Quote:[Nov, 4th 5604] Presidential Palace

Sladek snubbed out his cigarette in his golden ashtray and picked up the ringing black phone next to his bottle of 54 Bourbon.

"They are ready to enter Comrade Sladek at your command", Sladek replied "Allow them in"

Within a minute armed presidential guard escorted in 4 representatives inside the dimly lit office, adorned on both sides of the red carpet were walls with oil paintings of Sladek giving glorious speeches, factories, and heroes of the war. The representatives belonging Black Beisa & Sato who'd flown express into Kaesama straight from the Yeud communities walked in slowly, wearing typical business attire and carrying briefcases. Sladek hadn't really bothered to read the dossiers, he only remembered the last name of one of the leads, Keshef. A vulgar backwater name compared to Kundrati standards, but the value they brought with them he could stomach for the reward.

Sladek stood, "Welcome, I thank you for arriving on such short notice, I believe you will find your accommodations very suitable, if theres no questions I would like to get straight to business." One of the four stepped forward and Sladek motioned for him to take a seat. The representative non-chalantly speaking in the speech of one who'd been to dozens of high profile meetings began laying out the basics.

"On behalf of the Kundratis Yeudi's and representing our respective corporations, we are glad to have arrived safe. We have with us the following documents proving our association, and the basic plans for the first test silo. We are pleased to offer our expertise to the Kundrati state in its goals, and hope they will further the efforts of aiding Yeuds in combating foreign aggressors."

Sladek took the documents in hand and glazed over them; Specifications for width for long range missiles, heat resistant materials, tonnage of reinforced concrete, and many other architectural matters. "How long until they can be operational."

The representatives looked at each other expectantly, adjusting himself the man in the seat spoke in a hushed tone. "We cannot give specific figures on when they will be complete, but we can assure we will be working day and night with your officials to ensure maximum efficiency in achieving operations."

Sladek grimaced, the sooner the better, at least within whatever years he had left, he sipped his tumbler. "I expect you would indeed, the site you proposed was within a vulnerable region, new sites have been allocated to Lirnak where penal labor can be adequately allocated, I want weekly reports and know I am in contact with your bosses, do not disappoint me, regardless of your affiliations should you fail you will not be given leisure in leu of any unpredictable setbacks."

"We understand your concerns President Sladek, once again I reiterate we will not disappoint, I suspect you've already allocated requested funds?", Sladek waved his hand, "Yes yes your bonuses have been paid, if theres anything else?" Standing up and gesturing with a respectful nod the dignitary turned about and walked out with the others, Sladek lit another cigarette and began signing papers for the 200,000 laborers needed for preliminary efforts.

Quote:[Kasaema, Presidents Office, October 20th, 5607]

Directive on the Construction of Strategic Missile Facilities District Lirnak

Comrade Sládek,

In the eternal pursuit of our nation's security and supremacy, the construction of advanced military infrastructure to house intercontinental ballistic missiles has become an unassailable priority. The enemies of Kundrati amass their arsenals and plot in shadows; thus, we must act decisively and with relentless efficiency to secure this new strategic goal.

Our selection of a site for our 3 silos has accounted for operational secrecy, geographic advantages, and survivability in the event of an enemy strike. Lirnak being a the most optimal region given its terrain and proximity to abundant penal labor, with improved infrastructure capabilities to accommodate the materials needed, was selected and begun preliminary excavation.

Yeudi specialists have been adequate in their contributions to the project, their blueprints for our second stage include the plans for excavating the launch shaft approximately 30 meters deep, reinforcing the walls with 3-5 meters of high-strength concrete mixed with steel rebar for blast resistance, and ventilation and drainage systems to ensure long-term safety during dormancy. We suspect these plans to take 24 months and require 150,000 penal workers, with weekly rotations to remove deceased and liquidated criminals.

Given our historical experience within the equifund with rocket technology and Yeudi diasporas science staff, our teams in Kaesama are drawing up plans for the first domestically made Kundrati ICBM at sufficient pace. The proposed missile titled [KZ-UR-71] is planned to be comprised of a 3 stage liquid & solid fuel engine system, weighing approximately 71.2 tonnes with an effective range of 10,250 Km containing a single warhead. The missile is intended for use at altitudes of 3500m above intended targets to ensure increased damage to civilian electric infrastructure. Including timetables for potential setbacks and adequate test times, we believe prototypes will be ready within 8 years. This should be in line with our silos projected timetables as well.

