Tea and biscuits... INN SPAA-AACE! [CLOSED]

[Kouralia]

Tea and Biscuits... INN SPAA-AACE!

ISA Secure Facility 2:21 - Charlie
16/11/12

"Come on, come on! Round this shit up it's 0850 and I want run 5 to hit at nine!" As the shout went through the control room, a few technicians looked up darkly at the purposefully moving Suit, as the Intelligence and Security Agency Special Agents were known to the Ministry of Science operatives. Agent Aleks had already got a reputation as a hard task-master after only three months transferred in: the entire length of the ability for the disc to be used.

Since its first operation, it had been used 20 times, in runs of five. The first operation involved simply opening it to steady the power-levels needed. The second runs involved simply opening it for as long as possible to see how long the Facility could maintain it: approximately 30 minutes with 6 hours cool-down time in between, dropping to less than a minute cool-down if the gate remained open for no-longer than 5 minutes. Run 3 involved the transport of a small UGV through the ring, before returning it after ‘x’ length of time. So far they had determined that this device enabled instantaneous travel via unknown means to a planet somewhere mid-way across the galaxy. At that location, there were earth-like conditions, and the method of transport was from device to device: like a telephone signal. However, despite all these things, Run 4 was the truly ground-breaking operation: men of flesh and blood walked through the disc and confirmed the viability of the planet as an off-world colony. Now the fifth run would begin: instead of a single team exploring the site, they would enter and then the gate would close. Scientists had assured the Military authorities that, so-far, they had worked out that there was a device on the other planet capable of locking the disc back to the Kouralian facility.

Back in 221-C, Aleks pushed his way purposefully out of the technician control room and into the main corridors. Keeping to the side he moved speedily to the prep-room, and staying out of the way was paramount: the operations had thrown the facility into a turmoil. A company of the Special Reconnaissance Regiment had arrived last week to donate forces to undertake this operation, following the use of CBRN/Eng Commando Battalion troops the first time men went through. With them had come another detachment of the Long-range Support Dept. of the ISA, commando-trained agents whose main specialisation was security maintenance and operations. Or, at least that was what this subdivision’s specialisation was.

After a while, the prep-room door opened and was quickly shut behind the agent. On the outside, the room was guarded by two agents with PDWs, the same on the inside. The door itself was almost 50cm thick, and that was the secondary defence door. Inside the room, the ‘Disc Wardens’ were about to move from prep. to the atrium: the room where the disc was. 28 men - an entire platoon - were to travel through alongside a specially prepared vehicle. Fortunately for the teams, the exterior of the gate had been prepared to enable the vehicle to be supported and to drive from one-side to another. If this hadn’t been done then the vehicle might not even be able to return, and it’d be terrible if the ISA had had to destroy the vehicle after only its first use. Aleks glanced around the room. Last time he had visited it was 0830, and it had been a hubbub of chit-chat and banter about girl-friends, wine and skills. Now it was deadly quiet. The vehicle crew was chatting among itself in the corner while the Serjeant and officer were inspecting the platoon’s weapons to ensure they were perfectly able to be used. Of the 28 men, 6 were carrying .280 LMGs, and all the remainder carried R1 Assault rifles chambered for .280 British: the most superior-iorest cartridge ever invented. Each man had MTP camouflage, a day-sack, webbing, the M6 Flack-Jacket Light, and a helmet. Due to the impossibility of discovering infantrymen on this operation, the troops weren’t wearing the normal body-armour. But that didn’t mean they couldn’t kick-arse if they needed to. They were Kouralians for one, and some of the best Kouralians for two.

“Gentlemen, and ladies.” The Agent began, puffing out his chest and clasping his hands behind his back. “It is only 2 minutes to go before we open the gate: you’ll go through as soon as we are done. We shall immediately shut down the gate from this end, and you shall set up the all-round defence until the gate is reopened by your own efforts. All this you know, and you know the following too: we shall not open the gate from this end until 6 hours has passed without detecting you. We know there is a forest nearby, so it should not be difficult to form a platoon-harbour and wait for us if necessary.” He stopped talking and looked around, meeting the eyes of some of the men. “I need not tell you that this is one of the bravest things a Kouralian has done: the risks are unknown and incalculable. Gentlemen, ladies, I salute your efforts here today and if this comes off I would be proud to offer you positions permanently on my staff. Thank you, and may Artemis travel in your footsteps.” With that, he nodded sharply and walked smartly out to the observation booth, leaving as soon as possible to prevent the soldiers seeing the tear of pride in his eye. Not for them, not for his country, but for him. It had truly been, in his mind, his efforts to get this project actually going. If there wasn’t a knight-hood in this, then what the fuck would one have to do to receive one?!

---

221:c Atrium
16/11/12

"Okay lads, ready for this?" The Captain called back to the men under his command. Without hesitation there was a chorus of “Ayes”, “Yessirs”, “Yups” and even one “Never better!” He grinned and raised his hand in a fist, eyeing the technician on the observation deck. Suddenly there was a strange feeling in his gut, and the disc began to move. Strapped to the Captain’s belt was one additional piece of kit, that no other man carried: a Kouralian sword bequeathed to him as an officer of the Royal Guards. It might be shiny and impractical in normal combat, but by the gods it was official looking and technically empowered him to negotiate on the nation’s behalf.

Behind him, the vehicle rumbled into life, the crew giving him the thumbs-up before battening down and finishing the systems check. The CRV(T) ’Hermes’, or Combat Reconnaissance Vehicle (Tracked) was a compact light-tank, capable of applying disproportionate amounts of firepower. What not to like, and what better to send through the device’s first operation. And, anyway: the 1st Lancers wouldn’t lend the ISA an MBT. Sadly.

Above him, the disc stopped moving with a sudden jerk and noise. Without warning the ring glowed intensely and appeared to be filled with shimmering water: like the surface of a halogen-lit bird-bath. A weird shape of malformed matter punched out, and it was all the Captain’s training could to to keep him from exclaiming loudly in disbelief. A few moments later there was a tone in his ear and the smarmy bastard’s voice came through his ear. “Just so, Captain. May Artemis walk in your footsteps.” Getting to his feet, the Captain gave the hand-signal to his men, allowing the 1st Section to walk-through before joining on. As soon as he stepped through, he shivered at the alien sensation, before realising he was in the middle of a grassy clearing on the other planet. Stepping aside and taking a knee, he was happy to see that the SRR had pushed out about 50m into an all-round defence. As he waited, the remainder of the platoon stepped through with similarly distasteful expressions on their faces. Finally, the armoured vehicle drove through and down the steel ramp onto the field where it parked and the gunner poked his head out to vomit messily down the side. Obviously it would seem that the effects were not to everyone’s same level of distaste. shaking his head in amusement, he hit the press-all on his radio and began to issue orders. It wouldn’t be long before they had finished opening the disc back to the Royal Union.

---

“What are the chances that this UAV will actually bring us back credible data? Enough to actually organise an expedition to one of these blasted planets?” An engineer complained, tinkering with the internals of the aircraft

“I’m not paid to think about the footage the aircraft brings in and neither are you. Although I will say one thing. You have heard about the rumours of other civilisations in the universe? Ones that would not hesitate to destroy us completely if they found our location? I suspect this is why Command is extremely cautious” the fellow engineer replied.

A strange and yet familiar hissing noise pierced the gateroom as the gate began to move, the chevrons moving into position, a regular occurrence for those stationed at the facility for the movement of troops and equipment between current colonies and the lack of a ship capable of FTL meant that almost constant convoys between such colonies was a necessity, seconds passed before a screeching voice and alarm rose above the chaos.

“Unscheduled off-world activation! Troops to the gateroom!”

Seeing the commotion unfurl before them the engineers simply abandoned their posts, rushing to leave the gateroom as a seemingly endless row of Royal Marines entered the gate-room, the platoon quickly taking up prepared defensive positions around the gate in order to prepare for the arrival of the hostiles.

Lieutenant Hovis sighed as he looked at the men under his command, the iris system a defensive system inbuilt to the gate system by scientists had failed earlier during the week so the Marines under his command were the first line of defence against a seemingly unknown enemy. Hovis had positioned his troops in a standard defensive line according to regulation, stationing the light-machine gunners alongside the top of the ramp and the remaining troops along the bottom slightly off the ramp in case the enemy used some form of room clearing device. Finally after what seemed to be hours the gate opened, the familiar wormhole punching across the gate room.

Slowly, the rear-end of the CRV(T) backed through the gate. Unfortunately the ramp had not been designed for usage by a Kouralian Light Tank, and so the vehicle, after getting fully through, slid sideways and off of the ramp before impacting forcefully into the wall as gracefully as a pig doing ballet. Inside the vehicle the Commander sighed and kept buttoned up, as per protocol for an emergency in the Atrium "Right, Jane, Simeon. The fucker's just slid off the ramp. Stay inside until we're fetched, you know the drill."

“What the fuck is a CVR(T) doing in our gateroom?” a Sergeant exclaimed in quite some shock as other troops recovered from being hit by an armoured vehicle.

“Stop asking stupid questions soldier, get on top of that vehicle yourself and figure it out” the Lieutenant ordered, a select group of four soldiers moving into position to climb the vehicle and forcibly open the doors to check whoever was inside.

“The rest of you rabble continue to monitor the gate for hostiles. I mean the tank obviously missed you lot!” Hovis continued as he himself continued to aim his assault rifle towards the still active gate.

The Malgravean soldiers, reaching the vehicle would have been surprised when the tank’s commander’s hatch opened as they approached, a young woman clambering out before her eyes opened wide in shock. “Uh... Eeeep!” She cried out, sliding back into the turret as she noticed the heavily armed Malgraveans approaching. Meanwhile, the Captain stepped through the gate, immediately tumbling down due to the height discrepancy. As he went down, the trained soldier was caught off-guard, smacking down, but quickly getting to his feet. A glance around the room showed him that all was not well: the room had people in it for one!

"Che siete!?" [Who are you!?] He bellowed in High Kouralian, drawing his sword and dropping into a guard position, taking a step backwards towards the gate. Having performed regionally in multi-weapon fighting, he knew he couldn't hope to draw the rifle back around from the slung position. Despite that he couldn't help but feel like a bit of an idiot, brandishing a xiphos against automatic weapons. "Domando: parlate in nome di sua maestà!" [I demand: speak in the name of Her Majesty!] He yelled before holding his hand up and shoving the Serjeant backwards onto his arse by putting his arm through the gate. While he stood there in the guard he radioed his men to explain the situation and get them to halt.

“Can someone explain what the hell that soldier just said? It sounded like he was just messing random sounds together” one of the soldiers said as he continued to aim his assault rifle at the foreigner.

“I have no clue, soldier” the Malgravean officer said before turning his attention back towards the mess happening in the gateroom.

“Do you speak English?” the Lieutenant asked, his assault rifle like his soldiers still aimed at the foreign soldier in case the seemingly insane chap decided to use the sword as a weapon

Captain Wallace glanced down at the man who addressed him. He could see the foreign bastards advancing on his friends in the tank, and it was only the barrels of the weapons pointed at him that bid him not charge to save the lead-foots. His mind boggled at the strange situation, and before he could help himself he had opened his mouth and said the stupidest words he could think of. “I’m not sure, is this how you mean?” Realising his folly, he drew himself up more and called out in a more authoritative voice: “Now I bid you answer my questions as a Captain of Her Majesty: Who are you, and where am I?”

The Malgravean soldiers in the gate room resisted the urge to facepalm at the foreign soldier’s moment of stupidity, a quick glance from the Lieutenant causing them to return to their previous activities before the soldier responded to the Captain’s rather demanding question.

“You have stumbled upon a highly classified facility and are in no position to started demanding answers Captain. I shall respond to one of them however. I am Lieutenant Hovis and I order you to command your men to lower your weapons and leave the armoured vehicle, from that point onward you will be taken to our brig for questioning.” Hovis exclaimed in the most superior tone he could manage

The Captain glanced at the men clambering on the tank, and called over “Lieutenant, non sparate, uscire e arrendersi a questi stronzi." [Lieutenant, do not shoot, come out and surrender to these assholes.] There was an audible sigh before someone called back to him:

“Che cosa, non ha la spada funziona contro di loro? ” [What, did the sword not work against them?] the Lieutenant enquired sarcastically and scathingly as she climbed out and raised her hands in the air, her non-commissioned brethren doing the same. Stepping forwards she calmly jumped down from the back of the vehicle and took a few steps towards the advancing guards before stopping and speaking, “Qualcuno di voi signori nemmeno parlare ad Alto Kouralio?” [Do any of you fine gentlemen even speak High Kouralian?]

The soldiers surrounding the tank turned to each other in bemusement as the foreigner stepped towards them speaking the same language speaking before, the Sergeant in the group to speak up about his confusion, the rest of the soldiers still aiming their weapons at the woman.

“Can someone tell me what the hell this woman is babbling on about”? the Sergeant exclaimed as his fellow soldiers simply shrugged their shoulders.

“I guess not...” she muttered, stopping. “Well then, gentlemen, will it be the fluffy handcuffs or just hands on head?” she asked, winking mock-suggestively at them.

“Hands on head” the Sergeant replied simply, not picking up any of the tone from the female soldier.

Meanwhile the Captain called to Lieutenant Hovis. “I have bid the vehicle escort lower their weapons and surrender: now I demand my platoon be allowed entry before something god-awful happens to the disc!”

“Disc?” Hovis muttered to himself confused before he realised the foreigner was referring to the stargate “Ah, of course! We call it the stargate, for it is a gate between different star systems” the Malgravean explained quickly switching to a more authoritative tone. “Both you and the men under your command shall need to disarm before being escorted to the brig, you shall then be given a change of clothing and wait for questioning.”

Captain Wallace looked down and sighed resignedly before calling his men across. As the remainder of his platoon entered, looked around confusedly and surrendered, he began to disarm. Making exaggerated and slow movements, he placed the blade on the side of the ramp. Then, he removed the helmet and placed it next to the blade. Finally he carefully removed the rifle, pointing it towards the gate, he raised it to his shoulder, dropped the magazine from it onto the floor, and cleared the chamber before placing it next to the equipment. Finally, he took something out of his webbing before placing that too on the ground: leaving him standing there in just his combat shirt, boots and trousers. Stepping away from the equipment, he gestured at it with his foot and rolled out what was in his hand onto his palm: an emerald grey beret with a bronzed cap badge.

As he did so, his men similarly arranged their kit until they had all lined up against the wall, meanwhile the vehicle crew did the same but in less good grace. After this was done, the Kouralian officer stepped down the ramp “Well, Lieutenant Hovis,” he called as he did so, “here are my soldiers, and if I hear they have been mistreated then I will have your head: no matter who stands in my way.” Turning to his men he called out in High Kouralian, “Nessuno dice più che il loro nome, il grado e il reggimento. Io negoziare con questi ... stranieri.” [No man says more than their name, rank and regiment. I will negotiate with these...foreigners.] Turning back to the Lieutenant he nodded, “These men will tell you nothing: for intel you must come through me. We shall change our clothes, but touch a man’s regimental head-dress and I am not sure you’ll get that hand back.”
The Lieutenant watched cautiously as the foreign soldiers continued to enter the gateroom, the chaps seemingly confused for a moment before they followed the orders of their superior and disarmed themselves, the Malgravean noting the reluctance from the crew of the armoured vehicle.

“Acceptable conditions Captain. I can assure you however that these men and women under your command shall be treated with the uttermost respect and dignity.” Hovis said stepping back slightly as he signalled for 10 of the Royal Marines under his command to escort the foreign soldiers to the holding rooms.

“We have no need for intelligence surrounding your planet of origin or your military, such information is worthless to us. If you’ll follow myself and my Sergeant we shall escort you to a holding cell for questioning at a later time.” Lieutenant Hovis said moving to guide the foreign Captain out of the gateroom.

[Malgrave]

Improvised Interrogation Room - Classified Location

Lieutenant Hovis awkwardly finished setting up the recording equipment needed for the interrogation, normally such tasks would be handled by the Special Investigative Service but it was determined that the foreign Captain would open up more to another soldier, at least that was in theory. Sighing the in resignation Malgravean gave the room a quick once over, the room being used for the questioning was actually an old storage room, the drab painting scheme combined with the old markings on the floor clearly giving an indication to its former use, the room had been quickly turned into a interrogation room several years ago by the simple addition of a medium sized table and the purchase of a recording device and camera, the official reason given was to save costs but the Lieutenant suspected laziness was also a factor.

“The Captain can enter the room now Corporal” Hovis shouted, making sure that the Corporal could hear his voice, the door opening moments later. “Please sit down Captain” the Lieutenant said sitting down whilst pointing to the seat in front of him.

Captain Wallace followed the Junior NCO into the room, his thumbs tucked into his pockets. Glancing around, he stared at the decor before smirking. “You know, Lieutenant,” he began as he made himself comfortable in the chair, “back on my home planet we invest more money into aesthetics. Don’t know why, but it just creates a better working environment.” He stared at the Corporal, “Uh, my good man, you don’t mind fetching me the packages in the 2nd and 3rd pouches of my webbing, do you? Back home we have a common drink to calm the nerves, I doubt you’d have it here but I should like a cuppa.”

The Lieutenant allowed him to smile for a second as he noticed the foreign soldiers attitude when entering the room, he guessed that that the Captain might completely shut himself out from all forms of questioning and was pleasantly surprised when he entered with the same personality as before, although that could of had something to do with his superior rank.

“We do have tea if thats what you are referring to? I also find a glass of whiskey calms me down quite nicely although I don’t think you are talking to any alcoholic drinks” Hovis said as he signalled to the Corporal allowing him to visit the storage room containing the equipment confiscated from the soldiers and take the items from the Captains webbing, at least if it was poison they could wrap this incident up rather quietly.

“Uh, actually, I was referring to the Isotonic powder and some wine...” The Captain said, glancing quickly and confusedly between the departing NCO and the Officer. “Uh, I was going to suggest that we begin. But did you really just send out the only guard in the room and leave yourself alone with a foreign, potentially hostile Special Forces soldier?”

Hovis laughed heartily at the Captain’s rather confused expression “I thought we were going to have a rather nice chat? Of course if you want I can bring in one of the other guards stationed outside the door? I’ve faced hostiles in close combat before but of course even I was to die this very second I have a hunch that this place would be surrounded quicker then a chap offering free tickets to a rugby match. So how about we cut the crap and get to asking how did you get the stargate address for this planet?”

The Captain smiled and leaned forwards, steepling his hands to show them clearly to the Lt. “Well, to the point: reasonably. I respect that. And I like your trust: ill-advised all things considered, but not misplaced.” He frowned quickly, before appearing cheery again. “The suits fucked up. We were the first men to go through, close, then come back. They gave us the address for our own planet: not this planet. They got it wrong, and that’s the long and the short of it. They can’t even pronounce Lieutenant right, and they expected to make alien technology work at the snap of their fingers?” He snorted, “Fucking scientists, meddling where they shouldn’t.”

“Why do you think this place looks like crap? I have to make deal with a converted storage room whilst the scientists in our country get entire islands dedicated to weather stations and other wastes of money.” Hovis complained, rather pleased that he had found someone that had similar problems with intellectuals. “So you’ve found yourself stranded on our planet, eh? Are Special Forces going to conduct all the missions for your stargate program? I mean the Royal Marines are currently sucked into this financial black hole” Hovis said clearly remembering the many attempts (and failures) in getting the stargate running

“Heh...” Wallace smiled, “I imagine so for a while. Either us, the Navy’s CH(A)RM, the Air Force Regiments, or the ISA’s Special Forces.” He leaned back, kicking back on the chair like a school-child in double-maths on the back row. “A question for you now, Tenente [Lieutenant]: What will become of my men and I?”

“It entirely depends on what the government decides. An attempt could be made to take you back to your homeworld, you could be transferred to a prison or you could be given new identities and live under supervision on the surface.” Hovis admitted, he would at least be truthful to the foreigner especially when it concerned his own future “What would you prefer? The possibility of being trapped under guard in this facility for years whilst scientists tried to find a way home or starting a new life on the surface but on a whole new world?” the soldier asked curiously, as the Corporal entered briefly recognising the Lieutenant before placing the requested items on the table

“I hope you understand I can’t speak for my men...Thank you, Corporal...In this matter?” The Captain enquired. “I would personally desire some more thinking time, but the desire to return to my nation is strong within me now.” He said as he began to prepare the drink. First he took the mug from the top of the water bottle, and while unscrewing the top of the water bottle he poured the hip-flask of wine into the mug. When that was done he poured water into it and swilled it around before taking a sip. “Ah... vino è buono...” [Wine is good...] FInishing with that, he pulled the case in front of him before turning to the corporal as he held his index finger just over the finger-print scanner. “You there, Corporal! How do you know there isn’t a 6.5x25mm suppressed pistol in here?”

“I’m certain it was scanned before it was entered into the storage room Sir. ” the Corporal said rather nervously adjusting his collar “Well you would not go through all this trouble to kill two Royal Marines” the Corporal continued as the Lieutenant struggled to keep a straight face, he knew without doubt that a weapon was not inside the case but friendly joshing with NCO’s helped build the character of the military.

“Oh, but are you...?” The Captain pressed his finger on the pad and took delight in the way it clicked open. “If I kill you and Hovis here while talking, the door-man might not hear a thing. Then if I keep talking for a few moments while searching you I can step out and kill him too. That’s three up to me. Then I try to free my men. The fact that I am about may be enough to get me close to the guards to kill/force them to do it. Then I hand out however many weapons I have to them and move to the armoury. I will then lead a detachment to the control room and open the gate back to where I came from. The remainder escapes, I surrender.” He cocked his head, reaching into the container, “The question is: are you feeling lucky, punk?” The question was at odds with the amused and knowing smile playing across his features.

Lieutenant Hovis leaned back on his chair, quite pleased with the pace of events. It was quite clear the Captain was joshing the Corporal with the talk of concealed firearms and even the talk of the escape plan however Hovis made no attempt to stop him, sometimes the NCOs needed a little lesson even if it was made with minor pranks.

“The camera in this room is being monitored quite closely, even if myself and the Lieutenant were killed this room would be quite quickly surrounded by highly trained soldiers who would not hesitate to kill someone who had just killed two soldiers of the Royal Marines.” the Corporal said, nervously wringing his hands before glancing over to his superior for some guidance, slightly shocked at the Lieutenants lack of response towards the foreigners threatening statements, the Malgravean almost leaping for joy when he the reason for such inaction finally clicked in his head, he was being tricked!

“Very, very... Good, I say.” Said the Kouralian, nodding. He pulled out a small touch-pad tablet from the casing before shutting it and sliding it aside. “Thank you, Corporal, for the prompt service.” He turned to the Lieutenant, “Well, I think this is all we really have to talk about for the moment. If I may, I should like to see where my men have been taken to.”

“Yes. I believe we have gained enough information for now Captain. It shall be possible for you to see the troops under your command, although I believe they are being held in multiple rooms in accordance with military regulation regarding the treatment of prisoners.” Hovis said, standing as he stopped the recording device. “Corporal. Inform the soldiers guarding the prisoners that we shall be joining them in about 4 minutes and get together an escort!” the Lieutenant ordered, the Corporal hastily leaving the room to carry out the command.

