A Battle Unseen

[Maxington]

11:19, Federal Police Headquarters, #1 Police Administration Place, Skalm, Kazulia.

By the time Kolden exited the highway, drove down the main road and arrived at the Federal Police Headquarters, he was already twenty minutes late for the meeting. His hair hung in his eyes, and his beard still reached down to his clavicle-to years worth of growing he thought to himself. As he opened the door and barged into the room, heads turned to him. He sighed. "Sorry, I'm late. I've been in the boonies on piggyback tours. I'd forgotten about the traffic around here." A small group manned the sides along with a conference table the length of the national mall in Skalm. The table looked long enough to support a military parade and a few armoured vehicles. Five individuals had clustered chairs near the head and a man with a crew cut, his hair glistening with steel shaving under the fluorescent lights, turnaround from a dry-erase board where he'd been writing his name: Nils Arvesen.

"What do we have here?" asked Arvesen, using his marker to point out an empty chair. "Are you man? Or beast?" Kolden cracked a grin. The hair and beard did suggest that he'd spent the night in a refrigerator box. With a little grooming, though, Kolden would be back to his old self. He drew back his head. "Where's Kringen? They told me that NSOC would be heading up this task force." "Kringen's out, I'm in," snapped Arvesen. "You boys are lucky, I guess." "Who who are you?" Kolden asked, shifting around the table, a portfolio in one hand, coffee in the other. Arvesen eyed him with a crooked grin. "Not much of a reader, are you?" A lean Kyo-man who had to be Park (based on the picture Kolden reviewed in the portfolio) turned to Kolden and began laughing. "Relax, he's done this to all of us. He's good. Just trying to lighten the mood."That's right, I'm good," said Arvesen. "We need to loosen up around here-because what we're about to do ill be tense. Very tense." "What department are you from?" Kolden asked. "BORSIG. You know what that is?" Kolden nodded. The Kazulian Border Protection Agency Special Intervention Group was the global special response team for the Department of Home Affairs' Border Protection Agency. BORSIG agents deployed in more than eight countries in the Dovanian region to respond to serious terrorist threats of all types. Their weapons and gear were comparable to those of the HSK, the MSK and other special operations units. BORSIG teams worked alongside military units in Eljang and Reunii to help find, confiscate and destroy illicit narcotics being smuggled across the border. They had earned an excellent reputation in the special operations community, and Kolden had on several occasions shared intelligence with BORSIG operators who exhibited the highest level of professionalism.

The unit was founded in 4603, and within three years it was already engaged in counter-narcotics operations in Dovani during Operation Pierce. BORSIG agents were tasked with helping to disrupt the growing, processing and smuggling of cocaine in a long list of countries including Ntoto, Utembo, Xampa and New Alduria. Agents worked alongside the Police Security Directorate (now the Security Intelligence Organisation). "I head up the Dreton Sector," Arvesen went on. "But the deputy commissioner wanted me to work with you gorillas for this operation. In my humble opinion, I'm uniquely suited for this job because our mission involved both exposing and dismantling the drug trade and exposing their relationship to criminality, which I remind you is Mr Kolden's area of expertise." "Reporting for duty as ordered-sir," Kolden said with a mock scowl. "Now you're playing along," Arvesen said with a genuine grin. "Welcome to Operation Roman. And as a matter of fact, I've been asked to make you our field team leader." Kolden chuckled under his breath. "What crazy drunk suggested that?" "The National Commissioner." That drew some laughs from the table. "All right team, in all seriousness, we have got a lot to cover here. I heard you guys love presentations, so I have a few of them. Just give me a minute to load them up." Park groaned and turned to Kolden. "Good to meet you." "And you're from Criminal Intelligence." "You've been doing some good work around the world. Not sure I'd last five minutes." Kolden smiled. "Maybe ten." Park was a damned fine federal agent with numerous successful operations under his belt. More recently, he had been performing recon operations in Eljang and Reunii where criminal organisations were growing opium and where he had been tracking an assassin who had murdered one of his associates. Seated beside him was Jane Hagen, a thirty-two-year-old agent from the Criminal Intelligence Directorate. A familiar face, he had worked alongside her in previous missions. Mainly operating out of the Dreton Section, she had built a reputation of being extremely persuasive.

Kolden caught the gaze of the man near the head of the table, Simon Welde, who despite his surname, could easily pass for one of the posher members of the North Dovanian aristocracy. His father was half Daddwyr, Half Kazulian and his mother was North Dovanian. He'd been born and raised in Kazulia and been recruited out of university to join the Border Protection Agency's Customs Division. According to his file, Welde has been working for several years on gun smuggling operations and just been promoted to join Operation Roman to use his knowledge of the smuggling operations of the cartels. Arvesen pointed at the photograph. "All right, our primary problem is this: I don't trust the North Dovanian police to be wholly accurate with their intelligence nor do I believe that all of it is going to be 100% true. That means although we work with them, we gather our own intelligence which is going to be used as the gold standard for our joint missions." "Persons of interest?" asked Kolden. "A Lot," said Arvesen. "Because there is so little intelligence, we have to assume everyone is in on it". Arvesen brought up a colour-coded chart representing the chain of command in North Dovani's new counternarcotics mechanism. He continued, "the bottom line is this: we are here to both train and assist. You know the drill. Welde and Hagen, you're together. Park is with me. That leaves you, Kolden." Kolden grinned, "To North Dovani it is."