The Kundrati Legionary State embarks on a new era of technology to secure our eternal future and security, glory be to the Legionary Party and your eternal guidance comrade Sládek

Sincerely yours,
Internal Industrial Commissar-General, Karneades Arbolategui

Quote:The Empress was engaged in playing electronic solitaire on her PC, having completed all the work that required her attention.  Now that the Crown Prince was assuming more duties, especially the day to day things in Kaliburg, there were fewer and fewer things for her to fill her days with.  She had been taking more time off of work to spend with her husband, who had turned in his intent to retire from his work at the Ananto Growers' Syndicate last month.  It felt like she was finally getting to really know the man she had been married to for decades, and found him to be warm, caring, witty, and remarkably intelligent.  These are features in him that she first was attracted to but had lost touch with as the world's problems continued to crowd in on her and her family.  And now she had time, and was using more of it to finally live life while she still felt young enough to do so.

In fact, the royal couple were planning a trip to an Egelian Ski Resort in the Spring, and she was really looking forward to finally getting out of the country again.

The Empire would be fine without her, she told herself.  It's time for her maybe to let go, to let others pick up the burden.

The buzzer rang.  It was no doubt her trustworthy and long serving Chancellor, Dame Dianne Bolton, who had made the trip up for her weekly tea with the Empress.  Her Imperial Majesty touched a button and the door swung open, as Chancellor Bolton entered.  She gave her customary bow and the Empress stood up from her desk and went to join her at the coffee table.

"Please, Madame Bolton be seated," signaled the elder stateswoman.  The Chancellor lowered her head respectfully and had a seat, after the Empress herself sat down.

"Diane, we're getting old, you and I," said the Empress.

"Indeed, Your Imperial Majesty,"  said Dame Bolton.  "We are getting there.  Not there yet, but we are headed there."

"In Kalistan, 61 is past retirement age," said the Empress.  "And yet, here we are, still at work, on a perfectly fine late autumn day.  The rains haven't started yet, the temperature outside is nice, you and I should be enjoying the weather..."

"Your Majesty, there is nothing to prevent you from enjoying the weather," said Dame Bolton, matter of factly.

"Oh, there is plenty to prevent me from enjoying the weather," said Her Imperial Majesty.  "Have you read the reports from Artania?  IBSI has made some moderately concerning conjectures about things they saw on the overflight satellites."

"I have read them, Your Majesty," said Dame Bolton.  "But, I think it was a great woman who said once, 'That never happened'."  The Empress smiled.

After a moment, the Empress nodded.  "She did say that, once..."  The Empress took a sip of her tea and waited for a moment to feel the warming sensation of the tea sliding down her throat and into her belly.  "Have you ever been to Kundrati, Dame Bolton?"

The Chancellor shook her head.  "No, Your Imperial Majesty."

"I suppose you wouldn't have.  This business with them has been going on most of my life."  She stared out the office window, over her balcony, and then across the street, over the cliff, and out over Eveari Bay.  "There was a time, I remember it, when that nation was beautiful.  My mother and father you know, they had a house there.  It was a huge house near the beach.  A huge mansion.  Before I became Empress, I helped my mother make contact with Luthori there.  It was a beautiful house.  I don't think it is standing anymore.  They took it, they took everything, and they ruined all of it."

After a moment of silence, the Chancellor asked "Do you wish you could go back ever?"

The Empress sipped her tea again and smiled, not warmly, but acerbically.  "To be perfectly honest with you, I wouldn't trade a bucket of warm spit for ten thousand square miles of that s--thole, Dianne."  The vulgarity from this lately taciturn Empress caught the Chancellor a little off guard, but Dame Bolton knew where it came from.  The two had had many long conversations about loss and resentment over the years.  And while the Chancellor believed that the Empress meant what she said, she also knew that it was regret that was driving the sentiment and a deep pain over the loss of her homeland.

"Everything good about Kundrati has been killed," said the Empress.  "Tortured to death and then cremated so that not even ashes exist.  Because the people who remain there enjoy the suffering and pain they have caused.  My only consolation is:  when they run out of slaves to kill off, they will start feeding on themselves, until the world is rid of them once and for all.  Because eventually parasites kill their host."

"Shall we do anything about the other thing?" asked the Chancellor.

"No," said the Empress.  "That never happened."

