What's new

Hornet's Nest

Thaumantica

Administrator
Staff member
Joined
Aug 16, 2007
Messages
7,011
Location
Grasstown ND
Capital
Caitekurke
Nick
Nilshanks
Butuan City
1900

As the Cannie Plenipotentiary to Butuan, Mister Kenneth James had the honor of laying the tracks for Pax Oceania, a vision of "True Peace" through a central and authoritarian force. Few outside of his ideological sphere could be counted as neutral or friendly to this vision, to countless millions in Europe this idea of Oceanic National Democracy likely appeared as only a contemporary form of fascism. And so it very well may be, thought Mister James, so it would be this evening without question.

He would reach his opposite in mere minutes, traveling by foot and without security, in the event of captivity it would be suffered alone from this evening forward. Beneath his stiff Officers uniform he felt his sweat beading in protest of such vigorous exercise in the early evening as the olive drab coloured clothe clung to his forty-nine year old body. In line with the latest fashion, Mister James carried a black briefcase with the national democratic compass symbol etched on the outward facing side, surely an illegal item in the Rajh's realm.

Wedged between his cheek and gums, Mister James displayed a goose-egg sized lump where Butuanese Chewing Tobacco moistened and burned in to his gums. Upon arrival the man hawked a brown-black stream of spit in to an empty bottle that he regrettably expected to be confiscated at any moment. In Cantigny this would show to his hosts that he was comfortable and honest about his vices, most cultures possessed a different view however, chewing tobacco might be perceived as a severe gesture of disrespect here in Butuan.

Operation Strawberry
New Egg, Cantigny
1200


The four heavy frigates coasted away from New Egg, Cantigny at a moderate pace, making no sudden turns in their direct route to Butuan. Eight destroyers and two missile cruisers escorted three cruiseliners in that same moderate and entirely unimposing pace. Aboard the cruiseliners, 2650 Expeditionary Troops (unique to a standard trooper only by emblem and dress uniform) debated with one another over the sincerity of their Commanders, who had claimed they would sail to Tangaloa for a harsh fight on the beaches. Theories were cast wildly like STDs in a garrison whorehouse, ranging from "Summer Exercise" to "Adelaide Occupation", even settling the republican rebel fire set on Adelaide Island.

Minute to minute, hour to hour, the theories began to centralize around a proper invasion. Certainly someone aboard knew the true mission, and was telling their comrades, who trickled information down every tier of the military hierarchy. "Bombaim or Tangaloa, boys" a goonish looking infantrymen bellowed over his platoon, packed together in a small room, "here we come!". Pulling his trousers down to his ankles, the infantrymen continued with a new song and jig, "I can swim to Anglyn just like this, Bombaim to Tangaloa and never quit!".

"Group Attention" Sergeant Malkin called out. A 1st Lieutenant by the name of Rodgers fielded the NCO's bellamy styled salute with one of his own, "Stand easy" he said with a briefing folder tucked beneath his armpit. "Late this evening we will depart from the primary naval force, and land at what . . " Rodgers squinted at a strip map of where the cruiseliner was destined for, " . . what seems to be an arbitrary location on the west coast of Butuan. We will march to the nearest town, rank in file, to secure one of the first command centers while our sister platoon begins scouting airfields".

"Weapons should be placed on red safe, and the rule of engagement is to fire only if fired upon", a grumble from junior enlisted soldiers inspired a drawn out description of a body stacking detail from Sergeant Malkin, who claimed he would have them remember each name and backstory of individuals they killed. "To be clear: our mission is to secure Butuan for National Agencies I have never heard of, who will apparently establish a 'Patriots Accord' with the standing Government, to include the King . . 'An Heroic undertaking to uphold the integrity of our Oceanic Brothers'".
 
Joined
Nov 25, 2009
Messages
182
Butuan City
1900


Kenneth James' did not go unobserved as he made his way to the Palace of Ministers in Butuan City. Since the Cantigny government had decided to become the self-proclaimed protector of oceanic culture, anyone connected to the Cantigian embassy had been placed under surveillance. More so, Mr. James' had decided to go out into public displaying the logo of an outlawed political party, but he had diplomatic immunity and therefore his passeage was not hindered, at least not before he reached the palace. Once inside, what ever it was that James expected to accomplish in coming to seat of the goverment of the Rajahnate, a government in which the Rajah himself had made it clear in his opinion concerning the Cantigians and their Oceanic party, it was unlikely what he did get. The hour that James arrived was one in which much of the staff had left for the day, so when he entered there were not many there to notice him, and those that were would not be likely to reveal what would happen next.

