To Influence a Nation [Terror War](Closed/Sondria)

by **Rephesus** » Wed Aug 21, 2013 8:17 am

Astrix Corporation National Headquarters
Lequite, The Incorporated States of Rephesus

When referring to the various corporate buildings that dominate Lequite's skyline, one usually does not say 'the various corporate buildings that dominate Lequite's skyline'. Rather, one would refer to them ask 'The Toothpicks' or simply 'The Picks' due to their bizarre architectural shape. The near-minature surface areas of the buildings combined with the astounding abundance of floors, that are quelled only by the pyramid-esque tops, may render one to believe that these vertical leviathans resemble dental accessories. The Picks consisted of eighty-four separate buildings, all owned by various corporations, firms and organizations both domestic and international.

The Astrix Corporation was one of these 'Picks'. It may not have been the largest or the most magnificent, but it was far from humble. The real-estate was not in the heart of the downtown core, nor was it in the open city square, but rather it was on Barter's Row, the city's business district compressed into a twelve kilometre long road which swooned around the city like a mother's arm around a newborn. Despite the analogy this street was anything but compassionate. It was a hovel of corruption and bribery while maintaining it's position as a paragon in business and profit. Barter's Row hosted the nation's stock market, the city treasury, the headquarters of all four major banks, the international headquarters for a select group of corporations and of course the city's greatest plethora of coffee shops.

Location alone was not the only boon of the Astrix HQ, it was also the only building on Barter's Row with eight underground stories, making it technically, the seventh largest building in the city, standing at One Thousand-Fourty Six Feet and attaining a total of Seventy-eight floors, it was truly a manmade skyscraper to behold. It contained the main lobby, three gourmet restaurants, five cafes and countless cubicles. When asked exactly 'what the Astrix Corporation does', most citizens simply answered something along the lines of; "They make money", which was true. In truth, the Astrix Corporation, otherwise known as 'AsCo', was one of the world's largest marketing firms. They were hired by other companies to sell their products under a strict confidentiality agreement. They sold everything from puppies to bioweapons at the right price. They offered their services to anyone who was willing to pay, no matter what. From the corrupt and hated to their competitors, AsCo was a premier marking firm that had been raking in money since the early twentieth century. It had thousands of employees in it's headquarters yet somehow the company was still able to hire more every day. Security guards, Secretaries and CEOs all shared this building, it was a prison, it was a home, it was serene and it was maniacal.

On the Sixty-fifth floor, the board of executives collected for their annual turnover meeting. Darron Walzijer was the speaker. He was a young marketing genius who had rose in the ranks of the corporation in eight short months. He wasn't exactly model quality but he wasn't a sight-for-sore-eyes either. His dark brown hair was closely cropped to his head and his jet black sunglasses covered his brown eyes. He was plain looking by any standard but his image was what carried him. The swagger of a thug mixed with the elegance of a swordsman. He had the voice of an announcer but reserved his tone for times of importance. Following his speech, the various executives began to shuffle out of the room to head up to the penthouse restaurant for lunch, or down to the fifty first floor for coffee. Darron however stayed and reviewed his notes, while waiting for the executives to leave so he could wipe the sweat from his brow. After all he had an image to maintain.

Angelique Resaparte was his assistant, moreover, he was his girlfriend, lover, and concubine. She was feeble and quiet when she needed to be, but a woman of great strength otherwise. She also had an image. Angelique had already grabbed coffee for the two of them twenty minutes earlier. He liked it cool.

"Sir." The assistant muttered playfully.

"Oui?" He replied, teasing her ancestry.

"How'd the meeting go?" She muttered, now gently lifting the end of his tie.

"You saw their faces babe" He responded before he was cut of by the swift pull of his tie.

"I was paying more attention to your face, and some other things" She giggled.

"You're a dirty tease." He said grabbing her face and uniting his lips to hers.

Light moans were all that was heard outside the locked conference room where Sal, the resident floor Sixty Five security guard was standing. The occasional thump was heard as the large sentinel began to catch on.

"Bloody'ell" He muttered, his thick celtic accent spewing from his grease covered lips. He took out his flashlight which he liked to think of as a baton and began to move to the door of the conference room, Jus as he reached for the door he saw a suitcase laying on the ground beside it which he could swear he didn't see several minutes ago. He bent down and looked at it. It was a steel case with four large grooves in each side and a simple lock mechanism that conveniently was already open. Sal decided that whomever's suitcase this is might be very grateful to have it returned, possibly grateful enough to earn him a bonus, or a promotion. He lifted u the suitcase and opened the latch. Inside there was a business card that was blank, save the letter 'Q' at the bottom. He lifted it in suspicion and felt around the edge of the suitcase, and heard a steady ticking. He removed the felt layer at the sides of the suitcase to reveal a chemical container with a large amount of wires. It was only until his eyes spies the small clock which read '00:22' that he realized what he was holding. He threw the suitcase across the room but it only hit a desk and ricocheted back towards him, Sal kicked the door of the conference room open to expose the two half naked lovers caught in embrace. they both looked shocked and angered.

"Run you bloody wankers!" he roared as he practically dived towards the elevator.

But it was too late. Twenty Two became ten, and ten became Zero. And that is how the Sixty Fifth Floor of the Astrix Corporation World Headquarters exploded.

by **Rephesus** » Sat Sep 07, 2013 11:51 am

BREAKING NEWS: ASTRIX CORPORATION WORLD HEADQUARTERS ATTACKED
AsCo WHQ 65 FLOOR SUBJECT TO TERRORIST ATTACK, HUNDREDS DEAD!
^{31 August 2013 | By Grobeni Alleijuvro (Follow @GAllej_RPHSNN) (RPHSNN)}

Amateur footage captures ground images of the explosion from the behind the building

Barter's Row, Lequite, Rephesus — Mere hours ago the nation was shocked as a massive explosion came from the Astrix Corporation World Headquarters on Barter's Row. Police reports indicate that the time of the bombing was just after 12 noon, while the majority of the staff inside the building went for lunch. Investigators have traced the origin of the explosion to the Sixty-fifth floor of the AsCo WHQ right outside the executive board room. Just minutes before the explosion over 50 of the company's executives, stockholders and innovators, -speculated to be the 50 most important people in the building- had convened in that very board room.

Police have ruled out the possibility of this being an accident of any sort, as traces of chemical explosives were found in addition to it's timing and placement in relation to the executives. Luckily all but four executives had survived mostly without injuries due to the fact that the explosion was centralized to the East side of the Sixty-Fifth floor.

Total casualties number in the hundreds however they mostly consist of staff and other employees on the East side of the Sixty Seventh, Sixty Fourth and Sixty Third floors, which had all collapsed. Demographers estimate that had this bomb gone off even half of an hour earlier or later, the death toll would be closer to a thousand.

It is safe to assume that the board meeting was the target of this attack but investigators are pursuing all leads regarding this bombing. There hasn't been a terrorist attack on Lequite in over 200 years, and in the nation itself in over 120.

Trina Hallowitz, a foreign employee in the lobby describes her traumatic experience at the scene of the explosion. "It was just like any other day really. I mean- sob - I knew about the meeting, we all did, they just told us down in the lobby to call security if we saw anythin' -sob- But I swear! I swear by ma'heart I din'see a goddarn thing! It was all quiet and them there was a massive rumble, my coffee spilled all over me and the elevators went off, and Allesandra, the receptionist, called 911, but it was too late, people came pouring out of the stairs and one elevator managed to survive with a few people, including me sister. Thank the lord she's alright. I just know that after this, I'm moving back home to Eagleland." Ms. Hallowitz is currently in the hospital awaiting treatment for Second degree burn wounds.

Another more gruesome account could not be shared in it's entirety due to it's graphic nature, however AsCo Securiity did make a public statement saying that a Security guard named Sal who had been working in the company for over two decades was found alive in the stairwell, with several glass shards and metal titbits perturbing through his flesh. Sal was found dying yelling what appeared to be the letter 'Q'. He was pronounced dead when medics got to him.

Although the explosion was massive and could be witnessed from most of the city, the placement of the bomb was fortunate, considering the circumstances, as the building is still standing. Contractors state it will be months before they can reopened even the first few floors of the building but they state it will be rebuilt to and past it's former glory.

