NationStates Jolt Archive

Story: http://www.nationstates.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=52902&start=80
Sum up:Der Angst built 9 oil platforms outside the Aperin (former Camp Firewood coast) they got sabotaged and sank, oil from the drills poured out in the water, a couple of day after that a disaster tourist boat put it all on fire, everybody onboard the ship died except one girl from Knootoss wich got rescued by a Xikuang rescue helicopter.
The helicopter got problems with the rotor and had to land onboard the hospital ship SNS Reproduceraren.
There are currently 4 Xikuangese men and 1 Knootoss teenage girl onboard the ship. And 2 days ago the ship was reported sunk to the governments in each country, in the meanwhile the ship put on radiojaming equipment so no signals could get out or in.
The men were seperated for 2 days untill they rejoined and got a cabin to live in, the condition of the girl is still unclear.
Svea Riga has some dark secrets onboard that ship that must not be relvealed.

IC:They hurry up on the deck and there on the helicopter pad they see how 20-30 Svea Riga soldiers and firefighters tries to extenghuis the fire in what once was a helicopter, now there's only the burned out metal skeleton left.
At the same time all electrical equipment onboard is turned on again.

OOC:Only me, Knootoss and Xikuang may post here. There's extremely little chance of anyone else getting involved.

The two Xikuangese stop in their tracks, staring at the still-smouldering wreck that was once the Liberty 2.

"Well," the shorter one says to the taller, "that obviates certain necessities." The taller man, his fingers heavily bandaged with Elastoplast, holds his head in his hands.

Meanwhile, in the mess hall: The two pilots had been speaking via interpreter to a Svea Rigan officer. At the interpreter's words, their eyes widen; one of them rushes out to join the other two on deck, leaving the other behind.

"Burned? The whole thing? How did it happen? Does anyone know?"

OOC: Sorry for abandoning you there. The worst of all possible disasters occurred: I ran out of coffee and had to go into town to get more.

***Elesewhere...***

Scene: the SeOCC shoreline. Xikuangese environmental clean-up site, team 3. A number of people, a large porportion of them students by the look of them and nearly all sporting recent buzz-type haircuts, gather around a long-range radio outside the tin-domed temporary quansit structure that serves as coordinating offices and communal mess hall. One of them, a slender, pretty young woman, seems to be very anxious: her face is pale, a cold sweat beads on her forehead, and her hands tremble. Two people, evidently close friends, are on either side.

"Turn it up. I can't hear."

"That's as far up as it gets."

They huddle nearer, to hear the report over the crashing of the polluted waves behind them, thick black smoke from the burning oil spill clouding out the midmorning light.

"This is Xikuang Public Radio News One, reporting on yet another tragedy to strike off Aperin's shores.

"As we reported earlier, an announcement was wired to the Xikuangese general council late last night regarding the Svea Rigan medical vessel SNS Reproduceraren. The ship is reported to have sunk dring the night, cause as yet unknown. It has been confirmed that the Xikuangese helicopter Liberty 2 was on board the SNS Reproduceraren at the time of the tragedy, as were the Liberty's crew, and one Knootossian tourist, identity unknown, rescued from the Knootossian tourist boats that were consumed when the oil spill from the wrecks of the formerly Der Angstian rigs caught fire. The disaster is reported to have stricken quite quickly, and adverse surrounding conditions hindered rescue attempts. There are reported to be no survivors.

The crew of the Liberty 2, engineers P'hai Thielhan and Qiu Rui, pilot Kang Xue--"

The rest of the message and the name of the last crew member, Thanh Khyi, are heard only by a few as a wail of unbridled anguish escapes the young woman at the mention of Kang's name. Her friends support her before she falls to the ground, and they lead her away as her agnonising sobs shatter the morning.

They had only been married four months.

***Elesewhere...***
They had only been married four months.

OOC:Allmost broke my heart there :roll: .

IC:"Yes, burnt, the whole damn thing just cought fire when we disabled the last electrical parts so It wouldn't get hurt in the storm" a man who you didn't see first states in perfect Xikuangese (OOC:If you look asian or something he does too, he looks just like any other Xikuangese man).
Then he turns around to an officer and begins to speak Svea Rigan.

And then you here a noise in the slow wind, it allmost sounds like a chopper, but that can't be, if a turned of helicopter coughts fire that easily how can another chopper be airborne.

But there it is.
http://www.union.ic.ac.uk/rcc/canoe/photo_pages/2002-06/surfing_in_cornwall/rescue%20helicopter%20joyriding%20above.JPG

Some men begins to clear the helipad to offer space for the helicopter.
It lands and men carrying big black boxes wich they take below deck, one man dropps his and its contains gets splashed out on the deck, mostly it's big black balls wich rolls over deck but also some papers, one of the papers blows towards you and lands right at your feets.

Choices 2!
1:Abandon the paper and return to your cabin!
2:Pick up the paper and return to your cabin and read it!

***Elesewhere...***
They had only been married four months.

OOC:Allmost broke my heart there :roll: .

Well, if you will 'kill' folk... angst will ensue. 8)

(OOC:If you look asian or something he does too, he looks just like any other Xikuangese man).


OOC: yes, we do appear Asian-- the Xikuangese tend to resemble North Chinese or Tibetans, except for a weird red-haired green-eyed ethnic minority in the West. We tend to be rather short. The short guy is *really* short. I take it your man is in Svea Rigan uniform?

IC:

One of the pilots turns to the man who had spoken, surprised by the lack of Svea Rigan accent. He is taken aback to see one of his own race. "Oh... I see." he says. "Thank you very much for attending to it. I'm sorry for all the mess. The thing always was a bit unreliable-- I'm sure that was a factor. I suppose... I guess I should speak to somebody about the possibility of getting us to our people in SeOCC, then. It's clear we won't be leaving under our own power."

Nearby, the taller mechanic is thoroughly dismayed. "I can't believe I let this happen. I must have done something stupid. I must have! Oh, it's all my fault!" The shorter one puts a hand on his arm. "Don't be an idiot. You heard what they said-- it was the storm. You did fine. Look, I'm going to go check on that poor Knootossian kid... see you later, allright?"

The short man leaves his compatriot, bemoaning his loss, and heads off, his mind racing.

Choices 2!
1:Abandon the paper and return to your cabin!
2:Pick up the paper and return to your cabin and read it!

Maybe a lightning strike? I suppose... maybe... especially if that other one can be in flight, yes, it must have been something like that... Much though the answer seems reasonable, a nagging doubt keeps pressing itself upon him. Memories impose themselves: of screaming, of gunfire, of the feeling of a needle in his flesh... Oh dear.. now what on earth are those? He watches the round objects as they scatter from the broken crate. Like cannonballs, but... halloa, what's this?

A bit of the paper scattered in the accident catches on the short man's foot as he stands watching. His immediate thought is to pick it up and hand it to one of the men hurrying to gather the papers, but he hesitates, and as he watches one be blown overboard, his mind is made up. He crouches down, surreptitiously grabs the paper, crumpling it into his palm, re-ties his shoe, then stands back up, stowing the crumpled paper in his pocket.

"Thielhan, I've got to go check if I got some things out of the chopper before-- before that happened-- I'll be in the cabin." he says to the other mechanic, then heads back below, where-- Good lord, they might have cameras, better be careful-- he reads the paper, hunched over seated on one of the beds, a schematic on the Liberty 2's electrical system (heavily annotated in pencil, and much tip-ex evident) held a strategic three inches above the uncrumpled paper...

OOC: You do a mighty fine job of building atmosphere. I'm having a great time. OOC2: Edited foe proper continuity. I am a muppet who cannot remember where my people are. D'oh!

Meanwhile, the girl is getting unruly as the medications have worn off. She tries to stand up, but is set back by the pain from her burns. However she is determined in an instinctive, unrational way. Putting her teeth together she ignores the pain and gets on her feet, limping to the door.

OOC:I assume that the girls english has come back now, so we might begin to...question her 8) .

A doctor approaches "Do your head hurt?, how about your left bone (now why would anything be bad about her left bone)?" He asks.

The takes out a shot and says while injecting it "This is only painkilling, no more sleep ok".

OOC:Will respond to Xikuang alittle later.

OOC:I assume that the girls english has come back now, so we might begin to...question her 8) .

A doctor approaches "Do your head hurt?, how about your left bone (now why would anything be bad about her left bone)?" He asks.

The takes out a shot and says while injecting it "This is only painkilling, no more sleep ok".

OOC:Will respond to Xikuang alittle later.
OOC: you done anything about that? Does it hurt then?
The girl replies in quirky English: "The burns, they hurt most. But I am hungry, want to leave. Home."

Scene: the SeOCC shoreline.

ooc: for the record:

http://cace.thegrimproject.net/tactical/aperin.jpg

it's probably not off my coast since i'm very much inside the sound there.

OOC: Yeah, but you'll still get oil spill yuck, which is why we've got people there helping with the cleanup. And to protect your crimson-billed terns. Only nest in that sound, they do, you know.

The doctor replies to the girl "We can get you food and new clothes" She notices that she's only wearing underwear and bandages.

"But" he continues "we cannot get you home for a long time, maybe 6-10 months" He gets alittle scary "And you have no home, everyone in your family is dead, and THEY wont come back"

He turns around and walks towards the door "These soldiers will provide you with anything you need" and then he shuts the door.

***Up on the deck***

The helicopter wich has been emptied lifts off and flies towards the south.
Again a red lamp come out from the walls, and the voice is heard.
Soldiers and officers begins to evacuate the deck.

***In the cabin***

OOC:Did you read the paper? I didn't really get that.

OOC: Read the paper, yes. :twisted:

OOC: Read the paper, yes. :twisted:

OOC:Did you read the document and wrote what it said here?
Sorry for the confusion but i'm tired.

OOC: Well, I don't know! It's your paper, one of the ones that was blowing about on deck.

OOC: Well, I don't know! It's your paper, one of the ones that was blowing about on deck.

OOC:LOL, sorry, thought you wrote what it said, i'll tell you what it said soon.

OOC: Sorry! My bad. No, he was just covering up your paper with a different one, so that if there are security cameras in the cabin, they won't be able to tell that he's reading your paper. He's a little paranoid. :wink:

As the orders to evacuate are given, the two Xikuangese pilots below deck return to their cabin, where Ru'i is furtively studying a crumpled bit of paper partially hidden under an electrical diagram. Up on deck, the Xikuangese mechanic with the bandaged fingers looks about in confusion at the red lights and the mechanical voice he doesn't understand, but he gets the idea soon enough as some of the soldiers clearly indicate that he should leave. He heads below decks, a pensive expression on his face. Something Ru'i had said, before he'd collapsed into a troubled sleep on the couch-- something about screaming and shooting and being told not to ask about it-- was bothering him.

There's certainly something very strange going on around here, he thinks. So many soldiers, and all this coming and going with the mysterious cargo... left here, yes, than right up ahead... very strange. And why on earth would they need a blood sample from Ru'i? Through this door.... this place is like a maze... And-- oh, botheration, where am I?

The man had thought that he was heading straight back to his assigned cabin, but in the corridors below the decks he had become completely turned around. He was lost. He tried to retrace his steps, but managed only to make things worse for himself. Soon he was deep within the ship's interior. With a wrenching sensation in his gut, he noticed a strip of colour running along the edge of the corridor in which he found himself.

What did Ru'i say about the red areas? Oh, dear...

Suddenly he heard footsteps up ahead in a corridor intersecting his, and he pressed himself into a doorway to avoid being seen. Luck was with him, and the soldiers marched by, speaking in clipped, business-like tones. He was okay, for now, but he had to get back... he couldn't get any more lost, so he opened the next door he came to, and stepped inside...

OOC: I want to see what you do with an unauthorised foreigner running around in your red areas. Or what you'll let him see of whatever dark and evil secret you've got...
:twisted:

OOC:YES, couldn't have done it better myself, that was great, now the mystery will be partially revealed.

IC:Ru'i finishes the paper and just stairs (sp) into the wall.
He couldn't believe what he just read.

PAPER

TO:Admiral Johann onboard Reproduceraren
FROM:Council of cloning /Svea Riga
Subject:Foreigners onboard

Dear Johann

Today the council finished of the proposal wich they gave to the supreme council, guess what, It got approved!
We're approved to use the machine on the foreigners (if I know you right you allready have)!
But be carefull, you know that it isn't that reliable, chance of succes had indeed improved since the new parts came to you, but it's still only 34% and that's while using a full grown foster as host.
So back to business, you allready have blood from one of them, he isn't important anymore, eliminate him in a couple of weeks, but the others must life so we can check the quality of the cloned unit.
I wish you well, and say hello to your wife from me next time you see her.
Cheers, minister of cloning Andreas.

PS. I added a note that might cheer you up, it's the messege sent to Xikuangese and Knootoss governments. DS

*Added messege*


TO:Knootoss and Xikuang government
FROM:Svea Riga government
SUBJECT:LOST AT SEA

"""Dear government of {Knootoss and Xikuang} it is with a heavy heart I bring you this messege, the hospital ship known as LifveRäddaren (LifeRescue) sank yesterday at 1:38 GMT+1.
It has come to our knowledge that 1 Knootoss teenager rescued by a Xikuang helicopter with 2-3 Xikuang citizens were onboard the ship when it sank.
We are very sorry for your lost, and beacouse of the burning oil and severe storms noone have been found among the vreckage and all hope is lost for any survivors at all.
A diplomat will contact the embassies on Svea Riga within 1 week to discuss the details.

Regards Admiral Gustaf III of Svea Riga."""


***Same time in the room in the red area***

He hears footsteps outside but they pass, he lets out a *phew*, yuck, what is that smell, it smells like burnt meat or decayed meat.
He turns around and allmost pukes.
The room is rectangular with green lights on the walls, on the wall furthest to the back there's green containers containing what you believe to be bodys, over each container (there's about 12) there's a green and red light, 10 are green and says ALIVE and 2 are red and says DECEASED.

On the other walls are papers with cards and writings on them, he doesn't understand the writing but the cards cannot be misstaken for something else, the picture a series of experiments with what he thinks are the 2 dead bodies, torn apart and alive on the pictures.
And the blood so much blood everywhere.
He stumbles backwards and hits a table, he gets up and sees that on the table is yet another body,i-it looks exactly like Ru'i it has a note on it that says:DECEASED, subject didn't live thru birth, need new blood sample.

Then he hears new footsteps, but again they just walk past the room he's in.

OOC: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

***In the cabin***

The two pilots enter the room, continuing the discussion they had been having in the corridor.

"No idea. Evacuate the deck, all these soldiers running around everywhere, it's just bizarre."

"You aren't half right. I'll be very happy once we're back on shore."

"The officer said he'd look into that, but I don't understand why we can't at least send a message. Seems like everything's back online."

"Well, you heard what they said about the storm."

"Yeah, and you know, it's a funny thing about that storm. I'm no meteorological expert, but I'd say--"

"Ru'i, what on earth is the matter?"

On the bed, Ru'i sits motionless, studying the paper. His face is drained of colour, and wears an expression of abject fear. He does not look up as he speaks. " I found this. On the deck. I don't understand all of it, but I think... I think it's bad. Can you look at it, Khyi?"

Khyi goes and sits beside Ru'i, looking at the paper. Soon, his colour and expression match Ru'i's. "Xue. Have a look at this." He passes the papers to the other pilot, the electrical schematic still on top; the significance of its place has not escaped him.

Xue reads the message from the Minister of Cloning three times, but it does not seem to sink in. Neither of the pilots speaks, and Ru'i looks from one to the other, the fear in his eyes turning to despair. "Khyi? Xue? What is it? Please tell me."

"It's bad, little buddy." Khyi says. "It's bad."

"Mother of Heaven." says Xue, still holding the paper. "Where's Thielhan?"

***in the cloning room***

Thielhan is shaking, barely able to control his rising panic as he retreats in horror from the grisly chamber. Unmindful for the moment of the possibility of being caught, he runs blindly down the corridor until the sound of marching feet and Svea Rigan conversation warns him to take cover, and he ducks behind a plastic bin marked with the universal symbol for biological hazard.

Crap! Crapcrapcrapcrapcrap! he thinks, working to control his breathing, trying to remain calm. I've got to get out of here. Got to tell the others. Gods, it was Ru'i-- but it wasn't, it didn't have his tattoo-- they've cloned him. Why? What the heck is going on here? Got to get back... Right, it has to be this way... please, by the Compassionate Buddha, let it be this way...

Cautiously, sticking close to the wall and listening carefully for the sounds of footsteps, he moves into the corridor, desperately seeking the way out of the nightmare he'd stepped into. A nightmare only just beginning...

OOC: I KNEW IT! I KNEW IT I KNEW IT I KNEW IT I KNEW IT!!! Oooh, you're so evil...

I'll leave it up to you whether or not your guys catch the inept mechanic lost in the red zone.

OOC: I KNEW IT! I KNEW IT I KNEW IT I KNEW IT I KNEW IT!!! Oooh, you're so evil...


OOC:Indeed I am, gonna eat and do some things now, if lucky I'll be able to reply tonight.

OOC:Sorry for the late reply.

IC:
***RED AREA***

As the soldiers approach they see him crouching.
They drop the black bag they were holding and picks up their rifles.
They scream somethings in Svea Rigan and points at the man and then at the corridor. Then they put their rifles back on their backs and picks up smaller pistols instead, then they just wait.


OOC:Sorry but that's all for now, i'm really tired.

With a sense of dread, Thielhan realises that the soldiers have turned down his corridor-- they are coming towards him. Oh no. I mustn't let them catch me. Please, don't let them catch me. He crouches down as far as he can, making himself as small as possible, clenching his jaw to stop his teeth from chattering. He is sure that the soldiers must be able to hear his heartbeat. Please don't let them catch me...

But Thielhan's earnest plea to whatever powers be goes unanswered. One of the soldiers in the back spies him crouching there beside the biohazard bin, and shouts an alert to his compatriots. As soon as the rifles come out, he panics, scuttling backwards on all fours away from the soldiers, but they scream more loudly and urgently. Thielhan gets on to his knees and raises his hands in the air in surrender. "Khanlai pang t'anlesang! Qengneheli xisune'khal lase! Qai ma! Khanlai t'anlesang!"

The soldiers put their rifles away, but level pistols at the Xikuangese. He stares at them, meeting their eyes, his own showing his fear. He keeps his hands in the air. "Xisune. Qai ma. Khanlai, Sailinqi."

ooc: Quite all right, it's not late here. Get some rest.

Other ooc: *hopes Knootoss hasn't forgotten their poor lost teenager, the one who's just been told in about the cruellest possible way that her family is dead and she's not going home anytime soon...*

OOC: no had not forgotten, it was just the last post for me to reply to every time and I was just tired. (Work)

The doctor replies to the girl "We can get you food and new clothes" She notices that she's only wearing underwear and bandages.

"But" he continues "we cannot get you home for a long time, maybe 6-10 months" He gets alittle scary "And you have no home, everyone in your family is dead, and THEY wont come back"

He turns around and walks towards the door "These soldiers will provide you with anything you need" and then he shuts the door.

The girl is left there, nobody to talk to except the soldiers. Dealing with it is out of the question. "This is not happening. It will all be over soon. I don't want it to happen. I.. I dont WANT this to happen." The girl huddles in a corner. Not crying, not ready to realise what is happening.

Alone with herself.

After a few hours, she calms down a little bit, turning her attention outward, towards the room and the people in it. One of the Svea Rigan soldiers is still a young boy, maybe two years older then she is. When she looks at him, he looks away at first. The girl blushes, chemistry at work no matter the circumstances.

Another 15 minutes of silence.

The girl scrapes her throat, "do you have some water for me?" The question is loud enough for all soldiers to hear, but she stares in the direction of the young boy while asking it.



*Added messege*
[/i]

TO:Knootoss and Xikuang government
FROM:Svea Riga government
SUBJECT:LOST AT SEA

"""Dear government of {Knootoss and Xikuang} it is with a heavy heart I bring you this messege, the hospital ship known as LifveRäddaren (LifeRescue) sank yesterday at 1:38 GMT+1.
It has come to our knowledge that 1 Knootoss teenager rescued by a Xikuang helicopter with 2-3 Xikuang citizens were onboard the ship when it sank.
We are very sorry for your lost, and beacouse of the burning oil and severe storms noone have been found among the vreckage and all hope is lost for any survivors at all.
A diplomat will contact the embassies on Svea Riga within 1 week to discuss the details.

Regards Admiral Gustaf III of Svea Riga."

Ministry of Foreign affairs, the Hague, Knootcap.
The minstry acknowleges the message with a short official notice, paying little heed to the incident. One of the lower civil servants objects to the passive and low-level bureacratic response. "Should we not investigate? Or offer to help?"

The head civil servants shakes his head: "as they say, no use crying over spilt milk. All passengers were already presumed dead, that is the media story too, and any investigation will probably be met with hostility from the CACE nations. Not to mention that it would be bad PR for us. I say we just wait untill they contact us. Now please, would you get started on that memo I sent you this afternoon?

Other ooc: *hopes Knootoss hasn't forgotten their poor lost teenager, the one who's just been told in about the cruellest possible way that her family is dead and she's not going home anytime soon...*

OOC: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

IC:

***Below deck, red area***

The soldiers are confused by the words that comes out from the mans mouth, they were ordered to shoot at any unauthorized personnel in the red area, but this wasn't one of their guys so what should they do they asked themselfs.
One of the men, approached the man and hit the man in the back of his head with the pistol so he fainted (I assume).


***Below deck, cabin***

*Knock*
There's a knock on the door, when you open several soldiers stands outside, carrying on Thielhan.

"I believe this is one of your men, he was runing around down the red area, he's lucky he didn't get himself killed, this is a warning to you, if you ever go down to the red area again, you will be killed"

Without you having time to reply he turns around and walks away, they're just leaving Thielhan there on the floor, when you pick him up you notice a small bruce (sp) on the back of his head, it's somewhat bloody, and when you look at the rest of his clothing there's more and more blood showing.

***Below deck, medical room***

The younger soldier smiled alittle and opened a pocket in his jacket, he took out a small water bottle and a plasted sandwich, he unplasted it and walked towards the girl.
When he reached her he gave her the things and then just stood there.
He hesitated to speak many times but finally a word came out from his mouth.

"H-hi"

The older soldier was speaking in the internal phone and didn't notice anything of what happened.

ooc: I assume poor old Thielhan's been given a pretty rough treatment... I've said it before, and I say it again. Evil! Sorry for the long post. I thought you should get their whole thought process so's I can justify the level of paranoia they're at now.

ic:

***Below deck, in the cabin***

"Great merciful heavens. What have they done to him?" Ru'i spoke as he and Xue lifted their friend from the floor where the soldiers had dumped him, laying him down on the bed. "There's blood everywhere. Khyi, get some towels and water, will you?" Xue unbuttons the unconscious man's shirt. There is a sharp intake of breath as the three of them realise the extent of the damage: there are numerous cuts and large, ugly-coloured bruises all over him. As Xue cleans some of the nastier cuts, Thielhan begins to stir.

"Nng... No, don't--Agh!"

"Take it easy." Ru'i says, bringing a cup of water. "Thielhan. What happened? They said you were in the red areas. Is that true?"

"I don't... I don't remember... oh, ow..."

"No, I suppose he wouldn't remember." says Xue, finding a number of smaller, but somehow much more disturbing, marks on Thielhan's arm: the telltale pinpricks of a hypodermic. "He's probably been drugged."

"Or had blood taken. Or both. Probably both."

"No... oh, no... wait. I do remember." An expression of horror comes on to Theilhan's face. "It was awful. I got lost, I wasn't trying to get into the red zones... I wasn't, really, I just got lost and... oh, it's horrible, horrible, horrible!They've got people in vats... I saw pictures, I think they're doing some kind of experiment on them-- I couldn't tell but in the pictures the people looked like they were still alive... Heaven help us. It was-- You were there, Ru'i."

"I was?"

"You were dead."

Khyi looked shocked. "Three days? They managed to-- in just three days? How did they manage that? That's got to be impossible!

"Well, the letter did refer to a 'full grown foster'." Xue mused, thoughtfully.

"Letter? What letter?"

"Something I found on the deck... it said--" Ru'i's voice fell to a nearly inaudible whisper as he told Thielhan the contents of the letter.

"No."

"'Fraid so."

"Whoa, whoa. That's got to connote some serious violations of human rights under the UN charter... oh, ow."

"Thielhan, I think you've just experienced some serious human rights violations, and frankly, I don't think they care. Keep your voice down."

"You know," Khyi says quietly, "I've been thinking about that letter. "It may actually give us an advantage."

"How do you mean?" Xue frowned.

