When stone meets information [MT+PT | Invite-only | IC]

by **Nacrad** » Sat Sep 12, 2020 7:08 pm

"I heard that, um, armies of that era had the leaders charge on the front with the troops. Is that true? If that's the case... you're really brave. Officers today won't dare to go on the front lines. Usually, they'd hide in their headquarters some kilometers away. Tell me about war in your era, Ari. I've seen war myself, too."

by **Kiu Ghesik** » Sat Sep 12, 2020 7:26 pm

"It is true that we fought at the fore. It is how I got this-" Ari pointed to her jaw, where a thin white line ran from the tip of her jawbone to just beneath her mouth- "and this." She gestured now to her upper arm, where the blade of a knife had left its mark. "It would be dishonorable and dishonest to do otherwise. It would say you did not trust your own to protect you."

She paused for a moment, thinking. "I'm not sure how to describe the rest to you. We had spears and bows and horses, and you have..." She waved her arms in the direction of the screen, only just moved on from showing the front. "All of this. It's more than I could imagine."

by **Nacrad** » Sat Sep 12, 2020 7:34 pm

"We also have them, just... in a different form. In fact, if you pay attention to the way we fight, it's awfully similar to the skirmishers of your day," she answered, "It might be strange at first glance, but war never changes."

by **Kiu Ghesik** » Sat Sep 12, 2020 7:39 pm

"I saw that. The flying things, that I saw in a place called an air-port, they are like horse archers, yes? They fire their munitions at the enemy and strike them down. I think you people fight like our northern neighbors, you go to war with much pomp and circumstance. And the warriors you have are like our Alechi friends. They use skirmishers on foot, though we do not. Do you have any etsáhla, then?"

by **Nacrad** » Sat Sep 12, 2020 7:46 pm

"What is an etsáhla? I'm sorry, I never heard of it. In general, we don't use skirmishers over long fronts. We use APCs and planes to plant them at the front line, then have them fight on foot. When they move, we put them back on cars again."

"By the way, Ari, there's one kind of unit that you probably haven't heard of. It's the tank, which is a type of heavily armoured car that fires either explosive, armour-piercing or sabot rounds. I'm pretty sure I can't draw an analogue to the fighting of your era."

by **Kiu Ghesik** » Sat Sep 12, 2020 7:53 pm

"An etsáhla is an elite. The name means "uncovered", as the Alechi mandate they fight without coverings or paint on their chests, so as to show their bravery. And you are right, I have no idea what you're talking about. None of those words made sense to me. But having your skirmishers ride between battles is a wise idea. The Alechi insist on marching everywhere, it's quite annoying, and it slows our travel considerably."

by **Nacrad** » Sat Sep 12, 2020 8:11 pm

"Oh, I see. We don't have uncovered units, so to speak. Trying to pull that off in the modern battleground is stupid. We do have elite units, which specialise in sabotage operations, counter-insurgency and asymmetrical warfare. I tried to enlist in one of those, but apparently I don't fit their standards."

by **Kiu Ghesik** » Sat Sep 12, 2020 8:16 pm

"That is an honorable thing to do. It reduces spilling of blood tenfold. We do similar things, though we focus more on frightening the enemy than crippling them. It has much the same effect. And, um, why were you not selected, if it isn't rude of me to ask? Were you injured before you could distinguish yourself? That's how the Alechi do it, they honor those who fight best with wealth and elite status."

by **Nacrad** » Sat Sep 12, 2020 8:21 pm

"Um, I'm not particularly distinguished. If anything, I'm just an average soldier. There are better enlistees, and they were selected. After all, men are much stronger than women, anatomically. And since I enlisted with normal units, I'm committed to stay there until the Regiment selected me to join the special forces, which never happened."

by **Kiu Ghesik** » Sat Sep 12, 2020 8:25 pm

"You could do it. I have wrestled etsáhla, they are only as strong as they are smart. And they're not very smart. Grunts never are, are they?" Ari chuckled.

by **Nacrad** » Sat Sep 12, 2020 8:31 pm

"They aren't grunts. They are smarter than regular forces, if anything. The Special Forces are often required to detach from supply lines and chain of command, and is given much autonomy to carry out goals. That requires their leaders to be able to make decisions to ensure their success. Apparently I'm too indecisive to make the cut."

by **Kiu Ghesik** » Sat Sep 12, 2020 8:33 pm

"I have been told I'm indecisive on everything but war, so I guess you're not alone. If I can ask, what is your name? We are met now, it would be rude not to know."

by **Nacrad** » Sat Sep 12, 2020 8:34 pm

"My name is Charlotte. Nice to meet you, Ari."

by **Kiu Ghesik** » Sat Sep 12, 2020 9:02 pm

"Now we are met, then. I would come and greet you, but, Chan told me not to use my legs, and I'm not inclined to ignore his advice. He is wise beyond his years. Actually, well, it couldn't hurt."

