Noblesse Summit Invitation

[arkatahten]

"Yes, you're probably right about the Scorpianians," the apparent Holy Emperor said to Kharavos Al Mastif, "but I must confess that I'm not well-trained at diplomacy. My predecessor was, but he was recently terminated. In fact, my job truly consists of catching a bullet if necessary, or eating poisoned food. The Holy Emperor Arkatahten is a bit paranoid, and I am not him. In fact, I shouldn't be telling you thi..."

Suddenly, the decoy's face comported into pain. "Aaagh," he said, "a warning. The Holy Emperor can easily self-destruct me with the explosive in my head. I can say no more. He....aaaggghhhh...."

The false Holy Emperor Arkatahten excuses himself to his room, claiming a headache to any who question him on his way.

[Addled Platypus]

Mr Southwitter of the Republic of Recliners is setting up a buffet of chocolates made especially for this occasion.


Come on over and snack and exchange plesantries

[arkatahten]

On his way out, the apparent Holy Emperor picks up a piece of chocolate and nods politely to Mr. Southwitter.

"What's the matter?" the delegate asks him.

"Just a headache," he replies.

His hot female ninja guards follow him out of the room. In the hall, they are joined by two members of the Dark Brigade who had been waiting along with a couple of bodyguards from some other nation. The soldiers in their shadowy uniforms and dark hoods follow the emperor down the hall.

Behind them, one of the other bodyguards shrugs. "That holy leader or whatever of theirs sure looked like he had one helluva headache, huh?"

"Yeah," his compatriot replies, "he sure as hell did. And those Dark Brigaders were a little creepy at first, but once you get to know them, they're alright guys."

"Yeah, they're okay but a little too...I don't know the word...uh...something."

[Squeblish Nef?]

Farasi stumbles towards Kharavos, his mouth flapping.
"[CENSORED] has been taken! The people are in revolt!"
"Communists?"
"Leninists, maoists and fascists!"
"Together?"
"No, but they're destroying factories! Do you have any idea how much money we stand to lose?"
"Naturally, which is why, using the emergency powers granted to me by the Tooled-Up Sultan himself, I officially disown you from the Hierarchy, revoke your title, and hand your fate over to Xypak Al Mastif. Anything you say or do can, and will, result in even more unbearable agony. Oh, and we're revoking the cerebral implants. They could be very useful to your successor. Now hurry up, because there is a Angelfeather waiting on the helipad to hasten your return."
At these words, Kasatra plunges the taser into Farasi's spine.

[Mr. President]

OOC: The Consul is still hanging around, isn't he?

IC: Senator Michaelsen was by the pool, oblivious to the Al Mastifis busily tasering each other inside. He removed his jacket and hung it over a nearby chair.

"Just between you and me, Consul," he said quietly, "we're very concerned on the foreign affairs front. Azan exploded, then Western Apolyton. More fighting in Tassadaria. Why do you think I'm here, and not President Djordjevic and not the Secretary of State?"

He continued, "We've never had that great a relationship with our erstwhile neighbor Greater Chimerica. And they don't have a central government any more - it's every canton for itself. That's the real reason the Octagon just spent a billion dollars on Antarctican airplanes. The Nationalist Party talks about power projection because it's its job to talk about power projection. Right now we're more concerned about Skeln Pass and the Pendelhaven Gap."

[Squeblish Nef?]

Originally posted by Mr. President
...oblivious to the Al Mastifis busily tasering each other inside.

[arkatahten]

Ka-Babel pulled the dark hood from over his face and stared into the mirror. He'd been a member of the Dark Brigade for as long as he could remember, since he was a child.

A day of leisure had been granted to the priest posing as the Holy Emperor Arkatahten and that priest had spoiled it by doing something to invoke the wrath of the God-that-was-Emperor, he of many names, Arkatahten.

The priest lay curled up on his bed in his state suite while Ka-Babel stood in his little room, removing the dark paint from around his eyes.

"Here, let me," Meritatahsherit said as she glided up next to him. She wiped the soldier's make-up from under his eyes and regarded him slyly. "Well," she said, "that oaf of a look-a-like's misfortune is our pleasure. What shall we do?"

Ka-Babel smiled. He kissed the lithe young ninja woman. "The priest has enough guards for now, and so I think his head ninja and the captain of these Dark Brigadiers should enjoy themselves a little."

"And after that," Tah said, "we can explore the ship."

[Scorpi40000]

The "Prime Minister" turns to Kharavos. "We would be happy to provide that there money thingomic assistance to your great nation! If we can be assured that these services will be repayed! We have prospered in the last few years and would gladly help with any internal problems... Like the rioters!". The "Prime Minister" still had the same emotionless expression as he have had during the entire summit.

