Luna 2015 [IESP Spring RP]

[The Nation of Ceneria]

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WELCOME TO LUNA!

"As the founder of the International Exchange Student Program, I am proud to see this moment. When I was a student like you, I spent several years as an exchange student in other countries. This was a life-changing experience for me, and broadened my horizons far beyond what they would have been otherwise. I was heartbroken when I saw the program that I had used to travel the world fall apart, destroying my dreams that many students might have the chance to do what I did, and to see the world from the viewpoints of many different cultures. When I graduated from graduate school, I decided that I was going to do something about that problem. So I learned, and eventually managed to raise enough money to send a group of fifteen Cenerian students to school in another country. This was a great achievement, and gave me great hope. Over the years, the program has expanded, and we have now been able to bring all of you from around to world to this one spot, this one school, in Luna, Verona. And I must say, i am very impressed at your efforts and commitment to your education. I never, ever expected to actually make it here. But this just shows what hard work, and a bunch of amazing friends, donors, and colleagues can do to make the world a better place.

So, without any further ado, I would like to not only welcome you to the United Regions of Verona, but declare the 2015 school year officially started! Welcome to Luna!"

Speech given by IESP President George Hawnings at the start of the school year.

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ABOUT THE ROLE-PLAY:

First of all, Welcome to Luna! This role-play is made for members of the International Exchange Student Program. If you are a member of the IESP, welcome! Make yourself at home, and post an app/character overview in the OOC/Discussion thread to begin! If you are not a member and are interested in this RP, we invite you to join us! As soon as you are accepted, just post an app and begin the roleplaying fun! Regardless, welcome to the United Regions of Verona, and to the IESP Spring 2015 RP!

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LINKS

Main Thread/Program Signups
Roleplay Discussion/OOC 2 (RP Signups)

[United Regions of Verona]

LUNA

The information on Luna

LUNA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

The clock hit 08:00, when a lot of the morning flights arrived in Luna. Students would be crossing the oceans at high speed now, heading towards Luna, a glittering city of 21 million situated on the eastern coast of Verona, in the Unova Region. Within an hour or two students would be transported by a non-stop high-speed underground commuter train to the city centre, where then they would board buses bound for the school. Sierra South Tower would house the students, as it and the Sierra East and West Towers would house students in the University of Luna in modern dorms. Sierra North housed apartments, and a Evergreen Express store, ideal for the quick shopping of goods for students.

A few students were probably coming in from Nuevo Meshiko, where it stopped communicating with IESP on student's progress, and they were immediately snuck out of the country. Now Verona had been chosen to host, and Luna was put forward. It was a Sunday, and the next day school would start again. As a official noticed, the first plane carrying a student on board amongst it's passengers touched down...

Sierra South Tower

[Pey]

Peyian Airlines flight 2852

"Attention all passengers. We will soon be landing in Luna. At this time, please stow your trays, turn off all electronics, fasten your seatbelts, and restore your seats to the upright position. Thank you." After hearing the announcement, Derrick buckled his seatbelt then glanced out the window. Once again he was studying overseas, this time in Luna. He had heard much about the city from his friends, who all said it was a clean and modern city. "At least this time I won't be alone." He thought, looking at Cory as he organized his bag. "Hey, pretty weird we can't bring our electronics huh?" He asked. Cory looked up "definitely." They sat in silence for a while, then the plane touched down. "Wow." Derrick muttered. "Big airport." When the plane finally stopped, the two boys grabbed their stuff and were let off the plane. After getting their luggage, they both sat down on a bench and waited for someone.

[The GAmeTopians]

Ariana unbuckled her seatbelt as the plane taxied into the terminal, and hurried to prepare to disembark. She stashed her military satellite smartphone in a secret, scanner proof compartment in her purse. She grabbed her carry-on bag, and headed off the plane. She grabbed her suitcase from the carousel, and headed to customs. She removed a military intelligence passport (MIP) from her purse along with a military ID and handed them to the customs clerk.

OOC: Verona, this is your key to act if you want to do something special.

[Fratanica]

Luna International Airport, Verona

"We are now landing at Luna Airport. Please fasten your seatbelts and stow all electronics for landing."

Soren Gallegos was a 16-year old girl with glasses. She saw the plane go down in circles in order to land. She quickly put the book she was reading into her backpack, and waited for the plane to land. It landed soon after, and she was about to exit from the flight. It was quite tiring, and although she was tired, she could not sleep. She was reading the whole time. She had packed all of the essentials, clothes, her phone's memory card, a camera, and a valid passport.

Soren Gallegos landed at Luna International Airport on Air Fratanica Flight 164. She had to fill out a customs form. After a few hours of flying, they land at the airport. It was a vast area of space, with many travelers coming and going. She went to the counter and handed them her passport and visa for her stay. Then, she went through the checkpoint to find the other exchange students. She was excited to be there, and was curious about the experience she would have.

[United Regions of Verona]

PEY

A female official approached them and quickly guided them through the airport. She brought them through a stairway leading down, and they reached the underground train station. "Wait on Platform 8," was the only thing she said to them, and scurried off. An official waited on the platform,a dn showed them to a bench on the platform as they waited.

