Civil War in Nchiyamengi

[Sevevill]

OOC: I have some signal on my phone, but I'll keep this brief.

IC: The Clearing:

Early the next morning, before it was fully light, a group of fighers led the two captured special forces troops away from the main group, with them dragging along the bodies of the beheaded drivers. They returned later and moved the severed heads and Isaac's removed left hand and Mark's removed little left finger as well. Then they returned. Their hands were covered with blood and dirt, it seemed they had been made to dig the dead men graves with their bare hands.

"Alright, up and at it" ordered the Courier, sipping water out a canteen and chewing on some tough stolen biltong for sustanance.

Mark and Nabila were handcuffed at the front, once in the wrists and once tightly below the elbows. They had ropes tied around their necks like leashes and only then were their gags removed. A boy gave them a little water each, to make sure they did not die or pass out from dehydration, and only then were they cut from the trees and led on by two large men, a big bald Arab Nchiyamengian leading Mark and a tough scarred Njengi leading Nabila. After the water they were gagged again.

"If I feel you are going slow Mark I'll take more of your fingers, maybe your manhood if you really annoy me, Zoie won't like that" said the Courier with a grin. "Nabila if you go too slow I'll do the same to Mark, Malak al Mawt wants you whole".

Unable to talk they trekked for hours down into a wooded valley and followed the area of dense foliage along a rocky stream, using it as an invisible road. They would walk for about 12 hours before darkness began to fall again.

Pvt Henry Maddison. The Royal Gold. 1st Royal Gaurd. 1st Royal Taskforce
The sun started to rise. He turned to the Special Forces man.
"I want to go. Its takeing too long. They could all be dead right now"

[The Green Union]

Pvt Henry Maddison. The Royal Gold. 1st Royal Gaurd. 1st Royal Taskforce
The sun started to rise. He turned to the Special Forces man.
"I want to go. Its takeing too long. They could all be dead right now"

Cpl. Jacques Balladur, the Road:

Jacques looked up from his wound a Nchiyamengian medic was binding to look at Pvt. Maddison. He mulled over the soldier's words for a few seconds, didn't register them, and decided to respond with exactly what he was thinking.

"Where do you propose we go? The terrorists are gone. There's no way to track them in our current state."

[Albatan]

PSP Camp, Mwinukomwamba, Nchiyamengi
Corporal Farad Ibori

Mwiba was busy, heck, that was fine, trade sanctions, he sent a coded message back to the Special Forces director. He used the radio stashed in the tackle box, he turned the dial to the correct frequency using the Standard Alba-SOT Com-Code. Then he grabbed some soup, scarfed it down, and went to bed.

Ministry of Trade, Albatopolis, Albatan
The Honorable Diana McGuffy, Minister of Trade

It was a long day in the House of Ministers, but they had decided to conduct a trade embargo on Nchiyamengi for all non-essentials. Their decision was to be broadcast internationally so that other countries who where against the Kampiya Regime. The small trade power of Albatan would have little effect on Nchiyamengi, but international support would bolster the take down of the corrupt government of Nchiyamengi.

International Broadcast, AMPE News

ALBATAN EMBARGOES NCHIYAMENGI - CALLS FOR INTERNATIONAL EFFORT

The Minister of Trade spoke today at a press conference announcing their plan for an international effort to embargo Nchiyamengy, Diana McGuffy had this to say,

"We need to end the corruption in Nchiyamnegi, if we weaken their economic hold, then the rebellion can install a democracy!

Albatan is not ending all non-essential trade with Nchiyamengi, a small blow to their economic stability, with an international effort, democracy can be brought to this impoverished country for good. In the name of Justice, Freedom, and Democracy we must prevail!

[Nchiyamengi]

OOC: I have some signal on my phone, but I'll keep this brief.

IC: The Clearing:

Early the next morning, before it was fully light, a group of fighers led the two captured special forces troops away from the main group, with them dragging along the bodies of the beheaded drivers. They returned later and moved the severed heads and Isaac's removed left hand and Mark's removed little left finger as well. Then they returned. Their hands were covered with blood and dirt, it seemed they had been made to dig the dead men graves with their bare hands.

"Alright, up and at it" ordered the Courier, sipping water out a canteen and chewing on some tough stolen biltong for sustanance.

Mark and Nabila were handcuffed at the front, once in the wrists and once tightly below the elbows. They had ropes tied around their necks like leashes and only then were their gags removed. A boy gave them a little water each, to make sure they did not die or pass out from dehydration, and only then were they cut from the trees and led on by two large men, a big bald Arab Nchiyamengian leading Mark and a tough scarred Njengi leading Nabila. After the water they were gagged again.

"If I feel you are going slow Mark I'll take more of your fingers, maybe your manhood if you really annoy me, Zoie won't like that" said the Courier with a grin. "Nabila if you go too slow I'll do the same to Mark, Malak al Mawt wants you whole".

Unable to talk they trekked for hours down into a wooded valley and followed the area of dense foliage along a rocky stream, using it as an invisible road. They would walk for about 12 hours before darkness began to fall again.

Pvt Henry Maddison. The Royal Gold. 1st Royal Gaurd. 1st Royal Taskforce
The sun started to rise. He turned to the Special Forces man.
"I want to go. Its takeing too long. They could all be dead right now"

Agent Brown calmly lit a cigarette and offered one to Henry. "If we go off bushwacking we won't find them or will die when we do. We will helicopter in to a village deeper inland and walk in plain clothes from there to another village. I have some contacts there who may know something".

[Nchiyamengi]

PSP Camp, Mwinukomwamba, Nchiyamengi
Corporal Farad Ibori

Mwiba was busy, heck, that was fine, trade sanctions, he sent a coded message back to the Special Forces director. He used the radio stashed in the tackle box, he turned the dial to the correct frequency using the Standard Alba-SOT Com-Code. Then he grabbed some soup, scarfed it down, and went to bed.

Ministry of Trade, Albatopolis, Albatan
The Honorable Diana McGuffy, Minister of Trade

It was a long day in the House of Ministers, but they had decided to conduct a trade embargo on Nchiyamengi for all non-essentials. Their decision was to be broadcast internationally so that other countries who where against the Kampiya Regime. The small trade power of Albatan would have little effect on Nchiyamengi, but international support would bolster the take down of the corrupt government of Nchiyamengi.

International Broadcast, AMPE News

ALBATAN EMBARGOES NCHIYAMENGI - CALLS FOR INTERNATIONAL EFFORT

The Minister of Trade spoke today at a press conference announcing their plan for an international effort to embargo Nchiyamengy, Diana McGuffy had this to say,

"We need to end the corruption in Nchiyamnegi, if we weaken their economic hold, then the rebellion can install a democracy!

Albatan is not ending all non-essential trade with Nchiyamengi, a small blow to their economic stability, with an international effort, democracy can be brought to this impoverished country for good. In the name of Justice, Freedom, and Democracy we must prevail!

OOC: Looks good. When I get access to a laptop with internet I'll give a full response to this. May be a few days though.

[The Green Union]

Lt. Allan Fox, Jungles of Mwinukomwamba:

Go to Nchiyamengi, they said. It will be fun, they said.

Or perhaps more accurately, Go to Nchiyamengi, they said. Bananas and monkeys, they said. You won’t turn into a popsicle after ten seconds outside, they said.

