NationStates Jolt Archive

OOC: I'm very sorry, but I see we don't live in the same time zones

IC: Minister Lansky listened to both suggestions, then said, "I think that is a good idea. I shall see what I can do. I do know that I can open the commercial lanes for your C-130." He proceded to dial a few more numbers, before saying, "Your subs can dock here, but they must be discreet. As for Minister Smithfield's idea, the SUVs and the prisoner transport vehicle are heading for the barracks, to pick the marine up. We always have spare prisoner uniforms in the vehicles, so its not a problem. shackles, handcuffs are all in there. Just tell the marine and I do hope he doesn't mind... I am also very worried about the airship. Do you require an E-3 to help?"

"There's already 2 E-2 Hawkeye aircraft in the air, but a third set of eyes can't hurt. And I shall call for the subs, so they can head in. Minister Laurence, can I use your satellite phone? Mine was a little static prone when I was in contact with Naval Command last time". Minister Laurence handed Minister Smithfield his satellite phone, and called Naval Command, telling them to send some Quiznos, because they were fiending for some, and there weren't any franchises in Rastier.

Naval Command then contacted the battlegroup's submerged subs via the VLF radio, and ordered them to proceed to Rastier with all possible stealth, for potential covert prisoner transport.

Heinrich laid down on the bunk and closed his eyes, relaxing for the first time since he had been captured. The AHC was still alive. Badly wounded, yes, but still alive and out for revenge. Soon I will be out of this rat-hole, he thought. Soon I will reunite with my brothers and continue the fight.
He umbled a prayer to God and fell asleep.

In the morning, the guard woke Heinrich up, and informed him that his arraignment was today. Once Heinrich was up, another guard came over, and Heinrich was ordered to place his hands in the slot, so that he could be handcuffed. Once he was handcuffed, the guards opened the cell door and placed the rest of his restraints on, including leg cuffs. Then they brought him to a waiting van, which brought them to the courthouse. They brought him into a secure room to wait for his public defender, and from there, they would enter the court room.

"We've got a VLF frequency coming off the masts towards ASoGM. The encryption code is the one they use in the ASoGM navy.
"Shit! What do you reckon they want?"
"I'm recording now, but the receiver isn't designed for these sort of frequencies. I'm going to see what I can get out of the higher wavelengths, but don't ask for any miracles."
"Well, we know they were roused by the airship, but why go to the length of calling in subs to attack it?"
"Covert transport of the prisoner?"
"You've got it! They are obviously scared about flying an aircaft through that bit of airspace with the airship in it, silly buggers, so are likely to send a sub."
"I'll radio Klanhi, and see what he has up his sleeve."
"But of course... you are one sneaky bugger!"

In the morning, the guard woke Heinrich up, and informed him that his arraignment was today. Once Heinrich was up, another guard came over, and Heinrich was ordered to place his hands in the slot, so that he could be handcuffed. Once he was handcuffed, the guards opened the cell door and placed the rest of his restraints on, including leg cuffs. Then they brought him to a waiting van, which brought them to the courthouse. They brought him into a secure room to wait for his public defender, and from there, they would enter the court room.

The lawyer walked in yawning, totally ignoring the guards. He smiled at the prisoner. "Didn't want you to escape, mr Müller? Don't worry, at the end of this day you'll be a free man". He looked around. "Got any coffee around here?"

The lawyer walked in yawning, totally ignoring the guards. He smiled at the prisoner. "Didn't want you to escape, mr Müller? Don't worry, at the end of this day you'll be a free man". He looked around. "Got any coffee around here?"

One of the guards responded with, "Sorry, we don't. The court room will have carafes of water though". After looking at his watch, he said, "It's time to head in". He and the other guard led the public defender and Heinrich to the court room, where they instructed the pair which table to sit at. Soon, the judge was ready to come in, and the bailiff said, "All rise! Presiding today is the Honorable Judge Eric Janfrey. All people having business with this court, step forward and you will be heard". The judge entered, sat down, and looked at the morning's docket. He said, "First is the arraignment of Mr. Heinrich Müller. Let's hear the charges. The court clerk stood up and said, "The charges against the defendant, Heinrich Müller are as follows: Murder, Accessory to Murder, Destruction of Government property, Assault with a deadly weapon, Piracy, and Conspiracy to commit a criminal act". The judge turned to the public defender and asked, "Councilor, how does your client plead?".

"We've got a VLF frequency coming off the masts towards ASoGM. The encryption code is the one they use in the ASoGM navy.
"Shit! What do you reckon they want?"
"I'm recording now, but the receiver isn't designed for these sort of frequencies. I'm going to see what I can get out of the higher wavelengths, but don't ask for any miracles."
"Well, we know they were roused by the airship, but why go to the length of calling in subs to attack it?"
"Covert transport of the prisoner?"
"You've got it! They are obviously scared about flying an aircaft through that bit of airspace with the airship in it, silly buggers, so are likely to send a sub."
"I'll radio Klanhi, and see what he has up his sleeve."
"But of course... you are one sneaky bugger!"

The subs silently and stealthily moved closer to Rastier, and would be there shortly. One sub would enter the dock area, while the others waited nearby in preparation to screen the sub carrying Ghethson.

OOC: Rastier, we should proceed to the next day soon, so that we can move the RP along.

The subs silently and stealthily moved closer to Rastier, and would be there shortly. One sub would enter the dock area, while the others waited nearby in preparation to screen the sub carrying Ghethson.

OOC: Rastier, we should proceed to the next day soon, so that we can move the RP along.

While the ministers were in bed, ASoGM marines reported to the prison. One in particular was still at the barracks, changing into prison gear. His gear was being loaded into one of the SUVs. The rest were briefed by the commander of the police SWAT team, and the other policemen and SWAT team members were also there. The army also had a part. They arrived in HMMWVs and 5 Challenger 2 tanks. They entered the prison and got prepared. They were supposed to guard the prison until a threat emerged, in which they would rush out of the prison and attack whatever it might be. The marines, policemen and SWAT members then started doing a sweep of the area, when all the soldiers and tanks were in the prison. Meanwhile, an E-3 lifted off from the airbase, and made its way to the battlegroup. The convoy of armoured SUVs and the lone prisoner transport vehicle then left the barracks, with the "prisoner" in the vehicle. In the SUVs were more marines and SWAT members, protecting the convoy. It was led by a police car and 3 police motorbikes, and followed by 2 police cars.

"Right... they're off! Remember, we want to try and break up the convoy so that we don't have problems with the vehicles."

The men in the back loaded two missile launchers, facing towards the back door, while others loaded their rifles with high-powered AP rounds. In total, there were 8 of them. Rather cramped, but a nice-sized team able to easily deal with things. And they had a diversion in the works as well.

As the first landrover set off, a street cleaner rolled a small package from the back into the road: it looked like a rubbish bag, except for the very obvious wires protruding from the sides. Definately enough to stop the convoy. He dropped the real one near to the prison, in the middle of the road.

The landrover glided at the speed limit towards the route that the people would be taking: they had time. The real one was controlled by the co-driver, holding a large remote control unit in his hands, aerial sticking from the window. When that blew, taking out a nice chunk of the convoy, chaos would ensue. And in that ensuing chaos, they would completely stop when they saw the next package, making the whole lot an ideal target.

One of the guards responded with, "Sorry, we don't. The court room will have carafes of water though". After looking at his watch, he said, "It's time to head in". He and the other guard led the public defender and Heinrich to the court room, where they instructed the pair which table to sit at. Soon, the judge was ready to come in, and the bailiff said, "All rise! Presiding today is the Honorable Judge Eric Janfrey. All people having business with this court, step forward and you will be heard". The judge entered, sat down, and looked at the morning's docket. He said, "First is the arraignment of Mr. Heinrich Müller. Let's hear the charges. The court clerk stood up and said, "The charges against the defendant, Heinrich Müller are as follows: Murder, Accessory to Murder, Destruction of Government property, Assault with a deadly weapon, Piracy, and Conspiracy to commit a criminal act". The judge turned to the public defender and asked, "Councilor, how does your client plead?".

The lawyer stood up. "He pleads innocent, Your Honour. He is not guilty of the crimes he has been accused of. This man is a witness, not a criminal".

While the ministers were in bed, ASoGM marines reported to the prison. One in particular was still at the barracks, changing into prison gear. His gear was being loaded into one of the SUVs. The rest were briefed by the commander of the police SWAT team, and the other policemen and SWAT team members were also there. The army also had a part. They arrived in HMMWVs and 5 Challenger 2 tanks. They entered the prison and got prepared. They were supposed to guard the prison until a threat emerged, in which they would rush out of the prison and attack whatever it might be. The marines, policemen and SWAT members then started doing a sweep of the area, when all the soldiers and tanks were in the prison. Meanwhile, an E-3 lifted off from the airbase, and made its way to the battlegroup. The convoy of armoured SUVs and the lone prisoner transport vehicle then left the barracks, with the "prisoner" in the vehicle. In the SUVs were more marines and SWAT members, protecting the convoy. It was led by a police car and 3 police motorbikes, and followed by 2 police cars.

OOC: Some marines will be staying behind and will go with Ghethson on the helos. And is the armored convoy getting gunship support, like the helo is?

The lawyer stood up. "He pleads innocent, Your Honour. He is not guilty of the crimes he has been accused of. This man is a witness, not a criminal".

The judge said, "Let the record show that the defendant entered a plea of not guilty. Due to the seriousness of the case, the trial will be set to begin one week from today. As Mr. Müller is a foreign national, bail is denied. The defendant will be remanded to custody immediately. The defense council may accompany his client back to the stockade if he wishes, to begin work on their defense. I will remind both attorneys that the rules of full disclosure will be strictly adhered to, as they always are".

OOC: Some marines will be staying behind and will go with Ghethson on the helos. And is the armored convoy getting gunship support, like the helo is?

OOC: Yes, of course. By the way, the vehicles will be fitted with remote control gear in the prison. That way, no one gets hurt. The attack helicopters will just be there to eliminate any threat to the real transport. Everyone in the vehicles are dummies, to fool the AUH. Unless, however, the AUH is attacking it on the way... Anyway, the attack helicopters are already there.

The judge said, "Let the record show that the defendant entered a plea of not guilty. Due to the seriousness of the case, the trial will be set to begin one week from today. As Mr. Müller is a foreign national, bail is denied. The defendant will be remanded to custody immediately. The defense council may accompany his client back to the stockade if he wishes, to begin work on their defense. I will remind both attorneys that the rules of full disclosure will be strictly adhered to, as they always are".

"Thank you, Your Honour". The attorney turned to his client. "Don't worry", he whispered. "Be patient. You will soon be free".

OOC: Yes, of course. By the way, the vehicles will be fitted with remote control gear in the prison. That way, no one gets hurt. The attack helicopters will just be there to eliminate any threat to the real transport. Everyone in the vehicles are dummies, to fool the AUH. Unless, however, the AUH is attacking it on the way... Anyway, the attack helicopters are already there.

The marines were getting anxious to get going. Some of them were expecting that the AUM would throw everything, including the kitchen sink, at them in an attempt to get Ghethson, while others hoped that the decoys would work to draw them away from the helicopters.

OOC: Ready when you are, Rastier.

"Thank you, Your Honour". The attorney turned to his client. "Don't worry", he whispered. "Be patient. You will soon be free".

As the guards began to lead Heinrich away, the bailiff approached the public defender and said, "They won't wait for you, so if you're going with them to the stockade, don't lag behind".