GAMETOPIA

The guard looked up at her for a moment. "I heard about you. Head to Platform 8 in the underground train station," he said, "Take the staff entrance over there.. He pointed to a staff door with a Takiyami and English sign saying "STAFF ENTRANCE - DO NOT ADVANCE PASS THIS POINT".

FRATANICA

"Honey, you don't need a visa. Verona has listed your nation in the Free Travel Act of 2015" said a young customs officer from behind the booth. He quickly pressed a button and the tinted glass door swung open, allowing Soren to advance past customs.

OOC: Students can bring their electronics, but they are getting new ones anyway from the school. The phones will not work however, as Verona uses a unique circular SIM card

[Fratanica]

"Ah, yes, sorry for the inconvenience. My parents thought that we needed a visa, but I guess not. The government gave us one anyway."

The customs officer stamped her passport and she put it back into a pocket of the backpack. She proceeded to exit out of the door. She found her baggage and took it off of the conveyor belt. She had to find the other exchange students. She was to greet her fellow schoolmates, and introduce them to her culture. She was not sure of what to expect, but she hoped it was going to be good.

[Ontorisa]

Kuuguar Airwaysile Flight KA 5022, Luna International Airport, United Regions of Verona
7:49 AM (Local Time)
September 19th 2014(???)

Ravilas "Ravi" Sresia woke up just as the relatively attractive flight attendant strolled past his seat, reminding people to have their seats upright and their trays in the upright position. Kuuguar Airwaysile or Cougar Airways was the #2 airline brand in Ontorisa, with Phoenixi Lennufirmad being the #1 airlines in Ontorisa. Regardless, Sresia just hated flying, he hated the jet lag and most importantly, he hated not being on the ice and practising for his tryouts during the summer for the ROJJL hockey teams. The plane he was on was a huge Boeing 747 and he could only recall getting on the plane, eating their dinner and snacks that had been provided and sleeping for the rest of the way.

The plane was relatively empty, no one really travelled to Verona that much but Kuuguar still travelled there, probably at a major loss no less. As the pilot chimed in over the PA system that they would be landing shortly, Sresia looked outside at the city of Luna below, the second-largest city in Verona. Quite frankly, Calvisburg, the piece of shit city it was, appeared bigger than Luna, a ridiculously unnecessarily complicated city. Regardless, Sresia would have to get used to this, since he was stuck here for a while.

As Sresia's thoughts, more or less mental insults to the cities of Luna and Calvisburg, ran wild, he quickly felt the jolt of the plane's wheels touching the tarmac as the Boeing landed with grace. Gripping his armrest, Sresia had a moment of panic before he realized that he was safe back on the earth. It wasn't Ontorisan earth but at least he didn't have to worry about falling to his death while he slept.

---

The plane began to dock as Sresia dragged along his carry-on suitcase, which was one of those grey suitcases with a long handle and four wheels on the bottom. As well, he carried alongside him a backpack with his Mac inside along with a couple of sports magazines, photocopies of the contracts offered to him, his passport and boarding passes and his iPhone 5S' headphones and charger. Stepping out of the plane, one of the stewardesses wished him a happy stay.

"Whatever." Were the only words Sresia could manage as he stepped off the plane and into the bridge that led into the airport.

The blast of the Veronan temperature hit him flat in the face as Sresia was more used to the temperate temperatures of Nowans. Dragging his suitcase along, he made his way to immigration and then to the baggage claim where his hockey bag and larger suitcase with his clothes awaited him. Hopefully the school had a rink or a frozen pond at least so he could practice his stick-handling and shooting. Once at the immigration desk, he quickly stood in line with his dark blue Ontorisan passport in hand. Ahead of him was a giant, monstrous 6"4 man that Sresia assumed came from the north of north Ontorisa. Speculating to himself, Sresia stood there patiently in a grey Roots sweater over top his blue Nike t-shirt that said Just Do It on it in bold white letters, dark red flip-flops and green shorts that fell down to just above his knees. Yeah, he looked like he played hockey alright.

[Anollasia]

The city of Luna became visible as the airplane commenced descent. Deniz Alanson was having an emotional storm of excitement, anxiety, fear, happiness, and homesickness, as she thought of her new life in Verona. Will it be fun? Are the people friendly? Will I make friends? Will I have trouble getting accustomed? She thought.

Before she knew it, the airplane was already landing at Luna International Airport. THUD! the airplane went as it landed on the tarmac of the runway. The pilot gained control and the airplane slowed down. Deniz started grabbing the backpack under the seat in front of her and waited for the seatbelt sign to turn off. BING! went the seatbelt sign as it turned off and Deniz rushed to get her carryon luggage from the compartment above.

''Goodbye.'' She said to the waitress standing at the door of the airplane. Deniz followed the large herd of people as they were headed to passport control. There was a line and therefore she had to wait. Eventually, she was at the front of the line and so she started towards the officer. Deniz handed them her passport.

''Hello.'' She said.

[Sumaltheria]

"Excuse me, the pilot asked you to put your trays up and put any electronics away," the flight attendant smiled fakely at Talia, who nodded shyly, closing the laptop in the middle kf her game. They had said not to bring laptops as they would be provided, but with the features and data she had om this one, Talia could not cope with replacing it.