"Well, if we have it, then it means that Johann doesn't have it. That means he doesn't know his... erm... proposal has been approved. Not that it seems it will stop him, but it might buy us some time."

"Yes. That's all we need. People know we're here. Our government knows. SeOCC must know; we were transmitting over an open channel. Knootoss probably knows. It's only a matter of time before somebody wants to know what happened to us."

"The chopper." Ru'i says.

"What about it?"

"It burned during the communications blackout, didn't it? I'm sure they could have arranged a report saying that we were on it at the time. A fault causing an explosion just as we were lifting off. They've got the wreckage to prove it. I'd bet everybody thinks we're already dead. The girl too."

"Yes, that would make sense." Khyi said, quite calmly for a man who is already dead.

"Well, that settles it." Xue says. We're going to have to escape."

Khyi frowns. "How are we going to do that? This is a boat. It's not like we can just jump over the wall."

"I'm working on it."

"You know," Ru'i pipes up, "those red zones are pretty restricted. There are a lot of people who aren't allowed to go down there. It's possible not everybody knows about, the, ah, what's happening. It's possible we might be able to get help."

Xue frowns. "I'm not sure we can trust any of them, Ru'i."

"It's just a thought... it's always possible that some of the Svea Rigans might not like the idea of kidnapping foreigners for use in cloning experiments and then killing them."

"That's as may be... OK, people. Gather round... you okay, Thielhan? Good. Here's the plan..."

The four men huddle together, and operation "Escape Evil Human-Rights-Violating Scientists' begins to take form...

***Below deck, medical room***

The younger soldier smiled alittle and opened a pocket in his jacket, he took out a small water bottle and a plasted sandwich, he unplasted it and walked towards the girl.
When he reached her he gave her the things and then just stood there.
He hesitated to speak many times but finally a word came out from his mouth.

"H-hi"

The older soldier was speaking in the internal phone and didn't notice anything of what happened.

"Hi" she said back, not knowing what else to say for the moment. The girl blushed when their hands touched for a moment when the soldier handed over the bottle. The girl put it to her dry mouth, drinking it hastily, the cool water gliding down her throat refreshing her body and giving her back some strenght. She then looked at the sandwich with a puzzled face, asking the soldier: "what is on it?"

"It's not much it's only butter, and cheese, but I can get you more"-But he's interrupted by the larger older soldier.

"The hell he will"- He shouts.
Then they seem to argue in Svea Rigan and the young soldier turns his head down in shame for what the older soldier said to him.

With tears in his eyes (this guy wasn't meant to be onboard this kind of ship) he walked over to the girl and sobbed.

"I-I convinced him that you needed to eat something, so you can have that, but I can't get you anything else" - Then he leaned forward towards the girl an whispered "His english is pretty bad but I'll probably be alone in the night shift and by then I can get you something more foodish to eat, maybe a cold drink too"

He leans back and speaks again "Anything special you want?"

"It's not much it's only butter, and cheese, but I can get you more"-But he's interrupted by the larger older soldier.

"The hell he will"- He shouts.
Then they seem to argue in Svea Rigan and the young soldier turns his head down in shame for what the older soldier said to him.

With tears in his eyes (this guy wasn't meant to be onboard this kind of ship) he walked over to the girl and sobbed.

"I-I convinced him that you needed to eat something, so you can have that, but I can't get you anything else" - Then he leaned forward towards the girl an whispered "His english is pretty bad but I'll probably be alone in the night shift and by then I can get you something more foodish to eat, maybe a cold drink too"

He leans back and speaks again "Anything special you want?"
OOC: hehehe

The girl shakes her head. "Just that you are here with me." Then starved as she is, she begins to eat her sandwich. Both look eachother in the eyes for a moment, both noticing a slight glimpse, or a spark that connects.

Maybe the boy just had not see a girl all that while at sea, and maybe the girl just needed some love and attention after her loss, whatever the reasons, these two people connected.

The girl could not wait for the night shift to begin... finally life began to get some purpose again.

Night Shift ooc: if that's alright, of course!

***On Deck***

The night is overcast and a heavy mist hangs in the air. On the deck of the Svea Rigan ship which in one incarnation might have been known as the Lifveräddaren, in another, the Reproducerarean, the pilot of the late Xikuangese helicopter Liberty 2, Kang Xue, is at large. He makes good use of the limited freedom afforded him-- freedom which, he realises, may be revoked at any time. He walks casually, but he keeps to the shadows, avoiding the soldiers on patrol. He steers well clear of any areas designated 'red zones', but he lingers long near lifeboat bays. When he is not observed, he pays close attention to the boats themselves, the means by which they may be released, and any alarm mechanisms that may be attached. He has a good eye for this sort of thing. Not as good, truth to tell, as a certain other in his party... but Ru'i has other things to do...

***Below deck, in the cabin***

"How on earth did you have all this stuff in your pockets, Ru'i?"

Thielhan, propped up in one of the beds, laughs. "Old habits, eh?"

Ru'i smiles. "Not really. It took some getting used to. I used to carry a lot more than this, all the time. I never thought I'd need it again... but when they handed me back my old microelectronics stuff, well... it was like a kind of redemption. Now I just carry this stuff around as a kind of reminder. A reminder that nothing I did was wrong." Seated on the floor in the corner, the short man surveys the array of equipment he has scrounged from amongst his personal effects: an enviable set of portable microelectronics tools. Some more standard electronics equipment. A roll of black tape. Spare components. Lockpicks. Copper wire. A few other choice goodies. Having inventoried his equipment, Ru'i begins to return it all to his pockets, but he stops midway, staring off out the window.

"Hey." says Khyi. "Look, you're still not doing anything wrong. You know that, right?"

"Oh, I know." Ru'i replies. "I was just thinking about that girl. About how she lost her family. She might be about to lose everything... and... and how it's kind of our fault that she's in this mess. Kind of my fault."

He closes his eyes. "And I don't even know her name."

***below decks***

ooc: well, that's not for me to say, is it? :mrgreen:

OOC: hehehe

The girl shakes her head. "Just that you are here with me." Then starved as she is, she begins to eat her sandwich. Both look eachother in the eyes for a moment, both noticing a slight glimpse, or a spark that connects.

Maybe the boy just had not see a girl all that while at sea, and maybe the girl just needed some love and attention after her loss, whatever the reasons, these two people connected.

The girl could not wait for the night shift to begin... finally life began to get some purpose again.

The night shift finally begins, the older soldier walks out from the room and the girl is alone for a couple of min, she lifts the bandages and looks at the burns, they've gotten better, much better actually.
They've gotten so much better she decides to take the bandages of from her arms and legs, the ones on her chest and stumach are still quite red and they hurt somewhat.

While she's at it, the door opens, the boy walks in carrying a backpack, he says something to the guard outside and they both laugh.
When he turns his eyes to the girl he blushes again.
To even see a girl in real life other than in picture, damn this ship he thinks.
(OOC:The ship never dock, it gets all of it supplies from a supply ship once every 3 months, and they're allowed to take a 3 months vacation once every 2 years)

IC:He's only been there for 7 months, but it feels like an eternity.

He walks up to the girl and opens his backpack next to her.

He speaks and seems to be in a good mood "I've got you some clothes to, they might be alittle to big but they're better than just bandages and that ugly robe" and he smiles while looking at her.

"Uhh, and ehh, yes the food, I didn't know what you wanted so I brought alittle of everything" he picks up alot of bottles and packages.

"To drink, I have tea, coffe, soda or water, and eat, fish, meat, I don't know what kind of meat couse we're only served one and rice".
He just keeps looking at the girl, and why shouldn't he, he hadn't seen one for 7 months.

He leans forward and...

***Below deck, in the cabin***

OOC:Now I'm gonna be :twisted: .

IC:There's a knock on the door while the men tries to hide anything they brought up a voice is heard from the other side.
"Inspections"
Inspections ohh no, where should they hide the things should they open the door or not.

OOC: :twisted: away...

IC:

"Inspection?"

"Botheration!" Ru'i mutters under his breath, gathering up the remainder of his equipment.

"Ah, one moment please!" Khyi says, going to the door, watching Ru'i. He has already got half his stuff put back away, and in a manner that suggests he's had to do this before, vanishes the rest of it with remarkable skill in a matter of seconds.

Outside, the soldiers are getting impatient. One of them thumps rudely on the door. "Inspections!"

"Allright already, keep your shirt on." says Khyi. He opens the door.

When the soldiers enter the room:

*Khyi (pilot) is standing at the door, looking somewhat rumpled and annoyed.

*Ru'i (precise function unknown; notoriously short) is sitting with his back to the wall on one of the beds on the floor, with a string of beads in his hand.

*Thielhan (clutzy mechanic) is in one of the other beds, looking quite beaten-up and wounded.

*Xue (other pilot) is not there.

The enter the cabin, "ok, everything seems to be in order here"

He then speaks with the rest of his soldiers and then points at Thielhan.

"We're going to move him down to a hospital cabin, he seems to be severly wounded" He smiles evily.

The soldiers picks him up and carries him away.

"Breakfast will be served at 0600 hours" Then he closes the door.

OOC: You can try that, but Theilhan will not go quietly, and the other two will try to prevent his being taken.

IC:

"Hey, wait! No! I'm fine, really, I would rather stay-- hey!"

Thielhan backs away from the soldiers, getting his foot caught in the bedsheets as he does so and falling out of bed. The soldier moves in to grab him, but Ru'i gets in the way. "Buo la, lamneheli ukaokhal tzungne norulesang!" Meanwhile, Khyi closes the door and stands in front of it.

"We can take care of him, he's fine." Khyi says. "Please, leave him here with us."

OOC:Ok.

IC:The soldiers picks up their rifles and points at Ru'i while screaming.
"GET OUT OF THE WAY"
The officer Speaks to the soldiers and they lower their rifles.
Then he turns against you.
"Ok, no need for panic, if you want him to stay fine, he'll stay, but a doctor will see him today and check on his bruises" He says quite irritated.
He continues "I will post 2 soldiers outside these doors, I didn't want to but seeing you have grave problems to cooperate with us"

OOC:Will continue soon, just need to speak with you some first.

Khyi looks darkly at the officer. "Am I to take it that we are prisoners now?"

Khyi looks darkly at the officer. "Am I to take it that we are prisoners now?"

"Prisoners ofcourse not, you are free to go whereever you want and speak to whoever you want to, except for the red areas, and if you want to talk to Johann, he's the captain of the ship you must tell me or a guard and they'll fix it for you" He forces forward a smile.

"The doctor will be here tomorrow around 8"- Then he leaves the cell...I mean cabin.

The night shift finally begins, the older soldier walks out from the room and the girl is alone for a couple of min, she lifts the bandages and looks at the burns, they've gotten better, much better actually.
They've gotten so much better she decides to take the bandages of from her arms and legs, the ones on her chest and stumach are still quite red and they hurt somewhat.

While she's at it, the door opens, the boy walks in carrying a backpack, he says something to the guard outside and they both laugh.
When he turns his eyes to the girl he blushes again.
To even see a girl in real life other than in picture, damn this ship he thinks.
(OOC:The ship never dock, it gets all of it supplies from a supply ship once every 3 months, and they're allowed to take a 3 months vacation once every 2 years)

IC:He's only been there for 7 months, but it feels like an eternity.

He walks up to the girl and opens his backpack next to her.

He speaks and seems to be in a good mood "I've got you some clothes to, they might be alittle to big but they're better than just bandages and that ugly robe" and he smiles while looking at her.

"Uhh, and ehh, yes the food, I didn't know what you wanted so I brought alittle of everything" he picks up alot of bottles and packages.

"To drink, I have tea, coffe, soda or water, and eat, fish, meat, I don't know what kind of meat couse we're only served one and rice".
He just keeps looking at the girl, and why shouldn't he, he hadn't seen one for 7 months.

He leans forward and...

"Finally, alone."
...their eyes intertwine, even stronger, they are gridlocked. They look in eachothers eyes as if they are small mirrors of the soul. Their faces close to eachohter. The girl feels the soldiers warm breath on her face and notices that his breathing has become heavier. Her own breath becomes faster and deeper as well, untill the two are more in pace and a slight exitement takes over in both.

She tries to look down, but is drawn somehow towards the young man in uniform. Slowly, terribly sloly, their faces get nearer and nearer untill their lips touch. The soldier is rather more wild about it then the girl, and his tongue probes her mouth wildly and she falls back a little as the soldier leans over her and puts his hands over her cheeks. They kiss passionately for what seems an eternity to the girl. Then their mouths go apart, and the girl whispers: "Me, Elenora..." as she looks in to the eyes of the boy in uniform...

***In the Cell-- erm, that is, Cabin***

The officers leave, and Khyi confirms that two armed guards have indeed been posted. He nods to each of them, then closes the door.

"Well, that certainly was unnecessarily dramatic. A little triggerhappy, do you think? Ru'i, you okay?"

"Y-yes." Ru'i says, though he looks pale and shaken. "I just don't... like... guns."

"Well, that's understandable, seeing as they're often used to kill people and all. You can come out from under the bed now, Thielhan; they've gone."

Slowly, Thielhan coms crawling out from under the bed, where he'd rolled as soon as the rifles came out. He has some trouble getting to his feet, especially as he's still somewhat caught up in the bedsheet, and Ru'i is obliged to help him.

"Do you think they'd just shoot us?"

Khyi sighs. "Who knows? One wonders why they haven't just thrown us in the brig or strapped us down somewhere, if all we're intended for is... no, they're obviously keeping up appearances. Which raises the question..."

Ru'i finishes the thought: "As to whom appearances are being kept up."

Thielhan rubs his temples. "This is all so confusing. My head hurts. I just hope Xue doesn't run into that kind of trouble."

***On Deck***

In the shadow of a bulkhead, Xue is looking closely at the locks securing a lifeboat to the ship. H'm. The locks on the medical boats look less complicated than those on the armoured ones... would make sense to go for one of these; lighter, probably faster... even so, I'm not sure even Ru'i could release this lock... At the sound of approaching feet, he backs away from the boat, slipping into the darkness. This is not going to be easy.

"Finally, alone."
...their eyes intertwine, even stronger, they are gridlocked. They look in eachothers eyes as if they are small mirrors of the soul. Their faces close to eachohter. The girl feels the soldiers warm breath on her face and notices that his breathing has become heavier. Her own breath becomes faster and deeper as well, untill the two are more in pace and a slight exitement takes over in both.

She tries to look down, but is drawn somehow towards the young man in uniform. Slowly, terribly sloly, their faces get nearer and nearer untill their lips touch. The soldier is rather more wild about it then the girl, and his tongue probes her mouth wildly and she falls back a little as the soldier leans over her and puts his hands over her cheeks. They kiss passionately for what seems an eternity to the girl. Then their mouths go apart, and the girl whispers: "Me, Elenora..." as she looks in to the eyes of the boy in uniform...

For the boy that had been alone for 7 months with 10-35 year older men this was heaven, alone with a girl for the first time since he said goodbye to his girlfriend...oh no his girlfriend, but he hadn't seen her for 7 months but she still was his girlfriend they spoke to eachother 2 times a week.

"I-I can't" he gets up again and straightens his uniform.
But then it bursts, to hold back his feelings to guys was easy as he knew them and such, but this.

He begins to sob and dries the tears from his eyes with his jacket arm.
He looks at the girl that sits there looking confused "For 7 months have I been on this hell boat, god knows how many miles from my family, friends and my girlfriend" He hesitates when saying girlfriend.
Then new tears runs down his cheek.

For the boy that had been alone for 7 months with 10-35 year older men this was heaven, alone with a girl for the first time since he said goodbye to his girlfriend...oh no his girlfriend, but he hadn't seen her for 7 months but she still was his girlfriend they spoke to eachother 2 times a week.

"I-I can't" he gets up again and straightens his uniform.
But then it bursts, to hold back his feelings to guys was easy as he knew them and such, but this.

He begins to sob and dries the tears from his eyes with his jacket arm.
He looks at the girl that sits there looking confused "For 7 months have I been on this hell boat, god knows how many miles from my family, friends and my girlfriend" He hesitates when saying girlfriend.
Then new tears runs down his cheek.

The girl comforts the boy and pulls his face on her lap. But when he rests it on her leg the girl gets a grimace of pain, as he touches one of her burns. "Ouch!" she screams as she retracts her legs instinctively.

The young Svea Rigan looks up startled, but the girl smiles to let him know that she is allright. She giggles because of the boys startled look, and rubs her hand through his hair, blurring the line between comforting and teasing him. "Come on, you will be allright now. And we still have hours here alone at night...." her smile becomes a little bit more devious.

Clearly she has gained far more "experience" on the streets of Knootoss then the young soldier. Elenora looks at the soldier if the tears have dissapeared....

ooc: ooh, thou varlet, thee! This should be interesting. :wink:

The girl comforts the boy and pulls his face on her lap. But when he rests it on her leg the girl gets a grimace of pain, as he touches one of her burns. "Ouch!" she screams as she retracts her legs instinctively.

The young Svea Rigan looks up startled, but the girl smiles to let him know that she is allright. She giggles because of the boys startled look, and rubs her hand through his hair, blurring the line between comforting and teasing him. "Come on, you will be allright now. And we still have hours here alone at night...." her smile becomes a little bit more devious.

Clearly she has gained far more "experience" on the streets of Knootoss then the young soldier. Elenora looks at the soldier if the tears have dissapeared....

OOC:Xikuang When we talk again I'll reply to your post.

IC:"I'm sorry did it hurt" He asks softly.
To hell with my girlfriend she isn't here and she'll never know a thing the thoughts fights the ones that says that he should be standing over by the wall thinking of her not the half naked teenager sitting on the bench trying to comfort him.

Then he decides what to do, he gets up on his feets again, no tears in his eyes this time, and he kisses her, softly again and again.


OOC:Gotta go eat so that's it for now.

OOC: Okay, but I might not be in tonight. IR RP. How twisted is that? :wink:

IC:"I'm sorry did it hurt" He asks softly.
To hell with my girlfriend she isn't here and she'll never know a thing the thoughts fights the ones that says that he should be standing over by the wall thinking of her not the half naked teenager sitting on the bench trying to comfort him.

Then he decides what to do, he gets up on his feets again, no tears in his eyes this time, and he kisses her, softly again and again.

OOC: invalid session again. And had just copied something else. Bah.

Q: how "decent" to you want to keep this?

The girl answers the kisses in a very physical way. Her heart begins to pound and her breath becomes heavier and her skin becomes all sensitive to the touch of the young soldier.

She puts her hands, which are still cold, under the Svea-Rigan uniform and softly strokes the soldiers chest with her hands...

ooc: just don't go getting all explicit here or we'll all get deleted... think of the children!

OOC: yeah, but still you can be slightly eplicit, but that is why I stopped here. :wink:

ooc: Ok, Knootoss. I trust you. 8)

ooc: Ok, Knootoss. I trust you. 8)

*cackles evilly and waits for Svea Riga to respond*
OOC: Actually, the Pink Bunnt Cola picture raised some eyebrows as well. Remember that one?

OOC:I guess we can uhh well ehh, think of the children. I say WE stop here but IC THEY go on.

IC:The soldier feels the cold hands against his chest DAMN those are some cold hands.
He takes of his shirt and...


OOC:I think we can imagine the rest? Or feel free to write another ending.

ooc: I don't remember the pink bunny cola picture... I might not have been around for that...

perhaps this is a very good time for some of the older soldiers to come crashing in. :twisted:

OOC: Perhaps.

Twenty hot minutes later
... after that, the girls head slowly came down to the level of the soldiers crotch. She was licking her lips eagerly, teasing him by only stroking his legs when she heard a sound at the door....

ooc:

:shock:

[covers the children's eyes]

OOC: LOL. interruption time...
EDIT: it was only suggestive, I suppose, but I can edit if one of you insists... :cry:

ooc: I don't have a problem with it, myself. But she's a right little minx, isn't she? :lol:

OOC: :lol: , that was more appropriate than describing the whole procedure by detail.

Below deck in medical room

The young soldiers reacts instantly when there's a sound outside the door hitting a burn on Elenora's body so she lets out a soft scream.

"Shh please be quiet" he whispers while trying to zip his pants and put on his jacket on the same time.

"Ahh, who the f*ck makes these things" he shouts out irritated.

Elenora (who didn't have much clothes on in the first time) is softly taking on whatever is left by her clothes.

Then there's the key that opens the door, and it opens 2 older soldiers looks in and states "DAMN it's hot in here, what the hell have you two been up to?".

The young soldier standing with their backs towards them finally zips his pants and turns around "Uhh, nothing she was asleep and I wanted to check on her" He turns around again and whispers "I'll be back tomorrow night again" and with a blinck he leaves the room.

***On Deck

Xue sighs and moves away from the lifeboat, heading back towards the cabin, looking pensive. Not going to be easy at all. But if we don't get off this hellish boat... I don't even want to think about it. Ahead, he hears the sounds of footsteps and two men speaking jocularly in Svea Rigan, and for a moment he is inclined to duck into the shadows again, but he stops himself. I am allowed to be here, after all. Nothing wrong with that.

The soldiers round the corner; they appear to have just been relieved from duty. Xue nods to them, raising his hand in greeting.

"Good evening, gentlemen."

OOC: whats next?

The girl went to sleep to get some well-deserved rest, tired as she was.

On deck

"Well hello there" one of the soldiers replied "Isn't it alittle late, or early for you to be wandering around here all alone?" he asks.
"Well, I heard about your helicopter, I'm sorry, we used to have a helicopter ourselfs, it never worked but we were so attached to it so we allways said no when asked if we wanted another one".

"By the way, I'm Simon and this is John, he doesnt speak much , he's the son of commander Johann so he's been onboard ships and subs all of his life poor kid" (OOC:same youngster as in the medical room).

"We're just on our way to the messhall to get some breakfast, if you get there early you get the eggs warm for once, wanna hang on?"

Cell...ehh..Cabin

The Xikuangese sleeps in their beds when they're woken up by a knock on the door and a voice that yells "BREAKFAST IN 1½ HOUR, TIME TO GET UP!"

And then a hatch on the door is opened and clothes are thrown in.

OOC: whats next?

The girl went to sleep to get some well-deserved rest, tired as she was.

OOC:There'll be more the next night, your time here isn't over for a long time :twisted:

***On Deck***

"Yeah." Xue says. "It really was too bad about that helicopter. We've only got two, and the other one doesn't work. If you don't mind, I'd love to join you for breakfast. Truth to tell, I just couldn't sleep, so I came out here for a walk. A bite to eat would be really nice."

He smiles and shakes the soldier's hands. "Simon, John, glad to meet you. My name's Xue."

He falls into step wit the soldiers, and they engage in casual conversation about pernickety old helicopters and how bad the food in the mess hall was. Simon did most of the talking on the soldier's part, and Xue couldn't help but notice that the younger man, John, seemed to be a bit preoccupied, as well as a bit rumpled. The soldiers seemed friendly enough, so, as they entered the mess hall-- empty apart from a few soldiers and some of the medical people-- he decided to test the waters somewhat, to see if there might be any reason to credit Ru'i's hypothesis...

"By the way, have you heard any word on when we might be able to get some communications out? It's just that it's been a few days and people back home might be getting a little concerned as to where we are."

***In the Cell-- er, I mean, Cabin***

The three men had only been asleep for about four hours. They certainly didn't want to get up now, but the banging and the shouting had been most insistent.

"Subtle as ever, they are." said Khyi, sitting up with obvious irritation. "Xue not back yet? He must have been up all night." Ru'i said, noting the absence of the other pilot. "Must have..." said Khyi. "At least we get some clothes. That was nice of them. My stuff's still damp from washing." "Mine, too." Ru'i replied as Khyi tossed bundles of clothing him and Thielhan, who had shown no sign of stirring. Ru'i unfolded the clothes and frowned.

"How am I supposed to wear these? They're gigantic."

Khyi laughed. "All relative, Ru'i, all relative. You'll notice I gave you the ones marked 'extra small'. It would appear that Svea Rigan military issue stuff doesn't come in 'tetchy'.

"Very funny." said Ru'i, grabbing a towel. "You can just wait for your shower for that."

"I suppose that's fair, Hey, Thielhan! Wakey wakey rise and shine! Show us your sunny five-in-the-morning underslept disposition!" But Thielhan did not move, and his voice came muffled from under the pillow. "I think I'll give breakfast a miss. I'm not feeling very well."

Khyi frowned, concern showing in his eyes. "You okay? Want us to save you anything?"

Thielhan curled up. "No, thanks. I'll be allright, I just don't feel so hot at the moment."

Ru'i turned to Khyi. "You think we should leave him alone? I could stay..."

