NationStates Jolt Archive

{New Christendom, The Republic}

The grey eyed man looked up towards the top of the hill, keeping his eyes open despite the heavy rainfall, has he gazed upon the magnificant, yet almost secretive temple. He had searched for months, no years, for this single temple. He had wanted so dearly to gaze upon it, for it to embrace him--for it was his new home, his new life awaited him. Few people could have fallen as far as this man, to be so great once to hold in his hands the power over billions, only to fall from grace in a single day, then to fall from his power a month later. He was former Imperator Undren, and his life was the life you would put up on a poster in hell. He was born being told it was his right to rule over the people of Jagada--that he was continue to rebuild the country so that one day, prehaps his own children depending upon his success, would rise up and smite the ones who cast the once mighty religious nation down. He was suppose to ensure his people would have the vengence they so eagerly desired. Until he arrived.

Undren, was older now, not by much though the stress his mind and body were put under had forced grey hair and old age upon him much earlier than nature expected or even he for that matter. He then continued his walked up the stone stairs to the temple. His new life would begin here and hopefully his life would also end here. In death he could find peace, in honor he could find redemption, this temple ensured both would occur. His membership was more vital than he thought, for his membership was the last piece of a puzzle--a grand design that was unfolding that would not just rock the Republic, but the entire world. From so humble a beginning, from so worthless a station, his single act of seeking membership was all that was nessecary to begin to turn the wheels of destiny. Wheels that would not end in humiltation, and would see the World itself shutter violently, and then collapse. He could not imagine this, nor would he ever fully understand his destiny. Even has he slipped on the stone steps his mind couldn't, or possibly refused, to grasp the situtation he was in. He slipped once more, this time landing on his face he fel ashamed and wanted to weep--for his life was worthless and without meaning. Then a humble old voice called out to him.

"My son...are you Undren?" it asked. The grey-eyed former Imperator looked up to see an old man standing before him. He was plump though he had a fair look on his face, one that reminded Undren of his grandfather whom he had mercifully spared after siezing power in a bloody coup so many years ago.

Undren rose to his feet, "Yes, sensei, are you Master Katsuro?"

"I am. Please come in. We have been expecting you for quite some time."

Undren bowed and then finished up the stairs and met the old man whom then led him inside the building. As he entered he was hit with the smell of candles and he could see dozens of them, lighting the entire temple in a flickering light. Inside on the ground meditating were dozens of people their eye blindfolded and they sitting on the floor quite as can be. Undren felt a sense of relief--finally he could escape the hell that was his life. Here he could be accepted, and here his life was forfiet. Here his honor could be restored, and he could die in peace. The old humble man led him to a backroom and showed him the robes he would be wearing, along with a few peices of jewelry which all 'monks' were suppose to wear. He also pointed out that hair would not be allowed, but that they would deal with that tomorrow. Lastly the humble old man handed Undren a scroll, and a serious look came arcross his face, "Do not open this until your day comes. You shall know when that day comes. When your life is forfieted, when you escape this world. Read it then, and all of life mysteries shall be revealed to you. Should you open it before then--then you will never die and you shall live in your current pain and agony for the rest of eternity. Am I understood?"

"Yes master," replied Undren, and then the humble face returned to Katsuro. The old man then left the room, citing that Undren would want to change alone. As he began to remove his clothing he thought back, involuntarily of coarse, to the day when his seemingly easy life was turned into a nightmare--a nightmare he hoped to escape soon. The day Franco York returned to the realm of the living despite the fact that he laid dead in the sands of Old Jagada for a decade. The day York arose, was the a day a dark cloud spread across Jagada. He remebered the utter fear he had when York returned, and walked up the palace stairs, and then looked into the cameras and spoke but one word: Revenge. Undren had repeated that word in his mind a thousand times over, but when York spoke it, it became more than a word--it became the gospel by which he was determined to live his life. Clearly York was immortal, he was an almost god-like figure. One that would not, could not, be killed by mere mortals. York became his god, and he placed all of his faith into him. York's destiny became his own, York's life essence began to sustain his own. In York he had put all his trust, hope, and love--in York his life had meaning. Undren closed his eyes to block out the images for a moment, and then opened them again and exhaled. "Soon it will all be over," Undren stated and he finished putting on the green robes, he placed the scroll in his sash which was he put around his waist. He hoped that was the correct place, and has he walked out of the room and noticed everyone else had theirs in a similar way he felt releived. Katsuro, whom had been simply standing the room, appoarched him once more and congradulated him finding the correct place for the scroll--which he went into explaining how most new members didn't.

"Please, my son, take your place amoungst your brothers and sisters. Mediate upon becoming a new member, these are also new members in our order. Soon you shall meet the Leader," said Katsuro, putting emphasis on the mediate part. Undren had no problems mediating, thus he took up his place in the ranks of monks and closed his eyes--and the as usual the images returned. This time of seeing his power stripped away by Religious Fascists when they launched a coup against York. He remebered the day, as he relaxed reading a book in York's mansion, the tempoary capital building when suddenly he heard gun shots. He peered out the window and saw the mansion guards being cut down as an entire battalion of soldiers surronded the building. He wasn't worried the slightest bit, York was immortal and York sustained his own life force. So long as York lived, so did he. He never even heard it hit or even hear it decending. In a sudden, crashing instant, his life collapsed. A napalm bomb his the house, and immiedately it caught on fire. Two more strikes sealed the houses fait. As the walls burned around him, Undren rushed out of his room, as the sticky fire burned more and more of the mansion apart. He came upon a burning figure in the hallway, leading to York's room, he watched in horror as his life substance burned into a pile of sticky, blue and yellow, flaming slime. He simply sat there, not aware that the world around him burned in the same substance. He remebered when the soldiers kicked the door down to the house and rushed in and grabbed him, dragging him out. Once outside he also remebered being appoarched by various man praising him and calling him their leader. The last thing he remebered was simply standing up and walking away--his life was over and he knew it.

"My people," a charasmatic voice rang out, which interrupted his thoughts. He opened his eyes to a see a man, standing about six feet tall, with a bald head and blue eyes standing at the front of the templar in grey robes. Undren looked upon the man, he was in his sixites from what he could tell, but with the man acted and moved he probably thought he was in his thirties. "It is good to see so many have come to us, that so many want to embrace our ideals and want to bring the world to understand our ways. By any means," he continued, "You all know what our organization encompasses. All of you have come here to sacrifice your lives, to become martyrs in a plan much more complex than you can even begin to imagine. Are you all prepared? For if you are not prepared to become a Monk in the Order of the Third Eye. Now is the time to leave." It appeared no one would get up, when suddenly a woman got up, bowed and then walked out of the door. Undren watched, with his eyes, ensuring his eye did not phsycially move as the man in front of them nodded to Katsuro, whom then exited the same door the woman exited from. Undren knew she probably wouldn't even make it halfway down the stairs--he didn't care either.

"The rest of you are hereby monks within the Order of the Third Eye. To your old life ends, and your short, meaningful life begins. Welcome my children."

{New Christendom, The Republic}

"We are the new wave! We final wave! Come to us, so that we may merge our souls together and ascend into greatness," cried Katsuro into the crowd of spectators. Undren sat, with his legs cross and in a state of meditation. This mysticism had no meaning to him, he simply wanted to forfiet his life for this order to have some meaning in his life. So much lost, so fast. Oh how the mighty fall. Undren occasionally opened one eye to observe what was going on as a mass of people, mostly despressed looking teenagers, observed. Some shouting apporval, other shouted condemnation. Though despite how they felt, they all listened--their minds in a trance by Katsuro's message. They had assembled here voluntarily in Paradise Square, to hear the message. The message of the new and the final wave, the first and the last, the alpha and the omega from what Katsuro said. Nothing else in human history matter, nothing was worth anything--this was the moment humans were born, and in the same instant they were born into this reality they were die in it and be cast into a new one. Katsuro was a man of speechs, one whom could inspire the people a master of propaganda.

