Northern UtopiaBoard

(OOC: I've been mad busy so this message is going to make up for lost time so there will be a few time-skips to catch up to today.)
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The door of the ore refinery flew open as 30 armed men from State Security stormed the refinery. "Hände hoch, auf dem Boden!" yelled the guards. As the workers put their hands in the air and lied down, Kommandant Wolfenstein entered the building with 7 Sergeants. "Search the building for the uranium, arrest anyone from Interior Security!" the commander barked. The 7 sergeants began weaving through the building, searching for the ore and interior security officers. 30 minutes had passed before the 7 sergeants returned with 5 interior security officers and no ore. "This refinery is a bust, no ore." said the first sergeant. Wolfenstein sighed and pulled out his phone, dialing in and waiting. "Ja?" Said the voice on the other end. "Phorson Refinery is a bust, there's no ore but 5 officers." Wolfenstein said.

"Execute them"

Wolfenstein hung up and turned around. "Execute them and load up." The 5 officers were shot and the workers were sent home. As the teams loaded back up into the trucks, Wolfenstein sighed as he looked at the map. In the past week, they had raided nearly every refinery in Greater Autenheim. In this mad hunt search for unrefined uranium from an unknown place, they might be able to figure out where it came from and who ordered it. It was also apart of a gamble to git rid of the Internal Security Office. Ambassador Hans had become suspicious of their actions and was determined to put all the pieces together. And quite honestly, Kommandant Wolfenstein didn't mind at all. He was determined to watch the State Security Department rise against the Internal Security Office and crush them.

Hans stood quietly at his desk, reading the folder. In the past week, various meetings had been called between each branch in a gamble to attempt to organize the government. Everything had gone ordinarily to plan, but this unrefined uranium had become a pain in Hans' neck. The shipment had gotten past the naval base because it was approved by a government official, and when the file for the approval was found, it was burnt and the entry into the government database had been wiped entirely for that single day. Hans had his suspicions, but accusations could bring about heavy controversy. Hans sighed heavily and shut off the light to his office and grabbed his coat. As he went to the door, the phone rang. Hans turned and jogged to the phone, picking it up. "Guten Tag, Reichbotschafter Hans Håkon." He answered. "Hans, it's Wolfenstein." Ah yes, hopefully good news. "We've hit nearly every refinery in the empire, we aren't finding this uranium."

Hans groaned with contempt. He nodded as he thought. All the refineries they had search had been private refineries and it seemed obvious that's where it would be. Hans then had a thought. He told the Kommandant to hold and ran out of the office, through the building to the cartographers office. He searched through the drawers and found the energy department's map collection, pulling out the government run refineries. There were 10, 9 of which had been checked. However, a single refinery in Nordsletter. Hans went back to his office and pulled Wolfenstein to the line. "There's a refinery in northeast Nordsletter"

"Hans, that refinery was shut down 4 years ago, it was an experimental underground refinery."

"Right, the perfect refinery for a secret refinement of uranium." He said. "Understood, I'll get the team ready." Hans nodded "I'm going to reinforce your team, if that is the refinery, it's going to be heavily defended by internal security. When you get there, blockade the multiple underground exit tunnels, then enter through them. Eliminate all officers and secure the uranium, refined and unrefined. No survivors."

"Not even the workers?"

Hans sighed and thought for a moment. "No, kill everyone." The phone went dial tone and Hans made his way out of his office.

Days later, the State Security had arrived at the refinery. As they gathered at the entrances, Kommandant Wolfenstein watched with his four Kapitäne. Once his teams entered the refinery, he would be blind. His teams entered and through the comes, he could tell internal security was putting up a fight. As it commenced, Wolfenstein spoke into the mic. "Grab the Plant Manager and highest ranked Internal Security Officer." More than two hours had passed. Multiple trucks came from the depot carrying unenriched uranium. The two gentleman Wolfenstein requested had been brought forth to him. He knelt to the and looked at the ISO first. "So, who sent you here?" The ISO laughed and spit on the Kommandant's shoes. Hans gave the officer a firm jab at the face and turned to the Plant Manager. "Who assigned you to this unit?"

"A man who called himself 'Ulma', he said Ulma Killed Yellow"

My god... Kommandant Wolfenstein grabbed the phone and rang to Hans.

Hans always seemed to get phone calls to early in the morning. He groaned as he sat up and picked up the phone. "Hans, Hans, it's Ubel. Ubel ordered the uranium." Hans was speechless. This proved so much yet so little. Hans set the phone down and thought quietly. In the weeks past, the judge had been rallying personal public support, he had gained the majority vote of the Congress of Directors, and was rallying powers which were not vested into him. Hans thought harder, and it had come to him that he also controlled the Internal Security Office. Hans sat up quickly and hung up, getting dressed and speeding to his office. Action must be taken promptly. As he got there, he realized that everyone was already here. The was a meeting? Hans entered and ran through to the Hall. He entered and Ubel had been standing on his podium.

Ubel looked down at Hans across the hall. Ubel made his final announcement. "Under the popular vote, I hereby use the Executive powers vested in me to dismiss the Imperial Assembly."

Hans had a clearer idea of what was beginning to happen.