Though the armed guards at the door watched him as he approached, they did not try stopping Kenneth James from entering the palace, but once inside he was immediately met by large Butuanese man in a business suit.

"Mr. James, you have been expected. You will follow me."

The way it was said, James knew it was not a request and the fact that the two guards had followed him in and now blocked the door made refusal not really an option. Following the man down a hallway, two more men dressed similar to the first appeared behind James and soon went down a flight of stairs and into the underground garage where a limo waited. Told to get in, James soon found himself inside the darken car with three less than talkative men on his way to a destination unknown.

A half-an-hour later, the limo cames to a halt and James is let out of the car inside another garage and then escorted into a luxuriosly furnished residence and in a sitting room where a man in his mid forties was waiting. Kennith James immediately recognized the man as Datu Phelipe Salonga Lakandula, the brother of Rajah Sulaiman II and head of Butuan's Foreign Intelligence & Security Services.

"Mr. James, make yourself comfortable." said Datu Salonga in an accent indicating a foreign education,"I know it was a little unorthdox on how I brought you here, but I thought it best we spoke here, where what is said would stay between us is less likely to get back to my brother."
 

Thaumantica

Administrator
Staff member
Joined
Aug 16, 2007
Messages
7,011
Location
Grasstown ND
Capital
Caitekurke
Nick
Nilshanks
"I will . ." Kenneth winced, ". . I will follow you, why not?" Mister James said with an awkward grin. Inside the limousine the Cannie Plenipotentiary sheepishly rambled on about the national cricket teams, informing them of his favorite players from both Butuan and Cantingy; Kenneth found refuge in the irrelevant now, while his brawny babysitters ignored any attempt to strike conversation.

"Don't mind if I, yes, don't mind if I do" he replied when finally inside, taking the comfort offered immediately. "Herr Minister" Kenneth said in his best Germanian accent, "if the conditions of this domicile suit you over the embassy, who am I to protest?". While he could not claim to know the brother of Rajah Sulaiman, Mister James knew well of him. Kenneth James slowly laid out his briefcase, taking his time unbuckling and opening the case by avoiding sudden jerking movements. Inside were various identification papers and credentials that the Head of Foreign Intelligence likely had copies of already, so Kenneth handled a manila folder containing an agenda pertaining to whomever Butuan considered pertinent for the New Order.

"If the Lord Sulaiman cannot overhear our words, specifically the words of the Commonwealths vision for National-Pride, am I to assume you do not deem him qualified to hear them, my Lord?" he said boldly and loudly, "If I am to speak tonight, it must be to a Buatenese man of strength, character, and most of all purpose . . Else the blood of innocents will dye the Implarian Red". If Datu Phelipe Salonga Lakandula was the future of Butuan, he or his sponsor would have to embody a National Character for Butuan as a Wise and Brave Hero.
 
Joined
Nov 25, 2009
Messages
182
Salonga just smiles at the Cantignian. 'How typical, always so sure of themselves', thought Salonga, 'Well, if Kenneth James thought he was here to recruit me for his cause, he sure is going about it the wrong way.'

"Mr. James, I never said that my brother was not worthy enough to hear you, I brought you here because my brother had already deemed you unworthy of being heard, so you weren't going to get any access to anyone in the government no matter how charming you tried to be. I, on the other hand, thought I would hear you out, to give you the chance to state your case, to actually give you a chance to persuade me that my brother was wrong and that you are worthy of being listened to."

Salonga chuckles as he folds his hands in his lap.

"Mr. James, instead of coming here with hat-in-hand, what do you do? You start out by making veiled threats. How like a Cantignian. You forget, Butuan is a sovereign nation, we don't need help to kick out some colonial power, we already did that over a hundred years ago, so we're certainly not going to now invite another one in to take its place."

"You have made yourself quite clear, not only by your words but also by your attitude, that when you said you were looking for a Buatenese man of strength, of character, and most of all purpose...you are looking for someone in a position of power that will embrace your purpose, one who will do your bidding. Being that the Rajah or those loyal to him will not join you in your crusade, what you need is someone who will betray his king, his country, his people for your cause, and if you don't get it....well, you made that also quite clear, people will die."

