Civil Unrest in Tahar Joblis (open, MT-PMT)

[Tahar Joblis]

OOC thread here.

One year ago today, an initiative to reintroduce private currency into use in Tahar Joblis passed by a slender margin. Turnout was low. Riots broke out nearly immediately, and the newly reorganized Tahar Joblis Central Bank found itself in the middle of controversy.

In the same election, a referendum to allow semi-autonomous local councils to employ regional self-directives passed. The result has been sheer chaos and civil unrest on a scale not seen since before the Amerigan War. The government of Tahar Joblis, strained to the limit, seems near complete collapse. It is unclear how much authority the central government will permit the semi-autonomous regional councils, but several have issued rival currencies to the official new emuri of the Central Bank.

The rogue state of Tahar Joblis has for some time been suspected of maintaining an illegal arsenal of biological weapons. Tahar Joblissan military surplus has been making its way onto the international black market in great quantities, an alarming development for those concerned about the continued stability and security of the large nation, noted for its history of democratic and humanitarian intervention to curb pollution and the trafficking in human lives and its seaweed-based economy, developed on a technological base of extensive genetic engineering of aquatic plant life.

Today, the Third Supreme Court of Tahar Joblis and Second Supreme Court of Tahar Joblis issued contradictory opinions on whether or not local autonomous councils could choose to issue constitutional referenda, a response to the recent electoral success of the Seva Island Separatist Party. It seems as if this peaceful nation may break out into civil war.

[Tahar Sevas]

We, the democratically elected constitutional reorganizational committee of the island of Seva, on this day in Sevasport, do declare the following:

• That Tahar Sevas are and should be an independent polity from greater Tahar Joblis;
• That the Sevan Emuri is a sovereign currency under our control, and will be issued at our discretion, through the newly formed Bank of Sevas;
• That we will authorize the formation of limited liability corporations to operate within Sevas;
• That the use of capital to produce profit shall be considered acceptable upon the isle of Seva, its properties, and its vessels;
• That the Sevan National Force shall be formed out of the militias and vessels of Sevas everywhere, and shall not be responsive to the commands or orders of the Tahar Joblis Cabinet of the Environment, the subsidiary division of External Environmental Affairs, or the subsidiary thereof, of the Naval Department of Tahar Joblis;
• That Tahar Sevas are not bound by the dictates of the World Assembly and will withdraw from treaties to which Tahar Joblis is part, at its discretion;

We have seized the Arsenal of Seva, and will not be moved. In the spirit of ibn Ahadan, we feel it is time to bring wealth back to Tahar Sevas, from the seas and oceans of the world.

[Tahar Joblis]

Muckraker International News: We report, you deride

Breaking news from Tahar Joblis, long a stable communist bastion of support within the Proletariat Coalition: The Seva Island Council has declared the communist bastion isle an independent nation and a haven for capitalistic activity. The breakaway province, notable for being the original site of Tahar ibn Ahadan's settlement in the sixteenth century, has become the focus of a raging controversy surrounding the relatively new institution of regional councils and the recent re-introduction of private currency into the hands of Tahar Joblissan citizens.

The Seva Island Council claims it is within its assigned rights to modify the Seva Isle constitution and withdraw from the Tahar Joblissan government. Militia groups associated with the separatists have seized the naval base at Sevasport. The Assembly of Ships, one of the three federal legislative bodies of Tahar Joblis has passed a resolution demanding that the Sevan militias disband under threat of force. The House of Cities is currently debating a related military appropriation measure to retake the island, while the Conclave of Isles is voting tomorrow on a measure that would set the matter to a plebiscite of the general Tahar Joblissan population as a constitutional modification, a classification which would require the Sevan separatists to achieve a supermajority of seventy percent with a minimum estimated turnout of roughly seventy percent of the population in order to achieve legal independence.

The Tahar Joblissan court system is currently deadlocked on the nature of the issue. The Executive Committee has declared a national state of emergency. Citizens are being asked to keep ballots on hand and to remain at all times close to designated polling areas in the event of an emergency resolution. With the civil government in the midst of a constitutional crisis, the NDOTJ has cleared a cordon around the island of Seva. Rioting has broken out in Taharasopolissa. Seven hundred and fifty three citizens are reported dead of causes related to the rioting as of press time, and estimates of property damage range over a billion emuris. TJGA units have been stationed on avenues surrounding the legislative buildings to prevent rioters from interfering with the work of the government.

[Tahar Sevas]

On the small island of Seva today, nowhere is safe. The Seva Island Council has partial control over Sevasport and the naval base there; however, while organized opposition to the self-declared government is lacking, and red tape continues to tie the hands of the NDOTJ cordon surrounding the island, a wave of crime has swept the island. Robbery, murder, and rape are reportedly on a sharp rise with the near-dissipation of the civil police force, and key opposition leaders are conspicuously absent.

Hardline socialist and nationalist protesters choked the streets of Sevasport today, throwing rocks and bottles at loyalists equipped with riot gear. Nearly half the civil police force walked off the job rather than support the market reforms and property laws enacted by the Seva Island Council; the remainder have their hands full maintaining the security of the Sevasport Arsenal

Unknown arsonists set fire to dozens of polling stations in Sevasport, rendering it impossible to engage in the immediate referenda that have long been the hallmark of Tahar Joblissan decision making. The Seva Island Council has claimed emergency powers to act without regard to immediate referenda, and disavowed the action of the paramilitary groups operating outside of Sevasport.

[Tahar Joblis]

Outer fringe of Taharasopolissa:

Smoke poured from the fueling station as it bobbed on the water. A woman with pale skin and dark hair lay half in and half out of the water, a red line cutting a permanently grim smile under her chin.

The distant staccato crackle of gunfire added high notes to the low roar of the fire. Biodiesel spread on the water on the opposite side. With orange flames lighting the ruddy algae-derived fuel, it looked almost like blood on the water. Only the nearby contrast of real blood, looking black in the flickering light, could break the spell of the mesmerizing verisimilitude.

Men on black jetskis rode by on the water, heavy black coats flapping in the wind, guns across their backs. They didn't start the fire, but they could barely care less about it. Barely, because while most of them had at least three quarters of a full tank and the woman was in no condition to provide any sport, the illuminated smoke would surely attract police elements.

Not that they were likely to show up quickly. Things were rapidly getting worse in the capital. A full-scale revolt within the city had interrupted the election in progress. Communist radicals were slinging bundles of seized emuris soaked in gasoline. Capitalist radicals were looting. Religious radicals were doing... well, crazy shit. And the biker gangs were sensibly avoiding Taharasopolissa proper, since it was getting much too dangerous in the capital.