Oscar smiled from the seat across from her, readying his bag for the depature. "Look who is breaking the rules, the little rebel," he laughed, "First bringing the laptop, then ignoring the pilot. Any other crimes planned?" Talia glanced over at him, slipping the laptop in her fluffy red backpack. "Sorry," she replied honestly, taking out a pair of earphones, "Couldn't hear you over the music."

He looked at her in disbelief as the plane landed. They got up to go, Oscar walking off carrying just his backpack. Talia couldn't understand how he could fit all his things there. She didn't even know that half of it was filled with art supplies, the only clothes a pair of jeans, shirt and hoodie, not counting the pants and socks, and the things he was wearing.

Talia followed, heaving her heavy suitcase behind her. She had tried to pack light, but she had to take that dress. And those shoes. And perhaps a few of those... They arrived at the passport control, quite busy at that time of day. Both waited patiently, lost in music of their own. As they handed over their passports, Talia asked, "We're the exchange students, from Sumaltheria. Do you know where we're meeting?"

[Ontorisa]

Luna International Airport, United Regions of Verona
7:52 AM (Local Time)
September 19th 2014

The giant had moved on to one of the open booths that said Foreign Passports over top of it. Sresia checked his passport, looked at his mugshot-like photo and grinned to himself. He didn't know whether if he needed a visa to enter Verona, the school's exchange person said he didn't but he was doubting her completely. Right now, he was banking on the hopes that he would be accepted since he was an exchange student and that Ontorisa was a relatively good and well behaving country. Relatively.

As another booth opened up, Sresia huffed and willed himself to walk forward to the booth. Nodding to the man at the desk and greeting him in poor English (Sresia had been out of practice for a couple of months), Sresia handed him his passport.

[Flardania]

Air Pacifica flight JV492

Air Pacifica landed at Luna International Airport and taxied. Ding “Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Luna International Airport.

For your safety and comfort, please remain seated with your seat belt fastened until the Captain turns off the Fasten Seat Belt sign. This will indicate that we have parked at the gate and that it is safe for you to move about.

Please check around your seat for any personal belongings you may have brought on board with you and please use caution when opening the overhead bins, as heavy articles may have shifted around during the flight.

If you require deplaning assistance, please remain in your seat until all other passengers have deplaned. One of our crew members will then be pleased to assist you.

We remind you to please wait until you are inside the terminal to use any electronic devices (or to smoke in the designated areas.)

On behalf of Air Pacifica and the entire crew, I’d like to thank you for joining us on this trip and we are looking forward to seeing you on board again in the near future.

Have a nice day!”

---

“Go resseki no minasama, Runa kokusai kūkō e yōkoso."

Anata no anzen-sei to kaiteki-sa no tame ni, kyaputen ga shimetsukemasu shītoberutosain o ofu suru made shime anata no shītoberuto ni suwatta mama shite kudasai. Kore wa, gēto ni chūsha shi, anata ga ugokimawaru suru koto ga anzendearu koto o shite iru koto o shimeshimasu.

Anata ga anata to issho ni bōdo ni natte iru kanōsei no aru shibutsu no tame no anata no seki no mawari o kakuninshitekudasai to no jū no kiji wa, hikō-chū no mawari ni shifuto shita kanōsei ga ōbāheddobin o, hiraku toki ni wa chūi shite shiyō shite kudasai.

Anata ga enjo o kōki ga hitsuyōna baai wa, hoka no subete no jōkyaku ga deplaned suru made, anata no seki ni nokotte kudasai. Watashitachi no norikumiin no hitotsu wa, anata o shien suru tame ni yorokonde itadakeru kotodeshou.

Watashitachiha, anata ga nin'i no denshi debaisu o shiyō suru ka, shitei sa reta basho de no kitsuen, tanmatsu-nai ni aru made omachikudasai suru koto o omoidasaseru.

Eapashifika to zentai no norikumiin o daihyō shite, watashi wa kono tabi de watashitachi ni sanka shi, wareware wa chikai shōrai ni futatabi bōdo de anata o omachi shite ori tame ni anata ni kansha shitai to omoimasu.

Sutekina tsuitachi o!"

---

After the plane finished taxing, Serge unbuckled his seatbelt then glanced out the window. For the first time since joining the program Flardania has sent students abroad. His family couldn't afford it but thanks to the Dr. Pierre M. Joseph grant (Minister of Foreign Affairs, use to be orphaned: Started funds for unfortunate kids willing to travel and learn.) He had read much about the city from his friends,and knew it was a clean and modern city. It has been a great experience so far. He was flown from Hong Kong to Megalo Mesembria to meet the Dirigeant (President) and the other exchange student before boarding Air Pacifica towards Luna. He looked towards Sayo who was sleeping softly and blushed since he just saw her face clearly for the first time. He went over and woke her up. "Hey we're here."

Sayo was sleeping thinking about how much she missed her parents. She always wanted to travel but her parents were always to busy with work to leave the country. Her dream started to turn for the worse as she was on a street with a car about to hit a little girl. Sayo tries to save the girl but her legs give out and she trips. Before anything else can happen she is waken up by Serge. "Ah thanks"

The two of them then walked together and arrived at customs where the two handed their passports "Um excuse me, we are with the exchange program. Uh were are we supposed to go?" Serge asked an airport official to the shock of Sayo. Sayo heard that boys/men hated to ask for help.