If you have any information on the subject, any questions or any comments, post them below, contact us at the Rephite National News Co. or call your local Crime-Preventors

The Rephite Government has yet to formalize an official position on the matter, The President and prime minister have both called emergency summits in Agora

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SlyMama1413 Agora, Rephesus
14 minutes ago
Our hearts and prayers are with the people of lequite right now.<3 stay strong!!!
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X1TrueRephite1X Lequite, Rephesus
10 seconds ago
Damn corporations always bringing problems into our country!! OOUT W/THE 4INERS!!!!!!!!!!!
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[Extract from the Sondrian Regional News Network)

by **Zerlos** » Sat Sep 14, 2013 5:51 am

From the Desk of His Majesty King Zabb of Zerlos

To: The Government and Peoples of The Incorporated States of The Incorporated States of Rephesus,
In Reference To: The Recent Terrorist Attack on Rephesus.
On behalf of all of Zerlos, I would like to send my deepest sympathies to those that have lost loved ones in this catastrophic event. In Zerlos's current state of growth within the new world, we have begun to find our feet, and thus have available resources, medical staff and peacekeepers to spare, should your honorable nation accept it. We would advise your government to remain on alert in these turbulent times. In order to assist the city of Lequite, our humble nation is offering the following personnel for cleanup.
Code: Select all
Available Personnel -50 Medical personnel, including Paramedics, Doctors, Nurses and First Responders -100 Peacekeepers -200 Excavation and Construction Workers

In light of the recent and horrific events in Repesus, the Government of Zerlos feel it is necessary to strengthen the bonds between our two peaceful nations by way of trade agreements and possible political alliance. We feel this potential alliance may prove beneficial for both the governments Rephesus and Zerlos in addition to the peoples of our nations. We look to further develop our embassy in order to exemplify our dedication towards our mutual goal of protecting and stabilizing Rephesus as a whole.

The citizens of Zerlos shall pray to Optivan, to guide and protect you in your times of strife.

Sincerely,
His Royal Majesty,

by **The Eagleland** » Sat Sep 14, 2013 7:33 am

Eagleland Federal Police Foreign Organised Crime Unit Headquaters
Undisclosed location
1550 local

"What do you mean that the two attacks are inter-connected?", asked the director of the unit, Loverdos Ioannopoulos. "That security guard only spelled the letter Q before dying, according to reports. How can you be so sure that it's the Aquilinians?"

The top detective of the Foreign Organised Crime Unit, Maria Konstantinopoulou, replied: "Think about it, sir. The mercenaries who were on board the five ships that killed our men were Aquilinians. Events in Aquilinia have took a turn for the worst, as they have annexed a national entity. As such, it makes sense that "
"But why Rephesus?"
"Because, like us, they plan to cause government aggression aginst Aquilinia."
"This is more serious than that," said the boss. "Just causing aggression against Aquilinia is not at all the end goal."
"I believe that we should contact our Rephesian brothers."

After some consideration, the director made a decision.
"I'll give these guys an encrypted call. See if we can coordinate our efforts."

by **New Samarinda** » Sat Sep 14, 2013 1:30 pm

Official Communiqué from the Federal Chancellor of New Samarinda:

(Uradno sporočilo, zvezni kancler New Samarinda):

To: The Government and Peoples of The Incorporated States of Rephesus.
From: The Federal Republic of New Samarinda.
Encryption: None.
Subject: Concerning Peace on Aerus

To whom it may Concern,

Our hearts go out those feeling the effects of the recent terrorist attack that occurred in Rephesus. As a fellow AMCO member, New Samarinda is willing to give support in the form of peacekeepers, and medical specialists. We, as a nation, know that if something as terrible as this were to happen in New Samarinda, that fellow AMCO member states would come to our aide, just as we are doing for you now. Our nation is able to give the following for the time being:

Naj Bog Nas Bo Vodil,

by **Marquesan** » Mon Sep 16, 2013 11:46 am

Somewhere in Arato, Annexed by the Empire of Aquilinia.

The misty peat bogs of Arato were turning frigid already. Low, heavy clouds covered the tops of the hills and rocky outcroppings hid the shadows of all manner of things. Rumors had always been wild that the Aratan hillcountry hid buried treasure, caches of arms, the bodies of tens of thousands of missing people from all nations of Sondria and, perhaps most dangerously, the beating hearts of the region's most violent criminal organizations.

Through the acidic-smelling peat bogs, there were pathways. Some no larger than a goat trail, others obviously from vehicles that had worn away the tough grass that dominated most of the country. Some seemed to lead nowhere, others led back onto themselves, some deep into the marshlands and others to tiny villages. Since the beginning of recorded time, this strange and eerie landscape had been widely believed to be the bed of ancient evils, many Sondrian cultures believed it to be the land of the dead and the few towns that existed were the stuff of legendary tales that spoke in whispered tones about the dead walking those empty trails that led back only upon themselves.

The people that lived here were a tough people who, for many years, had been administered as a colony of Marquesan. Now, with both Arato and Renier having been purchased for an undisclosed (but rumored to be immense) cost by the Aquilinians, the hardy, silent people that lived among the dead went about their business a little less openly than they did before.

Among the strongest cases for Arato-Renier being the land of the dead had been made with the discovery of an ancient catacombs deep in the hillcountry. A petrified forest stood in the marshland, through which a labyrinth of pathways led and upon which, a strange species of white deer ran. Their eerie shadows in the moonlit fog disguised a gap between two boulders and, when it was discovered in the early 1920s, the collection of bones stunned the world. Here, the mortal remains of perhaps thirty thousand people, many going back through time immemorial to the earliest humans to settle the western reaches of Sondria rested. There were intricate patterns that lined the walls with their bones. There were chapels made from skulls in tunnels and caverns that ran deep to an underground river, rumored often to be Styx itself but known as the River of the Moaning of the Souls in Hell.

Carved deep into the pale marble at the entrance to these chambers, these words read in an ancient tongue understood only by scholars:
THE WAY IS SHUT. IT WAS MADE BY THE DEAD AND THE DEAD KEEP IT. THE WAY IS SHUT.

It was here, deep in the Aratan catacombs that two shadows converged. The sound of the river as it passed through the rocks deep below the surface made a strange moaning sound. Nearest it, in the Chamber of the Spines, two men met in secret, certain that their meeting would remain unknown here.

"I don't know why you like this place. It's so fuckin' creepy."

"That's the point, dumbass. Now do you have it?"

"Yeah."

A suitcase passed between the two.

"For the operation in Rephesus."

"I know what it's for. Maker. What if somebody's listening?"

"Sorry. Look, this explosive is hard to come by. The Marquesans are getting sus--"

He stopped himself as he was speaking as the sound of rocks tumbling somewhere in a chamber up above them caught his ear.

"Let's get out of here."

"Right."

The two shadows diverged, one heading toward the river, the other, suppressed submachine gun in hand, to find out what, or who, made that noise.

by **Crontor** » Wed Sep 18, 2013 7:01 pm

Sondria;
Luso-Cron Union;
Southeastern Command;
Fort Bahren:

In the years following the Newcastle War, the Luso-Cron Union had made every attempt to repair the damage wrought on its record. It was not easy to have stood at the top of the heap, ready to challenge anyone who dared oppose the most powerful state in the region and then see that same nation, tumble ungracefully from that pile to the chaotic level of dead and dying regime. It had taken President Christian Cranico every fiber of his diplomatic skill to claw the Union back up the shaky tower of Sondrian power politics, and now the Union sat comfortably, not on top but not on the bottom.

It was from this position of a recovering economy, strengthened military, and eagerness to extend its influence that the Union reacted to the horrific bombings in Rephesus. Here was a nation with which the Union wanted stronger ties considering its proximity to another regional player, Onekawa-Nukanor. As a part of AMCO, the Union also wanted to ensure that things remained stable on the continent of Aerus, for they had the potential to disrupt the lucrative trade between the Union and Deusaueri. If this government was to collapse, it could pave the way for another anarchic hell hole.

With Beblis a smoldering wreck of a colony, even years after the complete annihilation of that island by allied forces, the Union did not want the prospect of another breeding ground for terrorism. The Union knew full well the curse of terrorist bombings, having dealt with them for years. As such, it understood that as a major regional power, it was vulnerable. But a terrorist would not go through the effort of attacking the Union at home when it could easily go after a softer target, such as an embassy. And like every civilized nation of the region, the Union had an embassy in the capital of Rephesus and said embassy was just vulnerable as any other.