[Yolo04]

WKTV Headquarters, Leighstown, Keymon, October 14th, 20:00

As the Prince stepped out of his limousine, he could already picture himself speaking in front of that camera and raising all of the nation under his banner. The only problem with that plan was that…he didn’t have a speech, at least not written. The Prince’s mind didn’t doddle on that fact, however. He was seemingly more concerned with getting his message out in a timely manner, within the hour. The Prince, escorted by his royal guards, made his way into the studio that had so often been home to happy and lively people. But now…it lay barren, except for the crew members who, by threat of execution, began to set up his broadcast. He felt a deep shame in knowing that he always had to resort to violence to achieve his ambitions…he desired to be able to decree something and have it be done simply because he had stated it. However…to become King, you have to crack a few eggs and terrify the rest of the eggs into submission.

As the Prince sat at the make-shift office his soldiers had forced the crew members to set up, he sat wondering what his sister's next move would be. “Perhaps”, he thought, “we can end this war before it even starts”. The Prince, whilst he acted ruthless, truly wished to end this war without bloodshed, and perhaps without even having to harm his sister. However he knew, deep down in his heart, that this war would ultimately come to a head and that he would, regardless of if he wanted to or not, have to fight. What was in contention however was who would come out on top and how that victory would come about.

One of the soldiers interrupted the monarch's train of thought by saying, “Your majesty, the crews got the cameras set up, we’ll be going live in 15 seconds”. The King looked up and nodded to the soldier, turning to the camera. The Prince knew that what he said here would ultimately win or lose him the war.

Thirty Minutes Later

“And…we’re…off the air” said one of the crew members as the camera's lens closed around its eye. The Prince, who felt as though he were going to drown in his sweat, stood up and began to exit the studio. His entourage of guards soon followed him. As he made his way to his limousine, one of his men, still inside the building, began calling his name. “Your majesty…what do you want us to do to the prisoners?”. The Prince racked his brain for only a second and then turned to his soldier. “Keep 'em around…we can use them later, but if they fight you…end them”. Then the Prince turned to get inside his limousine, outwardly confident, but internally, he was truly terrified of his performance. As he entered his limousine, General Saveriu sat to his right. The Prince quickly turned to the General to ask about his performance. However, the General raised his hand preemptively, as if he knew Carlu would ask him how he performed. “Your majesty…you’ve just won us the war”. As the Prince sat back into his seat, he turned to ask yet another question-“do you think we’ll have to fight a war?”. The General, unshaken by the question, turned to the Prince, “all that heard that speech must’ve become your supporters because that was one hell of a speech Carlu…or should I say…King Carlu, King of Keymon”.

[ChitinKal]

Northern Juuyada Polling Center, Adawombe, Juuyada, Liore; 13:12 June 15 4770

The journey across the Caltropic Highlands in northern Liore had been a long and arduous one. Emem Arendse and his platoon of RLPA militants had left the comfort of the village of Adawali days ago, and had been marching tirelessly through the highlands, and had not found any evidence of human settlement since their departure. With the platoon of nearly twenty, marched hundreds of rural Liori villagers who had come from the villages of northern Juuyada. Their destination was the Northern Juuyada Polling Center, set up far away from Juuyada’s rural villages in the city of Ektembo. Their mission was to ensure the safe travel of the villages to the polling station, and ensure that they remain unharrassed by government agents and that they are able to cast their votes. Such was the mission of hundreds more RLPA platoons mobilized across Liore to ensure that the socialist electorate is unsuppressed in the elections and skyrocket the People’s Front into the government. So far, Emem and his platoon met no resistance from the military or police, but as they approached the Polling Center, Emem could see a group of Liori soldiers blocking the road ahead. Perhaps they would finally see action.

Almost instinctively, Emem and several other militants began to raise their assault weapons at the sight of the soldiers, however they were waved down by the platoon commissar when he caught notice of the raised guns. “No,” he said, “if there is a possibility to avoid a fight, then we should take it, and going in here with guns raised will only make that more difficult.” So with their guns lowered, but minds still alert, the platoon halted the villagers and carefully approached the roadblock, stopping twenty feet away from the soldiers. The commissar then signaled to his men to halt, and stopped forward towards the soldiers alone.

“Soldiers, what is the meaning of this?” shouted the commissar to the group.

“We have orders. None are allowed to pass this point. I suggest you turn back now, we have authorization to use deadly force on any who refuse to comply.” shouted back another, seemingly the commanding officer.

“You may have orders, but we have rights. It is the democratic right of these villagers to cast their votes in this election, and right now you and your orders are infringing upon those rights. If our constitution has any value to you, then you’d step aside and respect the rights it gives to these men.”

“Our orders come directly from the Prefect. I don’t know about this constitution and rights nonsense, but I’m sure he would. Now turn away, none are allowed to pass this point.”

“Again, we have a democratic right to continue on our way and cast our votes. You turn away. You dismantle this roadblock and stand aside while we vote.”

To this statement, the military officer responded by ordering his men to raise their guns and train them on the militants. Again, out of instinct Emem and the others raised their guns and did the same. Then, the officer spoke again, “Is that a threat? We are soldiers of Liore, and we will not be intimidated by communist thugs. Now turn away, or we will be forced to fire on you.”

