NationStates Jolt Archive

(OOC: If you want to join, TG me or TNB
oh and the reference to Whiskeasy is based on a convo he an I had over TG that stated I would be allowed to join his RP if I could think of a way to do so, so don't go biting my head off)

If you don't like the way the world is, you change it. You have an obligation to change it You just do it one step at a time.
~MARIAN WRIGHT EDELMAN

The war had cost us so much... and In the end we lost. Nita looked out of her window at the vast expanse of city that panned out before her, doted here and there she could see cranes and other building machines all working Twenty-four/Seven to rebuild the cities back to the way they once were... before any of these wars had started. Though they had won the civil war the effect of it had been devastating, it would have been expensive enough, fixing the damages caused by it but then an the global war started and they just had to get involved... Everyone knew how that ended occupation and an entire city, the second most populated, gone in a single, nuclear blow. She glanced down at the copy of the treaty she had been forced to sign and smiled. At least that problem was no longer an issue, in becoming a protectorate of Anagonia that treaty had been declared null. Anagonia, an unlikely nation to come to their aid, they had after-all killed their chief governor in a terrorist attack which Nita would never admit was actually planned by her predecessor. At least the Whiskeasian troops had been withdrawn... What was the reason again? Could it be their current civil war. She hoped so, that would mean that the country was spiralling into anarchy. Her most hated nation in chaos she smiled as a thought crossed her mind, maybe she would help it in it's own destruction... But no, she had more important things to think about like rebuilding the nation, returning stability.

She turned as she heard a crackle on the call box. Another riot. She pressed the button to open communication.
“What's it about this time?”
“The confederacy again Ma'am, Specifically the Anagonians helping with the rebuilding. They say it's evidence the nation has been sold out to foreigners”
“Their views?”
“Nationalist”
“Have them arrested. Nothing else, am I clear?”
“Yes Ma'am”
She sighed, most of the Nationalists had been convinced that the country had not, in-fact, been sold out but there were still some misguided few who believed it was. Still a while in jail ought to convince them that things were running as per usual. She was lucky, things could have been worse, aside from the occasional riot or protest things were beginning to run smoothly. Most of the people were sick of war, sick of fighting and just wanted to get on with life. That is what she was trying to do. Get the country back to normal, once that was done she could quit this post which she never wanted and give it to someone who was far more suited than she was. The nation needed a strong leader and she was not it, she was a planner, an organiser which is why she was best suited for rebuilding but once that was done the country would need someone who would keep the country running the way things had always been. She stood up and walked again towards her window watching the city being rebuilt. Similar projects were happening in every Major city in the country... except City Espias. That city would never be rebuilt. That city will never again see people. That city, a mere skeleton of the crowded, noisy but most of all alive place it had once been and was no more.

Not everywhere was getting the improvements and re-buildings done. There were still those places, found all over the country. The small settlements that seem to spring out nowhere, the rural areas. Nothing but small towns, so poor it was like stepping into a century gone by were, as usual, ignored or forgotten by the government. In these places life was a struggle, with little to no help the people who live there left to fend for themselves, ignored by a system that cares too much on it's own image. While millions are spent in making the cities as modern as possible, these places are left with nothing, the houses made of wood or mud-brick with very little electricity or running water it was no wonder that people moved to the cities all the time. However, more often than not what they arrived to was hardly an improvement. uneducated and poor, the only refuge for these people was the slums. The Shanty towns. The urban equivalent of what they had left and often a whole lot worse because her they come under the arm of the government. Or rather, the government's unofficial enforcers. Vigilantes. Men and women fanatically ultra-nationalist, put one toe out of line while they are around and it was almost assured that your fate would be worse than if you were caught by the proper authorities.

Life was returning to normal however and despite the occasional protest the country was once more settling back into it's old routines. But stability was not absolute, all it would take is for a charismatic individual at the right place, and with the right words to send the balance tipping one way or another...

Gentrified Exburb of the Transmetropolitan District, Leafanistan

The apartment building itself was nothing special. It was one of the boom-towers that appeared after the Civil War and the massive expanse of the economy as Leafanistan liberalized and embraced free trade. Well above the elevated tracks of the Maglev Line that connected the five original city centers of the Transmetropolitan District the 47th story was relatively quiet.

The apartment's interior was dark, and a grungy twenty something just got home. He threw his backpack onto his bed, and sat in front of his computer. That's when he saw a package on his bed, tied with a red bow. He picked it up gingerly and shook it. It was just the noise of papers.

He opened it and found 30 dossiers from his 'benefactors' as he called them. They were listed as foreign agents working for an unnamed third party. But he recognized the names; his ever increasing involvement meant he had seen 2 of the names before. They were agents for the Northern Baltic. And it seemed to be a relatively easy job. They had done all the grunt work. Identified all the institutions that needed to be hacked and where to insert the data. Hell all the data had been inserted into a DVD.

He started up his computer and set it to TOR. This meant through dozens if not hundreds of random servers, his packets would be routed all around the world to his destination, and this path was ever changing, making it look like random traffic. He picked up the first dossier and got his botnet going. They were going to create a spike in some government servers for him, enough to slow them down for him to probe them for vulnerabilities. Afterwards he would inject the new data into them.

His sniffers would begin reporting in unprotected ports where he could stick his data. He copied the data from the DVD onto his local drive to be quickly dropped into the server en masse the moment he had it open. If he was lucky, any awake analyst would find a sudden spike in network activity, and the relatively dispersed nature of his packets would make it seem like one of the now hundreds of thousands junk packets swarming the network.

He started the process. He watched the progress bar climb slowly. TOR meant his bandwidth was leeched by the dozens of hops his packets had to make to get to his destination and back from it. It could be several minutes before he even knew if he succeeded or had been detected.

In the meantime he played with a flash drive in his hand. On board was a program designed to format the hard drives then overwrite them with junk at least 100 times, destroying any recovery of data. The punishment for crimes like this was harsh enough in Leafanistan, and he knew the government would probably extradite him.

If he was successful, he would take his proof of his covert insertion, throw it in an encrypted email and send it to his 'benefactor'. Then over the next few months he would receive several large deposits from a shell corporation that he was sure was nothing but a pile of Web 2.0 jargon for 'services rendered'. He'd have to report it on his taxes as legit income, but then he would just blend in with one of the thousands of young self employed programmers and designers in his neighborhood.

Station Genesis, Outside Pelagious, Ustio North

It had been some time since SRPA involved themselves in the Stoklomolvi-Grand World Order War. Some time since the nuclear attack, the operations carried out during that time. Since then, all had been quiet on base. Operations had experienced a lull, and the men spent most of their time on the firing line, keeping their skills sharp. Otherwise, they did what the others did; sit around, doing nothing. The soldiers, with no orders coming in, were completely redundant at the moment. News of a major schism within the ranks had filtered in from Avalon One, since there had been a serious lack of communication with "Z" in the past few weeks. Merlin and Parker had been up their to see what was going on, but had returned with no more information than when they left. For now, it was just the scientists, endlessly tinkering with new weapons or working in the bio-labs who had anything to do.

Parker walked down one of the bases seemingly endless metal corridors. It had been several years since she was first inducted into the ranks of the Sentinels, and she had never fully enjoyed the design of the underground base. Still, since it was were it was, it was unlikely to be found by any innocent bystanders that would then have to "dissapear". She rounded a corner into the recreation area. A few Sentinels occupied the room, some playing cards, others playing pool. Nodding as she passed them, she moved to a room away from the main area. The sound of a massive group of people scat-singing "Ride Of The Valkyries" began to emanate from the room. An older man, with a head of white hair and a white beard, leant against the doorway, singing along with them. Parker leaned against the doorway too, watching the screen showing "Apocalypse Now". Once the Sentinels had finished singing, she turned to Merlin

"Any word?" she asked him

"Not of what's going on, but I did recieve some orders" he replied, removing a small piece of paper from his coat pocket and passing it to her. She read it quietly

"To Merlin, Prepare Ana Drabek For Return To Fictions, Effective Immediately" she read "So, we're taking her back?"

"It says 'Effective Immediately'" Merlin said "I guess we don't have much choice"

"What about Blake, and Mitchell?" Parker asked "What did they say?"

"I don't know, we've been out of contact with Station Alpha for about a week" Merlin said

"So what do we do?" Parker asked

"We do what it says" Merlin said "She's no longer our responsibility. However, i'm not sending her back alone. I'll have Buckler take a team out there and set up shop to keep an eye on her"

"Alright, i'll go get ready" Parker said, leaving Merlin at the door.

(OOC: Sorry that this is so crappy, my knowledge of hacking is basically nil, so I'm actually incapable of giving any details or anything due to lack of personal knowledge)

The insertion was successful, and thanks to it, thirty foreign agents were not only listed as citizens, but as locals too, with back-stories and other relevant data.

Being listed as citizens was not enough though, their mission depended on how good at blending in they could be. Fictions was a naturally suspicious country to gain the support of the average man or woman one had to be very convincing especially with something as outlandish as socialism.

***

Ana Drabek was sitting on the bed of the room she had been using, not a day had went past where she had not thought of her homeland, of her family, of the life she had once lived but was gone forever. It had taken time but the pain of the whole event was beginning to ebb away slightly. The memories would never leave her she knew. She stood up and paced the room, she was in one of her restless moods, she did not know what was going to happen to her but she knew she could not live her life here. She wanted to return to Fictions but she also didn't know what would happen to her there. Her father was dead, her mother was dead, she had no siblings and had been out of touch with the rest of her family for so long that she did not know whether they were alive or dead or even knew she existed...

Offshore Bank Account #12501-873
(8:30am): Total account balance... $10,000,000
(8:38am): Incoming funds transferred... verifying amount recieved
(8:40am): Amount verified. Total account balance... $300,000,000.
(8:41am): Account transfer closed. Awaiting pickup.