[Kwadai]

Tripoli International Airport Station: 18:05
The pleasant January sun was melting into the horizon as Rania al Sharif stood on the paved platform six at Tripoli International Airport Station waiting for the train from Yafran to arrive where she would meet with Maxim and his friend Nikolas as the trio were soon to embark on their journey to Verona. Rania and Maxim previously had been exchange students in Nuevo Meshiko, but this time they were being joined by Nikolas. As was expected in KwaDai, the train arrived exactly on time at 18:10 which would give them the needed time to check in, go through the duty free and board the plane. Maxim quickly stepped off the train and waved noticing Rania, he ran up to her and hugged her "So how have things been Rania?", Maxim asked her. "Great, thanks I've been so excited to see Verona after having heard so much about it from Axina, Yokana and Kohei in Meshiko". "Oh, I know same here", Maxim laughed before being interrupted by Nikolas who was still 10 metres down the platform struggling with Maxim's things as well as his own. "Hate to break it to you guys, but no.1 we still have hours to go before we even land in Verona and no.2, Maxim, I can't take all this", he said acknowledging the bags on the ground "myself", he finished. "Don't worry Nik, I'm coming!", Maxim apologetically laughed running over to help his friend.

Once safely inside terminal four and leaving the security check to explore the famous duty free section. Smiling Rania turned to face the two boys. " Enjoy guys, you'll see here why it was better for you to come here to fly to Verona, rather than me come to Yafran". Upon entering the duty free area Nikolas and Maxim's face went blank before they grinned..."Wow Rania, you're right, it was worth our time alright", Nikolas exclaimed staring at the wide array of shops to all sides forming a wide circular foyer, at the middle there was some restaurants catering to different cuisines from Japanese to Spanish.
There was everything in the duty free section from high range perfumes and accessories to delicious chocolates and gifts.

As time moved on the three proceeded to the boarding gate of D17 where the massive Imperial Arab Airways A380 could be seen outside the window. After a short wait the students were comfortably positioned halfway down the plane in their seats. At exactly 19:40 the plane took off from Tripoli leaving the desert behind. Imperial Arab Airways was luxurious, a KwaDaian airline serving over a hundred destinations world wide, the airline had a reputation to always live up to. Two hours into the flight a light meal was served. Rania and Maxim chose Shish Taouk and Nikolas chose Kufta. After eating sleep wasn't exactly easy to come by considering the amount of entertainment provided on board. All seats had screens where one had the option to watch films, play games, listen to music watch TV from around the world as well as much more. On top of that the friendly and helpful flight attendants strolled through the plane frequently to offer a wide a selection of drinks free of any extra charges on board as the cost was covered for in the ticket price.

Luna International Airport:
Early the next morning after a long nine and a half hour flight the announcement was made in Arabic and English as well as in a Veronan language that passengers could remove seatbelts and disembark. An exited Nikolas, Maxim and Rania left the plane saying thank you to the flight attendants on their way and strolling out into the terminal eagerly antipating the day ahead. As was obvious from the appearance of the three students, appearance was considered very important in KwaDai. Maxim and Nikolas both wore a grey jumper and slim fitting chinos, however Maxim's were blue, whereas Nikolas's were dark green. Rania wore a dark blue jumper and a pale grey skirt. Also physically they were very attractive all having perfect facial features and smooth lightly tanned skin. As they approached the passport checking desk the three were ready with passports unlike some of the other people waiting in line. "Welcome to Verona guys", Maxim smiled kissing Nikolas on the cheek and putting his arm over Rania's shoulder until the queue moved forward.

[The GAmeTopians]

Ariana thanked the guard and headed over to the door. She went through the staff door, and made her way to Platform 8.
"Hello?" She called quietly.

[Legatia]

Apollo Airways Flight 419
Luna International Airport, 8:24 A.M. Local Time

The wheels of the Boeing 787 skidded on the tarmac of Luna International, ferrying three important figures- Caia Vitera Aecatia, her father Paulus Viterus Aecatius, and a lone Titus Flavius Pompeius.

"Attention passengers, this is your captain speaking." The pilot said in English. "We have landed at Luna International Airport. The local time is 8:25 in the morning, please remain seated and be ready to depart promptly."

The younger Caia, wearing a simple white shirt and tie and pleated black skirt, clung to her father, who was clad in an Imperial Army digital camouflage uniform, displaying his name, the rank of Tesserarius, a few multicolored stripes representing awards, and a patch on his left sleeve with a grey wolf on a dark blue background with the Roman numerals "XIV" and the letters "FLAVIA FIRMA" emblazoned to the top and bottom of the logo, respectively- indicating he was a member of Legio XIV Flavia Firma. The uniform itself just demanded respect.

"Father, I'm-"

"I know you're nervous. We're not going to deploy anytime soon, and even if we do, we'll still have Skype, right?"

The sentiment gave Caia a sliver of relief, and she made it known, sighing, and tightening the hold on her father's arm.

The plane slowed until a latching sound was heard, and the passengers of Flight 419 got up, retrieving their belongings from overhead compartments. As did Caia and Titus, going through customs and security, eventually arriving at the terminal.