"Maybe... but I don't think they'll do anything to him, not so soon after that last little incident. I think he'll be allright. We should just let him sleep."

The two went about their business as quietly as possible, so as not to disturb their injured friend, then headed for the mess hall. On the way out, Ru'i picked up the badge that had been given him by the man the Xikuangese had affectionately titled 'Mr. Scary Interpreter Guy'.

"I think after breakfast I'm going to go down and visit that girl." he said to Khyi as they walked. "Just to see if... I mean, how... she's getting on."

ooc: edit-- formatting

***In messhall***

"Well, since these strange electrical storms destroys basiclly anything that has with electricity to do every time it strikes we're unsure if we should turn the radio comm on, the storm usually strikes without any warning and if we'd be without radio...well" He sighs.

"John what's the matter" He looks at John who haven't eaten anything, he just sits and pick in his food "You haven't eat a thing, I know it isn't as tasty like the food you and your dad use to eat but" He gets cut off by John who says the first thing since they met with Xue.

"Do they have surveilance cameras inside the medical rooms below deck?" He looks up on Simon.

"Well yes, they have cameras inside every room" Simon replies.

John looks like he's seen a ghost, he looks over at the back entrance where 4 MP stands and one of them points towards him.

"I have to go, nice meeting you bye" He says while getting up and runs in the opposite directions of the MP who follows him instantly.

***Below deck in medical room***

The door opens and a doctor comes in.
"Well hello dear are we feeling better today?" He asks while taking out a needle.

"This won't hurt a bit I promise" But it does, he injects something and then takes some blood from her.

"Thank you I'll come back later" He says and moves towards the door, when he reaches the guards he whispers something and the follow him out, the girl is all alone.

***In the mess hall***

Xue listens to Simon's account of the storms, looking puzzled. "Anything with electricity? That's weird. How is it that the lights and stuff still work? Or the helicopters delivering cargo? But there's a point-- if we have helicopters going in and out, maybe we could get word back by post? My wife is a real worrier. I hate to think what she must be going through just now, not knowing and all."


"John what's the matter" He looks at John who haven't eaten anything, he just sits and pick in his food "You haven't eat a thing, I know it isn't as tasty like the food you and your dad use to eat but" He gets cut off by John who says the first thing since they met with Xue.

"Do they have surveilance cameras inside the medical rooms below deck?" He looks up on Simon.

"Well yes, they have cameras inside every room" Simon replies.

John looks like he's seen a ghost, he looks over at the back entrance where 4 MP stands and one of them points towards him.

"I have to go, nice meeting you bye" He says while getting up and runs in the opposite directions of the MP who follows him instantly.

Xue leans in, lowering his voice. "What was that all about? Is he in trouble?"

John, frantically trying to escape the MPs, runs for the front entrance, where he collides directly with Ru'i, coming the other way. A spectacular kafuffle ensues as Ru'i topples backwards into Khyi, who is knocked to the ground, as John falls on top of the pair of them. John scrambles to get to his feet, but he is tangled up, and succeeds only in elbowing Ru'i firmly in the kidneys. Ru'i yelps in pain, as the MPs are coming in closer. The mess hall falls quiet as everyone turns to watch this scene-- even the cook, sticky ladle tucked into the pocket of his smudged apron, has come out to watch...

***In the mess hall***

The MP runs towards John who's positioned above the poor Xikuangese, they grab him and they exchange words about eachotchers moms in Svea Rigan.

Simon replies to Xue "No idea, I mean he IS the commanders son, what can he be charged for onboard THIS ship" and he continues with his now cold egg.

***In the Cabin, er Cell er Cabin***

Thielhan lies on the bed and tries to sleep when a knock is heard and in comes 2 military men and a doctor.

The doctor picks up a briefcase filled with strange liquids and needles.

"And how are we feeling today?, better?" he asks.

"Erg. Ah, no. Actually, I feel a bit worse today... my head really hurts. Oh no... I think I'm going to be sick..."

"Ahh I got the thing you need for that" He says and picks up a needle and some green substance.

"What is that?"
the Thielhan asks

"Ahh nothing this is painkillers mixed with some healing substance" he replies and continues to prepare the needle and then injects.

"Oh... okay..."
Thielhan accepts the injection, and sits back, apparently feeling a little better-- but he suddenly claps his hand to his mouth and runs to the bathroom, where he can be heard being violently ill.

When Thielhan comes back and sits on the bed.

"And now to the cuts, I'll bandage the worst parts and then spider web the other parts" he takes up some bandages and something that looks like a nail-gun.

"Spider-web it? What? What is that thing?" Thielhan looks decidedly unsure of this.

"Ohh, it's nothing dangerous, the spider web is organic substance that's sprayed on the wound and functions as a second skin
, it'll just make your skin heal and feel better, prepare yourself, it's really cold at start" Then he picks the big nail-gun looking up and begins to spray on Thielhan, first he allmost screams in pain, that's really cold, it feels like ice on his bare skin.

The doctor sprays for 2 min and then he examines the wound, "ahh perfect, that's all, I hope you feel better now" Then he turns around and leaves the room.

On the floor lies a vial filled with the 'spider web" substance.

The girl BUMPS on the door: "can I get something to read please?"

***In the mess hall***

With some difficulty, Khyi and Ru'i extricate themselves from the Svea Rigan MPs and the unfortunate youth. They can understand nothing of what is being said, but from the tone, they get the general gist. Ru'i seems to be in considerable pain and Khyi helps him to get out from under the arguing Svea Rigans and to his feet. [ooc: switching back to the colour conventions, as we're now in mixed company]

"You allright?" Khyi asks as Ru'i clutches his abdomen, wincing in pain. "Will be in a minute..." he replies, and Khyi supports him while the soldiers argue. At the table where Xue and Simon are sitting, Xue gets Khyi's attention with a subtle gesture, beckoning them over. "Come on. Xue's over there, let's get away from this mess..." "You go." Ru'i says, straightening up a bit. "I find I am not very hungry... just get me an apple or something, please? Oh, and-- his voice drops to a nearly inaudible whisper-- "Hang onto this for me, will you?" while everyone's attention is occupied by the shouting match betwen the MPs and the Commander's son, he passes an object to Khyi, who tucks it into a pocket without looking at it. "Fill Xue in on what happened last nigt if you can... I'm going to go visit that poor Knootossian girl." "Are you sure? The soldiers said..." "I'm not Thielhan; I won't get lost. And I've got this badge. And I'll see if I can get a soldier to escort me. I'll be fine."
Khyi looks slightly mollified. "Be careful, ok?"

Khyi goes to join Xue and Simon at the table, and Ru'i heads out into the corridor and approaches a pair of soldiers. After some effort, he manages to convey in his execrable English his desire to visit the girl, and one of the soldiers reluctantly peels himself away from the action to escort Ru'i below decks...

***Below Deck, the Medical Room, a few minutes later***

One of the soldiers opens the door. "Reading? I'll ask someone. You have a visitor." The girl may well recognise the short man from before. He looks a bit ridiculous-- he is dressed in Svea Rigan clothing which is clearly much too big for him, the cuffs of baggy shirt and trousers turned up several times.

"T'quirshii." he says to the girl, standing there after having BUMPed on the door. She is a full head taller than he is. "T'qirshii k'am elam. Er... Hello."

***Below Deck, the Medical Room, a few minutes later***

One of the soldiers opens the door. "Reading? I'll ask someone. You have a visitor." The girl may well recognise the short man from before. He looks a bit ridiculous-- he is dressed in Svea Rigan clothing which is clearly much too big for him, the cuffs of baggy shirt and trousers turned up several times.

"T'quirshii." he says to the girl, standing there after having BUMPed on the door. She is a full head taller than he is. "T'qirshii k'am elam. Er... Hello."
The girl looks surprised, remembering the man well. Glad that at least someone is paying attention to her, she smiles like a small child: "hi, great to see you again. As you can see I am feeling much better now. Please come in." she signals the soldier asking if he can close the door so they can talk in private...

ooc: I'll let Svea Riga decide whether or not he leaves a soldier in the room... it seems only likely that one will remain for a short while at least...

ic:

The short man furrows his brow, trying to follow the girl's rapidly spoken words; he processes them for a bit before answering. "Sorry... I am not so good English." He steps into the room.

The soldiers closes the door precisly when another soldiers carrying a couple of books comes towards the room, but they speak some and he turns around.

OOC:Sorry for the short reply but I don't have much to go on.
OOC2:There's no soldiers IN the room, but 2 outside.

ooc: seems perfectly fair to me. 8)

OOC: so they are alone now? ----) to exchange info.

OOC: so they are alone now? ----) to exchange info.

OOC:As I said there are 2 guards outside the massive door of steel about 7.5 centimetres thick.
There are 2 surveilance cameras with audio recording devices, but you only know they're ordinary cameras, if you examine them you'll se a small microphone on the side.

IC:You can clearly hear the soldiers talking on the other side.

"Jaha, vad ska dom göra nu då?"
"Jadu, du hörde att John har blivit omhändertagen va?"
"Jaa, hahaha, han fick ju till det med tjejen därinne, det cirkulerar kopieringar där dom håller på hahahaha".

The short man gestures for the young woman to sit down. She seems so cheerful, he thinks. She must be blocking the memories. The poor child will need so much help... but right now, what she needs is friends... The girl sits at the head of the bed, while he takes a position at the foot. "Is good you are stand." he says. Placing his right hand on his chest: "I am name Ru'i. You are name?" He gestures to the girl.

The girls English is rather better: "Elenora", and you are the man who saved me from...." she abrubtly stops and says nothing anymore, as she reverts to her unfocussed staring....

***In the Mess Hall***

Khyi joins Xue and Simon at the table. He nods to Simon-- "Good morning", he says-- then gestures towards the kafuffle at the door. "What on earth is that all about?" "No idea." asnwers Xue. "But Simon here says that's the commander's son... oh, Simon, this is Khyi. Khyi, Simon." "Good to meet you." Khyi says to Simon.

Suddenly a look of dread comes into Xue's face. "Khyi, where's Thielhan? You didn't let him go anywhere on his own, did you?"

"No, he's-- he's still asleep... I, erm..." He lowers his voice and leans towards Xue. There was quite a scene in the cabin last night. Guns were involved. Now there are guards. I don't like the direction things are heading." He looks apologetically to Simon. "Pardon me." he says, and takes a sip of coffee.

***In the Medical Room***

Oh, great.... Ru'i gently takes the girl's arm. Elenora, evidently lapsed back into catatonia, puts up no resistance as he guides her to the bed, sitting her down. He squeezes her hand a bit, trying to get her attention, looking directly into her eyes. "Jijia. Hai'ithali je jieng. Lam kiyheli sa? Hello? Khanlai." He shakes her hand a little, trying to snap her out of it. Great... poor kid needs a psychiatrist, not a monolingual ex-convict foreigner... should I get a doctor? Oh, I don't want to get a doctor... He just keeps squeezing her hand and talking to her gently in Xikuangese, hoping for a response.

***In the Medical Room***

Oh, great.... Ru'i gently takes the girl's arm. Elenora, evidently lapsed back into catatonia, puts up no resistance as he guides her to the bed, sitting her down. He squeezes her hand a bit, trying to get her attention, looking directly into her eyes. "Jijia. Hai'ithali je jieng. Lam kiyheli sa? Hello? Khanlai." He shakes her hand a little, trying to snap her out of it. Great... poor kid needs a psychiatrist, not a monolingual ex-convict foreigner... should I get a doctor? Oh, I don't want to get a doctor... He just keeps squeezing her hand and talking to her gently in Xikuangese, hoping for a response.

The soft words have effect. Softly, the girl squeezed back... "my... parents..." she begins. only to feel as if there is a thud in her troat.

Elenora still cant think straight, it is as if some sort of mental blockade keeps the bad memories away. There is only there here and now, the hand, the words. Nothing more...

Ru'i sits down on the edge of the chair next to the girl's bed. He never lets go of her hand. "I know. Sorry. Lamneheli q'o djarune'khal xaixiangle tonlu... Sorry. Is okay."

He speaks in a comforting tone, and he holds Elenora's hand gently, but there is an expression of deep worry in his eyes. He knows that it is far from okay, that even if her parents being dead and gone were the only difficulty facing this poor girl that it wouldn't be okay, but he knows it isn't. To himself, he resolves: we will escape this deathtrap of a medical frigate. To the girl, he just speaks softly, holding her hand, letting her deal with her emotions in her own time.

ooc: I'm going to cry now! :cry:

ooc: I'm going to cry now! :cry:

OOC:Time for the evil mastermind to enter :twisted:

IC:"Men hallå där" a soldier opens the door and shouts "Besökstiden är slut grabben, dags att gå" the poor Xikungese visitor doesn't know how to react, the soldier steps into the room with his hand to his rifle and repeats "DAGS ATT GÅ", yeah like saying it louder with easier words would help.

Finally he calls his friends over, the walk over to him and practicly tears him from the girl and shows him down on the floor, "YOU leave NOW!".

Ru'i hits the floor hard and winces in pain. He is still hurting from his earlier being squashed and elbowed by the commander's son, and he seems to be suffering quite a bit. "Zaidjia, zaidjia! Khuhainekharilase, khnalai t'anlesang!" He looks back into the shocked eyes of the girl, and scutles back away from the soldier, towards the door, trying to get to his feet.

The girls eyes look frightened... her lips form to make a word but she does not speak...

OOC: so much for discussing escape plans...

ooc: don't worry, we aren't anywhere near discussing escape plans... like Ru'i's going to tell this poor traumatised girl who's just lost her family that she's on board a ship harbouring an evil cloning program and she's destined to be cloned and murdered? Just let us get a plan together first... :wink:

ooc: don't worry, we aren't anywhere near discussing escape plans... like Ru'i's going to tell this poor traumatised girl who's just lost her family that she's on board a ship harbouring an evil cloning program and she's destined to be cloned and murdered? Just let us get a plan together first... :wink:
OOC: you have a point there... the girl will not come out of her state of katakonia until someone enters....

ooc: don't worry, we aren't anywhere near discussing escape plans... like Ru'i's going to tell this poor traumatised girl who's just lost her family that she's on board a ship harbouring an evil cloning program and she's destined to be cloned and murdered? Just let us get a plan together first... :wink:
OOC: you have a point there... the girl will not come out of her state of katakonia until someone enters....

ZZZzzzZZZZzzz...ohh you mean me?!

IC:
***In the messhall***
Simon shakes their hands and invites them to sit down.
"You should've come earlier the eggs, if you eat eggs? were actually warm"
"Ohh and we use to watch movies and play games here in the messhall in the evenings, we don't have much but it's better than just sitting in your cabin and wanting to go home, you're all invited" Then he stands up and says "Well I have to get some sleep soon, cya later" he walks away.

***In the medical room***

A hatch is opened...books are seen in the hatch...the books falls to the floor...
OOC:you can decide what kind of books their are, just don't get to wild.

***In the Mess Hall***

"Well, thank you very much. That sounds great. Oh-- if it's not too much trouble, I'd like to speak with you again maybe about the messages? See you later!" The two of them conscientiously return their dishes, and head back to the cabin, Khyi to check on Thielhan, Xue to get a much-earned few hours' sleep. As they leave, Khyi cautiously withdraws from an inner jacket pocket the thing that Ru'i had passed to him earlier, after the two of them had been knocked down and squashed.

He could barely suppress a grin. Ru'i, I've said it before, and I say it again: you're a genius. Without breaking stride, Khyi dropped John's dropped radio back into the inner pocket. "So." he says to Xue. "About those storms..."

***Below Decks, in the Medical Room***

Ru'i groans, pulling himself into a half-standing position with the aid of a nearby chair. Though his eyes had initially registered only fear, now there is a spark of defiance as he faces the soldier who just threw him down. "Not... not understand." he manages, still doubled over in pain. "Not understand, what I do bad. Where is--" he thinks, but cannot find the English word. He points to the chart that hangs on the door, the one giving the girl's vital information. "Xaiungzhima? Where is him who makes this? Please." He is panting for air, still unable to stand straight. "Only want help. Help her." He looks into the soldier's eyes. "Please."

OOC:Very sorry for the late reply.

***Below Decks, in the Medical Room***

The soldiers looked at the man and then at eachother "Tror du han bara ville hjälpa honom" One of them is clearly an officer of higher degree he smacks the man in the back of his head (OOC:Not hard you know like when someome says or does anything stupid) "Det är klart han ska få stanna" He walks up to poor Ru'i and gives him a hand to get up "I WILL GET THE DOCTOR, YOU STAY HERE, BAD SOLDIER WILL GO AWAY" (he doesnt yell he merely says it loud and clear).
The soldier that throwed you to the floor walks out of the room looking at the floor.

Ru'i nods, and sits down on one of the chairs near the door. `He casts a concerned glance back towards poor Elenora, who seems to have fallen back into a catatonic state, but he does not dare approach her, for fear that it should provoke more violence: Violence is the last thing she needs. I can take more, but she... she cannot. He waits.

Eventually, the doctor arrives, carrying a thick stack of papers. He addresses the Xikuangese in English. "You wanted to see me?"

Ru'i indicates the girl seated motionless on the bed. "Yes, maybe talk about her..."

The doctor speaks loudly and clearly: "She heal fine, little pain, soon healthy"

Ru'i looks dubious. "Maybe heal okay body but..." he searches, but can't find the words for 'psychological trauma'. He points to his own , then indicates the girl. "Mayb here is not so heal okay."

The doctor continues to read some papers and then watches Ru'i, "Ohh, me get psycologist" *points at head "Head doctor, when next shipment arrives" He reads his papers a bit and then asks "How your head be?"

Ru'i struggles with the weird grammar. "Erm... sorry, what?"

"DOCTOR FOR HEAD" he slows down "Doctor for head will come soon, helicopter will come soon."

Ru'i winces a bit. "Oh. I understand. Maybe helicopter take her back Knootoss?"

The doctor looks at Ru'i with a sad face "Sorry, when interpreter comes you know more, many sad things happened in land" he continues to read some papers.

"Sad things, Knootoss?"

"Sad things, Knootoss, Xikuang, Svea Riga, many sad things, tell more when interpreter comes."

Ru'i goes a bit pale. "What? What happened?"

The doctor frowns. "Tell more when Interpreter comes, me sorry."

Ru'i nods slowly. "OK. I stay here? Is OK I sit with girl? Maybe help a little. Help before, but-- " he stops, again searching for words.

The doctor looks up. ""Ahh, yes, thank you" He reaches for something in his jacket, he pulls up a bottle with pills, "You give her, ONE every HOUR only ONE every 60 minutes ok?" He pauses, waiting for these instructions to sink in. "Otherwise she might fall asleep and never wake up."

Ru'i looks alarmed. "Never? Who give her whan I not here?"

The doctor looks annoyed. "Only to be sure she wake up, pills good, guard give pills when you gone, you just give now!"

"OK, is OK, I understand." Ru'i gets the idea that he's annoying the doctor a bit, so he retreats back to the girl's side. He starts trying to coax the girl to take one of the pills, eventually getting one into her. Carefully, he marks the time, and sits down on the chair next to her, hoping very fervently that no one is going to come in and throw him around.

The Svea Rigan doctor nods. "Good, me go now, be back with all your friends and interpreter later" Then the doctor walks away, leaving Ru'i and the girl alone, again.

OOC:Very sorry for the late reply, just haven't had any inspiration.
Should talk to Xikuang before this but I assume it'll be alright.

IC:
A couple of hours later (about 6pm) everyone (not the ordinary soldiers) have been gathered in the big messhall, the commander wich is about 1.89 cm and pretty roughly built stands on a podium and is about to speak.

He seems very nervous and you notice that he's got 10 guards pretty heavily armed with him.
"My dear soldiers, I'm very sorry to bring you these news, yesterday at 12pm the negotiations between Xikuang and Knootoss in Svea Riga failed" The people in the messhall startde mumbling with eachother and they looked at you for a short while.

He continued "A suicide bomber from Knootoss ran into the negotiations room and blew himself and 12 people, 7 from Svea Riga and 5 from Xikuang that were in the room and discussed a treaty.
We ofcourse took the attack seriously and threatened with war unless a reasonable explanation came up, Knootoss refused to comment the attack and in an unofficial messege they supported it, we don't know the details...but let's say that we're the one still standing" The crowd cheers and begins to hail and sing the national anthem.

You look at the other Xikuangese standing there, he doesn't hail or sing...he just looks sad.

OOC:Loved to write more but I gotta let you react first, and if you want more info talk with the Xikuangese guy.

OOC: sorry I forgot about the thing, but WTF!!! Suicide bomber from Knootoss??????????????

OOC: sorry I forgot about the thing, but WTF!!! Suicide bomber from Knootoss??????????????

OOC: :twisted: , I hope it's ok?!

OOC: sorry I forgot about the thing, but WTF!!! Suicide bomber from Knootoss??????????????

OOC: :twisted: , I hope it's ok?!
OOC: as long as you dont claim it really happened... :roll: Or are they clones?

OOC: sorry I forgot about the thing, but WTF!!! Suicide bomber from Knootoss??????????????

OOC: :twisted: , I hope it's ok?!
OOC: as long as you dont claim it really happened... :roll: Or are they clones?

OOC:It's just an excuse to keep you onboard, It never happened...I hope :lol:

Guo Leng apologises for posting in this thread. Um...













ooc:
:oops: Guo Leng is Xikuang's player's evil puppet :oops:

OOC:Will let her wander freely soon, now it's food time!

What the...why didnt it get to the bottom!

***Response to Xikuang***


The man looks sad and respons to the greeting, as the Svea Rigans begin to dissolve from the meeting he leans forward and whispers.
"We can't talk here, come to my cabin and we'll talk about the things that happened" He begins to walk out of the room and you follow him, you walk for quite a while, you walk past the commanders cabins and you finally stop outside door with no marks of it even being a door, he reaches for his pocket and pick up a card from his inner pocket and waves infront of the door, a buzzing sound is heard from within and the door slowly opens and you walk inside.
Inside is big enough to host more than 5 of your cabins, it's without a doubt the biggest cabin you've seen, it's filled with bookcases and small tables filled with books and lamps.
A bed was positioned in the right corner and a bathroom next to it, there was no windows what you could see, but on the walls were big posters with Xikuang writings and some pictures of what you thinks is his family.

He walks up to a bigger table and clears it from all the books, he sits down and tells you to sit down too.
"What is it you want to know?"

***Response to Knootoss***

OOC:Censorship in Svea Riga is soft, anything released in Svea Riga must be read by a official from the government, most things pass.

IC:The book she's drawn to has a big note in the front page "In english", the cover is blue and gold and the headline reads "History of Svea Riga/Skargarden conflict" She opens the book and reads a few lines when there's a knock on the door, the young soldier steps in, he's carrying a bunch of clothes and a bag.

He walks forward to the girl and takes a look at the books "What is this you're reading" he smiles lightly "all propaganda you know"
He puts the clothes down besides her "I found some smaller clothes in the officers cabin, i hope they fit you, and in the bag is some sheets and a pillow" he pauses "I got a surprise for you, you're moving out of this room, you can get your own cabin or move into mine" he blushes lightly.

ooc: I take it Knootoss has no idea about any suicide bombers and disavows all knowledge? Something fishy is going on here...

The Xikuangese alternate between confusion and shock at this news, talking together in hushed voices as the Svea Rigans sing. As the anthem comes to an end, the four of them together approach the Xikuangese in Svea Rigan uniform, greeting him with the traditional Xikuangese gesture of interlocked hands and a slight bow.

"Excuse us, please." Xue says, But we're really confused here. Last we knew anything about it, Xikuang was on fairly good terms with Knootoss. What were we negotiating with them?" "And why under Heaven would a Knootossian bomb the negotioations? Khyi interjects. "A suicide bomber-- that can't be right. That sounds completely unlike the Knootossians."

ooc: any chance we could get Elenora out of the medical room? Maybe give her a cabin, let her wander around? She might have more fun that way...

(OOC: getting the Dominion war into this to reflect "communication problms" with the Knootian government.)

Meanwhile in Knootoss, The Hague, foreign ministry

A group of soldiers came storming into the ministry and on sergeant handed an order to the desk cleric: "Dominion forces overrunning our defenses. General de Kaste has assumed temporary leadership, we are to evacuate the entire city. Including the foreign ministry.

"But aren't we going to defend...?"
"You heard the orders ma'am, Thelassian tanks will be driving over that street there in twenty minutes, at the most. Men are dying out there to give you that time."
The clerics face became cold, and she pushed a combination of buttons on a small interface under the desk. A piercing bell began to ring and the woman took up the telephone: "All personell evacuate the building. Proceed to your exits calmly and follow evacuation plans. Meet at the parking lot ourside."

