NationStates Jolt Archive

"Our emperor is a liar!" Nemori Koto shouted to everyone around him. "He says we are free, and that we have a say in the way our beloved empire is conducted. When was the last time any of you got to give your opinion on how we should live our lives? Were we asked for it when the theaters were closed? No. Were we asked for it when the army took over the cities? No! Were we asked when they shut down the ports, closed off the borders and turned this land into an isolationist, war-mongering wasteland? NO!!"

Crowds gatherd around the lone figure in the town square of Isawa. Many wondered who was this person that had the courage to speak out against the emperor and the army. Though, everyone knew that everything Koto said was true. It was a long time since Lailett had had any interaction with the rest of the world, and the people had been forced to live controlled, uninspired lives. Meanwhile, several Lailetans in dark blue and green clothing approached the center of the square.

"It is time for we the people to speak out against this dictatorship we are enduring!" Koto continued as the officers approached him. "In many other places people are living lives of freedom and inoppression. Do we have the same liberties? No! Our leader lives his life of comfort and unconcern as we suffer through every day!" At that time, the army officers had reached the center rise where Koto was speaking from. One grabbed him and held him while another bound his hands behind his back.

"Are you going to come quietly?" said one officer. "Or, are we going to have to use force?"

Koto growled low and coldly, but allowed himself to be walked to a waiting military vehicle. As he was taken off, the people started to chatter amongst themselves about what he had said to them. True, emperor Kedoko was an oppressive figure, but to get rid of him? It had been tradition for over five hundred years in Lailett for one of the Suzaku family to take the task of governing and supporting their people. As the crowd dispersed, the impact of the afternoon's event faded. However, they did not realize Koto's speech had been observed by a more powerful figure.

The driver's naked body had been easily stuffed beneath the seat of the vehicle, and Entin smiled. Entin always liked it when things went easily, smoothly.

The backwater empire of Isie was trapped in the past, as Entin had soon learned in his training, but having been raised in the great homeland, he was disgusted by the filth technology had created as it spread like disease across the world. If not for his pleasure at success in subduing the driver silently and taking his place, he'd be grimacing over having to drive the metal contraption. Part of his training was knowing how to handle mechanical abominations.

Entin turned about as he drove away slowly from the scene of Koto's speech, showing his relaxed mood clearly. "You seem foolish, speaking treasonous words in public, well-knowing the risk. Is the emperor so bad, Nemori?"

In Isie:

Nemori sat in the back seat of the vehicle coming to grips with what had just happened. Apparently, someone was waiting for him to be arrested, so that they could take him somewhere without question. He glanced back at the person driving. Being in the presence of a human was a new and unsettling feeling for him. Having never ventured outside Nurai Lailett, he had little knowledge about the peoples of other nations, and was quite nervous. His concern got the better of him, and he said the first words that came to mind:

"Who are you, and what are you doing?"

In Isawa:

Matsuki Suzaku had heard every word of Nemori's outcry to the public. Being one of the royal family, it would have insulted him to hear one of the citizens speak out against them. However, this was different. Matsuki's uncle, Kedoko, held the position of emperor, which would have rightly belonged to him. However, when emperor Tsuroshi was killed during the Mirukai war, Matsuki was too young to claim the throne. In his stead, his uncle held it for him as proconsul of Nurai Lailett. Since then, he had managed to title himself emperor and established a totalitarian system. Matsuki had seen the way Kedoko ruled over and oppressed the downtrodden public.

He folded his arms and stared off into the horizon at the setting sun. "I think it's about time I paid dear uncle a visit." he said to himself.

OOC: Is this open?

IC: The Red Tidean Intellegince-Consortiums International Section never recieved as much manpower as its NationalSection counterpart, the reason? Intellegince-Consortium Agents were to easily identified, those electronic collars they ALWAYS wore around their necks was plain... obvious. It also ment that the International Intellegince Section had very little 'field personnel'. However, in order to make up for it, the International Section had some of the best Electronic-Intellegince and Sattelite Assets in the world.

It was mere quincedance that the sattelite had passed over the town of Isawa right when Nemori was giving his little speach. The camera's had been trained on him long enough to see him get arrested. The technical team assigned to it sent it the the third section of the Intellegince-Consortium... the Sorting Section. Its job was to sort all of the intellegince gathered by the National and International Section. This intellegince apparently caught someone in the powers-that-be eyes, it was quickly sent up the chain of command... all the way to the Director of the Intellegince-Consortium. He said he would keep an eye on it... but nothing more. He did not think anything big would happen.

