Hell's City

[Sarah Tintagyl]

Angelika didn't trust Ming, she had met him various times within the Federation and saw him as a threat to the happiness her sister enjoyed with the Imperator. Not only that, he had tried to enlist her multiple times to take place in his body enhancement experiments, saying that she was the perfect candidate for such internal improvement. It only came off to her as creepy and after the Empire's fall from grace the first time, Angelika found it a personal goal to sit in the shadows making sure that Theresia and Jia were taken care of well. It was this drive that had made her seek training from Federation military specialists. Jia had helped keep her involvement in the Federation a secret from her sisters and even he told the princess, various times, that he didn't like her risking life or limb for his happiness. That, however, is what had brought her to Korea. Kang was being beaten in the south, but she knew that Ming and his overlord were close and that is what sent her north. Here in the ruins of the Korean nation, she would find Ming and put a stop to his plans. What had happened to Rhee and she could remember it vividly, had to be something of his doing. In seconds, the young detective had grown several inches and his body mass had nearly doubled, in sheer muscle. It wasn't possible without chemical help and that was enough to test her hypothesis. That Ming was there, proved it.

She followed his motorcade as swiftly as she could. They moved slow through the slums until they broke free of the city and headed towards the ruins of Seoul. There wasn't a way to keep up with them here, so she followed far behind until coming to the stone compound of the hospital. The Princess cursed under her breath, Ming was prepared, this kind of defense could hold of a small army. Ming's motorcade waited out front and she stood on the barren hillsides until it left the compound before making her move down into the valley. Angelika did her best to stay clear of the spotlights searching the wilderness and pushed herself towards a fuel depot on the outside of the hospital fortress. There, in a small wooden building, serving as the fuel foreman's office, Angelika found a mechanic's uniform, which would do well in getting through the levels of access. She had to find Rhee.

After dressing herself and tucking her pistol deep into her pants and her hair tucked behind her hat, she walked out of the office and into the compound. Sweat dripped down her face as she moved through the white halls of the hospital, getting strange glances from the orderlies. They came from all walks of life, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, even some with Austrian features and she hoped she wouldn't be recognized.

Finally, after searching and peering through doorways, Angelika found the room where Rhee was held. She glanced around and finding the room abandoned, burst in with a concerned look on her face.

"I'm hoping they didn't do anything worse to you, Rhee. Are you still with me?"

[Triyun]

Rhee was tired, the adrenaline which Ming had injected him with to awaken him was wearing off, and to make matters worse he had spent the past hour being poked and prodded by medical technicians. To see another come in he snapped, "You've taken enough god damn blood samples." he said annoyed at the possibility of another extraction of his blood.

[i]"I'm hoping they didn't do anything worse to you, Rhee. Are you still with me?" [/i] Angelika asked. She was standing before him, with a concerned look on her face.

Rhee's face turned red, feeling embarrassment and a strong pang of guilt at once.

"Princess... I apologize." he said. "I am fine... I've just spent the past hour being used as a voodoo doll." he said showing his arms, full of needle marks. He then paused, being very Korean, he came from a culture which valued emotional reservedness, especially towards one of a higher social strata, never the less he could not contain the guilt at what he had done.

"Your majesty, please I beg your forgiveness for my inexcusable behavior earlier." he said bowing to her. "Please accept my sincerest apologies." he said bowing again.

[jesbro]

[b]John: [/b]Big talk for a big man. But like you I don't want any trouble. If you didn't know where they were all you had to do is say so.

[b]John walks out and once outside the bar Jesse calls him.

John: [/b]Anything? This guy has a knife and I didn't want to hurt him. Yet.

[b]Jesse: [/b]I looked into the history more. Their leader was diagnosed with a cancer that had a near 0% survival rate. Yet somehow a research company in the Corporate Republic of Ceylon found a cure. And this cure turned him into a Dragon. He did so much stuff in his Dragon form that many of the records are probably lost. I don't think even the Dragon Council has records of everything he did.

[b]John: [/b]Trust me they do. Anyways continue.

[b]Jesse: [/b]Even this could not safe him from death so when he finally died it came as a shock to everyone. But they still were able to create more of the virus. Although he was dead they still worshiped him. That is what the Dragon Cult is, they worship him as some sort of God made physical. They believe that he will return one day and bring them back to their former glory. That is what the virus is. It has has his DNA in it as well as the DNA of a Dragon. That is how those corporate scientists were able to create it in the first place. I do not knw how they got the Dragon DNA but they used it with his to create something else entirely. The virus itself was passed down to Dragon Cult leaders. Once he uses the power of the amulet he will try to lead the cultists and rise up against those currently occupying former Dragon Empire territory. Wait a sec I just got emailed some classified files from the Dragon Council. OH CRAP!

[b]John: [/b]What?

[b]Jesse: [/b]It seems that after further tests with the virus the scientists found out some interesting things. Like other viruses this thing is able to mutate and evolve. Each strain making its human subject much more powerful and crazier than the one before them. If you don't find him soon there will be nothing that can stop him. The longer he lives the more powerful he becomes.