[Ancient and Holy Terra]

ATNN Central Broadcast Building, 178th Floor, Studio B1-G
8:44 PM, Asuka-to, Kanto, Mimana Imperial Republic of Ancient Terra

A heavy storm lashed Asuka, driving torrents of rain against buildings that angled upwards like frenzied slashes into the sky. The sheer amount of water had turned many of the streets into something resembling extremely shallow canals, and as a result disinterested patrons at a ground-level Starbucks could watch 6 inches of rain water wash up against the windows, occasionally carrying a piece of garbage or an unlucky sewer-dweller along for the ride.

Of course, this was Asuka-to, and such storms were hardly unusual. Hence the bored stares and truncated yawns.

High above, in a newsroom on the 178th story, it was also business as usual...and as a result, an observer would be greeted by a scene of marginally-controlled chaos. The 9 PM broadcast was about to begin, as the late night anchors prepared to take over from their early evening colleagues. Dozens of people rushed across the room, occasionally colliding with one-another in an explosion of paper, pens and hot beverages. A couple of muffled yells echoed down a dark hallway. The panes of smart glass encircling the studio had been polarized to a dark, smoky color, but if one looked closely enough, they could just barely make out the gentle droplets of water running down the glass.

In the center of it all, seated behind a massive curved desk of dark wood and brushed metal, calmly sat two of the most recognizable TV personalities in the nation. Like the eye of the typhoon steadily advancing towards Ancient Terra, both ignored the frenzied preparations whirling around them, choosing to simply sit and sip a hot beverage in silence. One, a pretty young woman with shoulder-length brown hair, flicked her way through page after page of notes, reading them on a flat-panel recessed into the desk. The other, an Asian man with sharp features and slightly-graying black hair, snubbed the LCD in favor of a stack of paper, which he shuffled through quietly.

The woman finally broke the silence, swiveling her chair around to stare at the rain. "Hey, Koushiro?"

The man continued to study his sheaf of paper, not bothering to look up. "Yes?" he replied, voice bored.

"What do you think about the Tahar Joblis thing?" ventured the woman, still staring intently at the opaque windows. "I heard our office in the capital was looted today." She bounced slightly in her seat.

Koushiro finally bothered to look up. "Melissa, I'm guessing you just read about this 30 seconds ago," he deadpanned, gesturing at the recessed monitor. "Yes?"

She merely blushed.

"Don't worry about it. From what I hear, the office was evacuated by embassy personnel ahead of the riots...which you'd know if you'd finished reading the brief." He returned his attention to his papers, adding: "Now cheer up, or you'll hurt our ratings."

Melissa sighed. The preparations for the broadcast continued.

---

ATNN Central Broadcast Building, 178th Floor, Studio B1-G
9:04 PM, Asuka-to, Kanto, Mimana Imperial Republic of Ancient Terra
World News at Nine Broadcast

"...and I'm Melissa Ariya. Tonight, our top story: the government of Tahar Joblis is scrambling to maintain order following the Seva Island Council's unilateral declaration of independence. Widespread violence and chaos has broken out across the nation, resulting in at least 1,000 reported deaths and massive looting throughout the capital city of Tuh-Taharuh-excuse me, Taharasopolissa. ATNN station chief Ryouji Nomura was forced to flee as a mob converged on the area, and now comes to you live from the Ancient Terran Embassy in the capital."

Melissa and Koushiro were suddenly squished into a split screen, joined by a poorly-lit, highly desynchronized feed of a dishevelled looking man. A small child, bundled in blankets, appeared to be clinging tightly to his leg.

"Hello? Can you hear us, Ryouji?"

Silence. Finally: "Yes, I can hear you Koushiro. I'm sorry, I couldn't leave my daughter inside." The image on the screen lagged badly as he gestured to the small girl.

"Are you safe? Can you describe the situation for our viewers?" Koushiro's voice was strong and clear, with just the right touch of professional concern.

More silence. "Yes, I think we're safe for the moment. It's an awful situation. Rioters have been surging through the streets of Taharasopolissa since yesterday, clashing with government forces and one-another. It appears that every opposition group has entered the fray. There doesn't seem to be anything the authorities can do, but it seems that they ar-"

There was an enormous bang and Melissa jumped. A couple of seconds later, the live feed was replaced by a bright, brief flash. When it receded, Ryouji was still standing there, staring behind him. "Oh God. Something...something big exploded in the distance. I can see smoke rising about a mile behind us. I...we might have to go. Hol-"

The delayed video showed a Terran Marine Embassy guard hurtling past, shoving Ryouji to the side. The cameraman appeared to trip, and for a moment the camera showed the child, still clinging to Ryouji's leg and clearly bawling her eyes out. Then the feed froze, that image on the screen.

The split-screen quickly disappeared, replaced by a distraught Melissa, hands clapped in front of her mouth, along with Koushiro, pressing a finger to his ear. "Well...we seem to have lost the feed, ladies and gentlemen. We're working on getting it re-established as quickly as possible, and hopefully Mr. Nomura and his family are okay."

He swivelled to face a different camera and the image on-screen changed. "In the meantime, we'll bring you the official Terran response. Melissa?"

Melissa tried to put aside her concerns as she began to speak, although her voice was still weak and shaky. "Yes. T-today Prime Minister Karn issued a statement on behalf of Emperor Kamiya and the National Diet, denouncing the violence in Tahar Joblis while r-r-refusing to comment on the legitimacy of Tahar Sevas's bid for...independence." Her voice squeaked.

The image cut again, this time to a prerecorded video of a hastily convened press conference. Prime Minister Karn was standing behind a podium, flanked by several prominent members of Parliament. The emblem of his office was subtly imbedded in the wall behind him.

"We expect more of the people of Tahar Joblis. Legitimate or not, this referendum was clearly not intended to spark a civil war, and the Republic of Ancient Terra is worried by the violence raging across the country. In a special joint session this morning, the Diet's House of Representatives and House of Councillors passed a bill unanimously expressing shock and dismay at the events taking place in Tahar Joblis and the breakaway province of Tahar Sevas." Mr. Karn paused for a moment, glancing down at his notes. "We of the Republic of Ancient Terra are keen observers of history, and we are alarmed by Tahar Sevas's desire to 'bring wealth back' from the seas and oceans. The capitalism espoused by Tahar Sevas's constitutional reorganizational committee is welcomed and encouraged, but there is absolutely no room in today's civilized world for the piratical ways of old. We are outraged that the committee has chosen to seize the naval arsenal in Sevasport, and pray that reason will prevail before grave mistakes are made."

The video was swiftly replaced by Melissa and Koushiro, and it was again Koushiro that first began speaking.

"Prime Minister Karn's press conference was followed by statements from several members of the government, including Representatives Dachi Motomiya and Shigeru Yoshida, respectively President and Vice President of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. Both called for the Diet to do more to ensure the safety of Terran citizens in Tahar Joblis, while Mr. Yoshida added that Emperor Kamiya was highly dismayed by the entire situation. Vice Admiral Miyako "Yolei" Inoue spoke on behalf of the Joint Staff, confirming that civilian ministries and the various branches of the Terran Self-Defense Forces were working on an extraction plan for the Terran Embassy in Taharasopolissa."

