NationStates Jolt Archive

'The God Emperor of the Empire of the Tolteca Peoples requires that the officials of the state who is now reading this grant entry of this servant of the God Emperor into this state and afford him oe her all the protections and courtesies that these unworthy foreigns themselves desire to receive at the hands of the servants of the God Emperor.

So speaks and makes reality the God Emperor Itzcoatl'


This is what the translation reads on the 1908 passport of the tall, elderly 'Vaadian' gentleman standing before the UIK customs agent. In fact all six members of his party were displaying the same documentation, with impossibly old sepia toned photographs, and leatherbound, rather large antique passports.

Nachxa-Itihicoatl, his grand daughter and his four presumed bodyguards had just left the flight from Ilek-Vaad, but they were not presenting themselves as Vaadians, it was a bit suspicious. They all seemed very patient, The Nachxa with his cane and opaque sunglasses smiled benevolently at the poor customs official, his grand daughter Tacha talks incessantly in a very strange tongue, apparently to her grandfather, or anyone who was listening.

Normally such incessant chatter would be annoying, but her musical voice and the curvature of full lips contrasted on her brown skin made her talking seem, pleasant, plus it gave the onlookers reason to look at her very nice proportions and entirely too-attractive face.

In truth The Nachxa was on his way home.........................

OOC: I'm assuming this is them leaving, not coming in.
IC:
The customs official, actually from the Metropolitan County of Azal'Atar, a Minor State of the Covenant, examined the document with a slight interest. It was, in fact, the most unusual thing in a very repetitive and boring day.

"One moment ser, we just need to run this. Please do not go anywhere," he said, and disappeared from his counter into a back room; his team leader looked up tiredly.

"This had better be good..." she said in Ka'ani.

"Some joker outside's got a bloody EXT passport. Need a check on the photo. Actually, need a check on all six," was his answer; she held out a hand and they were handed over, to be placed, one after another, face-down on a flatbed scanner.

"Inbound or outbound?" she asked as she was scanning them in.
"Outbound."

"Meh. Let's see..." the team leader muttered, "apply the algorithm, age the person in the pic.... damn software's as old as the photos..." on her screen six little pictures were growing older, until they resembled the six people outside. Something in the software had even aged the granddaughter properly.
Well?
There was a pause while they both considered the results.

"Close enough for government work... but we need to get the yukes to send out something coded this century...
"You're telling me?
"Anyway, they have a proconsulary entry stamp on them; South GodSea. And the kid must have inherited it."
The team leader frowned, then shrugged.
"Who cares, they're leaving, not coming in. Do the smuggled goods thing, and if they're clean, let 'em go." she bent back over her work.

The agent nodded, collected the passports, and returned to the front desk.
"Just fill out these forms," he handed over six customs declarations forms for quarantined and restricted goods and substances. "Be aware as you do so that false information carries severe fines and penalties, and attempting to smuggle restricted goods, especially biologicals and technologicals, carries prison terms that start at ten years," he droned out.

Somewhere behind the Nachxa pairs of agents with dogs were roaming the small crowd, and a security guard with a wand was running it over backs, bags, and the floor, seemingly at random.

The agent received the completed forms, not even bothering to look at them, and fed them into a slot in his desk. He then stamped and validated the exits, and handed them back.

"Please be aware that you will require a passport issued by a recognised and existing nation should you wish to re-enter the Covenant. Please proceed to your gate for boarding, and thank you for visiting the Metropolitan County of Azal'atar," he said with a concorde smile, then looked behind them.

"Next.... ah, dammit... Après!"

An elderly lady stepped up, smiling and chattering in French. The roving guard waved his wand over one of the bodyguard's bags; the telltales stayed green, and he moved on, totally uninterested.

In fact, that summed up the entire terminal; everyone seemed tired, overworked, and utterly apathetic about everything. Although earlier a man had taken a physical offence at the roving guard's wand when it flashed red over his shoes, and had been literally carried off by several other guards, screaming and struggling until a gloved fist smashed into his stomach. The only ones who seemed alert were the guards who watched the six as they were passed through the x-ray and metal detectors; and their interest subsided when the visitors proved to be clean.

At the gate, a young lady greeted them all with a broad smile, and accepted and processed boarding passes.
"Thank you for flying with Intergardal Covenant Air," she said, "We have a half-hour stopover in Arn-Jaf'na for refuelling, then straight on to the Federation. Outside estimated flight time is 23 hours."

The Nachxa smiled politely as the passports were handed back and nodded offhandedly at the admonishment, his granddaughter filled out all of the forms, still chattering and occasionally looking back at The Nachxa or the bodyguards who nod or shake their heads as appropriate or answer her in the same unintelligible tongue.

She cheerfully hands the papers back "Thank you! We have arranged for Colli Nachxa's house furnishings to be shipped by a freight company, I assume they will clear those through customs?"

That was their main reason for coming here, to hire a Macisikani freight company to ship a mansions worth of antique furnishings to Port Olympus, the six gathered here carried only carry on bags which did not set off any weapons or metal detectors, they had been packed carefully to avoid anything that might give reason to turn them away.

They were now on to their first class flight to The Federation, and quite possibly arrest and detention. They could at least be assured of a comfortable flight on Intergardal Covenant Air. The Nachxa smiled benevolently at the young lady collecting the boarding pass. He was looking forward to the flight, he loved travel.

