We Didn't Start The Fire (AMW Only)

[Kyr Shorn]

OOC: Moving right along from the Billy Idol thing...

IC: OSS Office, Outskirts of Jakarta

Number Eight had finished piecing together all of the information available into an impressive plot indeed, but there were still large chunks missing, things that they hadn't worked out yet.

But the bare bones of the situation was quite disturbing.

The Little Buddha Office was a place where a group of mid-level to low-level employees of the Ministry of Justice shifted around money skimmed from various purchases made by said office to acquire a wide range of materials that could be used for bomb making. But the materials could also be used for other things and it was clear from the large chunks of data that they didn’t possess was that this plot was much bigger than burning members of an insignificant religion.

No matter how detestable the religion was.

The Team would need someone that was already on the inside of the Ministry to get more information, it was clear that the employees were not acting on their own but taking orders from someone else. It was that someone else who had the remaining pieces of the puzzle.

While Number Eight was thinking about more information gathering, Number Two had been comparing employee records together of the ones implicated by the Little Buddha Office and a pattern had emerged.

All of the ones implicated had at one time or another been members of Justice/Unity Party (J/UP), an extremist party built on Javanese Racism and a desire to end Secularism in the Commonwealth Government and enforce their brand of Hinduism as the State Faith. They currently had four Senate Seats out of 750 possible. They were not in the mainstream of society and anyone who worked for the Brahma Administration could not be members of the group for at least five years prior to their work with the government.

"Is this a plot the start of a Coup attempt?" Number Two thought before starting to make some calls, he had contacts in the armed forces, if there was such a plot then at least one General would have to be involved. No successful Coup in Commonwealth history had ever been pulled off without the militaries say so.

Offices of the Ministries, Jakarta

The Cafeteria Space where most of the day to day employees, interns, pages, and other assorted draft horses of the Brahma Governmet came to eat would be the setting. For something named the "Cafeteria Space" it was actually quite lovely, it had nice marble floors and tables that could seat five people each and the food was nice if you liked traditional Javanese food (which was on the spicy side).

Normally the actual Ministers either ate in their offices or went out, but today for times sake, the Minister of Trade, Neru Hatma sat next to Maya Kapilvastu who in turn had a page standing near them at a table in a quiet corner. The food had been brought out to them and the champagne was ready to be uncorked when Nilosahara's Ambassador arrived with his assistant who were greeted by the page and then brought to the table.

While the two men were seated, Neru and Maya introduced themselves and thanked them for their time. They would wait to see if the Ambassador wanted to eat first or if they would get down to business prior.

[Chrinthanium]

Nick Logan, a man of few words, headed towards the Commonwealth on a United Airlines Boeing 757. He'd packed light figuring that the weather would be nice and warm unlike the ghastly frigid winters the Empire had.

Logan was the new kid in the Detroit Police. A top prospect, the department offered him a job on their auto theft unit. A junior detective for sure at 22, but a shrewd detective nonetheless. He'd cracked three auto theft rings in Detroit this year.

Logan and the Emperor were friends. They'd met while the Emperor was at college. Logan and Nathaniel played soccer for the University of Chrinthanium at Omaha. They quickly became very close. Indeed, they dated for 2 years while in college, but the Emperor went into the army when he graduated, and Nick Logan went to Police Academy of the Empire. It is widely rumored that the Emperors' heart still belonged to Nick. And those rumors would be true.

Whether or not Nick actually would be privy to the answers he was sent to get, that would be a different story. He assumed that he'd get slighted by the Commonwealth government, despite the fact his only order from Nathaniel was to "prove their government to be honest." Nick has hoped that he would be able to do that.

As the United Flight 7465 landed in Jakarta, he grabbed his duffle and entered the airport. The 6'2", athletically built man with pure blond hair seemed to stand out in the crowd a bit, but oh well. He gently put his sun glasses on and tried to find his driver.