“I shall lead the way Captain, so follow me closely and I will lead you to your men” the Lieutenant said quickly moving towards and opening the door, signalling for the escort called for by the Corporal to join him and the foreign Captain as they made their way towards the facilities holding room, the way to the holding room was a literal maze of corridors and although apparently designed to help defend the complex from attack it made navigating the facility quite a task even for those familiar with the building and a near impossibility for newcomers. The Lieutenant however was no stranger to these walls and within minutes he had managed to arrive at the first of the holding rooms, successfully managing to annoy several large groups of scientists who were forced to stand aside whilst the prisoner and the escorting Marines moved down the hallway.

“Open the door, Private” Hovis ordered, almost smirking when the soldier rushed to open the door with his keycard, the Malgravean instead choosing to turn and face the foreign Captain.

“I believe this room has at least four bunk beds inside it, so you will find at least 8 of your men inside. I shall have to accompany you whilst you talk to them” the Lieutenant said opening the door so the Captain could enter and talk to his men. As soon as he did so, the Kouralian soldier stepped through, smiling as he noted gratefully that the men were in high spirits and well treated. One, Lance Corporal ‘’Bastian’ Smythe had managed to convince the Malgraveans to let him keep his Harmonica, and when the door was opened they were mid song.

“Mama told me: she said...‘That ain’t the way to...’ ROOM! ROOM ‘SHUN!”

“At ease, Gentlemen,” The Captain said. As he did so, the Kouralians relaxed from their braced-up positions. “Nice rendition of Tom Jones there. Luckily I saw the light as I passed by the window, the flickering shadow of the candle on the blind: ‘else I might not have popped in to chat with you.”

The men laughed at that, one of them catching the Officer’s eye to ask a question: “Uh, sir... And you,... Sir...” He nodded to the Malgravean Lieutenant, “What is going on?”

“Well, Private, that’s relatively simple.” The Captain leaned against the wall, “We’ve got two options. FIrstly we can wait here in confinement until these people can send us back to Kouralia, and secondly we can elect to leave here and live in their nation: severing all ties with home. Obviously...” He shifted uneasily, “This depends on what the government here decides.”

Lieutenant Hovis stood rather awkwardly by, allowing the foreign Captain valuable time to catch up with his men and joke alongside them as soldiers, the Malgravean rather confused about the Tom Jones references the Kouralians were making, perking up when the Kouralian Captain started talking about their options but freezing in utter shock when the men disclosed their actual nationality.

“...Ko...Kouralia? As in the Royal bloody Union of Kouralia?” the Lieutenant said sighing in annoyance before continuing “Lieutenant Alfred Hovis of the Royal Malgravean Marines, sir. I believe we’ve had quite a misunderstanding” Hovis said, saluting the now known Kouralian Captain as a sign of respect, the Lieutenant hoping that such an incident would not negatively affect his career.

The Kouralian Captain stood still for a moment, his face as much of a mask as the best cards player, after 3 or maybe 5 seconds he turned on the spot and acknowledged the Malgravean’s salute. “Thank you... Lieutenant for sharing that information with me earlier.” He turned back to the men in the room, “Right: you lot. We’re at the very least blagging something better than this. Go get your shit off the Malgraveans.” He turned quickly back to Hovis, “No ifs: no buts. Rifles to boots to webbing, Alfred.”

The Private who had spoken was practically laughing at the farcical nature of the mission: first they had received the wrong address, secondly they had crashed their tank, thirdly they had threatened a hundred-or-so Automatic-Riflemen with a sword: and now they were actually in an Allied base. “Yessir!” He said, standing as the Captain leaned out of the room. Sebastian Wallace pointed at the nearest Malgravean Marine,

“You sir! Escort these men to the Armoury: or where-so-ever you put their monkeys and parrots. They will collect it and meet up back in their rooms in 20 minutes.” He turned his gaze on a private, “You: go get all of the other troopers and lead-foots. Now, you!” He pointed squarely at the Corporal from the Briefing room: “My Kouralian throat is parched, and I am about to do very un-recommendable things: do you have any of the pre-advertised tea?”

“Monkeys and parrots?” the Marine in the hallway said entirely confused with the Kouralians strange language, the bemused looking soldier looking to his Lieutenant for guidance

“I assume that term means weapons and gear? I can authorise the return of certain seized items however I am afraid the weapons can only be released by the military commander of this facility. If you want your weapons returned and I assume you do then you shall have to arrange a meeting with him to negotiate the release of these weapons” Hovis said before turning his attentions back to the Private now in the doorway. “Get the equipment from the storage room minus the weapons.”

“Tea? Ah yes of course Sir! I’ll get right to it Sir” the Corporal nervously replied, virtually running out of the room to carry out the Kouralian soldiers request.

“Oh, good...” Captain Wallace smiled, “I should like to meet him, and my sword should be appreciated. And all of my men shall be informed as to their situation in full now.” He looked around, “One last thing, before you take me to your leader, where are we?”

“We’re quite near Tillingham, a city on the northern mountain region. Officially this facility is one of many complexes designed to maintain the regions security against both internal and external threats. Unofficially of course it houses our countries own space exploration project.” the Lieutenant explained before gently guiding the Kouralian Captain back through the maze of corridors, the pair arriving at what appeared to be a row of central elevators with the Lieutenant swiping an ID card to be granted access to the needed floor. After a brief journey upwards Hovis stepped out of the elevator leading the Kouralian soldier through yet another maze of corridors before eventually arriving at a small conference room. In the middle stood Lieutenant General Thomas Henderson, in spite of being 65 years of age the Malgravean still radiated authority, his carefully groomed grey hair and spotless uniform further highlighting the fervent cleanliness that seemed to permeate Malgravean society.

“So you’re the reason I currently have an armoured vehicle in my gateroom?” the Commander said briefly pausing signalling for the Kouralian captain to take a seat as he did the same. “You know when I was first told about this incident I barely believed it but when you take command of such a facility you get used to such things. I hear you want your weapons returned to your soldiers? I have the authority to return these weapons however I shall have to ask some questions before I can come to a decision. Do you understand?” Lieutenant General Henderson said despite his welcoming hazel eyes the Commanders face was obviously quite weathered from many years of battle.

The Captain nodded, in some ways they contrasted and in others they were quite similar. The Kouralian was young and relatively heavily built, with short-cropped dark hair. He was wearing the emerald grey beret of his regiment, along with an MTP combat shirt and trousers. Unlike the highly shined parade shoes of the General Officer, the Kouralian Junior Officer’s boots were polished to a dull and semi-camouflaged sheen. On the other hand, the trousers he wore were clearly very well ironed, despite the small amounts of dried mud visible on them, the Captain was well groomed, and his beret was moulded with the precision one might expect of an ISA Kill-Order. “Indeed I am, sir. Your gate was incorrectly set up for the travel of the CRVT so sadly it is going to need an AEV to disassemble and remove it to the surface. And I do desire my men
to be rearmed - I shall answer your questions as best as I can to facilitate this, Sir.”

“I can make arrangements for the dismantle of the armoured vehicle.” the Commander said simply his welcoming gaze turning more inquisitive. “You are amongst fellow comrades. Our countries share quite a close relationship something which is quite rare considering my governments distrusting attitude toward foreigners. So why do you feel the need to carry weaponry? You are quite safe within these walls Captain” Henderson asked.

“Indeed, however, sir you know what is said about an Infantryman and his rifle. My men would feel improperly dressed without them.” He smiled, “Anyway, now it is time for you to ask the questions - though I won’t compromise OpSec with my answers.”

“So Kouralia has decided to investigate the stargate network? Although considering the fact that you only managed to travel a few thousand miles I doubt you were successful. Now if I order these weapons returned I take it I can count upon your honour as a gentlemen and a soldier that none of the soldiers under your command will kick up a fuss?” Henderson said, the Malgravean understood the importance of honour on Kouralian society especially the military.
“Of course, sir. They will not kick up a fuss because I will tell them not to. And, uh... I think we began investigating the ‘Stargate Network’. The ISA discovered an extra-terrestrial artefact which functions as a portal. It was used to travel through, and on the return journey we ended up in your atrium.”

“You travelled to another planet via your own gate but connected to ours on the return voyage? I’m certainly no scientist but it seems like our gate took over as the primary gate. If this problem persists and our gate keeps taken over for the return journey what will your superiors do? Attempt to solve the issue? One which could reverse the issue of control, stop the programme or instead cooperate with our national stargate project?” The Malgravean General asked quite worried about what any Kouralian attempt to reverse the situation would have on the many teams he had dotted around the galaxy.

Wallace frowned, “I couldn’t possibly say, sir. Not solely because of Operational Security, but also because I honestly do not know. Assuming it is possible to create specific sub-routes to ours and yours, there should be no problems at all. I am, fortunately, not a scientist - as a soldier I can merely say that the Kouralian Military is assisting the project in a professional security enhancement capacity.” His expression changed slightly, “You would have to speak to Special Agent Aleks of the Intelligence and Security Agency if you want to know much more about the actual project.”

“I thought you would say something like that” Thomas said pausing for a second, rubbing the top of his lip as he thought of a response. “You see I am responsible for every man and woman currently living and working inside this facility and I fear that any attempts to fiddle around with the gate network could have negative repercussions for my countries stargate project and while any issues might be fixed in the long run, at this moment of time I have several teams scattered across the galaxy working in extremely hostile conditions, teams that count upon the reliable continuation of the gate network with their lives. It is quite a hard task to try and explain to family members that their loved ones are reported missing without being able to tell them anything about the circumstances” Thomas said a sad expression covering his face as he remembered the times he had to inform family members about soldiers, scientists and other workers killed or missing in action “How would I get in contact with this Special Agent Aleks?” The Malgravean General asked

“I should think the phone might do well enough, sir.” Wallace smiled, “If you can provide me with a phone and something else then I can try to get a hold of him for you.”

“Ah relatively simple then. Attempting to contact some foreign military leaders sometimes feels like a marathon. If you’ll follow me to my office we can use my phone.” The Malgravean General said preparing to lead the Kouralian officer through his base, his office was stationed quite close to the gate itself in order for him to debrief certain soldiers and scientists returning from the gate as quickly as possible and to remain as close to the action as possible.

“Ah, very good, sir...” Wallace smiled, “but perhaps, I should like another request? Before we initiate calling the Special Agent.”

“What is that request Captain? If reasonable it shall be handled immediately” the General quickly replied

“I should like to pick my blade up on the way through the base, if that is okay with you?” The Junior Officer grinned at the General.

“Of course. I can have it transported to my office or you can directly pick it up in the storage room, thats if you don’t want anyone else touching your sword” Thomas told the Kouralian hoping he would take the first option.

“I suppose it’s okay if they transport it to your office.” He nodded, gesturing that he was okay for them to leave. “You may not understand it, but Kouralia is a highly traditional nation - we’ve been liberal in many ways for so long that they are traditions, and in other ways they are not. As a soldier I can’t really negotiate with you or another nation-state: such as what we may have encountered through the disc. As a bearer of one of the Royal Guard blades I am also an envoy - a very low-down one, but an envoy of the crown nonetheless. There are many such traditions - did you know that Battalion Command Teams carry Colours? While the changing nature of warfare makes their capture much less likely than in the 1800s, their capture is still one of - if not the worst dishonours a battalion can suffer.”

“Kouralia is regarded as one of the few civilised nations in the world and tourism is promoted in the country alongside the usual financial and cultural influence, so us Malgraveans tend to know quite a bit about Kouralia and its respect for tradition. We recently established a colony near the Kouralian mainland in order to help foster future population and economic growth, have you had the pleasure of visiting either the colony or even the Malgravean mainland?” The Malgravean General asked as the pair walked through the same corridors they had travelled down previously in order to get to the conference room, passing soldiers saluting the General as he walked past them.

The Captain seemed a tad surprised at the sudden change of conversation, but took it in his stride. “I can’t say I have had the pleasure of either. I mean, I don’t really know much about the colony if I’m honest. It might be a good place to go to when my tour’s up - which it will be in about two weeks time. I’ve been active for the last six months, so I don’t really know what’s happened recently in much detail, much of my time being occupied by sitting in a bunker in the Western Mountains.” He smiled. “Is there anything you can really tell me about the colony?”

“Ah! It is quite amazing how quickly culture has spread on the colony, although initially focused to house some of the best and frankly insane scientists and their research it has quickly expanded into a centre for the Malgravean Armed Forces as well, this has seen quite a rapid rise in the civilian population. You can watch a musical, theatrical production or visit an art gallery or museum in Cerne. If you fancy a more active lifestyle you can take part in river sports near the smaller city of Ryn or even climb a mountain near Gosbury” The General said pausing as he laughed for a few seconds “I sound like a fairly awful travel agent. What about Kouralia? I have only visited the capital in my time, although I have heard some tales from young sailors” Thomas said smiling as he remembered hearing some of the drunken adventures.

“Heh...” The Kouralian Captain grinned, “It’s kind of hard to summarise Kouralia easily. You could fly to three different airports and be forced into a holding pattern because of leaves on one runway, a hurricane at another and a small horde of Air Force jets on exercise at the third. In the cities you could think yourself anywhere, but in the countryside you’ll see whole streets coming out for dinner: kids, teens, adults, pensioners all sitting down and enjoying life. In some parts of Kouralia you can get inches of snow every week for half of the year, in other parts it’s 40’ all year - including the month of hurricanes and rains. In the entire nation it’s bad to get shit-faced - excuse my language, sir - except for the South West. Though we don’t talk about that place much.” Wallace smiled to show he was joking, “Kurton’s nice so long as one avoids the docks at night - the iron-wrought gates mark the extent of where it’s socially acceptable to be drunk and the extent of which any foreign laws may in any way be said to be applied...”

“As it is said in Malgrave, a diverse country means a diverse culture. Since international travel became available it has become a hobby of mine to visit foreign countries and see the social structure in order, it was quite a welcome change to visit Kouralia and see no vast displays of public drunkenness that I have seen in countless other nations. We have two main classifications for foreigners in Malgrave, the barbarian and the civilised foreigner. I am pleased to note that Kouralia is one of the few civilised countries on this world! I mean have you visited or heard tales of some of these barbaric nations? I heard one even had an eight year old as President! I shudder to think what life in that country is like” Henderson said as the pair finally reached the Generals office, a cramped affair the room barely fit a drinking cabinet and a medium sized table which was currently stacked with mission reports, a computer and two telephones, one that connected directly to the Prime Minister . It was quite clear to the outside observer that the General only visited this room when he needed to.

“Mm-hmm, Indeed I have heard stories from these places.” The Junior Officer nodded, “The Hobbiest Republic. Bit scary what they’re all like over there with the crazed pre-teen admirals.” He stepped inside the office, a smile on his face when he saw how small it was. “They like to keep you cooped up then, eh Sir?” He asked jovially as he shut the door behind them.

“Sometimes I like to joke that the janitor has a larger office then me.” Thomas joked looking at the future paperwork with some distaste before rejoining the conversation “Indeed. When I was first informed of the age of these Hobbiest military and political commanders I thought someone was pulling my leg. I mean can you remember some of the idiotic mistakes you made when you were a kid? Imagine those decisions effecting fellow members of the military and millions of citizens? Its madness and I certainly won’t be visiting the Hobbiest Republic anytime soon” the Lieutenant General remarked, the Malgravean taking time to clear a spare chair of reports from numerous scientific outposts before the General himself sat down and continued with his train of thought and the purpose of the journey “You wish to use the phone? You can. I shall also return you your blade” the General said gesturing to both the grey phone on the table and the Captains sword which had been placed nearby

“I thank you very much, sir.” Wallace reached across and pulled the phone towards him before picking up the handset and putting it on speaker-phone. “This... It might take a while, it depends on how quickly certain people put me through.” He grinned and dialed in a number, waiting a second before a slightly tinny and automated female voice came out of the handset.

“Hello, this is the Intelligence and Security Agency of the Royal Union of Kouralia, please select one of the following four options...” The Officer sighed and reached across, pressing down 0 for a few seconds before another voice came through, “This is the ISA, please specify which division you would like to reach.”

“Ah, Hello. I would... Er... I’d like to contact M Division, that is M as Mike.” He waited for a second.

“Which department would you like to contact within the Division?”

“I would like to contact Facility Two-Twenty One Charlie.” He leaned back, stretching out an arm to pick up the sword and lay its sheathed blade across his lap as there was a long pause, some key-board mashing just audible in the background.

“I’m afraid there is no such facility operated by the Intelligence and Security Agency.” the voice came across crisply as if rehearsed. “If you like I cou...”

“Wallace, Sebastian, Captain, Royal Kouralian Army, Special Reconnaissance Regiment, Seconded - Intelligence and Security Agency DIvision Mike, Deployment - Facility Two-Twenty-One-Charlie.” The Captain quickly cut across the young man. “Can we cut through this and get to the head of Mike Division, thanks.” He sighed before joking ironically., “See what the youth are like these days...” he said, fully aware of his young age compared to the General.

The General chuckled warmly at the Kouralians joke. It was a common joke within the classified departments of the military that you needed to be sufficiently skilled in fighting against bureaucracy in order to get anything done and it seemed that was the case in Kouralia

There was a slight change in tone of the buzzing coming from the phone before another voice emanated from it, “Hello, this is Special Agent Lawrence Baxter, is it Captain Wallace to whom I am speaking?”

“You are speaking to Lieutenant General Henderson of the Malgravean Royal Marines. I am the current Commander of the classified stargate facility you’re troops just decided to breach with an armoured vehicle” Henderson told the Kouralian Special Agent.

“Uh...” The voice stopped, unsure of itself, “I’m... I...” There was a pause. “I’m sorry, sir, but I’m afraid I cannot comment on, provide intelligence about, brief anyone on or hold a conversation regarding any on-going ISA matters.”

“I believe any pretence of ignorance or talk of classified materials stopped when a Kouralian armoured vehicle crashed into my gate room don’t you think?” Henderson replied quickly.

There was momentary silence and then the faint ambient sound of people being irritated in a muffled manner passed through the speakers: clearly the call had been transferred again. There was a tentative voice, “Hello?”

“Yes. We are still here. I presume being transferred to a new caller means we shall actually receive some information on this cockup.” Henderson said rather unimpressed with the amount of call transfers.

There was a slight pause, and then the voice began irritably. “Look, I don’t know who you are, but this is not amusing. If you’ve gotten hold of identification information of a Kouralian Official and intend to use it for illegal purposes then I recommend you halt that activity right now. In fac...”

The Malgravean General laughed for a second before choosing to interrupt the Kouralians rather silly attempt at a rant. “We captured an entire platoon of your men entering our classified facility via a gate that enables one to travel through space. An armoured vehicle crashed into our vehicle for christ sake and you are honestly trying to cover this up? Like I said previously I am Lieutenant General Henderson of the Malgravean Royal Marines and I am currently standing with Sebastian Wallace of the Royal Kouralian Army. Now the United Kingdom of Malgrave and the Royal Union of Kouralia are quite close allies are they not? I doubt you want to cause a diplomatic ruckus over this” Henderson said indicating for the Kouralian Captain to make the person on the opposite end of the phone aware of his presence.

“Uh, yeah.” The Kouralian Officer called out. “I’m here, Special Agent, so I shouldn’t bother claiming that he’s trying to pretend he’s got us.” There was another silence before some muffled talking could be heard on the other end.

“No, I don’t want fucking coffee!” The agent yelled to someone else, clearly audible down the phone line. “I...” The voice came back, “I’m not entirely sure what you’re suggesting, that a Kouralian military force was sent via the Kouralian Government to your nation?” The question was left hanging as the speaker continued, “If we are to talk frankly here and off the record then... Well...” That was left hanging too.

Henderson sighed in relief, despite being thrown through many hoops and transferred around like virus it seemed he would finally get some answers to the days events “We can talk of the record quite easily. I am currently the commander of a military facility that controls a device we call the stargate, a big ring that sends soldiers and scientists through space. Whilst preparing to launch a drone the stargate activated and an armoured Kouralian vehicle crashed into the wall followed closely by several Kouralian soldiers including the nice Captain standing here.” Henderson told the Kouralian on the other end of the phone.

“So, you are on another planet? And the platoon just advanced through as opposed to coming out where they were expected to?” The voice inquired calmly.

“No. We’re currently on Terra. I believe the platoon arrived on an alien planet as planned however on the return journey our gate took over as the primary and re-directed the platoon into our gateroom. If the Malgravean gate continues to interfere with Kouralian operations it seems we might have to arrange some sort of partnership agreement” Henderson replied his voice also remaining quite calm.

“I... Yes...” There was silence for a while before the Kouralian Officer leaned in and said a few words to the Agent. There was not a hint of superiority or triumph in his voice as he spoke. A hint is nowhere near descriptive enough.

“You’re bokked now, Special Aleks. Project director and you not only released information about it to a foreign nation, you failed to properly research the situation and you endangered the lives of the Kouralian people through potentially causing a symmetrical conflict.” He sighed, “I think you should really consider finding other people who can better weather this fallout, don’t you?”

“You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”

Wallace paused, gesturing to the Malgravean that he could speak, if he wanted to.

“I do not wish to interfere in Kouralian affairs however I must remark it was quite easy to get confidential information from a chap who supposedly should be quite good at keeping secrets that and starting a conflict after what turned out to be a simple misunderstanding seems quite silly to me? After all our nations do enjoy quite a close friendship do they not?” General Henderson replied rather unsure of what to tell the Kouralian Special Agent

“I think it’s best if we send this further up the chain of command.” The Kouralian agent said. “If you don’t mind sir, I have reports to prepare and things to do.” There was a pause, “As I’m sure you do too...”

The Captain shrugged, “I can only begin writing my reports when you get me back home, or at least to a Kouralian embassy.” He turned to the Major General, “What will happen about I and my men now?”

“They shall be released from their cells immediately and given guest privileges to the facility, from that point onward they will be reunited with their equipment and be allowed to leave the base after signing a nondisclosure agreement. After the NDA is signed then they shall be given the option of being transported to the Kouralian embassy or a reasonable location within Malgrave..” Henderson informed the Kouralian Captain.

[Kouralia]

Bumfuck-Nowhere Asheldon, Malgrave

A singular passenger bus struggled up the mountainous road, on the side lay seemingly endless kilometres of undisturbed snow-topped forests signifying to the group that the area has been virtually untouched by the larger population. As the vehicle continued to struggle against the large incline billowing smoke and grinding noise now emanating from engine seemed to indicate that the vehicle would soon come to an abrupt halt, the driver however was quite used to the poor conditions of rural transport and quickly sprung into gear easing the lump up and over the hill, the Malgravean in question cursing under his breath at the city idiots in charge.

As the smoke began to clear the Kouralians inside would begin to see the gradual outskirts and the surrounding mountains that made Asheldon a popular tourist town within the country and lately outside. At this distance the makeup of the town already looked quite unusual as unlike other cities and towns within the country that followed a practice of dominating the environment Asheldown was one of the few townships inside the country that was instead tasked with blending into its local environment, although it kept the typical grid pattern of early Malgravean township planning. Despite the relatively cold weather, recent heavy snow fall and the fact it was quite late at night the Kouralians would still see people walking in the street, a mixture of soldiers from the Territorial Defence Force, tourists slipping from and into hotels and the few permanent residents that maintained the ski slopes or made sure the town looked as presentable as possible for potential customers, within moments the bus began to gradually slow before turning into a small parking lot, outside stood dozens of soldiers still wearing the uniform of the TDF.