Fifteen minutes later a stout of cars headed along the driveway east, farther inland, to safety. Amongst the refugees were the civil servants tasked with the situation. The fate of one lonely girl, presumed dead and thousands of kilomitres away, without any family to care for her, was now all but forgotten.

(OOC: forgot...)

Meanwhile, bodily functions had driven the girl from her state of paralysis. Thirst, hunger. After these needs had been met the girl took a look at the books. She was drawn to a thick book with a large cover...

(OOC: how is censorship in Svea Riga?)

***Response to Xikuang***


The man looks sad and respons to the greeting, as the Svea Rigans begin to dissolve from the meeting he leans forward and whispers.
"We can't talk here, come to my cabin and we'll talk about the things that happened" He begins to walk out of the room and you follow him, you walk for quite a while, you walk past the commanders cabins and you finally stop outside door with no marks of it even being a door, he reaches for his pocket and pick up a card from his inner pocket and waves infront of the door, a buzzing sound is heard from within and the door slowly opens and you walk inside.
Inside is big enough to host more than 5 of your cabins, it's without a doubt the biggest cabin you've seen, it's filled with bookcases and small tables filled with books and lamps.
A bed was positioned in the right corner and a bathroom next to it, there was no windows what you could see, but on the walls were big posters with Xikuang writings and some pictures of what you thinks is his family.

He walks up to a bigger table and clears it from all the books, he sits down and tells you to sit down too.
"What is it you want to know?"

***Response to Knootoss***

OOC:Censorship in Svea Riga is soft, anything released in Svea Riga must be read by a official from the government, most things pass.

IC:The book she's drawn to has a big note in the front page "In english", the cover is blue and gold and the headline reads....
She opens the book and reads a few lines when there's a knock on the door, the young soldier steps in, he's carrying a bunch of clothes and a bag.

He walks forward to the girl and takes a look at the books "What is this you're reading" he smiles lightly "all propaganda you know"
He puts the clothes down besides her "I found some smaller clothes in the officers cabin, i hope they fit you, and in the bag is some sheets and a pillow" he pauses "I got a surprise for you, you're moving out of this room, you can get your own cabin or move into mine" he blushes lightly.

ooc: I'll be needing to talk to SR before I post a reply, think.

ooc: just to clarify: it'll be just Xue and Khyi who are there; Thielhan is in the cabin feeling dreadful, and Ru'i is with the girl in the room below decks: he will have left the medical room to take a meal, gone back to the cabin to confer with Khyi, and returned to the medical room to look after the girl.

ic:

***In the Medical Room***

Elenora is just about to reply to the young soldier when the door opens and a shout of 'Visitor!' is heard from one of the guards outside. Ru'i is all but shoved back into the room, but as he sees the girl and the young soldier apparently involved in conversation, he takes a step back to the door. "Sorry." he says. "I am not maybe so much here now." He retreats, but the soldiers have closed the door again. "Aj'ji, saiyen'thi..." Ru'i is heard to mutter...

***In the Large Cabin***

Khyi and Xue are somewhat taken aback by the size and opulence of the cabin. If they are in officer's cabins, what rank must this cabin's occupant hold?

He walks up to a bigger table and clears it from all the books, he sits down and tells you to sit down too.
"What is it you want to know?"

The two pilots sit down at the table, the uncharacteristic directness-- at least, uncharacteristic for a Xikuangese-- taking them slightly off guard. Xue clears his throat to speak, but as he does so, Khyi nudges him, casting his eyes to each corner of the room: The cameras. Be careful. Xue nods, almost imperceptibly, and turns back to his host.

"What do we want to know-- quite a bit, it seems. Let me just tell you where we are. We left Xikuang in the Liberty 2 to help with clean-up operations off the coast of SeOCC, after the oil spill. We rescued that girl, ended up here, our helicopter-- well, you know the rest. Last we knew, Knootoss and Xikuang enjoyed friendly, if distant, relations. We don't understand why we would have been having negotiations with them-- and why in Svea Riga? And the whole idea of a suicide bomber from Knootoss-- that sounds just ridiculous. It seems that so much has happened, and what with this radio blackout, we don't know anything."

Xue watches the man's eyes for any sign of change when he mentions the radio blackout. In the ensuing pause, Khyi attempts to address the problem of the missing formalities: "I'm Thanh Khyi, by the way, and this is Kang Xue."

***Response to Knootoss***

OOC:Censorship in Svea Riga is soft, anything released in Svea Riga must be read by a official from the government, most things pass.

IC:The book she's drawn to has a big note in the front page "In english", the cover is blue and gold and the headline reads....
She opens the book and reads a few lines when there's a knock on the door, the young soldier steps in, he's carrying a bunch of clothes and a bag.

He walks forward to the girl and takes a look at the books "What is this you're reading" he smiles lightly "all propaganda you know"
He puts the clothes down besides her "I found some smaller clothes in the officers cabin, i hope they fit you, and in the bag is some sheets and a pillow" he pauses "I got a surprise for you, you're moving out of this room, you can get your own cabin or move into mine" he blushes lightly.

The girl blushes, but then she smiles. "Oh, please, that would be great!"

She hugs the soldier, "thats just fantastic. I want to stay with you." Sbe hesitates for a moment, and asks "Can I go out now? And can we go up to deck? I really want to see the ocean."

Elenora's face lights up, and it is as if a small ray of sunlight just touched her face, warming her cheeks. She tosses the books aside and grabs the soldiers hand.

Knootoss the forums are being bad to me so you'll have to wait for your reply :cry:

ooc: just to clarify: it'll be just Xue and Khyi who are there; Thielhan is in the cabin feeling dreadful, and Ru'i is with the girl in the room below decks: he will have left the medical room to take a meal, gone back to the cabin to confer with Khyi, and returned to the medical room to look after the girl.

ic:

***In the Medical Room***

Elenora is just about to reply to the young soldier when the door opens and a shout of 'Visitor!' is heard from one of the guards outside. Ru'i is all but shoved back into the room, but as he sees the girl and the young soldier apparently involved in conversation, he takes a step back to the door. "Sorry." he says. "I am not maybe so much here now." He retreats, but the soldiers have closed the door again. "Aj'ji, saiyen'thi..." Ru'i is heard to mutter...

***In the Large Cabin***

Khyi and Xue are somewhat taken aback by the size and opulence of the cabin. If they are in officer's cabins, what rank must this cabin's occupant hold?

He walks up to a bigger table and clears it from all the books, he sits down and tells you to sit down too.
"What is it you want to know?"

The two pilots sit down at the table, the uncharacteristic directness-- at least, uncharacteristic for a Xikuangese-- taking them slightly off guard. Xue clears his throat to speak, but as he does so, Khyi nudges him, casting his eyes to each corner of the room: The cameras. Be careful. Xue nods, almost imperceptibly, and turns back to his host.

"What do we want to know-- quite a bit, it seems. Let me just tell you where we are. We left Xikuang in the Liberty 2 to help with clean-up operations off the coast of SeOCC, after the oil spill. We rescued that girl, ended up here, our helicopter-- well, you know the rest. Last we knew, Knootoss and Xikuang enjoyed friendly, if distant, relations. We don't understand why we would have been having negotiations with them-- and why in Svea Riga? And the whole idea of a suicide bomber from Knootoss-- that sounds just ridiculous. It seems that so much has happened, and what with this radio blackout, we don't know anything."

Xue watches the man's eyes for any sign of change when he mentions the radio blackout. In the ensuing pause, Khyi attempts to address the problem of the missing formalities: "I'm Thanh Khyi, by the way, and this is Kang Xue."

***In the Large Cabin***

Khyi and Xue are somewhat taken aback by the size and opulence of the cabin. If they are in officer's cabins, what rank must this cabin's occupant hold?

He walks up to a bigger table and clears it from all the books, he sits down and tells you to sit down too.
"What is it you want to know?"

The two pilots sit down at the table, the uncharacteristic directness-- at least, uncharacteristic for a Xikuangese-- taking them slightly off guard. Xue clears his throat to speak, but as he does so, Khyi nudges him, casting his eyes to each corner of the room: The cameras. Be careful. Xue nods, almost imperceptibly, and turns back to his host.

"What do we want to know-- quite a bit, it seems. Let me just tell you where we are. We left Xikuang in the Liberty 2 to help with clean-up operations off the coast of SeOCC, after the oil spill. We rescued that girl, ended up here, our helicopter-- well, you know the rest. Last we knew, Knootoss and Xikuang enjoyed friendly, if distant, relations. We don't understand why we would have been having negotiations with them-- and why in Svea Riga? And the whole idea of a suicide bomber from Knootoss-- that sounds just ridiculous. It seems that so much has happened, and what with this radio blackout, we don't know anything."

Xue watches the man's eyes for any sign of change when he mentions the radio blackout. In the ensuing pause, Khyi attempts to address the problem of the missing formalities: "I'm Thanh Khyi, by the way, and this is Kang Xue."

"Good to meet you, I'm Zhi Nyima but everyone calls me Sir or 'Brownie', mostly beacouse I eat them all the time and beacouse I use brown glasses"
So, you want to know about the war ehh?, now that's some pretty complicated things, Knootoss is a member of the and they went to war with Xikuang, Svea Riga stood on Xikuang's side in the war, the war was brief and negotiations began only a couple of hours before the war broke out, as you know someone claims Knootoss had a suicide bomber with them and they bombed the negotiations and the war errupted briefly again, Knootoss threatened Xikuang with WMD and Svea Riga offered protection, the protection came to late, not much of Xikuang's government or any of their arms are left, Svea responded with the same hideous weapons and Knootoss surrendered emmedietly

Hmm, that came alittle to fast maybe, it was like it allmost was practised in.
He picks up a brownie and takes a bite, he puts the brownie down and presses a button on a remote-control he apperently had in his pocket, a sink comes up form the floor and he washes his hands in it, he presses the same button and the sink lowers into the floor.

And the storms, no, they are REALLY complicated, as you've probably seen this isn't a normal hospital ship
You don't react with too much surprise.

[color=brown]This ship is carrying with it some of the most complex electricity equipment in the world, it has the ability to "catch" thunder storms and take them away, blah blah blah, really uninteresting, the thing is that we cannot control it yet, the storms comes whenever they want to it seems[/brown].

He takes another bite of the brownie and goes thru the little process with washing his hands again.

*waits for a reply to the girl, but finds this whole story rather unbelievable.*
(Lets see. SATO nation nuks CACE nation. CACE nations nuke back. ---) if what you were saying were actually happening then I assure you the entire region of Aperin would by now be a nuclear wasteland.)

ooc: Knootoss: ayep. Don't worry... I don't think my guys will buy it. Oh, did you notice Ru'i's back in the room with you? Might have gotten missed...

Khyi and Xue remain silent as Zhi speaks. When he is finished, they just stare at him incredulously for a moment. Then they stare incredulously at each other. Then they turn, the same incredulity in their expression, back to Zhi. Then they both begin to speak at once.

Khyi: "Wait a minute, slow down, back up, that makes no sense--"

Xue: "Hold on, that's absolutely preposterous, they wouldn't--"

They stop, and Khyi falls quiet, nodding as Xue speaks animatedly.

"I'm sorry, but that... that can't be right. Knootoss declare war on Xikuang? For what reason? Xikuang is a completely demilitarised nation, we pose no threat to anybody. We couldn't build a military if we wanted to: we haven't the resources. It hasn't been more than a week since we left. That's not enough time for something of this magnitude to happen. Anyway, SeOCC wouldn't allow it. Celdonia wouldn't allow it. Anhierarch wouldn't. Nobody would... If they did something like that it wouldn't be just Svea Riga siding with Xikuang, it'd likely be the whole of the CACE inside and outside of Aperin, and there's no way SATO would back a member nation's invasion of a non-hostile nation, even if it is a CACE member; they wouldn't have a chance. And Knootoss? Knootoss attack a demilitarised, developing nation, and with weapons of mass destruction? That's absurd-- they would never do that! I'm sorry, I just-- I can't believe any of this is true."

As Xue speaks, Khyi withdraws a mechanical pencil and a small pad of bright yellow post-it notes from his shirt pocket and starts writing quickly in a tiny, spidery hand, leaning closely over his work as he does so.

*waits for a reply to the girl, but finds this whole story rather unbelievable.*
(Lets see. SATO nation nuks CACE nation. CACE nations nuke back. ---) if what you were saying were actually happening then I assure you the entire region of Aperin would by now be a nuclear wasteland.)


VERY OOC, SO EXTREMELY OOC YOU CAN'T BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND HOW OOC IT IS:Don't read this unless you want some explenation
*** He knows it doesn't make any sense ***

IC again:He looks at you and he knods lightly, and then he speaks "Exactly my point, my best guess is that this is all a setup by the Svea Rigan government or something to keep us from entering a harbor, they use to do that quite often, they want to test for how long we can stay calm just being at sea 24/7 all year round without even seeing land, I've been on this vessel for allmost 2 years now, I can say while I have acces to all my books and internet I'll survive"

He stands up and points towards the cameras I'm needed on the bridge, a ship will meet us soon, get out on deck if you want contact with the outer world He opens his door and walks out and waits for you to come with him.

***Response to Knootoss***

OOC:Censorship in Svea Riga is soft, anything released in Svea Riga must be read by a official from the government, most things pass.

IC:The book she's drawn to has a big note in the front page "In english", the cover is blue and gold and the headline reads....
She opens the book and reads a few lines when there's a knock on the door, the young soldier steps in, he's carrying a bunch of clothes and a bag.

He walks forward to the girl and takes a look at the books "What is this you're reading" he smiles lightly "all propaganda you know"
He puts the clothes down besides her "I found some smaller clothes in the officers cabin, i hope they fit you, and in the bag is some sheets and a pillow" he pauses "I got a surprise for you, you're moving out of this room, you can get your own cabin or move into mine" he blushes lightly.

The girl blushes, but then she smiles. "Oh, please, that would be great!"

She hugs the soldier, "thats just fantastic. I want to stay with you." Sbe hesitates for a moment, and asks "Can I go out now? And can we go up to deck? I really want to see the ocean."

Elenora's face lights up, and it is as if a small ray of sunlight just touched her face, warming her cheeks. She tosses the books aside and grabs the soldiers hand.

He feels more confident than before and gets the courage to give her a kiss on the cheek, "Yeah, let's go up, there's a boat coming to meet us soon, and the ocean's really beutifull this time of the day, I just hope it doesn't begin to rain like yesterday" He takes up the bag and they continue to his cabin.
It's not as big as the medical room and it's been cleaned hastily, clothes lies everywhere and the closet is wide open...it's empty.
There's a smaller room containing a toilet and a shower.
He escorts you in, the small radio he's got on his shoulder starts to sound and he respons in Svea Rigan.
"The boat has arrived, you wanna go up?"

OOC:Sorry for replying three times

IC:***Medical room***

Ru'i stands alone, feeling alittle alone and abandoned, the door's open and some soldiers stands outside talking in Svea Rigan.

Khyi stops writing, and looks up, puzzled. "You mean this is all an elaborate hoax to keep us-- keep you-- at sea? But why? Why the need to lie to the men? And with such an unbelievable story... surely they won't believe it either."

***Below Decks, in the Medical Room***

Ru'i watches as the girl leaves with the young soldier, careful to stay to the sidelines. Well, he thinks, that's probably the best thing for her, poor child. He shuffles briefly through the books, but as most of them are in Svea Rigan or English and he can't read them, he resorts to stacking them neatly on the table beside the bed. Ah well. Might as well get back to the cabin... I'll have work to do if Khyi has kept my foundling item safe. He moves to the door and cautiously heads out, nodding politely to the soldiers, hoping that they won't decide to pick on him just because he's there.

ooc: sorry for the late reply-- I go out and am out all evening of a Tuesday. We had a really good Tuesday! :)

OOC: Sorry for my slow replies as well. :roll:

Before the girl leaves she turns back once more and smiles at Ru'i. She whispers in English... "thank you." Her face expresses real gratitude. Then she accompanies the soldier to his cabin...

>insert Svea Rigas quote here<

Elenora happily nods: "sure I want to go up!" ans she cheerfully walks down the corridor, looking back if the young soldier is following her. It almost seems like a chase, only the girl makes sure not to run. Finally she stumbles upon a big hatch that apparently leads upward... she waits for the soldier to arrive to open it.

ooc: :D Ru'i feels much better now. Hopefully now you're out and about we can get a lot more involved with the dark and insidious plot.

ooc: :D Ru'i feels much better now. Hopefully now you're out and about we can get a lot more involved with the dark and insidious plot.
OOC: A response already. :shock: you guys are just impossible to keep up with. :wink:

The girl waits for the soldier to catch up, and then points to the hatch, looking questioningly: "up?", she asks.

The girl waits for the soldier to catch up, and then points to the hatch, looking questioningly: "up?", she asks.

Sorry, being late here, and I'm exhausted from all the school work.

IC:"Yes up" he opens the hatch and up you go, by one side you see a destroyer packed with large containers, the fresh air fills your lungs and you feel free for awhile.

He points at a table with fresh fruit and vegetable "Ahh that's the best part, fresh fruit" he escorts you to the table and begins to eat an apple.

The sea is magnificent in its grand beauty, even if it is now partly tainted with the black blood that normally fuels the economies of the west. "Spilled blood, that is what it is. Elenora cannot help to think.

She then sees the soldier clumsily biting into an apple, and she smiles again. The girl takes a banana, slowly pealing it and then suggestively putting her lips around it, slowly sliding it into her mouth. Suddenly she remembers that they might not be alone. Embarassed, she looks around the deck to see if there are already other people around...

The sea is magnificent in its grand beauty, even if it is now partly tainted with the black blood that normally fuels the economies of the west. "Spilled blood, that is what it is. Elenora cannot help to think.

She then sees the soldier clumsily biting into an apple, and she smiles again. The girl takes a banana, slowly pealing it and then suggestively putting her lips around it, slowly sliding it into her mouth. Suddenly she remembers that they might not be alone. Embarassed, she looks around the deck to see if there are already other people around...

About 20 soldiers or so just stops working and stands with their mouths open just watching the banana and just hating the commanders son for having the only girl onboard in his cabin in nights.

They stand there watching her finishing the banana then they began to work again.

John finishes the apple and hugs the girl spontaneously.
Suddenly he lets go of her and stumbles backwards, his face going white.
He speaks with a low voice "W-w-w-what is she doing here" he looks at the ship and there she stands, a blond girl at the age of 21, in an officers uniform, she looks around but she doesn't see John, maybe becouse he's standing behind a small pillar looking pipe.
"No no no no, how in the world did she come here, why, why now, why even at all" he sits down on a bench and looks at Elenora.

Elenora looks at the young soldier not understanding. She puts away the banana peel and sits down on the bench beside him: "John? What is it?"

Zhi Nyima does not seem inclined to further discussion, so his guests simply shrug and fall into step behind him. They walk in silence for some time, until, as they pass the cabin in which the Xikuangese are staying, Khyi calls the party to a halt. "Can you wait a moment? I'll only be a few seconds." he says. Zhi furrows his brows, but stops. "Allright, but be quick. As I said, my presence is required on deck." Khyi bows his head, and ducks into the cabin, leaving Nyima and Xue alone. A moment of awkward silence ensues, but Khyi soon returns, worry showing in his eyes.

Khyi and Zue again fall into step behind Zhi, talking quietly between themselves. "What is it?" Xue asks. Khyi sighs thoughtfully. "Thielhan's still in bed. He says he's feeling awful... he looks pretty rough, too." Xue frowns. "He just needs rest after what happened... he's still upset. He'll be okay." Xue speaks with assurance, but his eyes qualify his statement: I hope.

Eventually the three of them emerge onto the deck. Xue and Khyi watch curiously as the soldiers unload crates from the destroyer. "Hey, there's the girl from Knootoss." Khyi remarks, seeing the girl seated with-- could that be John, looking as though he had seen a ghost, with his head in his hands? But Xue was far too absorbed in his surroundings to comment...

***Reply to Knootoss***
He stands up, "That is my girfriend from the mainland, how or why she's here I don't know" He looks at Elenora.
"Damn" He hits his and agains the wall, the wall is made of steel so he begins to curse in Svea Rigan for what he did.
"I have to go and meet her, I'm very sorry, but I never imagined HER to be HERE"
He hugs Elenora and gives her a kiss on the forehead.
The he begins to walk towards the ship.


***Reply to Xikuang***
"I have to stop speaking Xikuangese now or they might get the wrong ideas, well I have to onboard the other ship to take care of some things, you can walk around as you please"
He walks up on the ship and disappears.

The other ship is quite larger then this vessel and heavily armed for a transport ship, there's armed soldiers and officers allmost everywhere, and now containers are being brought over from the transport ship.

The 16 year old girl stands still for a moment, and the sea breeze makes her hair blow up in the wind. She freezes, but then she shouts. "John!" and comes walking after him at a brisk pace, not noticing any of her surroundings.

The expression on her face turns to stone.

"Hey, wait, can I just ask one thing--" but Zhi is already gone.
"I suppose he must have urgent business. He seems a pretty important guy." Khyi remarks as Xue returns to his side, frustrated.

"I suppose." Xue lowers his voice, so that in the extremely unlikely event any of the Svea Rigans can understand the language, they will not be able to overhear."Still, we're going to need to find somebody we can trust if we're going to get out of here in one piece, and he might just be the one."

"Maybe that's precisely the reason he doesn't want to be seen too much with us. Or be caught speaking Xikuangese."

"How do you mean?"

"Well, if we pull a Khyesang manoeuvre, and there was kafuffle, and he had been seen to be hanging around with us, things could get a little sticky for him, don't you think?"

"H'm. That's a point. But then, he is pretty high ranking. He must know what's going on. Maybe he doesn't want to get too close the way people who eat meat don't want to get too close to cows."

"You're so cynical, Xue."

"Ask Thielhan about that. He was the one who saw... it."

"I didn't say cynicism wasn't perfectly reasonable, especially given the circumstances."

"Aye. Well, there's no sense hanging about and doing nothing proactive-- I'm going to go talk to one of the soldiers from the other ship, see if I can arrange to get a message back or something."

"It's what they'd expect us to do, given they don't know we know anything. I'll tag along, if that's allright."

"I'd prefer it if you did."

The two men scan the deck, bustling with activity, looking for someone from the newly arrived armed transport who does not appear to be too busy, blithely unaware of the potentially explosive situation about to erupt between a traumatised teenager, her knight in Svea Rigan uniform, and a dignified young female officer. Finally they spot one of the men standing at leisure, smoking a cigarette. They approach, bowing respectfully in the Xikuangese style.

"Excuse me, sir!"

***Reply to Xikuang***

"Yes, what is it, I'm ehhh, busy" he looks at you.

"I don't mean to take much of your time, if it's allright. We just wondered if you might be able to help us with something."

He's got a sign on his jacket that says "Radiooperatör" he throws his cigarett overboard - "What do you want?"

"Of course, of course we won't, no. Well, as you can probably surmise, we are not members of this ship's crew. We were part of the Xikuangese clean-up teams involved with the oil spill, and we ended up landing here after picking up a Knootosian tourist from the flames... quite nasty, really. Anyway, there were some... em... troubles with our helicopter, and we're rather stuck here now" He pauses and continues "This ship hardly ever puts into port, so I thought maybe we might get a ride back to land with you? "

"Ahh, ok, we're heading away to Skargarden and we can't pick you up, but anything else" He seems sorry.

"Oh. Okay... well, could we perhaps arrange to get a message back to our people at home? We've had radio blackout here. My wife must be frantic."

"Sure that can be arranged I guess, follow me to the radio room"

Same time inside a closed room "Were are they going?" an officer asks
Another officers sits with headphones and looks at a monitor showing them disappearing into the ship "Should I jam sir?"
"Yes that be the best thing to do, and sound the alarm too"
The other one knods and says "Yes sir, right away sir"

Some red light begins to flash and the warning sound is heard in the speakers.

"Thank you very much, sir. It's very helpful of you." Xue and Khyi follow the radio operator.

You walk thru some corridors, people are runing around carrying this and that, finnaly you stop outside a door and he opens, he pick up the radio and..."what the, excuse me for a moment, I'll be right back" he leaves the room and runs away.

As soon as the operator leaves, Khyi picks up the radio. "No matter, I should be able to manage." He starts to open a Xikuangese channel...

"Hello! This is Thanh Khyi, of the Liberty Two, last off the coast of SeOCC, copy."

A voice is heard in the other end.