Northern Baltic Military Base, Outskirts of Germuarur
"Now, you all understand what is expected of you?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"This is a highly sensitive operation... there can be no mistakes. No slips. Nothing. You all know what is expected of you... all of you have been well-versed in Fiction's culture and language, and I expect you all to act in accordance. Is that understood?"
"Yes, ma'am!"
In the morning, all 30 operatives would leave the base, over the course of a few hours, and seek various ways to their assigned areas of operation. There, they would rent an apartment, get a job, and live according to the slum's way of doing things. All were educated in all matters dealing with Fictions and all were prepared for the job they were about to do.

Ana Drabek was sitting on the bed of the room she had been using, not a day had went past where she had not thought of her homeland, of her family, of the life she had once lived but was gone forever. It had taken time but the pain of the whole event was beginning to ebb away slightly. The memories would never leave her she knew. She stood up and paced the room, she was in one of her restless moods, she did not know what was going to happen to her but she knew she could not live her life here. She wanted to return to Fictions but she also didn't know what would happen to her there. Her father was dead, her mother was dead, she had no siblings and had been out of touch with the rest of her family for so long that she did not know whether they were alive or dead or even knew she existed...

It was several hours after the conversation Parker had with Merlin when she entered Ana's room

"C'mon" she said "Let's go"

Outside, a small team of Sentinels stood waiting for her. All helmeted and menacing, they no longer carried the wood-panelled M5A2 Carbine they had used when they rescued her. Now, they carried the StA-52s (http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc15/xanixonox/Weapons/StA-52LAR.jpg?t=1216565637). They headed into a part of the base that Ana would not have seen. A great hangar built into the ground. Light filtered in from large circular holes in the roof. Their ride, yet another VTOL, was being prepared on a circular platform. The team escorted Ana onto the platform, which promptly began to rise up to the surface.

OOC: Just need to ask Fictions one more thing and I'm posting. Space reserved for post.

OOC: Bumping

(OOC: Well, I was going to try to keep things simple by waiting for TNB to edit their post once they asked that question, and then reply to both of you, but since it got bumped I'm gonna reply now)

Ana followed at a jog as they lead her into a part of the building she had not seen before. As she was escorted onto a rising platform she turned turned to Parker
“Where are you taking me?” Had this place become unsafe? Where they simply tired of having her around? Why the sudden move? Wouldn't they have given her some sort of warning?

(OOC: Well, I was going to try to keep things simple by waiting for TNB to edit their post once they asked that question, and then reply to both of you, but since it got bumped I'm gonna reply now)

Ana followed at a jog as they lead her into a part of the building she had not seen before. As she was escorted onto a rising platform she turned turned to Parker
“Where are you taking me?” Had this place become unsafe? Where they simply tired of having her around? Why the sudden move? Wouldn't they have given her some sort of warning?

OOC: Shit, sorry about that. I figured you'd not seen it.

Parker looked at Ana

"You're going home. It's safe now - well, mostly" she said, helping a second Sentinel load a large crate onto the VTOL, as mechanics unfurled it's folded wings and rotors. She helped Ana inside as the rotors began to spin to life

"But first, we need to catch a flight there. Since the VTOL won't do a non-stop trip from Ustio to Fictions, and all our ships are currently busy, we have to go to Avalon One"

The platform lifted them out into the open, above ground, and the VTOL began it's short journey into the mountains.

(OOC: It's all right, it doesn't matter really)

Home... She was going home. Ana could hardly believe it but...
“What am I going to do.... I... I don't have anyone...” She sat still, thinking, Where would she stay, her family was dead, her home destroyed... And how different would the country be? She had left the country before either of the wars started but she had seen news reports, they were as usual, very vague but what they did report was talks of heavy rebuilding in every major city.

"We've got people working on that now" Parker said, gripping the seat as she stood up "Ah, here we go"

The VTOL flew through the snow-capped mountains. Through the windscreen of the VTOL, it was possible to see the base as they approached. Jutting out of the mountainside was a long platform, supported by massive struts. The VTOL touched down on a smaller helicopter platform of the main one as the door opened, Parker turned to Ana

"Might want your coat for this. It can get quite chilly up here" she said, stepping down. As she stepped out, she was greeted by another Sentinel. He whispered something to her, she nodded and the he began to lead them into a large hangar built into the mountain itself.

OOC: Fictions, you have a visitor message.

(OOC: So do you)

Ana hastily pulled on her jacket as they stepped out of the VTOL, gasping slightly in the sudden chill of the outside. She wasn't used to this kind of weather. Jogging slightly to keep up and hugging herself to keep warm she followed Parker and the other sentinel towards the hangar...

Aquaria Central Train Station
Ivan glanced at his watched.
The train should be arriving any minute now
Sure enough, the train rounded a sharp turn and the skyline of the Capital city came into view, however he wasn't going there: he was going to one of the outlaying shanty towns, along with 12 other agents. Once the train stopped, he briskly got off with his luggage, a cheap, worn suitcase, and proceeded to walk to an apartment. Knocking on the door, he waited for a response. Within the next two days, the other agents would arrive and repeat the same process.

Germuarur
Crowding into a rickety bus, Adam seemed oddly relaxed in such a cramped environment. Not-quite-dead-yet chickens on their way to their end clucked violently and rattled their feathers, filling the bus with noise. Adam reluctantly got off at a stop right in front of a local bar. Wasting no time, he walked in, ordered a few drinks, and began talking to people. 4 other agents were assigned to do this at opposite ends of the shanty town in Germuarur.

Ibea
Natasha brushed her hair to the side, casually and continued walking past the jumble of construction sites that comprised the center city. As she reached the slums, she kept walking, though kept her eyes and ears open for any sign of trouble, but, once she reached the slums, she felt a sense of comfort: this is what she wanted to do. Hell, this is what she needed to do. Glancing down at a crumbled sheet of paper, she studied the directions a local man gave her for a place of work: past the red shack, right at the John's Bar... she studied it some more and continued on her way... no doubt the other 4 agents assigned to this city were doing the same.

Norata
Mary put her things down on the chair, despite the almost complete lack of cushioning on it. Laying down on the thin bed, she relaxed, recognizing this was all she had for the next few months, but the rent was cheap and pay, well, she could survive on the pay. Amanda, the other agent assigned to the city, was staying a few rooms down, though they pretend not to notice each other.
Amanda would have to get a job somewhere else, perhaps at the restaurant down the road... or at the bar at the corner Amanda knew this.

Eris
Annette quickly wiped up the counter, though the grease seemed to have caked itself on. Pouring a glass of beer on request, she slid herself down the counter to the drawer serving as a cash register and slid the money handed to her in. She couldn't exactly say her job was good, but the pay wasn't bad, for the shantys, and it was excellent on such sort notice... of course those faked credentials did wonders as well. Muhammed, the other agent assigned to the city, found a place to live, a little half of a shack he called home (for now), but still could not find a job. He would though. He was sure he would.

(OOC: I'm going to wait until the Norata and Ibea agents actually get into a situation where I can initiate conversation of sorts)

CA Aquaria

Leta Hawkins, closed her eyes slightly, she knew this would happen sooner or later. She had just received the letter which made it very clear if she could not pay in 1 month they would cut off all the gas, electricity and water supply to the apartment. All things considered she was lucky, the apartments generally got the basic needs, not like those little handmade things, thousands of them. Still, cut off those supplies and she may as well live in one of those shacks for all the difference it would make. God they could not know, since the wars life had been harder then usual, what with the raids and riots, not just in the main city, here as well on the very outskirts, the fringes of society. She like many other were simply relived the wars were over. a knock at the main door brought her back to reality she paused for a moment before standing up, she had been expecting a new tenant. She opened the door glancing over the young man, the usual type she thought.
“You must be the new tenant?”
“Right, Mrs Hawkins yes?”
“That's right but everyone just calls me Leta, well, Follow me then, I'll show you your room”
She lead him into the narrow hallway and past a few rooms, keeping up a commentary as she went along as she passed a door
“...And in there are the Boltons, lovely people, and that room there is Mr Taylor survived Espias, doesn't talk much, and there room is the Maliks.... And this is you” She stopped in-front of a door, she handed him a small key
“Would you care for a drink before you get settled in?”

***

C.Germuarur

Isaac sat at the bar, watching the people come and go in an almost bored manner, he knew almost everyone in this area so when an unfamiliar person walked in he watched them for a while, seemed normal enough, bought a few drinks talked to a few people, nothing odd there. He stood up and walked towards him.
“Haven't seen you around, new here?”

***

C.Eris

The man who had ordered the beer watched Annette for a while. As a regular at this place he knew she was new, he briefly wondered why the last barmaid quit or had been fired, but after a while he thought no more of it, people came and went all the time it and wasn't that unusual for people to simply disappear one day. He took a swig of his drink, god this is what his life was coming to, sitting in a bar doing sweet fuck all, he had to get out of this shit one way or another....
“You know” He addressed the new barmaid, she was closest and besides it was her job to listen to people whine “You know, I'm probably committing suicide by saying this” He gave a short laugh “But when your here in this shithole of a neighbourhood if it can be called that you know you reached the point where no-one gives a damn, you know you been left out for shit your new here you probably think its just temporary but lemmie say something... It ain't I known plenty people who think like that thinking they... gonna get out when they can but it never happens I know, I was like that once...” He took another swig of his drink, it was his third one that evening...

CA Aquaria
"Why yes. I would love one. Just let me put my things down Mrs Haw... I mean Leta, and I'll be right in."

Germuarur
After taking a sizable sip from his drink, Adam turned and faced a man who had come to introduce himself.
Haven't seen you around, new here?
"Yeah. Just got in today. Name's Adam. And you are?" Adam held out his hand in front of Isaac.

Eris
"I know what you mean. Problem is we poor people don't have any power. I approve of the government, of course I do, I just think that the other classes are overrepresented, and we, the people who need it aren't represented at all. Name's Annette by the way. Would you like another drink?"

