- Get me Shady on the line, - Stanislav finished smoking the pipe. - Yeah? Ah, hello. How's your day? Anyway, congrats on the mop up in Sjenska. If you need any help, our security advisors are always ready to come and see what's on the ground. You know, there's all sorts of troublemakers in the borders. Good day to you. If this raises political questions in other nations, as most of our peacekeeping does anyway, we should deflect that and carry on. The Borders are a hindrance to the Continental Defense Plan, our achiless heel.
Location: Temple Prime, Sarajevo, USSR
Today is a good day Comrade Stanislav and it is about to get even better. Your assistance is appreciated. The Border Regions have been a problem for us for too long and I will now solve that problem once and for all. My solution may not be liked by some but that Comrade is their problem.
I would suggest you turn on your television, an important announcement will be made by me soon. I am sure you will like it.
Transmission of President Shady's speech live from Temple Prime
Greetings people of the world and Comrades of the glorious SNC, I come to you today with great news. As you all know a meeting was held today here in Temple Prime, leaders of all Border Region Countries were present and are still here as you can see behind me.
*The Camera pans to show: President Ermin Valjevcic of Sargonia, President Zoran Stojkovic from the Republic of Rohan, President Elmir Rosic from the Socialist Republic of Zagor and General Alexander Romanov of the Sjenska Republic*
We met here today to change history and undo a great injustice that was committed against the shadow people, so long ago in World War I. For years the people of the Border Regions suffered at the hands of vile criminals and dictators who sought only to use them for their one personal goals. Today that suffering ends, today we shall undo the great injustice, today the shadow people will be united once again, today we make history.
By the power granted to me by the shadow people and their leaders I hereby declare the formation of The Union of Socialist Shadow Republics. From the former USSR and the Border Republics a new USSR has risen, People of the Great Shadow Union stand united once again. Together we shall move into a better and brighter future, and I will lead you there my brothers and sisters.
I Premier Shady of the Union of Socialist Shadow Republics shall now watch over you. United we shall end the corruption and crime which has troubled our people for so long, together we shall end the suffering of our people and united we shall stand against our enemies.
Thank you for your time.
Results: The Border Regions are annexed into the USSR and The Union of Socialist Shadow Republics is formed.
The Revolutionary Front was taking a beating and they knew it. For once the leadership council agreed on a plan. Fighting Bearne in open battle just wasn't working; their forces were just better than their old foe of Mortimer's government. The new strategy was to make this a guerilla war and return to the tactics used against the hated Iler.
The Revolutionary Front dispersed their troops and started a campaign or raids, ambushes and road side bomb planting. They supported themselves by intimidating the locals and "recruiting" child soldiers and the like to rebuild some of their shattered cadres.
Indhopal upped their cooperation with Bearne against the Revolutionary Front as well. The Special Reconnaissance Group were experts in the Revolutionary Front, having been the group that had trained them years ago. Elements of the 7th marine brigade were also moved up.
Indhopal knew just killing members of the Revolutionary Front wouldn't do. To end them, The FTO had to protect the local populace and turn them against the Revolutionary Front. Right now their terror tactics reigned supreme.
Nygaardsvold Island (formally Dennis Shitake Island), Dragonsnake River Delta, Eastern Velaria
Despite some protests from the scientific community on the port Adria, the new facillity was going up quite quickly due to the combined efforts of Contractors, Nygaardsvold and a few Zorian Military workers. A large clearing had been cut into the island while the facillities of the Nygaardsvold Logging Sawmill was quickly going up while the Warf was nearing completion. A few non critical structures were allready up, as were the defenses. Within a releitvely short amount of time, the facillity would be up and running, begining the Harvesting of the forest.
HAIL ZOR!WE'LL BLOW UP THE OCEAN!
Heros of Cybertron-HAB-Keeper of the Vicious pit of Allosauruses-King Leighton-I, United Kingdom of Zoria: SD.net World/Tsar Mikhail-I of the Red Tsardom: SD.net Kingdoms WHEN ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE ON EARTH, ALL EARTH BREAKS LOOSE ON HELL Terran Sphere The Art of Zor
Baernish Ministry of Internal Affairs
Internal Orders
FROM: His Excellency Count Lawrence, Minister of Internal Affairs
TO: 2nd Propaganda Group
Your are requested and required to devote all energies to the winning of the hearts and minds of the people of the Northern CFR, the better to reduce the membership pool and general appeal of the Revolutionary Front militant group.
-------------
Baernish Ministry of the Interior
Press Release
FROM: His Excellency Count Lawrence, Minister if Internal Affairs
TO: Assorted News Agencies
Mereen Officially Open
A ceremony today at the Mereen City Hall, wherein His Grace Duke James officially opened the city was interrupted by a thunderstorm, forcing the attendees inside. His Grace remarked over the celebratory luncheon that "The Wilderness resents our presence, which is only fair. But Baerne does not bow to the will of anyone, even nature itself."
Conversion Table:
2000 Mockingbirds = 2 Kilomockingbirds
Basic Unit of Laryngitis = 1 Hoarsepower
453.6 Graham Crackers = 1 Pound Cake
1 Kilogram of Falling Figs - 1 Fig Newton
Time Between Slipping on a Banana Peel and Smacking the Pavement = 1 Bananosecond
Half of a Large Intestine = 1 Semicolon
Videoteleconference between General Sheppard and Lord Fairfax; preliminary feelers for armistice
"Fuck you, Matt. You're out of your mind if you think I'm restricting my army to 100,000 people. I'll turn your occupation into a charnel house first."
"If scientists and inventors who develop disease cures and useful technologies don't get lifetime royalties, I'd like to know what fucking rationale you have for some guy getting lifetime royalties for writing an episode of Full House." - Mike Wong
"The present air situation in the Pacific is entirely the result of fighting a fifth rate air power." - U.S. Navy Memo - 24 July 1944
MKSheppard wrote:Videoteleconference between General Sheppard and Lord Fairfax
"Fuck you, Matt. You're out of your mind if you think I'm restricting my army to 100,000 people. I'll turn your occupation into a charnel house first."
"If you do, we may have to take heavy handed measures on any insurgency.
However, I might be inclined to withdraw from San Fuego and return West Fuckland Island to you and recognize your mineral rights there."
"The rifle itself has no moral stature, since it has no will of its own. Naturally, it may be used by evil men for evil purposes, but there are more good men than evil, and while the latter cannot be persuaded to the path of righteousness by propaganda, they can certainly be corrected by good men with rifles."
Lonestar wrote:However, I might be inclined to withdraw from San Fuego and return West Fuckland Island to you and recognize your mineral rights there."
Sheppard's eyes narrowed at that.
"You aren't just going to give them back for nothing. Not for a mere scrap of paper limiting my army to 100,000 men. Not after so much blood has been shed by so many people in this war. Besides, what will your friends in the MESS say?"