With nothing more to say, the commissar turned around and returned to his men. “Well men, it seems they will not listen. We might be forced into a fight.” He then looked off in the distance for a moment, then turned to Emem, “Arendse, you’re a man with a sharp mind. Do you have any ideas?” Emem thought for a minute. Yes, he was known to have a sharp and calculating mind, but he was totally inexperienced to these sorts of situations. After a minute, he replied, “How about we show a little force, then continue to press our rights. Let’s take up combative positions, then again demand they let us pass.” The commissar then thought on Emem’s suggestion for a moment, and then concluded, “Let’s try it. Arendse, you take your squad and secure the right. Watali, you and your squad secure the left. I’ll stay here.”

Emem and his squad then hurried for cover on the right side of the street, and retrained their weapons on the soldiers who looked to be frantically watching the militants. Then, having holstered his pistol and put his hands up, the commissar slowly approached the roadblock, until he was met with shouts from the officer,

“That’s far enough! I told you to leave. I meant it when I said that we’d fire on you if you refused to listen.”

“Officer, I must reiterate that these villagers have the right to vote, and that it is the job of me and me and my men to ensure that that right is respected. I do not wish for this to devolve to violence, but we are more than ready to fight for our rights.”

“If you will not leave, then so be it. Orders are orders. Men…”

The officer’s radio rang as he spoke, and he broke off his sentence to answer. Seconds passed, then minutes, then finally he put down his radio and ordered his men to lower their weapons and, reluctantly, dismantle the roadblock and allow the villagers to pass.

“New orders?” shouted the commissar as he chuckled to himself.

[robmark0000]

13:00 28 May, 4769, Protected Operational Room, Fifteenth Floor, Citadel, Hugamest or Republican Center, Republican Canton of Hugalon, Directorial Republic of Endralon
- Security Governmental Record -

Magvas Mánuel (Direct Democrat Party) - Grand Director of Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Fekete Tibor (Ndrálon People's Party) - Grand Director of Ministry of Defense
Vincze Dávid - (New Patriarchal Integralist Party) President of the Directorial Republic
Márton Panna - (Direct Democrat Party) Grand Director of Ministry of Health and Social Services

MAGVAS: Welcome all of you, Citizen President...
VINCZE: Mister President, please. Maybe you are secular, but respect if somebody not.
MAGVAS: As you wish, Citizen President. But deal with more important things than invocation. So welcome all of you again, Citizen President, Citizen Grand Directors, Citizen Undersecretaries, Citizen Generals. As you know, based on the voting of the Council of Grand Directors, the President of the Directorial Republic appointed me to deal with the Keymonite situation. Today, we have to decide about question of neutrality. I want to hear your opinions.
VINCZE: This is a just fight, we have to support His Majesty, King Carlu. As first-born boy of His Blessed Majesty, the Former King of Keymon, he has the right to rule. This is religious case, we cannot let a woman to rule, this is unholy!
MÁRTON: OK, boomer. I think we have to hear the voice of the experts, not a theory about superiority of men.
VINCZE: More respect to me! I am the President of this Directorial Republic!
MÁRTON: Sorry, Citizen President, but I cannot let to speak about the women like this.
MAGVAS: I agree with her. Citizen President, please! As the Supreme Manager of the Armed Forces of the Directorial Republic, what you propose Grand Director Fekete Tibor? Neutrality or choose side?
FEKETE: This massacre is in our neighborhood. I always disagree with newspaper Independent Endralon, but in this case they were right. Peace must be number one priority for us, so we need to send a peacekeeping force to Keymon. This is my opinion.
VINCZE: Please, don't mention that unholy newspaper, God forget to that editors and writers. Poor people, they all rejected God.
MÁRTON: Can you stop this, Citizen President? There is a fucking civil war in our south, and you just can speak about your fantasy, your God?
VINCZE: How dare you...
FEKETE: This is truly enough, Mr. President. Get back to the topic, but Ms. Márton, you cannot speak in this way with a President, even this is an informal meeting.
MÁRTON: Yeah, I understand. Sorry, Citizen President.
VINCZE: By love, I accept your apologizes. Because God send His first-born boy to accept apologizes and bring salvation to this corrupt and wrong Terra.
MAGVAS: Whatever, I agree with Grand Director Fekete, get back to the topic. I think, based on my diplomatic experiences, If we not support somebody, Endralon will be alone in our actions. And alone, we can be the looser of this massacre. Alone, we have no enough fleet to defending against all sides, and we cannot let foreign troopers to Endralonian land.
VINCZE: And what about the Phoenix International, Mr. Grand Director? The private soldiers of 3M, isn't it? They're also foreign troops in Endralonian land. Send them home to Hutori and support King Carlu, rightful ruler of Keymon!
MAGVAS: I won't, and you know, I have the right for this. Both of your proposals unacceptable. Regulate the world leading health industry company what in Endralonian hands? Full bullshit. Support a hysterical teenager who want to be King? Also bullshit. Be realistic, Citizen President.
FEKETE: Have you exact proposal, Mr. Grand Director?
MAGVAS: Page nine. Separatists, who want to be the part of Lourenne as New Valois. They believe in constitutional and parliamentary monarchy, they deny absolutism and dictatorship. Opposed to the two absolutist combatant, Queen Éva and King Carlu they just want to use the situation to liberate their home from Keymonite Monarchy.
VINCZE: Nonsense.
MÁRTON: Agreed.
MAGVAS: What do you think, Grand Director Fekete?
FEKETE: Let's hear the opinion of Lourenne. I want to hear them.
MAGVAS: Of course. (To the guards.) Make a call with Foreign Minister Valeria Donvale of Lourenne. Very important topic, we very need to talk with her.
(The signal is online after a half of a hour waiting.)
DONVALE: This is a great honor to bet the call of Endralon. What can I do for you?
MAGVAS: Thank you and for us this is also honor. In this call with me, His Excellency, the President of the Directorial Republic, Vincze Dávid, the Honorable Grand Director of Ministry of Defense Fekete Tibor and the Honorable Grand Director of Ministry of Health and Social Services Márton Panna will attend.
DONVALE: Of course, but what is so important, if I may know, Honorable Grand Director?
MAGVAS: The Keymonite Civil War. New Valois.
DONVALE: Oh, I see. Well, in this case I have to switch the call to Her Excellency Marine Sinclaire, the High Chancellor of the Kingdom of Lourenne.
MAGVAS: If you have to, Honorable Minister.
(Donvale switched the call to High Chancellor Sinclaire.)
SINCLAIRE: Welcome all of you, from Endralon! Please, let's start with the essence: what do you want with New Valois?
MAGVAS: We thinking of support New Valois and Lourenne's interests in Keymonite Civil War.
VINCZE: We just thinking, Your Excellency, the other possible candidate to our support is His Royal Majesty, King Carlu.
MAGVAS: Maybe. But New Valois more possible. What do you think, Your Excellency?
SINCLAIRE: Well, I am confused. Why Endralon offering this?
MAGVAS: We have to have allies, Your Excellency. Without allies this war in our south can destroy us. We won't be very helpful allies, but we can promise some help on water and money.
SINCLAIRE: I see. This is reasonable cause. The Second Response Fleet is already near to Keymon. Maybe your ships and Fleet can join to each other. And if we have losses in the war, some aid kit won't be bad for our economy.
MAGVAS: This sounds like we get a deal. We will speak and call you back.
SINCLAIRE: Sounds like a plan, Honorable Grand Director. Thank you for your time, great friends from Endralon!
(Sinclaire hung up the phone.)
FEKETE: Well, this is acceptable both for my party and military.
VINCZE: The NPIP and the Presidency still supports King Carlu.
MÁRTON: You know the opinion of our party and my Ministry.
MAGVAS: With this, with the progressives we have majority in Republican Senate, and with NPP we have majority in the Council.
VINCZE: Incredible...
MAGVAS: I will call back Lourenne and I will make an announcement. Can you make an other too, Grand Director Fekete?
FEKETE: You can count on me.
MAGVAS: Fine. I think we decided. Thank you for your time.