*****

Months earlier The Nachxa's aid had contacted his lawyer in Port Olympus, A Miss Carnaff,a hard nosed Alconian lawyer, to make sure that the Quincy Mining Company had completed and fortified his mansion, not so that it was like a fortress, in fact it's outside appearance would remain the same, even looking rundown, only the interior completed.

The Nachxa had plans, as usual they were aimed at averting disaster. Something he had done hundreds of times before.

The agent smoothly excused himself to the elderly lady, who nodded politely. He looked back at the Nachxa's granddaughter and nodded.
"Assuming all proper declarations are made and it's in compliance with the laws, it should already be on its way there, sera," he said blandly. "One of our officers attached to an Embassy in Klatchia will contact you should there be any problems, as long as you've recorded a contact number with the shipping company."

In the event, everything checked out, and the goods were shipped as ordered. Fortunately whoever had arranged everything had been prudent and taken into account the time/distance constraints.

The flight itself was entirely uneventful, though damnably long, as flights to the Covenant always were. Arn-Jaf'na offered no opportunities for sightseeing; the great Port City was always in a security crisis about something. The only remarkable thing about the transition from Vårheim was slightly heavier than normal turbulence. Local news channels were silent on developing situation in Klatchia, aside from "sketchy reports of a military exchange on the Vaadian/Karmanyakan border" and the Defence Ministry's terse statement.

At long last, the captain made the usual announcement. "Ladies and Gentlemen, we are nearing the end of our journey, and have begun our descent towards Port Olympus. Local time is 08:00 hours, and conditions are mild. Please return your seat trays and seats to the upright and locked position, fasten seatbelts, and stow your hand luggage."

Everything that had been shipped freight was likely to cause much of a stir as it was home furnishings and decorations, although it remained to be seen how the Authorities in Port Olympus would take it.

The Nachxa and his traveling companions prepared to land stowing loose items, fastening seatbelts and the like as they did The Nachxa gazed out of the window over the city, looking into 'The Shades' and mentally noting where his home was located, although he had never actually been there, but he knew exactly where it was.

Upon landing The Nachxa and his fellows prepared themselves to confront Federation Customs, he had instructed his lawyer as to when they would be arriving and hopefully Miss Carnaf would be waiting, after all due to Port Olympus legal quirks, a landowner in Port Olympus conferred citizenship.

This would be the test.

Port Olympus

Actually the Nachxa was out of luck today, there was a heavy fog laying the the bowl of hills that formed the northern part of the city and the fog seemed especially thick around the base of Parliament Hill where The Shades themselves lay.

Port Olympus's civilian airport was an odd mix of styles, the central terminal appeared to be out of 1001 Arabian nights. A contrast of Morrish stonework and deep red rubbed brick. Even the tower had been gothisized, with the outsweeping windows of the control room actually octagonal and fitted between two layers of heavy stone work.

The West terminal of the airport looked like a Soviet version of above ground bombshelter. A four story block of concrete with a round roof. There were no windows, just the long arms of skybridges conecting to aircraft and metal doors along the tarmac to let in and out service vehicles. Someone had tried to hamonize the long loaf of concrete with the central terminal by painting the gray concrete to match the color of the brick, with fake windows and orniment to hide the fact that the structure had no external windows. They had apparently not painted the roof of the structure, leaving in bare concrete.

The East terminal attempted to express the Morrish architecture of the central terminal in glass and steel. The architect seemed to have followed the current standard of raising quarter circular metal roof and then running two long walls of glass underneath it to create a terminal structure. However, he or she had added stalagties of colorful glass tubing between bays of the glass walls in some attempt to be 'sympathetic'.

The Mackistani aircraft, like most non-klatchian flights was directed to the West terminal. The passengers were greated by the same jarring architecture. The walls and cealing were done in the cost effective, and easy to clean brown glazed tile that gave one the sense of being in the bowls of the State. However someone had made an attempt to make it more plesent by adding soothing light blue carpet and red overstuffed chairs that just asked to be sat in.

Unfortunatly none of the new arrivals could sit in the chairs, or even enjoy the carpeting. They were on the other side of a glass wall that directed them into a 'holding pen'. The holding pen showed its amusement park roots in forcing people to stand in line, zigging and zagging back and forth while only incrementally making their way towards the goal at the far end. The zigs and zags were seperated by the usual tubular metal rails. But these showed a decided lack of hospitality; sharp spikes stuck six inches out of the top rail, preventing anyone from cutting in line or even leaning against the rail, while similar spikes made cutting through the bars equally dangerous. The glass wall and the never ending metal pen of pain were seperated by a wide space. At first glance it appeared as if builders had wanted to keep people from putting their paw prints on the glass, but inspection revealed that the rail at the end of each turn was actually a gate; a gate that could open allowing people to escape the monotony of walking back and forth while inching towards the door labled, Passport Inspection and go to another door right next to it.

Someone had decided to be more hospitable than the creator of the spikes, and had installed a series of monitors along the cealing. The single channel monitors allowed those in line to at least rot their brains while they stood on their feet. The current program appeared to be a vrakian soap opera, or at least that was the only reasonable explination for the bad poses and hammy acting. The program was in native Vrakian, so most people were stuck just watching the pictures.