Rough patches. Entin disliked it when things did not go as he anticipated, but he did not let it get the better of him. Namuri being crafty would be a good thing. The man's success would depend wholely on his competence. He had hoped Namuri would not recognize him as foreign too quickly, that he might speak as if to a loyal member of the man's empire. This left essentially no room to size the man up before he introduced himself and his intentions. If he wanted to get on his good side, he'd have to speak honestly now. Namuri's blunt demands of the situation were a thorn in his side. In the plans.

"I am a member of an interested party. What I am doing at the moment is saving you from a prison sentence, or worse. I hear the Emperor frowns deeply at treason. Subversion." Entin said with as direct a response, in a casual tone.
The vehicle was boxy and unwieldly, nevermind his distaste for its inner-workings. He manuevered the ghastly thing onto the main highway, heading nowhere in particular. His destination was dependent on what Namuri said. "A man like you is lucky he was not shot by a patriot, or government peacekeeper. It is better to have friends, to wait till things are in motion, before announcing yourself so openly."
He turned around in the seat again, with that relaxed, winning smile, it being part of the reason he had gotten his job. "Have you any friends, Mister Koto?"
"

OOC: Yes, this is an open thread. I forgot to mention that at the beginning

IC:

Nemori glanced out of the window at the passing scenery. Isie was a decent-looking place, as far as Lailetan standards went. It had been an hour or so sitting in the vehicle, listening to this strange person who had freed him from the officers not long ago. Nemori stifled his reservations about humans for a moment.

"I suppose you could call the people I know friends." he said with an air of disappointment. "People in Lailett really don't have much time for socailization anymore. Our cities are now sterile places of labor and general misery." He stared at the sky for a bit. "Sometimes I hear elderly people reminisce about how our empire used to be a peaceful and enjoyable place. No wars, no problems, no discomfort. But all that has changed. Ever since the war with Mirukai, things have been very different. Our benevolent emperor was replaced with a selfish, cruel dicatator, who only wishes to bend his people to his will. He says the incursion of martial law was to protect us from human rebels in Mirukai, but I know it's so he can control us easily. I wanted to tell the rest of them the truth, but maybe I didn't think it through enough. At that point, it didn't matter what happened to me."

Nemori turned back to Entin. "So why is it you wanted to save me? It must have been hell to get into Isawa unnoticed. How did you manage such a thing, and why for me?"

Exponet smells trouble brewing for your nation. We wish to send in a force of 80 men via black hawk helicopter to help round up trouble makers and protect yuor emperor should trouble break out

"Lailett might as well be the pit of hell," he mumbled inaudibly. It wasn't remembering the difficulty of crawling up a sewage pipe that emptied itself into the sea that had offended his casual mood, though. This Namuri may not have been the right choice after all. Happenstance had brought Entin to the square of Isawa; his instinct had told him that the oppressive situation of Isawa as it was meant that only a man with men and weapons behind his words would dare speak in public. Isawa had been nothing comparably. The first soldier to "approach him" (or rather, the lone soldier he had picked out) expected a man with a gun at the most, but Entin did not use firearms. The dagger had slid easily between the soldier's ribs when he brushed against him as Entin was led away to a holding cell. The common people of this land did not ask questions to or about a uniformed man. In fact, fellow soldiers would even unquestioningly allow you to enter their vehicle, where they could be quietly and unmessily subdued, and stuffed under the seat.

Entin paused a moment to reach out of the vehicle's window, and plant a flag atop its roof. The triangular black cloth with the silver arrow waving in the wind would mean he would remain undisturbed.

It was hard for him to keep a casual tone with Namuri when things seemed to be going so poorly, but he was well-trained at hiding his surprise at the turn of events. Create a situation and use it. "Perhaps I was not clear, Mister Koto. An outspoken man such as yourself could reason that others might agree with your words if approached indirectly, before you were sure of thier loyalties. Do you understand what sort of "friends" I mean, now?"

Matsuki glanced out the window of the train he had boarded. He hated trains. They were always crowded and full of unpleasant people. But this was different. Almost no one else was aboard this train. He watched the marshy landscape of Lailett roll by as the train sped on to the imperial city of Arimatsu.