As such, the President Christian Cranico had ordered the deployment of a battalion of Crontorian Federal Military Police via C-17 to supplement the defenses of the Union embassy in the capital of Rephesus. Not exactly run of the mill Crontorian General Infantry, the CFMP were designed with such jobs as this one, the protection and policing of locations important to the Luso-Cron Union, and as of now, the Embassy in Rephesus was taking priority. Like policemen however, these forces could also take part in investigative roles, and they were at the disposal of whatever security forces were present for whatever they were needed for. The RECOM detachment, as they were designated, consisted of 175 Crontorian Federal Military Police and ten Hawkei multipurpose vehicles.

As these forces prepared for deployment, the entirety of Southeastern Command was put on general status alert, with the Crontorian 11th and 25th Combat Fleets called back in from their usual maritime patrols to take up positions further to the north, in striking distance of Rephesus should the situation arise where Crontorian assets should be used in combat against any hostile entity. Beblis had merely been a warm up for the CAF. They were ready for a challenge.

by **Rephesus** » Thu Oct 31, 2013 1:53 pm

Rephesus Department of Foreign Affairs

Nations of Sondria,

As many of you have heard, our nation recently suffered from a highly destructive bombing, in the centre of one of Lequite's tallest Skyscrapers. As of now, the entire nation stands in silence, mourning the loss, thanking the gods that the skyscraper is still standing and crying out for answers. Due to the sensitive nature of the event, very little information can be released on an international channel. The Prime Minister and the President have been in their respective cameral bodies for the past several days instituting emergency protocol and addressing the issue of national security, thus explaining why neither of our leader is currently able to address the international community.

Through the height of our despair, our Sondrian brethren have come to our aid, supplying our nation with emergency personnel, supplies and protection. Due to this extraordinary measure, the city of Lequite is experiencing a recovery at a rate far greater than previously forecasted. The affected areas are no longer under quarantine, hospitals are beginning to clear out and release patients along with the Lequite Police Department reporting all time low crime rates. The combined efforts of our allies, neighbours and all others have potentially saved Lequite from economic ruin, and for this on behalf of the President, Prime Minister, and people of Rephesus, I gladly thank all whom contributed for their combined efforts.

A recent report by the Rephesus Federal Inquiry Department states that many potential suspects have been apprehended, and all current assistance from our allies to the Intelligence Bureau has greatly assisted. As of now, I personally assure you that the embassies and consulates of your nations in Rephesus along with the lives of your extra nationals are at no risk whatsoever. There is absolutely no reason to concern, as there have been no reports of any follow up attacks and the Capital of Agora remains physically untouched.

The Prime Minister's office has reported that following this attack, greater emphasis will be placed on national security and intelligence. The President's office has additionally stated that the military is being reformed following this crisis and is accepting any assistance from any of our more experienced allies for training. The Rephite Orthodox Church has released a statement saying that the prayers of the world have been realized and thus the Church is thanking all who have given their prayers, regardless of religious affiliation.

In summation, I would like to again thank all those who have sent aid and their prayers to our people in this time of need. As we move through this transitional period, we are looking forward to cooperating with our esteemed allies.

Sincerely,

Minister of Foreign Affairs
Rephesus Foreign Department, Rephesus Federal Government

Department of Inquiry, Bureau of Investigation
Agora, The Incorporated States of Rephesus

The room was well lit and plastered in paper with mere shards of the grey walls peaking out behind the plethora of documents, calendars, pictures, folders and most of all, maps. The hanging lights were bright and overly luminescent, drowning the rows of desks and computers in white light. Even as evening approached, the windowless complex remained unaffected by the outer world. In the midst of it employees typed, whispered, sipped their coffee mugs and got ready to clock out.

Standing at the front of the room, perpendicular to his subordinates, Aleosus Rajelion check his surroundings carefully, waiting for something. His face was rather bland, as was his suit and stature, however it was his mind that gave him an odd reputation. One does not simply go from being a state-accountant to head of the intelligence bureau overnight. As the clock hit 6:58, he let out a short breath and began walking down the rows of cubicles, not particularly paying attention to the work of his employees but rather to their faces.

Many of them were young and had little experience, but it was their prowess with investigating and technology that got them their placement in the head office of the bureau in Agora. Mixed expressions of stress, borden and fatigue were seen, their job wasn't particularly exciting at the moment, but it was extremely important seeing as almost all of them were assigned to the Lequite case.

Most of the employees were awaiting the arrival of the investigation team from Eagleland which would mark the first time Rephite Intelligence had international support. It wasn't particularly a big deal for Aleosus, that said nothing really was anymore. The man was shrewd and quiet, calculating and observant. He knew his job was in danger if he didn't find the bastard who planted that bomb, but he also suspected that Lequite was only the beginning.

And then the clock hit 7:00, his phone rang, and the workers cleared out.

by **Marquesan** » Thu Nov 28, 2013 9:34 pm

"Where do bad folks go when they die?
They don't go to heaven where the angels fly...
they go to a lake of fire an' fry,
won't see 'em again 'til the fourth of July..."

It was hot as hell.

He was sweating like a whore in church and the windows were rolled down all the way. The fan on the dashboard of the truck was on full blast. Damn Rephite heat, he thought. It was days like this he wished for the frosty cold of Arato-Renier. Today, however, was a busy day. The truck whined as it climbed the winding hill toward a sprawling Rephesian chemical plant. His identification and bill of lading had been perfectly forged and the eighteen-wheeled tractor and trailer rolled through the gate with a wave from the guard who was far happier staying cool in his guard shack away from the mosquitoes than he was standing outside. The packages unloaded were marked as machine components from Marquesan, high speed centrifuges for use in pharmaceutical production, but twenty minutes later, when the containers exploded, ripping the laboratories apart and killing everyone inside either from the explosion or the toxic gas they unleashed, it was clear that something had gone terribly wrong.

Incense wreathed him. The priest knelt before the altar, whispering his prayers in the tongue of the mother country, his voice raising from that bare whisper to a sing-song incantation, he raised his arms above his head, still bowed in prayer. Around him, candles flickered and at his back, the masses watched, awestruck and taken with reverence, with faith. Around them soared the elegant and ageless columns of the country's oldest cathedral, the stained glass windows and pendentive domes delicately frescoed, chiseled from stone by hand in time immemorial. The building had stood for centuries piled on centuries hence, and when, across the street in front of a busy motorcycle shop, a semi-truck driver dropped his trailer, painted with the name of a natively-produced scooter on its sides, it attracted not even the slighest glance away from the holy ritual being perormed.

And when that blast detonated, the clouds opened up and heaven itself cried for the buried and mangled faithful left within.

"HEY! Stop it!" She cried out as the boy behind her on the bus pulled on her pigtails. She turned around and batted his hands away. The other children on the bus laughed and cheered her on as she whirled around to smack him, not even realizing that he'd put the gum he was chewing in her hair. Soon the others caught on and there were cries and yells as a fight broke out on the bus. The driver pulled over quickly and stopped the bus, running back to pull the fighting children apart. As he picked the girl up by her armpits and hauled her backwards, the buckle on her shoe caught the frayed naugahyde of the bus seat and the seam split. Oddly, the bus got quiet as the startled children found a red light glowing under the material. The girl's brother, who had been sitting next to her couldn't resist the temptation and when he did pull back the material, what he found was a tangle of wires and red cylinders full of a grey, dull substance that looked a bit like plastic. A timer with red flashing digital numbers was counting down. Two. One.

All across Rephesus, children and parents cried together. Buildings were broken all over the country. Nobody arrested. No leads. Hundreds dead. Fires raged. Towns near a biological plant evacuated. All signs pointed the same direction: More terrorism. The wave of killing was breaking the collective heart of a nation that grieved for the most innocent of lives, cut down without a whisper of why or by whom.

In the mailbox of a small, local news agency, a single DVD in a simple paper sleeve waited to be picked up. That DVD bore a message that would chill everyone who saw it to the very bone. For now, it had only to wait...

by **Buddha C** » Tue Dec 03, 2013 9:37 am

Abode of the Minstrel, the Protestant Orthodoxy of Sondria

"Lord's Instrument, the semi-Gammorites have not ceased to be attacked by even more Heathenic scum." A bald man wearing an extremely long blue robe etched with twenty-four karat gold lace. The soft metal broke easy, but such lowly earthly concerns could easily be replaced by the travail of an Orthodox mass. "Their Half-Pagan Catholic Devil-God has failed them yet again."