CA Aquaria

"Why yes. I would love one. Just let me put my things down Mrs Haw... I mean Leta, and I'll be right in."
She nodded and waited for him to return, when he did she lead him into a small room with no door which was fitted with shabby furniture but made a sort of living room
“Just a small place I set aside for people to come when they like, normally there's a few” She opened a small cupboard and poured out two drinks
“It's all I got I'm afraid, sorry if it's not the best” She handed him a glass and sat down
“So what's your story then?”

***

C.Germuarur

"Yeah. Just got in today. Name's Adam. And you are?" Adam held out his hand in front of Isaac.
“Isaac” he said shaking Adams hand “What brings you to this shithole anyway, if you don't mind me asking?”

***

C.Eris

"I know what you mean. Problem is we poor people don't have any power. I approve of the government, of course I do, I just think that the other classes are overrepresented, and we, the people who need it aren't represented at all. Name's Annette by the way. Would you like another drink?"

“Yeah, thanks...M'names Randall” he smiled slightly as he took the offered drink “And your bloody right” He held his hand up conspiratorially and lowered his voice “But shh, they'll bust ya if they catcha saying that stuff” He grinned “Plenty of good people been busted for saying the wrong stuff when the wrong people were listening”

Aquaria
“Just a small place I set aside for people to come when they like, normally there's a few” She opened a small cupboard and poured out two drinks
“It's all I got I'm afraid, sorry if it's not the best” She handed him a glass and sat down
“So what's your story then?”
"Came here from the East coast... family died during the war. Mother, father, two brothers, a sister, cousins... all of 'em... just" he hesitated for a moment and then continued "incinerated."

He cleared his throat and continued, "ever since then, been drifting around... trying to find a job and maybe a stable living, but the war and bad luck made sure that wouldn't happen... then I decided I'd move to Aquaria... see how much better this shithole is compared to the other ones." he ended, smiling at his joke.

Germuarur
"Moved from Majovul... couldn't stand mining anymore, so I decided to go somewhere where I can find some shade from the bleedin' sun. How about you, Isaac? You seem pretty well known around here..."

Eris
Annette smiled. "Let's keep it between us then, Randall." As she poured another drink, she leaned in closely and said, "Listen, I get off shift in a half hour... would you mind meeting me at this address?" she handed him a crumbled up piece of paper with an address on it as she handed him his drink. Sliding down the counter, she took another drink order.

CA Aquaria

"Came here from the East coast... family died during the war. Mother, father, two brothers, a sister, cousins... all of 'em... just...incinerated....ever since then, been drifting around... trying to find a job and maybe a stable living, but the war and bad luck made sure that wouldn't happen... then I decided I'd move to Aquaria... see how much better this shithole is compared to the other ones."
Leta bowed her head slightly after hearing the story, it was like so many she had heard and it undoubtedly wasn't the last time she would hear a story like that. It was sad, so many lives had been ruined by the wars.
“Not much better here I'm afraid.... I, I'm sorry to hear about your family...” The room was silent for a while, neither said anything, this silence was interrupted however when a teenager entered the room.
“Um... I was told to give you this, It's the rent” He held out an envelope to Leta who took it
“Thankyou Miles, how are your parents?”
He shrugged slightly
“All right, who's that”
“Ivan, he's just moved in 12”

***

C.Germuarur

"Moved from Majovul... couldn't stand mining anymore, so I decided to go somewhere where I can find some shade from the bleedin' sun. How about you, Isaac? You seem pretty well known around here..."
“Quite well known, been here a few years. Lost my job and couldn't get a new one, tried to but couldn't get one in time, had to move here, then the wars came and getting proper work became near impossible...” He tailed off, truth was he had lost everything back then. He used to have a life, a girlfriend a house everything then, well he wasn't sure of the details but the company he worked for wet bust and he along with many others lost their jobs, pretty soon he had been unable to pay his bills he lost his house, his girlfriend left him and he was left with nowhere to go, so he came here.

***

C.Eris

Annette smiled. "Let's keep it between us then, Randall." As she poured another drink, she leaned in closely and said, "Listen, I get off shift in a half hour... would you mind meeting me at this address?"
He unfolded the paper and looked at it for a moment, and felt a light hint of paranoia creeping in, it could be a trap but no, the vigilantes don't work that way and neither do government agents, at least not that he knew. And he did know, he had evaded them a long time. before, during and after the civil war where he had fought as a rebel. He sat in silence a while he was normally suspicious of things like this, suspicious of strangers, but,...
“Alright... I'll see ya then...”

(OOC: So do you)

Ana hastily pulled on her jacket as they stepped out of the VTOL, gasping slightly in the sudden chill of the outside. She wasn't used to this kind of weather. Jogging slightly to keep up and hugging herself to keep warm she followed Parker and the other sentinel towards the hangar...

Inside the hangar wasn't exactly warmer than outside. They had entered through a small metal door, built into the rock face itself. A huge domed structure, metal girders supported the roof in place. Inside, numerous aircraft were parked and some were being repaired by mechanics. As Parker and Ana walked across the hangar floor, they attracted the attention of the crew, who watched them cross the large room to a gleaming white Learjet parked away from the other aircraft. The door was already open, and Parker was stopped by the Sentinel standing next to it

"Lieutenant, we managed to make contact with her. She's willing to accept" he said, a slight electronic tint to his voice, which they could hear over a radio through his helmet

"That's good news" Parker said "What about Buckler?"

"He's gone in. He'll make contact later"

"Ok" Parker said, turning to Ana "Ever fly first class?"

"Ok" Parker said, turning to Ana "Ever fly first class?"
Ana nodded and smiled “If by first class you mean private, sure” Once only, but that had been the only time she had flew, well, flew while fully conscious, flying while knocked out and kidnapped hardly counted.
“But, what's gonna happen to me back in Fictions...?” That had been all she could think about for the past few hours, what would happen? Where would she go? She looked at the jet and shivered, last time she had went to enter a plan she had been kidnapped. She knew this would not happen here but the memory of the incident was still strong in her mind...

Aquaria
“Not much better here I'm afraid.... I, I'm sorry to hear about your family...”
“Um... I was told to give you this, It's the rent” He held out an envelope to Leta who took it
“Thank you Miles, how are your parents?”
“All right, who's that”
“Ivan, he's just moved in 12”
"12? So young? What's his story? Same as mine I suppose?"
"Pretty much."
Ivan nodded.
"It seems to be the way of life for us... everyone lacks hope, well that is, everyone but my cousin, Amanda."

Germuarur
“Quite well known, been here a few years. Lost my job and couldn't get a new one, tried to but couldn't get one in time, had to move here, then the wars came and getting proper work became near impossible...”
Adam nodded his head. He had read plenty of accounts just like Isaac's. Adam then stood up, "Why don't I buy you a drink, Isaac?"

Eris
“Alright... I'll see ya then...”
Annette nodded and smiled, "I'll see you."
A dozen or so drinks later, Annette left her job, bag in hand, and headed over to the address she gave Randall, her 'apartment'. The small, one bedroom shack could hardly be called an apartment, but it was. Lighting up a cigarette, she waited for him to come, anxiously tapping her foot.

Aquaria

"It seems to be the way of life for us... everyone lacks hope, well that is, everyone but my cousin, Amanda."
Leta nodded, what he said was true, many people she had met had lost hope and were just concentrated on getting on with life. During the rebellion there had been an increase in hope but that had vanished when it became clear that it was doing more harm than good to those involved.
“It is good she has hope, more people need hope in their lives”
The young boy, Miles, Leta had called him looked at Ivan for a while then spoke
“Why. Why, what the point? were all gonna die anyway, what's the point in wishing”

***

Germuarur

"Why don't I buy you a drink, Isaac?"
Isaac smiled gratefully at this offer, he was thinking about his old life, and the memories hurt, he knew he could never go back to it. A drink would be what he needed.
“Yes, thankyou”

***

Eris

Randall paced the room of the shack he called home, he was having severe doubts about meeting this woman, he knew nothing about her, anything could happen but he had to go, he had said he would and not going after saying he would was worse than declining the offer. He cursed his traditional upbringing and made to walk out of the shack but stopped and doubled back and out of the only secure storage area in the place he took a handgun and hid it in his jacket which he wore despite the heat of the day and walked out of the shack. He sincerely hoped he would not have to use it.
Arriving a while later at the address provided he hesitated then knocked....

Aquaria
“It is good she has hope, more people need hope in their lives”
“Why. Why, what the point? were all gonna die anyway, what's the point in wishing”

Ivan stood up. "But we can change things! Don't you see? The problem isn't necessarily the government or the system of things, the problem is that the upper and middle classes are over represented and we, the people that need help most, aren't represented at all. Right now the vigilantes basically run things around here, but we are still capable. We need to form our own militias, not to challenge the government, but to tell them, with a deafening voice, that we are still here."

Germuarur
“Yes, thankyou”
"Hey! Bartender!" Adam called out "Two drinks over here."
Adam then sat down and waited for the drinks to come.
"There just seems to be a general sense of helplessness everywhere... like we are trapped in an endless cycle. I mean, I have a few ideas, except I doubt they will ever gain enough support to actually work... depressing, isn't it?

Eris
Annette waited quietly, lighting up another cigarette. When she heard a knock at the door, she grabbed her small combat knife and stuck it in her jacket. Then, creeping over to the door, she peered out the tiny hold she made in the side of the shack. He's alone. Kind of hesitating. He seems clean. Opening the door, she smiled and welcomed him into her home. It was quite organized for a shack. A small bed took up the far side of the wall, while some basic cooking materials, including a fire pit dug into the ground, stood to the right of the door. To the left, a few simple, but decorative paintings lined the wall. Several candles bathed the room in a soft glow of light. In the center of the room sat a round table with a tea pot and several cups strategically placed around it.

After closing the door, showing him his seat, and pouring him some tea, Annette began the conversation directly. "We cannot allow this cycle of hopelessness to continue. It is driving our fellow people into the ground. Suicide rates, although never official, are on the rise amongst the poor. We cannot simply allow this to continue. We need change."

