NationStates Jolt Archive

About 70 km from the Amestrian coast

The captain of the Kahanistan ship noticed some men floating in the water holding onto what looked like a piece of metal. He dispatched two lifeboats to retrieve the men and had the first officer radio the Amestrian Navy to inform them that several people were adrift on a piece of wreckage.

"Commander," said the Kahanistan First Officer to the Amestrian officer on the radio, "a plane went down about 70 clicks from the coast, looked military and pretty advanced but we couldn't make out the markings. Did your radar pick it up? Are they your pilots? We recovered five survivors, we thought there might be more out there."

OOC: Sion is the only one who is only slightly wounded. He suffered blood loss and a concussion. The others are badly burned, have broken bones, and heavy lacerations and other serious injuries.

"Captain, this is the Amestrian Naval Command. You are ordered to recover the survivors and proceed immediately to port. The Amestrian Coast Guard shall take up all search and rescue operations."


(Meanwhile in Liscel's Cabin)

The sounds of the explosion penetrated the cabin, but as both Nadia and Liscel were asleep neither heard it. A few minutes later Aela burst into the cabin, her loud entrance waking both sleepers. She was dressed in her usual attire, bathing suit and lose white dress shirt, although the front of the shirt was no longer buttoned and under her left arm could be seen a compact gun holster... Had she been wearing that under her shirt the whole time? In her right hand, she held a Beretta M1934.

"MINISTER!” glancing at Nadia with what appeared to be disdain and perhaps jealousy, "and spirit yet to disperse..."

A half awake Liscel groggily mumbled, "Wha is it Aela?"

"Minister, an unidentified foreign plane just crashed and they are retrieving survivors."

Liscel sat up.

"Why must the outside world intrude upon us while we are in each others arms…? Could it not have waited?" Liscel took on the expression of childish pout. It was obvious she would rather have herself re-embraced by Nadia and go back to bed then deal with the current situation. She leaned over and gave Nadia a peck on the lips.

"Oh well, duty calls... It’s a good thing I’m dressed... Aela, put that pop gun away, we are not in any danger."

Nadia was still in her bathing suit. She picked up her coverup and looked at Aela. "What are you doing with that?" Is she planning to "disperse" me?

Not turning her back on Aela, she went to her cabin, changed into her uniform, and holstered her sidearm. The only ammo clip she had with her was likely damaged when she was dunked into the water a few weeks earlier, but maybe Aela didn't know that.

She rejoined Liscel and Aela in Liscel's cabin. "Let's see what's needed of us. Besides, what are WE doing? The crew will take care of these guys, I don't think they need to talk to an Amestrian Minister or a Kahanistan officer."

On the deck

The ship's lifeboats picked up the Velkyan survivors. The first officer ordered signal flares to be fired from the ship to signal the Amestrian Coast Guard to their position so they would have an idea of where to begin the search. The Captain personally debriefed the Velkyans.

Aela had put away her sidearm and was buttoning her shirt. She appeared to be slightly embarrassed.

“I’m sorry Minister, it is my duty to protect you and when I heard the explosion…force of habit.”

Liscel was putting on her shoes. She turned to Nadia.

“Well, let us at least find out what is going on. Nadia, you and I will go to bridge and speak with the captain. Aela you will go and survey the survivors, take note of their condition, the medical resources on this ship, and then report back to me.”

The ship's chief medical officer inventoried the equipment in the infirmary where the wounded were being treated for their lacerations, burns, and fractures. The medical supplies and facilities were comparable to those of a modern state-of-the-art hospital in a developed Western nation.

When Aela went to survey the survivors, the medical officer showed her where the casualties were being treated, and what was being done for them.

Meanwhile, in the Captain's cabin, two young women appearing to be in their early thirties knocked and entered. One was about average height and fairly slender. She was dressed in a Republic Guard uniform, and had a Lieutenant Colonel's rank insignia. The other woman was taller and somewhat fuller. She was dressed in a business suit.

The uniformed woman spoke first. "Lieutenant Colonel Nadia Sklenova. This is Sara Liscel, the Amestrian Deputy Vice Minister of Defense." She nodded to her companion.

The Captain spoke, looking the women over. "Captain Dragan Nilovic, the captain of this ship. What have you come to speak with me about, Colonel Sklenova... Miss Liscel?"

Liscel addressed the Captain.

"Captain Nilovic, I am the ranking Amestrian Government Official on this ship. I request all the details on what just occurred."

Nilovic nodded. "A Velkyan plane apparently went down over the water. The Amestrian Coast Guard is looking for other survivors, we have five. Right now we're trying to figure out if they were shot down, or if it was an accident on board the plane. The survivors are being cared for, we have excellent medical facilities here."

"The Amestrian Coast Guard ordered us to 'recover all survivors and proceed immediately to port.' They said they would take care of all search and rescue operations. I don't like the sound of this..."

The Captain frowned.

Nadia gave him a look. "What do you mean?"

"Well, Colonel... a strange plane just goes down 70 kilometers from Amestria, what do you think the odds are that it just crashed? And the Amestrians themselves seem insistent on getting these survivors. It's just that I personally think these men, if I may say so without worry of being undiplomatic, were shot down as potential spies, and the Amestrians want to interrogate them."

"I'll... make a note of your concern, Captain," said Sklenova. "But, if the Amestrians want to prosecute them or otherwise deal with them, I can't interfere. The most I can do is inform the Velkyan Embassy of their status."

Liscel dismissed the Captains concerns with a wave of her hand.

"Captain, if they are spies then they will go before our courts and their government will have some explaining to do. If it was an accident then it was an accident and they will be repatriated as soon as they recover from their injuries... A Velkyan plane you say...military? Can I use your radio?"

Captain Nilovic nodded uneasily. "Here it is." He gave Liscel the radio.

He turned to Sklenova. "Colonel. I've served in the Republic Guard for five years. I know when something's up, now what's the real story here? The Amestrian Deputy Vice Minister of Defense doesn't just show up in someone's office unless there's something big enough going on to risk her instead of a lower official."

"You know as much as I do," she said. "If you think the Amestrians are keeping something important from you, then they're probably keeping it from me, too, because I don't know any more than you do. But I don't think the Amestrians are hiding anything. Why not just hail us and say 'Give us the spies?' It sounds a lot less risky than sending a high ranking official with only one military officer and getting them both taken hostage."

Liscel sent a message on the Amestrian Naval Commands open channels.

"Dieses ist Député Vice Minister de la défense Sara Liscel. Sur ma autorité ministérielle I commandez par ceci un navire de récupération et une unité de plongée soit expédiée à der Abbruchanblick. Récupérez tout si possible. Préparez plusieurs salles dedans das städtische militärische Krankenhaus.”*

(*Here is what Liscel said in English: “This is Deputy Vice Minister of Defense Sara Liscel. On my Ministerial Authority I hereby order a salvage vessel and a diving unit be dispatched to the crash sight. Recover everything if possible. Prepare several rooms in the Municipal Military Hospital.”)

"What the hell was she saying?" asked the captain.

Nadia shrugged. "Something about ministerial authority to call in ships, and the military... I don't speak very good Amestrian."

The captain clearly thought Sklenova was the translator, at least initially. But that thought was dispelled when she revealed that she did not speak Amestrian, and Liscel clearly spoke English.

"But, I'm pretty sure she doesn't think the Velkyans are spies. Besides, why would they spy? Their military technology, from what we saw of it, is more advanced than that of either Kahanistan or Amestria."

Liscel recieved an immediate reply. "Dieses ist der Amestrian Marinebefehl. Vérifiez l'identité.”*

Liscel responded. "226-9596 Monarque Bleu, Roi Rouge!”**

"Identité confirmée et Auftrag empfing!”***

Aela peaked through the room's door and held up five fingers while addressing Liscel.

“le "ministre, là ont cinq ans und situation ist sous la commande.”****

Liscel nodded at Aela and added. "il y a cinq individus confirmés besoin de l'hospitalisation."*****


(In English: *“This is the Amestrian Naval Command. Verify identity.”

**“226-9596 Blue Monarch, Red King!”

***“Identity confirmed and order received!”

****"Minister, there are five and the situation is under control.

*****“There are five confirmed individuals in need of hospitalization.”)

Sion woke up, staring into the ceiling. White.

Must be a medical room.

He sat up in his bed. There was a bandage on his cut arm, and he was without a shirt. There was an IV stuck in his other arm. Sion looked to his right, his comrades sleeping peacefully, but they looked pretty shot up, with burns and cut all over their bodies. He then looked at the IV, and tore it out. He winced at the pain, but shook it off.

I'm lucky to be alive...

He spoke for the first time in hours, to the guy who looked like a medical officer. In an amazing display for a person who had just gone through a plane crash, he got off the bed, and walked towards the officer. Tapping him on the shoulder, he asked the man, quite eloquently...

"Where the hell am I?"

The medical officer looked at the patient who had regained consciousness. "This is the RKS Apollo, a civilian cruise vessel contracted by the military to ferry Kahanistan troops out of St. Fedski. We will be docking in Amestria in one hour for supplies, then we go to Kahanistan."

He noticed the Velkyan had taken out his IV. "Lt. Davenport," he said, looking at the man's tag, "we'll want to keep you for observation. A Kahanistan officer will be in here within minutes to ask you a few questions, too."

Christ...Amestria...

The soldier looked at the doctor and nodded.

"Thanks, doc, but I'm fine, take care of my sqaudmates for me, I'll wait for this officer on my own two feet."

Sion proceeded to lean on the wall of the medical facility, waiting for his interregator.

OOC: Picture of Sion
(Pronounced See-On)
(http://pixiekitty.net/leonref.jpg)

Liscel continued to speak into the radio.

"ayez Offiziere de Heeresnachrichtendienst se tenir prêt sur le dock. Préparez der Krankenhausbezirk pour l'interrogation, seulement les techniques de non-coercitif doivent être utilisé. Ayez un arrêt total de 24 heures de pression et de médias au sujet de ces derniers événements installés sous la section 24F de die Zustand-Sicherheit Tat.”*

"Oui Ministre!” was the reply.

Liscel put down the radio and approached the Captain.

“Captain Nilovic, under section 24F of the State Security Act I hereby place a 24-hour press and media blackout upon this matter. You are not to discuss the downed plane or the surviving crew with anyone, so please refrain from rumormongering. Furthermore, under section 12C of the State Security Act I am placing the Velkyan crew under State protective custody. Aela, go and secure the protectorates.”

“"Oui Ministre!” Aela replied as she began to transverse the ship towards the sickbay.


(*In English: “Have officers from Military Intelligence standing by on the dock. Prepare the hospital ward for interrogation, only non-coercive techniques are to be employed. Have a 24-hour press and media blackout concerning these events instated under section 24F of the State Security Act.”)

The medical officer called the Captain. "Captain, one of the Velkyans is awake."

Nilovic answered, "Some Amestrian is going to interrogate them." He turned to Nadia. "Colonel, I'd like it if you went with the Amestrian, I want to make sure that 'State protective custody' doesn't mean 'pulling out their fingernails with pliers and pouring battery acid into their eyeballs until they confess to whatever the Amestrians want them to confess to.' Can you do that for me?"

Nadia nodded. "Nothing will happen to them while they're here." She didn't believe that the Amestrians would torture anyone, but was willing to humor the captain. She went after Aela.

"Amestria does not engage in torture Captain! Torture is not only illegal under section 15C of the State Security Act; it is also illegal under the Amestrian Constitution." Liscel furiously retorted.

Having nothing else to do on the bridge and not wanting to be without company Liscel decided to follow Nadia.

OOC: (How old is Nadia, like 30, or less?)

(OOC: 31, close enough.)

Hospital wing

The Velkyan was led to a chair. "Sit down," said the medical officer. "These people wish to ask some questions about how you came to be here."

The ship had docked and the Amestrian Intelligence had been granted permission to board. They were accompanied by some Kahanistan officers. One of them spoke to Sion.

"Lt. Davenport," she said, "I am Lieutenant Colonel Nadia Sklenova, Kahanistan Republic Guard. These are Amestrian Intelligence officers, wondering why you are here, so close to Amestria."

The Amestrian Military Intelligence Officials boarded the ship in mass and made their way to the ships sickbay. One was wearing the insignia of a Lieutenant Colonel on his uniform. He pointedly ignored Nadia and the Kahanistan crew.

"Mr. Davenport is it...? I am Lieutenant Colonel Vato Falman. It is my duty to inform you that you your crewmates have been placed under State protective custody as outlined in section 12C of the State Security Act. We are here to escourt you to the Municipal Military Hosbital."

(Sion's 28)

Sion spoke to the Amestrian officers.

"This lovely officer asked a question of me, and I would be honored to answer it before you haul me away to the detention block."

He leaned forward in his chair, his dark grey-blue eyes staring into those of his interregator.

"It would normally be classified, Colonel, but given the situation-"

He montioned towards his wounded and sleeping comrades.

"Looks like I'm going to come clean. Me and my sqaud were en route to Kraven territory to preform a targeting mission for EMP strikes, but we apperently encountered some severe weather conditions. Lightning must've hit the engine, all I know is, there was a loud boom, next thing I know, I'm stuck to a piece of wing with 4 badly bleeding guys."

He turned towards the Amestrian intelligence officers.

"Are you satisfied with that, or should I just stick to rank, name, and serial number?"

OOC: Is Amestria anywhere near Kraven? I might need to know to decide if my officers will believe the Velkyans.

OOC: No Amestria is not near Kraven. However the Velkyans may have been trying to cross the polar regions in order to reach Kraven (Amestria is in the Northern Hemisphere temperate zone)... Their plane was going at Mack 7 and probably got off course when the engine was damaged. And it does not matter as Amestria is not planning to hold these men as spies.

OOC: If I wanted to spy on you, I would just use satellites. :rolleyes:

If you call the government of Velkya on this, they'll just tell you to deliver the men to the nearest Velkyan ship in Kahanistan.

Oh, and yes, if you can't decipher it from the pic, he is 5'11'', 172 pounds, and has a generally muscular build.

"I see." Sklenova tried to look non-threatening. "Your plane was definitely going way too fast to be a spy plane..." She turned to the Amestrians. "I personally think there's no reason to hold them any further... they were definitely going so fast..."

"With your permission," she said to the Amestrians, "I'd like to ask the Captain if he'll agree to taking these men to Kahanistan with the rest of the passengers. They'll be returned to Velkya, or they can join one of the Kahanistan ships heading there." She turned to Sion.

"I'll be going to Kraven myself, pretty scary?"

(If the One Last Chance for Freedom thread is still alive once this one ends, that's where she'll be.)

“Permission denied!” Liscel quickly answered.

Liscel addressed Falman.

"Leutnant Oberst Falman. Je veux tous die Details sur cet avion. Ils sont tous à interroger entièrement en gagnant la conscience. Vous devez employer des techniques de non-coercitif seulement. Offrez-leur l'argent, citoyenneté, femmes, hommes...Je veux tous die Details sur cet avion.”*

He saluted. "Oui Ministre!”

“Aela!”

“Yes Minister!”

“Get dressed and pack everything up. Our vacation is over.”

Liscel placed an arm around Nadia.

“Well, we are very close to saying goodbye. Military intelligence will handle this. Let me show you the Amestrian coast before you go, first impressions I am told can be quite stunning."