“The Snowy Walrus. It’s run by a bunch of former soldiers so it offers a discount to active and retired members of the armed forces.” The Driver told his passengers, a flurry of snow and cold wind entering as he opened the door for them to exit.

“Thank you, Mate, have a safe journey back to the base, or wherever you’re headin’.” The Captain said, standing up and shaking the driver’s hand. “Oi, lads, we’re off here!” He called back to the men and women on the bus. There were thirty one of them in total: twenty eight soldiers of the Special Reconnaissance Regiment, and three Troopers who’d normally be crewing the light tank. Of them, only two were officers, the Lieutenant who commanded the CRV(T) and Captain Wallace.

The Kouralians had decided to leave their trusty armoured steed behind, since it was going to be tricky to get it home. As the Malgraveans were, well, :Malgravean: when it came to fighting they could probably use the tank, and if not then it would make a nice Gate Guardian and a tale for the Base OC to tell. Unlike the tank however, the Kouralians had the rest of their kit on them. Their belt kit was minus the hordes of munitions the SRR normally took on patrol, but they had water, some rations, waterproofs, warm kit and then the combat jacket and trousers, beret and boots of their uniform. As they formed up into a textbook parade formation outside of the coach, Wallace pacing in the cold snow and resting a hand on the pommel of his sword. It had taken quite a while, but the General had been receptive to persuasion along the lines of ‘It’s a representation of the Queen herself and therefore empowers me to do duty on behalf of her, and thus is something I am entrusted with as head of the ‘Stargate’ Operation’. It was bullshit, but good bullshit, with an inkiling of truth. While not the representation of the Queen, it was certainly a badge of his Captaincy.

“Lads, listen up!” He began, glancing to the Malgravean troops before continuing, “The nice General has arranged for us to have accommodation in a hotel in town. Under your NCOs and the crew of the CRV(T) you’ll head over there and drop off equipment before making yourselves presentable for some leave.” He nodded slowly, pausing before finishing. “With that said, at all times the proper conduct of a Kouralian soldier, and one of the Special Operations Cadre, is to be maintained. Failure to do so will incur any regular punishment, up to Number 1. Now, fall OUT!”

As the men milled about before quickly moving off down the street, Captain Wallace approached the group of Malgraveans, the Lieutenant of the CRV(T) crew and the Platoon Serjeant flanking him as he did so.

“Evenin’ gents.” Wallace called out, with a friendly nod.

“Foreign soldiers?” a Territorial Defence Soldier slurred, the conscript trying to maintain his balance by leaning on a fellow seemingly asleep conscript who became alert at the mention of the word foreigner. “Foreigners? Does this mean we’re going to get attacked by bloody foreign terrorists now” the Malgravean complained pointing accusingly at the Kouralian Captain before speaking again “you bring any criminals with you?”

Wallace sighed, failing to notice the disgusted expression on Lieutenant Rose’s face at the drunkenness as he responded, “I’m not sure. How’re you defining criminality? I’m sure there’s something we’ve done wrong somewhere in the world.”

“Terrorists! We don’t want to deal with any foreign criminals you bri...” the conscript started interrupted by another TDF soldier who began to walk between the Kouralians. “Stop bothering these foreigners and get back inside Private” the TDF Officer exclaimed kicking the said private in the direction of the door before turning his attention to the Kouralians. “I don’t know why you folk are here but all soldiers are welcome in the Snowy Walrus. Captain Carlson, Territorial Defence Force” The Officer was obviously less drunk than the conscripts now walking back towards the bar and offered to shake the Kouralian Captains hand.

“A pleasure to meet you... Captain.” Wallace said, taking his hand firmly and staring hard at the backs of the Malgravean Conscripts. “I’m Captain Wallace, Special Reconnaissance Regiment.” He glanced back at the others, “Lieutenant Rose and Serjeant Mikaelsen, likewise the Ess-ar-ar. A nice pint is precisely what I need on a night like this, me thinks: so long as I’m not forced to consume as much as those inebriates.”

“You can decide to get yourself completely and utterly drunk like the soldiers you met previously or not drink at all. I’ll ask you to excuse the behaviour of certain conscripts within the building however. Some of these soldiers have been under attack from remaining insurgents for months and deserve a little time to forget the attacks they have endured. I’ll pay for the first round of drinks for you bunch” the Captain said moving back towards the bar.

“I think I’ll enjoy myself in measure, Mister Carlson.” Wallace followed on, with his subordinates accompanying them. “That’s a very kind offer, Captain, and one I’d be happy to take up with you. Just be quick about it before my JNCO Cadre arrives or they’ll be trying to claim their Camelbacks are pint glasses.” As they walked toward the door, the younger female officer decided to sate her curiosity, after all it was odd for a country to have guerillas when it was so well developed as Malgrave.

“Excuse my asking, sir.” Lieutenant Rose began, “But what insurgency is this?”

“We faced an insurgency for many decades Lieutenant Rose, the major terrorist organisations were destroyed several years ago however smaller groups remain and continue to pester TDF checkpoints in certain areas” Carlson replied as he opened the door and stepped into the pub.

The Snowy Walrus was a relatively simple affair consisting of a main large room which held a long bar and seating for around 60 drinkers, the room itself was basically decorated with the only pictures on the wall being those of members of the military from all services that had died in combat against communist or fascist insurgents. A medium sized kitchen was stationed behind the bar area with toilets being situated in a separate building at the end of a short garden.

The Three Kouralians stepped in from the cold. While wearing the combat jackets kept the majority of the cold off, it was good to be inside where someone had heard of central heating. The trio glanced around as they removed their emerald grey berets, the Serjeant’s eyes being quickly drawn to the walls of memorial pictures. As they moved through the drinkers, a respectful nod afforded by all of them to the memorial, Wallace kept his hand on his sword hilt to make sure the blade didn’t swing and hit someone.

Although a majority of the patrons within the bar chose to ignore the new arrivals and return quite rapidly to previous discussions and alcohol drinking a small group of around eight TDF conscripts decided to approach the Kouralian group, the first to approach was a female Lance Corporal who somehow appeared to be drunker than the previous bunch of conscripts the Kouralians had met. Giggling rather loudly the Malgravean moved quite quickly into Captains Wallace’s personal space wrapping her arms around him in a drunken attempt to hug him whilst moving her hands all over his body.

As soon as that happened, the Serjeant and Lieutenant turned away, meeting each other’s eyes and shaking with repressed laughter. Neither of them were bound by any agreement to keep this secret, so it would be over half the battalion within a few days time that Wallace had had some drunk scientist trying to come up to him and get it on in the middle of a bar.

“Uh...” Wallace stopped suddenly, trying to step back slightly and prise the JNCO’s hands off of himself gently yet firmly. With a mortified expression he tried to explain the Malgravean’s mistake to her. “Corp’, I think you should take a look at who you’re trying to...grope.”

“Why? You think a woman cannot come onto a man or something? Or don’t you like female attention?” the drunk Lance Corporal said briefly turning back to look at a male soldier who looked quite interested in the Captain before refocusing her attentions back on the Kouralian, the Lance Corporal was still quite unaware of the Kouralians rank and began to move herself into quite an inappropriate position.

Meanwhile a group of two soldiers went to introduce themselves to the other Kouralians standing near the Captain “The Lance Corporal is giving your friend quite a hard time.” a young male Private told the Lieutenant with a cocky smirk patting his female colleague on the back who looked quite nervous and was nervously drinking a glass of vodka. “I...heard s..someone say t.t..that you were foreign?” the female Private managed to ask her fellow Malgravean laughing rather harshly at her stuttering.

Wallace glanced over and glared at his subordinates before being drawn back to the insistent Lance Corporal. “Uh, no. I think this is both illegal, and immoral. And ill advised.” He grabbed her roving hand and quickly pushed it, and her, away. “I’m a Captain of a foreign special forces unit. You’re a drunken JNCO. It would be rape.”

Rose nodded to the female private, “Eyyup. Kouralian, we’re passing through on our way out of the country after a joint-forces exercise. This place looked like a nice stop-off point so we thought we’d peruse the wares at the bar.” She winked to the Private, “So, are you lot garrisoned here?” She asked, ignoring both the male and the stutter of the female.

“Illegal? is it illegal for two consenting parties to have sex in your country?” the Lance Corporal asked returning to continue her earlier movements. “I assure you I am quite sober Captain, at least let me buy you a few drinks” the Lance Corporal said putting on the cutest face she could in an attempt to win the foreign soldier over.

The Malgravean Private was quite shocked to be responded to especially over her fellow Malgravean “..umm yes. We are stationed quite close to the town in order to man checkpoints and respond to any reports of remaining insurgents. It has calmed down c..compared to previous years. Do Kouralians li..drink alcohol?” the Malgravean asked in an attempt to buy the Kouralian a drink.

“No, Lance Corporal.” Wallace said, firmly. “It’s illegal for one to either have sex with someone who is unwilling, i.e. me, or to take advantage of a massively intoxicated state. Especially when the persons involved are in a super-/subordinate position.” He sighed. “I’m sure there are many other of your countrymen who require your tender attentions, if you’ll seek them out around here.”

“Well, it sounds rather exciting.” Rose said, directing the private and the Kouralian Serjeant a bit away from the Captain and his...companion. “We are indeed partial to a bit of alcohol, but surely this is your posting, I should be the one buying you guys the drinks?” She smiled, holding out a hand to the Private, “LieutenantGemma Rose, Special Recce Regiment.”

The SNCO nodded a greeting to the young private too. “Serjeant Mikaelsen, likewise. Good to meet you.”

Instead of continuing her attempts to befriend the Kouralian Captain the Lance Corporal started weeping hysterically, the Malgravean mumbling about “alcohol” and “silly laws” in what appeared to be Polish before collapsing herself on the nearest Kouralian soldier. “We are quite silly! Alcohol it takes away the barriers” the Lance Corporal said referencing the fact that many Malgraveans needed to get quite drunk before they stopped repressing things.

“...well I don’t want to be rude. I was taught its always best to purchase guests drinks first and since you are a guest to our nation?” the Private said shaking the Lieutenant's hand quite rapidly “Private Elizabeth Beyer and I guess you already know i’m with the Territorial Defence Army. So i’m talking with a member of a foreign special forces regiment?” Elizabeth asked feeling quite awed to speak to both the Kouralians.

The Serjeant groaned as the JNCO collapsed onto him, quickly twisting out of her way and trying to offload her onto the male Private, with a meaningful look in his eye. “There’ya go.” He said, a faint smile on his face as he tried to ignore the hysterics.

“No, it is my duty to buy you a drink for protecting the villages and doing your part to fight the insurgents!” Gemma said, nodding in a friendly manner. “Yes, I’m Specialist Warfare Cadre, Royal Army.” She smiled, proud, before turning to the male private. “And what’s your name, matey?”

The Malgravean Private glared at the Kouralian Serjeant as he was seemingly attacked by the Lance Corporal who seemed to be crying even harder now on his shoulder. “Private Adam Davies” Adam said attempting to speak over the crying lump on his shoulder who was now wrapping herself around him like a snake.

“...I guess. It shall certainly be an honour to receive a drink from a member of the special forces let alone a foreign force although I guess that means you cannot disclose any information about why you were inside my country?” Elizabeth asked fidgeting with her uniform before asking a final question “I mean we could talk about something else apart from the military. What do you think of Malgrave so far? “

“Hey, there’s no honour involved.” The Lieutenant said, moving toward the bar and gesturing for the Private to follow, “Just sharing a drink among fellow soldiers. And you’d be right. All I can say is it was a combined arms exercise with some of your spec ops lads.” She gestured to Wallace, “He was leading an E ‘n E team against your Royal Marines. Di’n’t catch us though, so your guys probably need to work on their observation...” She tailed off, “Well, from what I’ve seen the country’s nice and so are the people, if they can be a tad...” She glanced to the Lance Corporal and the Private from earlier, “Uh, a little over-partial to alcoholic beverages. I’m guessing it’s not all this cold and snowy?”

“Escape and Evade? The Royal Marines are usually quite adept at capturing fleeing insurgents although I like to claim we perform the task better.” Elizabeth said grinning wildly at the common rivalry between certain regiments of the Royal Marines and TDF. “As for my fellow soldiers? We are shot at frequently for several months, return to normal day life and then return to do the same. On top of that quite a few of them are taught to pretty much repress everything they come across so when they drink alcohol it kinda explodes out of them” the Malgravean said looking at the Lance Corporal who was still crying on the male Malgravean private’s shoulder. “It’s quite cold and snowy here in the north but further down the country? I was born in Pakosc a city in the South East of the country and it gets fairly warm in the summer time. Of course the cities are incredibly built up across the country and a real sign of pride but some areas like this managed to avoid the massive construction buzz the country had a few years ago” Elizabeth said with a shrug as the male Malgravean private began to complain about the lump on his shoulder

“Why do I h...” Davies said falling suddenly quiet as a singular man entered, the rest of the room falling quiet as they realised who the man was.

“Private Davies! Return to base immediately and if I hear any rumours about yourself and this Lance Corporal I’ll give you the same bollocking I’m going to give her in the morning.” The Major-General shouted. The Malgravean officer was wearing his usual barracks dress complimented by his officers sword, the addition of the sword was a personal addition but the Malgravean always imagined himself killing an insurgent in battle with it. “Why are you all standing around like a bunch of weeping angels? Stop creeping out the foreigners and get back to drinking” the Major General said quickly moving towards the bar and ordering himself a pint of the local beer.

As the rest of the room assortedly tried to salute, brace up, or whatever, the Kouralians stood there rather bemusedly. “Is that a...” Rose began before being shushed by the Serjeant. Not that the SNCO confined his actions to that, giving Adam Davies a subtle ‘wanker’ gesture before turning back to Private Beyer.

“He always in ‘ere then?” He inclined his head to the General Officer, “Must be a good pint if even the Brass can be bothered to muck in with the Other Ranks.”

“I think he likes popping in here occasionally and scaring the crap out of us and making sure we don’t cross the line. I also heard a rumour that he travels without security to increase the chance he’ll be attacked by insurgents and engage them in combat with his sword. We hear rumours all the time though about his previous combat against communists in the mountains near here” Elizabeth said trying to make herself as quiet as possible so the Major-General could not hear them talking about him.

“Heh, well...” Mikaelsen began, a slight smirk on his face, “There’s probably only one person here who’s killed a man with an Officer’s Dress sword, and I doubt it’s the General the...”

Upon seeing the gesture waved at him by the Kouralian Serjeant, the Private stopped in his tracks turning back to face the Kouralian he handed off the Lance Corporal to another Malgravean before walking back up to the group “What the hell are you suggesting, foreigner?” Adam shouted prodding the Serjeant in the shoulder with his finger, in the background the Major-General did nothing to separate the two instead just sighing into his beer and nodding to the barman who dashed into the kitchen returning with a medkit a few seconds later.

The Serjeant stopped, sighing and turning about to face the angered Private before straightening his cuffs. “I don’t know, Private.” He glanced toward the bar where he met the gaze of Wallace, who merely shrugged and turned to face away and call for a pint. “I’d have thought a clever little cunt like you’d be able to work things out. Or do you not know what basic military hand signals mean?” He asked despairingly, making as if to turn back to face the faintly amused Lieutenant and Elizabeth.

The Malgravean Private did not respond instead deciding to start the fight against the Kouralian Serjeant when his back was turned in an attempt to get the upper hand against the foreigner and use it for the rest of the fight. Adam did not see his superior officer place his head in his hands and silently mutter about needing a bucket for the Privates teeth, the Malgravean was too busy attempting to land the first blow against the back of the Kouralians skull aiming to follow it up with a few punches to the kidneys.

The first blow glanced off of the head of Mikaelsen, who was moving slightly in anticipation of the blow, and given the infinitesimal warning of its coming by Gemma’s expression. Moving with the punch, he threw himself back toward the Malgravean, smashing into the Private with his shoulder to knock him off balance and give the serjeant the ability to turn around and properly clean the floor with the imbecile’s face.

Adam stumbled slightly backwards, the Malgravean just catching himself before falling over quickly rushed forward eager to get back into the fight and regain the initiative against the Kouralian by dealing a series of quick blows against the Serjeants head and lungs hoping to either daze or wind his opponent.

Unfortunately for the TDF soldier, the Kouralian ploughed through that and avoided most of the blows, moving as if to barge past the Malgravean before driving his knee up into the Malgravean’s chest to make him double up. As soon as the man did so, Mikaelsen brought his elbow down onto Davies’ neck before both stepping behind him and giving him a slight push. Locking his hand into the Malgravean’s arm, he brought the Private’s arm behind his body into a painful lock. “Try me, lad, and see where it gets you, hmm? A broken arm is hard to recover from in time for the beasting tomorrow morning, isn’t it?”

“Sir, tell this bloody foreigner to let go of my fecking arm” Adam shouted, the Malgravean was still in quite some shock about how the Kouralian soldier had managed to gain the upper hand against him so quickly and the pain now beginning to flood through highlighted what an idiotic move the soldier had made.

“Why should I? You started a fight with someone that clearly has more training than you when I specifically ordered you to head back to base with the Lance Corporal” the Major General replied somehow shouting whilst remaining at an acceptable volume for casual conversation “Break his arm. I think he needs a lesson in humility every once in awhile” the Malgravean officer said nodding at the Kouralian Serjeant.

Mikaelsen raised an eyebrow, noting that the Captain had given a slight shake of his head at the General’s last request. Instead of breaking the idiot’s arm, he released the hold and gave the man a forceful shove towards the door, intended to send him sprawling. But, as he did that with his left hand, he grabbed the olive beret off of the Malgravean’s head with his right. Taking it and turning it over in his hands for a moment, brushing at it as if trying to remove dirt or sand, he muttered and turned away again before handing it to Private Beyer. “I’ve tried to brush the fuckwit off of it, but I think that’ll require professional cleaning.” He paused, noting that everyone was looking at him. “What? Do you really want him wearing the regimental headdress on his way home? The same one you’re all wearing?”

“I see you’ve passed my test quite well Serjeant. One must show restraint in these cases even if the opponent is being an arse. You’ve also gained the respect of the soldiers in the room” the Malgravean Officer said downing the rest of his beer before purchasing another drink and handing it to the Serjeant, the room filling with applause as he did so, the soldiers seemingly congratulating the Kouralian in beating down the previously cocky private who was now retreating back to base.

“These soldiers are under your command Captain?” the Major General asked signalling to the Captain if he wanted a replacement for his beer. It was from this distance that the assembled Kouralians would be able to see the Malgravean officers features in more detail, in another life the Malgravean officer would of been quite a handsome man however years of combat and frankly the many reckless missions he went on during his youth had scarred him deeply, older shrapnel scars from when he narrowly avoided being killed by an IED being immediately visible on his left cheek and an old bullet wound from one of his earlier near suicidal assaults into the deep caves systems used by insurgents proudly sitting on the side of his neck. As the Officer signalled to the barman with his hands they would also notice their calloused and rough appearance further indicating that the Malgravean had and still worked considerably hard

“Yes... Sir.” Captain Wallace nodded, continuing his beer. “Special Recce Regiment, we were just up with the Royal Marines doing some E ‘n E, and we thought this was a nice town to take a break for the night in on the way to Epping.” He paused, “This seems like a nice establishment, I’ll have to recommend it out to any Kouralians who pass through. How about you, do you often frequent here?”

“So we have foreign special forces assisting in operational exercises with the Royal Marines now? I can only think of one sizeable Royal Marine force in the region and that is being lead by Thomas Henderson, a good friend but certainly out of his mind when he claims his troops are better at capturing fleeing insurgents” the Officer said pausing as he felt himself drift further away from the subject. “Ah, the Snowy Walrus is one of the only pubs in the area that suits to soldiers and serves decent food on top of alcohol. Can you tell me if you managed to successfully evade the Marines? It would be quite nice to bring it up in conversation when I have a drink with him next”

Elizabeth closed her mouth having stood open jawed for what seemed like minutes, the Malgravean just recovering herself from the shock of seeing the a fellow soldier so quickly defeated by the Kouralian Serjeant. “We can finally return to our previous conservation? I’ve heard quite a bit about the east of Kouralia but I never hear much about the rest, what is the country like to live in?” Elizabeth asked both the Lieutenant and the Serjeant.

“Eh, yeah. We didn’t get caught.” The Kouralian nodded, ad-libbing some additions to the cover story. “Do remind him that his facilities aren’t up to scratch.” He grinned, “They gave us a good run for our money though.” Wallace finished his pint, gesturing down at the other Officer’s sword. “So, tell me, Sir, have you had a chance to use your dress sword?”

“Oh, I live in the east where it’s all lovely and sunny.” Gemma said, nudging Mikaelsen in the ribs, “He’s the one who lives in Pescara, right?” The Serjeant nodded, “It’s like in the mountains or some stuff. To the East and South you’ve got lovely warm, quite dry, but not excessively hot areas. To the North it’s humid and tropical, to the South West it becomes greener and less warm and to the North West it becomes pretty damned chilly.” She paused, “Where’re you from?”

“I seem to remember him complaining about a lack of funding last time we spoke but at the moment the military is just getting enough money to carry out its current tasks.” the Malgravean complained visibly annoyed about the recent removing of acquisition funding perking up when the Kouralian mentioned his sword “Sadly i’ve only been able to engage in mock combat with like minded officers and cocky youths recently as i’ve been far from combat. I remember those days when we charged rather suicidally into mountain fortifications with little in the form of support, the bayonet was quite useful in those moments at skewering the communists and fascists you met at close range.” the Major-General said a sad smile forming on his lips as he remembered friends that had died in the fierce combat.

The Malgravean Private grinned quite pleased that she was communicating well with not just one but two random foreigners, something that would’ve been impossible without drinking a little alcohol. “Oh I was born in Pakosc. It’s one of the few industrial centres of the country in the South East of Malgrave and it gets incredibly warm in the summer. When i’m not tasked with serving in the TDF I actually work in the city as a coordinator between the government, union and local industry all boring stuff but it pays well. You are professional full time soldiers?” Elizabeth asked both Kouralians.

“Aye, the bay’net.” Wallace nodded, “Always a firm friend, though not so handy on horseback, which is why.” He tapped the hilt of his sword, “Why the heavy cavalry sword is always a boon.” He paused, “I’ve never engaged in mock combat with this sword: I’ve trained with it, and drawn it in anger twice.”

“Eyyup.” Mikaelsen said, nodding with an amused smile on his face, “Except in times of war there’s no conscription in Kouralia. It’s felt it would, no offence, lower the quality of the armed forces. I mean, you can apply to join up but it’s very selective, and then if you don’t get into that you can do the TA. Aside from that you must attest, and finally when all those options are exhausted the Government will conscript.”

“Yeah, there’re only Professional Kouralian soldiers. I’ve been doing it for a year, Mikaelsen’s been doing it for about 5 or 6?” She paused, getting a nod, “And Wallace has been in the game for about 6. He’ll nearly be getting his Majority soon.”

