The Manifesto

by **New Edom** » Sun Aug 21, 2011 5:35 pm

Manifesto of Liberation

We the undersigned, represent the Student Unions, the Young Congressionals Association, the Unions of Machinists and Steelworkers, the Unions of Factory Workers, the Association of Joiners,National Council for the Liberation of Women, the Fellowship of Fishermen in Fineberg, Lookinghaven, Harbourtown and Sterry.

We insist that the following issues be dealt with fairly and openly in public meeting with government representatives.

1. That Andrea Benjamin was unjustly arrested and put in jail for protesting an antiquated law that permits men to wear modern bathing suits or shorts without shirts in public but requires women to be covered from the calves to the neck. We insist that Andrea Benjamin be released from house arrest and that the Modesty Act be reviewed independently.
2. That Susannah Mord, Christian Mord, Matthew Cronar and Philip Daniels be released from Stonehaven Prison to stand trial for their accusation of the attempted murder of President William Touchstone. If there is evidence enough to arrest them there is evidence enough to convict them according to the law.
3. That comprehensive sex education become mandatory in schools. The rate of teenage pregnancy can be more attributed to ignorance on the part of young people who have no alternatives to the only schooling available to the average New Edomite than to any promiscuity.
4. That Gabrielle Balaam, who was nominated following general election for the Supreme Court and disqualified for homosexual allegations, be accepted as the legal and rightful nominee for the position. We insist that qualified persons must fulfill offices regardless of race, creed or sexual orientation.
5. We insist that due process of law be followed in an open and honest way in all criminal matters and that the rights and privileges of the Council Police to arrest people for suspect or potential crimes against the state be curtailed.
6. We insist that public morality should be defined as what might cause actual physical harm or nonconsenting sexual involvement, and that the state has no right to arbitrate what constitutes morality beyond the basic social contract of law.
7. We insist upon release of all political prisoners and them being arraigned for public trial or complete freedom.

We call upon the Government of New Edom, being:
King Mark Obed
President William Touchstone
Attorney-General Sarah Carmel
Police Minister John Kohath

To receive and respond to this manifesto of liberation and commence negotiations forthwith.

(signed: the 125,000 students and union workers presenting the petition)

Flashback: The Arrest of Susannah Mord and her Companions

It was a cool day for summer; it was all the clouds and a strong sea breeze. The capital was probably one of the areas the civil war had touched least, and it was a busy place of business, government and transport, the only international airport, a major riverway, railway hub…and it was also a pretty city too, with open boulevards lined with acacia and willow trees. Signs advertising the new amusement park and shopping center rose flashing over the streets. It was a blend of old and new: little marketplaces where grannies in kerchiefs and toe length black dresses shuffled pouching their mouths over the price of pomegranates and fish while foreign tourists stared at the sight of sow’s udders on sale. This not a block from a new movieplex showing the latest action and drama movies from exotic regions outside Tyrrhenia or places within like Riemaia.

A graying haired man with a lined face and weary eyes in a somewhat old fashioned business suit had bought a paper off a boy who ran a little newsstand on the corner of a street from just such a market, and scanned the headlines. “GRAND CELEBRATION OF UNITY!” With the front picture showing a smiling President Touchstone shaking hands with King Mark Obed and the Archbishop making a benediction. “Excuse me,” a voice said from behind him, as he walked slowly reading the paper. A young woman, dressed in a foreign fashion, her knee high boots high heeled, thrusting up her hips and showing off a saucy bottom swaying in a miniskirt that came so high up her thighs it was dangerously close to revealing the style of her panties, her blouse hugging a sumptuous bosom, dark hair floating around her slender neck. She smiled at him. “Don’t walk into a lamppost, grandpa!”
“Bah, dress decently!” he snapped at her. Their eyes met a moment, and then she moved on; across the street. Cars honked at her as she went. A taxi driver almost ran into her and the driver cursed her; she snapped back. He pulled over the curb and got out, staring after her.

He walked on a little and glanced up as there was a wail of sirens; two motorcycles were rounding the corner and following them was a limousine flying the New Edomite flag. The man dropped his newspaper. The taxi suddenly accelerated into the road, driving against the motorcycle escort. There was a bright flash and then it seemed dust and smoke rolled over the road, obscuring everything, a great thump immediately following that shook the pavement and the air itself. The man rushed towards the overturned limo, pulling out a machine pistol from his coat, his teeth clenched; his movements not so old now, and the girl was up, placing a charge on the door. They dropped aside; every second was precious, the shuddering rending of the door quickly over; in the increase of smoke they peered in. The ‘old man’ stared at the battered groaning man inside.

It wasn’t him.

The wounds piercing them made them fall as though they’d suddenly been unable to keep standing; the girl was not so pretty suddenly, trying to gasp for air, her eyes staring like an animal’s as she started pissing herself on the dirty rubble strewn pavement. A helicopter was moving overhead, stirring the smoke and dust, and the man stared up, ironically at the faint sight of a sniper who had moved to the edge of a roof. He tried to reach into his jacket but before he could he could see black clad figures rushing up through the crowd, one of them kicking his hand brutally aside, snapping his fingers like twigs. He screamed. His shock had loosened him just long enough for that. It had not even been President Touchstone in the car. Some actor, some double. Some had died, and others would be imprisoned, interrogated, for nothing. They knew. But how?