(*In English: “Lieutenant Colonel Falman. I want all the details on that plane. They are all to be fully interrogated upon gaining consciousness. You are to use non-coercive techniques only. Offer them money, citizenship, women, men…I want all the details on that plane.”)

Sion was beginning to hope he was going to get out of this, but the Amestrian officer was quite a...well...bitch, it seemed...and now, he was about to be hauled to a detention block, like he had anticipated.

"Grand, m'am. When do we leave?"

Liscel paid him no mind. However, Falman answered his question.

"You sir look healthy. You should be released to your embassy in 24-hours, 48 tops. Your friends will be released when they recover."

Sklenova nodded. The Velkyans were out of her hands. She went with Liscel to the deck. "So, what's going to happen to those guys?"

Liscel paid him no mind. However, Falman answered his question.

"You sir look healthy. You should be released to your embassy in 24-hours, 48 tops. Your friends will be released when they recover."

"Seeing as the nearest Velkyan base would be in Kahanistan, I'd much rather be shipped there once I complete my "questioning"."

(OOC: Liscel did not mean she was going to take Nadia off the ship, just show her the coast from the deck.)

Liscel led Nadia onto the deck.

"They will be interrogated as to the details of their plane, offered rewards for providing information or defecting, and then should they refuse, be released upon being deemed healthy...just a little friendly R&D… Now look there..."

Liscel pointed off into the distance. The harbor they had docked at was part of an extensive metropolis, skyscrapers and apartments of glass and steel towering over the ship. Liscel was however pointing past them, at the forested hills in the distance. They were hard to make out in the dim light of the evening. As Nadia tried to make them out Liscel hugged her from behind.

"Seeing as the nearest Velkyan base would be in Kahanistan, I'd much rather be shipped there once I complete my "questioning"."

Falman responded to the man he was "protecting."

"Sir, the exact nature of your personal transport out of Amestria is a matter for your Embassy to consider, we at Military Intelligence have no part in it."

Nadia wasn't expecting to be grabbed from behind. She squealed and squirmed around.

"Oh. What am I supposed to see in the hills?"

Liscel pressed against Nadia.

"Calm down, I am not trying anything... Just let me hold you... In all honesty there is nothing to see at night, I just wanted to talk to you alone one last time..."

Nadia smiled and sat down on the deck, her legs dangling over the edge of the ship.

"All right." She placed an arm around Liscel. "Only I hope it's not the last time."

"Alright then, lead the way, bud."

"By last time I meant before I departed the ship. I intend to see you again... I did not know the joy of knowing you as a child and I am going to make up for lost time... I love you..."

She paused and gave Nadia a slight squeeze.

"And you love me... I know you do...even if you are unwilling to act on those feelings..."

Liscel laid her head on Nadia's shoulder.

"Nadia... Has anyone ever made you feel as I have made you feel?"

Nadia didn't know what to say. At first she was actually quite uncomfortable around Liscel. But how does she think she made me feel?

"I... I don't know what you mean. How do you think you made me feel?"

Liscel smiled...

"Warm, respected, wanted, comforted, cared for, the feeling of having someone so you are not alone... You made me feel the same way..."

Nadia looked at Liscel. "Yes... I've felt those things before..." She tightened her grip on Liscel as the ship slid into the Amestrian port and some passengers came on and others began leaving...

"But... you actually like me, love me even, and many people think I'm either too serious or too emotional... I don't think I've had anyone love me."

Liscel kissed Nadia on the cheek...

"Until now..."

Nadia buried her head in Liscel's shoulder. "Yes..." she said.

The loudspeaker went off. "All passengers bound for Amestria are to depart now, we are taking on supplies and will be leaving for Kahanistan in one hour."

Nadia raised her head. "Sara... I'll see you again sometime. I'll write you from Kraven."

"Promise me you will visit me as soon as you get back from that hellish place... Can I ask you a farewell request?"

Sion looked rather annoyed.

"Hey buddy, I'd really like to catch this boat out of here, mind getting this over with?"

Sion looked rather annoyed.

"Hey buddy, I'd really like to catch this boat out of here, mind getting this over with?"

Falman glared at him.

"The stretchers have just arrived... I doubt your friends are in any condition to walk under their own power."

Sion and his crewmates are escorted off the ship by Amestrian Military Intelligence and taken to the Municipal Military Hosbital.

(OOC: I will post on what happens to them there when Liscel and Nadia finish their conversation.)

"Yes, anything," said Nadia, rising to her feet.

In the medical wing

The Kahanistan doctor looked at Sion. "That's really up to the Amestrians, you were found near their airspace. The Captain will contact the Velkyan Embassy in Amestria for you, though."

(OOC: No problem. If possible, I'll RP the embassy's response.

Also, I'll do a scene of Sion catching the ship as it's leaving, I'll promise it will be quite hilarious.)

"Yes, anything," said Nadia, rising to her feet.

Liscel rose with Nadia.

"Kiss me...and don't hold back..."

She closed her eyes...

"Kiss me..."


In the medical wing

The Kahanistan doctor looked at Sion. "That's really up to the Amestrians, you were found near their airspace. The Captain will contact the Velkyan Embassy in Amestria for you, though."

"Negative!" said Falman as he departed the medical wing with the protectorites. "You may not talk to anyone on this subject for 24-hours as the Deputy Vice Minister has implemented a press and media blackout."

Watching the intel officer yell at the medical officer, Sion looked over to his wounded comrades.

If Cofman (the pilot) wakes up, I'm gonna hit him over the head with a blunt object for this one.

Watching the intel officer yell at the medical officer, Sion looked over to his wounded comrades.

If Cofman (the pilot) wakes up, I'm gonna hit him over the head with a blunt object for this one.

Falman glanced over at Sion...

"Please come with me sir..."

Sion was seized by two Privates (each who grabbed hold of an arm) and led off the ship.

Nadia tearfully threw her arms around Liscel and kissed her softly on the cheek. "I hope we see each other again... that I do come back from that terrible place..." She started crying again.

Meanwhile, the medical officer had had enough of the Amestrian Intelligence officer's blustering. He got up in the Amestrian's face. "Last time I checked, Captain Nilovic is not a member of the press or media, and these men's government needs to know what happened to their men."

Sion looked at the two privates.

"Quite a bit overprotective, are we? Don't worry, I'm just as scared of the press as you are."

He looked back at the doctor.

"Don't worry, I'll come back in one piece, doc. And if I don't, I'll let you sew me back together, okay?"

Nadia tearfully threw her arms around Liscel and kissed her softly on the cheek. "I hope we see each other again... that I do come back from that terrible place..." She started crying again.

Liscel took out her hanky and wiped away Nadia's tears...

"You will come back and we will see each other again."

Liscel kissed Nadia softly on the lips...

Aela stepped out from around the corner, loaded down with baggage.

"Minister, it is time to depart."


Meanwhile, the medical officer had had enough of the Amestrian Intelligence officer's blustering. He got up in the Amestrian's face. "Last time I checked, Captain Nilovic is not a member of the press or media, and these men's government needs to know what happened to their men."

"His government will be notified in 24-hours. In the meantime the Captain is not to say anything."

Sion stopped. In their struggle, the privates stopped as well.

"Ok, Falman, is tha 24 hours after you question our asses to death, or 24 hours before?"

Sion stopped. In their struggle, the privates stopped as well.

"Ok, Falman, is tha 24 hours after you question our asses to death, or 24 hours before?"

Falman turned around and answered Sion.

"After... Continue to resist and we will be forced to taser you! So let’s move along shall we, you are a military officer, act like!"

Nadia hugged Liscel again. "Goodbye, Sara." She turned to Aela. "That looks really heavy. Do you need help with that?"

Falman turned around and answered Sion.

"After... Continue to resist and we will be forced to taser you! So let’s move along shall we, you are a military officer, act like!"

"Taser me? Go ahead, your already dragging me over here. I demand to speak to the Velkyan embassy before you interrogate me, seeing as I'm being held against my will by foreign military personnal on an allied civilian ship."

Aela looked defensive.

"No! Everything is fine."

She wobbled in an unconvincing manner.

Liscel smiled one last time at Nadia and gave her one final embrace.

"Goodbye Nadia, mon ami, mon amoureux..."

Liscel turned to Aela.

"Aela, lets go."

"Yes Minister!"

The two departed the ship together.

"Taser me? Go ahead, your already dragging me over here. I demand to speak to the Velkyan embassy before you interrogate me, seeing as I'm being held against my will by foreign military personnal on an allied civilian ship."

Falman looked impatient.

"We are doing this for your protection sir, all according to the law. Now I advise you not take my warning as a bluff. You will be released shortly, after 24-hours, after we have determined it is safe."

One of the Privates took out a stun gun.

"This will be a great story to tell my grandchildren...if I survive to have them. Ok, you win, let's go."

OOC: Heh, he's going to escape, just watch.

"This will be a great story to tell my grandchildren...if I survive to have them. Ok, you win, let's go."

Sion was led off the ship and to a waiting ambulance. His friends had already been taken away.


OOC: Heh, he's going to escape, just watch.

OOC: heh, no he’s not, Amestrian soldiers are not push overs, they are trained in hand to hand combat. Besides if he does break free they will simply stop the boat until they have captured him...

OOC: Your going to stop a experiened special forces soldier with two privates and a stuck up officer?

OOC: Your going to stop a experiened special forces soldier with two privates and a stuck up officer?

OOC: An unarmed, wounded, exhausted Special Forces soldier in a foreign country. Falman and company are soldiers of the Military Intelligence Division, trained in methods of detainment along with the normal required military training. In addition, there are more then just three...

IC:

Sion was forced into the ambulance and taken to the Military Hosbital.

OOC: You already said he was in the hospital.

OOC: You already said he was in the hospital.

OOC: No, I said he had been taken off the ship...

IC:

Once at the hospital Sion, his active/alert companions, and his unconscious ones were given first class medical treatment (the only kind that exists in Amestria). Each was provided with three square meals and eight hours of sleep. Between those periods, they were subject to intense interrogations. The Amestrian Military Intelligence Officers demanded details on the plane, how it worked, how may Velkya had, est.. They offered that the "protectorates", in exchange for cooperation would receive financial rewards (millions of Gold Hobbes), citizenship if they desired, and sex (they offer to pay for male or female prostitutes, they show them the pictures, all very impressive).

(OOC: No problem. If possible, I'll RP the embassy's response.

Also, I'll do a scene of Sion catching the ship as it's leaving, I'll promise it will be quite hilarious.)

OOC: Can't wait, it seems like 99% of the hilarious stuff I've seen here has to do with Shoobans. (http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/Shooban) Speaking of which, the Kahanistan Government has remained quiet on that issue for too long... I have a few more nations to go on the chopping block after Kraven. :)

IC:

Nadia stood at the side of the ship, her hair and face being pelted hard by the wind. She waited for the ship to leave and take her to Kahanistan. She would then enter the frozen wastelands of hell, training the unfortunate souls to resist the Kraven Corporation.

Deputy Vice Minister of Defense Sara Liscel stood on the dock and watched as the ship slowly pulled away. Besides her Aela was scrambling to pick up the bags, which had gone flying, when she had tripped. Liscel could not stop touching with her hand cheek on which Nadia had kissed her. I will do everything I can to help you cross through hell Nadia...

"Aela!"

"Yes Minister, I am so sorry about the bags."

"Never mind that! When we get back to Central I want you to contact Noir... in an unofficial capacity..."

Aela gave a dark smile. "Trying to delay the inevitable for some one...?"

"Yes!"

OOC: No, I said he had been taken off the ship...

IC:

Once at the hospital Sion, his active/alert companions, and his unconscious ones were given first class medical treatment (the only kind that exists in Amestria). Each was provided with three square meals and eight hours of sleep. Between those periods, they were subject to intense interrogations. The Amestrian Military Intelligence Officers demanded details on the plane, how it worked, how may Velkya had, est.. They offered that the "protectorates", in exchange for cooperation would receive financial rewards (millions of Gold Hobbes), citizenship if they desired, and sex (they offer to pay for male or female prostitutes, they show them the pictures, all very impressive).

Colonel Nathan Erikson, commander of the Halo team, simply signaled his men to stay quiet. He stood up to the aggressors.

"Look, I really don't care how much money or what kind of whores you want us to f**k so you can get your info, this unit will not speak of classified Velkyan military material. You'd be best calling the embassy right now, I'm sure High Command would love to know where the hell their men are!"

Sion then got an idea.

"Ahhh, f**k you, captain...sir (to the intergators)...I'm truly horny, and I was hoping the prostitute option was still open, uh, I like a female, if you please."

Colonel Nathan Erikson, commander of the Halo team, simply signaled his men to stay quiet. He stood up to the aggressors.

"Look, I really don't care how much money or what kind of whores you want us to f**k so you can get your info, this unit will not speak of classified Velkyan military material. You'd be best calling the embassy right now, I'm sure High Command would love to know where the hell their men are!"

Sion then got an idea.

"Ahhh, f**k you, captain...sir (to the intergators)...I'm truly horny, and I was hoping the prostitute option was still open, uh, I like a female, if you please."

Falman looked the Halo team over... That Sion was a troublemaker and since he was going to be released soon anyway, he did not matter. The Commander was a barrier to interrogation and he had to be separated... The remaining three had serious injuries so they would be at the hospital for quite a while...

"Sion and Erikson have an infection which could spread to the rest of the team. It is nothing serious, we are just taking the precaution. You will both be moved to separate rooms."

Sion and Erikson were removed and Falman continued to work on the remaining three, telling them how good life was in Amestria and that they would be made men if they stayed and helped the State.

"You will get all get a house, financial support, you will be able to raise a family and enjoy yourselves without any fear of hardship. Just tell us what we want to know..."

"*Sigh*, forget the protitute. This is growing quite old. Now you seperate us, beacause you think that will help us tell you all about our military secrets. We know all the bullshit tactics you intel boys use, we've trained with them, and neither of us are falling for it. We are obviously not going to tell you anything. We all have homes and family back in the Union that we would really like to get back to, hell, the pilot's got a newborn son, and the only thing standing in our way is you and your paranoid government." Sion said, growing angrier and angrier by the minute.

Falman looked up and gave a good natured smiled.

"And if you are all so determined to return, you will. This is just a little friendly pumping for information. You can't tell us your government would not do the same given the chance...and this is all legal under our domestic laws by the way. It is not as if we have disappeared you…and do not blame me for this, the Deputy Vice Minister of Defense ordered your detention and interrogation, and I’m just following orders to the best of my abilities. You’re a military man, you should be able to relate, now stop being so damned arrogant."

Falman looked at his watch.

"Sion or whatever you call yourself, your time is almost up anyway and you will be issued a visa and escorted to your embassy."

Falman looked up and gave a good natured smiled.

"And if you are all so determined to return, you will. This is just a little friendly pumping for information. You can't tell us your government would not do the same given the chance...and this is all legal under our domestic laws by the way. It is not as if we have disappeared you…and do not blame me for this, the Deputy Vice Minister of Defense ordered your detention and interrogation, and I’m just following orders to the best of my abilities. You’re a military man, you should be able to relate, now stop being so damned arrogant."

Falman looked at his watch.