The Lord's Instrument did not immediately respond, his image hidden behind several layers of defence only patrolled by the most veteran, loyal and well-equipped troops in the Protestant Orthodoxy. In fact some of the very few Leopard 2s in the country were permanently attached to the Abode of the Minstrel. Two of them patrolling the perimeter as another one made its presence known, and by extension the Intrument's in the capital.

The speaker phone finally boomed, the large screen was saved for the most important exchanges. "Send fifty thousand Missionaries, Fund them with a Billion dollars of aid and construct schools and churches all across the Rurals of Rephesus. Now, whilst the Iron is hot and their precious Devil-God has let them down, do we strike."

"Of war, my Lord's Instrument?" The baldy was taken aback, the Rephites were allies in the staunchest sense of the word.

Having a habit of not expressing emotions to Underlings and unbeknownst to the Bald Priest his Lord's Instrument was forced to cover the microphone in order to not laugh at him.

"No, my Son. Alert the War Clergy, though, there is need for a Firm Hand in and around Rephesus."

"Yes, my Lord's Instrument. As you interpret." The bald blue-robed priest bowed lowly, as he existed. It looked as if the man bowed to no one, but all in the Protestant Orthodoxy knew. Reverence was always shown to God's more favoured.

SIC:

War Clergy, Saint Sandino Cathedral in the Protestant Orthodoxy of Sondria

Saint Sandino was to the Orthodoxy what Penterrgoon was to the United States. A nerve center housing tens of thousand of thoroughly religious Protestant troops. In the home country men were dressed in White, so when they did what they normally did, bang farmer chicks and police crime, they could be seen far away. Here outside the largest Church in Sondria, and likely the World, stood rows of houses for over 200 kilometers. Skyscrapers, directly around the Church houses immense financial institutions that daily trained Foreign currencies, all the while subtly playing the market as they earned on average ten percent from each currency movement they orchestrated with trillions of dollars, often on leverage from regionally external nations jacking up and lowering values of the Sondrian monies at an almost slow midnight siphoning pace. There was little that could be done, besides halt Foreign Exchange with the Orthodoxy, condemn their Souls to the fiery pits of Hell (except the Unilisians, they were going in no matter what for their depraved inter-species sex acts), and that would be ineffective since the Orthodoxy could simply create shell corporations in friendly and far away governments Unless they halted and Foreign Exchange Markets, which would prove very costly to say the least.

Indeed, the Theocratic Bankocracy was tight bound, especially amongst the bankers. Jesus made water into wine, and they simply brought Jesus his water and gave him enough to get drunk and do it again, then later selling it. Jesus was very good business in the Orthodoxy. Now the War Clergy sat, where only experienced military Clergymen were allowed, some of them Bankers and all of them Warriors. For even the most parsimonious of the group seeked Salvation (with the whores included, as Protestantism does) and also new their livelihood and opulent standard of living depended on it.

"It's the Hitajadha."

"The what?"

"They're supplying Fundies and blowing their shit up."

"So how do we go about this?"

"I like the classical method best."

"So we uproot them, tell the World we're giving them land to non-Protestants, and really shipping them underground. Where we feed them, allow them to shit and drink just enough that we can get all of them in there. Then we shut the door, turn on all the underground furnaces, sucking the oxygen from their breath and killing them."

"Gah, but so much clean up!"

"We still have the eight thousand from the Expansion, besides you won't be carrying the bloody bodies yourself! Lazy shit, this way is the safest."

"Assuming the Rephites play along."

"Yes, assuming the Rephites play along."

"Send the order?"

"Yes, deploy two peace-keeping divisions. Make sure Rephesus knows he has our one hundred percent support. I want them to have 8,000 of those T-72s we were going to sell for scrap, militias or the army. Give them a hundred MiG-35 too. I think the Rustonians will play ball too."

IC:

Far Outside Lequite, Rephesus

The blazes from the explosion caught his eye, Colonel Andre Freud recently promoted to Colonel Superior was to command the thirty thousand combat troops being deploying. As usual the Rephesus provided logistical needs as they received when in Orthodoxy. The coming days would see the steady deployment of fresh men, marching from commercial airplanes, in groups of one hundred ten men wide in their combat uniforms, modernised Kar 98ks slung confidently over their shoulders. Some groups had brought some ladies, usually with more customised attached officers. They were the most welcome, greeted immediately with libations. Soon, in fact, the base had become currently a rowdy house of pleasure. Colonel Superior Freud would not, nore did he have the culturally feminine or clerical capability to do so, stop him and his men from having a fantastic time with Rephite women. The hot tropical temperature had the love making an exchange of sweat just as much as fluids, the action more animal and deprived for it. But far more gun. Tack on the fact these guys had kids, a family. They were having a ball. But they certaintly weren't patrolling anything.

Then the Priests came. Immediately thousands of priests flooded the base and the red blooded troops, Loyal to the Cause of Personal Salvation, erected this time their spines in an austere display of self control. The women, perhaps rightfully put off, fled immediately. "Lascivious wenches," Freud griped. He, like a young man, was akin to sneaking around. But to let out their visceral need and also to be productive infront of the Churchmen the troops went out, almost half always on patrol. Though only half of them weren't booinking the natives into their headrests but suffice to say their tropical combat gear did make an impression. The locals called them a native dialect for "grenadiers" because of the multiple standard issued ammunition and grenades, which they could trade for food and have UN-requesitioned replacements. This system was honored, there was no oversight. It was Hell-Dooming sin to take from the Army, and thus the Orthodoxy in such a manner. As to the excessive weight of the mostly grenade and 8mm load out the answer was simple, and it came from the Church: If Jesus can carry a heavy cross to die, and he is the Jehovah, then you least you can do is kill his earthly enemies and die for Eternal Bliss. As per Suicide attacks, they were less likely. Sometimes contracted outward, to the necessary Authorities in Rustonia. Here in Lequite alone some fifteen Churches alone, each running a Protestant-only soup kitch and homeless housing unit (family-based, single or double generally not allowed unless child) where Church attendance is mandatory for residents. In Lequite Fifteen Churches would soon be completed, with a total of one hundred soup kitchens and sixty Church Home Communities (CHCs). The War Clergy was waiting on Colonel Superior Andre Freud's situation assessment while the Clergy eagerly awaited the quarterly report on Church CHC, soup kitchen attendance and calls received on the hot-line (522) [given for prank calls]. The troops on the dirt were hoping in the back of their minds this flare-up would be a short lived one, their bayonets usually attached in the sprawling city and business districts.

by **Rephesus** » Thu Dec 05, 2013 11:05 pm

______

ISRS Deliverance, Outside Ektasli 9:33PM
11 Miles from Coast, Rephite Sea
Aerus, Sondria

The roaring of the Rephite Sea could be heard within in the greatest depths of the Acheron Super-Carrier. On the Bridge, Admiral Liona Zemeusassa stood in front of her chair swiping through fleet reports on her tablet. She had a deceivingly smooth complexion, her short curly brown locks tightly hidden beneath her gold and red Admiral's cap. The reports of the terrorist attacks had been given to her an hour ago, they weren't particularly relevant to her mission. A quick check confirmed all of her close relatives were alright. However, the anger and shock of the nation continued to brew within her.

She was a staunch old woman, sometimes called 'Bitch of the Seas' or worse, 'Whore of Poseidon", for she ran her ship like an island, and bowed to no man but the god of the sea. For thirty years she had sailed across Sondria and the world. However, this would be different for it was the first time in the Republic's history that a battle fleet was organized and deployed offensively, and Zemeusassa was put in charge of it.

ISRS Deliverance had been built in Rephesus only two years prior to it's current deployment in the Rephite Sea in Central Aerus. From the day it was deployed, when Liona was a mere Commodore, she had been given charge of the aircraft carrier. The massive beast was named for it's ability to 'deliver' a massive quantity of aircraft across a body of water in remarkable periods.

The fleet Admiral Zemeuassa commanded was one of the greatest ever deployed in Rephesus' short naval history. She commanded her own Acheron-Class Supercarrier ISRS Deliverance along with it's sister ship ISRS Providence, both of with were packed with Divine Wind ADFs, Shadowcat P/I Bombers, Ghost TSFs. The large number of aircraft were to simply eliminate any and all resistance prior to troop deployment. Following this, the Reaper TATs, along with Archangel VTOL GAC escorts, would begin dropping troops into the cities, and finally the Great Hawks and Black Harriers would serve as mass troop transports deploying the bulk of the force along with Tanks and other Vehicles into the theatre. All in all the battle group was not expected to see much combat in the way of resistance, but nevertheless Zemeussa was anticipating the results already.