[Kyr Shorn]

Presidential Palace

As the President of the Commonwealth kowtowed before his private altar covered in icons of Shiva, Kali, and the more military-inclined Majapahit Emperors his thoughts kept turning from the Divine and more towards the mundane problems he faced.

At least there was some good news mixed in with the bad, the Aceh Revolutionary Army had finally gotten it's shit together and had an agreement between it's three factions and would put in place a Constitution for the Aceh Autonomous Region by early next week. Based on a previous agreement with the Commonwealth government neither side would seek to press charges against the other for "possible" and "alleged" Crimes Against Humanity.

Just before entering his private prayer room the President had been notified of the arrival of the Chrinthanium Emperor's envoy (and possible lover). "Nick should be at the Justice Ministry right about now.' Delem thought as he tried once more without success to focus on the images of the God and Goddess of Destruction. They who destroyed illusion and lead their followers to Enlightenment.

He tried and failed, his thoughts just wouldn't turn Heavenward today.

The OSS Team claimed that there was a conspiracy within the Justice Ministry and that the J/UP might be involved.

"Just what I need," Delem thought as he chanted the prayers, "More bloody fucking religious fanatics."

Why people couldn't just get the fuck along was something Delem could never figure out.

[Nilosahara]

Ooh, nice marble floors Mukanda thought to himself as he entered the cafeteria.

Wearing Nilosaharan-themed suits (red, yellow, white and black- pretty hideous really), the two men were impossible to miss and they soon found their way to the correct table.

"Thank you for your quick reply, Nilosahara is always pleased to meet other nations. My name is Mukanda and this is my assistant Barak."

He saw the champagne by the table but thought it would be best to get down to business right away and eat a bit later.

"So shall we get down to business then?"

Barak takes out his notebook and connects to the internet. There were a few figures in the Nilosaharan homeland who would be helpful if they were present.

"I understand that has been a series of bombings targetting Christian churches and as a result there has been some international.....meddling." Mukanda pauses. "Has the investigation uncovered anything?"

"I have also heard through the grapevine that agricultural imports may become a little strained as a result of foreign interference. How much of a shortfall are we looking at?"

[Chrinthanium]

Nick stood waiting at the airport for someone to come for him. He must have looked too much like a tourist with khaki shorts, light blue polo shirt, sunglasses and a backwards ballcap. He must not have seemed official enough.

[Kyr Shorn]

Offices of the Ministries

Maya responded to the question about the investigation, "The investigation is on-going and the Justice Ministry is giving assurances that the matter will be resolved quickly." The government's official line despite the repeated brick walls that they seemed to run into at every turn.

Neru then took up the issue of trade, to distract from the issue of the bombings, "The government has been attempting several programs to repair the damaged places of the nation that were once fertile fields but that will take years if not decades of diligent work. The nation has the capacity, on it's own to feed most of it's population, but not very well. So the Commonwealth Government has been purchasing food stuffs from various nations, some for consumption, some for storage in case of a bad famine."

Neru then pulled out several files, all of which detailed in full the government's food production rates, predictions, purchases, etc. The numbers were not dire but they clearly showed signs of being on a precipice.

"The main problem has been overpopulation, the Commonwealth contains over 175 million people, most of whom currently dwell here on Java. The government has launched several population control measures and reclocation projects, but the later is only a temporary stopgap and the first one is a project of at least two generations if not more. What we need for the short term is the ability to ensure a steady supply of various food products to supplement what we already can produce."

Neru paused for a drink and then continued, "But the Christian nations love any excuse they can find to persecute those who don't share their beliefs. The mere threat of harming the Commonwealth's ability to gain access to the food trade is simply too dangerous for us to allow to exist."

"What is the proud nation of Nilosahara willing to sell?"



Raden Wijaya XVIII International Airport

The person who was supposed to have picked up Nick Logan was currently in the nice towncar that he used for taking VIPS to wherever those people needed to go. The driver wasn't moving because he had died in his car a very quick (but painful) death after drinking a soda he had bought from a sweet looking little beggar girl that was trying to make ends meet (or so he had thought).