The Chancellor nodded, and understood fully what the Empress meant.  And for the good of both women, she didn't push it any further.

"We would, Madame Bolton, like to begin talking about our transition, however," said Her Imperial Majesty, now speaking more formally, which was a signal that the social part of the Tea was over and this was still, after all, an informal audience and a working meeting.

"As Her Imperial Majesty wishes," said the Chancellor, following the Empress' lead in the change of her tone.

Quote:[Kasaema, Presidents Office, October 8th, 5609]

Military Updates & ICBM Report

Comrade Sládek, the production of our 8 new kotor frigates has been completed, per your request we have begun the new production order of 12 new Lada class submarines. Furthermore, 100 of our 200 jet planes have been readied for service and are being used to accumulate new flight hours among pilots. Production figures remain adequate, we continue to strive for maximum efficiency weekly. Resource shortages in REMS and other needed materials allocated to the ICBM program are likely to result in delays, we are working the penals harder than ever to ensure production remains afloat and repurposing civilian products for the task.

In the aspects of our ICBM program, we have completed the initial launch shaft of the silo and are now beginning to construct launching mechanisms; Hydraulic and pneumatic systems, Multi-layered reinforced blast doors, and the heat-resistant launch tube. We expect this to be done within 1 year. Our designs for our 3 stage rocket continue as we have completed the engine tests in facility, our scientists are now beginning mock warhead design.


Sincerely yours,
Internal Industrial Commissar-General, Karneades Arbolategui

Quote:[Kasaema, Presidents Office, January 1st, 5610, 2:AM]

Sládek closely read the report laid before him, dragging a puff from another silver tipped cigarette, Xsampa had sent priority transmission via telegram to the presidents office. "Respectfully considering the needs of the people of Xsampa and the direction of our head of state, we have decided to cut ties with the Legionary state of Kundrati and evaluate foreign opportunities elsewhere, we acknowledge your aid in the red bass conflict and eternally thank you for your help in the conflict. We wish Kundrati only the best, any further inquiries may be directed to the officer of the presidents office, sincerely yours."

Sládek gritted his teeth and snubbed out his cigarette. "So that's how it is, we do our due diligence and you smite us for your loyalty!" He slammed the papers on the table. He picked up the red telephone, ringing the head of the armed forces Radim Kolář.", the phone rang for 45 seconds, then answered, "This is Kolář speaking."

"Kolář, I order you to immediately deploy all submersible forces to lay outside Xsampese waters, have them in total combat preparation and prepare for full strike capabilities."

Kolář next to his bed rubbing his eyes thought to himself, hadn't Xsampa just been their allies? He didn't dare offer any protest, "Of course comrade, I will report to command and see it done within the hour." The phone hung up. Kolář raised himself from bed and told his wife everything was fine, that he had to report in to work early.

Rubinov Gobdan put down his prohibited nude magazine and picked up the phone that rang, "What is it now?" he spat out, wanting to return to his pictures. "Naval adjutant Gobdan, this is Commissar Liknat.", The hairs on his neck stood up as he immediately changed his tone, "O-of course, comrade commissar, I a-apologize for the delay, I was reviewing reports.", "As naturally you should, you are to order all submarine units to immediate combat duties and have them deployed at provided coordinates, delays will be noted, do not fail the state in your duty." Gobdan gulped replying meekly, "A-as you command comrade commissar, glory to Sládek!" He hung up the phone abruptly scrambling for the controls alerting all watch officers to report at once. Within half an hour hundreds of men were scrambling to duty half awake, saluting at attention to the stern browed commissars who evaluating the situation began barking orders at the captains of multiple vessels, submarine engines roared to life as the naval dockyard of Pilgon awoke from their slumber.

Quote:There was a knock at the door.  Captain Kenneth Zearing, was reading the executive summaries from the report from various desks.  Captain Zearing's job was to select the most important pieces to include in the Daily Executive Briefing that would be delivered to Her Imperial Majesty in just over 6 hours.  Luckily, he did not have to dig too deep: he merely needed to reference the relevant information.  His job was basically proforma, but it was a decision making position, and required a pretty sharp mind, to ensure that details which would be important, even if small, were left in the final report.  Additionally, during the overnight, he was the highest ranking Regular officer in G-2 on duty, so he was also billeted as acting Station Chief.