"If scientists and inventors who develop disease cures and useful technologies don't get lifetime royalties, I'd like to know what fucking rationale you have for some guy getting lifetime royalties for writing an episode of Full House." - Mike Wong
"The present air situation in the Pacific is entirely the result of fighting a fifth rate air power." - U.S. Navy Memo - 24 July 1944
-Operation Swarm
The Federate Military announced the execution of Operation Swarm, in a cooperative effort between the Kingdom of Vineyards and the Federated Republic. The operation was a large scale land invasion, with elements of the Vinish 1st Tank Battalion and the “Installer” Battalion 2, to eradicate the Victory Front, the latest movement for independence coming out of Mining Country. The Operation Made it quickly through the areas that the Victory Front called home, smashing through the defences in short order. Vinish Tanks Routing Victory Front Holdings
-MiG – 31s
The Federated Air Force is on the market, searching for a supplier of MiG – 31 aircraft. Inquiries have been made to the USSR, Byzantine, and the CSR. Stock Footage of a MiG - 31
-Gizmonic Galactic and the Eutopian Aeronautics Space Firm Merge
The two theoretical Space Corperations have merged to form the Gizmonic Aeronautics Firm (GAF). The CEO of the Combined company, announced that the company aims to get a place for a launch site in the Kingdom of Earls. “We see the opportunity for development of a space agency run by the VEIL, and not slave to someone like a neocapitalist, like San Dorado.”
-Congress For Democratic Expansion Called.
In an attempt to spread the democratic message, the Federated Republic has called a Congress for Democratic Expansion, the CDE will convene and try to come up with a way to turn the CFR into a real CFR. Members from any nation are aloud to participate in the CDE, as long as they have some form of democracy in their national government.
News From the Kingdom of Earles.
-Scaled Power/Urban Development Plan Announced
SPUD, the Scaled Power/Urban Development plan, is an operation to bring the Kingdom of Earles into the realm of actual nations, with only ~14,000 citizens in 2009. SPUD is a multiyear, multiphase plan, and the First Phase is the creation of a new power plant, along with mineral and ecological surveys, in an effort to get the Kingdom to create something on the Global Market. Kaiser Earles had this to say, “The SPUD Plan will propel our Nation into the zone of Sovereignty, no longer shall we wait for the Vinish to fund us, we will have our own means of funding. No longer shall we stand by, and wait for the Vinish troops to keep us safe, we will have our own means of safety.
-20,000 New Residents by 2010
-Kingdom of Earles Militia Formed:
KoEAM (Air Militia):
-13 Former Commercial Airplane Pilots
-3 Jet-Trainers, On Loan from the Kingdom of Vineyards
KOENM (Naval Militia): 1 Yacht
(Late 2009) – 5 River Patrol Boats (Voodoo 1-5)
(2010) – 3 Fast Aquatic Troubled Entrance (FATE) Teams
--3 Speed Boars (2010)
--1 V-22 Osprey
-- Advance Training
- 4 Orca-class Training/Patrol Boats.
KoEGM (Ground Militia): 2,000 Vinish Soldiers
-100 Vinish Trainers
-1,500 Volunteers
News From the Vinish Press
-King to Travel to Cascadia, The Old Continent, and Shinra, in a Trip out of the Country.
This is an empty country and I am it's king, and I should not be allowed to touch anything.
MKSheppard wrote:
Sheppard's eyes narrowed at that.
"You aren't just going to give them back for nothing. Not for a mere scrap of paper limiting my army to 100,000 men. Not after so much blood has been shed by so many people in this war. Besides, what will your friends in the MESS say?"
"Personally, I don't think you're in a position to argue Shep. II Corps has broken through on West Chesapeake, and the 1st Tian Xia Expeditionary is cutting up towards Cap Henlopan. Not a chance in hell you'll be able to shift before the MESS marches on Al-Philli..."
"Oh good, more threats from the assholes who released more dangerous Chemicals than both of us combined during the last war! Of course, maybe you should have given your infantry officers some basic chemistry lessons so they would know why it's a Bad Idea to call in Artillery fire on a DuPount Methyl isocyanate plant! How many civilians did he kill? How many of your people did he kill?" There was an evil grin on Shep's face.
Lonestar paused.
"Shep, the Old Dominion will vacate San Fuego, but we will not allow you to bring it into it's orbit again. We will recognize your claim to the West Fuckland Island and refer the EEZ around the island to international arbitration. But you have to limit your army size, to include any Gendarmerie forces. No Freikorps either."
"The rifle itself has no moral stature, since it has no will of its own. Naturally, it may be used by evil men for evil purposes, but there are more good men than evil, and while the latter cannot be persuaded to the path of righteousness by propaganda, they can certainly be corrected by good men with rifles."
Lonestar wrote:"Shep, the Old Dominion will vacate San Fuego, but we will not allow you to bring it into it's orbit again. We will recognize your claim to the West Fuckland Island and refer the EEZ around the island to international arbitration. But you have to limit your army size, to include any Gendarmerie forces. No Freikorps either."
Sheppard was about to snicker and tell Lonestar (or as he called himself, Lord Fairfax nowadays) off; when an ashen faced officer wearing the uniform of the Special Republican Guards entered the room.
"Sir...VI Special Republican Corps has attacked near Al-Philli, but is reporting heavy losses, and requests permission to halt operations for the day to regroup. Reports are they only have fifty tanks and three thousand men left in combat condition."
God damn it thought Sheppard. VI SRC was the last real Shepistani force operating in West Chesapeake, and it was fought out. I SRC was moving, but was under moderate air attacks; and wouldn't be in the West Chesapeake theater for 48 hours.
"I'm listening...Matt.."
"If scientists and inventors who develop disease cures and useful technologies don't get lifetime royalties, I'd like to know what fucking rationale you have for some guy getting lifetime royalties for writing an episode of Full House." - Mike Wong
"The present air situation in the Pacific is entirely the result of fighting a fifth rate air power." - U.S. Navy Memo - 24 July 1944
MKSheppard wrote:
Sheppard was about to snicker and tell Lonestar (or as he called himself, Lord Fairfax nowadays) off; when an ashen faced officer wearing the uniform of the Special Republican Guards entered the room.
"Sir...VI Special Republican Corps has attacked near Al-Philli, but is reporting heavy losses, and requests permission to halt operations for the day to regroup. Reports are they only have fifty tanks and three thousand men left in combat condition."
God damn it thought Sheppard. VI SRC was the last real Shepistani force operating in West Chesapeake, and it was fought out. I SRC was moving, but was under moderate air attacks; and wouldn't be in the West Chesapeake theater for 48 hours.
"I'm listening...Matt.."
MAGIC MAIL opened up on Lonestar's classified laptop, and it was a report from the fighting in the West Chesapeake Theater. II Corps had reached Walidton, South of Al-Philli. The Shepistani Army units pressed up along the coast were starting to surrender en masse to the advancing Tian Xia Expeditionary Force.
A short blurb from General Kraft's staff said that they had collided with and thrown back an attack from the Sixth Special Republican Guard Corps, but most of the armor had outrun their gas lines and would have to wait a few hours before resuming the advance.
A few hours that could mean life and death. Lonestar thought. He licked his lips. He wondered what would happen if VI SRC launched an attack in that timeframe...
"As I said, An army of no more than 100,000 soldiers; no more than one tank division, no strategic bombers, no more than a maximum of five cruisers (some sort of tonnage weight will have to be stipulated), no airborne divisions, no more than one airmobile division, air force limited to 5 Wings of interceptors (Wings based on 8 squadrons of twelve aircraft each). No super-sized Gendarmerie or any Freikorps, either..."
Shep roared and and slammed his fists on the table. "You would leave us prostrate before you! No! I will not allow it, especially since you are not, by any stretch of the imagination, close to victory!"
"...and complete transparency of your NBC programs..."
"Certainly! I am all for transparency! Lets start with videos of Project SNYDER making their way into the global media!" Shep sneered.