For those who did understand Vrakian, they couldn't understand the program either. Primarily this was due to the speakers of the monitors being drowned out by the pleasent voice of a young lady over a P.A. system. Her eager voice looped through one lanquage after another, but always the same message:
"Please have your identification papers ready for inspection....Please be advised that your City Security Card is provided at the Security Guild Desk before you have passed through Customs, be advised that the Security Guild does take credit cards, but will steal the numbers at the end of your contract. Cash is therefore advised..."

She was also competing P.A. system with a male voice that dryly stating in Dyellian flavored English: You will need to submit a R-D5 Form 21 unless you are Blue, Canadian, Welsh, or Vrakian, then you will need to sumbit a R-J5 Form 21 use the green copy if you are an odd number in the line and a yellow if you are even, Primes should use the polka-dot colored R-J5 Form 21, You should not submit a R-J5 Form 21 if you are a Blue Canadian, Jewish, Muslim, or your birthday falls on a Thursday, then submit a R-D5 Form 22, If you meet multiple catagories, please supply all appropriate forms and a KZ-N85 which is only available after you have sumbitted a KZ-N85, If today is your birthday, congradulations, you need to fill out all of the forms above, but in Hirogliphics. It should be noted that these forms will not be provided for you, but are conviently available in any fine store in Dyelli Beybi...Dyelli Beybi, the paradise of the Klatch...Visit Today!"

The competing P.A. systems were suddenly interupted by a deep voice that sound as if it came from somewhere below the structure.

"Will the Nachxa's party please raise their hand and proceed to the nearest line jump immediatly..." The monitors changed to one of those little man symbols that illustrate restroom doors raising his hand and teleporting through a gate with a red arrow leading him along.

The fog was no impediment to The Nachxa, do blind men see fog? His party moved along the obstacle course that passed for the line to customs, The Nachxa couldn't help but be amused by the whole system and it's eclectic architecture and decoration. Brown tiles with blue carpet? Obviously from an exceptionally daring, or color blind designer.

His granddaughter continued to chatter in unintelligible Tolteca, but at least now she had her cell phone out, and was presumably talking with someone. The intercom then interrupted their progress , Two of The Nachxa's bodyguards took the lead, The Nachxa and his granddaughter behind them, and the other two behind them. They shifted their carry on bags so that they could keep them on their shoulders while raising their hands to about shoulder level, The Nachxa raised his hands in the manner, his granddaughter raising her one free hand using her other one to keep her phone steady.

They then followed the blinking light , to their fate. Any weapons scan would reveal that they were all unarmed, the only thing that might be considered a weapon was The Nachxa's cane, a simple wooden thing with a steel knob at the end. His bodyguards looked perturbed, his granddaughter looked oblivious and The Nachxa wore his perpetual look of benevolent amusement.

Beyond the Black Door

The group entered what was obviously a separate inspection room for VIP's or such, one wall was mirrored, obviously for others to watch.

In the room were two men, one dressed in a grey suit looked like a granite boulder had rolled in and started to smoke. In his wide mouth he bit down on a cigar that smelled the Cuban's had upgraded to angels thighs from virgins.

The other man was tall and thin and wore a simple blue turtleneck and a pair of grey slacks. His eyes darted from the group of Vaadians to the man in the suit. Then he narrowed his green eyes and appeared to grow a foot taller.

"Now then, which of you is the Nachxa?" his voice rolled in the room it was so deep.

"Cut it out Harry, the gentleman with the cane." He pointed with his cigar at the Nachxa and gave a smile. His voice was not as deep as Harry's and was more gravel than grave.

"Quite..."

"And don't I get to confir with my client?"

"Huh? I thought Carnaff was..."

"Is...but you think somone like my client is going to have one lawyer in this City? Please, I would like to confir with my clients if you don't mind."

"I say that his is some set up..."

"What, you know the Nachxa owns property in the City so..."

The tall man turned and looked at the Nachxa..."Sir, why are you not returning on an Klatchian Passport?"

"Because he has an Olympian Passport...only I have it with me." The man held up what appeared to be just a small white folder.

"Well???" The tall man ignored the gray suited gentleman and focused his attention on the Naxcha.

The mirror, no matter what it's purpose acts as a magnet for Tacha, The Nachxa's granddaughter, who proceeds to re-apply her makeup, check her hair, which is pulled into several tight braided rosettes on her head, and perhaps uncomfortably for any men watching on the reverse side, adjust her garters and bustier........

As the tall man strikes an intimidating pose, The Nachax carefully obliges, suddenly becoming smaller, older looking and frail of voice, leaning heavily on his cane.

"I am sorry sir, but I will have to defer to my lawyer. I had to leave Port Olympus quickly when last I was here, after all my assistant was nearly killed by a missile........." He pauses wiping at his wrinkled brow " I also was required to attend the Funeral of King Vrak I and of course stay on to attend the coronation of the new King, I simply did not have time to collect the necessary documents, which I left in the hands of my legal representatives."

His granddaughter having finished adjusting herself looks at the tall man in the mirror "Honestly, when did it become legal to harass a poor old man? My Grandfather has just had a twenty three hour flight? Can't this wait?"

While her voice clearly said those words the tall man got the distinct impression that her perfect lips mouthed the words ' I want you' several times as she talked.........................

Whomever the lawyer was he could see that he immediately had two very sympathetic clients, a blind old man, and a lovely, photogenic young lady.

The Offical seemed to blink a few times at the girl and then stared at the Nachxa for a few moments.

"Wait, you were invited to the funeral of the President?"