"The priests have lied! The monks of the mysticism temples have given you but the words of the unenlightened! Join us! Sacrifice your body, your mind, so that your soul can ascend. Die for us, and we shall live for you! Within us...find meaning and purpose!" he shouted at his message spread like a wildfire. The teenagers began to agree more heavily with him as they shouted praise his way. Undren's emotionaless feelings did not leave him despite seeing the masses flock to the ideals of the Third Eye. This was their first public gathering, he knew the teenagers would flock. With suicide rates in the Republic at an absolutely shocking rate the teenagers of Jagada--confused and already with the world against them turned to death, God, or cults. Drugs and alcohol were not even remotely avaible in Jagada, what little actually got into the country found its way only to the most corrupt, more filthy and impoverished areas of the country. Undren felt something deep in his heart something that he couldn't surpress--pity. He couldn't understand it but he pitted these teenagers they were born into a country where his life essence, York, had completely destroyed by first joining Kraven, then betraying them. His life essence caused this, yet he did not feel an ounce of guilt for supporting him. All beings died--prehaps it was these teenagers right if they wanted to die sooner rather than later. Civilization was one of the excuses the Republic used to try and prevent suicide, but what good is civilization is the World hates, ignores, or thinks your country is inferior? Where you cannot leave your country and flee to other lands because they will not accept you. Prehaps this was there only chance to have meaning. Yet he still felt pity for them, even though their reasons were no different than his own.

This was beginning, the movement that would end civilization. End human sufferings. All nations would feel its affects, and soon the world itself would shutter and civilization would convulse and its pulse slowly slip away as the Third Eye spread.

"Like a plague they shall come--like an unholy storm of fire and brimestone. They shall cause the masses to parish by words alone. And the world will ask where the Almighty is..."--expert from the Jagite Books (not offical books of the Bible)

---

Free Imperia News
Special Report: Mass Suicides result of New Age Cult?

"This is Gina Momoko--hundred lay dead across the Republic tonight. Not from violence, but from the result of a planned, and well executed mass suicide. Committed in the name of the Order of the Third Eye, and its leader whos name is unknwon. Yari Samurai officals report that appearntly the mass suicides were organized by the people themselves and they drank extremely potent posion which they died almost immiedately after drinking as it shut down their heart and brain. As to who ordered this mass suicide is yet unknown. To no ones surprise, the primary suspects in this are the leaders of the Order of the Third Eye which have yet to be identified. Police officals went on to say that as of this moment they do not know who these leaders could possibly be, or their hide outs. Though it is also reported that there will be no charges filed against the order in the name of religious freedom as diaries and journals found on the suspects clearly stated that they willing chose to kill themselves and it was not forced upon them.

Though is it clear tonight that the Republic sits in awe as this new cult spreads across the lands like a wildfire, and many feel that tonight's mass suicide is only the start of a much more bloody scale of violence done in the name of religion..."

An aide turned the television off at Riyabuo's signal. In front of her, in her tan colored office, with a window that got a perfect view of the city she sat with her hands sliding into her hands--yet another crisis and this one wouldn't go away. She raised her head up and looked over at one of the aides, "So, how many?"

"Around three hundred and forty mame," said the aide while lowering his head.

Shiro Kenji sat in the leather chair in front of the Highest Minister's desk. His hand rubbing his eyes due mostly to stress. "That many...and yet there is nothing we can do about it."

Riyabuo looked up at the twenty something Minister of Home Affairs. He was a very controversial member of her cabinet, since he was young. Though he had just as much experiance in his short life than most men had in their entire life. She had hoped to simply keep him tucked away, out of the public spotlight, even going so far as puting Rednight, Minister of Foreign Affairs, inbetween bullets the public and press regularly threw at Kenji. "I am aware. We cannot act against them due to religious freedom. So long as those whom commit suicide have their journal's and diaries on them or some proof that they willingly killed themselves--then we cannot move against the cult. What do you propose I do then?"

Kenji looked out the window, and then back at the television thinking, he then shrugged, "There is nothing we can do. We are the prefect breeding ground for a cult like this--they do not tell their people specifically to kill themselves, they can call it interpretation of their message in the wrong way. I have to say, whoever is leading this operation picked the best place in the world to do so."

Riyabuo glared at him, "That's not encouraging."

Kenji shrugged again, "I just don't see how we can stop them. All we can do Madame Minister is brace ourselves. I believe we're in for the storm of the cenutry."

Free Imperia News
Mass suicides continue as Republic is left helpless...

"Despite fierce efforts by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Church leaders, and even the Church of New Christendom--the mass suicides continue across the Republic. At present the numbers have reached into the thousands, with almost two thousand dying. Tens of thousands more have proclaimed their alliegance to this New Age Cult known as the Order of the Third Eye. Despite proclamations made by members of the group which discourage comitting suicide--it appears orders are coming from somewhere within the organization.

Needless to say the public is gripped in a state of fear as the number of suicides continue. The largest one occured in Paradise Park earlier this week when four hundred people suddenly pulled poison viles and drank them before Yari Samurai could intervene. None survived.

This is Gina Momoko reporting live from New Christendom, Free Imperia News..."

---

Undren sat on the porch of the temple looking out at the vast countryside as it rained. He had been in deep thought recently, the pity he felt for the teenagers who blindly rushed into this organization, this belief simply because they felt that they had no purpose in life. His soul, what little he had left, was confused and saddened. So much pain, so much suffering. Jagada, born in the ashes and flames of war, didn't look like it'd come very far since its foundation. Indeed it did have centuries of peace, but when it did have problems they were extremely violent and often resulted in centuries of suffering. Undren was never a believer in God, in any form, he was a stern atheist, and he would continue to be that way. He had always said that if there was a God why would he cause such suffering upon this nation, which had dedicated its existance to him, and fought for God at every turn. What did the Republic, what did Jagada get in return, it got two civil wars, one nuclear, it got led into the hands of Kraven, it got exterminated, it got cast down and made the laughing stock of the World. undren growled and slammed his fist down on the wooden porch and looked up into the grey sky, which poured rain down upon the land.

"Why do you hate us so?" he demanded, "Why have we not received anything in return for our faithfulness? What do we get in exchange for our sacrifce? Nothing, thats what!"

Undren lowered his head, he hadn't cried in years, and he wouldn't this time--not for an imaginary God. Suddenly he felt a feeling, and then he heard a voice, it was faint but it was there.

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have troubles. But take heart, I've overcome the World," it said calmly to him.

Undren's head snapped up and he looked around, but could find no one. He rose to his feet and walked to one end of the porch and to the other. Again, no one. He stood and looked up at the sky, but quickly lowered his head. "Impossible, I must be going crazy," he said. Suddenly he heard footsteps on the damp, cold porch and looked towards the door to see Katsuro looking around, once he spotted Undren he walked over to him in his usually humble fashion. "Monk Undren, is everything alright? I heard you talking. Do we have visitors?" he asked. Undren shook his head, "Its nothing, thought I heard something. Probably just the thunder."

The old monk smiled, "Good, do you have a moment, the Leader would like to speak with you."

Undren shrugged and followed the old man as they went back into the temple and then threw a maze to reach a wooden sliding door, Katsuro motioned for Undren to wait and has he entered he saw a figure in the room wave his hand. The monk turned around, "The Leader will see you now."

Undren walked back Katsuro and into the room. As he entered he immiedately could smell something was out of place, a smell that didn't belong in a wooden room of a templace--almost a sulfuric smell. Though in the ill-lit room he could hardly find his way, much less tell where this ominious smell came from. "Please come in my child, we have much to discuss," stated a voice. Thats when Undren saw him, the elderly Leader sitting on the floor smiling. Undren walked up and also took a place on the floor, and bowed.

