THE 2nd Cataclysm 1920. IC-CLOSED per Sign Up.

[Lowell Leber]

OOC-Needed a break for the last few days and a few more....going through a breakup!

[Australien]

OOC-Needed a break for the last few days and a few more....going through a breakup!

Sorry to hear that.

[Lowell Leber]

LLS Lynnette
Edmar Sea
21 FEB 1920, 17:30 hours

Already, Bacs's head was beginning to clear a little. The medic had done a thorough job cleaning Bacs up, and had even offered a couple of aspirin tablets. He had also shown genuine concern as he examined Bacs's right eye, clucking his tongue and muttering a note-to-self.

"Have to keep an eye on that right...um, eye," the medic had said, shrugging when he realized the significance of his word choice. He had then patted Bacs on the knee and announced that he would let the Captain know that Bacs was ready for him.

Of course, Bacs didn't feel ready at all--not by a great deal. Bacs was no warrior. He had a good ear and a keen, analytical mind that served him well in linguistics and cryptography, but he had nearly washed out of the Vushicskah Fa's Naval Training Regimen because of the physical demands placed on the learners. As he stopped to think about that, he realized suddenly that he was grateful for the punishment he had endured there. It might just help him get through whatever was now standing between him and his return home to Tenjah and Devee.

Bacs looked around the small chamber. There was a small table and a few chairs. Nothing he could have hoped to use as a weapon, even if he was in any condition to wield one. On the other hand, he hadn't exactly been strapped to the table, either, and the treatment of him and his crew mates thus far had all been respectful (except, of course, for their treatment of the Saidom Vubee, herself), so there was hope that this might be endurable, at least. He considered the clock on the wall, and realized that he had actually been waiting for some time. It occurred to him that this could be a deliberate effort to let his nerves shake his resolve before the questioning even began, but he decided he would choose to be grateful for the opportunity to gather himself. He sat at the table and faced the door.

"Officer...Bacs, is it? I am Ensign Johnson. Would you care for some more to drink or some food? I only have a few questions for you before we drop you off on shore for detention or return to your homeland..."

Bacs wasn't sure how to respond. His ship had been depth-charged; pounded by percussive blasts until the main had ruptured. His Vushvakh, his ship, and most of the Saidom Vubee's crew were now sleeping in Guznahfar's Chambers¹; and yet his captors had treated his wounds, given him something to drink, and were (so far as he could tell) treating the rescued sailors with perfect civility.

Of course, Bacs reminded himself, none of their current treatment mattered. A vessel of the Vushicskah Fa of Wo'n Darshekeen had been fired upon. And sunk, he reminded himself. It could only be interpreted as an act of war, and he knew his duty. No matter how civil and accommodating his captors were, they were the enemy. He could not trust himself to be forthcoming in any way without the risk of divulging potentially damning information. He looked into the eye of Ensign Johnson and tried to muster all of the sternness he could gather. He rehearsed in his mind the only things he would allow himself to say, but chose not to speak. Not yet.

My name is Bacs Zervahli. My rank is Devahkh-Thokh. My identification code is C4655-HCV4-8364BC.quote]

"Well I'd like to know a little more than that sailor, like why was a dangerous vessel like yours in the Edmar Sea during a time of such hostilities between my nation and Kievistan? Your nation's leaders know that Lowell Leber and Nullarni claim joint and exclusive jurisdiction over the Edmar and that it is not an International body of water..."

[Wonderchicken]

"Well I'd like to know a little more than that sailor, like why was a dangerous vessel like yours in the Edmar Sea during a time of such hostilities between my nation and Kievistan? Your nation's leaders know that Lowell Leber and Nullarni claim joint and exclusive jurisdiction over the Edmar and that it is not an International body of water..."