"Sion or whatever you call yourself, your time is almost up anyway and you will be issued a visa and escorted to your embassy."

"Thank you, Falman, you know, your not such a bad guy. Tell your commander what I told you, lightning stuck the craft. Should you preform any "autopsy" on the plane, attempt to find out what in the hell went wrong up there.

You take care of yourself.

I knew being a complete dickface hostage would help me get out.

Sion inwardly smiled.

"As for your companions... They will be released after the doctors determine they are fit to leave... Which should be quite a while given their injuries. I look forward to working with them for quite a bit."

Sion smiled.

"Try not to squeeze any sensitive material, High Command isn't a bunch of very agreeable fellows. Anyhow, I'll take my visa, if you please."

OOC: People often mistake Sion's sense of humor for arrogance, he's a good guy at heart, he's not in the best of moods, however. And yes, he is quite a troublemaker.

Falman pointed to his watch.

"I said your time is almost up. When it is entirely up you will receive your visa. In the meantime I suggest you take a nap or perhaps memorize our public transit system*..."

Falman handed Sion a map...

"Or if you are interested in some light reading there is a copy of War and Peace in the table by your bed. Now if you will excuse me..."

Falman left Sion alone with two guards and returned to interrogating the three considered profitable.


(*Cars are illegal in Amestria.)

OOC: By the way, the ship is still taking on supplies, if you still want to do the hilarious scene with Sion catching the ship that you mentioned.

OOC: Actually that is incorrect... Sion has been held for about 22 hours at this point and the ship has left... Kahanistan TG

OOC: Every Velkyan embassy has a dropship, you know.

Sion decided he'd best get some sleep. He had asked a guard were the Velkyan embasy was located, and he point out a small, secluded street. He laid down on a bed, and set a nearby clock to go off in 2 hours.

Man, this has been a crazy day.

Sion decided he'd best get some sleep. He had asked a guard were the Velkyan embasy was located, and he point out a small, secluded street. He laid down on a bed, and set a nearby clock to go off in 2 hours.

Man, this has been a crazy day.

OOC: There is no Embassy in this city, he is not in the capital... TG

OOC: You seem detirmined not to allow Sion to meet Nadia. :p

Also, nations usually have consulates in the larger cities of the nation hosting the embassy. Italy may have an embassy in D.C., but it has consulates in L.A., N.Y. Miami, etc.

OOC: You seem detirmined not to allow Sion to meet Nadia. :p

No, I am just pointing out a geographic fact.

Read above post.

I'm sure the Velkyan consulate has some old beat-up Blackhawk or something.

Read above post.

I'm sure the Velkyan consulate has some old beat-up Blackhawk or something.

The only Velkyan Embassy is in Central, that is were the Central Government is. For countries like Kahanistan, which are very close and direct trade partners, Amestria might have several dozen consulants...(particularly in port cities that Kahanistan tourists would visit)...

However as Velkya and Amestria have really no working direct trade relationship and are not very close to each other there is only one Embassy...

How many Embassy's do you think the Albanian government has in the US?

IC:

The shrill alarm buzzer went off.

"AAHHHHHHHHH! F**K!"

Sion slammed his fist down on the alarm, but it only rang louder.

"DAMN IT!"

He ripped the batteries out of it, stopping the shrill alarm.

"Damn, that's a good clock."

Sion walked over to the door, brushed himself off, and walked over to the nearest guard.

"Hey, I'm the Velkyan soldier scheuduled to be released here, I'm supposed to get my visa. My name is Sion Davenport, rank 2nd Lt, serial number 420352-NAF."

OOC: Your such a downer, man.

And I just checked the CIA factbook, they've got 1 in D.C.

The guard pointed at the clock.

"You’re paying for that!"

The guard then called up Falman on the hospital phone system. He arrived after ten minutes.

"Ok, let’s get this out of the way."

Falman handed Sion a padded booklet.

"This is your visa. It is good for 48 hours, if you stay longer, you will be arrested for immigration violations. The Velkyan Embassy is in Central. Here is a ticket on the 2 am flight to Amestria City."

Falman handed Sion the ticket.

"Your Embassy is expecting you. To insure that you arrive safely at your destination you will have a Military escourt. This is Sergeant Major Kain Fuery..."

A meek little man peaked through the door. He was five foot two, with square glasses and dark hair.

"Pleased to meet you..."

"He will help you navigate the transit system to the airport and to the Embassy. Now good day."

At which point the guards departed and Sion was alone with the Sergeant Major.

In the meantime, a bill is sent to the Velkyan Embassy for one hospital clock.

OOC: It would be better for Sion to meet Nadia in a completely unrelated manner in Kahanstan waiting to be deployed, and recognize her as the young RG officer who was with the "bitch" who ordered his detention... (it would take a few days for Nadia to prepare for deployment)...

How does that sound?

"So, Sarge, how exactly does this transit system work, what, do you use buses or trains instead of cars?"

Sion and Kain walked down the road, going towards what ever node or transport hub contained the Amestrian transit system.

OOC: It would be better for Sion to meet Nadia in a completely unrelated manner in Kahanstan waiting to be deployed, and recognize her as the young RG officer who was with the "bitch" who ordered his detention... (it would take a few days for Nadia to prepare for deployment)...

How does that sound?

OOC: Actually, the bitch was directed at Liscel, Sion felt she was a bit cold, but he got a fairly good feeling from Nadia.

"All of the above... It is one of the most advanced in the world. We will be taking a bus to the airport..."

They stopped at a bus stop. After about twenty minutes of waiting, the correct bus pulled up and the two travelers climbed on. They were soon on their way to the airport.

"Very nice country, reminds me a bit of Southport back home, except no cars." He smilied at the memory of his home town.

Man, I've got to go back there, haven't been there since I completed Flight School...

Which is what I said, the young women who was with the "bitch" est.
Sorry, read it wrong, my minds going off a bit, my bad.

Sorry, read it wrong, my minds going off a bit, my bad.

OOC: So what do you think of my idea that Sion fly to Kahanistan and then meet Nadia as they prepare for deployment... Everyone's happy...

(I'm happy.)

Ok then, can we delete all the pure OOC posts, they kind of distract...

Kain relaxed at Sion's easygoing attitude.

"Thank you... I am sorry for everything that has happened, but you should expect it when your country has planes that can go Mock 10. The payoffs that would come from convincing one of you to defect far outweigh any ruffled diplomatic feathers..."

The bus passed a large billboard. On it was what appeared to be a campaign advertisement. On it was plastered the face of a women who looked a lot like the Deputy Vice Minister, except she had black hair. Sion could just make out what it said through the dim light...

VOTE KASUMI LISCEL FOR PRESIDENT
VOTE CENTRALIST PARTY
VOTE FOR A STRONGER STATE
VOTE FOR ECONOMIC REFORMS

Kain noticed Sion’s interest in the sign. "She is going to win... I understand you met her sister earlier. Was she the one who ordered your interrogation?"

"The officer, yes, I believe I did.

Oh, and trust me, these guys are Special Forces, they're not about to defect any time soon."

Al-Bahr, Kahanistan

Two days later

The RKS Apollo sailed into the reasonably reconstructed port. The soldiers of Kahanistan who were exiting the vessel for their homes throughout the country noticed the city was about half rebuilt. On the outskirts, tens of millions of refugees lived in tents or cars surrounding the city. Many of the refugees were temporarily employed taking part in the reconstruction, driving cement trucks and backhoes, and operating other heavy machinery. The city would probably be rebuilt by the end of the year.

---

While many of the soldiers were meeting their relatives and friends for the first time in months, one depressed young woman wandered aimlessly through the bowels of the ship. She wandered into a gift shop, though she had few people she knew well enough for gifts. A small book caught her eye. Sklenova went down and inspected the title. Amestrian 101: The Moron's Guide.

This sounds interesting. Maybe next time I see Sara I can understand her better when she speaks Amestrian. She picked it up. A worker's voice behind her startled her.

"Can I help you, Colonel?" asked the worker. He had evidently seen her rank insignia.

"How much is this book?" asked Nadia.

"Three Racist Shekels."

She pulled out her credit card. "Here."

"OK, here's your book. Have fun learning Amestrian." He rang up Nadia's new book and handed it to her.

---

Nadia went to her old address. The apartment building was almost fully rebuilt, as was that entire district. Nadia lived on the 59th floor. She went in, hoping to see what her apartment looked like before she had to go to Kraven in a few days.

This is so bare, so depressing... nothing's here, not my TV, my bed, my Shooban, nothing but what I packed with me to take to St. Fedski... Why did the city have to be destroyed?

She sat down in a corner of her new living room and cried for hours.

A few hours into Nadia’s sobbing her apartment's doorbell suddenly rang. Someone was at the door…

Nadia pointed her sidearm at the door. There were still looters running through the half-rebuilt city. She opened the door a crack...

Just outside the door stood a man in a blue and green uniform. He had a parcel and clipboard under his arm. As soon as he noticed Nadia’s sidearm he became clearly agitated.

“Mediterranean Parcel Service,” he stammered. “Are you Ms. Sklenova? Package for you…”

Seeing the parcel and uniform, she lowered her weapon and signed the clipboard. "Yes..."

She kept her weapon out, though no longer pointed, in case the man was a smarter than average looter. "Place the package on the doorstep," she said nervously but firmly.

Now who could be sending me something? Sara? It would take longer than that to get from Amestria... Did someone find my Shooban?

The man placed the parcel on the doorstep. Having the signature and no further reason to remain the M.P.S. employee departed.

"Madam!"

The parcel had on it a date indicating it had been mailed two days ago. It was labeled "Priority Mail" and the return address was an apartment block in "Amestria City."

Nadia took the parcel into her apartment. She looked at it. "So it is from Amestria... Sara." She opened the box and removed the packaging...

Inside the parcel was what could only be described as a beautiful teddy bear. It was made of the finest material, very soft yet firm. There was also a card…

Inside the card was a picture of Sara. She was staring directly into the camera as she waved at it, a happy yet concerned expression on her face. In the background there was what appeared to be a public park.

Dear Nadia,

I really hope that when this package arrives you are at your apartment to receive it…and not yet descending into Hades… If it is late please tell me so in retaliation I can cancel the MPS’s contract with our Military.

While we were on the ship together, you expressed an interest in acquiring a sleeping companion like Mr. La Mettrie. You probably have very few processions in your current state of transition… Therefore you would be in need of something cheery.

This is Mr. La Boe'tie; I hope you enjoy his company.

♥Love♥
♥Your Good Friend Sara Liscel♥

The end of the letter had a kiss in red lipstick.

Nadia smiled tearfully and decided to write Sara back. But she had nothing to write with, her stationery having been either left on the base or in her apartment when it was demolished, she didn't know. She had to get some more.

While the apartment complex had been demolished, the car park underneath had somehow survived. Nadia took the elevator from the 59th floor to the 11th sub-level where her vehicle was parked, a green 1969 Dodge that was older than she was, but it still got her where she wanted to go.

She decided on the things she really needed to get... stationery, a radio, a new computer, a TV set, a new bed, some civilian clothes (she couldn't be running around town in uniform all day), a camera, a washer / dryer, and a refrigerator. On her spree, she racked up over three thousand racist shekels on her credit card (roughly $4,700 USD) but got what she came for.

She returned home, exhausted from her shopping spree, and wrote back.

Dear Sara,

I just received Mr. La Boe'tie. He will be fun to sleep on until my new bed comes, and then he can be my pillow. There is no need to cancel your military's contract with MPS, but the guy probably crapped himself when I answered the door with my sidearm out. There are so many looters and rapists around here since people started coming back, and our Law and Order budget is dismally low, as our tax rates are almost as high as yours and we spend way too much on defense. You can never be too careful around here.

I hope you enjoy the pictures of me. I took them myself, so they're pretty bad, I know.

Your friend,
Nadia

The end of the letter had a happy face on it. Inside the envelope were several pictures of Nadia in various poses in a bikini, nothing obscene though. She may not have had the same feelings for Liscel that Liscel did for her, but she knew Liscel would like them.

Liscel played with Chloe’s hair. She liked to do that for some reason, play with other people’s hair while she was in bed with them, so Chloe let her. It was raining hard outside and the water hit against the apartments windows… Tap, tap, tap, tap… Besides that, there was only the sound of their breathing, as they lay next to each other naked.

Chloe decided to break the silence. “Liscel, why are you here?”

“What ever do you mean?”

“You know what I mean? What favor do you want me to do? What person do you want information on? What foreign individual stands in the States way and thus you want dead? Why else come to the apartment of the Director of the Secret Service?”

“Maybe I wanted to see you Chloe… Must you accuse me of always having an agenda?” Liscel pouted.

“My dear Liscel, there has not been a moment in your adult existence when you have not had some scheme, some plan, some idea aimed at gratifying your desires. Your father spoiled you because you reminded him of your mother and your presence distracted him from a resentful country slowly moving beyond his control…”

“He was seldom there and I had few friends for security reasons…I was alone, a princess with only halls of gold… What if I told you I just wanted to see you after a long trip out of the country?”

“I would say you were a liar, I’m 58 and you’re in the early thirties. If it were that simple, you would have gone to Sandra or another of your playmates…”

“You have aged really well; you are still trim and firm…”

“What do you want?!”

“Noir!”

“So you want to kill someone?”

“No, I want to protect someone, covertly, without their knowledge… I want to lead her through Hades and fight off the Cerberus…”

Chloe sat up. “What are you talking about and who do you want Noir to protect.”

Liscel sat up as well, grabbed her purse from the bedroom table, and produced a picture*. “This woman, Lieutenant Colonel Nadia L. Sklenovia of the Kahanistan Republican Guard airforce.”

“Oh, yes your current fascination. Aela told me about her when she arranged our meeting, though she did not tell me that she was the reason behind it…”

“Aela likes to sometimes play little games, hiding the truth in plane sight, a strange girl…”

“Yes, why do you…never mind. Tell me about this Sklenovia.”

Liscel rolled over on her back and stared up at the ceiling.

“She is an officer in the Kahanistan Republican Guard and a Hero of the Republic, although the events for which she received the award… She is being sent to Kraven to take part in intelligence operations aimed at aiding the resistance against the corporation. I desire her to live.”

“You have feelings for her…” Chloe interrupted.

“It is not some fling; it is a very deep feeling that I will not soil trying to convey, it is indescribable.”

Chloe frowned. “Sara, the Secret Service cannot be dispatched to protect at a whim. I… I need a plausible reason for sending our people into harms way, Kraven of all places, to protect this women.”

Liscel smiled and produced the copy of Communist Monthly she had taken from the ship. “Nadia as you can see is a figure of influence in the second largest political party in Kahanistan. She is a veteran and a hero of several conflicts. She is European and sympathetic to Amestrian perspectives. I see her in 20 years, if not sooner, as one of that countries senior military or political figures. It is in our best interests to help her advance…”

“Can I have that in an official report…?”

“You will have it tomorrow…”

“Fine… Who exactly do you want dispatched…?”

Liscel began to massage Chloe’s back…

“Mireille and Krikia…”

“Two of our finest (giggle)… stop that!”

Liscel pinched Chloe lightly. “Say yes…” She pinched her again…

“ (giggle) Ok, ok… they will be dispatched…”

Liscel gave Chloe a deep kiss… “I knew I could count on you…”

(*Not the pictures Nadia sent, Liscel has not yet received the package.)

