See OOC Thread for more info.]
Gyani, Jaragupta
Gyani was a small port city that had fluctuated in growth throughout the ages. Some of the original colonial architecture remained in the city center and around the docks, but spreading out to all sides from the outskirts, the clay and wood hovels clung like barnacles.
They looked quite magnificent, marching down the main road towards the city center. They had on khakhi dress uniforms with maroon epaulets and their matching maroon berets had peacock feathers mounted in them. The feathers jiggled as their feet stomped the hard packed dirt with regularity. They carried earlier model Arakawa ARs that had been recently cleaned. That wasn’t the normal state of a weapon in the JRA (Jaraguptan Royal Army), where drill and ceremony and preparedness were all scarce, but for the Rajah’s Tiger Regiment putting on their full display for the townspeople, it was a matter of pride.
The people that lined the streets were certainly not all that enthused to attend a military review. Every couple yards, a gendarme in regular fatigues was roving, making sure that flags and hands were being waved. Faces that turned away and quit spectating were recorded. The whole of the proceedings were being recorded for a short government film that would be dispersed to the media. The problem was that they could not capture an excited face in that crowd, but that was what modern day digital editing was for. They could certainly try to take care of that later.
This was an occupied, oppressed people. The Hamikh had never had real say in the power of the islands of Jaragupta, and it wasn’t likely to start anytime soon. The military and government were run by the Tamar, the northern people who worshipped different Hindu gods and dominated most facets of society. The royal and noble families were at the top of the caste system, and the Hamikhs started somewhere near the bottom. Even their cities were ruled by Tamar mayors and councils, with maybe a token Hamikh or two. They were allowed just one Sikh temple per 10,000 people. The religion of the Hamikhs was not outlawed, but it certainly wasn’t given much thought and was often frowned upon and misunderstood by the Tamars.
As the lead ranks of the regiment rounded the bend, and began their endrun towards the viewing stand, the crowd trickled away, despite the best efforts of the gendarmes to coax the townspeople closer to City Hall.
Upon the reviewing stand stood the mayor, his council, their families, and an entourage of JRA officers. The southern military district commander was present for the spectacle. They stood to attention as the regiment drew closer. It wasn’t a full parade, but the regiment would perform some drill and ceremony when they drew even with the stand and it would be enough of a spectacle for all but the most jaded of Jaraguptans.
The regiment drew even, and the General saluted as the ranks turned rifles out and heads sharply turned. They marched a bit further on and then the Colonel shouted commands. As one, the soldiers brought their rifles down and it was as if that was the cue.
P-P-BRUMM!!!!...BLAM!!
Four bombs, strategically placed, two on one side of the street, two on the other - one right under the viewing stand - detonated almost in sync. The last one just being a split second behind, even though it was slaved to the same signal. Besides the explosives that ripped and pummelled the bodies nearest them, shrapnel, nails, screws, bolts and other bits of scrap metal were hurled forward, directed in overlapping fields of fire by their placement hours earlier.
The Tiger Regiment was decimated. Those on the reviewing stand were just about vaporized as the one bomb took incinerated them. Some of the surviving soldiers began to fire out, thinking they were under attack from the buildings and beyond, adding to the chaos and the bloodshed as ricochets and errant led took out more men and bystanders. The smell of burning hair and flesh permeated the air. Blood was everywhere. Some crawled for salvation that would come too late, most lay still, if they were still intact at all.
Troops from the JRA garrison on the other side of town and emergency personnel rushed to the scene, but there was little they could do but clean up the mess and attempt to save the wounded, as the perpetrators were long gone.
It was by far the bloodiest day of the insurgency and the newly re-invigorated rebels were just getting started.
Rajah’s Palace
Mavala, Jaragupta
It was her first time contracting for the Guild, although she had been doing contracting work for the USGSC for some months now. Graciela Nacimiento had started her career with the Intexa, the famed support arm of the USG Security Corporation, as an attorney, assisting in the legal branch. While to her, there were some exciting moments in private military and security legalities, it had been time to step over to full contracting, where the real excitement was.