Images flashed past on the screen, depicting grainy images of everything from smoke rising over Taharasopolissa to overturned cars and TJGA soldiers barricaded in front of the Second Supreme Court of Tahar Joblis. One final image depicted the Sevasport Naval Base, the piers crowded with a bewildering array of people.

"Furthermore, Mr. Masao Takeuchi, CEO of Yashioji Shipping Corporation (NSSE: YTSC), was spotted arriving at Pinnacle Terrace, the headquarters of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. Approximately 70% of Yashioji Shipping Corporation's annual freight, representing over 90% of its yearly revenue, passes within 800 kilometers of Tahar Joblis. Representatives of METI may be seeking to reassure Mr. Takeuchi that Yashioji's shipments are not imperiled by current events."

Melissa finally began speaking again, her voice clearer and stronger than before. "Ladies and gentlemen, good news; we've received confirmation that ATNN Station Chief Ryouji Nomura is still okay, but unfortunately he is unable to rejoin us at the moment. We'll have an update for you as soon as possible."

Koushiro glanced at her for a moment and flashed her a half-smile, before quickly fixing a neutral look back onto his face. "That's excellent news indeed, Melissa. We will continue coverage of the unrest in Tahar Joblis in a moment, but first we'll go to weather analyst Mariko Hasegawa, for the latest on Typhoon Kammuri..."

The broadcast continued.

---

BEGIN ENCRYPT
DIPLOMATIC CODE TER-2J-07052010

Official Communiqué from the Mimana Imperial Republic of Ancient Terra

Joint Communiqué
Ministry of Defense - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

From: The Desk of Lord Admiral Yamato Ishida, Chief of Staff of the Joint Staff Office - (Acting) Minister of Defense - TMSDF -
Intended Recipient(s): Designated representatives of the Executive Committee of Tahar Joblis, the Assembly of Ships, the House of Cities, the Conclave of Isles or any other functioning government entity responsible for the administration of the Rogue State of Tahar Joblis
Subject: Official Diplomatic Inquiry from the Mimana Imperial Republic of Ancient Terra

Body of Message Follows:

To the government of the Rogue State of Tahar Joblis,

As you are no doubt aware, there is considerable international dismay concerning the situation developing in your nation. While I cannot speak for any other party, there is widespread discontent in Ancient Terra over the riots in Tahar Joblis, especially given the danger posed to Ancient Terran citizens and possessions. The events broadcast by ATNN only increased the volume of calls for the Ancient Terran government to intervene in the situation.

While I admit that Ancient Terra rarely sees eye-to-eye with the Rogue State, there is no doubt that this unrest has escalated far more quickly than expected. The commander of the Terran Marine Embassy Detachment in Taharasopolissa has stated to me, directly, that the situation is entirely out of control and neither his detachment nor the TJGA can guarantee any semblance of safety. Moreover, we have obtained evidence of significant activity at the Sevasport Naval Base, although smoke over the city is impairing many of our satellites.

I have been placed in charge of a joint civilian/Self-Defense Forces operation, charged with extracting Ancient Terran citizens and sensitive materials from Tahar Joblis as soon as possible. A number of our naval assets are in the general vicinity, able to quickly implement contingency plans for an evacuation. We have a clear duty to intervene if the safety of our people is threatened in any way, but to do so I require the consent of your government.

As a show of good faith, and over the objections of my colleagues, I offer you this bit of insight: while the government of Ancient Terra would prefer for capitalism to take hold in your region, the present situation is no way to effect change. There are already calls for a multinational task force to patrol the waters off of Tahar Joblis, but with the Arsenal of Seva outside of your control, this represents nothing short of a powder keg waiting to explode.

In essence, while this offer will be denied and immediately rescinded if ever revealed to the public, in exchange for your authorizing an evacuation effort in Tahar Joblis, the relevant government elements of the Republic of Ancient Terra are willing to support a Tahar Joblissan operation to retake the breakaway province of Tahar Sevas. Specifically, we desire to neutralize the threat posed to international sea lanes by the nascent Sevan National Force.

As you are no doubt aware, many people of Mimanan-Japanese ethnicity were taken as slaves during the campaigns of ibn Ahadan, and today their descendants remain in Tahar Joblis, constituting a sizable ethnic minority on your outlying islands. Many members of this minority have expressed a desire for autonomy in the past, and indeed several escaped to Ancient Terra to promote ethnic Mimanan independence.

It is with great regret, then, that I inform you that we have completely lost track of these agitators. The National Police Agency is scrambling to reacquire them, but they appear to have simply vanished. We cannot rule out the possibility that they are en route to Tahar Joblis, intending to foment further rebellion. We will continue our efforts to locate and restrict the activities of these individuals, but one in particular, Masanao Ebana, has almost certainly slipped out of Ancient Terra.

I pray that you do not allow our gesture to go unheeded. As you are doubtless aware, every delay pulls sharply at the very threads of your nation. It would be a disaster of epic proportions to lose control of the situation.

Sincerely,

- Lord Admiral Yamato Ishida, Chief of Staff of the Joint Staff Office - (Acting) Minister of Defense - TMSDF -

Co-signed:
- Prime Minister Talus Karn, Head of Government - Designated Representative of HRH Emperor Kamiya -
- Vice Admiral Miyako "Yolei" Inoue, Chief of Naval Operations - TMSDF -
- Fuku Mitsutarō, Ancient Terra's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs -

CEASE ENCRYPTION

ENCRYPTION OVERRIDE CODE ######
Asukan Imperial Household Agency - Addendum:

You have our faith. Now prove that you have earned it.

Signed,

- HRH Emperor Taichi Kamiya, Head of State of the Mimana Imperial Republic - Head of the Asuka Imperial Family - Divine Earthly Representative of the Kami -

[Outer Taharasopolissa]

Stromsveldt Square, Taharasopolissa:

A throng of Tahar Joblissans filled the square. Most were men. Many wore green and black armbands, showing a black sun with a green halo. A short bald man, trim, with a
Fu Manchu mustache, stood on top of an upended boat, holding a megaphone.

"Brothers and sisters, friends and enemies: I just can't believe everyone in here is a friend, and I don't want to leave anybody out. The question tonight, as I understand it, is "What Next?" In my little humble way of understanding it, it points toward either the ballot or the bullet. Four centuries and seven decades ago, our fathers brought upon this archipelago a new government, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that no man should be a slave to any other. Now we are engaged in a great civil disturbance, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great center of that disturbance. We have come to dedicate a portion of this square, as a final resting place for the foreigners who cannot conceive of freedom."

The little man shook his fist in the air, and the crowd roared, a low hoot of masculine shouts. In the southeast corner of Stromsveldt square, a crackle of shots rang out, and seven unlucky blindfolded foreigners (and three ethnic minority Tahar Joblissans with thick accents, who had been unable to produce papers proving their citizenship) slumped to the ground, a symbolic sacrifice made by a dozen eerily similar-looking men wearing black and green armbands.