LLS Lynnette
Edmar Sea
21 FEB 1920, 17:30 hours

ICS: Bacs struggled to maintain his composure. He thought to himself, Has this guy been sucking on Khupi Weed? We were assured that the central Edmar was international territory! He looked up at his captor and thought, It must be a trick. The only "hostilities" I've seen were when my sinker was getting depth-charged. Bacs Zervahli knew his duties, and his duties were clear. According to Vushicskah Fa protocol, he was to divulge nothing but his name, rank, and ID code to any hostile entity. He cleared his throat and spoke:

IC: "My name is Bacs Zervahli. My rank is Devahkh-Thokh. My identification code is C4655-HCV4-8364BC."

[Lowell Leber]

LLS Lynnette
Edmar Sea
21 FEB 1920, 17:30 hours

ICS: Bacs struggled to maintain his composure. He thought to himself, Has this guy been sucking on Khupi Weed? We were assured that the central Edmar was international territory! He looked up at his captor and thought, It must be a trick. The only "hostilities" I've seen were when my sinker was getting depth-charged. Bacs Zervahli knew his duties, and his duties were clear. According to Vushicskah Fa protocol, he was to divulge nothing but his name, rank, and ID code to any hostile entity. He cleared his throat and spoke:

IC: "My name is Bacs Zervahli. My rank is Devahkh-Thokh. My identification code is C4655-HCV4-8364BC."

IC: "Yes sailor, I got that the first time. I am not going to be so cordial unless you tell me the one thing I want to know. Its not something top secret by any means, I just want to know why your sub was here in the Edmar?...

[Wonderchicken]

IC: "Yes sailor, I got that the first time. I am not going to be so cordial unless you tell me the one thing I want to know. Its not something top secret by any means, I just want to know why your sub was here in the Edmar?...

LLS Lynnette
Edmar Sea
21 FEB 1920, 17:38 hours

ICS: Bacs cursed to himself, and hoped his sigh was not too obvious. This 'Ensign Johnson' was probably right. He had only been participating in a war game--with apparently false intelligence about how the surrounding nations viewed the territory--and were he to be more forthcoming, himself, he might also have a few questions of his own answered. Unfortunately, his head was in the stocks, as it were. Were he to divulge any information other than that prescribed by the High Command, he would be seen as a traitor. His motives and rationale would be irrelevant. He thought again of his wife and son, and knew he had no choice.

IC: Bacs looked up at Ensign Johnson and set his face. "My name is Bacs Zervahli. My rank is Devahkh-Thokh. My identification code is C4655-HCV4-8364BC."

[Lowell Leber]

IC: "Yes sailor, I got that the first time. I am not going to be so cordial unless you tell me the one thing I want to know. Its not something top secret by any means, I just want to know why your sub was here in the Edmar?...

LLS Lynnette
Edmar Sea
21 FEB 1920, 17:38 hours

ICS: Bacs cursed to himself, and hoped his sigh was not too obvious. This 'Ensign Johnson' was probably right. He had only been participating in a war game--with apparently false intelligence about how the surrounding nations viewed the territory--and were he to be more forthcoming, himself, he might also have a few questions of his own answered. Unfortunately, his head was in the stocks, as it were. Were he to divulge any information other than that prescribed by the High Command, he would be seen as a traitor. His motives and rationale would be irrelevant. He thought again of his wife and son, and knew he had no choice.

IC: Bacs looked up at Ensign Johnson and set his face. "My name is Bacs Zervahli. My rank is Devahkh-Thokh. My identification code is C4655-HCV4-8364BC."

Johnson laughed aloud. Your a good sailor, and loyal to your nation. That said I will be back in an hour, and I hope you will reconsider your answer. It could very well help prevent a war between our nations.."

[Wonderchicken]

Johnson laughed aloud. You're a good sailor, and loyal to your nation. That said I will be back in an hour, and I hope you will reconsider your answer. It could very well help prevent a war between our nations.."

LLS Lynnette
Edmar Sea
21 FEB 1920, 17:39 hours

Bacs watched the door close behind Ensign Johnson, then allowed himself a rueful laugh. How can I help prevent a war, he thought to himself, that has already begun? He cast his gaze around the room, sure that he was somehow being watched, and knew that, even now, his best course of action would be silence. He brought his hands up to his head, and let his elbows fall on the table as he held his face. His eye was aching dully, and he began to massage the area absently. In his mind's eye, he saw Tenjah and Devee reaching out to him, and his heart ached.

