NationStates Jolt Archive

Zara Imro was an unusual woman. She seemed to make every effort to be a good 'Velite Investigator', always looked presentable, was always punctual, had something of a skill for what she did, even seemed to be making an effort to integrate into Vaadian society, but still, at the end of the day, there was something Dyellian about her.

For a Dyellian woman she was tall, which for anyone else was average height, her blue eyes always seemed to have a sparkle in them implying she found something funny, even when the rest of her expression was deadly serious (probably to the suspicion of her Seniors). The sparkle only left when she was angry or single mindedly pursuing a goal. She had a quick temper (except with her husband), and an easy sense of humor.

She had at first refused to help hunt down Cheka operatives in Ilek-Vaad... that was until one had tried to shoot her. At which point her reservations about betraying her former comrades had vanished overnight. She had not only found Cheka in Trozen, but KGB from the Rogue State of Timaru and Moskau, both trying to work out who the Vaadians would support, and both trying to destroy the others.

She was genuinely making an effort though; as much to please her husband as for any other reason, and she was happy. The old familiar depressive mood swings Ramtheos Imro was all too familiar with were gone, leaving him with a loving and fiercely loyal wife.

Avanc was unusual, but she like it, she felt safe with 500 soldiers around her, "Psst..."

Zara had just got home and really was in no mood for mysterious people ppsting at her, "What is it?" she asked, sounding a tiny bit tense.

"Zara ab Ieuaf?" the strange, but tall man wore a hooded sweatshirt.

She froze, "That isn't and never was my name." It was her father's name, the first man she'd killed, "Who are you?"

"I need to show you something." the accent wasn't Dyellian, then, neither was it Vaadian, it was hard and crisp.

Instinctively she knew this was a trap of some description, set up by someone who was a novice at psychology. If she refused or yelled for help he'd probably vanish and a new trap would be set up for her later. If she went with him it would be dangerous, but at least she'd know, "Sure, ok." she replied brightly, trying to sound totally naive.

He nodded and set off down a back passage. Zara waited expectantly him to bump into a Kerbal as she followed him, at which point the whole ridiculous charade would be over. But they didn't. She began to get the uncomfortable feeling that the man knew the patrol routes...

The corridors were turning dark, it was deep basement territory, somewhere she'd never been before, "Where exactly are we going?"

There was silence from the man in front.

"Damn you, where are we?" she growled, her hand reaching for her sidearm, a Dyellian Murcielago pistol that she probably shouldn't have ever brought into the country at all.

A hand reached out grabbing her wrist, at the same time as the door closed behind her, "We're here."

This was where the assassins had miscalculated, Zara Imro could see in the dark. The world was grey, but the shapes were still crystal clear...

They had been told that she would surrender meekly, their master firmly believed it. He hadn't banked though on the effects that marriage might have on the one time assassin. She spun, the movement a blur. The assassin was ready, but the speed of her attack was inhumanly fast.

The palm of her hand impacted with his nose, giving a violent crunching sound and burst of blood. She spun again, just in time as the hooded man lunged. The knife sliced across her stomach, drawing blood, but doing no serious damage.

He stumbled, it was all the time she needed to draw the pistol, and with a faint click from the completely silent weapon, he was down, a bullet in the back of his head.

The pain was beginning to register as she waved the pistol at the survivor. A horrible pang of guilt was also welling up inside her. She had killed... again. She flicked a switch, bringing light to the room.

For a moment she did a double take. It wasn't that either of the assassins was familiar, it was that the one with the broken nose had the distinctive pointy ears of an elf, "Right." she was angry now, "Get on your feet."

A few minutes she had the creature in front of a Kerbal, pistol pressed firmly against it's temple, "Could you guys do whatever you do." she asked in that polite unassuming voice Dyellians were very good at, "To work out how this came to be in here..."

The blood was forming a nasty stain across her abdomen, "Then possibly find someone who can put a few stitches in me... oh and tell my husband I'm here, I just need to sit down."

She already knew who had sent them. You couldn't take Dyelli Beybi out of the Dyellian. Eventually things came back to haunt you. She had the funny feeling this was the work of a certain Otto Himmler.

Zara sat back against the wall. As the adrenaline wore off she began to feel the pain more acutely. She'd had worse, but it didn't make things any more pleasant at the moment.

Since she had the elf off her hands she could afford to sit around and think about herself. The chilling thought occured that Himmler had quite possibly known that she would follow the mysterious figure, knowing full will it was a trap. Had he guessed how rash and fool hardy she would be?

She might even have to be off work for a few days, which was annoying... she'd uncovered a KGB safe house, but had every faith in the Vaadians going in guns blazing, which wasn't something she really wanted. Zara had once upon a time believed in 'the Revolution', although now the only thing she really believed in was 'Ramtheos Imro' she still felt a certain sympathy for those people who fought on, trying to give some kind of voice to the people. She had a certain pride in the valiant although doomed struggle the Moskauans and Dyellians were fighting against the Vrakians and Var in the North. 'The Revolution' was dying, but it would die in a blaze of glory. She didn't want to hurt the KGB.

She would have argued that they should use the KGB to root out the Cheka, pointing out that Timaru and Moskau was probably vaguely hoping for Vaadian assistance, but being Dyellian, were too damned proud to ask. That hunting down the KGB would be hunting down the last agents for democracy in Klatch, that last glimmer of hope for a continent slipping into the darkness of totalitarianism. If she was laid up she couldn't do that.

She sighed, closing her eyes and focusing on her breathing. It took her mind away from the pain. Half an inch deeper and she would have died. She was lucky... or fast at least.

The Kerbals seemed upset that the Avanc had been infiltrated, they calmly took the Elven assassin, he would be taken to an even deeper basement, the old Byzantine dungeon, where he would eventually talk. The elf was no citizen, and the Kerbals were under no obligation legally to do anything other than kill him. Manglevites Comnenus arrived to take control of the situation and nodded silently to Inspector Imro "I will notify Exarch Imro. This man will take you to the infirmary."

Zara was taken to the Avanc's infirmary. She was met there by Ram, who sat next to her and took her hand as the Doctor gave her a local and carefully probed the wound to make sure no organs were damaged and them competently stitched her up.

Ram watched quietly "You were attacked by an Ylf" he said using the Vaadian deragatory term for elf "Manglevites Comnenus will take care of him. I'm having all my men do a sweep of the Avanc, and I'm going to recall two additional Thematae until we find out how the assassins got in."

As an Exarch he could call up five Thematae , up to fifteen hundred Kerbals, at any given time."

He sighed and smiled at Zara " At least you're alright, who do you think sent them after you? The Velite General won't be pleased that someone tried to assassinate one of his inspectors, I'd imagine he'll take the gloves off in dealing with the Cheka now. They'll be lucky if they are only arrested and deported. I'll call your boss and let him know you'll be out for a couple of days."

Zara winced as she was prodded at, she instinctively disliked Doctors, but dedided she'd tell Ram that later. She'd had some bad experiences with Doctors...

The cut had torn skin, put hadn't torn all the way through the muscle to hit anything important, it was fairly superficial, but would be uncomfortable for a fair while.

When Ram went off about the Cheka though she managed a grin, "You lived in Dyelli Beybi for how long? Long enough to pick up a trophy wife, but not long enough to pick how we treat the jungle people."

She was teasing, the incident didn't seem to have upset her too much. She winced as the Doctor began to stich, "Ow! Are you qualified? Ow!"

She let him finish, biting down on her lower lip, before finishing what she had to say, "God Ram." she blasphemed, "Not the Cheka this time... not the KGB either. No, this was another faction."

"Remember Otto Himmler. Lovely man, right up until the moment he decided to remove me? Do you remember Caroline?"

If he'd forgotten the sister it would be highly unlikely, "Anyway, I probably told you this before, but he'd been using her to try to remove me for quite some time, got her into the Cheka, got her promoted. She still believed daddy was a lovely man who bought roses for the peasants despite all evidence to the contrary."

She never spoke of what happened that night that had turned the sisters from bitter enemies to close friends, "Anyway, Caroline knew Otto was up to something with the elves from the Gonad, although she never figured out what. Several months before Soult rebelled, when there was the whole piracy debacle with the submarine and the shooting of protesters in Cyro, several thousands elves showed up at the Gonad line and surrendered to Soult's troops."

She paused, trying to remember the details, "They got shipped off to Himmler's bunkers for processing, apparently he was doing some genetic testing on them, trying to work out the similarity between elves and Dyellians. Well somehow in one week we then have several thousand 'accidental deaths', but no record of any cremations or burials at the site... Caroline thought he moved them somewhere."

"Shortly after that he dropped off the face of the earth." she shrugged, then winced "It's just a guess, but it makes sense... It has to be someone who doesn't like me and someone who doesn't mind elves much."

"I guess I'm not fit for active service at the moment." she grimaced, then suddenly grinned, "So I guess I'm stuck at home... oh the horror of watch daytime television, with all those dreadful soaps designed for women who like ironing. Although I'm guessing you're going to tell me Ilek-Vaad is the hub of civilisation and it's quality 24 hours a day."

---------

The elf in the dungeons very quickly descended into gibbering over how everyone was going to die... but there were several objects on his person, all marked with a logo: An eye with a crown resting above it. The sign of the Klatchian Emperor he claimed. A scan of databases would find an identical logo had been used once before. I.S.E., Dyelli Beybi's 'Internal Security Agency' one of the twin Tzarist Intelligence agencies, I.S.E. was headed by none other than Otto Himmler. There were also maps of the facility... and some unbelievably high tech sattelite uplink that seemed to give blurry though very useful live thermal images of the fortress. Twirling on dials could bring it into 'focus' on different floors of the facility. It was well beyond the capacity of Dyellian Engineers to make, probably beyond any Klatchians with the possible exception of the Var. Something very suspicious was going on.

The Doctor frowned at Zara's comments , but said nothing and silently finished up his work. "Try not to move or bend too much for a few days, we don't want ant of the stitches to break. So long as you don't break any of the stitches you shouldn't have a scar." He moved as an orderly came over with a wheel chair, Ram helped her into it and took it over steering her to their suite near the center of the Avanc.

"Himmler, eh? You and your sister just love to poke around for trouble." He said with a hint of sarcasm. "You said she didn't want to kill you anymore, so she's probably not involved? So what do we have to do, kill Himmler?"

He steered her around the corner and past a pair of Kerbals, all of them were up now and searching the Avanc thouroughly.

"Himmler wanted to do genetic 'tests' on Admiral Connaught. I don't see what he could learn from the Longeavi that doctors don't already know." He stated using the non-deragatory word for elf. "You could try reading instead of watching TV, I only ever watch Rugby League Matches, I'm sure the rest is garbage. I'll also make sure you have a guard within ear shot twenty four hours. I'll also contact the Velite General and warn him about Himmler and his pet ylfs. I alos don't think the Free Republic is inclined to help anyone in any former Dyellian territories, and so far, they've been smart enough not to ask."

*****

The elven assassin was taken to the Blockula, a deep dungeon that only had one entrance, through several guardrooms and was nearly two hundred feet under the Avanc. they chained him to the wall after searching him and relieving him of his equipment, which was quickly taken away. The Kerbals seemed indifferent to his rantings and after he was secure they left, and Manglevites Comnenus entered.

"Well, that is quite some stunt you pulled attacking a Velite Officer who is the wife of a Titled Kerbal. " He continued over anything the elf had to rant about "A very stupid action. I am under no obligation to extend you any rights as a prisoner, and I am not disposed to do so either. I have contacted the Lictor Executors, he is dispatching his Secondus to dispose of you properly. When he arrives nothing you say will stay his spunishment. If you wish to talk before then, then I may be inclined to speak to him on your behalf to ease your suffering when your time comes."

Manglevites Comnenus then turned on his heels and left, the massive brass bound door slamming shut with him, the elf was left alone, utterly in the dark, in a cell with no airflow, food, or water, chained to the wall.

Zara offered the Doctor a refreshingly pleasant smile, "I promise I'll be a good patient, can't have any scaring, that will not do."

She had been lucky in that regard. She had been shot on several occasions, stabbed, flogged and beaten, but it had never left a mark...

"A book?" Zara laughed, "Do you have anything more interesting than 'Vaadian Tactics for dummies'?"

She didn't seem especially concerned about the whole affair, perhaps that was the result of her being a former assassin herself. Any guilt about killing seemed to have gone too, although that was probably because the assassins had been Gonad elves.

Her tone though turned serious when Ramtheos remarked on her ability to attract trouble, she shook her head, "Not anymore. I don't want trouble, not for you. I want to do things right for once, I want to make this marriage work. I had sort of hoped being in Ilek-Vaad people might leave me alone."

She sighed, sounding generally annoyed with the world, "I just wish I knew why. Then maybe I could fix things and I could settle down to a nice quiet life without elves and guns and Revolutions... but yeah if I knew where Himmler was, at least arresting him might be appropriate."

"Could I impose on you just a tiny bit more?" she was smiling slyly again, "Pick me up a bottle of tequila to celebrate getting these stiches out?"

She lowered her voice to only carry to her husband, "I promise it will be totally worth your while."

----------

The other assassin, the dead one, had similar equipment, except also carried a taser and a small vial of liquid with elven runes on the outside.

Deep in the dungeons the assassin laughed as the door was closed, it was harsh. He spoke then into the darkness, being fairly certain someone would listen,"I welcome the embrace of the Lord of Darkness."

"The Emperor has come. Your Lord should hand over his wife and beg that the Emperor sees fit to grant mercy to such an insolent human."

Ram smiles as Zara requests the tequila.

"Make it worth my while? You'll cook and do the dishes afterwards?" He replies with a chuckle.

He continues on to their quarters, which had been carefully swept for intruders and exteraneous devices, the door is guarded by a pair of saluting Kerbals, who are now also carrying their Scorpion Sniper Rifles, to utilize the variety of sensory equipment on the tactical computers attached to them.

They entered and Ram closed the door " Will Herradura Amatitán be okay?" he says as he wheels her into the bedroom and helps her into bed.

*****

No one was listening to the elf as he yelled. It was unnescessary in the eyes of the Kerbals. His dead comnpanion and his vial were being packed for the trip to the House of Ilek. The cousins of the House of Vaad were rumoured to be adept necromancers and summoners, it was there that the dead would be interrogated.

The elf would wait 36 hours, with no light, no water and no food.The door would finally open and a tall, pale, dark haired man would enter, wheeling a large trunk behind him. He wears dark PVC clothing under his black trenchcoat , and a burnished black breastplate graven with images of heaps of body parts and matching bracers and gauntlets.He enters, the door closing behind him, and props his case on end.

He turns to the elf " I am Velites Kerbals Vlastos, Secondus Of Excutor Lictor Dominus." He pauses to open the case revealing rows of syringes and surgical instruments, he takes out a syringe "This is an amphetimine, it will keep you awake for the next twenty four hours."

He adminsters it to the elfs arm, and then retrieves a second syringe "This is a coagulant, it will keep you from bleeding to death for up to eight hours." He applies that to the same arm.

He pauses taking out an MP3 recorder and places on top of his case, and reaches into the case and puts on a masked helmet, with no eye holes and a mirror like surface, he continues "Now, before we begin I will explain. You have been adjudged to be guilty of various crimes I will spell out in a moment, which has resulted in Prince Corum Vaad sentencing you to be dismantled. You are not expected to talk, you are expected to suffer.

If you wish, you may tell me where you are from and I will see to it that your family or friends receive what remains of you for whatever disposal they deem respectful or fit, do you wish to indicate where you are from at this time?"

His tone is diabolically non-chalant and he seems more like an office worker explaining a filing procedure, he stares at the elf, but all the elf can see, is his own distorted face in the mirror like mask of the Lictor.

The elf's eyes gleamed with madness. It raised one index finger skywards, "They are coming. Some are already here. Soon you will all die."

It trailed off into insane laughter. The creature seemed to have a few screws lose to say the least. It seeemed to have no concept of fear. Or perhaps what awaited it here was less horrifying than what awaited it at home...

Whatever the case, there was no real doubt that had Zara known what was going on, she would have kicked up quite a fuss. She had a gentle heart, and would been horrified to think any creature (even an elf) was suffering on her behalf... but it never even occured to her to ask...

...she smiled, probably would have laughed if she didn't know it would pull at her stitches, "You should be so lucky... sounds expensive, I'd better make sure it isn't wasted."

She took a moment to get comfortable in the bed, grimacing slightly as the movement pulled at the still fresh wound. It didn't take long though for her to find a comfortable position, "I will get to the bottom of this Ram." she began seriously, "And I'll put a stop to it once and for all. Then things will all go back to being more or less peaceful... well as peaceful as they'll ever be anyway."

---------

Before the attack Zara had pointed out to her immediate superiors the location of a KGB Safehouse. Apparently some bigwig from Moskau had managed to get in and was holed up there, although he had left an obvious enough trail to lead them right to him.

It was a quiet unassuming building in the middle of town. Zara wanted the Velites to leave it alone until she got back, but there were obvious reasons not to...

Inside a tall blue eyed man checked his reflection in the mirror. He was dressed in full Moskauan dress uniform, sea green breeches and jacket. The collar tabs and hat band were red, the belt gold, and boots black. Carefully he unbuttoned the cover over where he would usually carry a sidearm, taking pains to make sure people knew he was unarmed.

"May I comment on your idea Polkovnik?" an older gentleman with a rather convincing Vaadian accent asked.

"No, you may not." the Polkovnik retorted, his accent was not Vaadian, nor was it Moskauan, but pure Southern Dyellian "These are direct orders from Director T. Is everything in place?"

The other man nodded, not looking entirely happy, it was weird to say the least to have Spetsnaz in a deep cover safehouse, "Yes, Comrade Polkovnik, it is all in place."

"Good." he grunted, "Then we wait."

If Velites Kerbals Vlastos had any reaction to the elf's words his mask hid it.

"I will take that as a no." He turns and turns on the voice recorder and continues "Unidentified alien, you have been adjudged guilty of the following crimes: trespass upon the lands og the House of Vaad, attempted murder of the servants of the House of Vaad, entering without invitation the House of Vaad and causing a disturbance in the House of Vaad.

In the name of the house of Vaad, Prince Corum Vaad has sentenced you to be disnmantled at the leisure of the Kerbals Lictor Executor."

Without hesitation he begins dismantling the elf, a very messy and painful process that involves literally taking part the living victim piece by piece. The drug that had been administered would insure that the elf lived for about two hours of the four hour process, and everything would be recorded. Fortunately the dungeon was deep enough that the elfs screams wouldn't intrude upon anybody.

*****

Ram smiled at Zara "You don't have to take care of it. Let the proper authorities deal with this mess. You don't personally have to hunt down anyone anymore."

*****

The Velite Guard were very patient, and unless Comrade Polkovnik and his men did anything violent or obviously criminal they were unlikely to be apprehended. But they were being watched , carefully.

The Velite investigators that were assigned to watch the Moskauians while Investigator Imro was recovering were as joined by a Kerbals, in plain clothes.

There was nothing to be discovered from the creature. It seemed to positively enjoy the pain, screaming, laughing and ranting in equal meassures. It's brain had been tortured and twisted beyond measure by whatever or whoever it was that had sent it...

----------

Zara nodded, considering this, "Ok." she agreed, "You're the boss. I guess I'm so used to trying to work these things out myself... Thank you for being there today."

Over the next few days she recovered with miraculous speed. Within a couple of days the stitches were ready to come out, a couple more and the would was nothing more than a fading pink line across her stomach. Nothing suspicious happened. The forces beyond waited and watched.

----------

The KGB were busy doing something inside their building, moving in packages. Occassionally there were sawing noises. They were building something. A look through the window would see the uniformed Spetsnaz officer wandering around overseeing things. He was a giant for a Dyellian/Moskauan, tall by anyone's standards, with striking blue eyes.

There were also two other uniformed Spetsnaz in the building. They were up to something if they had gone to the effort of sneaking special forces into the Ilek-Vaad. Perhaps some form of sabotage to blame on the Cheka? If so they were taking things to a whole new level...

Whatever the case, Zara Imro was in a position to be back on the job and would gladly come back to help try to break the place up peacefully. If her immediate superiors wanted her to that was...

The elf was dismantled and packed into a case, which would be returned to his family or his people if their whereabouts were ever discovered. The Kerbals would have to wait for further information on all of that from the House of Ilek, and that would take some weeks.

*****

As soon as Zara was able she was summoned to meet with her boss, Colonel Timor. He is a severly humourless Lassean with cold grey eye and closely cropped brown hair, never out of uniform. After giving Inspector Imro a quick salute he lays the surveilance file before her of the KGB house.

"Inspector, they are definently up to something. Inspector Netanz" he pauses nodding towards another Inspector as he enters the office and salutes " Has secured warrants to search the location for building code violations, this will allow you secure and search the house. Aliens can be detained immediately whether they are engaged in illegal activities or not. Citizens, if they are not caught red handed in the comission of a crime must be released until a warrant can be secured."

He narrows his eyes at Zara "None of your Cheka funny business, and I don't want you going in waving around your illegal Dyellian pistol that you think you've hidden so well, do it by the book, with backup, Inspector Netanz will fill you in on any finer points of Vaadian law that you may have missed."

Colonel Timor stands and motions to the door "Inspectors, you have work to do. Both of you be careful, Netanz keep an eye on Imro please, she seems to be found of trying to catch bullets and knives."

Zara saluted as she was dismissed, "Absolutely, by the book Sir."

She had studiously ignored the comment about the pistol. It was too nice to throw away... the special ammunition it required was hard to come by though.

While she walked she flicked through the file with vague disinterest, "Who's this guy in the uniform?" she asked Netanz, pointing out the Polkovnik, "He looks familiar."

(OOC: I'm assuming there are surveillance photos)

"What kind of backup do we have? By the way what are the firearm's laws? ...Looks like we can arrest half these guys straight off the bat for that."

(OOC: photos and tasteful etchings :D)

Netanz looks at the pictures "The others all calling him Polkovnik. We have sixty Velite Guard backup and six Naval Guard Marine snipers if we need them. If you think it's necessary the Velites can mount theor 30mm chain guns on their Vindicators."