“You see it is quite hard to imagine a cavalry charge on the side of a mountain. I remember in my days the military was in an even worse state of funding then it is today, so we relied on our bayonets and grenades to gain access to these massive networks of caves the insurgents used instead of being able to call upon air or even artillery support. You ever attacked a fortification with only a few mortars as support Captain?” the Malgravean officer said as a new beer arrived for the Kouralian Captain.

“We have quite a need for our conscript force and they are fairly well trained compared to other services across the world. I can’t imagine how our country would have manned the countless checkpoints across the country without implementing conscription. I mean we also have a professional military force and the leadership of the TDF like the Major-General are professional soldiers. I can certainly survive long in a fight than the asshole who just discredited the entire TDF with this actions” Elizabeth said playfully shoving the Kouralian Lieutenant feeling quite confident compared to when she first met the Kouralians.

“Eh, I’ve known cavalry to make successful charges up hill.” Wallace said, sipping the second pint. “Balaclava or something. But, no. I haven’t. I’ve assaulted houses with secessionists in them with only platoon support, but not fortifications.” He paused, “Well, the person I damned near decapitated was in the middle of the capital city. You can probably find footage of it on MuTube. Two guys stepped out of the crowd, one turned and raised a pistol to keep the police back as the procession rode past, another kept running and tried to fire, so I swung down without a second thought.” Seb grinned, “Obviously there was an inquest: about whether or not the police were incompetent for having to have me do their job for them.”

Gemma grinned, stepping back and raising her hands up in a mock fighting stance as she giggled, knocking into Mikaelsen before turning around and brushing down his chest in an over the top mockery of brushing down someone’s clothes. “Sorry there Serjeant, didn’t want to fall over.” She grinned, gesturing to an empty spot over by the bar near Wallace, “I don’t doubt you about that, Elizabeth, but shall we see about that drink I promised?”

“I’d like to see cavalry attempt to charge some of the rocky hillsides I assaulted in my youth, quite the impossible task.” the Officer said chuckling slightly as he imagined the chaotic scene in his head. “You know I’ve never cracked someones head open with a cavalry sword and as you can clearly see I prefer performing amputations during combat.” the Malgravean said tapping his sword lightly in appreciation.

Wallace stopped, nearly spitting his beer out into the glass. “You mean you carry that into combat... sir?” While, yes, he’d used his sword in combat on parade - where he wore full dress uniform, and he’d threatened the guards in the Malgravean base with it - primarily out of an inability to do much else, to take the blade knowingly into combat rather than another magazine was plain madness.

“A drink? I am now faced with a multitude of drink choices” Elizabeth said pausing slightly as she flipped a coin internally to decide her final choice. “An Epping cocktail” the Malgravean said nodding in appreciation.

On the other side of the bar the Malgravean Officer was chuckling at the shocked reaction he received from the Kouralian Captain quite enjoying messing around with the foreigner. “You ever tried to give weapons and ammunition to a country that institutes nationwide conscription? One that has virtually no industry at that point, focuses all its financial attention towards reconstruction and research projects and has checkpoints in areas that a pretty much under constant attack by insurgents? I preferred taking my sword into close combat especially if it meant that a few chaps down at a checkpoint would get even one additional magazine. It was the sacrifice of countless conscripts that kept the war from reaching major cities” The Malgravean Officer said drinking his beer to get rid of the bitter taste that had formed in his mouth.

“Hmm...” The Kouralian shrugged. “Please tell me you at least took a pistol, eh?”

“Of course. What sort of madman would attack a heavily fortified position wielding only a sword? Although saying that I have heard of a nation that sent waves of unarmed people against machine gun nests and IFV’s. You ever come across these crazy nations that have no regard for the men under their command?” the Malgravean asked having now switched to drinking a non-alcoholic Teslade

“Well, there’s the Hobbiest Republic...” He paused. “I don’t know much about their tactics but they eat people and stuff... Then there’s not too much around Kouralia.” Captain Wallace fnished his pint before glancing across to where the Malgravean Private and two Kouralians were ordering drinks. “So, wha...” He paused again. “I’m sorry, sir, but what’s your name again, I quite forgot...”

“It seems we both forgot. Liam Mallard.” the Malgravean said offering to shake the Kouralian Captains hand. “I’ve heard stories about the Hobbiest Republic and other nations that are frankly quite alarming. I mean cannibalism and allowing people to roam around with heavy weapons? You can see why I laugh when they call my country tyrannical for banning equines from certain military positions.” Liam said checking on the behaviour of the Malgravean Private.

“Well, it’s good to meet you, Mister Mallard... You don’t mind if I address you as such?” Wallace looked concerned, obviously that was an important consideration. “I’m Sebastian Wallace.”

“I don’t mind Sebastian, you can call me whatever pleases you the most. Now I must ask you a question, do you smoke? It is quite an unpopular pastime in this country but I do rather like smoking from the pipe my grandfather gave to me” Liam said as he retrieved a rather ornate wooden pipe from his pocket. “Its quite amazing how this little bugger survived the devastation of war quite so intact.”

“Aye...” Wallace paused, fumbling in his pocket before pulling out a small metal case. Within were some rolled up cigarettes and a few matches. “I’m not going to pretend that this is any heirloom, you can get one for a fiver in Kurton, but shall we head outside?”

“We have to these days......the blasted health and safety regulations.” Liam complained light heartedly quickly leaving his seat and exciting the bar, the officer barely bracing himself for the sudden change in temperatures.

“Eyyup, there everywhere in Kouralia too...” he said, “Damned people unable to cope with a bit of smoke...” Outside in the wind and snow, Wallace quickly turned to face the wall, tucking the cigarette into his mouth and cupping a hand around the end to protect the flame until he’d lit it properly. “So, General, seen many rebels lately?”

“Its nice to get some fresh air whilst smoking but sometimes the weather makes it impossible” the General said using the same method to light his tobacco pipe. “Insurgents? I’ve not seen any for quite some time, they only attack the occasional checkpoint and important target these days so unless you made a massive racket coming into town they won’t do anything” Liam replied smoke casually leaving his pipe.

“Aye, but if you can’t deal with the weather then it’s your fault.” He nodded, “Back where I’ve recently been stationed to pretty much all year it’s like this, and if I’m honest it’s hilarious seeing the support arms bitching about it continually...” He put on a mock childish voice, “Oh, I wish they’d get rid of the smoking ban! I wish we could have covered walkways! Oh, I’m a Squadron leader and I can’t deal with the fact that my parade shoes have snow on them!” He laughed loudly, “I don’t say ‘you’ as you, of course. In a, like general term I mean.”

“Weather like this? It is simple child’s play but I’ve had conscripts from more privileged backgrounds complain like they have been deployed in the middle of the arctic. I do attempt to iron out the whiners and bastards under my command but as you can see from the earlier display I am not one hundred percent successful.” Liam retorted cursing profusely when his pipe went out, as he turned to relight his pipe two men dressed in rather worn combat dress stormed past and into the building armed with an EM-2 and a Lanchester.

Captain Wallace stared at them, as they pushed past. “Uh...” He paused, looking about. “I... Never mind.” he shrugged, probably just being paranoid - that man wasn’t really carrying a machine gun was he?

“Everyone put their hands into the air and shut the fuck up you worthless pig dogs.” One of the rebels shouted aiming his EM-2 at the group of Kouralian soldiers and Malgravean Private whilst his colleague moved his weapon over the larger group of Malgravean conscripts.

“Oh yeah? Why don’t you fight me without that weapon? I’ll quickly shove the bayonet up your arse and crack your skull you fascist bastard” Elizabeth said attempting to tackle the Malgravean insurgent.

Without thinking, Mikaelsen grabbed the young woman’s arm, yanking her back toward the bar as Gemma moved quickly to stand between the man with the rifle and the drunken woman. “I’m terribly sorry... Mister..? My friend has had too much to drink, do excuse her.”

“You should be lucky that I am willing to suspend her fate !” the insurgent shouted erratically moving the rifle around as he spoke. “Although I say nobody in this room shall survive the bloody day, now everyone empty your pockets! I want cash, photos and any weapons you bastards might have on you.” the Malgravean shouted

“And what if we don’t have any of the above?” Mikaelsen asked, raising his eyebrow as he noticed the door behind the Terrorists open slightly.

“You become another life lost during the revolution, now are you going to give me what I asked for or am I going to have to collect it from from a bullet ridden corpse.” the insurgent holding the assault rifle ordered as his fellow comrade collected wallets and photos from the unarmed Malgravean conscripts.

“Well...” Mikaelsen said, shrugging as much as he could with the struggling Elizabeth clasped against him, “I’m sure we could have some problems here, as some Malgravean Royal Marines took all my weapons, and soldiers on Op don’t normally carry pictures or cash. Can I...” Gemma kicked him in the shin, hard. “Ow, bokk... A pint maybe?”

“So you are a bunch of bloody foreigners and you’ve got no cash! I think that pretty much settles it! You foreign bastards die for the revoluti” the insurgent started, a blood curdling scream interrupting the rest of his sentence as the Malgravean Officer cut through his arm with relative ease, the chunk wriggling on the floor as the once threatening insurgent dropped with a flood blood pouring out onto the floor.

As soon as the terrorist screamed out, and the one with the lanchester wheeled around, Gemma lunged forward, catching him in the side of the head with a punch as hard as she could make it. The punch caught the charging Malgravean off guard seemingly throwing him some distance across the room as he collapsed like a sack of potatoes knocked out with a single punch.

“Jesus Christ Almighty...” the Captain said as he stepped through after the Malgravean. The large heavy cavalry sword was out and in his hand, the blade as of yet undirtied as he glanced at the wailing terrorist. “You gon’ finish that, sir?” He asked casually, gesturing with the tip of his blade. Meanwhile the Lieutenant kept moving, slamming into the unconscious terrorist as he fell - bringing him down faster and in a more lateral manner. Running on instinct she tried to roll him over, before kneeling astride him and grabbing the man’s wrist, before realising he wasn’t a threat.

“Good show...” Mikaelsen muttered, releasing Elizabeth and stepping forward to grab the Lanchester. “I was expecting him to shoot you if I’m honest...”

“Nah, Sarn’t, I’m too fast for that.” She winked.

“You can finish him if you want Captain” Liam said sighing as he looked at the blood spurting onto the floor returning to the bar as he witnessed the other insurgent continue to get beaten to a bloody pulp by one of the Kouralian soldiers who seemed to realise rather late that the chap she was punching was no longer conscious “Its gonna be a right pain in the arse to clean this bastards blood off....you might want to restrain the Private again though.” The Malgravean Officer remarked as Elizabeth highlighted the Generals reason for concern running from the previous hold of Mikaelsen running towards and kicking the unconscious insurgent in the ribs several times before retrieving her personal knife and moving to stab the insurgent in the heart and stomach.

“Indeed, sir. A pleasure.” The Captain said, staring down at the insurgent before placing the point above his adams apple. After a moment he placed his weight forward and pushed it through, holding it in his neck before pulling it out. “I... oh, god what is that woman doing? SARN’T!” He yelled over to his second in command.

“Si... Oh god, No!” He turned, the Lanchester in his hand as Gemma had been knocked aside from the terrorist by the Malgravean Private’s overzealous beating. He reached across suddenly and rather roughly, moving to grab her wrist with his left hand while keeping the SMG pointed away from everyone in the bar.

“These bastards killed my friends and family and think they can get away without being properly punished? They then attempt to kill us in this very bar!” Elizabeth shouted, a singular tear rolling down her eye as she remembered the day of the Epping Metro bombing, the knife in her hand slowly heading towards the unconscious terrorists heart.

“Her parents died in the 2009 bombing of the metro in Epping. So sadly the reaction is quite predictable especially when she was just nearly killed by insurgents from the group responsible” Liam informed the Captain making no movements to stop the attack from happening...at least for the moment.

“I don’t care.” Mikaelsen grabbed her wrist, pulling it away from the terrorist. “If you stab him, no matter what he and or his comrades have done - that is murder. Don’t sink to his level, or I’ll be forced to do unpleasant things with the stock of this carbine, and I don’t want that.” He looked into her eyes, “Now, please drop the knife?” As he did so, the Lieutenant stood up and brushed her knees off to get some of the dirt gone before stepping over the insurgent, placing herself in between the knife and his body.

“Indeed. This does not change anything though, does it, General?” Wallace said, turning to fix him with his second best ‘dealing with irritating civilians’ glare back from working on Ceremonial duty. “I’m sure you’re not condoning the murder of a prisoner in Kouralian custody, are you?”

Instead of replying immediately to the Kouralian Captain Liam instead focused his attention on the Malgravean Private who was now shaking like an old tumble dryer. “You want to honour the name of those lost in the fight against the fascist and communist pigs? Drop the knife and let them go before the crown court” the Officer told Elizabeth, the Malgravean Private releasing the knife in question before falling onto the ground near the Kouralian Lieutenant.

“You think I or anyone else in my position would order the murder of a prisoner? Especially the one in the custody of a foreign soldier? I was simply telling you of the reasons for the attack. We’re Malgraveans not some barbaric Hobbiest or Allanean” Liam said chuckling at the Kouralians glare as if had just been told a joke.

“Thank you, Private Beyer.” Gemma sighed, hugging the Malgravean. “It’s okay... Everyone needs to make tough choices - you took the right option.” Behind them, Mikaelsen picked up the blade and placed it on the table, before grabbing the unconscious under the armpit and hauling him up and lying him onto a table too. Once they were both up to be examined he quickly cleared the SMG and held it ready, an inquisitive glance at the Captain showing he trusted the Kouralian Officer’s decision over the Malgravean’s.

“Indeed, but it pays to make sure.” Wallace said, wiping the blade off on the trouser of the dead terrorist. “So, sir, now what?”

[Kouralia]

“Sir?”

“Well, Captain, I think a Stand to is in order, don't you?” Liam Mallard told the Kouralian Captain, the Malgravean officer cleaning his now bloody sword on his trousers silently complaining about dirtying his uniform with the blood of criminals as he did.

“Yes, sir.” Wallace said with a curt nod before turning around to look about the bar. WIth his bloodied sword in hand, it was only the disruptive camouflage pattern that prevented him looking fit to launch himself at a line of musketeers, as the Special Reconnaissance Regiment’s weapons would be transported separately to the men, in a diplomatic transport, due to the local firearms laws. He gave a nod to Serjeant Mikaelsen and Ensign Rose. “Ms Rose, Stand the room to, and get someone to make a local map on the table, brief-like.”

The young woman nodded, turning to the Serjeant. “Right, Serjeant, stand the room to. I’ll…” She gestured in a ‘come here’ fashion to the bartender before picking up a table knocked over in the struggle. “I’ll get the map ready.”

Mikaelsen nodded before turning around to the men, Lanchester SMG in hand. “Right, I want…” He paused, “Everyone on the floor now, keep below the line of the windows, anyone who’s got a firearm, declare it now.”

“You called ma’am?” the Bartender asked as he slowly limped towards the Kouralian Ensign, the Former Malgravean Army Captain had been injured around ten years ago when his vehicle ran over an improvised explosive device near Pakosc and he had used his disability payment to purchase the Snowy Walrus to comfort current and ex servicemen and women.

The TDF Conscripts did as ordered and moved into position on the floor, a majority of them were unarmed however five of them were carrying ASP .45 service pistols and quickly took them out and prepared themselves for combat.

“Right, thank’ee.” The Junior Officer said, waving a hand over the table. “You’re the least drunk of anyone here beyond maybe myself and the Serjeant, would you mind making a vague map of the town? It needs this marked, the Woodcock Hotel, any police station, and the TDF barracks.” She looked at him, “Can you do that? I mean, use serviettes and cutlery or something, it doesn’t matter.”

“Can I do it? I served in the Army during the cutbacks of the early 90’s. I’m quite adept at creating maps and repairing equipment from scrap. You see most Malgravean towns are constructed in sectors. You have residential sectors and economic sectors in the centre and outskirts of Asheldon. You’ll find the Woodcock Hotel in the town centre amongst the towns other hotels” the Former Captain told the Kouralian as he began to make a crude map with what utensils and other bits and bobs he could find. “Police stations are also dotted around the town, although the man HQ is also located in the town centre and should be clearly signposted. The TDF barracks? It used to be constructed near the town centre however local businesses thought that it attracted terrorist attacks and the MoD relocated it to the eastern outskirts of the town, it should be easy to find however as the new construction sticks out like a sore thumb despite the efforts to lessen its impact”

As she spoke, the Serjeant moved around whispering to the men with the pistols. Having selected two of them, he called them aside and brought them to a crouch as he passed orders on to them. “Right lads…” He began, ignoring any gender difference. “Sally’s parents have five daughters: Nana, Nini, Nono, Nunu and…? What’s the name of the fifth child?”

“Dando the dinosaur!” one of the conscripts said, shouting the character of a popular comic strip in the Royal Malgravean Times, the drunk soldier chuckling at his own joke as his colleagues ignored his behaviour and replied with the answer Sally.

“Good, have at it.” Gemma said to the barman before turning and moving toward the other two officers.

“Right.” Mikaelsen held out his hand, “Pistol and ammunition.” He said to the evidently inebriated soldier. “You.” He turned to the man who looked most on the ball, “Find me a sober person.” He turned to another two, “You two will remain here, most likely us Kouralians, the General and the other three pistoleers will strike out for the Police station or TDF place or whatever.”

“I don’t need guns when I have claws!” the soldier replied as he handed over his pistol and ammunition over to the Kouralian.

“Private Kaczmarkek get over here and relieve this man of his service pistol” Sergeant Jones ordered, the Malgravean had only drank a couple of beers since arriving a few hours ago so was quite sober compared to the others in the room.

“Private Andrew Kaczmarkek reporting for duty sirs! I’m ready to escort anyone to the TDF barracks” Andrew shouted, the young Malgravean private standing to attention and saluting both the Kouralian and Malgravean sergeant.

“At ease private. You don’t need to impress General Mallard and I don’t see your father around here” Sergeant Jones replied as he waited for the Kouralian to hand over the pistol

“Right, piss off you.” Holger Mikaelsen said to the drunkard before turning the pistol over. “You, Sergeant, and Private… Mark. Will remain here and ensure the safety of these drunkards. This is now a tactical situation, so you firstly don’t salute those you’re not meant to salute, and secondly, don’t salute those you’re meant to salute. Got it?”

“Yes sir!” Andrew replied, the Malgravean just stopping himself from saluting the Kouralian as he grabbed the pistol and got into position with the other conscripts.
“It shall be easier for us to get to the Woodcock Hotel and the Police HQ in the centre of town. Police HQ has a functioning radio that will be able to contact the Territorial Defence Force base on the outer edge of town and inform them of the earlier incident.” the Malgravean Sergeant told the Kouralian as the Former Captain finally finished the crude map of the town.

“I’ve completed the map for you ma’am. You can see that the town is constructed in a fairly basic grid pattern with the different sectors marked by the sugar whilst the ketchup packets are what I guess to be the locations of the hotel, police HQ and the TDF barracks”

“Right, thank you, sir.” the Ensign said, beckoning the two senior officers over for their meeting regarding the plans for where to go and what to do next. As they reached the table, Mikaelsen rapidly closed in and gave the nod to Wallace.

“Room is stood to, sir, and I’ve collected five sober or semi-sober individuals with firearms in order to convey his Generalship to the police station or TDF barracks, or wherever we’re heading next.”

“I’d like to return back to base and personally organise a sweep of the region for insurgent forces however the outer edges of the town are less secure. We should travel to the Police Headquarters in the centre of the town and contact the TDF barracks over the radio” Mallard told the assembled Kouralians as he pointed to the location on the make-up map. “I should be able to call out reinforcements and needed equipment from that point onwards and ensure the swift defeat of all hostiles in the surrounding area. Are you prepared to fight beyond the police station?” the Malgravean asked Captain Wallace.

“Of course.” The Kouralian replied. “My primary focus will have to be the security of my men, however I will be able to lend my assistance to supporting your efforts.” He paused and glanced at the map. “We have three, three and one for this… From your experience, what can you estimate about the size, disposition, temperament and equipment of the hostile force?”

“We’ve been ambushed several times en-route back to the main TDF barracks and I imagine they would be preparing for another ambush. We shall have the jump on them for the moment as we travel to the Police Headquarters instead but they are able to reorganise rapidly and shall probably attempt to intercept us. I hope you are skilled in urban fighting” Liam Mallard said confident in the ability of his own troops to fight on the streets if needed.

“I am relatively capable at FiSH and CHiPS…” Wallace said with a smile, inciting a chuckle from Gemma. “I’d recommend we move fast in a diamond formation along the side roads which are likely to be less well lit. I’d recommend the SMG leads the way, followed by a TDF trooper with a pistol to act as Scout. Then the two pistols at a right angle to the axis. Finally, the rifle with Ensign Rose at the rear. You will be in the centre, accompanied by myself until I can procure armaments and take my place in the formation. Does this meet with your approval?”

“I’ve been through quite a few urban brawls in my lifetime and we do try to whip these idiots into a half-decent fighting force. I’m ready as i’ll ever be” Mallard said, his fellow Malgraveans already getting into position

“Roger that.” Wallace turned and after a few moments preparation the ad-hoc section was ready to deploy. Slowly, Mikaelsen pulled the door open with Rose holding it tightly to ensure a gust of wind didn’t slam it in an untoward and obvious manner. His SMG in hand, he poked his head out of the doorway, just about hip-height, holding the weapon up and ready to fire if necessary, but otherwise hoping for a nice empty street.

Luckily for Mikaelsen only the cold night breeze and light snowfall greeted him instead of a hail of automatic gunfire, from this point Mikaelsen could see the pubs small snow covered car park and the singular road that led into town, the light and noise pollution from the towns hotels and the lack of police response indicating that the earlier fight had not been reported to the authorities. In the distance closer to the town a small team of three individuals were preparing themselves for combat, dressed in stolen winter gear and covered in thick snow they awaited the expected convoy of drunk soldiers on top of a small mound that dwarfed the relatively flat ground surrounding the immediate entrance of the town.

Stepping out of the pub, Mikaelsen formed up off on the side of the road about five meters from the centre of it, waiting for the others to move up. While the Kouralians couldn’t do much about the state of the Malgraveans, Wallace and Rose ensured that they’d make up for any short-comings in the possibly-slightly-drunk conscripts. The Captain had taken General Mallard firmly by the arm, ready to physically direct the general officer or throw him out of the way of incoming fire if necessary, while Ensign Rose brought up the rear of the group, the EM-2 Rifle kept tightly into her shoulder, sweeping the surroundings as her eye passed over each detail. After a few moments waiting to ensure that the pub door had been closed behind them by the competent people within, Mikaelsen signaled to the Malgraveans behind him to move off with him in a rough diamond formation around the General and Captain - almost immediately moving off the road and taking the diamond about ten to fifteen meters down onto the plain to avoid any traffic or devices placed on it.

Steadying his breath James readied his ageing Enfield rifle aiming at the centre of the diamond formation, the left-wing insurgent firing off two shots in quick succession before hiding in the snow, his two colleagues taking the signal lifted themselves from cover and prepared to unleash a hail of automatic gunfire on the formation below.

“Contact!” Serjeant Mikaelsen cried out, waving the Malgraveans down as he brought his weapon up, scanning the direction the shot had come from for possible hostiles. Meanwhile, behind him Wallace had dropped to the floor, dragging Mallard down with him as the bullet tore through his hip and out the other side. Behind them, as the two other men stood up to fire, the Ensign fired on the position of the muzzle flash, screaming for the three Malgraveans to move the two officers into the cover offered by the raised road.