Lonestar paused. "We're going to need some kind of guarantees that this doesn't happen again, Shep."
"The rifle itself has no moral stature, since it has no will of its own. Naturally, it may be used by evil men for evil purposes, but there are more good men than evil, and while the latter cannot be persuaded to the path of righteousness by propaganda, they can certainly be corrected by good men with rifles."
With the launch of the first constellation of SHROOMSTRATS over the Old Continent - from Shroomania and PeZookia, to Canissia and Byzantium, reaching to the CSR and the USSR! We're proud to begin immediate broadcasting...
LIVE on ShroomStratTV The Sovereign Shroomanian Sentinel BORDER BRAWL BATTLES
The fighting continues in the Border States.
Following the USSR's annexation of the Border States, insurgent forces of the (presumably) late General Karic and of the former Zagor Empire have begun a violent campaign of guerrilla warfare against the Shadow forces. From raids in the provincial outskirts, to car bombing campaigns in the very cities - the rebel attacks are amassing a growing list of casualties.
The forces of the USSR have countered with their own counterinsurgency operations, but the Border State uprisings have proven to be more resilient than anticipated.
"It is not easy fighting," reported Colonel Shadowski of the USSR's Army. "With so many weapons everywhere, just about any man, woman or orphan can get their hands on them and make trouble. Sometimes, they even rig bombs on dogs and send them on our tanks. It is not yet mission accomplished.
"We will have to put down many dogs before it is done."
Car bombs explode with increasing regularity in population centers.
As the occupation forces of the USSR have upped the intensity of their counterinsurgency operations, there have been some allegations by independent observers - such as the Shroom Cross and the Pink Cross - that human rights violations are taking place.
In a stark reminder of scenes from the First and Second War of the Worlds, suspected insurgency collaborators are being detained indefinitely in internment camps.
In return, insurgent groups all over the Border States have fought back against the Shadow forces with increasing ferocity.
"We will not capitulate to these neocolonialists. The Shadows from Sarajevo, and their Crimson masters, will not take over our lands and our homes and our root crops." declared revolutionary leader Konrad Krotchrotski. "It will be a long struggle, it will be a bloody struggle. But we will fight on...
"Even if it takes one hundred thousand million years!"
Nationalist groups rally with fervor.
And are suppressed with speed.
[Sorry, Shady - but annexing Super Chechnya isn't going to be as easy as you want it to be. ]
"DO YOU WORSHIP HOMOSEXUALS?" - Curtis Saxton (source) shroom is a lovely boy and i wont hear a bad word against him - LUSY-CHAN! Shit! Man, I didn't think of that! It took Shroom to properly interpret the screams of dying people - PeZook Shroom, I read out the stuff you write about us. You are an endless supply of morale down here. :p - an OWS street medic Pink Sugar Heart Attack!
Headlines from the Eutopian Press -MiG – 31s
The Federated Air Force is on the market, searching for a supplier of MiG – 31 aircraft. Inquiries have been made to the USSR, Byzantine, and the CSR. Stock Footage of a MiG - 31
Official Communique from Byzantine Government
The Byzantine Government notes your interest in MIG-31BMs. We may have some resources to either request that the USSR divert some of the aircraft it produces to you, pending discussions on our national needs. We will return a reply as soon as possible.
STGOD: Byzantine Empire Your spirit, diseased as it is, refuses to allow you to give up, no matter what threats you face... and whatever wreckage you leave behind you.
Kreia
Anna Zaporoska's latest documentary - this time concerning the Crimson Star Republic - has been released in cinemas on the Old Continent. Roman Stachurski, The Digests's premiere movie critic, provides a no-nonsense review of the film.
Let me begin by stating that Anna Zaporoska has a knack for presenting a situation without injecting politics and ideology that is evident throughout her movies. She talks to both sides, investigates all claims and abhors manipulative editing.
While "Worker's Paradise" may seem very bland because of that, showing little drama, it presents a clear view of the current state of CSR society, and compares it very well to the Republic before the revolution.
She doesn't pull her punches, of course: covering the positives, as well as the negatives. Overall, though, the image of life in the CSR comes out very positively. It is a movie that makes one think, rather than attempting to instill moral outrage at one aspect or another.
Most of the piece is composed of interviews with people in the streets, as well as CSR officials, which are then cross-referenced by well-renowned historians. Claims made by anti-communist activists like the PeZookian MP Jozef Muszynski are later investigated and proven or disproven.
Overall, if is a very pleasant experience, where the people of the CSR are shown for what they are: hard working, honest people trying to make a living. You feel a sense of authentic patriotism reverberate throughout the movie, even from the disenfranchised and poor, which get a fair amount of attention.
The only downside I can see is that the documentary is very long: at almost 180 minutes, it is definitely not something for casual viewing. An edited, shorter version is rumored to be in the works, however.
============================================
Paul put down the newspaper and looked at his Foreign Minister.
"That is some slick marketing."
"Yes, sire. We have made sure to create a lot of buzz about life in the CSR. We've helped launch two social ad campaigns, one for the Pink Cross and one for the Better Business Bureau, which made Shroomanians discuss the CSR on the streets. Now we intend to make sure this documentary gets into cinemas everywhere in Shroomania."
"And how much is this going to cost us?"
"Small change, sire. A mere twenty million."
Paul nodded to himself, playing with his silver pen.
"When you run the next batch of opinion polls, make sure to show me the results."
"Of course, sire."
JULY 20TH 1969 - The day the entire world was looking up
It suddenly struck me that that tiny pea, pretty and blue, was the Earth. I put up my thumb and shut one eye, and my thumb blotted out the planet Earth. I didn't feel like a giant. I felt very, very small. - NEIL ARMSTRONG, MISSION COMMANDER, APOLLO 11
Signature dedicated to the greatest achievement of mankind.
MILDLY DERANGED PHYSICIST does not mind BREAKING the SOUND BARRIER, because it is INSURED. - Simon_Jester considering the problems of hypersonic flight for Team L.A.M.E.
"YAWN!" the Prime Minister, Shroom the 777th, yawned. "That was one boring movie. No gore, no guts, not even kung fu. What the hell? What was that about? I thought King Paul was giving me a DVD of some ball-busting action flick."
"Actually, it's part of the King's effort to help better ties between Shroomania and the Crimson Star Republic," Alison offered as she returned the DVD into its case. Next up, she placed a copy of Exploder into the Shroom-Definition DVD player. "You know... the PR campaign both you and the King talked about. Which you also told Stanislav in your Shroom-Stasograd Summit Sojourn thing."
"Oh yeah. I totally forgot about it," the Prime Minister of Shroomania said absently.
"What?" Alison nearly dropped the DVD remote.
"I mean, on part of the whole Shepistan-OD New Continental War thing, and our worries over the Japanistan. And the Shadows and whatever the hell they're doing in Super Chechnya. I mean, the Parliament's going crazy - someone had to act as referee!"
"Hrm, it's a good thing you didn't muss up your wig."
"Yeah, there's that." Shroom removed his wig and placed it on a wig stand. "Do these things get sent to the laundry or something?"
"Anyway," Alison flipped over the DVD's selections, enabling the Director's Ultraviolent Killfuck Edition. "It would be wise to follow this up with some moves of your own - to woo the Crimson Star Republic, if you will."
"Hrm..." the Prime Minister rubbed his rugged pseudo-bearded chin, which he had forgotten to shave for several days due to the whole world nearly coming to an end thing.