Salonga leans forward and looks Kenneth James straight in the eyes.

"Mr. James. If it is your message that Butuan must join your cause or else, I promise you, if the Implarian does turn red, it will be Cantignian blood that will provide the color...maybe even starting with your own."
 

Thaumantica

Administrator
Staff member
Joined
Aug 16, 2007
Messages
7,011
Location
Grasstown ND
Capital
Caitekurke
Nick
Nilshanks
"If your brother is that man, Salonga, then please spare your reservations to the Cannie Philosophy for those stern faced henchmen outside" Kenneth said calmly, "I did not take you for a skittish man, but clearly I have hit a sore spot . . your brother?" he nodded, breaking to spit in to his chew bottle. "Broadly, or in terms I can honestly relay from the Lord Chancellor himself, he and the Commonwealth have a profound respect for the Rajh, and are thus inclined to believe that his image; as well as the National Spirit of Butuan, have suffered from Imperial circumstances."

Too many millions of young men and starving children had suffered from the 'circumstance' of which Mister James spoke. "Truly the Patriots of Butuan have thrown back the Garrisons of Anglyn, to an extent the Law, but my deplorable Cannie nose senses Anglysh banknotes -- economic pressure -- and threat of sanction if Butuan ever dared to realize its full Autonomous Military Might" he said with a touch of gusto. Regardless of how this Salonga felt about Cantigny, Kenneth was of the firm reckoning that growth in military and prestige were of high regard for the minister.

"Of some consequence, additionally my Lord Salonga, I believe that you may have misinterpreted my earlier reference of the Implarian dyed red." Kenneth said, blankly returning the other mans intense stare. "It will be the common blood of all Oceanic Patriots, should we ever half-realize our own potential; or should the distant White Kings ever fully realize their vision of living space, what they call paradise, in our lush and precious Oceanic territories.".
 
Joined
Nov 25, 2009
Messages
182
"Or a White Queen? Don't you think we haven't noticed how closely your White Engellex Queen has been working with your White Chancellor? Mr. James, how much islander blood flows through your Queen and Chancellor's veins...or for that matter, yours? Your country's history makes your using race as an argument insulting....and worse, you are using it to draw Butuan into conflict with Anglyn, a conflict in which the Butuanese people would not support. As it was the White Anglysh that helped Butuanese rebels to drive out the White Coronadans and reinstate Butuanese rule in Butuan, historically, we have very little reason to be mad at the Anglysh."

"Being that you brought up money, I think we have fianlly gotten to the real crux of the matter. Yes, there is Anglysh banknotes involved, as I am certain there are Engellex banknotes involved on your side of the equation. And no, the Anglysh have not threatened economic sanctions, but why should we risk our good economic and diplomatic relations with Anglyn for your sake? What do you have to offer they don't? And please don't spout another patriotic line to me, we both know it is a bunch of hog-wash."
 

Thaumantica

Administrator
Staff member
Joined
Aug 16, 2007
Messages
7,011
Location
Grasstown ND
Capital
Caitekurke
Nick
Nilshanks
"If the dish fits . . " Kenneth reigned in his impatience before implying that Butuan was after all fit to consume hog-wash, "My, my, my Lord Salonga" Mister James probed devilishly. "I can hear your repulsion, feel your anger, yet also I can smell that sweat which comes with pungent fear" he cackled now, realizing this mans prejudice ran through his veins as surely as Queen Charlotte, the White Queen, carried her distaste for Anglyn.

"This Anglysh Pound, that Engellexic Pound, a Cannie Pollie in the mix . . naturally my Lord Salonga you resist the idea of one master, or say banker, for another" he began, as calm now as he had been only moments before the last tirade. "I am Kenneth, son of Micken who brought my brothers and I into Cantigny as the fifth generation of our name in the Territory Easter. As he was born, my Father Micken James, a King ruled over a Dominion of Cantigny from Dulwich, Engellex" Kenneth rambled, hooting the words 'King' and 'Dominion' with as much reverance as could be mustered.

"In his lifetime, not long before my own birth, Cantigny successfully demanded its autonomy from Great Engellex, who no longer enjoys dominion nor free roam of Oceanic Cantigny, or Oceania beyond our . . as the Anglysh say: our 'Imperial Ambitions'" Mister James scoffed, "The Empire of Cantigny?". Kenneth shook his head in disgust, spitting in his slowly filling bottle between this round of retort, soon he would need to change out the chew.