[XanderOne]

20.25, Palace of the Ex-General Archives, Headquarters of the Istalian Intelligence, Romula, Istalia

In one of the offices of the building a man in a suit was waiting patiently sitting on the voluminous leather armchair behind his glass and steel desk, occasionally glancing at the baroque-style gilded table clock in front of him. He had been waiting for half an hour, since he had received a phone call while he was getting ready to go home, but finally the secretary informed him that "they had arrived".

Two men and a woman entered the study, one of the men was an Army colonel, who approached the desk and greeted the seated man before sitting down:

"Mr. Director"
"Director Merlin, Colonel Riomma, please take a seat" the other man, his assistant, took place on another chair moved close to the desk from the wall.
"Thank you for receiving us immediately, sir" the woman greeted him.
"You was quite convincing Mrs Director" replied sarcastically the DESIS' General Director, as the wording on the silver plaque on the desk reported "come on, tell me all you know"
"we received confirmation an hour ago sir, our HUMINT resources sent us the first reports three days ago and today the DIRAD intercepted unequivocal data and communications" the woman opened the briefcase with which she had entered and extracted a gray folder with the word 'RESERVED' stamped in red and which slid on the smooth surface of the desk.
The General Director took it by starting to leaf through it and as he ran through the sheets his eyes grew darker, until finally he put the folder down and slowly took off his glasses, two thin rimless lenses supported by very thin silver temples.
He rubbed his eyes, still remaining silent for a few seconds, then spoke again:
"I will immediately ask for a meeting of the Supreme Security Council, but in the meantime..." he turned to his assistant saying "Federico, prepare and send an executive directive to the Director of SISDI: maximum attention to domestic shielding and protection first of all!"
Then he turned to the Army officer:
"Colonel Riomma, let's inform the Defense Staff: DESIS recommends that the DIMIF takes the necessary precautions to protect the Armed Forces"
"for the moment we have no data that they have started hostile intelligence activities" the woman pointed out "SISDI has confirmed that the foreign intelligence activity detected in our area in recent months is of Majatrana origin: it is excluded that it may be Thaller activity"
"but yet we have not yet found out where this other foreign activity comes from and I assure you that in the high places they are not happy at all! So I want to take all possible precautions now that the resumption of Thallerist activity in two countries has been confirmed, better to be on high alert immediately"
"Yes, sir"
"Regarding the SISDE, on the other hand, I want you Mrs Director to start a global monitoring: movement of funds, recruitment of mercenaries, confidential meetings, everything! Let's begin also a monitoring of the Thallers in Deltaria, let's see if they'll get in touch with Thallers in Narik and Hulstria. And get ready with the Action and Contrast T-00 Protocols Mrs Director, so that you can activate them as soon as the Supreme Security Council will give its green light"
"But will we have the go-ahead? T-00 protocols can be somewhat... 'invasive', sir"
"The Foreign Minister will slam down her fist to give you the green light... the Emperor will be no different! We are talking about scum Thallers, Mrs Director"
"Yes, sir"
"Federico" turned again to his assistant "executive order for DIRAD: satellites on Hulstria and especially Narikaton, mainly on the islands, every type of detection possible, h24. I want to know even if there is just a schoolgirl who goes for a bike ride in a park in Narik!"
"Yes, sir"
"it will be a long day tomorrow" sighed the DESIS Director "it is also my daughter's birthday, I also took the day off for the little party at home... fucking Thallers..."
"sir" spoke his assistant "this could push the government to give greater account to the SISDI reports regarding foreign activities in the country and... also guarantee more funds and above all freedom of action"
"yes, probably, but... you know Federico... I would have preferred something else and not a possible new Thallerist regurgitation to stir the high places"
"yes... sure sir"
"now, let's see this data in detail. Federico, please prepare and send the official request for the convening of an extraordinary emergency meeting of the CSS, top priority"
"Yes sir," exclaimed the assistant who got up and went away, leaving the superior to discuss with the other two.