OOC: The 4th Airborne, the "Hell's Angels" is in Kahanistan, trying to stabilize the country till the police force can be rebuilt. It's based off the V.S.S. Eagle's Claw, in the Red Sea, and has been there since Kraven's betrayal.

Amestria, respond to Sion, please.

Velkyan Soldier:

http://img426.imageshack.us/img426/7438/marine25gv.png

IC:

It was a dismal night in Al-Bahr. Hot, sticky, and dark, perfect. Add to that the danger of being mugged by looters or violated by rapists, and you had a stressful environement. Of course, no one was about to mug or rape a trio of heavily armed Velkyan soldiers traveling down an open street in a LRV. The sqaud leader carried a message for one "Nadia Sklenovia", a Colonel in the Kahanistani Air Force, or what remains of it. One of the spoke up, as he , scanned the next street with his Omni-Scope for potential threats, manning the shotgun position on the Warthog, as the troops loving refered to it as. His right leg dangled out, and he fingered the trigger on his ARC-4.

"Take a left, Valez."

The driver responded with a "Yes, sir" and proceeded to take a left turn.

"This should be the street."

They moved down the largely deserted street, coming up to a particular apartment (Nadia's). The sqaud leader stepped out, along with the message, and knocked on the door.

Velkya, the above post does not make any sense... TG...

Kahanistan... TG...

"The officer, yes, I believe I did.

Oh, and trust me, these guys are Special Forces, they're not about to defect any time soon."

48 hours earlier

"It is polite to refer to her as Minister; she is not some 'officer'."

They soon arrived at the airport. After a two hour wait they flew to Central. After another half hour navigating the transit system, Kain admitting he had never before been to the Foreign Quarter in Central, they arrived at the Velkyan Embassy.

A armed guard standing at attention at the gate noticed them. He reported it into his comm. unit and walked over.

"Welcome to the Allied Union of Velkya's Embassy. Please state your purpose in being here."

"I am Sergeant Major Kain Fuery and I am here to deliver Lieutenant Davenport from our protective custody under Section 12C of the State Security Act to his government."

The soldier checked his data-pad. He looked up.

"You are cleared to enter."

The two men walked inside the gate, and both looked around as they made it to the door. The lawn was freshly cut, and a Velkyan flag waved in the breeze, sitting next to a Amestrian one. Sion couldn't help but comment.

"Love the landscape, that's our tax dollars at work."

As they reached the door, it opened, and another guard escorted them inside to the entry hall.

"The ambassador will be with you in a moment."

"No hurry..." Kain quietly replied as he admired the Embassies furnishings...

Sion looked over to his right. A break room, housing a few armchairs and a coffee machine.

He nudged Kain.

"Shall we go sit?"

"Might as well..."

Kain walked over to the break room, got a cup of coffee, and then sat down in one of the armchairs.

Sion did likewise, and sat down. He turned the media player in the room on, and put on a bit of Green Day (yes, they exist in NS, too) at low volume. A man walked by, on a small sat. phone.

"...What do you mean they charged us an alarm clock?! None of us have ever been there! I demand to speak to the manager of that hotel!..."

Sion leaned back and laughed.

"Ha ha, let's keep that to ourselves, eh?"

Green Day was not popular in Amestria, nor was "punk" in general. Kain tried to ignore it. He sipped his coffee and made a face...

"How can you people drink this stuff?"

He got out of his chair and threw the coffee in the garbage.

"If they request information on the reason behind the bill for damages I am obligated to inform them... Besides, they will either hear of it from me or they will hear of it from Lieutenant Colonel Falman..."

"Hey, bud, when you are pulling an 8-hour shift in a combat zone, that stuff can save your life. Anyhow, by the sounds of it, Falman is going to tell them about it soon, so we'd better sit tight. So, while we're waiting for the head huncho here, I say we swap our life stories.

You first."

“Amestrian coffee is far superior...who drinks 'normal' coffee here?!"

Kain paused.

“Well, I do not really have that exciting a life. My father and mother both worked for the State as civil servants, a typical career in the North Amestrian Middle Class. After graduating from my university with a Masters in Information Assessment and a minor in Government Service, I joined the Military and become an officer in the Intelligence Division. A pretty mundane life if you ask me… I have a younger sister; she is an artist specializing in the Post Modern and Surreal… Now she leads a pretty interesting life throughout the bohemian circles… I am just a cog in the machine that is the State… You?”

"My father was a tank commander for the 2nd Armored. He served in the Korridan War of Independence, some mess where some communist seperatists blew a chunk off of Antarctica and claimed independence. When he got back, he met my mother, a manager of a little resturant in Southport. They married, and yours truly came out of it. Eventually, I graduated from Oured State University with a bachelors in Aviation Technology. I joined up and completed flight school by my 23rd birthday. For about 5 years after that, it was pretty peaceful, until we declared war on Kraven. About a year after that, here I am, sitting in an embassy, telling you all about it."

Kain glanced at his pocket watch...

"They are certainly taking their time..."

Amestria City (Central)

Liscel had had a tough day at the Ministry. Someone had lost track of a whole division of Armored Personnel Carriers. Idiots, how could one lose track of them, each was the size of a tank?! In Torontia the fighting with SF had escalated and thousands more where dead… Looks like tonight will be a Detachment night…

She entered her apartment building, the armed guard at the entranceway standing at attention…as he always did.

“Minister!”

Liscel checked her post box before she got on the elevator. Bills…a bunch of magazines that belonged in the garbage…a report from a subordinate working from home…and…a letter from Kahanistan!! Liscel stared at the address, it was from Nadia. Her fatigue melted away…

She fought the urge to open it on the spot and rushed up to her apartment. Once she had closed the door behind her, she rushed into her study and opened it carefully with a letter opener. She slowly read it out, and then smiled. Good, she received Mr. La Boe’tie…and she sent pictures, how thoughtful…

Liscel looked over the pictures of Nadia posing in a bikini, enjoying every one of them. Oh, that little tease, I am going to send you something special as well.

The letter also mentioned that the government of Kahanistan was having trouble maintaining law and order in Al-Bahr. That gave her the opportunity to further Amestrian/Kahanistan relations and send her response to Nadia by official Military channels, ensuring that it would arrive in Kahanistan in less then 24 hours.



From the Office of Deputy Vice Defense Minister Sara Liscel
To the Relevant Kahanistan Government Departments

It has come to our attention that there has been a substantial increase in crimes against order within the city of Al-Bahr. This has undoubtedly made life difficult for the returning citizens and hampered reconstruction. The Amestrian Ministry of Defense is willing to offer the assistance of 80,000 Amestrian Military Police to restore peace and stability to Al-Bahr and surrounding areas.

The document is signed both by Liscel and the Minister of Defense…
(Note: Liscels letter to Nadia is dispatched along with this one.)


Message to the Kahanistan Military Command
From: Vanessa Chloe, Director of the Amestrian Secret Service
Subject: Insurgent Operations against Kraven

It has come to our attention that Kahanistan Intelligence intends to launch an operation to assist rebel forces within Kraven. The Amestrian Secret Service wishes to dispatch two of its agents, Mireille Bouguet and Krika Yuumura, to assist in organizing insurrectionary activity and to observe the region. We wish for them to accompany a certain Lieutenant Colonel Nadia Sklenova as our profiles show she would be the most qualified in dealing and integrating with our personnel.

Signed Vanessa Chloe, Director of the Amestrian Secret Service

DEMOCRATIC SOVIET REPUBLIC OF KAHANISTAN
Ministry of the Interior
Ministry of Defense
Ministry of Foreign Affairs

To: Amestrian Deputy Vice Minister of Defense Sara Liscel
Amestrian Secret Service Director Vanessa Chloe

The Government of Kahanistan does indeed require military police in Al-Bahr, as well as the several new cities we are constructing.

We request that any Amestrian police deal with Kahanistan looters, rapists, and other criminals as you may arrest according to Kahanistan law, in other words, that they be handed over to Kahanistan jails to be tried and, if convicted, sentenced to prison, rather than being simply shot on sight. However, should your police be fired upon, you have permission to use whatever force is necessary to stop the attack.

As for your request to have your intelligence work with Colonel Sklenova, we will allow this. Hers is a highly classified mission, she is to train rebel forces in the use of Kahanistan weapons, including military aircraft. Are Misses Bouguet and Yuumura capable of assistance in this regard?

Signed,
Vladimir Zygonov, Minister of the Interior
General Marcellus Valens, Interim Defense Minister
Margaret Delray, Minister of Foreign Affairs

Meanwhile...

---

Al-Bahr, Kahanistan

A pretty, slender blonde woman of about 30 answered the door. She was about 5'5" (165 cm) and dressed in the navy blue uniform of a Kahanistan Republic Guard officer. Her sidearm was drawn, but held low, pointing toward the floor. She was apparently worried about the marauding looters and rape gangs that were stealing and raping with impunity, and shooting at the few police with M-16's and even grenade launchers.

"Hello..." she said nervously to the Velkyan soldiers at the door.

DEMOCRATIC SOVIET REPUBLIC OF KAHANISTAN
Ministry of the Interior
Ministry of Defense
Ministry of Foreign Affairs

To: Amestrian Deputy Vice Minister of Defense Sara Liscel
Amestrian Secret Service Director Vanessa Chloe

The Government of Kahanistan does indeed require military police in Al-Bahr, as well as the several new cities we are constructing.

We request that any Amestrian police deal with Kahanistan looters, rapists, and other criminals as you may arrest according to Kahanistan law, in other words, that they be handed over to Kahanistan jails to be tried and, if convicted, sentenced to prison, rather than being simply shot on sight. However, should your police be fired upon, you have permission to use whatever force is necessary to stop the attack.

As for your request to have your intelligence work with Colonel Sklenova, we will allow this. Hers is a highly classified mission, she is to train rebel forces in the use of Kahanistan weapons, including military aircraft. Are Misses Bouguet and Yuumura capable of assistance in this regard?

Signed,
Vladimir Zygonov, Minister of the Interior
General Marcellus Valens, Interim Defense Minister
Margaret Delray, Minister of Foreign Affairs


THE STATE OF AMESTRIA
Ministry of Defense

To: Vladimir Zygonov, Minister of the Interior
General Marcellus Valens, Interim Defense Minister
Margaret Delray, Minister of Foreign Affairs

The Amestrian Military Police will be conducting a standard Peacekeeping Occupation under Kahanistan Civil Law. They will be using tactics outlined in the Amestrian Army Field Manual. I assure you that extreme measures, such as 24-hour quarantines and the shooting of violators, are only employed in extreme circumstances.

The MP's will be deployed within the next 24-hours, please have facilities set aside for their use.

-Sara Liscel, Deputy Vice Minister of Defense


THE STATE OF AMESTRIA
Ministry of Foreign Affairs

To: Vladimir Zygonov, Minister of the Interior
General Marcellus Valens, Interim Defense Minister
Margaret Delray, Minister of Foreign Affairs

Agents Bouquet and Yuumura are trained professionals in various firearms and explosives. They are quite capable of assisting Lt. Colonel Sklenova in the training of the anti-Kraven rebels.

-Vanessa Chloe, Director of the Amestrian Secret Service

The officer looked at the young women. He then noticed her drawn weapon. He shouldered his own rifle.

"Lt. Col. Nadia Sklenova, I presume?"

Meanwhile, in the Velkyan Embassy, a tall man wearing a jet black business suit walked over to Sion and Kain. His tag read Ambsr. Hartman.

"2nd Lt. Davenport, your dropship is ready to sprint you to the Eagle's Claw. Sargeant, thank you for the escort, we appreciate your kindness. Sion must depart, goodbye."

Sion walked with the ambassador to the elevator. He waved goodbye to Kain, saying "I'll catch you some other time, Kain!"

They made it to the dropship, a Diplomatic Corps Pelican, painted navy blue. The pilot yelled back to him.

"Davenport, strap up, we're heading over to your carrier at full speed!"

The dropship's engines began to fire up, and it began to rise. Before dustoff, the ambassador threw a small envelope into the dropship. Sion, holding a rail with one hand, opened it. He squinted to read it in the shaky cabin.

Bill, 2nd Lt. Sion H. Davenport]


1x SiTech Alarm Clock.............$12.00


Payable on Return to Velkya

Sion laughed, and threw the bill into the engine, as the dropship closed it's doors and screamed to 400 knots towards his home.

The woman retreated behind her door, taking cover when she saw the rifle suddenly move toward the man's shoulder. "Yes, I am... what do you want with me? And who are you?"

(She's a bit jittery after finding out that marauding gangs roam the streets of her home city, raping and looting with impunity.)

Amestrian Military Movements

Having received permission from the relevant Kahanistan Ministries the Amestrian Ministry of Defense carries out its promised deployment. Within 24 hours, four Divisions of Amestrian Military Police under the command of General Jean Breda are flown into Al-Bahr. They set up base in the facilities provided by the Kahanistan government and immediately begin policing/peacekeeping activities. The MP’s enter into the most disorderly areas of Al-Bahr and saturate those areas with patrols and checkpoints. Commander Jean Breda requests the authority from the Kahanistan government to perform house-to-house searches for weapons in problem areas.

Once Al-Bahr is secure, the MP Divisions will spread out to securing outlying areas. The whole operation is supervised by the Amestrian Ministry of Peace.

The Kahanistan Government grants the Amestrian request to perform house-to-house searches for weapons in problem areas. However, owning a gun is not itself illegal in Kahanistan, so merely finding weapons is not grounds in and of itself to arrest the occupant. In fact, gun sales are up with the raping and looting and burning and general mayhem, as the people don't trust the police to do the job.

Some vigilante groups had formed, but they were no better armed than the looters, some of whom are using captured Freekish weapons. Donald Drummond, mayor of Al-Bahr, warns the Amestrian military police to be careful and expect grenade attacks. He also mentions that the Kahanistan soil in the countryside needs to be cleansed of the hundreds of tons of VX nerve agent that was liberally deployed by both sides in the Freekish invasion.

Commander Jean Breda requests that the Kahanistan Government provide a list of the weapons that are legal under current Kahanistan civil law and a list of the weapons that are illegal under Kahanistan civil law so that the Amestrian Military Police can perform their duties with the utmost efficiency.

The Amestrian military police are provided with a list of weapons that are restricted in Kahanistan. It mostly consists of things like grenades, rocket launchers, and weapons of mass destruction. Millions of citizens own AK-47's, M-16's, Galil rifles, FAMAS and OICW's, among other common assault weapons.

General Breda looked over the list provided by the Kahanistan government. No wonder they have problems with crime and disorder, here it is legal to own a small arsenal... Well I should expect nothing less in a Middle Eastern nation surrounded by hostile neighbors...


Amestrian Military Movements

The Amestrian Military Police begin methodical house-to-house searches in problem areas, confiscating all contraband weapons and arresting those in procession of them.

OOC: The Velkyan 4th Airborne (there's 50,000 total in Kahanistan, with 3,000 in the Al Bahr area are also acting as peacekeepers, so order your troops not to fire on Velkyan soldiers.

Oh yeah, Kahani, it's slung on his shoulder, not pointed at Nadia.

