant Ames.”

Her words had the desired affect, and soon 3/C/3 was out in formation with the rest of the infantrymen and infantrywomen of the Third. A whole RRA light infantry battalion stood in formation, at attention under the Sarzonian sun. She performed a tiny inspection before handed things over to the Platoon Commander, Second Lieutenant Edelbert Ames.

Her mind began to drift to the letter she had stuffed securely in one of her back pockets, addressed to her two sisters.

Dear Anita and Christine,

I finally made it to Sarzonia. I tell you, it sure is a different place here. For one, the Army is apparently in bad trim from what they tell me. I mean, I know we are short on armor in Romandeos, and a lot of other things, but at least our morale is good. I can’t say the guys here are the same way, though. They’re the opposite in that they have good weapons, but in terms of morale, they are way down in the crap-hole. I can really blame them, though, in all honesty. We’ve been told what happened to them in Inkana. I guess that just shows how badly things can go when you let bureaucrats control the purse strings.

In any case, I think I might be over here for a while, so you two take care.

Love,
Andrea

Clark took in the scene as he was trying hard to get used to the assignment. Colonel Clark wasn't much more forthcoming than General Clark was. He figured out that the Blue Cobras were here for a training programme and he found out that the unfamiliar people were from Romandeos. But he was still short on the details, and that drove him crazy.

"You'd better enjoy that newspaper boy. It'll be your last contact with the outside world for a while," Captain Lena Broughton said. She followed it up with a smirk that told Clark she was joking, and the reputation she'd earned throughout the troops who were in the know was that she was genial when she wanted to be. But she was also ready to get down to business when the chips were down.

"There's not going to be much information that's going out to the media," she said. "Everyone in a Blue Cobras uniform or here under the command of the Blue Cobras is under a strict gag order. No talking to the media. That includes you cover boy," she said, regarding Clark with a snarl.

"Captain, that's enough of that," Quinn said as he happened onto the scene. "I don't think the media will be here. We've secured a no fly zone of sorts with a 10 kilometre radius around the camp. But you're going to be expected to keep this close to the vest until we say otherwise. Understood, private?"

"Aye, sir," Clark said, standing at attention.

"Good." He glanced at the article that Clark's finger marked where he'd stopped. He noticed it was about the latest round of appropriations for the Army and the Air Force and smiled slightly.

"Looks like you did some good already, Mr. Clark," he said quietly. Twenty minutes later, Clark was back writing a letter to his girlfriend Cindy.

Dear Cindy,

They still haven't told me anything about what I'm supposed to be doing here. I know I'm supposed to be here with the Blue Cobras, but I don't know exactly why they've got me. All I know is that it's top secret and I'm not supposed to tell a soul what happens. Hopefully, it'll just be some kind of overreaction.

Captain Broughton seems like a real bitch, but I have a hard time figuring Colonel Quinn out. On one hand, he seems cool and open, but then the next minute, he gets all drill sergeant on me. Hope things turn out better from here.

Love,

Jared

Colonel Robert Crisp looked about himself and, seeing that all was in position, set about the next order of business.

“Major Levrentis,” he addressed his deputy. “Please follow me.”

“Yes, Colonel,” Major Levrentis said, falling into step with her CO as he walked towards his Sarzonian opposite number at a brisk, steady, determined pace.

“Do you know what you’re going to say to him, Colonel?” Levrentis asked as she walked in a position behind and to the right of Crisp.

“I was thinking of using the usual procedure, Major,” Crisp answered.

“Colonel?” Levrentis asked.

“I shall simply announce my arrival and report for duty,” Crisp clarified.

“I suppose that makes sense, Sir,” Levrentis said.

“It makes perfect sense, Major,” Crisp replied. “I am to be subordinated to Colonel Quinn in this operation, after all.”

Major Levrentis nodded to that.

“I don’t suppose I could get some spare time to write a letter anytime soon, Sir?”