"You were pretty good at it with Sirnoth and Lady Anethga, if I recall correctly."
"Hey!" the uncalled-for statement broke Shroom out of his reprieve. "Like, that's totally uncalled for. It was diplomacy!"
"Mmhmmm..." Alison smiled and nodded.
"And..." Shroom sputtered. "I totally can't pull those moves on Stanislav. I mean..."
"Alright," Alison conceded. "Now hush! The movie's on!"
On the flatshroom telescreen, Jack Howitzer was mudering ten thousand Frequesueans with a combat knife. He was also half naked, with his chest glistening in all the megapixels of Shroom-Definition glory.
*click*
LIVE on ShroomStratTV The Sovereign Shroomanian Sentinel CAVIAR COOPERATION - VODKA VOIVODSHIP
A Shroomanian ad promoting Crimson Caviar.
In an effort to further warm up ties between Shroomania and the Crimson Star Republic, the Ministry of Shroomanian Homeland Affairs in Foreign Territories (SHAFT) and the Ministry of Affairs in Trade and Economics (MATE) have helped broker a deal with their Crimson counterparts to allow the MacMillan Megacorporation to globally distribute Crimson caviar and vodka - with a significant (majority) percentage of profits returning to the CSR's vodka breweries and caviar fisheries.
The Crimson Vodka will be marketed internationally under such brandnames such as Shroomnoff.
The move is an effort to break the monopoly of the world's alcohol markets, a monopoly held by Byzantium and the Vineyards - both renowned for their fine wine, liquor, and beer.
"Frosty relations between the CSR and 'Western' nations have led to many Westerners being deprived of the taste of fine Crimson alcohol," Michelangelo MacMillan said in a recent press statement.
Michelangelo MacMillan, CEO of the MacMillan Megacorporation and renowned connoisseur of fine liquor.
"We aim to correct that. By working together with my Crimson counterparts, we aim to share these fine products to the rest of the world, so that those of us in the West can appreciate the flavor of fine Crimson vodka - and caviar."
Crimson caviar.
Should the CSR's alcoholic beverages usurp Byzantine and Vinish dominance in the Western markets, analysts say that the CSR will net significant profits. The MacMillan Megacorporation would also earn not-insignificant amount of monies by playing the middleman and distributing Crimson vodka and caviar.
Previously, the MacMillan Megacorporation has also sold the CSR its Intellicrop-brand of agrarian products.
"DO YOU WORSHIP HOMOSEXUALS?" - Curtis Saxton (source) shroom is a lovely boy and i wont hear a bad word against him - LUSY-CHAN! Shit! Man, I didn't think of that! It took Shroom to properly interpret the screams of dying people - PeZook Shroom, I read out the stuff you write about us. You are an endless supply of morale down here. :p - an OWS street medic Pink Sugar Heart Attack!
It was murky inside the container, but if she stuck close to the battery light she could read comfortably. All she had was a couple of magazines, some trashy paperbacks written by a guy she'd never heard of, and a couple of her schoolbooks. For some reason he'd taken them with him, and now returned them to her.
"I never thought I'd be glad to see you," Kaisa said as she grabbed the schoolbooks and began to read. It felt oddly normal to be studying. Right now she missed her teachers, even the crotchety demanding types.
A shudder went through the container, and she yelped once. Then she pulled herself together again, and whispered, "It's just the crane." The unloading was less dramatic than she feared, she managed to squeeze into a corner, and wait. It wasn't long before the container was where it ought to be, wherever that was. Then there was nothing to do but wait, and study the interior of the container.
The toilet bucket made her glad she'd gone before they unloaded the container. Then there were the books, and a plastic chair, and the padded sides of the container. Not much of a world to be in really. In the end she turned off the light, and tried to sleep.
Elsewhere in Sweethaven
It was a nice restaurant, with deep private booths. The food and drink was also good, and Oliver Gill knew to appreciate it. Astarian food always seemed so much better than that awful "Fast Food" they served abroad.
"They call it a hamburger," he explained to the other man at the table, a go-between for a local customs officer.
The Go-Between smirked, "And people eat this?"
"It gets better," Gill said, "Guess who makes it? Go on."
"Just tell me."
"Low wage teenagers! Most of them are still in high-school, if they haven't dropped out."
"Foreigners, it's just ridiculous."
"It is, it sure is, but now... back to business."
"Usual price, usual terms."
"That's good."
They spoke for a little longer, before the Go-Between left. Gill stayed though to finish his meal; it'd been a long time since he'd had proper Astarian food. Not to mention being in a nice restaurant, one where menu didn't list the hourly rate for the waitresses.
*********
The container door clanged open, and Kaisa snapped awake. For a moment she hoped that it'd all been a nightmare, next that she was being rescued. Moments later she realised that neither was true, her so called master walked over to help her up.
"Time to leave my dear," he said, and placed an arm around her waist.
"Let me get my books please," she whispered.
"Call me master," he whispered back playfully, but there was a serious look in his eyes, "From now on, call me master."
Kaisa considered resisting, but she knew that wouldn't do her any good, "Let me get my books please..." For a moment she closed her eyes, "Master."
"Sure, got right ahead. I like the schoolgirl look in you."
There was a lump in her throat, as she picked up her schoolbooks and magazines. She felt ashamed at having given in, ashamed at all she'd been made to do, ashamed that she'd given in for so little. For a moment she thought about throwing them away, hurling them at him, but instead she hugged them to her breast.
When she was ready he took her outside, and guided her into a large Verbiest Model L with softly tinted windows. The door clicked shut, and the chauffeur locked the central lock. All she could do was lean back, and look out of the window, trying to get a feel of the place.
Since they couldn't see for more than a couple of hundred feet they drove slowly. On the way they passed through a large dockyard district, filled with gloomy workers, and little flickering streetlights that died out in the distant smog. Outside the dockyards were large, dilapidated six story apartment buildings with bars in front of the windows. That didn't make much sense before they passed a very tall brick wall, with a big iron gate and a guard post. Apparently they were trying to keep something in.
Like maybe the workers
That last thought didn't make Kaisa feel any better. Even outside the fence it was gloomy, though the buildings were in much better repair. Aside from a few details she could almost think she was back in Pezookia. It was dirty though, even the elaborate historical buildings were dirty.
They cut into what looked like a good neighbourhood, with mansions protected by tall walls. The car slowly pulled up to one of the mansions, past the electric gates, and into a fairly large courtyard.
"Welcome home," Gill said, giving her a big smile.
Bleak Castle
Hundreds of agents were busy at work in the BOSS Command Center, the air was filled with cigarette smoke and the busy chime of telephones. The amount of information was staggering, far too much for any man or small group to keep track of. Instead multiple groups were hard at work sifting through raw data, trying to find anything that could be useful.
From a glass enclosed gallery Colonel Siegried Blacklake looked down at the command center. Much to his chagrin they'd found nothing serious just yet. Still it was only a week into the investigation, and only a day since they'd gotten the evidence. For a while he stood there, ignoring the reflection in the glass, watching the chaos unfold below. Then slowly he turned to face the new officer saluting him, he returned the salute, and asked, "Captain Allan Whitcomb I presume?"
"Yes Sir!" Allan Whitcomb said.
"I am assigning you to the Pezookian team, you are uniquely equipped to help."
"Sir?"
