Riding on the Wings of a Raven
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It should go without saying, but like IC Secret
SAINT REGINA ICHOLASEN
MARCH 10 2020 1830 HOURS
HOME OF LT. JULIA HOESON"Some say fear turns the legs to jelly, others say it turns the the body to stone, " began Ylva looking at the terrified lieutenant and her family, "I simply would call those believe that uneducated, inexperience, or whatever other word you wish to describe those foolish enough to know what true fear is. No true fear makes you brittle, so rigid and unable to move because if you do you simply fall apart."
Ylva twiddled with her knife once more, even with her gloves on she could feel the heat radiating from the fresh blood still on it. Before she continued she made a note of the already flayed piece of flesh on the floor next to the Lieutenant's formerly conscious husband. " Look this business of ours should not concern you or your family, but it does unfortunately. I can either continue with my activities on your daughter since your husband would be a dreadful bore now. "
The Lieutenant attempted to muffle a protest through her gag to no avail. The restraints on her too tight to move against the dining chair, in fact other than the blood of blooding surrounding her husband and the restraints against her and the rest of the family nothing else in the house was touched. Almost as if this was rehearsed in the presence of their very home to the point of memory. There was no hesitation, no there was only confidence in every move. Dinner was while cold still looked fresh, albeit now disgusting considering her husband's flesh now resting on his dining plate.
"Oh dear protests were for when I started my little game, the time when I gave no motive and I was just having fun. Fortunately for you, I have no intent to mix business and pleasure tonight, I had my fun. Now if you wish to save the lives of your children, your extended family, and of course yourself you will do exactly as you are told. Any deviation will be met with extreme punishment," Ylva paused waiting for the response she knew was coming, a defeated nod with tears coming down the eyes.
"Why is it always that the administrative officers break so easily, you would swear they get some kind of training. Remove her gag"
Ylva's associate removed the gag on the Lieutenant, while the other two prepped for the next phase of the plan. Ylva herself only took out the Lieutenant's issued smart phone, and using the Lieutenant's finger opened it.
"I'm going to call the General now, you are to tell her that she is to no longer fly commercial back to Icholasen but is to board a charter flight under aircraft registration NI-420. Captain Swift will meet her at the private departures terminal to escort her. "
The Lieutenant silently nodded, as the phone rang more and more tears streamed down her face. Was this all just to kidnap the General? Kill her? These could not just be foreigners their Nicoleizian was too robust, even if they tried to speak french privately between themselves they had to be communists or something. No, there could not be any communist who would go through such depravity. The phone finally picked up.
"HEY LT! What's up girl? I'm on my way to the airport so make it quick," the General answered.
Lieutenant Hoeson slowly made her way to the required dialogue.
"You okay? You should like worried about something? Did Thomas not buy those shoes he promised?" the General interjected.
"No no no, everything is fine," the Lieutenant quickly snapped worried about what these assailants might do to her if discovered. The conversation ended, with the General on the way to an unknown fate.
Ylva took the phone with a smile on her face, thank the Lieutenant and nodded at the other men in the room. Suddenly the Lieutenant was gagged again, and injected with something. Was it a poison, no, it was some sedative like the ones they used in surgeries she thought before her consciousness faded. Ylva and her associates quickly finished their work, the house the Lieutenant owned was in a fairly isolated position of the neighborhood, any fire there would take some times to notice. The bodies of the family were moved to their bedrooms to make it seem like the fire had occurred some time through the night while they were all asleep.
"Inform the Ravens their meal will be arriving very shortly." Ylva ordered, they still have their work to do for tonight as the Maveq.
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GALLORUM AIRSPACE
MARCH 10 2020 2200 HOURSGeneral Tulsi Gabbard was taken rather aback from the sudden last minute change in plans, but next to flying her own fighter jet this was best thing. While the initial welcome to the plane was not the most warm it was still a private aircraft just to herself. Well herself and her security detachment who were notified at roughly the same time as well. Still the charter plane was relatively luxurious, Prince Tommy used this company every so often she believed.