"The foreign masters of the bank have made it clear that they intend not only to dominate all life and thought in their own countries, but also to enslave the whole of Tahar Joblis, and then to use the resources of Tahar Joblis to dominate the rest of the world. It was only three weeks ago that the reserve chairman admitted this: 'There are two worlds that stand opposed to each other.' And then in defiant reply to his opponents he said this: 'Others are correct when they say: 'With this world we cannot ever reconcile ourselves.' Thus they were the first to declare that their intention was a crime. Then folk abused us as 'agitators.' We were the first to protest against the failure to present these offices to the people before they was granted powers."

The little man thumped his chest energetically, his face nearly purple, little flecks of spittle spattering the megaphone.

"Again we were called 'agitators.' We were the first to summon men to resistance against being reduced to a continuing state of defenselessness. Once more we were 'agitators.' At that time we called on the masses of the people not to surrender their arms, for the surrender of one's arms would be nothing less than the beginning of enslavement. You are a victim of the cultural war. You are a casualty of the cultural warfare being waged against traditional Tahar Joblissan freedom of beliefs and ideas..."

The little man trailed off for a moment, sniffing audibly, a tear in his eye.

"Don't run for cover when the cultural cannons roar. Remember who you are and what you believe, and then raise your hand, stand up, and speak out. Don't be shamed or startled into lockstep conformity by seemingly powerful people. The maintenance of a free nation is a long, slow, steady process. And it is in your hands. Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never, never--in nothing, great or small, large or petty--never give in, except to convictions of honor and good sense. Never yield to force. Never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the ienemy."

The little man pounded his fist in the air where a podium would have been, if he were standing behind a podium rather than perched precariously on top of an upended boat.

"We stood all alone a year ago, and to many parties it seemed that our account was closed, we were finished. But the National Freedom Party lives! And we - not some pusillanimous army - will restore freedom to Taharasopolissa! Purge the foreigner! Purge the bank! Purge all those who would enslave us! Democracy cannot defend us in such a time - only the might of the Tahar Joblissan arm and the brilliant sun of a rising new government!"

[Jo Ibilis Regnant]

From across Tahar Joblis, they had come together, and brought voter registration forms. Then had petitioned the local regional council to add a local addendum to the referendum on Sevan independence.

In the remote mountain region containing the historical palace of the Octopus Emperor - now a living museum visited annually by millions of tourists and schoolchildren - official turnout was initially measured at 170%, the result of a slow update in posting the new updated number of registrants now living in Historic Imperial Capital Zone (HICZ). The third option placed on the referendum won by a landslide, 71-17-12.

Thus the autonomous region of HICZ was the first part of Tahar Joblis to acknowledge a young man, barely fourteen years old, as the reincarnation of the Octopus and, to quote the resolution, "The Rightful Ruler of all the Isles within the Great Ocean." The HICZ Council went into hiding as a quarter million Joblissan religious traditionalists occupied the palace, and a hundred thousand more stormed the regional capital wearing nothing but prayer beads and carrying a variety of ceremonial implements.

Fighting between religious groups and ethnic separatists has been reported in the mountains. Religious partisans have blocked the roads leading into the area, making it difficult to get reports in or out of the area, and two news helicopters have disappeared over the area in the past three days. They have been presumed shot down, and both TJAF and TJGA spokespersons have declined to comment on current operations in the region, citing security concerns.

[Tahar Joblis]

To the government of the Rogue State of Tahar Joblis,

As you are no doubt aware, there is considerable international dismay concerning the situation developing in your nation. While I cannot speak for any other party, there is widespread discontent in Ancient Terra over the riots in Tahar Joblis, especially given the danger posed to Ancient Terran citizens and possessions. The events broadcast by ATNN only increased the volume of calls for the Ancient Terran government to intervene in the situation.

While I admit that Ancient Terra rarely sees eye-to-eye with the Rogue State, there is no doubt that this unrest has escalated far more quickly than expected. The commander of the Terran Marine Embassy Detachment in Taharasopolissa has stated to me, directly, that the situation is entirely out of control and neither his detachment nor the TJGA can guarantee any semblance of safety. Moreover, we have obtained evidence of significant activity at the Sevasport Naval Base, although smoke over the city is impairing many of our satellites.

I have been placed in charge of a joint civilian/Self-Defense Forces operation, charged with extracting Ancient Terran citizens and sensitive materials from Tahar Joblis as soon as possible. A number of our naval assets are in the general vicinity, able to quickly implement contingency plans for an evacuation. We have a clear duty to intervene if the safety of our people is threatened in any way, but to do so I require the consent of your government.

As a show of good faith, and over the objections of my colleagues, I offer you this bit of insight: while the government of Ancient Terra would prefer for capitalism to take hold in your region, the present situation is no way to effect change. There are already calls for a multinational task force to patrol the waters off of Tahar Joblis, but with the Arsenal of Seva outside of your control, this represents nothing short of a powder keg waiting to explode.

In essence, while this offer will be denied and immediately rescinded if ever revealed to the public, in exchange for your authorizing an evacuation effort in Tahar Joblis, the relevant government elements of the Republic of Ancient Terra are willing to support a Tahar Joblissan operation to retake the breakaway province of Tahar Sevas. Specifically, we desire to neutralize the threat posed to international sea lanes by the nascent Sevan National Force.

...

From the Desk of First Admiral Melina Handler-Weierstrass:

It is unclear whether or not we will be able to obtain permission for military action within Seva proper or against the breakaway government in Sevasport; however, we have authorization to undertake an operation to retake the Arsenal of Sevasport and remove from there the war-materiel that makes the so-called Armed Republic of Tahar Sevas a danger to national and global security.

It is not clear to us whether or not the Seva Island Council is aware of just how much sensitive war-materiel they are sitting on. Great care must be exercised to extract certain projects with full containment intact. The Arsenal is the largest naval base and manufacturing center in Tahar Joblis, and retaking it intact is a high priority, which project we have received authorization to embark on explicitly from the Executive Committee in emergency session.

You are granted permission for the use of the Thaylru Rock military airbase just offshore from Taharasopolissa for your assets to conduct an evacuation of Terrans from the city. The waterfront itself is not safe for the passage of transports and is wholly outside of TJGA control, excepting the West Dock, which the Tahar Joblis Marines have secured (which is, of course, little help for you, as the West Dock lies some fifteen miles north of the Terran embassy); any such evacuation will need to be carried out by air.

Matters are indeed rapidly deteriorating in the capital. We cannot insure continued security of even the inner city for much longer; the Assembly of Ships has already relocated to Jonatholissa to continue its proceedings there. The House of Cities was bombed yesterday and is currently out of session. The Conclave of Isles continues to meet within the inner city, however, but it is not clear how long this will last.