Some time in the early hours of a distant day, black boots marching two and two would march in this 'Nation', and surely it would be called a 'Nation' by the faction to whom the boots belonged, regardless of race or ideology. "It's not a Crown for the Lord Chancellor, Felix Ilchester, that the true Empire's of Europe fear. No, they fear an Oceania no longer divided in a Colonial Game . . I am sure you can recite them as well as I: Anglyn, Engellex, Suionia, Vistrasia - - self proclaimed Empire's who claim to steer the destiny of Oceania".

"What was it that the Party declared, m'Lord? An Oceania of Nations. Since White conquistadors and merchants ravaged Oceania, the birthright peoples of this land have known no such freedom. The Party suggests, Cantigny implores, that Butuan seizes this moment beside us - - while the Empire's of distant Capitals are set off balance by an entire world divided". By now it seemed to Mister James that Salonga was the Great Rajh's buffer, a human wall that should least of all be undermined. "Blood and Iron is the commodity Cantigny offers for alliance and goodwill, forged with manpower, rifles, and a fleet fit to ensure an impenetrable Fortress Butuan".

Beneath his marks of identification, Kenneth revealed papers containing a conservative projection of modern warships and rifle regiments intended to be granted unto the Nation of Butuan, and its Patriotic Leader. "This Symphony is orchestrated by the elements of Blood and Iron, an Iron Symphony my Lord Salonga".
 
Joined
Nov 25, 2009
Messages
182
Salonga had nearly heard enough, as he had developed a distaste of this man, Kenneth James, a decendant of those white settlers that nearly wiped out the indenginous peoples of Cantigny, many of whom fled the genocide and who's decendants now are part of the population of Butuan, a man who would sit there and speak as if he was of those that were displaced from the lands they had inhabited for countless generations. This man would equate his country being granted autonomy as being the same as those Butuanese that successfully fought and died to regain their fredom and at the same time turn on those that also died helping to obtain that freedom.

Though, the distaste was still there, Salonga allowed the man to continue, and when James began showing him the documents, he did look through them with interest. Ships, guns and men, very interesting.

"Are you telling me that Chancellor Ilchester is willing to give Butuan guns and ships to join his cause. That is very hard to believe considering Cantigny's economy and own lack of a military. Where are are you expecting all this to come from?"
 

Thaumantica

Administrator
Staff member
Joined
Aug 16, 2007
Messages
7,011
Location
Grasstown ND
Capital
Caitekurke
Nick
Nilshanks
"Seeing is truly believing, sir" Mister James said as he took to his feet, "and for the first time - Cantigny shall claim its national pride alongside Butuan; there can be not a moments delay". In truth Cantigny had several economic barriers to break through if it expected to bear this terrible load, amongst which was a conflict in attaining a means of manpower. Cantigny's Military however was indeed large, autonomous, and partially imposing itself upon Butuan as the two men spoke as Operation Strawberry commenced.

Operation Strawberry
Off the West Coast of Butuan
0001

From the two military outfitted cruiseliners, increments of the 2650 Expeditionary Troops downloaded on to ferry's bound for the coast. On either side the Missile Cruisers and Frigates made a sideways cantor in observation of the coastline, making no motions yet to engage man made installations.
 
Joined
Nov 25, 2009
Messages
182
"Seeing is indeed believing, but you have not shown me anything concrete and I only have your word that you can deliver. How am I to convince my brother and the people of Butuan when you have failed to convince me that allying with Cantigny is best for Butuan especially when there is such a strong western presence in Butuan. With long diplomatic, economic, cultural, and yes, military ties with the west, especially Anglyn, the Rajah as well as the average Butuanese would not go willingly into such an alliance."
 

Thaumantica

Administrator
Staff member
Joined
Aug 16, 2007
Messages
7,011
Location
Grasstown ND
Capital
Caitekurke
Nick
Nilshanks
"Sir, how can I show you anything concrete, iron, or flesh and blood from this obscure lair you have whisked me away to? It was our intention to meet with the Foreign Office here in Butuan, then at some time to arrange to formally meet with the Rajah himself. Instead I sit here, unsure whether there is any sense in convincing the Head of Intelligence & Security Services, who should naturally take orders from the Rajah. I am well under the persuasion that if proof in numbers is what we need to move forward, my Nation is actively prepared to prove ourselves a present and close ally by sunrise this morning" he said, walking towards the door with his briefcase gripped firmly in his hand.