"You wished to see me, Master?" he said.

"Indeed. You have proven to be a very resourcful member of our organization. You have even earned Katsuro's respect. Your long hours of meditation, combined with your background as former Imperator, and your training in special operations tactics have led me to ask you for the following," said the master of the order his eyes appearing grey in the ill-lit room, "I want you to execute a member of the Chamber."

Undren raised an eyebrow, that was more then a minor request, though he kept silent as the Leader went into detail, "This particular member of our order goes by the name of Masuyo Minoru , he is a member of our order. We helped him get to his position so that would word, and our message could spread into the political sphere. The plan and scheme that got him into office was shocking complex and highly effective, showing that our orders entrancing all members of society. Though Mr. Minoru has turned on us, and he is going to the authorities within the new few days to hand over everything he has. He is afarid of us, but does not think that we know."

Undren pondered on it for a moment. He wanted to die, not lead an assassination of a man he'd did know or care to know. In the end he sighed, one more hellish moment in his already worthless life, he shrugged, "Where will he be at? He clearly won't be sleeping at his home--even if he doesn't suspect that we know."

The Leader smiled, "He is located at the Tallgrass Hotel in downtown Pax Topazia. The security to the hotel isn't very extensive from what my sources tell me, but they won't just let you walk in with sub-machine guns."

"I see, equipment will also be required," replied Undren.

The Leader nodded, but not at Undren, towards Katsuro who them walked into the room and over to another sliding wooden door and opened it--inside what enough weaponry and battle armor, including the military-designed JABS 'Automail', what the elite Rear Guard used in battle. "I believe I have that covered, my child."

Undren continued not to have any sign of an emotion upon his face, he simply stared at the Leader, "I will need a team of five people. My choice of who I work with. Though who amoungst us has combat experiance."

The Leader smiled again, "You don't give me enough credit, my child. Nor do you realize that you are a monk in this order, you have no mind, no freedom of will. I have already chosen your team, and they are ex-special forces that will serve just fine in this operation. Now do you accept your Master's mission?"

Undren, in a cold almost emotionless voice, one that would make any normal man's spine shiver, "I agree."

---

{Pax Topazia, The Republic}

It was a regular night at the Tallgrass Hotel, as the rich and famous came in, check in, and checked out. Many celeberities and businessmen also came in, some with their legimate spouses, other with strangers. It wasn't uncommon for the rich to live less than moral lives. Though this night they would wish they had followed the Commandments of God--for those who did not believe in the Almighty were about to storm the gates and send many to the afterlife--if such an thing existed. Though all this was unknown to those who were inside the hotel, espically Hikaru Shichiro son of the most wealthy man in the Republic, Nibori Shichiro the owner of Inn Industrial. He had his arm slung around a woman, probably in her early twenties with long brown hair and brown eyes. She was but one of many that he dated constantly to appease his young-adult sexuality. He flirted with her and told her things she wanted to hear like all other men did, save he could say it and women would believe it. It was one of the various benefits of being rich, wealthy, and powerful.

"You know, baby, that you are by far the best looking woman I have ever dated," he said as they walked into the main lobby of the hotel and towards the counter.

"You're just saying that," she said knowing it was a teasing comment.

"Mr. Shichiro, here is your key," said the man behind the counter. Hikaru allowed his already overinflated ego to expand with what just happened--before he could even ask, the key had been handed to him a clear sign that he was respected or prehaps it was that he was more feared than anything. He simply nodded at the clerk and then him and his new date continued towards the elevators.

"No, I'm serious. You are fine," he said. She was completely estatic, she didn't come from nearly as wealth a family as him, but she did have money. With money usually came parents who couldn't pay enough attention to their children. It was one of the most malicious things about Hikaru, was they he knew the human mind and psycology that he could exploit it and benefit from it. This was a key example, by bombarding her with lies of how much he cared for her--he could in the end get what he wanted, and everyone in the hotel, prehaps save his date, knew what that was.

As Hikaru waited for the elevator, surronded by a few other businessmen he grew impaitent. Suddenly he heard a scream from outside and then the sound of silenced gun fire. He couldn't tell what it was until the glass doors to the hotel shatterd due to gunfire and people began to collapse on the ground in heaps. Hikaru immiedately threw his date aside, despite the fact that she tried to cling to him for protection and immiedately headed for the stairs. Though for some unknown reason, maybe Divine retribution for his mind games, he was struck in the back of the leg, right in the calf muscle, and he collapsed to the ground screaming in pain. He didn't bother to look to see if his date was ok--though she had already been shot and was already receiveing Judgement. He began to cry as he saw a large group of men enter the hotel and begin executing the remnants of the living. Then had the clerk up against his desk searching threw record. Hikaru only heard two things, "Minoru" and "Room 134". He tried to make his way up the stairs, by grabbing onto the railguards and trying to pull himself up. Though he got unneeded attention by doing this and a burst from a sub-machine guns hit him right in the gut and he slide down and was leaning up against the very railguard he was trying to climb. After the group of men finished with the clerk, he was killed with a quick burst of sub-machine gun fire to the back at close range. As the group walked towards Hikaru he realized that they were not just wearing simple battle armor, but the Automail system. He knew this when they pushed past him and one of them remained--looking at him, as its blue eyes activated, he saw only one thing after that--the muzzle flash from the gun.

Undren and his rather bloated contingent of de facto special forces rushed up the stairs. Using the elevator would mean they could run into more civilians or people within the hotel, and while he didn't mind killing them like he did those in the lobby he knew it would consume too much time. Anyone that saw them had to be executed just to make sure they couldn't give the police enough information to lead them to the temple or to the high ranking members of the Order. After climbing what seemed like countless flights of stairs, Undren stopped at one of the doors, his breathing heavy but his focus remaining. He peered threw the glass and looked around in the limited view it gave him. He saw no one. He opened the door and quickly slid out into the hallway and aimed his sub-machine gun in all directions, he then signaled his men to follow him, as they rushed threw the hallways until they came upon their objective: Room 134. Undren signaled his men to take a few paces back and establish a parimeter. They already knew to kill anyone who came out of their rooms. Undren then gently put his hand on the handle and check it ever so slightly--it was locked. This complicated things. Did this mean Minoru knew they were outside and thus had fortified his room? Or was he sleeping? Undren didn't have time to think, by now someone either outside the hotel or inside had come across their mess in the main lobby, and that meant the Yari Samurai were on their way to the hotel and would soon storm it en mass. Undren then stepped in front of the door and with all his might delievered a sidekick, which knocked the door open. As Undren entered he saw Minoru immiedately reacting to his clearly unintended assault on the room, as he was trying to get out of bed. Before his feet even hit the floor, the sixty year old Chambermen was killed with a burst of sub-machine gun fire. While Undren checked Minoru's pulse to make sure he was gone, he heard several sub-machine guns from outside the room. Though he heard something else, assault rifle fire. He immiedately went towards the door and peered outside to see four men in Yari Samurai clothing laying dead on the ground near the stairs, while he saw one of his own men laying clearly dead has half of his head was missing. Undren looked on surprised, he didn't expect police intervention for another fifteen minutes at least. Yet here they were the bodies of four Yari Samurai.

"Ok, stairs are blocked. We have to find another route. Any alternative exits to this place?" asked Undren. One of his men pointed to a window, a very possible option. The police couldn't get information from corpses. Though suddenly one of the men held a fisted hand up, "No, we have our orders men. We know what we must do. For the order," he said calmly. Undren was confused, what plan? "What plan?" he asked. The soldier, which he couldn't tell who is was since everyone looked the same in their Automail Battle Armor, looked over at him, "Undren, we were never expected to make it out of here alive. We must stay behind to make a statement to the government and the people. You were the only one who was suppose to make it out of here alive." Undren was still confused, "A statement? What kind of statement," questioned Undren. "I cannot explain. Please, you must remove your armor and change into regular clothing. Something in Minoru's room will probably do."