He smiles "I think thery would enjoy that. Anyhow, guns are illegalfor foreigners unless they purchase a license at the same time they purchase their Visa. These men have no visas that we know of, neither do you. You're technically a refugee, but since you've joined the Velite Guard you can carry your issued 9mm and FNC-2000, other than that, it's a felony. But don't worry, just hide your gun until you're a citizen and then it's perfectly legal."

"Polkovnik is a rank." Zara mused, "It's their equivalent of a full Colonel. Funny I'm sure I've seen him before."

She shook her head, closing the folder, "Weird."

"That little gun of mine is what we used to use in the old days. Makes silenced weapons sound like a thuderclap." she explained. It was an assassin's weapon, a reminder of how far she'd come.

"What I think we should do is go in on our own to start with, maybe with four others, see if we can work things peacefully, but have the other Velites on standby around the corner in case things get nasty. Shouldn't need the snipers unless it turns into a seige."

She smiled, an infectious cheeky smile, "Chainguns in a civilian setting? You guys really like to rip it up don't you."

"We'll get things set up, then head out shall we?"

Netanz shrugged "It is Velite policy to perform arrests with overwhelming superiority of force to deter resistance."

He nodded as she suggests heading out "I'll bring the car around, I'll have three other Vindicators follow us and put the rest on standby."

He seemed excited by the prospect of arresting the foreigners.

"You're nuts." Zara commented, but with a smile that would lighten any insult, "I'd hate to think what might happen if one of those chainguns was let off... I'm not going to have that on my conscience."

Some time later they were banging on the door to the safe house. It was opened immediately, "Inspector Imro, she flashed an ID at the person at the door, open up."

"Of course." the door was opened, to admit everyone.

She cast a glance around the room, "I'm here to inspect possible illegal building alterations, I have a warrant."

The man who had opened the door waved his hand dismissively, "I can tell you what the alterations are, and they're totally illegal, come upstairs if you please."

"No." she looked at him suspiciously, sensing a growing unease in the man, and not exactly being willing to follow someone into a possible ambush for a second time, "Why are you telling me this?"

"He wanted to see you... yes, you Inspector Imro. To make sure you would talk and listen, he's rigged the walls with explosives. If anyone fiddles with the CCTV by the doors or tries to leave he'll blow us all sky high."

"What?" Zara stared at the man, presumably a spy, "Who's he?"

"The Spetsnaz guy. He's insane, totally insane, but he has orders from the top... and this whole cock and bull plan has been concocted to speak to you." he was fidgeting in fear, "He wants to see you upstairs."

Inspector Netanz stayed right by Zara's side as ordered, and he listened with interest to what the gentleman that answered the door had say.

Netanz cleared his throat when there was a pause and spoke "Well, you are correct those alterations are totally illegal, I would advise everyone to exit the house immediately, especially what with everything being wired with explosives."

Of course Netanz had left his comm open and the backup Velites heard every word he said. Very quietly and nonchalantly they contacted headquarters to apprise the Colonel of the situation. The houses and buildings around this one would be quickly and quietly cleared, but only from exits that could not be seen from the now bombed building and would be only undertaken by plain clothes Velites only one or two at a time as to not raise suspicion, while the full backup force gathered back at headquarters to plan the next move. The Naval Guard Marine snipers were automatically called in. But all that would take time. So Netanz would do what all Vaadians did call their bluff.

Netanz continues "The Velite Guard do not negotiate in such matters, tell everyone inside to either come out, or blow up the building."

He smiled at Zara as he said it.

"Don't!" the man hissed, "He's serious."

Zara was looking a bit put out and confused, "If this was Cyro we'd first try to work out if this place is actually wired, then send in a negotiator to get the hostage taker down."

She was looking at Netanz as she spoke. It was a statement, but equally a question to establish if her methodology was correct.

An intercom clicked on, "You have exactly five seconds to decide." the voice was cold, filled with supressed rage, "Four, three, two..."

"Alright!" Zara yelled, giving an apologetic shrug to Netanz after she had, "But I want a flak jacket, I have no idea what you intend."

"Believe me young Ms Imro, killing you would hurt all of us... I am lead to believe though that you are in possession of information that could save millions of lives, and I will do everything I can to get that information, for my people... then in return for your cooperation I will tell you everything I know about the invaders."

"I still want a flak jacket, and I'm carrying a gun... and Inspector Netanz is coming up too." she replied to the voice from the intercom.

"I said alone, need I remind you I have the explosives?" the voice replied.

"Need I remind you I have me." Zara shot back, "whatever information I may have is useless if I'm dead. We do this my way."

Netanz smiled at Zara "Well, this is the Free Republic, we'd let him blow himself up, but you are in charge."

Netanz yawned as the voice on the intercom threatened and began the count down and looked startled as Zara yelled and laid out her terms. He nodded as he listened to them argue.

"I can have one of the officers bring up the extra long-coats from the Vindicators, they can stop up to a .50 calibre round, so if this place does blow up everything but our heads, hands and lower legs will be covered."

He smiled at Zara again "That is if Mr. Intercom will allow it? I am also keping my gun as well, I'm on duty, we can't have me unarmed, I'd get written up for it."

He waited expectantly.

"You can keep your gun." the Intercom replied.

"That's an interesting concept." Zara replied, seemingly finding the situation moderately amusing, "So my husband gets more or less everything except my pretty face back. I don't think he'd like that."

"It is quite pretty." the voice replied, "Or certainly the so called Dyellian Emperor thought so. He would have tried his luck with you had the good Mr. Himmler not offered him the country... and all he had to give in return was you."

Zara squinted at the camera as if trying to see the mysterious speaker through the lense, "Who are you. I know you don't I?"

"We've met." the Intercom conceded, "Just the once, it was an honour to meet Dyelli Beybi's finest."

He didn't say what she was Dyelli Beybi's finest... "Investigator Netanz." she turned to the other Velite, "I assume that people are listening on the other side of the radio and those vests are on the way." she squinted at the lense again, "I'm suddenly very keen to meet the Polkovnik."

Possibly the Polkovnik had the answers to why people were trying to kill her. If he did, she owed it to her husband to get answers.

Netanz nods "Yes, but it was supposed to be a suprise that everyone was listening."

He says that with a roll of his eyes as a pair of Velites approach with the grey long-coats and hand them to Inspectors Netanz and Imro. Netanz puts his on and and motions to the door.

"Ladies first?"

"Wouldn't have been for long." Zara coughed, trying to cover up her mistake with a smile.

"Of course." she smiled, as she put the coat on.

"Up the stairs, second door on your left." the Intercom put in handily.

"Right. Right." Zara replied, drawing her sidearm as she walked.

She appraoched the door cautiously, it was already open. The Polkovnik was seated calmly at a desk, his hands laid out on top of it. She stepped inside, "Right, I'm here. So... shall we explain ourselves?"

"Polkovnik Morris." he replied, "At your service."

She squinted at him, "Morris? Fraser Morris? But I thought you were in Soult's pocket."

"Some of us value freedom Ms Imro." he replied stiffly, "I don't know what Soult has become... please take a seat. Your co-worker too."

Netanz smiled and put on his long coat "Well, you still have a lot to learn about being Vaadian."

He then followed Zara up the stairs and to the second door on the left. He entered with her and nodded politely to Mr. Morris. "I'll stand if it's all the same, thank you very much. "

He said that with a look that quite possibly told Zara she should stay standing as well.

This was about the point where Dyellians would typicaly sit down, have tea, talk about business, ol times, then try to kill each other. Their idea of etiquette was somewhat removed from the Vaadian one...

"Why the bombs Fraser?" she asked. They had never been on first name terms, but she was using it now, "All that to get me into your office... why? You'd better start explaining."

"OK." he grunted, "The bombs were to make everyone know how serious this is... You know all about the Var and their big beefy weapons? Plasma bombs and whatsits..."

She was nodding so he continued, "And you also know we've been fighting a war with them. Millions dead. They hunt us down, military and civilian alike. Then there are the Vrakians as well. We're running out of guns and ammunition. There is no hope of winning."

He shrugged, "One day Brezhnev got a visit from someone I believe is a mutual friend of ours... Otto Himmler. He came with a promise of weapons to fight the Var, put us back on an equal footing."

"And?" Zara shrugged, "Where do I come into this?"

"I'm hoping you can tell me." Morris gave her a suspicios glance, "Himmler turned on us. He's got elves working for him, an an army of funny robot things. He was setting up a gate to bring them in somewhere near the front line... only three of us escaped. There were too many of them. We lost a Senior KGB Official there too."

"So?" Zara shurgged.

"I overheard him. I know some of what he's been asking. He wants you dead, oh so badly. H'es frightened of you, Ms. Imro. What I want to know is why?"

"I don't know." Zara shook her.

"You're lying." Morris seemed almost rabid.

"No, I'm not." she replied calmly.

"We must know, or everyone will die." he grunted, "That includes you. He'll be coming for you, so you'd better bloodly start remembering."

Zara was looking at Netanz fir advice, "We'll see." she muttered, the whole situation wasn't one she was particularly keen on getting involved with. It was kind of surreal.

Netanz kept his eyes like on Fraser and simply sighed as he finished and looked at Zara.

"Well, I'm not going to have any answers. The only thing I'm going to give you is the stock 'Army of superelves or not, Otto Himmler better stop being afraid of one woman and fear the might of the Retaliatory Guard.' And so on and so forth.

All I know is that Mr. Fraser Morris has broken any number of laws and needs to answer for them. If Mr. Morris is looking for help or for a sympathetic ear, he needs to know that he is talking to the wrong people. We can't get you to talk to anyone higher than Velite Commanders and maybe Exarch Imro, no one else in the Free Republic is going to listen to you until you get up off of your bomb and turn yourself in, or blow it up."

He shrugs and looks from Fraser and then back to Zara "We aren't important enough for anyone on the Council or in Retaliatory Guard Command to care what happens to us over theoretical, unconfirmed intelligence."

He shrugs again "Just saying, is all."

Morris laughed, then laughed some more, "Aren't we confident?" he laughed again.

"I'm frightened of her too." he grinned at Netanz, "I wonder how much you actually know about the woman you're standing next to?"

"Oh and don't worry, I'm not going to be arrested." he grinned maniacally, "You'll never take me alive or so they say. Don't worry, you'll still get out of here... unless you upset me."

"Don't talk drivel Fraser." Zara glared at him, "What do you want?"

"I want to know what you know about Himmler." he replied.

"Nothing." she shot back, "Absolutely nothing."

"What about this?" he held up a picture of an odd cylindrical object with three tubular extensions from the front. It stood upright, "It's Himmler's drone."

Zara looked at it blankly, "It's not a drone. It's alive." she frowned, "I've never seen it before."

Something odd was going on...

Netanz shrugged, a common Vaadian movement "Well if by confident, you mean not afraid of magical pixie armies. Then yes , I am."

Netanz just watched them talk about Himmler and the picture. He wasn't sure what they on about, but the more time he wasted the more time the Velite Guard had to secure the area.

*****

Meanwhile, in the city of Ilek, several hundred miles to the Northwest, Shurha Ilek, Mistress of the house returned from vacation and was informed that a body was waiting for her, sent from Prince Corum.

"A gift?" she mused

Cathbad, her chief Laansman grinned "No, no, I'm sure he's past trying to win your affections. The body of an assassin, from the Avanc, they want to know what he knows. Unfortunately they shot first and asked questions later."

She smiled "Well then, prepare the crypt, and start the meter running."

"What is it?" Morris asked.

"I don't know." Zara shook her head, looking quite confused by what was going on.

"How do I destroy it?" Morris asked, "We've shot them, time and time again and they just don't stop moving. We've hit them with rockets and they don't even suffer a scratch."

"You have to hit them near the top of the cone where the defences are most vulnerable." Zara replied, looking even more confused, "I don't get this, I've never seen that thing before, I shouldn't know this."

"How do you know this Ms Imro?" Morris clearly didn't believe that, "Were you involved in making these?"

"No." she protested, "I've never seen one before."

He eyed her suspiciously, "What are you Zara?" he asked eventually.

"I don't know." she replied.

Netanz rolled his eyes at the whole series of questions.

"What are you? That's what you're here to ask and why you've wired this house up with explosives?"

He looked exasperated "I hope the snipers setting up outside are getting ready to shoot you, because this is ridiculous."

*****

Back in Ilek, the crypt was prepared and the unlucky elvish assassin's corpse was prepared for the ceremony that would call his spirit back into it.

Meanwhile Slaine Ilek, brother of Shurha, and expert in elven languages was given the vial of clear liquid, with the elven runes on it to inspect.

Morris roared with unpleasant laughter at Netanz's comment, "Do you think I'm that stupid. Go ahead." he grinned nastily, "Shoot me."

"One thing you should know." his grin became if anything nastier, "If I let go of the little button I'm holding down, kaboom!"

"Today is the last day of my life." he declared, "But it doesn't have to be yours. What do you know Zara."

"Nothing." she protested, "I know there is something to know, but I don't know what it is."

He squinted at her, "I believe you. I think there are memories locked away somewhere."

Netanz shrugs again, very irritated "Okay, I'm leaving." he states flatly as he turns to leave.

"You can stay if you want Inspector Imro, but I am going to go see how the evacuation of the surrounding area is going and then I am going to recommend that Mr. Morris be liquidated as soon as it safe to do so. ALL of us Velites are expendable in the context of the greater good of the Republic and I can think of no better way to die than making sure this pointless imbecile dies along with me."

He pauses at the door and then turns "This is why we don't negotiate with these fools as a rule, it's easier to rebuild a city block than it is to deal with a maniac intent on expounding on his delusional fantasies. Mr. Morris, I do know that the 'street' in the Free Republic was very sympathetic to the plight of your people, you are simply assuring that such sympathy dies here today, and without that feeling on the street the Council will doubtless have no incentive to act. This will render the Council's actions to alienate and embarass the Vrakians over the matter moot. After today, the deaths of your people at the hands of, well, anyone will be considered a boon to humanity."

If he is not stopped, he leaves.

Morris laughed as Nentanz retreated, "Do you honestly think I care what you or your supposedly 'free' Republic think. What would ever give you that impression?"

"I'm here to speak to her, not to you." he yawned, "But, being as she doesn't seem to be cooperating, and frankly I find you remarkably tiresome, I might as well..."

"STOP!" this was Zara, sounding distinctly unimpressed, "I'm guessing you have a family because someone must have given birth to you, but getting yourself killed because you're bored of the conversation is not the way I am used to doing things."

"Good God, if this was the Cheka you'd be looking at a Court Marshall for willfully endangering fellow officers and civilians. Now instead of trying to win a prize for most tactless Velite of the year, I suggest you turn around, stand in the corner and let me deal with the situation."

"And as for you." she was rounding on Morris now, "I don't know what Himmler is up to, you could try listening to me rather than just believing what you already believed before yu met me. If you want to stick to that just tell me the answer you want and it will save us both time."

"I'll..." Morris began.

"No, you won't." Zara continued firmly, "Because you want answers from me. I can't give them, but I can do my best to help, if you're prepared to listen."

Netanz pauses and then stands by.

"This isn't the Cheka, this is the Velite Guard, we do not negotiate with terrorists, if he wishes to blow himself and others up, that is fine by us. Our colleagues will diligenty track down everyone that aided him and bring them to justice."

He pauses and emphasizes "THAT is the Vaadian way." He pauses and checks his watch "Besides, by now we have at least a four block buffer evacuated, and snipers placed on every high point within ten blocks. These situations are easy, because the surrounding civilians are all Velite Reserve Guard, I'm sure we have nearly a Battalion gathered in the area by now at a safe staging point, cutting off this whole area. Another ten minutes and the Velite General will probably call an airstrike to remove the bomb threat if we are still lolly-gagging around.

But if you want me to wait, I'll wait."

He waits, pausing to check his watch every now and again.

As usual for the Free Republic things had swung into action fast, evacuation was simple, every citizen in the ara was alerted quietly and quickly through Emergency Velite Reserve call up channels, people watching from Morris' building probably wouldn't even notice, as the citizens had been informed which building was a threat, and to evacuate using routes not readily visible, the first couple blocks around the building would evacuate first and then more would follow after that. Within ten minutes the only thing noticeable outside Morris' building would be the two Vindicator cars that had brought Netanz and Imro.

Netanz also wasn't joking about the snipers and the airstrike, the Naval Guard Marine snipers were most likely in their pre-planned position and taking aim, and Colonel Timor had already spoken with the Velite General and had been most likely given a direct line to a pair of Orion Fighters scrambled and en route with a pair of Vulcan bombs each. The Velites did not bother to search for evacuees, any citizens that did not respond to the emergency call up, or any foreigners in the area were already considered casualties.

The Vaadians reacted to terrorists with bombs the exact same way they reacted to armed invaders, with blinding and overwhelming force, it was typical for them, and was fairly easy for anyone that had spent anytime in the Free Republic to deduce that this is how they would react.

"No." she shot at Netanz, "I know you do things differently and with all the subtelty of a sledge hammer. Do you think perhaps there's a reason I'm here? I am a Dyellian, I understand how we think and rationalise. It isn't the same. We can let himself blow up, but we die and there is loss to property. I don't know if you percieve this as the noble way out or something... Plus if we talk we get information as well, even if it is only what we can glean from the manner of question being asked."

"Zara." the Polkovnik's voice was strangely slured, "Turn the light on."

"Why?" she asked, eyeing him suspiciously.

"Because if the circuit is broken the bomb goes off. If you turn the light on you maintain the circuit, even when I let go." he looked at her blearily, "Hurry."

She stepped back, flicking the switch. The room was well lit from outside and the lights made very little difference, "What else do you know, how is this information getting back to Moskau?"

Finally she was asking questions relavent to her actual job...

"Follow the wire." he grinned, "It's too late, it's going back already. He wants to kill everyone Zara. Every sentient creature, but most especially my species. Every last one of us..."

"Polkovnik?" she asked, althought it was clear why he had fallen silent. He had slumped forward over his desk.

She made the sign of the cross, "I imagine you have some questions for me Investigator. I must apologise for my earlier outburst. Perhaps I was not following protocol, but I was thinking of both our lives. He was dying anyway, he would have blown us up out of spite."

Netanz moves over and checks Morris' pulse, ignoring Zara for the moment and then speaking into his comm.

"Target has died, send in secutiy team and bomb disposal."

He then turns back to Zara "Well, you have a lot to learn, the first to learn is that to the Free Republic, this act was an act of invasion and an act of war, in such cases you have to be prepared to give your life for the Republic. It was a foolish and will only insure that the Velite Guard cracks down on your and his people, and most likely deport or detain a majority of them and the REtaliatory Guard will probably now make plans to target Moskau and Timaru in some manner, just to show Breshnev that such actions will gain him nothing."

He calmly begans looking over Morris' desk , making sure not to touch anything "Well, what did he do? Take some poison?"

Outside the Velite Guard that had been staging quickly surround the house and let the bomb disposal experts check for booby traps and triggering devices very carefully before they enter, once they are satisfied that they can enter they do so carefully, with armoured jackets and assault rifles and slowly and calmly secure the building and it's contents.

Zara shrugged, "I'm willing to give my life." she replied quite seriously, "But I'm not willing to throw it away for no reason. We're we to have stormed out of that office, this place would have blown up, we'd be dead and we'd have gained nothing, apart from a big smouldering crater in the centre of town. Now we have evidence, equipment, no crater... oh and our lives. You tell me what you think the better result would be."

Her smile was polite, "Of course, if you think I'm a coward you may say so."

She shrugged at the mention of the Polkovnik's death, "Only the autopsy will tell you."

Morris had poisoned himself the moment they'd stepped through the door which was why he was not willing to wait for them to explore upstairs and find him anyway. he had been living on borrowed time...

The walls were full of explosives, but there were no booby traps and they were easy enough to remove. Morris's desk held very little of interest. A photo of a girl who Zara was able to identify as a Cheka agent, but little else. There was a bug in the room that ran up to a satellite dish on the roof.

Everything was removed and catalogged and taken back to the Velite headquarters lab to be examined. Everything would be examined as to determine it's origin to help determine whose hands it had passed through.

The bug and satellite dish was left intact so that the Velite Spectres (techies) could trace where it was sending to by triangulating it's signal and seeing what satellites it bounced off of. Morris' body was of course taken for autopsy.

Netanz smiled at Zara as she spoke "No, not a coward, I didn't want to die either, but he was obviously bluffing, he had no intention of blowing you up. Now had I come alone, things would have been different. So what do you thunk we should now?

Standard procedure would be to arrest in anyone in the country that has any relation to this house and it's occupants, if they are foreigners that is."

"Then let's follow standard proceedure." Zara replied, "I've broken with it enough for one day."

"By the way." she added, "Personally, and we really have no way of telling now, I don't think he was bluffing the whole time. He was dying anyway, he didn't have anything to lose."

"Then when we get all this mess cleared up, we can go home." she cast her eye about the room, failed to see anything she saw as significant and shrugged, "All this is quite inconvenient really."

The signal was being bounced straight to Moskau...

Not for the first time Zara was left wondering what her sister knew of the situation. This time thought she would actually get to speak to her, tonight Caroline would ring.

Netanz nodded "Well, we can't possibly round everyone up ourselves, I'll bump it back up to command and they will assign teams to track everyone down that was affiliated or knew this little band."

Netanz looked around too "Well, you may as well go home, there is nothing much we can do here until the Spectres get everything they need."

That evening Velite Command would pick up every Moskaun or Dyellian foreigner and have them and their possessions searched and have them questioned. Velites would follow up everyone who ever had contact with anyone in the house.

Anyone even remotely suspicious, or that had anything even vaguely considered connected to the KGB, Spetznaz or the Cheka would be detained. The sweep would be country wide.

"I'll buy you a coffee/tea/poison of choice if you want." Zara offered, "You can tell me what an idiot I've been today and I'll tell you I'm not much of a gambler when someone is armed with explosives."