Flashback: The Interrogation

Flashback: The Arrest of Andrea Benjamin

by **Helladria** » Sun Aug 21, 2011 11:10 pm

When it made it onto the internet, the Manifesto of Liberation spread rapidly around the campuses of Helladria. Idealistic students already knew well the basic idea behind the Andrea Benjamin story, though a great many naïve young Helladrians were unclear on the nature of the her original protest. They could believe that she was protesting discrimination, but to them it was just too outlandish to believe that someone was barred from showing their ankles in public just because they could become pregnant. Instead, what most people latched onto was the subject of free speech.

Students at universities all over the Helladric Empire took to imitating the infamous clothing Andrea wore when she was arrested. Translucent sheer clothing was being donned by students as they walked around their campuses, handing out fliers, signing petitions, holding vigils and demonstrating in various other audacious ways. They went to their classes dressed the same way, often distracting their professors or sometimes even their own students. It didn’t take long for the administrators of most of the schools to become involved, trying to bring enough order that they could claim that the classrooms were still a viable learning environment. After a lot of heated debate and protesting, they were able to get most activists to compromise and at least wear underpants to class, which was quickly interpreted to include g-strings.

“Don’t support fundamentalist theocrats!” some students yelled using what ever elevated platform was at hand as a soap box.

“Support free speech!”, “Free Andrea Benjamin!”, “Equal rights for all!” were common cries shouted between classes.

Protesters stood in the cafeterias, outside their own classrooms, and in front of the larger auditoriums as students came and went from the rooms. Many had petitions or fliers in hand.

“Excuse me,” one student at Haumann University in Willegen said to groups filing into one of the large classrooms. Her long red hair hung well past her shoulders, and it was easy to lose yourself staring into her soft blue eyes. Her figure was shapely, every bump and curve of which was clearly visible as the thin, white fabric hugged her form. “Do you know about what’s happening in New Edom?”

“That’s where that protester was arrested, right?” one boy asked.

“Yes!” she exclaimed, in a bubbly tone, shifting under her clothing. Amongst Helladrians, such behavior would be a touch odd, but feminine behavior amongst women in Ashria was still fairly normal and usually enjoyed by the men. “Andrea Benjamin was protesting for equal rights in New Edom, when ohs was arrested under trumped up charges. It’s a violation of ohr human right to free speech. Will you sign my petition then?”

“Is it that manifesto written up in New Edom? ‘Cause I already signed that one.”

“No this one is to the Helladric government telling them to stop supporting nations that oppress people based upon their sex, prohibit protests, and arrest people without legal justification.”

“Oh. Well, I’m pretty sure I signed that one too.”

“How certain are you? We have some tables just inside the Humanities building where we’re trying to get a copy of every petition on the subject. Last I heard there are five circulating around the campus. When you have a chance, please come and see which ones you’ve signed, and then you can sign the rest. Pleeeaaase,” she said with a big grin that drew attention away from even her comely body.

With a growing wave of sympathizers, the petitions began collecting signatories at an exponential rate. Within only a day of circulation, the Manifesto of Liberation collected three hundred thousand signatures in universities across Helladria, and many more would be added over the next series of weeks. Every major school was involved including such notables as the University of Corsyd, Southern Helladrian University located in Knothene, Haumann University located in Willegen, the University of Ossdorn, Helladrian University in Karaksov, Katsaros University located in Anethis, the University of Hoogebrord, and Marinos University located in Mykacea. Other petitions had already been circulating, some of which collected more than a million signatures in only a couple of weeks. Students across Helladria threw their support to Andrea, who they believed was a victim of an oppressive authoritarian state.

by **New Edom** » Mon Aug 22, 2011 4:21 pm

Michaela and Maria were the best of friends; Michaela was slim and long bodied wearing a loose fitting muslin shirt, not as delicate as the one that Andrea Benjamin had been wearing, but there were two reasons for it: it had been woven in New Edom, and it wasn’t made in a sweat shop. It was modest enough but kind of hippyish; it somehow made her long light brown hair and slim build romantic, along with her large sensitive eyes. She laughed easily and was kind, Maria had often described her as the kindest person in the world. Maria herself was more curvy, more sturdy, more earthy though equally good humored.

“So what is it?” Isssachar, the Student’s Union President asked. “Is Touchstone just too old?”

“No, no,” said Maria, “It’s just that he’s trapped in a different mentality. Age has nothing to do with revolution! There are professors on our side, people who’ve been working with the union for ages…”

Bern was arguing with Absalom. “We need to be shocking in the way that we confront the authorities. But what I’m seeing is a number of different approaches coming together out of necessity, so we aren’t putting all of our eggs into one basket.”

“Why can we not be more patient?” argued Absalom. “Writing letters and petitions—there are probably thousands of names on a petition saying that Andrea Benjamin should be freed and that the assassins who tried to attack Touchstone should be put on trial if they are alive.”

From: Princess Saxon Shalmaneser, Ambassador to Helladria
To: Natazs Photi, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs

Madame Secretary,

I wonder if it would be possible to have a meeting with you as soon as possible regarding matters of state. In particular this would be pertaining to student protests in both Helladria and in New Edom, but also regarding cooperation between our two nations in operations in Mallarctaia.

