NationStates Jolt Archive

At 8:19, Greenwitch mean time, a radio transmission was sent from an obscure nation known just as "The Archipeligos" and bounced off a sattelite to the civilized world in general. The grisly voice of an old man spoke on it.

Over the past three months, our nation, the Archipeligos, has been infested with a fungal lifeform called the Scourge. The Scourge has lived dornmant in our lands for centuries, and our shamans have been able to keep it at bay, but some strange new mutant strain has appeared that we cannot stop.

The Scourge eats away at any living thing it touches and each individual Scourge fungus reproduces twice every six hours. In days, entire provinces have been covered in the white muck. All barriers-of stone, chemicals, wood, and spiritual energy-have been useless to halt its rampage.

This call to the international community is one of desparation: our people aknowledge that most peoples of the world are far superior technologically and scientifically. We are willing to grant any kind of reward we feasibly can to anyone who can eliminate this threat.

Anyone who responds to this call should come to the Chapel of Autumn, at eastern edge of the Undular Penninsula on the island of Haplar in the Archipeligos.

OOC: I'd be willing to help, but are you fantasy-tech?

OOC: I'd be willing to help, but are you fantasy-tech?
I am throughouly fantasy, but any tech-level who has radios to pick up the transmission can help.

OOC: Well, you see, I'm PMT. Good luck though. I prefer not to deal with magic.

OOC: Ah, well. Hopefully someone will respond before my nation is completely consumed by fungi...

OOC: You have any problems with Shadowrun-esque PMT?

OOC: No, go ahead. Just so long as you don't run though my shadow too much.

If the nation wishes, we can bomb it repeatedly until it recedes. All civilians can be transported to an isolated piece of terrain while the Scourge is being dealt with.

I'm sorry, but we would much rather not be bombed.

Secret IC:
"Mister Natick," the Director said, clasping his hands. "You've returned safely, once again. And your team survived, to boot. Tell me, how did your most recent mission go?"

"You read the report," Natick said.

"I did," the Director said, his eyebrows raising. "It seems your mission was only a partial success. You recovered the virus, and tissue samples...but you were unable to treat the contagion. Hundreds of thousands are dead or permanently insane."

"You win some, you lose some," Natick said darkly. "I know why I'm here. You canceled my leave. Again. What's the mission?"

"Mister Natick, you know you get the roughest assignments because you're the best there is in this ghastly business," the Director said, his tone turning serious. "A tiny, distant nation called Archipeligos is having some problems with an omniphagic fungal growth. The locals call it 'the Scourge.' Typical mission parameters: recover samples, then contain the spread."

"Contain an omniphagic growth? If my team can't develop a biochemical suppressant, I'll need to use incendiary strikes or worse."

"If it becomes necessary, you'll have the Bio-Sciences Division's entire air wing at your service, as well as limited nuclear resources," the Director assured him. "Just try to do your job without causing an international incident."

Public IC:

Within an hour of the original messsage's reception at the Ximean Ministry of Science and Technology, the following message was sent to Archipeligos:

ATTN Leader, "Archipeligos"
FROM Joseph Curwen
Ximean Ministry of Science and Technology
Bio-Sciences Division

We have received your request for aid and we wish to lend our assistance. Please advise as to where we can send a research and containment team.

OOC edit:

I'm not going to bomb your nation. Not unless you want me to.

"Mr. Surehand? Your two o'clock appointment is here."

The High Prince sighed, hiding his laptop and copy of Unreal Tourney 2063 in a convenient drawer on his desk.

"Send him right in."

The door opened, and a rather gaunt man walked in, sitting down in front of Lugh's desk.

"Mr. Surehand, a pleasure to meet you. My name is Dr. Lied, I'm from Telestrian Industries."

"Nice to meet you too, Dr. Lied. I assume you know why you're here?"

"The Director said it had something to do with a government contract, something to do with a new form of awakened fungal growth?"

"Correct. A nation known as the Archipelagos contacted us, saying something about a form of awakened fungus on their islands, apparently hostile. Since Telestrian is the best at Parabiological research, I called them, and they reccommended you."

"That was quite kind of them. What is it exactly that you wish me to do?"

"I want you to fly out to the Archipelagos with your team, see if you can help the locals with their problem. Get a sample of the fungus while you're there, contain it, and bring it back here for further research. I've also taken the liberty of putting a team of Ghosts at your disposal, although I'd prefer if they didn't get into too much trouble. Deniable assets and all that. Any questions?"