[Ancient and Holy Terra]

Stromsveldt Square, Taharasopolissa:

A throng of Tahar Joblissans filled the square. Most were men. Many wore green and black armbands, showing a black sun with a green halo. A short bald man, trim, with a
Fu Manchu mustache, stood on top of an upended boat, holding a megaphone.

<SNIP>

"We stood all alone a year ago, and to many parties it seemed that our account was closed, we were finished. But the National Freedom Party lives! And we - not some pusillanimous army - will restore freedom to Taharasopolissa! Purge the foreigner! Purge the bank! Purge all those who would enslave us! Democracy cannot defend us in such a time - only the might of the Tahar Joblissan arm and the brilliant sun of a rising new government!"

Stromsveldt Square, Taharasopolissa
SW corner, rooftop - 5:08 PM
Sgt. Wataru Yamazaki, Cpl. Yuki Matsushita
Weapon Team 2, Scout-Sniper Platoon, 2nd Battalion, 18th Terran MEU

Stromsveldt Square was quite crowded, and obscenely loud, and all manner of debauchery was currently taking place within. And yet, for all of the hundreds of people filling the Square and taking in that short orator's admittedly impressive performance, not one of them seemed to consider that they were being watched in-turn. Or perhaps they simply did not care; this was, after all, a revolution of sorts.

That said, if one were to look to the southwest corner of Stromsveldt Square, and then direct their gaze to the top of a short building on the perimeter...and if one were to squint a bit...they might have seen a brief glint of light reflect off of a scope.

Huddled together under a dusty, expertly-crafted camo tent, were a pair of Terran Marines. They were surrounded by a couple of quickly consumed energy bars, a large bottle of water, a pair of expertly repacked parachutes and a couple of mystifying devices that could easily be mistaken for tiny black kitchen appliances. And, of course, a very large Scout-Sniper Observation Telescope...albeit not one mounted to a sniper rifle.

"What the hell is this?" whispered one of the Marines, training the scope around to focus on the man standing atop an overturned boat. He was gesturing wildly, and tiny flecks of spittle flew from his mouth with every breath. He was, in a word, repulsive, and yet the crowd seemed to be basking in the warmth of his fiery speech.

Sgt. Yamazaki, holding a pair of headphones to his ears, merely raised a finger. "Hold on...he's saying something about...a resting place." His face turned ashen. "Uh-oh. There, across the square," he whispered. "Where Mr. Tanaka and his managers are being held. What do you see, Yuki?"

Cpl. Matsushita hurriedly rubbed his eyes and stared through the scope, in the direction that his partner had indicated. "I've got it. Yeah, they're...oh gods, Guns," he whispered, hurriedly. "They're pointing a gun at Mr. Tanaka, and-"

Yuki didn't get to finish his sentence, because a dozen men wearing green armbands unleashed a fusillade of lead into the blindfolded Mr. Tanaka. He toppled over, chunks of matted hair and bone and blood staining the blindfold a deep, sickly crimson. The other captives quickly followed suit. The crowd roared.

"They killed them. What the...Sergeant, they blew them away. Oh g-"

Sgt. Yamazaki again held up his finger. "Quiet." He fiddled with a small device lying in front of him. "This is Scout-Sniper Team 2. Did you see that, Control?"

A brief, quiet crackle of static. Then: "We saw it, Sergeant Yamazaki. Confirmed kills?"

"Affirmative, Control. Confirmed. Terran hostages are dead, along with the other captives. Instructions?"

Another burst of static. "Hold. Admiral Kamiyama is asking for a status update."

The two Marines sat in silence, fidgeting under the dreadfully hot camo-tent. After a few uncomfortable minutes, Control came back onto the line.

"Scout-Sniper Team 2, Operation Tenka has been approved by Admiral Kamiyama and will be launched within the hour. Proceed to Grid 4-D and await extraction. The timeframe you were furnished with remains in effect. Avoid contact with hostile elements."

"Confirmed, Control. We'll move as soon as it's safe. Team 2 out."

[Ancient and Holy Terra]

From the Desk of First Admiral Melina Handler-Weierstrass:

It is unclear whether or not we will be able to obtain permission for military action within Seva proper or against the breakaway government in Sevasport; however, we have authorization to undertake an operation to retake the Arsenal of Sevasport and remove from there the war-materiel that makes the so-called Armed Republic of Tahar Sevas a danger to national and global security.

<SNIP>

Matters are indeed rapidly deteriorating in the capital. We cannot insure continued security of even the inner city for much longer; the Assembly of Ships has already relocated to Jonatholissa to continue its proceedings there. The House of Cities was bombed yesterday and is currently out of session. The Conclave of Isles continues to meet within the inner city, however, but it is not clear how long this will last.

BEGIN ENCRYPT
DIPLOMATIC CODE TER-5J-07082010

Official Communiqué from the Mimana Imperial Republic of Ancient Terra

Joint Communiqué
Ministry of Defense - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

From: The Desk of Lord Admiral Yamato Ishida, Chief of Staff of the Joint Staff Office - (Acting) Minister of Defense - TMSDF -
Intended Recipient(s): First Admiral Melina Handler-Weierstrass
Subject: Notification

Body of Message Follows:

First Admiral, I appreciate your honesty in this regard, and assure you that we share a common goal. As you yourself have said, the situation is rapidly deteriorating. Forward-deployed reconnaissance elements from Expeditionary Strike Group 8 witnessed the execution of three Terran citizens in Stromsveldt Square, along with their Tahar Joblissan assistants and four other unknown foreigners. I have no doubt that images of their deaths will be broadcast far and wide, as soon as one of those animals gets their hands on an internet connection.

Expeditionary Strike Group 8, centered around LHDN-7 (ATN Second Summer), is currently 440 km east of Taharasopolissa and is prepared to begin the evacuation within the hour. We had hoped to be closer to shore before launching the operation, but the events of this morning demand no more delays. Eight MH-53T helicopters will launch, escorted by a small number of AH-1s and MH-60s. Approximately 120 km from Taharasopolissa, they will be met and refueled by three MC-130W “Combat Spear” aircraft.

The MC-130Ws will then divert to Thaylru Rock Air Base. The Terran International Cooperation Agency (TICA) has donated the use of two C-10 Minotaur heavy lifters, which are already en route to Thaylru Rock and will be readied for an immediate departure.

The helicopters will proceed to the Terran Embassy and effect an evacuation of the ~400 Terran citizens at that compound, while TGSDF soldiers will provide security for the evacuation and ensure the destruction of sensitive materials. The MH-53Ts will then proceed to Thaylru Rock Air Base, where the evacuees will be transferred aboard the C-10s and airlifted out of Tahar Joblis. The evacuation helicopters, escorted by the MC-130s, will proceed west to an intended rendezvous and recovery with Amphibious Ready Group 8.

