Shadow of the Spectres(Old)

[The Floridian Coast]

The plan was decided on while the helicopter was on its way from the Homeland Defense rooftop to the opposite side of the airport where the incident was occurring. The agents began running, with Corban in the lead, explaining to Spartan and the rest of SWORD the idea once more.

"The abandoned part their plane is in was built with a retention pond, it's at a low point in the city which made it vulnerable to flooding. Out of necessity the pond passes under the fence, big security gap no one noticed until after it was closed. All we have to do is cut the part of the fence underwater, and swim a short distance. We surface over there."

Corban was pointing a short concrete wall at the top of an incline, level with the runway some 20 meters away. "We'll have cover, and be able to take one or two out before they spot where we came from."

One of the younger Lightning Force agents began cutting through the fence with a diamond knife as quickly as he could, and finally, a large enough piece for the men to pass through fell out. He surfaced and caught his breath.

"I'll take the lead. This is a short swim in shallow water, but we have to be quiet or we'll lose the advantage of the ambush. One man at a time."

[Haktiva]

The Spectres reached the plane, Borrish and Menshavink boarded first, Borrish tending to the wounded security operator. "Get this thing moving!", Qelvk shouted, firing a burst from his SCARAB.
"I'm workin in it!", The pilot shouted back. Qelvk, Froid, and Brominski stayed outside the plane to provide cover fire so their escape wouldn't take too much damage.

[Elipida]

As The Lightning Force agents swam through the opening in the fence, The SWORD agents got ready to flank the enemy. Raven found her vantage point and laid hidden in the bushes as she reassembles her VSSK Vychlop (OOC: this is a russian anti-material rifle; don't try to block it). Archangel and Crimson prepared to run in on the opposite end of the airfield to confuse the enemy. Hades and Phantom were to wait on standby until they can get on board the plane.
Bang! Bang! Rata-ta-ta! Gunfire rang through the air. "So much for a stealth missions" Spartan whispered. He took out his communicator "Let's show them that Elipians don't take second place!" He yelled.

[The Floridian Coast]

Exhaling, and pulling the trigger, Corban missed a perfect headshot by only an inch, instead hitting the plane and shattering the cockpit's glass, and the rest of the Spectres fired back. Daniel laid down behind cover, in pain, as a shot nearly took off his arm.

"Agghhh!" Daniel was trained for pain, but the impact of a high caliber shot to the arm was not something anyone could brush off.

Corban put down his gun for a moment, ran over to Daniel, and withdrew a needle from his belt. Not a painkiller, but a stimulant to prevent his comrade from going into shock. "This is going to make it worse, but it's only because I want you to live" Corban told him, looking into his eyes, and then finding a vein on his opposite arm for the needle. He called over another man who carried the emergency kit and only picked up his gun to fight again after seeing that Daniel's bleeding was stopped. "You'll be alright."

"Captain, we hit one in the leg, he's out in the open." one of the snipers said.
Only daring to raise his eyes over the concrete for a moment, Corban gazed at the fallen enemy on the runway.
"His comrades can't help him. We got one alive now." Corban said, feeling victorious.
"Unless he kills himself, or the others put him down." the sniper commented.

As SWORD advanced once more and the remaining enemies were surrounded, everyone paused for a moment to see if the enemies would surrender or fight to the death.

[Haktiva]

Qelvk looked to see Froid hit in the leg and on his on ground, still firing his machine gun madly. "Cover me!", Qelvk shouted. He knew it was almost certain suicide, but Spectres were trained to ignore fear, not even flinch at the sight of death, and to never leave a comrade behind. Borish stuck his head out the door, firing shot after shot at the enemy, killing three in a row, spatters of blood painting the wall. The rest of the Spectres fired madly at the enemy, covering their leader as he finally reached Froid. Qelvk grabbed Froid by the strap of his pack and started dragging him back to the plane, the engine starting up. He caught several bullets in the torso, but his body armor and his training kept him going, blood from the two men painting the runway.

[The Floridian Coast]

A red mist was visible through Corban's scope, as the slower movement of the man dragging his injured comrade. "Didn't miss this time." he said, feeling victorious. The rest of the enemies boarded the plane, having no time left to waste. As the propeller reached its full speed, at the first sight of the plane's motion, Lightning Force and SWORD agents opened smalls arms fire on the plane, damaging it, but not keeping it from taking off. The plane turned sharply still very low, and turned straight towards the Gulf.

Corban did not have to call in the Airforce, the Lightning Force agent beside him already took the initiative to do so as the plane was taking off. "Repeat, we need Hunter-9's on them, they are headed West at full speed. We need them shot down, the High Premier signed off. Catch up to them and shoot them down."

SWORD agents tended one of their injured, Spartan slowly approached the middle of the runway as Corban did as well. The injured man did not move. Agents approached him cautiously, throwing off his belt and taking off his helmet. "A Spectre. A Haktivan Spectre. I know, had an encounter with them a few years back while in deep infiltration." one of the Lightning Force men told Corban.