The marines were getting anxious to get going. Some of them were expecting that the AUM would throw everything, including the kitchen sink, at them in an attempt to get Ghethson, while others hoped that the decoys would work to draw them away from the helicopters.

OOC: Ready when you are, Rastier.

The convoy safely made its way into the prison, and the poor marine eagerly hopped out of prison gear and into his own gear. Engineers from the military hurridly installed the equipment needed to make the vehicles be able to be controlled remotely. As a hidden trick, they put explosives in the vehicles, ready to destroy the enemy. Roads were still strictly closed, as this would be dangerous. There was a little station set up, unseen, but near the gate, to control the vehicles. Operators would be assigned to a particular vehicle, and they were in the form of trained engineers. Meanwhile, Ghethson was brought from his cell into a room near the helipad.
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Once the engineers were ready, the gate was opened. The remote-controlled convoy, with the realistic dummies inside, set off. Tanks, humvees and troops formed around the closed, opaque gate, prepared to go into battle. Two attack helicopters then swooped down, decreased speed, and formed together to "protect" the convoy.

The main landrover team drove to the edge of the cordened-off area and stopped, the people inside with an excellent view of the road just ahead. And of the two black units. If it was the convoy, they would stop for the bombs at least. Any idiot would.

A nagging suspiscion was the reason that they had the reserve team: the suspiscion that they might send a decoy. For now, he would go at face value to check it was the right convoy, but if not would be ready to intercept the real thing.
________________________________

The head of the reserve team was watching the convoy exit through powerful binoculars from afar, able to see each of the men's faces. Asa it came up to a slow point, he could get a good view of the man inside. It was not Ghethson by face, but they had done a very good job. And the men inside looked very wooden. So the bastards had sent a decoy.
"It's a trap! Get outta there and arm your onboard bomb."
He realised the radio was broken as he saw the two attack helicopters move out. Were they taking him by chopper?

He threw the black binoculars to another man, as he took out an AAT-87 missile launcher, with an AFLD-SB92 laser designator.
"Two of you, get over to a building further away from us, and start on those choppers. You know what to do."

Two men grabbed the kit, and ran out across to a building in the vicinity. Finding an empty structure with an unlocked door, they went to an opened window and set up. One man knelt with the laser designator, the small dot following one of the attack helicopters, while the other aimed the pre-loaded missile launcher. Hand on the trigger, he used the perspex sights to aim the weapon vaguely towards the enemy chopper, before squeezing it. There was a small pop as the missile shot forwards, followed by a jet of flame that shot from the rear of the launcher. Not seeing if he had hit, he quickly slung the launcher across his back before moving towards the stairs. His partner waited, ready to run out to another firing location once the missile either hit or missed, keeping the laser designator on the helicopter at all times.

The main landrover team drove to the edge of the cordened-off area and stopped, the people inside with an excellent view of the road just ahead. And of the two black units. If it was the convoy, they would stop for the bombs at least. Any idiot would.

A nagging suspiscion was the reason that they had the reserve team: the suspiscion that they might send a decoy. For now, he would go at face value to check it was the right convoy, but if not would be ready to intercept the real thing.
________________________________

The head of the reserve team was watching the convoy exit through powerful binoculars from afar, able to see each of the men's faces. Asa it came up to a slow point, he could get a good view of the man inside. It was not Ghethson by face, but they had done a very good job. And the men inside looked very wooden. So the bastards had sent a decoy.
"It's a trap! Get outta there and arm your onboard bomb."
He realised the radio was broken as he saw the two attack helicopters move out. Were they taking him by chopper?

He threw the black binoculars to another man, as he took out an AAT-87 missile launcher, with an AFLD-SB92 laser designator.
"Two of you, get over to a building further away from us, and start on those choppers. You know what to do."

Two men grabbed the kit, and ran out across to a building in the vicinity. Finding an empty structure with an unlocked door, they went to an opened window and set up. One man knelt with the laser designator, the small dot following one of the attack helicopters, while the other aimed the pre-loaded missile launcher. Hand on the trigger, he used the perspex sights to aim the weapon vaguely towards the enemy chopper, before squeezing it. There was a small pop as the missile shot forwards, followed by a jet of flame that shot from the rear of the launcher. Not seeing if he had hit, he quickly slung the launcher across his back before moving towards the stairs. His partner waited, ready to run out to another firing location once the missile either hit or missed, keeping the laser designator on the helicopter at all times.

OOC: I can't respond until Rastier says whether the missile hit or missed. Am I correct to assume you're outside the 3km perimeter with these guys?

OOC: The guys in the first landrover are on the edge of the cordoned-off zone. The team with the missile launcher are near the prison, watching. Of course, not illegal: if your police encounter the second landrover, then they have a rather good story to tell.

The main landrover team drove to the edge of the cordened-off area and stopped, the people inside with an excellent view of the road just ahead. And of the two black units. If it was the convoy, they would stop for the bombs at least. Any idiot would.

A nagging suspiscion was the reason that they had the reserve team: the suspiscion that they might send a decoy. For now, he would go at face value to check it was the right convoy, but if not would be ready to intercept the real thing.
________________________________

The head of the reserve team was watching the convoy exit through powerful binoculars from afar, able to see each of the men's faces. Asa it came up to a slow point, he could get a good view of the man inside. It was not Ghethson by face, but they had done a very good job. And the men inside looked very wooden. So the bastards had sent a decoy.
"It's a trap! Get outta there and arm your onboard bomb."
He realised the radio was broken as he saw the two attack helicopters move out. Were they taking him by chopper?

He threw the black binoculars to another man, as he took out an AAT-87 missile launcher, with an AFLD-SB92 laser designator.
"Two of you, get over to a building further away from us, and start on those choppers. You know what to do."

Two men grabbed the kit, and ran out across to a building in the vicinity. Finding an empty structure with an unlocked door, they went to an opened window and set up. One man knelt with the laser designator, the small dot following one of the attack helicopters, while the other aimed the pre-loaded missile launcher. Hand on the trigger, he used the perspex sights to aim the weapon vaguely towards the enemy chopper, before squeezing it. There was a small pop as the missile shot forwards, followed by a jet of flame that shot from the rear of the launcher. Not seeing if he had hit, he quickly slung the launcher across his back before moving towards the stairs. His partner waited, ready to run out to another firing location once the missile either hit or missed, keeping the laser designator on the helicopter at all times.

The chopper pilot noticed a missile lock warning and radioed to the other pilot. He tried all evasive maneuvers, and finally, evaded it by turning sharply at a weird angle. Unfortunately, due to the chopper pilot's mistake of doing all the maneuvers over the prison, the missile hit Ghethson's helicopter, destroying it completely. When he realised his mistake, he blushed, hands shivering, but was happy that at least he was alive. Meanwhile, the other pilot had fired 2 missiles at the same window the men had fired out of, fired another missile at that land rover, informed the military, and left.

(OOC: Erm, which landrover?)

"Well, you got the chopper on the prison roof."
The men were outside the now-smoking house, hiding in a patch of foliage in the garden. From here, they also had a view of the helicopters flying about. Another missile was slotted in, and aimed at the skies in case the helicopters decided to return.

The men insidethe landrover had changed, hiding all their weapons beneath the false flooring: the van looked just like an electrical response unit. Just to make a power problem...
Further down the round, a transformer sparked before dying, a small explosive charge used to shut it off. They pretended to be the electricians then, hauling out another transformer and heaving it towards the pylon next to a large ladder. Climbing up, he soon had a good vantage of the area, as well as the visibility of their cover.

The ASoGM marines took cover, as they were on the stairs leading to the roof. As the helicopter on the roof exploded, it shook the stairwell, causing some of the marines to lose their footing. One of the marines turned to Ghethson and said, "I bet you're glad that you weren't on that helicopter", to which Ghethson replied, "You can say that again".

(OOC: Erm, which landrover?)
OOC: The one that the men ran out of... And, you couldn't have taken another shot at the helicopters. Afraid, they left the scene already.

(Erm, how did you even see the men get outta the landrover? The first you knew of the missile launch was the men firing the launcher. As for the choppers leaving, I'll alter that.)

Minister Lansky woke up when he heard the phone ring. Sleepily, he answered the call. The Superintendent in charge of the prison then told him about the happenings, to which he responded, fully awake, with a "WHAT??" He then called the two ASoGM ministers to inform them of the bad news. After that, he dressed hurridly, left a note for his wife, went outside, and discovered that the state BMW assigned to him hadn't arrived yet. Swearing, he stormed back into the house, grabbed his car keys, yelled at his poor bodyguard for not knowing how to drive, and hopped into his Lexus LS460, the bodyguard sheepishly following behind. The minister then sped off to the hotel, possibly breaking the speed limit by tenfold.

(Erm, how did you even see the men get outta the landrover? The first you knew of the missile launch was the men firing the launcher. As for the choppers leaving, I'll alter that.)

OOC: The pilot, seeing that the land rover was the only car there, and was across the street from the building, suspected that it was the car that the AUH were using. Plus, there was a warning issued, and no one would dare to go even 5 kilometres from the prison.

Minister Smithfield woke up when Minister Lansky called. He told Minister Lansky that details should be left until they could talk face to face. As he was finishing his telephone conversation with Minister Lansky, an already dressed Minister Laurence knocked on his door. After Minister Smithfield was ready, they went downstairs to wait for Minister Lansky.

(What about the people living there?)

(What about the people living there?)
OOC: No one would live near a supermax prison LOL... The buildings are mostly abandoned factories, but still, they have to issue the warning for would-be adventurers.

Minister Lansky's car screeched to a halt at the hotel. He got out, together with the bodyguard, threw 10 dollars and his keys at the surprised parking valet, and went in to meet the ministers. "Let us go to the hotel room to talk", he said, grimly, to them.

Minister Lansky's car screeched to a halt at the hotel. He got out, together with the bodyguard, threw 10 dollars and his keys at the surprised parking valet, and went in to meet the ministers. "Let us go to the hotel room to talk", he said, grimly, to them.

The Ministers went to Minister Smithfield's room, to talk about the goings on of the last hour. Minister Smithfield said, "Well, we screwed the pooch on this one". Ignoring Minister Smithfield, Minister Laurence asked, "Was anyone killed in the attack? Is Ghethson secured?".

The men in the landrover swore as they found their cover blown, sprinting from the landrover with the equipment they could grab as the driver saw the inbound missile, diving for cover as the missile impacted. The large blast was amplified by the suicide charge on the vehicle, the shockwave blasting out any windows in the nearby area, as it was expected to. The men lifted themselves groaning from the area, all alive if battered and bruised. They were out of the game for now, so all they could really do was to keep an eye on that prison once they got out of the area. After it was safe, get some sort of pickup.

The Ministers went to Minister Smithfield's room, to talk about the goings on of the last hour. Minister Smithfield said, "Well, we screwed the pooch on this one". Ignoring Minister Smithfield, Minister Laurence asked, "Was anyone killed in the attack? Is Ghethson secured?".

"Firstly, I want to announce that I will be moving here for convenience, as I live about 1 hour away. Right, back to business. Ghethson is safe, and thankfully no one was hurt. We do have to repair the helipad though. The helicopter was totally destroyed, and unfortunately it is beyond repair. We have put out the fire, and once the area is clear we shall move the wreck out. Now, I have a crazy idea to bring him out, but it is risky. I propose we go with the original plan, since the planes are still there. We shall transport him to the airbase by train. The nearest subway station is about 10 kilometres away, and it runs all the way to the airbase, primarily for the pilots and staff there. That station is around a few hundred kilometres away from the airbase, but I think there is a shuttle bus to bring the staff there. We just have to find some way to get him 10 kilometres. I can easily get an empty train to run the route to the airbase. How about that?" replied Minister Lansky.