They'd find little too unusual Morris. Scars from years of warfare covered his frame. His heart was slightly larger than normal and blood held an unusually high number of immune cells, although there was no sign of infection. NO levels in the blood were high, apparently this had been produced by his body. As it turned out, he'd killed himself with a heavy dose of pentobarbitone. Spetsnaz never surrendered.

The KGB were relatively easy to round up, being far less organised than the Cheka who showed a certain tendency to slip away just before they were picked up. Nobody seemed to know anything though. There was also no sign of the two other Spetsnaz troopers that had been observed in the building, although reports indicated they might have gone to ground in the countryside.

Netanz chuckles "There is a pub down the street from headquarters, that's where we usually go. You'd fit in better if we went there."

He walks back to the car and drives them both to the 'Trozen Arms' public house. Upon entering there are about a dozen unifirmed Velite Guards and about another dozen men and women in suits, probably Velite Investigators. The Arm s is decorated with insignia of the local Velite Guard Divisions. Netanz takes a seat at the bar.

"So, did you think they'd be booby trapped?" He says as he orders a pair of pints of Fullers Ale.

"Never even crossed my mind." Zara confessed. She had ordered a gin and tonic, not being much of a beer drinker...

"I must say though, he was completely off his rocker. I met him once before and he didn't seem like a suicidal nutcase." she shrugged, "I guess we'll work out what he was on about some day."

She didn't seem especially concerned by what had happened, "So... are we going to be working together more in future?" she asked.

She still wasn't quite certain how things worked here. Back in Dyelli Beybi they formed teams of 6 or more officers who would work together for years... but Ilek-Vaad might be quite different.

"Sorry I lost my cool earlier." she apologiesed yet again, "I didn't mean anything personally."

Netanz shrugs "We might, have you enlisted yet, or you just in the Velite Guard for you years mandatory service? It will probably depend on that. I signed on for the 25 year package. I thought you'd probably be enlisting in the Kerbals?"

He pauses and takes a sip of his ale "You mean you don't know what Mr. Moris was on about? You seemed to know what that thing was that he showed you a picture of? What about his talk of invading ylfs and their super weapons? I'd have to see that to believe it."

He shrugged and took a longer drink "You don't have to apologize to me, it's all part of the job. I don't mind being yelled at."

"I'm doing my minimum service here for citizenship, then who knows?" she shrugged before taking a sip at her drink, "I hate fighting and all that business. I've seen two civil wars in Dyelli Beybi and I've had enough. I want to get a propper education and a decent job."

"As for that... yeah I have... somewhere." she looked slightly uneasy, "I don't know where. I don't even remember seeing that, I just know I know what it is, if that makes sense."

"One of my better friends, who sadly I lost contact with was on assignment in the Gonad peninsula." she paused to take another sip of her drink, "Some of the stories. There were four of them who went in. Two came back, and only one was still able to walk. There are things going on there."

She shrugged, "But it's really none of my concern." she didn't mention someone had tried to kill her just the other day.

"Well, You'll probably be asigned someone else in a day or two, they'll rotate in and out those of us junior enough to have to suffer you part timers." He ays that with a wink and a grin.

"So you're an Imro?" He pauses and takes a drink "I thought everyone in that family is at least seven feet tall? Which Imro is depicted in the statue downtown? Archers Imro, isn't it? He killed the Tyrant Gelon at the battle of Cademon Tor?"

He grinned, he didn't expect her to know, but she might if she'd asked about the family. She would notice the more she was out, the squares and streets named after various Imro's all over Lassic and Trozen and most other cities in Lassic.

"Well, you won't have to fight unless we're invaded after your year is up. Though, I don't see you as a house wife?"

"Well you know, 5 foot 4 is tall for a woman by Dyellian standards." she grinned, "If it was height he was looking for he got about as good as he could get under the circumstances."

"Lord knows." she laughed, "There's enough ancestors to keep him going... at least I married someone worthwhile, even if he is a little older."

When she spoke of her husband, her voice carried genuine affection and loyalty. It was quite ironic for someone originally ordered to spy on the then General Imro...

"Maybe I will be." she pouted, "I'd have to learn to cook decent food and clean better, but I could do that."

A brief pause and the grin was back, "Or I could try to host a reality TV show, 'So you want to be a spy?'"

She sipped idly at her drink, "So tell me about you? You seem to know enough about me."

Netanz chuckles "Oh, I just know about you what everyone else knows about you, you're a foreigner and an Imro. So we have to 'respectfully' watch you closely, but not let on as to offend any of your family. I swear I'm not sure if the Colonel feel;s you're s ecurity risk, or is afraid of you because of your husband."

He shrugs and sips at his ale "Not that it matters, in five or six months no one will remember you weren't born here, our xenophobia wears off with familiarity. Imagine, this time next year you'll be able to tell who's Vaadian and who's not just by looking at them, and when you do, you'll immediately become suspicious. I've seen it happen a hundred times."

He pauses "Oh, about me? My first name is Arik, I was born here in Trozen , my family is jewish and a name like Netanz was considered too overtly religious in the past for my family to ever have been anything but merchants and bankers.

The Republic has been good us, like with all of it's citizens. Stability is always good. My father says that, he is branch manager here in Trozen for the First Bank of Lassic, and my mother doesn't want me to be in the Guard. "

He chuckles "I'm not telling her about today."

Zara laughed, "You know, I never realised Imro was a big name until I got here. I mean, I knew he was important..."

"In a different world I might be a Baroness." she admitted, "I had the right to it. Technically, anyway. But the Tzars went and instead of being a Baroness I ended up removing troublesome people for the Cheka."

In theory Caroline and Zara would have split the land in Penrose evenly between them, although the late Baron of Penrose had never admitted the second girl was his. It was more normal in the late days of the Monarchy for the eldest to get the land, and the younger siblings to be paid out instead. So had he recognised her, Zara ab Ieuf, the Second Baroness of Penrose would have been more likely to end up with no land but a huge amount of cash.

"Then I met the good General Imro and suddenly found myself doing what he said instead of what my superiors were ordering." she smiled slightly as she finished her drink, "Which seems to have turned out quite well for me."

"As for family, I have one half sister still living who I suspect would be arrested if she ever set foot in Ilek-Vaad. She was number one on Dyelli Beybi's most wanted list for a while."

"Well technically being an Investigator shouldn't be too dangerous." she mused, "It's just your bad luck to get stationed with me. I'm sure I'm cursed. I draw bad stuff like a candle draws moths."

Netanz shrugs "The Colonel says I'm too lenient anyway, maybe he's just trying to get rid of me and he thinks that'll happen if I'm standing next to you when you get yours."

He chuckles and takes another drink "You know, you might want to pitch your reality show, there hasn't been a good reality show on since Survivor: Atlal three years ago, when a Tolteca lad won by default. For his two items he took a knife and a bigger knife. The other contestants were never heard from again and he was awarded the prize without any competition."

"Who said it would be decent?" she grinned, "I just figured it might win enough ratings to give me a huge injection of cash."

"I'm a Dyellian." she explained, "Everyone knows we'd sell our own mothers if the price was right."

"Thank you for helping out today.. you know, if you ever need help I'll be more than happy to step in for you." Zara gave a slight smile, "I'm not certain how useful I'd be, but I could at least try my best."

"Anyway..." she concluded "I should be heading home soon, my husband will be expecting me."

Netanz chuckles "He's probably wondering where dinner is? Well, I guess I will see you tomorrow. Watch your back, I don't like losing partners."

In fact Zara wouldn't have to watch her back that hard, the entirety of the Velite Guard had been told to watch out for her, she sudenly had ten million concerned big brothers and sisters, and as she left the pub, waiting outside was the Velite Kerbal that had been aiding the surveillance, in his black suit, with his black breast plate under his jacket waiting with his car.

"Mrs. Imro? It's probably best if I gave you a ride home." He said as he opened the passenger door. "Until we get rid of whomever wishes you harm, it's best that you aren't alone."

Zara laughed, "Hope not, he's had the experience of my cooking by now."

"I'll see you then." she smiled, "Don't worry, I'm surprisingly hard to kill."

She seemed vaguely suprised by the reception outside, "Oh. Thank you...?" she prompted for a name.

Inside her head her mind was buzzing, there was so much information rhat was connecting together to form a somewhat disturbing pattern... she needed to get home. To sleep on it and to think, although she doubted even then she'd have answers to the questions that had been posed...

News would be coming in from Timaru and Moskau... the front had collapsed. The Army was in full chaotic retreat. Thousands were dead, military and civilian alike in what was turning into something of a genocide...

The Kerbal smiled "I am Kerbal Fenrek. Pleased to meet you. Is there anywhere you need to stop, or is it straight home?" He said as got into the drivers seat, the doors of the car seemed extra heavy, Zara could guess that it was most likely an armoured car, although it looked like an ordinary Jaguar X-Type.

*****

The Moskaun retreat had turned into a matter of the greatest indifference to Retaliatory Guard Command. The 'weapon test' that was planned to give the concerned parties pause and slow or stop the fighting, had been cancelled. Polkovnik Morris' antics had turned the Retaliatory Guard's stance on them from sympathy to war.

The northern border was now sealed and Timaru and Moskauns that mde it that far south would find that The Free Republic's open door asylum policy was now shut to them.

The only Retaliatory Guard movement was a Battalion of the Red Jaguar, moving north, stealthily, they were charged with finding and killing Brezhnev and Dzerzhinsky. The 11th Red Jaguar Command were vehicleless and and wearing no insignia, using stealth to avoid detection and slip into the chaotic arctic territories to complete their mission, they also would take no prisoners and eliminate any armed person they met in their path.

"Interesting car." she mused, "Ever seen an NFEV?"

She laughed suddenly, "Now why would you ever have seen that? Let's just go home thanks Fenrek."

The NFEV was a Dyellian half-track, armoured limousine which was designed to also act as a fallout shelter. Most Dyellian politicians and senior officers drove one.

----------

Moskau was quiet. Too quiet. Snow blew across the land. There were small villages, abandoned. Occasionally there were charred corpses or burned out vehicles, always Moskauan. The Guard might also come across slaughtered refugee columns. Men, women, children, never any survivors.

There were tracks into the deep forrest. If anyone was left in the country they were there.

He nods "I have seen it in security briefings, one of the few vehicles that my Scorpion Anti-Material rifle can't take out."

He nodded and smiled "Home it is." The armoured X-Type was a much faster and more comfortable ride than a half tack.

*****

Brigadier Saakadze, pondered the devestation, and the tracks. He carefully weighed going into the wilderness, he and his men were ideally trained and outfitted for it, but at the same time they didn't know the territory anywhere near as well as the locals would.

He stood for a long time, letting the snow cover him, his men spead out and staying perfectly still before he finally turned his head slightly and made a fist with his left hand and shook it at waist level, with that signal he and his men were off.

Their reactive camoflage longcoats constantly changed colors and hue to match the surroundings and the thick insulation in them not only kept them warm , but also helped mask their heat signature, their wide, soft rubber soled boots obscured their tracks. They swept into the DBAT's wilderness, scanning for any life, using their tactical computers thermographic and infra red imaging to find anyone alive in the cold.

"Oh you've heard of it." she seemed vaguely surprised that people would show the least bit of interest in the going's on in her home country or the strange vehicles they drove (mostly because they were paranoid other Dyellians were going to shoot at them).

"Thank you." she offered Fenrek a warm smile as they arrived home, "You on duty? I'll make you a coffee if you like?"

She was rather keen to see her husband now she waqs home. While she didn't always agree with him, Zara wanted to hear his opinion. Vaadians thought differently to Dyellians, no doubt he'd have a different spin on things...

----------

There was very little in the woods. As they got deeper they would come across a group of huddled refugees who fled at the first sound of a vehicle. They could probably catch them if they wanted, although the odds were they would know very little.

The trees began to grow closer together as they went further in, the terrain more rugged and mountainous, until they hit what was clearly a warning sign. Bodies. 5 of them, or what was left of them. The animals of the forrest had had a good chew on them before anyone arrived. The heads had been hacked off and hung clumsily from branches. The eyes had been pecked away by the crows and the lips as well... the ears were more or less intact. These had been elves, which meant this was a Moskauan/Orc area they were entering.

There was something else that had been there as well... it was hard to work out what it had been, but it had been hammered onto a pole and it had been slimy... Finishing the whole display was a charred metal cylinder with small bulbous ridges all the way along it. It was perhaps 4 feet tall, something had melted the top of it and someone had unscrewed something else from the bottom, leaving just the charred cylinder. It looked like a bit, were anyone properly briefed, of one of Morris' drones.

Fenrek smiled "Thank you for the offer, but I am still on duty for another 48 hours, I'll take a raincheck."

Imro was at home already, he had a very short commute most days and was already preparing dinner, he raised an eyebrow as Zara came in. "I hear you've had an interesting day?"

*****
Brigadier Saakadze decided that crossing the orcs was inadviseable. The Jaguars decided to return to the Free Republic, but before they did, they took with them the 'drone' and the unidentified slimy thing.

They left just as silently and quickly as they had come.

Zara looked a little bit surprised to discover her husband already knew of the events of the day, but suddenly grinned, "You never cease to amaze me, I won't bother trying to give you the details, you probably already know them better than me."

She sidled into the kitchen, "What are you cooking?" she asked brightly, "Want me to take over?"

In truth, Zara's skill at cooking stopped with toast, but she was an eager pupil, "So." she looked up at him, offering a slight smile, "Do you have an opinion on that crazy Spetsnaz guy, me or Moskau as a whole?"

----------

There were shadows as they departed. Thermal images might show there were indeed a small number of figures that watched the Retaliatory Guard depart, at least until the trees became thinner. There seemed to be an equal number of huge bulky watchers and small slender ones... Orcs and Moskauans. The two races got on like a house on fire.

It was about that time that the Karmanyakan border began to see elves appearing in place of the usual Moskauan patrols. The country was their's, but what they planned next was anyone's guess.

Imro smiles "Steaks, I'll broils those in a minute, rigt now I'm just finishing up the asparagus and potatos. " he chuckles as she offers to help "No, just you stay right there, I'm hungry and actually want to eat this!"

"I personally think it was a mistake" he explained as he cooked "The Moskauns could have probably expected some sort of support simply because the Republican Council hates the Federation, wiring a building up like a huge bomb, just insures that the Republican Council will continue to do nothing, other than antigonize the Federation States about their open genocide. Now, Retaliatory Guard Command is just as likely to kill anyone from Moskau without even asking questions."

He shrugs "I just don't see why states in the Klatch, can't seem to send diplomats instead of spies and assassins?"

*****

Vaadians had no problems with Orcs and tended to respect their terrotorial boundaries in the unincorporated area. The Red Jaguar moved out in good order.

They were concerned about getting the 'drone' back to Retaliatory Guard Command.

"I don't know about the rest of the Federation." Zara offered a wry half smile, "But Dyelli Beybi at least is very fond of it's spies, although not usually it's assassins..."

She put an arm around his waist, "We don't trust foreigners, don't ever know what they're planning to do to us..." she grinned impertinently.

"As for the Moskauans. I think they're desperate. I don't think poor old Fraser was interested in Vaadian support, he thought I had information that might help his state, and he was willing to die to make sure we didn't know any details."

----------

The object when it was properly examined would turn out to be some kind of titanium alloy, solid, but the inside was criss crossed by millions of hair thin aluminium wires, there were the remains of a few thicker, insulated ones as well. Current run into the mesh of wires would electrify the entire cylinder.

----------

It was about that time that the elves deigned to make contact, sending a very brief comunique to the Government of Ilek-Vaad...

From The God-Emperor of all Klatch
To The Governing Body of the State known as Ilek-Vaad
Subject Peace in our times

The God Emperor of all Klatch wishes to let it be known that he will send a diplomatic envoy to Ilek-Vaad to speak and secure positive relations with that state.

Imro chuckles "Well, if you have no hope of cultivating friends, you may as well make enemies."

He pauses to put the steaks in the broiled, and then straightens back up and kisses Zara on the top of the head "You can set the table."

*****

Back at Tollan the 'drone' and the slimey thing were isolated and pored over by Guard Scientists and scientists and technicians from Avery Frost Aeronautics.

A tall, pale man watched them and turned to an aid. "Who did Mr. Morris ask about these?"

The aid opened a notebook "A Zara Alwood, sir."

The pale man nodded "Right, get her here."

*****

From The God-Emperor of all Klatch
To The Governing Body of the State known as Ilek-Vaad
Subject Peace in our times

The God Emperor of all Klatch wishes to let it be known that he will send a diplomatic envoy to Ilek-Vaad to speak and secure positive relations with that state.

The reply was unequally brief:

To: God-Emperor of All Klatch
From: Sir Alec Connover, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ilek-Vaad

The Free Republic is always open to receive diplomats from foreign powers, however we do not of any such government of 'God Emperor of All of Klatch'. The Free Republic, is a Klatchian State. It is also a 'Free Republic' and does not recognize the hegemony of any entity in the Klatch, nor does it recognize any Emperors that may attempt to lay claim to rulership over our section of the Klatch known as Ilek-Vaad.

If you can clarify what state you represent then I shall be pleased to greet your difnataries at their earliest convienance, but keep in mind this does not in any way represent our government's approval of your claim to statehood, but merely an oppurtunity to find out who you are and assess your claims of sovereignty.

I thank you,
Sir Alec Connover
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ilek-Vaad

Zara hugged her husband, leaning her head against his chest for a moment, "Alright, I'll lay it."

She disconnected, moving away to find cutlery and place mats, "So what happened to you today?" she asked, a slight smile on her lips "Shoot anybody?"

----------

What was left of the slimey object indicated it wasn't human, elf or anything else. Bits of the DNA indicated there were similarities to both, although only very minor. It was something new...

----------


From The God-Emperor of all Klatch
To The Governing Body of the State known as Ilek-Vaad
Subject The God Emperor

The God Emperor is the rightful owner of the Klatchian continent. The God-Emperor is more ancient that any of the Nations that inhabit the Klatch. Yet he bears no ill will to state of Ilek-Vaad.

The God Emperor represents the Empire that was on the Klatchian continent, and the Empire that is to be.

Imro chuckled "No, I hardly get to shoot anyone anymore. Althought I did get to put the men on alert because of a house bomb in the city, but you know all about that."

It wasn't until they had finished with dinner that there was a knock on the door.

*****

Retaliatory Guard coommand took samples of everything and gave samples to their Ambassador from the Commonwealth , who could perform a much more in depth analysis.

*****

Sir Alec replied again:

To: God-Emperor of All Klatch
From: Sir Alec Connover, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ilek-Vaad

The veracity of such claims as to 'ownership' of the Klatchian Continent are not the business of The Free Republic with the exception that within the borders of The Free Republic the People are, and shall be sovereign.

The Free Republic does not turn away the emisaries of any nation.

Sir Alec Connover
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ilek-Vaad

Zara had decided to at least do her bit ad help clear the plates away, "Oh great." she commented, then moderated her voice to cut out the annoyed tone, "You expacting anyone Ram?" she waited for an answer, as she put the pile of crockery down next to the sink, "I'll answer it, you stay where you are."

She hurried off to answer the door.

----------

The 'God-Emperor' manged to get a reply in as well... It was startling in it's implied arrogance.

From The God-Emperor of all Klatch
To The Governing Body of the State known as Ilek-Vaad
Subject Emissary

The God Emperor will dispatch an emmisarry immediately. You will be notified of their arrival so that they are not forced to harm the Air Force of Ilek-Vaad.

It was the taciturn Manglevites Comnenus at the dorr, he saluted Zara as she opened the door.

"We've had a message from Tollan. The Supreme Republican Commander has requested that you report to the Massif. They are readying a secure rail transport at Dark Horse Headquarters for your transport.

I'm having them bring a car around."

He smiles and stands at attention and waits.

*****

Sir Alec had had quite enough and decided to do away with tact.

To: God-Emperor of All Klatch
From: Sir Alec Connover, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ilek-Vaad

I would advise that your Emisary arrive as is dictated by protocols in dealing with unknown entities. If your emissary is ariving by air, he or she must register a flight plan with Air Command in Lassic, and arive in an unarmed craft. If arriving by sea they should contact the Port Authority at Costa Tula, Coventry or South Haven and await an escort into Vaadian waters. If arriving by land they should present themselves to Velite Border Authorities and await an escort to Lassic.

If you intend on arriving in one of the craft that you are currently using to engage out Commonwealth Allies in battle, it will be taken as an act of war, and the craft will be destroyed. If your emissary arrives using stealth, as did your assassins that attempted to attack the person of the Lord Vaad, it will be taken as an act of war, and they will be neutralized.

Any emissary that arives in an armed fashion, will be received with hostility. I ahve also asked that the Commonwealth Ambassador also be present at any meeting with your emissary so that you can explain your hostile actions. The Lord Vaad has also requested that one of his Excutors also be present, to redress his grievance at your assassins trespass into his house, and the attempt to injure his person.

I do hope that this meeting can be productive.


Sir Alec Connover
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ilek-Vaad


Sir Alec was only guessing that the 'Emperor' that the elven assassin had ranted about, and the Emperor whose name the forces engaging the Commonwealth were acting under, were one and the same. It seemed a reasonable deduction.

*****

In space the orbiting station Pyrrhic I was put on full alert, they were still receiving the information from the Commonwealth Fleet Control Group, and were awaiting the arrival of the Voltaug, and it's defensive drones.

Zara saluted back, and listened with a mixed look of confusion and alarm, "Ah, yes Sir. Just let me get changed... ah come in, I won't be long."

She hurried inside, wondering if some Cheka or KGB antics might have got pinned on her somehow. She came into the kitchen first, leaning over to whisper to her husband, "Apparently I'm wanted... somewhere, like right now, Comnenus is here."

She waited for a reply before moving to the bedroom to get changed. She did really need to change, but more than that, she needed to think, and maybe, if she was lucky, her husband and Comnenus might start talking, allowing her to glean a tiny bit more information on what was going on.

----------

Whoever was writing on behalf of the God Emperor replied, although the phrasing had changed substantially.

From The God-Emperor of all Klatch
To The Governing Body of the State known as Ilek-Vaad
Subject Emissary

You will be notified of flight plans.