"It opens," said Captain Zering.  In walked  Lt. Amanda Boudreau and Cpl Oscar Cardona.  These two analysts were part of the Artania Desk, which had recently taken on the new role of analyzing photos from the new GeoSat surveillance satellites which are stationed over central and eastern Artania and were constantly looking at Endralon, Kundrati and Ikradon, as well as the Artanian and Unholy Seas.  Their main target of observation was, obviously, Kundrati and immediately adjacent waters.

The Lieutenant and Corporal stepped in front of the desk and laid several photos of various coastlines.  The photos showed obvious naval installations, and adjacent cities.  The trained analysts can tell with just a glance the difference between civilian constructions and military constructions:  It's obvious.  Civilian facilities are not as ruthlessly efficient in their designs as military installations.  In a civilian harbor, for example, boats of fifty different sizes are tied up to their berths haphazardly, with no regard for any thing except who owns what.  Even with experienced harbormasters, nothing beats a military installation for design, ease of access, and ease of regress.

The Captain looked at the pictures.  Each set appeared to be a series of five photos.  In the first four, from what the Captain could tell by the high resolution shots, some times through holes in the clouds, sometimes out in clear blue skies, there was a lot of activity around various naval installations.  Lots of ships, represented by easily identifiable dark lines, lots of vehicles, lots of things you would expect on fully staffed military based.  But on the last photo in each set, several of the ships had apparently disappeared.  And thankfully, the Lieutenant had drawn circles around where the missing ships are, so the eye could be easily drawn to that section.

"Ships are gone, Lieutennant." said the Captain, stating the obvious.

"Specifically the Submarines," said Lt. Boudreau.

"Have you heard any chatter from the Artanians or the Likatonians about exercises?"

"Nothing, Sir.  I don't believe they are aware."

"What do you think has happened to them," asked the Captain.  "Could it be some unannounced exercise?"

"Sir, the Kundratis don't usually do exercises," said Corporal Cardona.  "They don't tend to like anyone knowing what they have or what they plan to do with it."

The Captain looked at the photos under a magnifying lens that allowed him to focus on the granular details of the photos.  "Well, it does seem that it is just the submarines.  Those pens are empty.  How old are these photos?"

Lt. Boureau said, "This is about 10 days ago, this one here is 8 days, this is seven days, this one it three days and this last one is about 6 hours old."

"So, sometime in the last 72 hours, the entire Kundrati submarine fleet shipped out,"  said the Captain.  "But just the subs?  None of the surface ships have moved...  That's doesn't seem like an attack to me..."  The Captain thought for a moment.  "Do you have any idea where they are going?"

"Sir, we didn't see them leave.  We only noticed they were gone after they had already left, so I imagine that they left sometime one of the nights between series 4 and 5, plus cloud cover in Eastern Artania in January is problematic.  The reason we have the gap is because weather in the region is not cooperating."

"Goddamn it...  I wish the Luthorians were a little better with their surveillance." said the Captain. "Why they aren't sitting just outside those bases watching everything they do is just beyond me...  Why is it that the only one watching that country is half way around the world..."  He breathed in and exhaled loudly, mildly annoyed.

"Captain, we need to let the Chiefs know about this."

"Alright.  Go ahead and call Admiral Robb, also call up Admiral Miller.  Advise alert, and suggest that the search assets from the 4th Fleet start looking for those subs.  If they are coming east, we need as much time as we can get to prepare.  They won't be out of the Artanian Sea yet, so we have time to get into place in case they come into the Mad Dog.  Prepare a briefing for 0630 in case we need to touch up the Daily.  Dismissed..."  The two analysts snapped to attention, did an about face and walked smartly out of the office.  Meanwhile Captain Zearing got on the phone, punched some buttons into the unit, and waited for the ringer.

"What's going on Zearing?" said the half awake voice on the other end of the phone call.  "Sir, we have a situation.  Not sure how big it is, but..."  Zearing proceeded to tell the information and discuss what conclusions the three had come to.  "Sir, I'd like to call the Luthori liaison and put them on alert.  I'm also going to call Lodamun...  They will definitely appreciate the heads up."

"Alright Captain.  Go ahead and make the calls.  I'll be down there in an hour..."  The phone went dead on the other side, and the Captain hung up.  The next call he made was to his contact in Lodamese Intel.

Quote:[Sovereign Sea, February 3rd, 5610, 03:00 Hours]

Morokov in the dark red lit corridor turned back from his notebook and looked at the captain. The man behind him turned the periscope around 3 times scanning, as he took his eyes away from the machine, pulling down his eyepatch in place he walked over to Morokov and the others at the weapons calculations. Morokov began rechecking the bombardment coordinates for his wolfpack of 8 subs.