In fact the girl had been paid by a rich looking government type to look for a nice black town car near the airport that day and sell the driver a soda after putting a strange white powder into the drink. It was a form of shock poison from a native plant the toxicology report would later reveal.

After noting that the driver had not arrived with the man scheduled to meet the Justice Minister, the Ministry sent out someone to find out what was wrong. After finding Nick still at the airport, waiting, one of the various minor employees stayed behind to apologies while two uniformed police officers reported finding the town car still in the airport with the driver dead inside.

Since it was obvious that Nick had nothing to do with it (after some polite questioning and a review of the security tapes), he was taken by police escort to the Justice Ministry for the meeting.

Meanwhile the JPD would be forced to let go of the investigation, since the crime was considered by the government too sensitive for police work due to its international aspects.

The girl was never discovered since she had sold the driver the drink while he was stuck in traffic just outside of the airport's gates, out of camera range.

But after three hours Nick Logan was presented to Sutan Sjahrir who introduced himself and apologized once more for what happened.

Then he asked, "Would you like something to eat or drink before we begin?"

[Chrinthanium]

Logan just looked in the direction of Sjahrir and said, "I'm here on behalf of His Imperial Majesty, Nathaniel IV. He has his doubts about the information you've been providing the world regarding the bombings. I aint here to prove you wrong, but to prove you're right."

He continued with no facial expressions whatsoever, "I figure that he's over reacting about this matter. Trying to put on a tough face for the people back home."

"The way I see it is someone has it in for your government and they want the world to believe you're responsible." Logan added. "We still have people here wanting to stay, and the Emperor can't make them leave no matter what."

He reached into his pocket and produced a pack of cigarettes and a lighter. He reached into the pack and took out one of them and lit it upon placing it between his lips. "I'll take a Coke if ya got it."

[Nilosahara]

Offices of the Ministries

Maya responded to the question about the investigation, "The investigation is on-going and the Justice Ministry is giving assurances that the matter will be resolved quickly." The government's official line despite the repeated brick walls that they seemed to run into at every turn.

Neru then took up the issue of trade, to distract from the issue of the bombings, "The government has been attempting several programs to repair the damaged places of the nation that were once fertile fields but that will take years if not decades of diligent work. The nation has the capacity, on it's own to feed most of it's population, but not very well. So the Commonwealth Government has been purchasing food stuffs from various nations, some for consumption, some for storage in case of a bad famine."

Neru then pulled out several files, all of which detailed in full the government's food production rates, predictions, purchases, etc. The numbers were not dire but they clearly showed signs of being on a precipice.

"The main problem has been overpopulation, the Commonwealth contains over 175 million people, most of whom currently dwell here on Java. The government has launched several population control measures and reclocation projects, but the later is only a temporary stopgap and the first one is a project of at least two generations if not more. What we need for the short term is the ability to ensure a steady supply of various food products to supplement what we already can produce."

Neru paused for a drink and then continued, "But the Christian nations love any excuse they can find to persecute those who don't share their beliefs. The mere threat of harming the Commonwealth's ability to gain access to the food trade is simply too dangerous for us to allow to exist."

"What is the proud nation of Nilosahara willing to sell?"

Mukanda took the hint regarding the church bombings - better not to press unneccesarily there.

"Now that is absolutely outrageous - threatening to use starvation as a weapon." Mukanda uttered while Barak kept fiddling with his laptop.

"There are several ways we could be of assistance in this regard - firstly the Nilosaharan agricultural sector would be very keen to export domestically grown wheat - Nilosahara was once know as the breadbasket of South Africa and with a steady export programme in place both our nations could benefit. Your country's investment in the Nilosaharan agricultural sector would be most welcome indeed."

Barak nods at Mukanda.

"The video link is ready."