Undren wanted to ask me questions when he heard the sounds of more Yari Samurai coming up the stairs. He then quickly removed his armor and placed it in the cloest. His de facto special forces team nodded to him before they disappeared--charging down the hall. Undren hid in the room, as the Yari Samurai passed by and stopped. Though their stay in the room was very short as his team began to fire upon them from down the hall which captured their attention. As they rushed down the hall, trying to either kill or arrest his former team--Undren exited the room calmly and began to make his way down stairs. On his way down he encountered Yari Samurai, but they only quickly told him to get downstairs and stay there. Undren willingly obeyed and finished his journey downstairs. Once downstairs, in the hussle and confusion that gripped the horrific crime scene, he quietly exited the hotel, and made his way down the street. Suddenly he heard a loud crackle of gunfire, and then silence. He sighed, and pity for his former comrades gripped his soul yet again.

Free Imperia News
Hotel Attacked! Chairmen and CEO Son killed! Assassinations spread fear across Republic!

"The cases of mass suicides that have spread across the Republic, were shadowed last night when the TallGrass Hotel was attacked by large group of men, around ten. The men are said to have arrived in a black van and immiedately killed the residents entering and exiting the hotel. Officals report that immiedately they stormed the hotel and executed everyone they came across, including Hikaru Shichiro, son of the famous Nibori Shichiro, owner of Inn Industrial, the largest supplier of weapons within the Republic. Though offical suspect that Hikaru wasn't the one targeted and simply was caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. The one they believe was targeted was newly elected Chambermen Minoru. He was killed in his room, police stated that it looked like the Chamberman didn't even get out of his bed.

Though this horrific story does not end there. The men who launched the assault rushed to the roof of the TallGrass Hotel and killed six police officers who were pursuing them. In a stunning move the men replaced the Republic's flag and on the pole rose a purple flag with a blue eye. After doing this, then men lined up in straight lines and executed eachother. Following this, and after extensive media coverage, hundreds of these purple and blue eyed flags were raised against the Republic from various points. With dozens of statues of Lord Jagada being desercrated by having the new flag driven into its chest.

The police suspect the Order of the Third Eye, the New Age cult which has gained much support in just a few weeks to be behind the assault and this incident."

---

The day was sunning and rather pleasant, the people went about their business with a hint of fear. No, this wasn't fear of the Third Eye, out in the remote southeastern region the real fear came from the local authorities who detested the Moslem population. The state of the city of New Hope was a clear sign of it. The buildings run down and even the most basic of maintenance not being done on public works. The streets cracked, the buildings collapsing, the name of the city was a lie to say the least. Occasionally a group of Moslems would pass by a group of Yari Samurai, the police force of the Republic, and suddenly they were fall to the ground underneath the brutal swing by the group. Random acts of violence were common, the police force wasn't even drawn from people in the southeastern region but from the Yorkism Followers, the followers of the now dead Franco York. The region was a state within a state essientally, it rarely paid its taxes, it politicans corrupt and its wealth abundant--but only for the elite. It was the kind of place you'd put on a poster board denouncing tyranny and totaltarianism and barbarianism. A place that many in the Republic simply wanted to forget about, but it would not go away. The constant stain upon it, the stain that the world would always see.

Though something was in the air, something that was uneasy. Suicide bombings had been occuring for the last six months, following the depiction of Muhammad as a terrorist in a painting in Oceania. It was becoming increasingly common and that meant that the Yari Samurai were becoming increasingly hostile to the population hoping that fear would stop any more violence. Though as another youth yelled 'Allah Ackbar' and blew himself up right next to a police patrol, it was a clear sign that this region was on the brink of violence on a much broader scale. Though there was nothing the Republican Government could do to stop this cycle of violence. For the military forces in the region were corrupted due to greed to the point where they would not listen the central authority anymore and followed the mayors of various cities in the southeastern region. Effectively these mayors become warlords.

Tai Lim looked at the window just in time to see the youth transform himself into one of the dozens of martyrs for the Islamic faith. He could understand why the people were doing what they were doing, but he didn't know how he could stop it. He'd already used everything, from state-sponsered gangs to torture, to outright mass execution. Nothing seemed to work, it was one reason why he was an atheist, not because he didn't believe there was a God--but because he hated religion. He hated the fact that people so eagerly died for it. Tai sat back down at his desk, and looked around his office as he did several times a day. It was a stark contrast from the world outside, it painted walls shinning with glossy blue paint, while gold-colored trimming. His cherry-wood furniture was something very few commoners in the region had. The fact that his room was kept at a cool tempature was also a sign of the luxurious life the 'elected' warlord lived. All of this luxury was on the line and he knew it. If the people were ever given even an small chance to overthrow him, they would. Thus far he had managed to keep the central government in New Christendom from attacking him due to false and obviously corrupt elections which offically 'elects' him back into power. He had used his tyrannical power to slowly pass laws which effectively gave him a legitament legal reason to stay in office, term after term. The violence had steady increased with spoardic attacks on police patrols, the occasional death threats to him, but the Muhammad cartoon incident sparked the real violence. He needed someway to stop the violence--or at least vent it elsewhere.

Though as he pondered he noticed a large stack of manila folders sitting on the left hand corner of his desk. Getting on today's work, which he knew would consist of reports of suicide bombings, theft, assaults, and the few reports of police brutality which occasionally found its way to the very few honest police officers and then to him. Though has he tossed aside the reports of police brutality that were somehow placed on top of all these reports--he wouldn't crack down on operations and policies that kept him in power. Though one folder caught his eye, that was because on the folder was a painted blue eye. He opened it up and began to scan threw it slowly. It was very detailed, but in summary it basically stated that a member of the New Age cult known as the Order of the Third Eye was caught attempting to preach the cult's message in a public area. Tai leaned back and thought for a moment, another cult in his city wasn't a good idea. From what he read in the folder, they were also very violent and often ordered their members to commit mass suicide as a way of ending their problems. Suddenly, almost like a light bulb going off in his head, he realized how profitable that could be. The Moslems were disillusioned and their 'Allah' hadn't liberated them in ten years from the hellish-conditions they currently lived in. Prehaps this cult and its message of mass suicide would be more to their liking. The economy would take a hit, but the high ranking members of his 'government' wouldn't suffer too badly. Though there was also the backlash that could come from allowing this cult, if their leader's ever changed their message to revolution then he would be hard-pressed to control the whole region. He pondered on the pros and cons for the next few hours. Reading up, via the internet, on this Order of the Third Eye, he even found various sites which spewed nothing but propaganda for the site. He was impressed, if he was a disillusioned Moslem living in third world conditions, within a country which was rapidly advancing into the modern world, he would probably take to heart their message. Though he lived a life that some president's and prime ministers didn't even enjoy. His mind was made up.

---

Undren walked back up the very same stone stepps that he'd walked up the day he arrived at the temple with no name. It was, like it was when he first arrived, the center of power in the Order of the Third Eye. His mission was complete, though it did not have the outcome he had hoped. He was hoping this would be his first and last mission where he would charge into the hotel and an elderly security guard would get in a lucky shot, or where he and his team would have a last stand against the Yari Samurai and die. It hadn't come out that way and on purpose. He was told to live, when he desired to die, and his natural inclination to follow orders forced his hand. As he appoarched the top, the old Katsuro appeared from inside the temple with a smile on his face. "You have done well my student," stated Katsuro. Undren nodded, "Thank you master," stated Undren, "Though why did you plan behind my back?"

Katsuro shook his head, "Not I, but the Leader."

"Then may I speak with him?"

Katsuro gave another one of his humble smiles, "Yes, for he also wishes to speak with you. You have impressed him to say the least."