"We don't want them to be injured in some way," Colonel Blacklake continued, "I'm also assigning Captain Catherine Parkhurst, think they'll suspect her of something?"
"If they are suspicious or perceptive they might Sir."
Colonel Blacklake's lip twitched, "Yes, just so, but nevertheless you are the best team I can find. I want you to bring them some good news, people always like those who bring good news."
"I wasn't aware we had much good news Sir."
"The cigars the Pezookians found, they are Victoria's, genuine article, from the Fuzzy Palm Hills district. With some luck we can trace which tobacconist sold them, if we are really lucky there could be records."
"Sir, if I may, what of the slavers known for doing the Border States Run."
"Yes, those, I think it is best if we refrain from mentioning them just yet," Colonel Blacklake smiled faintly, "For political reasons we don't want to admit to anymore... imports than we must."
LIVE on ShroomStratTV The Sovereign Shroomanian Sentinel MEGA MOVIE MARATHON
The recent 'glasnost' policy between Shroomania and the Crimson Star Republic has seen a cultural revolution on both fronts. The latest in a series of sociocultural and economic attempts to bridge the gap between both nations is the Fungal Film Festival, where Crimson cinematography is shown in cinemas all over Shroomania. Documentaries such as Worker's Paradise, a film made by PeZookian producers, are also being exhibited.
Worker's Paradise is a big hit amongst the Shroomanian university demographic and, surprisingly, the blue-collar working class as well.
The Prime Minister of Shroomania, Shroom the 777th, is an avid movie buff and has the following to say about the Crimson films he's been watching:
"Worker's Paradise was a superb film. It was very illuminating in its portrayal of life in the Crimson Star Republic - of how the Crimson people are diligent and hardworking, and that they are no different from us in living their lives. My favorite scene was that of the female factory workers... I mean, it's surprising how progressive the CSR was in terms of women's rights.
"I also took the opportunity to watch some Crimson-made films about the Second War of the World, the Great Patriotic War as they call it over there. Now, those films might be more suited to the more action-oriented demographic. The battle scenes were dramatic, seeing the Crimson Red Army battle the Shadows with their tanks and artillery as they rolled into Sarajevo! That's some great history.
"I also saw Stasograd Does Not Believe in Tears, several times in fact," the Prime Minister concluded. "I think I gained a better understanding of the Crimson soul."
In return, Shroomanian films have also been shown in theaters all over the Crimson Star Republic. Many of these movies are blockbusters by producers such as MacMillan MultiMedia, and many have proved popular amongst the Crimson populace. The biggest Shroomanian hit in the CSR is the action movie Crimson Calescent.
Crimson Calescent, a hardboiled cop movie about two detectives from the CSR and Shroomania busting a slaver kidnapping ring in the Border States.
[OOC: Calescent is a synonym for 'heat'.]
"DO YOU WORSHIP HOMOSEXUALS?" - Curtis Saxton (source) shroom is a lovely boy and i wont hear a bad word against him - LUSY-CHAN! Shit! Man, I didn't think of that! It took Shroom to properly interpret the screams of dying people - PeZook Shroom, I read out the stuff you write about us. You are an endless supply of morale down here. :p - an OWS street medic Pink Sugar Heart Attack!
PRAVDA: President Stanislav receives letter from Shroomanian child, answers...
Shroomanta Smith, named by her parents in honour of the Prime Minister Shroom, was one of many people who wrote letters to the CSR President. But she was the one to get an answer.
"Dear Mister Stanislav.
My name is Shroomanta Smith. I'm ten. I congratulate you on your 5th Presidency. I'm worried about a possible huge war between the CSR and Shroomania. Are you for such a war, or against it? If you are against such a war, what are you doing to prevent it? Of course, you can leave my letter without reply, but I want to know why you seem so belligerent and intent on capturing other nations, maybe even ours.
Shroomanta Smith."
The President wrote a reply.
"I received your letter, which is like many others that have reached me recently from your country and from other countries around the world.
You write that you are anxious about whether there will be a war between our two countries. And you ask are we doing anything so that war will not break out.
Your question is the most important of those that every thinking man can pose. I will reply to you seriously and honestly.
Yes, we in the CSR are trying to do everything so that there will not be war on Earth. This is what every Crimson man wants.
We want peace—there is something that we are occupied with: growing wheat, building and inventing, writing books and flying into space. We want peace for ourselves and for all peoples of the planet. For our children and for you.
I invite you, if your parents will let you, to come to our country, the best time being this summer. You will find out about our country, meet with your contemporaries, visit an international children's camp – 'Artek' – on the sea. And see for yourself: in the CSR, everyone is for peace and friendship among peoples.
Thank you for your letter. I wish you all the best in your young life.
Stanislav
Shroomanta received official invitations by the CSR leadership to come and see the Crimson Star Republic along with her family.
[P.S. It's my favourite heart-warming historical event I just wanted such informal events to happen in SDN World too ]
PRAVDA: CSR Diplomats from the People's Commisariat of International Affairs voice support for legitimate recognition of USSR's new borders
In the PCIA memorandum released, the restoration of USSR's territory is called "peaceful re-unification" of "forcibly severed territories" which were "ruled by corrupt and illegitimate governments, pushing the entire region to become a failed state". It hailed the reunification as "done with due process, with the people's will taken into account" and "dictatorial governments who made assaults on our peacekeepers deposed swiftly and without much bloodshed that could've occured if they were left in power".
"The USSR is not the Shadow Empire. Our long-time ally does not pursue goals of agression against other nations in the Old Continent."
CSR, Palace of the Soviets
Stanislav leaned back, watching his RUBIN TV.
- Shady's facing some problems in the Borders, but he mostly completed the plan. Now, Yuri, our main goal would be to secure the Slavic National Confederacy's borders. And our air-defense network will not be compromised any longer. We should discuss the locations of future airforce and PVO emplacements with Shady. Send a letter and invite him for a nice dinner in Stasograd. Say.. the Shalyapin Restaurant sounds good.
Last edited by K. A. Pital on 2008-09-20 10:43am, edited 1 time in total.
Lì ci sono chiese, macerie, moschee e questure, lì frontiere, prezzi inaccessibile e freddure
Lì paludi, minacce, cecchini coi fucili, documenti, file notturne e clandestini
Qui incontri, lotte, passi sincronizzati, colori, capannelli non autorizzati,
Uccelli migratori, reti, informazioni, piazze di Tutti i like pazze di passioni...
...La tranquillità è importante ma la libertà è tutto!
To Milo Shroombender, the Shepistan-Old Dominion War was the best thing that ever happened in his life. Looking around and seeing the devastation, disease and deprivation violence had wrought to these people, he knew it was even better than the time he killed his third wife.
That whore.
The air raids and firebombing campaigns had reduced Shepistan to rubble. Sirens wailed as MESS bombers unleashed hell from the heavens.
The Shepistan Home for Orphans and Widows, the very same one that had just been rebuilt after the War of the Cities, exploded.
At that sight, Milo giggled gleefully.
Yes.
He was going to be rich.
So very rich.
War profiteering. Profiting from war.
Profit. Money.
That was what he was here for. Dineros. He was selling medical supplies for outrageous fees. Yes. Outrageous fees. So very outrageous.
The stupid Shepistanis and the dumb Dominionites had spent so much of their monies building bombs and making missiles that they had almost utterly neglected their medical infrastructure - doubly so for the Shepistanis, who really didn't give a cat's ass about their own people. Cotton meant for sanitizing swabs in the hospitals was being turned into cotton buds so Shepistani soldiers could clean their ears in the battlefield.