There have been no assassins sent to harm any members of the House of Vaad. This does not compute. Although it seems probable this refers to efforts to erradicate dangerous and inferior humanoid species from the Klatchian continent.

Attack on hostile space craft in response to attack on Imperial satellite.

Ram came out of the kitchen and confronted Comnenus. "On whose orders? The Supreme Republican Commander can't issue orders to the Velite Guard?"

Comnenus paused and reached into his bag for a faxed note "It is not an order sir, it is a request from the Supreme Republican Commander's office via Air Guard Command, Tollan, made by Flight Commander Aldred."

If Zara were still in the room , she would see Manglevites Comnenus wink and tap the side of his nose.

Ram hmmmed and looked over the note "I see, well, then I'm gloing with her. You are in command until I return, Manglevites."

Ram turned and joined Zara , to pack some things of his own "Intelligence" he muttered "It's the Shadow General that wants to see you, he is probably compiling a threat assessment on Dyelli Beybi and the DBAT and wants your special insight."


*****

Sir Alec replied:

To: God-Emperor of All Klatch
From: Sir Alec Connover, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ilek-Vaad

So long as we understand each other, that will be fine.


Sir Alec Connover
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ilek-Vaad

Zara hadn't actually packed anything, she looked confused for a moment, "Where are we going? What's this all about?"

"Sorry, I'm confused, why would they want me, I've never been to the North." she was confused and worried, but trusted her husband, so just went along with whatever he did or said.

----------

There was no reply from the 'God-Emperor'... for now.

Ram chuckled "We are going to Tollan, well, to Mount Tlaloc actually, or under Mount Tlaloc to the Tollan Massif, Retaliatory Guard headquarters.

Aldred, isn't a Vaadian name, it's an alias preferred by the Shadow General's information gatherers, and it's also been co-opted by some criminal organizations.............anyhow, the Shadow General is charged with compiling data for threat assessment reports issued by Retaliatory Guard Command. He technically can't compel you to go to Tollan, and you honestly don't have to tell him anything. If he wants to see you, it means he's compiling a new report. I would guess this report has something to do with your native lands, since that would be your area of expertise."

He pauses "Do I have to pack for you as well? We really don't have to go if you're that nervous about it. I suppose your experience with secret intelligence gathering apparatus probably makes you justifiably nervous, but I don't think you have anything to worry about. I'll be there, and the Shadow General really has no legal authority to do anything but gather information."

*****

Sir Alec just waited, and got on with his job.

Zara started routing around in cupboards until she found a gymn bag, suitable for a few days travel, "How many days should I pack for?" she asked, already putting things into the bag.

"The thing I'm worried about." he smiled, not looking especially worried, "Is the whole can't legally make me do stuff. The Cheka legally couldn't do a lot of stuff... but it did it anyway... I did it anyway."

She pursed her lips, there was a slight trace of worry in the blue eyes, "I'll tell them everything I know, I just hope they don't think I'm holding back."

"Well, legality is very important in the Free Republic. You're a Velite Guard, practically a citizen, they won't touch you." Ram chuckles " Honestly, YOU would probably assume that you were holding back if you were doing the questioning, I'm sure they will too. Isn't that what good interrogators assume? I would just pack for two or three days, unless you'd want a second honeymoon in Tollan? It is warm in winter."

Ram helped her finish packing and then picked up his bag "Well, let's not keep the car waiting."

Zara laughed, "Yeah ok, I probably would."

She followed Ram out to the car, holding onto her bag with grim determination, "Of course the kind of interrogation I'm thinking of probably isn't legal when citizens are concerned. It certainly wasn't legal in Dyelli Beybi. At the end of the civil war, everything was in chaos. The civilian Government was passing legislation giving all manner of political and social liberty, the abolished the death penalty. The Cheka were still murdering and torturing... they were desperate times."

She seemed to be trying to justify her nervousness about going into what she assumed was the Vaadian Enquivalent of Benjia House. Suddenly she smiled, giving a slight, although definitely happy, laugh, "Warm in the winter aye? I like that, this whole country is way too cold for a South Coaster like me... You might have to show me the sights... if there's time."

"Oh, we can always make time." he said with a smile.

The car ride took about an hour , a bit further north and east, deep into the Lassean wood, and down several twisting roads off the highway, to the base of the Dark Horse Retaliatory Guard Army, actually from what could be seen it looked like an old farmers gate with a 'No Admittance sign on it.

Seconds after pulling up to the gate the car was surrounded by several Retaliatory Guardsmen in full battle kit, the came out of nowhere in the darkness of the wood. They spoke briefly with the drive, walked around the car, and then opened the old gate. The car drove through and deeper into the wood, except that in this wood there were low concrete pyrimidine bunkers, well spaced, camouflaged and beneath the trees, with only darkened slits for windows.

The car drove on to a relatively large and central bunker, where a large blast door was slowly opening.

Ram sat quietly "Now, you'll get to see how whole armies can move from one end of the Free Republic to another in a matter of days."

"Oh right." Zara looked a tiny bit uncomfortable at being allowed to see what she assumed was a military secret, she was a definite adherer to the 'ignorance is bliss' school of thought. There had been too many bad experiences...

"Some kind of underground railway?" she asked, nevertheless intrigued.

Ram chuckled "You mean you don't know? Goodness, I guess we have hidden some things from the Cheka."

They were driven into the bunker, where tanks lined either side, the car continued past them, and parked under a set of four pillars, which then began to go down. It was a giant elevator, it looked as though it could five or six tanks, or several other vehicles and who knew how many men. It went for about eight stories, passing different floors, each packed with more equipment, before finally coming to a stop at a huge underground rail junction, every thousand feet or so, another platform was visible. there was a single maglev car waiting, though there were 12 tracks abreast, with movable platforms between each.

The car was driven right up to the maglev car.

Ram nodded "Well, we should be in Tollan in about twelve hours." as he got out of the car, and the Kerbals took the luggage from the trunk.

"Maybe." she said distantly, "The Cheka kept a lot of things secret from the likes of me."

She gave a wry smile, directed at Ram, "I was never regarded as much more than an assett you know. Felix and Richard were the only ones who ever really cared about us human assetts."

She shrugged, watching everything around her with a strange faraway expression, "So this is some kind of train yard?"

She paused, nodding, "Interesting."

Ram nodded "There is one at every Retaliatory Guard base. The maglev trains can travel at up to 450 mph and can reach any corner of the Republic in a maximum of three days."

They entered the car, which was obviously not the usual military convoy car, it was appointed more like a luxury RV. Ram saluted the men as they stashed the bags and then left and then he sat down on the sofa and relaxed, the train was underway momentarily.

"Oh, and they are all controlled from Tollan, so there is no way to hijack them. There are no controls or crews."

Zara did her usual, smiling and thanking of the Kerbals... she seemed to have difficulty keeping a distance from people... it was quite a Dyellian trait.

She sat down next to Ram, leaning against him, "So." she began, "Why do we get such a nice carriage?"

Then smiled ruefully, "No driver? You shouldn't have told me that."

Ram chuckled "Because they don't want to offend The Lord Vaad. He has no official power, but still has a few strings that he can pull, so everyone tries to stay on his good side. Especially since he's a personal friend of the Minister of Defence."

"Why would no driver bother you? I think it's rather nice, having all this privacy, a nice ride to Tollan. I hope there is food in the refrigerator."

The train was then underway, the sift windowless carriage sped under the Free Republic, to the Tollan Massif. It would take about a day and the train would pull into another massive underground station, this one was full of trains , and crawling with activity.

"I don't trust it not to malfunction." Zara grumbled, "Machines can have a life of their own."

It was the whole Dozle paranoia. Klatchians by and large weren't excedingly keen on the idea of machines being left to their own devices...

"Although I honestly can't complain about a bit of privacy as long as this doesn't crash and explode in some random section of tunnel." she smiled in a manner which to someone who didn't know her would look like she was trying to be brave... but Ram would know her well enough by now to realise it was entirely put on...

... The new station was interesting, although Zara wore a look of nonchalant expression. Secretly though she was quite impressed. She was no engineer, but could appreciate, it mustn't have been easy to put together... like the Saint Guineford's Cathedral, which apparently they were trying to repair again... apart from the war damage, someone had stolen quite a quantity of the roof tiles. Police were turning up no leads.

As they exited the car they were met immediately by a gaggle of Red Jaguar, whom there seemed to be several hundred crawling about, leading them was a recognizable face, Staff Seargent Assad, who smiled and offered her hand "Ram, Zara, how was the trip? They sure got you here fast."

Ram smiled and shook her hand "No Shadows to greet us?"

Assad nodded "Oh, they'll be here, I was just notified of your arrival first, and since Uncle Istvan retired I have nothing to do, so here I am."

As they spoke a man in a black overcoat, with black hair and dark black glasses arrived, he is very, sickly pale, he gave a sidelong glance at Staff Seargent Assad and then nodded curtly to Ram and Zara.

"Exarch Imro, Inspector Imro, if you would come with me, we would like to waste as little of your time as possible, so if we could?" He motioned that they follow him.

Assad chuckled "We'll talk later, don't disappear down there."

Zara shook hands, with a slightly suprised smile, "Oh I can't complain. This is a suprise."

"Nothing to do?" she raised an eyebrow, "I somehow suspect people with nothing to do don't generally just wander down here. It doesn't look like a tourist spot somehow."

She blinked at the man in the black coat, "Alright."

A glance in the direction the man seemed to be indicating, "We can but pray." she laughed, not sounding at all nervous, "I might see you after, if I don't 'get lost'."

She followed the man in black, wondering vaguely what they wanted from her.

The man led them further on into the complex and then to another elevator , and then down again, about another eight stories. Exiting at a floor with steel walls and leading them into a hallway with large bulkhead door to the left and right, stretching down several hundred yards. He led them down to a seemingly random door on the left, and laced his hand on a panel next to the door, a minute later the door opened.

They entered and observation room that was about a laboratory, with large glass windows, and monitors observing every inch of the laboratory and it's contents. The first pale man left the way he came and a second, identically dressed man offered his hand.

"I'm sure that Exarch Imro explained who I am." he said glancing at him "I am the Shadow General. I have asked you here for your help in assessing the threat of The Emperor's forces that have arrived in Timaru and Moskau and are en route, via a rather large space armada. Polkovnik Morris seemed to think you knew something about it."

He paused , switching on the monitors were gave close ups of the 'captured' Dalek and assorted pieces as well as a full sized, accurate as possible mock up. On another monitor, it showed feeds of the Dalek ships in space, as sent to them by The Commonwealth ships.

"I don't know if you do know anything. If you do I would be most interested." Here he paused glancing at Ram again "You are here voluntarily, if you do wish to leave, or do not know anything, you may go. I will find other avenues for obtaining information if need be. I am only asking that you look our information over."

Zara looked started, "Ah hello."

"Umm right." she stared at the pictures of the space ships blankly. They meant nothing to her.

The Dalek on the other hand apparently did, although she still looked confused, "It's alive." she grunted eventually, "It can't survive for long outside of the box thing.. Himmler makes them. He made his prototype off stolen Vrakian and LOW technology, but the prototype was entirely a machine. An organic brain has greater processing power than a silicon chip he figured."

"But." it appeared like something was dawning on her, although she wasn't in a great hurry to enlighten anyone, "The problem with using a thinking brain is it can think for itself and make decissions that may not agree with that of the maker."

She smiled uncertainly, "Don't ask me how I know all this. Oh by the way... they are shielded, to reliably blow one up you need to hit it with some very heavy munitions about where that big stalk comes out of the head. Because of the way the thing is shaped there's a weak point just there."

The Exarch Imro was the only one who knew her well enough to realise that she was quite possibly lying when she said she didn't know how she knew the information, although other people might be suspicious.

Nobody took any notes, everything was being recorded anyway, Ram encouragingly put his hand on Zara's back and the Shadow General nodded.

"I see, that is certainly more than we knew before." The Shadow General looked thoughtful "Apparently you have some hidden or repressed memories of something to do with all of this, would be adverse to trying hypnosis to see if anything more can be gleaned?"

"That won't work." Zara spoke quickly, although this time she was being honest, "Some people just don't respond to hypnosis..."

The pressure on her back seemed to have reassured her a little bit, "The thing about repressed and hidden memories, is that they do sometimes come back on their own. That's what I'm telling you now. I can also honestly tell you I have never seen one of those... whatever those things are before in my life."

"If you wanted to build an organic computer using actual brain material, what would you do?" she prompted, "You'd probably first use something live to write the information onto and see if it could be retrieved and so on, right?"


"Then if you discovered you couldn't actually wipe the data, you might get worried, because the data is important." It sounded like a bit of educated guess work going on.

"It's the Old War." she concluded.

"Old War?" The Shadow General asked inquisitively.

"Well, Inspector Imro, what you suggest our course of action would be, what do you think would jog your memory? I can put whatever you need at your disposal for as long as it takes to figure out how to deal with the threat of Himmler and his Klatchian God Emperor. I have a feeling that somehow, you have the answer, we just need to find out how to get to it?"

"Between my people and the Elves." Zara explained.

"These." she waved vaguely at the Dalek, "They're just weapons. To help turn the tide."

She grimaced, then shuddered, staying silent for quite a while. Finally she put her hands on her hips and standing back to glare defiantly at the Shadow General, "I probably can help, but I don't want this to mean I have to wait longer to get citizenship, because if that's the case, you can run off what I've already told you."

She paused, licking her lips, suddenly looking inexplicably uncertain of herself, "The best thing I can think of is to go back to the begining, back to Himmler's labs if they still exist. I was there. Also it would probably help if I could speak to my sister, I know she was snooping around there before Soult seized power in the South. She might know something she didn't tell me last time."

The Shadow General shrugged "I have no control over your citizenship, after you have completed your compulsory Velite Guard service you can take the test and if you pass, you are a citizen, nothing I can do can affect that one way or the other. I can't even compel you to be here, or to help. I am asking if you will.

If you will, I will give you whatever assistance you will need."

He paused and then continued "Mr. Johnson was in Himmler's labs just after Cyro fell, they were cleaned out. You can feel free to call your sister. I have arranged for a honeymoon suite at the Emperor Teztcatlipoca Hotel, up in Tollan, I have had the lines secured so you can make whatever calls you need from there. The suite has an office. All I ask is whatever you find out, you share with me, and if it looks like it can be done, we will eliminate Himmler and his God Emperor.

Is this something you would like to help with?"

Zara shook her head, "I don't think you quite follow me. What I'm asking is that me taking time out from Velite service to help you isn't held against me, I really don't want to end up getting shunted back. I want Citizenship... I guess I just want to make sure that me helping in this won't hinder that."

"Now as for Cyro, I don't think you quite understood me..." he was good at misunderstanding her, Zara thought to herself, she'd need to be very clear, possibly he wasn't used to Dyellians, she knew she thought slightly differently to most Vaadians, but variety was the spice of life... "You know with repressed memories, a good way to bring them back is to recreate the circumstances the lost memory took place in?"

"That's why I think it might be a good idea to go back, just for a couple of days, there's somewhere I want to go back to." she sounded somewhat cagey about it, pausing, then leaning back against her husband.

She took a deep breath, "There's a room there, with grey walls, there was a metal trolley in the middle and all kinds of electrical equipment. I think if I can find it, maybe I'll remember why that thing..."

She pointed at the Dalek, "Makes me think of that room, and why it fills me with dread."

"My sister is a spy." she continued, changing topic, "She won't say much on the phone, it would be better if I saw her face to face."

"What I'm thinking would probably work." she was spelling out exactly what she wanted, what she thought was sensible, "Is three days. Give it half a day travel to Port Olympus, meet Caroline, night in the capital, imposing on sister dearest's hospitality of course, then flight to Cyro, lay low till evening, go exploring, night flight back home where I tell you if I've found out anything."

"Plus." she smiled wryly, seeing a funny side to her suggestion, "I'm sure your can see certain benefits to me having a nice long chat with Caroline even if I dig up nothing in Cyro."

This time it was Ram that spoke "I don't like that idea, going back to Cyro, or Port Olympus is too dangerous. There has to be a better way."

He sounded fairly set in that assessment and the Shadow General frowned and looked from Ram to Zara "Still it is Inspector Imro's choice, I'm sure that I could speak to the Velite General and make sure this mission is sanctioned by the Velite Guard."

They both seemed to wait for her to say yes or no.

"Dangerous?" Zara laughed, "How could it be. Dyelli Beybi is more or less stable now. I'm not a wanted criminal anymore. How could it be dangerous?" she turned to her husband, who apparently she regarded as having a big say in this, "Would you come? To protect me and all?"

She spun around again to face the Shadow General, "Call me a Diplomatic envoy or something on day one. They won't say no, family is important in Dyelli Beybi. I'm sure you'd have some kind of purpose for that, you can give me a briefing and I'll say all the things you want to say to her as well as ask all the questions I want to ask. I think this idea has many, many benefits for Ilek-Vaad."

Unlike her sister, Zara had not presupposed Ilek-Vaad wanted to start a war with Klatch. In fact it seemed to have never crossed her mind that one might break out. She seemed to generally assume people would always talk things through in the civilised world.

She turned around again to face Ram, running a hand lightly across his cheek, "Family is important to me too. That's you by the way. I won't go without your agreement, and if I do go, I would really love to have you with me."

She smiled mischievously, "Although I'd do the talking to Caroline, leave it to the cultural liason, you just look handsome in your uniform."

The Shadow General frowned "Now we're getting beyond things that I have within my power to do. I know that you are used to shadowy spymasters that can make anything happen with a threat and a phone call, but I cannot make anyone an Envoy, or give anyone an even vaguely governmental title or cover. These things would have to be discussed with the Supreme Republican Commander and quite possibly the Minister of Foreign Affairs."

The Shadow General, in truth, had what power Ram had told Zara he had, the power to solicit, but not compel help. He was much less powerful than the head of the Cheka, or even an assistant to the head of the Cheka.

Ram smiled at Zara "I will go with you, if you do go. Though I don't think it will do anything to help Caroline be receptive to your attentions.

"Actually." Zara was smiling slightly, "I was more hoping that if you thought it was a good idea, you might be able to say so to the right people, and that way encourage them to actually take me seriously, which I assume they may otherwise not."

The Cheka of course had had the power to more or less do whatever they liked, about the only thing that had ever held them in check was Dzerzhinsky, but he was gone to ground, apparently waging a guerilla war against everyone who set foot in that part of Klatch. Fradkov, Soult and all the unpleasantness was like a shaken champagne bottle, Dzerzhinsky was the cork...

"It would be nice if you could get along." she remarked wistfully to her husband, "Although it''s probably wishful thinking. She's a lot like me you know... except perhaps a bit more dishonest, angry and violent, but she's still family."

The Shadow General simply nodded "I will speak with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Supreme Republican Commander and Velite Commander to see what I can do."

He motioned to the door "Until then, you may as well enjoy the hotel room, my assistant will lead you back to the surface. I will be in touch."

Ram Saluted the Shadow General and smiled to Zara "Oh, we'll get along just fine, so long as we understand that if she gets snippy with me, I can break her fingers."

"Thank you Sir." Zara's face had formed into a self-satisfied smile. Apparently her idea was valid, or at least warranted consideration, which was nice. It was good to know one was appreciated, "Do you need me for anything else?" she also seemed to be positively brimming with helpfullness...

She dug her elbow into Ram's ribs, "Don't be cruel, she can be very charming... when she wants to be."

The Shadow General shook his head "No, I will contact you, if I require anything else. Thank you."

Ram rolled his eyes at Zara's comment "Oh yes, I'm sure, she's just never wanted to be charming around me."

As he said that, the man that had led them from the train entered and motioned them to follow. It took about forty five minutes, winding through tunnels and switching lifts to eventually reach the surface where they finally exited through a small blast door in a rock crevice that led out to an open area behind the twin pyramid of Tetzcatlipoca on the Tollan Plateau.

From there it was another forty five minute walk to the Emperor Teztcatlipoca Hotel outside the gates of the ritual compound that pyramids resided in. Their room was reserved under 'Imro' and was ready and waiting, a large room with a balcony overlooking the swimming pools that overlooked the jungles several hundred feet below over the sheer edge of the plateau. The ancient stone city of Tollan covers the entire flat plateau off to the east and Mt. Tlaloc rises ominously to the west, from which they just came.

"Thank you Sir." Zara saluted the Shadow General, for want of anything else to do, then followed her husband.

"She thinks you're using me." she confided during the journey, "Although I think when you met her she might have been trying to kill me."

"You said something though." she continued, with a coy smile, "That convinced her that you were more than ready to part with me once you'd had your fun. I wonder if you remember what that was?"

She was teasing, while at the same time trying to jog Ram's memory of his meeting with her sister. Would his memories match what Caroline had told her.

When they arrived at the hotel, she cast a quick look around, "What a fantastic view." she commented, her eyes lingering on the window.

She collapsed down on a couch with a sigh, submitting her husband to serious scrutiny, "I wonder if Caroline is right about you?" she mused, although that familiar sparkle in her eye, implied she wasn't really considering it, "I guess the best course for me to take is to make sure you never stop having your fun."

"Oh." she added as an afterthought, "And when dealing with Dyellians, be nice to them and you'll have them eating out of the palm of your hand. I don't see why it's so hard for Vaadians and Dyellians to agree, I think we're far more similar than we give ourselves credit."

----------

And miles to the South West the new Regime in Dyelli Beybi was looking around to see if any Vaadian representatives hadn't fled the country. Things were afoot in Klatch, and a dream that had once been that of the Dyellian Tzar was now that of the Tzarina and for the first time in history it looked possible...

Ram chuckled "Of course I remember, I told her that when you had outlived your usefulness to me I'd hand you over to her. She was going to kill you that day, she said so, and said I'd be the better off for it."

He sat next to Zara on the couch and put his arm around her "I still stand by that, once you've outlived your usefulness to me, you're Caroline's problem. Though I anticipate your usefulness will last longer than the few months I had originally supposed. Caroline will have to outlive me to get another crack at you."

He snorts at the prospect of 'being nice' "Vaadians can't be nice. Nice is just another way to say deceitful."