Kneeling down over him, as another agent pulled a sidearm from his ankle, Corban smiled, finally feeling some relief after nearly 24 hours awake. "Doesn't matter if your friends get away or not. You know, an ex-girlfriend of mine flew a Hunter-9 once, I imagine that little rickety plane of theirs will fall into the ocean any minute."

"Captain Cortez, the bullet was a through and through. No major arteries pierced. This man will live." one of the other agents told him. Finally, a Homeland Defense agent came with what Corban needed.

"Syrona XC2" Corban said, tapping a syringe. "You know what this is, Spectre, it's a paralytic. Don't worry, it'll wear off in about ten minutes. We just have to make sure you aren't hiding a cyanide capsule somewhere. We need you alive." And with that, Corban injected the needle into the man's neck.

"You know what to do. Search him, bind him, and get him to the Homeland Defense building." Corban said to his men.
Spartan approached. Corban shook his hand and said "I hope you didn't lose anyone.", saying that hopefully despite knowing they likely did.

[Haktiva]

The plane landed on a covert submarine, The Spectres being shipped to the medical are. "God Damnit! We lost them, we lost them both!", Borrish yelled, kicking a table.
"Hey calm down Spectre!", A nurse said.
"No, we lost two men, I'm going back!", he shouted, running for the exit. Several nurses grabbed him, injecting a sedative into his neck.
"You lost two men, but we'll get them back, one way or another", Kiname said, playing with her ponytail as she entered the med bay.

Froid woke up in a cell, his gear stripped off. I'll make em pay,he thought, running his hand through his green hair.

[Elipida]

Several hours later...
"No sign of the plane or a wreckage, sir" Said the pilot as the AV-30 Reaper patroled the gulf. "Damn!" Spartan yelled, "They got away!" he removed the headset and threw them on the ground. "Calm down, Lieutenant" Archangel said. he rolled the newspaper in his hand and passed it to Spartan. "Read the front page article"

The Floridian Post

Elipida To Send Peacekeepers

1000 Elipian Peacekeepers sent to quell insurgents

"I don't like the sound of this" Spartan said as he began to read the article.
"Why not?" Archangel asked "Arn't you an Elipian? Your country's going out of it's way to help an ally in need. show some pride"
"It just sound fishy, that's all"

[The Floridian Coast]

Haktivan Embassy, 459 Embassy Boulevard, New Clearwater

"All Haktivan nationals, including those with other passports who have Haktivan dual citizenship, have been delcared persona non grata. Any diplomatic officials or civilians will leave this country within 48 hours or face arrest. Any Haktivan citizen who cannot leave the country by conventional means shall report to this embassy, which shall be evacuated within at the end of the deadline. Haktivan aircraft will not land here, all Haktivan flights bound for the Floridian Coast have been redirected."

These words were repeated on all news outlets. A few hundred or so Haktivans, a few businessmen but mostly tourists, were making their way into their embassy. They showed their passports to armed soldiers and then were directed inside.

After some debate amongst the High Senate in an emergency session, there would be no arrests, but a forced evacuation would be necessary. The High Premier argued before the legislators that it would be imperative that the Floridian Coast would not be seen as the aggressor in any way. Therefore, all civilians would be allowed to leave without any detainment, and the embassy was not intruded upon. Instead, a regiment of soldiers surrounded it and allowed no one to leave, and only Haktivan nationals to enter.

Fully suited up riot police formed a larger line in which angry Floridian citizens demonstrated against the country. The news was never meant to be leaked so soon, the government hoped to settle this conflict in secret. Indeed, the Haktivan citizens were being deported most of all for their own safety. Some flag burning of the offending nation's was the was worst of it, the presence of soldiers deterred more serious forms of rioting.

Across the world, the Floridian diplomatic mission in Haktiva was recalled and told to leave as soon as all civilians abroad in need of evacuation were accounted for.

Homeland Defense Building

"Captain Cortez, you aren't doing the interrogation?" a woman in a decorated uniform asked him as he passed through the halls. "No Lieutenant I am not. I've been awake for more than a day and a half. I'm going to have a drink with Spartan downtown. The SWORD men are going to be given some personal thanks by the High Premier tomorrow morning before they had home. We got our man, we solved the problem."

Despite Corban walking into an elevator, Lieutenant D'Aillo followed him in, and she spoke as the elevator descended more than 60 floors. "You trust SWORD too much. Have you ever stopped to think where the media leak came from? The only ones who knew the nationality of the attackers were Lightning Force and SWORD, and a few Homeland Defense agents."

"There was speculation, Lina, it was only a matter of time. Civilians saw them running down the street, anyone could have brought this up. What choice would we have but to confirm the suspicion then?" Corban replied. And then as the doors were opening, Corban asked "What motivation would SWORD have to leak this story to the press anyway?"

"Destabalization. Are Lightning Force men too good to watch the news, sir? It's only because of hundreds of soldiers and riot cops that the civilians leaving haven't been attacked by our civilians, who are understandably pissed off."

