Lambertus VII Invites You

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41

[spoiler]I will be on vacation for the next week, and because of a desire to let RP-land know about it/ not get involved, I am going to post here about my noninvolvement[/spoiler]

IC:
d’Arrigo received the message from King Lambertus. He thought, I have to serve my people first, and because of it, I just cannot attend this meeting.

He quickly sat down in his office chair, had an aide bring him a pen and paper, and got to writing.

Dearest King Lambertus,
I appreciate your offer of invitation. This threat is certainly not one to be taken lightly, and I am pleased to see you and other leaders are being so proactive. In almost every circumstance, I would be right there with you; however, I cannot, as I made a promise to my people that I attend a week-long listening tour of Furnifold. It is essentially an all-hands, as all of my Cabinet officials are needed. I do hope you understand.
At the end of my tour, we will assess the situation in Xagrurg and we will determine what works best for the international community with how to respond.
Thank you for your invitation, and best wishes for a successful and informative conference.

Sincerely,

Jacopo d’Arrigo
Magistrate of Furnifold

42

Stevenson and Smith gave Lambertus VII a standing ovation and then sat down. Then, the Atlae Isles’s representative, Mario Capuzzi, walked in and asked what he missed. Stevenson narrowed his eyes and said, “You’re late.”

After the Atlaesians made themselves comfortable, Mister Leader II sat down next to Stevenson.

Stevenson said, “Smith told me that you tried to get my attention earlier. What did you want to talk to me about?”

43

“The situation at hand,” Mister Leader II replied. “As you know, this course of events is not what you’d consider best for our continent, specifically our two nations, and it likely isn’t going to end well. I have one question for you that is of extreme importance, however. It may change the way this whole ordeal goes.” Leader paused, waiting to see the interest pop into the Prime Minister’s pupils. “Will you be on my, or, perhaps, the Atlantian side, for the sake of the Urth as we know it?”

44

Stevenson replied, “I will do what I must, for the sake of Tretrid and her allies. The threat from the GXE is too great for us to stand alone with. We need to stand together, even if our key relations fall apart, even if the SEPC itself breaks down.”

OOC: May or may not be foreshadowing.

45

After a moment more of silence, Drugov rose and approached the microphone himself. “I would like to make a speech. I haven’t prepared, but I hope that it is eloquent enough for this noble group before me.” He cleared his throat.

“Ladies, gentlemen, friends, acquaintances, I entered your presence today representing the interests of Stratarin. At the time of my arrival, I was strongly neutral. But your words have swayed me. The union of the Greater Xagrurgian Empire and Ethalria should not be underestimated, and will not be by myself. We in this room have many differences. I am a communist authoritarian. My good friend Lambertus is a monarch. Bob Jones is the president of a republic. And I do not forget Ese Ulua, the Defender of the Oan Isles. But I am certain that we can all agree that the shameless aggression and hatred by this alliance, this… axis of evil, should never be tolerated.”

He stepped away from the microphone, nodding graciously at the applause. As Drugov was about to settle back into his seat, his phone buzzed in his jacket pocket. Walking quickly to the entrance of the room, he answered it and spoke in hushed tones. After several seconds, onlookers would’ve noticed his hand holding the phone violently trembling. Another moment later, the device dropped to the floor as he stumbled to the nearest wall and sank to the ground against it.

46

Stevenson watched as Drugov collapsed. Oh dear.
Just then, Smith’s phone rang, which led Stevenson to suspect something related. Smith answered it in a relatively cheery tone, but it quickly melted off his face, and Smith cursed under his breath.

“I’m going to need to excuse myself. Urgent business.” He walked outside the dining hall.

47

Concerned as General Secretary and Premier Viktor Drugov of Stratarin collapsed, the Grand Duke was about to get up to render aid when he felt his phone vibrate in his suit. Frowning, knowing he had ordered to only call him if there was an emergency.

