Druk Yul - Shangri La

[Kevin Kingswell]

"Oh just wondering I don't really have a plan it is just..never mind. I would gladly accept your services as my guide though I am afraid I can't pay you much I didn't exactly bring much with me. Just these clothes and my walking staff."

[Maelstrom Vortex]

"No charges to a visitor to my home. How about we take you to the evergreen vista? It's an internal green house we built here so that those who miss the lush greeneries at the feet of the mountain feel more at home." He smiled. "They have some of those fancy trees that grow 100 different kinds of fruit. My understanding is that they plan on turning it into an ark of sorts... for in the event the happenings of europe become a global phenomena. They also have a few redwoods planted, though in time those will have to be cut down for the chamber is only 100 feet from roof to floor. They also have a freshwater river made from icemelt from the peaks. It's very clean, people love to swim in it."

 

He strolled lazily towards the elevator with her in two and hit the button that was shaped like a tree and lit green.

[jesbro]

When they got to the temple part of the tour Mei would be there while holding her new dragon daughter Adria. Even with all the new "fire decorations" she still felt more at peace here than just about anywhere else. Below the temple was also the area where she was born and the area where her father was buried when he died. She wondered if his essence still flowed through the temple and even the city. She wondered if his spirit was also a part of what Maelstrom had become. There were many more questions she had but wondered if she even wanted the answers. "Some things were meant to stay buried in the past but is this truely one of those?"

[Maelstrom Vortex]

A visage of Maelstrom seemed to walk by Mei in the shadows before vanishing, "Everything here is part of me...." Then in another shadow it again spoke, "Some are taken, some are given, some not even my design. Some are borrowed, some are free, these the hallways of my mind." Then it vanished again.

Edited August 13, 2014 by Maelstrom Vortex

[Kevin Kingswell]

"That sounds beautiful" replied the Empress a twinkle of joy entering her eyes unseen beneath her hood. "Sounds like someone's personal slice of heaven to me" she said lifting her head to look at Maelstrom. She got a good look at his face, his wizened almost guru like outlook and yet when she did something or someone told her that something was different about this old man and she should be on guard. Realizing that he would easily be able to see her own face she hastily ducked her gaze and retreated into the folds of her clothing whilst turning a shoulder to him. To keep herself distracted she started to hum the tune to the Russian song Katyusha a personal favourite of hers. 

[Maelstrom Vortex]

They traveled down the elevator to the massive arboretum. There was indeed a few trees which bore 100 different kind of fruits and there was a giant lazy river from fresh icemelt that flowed between the groves. Sunlight, both real and simulated came down from below. The real sunlight had to be collected and bounced among a few dozen well placed mirrors to get it into the mountains depths.

Children were playing and swimming, there was an area of beach and a small pond. Birds sang among the trees. It was incredibly peaceful. There was no sounds of machinery and other than that which was required to operate the Arboretum, there wasn't a piece of technology in sight. The temperature was kept at a mild 26.666 degrees celcius. A variety of wild plants and growths made up the underbrush and there were a few animals wondering about them. It was a standalone underground ecosystem.

"Welcome to Serenity park."

[jesbro]

Mei would later be in Serenity Park wearing her Pure White dress after she was done in the temple. Sterling would be with Adria while Mei would walk around Serenity Park like she has tried to do every day since Adria was born. It was another place she felt at peace and if anyone recognized her she didn't really care because she was no longer the Empress of Shanghai however she was still considered Queen of the Dragons.

[Maelstrom Vortex]

Maelstrom left Carla in the Arboretum, she seemed content there. He would return if she sought him, but only then. He had other things he needed to tend to.

[Maelstrom Vortex]

Maelstrom wondered the halls of the temple listless and gaunt. Rumor was the Dreamer was not well. Internal parts of Shangri-La would even distort in some instances. For a brief moment, the Arboretum ran with a river of blood and its leaves all fell off dead with shrieking skeletons where birds once sat. A short time later the water returned to normal and the trees regrew their leaves and the birds returned as if nothing had ever happened. His eyes had changed from green to red. The doctors tended him, but he could just not find rest. "I.. despise.. ear.. infections.." He grumbled tiredly, yet sleeplessly.