"That's right Harry you're detaining someone with influence in Vrak, now the Tzarina might be in power now but do you think the Vrakians are going to be frozen out forever." The man in the white suit pointed at the other with his cigar.

The offical stared at the other man for a moment, and looked down at the desk. He then looked up and shrugged. "Point conceeded, the Dyellians are as stable as a sand dune in their god forsaken deserts."

"I take it that the obersation room is empty?"

"But the rest of them are not citizens of Port Olympus..."

"Yes...they have Tolteca passports..."

"Huh? I've never heard of Tolteca?..." The offical pulled a small keyboard from the desk and typed the name in. As the offical was sounding out the name of Tolteca, the attorney moved over to the mirrored wall to adjust his bow tie. As he straited the errant silk, he quietly stated to her "Cut the lip crap kiddo." He looked over at the computer build into the desk giving her a pointed look.

"Wait...Tolteca isn't listed here...."

"So...with the international scene so much in flux, and the Dyellians running things I would be surprised if the United Duchies is listed, or Mackistikan." The attorney stepped away from the mirror and stood next to the offical, holding out the white passport.

"Actually do they have Mackistikani visas? If they do then I can just stamp the others a standard sixty day visa." The offical held out his hand to take their passports and check them.

The Nachxa nods at the point about the President's Funeral "Yes, I was invited, it was a sad event too, and not just because of King Vrak's passing but because of Speaker Lewellyn and Abitha's superb hospitality, I was staying at his house until mine was completed."

The Nachxa could name drop all day. Tacha smiles innocently at the lawyer as he warns her about her tricks and bows her head and is silent.

The Nachxa then motions to the passports of his men, as they have them out and ready. "Yes, we all have Mackistikani visas. They are also all related to me."

They all step fprward, offering their passports if he chooses to inspect them.

The offical took the passports and inspected each of them in turn, as he did so he shook his head and stared at the faces.

"These things are old, and quite useless really...Tolteca needs to learn to have people update their Passports occassionally...."

He then looked at the visa stamp, "proconsulary entry stamp South GodSea what the hell?"

He looked up at the Nachxa with his eyes as slits. "Your Kosher at the moment sir, but the rest of this merry band smells like Cyro's slums in the summer. Especially your grandaughter, because the documentation is older than she appears to be. You want to explain this?" His last comment was to the attorney in white.

"Obvioiusly Tolteca doesn't quite meet our expectation of documentation for their citizens." Was his carefully worded reply.

"Or anyone elses for that matter, I am surprised the Macki let them through with this..." He waved the documents searching for a word. "outdated paperwork that I should use to pick up my dog's feces." He paused waiting for a reply.

"Well are they legal?" He stated it with a knowing look in his eyes.

"At first inspection...yes, but there is enough red flags here to equip the entire Dyellian Navy so...." the offical stopped and began to play around with the computer screen again.

"So?" the lawyer stated evenly.

"Fifteen day visa for the lot of them...you'll have ten days to apply for a new visa directly from the Foreign Office or similar of any Klatchian State...excluding you sir," He looked at the Nachxa "All I have to say to you is Welcome Home, Sir."

After stamping the temporary visas, and making images of the Tolteca passports the Nachxa's party found itself in a wide hall, this time the walls were of plasterboard covered with various posters advertising sights in the Klatch.

The attorney turned, "Sorry we haven't been introduced properly, sir. My name is Keith Blackwater. I happen to be the fellow who does your Olympian tax returns and filings." He held out his meaty hand, shook the Nachxa and then turned to lead them down the hall.

"Sorry Carnaff isn't here, but there was some trouble at your place last night and she called me up early this morning to meet you. And no I don't quite understand the particulars but somehow your kitchen was found full of steam while you were midflight."

He looked back for a second and also stated, "You'll find that cell phones get a good deal of interference in here so I wouldn't use them." His eyes relayed that that was a variation on the truth around here.

Other visitors were going the same way down the hall, some were attempting to talk on their phones but kept on looking at them and shaking their heads. One mumbled, "Full bars but that feedback..."

Keith stopped at an unlabled doorway, "Alright we are about to finalize your city security cards and the Nachxa's long term security contract. Do exactly as I tell you, these people are one part con-artist, one part beuracrat, and one part rules lawyering capitalists. And the boys and girls at the counters make the ones in the long term office look like helpful, kindly saints."

The Nachxa and his companions were silent as the customs agent looked over their passports and fumed, at the part about Tacha's age she helpfully chimed in "Sir Ozymandius Llewellyn hardly looks his age either."

She honestly couldn't help but point to precedent as far as that goes.

They followed Mr. Blackwater out into the halls and The Nachxa smiled and accepted his handshake "Very pleased to meet you Mr. Blackwater, I do thank you for your help."

As they walked the years seemed to melt away from The Nachxa, who tucked his cane under his arm and straightened his bent posture, moving briskly and purposefully.

He smiles at Mr. Blackwell as he explains the security contract "Perhaps my not doing this previously led to the lax security that led to the missile attack on my house? I will be as polite as possible. You can trust that."

OOC: Not through customs yet, just passport control...

Keith shook his head, "When you were here last you were a foreign diplomat, which automaticly placed you under the Diplomatic Security Agreement as well as your staff. Now that your just a wealthy citizen of Port Olympus, you have to pay. That and the for hire scum that did that work was local unregistered wet workers. The security contract doesn't apply to them...nor any criminals in the Shades really."