The soldier gave her a calm look and gave her a salute.

"I'm Master Sargeant Keith Richards of the 4th Allied Union Airborne Division. You and your superior officers have been summoned to a meeting onboard the V.S.S. Eagle's Claw to discuss the future of Kraven and it's resistence. The meeting starts in (look's at his watch) 42 hours. Should you have anymore questions, there is a Velkyan Firebase on 85th Street and 4th Avenue. Once the hour arrives, a LAV will come by to pick you up at this location and bring you to the port for transit to the carrier."

The Amestrian military police are provided with a list of weapons that are restricted in Kahanistan. It mostly consists of things like grenades, rocket launchers, and weapons of mass destruction. Millions of citizens own AK-47's, M-16's, Galil rifles, FAMAS and OICW's, among other common assault weapons.

OOC: You let your citizens own OICWs?!

You are nuts.

Sklenova holstered her weapon and returned the salute, smiling nervously. "Sorry about the scare, but in case you haven't noticed, this city is in anarchy. Our police are barely enough to keep the businesses safe from the looters, gangs are going door to door raping women and shooting people for fun. I thought they might have come for me. Plus, they've ransacked some of the smaller armories and now they're shooting rockets at police helicopters and grenade launchers at the police."

"Sergeant... Richards? Well, I'm not normally on edge like this, but this is not a normal city." She wrote down the address of the firebase and the time of the meeting in her address book.

After the sergeant left, Nadia sat down, waiting for the new furniture and bed to arrive, it was expected to arrive today. In the meantime, she thought about what everyone who had fought Kraven troops had said... about looking into the glowing red eyes of a trooper causing even hardened troops to shudder in fear. Sklenova was not a hardened soldier, her combat experience being almost entirely in the air.

---

Meanwhile, the Al-Bahr police gave a broadcast that the Velkyan and Amestrian governments were helping to quell the lawless gangs of thugs who were rampaging through the city destroying and stealing everything in sight. They also stated that the city was now 70% rebuilt.

"No problem, miss. Take care of yourself."

The Mstr. Srgt. reached into the LAV and handed Nadia a LAR-10 (5.56mm AP carbine) and a few clips.

"Keep this, my treat for the looters."

With that, he climbed in, and the LAV speed off into the night, responded to a call for back-up from a pinned sqaud near the docks.

OOC: Velkyan troopers think of the red eyes as a bulls-eye.

Shoot it and score!

Nadia looked over the weapon, disassembling and reassembling it a few times for the next two hours to try to learn how it worked. I might take it to Kraven with me if I can find some good 5.56mm ammo for it. AP works best against Capitol Police.

She had to show her neighbor under her apartment this weapon. Franco Torres was an 84-year-old gun nut who collected numerous weapons and was paranoid that "the Commies" would try to take his guns. He had survived the Freekish invasion by eating rats and, it was rumored, even cannibalizing dead Freekish troops. He denied that, but admitted he had eaten rats, snakes, and other pests that were stealing his more normal food. He was a tiny little man, even smaller than Nadia, but he had been an officer in the Imperial Marines and was quite tough, and some said, crazy. After all, any man of 84 who still takes two FAMASes to Freekish Sentinels would have to be nuts...

Franco would have to wait until she got back from Kraven. Nadia set the weapon on the floor in her bedroom, then went down to the mailboxes to check her mail.

Inside Nadia's mailbox was an Official Letter from the Amestrian Ministry of Defense.

Nadia sifted through her mail. "Bill... paycheck... penis enlargement ad..." "Don't they check the names on these mailing lists?" she thought as she continued looking at her mail. "Free SpamGod 2000 CD-ROM? What is this crap?"

Only a few more letters to go. One promised her a healthy set of 36D's if she took some weird pill three times a day. Finally, after sorting through six million ads for various types of goat porn, she found something interesting.

The envelope read, "Amestrian Ministry of Defense." Sara.

Nadia took the mail to her apartment, all the way back to the 59th floor. She opened the Amestrian's letter. Speaking of which, I really need to read that Amestrian 101 book I got on the ship. Hopefully this is written in English.

There were several pictures inside the envelope. The most prominent one was a suggestive photo of Liscel sitting on a rumpled bed. She was dressed in a lose black Chemise, which tastefully displayed her lush cleavage and hips. She was wearing light sensual makeup and ruby red lipstick. Her hair was let out. Liscel smiled at the camera in a manner that suggested cuteness and innocence, yet also hinted at debauchery.

The other pictures were a little less suggestive…being assorted pictures of Liscels apartment. One of her study, which was cluttered with assorted books and magazines. The other was of the view from Liscel apartment. Based on the picture, it appeared Liscel lived very high up and her residence was at the very center of Central.

Dear Nadia,

To be honest this letter, although delivered in an official capacity, is purely personal. When I was made aware in your previous letter of the lawlessness plaguing Al-Bahr, I contacted your government on providing Amestrian Military Police to aid the embattled police force. I took the opportunity to send this letter by official channels as the post office takes too long…one of the perks of being a Minister.

By the way, I will soon be a Vice Minister. The current Vice Minister is retiring so he can spend more time with his family. With the Socialists running scared and the Social Democrats considering the possibility of a Coalition with our party, they are not about to block me. I am finally moving up.

I really enjoyed those pictures you sent me and so I decided to send you a little something as well. I hope you enjoy it ;), and if not…at least you can tell me how I look in that Chemise.

I had a dream about you the other night and I know that sounds cliché… I was sitting on a bus and you were asleep on my shoulder… What have you dreamed of late…?

I hope the violence has not prevented you from enjoying what time you have in your home before being sent off to war. We live in a war torn world, you and I. There has not been a week in which somewhere in the world violent death has reined. The war with that thing called Kraven, the fighting in Torontia, the chaos in your home city…it is never ending. La paix est une illusion, de même que l'idée que la violence conge Sie satisfait. La violence est comme un feu, Sie appréciez-le comme vous le commandez, mais quand il grille Sie sont laissés rincé et non atteint... et si Sie perdez la commande d'elle, comment elle brûle*… I am reminded of a story from the Mémoires d'un voyageur…I will send it along…

I want to be held by you again…your touch, your voice, your warmth. I know you feel the same way, about having a special friend so you are never alone, someone who will allow you to float. Someone to prevent you from drowning, for without love one dies…and I do not mean that cheap love you see on TV or in those dime store supermarket novels. I mean that which allows one to rise above all lower beings and things and proclaim, "I am human and I reject the notion that I am somehow lesser then the futile universe, which through blind chance produced us." If there is anything I can do to help you, please do not hesitate to ask. I want you to be safe.

♥Love♥
♥Your Good Friend Sara Liscel♥


At the end of the letter, there was once again a kiss in red lipstick.

There were two more items in the envelope. One was an official letter all made out with Liscels return address. Sending a reply with that would ensure its speedy passage through Official Channels. The other item was what appeared to be a page ripped from a book…


Mémoires d'un voyageur, chapitre VIII

Un jour beau en tant que voyageur prenait une coupure dans forêts, a Behälter passé près. "pardonnez-moi voyageur," il a indiqué. "Ayez Sie par hasard vu un réservoir passer à travers hier?”

Der Behälter a commencé son conte. Der Kapitän des Behälters a été frappé par une balle parasite et avec son dernier souffle dieing publié der Behälterendrunde Auftrag. "chassez vers le bas et détruisez le noir Behälter avec trois lignes rouges sur son bon côté et l'image de a renard blanc de son côté gauche.”

"j'avais recherché cela Behälter depuis, "il a indiqué."ayez Sie vu lui?”

"je n'ai pas," étais ma réponse.

"je vois... Alors je continuerai ma recherche.Je détruirai il, cela que je.”

Le voyageur observe der Behälter rôle loin, notant trois lignes rouges du côté droit de son canon et un renard blanc peint du côté gauche. Sa recherche continuerait.


(*Translated into English: Peace is an illusion, as is the idea that violence will leave you satisfied. Violence is like a fire, you enjoy it as you control it, but when it burns out you are left flushed and unfulfilled…and if you lose control of it, how it burns…)

(Here is the story translated into English) Memoirs of a Traveler, Chapter VIII

One fine day as the traveler was taking a break in the forests, a tank passed by. “Pardon me traveler,” it said. “Have you by chance seen a tank pass through here?”

The tank began its tale. The captain of the tank was hit by a stray bullet and with his last dieing breath issued the tanks final order. “Hunt down and destroy the black tank with three red lines on its right side and the picture of a white fox on its left side.”

“I have been looking for that tank ever since,” it said. “Have you seen it?”

“I haven’t,” was the travelers reply.

“I see… Then I shall continue my search. I will destroy it, that I will.”

The traveler watched the tank role away, noticing three red lines on the right of its canon and a white fox painted on the left. Its search would continue.

The Pelican landed on the massive carrier's decks. Crew scurried about, as sqaudrons of aircraft launched, headed for Kahanistan. Sion walked out, running along the flight deck towards an officer in a flight suit calling his name. It was his sqaudron leader.

"Hey, Davenport, glad to see you survived Halo!"

Sion smiled slyly, yelling over the din of the aircraft.

"I am too, hows it hanging?"

"Great. Even better, it's your turn to fly CAP today."

Sion's smile dropped.

"Awww, you set it up!"

The officer looked up, grinning.

"Get dressed, I want you in the air in 30 minutes."

Sion ran to the elevator, and made his way to his locker. Grabbing his flight suit, he placed his helmet on. A great white skull grinned on the top, and the black words "Reaper" shown brightly. After putting on his gear, he moved into the hanger. A mechanic greeted him.

"Sion, good to see you back, your fighters right here."

(OOC: Here's a pic of the Ixiom)

http://homepage2.nifty.com/sparrow2/aircraft/ffr31.sylphid3.jpg

Sion and the mech walked to a secluded part of the hanger, and approached a slick MR-4 "Ixiom" fighter. Opening the canopy, he climbed in. Securing himself, he turned on it's systems. A tow car caught the craft, towing it to the forward elevator. It rose, the bright morning sun catching the composite canopy. He was towed to the EM catapult, and settled in.

"Delta 03, cleared to launch, over."

Sion looked straight ahead.

"Alright baby, I started you up, let's hear ya purr."

He pushed the catapult switch, and pushed the throttle.

3 seconds...

That time period passed, and the catapult activated. Sion was slammed back in his seat at the extreme G-Forces. The aircraft screamed off Flight Deck C, flying off into the blue.

"WOOOOOOO YEAH!"

He pulled the stick towards him, passing the craft into a sharp climb. The carrier was a tiny dot in a vast blue sea in seconds.

He was home free.

OOC: This occurs 1 day before Nadia's arrival.

Nadia's last night at home before going to war...

Nadia read Liscel's letter, compared it to her Amestrian 101 book to get a reasonable working translation of it, and took about three hours to translate the page into English. It was about midnight when she had finished it, and she had a feeling of achievement after finishing.

After the hours on the Amestrian, she wrote back to Liscel.

Sara,

By the time you receive this, I'll be on a ship toward Kraven. We don't have an efficient system for getting mail to troops over there and morale is terrible, so even if you write me back I probably won't get it.

I noticed that you live on the high floors of your apartment. I live on the 59th floor, right on top of an elderly gun nut who's paranoid about "Commies" trying to take his guns. He doesn't have anything that would be illegal in Kahanistan, but he'd be really interested in this LAR-10 that I got from a Velkyan soldier. The Kahanistan police are starting to recruit more people and the vigilante groups are in decline as many of them are being recruited into the police. I'm no longer being waken up in the night by grenade launcher fire, but some shooting between the gangs and the various authorities is still taking place.

I got an Amestrian 101 book on the ship before I left, it's kind of a struggle for me, but I managed to translate that page you sent me. It took about three hours.

Nadia.

She included a picture of her in a light blue sundress, wearing the ribbon Liscel had given her during Project Alpha, and pictures of the view from her own apartment. The people and cars looked like ants. She also included pictures of the LAR-10 she had mentioned, and used the Ministry envelope Liscel had given her.

After that, she went down to the local gun shop and got five thousand rounds of 5.56mm AP ammunition. It was 1 AM, but the gun shop was still open to handle the increased sales to people worried about looters... and sales to the looters themselves. One man looked Nadia over but slunk away as he noticed the military insignia on her uniform and the military issue sidearm at her belt. She continued to practice with the LAR-10 at the shooting range until the sun came up, then went back to her apartment to be picked up by the Velkyans to be taken to their ship.

She made last-minute packing checks: Detachment from the Human Condition. Check. Civilian radio. Check. Winter combat uniform and spares. Check. New sidearm. (They switched to the M9 Beretta.) Check. Four changes of civilian clothes. Check. Flak jacket. Check. LAR-10. Check. 2,000 rounds of ammo. Check. Soap and other hygiene items. Check. A week's worth of Middle Eastern MRE's. Check. Helmet. Check. Documents. Check. Kilo of C4 for cooking. Check. Sleeping bag. Check. Amestrian 101: The Moron's Guide. Check. Liscel's letters. Check.

They showed up to take her to the ship right as she had finished packing.

The same Sargeant showed up at the door. Behind him sat a parked LRV, with two more soldiers inside. One leaned against the side, while the other manned the rear chaingun. Overhead, a Luna gunship passed over, it's chaingun puffing out smoke and lead at a few looters that had damaged a Helix light tank with a AT launcher. Knocking on the door, he too scanned the horizon.

"Ready to go, miss?"

OOC: Here's a pic of the LAR-10, Amestria.

http://img16.exs.cx/img16/9011/BattleRifleSMGMix.jpg

"Yes," said Colonel Sklenova. She was dragging a very heavy suitcase, the largest she could find. It probably weighed almost as much as she did. (She was only 115 pounds.)

After the long descent from the 59th floor, she wheeled it out to the LRV. It was a struggle, but she managed to load the heavy suitcase into the LRV. Tight squeeze... but I've been in worse.

Kahanistan,
Al-Bahr Airport

Special Agents Mireille Bouguet and Krika Yuumura arrived at Al-Bahr’s international airport. With them were two additional agents, Marot and Sade, both tasked with carrying the baggage.

Mireille was tall at least five feet eight. She was blond with long hair and dressed in a conservative business suit. She was about 42 years old.

Krika was completely different in appearance. She was not of Amestrian Ethnicity. She was clearly Southeast Asian. She had tan skin and dark hair. Krika was also quite small, about five feet; Mireille towered over him. She was dressed in casual clothes and appeared to be about 36.

They contacted the Kahanistan government by airport phone about being picked up.

The Sargeant helped Nadia load her baggage into the waiting LRV, and opened the passenger side door for her. Once she had boarded, he climbed into the driver's seat. The other soldier, a corporal, stepped up into the "gun pit". Once everyone was inside, he hit the gas, heading for the Velkyan Firebase Romeo, which was several miles away, where Nadia would board her dropship to arrive at the carrier. The drone of distant gunfire permeated the silence of the otherwise quite scetor of the city, as they made their way to the firebase.

Two minutes after the call, a Merkava IV MBT arrived at the airport to pick up the Amestrians and take them to the Velkyan ship.

Four Imperial Marines in full tactical gear poured out of the tank. Two had OICW's and two had M-16's. They hastily herded the agents into the back of the tank.