"Gods be damned, why can't I get a reception here?"

"The information packet said that traditional phones won't work here. That's why I couldn't bring mine."

"This is why I hate fore-"

Unexpectedly, Caia's hand slaps over her father's mouth. "Shh!" Paulus obeys, and Caia retracts her hand, as the well-dressed Titus comes to stand among them, donning a similar outfit, yet with a skirt being replaced with black dress pants.

"Salvete?" He asks to the two, instantly knowing they were Legatians, mainly because of their physical appearance and the Legatian flag on Paulus' sleeve.

"Salve, amicus." Paulus turns, smiling down at Titus, and Caia leans in front of her father, giving a brief wave, albeit a nervous one.

"Pardon, I take it you're an exchange student, right?" Titus asked Caia, who stepped to her father's side, nodding.

"Aye. This is my eldest daughter, Caia." Paulus nodded. "S-salve." She said, quietly.

"A pleasure to meet you, miss Caia. I am Titus. I look forward to studying with you." This sent a small blush to the girl's face, retracting behind her father as if he were a city wall.

"Please do excuse her. She is quite skittish." He chuckles, as she peeks out from behind him.

"Now, dear, I'll only be able to take you to the platform. I'm not going to push my luck, because I intend to visit you at the very least twice a year. If you don't call me, I'll have Electa-6 come and extract you, do you hear me?" He jokes, referencing one of Legatia's tier 1 special operations groups. She nods, submitting.

"Titus, you look like a decent man." Titus nodded and smiled, proud that this man who had just met him about 5 minutes ago was already complimenting him. "Make sure Caia stays in line and keeps up with her studi-"

"Dad! I have an A average, I d-don't need a guardian." Caia interjected decisively, protesting, causing her father to chuckle, leaning in to the boy and whispering for him to ensure she stays all right.

He nodded in compliance, following pre-given directions to head to the designated train platform, where the father turned to part ways. "Fortis, Caia." She nodded at the simple statement, as her father hugged her tight and departed, leaving Caia already like a nervous wreck.

"Hey, hey, Caia. It's all right. If you ever need anything, you talk to me, all right?" Titus consoled Caia.

"Un-understood." She nodded, slowly turning back to face the rails, as the two began their wait.

[Lzherusskia]

The young soldier woke.

In the pitch blackness of the Smyslovan early morning, Sergeant Nuel Ulchanov performed the moves to the traditional wake-up dance known the world over. Turn over without opening the eyes, grope blindly for the thrice-damned device making its infernal buzzing. Give up attempting to turn off the alarm blind and open the eyes. Knock the mobile phone off the window ledge, suppress a curse and pray the thing survives its fall. Switch off the alarm, kick off the bed covers and sit up. Finally, place bare feet on the freezing floor, let the sudden cold be a better wake-up call than ten cups of coffee and swear.

"Iebat!" he cursed quietly, retrieving his discarded T-shirt from where he'd dropped it the previous night and standing up. He may have been honoured to have been hand-picked for his mission, but honour was worse than the radiators in the barrack block at warming a bedroom overnight...although not much worse. The joke was that the base's commander, Major Belyiv, kept the place freezing to prepare the troops for the orders to attack the Ninth Circle of Hell and give Satan a well-deserved kicking.

His preparations had been completed over a fortnight ago but if his time spent at Khilchakh had taught him anything, it was that no harm ever came from too many checks. Nuel's posting to Khilchakh had been primarily on the strength of his expertise as a bomb disposal engineer, and it was a vocation that suited his meticulous and borderline-obsessive nature nicely. Lighting up his first cigarette of the day, the young sergeant looked over his opened suitcases. One was packed full of clothing - all civilian, as he would be wearing his formal uniform on arrival - with a few select items of protective gear included. Verona was a roundly peaceful nation, but there were few situations that could not be made safer by the wearing of a bullet-resistant undershirt.

The second was jammed full of his personal effects. All of his electronics nestled in their compartments, cushioned by a layer of foam and looking as snug as Nuel wished he still was, with a small stack of books and notebooks almost haphazardly thrown in. A handful of pictures of his family were the only nod to the soldier's more sentimental side - the framed photograph of him graduating from university, flanked by his parents and standing in front of his grandparents, was Nuel's pride and joy and one of the few good photos he had left of his late grandmother. The hope was that any customs official would give the cases a cursory glance and conclude that the soldier was nothing but an ordinary man.

Of course, because he was Lzher, the case was also packed with weaponry. A combat knife was hidden inside one of the books, there were at least two telescoping batons stashed inside the foam inserts designed to keep his valuables safe and unbroken, and a false top concealed a stun gun and a tranquiliser pistol with darts powerful enough to drop a three hundred pound man in moments. If they had any idea, the Veronans would inevitably confiscate all of his arsenal, so it was Nuel's job to ensure that did not happen. He had faith in his ability to defend his charge bare-handed if the need arose, but the notion of fighting fair was supremely un-Lzher.