The room looked like a surburban bank with a row of barred openings along one wall. In the center of the room was a long black table with pens and small openings below the top holding various forms. On the far side of the wall was a window out into a much larger room. People were forming lines to talk to young women in blue sports coats. One visitor, was standing looking at the window and applying some lipgloss. She couldn't see the party on the otherside.

At one of the teller windows was a young man in a blue suit apparently flirting with the young lady on the other side.
"Helgum?" Blackwater stated with quiet patience.
"Ah yes sir, Mr. Blackwater Sir..." Helgum stood strait and walked over placing a metal breifcase on the table. He pulled out five stacks of forms and placed them on the table.

"Alright, for those of you not owning property you need to read through the boiler plate on the top form, but inital and sign that form upside down. Blackwater waved, "Some god old rule created by a former Guild Head who was trying to legalize a massive bullion robbery, they keep it around to catch people up."
He continued taking a second form from one of the stacks. "Sign the second form here which is a triplicate copy normally. This last page in the stack is a receipt." He returned the two forms to the bottom of the pile.

"When you have signed the documents take them over to the clerk behind the desk. You are all getting a standard A-1 pass, with only the security weapon option, no specials, you are getting a Multicard Titanium from the Thunderbay Federal. I repeat a Thunderbay Federal Titanium, if they say they don't have one, show them the receipt because yours were delivered to the safe here last night. After that she should tell you to go to the far window to have your picture taken, retna scanned and fingerprints encoded. Do not get up until they hand you your new Multicard Titanium, it is grey, thicker than a normal creditcard, will have your picture on it, and will be made of etched titanium so it will be heavier than normal."

The girl behind the counter suddenly spoke up, "Damn it, I thought I was going to have some fun this morning, now you've told them everything!" She was obviously pouting.

Blackwater turned and looked at her, "You joined your Guild, you have to live with what life gives you."

He turned to the Nachxa. "As you you sir, we need to meet the day manager."

Keith led the Nachxa to a door and knocked on it. Enter.. could be heard in response. Blackwater opened the door to reveal an office with a single man behind it. He stood and nodded, "Ah Mr. Blackwater, I assume this is your client then?"

Blackwater nodded, "May I present the Nachxa of Tolteca, Sir this is Davis Ap Dewin the Day Manager of this office."

"Please be seated" He pointed to the two overstuffed chairs. "Now then sir, I understand that your residence is in a Shades Relocation Zone? You understand the inherant risk with that situation?"

The Nachxa's party read and signed the documents as indicated, Tacha even signed her signature upside down in the correct position without flipping the paper, she smiled sweetly as the process progressed and chatted with her Grandfather's 'bodyguards' in Tolteca, although they barely grunted in response, although her voice was pleasant enough and it like having a bright cheery songbird in a dreary office. Perhaps a welcome relief, or a minor irritant, depending on how one looked at it. She and her Grandfather's bodyguards dutifully and politely did everything that was asked of them.

The Nachxa follows Mr. Blackwater into the day manager's office. He bows politely to the manager before being seated. He smiles at the manager's question.

"First let me thank you for meeting me, and yes, I am aware that The Shades is a veritable den of thievery, murder and crime. There are risks everywhere, yet sometimes they can be mitigated."

He puses and looks positively regretful "The Shades and it's condition, is regrettable really, murderers are so near to being honorable assassins and thieves if only they had honor and the motivation to improve their surroundings."

An odd thing to say perhaps.

"I would of appreciate any advice you have on securing my home and family, Mr. Ap Dewin? "

The Nachxa's first comment caused Blackwater to give him a decidedly odd look. He wasn't sure what his client was playing at. Of course if he was trying to push some buttons, his targeting guidelines, like his grandaughter's, needed refinement for Olympian culture.

If the day manger got any clue with the first comment, which was unlikely, he
just blinked at the last comment of the Nachxa. Crime mitigation and prevention was so foreign to him that it was like asking a fish how to stop a flood. The fish didn't see anything bad about the flood, only about the receeding of the waters. And so the day manager just went into his pre-programmed response, which was to 'rob' the elderly man of as much money as possible by selling him unneeded goods.

"Well we have a wonderful special on..."

"No..." Blackwater stated it like someone disiplining an errant puppy.

"But he asked..." Ap Dewin sounded as though Blackwater had just overstepped some bounds.

"If you haven't figured it out, my client is toying with you. I would prefer to get to Customs before the end of the day, Sir." Keith stated this dryly to the Nachxa as though he was being errant.

"Oh...quite...Well then, I should say...hire people who have no problems shooting other people for money. When you catch a robber, if they don't have the proper paperwork, scrag them over your front door. It worked for Black Bill, it should work for you."

He pulled out a document and placed it before the Naxcha. "Now then your security fee is 3,600 Kr per month for yourself, 2,200 Krondor per month for each of your staff and 30,000 Krondor per month for your home."

"Armed guard discount..." Blackwell stated dryly.

"What service, is it registered?"

"Utical and we have a joint contract with Quincy at the moment. Which is level five"

"Ah...seems I left that page in my desk drawer accidently..." So only...5,000 Krondor per month."

"The Bank Discount..."

"Oh, yes they all have a Titanium don't they? Sorry that would be a 3,200 Krondor for you...1,900 Krondor Per month..."