"Nope, that and the report your secretary gave me should just about cover it. Again, Mr. Surehand, I'm extremely greatful for this opportunity. It's not every day the Council of Princes lays something like this in your lap."

"Hey, like I said, you're the best. So, I'll see you when you get back. Have a nice flight!"

Shaking the High Princes hand, the doctor was escorted out of the room by one of the mail-clad Paladins standing guard about the room. Sitting back, Lugh smiled. New toys for the Telestrians, which meant new toys for the Tir, and that TIC would be even further indebted to the Council of Princes. A perfect plan, what could possibly go wrong?

OOC: I'll post his arrival tommorrow, have to finish painting an army for AdeptiCon now...

The grisly old man's voice crakled to life again:

Foreign flyers, as space has been cleared cleared near the Cathedral of Autumn, on the Undular Penninsula, on the island of Haplar for you to land in. A reception group will be their awaitign your arrival.

(Im MT, and dont like fantasy, but good luck)

On receipt of a response from the Archipelagos, heavy cargo aircraft launched from the Bio-Sciences Division's Welker Flats Facility. One contained twenty-four scientists, six elite paramilitary agents, and assorted laboratory supplies. The other contained two flatbed trucks and some of the most sophisticated biochemical research equipment on the face of the planet.

The aircraft landed a few minutes apart, not far from the Cathedral of Autumn. Agent Natick was the first man on the ground. The other five agents fanned out across the landing area, checking for threats. All wore identical gray BDUs and Kevlar armor; all but Natick wore CBRN masks.

"At ease," Natick grumbled. "This isn't hostile territory. Start offloading the supplies. Lawrence, Miller, come with me." Natick headed off toward what looked like a reception group.

"I'm Agent Natick of the Ximean Bio-Sciences Division," he said. "These are Drs. Lawrence and Miller; they'll be working on a countermeasure to this 'scourge.' Where would be the best place for us to set up our lab?"

The "reception group" comprised of two old men, a twelve-year-old girl, and an elephant. The apparent elder of the men extended his hand in greeting and said, with the same voice that had been on the radio, "Hello, I am Councilor Flaming-Mouth," he gestured to the other man, "This is Shaman Chases-Eagles," he gestured toward the girl, "Councilor Arrowfeather/Grubfinder, er, wich are we talking with now?" His question was directed toward Arrowfeather/Grubfinder.

"Both," the girl replied.

"Ah, of course," Flaming-Mouth finally aknowledged the elephant, "and this is Councilor Squashes-Moles."

"Squashes...Moles..." Natick said slowly. "Of course." He extended a hand to Councilor Flaming-Mouth. "I'm afraid our team was assembled rather quickly, and we weren't provided much information on your country--or this scourge. Perhaps you could fill us in...then we'll get to work."

Letter to ambassadorial team. Plus shipment of specialized materials, soda ash, ground limestone, quicklime.

Hello, we may be able to help.
We are landing a team of specialists to help you out. In the meantime we have some suggestions that may halt the spread of the fungi. We believe that the fungi probably have an acidic base used to digest the materials they are taking in. These are rather obscure ideas. We are sending you 10,000 tons of soda ash. This is made from burning seaweed, it should help stop their ability to digest the materials they are absorbing. We are also suggesting you try ground limestone. We are sending 10,000 tons of ground limestone. The fungi will have a hard time digesting this because it neutralizes acid. We use this in our mining operations to clean up toxic spills. We are also going to send you quicklime 10,000 tons. This is highly toxic. It kills almost all forms of life if they try to eat it. It can be handled safely so long as you do not put it in your mouth or open wounds. These things should at least partially halt the spread of the fungi until we arrive. We do not think they are a solution, but a way to slow down the spread.

For those areas which are especially hard hit we may suggest you use napalm or jellied gasoline to burn the fungi into dust. We have thermobaric weapons, but these are an absolute last resort.

We ask you to put some of the fungi into two special containers. These containers are made out of a substance harder than diamond carbon nanotubes. It is completely inorganic and 10x as dense as diamond. The inside will be coated with a special gel designed to neutralize acid. Hopefully this will contain the fungi.

We will be arriving shortly with a team of specialists.

Best regards,

Malthus Cruon, Minister of Special Services.