"Destabalization? What are you implying, Lina?" Corban asked, now quite pissed off.
"SWORD knew exactly what they were dealing with. They had satellites on us. They knew those men were Haktivan Spectres from the start. They wanted shit to hit the fan here and in Haktiva. The High Premier just approved 1000 peacekeepers. Not just on the Intracoastal and Flagsted, they are sending 100 men to the middle of New Clearwater to crush the anti-Haktivan demonstrations, foreign occupiers on our capital! Tell me you are not so blind because you're friends with some foreigner from a decade ago!" Lina exclaimed in anger.

The elevator doors opened into the second floor lobby, which was busy and swarming agents trying to control the insanity. "Spartan and I go back a long time. SWORD and Lightning Force have put lives on the line for each other. It's something you couldn't understand. Elipida is one of our closest allies. I don't agree with their desire to occupy our outlying territories, that doesn't mean there is a conspiracy!" Corban shouted back at her.

"I've sent a message to the Secretary of State about my concerns, we'll see what he has to say about this." Lina said to Corban, feeling exasperated. Homeland Defense Agents and other staff surrounded them to watch the scene curiously.
"That's insubordination, you are not Lightning Force, you do nothing of that sort without our permission. You're suspended, turn in your badge and go home, I've had enough of this."
"I'm not going to let Elipida exploit national panic to convince the High Premier to let them seize our territories, I will go to the Capitol Tower and speak to the High Premier myself if I have to."
"Then you are under arrest and you can stay in this building in a cell until you can properly acknowledge who is in charge here!" Corban shouted, and two other Homeland Defense agents took Lina's gun and handcuffed her, and forced her to walk back into the elevator.
"You will see that you're wrong, Captain Cortez" she said calmly and stoically as the elevator doors closed.

Corban moved down to the first floor where Spartan was waiting, the rest of the SWORD men having finally been debriefed, Spartan as the team leader was last to finish giving his field report. He had a freshly printed newspaper in hand detailing all the hysteria.
"Centaur, you want to have that drink now?" he asked Corban.
"Hell yeah, I need it, come on, I know a good bar just two blocks away."

[Elipida]

(OOC: this is the stories of the SWORD agents before the cerimony)

Crimson - 1621h

James (Crimson) walked down the streets filled with garbage and debris in disgust. "What a filthy city" he thought out loud. He looked up ahead and saw a small group of men chanting around a flamming police car with two unconscious police officers and a peacekeeper lying around them. "This doesn't look good" he put his hand in his jacket and reached for his pistol in his holster. "Hey!" he shouted as he waved his badge around hoping they would run "What do you think you're doing?"
"Him!" yelled their leader, "He must be a foreign spy too! kill him!" they took out molotovs and knives while two others took the guns from the injured men. "Can't say i didn't warn you"

Hades and Phantom - 1714h

George (Hades) and Dean (Phantom) go back a long time. George was a infamous computer hacker and Dean was a mercenary. they spent years hunting each other down and trying to kill each other until they met head on in an abandoned warehouse. they fought for a day until they were worn out and out of bullets. they laughed together and became bitter friends and signed up at a military academy and eventually joined SWORD.

They sat at a bar with acup og beer in their hands drinking to their hearts content. "Hey Dean" George said. "Do you know who leaked the info on our mission?"
"Nahh" Dean said as he took a large sip of beer. "I don't know. it guess it might have been that Archangel since he's never around" "Hmm, I think it might have been-"
"We have only a couple of hours to kill the high premier" whispered two men as they left the bar. "Wanna fallow them?" Dean asked. "I'm drunk and tired, but i have nothing better to do"

Raven - 1846h

Rosaline (Raven) stood on the rooftops of the parliament building, watching the sun set beyond the horizon. "Beautiful, isn't it?" asked a man at the door. He wore a homeland defense uniform "I come here every evening to see this. this is the best place to see it" he continued. "Must remind you of something if you come here often"
"Indeed it does. Me and my wife used to come here all the time"
"Used to?"
"She passed away a year ago"
"I'm sorry to hear that" she looked down and saw a masked man sabatoging the Premier's transport. "Sorry i've got to go i-" he grabbed her arm and threw her onto the ground. "Can't you stay a little longer?" he said "What the hell are you do-"
"Shut up bitch!" he pounced on her and punched her nose. "It was an elipian who murdered my wife! when they find that you, an elipian agent killing the premier, the government and the people will rise together as one and defeat Elipida! But my plan won't work if they don't find you there"
Beep
"What was that noise?" the door swung open violently as a group of Lightning force agents lead by Phantom and Hades rushed onto the rooftops. "We've recorded everything. stand down" Hades said. "Why you..." the Premier walked out the building with a group of armed men towards the limo. "We don't have time! get someone down there and stop him from walking into a deathtrap!"

[Haktiva]

Haktivan Embassy
Two Marines watched as the demonstrators outside screamed and raved. "So you think they'll be war?", one of them asked.
"Who knows, at least we know where our leader stands in all this", the other said. A civilian walked over to them.
"Do you guys know what happened?", he asked.
"Some Spectres were testing new equipment and it got them caught", the first Marine said.
"Why am I not surprised, that crap always gets military men in trouble, I mean look at us", the man said.
"At least with a nation full of warriors means we all share the burden equally", the other Marine said.
Froid's Cell
Froid sighed as he paced around in his small space, wishing the guard would come back so he could taunt him some more. You know I think he actually took me seriously when I told him I would hunt him down and gut him like a fish and eat his pets, he thought, smiling to himself.