An hour later, Matsuki could distinguish the shape of the Imperial palace as the train entered the city. He wondered if Kedoko had been alerted to his presence. If not, this would be an easy mission. If so...well...that wouldn't matter. It would just mean more guards to show his pendant to.

-

"No, I have no idea what you're talking about." Nemori said with slight annoyance. It seemed Entin was just trying to make things difficult for him. He had avoided answering his questions for some reason. He paused for a moment and asked again.

"Why is it you wanted to save me? What importance do I have to anything you're 'interested in'?" He thought about this for a moment. "Wait...what are you planning to do?"

Entin's frown showed through at last. He'd risked discovery stealing this vehicle to divert Namuri into his control. He'd wasted quite some time driving him about, prodding to see if Namuri led any sort of rebellion of the people of Lailett. It appeared that "Mister Koto" was just another fool, fed up with his situation.

"I'm truly sorry, Mister Koto, but you are unfortunately not the sort of man I am looking for." he said, solemnly. Solemn not for Namuri's inconvenience, but for his own failures. He had been sure there were dissenters in Isawa, that he need only wait for them to climb from the woodwork. Entin's superiors did not like wasted time.

Entin took a sharp turn on the muddy dirt path, plowing through a dense field of underbrush. He knew where he was going, and horse trails were too winding to waste time with. Besides, this metal box could take a few bumps.

It wasn't long before he came through into a graveled courtyard of the local noble estate, and he pulled up alongside the gate across from the non-descript stone fountain. The two guards at the gate had lowered halberds at his appearance, but relaxed at the sight of the flag above his transport. "This man is to be taken into custody and sent as quickly as possible on horseback to the city of Marad, and handed to the Silver Clutch. If it is not done so, by the Silver Clutch, your heads will roll. In the name of the Mistress."

The guards straightened at his proclamation, then huried in their steel armor to haul the man from the vehicle, after fiddling at the foreign latch. Entin waited no longer than it took them to pull him away to put his foot on the accelerator. Slipping out of Lailett was easy in one of their own transports, but back in would rouse questions.

He sighed, dreading the thought that he might once again have to crawl up that forsaken sewage drain...

The train pulled into the station at Arimatsu. Matsuki stepped off without any sign of trouble. It seemed as though the imperial guards had not been on the lookout for him.

"Good." Matsuki thought. "This means a nice, leisurely walk to the palace."

He strode down the streets of the city unworried. No one would recognize him as long as he didn't draw attention to himself. He rounded a corner and walked straight toward the palace. It really was a beautiful building. The large, white building gleamed in the sun, its banners flapped in the breeze. He often wondered to himself why he ever left. Then he remembered. If he hadn't, Kedoko would have had him killed to ensure his retention of the throne. It was time to fix that.

As Matsuki walked toward the palace's courtyard, out of the corner of his eye he saw several people give him a strange look. When he turned to look at them they fled off into an alley. Puzzled, Matsuki kept his course. As he turned back to the palace, he was accosted by a Lailetan clothed in a blue and white cloak. These were the colors of the Suzaku family, but Matsuki could not remember ever seeing this man.

"Do not worry, my lord." the cloaked figure said to him. "Rest assured, you have many loyal followers. We will see to it you reclaim the throne one way or another." As he spoke, Matsuki could see several others around him wearing the same clothing as the man. He then motioned toward the palace. "Your people await your return."

Matsuki again walked toward the palace. It was comforting, he thought, to have such loyal subjects among the populace. He ascended the short flight of stairs on the front of the building. Two imperial guards stopped him and asked him his purpose of being there. Matsuki reached inside his clothes and pulled out his pendant, the symbol of the imperial family.

"Now let me pass." he said in his most noble-sounding voice.

The guards exchanged worried looks, but allowed him to proceed through the palace doors. He stode down the center corridor to the large double doors at the end. He again presented his pendant to the guards at these doors who allowed him to pass through.

Now was the time, Matsuki thought.

Deent wrung his hands fitfully beneath his long, cream-colored sleeves. He always wrung his hands when he was uncomfortable, or nervous. Today, it was his nerves.

