NationStates Jolt Archive

'WHAT!?' yelled the Emperor, his naturally sonorous voice amplified a hundred times by His Excellency's private office, its design and construction for this purpose exactly. Ornate and gold-trimmed walls met the high ceiling with statues of saints and eagles, which looked down judgingly on his unfortunate visitor. The thick red carpet seemed to be slowly swallowing him, and the young Aide almost wished it would hurry up so he could escape the wrath of the aging man in front of him.

The Emperor himself was, as always, in his white and black ceremonial robes, a masterpiece of embroidery with the gold thread depicting Agrandov's glorious past and events from his favourite parts of the bible. These parts of the book were invariably those where the Lord would deliver punishment to the sinners who had forsaken him. A greying man, tall and surprisingly athletic, the Emperor had an aura of the absolute; he did not compromise.

'What,' he repeated, more patiently, 'is happening with the Guild?' His knuckles whitened as he gripped a decorative fountain pen with both hands.
'It- It needs more time, your Excellency... I... we just can't cope!'
'What do you need? Men? Money?' he enquired, his brow furrowed now in curiosity rather than anger.

The intercom squawked, and the Emperor held a hand out for silence as he answered.
'What is it now?' came his stinging answer.
'It's the Minister of Finance, Sire, he says these reports are incredibly urgent. It concerns the Guild of Knowledge-'
'Send him in. Now' the Emperor ordered, and sat back, relaxed, in his plush chair of the finest materials.

And in walked a man who was definitely not the Minister of Finance, who was carrying a briefcase that definitely did not contain the promised reports. Holding it in outstretched arms, the man charged at the Emperor in primal fury. His berserk battle cry alerted the four Clerics on duty outside, who realised what was happening and scrambled to enter the room.

It happened almost in slow motion, as an event that shook the nation took place. The Emperor stood, chanting holy verses as fast and loud as his lips would allow. A Cleric knelt, and fired; the red-hot bullet hitting the assailant in the shoulder. The Emperor brought his hand down, still containing the pen, with unstoppable force into the man's forehead. He staggered backwards into the waiting Clerics, who forced him to the ground and held him at gunpoint.

Then the briefcase exploded.


Agrandov State News: Your Views!

Our Glorious Emperor is in hospital today after an attempt on his life by left-wing radicals. A bomb blast shook the Cathedral this afternoon causing minor structural damage to the landmark and killing 5 people. No information on the victims has been released as of yet, but Clerics are expected to be amongst the number as they were guarding the Emperor at the time.

With Our Leader still in intensive care, the Minister of Civil Control, Wornson, has assumed control of Agrondov and declared a state of Martial Law. 103 people have been arrested in connection to the attempt, although its known that some of these are already released without charge.

Now we have a selection of chapters and hymns, personal favourites of our Emperor, for your enjoyment...

OOC: Excellent writing

IC: The Community officially sends its condolences. If you would like, we can loan you our counter-terrorism unit to help you track the assasins.

~Alex Connor
Speaker
The Community of Siap

OOC: Is this going to turn into a full all out war? If so, the ed states would be happy to take the side of the conservatives... whomever they may be... :)

[OOC: Something will kick off eventually, I'm sure of it.]

The Emperor lay awake in his hospital bed, finally roused from his coma but still dependant on various machines. His vision was blurred and his ears still rang, but he was still alive. He was still alive to spread the Holy Word of His Righteousness, and when necessary, His Holy Wrath. Over the days the Emperor had grown sour, sickened by the cowardly attempt on his life and angered that an organised militia was targeting him and his system.

No chances were taken this time, as no less than 40 Knights and 200 Clerics were on guard in and around the hospital. Several APCs and two tanks had even been requisitioned as a show of force and defiance to the terrorists. There were no visitors allowed except a single doctor, who was escorted at all times by a squad of Clerics and had to ferry information and supplies between the Emperor and an otherwise empty ward of doctors and nurses monitoring his condition remotely.

On the outside, the Minister of Civil Control was running the country with an iron fist of tenacity to match the Emperor's. Arrests over the attempt still came thick and fast, with the majority of suspects executed on the spot. The rest, however, would be putting the Guild of Knowledge through its paces. Currently staffed by Clerics, no government official would willingly take the helm for such a project unless ordered by the Emperor himself. Unless...

The Emperor sat up, a sudden energy in his veins and conviction in his eyes. Detaching himself from the apparatus, he stood, and began to walk. He crossed the doctor in the hallway, who dropped his notes and panicked. Screaming for assistance he rushed towards the Emperor and tried to steady him, but the old man brushed him off.