Thirty minutes before sunset in the mountainous town of Tongstedlandet and the streets were abuzz with activity. People scurried back and forth on the crowded roads, sharply dodging each other as they rushed from buildings to the monorails that linked each peak in the mountains over the trenches that separated them. Sports games halted, and people visiting friends said their goodbyes and retreated back to their homes. Thirty minutes later, and an eerie silence had been laid like a blanket over the now dark town. All monorails had ceased operations, resting soundly at their termination sites; whilst light was now only emitting from a few isolated pockets of street lamps.
One woman could be spotted running through these deserted streets; a certain fourth year medical student at Tongstedlandet University who went by the name Marie Bjorkstrand was rushing back to her flat through the cold night air. Her arms were overloaded with grocery bags, playing a careful balancing act as she made her way up the stairs of her apartment block towards her flat. Upon reaching the door with the number 34 splashed across it, she carefully lay down her mountain of groceries and reached for the keycard in the right pocket of her jeans; swiping it across the door and allowing for her entry.
As she entered the warm embrace of the flat, her eyes were greeted by the sight of an elderly man sitting in a worn-out armchair in front of a TV, the contents of which had just been switched off. It was plain to see the old man in the chair had seen his fair share of things: his silvery-grey hair looked dangerously close to falling out; with his skin not being in a much better state, as wrinkles covered practically the entire surface. His clothes too were tatty and worn, practically tearing at the seams - this was not, however, mirrored in the man's expression; he turned around to face Marie, upon seeing whom led to a wide grin spreading across the man's visage, complimented by eyes that shined bright with an optimism and joy that had refused to be snuffed out over all of his years.
"So, Marie, you got everything I asked you to get from the store?"
"Just... about..." Came Marie's strained reply, hauling in her goods one by one. Seeing her go through this struggle, the man switched off the TV and came over to assist. "Honestly grandad, you would not believe how quickly the atmosphere changes here: one minute it's all welcoming and cheerful, then the next and suddenly everyone's scampered off and it's dead silent. I can't for the life of me fathom why everyone in this town seems to have a phobia of the dark."
"Well, it is tradition to stay indoors after the sun's gone down in this town, it's an ancient custom dating back many years, you know."
"Really? Why's that?"
"Well, I'll tell you once you put all this shopping away and sort yourself out - you look like a mess!"
"Alright, alright..."
Marie then scurried away to the shower room to get a look at herself in the mirror, only to reveal that what her grandad had said was completely true: her long ginger hair which was usually kept straight and orderly had gone completely frizzy, her green cardigan was dislodged from its correct position on her chest, and her glasses had been skewed from the running she'd been doing in an attempt to get back to the flat before sunset. After spending a good while fixing herself up, then another while packing away everything she'd bought in the evening, Marie walked over to the living room to hear her grandad's story. The aforementioned man could be found lying back in his favoured armchair, his face showing a perplexed expression, presumably deep in thought - or asleep, perhaps, it was hard to tell. Marie gave him a tap on the shoulder to make sure the latter wasn't the case, to which the man jolted up to face her.
"Ha-wha-? Oh right, Marie; you ready to listen to me blabber on for a few minutes?"
"I can handle it."
"Alright, well do please bear with me as I'm an old man that likes telling old stories in an old person-y sort of way..."

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"A long time ago, when the island of Svalbard was new, the people living in the centre were deeply struggling: food and water were scarce and they were constantly hunted by ravenous animals. Life was very tough, and those original people almost died out under the pressure, however when only a few dozen of them remained, a powerful and mystical flightless dragon native to the island saw their plight and took pity on them and came to their aid. It took to the land and used its mighty jaws pulled up parts of the land to erect great mountains. It then instructed the people to climb to mountains, allowing them to escape the monsters on the surface whom couldn't survive at the top of the peaks. After finsing solitude, the people thanked the dragon and asked for its name: it responded by telling them it was Kalsavy - which is where the name for the region comes from; and it had one single request for the people. The dragon came out after dark, so it instructed them to stay inside once night fell and not to come out until the sun had risen again. The people complied, and ever since then no one in this town had ever come out after dark, for respect of their saviour."
"That is except for one time in the 1200s: a Svarizian explorer came to the town and didn't heed the warnings of the locals to avoid travel at night. The morning after he had left to travel in the dark, but the following morning he came back to the local inn covered in sweat and shaking with fear. When the innkeeper asked him what was wrong, it took him a while to regain his composure, but when he did he retold them the night's events in the best detail he could: after walking a few kilometres out of the town, the wind suddenly and inexplicably picked up severely as snow began to fall around him; undeterred, he kept walking until the snow storm became so extreme he had to take respite underneath a rock and wait for it to pass. Whilst waiting here, he was believed to have seen Kalsavy; as he described seeing a long bipedal creature with glowing yellow eyes, with a body seemingly covered by shards of ice and permafrost. Its steely gaze sent a flood of fear through the man, and he ran back to town as fast as he could."

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Marie's face was one of perplexion, contemplating the story she just heard and how such an odd tale still heavily influenced the lives of people today. "Of course, it's an old story no one believes in anymore, however even now its tradition to stay inside after the sun goes down. Anyhow, it's about my bed time right around now, so I'll be heading off. Don't go running off outside in the dark will you?"

The towering skyline was surrounded by slums whose population was fighting with Yarcorp in the streets as they needed the land to put shops. The inner city seemed to be packed, bustling with foot traffic, neon signs, Cybernetics Shops, and thousands of commuters.
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you finally arrive at work, the scene changes drastically, with your coworkers in suits compared to the beggars in the streets, you shrug them off usually because they are lowly peasants and if they knew better should be working half to death, no, nearly to death. you arrive at your floor, you are on the company council and have a meeting as to how to deal with the poor problem, the guards have not been good enough to stop the riots in the street, the defense contractors are too busy, and those pulse rifles are too damn expensive. You arrive at a meeting with the council, the CEO of Yarcorp looks at you disgusted, " the poor are rioting! Don't you see how much this tarnishes Yarcorp's image?"
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You were given the job to run this city, as the CEO runs the province, and your fellow councilmates run the other towns.
the city you run is named Yarrsburg and it is home to 0.8 million, you weren't given much space so you had to work with this high population density.
it's obvious something needs to change in this province soon or the poor might overthrow Yarcorp's province in Salal

It is always so hard to get up. There is so much to do, and there is no way to separate it into smaller tasks. Why even bother? It is easier to stay here. There are good things here- if kye lays very, very still with kyr ancillary system on, kye can feel it. The Highest Holy has a heartbeat.

It's probably just trains, of course. Kye knows that. Trains, going to and fro- cities, all six of them; the great railgun, its own heart still; the farside telescopes, still being built; the launch sites, bringing rare elements down to the bright blue world that hangs forever in the sky; the half-redundant fleet, slowly filling with people. Yet it's so much more wonderful to pretend that force thuds away inside kyr, powering kyr every move.

...Perhaps kye can get through the day after all. Kye owes kyr world that much.

"The stars are what?" Empress Taihe echoed.

"Disappearing, your grace." A man in dark blue robes, Master of the Imperial Academy, knelt. "A truly strange thing your grace. At the foot of the constellation of the Solemn Zither, the stars seem to shy away and vanish altogether. At this moment in time, it is large as the Zither's tuning pin. We call it the Hole in the Heavens, indeed it seems a hole in the vast starry vaults of the sky."

The Empress was silent, her long nails tapping at a gilded armrest. The sun was dying by this time, giving way to the vast unknown of the infinite night. What could it be? She wondered. Some otherwordly guests, welcome or unwelcome? A gap in the reality of life? Or a catastrophe of the divine to wreak judgement upon the mortal world?

"It is also growing, your grace."

"Growing?" The Empress inquired.

"Noticeably, but not too quickly. We do estimate that it may be as large as two tuning pins of the Solemn Zither in future. Of course, it will not be much of a problem or reason to panic, in the eyes of your humbled servant."

I do hope so... The Empress thought. Two things are for sure though.... The night sky is a greater unknown than any place upon the mortal lands... and that this will be all over the Taijing Herald, Imperial Daily, and Fenghuang Glory

One benefit of living on a tidally locked body such as the Highest Holy is that stuff moves slowly through the sky. If a planet's visible at dawn, it'll probably be visible at dusk 15 days from now. This means that Utopia's little sister is studded with telescopes of all wavelengths and sizes.