[Elipida]

Archangel - 1900h

Archangel watched the interrogation of the prisoner from the other side of the glass. he still wore his armor and the full helmet revealing nothing of himself. "There going really hard on him" Said one of the interrogators. "But we need to know why he's here"
"He'll die before he says anything" Archangel said "But I guess this is the only reason i like this country; no laws about the treatment of prisoners and traitors" The prisoner passed out. "Shit!" one of the men said as they rushed to the door. "Make sure he's still alive!" One of them cheeked the body for a pulse while the two others fetched a medical kit. "He's still breathing," The first man declared "He's just unconscious"
"You gave him too much serum" Archangel suggested "He may lose his memories or die if you use to much"
"Shut up, foreigner" the interrogator yelled "Don't tell me how to do my job!"
suddenly a man barged into the room. it was Hades. "Hades," Archangel said "What are ou doing here?"
Hades was breathing heavily as if he just ran a marathon "Crimson, Raven, Phantom and the Premier are in the hospital. gun wounds, knife wounds, shrapnel wounds and burns, respectively"

They were in a car heading for the hospital. "Tel us what happened" Archangel and the three interrogators asked at once. "Crimson was in a fight with several protesters and killed one of them and injuring the others out of self-defense" Hades said "Raven was attacked by a traitor in the Homeland Defense agency and was stabbed before the traitor was tranquilized. The premier was shielded by Phantom when his car exploded. The premier burnes are not serious but Phantom might have died if it weren't for the lightning force agents with him"

[Haktiva]

"So where would this lead us?", Kiname asked as she walked down the hallway, a communicator in her ear.
"The involvement in the Elipidans is a great cause of concern taking into account the last time we dealt with them", a voice said.
"Indeed, they weren't particularly happy about us sending four of their elite home in boxes, they may want payback and could be using this snafu in the Floridian Coast as a front for that", Kiname said.
"My team could send them a few messages if you wish", the voice said.
"I admire your enthusiasm Angelica, but it's ultimately up to the Representative when it comes to that sort of thing", Kiname said, smiling a bit.
"I'm pretty sure the survivors of Noveria would also have a say in this", Angelica said.
"You Spectres sure know how each of you thinks", Kiname said.
"Battles and Brotherhood Mam", Angelica said.
"Battles and Brotherhood", Kiname replied. "Return to base and await further orders"
"Aye Mam", Angelica said, turning off her communicator. "Alright Tuchunka, we're heading home", she said to her men. The Spectres dashed back to the sea under the cover of night, disappearing beneath the waves.

[The Floridian Coast]

Floridian U-Boat #45-A-002, Codename Seastalker

"Did you see that? Rapid descent from the surface about six knots ahead." a young ensign watching the radar said.
"Are you sure?" his comrade asked him, sipping the barely warm instant coffee keeping them awake on their long patrol hours in the depths of the gulf. "I don't think that was a descent, it's just some cruise ship on the surface, it would have shown-"
"No look! It's a submarine, it's on level with us! It's huge too."

The seaman took a double take at it and nodded. "You don't think, could it be those Haktivan bastards? They're heading toward the Southeast Passage, why would they do that?"

The Lieutenant Commander entered the small room, a tall man who had to duck through the 5 ft. entrance especially low. His eyes heavy from being awake late as well, he asked "What do you have men?"

"We think that's the exit vessel for those spectres, sir. They're going to go through the Southeast Passage." The small channel of water separating the gulf from the oceans was narrow and heavily trafficked. "Why would they go there, seaman?"
"I don't know, sir."

Ensign Garret said "Because the only other way out involves passing by Elipida. It would be faster, but they don't want another enemy to worry about. So they're risking taking the long and more detectable route."

"I'll wake the Admiral. We're going to hunt them down and destroy them. Do we have any Orca-9's?" he asked, referring to especially destructive torpedoes.

"Four on hand, sir." Garret said, eager in his voice to have a chance to be a hero, finally something out of the ordinary of normal patrols.
"Very good. Let's finish off these bastards."

Homeland Defense Building, Administrative Custody Wing

Captain Cortez scanned a card and a metal cell door swung open, Homeland Defense Agent Lina D'Aillo sat on a bed, awake and unsurprised. The tiny room had nothing more than a flat bed and a toilet, and no windows, so that prisoners had no bearing of where in the building they were. But Lina knew exactly where she was.

"I'm guessing about 16 hours have passed." she said, looking at Corban.
"18 hours. You're an optimist." Corban said, and wasting no time said "I hate apologies. But I'm sorry. Do have an extra HD uniform in your locker?"
She nodded.
"Get on and let's go. There's been an attempt on the High Premier's life."

She stood up and asked Corban "And what do you think I can do better than you, a Lightning Force national hero?" the sarcasm evident in her voice.
"Mr. Secretary has assumed temporary control of the nation, as per succession orders. The High Senate approved 72 hours of emergency power for him until the High Premier out of surgery. He personally ordered I take you with me to investigate."