Well you know what? Allan thought, I’ve seen those banana plantations. I’m never touching another banana again. And the monkeys are a lie and the heat breeds gnats and mosquitoes like it’s nobody’s business. Needless to say, the LAF officer was decidedly done with this place.

Allan struggled to clamber over yet another choking tangle of roots, using his FAL rifle as a sort of walking stick. It had been . . . seven days based on the marks he had made on the weapon’s side since he had fled the ambush on the special forces convoy, and Allan was hopelessly lost. LAF soldiers weren’t supposed to get lost, but he was doing a really good job of it nonetheless.

His frustration only increased as Allan came to the area his map claimed would contain a river. There was a stunning lack of river, which tempted Allan to crumple up the remarkably useless navigational device and throw it to the monkeys. But that would be littering, and every Green Union citizen is hardwired from birth to know that such actions are unacceptable. Still, not finding the landmark he was looking for had probably set Allan back in his search for civilization by a week at least.

Not that living off the land had been a problem. The jungles of Nchiyamengi had turned out to be much easier to snatch the nutrients from than the wilds of The Green Union. There the food was half the time buried beneath several feet of snow, and one may waste days stalking a herd of elk just to get the food to keep on the journey. Here stuff was practically asking to be eaten, and it wasn’t just the abundance of fruits and insects that could have sustained Allan just fine. The LAF solder was already halfway out of ammunition from picking off birds and cute, furry animals. And seeing as how Allan wasn’t known for missing, it was natural that he was also not poorly fed.

The ease with which a someone could survive out here, coupled with his complete inability to find something as ubiquitous and immobile as a road or river, made Allan realize just how easy it was for rebellion and warring factions to persist in this country. The Green Union had known insurgencies over its long existence, usually oppressed Aras tribals losing themselves in the seemingly limitless uninhabitable space to raid villages and government weapons stores. But these had always died out after only a few years at best. Winter always came; the food froze up and the rebellion’s momentum along with it. Always they were forced back into the open where they were destroyed.

But in Nchiyamengi the rich sustenance of the jungle never froze. It was almost disturbing how much of a haven the jungles were for those who did not want to be found. An established group, especially an established group broken up into many small bands, would need only a safe place to stash a surplus of food and supplies, and it would be almost impossible for anyone to find them.

Lt. Fox tripped over another hidden stone and almost fell flat on his face. Whatever the jungle was for other people, it was not the kind of place for someone who just wanted to find a way out of it.

[Sevevill]

SG-14 Radar

Raptor 1-1. SG-14. Airman First Class Billy Howell. Radar Plane over the jungle.
He scanned the ground. From the flight deck it looked like nothing but trees. The prop had slowed and they were crusieing at 180 knots with flaps at 15 so they could go slower. Besides the fact he was flighting the planes want to land he had too look for missles form GI. He thought it would make it a lot more interesting if they at least tried to shoot them down. The plane drowned on despite the longing for something to happen. Suddenly the Radar Capitan Came in.
"Sir, There's a person down there. We can't decide weather he's worth deploying some of the soldiers form the G-13 behind them to grab him and escort him back to civilization.



G-13

[The Green Union]

- Snip -

OOC: What's your plan here? Are you planning to parachute soldiers into the jungle to look into this life form you've somehow identified as a human?

But didn't the Kampiya Regime ban your aircraft in the nation?

[Nchiyamengi]

- Snip -

OOC: What's your plan here? Are you planning to parachute soldiers into the jungle to look into this life form you've somehow identified as a human?

But didn't the Kampiya Regime ban your aircraft in the nation?

OOC: There is hesitancy to have any planes flown by Sevillian pilots in the nation, and the jungle is simply too large and too wild to find the prisoners that way. A spotter plane flown by a Sevillian pilot accompanied by Nchiyamengian military to watch them is fine, but it won't be finding any people and the jungle is difficult to parachute into, with all the densely packed tall trees. If it is anyone down there it might just be a refugee, villager or poacher.

I have another full day shift at the bar tomorrow and a test to learn for, but I'm going to try take Monday off and so type stuff tomorrow night.

[Islamic Government]

Are the "Guerreros del Islam" still active?

[Sevevill]

Are the "Guerreros del Islam" still active?

OOC: Yes

[Sevevill]

OOC: What's your plan here? Are you planning to parachute soldiers into the jungle to look into this life form you've somehow identified as a human?

But didn't the Kampiya Regime ban your aircraft in the nation?

OOC: There is hesitancy to have any planes flown by Sevillian pilots in the nation, and the jungle is simply too large and too wild to find the prisoners that way. A spotter plane flown by a Sevillian pilot accompanied by Nchiyamengian military to watch them is fine, but it won't be finding any people and the jungle is difficult to parachute into, with all the densely packed tall trees. If it is anyone down there it might just be a refugee, villager or poacher.

I have another full day shift at the bar tomorrow and a test to learn for, but I'm going to try take Monday off and so type stuff tomorrow night.

OOC: I Was thinking of haveing many of the planes flying looking. I dont think they will find anything or do anything.

[Nchiyamengi]

Sunday the 11th of December 2016:

GI terrorists and child soldiers have launched an attack on a church in the city of Ciudadelapalma. The Church of the Holy Archangel Michael is frequented by off duty soldiers and veterans, and today was no different. The attackers drove a hijacked petrol truck into the church before blowing it and themselves up with explosives. The protective barriers set up by militia in case of trouble were torn down by a stolen truck. At least 109 people are dead, including the 12 terrorists (4 of them children) and 27 off duty soldiers.

The attack marks the continued actions of the GI to attack a church every Sunday, but also seems to show an increased daringness, attacking a church frequented by soldiers. The attack shows the continued unraveling of the Kampiya Regime.

[Nchiyamengi]

The FPRL delegation argue that they have no control over the Busetsu nationalist insurgents, but argue that if real efforts were made to rebuild their destroyed homes in the north and in the slums after the end of the war and the arrival of democracy and to help them resettle and prosper, then the violence would be mitigated. They argue that for now all further forced removals must be vocally opposed and, if possible, violently resisted.

Mfalme Mazibinde states that he will use whatever influence he has left to try ensure that Njengi militia operate purely defensively against insurgents, rather than antagonising them on "hunt" missions, but cautions that many Njengi nationalists are more loyal to Kampiya than to him and will not listen. He states he will push for more aid to Busetsus who have been forcibly removed, and will actively oppose any further forced removals.

Former cabinet Ministers Lucas Taiunyoya and Pedro Gatola state that they strongly opposed the forced removals but would not be heeded. They promise to use what little influence they have amongst moderate and traditionalist Njengis to oppose any further forced removals and grant more aid. They criticise the FPRL and the Green Union for arming the insurgents however.

The FPRL come back swinging and accuse Taiunyoya of overseeing the funds that armed the Njengi militia and the forced removals. Taiunyoya denies this and says these were done by Presidential order and miliary action against his wishes

Princess Yuula has urged all delegations to refrain from laying blame, reminding that all are here in the general interest of peace. In her words, "The actions of all parties in this room have always been to bring this war to a desirable end. We are here to find a desirable end we can all agree on, and discuss how to achieve it."

The princess goes on to state that the arming of Buetsu insurgents by the former Parti Liberal government was a mistake in hindsight, but since the Calen Royal Family was not involved any more than Lucas Taiunyoya or Pedro Gatola were in the arming of Njengi militias they cannot speak about motive behind the action.