As he began to dress, there remained an irritating niggle in the back of Nuel's head that he had forgotten something - the paranoia was a common enemy, one Nuel had trained himself to suppress and ignore through long practice, but today it felt worse than ever. "It is the pressure," he said to the empty room, for nobody's benefit but his own. "This is the most important assignment I have ever been given and it is natural to feel nervous." Buttoning up his shirt quickly and stepping into his boots, Nuel gave his room one final once-over. "I have forgotten nothing that is of importance. All will be well."

---

Half a mile north, a small group stood clustered next to a sleek black limousine, looking out at the Khilchakh landing strip. It was a mark of the mission's importance that the Commissar had ear-marked his private jet for their use, and the sight of a plane that luxurious in an environment as spartan as Khilchakh amused him. He and the Burian-Chzov family had driven to the base the previous day and briefly commandeered the base commander's quarters overnight: the haggard Major Belyiv had obviously not enjoyed his night sleeping in the same conditions as the enlisted men. "Your thoughts, Major?"

The Major shook his head briefly, obviously snapped out of his daydream. "Oh, nothing, sir. I'm afraid I was staring into space."

"Of course," said the Commissar gravely. "I shall repeat, then. What prompted you to select the man that you chose for this assignment? I read the dossier on Sergeant Ulchanov, and he has no previous experience in personal protection."

"Ah," started the Major. In truth, he had had no hand whatsoever in Sergeant Ulchanov's choice and had merely rubber-stamped it at the suggestion of his second-in-command, the stout man standing to his right. Almost everybody on the base knew that Captain Morozov was the real brains of the operation and that the post was a sinecure for the fifty-six-year old Major, and the Commissar's question had put him in a bind. He could admit his lack of influence on the decision, true, but the Major had recently decided his new career goal was to become part of the Assembly of Generals and this was a golden opportunity to make a mark on the most powerful man in the nation.

"Truthfully, I believe Sergeant Ulchanov is a man with tremendous officer potential. From what I understand, Verona is a relatively sedate little nation and I feel that it will be a straight-forward operation. Sergeant Ulchanov may have no immediate bodyguarding experience, but I believe he is quite capable of succeeding in the role here and in doing so, this will help his career immeasurably. Captain Morozov knows the man more personally than I do, and he is roundly of the same opinion." Mentally, the Major sighed in relief. Although the Commissar remained impassive, he knew it was a good answer.

"I see." The Major's words were syrupy, but his eyes gave the truth away. The Commissar considered himself only a middling student in the art of lie detection, but he had spent years observing and learning from some of the best and moreover, he knew how to speak politician. The Major probably believed and understood plenty, but if he'd given the decision any thought at all, it was only to say yes or no. "I hope the young Sergeant lives up to your appraisal of him. Luka is naturally quite a valuable item to protect."

---

To their left, a few paces away, the Burian-Chzov family stood gathered together in silence. From the moment it had been proposed, Tasha Chzov had been fiercely against the idea of boarding school as a whole, much less a boarding school in another nation entirely, and it had taken Jakub Burian, Lzherusskia's Honoured Minister for Domestic Security, many months to convince her to let the child go. The argument had been settled, but Tasha still felt sullen about the decision and anybody with any knowledge of body language could have spotted it from a mile off.

If her concerns were shared by the son in question, Luka Burian-Chzov showed none of them. Standing a full head above either of his parents, Luka stood a little way off the family, hands thrust into his pockets with a messenger bag across his body and a titanic suitcase by his leg. "Is there anything you think you may need, son?" asked his father quietly, to which there came just a shrug of the shoulders. "You will have spending money in your personal account, but if there's anything else you need and can't find in Verona, let us know, alright?"

So now he wants to be the generous one, thought Luka sourly. Now he wants to be a father. "Fine."

"This is for the best, Luka," his father said, after a short pause. "You'll enjoy yourself in Verona, I'm sure."

How would you know? You have no idea what I'm like. "Can we get going?"

His father sighed. In his heart, Jakub knew he hadn't spent nearly enough time raising his eldest as he should have, and Luka had grown up into a teenager finding father figures where he could, but he really did believe there was an intelligent young man deep under Luka's cynical surface. It just needed some finding. "As soon as your...guard gets here."

"I can handle myself."

"I know you can, but this isn't just about you. You're my son and you're leaving the nation. You could become a target for all kinds of people looking for a political advantage, and..."

"Yes, yes, I know. Let me get on the plane, at least."

"Very well. Say goodbye to everybody."

Hearing the conversation, the Commissar turned, his hand outstretched. "Luka, do us proud. It's up to you to show the world that Lzherusskia breeds them properly." Sullen teenagers are universal, but rejecting a handshake from a self-proclaimed dictator takes a supreme level of suicidal over-confidence and Luka was not about to snub the man. Besides, in two sentences the Commissar had done more to make Luka feel confident about the journey than anything his father had managed.

"I will try, Commissar. Thank you."

[United Regions of Verona]

FRATANICA

An official approached her and guided her through the airport and down into the train station and onto the platform. The official mumbled, "You should start talking to some of the students, get to know your new classmates," before disappearing.

ONTORISA

The man quickly stamped the passport, before analysing his face. He then asked, "Visa?"

ANOLLASIA

"Hello... Deniz. Do you have a visa?" asked the man behind the booth, inspecting her passport.