[Haktiva]

The sub went through the waters at top speed, the Spectres still ready for action. "Captain, we're being tailed", an ensign said, indicating the faint blip on the radar.
"They wouldn't dare, so close to Haktivan waters", the Captain said.
"They're bold that's for sure", Angelica said, strands of blond hair sticking out of her mask, her blue eye piercing through the darkness of the sub.
The sub was now well in Haktivan waters, taking minor damage from the attacks along the way a message was sent to the enemy sub.
"Turn back now or your countrymen will pay the price"

Froid's Cell
"Boooooooooooreeeeeeeeeeed! Froid said at the top of his lungs. He was buying his time, his red eyes staring at the guard, trying to freak him out.

[Elipida]

one hour earlier...

Spartan - The Bar

Nikolai (Spartan) was having a drink with Corban when a Homeland Defence agent covered in sweat and dirt rushed into the bar yelling "help!" until Niko and Corban asked what's the emergency. "What happened?" Niko exclamed out loud. The bar occupants turned to them. "Shut up, Spartan" Corban whispered. he pushed the two out the door and apologised to the occupants before leaving himself.

"We need to go to the hospital" Niko declared. Corban's cellphone buzzed. he accepted the call but the caller didn't wait for an answer. "Corban, this is <Insert Mr. Secretary here>. I need to speak with you" Corban turned to his friend and said "I'd like to come but I need to go" Spartan hailed a taxi "Homeland def guy, take Centaur to where ever he needs to go. I'll take a cab to the hospital" and without a response he jumped into the cab and left.

Spartan and Crimson - Eastern District General Hospital

James paced the loby with a cast over one arm and bandages wrapping around his chest under a thin shirt. The automatic doors slid open as Niko walked in. "Thank god you're here!" he said as he approched him. "Dean not in a good condition and neither is Rosaline"
"And the High Premier?"
"Just some minor burns and a broken rib bone from when Dean jumped on him. He's totally fine" Niko sighed. "The premier's fine? that's good" Niko said "I need to cheek up on my team. where are they?"
"Fallow me, Lieutenant" James walked slowly to the elevator and waved for Niko to fallow.

Then disaster strikes
The premier was put on life support after he suddenly passed out due to a disease he thought was just a minor cold and didn't report. It was a case of smallpox. The hallways were filled with medical staff rushing by paniced and confused patients, scrambling to get into airsealed suits and get uninfected patients out of the hospital. Visitors were being screened and evacuated as the local police force who weren't dealing with protesters scrambled to quarintine the entire district.
"What the hell's going on here?" James yelled. But everyone's to busy to answer. A security personnel wearing a Hazmat suit grabbed the two and gave then a pair of gas masks "Smallpox contamination. please wear these and get to the loby to be screened for infections"
"Smallpox? would a mask protect you from that?" James asked
"Just wear the fricken mask and get the hell out! we don't have the vaccine on the premises"

[The Floridian Coast]

Secretary of State Jack Trenton now held the title of Interim Premier, though it did not matter, every Floridian knew who he was. Easily the second most powerful man in government, and two dozen years senior to High Premier Alexander Bryce, he held powerful sway over the people, and it was no coincidence Alexander named him to be the temporary leader in the case of an emergency.

Floridian Infantry escorted him to the base of the Capitol Tower square, inside of a tank. The giant supertank, seen only during rare military parades, moved only one mile per hour, backing into the garage of the tallest building in the nation. The demonstrators moved out of the way and watched curiously.

Jack got in an elevator and made his way to the fourth floor balcony, stomping a cigarette under his shoes inside of it. He was different from the High Premier in many ways. Older, less idealistic and more pragmatic, better at placating the people than energizing them, which was important in this case.

Static and high pitched ringing sounded off as the system was adjusted, and finally, an officer barked into the microphone "Interim Premier Jack Trenton." and moved out of sight.

Dead silence. Not even the most angry of the demonstrators dared to yell out anything, they stood still and faced him, and listened.

"Floridian people. I know the last days have been chaos, I know that there is fear and confusion among you. But I must tell you first of all, if we are to restore order, we need you to restore order first. You have exercised your constitutional right to make your voices heard, and your voices are especially meaningful to us at this time. You have many reasons to be angry, but I must tell you truthfully, you have misdirected your rage.

Rumors have flared up on the internet and been spread on the streets, that Elipida plans to occupy this country, that SWORD has slain peaceful protesters, that they are behind the attempted assassination of our High Premier. These are lies! Even some of you believe false news and share it with good intentions. But you must listen to us now, and give us your trust.

Yes, Haktiva launched an illegal attack on our soil. Yes, they will answer for their crimes! But SWORD were invited here by the High Premier to help us hunt down these terrorists while they were at large."

Screens throughout New Clearwater broadcast this message, and in front of the Haktivan Embassy, 50 Elipidan peacekeepers and hundreds of Floridian police, facing down demonstrators about to storm the gates, all paused to listen.