Undren nodded, "Please take me to him."

Katsuro motioned for Undren to follow him and the two where off. As they passed threw the main room of the temple he saw another string of new recruits, and feeling of pity emerged in his soul again as he knew those who were there when he first arrived had already committed suicide or were out in the Republic leading others to take their own lives. He pushed the feeling and the thoughts from his mind--as he hoped, almost praying, that his next assingment would be a suicide mission. As they appoarched the Leader's room, this time the door was already open and Katsuro immiedately motioned for him to enter. As Undren did so he noticed the room was lighter and most of the Leader's elderly body was visible. He sat down and for a moment all was silent.

"My child, you have done for me and the Order a great service. Threw your actions we are safe, and we can continue our glorious path to perfection and an end to suffering," he stated in slow tone, trying to sound mystic.

"Thank you, Leader," he stated.

"Your task is, however, not completely done. Your life must continue, even though I know you long for it to end," he stated and saw Undren surprise, "Now is the time for us to take something from the vile establishment. Time for you to get revenge for what they did to your life essence."

Undren was now more than surprised and his face showed it, "How do you know these things?"

The Leader smiled, his face showing signs of age and weakness, "I know many things my child. Fear not, for it will all be over and you and him can rest eternally."

Undren nodded, "What would you have me do Leader?"

The Leader smiled, "Rest for now. Your time will come soon, when I need you, I shall call upon you."

Undren was more than angry at the comment, but submitted and bowed then left the room. He then made his way back out onto the porch to try to work out in his mind what he was rapidly becoming apart of.

{Congressional Building, The Republic}

A guard at the doors, guards around the complex, and guards next to her--Riyabuo was almost completely surrounded by guards at every turn. They were very thick inside of the Congressional Building--the recent attack on the Tallgrass Hotel was still fresh in the minds of the government. It was ironic though, these guards were everywhere yet she could not use them for waging her own war on the Third Eye. Thus far no evidence could be found to link them to any of the mass suicides that had occurred across the Monotheistic Republic, and the police were at a loss. She smelled corruption, and here at this building the stronghold of the Republic, she smelled rats and plenty of them. The six guards around her, dressed in white trench coats escorted her only to the front door of the Congressional Building where another set of guards in similar attire waited for her. Though among them was a short, pudgy man whom was bald but carried a smile.

"Chambermen Masayoshiako, a pleasure to meet you," said Riyabuo bowing to the pudgy man, he returned the courtesy.

"No, no, Highest Minister, the pleasure is all mine. Now if you would follow me, I will take you to a waiting room. There you could rest, as I'm sure your trip from Pax Topazia was a long one," said the chambermen with a smile.

Riyabuo nodded and followed, though his comment about the trip from Pax Topazia has reminded her of the pain in her back, a trip via train was rather harsh. The skies around the capital had been closed for this emergency session of Congress, and the Republican Air Force was strictly upholding that quarantine. She, however, shrugged off the pain as she knew those in the eighteen hundreds probably had a much worse experience with the locomotives. In stark contrast to the dull surroundings, and far out-of-date decorations of the train she rode on, the halls of the Congressional Building were lavish to say the least. A good deal of the Republic's funds had gone into its construction--she had opposed it, but Congress to no surprise overrode her veto with a three-fourths vote--even though only a few actually voted against the buildings construction. She remembered feeling bitter anger and annoyance at the whole ordeal--which was actually her first 'crisis' as Highest Minister and did not help her already controversial reputation. Her concentration upon the past was broken when they arrived at the room.

"Madame Minister, if you would please wait in here," stated the chambermen again.

Riyabuo nodded and entered the room, but turned around and caught the chambermen before he left, "Sir, do you know how long the wait will be?"

The pudgy man's natural smile grew wider, "Not too long, madam." Despite the fact that he didn't actually answer his question he closed the door and left Riyabuo alone in the small, lavish waiting room. Riyabuo took the opportunity to review her speech which she had prepared. It wasn't very long, even though she had a natural talent to aspire people to do great and uncommon things. It was, after all, how she even came to be Highest Minister. It, in general, was nothing more than a battle cry against the Third Eye and had undertones of preparing no longer recognizing the Third Eye as a State Religion and thus stripping it of its privileges. She knew it wouldn't pass--but she knew that only because she knew that many within her own party were actively working against her. She gave a low growl at that fact. Some only wanted more power within the party, some wanted her job, and some were actually members of the Third Eye for political purposes and would not doubt be the only ones to actively talk about freedom of worship and religion. Those who opposed simply for more power would keep their mouths closed, for fear of being publicly believed as followers of the cult.

As knock at the door caught her attention, "Please enter," she stated. She had no idea how wrong such a statement was. As the door swung open a man dressed in a white trench coat stood there with a black pistol in his hand. "Whore!" he shouted, and then pulled the trigger. Riyabuo had no time to react, all she saw was the muzzle-flash and she felt a pain in her side, in shock and terror she simply sat down in the only chair the room had accommodated her with. Her eyes wide at the man who'd just put a bullet into her ribs. After what felt like an eternity, but was only a matter of seconds, almost ten arms lashed out around the man at various points and pulled him out of the room. Riyabuo heard five pistols go off in the hallway and several screams. The pistols rang out six times each--in the Republic traitors didn't get trails. Suddenly a man in a white trench coat, with blood stains on it came into the room and rushed over to her--he didn't even bother asking if she was already as he saw the pool of blood forming at the base of the chair.

"Madame Minister, hang in there. We're getting you out of here," the man said. Suddenly, almost without her wanting to do it, she waved her hand. "No, I am fine."

The man looked at her puzzled, "But madam minister, you've been shot!"

Riyabuo now had to act on her words, she pressed on the shoulder of the man who'd come to her aide and rose to her feet, only then did she notice more people rushing to the door of the room, only to be pushed back by the White Coats that had now set up a perimeter around the room. She looked around the room and found a towel lying on a rack, she grabbed it and pressed it against her ribs and then slowly walked outside of the room. She began to feel fine as the shock began to wear off and her mind began to take over functions her instincts had taken during the emergency. The group around the room looked on in horror at her, as her white suit was now ruined by a trail of blood that ran from her left rib cage down to his left foot. She looked around and found Chambermen Masayoshiako standing there--he was much more shocked than anyone else in the group. He looked pale, almost like he was going to puke. She composed herself, her first words would be critical, "Chambermen Masayoshiako, is it time for my speech or shall I take my place back in the room?"

Though before the chambermen could answer the White Coat who'd originally help her walked up next to her, "Madame Minister, this area is unsafe. This could have been a target assassination."

Riyabuo managed to form a smirk on her face, "That is untrue, sir. If it was a targeted assassination--then they'd have hit there target. As you can see, I'm still alive."

She returned her gaze over to Masayoshiako, "Your answer, chambermen?"

He was still shocked, his natural smile now replaced by a no so artificial face of terror--he only shook his head and pointed toward the two oak doors which was the main entrance into the Congressional Room. She followed the chambermen, though she was now followed by six White Coats who kept their guns at the ready as if they had stormed an enemy fortress. Masayoshiako slung open the doors to find a room in chaos. The large room adorned in blue drapes and decorated with the symbols of Christianity, Islam, and other religions along with symbols of the Republic. With the Jagite Flag drape from every wall--the room filled with silence as Riyabuo entered. Her white suite gave her conditions away immediately. The various chambermen and councilmen, whom had been arguing and panicked a minute before due to gun shots, now stood in silent awe. The bloody body of the twenty-seven year old Riyabuo made its way up to the stage, she had a bit of difficulty getting up on the stage--but was quickly assisted by two White Coats. She wondered if this was how she would feel when she got old--she hoped not. She looked around the room, with councilmen and chambermen still standing in awe at the bloody spectacle that she had become.