Furthermore, the royals have noted that the largest of the IDP camps was destroyed in the so-called 'Battle of the Flag.' The Loyalist Red Crystal led aid mission to Nchiyamengi has been shattered and dispersed (Again the princess reminds delegates to discuss a way forward, not place responsibility for the past), and it will be some time before the system that allowed the shipment of weapons alongside medical supplies is modified and another mission can be sent.

Delegations attending the Nov. 30 - Dec. 2, 2016 peace conference in Aramîr Palace, The Green Union:

Frente Pueblo Revolucionario Liberación (FPRL)
Movimiento Socialista Islámica (MSI)
Partido Socialista Progresista (PSP)
Partido Liberal Democrático (PLD)
Njengi Royal Family
Representatives of the Kingdom of Albatan
Calen Royal Family (representing The Green Union's Parliament)

[] Ways to peacefully resolve the conflict of the Buetsu nationalist movement (original topic)
[] Ways to safeguard the civilian populace of Nchiyamengi during this time of violence,
[] Methods of reaffirming the common commitment of establishing a fair and open democratic system in Nchiyamengi,
[] Methods of ensuring the survival of said fair and open democratic system in Nchiyamengi,
[] The effects of the current Sevevill-led peacekeeping mission in Nchiyamengi, and:
[] The point at which a United Nations peacekeeping mission can be legally and effectively initiated in Nchiyamengi to safeguard the fair and open democratic process

At the same time, news of the attack on the special forces convoy involving Green Union forces has finally been confirmed by The Green Union's government via an investigative team which needed to travel to identify the bodies of Green Union Loyalist dead and then to the ambush site to determine the validity of claims of the attack being carried out by GI insurgents. The government inquiry confirms the deaths of nine of the special forces, with three survivors. Cpl. Jacques Balladur, Sgt. Alexandra Mctavish, and Capt. Marcus Brayfield survived the attack while Lt. Nabila al-Rashid and Lt. Allan Fox are missing in action. It is suspected the two missing soldiers have been taken captive by the GI.

Surprisingly, the public response to the confirmation has not been one of outrage. However, the incident has once again fuelled voices to create a UN peacekeeping mission to Nchiyamengi. Other, more extreme voices have also been rising. Communist fervour following the death of Fidel Castro and the creation of a Workers Party government in The Green Union has led to calls to support the FPRL becoming more and more common.

The Green Union's government has stated that more forces cannot be sent into Nchiyamengi at present, even in an effort to locate the missing Green Union soldiers. The diplomatic red tape of such an action would hopelessly tangle any attempts to do so.

About a week ago:

Pedro Gatola states that after what happened with the smuggling of weapons in along with medical aid, the Red Crystals from the Green Union may not be allowed to enter Nchiyamengi, or else will be far more carefully watched and searched, especially giving escalating violence. He promises to use any influence he has left to try ensure they are allowed entry and that Njengi moderates engage in peacekeeping and medical aid missions for Busetsu refugees along with Njengi.

Lucas Taiunyoya and Mfalme Mazibinde promise to use what influence they have left to do the same to pouch for more aid for refugees in the country fleeing violence.

The FPRL, MSI, PLD and PSP agree to use the territory they are slowly gaining in and around the rebel held city of Puertoplátano and the town of Mpolebonde as a safe zone for refugees fleeing violence in the loyalist parts of the country, but insist on seizing any weapons carried by these groups unless they join the rebel forces or rebel regulated "Democracy Militia".

All sides have suggested starting engaging in discussing the groundwork for a new constitution in a post-Kampiya Nchiyamengi, arguing that such a constitution would need to establish democracy, open multi-party elections, freedom of religion, and no discrimination on the grounds of race, gender or religion.

Here openly lesbian poet and activist Yamdina Malapiyo makes an effort to state that there should be no discrimination based on sexual orientation either enshrined in such a constitution. Here Imam Saafir Kalidi is quick to say that if by this she means a constitution that enshrines gay marriage he would not support such a motion, and that he doubts his party would either, he does say that is by this she means banning and coming down hard on those who murder homosexuals, he would happily support a constitution that entrenched such a rule of law. Miguel Tapyaro suggests that these details be worked out in separate discussions, and a planned conference in Xixoxana, the capital of Zaxumadi, after this conference, to discuss solely the ground work of such a constitution is agreed to.

On the matter of the Sevillian peacekeepers, Miguel Tapyaro states that many in his party and many Busetsus have no faith in these so called keepers of the peace. Tapyaro states that the bombing of a dominantly Busetsu town by the Sevillian airforce has completely removed their faith in their ability to run any peacekeeping mission.

Lucas Taiunyoya here agrees, but states that it may be difficult to get another nation to lead such a peacekeeping coalition, stating that Kampiya will almost certainly not trust one led by the Green Union after it was revealed weapons had been smuggled in with medical supplies. He suggests putting pressure on the government to withdraw all foreign forces, and to instead send only medics, and to insist that such medics are allowed into rebel held territory (which the loyalist military has as a no go area).

Adán Kusemponwenya states that this sounds good in theory but that Kampiya will never allow it, and suggests instead that medics and medical supplies be tried to be smuggled into rebel held areas, along with food and water.

Miguel Tapyaro states that more weapons will also need to be smuggled in, as "there will be no peace while Kampiya remains". Here Lucas Taiunyoya cautions that such a move could cause more violent Busetsu insurgents to get hold of weapons, worsening the violence, and that it will cement a refusal by Kampiya to allow any supplies into rebel areas, including medical supplies, food and water, for fear weapons will be sent with them. Here Miguel Tapyaro insists that such weapons should only be directed to rebel forces rather than to officially unaligned pro-rebel Busetsu insurgents, and states that Kampiya will almost certainly not allow any supplies into rebel held areas anyway.

[Nchiyamengi]

OOC: I have some signal on my phone, but I'll keep this brief.

IC: The Clearing:

Early the next morning, before it was fully light, a group of fighers led the two captured special forces troops away from the main group, with them dragging along the bodies of the beheaded drivers. They returned later and moved the severed heads and Isaac's removed left hand and Mark's removed little left finger as well. Then they returned. Their hands were covered with blood and dirt, it seemed they had been made to dig the dead men graves with their bare hands.

"Alright, up and at it" ordered the Courier, sipping water out a canteen and chewing on some tough stolen biltong for sustanance.

Mark and Nabila were handcuffed at the front, once in the wrists and once tightly below the elbows. They had ropes tied around their necks like leashes and only then were their gags removed. A boy gave them a little water each, to make sure they did not die or pass out from dehydration, and only then were they cut from the trees and led on by two large men, a big bald Arab Nchiyamengian leading Mark and a tough scarred Njengi leading Nabila. After the water they were gagged again.

"If I feel you are going slow Mark I'll take more of your fingers, maybe your manhood if you really annoy me, Zoie won't like that" said the Courier with a grin. "Nabila if you go too slow I'll do the same to Mark, Malak al Mawt wants you whole".

Unable to talk they trekked for hours down into a wooded valley and followed the area of dense foliage along a rocky stream, using it as an invisible road. They would walk for about 12 hours before darkness began to fall again.

A final day of walking was ahead of them. The day started early, as the light of the sun had only just started to illuminate the seemingly endless jungle. It was already hot and humid, but as the sun continued to rise it became even more so. The dense jungle was a stinking sweatbox.