Thank you hoping you or your staff can advise me as to a time, place of meeting,

Princess Saxon Shalmaneser,
Ambassador

Bern swore. “Petitions—fuck! You don’t get it!” the others were all listening to him. “This has to be a confrontation! Look, don’t you study history? Touchstone won’t see how unjust his people are being until we confront them. Mark will isolate himself even more from the people unless he’s forced to open the doors of the palace and face the facts! It’s got to be sprawled on every newspaper! And we have to do it now while peacekeepers are still here.”

“Hush…listen…” Maria said, holding her hands up.

They could hear faint sounds in the streets. It sounded strange at first, like some muffled roaring and people shouting something. “Affer Rabbin!” the voices seemed to be saying. But then they could hear more clearly, and it sounded like someone was screaming, “Free Andrea Benjamin!”

“My God, it’s started already,” cried Maria, her red hair flying as she rose up flying like an autumn flame. “Come on, let’s go!”

There were different groups taking to the streets. The main student groups were out in street clothes, school uniforms and the like, holding banners and flags and signboards that read such things as “Freedom Now!” “Give us REAL Elections!” “No More Theocracy!” “Women Have a Right to be FREE!” There were also bands and musicians. Near Fineberg University there was a sense of folk concert as buskers began jamming together and got a bunch of the students, unionists and observers singing “This is my Song” together, which was becoming an anthem of the protest movement. In a few places there were open fights as more conservative students or workers walked up cursing “You lazy lousy bums, don’t you know that stupid Benjamin bitch is going to trial? What more do you want, you fucking commies?”
Sometimes they were just laughed at or argued with, but in other cases fistfights broke out; they were mostly quickly broken up by nearby security teams, cops or more often by citizens’ groups that had been formed to keep violence to a minimum.
More radical groups were out on the streets as well. Maria, Michaela, Bern, Issachar, Absalom and others had taken to the streets wearing the very kind of clothing Andrea had worn—flowing pants and long shirt or dress depending on gender, which was almost transparent. There were a few bare chested or even nude, including a young couple hand in hand who had written on their bare bellies and backs, “My Body is Not Obscene” with “My Country’s Policies are Obscene”.

In the Palace of Justice, where President Touchstone and his cabinet had their interim headquarters, the government was starting to wonder what was going on. Touchstone himself along with leading members of cabinet was busy dealing with plans to visit Mallarctaia and planning also for visits to Inutoland, Helladria, Ali-Zebu and Ossurwald, and in fact wasn’t even in the city but at Port of Fineberg doing well-wishing to the departing troops heading for the Mallarctaian peace mission. Police Minister Kohath unexpectedly had had his car break down en-route and was waiting in an unnamed little fishing village waiting for a helicopter. Sidney Harcourt was so busy dealing with security for foreign delegates, and Eric Kemmler so busy dealing with internal security matters that none of the top three men in the Police Ministry were even aware of the student demonstrations building in numbers until it had already begun.

According to a previous agreement, King Mark was touring the provinces visiting military installations shortly after the celebration. He was at an air force base in Teman when news reached him. So it was that Attorney-General Sarah Carmel was the one who was reached by the Mayor of Fineberg along with the Police Commissioner that crowds in the thousands had descended upon the streets.

But this was all unknown to Maria, Absalom, Michaela, Issachar and Bern as they walked chanting with crowds of fellow students and workers in the streets. They could see police in black jackets with white banded caps lining the streets here and there, looking quietly on. They could see passersby shouldering their way through crowds, but a few here and there joined them. Some cheered, others spat invective.

“This is Fineberg, home of General Obed, we shouldn’t be surprised!” shouted Bern. “They think the trough is full enough for them—that’s what they thought in Harbourtown, in Glasstower, and in Sterry!”

“Poor sheep, we need to wake them up!” cried Michaela happily.

“Sluts! Whores! Go home to your mothers!” shouted a respectable looking middle aged woman on the sidewalk as her husband tried to steer her away.

“Revolution is sex and politics!” Maria shouted back.

They had arrived at the convergence of four major streets, it was called Chaos Crossing by the locals, but was helped by a couple of roundabouts and large adjacent parking, which made it perfect for the gathering of protestors. Nearby the parking lots flowed into downtown shopping areas including the Grittonian Uber Mall—a place that had been picketed by church groups for the license and decadence of the country it came from. Issachar, in his flowing light clothing, looked the epitome of it, his youthful slim handsomeness almost glowing through the fragile muslin, and climbed up onto one of the signs’ bases to lift his loudspeaker.

“Remember! We are not here to cause violence, or to cause riots! We are not here to fight! We are here to demand the rights we were promised! We have been promised the right to open justice—to know what a person is charged with, and why and to have a fair hearing and trial afterwards! We are here to insist that it is not the place of the government to determine private morality! We are here to insist that we have the right to have elected officials who make decisions that concern our welfare! We insist that political prisoners be given a public trial with the right to defend themselves! We insist that Andrea Benjamin be freed from house arrest! We want justice!”

by **New Edom** » Mon Aug 22, 2011 8:48 pm

Earlier That Day, Betharan Palace

The conference room was fairly small, intimate, blending modern professionalism with a sense of old world comfort. The chairs were fairly comfortably padded but allowed for sitting quite upright to keep the back relaxed; the table was small enough that people didn’t have to raise their voices but large enough to hold carafes of ice water and glasses as well as space for notes and laptops. The view outside was not distracting but it was pleasant—flower gardens and green lawns.