OOC: What happened to the airship and the battlegroup??

"Firstly, I want to announce that I will be moving here for convenience, as I live about 1 hour away. Right, back to business. Ghethson is safe, and thankfully no one was hurt. We do have to repair the helipad though. The helicopter was totally destroyed, and unfortunately it is beyond repair. We have put out the fire, and once the area is clear we shall move the wreck out. Now, I have a crazy idea to bring him out, but it is risky. I propose we go with the original plan, since the planes are still there. We shall transport him to the airbase by train. The nearest subway station is about 10 kilometres away, and it runs all the way to the airbase, primarily for the pilots and staff there. That station is around a few hundred kilometres away from the airbase, but I think there is a shuttle bus to bring the staff there. We just have to find some way to get him 10 kilometres. I can easily get an empty train to run the route to the airbase. How about that?" replied Minister Lansky.

OOC: What happened to the airship and the battlegroup??

Minister Laurence said, "I think we should try to use the attack to our advantage. Release the story about the attack on the news, and claim that Ghethson was killed. That would hopefully throw off the AUM, and Minister Smithfield can call in the same story to the ASoGM Naval Command. If it hits in the ASoGM media as well, then that should give credence to the lie". Minister Smithfield responded with, "Honestly, I think we need to stop all the cloak and dagger nonsense. We should roll in there with a bunch of armor, set off a smoke screen to block the view of lookouts, and load Ghethson into one of the armored vehicles. A mix of APCs, IFVs, and tanks should help dissuade any AUM assassins from attacking the convoy, especially if they don't know which vehicle he is in. We take the armored convoy all the way to the airfield, and send Ghethson home in the C-130, with Raptors, Hornets, and your Lightning IIs flying support".

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The admiral ordered the recall and of the ASoGM fighters, to be replaced by fresh pilots and planes. The E-2s came in first, then 2 went out to replace them. Then 6 of the F-18s were called in and replaced with 6 others. The 4 EA-6Bs were then replaced, and finally, the final 6 F-18s were cycled out. The crews of the aircraft that had come in were ordered to get some rack time, while the fresh pilots began the same routine as their predecessors. More aircraft and crews were readied, in case the ones in the air needed backup or replacement. One of the pilots coming in was overheard in saying, "We should have painted them, and watched for them to flinch. That would have been a sure way to tell they were packing military radar hardware. Hell, we could have gotten lucky too, and made them fire first. That would have given us cause to blow it out of the sky".

(OOC: Coming right up)

"Reserve group, moniter all activity in the prison, and tell us where they're going. Another cell is being activated as we speak, and will be on the boundary of the area quite soon.
As for primary group... we don't know what happened to them, but I hope they got outta there when they realised it was a decoy."

The men lay and watched, listening to the radio traffic in the area. The laptop had been smashed, so they could only sit and listen to the chatter.

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The other cell was the one originally designated for taking out Ghethson. 5 minutes after the call, all were clustered out the back of an old store that served as the local safehouse. 2 landrovers were there, as well as large shipping crate discarded there sometime in the past. The shipping crate, which was now open, contained lots of boxes. Mostly rubbish, some of weapons, now distributed. Explosives were also on the way, from down in the basement. What they were doing was going through the plan.
"They won't be going by helicopter now, they'll have to take a road route. Now while they could go direct, I think they will be suspicious of going that way, and try to trick us. So, one of you will be staying back in case my hunch is wrong, and the others will be covering the route to the subway. Nearby, so that we can both drive them off the road. Since they probably know about the road bombs as well now. Understood?"
"Yes" a chorus of affirmative answers.
"Good, then lets get ready."

_____________________________________

The airship continued to drift serenly down the air-shipping lane, in blatent obliviousness to the aircraft flying around. Not that they had any problem, being very heavily armed. Underneath, the ship also continued, both travelling slowly to keep in the same area.

Minister Laurence said, "I think we should try to use the attack to our advantage. Release the story about the attack on the news, and claim that Ghethson was killed. That would hopefully throw off the AUM, and Minister Smithfield can call in the same story to the ASoGM Naval Command. If it hits in the ASoGM media as well, then that should give credence to the lie". Minister Smithfield responded with, "Honestly, I think we need to stop all the cloak and dagger nonsense. We should roll in there with a bunch of armor, set off a smoke screen to block the view of lookouts, and load Ghethson into one of the armored vehicles. A mix of APCs, IFVs, and tanks should help dissuade any AUM assassins from attacking the convoy, especially if they don't know which vehicle he is in. We take the armored convoy all the way to the airfield, and send Ghethson home in the C-130, with Raptors, Hornets, and your Lightning IIs flying support".

_________________________________________

The admiral ordered the recall and of the ASoGM fighters, to be replaced by fresh pilots and planes. The E-2s came in first, then 2 went out to replace them. Then 6 of the F-18s were called in and replaced with 6 others. The 4 EA-6Bs were then replaced, and finally, the final 6 F-18s were cycled out. The crews of the aircraft that had come in were ordered to get some rack time, while the fresh pilots began the same routine as their predecessors. More aircraft and crews were readied, in case the ones in the air needed backup or replacement. One of the pilots coming in was overheard in saying, "We should have painted them, and watched for them to flinch. That would have been a sure way to tell they were packing military radar hardware. Hell, we could have gotten lucky too, and made them fire first. That would have given us cause to blow it out of the sky".

"We can make the most of the three ideas. I will order a press release, stating that Ghethson was dead, wait for the news to spread, and at night, we move him out, into the train, and to the airbase. Shall we try that?" said Minister Lansky.

"We can make the most of the three ideas. I will order a press release, stating that Ghethson was dead, wait for the news to spread, and at night, we move him out, into the train, and to the airbase. Shall we try that?" said Minister Lansky.

Minister Smithfield said, "I don't think the train will be secure enough. That, and a train is a large, unarmored vehicle with a predictable route. I still think we should bring in some APCs, IFVs, and tanks, and move Ghethson that way. In my opinion, it will be the safest bet for all our forces".

Minister Smithfield said, "I don't think the train will be secure enough. That, and a train is a large, unarmored vehicle with a predictable route. I still think we should bring in some APCs, IFVs, and tanks, and move Ghethson that way. In my opinion, it will be the safest bet for all our forces".

"Good point, but I need time to gather all the forces... The defence ministry may not approve, as we have a massive defence exercise going on, and they are turning their attention there. I had problems getting the Lightning IIs, too. I will try." With that, Minister Lansky used his phone to call up the defence minister. A half-hour later, he said, "Sucess! But, the troops and vehicles are 3 days' away, and they are the nearest to us. They said that we can also use the troops and humvees at the prison, too. I shall now order the press release, in the form of a 'leak'. Oh, and I have other tricks up my sleeve, too."
_________________________________________________________________


Rastian News Agency:

NEW RASTIA:

Prisoner Liam Ghethson, the prisoner supposed to be extradited to the Allied States of Gun Manufacturers, has just died. The terrorist group Mr. Ghethson helped, is reported to have killed him by firing a missile at an AH-64D. Strange, but true. The pilot performed evasive actions above the prison, after which the missile impacted on the helipad, killing Mr. Ghethson. Sadly, a Gun Manufacturers marine was also reported to be killed. As such, 2 seperate funerals were held at the Prison Chapel.

"Good point, but I need time to gather all the forces... The defence ministry may not approve, as we have a massive defence exercise going on, and they are turning their attention there. I had problems getting the Lightning IIs, too. I will try." With that, Minister Lansky used his phone to call up the defence minister. A half-hour later, he said, "Sucess! But, the troops and vehicles are 3 days' away, and they are the nearest to us. They said that we can also use the troops and humvees at the prison, too. I shall now order the press release, in the form of a 'leak'. Oh, and I have other tricks up my sleeve, too."
_________________________________________________________________


Rastian News Agency:

NEW RASTIA:

Prisoner Liam Ghethson, the prisoner supposed to be extradited to the Allied States of Gun Manufacturers, has just died. The terrorist group Mr. Ghethson helped, is reported to have killed him by firing a missile at an AH-64D. Strange, but true. The pilot performed evasive actions above the prison, after which the missile impacted on the helipad, killing Mr. Ghethson. Sadly, a Gun Manufacturers marine was also reported to be killed. As such, 2 seperate funerals were held at the Prison Chapel.

Minister Laurence said, "Three more days in jail for Ghethson won't hurt him. We should keep him in isolation though, and keep guards posted at his cell". Minister Smithfield added, "We should pull the ASoGM marines back to the barracks, too. That way, if someone's watching the prison, it'll look like the marines have nothing to guard anymore".

____________________________________

Back at the battlegroup, the admiral had heard what the returning pilot had said, regarding painting the airship with a missile lock. He had considered it for a while, and then using a highly encrypted, secure connection to Naval Command, relayed the idea. Naval Command gave the permission, and using encrypted communications, radioed the order to the pilots. One of the pilots took a heading towards the airship, and painted it with a missile lock. The pilot was over 10 miles away and towards the stern of the airship when he locked on. His missiles were not armed however, to prevent an accidental launch. If the airship fired at them though, the pilots would be weapons free and authorized to return fire.

Minister Laurence said, "Three more days in jail for Ghethson won't hurt him. We should keep him in isolation though, and keep guards posted at his cell". Minister Smithfield added, "We should pull the ASoGM marines back to the barracks, too. That way, if someone's watching the prison, it'll look like the marines have nothing to guard anymore".

____________________________________

Back at the battlegroup, the admiral had heard what the returning pilot had said, regarding painting the airship with a missile lock. He had considered it for a while, and then using a highly encrypted, secure connection to Naval Command, relayed the idea. Naval Command gave the permission, and using encrypted communications, radioed the order to the pilots. One of the pilots took a heading towards the airship, and painted it with a missile lock. The pilot was over 10 miles away and towards the stern of the airship when he locked on. His missiles were not armed however, to prevent an accidental launch. If the airship fired at them though, the pilots would be weapons free and authorized to return fire.

OOC: By the way, the dead marine report was fake. Oh, and the waiting room is isolated enough.

IC: A makeshift cell in the waiting room was set up, and some marines and soldiers went in to act as guards. Defences would be set up, too, but materials would only be brought in at night. Meanwhile, they used the tables and chairs found in there. 3 guards also entered the cell, and set up tables there. Meanwhile, troops and marines entered the tanks and humvees, and they all made their way to the barracks.
_________________________________________________________________

The defence ministry were kind enough to send a crack regiment of troops for the transportation of Ghethson, as they were rather shocked at the terrorists' boldness and their huge arsenal. A whopping 20 Challenger 2 tanks, 20 Bushmaster IMVs, 20 Puma IFVs and 20 Mercedes G-class SUVs headed to the prison. Minister Lansky had done his job well.

"This is L-PY 221, we are preparing defensive systems and dialling the Colonial Military as we speak. If you don't get that missile lock off of us, we will be forced to remove it ourselves."

Lights flashed across control screens as countermeaures and weapons systems began to arm themselves: tens of missiles as well as the Point Defence autocannons started locking onto craft in the surrounding area, masked completely by the jamming signals invisibly screeching from the airship transmitters.

"Do you comply?"

________________________________________

"So, Ghethson's dead?"
"Don't believe that crap."