If all goes as planned, our helicopters will be back aboard LHDN-7 within 10 hours, at which point we can turn our attention towards fulfilling our end of the bargain. Additional fleet assets are already moving into the area, and Joint Special Forces Group Command is currently being briefed on the situation. Vice Admiral Inoue has transferred her flag to ATN Vao to personally direct any further operations, and is scheduled to arrive within the next three days.

Rear Admiral Ryuichi Kamiyama, Commanding Officer ESG 8, is aboard ATN Second Summer and has local command of the operation. He has communicated that he intends to commence Operation Tenka as soon as possible, to ensure that the critical elements of this mission take place under cover of darkness. All operational assets have been explicitly informed that official Tahar Joblissan requests are to be complied with immediately.

I hope that, come this time tomorrow, we can celebrate a successful operation and turn our attention towards other matters.

Sincerely,

- Lord Admiral Yamato Ishida, Chief of Staff of the Joint Staff Office - (Acting) Minister of Defense - TMSDF -

CEASE ENCRYPTION

[Tahar Joblis]

OOC: Rough week! But I'm back and ready to disintegrate some more.

BEGIN ENCRYPT
DIPLOMATIC CODE TER-5J-07082010

Official Communiqué from the Mimana Imperial Republic of Ancient Terra

Joint Communiqué
Ministry of Defense - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

From: The Desk of Lord Admiral Yamato Ishida, Chief of Staff of the Joint Staff Office - (Acting) Minister of Defense - TMSDF -
Intended Recipient(s): First Admiral Melina Handler-Weierstrass
Subject: Notification

Body of Message Follows:

First Admiral, I appreciate your honesty in this regard, and assure you that we share a common goal. As you yourself have said, the situation is rapidly deteriorating. Forward-deployed reconnaissance elements from Expeditionary Strike Group 8 witnessed the execution of three Terran citizens in Stromsveldt Square, along with their Tahar Joblissan assistants and four other unknown foreigners. I have no doubt that images of their deaths will be broadcast far and wide, as soon as one of those animals gets their hands on an internet connection.

Expeditionary Strike Group 8, centered around LHDN-7 (ATN Second Summer), is currently 440 km east of Taharasopolissa and is prepared to begin the evacuation within the hour. We had hoped to be closer to shore before launching the operation, but the events of this morning demand no more delays. Eight MH-53K helicopters will launch, escorted by a small number of AH-1s and MH-60s. Approximately 120 km from Taharasopolissa, they will be met and refueled by three MC-130W “Combat Spear” aircraft.

The MC-130Ws will then divert to Thaylru Rock Air Base. The Terran International Cooperation Agency (TICA) has donated the use of two C-10 Minotaur heavy lifters, which are already en route to Thaylru Rock and will be readied for an immediate departure.

The helicopters will proceed to the Terran Embassy and effect an evacuation of the ~400 Terran citizens at that compound, while TGSDF soldiers will provide security for the evacuation and ensure the destruction of sensitive materials. The MH-53Ks will then proceed to Thaylru Rock Air Base, where the evacuees will be transferred aboard the C-10s and airlifted out of Tahar Joblis. The evacuation helicopters, escorted by the MC-130s, will proceed west to an intended rendezvous and recovery with Amphibious Ready Group 8.

If all goes as planned, our helicopters will be back aboard LHDN-7 within 10 hours, at which point we can turn our attention towards fulfilling our end of the bargain. Additional fleet assets are already moving into the area, and Joint Special Forces Group Command is currently being briefed on the situation. Vice Admiral Inoue has transferred her flag to ATN Vao to personally direct any further operations, and is scheduled to arrive within the next three days.

Rear Admiral Ryuichi Kamiyama, Commanding Officer ESG 8, is aboard ATN Second Summer and has local command of the operation. He has communicated that he intends to commence Operation Tenka as soon as possible, to ensure that the critical elements of this mission take place under cover of darkness. All operational assets have been explicitly informed that official Tahar Joblissan requests are to be complied with immediately.

I hope that, come this time tomorrow, we can celebrate a successful operation and turn our attention towards other matters.

Sincerely,

- Lord Admiral Yamato Ishida, Chief of Staff of the Joint Staff Office - (Acting) Minister of Defense - TMSDF -

CEASE ENCRYPTION

COMPSATCOM/// Vice Admiral Johannes Wilhelmut Stromsveldt-Jacobin III, Thaylru Rock Airbase, local time 2210

We will have TJF-3 Mongoose fightercraft in continuous escort of your helicopters. Do not, repeat, do not attempt to approach Taharasopolissa from the north, renegade elements have seized CAD 43894-289-LOC, a civil air defense fortification. Also, unidentified rebels have been reported firing heavy infantry weapons, such as recoilless rifles, from civil transport dirigibles being used to bring vital supplies to the inner city. We will direct civil aircraft away from your approach corridor as much as possible, but wind gusts up to four seven knots reported at ground level. Exercise caution near any civil transports that appear out of control, they may have been compromised by rebels.

You have our full permission and cooperation to proceed with Operation Tenka immediately.

[Outer Taharasopolissa]

In the streets of Taharasopolissa, a sweaty little bald faced man harangued a mob by dim orange light of flickering fire. A soyabulk food silo had caught fire, and the fire department seemed to be ignoring it for now. The odor of burning synthsausage was ripe in the air. His words were difficult to make out over the shouting - the megaphone, tonight, wasn't in evidence. He was talking from the back of a green truck, with TJGA stamped on the side. The driver wasn't wearing any uniform of any kind; in back, in crates, hundreds of guns, for those who hadn't been able to scrounge any. Old Rumsudois, full pike-length with heavy bayonets, some assault rifles, some older recoilless rifles - mostly old Rumsudois, really. They were awkward as hell, kicked like a mule in spite of their heavy weight, and 16.5x117mm bullets aren't something a man likes to carry too many of.

Some of the ammunition didn't belong to any guns that were in the truck. Tonight, they would kill them some foreigners, said one man to another, as the bald man prattled on about patriotic duty and how the foreign bankers were going to try to flee the city with their stolen gold.

The mob actually headed directly away from the main embassy strip, victim of the little man's poor sense of direction. He rode the top of the empty truck, shouting directions to the driver and waving a machete like it was a baton. About half of the mob ended up in a three cornered firefight between some biker gangs and a nudist commune. The nudists had APCs, but were out of machine gun ammunition.

The others, lagging behind under a heavy load of Rumsudois, molotov cocktails, a spattering of assault rifles, and in some cases home-made shotguns and handguns, turned around, heading towards the embassy strip thanks to one of the brighter Nafpas [NFP members], who pulled out a smartphone with a GPS and navigation software looking for a shortcut with fewer hills only to find that the entire mob had faithfully followed the little bald man in the wrong direction for killing foreigners.

Bold men armed lightly with machetes and pistols quickly took the lead, the poorer Nafpas who'd had to grab overweight weapons off the truck trailing behind. With their ragged clothing, and nine foot Rumsudois looking like nothing so much as pikes in the firelight, they could have walked out of a seventeenth century painting. As the procession lumbered towards the capital center, their ranks swelled, opportunistic looters following like human vultures.