Aquaria

"But we can change things! Don't you see? The problem isn't necessarily the government or the system of things, the problem is that the upper and middle classes are over represented and we, the people that need help most, aren't represented at all. Right now the vigilantes basically run things around here, but we are still capable. We need to form our own militias, not to challenge the government, but to tell them, with a deafening voice, that we are still here."

Leta froze when she heard this, staring shocked at a point on the wall, no... please, not here.... She absentmindedly played with the hem of her sleeve and bit her lip nervously.
“I... I have to ask you something..... Please.... You must be honest.... Where you a rebel?” God please say he wasn't, the last thing she wanted was for word to get out. She did not want a lynch mob at her door. It wasn't until after she had spoken that she realised Miles had slipped, unnoticed, out of the room

***

Miles wandered the streets waving in and out of the streets of shacks tightly paced together. He knew who he was looking for, young he may be but he knew what to do. After a few minutes wandering he spotted them, a group of about four or so young men, each armed and acting like they owned the place, which they did. These were vigilantes, Militia men. He knew this because of the orange armband they wore, a symbol. If someone starts talking about classes and protest you must tell the authorities. These are bad people. cautiously he approached them. One of the men noticed him and watched him for a while when it became clear the young lad was trying to get their attention he spoke
“What you want kid? If its money you can forget it”
“No...There's, um...there's” Miles hesitated, now it came to it he wasn't sure he wanted to talk to these people, they seemed worse than the man from the apartment
“There's a what? Spit it out”
“Um....” Miles hesitated a moment and ran off, the militia men watched him go, one of them shook their head
“Mad. Bloody mad...”

***

Germuarur

"There just seems to be a general sense of helplessness everywhere... like we are trapped in an endless cycle. I mean, I have a few ideas, except I doubt they will ever gain enough support to actually work... depressing, isn't it?”

“Yea” Isaac took a deep swig of his drink and set it down heavily in-front of him “We all have ideas but nothing ever comes of it” He sighed and shook his head slightly “Your right though, it is an endless cycle eventually you just stop hoping and try and get on best you can.... You'll realise that” He gave a short laugh “You'll wish you never left the mines”

***

Eris

“We cannot allow this cycle of hopelessness to continue. It is driving our fellow people into the ground. Suicide rates, although never official, are on the rise amongst the poor. We cannot simply allow this to continue. We need change.”

Randall had been looking around the room with mild interest mixed with caution when the words the woman spoke sunk in and snapped him back to reality. They were unexpected and threw him slightly off guard. Was it a trap? Was she trying to get some sort of confession out of him? He paused for a moment before thinking, carefully constructing an answer and when he finally spoke it was in a slow deliberate tone
“You ought to be careful who you talk to, I'm just some bloke you met in the pub... for all you know... I could be anyone...”

Aquaria
“I... I have to ask you something..... Please.... You must be honest.... Where you a rebel?”
Ivan's jaw dropped, "A REBEL? God no. The last thing I would do is rebel against the government. Those rebels were cold blooded murderers." Ivan now acted slightly offended, softly muttering A rebel. How could she think I was one of them? Overthrowing our government? What a ridiculous idea!

Germuarur
“Yea. We all have ideas but nothing ever comes of it. Your right though, it is an endless cycle eventually you just stop hoping and try and get on best you can.... You'll realise that. You'll wish you never left the mines”
Adam laughed. "Now that is something I would never wish. Dust filling my lungs until one day, I either get buried alive in the mines or die of lung cancer in the elevators. No... had I not taken what money I had and left, I never would've left the mines. Even after death." Ending on a somber note, Adam took a long swig of his drink.

Eris
“You ought to be careful who you talk to, I'm just some bloke you met in the pub... for all you know... I could be anyone...”
"Death is of no concern to me anymore. I either die enslaved or I die free, basically. Now, bloke, are you in or not?" Annette quietly poured herself another cup of tea as she waited for a response.

Aquaria

"A REBEL? God no. The last thing I would do is rebel against the government. Those rebels were cold blooded murderers."
Leta let out a sigh of relief, Thank God for that!
“Of course, How silly of me” She gave a nervous laugh “I didn't mean any offence, of course your not. Only you can't be too careful you know?” She smiled slightly “Just, just forget I asked ok?”

***

Germuarur

"Now that is something I would never wish. Dust filling my lungs until one day, I either get buried alive in the mines or die of lung cancer in the elevators. No... had I not taken what money I had and left, I never would've left the mines. Even after death."
Isaac nodded, It was the same all over, you do what you can and you die all the same, we all live our lives and for what? To end up in the very dregs of society.
“Man.... When you put it that way, life is shit.” He shook his head “Wish there was something we could do but hey, this is our world” He raised his glass in as though giving cheers, but it was done in an ironic way. A toast to living hell.

***

Eris

"Death is of no concern to me anymore. I either die enslaved or I die free, basically. Now, bloke, are you in or not?"
Was this the truth? Could she be trusted? He didn't know why, but he found himself trusting the woman, despite his better judgement. No-one would be this reckless unless they meant it. He let several seconds pass before finally answering
“If I say I'm in, I won' wake up in prison tomorrow?” He grinned “Yea, I'm in, But if I end up dead. I'm hauntin' ya” The last bit was said in a lighthearted way.

Aquaria
“Of course, How silly of me. I didn't mean any offense, of course your not. Only you can't be too careful you know? Just, just forget I asked ok?”
Ivan shrugged his shoulders and smiles. "Dont worry about it. All I want to do is have the poor form their own militias, the government will allow it. Then all we need to do is earn the government's respect. Then the government will help us."

Germuarur
“Man.... When you put it that way, life is shit. Wish there was something we could do but hey, this is our world.”
Adam nodded. Then it hit him. "You're right, Isaac! This is our world. And if we were born as poor and die as poor, what do we have to lose by a little attempted reform? How about this, Isaac, you give me your ideas, and I give you mine. Hopefully the government will help us."

Eris
“If I say I'm in, I won' wake up in prison tomorrow? Yea, I'm in, But if I end up dead. I'm hauntin' ya”
Annette smiled. "We're in this together now. I have a few people at my disposal and an old uncle of mine should be able to handle weapons. Now, the question is, what to do about ideology? What will the organization of this be?"

Aquaria

"Dont worry about it. All I want to do is have the poor form their own militias, the government will allow it. Then all we need to do is earn the government's respect. Then the government will help us."
Leta laughed slightly “You're a right idealist, you are” she shook hear head slightly smiling, like anyone would take them seriously? “All right, I'll take your bait. Suppose this was to happen, how would you gain their respect? and more important, how will you persuade people to join”

***

Germuarur

"You're right, Isaac! This is our world. And if we were born as poor and die as poor, what do we have to lose by a little attempted reform? How about this, Isaac, you give me your ideas, and I give you mine. Hopefully the government will help us."
Isaac thought for a moment, he swirled what remained of his drink around in his cup. What did he have to lose really? He had already lost everything. He placed his glass back down on the bar thoughtfully
“My Ideas? Well, I dunno...” He shrugged “The usual stuff I suppose, just want them to realise what kind of shit we have to live with and actually do something about it” He shrugged again and looked at his drink. Like they could actually reform the government, Like they could change their opinions.

***

Eris

"We're in this together now. I have a few people at my disposal and an old uncle of mine should be able to handle weapons. Now, the question is, what to do about ideology? What will the organisation of this be?"
Did she really have all that? This can't be a joke, No-one jokes about this kind of thing, it's far too dangerous.
“Ideology? Are we goin' for full reform?” Here goes nothing “Like a full overthrow of the current establishment?” No Going back now “What I think is simple. No more tyranny. No more dictatorship” Well... It's out now if I'm going to die, make it quick. He waited, half expecting her to announce herself as a government officer.

Aquaria
“You're a right idealist, you are. All right, I'll take your bait. Suppose this was to happen, how would you gain their respect? and more important, how will you persuade people to join”
Ivan laughed,"Haha. I suppose I am! See, the militias would have two purposes: first, to provide for the common defense, and second, to form work groups to help construct things such as new apartment buildings and pipes. It is through this that we can attract the government's attention to provide us with funding, allowing us to pay our members, and once the money starts coming in, we can probably get quite a few people to join."

Germuarur
“My Ideas? Well, I dunno... the usual stuff I suppose, just want them to realize what kind of shit we have to live with and actually do something about it.”
"I agree" said Adam, "I think, you know, maybe if we formed our own militias, which could also use as work groups, it would help clean up the slums here a bit. At least we can try to get running water or electricity again. Besides, what do we have to lose?"

Eris
“Ideology? Are we goin' for full reform? Like a full overthrow of the current establishment? What I think is simple. No more tyranny. No more dictatorship.”
"Full reform might alienate moderate supporters. Perhaps we should try a more moderate view. Then, after it fails, we head to a more extreme view?" Annette slid a piece of plywood from the poorly constructed flooring and stood up, only to pull several cinder blocks out from the ground. "As for everything else, might I suggest we continue this conversation downstairs?" She pointed down a ladder leading to a moderately sized room, several times the size of the shack she lived in. "Shall I go first or do you want to?"

Aquaria

"Haha. I suppose I am! See, the militias would have two purposes: first, to provide for the common defence, and second, to form work groups to help construct things such as new apartment buildings and pipes. It is through this that we can attract the government's attention to provide us with funding, allowing us to pay our members, and once the money starts coming in, we can probably get quite a few people to join."
She thought about this for a moment... It would be great if it was possible. She tucked a lock of hair behind her ear and looked at a point on the wall. Wouldn't it be nice though? It would make a difference, if it were possible but...
“It's a nice idea, it really is but... Where would you get the money for it? I mean, if you want to make stuff that's not just like the little hand-made things you see out there you'll need proper equipment won't you?”