[alaskancrabpuffs21]

Royal Limousine, Aikums, Dolgavia 7:30 pm Local Time

Queen Konstanja was out of breath. She sat in the comfort of her bulletproof car as she went down the street through the middle of the capital. The golden tiara she had worn for half the day was still resting on her head. As a princess she was not used to wearing the tiara all the time. However now that she was the Queen of Dolgavia she had to get used to this. She reached up and felt the tiara, it felt cold on her fingers. She gently slid it from out of her hair and admired it for the first time. Unlike her mother's her tiara was gold, it had diamonds ingrained into it. She looked back out her window as people still were cheering from the sides of the street. She looked back at the crown. She though "someday this will be in a museum"... Her face turned into a mischievous smile, "not if I have anything to do with it and then shook her head".

Her mind had been racing all day. Throughout the ceremony her vision had been blurry, her mind had been a blur, everything went in slow motion. She tried explaining this to Timothy but he had said she was "dehydrated". Whatever the case was Konstanja was going back to a place she knew well. The Royal Palace. For years she had in the house for the Crown, Prince/Princess right next door. She has spent the past 3 days helping her mother pack up her belongings. She now was going to stay in the Royal Bedroom. She thought to herself "when was the last time I stayed in there?" She though back. Back to the days where she wound sneak out of her bedroom and wake up her parents by scratching at their door. She then remembered when it had been. Her parents had taken a trip to Lourenne, "or was it Kazulia" Konstanja thought puzzled for a second. "nah it was Lourenne" she thought as coincidentally the limo passed the Lourenne Embassy. Anyways, her parents had gone away for a day or two and they put Konstanja in the charge of the nanny which was a rare occurrence. Konstanja could count the amount of times she had to stay long periods of time with the nanny. She had sneaked out of her room and gone into the Royal Bedroom where her parents stayed. She then sneaked into her mother's walk in closet and tried on her mother's dresses. "They all were way too long", Konstanja thought snickering as the limo pulled up to the Palace.

The Queen got out of the limousine as the sun was starting to set. She looked around and on the street in front of the palace a crowd had gathered. She stood there and waved for a split second and then hurried inside. "Good Evening your majesty" the guards said upon entering. The Queen acknowledged them and her pace quickened. Her secretary and her staff were in the main hall when Konstanja approached. They all bowed. "Konstaja thought, I wish they would stop doing that... I liked the way they treated me when I was a princess"... She carefully walked up the steps, her shoes tapped against the wood like a woodpecker. She made it to the upstairs common room and met more guards. These guards knew her very well, Konstanja knew them as well. She stopped and looked at them. Then she said "I just want to thank you all for what you do. I don't know if this coronation experience has made me more humble than I usually am or not, but I just wanted to thank you all". Then she smiled and walked into the Royal Bedroom and closed the door. She scanned the room and made sure that yes she was alone and carefully took off her shoes. She then threw them across the floor as her feet finally stood on the flat floor. She half skipped half walked into the living area and sat down on a couch. She thought about what had happened today. All that she had felt. The fact that she was Queen! The thoughts swirled inside her mind. She turned on the TV as she though "I sure hope I didn't look grungy"...

Konstanja flipped the TV on expecting to see continued coverage of her coronation but instead she saw a different scene. She was wars, guns, aircraft, explosions, fire, destruction... The Queen of Dolgavia's happiness nearly was obliterated in a split second as the scenes of war filled the room. Then a press conference suddenly appeared, it was.... "King Carlu..." Konstanja hissed as she grew angrier and angrier. "That Bastard", the Queen said quite loudly, "first he tries to take the throne from Éva and now he steals the coverage from my coronation"... She flipped off the TV angrily and pulled up a chair next to the picture window. She sighed and her mind drifted off... "What a long day". She told herself, "but it was a good day" she said smiling at herself once again.