The familiar sound of the cabin intercom echoed in the cabin- "This is your Captain speaking, we have about one hour flight time remaining to Saint Regina, at this time can our two lovely cabin crew make initial preparations for landing. "- ah, soon to be home thought the General as she glazed through the various notes she had gleamed over her meeting with the Archbishop. God, the new iPhone X was so great but already so old. Even besides the meeting with the archbishop, there were so many reports to shift through. For the entire trip besides the attendants offering beverages and drinks there was a weird silence. Well it wasn't totally silent, the newest Taylor Swift album was playing. She had the back of the aircraft to herself, facing away from her granted good looking body guards but they were men in uniform so they had no real conversation other than trying to curry favor for promotions.
The flight attendants were seemingly making another go among the cabin, probably the last one before landing.
"Hey Carol would you mind grabbing me ano-" the General was cut off permanently from her words.
From one second to the next the General was suddenly bleeding out at her neck. Her artery was slit with near perfect precision, Even with the overwhelming pain she noticed her two body guards fall to a similar move by other attendant.
The General attempted to at least say something but the blood was already starting to pool in her throat. Gasping for air, she could see the hole extended and shredding itself, the General instinctively put her hands in a futile attempt to put pressure on it. They never described how cold you would get, the General wanted to do something, but she was frozen, she felt if she moved a single muscle she would collapse to the floor never to get up.
"Oh stop, I know you're probably trying to call me so many things right now. Save your strength, or well save it if you want to see the fire works in a little."
"Eira!" the other attendant, was that a name. They began speaking another language the General did not know.
The two women started collecting the Generals notes and reports, Before the General faded she thought only one thing, she would never get to see the iPhone 12.
Eira was a fairly junior vanguard, this was her first real assignment of any real importance. It was an operation that while was only completely planned in a span of a few days, had years of preparations behind it. From the fake identities they had used, to slowly working with a charter private jet operator, making sure that certain mechanics were paid right to give an aircraft bad history for the maintenance records, and finally in the recent days planning the kidnap and assassination of the Nicoleizian, Tulsi Gabbard.
Her team was called the ravens, responsible for typically executing the final well execution.
"Synne the sim card and memory card from the phone are out, " Eira informed her commander.
"Good make sure we have any paperwork her two associates might have had. I will go inform our pilots to set the detonator and to prepare to leave the aircraft, remember be careful they are going to do a pretty fast descent over the Channel. "
Eira continued her work while David and Audo prepped the aircraft for the disposal. There was a small explosive set within the fuel tank, enough to ignite it but not enough to cause any alarm in the investigation. It would be positioned along the Fuel Level Indiciation System wiring within the tank. Chaffed and shorted wires would not be unheard of, especially on an aircraft with a spotty maintenance history and with recorded issues in the system recently.
The aircraft was set over position at a far better attitude for the team to jump. With all trace of the team now gone, they one by one jumped from the aircraft. There was a small yacht in the channel waiting to pick them up to make the journey back home to Vayinaod. Once on board Eira saw the distant explosion of the aircraft. One could say the dagger both literally and figuratively struck, specifically the Maveq had struck.
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NYETTHEM, VAYINAOD
RESIDENCE OF THE ARCHKONSUL
MARCH 24 2020 2239 HOURS GMT+ 2:15"Oh Alvar, still obessed with Gaulois literature as always."
Alvar simply turned the page and continued reading. it was not the first time she had found some elaborate way into his private residence. Alvar's recent dealings with the Maveq made her appearances more frequent, even if they still scared him to death each time. His position maintained that he should not convey that fear. He was the one in charge after all, right?
"Yes, the newly accredited ambassador from Gallorum gave them to me as a gift. Three Muskateers, Count of Monte Cristo, Dangerous Liaisons, and quite a few others actually. Very thoughtful of them, haven't been able to sharpen my French reading skills for awhile, you aren't here to discuss classic literature are you though Ylva?" he retorted.
"Another time perhaps, I just got back from that business in Icholasen. Their faster than anticipated....change of command.... made getting out much more difficult. It was a nice vacation though," she started slowly making her way to the chair opposite of the Archkonsul.