A radio conference was going on amongst the AUM on encrypted frequencies, the head of the group still observing the prison watching.

"He ain't dead: I was watching the entire time, and I didn't see bodies being removed. That marine, yes I can believe.
Keep an eye out for military activity: it seems we've got them to pull out all the stops, and I mean all the stops. And if you find out beforehand what road they'll be taking, we can leave them some presents."

At the AUM HQ in the nation, hidden deep in the forests underground, skip-bags were being filled with white crystals covered in brown-black oil, ready to be planted about the city: ANFOS explosive, powerful enough when detonated to blow a tank with relatively little amount. And in these bags were nails: exactly the stuff they wanted for this purpose. And, in addition, a complex fuse-wire system ready to blow it if someone tampered with it.

__________________________________

Radio Communiqué
"Hello, authorities of Rastier and ASoGM. You know who we are, and will doubtlessly be trying to trace this message. If you can find any of the 6 radio transmitters this is being switched through...
Anyway, to business. You have something, or in this case, someone we want. Not necessarily to kill him: you can do that yourselves. Just to talk to him. But what can we give you?
Of course, if you leave him at the airport WITHOUT any undercover officers or guards watching, we will not blow up the three bombs we have planted about the city and tell you the locations of them. That is by 4pm tomorrow. You try finding them, we blow them up. You evacuate the city or tell the civilians, we blow them up. You send people with him to follow us, and we blow the bombs. 4000 pounds of explosive is not a very nice thing to blow up in a built up area, especially if we mix in, say, a few nails.

So, a summary: Ghethson, 4pm, Airport, no escort. Otherwise, a lot of people will needlessly die. We do not like killing or acting like petty terrorists, but you have severely wasted our time and money. So comply, or ... have a civil panic on your hands."

"This is L-PY 221, we are preparing defensive systems and dialling the Colonial Military as we speak. If you don't get that missile lock off of us, we will be forced to remove it ourselves."

Lights flashed across control screens as countermeaures and weapons systems began to arm themselves: tens of missiles as well as the Point Defence autocannons started locking onto craft in the surrounding area, masked completely by the jamming signals invisibly screeching from the airship transmitters.

"Do you comply?"

________________________________________

"So, Ghethson's dead?"
"Don't believe that crap."

A radio conference was going on amongst the AUM on encrypted frequencies, the head of the group still observing the prison watching.

"He ain't dead: I was watching the entire time, and I didn't see bodies being removed. That marine, yes I can believe.
Keep an eye out for military activity: it seems we've got them to pull out all the stops, and I mean all the stops. And if you find out beforehand what road they'll be taking, we can leave them some presents."

At the AUM HQ in the nation, hidden deep in the forests underground, skip-bags were being filled with white crystals covered in brown-black oil, ready to be planted about the city: ANFOS explosive, powerful enough when detonated to blow a tank with relatively little amount. And in these bags were nails: exactly the stuff they wanted for this purpose. And, in addition, a complex fuse-wire system ready to blow it if someone tampered with it.

__________________________________

Radio Communiqué
"Hello, authorities of Rastier and ASoGM. You know who we are, and will doubtlessly be trying to trace this message. If you can find any of the 6 radio transmitters this is being switched through...
Anyway, to business. You have something, or in this case, someone we want. Not necessarily to kill him: you can do that yourselves. Just to talk to him. But what can we give you?
Of course, if you leave him at the airport WITHOUT any undercover officers or guards watching, we will not blow up the three bombs we have planted about the city and tell you the locations of them. That is by 4pm tomorrow. You try finding them, we blow them up. You evacuate the city or tell the civilians, we blow them up. You send people with him to follow us, and we blow the bombs. 4000 pounds of explosive is not a very nice thing to blow up in a built up area, especially if we mix in, say, a few nails.

So, a summary: Ghethson, 4pm, Airport, no escort. Otherwise, a lot of people will needlessly die. We do not like killing or acting like petty terrorists, but you have severely wasted our time and money. So comply, or ... have a civil panic on your hands."

OOC: I'm going to need some info about this masking technology, to see if it's going to be effective against my fighter's threat indicators. So I can't respond to that yet.

IC: Responding on the same frequency, Minister Smithfield said, "Ghethson is dead. So unless you have a way to talk to the recently departed, us leaving his body at the airport at 4PM won't do you any good." Minister Smithfield ended the transmission, turned to Minister Lansky and said, "I don't believe we've had a thorough enough conversation with Ghethson. We need to see him, and find out why the AUM would want to talk to him".

The evidence and pre-trial fact finding for the case against Heinrich was going well. The head prosecutor for the case was planning on calling members of the battlegroup to testify, including Captain Cabunt, the diver that rescued Heinrich from the water, the chaplains that spoke to Heinrich, the doctor that treated Heinrich, the guards that were present every time Heinrich spoke, the helicopter crew, and pilots that were shot at by the men in the trawlers. Also, the head prosecutor was hoping that Jo'lao Ky'uila could testify, to confirm the presence of the AHC trawlers. Then, the head prosecutor copied all the evidence he'd collected, as well as the witness list and any other information he had about the case, and sent it to the public defender. Part of the evidence that was sent over was a copy of a surveillance tape from the sick bay that Heinrich had been in, from the time he arrived to the time he escaped. Also sent to the public defender was a note reminding him that he would have to disclose his witness list and any evidence he collected to the head prosecutor, as was required by law.

OOC: I'm going to need some info about this masking technology, to see if it's going to be effective against my fighter's threat indicators. So I can't respond to that yet.

IC: Responding on the same frequency, Minister Smithfield said, "Ghethson is dead. So unless you have a way to talk to the recently departed, us leaving his body at the airport at 4PM won't do you any good." Minister Smithfield ended the transmission, turned to Minister Lansky and said, "I don't believe we've had a thorough enough conversation with Ghethson. We need to see him, and find out why the AUM would want to talk to him".

"It is very difficult, but we can try. It is imperative that we do not get seen, else someone suspects Ghethson is not dead. First, we publish a press release that Ghethson will have another funeral, this time, it will be a proper funeral, not a wake, like the previous one. We shall sneak in as pallbearers, as the prison rules specify that ALL people who have roles in carrying the casket must have a balaclava on. 3 prison guards resembling our respective heights and weights will be on standby, and they will be carrying the casket out, into a van, and to the cemetery. No one will see us once we leave the prison chapel. If I remember correctly, the way to the waiting room from the chapel is enclosed", replied Minister Lansky. "Is that all right? Or are you two uncomfortable with being pallbearers?"

As the guards began to lead Heinrich away, the bailiff approached the public defender and said, "They won't wait for you, so if you're going with them to the stockade, don't lag behind".

The lawyer nodded and hurried after the guards and his client. Suddenly his phone began to ring. "Hartzig", he answered, still walking in a fast pace. "Yeah, I'm here". He listened for a moment. "Yes, I'm expecting to get him free, but I cannot guarantee anything. You know that these people are unthrustworthy. I'll get you the details later, because I'm in a bit of an hurry". He hanged up. Impatient people. Couldn't they understand that these things took time?

"If that is necessary, then you will bring his body to the airport at that specified time, to prove to us he is dead. Remember, you've got about... 8 hours till we blow the explosives. Is that alright with you? So, body or Ghethson to the airport, and the body had better be real. We can check if it really is him, so if you defraud us or do anything we told you not to do, we blow the bombs. Happy?"

___________________________________________

The explosives were now being spread across the city: one was on the back of a builders lorry, working in a quiet suburb removing waste from the area; another was in the back of a fake FedEx lorry, not yet positioned but at the moment lurking in the FedEx depot waiting to be driven out; the final one was already set in the sewers underneath the centre of the town. Each of the three could easily kill many, and scare hundreds times more.

____________________________________________

(Jamming systems: basically custom made for the mercenary, the defence systems block radio communications and control signals (i.e. Guided missiles), leaving only a set channel open to work. They also work to block RADAR equipment from working in the nearby area if it isn't on an Alfegan frequency, so any ARH missiles are pretty buggered. It only has a limited range (about 15km), so outside that they should be OK.
As for other defences, the point defence autocannons can shoot missiles out of the sky, and the Hailstorm units destroy missiles coming towards the gondolas before impact.)

Minister Lansky then replied to the message, "At least, let us send him off with a proper funeral. It has been our tradition that no one dies without a send-off."
_________________________________________________________________

Trucks arrived at the prison, and the marines and soldiers piled in. The tanks, humvees, and engineers packed up, and they all headed for the barracks, so that the preperations for the funeral could begin.
_________________________________________________________________

The crack regiment, along with the huge number of vehicles, left their base and began their journey to New Rastia. It would be 72 more hours before they got to the prison.

"If that is necessary, then you will bring his body to the airport at that specified time, to prove to us he is dead. Remember, you've got about... 8 hours till we blow the explosives. Is that alright with you? So, body or Ghethson to the airport, and the body had better be real. We can check if it really is him, so if you defraud us or do anything we told you not to do, we blow the bombs. Happy?"

___________________________________________

The explosives were now being spread across the city: one was on the back of a builders lorry, working in a quiet suburb removing waste from the area; another was in the back of a fake FedEx lorry, not yet positioned but at the moment lurking in the FedEx depot waiting to be driven out; the final one was already set in the sewers underneath the centre of the town. Each of the three could easily kill many, and scare hundreds times more.

____________________________________________

(Jamming systems: basically custom made for the mercenary, the defence systems block radio communications and control signals (i.e. Guided missiles), leaving only a set channel open to work. They also work to block RADAR equipment from working in the nearby area if it isn't on an Alfegan frequency, so any ARH missiles are pretty buggered. It only has a limited range (about 15km), so outside that they should be OK.
As for other defences, the point defence autocannons can shoot missiles out of the sky, and the Hailstorm units destroy missiles coming towards the gondolas before impact.)

Minister Laurence turned to Minister Lansky and asked, "Wasn't there a pilot in the helicopter when it blew up. If so, the explosion would have burned and disfigured his body to the point he wouldn't be recognizable. We could use is as a substitute for Ghethson. Their claim of being able to tell if it was him can't be true. DNA and fingerprint tests would take too long to perform, and Ghethson's build is very much average".

____________________________________

OOC: Remember, my fighters are 10+ miles out from the airship, beyond the range of your jamming technology.

IC: The pilot that had the target lock said an expletive when his threat indicator light went off. He radioed that he was being painted by the airship. The EWs in the battlegroup immediately noticed the jamming, and notified the admiral. Due to the pilot's radio conversation, coupled with the information he received from the EWs, he put in an encrypted call to Naval Command, telling them of the situation. Naval Command sent out a secure message to Alfegos, asking them if they knew that Liberty Class airship L-PY 221 had military jamming and missile targeting radars. Naval Command also told Alfegos that L-PY 221 was suspected as an AUM airship, in the vicinity of the nation of Rastier, in order to affect an assassination of a captured AUM lieutenant.

"Well, it is always our tradiation to see that a job has been done. Now, if you do not send us Ghethson to the airport alive or dead, you will feel the consequences of your mistake very noticeably. And where we come from, explosives are all too common.

4pm, Terminal 1 of the airport, just inside the main entrance. A representitive will be waiting there. If he is harmed or captured, we blow the bombs, though you do know that we will blow them anyway if you send a military or police escort with him into the building. He will likely as not be out of the airport within 15 minutes... if you were right, then we will regretablly have wasted a large amount of money. If however, you have been lying, then you will not have to pay for a funeral. If you comply."
The line cut out.