***

Germuarur

"I think, you know, maybe if we formed our own militias, which could also use as work groups, it would help clean up the slums here a bit. At least we can try to get running water or electricity again. Besides, what do we have to lose?"
“Nothing, We got Nothing to lose” Isaac laughed slightly, he wasn't sure whether this guy was serious or not he heard all sorts of mad ideas in his time, none of them ever took off but still, may as well play along. Who knows, maybe he might be serious after all and like he said, what did he have to lose? “So how would we go about doing this then?”

***

Eris

"Full reform might alienate moderate supporters. Perhaps we should try a more moderate view. Then, after it fails, we head to a more extreme view? As for everything else, might I suggest we continue this conversation downstairs? Shall I go first or do you want to?"
He looked down into what was some sort of basement and wondered what was down there
“You go down first” He didn't trust her enough to go down first himself, who knew what would happen? Still if she tried anything he had his gun. He was pretty sure he would not need it, she seemed genuine.

Aquaria
“It's a nice idea, it really is but... Where would you get the money for it? I mean, if you want to make stuff that's not just like the little hand-made things you see out there you'll need proper equipment won't you?”
"Well, we would start on small projects first and work our way up. It will cost far less for the government to invest in us then to have some privatized construction company move in."

Germuarur
“Nothing, We got Nothing to lose. So how would we go about doing this then?”
"First we gotta go about recruiting people to form militia work gangs. Then, we can identify the skills of each member of those gangs and we go about improving our lives. Eventually, not only should the government invest money into us, but by having our own militias, we should be able to have more of an influence in government policy... maybe even get some things changed, you know?"

Eris
“You go down first”
Annette slid down the ladder and motioned for Randall to follow. Then she walked on the other side of the basement to a home built radio receiver. It was low energy and drew its power from battery-packs. Picking up the speaker, Annette sent out a message in Morse code:
Muhammed. we are ready to begin operations As she was sending out the message, she was telling him, "I'm just sending a message off to one of my supporters on the other side of the city... he told me last night that he has a few followers." After she finished sending the message, she ripped off the Morse code strand and handed it to Randall for him to check.

Aquaria

"Well, we would start on small projects first and work our way up. It will cost far less for the government to invest in us then to have some privatised construction company move in."
“Well, you seemed to have given this a lot of thought” She laughed, here was one of those people who had all sorts of crazy schemes who knows, maybe one might work out, best not discourage him if this sort of thing made him happy “So what would your first project be?”

***

Germuarur

"First we gotta go about recruiting people to form militia work gangs. Then, we can identify the skills of each member of those gangs and we go about improving our lives. Eventually, not only should the government invest money into us, but by having our own militias, we should be able to have more of an influence in government policy... maybe even get some things changed, you know?"
“So, how would we go about recruiting people?” This guy really was serious. He actually sounded like he believed all this was possible, Isaac was sceptical he suspected nothing would come of this but what had he to lose? He had nothing so if it failed nothing would be lost and in the off chance that something was to come of it something may actually happen.

***

Eris

"I'm just sending a message off to one of my supporters on the other side of the city... he told me last night that he has a few followers." After she finished sending the message, she ripped off the Morse code strand and handed it to Randall for him to check.
He took the strand and after a while handed it back nodding, it seemed valid. he had been suspicious when she had been making the message but this seemed innocent. He wouldn't let his guard down though, just incase.
“So, this guy's comin' here then?”

Aquaria
"Well, you seemed to have given this a lot of thought. So what would your first project be?”
"Well" Ivan thought for a second. "My first project would probably be to clean up the streets. We could use any materials we salvage to help us with other projects. And who knows, if people see us cleaning up the streets, they might be a bit more hopeful towards the future."

Germuarur
“So, how would we go about recruiting people?”
Adam cleared his throat. "Public speeches, maybe we could gather some support in the slums and get access to a computer, make a few posts on there as well. Are you committed?"

Eris
“So, this guy's comin' here then?”
"Yes he is. In about an hour.", Annette responded while searching through a box of things. Throwing Randall a rope, she said, "Can you climb up the ladder and attach this", throwing a pulley to him, "to the roof." Next, Annette pulled a rather bulky box from under a table and took the end of the rope and tied it to hold the box. "One, two, three, pull!" Annette pushed the box up as she climbed the ladder and would close the basement off after she was done.

Aquaria

"My first project would probably be to clean up the streets. We could use any materials we salvage to help us with other projects. And who knows, if people see us cleaning up the streets, they might be a bit more hopeful towards the future."
Leta felt a strange fascination with what the man was saying, it was odd because it was like many other crackpot schemes she had heard but still she felt a certain curiosity
“Do you have any people helping you yet?”

***

Germuarur

"Public speeches, maybe we could gather some support in the slums and get access to a computer, make a few posts on there as well. Are you committed?"
Isaac grinned “Sure, why not?” he picked up his glass and finished off the last of his drink “when do we start?” He could hardly believe he was getting involved in someone's mad idea, someone he had only just met.

***

Eris

"One, two, three, pull!" Annette pushed the box up as she climbed the ladder and would close the basement off after she was done.
Once the box was safely in the main room Randall cautiously nudged it with his foot
“What's in 'ere then?”

Aquaria
“Do you have any people helping you yet?”
Ivan bowed his head a little and then raised it as he spoke, "No. No not yet. I was hoping to go around, door by door perhaps, and explain my ideas." Ivan shrugged. "Who knows... maybe I'll get a few people interested."

Germuarur
“Sure, why not? When do we start?”
"How about now? Adam climbed up on the table. Thank God it seems sturdy he thought. "Attention ladies and gentlemen! May I have your attention please? I would like to make an announcement if that's alright with you."

Eris
“What's in 'ere then?”
Taking an old, rusty crowbar, Annette attempted to leverage the box open, but the crowbar split in half. Casting it aside, she produced a chisel from a drawer and picked up a piece of a brick laying on the floor. She then proceeded to knock the box open. After a few minutes, the box let out a satisfying pop and opened. Inside were several Tokarev TT-33 pistols, as well as six Ppsh-43 submachine guns, three SKS Carbines, several dozen grenades, and a few hundred rounds of 7.62x25mm and 7.62x39 rounds.

After giving Randall a chance to peer over the contents, Annette pushed the box under her bed in the corner. A few minutes later, there was a knock at the door, after checking to be sure it was him, Muhammad and four other people walked into Annette's apartment. They introduced each other and Annette carried more chairs over to the table after they all sat down.

Annette was the first one to break the silence. "We need a name, a clear message, and a motto. Any ideas?"

Aquaria

"No. No not yet. I was hoping to go around, door by door perhaps, and explain my ideas." Ivan shrugged. "Who knows... maybe I'll get a few people interested."
“Well I wish you much luck, I hope your idea works out” She smiled “Who knows, maybe some people lodging here may want to help, If you like I could mention it to a few?”

***

Germuarur

Isaac watched Adam clamber onto the table in disbelief, what on earth...?
"Attention ladies and gentlemen! May I have your attention please? I would like to make an announcement if that's alright with you."
Oh god... Isaac felt like laughing but somehow managed to keep a straight face, he noticed a few people turn to watch, some curious some confused others with an expression that clearly said 'God, why must we listen to someone's drunken ramblings' one person who was sitting a few tables away suddenly seemed very alert and watched Adam with undisguised suspicion.

Eris

"We need a name, a clear message, and a motto. Any ideas?"
Randall considered this in silence, looking carefully at each of the newcomers in turn, he was pretty much convinced in the validity of this group, there was no way officials would put this much effort into catching dissenters, they would just arrest someone, not stage a group.
“I think” he said slowly “I think we should think of our aims first, everything else will fall into place after that, once we have out aim, we have our message, with our message comes our motto and a name is an optional extra that can be figures out once we have those” The rebel group we had been in never had a name, they were just known as the freedom fighters, the rebels or more recently the terrorists.

Aquaria
“Well I wish you much luck, I hope your idea works out. Who knows, maybe some people lodging here may want to help, If you like I could mention it to a few?”

"Oh yes. I would like that. Thank you." Ivan went to go outside, but stopped short. "On second thought, do you mind if I came with you? I think it would be an easy way to, you know, meet the people here at the same time I try to garner up support..."

Germuarur
"Firstly!" Adam raised his drink slightly above his head. "I would like to propose a toast! To us: the people of Fictions. I bet you that you can't find a hardier lot of men on this Earth. We have all lost so much, yet kept going, and that's what we're good at!"

Adam raised his other hand, in a fist, high as he gulped a sizable amount of his drink. "Now, speaking of loss: life is shit here in the shanties. We all know that. So, I had an idea. Well... I figured that since many of us either had no job or are doing odd jobs, we could form Militia Work Gangs to work on infrastructure... maybe bring some electricity to the shanties. In times of war, their job would be to fight for our country, but in times of peace, they could mainly concentrate on infrastructure projects. We would start small first: sweeping city streets, cleaning out junk yards, etc., and hopefully, the government will invest some money into us, allowing us to buy tools and work on bigger projects." Adam finished and waited for any questions.

Eris
“I think” he said slowly “I think we should think of our aims first, everything else will fall into place after that, once we have out aim, we have our message, with our message comes our motto and a name is an optional extra that can be figures out once we have those”
A younger man, looking around 17 or 18, spoke up, "How about 'For a New Fictions in a new world'?"
Annette nodded in agreement, "I like it. I think it appeals to a wide base of support, while still giving people hope. What do you think Muhammad?"
"I agree, Annette."
"And how about you, Randall?"