"I have no doubt that you know how this Nation works, Sir, yet unless you are the true hand of power behind the scenes - I am here in a remote part of Butuan, speaking to a pretender, instead of one of the True Leaders of this Nation".

Operation Strawberry
West Coast of Butuan
0030


Filtering unto the beachead, the Cantigny Defence Forces began coordinating the landing of more and more vessels that ranged in sizes and contents, some containing food and ammunition while others unloaded tracked and wheeled vehicles that were as soon rolling as they hit the ground. Infantry personnel quietly moved with the intent to infiltrate the nearest towns without the use of hostile force, using a set of rules of engagement that avoided gunfire at all costs.
 
Joined
Nov 25, 2009
Messages
182
"First of all, the Foreign Minister, Prince Salamat, who happens to be my nephew, wouldn't have given you the time of day. As for the Rajah, without my intervention, you would never have seen him, so I have given you a chance to convince me that what you proposed would be for the good of Butuan, but all you have shown me that, for what I have seen, Butuan will be giving up far more than what it will gain."

Salonga then sits back in his chair and presses a hidden button and almost intantly the two Butuanese that had brought James to the house appear.

"I will now say goodnight to you sir. My men will see to it that you arrive safely back at the Palace of Ministers, from there you will have to manage your own transport back to your embassy. I will warn you though, the streets of Butuan City have not been entirely safe since the MRA has expanded their terror campaingn to include targets outside of Malabang."
 
Joined
Nov 25, 2009
Messages
182
Palillo Point Radar Station
0100 hrs


The radar station at Palillo Point had been tracking a group of ships for more than an hour, but for the past half hour they had been stationary off the coast. With the ships being within Butuanese territorial waters, it promts a call to the Illania Cove Naval Station and the dispatching of a pair of navy NH-2D helicopters, armed each with two air-to-surface missiles, to investigate. At the same time, two Fremantle class patrol boats are ordered to proceed to the coordinates.
 

Gunnland

FTR
Joined
Nov 1, 2006
Messages
2,035
Location
Virginia, USA
Capital
Windhaven, Gunnland
The visit of Oswald Cardinal Millbank to the Queen of Engellex, where he discusses the "Butuan Question" with Her Majesty.

Dulwich. At the last minute, Tibur sent Oswald Cardinal Millbank, the conservative Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, on the pretext that he was from Engellex himself and would better represent the Holy See. In reality, Cardinal Puopolo, the acting Secretary of State was in bed with a hangover. Oswald chuckled, reminiscing the wild ways of his protégé. There was a time that would get you into trouble in the Capitoline City...

Naturally at home in the regal pomp of the Engellexic court, Oswald acquitted himself well. He spoke brashly in a booming voice, his temperament ill-suited to the pretense of telling an unpleasant "just between you and me" kind of secret. Which is what he was doing. "If not by the torches of Empire, how do you cast the light of Christianity? Nobody has an answer to that, Your Majesty, gentle Ministers, Ladies. Nobody! Instead, the heathens are permitted to teach their people to see every priest as a white devil and every nun as a potential colonial overlord..."

He was soon red in the face, and could feel it, so he kept his bluster short. "Cantigny must protect the Church in Butuan. Now, don't misunderstand me. Cantigny itself must be re-Christianized, His Holiness needs to be assured their cult will not spread throughout Oceania. But if Your Majesty can give Vesper some maternal advice not to spread their cult, and to stop harassing the Catholics of Cantigny with their incessant proselytizing, then the apostolic nuncios of Stephanus IV will pressure the EDF countries -- particularly the Catholic ones -- not to intervene in Oceania with Anglyn. And we shall have two Christian countries, perhaps, where there are now none."
 

Great Engellex

Established Nation
Joined
Oct 30, 2006
Messages
5,258
Location
London, UK
Capital
Dulwich
Nick
Engellex
Royal Palace, Dulwich 6th July

Charlotte smiled awkwardly, after all, religion was not traditionally a direction enjoyed on a national level because of the obvious reasons, much less in the Commonwealth. I have read all the reports concerning what I believe you mean to be the efforts of the expansionist policy of the European Defence Federation – throughout Europe. And, naturally, I and my ministers are particularly concerned with their intervention within Solaren, though the escalations of the Implaric-Oceanic Territory is of grave concern also.