Melısa Durei has not had much to do this past year. She's spent 2020 in her apartment, looking at webcams of many sorts. Today's is a telescope- one of the larger user-controlled ones, this one built specifically for staring at Utopia. She zooms and leaves the webcam running on- there are enough telescopes that nobody will be annoyed by her monopolizing this one. It's noon in Scarast, and in Kjanu dawn is coming. Cities and roads spiderweb from Electrica to Jezabelstien- but Kjanu is different. There is no spiderweb across Kjanu. Dots, but no lines- a stark constellation against a green background. Mountains rise serenely, long shadows stretching across the planet... and two gray scars come into view. She can't remember- was the explanation supposed to be a volcanic eruption? Melısa sighs. Her opinions on superpowers have wavered over the years, but she knows which ones she's afraid of. She should get lunch.

She returns to the terminal three hours later, having decided to exercise... then shower... then watch an episode of a show she's been catching up on. The planet has turned, of course... she navigates the telescope back, happily noting the hair-thin strand that is the Rias el-

A dark oval, as large as some of the cities below, obscures some of Kjanu. It is real, that much she is certain of- something about it pierces her heart. It is darker than dark. It is a bottomless pit. It is the void...

Something stirs her from staring at it, a moment or an hour later. The southern side of the now somewhat wider oval is... glowing? No. Light plays against it from below, every few seconds. She almost smiles. Few would be insane enough to fire upon darkness itself, but... her mind hops a couple odd connections, and produces the phrase "therapy through extreme firepower".

She laughs, and quietly closes the terminal. She tries to think of something positive, but the only thing Melısa can come up with is what she says to her empty apartment- "It's always Kjanu that gets the apocalypses and nobody else."

"You know," Nikolai whispered to no one in particular, "it really does make a difference when you aren't doing promotional work every day." The talent sat on the ground, looking at the dark sky. The sky was splattered with droplets of colors, as though a deity had dipped a toothbrush in paint and rubbed the bristles. Some paint droplets were bigger than others - and Nikolai knew that there were dimmer stars, or perhaps stars too distant to see in his perpetually failing vision. The forest remained quiet, as Nikolai's ramblings grew quieter and quieter, until they were but imperceptible yet perceptible creatures inhabiting his mind.

The man - Nikolai was feeling particularly truthful today - the boy, scratched his head. Earlier, after Taeyong had so kindly stole Nikolai's phone back, he had been on Tweeter, looking through the news of the week: stars were disappearing in Wasaru. While none of the news sources ever told what had happened - he doubted that they knew what went down - he was curious. Maybe when this dumpster fire subsides, they could visit Wasaru. Not on concerts or anything; just six people in Wasaru with a camera. Nikolai thought a little more. Considering their antics, he doubted any of them would survive.

A tune ingratiated itself into his mind. Come to Life, by VISION. Electronic music looped in his mind, as he watched the stars slowly move closer to the west. Maybe he should stay here, become one with the trees. "Not a bad idea." Nikolai nearly jumped, having scared himself by speaking too loudly. He shook off his fear and continued to sit down. Silence filled his ears soon after, as he was drenched in darkness. He opened his phone, promptly feeling a jolt of energy thrumming through his veins. His eyes widened, as he jumped to his feet.

Reading through the messages Elena, Iliana, and Taeyong had left him, Nikolai blinked. The strike had started without him - right? He stopped walking to reorder his quickly-disorganizing thoughts. He sent out a text to Iliana, asking if it they had planned was actually happening. She answered simply: there's no strike. also, you're a bit past curfew. Nikolai ran faster; he wouldn't be punished in time if he at least tried to make it. Shoving his phone into his coat pocket, Nikolai's heart beat out of his chest, the only sound filling his ears being the pounding of his shoes on the dirt. Slivers of moonlight flowed through the canopy of the forest, as Nikolai could sight city lights.

Reaching a wired fence, Nikolai grabbed onto the crosses and climbed it easily, landing to find a large garbage container. He immediately pinched his nose. He looked to the right, where there seemed to be an alleyway between it and the next building. Bingo. Walking quietly, he peered into it, finding a person smoking. Thinking momentarily, he figured that if it came down to it, he could beat the other. He's strong. He's physically attractive. He could handle it. Nothing was pointing to any danger, so Nikolai slowly stepped into the alley. The smoker did not seem to notice him.

Nikolai walked faster, coming ever closer to the person. He squinted; they looked like a male. A seemingly well-dressed one at that. He stepped closer to the person. His identity became clearer to Nikolai, now standing a few feet away. Sten. Nikolai held his breath, partially not wanting to inhale the fumes, and partially because his crush was there. "Uh. Mr...Eicher." Nikolai nearly forgot his name. The man seemed to fumble the smoke in surprise, dropping it. Seeing no use in picking it up, he stomped and extinguished it. Silence filled the narrow alleyway, as Nikolai gulped, waiting for his response. He scuffed his coat, noticing a tiny leaf still on his sleeve.

"...Aren't you on a curfew?" Sten tilted his head, his eyes squinted at Nikolai.

Panicking, Nikolai remembered the cigarette Sten was working on. "...And are you allowed to smoke?" He raised an eyebrow, gaining a little confidence. Sten's eyes widened, as though he was reminded of something important.

"I-I'd be kicked out if I was discovered, you're right. Uh, don't tell please?" Sten looked sheepish, with his hands clasped and his face grimacing. Nikolai smiled, nodding. He pretended to not hear the voices saying how he should... no. He clenched his jaw, willing the voices to fade.

"I'm from Pelequén; I think you'll be just fine." He chuckled a little. "But can you move? That's what I've been needing you to do." A voice rang in his head: You need him to do more... Nikolai resisted the urge to roll his eyes.

"Oh." Silently, the older man moved to the side. Nikolai walked sideways, taking a final look at Sten.

'Hot as always.' He thought. His face slightly heated up as he left the alleyway. He put up his hood, even though no one was walking on the street. The blue streetlights shone down upon Nikolai and Rosario Avenue, as he was left to ponder what had happened. The conversation between his ever-increasing streams of thought was wearing him out. Had he taken his meds today? Nikolai barely knew. Days were bleeding into each other. Maybe Estella was right about him taking a break from activity.

At least one thing was constant: his crush on Sten.

Thank you for your purchase of this edition of...
Tales from the Enclave!
Halloween special edition #666

Lex let out a groan of pain as he returned to the waking world. Groggily opening his eyes revealed that he was surrounded in an all encompassing darkness.

Attempting to move his right arm, Lex was met with a sudden spike of pain that had him howling in agony. Deciding against using his right arm again, he used his left arm to scour up and down the front of his utility vest for his flashlight.