[robmark0000]

22:00 16, December 4770, Protected Operational Room, Fifteenth Floor, Citadel, Hugamest or Republican Capital, Republican Canton of Hugalon, Directorial Republic of Endralon
- Security Governmental Record -

Magvas Mánuel - Direct Democrats (Grand Director of Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
Fekete Tibor - Ndrálon People's Party (Grand Director of Ministry of Defense)
Márton Panna - Direct Democrats (Grand Director of Ministry of Health and Social Services)
Ivan Kulic - Ndrálon People's Party (Grand Director of Ministry of Finance)

KULIC: Welcome, Citizens... But where are His Excellency, the President?
MÁRTON: We need your economic advice, Citizen Grand Director, not false theories about superiority of men and about power of God.
KULIC: But, Madame Grand Director, you speak about our elected President of the Directorial Republic...
FEKETE: Its OK, Ivan. Admit it, he is an idiot who cannot focusing on the right topics. Come on and don't play the good boy!
KULIC: If you say. What do you need?
MAGVAS: We waiting a call from Queen Éva of Keymon, and based on the report of her secretary for foreign affairs, it will focusing on economy.
KULIC: I see, and when will she switched to the phone?
MAGVAS: Well, she already switched. We just waiting for you.
KULIC: Are you let waiting a Queen just for me? Oh my gosh.
MAGVAS: It's fine. To the guards. Notify Target Two about we are ready to answer her call.
(Queen Éva switched to the call.)
MAGVAS: Good evening, Your Majesty Chosen!
QUEEN ÉVA: Your Majesty Chosen?
MAGVAS: We don't know who will be the real Majesty after the civil war. You are chosen by your father, so you are the Majesty Chosen and Queen Chosen to us, like an electoral winner, but not yet President, a President Elect.
QUEEN ÉVA: You are a sophisticated diplomat, Mister Grand Director.
MAGVAS: Thank you, Your Majesty Chosen. You wanted this call, please, tell us what do you want.
QUEEN ÉVA: As you know, New Valois and Lourenne, your supported ones, endorsed me in this civil war. There is no reason to be enemies.
MÁRTON: Excuse me, Your Majesty Chosen, but you are still an absolutist. Endralon will never endorse an absolutist ruler.
QUEEN ÉVA: Really? And what happened in Zardugal? Was that random, that after the Zardugalian totalitarian regime joined to 3M, Endralon ceased the support of the Zardugalian liberal rebels? Was that not endorsement?
FEKETE: She have a point. The NPP was never supported that war what just served the interests of the III. District of Hugamest.
MÁRTON: Want Street, you can say it, III. District of Hugamest, this sounds fucked up.
MAGVAS: Grand Director Fekete, you have to remember, that I am socialist. And socialist not a fan of megacorps.
QUEEN ÉVA: But it happened, wasn't it?
KULIC: Welcome Your Majesty Chossen, I am the Grand Director of Ministry of Defense of the Directorial Republic of Endralon. Have you an offer?
QUEEN ÉVA: You are a genius, Mister Grand Director.
(Laugh everybody.)
QUEEN ÉVA: I will win this war. We all know that and this is just matters on time. If our 'dictatorship' not a problem for you anymore, you can get important role to rebuild our country. 3M important positions in healthcare, LTG important positions in the Royal Football League, PubAir End in aerospace...
FEKETE: This is all direct democrat companies from Want Street. This is good only for them, not for us.
MÁRTON: I have to remember you, Tibi, that 3M, LTG and PAE take Endralon to its economic place. For a better economy, this is a good chance to grew our economy.
MAGVAS: I have to agree with Panna. A better economy must be the goal.
FEKETE: What do you think as expert, Ivan?
KULIC: This is true, private companies grew our economy. And PAE not a direct democrat, but a governmental company, you forgot it. This is a very good offer if Lourenne still defend the Mad Dog.
QUEEN ÉVA: It will, I promise.
MAGVAS: Grand Director Fekete, I want to accept this offer. My condition will be that Her Majesty Chosen have to make a speech about democracy because of the public. Have I the NPP's support both in Council of Grand Directors and Republican Senate?
FEKETE: Ivan?
KULIC: We have to accept it, this is a great chance to grew the economy.
FEKETE: Yes, you have.
MAGVAS: You heard it, Your Majesty Chosen. Are you capable to make a speech about democracy?
QUEEN ÉVA: Watch Jamestown, New Valois in the next morning.
MAGVAS: The business with you is super. Thank you for your call!
QUEEN ÉVA: Good luck the stay your position. But I hope, New Patriarchal Integralist Party will get majority in next elections.
MAGVAS: We still can reconsider this business.
QUEEN ÉVA: I said nothing.
MAGVAS: Goodbye, Your Majesty Chosen!
(Magvas hung it up.)
KULIC: I will speak with Boros Norbert from 3M and Króm Gyula from LTG, and the Commissioner Director of PAE...
MAGVAS: No, just speak about the CD of PAE. I will talk with my fellow Party Members.
KULIC: But...
FEKETE: Let him talk to them, Ivan.
KULIC: Okay, then I will just speak with the CD.
MAGVAS: Let's go to work.

[Augustus Germanus]

23:15, Old basement room of the State Secretariat Palace, Kivonia (the city), Davostan

The two elusive shadows whispers in the old basement room under the State Secretariat Palace, the national government's official meeting place and the office of the head of government: the Secretary of State of the Republic.