The New Edomites immediately present were King Mark Obed, Prince Philip Tubal-Cain, Sif Finnhald, Count Lalery, Defense Minister Michio Black, and Trade Advisor Benjamin Kent. Breakfast had been provided to Selvaria including eggs benedict, cold cereal, scrambled eggs, sausage patties, toast, pancakes fresh mango, orange, banana and kiwi fruit, coffee, tea, milk and carbonated water. There was also, as per custom, an enormous boiled griffon’s egg sitting as a centerpiece which had been whipped inside with a savory sauce and grated cheese and pepper. This had been presented as a buffet before the meeting.

by **Riemaia** » Mon Aug 22, 2011 9:30 pm

Selvaria walked into the room with three other people, two women, both five foot three, wearing a futuristic looking armor, one of the newest riemaian creations, and the fourth person was the princesses personal stenographer. "What a wonderful breakfast, I would love to have the recipe for the eggs, and maybe a few of those larger ones to take home? Well on to business, after the accident with Claire and the steps, our two governments have yet to formally draft a treaty... and with the events in Krune, the Riemaian parliament thinks its necessary to have one actually written down." Selvaria then went to open her purse, and put on her glasses, which looked quite nerdy and something someone with her wealth wouldn't be wearing.

by **New Edom** » Mon Aug 22, 2011 10:27 pm

As Princess Selvaria entered, King Mark stood up and greeted her warmly, listened to her remarks on the breakfast and said, “We’ll make sure you take some griffon eggs home. They’re a bit of a luxury item as they don’t lay that often, and we only eat the ones from the rather inoffensive Great Griffon—the Terror Bird varieties don’t lay more than perhaps once a year and they are scarce. Now…”

Sif Finnhald said, “First of all, friendly relations and trade. I think we can generally agree that we want friendly relations, but for the time being is your country pursuing actual alliance or merely promises to support one another’s sovereignty? Because I recall that your country disagreed strongly over the wording of the ALT Treaty. But if we are to operate together in Krune, for example, then how would you prefer that the terms of national relations be phrased?”

by **Riemaia** » Mon Aug 22, 2011 11:20 pm

"I would prefer the term treaty, seeing as that's what the imperial parliament wants at least, though if I recall there was an informal agreement about Krune, you get to have one base there and you also get to recruit from its populace, even though its a Riemaian province now." Selvaria said.

As they were talking, her stenographer took mental notes of what was being said, with his eyes focused on the eyes of whichever Edomite was currently speaking, though his job was only to make sure that there was a record of everything that had been said.

by **New Edom** » Mon Aug 22, 2011 11:44 pm

The comments about Krune seemed to make the New Edomites uncomfortable. As though no one knew quite what to say. Finally King Mark said, "Thank you, Princess Selvaria. As it was an informal agreement, let us perhaps make it formal now. First of all, perhaps Minister Finnhald can suggest what we would like to offer."

Sif cleared her throat and said, reading from a list, "Military alliance, so that we can make use of one another's ports as refueling stations and supply points. Agreement to support one another against aggressors who violate or threaten to violate one another's sovereignty. Sharing of such intelligence as will not threaten the national security of either nation should such intel be shared. Support of one another in non-warlike operations such as peace keeping missions." she turned the page. "This is all simply a summation of course. Following this: trade agreement. That we agree to remove tariffs from trade with one another, and that we offer Riemaia use of New Edomite space for building factories and businesses. Riemaia agrees that non executive employment at these facilities shall be New Edomite, and that educational facilities, medical facilities and housing if necessary will be provided by the companies in question. All Riemaian companies will act under New Edomite law but property will itself be under Riemaian law for purposes of legal possession. Any questions or thoughts or additions so far?"

by **Riemaia** » Mon Aug 22, 2011 11:57 pm

"All of our company branches operating in New Edom I assume is what you mean, I couldn't sign a treaty that stated what you just said, that could be disastrous! But that actually sounds quite fair, i'm sure some of our companies will make a great contribution to your country... maybe help ease the burdens of your old civil war, who knows!" Selvaria cheerfully said.

"Alright, so where do I sign this treaty? I'm sure you have more business to discuss with me, I can just see it in your eyes!"

by **New Edom** » Tue Aug 23, 2011 12:04 am

Sif pushed some papers towards her. "Sign here." she said. "Oh, wait, that one is the death warrant!" the New Edomites burst out laughing. "No, seriously...it's the treaty of course. " she looked up and said, "Actually Your Imperial Highness, we thought it was you who wanted to discuss things..."

by **Ali-Zebu Union** » Tue Aug 23, 2011 12:11 am

Miraz, Ali-Zebu Union

“So they’re protesting a woman’s arrest,” inquired a short man named Baban Awsar.

“Apparently so,” responded Estahr Awsar his wife.

“Why was she arrested?” Baban

“I think it has something to do with how she was dressed.” Estahr

“They arrest people for that over there?” Baban

“Apparently they do.” Estahr

“That seems odd Estahr.”