However as the day wore on clouds rolled over. Huge cumulonimbus giants emerged over the mighty green mountains that they began to ascend. The foliage on them was still thick and dense, and the walk became a steep climb along gullies and up rocks, forever led on by their rope leashes and watched carefully at gun point.

A massive storm broke out. Heavy rain poured down and the group sought shelter under a rock and some trees. Overhead lightning flushed and the boom of thunder rolled. The power of nature greater a show than any operations and weapons of man. The storm was fierce but brief. After only about 10 minutes it seemed to roll on to devastate the the area on the other side of a ridge, leaving grey clouds behind it. The group carried on a way, and slowly the grey clouds gave way to white, and then to clear blue skies as if the storm had never been there, the wet earth and foliage the only trace of it.

After about another hour of steep climbing they came to a flatter area, what seemed to be a path along part of a mountain. The prisoners were blindfolded and led on slowly. The ground was relatively even, a trip and fall every now and again, but for the most part less dangerous and steep. After what felt like forever they heard voices. Hostile at first, and then jovial. They had arrived.

The path gave way to a slight uphill. The grass and dirst gave way to gravel. There was the sound of dripping water and the steady pour of water elsewhere, like that of rainwater running off a mountain down a gap to a ledge below. The air became cooler, and the sound of other people around them became audible.

Finally they were brought to a halt and ordered to kneel, the butt of an AK47 struck against their back if they were slow. The gags were removed, and moments later the blindfolds.

They were in a cave, a deep cave that looked like it had been formed by years of water and wind erosion. Thick tall trees blocked out the view of their even being a cave from the ground and the air. GI fighters stood nearby, or lay on straw in sleeping places, some waking groggily from their sleep. Many were child soldiers. Amongst them were also young women and girls. Servants and unwitting wives of the fighters. Some nuns stolen from a convent, others children and young women stolen from raided villages. They looked on fearfully. Some were chained or tied to wooden stakes in the ground. Most looked like they had suffered physical abuse.

There was one exception. A tall Njengi woman wearing a Burka sat on a rock busy polishing an AK47. A number of cruel and large knives and a handgun hung on her belt. Her otherwise beautiful face had several long scars along it, like blows from a whip or sjambok, and her expression was a mixture of disdain and annoyance. She watched the new arrivals with cruel eyes.

The Courier strode up to her and gave a nod of respect. "Widow" he said, in greeting, "I hope you are well. Is the master here?". The Widow gave a deep sigh and stood up. She strode to a blanket seemingly dangling on a jagged cave wall. "Master" she said "the Courier has returned, he has prisoners".

A few moments past, and then a man emerged from behind the blanket, clearly a smaller part of the cave, no more than another gully, lay beyond the blanket, kept private from the rest of the cave by it. The man has dressed in a long black shirt and camouflaged trousers. He wore heavy military boots. His head and face were covered by a black shroud tied around the head. Only a space for his keen and sparkling dark brown eyes and lightish brown skin around them was visible, along with his long fingered hands, which he washed in a bowl of rainwater brought forward by a child soldier. A traditional Islamic sword hung from his belt, along with a magnum handgun and an old six shooter gun. He approached the prisoners slowly, calmly, but it was clear he was excited.

He calmly reached down and put a finger under Nabila's chin and turned her face to look at her. "Green Union is she?" he asked, his voice muffled by the cloth. "Yes master, Lieutenant Nabila al-Rashid" said the Courier. "And this one is Lieutenant Mark Danial of Sevevill, and this" he handed the man the photo of Zoie, "is his ravishing girlfriend Zoie". The man excepted it calmly and put it into a pocket. The Courier continued, "these two are Nchiyamengian special forces, Private Miguel Tchangi and Corporal Pablo Mzega". "And this", he continued bringing forward the whimpering and one handed Isaac, "is Private Isaac Banyakela, one of the drivers".

"Excellent" said the man. He looked down at Nabila and said calmly "tell me Nabila, do you have family still alive? A family who may miss you?"

Turning to Mark he said "and you Mark? Do you wish to see your sweet Zoie again? In the flesh that is."

[Nchiyamengi]

Lt. Allan Fox, Jungles of Mwinukomwamba:

Go to Nchiyamengi, they said. It will be fun, they said.

Or perhaps more accurately, Go to Nchiyamengi, they said. Bananas and monkeys, they said. You won’t turn into a popsicle after ten seconds outside, they said.

Well you know what? Allan thought, I’ve seen those banana plantations. I’m never touching another banana again. And the monkeys are a lie and the heat breeds gnats and mosquitoes like it’s nobody’s business. Needless to say, the LAF officer was decidedly done with this place.

Allan struggled to clamber over yet another choking tangle of roots, using his FAL rifle as a sort of walking stick. It had been . . . seven days based on the marks he had made on the weapon’s side since he had fled the ambush on the special forces convoy, and Allan was hopelessly lost. LAF soldiers weren’t supposed to get lost, but he was doing a really good job of it nonetheless.

His frustration only increased as Allan came to the area his map claimed would contain a river. There was a stunning lack of river, which tempted Allan to crumple up the remarkably useless navigational device and throw it to the monkeys. But that would be littering, and every Green Union citizen is hardwired from birth to know that such actions are unacceptable. Still, not finding the landmark he was looking for had probably set Allan back in his search for civilization by a week at least.

Not that living off the land had been a problem. The jungles of Nchiyamengi had turned out to be much easier to snatch the nutrients from than the wilds of The Green Union. There the food was half the time buried beneath several feet of snow, and one may waste days stalking a herd of elk just to get the food to keep on the journey. Here stuff was practically asking to be eaten, and it wasn’t just the abundance of fruits and insects that could have sustained Allan just fine. The LAF solder was already halfway out of ammunition from picking off birds and cute, furry animals. And seeing as how Allan wasn’t known for missing, it was natural that he was also not poorly fed.

The ease with which a someone could survive out here, coupled with his complete inability to find something as ubiquitous and immobile as a road or river, made Allan realize just how easy it was for rebellion and warring factions to persist in this country. The Green Union had known insurgencies over its long existence, usually oppressed Aras tribals losing themselves in the seemingly limitless uninhabitable space to raid villages and government weapons stores. But these had always died out after only a few years at best. Winter always came; the food froze up and the rebellion’s momentum along with it. Always they were forced back into the open where they were destroyed.

But in Nchiyamengi the rich sustenance of the jungle never froze. It was almost disturbing how much of a haven the jungles were for those who did not want to be found. An established group, especially an established group broken up into many small bands, would need only a safe place to stash a surplus of food and supplies, and it would be almost impossible for anyone to find them.

Lt. Fox tripped over another hidden stone and almost fell flat on his face. Whatever the jungle was for other people, it was not the kind of place for someone who just wanted to find a way out of it.

OOC: Lets make this the seven days you mentioned after the attack, more if you would prefer, just let me know.

IC: Wapenzi Mayagisha quietly watched the man. He could here him stumbling from a little way off, and had approached quietly to see who it was. The 8 year old Busetsu boy had fled the small refugee settlement when GI fighters had burned it to the ground, and had fled with his little 6 year old sister Maua. They had been separated from their parents and siblings and had run. They had found the bodies of all but there mother later after the settlement was raised to the ground and the fighters had moved on. Where their mother was they did not know. The settlement had been small, isolated and off the books, settled by Busetsus driven from their villages by loyalists and Njengi militia as they were suspected of aiding the FPRL. The attack had been missed by everyone in the chaos, only the GI and those who had survived it knowing anything about it.