SUMALTHERIA

"Theres officials past this point to guide you to the train platform, where students are also waiting," replied the customs officer, before adding, "Do you have your visa?"

FLARDANIA

A woman stood behind the booth. "There are officials past this point waiting for you. You will be guided to the train station where you will wait for the train, obviously. May I have your visa?"

KWADAI

They quickly had their passports stamped, and KwaDaians did not need a visa to enter Verona. However standing behind the glass door were two officials. And those officials were also students, Kohei Bitzaru and Yokana Fukoi, friends of Kohei and Rania while in NUEVO Meshiko.

GAmetopia

The official overseeing the students on the platform greeted Ariana, showing her towards the area they would be staying until the train arrived.

[Ontorisa]

Luna International Airport, United Regions of Verona
7:54 AM (Local Time)
September 19th 2014

Oh fucking shit fuck me were the only words Sresia thought as the immigration officer asked for his visa. What visa? The exchange person hadn't mentioned anything about a visa. Okay trump card time. Do or die Ravi.

"I'm here for exchange program at, uh, national ska-ool?" Sresia tried sounding out the words as he spoke, as well as adding an extremely heavy accent so that he could maybe win sympathy points for being an idiotic ETL student. "Did not know about, uh, visa."

[The GAmeTopians]

Ariana looked around and replied to the official in perfect takiyami, accent and all.
"When will we be leaving for our dormitories, sir? And also, is there anything your government wanted to notify me about?"

[Fratanica]

Luna International Airport, Verona

Soren was bored and was sitting on a seat. She was waiting for the other exchange students to arrive, and she was just ecstatic. She got bored, and took out a book. She desperately wanted to contact her parents. Even though it had only been a couple of hours since her last Goodbyes, she was already homesick. She knew she had to live with it.

The airport was huge and beautiful, with the dome-shaped building encompassing the air experience. The place was amazingly ornate, and thousands of passengers were passing by. It felt like she was torn away from her home to go to a school. She was not complaining, however, and dealt with the emotions. It was going to be one tough time.

She waited for someone to escort her to the train station. Soren was alone at that point. She wanted to explore the whole city, but alas, that was not possible. She got up from her seat and started looking for the others. Just then, someone tells her to come meet her new exchange students. She follows the official to the train station, where she sees a group of kids. They were all either older or around the same age. There was a unique variety of people, from athletic junkies to bookworms like herself. Needless to say, it felt comforting to finally meet who she was going to be with for the next few months.

[Sumaltheria]

"Visa?" Talia stuttered, Oscar taking her place, "Sorry, put no one notified us about a visa. It never said we needed one. Please, we are just the exchange students. Can I see whoever is in charge of this place? I wish to speak with them."

[Kwadai]

"Thank you", Rania said to the official who stamped her passport. While waiting away from the line for Maxim and Nikolas to finish with the passports she noticed something she wasn't exactly expecting yet. Her mouth opening forming an o it was Kohei and Yokana. "Oh my gosh", she exclaimed happily, wishing Maxim to finish quicker. "Maxim!", she said loudly when he walked over to her. "Look who it is!".

Grinning widely Maxim beckoned for Nikolas to come quickly."Nik, there's some people you need to meet". He was about to run forward but suddenly paid notice to the glass door and abruptly stopped.

[Inquilabstan]

Air Inquilabstan Flight 367, 7:38 AM

"This is your Captain speaking. Once again, I would like to thank you for choosing Air Inquilabstan, and for travelling with us. We hope you all had a pleasant journey, and as always have a nice day."

"Chose to fly with you, my ass. As if there were another carrier." Shifting in his seat, Darius Nair turned to the window, looking out at the vehicles scrambling across the tarmac, the ground crew being colorful blobs in the distance. As the whine of the engine died down, he reached down and began to put on the boots that had spent the flight tucked under his seat. Pulling tight the second knot, he sat back again, slightly bothered by his inability to pop his eardrums, and how cramped and confined his feet now felt. If he had his way, he would have instead worn his chappals, which no swollen feet could ever be uncomfortable in. As the seat-belt sign turned off, he waited in his seat for most of the others to clear off before reaching up to grab his well used backpack. He hated the lines on flights, and Inquilabstanis were notoriously slow and deliberate exiting aircraft. Slinging his bag over his shoulder, he strode down the aisle, and skywalk to enter the terminal. Making his way to the immigration counters, he shifted his bag to hang in front of him, extracting a green canvas satchel from within, before slinging it onto his back. Putting the satchel across himself and reaching inside, he extracted his papers,visa and crimson passport, and joined a line.Unlike the cramped interior of the aircraft, the large terminal allowed the wait to be bearable. Late exit, of course, carries the penalty of long lines.

20 minutes later.

"Not bad, not bad at all. No extensive forms, medical screening, or omniscient SSD here." Heading to the baggage carousal, Darius had the good luck of catching early sight of his suitcase, hauling it from the conveyor belt. A larger leather bound, wooden framed affair, with straps and locks on top, it looked like something of an earlier age. While initially a bit lost, he quickly got his bearings and headed in the direction of the Metro, as instructed prior to his arrival. Upon reaching the station, he paused, looking for any others his age. Dressed in a black Harrington jacket covering a brown cotton shirt, and green cargos over DM boots, he stood out quite a bit, as a foreigner.