"Sorry about the haste and all the big guns," said the tank commander as he pulled out of the airport. "This place is dangerous," he said as a rioter's grenade launcher narrowly missed the tank and he floored it out of the airport.

---

Meanwhile, Nadia boarded the dropship with the Velkyans, waiting to go to the carrier to meet with Kahanistan General Lavalle and the Velkyan commanders.

The co-pilot of the dropship looked back at Nadia. She looked at bit nervous. She called out to the young officer.

"First time in a dropship?"

"Yep." Sklenova nodded. "We don't have flying warships in Kahanistan. We experimented with the concept for some time, but we only made a few dozen of them and decided that they were too expensive to run at our technological level. We only used them in a few battles, lost quite a few in Jenrak. The rest were given away or scrapped."

"But I don't feel any different from being in an ordinary ship, or even a MiG at cruising speed," she added. "I've been flying for years, even though I don't look like it." A lot of people didn't believe she was military. While women had served alongside men for decades, the military was still widely viewed, especially among older officers, as largely a man's world, especially the officer corps.

(Here (http://img495.imageshack.us/img495/5545/fwcmdr6zh.jpg) she is, in case you didn't notice the link in the first post. She'll be in her winter combat uniform, similar colors but with more padding in it. She's also not going to be wearing her medals.)

OOC: The Pelican is a VTOL transport craft (AKA dropship) pic:

http://www.the-junkyard.net/images/gallery/halo/gallery6.jpg

Used for basically the same role as a UH-60 Blackhawk is today.

IC: "An airforce officer, not too bad for a women of your age."

The dropship approached the carrier. The trimaran hulled beast lay 600 meters long, and 400 wide. Nadia could make out aircraft waiting to launch, and crew running along the decks. Their escort, an AV-13 Luna, cruised alongside them. She heard the controller speaking to the pilot.

"Romeo 9, cleared to land on Pad 21, over."

"Roger that, control, touching down in 5 minutes."

Gliding gently towards the deck, it touched down, and the rear cargo door opened. The copilot called out to Nadia.

"See that man with the white jacket? He's the Marine captain here on the ship, he'll bring you to the meeting. Have a pleasent voyage, Colonel!"

The Pelican dusted off, leaving Nadia and her luggage on the noisy deck of the carrier.

Two minutes after the call, a Merkava IV MBT arrived at the airport to pick up the Amestrians and take them to the Velkyan ship.

Four Imperial Marines in full tactical gear poured out of the tank. Two had OICW's and two had M-16's. They hastily herded the agents into the back of the tank.

"Sorry about the haste and all the big guns," said the tank commander as he pulled out of the airport. "This place is dangerous," he said as a rioter's grenade launcher narrowly missed the tank and he floored it out of the airport.


Krika calmly shrugged off the haste and explosions. "Where used to this, it at times is standard fair..."

Mireille spoke, with a slightly sarcastic demeanor. "Has Kahanistan ever heard of gun control?"

"We can't have very strict gun control, criminals will always get them, and the police are ill funded," replied the tank commander. "So where is this standard fare? We don't normally have this kind of anarchy, it's because the city was destroyed and survivors returned and started stealing everything of value. Then people got their guns out and put signs that said, 'YOU LOOT - WE SHOOT' up and the looters raided the armories... so now we have a war zone on our own turf while we're fielding armies from Xirnium to Psyker Bearzerkers and now Kraven, and possibly even Parthia. It's hell out here."

---
Aboard the carrier

Nadia walked up to the Velkyan Marine captain. A Kahanistan man was there too. About fifty years old, about average frame, and clearly Middle Eastern, this man was wearing a Republic Guard uniform with two stars.

"Colonel Sklenova." The man was not asking, he knew who she was. "I am Major General Mustafa Lavalle." He was the man who had given her orders for Kraven.

"General Lavalle... I remember now, you commanded the Kahanistan Air Force at the first battle of Kravonika. (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=452059) Quite unusual tactics General Maximus had your forces using."

"Hardly," snarled the general. "General Maximus is a moron. He sent me out there with 150 MiG's and 250 refuelers with no carrier, and we lost over 90% of our planes. Several dozen survivors are believed to have escaped into the slums of Kravonika to survive. Said he was planning to lure the Kraven Navy out to be bombed... thinking they'd hunt for a carrier that wasn't there."

General Lavalle continued. "I thought I would die that day... and I would have, if I hadn't been picked up by a Xirnium warship."

Sklenova smiled. "And I was nearly killed by the Xirnium soldiers..."

"A Xigrat veteran?"

"Naturally." She couldn't think of any other battles where Kahanistan and Xirnium had fought each other. "I was the air commander there."

"I see." The two officers then went with the Velkyan Marine Captain to the meeting.

As they made their way to the stairway to the lower decks, they ducked as a MR-4 roared towards the carrier deck. The fighter touched down on the deck, a screeching noise accompanying it. The sleek aircraft bounced as it slowed to a stop in front of the trio, as the pilot disengaged and steered his craft unto an elevator with the aid of a carrier taxi. Once positioned, he jumped out of his aircraft, thanking the crew chief, and walked towards the trio removed his helmet, releaving a mane of longish dark blonde hair, along with dark grey eyes. Saluting the captian as he walked by, Sion swore he recognized the woman that was with them.

Now I've got to go change and go to some shitty meeting...

Sion walked to his locker to change into a spare BDU as the trio walked down the staircase into the main decks. They crossed through Hanger A, stocked full of dozens of aircraft and ground crew. As they were walking though the hanger towards the briefing room, the captain turned to the two Kahanistani officers. "So, what do you think of our humble home?", referrring to the massive carrier.

Nadia turned her head toward the captain. "It's the biggest ship I've ever seen."

Lavalle nodded in agreement. His expression made it clear that he just wanted to get the meeting over with. He was not interested in making small talk.

As they walked, Nadia thought the young man who saluted the captain looked familiar... "Lieutenant?"

"We can't have very strict gun control, criminals will always get them, and the police are ill funded," replied the tank commander. "So where is this standard fare? We don't normally have this kind of anarchy, it's because the city was destroyed and survivors returned and started stealing everything of value. Then people got their guns out and put signs that said, 'YOU LOOT - WE SHOOT' up and the looters raided the armories... so now we have a war zone on our own turf while we're fielding armies from Xirnium to Psyker Bearzerkers and now Kraven, and possibly even Parthia. It's hell out here."


Mireille was unsympathetic.

“The first duty of a State is to maintain a monopoly on the legitimate use of force. A State which is unable to maintain such a monopoly risks becoming a failed State…"

She took out a sliver pocket watch and glanced at it...

"When will we arrive at the aircraft that is supposed to ferry us to the meeting on the carrier?”

The tank commander seemed nonplussed. "We'll be at the helipad in three minutes, then a Blackhawk will take us to the Velkyan ship in two hours."

Sion looked back, waving his helmet.

Aha! The Colonel from the Apollo!

"Hey, Colonel, I'm a bit busy right now, perhaps we could reminisce later?"

Sion looked forwards, boarding an elevator down to his locker. Meanwhile, the group continued on, reaching the end of the hanger. "We'll have to board an elevator." The door was slowly closing, and Sion punched in the deck number.

Can't wait to take a shower, man.

The Captain called for him to hold the elevator. Sion grudgingly agreed, and hit the release button. The trio moved to the doorway, packing the small crew elevator. Sion smiled, even though he was getting a bit angry. "Hey there, cap'n."

Nadia smiled at Sion. "After the meeting?"

She turned to the Captain. "Captain, what kinds of facilities does this ship have?"

Lavalle looked at her. I was told she was not the kind to relax, that's why I picked her. Maybe she's mellowing out...

Sion smiled back a bit and winked. "Alright then, if you want." The captain looked over to Nadia. "The ship has a few a spare cabins that belonging to pilots that vacated the ship to serve on the mainland. We've got athletics’ deck and an R&R center as well, if you want to rest a bit." At the moment, the elevator stopped, and opened to a long hallway leading to the briefing room. Sion looked at his flight suit.

Looks like this will have to do.

The four soldiers walked to the briefing room, opening the door. A coliseum shaped, auditorium sized room greeted them, with a large hologram projector situated in the center. Pilots and officers from both nations were seated, and more arrived as time went on. They took their seats, with Sion leaning against a pillar in the room, helmet in one hand. The briefing was about to begin.

The tank commander seemed nonplussed. "We'll be at the helipad in three minutes, then a Blackhawk will take us to the Velkyan ship in two hours."

Mireille groaned.

"Where will we be staying during that two hour wait...?" Here I am... I hope this Nadia Sklenova is easy to get along with...

The tank commander pulled up to the helipad. "The chopper will take two hours to get there." He pointed to the chopper. "The pilot's been waiting, he'll land you on the Velkyan ship."

A two hour flight?

Mireille could not help but groan again.

Kirika seemed to take it all in stride, the expression on her face never changing.

"Don't worry Mireille, I brought along a miniature chess set..."

Mireille glanced over at Kirika and smiled...

"Commander, lead the way."

The marines crawled out of the tank and led the Amestrians to the chopper. "Pilot, there's a Velkyan carrier heading for Kraven. I want you to catch up to it and land these agents on it." The tank commander waved as the Amestrians were escorted aboard the chopper.

Mireille and Krika sat down next to each other. Marot and Sade sat down across from them after storing their luggage.

Krika took a miniature chess set out of her pocket and began to set the pieces up on the magnetic board as they waited to take off...

The Blackhawk took off as soon as the Amestrians had boarded. It headed northwest at full speed, and would land on the Velkyan ship at 7:00 PM Kahanistan time. When it landed, Colonel Sklenova would be in a meeting with her superior and several Velkyans. The pilot didn't know anything about the mission, though...

The helicopter was over the sea now, its radar seeking the Velkyan ship.

Krika had always been the better chess player and seldom lost to Mireille… In fact Mireille had resigned herself to defeat the moment Krika had suggested a game… Her mind was just too busy on other things…

I was shown her file, I understand the rational… She is a person of interest whose advancement will benefit our State. It is just that this Sklenova seems so insignificant, one Republican Guard officer among thousands, one of her only distinctions being that dubious honor for destroying a terrorist camp… I saw the intelligence report on it, hero…yeah right! Chronic blunderer more like it, hero by propaganda only… Then her file looked brand new, as if it had just been created yesterday. And why send a team from Noir, Bouclier usually handles such assignments. There is something I am not being told, some secret reason why this Sklenova is important… Perhaps I will figure it out when I finally meet her…

Krika took Mireille’s queen. “Checkmate…”

Mireille began to reset the board. “Want to play again…?”

About midway through the flight, the pilot opened a channel to the V.S.S. Eagle's Claw.

"Velkyan warship, this is a Kahanistan Intelligence helicopter. We request permission to deposit four allied agents on your vessel bound for Kraven."

The Blackhawk was still about an hour away from the Velkyan warship, but was seeking clearance to land the agents. They wanted to avoid any incidents from landing them on the ship.

"Kahanistan Intelligence helicopter, this is Control Tower 1, you have permission to land on Flight Deck A (port most deck), over."

Meanwhile at the briefing room on the Eagle's Claw.

The Admiral walked to the podium. He pressed a button, and the holo-projector sprang to life, while the lights dimmed. A large ISAF logo appeared on the projector. He spoke up, saying, "Welcome, brave soldiers of ISAF. As you all know, we are here for one purpose. He looked around. "The annihilation of the evil Kraven Corporation and the freedom of its populace." He pressed another button. A map of Kraven appeared. Three red arrows appeared near Kravonika, each with an AMF flag next to it. "These are the current routes that allied Automagfreek armies are taking in capturing Kraven. Sadly, they are targeting civilians in response to chemical attacks by Kraven with an unknown bio toxin. Meanwhile," a blue arrow with the ISAF flag next to it appeared, point at Kravonika from the ocean. "A massive ISAF air raid on Kraven military targets, such as birthing centers, bunkers, tank depots, and artillery positions is currently in action. As these raids wind down, we shall have complete air superiority over Kraven, and will proceed to open up the northern front with Kraven. The High Seas Fleet (appearing as a small group of blue ships with a Velkyan flag next to them) will bombard the enemy coastline, while its carrier provides air support. Our marine division will attempt to gain control of a suitable beachhead, and once that has occurred, we will land our main infantry and armor forces, sweeping through Kraven in a blitz attack towards northern Kravonika."

"While our main forces head towards Kraven, a ISAF special operations squad lead by Colonel Nadia Skelkove will penetrate Kraven airspace and land in the slum, training the resistance there to disrupt Kraven supply and communications. She and her team will insert via Helios Stealth Dropship, and then link up with a Halo Force team that has inserted several nights ago. Once there, she is to make contact with a 'leader' of the resistance, and train them with small arms, explosives, first aid, and such."

He closed the screen and breathed in.

“This mission will start in one week. The fate of the Kraven people depends on your actions of soldiers and pilots like yourselves, do not let them down.

Good luck, brave soldiers of ISAF.”

With that, the lights came back on, and people started to file out of the briefing room. Sion got up, and began to walk out himself, to go change.

Time to strike back at those fuckers for what they did to Delta...

The Kahanistan helicopter containing the Amestrians landed on the flight deck of the Velkyan carrier.

Meanwhile, in the meeting room...

Nadia left the room with the others. She turned to Sion.

"You still wanted to talk to me after the meeting?"

Sion looked back at her.

God must not want me to change.

"Sure, why not? How's it going...Nadia, right?"

Nadia smiled. "You remembered."

"Anyway, I wasn't in Kahanistan during the Freekish invasion, but I remember that civilians were targeted by the Freeks there."

"I'm afraid that the Kraven resistance might be targeted by the Sentinels too like any Kraven civilian. Not only that, but the people in Kravonika, whom we're trying to recruit into the resistance. The Kahanistan Government has given NBC suits to many of the Kraven civilians, and condemned the Freekish policy of total war but I haven't heard how effective any of that has been."

Sion and Nadia walked towards the empty elevator, conversing.

"From what I hear, the Freeks intend to raze Kravonika to the ground with heavy bombers."

Sklenova frowned. "What do you think we should do? Kahanistan doesn't have enough ships to evacuate the people, and many of them are probably infected by the bioweapons both sides are throwing at each other... I'd hate it if we ended up doing in Kravonika what the Amestrians are doing in Torontia... with quarantine lines and shooting violators..."

It was clear she was personally opposed to the measures being taken in Torontia. "We're going to Kraven to help the people... AMF is there to destroy them. If we try to stop AMF... they'll attack us."

"I heard that Kahanistan imported hundreds of nuclear weapons... but I still feel we're in a very nasty situation. Kraven's led virtually their entire population to their deaths..." Her voice was starting to shake. She stepped into the elevator.

Mireille and Krika emerged from the Blackhawk while Marot and Sade got the bags. Mireille surveyed the deck...

"Ok, where finally here... Can we be directed to our contact?"

"It's a great fucking mess; really, Kraven is simply trying to make alienate ISAF from AMF because of its Bonesplitter Doctrine. My guess is that ISAF will try to occupy as much of the Kravonikan slums as possible, so to preserve them from attack."

Sion looked at Nadia. She was visibly shaken. He put his hand on her shoulder as the elevator began it’s descent.

"Ignorance is bliss."