She had had to go through rigorous training, as contracting officers had to expect that they would work with few colleagues, if not alone, and with little support in possibly hostile territory. Contracting officers often double as intelligence officers in a possible client nation, gaining information wherever it was obtainable.
She had done well, if not exceptional, under the tutelage of Mandrakhar Singh, a veteran, senior intelligence/contracting officer. It had been physically challenging and she had struggled. She dropped a lot of weight and built a lot of muscle in place of it. Most of all, the mental challenges with escape and evasion and interrogation had been some of the toughest she could face.
She wished he was here today, assisting and leading the mission, with his intimate cultural knowledge of people that were not that different from where he grew up, but it was because of that very reason, and that Sikhs were the potential hostile force, that he declined, suggesting her to Director Marchand instead. It was perfectly understandable, but frustrating because he would have done the job so well on his own. No matter, she had this. She had to be confident.
Currently, she had chatted with the commander of the JRA (Jaraguptan Royal Army), Marshal Ralabar Balakrishnan, for a while as they awaited the arrival of the Prime Minister and the Rajah, the monarch that ruled this island a scattering of a few others. A shrine that held the icons of Hindu gods was across the room and she could not help but to keep turning her attention to it. The gold Ganesh and Krishna especially sparkled like nothing she had ever seen before, and flowers and the items on the puja tray made it a beautiful display. She could imagine it was much more elaborate than what might be in an average Jaraguptan villagers home. What was different was the picture of the Rajah in the middle.
The Marshal nodded.
“I see you are admiring the puja shrine. It is quite magnificent, is it not?”
“It is but, it’s not as I had studied it might be. Is...is that the Rajah in the middle?”
“Yes, it is. You see, the Rajah, and his father and ancestors before are descended from the gods, and so they must be worshipped equally.”
“So...the Rajah worships himself here?”
“No, Ms. Nacimiento, This puja is for visitors and staff. The Rajah has another shrine in his quarters. I have not seen it, but I believe it bears the likeness of his father in the central portrait.”
“Ah, that would make sense.”
A man in a stark white uniform stepped out from gilded double doors, stopped and stood ramrod straight. He spoke sharply in Hindi, then repeated in English:
“The crown ruler, his highness and ruler of the lands of Jaragupta, Gahana and the Eastern islands, his highness Rajah Jawamadav Prabhunadabaj!”
A middle aged man who was gangly in stature, yet sported quite a gut that was noticeable, even under the purple kurta he wore, entered. Behind him, an older man in a grey western suit followed. Gracie recognized him as the Prime Minister. Apparently, if the PM entered at the same time as the Rajah, he didn’t warrant his own announced introduction.
Nacimiento and the Marshal both stood and bowed as the Rajah approached.
“Hello, welcome to my kingdom, Ms. Nazee…”
“Nacimiento.”
“I’m sorry. This is my Prime Minister, Karam Anagatya.”
“A pleasure to meet you both, Your Highness and Mr. Prime Minister.”
She bowed again for emphasis.
“Ours as well.”
“I know that you represent your company, but I am not aware of your full title.”
“I am a Contracting Officer in the service of the Intexa, the USG Security Corporation’s support arm. But that isn’t precisely who I represent today, Your Highness and Mr. Prime Minister...”
Both looked slightly confused, but patiently waited for her to finish.
“...I am representing the PMC Guild today, several of our companies that have joined together under one organization.”
“So you have formed a super-PMC?”
“Not exactly, sir. The Guild is just a coalition of interested companies. We bond together to serve some contracts and support each other, as well as promote the industry, but also, all the member companies still conduct their own business separately. Just an industry guild that encompasses several security and private military outfits of varying size, elements and focus.”
“I see. I guess that makes sense. Is the USG Security Corporation unable to fulfill the contract on its own?”
“Honestly, no. We don’t have enough assets on our own to fulfill it as well as honor our other contracts, but even if we did, we like to try to bring in these contracts every so often where all of our partners can become more cohesive and working together becomes more natural. Plus, the more Guild partners involved, the more options that are brought to the table, so you, the client, can have your needs better met.”