The little man wasn't with them - he was stuck in the outer city, hiding under the truck as bikers roared past.

[Ancient and Holy Terra]

ATN Second Summer (LHDN-7)
Flagship, Expeditionary Strike Group 8
Forward Flight Deck - 6:12 PM

The deck rolled gently, to the sound of waves breaking helplessly against an armored hull. Wind hissed and buffeted its way around the enormous hangar sitting amidships; the gusts navigated their way around the forward island with only slightly less difficulty. The sun bled as it rode ever-lower in the sky, occasionally peeking between the clouds to paint reds and oranges over the horizon. Far off in the distance, a collection of fat, swollen shapes promised heavy rain ahead.

Yet for all of nature’s varied spectacles, hardly anyone aboard the ATN Second Summer had time to take notice. Not at the moment, anyways. The ship, a veritable mountain of composite armor and ingenuity, demanded the attention of her 2,000-strong crew. Whether it was the hundreds of men clambering around the hangar or the radar officers with their eyes glued to elaborate displays, nobody was really watching the sunset. Except, of course, for one individual.

Rear Admiral Kamiyama stood beside the forward island, gazing into the sky for a moment and marveling at the colors.

“Intriguing,” he muttered. Then he turned his attention back to the preparations taking place. MH-53T helicopters – gargantuan, noisy beasts – were being prepared on the flight deck. They were arranged in two columns of four, and a small army of men seemed to be attending to each one. The aircrews were already aboard, performing final checks. His aide stepped up beside him. The AH-1s and MH-60s, much smaller aircraft and not nearly as maintenance-intensive, were being prepared inside of the hangar.

“Sir, Intelligence and Communications received a message from fleet headquarters three minutes ago.” He passed a small tablet to Kamiyama, who placed his finger against the screen to verify his identity. The message appeared, short and direct:

Code: Select all

OPERATION TENKA AUTHORIZED. BEST OF LUCK. HIS MAJESTY PASSES ALONG HIS REGARDS.

Admiral Kamiyama nodded to himself. “Nothing like a bit of pressure to kick off the show.” He handed the tablet back to his aide, who took it without looking. “Mission is a go, Lieutenant. Pass that along to the bridge. Let’s get this show on the road.” Lieutenant Abe spoke briefly into the microphone hanging from his left ear and turned to leave, but Kamiyama extended his arm. "Not so fast, Lieutenant Abe. Stay and watch, won't you?"

A loudspeaker mounted to the island suddenly broadcast: “Flight operations underway, assume Station 4. Repeat, assume Station 4.” It was followed by a loud, pinging tone that sounded four times, a pattern: short-short-long-short.

Already, a whine was creeping into the air, as the Pave Low pilots woke the powerful engines of their charges from a deep slumber, and over the next few minutes the noise only intensified. Men scattered left and right, seemingly fleeing from the helicopters as their rotor blades came to life. Seconds later, it had grown into an earsplitting racket, a keening cry that rode into the sky.

“Sir,” his aide started, flinching from the sounds riding over the flight deck. “Perhaps some ear protection would b-"

“No,” Kamiyama replied, grinning. “This is the most wonderful sound in the world, Lieutenant.”

Huge vortices were pounding the flight deck now, whipping in all directions as the MH-53s truly came to life. In spite of their size, they seemed to be straining and clawing at the air, eager to escape from the confines of the Second Summer. Kamiyama caught the eye of the pilot in the rearmost MH-53, nodded, and saluted. The man returned the gesture instantly.

A moment later, with a sudden doubling of sound and pressure, the lead helicopter lifted from the flight deck. The loudspeaker sounded the tone again. Then: “Hurricane Two-One away.”

As each behemoth took off in sequence, Kamiyama fixed his eyes on the sky, watching eight black shapes gather and fly towards the horizon…and beyond that, Tahar Joblis. He stood there, motionless, for a long time – just watching.

Finally, he pulled his gaze away. “Let’s go, Lieutenant Abe.” He motioned to his aide as the last Pave Low disappeared into the distance. Already, men were running across the flight deck, looking for foreign objects or pulling fuel bladders from their housings. As Rear Admiral Kamiyama strode over to a hatchway and started to disappear into the island superstructure, enormous hangar doors amidships began sliding apart, allowing an AH-1 to peek its nose out.

Behind him, the loudspeaker sounded again: “Commence immediate preparations for the second wave-” The hatchway slammed shut.

[Ancient and Holy Terra]

Embassy of the Mimana Imperial Republic of Ancient Terra
Taharasopolissa, Tahar Joblis
Ambassador’s Office, 4th floor - 7:25 PM

Even through the thick windows, Ambassador Kato imagined she could feel the heat forcing its way in. The warm glow of a city ablaze, in concert with the fiery speech of a few and the blind, hot hatred of thousands, pressed against the panes of bulletproof glass with a suffocating pressure. She simply stood and gazed out on a world gone mad.

“Any updates, Sergeant Endo?” She didn’t bother to turn around as she spoke, directing her words straight out towards the glass.

Behind her, a voice answered. “No ma’am. Not yet. The last update from Admiral Kamiyama placed the evacuation force two hours from us. We’re still expecting them to arrive at roughly 9:45 PM. Our citizens are being instructed in the proper procedures to follow. Mr. Naba is overseeing preparations in the courtyard.”

A particularly bright plume of fire and smoke licked into the dusky evening sky, as a propane tank detonated off in the distance. A few muted cheers made their way past the bulletproof glass. Disgusted, Ambassador Kato finally turned back towards her desk.

Sergeant Endo stood beside the doorway, trying (and failing) to appear at-ease. His formal uniform glistened, shaming the fiery spectacle taking place in Taharasopolissa. Ambassador Kato slouched heavily into her chair, swept black hair out of her face and scowled.

“Alright, Sergeant. Thank you.” Endo merely nodded, unsure of what to say. They sat in silence for a few moments before Kato’s expression softened. “How are your men?”

Impossibly, Endo blushed, perhaps surprised by Kato’s sudden look of concern. “Fine, ma’am, thank you. They’re doing their best to reinforce the barricade we’ve placed against the gate, but we only have so much material to use.”

Kato nodded. “And the weapon locker in the security office?” she prompted.

“We opened it and distributed submachine guns to each Marine Embassy Security Guard as soon as permission came through. Still…there’s only 18 of us. Ma’am. And many of the civilians are getting nervous.” He fidgeted. “One other thing…Ryouji Nomura, from ATNN…I think he heard about the executions in Stromsveldt Square.”

The Ambassador glanced down at her desk, an oak behemoth that she’d received from her predecessor six months ago, when she’d arrived to take this post. She had no doubt that it would be a total loss come sunrise. A shame, that. She’d really taken a liking to that particular slice of her office. Still, on that last bit of news, she grinned.