"Thanks Barak. But in the interim we also have short-term measures to continue the purchase of food. I will bring Hong from Nilosahara Energy Ltd onto the screen in a moment."

Hong's face popped up onto the screen. He was calling from the head office of Nilosahara Energy Ltd in Dodoma.

"Thank you for your time Minister." Hong's voice spoke from the speakers.

"You might be thinking - what does an energy company have to do with food right now. In short, Nilosahara Energy Ltd has a large trading division in energy futures. This also includes wheat, maize, and palm oil through through the bioenergy division. What we can do for a small fee is to increase our orders from international exchanges, accept delivery to Dar Es Salaam and then ship them over to the Commonwealth. Chrithaneum farmers will still need to sell their products somewhere. In a nutshell we are able to overcome the embargo."

[Chrinthanium]

((OOC: I'm gonna start keeping track of how many times my nations name is spelled wrong! LOL))

[Kyr Shorn]

Offices of the Ministries

Neru sat quietly and listened as the representative of Nilosahara Energy Ltd made his presentation, it was a fascinating offer. Food shipments rerouted through this unassuming energy company to the Commonwealth would be able to break through any blockade. Unless of course the nation involved was willing to cut off trade to both nations.

"But it's incredibly difficult to maintain embargoes against ONE nation let alone two." Neru thought as Hong reached the end of his proposal, "Since trade is still technically open with Chrinthanium we will purchase what we can on a legitimate level. But we will work out a deal here so that we always have a backup on hand."

When Hong finished speak Neru did confer with Maya for a moment, but only for the length of time he felt was required by protocol. Then Neru said after taking a drink, "No doubt that the details will have to be hammered out but I think that we can make a deal here gentlemen."

Maya then took a bite out of her food, the tender pork had been lathered in a spicy sauce that had always been a childhood favorite of hers.

[Kyr Shorn]

A Sunburst Tea Shop, Jakarta

In one of the near omnipresent Sunburst Tea Shop franchies in Jakarta two men in westerner street clothes sat down at a table where the server had just finish presenting them with their hot drinks. The men didn't speak but instead texted each other in a tribal language on their stealthberries.

*Translated to English

Person 1: Why did u have the driver for the Chrinthani killed?
Person 2: A number of reasons.
Person 1: Explain because I dont see anything other than sloppy work at a time when the cause cant afford it.
Person 2: We needed to make the Brahma Government look bad, this is one more thing added to the pile in front of sum1 with "intimate" connections to his Emperor.
Person 1: The man is a filthy heathen boy-lover!
Person 2: *Sigh*
Person 1: What?
Person 2: If u can't make distinctions then there is no point in this discussion.
Person 1: Whatever, what else?
Person 2: The delay works to r advantage, gives more time for r boys to get stage 2 setup.
Person 1: Good.
Person 2: Now let's enjoy r t...

[Chrinthanium]

"Minister Sjahrir," asked Logan, "does your government have any enemies that would want to cause your President problems with the so-called Christians?"

[Kyr Shorn]

Logan just looked in the direction of Sjahrir and said, "I'm here on behalf of His Imperial Majesty, Nathaniel IV. He has his doubts about the information you've been providing the world regarding the bombings. I aint here to prove you wrong, but to prove you're right."

He continued with no facial expressions whatsoever, "I figure that he's over reacting about this matter. Trying to put on a tough face for the people back home."

"The way I see it is someone has it in for your government and they want the world to believe you're responsible." Logan added. "We still have people here wanting to stay, and the Emperor can't make them leave no matter what."

He reached into his pocket and produced a pack of cigarettes and a lighter. He reached into the pack and took out one of them and lit it upon placing it between his lips. "I'll take a Coke if ya got it."

Offices of the Ministry, Ministry of Justice

Sjahrir nodded and the mute servant in the corner of the room went to the mini bar behind him and pulled out a soda for Nick. Like a good Hindu Sjahrir didn't drink but he did have alcohol ready for those who did.