“How do we know that all your partners are of the same quality as the infamous Uli Schwyz?”
“It’s a valid question. The answer is that you have our word, but you are also welcome to research any of the Guild partner companies that will be involved in this contract. I will have a full list, as well as assets contributed.”
The Prime Minister smiled, assured.
“That works for us. I was told that there would be two of you?”
“Mr. Rejmarak was not able to join us as he’s wrapping up another contract. He will travel here as soon as he can.”
“Very well, perhaps we should get down to business.”
The Rajah swept his arm towards chairs set up, just visible through the doors in the greeting hall into the next parlor. As if by magic, two royal servants, also in bright white uniforms, appeared bearing trays of tea and wine.
“Come, let us find seating.”
They adjourned to the parlor room indicated and the servants put the trays down on side tables, then closed the doors on their way out.
The Prime Minister cleared his throat and started in,
“I suppose you heard about the bombing in Gyani a few days ago, Ms. Nacimiento?”
“I did. Terrible news. I didn’t get the full story, but I understand the city leadership was assassinated?”
“Yes, and the Rajah’s Tiger Regiment was also on review. They took 60% casualties. Plus a handful of civilians were killed.”
Gracie sucked in her breath. That was a lot for a regiment, even in full combat.
“That is ghastly! That I had not heard.”
The Marshal nodded.
“The explosives were well placed for overlapping fields. Four of them including the one that took out the review stand. Whoever had a hand in it knew what they were doing…”
“No one has claimed responsibility?”
“Everyone has claimed responsibility. The HDLF (Hamikh Democratic Liberation Front), the HNLA (Hamikh National Liberation Army), and several splinter groups from both. The issue is that nothing on this scale and this well planned has happened for at least two decades from the Hamikh insurgency. We believe they have some outside assistance. From off the islands.”
Gracie paused.
“Possible, but isn’t it also possible that the local insurgents have just finally evolved and advanced enough to hone their tactics?”
“We have wondered, but no, this is just too much, too fast. There are other indications. Some of our workers have been kidnapped and taken to the Pan-Asiatic States and the Cardwiths…”
The latter nation lay a few thousand km to the southwest, the former, larger union of states was a few thousand more km to the east, just past the Wishton Sea.
“...They were used for socialist propaganda and all across their media.”
Nacimiento lowered her head, not sure where to go from here. She raised it back up.
“Well, the Guild is willing to muster forces and also to train your troops as you originally requested. We have intelligence and recon elements that can probably gather more information as to what outside forces might be at play here.”
Were it to be either of those nations, and they were going to get more involved than just stirring the pot to support fellow socialists, things could get messy. Both were ISC nations.
Marshal Balakrishnan responded,
“I think our intelligence will get to the bottom of it soon enough, but we could always use the help...Training or gathering information.”
He didn’t try to hide his irritation at the training comment. It was something he had rankled at behind closed doors, but the Rajah and Prime Minister had both insisted that the Army, Gendarmerie, and Royal Guard needed more training and perspective from off the Island.
Nacimiento knew when to back off this early on in the contracting phase. She was aware that the PM and Rajah had pushed to form an intelligence agency that didn’t fall under military command, but that the military continued to resist that idea. Also, that he was somewhat resistant to outside training of any kind. It was a battle that could be fought later by Elijah when the Guild was full into the contract and he could outmaneuver the military chief in further negotiations.
There’s something else you should
“Yes, I’m sure they will. I brought papers to sign for the contract…” She had the physical contract in a satchel and her GXT tablet to scan/capture the pages and transmit them instantly to HQ. “...as well as more information on what we would bring in to the Kingdom, like I mentioned before...That is...If we should go any further?”
The Rajah spoke,
“Indeed. I would like to see them, but I can assure you that there is no need for hesitation, Ms. Nacimiento. We will be hiring you, or I guess the Guild, on. The devil is in the details, as they say. Shall we get to it?”
Gracie smiled.
“We shall.”
[Co-RP’d with USG Security Corporation]