Negeri Sembilan Under Fire!

[Mr. President]

"It's six o'clock here, at Southern News . . . The government of Negeri Sembilan reports that a number of refugees have been entering major cities from the southern highlands. Some of these people apparently say that villages were attacked by unidentified gunmen. With Negeri Sembilan reportedly on the verge of joining the Republican League, the government is sure to take action - but the Defense Department claims that its Azan deployment has stretched its resources . . ."

* * *

Dumai, Negeri Sembilan

The road leading south from Dumai was barely paved. Iskandar looked along it, as though he could somehow see through the thick forest to his village. Thankfully, his parents lived in the city now and had not been there when the gunmen attacked. Actually, by nightfall, most of the population of the southern villages would be in Dumai.

The roads were closed now, but mostly to allow the army to fight freely if the gunmen came north. So far there was no sign of them, but everyone was terrified nonetheless. Negeri Sembilan's army, though it had been receiving weapons and training from Karakas for almost a year now, still lacked adequate equipment, some scavenged from Numenorean bases abandoned a decade ago, some purchased on the black market, still more home-made. And as for training . . .

"Move out!" Iskandar's sergeant ordered. As one, the commandos walked south along the unpaved road, under the shadow of the trees.

* * *

My crappy attempt at a map. This is territory 169 on ceroomaster's regional map. (And yes, those are all the names of real towns in the Minang world.)

[Squeblish Nef?]

The Tooled-Up Sultanate of Al Mastif offers its assistance to the highest bidder, as it has no positive feelings about any of the participants.

[GeneralTacticus]

Another day, another war...

[Squeblish Nef?]

Right as always, GT.

[Mr. President]

Sorry if I bored you guys.

[Mr. President]

Maybe this will get your attention

In fact, Dumai was not the only region affected by the mysterious insurgency - though it was the region where shots were being fired. On this hill near Melaka Baru, for instance, there was a little-used satellite transmitter. The night after Iskandar and his platoon entered the southern jungles, a small group entered the transmitter complex ("snuck in" wouldn't be appropriate, as it was not guarded), and expertly worked the equipment.

Within minutes, a host of news agencies in Apolyton O'ues had received a message.

Know that we, the Front for the Liberation of New Rhodes, have begun the battle for freedom. Since the Numenorean withdrawal from New Rhodes, we have been the victims of numerous indignities against our national character, under the guise of the illegitimate government of "Negeri Sembilan".

Here we draw the line against the series of neo-colonial incursions by the globalization forces:

- The colonial aggression against Elethar by the reactionary government of Centralis;

- The occupation of Sheepsta by the communist government of Noosland, which promotes illegal foreign settlement and exploitation of the captive nation of Sheepsta;

- The exploitation of the resources of the Lirek Islands (called the "Marshall Islands" by the occupying government) by Karakas;

and other atrocities too numerous to mention.

We shall strike both at the illegitimate "Negeri Sembilan" state and on the soil of its supporters until such time as New Rhodes is free, and shall become a beach-head of purity in Apolyton and a shining model for the rest of the world.

* * *

Adailton, Karakas

The young man pushed his way through the bustling crowd at Carlos Santos International airport. A few stared at his denim jacket, unusual at this warm time of year, but none seriously. Still no-one suspected anything, as it should be.

Near the boarding gate was a Civil Defense Militia checkpoint. The young man in the denim jacket stared at the soldiers in black helmets and black armor and swallowed hard. Just act casual. Don't look too closely, just hand them your documents, now take them back, and step through -

But now there was a black-gloved hand blocking his way. He glanced at the hand, then glanced at the Militiaman's dark helmet. Then he glanced over his shoulder, where another Militiaman was flicking the safety off a machine gun.

Panicking, the young man in the denim jacket groped for the detonator hidden in his pocket, but his palms were suddenly sweaty and he could find no purchase. Then several sharp blows struck his stomach in quick succession, and he found himself on the floor.

[Squeblish Nef?]

Originally posted by Mr. President
Sorry if I bored you guys.

No, it's not that.
It's just that we've got so much on our plates already, what with FCL, WA, the OPT and spot #181.
It's all just getting so busy.

[Boondi]

The Boondi President read the transcript of the message and pondered its meaning. Were these rebels about to take on some of the largest nations in the world. Heaven forbid he thought. The consequences would be disastrous. Boondi had muhc foriegn trade with those nations, if they were under Terrorist attacks that trade maybe affected.

He called his main advisors in and told them the details. A policy was needed, and needed fast.

[Squeblish Nef?]

Heh.
Those terrorists don't give a sh!t about what I'm doing over in 'Ori.

[Rasputin]

where would NS be without a WAR ....

It is good to see so many people coming back here now that the action is hotting up...

[Squeblish Nef?]

Hopefully you duffers can wrap up the whole Azan/FCL situation in the near future.