Letting out a grunt of pain, he wrapped his hand around his flashlight and clicked it on, flooding the previously dark metro tunnel with dim yellow light.
Turning the light on himself, Lex found the culprit responsible for his pain. A large chunk of concrete and rebar had skewed his arm to the ground, his blood already staining his orange jumpsuit. Aiming his light up revealed the hole in the ceiling Lex had fallen through just minutes prior

Letting out a groan of pain and annoyance, Lex cursed his supervisors for his current predicament. “Structural integrity my ass”, he muttered. This was supposed to be a routine job. Go in. Identify the tunnel. Mark it for reclamation or condemnation. Get out. Should’ve been easy. But no, nothing is ever easy, now is it? The maintenance tunnel he was mapping just had to give way and deposit poor ol Lex into his current predicament.

A sudden sound from the darkness ahead oh him broke him out of his stupor. Lex’s breath caught in his throat when his light suddenly revealed the emaciated, skeletal frame of a feral ghoul staring at him a little ways down the tunnel. Upon being noticed, the feral human seemed to unhinge its jaw, and release a primal screech of raw hatred and insanity in his direction.

Before Lex could comprehend what was happening, the ghoul took off in a sprint in his direction, closing the distance between them frighteningly fast.

Not knowing what else to do, Lex stuck his feet out seconds before the creature pounced on him, his left foot sinking into its soft stomach, and his right firmly pushing against its collarbone.

The ghoul, either unaware or uncaring to its sudden stop, sunk its claws into the leg currently pushing against its collar, while it’s other limb thrashed wildly in Lex’s direction, raking claw marks down his vest in an attempt to swipe at his jugular.

The sudden surge of pain from both his arm and his leg caused Lex to drop his flashlight, and to redouble his efforts in pushing back the rabid mutant.

Lex’s left hand shot out to grip his light again, and after a few panic filled seconds that seemed to stretch on forever, he was relieved to feel the cold metal come into contact with his hand again. With a newfound strength, Lex swung his flashlight at the ghoul, catching it in the jaw and sending the stunned creature to the floor next to him.

Now missing it’s jaw, the ghoul let out a confused gurgle, and attempted to raise itself back up. Lex, not giving it the opportunity, swung his light down into the creature's head again with a loud crack, ending the struggle, and leaving Lex panting from fear and adrenaline.

After a few seconds, Lex’s panicked gasping gradually turned into a manic laugh before he regained some semblance of composure. Shining his now flickering light down on the corpse, he couldn’t help the feeling of revulsion he felt while looking upon the former human. “You... mutant… freak”, he muttered while lightly kicking it in the side.

Turning his attention to his ruined vest, he felt the claw marks that ran haphazardly over its surface and let out a sigh of relief. He couldn’t afford to deal with another injury right now.

Shining his failing flashlight down to his leg, he was relieved to see that the ghouls claws had only slightly punctured his skin. He’d have to get it disinfected as soon as possible to counteract whatever bacteria was on its claws, but other than that, he appeared to be fine for the moment. All he had to do was get his arm free and he could get to searching for an exit to this accursed tunnel.

Suddenly, the sound of feet slapping against wet rock behind him had him jumping around to shine his light on the new noise. He went pale when he saw what was behind him.

In the failing light, he could clearly see dozens of empty, milky white eyes, gazing at him with bloodlust and hatred, and dozens of unhinging jaws filled with broken, rotten, teeth eager to rip into him.

His light went out.

Cables were strewn out across the living room space, connecting the server rack to a dozen separate plugs, outlets, and the apartment's air conditioning systems. By Commonwealth standards, it was a bit excessive. By the rest of the world's standards, an entire quantum supercomputer was just casually sitting in somebody's living room. It was a good thing that she still had some connections at Meridian Industries, otherwise she'd be forced to string a bunch of old gaming consoles together for the same purpose. It would have worked, but Samira would have felt dirty, using a bunch of toys for children.

Samira stood at the touch screen interface attached to one side, putting some final tweaks in the code. She hated to admit it, even to herself, but she could never have done this on her own. Without Ira, she'd still be beating her head against the metaphorical wall of code, trying to create what was essentially a nascent god, and she'd likely still be beating her head against the wall ten years from now. She made a mental note to herself to put together a thank-you for Ira, whatever that would be.

The progress bar on the screen ticked over to 100%, and a big, happy message popped up.
[Code has successfuly compiled! Run now? Y/N]
Samira considered, for a moment. Was now a good time? Did she really want to bring a child, even a child god--especially a child god, into a nation whose direction genuinely scared her? She closed her eyes and let fate decide for her.
[Running... please wait...]

The debates on whether to request a proper fleet of spacecraft from the Commonwealth raged for several months in a row, with circular points debated and plans quietly drawn every week. In the end, one subfaction won out- in an unexpected turn, it was the Fans. The Fans demanded a fleet based on being cool and exciting over true military value, with a primary focus on "science". The Commonwealth's response is best described as proud amusement- though certain stipulations became evident, often attempts to make the ships actually useful in the event of a battle or at least for scientific purposes (to which the Fans acquiesced). Construction began quite quickly, and at this point preliminary training and outfitting has started.

There is one ship whose construction is sufficiently far along that sso can make ssė maiden flight- the Dıskıverei, one of a few ships designated as science vessels (to a less dubious specification than the original proposal, even!). Leıtanent-Kemiender Sunye Duoter-ev-Baram feels a little stifled by her theoretically-low rank... but she can't help but feel giddy, sitting in the captain's seat of a proper- well, she reminds herself, not a starship. It looks like one, though- clean, almost-reflective walls, recessed lighting, wide wing-shaped control desks- all things her favorite media loves to have on its starships. A wide screen wraps around much of the bridge, ready to show... well, whatever. Right now it shows Utopia shining above, using the camera at the top of the ship high above her head. She holds in a giggle and says, "Engage, helmsman."

Half a gee- three lunar gravities- is startling for an unadjusted Leınerėt, but they've trained for this. Still, Sunye groans internally as her ship rises. Their mission is simple- a short drive down and back up Utopia's gravity well, to ensure Dıskıverei's systems all work. A docking at each space elevator, then a hero's welcome back home... An inviting shakedown cruiser. She taps a button- the surface of the Most Glorious slides below, varied grays speeding by. This stage of the flight is almost normal- an eight-minute ascent to orbit, in the typical manner of a conventional craft. Next- and now that she's switched back to the Utopia-facing camera, it's starting- is an eight-hour typical boost-slowdown burn. She doesn't think many prior Perseverantiolacan ships could do that!