“Thank you, Sergeant Endo. I’ll handle it. I imagine you want to return to your men, no?”

“Yes, ma’am.” Endo nodded. “Anything else?”

“No,” Ambassador Kato started, before pausing. “Actually, yes. Send Mr. Nomura up, please. We need to have a little discussion about responsible journalism.”

Endo cracked a rare smile, bowed slightly, and left the room. Ambassador Kato merely sighed as, behind her, another explosion lit up the darkening sky. It was looking to be a long, treacherous night.

[Outer Taharasopolissa]

Narrated from a high pier, by a chap sitting on a case of binoculars

There. Do you see that? The dark shape gliding across the water? That's a ship. It's probably carrying refugees trying to get out of the city. Three weeks ago they would have had lights flashing so that the Coast Guard knew they were legitimate. Now, they run dark so the gangs won't spot them. See that cluster of lights there? That's one of them. Each one of those little dots is a jetski. The bigger dots in back would be motor boats. Three weeks ago, they would have been running dark so the Coasties wouldn't pull them over. Two weeks ago the Navy went through here like a storm and they all holed up. Now?

Here. This is a good pair, it's gyro-stabilized, you'll have an easier time keeping your eye on them.

Ooh. Look! The surface sharks scent prey. See? Half of those little lights just winked out. If I don't miss my mark, they're circling wide to flank. That's so the victims don't just gun the engine and run for it. They can spot a ship with sonar or a good night vision piece, but they can't know if it's got a real engine on it or not until it's too late. Ah, there the main group goes. They're spreading out. That way, they don't accidentally run into each other, and if the refugees have grenades, they won't be able to take out multiple gangers at once.

Don't bother trying to follow the gang at this point - just watch the refugee boat, that'll be easier. Right about now they're probably hoping that they haven't really been spotted and taking stock of what arms they have. Ooh! Yes, I saw that too. Looked like a firework shooting up from the water? Anti-aircraft missiles. Too smart for their own good, those think they're trying to find airplanes. They probably have some more hardware on hand, though, if they got their hands on some tube-launched missiles. Yeah. The little flickers are going to be muzzle flashes.

Yeah, me too. But the gangers will make an example of them if they resist, and it's just a thin shell of fiberglass between them and sinking. See that flash? Recoilless rifle. Probably bolted to the side of a jetski. Big one, too. Might be a hundred millimeter jobbie. You see one of those explode fifty yards off your starboard bow and you're going to want to start waving a white flag. Pity we can't hear, but I bet that little light there, in front of the others, has a megaphone out. New gangers get stuck with that job first - risky spot to be in.

Yeah, look to the left again. See those other lights? The other half of the gang is announcing their presence. Poor captain's probably wishing he'd paid them off before launching instead of loading arms. Might've been out of his hands, though. Now they're going to take whatever they want. Currency, jewelry, maybe a coupla younguns, if they look to be prime meat. There's a slave market of sorts springing up on Seva from what I heard. Gangers got more immediate use for 'em than that, though, usually.

Aww. See, they're making them use the lifeboats to load stuff on. Makes an extra special point of how thoroughly you're at their mercy. If they're really mean, they might shoot a hole in the side of the ship anyway when they're done taking what they want.

[Outer Taharasopolissa]

Embassy Row, Taharasopolissa

The ordinary turmoil of the city approached an eerie quiet in Embassy Row before the Nafpas arrived. A gang of youths with a cart full of Molotov cocktails checked their cell phones nearly as one, and then scattered, leaving their cart behind on the corner. On the way out, one of them shouted something in thick local patois to a drunken couple having sex in a telephone booth missing half its top end. The two of them shouted something back, the man's high-heeled shoe narrowly missing the juvenile delinquent.

Then the man sobered a little, and decided to leave the other shoe of the pair behind. She took the time to slip on her shoes - comfortable loafers - and grab a pile of clothing before following him down the street.

The picketers left more slowly, and more reluctantly. When the first Nafpas arrived, the only natives visible outside the Terran embassy were three unconscious winos. Well, actually, two unconscious winos and one traditional Joblissan mystic on a very extensive "vision quest" thanks to some very potent (and modern) pharmaceutical aids, but it was unlikely that anybody watching the scene would be able to make that distinction.

Or care.

The first Nafpas to arrive were the lightly armed ones. Many were slightly drunk and from well-to-do backgrounds. Those waved their handguns around like the picketers had been waving their signs around earlier, shouting anti-Terran slogans at the building. Several shots were fired at the upper windows from the back of the crowd, soft lead balls smacking bulletproof glass and structural steel.

Many others were from poorer districts. The Nafpas had traditionally strong support among the agricultural sector, and former agricultural workers were very often carrying machetes - sometimes in combination with a spuler, a small round metal object, a traditional seaweed crushing tool with a close resemblance to a buckler. Sometimes in combination with guns. The whick, whick, whick of machetes sliding against spulers added an audible sense of threat. The occasional armband did the same visually.

Men with assault rifles would start trickling in soon, and opportunistic looters - none of them wearing armbands - were starting to hover around the periphery, trying to stay within eyesight but not too close. It would take another hour before the phalanx-like pack of Rumsudoi-wielding Nafpas reached the Embassy, provided they didn't run into another biker gang. They'd acquired a companion that they took turns riding on top of - a light amphibious tank, an antique ten-ton armored vehicle with a 57mm gun. It had been too obsolete to be deployed in the Amerigan War, and been mothballed for over thirty years. Actually, there had been six of them in the warehouse, but the other five hadn't started when the Nafpas had poured fuel in their long-dry tanks.

They probably didn't need to worry about biker gangs that much. Most of the street criminals in Taharasopolissa, seeing a pike phalanx marching down the road, would realize that it was surely made up of people who were poor, desperate, violent, and crazy. Poor, because if they were rich, they'd have easier weapons to handle than the oversized Rumsudois that for several decades of peace had been the TJGA's "standard infantry weapon." Desperate, because only a desperate man marches to war with a gun he can't carry more than a dozen bullets for. Violent was a gimme from all the heavy weapons being pointed around. Crazy? Well, the armbands gave that away, but anybody willing to tote nine feet of stock, rifled barrel, and bayonet blade halfway across town clearly had their priorities in disarray.

Mixed among the Rumsudois were a few sharp-eyed Nafpas with more useful heavy weapons - mortars, rocket-propelled grenades, recoilless rifles, a heavy machine gun (albeit with next to no ammunition), even a couple Coatl tube-launched infantry missiles. Those last ones might give the Terran helicopters trouble, if they happened to be in the right place at the right time and knew how to use them. Actually, if they knew what they were doing, the ones with home-made mortars could have been shelling the embassy already, but they were going to march to within sight of the building before they started shooting.

After all, they were idealists, not criminals. Tahar Joblissan life was sacred and they would feel quite terrible if they accidentally shelled some building that wasn't a foreign imposition on Tahar Joblissan soil.