Kedoko was a hard, cold man, not exactly the sort Deent liked dealing with. He much preferred those who lacked titles, peasants without great pride who were much more easily guided to the proper path. But, alas, his assignment had been the emperor. It had taken three tries to get a man close to Kedoko; he was the suspicious, untrusting type. Deent's predecessors had disappeared without a trace, but he knew they breathed no more. Indeed, his ties to the emperor were tenuous at best, but they would do for what guidance a headstrong man could be given. The Silver Clutch had its duties.

"My liege, I am forever indebted to you for saving my life, and quite proud of your progress with the empire, as one loyal to you as the wearer of the crown." he said, eyes never meeting Kedoko's. It was best not to risk the man feeling threatened. "Whispers I've heard, though, my liege. Men whisper over their wine about oppression, about something needing to be done. I fear... sorry to stain your ears with such disgraceful words, but I'm afraid I must: treason. It bears repeating for the severity of the infestation. As I am sure you are full aware, my liege, for every one man that grumbles after a round of drinks, a hundred men are thinking the same."

Deent braced himself for Kedoko's response. Entin had better have his prey snared by this time.

Heinz Sajer lugged his suitcase. He was a corporate executive in a middle-sized company in his native Dongara in the province of Weidenland. What was it his company did again? Oh yeah, they made novelty items and prank merchandise. His superior sent him to Lailett to see if it was profitable to open up a factory. Can't you believe the Government paid for the trip?

Anyways, Heinz Sajer walked the streets. He wore a bristling Zhongshan suit, imported straight from Shanxding (another province in Dongara, south of Mazowze and east of Al-Jarraf.) What a terrible place to live this Lailett is. He didn't see much opportunity to open up a factory. He made sure to keep a hold on his wallet, because it held his money, his I.D., and his official card to prove he was a member of the Communist Party of Dongara. Wonder if he could talk to a local...

OOC: Cue for something to talk to me.

Streets

Gendai Oroka of the Lailett military police walked along the stone streets. It had been a long day. Five arrests he had had to make. FIVE. He wondered what the empire was coming to with all the recent crimes and outbreaks that had been ocurring. He paused for a moment to survey the street. Lailetans minding their own business, walking from a to b...what's this? Gendai did a double take. Who was that walking around in that lavish looking suit and carrying that large case. Surely he was a foreigner that had somehow been let in by the careless operators at the ports.

He approached the man with a look of authority on his face. "You there." he demanded. "Who are you? How did you get here, and what is it that you're wearing? Carrying?"

The Palace

"Don't sully me with your words, human." Kedoko spat. "You're lucky I allow you to live."

He walked along the blue rug of the throne room. "Yes, I know the citizens are unrestful. A bunch of ungrateful miscreants is what they are. If it wasn't for me, this entire empire would be in anarchy. We'd all probably be speaking that distasteful Mirukai language." He returned to the small desk by his throne. A set of documents lay on it, whick Kedoko read over. "Exponent. Send us aid? Hmph. I daresay we're safer than anything. Those ignorant people wouldn't know what action was if it bit them in the..."

The doors to the throne room swung open and in stepped Matsuki. "Why hello there, uncle," he chortled spitefully at Kedoko. "I hear you've been having trouble lately."

Kedoko stood transfixed. "Wha...how...when...you! How did you get here? Where are the guards?"

"They're right outside." Matsuki said, irritated. "You've been very neglectful, uncle. Leaving our people to suffer under tyranny. What for? So you can live a life of no cares whatsoever?" He glared at Kedoko. "It's time for you to step down, uncle. I've come to take back the empire, and there will be no question."

"I think you are very mistaken, my young nephew." Kedoko growled as several guards entered the room. "I intend to remain emperor. You, however, I intend to make sure never sees the inside of the palace again. Arrest him!"

Streets

Gendai Oroka of the Lailett military police walked along the stone streets. It had been a long day. Five arrests he had had to make. FIVE. He wondered what the empire was coming to with all the recent crimes and outbreaks that had been ocurring. He paused for a moment to survey the street. Lailetans minding their own business, walking from a to b...what's this? Gendai did a double take. Who was that walking around in that lavish looking suit and carrying that large case. Surely he was a foreigner that had somehow been let in by the careless operators at the ports.

He approached the man with a look of authority on his face. "You there." he demanded. "Who are you? How did you get here, and what is it that you're wearing? Carrying?"