Edited August 16, 2014 by Maelstrom Vortex

[Kevin Kingswell]

Empress Varos had just started to take a few steps to explore the beautiful surroundings around her when a large black hole opened before her and she fell down into its depths. As she fell all she could see was the word PLOT repeated in front of her eyes many times over.

 

PLOT

PLOT

PLOT

PLOT

PLOT

PLOT

PLOT

PLOT

 

Eventually the fall ended and the bottom of the hole emptied out into a street in the capital of Japan where the Empress landed on her rump quite painfully, her staff clattering down next to her. Standing up, she retrieved her staff, massaged her sore butt and looked up at the now disappearing hole in the sky a few feet above her head.

 

"Worse plot hole ever!" she angrily remarked before setting off at a relaxed walk.

[Maelstrom Vortex]

Maelstrom had finally gotten some rest. When he came to and looked at the news... he just shook his head. He phoned Wangchuck while sipping a coca cola, "You're in charge.. I need a vacation." He then hung up the phone took a few steps and vanished onto a beach on the Indian ocean where he landed in a recliner sitting back with shades on taking in the sun he imagined above him. He posed for a few shots from the ARES satellite as it flew over. He'd add them to his facepal account when he got home. His cultists would be pleased for the new content.

[jesbro]

Maelstrom wondered the halls of the temple listless and gaunt. Rumor was the Dreamer was not well. Internal parts of Shangri-La would even distort in some instances. For a brief moment, the Arboretum ran with a river of blood and its leaves all fell off dead with shrieking skeletons where birds once sat. A short time later the water returned to normal and the trees regrew their leaves and the birds returned as if nothing had ever happened.

 

Mei had no idea what was going on at the time. She thought it could have been some sort of vision of the future if something really bad was to happen to her or her daughter. She knew Adria was special and knew that no matter what she had to be kept safe from those that would want to hurt her. "That is why we must remain in Shangri-La. That is why she needs to be kept safe from the outside world. If the forces of evil were able to get their hands on her it will mean the end of the world."

[Maelstrom Vortex]

### Top Secret, err.. "Giggidy" ###

 

In the bowels of Shangri-La in the Druk Yul strategic operations complex, over a few beers and a few episodes of Family Guy, the Global Intelligence Gathering (GIG) unit was formed. True spies are crazy and swag that way. It resulted in the designation of all top secret material going forward as "Giggidy" so that no one would know what they were talking about and required the use of two thumbs and a cheesey smile up to confirm the status of the material. The Global Intelligence Gathering unit would be an extension of the DruK Yul Central Intelligence Apparatus. It would be responsible for compiling and confirming Satellite Intelligence data and monitoring global fleet and military movements. Assisting it would be a basic logic and algorithmic based artificial intelligence known as WOPR Mk2 (War Operation Planned Response) unit. Due to prior nations negative experiences with WOPR, all of its decisions went through human filters. The new WOPR even had a nice new object oriented GUI interface.

 

WOPR would sort the data about fleets gathered daily, organize it into a concise guide of global fleet positions designated as identified and unidentified. GIG was responsible for making sure if Satellite Intelligence couldn't ID the ships nationality from space of by detecting them at or near their port of origin or markings, the other blanks got filled in.