“I couldn’t agree more Baban.”

Their twin daughters then interrupted the couple and said in perfect unison, “The news is soo booring. Can we watch Professor What?”

Estahr and Baban laughed and switched the channel. The quirky lead character was confronting a generic security guard.

“So, who exactly are you?

“The Professor.”

“Professor what?” ....

Fineberg, New Edom

Tatiana Gebrovic was still disappointed that she had not been able to attended the recent celebration. She had tried many time to contact her parents the night of the celebration but with no success. She sighed as she finished her coffee and the last bit of her bagel slathered with low-fat strawberry cream cheese. She then proceeded to complete her assignment from Writing and Composition I. Her assignment completed, she then plugged a pair of large headphones that easily encased her small ears into her computer and began to listen to her favorite singing duo.

http://youtu.be/ShQTEUjdBxY

She left her dorm room dressed in one of her many running outfits. This one was black with pink trim and consisted of a sleeveless shirt, shorts that came to mid-thigh, and a pair pink running shoes. She descended the three flights of stairs necessary to reach the bottom of the building. As she ran through the campus on her way to thoroughfares of the city, she noticed an unusual array of people about the campus. Some were playing music and others were involved in lively debates.

“Is there something going on today she thought? Oh, wait I think Bastiaan said something about some of the other students getting together.” Was what was going through her head as she headed onto one of the roads leaving campus.

Tatiana ran down several rather empty streets before she could begin to hear and see something ahead. There was what seemed to be a large mass of people converging in one of the city’s more notorious intersections. At first she though she heard the people saying something about “oleander pajamas”. This was less the product of the words actually resembling “oleander pajamas” and more of her considering the sexy little pair of pajamas she wanted to wear if she got the chance to spend the night with Yesmin.

As she drew closer she could clearly make out what the crowd was chanting. “Andrea Benjamin...freedom...theocracy.”

“Ah crap, THIS is what Bastiaan was talking about,” she thought on realizing what was actually being said. She also heard others shouting at the collected crowd such things as “Slut...whore...go home.” She slowed her pace and then noticed the local law enforcement gathering around the crowd and thought, “Shit, shit, shit. The goon squad is here too.” She then decided to turn off onto a side street before she reached the intersection. The last thing she needed was to get pulled into this right now. She made her turn and hoped that she could make it away without getting noticed.

by **Riemaia** » Tue Aug 23, 2011 12:15 am

Selvaria took a pen out of her purse, one covered in platinum with a diamond on the top, one that's bigger than one you would find on a diamond ring, and signed the paper. "Alright, if you would please fax it to my countries parliament, they still have to vote on it for some reason... oh and it was the parliament that wanted me to discuss things, but I do have something I would like to discuss, are there any parts to the treaty that you would already ask us to follow?"

by **New Edom** » Tue Aug 23, 2011 12:55 am

As Tatiana hurried down the side street she found that there were fewer people for the most part. She saw a courier parking and locking his bike, who glanced up at her and smiled and then hurried into a doorway, going up a flight of stairs with his package. She noticed an old woman pushing a shopping cart, muttering to herself, and a bread van drove by. It was a side street largely occupied by apartments and small shops, and there was a fair bit of parked cars which was normal. She also noticed a bunch of large pickup trucks coming down one of the other streets carrying young men who were holding two by fours and baseball bats. She could not help but notice that most of them had very short hair right down to buzz cuts and baldness. They were all very neatly dressed in dark suits and ties with light blue shirts. The vehicles were bustling along and it was a brief glimpse, though one of the young men, chewing gum in the back of the pickup he was in, glanced her way and stopped chewing his gum for a moment.

She saw a familiar face after that, outside the Cute Bunny Burger down the street, a ragged Haranese man with a scraggly grey and white beard, one white eye, leaning on a wooden cane and holding a tin can he used as a begging bowl. “The shadows of the wings of the great one will cover the city!” he shouted. “Repent, repent, for the hour has come!” This was Crazy Thomas, a Haranese prophet and seer according to some rural Haranese she knew who worked for the custodial department at the university. He was fairly harmless but was a prophet of doom. Apparently the Haranese believed such people were sacred and to be untouched and unharmed. He called out to her as she ran, “Repent! Repent!”

by **New Edom** » Tue Aug 23, 2011 12:56 am

Sif was surprised by the pen, but didn’t say anything. King Mark was like a statue, and then the statue smiled at Selvaria. “One thing that would perhaps be appreciated would be your country’s involvement in military security for a peace mission to Mallarctaia. We will have your people fully briefed on the situation, but I think that we are being considered the Tyrrhenian involvement. Mallarctaia is in a horrible situation, poisoned land, poverty, gang ridden…so a peacekeeping mission is going to be sent there. If you are interested your country could perhaps take part in it.”

by **Marcheria** » Tue Aug 23, 2011 4:11 am

by **Riemaia** » Tue Aug 23, 2011 12:14 pm

"Well, I personally still have the ability to send Riemaian troops out in peacekeeping missions, but as i'm sure you know I cannot directly command them anymore. This Mallarctaia, it sounds like a very nasty place..." Selvaria peered over to her stenographer, and tapped onto his notebook as a sign to start writing things down. "Well, it sounds like two regiments of our mechanized infantry should be alright, that's about twelve hundred soldiers, about a hundred of our APC's and a dozen or so fuel trucks... and what does a squad of our special forces sound? Two members of our Studies and Observations Group are right here if you would like to ask them any questions."

by **Ali-Zebu Union** » Tue Aug 23, 2011 1:47 pm

Tatiana winced at the sight of the young men in the pickups. The image of these individuals brought back some difficult memories concerning her brother, which she was quick to push back into the recesses of her mind.