Salvo 1: Xsampan ports and warehouses on strategic dockyards
Salvo 2: Known warehouses and storage centers within range with foreign aid and civilian supply
Salvo 3: Electric grids & substations for power outages

But there was one final target that intrigued Morokov, a specific target for his sub alone in the entire 24 submersible fleet. His astute class nuclear submarine, a pride of the Kundrati navy, came equipped with unique 3,500 kilo cruise missiles with a 1000lb payload. He was to fire the 2 onboard, at the Xsampan embassy building, mainly used for diplomatic interactions with all foreign powers. Morokov smirked, the other calculations had been entirely strategic, but this one, was personal.

"Everything in order Lieutenant?" Said the gravelly voiced Captain. "Aye captain, all calculations triple checked for accuracy, the launching tubes are warming up as we speak, we await confirmation from the rest of the flotilla and your orders. The captain nodded and returned to his table, picking up a phone. A short conversation later the distinct words were spoken, "Wolfpack Lirnak, prepare for firing solutions."

In the dark cold waters there was serene silence as the lapping salty waves rolled in the starlit sky, and all at once water began to move, frothing. 28 Submarines in battle formation slowly emerged from the freezing waters, as the launch hatches opened. 30 seconds passed, then minutes, when suddenly in a deafening crescendo the dark night appeared as if it were suddenly day, if only for a few seconds. Fire roared, and 28 cruise missiles soared upward and toward the coast miles away. 30 seconds, and a second salvo, then a third. Over 60 cruise missiles were inbound before the solutions were finished, the Captain before ordering a dive and tactical withdrawal, went up to the viewing deck with his 2 adjutants. They lit cigarettes and waited, until bright flashes emerged on the horizon, hearing the small booms in the distance. The captain smiles as his gold tooth reflected in the cigarettes light, "Men, our work is done, give me the admirals line." The submarines having done their grim duty, perished as if they had never been, and the waters rolled silently again.

Quote:Pierre took a long drag from his Cigarette. pushing the smokey bliss out of his lungs, he holds the end out until the rain puts out the heat. He tosses the dead smoke into a public can. No one would be out tonight, Curfew was in order while the Occupiers snuffed out the rest of the Fascist Scumbags. 

the soft noise of footfalls approach him, from the other end of  the street. the rebounding echo tells him they come from Steel toe Boots.

Pierre smiles. She hadn't pussied out like he thought she would. Gotta hand it to the Fash, they understand what honor is.

"So, are we gonna get this over with? I got shit to do." she mocks, smirking at Pierre as he turns around.
Thumbing the revolver's hammer in his pocket, he steps up to her and stares, eyes devoid of emotion.
Silently, they go back to back and begin walking away, hands in their pockets.
1...
2...
Pierre grits his teeth as he remembers his Father.
3...
4...
5...
Blood Gushing from his throat as she laughed and licked the blood from the machete.
6...
7...
8...
3 steps left before he'd get what he came for.
9...
10.
without hesitation, he wrenches his revolver from the pocket of his overcoat and fires. 
She collapses. Pierre approaches her writhing body, cocks the revolver again, and fires a point blank shot to the center of her skull.
Blood oozing from the wounds gets mixed with the rain, and rivers of crimson flow towards the sewer grates on the side of the road.
Pierre Smiles. Kanjor, Mordusia and Luthori will blame it on infighting within Eternalist Ranks.
He hopes his father would have been proud of this.

Quote:[Pilgon Dockyard Station 3-F, February 9th, 5610, 08:00 Hours]

Slobodan loaded the last crate into the civilian vessel and re-read the manifest. "Agricultural machinery, Ball bearings, aggregate ore: Bound for Likatonia (HANDLE WITH CARE). Slobodan thought to himself they were quite heavy so that made sense, but why the commissars watching their every move? They'd specifically demanded to oversee the loading and emphasized fragility of the cargo. Shrugging, he pressed the close button on the ship loading gate and as he saw the shadows envelop the cargo as the door slowly rose, he swore he saw the flicker of a biohazard sticker on the side of a crate.

The ship departed in good order, and set out to deliver Likatonia its new cargo straight from the Kundrati arsenal. Sladek had made all the arrangements.