Before Bacs even realized it, he could hear himself humming the tune to Tenjah's favorite hymn. When his conscious mind caught up to the fact, he faltered for a moment; then began to softly sing.

"Okhteh, Hac-Akhet Ebah...okhteh Ebah..."¹

1 - Sung to the tune of "Nearer My God To Thee."

[Lowell Leber]

LLS Lynnette
Edmar Sea
21 FEB 1920, 17:45 hours

Johnson was back in his office, wondering what to do next. He worried over what the ramifications would be of this incidident. War with Kievistan was in most of his countryman's minds unavoidable, if not desirable. But now the Wochiks? This could rapidly get outr of control. As an intelligence liasion he knew more than most about the war-readiness of LL, and he knew that the navy was not up to par for a global conflict. And if the navy couldnt keep the lines of communications open to the colonies, then the industrial base of LL could be in trouble. He prepared to go back to the interrogation room to try and get the answers his superiors needed...

[Australien]

Undisclosed location.
LL/Kievistan Border region (Within Kievi territory)
Approximately 11:00 PM. Feb. 21 1920

Brown was running, fast. He had no clue where he was, all these snow covered hills looked the same to him. Someone was shouting behind him and a few gunshots rang out. He dived into a ditch to his right (probably a crater from some artillery practise) and tore a small bush out of the ground, throwing it over himself.

Brown lay perfectly still, wondering how the damn patrol had spotted them. It didn't matter, all that mattered was that he had no idea where his guides were, and he had a platoon of pissed off soldiers scouring the hills for them. A lone soldier crept past, it was too hard to tell what uniform he was wearing. Brown drew his pistol slowly and slid out from the bush to come up behind the soldier. He pressed the gun to the back of the man's head, cocking the semi-automatic pistol.

"If I were you" Brown said "I would think very hard about whether or not I wanted to live"

OOC-Sorry for taking ages on this! LL, you could make this guy Kievi or one of yours, I've left it open.

[Lowell Leber]

Undisclosed location.
LL/Kievistan Border region (Within Kievi territory)
Approximately 11:00 PM. Feb. 21 1920

"Some ally, " Peiper whispered. "Its me, the others were captured and promptly shot. Whats over those two hills to the northeast is stunning to say the least..."

OOC-No problem Australien, it was worth the wait. Your post has provided the perfect lead in to the true start of the war. Which you will see after your response to this post.

[Wonderchicken]

Kah-Ahnto'nee's Conference Room
WDN Nacsnahdu
Adran Ocean, 21 nm Northwest of the Crayfish Islands
21 FEB 1920, 17:04 hours

OOC: Sorry about the time reversal/flashback. It's just that I don't think it would have taken the Nacsnahdu two days to rendezvous with the Kucsah and her group, given their last reported positions. I probably should simply have posted this conversation earlier, but... Hmm. Nevermind. This post was going to take place on the 19th or 20th. Kah-Ahnto'nee Denebor got her orders on the 17th, but still hadn't apparently contacted the Kucsah on the 21st, when Amahn Vaykush was cleaning out the Enlisted Men's head back on page 2. So much for the "flashback."

IC: "Let me see if I have this straight, Vahkh-Naydar," Denebor said, stroking her temples. Ahlek Kishkau, Vahkh-Naydar of the Kucsah, was lounging on the couch across from the Kah-Ahnto'nee's desk, blissfully unconcerned about the situation. It had only been a half hour since the Kucsah had joined up with the Nacsnahdu's group, but Kah-Ahnto'nee Denebor had insisted on meeting without delay. Denebor continued, "You're saying that we're escorting 6,000 troops and fully one third of the Fleegicskah Fa, complete with 100 Ayahnku aircraft and their ground crews?" She cast her eyes wearily at her VushVakh Nahcs, who was standing next to Kishkau's perch. Teelyeh returned the look knowingly. He was beginning to consider hitting the aluminum tablets, himself.