"Gentlemen, if you would be so kind as to take your seats. I have a speech and I believe we shall have some legislation to vote on," stated Riyabuo. Only then did she realize that this changed her entire plan, she had no idea what would happen now--or even if she could focus enough to tell the party traitors from simply the ambitious. Though she had no time to contemplate that now, as the Congressmen took their seats. She cleared her throat, only to realize it had traces of blood. She set her speech down and focused herself by saying a small prayer.

"Gentlemen of the Congress--we, the leaders of the Monotheistic Republic have been charged with the task of the defense of Christendom, as no other nation rises to such a call. In our world of balances and counter-balances we provide the necessary balance with keeps the most critical, the most vital thing in this world from falling into oppression, and that is religion. Though we must question ourselves from time to time. We must understand that while we send our legions, our divisions, and our armies to march across the Atheist, the Heretic, and the Extremist that there are some religions out there, excuse me, some cults out there which are forged upon the ideals which are contrary to the basic ideals and principles of this Republic. Not just this Republic, I must add, but this nation itself. It is here that we run across cults such as the one that currently rampages threw our fair country and threatens the very stability of this Republic.

Thus far gentlemen--we have yet to win a war in the name of Religious Freedom, or freedom in general. We have yet to diplomatically help solved religious persecution and extremism--yet we proclaim to be the defenders of Christendom. We are hypocrites if we do not check first ourselves. As the Good Book says to take first the plank from your own eye before you take the splinter from your brother's! It is here that we must come to the realization that not all religions, cults, and spiritual teachings can be permitted. There is a time where we must draw a line in the sand and announce that even the most religious-friendly nation in the World as boundaries--which we have standards and regulations that any good civilized peoples have.

It is here, gentlemen that I present to you a proposal which will henceforth revoke the State Religion Privileges which the Order of the Third Eye currently maintain. They have abused these privileges--they have spat in the fact of the Republic and mock the freedoms we give. They rally our people to kill themselves. Here we must make a stand! Here we must place the boundaries! Here we must put a stop to this! Here and now!"

As Riyabuo finished she immediately made her way towards the stairs of the marble and stone stage--leaving a pool of blood that was rather large where she once stood and bloody footprints where she had walked. As when she stepped up onto the stage, White Coats waited for her and helped her down and then tried to lead her out of the Congressional Room--but she refused and took a seat in the guest's benches and continued to watch as the proceeding continued.

Head of the Council, Shibuki Kotaro, walked up onto the stage and purposely avoided the pool of blood, by stepping next to it and reaching out to grab the microphone. "Highest Minister Riyabuo Kalia has made a motion to revoke the State Religion Privileges of the currently classified 'Religious Cult' of the 'Order of the Third Eye', do I have a second?"

"Second!" exclaimed a councilman in the utter seats of the Congress--Riyabuo didn't see him, but knew his accent meant he was from Pax Topazia.

"And I'd third it, if it was possible!" exclaimed another voice. Riyabuo could only manage a faint smile from the comment; she was now feeling dizzy and felt as though she may faint.

"The motion has been seconded. All those in favor of revoking State Religion Privileges to the Order of the Third Eye please raise your right hand, now."

A large amount of hands were raised--more so than Riyabuo expected, though this didn't mean a shocking victory--not yet. Shibuki counted the hands, then checked it with two other official counters and then counted it a second time, and then more talking and then returned with the results.

"All those opposed, same sign," stated Shibuki. The process of check, double-check, and this time triple-check commenced and when Shibuki returned he hesitated to give the answer, "The Ayes have it by twenty-six votes. The Order of the Third Eye hereby looses the status of State Religion, and all privileges it once held have been stripped--by order of the Congress of the Monotheistic Republic. Effective immediately."

He then cleared his throat again and went down the stage--knowing the storm that was coming. Riyabuo could only give a small, faint laugh as various members of Congress rushed up on the stage, one by one, and made verbal protests and has Riyabuo's consciousness slipped she made sure she got a good look at all of their faces, noting their names and making sure she knew exactly who they were. The purge would begin soon. Then darkness.

{Christendom, The Republic}

He felt uneasy; he was sweating and his nerves at their breaking point. So many things ran threw his mind: vengeance, sadness, grief, misery, anger; has he walked down Last Chance Avenue towards the old, and rather dull grey concrete building that was suppose to pass as the headquarters of the Highest Minister of the Republic. His own house, more so his own mansion was much more lavish than the dull building which grew larger the closer he got. He looked down once again on his grey business-styled suit, he'd worn it many, many times. He'd worn it when he accepted the forced resignation of his father, the forced merger of Inn Industrial and its last competitor Galvin Steel Works. This was his victory attire, something he was proud to wear--though no victory prompted him to wear it this day. His son had been brutally executed by members of the Third Eye and he sought vengeance of the highest caliber. He could not, and would not, stick his own neck out though, after all he had a corporation to run, the government would play has his pawn. Though that was exactly why he was sweating, Riyabuo was known for her cunning and the Jagite government despite the form of government it took was a dangerous organization for its citizens to try to make deals with. Jagada was not a copy democracy of Pacitalia or Sarzonia has the people of the Republic tried to present, it was more authoritarian and it had to be. Thus certain things in those countries couldn't be done in Jagada safely.

As he entered the dull grey building he immediately walked up to the reception desk where a young woman sat tending to some documents, she looked up at him with a glare. "Can I help you?"

"Yes, I have an appointment with Internal Affairs Minister Shiro Kenji," said the man.

"Your name sir?" she asked dryly.

"Nibori Shichiro," he said with a tone of annoyance this time.

The young woman quickly stiffened and immediately went about the task of finding his name. Nibori was effectively the owner, operator, and overlord of the Jagite economy due to his vast ownership of various industries. The only major industry he failed to gain control of was the petroleum industry and that was only because Riyabuo nationalized it to keep it from him. In fact all of Riyabuo's administration had been marked with sharp stock market declines for Jagada and a slight increase for economic hardship on the people--all because she refused to privatize the petrol industry. Basically she and he had been had war since the day she took over.

"Yes sir, I believe Minister Kenji informed me to allow you to go in the minute you arrived," she stated, this time with more enthusiasm about her job. She pointed him to a door behind her desk and immediately began the short journey to the door, forgetting to thank the young woman. He didn't bother to knock either and marched into the room, shutting the door in such a way that it was more than a gentle shut but less than a slam. As he marched towards the desk, Shiro Kenji rose to his feet and bowed. Nibori gave an ever so slight bow and took his seat. Kenji looked at him for a moment, puzzled by his attitude, then shrugged and took his seat.

Kenji didn't have a chance to speak, as he cried out first, "Let's get something straight, first and foremost, Inn Industrial will never be some puppet of this or any other administration. You may have adopted Absolute Capitalism, but that doesn't mean I have to follow it, and I intend not to."

Kenji gave a visible laugh, "Remember, it was you who came here to speak with me. Though very well."

Nibori cleared his throat and then began, "I want to make it clear to the Riyabuo administration that I never had anything to do with the Order of the Third Eye for starters."

"We never suspected you, as a lawful member of society, apart of that vile group," replied Kenji with a sense of automon in his voice--as though he'd been told to say it more than the words reflected his personal feelings.

"Good. Second, I want you people to know that my corporation is one-hundred precent behind the government in crushing these scums!" exclaimed Nibori with a savage look.

"If you are not with them, then you are with us. As you never suspected you a member, we have always considered you on our side," said Kenji.

He knew he had to spit out what he'd really come here to declare, or more so to propose. He realizes Shiro knew he had more to say and he despised that. Riyabuo's entire administration was of the younger generation--yet they were so different, they didn't want secularism, atheism, or liberalism. It made them very hard to read, and her hand picked government had become more than a annoyance to both liberal and traditionalist factions in the country. He knew what he declared next would no doubt change the future of the Republic's economy.