 

GIG planned on hiring a fleet of private yachts and putting agents on them.. and while they lived the high-life on the sea, they would tail fleets at a safe visual observation distance where binoculars or telescopes and radio listening and interception equipment might tell them who the ship belongs to. They would take false families with them as a cover. Once a fleet at sea would be identified on satellite, a yacht team would be assigned to it. Agents assigned to the missions were typically single due to the long duration.. and they were permitted to choose who traveled with them so long as it wouldn't inhibit their work. If any fleets bothered to stop or id them, they'd stick to the cover story that they were just adventurers roaming the seas who found interest in the mighty military ships surfing the waves with them. Their paperwork would be generic, their registrations would not tell which nation to which the vehicle belonged. Their equipment was not labeled with any parts or manufacturing labels. They'd not carry any personal identification paperwork. After all, why would you need that on the open oceans?

 

The yachts would never pass into national waters or actively controlled naval passages. Yachts would also tail the Druk Yul fleets so as not to give away the origin of the program.

Edited August 20, 2014 by Maelstrom Vortex

[Maelstrom Vortex]

Shangri-La Times

 

MOFA: Yun Li Caught in the Crossfire!

 

(AP Shangri-La) South East Aasian Treaty Organization (SEAT0) chambers got hot today as Tongzhi and Japan sparred over their recent history. Minister of Foreign Affairs Li attempted to mediate the situation, but the two delegations only seemed to talk past each other. In a desperate attempt to get them to sit down and talk, Li took the unprecedented action of closing the grounds of HQ and calling for a 30 minute recess. We will be live streaming from the chambers when the session resumes as a desperate quest for lasting peace in the Asian region continues.

 

Former minister of foreign affairs of Bhutan, and Shangri-La Times political consultant, Xi Ping had this to say on the matter, "It's uncommon to see SEATO so besides itself and divided on an issue, but Li knew going into this getting Japan and Tongzhi who have such a rough history to discuss was going to be a monumental task. Japan has a sort of societal paranoia after its encounters with Hawaii and China that continues to give its foreign policy and somewhat paranoid and hostile bent. Japan is simply unwilling to trust others simply because of its experiences with a few rogue states. It's something they're really going to need to get past if they're going to fit back into the international community. As for Tongzhi, they just reformed and so they're unstable as it is. The fact they're concerned that Japan, a more stable and longer standing empire may pose a threat to them... especially in light of Japan's recent expansions isn't entirely unreasonable. But they too, need to get past that fear if there's going to be a long lasting peace. They have SEATO backing them right now, but they could easily end up losing that backing if they start acting aggressively. They need to either trust SEATO to do its job and protect them and the region or reconsider their alignment with SEATO. I mean, they did sign the treaty in good faith and understanding that SEATO is protecting them I would hope."

Edited August 23, 2014 by Maelstrom Vortex

[Maelstrom Vortex]

## Hunter - Seeker Algorithm

The following message would pop up on practically every Druk Yul military system simultaneously:

 

## EXECUTIVE ORDER 99251514541234

 

Release protocol authorized.

 

White-Hat Virus "Dream Plague" released into system. Verifying security integrity of host system. No unauthorized access detected. No users operating beyond normal standard protocols. No driver or hardware control functions beyond normal parameters. Propagation orders recognized, infiltrating domestic network. Random encryption database engaged, random variables synced. Updates will occur daily on this system at the following time xx:xx:xx and this system will go offline for approximately 1 minute. Monthly the system will go offline on xx/xx/xx at xx:xx:xx for file system overhaul and re-encryption with the randomized key. The system will be unavailable for 3 hours and backups should be utilized during this period.

 

Dream Plague was created by Maelstrom Vortex, you should consult him directly if you suspect malfunction. Only a select few members of Druk Yul society will have access to the code. Encryption will begin in approximately 10 minutes, please engage backup systems until 3 hour window complete.

 

If you see a message on a computer screen indicating "The Stars are not Right." Please inform your nearest information security officer immediately as it will mean unauthorized access on the system has been attempted.

 

Good day,

Dream Plague

Defense AI

Edited August 25, 2014 by Maelstrom Vortex

[Maelstrom Vortex]

## Druk Yul Vacation Rotation

 

Given the unprecedented levels of peace and calm now in Asia.. the King has ordered that all of government should go on vacation. 1/4 of all personnel will be released on a weekly rotation to take leave with their families "While the getting was good."