Wapenzi had lived off the jungle for now, eating berries, roots and insects, feeding himself and his little sister. The survival of him and her was all that mattered to him now, and for about two months he had been the closest thing to a parent she had. They had seen the occasional poachers, soldiers or fighters moving through but had avoided them, they could not trust if they were friend or foe.

Wapenzi had thought the stumbling was that of an injured animal, perhaps a smallish antelope. He had taken an abandoned knife from underneath a ruined makeshift hut from the settlement after it had been burned and had tied it to a stick to make a spear. If it had been a small injured antelope he could kill it and help feed him and his sister. Instead he saw a lost white man in a uniform he did not know.

Wapenzi considered just leaving the man, another danger in the jungle, but he decided against it. Perhaps it was because he had been the adult to long and wanted someone more senior, perhaps it was because he thought the man might help him find his parents, perhaps it was just because he thought the man might have chocolate. A white American tourist had come to his village years ago when he was 4 and she had given all the kids chocolates, and since then he had associated the white people he saw, a rare sight in the isolated village (mostly priests, farmers and the occasional tourist) with the sweet taste of chocolate, even though the white farmers more commonly swore at him in Spanish than gave any gifts.

Wapenzi moved forward and spoke out loudly "hola señor". He didn't know much Spanish, and had only picked up a bit from the white farmers, and for the most part spoke Swahili, but he spoke enough to communicate the basics, if the man spoke Spanish or at least understood it.

[Nchiyamengi]

Monday the 12th of December 2016:

Rebel forces and military mutineers who joined them have today won a decisive victory at what has become known as the battle of Mlimayamaisha. The combined rebel forces were today able to use their greater mobility and skill at jungle warfare to envelope part of the loyalist line made up mostly of relatively inexperienced conscripts. This resulted in a number of Njengi conscripts routing and fleeing the field in disarry, and a number of Busetsu consripts either following suit or else surrendering or joining the rebels.

The only thing that prevented a full chain route was the skill of the mostly Njengi special forces and the Njengi militia. These forces holding the critical centre and right were able to hold off the rebels and indeed push forward, pushing them off balance for long enough for a fairly orderly tactical retreat. The left and centre-right of the loyalist line, consisting mostly of more experienced conscripts (Busetsu and Njengi) faired better than the newer conscripts, but also suffered significant losses and a number of Busetsu soldiers deserting to join the rebels.

The rebel forces now push on the city of Mjiwadhahabu, the capital of Mlimayamaisha Province, the second largest city in the nation and a city just about 2 hours drive from the national capital of Puertazul.

[Nchiyamengi]

PSP Camp, Mwinukomwamba, Nchiyamengi
Corporal Farad Ibori

Mwiba was busy, heck, that was fine, trade sanctions, he sent a coded message back to the Special Forces director. He used the radio stashed in the tackle box, he turned the dial to the correct frequency using the Standard Alba-SOT Com-Code. Then he grabbed some soup, scarfed it down, and went to bed.

Ministry of Trade, Albatopolis, Albatan
The Honorable Diana McGuffy, Minister of Trade

It was a long day in the House of Ministers, but they had decided to conduct a trade embargo on Nchiyamengi for all non-essentials. Their decision was to be broadcast internationally so that other countries who where against the Kampiya Regime. The small trade power of Albatan would have little effect on Nchiyamengi, but international support would bolster the take down of the corrupt government of Nchiyamengi.

International Broadcast, AMPE News

ALBATAN EMBARGOES NCHIYAMENGI - CALLS FOR INTERNATIONAL EFFORT

The Minister of Trade spoke today at a press conference announcing their plan for an international effort to embargo Nchiyamengy, Diana McGuffy had this to say,

"We need to end the corruption in Nchiyamnegi, if we weaken their economic hold, then the rebellion can install a democracy!

Albatan is not ending all non-essential trade with Nchiyamengi, a small blow to their economic stability, with an international effort, democracy can be brought to this impoverished country for good. In the name of Justice, Freedom, and Democracy we must prevail!

To Diana McGuffy, Minister of Trade of the Kingdom of Albatan

It has come to our attention that you have ceased trade with us. We regret to have been informed of this. Free and open trade is of mutual benefit to our two nations.

However, if it is your belief that such actions shall destabilise our sovereign democracy and allow a dictatorial rebel group of your liking to rise to power, you are sadly mistaken. The sovereignty and democracy of Nchiyamengi is unshakable and we shall endure.

We hope that you realise that this action hurts the poorest in this land, and hurts yourselves more than anyone else. It is our hope that you will come to your senses and re-establish trade links. We shall not pressure you into helping yourselves however.

Good day to you

Sebastián Ng'ombe
Ministro de Relaciones Exteriores

The embargoes and, in some ways more importantly, the freezing of foreign assets held by those high up in or associated with the Kampiya Regime by the Kingdom off Albatan and other nations is looking to begin to have a real effect. The regime is struggling to pay all its soldiers and police while also paying to help arm militia, repair damages to road, buildings, industry and prisons, while at the same time handle the scores of refugees and injured. Running low on funds a number of civil servants, police and even soldiers are ending up without pay, causing some to resign, go on strike or desert, and others to even join the rebels.

[Albatan]

Ministry of Trade - Open TelegramMasked Encryption Text
To: Sebastián Ng'ombe

---

Greetings Sebastián,

I fear you over estimate the mutual benefit of free trade between our nations. Considering the rumors about the quality of your banana plantations, we might have ceased trade altogether in the name of fair trade between our nations. Not only that but as a member of the Greater Markion Alliance of Nations, and the Coalition Military and Economic Pact, our nations thriving economy will be mostly unaffected by our embargoes now.

Have a pleasant day,
-- Diana McGuffy, Minister of Trade
I am sure you know as well as I do that the Kampiya Regime is truly a false democracy, if you wish to escape before the regime falls we can help you and your family escape before the rebels kill you all.

[The Green Union]

About a week ago:

Pedro Gatola states that after what happened with the smuggling of weapons in along with medical aid, the Red Crystals from the Green Union may not be allowed to enter Nchiyamengi, or else will be far more carefully watched and searched, especially giving escalating violence. He promises to use any influence he has left to try ensure they are allowed entry and that Njengi moderates engage in peacekeeping and medical aid missions for Busetsu refugees along with Njengi.

Lucas Taiunyoya and Mfalme Mazibinde promise to use what influence they have left to do the same to pouch for more aid for refugees in the country fleeing violence.

The FPRL, MSI, PLD and PSP agree to use the territory they are slowly gaining in and around the rebel held city of Puertoplátano and the town of Mpolebonde as a safe zone for refugees fleeing violence in the loyalist parts of the country, but insist on seizing any weapons carried by these groups unless they join the rebel forces or rebel regulated "Democracy Militia".

All sides have suggested starting engaging in discussing the groundwork for a new constitution in a post-Kampiya Nchiyamengi, arguing that such a constitution would need to establish democracy, open multi-party elections, freedom of religion, and no discrimination on the grounds of race, gender or religion.

Here openly lesbian poet and activist Yamdina Malapiyo makes an effort to state that there should be no discrimination based on sexual orientation either enshrined in such a constitution. Here Imam Saafir Kalidi is quick to say that if by this she means a constitution that enshrines gay marriage he would not support such a motion, and that he doubts his party would either, he does say that is by this she means banning and coming down hard on those who murder homosexuals, he would happily support a constitution that entrenched such a rule of law. Miguel Tapyaro suggests that these details be worked out in separate discussions, and a planned conference in Xixoxana, the capital of Zaxumadi, after this conference, to discuss solely the ground work of such a constitution is agreed to.