"I propose a truce between Inn Industrial and the Government," he said, almost forcing the words out.

"A truce? Does this mean you will embrace Absolute Capitalism and sign an agreement with the government," Shiro quickly replied.

Nibori had a good right then to get up and walk out of the room for such an arrogant and blunt comment, but he kept himself calm, "Yes that is exactly what I mean. Though realize, I am not selling myself or my corporation out to be shredded or mutated by you people. If I do this agreement, you agree not to remove me from my position until I'm good and ready to leave, and whomever I leave as successor you leave him alone as well."

That was not how he wanted to say that and gulped has he saw Shiro's face twisted in both pleasure and disgust. "What do you want in return for this, I know you didn't just do this out of the kindness of your heart, sir."

"Privatization of the Petroleum Industry," said and he noticed Shiro's face already giving off negative expressions, "And you execute the scum who killed my son. Do we have an agreement?"

Shiro took a moment to think, and that was a very long moment almost ten minutes. He had been in business meetings with rival competitors who took hours to go ahead and accept their defeat--he could easily wait a mere ten minutes. Shiro nodded his head, "Its a deal, permitted the Highest Minister does not have a different idea in mind."

Nibori nodded, he knew Riyabuo couldn't pass up an offer like this, he controlled the economy and he would control all of it if this deal was sign--yes the price was freedom that he didn't have to give up, but plans for the future dictated dictatorship upon his corporation. "Very good, sir."

---

{Haruki Medical Facility, The Republic}

Riyabuo's usually quite was disturbed when Foreign Minister Alfred Rednight knocked on the glass outside of the room with a smile on his face. He then opened up the door, he apparently had no trouble getting past the armored fortressed they'd turned the hospital into. Armored Personnel Carriers guarding the entire thing, with an entire battalion of White Coats locking down the facility. Riyabuo had staunchly protested but to no avail--the Republican Army wasn't even permitted near an area fifteen out from the hospital was declared a no-fly zone to any aircraft--friendly included. Riyabuo's mind returned to the man who'd entered the room, he was a stark contrast to the foreign minister's before him as he was barley twenty-five.

"How are you today Madam Minister?" he questioned, and his tone suggested he honestly wanted and cared to know.

"Alright, though the doctors say this unusual pain in my ribs was because I was shot," she joked. Despite the fact that it wasn't funny, Rednight laughed.

"Good, then you'll be happy to know I just got off the phone with the Internal Affairs minister, he has a very good report," said Rednight with a smile, "Inn Industrial has agreed to end the hostilities and submit to government rule as required by Absolute Capitalism."

Riyabuo's smile lasted only a second as she remembered who ran the monopoly, "What were the conditions?"

Rednight's smile disappeared and he looked rather annoyed, "That would be the biggest problem. He wants us to privatize the petroleum industry. He's made his point in the past, how can we be absolute capitalists if we nationalize a major market. If we privatize it, he will formally embrace the system and not actively work against it."

Riyabuo bit her bottom lip--she wanted to shame Nibori and crush his monopoly and forged from it something she could work with. Who knew what went on in the mind of a genius like Nibori? She shuttered to think of what did go in such a mind. The calculations that always worked, the schemes he had going, what kind of things he felt that would somehow pass as 'emotions' to most people. She sighed, this would have to be a compromise, something she didn't want the Republic to have to do anymore but would have no other choice, "Very well, I suppose it’s the only way."

Rednight's expression was a mixed one but he simply shrugged, "I guess."

{Haruki Medical Facility, The Republic}

The gates were open now, and from them burst all the fury of chaos and discord. Across the Republic, the Phantom units stalked and then ambushed members of the Third Eye on numerous charges, those that resisted were convinced by the butt of a rifle, or a few warning shots in the air. It just under a week it grew worse with the members of the Third Eye starting to fight back. No one was aware of how so many of their members came into the possession of such weaponry as machine-guns or sub-machine guns which were banned from public usage. Nonetheless they had them and they were putting up more than a minor effort. One such effort would take place at the Haruki Medical Facility.

The night was rather warm, albeit a bit humid--making for a nasty muggy feeling which left the troops stationed around the medical facility in discomfort and wishing they could trade places with their comrades inside of the building, enjoying it air conditioning. Despite the weather they continued their patrols, the only one that did not was the battalion commander adorned in his white and golden trench coat with a black Cross on his shoulders, save this black Cross had three cross-marks showing his rank as a battalion commander. The White Coats enjoyed being an independent military force which the government refused to take action against. The battalion commander, called by the name Saionji Takai, stood next to a green, metallic armored personnel carrier with the white star emblem of the White Coats on it, and peered threw his night vision goggles--which where the only useful observation equipment he had at night. He zoomed around the facility, his view partially blocked by the bushes and scrubs that the hospital had planted to decorate their grounds. He saw nothing. He checked once more to make sure and on the second time he caught something, it appeared to be the outline of something, he physically leaned forward as if a few inches closer might reveal something, somehow it seemed to as he suddenly saw the outline of a rifle--a sniper rifle. Saionji didn't even have a chance to open his mouth--for it was blown clean off in the first shot of the battle.

The shot was short and quick almost like it wasn't a shot at all but rather an odd and loud noise in the night. The White Coats would have jumped for only a moment before going back to their patrols, if their commander's head hadn't exploded leaving a red mist in the air and turning his perfectly white suit crimson. The White Coats were stunned only for a moment as they tried to find the source of where the shot as come from. Was it a lone sniper? a disgruntled Third Eye member? or something more? Suddenly another shot rang out, and one of the gunners on the armored personnel carriers slumped over his .50 caliber machine-gun, blood seeping into the mechanical parts. The White Coats immediately realized it was coming from the bush--the most unlikely location. The .50 calibers opened up first, attempting to quickly terminate whoever was foolish enough to have launched this ambush. Though more White Coats slumped over their machine-guns or simply fell to the ground in a heap. Suddenly when a machine-gun began roaring from the left flank, almost completely out in the open the White-Coats seemed to be fall apart by the onslaught. Some fled into the hospital; others rushed behind their now all but useless armored personnel carriers and fired into the brush hoping to hit something. It all seemed in vain, and it truly was when suddenly a rush of figures dressed in black with ski-masks rushed the formation, some were immediately struck down by the White-Coats excellent marksmanship, but their sheer numbers overwhelmed them quickly and the White-Coats were quickly dealt with. As the black-attired warriors fully took over the northern entrance to the hospital they stopped and hesitated for a moment. One of them moved around, as if observing his comrades.

He spoke, "How many were lost?"

One of the fellow men clad in black replied, "Four Undren."

Undren cursed, that was two more than he wanted to loose--but perhaps not all was lost. He grabbed his radio and pressed a button, "Situation report."