"And we have already paid Thunderbay the three thousand krondor per card issue fee, rather than your six thousand on-site fee..."

"Ah...Quite..." Please inital here, here, here, here, here...and sign here."

"Upside down, Sir" Blackwater added.

****
After trying to sell the first person in line a Premium Delux Credit Card Security Package The blond behind the counter decided that these people listened to their blasted attorney.

The blond processed the paperwork and began to take photo's and the proper scans. The cards were apparently finished in a black object that looked like a safe. For each person the clerk had to insert the pre-numbered card, type in a key sequence and wait as the sound of metal being milled filled the air.

The card that came out had a color photo, the persons signiture and a magnetic strip etched into the metal. Trying to change any of them would involve remilling the metal card. A holographic disk showing a lighthouse had been bonded into the face of the metal right in the middle of the raised 10 digit number sequence.

As the clerk waited for Tacha's card to pop out she stated "You know, these multicards are the most expensive security cards I've ever heard of, the buggers cost two grand apeice. Of course their secure, you can't alter the signiture because milling out the back would damage the decoding chip, trying to wipe off the front numbers will destroy the hologram. And trying to mill fakes means having someone who can mill titanium, which means they can join the Engineers and Miners Guild..." The blond shrugged as if being a member of that group automatically made one not likely to be milling fake cards.

The Nachxa simply chuckles as Mr. Blackwater herds Mr. Ap Dewin in the right direction and corrected him. He found the whole process very fascinating. He simply smiles at Mr. Blackwater

"Oh, I have all day, I don't mind the inconvenience of the process so long as I learn more about my neighbors in Port Olympus."

He smiles and signs as Mr. Blackwater directs, his signature is rather large, and in Tolteca pictographs, but he draws them quickly and proficiently. He signs the last one with a flourish.

"There we are, all done. Is there any thing else we need to take care of?" He looks to Mr. Blackwater and not Mr. Ap Dewin as he asks.

*****

Tacha looked over the card as the lady explained it's intricacies and shrugs looking puzzled.

"Why on earth would I want to counterfeit it? I'm not even sure what's it for, our lawyer just says we need them."

She smiles brilliantly at the young lady "Anyway, thank you very much for your help."

Main Office
Helgum had been leaning against a convenient wall when Tacha made the comment.

"Julie here is in pout mode, call it professional jealousy if you like. That card represents another step in a path her Guild has been on for the few past hundred years." Helgum stated as he walked over to Tacha.

"The problem is that Julie seems to be more in the old mold than the new. Of course she could follow that career path. But I think Julie here is a bit too prissy to live in The Shades." He paused looking down at the card. "You have to worry about other people stealing your security card for identity theft in The Shades. Any thief will likely just toss one of these back at you and declare you to be of suspect parentage."

********
Blackwater nodded, "We just need to get your security card and we can go to Customs."

The day manager tried to smile and give out a "Good Day" but he seem fairly defeated by Blackwater.

The Nachxa went through the same identity card creation process as the rest of his group. As the Nachxa sat and waited for the machine to finish etching his card Blackwater noted to everyone about the card.

"Helgum go round up the car while we go try these out in Customs." Blackwater stated dryly. "Everyone have their card, then follow me."

Blackwater seemed to be following Helgum, to a set of escalators going down a level. At the bottom was another room, done again in brown tile and blue carpet. Along one wall was a long counter labeled Baggage Claim Helgum turned and vanished into a door labeled Local/ No Goods
Blackwater turned to go through a rotating glass door with an I.D. scanner located next to it. He stopped and indicated to the first person behind him to swipe their I.D. card, press a blue button with their thumb and continue through the door.

The room beyond was well appointed people sat in overstuffed chairs either sleeping, watching one of four televisions, reading, or talking to their fellow travelers. Along the top of the wall was an electric ticker reading off names souch as Barclay, Edward...Barclay, Jenny...Barclay, Rover...Nemos, Peter

Blackwell followed the last Vaadian and pointed to a set of small electronic kiosks on pedestals along one wall. "Go over to the kiosks, swipe your card and it will ask for your baggage claim number, just scan the bar code the airline provided or type in the claim number and when your baggage is ready for inspection, your name will appear on the ticker."

Blackwell paused for a second, "The system is quite simple. I am going into the Customs bar while you get yourselves sorted, and enjoy my cigar and a drink, join me when your done getting in the electronic queue."

Blackwell went through a door that led into a dark wood paneled room. He stopped in the doorway to keep an eye on the rest of the Nachxa's party. Making sure none of them had any problems with their cards before going in to sit down at a rather large table.

The Shades
"Oh look who is back in town..."

Tacha smiles at Helgum "Oh, I don't think I will worry about anyone stealing it. I'm sure that in time that the Shades will be as safe as a nursery."

The whole group then did as Blackwater instructed, swiping their cards, and then collecting their luggage, although The Nachxa joined Mr. Blackwell directly as he did not have any luggage, not even a carry on, just his cane and wallet.

"Is it alright if I buy you a drink Mr. Blackwell, you have been most helpful, and knowledgeable, are all tax preparers this well versed?"

The rest join in when they have finally collected everything and are prepared to leave.

(Blackwater)

Blackwater walks over to a large table and lets the Nachxa sit down before he does. The place is in the style of a bar with dark wood paneling, along one wall is a bar. A second wall has several bay windows with small two person window seats. The place is moderatly full so it takes a moment for the waitress to come.