Aquaria

"On second thought, do you mind if I came with you? I think it would be an easy way to, you know, meet the people here at the same time I try to garner up support..."
Leta hesitated a moment, she had been intending to just bring it up perhaps in conversation as she often had chats with her tenants
“Well... I guess if you want to ask yourself you could just come to this room in the evenings, often there are a few here, its a place for a chat or your could come along with me when I collect the rent...” She hesitated again as she always did when discussing money “On that subject... you wouldn't mind paying in advance, only if I don't pay the bills the water and gas and electricity will get cut off and were lucky to even have those here”

***

Germuarur

"Firstly!" Adam raised his drink slightly above his head. "I would like to propose a toast! To us: the people of Fictions. I bet you that you can't find a hardier lot of men on this Earth. We have all lost so much, yet kept going, and that's what we're good at!"
There was a murmur of confused agreement at this, a few people even followed his lead and joined in the toast wondering what this person was going to say next and strongly suspecting he was probably drunk.
"Now, speaking of loss: life is shit here in the shanties. We all know that. So, I had an idea. Well... I figured that since many of us either had no job or are doing odd jobs, we could form Militia Work Gangs to work on infrastructure... maybe bring some electricity to the shanties. In times of war, their job would be to fight for our country, but in times of peace, they could mainly concentrate on infrastructure projects. We would start small first: sweeping city streets, cleaning out junk yards, etc., and hopefully, the government will invest some money into us, allowing us to buy tools and work on bigger projects."
A heavy silence followed, it lasted for a few seconds as people seemed to consider what had been said there was truth in the man's words yes but all the same it seemed a rather ambitious plan a few people exchanged a few words and finally one person decided to break the silence
“So like, what your saying is basically try and make this place less of a hellhole?”

***

Eris

"How about 'For a New Fictions in a new world'?"
Annette nodded in agreement, "I like it. I think it appeals to a wide base of support, while still giving people hope. What do you think Muhammad?"
"I agree, Annette."
"And how about you, Randall?"
He thought for a moment, it was simple and got the point across certainly
“Yea... That could work” pausing a moment to think some more “An' it don't necessarily mean anythin' dangerous, it could mean anythin'”

Aquaria
“Well... I guess if you want to ask yourself you could just come to this room in the evenings, often there are a few here, its a place for a chat or your could come along with me when I collect the rent...” She hesitated again as she always did when discussing money “On that subject... you wouldn't mind paying in advance, only if I don't pay the bills the water and gas and electricity will get cut off and were lucky to even have those here”

Ivan slowly nodded. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a wad of money. "This is pretty much what I have. I know its a little more then my rent, but I understand that we need to keep the gas and water running, so please, just take it and don't worry about it."

Ivan returned to his room and laid down. He had a long day and needed a short nap.

Germuarur
“So like, what your saying is basically try and make this place less of a hellhole?”
Adam nodded in agreement. "Personally, I don't have anything to lose, so I figure that we mine as well try." Adam then got off the table and sat back down on the chair.

Eris
“Yea... That could work” pausing a moment to think some more “An' it don't necessarily mean anythin' dangerous, it could mean anythin'”
The others nodded in a general consensus. Annette was the one to break the silence. "I have a few weapons here already, asked my cousin to ship them for me" Putting the box of guns on the table, she encouraged everyone there to take a main weapon, some rounds, and a pistol. She waited until everyone was done until she and Muhammad grabbed weapons. "Sorry. I know it isn't much, but its the best I could do for now."

Aquaria

Leta stood stunned for a moment then slowly counted the money and smiled faintly. Walking into her own room she took an envelope out of a shabby chest of drawers and put the money inside there were already bills and coins in the envelope just a bit more and she would be able to pay off the bills. Placing the envelope back in the drawer she picked up a small notebook and pencil and made note of the fact Ivan's rent had been paid. She considered her new tenant you could learn a lot about someone from those first few minutes of conversation. He seemed a good person, an optimist and idealist but that wasn't necessarily a bad thing and this idea of his, it would be lovely if it worked but she had learned to view these things with a certain measure of cynicism.

***

Germuarur

"Personally, I don't have anything to lose, so I figure that we mine as well try.”
The people seemed to consider this the person who had raised the question before seemed deep in thought then
“Alright, yea may as well”
Another moment of silence then someone else made their agreement known, then another and another there were still some people who were hesitant or suspicious but the fact that some had already shown an interest seemed to act as encouragement to the others.
A few tables down the man who had been watching and listening and who was almost certainly some sort of agent or uninformed officer was still paying close attention to what people were saying.

***

Eris

"Sorry. I know it isn't much, but its the best I could do for now."
Randall shook his head “No this is good for just startin' off” Looking around the room at the people he was now left in no doubt as to the validity of this group this was for real as far as he understood he was once again part of some sort of resistance movement

Aquaria
Ivan woke up slowly. Rubbing his eyes as he sat up, he quietly turned his legs over the side of the bed and stood up. Changing into a new pair of clothes, he proceeded down to the place where Leta was talking to him earlier. Seeing the place was empty, he grabbed a cup of tea and waited for someone to enter the room.

Germuarur
“Alright, yea may as well”
Standing up again, Adam made another announcement: "Alright. Anyone who is interested, meet back here tomorrow after lunch."
Adam continued to talk around for a little bit when he noticed the man in the center of the room. If that isn't an agent, I'll be damned. Choosing to approach him, Adam went over and patted him on the back, "Hey I was just wondering if I could, you know, maybe buy you a drink?"

Eris
“No this is good for just startin' off”
Annette nodded her head, "Now. What we need to do is establish a system of safe-houses. My house, as well as Muhammad's" she pointed over to Muhammad, "will both be safe houses. How about everyone else here? What is your living situation? Could we use your houses as safe houses?" Two of the other people lived in apartments, which were out for the moment and one of them still lived with his parents. One more said that using his house as a safe house was possible. Annette then turned over to Randall, "What about you? Can we use your house as a safe house?"

Aquaria

It was perhaps several minutes that Ivan sat, perhaps even an hour. There was a small clock in the room but the hands never moved and it was obvious that it was being kept merely for the look it lent to make the room look less sparse. Hearing footsteps he glanced towards the door, a man who looked in his early twenties passed by then reappeared and watched him for a while
“I Don't think we met, are you new here?”

***

Germuarur

Adam went over and patted him on the back, "Hey I was just wondering if I could, you know, maybe buy you a drink?"
Slightly taken aback by this and in a jumbled instinct not to refuse the agent found himself stuttering
“Y-yes that w-would” He stopped, cursing himself for being so easily fazed, regaining his composure he started again “yes, thankyou”
To those out of the mans line of vision people exchanged grins. These agents that showed up every now and then never really made much of an effort to hide the fact and seeing one of them startled was mildly amusing as they normally seemed so unflappable.

***

Eris

"What about you? Can we use your house as a safe house?"
“Yes, you can” A moments pause “I, I think I know some more people who may be interested in this?” It was a gamble that any more of his fellow former rebels would want to risk something like this again but it was worth a try, and the more support the group got the better the chance of success. In a way he felt this is what it must have been like when the original rebellion had first started off, before he had become involved. Just a handful of people united by an idea.

Aquaria
“I Don't think we met, are you new here?”
Ivan looked up quickly and stood up. Putting out his hand he said, "Yeah. Just came in a few hours ago. Name's Ivan. And you are?"

Germuarur
“Y-yes that w-would” He stopped, cursing himself for being so easily fazed, regaining his composure he started again “yes, thankyou”
Adam yelled out "Two beers over here!" and then sat down. After the drinks were brought, Adam said, "Sorry I didn't catch your name... my name is Adam."

Eris
“Yes, you can” A moments pause “I, I think I know some more people who may be interested in this?”
"That would be great" Annette said. "As long as you.. you know... trust them. That goes for you others as well, you know anyone that might be interested? Mention a few ideas to them, but be careful. Don't do anything stupid. You never know when the government is watching." On that note, the meeting was ended. Annette went out to escort the others home, but would come back later that night.

Aquaria

Ivan looked up quickly and stood up. Putting out his hand he said, "Yeah. Just came in a few hours ago. Name's Ivan. And you are?"
“Dennis Malik” taking Ivan's hand and shaking it he looked thoughtful for a moment then said slowly “Ivan of the work squad? Leta mentioned something when collecting the rent”

***

Germuarur

"Sorry I didn't catch your name... my name is Adam."
“Eli Lloyd” He took a swig of his drink mainly to hide his mild confusion, not knowing quite what to expect, watching the slums never involved socialising before. The agent looked around at the people in the bar most of whom were talking amongst themselves from what he could hear about what had just been said all the time glances were cast in this direction.
“You seem to have caused a bit of a stir...”

***

Eris

Making his was along the winding streets of the shanty Randall considered his position, he had once more become involved in a rebel group bent on government overthrow. If anything would come of it was still to be seen but the woman he had met and her friend seemed to know what they were doing. He wondered for a moment if they had also been rebels but in a different faction to his own. He took another turning passing rows of endless makeshift buildings, haphazardly assembled out of bits off corrugated iron, plywood, card and pretty much anything that could be found. Well, he may as well start talking to his old comrades from the days of the revolution he knew one lived in an apartment nearby and made his way towards it...

***

In his apartment Nicholas sat writing out an application for a job which he knew he would not get. No-one wanted to hire a shanty dweller. Finishing off the last line he re-read his application it was no use, there was simply no getting past the fact that employers would always discard his application the moment they saw his address. He was about to throw the form away when a knock at his door startled him to his feet, it was Mr. Cooke about the rent he was sure of it. Cautiously opening the door a crack he breathed a sigh of relief when he saw who it was.
“Randall, come in, have a drink” He opened the door and stepped aside for his old friend to enter
“I thought you were the landlord” he laughed “So what brings you here then?”
“Well” He noticed Randall's hesitation “Well, I met this woman, no nothing like that, well, she feels that, how do I say, well, something should be done about, about the way things are...” He tailed off nervously
“The way things are?” Nicholas sighed, there was only one thing it could be. Glancing over at the door he lowered his voice “Don't tell me you got yourself involved in another rebellion”
“Well... Maybe, its still small but it has potential”
“And you want me to be part of it?”
“If you are interested”
“No. I can't risk it. Not after the last time”
“Last time we only failed because the world got involved”
“And what's to say they wont do so this time too, Listen, life is tough enough as it is without trying to change the system”
Randall sighed and looked around the room, noting the job application form that had been left lying around.
“Well, I can see you Just want to get on with your life... Just promise you'll think about it ok? Think about it and get back to me”

Aquaria
“Dennis Malik” taking Ivan's hand and shaking it he looked thoughtful for a moment then said slowly “Ivan of the work squad? Leta mentioned something when collecting the rent”
"One and the same. So what do you think of my idea?"