"This is Bodke platforms boarder guard over"

"I have to report that myself and the other three crewmembers of the Liberty 2 are currently confined to the Svea Rigan medical frigate Lifverädden (ooc-- or whatever it was). Ship will not port. Request someone please come get us. Also could you please tell our families where we are-- radio is noemally silent."

"We copy, this messege is reorded to assure identification, can you repeat your names"

"Copy that. Thanh Khyi. Kang Xue. P'hai Thielhan. Q'iu Ru'i. Liberty 2 is down"

"Roger that, messege is delivered to government...We're breaking up, we can't hear you...boost....zzzzzzzz"

The radio falls silent, it's dead.

Khyi puts the handset down.
"It's gone dead." "Storms, I suppose."

The room goes black and red light are flashing everwhere, a voice in the speakers shouts out something in Svea Rigan, soldiers runs around outside the door, everyone carrying arms.

The two Xikuangese are startled half out of their skins. "Great! Now what?" Xue says. "Just stay calm and keep your hands in the air, for the love of anything at all!" Khyi yells over the klaxons, raising his own hands; Xue does the same.

A large blast is heard and the ship shakes on the water.

"What the hell is going on? What do we do?" Khyi asks. "o idea, but it's clearly nothing to do with us-- I don't think we should stay here. Let's go."
They cautiously leave the radio room and head up on deck...

They're startled when they see a boat in the distance, the hospital ships upper deck is gone..where it was now is fire and smoke.

The 16 year old girl stands still for a moment, and the sea breeze makes her hair blow up in the wind. She freezes, but then she shouts. "John!" and comes walking after him at a brisk pace, not noticing any of her surroundings.

The expression on her face turns to stone.

Every soldier stops working and reaches for their radions, John reaches for his but alas...it's gone.
All the soldiers begins to run around and then more and more red lights begins to flash and the speakers are heard calling out something in Svea Rigan.

John turns around and looks at Elenora he shouts something but the words drowns in the speakers sounds.
He begins to run towards her, a sound even higher then the one from the speakers is heard.

Suddenly the most upper part of the bridge explodes as John throws himself to cover Elenora.

A couple of sec later he regains counciousness.

Buhu, some replies people.

I'm waiting to see what Knootoss does... :wink:

OOC: sorry. School has started again and stuff :) Explosion eh?

Elenora is roughly thrown to the ground. When John ducks on her to cover her she is thrown off for a moment. Confusing feelings come floating up. But then she pushes him aside and throws him off, coughing while trying to catch her breath...

OOC:Please don't let this thread die, I'd love to rp more with you.
But I wanna se what Xikuang does before I reply.

ooc: many sorries! I'm just very busy on Tuesdays, and this particular Monday I've been quite busy, and I had to go to town today, and I wanted to give you something you could work with-- I've no intention of letting the thread die. :D

ic:

***On Deck, Military Transport***

Xue and Khyi stand spellbound at the sight of the deck of the medical frigate, half-destroyed and burning, for the moment oblivious to the Svea Rigan soldiers running every which way, shouting over the warning klaxons. "Ghosts of all the snakes." Khyi breathes quietly. "What's going on?" Xue shakes his head. "This can't be. It just goes from bad to worse... come on." He grabs Khyi by the wrist and, scanning briefly, runs in the direction where the most heated activity seems to be taking place, sticking close to the wall and trying to avoid getting in the Svea Rigan's way, but eager to discover what new threat they now face. He spots the radio operator who had led them on board, and makes resolutely towards him, Khyi helplessly in tow...

***Below Decks, Medical Ship***

Ru'i finds the cabin just as he had left it. Makeshift clotheslines span the cabin several times, serving the twin purpose of drying the stranded Xikuangese's clothes and ensuring that a couple of corners of the room are innocently out of reach of the security cameras. Thielhan is still in bed, apparently asleep, but he has knotted himself up in the sheets and his breathing is quick and shallow.

Concerned, Ru'i approaches his comrade, laying a hand on Thielhan's brow: definitely fever. Thielhan whimpers slightly and wakes.

"Nnnng."

"Hey. How're you feeling?" Ru'i asks.

"N-not too good. Like a hundred yaks are stuck in a peat bog in my head."

"I think I might should get the doctor--"

Thielhan sits bolt upright, retreating into the far corner of the bed, his eyes registering terror. "NO! No doctor! I don't want-- I won't let them touch me!"

Ru'i holds his hands up, signalling acquiescence. "Okay. Okay. No doctor. Don't worry, everything's going to be--"

!!! Suddenly, klaxons begin to scream, and the sound of soldiers running and shouting can be heard in the corridor. Seconds later there is a tremendous BA-WHOOOOOOM!!! and the entire ship rocks violently. The lights flicker in the cabin, then cut out, as a speaker comes on and a voice shouts in Svea Rigan. "What the--" Ru'i mutters, running to the wondow and throwing it open. Outside, he can see the reflections of flames on the water; in the air, he can smell the burning. He moves determinedly back into the room, scrounging around in pockets, under pillows, hidden corners. "Ru'i?" Thielhan says in a small voice. "What's going on?" "I don't know. It looks bad. Did Khyi leave anything for me?" "Aye. Right here." Ru'i goes to the bed, carefully keeping his back to the cameras as Thielhan passes a small black object to him: John's radio, lifted when the flighty young soldier had collided with the diminutive Xikuangese as he attempted to flee inquisitive Svea Rigan MPs at breakfast. The back is slightly loose, for it has already undergone some modification. Svea Rigan central monitoring computers seeking John's radio's GPS chip will find it at the bottom of the sea. In all likelihood, they will assume that the rest of the radio is there too.

"Excellent. Thank you." Ru'i takes the radio, tucking it securely into his shirt before retreating into one of the corners the Svea Rigan cameras cannot monitor owing to laundry obscurement, near Thielhan's bed. Thielhan speaks again: "You're won't leave again, will you?" "Don't worry." Ru'i replies, taking out his well-packed set of microelectronics tools. "Not for a while."

ooc:Wgat an irony, now I'M going to be busy all day, hopefully I'll get a reply in later tonight.

OOC: yeah, well Its just that this whole university thing takes up a lot of my time. More then I expected actually. They want you to learn stuff there, the bastards. :wink: But in four years I will know everything about public administration there is to know. I hope... :roll:

But I will continue this RP... my posts have been a little "shorter then usual" here but I give you my word as a politician-to-be that that will improve. :twisted:

IC:
On Deck
Elenora pushes aside the body of the young soldier, and for a moment her head spins as she looks around. The chaotic scene on the deck unfolds before her eyes like a movie, and her ears are still ringing from the explosion. Some other people lay flat on the deck around her, but it is unclear wheter they are wounded or if they just fell over.

Her mind flashes back, and suddenly she remembers. The lucifer, the flames the chaos all around her. She is back on the disaster-tourist ship, the trip she took when on holyday with her parents. Reality and memort mix and flow through Elenora's mind: emotions dome floating back.

"Flames! Fire" I have to get out of here!" She looks around but her parents are nowhere to be seen. There is nowhere to run. Totally confused, the girl heads for the railing of the "medical" ship, and it appears as if she is going to jump overboard...

Oh no! Can our hero John save the young Knootossian tourist before it's too late? Be sure to pick up the next exciting issue of Lost At Sea!

ooc: sorry... couldn't help it. :D

OOC:Knootoss they try to learn you things and you have to learn them???
Omg nooooh.

IC:John wakes up, his head hurts, he feels the back and there's blood covering his hand when he looks at it, What the hell just happened, where's Elenora he thinks.

He looks up and sees Elenora go towards railing She isn't he gets up on his feets, they hurt, he sees his leg is also covered in blood and small metal fragments are still stuck in.
He begins to 'walk' (more dragging his one leg towards the healty one) towards Elenora and collapses behind her, stretching his arm out and grabs her ancle (sp), he opens his mouth "Please" and he faints.

(second reply soon)

The girl looks around. John his at her feet, but all she sees is on the insidel, behind her eyes, flames consuming everything. Danger. She runs again, this time in the other direction but again heading for the railing... the world around her seems to revolve round and round and round.

She hears little, and the explosion is still ringing in her ears vibrating inside her skull. The sea is big and blue, cool, safe.

What she doesn't see however, is a young woman in a Svea Rigan officers uniform standing in her way...

-NS is working again BUMP-

OOC:ALIVE ITS ALIVE MUAAHAHAHAHAHA

IC:The ship shakes again when the big helipad cracks into 2 pieces and out from below comes an arm carrying 6 missiles.

OOC:Hmm, that's all I can write now, I'm in a hurry so you'll have to excuse me.

The girl shakes on her feet and falls over... (OOC: waiting for more)

ooc: just falls over, or falls overboard?

ooc: just falls over, or falls overboard?

Falls over. If she fell overboard I would have been more extensive... :P

OOC:Good, Xikuang can't you get out on ICQ?
And Knootoss do you have ICQ or aim, msn?

OOC:Good, Xikuang can't you get out on ICQ?
And Knootoss do you have ICQ or aim, msn?

OOC: I have MSN, but can also get on IRC...

ooc: just a quick post to say I'm REALLY REALLY SORRY about not being able to get anything up for this thread-- it's been a hectic week. I'll try hard to write something soon. :(

ooc:hey no problem, take all the time you need, its quality not the quantity that matters.

***On the deck of the military transport***

Xue dashes across the deck, dragging Khyi helplessly along with him, towards the radio operator who had brought them onboard. He is intent, but Khyi seems only able to watch the deck of the medical ship burn. "Hey!" Khyi calls over the noise to the operator, "What's going on? Who's attacking? Can we help?" Khyi tugs at Xue's sleeve, gesturing towards the medical ship. "That has got to be the best armed medical frigate I've ever seen." he says as the helipad opens up, revealing a very impressive missile launcher. "We seem to have landed in the middle of a battle."

***In the Cabin, on board the medical frigate***

Ru'i sits down on the edge of the bed occupied by the ailing Thielhan, careful to keep his back to the camera. Taking from his pocket a small set of tools, he begins fiddling around with the radio's innards. "There." he says, after a moment's work. "That will keep it from transmitting a return signal, and I've already chucked the GPS chip... they won't know we're listening." Without bothering to replace the back, he switches the radio on, tuning to the command channel, but keeping the volume low. "You're going to have to help me here, Thielhan. I can tune us in, but I can't understand what they're saying." "Allright." Thielhan replies. "Though I have to say, my Svea Rigan isn't up to much." They struggle with the unfamiliar language, trying to make out what they can...

ooc: Sorry, that's all I have time for... SR, how much-- if any-- of that radio transmission will actually have gotten to Xikuang?

OOC:All of the radio transmission got thru, would allmost be godmode to block EVERYTHING all the time.

IC:***On the deck of the military transport***

The operator looks at them while the radio keeps sending messeges.
"Uhh, yes, whenever a green button lights up on the wall, press it" he points over to a big wall covered in red/green buttons.
More and more green lights begin to flash, but also some red.
"Ignore the red ones, they can't be helped" he returns to his radio.

***In the Cabin, on board the medical frigate***

The radio begins to spark and the voice coming out is hectical
"Klonerna måste skyddas, vi har fått flera dödsfall de senaste minutrarna, männen från Xikuang måste skyddas, vi behöver mer av deras DNA"

Now that's a channel you shouldn't be listening to.

OOC:My bus's leaving, have to go :oops: :oops: :oops:

ooc: OK. That should get some interesting things going.

***On the Deck of the Military Transport***

"Um. Okay." Xue says, pushing a green button. Khyi joins him, but they are soon hard pressed to keep up as more and more of the green lights begin to flash, and disturbingly, more and more red ones as well. "By the way, what are we doing? And who in blazes is attacking?"

***In the cabin, on board the beleaguered medical frigate***

Thielhan frowns, listening to the radio. At the mention of Xikuang, he and Ru'i exchange a worried glance. "Are you getting any of that? Ru'i asks. "A little. Maybe. They're definitely referring to us and DNA in the same sentence. I think... I think they're saying that they need more DNA. From us. But I can't make out 'Klonerna...' "'Clones', perhaps?" Ru'i mutters "Why do I really, really not like the sound of this?"

***At the Bodke VTOL Landing platforms, Bodke, Qabka***

A young radio operator finishes transcribing a message. He rises and hurriedly opens the door of the radio room, literally colliding as he steps out with the imposing form of Sarekh Djijirin. The Elected General Councillor and Elected Chair of the Committee for National Security is well over six feet tall, huge by Xikuangese standards, and built like a professional wrestler. It is rumoured that he can bend a crowbar in his bare hands. It is also rumoured that he often feeds wild birds out of those same bare hands. Mr. Sarekh is walking with a serious-looking man in the uniform of a pilot from Free Socialism and two other foreigners, a man and a woman, both in civilian attire. The young radio operator staggers back, almost falling over, but he is easily caught by the towering official. "Whoa, there. Better look where you're going. What's up, Deki?"

Deki (for indeed, that is his name) looks up, flustered. "Oh. Thanks. I will. Message just in, they'd asked specifically that it be transferred to government, so I actually was going to look for you, sir."

"Oh. Serendipitous that you should happen to run into me then." Djijirin says, taking the transcription from the radio operator. He reads it, forwns, and appears to be reading it again.


"Hello! This is Thanh Khyi, of the Liberty Two, last off the coast of SeOCC, copy."

A voice is heard in the other end.

"This is Bodke platforms boarder guard over"

"I have to report that myself and the other three crewmembers of the Liberty 2 are currently confined to the Svea Rigan medical frigate LifveRäddaren (ooc-- or whatever it was). Ship will not port. Request someone please come get us. Also could you please tell our families where we are-- radio is normally silent."

"We copy, this messege is recorded to assure identification, can you repeat your names"

"Copy that. Thanh Khyi. Kang Xue. P'hai Thielhan. Q'iu Ru'i. Liberty 2 is down"

"Roger that, messege is delivered to government...We're breaking up, we can't hear you...boost....zzzzzzzz"


"Hmm. This is peculiar. Most peculiar. Are you quite certain you have the name of the ship correctly?"

"LifveRäddaren? Quite certain, though I wasn't sure how to spell it. I think that's right."

"And this just came in now?"

"Yes. I just finished the transcription."

"What's the problem?" asks the pilot from Free Socialism, looking over the transcription, rather uselessly, as he doesn't read Xikuangese.

"The General Council received a telegram from the government of Svea Riga over a week ago. The LifveRäddaren was reported to have sunk, all hands lost. There was a meeting in Svea Rigan embassies yesterday, and the whole affair confirmed. Those men are assumed to be dead."

"Peculiar indeed." says the pilot. "It seems some clarification is in order."

"It certainly does." Mr. Sarekh answers. "Deki, can you wait here? I'll just get these people settled, and I'll be right back. I'll need the radio."

***On the Deck of the Military Transport***

The radio operator ignores you and speaks hastily in the mic.
He pushes a button and all the lights goes out, "Watch this" he says and points at the medical ship.

The ship has risen about 5 metres out of the water (OOC:Gonna see if I can find a pic of what it looked like before it got bombed), and big ramps had been pulled out from both sides, the ramp carried what looked like 3 out-of-the ordinary missiles, they were painted in black and had the Svea Rigan flag on them, one of them began to fizzle and was fired against the enemy ship.
You look at the other two and on a small sign on the ramp you see something you wished you'd never see, the mark of death.
http://www.royalmarsden.org/patientinfo/booklets/radioiodine/hazard.gif

Oh my god the missile keept going towards the ship everyone just stod there and looked in ave at the missile wich after more than 4 minutes hit their targets.
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2001/05/images/021011_nuclear.jpg

OOC:You know how hard it is to find a small nuclear explosion!!!, I'll tell you, it's really hard.

OOC: do I get this right? has the hospital ship been nuked? :?

ooc: I thought it was the third ship, the one that was visible off in the distance when we first learned that the hospital ship had bneen bombed, and which I had presumed had been the bomber-- agk! SR, set us straight, please?

"Watch this" he says and points at the medical ship.

The ship has risen about 5 metres out of the water (OOC:Gonna see if I can find a pic of what it looked like before it got bombed), and big ramps had been pulled out from both sides, the ramp carried what looked like 3 out-of-the ordinary missiles, they were painted in black and had the Svea Rigan flag on them, one of them began to fizzle and was fired against the enemy ship"

OOC:The "hospital ship" bombarded the third ship wich allready had bombarded the hospital ship.
So the hospital ship fired a missile carrying a small nuclear device against the third ship.

***On the deck of the military transport***

The Xikuangese men stand transfixed as the ominously labeled missile streaks towards its target. "Buo la." Xue mutters, almost in a whisper, as it descends...
There is a flash, and then the dreaded, inevitable form of the mushroom cloud blossoms from the ship, its provenance unknown to these two onlookers, followed by a sharp blast of wind from the distant explosion.

When next the radio operator looks, he finds Xue crouched down against the wall, chanting something to himself, while Khyi is being violently ill in the corner.

ooc: Not much more to be said...

OOC:Well I had to be evil, I've been to nice for awhile now!

The miltary outside stood in salute to the lost brothers that were up on the damaged deck, then they turned towards the blast and saluted towards that too.
The some high ranked military came out from the lower upper deck.
"We've lost the commander in this attack, new orders have arrived, we're to return to an small island outside the main land and repair and await further orders, the use of nuclear arnament was necessary today and we mourn the poor devils that dared to attack the Svea Riga navy, get some sleep or return to your posts"

OOC:Being in school, longer reply later tonight.

Both the ships started to move slowly, but increased speed as they went by.
Most of the soldiers remembered that they were still humans and some sat down on deck and cried for their komrades that died in the first blast.

The Xikuangese approached Xue, "Crying won't get the men back, get up, ahh the mushroom cloud sure is beatifull, to bad you have to let lose the worst powers known to man to get something that nice"

He stops talking and takes a look over to the cloud still there.

"The Svea Rigans aren't like us, I've lived with them for allmost 8 years, of thoose I've been 4 years onboard this ship and I gotta say I've changed to.
The Svea Rigans are hard men, I think it's the first time I've seen one of these soldiers cry, and now when they've done that they probably gotta shot something or drop mines and remote detonate them just to kill fishes"

If/when you look up at him you notice he's put on a uniform, not any ordinary unform, it's completely black except for the square foot large left part of his torso wich is covered with medals.
He's got the most scary gun you've ever seen in his belt.

"Since Johns father's dead I'm in charge of this boat now, thing's are going to change, we're arriving to port in 12 hours!"

He begins to walk away.

ooc: just getting positions straight-- Xue and Khyi were still on the military transport, not on the medical ship. Has Nyima come to get them? (that'd be perfectly resasonable-- he will know that they had transmitted a radio message from there so he knows they're on that ship). Ru'i and Thielhan are still in the cabin, and Lord only knows where poor ol' Elenora has got to...

Khyi, still looking a bit green and unsteady, listens, shaking his head as Zhi alludes to the violent character of the Svea Rigan soldiers. Xue shows no sign of having heard at all. Khyi tries to rouse him, but he does not respond, and Khyi is torn between following the officer and staying with his friend. "Zhi Sailin!" he calls as the now Commander moves away.

Commander Zhi has many things on his mind and much on his agenda, but something in Khyi's voice stops him, and he turns back to his former countrymen. Xue seems to be in his own world, and Khyi is on one knee beside him, his expression somewhere between fearful and pleading.

"Zhi Sailin. When we get to port, will you let us go? Please say you'll let us go. We've been enough trouble for you. We just want to go home. Please."

Meanwhile, somewhere in Svea Riga, a telegram is received in government offices:

Greetings to the Government of the Constitutional Monarchy of Svea Riga:

Some rather contradictory matters have come to our attention, and it seems we would require your assistance to clarify them. Of late, the General Council of Xikuang received a telegram from Admiral Gustaf III, in which the Admiral informed us that the Svea Rigan hospital ship LifveRäddaren had most unfortunately been sunk for reasons as yet unknown, and that all hands, including four of our citizens and one Knootossian teenager, who had been taken in my the LifveRäddaren when the Xikuangese helicopter Liberty 2 malfunctioned. However, we have just been informed that a radio message has been received from one of the members of the crew of the Liberty 2, saying that the members of that crew were still aboard the LifveRäddaren, and that they would require pick-up, as the ship was not scheduled to port.

Clearly there has been a misunderstanding somewhere in the lines of communication. I am sure that you have as much interest as I in clearing this up. I thank you in advance for your attention.

With benedictions,

Dr. Xu, the Elected, Chair of the Elected General Council of Xikuang.

ooc: Oh, the angst! Pretty much everything the Xikuangese do after this will hinge on how the officer responds...

OOC:Gonna need some time to think about this, set up some new goals with the rp and stuff, reply might take quite awhile...

Commander Zhi stops, looks at Khyi, his eyes are all shiny.
He straights out some non-exisiting wrinkles on his uniform and looks up.

"I'd appreciate if we could keep the Xikuangese down a bit, the men get ideas"

He turns to a line of Svea Riga soldiers that lined up before him.

"Take these men back to their cabin and make lower bridge into main bridge, carry out orders!"

Again he turns to the Xikuangese.

"I'm terribly sorry but I just follow orders, follow them to your cabin you need to sleep before we dock"

Zhi pointed at the Xikuangese just standing there wondering what he meant.
The 9 men that stood in the line began to walk towards the Xikuangese on the deck.

***John***

John sits on a bench holding a towel covered in blood and a plastic bag of ice, his head was ringing still.
His father was dead, he didn't know where his girlfriend was or the girl from Knootoss, life went from beutifull to shit in a matter of seconds.

Khyi looks back at the commander in some confusion, unsure whether to think that Zhi might be evading simply to keep up appearances on deck, or if he should suspect the worst. Must keep up hope. That's all we have now... He looks up as the soldiers approach, trepidation obvious, and redoubles his efforts to rouse Xue, who is still crouched against the wall, apparently oblivious to what is happening around him.

"Xue. Xue, snap out of it. Come on. Get up." Khyi shakes his friend by the shoulder, but Xue only lets out a low moan. "Damn you, don't you weird out on me now! This is not the time!" Khyi suddenly snaps at him, smacking him soundly across the back of the head. Brought back to his senses by this unexpectedly violent treatment, Xue looks up, startled to find nine Svea Rigan soldiers converging upon them. Khyi yanks him rather unceremoniously to his feet as the soldiers surround them.

"It's allright. We'll go. We won't make any trouble." Khyi addresses the highest-ranking soldier, and, taking Xue by the arm, he walks meekly along with this substantial escort.

When they reach the lower bridge of the hospital ship, still burning in places as the men work to clear away the damage and put out the fires, Khyi catches sight of John sitting dejectedly on the bench, obviously wounded, but looking as if his physical injuries are nothing to what he's feeling. That's right. He was the Commander's son... his father is dead. He stops, casting a look of concern and sympathy towards John, but the soldiers behind him soon push him forward, and they continue on their way to the cabin...

ooc: SR said to go ahead and post stuff while he's off for the weekend, so here we go... :)

***Below Decks, in the Cell-- er-- Cabin***

The ship is still rocking slightly after its recent bombardment, and the shouting of the soldiers outside rises above the clanging and clattering as they go about the work of repairing the damage and rescuing the wounded-- and attending to the dead. Ru'i and Thielhan are listening attentively to the radio, its volume carefully kept so low that they have to lean in to hear it, their expressions pensive as they struggle to understand the language and to quell the rising sense of panic at what they are able to understand. There is a tiny sound, almost drowned out by the general racket, but one for which they have been so attentive that they both nearly jump out of their skins, Thielhan snatching the radio and pushing it under his pillow with almost superhuman speed: the doorknob has begun to turn.

The two men in the room are surprised to see their compatriots bustled into the cabin by a complement of nine armed soldiers. Oh no, they both think, it's all up now... but their fears are put to rest as the highest ranking soldier steps into the cabin with Khyi and Xue, his rifle on his back, not in his hands, and the rest remain outside.

"It's best if you stay here for now." the soldier says, in English. "It's still quite dangerous where the missiles hit, and we don't want you getting in the way."

"Allright, but if there's anything we can do to help--" Khyi begins.

"That won't be necessary. We have it under control. After all, we have to protect civilians. It's our job." As he speaks, a certain sarcastic smile plays about the soldier's mouth. He shouts something to his men, and they leave, closing the door behind them. The Xikuangese within the cabin half-expect to hear the lock click as well, but to their relief, it doesn't.




Thielhan falls back on his pillow, and Ru'i watches with concern as Khyi leads Xue to a bed, sitting him down gently, keeping a hand on his shoulder.

"What happened? There was fighting--"
Ru'i starts.

"Yes, there was."
Khyi says, still watching Xue. "I don't know who it was. Skargarden, presumably. They-- we-- the Svea Rigans-- used nukes. It was over very quickly."