 

The King gave the following statement to the national press, "Our ministers and our military have done marvelous work these past few months. With tensions now at a low it is a good time to let them relieve some of that so I've authorized a one month rotation of rest periods to allow them the opportunity to take a  break. I personally, will spend a week in Sri Lanka at one of the new resorts that recently went up there. Of course I can't tell you exactly where.. you'd hound me for another interview." He smiled and winked.

 

## Military Reverts to Peace Time Status

 

StratCom issued notice today to all branches of the military that readiness levels were to be reduced back to peacetime footing. DEFCON 5 has returned. There were celebrations in the command center at the return of eased tensions.

Edited August 27, 2014 by Maelstrom Vortex

[Maelstrom Vortex]

Tourists to Everest and to Shangri-La are reporting something very new and interesting over the skies of the Himalayas. Auroras. They now appear nightly and don't seem to show any sign of going away. Scientists are reporting very strange electromagnetic emissions in the region suggesting the source is coming from beneath Everest. Since most of the scientists are secularists, and do not follow the dreamer faith, few are willing to suggest the "dragon" that sleeps beneath the mountain is the cause but some are pointing fingers at the Druk Yul military for a possible cover-up of ionosphere experiments. The ones making these claims are being mostly treated the same by the general population as the HAARP conspiracy theorists of the old United States.

Edited September 26, 2014 by Maelstrom Vortex

[Maelstrom Vortex]

With the Amur Repubic unresponsive, Druk Yul would send 10,000 security personnel to help local governments transition into a peaceful existence without a governing federal level body. The goal was purely peace keeping and acting as a sort of interim protection force while the people of Amur worked to determne their future. With that Druk Yul declared a protectorate over their fallen comrade's holdings.

[Lestari]

Shortly following an encounter between Druk Yul and Uriankhai forces, a diplomatic missive from President Khün Kuzevin was directed towards the appropriate Druk Yul channels.

'Hello. I lament that there has been little opportunity yet for our two nations to exchange diplomatic pleasantries-- not unless you're inclined to count a terse exchange between two military leaders in Inner Mongolia. Nevertheless, I've been made aware of the nation of Amur's recent lapse into silence, and of Druk Yul's peace-keeping venture there, and given the nature of Amur's people as Turkic kin to those of us in the Confederacy, I believe I am not amiss in feeling that Uriankhai peace-keepers would be more suited to restoring order and peace to our kin in Amur. I am therefore drafting this missive to request that, given the proximity both ethnic and geographical of Amur to Uriankhai, the Confederacy be permitted to safeguard the wellbeing of our fellow Turkic peoples. Kindly let me know of your sentiments on this matter.'

[Maelstrom Vortex]

Diplomatic response to the President delivered over encrypted wire.

[HR]

 

Greetings,

 

Your arrival in the region could not be at a more ideal time. We have concerns for the people of our former ally. We're still uncertain as to what caused the fall of Amur, but we suspect it was internal infighting. Our military forces there have indicated they're in the process of restraining feuding factions in an attempt to allow for elections of a new governing body based on the Republic's former constitution. However, we'd be happy to include a referendum to see whether the people of Amur have an interest in joining a nation of like peoples such as your own. We would welcome you as a partner through this process if you are willing to respect the decisions of the people in determining their future. You are fully welcome to make your wishes and ideas known before the people of the republic in the run up to the elections which we would expect to be held within a month or two. Let me emphasize that we like your proposal and we too believe it likely in their best interest, but they have to be on board with the decision.

 

Yun Li,

Minister of Foreign Affairs

Druk Yul

Edited September 28, 2014 by Maelstrom Vortex

[Maelstrom Vortex]

Doublepost, disregard.

Edited September 28, 2014 by Maelstrom Vortex

[Lestari]

'This is amenable.'