The Justice Minister then chose his words very carefully after he dismissed the servant and waited until the door swung back shut to speak.

"It is good that our government see eye to eye on this issue, while their religion is reprehensible the Christian citizens of the Commonwealth do have the same rights as all other citizens."

The Minister then pointed to one of the paintings on the walls, it was clearly of Indonesian origin, it was a portrait of one of the Yashima Christ-Emperors. "That was done in the 19th century where there were a few thousand Yashima Catholics in the Majapahit Empire," Sjahrir then gave an ugly laugh and said, "They didn't last long after WWII, the Communists put most of them into their collective farms and worked them to death. The survivors were told by Suharto to either rejoin the Roman Church or die."

Sjahrir then paused for a moment to let that sink in, "They were the only group that he forced to convert to his religion until the 80's. Now all that's left of them are a tiny pieces of art like that one on the wall."

The Justice Minister then sighed and said, "If the violence keeps up or gets worse I can foresee the same fate happening to the other Christians and His Excellency doesn't want that."

"For some reason, but as to possible groups who would do something like this..." Sjahrir trailed off for a moment before coming back, "There are fanatics in any religion and there plenty of people in the Commonwealth who still hold a grudge over what happened during Suharto's regime."

"But a group that would have the ability to pull off something like this would be quite thin on the ground. The 1990 Transfer* was a period of time in which many militant groups found themselves purged from society. It's members either dead or still in jail for crimes against the state."

He then laughed, "There is always the Justice/Unity Party." His tone left no doubt he considered them to be a joke.

*1990 Transfer is the official name for Delem Braham's coup against his predecessor

[Chrinthanium]

"I see." responded Logan as he scribbled some notes in a notepad. "So, outside of this Justice/Unity Party and various smaller groups, are there any others a little more prominent? Anyone in the government itself who'd have something to gain from this type of event?"

[Kyr Shorn]

Offices of the Ministry, Ministry of Justice

The Justice Minister thought for moment and then said, "I would say the Aceh Revolutionary Army but there is the peace agreement and their factions have just agreed on a framework for the new Aceh Autonomous Region... So no, there aren't any other groups. But as for persons in the government..."

Sjahrir then paused for a long moment and seemed almost to struggle before saying, "The two people who could gain the most out of this that I can see are either the Prime Minister or the President's third son, Agung Brahma."

Noting a look of confusion at the two names the Justice Minister explained further, "The current Prime Minister, Megawati Sukarnoputr is next in line of the Succession. She is the daughter of the Communist revolutionary Sukarno and joined the ARA when she was in her teens. She fought the Suharto regime and the Commonwealth government for decades until as part of the peace agreement she left the ARA and joined the Commonwealth Mandate Party and was appointed Prime Minister."

"Agung Brahma is currently a Senator for the Jakarta City District and of Delem's four children is the only one who is invovled in politics at an official level. Of his children Agung seems to be the apple of his father's eye."

Sjahrir then gave Nick a more thoughtful look and added, "It was for Agung's sake that Delem has launched several programs and laws to improve the status of gays in the Commonwealth. Cleaning up more of Suharto's 'Morality' Laws is what it's called on the official level but..." Sjahrir trailed off before finishing, "Well let's say it's suficient to say that many in the party expect that Agung will one day become President of the Commonwealth in his own right."

"Any more questions for me Mister Logan?"

[Chrinthanium]

"Not for now. Just tell me where I'm staying tonight and how to get there." replied Nick, who was tired from his flight. He handed the Minister a slip of paper with a hotels name on it. "You've been very kind, Minister Sjahrir. I'll talk to the Emperor and tell him that we've no reason to doubt your truthfulness. Now, let's see what we can do to put them behind bars."

Logan stubbed out his cigarette in an ashtray. He stood up, backpack in hand, and awaited his direction.