Ari pulled herself out of the bed with her arms and sat herself in her wheelchair, then rolled herself over to Charlotte's bed. She stuck out her arm stiffly.

"I have seen your people greet folk this way. Am I doing it right?"

by **Nacrad** » Sat Sep 12, 2020 9:11 pm

"That's, uh, decidedly unnecessary in an informal setting like this. But yes, you're doing it mostly correctly," she said as she reached out her hand, "Don't mind the calluses, I've been in the military for quite some time, and the years have been somewhat harsh."

by **Kiu Ghesik** » Mon Sep 14, 2020 8:18 am

"War marks all its fighters. That is its nature." Ari nodded at her own statement, trying to emphasize its perceived profundity, Turning, she wheeled herself back to her bed, and lifted herself onto it. She felt satisfied with herself, having found to some extent a kindred spirit here in this foreign place. There were few good people here, and Charlotte was one of them.

"Well, it was a welcome surprise to meet you, friend. I wish you swift recovery." Ari laid her head on her pillow and closed her eyes, waiting. For what, she was not sure. But it would come to her. And the swiftest way for it to come was to wait.

by **Nacrad** » Mon Sep 14, 2020 8:25 pm

The next few days were boring. Same old food, same old chatter, until 7 September.

"Alright, Ari, seems like your legs have healed to the point that you can walk. I'll write a discharge note, in the meantime, we'll get you your clothes, so that you can get discharged as soon as possible."

Soon enough, a nurse brought her her clothes, "We have cleaned your clothes. Now, please change into them and tell me when you're done," she said, then she pulled the curtains to surround Ari.

Meanwhile, in the lobby.

"She'll be discharged soon. Please wait in the lobby for a few minutes," a receptionist said to some suit-and-tie wearing people. News of a bronze age ruler in Riverfort has reached the upper echelons of the government, and they wish to see her.

by **Kiu Ghesik** » Mon Sep 14, 2020 9:05 pm

Ari changed quickly, as she had learned to here, doing her best to ignore the cold (which admittedly she had become accustomed to) as she pulled on her old, familiar robes (which also admittedly were feeling rather more itchy than she was used to them feeling). She stood up, stretched, feeling her muscles weak from disuse, and flexed first her left, then her right ankle. It was surprising how quickly they had healed- the last time this had happened to her, it had taken a month for them to right themselves. The future was a wondrous place indeed, capable of things she never knew possible. She searched around on her nightstand for the card with the address of the immigration center on it. She still wasn't able to read it, but she could always find help, no matter the embarrassment of it.

Walking out the door, she gave a wave to Charlotte and turned towards the lift, which she now understood the operations of much more thoroughly, and which now no longer terrified her, and signaled to it to take her to the ground floor. When it opened out into the lobby, she walked out with head held high, determined- or at least as determined as she could be- to face whatever came next with pride and honor.

And then she saw the men in black robes by the central desk of the lobby and felt a sinking feeling that no amount of determination would spare her from what was to come next.

by **Nacrad** » Tue Sep 15, 2020 7:56 pm

"Oh hey, you must be Ari Oloughin. News of you has reached the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and we would like to invite you to a short talk with some of our ministers regarding your... uninvited appearance. Follow me, please."

The men in suits led Ari to a black sedan, which was stopped just outside the hospital.

by **Kiu Ghesik** » Tue Sep 15, 2020 8:21 pm

Sitting down in the... car... Ari was surprised about the luxury on display. The seats were soft, yet firm, like sitting on a pillow or a pile of blankets, and yet smooth as bronze. They felt... comfortable. She was far more concerned about the people around her. These men in robes had, firstly, misstated her name, a minor irritation, though everyone in this place did it, and secondly, had put her in a perfectly insecure environment. She was in a small space, surrounded on all sides by people armed with the weapons that spat fire that she had seen on the TV, the firearms, and any one of them could end her in a moment. At least she had her knives now, though they most likely knew that. She would need to trust that they were rational, and interested in her survival. Otherwise, she would need to act... irrationally.