Oh, the Shepistanis. They were in the process of fortifying their hospitals with AA guns when a Canissian cruise missile blew it up. The rationale behind that was that if the Canissians, and the MESS, expended more ammunition in blowing up AA-armed hospitals, then that would be one less missile (or bomb) blowing up actual Shepistani military infrastructure.
Goddamn Shepistanis.
Milo loved them.
Scalpels, surgical clamps, defibrillators, sutures, needles and syringes, blood and plasma harvested from the homeless - the Shepistanis needed all that, and more. And Milo provided. It wasn't just Milo, it was an outpouring of generosity and human compassion - with a price tag. From Mushroom Meds to Funga Pharma, everyone was getting in on the act and reaping the profits of war.
Mushroom Meds and Funga Pharma had considerable stocks of disused anabolic steroids, since the MOM had just announced 'roids as controlled substances. So, what the hell?
They needed someone to ship their goods, and so Milo obliged - and received a commission for the steroid sale shipments!
The Shepistanis were buying the (expired) steroids in bulk. To pump up their own troops. So that when the Old Dominionites crossed the border and came to occupy and to conquer and to drive their enemies before them and to listen to the lamentations of whores, they wouldn't be facing normal Shepistani soldiers. They would be facing abnormal Shepistani soldiers fueled by all sorts of unholy chemicals harvested from the urine of New Sumatrans collected by the Japanistanis and shipped to Shroomania for hormonal reprocessing!
Fueled by testicular hormones and existential 'roid rage, the Old Dominionites would need nerve gas or beaver tranquilizers to put down the Shepistani Special Republican Guardsmen dosed up on their prescription medications.
But wait, there's more! The Shepistani military planners, in all their fiendish deviousness, were taking the steroids for themselves too - along with copious amounts of amphetamines and medical marijuana.
When facing the utter demise and destruction of their country, Milo couldn't blame them for smoking (pot) like chimneys.
In their state of heightened sensory and mental awareness, the Shepistani generals had decreed that Milo Shroombender give them syringes. Then they, the brave defenders of glorious Shepistan, would infect the syringes with syphilis and distribute them to the whores in their bordellos.
The Old Dominionite occupiers would no doubt bed wenches (and whores) to slake their perverse sexual lusts upon their violent conquest and subjugation of the lands. They would not know that in a final act of spite, the Shepistanis had tainted the women with disease.
[Then the Old Dominion's soldiers would need vaccines for venereal diseases, or antibiotics to prevent their penises from spewing out copious amounts of pus, and Milo Shroombender would oblige!]
Of course, Shroombender gave them the syringes. Then the Shepistani soldiers themselves were the ones making sure that the needles ended up becoming (very) unclean. They were injecting crystal meth into their cocks.
A Tian Xia fighter bomber dropped a thermobaric explosive on the Home for Orphans and Widows, just to make sure there were no survivors.
Milo Shroombender's giggle became a cackle, a mad cackle.
He laughed.
He laughed.
"Heheheheheh."
....
"Hahahahaha."
....
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
....
"HO HO HO!"
YES!
"Merry Christmas!"
Now, he was going to sell mannequin legs to footless Shepistani soldiers - for ridiculous prices!
"DO YOU WORSHIP HOMOSEXUALS?" - Curtis Saxton (source) shroom is a lovely boy and i wont hear a bad word against him - LUSY-CHAN! Shit! Man, I didn't think of that! It took Shroom to properly interpret the screams of dying people - PeZook Shroom, I read out the stuff you write about us. You are an endless supply of morale down here. :p - an OWS street medic Pink Sugar Heart Attack!
In cooperation with the Shroomanian Homeland Affairs in Foreign Territories (SHAFT), Sovereign Setzer will be hosting the Sirnoth Unified Cooperation And Diplomatic International Conference to help further the cause of peace in the region. The Conference will be held in Nexus city, and there will be a celebratory Regatta on the Elysium River.
At the summit, we will discuss methods for rebuilding those regions damaged by the war, as well as current business opportunities available therein. Attendance will be permitted for all nations reserve a spot.
Above the DMZ, San Dorado – Costa de los Cinco Muertes border
"Some folks are born silver spoon in hand, Lord, don't they help themselves, oh. But when the taxman comes to the door, Lord, the house looks like a rummage sale, yes…"
Noisy rock 'n' roll flared from the cabin of the UH-1 Bad Penny helicopters. The helos were decked out in khaki-green livery, the stark white '3' of Citidef third battalion painted on their sides, lewd graffiti decorating their noses.
Cpl. Alex Ross watched the seemingly endless sun-beaten hills of the savannah pass by. The dry wind ruffled his hair. His FAMAS assault rifle straddled his lap. The helos were crossing the DMZ, the demilitarized zone separating the city-state of San Dorado from the Costa de las Cinco Muertes.
The Costa had been a pit of tyranny once, until San Dorado, Baerne and Tanstaafl mounted a three-pronged clean-up on the region in the late 80's. The warlords had been unceremoniously shot, bombed or otherwise removed from power, and allies had left a democratic administration in charge of the capital of Acapulco. That government was powerless outside the capital, real power rested with the provincial governors, but the region was stable and mostly harmless.
Citidef made sure it stayed that way, which was why its choppers and military men were allowed to cross the DMZ. It was part of the deal back made back in ’89: San Dorado kept the peace in the north, the same way Baerne kept the peace in the south. Acapulco might not like it, but Acapulco didn’t have much say in the matter.
"It aint me, it aint me, I aint no millionaires son, no. It aint me, it aint me; I aint no fortunate one, no…"
The choppers continued their course south over the tumbling moorlands. Dry winds and a salty soil made sure that nothing grew here but brushwood or the occasional rugged, weather-worn tree. The area was sparsely populated. Still, sporadically old trucks and cars plodded along half-paved roads, headed either north or south between the seemingly endless grassy hills.
These were badlands. No-one wanted to be here, and everyone who was, was only passing through on their way to greener pastures. Including the choppers. In the distance, the hills sloped lazily up to the outskirts of the Sierra Hermosillo.
“Corporal!” a hollering voice interrupted the meandering of Ross’ mind. Cowboy – Private Rohrer, Ross’ corrected himself – sat crouched in the doorway to the cockpit. With his Minimi and the ammunition belts he wore crosswise across his chest he looked like an extra straight off the set of some Shroomanian B-flick. Though Ross was fairly sure Rohrer himself thought he looked like the epitome of cool. “Hay corporal! Pilot says Camp Taylor in fifteen minutes!”
“Well then don’t stand there like a boor, Rohrer!” Ross yelled back. “Get fashionable! You know the colonel don’t like it when his troops look like shit!”
Rohrer grinned and tugged on his munitions belts. “I’m as fashionable as I’ll ever be, corporal!”
Creedence Crimini Revival faded away. In the back of the cabin, private Wheeler fidgeted with the tape recorder, and the first tones of Bruce Shroomsteen blared from the radio.
“Lights out tonight, trouble in the heartland. Got a head-on collision, smashin’ in my guts man. I’m caught in a crossfire that I don’t understand. But there’s one thing I know for sure girl…”
“Man, I love the army!” yelled Rohrer over the wind. Ross just grinned.