*****

It wasn't a hard thing to locate any Vaadian officials, Ambassador Von Drackenfels and her entire embassy staff were still at their Embassy in Cyro, where they had been the whole time......................

"Oh is that so?" she laughed, shaking her head, "I see I never really did my work properly as a cultural advisor... Dyellians love flattery, you can get all kinds of things that way."

She hooked a leg across her husband, "And if you can't be nice, just smile, or if you can't do that, grimace and they might think it's a smile... but I know full well you people are perfectly capable of being civil and charming, you just choose not to."

----------

A note arrived at the embassy delivered by someone who's demeanour screamed 'CHEKA'.

An unmarked black four wheel drive will arrive at midday. Do not mention this. It will take you to a classified location. This meeting never took place.

-A

If there was question of the legitimacy of the document, it was stamped with a Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade seal.

"Well, I was never charming with you, and here you are? I think you may be wrong, I think Dyellians are ready for someone to blunt, direct and honest for a change. You were." He says that with a smile.

"Anyhow, I will not compromise my integrity for a mere woman." he says with a disdainful sniff as he rubs Zara's thigh "Even a woman I've married, just ask my ex-wives. I've been meaning to talk to you about that, I've never had a place to have my daughters stay with me for more than a day or two, what do you think of them staying with us for the summer?"

*****

Well, secret letters, unmarked cars, normally a Vaadian ambassador would ignore such things and at first Ambassador Von Drachenfels was inclined to go along with protocol. She decided at the last minute to meet the car, at least she could meet whomever had sent her the note and inform them that such back door shenanigans were a certified way to stay on The Free Republic's bad side.

So she waited at midday for the black, unmarked vehicle.

"Don't be silly." Zara smiled affectionately, "I can live with the bluntness. More importantly you stood by me when nobody else did. You didn't need to, they'd have found you some boring clerk who probably would have been much more efficient at their job than me. You're not half as awful as you pretend to be."

"Not for a mere woman?" she pouted, "I like to think I'm not a mere woman."

"As for your daughters... I'd love to meet them, although I'm guessing they'll probably not be excessively thrilled about me. We shall see if I can win them over. I can be charming." she grinned then kissed her husband, "I like your integrity. Don't change it."

----------

The car arrived at the allotted time and sat there. Although the Ambassador probably wouldn't notice the person who jostled her in the crowded street, stopped to apologise, but instead said, "Marshalls are everywhere. Get in."

Ram stood, lifting his wife with him, carrying her to the bed as he snorted "If anything I'll have to win them over. I'm sure they'll like you just fine, but how are they going to react to the man that is their father but has barely spent a solid weeks time with them at any previous meeting?"

He dropped Zara onto the bed "I think they'll resent me, and feel sympathetic to you............" he said as he followed her onto the bed.

It would be forty-eight hours before they would hear from the Shadow General, who showed up as they enjoyed a lunch on the balcony, he didn't call or knock, but simply walked right in and had a seat.

*****

Ambassador Drachenfels looked perturbed and simply followed directions.

"How old are your daughters again, by the way?" Zara was just asking when the Shadow General appeared, it was a leading question, but she didn't finish where she was leading to.

She immediately shut up when he appeared, smiling vaguely, "I didn't hear you come in Sir."

----------

The car slipped quietly into the road, the Ambassador would probably notice that the windows were tinted, "Commisaar Jakobs at your service." it probably wasn't a real name.

There appeared to be two Chekists, one driving and one who had slid in beside her. It was the one beside her doing the talking, "The problem." he explained briefly, "Is that with a Dyellian President, and an ex Chekist at that, we suddenly find far more prying eyes in Dyelli Beybi than there used to be. You are going to meet with someone important, who you will in fact have never seen today, although you might meet them at a later date."

"You will not remember what passed in this meeting, in fact if asked you will remember no meeting at all, but you will make sure the relevant people become aware of it." he paused, raising both eyebrows, "This is for your safety as much as anything else. You understand?"

He waited for an affirmative response before continuing, "How much do you know about Karmanyakan politics?"

Imro was about to answer when the Shadow General slid into the vacant seat, smiling at Zara as he did.

"Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition. I hope I'm not interrupting...." He says as he slides a packet over to Zara "But I have spoken with the appropriate people. The Supreme Republican Commander will have nothing to do with it, he is only willing to have his appointed second, Command General Lucane, represent him to the Federation.

Sir Alec, refuses to offer you any position as it may be seen as interference with the current Military Mandate, and lead to legal complications for his office.

The Velite General has no issues with sending you to Port Olympus, but has no power to give you any legal or official capacity to do so.

So, after quite a bit of wrangling, you have been assigned as a Judicial Reeve to Lictor Dominous of The Supreme Judiciary."

He nods at the packet "Your new badge is in there, don't worry, it's still a technically a Velite Guard position. Lictor Dominous started an inquiry into the attack on The Nachxa's house in Port Olympus with the Federation Marshals. You are to go there as his Reeve and inquire as to why there has been no action on this investigation and why no one has been brought to justice."

He smiles "That is the best I can do. There are also plane tickets, and a passport. You can leave whenever you like."

Ram chuckles "Reeve to the Supreme Judiciary, that's quite a promotion."

*****

Ambassador Drachenfels looks irritated , to say the least.

"I do not know anything about Karmanyakan politics and if I did, I would not tell the likes of you. I will also remember everyone and every detail of this meeting and will include it along with my regular briefs to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Free Republic does not meet anonymous Politburo in unmarked cars or secret rooms. If you have substantial, legal business with The Free Republic you conduct it properly and not in the shadows. While the Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not release private diplomatic conversations, it is not in the business of espionage.

I would suggest that you return me to my office, Commissar Jakob, because I am not going to comply with your unreasonable demands. I will do my job as charged by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and The People of The Free Republic."

Vaadians were always upset by this type of action, it was almost universally condemned in the Free Republic, one of the main reasons that the Shadow General had no real power.

Zara nodded along throughout, tying her hair back as she listened, "Okey dokey, it doesn't really matter what position you put me in, as long as I'm in Port Olympus I have all the excuse I need to speak to the President, which is what I really need to do there."

She seemed satisfied, but frowned in obvious confusion when Ram spoke of a promotion, "Alright... what exactly is a Reeve? I was figuring it was like a secretary or something?"

----------

The two Chekists exchanged a glance, "I think." Jakobs (with a k) sounded almost apologetic, "that getting into this car was probably a bad idea for you."

"You're not in Kansas now Dorothy." the man in the front snickered.

"You see." Jakobs continued, "Not all business should be disclosed. We want to avoid war, not start one."

The car stopped suddenly, "Well out you get." he smiled.

They had in fact stopped on a small bluff, it dropped several feet into swamp, the main body of Cyro could be seen to the West on the scattered islands of the delta.

"Crocodile reserve." the driver explained, he had got out and was leaning against the door of the car, from somewhere he had produced one of the stumpy Murcielago pistols, the same type Zara had smuggled into Ilek-Vaad.

Jakobs had also managed to produce one from somewhere although the pair weren't behaving threateningly, "Perhaps, we should have our chat here." he suggested, sounding quite friendly.

The Shadow General explained "A Reeve is an officer of the courts. They are charged with court and jail security as well as apprehending fugitives that have skipped bail. They also serve the Bailiffs and The Lictors in whatever other capacity is required.

They are the lowest in the chain of command in the Judicial structure."

"It's still better than a Velite Investigator, so long as you're assigned to the Supreme Judiciary." Ram adds.

The Shadow General nods "Yes, the level of court you are attached to adds or detracts from your rank and standing. So, if you feel like you actually need to do something official, arrest who ever attempted to attack The Nachxa and render him into the custody of your Lictor. "

*****

Ambassador Drachenfels got out as instructed and stood and faced the men. She crossed her arms over her breast defiantly.

"Fine, you can begin by explaining who you are and what you want. I assume you aren't from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. What war are you trying to stop? I can guarantee you that by bringing me here you aren't going to make any progress in stopping a war with the Free Republic.

You Dyellians are truly ignorant. You consistently and willfully do what is bad for yourselves and then blame everyone else's racism. Well, I'm beginning to think it isn't racism. I'm beginning to think that you're just inferior."

She spoke calmly and kept her eyes locked on the men. After all she was, like all Ambassadors and their staff , an active member of the Velite Guard. In crossing her arms she had slipped her right hand onto to her FN Browning Hi-Power. Her grey overcoat, while it seemed to be overdressing for the area, is bulletproof. She did not draw the gun, but is ready to do so the moment they looked away or moved suddenly, and shoot them both.

Her years with the Organized Crime Eradication Unit had prepared her for such things, she'd been taken for a 'ride' before.................

"Oh fun." the young Dyellian grinned, "Although to do that I'd probably need to look at some evidence, and stuff."

"Is there anything else I need to know before I leave?" she looked between the two men.

-------------

"Let go of the weapon." the one claiming to be Jakobs sighed, "You must think I was born yesterday or something. You know training? Yes, it happens in countries like Dyelli Beybi too, especially in the arts of espionage and assassination, you'll find we are very good at it... Although you might feel happier to know we were sent to make sure the Marshall's don't arrest you or snuff you out."

"Silly, little Vaadian." the other chortled, they were on either side of her and it would make it next to impossible to shoot both, "Do you think we're car jackers?"

"First. The war will start in Karmanyaka. Don't be naive and stupid enough to think you'll win if we get involved, because you won't. I'm not going to make some stupid claim about being a race of super soldiers, its just simple maths." Jakobs' friendly tone of voice never wavered.

"We want you to understand that in the case of a War in Karmanyaka, the state Dyelli Beybi will remain neutral. Does this concept penetrate that thick Vaadian skull? Wars are inconvenient and we are not interested in another. Is that clear?"

"Now." he concluded, "I would have taken you to my superior, for reasons I doubt you will understand we cannot have word of this reaching the Federation, and your failure to agree to my terms makes an actual face to face meeting impossible. But we must have it reaching Ilek-Vaad because you are exactly the kind of blind morons who would order a preemptive strike on us and force our hand."

"Oh and one last thing." he was sneering now, "If you call it 'inferiority' to understand the subtleties of diplomacy then a suggest you get inferior."

"Should we tell her the thing about the Marshalls?" the driver asked.

The other Commisaar ignored him, "You are free to go if you wish. We will give you a lift back, but for my own safety I would have to search you for weapons."

The Shadow General shrugs "Good luck, I guess. I don't think you really need anything else? We don't have any evidence on the attack, that you'll need to get from the Port Olympus authorities. Oh, and don't mention me, or tell anyone you spoke to me, or ever met me. I technically can't do what I'm doing, so let's not dwell on it."

He stands up, picks up a piece of fruit "Cheerio!" and leaves.

Ram looks over to Zara "Well, I guess we can go visit your sister. Yippee."

He looks less than enthused.

They can leave whenever they are ready.

*****

Ambassador Drachenfels does not move her arms.

"You can come and take my gun. I'm not giving you anything. I will not meet with your superiors and I will not discuss anything with you. Tell your superiors that they can meet with me when they come to my office without any armed thugs, and they can speak frankly and tell the truth.

Let's just say that I don't believe you, I don't believe anything you say and you certainly don't have any credibility. The Nation of Karmanyaka is a friend to the Republic, anyone invading them will have to deal with the Free Republic.

Now, you can try to disarm me, and I will probably kill one of you and die myself, you can shoot me dead, or we can promise not to shoot each other and you can drive me back to the embassy, and I will try not to be too offended by this whole farce."

She looks to each of them, prepared for one or both of them rush and preparing to use the momentum of the attack to pull one them in front of her like a shield while drawing her gun and shooting the other.

She hadn't done anything like this for a while.

"Well?"

"Of course." Zara nodded and smirked, "Technically I couldn't do a lit of things I did before coming here."

"Auf Wiedersehen." she waved as the Shadow General departed. A lot of Dyellians spoke a peculiar dialect of German, although with a maiden name like Alwood it was unlikely she spoke more than a little.

"If she's rude to you." she advised her rather unenthusiastic husband, crossing her legs and giving him a coy smile, "Just smile and tell her she looks radiant. You'll embarass her, and it will get to her far more than if you spend the whole time slagging each other off."

She grinned, "Mostly because she's picked you as a big dumb ox who snorts and charges at people."

During the trip out to the airport, she would reitterate her question, "So how old are your daughters? I figure it's the kind of thing I should know. I guess you miss these kinds of things when you romance over a big pile of weapons."

----------

The Commisaars looked at her as if she was stupid, "You really have no idea do you?" Jakobs frowned, they weren't telling her something.

A glance passed between them, "It would be suicide for us to openly talk to you. Don't ever make the mistake of thinking the President will tow the Dyellian cable, she has her own agenda."

"It is unfortunate." he continued, "That you allow pride to stop us from talking, believe me if there were alternatives to subterfuge we would use them."

"Now for the safety of myself and my colleague, I cannot allow you to get into my vehicle carrying a weapon, it is simply impossible. If you have some fundamental problem with travelling in a car without packing, call yourself an embassy driver. I would not reccomend a taxi, as for reasons of the driver's safety I would have to ensure it never arrived."

"By the by, carrying a concealed weapon is illegal in Dyelli Beybi without being a police official." he continued, "Diplomatic immunity does not give you carte blanche to flout the law. I would arrest you and have you deported, but being as this meeting never happened that won't be possible. I would suggest you stop, the Police will definitely be on the lookout for future infringements."

"One word of advice." the driver added, "If you don't want to end up like Caractacus, take a long holiday somewhere outside of the Federation, and take your family with you, if you have one. We can't look after you when it goes through."

"But insulting her and pretending I'm going to attack her so much more fun, the fear in her eyes alone is well worth it." He says with a smile "Why is she wasn't so well trained, that day at the police station she would have panicked and probably started crying. Especially when Mustapha stood up when she threatened me. I think she assumed he was already standing."

On the way to the airport, he answered her question "Oh yes, we were interrupted before I could answer, they are seventeen, thirteen and ten." He pauses "I think, I could be wrong."

*****

"Well then, if it was that important, it would be worth risking suicide. I practically risk suicide every day by simply being in your country, yet for some reason I stick around. Call me an optimist."

She shrugs "I will contact my embassy for a ride. I do not expect I would riding with you gentleman unarmed. I also thank you for the heads up about the police, and since you apparently have so much leverage over them, I will not notify them of this kidnapping. But I will contacting the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and The Federation Marshals, since you fear them so much.

I do have family, back in The Free Republic, and I know that because of certain Cheka defections, they are under no threat from the likes of you. I will wait until you are out of sight to call my embassy.

Is that it then?"

She was feeling a bit braver now, but she acted the same, her words were a bit more forceful now.

Zara clicked her tongue, "Threatening the Presdient of Klatch." she rolled her eyes, "You're crazy."

She mused about the ages for a moment, then laughed "Ok, that's good. We're not too close in age. That could have been awkward."

"By the way." she put in as they neared the airport, "I've got a private number for her, which should make things a bit simpler."

----------

The two Commisaars exchanged another one of their significant glances then burst out laughing, "Sure, go and see the Marshalls. They're a ticking time bomb."

"Tick, tick, tick, boom!" the driver supplied helpfully.

"You may not realise it." Jakobs shook his head ruefully, "But we're the best friends you have. I'm sure you'll be seeing us again. Unfortunately, I suspect my superiors will be most unhappy about the idea of you ending up testing out some of the Federation's more interesting inventions."

The driver had picked up a stick and was scratching something in the dirt, it looked like an elongated V with a horizontal slash across the middle.

"Listen." Jakobs added at the end, almost as an afterthought, "I'll take you back to the Embassy, if we put all the guns in the boot."

Ram frowns "You know, I have no clue how old you are? I never thought to ask, you are probably far to young for me."

He chuckles "I threaten a lot of people, it's like a bodily function, I can't be held responsible. Senility, that's what it is."

He raises an eyebrow at the mention of the private number "Really? Maybe I should call it?"

Tollan has it's Retaliatory Guard Airbase, but with no cars in the city, it was about a twenty minute hike up the mountain, and then onto a Marathon SST that could make it to Port Olympus in about four hours. It was on loan to the Supreme Judiciary, one of the aforementioned perks.

*****

Ambassador Drachenfels replied flatly "No thank you, and I'm sure that after I file my report, there will not be a Vaadian Embassy in Cyro, or anywhere in Dyelli Beybi. So, I doubt I will be seeing either of you ever again, and good riddance too.

I would prefer to walk back on the backs of the alligators out there than to go back with you, I'm sure it would be safer and the alligators would be more trustworthy."

Like any Vaadian she was stubborn, chagrined by their actions and then insulted by their threats she was not about to deal with them.

Zara pouted, then kissed her husband playfully, "Twenty seven." she looked younger if anything...

"I have actually mentioned it." she winked, "And I might feel inclined to make an issue of it, if I had ever got around to asking how old you were."

"Age doesn't matter." she continued quite earnestly, "You could live to one hundred and three, and you would never find anyone as loyal or devoted to you."

It was easy to believe from the way she was looking at Ram at that moment. Loyal was an understatement.

After walking for a fair distance, the obvious question came out, "Why are we flying by Marathon? And not say by private jet or commercial flight?"

She cocked her head to one side, "It's you, you're too important aren't you?" It sounded like she liked this idea.

----------

It wasn't the way a Dyellian would act. They always went after the information. From their viewpoint, Drachenfels was just being stupid... in fact, they weren't even trying to be threatening.

"Alright..." the Commisaar (or whatever he was) sighed, "Have a nice day."

The pair climbed into their car and departed...

Whatever the duo might have said, it wasn't being reflected in the new administration's way of running things. In fact the Dyellians seemed to be throwing huge amounts of money into the design and manufacture of fighting vehicles as well as the formation and training of new Regiments of troops. The Dyellian armed forces were growing...

Ram nods "I do recall you mentioning it now. Far too young for me. If my daughters ask, tell them you're forty."

He smiles and puts his arm around Zara at her next comments and shrugs "I am certain that the Marathon has been provided at the request of Lictor Dominous and the Supreme Judiciary. You are probably more important than I am."

Saying that they had reached the runway, perched on the side of the mountain , with a runway only about two hundred and fifty yards long. The sleek white plane sat near a set of closed blast doors, idling quietly. The pilot walking around the jet spotted them coming up and saluted.

"Ah, Exarch Imro, We are nearly ready. The Additional equipment that you requested is aboard and a package from the Supreme Judiciary for Officer Imro." He says with a smile and a nod to them both and pauses at the rear of the jet to deploy the ramp.

The Marathon-A is designed to hold 25 people, so they have plenty of room, it is set up like and executive commuter jet with seats, couch, refrigerator and kitchenette and a bathroom, all in leather and polished wood.

As they walked up the ramp Ram smiles and shrugs "OR I am that important."

Onboard is a new uniform for Zara, in her size it is a much less ornate version of the Lictor's uniform. The ornate breast plate and gantlets are replaced by plain kevlar vest and gloves the vest with a pocket for her new badge. Also is a black suit and a new Browing Hi-Power 9mm with five extra clips that fit nicely into pouches at the small of the back on the vest. In the front breast pocket is a small black book, a primer on the powers and duties of a Judicial Reeve.

By the time they were in and situated the jet was ready to take off. The pilot turned on the intercom "We are prepared for take off, the flight time should be about five hours. Lictor Dominous is contacting the Port Olympus authorities to let them know that Office Imro is coming in regards to his investigation. Hopefully they will let us land."

Ram chuckled "Maybe you should call your sister, it would be a shame if they turned us away."

*****

Once they were out of sight Ambassador Drachenfels called the embassy for a ride, giving them her GPS location from her satellite cell phone.

Once she was back at the embassy, the consequences for the little ride would be dire indeed for Vaadian/Dyellian relations. Her trip would be treated as a kidnapping by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and every Dyellian agency from the Metro Police on up would be receiving calls from Minister Connover, Velite General Ihsan, Minister Connover's assistant, First Republican Kanaan's Chief of Staff, none of the calls would be pleasant and the Embassy was not in a state of closing, with a Naval Guard Tactical Group on the way to retrieve the Embassy staff and the Ambassador.

"This is all very military." she pouted on inspecting the uniform.

She flicked through the book vaguely on take off, apparently she didn't suffer from motion sickness, "Urgh, boring."

She closed it and put it back where she'd found it. Next she inspected the gun, "I'm going to leave this behind someonwhere." she smirked, "Pick up a Murcielago if I can find one. These things are far too indiscreet."

"I'll call her." she looked around the plush interior, "Just as soon as I find a phone."

"By the way... maybe you can summarise some of that book for me, so that at least I have a vague idea of what I'm supposedly doing."

----------

There was obvious confusion in the New Government as to what had gone on... in fact nobody seemed to know anything. A few things were worthy of note and indicated a certain level of change.

Firstly, the Cyro Central Intelligence Division (CID), the Dyellian detective police branch, leapt upon it with ill concealed enthusiasm. They didn't like the Cheka much it seemed and were more than a little enthusiastic at the prospect of stretching their muscles and putting a few in gaol. The Ambassador would suddenly find herself pestered by people trying to build up identikit pictures of her assailants...

Furthermore the Government was being more polite than usual, saying the Vaadians were more than welcome to sail a fleet in, but it would not be permitted within the 20 nautical mile exclusion zone, except for 1 launch or helicopter to pick up the Ambassador... then added that a private jet would probably be more comfortable and faster and that the Cyro Government would be more than willing to lay one.

Ram chuckled "You have something against guns with stopping power? " He was rifling through his things, getting out his dress uniform and his pair of SM-19 submachine guns.He looked up as he laid his things out. "Isn't a Murcielago a Lamborghini model?"

"I think the phone is in the credenza............" he said motioning to a built in sideboard near the bar. "I have no clue what a Reeve does, I'm a Retaliatory Guard man, I was only a Velite for a year, and my current position only requires that my name ends in 'Imro'. I so suppose that's why I avoided it for so many years."