On the matter of the Sevillian peacekeepers, Miguel Tapyaro states that many in his party and many Busetsus have no faith in these so called keepers of the peace. Tapyaro states that the bombing of a dominantly Busetsu town by the Sevillian airforce has completely removed their faith in their ability to run any peacekeeping mission.

Lucas Taiunyoya here agrees, but states that it may be difficult to get another nation to lead such a peacekeeping coalition, stating that Kampiya will almost certainly not trust one led by the Green Union after it was revealed weapons had been smuggled in with medical supplies. He suggests putting pressure on the government to withdraw all foreign forces, and to instead send only medics, and to insist that such medics are allowed into rebel held territory (which the loyalist military has as a no go area).

Adán Kusemponwenya states that this sounds good in theory but that Kampiya will never allow it, and suggests instead that medics and medical supplies be tried to be smuggled into rebel held areas, along with food and water.

Miguel Tapyaro states that more weapons will also need to be smuggled in, as "there will be no peace while Kampiya remains". Here Lucas Taiunyoya cautions that such a move could cause more violent Busetsu insurgents to get hold of weapons, worsening the violence, and that it will cement a refusal by Kampiya to allow any supplies into rebel areas, including medical supplies, food and water, for fear weapons will be sent with them. Here Miguel Tapyaro insists that such weapons should only be directed to rebel forces rather than to officially unaligned pro-rebel Busetsu insurgents, and states that Kampiya will almost certainly not allow any supplies into rebel held areas anyway.

During the discussion the Calen royals state that The Green Union's Parliament has informed them that it will not be sending more arms to Nchiyamengi, but the royals cannot confirm if this is heartfelt or not. A second humanitarian mission of combined Green Union NGOs is pending, but the government has agreed to not become directly involved until the reforms to the Loyalist Red Crystal are complete.

But at this time King Wolfe VI reels the discussion back in, stating “This is all well and good, but we do need to discuss how democracy will be achieved in the first place and what will be done to ensure the survival of democracy once this conflict has been concluded.” The king pauses for a sip of water, going on to talk about the uncertainties of attempting a democratic system in such a complicated nation as Nchiyamengi, fraught with isolated settlements and petty warlords who could take control of the ballot boxes in their territories.

“The current strategy,” Princess Yuula started tentatively, “that the government of The Green Union has drafted up, is one to allow an international peacekeeping mission into Nchiyamengi to end the violence and safekeep fair and open elections. But simply presenting this motion is likely to see it blocked by the Kampiya Regime and so a multi-step plan has been drafted.” The princess’ eyes darted around the table, concerned about how her impending proposition would go over. “Firstly, it is trusted that current trends will hold and Kampiya’s power will be drastically reduced by this rebel coalition to the point where neither he nor his party holds the political or military strength to refuse a United Nations intervention. This will then rely on your individual factions then accepting a UN peacekeeping mission, Green Union led or otherwise, to help return order to the slums and insurgent zones and allow for elections to take place. The peacekeeping mission will need to establish and maintain solid enough hold over enough of the”

Of course, as the princess was quick to point out, this plan has many potential pitfalls. Current trends may reverse and Kampiya gain a stranglehold from which to choke out dissent. One faction in the rebel coalition may suddenly gain considerable strength and choose to exert its dictatorial will over the others rather than submit to open elections. Loosely aligned rebel warlords may create their own splinter faction and carry on the bloody war. The peacekeeping mission may become bogged down by insurgents and fail to safeguard the democratic process. The elections themselves, assuming elections ever come again to Nchiyamengi, could be rigged or end up legitimately favouring one party en-masse, whom could then choose to seize power completely for themselves.

One can only pray this meeting will be able to decide on a collective way forward.The only certainty for the future of Nchiyamengi is that much will be uncertain.

Delegations attending the Nov. 30 - Dec. 2, 2016 peace conference in Aramîr Palace, The Green Union:

Frente Pueblo Revolucionario Liberación (FPRL)
Movimiento Socialista Islámica (MSI)
Partido Socialista Progresista (PSP)
Partido Liberal Democrático (PLD)
Njengi Royal Family
Representatives of the Kingdom of Albatan
Calen Royal Family (representing The Green Union's Parliament)

[] Ways to peacefully resolve the conflict of the Buetsu nationalist movement (original topic)
[] Ways to safeguard the civilian populace of Nchiyamengi during this time of violence,
[X] Methods of reaffirming the common commitment of establishing a fair and open democratic system in Nchiyamengi,
[] Methods of ensuring the survival of said fair and open democratic system in Nchiyamengi,
[X] The effects of the current Sevevill-led peacekeeping mission in Nchiyamengi, and:
[] The point at which a United Nations peacekeeping mission can be legally and effectively initiated in Nchiyamengi to safeguard the fair and open democratic process

[The Green Union]

OOC: I have some signal on my phone, but I'll keep this brief.

IC: The Clearing:

Early the next morning, before it was fully light, a group of fighers led the two captured special forces troops away from the main group, with them dragging along the bodies of the beheaded drivers. They returned later and moved the severed heads and Isaac's removed left hand and Mark's removed little left finger as well. Then they returned. Their hands were covered with blood and dirt, it seemed they had been made to dig the dead men graves with their bare hands.

"Alright, up and at it" ordered the Courier, sipping water out a canteen and chewing on some tough stolen biltong for sustanance.

Mark and Nabila were handcuffed at the front, once in the wrists and once tightly below the elbows. They had ropes tied around their necks like leashes and only then were their gags removed. A boy gave them a little water each, to make sure they did not die or pass out from dehydration, and only then were they cut from the trees and led on by two large men, a big bald Arab Nchiyamengian leading Mark and a tough scarred Njengi leading Nabila. After the water they were gagged again.

"If I feel you are going slow Mark I'll take more of your fingers, maybe your manhood if you really annoy me, Zoie won't like that" said the Courier with a grin. "Nabila if you go too slow I'll do the same to Mark, Malak al Mawt wants you whole".

Unable to talk they trekked for hours down into a wooded valley and followed the area of dense foliage along a rocky stream, using it as an invisible road. They would walk for about 12 hours before darkness began to fall again.

A final day of walking was ahead of them. The day started early, as the light of the sun had only just started to illuminate the seemingly endless jungle. It was already hot and humid, but as the sun continued to rise it became even more so. The dense jungle was a stinking sweatbox.

However as the day wore on clouds rolled over. Huge cumulonimbus giants emerged over the mighty green mountains that they began to ascend. The foliage on them was still thick and dense, and the walk became a steep climb along gullies and up rocks, forever led on by their rope leashes and watched carefully at gun point.

A massive storm broke out. Heavy rain poured down and the group sought shelter under a rock and some trees. Overhead lightning flushed and the boom of thunder rolled. The power of nature greater a show than any operations and weapons of man. The storm was fierce but brief. After only about 10 minutes it seemed to roll on to devastate the the area on the other side of a ridge, leaving grey clouds behind it. The group carried on a way, and slowly the grey clouds gave way to white, and then to clear blue skies as if the storm had never been there, the wet earth and foliage the only trace of it.