Germuarur
“Eli Lloyd” He took a swig of his drink mainly to hide his mild confusion, not knowing quite what to expect, watching the slums never involved socializing before. The agent looked around at the people in the bar most of whom were talking amongst themselves from what he could hear about what had just been said all the time glances were cast in this direction.
“You seem to have caused a bit of a stir...”
Adam smiled. "Just gave them a little hope. That's all." Adam leaned in closer. "So what do you think the chances are of the government providing us with anything more then pocket change?"

Aquaria

"One and the same. So what do you think of my idea?"
“Well, I reckon if it gets off the ground you could do some good” He grinned “In-fact, I wouldn't mind helping you with it”

***

Germuarur

"So what do you think the chances are of the government providing us with anything more then pocket change?"
Taking another sip of his drink he looked thoughtful for a moment
“That all depends” He swirled his drink in its glass and placed it back down “That depends on whether you can actually make a difference. Prove that then maybe” He shrugged, he doubted whether this would even take off, but still might be worth mentioning when he reported back.

Aquaria
“Well, I reckon if it gets off the ground you could do some good” He grinned “In-fact, I wouldn't mind helping you with it”
Ivan couldn't help but smiling. "Nice to have you on board, Dennis. Now", Ivan looked around, "If you follow me to my room, I already made several patches. Do you know if anyone else has been told and is interested? I would love to start tomorrow, if possible."

Germuarur
“That depends on whether you can actually make a difference. Prove that then maybe”
Adam nodded. Probably not then he thought to himself. Saying goodbye to each person at the bar and answers a few questions, Adam proceeded home to get some rest before tomorrow's meeting.

(OOC: Timewarp to the next day)

Aquaria

The meeting in the apartment had proved a success, Ivan had managed to convince nearly half the people straight away, the others had taken a bit more persuading, but by the time he had finished, the majority of the people, including Leta, had agreed to be part of his work squad.

***

Germuarur

Isaac waited outside of the bar, there had been quite a good turnout, a lot of people seemed interested in what Adam had to say and he suspected that a few, like himself, had told others who may have been interested, glancing down the road he saw Adam approaching and waved
“Hey, there's quite few people in there, know what you're gonna say?”

Aquaria
After the meeting had finished, the people were allowed to take either a Ppsh-43 submachine gun or a SKS carbine. Not enough TT-33 pistols were available, so straws were drawn and the people that won were allowed one. One Type 89 grenade discharger was provided to each squad of 10. Only a few Mosin-Nagant sniper rifles were obtained, so these were passed out only to the best shots in the group.

Once this was all organized, the group moved out on the streets and began sweeping streets. Along the way, they were encouraged to get others to join them. Three of the groups, meanwhile, began combining several shacks into an assembly hall, while a few dozen volunteers began to make a meal that would constitute as lunch. After lunch, half of the groups would head to target practice, located at a field a few blocks from the meal hall, while the other half searched through junk for salvageable items. After three hours of this, the other half began junk-searching, while the previous half practiced their shooting skills.

Germuarur
As Adam entered the bar, he smiled and clapped his hands together:
"We gather here today, in unity, to attempt to make our homes better for ourselves, our family, and our children. However, as many of you know, the work-groups have two purposes: to clean up our homes, of course, but we also will be prepared to fight in times of war. Therefore, I ask all of you to follow me to my home, where I have been working diligently to assemble your weapons. I know not all of you will fight, but I ask you to keep your weapon close regardless because it symbolizes that we, the forgotten, are not helpless!"

Eris
Annette glanced at her piece of paper. This should be Randall's apartment. Glancing around nervously, she proceeded to give the door a soft knock, quickly proceeded by a louder one.

Germuarur

"We gather here today, in unity, to attempt to make our homes better for ourselves, our family, and our children.... [SNIP] ...but I ask you to keep your weapon close regardless because it symbolises that we, the forgotten, are not helpless!"
There was some murmuring at his speech, people seemed to consider what had been said, some enthusiastic, some wary, at the back of the crowd someone called out
“What Kind of weapons?”
A few people looked around at the speaker, it was the government man from yesterday, he seemed more interested than annoyed but some people still shifted uneasily keeping their eyes to the ground.

***

Eris

Randall had not been expecting visitors so the knock at the door came unexpectedly and made him start, silly really he reflected, it was probably just a neighbour needing something, he walked towards the door and opened it a crack then, seeing who it was opened it properly.
“Annette? I hadn't expected you, come in” He stepped aside so she could enter, and after offering her a drink, which she accepted they sat down to talk.
“What brings you here?” He paused for a moment, a look of concern crossing his face “Did something happen? Have we been found out?”

Germuarur
“What Kind of weapons?”
"You know... rifles, submachine guns, pistols..." Adam's voice trailed off.
Raising his hand in a clenched fist, he motioned for the group to follow him down the narrow street. The lantern at the center of Adam's room flickered more rapidly as the noise from the group got closer to the room. With one swift motion, Adam open the aged crate on the floor and handed the first Ppsh-43 off. As Adam looked out the door, he saw the light of the sun retreated to behind a cloud, only to reappear with full force. Then, a salvo of thunder was felt. A storm was on the horizon.

Six months later

Lightning shook the ground. I repeat, enemy forces are incoming The loading of weapons were heard Outpost 351 has reported enemy contact at the border junction the trample of boots, in time with the synchronized pounding of the rain sounded off The 3rd and 15th Battalions are moving to reinforce our fallback position at the Liberty Barracks shouts and cheers of people, joined by sporadic gunfire loss of Section 351 would compromise our position the timed firing of mortars there will be victory the yells and screams of soldiers long live the Fictions United Labor Army! heavy gunfire.

(OOC: Sorry for the crappy fight, you know I suck at this sort of thing and lately i have been having writers block and i just wanted to get it posted)

Germuarur

Around the country, the rain hammered on the parched earth of a land who rarely sees rain, normally it would have been welcomed, a short relief from the seemingly endless sun, but for the fighters in C.Germuarur it was not welcome. The once dry, parched and dusty streets of the shanties had been turned to mud and the fight had been going on for hours and showed no signs of stopping any time soon. The organisation and equipment of the rebels was too much for the vigilantes, even the police to handle alone and the army had had to be called. now spread out across the shanties, gunfights were happening all across these rundown little shacks. hours of fighting pass both sides suffering casualties, somewhere in the lines the fictions army was given the order to retreat...

***

Entering the city was always a slight shock to Marcus, even now, with the rain pounding on the concrete, but it did not drive people inside, quite the opposite, the rain seemed to draw people to the streets and he found himself fighting against the crowds which were always a problem in the heavily populated urban areas of Fictions. He stopped for a moment, ducking under the cover of a doorway, he had to get his bearings, it was so long since he had been to this part of the city and, with all the reconstruction, it looked so much different than how he remembered it. He watched the people a while, surely by now they will know of the fighting that was happening even at this moment but they did not seem to mind, they probably, like him just wanted the fighting to end, for life to continue as it had done before the wars. Things were not perfect, far from it, but at least it was secure and when he had joined up he never expected a rebellion, he had just wanted to help make life more bearable. He darted out of his shelter, out into the mass of people, weaving in and out of the crowd occasionally he would have to cross the street remembering just in time how reckless most Fictional drivers were and just how chaotic the roads could be. It took a long time but eventually he reached the place he needed to be. He hesitated, there was no way, no way he would be allowed to live he was a dissenter, a terrorist. From the moment the fighting had started he knew that is what he was and it shamed him, to know that he was no better than the rebels of the previous civil war was a terrible dishonour. He placed a hand on the door of the police station and pushed it open, maybe he would be given a quick death in exchange for what little information he had to offer...

Germuarur
The torrential downpour hit the shantys hard. Work battalions helped created places where the water could drain into, so it did not completely wash away the shantys. New defenses, strongpoints, and air raid shelters were also dug. Patrols were still carried out, but no aggressive moves were made against the government.

Eris
Annette was about to take another sip of her tea, when a whistle announced his presence. Open the door, she whispered Randall. Are you ready? Coming into the room with five other people, all dressed in raincoats, Randall was the first to take off his coat, and the others followed suit shortly after.

Annette, meanwhile tugged a crate to the center of the room and pushed a crowbar into it. Opening it, Annette produced several camouflaged jackets which she tossed to the people there.

Annette spoke again: Are the other groups ready? Randall nodded yes and Annette responded with the cocking of her Galil. All of them put on their rain jackets (partly to hide their jackets and weapons and partly because of the rain) and moved outside.

Moving from safe house to safe house, the group gradually picked up more members, reaching a total of 23 people. Reaching the final safe house before they would hit their target, seven more people joined the group. They all sat together in the small, cramped room and sipped on tea. Some chatted, others preferred to remain quiet. All knew what they had to do and all knew the risks involved.

Germuarur

Things seemed to have quietened down or at least, they seemed to have reached an unofficial ceasefire, Not for long thought lieutenant Magdy grimly as, from the desert a few miles away he watched the now quiet shanty town, the rain was still coming down heavily, how was it that the country was so damn dry and suddenly it just started chucking it down?
He had been given the loose orders to 'prevent a full uprising by any means possible' but these terrorists had turned out to be disciplined and well equipped, somehow.
“Sir, I put in the request sir, like you asked me to”
Magdy nodded at the soldier and without saying a word turned his attention back towards the shanties. Bloody ugly thing anyway, perhaps what was about to happen would be a good thing.

***

Off the shore near Germuarur, subs of both Fictional and Anagonian make fired the cruise missiles as had been requested the target was the shantytown that lay on the Western outskirts of City Germuarur, in all seven missiles were fired.