The phone is indeed in the credenza, a lid opens on the top revealing the phone, laptop and an LCD television that slides up. Upon closer inspection of her manual it would reveal that the Reeve's job was to assist the Lictor's in their research for Judiciary briefs, assist the Bailiffs in securing prisoners in the Judiciaries custody and it gave them wide ranging powers to do so. Reeve's were apparently allowed to arrest uncooperative witnesses, fugitives, and anyone else interfering in the business of the courts, depending ultimately on the supervision of the Lictors.


*****

This type of action was more like it. Ambassador Drachenfels was more than happy to give descriptions of the car, Cheka agents as well as a written transcripts of the threats they made against her and her family. She was even able to give them the exact route driven, thanks to the GPS tracking built into her satellite phone. She also handed over the letter that was allegedly sent from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

She also agitated for her and her staff to receive weapons permits, in case they did stay in the country.

Of course the new Klatchian State would respond very badly to people being arrested without permission from them... the old one probably would have as well. Inwardly Zara decided that using that privelege might be unwise in Klatch itself.

"Hah!" she snorted, "It is, but when have you ever seen a Lamborghini in Dyelli Beybi, import liscencing, don't you love it?"

"Nothing against stopping power." she continued, "I just prefer the unparalelled level of discretion. Nothing more problematic than firing a gun off and having the Met swarming over the place next minute."

She went over to the Credenza and dialed her sister. There was a brief discussion, it seemed they were more than welcome to come and stay in the palace (with perhaps a tiny pause when Ram's name was mentioned).

----------

Inspector Falcon seemed to be the man of the case in Cyro. Somewhere in his late thirties, and with a wiry strength to him, he was polite, efficient and helpful, although it was clear the case was frustrating him...

"The problem is." he explained during one meeting with the Ambassador, "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs don't know anything about this... I belive them too."

"Your vehicle is a Model 771 DBFC Sedan. Very common, and the number plates are fakes. We have CCTV footage of it, it leaves Cyro, goes off our cameras then vanishes."

"My guess." he concluded, "Is we're dealing with the Cheka or the others." the word was laddened with significance, apparently he had no idea the Ambassador might not be party to local knowledge, "We're not abandoning this case, but it is running cold right now."

Ram hmmmms thoughtfully "Now, the way I've always seen it, if you discharge your weapon, you want the Police to swarm the place, unless you're just murdering someone."

He pauses to put a clip home into one of his SM-19's "Now, if I fire this, not only will it shred body armor and drop my target, I'll have the place filled with assistance whether I called for it or not."

He listens as Zara talks to her sister "I'll bet she has the Marshals confiscate my weapons."

So long as no Federation of JDF Fighter jets attempted to stop the flight it would probably be very uneventful and arrive on time.

*****
Ambassador Drachenfels would raise her eyebrow quizzically "Really, the Cheka? Did you figure that out when I reported that I'd been kidnapped by the Cheka?"

The Ambassador is particularly upset, she had volunteered for this posting, she was certain that the Dyellians were misunderstood and that they could be dealt with in a positive manner. Her illusions had been roughly smashed and of course hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.

"No matter." She states quite dismissively "It is well known that the Cheka are above the law in this country and that they can do as they like, don't strain yourself too much trying to make it look like you are actually going to investigate. I know you're just going through the motions like your superiors told you."

Zara blushed suddenly and uncomfortably, apparently Ram had hit a raw nerve with the comment on murdering people, although she did still manage a reply, "And what traditionally happens where I come from is the AOS swarm the scene and blow anyone with a firearm to kingdom come."

After she'd put the phone down she responded, "She's fine, and yes she will take your weapons off you if you go into the Palace, mine as well by the way."

----------

"And were you an insurgency group trying to undermine the Government, and believe me they exist, although you can't talk about them, would you not also claim you were the Cheka?" Falcon suggested, "And no, you are quite wrong, nobody is above the law in the Democratic Union. That includes you by the way."

He smiled, pointedly ignoring the insults, "On the contrary, we intend to investigate this fully, but we will need your cooperation. Even if you don't cooperate and skip town, we will still investigate, although making a positive ID on anyone will be next to impossible."

"I could." he sounded wistful, "Forcibly detain you until I have no further need for you in my investigation, it's all legal you know, but I was advised by my superiors that your Government might blow a gasket, considering they seem to think they're extracting you from a warzone."

Ram still hadn't reconciled the Zara he knew with the Zara that could be a cold blooded killer, so he let the matter die. He sighs as Zara finishes with her sister.

"Well, I'd like to say that I'm looking forward to this, but I think it's too late in our relationship for me to start lying." He smiled as he said it.

*****

Ambassador Drachenfels looked decidedly unimpressed.

"Well, I would love to stay and be kidnapped and possibly killed, but I am afraid that barring the ability to arm ourselves that me and my staff have absolutely no guarantee of safety, and that I will probably leave when the Naval Guard Marine extraction team arrives."

Zara laughed apparently reading Ram's mood somewhat. She came and sat on his lap, "That Zara died before you ever met me."

She kissed him, "You'll be ok. She's a Dyellian, she'll be polite, she won't make things unpleasant for you. I'll make sure you have no reason to regret this visit."

... There would be a car waiting when they landed. It was done in true Dyellian style. A single beaurocrat as a reception commitee along with the usual black limousine and driver smoking in the background.

----------

Falcon seemed to be taking notes, although what on was a mystery, "We can give you a police protection team, but you are bound by the same law as the citizens of Klatch. I am not about to encourage people into turning a blind eye to you building your army... and don't even think about it, I will not accept a bribe."

"You are not in any particular danger." he asserted blandly, "If you were they would have killed you when they had the chance."

Ram smiled and kissed her back, not saying anything.

When they arrived in Port Olympus, Ram let Zara lead the way, he little experience in meeting anybody of importance or in being a part of what was going on here. He wasn't even sure what was going on.

*****

Ambassador Drachenfels smiled politely " They fled when it became apparent that to kill me, one of them would have to die. I don't think they'd discussed in advance who was going to make that sacrifice if it came down to it.

Frankly Inspector, I do not trust your police, and I would wager that I would be in greater danger with them around. I will be leaving your country as soon as my ride arrives.

I am the second Vaadian official to be kidnapped in your country, your track record is not the best in these circumstances."

Sir Alec's response to the situation: http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?p=12349930#post12349930

The car would bear them to the Palace and true to form the guards were paranoid about weapons near the President, searching Ram and Zara for weapons then checking their shoes and any other hard items of clothing for hidden pockets or spring loaded blades. The spring loaded blade in the shoe was a favourite for Dyellian assassins... and from the way they treated Zara apparently they knew she was one, if a retired one.

Finally they were shown to a rather plush double room with views across the city. It was guarded by two intense looking Vrakians, who were probably there as much to make sure nobody left as nobody tried to break into the room.

Apparently all this had passed Zara by, who collapsed on the bed as soon as the pair had privacy, "She'll see us in the morning. Isn't this nice?"

It would probably take a moment for Ram to realise she was talking about the satin sheet, seemingly having forgotten the suspicion she had been treated with upon arrival.

----------

Falcon shrugged, apparently fairly apathetic to the Ambassador's views on things, "Your views on the police force are immaterial. I know how we opperate and we will continue to opperate correctly with or without your blessing. I am suprised you seem to think we care."

"This investigation will continue whether or not you intend to hinder it." he raised an eyebrow slightly. Apparently that was a question, probably with far more implications in it than might be immediately assumed.

He yawned, "Although when we talk of the psychology of your assailants I would assume we are not talking about either Cheka assassins or GD agents, either will typically die for the cause, and do not ever think otherwise. Do not underestimate these groups. I suspect if they wanted you dead they would have tried poisoning or shooting or other accident first."

"No." he continued, "You're either dealing with ammateurs or people who want you to feel like you were being threatened because they anticipated a typical overeaction from Ilek-Vaad."

----------

There was of course an official apology from Dyelli Beybi with a full denial of any State involvement. However they would make no leeway on givig weapons to the Embassy stating that they were free to hire private contractors if they wished, however all laws of the land must be obeyed. There were no exceptions.

Ram walked over to the window and looked out over Port Olympus, he obviously did not like the city. He looked back at Zara as she spoke. "It's okay I guess."

He was obviously very suspicious "If they tried to kill The Nachxa with all of his bodyguards and protection, I wonder how we will fare. I often think that the whole reason the Federation government forces Vaadians to wait for any sort of audience with Federation officials is to give time for the assassins to try and kill them."

The missile fired at The Nachxa's house may not have registered publicly as any big deal, but it was the closest thing to a national trauma the Free Republic had suffered for nearly a decade and it obviously weighed heavily on Ram's mind.

"Who tries to kill an old man that comes offering only peace." He was looking out the window again and there was obvious hatred in voice.

*****

"Oh no, I know you don't care. I will try and answer all of your questions and help you as much as I can, From Lassic." the ambassador states quite plainly.

"Now, if you have no further questions, I need to see about evacuating my embassy."

*****

The public apology was ignored. The Free Republic had long since gotten used to the words that did not match actions from their Klatchian neighbors, and such an apology frankly meant nothing.

Tactical Group William Issem continued on towards Dyelli Beybi, and would halt one hundred miles from the coast and send in it's Marathon transports from there to retrieve the embassy staff and ambassador.

Zara gave her husband a searching look for a moment, propping herself up on one elbow, "It's late." she said softly, "Admitedly I'm suprised she didn't meet us, but I guess there's some political reason... but not meeting you now is just her trying to be polite. Give you time to settle in, get your bearing, freshen It's the way Dyellians work... Relax and go along for the ride."

"I don't really know anything about the Nachxa, but I can tell you that the Previous administration ordered the murder of innumerable Chekists, which is an interesting way to treat people who are working for the good of the Federation." she paused, "That's just the way the Federation used to work. If you worried them, even slightly, then someone would knife you in the dark."

She shrugged apologetically, "Hate the last people, but give this administration a chance."

----------

Falcon yawned, "Go right ahead. Just don't expect a conviction if you don't come back."

He left shortly after that. Like many people in Cyro he didn't drive a car, nd set off walking towards the nearest bus station, just another man in a business suit.

He passed a park bench, where it happened, "Psst."

There was a man with a newspaper looking at him. He went and sat down next to him, with Dyellians, curiosity usually overwhelmed other instincts.

"Special Agent Fry." the man flashed a badge.

"Detective Inspector Falcon." Falcon flashed his own, "So Cheka huh? And what do you have to show me?"

"A little video of ours." Fry smiled wryly, "Your little Vaadian hussy wasn't kidnapped. She was picked up."

"Oh yeah?" Falcon didn't sound precisely receptive, "Who by? And why were you filming the street outside the embassy."

"Vaadians need watching." Fry answered the second question first, "God knows what they're up to here, but they're trying to provoke war with Klatch. It's not public knowledge yet, but they stormed out of the negotiations in Macisikan when the Klatchian delegate wanted to include a clause about not funding subversive groups."

"Oh..."

"Yeah anyway." Fry grunted, as he worked towards a conclusion "Good luck with your arrests. Don't make them too soon though, we want the bastards out of our country, pronto, before that Federal counter terrorism legislation they're blathering on about on the news comes into force."

"Why?" Falcon asked.

"Because they'll declare war on us otherwise, and do you really want to be drafted?"

"No, but you haven't answered my question." Falcon sounded mildly annoyed.

"Look, listen." Fry had slipped a memory stick into Falcon's pocket as they were talking, "You'll understand when the legislation comes through, but for now just trust me."

Ram looks back at Zara "I'd be more receptive to giving it a chance if I didn't already know what your sister is capable of."

He shrugged and joined his wife in bed "I'll go along, but I won't relax." he says with a smile.

*****

The Ambassador and her embassy staff continued to break everything down in the embassy and left in an orderly fashion when their transports arrived, leaving nothing of use behind.

"Don't be silly." Zara pouted, "Just relax and don't get wound up. Or do you think I should give you a sedative?" she teased, "Or perhaps you know some other form of relaxation?"

The next morning there was a polite knock on the door, and once permission was given to enter, they were greeted by a waiter who wished to know what they wanted for breakfast and where they wished to eat it, as well mentioning that the President would see them at midday if they so wished.

----------

If they had bothered to look at Cyro's defences as they'd left, the Vaadians would realise the Dyellians were asleep. Cyro was built a few kilometres inland from the coast, and the series of small islands in between were home to innumerable hidden gun and missile batteries as well as usually cunningly camouflaged Armoured Cruisers and both naval and foot patrols.

Presumably the hidden equipment was still there, but there was no visible military prescence anymore, apart from one Cruiser which was in dry dock. Dyelli Beybi was like a runner having completed a marathon. It had stopped, stretched out in the sun and gone to sleep.

Perhaps the mysterious men were right. Dyelli Beybi certainly was not a State in the mood for war...

Ram looked at Zara "Well, what do you recommend for breakfast? Any regional delicacies I should try? Otherwise I'm happy with Cheerios" He said it with a smile.

He had no clue what to do until mid day and once again would let Zara decide what to do until they could actually meet with Caroline He wasn't enthused about going out, and would be partial to sulking in their room.

He was quite different when out of his element.

"Dunno, think the Vrakians are into their seafood." Zara suggested, "I suppose with all the Dyellians around you'll be able to do say chorizo sausages with fried tomato and mushroom?"

There was a slight inclination of the head from the staff member, "Cheerios." she chuckled, "Next thing you'll be asking for a deep fried moro bar."

Apparently readin Ram's mood, Zara did not suggest leaving the room, until at about midday someone arrived to say the President would see them at their convenience, with a certain hint that their convenience meant now...

She had taken the intervening time to change into a crisp looking dark grey business jacket and skirt as well as tying her hair back in a professional looking ponytail, "Come on." she insisted, "Try not to pack a weapon if you can avoid it, security looks tight."

Ram sniffs disdainfully " I try not to eat fried foods, they aren't healthy for a man my age."

Ram dressed in his 'dress uniform' a very nice dark grey suit with his black burnished breastplate and gauntlets, inlaid with the white scorpion.

"You'd think we were going to meet a paranoid Cheka assassin , not the Federation President with all this security." He said it with a smile "Oh, well, I guess it is a little of column A, a little of column B in this case."

He followed Zara, she was in charge as far as he was concerned. He left his weapons behind, except for his broadsword, it was integral to the uniform. He was half hoping there would be some Alconians around that he could provoke into a duel.

Apparently today the President was going for the Queen of Sheba style bodyguard... the door was guarded by a pair of immense Benjians in pyjamis with hair tied up in elaborite red turbans. They looked like medieval blacksmiths on steroids...

There was a problem with the sword, and even more of a problem with the armour, apparently it would make it difficult to taser the "pakrah" if it became necessary. The guards each seemed to have a taser, P90 submachine gun and a scimitar.

After several minutes of cajoling from Zara one Guard went inside and consulted, at which point it was decided that "the pakrah doesn't need to get undressed."

Inside there were another six of the Guards and Caroline herself, looking oddly out of place in a business suit behind a well polished mahogany table, "Ah Zara, and the Honourable General Imro. I know the title has changed." she gave an apologetic shrug, "But what can I say, I've forgotten."

"Please sit, I'm sorry about the guards, for some reason your respective portfolios indicate you may be of significant danger to me." there was the glint of humour in her blue eyes that would probably remind Ram very much of his wife.

"Now... I've ordered some tea which should be here soon... have a seat" she smiled pleasantly, "But what brings you here? I am assuming it isn't because you're here to present your credentials. You can forget about arresting anyone by the way. You do not have the power of arrest in Federation Territory."

She raised an eyebrow at Zara, "Understood? The last thing I want is to have to see you on the wrong side of the law because you've decided to go all Vaadian on me." the last bit was added softly, but there was an edge to her voice.

"Himmler." Zara replied, ignoring the threat in her sister's words.

"Ah." Caroline suddenly looked a little furtive, then sighed, "I should have known that would come sooner or later. I will bring out the file and you can read it, but first of all, both of you need to sign that you understand the Official State Secrets Act. I would normally tell you." she nodded to Ram, "To beat it, but she's your wife and she'll tell you everything State Secrets Act or not."

She smiled with sudden warmth, "Which is how it should be.... sorry, where was I? There are two other things, one I am going to ask you to do something, and two I'm going to need to tell you, there's stuff in there you may not like. Do you really want to look?"

Zara nodded immediately, almost before her sister had finished speaking. The President directed an inquiring look at Ram.

Ram waited silently, giving his best hard glare to the bodyguards, but unfortunately their ridiculous get up made him smile. Upon entering he nodded politely to Caroline and corrected her when she used 'General' "Yes, it is Exarch Imro now."

When confronted about the disturbing information he simply shrugged "Is it worse than a space armada heading this way manned entirely by talking garbage cans piloted by mollusks? I'll see what you have."

He gave his politest smile to Caroline, and it looked genuine, he was thinking about the ridiculously dressed bodyguards and couldn't help but to grin.

The President's hand slipped under her desk, there must have been a button of some kind there, "Would you please bring in two copies of the OSSA and the file on Mr O. Himmler please?"

There was a muted response to the affirmative.

"That will take them a few minutes." Caroline folded her arms in front of herself again.

"My, my." she smiled knowingly, "You do have a lit of information... and I would be a fool if I didn't realise what I was going to show you wasn't going to go right back to the Vaadian Government."

She yawned, covering her mouth, "Ugh, excuse me."

"You look tired." Zara remarked.

"Yes." the President nodded back to her, but didn't explain why, "Tea anyone?"

Ram nods "Yes, we do, all of that information has been forwarded to the VIS, are they not sharing it with you?"

He smiles again "I will share it with my superiors if they ask, though I doubt they will. The Velite Guard only ever uses the National Threat Assessment reviews."

A manilla folder arrived in front of the President some minutes later, she waited for the aide delivering it to leave before handing it over to her sister, "Sorry." she said to Ram, "She should really see this first."

Caroline sounded almost guilty at having handed the folder over. She watched her sister intently as she flicked through the pages. Ram would probably notice her muscles tensing as she did, something on the paper was upsetting her.

It took her no more than 10 minutes, before she shut the folder abruptly and pushed it across the table to her sister, "Thank you for letting me see that. I need to go..."

Without any apparent warning she turned and fled the room. A few of the guards lurking in the corners looked ready to intercept, but Caroline held up a hand and Zara was left to flee the room in peace.

The President winced and looked over at Ram, at the same time carefully laying her hand on top on the folder to prevent him opening it, "Ever wondered who your wife really is?"

She didn't wait for an answer, "Go find her, she'll tell you everything."

Ram watched Zara read the file and then frowned when it obviously upset her, he stood as she got up to run from the room, he looked back at Caroline when she 'released' him to go after her, something he looked ready to do anyway.

"I know who my wife is, Commissar D'Etiene ." He growled at Caroline as he stalked out after her.

"How cute, you remember my other identities." Caroline sneered, as Ram departed, "Seems your sister in law has a place in your heart after all."

He would find Zara in their room, staring out the window, sitting with her knees pulled up under her chin, "What am I?" she asked, without turning around.

Ram does not comment any further to Caroline as he leaves. Upon entering their room he sits down next to Zara and puts her hand gently on her back.

"What are you? I think that's probably the wrong question. It's not nearly important as who you are."

Little did she know it, but that whole question was a central tenant in the Paulican 'Religion'.

"What you are is a matter of many things out of your control, but it's who you become that is important, and we all have to make a good deal of mistakes in order to learn from them. What we are is irrelevant so long as we try to make sure who we are is someone we can live with."

"Oh no." she smiled strangely, "I am quite happy with who I am, I can live with myself, but can you?"

She paused, then sighed, running her hand through her hair, "It would seem I'm not Caroline's sister, although I'm guessing we'll keep calling her that, I am Caroline... with certain modifications." she spat the last word.

"Unfortunately, and despite all efforts to prevent it, I managed to develop a conscience and loyalty to factions I was supposed to have no loyalty to... which is why I became so suddenly expendible back when we first knew each other."

"Want to guess what Caroline's going to ask me to do?" she smiled cunningly, "I'm 98% certain she wants me to play assassin for Klatch one last time."

Ram looks serious "Can I live with you? I think that question ought to be turned around, no one has been able to live with me as of yet."

"One of Himmlers genetic experiments?" he chuckles "I wouldn't buy that horse yet. Caroline still hates you, I can tell, she took an awful lot of pleasure in your reaction. Maybe you are, maybe you aren't but I wouldn't take her word for it. She resents you horribly for something, murdering her father, or being her perfect clone because she wasn't good enough, who knows, and who cares." He makes no attempt to hide his hatred for Caroline.

"If I were standing in a burning house, I wonder about her motives if she yelled fire. Whatever she asks, you have to remember that now, you have the luxury to say no, or to do what you think is right, on your own terms. Whatever you decide, I will back you up, and you are coming home with me afterwards."

Zara laughed, "Would you believe I'm perfectly content?"

"Cut her some slack." she laughed again, "She's up to something sure, but she isn't Satan..."

The laughter stopped, she pursed her lips, "There is one other thing. The Dyellians have an arrest warrant out for me. Some 'Council for Reconcilliation' is roping in old Commisaars to face charges for violating laws... violations that were orders I might add."

Ram shrugs "So if you are perfectly content, why change anything? Does Himmler merit you personally seeing to his demise? There are hundreds, probably thousands of Cheka assassins, or members of the assassin's guild that are capable enough of doing him in. If anything, Caroline wants you to do it because she thinks you'll end up dead in the process."

Ram snorts "You don't have to be satan to kill people you don't like."

He raises an eyebrow at the mention of the warrants "Are they enforceable in Port Olympus? I can just see Caroline giving you the choice of working for her, or she turns you over to the new Dyellian government."

It was obvious that Ram was skeptical that Caroline could be doing anything but acting in her own best interests.

"You're too suspicious." Zara chided with no particular force, "Although I must say the ferocious watchdog persona is one that suits you..."

"It's possible it's blackmail, yes that warrant is enforcible across the Federation. She has advised me to keep a low profile, although no doubt the Dyellians already know I'm here." she shrugged, "We shall see. I will take her on her word for now. She is family, if we can't trust family, who can we trust?"

It was possibly a fatal mistake, her slight smile acknowledged she realised that but was prepared to take the risk, "Who was it that said 'It's not what the world is, it's what it ought to be that is most important?'"