[Chrinthanium]

"Not for now. Just tell me where I'm staying tonight and how to get there." replied Nick, who was tired from his flight. He handed the Minister a slip of paper with a hotels name on it. "You've been very kind, Minister Sjahrir. I'll talk to the Emperor and tell him that we've no reason to doubt your truthfulness. Now, let's see what we can do to put them behind bars."

Logan stubbed out his cigarette in an ashtray. He stood up, backpack in hand, and awaited his direction.

[Kyr Shorn]

Offices of the Ministries, Jakarta

Sjahrir glanced at the card, the hotel was a low-key establishment in the more tourist friendly area of the city. A place popular with backpackers and religious pilgrims seeking Nirvana on the cheap.

"I do wish that we could have met under better circumstances Mister Logan." Sjahrir said to the investigator before having one of his aides show him the door.

After he had left the Justice Minister then made a call to the Little Buddha Office, "Hello? Yes it's me. I gave the investigator a bunch of false leads but I think he suspects something is up. No having him killed could cause more problems than it's worth. Just keep him distracted with false leads while stage 2 is being set up."

"It's time to clear out the trash."

*Click*

[Chrinthanium]

Logan hailed a cab to get to his hotel. He paid the driver probably more than usual because he was unsure of the money, exactly. He checked in with little problem. He reached his room and threw his backpack on the bed.

The room was rather modest, especially for the Emperors dime, but he knew Nathaniel had tried to keep everything on the down low. He peeled off his shirt and relaxed on the bed. He wanted to watch TV but was a little bit worn out from his trip.

He reached into his backpack and grabbed his cell phone. It was one of those new fangled Californian designs which allowed calls from international destinations. A little pricey, but paid for by Nathaniel, so no big deal. He scrolled through his contacts list and dialed the one marked HIM Cell.

The phone rang four times and then he answered, "Nick? That you?"

"Yah, Nate. How are you?"

"Things are well. Thank you for helping me down there. Have you found anything out?" Nathaniel asked.

"Oh, I've got a few leads from the Justice Minister, but I think they are probably going to throw me mostly dead ends. I doubt they want me nosing around here."

"I figured so. If you think they're trying to give you problems, see that Cardinal from Europe-Prussia. He'll probably keep you informed more than their government."

"I think they put a hit out on me, Nate."

Nathaniel paused for a second before he answered, "They want you dead? Nick, be careful."

"Well, at least they haven't killed me yet.". Nick chuckled a bit. "Don't worry your pretty face off about me. I'll be fine."

"I cannot wait until you get back." Nathaniel replied with excitement. "You know I still love you, right?"

"Nate, I still love you too. However, you can't date me. I'm just a common man. Its not the same since you became Emperor."

"Why not, Nick? What changed? Surely not how I feel about you, nor how you feel about me." A very upset Nathaniel asked.

Nick spoke in very calm tones, "Because you're the Emperor. You're not just that shaggy headed guy from college anymore. I... I can't be part of that. I'm a simple guy........."

"But I'm still the same person you knew in college. The same one who held you and loved you."

"Nate," responded Nick, "I will always love you. Just not sure if I can deal with your position or the fame that comes with it."

"If I cannot have you as Emperor I shall renounce my thr...."

"Don't. Just don't. I'm here, trying to figure this out. When I get back, we can have dinner and see. If you're willing to give up the Empire, then maybe I owe it to you to try. We'll see. Right now I have to concentrate on the case. I love you, baby. I'll talk to you soon."

Nick hung up. He placed the phone on it charger and relaxed. He really wanted to crack this case and prove the Commonwealth was telling the truth. He also wanted to be with Nathaniel. Guess he couldn't have everything.

[Kyr Shorn]

Office of Special Affairs, Unknown Location in Jakarta

The Director of OSS glanced down on the tidbit from a Manichaean Speaker currently staying at one of the pilgrims hotels that the Chrinthani man had arrived.