The Fleet was being split into four battle groups to hit and capture Ektasli's four main cities, she would be moving to the south of the lake to coordinate efforts based on the Capitol of Ektasli City. As soon as the order came, four fully submerged Deimos Strategic Missile Submarines would launch 24 'Immortal' Submarine-Luanched Ballistic Missiles that would effectively terminate any resistance spots along with providing quite the light show to their respective cities. Her superiors had made it clear, Admiral Zemeuassa was not to destroy the cities, she was to render them defenceless so they could pose no threat during the terrorist hunt.

"Admiral? Confirm!" The radio rang out. The squall of sea birds subordinated to the darkness, it was as if the world outside the Deliverance slowed.

"This is Admiral Zemeuassa onboard the ISRS Deliverance," her deep voice was not particularly loud, but the screams of the ocean seemed to quell while she spoke. "The nest is clear. I repeat-"

"I heard you. Operation Harvest is a go." The voice soon became more recognizable to Liona, for a split second she forgot where she was and her eyes bulged. She corrected herself with a stern breath, and cut off the communication line, instead switching the radio link.

"This is Admiral Zemeuassa aboard the ISRS Deliverance," she said sternly, this wasn't a check in, this was an order. "Providence, Harvest is green."

She could hear the communications officer's breath before she switched the line once again, this time to the communications aboard the Deimos Strategic Missile Submarines.

President's Bunker, Sovereignty Chamber 9:16PM
Agora, Rephesus
Aerus, Sondria

The President's Bunker had never been used before. In over 200 years of it's existence, not once had it been secured, so it was no surprise that almost no one knew how to use the outdated communication systems within. Luckily for the Democratic Guards however, they did manage to set up an adequate broadcast system with less than a 2 second delay, and block all radio signals that would determine the location of the bunker. A single camera along with two replacement lenses, a standard wooden podium and the flag of Rephesus all were contained in the centre of the Bunker's emergency meeting room. A large contingent of Democratic Guards stood around the room assessing non-existant threats and otherwise contemplating the day's ground shaking events.

Off to the side of the podium, two men wore slate black suits with the pins of Rephesus' flag above the breast, one was short and balding, with grey hair on his head and crows feet on his face, a large potbelly and massive hands, his was clean shave and his eyes were sharp. His name was Andronius Farintalis, and his tie was the crisp gold that befit his position as Minister of Commerce and Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce.

To his right stood a younger -albeit significantly aged- man who was a head taller, had a handsome yet weary face. His light brown eyes were utterly sunder and his face increasingly somber. Unlike his counterpart, President Andreas Vassallo was as solemn as any man in Rephesus, he did not see this attack as the golden moment to further his career, rather he saw it as a stain. The script on the podium was immensely thick and preprepared. As he spoke to the Minister of commerce his eyes sagged as they looked at the burdening papers that held the fate of the nation within them.

Turning away, he began to focus on the small camera crew that had been given access to the bunker, they powdered his face and fixed his hair for the speech, as the Chairman spoke to him all the while, preparing the man to give the speech his people needed, not the one they wanted.

Speakers Podium, Chamber of Commerce, 9:22PM
Agora, Rephesus
Aerus, Sondria

It was atypical, to say the least, for such a body to meet in the Chamber of Commerce. Since the formation of the Republic, there had always been two houses, each with it's own respective leader, and only rarely had the representatives from both houses met together, while it had happened before, today marked the first time in Rephesus' history that representatives of the President's Greater House and the Prime Minister's People's Chamber met within the Grand Conclavature of The Chamber of Commerce. This building was a behemoth structure erected a mere twenty years ago, it had over 800 seats to hold every member of the Chamber and guests, along with viewing balconies, dozens of private meeting rooms, a grand courtyard with blooming gardens and statues aplenty.

However, today the Chamber was not filled with mere members of the Chamber of Commerce, it was tightly packed with hundreds of representatives from both houses. Every part in Rephesus, every city, every available foreign ambassador and representatives from the rest. Needles to say, the building was bustling with armed guards and the outer compound was locked down tighter than a military base.

The city of Agora had not seen such vast military deployment within it's walls since the early 12th century when it was under siege by forces from Lequite, and even then the men had spears, pikes and crossbows, whereas now the streets had columns of soldiers, overhead fighter deployments and tanks securing various city checkpoints, the law had already been laid down, and the meeting had just begun.

Soulia Constantindes was loved by the people. She had a mother's face, and a wive's concern. She had the scarlet hair of the south and the high cheekbones of the east, her skin was tan enough to be a desert dweller, yet clear enough to be a model, she was the perfect woman for the job. No, the only woman for the job. As she stood at the front of the chamber, her small gloved hands latched onto the Chairman's Podium, she let the silence of the room wash over her.

Infront of her were hundreds of the nation's most important people, mostly politicians, but military generals, foreign officials and even famous personalities were present. In this hour of darkness however, they did not converge to social banter, but rather to heed the Prime Minister's call.

"Ahem," she began softly, quickly grabbing any wandering stares and taking back the light of the room. "Before we begin, I'd like to quickly acknowledge everyone who was able to interrupt their doubtlessly busy lives for this critical meeting, and the Rephesus Chamber of Commerce for hosting the houses when the AMCO legislature proved to be," she paused for a second lifting her eyes, "otherwise unavailable."

The words had sting to them, yet no one dared to scorn, as she continued.

"This room holds the most important people in the nation, now many of you are wondering where the president is, and why the leader of the People's Chamber and Head of Government is speaking to you, rather than the Head of State. To put it simply, our dear President is currently preparing to address the nation after the horrible attacks, and despite our personal differences I have agreed to speak on his behalf and on behalf of the Progressive Party of the Greater House, along with my own National Party of the People's Chamber." She reached for her water, but then caught the flash of a camera, and her fists clenched.

"Today I speak to you not with one voice, and not with two, but with millions upon millions of voices. The entire nation has been savagely assaulted by enemies of the worst kind. Cowardly terrorists targeting civilian populations to scare our nation into submission. This all comes to us as our nation grows economically strong and prosperous, we are at the height of our economic growth and the fearful attackers wish to stop us, they wish to spit upon our sovereignty and throw us into a new dark age!" Her last words left a bitter sting in the room that left out an echo of whispers and gasps, never had the peaceful Prime Minister spoken with such anger.

Soulia Constantindes composed herself once again, and continued to speak. "The Ministry of Intelligence has been searching for the cause of these attacks and the men who have acted, it has been determined that they belong to a nameless terrorist group being supported by a state or corporation, and being the only lead currently available to us, the President and I have used emergency powers to authorize the navy to deploy and prepare for defensive manoeuvres." A collective gasp went through the room, yet the military officials did not flinch, nor did their stares waver from the Prime Minister.

"Let it be known that on this day, The Incorporated States of Rephesus was brutally and mercilessly attacked by a shadowy organization which aims to destabilize and deteriorate our great democracy! The lives of thousands have already been lost in the North to an attack on a chemical plant which was providing the exact necessary strain used for preemptive research into curing malaria, now the lead scientists are dead, and work has been set back decades." This brought a gruff mumble from the University Officials present in the front row.

"Let it be known that on this day terrorists had destroyed the greatest monument of our faith! Let it be known that the Great Cathedral of Opistaloth has been decimated to ruin, and hundreds of worshipers killed in communion with their God as it happened. The very church in which Emperor Rephesus I, our greatest savour was baptized in. The very church that stood as the last frontier of Rephesus in the Hitahdjan war of the 18th century! The Archbishop of Rephesus was killed on his knees praying for the people of Rephesus, and the savages destroyed his home as he spoke to God!" In the far right of the room, stood 18 Rephite bishops who were tearing up and crossing themselves passionately, beside them stood new priests whom had recently arrived from The Protestant Orthodoxy, the bishops may have held different faiths, but they stood and cried quietly, together, an embrace of faith and emotion that could be felt throughout the room.