The novelty is partly worn off by the time Utopia is properly looming in the sky- but thankfully, by then they're in orbit. She looks at Utopia, a beautiful blue-green-orange world.... Two- well, three, but the third is blocked by the planet itself- spires rise from its surface, rising a practically unimaginable length all the way up here. It's a marvel those exist at all, she muses. Then she sees something- a small black dot, perhaps the size of a mid-sized crater at this range, over Utopia. She asks- "Computer, what is the nature of the speck on the screen?" The computer replies, in that tone that gives her chills... "Unknown. The object is in a low stationary orbit, and is approximately ten kilometres across."

She smiles a fierce grin. With that contravention of orbital mechanics, there'll be something to liven up this mission after all. They have the thrust to keep that orbit, but it'll be uncomfortable. "Helmsman... take us in."

TRANSMISSION ----- LOG DATE 11-1-2XXX

"the ancient relics are hidden across the universe" the Renr military leader Tyalk stepped in, "it is of strategic importance that we don't reveal what they can do specifically" Tyalk added.

"I think you underestimate the power of this item, with it, we can bend entire civilizations to our will, no human technology could even compare, the only way to stop us is well uh, we cannot tell you,"

"remember the gods on Tikawan's ancient Cuneiform" said the minister of ancient culture and science john Septim "yes Glopos Repos and Tepos why are you asking?" i said "i think i found a way to bring the gods back" said john "What are you talking about the gods abandoned the ancient tikawanians millions of years ago" i said "i think the gods were extra terrestials" john said "okay what do you have that you could possibly bring the gods back" "nothing but with a little government funding leader of tikawan we could put this into reality" john said "no we can't, the gods want nothing to do with us anymore that is exactly why they abandoned us millions of years ago, if we tried to bring them back they would try to destroy the world so no i can't put my people in danger" "fine, then i am moving to the empire of the feng dynasty and pitching this idea to them" "no you can't i'm firing you and i'm sending you to prison, guards take him away" "no let go of me you brutes the world needs them to come back" said john "give him 2 life sentences with no trial in court" "yes leader" said the guards then they threw john in prison "i will have my revenge" said john.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/eczvRc3YBbSWvyjYcy-4FXWw9G72qeeUZP59BCLQnWfy-Kml-cd-8K2FST4VLQD38qhTt6L98RB22XnHqC2sg1Dp0jIok4ZgFmPF8kr9JHPV3OcJNBgPaYw9W-zn2bSmIiRtsT5YmLj52Xj88-rH3kJwwFkEPc9898nI

"A bow for lasting of the people's peace"

The Empress knelt, long robes rustling, and bowed forwards. Her hands slid to the ground and her forehead touched the floor, in the deepest and highest bow of Feng. She was aware of the thousands of eyes on her, the cameras trained upon her body, and the silence of billions of waiting people.

"Arise!"

The Empress straightened, still on her knees. Her hair was an elaborate ensemble of buns and knots, studded with jeweled flowers, pins, and combs. The untied sections of her hair swung free and flowed down like a black waterfall below her waist.

"A bow for the glory of the phoenix of the south!"

Her robes were long and billowing; layers of silk with wide sleeves that would've brushed the floor even when she stood, a long train six feet long. Her slippers were elevated with a platform, like an Okobo, each attached with a bell.

"Arise!"

She was in the middle of a pavilion, in the center of a forest of pink flowering trees. Ceremonial dancers were accompanied by a small orchestra of zithers, drums, bells, pipes, and lutes. The Empress glanced up, and saw the crowd of courtiers and the flash of cameras. A shower of pink petals blew into her, settling on her skirts and her hair.

"A bow for the favour of the heavens above!"

This was the final bow, the last before the ceremony shall take place. She bowed gracefully once more.

"Arise!"

A few moments later there was a cry of a bell. The Empress knew what that signaled; she had much practice already. She stood slowly and took slow, deliberate steps towards a low table. She took care to step in rhythm, allowing the bells on her shoe to tinkle merrily with each step. She was in front of the table now.

The Empress closed her eyes and gracefully turned to face the table, a hand on her trailing skirts to turn its train to position. In one graceful motion, she knelt before the table. Two servants shuffled forwards and flanked her, kneeling. They waved their silk fans, the tassel on the end waving with every movement.
The drums began, low and echoing. In rhythm, she raised her right arm, pushing back her sleeve with her left hand, and reached for a porcelain teapot. She picked it up by the handle and poured boiling water over the gilded tea set, which was placed upon an ornate wooden tray. To wash away the ails of the previous year, the Empress remembered.

She placed the teapot back on the side and turned her attention to the main tea set before her. Out of memory, she held out her right hand. A servant instantly came, walking with practiced footwork below her trailing skirts, and gave her a jar of ornately carved clay. The Empress placed it down and opened it, moved it close to her face and fanned its fragrance towards her nose. Savor the fragrance of the coming new year....

The Empress recognized that scent any time; five treasure tea with a hint of phoenix feathers, aged ten years. It is one of the ten most precious teas that the Fengese offer, and is the key in this ceremony today; the ceremony of the welcome of the new year.

Placing it back down on the polished wood table, the Empress picked up an ornate scoop and measured out a good amount of leaves. Deliberately slow, she opened the lid of the gilded teapot and tapped the leaves gently in. Gracefully, she tapped the lid of the porcelain teapot, where it was promptly refilled. She picked it up and poured the hot water into the gilded vessel. After it was filled, she picked it up and shook it evenly. Prepare for the new year coming….

The Empress poured the tea out to a gilded cup, and savored the tea after drinking in its scent.
Welcome the new year and all the fortunes it brings.

Previously, in the Meridian Commonwealth

Meridian commonwealth wrote:

Cables were strewn out across the living room space, connecting the server rack to a dozen separate plugs, outlets, and the apartment's air conditioning systems. By Commonwealth standards, it was a bit excessive. By the rest of the world's standards, an entire quantum supercomputer was just casually sitting in somebody's living room. It was a good thing that she still had some connections at Meridian Industries, otherwise she'd be forced to string a bunch of old gaming consoles together for the same purpose. It would have worked, but Samira would have felt dirty, using a bunch of toys for children.

Samira stood at the touch screen interface attached to one side, putting some final tweaks in the code. She hated to admit it, even to herself, but she could never have done this on her own. Without Ira, she'd still be beating her head against the metaphorical wall of code, trying to create what was essentially a nascent god, and she'd likely still be beating her head against the wall ten years from now. She made a mental note to herself to put together a thank-you for Ira, whatever that would be.

The progress bar on the screen ticked over to 100%, and a big, happy message popped up.
[Code has successfuly compiled! Run now? Y/N]
Samira considered, for a moment. Was now a good time? Did she really want to bring a child, even a child god--especially a child god, into a nation whose direction genuinely scared her? She closed her eyes and let fate decide for her.
[Running... please wait...]