Looking at it he saw it was a text from his son Jeymz who he had left in charge of the Grand Duchy while he was away. The text contained a link and a short message: “Urgent you read. Coup in Stratarin!” Frowning, the Grand Duke clicked the link and read the recent edition of the The Coyden Harbinger of Stratarin.

“Frell!” he said in Dragonian under his breath as he read it. He texted back to his son, “Understood!” and pockets his phone.

Standing up, the aged ruler of Dragonia looks around the room, in a voice pitched that carries through out the room without him having to shout. “Ladies and Gentlemen, I suggest that you all check in with your respective governments, the Most Serene Republic of Stratarin,” he pauses, “I’m sorry, the Militarized Communist State of Stratarin, has just had a coup happen with the assassination of the Chairman of the Council of Ministers and Minister of Foreign Affairs Rurik Lukin.”

The Grand Duke looks around at all the reactions to his words, “I say assassination, because reading between the lines, nobody with even a ‘smidgen’ of intelligence can not see this for what it is!” He pauses again, shaking his head slightly, “It’s too convenient, it’s too not believable in my eyes. Get the information yourselves and form your own opinion on this if you must.”

With that said, the Grand Duke turned and with the help of his cane, made his way to Drugov. Upon getting there, he leaned down and whispered in a very slightly accented Strataric so only the Premier of Stratarin could hear; “The worlds eyes are upon you young Viktor Drugov, are you going to just sit here and cry and feel sorry for your self, or will you stand up and be the leader that you are meant to be!”

Standing straight, the Grand Duke offers his arm to help the Stratarin General Secretary up off the floor. “I met Rurik on several occasions in his capacity as Minister of Foreign Affairs, I liked him, he was a good man. Don’t let his murder be in vain.”

48

Drugov clasped his hand to the Grand Duke’s wrist, standing slowly. Though his eyes clearly showed grief, there was a relentlessly fierce pride in them urging him onward. “I did not cry,” he replied softly, then spoke more loudly. “But I’m afraid there is little I can do. It remains a possibility that the culprit was indeed Major Dragomirov, and was not a part of some elaborate scheme other than his own. And the Harbinger has apparently discredited me, meaning that my people are already being turned against me.”

49

Calvin was in shock about the situation, but drew a phone. He opened the latest edition of the Coyden Harbinger.

Immediately he knew that Lukin and Dragomirov were dead. But that hardly surprised him, with all the turmoil. But there seemed to be something off…

He sent the article via email to Kyle Richards, saying “Check the article for foreign intelligence.”

50

Shocked, Jurgen took out his phone and opened the latest edition of Stratarin’s newspaper. “Oh my god,” Jurgen copied the link and sent it to Reiner. Reiner responded within a few moments.

[spoiler]R: What’s this?
J: Just read it.

A pause.

R: Wow.
J: Yeah.
R: This is quite unexpected.
J: Yup.
R: Is there anything that we can/should do?
J: I think the best solution is to just wait. We have our own problems.
R: Yes Sir.
J: You are dismissed.[/spoiler]

51

“Uh…” Stevenson was at a loss of words.

Smith walk back in, phone still in hand. “It seems like Stratarin’s Rurik Lukin has been assassinated. Acting Prime Minister Gray would like to tell you that it seems suspicious, and that Starikov could be feeding the Coyden Harbinger false information. But nothing’s for certain unless we get more information.”

Stevenson said, “Tell Gray not to do anything until I come back.”

52

Reading the harbinger article on his own phone, Leon straightened his suit and whispered over to Vice president Derek Guenner.

“I have a bad feeling about this takeover Derek”

“How so? treachery is not uncommon in dictatorships,” he replied. “Not to say that Rurik’s murder wasn’t saddening for me though.”

“I know, I feel the same way, but…” Leon paused for a second. “Its to convenient. War is brewing, and then suddenly Stratarin has a dead general secretary.”

“Are you suggesting-”

“That Ethalria and the GXE had something to do with this? I hope not, but it’s a possibility…”

“Lets hope your hunch is wrong then.”