A huge black bodybuilder looking man in the black uniform of Kahanistan Military Intelligence and a Republic Guard captain's rank insignia eyed the Amestrians. This man was nearly seven feet tall and weighed about 350 pounds.

The huge intelligence officer finally spoke, in a low, intimidating voice. "Are you the Amestrian agents?" The captain was apparently the Amestrians' contact with Kahanistan Intelligence. He was the only one who knew the Amestrians' mission, though not the entire story, and Sklenova's orders.

Meanwhile, Nadia was still talking to Sion.

"Will we try to occupy Kravonika itself? General Lavalle said that the resistance would be trained for that, but by the time we train them, the city will probably be destroyed, along with the Kraven people we're trying to recruit." Her eyes were misting over but her voice was less shaky. I never thought I'd feel like this, but I'm actually looking forward to going now. I need to help these people.

Mireille looked up at the huge man in a disinterested manner. "I am not impressed. I've seen bigger..."

"You little liar," Krika interrupted.

"Am not," Mireille retorted, "remember our mission to Pogotá, there was that fish egg merchant with the hooked nose..."

"Oh yeah..."

Mireille turned back to the captain. "Is the black uniform supposed to be scary...? A Military Intelligence Officer dressed in black, I have never seen anything like it before, how original... Now Captain, if you are done trying to terrify us could you take us Lieutenant Colonel Sklenova please..."

The intelligence agent pulled out his radio. "Colonel Sklenova, about four intelligence agents here, seems pretty important, they're on the top deck."

Her voice came back over the radio. Was she depressed about something else now? "I'll be there."

Meanwhile, after the elevator stopped, Nadia turned to Sion. "I just got a call from Intel, I'll be back after I'm finished with them."

She went back onto the elevator and went to the ship's top deck. There, she was greeted by five intelligence agents, four Amestrians and the biggest Intel officer she had ever seen.

Mireille took out her pocket watch and under the pretext of checking the time subtly opened it... On the lid, there was a picture of Sklenova. That’s her!

Mireille extended her hand. "I am Special Agent Bouguet of the Amestrian Secret Service. To my right is Special Agent Yuumura and behind me our Agents Marot and Sade...

Krika raised her right hand and waved. "Hi..."

Mireille continued. "We are here to aid you in anti-Kraven insurrectionary activity."

Nadia smiled and shook hands with the four agents. When she got to Bouguet, she looked her over closely... Agent Bouguet... Is she by any chance related to Sara's aide... Aela Bouguet? "Lieutenant Colonel Nadia Sklenova, Kahanistan Republic Guard."

"Well, I can certainly use whatever assistance I can get with regard to insurrectionary activity... I really don't know where to begin, I don't have a lot of experience in this matter... the closest thing I've done was when I was in Xirnium, and my wing was flying over concentrations of civilians, we'd planned to deceive them into thinking we were going to help bomb the civilians and we dropped spies instead."

She was pretty sure she saw looks of horror on the agents' faces, so she explained. "Back then, the God-Emperor was psychotic and trading his people for nukes to use to kill the rest of his people. A convoy came down with, I think, 30 10-megaton bombs, disassembled for transport, we were going to track them and destroy the bases and they were going to give us 300,000 people who were going to be admitted as refugees... but the convoy commander's been a bit of a renegade, the border patrol gave her some crap and she blew a guard's head off, started a battle."

"Anyway, the spies began trying to organize partisan revolts and some of them were tracking the nukes... this is the closest I ever came to intelligence work before, and I was just inserting them."

"Yes, I know...and what a spectacular failure it was... Can we discuss such matters inside, I just love standing out on this open deck in the cold wind..."

Mireille's face, particularly her nose, chin, lips and cheeks resembled Aela by no small degree. However, there were significant differences between the two, while Aela was small and petite, Mirecille by comparison was tall and full figured. Aela had short black hair and brown eyes while Mirecille had long blonde hair and blue eyes.

Sion looked at Nadia go to meet the officers.

Whatever man, I gotta go change.

He continued down the elevator, and walked to his cabin. Yes, cabin. Incredibly small, only a bed and a tiny desk/dresser, but a cabin none-the-less. Grabbing his sidearm out of his pocket, he layed the 10mm weapon on his desk as he changed out of the flight suit into a BDU. Once dressed, he picked his sidearm back up and headed out to the firing range. He walked inside, leaned against the armory station, and called the Marine in charge. An older, slightly portly fellow came a few seconds later. His voice was deep as he spoke to Sion. "Hey there, Sion, glad to see ya! Same old stuff?" Sion responded, "Sure, old timer, I'll take the old stuff." The armorer disappeared for a few seconds, and came back, passing Sion an M-4A2 and an ammunition clip. Sion proceeded to a firing station, donning ear plugs. Loading the ancient rifle was easy, and Sion pulled the hammer back with a satisfying crunch. Pressing the target button, a paper target flew down in front of him, taunting him. Someone had drew a toothbrush moustace on it, and written the words Heil Hitler on the head as a joke. Sion chuckled quietly, aiming for the i in Heil. "Eat lead, ya Nazi shithead." The sound of 5.56mm rounds expending from the weapon echoed through the large range, as Sion skillfully ripped the target in half with a stream of bullets. Sion finished by shooting the hook that held the target up clean off. The armorer clapped, and both the men laughed.

It was good to be home again.

Sklenova led the Amestrians to the interior of the ship, feeling vaguely offended about having her military's efforts to liberate 300,000 people labeled a "spectacular failure." Well, I did say it was my first experience with intelligence...

"So, what are your plans in Kraven? How are you going to organize these ragtag rebels into an elite force?"

"We are here to assist your efforts. I and Agent Yuumura have extensive training in both firearms and explosives... I think if you are aiming for an elite force, you will be disappointed. Kraven is going to be wiped off the map by AMF, turned into a parking lot. Our aim by default will be to set up some sort of transition organization to take charge of the wasteland once Dreadfire is finished venting... It is not as if organizing a ragtag group of malnourished peasants would make much difference against the KC military anyway."

Sion handed the old rifle back to the armorer. "Thanks, Bill, that was liberating." The armorer smiled. "Anytime, Davenport, anytime."

Sion walked out, and walked on an outer deck. Looking out the window, he watched the sun set.

Look's like it's go time.

The SA system kicked in, and the voice of the Admiral boomed throughout the fleet. "Attention all personnal of Task Force Green, the fleet is preparing to leave for Velkya, all non-essantial Kahanistani and Amestrian personnal are to leave the ship immeditaly, we will begin transit to Velkya to take on supplies at 2000 hours." As soon as the announcement was complete, Sion walked to a elevator, riding up to the flight deck. Kahanistani delegates were boarding dropships to the mainland, and Pelican's full of sailors on leave were arriving. As soon as everyone was onboard, the fleet would begin transit to Velkya to take on supplies and aircraft, and then head to their final destination, Kraven.

General Lavalle ran up to Sklenova. "Here. I forgot to give you this at the meeting. It contains everything you need to know in Kraven. Photographs we could obtain, documentation of the capacities of Freekish and Kraven troops, information on the different resistance groups in Kraven, a diplomacy manual, an insurgent's field manual, the works."

Sklenova took the dossier from the general, who promptly boarded a dropship for Kahanistan. She sat down and looked through it. This must be twice the size of the Najaster phone book. It was a huge file. How much of this do I already know? How much do I actually need? Well, she had a week to figure it all out, so why not relax?

She was feeling bored, so she decided to explore the ship. She wondered where she would go to see this Sion guy, he was so nice to her. Now... if I had muscles like his, where would I spend most of my time? "Ah. The gym."

Luckily, she had packed some gym gear, but it was mostly winter gear. She did, however, have a pair of running shorts and a Hooters T-shirt, given to her by a friend as a joke.

She went to the women's locker room to change. She realized the irony of a Hooters T-shirt on her frame and smiled. Not being a weight lifter, she decided to go for the ellipticals, she could run pretty fast on it. She kept her eyes peeled for anyone familiar, but concentrated on the elliptical machine...

As Nadia was running, a voice came from behind her. It was Krika, or Nadia knew her, Special Agent Yuumura. She was dressed in a gym outfit.

"Lt. Colonel, I was wondering if I could spend some time with you... We will be working together for a while and Mireilles in a bad mood...so..."

"OK," said Nadia. "I don't mind. Why is Mireille in a bad mood? Is something wrong with her?"

The tone of her voice suggested she genuinely cared. Maybe she did. Maybe she was just a nice person, maybe she was more cynical and was only worried about the agent's mood interfering and getting one of them killed in the field. She herself had been lectured numerous times for being too emotional... but it made her more sensitive in some cases.

"And by the way, Lieutenant Colonels are generally addressed simply as 'Colonel,' at least in the Republic Guard. But it's OK."

"Oh...ok...Colonel. The helicopter flight over here did not really agree with Mireille... Once she feels better..." Krika smiled.

"Can I call you Nadia, feel free to call me Krika. I..." Krika caught a glimpse of Nadia's shirt.

"Where you once employed at Hooters?"

"No!" Nadia said.

"I got this from a friend back home as a joke. She likes to do these things to me. I'm willing to bet it was her who had my mailbox filled with junk ads for pills. Did you know that in Kahanistan there are people selling pills that promise to give you, I think it was size 36D, if you take three of the pills a day for three months? Anyway, this was the only suitable thing for the gym that I had, everything I had before was lost after my apartment was destroyed by AMF."

"And yes, Krika, you may call me Nadia."

"In Amestria the marketing of medical or cosmetic products without the approval of the Ministry of Health is very illegal... Those pills, assuming they were not made up of worthless inert material, would have screwed with your hormones, causing all kinds of unpleasant sensations." Krika jumped onto the walker next to Nadia and slowly began to pace herself.

"36D's would not suit your frame anyway, they would make you top-heavy and everyone would think you had implants... You mention your friend may have filled your mailbox with the pills, what type of friend derives humor by making others feel their bodies are inadequate...?"

"Same one who sent me the penis enlargement ads and the goat porn, probably," said Nadia. "I'm assuming this prankster friend of mine did it, I know a few who say I'm too stiff, too anal, and just plain too conservative. I know full well I didn't get them at random, I think those body-enhancing companies at least check the names on their lists, they'd know I was a female." She was chortling now.

"Yeah, I know I wouldn't be suited to be large... I don't know what those pills are made of... Hopefully the Communist Party can put a lid on these out-of-control corporations at the next election."

Krika smiled. "Nadia, what do you like to do for fun? We have a week on this ship...a healthy mind is crucial to a healthy body..."

"For fun? Well... I like to go to clubs. I dance, but I won't drink unless I'm under a lot of stress or it's a special occasion. There wouldn't happen to be any of that on this ship, would there? I'd be surprised if there were a bar here..."

"I would not know...this being my first time on a Velkyan ship... I like to draw and play games..."

Krika paused.

"Mireille has a bottle of Perry if you are interested." Krika clapped her hands together. "How about we get to know each other over drinks. Have you ever had Perry? It is made of fermented pear juice, an acquired Northern taste..."

"Never had it," Nadia replied. "I've never really taken an interest in Amestrian drinks... What kinds of games are you interested in?" The only Amestrian drinks she'd had were the ones she'd shared with Liscel a couple of weeks earlier.

"Chess, card games, drawing, Dungeons and Dragons, First Person Shooters... What type of dancing do you enjoy?"

"Well, anything but exotic dancing." Nadia laughed. "Seriously, anything where I won't get hurt, so no moshing, and I don't do ballet."

Nadia sighed. "Mostly whatever kind of dance the rest of the clubbers are doing..."

She continued. "As far as games... chess was nice at first, but we played it in the Academy during free time so much I couldn't stand it after about my third year. Cards are fun, if you have a pack. I doubt there are dance halls here or even a good art room, I can make some cool pots." Nadia looked somewhat wistful.

"Before my apartment was destroyed by AMF, I had about twenty pots I'd made myself that I used for various things... cooking, growing flowers, one was my pet Shooban's food dish, though he mostly ate leftovers and garbage..."

Krika looked interested. "You had a Shooban?"

Suddenly Mireille appeared around the corner. She was smoking a cigarette.

"Krika, there you are... I have been looking all over for you..."

She paused once she noticed Nadia. "Lieutenant Colonel?"

Sklenova nodded at Mireille, acknowledging her presence. She answered Krika's question first. "Yes, until my town was demolished. He was a horrid little critter, but I loved him. We can talk about him later," she said, turning back to Mireille.

Nadia smiled. "Hi."

Mireille glanced at Nadia in an uncertain manner. "Hallo..."

Krika addressed Mireille. "You can call her Nadia... I was just about to ask her if she would like to come to our cabin for some Perry..."

Mireille glared at her. "Why don't we ask everyone on the ship if they want some as well. Votre trop gentil!*"

Krika gave Mireille a sad look. "pourquoi Sie doivent être comme cela? Sie a voulu découvrir plus au sujet d'elle...**"

Mireilles face softened and she smiled. "Sie obtenez toujours ce qui Sie voulez,***" she remarked in a teasing manner. "So, Nadia, care for some Perry and quite company away from the hustle and bustle of the ship?"

(*Your too nice!)

(**Why do you have to be like that? You wanted to discover more about her...")

(***"You always get what you want,")

Sklenova shook her head. "I don't drink a lot. But I'll spend some quiet time with you."

Mireille remarked to Krika. "Je ne la crois pas, elle semble le type à obtenir facilement plâtré!*"

"Veuillez être gentil...**," Krika pleaded. She then turned to Nadia. "Just follow us." Krika and Mireille proceeded to lead Nadia to their cabin.

“*I don’t believe her, she seems the type to get easily plastered!”

"**Please be nice…"

Nadia followed the Amestrians to their cabin and sat down on the floor. She was eager to see what they had in mind for her. They seem nice... very sociable people.

Krika went over to the bags, all stacked haphazardly in the corner. "Mireille, which one has the duvet, it won't do for us to be just sitting on the floor."

Mireille retrieved the bottle from under the bed. "I believe it is in the bag with the purple ribbon... Be a dear and grab some glasses, there in the suitcase with the pink ribbon."

Krika opened up one of the suitcases and pulled out an Intratec TEC-DC9(a semi-automatic 9mm handgun).

"I remember now, there are two suitcases with a pink ribbon... I ran out of colors... Krika, let me get them."

Mireille handed the bottle of Perry to Nadia and retrieved three all-purpose glasses from the correct suitcase. Krika has meanwhile tossed the handgun aside and found the duvet (a huge blanket). She spread it out on the floor and lay down on its folds, wrapping herself in them...

Mireille sat down on the duvet and smiled. "Nadia care to pour... and feel free to have as much as you like, it is a large bottle. Je veux voir son passage dehors! Ce serait drôle!*"

Krika sighed. "Veuillez être gentil!**"

(*I want to see her pass out! That would be funny!)

(**Please be nice!)

The sky was darkening. Sion decided to go out unto the flight deck. It was already 1925 hours (7:25 PM). The sun was already setting, but the coastline of Kahanistan was still fairly visable. People crowded on deck, trying to get a glimpse of the coast before the departure of the fleet. Sion walked about the flight deck, lost in his thoughts.

Not only Kraven, but now AMF as well. I'm never going to survive this shit...