"Thanks to our Elipidan allies, an enemy is in our custody, another here has been slain, and the rest our being tracked down on the high seas. Elipidan peacekeepers arrived here to help prevent terrorists acts from being carried out against us in these vulnerable times. They have not come to enact violence against you, they only wish to protect you! Remember now, and I will speak to the demonstrators outside the Haktivan embassy, you are better than they, do not repay murder with murder. The Haktivan civilians have been given a chance to leave, AFTER they have been scanned for terrorist connections. It is their government, not their people, who must pay for this crime.

And yes, one of their crimes is an attempt on the life of the High Premier! A Floridian fascist-sympathizer, who will be executed, conspired with the Haktivan government to slay our leader, and attempted to frame SWORD for it. It is because of SWORD that my dear friend Alexander is alive, and he will be ready to lead again in just days from now. But for now, I ask you - go home. Disperse. We release detained demonstrators, and no one will be charged. Your rage is understandable, but you must not misdirect it.

Elipida are our closest friends, and they will help purge the terrorist threat from our nation, and follow us to make Haktiva pay for their crimes if that is necessary! The High Premiers' injuries and the deaths of Floridian citizens WILL BE AVENGED. Justice will be served. But now, you must go home."

Jack turned around entered the Capitol Tower. There was no applause, or defiance, but a silent understanding. Blocks away by the Haktivan embassies, protesters snuffed out molotovs and put down bricks, and began to disperse. Floridian police and Elipidan peacekeepers sighed with relief.

[Haktiva]

"Lies!", a man shouted from inside the embassy gates. He was dressed in a back dress uniform with golden lines running along the seems, he was the Haktivan diplomat in charge of the embassy, a squad of Marines stood behind him, a crowd of civilians gathering behind him. "Haktiva is a nation of soldiers, and each of us lives by a code of honor. That code clearly states that we would never attack a civilian leader unless provoked, It is clear to me that you Floridians lack any sort of honor and integrity, and accuse us of terror without a second thought", he said angrily, his voice booming even without a microphone.
"OORAH OORAH OORAH!", the Marines and civilians cheered behind him, the battle cry of the Haktivans.

[Elipida]

Niko flicked off TV after listening to the Interim Premier's speech while in the waiting room waiting for the rest of his men to get through the scanning at the hospital. "You alright lieutenant?" James asked. he sat next to him and offered him a cup of coffee. "Thanks" Niko said as he grabbed the coffee cup. "To think that we'll find smallpox in The Floridian Coasts. This place is right next to us!"
I Know" Niko said "But the thing is i thought smallpox only existed as frozen samples in laboritories. could it be that..." his voice began to trailed off. "That what?" James asked. "Perhaps someone released it on purpose"
"Who would do that?"
"I don't know. remind me the next time I see Hades to ask him to look up when was the last time someone accessed smallpox in the region, including Haktiva and Elipida"
"Elipida? James rocketed out of his chair in disbelief. "Why Elipida?"
"Calm down, Crimson" Niko said. "Archangel and several Elipian officials been acting strangly recently, like, more strange than usual" James was not coninced, but sat down anyways.
"We might not be able to find them if a terrorist like the man we captured earlier infected the Premier" He said after thinking about it for several minutes.
"Not possible" Niko said "It might just be me being paranoid but this seems to well organized for even a well-formed syndicate. It has to be a government. Haktiva sent men into the country and thus are our main suspects, however the man proved that there is corruption within the government"
"What does Elipida have to gain by attacking its allies? What's the international community to think if a peacekeeper like Elipida attacked its own ally?"
"That's the thing; I don't know the government's motives"
Rosaline walked in though the tent entrance annoyed about something. "Hey Rosa!" James called "I'm glad the traitor didn't ruin your pretty face!" He was either trying to hit on her or is trying to cheer her up.

Archangel Marched in from the opposite entrance of the tent. "Turn on the TV" he demanded. "Why?" Niko asked. "The Haktivian supporters are rallying against the interim premier"

[The Floridian Coast]

"We have eradicated smallpox, this is a biological attack." Corban said, waiting three floors below and wearing a mask. A few Lightning Force agents were guarding the hospital room of the High Premier until he could be airlifted to an underground military hospital across the bay. "He was born in '73. The mandatory vaccination legislation was signed in '68." another agent replied, while Lina sat silently to think.

"Actually, I can be certain he was vaccinated. Tiny little scar on the arm from the standard dose, we all have one, including our leader." a woman in a white coat said. Corban stood up and looked her over. "I'm Dr. Hanna Tenner, from Solaria Research Hospital. Homeland Defense asked me to come, I had no idea I'd be treating the High Premier."

"Well you better not fuck it up. If he dies, this nation is in deep shit." Corban told the doctor sternly. Lina glanced at him, and Corban clarified, saying "I trust the Secretary of State's judgment, but Alexander and his family are a symbol of our national hope. You know that."

The doctor adjusted her glasses and said "Captain... Cortez. There are no limits I'd find in saving the life of our leader. Now, please, I am obligated as a citizen to share with Homeland Defense my medical opinion. This is hemorrhagic smallpox. It's more internal bleeding than cutaneous lesions. Normally, a person afflicted by this type and treated immediately will survive. But the impact of this is much more severe than anything found in nature."