“Okay, Tatiana, just pretend you didn’t notice those guys and keep on going like you normally would,” she thought as she continued down the street, eyes focused on the Cute Bunny Burger. Upon reaching the restaurant, she grabbed a five copper note from her pocket and tossed it into Crazy Thomas’ tin can before entering the Cute Bunny Burger. She headed to the bathroom and closed a stall door behind her. “Where the hell are you Bastiaan,” she typed out on her cherry red phone. As she waited for his response, the corners of her eyes moistened as the memories of her brother resurfaced again.

by **Accoltia** » Tue Aug 23, 2011 2:07 pm

IC:

Fineberg, East Bara Province

The man in the gray suit exited the cab and paid the driver's fee before moving away smoothly into the roiling urban crowds. The cab drove away and within the hour, the cabby probably couldn't have told anybody much about him.

He was a tall man, though not so tall as to stand out against those around him. He had a face which most would describe as handsome, but without any memorable features. He had no facial hair, no scars or marks, he wasn't even wearing glasses. His hair, a nice, dark brown, was kept short and tapered. His suit, a plain light gray, could have been manufactured in numerous different places. His briefcase looked somewhat new really, but apart from being a little shiny, it look like anybody else's luggage. He had a light coat draped on one arm.

He seemed to know where he was going, though anybody trying to follow him, and he assumed somebody was, would have found following his trail a difficult task. He walked quickly along his chosen route, making numerous sharp turns as he went, at times cutting through shops and open restaurants. To anybody following him, it would be easy to lose him in the numerous active oceans of people through which he passed, on his way to God alone knew where.

His walk took perhaps twenty minutes, no more, and it became evident where he was going. It was a mall, a large shopping complex which was lately being used as a gathering place for many of the city's young folk.

More importantly, for the man in the gray suit, it was a known haunt of a young lady named Michaela.

Followed for the past several days by a clandestine observation team who had taken the greatest care not to be noticed, Michaela had been repeatedly seen to spend time in the bustling mall with her friends, doing numerous things, mostly just the mindless activities of a young adult seeking to have a little fun in life.

Forearmed with this critical knowledge, the man in the gray suit made his way through the mall area, stopping once in a while as a small cell phone in his pocket would buzz, alerting him to an incoming message. He would remove the phone, check the message, delete it, and move along. This continued for perhaps another fifteen minutes after he entered the mall.

Eventually, his footsteps took him to a small cafe, just the sort of place where young "writers," and would-be revolutionaries liked to congregate. He took a seat in the corner, ordered some coffee and a muffin, and began the most annoying part of his work. He began to wait. Probably the hardest part of that was resisting the constant urge to look at his watch.

'Not long now,' he told himself, trying not to fidget as well. That was almost as difficult as not looking at his watch. The time was approaching, however, confirmed by a message on his phone, and he began to relax, strangely enough.

He saw her come in. She was with several others, all of them young and energetic and...loud. They all sat down, still talking, and were seen to by a tired looking waitress. He waited a few minutes until they looked like they were comfortable. Then he stood, and approached their table. His angle of approach brought him up behind Michaela, and the brown-haired young woman was too engrossed in her conversation to know he had even appeared until he spoke.

"Excuse me," he asked, in a smooth New Karlsland accent. "Are you one of Ms. Andrea Benjamin's friends?"

by **New Edom** » Tue Aug 23, 2011 5:51 pm

The café was actually fairly crowded, and the man had just barely gotten a seat in time. People were moving excitedly up and down the streets. A group of young men and women in rather formal looking clothes passed by outside, with signs that read things like “Don’t Take God Out of the Law!” and “Modesty is Liberty!”

A young man got up from a table near Michaela's table as the man began to talk to her. “Hey, Tatty, how’s it going?” shouted Bastiaan over the phone. There seemed to be a lot going on behind him. “Man, you’re missing the event of the age! There’s been thousands of people out here—students, workers, young and old—all wanting justice and free speech! I wasn’t sure I was gonna go, but it’s so wild, you wouldn’t believe it! And the cops are just standing by, not doing anything. We’re passing out copies of the tradition to everyone who goes into the mall! I’m right by…I’m right by the Palm Street Cafe, but i'm going to head down to the mall parking lot, south entrance, if you want to meet me there..."