"Well tax law can be tricky when dealing with the various State laws. So usually anyone with any real money in multiple states has a massive law firm do their taxes. One with equal parts accountants and lawyers. However, your situtation is quite rare, all of your assets are either Olympian or foreign."

Blackwater paused for a second, "Carnaf got me on board because I like a challenge. That and she wanted someone who didn't have to deal with firm politics as well as international diplomacy. So Carnaf called me."

He paused for a second and ordered a whiskey and soda. "And lets be honest, this city is complete chaos really, you have to know the rules to get along here. That or be a Key so that if you step wrong no one is going to take advantage and have a Klatchian Marshal on their doorstep the next morning."

The Nachxa listens intently and orders only water.

"Yes, when I was here previously I was told constantly of the chaos in Port Olympus and the murderous gangs in the Shades. Although when I was here last the Klatchian Marshals weren't mentioned quite as often as the Assassin's Guild, from what I've been lead to believe the Assassin's Guild used to be the only security in the city?"

He pauses and looks a bit thoughtful "With the new anti-Vaadian laws enacted, what are the chances the Marshal's will come and attempt to arrest me or my family members? Surely someone in the Federation must know what the Tolteca Empire is, and isn't. We must arrange for my granddaughter to purchase a home somewhere in Port Olympus."

He smiles to the waitress as the drinks arrive " I think we can expect a multitude of problems, I expect I'm not the most popular man in the city."

Blackwater nodded, "The Marshal's are the Assassin's Guild or what is left of it after the Landgravine got done with them."

The waitress placed their drinks down and scurried off to the next table. "And they still do have the same weight, really the city is controlled by all the Guilds to varying degree's. The two most powerful were the Assasin's and the Engineer and Mining Guild."

Blackwater paused for a second, "But the Assasins took on the Federation Consuls and lost, so they got co-opted by Federation Government."

He paused for a second, "Realize that the Assassin Guild was full of well educated men and women trained to exert authority, be politically devious, and effectively carry out orders of higher authority. They were perfect for a variety of duties that the Privy Council needed to delegate so they learned to follow a new mistress."

He paused for a second, "As for the current situation, the Marshals seem to be treading water. The current Consuls are at best absentee, the President is a Dyellian who is prejudiced against them, so unless you go running over a Key on the way to the store. I doubt you'll see much of them."

He sipped his drink again. "No, the people who will be ordered to arrest you is the City Watch. And most of them are as thrilled to enforce these idiotic Anti-Vaadian laws as they are to be castrated by using acid from a spray bottle."

The attorney leaned forward, "As for your popularity in the City, well someone decided to get some in-depth articles on you in the Times. People around here may not love you, but I doubt anyone sees you as a some nobby foreign prince either. Your the City's foreign prince."

The Nachxa seems genuinely amused and chuckles heartily. "Prince of Port Olympus, I'm not sure but I think I may be insulted?"

He sips at his water "What about my neighbors. Utical and whatever temple that was that my man shot up after the missile attack? I think the best place to start is to make sure that I get on well with those directly around me."

He continues apparently musing out loud "I should get a quote from Quincy mining on restoring the temple to whatever it looked like when it was first built, and the area's infrastructure, the roads were ghastly."

He looks over to Mr. Blackwater "Could I get a permit for redoing roads, sewers, etc.? It doesn't appear the local authorities want to be involved in building anything in The Shades."

He pauses and looks around again "How much longer do you think they will take? I do want to see what's going on with my kitchen. Steam, it must have been the cappuccino machine. It's so useful for making chocolatl."

Blackwater leaned back in his chair. "All of that is Carnaf's bailywick. Although I know Carnaf has played nice with Utical on your behalf. I don't know anything about that Temple, not exactly my part of the City."

He paused for a second, "As for taking on improvement projects using your own money...The current Patriarch might just decide to let you do it or quietly have you enjoy some of the cruder facilities in his Palace for awhile."

****
After entering their information, the Nachxa's party had a twenty to thirty minute wait before their name was going to be called since they were in the back of the 'line'. Although they could wander about in the secure lounge while they waited or join the two men in the Bar.

The Nachxa smiled "I will have to remember to take it up with Miss Carnaf then."

He mentioned nothing else. The rest of the party would join them and wait, and like most Tolteca if the drink wasn't pulque, they would only have water. The Nachxa's bodyguards had a habit of just sitting and staring, while his granddaughter continued her conversation in Tolteca, to no one in particular.

They all relaxed and waited for their names to be called, if the person calling them could pronounce them.

The bar's name was Barnie's Olympia South, and if one perused the menu of choice in beverages it was quite eclectic it included curado but apparently not pulque. Of course one would wonder how a bar could offer curado without having pulque, or even how they came by either.

Blue Agave, in any form other than pulque, was considered poor form by the Tolteca. The Nachxa's party all have water and await their turn at customs.

The Nachxa relaxed quietly, reflecting on his plans for Port Olympus, smiling benignly "Mr. Blackwater, do you think we'll be in The Shades in time for dinner?"