[Verto]

"Clearly, Senator, there are troubling events occurring throughout Apolyton; indeed, throughout the world. Less than a year ago, we lost fifty thousand citizens in a devastating terrorist attack. Up until last week, Eredron was facing a possible insurgency in Africa. We must stand together if we are to overcome these challenges.

--------

After the delegates and their companions had refreshed themselves following the activities of the first day, they were taken to have dinner in the Marble Hall.



Featuring the rare striped Emperor fish, with alternative dishes to suit individual tastes and customs, the delegates and their companions watched the newest play from the Republic's national theatre, Three's Company For the Afternoon.



Afterwards, the guests were seen to their suites while the ship was prepared for the next day.

[Verto]

Dressed in a more relaxed fashion now, the Consul stood on the top deck of the Noblesse, watching the sun rise. Miles away, he could see the frigates, destroyers, the cruisers and carriers - all forming a defensive net around the Noblesse; they surrounded her, maintaining her speed while traveling in a wide, enveloping circle. Below, moving unseen in the calm, warm waters, Virginia attack subs and Ohio ballistic missile submarines followed her course. Half were actively pinging for enemy contacts; the other half remained as silent as possible, ready to strike. The Ohio boomers maintained a constant state of alert, should the call come to surface, and fire their missiles...

"Consul. Consul, the delegates have been awoke and are beginning to gather for breakfast," an ensign said.

Still looking out at the ocean waters, the Consul nodded. "I will be down shortly. Instruct the galley to set out the meals, and ensure that the Planetarium is ready."

[Squeblish Nef?]

"So, who are we going to replace him with?" Enquires Kasatra, buttering his toast with a noticably unhygenic-looking serrated combat knife.
"The intelligence post will be divided between Metanaban and Faramas' successor, who are both in my pocket. Khaftan will be going to a noteable non-Khaftani hardliner." Replies Kharavos, surreptitiously pouring a pinch of pale blue powder into the Scorpianian "Prime Minister's" wine.
"Who?"
"Yourself. You are capable enough, I take it?"
"But I already have Destrakhan!"
"So? Look, I need Khaftan. I am not about to let Alsalan control two territories. If I attempt to seize it, it will be viewed as an inexcuseable abuse of my delegated power. That's why I have decided to give the responsibility to somebody I can trust. However, your assistant will be one of my best pawns, one of the cream of the Janitors."
"Who is he?"

[arkatahten]

As it had been at dinner the night before, so it was now. The Holy Emperor was nowhere to be seen. In his stead, a regal looking couple, Lord Ka-Babel and the Lady Meritatahsherit, sat at the breakfast table. Their entourage of Dark Brigadiers and elite fighting women had arisen earlier and eaten together so that now they could keep a watchful eye. To the untrained eye, Ka-Babel and Meritatahsherit seemed simply nobles, but as Arkatahten was a militaristic police state, the lord and lady were actually much more, well-trained killing machines.

Later they would be indistinguishable from the other Arkatahten guards, but for now they were what they appeared.

While Ka-Babel fielded a question about the status of the Holy Emperor Arkatahten, claiming he was in a holy trance in his stateroom, Meritatahsherit turned to the senator seated next to her.

"Tell me," said Meritatahsherit to Senator Michaelson, "what do you think need be done to safeguard Apolyton from troublesome quarrels and such?"

[arkatahten]

A lieutenant in the control room of the Noblesse wondered if he should contact one of his superiors or if this was something simple that he could handle himself. After all, it was only a helicopter and there were enough defensive subs to ward off any threat.

The call came over the radio, "This is Foxtrot Niner X-Ray Fiver Delta on state business of Arkatahten. Our Holy Emperor has requested that we land aboard your vessel so that he can board and receive a container of earth from the holy land to strengthen his communion with the heavens."

"What do they want?" an ensign asked the lieutenant.

"It sounds like they want to deliver a box of dirt."

"That's what I thought."

[Mr. President]

Woo-hoo! My first double post of the year.

[Mr. President]

Senator Michaelsen tried not to look at Kasatra buttering his toast with a combat knife. "My lady," he replied, "I fear it is human nature to quarrel. Where I come from we have a saying: expect the best, but prepare for the worst."

"So, you're not one of these people who thinks all we need is a little understanding?"

"I only wish it were so easy," Michaelsen replied. Kasatra even looked a little like Crazy Rob Ramirez from his old Army platoon. "I really do. But good intentions don't protect people - weapons protect people."