Twelve minutes later the helicopters soared over the perimeter of Camp Taylor and touched down at the landing field inside the base. The camp was the most forward Citidef base on the Costa, a big flattened square with walls of sandbags, ditches, razorwire, trenches and watchtowers along the edges. The base itself consisted of a rudimentary runway, landing fields for choppers, barracks, emplacements for AA and field howitzers, communications trailers and all the other gear you expect to find in a forward military base.
Even as the men of 2 Platoon began to dismount their Hueys the familiar yelling of Sgt. Hartman already rang out. As always, the sergeant had apparently found a way to be on the ground before everybody else. “Come on you slack-jawed yokels! You ain’t on Kittyhawk no more! Come on Wheeler, what do I look like, your mother? Gear out of those choppers, rifles at the ready! Move, move, move!”
“Let’s move guys”, Ross gestured. “No need to keep the colonel waiting.”
Slowly but surely the platoon lined up in a semi-presentable manner. The men were Citidef, not SDA, so a certain level of slack was to be expected (demanded even, as some would say). Still, when the battalion CO appeared on the impromptu parade ground, the backs of all the men stiffened visibly.
Lt. Colonel Nathan D. Rourke was a hard-bitten military man. He’d fought in damn near every San Doradan campaign of the last twenty years, and he had the scars to prove it. Despite the dust thrown up by the coming and going choppers his khaki uniform was unblemished. Ross had never seen so much as a speck of dust on the colonel’s uniform. He was pretty sure no-one ever had. Hell, first time he’d seen the colonel had been on the proving grounds near the Orizaco Bay during the monsoon. There had been mud everywhere, from the tires of the jeeps to the roofs of the tents – and not so much as a drop clung to the colonel. Ross was pretty sure it was some kind of superpower that allowed Rourke to do that.
Captain Lukassen stepped forward to salute the colonel, and the colonel saluted back.
“Captain, soldiers,” Colonel Rourke began. “As you will all know, we’re here to keep the peace for the next six months. Maybe you think that’ll be a piece of cake. Well, then you’re wrong. It may look peaceful now, but let me tell you: everything’s always on the verge of going to hell down here. We’ve got a local governor who doesn’t want us here, we’ve got criminal gangs running smuggling ops, there’s Tanstaafl freelance legionaries selling their services to the highest bidder, there’s pirates and communist insurgents holed up in Gortinez, there’s megacorp agents running around up to Lord-knows-what…” The colonel grinned, which did interesting things to the jagged scar running down his left cheek. “And that’s just the start of it. All things considered, you can be sure you won’t be bored the coming six months. But we’ve got Lady Fortune and superior firepower on our side, so welcome to the Costa, soldiers! Enjoy the quiet whilst it lasts! Dis-missed!”
The men scrambled to grab their gear and hurried off to the barracks, eager to grab themselves a good spot to bunk down. “Man- I mean, Corporal…” said Rohrer, who suddenly appeared beside Ross. “Do you think we get to shoot something? I hope we get to shoot something.”
“If you don’t hurry your ass over to the barracks I’ll make sure that you’re the first thing that gets shot ‘round here Rohrer”, replied Ross with a grin. “Get a move on!”
“Sounding more like the colonel ever passing minute, corporal!” replied Rohrer slyly before he disappeared through the door of the barracks assigned to his squad.
One way or the other, Ross figured, this would be an interesting six months.
Result: The men of Dog Company, 2 Platoon, Citidef Battalion 3 arrive at Camp Taylor in the north of the Costa de las Cinco Muertes.
Shady had been busy as hell with meetings, giving orders and god knows what else. A lot of things had to be organized and reorganized. With the Border States now integrated into the Union of Socialist Shadow Republics there was a lot of work to be done. The crackdown on the criminals had already begun and The Brotherhood of Nod was eliminating what remained of the opposition.
"We should have the area completely stabilized within a few weeks.", Kane said, "Hunting down all the criminals and other scum will take a bit longer, but we'll get it done."
"Good.", Shady said, "The sooner the better. Show no mercy to the criminals, hunt them down like dogs if you have to. We made a promise to the people that we will free them from those vile bastards and I intend to keep that promise."
"Sir our troops have already secured most of the Border regions.", General Anton Slavik said, "We have also began the integration of their own armies into our own. We expect the last of the major problems to be solved within a few weeks, others will of course take longer but they will be solved."
There was a knock on the door and Sofia entered the room.
"Sorry to interrupt Comrade Premier but you have a letter from Comrade Stanislav of the CSR.", she said and placed the letter on the table.
"Thank you Sofia.", Shady said and opened the letter, "An invitation to dinner, very well. Sofia have my plane prepared, I'm having dinner in Stasograd."
Sofia nodded and left the room.
"Gentlemen, I believe you know what is to be done.", Shady said.
The men nodded and left the room.
"A nice dinner is just what I need right now.", Shady thought and grabbed his jacket, "Sofia let's go."
Old Lady Babushkahobbled down the ruined streets of Cuntskogradskipol. All around her was a landscape of ruin. Buildings crumbling, roads cratered, the destruction and damaged wrecked by the Shadow strikes that preceded their occupation - when they came and killed Karic, and replaced him with a new Karic.
There was a saying:
Out with the old boss, in with the new boss, same as the old boss.
Old Lady Babuskha hobbled down the ruined streets. She was pulling a little cart, in which where all the possessions she had left when the Shadows made her homeless shelter explode with their artillery.
She did not resent the Shadows. Living in the Border States, Old Lady Babuskha had many homeless shelters blown up, and many times she ended up having nothing but the clothes on her back and the stuff in her little cart.
Actually, it started when she was little, when the Zagors blew up the orphanage she was in.
Years later, she had moved on with her life. She got married, and then her husband got killed by Sargonians.
After that, the home for the widows she was living in ended up getting blown up by a PeZookian airstrike.
It was not easy, but Old Lady Babuskha had somehow lived through it all.
She would also lived through this.
"Hey Grandma!" the Shadow soldier following her called out.
Old Lady Babushka did not reply, but instead continued walking on.
"That's a nice red dress you are wearing!" the Shadow soldier shouted once more. "Hey! Aren't you listening to me!"
Old Lady Babushka tried to move faster, but she tripped and fell. Her little cart also fell, spilling its sparse contents on the ruined pavement.
"Stupid bitch! That's what you get!" the Shadow soldier laughed as he walked over and grabbed the old woman. "Let me help you get up, you stupid grandma!"
Old Lady Babushka tried to protest, tried to pull away.
"Old bitch!" the Shadow soldier laughed as he pulled the old woman up. "Come on!"
"Nyet! Get away from me!" Old Lady Babushka cried between her coughing. She picked up a rock and, in desperation, threw it at the Shadow's face.
"You whore!" the Shadow soldier screamed. He pulled out his bayonet and, in rage, he cut the old woman across the chest.
Old Lady Babushka screamed as she staggered and fell. The blade cut through the cloth of her dress and her flesh as well.
"That's it, you whore!" the Shadow soldier looked at his bloodied knife and laughed. "I'll make your breasts bleed for that! Yes I will, you whore. You whore! YOU WHORE! WHORE! WHORE!"
"DO YOU WORSHIP HOMOSEXUALS?" - Curtis Saxton (source) shroom is a lovely boy and i wont hear a bad word against him - LUSY-CHAN! Shit! Man, I didn't think of that! It took Shroom to properly interpret the screams of dying people - PeZook Shroom, I read out the stuff you write about us. You are an endless supply of morale down here. :p - an OWS street medic Pink Sugar Heart Attack!