The car began to move forward through traffic, silent as a whisper, and Ari looked out her window, amazed at the speed with which it accelerated at, and which it travelled at. Even in the Riverfort traffic, it was still faster than any horse or chariot she'd ever ridden, and it was far smoother, too. The future was a place of wonders, indeed. She turned to the man next to her.

"So... the ministers, eh? What're they like?"

No response, at least not right away. She turned back to the window. The ride would be silent, then. So be it. Maybe they would decide to acknowledge her in a moment. She would think on returning the favor.

by **Nacrad** » Tue Sep 15, 2020 8:29 pm

"I'd suppose you know, Ari, seen as you've been a leader of a... kingdom of sorts, or so we're told. They are gentlemen, don't worry. They mean no harm. Rather, we as in the whole of Nacrad wish to learn from you and your nation, and also hope that you could learn a thing or two about us -- hey, your gun's not clear, what the fuck? Remove mag and show clear now." The agent that was yelled at quickly removed the magazine from his MP7, and racked the action to show clear.

The car drove the short kilometer or so, to the Presidential Office, where she is led into the office complex. The guards at the door snapped to attention, and saluted the group.

"Gentlemen, Ari is here. Ari, these are the ministers. Please, take a seat."

by **Kiu Ghesik** » Tue Sep 15, 2020 8:42 pm

Stupid, Ari, that was stupid! These people had showed her nothing but kindness, and instead she had treated them with suspicion? These were different times- she kept forgetting that- and she needed to adjust her expectations accordingly. But that was in the past. In the present were the ministers. And she needed to treat with them. They were gentlemen, that was... distressing. That meant slick talk, smooth voices, and a generally boring attitude of proper etiquette that she most certainly lacked. It was another Council, she bet. Elders of some kind, even if the people before her most certainly weren't ancient, decrepit men who smelled of prunes and too many winters.

She sat in the proffered chair, where they all sat like hawks in a ring around her- all cool, all collected, as the black-robed men had said- and waited for whatever would come next. She hoped it wasn't too painful.

by **Nacrad** » Tue Sep 15, 2020 8:51 pm

"Alright. Good morning Ari, I'm the President of Nacrad, Matthew. Welcome to Nacrad, and, uh, I hope you a pleasant stay here. The reason we're inviting you to meet is to learn more about you and your nation, as well as try to establish diplomatic relations. Jackson, to you, please."

"Alright, thanks. I'm the MInistry of Foreign Affairs. Without much ado, allow me to be blunt: Would you be open to establishing diplomatic-- as in cooperative-- relations between your nation and Nacrad, if it turns out to be possible to return to your nation? Additionally, in the meantime, would you be open to becoming a citizen of Nacrad?"

by **Kiu Ghesik** » Tue Sep 15, 2020 9:04 pm

"You are right, that is blunt, Jackson. To answer the second question first: If I have to. I am not fond of the notion, but I am not opposed to doing things out of necessity, either. To the second..."

And that was the question of the day. Cooperation implied equality- their two nations being on an equal footing. But that fact was hardly a true one, now was it? They were not equal, by any measure. Nor was she fond of opening connections with a nation that represented all her fears about the world having come to pass. But there was no real choice, and if she disagreed with them, well, they held all the leverage. They could choose to make her return conditional on her bowing to their terms.

A compromise, then.

"...a line of communication will suffice for now. No more will be accepted without further... considerations."

Hopefully that would go over well. She was no elder- debate was not something she took to readily. Nor was politicking. This would be a touch-and-go experience, from beginning to end.

by **Nacrad** » Tue Sep 15, 2020 9:20 pm

"We understand, and we respect your decision. Perhaps, while our scientists are working away," Jackson said, "A tour of Nacrad sounds good to you? Colleagues, any comments?"

Of course, since she declined any further requests to diplomacy, there was nothing to add.

"Hmm, ok, seems like there's nothing to add right now. Mr. President, how about you?"

"Nothing either at this moment. Ari, what's your opinion on a tour of Nacrad?"

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