30 minutes passed, and the ship began to move, the entire fleet in unison. Visitors began to snap pictures of Kahanistani coast, as the fleet, after months of deployment, began the long journey home. Sion walked over the flight deck where his fighter was positioned. He loved that fighter. It got him through the First Kraven War in one piece, albeit with plentey of bullet holes. Six small symbol of the Corparation sat under the cockpit, 6 kills he had amassed during his tour in Kraven. Opening the cockpit with the ID scanner, he climbed in, lounging in the seat of the fighter. Staring up into the sky, he thought about all the people he had lost along the way.

War is hell...

Nadia poured each of the glasses about a quarter full. She did not feel like becoming drunk, but did not feel it polite to turn down the offers. She sipped slowly, really not wanting to pass out.

She sat next to Mireille. "I've been meaning to ask you... but I never really had the chance. Do you happen to know someone named Aela?"

Krika belted down her drink and held out her glass for a refill. "Veuillez davantage.*"

Mireille sipped her drink slowly, savoring the taste. At the mention of Aela she stared directly at Nadia, a look of surprise on her face.

"Do you mean Aela Bouguet, she is my cousin. How do you know her?"

(*"More please.")

Nadia didn't understand those Amestrian words, but what else could Krika mean when she held out her empty glass to her? She poured Krika's glass another quarter full.

"I met her on the ship heading for Amestria, we got supplies there before going to Kahanistan." She was not the kind to drop names. She would not mention the circumstances of the meeting beyond that unless asked a direct question.

Mireille pondered what Nadia had said. Aela works in the Defense Ministry; this is not just some coincidence. "Tell me Nadia, what did you think of my cousin?"

Krika finished her glass and once again held it out for a refill. "Plus!" she giggled.

Nadia poured Krika's glass three-quarters full this time. That should hold her. Nadia was still on her first glass. "Well, I didn't really get to know her that well. She seems to have this belief that I'm dead and it was a waste of time to talk to me." Way to go, Nadia. She didn't know if Mireille believed in this cynical philosophy...

Mireille nodded. "Ouais, she is a vicious little sadist isn’t she... I hope you where not stuck with her for the whole voyage..." Mireille noticed Nadia was still on her first glass. "Don't hold back on my account, pour yourself some more..."

"Until we docked in Amestria for supplies," said Nadia. "She didn't seem to like me at all." Nadia took another sip of her glass. "I don't normally drink a lot."

Let’s see if you can't become more talkative. "We are on route to wage war in a frozen dry country... There is plenty of time later in your life for temperance..."

Mireille took the bottle from Nadia and filled up Nadia's glass...

"Lets not be strangers..."

Nadia took a drink of her newly filled glass. "Kraven's not only dry, it's also drug-free, but I got this from a friend." She pulled out a bottle from her bag. "Detachment from the Human Condition. Of course, if I'm caught in Kraven with it, I'll be killed, but then, they'll want to kill me anyway."

She showed the agents a stack of about 50 copies of Communist Monthly bearing her face, which were in her bag. "We've been distributing these to the Kraven populace. 'Unauthorized propaganda.' I'd be willing to bet my face is already on a wanted poster there as a thought-criminal or agitator."

Mireille flipped through the copies of Communist Monthly, faking interest. She had seen them already in Nadia's file...

"Yes, it probably is..."

Mireille picked up the pill bottle and looked it over... This is an Amestrian brand. "Detachment is a high quality painkiller... Who did you say gave you these again?"

Nadia was still not drinking at a satisfactory pace. "Don't just sip, take a big gulp and swirl the flavor around in your mouth, like this..."

Mireille drained and then refilled her glass...

(Note: Perry has 8% alcohol by volume.)

"From a friend." Nadia didn't want to admit that she knew a fairly high-ranking Amestrian official, as she didn't want to be seen as bragging, and the idea of the Deputy Vice Minister of Defense being outed as a drug user was bound to be scandalous. She took a mid-sized drink and swirled the Perry around, then swallowed. "This is nice."

"Yes, it’s very nice. Perry is made in North Western Coastal Amestria, and is often underappreciated by those in Central."

Mireille, pretending to be mildly intoxicated, clapped Nadia on the shoulder.

"But you appreciate it, shows you have good taste... Have as much as you like..."

Mireille took a sip from her glass. I'll loosen her tongue yet. She seems painfully single, nothing like being reminded of that to make one thirsty.

A mischievous smile formed on her face. "So tell me Nadia, anyone special waiting for you when this is over...?"

"Veuillez être gentil..." Krika once again repeated.

Anyone special for me? Nadia remembered what Liscel had asked her, when they first met. "So, tell me, are you married or otherwise engaged?" Liscel had asked, right before coming on to her like a mule in heat. Is she hitting on me?

But it didn't occur to her to lie. "No, I'm not dating anyone, if that's what you're asking."

Mireille lay down on the duvet and looked at the ceiling.

"Why not, you seem an attractive girl... Surly you must have somebody. Playing hard to get...?"

Nadia smiled. "Thanks." She was pretty, but not one of the women who was widely sought after. "Most people don't want a woman who's going off to war every three months, you never know when I'll be coming back, or if I'll come back, or even if I'll be the same person who left."

She took another drink of the Perry. "Plus, I'm pretty emotional. That puts off some people, I can be watching a sad movie and just burst into tears."

Submissive. "What do you look for in a partner?"

Sklenova took another drink, finishing her glass. She was becoming intoxicated. "Someone who understands that sometimes I get emotional, and accepts that about me," she said. She refilled her glass. "And someone who won't use me and throw me away."

This is too easy. Mireille pretended to be concerned. "Did someone use you and throw you away?"

She propped herself up with her elbow...

Nadia was somewhat tipsy, so she wasn't as emotional about the subject as she normally would be. "Yes, it was four years ago. A male officer expressed interest in me, at first I thought it was just flirting, but he wanted me... he gave me flowers, took me out, told me he loved me..."

"I'd never been with a man before. He took me into his quarters... at first I thought he was in love with me. But he just wanted me because I was a virgin... he bragged the very next day about what a pimp he was... the fucking scumbag..."

She took another gulp of Perry. "He used me, took advantage of me to build his own reputation with his buddies, he didn't care about me at all. But to them, if you can bed a 27-year-old virgin, then you're the king of the pimps." She finished off her glass and poured a fourth.

"27? Seems a long time to hold off sex, you’re quite shy aren’t you...? In the four years since then have you had any additional relationships?"

A little more pressing and I will be able to find out who was on the ship with her… Aela does not travel alone and something happened on that trip to put this otherwise unimportant Republican Guard officer on the radar…

"A couple," said Nadia. "Turned out to be guys who just wanted to date me, we'd have a few dates and the relationship would peter out..." Her voice was starting to slur.

One more push... "So there has not been one single person in your life who has had legitimate feelings for you? No one has said 'I love you' and meant it...? That is so sad..."

Mireille shook her head.

Nadia nodded. "Well, one, but she was a lesbian, so I wasn't interested in her that way. We remained friends, though." Nadia may not normally have been a heavy drinker, but once she was buzzed she abandoned all pretense at moderation and poured her fifth glass, which she drank half of almost immediately.

Now!

Mireille sat up and looked Nadia directly in the eyes. "Nadia, who was on the ship with you...? Who gave you that bottle of pills, that’s an Amestrian brand and the label clearly states it was sold within Amestria. Who was Aela with? It is no use hiding any of it from me, I already know everything!"

Actually, Mireille had little idea of what was going on, that’s why she was pumping Nadia for information. Hopefully Nadia was too drunk to realize that…

"Sara," said Nadia drunkenly. "Sara Liscel." She finished off her glass. "She was the one who told me that she loved me... she was the one with Aela, Sara gave me the DHC."

Nadia finished off her glass, pouring another. Her hands wobbled, her motor abilities disrupted by the Perry. She was on a roll. If she wasn't careful, she would make herself sick. But drunk people couldn't be careful, that was one of the reasons it was illegal to drive drunk in Kahanistan.

Sara Liscel! Deputy Vice Minister of Defense Sara Liscel. Well that explains everything... That little bitch! So we are here because that pill-popping slut took a fancy to this third rate officer... Chlo'e, I hope this little favor bought you several nights of enjoyment, or did you trade for information this time... Did Sara have some Defense documents you wanted oh so badly, or did she promise to get Kasumi to push for a raise in the Agencies budget!

Mireille looked over at Krika. "dieses me rend fâché...*"

Krika replied. "Nous sommes en notre position à être utile à nos chefs. Parfois la politique est définie en raison de art de l'auto-portrait-interest ou de sentiment personnel. Je ne pas voir comment ceci change n'importe quoi. En outre, elle est gentille...**"

Mireille sighed. "J'avais raison que vous savez, elle est une buveuse lourde...***"

"Au cas où nous l'arrêter?****" asked Krika.

"Non! Ce sera amusement...***** Nadia tell me how you feel about Liscel?"

(*“This makes me angry…”)

(**"We are in our position to be of use to our leaders. Sometimes policy is made because of self-interest or personal feeling. I do not see how this changes anything. Besides, she’s nice… [referring to Nadia])

(***"I was right you know, she is a heavy drinker…)

(****"Should we stop her?")

(*****"No! This will be fun…")

Nadia's voice slurred as she finished her seventh glass of Perry. "Sara's my friend. She's really caring... she wanted to keep me from getting shipped to Kraven." While deep in her gut she knew that she probably shouldn't be so loose-lipped, the Perry had her feeling like it didn't matter.

She was able to pick up only a little of the Amestrian, her weak grasp of the language even weaker than normal because of the Perry. "What's wrong, Mireille?"

Mireille smiled. "We are just concerned that you may not be in a condition to walk back to your cabin... Feel free to stay here for the night... So you feel Sara is caring?"

Well, I may as well learn all the interesting tidbits of this relationship while I have the opportunity, seeing how this is in all likelihood the principle reason why I am here.

Nadia was drunk, not stupid. "You seemed angry about something," she said. "Yes... Sara cares about me a lot... she trusts me..." She poured more. The bottle was nearly empty. "Do you have any more of this?"

“We were just impressed by your ability to drink so much…” Mireille lied. “We have another bottle of Perry but we would rather save it… Cependant, we have this lovely beverage made from fermented Elderberries, another Northern treat which those in Central ignore…”

Mireille went and retrieved the bottle from under the bed. It was about half the size of a normal wine bottle. Krika held out her now empty glass.

“Je voudrais une partie de cela!*”

Mireille filled Krika’s glass and handed the bottle to Nadia.

(*”I would like some of that!”)

Nadia filled her glass all the way full, and chugged the entire glass. "Thanks. I didn't think I could drink so much myself."

Krika sipped her glass slowly. “In the gym you mentioned that you once owned a Shooban…”

"He was a stray, he'd escaped from his keeper or been freed or whatever... or maybe he was a wild Shooban who was imported to be hunted... a lot of our neighbors hunt Shoobans or use them as slaves," said Nadia. "So what could I do when the little critter ran in front of my car on the highway? I stopped, picked him up, cleaned him up, and kept him. He can speak Russian, I talked to him in Russian all the time, it's easier to teach than English, more phonetic, not as many irregulars."

Nadia's face went pale. "Do you have a bucket or a bag or anything?" she asked. "I think I'm going to be sick..."

A voice came on the SA system, saying: "Attention all crew and passengers of the Eagle's Claw Carrier Battle Group, we have left Kahanistani territorial waters and have entered international waters. Velkyan laws, including those about drugs and alcohol are now in effect. Any person(s), whether Velkyan, Kahanistani, or Amestrian, are to abide by Velkyan laws for the remainder of their time on this ship. Thank you."

Sion woke up, lounging in the seat of his fighter. One of his legs dangled over the edge, as cursed the SA system. "Fucking intercom, I'll gonna shoot that thing one day." He jumped off the fighter, closing the canopy, and began to walk downstairs.

I swear to heaven and earth, if my shift is up next, I will be quite pissed.

Walking up to a data panel located near Nadia and the Amestrians, he clicked his ID in, and a sqaudron schedule came up. It read:

Delta Sqaudron CAP schedule, V.S.S. CVN Eagle's Claw, (date)

1900 hours: Forgeson, Zek

2000 hours: Corosa, Jorge

2100 hours: Sampson, Brock

22:00 hours: Goring, Herman

23:00 hours: Daverport, Sion

-End of day-

"Well, at least I'm last, perfect, red eye patrol." He withdrew his ID, and walked in the direction of the trio.

Mireille gleefully clapped her hands and pointed at the lavatory. "Krika, toilet!"

Krika jumped up and lifted Nadia to her feet. She then led her in the lavatory and positioned her over the toilet... Krika then began to whisper into Nadia's ear...

"Just let it all out, bacon, eggs, grease, fried shrimp..."

OCC: Nadia, Krika, and Mireille are in Krikas/Mireilles quarters, so Sion would have to knock... and he would not know that Nadia was there...

OOC: The fact that the quarters onboard are small enough for a bed and not much else is reason enough to warrant the fact that they are in a public area. This is a military ship, after all.

Nadia hadn't eaten in hours, so she had drunk about eight glasses of Perry and one of the other, Cependant, was it? In her state she didn't care, she had drunk large quantities of alcohol on an empty stomach. Her body purged the drinks from her system as she sicked up what appeared to be several liters of wine and body fluids. She hurled repeatedly, puking her guts out for over ten minutes. God, this tastes nasty.

She got up and drank water fresh from the sink to clean the horrid taste of puke from her throat, then staggered back into the cabin, barely able to walk, having already absorbed most of the alcohol.

OOC: The fact that the quarters onboard are small enough for a bed and not much else is reason enough to warrant the fact that they are in a public area. This is a military ship, after all.

They are laying on the floor in a duvay... Its cramped but that makes little difference...

Krika helped Nadia lay down on the bed.

Mireille was trying hard to appear concerned... "What we need for you is pickle juice; it’s an Eastern Remedy to treat hangovers..."

Still sorely wasted, Nadia spilled the beans about Liscel. "Did you know that the rumor about Sara being involved with Kasumi is true?" she asked in a slurred, barely intelligible speech. While sober, Nadia would never have betrayed her friend, but she had tons of alcohol in her system and she had been pumped for information about Liscel ever since she had let slip she knew her at all.

"I'm not hung over... I'm just drunk." She might not be hung over yet, but if she passed out and woke up later...

"Yes." Mireille replied in a disinterested manner. Everyone knows that!

"Krika, I'm going to the galley or whatever to get some pickle juice for Nadia here, because when she wakes up it will feel like she is in the middle of the deforestation of the Amazon. Keep her awake till I get back."

With that, Mireille walked out the door and started searching for someone who could point her in the right direction...

Krika meanwhile began to slowly stroke Nadia's head. "Would you like me to sing something?"

Nadia tried to sit up. "All right..." She couldn't sit up very well. She rolled over onto her stomach and pushed up, sitting on the bed with her legs crossed under her.

Krika sat down on the bed. "Would you like something to eat? I have some crackers?"

Nadia nodded weakly. "Yeah, I haven't eaten much all day."

Krika had draped her pants over the bed after she had changed into her exercise outfit. She reached into the pocket and retrieved a wax paper rapper containing about five semi-broken crackers. She handed them to Nadia.

"Are you sure you feel alright?”