Immigration to Investigate Azal'Atar
Reported in the Maciska Herald, part of the Covenant Print Media Group, and available in all Embassy Partner Nations

The Secretariat of State for Immigration, Tourism, and Citizenship in Arn-Maciska has announced that it has begun a formal Departmental Inquiry into alleged irregularities in the conduct of border control in the Metropolitan County of Azal'Atar. An SITC spokeswoman has stated that the investigation will cover allegations of mismanagement, and incompetence. This includes, she told this paper, investigations into so-called "vague visa" approvals.
The Ministry of External Affairs has issued a temporary control order, placing the County's Department of Border Transit under the purview of the Secretariat.
The Metropolitan Electoral College has protested publicly, claiming a breach of Nation's Rights; the Imperial Free Cities are traditionally permitted to exercise some control over this area of External Affairs, even though the External Affairs portfolios are reserved for the United Imperial Kingdoms. The County authorities have also categorically denied the allegations of misconduct, blaming the "so-called irregularities" on outdated systems software and restrictions imposed by Arn-Maciska.
SITC has yet to respond to the statements, and has already assumed control of Azali border controls and customs installations.

"You will be in the Shades in time for lunch, Sir..."

The Naxcha's party was finally called to customs one by one. As each stepped through the door they were asked to place their carry on bags on a conveyor, and if the checked luggage was "All luggage checked and stowed upon the aircraft?"

The conveyor then carried the bags through a rather long electronic screener before stopping further down. The machine scanned for metallic, magnetic, and various densities to try and find various illicit goods.
After being scanned and viewed electronically, the bags moved on to hand searching. The bags and inspector were behind a transparent wall of some material with small holes to allow the custom's inspector to talk to the 'client'.

The bags were opened and hand searched, the inspector referring back to the various scans to investigate and find 'questionable' objects. If the Naxcha's party had tried to import anything banned within Port Olympus, it was unlikely not to be found.

After waiting a few moments, Blackwater stood and walked over to the bar to pay the tab. He indicated a moment later that the Naxcha should follow him. At the far end was a door labeled "NO Luggage" in small gold print. The two men walked through the door and along a set of scanners that treated them to the same scans as the luggage itself.

A moment later they were on the otherside and waiting for the first of the Naxcha's party with luggage to pass through customs. Other people were popping out of one of the four glass doors and grabbing their luggage as it appeared on the conveyor next to them. Some people pointed at them, while rather efficent porters ran over and picked up the bags to haul them off.

They were carrying nothing than a spare change of clothes, and toiletries, they had been careful to not pack anything banned, everything else they needed was being shipped freight from the UIK.

The Nachxa follows Mr. Blackwater out to the luggage pick up area and awaits his party.

"Ah, by lunch you say. Come to think of it, I am getting hungry. I do hope Port Olympus has good, fresh seafood markets? My granddaughter makes an excellent seafood bisque. A bit spicy for most I suppose but very delicious, of course the freshness of the seafood is key."

He nods as the rest of his party comes through "I suppose that's everything, nothing else to take care of? I'd hate to leave out some bureaucrat that is eagerly awaiting his chance to have his forms signed and stamped."

Blackwater nodded, "You can get Vrakian and Alconian seafood fairly fresh as well as the edible freshwater fish and mussels of the Lake. But you have to know where to shop."

The attorney turned and led the group out through glass doors back into the west terminal. "Ah well the Alki's got hold of the local customs service and did as much streamlining as they could. Before they got hold of things, it usually took two two five days for foreigners to get through the system."

The Nachxa chuckles "Two to five days? You don't expect many tourists than do you? How can a capital city be that unfriendly to foreigners? The estimated five hours of customs in Great Lassic seemed harsh, but now........" he shrugs " I don't know."

Blackwater chuckled himself as they approached a series of doors. "Most people just took the train to Vrak Prime or the fast ferry to AWM. The Vrakians had originally clamped down on air traffic directly into the city because we were so far on the other side of the Nef for security. Hell the airport was home to mostly outdated bombers intended to level the city if we tried to throw the Walrus King out on his backside."

Blackwater led them through the doors and into the central terminal. It was a massive room decorated in an islamic style with stalagtites of tile emerging from the vast blue multi-cell vaulted cealing above. The walls were lined in a dark red tile to about sixteen feet. However things were a bit odd since there were fresco's of various scenes lining the wall from the top of the wainscotting to the ends of the vaults. The paintings were somewhat stylized of giant walruses in funny hats directing handsom men and attractive women to various tasks in agriculture, industry, and medicine.

Blackwater really didn't notice the space, he just continued to talk"...And then they actually got around to having a Federal Government that was more than just the King of Vrak spouting occassional nonsense or the State's holding a confrence. Then Boom, we are a national captial. With the Landgravine constantly talking about 'draining the swamp at the end of the lake'.

"Despite all this internal hostility, The Federation wonders why it has such trouble dealing with outsiders?" The Nachxa laughs as he says it, he obviously enjoys the irony quite a bit.

"Well, I suppose it is time we were getting home then, although it won't really feel like home until my furnishings arrive."

Blackwater turned and walked towards a wide opening. As he did so he pulled out a cell phone and made a phone call. "We should be at the main gate in three minutes...good." He hung up with a click.

"We are a Xenophobic people, even the Alki's are. Your idea of ignoring the Klatch was a great idea, too bad you were neck deep in Dyellian sand at that time." Blackwater shook his head.

The Nachxa smiles again "If you put your hand in the hyena's den, you have to expect to be bitten. It was not my idea to ignore The Federation, I would have been content to stay here to negotiate a peaceful accord."

He shrugs "Ah well, but it was not to be. Different approaches are called for now, a more Klatchian approach if I dare say. We shall see what will be."