NationStates Jolt Archive

They hit the hastily-erected barricades again, as the sun had begun to sink beneath the hills in the distance. It was an airport under siege and had been from almost the moment that the executive jet had landed, in a desperate flight away from the capital. But someone knew its heading, or someone knew its destination, or someone was just lucky- no matter, the end result was the same.

Major Johnston wiped a grimy hand across his brow, the chalky dust of the foothills caking up under his hairline. There was a momentary lull in the fighting- one of the numerous breaks that had been granted his men. Of course, it just made every man that was stranded there die a little bit more slowly, as they’d brought no food or water with them on the mad dash and were in no way prepared for a siege.

Surrender hadn’t even been an option- the passenger precluded that, but the horribly butchered body of the one man who had deserted served as mute testimony to the utter impossibility of rapprochement with whoever it was that was hitting the progressively smaller group of men. Johnston had gotten the wounded to strip, clean, and reload weapons as it became clear how hopelessly outnumbered they were.

“We’re not getting out, are we?” The elderly man smiled at the horrified look on Johnston’s face as he whirled around. “Oh, I know, I should stay in the shelter. But I’d rather spend my last moments outside than in that stifling pit.”

The sound of shooting began once more, automatic weapons of the assailants drowning out whatever words Johnston had in reply. The entire group began opening fire, as the sun finally dropped beneath the hills and night descended over the desolate airstrip.



SBC International, Breaking News
“We’re cutting live to our correspondent, Michael Halverson, who’s outside the Halls of Justice right now. Michael, what do you have to report?”

“As you and our viewers can see, chaos has descended into what was just earlier today the peaceful expanse of Liberty Square, here in downtown Brandenwald. From what we’ve been able to piece together, and keep in mind that it’s just what we have been able to figure out so far, a bomb went off at approximately 11 A.M today in the Central Ministry building. At almost the same time, in what we feel are planned attacks, a number of government buildings were attacked by carbombs.

“The first bombing collapsed the Central Ministry, killing thousands. The further attacks, occurring across the District, have caused what we’re currently estimating to be almost 400 dead and over 3 times that wounded. It’s been confirmed that Ministers Vanderhoven, Yumatsu, and Drucker are dead, while Archbishop Weakland and Minister Destin are currently missing. Locations of the rest of the Council of Thirteen are as of yet unknown, but we’re getting reports of major attacks across the Greater Brandenwald region.

“The military has currently declared a State of Emergency and High Command has notified the High Court of their request for the dissolution of the Constitution for the duration of the crisis. The protestors filling the square have been gathering almost immediately since Field Marshall Gambry, Deputy Defense Minister, announced the move which is without precedent, though written into the Constitution. The crowd’s mood has alternated from somber to violent and the demonstration has approached open revolt.

“Wait, I can see protestors breaking through the police barricades! There are protestors on the steps of the Halls of Justice! I hope you’re seeing this as well as I am, there are protestors engaged in altercations with numerous police officers and army MPs who have been attempting to hold back the protestors all day- Oh my God! Oh my God! They’ve opened fire on the crowd! Jesus Christ, the army has opened fire on the crowd!

“The front ranks of this protest have dissolved in chaos! The army is firing into unarmed demonstrators! This is an egregious breach of all Samtonian law! You are seeing a massacre in the making- shit, there’s armed troops blocking the exits to the square. The army is preventing protestors from exiting-“

“I’m sorry, we’re experiencing technical difficulties here in the studio, but we’ll break back to Michael as soon as we can. I’m sure, however, that the incident that he has just shown us is one that has…been…wait, what the hell’s going on? What do you mean, shutting us down? What the hell are you talking about?! There’s still freedom of press, you maniac! What the fuck are you-“

WE ARE EXPERIENCING MOMENTARY TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES- PLEASE BEAR WITH US. SBC INTERNATIONAL NEWS- YOUR WINDOW TO SAMTONIA AND THE WORLD.

WE ARE EXPERIENCING MOMENTARY TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES- PLEASE BEAR WITH US. SBC INTERNATIONAL NEWS- YOUR WINDOW TO SAMTONIA AND THE WORLD.

WE ARE EXPERIENCING MOMENTARY TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES- PLEASE BEAR WITH US. SBC INTERNATIONAL NEWS- YOUR WINDOW TO SAMTONIA AND THE WORLD.