"So it was artificially engineered?" Corban asked.
"Precisely, Captain Cortez. There's more though. In the morgue, we have the driver of his convoy, who was killed in the attack. It was hard to see under all the burns, but he too was infected. That means that the High Premier was infected inside the car itself."

"That means that a strain was planted in the car! Of course, the High Premier has contact daily with everyone, it would have wiped out our whole government, infected hundreds, but then, why the bomb?" Lina's sudden revelations were put on hold with that question, but Corban knew the answer.

"The bomb! The traitor, he was irrelevant to the smallpox. He had a grudge against the Elipidans, he wanted to blow up the car and frame them. But he didn't know there was already a plot on his life! The fireblast incinerated the rest of the strain."

"He accidentally saved this country in trying to kill the High Premier." the doctor said observantly.
"He's still going to get a shot through the back of the head." Corban said, quite seriously. His thoughts then shifted to investigating "If the Haktivans were behind this, we're turning their country into glass."
"They weren't behind this, Captain!" Lina protested. "Their operation, the Spectres, it was just a snafu, a test gone wrong."
"Tell me you aren't on some conspiracy involving SWORD, AGAIN Lina." Corban said raising his voice.
"I'm not saying that. But we don't have evidence to start a war with Haktiva, a war which wouldn't be easy either. They aren't pushovers." Lina replied.

Corban said "Neither our nation nor Haktiva have notable military might, but Elipida does. And if Elipida sees fit to bring Haktiva to submission, we will then follow them into war with confidence in victory."

Lina said nothing, she knew he was right about that. In fact, doubts of whether Elipida would actually go to war was the only reason bombing raids had yet to begin. Finally, she said "Interim Premier Trenton will negotiate with them. We give them back their prisoner, they give us reparations, we call it even. No?"

"Yes. Unless they're behind this disease being unleashed. In which case, pity their living more than their dead." Corban replied. National zealotry didn't build up in him often, but it was at its peak now after all that had happened. He radioed into where the Haktivan known as Froid was being held. "Take the prisoner out of his cell and interrogate him about smallpox. Break him, but keep him alive and alert. Got it?"


Aboard the Seastalker

"There has been no word from the Interim Premier yet, and we'll run out of time before there is. Too much shit's going on in the Homeland for them to care about this." one of the sailors said. The admiral slammed his fist against the metal wall. "Well I answer to the Naval Marshal, and he has given us standing permission to engage."

"Their vessel is going to surface and dock, they are going to have a fleet all over us any minute, we're going to get killed!" one of the seamen protested.

"Fire the last Orca. At the undersea docking bay. Do it now, they're going inside. We'll never have another chance to."
"We don't even know if that will destroy them, and it's guaranteed to give away our location, it's a long distance to retreat out of their waters and there's no guarantee they won't hunt us down!" another sailor said, shouting at the admiral.
"FIRE THE LAST ORCA, THAT IS AN ORDER"

Garett held his breath and pulled the lever, and the final torpedo rushed out of its bay and at the Spectres' submarine. The Seastalker itself was shaken from the impact, and the sight through the scope was obscured for a moment. Finally though, Garett looked, and invited his comrades to confirm, he saw a gaping hole in the Spectres' submarine, water rushing in, and it beginning to slowly sink.

"YES!" the men hugged each other, even the Admiral laughed with satisfaction, before finally the Lieutenant Commander shouted "Are we going to stay here and wait for them to do the same thing to us?! Full speed, let's get the hell out of here! Line up with the current, drop everything unnecessary and lets run!"

A sailor watching the radar said "Enemies approached, but they converged on the location of our target rather than us. We got some good space, and we just left their waters. I think we'll be fine."

"They were still alive to put out a distress call. Why won't they just die?"
"It doesn't matter, we blew off their escape pods earlier. They're going to drown, not even Lightning Force agents could get out of that alive."
"And what if they don't drown?" the first man asked skeptically.
"Then they live to be killed another day. Just like us." the second replied, smiling grimly.

[Haktiva]

The Spectres surfaced on the ocean, several crewmen in their arms. A patrol boat picked them up. "The sub is gone, tell the Representative to make good on the threat", Angelica said to the radio. She took off her mask, revealing messy blond hair and a kind face one would never expect to see on a woman who had killed at least one hundred people.
Citadel
"Sir, the Floridians have sunk one of our submarines in our own waters", Kiname said, playing with her ponytail as she spoke to the Representative through the video screen.
"I see, the situation is grave. Cut all ties with the Floridians, get our people out of their, I want a platoon of marines heir to make sure no harm comes to them, shoot anyone that tries to harm them", Mendrovski said.
"Understood Sir", Kiname said.
Haktivan Embassy
Four Kodak helicopters flew over the Floridian airspace, two carrying half a platoon of heavily armed Marines. "Listen up boys, we're going to get our people out. We aren't officially at war yet, but consider anyone with a weapon hostile and subdue them", the Captain said to the men.
"Aye Sir", the Marines responded.
The helicopters arrived at the embassy, tension high between the two groups, the peacekeepers and police struggling to control the Floridian crowd. The Marines ziplined down from their choppers and established a perimeter, SCAR rifles drawn. The other two landed within the embassy. "Okay Embassy personal and civilians on first, Embassy Marines on next", the Captain shouted.
"Murderers!", a few Floridians shouted, tossing bricks at the Marines.
"Hold your fire!", the sergeant shouted. The Marines kept their rifles leveled on the Floridians.