The two people, two men whispers carefully to each other. None of the two could really see each others faces fully as the weak light coming from the corner of the room only showed both their mouths.

"What do you mean?" asks one of the men while struggling to comprehend what he just heard from the other man in front of him.
"Exactly what I said. We must play our part in what's to come. The current Republic is soon to be a finished chapter, what matters is her plan" responds the other man, seeming to be the more senior of the two.
"What plan? Explain in more detail Counsel..." says the first man before being interrupted by the other.
"Shh! No names, no titles. You never know who might be listening, even in this forgotten basement. Her plan is meant to be only known to a select few, for the coming greatness of Kivonia, we cannot, under any circumstances risk jeopardizing everything. The only thing people like you can do is to play you're part in it. Understand?" whispers the senior man.
"Yes I understand" the junior of the two responds.
The senior continues, "Everything is going according to her plan. The tensions with Telamon is steadily moving up and in any moment it might blow, and then the most important decisions has to be made to ensure the survival of the national salvation spirit in the post-war society. There is however one problem?"
"What problem?" asks the junior nervously.
"The State Officer..." says the senior thoughtfully.
"Isabella Cederstam? What about her?" responds the junior confused.
The senior of the two, carefully looks around the room, he then leans forward towards the junior man and says, "Well, her position as State Officer is quite a strong one, and she has raised her objections towards a war. We need to control her, but her beliefs in justice or perhaps a better word 'righteousness' and so-called "honor", could pose as an obstacle towards the plan. I would like her to be on our side, it would be a relief to know that someone as orderly as her is helping to execute it".
The junior thinks for a few second before answering, "Her belief in the warrior-ways of the Kivonians and Dictator Reinhardt's legacy should be stronger than her belief in righteousness, right?" asks the man.
"Possibly, but it is mostly her belief in honor, that could challenge the whole thing. She is from an ancient warrior-clan who has hold up the tradition of honor, so it would be quite hard to recruit her based on that. We will have to come up with something soon. At any moment the fate of the Third Republic will hang on a thread my friend. At any moment now."

[Lucipher]

04:15, the Upphaf, a Skilning-class submarine in the Navy of Telamon in the northern Lievenian Sea (north of Sønderhavn and Hafnarlavik in Davostan)

"Check again" comes the order from the Lautinant Skipstjóri (Lieutenant Captain), "we must know if there are any enemy vessels about".

With no pings being heard from the sonar, Miðskipsmaður (Midshipman) Sigurbergsson announces: "there doesn't seem to be anyone around, sir. We're in the clear."

The submarine continues on, on orders to stay 22.1km away from the coast at the closest, thereby not breaching Davostan's territorial waters. Above the surface and further out to sea, in the dead of night, there are construction ships out creating some sort of floating naval base, or staging station, as if in preparation for an attack. Onboard a Lysvand-class stealth corvette floating around the construction, Háaðdáandi (High Admiral) Þrawnsson oversees the construction. He reaches for his radio to message an overseer, simply asking, "construction commandant, when is the latest advised time construction can end most nights?"

The message comes back instantly—everyone knows not to keep the High Admiral waiting. The Construction Commandant answers, "Well sir, the last advised time is 05:00, but we have gone as long as 06:00 and as early as 04:00 depending on the circumstances, sir."

High Admiral Þrawnsson sweeps his gaze across the billions of Telamonic Pounds worth of construction equipment. "Prepare your men to close early tonight. I have a feeling with recent developments, the military of the usurpers shall be on high alert, no matter how remote we attempt to make this operation. Initiate Protocol Hrókur." (Rook, as in the chess piece).

"Yes sir" comes the response from the Construction Commandant, shouting the command out to his underlings.

The men working the equipment move it out of the way and begin loading it back onto the flat barges designed for stealth by the Elítusveit design agency. (The Elítusveit is the general-purpose special forces agency of the Armed Forces of Telamon—not just involved in military conflicts, they deal with everything from designing top-secret barges to coding malware for offensive purposes.) Afterwards, the workers haul a specially designed tarp over the base, created to scramble anything looking for something out-of-place and seem like an anomaly not worth their time. With that completed, the magic begins. The Construction Commandant hits a button, filling the ballast tanks of the station and sending it 25 meters under the surface, further hiding it from view or searches.

With that completed, the High Admiral retires back into the hold of his ship, where he receives a message from the High Queen herself—he is to become the Fyrsta Marshalinn af Tælmörk (First Marshal of Telamon), the highest rank available and the supreme commander of all military forces in the nation. The preparations for the war are ready. So is he.

[Augustus Germanus]

11:50, Reinhardt Palace, Kivonia (the city), Davostan

A woman sits in the waiting room, soon to be called in to the highest official in the land. However, this is nothing new, she, the State Officer for the National Preservation of the Kivonian Republic, Isabella Cederstam, formerly held the position as the main Military Advisor to the Head of the Nation, therefore meeting him almost every day. Cederstam, a Lieutenant General in the army, persuaded by General Volkhardt (the highest official, through the office of Head of the Nation) to involve herself more actively in politics. As State Officer, Cederstam holds ex officio as the presiding officer of the Civil Assembly (national legislature), and is a permanent member of the cabinet. The door to the Head of the Nation's office opens and she is called in.