Ted looked at his computer, the VEIL had recently gone digital, and Ted was reaping the benefits. The VEIL, it was a collaboration between two sides destined to be compeitiors, the Vineyards were started by Shroomainia in order to stop Byzantium Expansion toward the Duchy of Baerne, add to that the fact that neither side ever really agreed with each other, monarchy, loose confederation, allowing the locals to keep their religions, the Inquisition, it made no sense for them to cooperate.
Save for the existence of former Justice Ted Livens. Ted had spent his younger years practicing law in everywhere from Byzantine to the Vineyards, he had seen most of the world in terms of defendants. He had also, during his travels, he had been recruited as an agent of RISC, at the time he had accepted because they were willing to fund his travels, so long as he sent regular reports, he was fine. After years of practicing law abroad, he had returned home a hero. They had made Tim Chief Justice, and given him lavish praise, until after the Republican Revolution in the Vineyards, in which they decided to vote him Federated President, and the good times rolled in. He had cut spending by joint-paying for many projects, hell, operation Swarm would have cost twice, at least, if the Federated Republic did it by itself.
“Mr. President, you know the FTO conference in Cascadia you authorized the Vineyards to speak on our behalf for?” a page asked.
“Yes, what about it?” asked Livens.
”Well, the Vinish would like us to return the favour, and got to this FUN conference with some of their people. We would take a diplomatic team, plus a VEIL agent of their choice.”
”Alright, since Brandon did that for me, I’ll escort their field agent, along with the A Team.”
“The, A Team sir?”
”Yes, the A Team, find them for me, ok?”
“Yes, sir.”
The A Team was the premier Federated Republican Diplomatic team. They were considered so despite constantly breaking rules in order to complete their mission. Much of the Office of Diplomatic Affairs’ financial troubles came from an issue with the A team.
A Dusty Road, the CFR
Allan O’Higgins lead the team closer to the highway that cut across this portion of the CFR. Amongst O’Higgins team were two orphans who lost their parents in the rocketry that killed Mortimer, and a heavyset man who claimed to have killed thirty seven civilians during an Indahopali raid into Yorkshire territory. O’Higgins looked out of the overgrown area his team was hiding in, and he saw their target, a large suv, excellent for travelling this terrain, O’Higgins threw up his hand, indicating that the group should stop. He covered his gun hand with a bag, and walked out toward the street, holding a sign that said “HELP” with his off hand. As the car slowed, he dropped the sign, and threw off the bag, aiming his pistol at the driver. Out of the overgrowth was his team, the orphans with a rifle and a sub machine gun, and the heavyset killer with a Browning Automatic Rifle. “Get out of the CAR!” shouted the heavyset man.
O’Higgins gave him a stern look, and pulled the driver out of the car.
“Boss, we have a passenger,” he heard one of the orphans call out.
“So,” O’Higgins yelled, “Shoot ‘em, it isn’t like we want to sell them to Astaria.”
“But Boss,” the bastard was shouting in tone O’Higgins recognized.
“Throw her in the front with me,” O’Higgins was too good to his people.
“Right away.”
And with that the group was off, the SUV wasn’t very difficult to drive, though the thing wouldn’t last them to their goal in Revolutionary Front Territory and the now had a hostage, O’Higgins had problems. Though his problems were only going to get bigger. The radio, an annoyance to begin with, had been set to some shitty station and was blasting. As he reached to turn it off, he heard a brief flash of static. This would be completely ignored if not for the fact that the station being used had just said they had the least amount of static on any station. The station flashed static again, and a third time. On the fourth time, it had something to say, “Buenos Días Banditos, This is Wallace Breen, we know where you are. Give yourselves up to the proper authorities.” With this message, one of the orphans shouted, “There is no way in hell I am getting arrested,” and jumped out of the car. The heavyset man pulled the orphan’s discarded rifle, and fired three shots at him, only one hit him, but it appeared to have had the desired effect, the man was down and most likely bleeding to death. O’Higgins made a mental note to never piss off that guy.
“Now, that man’s abandonment of your mission is sad, but not imperative,” the radio was saying, “Oh, shit, don’t shoot him, oh, Christ, no, damn. Well, anyway, we noticed that you killed the owner of that vehicle. I would personally say that it is forfeit now, but, we are still running that by our rules of engagement.”
The people in the vehicle tensed, not least of all the kidnapped woman. She was screaming hysterically, and it was annoying, “Look, if you don’t calm down, I’m going to drive into something that won’t like to be driven into, which makes your chances of escaping a lot less likely.”
The woman had began to calm down when the radio voice came back with a burst of static, “Sorry, about that, preparations,” this tipped O’Higgins off, something was up, he began scanning the ground and sky, looking for the telltale sign of their doom, “Ah, but we learned that we can, in fact damage the property of the deceased and not violate our rules of engagement.” With that statement, O’Higgins spun the vehicle erratically, not knowing where the attack would come from. He peered out the window, hearing, “You cannot run, you cannot hide, and most of all you cannot win.”
O’Higgins finally spotted it, flying over the horizon, some plane, probably a warplane. Fuck, we have to get off the road now, O’Higgins thought. He spun the car toward the tree line, hoping to escape notice. As the plane closed in the SUV flew off the road, hitting the ground with a none too impressive sound. O’Higgins Mind raced, fuck, start, quick, quick. As he rushed he heard the radio state, “Buenos Noches, Banditos.”
“Fuck this,” O’Higgins mumbled, and opened his door, still keeping the SUV barrelling through the underbrush. Unconsciously, he pulled the woman out with him as he bailed. Not a moment too soon, munitions from the plane had finally hit, along with the car hitting a tree. The resulting explosion shook the underbrush around O’Higgins, but he survived seemingly intact. That was, until he tried to move, pain shot through his spine, and he couldn’t get up. “Hey, woman, you alive?” he yelled, trying to gage how far he could go with the pain.
“Yes,” the scream, both weak and filled with hysteria came back. This scream changed his plans entirely, he just couldn’t abandon this woman, she had to know someone, it would be stupid to leave her for dead, especially now that they didn’t have a car. In the distance he saw a pair of headlights fly down the road. They would never see them, or would they, the smoke from the bombed out car would be a red flag to anyone with any curiosity. Sure enough, the car slowed, and stopped near the wreckage, at least as close as one could without going off the road. Three men piled out of the car, and began walking to the wreck. “Hello! Is anyone alive?” shouted the lead man, who was apparently in robes of some kind.
“OVER Here,” shouted O’Higgins as best he could, the woman had taken up screaming incoherently to tip off the three men. They hurried down the hill, looking for the two voices, chattering between themselves in another language (von Shroomainian).
“Father Dimmsdale will help you,” said one of the non-robed men calmly after finding the two broken people. O’Higgins though absently, Out of the fire and into the monastery, fuck, upon hearing the man’s title of Father.
Results:
Random Bandit and Kidnapped Woman Join Dimmsdale (By Force).
Eutopia Sends a Delegation, Including Ted Livens, to Sirnoth for the FUN conference.
The Vineyards are acting on both Vinish and Eutopian interests in the FTO Neutrality Conference.
This is an empty country and I am it's king, and I should not be allowed to touch anything.
]
"
- PeZook
I just wanted such informal events to happen in SDN World too 
]