At this news, Ru'i's expression turns sombre. "Oh. I... I see." Meanwhile Xue begins to stir from his trancelike state.

"Khyi? I'm sorry. I don't know what happened there. I saw the blast and I... I just..."

[color=brown]"It's allright. You don't have to explain. I know." Khyi says, as Xue buries his face in his hands. "It's allright. But Xue, you need to stay with us now. There will be time later, but not if we don't all stick together and stay on the ball. You hear me?"

"I... I do. I'm allright. I just need to rest."

"Then rest. You certainly deserve it." Xue kicks off his shoes and lies down fully clothed on the bed, soon falling into a sound slumber. Meanwhile, Khyi turns to Ru'i, who has retreated to another corner of the cabin protected from the cameras by laundry, John's radio in hand. "Anything?"

"Nothing good." Ru'i responds. "Even while the fighting was going on, they were talking about... the experiments. We were mentioned specifically. I don't know... but for heaven's sake, what happened out there?"

"Like I said, I don't know. I've already told you all I can. Oh, but the other ship-- there was another ship, you know--"

"Would they--"

"I asked. No, they wouldn't, but we may have made some progress. I managed to get a radio message home. They know we're here, at least, and I requested government attention and asked for pickup... I didn't want to say too much."

"Of course not." Ru'i says. "But we might be able to get into more regular contact. I've already rigged the radio for that-- oh, thanks very much for keeping it safe for me-- but I need to boost the power; it's only designed for on-ship use. And encoding will be a problem. I can't see that they won't be able to pick up our transmissions, and I just don't have the resources to scramble anything."

"Then we're going to have to transmit once, and make it count, and hope they aren't watching when we do." Khyi answers, his fingers in steeple position. "If we can get off this ship on our own strength, it will be a miracle. We're going to need help, outside or inside." His expression clouds over as he says this, his confusion over Zhi Nyima's words playing in his mind.

"I'll have this set up to transmit in an hour or so." Ru'i says, still working with the radio. "Let's see what we can do then."

***General Council Administrative Offices, Lhijir, Lhai, Xikuang***

"Yes, I'm very pleased with Mr. T'ai's results. He has met all expectations, and exceeded most."
"Indeed, and the launch is running to plan. I hear something about some box..."
"Box?"
"Ah, it's nothing. I'm sure they'll sort it. By the way, any word from Svea Riga on the Liberty 2 incident?"
"None. None at all, not even a 'we're dealing with it'. I'm starting to get a very bad feeling about this, Li'i."

OOC: sorry for not replying for so long but I am having a bit of a writers block on what to do next. And I also think the nOOklear explosion was detected by SATO so that would bring them in... *sigh*

OOC: sorry for not replying for so long but I am having a bit of a writers block on what to do next. And I also think the nOOklear explosion was detected by SATO so that would bring them in... *sigh*

Why would it be detected by SATO, do they monitor every inch of the seas?
And the "nOOk" as you put it were so small that even IF SATO saw it wouldn't pay much attention to it...and what are SATO gonna do about it IF they saw it?

OOC: sorry for not replying for so long but I am having a bit of a writers block on what to do next. And I also think the nOOklear explosion was detected by SATO so that would bring them in... *sigh*

Why would it be detected by SATO, do they monitor every inch of the seas?
And the "nOOk" as you put it were so small that even IF SATO saw it wouldn't pay much attention to it...and what are SATO gonna do about it IF they saw it?

OOC: to answer your question, YES. All SATO counties put in part of their sattelite network and esp. that of Menelmacar and EOTED is rather extensive. Add to that anything near locations like Aperin or Reich is closely monitored. And a nuclear explosion in the middle of the ocean kinda spikes. The "what are they going to do about it" part is what troubles me... investigate I guess. :?

OOC:Sorry if I sounded 'mad' or something been away for activities entire weekend and haven't sleept for allmost 36 hours :D
Ok, I guess that satelites monotoring the areas "around" Aperin are there.
But the part about them doing anything is small, I was under attack but couldn't prove it as the ship's secret.
If you want to report this to SATO it might get interesting.

ooc: that's a point. It was a very small nuke, but Aperinian seas are closley monitored. It would be hard to believe of SeOCC, First Outside, Anhierarch, Cirdanistran, Free Socialism, and Celdonia, to name just a few, didn't notice. It might be appropriate to TG them just to let them know it happened-- could be done IC, as you were just dealing with a rogue Skargarden military vessel, yes?

***Below Decks, in the Cabin...who am I kidding it's a cell!***

A knock is heard on the door, once, twice.

Ru'i shoves the radio under a pillow and sits back. Khyi goes to the door, and opens the hatch, looking out.

"Yes?"

Commander Zhi stands outside, still wearing the uniform, it looks like he's alone, if you look at the watch it's almost 10 Pm

"May I come in?" he asks.

"Oh... hi." Khyi says.
"Sure, come in... please try to be quiet. Xue's asleep. He's had a rough day." Khyi opens the door to admit the officer.

Zhi enters the cabin, somewhat discomfited at the cluttered state it is in-- far from what he's used to in his own spacious quarters. It is a large cabin, but not entirely suited to housing four people; two of the beds are just portable cots, one of the permanent ones occupied by Xue, sleeping soundly; the other by Thielhan, who looks distinctly ill. Makeshift clotheslines have been strung up using wire, and clothing washed in the bathroom sink is hanging to dry.

Khyi pulls a chair out from a small table, indicating to Zhi that he might sit. "Please, have a seat."

Zhi sits down "Thank you" , He looks over to Ru'i and grins.

"So, how's it going, I've been to busy to visit you earlier and I didn't want to visit under these circumstances"

Khyi blinks. "You mean the battle?"

Zhi thinks for a moment, constantly his eyes slipping towards Ru'i

[color=brown] "So that wasn't your decision, then?" Khyi says. Ru'i continues simply to watch, but he seems distinctly uncomfortable under Zhi's gaze. Something about it triggers something in him, some forgotten memory...

"No it wasn't my decision, rest is classified as always when we use the horrible weapons"

He looks over to Xue sleeping in the bed.

"Oh. Of course. I can't say that I really understand... military stuff is rather beyond my ken, I'm afraid."
He continues "But, about what I mentioned earlier, when we port, you'll-- you will let us go, won't you?"

He tries to hide it, but there is nonetheless a detectable edginess in Khyi's voice.

Ru'i speaks for the first time, his voice low and his manner careful. "Port? The ship is going to port?"

Yes, this ship is going to port Zhi looks at Ru'i.
But...we're not going to port in a civil area but at one of the islands surrounding Skargarden ]

"Oh, but that should be fine. We can easily make it back to Xikuang from there. Can't we, Khyi?" "Sure." answers Khyi. "You will let us go, won't you?"

"I wish it was that simple, I'll promise to do whatever I can do to get you on the first chopper out of there, but I'm not the one to decide"

Ru'i tries to sound optimistic as he speaks. "But surely we could just go to SeOCC from there. That would work, wouldn't it? We wouldn't need a chopper at all."

"Listen here 14597, things aren't always what they seem"

Ru'i suddenly stiffens, all the color draining from his face, as he unconsciously presses himself back against the wall. He seems to be unable to take his eyes off of Zhi's, and his expression is one of absolute petrified horror.

Khyi looks confused. "Ru'i? What is it?"

Zhi stands up looking at Ru'i "I knew something wasn't right the moment I laid my eyes on you, you shouldn't go around showing the tattoo like some trophy, it hurts doesn't it?
Can you sleep at night or do you still hear the screams?

Khyi stands, looking in surprise and shock at Zhi, then back to Ru'i, who is virtually cowering on the cot, his back to the wall, eyes wide in fear. "I-- I d-don't know wh-wh- what you mean..." Ru'i stammers, Zhi's glare burning into him. "Just what the hell is going on here?" Khyi demands, stepping between Zhi and Ru'i (and, coincidentally, in front of the door).

"Of course you know what I talk about 14597, you haven't forgot those special moments we shared have you?
Zhi's face changed it's darker somehow, his eyes are on fire.

Ru'i's hands clench at the bedclothes, his knuckles whitening. He seems to be trying to force himself through the wall behind him. "N-no sir. Of c-course not, sir."

In all the commotion, Xue stirs and wakes. He is completely unsure what to make of the scene that greets his eyes as he sits up...

Khyi looks darkly at Zhi. "I think you should leave us. Now." he says, his voice low and angry.

Zhi let's out a laughter "Indeed I should, 14597 we'll talk more tomorrow.
Zhi turns around and reaches for the door.

Khyi opens it for him, glowering.
"His name is Qiu Ru'i. Not 14597."

Zhi steps out "Good night gentlemen, I hope you don't have bad dreams 14597 ops I mean Ru'i, we still have those pills you know"
Zhi closes the door after him, you can hear his laughter in the corridors untill it abruptly ends.

OOC: Background music: Oh Fortuna, orff

O Fortuna * O Fortune,
velut luna * like the moon
statu variabilis, * you are changeable,
semper crescis * ever waxing
aut decrescis; * and waning;
vita detestabilis * hateful life
nunc obdurat * first oppresses
et tunc curat * and then soothes
ludo mentis aciem, * as fancy takes it;
egestatem, * poverty
potestatem * and power
dissolvit ut glaciem. * it melts them like ice.

The small nuclear blast had formed a mushroom and the cloud of doom began spreading the radiationleak spreading on the wind. High above, in orbit of the NS world a Menelmacari spy sattelite picked up a sharp change in environment.

Spikes. Temperature, heat, changing rapidly.

This particular Menelmacari sattelite was part of the SATO sattelite network and information began to bounce through outer space and back to groundstations in various SATO nations. Within seconds advanced computers in the Empire of the Eternal Dawn and the Endless Islands began calculating. Bringing order to chaos.

Analysis complete - Nuclear explosion detected. Coordinates triangulated

Regional Location Approximation: Aperin western coast.

STRATEGIC ALERT!

Sors immanis * Fate - monstrous
et inanis, * and empty,
rota tu volubilis, * you whirling wheel,
status malus, * you are malevolent,
vana salus * well-being is vain
semper dissolubilis, * and always fades to nothing,
obumbrata * shadowed
et velata * and veiled
michi quoque niteris; * you plague me too;
nunc per ludum * now through the game
dorsum nudum * I bring my bare back
fero tui sceleris. * to your villainy.

Onboard the KDF Fortuna, ocean between Aperin and Der Angst
The CAESAR computer system automatically acknowledged the alert and the soft female voice spoke:

"The SATO sattelite network has detected a single nuclear explosion in this theater. Automatically going to red alert. Full radiation protocol is in place untill proper analysis can take place."

The lights on the bridge of the Knootian frigate Fortuna instantly became red and alarms began to howl all over the ship.

"What in Hell"", the captain thought. "Give me SATO high command, NOW!", he yelled at his comm officer....

(OOC: posts this in the SATO boards as well)

Sors salutis * Fate is against me
et virtutis * in health
michi nunc contraria, * and virtue,
est affectus * driven on
et defectus * and weighted down,
semper in angaria. * always enslaved.
Hac in hora * So at this hour
sine mora * without delay
corde pulsum tangite; * pluck the vibrating strings;
quod per sortem * since Fate
sternit fortem, * strikes down the string man,
mecum omnes plangite! * everyone weep with me!

On board the Svea Rigan hospital ship.
The young Elenora sees her would-be friend sitting there crying. She flashes in and out of reality. Now she sees her parents being consumed by the flames alive. The oil is burning and the air is simmering with heat. Reality shifts again as the second shockwave from the nuclear blasts hits the girl in full throwing her to the ground. Water... cold black water.

The railing seems to be a holding point, and the teenage girl drags herself over there. The black water looms, no begs her to enter. Reality shifts. The face of her mother in agony, her colorfol shirt with floral patterns on fire. Reality shifts, the cold black water surrounding her body bringing back her senses.

Coldness. No breath. No sound.

Not even realising what is happening, the young Knootian girl slowly sinks to the bottom of the unforgiving sea near Aperin.

ooc: Oh no! She jumped?

And do you mind if I post something to the CACE boards on the nuclear explosion?

OOC: yes she jumped. And I do not mind your posting in the CACE forum at all, I just posted on the SATO foum seconds ago. In fact, it seems rather neccecery

ooc: Posted to CACE. White room, for now. And I'm going to try to rescue her. I hope you don't mind.

OOC: that will be difficult methinks. She is sinking deep and fast. But white room all you want. :wink:

As the echo of Commander Zhi Nyima's laughter fades in the corridor, Khyi moves swiftly to the cot where Ru'i sits petrified, his eyes still glued to the door. "Ru'i. Ru'i. Hey. What was that all about?" But Ru'i only shakes his head slowly, his eyes still fixed on the door as the tears well up, running unchecked down his face. "Aw, crap. Come on. Look, all that's over now, isn't it? --geez, you're shaking." Damnation, he thinks. This day just gets worse and worse. Khyi places a hand gently on Ru'i's shoulder, and Ru'i collapses, sobbing softly. Somewhat surprised, Khyi puts his arm around Ru'i, reassuringly.

Thielhan gets up, moving to the foot of his bed, near Ru'i's cot. He looks shaky and a bit green, but concern for his friend overrides his illness. "Ru'i? You okay, pal?" Xue is sitting bolt upright in bed, all traces of his earlier exhaustion gone. "Khyi-- what's going on? Do-- does Zhi know Ru'i?"

"Apparently." Khyi answers, his arm over Ru'i's shoulder, just letting him cry. "Ru'i was in prison. He was only released after the Great Restoration. I didn't know but-- from the looks of things, it seems that it was pretty bad. And it seems our man Zhi was involved."

"Prison? What for?"

"Smuggling contraband."

"What contraband?"

"Rice, mostly."

"I-- *hic* I remember him now." Ru'i says, his voice a choked whisper, interrupted by hiccoughs. "He... *hic* he was an interrogator. I didn't recognise him. But I know-- *hic* I know him now. I know his voice." He shudders violently, some memory wrenching at him, tearing him apart from the inside, and he collapses again, cowering like a terrified child against Khyi.

"Wait-- an interrogator? Where were you, Ru'i?" Thielhan asks, his expression darkening. Ru'i does not seem able to respond, so he turns his eyes to Khyi. "I don't know." Khyi answers. "He doesn't talk about it much. I guess I can see why now."

When he speaks, Ru'i's voice is a nearly inaudible squeak, substantially muffled as he has his face pressed against Khyi's shoulder.
"Shining Destiny Rehabilitation Project, 14597."

There is a silence, broken only by Ru'i's quiet sobbing, as the expressions on the other three men move from shock to horrified indignation.

"Shining Destiny, Xijin Ulan Hu? You were at Shining Death?" Thielhan finally says, incredulous. Khyi, meanwhile, has taken Ru'i's hand, and he rocks slowly, his eyes closed. "Merciful heaven. You never said. Ru'i, you never said. Great Gods." Neither of them are watching Xue, whose eyes first show shock, then sympathy, then unmitigated rage as he too begins to shake, though for entirely different reasons to those of his smaller compatriot. His shout startles the other three nearly out of their skins.

"I'LL KILL HIM!" Xue thunders, his eyes flashing. "Where is he?!? I'll throttle the bastard with my bare hands! I don't care what happens-- I'll kill him!" Muscles taut, his jaw audibly grinding, he moves to the door. "Xue, no!" Thielhan shouts, intercepting Xue. "Think about this, please!" "He's right, Xue. Please just calm down." Khyi says, tensed to act. "What the HELL are you talking about, calm down, think? Xue shouts, looming intimidatingly over Thielhan. That man is a war criminal. You know what happened at that-- that place! How am I supposed to calm down knowing that the- the- DEMON that did that (he points at Ru'i) to my friend is walking around free, enjoying all the benefits of a high ranking officer? You just explain to me how I'm supposed to be calm!"

"Xue, please. Don't forget. They can see us. They can hear us. Please don't spaz. You'll get us all thrown in the brig or worse. Look, I'm angry too. Khyi's angry. How could anyone not be angry about-- about that? But we're not getting anywhere if we don't be rational." Thielhan speaks quickly and nervously, while Xue seems ready to taste blood, but the words do seem to have an impact, so the dishevelled, sick man continues. "Zhi may be a war criminal, but he also happens to be captain of the ship on which we are currently stranded experimental subjects. Get it? Think! It will do nobody any good if you go on the rampage right now, least of all Ru'i. The best thing we can do, for all of us, is to get off this ship and get home. The New Beginning, remember? And your wife-- you can't forget her. For all of us, Xue, please stay sane now."

Tension in the cabin remains high as Xue takes several deep breaths. Eventually, he does calm down, looking around the room to each of his compatriots, Thielhan's concern, Khyi's worry, Ru'i's terror registering slowly. "I'm sorry. I'm really sorry. I was out of control. Don't worry. I won't do anything-- anything stupid." he says. "I just-- what was that?"

Something had just flashed by the porthole. "What was what?" Thielhand and Khyi said in unison, but Ru'i had seen, and he knew. "Elenora." he said, running to the porthole, opening it, and diving out.

ooc:I've posted in the NATO forums to and sent a messege to the nations in Aperin.
And a reply will come later today.

Fredericks Island Naval Base, near Seocc...

The Fredericks Island naval base was its usual busy self: Celdonian military vessels coming and going; visiting CACE ships stopping over; sailors too long at sea and too short on shoreleave. Busy, but nothing untypical.

Untill...

"Holy Sh#t...what the f#@k was that", Lt Graig Simpson yelled as he got the biggest shock of his military career so far. He knew what the computers where saying it was, he just didn't want to believe it.


Onboard the RCS Guevara, a Trident submarine....

"Sir, I'm getting reports of a small nuclear explosion near the west coast of Aperin...probably a tactical nuke...Fredericks Island confirms that they've detected it as well."

Within minutes the sub, on full wartime footing, is heading towards the coordinates of the explosion.


The Aperin Seas...

Three patrol vessels are rerouted to investigate the explosion, whilst overhead three Tornados, scrambled within minutes of the explosion, hit Mach 2 36,000 feet above.

ooc: I just want publicly to acknowledge Svea Riga for how masterfully they have managed to root out and the weaknesses of the two of my guys best able to do something about the situatiuon they're in-- and yes, I did have them planned in advance. Well done, Svea Riga.

ooc: nobody's posted for a couple of days so I'll just do a follow up; things are proceeding apace elsewhere...

"Crap!" Khyi exclaimed, jumping up. "Xue, stay with Thielhan, I'll be--" -- the remainder of his words were lost down the corridor as he opened the door and ran at full speed for the deck.

Khyi slams the door open, startling some Svea Rigan soldiers standing immediately outside. "Gaiji!Man Överbord!" he shouts to them, running to the side of the deck on which their cabin was situated. The soldiers took up the alarm, and soon cried of "Man Överbord" reverberate on deck. Some of the soldiers produce high-powered torches to shine into the black of the night sea, others are ready with life preservers. Suddenly one of the soldiers shouts, pointing. "Där jag ser honom!" Reaction is swift, and soon Ru'i, clutching onto the unconscious form of Elenora, is dragged up onto the deck.

Ru'i coughs and splutters a bit, but it seems that he'll be fine. Elenora's condition, however, is less certain. She is alarmingly pale, and her lips have taken on a foreboding shade of blue. She does not appear to be breathing.

ooc: Will the poor traumatised Knootossian teenager survive? Tune in to our next exciting episode of Lost At Sea!

I'll attempt to jump into the story, even though I don't have time to post all that much in the next few days (curse these 'jobs' they give us! :lol:).

Captain Danrei Jïgattare stood on the bridge of the frigate FOS Surakawa. She was very nervous as the surveyed the sea arond her and caught a glance at the radar screen. Three hours a ago the First Fleet had recieved a transmission from the Celdonian base on Fredericks Island that proved the very faint readings the fleet had been recieving: a small nuclear explosion had occurred to the west of Aperin coastline. Admiral Ashitaga, the fleet commander, had ordered the Surakawa to investigate what had happened. Thus far they had found nothing.

Danrei turned to her radar officer. "Anything?"

"Negative, comrade, I think it's still too early, we haven't reached the blast site yet."

"Keep at it, we must be ready even at the slightest sign of something."

"Yes, sir."

Captain Danrei surveyed the sea again with a vary eye.

ooc: nobody's posted for a couple of days so I'll just do a follow up; things are proceeding apace elsewhere...

"Crap!" Khyi exclaimed, jumping up. "Xue, stay with Thielhan, I'll be--" -- the remainder of his words were lost down the corridor as he opened the door and ran at full speed for the deck.

Khyi slams the door open, startling some Svea Rigan soldiers standing immediately outside. "Gaiji!Man Överbord!" he shouts to them, running to the side of the deck on which their cabin was situated. The soldiers took up the alarm, and soon cried of "Man Överbord" reverberate on deck. Some of the soldiers produce high-powered torches to shine into the black of the night sea, others are ready with life preservers. Suddenly one of the soldiers shouts, pointing. "Där jag ser honom!" Reaction is swift, and soon Ru'i, clutching onto the unconscious form of Elenora, is dragged up onto the deck.

Ru'i coughs and splutters a bit, but it seems that he'll be fine. Elenora's condition, however, is less certain. She is alarmingly pale, and her lips have taken on a foreboding shade of blue. She does not appear to be breathing.

ooc: Will the poor traumatised Knootossian teenager survive? Tune in to our next exciting episode of Lost At Sea!

Aboard the hospital ship
The girl doesn't seem to move at all, and her face becomes even more blue as a whole. The body that has been pulled out of the water seems to be dead already. The girl herself feels nothing anymore... just calm and the quiet blackness of death approaching.

Aboard the KDF Fortuna

One of the officers takes a glance at the tactical view on his sensors:
"CACE ships are approaching the area from multiple vectors on an intercept course."

The captain yells. "Red alert, all hands we are at red alert. This is NOT a drill." He turns to his officers: "Prepare missiles, we need to stand ready to shoot anything out of the sky. We will get SATO confirmation later, command seems to be impeded. Full speed ahead!"

The Fortuna speeds ahead, her bow splitting the waves apart as she speeds towards the explosion signature.

The captain paces over the brigde: "open a channel to any and all of these CACE vessels. Ask them for an explanation." "Yes Sir!"

OOC: Clarification of the Position of the Blast Relative to Aperin Coastline

I have discussed this with Svea Riga. The blast occurred approximately 1000 kilometres west of the Skargarden islands.

Map of Aperin (http://www.drnightshade.org.uk/images/aperin2h.jpg)

(I managed to lose the distance meter. For reference, Celdonia is about 2000k across)

Knootoss: I should think that the presence of CACE ships that close to the shore of a primarily CACE-occupied continent would be perfectly reasonable. ;)

OOC: Yes, but they are converging on the location of the explosion suggesting they may have somthing to do with it, from the captains point of view. And it is just an exploratory hail...

ooc: Of course, of course. Just wanted to make sure everybody knew where they were.

The captain paces over the brigde: "open a channel to any and all of these CACE vessels. Ask them for an explanation." "Yes Sir!"

Fortuna this is the RCS Lothan. We have detected an anomaly near coordinates <wherever it was> are are proceeding to investigate. Please state your purpose in these waters. Over.

Above them all the Tornodao GR4 approached the coordinates of the eplosion.


OOC: I'm not that sure what can been seen around the site of the explosions and how close other ships are etc... A very short description of what can be seen would be appreciated.

OOC:Well whatever you expect from a small nuclear blast over the sea, my ships set away full speed when the missile detonated so they're not anywhere near the site.
If you'd find them (doubt it) you'd see they're heading for a small island (to small to be marked on the map) outside the south-westcoast of Skargarden.

IC:A nuclear submarine submerges some km from the Celdonian vessel.
The three golden Crowns can clearly be seen on its hull.

And at the same time a radio messege is sen't to the Celdonian vessel.

This is the HMS Victoria, requesting a meeting with the RCS Lothan, please set your engines at ½ speed and come within 150 metres and prepare to be boarded (Boarded as in a visit).

"KDF Fortuna, this is FOS Surakawa. Like your Celdonian comrades (OOC: we were listening in on your transmissions, naturally ;)), we have been ordered here to explore the possible nuclear explosion detected in coordinates <whatever>. Could you state your purpose here? Have you detected anything out of the ordinary on these waters?"

(There was also a communication sent from the Surakawa to the Lothan on a coded CACE frequency).

OOC:Well whatever you expect from a small nuclear blast over the sea, my ships set away full speed when the missile detonated so they're not anywhere near the site.
If you'd find them (doubt it) you'd see they're heading for a small island (to small to be marked on the map) outside the south-westcoast of Skargarden.

IC:A nuclear submarine submerges some km from the Celdonian vessel.
The three golden Crowns can clearly be seen on its hull.