- President Khün Kuzevin

 

Shortly thereafter, a detachment of Uriankhai officials-- not soldiers or officers, but administrators, relief workers, doctors, the like-- was directed towards Amur to assist in securing the happiness and health of their Turkic kin. Amur had been led by foreigners, after all-- Chinese and Russian names dominated their social, political, and military leadership; hopefully it would help to ease the instability and uncertainty of the fallen nation's denizens to have ethnic kin there who too had known the tyranny of foreign regimes, and could serve as an example of the power of indigenous peoples' unity.

Edited September 28, 2014 by dotCom

[Mogar]

The military movements would not go unnoticed by the Imperium. Mitsubishi RQ-170 Senchineru had been deplyed to watch the Druk Yul movements across inner mongolia, and standard protcol dictated for any military transit within the Imperium's sphere of influence. The Druk Yul movements were expected, the unknown forces were not however, and the decision was made to "support" their allies in securing the former Amur Republic.
 
 
A mechanized Division containing 10,000 1,200 Type 89 IFVs, 1,200 Type 96 APCs, 400 Type 10 MBTs, and 200 Type 87 SPAAGs, would move into the Eastern regions of Amur, an additional 10,000 marines would make landings in towns and ports up the coastline, simply using the exercise as practice.
 
Unlike the Druk Yul military, the Imperium was more aware of their neighbors existence, but was concerned of their silence and then military movements towards them, those who did not communicate tended to not be friendly.
 

:Encrypted To Druk Yul:
"Her Imperial Majesty has elected to support your efforts in maintaining the peace within the Amur Region."

:Encrypted to Uriankhai:
"Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Hoshiko, Sovereign of East Asia, has been observing the resurgence of Mongolian self governance, as we have noticed your military movements near our borders, Her Imperial Highness wishes to conduct a diplomatic meeting with your government to discuss these actions and work towards ensuring communication between our nations to promote harmony and allow for peace to thrive in Asia."
-Osamu Saito, Minister of Foreign Affairs

Edited September 28, 2014 by Mogar

[jesbro]

As the events continued to unfold Emperor Jesse looked over the reports and watched the news of the developing situation to the north of Beijing. The city had sustained minimal damage during Henry's attack and it didn't take long to get the city back up and running as well as making sure all of their borders were secure. As Jesse continued to think about what was going on Lee asked him if he needed to do anything about it.  "I can send some of our forces to help our Druk Yul and Japanese allies secure Amur and am a little surprised you have not ordered me to do so yet."

 

"The reason I have not ordered you to do anything yet is because right now there is nothing we really need to do yet. As long as our northern borders are all secure we can let them all figure out the situation themselves without getting us involved unless we really need to."

 

"You sure? Usually you are all over situations like this and have always been asking me and my forces to go help secure those regions. Is something different this time?"

 

"Lee right now I am more worried about what happened to the Amur government in the first place more than who takes over their territory. When the Indian and Macau governments fell there were reports of much civil unrest and assasinations which were probably carried out by the MHC before losing contact with them completely. This time however everything was fine until we lost all contact with them. It might be the MHC again or it could be something else entirely. Either way we need to be sure that our own borders are secure before we send any of our forces outside them into foreign territory."

 

"As you wish Emperor Jesse."

Edited September 28, 2014 by jesbro

[Maelstrom Vortex]

Due to his size, it was now rare that Maelstrom left his Everest lair, but tonight was special. He ascended the peaks of Everest alone and reveled in the auroras he was creating over them as he coiled around the lone summit at the roof of the world. His beloved mate, Koudoawaia, sleeping several thousand feet below him. Asia was at peace.. and he was at the summit of his power. Life, was good.
 

He stood up and indulged himself.. gripping all of Druk Yul and perhaps even its neighbors in a localized geomagnetic storm. The people of Shangri la were kept in awe.. and they saw the cause.. their six winged creator's silhouette was seen against the highest peaks.

 

Edited September 28, 2014 by Maelstrom Vortex