The quote was actually from the new Tzarina of Dyelli Beybi. She had frequently used it in one form or another... Evidently, this had slipped Zara's mind, "Whoever it was had a point, I think we should give her the benefit of the doubt until we know otherwise. She's my sister, I owe her that much."

She grinned suddenly, "And don't you worry my dear, you are untouchable. She may be a Dyellian, but she isn't that stupid."

"I'm not worried about me being untouchable, I am worried about you. I wonder if anyone has considered the implications of arresting a Velite Guard Officer on an active investigation, particularly one that is a Reeve for the Supreme Judiciary? The Federation and it's members rarely seem to give thought to their actions in regards to the Free Republic."

Ram just shrugs "Well, all of my experience with Caroline tells me not to trust her. Had only Mr. Johnson killed her as I had requested. So, what are you going to do?"

Zara laughed, "I've met 'Lexi you know, a long time ago. You know at the time I thought we should liquidate her, but Felix was an old softy, bit like your Mister Johnson... Even then though she was filled with a burning need to do what is right, from all accounts it has got stronger."

"You know the first time I met her she had been wounded while shooting at Tzarists?" she laughed again, "How the world changes... She'll make a fine leader, but if what I've heard is anything to go by, her people will arrest anyone they have a warrant for, no special treatment for anyone."

She laughed for a third time, "Normally I'd approve of that, but you know..."

"But what am I going to do? I'm certainly not giving up now. I'm going to go back to Cyro and I'm going to take Caroline's folder as evidence in my defence and I'm going to take Caroline's money for bail and then I'll be free to go back to Himmler's labs, and I'll go to trial and use brain washing as my defence. And I'll win." Zara smiled with absolute serene confidence, "And if the courts aren't fair, then I'm relying on you to bust me out."

Ram shrugged "Great, I'll have to break you out again, I'm used to it. It would also probably be a good idea to ask Prince Corum to speak with the Tzarina on your behalf........"

He pauses and grimaces "After all the time I spent running from my obligation to the House of Vaad, I seem to be asking for his help an awful lot. I just want you to know, that if I do have to bust you out, this time I'm taking down everyone responsible. I've been far too nice, and your fellow Dyellians seem to think I'm some sort of pushover. No more Mr. nice guy if they try to take you away again."

He sighs "So when do we leave for Cyro? Also, you are an Imro now, if you need money for lawyers or bail, Prince Corum will provide it. He'd be insulted if we took someone else's help. Lord knows I've given reason enough for him to regret my being in his service, I'm not giving him another."

"Whenever we can." Zara replied, "I've got all the info I'm going to get here... Actually I reckon that phone call mightn't be a bad idea. You know Dyelli Beybi has never had a constitution? At the moment they seem to be running of the precedent of Parliamentary Supremacy, although if you've been paying attention to the news they just voted the 'Head of State', in this case Miss ap Adam almost unrestricted power. Almost because she can't levy taxes."

She smiled mysteriously, "Oh don't worry if you can't get me out, I'll get out all on my own."

"Don't forget I'm an ab Ieuaf as well." she pointed out, "It's sort of my right to ask for money from Caroline... although if the Prince would prefer it we can use his."

Ram grumbles "Never had a constitution, working government, corruption free courts...........................I'll give Prince Corum a call, I will have to explain my continued absence at least."

He didn't seem to be relishing a return to Dyelli Beybi and he placed a call to back to Lassic, via his encrypted satellite phone. It was a brief call and although he didn't get through to Prince Corum directly, he did explain the situation to Manglevites Yross and received additional instructions. It was a fairly short and straight forward conversation.

"Well, Manglevites Yross is none to happy about either of us going to Cyro. He informs me that under no circumstances are we to take Caroline's help or money, and he is going to speak to Prince Corum about the whole matter."

He pauses as he returns his phone to his breast pocket "Apparently Manglevites Yross wants to know why a Cheka assassin like your sister isn't being called before this tribunal as well? I can;t tell if he was genuinely angry, or just his typical gruff self."

He shrugs.

*****

Prince Corum was indeed not pleased, but he was nowhere near as peeved as Manglevites Yross was, of course whatever matters arose from this, it would primarily fall upon Manglevites Yross to sort things out, so perhaps his vexation was justified.

Anyhow, Prince Corum decided to place a call to Tzarina Alexia ap Adam, he didn't place the cakll personally, his lackey's did and he was simply connected as soon as the Tzarina was reached.

He had other plans for Caroline and her vendetta against the Imro's.

"Because Caroline was never employed as an assassin officially. She was a desk clerk in York who went off the rails." Zara explained simply. She had laid down on the bed, during the phone call, she didn't get up.

"Besides." she added, "This is a Tribunal of 'Reconcilliation', I'm guessing they feel she's already 'Reconciled' being as she worked for them during the last war. I'm guessing, although I'd bet that would be it. They can't go around arresting their own."

Before they left the next day, Ram would find himself being invited, on his own to meet with Caroline, before breakfast, which they were both invited to, after which it would be time to head to the Train Station for the long trip South.

----------

Which was probably a good idea... the Dyellians were well versed in the art of annoying people. The call was forwarded to 18 different people before being left on hold for half an hour where 'Candle of the Wind' was played in a non stop loop...

Eventually though they got through to the Tzarina/Prime Minister, "This is Prime Minister ap Adam, with whom am I speaking?"

She waited for an answer before getting straight down to business, "And you have something you wish to discuss."

"Oh, great, so she was a murderer." It doesn't seem to comfort Ram any.

Ram accepted the invitation, grudgingly and made sure to tell Zara where he was going .

"I'll see you at breakfast, I'm sure Caroline just wants to convince me that she has our best interests at heart and is only having you arrested and sending you into harm's way because she loves you."

He'd already made up his mind, if the opening presented itself, he would break some portion of Caroline's body.

*****

Alexia was greeted by the rather annoyed Manglevites Yross. "Ms. Ap Adam, please hold for Prince Corum."

Alexia only needed to wait a minute or two before Corum answered, he sounded very cheerful.

"Ah, Tzarina Alexia ap Adam? This is Prince Corum Vaad, King of Lassic, blah, blah, blah, et al. How are you today? I am calling to congratulate you on apparently restoring your families throne, although I seemed to have not gotten an invitation to the coronation, but oh well.

Yes I do have something to discuss. Apparently your government has some sort arrest warrant out for a member of my Titled Kerbals and I wanted to get a few things straight.

First, I do not appreciate this in the least, but I do understand that you must follow due process of the law, although I've been led to understand that your new nation barely has a constitution, funny that, trials before there is actually a government.

Second I do expect that if Lady Zara Imro is convicted of anything that you will extend to me the courtesy of suspending whatever sentence she receives and deporting her into my custody.

I also want to know with whom I lodge a formal complaint with your Tribunal of Reconcilliation. I understand that Lady Imro's sister has not had a warrant sworn out on her..............."

Here he paused and started audibly flipping through a magazine to make it sound like a file "A Ms. Caroline ab Ieuaf? AKA Commissar D'Etienne, AKA Commissar Johnson...................a single minded young lady that apparently regularly abused her position to commit murder for personal reasons. Now I don't want to tell you how to run things, but protecting others while selectively picking out those for the Tribunal really makes the whole process look like a sham, and less honourable people in my position may even consider revenge for such an action.

I just want you to know that I will be watching, and I will be expecting your full courtesy on this matter, and I will be making note of the inequities of this process. It would be a shame if the Klatchian press were to mysteriously get a hold of the complete background of Ms. Caroline."

He sounded cheerful, almost to the point of laughing during his entire little speech, which he never slowed for even a second to allow Alexia time to interrupt. When he was done, he waited quietly, she could almost hear him smiling.

"Be nice." Zara chided gently, "I do actually like her you know."

Caroline was waiting in her office, a slight smile on her face, it suggested she found something slightly amusing. She had gone for the relaxed, smart-casual look today, white blouse and black skirt, "Why do I get the distinct impression you aren't pleased to see me?" she purred, aparently having decided to go for the blunt approach today, "My steward tells me you're packing to leave. I trust this is to Ilek-Vaad? Only I have a sneaking suspicion it might be Dyelli Beybi, which would be suicidally foolish."

----------

"Invitation?" there was suprise at the other end of the phone, or at least some pretence at it, "I wasn't aware you were in Cyro at the time? It was more of a spontaneous thing... Very old fashioned."

She listened through the rest, giving a silent pause before replying with absolute conviction, "Dyelli Beybi has no constitution and never will have one. A constitution is a limitation of the demacratic process. The legal system is fully fledged working off case and statutory law. Now, as for your threat, I am unaware of any crimes commited by the President of Klatch. If you have evidence pertaining to it you may submit it to the appropriate authorities."

"No person is above the law." she continued, "No person will be better treated due to birth or association, all persons are equal under God and the law. This is certainly not selective."

Ram first looked to see how many guards, if any were present in the room and then answered.

"I am going where Zara goes. If she goes to Port Olympus, then I go to Port Olympus. I am going to do all I can to help her. You know, the types of things that families do for each other in a crisis."

He shakes his head incredulously "Last time I was there, it was suicidal, coming here was suicidal, well I'm not dead yet so I'll take my chances."

He does not sit.

*****

Prince Corum continues on cheerfully "Oh no, I was not in Cyro, but had I been invited I would have made it a point to come. I would've invited the Dyellian Tzar to my coronation, but sadly there wasn't one. I will make sure you are invited to the next one. Although if you continue to be cheeky, I'll seat you next to a walrus."

He clicked his tongue at the mention of a threat "As I stated more vengeful peoples than myself might take such an action, I personally would not. Although I'm sure the information would be relevant to your Tribunal and should be furnished to them. I think you would agree? It would certainly show the world that you won't protect anyone, and that as you say, everyone is equal under the law?

Now, you still have not commented on your extending the courtesy that I asked for?"

He quickly wrote a note and handed it Manglevites Yross. It was message to the Shadow General, who due to funding issues, often turned to Prince Corum for operational expenses. He would now be tasked with getting dirt on Caroline.

Of course the Shadow General was actually well placed to do this, with Mr. Johnson in Cyro and a certain Mr. Sherwin Thales, an Azazian co-pilot that was ironically helping to protect the Tzarina. Accidents of circumstance left the Shadow General in a good position to act.

There was one guard by the door, he looked alert... Caroline leaned back in her chair, crossing her legs as she put her feet up on her desk, "Then take her home for God's sake."

She pressed her fingers into her eyes, letting out an exhasperated groan, "You males, you're so bull headed. I know you don't believe me, but try to think this through for yourself, it's just frickin' common sense. If you go to Cyro she'll get arrested. Take her home and have a nice life. If she wants to help me out, that's great, but not Cyro."

"God help me." she growled, "If I could I'd strangle you with your own underwear... but she worships the ground you walk on. I'm not going to be the one to hurt her."

"Sit down or leave." she pointed at the chair, "But think about what I said."

----------

"Let me illucidate perhaps." there was zero sarcasm in the tone of the Tzarina, she sounded if anything slightly detached, "I was crowned when I broke the display cabinet holding the crown with a mace and put it on my head."

"Let me also illuminate several implied truths in what I have said." she continued in the same distant tone, "Firstly, I can have her returned to Ilek-Vaad, but it would defeat the purpose of the tribunal. From what I remember of Miss Imro, she was a very feared Commisaar, who later became disenchanted with the system."

"This tribunal." as she continued a certain fevour began to work it's way into her voice, "Is about reconcilliation. We cannot go imprisoning every ex-Commisaar in the country. If she offers a heartfelt apology, in view of her recent record I would be more than a little startled if she recieved anything more than community service, if she did it would certainly be stepping outside the guidelines we have set for the court."

"That." she stated, "Would need to be carried out in Dyelli Beybi, she will be asked to put back something into the community to make up for what she took out."

"As for the President." the Prime Minister mused, "She has outdoubtedly done things she should not have done, however that is beyond the scope of the tribunal, according to our records she was not a Cheka assassin, it is rather a matter for the Metropolitan police and certainly not something it would be propper for me to comment on."

"Now as for your proposition." she paused, and for a moment it seemed like she'd forgotten what she was thinking, "It would be an immoral act were I to attempt to undermine the judiciary in such a manner. Do you believe that by virtue of being a Vaadian citizen it puts her above the laws of Dyelli Beybi?" she was curious, it wasn't a rhetorical insult.

"If indeed you do, you will forgive the fact that I do not agree, I hold that the laws of any Nation are equally valid, and you may relay on to the appropriate people, that Dyelli Beybi will not hesitate to arrest and extradite any criminals found on our soil... provided that is, that the crimes in question were commited within the jurisdiction of the prosecuting authority."

Ram shrugs "I will go where Zara goes." Then he leaves.

*****

Prince Corum still sounds cheerful "Well that is too bad, nothing better than a nice coronation party, you seem to have missed out."

Corum listened intently "So, in the basis of reconciliation you will pursue those that actively and publicly served the former state apparatus while taking a pass on those that quietly abused their power to commit crimes? That sounds more like revenge for serving political masters that you did not agree with, not reconciliation. Reconciliation would be an amnesty, with the request of apology and a statement that the current government is not pleased with those that served the former regimes over zealously.

I do not mean to imply that Lady Imro is above your law because she is Vaadian, that is a matter between your government and the Vaadian Government. What I do mean to say that she is above your law because she is an Imro."

Here his tone turned serious "She is a member of a family that personally safeguards my life, and the lives of my family, any attack on her, is a personal attack on me and I will respond when and where appropriate. My Velites Kerbals are only beholden to my authority, I will have it no other way.

THIS is why Exarch Imro was not punished by the Retaliatory Guard in Ilek-Vaad for his Dyellian misadventures, they had the good sense to simply release him to my care. Do not test the three thousand years of my families authority in this matter, for decorums sake."

"People who have commited evils under the former political regime face the tribunal, people who have commited evils in a personal context are liable under a normal criminal Court." the Tzarina restated, "This tribunal has a certain scope and is not designed to replace the normal judiciary, rather to extend differing principles than those extended under normal case law. In effect we are trying to make the tribunal more equity based."

"Now as for your comment that certain families are above the law." she paused, then continued in the same detached voice, "It is a central tenet of the new Government that no person, no matter their birth right, is above the law of the land. And you must understand that this is absolutely essential in the nobility regaining the trust of the people. Were I to interfere with the judiciary and order the release of this woman, firstly I would not have the support of Parliament and secondly I would not have the support of the people. For the sake of the stability of the Nation this request is impossible in excess to being morally abhorent."

"Furthermore." she was an unusual person to speak to, sounding like she was off in her own little world most of the time, "In light of the overall behaviour of the Vaadian state in the Klatchian context, I cannot be seen to cave to Vaadian demands, nor I might add, to the demands of a Prince. If you wish to maintain that your people are above the law, then I suggest you do not send them to Dyelli Beybi, and then we will not be bound to carry out the law. Keep your Kerbal away and there need not be any form of confrontation, something I feel neither of us would benefit from."

Prince Corum was equally unusual, he seemed delighted to have to debate this, and still sounded upbeat, and still sounded fairly convinced he would have his way, after all what mere Tzarina could defy the supremacy of the Lord Vaad?

"I do understand your governmental considerations, but I am not asking you as a head of state, I am asking you, as Tzarina of the House ap Adam to do a favour for the House of Vaad. I do not ask for favours often, and when I do I am inclined to treat those that grant them as a friend of the House of Vaad.

Imagine the power and legitimacy you would gain if you had the power to call me and gain intervention outside of the Republican Council for your subjects?A friendly house of Vaad can change the entire course of your nations relations with the Free Republic, perhaps not immediately and drastically, but I do have a great many friends in positions of power that I could inform of my favourable impression of you.

Do not be so shortsighted as to sacrifice the friendship of my house over a single person, a person whom I can command to make any apology you request, or to never enter your nation again. What is more important in the long run? Zara Imro, or your dynasty and nation?"

*****

Meanwhile Ram had joined Zara at breakfast. He sat down with a grunt.

"Your sister says that I'm dead if I go to Cyro."

He then tucks into breakfast, apparently non-plussed by the news.

"Oh really?" Zara was reading the paper and seemed only vaguely interested in what was going on, "Did she say why?"

----------

The Tzarina sighed, and for once she sounded like a real person, she sounded drained, "Oh undoubtedly it would be good for the House ap Adam of which I am the sum... but it isn't that simple, this isn't just a favour, you are asking me to act in a manner which is morally wrong."

"You asked me what is important in the long run, Zara Imro or Dyelli Beybi. The truth is neither is important, Dyelli Beybi will crumble to dust, probably some time after Zara Imro, but that is irrelevant, in time everything dies. I believe that the soul lives on and I must think of that."

The tone turned vague again, "To be fit to rule I must be a person of absolute integrity, not a Machievellian Prince. No, I will not be corrupted, not even for the good of the State. If Zara Imro enters this country she will be treated fairly under the law, just as any other person in a similar circumstance would be. The laws of Ilek-Vaad are binding in Ilek-Vaad, the laws of Dyelli Beybi are binding in Dyelli Beybi."

"An apology given at your behest would not be an apology at all." she concluded, "She may enter this country if she wishes, we all have choices, but you cannot have your cake and eat it too."

"She was going to, but I left. She said I should take you home, that you're wasting your time in Cyro."

He seemed to give the impression that he agreed.

*****

Prince Corum chuckled triumphantly "Oh my, you are certainly mistaken. To think that what I ask you to do is 'morally' wrong, or to assume that everything eventually dies. First, there is no moral conflict in making human decisions and second, the House of Vaad lives for eternity, and remembers for eternity those who are it's friends and those who have refused it's friendship.

One could put forth any number of arguments to point out the 'moral' flaws in your rise to power and your regime, but that is all relative and pointless, and unless you realize that , the house ap Adam will probably die with you. That would be a shame, to squander such potential for yourself and for your nation. You can't be a leader if you can't make those tough decisions.

Morals are not black and white, your tribunal seeks to condemn those once lauded, how can their actions be morally justified one day and then morally abhorrent the next? Murder is universally condemned as immoral, how many were murdered that you may have the power you have now? Or is murder suddenly moral in a revolution? Are the Generals that killed in your name condemned, or do you reward them?

I assume that since you are taking the moral high ground that the death penalty will be abolished in your nation? Retribution is only the domain of almighty God?"

He pauses and sighs "You are wrong, moral certainty is no way to run a nation, you should seek ethical actions, actions that actively balance and counter-balance the needs of the state with the needs of the individual. My dear young lady, you have a lot of growing up to do, and quickly."

"Oh yes?" Zara prompted, "And what do you think?"

----------

The Tzarina laughed, it was a short, not precisely pleasant laugh, although still somewhat detached, "Eternity? Much like the Roman Empire lived forever. Really, Prince, such a bold assertion is nonsensical."

"You ask me to treat your citizens as greater than my own and say this is morally justifiable?" she asked, "Why Prince, I was unaware that the Vaadians were the Master Race."

"You are correct, all murder is abhorent, and yes, the death sentence has been abolished." it was a simple statement of fact, "However, the State must be bound to it's own laws and cannot act outside of them when it sees fit, this is what the Cheka did, and this is what the Cheka is being punished for."

"You accuse us of 'murder' when pursuing our war to free the country." she considered this for a moment, "Indeed we have commited sins, but we have carried the torch of Justice and Freedom and shall continue to bear it. For that we are not accountable, we went forth obeying all the rules of war and treating all persons fairly. The same cannot be said of the Cheka, a sinister police force."

"A Nation must stand." she was preaching now, "For something of siritual and not only material value, and the key to the decline of the spirit is in religion. There is always a choice to be made, and for the Dyellian people, I believe that the Kingdom of God is the right choice, and those that choose it will never lack support - both human and divine."

"I believe as I stated previously, no good can come of you returning to Dyelli Beybi, and no good can come from helping your sister. You are a convienant tool by which she can protect herself, getting you to murder instead of doing it personally."

He chuckles "It is probably the most galling thing to her about being president, the inability to do her own dirty work."

*****

"No, the House of Vaad is not an Empire, such things are beneath us. Your kingdom of God is false, you yourself are falling into the trap of the great paradox and your people will suffer for it.

Morals are the Neanderthal of human behaviour, all things evolve and evolution demands ethical actions. Morals gives you a black and white path, by which you may deny responsibility for your own action and say simply 'I did the moral thing' instead of using your brain to explore the vast shades of grey and finding the ethical balance."

He chuckles "Murder in the name of justice and freedom, is still murder and is still immoral. You made an ethical decision, you placed freedom and justice above human life, and betrayed your own morals. Stop lying to yourself, it will make things easier for you.

Once again you keep speaking of my 'nation' and 'Vaadians' I am only speaking of my family and my personal retainers. Rest assured the Will of the House of Vaad will outlast eternity."

He chuckles again "We will speak of my nations at a later date, when that becomes relevant."

"Funny." Zara smiled wryly, "You agree with her on the part about not going to Dyelli Beybi. Isn't Prince Corum having a word with the Tzarina anyway?"

----------

"I am not lying to myself." the Tzarina replied primly, "The world is black and white, grey is just white that has got dirty. It will be purified by the refiner's fire."

"There are grounds within my religion for the pursuit of a moral war." she continued, "And that is what I pursued. Furthermore I have attended confession and been assured my actions have been forgiven by the Lord."

"But this is all a distraction from what you want, which is for me to give special treatment to one of your retainers. What possible benefit for me is there in helping you?" she asked, again the tone wasn't agressive, inquiring maybe, in a detached sort of way, "I can see how I will come across as yet another corrupt despot to my people, I can see benefit for you, but what is there in this for me? I have heard nothing but an ethereal promise of friendship which looks more like vassalage to a petty principality. What benefit is there for my people?"

Ram nods "Manglevites Yross said that he would, I suspect they will call me back when that happens and inform us of what transpired. Either way, I think Dyelli Beybi should be the last place either of us want to go. You don't have anything to atone for."

*****

"Yes, yes, I am still waiting to see the copy of the Bible that reads 'Thou shalt not kill except.................' well, whatever helps you sleep at night."