The doctor whimpered, standing to purse his patient of ultimate importance. Then the Emperor turned, and putting a hand on the doctor's shoulder, he gave an order most would consider insane.
'Bring me my Brother.'

OOC: I could play the part of assasins, or some organization that would seek to profit from your leader's demise. There is a small, efficient criminal sydnicate in my nation that tends to cause mayhem like this.

OOC: Considering my previous interaction with the clerics, I would be more than willing to ally with the aforementioned assassins, whether they are RP'd by you or Siap.

[OOC: The would-be assassins here are part of an underground resistance within Agrandov which has virtually no international support. I will be RPing them. The way I see it, your options are to send operatives to instigate a full-scale revolt, to RP a squad sent to 'finish the job', or to RP a squad sent to hunt down rebels while the Agrandov Police are concerned with the Emperor. Of course, I'm not stopping you from RPing it your way. They're just suggestions.]

Clerics. Eight of them, walking in a double-line along the concrete corridor. Damp clung to the walls, and frequent spaces in the wall were filled with bars. A prison, somewhere in the south of Agrandov. A chorus of moaning filled the building, as the half-starved convicts reached out to the passing soldiers in a plea for the slightest scrap of something edible. One skeletal arm took hold, and the Cleric responded with his rifle stock to the man's face without even looking down.

Eventually the cells gave way to solid concrete, and beyond that it was steel panelling. A large and heavy door had been placed here, circular and immovable. Two of the soldiers came forward, simultaneously accessing two card readers, four metres apart. Following the input of a 20-digit code on both points, the door swung open outwards. All eight cocked their weapons, and four took up position outside while the others entered. They fanned out, constantly keeping their weapons pointed at the blankets piled on the bed.

'Are you killing me here... or will he follow procedure this time?' came an icy voice from the pile, and a Cleric's hand pulled back the blankets. The man beneath looked almost hollow, his gaunt face and shadowed eyes betraying no emotion. He was dressed in the standard prison uniform, kept in impeccable condition. Although he looked near-dead, this particular prisoner received all the food he asked for, by means of a personal intercom.

'James Wilson Algrad' stuttered the Cleric as he tightened his grip on his rifle.
'I'm afraid that's Dr. Algrad, or is that another right I'm void of now? Remind me, it's been such a long time.' came the inhuman voice once more from a slit of a mouth.
'Dr.- Dr. Algrad!' complied the panicked soldier, as he unwillingly relayed the message, 'The Emperor has summoned you, to report to the M-Minister of Civil Control immediately. We... We'll escort you.'

As he entered the office, freshly dressed in a dark suit and tie, Algrand drew nervous glances from Clerics staffed around the room. Wornson applied his signature to a short letter, and moved it to one side before addressing the Dr..
'How are you feeling, Dr. Algrad?'
'A lot better than my cell-mate, I assure you.' came the reply. A Cleric collapsed as he distinctly remembered a pile of bones and rags in the corner of the cell. The others did not dare step out of formation to help.
He was grinning, a malevolent wolf-like grin that seemed to bear dangerous teeth.
'As you are undoubtedly aware, you're brother was recently attacked and almost killed by radicals within the nation.' the Minister said, calmly and evenly, 'Upon regaining consciousness, it was his command to release you from incarceration and place you back in the system. You will become Minister of the Inquisition, although your involvement in the politics of this country will be entirely optional, on your part. Your primary responsibility will be the Guild of Knowledge.'
His grin somehow widened, and there was a fire in his eyes. Algrad chuckled, and bowed his head to the Minister.
'I'll start immediately.'


Alex Connor of the Community of Siap
As we are currently in a state of national unrest, foreign intervention may be somewhat necessary to undermining the rising rebellion.
We are willing for you to send a small team (c. 20) of these counter-terrorists to assist with investigation into the recent bombings. They must be sent by air to the Capital city of Agranda, where they will meet with an Agent of ours who will be assisting them.

C. T. Wornson
Minister of Civil Control and Acting Head of State
Agrandov

The Crusader State of Sol Giuldor, is willing to dispatch 20 Knights of the Temple of Solomon to help fight this threat, on the condition that Catholic missionaries sponsored by Sol Giuldor are allowed to begin spreading the words of God and Mother Churh throughout your lands.

May God be with you,
Archbishop Benedictus VII
Theocratic Ruler of the Crusader State of Sol Giuldor

OOC: How about as a team of "professionals" hired by the rebels to finish the job in exchange for a lot of money, or political favors if the rebels take over? Otherwise, I'd be happy to play as a team sent to hunt down the rebels. Either way, I need to know a bit about your nation. If you don't want to post it all here, you can telegram me.