"Where, exactly, are we to escort them to, Mr. Kishkau?" Mik asked.

"Don't know," Kishkau shrugged. "We were told to contact the consulate in Kievi once we got the Khotehlolah-tum close enough, and that the Ambassador would provide that information."

Deecsee picked up her tea and began stirring. "Have you heard anything further from the Hacs-Tolakh?"

"Only that the Australiens had broken off their attack almost as abruptly as they had started it. Vushvakh Mehvek stated that she was going to make a run on the Laynu once she saw an opportunity. I expect she's had that opportunity since then. Don't we already have one of Hacs-Tolakh's daughter boats in the Edmar?"

Teelyeh nodded. "That would be Vushvakh Preenau's boat; the Saidom Vubee. We passed her and dropped off some post on our way up here." He turned to Denebor and added, "Any idea how long she was meant to stay in the Edmar?"

Deecsee shook her head and sipped her tea. She didn't want to say it, but she could feel a new knot twisting in her gut. "No, and I suspect she could stay there for another month or more before she needs to refuel. At the moment, though, we need to focus on the Khotehlolah-tum. The consulate is expecting us to contact them for instructions? Fine. Mr. Teelyeh, tell the helm to make our heading 8-5 degrees and turn the screws for 15 knots. Vahkh-Naydar Kishkau, I trust you can find your way back to the Kucsah without my help?"

[Australien]

Undisclosed location.
LL/Kievistan Border region (Within Kievi territory)
Approximately 11:00 PM. Feb. 21 1920

"Some ally, " Peiper whispered. "Its me, the others were captured and promptly shot. Whats over those two hills to the northeast is stunning to say the least..."

OOC-No problem Australien, it was worth the wait. Your post has provided the perfect lead in to the true start of the war. Which you will see after your response to this post.

Brown lowered his pistol, putting it back ins his holster.
"Well we don't have time to be stunned," Brown said, "we need to get to a damn radio. The amount of artillery I saw was enough to wipe out half a battalion in one barrage. I didn't get much of a look at the rest of their forces though, I do hope you didn't see anything too shocking?"

[Lowell Leber]

Undisclosed location.
LL/Kievistan Border region (Within Kievi territory)
Approximately 11:00 PM. Feb. 21 1920

"Some ally, " Peiper whispered. "Its me, the others were captured and promptly shot. Whats over those two hills to the northeast is stunning to say the least..."

OOC-No problem Australien, it was worth the wait. Your post has provided the perfect lead in to the true start of the war. Which you will see after your response to this post.

Brown lowered his pistol, putting it back ins his holster.
"Well we don't have time to be stunned," Brown said, "we need to get to a damn radio. The amount of artillery I saw was enough to wipe out half a battalion in one barrage. I didn't get much of a look at the rest of their forces though, I do hope you didn't see anything too shocking?"

[Australien]

"Actually it was very shocking. Those damn Kievis are arming those barbarian Kasabians and usning them to increase their troop numbers. I bet I saw 3 battalions worth of those animals in camp over yonder! This would completely turn the numbers around against us. So your right, we do need to get to a radio back across the border and let the General Staff know pronto!"

"Hmph" Brown retorted, "I can't say I didn't expect them to pull some kind of trick like this." Brown offered a hand to Pieper to help him up.
"Well, you're the guide, and time is luxury we do not have."

[Lowell Leber]

"Your right good sir, let us get back to the horses on the double so we can get back to base."
Peiper and Brown rode throughout the night and reached base camp on the LL side of the border around 0330 hours. Unfortunately a late winter storm was blowing in and the electrical lines from the generator had blown down, leaving the wireless and telegraph out of operation for the moment.

[Australien]

"Your right good sir, let us get back to the horses on the double so we can get back to base."
Peiper and Brown rode throughout the night and reached base camp on the LL side of the border around 0330 hours. Unfortunately a late winter storm was blowing in and the electrical lines from the generator had blown down, leaving the wireless and telegraph out of operation for the moment.