"He wanted me to come personally thank you for ensuring that Cllr. Falk kept her mouth shut over this Firoux business. Kristian has been a great help as always, but apparently you were the one who convinced her."
"Well it would had been easier if we in the same meeting did not make her walk back her efforts to combat the communists in Icholasen," he snapped back, "Wasted manpower, diplomatic efforts, money, and political clout not to say the least. For what, some Maveq conspiracy-"
"Careful Archkonsul," Ylva interjected, "remember who put you in that very comfy chair, in this historic residence. The fact of the matter is, the Firoux matter was unexpected, as well as the Craticus-Communist Combine that has seemed to have formed in response to it. It was no longer advantageous to pursue their removal. On the matter of Councillors....I need you to recall Falk as well. "
"WHAT? That's outrageous, and completely illegal!"
"Nonsense, she was appointed under the terms of the Storting as effectively a minister position. There needs to be an election, an election where you will endorse someone outside the Free-Greens," Ylva responded with a cold smirk.
"That will go against the coalition we have with the Free-Greens. Why does she need-"
"Shut up Alvar. Falk can not stay, she will ruin things for both of us, unless you want to deal with an economic downturn from political and economic pressures from Craticus. She's absolutely flamin for Firoux. Unless you want to be the one on our chopping block, Falk is gone. The Maveq will deal with the Greens."
"Fine. It'll happen by the end of the week."
"Good well that's all I needed for tonight ha-"
"Let me be the one to interrupt this time," Alvar remarked, "Is this all just to get at him? There's no proof he did it other than the whispers on some intelligence briefs. We have more information on his relationship with that slut than we do that he killed your sister."
"NachlIj SoQ SoH jIv pujwI'" yelled Ylva in ancient Vayin as she lunged towards Alvar's throat with her knife already pulled to it. One single drop of blood slid down skin. The remnants of the famous Havoc King Table thrown off to the side, along with some of the novels given by the ambassador from Gallorum.
"If speak of my sister again you weak, inbred, failure of a Maveq; I will kill you. Craticus is mine, and that is final as well as none of your concern. Fire Falk by Friday, I'll see you in a few days to talk about your next steps."
Ylva pulled back, wiping the knife on the Archkonsul's shirt. She simply sighed and left as quickly and quietly as she entered his residence. Alvar was shocked, but he knew he went too far that time. She-wolfs were always temperamental he thought.
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EUROPOLIS
OFFICE OF THE VAYINAODIC REPRESENTATIVE TO THE EUROPEAN UNION
MARCH 27 2020 1030 HOURS GMT+1Carita Falk was mildly annoyed to say the least. She was to have the day off, the council did not have any pending business, spring was in the air. It was to be a good day. Unfortunately, Archkonsul Johansson had decently to schedule a surprise video conference on the matters pertaining to EU legislation.
"I swear if he tells me to propose another ridiculous thing to the council, I'm going to quit," exclaimed Falk to his assistant. The relationship between the Free Greens and the Social Democrats was always a tense one. Their coalition was formed out of necessity rather than any true mutual understanding. The Archkonsul himself was the main complaint most Greens had this election. The man typically stood for no real morals, and went with a "Smile and Wave" attitude. However, he won the election instead of the Moderates so he was their best chance for governance.
Falk was concerned it would relate in some manner to Speaker Firoux and the issues surrounding his recall. She had made it a point that they shouldn't issue any statement regarding the matter whatsoever. Speaking of neutrality only benefited in an apathetic manner to a side in that conflict of words. However, her friend and party leader, Kristian managed to convince her to give in to the Archkonsul this time as a way to pay back support for getting the Archkonsul to back off intervening in Reitzmag. They made it seem like it was the Archkonsul who convinced her, but it was Kristian's more....tactful approach.
Soon enough, she received the secured video game through the network vpn set up by her security. Such video calls were always encrypted just in case.
"Good morning Carita! I'll cut right to the chase to keep this short for you, I need you to propose a repeal of the condemnation of the coup in Icholasen, as well as look into getting the USNR recognized as the appropriate government of Icholasen within the EU," Alvar opened with, almost with a proud smile.