The Director was already aware of the President's distaste for the foreign interlopers in what was, an internal policing matter for the Commonwealth Government. But those fanatics in Rome had used their undeserved political clout to force unwanted persons into the case.

"Might as well use what has been made available." the Director muttered to himself as he made his choice.

He would bring the Chrinthani man on board, but he would keep the Executive Branch in the dark about it until the end and perhaps longer.

The Director paged a secretary and had them place a few calls, a few minutes after that a wiry looking old man wearing a white robe and a white hat that looked like an overgrown fez stepped out of a room a few doors away from Nicks.

This was a Manichaean Speaker, one of the holy men of the Manichaean religion who doubled as an OSS informant.

A phone call from his liaison was all that it took for him to jot down a message and have him walk a few feet to the room Nick was staying in, he slipped the note inside and walked back to his room and shut the door. He barely made a sound since, like all Speakers he wore no shoes and owned nothing other than his donated robe and hat.

The room itself was made free by the hotel's owner, a Manichaean Listener (layman) who always kept a room available for the wandering men of the God of Light and the prophet Mani.

The note listed an address in a rundown area of the city, a building where a certain OSS team was breaking down a conspiracy. They had already been contacted that a foreign investigator was to be added to the team, they would update him there.

The note was signed, "From the Office of Special Affairs"

[Nilosahara]

Mmm-mmm!

Mukanda dug into his food and poured a glass of champagne. It was a nice bottle too, a 1972 Vintage. What a great harvest that was.

"On behalf of our nation, it's been a pleasure doing business with the Commonwealth. Hong will set up the neccesary arrangements later and I'm sure that any embargo will end up causing little or no effect."

He raised his glass and toasted with the others at the table.

"Here's to the start of a fruitful relationship between Nilosahara and the Commonwealth."

Mukanda started eating his spicy Mee Goreng and engaging in small talk with his commonwealth counterparts. He made sure that he would off-handedly mention tales about Nilosahara mercenaries, plans by the central government to permit large scale foreign-owned farms, and other issues that he wished to broadcast but not in a direct way.

[Chrinthanium]

Logan removed himself from the bed with much resistance. He had to run to the restoom. After his visit, he walked back to the bed. Upon moaping around to the bed he happened to catch, out of the corner of his eye, something tucked just inside the door. He picked up the note and noticed nothing on it but an address.

He opened the door and looked around the outside, but saw no one around. He stood in the warm sun and realized that he was seemingly in one of those spy movies. He chuckled. He figured he should get dressed and head to that location.

After a shower, then a cab ride, he approached the door to the building and proceeded to enter...

[Kyr Shorn]

OSS Team

The team had been notfied ahead of time about the new addition to the group, the foreign investigator sent from Omaha. Numbers Two and Six were waiting in the rundown lobby of the ramshackle building, as Nick entered they recognized him from the picture sent by the Director and called out to him.

After a tense moment both sides relaxed and introductions were made, Nick however was not told their names but instead their numbers.

After leading him to their little meeting room the group updated him on what they had managed to figure out so far.

Several low to mid level employees of the Justice Ministry had been skimming money from the budget of the Ministry for several years into a minor office called "Little Buddha Office" and in recent months the quiet office had become a major purchasing center. A lot of the materials purchased could be used for bomb making materials. But the materials were not sent to the office but instead to many different addresses across the Commonwealth. Addresses near or in the towns and cities where the explosions had occured.

They also noted that all of the employees had been members of the J/UP for brief periods of time before leaving their party and later worked for the government when they legally could. They also noted their suspicions as to what was going to happen soon, the party would either contact Generals in the Armed Forces or those that might have already been corrupted would launch a Coup to install a radical Hinduvata* government.

"But before we make our move we need to discover how deep the rot goes." Number Seven said as they wrapped up the summary, "Is the Justice Minister involved or is he ignorant? We have also been keeping tabs on the other high level members of the government but so far nothing has come up."