After about another hour of steep climbing they came to a flatter area, what seemed to be a path along part of a mountain. The prisoners were blindfolded and led on slowly. The ground was relatively even, a trip and fall every now and again, but for the most part less dangerous and steep. After what felt like forever they heard voices. Hostile at first, and then jovial. They had arrived.

The path gave way to a slight uphill. The grass and dirst gave way to gravel. There was the sound of dripping water and the steady pour of water elsewhere, like that of rainwater running off a mountain down a gap to a ledge below. The air became cooler, and the sound of other people around them became audible.

Finally they were brought to a halt and ordered to kneel, the butt of an AK47 struck against their back if they were slow. The gags were removed, and moments later the blindfolds.

They were in a cave, a deep cave that looked like it had been formed by years of water and wind erosion. Thick tall trees blocked out the view of their even being a cave from the ground and the air. GI fighters stood nearby, or lay on straw in sleeping places, some waking groggily from their sleep. Many were child soldiers. Amongst them were also young women and girls. Servants and unwitting wives of the fighters. Some nuns stolen from a convent, others children and young women stolen from raided villages. They looked on fearfully. Some were chained or tied to wooden stakes in the ground. Most looked like they had suffered physical abuse.

There was one exception. A tall Njengi woman wearing a Burka sat on a rock busy polishing an AK47. A number of cruel and large knives and a handgun hung on her belt. Her otherwise beautiful face had several long scars along it, like blows from a whip or sjambok, and her expression was a mixture of disdain and annoyance. She watched the new arrivals with cruel eyes.

The Courier strode up to her and gave a nod of respect. "Widow" he said, in greeting, "I hope you are well. Is the master here?". The Widow gave a deep sigh and stood up. She strode to a blanket seemingly dangling on a jagged cave wall. "Master" she said "the Courier has returned, he has prisoners".

A few moments past, and then a man emerged from behind the blanket, clearly a smaller part of the cave, no more than another gully, lay beyond the blanket, kept private from the rest of the cave by it. The man has dressed in a long black shirt and camouflaged trousers. He wore heavy military boots. His head and face were covered by a black shroud tied around the head. Only a space for his keen and sparkling dark brown eyes and lightish brown skin around them was visible, along with his long fingered hands, which he washed in a bowl of rainwater brought forward by a child soldier. A traditional Islamic sword hung from his belt, along with a magnum handgun and an old six shooter gun. He approached the prisoners slowly, calmly, but it was clear he was excited.

He calmly reached down and put a finger under Nabila's chin and turned her face to look at her. "Green Union is she?" he asked, his voice muffled by the cloth. "Yes master, Lieutenant Nabila al-Rashid" said the Courier. "And this one is Lieutenant Mark Danial of Sevevill, and this" he handed the man the photo of Zoie, "is his ravishing girlfriend Zoie". The man excepted it calmly and put it into a pocket. The Courier continued, "these two are Nchiyamengian special forces, Private Miguel Tchangi and Corporal Pablo Mzega". "And this", he continued bringing forward the whimpering and one handed Isaac, "is Private Isaac Banyakela, one of the drivers".

"Excellent" said the man. He looked down at Nabila and said calmly "tell me Nabila, do you have family still alive? A family who may miss you?"

Turning to Mark he said "and you Mark? Do you wish to see your sweet Zoie again? In the flesh that is."

Lt. Nabila al-Rashid, GI Stronghold, Mountains of . . . Somewhere:

Nabila tried to pull away from the Master’s grip, to no avail. His hand only tightened on her chin, forcing her to look directly in his eyes. Nabila tried to put on a neutral expression, and failing that a defiant one, but was almost certain her eyes betrayed her fear.

“Salaam-Alaikum, master.” Nabila said with as much defiance as she had left. “Or do the formal greetings not apply here.” The master said nothing, but Nabila felt his grip tighten ever so slightly. Like the smart girl she was, she decided to answer what he had asked, the words tumbling out a little more hastily than a diplomat would have thought sensible, “I would certainly hope my parents and husband would care if I died gruesomely.”

Then Nabila decided to take a chance. She did not know how perceptive the Master was, but if the lies she was about to speak were swallowed she may have a better chance of establishing a human connection with her captors. “And my son, Amir,” she said more slowly of her nonexistent son who was in no way named Amir, “would never understand why I never came home when I promised him I would.”

[The Green Union]

Agent Brown calmly lit a cigarette and offered one to Henry. "If we go off bushwacking we won't find them or will die when we do. We will helicopter in to a village deeper inland and walk in plain clothes from there to another village. I have some contacts there who may know something".

Cpl. Jacques Balladur, Kampiya Regime Held Village, Mlimayamaisha Province:

Jacques’ hair whipped around his face in the wind of the helicopter as he stepped off the aircraft, leaning slightly on Pvt. Maddison, the Sevevillian, for support. The helicopter had arrived for them right at the sight of the ambush, buzzing to the ground just beyond the barricades the GI fighters had assembled to stop the convoy. By this point the fires in all the transport trucks had long since been out, nothing but cold, scarred, and twisted metal left of the vehicles Jacques and his comrades had ridden in.

Then the three survivors of the ambush, Cpl. Balladur and the two Atlas soldiers, as well as Agent Brown and other loyalist soldiers, had lifted away from that place, the corpses of the trucks growing smaller and smaller until they were only a few dead ants in a whole field of green and life.

Somewhere in there Jacques had abandoned his old rifle for a dead man’s AK-47 and changed into a set of civilian clothes. Even now the Green Union soldier was getting the inkling that his work here he was not about to be relieved of, and was about to become a whole lot harder. He may not be seeing a Green Union soldier or Green Union supply box for a long time.

Which is why Jacques did a double take when he stepped of the helicopter and saw two he thought among the dead waiting for him. Sgt. Mctavish and Capt. Brayfield had escaped the massacre with a small group of Nchiyamengian special forces and found their way back to civilization where they had made contact with government forces and told to meet with the helicopter here. This moment could easily have been filled with hugs and tears of happiness, but the wounds of what they had seen were still fresh. Cpt. Brayfield simply nodded to the Corporal sadly. Sgt. Mctavish stared off into middle distance as if noticing for the first time just how far away the horizon was.

[Sevevill]

Pvt Henry Maddison. The Royal Gold. 1st Royal Gaurd. 1st Royal Taskforce
They were on the ground in a small village. There were two Atlas soldiers who had more or less taken charge of the opperation. He was helping then loyalist Col. Walk up to the other to loyalists. After he was done with that he took his protective vest off and changed into a T shirt. He slid the pads back over his head and tightened them up again before walking up to the Nichimengi officer that was leading this search party.
"When do we get going?"

Lt Pixistick. In the village
He was slowly following the cpl. He held his M4a1 loosely. He was wearing civies under his vest. He felt like a terrorist without his uniform on. Now all he needed was a Ak47 and a balaclava and he would be set. He wanted this whole thing to be over but he knew it wouldn't. The noise of the helicopter toook off once more this time without them.

1st Lt Mark Danials.
He looked at the man. Coldly. He wanted to hit him. Hard. Very hard. He had forgotten about the question he had just been asked. He was tired and not thinking clearly.

[Nchiyamengi]

Ministry of Trade - Open TelegramMasked Encryption Text
To: Sebastián Ng'ombe

---

(Image)

Greetings Sebastián,

I fear you over estimate the mutual benefit of free trade between our nations. Considering the rumors about the quality of your banana plantations, we might have ceased trade altogether in the name of fair trade between our nations. Not only that but as a member of the Greater Markion Alliance of Nations, and the Coalition Military and Economic Pact, our nations thriving economy will be mostly unaffected by our embargoes now.