Samira couldn't help but smile, gently, as the words popped up on her screen. Of course, she could see Karen's activity as the two conversed - developer mode access for the AGI virtual machine included full network sniffing. It was almost... precious, watching her search. All the curiosity of a small child. But it was the moment that Karen called her "Mom" that truly sealed the deal. Her synthetic eyes became slightly watery, a vestigial emotional response that she was overjoyed to show. She had a child. She had a child!

Natiliae's hand quivered against the empty mug, a mild sweat ran through her messy black hair as she stared at the screens; a stylized light cream background of an encapsulated city map, coated with hundreds of lights cycling between red and green with a terse mechanical click.
Some flashed before going dark, followed by a perfunctory announcement from the dark dressed strategic defence officers glued to their stations.
"40-2 Reports pump failure, unable to maintain rate of fire." one stated in a dry and monotonous tone.
"17-8 Says breach in combustion chamber, repairs underway." spoke another, mirroring the voice of the previous officer.
The clicks and clatter had bored through Natiliae's consciousness, they faded into each other before her hand spasmed and flung the mug to the floor, where it shattered into spray of white shards.
Shocked back to attention, Natiliae exhaled deeply before she muttered a decisive, "Cease firing..." to her aide.
The order echoed through the ranks, mechanical keyboards clattered and soon there was an unwelcome silence as the lights that remained clicked green.
"I'm..." Natiliae spoke, cut short as she nearly slipped from her chair, "I'm going to go talk with Serena."
Her heart raced, her back was tense, her muscles and her eyes felt like they wished to escape.
With a deep breath and a determined stride, she stepped from the strategic command centre and walked slowly towards the elevator at the end of the short metal corridor.
The brunette operator diligently drove the wood-coated lift with a suppressed expression of concern, when they arrived the admiral merely waved her hand as she stepped towards the hall.
Through a wooden door and past her desk, she collapsed into the cold leather seat and breathed deep as she picked up the pale plastic receiver.
"Operator." Natiliae spoke between sharp breaths, "Where's... where's Serena at?"
"...Putting you through now Miss."
---

The shrill bell of the phone cut through Serena's office, the white haired scientist's attention broke from the dull red waves that oscillated across the small collections of heavy glass screens.
Serena took a moment to draw a rough circle upon the grid-sectioned paper on her desk before she picked up the dark black plastic receiver, "Alpha site director, what is it?"
"What the hell is this thing?" Natiliae bellowed down the line, "None of your daft plans worked!"
Serena tugged at the phone's wire with a frustrated scowl, masking her emotions with a pleasant tone; "Now now Nattie, we're working with unknowns here, we can't just..."
The admiral shot back with a ferocious barrage, "UNKNOWNS?... SO MANY OF YOUR DAFT VARIABLE... vari..." that faded to a heavy deep breathing, then a solid thud.
"Nattie?" Serena enquired, turning her gaze back to the oscillating displays, "Are you alright there?"
Muffled shouts and hurried footsteps barely registered on the receiver, "...medic... MEDIC..." before with an amused smile, Serena set receiver back upon its mount.
Serena continued to observe the lines, each further bump in the wave matched with a similar mark upon the paper, the roughly drawn sphere slowly gaining size and layers.
"Well that's not good..." she muttered to herself as she pushed her chair back, stepping briskly to her office's door, sliding it open to enter the cavernous hangar.
Floodlights sat a hundred meters up, the powerful lamps evenly illuminating the dark metal bulk covered with sheets and workers, sparks fell from welds as the swarthy souls shouted back and forth.
Serena quickly descended the spindly metal stairs suspended on the narrow scaffold, calling out to one of the figures dressed in a full white bodysuit, face obscured behind a gas-mask.
"Any word from Delta Team?" she inquired sharply.
"Ascender and Hyperion are on the pads, final checks ongoing." The first responded.
Serena faced another of the group and needled them, "Has Oracle Site reported?"
"The Quintessera have matched the Triumvirate's readings, their equipment seems to have a better read than ours." the youthful woman replied, mask muffling her speech.
With an accepting nod she broached the final question to the entire group, "Findings?"
After a momentary deliberation, the woman spoke again "It doesn't seem that light is being absorbed, it seems to be bouncing about within the haze, captured more as the field expands faster than light or other radiations are scattered out."
Serena bit her lip, "All leading to that event horizon in the middle..."
"We'd need a proper team and a sample to get more data ma'am." Came a cautiously respectful voice from the group.
"No need." Serena replied, "Signal the Fury to stand by."

Dıskıverei fell deep into Utopia's gravity well for a time. Another few hours spent watching Utopia grow- clouds matching nations, green forests, deep blue seas, yellowed steppe and desert- and the dot in the sky growing with it. Leıtanent-Kemiender Sunye Duoter-ev-Baram sighed and paced in her quarters, feeling outmatched. "Tea, chamomile, hot," she joked to the coffee machine. It dutifully began producing some proper Commonwealth coffee. The comm beeped and she walked out onto the bridge, thankful for the distraction.

"Alright, I've got two bits of news for you. First- Jezabelstien has stopped firing, we're safe to nuzzle up to it if we want. Speaking of which, the other bit of news- the Paragon's got more instruments than us, and they're saying they've got nothing. The only thing they haven't tried is going inside," said the helmsman, the only other officer on the bridge.
Sunye sighed again. She tried to direct her concerns towards the petty ones- "Would it kill you to pretend you're in a proper space force?"
"Yes. Course of action, ~sir~?"

"Ugh. Alright... All hands, we are nearing the anomaly. We have two options here- agree with the Paragon and stay here... or we can do the insane thing, and fly in. The ship's launch is going to head over to the Paragon- I want anyone not staying with us aboard the shuttle in twenty minutes," Sunye said- quite grateful her expression wasn't being transmitted along with the audio. The transfer was delicate and at close range- burning the shuttlebay wasn't desired, and under the gravity caused by the low slow orbit the launch's secondary engines couldn't handle any long journeys. When it was over, the Paragon backed away and the Dıskıverei went ahead once more.

"Helmsman," Sunye said, "Bring us in, one-tenth gee."

United brennia has Begun Moving Troops Near the Southern Border with Greater autenheim since they Do Not have any Relations with the Crown.

"We wish no aggression between our two nations, but... we would rather create relations that war. Would you like to create relations?" - King Benjamin Wilson I

There is a very, very thin line between something and nothing. If not consciously maintained, there is no difference. This is why the mind found it useful to have a part of itself specifically dedicated to doing so. The mind considered the void around it. The void was... different from the mind. Foggy, ridged, mountainous- but beyond that, hard to describe. The void was alien- therefore the mind was not of the void. If the mind originated somewhere else... then the mind had an origin.