My ministers assure me, however, that it should be considered a great comfort to the interest of Great Engellex that the odious alliance should spread itself so thin around Europe. What I mean to say,
she smiled, is that it is not believed that they can assert their will in the southern region with triumph. Their engagements with Solaren will undoubtedly see to this. But. That is not to say that my realms may enjoy a divided and isolated force in which we shall remove, from your own efforts. Charlotte shifted for a higher-straighter posture, and continued, Religious opinion within the halls of Vesper may be swayed, it is not something I can guarantee. An expression that will endorse the course of action taken by either of my realms could be necessary to secure that change. And should you succeed to – persuade – the alliance to act otherwise in the south, shall the Holy See allow them to redefine the political landscape of Preuti-Borussia (Galia-Germania)?

This is asked because, while certainly most disagreeable, it would not be tolerated to see the Solaren realm become a vassal of the lesser Courts of the European Defence Federation. That is a point that is absolutely necessary for the Holy See to endorse, if to secure the cooperation of myself and ministers, in Dulwich and Vesper.
 

Thaumantica

Administrator
Staff member
Joined
Aug 16, 2007
Messages
7,011
Location
Grasstown ND
Capital
Caitekurke
Nick
Nilshanks
West Central Butuan - District October
6th July at 1215

The cavalcade of cattle leather boots over rubber soles clapped in unison under the guise of the Butuanese National Anthem, played in implied extravagance beside the vocalization of female singers. Their dress was vibrant and complimentary of their fine figures, aggressively seizing attention away from their angelic voices. From village to town and city the Cannie Troops had marched, collecting only the most exotic and beautiful women of Butuan to exemplify to all of Europe what this Nation of Oceania could become.

As their sensual bodies relaxed, Cannie horns and trumpets recognized the erection of the National Flags and Symbols of Butuan hundreds of feet in the air. Above all a cobalt blue and honeybee yellow banner massacred the cloud filled sky as a testament to National Pride.

"BRRRRRRRRRIIIIIIIGGGGGGAAAAADDDDDEEEEEE" the Commander of the Cannie 1st Expeditionary Combat Brigade blustered, "PRESENT ARMS!". In unison a mass of 1,000 Cannie Troops and scattered camp followers saluted the alien presence of the scarlet banner of Cantigny beneath Butuan's own, accompanied by subtle violins without vocal accouterment.

Such was the over the top commemoration of Butuan's first "National Assembly", an exposition open to all political elements of the Rajhanate including the Rajhanate itself; scattered amongst these displays of nationalism were epic paintings of the Rajh in silk, often battle armor or atop an Arabian War Steed.

The Press of Cantigny recorded the exorbitant events in live text feeds and a satellite tracked camera, following the crowd of partisans and opinionated individuals for interviews and panning shots of well-dressed marshals of the Butuanese State.
 
Joined
Nov 25, 2009
Messages
182
Road From the Salonga Compound

The night was overcast and dark but with stolen Anglysh night-sight equipment, the six MRA guerillas waited patiently for the limo that has left the Salonga compound sped it way towards them. The spotter they had placed overwatching the compound had alerted them that Salonga along with two bodyguard were in the the car with no escorts. The six men could not believe their luck. Rarely did the Salonga travel without an escort, for this to be the night, was more than they could have hoped for. Though the plan was to take out the lead car, blocking the road, before attacking the limo, it now meant attacking the limo first, though it increased the chance of killing the intelligence chief, but that too would mean at least a partial success.

It would not take long, a shot by a .50 calibre sniper rifle, stolen like the goggles, through the engine block and another through the side widow of the driver side would quickly stop the car. If not, a IED further down the road, though there to stop the lead car, would do the job quite well on the limo. Taking out the bodyguards, Salonga would be easy picking, even if he did try to resist. He would then, whether alive or not, perfered alive, be taken to the river a boat waited and within the hour would be an a fast boat making its way back to Malabang.

The operation went off without a hitch, problem was that instead of Salonga, they found some uniformed white man clutching a briefcase, out cold in the back seat. Considering the man had been in Salonga's limo and coming from the compound, the MRA guerilla's had no choice but to take him, hoping that he is worth the failed attempt on the Rajah's brother and cheif intelligence officer. Little did they know that he just might be more than worth it.
 