Michaela was sipping a Coke Zero and nodding as she was listening to Maria read from the ASN Constitution. Maria kept punctuating her reading with, “This is what the Free Congress is supposed to stand for—but we’re being told one step at a time…” Michaela was jolted by the man and for a moment looked frightened, but then said sharply, “Yeah, I am. What’s it to you, man?”

by **New Edom** » Tue Aug 23, 2011 5:52 pm

King Mark nodded. “That sounds fine, as far as commitments goes. We will be able to have your units picked up by our amphibious squadron en-route out of Tyrrhenia for the ASN Region. And a squad sounds alright—would they be willing to work with our Archer Company from the 19th Light Troops? They are special forces but they specialize in urban environments, urban counter-insurgency.”

by **Accoltia** » Tue Aug 23, 2011 6:48 pm

IC:

"To me?" The man reeled back a bit, as though surprised, but the expression on his face just suggested amusement. "Why, I don't suppose it's anything to me, Michaela. Some friends of mine, however, are very much interested in Ms. Benjamin's wellfare."

He reached into his suit coat with a hand and withdrew an unmarked white envelope. Without saying anything about it, he tossed it down to the tablecloth, and then continued speaking.

"My friends are very deeply concerned about all this business with house arrests and outdated modesty laws and so on. They've asked me to make sure that dear Andrea is feeling alright, you see. I meant no trouble here. Good day."

The man, who had yet to identify himself, returned to his table in the corner, where he collected his coat and his briefcase. With a quick glance at Michaela's table and without another word, he turned and walked back out into the mall crowds, managing somehow to vanish as quickly as he had come.

******************************

In the United States...

In a small room with wood-panelled walls, two men had a conversation. The room was outfitted with luxurious furniture, including leather upholstered recliners, and the air was thick with cigarette smoke. A fan rumbled uselessly in the background.

"OF-FORGE has just sent confirmation. The package has been delivered. All field assets are now in place as ordered, and have prepared themselves." That was the first man. He spoke with an accent which may have reminded listenered of somebody from Virginia, and remained standing.

"Very good. Make sure the elements we control are placed and ready when the time is right." That was the second man. He spoke with the same New Karlsland accent as the man in the gray suit, and was producing most of the smoke. He was also seated.

"Are you sure we should be using the expanded version of the original plans?" The second man did not sound worried, really, just...slightly concerned. The first man nodded calmly.

"Yes," he said. "If we are to pull this off, if it becomes necessary, then we must be ready."

by **New Edom** » Tue Aug 23, 2011 7:00 pm

“…and then he said,” whispered Michaela to Maria and Bern, “That they wanted to make sure Andrea is alright. What do I do?”
They were walking through the crowd, by noisy speakers, cacophony, shouts and loud conversation in the main parking lot of the Grittonian Uber Mall. To avoid be listened to.

“Point him out if you see him again, we’ll find out what he’s up to.” Bern said with a gleam in his eye. There were some rich boys at the university from whom that would be football field boasting, but Bern had just recently mustered out from the 1st CML, had some hair raising stories to tell. He wasn’t afraid of anything, and was lean and tough as an alley cat.
“No, not that…” Michaela pleaded. “No violence…there’s been too much blood shed…”
Bern soothed her. “Okay, alright, but look, what if he’s a police or CP spy?”
“What if he is?” said Maria in a blaze of defiance. “Who cares? We have nothing to hide. Let them spy. When Andrea goes to trial the truth will out. Has anyone heard from Issachar? Do we march again tomorrow?”
“Yeah,” said Bern. They caught a glimpse of black suited two by four toting young men with shaven heads. Crove's boys. Bern met the eyes of the leader coldly, a look that said, “You outnumber me, but you go down for sure, you son of a bitch.” The leader, another predator, marked the look with an appraising stare, but he had other business and moved his boys along. They were observing for now, and very ostensibly protecting EDS member property, according to rumor. Bern muttered, “You’re right Maria, we need to keep an eye on violence, no bricks, no Molotov cocktails, we don’t want those bastards given the slightest reason to act.”

Michaela waited until she was in the loft she shared with her friends in a student housing apartment. Maria was running a shower and Bern was lifting weights nearby; she opened the envelope and read it.

by **New Edom** » Tue Aug 23, 2011 9:29 pm

The 2 ½ ton truck lumbered out of Fineberg escorted by a battered old UAZ with a GPMG on top. It was such a normal sight no one really paid attention to it; there were a number of military units in and around New Edom, moving peacekeepers to Port of Fineberg, providing security and logistics for the celebration, those who were part of the Fineberg Military District; one more utility vehicle and one more truck were hardly noteworthy. The Council Police Guard unit driving and manning the vehicles were dressed in regular BDUs with the insignia of Fineberg District Military Police. They finally got to a road off the highway that eventually diverted to a dirt road that had signs warning that toxic waste containment was in the area, with biohazard signs and warnings that trespassers would be detained and decontamination required, and that those who resisted would be shot. The truck went down the gravel road and passed a checkpoint. There were soldiers in full protective gear there, gas masks and full orange HAZMAT outfits, and there were barriers of barbed wire and cameras in a number of positions. (including hidden cameras and microphones) They were waved ahead after some communication between the officer in the UAZ and the commander of the outpost, and finally arrived at what appeared to be a landfill site. There were some large fans blowing smoke low to the earth and some smouldering mounds, and a big pit had been dug by a bulldozer earlier. The back flap of the 2 ½ ton was opened up, and men in protective gear began hauling out naked corpses, heaving them into the pit.

The body of Susannah was held by the feet and shoulders, swung back and forth, her head wobbling, hair trailing, and sailed out and over the earthen rim of the pit to tumble down the fleshy heap of pitiful bloody bodies. Flies swarmed in the early evening air.