The Tornodo is within visual range of the explosion site within 45 minutes of explosion being detected. It begins to sweep the area.

OOC: Its flying at around 30,000 and was travelling around MACH 2 so it would take no more that 40 to 45 minutes to get there. The GR4 is also a recconaisance verion of the Tornado, so it's fitted with surveylance equipment. I'll let ou decide if I see anything.


And at the same time a radio messege is sen't to the Celdonian vessel.

This is the HMS Victoria, requesting a meeting with the RCS Lothan, please set your engines at ½ speed and come within 150 metres and prepare to be boarded (Boarded as in a visit).

The Lothan aknowledges the request and, after checking with command at Fredericks Island, agrees to comply. The Victoria will be now be detecting another two destroyers some way behind.

OOC: I also assume we're a good way off the epicentre of the explosion, as it will take some time for us to travel the 1000 or so km.

OOC:You wont see my ships, there are many reasons why, the only way to find them is by using satelites or in some mysterious way your jets flies in the same line as the ships goes.

IC:The HMS Victoria had shut of its engines and 8 men were picked up and escorted to RCS Lothan.
A man (clearly the commander) stepped onboard first of all and said with a russian accent.
"I am Mikael Tígnér commander of HMS Victoria, I request a meeting with the highest in command onboard"

***Onboard HMS Livferäddaren/Reproduceraren***

The doctor standing by the lifeless body of Elenora wipes his forehead with a rag.
He's been trying to bring her back to life for allmost 15 minutes, even though he knew nothing would take her back.
"I am very sorry, there's nothing more I can do, she's gone"
He takes of his gloves and looks down in the ground.
"Ta några prover av hennes blod, ca 7 till 12 deciliter, lägg henne i en reserveringstank sen"
(OOC:Xikuang if the Svea Riga speaking Xikuangese is present, (you can decide that) give me a sign so I'll translate and send you what he said)

ooc: Khyi is there, yes. That'd be handy. Cheers. :)

OOC:You wont see my ships, there are many reasons why, the only way to find them is by using satelites or in some mysterious way your jets flies in the same line as the ships goes.


OOC: I assume the ships have some sort of screening then. No idea what, but I'll assume they aren't spotted then. The plane will sweep the area and then return to base.


IC:The HMS Victoria had shut of its engines and 8 men were picked up and escorted to RCS Lothan.
A man (clearly the commander) stepped onboard first of all and said with a russian accent.
"I am Mikael Tígnér commander of HMS Victoria, I request a meeting with the highest in command onboard"


"Delighted to meet you commander." The Celdonian who addresses Tígnér salutes him. "Commander Matt Simpson, I am in command of the Lothan."

Tígnér salutes back "Ahh Simpson, nice ship you got here, now you understand that I'm not here to salute and shake hands"

Tígnér reaches for a paper in his jacket, reads it and throws it into the sea.
He says something to himself silently "Sicka idioter, fan ta'rom"

He looks at Simpson again "You are here beacouse of the nuclear explosion am I correct?".

Tígnér salutes back "Ahh Simpson, nice ship you got here, now you understand that I'm not here to salute and shake hands"

Tígnér reaches for a paper in his jacket, reads it and throws it into the sea.
He says something to himself silently "Sicka idioter, fan ta'rom"

He looks at Simpson again "You are here beacouse of the nuclear explosion am I correct?".

Simpson responds, "we did detect an anomaly, one fr which no one has offered an explanation, yes. But please," he sweeps his hand in the direction of a Watertight door in the bulkhead, "perhaps this best dicussed inside."

If the Rigan officer accepts they will retire to an interior office/lounge area.

***On the deck of the Lifveräddaren***

Soaked with seawater and shivering in the nighttime chill, Ru'i holds the girl's hand while the doctor tries to bring her around. He knows, even as the doctor works, that it is pointless: she is no more for this world. In his mind, he wills her to hear him.

Elenora. I should have let you go. I'm sorry. Go in peace.

Moments later, the Svea Rigan doctor reluctantly brings his efforts to a halt.

"I am very sorry, there's nothing more I can do, she's gone"
He takes of his gloves and looks down in the ground.
"Ta några prover av hennes blod, ca 7 till 12 deciliter, lägg henne i en reserveringstank sen"

As a stretcher is brought out to carry the girl away and the soldiers begin to disperse, Ru'i slowly lets go, hanging his head. Khyi puts a hand on his shoulder.

"There's nothing more we can do, Ru'i. She's gone. You did all you could. Come on, let's go."

Rui nods and rises slowly, suddenly letting out a series of sneezes. "It's been a hard night." Khyi says. "We all need some rest."

The two disheartened Xikuangese returned to their cabin, the day's events too complicated, and too emotionally charged, for either of them to reflect upon. Neither of them were aware of what transpired at the blast site, or of what stirrings their radio transmission had instigated. For them, there was only the horror of the present... and the haunting of the past.

(ooc: practising being melodramatic. ;) Take it away!)

Aboard the Knootian frigate KDF Fortuna
Aboard the ship, the last officers had reported to their respective battlestations. The first officer had been sleeping in his cabin, and stormed onto the bridge with a ruffled uniforms and messy hair. The pupils of the sleepy eyes were wide open now though as the red alarmlight reflected in it. The comm. officer yelled over the beeping sound: “Transmissions coming in from the Lothan and the Surakawa. Transmitting to your station now…”


Fortuna this is the RCS Lothan. We have detected an anomaly near coordinates <wherever it was> are are proceeding to investigate. Please state your purpose in these waters. Over.

"KDF Fortuna, this is FOS Surakawa. Like your Celdonian comrades we have been ordered here to explore the possible nuclear explosion detected in coordinates <whatever>. Could you state your purpose here? Have you detected anything out of the ordinary on these waters?"

“Hmmm… they claim to know nothing. That is some reassurance although they could by lying. But they are both asking for the same thing, which suggests a lack of coordination. “Let’s assume they are sincere for the moment”, the captain said to his first officer. Suggestions? The number one put his collar in place: “Well, we are as much in the dark as them so I suggest we simply tell them the truth, along with our official mission designation here.” “Besides spying on Aperin?”, the captain grinned for a minute. “Oh, you meant the public mission objectives.”


Anticapitalist vessels, we are on a classified SATO antiterrorist mission as part of the Atlantic fleet. Our mission objectives are to investigate suspected group 4 activity. We suspect that they have set up a base of operations in an uninhabited island near the Aperin continent.

SATO satellite network confirms this was a nuclear explosion, however we know as little about the cause as you do. We have not detected any spacebased missile launch nor planes taking off so the missile must have been fired from one of the ships in the area. If you have any information besides this please transmit. I also suggest we coordinate activities if this is acceptable. On present course we will rendezvous with you in 3 hours. Fortuna out.

“Do you think they will accept?”, the captain looked questioningly at his first: “Well… I think it depends. If it were a vessel from SeOCC they would probably be demanding our withdrawal right about now. But the Celdonians and Xikuangese aren’t usually that exclusive. If they want us to stay out however they really do have something to hide.

The captain nodded and thought as he watched the ship speed forward on the tactical view. ”And why isn’t SATO command responding?”
***On the deck of the Lifveräddaren***

Soaked with seawater and shivering in the nighttime chill, Ru'i holds the girl's hand while the doctor tries to bring her around. He knows, even as the doctor works, that it is pointless: she is no more for this world. In his mind, he wills her to hear him.

Elenora. I should have let you go. I'm sorry. Go in peace.

Moments later, the Svea Rigan doctor reluctantly brings his efforts to a halt.

"I am very sorry, there's nothing more I can do, she's gone"
He takes of his gloves and looks down in the ground.
"Ta några prover av hennes blod, ca 7 till 12 deciliter, lägg henne i en reserveringstank sen"

As a stretcher is brought out to carry the girl away and the soldiers begin to disperse, Ru'i slowly lets go, hanging his head. Khyi puts a hand on his shoulder.

"There's nothing more we can do, Ru'i. She's gone. You did all you could. Come on, let's go."

Rui nods and rises slowly, suddenly letting out a series of sneezes. "It's been a hard night." Khyi says. "We all need some rest."

The two disheartened Xikuangese returned to their cabin, the day's events too complicated, and too emotionally charged, for either of them to reflect upon. Neither of them were aware of what transpired at the blast site, or of what stirrings their radio transmission had instigated. For them, there was only the horror of the present... and the haunting of the past.

(ooc: practising being melodramatic. ;) Take it away!)

OOC: it’s melodramatic allright but I cannot really RP a dead girl, they do not do much.

Anticapitalist vessels, we are on a classified SATO antiterrorist mission as part of the Atlantic fleet. Our mission objectives are to investigate suspected group 4 activity. We suspect that they have set up a base of operations in an uninhabited island near the Aperin continent.

SATO satellite network confirms this was a nuclear explosion, however we know as little about the cause as you do. We have not detected any spacebased missile launch nor planes taking off so the missile must have been fired from one of the ships in the area. If you have any information besides this please transmit. I also suggest we coordinate activities if this is acceptable. On present course we will rendezvous with you in 3 hours. Fortuna out.


*** Transmission from the RCS Lothan to the KDF Fortuna ***

Roger that Fortuna. Will repsond ASAP. Over

OOC: As Simpsons occupied by the Rigan it'll take a few minutes before the Lothan gives a response - at least as long as it take Svea Riga to post anyway :lol:

OOC:I'm a sleepy and busy man so sue me! :lol:

IC:Tígnér follows Simpson into the lounge, sits down and lights a cigarr
"So I guess you'd like an explenation about the whole issue yes?"
"Our government is as courius as yours on the issue, but ofcourse we got all the facts"

He takes out a yellow paper with a red band around it that says "Topphemligt"
He hands it over to Simpson.

"Regarding nuclear explosion in the seas west of Aperin"
"At 16.37 Pm earlier today 2 Svea Riga classed navy vessels met and exchanged supplies of the secret kind, at the same time a rouge destroyer from the Skargarden navy opened fire against one of the two ships. It got hit and returned fire first with missiles and then after being bombarded again they had to assure security of the cargo and used a re-built Tomahawk missile equipped with a small nuclear charge and fired against the destroyer, it was a direct hit and the destroyer was vaporised.
Therefor we se no reason why you would like to engage contact with the 2 navy vessels or examine ground zero"

Signed - Johan Rosenstrom III - Supreme commander of the naval forces Svea Riga

Tígnér sits and smokes the cigarr "You've read it thru? Just to bad some things goes away when translated"

Simpson read the paper and, looking up, says "thank you commander. Og course I shall have to communicate with Fredericks Island. Please, have a drink, I shall only be a few moments."

Simpson stands and leaves.

The contents of the paper are sent to Fredericks Island to be digested.

Meanwhile, the comander is informed of the Knootian request.

The message (encrypted) comes back from Fredericks Island:

Commander Simpson, you are to agree with the Rigan captain that there is no value on proceeding towards ground zero. However, please rendezvous with the Knootoian vessel. They are not to be informed of the content of your meeting with the Rigan commander. We would like whatever satellite images they may have if possible. We can offer them reconnaissance images taken 45 mintes after the explosion. Please confirm commander. Over.

Roger that, FI. Over and out.

Simpson tells the radio operator to confirm arrangements with the Knootian vessel then returns to the Rigan commander.

Well, commander, my superiors agree with you and I shall not be proceeding to ground zero. Thank you very much for sharing your information. Now...can I get you another drink?

OOC: it’s melodramatic allright but I cannot really RP a dead girl, they do not do much.

Sure, there's loads you can do! Haven't you seen that Billy Connoly sketch about working in the morgue?

*ahem*

IC:

***back in the cabin-- cell-- cabin-- whatever***




"She didn't make it." Khyi answers the questioning eyes of Xue and Thielhan. "And if you ask me, Ru'i's lucky he did. That was pretty daft, Ru'i."

Ru'i looks up sheepishly, dripping seawater onto the floor. "I'm-- *a-CHOO! *sniff* --sorry. I just... that poor girl."

"She's better off as she is." Xue says, a sour expression on his face. "Anything has to be better than being stuck in this nightmare. Why, I might just follow her example."

"You do and I'll curse your spirit to the worst kind of Hell." Khyi snaps at him, then covers his face with both hands. "Sorry. Sorry, I didn't mean that. It's just... it's been a long day."

"Don't I know it." Xue sighs and flops back on the bed. Distinct sniffling can be heard from the bathroom where Ru'i is cleaning himself up after unceremoniously throwing himself into the ocean after the poor doomed Elenora.

"Guys." says Thielhan, weakly. "I was thinking. If the Svea Rigans nuked somebody-- even if they were attacked-- wouldn't, like, somebody notice? Because, you know, everybody watches the sea around Aperin. Maybe they'd find us and want to ask questions."

"Maybe they would," Xue answers him, "if they actually did find this ship, which I doubt they would, because we've been travelling at speed since the attack. No, I don't think they want anyone finding this ship, and I think they're perfectly prepared to take extreme measures to see that no-one does."

Khyi and Thielhan both shudder, guessing what that might entail for them, as Ru'i emerges from the bath, somewhat drier, with a towel. He too flops down on one of the cots, and is almost instantly asleep.

"Best idea anyone's had all night." says Khyi, quietly. "I'm half dead."

"Wait." says Xue. "Lets take it in shifts, just in case Zhi decides to... do. Something."

"OK. I'll take the first if you like."

"No. I'm still far too angry to sleep. You go on."

"Allright. Oyasumi."

Soon Xue is the only one awake in the darkened room. He listens to the breathing of his companions and the murmur of the sea, the Lifveräddaren's engines the backdrop to it all, as he contemplates the day's events and revelations. Illegal cloning operations. Nukes. And now it turns out Zhi was an interrogator at Silent Death. Can this possibly get any worse?

Perhaps he has misjudged the state of his exhaustion, for it is no longer than twenty minutes into his watch that his head droops, and he, too, sleeps.

***back in the cabin-- cell-- cabin-- whatever***

12 men stands outside the cabin, they're wearing black and have gas masks put on.
The take out 2 tubes from their backpacks, while 2 of them are working on the lock on the door. Whet that's done they slowly open the door throwing the 2 tubes into the room and release the gas into the room.
After 2 min they go inside making sure everyone of them are asleep.
They pull out 5 needles sticking them into their bodies extracting some blod from them.
The leader makes a sign against Xue, 2 others picks him up and carries him from the room.
The leader takes up a note and plants where Xue once laid.
They slowly moves out of the room and locks it.


OOC:Before you reply Xikuang talk to me!

***In the C(ell)abin***

It is midmorning before anyone in the cabin stirs. Ru'i wakes first, his sleep, despite the gas, having been somewhat less restful than that of his companions. Head pounding, he shields his eyes from the low, grey light coming in from the open porthole and groans.

Khyi sits up slowly, rubbing his temples; Thielhan shows no sign of moving at all, his breathing rough and shallow, his body twisted at an angle that can't possibly be comfortable. "Ohhhh, my head." he says. "Mine too." Ru'i responds. "It feels like someone took a range of metallurgical equipment to the inside of my skull." "What on earth happened? Xue, why didn't you--"

Khyi stops as he turns to the bed where Xue had been and stops, looking around the room. "Xue?" Ru'i goes t the door of the small bathroom, knocks, and receiving no response, pushes it open. "Not in here. You think maybe he went for a walk?" "Why would he do that? Just before I went to sleep we agreed to keep a watch. He wouldn't just up and leave." "Wait." Ru'i says, noticing something on Xue's bed. "There's a note."

Ru'i picks up the bit of paper, looking puzzled, then distinctly worried, as he reads it. "What does it say?" Khyi asks, looking over Ru'i's' shoulder. In response, Ru'i simply hands him the paper. Written messily, as if in haste, the message is only three words long:

Don't worry, guys.

"What on earth does that mean?" Khyi asks nobody in particular, staring at the note. "Don't worry? Do you suppose that he..."

"Oh, compassionate Buddha." Ru'i interrupts. His voice is low and quiet, and he stares fixedly at the porthole, gently swaying on its hinge. His face is as pale as if he's seen a ghost.

"What?" Khyi asks, then, following Ru'i's eyes, quickly picks up his chain of thought. "Oh... Ru'i, no. He wouldn't. Xue wouldn't do that."

"But you heard what he said... about Elenora..."

"I know, but he was upset. He was just talking nonsense. He would never. He wouldn't leave us." Khyi speaks assuredly, but there is an unmistakable doubt in his eyes. He had seen Xue's despair after the nuclear explosion. He had seen the emptiness in his spirit. And he knew, that for all Xue's intelligence, he was impulsive, easily given to powerful emotion. And after all he'd been through... all they'd all been through...

"He wouldn't." Khyi utters the words over and over to himself, like a mantra, but even as he does so, he sits down on the bed and lets the tears fall.

ooc: developing quite a flair for the melodramatic, aren't I? What has become of Kang Xue, and into what dark peril have our heroes been thrown? Tune in to our next exciting episode of Lost At Sea!!!

***A smallish, featureless, metal-walled room somewhere in the bowels of the ship. There is no obvious door, no window, no cameras, and no microphones***

Xue groans slightly, his eyelids flickering reluctantly open.

It's all blurry, the walls the sharp light, it all seems to spin.
And the pain, it feels like someone jumped on his head for 12 hours only to stop and pour boiling water on it.
"Wake up" the voice is somewhat familiar, the darkness approaches and everything goes black again.

Xue tries to let his consciousness slip away again into sleep, but the pain won't let him, and the nagging voice telling him to wake up doesn't help much either. Blearily, he stirs, struggling to open one eye in a squint. The bright light hurts him.

"Eeeuurrgh..."

"I said wake up!" the voice trembled and something hard hit Xue's head. "What's the matter?...got a headache?" and again Xue got hit.

Instinctively, Xue tries to bring his arm up to block the blows, but he finds that his arms won't move-- they seem to be tied, as do his legs, to the wooden chair into which he's been dumped. Unable to defend himself, he yelps with pain. "Ow! Alright, alrght! What the--- He looks up, trying to identify his attacker.

There stands Zhi, new captain of the SRS Livferäddaren and former interregationsofficer in the former Guo Leng government in Xikuang.
"Rise and shine Xue, we got much to discuss"
Zhi isn't wearing his normal uniform but an old one with pieces of clothing gone from it, an old Guo Leng uniform.

Xue blinks confusedly at the man before him, forgetting where or even when he is, but it suddenly comes back to him in a rush of anger that overwhelms the pain. "What do you want?" he asks, the vitriol in his voice utterly undisguised.

"What do I want?, ohh many things, to see the once so great state of Xikuang to once again rise with the Guo Leng as its protector, to see Svea Riga crush the region of Aperin and make it go into a new age of darkness!" Zhi looks up in the ceiling with a bright look. "But such things doesn't happen anymore, but now over to something completely different my dear deluded libertarian hippie." Zhi takes out a needle from his jacket, it's filled with blood "Imagine a new generation of Guo Leng supporters, 5 years of training and they'll be completed to fight for GUO LENG" Zhi breaths deeply.

Xue spits, saliva mixed with blood, onto the floor at Zhi's feet. "Oh yeah. Sure. Your great army of clones, is it? Like that'll ever happen. You're the one who's deluded, you bloody sadistic bastard! And just how do you think abusing me will further your stupid little plans for domination? You just like it, don't you?"

Zhi stands motionless and looks at Xue "Ignorant bastard!" he suddenly screams out and hits Xue in the stomach.
"Puh, you have no idea what you just said, with one word I can turn Xikuang into a pile of dust, do you really think that they'll refuse my demands when they know what I'm capable of?"

Xue doubles over, gagging at the force of the blow, blood and bile staining is shirt, and he struggles to regain his breath as Zhi speaks. When he manages to find his voice again, it is hoarse and strained, but every bit of the hatred and contempt he feels comes through. "You have serious problems, you know that? You think your little nuclear arsenal makes you God? Don't be such an idiot. it's pathetic, it really is. You can jerk off fantasising about your bombs or your clones or your electrified barbed wire all you like but it's not going to happen, and I want to be right beside you when you get taken down so I can see the look on your face. Murderer. Traitor. Bastard."

Zhi can't believe what the poor man just said to him!
"Murderer you say...traitor...even bastard, I ask you this then, WHO if not the Xikuangese peasants murdered my family when Guo Leng fell, and never call ME a traitor, I was loyal, and so were probably you, but we weren't loyal to the same rulers. And "bastard" hah, same word came through 14597's mouth when I drilled a hole in his shoulder or when he watched his wife get burnt alive, consumed by the flames of terror." Zhi feels his knuckles and he picks out a rag from his uniform and cleans it.
"Filthy peasant, if it was up to me... and trust me, one day it will be up to me, I'd lock you up each and every one of you.".

Xue watches Zhi fiddling with the rag, his face a mask of anger as he listens to this torrent of invective. At the designation 14597, his eyes turn livid, and his face begins to colour with rage.
"Traitor! Loyalist of an imperialist oppressor, traitor to your own! Murderer! How many people did you torture to death when you were the head interrogator at that concentration camp you had the gall to call Shining Destiny? How many did you drive to suicide? You like killing people? Is that how you get your kicks?" Xue strains forward, the restraints on his arms cutting into him. "You disgust me, you with your grand illusion of restoration to your sadistic idea of glory! Guo Leng is nothing-- the like of Celdonia could crush them in their sleep-- and you will never be anything but a psychopath! Traitor! He thrusts his head forward and spits the last word at Zhi like venom, and even the seasoned interrogator is taken aback by his complete lack of intimidation and the sheer force of his rage.

"Now now...suicide isn't exactly murder you know, and all the other people, well being the low-life scum they are...they deserved it."
Zhi wipes up a bit of spit on his uniform.

Zhi takes up a little drill from his inner pocket "You know, in all my years at Shining Destiny only 2 people didn't talk when I used this, I still carry it around and remember" (It's obvious nothing can break his dream)
"And yes Celdonia has grown powerful, but when a nation is threatened by the most deadly weapon man can come up with they tend to make some mistakes, and if they now are so damn powerful why didn't they just end Guo Leng in the fist place... I tell you, fear, fear of the most glorious reign that Xikuang ever saw and ever will see"

As Xue watches the almost loving way Zhi handles the drill, some trepidation creeps into his expression, but his resolve is not shaken. "Why wasn't Guo Leng eradicated? One word, probably a word you don't understand: compassion, you deranged jerkoff! Hope, that maybe one day the regime would fall and the people of Guo Leng be set free from tyrannical thought police and murder squads! Why the bloody blue blazes have you tied me up here like this anyway? What do you want, if it isn't just to get your rocks off by torturing me? And if that's it, why don't you just shut up and get on with it, because I can't stand listening to you anymore!"

"Compassion, I've heard the word but never really understod its meaning, it sounds really pathetic, if an enemy threatens you, you don't pet it you destroy it and everyone they hold dear!"
Zhi presses the button on the drill and it begins to fizz.
"Ahh, this will be fun, just like 14597's wife, you will scream and beg for mercy, and then when I'm done you will watch as the other ones in your group beg for mercy each and every one of you."
Zhi grins.

Nostrils flaring, Xue snarls at Zhi, straining at the cords binding him. "Do your worst. I'll never beg anything from you. Swine." "Ohh yes you will talk" Zhi says and slowly puts the drill to Xue's right arm!

Blood spurts forth as he drill pierces the flesh, its tip just brushing the bone, causing terrible pain but comparatively little actual damage. Xue bites back his scream, but he is obviously in agony. "Talk about what, stupid? The weather? You haven't asked me anything, you daft monkey!"

--

"Daft eyy, who's torturing who, idiot. I just wanted to give you a little taste of what will happen when you don't answer questions." Zhi says, almost casually, as he slowly withdraws the drill. "So let's get started." Now his eyes turn mean as he stares at Xue like a piece of so much meat. "You obviously know about my cloning facility. Just how much do you know?"

Xue looks daggers at Zhi, narrowing his eyes to slits. "You were the one who mentioned it, you with your needle-waving and talk of five year training, dung-for-brains." His tone is defiant, but inwardly, he castigates himself. That was a mistake, mentioning the clones. No more information for him.

Zhi clicks his tongue. "That was the wrong answer." The drill abruptly whirrs into life again, and Xue cannot help but scream as it rips again through the skin on his left arm in a swift, calculated move, ending with a nasty flick of the wrist as he withdraws the bit, inflicting a painful rip. "Now I'm going to give you a chance to answer right, but be careful, because now I want you to tell me not just how much you know, but how you found out. Who told you?"

"Again with the drill." Xue speaks calmly, almost icily, though his breathing comes rough and he winces in pain. Blood begins to drip onto the floor from the symmetrical wounds. "Where's the electrical clamps? The red-hot barbed wire? That little thing with the hook on the end? You know, you're really losing your touch."