Germurar
Kyle stared outside his window at the flock of pigeons sitting on top of the metal board functioning as a roof across the street. Ducking his head, he quickly popped it up again. Laughing as the bird seemed to give him an odd look, Kyle repeated the motion again, only to find the birds flying away. Tilting his head sideways, he then felt that the entire Earth seemed to shake. Clambering on top of the roof he noticed seven missiles speeding at him. One, it seemed, was coming for him. Shocked, scared, and confused, Kyle simply stood there as the missile came closer, his mouth and eyes hung wide open, his hands fell limp by his side and his throat could not even make a noise. It was only seconds later that he was obliterated.

In all, seven missiles hit the shantys. Scared, but angry remnants of the rebels began a desperate push using any and all resources they had. Grenades, incendiary bombs, Molotov cocktails, and other homemade explosives were used sparingly. The object was to secure a hold in the city, at any cost. Messengers were sent out to each city to spread the news of what happened and to gather more fighters, if possible.

Eris
Annette sipped her last sip of tea. Time seemed to stand still as they waited for the clock's hands. After what seemed like an eternity, they all moved out. Their first objective of the day: secure the perimeter of the port. Four other groups were also participating in this assault as each would have to neutralize a different section of the port. Annette's group was to capture the Customs Office. Annette stared out at the skyline of Eris as her group left the safe house. Dominating it was the AMAPPMI building: their final and most important target.

CA Aquaria, Nita's Office, Ministries Block

It had been a long day, reports of the riots and protests were coming in in a constant steam, you would think that the people would have had enough of fighting especially with the memories of chaos so fresh in their minds, Nita reflected on this as the CtyRegion representative from Germuarur filled her and the other CRs on the developments in the Germuarur region, over a secure teleconference and although all participants would much rather have spoken in person, possibly over drinks, as was normal and customary, it was acknowledged that with the threat of terrorism once more on the rise it would not be advisable to leave their respective cities.
“--This is all very well” Nita spoke to the screen, she could see the representatives, she noted that the Germuarur CR, a middle aged man named Eric Sean, looked stressed. “Its all plain that they are doing this, but why are they doing this? What is their intention, are they political? religious? or just like chaos?” The fighting had not yet spread to the capital to which she was thankful for, but that also had the effect that she did not know why these people were fighting. She had a vague idea but needed confirmation. Sean looked uncomfortable for a moment, he felt that this should not have happened in his region, Majovul maybe, a bunch of liberals they were in that city, but not where he was.
“They are political, from what we can gather their aims are pretty much like the last one”
Nita frowned “They are not the same people as last time? Is it not Gracia's lot again” Surely it could not be that group was all but wiped out, their leader dead or in hiding.
The Germuarur PR shook his head
“An informant said they call themselves the United Labour Army”
A snort of laughter from one of the other PRs , Kyle Hale of The Eris Region, Nita stared at him
“A little Dignity Hale, if it's all the same to you” Good got the man was one of the oldest here and he was acting like a child!
“All right” He cleared his throat nervously “But United labour army? A bunch of pinkos and leftists I think the name alone tells us what we are dealing with”
“Perhaps, but that does not mean they should not be seen as a threat, the last time we underestimated the rebels and you know how that went”

***

C.Germuarur

It would have been impossible not to notice the fact that the missiles had gone off, even if you did not see them coming the clouds of smoke that now rose from the wreckage of the shanty town. across the city speculation and rumours were being passed from person to person, the urban game of Chinese whispers, misleading information and wild tales distorted fact and made it almost indistinguishable from fiction and the only thing that was certain was the general opinion of the people; No more fighting. They had had enough of war, enough of death, enough of their lives being consumed by chaos. It had seemed for a short period of time the twilight zone after the war and before these new riots, that everything was over and there would be no more destruction. Lives were being rebuilt as well as infrastructure and all that was about to come crashing down and noone liked that.

Germurar
Although the cruise missiles had been a major blow to rebel forces, desperation and revenge drove them full force into a headfirst clash with government forces. Three groups of rebels were now converging on government positions. Group A, the southern most of the groups, consisted of 123 men. This group was mostly made up of patrols, so, although it carried mostly small arms, it also had the most ammo out of any of the other groups. Group B, the middle group, consisted of 177 men, carried large amounts of homemade explosives as they were in the area of a major rebel weapons factory that survived the missile attack. Group C, the northern most group, consisted of 200 men, carried large numbers of heavy weapons because of their proximity to several checkpoints near the edge of the shantys. These groups all attacked within a one mile stretch of land bordering the shantys. Their goal was to push the government forces back, past the slums. The slums, with their large apartment buildings and dark, narrow streets, would be much easier to hold then the now ruined shantys, though, if government forces attempted occupation of the shantys, scattered bands of rebels not picked up in the momentum of the attack would resist them.

Eris
Annette slid down behind a few boxes, kicking up some dirt in the process. Clutching her Galil in one hand and a pair of binoculars in the other, she peered out at the front gate of the port.
A few guards. Not bad.
Signaling several members of her squad to go forward, she held her gun ready as the several men advanced with their weapons still hidden under their rain jackets.
Once they got up to the gate and the guards asked them for their papers, they quickly opened fire, with support from several marksmen hidden near Annette. Now, the squads moved through the port entrance, with several men staying behind to secure it.
Meanwhile, another group of rebels assigned to take a bank began calling each objective utilizing previously arranged code language to ask if the objective was cleared. If it was not, it was reported and the rebels would simply reply that they must have gotten the wrong number. A recon squad would then be sent out from that bank to check on that particular location. Everything relied on timing.

(OOC: Yea, sorry about the crappy post, I'm in a state of writers block)

AMAPPMI Building, Germuarur

The various screens illuminated the otherwise dark room and there was a persistent humming noise that the watchers had become so used to that they never even heard it anymore. News of the rebel attacks had of course spread to the city and in almost all the residential districts people were making barricades out of whatever they could find. Cars, furniture, bits of wood and metal, crates, anything. Someone is gonna have one hell of a job sorting that out. Thought Realtime monitor, Adila Moors as she flicked through the various scenes watching for signs of rebel activity within the city itself. Her eye was drawn to one of the slum districts she saw about three groups each with about a hundred or more people carrying various assortments of weapons, she picked a headset and put it on pressing one of the buttons as she did so.
“Hello, Can you hear me?”
“Yes”
“Good, now, the rebels are entering the city from Districts A6, A4 and A8”
“Right, on it, keep saying if there is any change in position”
“Will do” She turned her attention back to the screen, expecting to see some sort of confrontation but instead saw the large metal shapes of street barricades being moved into place, what were they doing? They seemed to be blocking the entry to the main city, blocking them in the slums...

***

C.Eris Port

Gunshots filled the air, occasionally a grenade would be used which would be followed by an explosion, blinding flash or release of some gas, the rebels outnumbered the police forces and military backup did not seem to be coming...

Germuarur
As several scouts, belonging to the first rebel squad, turned the corner of an alley, they spotted the barricade. Running back to the rest of the squad, they quickly told them about the situation. Deciding to approach cautiously, five men armed with explosives proceeded down the alley as ten more men stood in positions behind them, preparing to provide covering fire if needed. One of the explosive-carrying rebels produced two over-sized smoke grenades and chucked them in front of the barricade. Letting the smoke settle, the rest of the explosive-carrying rebels ran towards the barricade and hurried putting explosives along the barricade. The rest of the squad waited to see how the situation would develop.

Meanwhile, the two other rebel squads, mainly because of the debris from the impact of the cruise missiles, ended up meeting up with each other. After exchanging welcomes, they proceeded further down the road and came across a barricade. Taking cover in houses on the road leading up to the barricade, seven or so rebels produced RPG-7s and aimed them downrange, at the barricade. They hoped to, with a little luck and a lot of firepower, simply blow the barricade to pieces.

Eris
The rebels were now gaining the upper hand against the government forces. Seizing key points in the city, they were able to, by attrition, take a little more then half the city and were slowly boxing the remaining forces in around their final target: the AMAPPMI building.

(OOC: Sorry for the crappy post)

Germuarur

The barricades were a stalling tactic if anything intended to slow down the entrance into the main city enough to set up various traps and ambush points across the main city. It was perhaps lucky that the wars had taken their tole on the cities Claymores, pressure mines, C4 and Krakatoas were hidden in the streets under the rubble that still lay on certain streets and in various other hiding places, these would be remotely detonated when the rebels would pass them by. Aside from this the rebels would also be closely watched their routes and targets estimated and ambush points arranged.

***

Eris

Hayle watched the screens with mounting disbelief how on earth could this be happening? and... unless he was mistaken he could swear he saw some people who were supposed to be authority figures... Siding with the rebels!? The Eris PR paced the observation room, the rebels held almost all the city and were slowly closing in. He had tried asking for help but was ignored! It was obvious that the people in CA did not care what happened here anymore, if they ever did, C.Eris was a small city compared to the others... Well, they were not going to reach here an that was a fact, he had given orders and precautions were being taken. Even so, he worried they may not be enough...

As per the PR's instructions, barricades, much like the ones used in C.Germuarur were being mounted blocking off the building from the rest of the city, but the difference was that every available vehicle near the barricades was fitted with explosives, which would be remotely detonated when the rebels came near, which they would have to if they even hoped to reach the building... Citizens had been told to remain inside and after the fighting most did not need telling twice, so there was no, or very little chance they would accidentally set them off.

Germuarur
The rebels always had to learn things the hard way. In the span of a couple minutes, several scout groups were eliminated by the hidden mines. The group was then ordered to spread out and tread softly, keeping an eye out for any piles of rubble. Then, the ambush came. After losing several men, the rebels retaliated hard. Heavy machine guns laid down a rake of fire on the government troops. After a few minutes of firing, the rebels moved on. It was going to be a long day.

Eris
The rebels decided to treat the barricades harshly. Gathering several homemade 120mm mortars, they opened fire on them with high explosive shells. When the barricade exploded, the rebels figured out they were probably filled with explosives. A squad of rebels then filled the gap, opening fire on any government troops that still wanted a fight. This was repeated across the remaining area held by government troops.