Prince Corum laughs again "What can I do to help your people? Nothing. I am not offering a bribe, or to give you something for your services. You are a Tzarina, not a rent-girl.

There was a time when noble families would extend courtesies for each other and expect nothing, except friendship and the reciprocation of said courtesy when the situation was reversed. If you really want to turn this into a bargaining session then you'd better tell me what you need, I have no clue what's going in Dyelli Beybi."

Zara blinked at her husband, "Whatever do you mean? Of course I have things to atone for. I have done terrible things, were the world fair I would be inprison indefinitely."

She lowered her eyes back to the somewhat paltry bowl of cereal she described as breakfast, "Of course..." the edges of her lips had curved up in a smile, "The world isn't fair. Things have turned out quite well, and I'm not complaining."

She looked up again, and for the first time there was a degree of uncertainty, "Maybe you and Caroline are right. Perhaps Cyro isn't quite the place to go."

----------

"It's in the catechism." the Tzarina replied vacantly, "A book which is equally important in the life of the Church."

"No I'm not a rent girl." she actually snickered with amusement, displaying a human side for a moment, "Were I my Father I would probably see that as a matter of honour, but unfortunately my dear Prince, the Tzarina of Dyelli Beybi is the last thing I wanted to be. I despise privelege of birth, would that I could have been someone different."

"Manifold destiny they say. I had no choice, it was a matter thrust upon me, I was given the chance to reunite my Nation and at the same time to sacrifice my dreams for my own life." a pause, "I am telling you this so that you may understand my actions. My birth may have been to those defending the Bastille, but my heart is with those storming it."

Another pause, "I cannot sanction the idea of any person having special privelege, under the law or within my own personal morality."

Ram chuckles "Atonement is one of those philosophical ideals that rarely has anything to do with real life. The best thing you can do to atone for anything is to life your life."

"Just remember that where ever you go, I'm going with you."

*****

" No matter how you are born you can always act as you like. If you're doing what you're doing because you feel you have to or else, it's going to come to a very bad end. If you can't envision people that aren't above, or people that are constrained differently by the law, you are going to have very few friends left, very soon. Take a look at all the people that are or have helped you, you are going to have to make the choice for them one day whether you allow them lee-way or if you cleanse them in your fires.

Well, since you haven't told me what you want in exchange for the courtesy I ask. I assume you don't want anything, and that you will not honor my request. I only ask that you remember that I offered you friendship at one time. Someday you will need it, and you will not receive it, and I want you to remember that you turned it down."

"Atonement is what we do to cleanse our sins."Zara grumbled, her Catholic side coming through, even if she had broken more or less all the commandments.

"I think I need to take a walk." she muttered.

----------

"The law is just and no person is above the law, not even myself and certainly not some peon from Ilek-Vaad." there was perhaps a very slight hint of smugness in the Tzarina's voice.

"Your friendship is not required for the good Governance of Dyelli Beybi." she continued vaguely, "All I expect is that my citizens are treated fairly and according to the law. Your so called offer is frankly insulting, I will not be intimidated by any mafiosa style threats. You may take them elsewhere to Nations which lack the righteousness of Dyelli Beybi."

"And yes." she concluded, "Those who think they are getting speical treatment will 'burn' as you put it. Goodbye Sir."

The reciever went dead.

Ram chuckles "Okay, okay" his phone rings as he stands to join Zara for her walk.

"Hello. Yes. Yes. Okay, hold on." He pauses and hands his phone over to Zara.

"It's for you, it's Prince Corum, he is done talking with the Tzarina and wishes to talk to you."

Zara looked vaguely confused, "Umm alright."

She took the phone, "Hello your Highness."

Prince Corum started talking straight away "Yes, good morning, It's good to hear that you are still in Port Olympus. I've just had a chat with the Tzarina of Dyelli Beybi, a very interesting chat.

Firstly, the 'reconciliation' tribunal has nothing at all to do with reconciliation, and everything to do with revenge, it's been put in place to extract confessions and apologies and bring forth damning evidence that will keep the Tzarina's enemies from the former regimes from gaining the popularity and power to challenge her. She didn't say that in so many words, but I got her point.

Secondly, the Tzarina has decided that she herself is forgiven for her sins in the former regime and for her bloody take over because she has been to confession. Funny, she wants you put under arrest and tried, but confession is good enough for her. So if you want forgiveness and reconciliation, I suggest you do as the Tzarina did and visit a confessional.

The Tzarina believes that you, and people like you that faithfully served former regimes are a grey area that require cleansing in the flame of righteousness. She has rejected my friendship, and the friendship of my house. All I asked of her was that you receive a fair trial and that if convicted that you be deported back to Lassic to my custody. She would not promise a fair trial or to return you to your house.

So, I suggest that you both return to Lassic, going to Cyro would be pointless, and besides, I'm calling a Conclave of the Kertbals, so your husband and you would be required to attend."

"Hmm. Thats unusual." This information seemed to be conflicting with what Zara already knew of the Tzarina, but she seemed ready enough to accept it...

"OK, well you offer me little choice I guess." her words implied resignation, but her tone was more relieved, "I shall return to Ilek-Vaad."

"Really?" Prince Corum sounded surprised " I was told you'd be much more obstinate than this? Well, I don't know what to say then except good day and see you in about three days time."

Ram watched expectantly to see what exactly was going on.

"Well I know good advice when I hear it." Zara acknowledged, "And your Highness is not the first to suggest I not go to Dyelli Beybi, the third in fact. It seems it would probably be unwise."

Prince Corum chuckles "You mean it's not on my advice alone? I hope that at the very least my advice carries the most weight?

Well then I expect you and your husband back in Lassic within three days, if you don't mind, Your husband can fill you in on what a Conclave is, why girls aren't allowed and what you will be expected to do.

So, have a good day, and I will see you when you have arrived in Lassic."

He awaited a polite good bye and than hangs up.

Ram watches expectantly.

"Oh of course." Zara replied smoothly, "With the possible exception of my husband." who she winked at.

"Well this all sounds very interesting." she mused, "I will ask him to explain."

"It has been a pleasure talking to you as always, would you like to speak to my husband again?" she inquired, before the end of the call.

After the call was over she wasted no time in doing exactly as the Prince had reccomended, turning to Ram and handing him back the phone, "What's a conclave?"

... Although the explanation would probably have to wait, for at that moment came a sharp knock on the door.

Prince Corum expresses no interest in speaking with Ram again. Ram smiles to Zara "A Conclave is something more appropriately discussed in more private settings."

He pauses to answer the door, and to confront what undoubtedly be a new set of irritations.

"Ah, the turbulent Vaadian." it was Caroline, not even feigning politeness this time.

"Sister." whatever Ram's reaction was, Zara seemed genuinely please, the pair embraced.

"So did your ape pass my message along?" there was a striking resemblance between them, Caroline's hair was lighter, that was about it.

"Be nice." her sister punched her playfully in the shoulder, "He matters a lot to me."

"Aye." Caroline grunted, "You need to train it properly before you take it out in public though. Ouch!" the second punch had been a bit harder, "That's assault on the President that is."

They actually giggled like teenagers, "I'm not going to Cyro." Zara eventually got out.

"Good." Caroline nodded, "You going with my plan?"

Zara shook her head, "No I'm going home."

The President nodded, and it was the President nodding this time, "I can't say Klatch won't potentially suffer... but as your sister I'm glad."

They hugged again, Caroline's eyes locked on Ram's, they were as hard as steel, "The deal changed a bit General Imro. You can keep her as long as you like, but if you screw with her, I will not rest until I have your skull as a paperweight."

Ram opened the door for Caroline and simply watched her enter and ignored what she had to say, standing and waiting to open the door for her as she left. He didn't even acknowledge her presence until her final threat.

"You know, with all the times you've threatened my life, you'll eventually have to make good on them, Otherwise they'll remain hollow.

I have no intentions of hurting Zara, I certainly won't try to kill her like certain siblings in this room, whom I won't mention out of courtesy."

He remained stony faced and humorless.

Caroline smiled benignly in response, "What an interesting predicament. You will not believe I am threatening you until I actually kill you. Then I'm afraid you'll have to not believe it."

"Ram." Zara chided gently, "It's all forgiven and forgotten, I wouldn't be much of a Catholic if I didn't forgive."

"Neither would I." Caroline agreed.

The strong religious element was something people should never forget when considering the Dyellian psyche, it made them do unpredictable things...

She pressed something into Zara's hand, "For you, to keep you safe." before whispering something else which provoked a laugh.

"Okay." Zara smiled.

"Now my dear Ex-arch." Caroline turned to Ram, horribly mangling his title, "Since we're in a forgiving mood, you should know I have forgiven you for everything." A slight smirk(?) "And whether you chose to trust, believe me or whatever is of no relevance to me. I don't hate you Imro."

Zara was staring at her sister, clearly trying to read her reaction...

Ram continued to look stone faced, emotionless "I don't care if you've forgiven me for anything or not. I also don't bear you any grudge."

He pauses and smiles to Zara and then looks back to Caroline "I simply will not forget the threats you made against the woman I love. I don't care what your religious dogma preaches but I will remain alert when you are around, for practical reasons.

History has shown us that many good catholics are perfectly capable of murder and duplicity. Your religious convictions won't do anything to lessen my wariness towards you, and I won't hesitate to act if I feel you are acting to harm me, or anyone that I care for."

He opens the door for Caroline " If you don't mind, we are expected in Great Lassic."

"Be nice." Zara seemed to be saying that a lot, constantly trying to diffuse the situation, "As you are well aware my dear, the situation has changed a little from back then."

Caroline on the other hand laughed, "Ah yes, but at least we have things keeping us in check unlike the infidels."

"Caroline..."

"Yeah alright, I will 'be nice'." she gave Ram an amused and somewhat unfathomable look, she could either be sneering at him, or sympathising, it was hard to tell.

The pair hugged, "Next time there will be more time to catch up."

"Oh, before I go...." Caroline's look had turned to that of someone keeping a secret, "Get a copy of 'O'Booze's Peerage' and look at the House ab Ieuaf. Goodbye, and take care, I'm off on holiday, although you probably haven't heard. It was a pleasure Zara."

"I'll see you later."

"Take care." Caroline nodded to Ram, and there genuinely seemed to be no malice.

Zara stared after her in puzzlement after she'd left, finally concluding with uncharacteristic criticism of her sibling, "I really can't buy her finding religion. I think she's trying to screw with your head."

Some time later, mid way through packing she stopped, "And what happens to me if there is a war with Klatch?"

Ram watches Caroline leave "Do come and visit us sometime."

He closes the door after she leaves and helps Zara get their bags together.

"Well, when there is war, not if at this point, I think Caroline's going off on holiday rather than actually coming to terms with the issue sums up the entire Klatchian attitude to the Free Republic. That attitude will lead war inevitably. You are a Velite Guard, you will be expected to defend the nation if the enemy invades your locale , which is highly unlikely.

Nothing short of treason could derail your chances of becoming a citizen once you've completed your time a Velite Guard."

Zara smiled vaguely, she looked slightly confused, "You mean they won't arrest me? That's what they'd do in Dyelli Beybi. They'd round up every Vaadian citizen and ethnic Vaadian and put them in concentration camps."

She gave a slight laugh at the comment about her sister, "It is a novel way of resolving a crisis, but honestly, it's not like there's anything going on at the moment."

"No they won't arrest you, maybe watch you a bit closer, but since you're surrounded by Kerbals at the Avanc, and surrounded by Velite Investigators at work, I doubt they will even do that."

He sighs "It is dangerous to assume that 'nothing going on' means peace. The Supreme Republican Commander has a mandate, he can strike as he pleases. If I know Commander Ring, and I do, he's only waiting for an opening where he can maximize damage and humiliation to the Federation, his plans aren't quick and impulsive like Commander Vaikov's were, Ring can take years to insure his strategy is set and that success is certain. Military success for the Retaliatory Guard is far different than with other militaries. I think your sister is in for a rude awakening, along with the rest of the Klatch.

She'd be well advised to meet with Commander Ring if he offers, if he's refused, that is usually his signal that diplomacy is at an end and to begin action."

Zara gave her husband a puzzled frown, "I hope he knows what he's doing. She's a Dyellian, we take dishonour very seriously."

It was all she would say on the subject, apparently assuming he could fill in the rest.

Ram chuckles heartily "Then you would think she'd be more interested in in remedying the dishonour that the Federation has continuously shown the Free Republic.

Honestly, I wonder sometimes how you ascribe these virtues to your sister when they appear to be totally missing? When I was in there, talking to her alone, she is entirely different than when in here with you, she is a totally two-faced, dishonourable wretch, only concerned with her own well being. Right now here well being depends on being a strong president, and what do weak leaders do to prove their strength? Manufacture a crisis in an attempt to assert authority in the face of the enemy and thereby gain prestige and the appearance of strength.

She is going to exploit the rift with the Free Republic to bolster her own position, that is the only way in which the Free Republic matters to her. She wanted to exploit you against Himmler, that is all you mean to her, and since you've refused, she has no more time to spend on you.

She has no concept of what honour is."

"Have some faith in her. She is a good person." Zara asserted, although with no apparent evidence for that apart from familial loyalty, "Your guy who you said was supposed to off her must have had a reason not to."

"She didn't smell like she was lying." she concluded.

She continued packing, talking as she did, "The problem I think is Ilek-Vaad is too suspicious of trickery and the Dyellians who are running the show now are as prickly as hedgehogs. If Klatch and Ilek-Vaad just ignore each other and get on with life, things would be much easier."

She tended to have simplistic answers for politics...

Ram shrugs and closes his suitcase "I would agree that the Republic and the Federation would be better off ignoring each other, but the Federation makes that impossible by taking actions that are specifically designed to provoke the Republican Council.

The Federation is acting like a small child that's been ignored, throwing tantrums until someone acknowledges it. Everyone inside and outside the Federation knows the whole Squall Straits Customs thing was totally illegal and done only as provocation. Has your sister investigated that? No, she legitimized it, because that's what would force the Free Republic to say something."

He frowns again " She is not a good person, at least not judging her by her actions. I'm sure Mr. Johnson left her alive to protect his position."

"You know how Dyellians are." she shrugged, "Corrupt I mean. The Squall Straights was a big money spinner and they were only robbing foreigners, so they probably see it as ok."

Apparently the cultural advisor had never quite left her, "At least from what I heard they had exploited disorganisation in Central Government to pass some dubious legislation which allowed them to do that with the paper authorisation of the Federation... which of course puts Caroline in an unenviable position, she can't do anything without alienating the Dyellians, who are porobably the most influencial Klatchian State at the moment, and furthermore she can't do anything because on paper everything was authorised."

She coloured slightly, looking down, "That's just my opinion of course, I could be wildly off."

"She is a good person." she corrected mildly, "Or she was at least, poor girl."

Ram chuckles "Everything was authorized, on paper. I just wonder about right or wrong, if anybody in the Federal Government ever considers that?"

He pauses and turns back to Zara "What about your mission?" he lowers his voice "What of value do you have for the Shadow General? Combating Himmler can't be left to Caroline, I'm sure if he could make the case that it benefits her, she'd be on his side? At least if she is serious about combating Himmler than she could work on the Free Republic with that? Common enemies and all, she didn't even seem all that interested with the information that we have."

He shakes his head "It all seems pointless."

Zara looked hard at her husband for a moment, "If he speaks to Caroline about that, they would probably open up an avenue for peace that might otherwise be lost. She's a politician, she'll understand the whole 'the enemy of my enemy' line."

Ram grimaces "Well, as he explained he technically can't do that, feeding information to the Vrakians is about as far as he can go I suspect. Why else would he want you to come here? Well I suppose none of it will help so long as the Federation and Republic aren't speaking on any official level."

He closes his suitcase "Well, I'm ready when you are."

"I have more information than just that." she shrugged, her own suitcase was already closed, which was impressively fast work considering the amount of stuff she carried around...

"But it can't be spoken of here... but as to your question, yes she would help... but she's mistrustful of the Free Republic. She'd need assurances."

She sighed, looking over the room one last time, "Shall we go?"

Ram smiles "I thought you'd never be ready to go. I do hate leaving the Free Republic, and I think I get more and more xenophobic as I age."

He picks ups his and Zara's suitcases and leads the way back to the jet.

"And yet you still picked me up along the way." Zara pouted, "I think you secretly find foreigners exciting."

Near the front of the building she stopped dead, "Richard?"

Apparently she was speaking to a fairly non-descript Dyellian near the front of the building, his gaze travelled first over Ram, and there was recognition, although he was certainly not somebody he had met, then to his wife, "Hello Zara, what on earth are you doing in Klatch?"

"Not much." she replied evasively, apparently noting the suit the man was wearing, "Working here."

"No." he shook his head, "Just up here for a week or two, picking up a few old Chekists. They're changing the opperation somewhat as I'm sure you've gathered. CSD-1 and some of the others have become the 'Home Office', dividing power up, someone to watch the watchman and all that... You should come back, we need people like you."

She laughed, holding up her hand for inspection, "Firstly, I'm married, and secondly there's an arrest warrant out for me."

"Really?" the ex-Commisaar looked suprised, "Well if this was the old days I'd say I'd make it vanish, but those kind of things don't just go away now. It's better for the country of course." he concluded patriotically, "...Out of curiosity, this is Criminal Court? How the hell did they ever find any evidence?"

She shook her head, "Board for Reconciliation or something like that."

This was greeted with a snort of derission, "That's not a Court. I'm supposed to be appearing in front of it, you remember the stolen Drakonian Aid money they were funelling through Monte Ozarka? The stuff we didn't recover?"

"How can I forget." that was a sore point.

"Yeah anyway, they've opened that up again... of course there's no evidence to drag me into a criminal court... mostly because I didn't do anything, so I've opted not to show up. Bloody stupid idea to have criminal cases being tried with a Civil burden of proof."

There was a pause while Zara tried to reorganise this sudden revalation in her head.

Ram paused and grimaced politely. He listened to and watched to what was going on and then set the suitcases down.

"We aren't going back to Lassic, are we?"

"Just a minute Ram... You've never met him, but this is Richard Quentin, a very old friend of mine, I used to work for him in fact, until we stuffed up. Richard, this is Ramtheosz Imro, my husband."

The former Commisaar extended his hand, "Pleasure."

"Ramtheosz possibly thinks this is a chance meeting." Zara gave Richard a sideways glance, "Although I worked with you long enough not to believe in coincidences, what could you possibly be doing in the Presidential Palace?"

He gave a look of shock, "Zara, what could you possibly be trying to imply?" paused for effect then shook his head, "OK, I've got some info to you, I have been asked to relay it on to you with all manner of strings attached, but if you don't mind me tagging along in your car to the airport I'll tell you the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help me God, no strings, just info. All the stuff Caroline doesn't know."

Zara laughed, "What Chekist could ever say no to that? Unfortunately I have other people to consider too now... Ram?"

Ram frowned and nodded to Richard "Pleased to meet you."

He turned to Zara "Normally I would say no to letting assassins ride along in the car, but since it seems to be the norm in the Federation, heck they're even presidents, why not? God forbid that anyone in the Federation ever actually talks on the record about anything or actually sends Ambassadors instead of spies."

He shrugged and picked up the suitcases again.

"By the way." Richard spoke as they got into the car, "I have something of yours. You dropped it during the last mission we did together.... I didn't know you smoked."

He handed over a silver cigarette case. Some kind of geometric design was etched into the front, "Neither did I." Zara frowned at it, then shook her head, "It isn't mine."

"You dropped it. Doesn't have anything in it, I checked."

"Hmm." she flicked open the lid to inspect for herself.

"Anyway." Richard continued, "The Egg-heads back in Dyelli Beybi have examined Himmler's DNA and discovered he was one of them the whole time. Which is kind of funny, he never looked like one of them, what I mean is, he could have had cosmetic surgery, but he's been around for years, years before they were able to convincingly do that kind of thing..."

"I'd forgotten I had this." Zara laughed, pocketing the box, "I'm going to stop you there Richard."

He frowned politely, waiting for her to continue.

"He isn't elven, he just wants you to think that. He's something else, and probably the greatest Geneticist in history. How is the situation with him and his army of drones?"

"On the run." Richard said confidently, "We haven't seen one in the North for months, and we've tracked them to where they came from too. It is only a matter of weeks before final victory."

"I think it's more complicated than that." she yawned and stretched, "I'm guessing you know he has another card up his sleeve, but you don't know where he put it?"

There was an almost imperceptible nod.

"And so you want me to walk through one of your 'Gateways', I'm assuming it's a wormhole you've constrained within some kind of emergy field, and get rid of him. Cut the head off the serpent?" this didn't sound like Zara at all...

"If I come back." she warned, "The Tzarina won't try to arrest me. And I won't go through your Gate. I want to take an excavation team to Orleton abbey."

"Are you on drugs or something?" it wasn't such a far fetched question considering the circumstances.

"Not at all... I left something there. When I have it I'll explain more."

"She'll never agree to this." Richard warned.

"She will." Zara contradicted, "Ram, when is this 'convention' thing again?"

Ram just sits quietly until Zara speaks to him. "It is in three days. We will also be expected to enjoy Prince Corum's hospitality until he decides that we should leave. Usually another three or four days. Since Conclaves happen so rarely anymore , he uses it to catch up with all the news about the Kerbal families."

He does not appear happy about the question "It's not meant as an inconvenience."

Burp: http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?p=12924812&posted=1#post12924812

"I'm not saying it is." she smiled strangely, "Thanks for the info Richard. I will be in touch when I'm ready to act on things."

"You'll be in touch?" the man from the Home Office laughed, "In touch?"

"Yes, because you're about to give me your office number."

"Fine." he pulled a pience of paper from an inside pocket of his shirt and handed it over, "Here you go."

Little much else was said, and he left them at the airport.

Ram didn't say anything for the ride to the airport or as they where getting onto the plane, he seemed resigned to whatever was going to happen and had apparently decided that discussing it wasn't going to do any good.

The Conclave would take just a day or two, and not much would happen, with the exception of the revelation about Prince Corum's family tree and what that now meant to the Federation.