Both Sergeant Jones and Private Kaczmarkek did as instructed and immediately moved into a position of cover alongside the main road, both conscripts reading their weapons and performing a scan for any remaining hostiles, the previous machine gunners having been slain before they managed to fire a shot in anger at the convoy, still within cover and rather dismayed by the stupidity of his fallen soldiers James readied another shot, this time aiming to take down the pesky female soldier who killed his comrades. Mallard meanwhile refused to move into cover instead taking off his jacket and tearing off his shirt sleeves to act as a simple bandage to help stem the flow of blood and his jacket to help maintain the Captains body temperature, the officer had seen many friends die in combat and he was quite determined to see the Kouralian officer live.

Seeing the range of the combat, Mikaelsen turned half-about, waving to the Ensign to move as he sighted and fired a short burst of the SMG - highly inaccurate at that range, but at least it would possibly make him keep his head down. Meanwhile Rose spun and sprinted more towards the cover before dropping to her belt-buckle and putting some more rounds down-range at the sniper to allow Mikaelsen to move into cover.

James cursed profoundly before throwing his weapon down the hillside and slowly getting up with his hands on top of his head, the soldier had been caught twice before by the Territorial Defence Force and once by the Royal Marines but this time he had a rather different message to send to the people in Epping, one that would make them think twice about celebrating the apparent capitulation of the insurgency.

“I surrender! Don’t shoot!” James said attempting to sound as pitiful and weak as possible to the troops that had forced his surrender.

As the Malgravean surrendered, Mikaelsen moved to take his surrender, accompanied by Rose as they ordered the two Malgraveans to keep watch on the two senior officers. As they approached James, Rose raised her rifle and shot him twice through the chest before advancing, while the Serjeant moved past to collect the weapons left behind. Back with Mallard, the Captain was becoming weak from loss of blood, after the .303 shot went through his lower body and out the other side.

James rolled down the hill, a trail of blood flowing quickly behind him. When Mikaelsen approached he would see the detonator belonging to his suicide vest inches away from making contact, meanwhile Sergeant Jones and Private Kaczmarkek moved out of cover and began sweeping the immediate area for any remaining hostiles.

“You still with us Captain? Kouralians are meant to be tough chaps and we need you conscious when we enter the local police station” Mallard said giving the Kouralian officer a friendly slap round the face in an attempt to waken him up a bit.

“Ye- Agh.” Wallace said, grunting in pain. “Just… Let Ensign Rose hand the orders out for the moment. I think…” Taking hold of the Malgravean General, the Captain tried to pull himself to his feet before falling back down, chuckling slightly. “I think, sir…” He began, “I think I might have to ask for a shoulder to lean on. Just so long as we don’t put it down to the drink in the contact report, my career should be fine.” As they talked, the two Kouralian special forces moved about, Rose grabbing the SMLE and Mikaelsen picking up the MGs to be brought back to the small group.

“Don’t worry son. I was ferrying wounded soldiers across active combat zones alone over thirty years ago. I’m fairly confident that I can take you to the nearest police station especially with the firepower we have with us now.” Mallard said, letting Ensign Rose take over the conversation for the time being.

When they arrived back, the two Kouralians put the weapons down, calling the Malgraveans in. “Right… You two.” the Ensign said, gesturing to the MGs - you’ll be on the flanks with these. Put down fire as much as possible on anyone who contacts us. Sir!” She called to Mallard, taking the Lanchester from Mikaelsen. “Take this with you and use it only if they close in, your main job is keeping Mister Wallace upright and mobile. As it is the Serjeant will take this assault rifle and I’ll take this long, same positions as before. As we’ve not seen any further movement, and both gunners and the surrendering insurgent are dead, I imagine we’re pretty clear from the rear in terms of enemy patrols.” That done, she checked her weapon before nodding to the General. “Ready when you and your patient are, sir.”

“Don’t worry Ensign. I’ve carried dozens of wounded soldiers through situations far worse than this.......although not that recently.” Mallard said with a slight chuckle accepting the Lanchester before helping Sebastian to his feet.

Sergeant Jones and Private Kaczmarkek gladly accepted the MG’s as a replacement for the ineffective pistols they had been using earlier, the two soldiers quickly moving into position ready for further action against the enemy.

“Okay, ready to move… Let’s go.” The young woman said, standing up and shouldering the long-ranged rifle and following the rest of the formation into town at the General and Captain’s pace.

“We’ve got four blocks until we reach the central square of the town, from that point onwards we should be able to see the police station fairly easily.” Mallard said slightly shifting his body weight in order to make it easier for Sebastian to move.

Asheldon was a small compact town, clearly benefiting from the growth of the nations tourism sector and the nearby snow covered mountains it had grown rather spectacularly in recent years from a population of a few dozen to nearly one thousand. As the convoy turned into the towns outer ring, the residential sector it was clear that the earlier confrontation between the TDF and the Insurgents had been heard as the streets ahead were completely devoid of life, the residents of the town had long learnt that those foolish enough to remain outside when the TDF and communists were around did not survive long and had quickly barricaded themselves inside.

As they entered the town, the two Kouralians switched on more - if that were possible. Both of them were aware of the dangers of urban combat, and this only made them more determined to advance through it without further mishap. At each obstacle like an alleyway or a road crossing they would place the two Malgraveans down, covering each right angle before allowing the General and Captain to cross the gap and continuing.

Asheldon like other towns in the region was long considered a nightmare by the local TDF and a reason for nuking the regional planning office. In order to be more friendly to pedestrians and bicycles the town had dotted alleyways across the town that provided local criminals and insurgents ample means of escape and tons of ambush opportunities, on the other hand intersections were sparse with one only being present at the entrance to every new sector of the township this and lack of cover surrounding these points meant that they were untouched by the insurgent forces who preferred hanging out in the more numerous darkened alleys.

Deep within the bowels of a bicycle lane to the east of the main road the next group of communist insurgents awaited the arrival of the TDF. Since hearing the failed ambush several minutes ago they had quickly organised from a position closer to the local TDF base and instead moved to intercept them as the soldiers predictably moved towards the headquarters of the local police force. Stephen and Thomas had been given use of a single Taden gun in order to mop up the remaining conscripts something which they hoped to carry out with ease and seeing a conscript move slightly out of position Stephen fired a short burst.

The Weapon opening up from close range wasn’t especially pleasant for those under its gaze, through fortunately for the Kouralians and unfortunately for the Malgraveans, the spacings when moving through the town and the fact the insurgents liked hiding in alleyways meant that they had a tighter field of fire on the TDF/SRR group. Moving to get into position to fire, Mikaelsen raised his EM-2 before leaning around the corner and firing a few rounds blind with it to try and suppress the MG.

“You bastards! I’m going to kill you and shit on your grave” Stephen spat firing wildly at the position Mikaelsen had fired from, the smell of blood filling the air as Thomas continued to bleed profusely from the two shots he had taken to the chest.

“Damnit!” Mikaelsen said involuntarily as a burst of rounds tore into the corner he was tucked behind, forcing him back away from the edge and to stop firing. “Where is he?” He yelled to a Malgravean as Gemma moved quickly into position, “Do you see him?”

“He’s approximately twenty five metres away on the far right of the path. I think you’ve pissed him off!” Private Kaczmarek shouted pausing to squeeze a few rounds from his pistol before returning to cover.

“You think you can kill me with that peashooter? It seems the more conscripts I kill the easier it gets” Stephen said continuing to fire on the same position as before albeit less rapidly in an attempt to conserve what ammunition he had left.

“Get back!” The Kouralian Ensign shouted, gesturing for the Malgravean Private to let her near to the corner with her SMLE. While she did so, Mikaelsen stood back from the corner, firing round the corner again - not anywhere near enough to fire down the alley, just into the wall of the building so that Stephen was aware that he was still being fired on.

Private Kaczmarek jumped out of his skin eagerly moving backwards along the wall in order to give the Kouralian Ensign space to fire her weapon at the terrorist in the alleyway.

“I’ve got a bullet for every single one of you conscripts!” Stephen shouted ignoring the other side of the alleyway completely as he began to fire slower bursts at Mikaelsen in an attempt to wound his foe.

“You could surrender you know.” Mikaelsen yelled, firing another round into the ground around the corner without exposing himself again, with Gemma Rose taking the bolt of the SMLE with her thumb and forefinger, readying for when he finally ran out of ammunition.

“You seriously think that I would accept an offer of surrender from a lowly conscript? I’ve probably killed dozens of sheep just like you.” Stephen replied his accuracy momentarily suffering as he wiped a tear from his eye. “If you surrender I promise that I will give you an honourable and quick death” Stephen added the terrorist forced down to single shots as he began to use the last of his ammunition.

“You sound like you’re in trouble there, lad.” Mikaelsen called out. “Don’t worry, I’m Kouralian, I’ll remember your remark about conscripts when I’m downing shots and laughing with my mates and remembering how the poor deluded Communist didn’t realise he was being flanked from behind by some other foreign soldiers.”

“Kouralians? You bacon-eating monarchists will turn vegetarian before flanking me!” Stephen exclaimed turning to face the group of flanking soldiers to make one glorious last stand. “You backstabbing inbred ba..

As he continued monologuing, the Ensign span around the corner, quickly sighting on the Communist and firing once into what seemed to be his centre of mass. Dropping down to her knee, she had already racked the bolt and fired a second shot to make sure before the first casing had bounced down to a rest by her boot. “Wrong.” Was all she said as some faint steam rose from the barrel of the rifle.

Private Kaczmarek watched as the body slumped slowly to the floor before carefully moving out to check the terrorists pulse.

“He’s brown bread” Andrew said before moving onto check the other fallen communist quickly confirming that he had bled out in the alleyway. “It is quite sad in a way. I mean these people obviously had some sort of mental issues. Who attacks bacon and the monarchy in the same sentence?

“We don’t need to worry about the mental capacity of these slabs, instead we should focus on continuing to the police station and getting reinforcements.” Sergeant Jones commented ignoring the bodies and preparing to move in formation again down the street.

“I’ve got to say that was bloody exciting but I think it was time to get a move on. Captain Wallace here is still in need of medical attention and we won’t get it here standing around like a bunch of lemons.” General Wallace said calmly continuing to help the Kouralian Captain stand upright.

“Eyyup.” Ensign Rose said, “Form up again, keep moving, next person with a Gimpy who takes offence at us, let’s deal with him like that. I want us in the Police station sharpish.” As she said that, Mikaelsen nodded, checking how many rounds he had left in his magazine - not many - and setting off down the street again.

It was a short five minute walk to the entrance of the local police station, the bloody and horrific failure of two ambushes forcing the terrorists to hold back from any further attempts to harass them from the multitude of bicycle lanes they crossed on the way, a wave of warmth passing over the entering soldiers has the buildings heating system automatically reacted to counter the incoming cold air from outside.

“So we’ve got ano...oh bloody hell” A young constable shouted desperately rubbing sleep from his eyes as he rushed over to the group of soldiers entering.

“And good evening to you to.” Gemma said, rolling her eyes at Mikaelsen as she slammed the door shut behind them and peered out of the windows, continuing to talk while also entirely ignoring the policeman. “Hello, we’re Kouralian soldiers and we’ve been ambushed by a lot of men with guns - this is my Captain, he’s been shot. Get the duty Inspector here. Now.”

“Kouralians?” Constable Jenkins replied nearly tripping over his own feet as he sprinted off in the opposite direction, a loud bang heard in the distance as he tripped up one of the stairs on his way up...and down the stairs with the Duty Inspector following closely behind.

“I’d like to know why the Kouralian military are operating in this town without the knowledge of the authorities.” Inspector Jones said his anger slightly dissipating as he saw the poor condition of the Kouralian Captain. “You should be able to find a decent medical kit in the supply room to the right to ease that wound”

“Thank you.” Rose said, gesturing to one of the TDF soldiers to go and fetch it before rounding on the Inspector. “One, I’m not operating in you town, I’m passing through it on my way home. Two, you’re doing a shitty job of keeping the Queen’s Peace if soldiers returning from arctic and mountain warfare training can be shot at by machine guns. Three, this man is a Divisional General of the Territorial Defence Force and you will not bring forth any further assertion of rank or authority over this party. Four… Finally… Radio or phone to the local TDF barracks, since there’s a lot of insurgents running around. I mean, fuck, have you not had any calls about the automatic gunfire going on in this town?”

“You’ve got a lot of confidence for someone with no authority in this situation. I’ve received no complaints whatsoever about automatic gunfire in the region and I shall need to see concrete evid.”....The Inspector said before being cut off by the booming voice of Divisional General Mallard

“I’m officially commandeering this police station under the authority given to me by the State of Emergency Act of 1948 and from this point onwards or until I time when I deem fit you shall fall under the command of both the Territorial Defence Force and Ensign Rose here.” Mallard exclaimed simply holding his hand up to stop the stumbling protests from the Inspector. “You’ve got a job to do Inspector. I suggest you carry it out immediately before I start remembering other benefits the SoE order gives me and the soldiers present.”

As the Inspector fled upstairs Kaczmarek returned with the medical kit in question looking rather relieved to be in the relative safety of the indoors. “I’m not sure what good a medical kit will do against a gunshot wound but its worth a shot, right? At least until we get him to the local TDF base for proper medical treatment”

“We need a trauma room pretty damned fast.” Rose said, turning to Mikaelsen. “Ensure that the premises are secure so we don’t get a knife in the back.” Looking back to the Malgravean Private she pointed for the other two to keep a guard on the door, before assisting the General with the injured Officer. “I’d say an air ambulance is what we need - or at least that’s what a criminal shot by police would be getting in this situation in Kouralia. Depends on where the nearest hospital is. That and a telephone to stand to the nearest regiment of infanteers.”

“In these conditions? You’d be lucky to get an ambulance here in 30 minutes during the best of times and I doubt the terrorists will let them pass unharmed. Once we get through to the local TDF base they will punch through all of these ambushes with an armoured convoy and if you don’t mind travelling back hot we should be able to get back in one piece, they have a good enough medical facility geared for local residents and conscripts so the Captain here should get good treatment” Mallard said nodding to two soldiers moving to assist Mikaelsen guard the entrance.

[Kouralia]

Some time later, The Malgravean Research Colony

Supporters of the Kouralian intervention and protesters of the action both lined both sides of the road leading towards what appeared to be two small apartment buildings, the two groups barely being held apart by a thin layer of CPF officers who looked under-equipped to deal with the size of the protest. As the Kouralian vehicles came into sight the Anti-Intervention Protesters grew in anger, a small group of rock-throwing protesters eventually turning into a near constant stream of rocks aimed towards the vehicles as they drove past, an action that was met with a hail of incoming stones by the supporters of foreign intervention.

Inside the ‘armoured slave’ Sergeant Sfollangte looked at the situation developing bellow with concern, he knew that the armoured vehicles of the Kouralian force would not be damaged by the incoming rocks but the bodies of the CPF officers would. “I would not want to be on the street with those maniacs” Sfollangte mutterred before turning his attention towards the reason for the Kouralian presence. “Researchers currently working for the ‘Centre for the Study of Genetic Diseases, non-human division’ live on the apartment building on the left” Sfollagente said, the building in question currently boarded up in an attempt to protect its occupants from the rocks being hurled from the Pro-Intervention Protesters. “I’ve not been told the profession of the folks living on the right but I’ve unofficially been told that they are working on something called ‘human form’ replicators, a large classified waste of taxpayers money if you ask me but nobody is allowed to even touch the building let alone enter.” the Sergeant told the Kouralians, the Malgravean partly wondering if they’ll be a cause for concern in the future.

“Sounds kinda like we’ve got a job to do, getting through these unpleasant chappies outside.” The Warrant Officer Class Two said. Like most of the Kouralians, of whom there were around 300, he was wearing a working dress uniform combined with the black, polymer riot gear. They also had black helmets with fold-down see-through face covers and attached neck-guards to prevent damage to the head. Most also had a large shield, standing roughly from ground to their waist, partially see-through but mostly black polymer. “What’s so special about the non-human stuff? Is there a special human division, then?” He asked.

“I believe the government is rapidly trying to improve its understanding of the non-human population. Our health service was rather stumped by the arrival of non-human beings and had to rely on foreigners for several years until a portion of the native population had been re-trained in new techniques. It was quite embarrassing for those involved so in response they formed non-human divisions on everything relevant. You don’t research the workings of these non-humans?” Sfollagente asked the Kouralian Warrant Officer.

Meanwhile, the Kouralian vehicles continued slowly down the roads. Most were armoured in some capacity, such as the Schiavi truck which the two sat in. Beyond the opening in the hatch at the rear, it was designed to take small-arms fire and laugh, so the stones were doing nothing more than bounce off and occasionally knock into the cage-protected sirens and blue lights.

Stone throwing from both sides eventually stopped as the Anti-Interventionists realised that they had no chance of damaging the armoured vehicles and the Pro-Interventionists did not want to get dispersed if reinforcements from the colonial capital arrived.

“Oh, I don’t know.” Weston said, shrugging. “We probably do, but it’s considered bad form to heavily institutionalise segregation in that way. We try to integrate things as much as possible. There are no Stallions or Mares in Kouralia, unless one wants to be a pedant. They’re regarded as men or women, boys or girls et cetera.” The Warrant Officer leaned and looked out of the window, giving a friendly wave to all those hate-filled faces who were screaming and throwing stones.

“Avoiding segregation between species? It sounds rather nice but I don’t think the current crop of politicians would be keen of the idea. It would be seen as hampering the effectiveness of these departments and turning back on the principles of the nation. I’ll swear some of those bastards would not hesitate to remove even the current inefficient system of self-regulation if they thought they could get away with it” Sfollagente told the Kouralian, the disappointment clear in his voice.

When the vehicles arrived the Kouralian occupants would notice that the apartment looked identical to some of the buildings they had seen earlier on in Cerne, although these versions were slightly more luxurious due to the employment of the occupiers, with the outer structure and balconies detailed in a simple Greco-Roman style instead of the cheaper and more practical brick covering seen earlier in Cerne.

“Oh, yeah, but we all know that, and no offence here, but ‘Science for the sake thereof, and damn the consequences’ doesn’t really work.” The Vehicle’s driver, a Serjeant with the aqua stripe on his shoulder of the Special Reconnaissance Regiment said before shrugging as the WOII glared at him. “I may just be a Serjeant, but, hey, there’s a reason that three hundred Kouralian soldiers, policemen and agents are here to arrest people.”

“We’ve had politicians in the country attempt to bring some form of independent oversight into the equation but they’ve suffered rather embarrassing defeats in local or national elections. I did hear that the government is planning on using this crisis to implement some form of oversight but I doubt it will be independent” Sfollagente said with a sigh, the Malgravean did not expect much to come from these arrests.

In the distance some of the protesters attempted to break through the cordon and reach the apartment complex, the barriers barely holding against the swarming crowd of anti and pro-interventionists who both had different reasons for reaching the apartments and nearby Kouralian vehicles.

“Oh well, whether or not morality is enforced in Malgravean science isn’t much our concern.” The Warrant Officer said as the vehicles came to a stop outside the buildings. “Right…” He said, looking out the window and pulling the visor down on his helmet. “Are you ready to go break some heads, Sergeant?” Weston asked as he prepared to order the convoy to dismount.

“I’m ready to deliver some justice to these immoral bastards” Sfollagente replied, the Malgravean Sergeant making a few nervous adjustments to his uniform as he readied himself to leave the vehicle.

“A’ight then.” He said, before holding the send button down. “All Teams this is Zero, prepare to Debus. Alpha, prepare to make entry, Bravo prepare to receive. Charlie, Delta, make sure anyone who comes near us gets it in the face with half a meter of wood. Am I understood?” Without waiting for an answer, he continued. “All teams, debus now, everybody out!” As he said so, the Warrant Officer slammed the door open on the truck, jumping down onto the street with his shield and truncheon. At the backs of the other trucks, the doors were slamming open and people similarly leaping to deploy. Within seconds a line of helmeted Kouralians began to form between the vehicles, to stop people from making their way into the operation. Other groups moved up to the wall by the doors, ready to enter as the Warrant Officer and Serjeant moved with them.

As the Kouralians began to assemble outside the anti-interventionist protesters began to shout slogans at the foreigners, with the occasional rock being thrown “Go back to Kouralia! Science cannot be stopped by foreigners!” being the most common. In response the pro-intervention crowd began cheering and waving signs in support of the Kouralian monarchy.

“You see how divided we have become as a society? Lets get this over with” Sfollagente said as he unsheathed his truncheon, getting in line with the other Kouralians as they prepared to enter the apartment.

“Prepare to Breach!” A Kouralian shouted before a pair ran forward with an oversized ram to bring down the door to the apartment building. Alpha team, or those who would break in, was the elite corps of the Kouralian interventionist group, primarily Guardsmen or men of the Crown Constabulary Tactical Aid Units - those who were therefore very used to violence and hitting stuff with lengths of magical zalantarwood truncheons. After a few seconds the Guardsmen smashed the door in, and the first Kouralians began to pile in, with Weston and the Serjeant entering as quickly as they could.

A maze of hastily constructed wooden barricades and trip wires greeted the Kouralian officers as they stormed in, the occupants inside had long expected the arrival of the local colonial constabulary to arrest them but the deployment of Kouralian officers was not expected and meant that only a vague zig-zag had been constructed out of wooden furniture taken from the residents. Stretching from the entrance to the lobby to the staircases and elevators at the rear it was designed to corral the officers down a certain path and into the traps they had constructed with household cleaners and cooking equipment. In the distance the sound of faint yelling could be heard as residents that wanted to surrender to the authorities argued with those at risk of long jail sentences who for obvious reasons did not want to fall into the hands of the Kouralians.

As soon as the first people burst in they moved forwards and then tried to strike outwards, shoving or kicking violently at the furniture to clear it and the barricades out of the way as a few Guardsmen, with truncheons in hand, moved forwards down the zig-zagging pattern.

As the Kouralians began tearing down the barricades they accidentally triggered some of the tripwires, the smell of household chemicals and smoke quickly filled the air as part of the partially soaked structure began to light up in flames, an event that revealed that the scientists inside had also disabled part of the apartments automatic sprinkler system that ordinarily would have dealt with the blaze.

“Bollocks bollocks bollocks… You stupid ginger prick, how the hell did you manage to set something on fire this time?!” one of the Kouralian Guardsmen yelled as the rapid flow of men into the apartment building began to ebb and return the way it came, with one of the soldiers being roughly pushed to the floor and rolled around like some kind of toy car to get rid of the flames which had caught onto his arm.

Outside, the Warrant Officer sighed as the slightly panicked soldiers piled out again, one of them reporting the small, but expanding conflagration to him. “Sergeant.” he said, turning to the Malgravean, “Could you fetch the fire-extinguisher from under your seat in the AMRAP?” That said, he turned around to a larger audience of Kouralians, passing out the order again to fetch fire extinguishers.