[Flardania]

Serge and Sayo handed over their visas, as they were cleared they went over to the officials who led them to the Train Station. As they walked to the Train Platform. "S-so you think we are going to meet any nice people?" Serge asked Sayo nervously, since he was unaccustomed to speaking to pretty girls. "I am sure of it!, they wouldn't let a lot of mean people into this program." Sayo stated with a radiant smile. As they got to the rails they saw "Soren" sitting reading a book. Sayo elbowed Serge. "Look someone our age, I bet she's nice, mean people don't read books for fun!" Sayo said with a smile. The two of them approached Soren "Ah hello my name is Sayo Matsuoka" Sayo stated "And my name is Serge Jean-Destin. We are from Flardania!" Serge added. "What is your name?" Sayo asked hoping the girl could speak Japanese.

[Lzherusskia]

So this is my assignment. A surly teenager. What did I do to deserve this?

Nuel had been under few illusions about the nature of his mission. He knew he would be escorting a teenager and that his abilities to track and keep tabs on his principal would probably be stretched to the limit when his charge decided they wanted to be alone or sneak off for some illicit behaviour. He was prepared to have to maintain an emotional distance to avoid getting attached to the principal, but he had expected them to be a little more talkative than the boy sitting across the aisle.

Since stepping foot on the jet after a sullen round of goodbyes, ninety percent of Luka's speech had been either monosyllabic or directed to the stewardess and as he sat, nose buried in a book and headphones firmly screwed into his ears, Nuel began to deeply regret not taking his dopa pill immediately. He felt he owed it to his young charge to at least make an effort to interact and build a rapport and, as the seconds became minutes, the sergeant felt more and more foolish. It was a full quarter of an hour before he decided to give up waiting and turn his attention to the television set.

"Did you see the Smyslova game?"

Nuel looked over. Finally. A point of entry. He may still have been engrossed in the book, but at least Luka was talking. "Caught the highlights, yeah. Have you been watching the season so far?"

Closing the book on his finger, Luka stared blankly at the screen attached to his seat. "Most of it. I cannot say I have been too impressed so far, though."

"Not too impressed?" exclaimed Nuel, genuinely surprised. Smyslova Virmest had just qualified from the first stages of the Multiverse Premier League and had crushed almost every team set against them, to the point that even foreign bookmakers were making them the favourites to be the league's first champions. "They've destroyed everybody, what's not to be impressed about?"

"The goalkeepers." Dog-earing the page he had finished in his book, Luka tossed it lightly onto his table before standing up. "Gazaeva-Stepanenko has been poor and Kozhnikov has been downright amateurish at times. I flatter myself to think I could have put up a better performance than the debacle Kozhnikov managed against Jalson." Crossing to the small bar set against the back wall of the cabin, Luka cracked open a can. "A drink?"

Two sides of Nuel's mind clashed. His soldierly self shouted that he should refuse, he was on duty and a good warrior remained focused, but the quieter voice won out. He was not going into battle - he was thousands of feet in the air and all five people aboard the jet were good Lzher citizens. This was the safest Luka was ever to be, short of some monomaniacal Sargkisian separatist bursting out of the luggage compartment and attempting to blow the plane to bits. "Why not?"

Luka tossed a second can across the cabin. Despite what his parents may have and many of his teachers certainly did think, he was not unintelligent. Unlike most of his classmates, Luka had the ability to understand what and where his shortcomings were, and he knew full well that he was a poor student in some areas because he simply did not enjoy the subject. The science had long since been debunked, but he liked to think of himself as a left-brain thinker - in the past, science believed the left half of a person's brain governed their ability for logical reasoning and analytical thought, and that suited Luka well.

For instance: while he disliked intensely being sent away to boarding school and resented being guarded like a package, there was nothing he could do about it yet. Maybe in a month or two months time, he could use what he had learned about Sergeant Ulchanov's behaviour and daily routine to escape his clutches for long enough that the soldier would have to be recalled. Perhaps he could even find a way to return home if he did not mesh with the school. He would not want for money, his father and the Commissar would see to that. For now, he merely had to make the best of the situation, and make the best of it he would.

"I may take my dopa in a little while. Please do the same, if you feel the need. We have hours in the air and I have no intention of being awake for most of it." Taking up his book again, Luka crossed one leg over the other and took a long drink, and for the first time, Nuel was able to see the title of the book.

"You have an interest in the Metij Wars, Luka?"

"A little. I cannot stomach most of the history lessons the education system insists on shoving down our throats, but military history..."

Nuel chuckled. "I understand more than you realise. I studied military history myself. Not the Metij Wars particularly, my interest was more in war during the time of the Mineyevs, but there's one quote that has always stuck with me. Szegid ipov odin nak, ili proniv."

"'I will find a way, or I will make one'," nodded Luka, his tone appreciative. "Attributed to Clad Zavurov during the Siege of Tavar. You are more than you look, Sergeant."

"I could say much the same about you." He was not so green as to think his earliest impressions were completely false, but clearly Luka was more than the grumpy adolescent Nuel had pegged him as. "I will instruct the co-pilot to wake us when we are preparing to make final descent into Verona."