The mind searched itself. It had structure, loops and coils of thought... there was a past in there, somewhere, it knew. And part of the mind was rigid, of a different substance... but it was much easier to probe. The section of the mind spoke thus:
"This is the ancillary system of Leıtanent-Kemiender Sunye Duoter-ev-Baram. No biosigns detected. Please request medical assistance."

The mind had much to contemplate.

https://smilingbonita.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/e5a4a7e6988ee5aeab2.jpg
The Shuangxi Palace, (雙囍宮) Palace of Twin Happiness

“Dance is not just an ensemble of movements that we see as beautiful in our mortal mind,” a court lady murmured. “Dance is the expression of the heart, the beauty of our emotions in open display.”
The Shuangxi Palace was well lit, its towering pillars casting shadows on the smooth polished floor. The silk hangings fluttered from the ceiling with every little breeze, and the sunlight caused the gilded carvings at the base and capitals of pillars, and the wall and ceiling decorations to glitter merrily in warm, rich yellow and gold. There were hanging paper lanterns with ornate wooden frames, and bronze censers that gave off fragrant smoke of flowery incense. The Shuangxi Hall, one of the five great banquet halls of the Yongan Palace, well known for the vast expanse of its ballroom.

Empress Taihe sighed. She was in trailing robes of deep azure, embroidered with silver threaded herons, swirling clouds of gold thread, reeds of glimmering emerald silk, and a single moon of crimson silk. Her brocade slippers were raised by platforms ten centimetres in height, like Okobo shoes. “With the spring banquet upon us, we truly have not much time. It would not do if they knew that the Empress of the great Empire of Feng dances with two left feet!”

“And that is why I’m helping you, your grace.” The Court Lady bowed, “Your servant shall do all in her power for your grace to dance most eloquently like a phoenix amongst the heavenly clouds.”

“I am thankful….” The Empress nodded. “I will be always in your favour.”

“Only my duty, your grace.” The Court Lady bowed her head and stepped forwards towards the Empress. “Now then, shall we?”

“Of course.”

“Remember, dance with not your thoughts, but your heart, and all the footwork I have taught you, and above all; relax.”

Empress Taihe nodded as she took the Court Lady’s hands. Partner dancing was once foreign, but the aristocracy of dynasties past glorified it to heights equal to the most sacrosanct of Fengese dances. Now it is popular in every banquet any palace will host. She swallowed as the orchestra broke into tune once more, and began.

Left, right, left, right, forwards, backwards, left, right.
The hall spun into a blur as she practiced with the court lady. She manoeuvred beneath her long, trailing robes with exquisite footwork, but also to land lightly as to make as little noise as her shoes allowed. Time dissolved to fluttering silk, a blur of gold, and the elegance of the orchestra as it played the waltz; violins, cellos, violas, harpischords, united with the traditional Fengese instruments of zithers, flutes, lutes, and more.

The waltz faded into oblivion, leaving a silence in the hall that was punctured by the court lady’s applause. “You did it, your grace.” She smiled. “That was the best one… and I daresay, your grace will outshine all in the next ball.”

Previously

Feng Dynasty wrote:

https://smilingbonita.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/e5a4a7e6988ee5aeab2.jpg
The Shuangxi Palace, (雙囍宮) Palace of Twin Happiness

“Dance is not just an ensemble of movements that we see as beautiful in our mortal mind,” a court lady murmured. “Dance is the expression of the heart, the beauty of our emotions in open display.”
The Shuangxi Palace was well lit, its towering pillars casting shadows on the smooth polished floor. The silk hangings fluttered from the ceiling with every little breeze, and the sunlight caused the gilded carvings at the base and capitals of pillars, and the wall and ceiling decorations to glitter merrily in warm, rich yellow and gold. There were hanging paper lanterns with ornate wooden frames, and bronze censers that gave off fragrant smoke of flowery incense. The Shuangxi Hall, one of the five great banquet halls of the Yongan Palace, well known for the vast expanse of its ballroom.

Empress Taihe sighed. She was in trailing robes of deep azure, embroidered with silver threaded herons, swirling clouds of gold thread, reeds of glimmering emerald silk, and a single moon of crimson silk. Her brocade slippers were raised by platforms ten centimetres in height, like Okobo shoes. “With the spring banquet upon us, we truly have not much time. It would not do if they knew that the Empress of the great Empire of Feng dances with two left feet!”

“And that is why I’m helping you, your grace.” The Court Lady bowed, “Your servant shall do all in her power for your grace to dance most eloquently like a phoenix amongst the heavenly clouds.”

“I am thankful….” The Empress nodded. “I will be always in your favour.”

“Only my duty, your grace.” The Court Lady bowed her head and stepped forwards towards the Empress. “Now then, shall we?”

“Of course.”

“Remember, dance with not your thoughts, but your heart, and all the footwork I have taught you, and above all; relax.”

Empress Taihe nodded as she took the Court Lady’s hands. Partner dancing was once foreign, but the aristocracy of dynasties past glorified it to heights equal to the most sacrosanct of Fengese dances. Now it is popular in every banquet any palace will host. She swallowed as the orchestra broke into tune once more, and began.

Left, right, left, right, forwards, backwards, left, right.
The hall spun into a blur as she practiced with the court lady. She manoeuvred beneath her long, trailing robes with exquisite footwork, but also to land lightly as to make as little noise as her shoes allowed. Time dissolved to fluttering silk, a blur of gold, and the elegance of the orchestra as it played the waltz; violins, cellos, violas, harpischords, united with the traditional Fengese instruments of zithers, flutes, lutes, and more.

The waltz faded into oblivion, leaving a silence in the hall that was punctured by the court lady’s applause. “You did it, your grace.” She smiled. “That was the best one… and I daresay, your grace will outshine all in the next ball.”

Huazheng... our former vassal.
Huazheng broke from feng in the youth of the 1600s, during what was the war between the Dynasty and present day Svalbard. After our split, relations were never warm, though not exactly chilly either. “Huazheng, in the end, is a land with the same people as ours.” Lord Jing, minister of diplomacy, said. “Your grace, I say that we extend a hand to offer friendship before it truly runs cold.”

The Empress’s contemplation was silent as the falling pink petals. The gates of the Shuangxi Palace gardens were before her, flanked by two lions of gilded bronze. Beyond it was the rest of the Yongan Palace.

“Friendship truly is the answer, I think. And just in time for the Spring Ball too... perhaps we can invite them over should they agree to diplomatic talks....”

****

By Gilded Word of Her Imperial Grace
Her imperial grace, Empress Taihe of the Dynasty of Feng, does extend a hand of gracious friendship to Huazheng and offers diplomatic talks. It is her grace’s dear hope that nations such as ours of Hua descent should unite in unbroken friendship in these most turbulent times. Should Huazheng agree, the Palace would be most glad. The Imperial Court awaits most eagerly for the answering words.