"I'm sorry can you repeat that?" Carita asked with a dumbfounded expression. She had only one response as the Archkonsul repeated himself this time without the smile. "You got to be fucking kidding me! Firstly, the Konsulate agreed to push that resolution to help out the legitimate government. The official position of the Archrepublic is to support the democratic application of a nation's own laws. Those laws were violated there. That can not stand as per policy."
"Yes....well....after discussing the developed situation with the Konsulate-"
"You mean without me?" Carita snapped back.
"You are not technically a part of the Konsulate so any time you discuss anything with us...it's more of a courtesy. Anyways the overarching opinion of the Konsulate is that we need to start moving towards recognizing the USNR like the other major nations," Alvar replied.
"Since you are intent on pushing foward that theory that I'm not part of the Konsulate. I'll push forward the legitimate fact that I am independent of you, and I am going to call the shots here. I'm not moving forward on either of those proposals," Carita stated with a stern look as if almost saying 'push me...I dare you'. Carita took her phone, making sure to keep it below the screen, and texted Kristian to verify what the hell was going on.
"If you want to quote from the European Union Ascension Act then, I'll quote too. If you do not adhere to my orders, I will recall you back to Vayinaod pending a proper Councillor election as per the Elected and Accountable Council Act," Alvar threatened.
"If you recall me, the Greens are out of this coalition. You will lose the 'positive relationship' with the Storting and your time as Archkonsul will be over."
"I sincerely doubt that. Kristian will side with me, and they will make sure to keep my majority."
"Am I recalled then?" Carita asked almost as if extending a final olive branch.
"You are officially recalled." Alvar snapped as the call was ended.
"Get me Kristian and Lorens Henningsen of the Moderates on the video call right now..." Carita shouted to her assistant filled with rage over what just happened.
NYETTHEM, VAYINAOD
OFFICE OF THE ARCHKONSUL
MARCH 27 2020 1157 HOURS GMT+2:15"Fuck......"
That was all Alvar was able to muster at his desk. His chief of staff, Alexander, was there with him, and just as dumbfounded as to what just happened.
"Should I?" Alexander began.
"Leave and start making phone calls with the Liberals, Centres, ...hell start a conversation with the Democrats....Unless all three of them agree to support us we aren't going to maintain the 'positive relationship'. Look into what vote we have coming up..."
"Well sir...we have the vote on recognizing the USNR, and a vote on setting up a diplomatic mission in Reitzmag."
"We lose both of them....we have to call an election....get started on getting the campaign machine rolling. Make sure no one comes into my office, I have a phone call to make.
With that, Alexander left the office to begin damage control. Alvar had lost the bluff with Carita. Kristian didn't even know he was calling Falk about the measures he proposed. The measures he was forced to propose by the She-Wolf. Alvar decided to give the devil herself a call. The call took a few minutes to go through because of the secure lines he was using, after intially explaining the situation he was met by only one response.
"Well you fucked up."
"Yes I know that," Alvar retorted.
"The Director won't be able to pull any strings here, and neither will I. Falk is going to take his public immediately...too many eyes on this now unfortunately dear," she replied with a slight coo.
"You're the one who wanted me to recall her."
"Yes recall her, pretend its time to have an election. Not force policies down her throat and make her end the coalition that took me weeks to set up for you. You also fucked up since she did not quit. If the European Council ends up having some sort of vote she will be allowed by the Storting to head right back there. You're on your own."
"You said to recall her, and I did. You said the Maveq would deal with the Greens. What am I suppose to do now! I won't be able to hold my majority. The Greens will probably leave by the end of the day, the progressives might go with them and if that happens there is no way I can not prevent an early election without the the fucking Moderates," he yelled.
Well the Maveq could have kept the Greens happy if you painted it like holding a legit election but I guess you are pretty bad at figuring the details out of your own. I should have known better but I guess you know what to do now then. Run a campaign, legally this time of course. I don't have much dirt on Lorens he is quite the poster boy," Ylva responded with a tone of indifference if one could exist. She hung up the phone after that leaving Alvar to sit in his office pondering the failure of his administration.
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