[OOC: The OOC Thread is located at http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=524635]

Imperial Intelligence Agency, Somewhere underneath Miana, Whyatica
Instability in a Gholgoth state was something that was always of big news to the Double-IA - the chance, however, slight, of bringing a Gholgoth nation into the Sovereign League, (now the Whyatican sphere, since the Whyatican Empire is no longer a Sovereign League member), is a chance that a nation can ill afford to lose. Samtonia in particular had always seemed to have divisions based on ideology and religion, but never before had the opportunity to exploit them been, well, exploited. The tensions between Sovereign League and Gholgoth had essentially prevented an intervention in a Gholgoth civil war in prior years - a Gholgoth-SL war was seen as, at best, Not A Good Idea.

A terse note regarding the Samtonian unrest was sent up to a higher official - who read the note and recommended deploying an agent to Samtonia. Just the fact that people were being executed by the army was a problem for any agents, so the space arm was being prepared for further reconnaissance. A few nondescript satellites were moved into position over the Samtonian continent, with the rest of the Gholgoth states receiving a little extra attention, too.

The preparations were being made to deploy an agent cell into Samtonia - help raise a little havoc, get first-hand information on the riots, and perhaps in the future, assist in a Whyatican military intervention..

Official Communiqué
The Foreign Ministry

To the legitimate government of Samtonia:

On behalf of the Commonwealth of Granzi, I would like to extend my deepest condolences to the nation of Samtonia, in particular to the victims' families. The Commonwealth has only recently emerged from a period of domestic violence; violence that was brought about by a series of terrorist attacks like these which crippled our national infrastructure and destroyed the government of then-Prime Minister Bolash. It is absolutely imperative to fight these radical elements wherever they appear. My superiors have authorized me to make available to Samtonia several humanitarian relief groups, who will operate under the auspices of the Commonwealth. It is our hope that these teams will be able to alleviate some of the suffering that has resulted from this unnecessary bloodshed.

Should you require anything further, please do not hesitate to contact the Commonwealth.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v297/Granzi/FM_Sun.jpg
Wenyuan Sun
Minister of Foreign Affairs

OOC: This message was sent to the scattered elements of the civilian government, not to the military, which seems to have undertaken gross human rights abuses...)

The small humvee bounced along the bumpy dirt road. It had once carried a machine gun- now, there were just crates lashed down to its rear. The passenger riding shotgun cursed as he banged his knee on his gun- it was a large weapon and there wasn’t enough room in the front seat for it and him to fit comfortably.

*This is Radio Free Siegeland, broadcasting from under the dictatorship of the tyrannical military-* “Damn it, turn down that shit!” he snapped, glaring at the driver. The man smiled back, eyes hidden behind the lenses of sunglasses. “Tough shit, hey. You drive, you choose the radio.” A smile broke through his bushy beard as he turned back to the road.

*-after another furious assault, their forces were stopped east of the crossing. We’re going to have to go offline again now, since the verdammten pigs are onto us again- but we’ll be back! This is Radio Free Siegeland signing off!* The sound of martial music suddenly blasted back through the radio, the driver cursing furiously as he tried to turn it down while navigating a hairpin curve. “Fucking iron-heeled pigs and their propaganda!”

“Shut up!” snarled his passenger, slapping away the driver’s grimy hand. “This could be important!”

-but the rebels were beaten off the crossing and our forces are even now approaching Siegeland! The rebellion continues to spread across Samtonia, as numerous hostile and anti-social elements have taken up arms against the rightful government and are resisting all officials who attempt to bring control back to the country. Speaking from the Ministry of Defense, Field Marshall Gambry condemned the rebels in no uncertain terms.

“It sickens me that these criminal elements would attempt to spread their hateful and deadly ideologies across Samtonia! Attempting to seize control of the reigns of government in the midst of a constitutional crisis, these…these pigs have begun to liquidate all elements of the population that they find “social undesirables” and “enemies of the Constitution.” I condemn in no uncertain terms their barbarism and wanton murder against the innocent people of Samtonia-“

“What the hell is that shit?” asked the driver, reaching over and turning off the radio. “I know for a fact that the Democratic Republicans are gunning down anyone who protests, but what the hell are the Constitutionalists doing? Doesn’t sound like they’d be the ones to set up massacres from their descriptions.”

The passenger gave a wan smile. “You’d think. But they’ve set up a nasty precedent where they go through killing or imprisoning anyone who they think cooperated with the DR’s troops or orders. There have been field executions and some public executions too- nasty shit. But at least our hands are clean, out of anyone. Thank the Gods.”

“Right.” The driver smiled, as they turned the final corner of the winding mountain road to reveal a series of massive pyres, human bodies stacked liked cordwood and sending streaking gouts of ember and smoke into the sky. “At least our hands are clean.”