Heinz fingered his Stechkin APS pistol in his pocket. Dongarians were always obsessed with firearms, and took them wherever they went. And plus, since the military just upgraded to using a variety of pistols (like the OTs-33, the Vector SR-1, the Grach, the Gs-18, the OTs-37, and other stuff, pistols were easy to find in Dongara. Especially the Stechkin APS, which the army gave away...)

He looked at the peculiar figure yelling at him. He sighed, and answered in an extraordinarily arrogant voice.

"My name is Heinz Ulrich Sajer of the People's Republic of Dongara and member of the Communist Party of Dongara. I am Systems Director of I.G. Farben industries in Dongara in the Market Relations Branch. I am on important business operations, and I will not be held up by riff-raff local "law enforcement." What I am carrying, what I am wearing, and how I got that is not for a petty local policemen to be nosing around it! Farewell."

Streets

Gendai was rather insulted with the tone this foreigner was using with him. However, he had forgotten that the fourth law did not apply to foreign visitors. He composed himself and re-adressed Heinz.

"I apologize for doing my job, sir." Gendai responded. "I meant nothing by it. If you'll just show me your passport, I'll let you on your way."

Palace

The guards bound Matsuki's hands behind his back and led him off to the dungeon. He had the time to mutter something like "miserable cur" before disappearing behind the doors.

Kedoko looked quite pleased with himself. "I figured he would be back someday. Little brat, as if he would know how to govern." He turned back to Deent. "Well, don't just stand there and look helpless. You might as well do something."

As Matsuki was dragged off, the guards passed by a suspicious looking person in blue and white. "Do not worry my lord." he said as they passed. Matsuki recognized him from the group outside. He sighed and hoped these loyal followers of his knew what they were doing.

Streets

Gendai was rather insulted with the tone this foreigner was using with him. However, he had forgotten that the fourth law did not apply to foreign visitors. He composed himself and re-adressed Heinz.

"I apologize for doing my job, sir." Gendai responded. "I meant nothing by it. If you'll just show me your passport, I'll let you on your way."


Heinz thought to himself. "Shit. I don't have a passport...."

He thought of something.

"Hey! Look behind you! It's MANBEARPIG!"

Kedoko didn't trust humans very easily, and Deent was no exception. But this Matsuki, he intended to take over the empire obviously. If he succeeded, there was certain to be chaos and anarchy erupting in Lailett that would easily rival anything a small uprising could offer. It was the perfect opportunity.

"Your rein of tyranny shall end with you, Kedoko!" Deent shouted, as he took the two steps of distance from the Emperor, sliding the flat-blade from beneath the skin of his forearm and straight to the man's side.

Heinz thought to himself. "Shit. I don't have a passport...."

He thought of something.

"Hey! Look behind you! It's MANBEARPIG!"

OOC:

um...wtf? okay, i guess i can play along with this

IC:

Streets

Taken aback, Gendai just couldn't resist turning around...

Palace

Deent was easily knocked back by a powerful blow from a guard's polearm. Yet Kedoko still suffered a cut to the ribs. He clutched his side, grimacing in mild pain.

"Why you..." he sputtered. "Take him to the dungeon! No one attacks the emperor. NO ONE!" He was burning with rage not only from almost being killed, but also from the fact that someone had done so in his one throne room. This is why I keep everyone out of here in the first place, he thought.

Dungeon

Matsuki sat in the dungeon cell, feeling very foolish. He should have expected resistance, he thought. But then, it was the imperial guards that took him. This made him think. It was the guards' duty to protect members of the royal family. They would never turn on him, unless...they couldn't have been real guards. Kedoko must have hired mercenaries and disguised them as guards.

He paced for a while. There would be no getting out of here for him. The dungeon was itself heavily guarded; no one would be there to save him. Then he heard a voice.

"Matsuki!"

Matsuki turned around, looking for the source of the voice. He was quite startled, having not expected anyone else to be down here.

"Don't worry. I'll have you out of there in a bit."

He then saw the face of the other person. He was a Lailetan, about his size, but more solidly built. He seemed to be busy with something. After a bit, the mystery man opened the door to the cell.

Matsuki was quite stunned. "Wait, who are you?" he said.