Zhi punches him hard in the jaw, then follows through with another blow to the stomach that nearly knocks the chair over. Xue slumps, blood pouring from his mouth, his breath coming in short wheezes, as Zhi moves behind him, grabbing him by the hair and yanking his head up. "Oh, I assure you, I have not." he says, smiling, bringing the whirring drill to Xue's cheek, right beside his ear. "It's just that I don't need those things anymore. Now, I think you'd better start talking, or I'll stop being so nice to you." As he speaks, he slowly brings the drill around, pointing the tip at Xue's eye. As he hisses the word 'nice', Zhi lets the tip just cut the skin under his lower eyelid.

"Go... to... hell." Xue wheezes.

Zhi laughs, a quiet, cold, evil laugh, and he moves back around to face Xue, smiling congenially. He takes his radio from his belt, toying with it a bit. "You know, you really aren't very much fun," he says. "Tell you what: I think we should get your little friend 14597-- what is it you call him? Oh, I don't remember-- in on this party. He was always so much more... compliant. Tell me, does he still wet his bed?" He laughs again, savouring some memory. "You know, 14597 cried like a baby the day he sold out his friends. It was nice of me to let him live, don't you think? Better than what they got, the peasant scum."

At that, something in Xue snaps. The room ceases to exist for him, he feels no pain, blackness moves in around the edges of his field of vision and everything in his line of sight is tinged red. He remembers the terror in his friend's eyes, remembers the scars he's seen and the stories he's heard, remembers every single day of fear and oppression under the occupation, and all of the emotions he's worked so hard to control since then surge into being and focus on the grinning demon in the shape of a man before him; all his years of experience as a fighter return to him in a flash.

"HYAAAAAAAAAGH!" Xue's scream of rage drowns out the sound of splintering wood as he suddenly plants his feet on the floor and hurls himself backwards, smashing the chair against the wall, freeing his hands and legs to move, if accompanied by broken bits of chair. Zhi, startled, steps back, reaching for his pistol, but before he can half-draw it Xue is upon him, bringing a broken bit of chair down on his gun arm. A single shot rings out, harmlessly ricocheting off the floor and bouncing a couple of times before coming to rest, and at Xue's second blow the weapon is knocked from Zhi's hand, skittering to the far end of the room amongst the broken bits of chair. Xue's next attack is a series of three well-delivered kicks, sending Zhi flying back against the wall, where Xue's strike to the collarbone floors him. There really is no contest: Zhi is no slouch, but Xue is bigger than he is, strengthened by many years of hard work, trained in martial arts, and fuelled by desperate rage. By the time Xue is finally able to stop himself, Zhi can barely lift his head, certain that he's about to be killed. But the fist Xue has raised to his bruised and bloodied face never connects.

"No. I've got better plans for you." Xue growls at his would-be torturer, quickly searching him for any more weapons. Finding none, he gathers up the cord that had bound him and uses it to tie Zhi's hands tightly behind him, and binds his feet so that he could conceivably walk, but only at an awkward shuffle. He retrieves the fallen pistol-- which he checks to make sure it has more ammunition; it does, good-- and radio, then looks around himself: blood, on the floor, on the wall; splintered wood; a few teeth, some his, some Zhi's... Where's the bloody door? he wonders, frustrated. Well, it doesn't matter. Not a whole lot matters anymore. I have no more choices. He switches the radio on, then grabs Zhi roughly under the arm-- Zhi gasps in pain: several of his ribs are broken-- and holds the rather limp form of the Captain of the Lifveräddaren against him as a shield, cocking the pistol and ramming the muzzle just under Zhi's ear.

"Hey!" he yells at the radio, in English. "I know you're listening! This is Kang Xue, one of the Xikuangese being held prisoner on this ship, and I know there's a bloody GPS chip in this stupid thing, so if you don't already know where I am, figure it out fast! I'm here with Captain Zhi Nyima, and I want to talk to whoever will inherit his position if I blow his f***ing brains out, because that's exactly what I'm going to do if I don't get to talk to that person RIGHT BLOODY NOW! You hear me? NOW!"

This demand made, he whispers savagely to Zhi: "And don't you get any ideas about negotiating your way out of this. I know I'm a dead man the second I let you go, so there is absolutely zero chance of that. And make no mistake, if I don't get what I want, I will kill you. It's up to you how this goes, my friend. All up to you." He turns again to the radio. "WHAT IN BLOODY BLUE BLAZES IS KEEPING YOU? ANSWER!" he shouts.

***A man sits on the bridge counting buttons trying to remember what the big red one did***

The radio sparkles

"I know you're listening! This is Kang Xue, one of the Xikuangese being held prisoner on this ship, and I know there's a bloody GPS chip in this stupid thing, so if you don't already know where I am, figure it out fast! I'm here with Captain Zhi Nyima, and I want to talk to whoever will inherit his position if I blow his f***ing brains out, because that's exactly what I'm going to do if I don't get to talk to that person RIGHT BLOODY NOW! You hear me? NOW!"

He sits up thinking if the messege was only in his mind.
When there's another one coming thru "WHAT IN BLOODY BLUE BLAZES IS KEEPING YOU? ANSWER!".

A soldier comes rushing into the room "Zhi's captured they" he yells.
"What?" the officers says.

The soldier calms down a bit.
"Well you heard the messege, commander Zhi's taken capture by the Xikuangese"

"Get the other ones in their group and show me to the place.

***Xikuang cabin***

The other three sits in their beds thinking what happened to Xue when there's a knock on the door, they check thru the hatch and asks "Yes, what is it?"

Outside they se a soldier and probably some more on the sides.
"Open the door, we're in dire need of your help" the soldier says.

[Edit, gonna chekc with Xikuang before venturing forth]

In the C(abin)ell***

Khyi looks with some suspicion at the soldier "Help with what? What's this all about?"

He leaves the hatch open, but does not open the door.


***In the Small Room***

"Apparently, either they don't value your life very much, or they're not listening." Xue growls, keeping the gun painfully pressed under Zhi's ear. Then he turns back to the radio and screams: "This is no joke! I am getting very impatient! ANSWER ME!

***In the C(abin)ell***

Ahh, why can't they just open the door like a normal person would, no they just have to be special in every way!

The soldiers says something to his partners in Svea Rigan
"Let's blast the lock?!".

They take a step backwards and un-secures their rifles.
Before the storm of bullets against the door begins.

"Get down!" Khyi yells, diving across the room and pushing Ru'i onto the floor behind the bed.

Bang, cling, clang, dong, sponk
And the door slowly opens...

"You come with us!" the soldier says and steps into the room.

***Hostage situation***

The second in command stands outside the interregation rooms door, knowing Zhi had the only card to open the door.

"Yes now I'm here what do you want?" he yells thru the door.

***In the C(ell)abin***

"Qzaolu! Allright! Whatever! Just don't shoot!" Khyi yells to the guards and slowily gets up, hands raised. Ru'i follows his example, and Thielhan, white as a ghost, tries to get out of the bed, but gets his foot caught in the sheets and falls. Typical.

They want us to go with them. I suggest we go." Khyi explains to the others. The soldiers march them at gunpoint down the corridors, into the Red Zone, turning corner after corner until they are deep within the bowels of the ship, and thoroughly lost. Eventually, they come to a corridor lined with a series of doors, where a considerable assembly is gathered.

Outside of one door, holding a megaphone and looking very annoyed, is a Rigan officer of high rank, flanked by five armed men; seven more are behind him down the corridor. The leading soldier guarding the Xikuangese salutes to the second-in-command, who nods hands him a swipe-card and gestures to the next door down.

"Put them in there. I don't want this to get messy." Not any messier than it already is, anyway, he thinks to himself, frowning, as he raises the megaphone to his mouth.

"Yes now I'm here what do you want?"

***On the other side of the door***

Xue turns towards the wall whence the sound of the officers voice came, getting back against the other wall, crouching with Zhi held firmly to shield him.

"Several things. I want a helicopter prepared, fully fuelled, fully operational, radio enabled. I want you to get my people safely and unharmed, if they're still happy enough to be in that condition, onto that helicopter. Once they're there I want you to bring me and Zhi there, and then I want you to let us go. Immediately!"

As much a *tag* as anything else, but was that last radio broadcast likely to be detected by the Celdonian Navy?

"This is Thom Hellberg, second in command onboard SRS Livferäddaren"

"Hello Mr. Hellburg, nice to meet you."

"Why have you taken our commander hostage"
He receives a paper from one of the soldiers.
"Xue is it, from Xikuang, former crewmember of the Liberty 2?"

"You can call me Mr. Kang, and I'm surprised you're asking me that. Look, I don't know what you people are up to, but we have good reasons to suspect that you never intended to let us off this ship at all, and I don't take well to being tortured, as I'm sure you'll understand, so if you'd get on with it, I'd much appreciate it!" Xue yells angrily.

"Mr. Kang then, I have no idea what you're talking about, we've just gotten the right information from Xikuang to know where to send you home. And I can assure you that this is like any other hospital ship. Why don't you give up before anyone gets hurt and you can join your comrades in the next room?"

"Forgive me if I don't believe you. I'm a little peeved at having drill bits shoved into me. Let's get a few things straight: if you don't give me what I want, Zhi dies. If you gas me, Zhi dies. If you try to shoot me, Zhi dies. If you threaten me, Zhi dies. If you threaten my men, Zhi dies. I have a loaded gun to his head and the trigger half-pulled, so if you so much as make me nervous, in all likelihood, Zhi dies. I'm a very unhappy man, Mr. Hellburg, and I don't really feel like talking about it."

The second sighs "Xue...Mr. Kang, I don't really think you want to kill commander Zhi, and neither do I want to se commander Zhi dead, so if you'd release him and we could all get this over with"

"NO WE ABSOLUTELY COULD NOT!" Zhi roars. "I am deadly serious here and I am NOT prepared to negotiate! Now what's your answer? You're holding your captains life in your hands!"

"It seems you've already made up your mind about how this is supposed to proceed, then tell me Mr. KANG, when you have your helicopter, then what?"

"Then we take Zhi on a nice little holiday. Once we're home I'll release him and you can have your chopper back. That's all I want."

The crowd outside begins to laugh "Dear Mr. Kang, Zhi stays on the boat!"

"Uh-uh, no, that's a 100% negative. Don't for one minute think I'm an idiot. You'll blow us out of the sky the second the helicopter's far enough away from the ship that it won't kill somebody falling on the deck. Zhi's our little insurance policy. I promise you, you give me what I want, I'll let him go. You're right, I don't want to kill him, but you can be damn certain I will if you don't."

"Well we have a policy not to negotiate with terrorists and hostage takers, so what's our security Mr. Kang?"
Xikuang(16:12 PM) :
Qzaulu! Xue shouts, sounding thoroughly exasperated. "Look, Mr. Hellburg, I'm tired of this. I've been tied to a chair and tortured, my head hurts, and I want this nightmare over. I've been forced into this. I had no other choice. I'll turn myself over to the Xikuangese authorities when we get home, and you're free to press criminal charges then, but for now, I'm sick of this game, so why don't you just give me the chopper and nobody gets hurt? I'm not giving you all night here."

"Sure you'll get your chopper, and then you and Commander Zhi can go home to Xikuang, ok?"

"Excellent. I'm so glad you see things my way. I'll wait here with Zhi until it's all ready, and then you can come and show us the way."

"Yes and when you and Commander Zhi arrives in Xikuang, be sure to send us a message so we can deliver the rest of your group and pick the Commander up!"

"NO! Weren't you listening? The rest of them go with me! How stupid do you think I am? You drag this on much longer and you'll drive me insane, and that will have very nasty consequences for your captain!"
"Commander Zhi, your second in command doesn't seem to think I'm being serious. Why don't you tell him how serious I am?" He presses the gun even harder into Zhi's head. "Huh? TELL THE NICE MAN HOW BLOODY F***ING SERIOUS I AM!!!""

"Don't you understand, you're trapped here, there's no way in hell we're gonna allow all of you to leave at once!"

"Then that's too bad for you, isn't it? Because if this doesn't go my way, you are going to die, and I don't care what happens to me after that. Tell them, you bloody traitor, tell them that!

"This guy's lost it, agree to his demands and execute security plan 'friday the 13' when we're out!"
"Ok, just tell them again what you want and I'll make sure you'll get it"

"All right, but if there's even a speck of a hint of foul play, you're a dead man."

"Ok, the helicopter is being prepared as we speak, your comrades are being notified on the situation, you want something else while we at it?"

"Let's be perfectly clear here, Mr. Hellburg. I want a fully operational and fuelled chopper prepared and ready to go. I want my men, and only my men, on that chopper. I want you then to show me and Zhi to the chopper, and I assure you that if anyone comes within ten feet of us, of if I have even the tiniest reason to suspect that there's any trickery going on, Zhi gets it. My life is unimportant to me at this point. I just want you to let us go. You do that, and I promise I'll let Zhi go and turn myself in. I can't give you more than that. That's all I want."

"Ok, please open the door and I'll make sure nothing bad happens to you"

"I can't open the door."

"That makes thing a little more complicated"

"You open the bloody door!"

"Mr. Kang, WE cannot open the door, the security card is on the inside"

"I know. I've got it. You can't be serious that this is the only one?"

"That is the only card with access to this door"

Xue spits a foul curse. "All right. Get back, all of you. If I see anyone within ten feet of the door, that'll make me very nervous, and you all know what happens if I get nervous." Xue gets up, still holding Zhi in front of him as a shield, and moves t where he thinks the door ought to be. "Where's the swipe? How do I open this thing?"

"Take the card that's in my right pocket and wave in front of the wall

"Right. You don't move or try anything at all. I'm not playing around." Xue pins Zhi against the wall with his body while he extracts the card, keeping the gun firmly to his head, and waves the card in the indicated spot, immediately stepping back, still holding Zhi as a shield.

As much a *tag* as anything else, but was that last radio broadcast likely to be detected by the Celdonian Navy?

The on-ship radios only transmit 500 meters-- security, of course.

***In the next room***

The Xikuangese appear deeply perturbed at the sight of so many armed men apparently laying siege to the room, and they don't argue as they are directed into the neighbouring one. The second-in-command quickly receives his answer:


"Several things. I want a helicopter prepared, fully fuelled, fully operational, radio enabled. I want you to get my people safely and unharmed, if they're still happy enough to be in that condition, onto that helicopter. Once they're there I want you to bring me and Zhi there, and then I want you to let us go. Immediately!"

At the sound of Xue's voice-- coming muffed to them through the wall, but perfectly clearly through the radio of the guards stationed to watch them, their eyes widen and they look at one another. "Oh no." Khyi says, quietly. "He said he wouldn't do anything stupid." "What? What's he done?" Ru'i says, looking sick with fear. "He's taken Zhi hostage."

"Quiet, you! No talking!" One of the guards menaces the three with his rifle, and they fall silent, knowing that they are at a crossroads: depending on how this negotiation goes, they could all very well be dead within the hour...

***The Hostage Situation***


"Right, men, this guy's clearly insane. You are to comply with his demands. Put your weapons away and stay well back from him. You"-- he addresses another soldier, of high rank-- "Go see that the helicopter is arranged as demanded, and initiate Friday 13th proceedings. You men"-- he indicates the soldiers guarding the three in the room-- "Take them out on deck and see they don't get hurt. Keep them well under control, mind, and once the helicopter's ready, put them on. Explain the situation to them." "Yes sir!" the men reply, and there is a general clattering and shuffling as Khyi, Ru'i and Thielhan are marched out and away, and the others move to comply with the Second's instructions. Hellberg raises the megaphone to his mouth again. "All right, Mr. Kang. You can come out now. You're in no danger."

The door opens. Hellberg cannot help but be taken aback by what he sees. Commander Zhi Nyima-- not in his Svea Rigan uniform, but in one the Second-in-Command takes a few moments to be able to identify as the old uniform of Imperial Guo Leng-- has obviously been very roughly treated: clothes torn, blood dripping from a split lip and his left eye now nearly swollen shut, he limps and gasps painfuly for breath. Xue, however, looks far worse: badly beaten, face bloodstained and bruised, his arms soaked in blood, his once white shirt stuck to his skin with blood, vomit, and sweat, but with the ferocity of a caged and angry tiger in his eyes as he holds Zhi secure against his chest with the gun pressed firmly under his jaw, aimed up. The room behind them is a shambles: blood spattered on the walls and the floor, the broken remains of a chair scattered about, and a curious little electric drill lying in a red pool in the middle of the room.

Xue steps forward slowly, cautiously, watching everything, inching Zhi forward as far as his bonds will allow, attentive to the slightest movement suggesting he might be about to be attacked. But the soldiers stand well away, their weapons lowered, and the path is made clear for him.

Officer Hellberg, still not sure what to make of all this, clears his throat. "As you can see, Mr. Kang, we're doing everything we can to comply with your wishes. The helicopter is being prepared as we speak. If you'll just follow me."

Hellberg walks ahead, flanked by two soldiers. Xue and Zhi follow, Xue keeping a careful eye on everything; he never moves the gun from Zhi's jaw, and his finger is tight on the trigger, his knuckles white. The other soldiers follow, keeping a very respectable distance and their weapons well away.

As they walk, Xue speaks in a tense, hoarse voice. "I'm sorry it had to come to this, Mr. Hellberg. If I could have done this any other way I would have, but my hand was forced; I have no other choice. I need you to understand that Zhi is under the gun until we touch down. Any weird stuff happens, anything at all, and make no mistake, I will kill him. I mean anything: radio jamming, tracking, surveillance, anything. My only priority is that I get my men home. You let me do that, I'll keep my promise, I swear. Do we have an understanding?"

---

"Of course, Mr. Kang." Hellenberg speaks icily, an edge of aggression creeping into his tone. "My only concern is the safety of Commander Zhi. I can assure you that I will co-operate to the fullest."

"Good." Xue replies, not letting his guard down at all. "Then this can all end happily."

***on the deck of the Lifveräddaren, or whatever it's called***

"It's him. Oh, great merciful heaven..."

Thiehan looks over Ru'i's shoulder at the twin apparition that is Xue and Zhi, slowly approaching the chopper, Xue pressing the gun hard under Zhi's jaw. "Khyi! Ru'i! Thielhan! You onboard?"

"We're here!" Thielhan calls back.

"Is the chopper in order? Fuelled up? Radio working? Everything in order?"

Khyi gives the thumbs-up from the pilot's seat. "Seems to be!" Thielhan calls.

"Search the craft! Everywhere: cabin, cargo, everything; search the seats, don't miss anything, and make sure the bloody thing isn't cabled down!"

"Okay!" Ru'i and Thielhan proceed to scour the craft, turning over seat cushions, checking fuse panels, checking the first aid case; they leave nothing alone. "Nothing! Some parachutes, a signal pistol, nothing else!"

"Ru'i, take the signal pistol. Chuck the 'chutes."

"But what if--"

"Do it! We can't take any risks!"

Ru'i gathers up the parachutes, dumping them out onto the deck of the ship, then takes the signal pistol from Thielhan, giving the thumbs-up to Xue, still standing on the deck.

"Open radio channels. Use one of the CACE channels first, hail Celdonian and SeOCC navies and whoever else is listening, and then copy to a general. Just announce we're heading in, say nothing, absolutely nothing, else. Check we aren't being jammed, but even if we aren't, we don't lift off 'til we get a response."

"Okay!" Ru'i conveys the instructions to Khyi, who nods, and opens a CACE channel:

"Attention: hailing Celdonian, SeOCC, and any allied navies in the Western Aperin sea. This is Thanh Khyi, formerly of Xikuangese Liberty II, now aboard a Svea Rigan helicopter. We are preparing to enter officially unauthorised flight paths en route to Xikuang; requesting you alert your officials to our presence and transmit flight path instructions, over."

He repeats this message to a general channel. Tension mounts as they await the response...

***General Council Offices, Lhijir, Xikuang***

"This situation with Free Outer Eugenia is completely untenable. I know we're in the middle of an emergency caucus, but we have to get this legislation through. Yes. I understand, but if--" There is an insistent beeping from another mobile. "I'm sorry, Thi. Can you let me call you back?" Without waiting from the response, Sarekh hangs up the land lien and takes the mobile call. "Yes."

"You wanted me to inform you if the Liberty II crew called again, sir?"

"Yes. I take it they have."

"Indeed, they're on now."

"Give me the frequency. I'm on."

***On the Helicopter***

A moment later, the radio sparks into life. "This is General Councillor Sarekh: Thanh, what's your status?"

Khyi is clearly surprised to have such immediate attention by a member of the highest circle of Xikuangese government. "Status is somewhat delicate, Councillor. All Liberty II crew members present, and one guest, you might know him, a Mr. Zhi Nyima, formerly of Xikuang."

"Delicate status registered. Do you require escort?"

Khyi looks questioningly at Xue, who shakes his head. "Not here. The Rigans don't want their position betrayed and we don't want to offend them. Let them meet us in open water."

Khyi nods. "Negative for the launch, but yes, if you can meet us halfway, we will transmit again when we're in the air. Escort will be appreciated."

"Understood. Please do not lift off until I or a CACE navy contacts you again. Over."

"Do as he says, Khyi." Xue says, keeping the gun to Zhi's head while Thielhan straps the Commander in, hands still tied behind his back. "This is just how I want it."

***Lhadrung Airfield, Lhorong Pivince, Xikuang***

"We haven't even had time to test these things properly."

"Hey, it's Celdonian tech. It'll be fine."

"What are the orders?"

"We're to head to the SeOCC coast and hold there; further instructions will be forthcoming."

Two modern helicopters, of Celdonian design, but painted in the official style of Xikuangese aircraft-- slate-grey below, sky blue above, with the black-and-white Xikuangese flag above the legend Lauu q'o ohn phanleng emblazoned prominently on the tail-- lift off, turn to the West, and depart at speed.

ooc: Celdonia, I've assumed that under our brief economic revival, we'll have acquired some new gadgets, and it seems only reasonable to have gotten a few from you. If that's okay.

ooc: Celdonia, I've assumed that under our brief economic revival, we'll have acquired some new gadgets, and it seems only reasonable to have gotten a few from you. If that's okay.

OOC: That's fine by me.

IC:

"Mr Khyi, this is the Celdonian vessel RCS Lothan. Please state your current position, and please provide details of who is on board. Over."

All broadcasts on the CACE channels are automatically triangulated anyway, but it always helps to keep them broadcasting to track the trajectory. (OOC: Unless SV can give me a good reason not to be able to detect the transmitter's location.)

Six Tornados are scrambled from Fredericks Island and, at high altitude, begin heading for the source of the radio broadcast.

Khyi answers:

"Copy, RCS Lothan. Current position is [gives coordinates], though it would probably be for the best if you did not approach too closely. We are currently ready for lift off in Svea Rigan helicopter... em... SRAFH012113822. On board are myself, acting co-pilot P'ai Thielhan, Qiu Ru'i, Kang Xue and guest Zhi Nyima. Over"

Radio message from Sarekh, general broadcast

"Thanh, RCS Lothan, copy. Thanh, clear to lift off. Please proceed to Lothan's coordinates to meet your escort. Over."

"Copy that, Councillor. Lifting off now. Over."

The pitch of the engine rises, and the helicopter begins to rise...

The Tornado's are travelling at arouind MACH 2 (say 1500 miles per hour) so someone else can say how long it takes them to reach the cooridnate, or at least get within range.

OOC: Celdonia let's say that you get there in about 40 min-1 hour.

IC:New Commander Hellberg says something quiet in his radio and the light on the big pole changes to green.

Former commander Zhi looks shocked like something that should've happened didn't.

"Nooooh, this is not how it should be, stop the helicopter" He screams before getting interupted by Xue.

"Don't like it when things don't go your way, do you?" Xue says, smiling coldly. "Well get used to it, because I suspect things might not be going your way for quite some time."

Zhi lowers his voice "Ignorant bastards"(looking at the new commander) "They wouldn't know loyalty if it so punched them in the face, I ordered 'Friday the 13' to operate damn it"

"Well maybe, just maybe, they didn't exactly consider you to be in a position of power anymore. What happened to your Captain's uniform, hm?" Xue says. "Accept it. You've lost this one. Now sit tight and shut up and we'll all be home soon."

Zhi stays quite and the chopper lifts of.

So there it ends, for an entire 29 days have they been onboard that hellhole called a boat, now they're finally leaving, Exhausted from their long ordeal they steer against northeast.

ooc #tag#-- I have one more post to make to this but have had no time to do it-- just making sure the thread doesn't die before I can.

ooc: Never mind-- a new thread will do it. This one is ready for the archive.