[The Floridian Coast]

"That's it, they've been evacuated without incident." one of the generals said to the interim premier while hanging up his phone, referring to last helicopter off the roof and out of Floridian skies.
"And our consulate?" Jack asked.

"The ambassador, all our diplomatic staff, and all 19 civilians registered with the embassy in Haktiva have been accounted for departed. They're in Flagsted right now. The High Premier was right to recall him, the Haktivans just cut off all contact."

"What of the Seastalker?" Jack also inquired, as he stared out a wide window of the Capitol Tower, looking at streets down below that were disorganized but at least largely free of demonstrators. "They have rendezvoused with the Phoenixclaw near Elipidan waters, to be rearmed. They're going to patrol the Polar Seas, a quiet area. The Naval Marshal believes bringing them home early might make them targets by the Haktivans if they decide to strike back."

On the video screen flashed a request for conference. "Answer." Jack spoke aloud into the room, and the computer system processed the call through, a man's face came on to the screen, a little too close to the camera. It was the Chief of Police of New Clearwater, sweating a little and calling in from the police station.

"Mr. Secretary, I mean uhhh, Interim Premier... sir." he said, trying to greet Jack Trenton with considerable nervousness.
"Whatever." Jack said, caring little about titles. "What's going on?"
"About 500 demonstrators, some pro-Haktivan immigrants from a few countries near there, and some of our citizen dissidents, have rallied outside their embassy now, shouting pro-Haktivan slogans."
"Oh shit" the general in the room said, grasping the danger of the situation.
"There are 3000 counter-protesters who came back out. There is an improvised SWORD barrier between them, but if something isn't done soon, there is going to fighting on the streets."

Five minutes later, an executive order reached the police station and Homeland Defense.

By EMERGENCY ORDER of Interim Premier Jack Trenton,

ALL demonstrators of the pro-Haktivan affiliation shall be ARRESTED and INDEFINITELY DETAINED. New Clearwater's Police, Homeland Defense, The National Militia, Lightning Force, SWORD, and Elipidan peacekeepers are granted sweeping authority to make these arrests using NECESSARY FORCE.

Patriotic counter-protesters shall be given an hour to willfully disperse.

[Haktiva]

Spectre Barracks, 12:00 Hours
"Okay boys the time has come to strike back, the Floridians are arresting our supporters and accusing us of terror attacks, so orders have come down from the top to hit them, and hit them hard", Angelica said, dressed in full gear.
"Bout time", Borrish said, also dressed in full gear.
"Now they're going to expect us to hit them to hit their important structures, instead we'll focus on their border ares, sabotage the planes any route they can use to get out of the country, then scare the crap out of them in Elipida", Angelica said. "Spectre teams will harass the borders while the Marines gear up. We're going to try to draw them into invading us, where we'll cut their throats, as in their supply lines, cause all sorts of hell, then drive them back into their own country and establish a beachhead".
"How will we be inserted?", Menshavink asked.
"We'll walk in after a dive in the pool", Angelica said.
Haktivan Waters, 19:30 Hours
The Spectres flew above the coast in a kodak chopper, their were eight of them in total. The remainder of Noveria was incorporated into Tuchunka, one of the most decorated and feared Spectre groups, distinguished by the black skull with red eyes they wore on their dress berets. "We'll drop into the water in about five minutes, we are to stay well beneath the surface and avoid any gunboats they have patrolling. Once on shore we commandeer transport and blow the subs and shoot anybody with a gun, of coarse we have to make sure they know who did this, just not until after we leave. Secondary objective is to hit the Elipidans and take out as many as we can, Command suspects they're a bigger threat than they seem. Sound good?!", Angelica said.
"Yes Mam!", the Spectres shouted.
"Let us pray before we go in", Angelica said, smiling at the enthusiasm of her men. The Spectres took off their masks and helmets and bowed their heads before reciting Spectre's Creed.
"We few who have conquered fear, to shed our blood for those we hold dear, shall destroy our foes from sea, air and land by blade or gun or by bare hand. Faithful always we shall remain, dogs to loose when war is raged!", they all said.
"Amen", Angelica said. The chopper flew low above the water about a mile away from international waters. The Spectres unloaded three rubber boats with motor that would get them over most waves and through to the Floridian Coast, to be scuttled upon entering the enemy's waters. The Spectres would swim the rest of the way and stay by on the beach till they were given the order to strike by the Representative himself, then they would make their move.
Citadel, Same Time
Alexander Mendrovski stood in front of the video screen. He himself was surprisingly young, only thirty years old, yet he had earned his place as a leader, chosen by his people for his gallantry in battle. Kiname stood by his side, both were dressed in jet black uniforms with red lines running along the pant legs.
"Get me whoever is in charge there", he said.
"Yes Sir", Kiname said.

[Haktiva]

bump

[The Floridian Coast]

OOC: was waiting for Elipida