OOC- Well, there's not much for me to do until the storm subsides, I suppose. I think you should play out the interrogation on the ship, or Nullarni can do something in relation to his nation.

[Lowell Leber]

LLS Lynnette
Edmar Sea
21 FEB 1920, 17:45 hours.

Johnston walked into the interroagation room and took his seat next to the Wochik officer. "My friend, if you want war keep your mouth shut. If you truly desire peace, then tell me the answers to the questions I have already asked you..."

[Wonderchicken]

LLS Lynnette
Edmar Sea
21 FEB 1920, 17:45 hours.

Johnston walked into the interrogation room and took his seat next to the Wochik officer. "My friend, if you want war keep your mouth shut. If you truly desire peace, then tell me the answers to the questions I have already asked you..."

Bacs could feel his pulse quicken. He sat with his elbows on the table, fingers interlaced, with his head in his hands. He could do nothing to stem the tide of muscle convulsions grinding his jaw, and he was pretty sure the temperature in the room had risen. Let them try to cook me, he thought. They had no idea the kind of oppressive heat to which a sinker sailor quickly had to become accustomed. What really angered Bacs was that he had no choice. This Ensign Johnson seemed truly reasonable, young as he was; but how could he possibly be expected to know the dire consequences Bacs faced if he so much as explained why he was being so stubborn? He ground his teeth again, and stole a glance at the Ensign. Johnson was waiting patiently for an answer, and Bacs felt a little deflation inside. He put his face back in his hands.

Would it really be such a bad thing to just tell the Leberite why? The answer in his head was swift and certain. He cleared his throat and spoke.

"Bacs Zervahli. Devahkh-Thokh. C4655-HCV4-8364BC." To his horror, Bacs realized he had heard a slight tremor in his voice. He cleared his throat again and sat up ramrod straight, folding his arms and glaring at Ensign Johnson in the desperate hope of covering up his mistake.

[Lowell Leber]

"Fine, fine just keep giving that horseshit. Security, escort this one back to the brig with the others!
And you, Bacs. We in the military are honorable, but I fear the Strategic Intelligence Services will not conduct themselves in such a way."

[Wonderchicken]

"Fine, fine just keep giving that horseshit. Security, escort this one back to the brig with the others!
And you, Bacs. We in the military are honorable, but I fear the Strategic Intelligence Services will not conduct themselves in such a way."

Bacs was no soldier. One of the reasons he had chosen the Vushicskah Fa, and sinkers in particular, was that he was far more likely to be killed than taken prisoner. It wasn't that he particularly relished death. It was just better that way.

As the guard lifted him roughly from his seat, he looked at Johnson and heard himself squeak, "I can't..."

[Lowell Leber]

"Fine, fine just keep giving that horseshit. Security, escort this one back to the brig with the others!
And you, Bacs. We in the military are honorable, but I fear the Strategic Intelligence Services will not conduct themselves in such a way."

Bacs was no soldier. One of the reasons he had chosen the Vushicskah Fa, and sinkers in particular, was that he was far more likely to be killed than taken prisoner. It wasn't that he particularly relished death. It was just better that way.

As the guard lifted him roughly from his seat, he looked at Johnson and heard himself squeak, "I can't..."

"You can, in the name of preserving any chance of peace you can! Why are your people in the Edmar? Why all the vessels in our region? What is the purpose of all this when for years we never saw your people this far north except to trade?"

[Wonderchicken]

"Fine, fine just keep giving that horseshit. Security, escort this one back to the brig with the others!
And you, Bacs. We in the military are honorable, but I fear the Strategic Intelligence Services will not conduct themselves in such a way."

Bacs was no soldier. One of the reasons he had chosen the Vushicskah Fa, and sinkers in particular, was that he was far more likely to be killed than taken prisoner. It wasn't that he particularly relished death. It was just better that way.

As the guard lifted him roughly from his seat, he looked at Johnson and heard himself squeak, "I can't..."

"You can, in the name of preserving any chance of peace you can! Why are your people in the Edmar? Why all the vessels in our region? What is the purpose of all this when for years we never saw your people this far north except to trade?"