*Note: Hinduvata is the RL name for a radical rightwing Hindu ideology in India. I have decided to borrow it for the Commonwealth.

[Europe - Prussia]

Betu, the Commonwealth

The tiny village of Betu, laying just on the outskirts of the official borders of the Jakarta City District was one of the few areas of the Commonwealth where Christians made up a majority of the population. That was mainly due to so many native Hindus having moved to the big cities in search of a better life. The Christians of the town by and large stayed behind, mostly due to the 86 Revolution which had stripped away their elite status, making them no worse or better than their non-christian neighbours.

In reality the pendulum of treating people like crap had swung the otherway after the fall of Suharto and not in their favor. It was much easier to stay behind, lost to the boom of the Commonwealth in terms of wealth and power. It was much better to be forgotten than abused by their victorious fellow citizens.

There had been three Christian Churches in Betu, one Lutheran, one Orthodox (Majapahit Rite), and one Catholic. When the first bombings occured it was the Catholic Church that was destroyed, the second waved spared the town, the third destroyed the Lutheran and the Orthodox Church.

The Catholic and Orthodox Churches could be rebuilt, the Lutheran one would have to be torn down and rebuilt from the ground up.

This was the first place in the Commonwealth where the first bombings were reported (or at least the earliest to reach official ears), it didn't take too long to discover the connections between the bombings due to their timing and the materials used.

Virutually everything else about them was a mystery.

It was too this place that the Cardinal's entourage was taken by a driver and a couple of armed military police to protect them, Delem himself had order that all three of them be Non-Hindu, less chance of them having a grudge against Christians that way.

The driver was a Catholic named Mathew, the two guards were Manichaean (lapsed).

The arrivial of their convey was the most interesting thing to happen in the town since the bombings, which the townsfolk had long since grown fearful of.

Interesting things.

The convoy was taken to the temporary building that the three Christian sects were using as a makeshift Church until other arraignments could be made. The person that greeted them was an older Javanese man with a long flowing beard and the priestly robes of the Majapahit Rite.

This was Father David.

He greeted the Catholic Cardinal and his companions and polietly asked them why they had come, doing his best to ignore the armed Commonwealth Soldiers.

OOC: Note on naming conventions, in Indonesia (especially the rural areas) it is traditional that people only have one name. Surnames were a concept imported from the West and most are only used in the urban areas or for record keeping. I've decided to keep this convention for the Commonwealth. Some of course choose not to use a last name out of personal habit.

Betu, Commonwealth of Indonesia

After some hours of travel, the cardinal de Artzia along Antonio Borgia arrived to Betu, a small town where the christian population was most, and where the bombings started. Walking trough the streets of the town, the cardinal saw the bombed buildings. I was obvious for him that this was an action made for fanatics who hated the christian religions or suffered in Suharto's regime, because not only the Catholic church was bombed, the Lutheran and Orthodox church were bombed too.
But was really called the attencion of the cardinal was all the attention they were attracting, like they were some kind of circus arriving to the town.
When they finally arrived to the building that was being used as church, a very odd man welcomed them. Although for Antonio this person was a very odd one to be a priest of the Catholic Church, the cardinal recognized him from the dossier that the Holy See gave him.
Making a movement with his hand to indicate to the soldiers to wait outside, the cardinal turned his gaze to the priest to give the proper presentations.

" Im the cardinal Rodrigo de Artzia. I came here on behalf of the Vatican to investigate the bombings and to give some relief to the faithful here. If you have any class of information it will be very appreciated." the Cardinal polietly said. He really hoped valious information, because this could be the basis of the investigation.

[Chrinthanium]

"Considering my welcoming to the Commonwealth, it might stem from Sjahrir personally." Spoke up Nick. "I can't verify that claim, but my driver was killed while waiting for me at the airport, then the Justice Minister threw me leads that didn't seem to hold too much water."

Nick felt out of place, but knew that he was here to help, if he could.