“I’ll add that to the growing list of charges!” Sfollagente said before sprinting back to the AMRAP light cursing heard over the raging fire as he attempted to wriggle the aforementioned fire-extinguisher from its stubborn position underneath his seat, the Sergeant literally jumping for joy before returning to the Kouralian and passing him the extinguisher

The Warrant Officer took it and immediately passed it to a waiting Lance Jack who, along with other extinguisher-laden soldiers began to advance into the building. They were met at the door by shield-bearing Guardsmen who would protect them from any missiles while they worked on smothering the flames. Behind them came, as required, a pair of shotgun-bearing Guardsmen and a man with a baton-gun.

Upon re-entering the building the Kouralians would face no resistance from the occupants of the building until they reached the beginning of the first and only staircase. A desperate scream from one of the residents followed by the blasting of several different types of music being the only indication to the boiling hot oil that was flung down as the third Kouralian officer began to climb the staircase.

“We’ll never surrender to foreigners! Kouralians have no legal authority in this country and we’ve committed no crimes. If uncured MalAids shall destroy the entire Malgravean civilisation, everything we’ve worked for shall be destroyed and forgotten and the work we’ve contributed towards unlocking ascension and meeting the ancestors shall be trampled on and ignored by the thousands of ignorant civilisations that have no concept of scientific research or how some of the structures and planets in the known universe came to be populated in the first place. You shall retreat from this building in shame and dishonour but not before we have made you suffer for this illegal aggression” An unknown voice shouted as a seemingly endless supply of boiling oil was poured from the top storey.

Fortunately by this point the fire had been largely put out, so the fire-extinguisher carrying guardsmen had remained behind to deal with that. Now it was a faux-testudo of plastic long-shields being carried by people wearing polymer armour over fire-retardant suits, with helmets and plastic visors and urban assault gloves. All this helped to make what happened significantly less horrific - the deluge of scorching-hot liquid being dissipated marginally by the shields, and the bits that fell onto the Kouralians themselves being kept at bay or at least mitigated in the time it took for them to again withdraw out of the line of fire, cursing and yelling loudly about ‘fucking scientists’ and twats’ in the building. As the voice finished yelling down at them, some of the MoSH security men were beginning to treat those burned the worst by the oil, while the rest stood aside and watched the deluge from through the doorway.

As the Kouralian soldiers retreated once more the deluge of boiling oil halted either signalling that they had run out of the burning liquid or they had noticed the lack of targets. At that time the same old voice returned although it seemed more confident in the ability of his fellow scientists to survive the ordeal.

“We’ve beaten back the foreign aggressors with ease and once more they have retreated to nurse wounds that we have delivered with simple knowledge. I ask the Kouralian invader to look upon themselves and see if they have the courage and the strength needed to make another futile attempt on the fortress of sovereignty we have constructed for ourselves with the knowledge of the ancestors. Personally I think they should, after all we do have some rather nice surprises for you at the staircase!”

The WO2 Weston just sighed and gestured over a Corporal, whispering (as much as was feasible in the situation) into his ear and sending him running back to where the majority of the Kouralians were. As he waited for them to return, a pair of the Guardsmen with shields raised to prevent oil landing on their faces moved tentatively into the stairwell - looking up to the ceiling to see what stood above them and what might bely the presence of visible traps, though they didn’t advance even far enough to put boots on the first step. As this happened, Weston gestured over to the Malgravean policeman. “So, Sfollagente… How much of a mess are we allowed to make?”

“I’d rush up and kick him square in the testes if I was sure that the bastards did not have anymore surprises waiting for me.” The Malgravean Sergeant replied visibly angered at the aggressive response from the scientists and the injuries taking by the Kouralian Officers. “I expected some minor reactions from these nutters but this is beyond anything I imagined....look I don’t get much information from the central government but we’re facing a national security crisis if these idiots don’t hand themselves in so I say that everything is on the table at the moment and if you get lucky and take out that nutter on the speaker? The rest might fall like dominos...checkmate”

“Oh, good.” Weston said, nodding thoughtfully. “I have ten Combat Assault Pioneers under my command, and a pretty good idea of how to make use of them. I’d just hate for us to be told off for making mess in someone’s room.” As he said this, the Corporal trooped back in with a pair of Lance Corporals, all with Pioneer Trade emblems on their arms. “Right, you lot… Would we be able to get into the building across the way and use that to get in here?”

Without even thinking, the Corporal shook his head, a gesture mirrored by the others as he explained. “No, too far away. No chance of knocking on through from a neighbouring building either… And unless Serjeant-boy here has a Celestial stuffed in his pocket, then we’re not coming down from up above.”

“I don’t wish to interrupt but the building opposite is the residence of a classified research team that i’m not allowed to touch let alone mess around with. If we want to arrest these buggers then we’re going to have to think of another way up. How about making another set of stairs through one of the ceilings?”

“I did just say that we couldn’t use that building, didn’t I?” The Corporal said, interrupting the flow of the Sergeant with a flash of irritation on his face. “We’ve got more than two cards up our sleeve, and the other ones are more than simply ‘a longer bridge’.”

“I just don’t want to find myself surrounded by a pissed off SiS team” Sfollagente quipped not liking the Corporals tone. “I know i’m not considered the expert on these types of situations but I was just throwing a suggestion into the ring, so what else have you got in this magical sleeve?”

One Lance Corporal grinned. “Well, I’m glad you asked that, Sarn’t.” He said, “Because my lads are just preparing that in the lobby, if you’ll come with us?” He gestured for the others to follow on, but turned and stalked off past the armoured Kouralians, followed by his contemporaries without waiting to see if they did. Of course, Weston followed on, and was soon standing in front of a team of Pioneers, loading and preparing multi-shot grenade launchers. Standing there, the Lance Jack glanced outside and, pleased with what he saw, turned to beam to the Malgravean Policeman.

“Quite simple, skip. If we can’t go up within the walls… We go up without them.”

Sfollagente stared at the Lance Corporal for a moment quite shocked that is earlier seemingly idiotic idea had been accepted by the experts and was about to be implemented. “I’m sorry but won’t firing a grenade launcher at the roof cause a portion of the ceiling to collapse and become unstable? I can’t see how you could get a decent grip and climb without causing further structural damage.”

“Oh, no Sarn’t.” The JNCO said, shaking his head. “We’re not going to knock the building down.” He said, misreading Sfollagente’s intention. “We’ve got a sizeable number of tear gas grenades and flashbang grenades, two Multi-Level Assault Ladders, and launchers-for and the things-themselves for another four Flexible Assault Ladders. Both of ‘em have got the range to reach to the second floor, allowing us to entirely bypass the stairwell and detain everyone in the building, giving us the liberty of time to disarm all the traps from the other side. I think it’d be good to also use extensive quantities of gas and flashbangs until we’ve got elements inside the building, to prevent them mucking about with the entrance points.”

“I can’t believe I thought you would blow a hole in the ceiling and crawl out of it like a bunch of moles. Sfollagente chuckling at his own stupidity. “I’m ready to give these bastards a good kicking for the earlier damage they inflicted with the cooking oil incident. I’ll give give the first person who beats the living crap out of the bastard behind those speeches a months supply of the alcohol of his choosing!” the Malgravean remarked unveiling his own truncheon and preparing a few ‘practice’ swings as if he needed practice at cracking skulls

“Jolly good then.” Weston said, rubbing his hands. “Serjeant!” He called to a nearby NCO. “Take two LRRs and some men and very nicely ask the super-secret people on the other side of the road if they will let you onto their roof. If not, you’re only allowed to use one, one piece of taboo lexis when speaking with them, and then come back here. If they assent, then set up and get in comms wit me. If we see anyone trying to shoot the ladder-carriers, we can slot them. If not, all’s better.” Turning back to the Lance Corporal, he gestured for the CAPs to get on with their escalade-preparation, before walking back to the stairwell to negotiate with the Scientists. “Don’t worry, Serjeant.” The WO2 said, “If you get bollocked for that, just say that you were checking on an injured guardswoman while I gave that order and I’ll have everyone back you up.”

A few minutes later, after the crowds had been parted to allow them through, three Kouralians jogged across the street to the other building, two carrying long range rifles and tripods for them along with the riot kit, and the third carrying a small kettle and a gas stove. Reaching the door, the Serjeant took a moment before taking off her helmet and wiping some of the excess sweat from her brow with a glove. Tall, and with an imperious - almost arrogant - look to her features, she pressed her thumb on the buzzer for a few seconds before removing it and waiting for a response from inside, the two Guardsmen taking knees on either side of her, watching the windows of the building across the street.

“I’ll get the bloody door then!” a voice within the apartment shouted, the door slowly opening afterwards to reveal the face behind the voice. A rather young looking teenager that upon fixing his glasses into place quickly attempted to shut the door again.

Before he could slam shut the door, the Serjeant stuck her boot between it and the frame. “Good day, sir.” She said cheerily, regardless of that. “I represent both the Kouralian and Malgravean Governments in arresting the individuals of the flats opposite. I do have ID to prove my identity. It would be of great help to us if I and my three compatriots could access your roof as a vantage point to observe proceedings and prevent violence being done against our and your fellows.” She looked at the youth of the person with the door before continuing. “Can I speak to whoever is in charge, please?”

Thomas stared blankly at the woman for a few minutes obviously impressed with her physical appearance....although that meant very little considering his age and the little contact he had with agreeable females in his lifetime. “We’re conducting classified experiments on technology that is decades beyond whatever is being discussed in Kouralia at the moment, even on the theoretical level. I’m supposed to contact the Special Investigative Service with this panic button if anyone gets within a few metres of the building” Thomas said dangling the small remote from his neck rather nervously. “If someone was to distract me by supplying me with pictures of what was underneath that riot armour I am certain that you would have no trouble getting to the roof level.” the Malgravean scientist added winking suggestively at the Kouralian non-commissioned officer.

It took a few moments for what was said to be properly processed by the three Kouralians - even the two who weren’t strictly meant to be listening to the conversation. Before the Serjeant could respond, one of the Guardsmen began to laugh out loud, falling over and shaking uncontrollably on the floor, his reaction allowing the SNCO to turn around and glare at his prone form, keeping her expression away from the Malgravean.

Thomas paled his previous cocky expression turning neutral as he watched one of the Kouralians fall over onto the floor in laughter. “So I take it thats a negative? You know I am one of the foremost expert in nanotech...” the Malgravean said his voice interrupted by an older and more feminine voice. “Are you bragging to another group of protesters? You know we’re supposed to contact the SiS if anyone even begins to app...oh that is certainly not a group of protesters.” the female said squeaking slightly as she spotted the well-dressed police officers including one that was seemingly having a fit of some kind. “Does this man require medical attention? I’ve technically not been proven in the field but I have extensive medical knowledge”

“Oh, no, that’s okay.” The Serjeant said, turning around again, all smiles as she held out an ID card. “I am Serjeant Maria Patta of the Kouralian Regiment of the Royal Guards and I am an accredited and sworn Constable of Kouralia. I’ve been sent to this building by officers of the Malgravean Research Colony Police to ask if I and my two companions may set up on your roof and cover the approach on the building over the road.” She glanced dismissively at the man on the floor. “He was just overcome with fits of laughter when your friend suggested that a Senior Non-Commissioned Officer of Her Majesty’s Kouralian Royal Army should strip for him in return for entrance to the building.”

Emily slapped Thomas repeatedly on the shoulder his muttered curses and lacklustre defence suggesting that this was not the first time he had suggested something like this. “I’m Emily Lowwe of a classified research department attached to the Ministry of Science and Engineering and on behalf of it I sincerely apologise for this idiots behaviour and conduct towards a someone simply doing her job” Emily remarked kicking her colleague in the shins until he turn and ran in the opposite direction. “We’re normally asked to ask the Special Investigative Service to intervene in cases like these but i’m fairly sure we can make an exception for cases like these. I’ve heard what the monsters opposite have been responsible for and it is the duty of every scientist to bring those to justice...I am afraid that I am going to have to join you on the roof though as I am certain that any SiS watching might take offence to a group of heavily armed strangers appearing on the rooftop of a supposedly classified apartment building” Emily added signalling for the Kouralians to follow her into the building.

“Thank you, ma’am.” The Serjeant said, following after her and leaving it to the other LRR-armed soldier to pick his friend up and to continue after them. “I’m sure the SiS won’t mind if we’re helping to arrest evil people. Or if they do mind, then I brought a kettle, some plastic mugs and some tea, so we can placate them with civilising beverages.” She continued.

“I’m certain they’ll just assume that you are some sort of terrorist group or foreign intelligence service coming to either kill or kidnap us so that our technological advancement will not fall into the hands of the government.” Emily commented clapping in delight when she saw the small kettle. “It can be a learning exercise for me. I’ve always wanted to know how law enforcement types work and since I can’t enter the Territorial Defence Force for obvious reasons this shall have to work for me.”

As Emily led the Kouralians through the apartment they would notice it was a near carbon copy to the occupied building opposite minus the traps and annoying criminals, the building layout being occupied across the colony in an attempt to save cash and they moved up the staircase with ease “...and here we have another reason for my presence” Emily said allowing a rather cumbersome machine to scan her retinas, the door opening a few seconds later.

“Oh, sure. That’ll help then.” Serjeant Patta said, nodding in agreement. “Of course, I must mention that we are forming an overwatch sniper team. If you are squeamish then you may not want to watch us at work, if the worst-case scenario happens and the scientists over the road do not submit properly.”

“I’ve seen a lot worse in medical school and during a particular incident in a lab that I can’t really talk about...despite it being in the news. I guess you want silence to concentrate now, eh?” Emily asked already working on some sort of simulation on her tablet

“Okay.” Patta said. “We’ve got a few minutes to set up, and I’ll call you when we’re going to go to work, if you still want to watch.” As she spoke the two Guardsmen dropped down, laying out their tripods before working to attach the suppressed, scoped rifles to them for stabilised fire. The Serjeant, meanwhile, pulled out a radio and confirmed that they had been allowed in, before readying binoculars and the hexamine stove.

Back in the target building Weston beamed. “See, Sergeant!” he said to Sfollagente. “Who dares wins - we asked politely and we now have sniper overwatch, in case those fools upstairs try anything.”

Sfollagente looked up in the ladders in action, a sense of relief flooding over him when he realised this mean the booby trapped staircase could be avoided entirely. “I’ve no idea how you managed to convince those eggheads over the road without getting the SiS involved but at this time i’m just glad we finally have the element of surprise.”

“Indeed. One last time though.” The WO said, striding inside again. “One last chance to surrender, for I will not have it said that I am a dishonourable man.” Stopping by the staircase, he placed his hands on his hips and stood, just out of range of any booby traps before bellowing up - mustering the full force of a Guards Serjeant Major’s bellow.

“I know each and every one of you can hear me! You have broken and violated the laws and ordinances of the United Kingdom of Malgrave and I am here to bring you to account. Up there you think your warped, perverted and flawed sense of Scientific Ethics is The Law. It is not: here, now, today… I am The Law! You have committed grave transgressions against my men, brought here to deliver justice - but I shall forgive you them, and I shall let you walk from here on your own two feet, carrying your heads honourably high.

“Some of you sit there, yes, I know this - you sit there afraid of the storm of wrath that will come up these stairs like a torrent of never-ending blue fury. Step down them, and you will be arrested and taken away in a manner so as to retain your dignity. Others - and I have heard your pitiable words and your base, impotent threats, though you may find yourself driven by your inferiority to make use of PA systems and other such cockery to make your feeble words audible - sit there, prancing about arrogantly upon your ivory tower, unseeing and unhearing of the waves about to lash at and destroy your stones. When I have brought you low and torn your refuge asunder, the look of distraught hopelessness upon your face would make a thousand teenage girls’ hearts harden instantly to the sight of kicked puppies, and the wailing that shall issue forth from your mouths as I and my men drag you before the scales of justice to answer for your crimes against the laws of Queen Helena will be as music to my ears!

“Surrender now, and by my honour you shall have dignity and shall not be harmed - fail to do so, and you will have sown the seeds to reap a whirlwind of Kouralian Justice not seen since the cusp of the Millenium War!”

Stopping, Weston stepped back, massaging his throat slightly as he glanced over at Sfollagente and picked up his truncheon again. “You think that’ll work on any of them?” he offered, in a quieter tone.

“I think you are about to get a response” the Malgravean Sergeant remarked hearing the familar crackle that preceded the annoying twerps audio rants.

“You speak of Scientific Ethics like someone who has the right to be talking about the future of the scientific community but Kouralians do not possess the intelligence, funding or legal right to make such decisions for the people of Malgrave or the scientific collective as a whole.” the voice said chuckling at the Kouralians poor attempt at getting them to surrender “We’re fighting against a disease that will destroy everything we’ve been working on for the past one hundred years, all of our research on the ancestors and ascension shall be lost as the Malgravean people cease to be! In order to prevent that catastrophe from happening thousands of scientists across the nation are willing to perform experiments that to an uneducated individual like yourself may seem cruel or even criminal but together forms part of a crucial chain of events that shall eventually lead to the removal of MalAids from the general population...I just can’t get over the fact you expect us to surrender to you after that pathetic attempt at a speech? You’re still covered in cooking oil and crap from the remnants of our previous successful attempts to put an end to this illegal and frankly poorly organised ‘law’ enforcement operations.”

“I shall now give you a warning. Any Kouralian Officer that attempts to break these barricades and arrest our membership shall be smited by the full force of the ancestors, they shall find themselves pitted against an opponent so knowledgeable that even the most physically able amongst you won’t be able to prevent his own miserable death. I implore you to surrender yourselves and leave this place immediately unless you wish to continue this futile and suicidal charge into the abyss. Don’t worry I know about Kouralian tradition”

At this point several Kouralian Crowns fell to the floor near the Sergeant Majors feet an obvious reference to the toll that had to be paid to reach Hades.

Weston had just sighed as soon as the speech started and it became clear that the Malgraveans weren’t going to surrender. Without even listening past the word ‘disease’, he turned on his heel and stalked off back to the entrance, the shield wall on the stairs closing up behind him. Reaching the doorway, he raised his radio and checked that the pioneers were ready - they were. The assault teams were prepped, short-shields and truncheons ready to climb and then burst across the walls and beat down any unlucky twat who tried to fight back. “You ready, Oscar Whiskey?” He said grimly, raising his hand to signal to Patta that she damned well better be ready.

“Eyyup.” She said, watching the windows through her binoculars before waving to Emily as she promised. “Ms Lowwe, we’re about to begin. Please take a knee or try to limit your silhouette please.” That said, she turned to the building and raised her binoculars to her eyes again, before relaying everything she saw in the rooms to WOII Weston.
Emily crouched down onto the ground tightly holding her tablet to her chest in some form of protective manner. “Don’t worry. I’ve simulated the scenario on my computer and it says that this operation has a 98.7% of being successful” Emily said failing to note the run throughs that ended in complete disaster.

“Oh, that’s good then.” Patta said, smiling slightly. “Rogers, Neve, safeties off, engage on my command.” A few seconds later the radio crackled and the Warrant Officer’s voice came through.

“Charlie Charlie One, this is Sunray Major. Stand by… Stand by… Sapphire Is Go, Sapphire is go. Golf-One-Charlie move, Out.”

As he finished, the infanteers ran out from behind the lorries or the entrance of the building where they had been waiting. The large assault ladders carried by half a section each, the platoon had both of them pre-extended to just below the window ledge - slamming them firmly into place before eight men began to climb each while the platoon’s other section split and held the bottom in place or readied the grenade launchers. The assault ladders were specifically built to be strong enough to carry a whole section in fighting order - and were functionally two ladders welded together width-ways for extra stability. In seconds the first men reached the top, carrying out the escalade as if it were still the nineteenth century and they drilled it for capturing cities and forts - which of course, this being the Kouralian army, they did.

At the top of the ladders, the two Guardsmen paused momentarily, stealing a glance into the room and seeing that - as they had been told by the overwatch - it was empty except for two people tied up on the floor, facing the window. One of them rapidly began to apply a large, square sheet or box to the window, while the other Guardsman gestured frantically to the prisoners to catch their attention.

Charles wriggled his body in another attempt to release himself from the restraints his fellow colleagues had placed on him a few hours ago, the young scientist was facing a light charge for covering up requisition documents for a warehouse on the mainland so he was keen to comply with the officials in an attempt to get a suspended sentence but had been caught and detained during his escape attempt. Collapsing onto the floor with a grunt the Malgravean blinked not quite believing the image before him, he had heard the earlier attempts by the Kouralians to breach the defences and the arrogant speeches by Alfred after their apparent failures but he never expected them to enter through the third-storey - looking at the window in more detail he noticed that the Kouralians were preparing to breach it, a big mistake. Once more attempting to rise from his position on the floor Charles attempted to signal to the Kouralians that they did not need to breach the door in order to gain entrance to the building moving his hands in the direction of the door handles.

After a few seconds of staring at the Malgravean, trying to work out what he meant, the Guardsman reached across and turned the handle on the door of the balcony. As it swung open, the slight rise and dip in his shoulders might have been perceived as the visible signs of a sigh. Turning to the man with the breaching charge, a slap upside the back of the head alerted him to the new entrance, and the pair opened the doors wide, stepping carefully into the room as more Kouralians appeared on the balcony behind them and followed suit.

The First Kouralians in quickly moved to the door, drawing truncheons and standing out of sight, while the next two grabbed the restrained Malgraveans and dragged them roughly aside and out of the way of any action, the group waiting until all sixteen Kouralians were in the room and ready for action.

“We’ve played our part in a momentous day in both Malgravean and Kouralian history, from this day forth scientific development shall not restrained by the grip of the state but instead a new era of advancement shall be brought forward with unregulated advancement! In the classrooms of the future they shall remember the time when the Kouralian oppressors attempted to illegally detain a team of hard-working scientists but got beaten back by the intellectual prowess that eventually led the cure for MalAids and found new insights to ascension...but they shall also learn of how we mercifully allowed them to escape. In Kouralia they will blacklist this moment and wipe it from their collective memories unable to cope with the shame and dishonour they ha--” Alfred said completely unaware of the Kouralian team behind him as he cracked open a beer, to the right of him stood a scientist wielding an AN-94

Suddenly, the conversation was interrupted by the sound of something bouncing - something metal bouncing on the floors of the building as the cylindrical nine-bang flashbang bounced along to come to a stop near them. Before they could react, it detonated - bursting like a supernova of furious, blinding light and disorientating, painfully loud noise. And then it did it again. And again. And again. The grenade, in accordance with its name, detonated nine times - an assault on the senses so powerful that some countries even felt the need to outlaw its use by their police. Of course these weren’t Kouralian Police. And Kouralia wasn’t stupid.

“You cowards! You cannot face us directly so resort to petty tricks” Alfred screamed wildly flailing around as he hit the ground in a desperate attempt to hit any of the Kouralians instead setting off the homebuilt smoke grenade in his pocket.

Naturally, none of the Kouralians paid this any attention as they streamed out of the room, set in the duties which had been drilled into them during the multitude of public order and policing training exercises conducted by the ‘not-quite-a-gendarmerie’ Royal Guard. The first ran up and, without ceremony, stamped on the rifle-toting Malgravean’s arm, reaching down to grab the rifle from the stunned man’s grasp while another Kouralian practically jumped onto him - in the full weight of riot gear - and wrestled his arms behind his back to cuff them with zip-ties. Another did something similar to Alfred, though once the ties were secure he reached into the pocket and grabbed the smoke grenade - hurling it downstairs without a second’s thought. A door on the far-left side of the lobby quickly opened, a large grouping of scientists leaving the room in an attempt to figure out what was going on

As the Scientists came out, the Kouralians barely checked their stride. Instead of it being boots raised to strike doors, the solid zalantar-wood truncheons were swung relentlessly as the soldiers smashed into the scientists, like a medieval battle. Each Kouralian aimed to subdue the Malgraveans as quickly as possible for rapid disarmament and detainment - screaming in anger and the spirit of the fight as they closed with and got to work, with all the violence and fury that Weston’s speech had promised.