Thaumantica

Administrator
Staff member
Joined
Aug 16, 2007
Messages
7,011
Location
Grasstown ND
Capital
Caitekurke
Nick
Nilshanks
Road From the Salonga Compound

Kenneth awoke to the instinctual flight reaction to this sudden trauma, clamoring to his feet for mere seconds before streams of vomit and spells of dizziness struck him down face first in to the unwelcoming mud of his own bloody waste and foreign earth. Around him he could hear the shuffling of boots and the clunk of ammo magazines likely poised at his seemingly paralyzed body.

The words they used he surely recognized, but he could not make them out in his bout with unconsciousness. He lost the battle as violently and suddenly as the initial attack, when his leather briefcase and all of its contents were pried away from his weak fingers. Mister James received a modest rifle but to the corner of his previously smirking mouth, finally quieting the Cannie man's futile attempt at humor at this hopeless situation.

A dream of a red dragon, no, a scarlet dragon filled his mind. It spurted fire viciously left and right, yet there was no target, only a show of might and magic to a smaller but equally violent dragon of blue scales and fire that burst yellow like the sun. Somewhere beyond the veil of dreamspace two Nations flirted with war with all of Europe gazing eagerly to see the ideas of their day displayed in either compromise or bloody violence.
 

Gunnland

FTR
Joined
Nov 1, 2006
Messages
2,035
Location
Virginia, USA
Capital
Windhaven, Gunnland
The trip home where Oswald Cardinal Millbank laments that the Church is stuck in a complex and compromised alliance with the EDF.

Over Engellex. Almost dozing, Cardinal Millbank put his scarlet biretta on the tray table and looked out over the clouds. As he rubbed his eyes, it occured to him how much Her Majesty would have liked Cardinal Puopolo after all. Gaspar would have told Queen Charlotte of the papal plans to peacefully arrange for the red-and-yellow of Tiburian to fly once more over Torrance. Where it rightfully ought... but Cardinal Camerlengo Von Haaksbergen will never go for that.

Suddenly his cheeks flushed and he erupted and sputtered at the priests and monsignors milling about the airplane, hardly bothering to connect his thoughts gramatically, "The Camerlengo is too patient! It's not 1644! Frederick Wilhelm II cannot rise and turn the EDF into a 21st century empire! It is run by secularists. Worse! Lutherans!"

The cardinal from Engellex would have loved assure his queenly sovereign that the Holy See would snivel to the weak-kneed Central Europeans no more. For the EDF had been a disappointment, even to the Camerlengo. But all he could muster was bland assurances about Tibur's efforts for peace in Solaren.

He removed the zuchetto that sat precariously upon his thick, curly gray hair and scratched his head. He had moved too quickly. Complications appeared. Tibur would not raise a clamor over two nations of heathens in Far Oceania. The time wasn't right.
 
Joined
Nov 25, 2009
Messages
182
Salonga Compound

Datu Phelipe Salonga Lakandula poured himself another glass of Tortuga Gold, while the two Bureau for Internal Security officers waited, downing the rum in one before pouring another. It had been only a few hours since Kenneth James left the compund when the two BIS men arrived at the compound. They had been dispatched when an army patrol had hit a IED along the road had discovered a government limo nearby with two men dead in the front seat. They officer immediately came to the compound when they were notified that the limo was assign to the Chief of Intelligence.

"Ambushed you say...and both my men killed? How can this happen here? Do you know who is responsible?"

Salonga could only think it was the Cantignian, who else could it be? James was taken from the car, alive apparently, or was he?

"Datu Salonga, forensics are on the scene but right now we just needed to confirm that you were unharmed, seeing that it was you vehicle and your security men. What we need to know, was there anyone else in the car when it left here? Should we mount a search for the passenger?"

Salonga knew he could not tell these men that he had been meeting with the Cantigny Amassador, against orders from the Rajah, at least not until he could think of a way to spin it to his brother, especially if it was the Cantigni that had mounted the operation.

"No. Whoever did this was probably after me and ended up leaving empty handed."

The two officers did exchange doubtful glances but did not pursue it.

"We will notify our superiors, may I suggest you immediately contact the Palace, there is a good possibility this has already reached the Rajah's ears."

The two offices turned to leave, both sure that there was more to this than was being revealed.
 
Top