The replies were short, but positive. As soon as Undren's group had launched their assault so did the other fire teams and all had taken their respective positions--he sobered up when he heard the casualty report. Out of the forty peoples in this rather large assault, ten were dead. Undren took note that no wounded had been reported and then mentally erased it remembering that wounded members of the Third Eye committed suicide on the spot. Nonetheless the operation went on. "All fire teams, phase two." Undren the shouted a mass of orders and suddenly another black-clad warrior jogged up, with an RPG-7 leaning on his shoulder. Undren pointed to the hospital door, "I need you to give that room a once over." The man nodded and aimed his RPG-7, moments before the rocket-propelled grenade launched from his own squad's weapon; he heard the sound of explosions occurring at the other three entrances of the hospital. As the entrance to the hospital was filled with shrapnel, smoke, fire, and glass (knocked into the room as the grenade smashed threw the glass doors), Undren looked on without mercy. "Another shot," said Undren coldly, he wanted to make sure that when he entered that room whatever was in there was either dead or dying. The man made no audible sounds, but nodded his head and reloaded his RPG-7. Undren noted he only heard two explosions prior to the one his own fire team produced with their weaponry. Undren counted five seconds in his mind, "Advance, clear the room." Three members, wielding Hali-42 Assault Rifles, rushed forward and threw the steel frames of the former glass entrance doors. As they disappeared into the smoke of the room, Undren wasn't far behind them with two people behind him and at his flanks. Just before he entered the hospital he heard gunfire from inside--though it was brief. He took no risks and lifted his own Hali-42 and zoomed it around the room. Undren began to cough as the room was filled with smoke and dust. Though before Undren could even assess the situation, he felt something wiz by his head and hit one of the men behind him. By instinct alone Undren hit the floor and began to crawl in the middle of the smoke to find some cover. His remaining comrades did the same and now his fire-team was dangerously spread out in the room, and still no sign from the group that entered before him. A fire-fight erupted again, and Undren moved his head around, noticing that no one in his group was doing the room. Undren didn't want to respond, and quickly ordered those in his group not to respond. He was afraid of hitting those who'd entered before. After two minutes of continued firing, it suddenly stopped.

A voice spoke, in a deep roar, "Area secure, Undren."

Undren knew the voice came from one in his fire-team, he slowly came to his feet and by now the smoke was but a optic damper. He advanced completely out of it and immediately came upon a tall black warrior. He noticed no one else was around and looked at the man. He must have known was Undren meant and simply nodded, "No one but me. The other two were killed as soon as we entered the area." Undren now cursed to himself, a habit he'd picked up and one that was very taboo in the Republic. Nevertheless, despite now four losses he had to continue. He and his men continued forward and passed four dead White-Coats on their way. He nodded to himself, loosing only two men for four White-Coats was something to boast about. He then wondered if the other fire-teams were experiences similar problems. Though as the fire-fight with the White-Coats resumed again, the thoughts were quickly pushed from his mind. Luckily they met lighter resistance than expected, with only two White-Coats guarding a group of elevators. Undren fired a quick burst and so did the tall black warrior he'd met once they entered the hospital. The others simply didn't have a chance. As they advanced to the elevators, Undren shook his head.

"How many machine-guns do you think they have guarding every elevator, on every floor?" he questioned aloud.

The tall black warrior snickered which sounded more like a slow rumble, "How many do you think they have guarding the stairs?"

Undren nodded in submission, "Good point. Half will come with me on the stairs, the other half will go with you on the elevators."

The tall black man nodded and signaled half of the group to go with him. Undren and his group then assembled around the door to the stairs. Undren suddenly realized how...cheerful he had sounded. Perhaps it was because he knew this would probably be his last mission--his last day on this earth. He kept the thought close, but also pushed it away so he could at least complete the mission before him to restore his honor. He opened the door to the stairs and quickly rushed threw, aiming his Hali-42 this way and that. He found nothing. He then signaled his men to stay close, as he and his men slowly went up the stairs, for the first two stories they found nothing. Undren looked straight up to try to see any resistance he may encounter--all in vain. He then did it the hard way, he and his team quickened their pace, however, but kept up caution. The hospital only had eight stories, and it was on the eight where they encountered the machine-gun the tall black warrior had warned about. Immediately two men behind Undren collapsed, already giving his tiny squad a fifty-percent loss rate. Undren and the rest, however, hit the stairs. Undren checked his watch, despite the gunfire if he waited too long, than his objective might get away or be too heavily defended. He had a good bit of time surprisingly--ten and three quarter minutes. Suddenly an explosion stunned him momentarily--being caught off guard by the deafening sound. The machine-gun stopped firing in the single instant. And the two men behind him rushed up and fired quick bursts. He quickly gathered him and rushed up and realized that one of the men behind him--or both perhaps--had thrown a grenade. He did not stop has his men did and rushed straight for the door, kicking it open. Immediately a grenade passed by his head, hit the wall opposite the door and went farther down the left side of the hall. Undren quickly took a step back and to the left, only moments later the hallway was filled with fire, shrapnel, and pieces of the wall. Undren rushed into the room and fired bursts randomly. He continued this until his clip ran out; he noticed his comrades did the same. All threw of them took a knee and without thinking quickly pulled out the clip and replaced it with a fresh one. Undren's eyes were solely upon the gun as he did the operation--he knew it was extremely dangerous but for some reason he had. Once he was done, before he could lift his eyes he was patted on the shoulder by the man to his right. "Undren..." he said with weakness in his voice. Undren looked up and was equally horrified. The squad the tall black warrior had led lay dead upon the ground--their blood covering the wall. For an instant Undren felt guilt--had his squad's grenade ended their own comrade's lives? When Undren went up for further inspection he realized the group has bullet holes in them, as he rounded the corner he found--propped up against the metallic doors of the elevator the body of the black warrior, he was obviously dead. Undren then looked, as if he'd somehow missed them, the two machine-gun positions set up against the wall--sandbags and all. The four men running both guns were dead, also not killed from his squad's grenade but from the efforts of the black warrior's squad.

Undren suddenly realized that no one was on the floor besides him and his two squad members. "We cannot be all that is left," he said aloud, which caught the attention of his men. "I believe we are Undren. We're up against White-Coats, not the average Republican Soldier," one of them stated, Undren didn't catch which one. He sighed, "Then we continue." He then assembled his men around him once more, which didn't take long as they were already partially assembled, and continued. He went down the hallway and stopped, he got a small glance around the corner, and then quickly retracted his head has bullets slammed into the wall. Undren looked back at his comrades, they knew what he wanted--but had none to spare. He grudgingly nodded; he'd have to do it the hard way. In a single motion of hand signals, Undren informed his men that he would attempted to draw fire, and that they'd have to immediately take out the gunners. He didn't have to explain why they immediately had to either. He took a deep breathe--perhaps he would die here and gain that which he for so long sought to obtain. He then leaned his shoulder down and rolled out on the floor and rolled back up into a kneeling position. He had already set his rifle on automatic fire and thus let loose, spraying the area down. Either the White-Coats where shocked by his actions, or simply caught off-guard by them didn't matter to Undren. All that mattered was that he actually hit two out of the three men who were behind the sandbag fortification. Before the third one could pulled the trigger he let out a yell and fell over the sandbag fortification. Undren sighed and thought, "Only by luck". Undren and his squad advanced and he smiled: one more corner and then the third door on the left was the room of his objective. He turned the other corner, without even thinking and was lucky as no more soldiers stood to defend his objective. That left him relieved, but he then suddenly realized what they could have meant. For the first time in years he felt an emotion, anger. He rushed into the room and let out a shriek of rage. It was empty. He thrashed about the room for a moment.

The two men which he'd traveled all this way with, waited outside the room looking at each other knowing what this meant. They were probably all about to die. Little did they know--in a most surprisingly fashion. Undren turned around from his thrashing to look at his watch, only to see the two men he'd been fighting with give a startled look to something in the hall and then gave crisp salutes--showing they were actually former soldiers. One of them said something that caught Undren ear, "Father!" Undren began to head towards the door when suddenly shots rang out and blood exited from various points in one of the men's bodies and he quickly fell to the ground. The other one quickly lowered his hand to get it on his rifle, only to be shot down in the next burst. Undren didn't realize his leg kept on moving, despite the show before him. Has he stepped out in the hallway, he collapsed to the ground as two rounds entered his ribs. He let out a shout of pain and began to reach for his rifle, only see a foot kick it deep into the room he was just thrashing around in. He looked up to see two people standing before him. He utterly shocked and horrified. One was a tall bearded man that was very board and dressed in a White-Coat carrying a JR-5 and, even more to his terror, was the elderly figure of the Leader. Undren saw the Leader raising his automatic pistol at him; he growled and gave a final remark of astonishment.

"A set-up."

The last thing he saw was the cold, sadistic grin of the Leader.