As one would expect the non-combat trained intellectuals quickly crumbled when faced with the mighty zalantar-wood truncheons each falling to the floor and surrendering themselves to the arresting Kouralians - a mixture of rolling-pins, cricket bats and a colander falling to the floor with them.

Duly, they were grabbed and zip-tied by the Kouralians, a small detail now dragging them into the kitchen and slinging them (slightly carefully) onto the floor where they couldn’t do any harm. As this happened, more Kouralians were coming up the ladder - lead by the Pioneer Corporal - while those not involved in beating the intelligentsia shitless were breaking into the other apartments, screaming things like ‘Police!’ ‘Kouralian Guards!’ and ‘Don’t be a twat!’ as they did so.

Amongst all the chaos the simple flush of a toilet in the first breached room was drowned out, a lone gunman rubbing his hands together as he left the bathroom only aware something was wrong when he noticed the missing hostages - pulling out his headphones the Malgravean scientist panicked at the noise glancing around nervously rushing back into the bathroom when he spotted the arriving soldiers.

Meanwhile on the rooftop opposite Emily was still looking over at the simulation using information from the raid to enhance her analysis. “You can see on my tablet that everything is going to plan so far. You shall have all of the scien..criminals arrested in a moment” Emily said standing slightly to give her new sniper friends a fair look at the situation.

“Mm-Hmm. I’m aware.” Patta said distractedly, keeping her eyes as glued to the binoculars as the snipers did with their scopes. “Holdfast this is Conrod. Looks like you’ve got someone in the rear quarter. Secure the flat you’re in before you move on.” She said, before gesturing for the snipers to keep scanning all the windows.

Cursing at the poor luck of the ancestors and the idiotic Alfred that got them into this mess the young Malgravean moved over to the bath picking up his old hunting rifle he took a knee and fired twice at foreigners he had spotted moments ago on the rooftop.

“Shit!” The Serjeant ejaculated involuntarily, ducking her head down slightly before staring intently at the building. “Taking fire - get down, Emily! Anyone seen the enemy?” She called to the snipers, uncertain where it had come from.

“Seen!” Neve called, shifting slightly in his position. “One shooter, bathroom, second floor, left of escalade. Permission to sho-”

“Why are you fucking asking me?” Patta practically screamed.

“Roger.” The Guardsman said, centering his sights on the Malgravean’s head and firing once, waiting to observe the target before deciding if he should fire again.

Clives head exploded as the bullet passed through his skull, bits of brain matter flying across the bathroom at tremendous speed - some of it managing to get stuck in nasty places that in future years would give a rather nasty surprise to a new homeowner.

“I’ve never been involved in a firefight before....it is quite a strange sensation, although i’m now pleased that I cannot be conscripted into the TDF” Emily remarked slumping to the ground rather ungracefully as she felt quite light headed. “I’ll have to start working on improving my earlier designs to include law enforcement...after I stop feeling sick”

“Hmm, what?” Patta said, ignoring the Malgravean, “Uh, good shot Neve. Holdfast this is Conrod, confirm, shooter is do-.” She stopped, her mouth closing and opening like a fish for a second before she turned to face the Scientist. “Stand by, Holdfast. Over.” The Serjeant took maybe two seconds to run through the last few moments. The first shot passed by with a hiss, and the second one… the second one snapped. Shit. And now the civilian was collapsed on the floor, feeling (somewhat understandably) under the weather. Really Shit. “Keep the windows covered you two.” She barked, moving quickly toward Emily.

“Don’t move, stay still!” She said sharply, running her eyes over the Scientist’s body What hurts? Is there any pain, dullness or numbing on your body?”

“You see another shooter? I thought I saw the last ones head explode” Emily said curiously tracking the eye movements of an obviously concerned Patta beginning to freak out when she saw what was obviously blood. “Oh frak my life! I don’t feel anything anywhere...I did not even know I was hit until you pointed out to me....and i’m without my fare. ” Emily the Malgravean desperately searching her pockets for the crown she carried around with her at all times as she rambled on about eternal waits and neural implants

“Quiet, stay calm!” Patta snapped, un-tucking the Malgravean’s shirt and pressing down hard on the wound. “Rogers, get me the cunt!” She called, “And go make that pervert downstairs let her in or we will have a blood-bath on our hands.”

“Yes, boss!” The Guardsman said, pressing on his radio. “Starlight this is Conrod, Man Down. Repeat, Man Down, Tango-One, Repeat Tango-One. Roof-top opposite the building, gun-shot to the abdomen Over.” The man had hardly stood up before it crackled and another, younger and female voice cut through with a more provincial accent.

“Roger that, keep the fucking pressure on it you see.” The person on the other end said, eliciting a shrug from the Serjeant who was already doing that.

Down in the street below, the WO2 was lucky to grab Sfollagente in time and bodily haul him from the doorway where they’d been standing and observing the escalade, and pull him aside as a pair of Kouralians - a short, dark-skinned woman and a rather more lanky young man, practically sprinted past - or through them. “Move it!” The young woman, a Lance Corporal (apparently) screamed in a voice unused to being disobeyed as they ran past laden with the tools of their trade - almost like she’d tried to barge into them on purpose.

As soon as the Lance Corporal sprinted past Sfollagente took out his radio and started barking his own orders to the nearby ambulance informing them that they should expect a casualty soon with a gunshot wound to the abdomen. “Officer. I apologise that a Kouralian had to get injured in order for justice to be served today but by the looks of that determined woman I am certain that they are in good hands.”

“Heh… ‘determined’.” Weston said, smirking, as soon as he was sure she was out of earshot. “She may be short, but by the gods does she have a lot of pent-up anger and aggression. You want to know how a highly competent, talented, brave and attractive medic ends up assigned to a Public Facing company’s medical office as a Lance Jack with the eternal nickname of ‘Cunt’?”

“I’m guessing it has something to do with that pent-up anger and aggression? I’ve only seen her for a few seconds but I am already concerned about my fate if she hears about us talking about her like this?”

“Oh, very much yes.” Weston said, before peering after her. “Don’t worry, she’s either disembowelling the protesters to get them to move or eating someone’s liver with a scalpel and a pitchfork… She probably can’t hear us. Probably.” He shrugged, “Right, so imagine the scene in Narai Camp - the central Kouralian base in D’halbrisir. A MERT has just dropped in - that is to say an immense Celestial helicopter with practically an operating room in its hold for very serious casualties - and a Lance Corporal of the Army Medical Service is leading the Bandsmen from the landing pad to the field hospital with an Ensign suffering from some serious Fleshcrawler Bites. Now, this Lance Corporal has an absolutely stellar career. Joined at eighteen and set for promotion to Full Screw in the RAMS after, what, six years? That’s got to be unheard of.

“Now, the stretcher or gurney or whatever is is hurtling down some tarmac when, to her disgust, someone in uniform is leading civilians - politicians in suits - around the base, and stops the whole group in front of her to examine some mural put up on a portacabin by the RE or stuff like that. Now, naturally, she shouts ‘Out of the way you cunts or I’ll gut you myself!’ and, as she’s a medic in charge of a casualty, anyone from an untrained recruit to the Lord Commander of Her Majesty’s Armed Forces of the Royal Union of Kouralia is beholden by law to obey her orders. Which the uniformed man does, practically falling over into the politicians and having to shove them out of the way. Guess the uniformed person’s rank, go on.”

“I’m guessing that she forced someone of a high rank into an uncomfortable position? We’ve had issues like that in the past with talented conscripts being purposely pushed into dangerous or empty areas of the country because they upset the relative of some high-ranking politician or businessperson. As you saw earlier it only takes one entitled git for the entire system to fall apart” Sfollagente said laughing slightly when he remembered the NCO’s reaction to being insulted in Italian.

“It would make for an interesting story if she forced the Lord Commander to tackle several people out of harms way but I doubt that such a high ranking officer would go near a conflict zone like Crystal Spires so i’m all out of ideas.”

“Well, think again.” Weston said, grinning. “It was the one, the only, the Duke Richard Croft, Lord Commander to Her Majesty, escorting the Secretary of State for War, the Minister for the Reserves and the Chief of Mystrian Policy of the Diplomatic Service around the Kouralian base in order to show how morale and living conditions were remaining high, while offering exceptional services to the Spirean people in a testing operational environment. Two weeks later she was reassigned from the 45th Field Hospital to the Medical Service Detachment of the Royal Household. That was in 2012, and she still hasn’t seen that promotion to Corporal.”

Sfollangte clutched his stomach as he began to laugh at the Kouralian’s tale, a few lone tears escaping as he began to comprehend the madness of it all. “You’re telling me that you’ve gained a skilled medic because she was unfortunate to run into the Lord Commander whilst doing her job? You don’t get that political nonsense in the Colonial Force”

“Hmm?” Weston asked absentmindedly, trying to work out if he could hear her swearing, or if it was just him expecting to hear her shouting which was making him anticipate it. “No, no. We gained a skilled medic because Colonel Grossi’s command is attended to by thirty five medical staff, all of whom are trained by the Royal Bandsmen’s Academy. We gained this skilled medic because she was unfortunate enough to run into the Lord Commander whilst doing her job. And of course you do.” He said, adding the last bit almost patronisingly. “If you make a superior look foolish, they don’t recommend you for promotion, simple. It just so happened that she managed to make a very superior look foolish.”

“I tend to stay away from all the politics involved. It is why I was handed this assignment...that and the fact that the force is stretched to its limits with these recent arrests and the constant arrival of new citizens from the mainland.” Sfollagente replied, a momentary look of realisation appearing before being replaced with his normal neutral look. “Is this assignment punishment, reward or neither to the Kouralians serving here today?”

“It’s listed as Remedial Live-Fire Public Order Training for the Grenadier Company of the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Guards.” Weston said, “Welcome to Exercise Bunsen Brawler. As for Punishment or Reward, it’s neither: we don’t ‘punish’ or ‘reward’ people by deploying them. This just happened to be the quickest Company to request the operational deployment.”

As he said this, across the street the ‘super secret scientist playpen’ once again found its door’s buzzer pressed. Except this time the Kouralian held the buzzer down… And down… And down… Standing there, tapping her boot irritably with mounting agitation for every second that she had to wait on the person on the other side.

Thomas opened the door without question, once more leering at the Kouralian who was on his doorstep, rubbing his hands together has he realised he had another crack at another female. “You know the last Kouralian who wanted to gain entrance showed me a little skin so I would not contact the SiS” the Malgravean remarked not allowing the medic quick entrance as he did not hear the earlier gunshots

Without a second thought, Lance Corporal Laina grabbed the Malgravean by the lapels and half-dragged him out of the doorway. “Right…” She began, her voice dangerously soft as she brought her face close to Thomas’, staring into his eyes with her own unblinking, hard gaze.

“There is currently someone bleeding to death from a gunshot wound on your roof. If the next words out of your mouth are not ‘Follow me this way to the roof immediately, Corporal Laina’, then I will feminise you with my fucking teeth.” She clacked her teeth together for effect, “If the next words out of your mouth have anything which so insultingly implies I would strip my clothes off for you rather than save someone’s life, then the removal of your genitals will only be the start of your worries, and your precious SiS will most certainly not arrive in time to prevent the horrific accident you suffer. Now nod to show that you’re a clever little cunt, and then pick your next words very carefully.”

Thomas paled instantly as he was dragged outside both at the threats and the thought of someone on the rooftop bleeding to death. “Someone has been shot? I can’t believe something like this has happened” Thomas said bending over to spill his guts in the hallway. “I was never good with threats of violence” another spout of puke interrupting his train of thought as he began to fall backwards. “Follow me this way to the roof immediately, Corporal Laina and don’t remove my genitals if I collapse when I see blood...” the Malgravean scientist added slowly and quite ungracefully wobbling towards the stairs

“Shut it and Move!” The Medic yelled behind him as she and the Bandsman followed him, “I’ve got a scalpel and I know how to use it!”

Thomas practically sprinted the last few metres until he reached the top of the stairs, giving his retinal information to the scanner without question as he did not want to anger the obviously insanely aggressive Kouralian woman that could quite possibly mutilate him within the next two minutes.

As soon as they reached the roof, the Kouralian medic shoved her way past Thomas, accompanied by her bandsman, shouting orders as she went. “Get that stretcher done, you, sniper boy, is the ambulance ready to receive downstairs?” She called, dropping the assault back by Emily and taking a knee at her side, looking over the Scientist.

“Think so, Corp’!” Rogers shouted before ducking back down and leveling his sniper rifle at the building opposite again.

“Do you want to treat her here?” Patta asked, nodding to her hands on Emily’s side where she was pressing down heavily to stem the bleeding.

“You know I feel quite fine already. All I need is a decent bandage and a shot of painkillers and i’ll be on my f--” Emily said unable to continue as the pain started to pierce through the initial barrier that came with the shock of being shot.

“No, no. Nothing here. Shot to the kidneys is bad: Serjeant, I’m charging you with her.” Laina said, pulling out a morphine syrette and grabbing Emily’s arm. “This will hurt slightly, but I shouldn’t think that’s your biggest concern at the moment.” She said, stabbing down without ceremony into the arm.

Emily yelped in pain her failed attempt to stop the injection causing more trouble for her than she intended. “I don’t like annoying pricks” the Malgravean scientist said looking over in the direction Thomas before turning back to the Lance Corporal with an expression half-way between a grimace and a kicked puppy. “I’m sorry for swearing. I suppose getting shot is now excuse for poor language”

“Everything’s an excuse for poor-language, darling.” Laina said carefully as she took a length of tape and attached the syrette to Emily’s collar, before bending in to look closer at the wound. After a few seconds she pulled back and gestured the stretcher to be brought to next to the Malgravean. “Don’t move, and don’t ever tell me that you feel fine. You’ll feel fine when I tell you you can, and not before. Until that point, your life is in my hands, and I’ll die before I see it slip away.”

“Yes ma’am!” Emily said giving a mock salute to the Lance Corporal as she stopped wriggling and protesting the movement onto the stretcher, enjoying the Kouralian medics attitude “Did you face any trouble getting up here? I find threatening his manhood with disfigurement is the best tactic”

“Yes, indeed.” Laina said as she grabbed her radio. “Castration with my teeth - no, not you sir. Is it okay to relocate Conrod? I need more people to carry the stretcher, it’s bad.” After a moment, she nodded, “Right, tell the paramedic twats that they’re going to need to be able to receive a casualty and one additional medical aide beca- Keep that pressure on!” She suddenly yelled at Patta, before going back to the radio, “We can’t risk letting blood out until she’s in the theater.”

[Kouralia]

Suaspalæ aþe’Capoðaine, Kurton, Some Time Later

The Neo Baroque Captain’s Under-Palace in the Steelmarket of Kurton was a landmark that any Kouralian would recognise immediately as the centre of executive power in the Royal Union. While yes, technically the Crown in the palace upon Steelmarket Rise and over the river in the Red Fort was the source of all power for the government, in practice it was almost entirely delegated to the Justiciars of the Court and the head of government, the Captain of the Justiciars. The afternoon was bright and cloudless and drenched the courtyard with golden sunlight to bring about a sweltering heat in the midday sun: all the better to highlight the colours of the building. The polished Carraran marble of the courtard’s floors and the palace’s, frames and edging shone like mirrors, set in rich light blue walls which contrasted with the bright terracotta roof tiles.

The gates opened automatically for the official convoy of cars that had carried the Imerian delegation from Rosewood Air Force Station, allowing them to sweep through the archway under one of the courtyards walls and into a location where they were surrounded by the blue cliffs of the residence and offices of the Captain of Justiciars which almost entirely removed the sound of the bustling Kouralian capital from the air. The vehicles stopped with a practiced smoothness outside the covered portico by the front door, ensuring the Imerians would only need to step a few paces through the midday heat before they would pass from air conditioned cars into a welcome boon of shade.

“Present, Arms!” The loud voice of the Serjeant of the Guard called, with the white and bronze-clad Citadel Guardsmen that flanked the doors colonnade immediately saluting the arriving guests with precision that would bring a tear to the eye of even the most psychotic drill sergeant. As this happened, the doors opened to reveal Kouralia’s Captain of Justiciars who immediately strode out to meet the newcomers. Sir Barynel Cæryn was a tall, dark-skinned Chietan man with close cut hair and a neatly trimmed beard who today was as comfortable in the dark green dress uniform he wore for the investiture ceremony as the suits he normally donned. Made of a tunic and trousers worn with dress shoes, it was primarily Rifle Green with Black and Red trims and bore similarities to old ‘Rifle’ regimental uniforms. It was then of course adorned with the appropriate accoutrements for his position: sword at his hip, a large golden aiguillette, rank insignia for a Tribune of the Royal Army, and the full collar, phalerae, ribbons and medals for his multiple decorations.

“Gentlemen, Gentlemen! Welcome to Kouralia good chaps!” He called jovially, as he moved to greet the new arrivals. “I can only trust and hope your morning has been as pleasant as mine?”

“Quite!” The man that stepped out of the automobile said, his skin was darker than a Scanderan but his broad shoulders, massive height, and deep blue eyes seemed to tell of at least some Scanderan blood in his veins, his nose had was sharp with a hint of an aquila to it, his hair was thick, coarse, and black. All being clues that made him out as a man from Sydvinland. He wore a white robe of the foreign relation advisory with the wide sleeves that administrators often wore in the federation. However his arms were decorated with Austiran knots telling of a military background besides his civilian job. Something that a rather noticeable limp that required a cane to walk seemed to suggest that line of job’s end. He wore a large hat that were decorated with the large colourful arm feathers of a male tyrannosaurus rex that the large beasts used to attract mates.

“Had to make sure that the wife and our father does not throw too big a party when I am gone but it is nothing I cannot handle I hope!” the man said with a chuckle.

“Indeed, indeed.” The Captain said with a smile as he adjusted his gaze up to the Imerian’s eye level, for even the six foot of the Kouralian - not uncommonly tall by the standards of his home, but taller than most nonetheless - was visibly rather much shorter than his guest. “Sir Barynel Cæryn,” He said, holding out his hand to shake the hand without the cane. “May I be the first to welcome you to both Kouralia and to the Suaspalæ here, sir.”

“Thank you! Friherre Björn auf Appaberg at your service!” bowing slightly, even if his leg seemed to prevent him from doing it properly.
“I come bringing gifts for her Royal Highness the Queen of Kourmark! And his esteemed Lord Elect of the realm from His Royal Highness, May his household rule until the end of time, the High King!” he said using the Imerian names for kouralia as well as any elected leader.
“A pair of Velcoraptors, taken from the finest breeders in Sydvinland!” he said pointing to two small boxes with a showing a pair of bird looking creatures. They were fat and had the general built of a very fat pigeon but with an elongated snout rather a beak. They were covered in very fuzzy feathers, one red and one in a more pinkish hue. Both the creatures were lying down making very pigeon like sounds as they looked around curiously with black eyes.

“And of course, for Her Royal Highness, A High Goose from His Royal Highness, may his name forever be remembered in glory, own breeding stock!” he continued pointing to another crate, this one made of metal with a horrid mockery of a goose in it. The creature were one and a half times the size of a man. It’s long neck was thick and muscular rather than the elegant necks one regularly associate with geese. It’s beak was shortened and widened giving it a bulldog looking appearance and large thick teeth was visible inside of it. The creature hissed revealing another set of similar teeth on its long tongue. The wings of the creature was short and tiny, seemingly robbing it of the ability to fly. It’s legs however were as far from those of a goose one could imagine, they were long and muscular with knees outside of the body, making the creature able to run rather than just waddle. Its leg retrained their water living origin though but the claws that generally were just tiny remnant of its lineage was long and fearsome looking. The creature was hissing and honking furiously as it threw itself at the cage desperately trying to come out with an unmistakable bloodlust in it’s eyes.

“His Royal Highness, may his reign be blessed, has of course included a handler with the goose, magnificent creatures but not the most friendly creatures one can find!”

“Oh, marvellous…” The Captain of Justiciars said, paling slightly as he glanced at the terrifying attack-goose and awkwardly returned his hand to its place by his side. “That is good, I think we have not a handler for such an… impressive beast on the royal payroll. Please do extend a thousand most gracious thanks from myself and Her Majesty for these fine gifts, and impress upon him that we look forward to the opportunity to repay this generosity in a state visit to the Federation.” That said, he gestured to the Serjeant of the Guard. “Colour! Please see to it that these boons are taken safely through to the Steelmarket Rise, and give heed to the Handler of the High Goose because I won’t authorise a cold iron shield if you lose fingers to it!” He added, referencing the Union’s military award for servicepersons killed or wounded in the line of duty.

“Now, Friherre, if I may invite you into the Palace?” Sir Barynel said, gesturing toward the doorway where a suited young woman stood, her short dark hair underlit with flashes of bright red. “I am sure we have much to discuss.”

“Yes, after you herr Barynel!” the man said with a smile.

Turning on the spot, the Kouralian rested his left hand on the pommel of his dress sword before striding off into the palace. Immediately the young woman disappeared into the shaded doorway and began to walk through the palace before the Imerian and her Captain. Within, the palace was opulently furnished, with marble floors in the entrance hall which gave way to decorative hardwood flooring as they travelled down a corridor to finish at a pair of ornate, gilded and carved double doors. Before the Imerian and the Captain reached it, the young woman opened them and stepped smartly aside for the big players of the meeting to enter.

“Distinguished officers of the Crown, may I present your Captain, Sir Barynel Cæryn, and Friherre auf Appaberg of the Absolute Royal Federation of Imeriata.” She said clearly, though not overly loudly considering the room the two men would now enter was more of a dining chamber than some oversize ballroom. The rich, lovat green carpet went well with the darker, forest green wallpaper and the dark oak panels on the walls that matched the ornate table, side cabinets, chairs and window frames. Opposite the double doors, three large floor-to-ceiling windows stood on each side of double glass doors which could open onto a marble patio in a beautifully laid out garden of lawns, flowers and marble water features. At one end of the room stood a large painting of Queen Alyxandra Campbell, while at the other was a single wooden door of similar exquisite construction to the one they had entered by. Along the wall opposite the windows sat a number of dark oak cabinets and bookshelves populated by fancy hardback tomes, the odd marble bust or other fanciful decoration, and some other ornaments.