__________________________________________

We understand your concerns for such, but at the moment are unable to react due to a lack of unprovoked hostilities between the airship and your national craft. The reason for this is that the airship has a valid registration, and that the owner of it is a registered mercenary organisation.

If hostilities do occur as a result of no prior received business contracts or via no provokation on your part, then you will be within your rights to disable, not destroy, the airship for detainment by the military and for the mercenary organisation to pay you a fine equivalent to the damages caused.

If however, you are threatening the airship currently flying through a legal designated air-shipping lane, then the airship is within its rights to use lethal force to defend itself until hostilities cease on your part. Such an attack on your part would also result in an Alfegos defensive force being detached to disable all threats in the shipping lane area, alongside numerous corperate interests.

Attached are the airship's registration form and the mercenary registration form.

Classification: Code Beta 3 - Classified document for special external release
Alfegos Aviation Authority
Airship Division
Office for Registration

Airship Registration Number: L-PY 221
Primary Airship Owner: Klanhi Air Defence Systems
Secondary Airship Owner: n/a
Type: Converted Type 3 (large) Liberty-class
Purpose: Air - Freighter/ Armament Platform
Place of Manufacture: Prevoygrad Central Airship works, Prevania
Notes: Airship is property of registered mercenary Kian Klanhi. Any queries should be directed towards the Mercenary Registration Office of the Ministry of Defence in cases of attack.

Classification: Code Alpha 3 - External Release, Single Archive copy. Destroy after use, no copies..
Ministry of Defence
Mercenary Division
Office of Registration

Title: Captain
Name: Kian Klanhi
Sex: M
DOB: 22/4/71
POB: Polinapolis, Polinas Province
Citizen Number: DA2280C261

Mercenary Corperation: Klanhi Sky Defence Systems
Position: CEO
Specialisation: Airships
Registry Band: A (Official Mercenary)
Permissions Band: B (Some Restrictions)
Quarterly Profit: Æ15 290 110
Notes: Has been disallowed business contracts with all Grade A-C dangerous organisations and the AUM. Any infringement of such would result in a Grade A fine.

Minister Laurence turned to Minister Lansky and asked, "Wasn't there a pilot in the helicopter when it blew up. If so, the explosion would have burned and disfigured his body to the point he wouldn't be recognizable. We could use is as a substitute for Ghethson. Their claim of being able to tell if it was him can't be true. DNA and fingerprint tests would take too long to perform, and Ghethson's build is very much average".

"Hmm... If I recall, the information given to me was that NO ONE was harmed. I will still try..."he replied. After a while on the phone, he shook his head and said, "I spoke to the pilot, he's still alive and well, and he said that he wasn't in the helicopter when it blew up. He brought the helicopter over last night, then went to sleep in the warden's office, near the helipad. He learned of the incident when he heard that loud boom. Now what are we to do..."

"Hmm... If I recall, the information given to me was that NO ONE was harmed. I will still try..."he replied. After a while on the phone, he shook his head and said, "I spoke to the pilot, he's still alive and well, and he said that he wasn't in the helicopter when it blew up. He brought the helicopter over last night, then went to sleep in the warden's office, near the helipad. He learned of the incident when he heard that loud boom. Now what are we to do..."

"Crap. Well, we absolutely cannot give them Ghethson, as we need him to help bring down the AUM. Is there someone in the prison morgue that we can use instead?", Minister Smithfield asked. Minister Laurence added, "We really need to get some more answers from Ghethson, like why the AUM is so desperate to get him. Let's go to the prison".

_______________________________

ASoGM Naval Command relayed the information from the Alfegans to the battlegroup through a secure connection. Then, the admiral contacted the pilots with an encrypted channel, calling all of them except the E-2s in. He sent a radio message to L-PY 221, stating that the pilot accidentally locked on to the airship due to a malfunction in the plane's targeting radar. The admiral apologized, and said he was recalling all of the fighters. After the communication ended and the pilots landed, the admiral ordered the pilots to stay ready, the planes to be refueled, kept armed, and ready for re-launch.

"Thankyou for desisting."

The airship calmed down, jamming signals cutting out ending with radio silence, interrupted by the occasional ping of the onboard RADAR. The airship carried on in its passage towards its destination, relying on its momentum and engines instead of the original wind power.

__________________________________

If they were even thinking of tricking the AUM, they had a trick up their sleeve to try and lubricate negotiations. Calling into a local radio station, one of the operatives had sown the seeds of a panic.

"Hello, just calling into the show to say how lovely it is, and to explain what's been going on at the prison: apparently, they're holding a convict that a terrorist group want out, and as a result they've planted a load of bombs around the capital. You know, very big bombs. Not wanting to cause a panic at all, but have to go now. See ya later!"

"Crap. Well, we absolutely cannot give them Ghethson, as we need him to help bring down the AUM. Is there someone in the prison morgue that we can use instead?", Minister Smithfield asked. Minister Laurence added, "We really need to get some more answers from Ghethson, like why the AUM is so desperate to get him. Let's go to the prison".

_______________________________

ASoGM Naval Command relayed the information from the Alfegans to the battlegroup through a secure connection. Then, the admiral contacted the pilots with an encrypted channel, calling all of them except the E-2s in. He sent a radio message to L-PY 221, stating that the pilot accidentally locked on to the airship due to a malfunction in the plane's targeting radar. The admiral apologized, and said he was recalling all of the fighters. After the communication ended and the pilots landed, the admiral ordered the pilots to stay ready, the planes to be refueled, kept armed, and ready for re-launch.

Minister Lansky replied, "All right. I should think the funeral has been broadcast over the TV and radio stations. Lets go." The ministers got into Minister Lansky's car, and he drove them to an abandoned warehouse just 5 kilometres from the prison, where no prying eyes could see them. Minister Lansky drove into the warehouse, where they all got out, and donned the pallbearers' clothes. He found a perfect hiding spot for his car, and parked it there. They then waited for the funeral procession to arrive. When it did, the ministers got into a truck, where the other 3 pallbearers were. The 3 other pallbearers were soldiers of the army. The procession then made its way to the prison, while the remainder of military forces left it.

Once the ministers were replaced by the 3 prison guards, they ran off to talk with Ghethson, in the waiting room.

OOC: Who is going to RP Ghethson?

Once the ministers were replaced by the 3 prison guards, they ran off to talk with Ghethson, in the waiting room.

OOC: Who is going to RP Ghethson?

When Minister Smithfield got to Ghethson, he asked, "Why does the AUM want you so bad? Why are they spending so much time, money, and resources to get to you? They say they want to talk to you, but they're also trying to kill you". Minister Laurence added, "They've planted bombs in the city in an attempt to force us to turn you over to them". Tell us what you can, and if you know where they might plant the bombs, we need to know that as well".

OOC: Maybe Alfegos can tell us what he thinks Ghethson should know, and one of us can take it from there.

The head prosecutor in the case against Heinrich had completed all his pre-trial work, and was just waiting on the public defenders disclosed witness list and evidence.

(What they want Ghethson for is so that they can have his bank accounts details so that they can reclaim the money they paid him and all the money he tapped from the organisation for his own use, so they don't disappear off into the ether. And Ghethson tapped a very large sum of money off. Since the offshore accounts are often impossible to access if you don't have all the details, that is why they want information from him.
Then they want to kill him for his crimes against the organisation, and for making a complete cock-up of the AUM branch he was running.)

"Thankyou for desisting."

The airship calmed down, jamming signals cutting out ending with radio silence, interrupted by the occasional ping of the onboard RADAR. The airship carried on in its passage towards its destination, relying on its momentum and engines instead of the original wind power.

__________________________________

If they were even thinking of tricking the AUM, they had a trick up their sleeve to try and lubricate negotiations. Calling into a local radio station, one of the operatives had sown the seeds of a panic.

"Hello, just calling into the show to say how lovely it is, and to explain what's been going on at the prison: apparently, they're holding a convict that a terrorist group want out, and as a result they've planted a load of bombs around the capital. You know, very big bombs. Not wanting to cause a panic at all, but have to go now. See ya later!"

President Smith heard this radio report, and immediately realised that the AUM were definately behind this. He regretted making the decision to extradite Ghethson, but at the same time thought about what would have happened if he did not approve of it. He decided to consult Alfegos about these "big bombs", what they thought it was made of, and how to combat it. Following which, he made the call to the leader of Alfegos.

(What they want Ghethson for is so that they can have his bank accounts details so that they can reclaim the money they paid him and all the money he tapped from the organisation for his own use, so they don't disappear off into the ether. And Ghethson tapped a very large sum of money off. Since the offshore accounts are often impossible to access if you don't have all the details, that is why they want information from him.
Then they want to kill him for his crimes against the organisation, and for making a complete cock-up of the AUM branch he was running.)

OOC: I guess I'll run Ghethson.

IC: Ghethson told the Ministers about the money he had in his accounts, and told them about how much he'd skimmed off the AUM coffers. He offered the complete account information in exchange for not being turned over to the AUM. Minister Laurence turned to Minister Smithfield and Minister Lansky and said, "We need to seize that money, in order to prevent the AUM from getting it".

OOC: Wouldn't the AUM announcing the presence of the bombs in the city cause people to evacuate on their own?

OOC: Announcing that there are bombs in the city would cause a panic. And a panic would make it near impossible for the police to get about the city, since the entire place would be gridlocked form the masses of people trying to get out.

_______________________________________________________________

Time was slowly running out for the authorities who would be delivering Ghethson or his body to the airport. A man was waiting, impatiently, for them to turn up. He had been paid to do the identification of the body that would turn up, equipment hidden in the trolley he was pushing about slowly as he cleaned the floor of the terminal.

The AUM though were expecting a man alive. So they had one of their own lurking in the shadows to perform the interrogation to get the account details. He had also been given a machine-pistol with a drum magazine: while the bullets it was loaded in wouldn't do much damage to police, being only a 6.8mm AFP weapon, it would do much damage to the civilians and to himself if it were impossible for him to run.
He sat with luggage, a real ticket for a flight to Zaheran on him. His mobile phone had a hotlink to the AUM, which he would use when they got the account details. As for the interrogation, he had his ways.

________________________________________________________

Alfegos Ministry of Internal Security
Organised Crime Division
To: Rastier Authorities
Subject: AUM - Explosives

We have a large amount of information after the raids made on many AUM institutions recently that will help you in establishing the power of the bombs deployed in your nation.

Due to the many trades we know the AUM have inside and outside the nation, we find it difficult to narrow down the type of charge that they will be using, due to the massive arsenal they have at their disposal. However, the large amount of explosives they have mentioned will be a cheap explosive such as ANFOS, GSX slurry or even just pressurised hydrogen cylinders.

Should the first two be the case, then you will be looking for a slurry contained in such things as barrels, boxes, large sacks, and other such containers. Either will be recognisable from the booster charge concealed inside them, containing either RDX, PETN or some other high-order explosive.

However, if they are using Hydrogen cylinders, then look for ones marked with Alfegos logos and with a wide socket adapter on the top: these are airship refuelling cylinders, and are only used for fuelling airships. If one of these goes off, they contain gas pressurised at almost 150 bar, so with a potential explosive equivalent of 100kg of TNT. Be very careful around these, due to their potential for devastation on a large scale.

These will likely be detonated remotely or by a timer: if it is the latter, then a signal will be used to temporarily disarm them should something occur, with a manual override and emergancy instant detonator signal possible. The bomb will be controlled by an 8 digit alphabetical code (so with a possible of 6^9different combinations), and will have numerous anti-tamper systems invoking a premature detonation. Such are the nature of these systems that an extremely advanced expert will be needed to stop these from detonating.