“Feeling the need to write to a special young man back home, Major?” Crisp asked.

“Something like that, Colonel,” Levrentis said.

“I see,” Crisp said. “Don’t worry, Major, I’m sure there’ll be time.”

Levrentis nodded and then fell silent as she and Crisp approached Colonel Quinn.

“Colonel Quinn, Sir?” Crisp asked “Colonel Robert Crisp, reporting for duty.” He saluted his ISA counterpart, as did Major Levrentis. Crisp gestured to Levrentis.

“This is my adjutant, Major Clarice Levrentis.”

“Colonel,” Levrentis said as a greeting with a curt nod. As she stood there, silent, she was in the process of thinking out the letter she was planning to write. Colonel Crisp had been incredibly close when he guessed she wanted to write to a special someone, but he was as incredibly wrong as one could be when he assumed that someone was a male.

Dear Serena,

I am here in Sarzonia now, and it looks like the training operations will begin soon. I was irritated when I was first ordered here, as I am sure you recall, but this place already has impressed me with the beautiful countryside, and the seemingly pleasant people.

From what I can tell, the Sarzonians here are mostly from the Blue Cobras, a special unit in the Incorporated Sarzonian Army, but I cannot be sure. Colonel Crisp was told what is happening before we departed, but he is not going to tell me or anybody else just yet what is going on, so it must be something big.

If I can find the time, I will try to send you a souvenir or something.

Love,
Clarice

OOC: Good Christ! I've posted once more! The End Times are drawing close!

Clark sealed his letter and handed it to the specialist who was walking around with a knapsack to pick up outgoing mail. He finished putting his belongings away and stared out the window. He was lost in thought, so he didn't hear the sound of someone coming up behind him.

"Private Clark?"

Clark whirled around and stood at attention.

"Private Jared Clark reporting for duty, sir!"

"As you were," Colonel Quinn said. When Clark stood at ease, the colonel walked up to him and smiled.

"That means you don't have to stand at ease, Jared."

"Oh, apologies, sir," Clark said, relaxing his stance.

"You don't have to report for duty for another 16 hours, so take that time to get acclimated. You're probably dirty and tired from the long drive, so a shower and a good night's sleep are highly recommended. I don't know how much sleep you'll get while you go through this training."

"Permission to speak freely, sir?"

Quinn raised his eyebrow. "You're not on duty yet," he said. "And since my brother's told me good things about you, you can call me Dave. Be my guest."

"What am I doing here, and what's our mission?"

"I'm afraid I can't tell you anything more until we gather everyone in camp. That won't be for another 24 hours," he said. "What I can tell you is that you've been selected because of your performance in Inkana. As I recall, my brother gave positive reviews of only two soldiers under his command. You're the only one of those two who's still alive."

Quinn leaned in closely and whispered. "What I can tell you is that we're cross training with a unit from Romandeos. Their army doesn't have as much modern equipment as our army is getting, but they have a better reputation than we do. Our mission in a nutshell will be to gain a little bit of that mojo. As for the details, that will be made clear when everyone gets here."

Quinn's features softened considerably into an apologetic air.

"I'm sorry I can't give you any more information than I already have, but top brass is being extremely secretive about this. If word about this mission leaked out, they'd have my commission, not to mention my hyde."

Quinn patted Clark on the shoulder, smiled and left. When he got to his quarters, he pulled out a piece of paper.

Dear Michael,

The secrecy of this mission is driving me and the recruits absolutely nuts. I hate to be so secretive that I can't even tell people why they're coming all the way from southern Benatar to this Godforsaken dump, but I suppose the details of all that will be worked out later.

I know that Parliament's approved a massive reform budget for the Army and a tenfold increase in the Air Force's R&D budget, but what I don't know is if that's going to make a lick of difference with our troops. I hope you guys know what you're doing.

That Private Clark kid seems to be a real find. Hopefully, he won't let you or me down.

Give Mom and Dad my love,

David