A full-on war had erupted in Bacs's mind. Why had he spoken?? He had no idea how much of his struggle showed on his face, and at the moment he lacked the capacity to spare any attention on anything but calming the surging, raging ocean within him.

Again, it was as though his body spoke without him. "My Vushvakh is dead, and with him, the orders for my sink...er, sub..." He pursed his lips as the word stumbled around his head. "Sub...marine?" In one sense, it was a lie. Bacs had known why they were in the Edmar, but maybe this would allow him to give Johnson something he wanted without truly breaching Vushicskah Fa protocol. After all, Preenau was dead. And the lie was plausible...

[Lowell Leber]

"Fine, fine just keep giving that horseshit. Security, escort this one back to the brig with the others!
And you, Bacs. We in the military are honorable, but I fear the Strategic Intelligence Services will not conduct themselves in such a way."

Bacs was no soldier. One of the reasons he had chosen the Vushicskah Fa, and sinkers in particular, was that he was far more likely to be killed than taken prisoner. It wasn't that he particularly relished death. It was just better that way.

As the guard lifted him roughly from his seat, he looked at Johnson and heard himself squeak, "I can't..."

"You can, in the name of preserving any chance of peace you can! Why are your people in the Edmar? Why all the vessels in our region? What is the purpose of all this when for years we never saw your people this far north except to trade?"

A full-on war had erupted in Bacs's mind. Why had he spoken?? He had no idea how much of his struggle showed on his face, and at the moment he lacked the capacity to spare any attention on anything but calming the surging, raging ocean within him.

Again, it was as though his body spoke without him. "My Vushvakh is dead, and with him, the orders for my sink...er, sub..." He pursed his lips as the word stumbled around his head. "Sub...marine?" In one sense, it was a lie. Bacs had known why they were in the Edmar, but maybe this would allow him to give Johnson something he wanted without truly breaching Vushicskah Fa protocol. After all, Preenau was dead. And the lie was plausible...

Johnson saw clearly the tortured look on Bacs face, he felt sympathy for the sailor not just as a fellow soldier but as a human being. "Go on....?"

[Wonderchicken]

"Fine, fine just keep giving that horseshit. Security, escort this one back to the brig with the others!
And you, Bacs. We in the military are honorable, but I fear the Strategic Intelligence Services will not conduct themselves in such a way."

Bacs was no soldier. One of the reasons he had chosen the Vushicskah Fa, and sinkers in particular, was that he was far more likely to be killed than taken prisoner. It wasn't that he particularly relished death. It was just better that way.

As the guard lifted him roughly from his seat, he looked at Johnson and heard himself squeak, "I can't..."

"You can, in the name of preserving any chance of peace you can! Why are your people in the Edmar? Why all the vessels in our region? What is the purpose of all this when for years we never saw your people this far north except to trade?"

A full-on war had erupted in Bacs's mind. Why had he spoken?? He had no idea how much of his struggle showed on his face, and at the moment he lacked the capacity to spare any attention on anything but calming the surging, raging ocean within him.

Again, it was as though his body spoke without him. "My Vushvakh is dead, and with him, the orders for my sink...er, sub..." He pursed his lips as the word stumbled around his head. "Sub...marine?" In one sense, it was a lie. Bacs had known why they were in the Edmar, but maybe this would allow him to give Johnson something he wanted without truly breaching Vushicskah Fa protocol. After all, Preenau was dead. And the lie was plausible...

Johnson saw clearly the tortured look on Bacs face, he felt sympathy for the sailor not just as a fellow soldier but as a human being. "Go on....?"

The stress was beginning to take its toll on Bacs's head, and it began again to throb. His eye was pulsing like a confused puffer fish that couldn't decide whether or not it was really facing danger. He suddenly found himself walking an extremely thin line between truth and treason. If he could make Johnson believe he truly had nothing to offer...

"Uh..." Of course, now that he had essentially chosen not to remain silent, he suddenly found himself at a loss for words. Stupid brain...