Good luck.

OOC: I guess I'll run Ghethson.

IC: Ghethson told the Ministers about the money he had in his accounts, and told them about how much he'd skimmed off the AUM coffers. He offered the complete account information in exchange for not being turned over to the AUM. Minister Laurence turned to Minister Smithfield and Minister Lansky and said, "We need to seize that money, in order to prevent the AUM from getting it".

Minister Lansky asked Ghethson for his bank account number, so they could seize the money, as it was financing the AUM in Rastier, according to Ghethson. All they needed was a court order, (and Ghethson's statement)which, was done in 2 hours, while Ghethson's interview went on. The time now was 1pm, and they had exactly 3 hours to call up the bank and transfer the money to the police's account, as it was common practise that all money seized was to be transferred to the police, to finance their operations.

Minister Lansky then had a good idea. "Why don't we pretend to 'execute' Ghethson in Rastier, for all the horrid trouble he has brought. We shall then transport him to the ASoGM. The execution would be held 1 week later, and NO ONE can touch him, as it is against the law for a prisoner to go out of his cell when that prisoner is to be put to death. We can then use another prisoner on death row to die, bury him, and say that that man was Ghethson. He will then be cremated, and the real Ghethson will then be transported to the ASoGM. Another press release will state that everyone was so confused over the bombing of the helipad that they mistaken another marine to be Ghethson."

Minister Lansky asked Ghethson for his bank account number, so they could seize the money, as it was financing the AUM in Rastier, according to Ghethson. All they needed was a court order, (and Ghethson's statement)which, was done in 2 hours, while Ghethson's interview went on. The time now was 1pm, and they had exactly 3 hours to call up the bank and transfer the money to the police's account, as it was common practise that all money seized was to be transferred to the police, to finance their operations.

Minister Lansky then had a good idea. "Why don't we pretend to 'execute' Ghethson in Rastier, for all the horrid trouble he has brought. We shall then transport him to the ASoGM. The execution would be held 1 week later, and NO ONE can touch him, as it is against the law for a prisoner to go out of his cell when that prisoner is to be put to death. We can then use another prisoner on death row to die, bury him, and say that that man was Ghethson. He will then be cremated, and the real Ghethson will then be transported to the ASoGM. Another press release will state that everyone was so confused over the bombing of the helipad that they mistaken another marine to be Ghethson."

Minister Laurence said, "That doesn't solve the problem of the 4PM deadline though. Not like we'd be able to make the deadline anyway, since the city is probably gridlocked by now with panicking people. And what's to say they won't plant more bombs every day until the 'execution'. We should move him now to the ASoGM, to spare Rastier any more terroristic threats". Minister Smithfield asked Minister Lansky if the prison yard was big enough to fit 3 V-22 Ospreys. If so, they could move Ghethson and have 2 decoy Ospreys. They could take off and fly in different directions, where one would fly to the airfield and the awaiting C-130, one would fly to the battlegroup, and the final one would complete the marathon flight back to the ASoGM. Since the AUM wouldn't know about the Ospreys until it was too late to move more cells in to intercept, and since the AUM wouldn't be able to see inside the prison yard, the Ospreys should be relatively safe from attack.

Minister Laurence said, "That doesn't solve the problem of the 4PM deadline though. Not like we'd be able to make the deadline anyway, since the city is probably gridlocked by now with panicking people. And what's to say they won't plant more bombs every day until the 'execution'. We should move him now to the ASoGM, to spare Rastier any more terroristic threats". Minister Smithfield asked Minister Lansky if the prison yard was big enough to fit 3 V-22 Ospreys. If so, they could move Ghethson and have 2 decoy Ospreys. They could take off and fly in different directions, where one would fly to the airfield and the awaiting C-130, one would fly to the battlegroup, and the final one would complete the marathon flight back to the ASoGM. Since the AUM wouldn't know about the Ospreys until it was too late to move more cells in to intercept, and since the AUM wouldn't be able to see inside the prison yard, the Ospreys should be relatively safe from attack.

"It should be able to hold 3 V-22s, but the problem is, where are the Ospreys?" replied the minister.

"It should be able to hold 3 V-22s, but the problem is, where are the Ospreys?" replied the minister.

"We have some with our battlegroup. They can be called in via my satellite phone, but we need to make sure the call is encrypted to provide maximum security for the extraction".

"We have some with our battlegroup. They can be called in via my satellite phone, but we need to make sure the call is encrypted to provide maximum security for the extraction".

"Then go ahead. We will make it seem that Ghethson is going away by that huge battlegroup that's on its way. However, I would like to raise another concern. If the AUM is really present in this area, they will have the firepower to shoot down all three V-22s, as we only shot down 1 land rover, and there may be many more."

"Then go ahead. We will make it seem that Ghethson is going away by that huge battlegroup that's on its way. However, I would like to raise another concern. If the AUM is really present in this area, they will have the firepower to shoot down all three V-22s, as we only shot down 1 land rover, and there may be many more."

"Any cells they have active will have to contend with the gridlock they themselves created, which will limit their mobility. There will also be an exposure issue, as firing missiles while in a crowd tends to leave a lot of witnesses that can identify them", Minister Smithfield said. Then he switched his satellite phone to secure channel 1A (OOC: It's a pre-determined encrypted frequency that's extremely hard to break), and called Naval Command with his idea. Naval Command then sent an encoded message on the Naval Secure channel to the admiral, who ordered the launch of 3 V-22s, one of which had 3 flight crews and would cover the entire flight back to the ASoGM, refueling on the way. They took off towards the stern and low, and stayed at 50 feet AGL until they were sure they were out of the range of the airship's radar. Hopefully the airship wouldn't pick them up, and they could get to the Rastierian mainland without incident or detection.

OOC: Alfegos, just out of curiosity, what's the airship's speed, altitude, and distance from the midway point of Rastier and the ASoGM at this point?

OOC: The airship is about 60km west of the centre point by now, travelling at low speed on the winds (engines turned off, so only drifting at say 30km/h). Since it isn't fully loaded, it is flying at an altitude of about 3200 metres above sea level.

"Any cells they have active will have to contend with the gridlock they themselves created, which will limit their mobility. There will also be an exposure issue, as firing missiles while in a crowd tends to leave a lot of witnesses that can identify them", Minister Smithfield said. Then he switched his satellite phone to secure channel 1A (OOC: It's a pre-determined encrypted frequency that's extremely hard to break), and called Naval Command with his idea. Naval Command then sent an encoded message on the Naval Secure channel to the admiral, who ordered the launch of 3 V-22s, one of which had 3 flight crews and would cover the entire flight back to the ASoGM, refueling on the way. They took off towards the stern and low, and stayed at 50 feet AGL until they were sure they were out of the range of the airship's radar. Hopefully the airship wouldn't pick them up, and they could get to the Rastierian mainland without incident or detection.


"What are we to do after Ghethson is on his way? Do you think they would still blow up the bombs?" asked Minister Lansky.
_________________________________________________________________

Rastian News Agency:

URGENT NEWS-

The capital city of New Rastia has been threatened by bombs. An unknown speaker has said over the radio, "...apparently, they're holding a convict that a terrorist group want out, and as a result they've planted a load of bombs around the capital. You know, very big bombs...", causing a huge panic in the city. Protesters are all around the prison, shouting for them to release that prisoner to the terrorist group. This is the first time something of this scale has happened. The police are trying to control the crowd, reassuring them that they are doing their best at finding and defusing the bombs, but for a city that is over 2000 squared kilometres, it is a very difficult task. The President has been evacuated, and blamed as a "coward". His final words to the city were, "Do not panic." The government is said to have been aware of this terrorist group, and the prisoner, yet, nothing is done, due to the gridlock in the city. Because of that gridlock, people cannot exit the city. Many have commited suicide, saying that they would rather die in their own hands, rather than be blown into many smaller pieces. Sad, but true. However, many more will die, if the bombs do blow up.

Another radio message from the AUM:

"Greetings, Rastier government. It looks as if we've stirred up the hive, doesn't it? And you're going to have a problem dropping Ghethson off at the airport on time with that gridlock: and only 30 minutes left. My goodness, time flies. But at least you are taking our threats seriously. Now, do what we asked, or we will blow the bombs. And after that, I'm afraid we'll be deploying even more. So you've got nothing to lose, and all the more to gain by complying."

The 3 Ospreys approached Rastier as quick as they could, making sure to avoid the airship, in the hopes they wouldn't be detected by the airship's radar. Meanwhile, Minister Smithfield said to Minister Lansky, "We'll need 2 more prisoners the same height, weight, and body type as Ghethson, preferably from death row. Get all 3 prisoners dressed in the same jumpsuits, same restraints, and make sure all of them are gagged and have a black bag over their head, so they're indistinguishable from one another. Once the Ospreys touch down in the prison yard, we'll load them into the aircraft, and they'll take off in separate directions. Gunships escorts would be good security until the Ospreys get to their destinations, or break Rastier's border". Minister Laurence added, "Once Ghethson is out of Rastier, the AUM should leave you alone. The money from Ghethson's accounts should help your police fight AUM activities for years to come, and might also be enough to create a fund for anyone killed by the AUM's terrorism".

2 prisoners from death row were selected, and restraints and a bag placed on them. When all three prisoners stood together, even the guards and wardens did not identify the prisoners. At last, the Ospreys arrived. Ghethson was shoved into the 1st Osprey, and the two prisoners got into the other two Ospreys. All three then took off to their respective destinations.

"10 minutes remaining NTC government. And we still see no sign of Ghethson. Are you smuggling him away in complete defience of our demands? Do you actually want a massacre? Because that is what is about to happen. So come on then."

Rastian News Agency:

UPDATE:

3 V-22s bearing Allied States of Gun Manufacturers markings have landed at the prison. They have just taken off in different directions with 3 AH-64Ds of the Rastian Army following each of them. The prisoner in question now is Liam Ghethson, the first person to be extradited. Could he be the man hunted by the terrorist group, presumably the AUM? He could be one of the 3 prisoners to be ushered into each of the V-22s.

Back to the bombs. Police have closed, and are now checking and combing the city centre, well-known districts and monuments, and government offices for the bombs. Authorities now suspect the AUM is behind all this.

The city is still in gridlock, and panicking citizens are now fleeing the city on foot, bicycle or motorbike. They have abandoned their cars, causing more traffic jams. Trains are running per normal, but the train stations are full of people waiting to catch a train to other cities. More trains are now deployed. Other citizens are attempting to escape by air. Chartered flights are being operated by all airline companies, shocked by this event. Private aircraft owners are taking as many people as possible in their aircraft, too.

However, a handful of people believe that this is a hoax. One of them said, "This is definately a hoax! Everyone is taking it so seriously, but they are wasting time, effort and money. This has not and never will happen in Rastier, due to our harsh laws and good police force. The President is a coward, and he should not have left. Now, all these people are following his crazy example! Everyone is persuading me to leave, but I SHALL REMAIN HERE!" The government has issued a message to all the citizens, telling them to leave as it is not a hoax.