“Thank you, Fræsya.” Sir Barynel said, nodding for her to shut the door behind the two. Already in the room was another suited woman, and three uniformed officers of the Royal Army - two with sufficient gilding to be clearly senior commanders and one whose younger face and comparatively emptier uniform marked himself out as likely the pair’s aide. “Friherre, might I introduce Her Majesty’s Principal Justiciar of State for War, Tamæra Eunomyana.” He gestured to the middle aged woman with dark brown hair cascading down her back who nodded a greeting to the Imerian. “These two fine officers are further General Sir Baltra aþ’Alæn, a General Officer Commanding in the relevant area, and Vice-General Sir Enræ Chyantyþor Steele, Castellan in the relevant area.” He added, gesturing first to the woman and then to the straight-backed yet single-armed and single-eyed Vice-General whose lovat-green commando-hued uniform matched the carpet somewhat. Since the Demon War in 2014, Enræ Steele had been noticed by the high command as a promising commander after he took the death of his Division’s commanding general in his stride, and took control not just of his own Legion but also of the wider Division, seeing it maintain a semblance of control and withdraw tactically in the face of the reckless hatred of Khorne rather than break and collapse in on itself. This while also sustaining the two overtly visible injuries which gained him a Cold Iron Shield and Bar.

“Now, please do take a seat Friherre.” Sir Barynel said, gesturing to a place on one side of the table at the end by the door, while the Kouralians took up positions to be seated there also. “Should you want some refreshments, we can accommodate, but otherwise I should like to get straight on with this matter, unless you object?”

The Imerian raised his eyebrow for just a moment in what could only be described as puzzlement before a smile spread over his face quickly.
“A pleasure to make your acquaintance Jungfrau Eunomyana!” he said and bowed again, not as far as was proper which seemed to be attributed to his leg as a quick grimace spread over his face when it was out of sight towards the floor.
“Pine tea if you have some, from the home continent if that is possible!” he responded after a moment to the question about the drinks. “‘Tis good for the soul!”

“Of course.” The Captain of Justiciars said, nodding to the cavalry captain who was hanging around awkwardly at the back. “Mr Bælston,” he continued, “If there is some Imerian pine tea then please serve that for our guest, else something that he should find agreeable.” Saluting, the Aide smartly left the room by the side door, leaving the more senior people to get down to work.

“The pleasure is all mine, Friherre.” The Justiciar for War said, inclining her head and leaning forward at the waist - not quite enough to be considered a full bow, but still enough to make it clear that she was making an active effort to show respect to the guest. “Tell me, have you been to Kouralia before?” She asked.

“I must admit that I have not, I am the first to do so in generations!” he said, though it would have been eons ago since one of the heroes that his house claimed lineage from had been a famous hero in the Kouriad. But it seemed more polite not to elaborate on it here.

“Hopefully that can be something we work on changing.” Tamæra said, “Cooperation today will breed the seeds of future cooperation, and traffic between our nations shall allow many Kouralians to enjoy the fineries and experiences that Imeriata has to offer, and vice versa.” She added, seating herself as Sir Barynel did so too.

“Indeed.” The Captain of Justiciars said, “I trust you are here for the one matter of the… star-gate, yes? Or are there further discussions the Foreign Advisory wishes to put to the Royal Union?”

“And here I were under the impression that the absolute royal federation and Kourmark were comrades!” Björn said with a faked wounded voice.
“But yes, the high king, may his name be blessed, feels like the federation currently is vulnerable from interstellar powers as recent experiences has shown us! Since we lost our own gate due to unprovoked aggression so can we not even be non-aligned in this manner, so getting access to the gate network is of the highest priority for our crown! Since we also feel strong friendship with our comrades in Kourmark so does it seem like a co-operation between our two crowns in this manner would be… beneficial to both crowns!”

“Friends we are indeed.” Sir Barynel said, “But in the four years since the signing of the Grynings Vagen, we have neither seen a state visit to Imeriata, or a state visit to Kouralia. But, that is not the subject of this meeting.

“This ‘gate network’ is indeed a technological boon, and I can disclose that we have spent our time since the attack by Lord Sokar developing means to use it for the furtherance of the Kouralian State. I am sure you heard of the recent public acknowledgement of the Gate in the Senate? For that reason, this must be considered to be a simple cooperation between our nations - covert, true, for we do not want it plastered over every front page this side of Flankfurt, but not done with such secrecy as my predecessor would have had it done.

“In fact, I understand that there was a previous attempt to cooperate on this matter, was there not?”

“Yes, I recall it being soured due to Malgravean involvement, I would not say that we do not trust them, especially in a secretive nature like this…. I am however going to heavily imply it!”

“Well, your trust in a third state is not required.” Tamæra said. “How fortunate that is. But we would regard it as being on the part of both belligerents that there was no cooperation at that juncture.”

“However,” The Captain of Justiciars continued, “If you wish to make temporary usage of the ‘stargate’, then there is little I think we need to discuss: should you inform the Union of your business then we will happily undertake to transport Imerians should their mission not contradict Kouralian sensibilities. But I assume that you are not here because you want to send a single lorry of Imerians through a gate on a one-off incident, are you?”

“No, we planned to start a regularly running program with offworld trading and military installations! Hopefully ending in us acquiring a gate of our own!” Björn said matter of factly.
“We are of course willing to share in any technology acquired this way with the crown of Kourmark!”

“Yes… Well…” Tamæra said with a hissing intake of breath that was the universal indicator for ‘we might have a problem.’ “The matter is that I am here, not the Justiciar for Overseas Affairs. Since the Great Humiliation of 2014, matters pertaining to Lord Sokar and the stargates automatically come under my purview, not that of my absent colleague. You state that the attack was unprovoked, but evidence provided by the Sokarite commander and verified as truthful by the Menelmacari as an independent third party would suggest otherwise. We have no wish for an expedition undertaken by the Federation to end in the death of our citizens and loss of our Queen.”

“What information would this be? Menelmacari propaganda if I ever heard it!” Björn said with a very chilly tone entering his voice. “Our fatherland was attacked from orbit, our cities burnt, I personally lost family in the attack! There were no Casus Beli, there were no declaration of war, there were no honour in the attack! Mark my words Kouralian, if you are using the gate are you already a target!”

“You say that, sir,” Sir Barynel said, “and I believe that you say these words to me with truth in your heart; but you must acknowledge that I have the lives of over a billion of my countrymen in my hands when I make decisions in this Suaspalæ. I have to consider every angle, and while I have no reason to doubt the veracity of your claim, I have no reason to doubt the veracity of the Menelmacari Truthseers who investigated and vouched for the evidence pres ented by…” He flicked open a file and glanced down a page. “...Lesser Lady Andraste.

“The allegations are firstly that rogue elements of the Malgravean state set up a horrific torture site, which is acknowledged by the Malgravean State and steps have been taken to ensure that a lack of oversight can never again give rise to such misconduct. The second allegation is that Imerian and Malgravean soldiers did willfully kill a party of Sokarite forces which were not engaged in combat operations. Now, I cannot speak for the nature of self defence in this matter, or of misunderstandings, but I am given to believe that this did likely happen. The third allegation is that the Imerian State had taken prisoner a number of the young of the ‘goa’uld’ race, and did perform invasive and non-invasive experimentations upon them without consent. Will you speak, in this room only in the presence of my compatriots and I, on the veracity of this third allegation?”

“Yes!” Björn said very simply “You most certainly are aware how the parasitic larva of the goa’uld operates I am sure? One of them is a human life eternally trapped in their own body, would we need to reverse this issue so would one need some information! For a species that live through the torture of other species do I quite frankly find it hypocritical of them to complain about it!”

“However you say that this was due to a joint defence of a Malgravean installation?” He asked, a hint of fury coming into his voice and his eyes darkening.

“Well… Yes.” the Captain of Justiciars said plainly. “Have you not seen the evidence and explanation for the use of force by the Sokarite commander?” he asked, looking about on the desk before the one-armed Vice-General Steele rose and reached over to Björn, passing over a thin brown file marked ‘Humiliation Report, Part VI, truncated review.’ At the top of the cover was a simple phrase which in fact headed many documents in front of the Kouralian officials at the table: ‘Top Secret: HOME-STAR.’

“I know it inside out, use my copy for reference.” He gruffly said, “That’s a summary of what the Menelmacari Truthseers released, having received it from the hostile force Commander Andraste.”

“No, no such information was provided to the absolute royal federation!” Björn said with a very cold voice. For a moment did he sit still before he punched the table with a sudden flare of fury. A large crack could be heard as the mighty table cracked under the sudden punch.
“THE SCOUNDRELS, THE DISHONOURABLE RATWOLVES!” He cried in sudden horrific fury as he held his hand that seemed very much cracked from the punch.
“THE MOTHERLESS SWINES! THEY ARE WITHOUT HONOUR!” He continued with a certain fury in his voice that seemed to grow dangerously close to those ancestors of his that might have worn bear cloaks into combat.
“WE DIE ON THEIR SIDE AS FELLOW WARRIORS IN A WAR THEY START AND THEY TURN THEIR CLOAK THE FIRST THING THEY DO?!?” He roared giving the table another punch with his hand that send a large crack going through it and blood sipping from his hand at a few points.

“Can we… Not?” Sir Barynel said as he leaned back with an eyebrow raised, unfazed by the Imerian’s display. Of course, while he was unresponsive, few others were. Both aþ’Alæn and the Justiciar for War, despite their purported role in fighting, jumped in shock clearly, unsettled by his sudden display of wrath.

“Bloody he-” The General muttered, before catching himself as the Captain of Justiciars raised a finger in warning.

Of course, no reaction was an equal of the sudden sound of smashing china on ‘WITHOUT HONOUR’ followed by running feet from the other side of the side door. As the exclamation of anger came to an end, the Kouralian aide burst back into the room, his hand hovering over the opened holster of his Anemosian side-arm. Stopping in the door-way, the Captain looked around the room confusedly. “My Captain, I am sorry, I…” He stared at the Imerian’s bleeding hand and the damage to the table. “I…” He stopped.

“You…?” Sir Barynel asked, not moving his gaze from the Friherre.

“I am sorry, I thought there was an affray, I… I’ll fetch some more pine tea my Captain, and I shall have a Bandsman sent over immediately.”

“Yes, that would be good.” The Captain of Justiciars said, turning to the aide finally and waving him out with one hand, before giving his attention back to the Imerian once the door shut again. “Mr aþ’Appaberg,” he continued, conflating the Imerian naming convention with the Kouralian one, “I must protest at such outbursts. They are unproductive, and I fear we cannot discuss sensitive matters while you have your hand seen to by a professional - to say nothing of the table gifted to the Crown of Kurton by the Grand Duchy of Chieti three hundred years past.”

Björn took a deep sigh and seemed to mutter something, it was not in the good old tongue but rather in the dawn tongue, the ancient language from which all east Scanderan languages comes from. With his bloody hand did he quickly wipe some white substance from his mouth before slowly sitting down, his leg apparently making itself reminded again.

“My hand will be fine, Scanderan flesh heals well!” Björn muttered as he sat down “I will send a carpenter from the royal household myself to take care of the table on my own cost though, or one of your choice!” he muttered this time a hint of remorse in his voice, Imerians could be rather attached to the past to the shock of those that heard it. The idea of ruining something that were old was not something they generally cherished.

“My ancestors fought in bearcloaks, I apologize for the outburst, but the old blood still runs true!”

“How wonderful for them.” Sir Barynel said dryly. “However, I have had a man come to the door of my hall in need of medical treatment and refuse my offer before - it won’t happen again.” He said, “If you will not see the meeting interrupted by it, then I will have you ministered to by a Bandsman before you leave here today. I cannot have it said that the Union doesn’t care for its guests, and secondly I would have you do it as a personal favour to myself and as restitution for your damage of that table. And I shan’t accept no for an answer.” He said solemnly.

“Now,” The Captain continued, a measure of warmth and a smile returning to his features, “Shall we continue with this matter of the Gate?” He asked.

“Very well, I will heed your words, But aye, the gate! What are your demands? You said that you were not sure about the gate being operated but you still did not turn us away so the issue must not be out of the question or even something you did not want!” he said looking the captain straight in the eye.

“Well, obviously not, Friherre, else you wouldn’t have been granted an audience.” The Captain said. “The problem is, obviously, that the gate is Kouralian. The land it sits on is Kouralian. The people who operate it are Kouralian. Finally, and most importantly, the people who shall be smote by the Sokarites should it all go belly-up are Kouralian. Now, while you say the attack was ‘unprovoked,’ the insight from the truthseers would suggest otherwise.” He held up a hand to forestall another outburst.

“Not justified, mind. Just not ‘unprovoked.’ The Goa’uld may live as parasite puppet-masters and slave-makers of other sapients, but it must still be borne in mind that you did, to them, capture and torture the young of their species: their children. Think what you would do, the glorious Absolute Royal Federation, should it be discovered that some back-water was imprisoning and torturing Scanderan babes. For that reason and the disclosure by the Malgravean Government about that despicable research facility, I can only conclude that this attack was provoked - even if it was an entirely disproportionate and reprehensible overuse of force under the circumstances.”

“Take their children and repay them in kind mayhaps? The thing we were doing! Besides the argument was would hold more merit if they did not eat their own young!” Björn said coldly. “Of course if the Kouralian crown does not consider research into saving fellow humans from being naught more than puppets then so be it and as long as we make use of your gate so will we not look into the research subject!”

“That said I still protest the nature of the attack being provoked, no such symbiote was taken from the system lord known as Atumn! We only engaged very small independent targets when we used the gate network! Mayhaps the Malgraveans called down the attack on themselves in the battle however our hands were clean and should not have been attacked when the cowards folded like the swines they were!”

“That as may be, we must take steps to protect ourselves.” The Justiciar of War said. “We have, however, considered what we believe to be a suitable state of affairs for use of the Gate. Firstly, we must consider that it is a covert operation run by the Kouralian military: no use can be made of the gate without the permission of General aþ’Alæn and Vice-General Steele. It remains the purview of ‘Faeryn Command’ of the Space Joint Service Command, and any use of the gate must be through that.”

“Indeed.” The Captain of Justiciars said, “For that reason, I propose adding a semi-permanent cadre of authorised Imerian personnel to Faeryn Command. It is up to the Imerian Crown on an individual basis to determine if they should be seconded to the Kouralian military, or if they should be considered ‘civilians subject to service discipline,’ and I’m sure one of the Generals can explain the nuances of that distinction should you desire.

“These Imerians would be responsible for policy-setting, undertaking operations, and coordination of operations with the Kouralian command. They would be responsible for submitting proposals to launch missions through the Gate, and they, ultimately, would be responsible for ensuring that those proposals do not violate the ethical sensibilities of our commanders. Obviously any facility or territory on another planet that is operated by the Krigsmakten shall be considered Imerian soil, and Kouralian authority will carry no more weight there than in Imerburg. But, any use of the Gate in Kouralia is a matter for Kouralia to decide, and we will neither be strong-armed nor deceived into use of it improperly, am I understood?”

“You sound like you expect us to try to loophole our way through this the first chance we get! Hardly a gesture a friend!” Björn said calmly, of course neither were smashing up furniture but that was neither here nor there.
“However these sounds like reasonable concerns even if a bit vague, what exactly kind of missions would fall under ethical sensibilities? How extensive would this discipline be? Would Imerian military regulations be considered appropriate for them would they not be under Kouralian milltary jurisdiction?”

“Well, we do not expect it, but it would be remiss of us to neglect to prepare for it.” The Captain of Justiciars said, before turning to the two officers. “Generals, if you could?”

“Yes, of course sir.” Vice-General Steele said. “To your first question, Friherre, it entirely depends. I, as Castellan of the base that this Gate sits within, will personally be the man you have to get approval from on a day-to-day basis for anything from an invasion or a raid to a simple delivery of post from home to a pre-established garrison. I want to see any risk to the Union identified and mitigated, I want to see that the object of the expedition to be undertaken isn’t something dishonourable or contrary to common sensibilities, and I want to see thought and planning has gone into it. You tell me you want to raid a prison colony or some-such planet to rescue Prisoners of War, then you had better submit the same sort of mission briefing that a Kouralian special forces commander would submit to gain permission before launching such a raid: and I’ve submitted that paperwork in the past, so you better bet that I know the depth of thought that goes into a well-planned operation. Obviously, a milk-run to something you’ve already established can be rubber-stamped, but if you run combat operations from Kouralian soil, you will appraise us of what will happen.

“To the second question, it means that they are subject to Kouralian military law. An Imerian serviceperson ‘seconded’ to the Kouralian military can be given a lawful order by a superior Kouralian officer, and in turn they can also give a lawful order to a subordinate who may be Kouralian or Imerian. A Civilian Subject to Service Discipline cannot be given an ‘order’ per se, but can be given ‘direction’ that should not be deviated from without cogent reason for doing so. Similarly, they cannot give an order to Kouralian servicepersons, regardless of the situation. However, while they cannot be ordered about, should they breach the Statute of the Count Martial’s Discipline as it applies to civilians subject to service discipline, they are still liable to punishment as might be deemed appropriate. Simple disciplinary matters can be resolved by summary punishments, like a restriction of privileges and would likely be handled by Imerian officers supervising Imerian soldiers. A non-pressing matter could simply be resolved by dismissal from Faeryn Command and being sent home in disgrace to Imeriata, if we find their conduct to be such that we cannot retain them in Kouralia. A more pressing matter may necessitate a court martial within Kouralia. Now, we think most matters may be handled within the Imerian Cadre, but if it is a matter which affects Kouralian personnel or a serious manner which would normally require a general officer’s court martial then we would require input into the disciplining of any infraction.

“The matter of discipline, however, is not of much importance to us. This is simply the legal framework which accompanies ‘our base, our gate.’ A civilian subject to service discipline has no legal authority as a ‘soldier’ to command troops, insofar as we are concerned, whereas a seconded soldier does. The difference is that a Knight Lieutenant of the Royal Guard proposed to be a civilian subject to service discipline could only ‘give advice’ to a Kouralian Captain, Serjeant, or even Private Soldier, rather than having any formal authority to take command of a situation.

“Of course, any off-world facility operated by Imerieta is Imerian soil and we would consider the authority of the Imerian state to be paramount there, as if it were a sovereign base or colony of the Absolute Royal Federation on Earth. These distinctions only apply in Kouralian Faeryn Command facilities.”

“Well I can assure you that royal guardsmen will operate under military discipline and regulations even if the civilian status seems the most pleasing to the crown from our perspective!” Björn said with a quick nod. “Your demands seems fair though!”

“Jolly good!” Sir Barynel said, “That was our main demand, and I was sure it was the most likely to be rejected. The other requirement is that there should be Kouralian Military Liaison Missions between any Imerian colony and Kouralia. Functionally a fully uniformed Kouralian serviceperson or group of servicepersons, likely an officer, whose job will be toassess the world in general, the defensibility of the colony, and whether or not the garrison of the base sticks to any requirements.” He paused.

“I don’t want to imply any dishonour on the part of Imeriata, for no one could ever truly do so with a straight face, but we must assure ourselves that nothing like that Malgravean horror-farm can ever exist again. There is no requirement you cooperate and give the run of your halls to this liaison mission, and obviously they will abide as much as possible by Imerian regulations in your colonies. They will also not really be there to spy… more as inspectors, and ambassadors: a handy conduit between the facility and the Royal Union.”

“You sadden us with such accusations!” Björn said first before a smile spread on his lips “However if we are not under obligations to give him access to the entire facility how would he be able to see if we truly did not have a colony dedicated to tying young maiden from primitive worlds to a train track while we laugh and twirl our mustaches?”

“Oh, he wouldn’t.” Sir Barynel said, chuckling. “But then it is an Imerian colony. It is not our crown which rules there, and it wouldn’t reflect best on our trust for you if we had Blackshields running about and kicking down the doors of every second building to look for perfidy, would it?”

“No, that is more that enough to varant a duel!” Björn admitted “However we will allow the representative on our lands!”

“Jolly good!” Sir Barynel said, beaming as the side door opened again and the Captain from earlier re-entered. This time he carried a decorative white metal tray on which was the chinawear for the Imerian’s Pine Tea. While the meeting more-or-less paused around him, the young man placed the tray down on a side-board and poured a cup of the brew out for Björn, before placing it down on a saucer on the table by his place.

“I hope it is to your liking, sir.” He said, stepping smartly back and moving around to his customary position behind the Generals.

“Thank you!” Björn said before sweeping the tea more akin to a teenager doing his first shot than a dignified gentleman enjoying a cup of tea.
“Delightful!” he said, as the sour overwhelming taste spread over his mouth and seemed to assault his senses and a sticky residue seemed to be left over his gums. All being signs of a good cup of pinetea.

“I’m glad you enjoy it, Friherre.” Sir Barynel said. “Since we’ve signed the Grynings Vagen the crown has maintained a stock of common Imerian delicacies to ensure that diplomats and guests of honour can feel at home in Kouralia, and you’re the first Imerian to try the pine tea we stock.”

“A good sign if I ever saw one!” Björn said nodding approving “hopefully will our co-operations in the gate systems be as good as this!”

“One of the first operations the federation would want to undertake is most likely to reactivate our old beta fortress! The installation was an almost impregnable fortress!”

“We would be honoured to assist you in what ways we can in this undertaking.” Sir Barynel said, “I must ask now while we’re at the negotiating table, however, do you have any requests or demands you would like to table in relation to this arrangement?”

“THe biggest one, we can think of is that would this agreement come to an end so would we have a reasonable time period to evacuate and withdraw from any off world situations. So would our agreement be terminated so would we request a period of time where we would still be able to use the gate as normal!”

“We are not barbarians!” The Justiciar for War said, grimacing. “We will do right by you, and wouldn’t seek to strand honourable Imerfolk out amongst the stars. Regardless, I do not think that this would ever need to come to pass: so long as you are willing to work alongside your allies, surely we are willing to work alongside you.”

“Surely has the federation never given anyone the idea that we are not trustworthy, have we not always been honourable and abided by rules and regulations we swore to uphold?”

“I suppose so.” She said, “I cannot recall the history of Imeriata off the top of my head, but I certainly cannot recall any examples of a betrayal by the Absolute Royal Federation.”

“Indeed, no.” Sir Barynel said. “I believe that, then, can be considered to be a conclusion of the business here today then? If there are no further requests or demands then the matter is done, is it not?”

“Yes, but first let us share some pine tea to ask for the blessing of the Gods for this agreement!”

“That sounds like a good idea!” Sir Barynel said, gesturing for the young military aide to pour out some additional cups of the stuff. A minute later the Captain of Justiciars stood, raising the cup of pine tea with one hand in a gesture echoed by the other Kouralians, except for Steele who raised it with his left hand rather than the absentee right one.

“To a glorious future together, working for the betterment of our peoples and our crowns, for honour, for justice, and to stab at least one of those bloody Goa’uld!” Sir Barynel said, smiling.

“To glory!” Björn said with a cheer once again drinking the tea like one would do a shot of bränvinn. Once again could he feel the vile sour taste spread over his mouth and the sticky residue left from the sap covered his mouth leaving the vile bitter taste lingering and covering his mouth with a sticky layer that seemed to refuse to vanish.

“To Glory!” The Kouralians echoed, before drinking the tea in the manner the Imerian diplomat did, though, it must be said, with much less style. The hosts were clearly unused to the acquired taste and sensation of the brew, and it was all some of them could do to keep themselves from hacking and coughing in an embarrassing display before the Imerian. Eventually, after a moment’s silence, Steele spoke.

“That’s some damn good stuff that. Odd taste, but good mm?” he said, looking down the line of other Kouralians only to be met with raised eyebrows and quizical looks.

The Scanderan smiled “It is good for the soul! Even if the taste leaves something to desire, it does grow on one though even if it is not really good” he said “Oh, also highly addictive!”