However passionate her last words were, they did not match the sheer fervour of her statement on the Cathedral, the very same place her and her parents were baptized. "Despite the brutality seen in these attacks, the terrorists went even further! They did not stop at holy men or scientists wishing to cure the world, but rather thy continued their crusade against freedom and human life when they vehemently attacked and destroyed a school bus in the capital district of Agora, mere miles from where we stand today. Let it me known that 43 children were decimated by a chemical attack that ripped apart their school bus and killed 25 bystanders immediately, along with another 82 following the release of toxins into the atmosphere. These savages attacked and killed our children! And not only the children of Rephesus, but the terrorists specifically targeted children headed to Agora's own Auriel Private Elementary School for International Students, of the 43 killed, 22 of them were children of foreign diplomats, ambassadors and service staff who work and live in the embassy district!" In the back of the room, one man could not hold in his emotion any more, The Erjunhite Ambassador's wail was heard throughout the room, as he had just lost his Eight year old daughter, Alesia Stavros. Soulia Constantindes continued, "This was an attack on Rephesus and it's friends! A ruthless attempt to ostracize us from our Sondrian Brothers and Sisters! And we shall not stand for it!" Shouts of anger and passion rang out through the room calling for action. Several ministers stood from their seats and yelled calling for action, for justice and most prominently, for blood.

"Ministers, Generals, Bishops, Excellencies! Brothers and Sisters all! I come bearing more than an analysis of today's ground shaking events! I come bearing a report from the Ministry of Intelligence! A disk was found containing extremely helpful information," One man yelled 'forgery', he was believed to be the representative sent from Hitahdja, his voice was quickly silenced. "This Disk," She repeated, with vigour bolstering her words "contains the exact coordinates of multiple staging camps of the terrorists! And I can say with full confidence that this was not an internal attack! This was not a political statement! This was the work of arab-speaking terrorists staging themselves out of the otherwise peaceful confederation of city states to our west, by the name of Ektasli!" The cries for treason, betrayal and war rang out immediately. The Ektasli representative was already guarded beside the Prime Minister's podium, after one minister threw a pen in his direction, the Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, Andronius Farintalis, was forced to act.

"Silence Ministers! Silence I say!" And as he beat the hammer usually reserved for the speaker down onto a mallet, it's echoes rang through the speakers. Prime Minister Constantindes mumbled a 'thank you' before continuing.

"I can assure you that the Ektasli City States have not been proven to be the ones supporting this war, nevertheless their lack of an organized military and defence force has forced our hand! We must deal with these terrorists in a land which cannot control it's own!" This causes more reserved cheers and a scowl from the Ektasli delegate, which quickly was erased as the Prime Minister continued.

"As we speak the Rephite Navy has been mobilized in the Rephite Sea. We only require a majority vote from the elected ministers here to bring the bid for intervention to quorum and pass a bill allowing us to bring the battle to the oppressors!" Cheers rung out again, this time many ministers stood to leave, but the gates to the door remained barred, and thus they stood in place.

"I am officially using my emergency powers to call a vote without any interruptions! Would any whom oppose this bill please speak now or forever hold your peace." The change of tone left an air of satire to envelope the present ministers. There were a few solitary voices who yelled 'nay' but they were quickly hushed as their party leaders remained silent.

"And now those whom approve the bill" Within seconds the Chamber went mad with 'Aye's and calls for 'Justice!' and 'War!', needless to say the order was passed on to High Command, but when Soulia Constantindes turned to her left, she found the Minister of Commerce no where in sight.

ISRS Deliverance, Outside Ektasli 09:35PM
11 Miles from Coast, Rephite Sea
Aerus, Sondria

The Deimos Submarines were below the sea waiting for orders from their respective flagships. Outside Ektasli City, a submarine crew spoke only when absolutely necessary. The Ektasli naval force hadn't even been detected, many in the fleet speculated they had nothing more than a municipal police force. Yet order were orders, and Captain Imanos Sulinarious felt better that their payloads were not nuclear, as he feared when he was first given the assignment.

The reports from AWACs and other advanced recon had stated they would find no organized military, and that the Ektaslish were not a formal military target, however it was necessary to ensure they conformed to Rephite Supervision. Like most officers he didn't question the orders and suppressed his personal thoughts, rather he passed on the information to his subordinates.

The Deimos Strategic Missile Submarines were made by Myrmidon Tactical Design, and thus they were made well. The 22,000 ton whale was 200 metres long, and accommodated a maximum of 150 crew and officers, however Captain Sulinarious was commanding a mere 80 men on this short term deployment. Rather than the regular 6 month submersion of a regular Deimos, Sulinarious has been under water at their current depth of 600 metres for a mere week and a half. He was surprised to find out that the submarine was capable of launching 24 400 Kiloton Nuclear Warheads in one sitting, this was a tremendous amount of force that could essentially level most nations in minutes, however to use such force on such an underprepared and strategically viable target would be expensive and morally tragic.

As his thoughts wondered, an ensign working the communications yelled out, "Sir! Sir the Admir-"

"What did she say?" He snapped to attention and crossed the distance to the communications area. "Did you confirm?"

Before the ensign could answer, the communications panel lit up and the voice of Admiral Liona Zemeuassa filled the room. "Attention all Captains, Operation Harvest is authorized, prepare to launch your full payloads at the preselected targets in exactly 24 minutes."

"Twenty Four Minutes?" mumbled another communications officer to Sulinarious' left, "Why wait?"

"We have a lock, sir!" Confirmed a targeting crew leader metres away. "We will fire as soon as you give the command."

Captain Sulinarious looked at the live satellite imagery of Ektasli City, the Capital of Ektasli, it was hideous in comparison to Agora's lush gardens, statue filled streets and various lake-side beaches, but in it's on way Ektasli City had a rugged independent look to it. This city will look the same, no, better, when we are done with it. And then he thought of the reports from home, the children who were killed 43 children and thousands of others, he didn't move his eyes from the map.

"Sir-"
He snapped his head up.
"-23 minutes."
He sighed.

Chairman's Penthouse, Capital High Risers 11:35PM
Agora, Rephesus
Aerus, Sondria

"Ah. Home at last," Andronius Farintalis muttered as he picked up his remote and turned on the fireplace. He could hear his wife snoring from their bedroom across the apartment, so instead of going in to change he stripped off his suit and sat in his Unilisian Banshee leather recliner and flipped on the television, it immediately went to the emergency news channels, as most smart TVs would at this time. On the large plasma screen was the face of President Andreas Vassallo and his 'live' speech with who else but Andronius Farintalis on his right hand side. Andronius let out a quite chuckle as the President made art of his script.

President Vassallo had a knack for public speaking, he could be given a list of points and give a three hour seminar in multiple languages, however such a task was not so easily done when grief stricken and under immense stress, as the Rephite leader was.

"We stand on the cliff of stability, below us lies the deep and dark trenches of anarchy, and above us the great pedestal of democracy that we stood atop mere hours ago. However we have been running to the edge of the cliff, trying to outrun the seemingly unbeatable boulder that is terrorism. Today, people of Rephesus, I give you an option. We can jump, into disarray and conformity, letting the boulders crush us and our enemies reign over us," he paused and looked directly at the camera, directly at Andronius, "Or, we could stop running, turn around and push the boulder out of our great nation and down the abyss it belongs in!"

Andronius was one of the few people in Rephesus who personally couldn't stand the constant analogies of the President, but frankly he needed to remain consistent, so he resorted to writing such an analogy on the script. He almost laughed when the President compared the Ektaslish to a peoples whom were 'hanging on by a thread'. And when he told them that after the speech, which he stated soldiers were watching, the invasion would begin.

"So oblivious" Andronius muttered. The people would never know that the military was already dropping into Ektasli's cities, already laying waste to their pathetic defences, for they needed the anticipation he had been feeling for the entire day. They would, however, find out that the President's speech was nearly identical to the Prime Minister's plead to the People's Chamber and Greater House.

He flipped the channel to an infomercial for Erjunhite cigars and pulled out his phone, with a grin on his face.

Department of Inquiry, Bureau of Investigation, 7:43PM
Agora, Rephesus
Aerus, Sondria

Aleosus Rajelion was nervous. He was angry, no he was pissed off. He simply could not believe what had just happened. In a few short hours Rephesus was thrown into a state of disarray, marshal law was put into place and the nation was going crazy. The reports were flooding in from across the nation, thousands dead and rising from the chemicals in the north.

"Alpha, report!" He roared, but as forty voices rang out at once, he didn't even bother asking Bravo team.

The headlines on the main screens kept flashing and changing, until finally he could focus, he saw a man with a black suit and a low fedora walk in.

Aleosus wanted to rush over and ring his frustrations around that man's neck, but instead he stood firm and waited to see why security would let such a suspicious man through. A sigh released from his lips as he went down the supervisors elevated platform to greet the man.