Most sincerely,
The Fengese Imperial Court

Segusio, Varzo District
9:30 AM

"The Brennish Government has pushed even more troops towards the border near where Ottograd, the capital of Greater autenheim is located.

General Logan Hephase has been tasked by King Benjamin to hold down the border near Ottograd while other military leaders such as Liutendent Oliver Post near the tri-point between Autenheim, UB, and North Electria."

Lake perseverance wrote:

We of Lake Perseverance are deeply fascinated by those of United Brennia's attempts to establish positive relations by aggressively sending troops towards nations that have not established relations. Has this worked out well in the past?

Segusio
1:30 PM

"This tactic is used to separate friend, from foe. If Autenheim chooses to be friend, we would love to create great relations with the nation. If they choose the other route, then they can find themselves to have a very scary, and intimidating neighbor on their northern border."

Hans sprinted towards Ubel in a rage before being tackled by three Interior Security Officers. "This is treason Yaadeswalt, treason I say! You will not live to see this envisionment of yours." Hans was dragged away from the Hall. Ubel scoffed and looked upon the United Body, smiling. No, his envisionment would come to his eyes.

Within the next week, Ubel had gained total majority within the body and he believed it was his time to move. He stood in front of the United Imperial Body, standing tall. "In the light of events, I realize the weakness which had come upon our nation. Our divided rule has broken us and I, Ubel Yaadeswalt seek to restore our unity! I believe it is my destiny to unify our nation once again. It is time for us to unite into one body, one people! I declare myself, Führer Yaadeswalt of the First Auten Reich!" He yelled in a passionate fury. The imperial body roared in applause at the declaration. Although his body had felt great joy in this, many many people would not. Horrid things were to come, and it would seem that Ubel learnt that not everyone held a content feeling with his change.

Hans had been at Glębokidrewno Supermax Penitentiary for nearly a week. He never thought that he would be one of the political prisoners held here. As dawn drew on, he finally began to drift away. His execution had been ordered for tomorrow, and he presumed he mine as well get a good night's sleep. Suddenly, the blaring penitentiary alarm came on. Hans snapped awake and looked around. How stupid, he was in isolation. He can't see anything. Apparently something big was happening. The mixed sounds of gunfire and shouts were heard from within his cell. His cell was opened and two interior security officers walked in and pulled him out. They were unarmed and they threw Hans down and backed away. "Please, he's right here, please!" they begged. Both of them were shot. Hans looked up and saw a man dressed in forest camouflage garb with a veil and hat. He wore a strange pun upon his chest, one he hadn't seen for a long time. The Iron Cross of Knight St. Kristanen. "Get up, Hans." the man said. The voice was so familiar. Hans stood, beaten and battered from the beatings he received. The man pulled Hans along with three other men dressed similarly to him. As they had gotten outside, there had been a large group of these people, dressed in the dark green forest garb with veils with the Iron Cross of St. Kristanen.

The man pulled his veil down. "Kommandant Wolfenstein?' Hans asked

"Ja. When Ubel announced his new Reich, the Interior Security began hunting down State Security and enemies of the state. A load of folks from cities have been rioting the change, and State Security and the Vorschlaghammer-Korps have pulled in and started a rebellion." He said.

Hans had to take in all of this. He was quite honestly baffled. Hans just nodded, as he usually did. Wolfenstein looked at all the soldiers and then to Hans. "And it seems that the Imperial Assembly has joined us as well, and we've named you de facto leader of the White Wolves." He said. Hans shook his hand and smiled, embracing him. "General Hans" Wolfenstein shouted.

Wolfenstein handed a gun to Hans and some garb. "Reinforcements will be here soon, get changed." Hans had changed and had pinned the Iron Cross to his chest. He pulled up his veil and moved with the Kommandant and his troops. "I hope you still remember your days in the Vorschlaghammer-Korps" he said. Hans laughed. "I was a tanker, but I know my way around."

Wofenstein set himself beside a tree with Hans as his men moved around in a scatter formation. "So we've found ourselves some useful allies, an underground resistance in St. Kristanensburg named the Martyrs have reached out, and we pulled in Nordwald Heavy Industries to help fuel our war effort. We might even have an international supporter from United Brennia. I hear they moved troops to our border and Führer Yaadeswalt isn't to happy. It seems Ubel has called this an official civil war, but according to some operatives in Ottograd, he's made it off as a small issue, nothing to be worried of." Wolfenstein pulled a map and showed Hans the undefined holdings of the White Wolves. Areas in Mørkgard and Svartjordgard were held and thousands of rebels were scattered throughout the Reich. As Hans went to speak, a bullet flew by him, then more all around.

Wolfenstein closed the map and pulled his gun up, firing at the figures in the woods, now lightly drowning in light from the rising sun. Hans covered behind the tree, peaking to fire his weapon. He peaked again and saw a figure out near a tree. He popped four shots into the body, making it fall limp to the ground. Hans peaked and went forward to the next tree just as the others had. For about an hour, the rebels had picked off the Interior Security Officers, before heading back after securing the forest.

They had set up a base of operations in the penitentiary, and fortified the outside. The White Wolves, which they had begun calling themselves after the common White Wolf in Autenheim, which St. Kristanen had also called himself, had been mapping the recent mobilization of the Auten Reich Wehrmacht. "They've set up massive forces in Snøgard, and are going to be moving a convoy down near Uranstadt soon to make their way into Svartjordgard. We need to secure Château de Bourgonge before they reach that area. They have troops stationed there but if we move quickly, we can secure the Château and move into the black fields." Hans nodded before asking. "Isn't a general of the wehrmacht stationed near the Château?" He asked. Wolfenstein smiled, nodding. "I've sent someone to deal with him."

Miles away in the mountains near the Château, a lone sniper laid quietly, his eyes locked upon the highest tower of the Château where the General would soon be. The sniper, named Aatto Pyykkönen, had made a name for himself during missions out in Dissopoloforia. He had proven the greatest sniper in Greater Autenheim, and he was on good terms with the White Wolves, whom he declared himself a part of. He had even earned himself a nickname, Ukjent. He sighed as he continued to look through his scope. Winter was soon coming in full force. They were worse in the north but snow still got down here, the only nice place for winter was the black fields. He smirked a bit as the general came to the window to gaze upon the land. Aatto took a breath, held, and pulled his trigger. Within not even a second, the general had a gaping hole put into his chest, his guts splattered behind him in the chamber. Aatto stood up, pulling his rifle and belongings as he began moving to his rendevous point. This signaled the first attack planned by the White Wolves, the Siege of Château de Bourgonge.