The three Ospreys were on their individual exit headings, and climbed to 20,000 feet, which was approaching the service ceiling of their escort AH-64s. As Osprey 1 neared the Rastierian border, they notified the battlegroup on an encrypted frequency, before proceeding on a long route to the battlegroup, attempting to avoid the airship's radar as it came in. Osprey 2 touched down next to the C-130, which had begun getting ready for flight. The C-130 had a civilian transponder in it, and would be flying a commercial route back to the ASoGM. The Raptor pilots were making their way to their planes, and would be wheels up in 5 minutes. Osprey 3, which contained the multiple flight crews, took a path opposite to Osprey 1, and again had orders to avoid the airship. They would be in the air the longest, as they were to fly non stop back to the ASoGM. The admiral radioed the subs on an encrypted VLF frequency to return to the battlegroup, and the admiral ordered the launch of 12 F-18s and 4 EA-6Bs once Osprey 1 was within 150 miles of the battlegroup.

After hearing the latest broadcast from the AUM, Minister Lansky turned to the two ASoGM ministers and said, "Do you all suppose that they'll still blow up the bombs, even after Ghethson has left? If so, we have to get out of here, and fast."

"You have disappointed us in the utmost, Rastierian authorities. And your time us up, with it now revealed that you had no intention of sending us Ghethson.
As such, our organisation is now going to demonstrate what we mean by the consequences."

_________________________________________

Across the city, the three bombs did not receive the signal they had been awaiting. Each dial hit zero as a powerful electrical surge was sent into the bombs. The primary stages of the bombs, a few grams of nitroglycerine, were detonated, setting off in turn the booster charge of 1kg RDX. Shaped in a concave lens, the charges let loose a harmonic shockwave in the ANFOS. Molecular bonds broke in the heat and energy, releasing even more energy from the 4000 pound main explosive charge. This quite literally blew the area apart.
The first bomb to detonate was in the sewers underneath the central shopping district of the town, about 10 metres below the surface. A blast punched its way to the surface, the shockwave collapsing many of the buildings within 80 metres. Luckily evacuated, his bomb was unlikely to cause many casualties, but many millions of dollars of damage.
The next one was in the back of a FedEx lorry, trapped in the traffic jam to escape the city. After the dust settled across the hundreds of ruined vehicles in the artery route, the screaming began to start. The tarmac nearby, if not removed in a massive crater, was scattered with hundreds of 6-inch long steel nails embedded up to the head.
The last one though was in a less-affected suburb. Windows smashed, walls flattened and buidlings were peppered with the deadly 6-inch long nails.
Three huge clouds of angry black smoke rose over the city.

__________________________________

"Now as your emergancy services attempt to clean up after that, I wish you to consider again our demands. But this time, we will be upping the pressure on you. We recently had a shipment of hydrogen cylinders, the order for which was then cancelled. As a result, we've been wondering what to do with them. Each one, as I probably am sure the Alfegos Government will have told you, has the explosive potential of nearly 200 pounds of TNT. And we have 100 of these cylinders. At least many more people will die in an environmentally friendly way. And the deadline for his delivery, to be considerate, is 9am tomorrow morning. Thing is, this time we won't help you on where these cylinders will be: we'll be spreading them across the entirity of your country. Plus you won't know if they are full or not that easily. Or even just full of helium: remarkably similar nozzles.

9am tomorrow morning, this time atop the Fego'Mart store in the city centre. Remember what will happen if you do not comply."

____________________________

NB: I've left you to describe the horrors of these three explosions, which explains the lack of description. Make sure that they're nice ones though.

Minister Smithfield sent a message on the AUM frequency saying, "The Rastierians no longer have Ghethson, and can't bring him to you. It is pointless to continue wasting your time, effort, and money in your attempt to coerce them into turning him over".

"On the contrary. Rastierian authorities, you have made your mistake. Just sending him away will not save you of your problems. We will continue bombing your cities until you give in to our demands. Which with your current attitude will mean that we will have to soon start raising this up a notch. And you should know what we mean by that.
If you do agree to have Ghethson bought to us, and show your willingness within a minute, we will not dispatch alongside the hydrogen cylinders some other cylinders. These latter ones are very easy to find in the rainforests of Milkavich province, especially because the government never cleaned up after itself during civil wars that used biological and chemical weapons. I'll give you a hint through with them: I can't remember what they contain, but they've got an identity mark: that would be a RED cross. Now, my experience of these are limited, but I can tell you that it is definately not of the 'safer' banded gases. I think it'll be either one of the basic nerve agents, an area-denial version or even perhaps a binary agent. And boy are these weapons nasty to breath in.
So, think about it."

When the bombs went off, a huge "boom" was heard from the prison, followed by another one. The ministers took a moment of silence to honour the dead. Minister Lansky then said, "The President is sure to hold an emergency meeting. Please be there, as this whole matter concerns your country too." The ministers put on a disguise, and left the prison for the warehouse, so that Minister Lansky could take his car and attempt to drive home. While walking, he said to the two ministers, "I suppose you can stay at my house, now that your suitcase and room is blown up to bits."
_________________________________________________________________

The bomb which was at the city centre had cost 100 billion dollars worth of damage. Worse, many policemen were killed as they were searching for a bomb there. They didn't think of looking in the sewers, thus the bomb was not found. Fire engines and rescue teams rushed to the city centre, to try and rescue as many survivors as they could, through high-tech equipment. The police helicopters were dispatched, and they were to find survivors through their onboard infrared cameras. At the bombed highway, more rescue teams and choppers were dispatched. People were trapped in their vehicles, and many more people were dead. The last bomb went off at a suburb, but most of the people were already evacuated, because of the train station nearby. Luckily, it was far enough not to be affected by the bomb.
_________________________________________________________________

Meanwhile, in a quiet island owned by Rastier, President Warren Smith issued a notice, telling all ministers to go to the secure island, for an emergency meeting regarding the issue. The two ASoGM ministers were also called to attend.

Meanwhile, the next lot of fear was about to be spread. 8 old white vans had been brought into the base, and now were being loaded. Each with 8 cylinders, and each cylinder topped with a small detonator. They were already counting down towards 9am, a radio signal only needed to deactivate them. But the right coded signal. The vans drove out, to be parked in the capital again: they wanted to make sure that the heart was torn from the nation that defied them. Each was to be moved to make the chaos even greater - they were being parked by every major hospital, police station and fire department they could find near the city centre. 8 timebombs, slowly moving out towards the capital, from different directions.

More sinister though was the lorry that was in this massive centre of operations: in the near empty supply hall that only contained two shipping crates of ammo and guns, alongside bare essential supplies and a couple of tall cylinders, a red lorry was parked/ On the back, a large orange crate was locked on, a skull and crossbones on the back. Underneath, the XV symbol used in Fegosian to alert to a danger. Alongside it were images of screaming people and other such deterrants. For this contained a dispatch of 6 gas cylinders, smaller than the hydrogen ones but possibly more deadly. Each was filled with compressed Tabun gas, an extremely basic but deadly neurotoxin. Untouched for now, they would soon be dispatched.

"On the contrary. Rastierian authorities, you have made your mistake. Just sending him away will not save you of your problems. We will continue bombing your cities until you give in to our demands. Which with your current attitude will mean that we will have to soon start raising this up a notch. And you should know what we mean by that.
If you do agree to have Ghethson bought to us, and show your willingness within a minute, we will not dispatch alongside the hydrogen cylinders some other cylinders. These latter ones are very easy to find in the rainforests of Milkavich province, especially because the government never cleaned up after itself during civil wars that used biological and chemical weapons. I'll give you a hint through with them: I can't remember what they contain, but they've got an identity mark: that would be a RED cross. Now, my experience of these are limited, but I can tell you that it is definately not of the 'safer' banded gases. I think it'll be either one of the basic nerve agents, an area-denial version or even perhaps a binary agent. And boy are these weapons nasty to breath in.
So, think about it."

Osprey 1 was in international waters, making its way to the battlegroup. Its pilots were careful to avoid the airship's radar by taking a looping flightpath 100's of miles around it. When Osprey 1 was within 150 miles of the battlegroup, 12 F18s and 4 EA-6Bs launched in order to create a screen and escort back to the carrier. Osprey 2 unloaded its prisoner into the C-130, and remained at the airfield so it could bring the marines home when they were ready. The C-130 then took off and followed a commercial flightpath not previously planned on. The 12 F-22 Raptors shadowed the C-130, in case it ran into trouble. Osprey 3 began its marathon flight back to the ASoGM, and would be arriving sometime after the C-130, but before Osprey 1. Meanwhile Minister Smithfield replied to the AUM with, "They can't give you what they no longer have. The ASoGM has him now, and the Rastierians don't have access to him, as he's out of the country. Detonating more bombs here in Rastier isn't going to accomplish anything except waste more of your money".

The ministers changed their destination to the airport, where a government jet would take them to the meeting. Meanwhile, the Rastian government sent a formal reply to the AUM: We do not have the criminal any longer. It is plain useless to pester us, as we cannot do much to help you. Most of the citizens have escaped, and you will just be helping us with leveling the city for redevelopment, due to be started in 2 weeks' time.

Osprey 1 was approximately 150 miles from the carrier, and the fighters launched to provide cover for the Osprey on its approach. Soon, the fighters reached the Osprey, and the Osprey took the center spot in the formation. Everything had gone smoothly so far, and by all indications, the planes avoided detection by the airship. Osprey 3 was still en route to the ASoGM, flying a marathon route. Every once in a while, the flight crew would change out. So far, their journey was uneventful. The C-130 was flying a commercial route not previously planned on. The F-22 Raptors were flying in a spread out formation behind the C-130, careful to avoid actually flying in the commercial route and far enough away from the C-130 to avoid drawing attention to it.


_______________________________________

The Ministers slowly made their way to the airport, to the government jet. They would be meeting with the president of Rastier soon, to strategize over this crisis the AUM had put them in.

When everyone had arrived at the island, they dashed from the small airstrip to the meeting area, and took their seats. The President stood up, and said, "Good afternoon to everyone here. I know these current events have been very unfortunate, but it cannot be helped. Luckily, we have been planning a complete rebuild of the city, but in stages. As it is of such a massive scale, we cannot predict the time taken for it to be completed, but I have decided that the areas that were bombed be rebuilt first. To the next issue. The AUM has broadcasted that they still want Mr Liam Ghethson, but from what I understand, what are we to do?" He turned to the ASoGM ministers. "Liam Ghethson is in your hands, is he?" Minister Lansky quickly answered, "Yes, he departed by an ASoGM V-22. The AUM still want him, and they will continue to bomb our capitol city until they get him. I think they are being unreasonable, because we cannot do anything to get Ghethson back."

When everyone had arrived at the island, they dashed from the small airstrip to the meeting area, and took their seats. The President stood up, and said, "Good afternoon to everyone here. I know these current events have been very unfortunate, but it cannot be helped. Luckily, we have been planning a complete rebuild of the city, but in stages. As it is of such a massive scale, we cannot predict the time taken for it to be completed, but I have decided that the areas that were bombed be rebuilt first. To the next issue. The AUM has broadcasted that they still want Mr Liam Ghethson, but from what I understand, what are we to do?" He turned to the ASoGM ministers. "Liam Ghethson is in your hands, is he?" Minister Lansky quickly answered, "Yes, he departed by an ASoGM V-22. The AUM still want him, and they will continue to bomb our capitol city until they get him. I think they are being unreasonable, because we cannot do anything to get Ghethson back."

Minister Laurence said, "Mr President, we currently have a platoon of ASoGM marines in Rastier to provide security for Ghethson's extraction. Since all they're doing now is waiting to go home, maybe they can be used to help you out. I can contact my president if you'd like, so he can authorize their use to stop the AUM terrorism and help restore order".