As she walks in, she observes General Volkhardt sitting at his desk with a genuine smile of gladness when seeing her. For a moment, however, she freezes when she turns to see another, familiar man, standing in front of a certain painting in the other side of the room while looking at it, it is a painting of the late Dictator August Reinhardt hanging on the wall. The man then turns and without hesitation meets her eyes. Cederstam clearly understands who this is, just by feeling his ice-cold eyes piercing through her. It is none other than the Counselor to the Republic, Julius Callus. The only person in the nation, and probably the whole of terra, she cannot predict or understand.

As a few awkward seconds pass, Julius Callus with a small mischievous smile he always wears says, "Don't let me captivate you ms State Officer". Cederstam comes to her senses and looks back to the Head of the Nation, who still hasn't removed his smile of gladness. "Welcome Isabella", says Augustin Volkhardt, the General who according to his enemies, usurped the nation, but in actuality the founder of the current Third Republic. Officially a Parliamentary Stratocratic Republic, but has in recent years turned more authoritarian and has been denounced as a de facto military dictatorship, "most likely due to the man behind me" Cederstam thinks to herself. "Thank you sir. As you know I just came back from a meeting with the National Military Commission, they have become much more worried about the reported increasing movements of the Telamonic military", Cederstam answered stiffly, as she could feel the glazing eyes of Callus behind her, still on the other side of the room.

"Yeah, yeah. The Commission is always much more worried about everything. I didn't create the body for it to be worried, I created it as a measure to keep things effective and smooth" General Volkhardt replies tiredly. "Anyways, I have an important thing to tell you" he continues. "What kind of thing?" Cederstam replies worriedly. She observes that Volkhardt hesitates and exchanges a quick glance with Callus, who for some reason is still standing behind her on the other side of the room. "The conflict with Telamon is basically a matter of time now, and so, if the Hutorians back them up directly, then we have no choice to activate the Totalförsvars Dekret (Total Defence Decree (http://classic.particracy.net/viewbill. ... lid=625509), by doing so we receive plenty of new troops and field army groups" Volkhardt tells. Cederstam simply responds with a few nods. "Therefore, I have decided, that the one best suited to command the to be 7th Army would be you, Isabella" Volkhardt continues, and as he finishes his sentence he observes Cederstam for her reaction.

All kinds of different thoughts are now ramping in Cederstam's head, as she tries to organize every thought, she cannot get passed the glances which Volkhardt gave Callus before telling her this. "Why would he give Callus such glances? Is it perhaps Callus who is behind this appointment? But why? What would he get by putting me in charge of an army? What cou... now I see, this is his way of getting rid of my influence over Volkhardt. That bastar..." Cederstam thought to herself before being interrupted by Volkhardt, "Isabella?", as she wakes up from her thoughts she responds with, "I'm so sorry, I was just surprised that I would receive such an honor. But... I think I might be of more use by your side here in the capital, and by the way, only a General can command an army, I am just a Lieutenant Gener..." Cederstam is once more interrupted by Volkhardt, but now because of his smile, "wait, you mean you're going to make me a General?", she confusedly responded to his smile. A few seconds pass by without an answer, simply a genuine smile from Volkhardt's part. Then a cold voice from the back of the room broke the silence, "Congratulations ms, you would make an excellent General, and with you on the battlefield, it would with no doubt lead to a quick victory". As Cederstam turns around to meet Callus glazing eyes, she notices that he stills wears his small mischievous smile.


12:30, Reinhardt Palace, Kivonia (the city), Davostan

While walking down the main stairway towards the exit of the palace, Isabella Cederstam notices two men speak, both standing near the railing of the staircase about 10 steps down from where she stands. Cederstam, identifies the men as Minister Viktor Haninge, one of General Volkhardt's closest confidants, and none other than Julius Callus, again. The latter notices Cederstam's glance, once again putting on his small mischievous smile when meeting her eyes. Minister Haninge turns around and sees Cederstam as well, the Minister then quickly turns to Callus whispering something Cederstam couldn't understand, and then started to walk down the stairs. But before going down, the Minister quickly nodded and with the usual curtesy said "Madam" to her. Cederstam looks at Minister Haninge as he disappeared downstairs, she then turned her head to once more meet the Counselors piercing eyes. On her guard, she walks down to him, and cautiously asks "What are you up to?". No reaction, his face stays the same, his eyes fixated on hers and his smile still being there, "Oh nothing urgent, for now", Julius Callus responds with the low and calm voice he always has. Cederstam suspiciously looks at him while waiting for him to continue. "We we're simply exchanging words over a, so-called plan" Callus continues while stilling keeping his calm mischievous expression. Cederstam responds by asking "what plan?". "The plan. Or rather her plan" he exclaims, while observing her confused reaction. "Her plan? Who's her?" she replies. As usual Callus keeps his expression, but now with an even more mischievous smile, and without answering Cederstam's question he starts to slowly walk up the staircase. And as Cederstam looks up at him with a confused expression, Callus replies, "Who knows? Perhaps you'll find out". Now with the unsettling emotions inside her, Cederstam with a more angry voice says, "you're toying with me, aren't you?". Callus stops for a moment and slowly turns around to once more meet her eyes, this time he says nothing just giving her his same small mischievous smile, then he turns to face forward and continues his way back up...