"Ahem." He cleared his throat, but the man walked directly passed him, not even noticing that the captain of the Bureau had just left his important, albeit unproductive, work to meet him. This was a snub by any means, the man simply placed a disk on the desk of the refreshment area in the primary research sector, beside the coffee machine, turned around and promptly walked out.

Aleosus' jaw quite literally dropped at the odd action, and his eyes traced the mans steps until he left through a completely separate set of doors than that which he had came through. A quite beep that went off every minute reminded him it was now 7:45 and he was wasting precious time. He looked down to see atleast twenty researchers staring blankly at the disk, or the door.

"What?" He demanded, "you've never seen a fedora before? Get back to work!"

As he took several strides forward, he lifted the disk that had the letter 'Q' written on it. This certainly is evidence, he thought to himself, and thus he watched.

Ektasli Territorial Waters, 9:59PM
Ektasli City, Ektasli
Aerus, Sondria

He eyed the clock, it read "17:59:58"

Captain Sulinarious took a breath.

"Fire!"

by **Quirina** » Fri Dec 06, 2013 5:19 am

Excerpt from the LIBEV Communications International Newsgroup Page

LIBEV Communications International
Liberty, Equality, Truth

'Q' suitcase is not Quirina's package

After reviewing reports of terrorist attacks at Rephesus, the government of Quirina finally broke the silence as the controversy in Quirina's government suddenly sparked after months of secrecy from intelligence reports away from the media's radar.

The 'Q' suitcase, one of the most controversial objects of criticism to Quirina's credibility in regional affairs, national security and espionage capability, sparked a widespread debate about the government's actions of defending the region's interests, especially after the formation of the Fraternas Confederation and admission to the Imperium.

There were many naysayers and defenders in the heated debate whether it was Quirina's actions, or just pure coincidence. The side of the antagonists from the peoples' side of the story suspected the government to be "too aggressive to undertake progressive measures and spread the word of their new-formed alliance, which brings newer problems to Quirina's neutrality in regional affairs." On the contrary, the defending side only mentioned "the government as a subject of everyday criticism and the 'Q' suitcase is only one of the objects of everyday critique against the government from the opposition elements in the administration of Alexander."

Political analyst Stephen Marshall mentioned that there were specific disadvantages in the controversy: the government's lessened credibility to sustain a reputable espionage ability, weakened capability to ensure national security, lessened reputation in regional affairs, and the trust of the people to their government.

However, Quirina National Armed Forces spokesperson Emilie Druconcy released photographs and satellite images of the locations of the conspirators at the Lequite bombing, proving that Quirina's involvement in the crisis is a hoax. At the lighter side, the Curule President Alexander also released his late condolences to the victims of the bombing and promised to send humanitarian assistance to the Rephite victims, and also promised to cooperate in the investigation by sending the photographs to the Rephite intelligence agency.

by **Erjunhuf** » Fri Dec 06, 2013 3:22 pm

Presidential Office, The Executive Mansion
Carthage, Erjunhuf
5:25 EST

Thousands of miles and four timezones away from the capital of Rephesus, newly elected President Kyra Blackridge and the rest of her Cabinet watched the Rephite Prime Minister deliver her speech in silence. What had started as an ordinary day had rapidly turned tragic as news from Rephesus spread throughout the region, potentially throwing the entire continent of Aerus into chaos in mere hours. Misha Callahan, Minister of State, visibly winced as he recognized the wailing of Nicholas Stavros, the Erjunhite Ambassador to Rephesus: word had already spread throughout the State Ministry that Stavros' daughter had been one of the 43 victims of the school bus bombing earlier that day. Most Erjunhites were known for their calm reserve and passive exterior, but losing a daughter to a terrorist attack was enough to destroy any man. Other cries, for war and blood and revenge, became more and more audible as the Rephite government threw itself into a frenzy, reverberating loudly from the television before the President switched it off, tossing the TV remote aside in frustration.

"Shit." The first word spoken by Blackridge in the last hour summed up the general feeling of the room. "What's the situation on the ground?"

"To call it tense would be putting it lightly." James Spurrier, the Minister of Defense, spoke up. "Our intelligence network on the ground in Aerus is reporting a massive mobilization of Rephite armed forces in reaction to the events of today. It's increasingly likely that we'll see a military reprisal on one of their neighbors, especially if there are further attacks. I would highly recommend that we raise the alertness of ERA forces currently stationed in Crontor, in the event we need to send them in."

Blackridge nodded. "Agreed. Raise our military readiness level for all of our forces in the general Sondrian region, and take steps to ensure they're ready for deployment. I want options on my desk first thing tomorrow morning." Turning to the State Minister, she added, "Be sure to send the Rephite government our condolences and ensure that they are aware of our support, Misha. And for the love of the Ardú, recall Stavros back home: the man is in no condition to properly act as ambassador in his current state. We'll go forward from there tomorrow once we get more information."

"Yes ma'am." Callahan replied quickly, standing up to leave. He made it to the great oaken doors of the Presidential Office before turning around to face the people inside once more. "What kind of support am I ensuring their government, exactly?"

"Military aid, of course." The President responded simply. "Melegean blood, from a child no less, has been spilled in a foreign land, and I have no intention of abandoning our ally in their time of need. Honor dictates action."

"But would it not be simpler to leave this matter to Rephesus? They surely have the assets to deal with this crisis adeq-" Blackridge cut off the State Minister with a sharp look and an atypically loud "No!" before standing up and walking back to her desk, leaning over the vast amounts of paperwork and clenching her fists before she turned back around, lowering her voice as she continued her reply. "Don't you see, Misha? Rephesus is a republic, one of the few that exist in Sondria. Empires, monarchies, despots: these are the nations that we must otherwise deal with, nations that do not share our political nor our cultural beliefs. We are the oldest republic in the region, as well as perhaps the most powerful: it is therefore our sworn duty to protect the younger members of this democratic fraternity. To do any less would be an insult to our traditions and way of life. Do you understand now?"

Aware that the entire room was now looking at him, Misha uncomfortably nodded his head in assent before awkwardly withdrawing from the room, much to the amusement of the Defense Minister. Spurrier chuckled softly, pulling out a cigar from his jacket pocket as the rest of the Cabinet, sensing that the meeting was essentially over, slowly filed out. "I'll never understand why you picked that man as your Minister of State, Kyra."

"His job is to argue against military involvement whenever possible, James." Blackridge replied tiredly, sitting back down in her chair. "I may not have agreed with President Archer on everything, but his emphasis on diplomacy and peaceful interaction was right. I can only hope that this situation will resolve itself without the need for bloodshed."

As if right on cue, a staffer entered the room, handing the President a memo. It only took her a moment to read over the entire thing before she set it down sorrowfully. "We have unconfirmed reports that Rephesus just began combat operations in Ektasli."

"I'll get those plans to you as soon as possible tomorrow morning, and brief you on the situation." Spurrier promised as he stood up, lighting up his cigar as he exited the room. "We'll find a suitable option."

"I hope so." Kyra replied, taking another glance at the memo before turning the television back on; news of the Rephite military strikes were already making their way onto the news. It was going to be a long night.

by **Buddha C** » Sun Dec 08, 2013 12:47 pm

Code: Select all

IC: Ektasli

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Ektasli City, Ektasli

The Mayor of Ekstalsi City went to bed early, the ex-misses having worn him out with demands of money for her children which she would use on herself. She was such a damned whore. In a daze an aid shook him awake, he slapped the boy in sheer anger. "What the hell is your problem!?" In seconds a half dozen armed Rephites soldiers with automatic weapons picked him out of his bed, "What's going on!" He screamed, the hall ways filled with shocked and crying women secretaries, many of which had children, secretly, by him. They took the de facto head of state outside, where hundreds of thousands were gathered so far most likely couldn't physically see him. But the audio systems were more than loud enough, a piece of paper was handed to the head Mayor, along with the nudge of a gun. "Ekstalsi formally accepts internal and external administration by the greater entity of Rephesus." As his word went a cloud of pink brain matter and red blood puffed from the left ear, his partly capsized head and body falling off the banner to landing on state grounds with a crunch. Drops of blood belatedly trickling down from the balcony.

Fahişe Köyü, Ektalsi

A fat Jewish looking man sweated, unlike most of his sea-wise compatriots, was on the Phone. "So you're going to give me my money right? Like, the rest of it?"

"You ignorant Stöyö, haven't we shown you!? And quit with all the language, be vague before I have my aunt bake you a cake!"

"Please, don't kill me!"

A modified voice on the other end sighed, all scrambled, "Shut up. Do what you have to do. It will come soon."