53

After reading the article himself, Capuzzi told the king, “This trail of deaths is too suspicious. Also, off topic, but it seems like the Coyden Harbinger has lost its pro-Dragomirov mania and obsession over perfect grammar.”

“Is this a diversion to distract us from the GXE?” Calvin asked.

“I don’t know. Starikov may or may not support the GXE. I don’t really know.”

“What are the differing views between Drugov and Starikov?”

“The Coyden Harbinger says they disagree on civil rights and law enforcement, and they probably disagree about the SEPC. Not much more is known.”

“Let’s see what happens.”

54

“Well, this is crappy.”
Mister Leader II reached into his pocket and pulled out a mobile Neo-fax machine, decidedly ignoring his cell phone, and wired a message to the Serviceman of the USM. Typing hurriedly, he went a little crazy on the grammar, which was a sure sign that this was urgent to Beartrot.

[spoiler]Beartrot hurry and assemble the Home Guard on Code yellow. Lock down the Gulley, and get all of the politicians u can find into a safehouse somewhere. There’s been a crisis over in Stratarin, and I need basic lockdown. Read up on the Harbinger.[/spoiler]

55

(OOC: bear in mind that the only Harbinger article concerning this incident yet released at this time would be the first one.)

56

William, who was quiet the entire time until now, was looking at the Harbringer article on his laptop. He furrowed his brow as he read the article.

“Odd… Quite odd indeed…” He’d stroke his chin and then shut down his laptop, stowing it. William then looked around at his fellow world leaders.

Any of these guys can be my enemy one day… How scary…

57

Queen Naomi looking down at her cellular device,reads the news article sees the death of Rurik’s. As she reads it she finds something fairly odd about the situation,“why wait tell GXE situation comes to hand to murder a person”…

58

Growing more impatient to leave, Leon stood up and strode over to Lambertus, who was tasting wine with Walter Johannes. He walked up to the table and took a seat with the king, who smiled obliviously at him.

“Lambertus, the situation with Stratarin, the GXE, and Ethalria is degrading at an accelerated rate,” he began. “I must leave at once for Montakaan Citadel to begin coordinating the offence, and I suggest for you to do the same.”

“Of course, Mr Jolva.” Lambertus held his hand out, in which he took it. “Lets discuss military tactics later,” A pause. “I wish you the upmost luck, and please say hello from me to your wife.”

“Thank you your majesty,” said Leon, returning the handshake. “I’ll be sure to tell her when I next see her, and I will be in contact once I have landed.”

Leon stood up and nodded to Derek, who promptly stood up himself and trailed him to the exit of the hall, where Sir Dick Jaggenmilen sat, almost guard like.

“Leaving so soon gentlemen?” he queried politely, standing to meet their eyes.

“Afraid so” Derek replied. “These are uncertain times.”

“T’was a pleasure having you here sir’s!” smiled the veteran. “Have a good night!”

The pair continued outside the palace, entering the armoured car that awaited them, which then prowled leisurely out of the grounds and headed for the airport.

59

In the back of the room, the Justicar just stood and watched everyone’s reaction to the events in Stratarin. He didn’t bother to read the article on his phone as it was quiet, signaling the fact that nothing serious was happening in his country in response to Stratarin’s. However, he did manage to peek over someone’s shoulder and read some of the Harbringer article, giving him an overall of what exactly was going on.

60

Looking around, Petrovavich and Yuriev noticed many people were on their phones and tablets reading something. At that moment, Yuriev had heard his phone ding from a news article just released. He opened up his phone, read the Coyden Harbinger article about the death of Rurik Lukin and the article proceeding it, and showed Petrovavich.

“Oh dear… Well I can only hope that this doesn’t relate to the situation here in Aurora; if it does, we’ll have to go on full defensive, Yuriev.”

“Agreed; I’ll inform the Speaker of the Hall of this.” At this, Yuriev left the room to call on a secure line, presumably to the Speaker of the Hall.