Amid some talk among those handling the earthmoving equipment and the CP guardsmen there was a decision to have a smoke and a drink before finishing the work. It was tiring lobbing corpses about, and anyway there were a few other things they would need to do—toss lime into the pit, set the corpses on fire, set the fans to the right degree—it was, they all agreed a pain in the butt job, but it was the job. They moved off towards the low brick bunker like building beyond the smouldering mounds and the pit and the bulldozers and trucks, talking in low voices.

by **Riemaia** » Tue Aug 23, 2011 10:24 pm

Off in the distance of the dumping site was a small, stopped van with two people in it, a man and a woman. "Alright, stop right here, see that camera in the tree? It hasn't spotted us yet. We better be careful, there might be more of those buggers around." The woman said. They both quietly exited the van, slowly pulling out their gear to not make any noises. They slowly creeped towards the barbed wire fence, watching out for any traps. "Put on the goggles, should be able to see the heat off of any other electronics..." The woman whispered into the man's ear.

"Your right, there's a microphone right over there... and a squirrel!" The man quietly whispered.

Minutes later, on a small cliffside near the body dump site was the other two SOG operatives that were accompanying Princess Selvaria, with their own mission: to retrieve the body of Susannah Mord. The two SOG operatives, Master Sergeant Tilda and Lieutenant Valpuri. They knew their mission quite well, and knew it was a very important one. "Alright, they are going away..." Valpuri said, looking through the scope of her .338 Lapua Magnum sniper rifle.

"Looks like Agent Sylva was right this time, nearly dead on with the coordinates!" Said Tilda, kneeling down, looking right at the pit of bodies. "How disgusting, i'm going to get a picture of this, a little leverage if things go south." He said as he pulled out his small camera and took a picture of the dump site.

"Good job, make sure you get the flag in the background, alright, get ready...." Valpuri said as she started to focus the scope of her rifle. "Go!"

Tilda bolted down the side of the cliff, right into a small hedge. "Alright Karl, you can do this, camera!" He whispered to himself, as he ducked down to not be spotted. Over his earpiece he could hear Valpuri giving him instructions. "Three, Two, One, Go!" He then started to crawl towards the pit, until he reached the edge. "Alright Val, any guards coming?" He asked.

"No guards yet, hurry up and get the body." Valpuri whispered over the radio, keeping a vigilant eye for any guards.

Tilda crawled into the pit, trying to keep the flies out of his eyes as he pulled out a picture of Susannah. "Not her... Not her.. Ah there she is! Val, I got her!" He said as he started to pull the body out of the pit. "My god this is just nasty, how could they do this to people?" He asked himself as he put the body on his back, carrying it up the cliffside, until the time where he put the body on the ground to show Valpuri. "Thats her right? I'm not going back down there!"

"No... its not... wait, yea it is, sorry... Let me check for a pulse, you know how these "secret" police are, sloppy." She began to run her hands over Susannah's body, until her hands were right on her neck. "Yeah, just as I thought, shes alive alright... barely, let's get her to the van at least..."

At the embassy, the ambassadorial doctor was giving Susannah direly needed medical attention. "Well, iv'e done all I can for her, with that bullet loosely lodged in her skull I have to think it was a failed murder, Well it's at least out of there now, major blood loss did occur, especially with that partially healed bullet wound in her side, but thanks to the small reserve we keep here that wasn't too much of a problem, I can tell you she will be very hungry when she wakes."

Back at Betharan Palace....
"Well I think that's acceptable, they do tend to keep to themselves though, I hope that's not an issue of course."Selvaria said with a nearly bored tone.

by **Ali-Zebu Union** » Tue Aug 23, 2011 11:16 pm

“I’ll meet you there, just give me some time to get there. I’ll see you in a bit, bye.”

Tatiana nearly lost her composure several times during the conversation with Bastiaan. He was one of the few people she had confided in concerning brother and personal life. She did not want to worry him unnecessarily by bawling over the phone. She wiped the tears from her eyes and proceeded to one of the sinks. She washed her face and stared into the mirror to make sure it was not too obvious that she had been crying. She left the bathroom and walked up to the front counter and ordered a baked gooseberry pie and large Cute Café Mocha. She sat silently eating her pie and drinking her coffee before she left.

It took her some time, but Tatiana was able to finally flag down a cab. She had the cabby first stop at a local bank branch so she could pull out some money from an ATM. She then stopped off at a discount clothing store and purchased a cheap pair of jeans and a t-shirt. There was no way the fashion police were going to drag her off.

She arrived at the mall and payed the cabby. She hurried to the south entrance and searched through the many people milling around and spotted Bastiaan. She ran up to him and threw her arms around his torso, her auburn hair flying into his chest. Anyone watching might have mistaken them for a couple.

“Why have we stopped, Hattali,” asked Yesmin of her bodyguard.

“I believe there is a rally or protest taking place up ahead, highness.”

Yesmin debated with herself for a few minutes, before her sense of responsibility overcame her abundant curiosity. “I suppose we should find another way around,” she said. Hattali rang the driver and the car was turned around.

The Manifesto

The Manifesto

The New Edom-Riemaia Pact

Earlier That Day, at Betharan Palace

At the Cafe

Earlier That Day

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