Deent had nearly been knocked unconscious by the polearm, but he recovered himself quickly, maintaining as much composure as he could while being dragged roughly to the depths of the palace dungeon. The moment they left him in the cell, he cursed himself. He had been fast back in the training days, but he should have known he couldn't be fast enough to escape the watchful eyes of a king's personal guard. Those men had trained their entire lives, they lived to protect him from such strikes. Well, it was no matter. The fool had simply sent him to the dungeons. If he didn't realize the man might have more than a knife concealed under his skin, he was not thinking very hard on it.

He pulled the thin piece of metal from under the side of his thumbnail, and began working at the lock. It wasn't too hard to work the simple tumblers, and he was out in moments. But as the lock clicked, he froze, having heard something. The muffled voice down the hall seemed to inquire "who are you?" he recognized it immediately.

He glided down the hallway straight toward the voice. Matsuki would be his next man.

Dungeon

"You probably don't know me." the man said. "My name is Itatsu Renamoko. I used to be a guard of the imperial family. That is, until I was removed by Kedoko."

Matsuki was surprised that any of the guards would really recognize him. He paid it no mind, however. "Why would he?" he asked. "He needs all the protection he can get."

"Yes, I'm sure he knows that." Itatsu answered. "But he had a good reason: I told the others how Kedoko was not the rightful emperor, and that he was a tyrant. I guess he found out and had me removed from duty permanently." He motioned down the corridor. "Follow me. I'll help you get him out any way I can."

Matsuki was a little concerned. "Okay, but why are you helping me. You're not a guard anymore, you know."

Itatsu chuckled. "Yeah, I know, but I feel like I owe something to the people to help you take over and set the empire straight." He started walking. "Come on. There's no time to waste."

As they cautiously traveled the halls, Matsuki had a nagging thought in the back of his mind. "Itatsu, who was that human with Kedoko?"

The Lailetan frowned. "I'm not really sure, but I have my suspicions. Strange things have been going on lately. I've heard talk of spies."

"Spies?" Matsuki asked, quite unexpectingly.

"Yes. From what I've heard, someone was kidnapped right out of Nurai, in an MP vehicle no less. There's that human Deent as well. Kedoko hates humans, so why he would allow one inside the throne room is beyond me, unless there is something else involved. "

Matsuki shuddered. Foreign spies in the empire?

"Another thing too," Itatsu continued. "Because of the numerous uprisings lately, Kedoko is planning to have the military crack down on the citizens. He'll make it a living hell for them."

Now Matsuki was angry. He knew he had to get rid of Kedoko as soon as possible.

Deent was too cautious to approach Matsuki yet. He followed them silently through the corridors, pausing before each corner or in the closest shadow. From what the two men were speaking about, Matsuki was not too stupid, even if he was fool enough to come and challenge the king without a backing. Like Kedoko, he was probably not the most trusting sort, especially not of someone who he knew was at his opponent's side.

He rubbed at the cuts under his arm where he had pulled out the blade. He had another under the other arm, and other useful items for his trade. He supressed the urge to wring his hands again. This was a delicate situation.

He'd have to stay from sight as long as possible, depend on Matsuki receiving news that Deent had attempted assassination. Then he would more easily trust him...

Streets

Taken aback, Gendai just couldn't resist turning around...

Heinz took off.

Streets

Nothing was there. Gendai turned back to the man, but saw he had run. Frustrated, he continued his normal patrol, hoping another officer would catch him.

Palace

The two approached the large double doors to the throne room. Itatsu grabbed a polearm left by one of the guards. He approached the doors and took hold of one of the large handles.

"Better be prepared." he said to Matsuki, and opened the door.

He had expected someone to be inside, but the room was entirely empty. He took a quick glance around, but nothing. Apparently, something had happened in here, and Kedoko had gone to some other location.

"Strange." Matsuki muttered. "Where else would he be?" He paced the large blue carpet that covered the floor. In the center was a large picture of an elegant falcon, the symbol of the royal family. It had been a long time since he had last been to the palace, so Matsuki looked long at the beautiful picture. Then he noticed that part of the carpet overlayed itself. Upon examination, he found a large door under it. This had to lead somewhere.

Itatsu came back and saw the large portal in the floor. "What is that!?" he exclaimed.

Matsuki had already opened it. It seemed to lead to a tunnel about fifteen feet below. There was a ladder that led to the bottom. He shrugged. "Well, anything is better than nothing." he said, and began to descend the ladder.