Have a pleasant day,
-- Diana McGuffy, Minister of Trade
I am sure you know as well as I do that the Kampiya Regime is truly a false democracy, if you wish to escape before the regime falls we can help you and your family escape before the rebels kill you all.

Publicly Sebastián Ng'ombe has stated that he finds the embargo by the Kingdom of Albatan amusing more than anything else. He has also stated that the natural wealth of Nchiyamengi will see them prosper with or without deals with any foreign nation. He has said that the wealth of Nchiyamengi, more than its bananas, diamonds and gold, is its people and their unbreakable spirit, one that will endure in the face of struggles.

Sebastián Ng'ombe has sent an email from his personal laptop, with a private encryption system, it reads as following:

Good evening Diana

I have recieved the encrypted part of your message. As far as I know it was not intercepted by anyone else. Things are getting worse and I need to protect my family. I need you to send an official request for a meeting in your nation to try find a diplomatic way forward to re-establish trade. Whether you say it is for economic reasons or peacekeeping reasons I don't care, although my superiors will be more likely to approve if they are economic. I need you to invite myself and my family to attend. No rebels can be invited or else my superiors will never agree. With luck we will all be able to attend. Once we arrive safely and are taken to a safe location I will officially hand myself over to you. I will give you everything I have, I just need you to keep my family safe.

If my family cannot come for whatever reason, if my superiors see through this and refuse to let them attend, I cannot hand myself over and the meeting will have to go ahead as if all was normal.

Please do this for my family, I will give you everything I have.

Our fate is in your hands

Sebastián

[Nchiyamengi]

A final day of walking was ahead of them. The day started early, as the light of the sun had only just started to illuminate the seemingly endless jungle. It was already hot and humid, but as the sun continued to rise it became even more so. The dense jungle was a stinking sweatbox.

However as the day wore on clouds rolled over. Huge cumulonimbus giants emerged over the mighty green mountains that they began to ascend. The foliage on them was still thick and dense, and the walk became a steep climb along gullies and up rocks, forever led on by their rope leashes and watched carefully at gun point.

A massive storm broke out. Heavy rain poured down and the group sought shelter under a rock and some trees. Overhead lightning flushed and the boom of thunder rolled. The power of nature greater a show than any operations and weapons of man. The storm was fierce but brief. After only about 10 minutes it seemed to roll on to devastate the the area on the other side of a ridge, leaving grey clouds behind it. The group carried on a way, and slowly the grey clouds gave way to white, and then to clear blue skies as if the storm had never been there, the wet earth and foliage the only trace of it.

After about another hour of steep climbing they came to a flatter area, what seemed to be a path along part of a mountain. The prisoners were blindfolded and led on slowly. The ground was relatively even, a trip and fall every now and again, but for the most part less dangerous and steep. After what felt like forever they heard voices. Hostile at first, and then jovial. They had arrived.

The path gave way to a slight uphill. The grass and dirst gave way to gravel. There was the sound of dripping water and the steady pour of water elsewhere, like that of rainwater running off a mountain down a gap to a ledge below. The air became cooler, and the sound of other people around them became audible.

Finally they were brought to a halt and ordered to kneel, the butt of an AK47 struck against their back if they were slow. The gags were removed, and moments later the blindfolds.

They were in a cave, a deep cave that looked like it had been formed by years of water and wind erosion. Thick tall trees blocked out the view of their even being a cave from the ground and the air. GI fighters stood nearby, or lay on straw in sleeping places, some waking groggily from their sleep. Many were child soldiers. Amongst them were also young women and girls. Servants and unwitting wives of the fighters. Some nuns stolen from a convent, others children and young women stolen from raided villages. They looked on fearfully. Some were chained or tied to wooden stakes in the ground. Most looked like they had suffered physical abuse.

There was one exception. A tall Njengi woman wearing a Burka sat on a rock busy polishing an AK47. A number of cruel and large knives and a handgun hung on her belt. Her otherwise beautiful face had several long scars along it, like blows from a whip or sjambok, and her expression was a mixture of disdain and annoyance. She watched the new arrivals with cruel eyes.

The Courier strode up to her and gave a nod of respect. "Widow" he said, in greeting, "I hope you are well. Is the master here?". The Widow gave a deep sigh and stood up. She strode to a blanket seemingly dangling on a jagged cave wall. "Master" she said "the Courier has returned, he has prisoners".

A few moments past, and then a man emerged from behind the blanket, clearly a smaller part of the cave, no more than another gully, lay beyond the blanket, kept private from the rest of the cave by it. The man has dressed in a long black shirt and camouflaged trousers. He wore heavy military boots. His head and face were covered by a black shroud tied around the head. Only a space for his keen and sparkling dark brown eyes and lightish brown skin around them was visible, along with his long fingered hands, which he washed in a bowl of rainwater brought forward by a child soldier. A traditional Islamic sword hung from his belt, along with a magnum handgun and an old six shooter gun. He approached the prisoners slowly, calmly, but it was clear he was excited.

He calmly reached down and put a finger under Nabila's chin and turned her face to look at her. "Green Union is she?" he asked, his voice muffled by the cloth. "Yes master, Lieutenant Nabila al-Rashid" said the Courier. "And this one is Lieutenant Mark Danial of Sevevill, and this" he handed the man the photo of Zoie, "is his ravishing girlfriend Zoie". The man excepted it calmly and put it into a pocket. The Courier continued, "these two are Nchiyamengian special forces, Private Miguel Tchangi and Corporal Pablo Mzega". "And this", he continued bringing forward the whimpering and one handed Isaac, "is Private Isaac Banyakela, one of the drivers".

"Excellent" said the man. He looked down at Nabila and said calmly "tell me Nabila, do you have family still alive? A family who may miss you?"

Turning to Mark he said "and you Mark? Do you wish to see your sweet Zoie again? In the flesh that is."

Lt. Nabila al-Rashid, GI Stronghold, Mountains of . . . Somewhere:

Nabila tried to pull away from the Master’s grip, to no avail. His hand only tightened on her chin, forcing her to look directly in his eyes. Nabila tried to put on a neutral expression, and failing that a defiant one, but was almost certain her eyes betrayed her fear.

“Salaam-Alaikum, master.” Nabila said with as much defiance as she had left. “Or do the formal greetings not apply here.” The master said nothing, but Nabila felt his grip tighten ever so slightly. Like the smart girl she was, she decided to answer what he had asked, the words tumbling out a little more hastily than a diplomat would have thought sensible, “I would certainly hope my parents and husband would care if I died gruesomely.”

Then Nabila decided to take a chance. She did not know how perceptive the Master was, but if the lies she was about to speak were swallowed she may have a better chance of establishing a human connection with her captors. “And my son, Amir,” she said more slowly of her nonexistent son who was in no way named Amir, “would never understand why I never came home when I promised him I would.”

The woman they called the Widow interjected, "why would you leave your son? You come here to hunt us rather than stay and raise him to be a man? What kind of a woman are you?" She spat on the ground.

Behind her the Courier had opened up his notepad and scribbled away on it. The master, Malak al-Mawt, held his gaze, and asked, "well? Why would you abandon young Amir? And your husband? What indeed is his name?"