"They shall help to evacuate the city", replied the President. "And also, please allow your available planes to evacuate citizens." While the conference was going on, the police issued a notice, telling people to be on alert for suspicious gas cylinders.

"They shall help to evacuate the city", replied the President. "And also, please allow your available planes to evacuate citizens." While the conference was going on, the police issued a notice, telling people to be on alert for suspicious gas cylinders.

"As soon as we have our president allow the use of our troops in this capacity, that sounds good. If you'll excuse me for a minute to make the call", Minister Laurence said. He stepped away from the seating, took out his satellite phone, and made an encrypted call to the ASoGM president's office, where the ASoGM president approved the use of the marines in the fashion outlined by the Rastierian president. After ending the call, Minister Laurence came back to the seats, and said, "It's been approved".

"As soon as we have our president allow the use of our troops in this capacity, that sounds good. If you'll excuse me for a minute to make the call", Minister Laurence said. He stepped away from the seating, took out his satellite phone, and made an encrypted call to the ASoGM president's office, where the ASoGM president approved the use of the marines in the fashion outlined by the Rastierian president. After ending the call, Minister Laurence came back to the seats, and said, "It's been approved".

"Thank you very much. I am sure, with their help, the city would be evacuated much faster. Moving on, I have received word that the AUM will be planting more bombs and detonating them tomorrow, is that correct? If so, we had better move fast."

OOC: Bump for Alfegos. Also, I think we may have lost Zaheran.

OOC: Alfegos is on vacation. As for me, I kind of ran out of ideas on how to continue.

OOC: To be honest, I too have run out of ideas...

(Back!)

The AUM knew something was up listening in on the police radio chatter. They were evacuating everyone? Didn't they realise the economic impact there would be on the country? Still, that fitted in with their plans all right.

"Combat Cells E and F have been called in for debriefing and checks, and combat cells A -D and G -J have been occupied with cylinder placement about the city in the vehicles. Are K - S still alright?"
"Cells M-O and Q are currently temporarily disbanded. So, that makes it 5 teams available."
"Keep them on standby to guard safehouses, and to stock up on food: they'll have to sit it out when everyone's evacuated: we might have company sometime soon."

The Fego'doi in charge of the operations sat in her chair, next to the Fego'Soi who was in charge. She was of a higher standing than him, being fourth to the Fego'Fai himself, and had been sent to help operations. And she was appalled at the state they had been left in.

"Team A, have you dropped the van yet?"
"No, we have not."
"Make a delivery to the airport. We have cover for you to drop off some presents for them. Now get to it."
In the background, there was the sound of car horns blarting. He obviously was on the empty road going into the city, next to the blocked arteries.
"Ten-four. ETA in 20 minutes."

She picked up a fan and cooled her pretty visage: she was of Japanese origin, not of Fegosian, and had been adopted into the organisation when she was caught young stealing from one of the AUM cells. She had been shot in the legs by them, which was nothing compared to what the Fego'fai did when he found the men that did it: they'd been sent on a little run down one of the rainforest roads. The mined ones. She had soon matured as a brilliant tactician, and as the beauty of the many 'daughters' of the Fego'fai. She turned back to the radio unit, and switched the channel rapidly to the AUM general network. Hopefully secure, but knowing these people...

"Cells B-D, you are to carry on as intended to your destinations. Remember, conceal them under the main hub artieries. Time is of the essence."
A crackle of responses ensused, alongside the general chatter.
"And could Safehouse Scimitar please stop using this channel to discuss sex."
The entire network went silent.
"Thankyou."

She smiled as she looked at the computer console, where the approximate locations of each van via it's radio beacon could be seen, alongside other pieces of information. A valuable map, dangerous in the wrong hands. Only used in the hub. She checked on the other 4 cells.

"Cell G, you are to provide backup should Cell A fail at the airport. You rep. will know what I mean. Cells H and I , keep at it."

She switched to the recently established encrypted channel. Only on two handsets, it was the only security they had for now.

"Cell J, have you delivered the special goods?'
"We've made special drops at the main train station, and the airport. The rest are scattered along the underground network."
"Excellent. I will be seeing you soon siblings."


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(OOC note for my memory and so you know what the sorta stuff is being deployed by the AUM.)
Current AUM Deployment in the Rastier Capital Sector

19 x Combat Cells (each numbering 7 men and 1 Alfegan AUM rep.)
5 x Negotiation Teams (Each of 6 AUM reps.)
20 x Safehouses (each holding a cell/negotiation team in addition to 8-20 assorted personnel and weapons)
1 x Hub (The central supply depot and command of the AUM. Holds undesignated teams and between 32 - 50 personnel)

12 x Hi-Spec All-terrain landrovers
41 x Civilian Cars/Vans
2 x Civilian Trucks
1 x Armoured Car
1 x Light Aircraft

ETA of armament resupply: 8 hours after request

OOC: Sorry, I've been sick as a dog since my last post.

IC: Osprey 1, which contained Ghethson, landed aboard the carrier. The fighter escort stayed in the air though, being refueled. Once Ghethson was on board, he was loaded into a C-2 Greyhound, bound for the ASoGM. The fighters would escort the Greyhound until land based fighter cover could take over. Osprey 3 and the C-130 were flying their individual routes, and still had a ways to go. The F-22s still shadowed the C-130, making sure there was no trouble.

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Minister Smithfield relayed the new orders to the marines and Osprey crew via secure communications. The marines then got ready to deploy into the capitol city to begin its evacuation. Osprey 2, having been relieved of its prisoner, began its way back to the capitol, to begin ferrying people to safety outside the city.

As the whole city was evacuated, much of it became a huge target for bombers. Strangely enough, the government had thought that flattening the city by air would be much faster, and the AUM would be caught in the blast, probably killing some of them. The defence minister was the one who thought of the crazy idea, saying, "We'd rather destroy ourselves, than wait to be destroyed." Many criminals and terrorist groups are still laughing about the stupidity of his comment.
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Meanwhile, for the first time in history, the President of Rastier signed a document, permitting the capitol of Rastier to be temporarily moved to Pearl City, the country's economic centre.
_________________________________________________________________

As the whole city was evacuated, much of it became a huge target for bombers. Strangely enough, the government had thought that flattening the city by air would be much faster, and the AUM would be caught in the blast, probably killing some of them. The defence minister was the one who thought of the crazy idea, saying, "We'd rather destroy ourselves, than wait to be destroyed." Many criminals and terrorist groups are still laughing about the stupidity of his comment.
_________________________________________________________________

Meanwhile, for the first time in history, the President of Rastier signed a document, permitting the capitol of Rastier to be temporarily moved to Pearl City, the country's economic centre.
_________________________________________________________________

The marines plan was to egress the city via the Osprey once the evacuation was complete. Until then, they provided security for the fleeing citizens.

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The C-130, the F-22s, and Osprey 3 were regularly refueled in mid-air, and were close to the ASoGM by now. A squadron of F-22 Raptors was launched to guide Osprey 3 in, and another group of Raptors was prepped to escort the C-2 Greyhound in, once it got a little closer. Once the Raptors met with the Greyhound, the F-18s and EA-6Bs would break off and head back to the carrier battlegroup.
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The subs, which had been dispatched to port, were called back to the battlgroup on a secure VLF frequency. They would take hours to get back, then the entire battlegroup would prepare to return to the ASoGM.

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The ASoGM's numerous news channels ran stories claiming that a traitor, involved with a plot to sell WMDs to a criminal organization, was back in the ASoGM to face his numerous charges. Many of the stories claimed that the alleged traitor was being held in a Supermax facility somewhere in the ASoGM, while some others claimed that he/she was currently residing in a military stockade under heavy guard.

The C-130 and its escorts landed at Camp Ruger, and quickly offloaded their prisoner into a cell in the stockade. Guards were placed at his cell on constant watch, and the stockade was under lockdown, meaning nobody could get in without high level security clearance.

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Osprey 3 and its escorts landed at Camp Colt, and they offloaded their prisoner into a cell the stockade, too. The same security precautions were the same as at the stockade at Camp Ruger.

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The C-2 Greyhound got close enough to the ASoGM mainland for the land based F-22 Raptors to launch. Once they rendezvoused with the Greyhound, the carrier based fighters sent a secure message notifying the carrier that they were turning back towards the battlegroup. The battlegroup then turned back towards the ASoGM, and would meet the F-18s and EA-6Bs en route.

Thankfully, with the help of the ASoGM forces, the city had about 500 people left in it. More bombers unleashed their cargo of bombs on the offices and factories, while workers waited to clear up the debris. The city would soon regain half its population- 6.5 million people. However, they were to be construction workers, hired at the last minute, from major corporations and other countries. The government did a remarkable job in hiring so many people at the last minute. Other civilians whose homes weren't destroyed also pledged to help build the city.

"Ha! What a laugh!"

The AUM personnel were sitting tight in the basements of buildings while around them the bombs fell. Many safehouses had been evacuated, with a few sleeper cells left over.

"They're obviously getting desperate: they bomb their own city just to get rid of us? Really clever of them."

Back in the command hub, they were starting to pack up shop with their heavy equipment: all they were leaving behind were the less violent personnel.

"We'll leave them alone until they rebuild their capital, just keeping on with the normal business to the populace. I can assure you that there'll be a market for all sorts once they rebuild."

________________________________________

Message to Rastier Government

You still have failed in eradicating us. Not only do you now destroy your own cities in your despiration, but you still do not give us what we want. As a result, we will continue campaigns against your nation until you are either bankrupt or you deliver what we want.

Thankfully, with the help of the ASoGM forces, the city had about 500 people left in it. More bombers unleashed their cargo of bombs on the offices and factories, while workers waited to clear up the debris. The city would soon regain half its population- 6.5 million people. However, they were to be construction workers, hired at the last minute, from major corporations and other countries. The government did a remarkable job in hiring so many people at the last minute. Other civilians whose homes weren't destroyed also pledged to help build the city.

Minister Smithfield turned to Minister Lansky and said, "We need to be on the lookout for any heavy vehicles moving through the city. Also, after the bombing is completed, we need to send troops in to sweep the city for AUM stragglers and bombs. If we can prevent the AUM from getting a new foothold in the city once it's rebuilt, it will help reduce the terrorism".

The President, worried, sent a message back to the AUM: Please stop being unreasonable. Like we all have said, Ghethson is not here anymore. If you want to take revenge, so be it. We shall continue to shut down the AUM branch in Rastier.
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Meanwhile, Minister Lansky turned to the ASoGM ministers, and said, "I think I shall go to Alfegos. We need to find out how the AUM works.

The President, worried, sent a message back to the AUM: Please stop being unreasonable. Like we all have said, Ghethson is not here anymore. If you want to take revenge, so be it. We shall continue to shut down the AUM branch in Rastier.
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Meanwhile, Minister Lansky turned to the ASoGM ministers, and said, "I think I shall go to Alfegos. We need to find out how the AUM works.

Minister Laurence said, "I don't know if that is a prudent course of action. While my confidence in the Alfegosian government's ability to protect you is high, it isn't wise to tempt fate. Maybe you can learn what you need to with a request for information. The ASoGM can also question Ghethson when he arrives at the stockade to see if there's anything else he hasn't told us previously".

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The C-2 Greyhound and her escorts reached the ASoGM, and shortly were landing at Camp Bradley, the starting point of the incident. Ghethson was quickly forced into a cell at the stockade, as the other prisoners before him had been. Security was as tight as it was at Camp Colt and Camp Ruger.