"Okay, okay. Just... my family."

"Being a fucking Stöyö won't help them any." The staticy voice hung up the line.

"Shit." The Jew-looker, Stöyö, did in fact have the shady demeanour of the typical of a Jew. Nose and all. A loud screech came over the city, the fat man diving to the government floor. The ground shook as more screeches came, followed by the constant churning of the ground. Trinkets and glass statues fell all over, shattering and spreading their semi-harmless shrapnel across the room. One fell close, too close. He could feel part of this very building crumbling down, the tumult finally ended with some screams. But on the other side of the building. Relieved he sighed, with sincere happiness he thought about his family safe in Rephesus. It took an hour for everything to be over, on sheer instinct he went to he balcony to purview the landscape. His people had gathered, all of the city's glass lying broken on the street.

Some began chanting, eventually it would become a unified and repeated question, "What now?" The city, minutes ago loud with detonating bombs was now a cacophony of political participation.

To the balcony's left lay a destroyed police station, most of the officers had abandoned their stations or were in the station itself. Uniforms bodies and tangled cars mark the ruins. He slowly put the microphone to his face, the large crowd hushed like a wave the further away back penumbra the last to fall silent. He spoke, not as a familyman, not as a betrayer, but now as Mayor of Köyü. "We surrender." Some wails went out, some cries, some joys. One thing was for sure tonight. Everyone was getting drunk, for sorrow or joy.

Olduktan, Ektalsi

In this town a group of a hundred dry to defend the lake-borne invasion, but they either fall or run away. At the end of it they stood for perhaps five minutes, leading to twenty-eight confirmable kills.

Amerikalılar-bok-gibi-Kokuyorsun, Ektalsi

Mouhamed Al-Dereh woke up to sirens, his shaking him as the children rushed. All he could make out from the loud crying and wife's high-pitched scream was, "Remain within your homes!" It sounded like rioting, the earth itself was shaking and a clarion from Allah periodically bursting in the air which brought forth so many mini-earthquakes. It would all slowly stop, the family and property safe as they closed their eyes and slept all together. Mouhamed and his wife barely slept at all.

The next morning the T.V. would turn on when one of the kids tried it at home, a beautiful tanned analyst highlighting the war. "Well, John, we haven't seen fighting like this since the Hitahs invaded. I mean, if anything we should be welcoming them. It would be a short time before the Muslem freaks re-overwhelmed us." Mouhamed was angered by this, his people were put down almost constantly by the dirty Christians. They had no idea how much worse it could get. "Hell most jobs are opening today!" And he was made delighted. There would be no civil war.

"Well the companies are Rephite, of course they knew and supported this! Marissa this entire thing is absolute horse shit, I mean this is a damn-" Al-Dereh's wife turned off the T.V., the children she didn't want to hear such words. Mouhamed went off to work in his old car. He would see soldiers of Rephesus on every corner, a tank at the major intersections proudly flying what must have been a non-standard issue sized Rephite national flag. It felt ambivalent and had yet to make up his mind, but going against such advanced and exotic weaponry did not feel instinctively in his best interests. His usually commute of half an hour was elongated to an hour an half by the bog at each check point, which he vehemently cursed with what he thought was Allah's support. At work he would be asked for his fingerprints and other forms by a new registrar, he didn't know why but he complied like the rest of his co-workers. He had a feeling the metal kill-boxes at intersections had something to do with it.

-Fin des Ektalsi-

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IC: The Protestant Orthodoxy of Sondria

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Agora, Rephesus

The Protestant priests heard the story of the loyal Archbishop. It shook them to their core. Even if the fools had mistakenly follow the wrong texts, their Faith in the One true God was clearly adequate. It was as if the Protestant God had filled them which as much Zeal as any real Protestant. They had to be one and the same, to incite such Holiness. The priests, so ignorant of Islam's writings, 'knew' such an Infidel equivalent example would be unfathomable. For merely they followed too perverse, too incorrect a 'faith'. All this Religious talk made the priests fervent, to the point of Ebullience. They shouted, holding up their Bibles in the right hand, "Let us Pray!" They took in the Orthodox Rephites, a hum of chants as the Rephite Church leaders took their turns. "This day must mark a Collaboration of Faith, even if we cannot say each and every aspect of our respective religions are the same, we must agree that the God we worship is one in the same! There could be no other explanation for an Archbishop's verve the Lord!"

by **Rephesus** » Tue Dec 10, 2013 7:59 pm

FEATURED ARTICLE: TERRORISTS STRIKE REPHESUS
Thousands Dead in Multiple Bombings!
^{06 December 2013 | By Grobeni Alleijuvro (Follow @GAllej_RPHSNN) (RPHSNN)}

Chamber of Commerce right before Prime Minister Soulia Constantindes Addresses the Federal Government

Agora, Rephesus —

On August 31st, the nation was shaken by an explosion in the Astrix World Headquarters in Lequite, the terrorist attacks that took place today dwarfed those.

With the first attack taking place at 10:00 AM on the Morning of the 6th, a giant chemical research facility was destroyed by a massive explosion originating from a newly imported reactor core that was installed minutes before the attack. The dead from this were initially ~640 from the plant and surrounding areas, and it raised to a staggering 1483 after chemicals and pathogens were spread through the air directly following the explosion. The attacker was not identified, and the eighteen lead scientists on the Malaria Cure project were subsequently decimated along with nearly all traces of their work, pushing back research several years.

UPDATE: Another explosion was witnessed in the western Holy city of Opistaloth where the Great Cathedral of Rephesus, the nation's most iconic religious structure, was utterly decimated as a commercial truck parked near the place of worship exploded, killing the Archbishop of Rephesus, 23 other Bishops and approximately 400 other worshipers who were in the midst of prayer, during the morning mass.

UPDATE: Most horrifically, a bus full of children of diplomats and ambassadors leaving Agora's Capital district exploded ending the lives of 43 young people and nearly 50 around the bus. Most notable deaths include Alesia Stavros (8) Daughter of Ambassador Stavros of Erjunhuf, Johnathan Breo (11) Son of Eagleland's Ambassador Juliano Breo and Gregory Resipartanté (6) son of the Speaker of The People's Chamber, Tylon Resipartanté. I addition, 19 other children of the 43 belonged to Foreign Diplomats and Diplomatic Staff.

UPDATE: Prime Minister Soulia Constantindes has just recently finished addressing the People's Chamber and Greater House calling a nearly-unanimious vote for intervention in the anarchical neighbour state of Ektasli, where the terrorists are known to be hiding. A full report on her speech can be found here.

UPDATE:Immediately following this, the active military was deployed across Rephesus to maintain martial law and order, particularly in major cities such as Agora and Lequite.

Grobeni Alleijuvro reported from Agora, Rephesus. Other reports were compiled from across the nation.

BREAKING NEWS: REPHITE TROOPS CAPTURE EKTASLI CITY
Ektasli Secured under Rephite Supervision!
^{09 December 2013 | By Grobeni Alleijuvro (Follow @GAllej_RPHSNN) (RPHSNN)}

Declassified Military Image of a Checkpoint, courtesy of The Ministry of Defence and the Bureau of Investigation

Ektasli City, Ektasli —
Early this morning it was announced that the campaign that had started yesterday evening was near a close. The four mayors of the Cities of Ektasli have all signed agreements to dissolve their governments and allow Rephite Forces to pursue terrorists responsible for Friday's attacks. Official Correspondent Lt. Harland has announced the intention of the armed forces to ensure the Ektaslish cities remain functional so that a referendum may be held.

The Cities of Ektasli City, Fahişe Köyü, Olduktan and Amerikalılar-bok-gibi-Kokuyorsun have all been peacefully integrated under military supervision. Exact reports of the military operation still remain confidential, however the press was told that an ariel and naval landing was made and soldiers established checkpoints, currently Ektaslish citizens have been returning to their regular lives with minimum military intervention.

Outside the cities, various border points with Rephesus' long standing friend, Rustonia, have been peacefully transferred to military occupation and settlements are continuously being entered and nonviolently searched. The military estimates they have terminated threats north of 40% of the terrorist body in Ektasli.

More reports to come soon

Grobeni Alleijuvro reported from Agora, Rephesus. Ground Reports were released from Press Correspondent Lieutenant Julia Harland in Ektasli City.

To Influence a Nation [Terror War](Closed/Sondria)

To Influence a Nation [Terror War](Closed/Sondria)

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