[b]John: [/b]OK I am going back in there and if this bartender does not tell me what I need to know I will kill him. Wait a sec. What is that I hear in the background. Jesse are you on a plane?

[b]Jesse: [/b]One of Paul's private jets to be exact. I know you can't do this alone so I suggest you stay put until I arrive. Which should be in a few hours. It is evening there but from what I hear those bars are open all night. Head back to your hotel and I will meet you there. Then we can go to that bar together and confront that bartender. He knows something and I am sure with the right "convincing" he will talk. Or you could just go back in right now. If all he has is a knife than this should be a cakewalk. You have faced whole armies before so he shouldn't be any problem.

[b]John: [/b]Ill go back to my hotel and wait. There were also a lot of people in it and I didn't want to make a scene just yet either.

[b]Jesse: [/b]OF course you didn't. See you when we get there. Jesse out.

[b]On the plane.

Brian: [/b]We are going there why?

[b]Jesse: [/b]Some of these cults have ties to the magical world. I'm sure at least one of them knows what Dracula is planning.

[b]Brian: [/b]I thought his name was Vlad?

[b]Jesse: [/b]Father = Vlad. Dracul = Dracula. Is that simple enough for you?

[b]Brian: [/b]Good to know. Lets just hope the Council can cover for us while we are gone.

[b]Jesse: [/b]The Dragon Council have agents everywhere. If we need to be somewhere they will make sure we get there. Especially if the world is at stake.

[Sarah Tintagyl]

Angelika blushed and chuckled at watching him try to bow to her, under the pressures of all the restraints. "First, if you're going to bow to me, lets at least get you to a point where it looks good doing it." She went over to the table and began loosening the leather straps. "This will be the second time I've done this in about eight hours, though I would imagine if you could become that monster again, you could get out of these straps in a hurry."

She lifted him up to the ground with a strong pull on her arm and once he was standing, she went over to the door and locked it. "We're going to have to get out of here. People will be back soon and then it's going to be a firefight to keep you in this compound. So how's that feel Rhee?" The Princess smiled. "You're the center of attention know, everyone wants a little bit of your blood."

Throwing him some spare clothes from one of the closets, she waited until he was dressed before turning again. "So, you were through here before. How do you propose we escape and then after that. Where to?"

[Triyun]

Rhee was humbled by the Princess's casualness and humility towards him. He bowed again as she released him, "Thank you." he said, "you humble me with your kindness. You do your sister and your family's reputation a great service."

As she helped him up, he found himself wobble slightly before getting his bearing, "I think... for now I should be fine... and hopefully not transform." he said. He paused, "Perhaps I shouldn't joke about that." he said softly.

[i]"You're the center of attention know, everyone wants a little bit of your blood."[/i] Angelika asked.

"I am sure that you are used to being fussed over as a Princess, but personally, I am honestly not sure if I preferred getting nuked." he replied.

Grabbing the clothes he put them on. If felt good to get out of the medical gown and into a set of crisp fresh clothes, somehow even though it had only been a few hours, it felt like forever.

Rhee took stock of the surroundings and thinking, "I think..." he said. "Our best bet is the basement, through the back loading docks under the cafeteria." he said. He walked by the medical cart, slipping a scalpel into his sleeve. "Lets go. And if we get stopped, let me answer... no offense but your while impressive Chinese could use some work... you don't wanna know about your Korean" he said smiling slightly in jest.

As they headed out, they passed by several rooms which seemed to have patients move around almost zombie like, Rhee knew drug addiction could create issues with the mind, but this just seemed off... too much. He sighed heavily, stopping and looking... afraid what the future may hold for him.

[Maelstrom Vortex]

Lung made his first underground broadcast to the cult via some tapes they handed out to members at private meetings. "This is your Dreamer speaking. The Dreamer of the Chinese has called me from darkness to alert us to a new role. We are to entertain the Dreamers. Now is your calling. Our goal in the coming days will be to attempt secure the control of Incheon. While cells will continue to obviously work and function outside of the city to maintain our existence should something go wrong.. throughout the world.. where freedom of religion permits, we will attempt to once more claim sovereign soil in the name of our Dreamer here in Asia. Why? Because we're bored. Prepare for action. You all have roles in this society while keeping your identities hidden, you will be called.. in many instances.. to alter those roles in the coming days to undermine the control held over this city and to claim the equipment necessary to sustain a resistance such as seizing high technology tanks, weapons, and aircraft from your current employers. Open your 24 hour instruction kits.. and begin execution."

Edited September 6, 2011 by Maelstrom Vortex

[Sarah Tintagyl]

Angelika stood behind him as they walked through the white halls of the hospital towards the cafeteria. She didn't say a word, keeping her hat low and her steps quick as Rhee said hello and greeted the people they walked past. Every now and then, the Princess would look up to see his eyes filled with worry as they passed different rooms. Some of them filled with grayish brutes, much like what Rhee had looked like a few hours ago, walking with no purpose in the world. Others, wandered in rooms, shells of their former selves, both physically and mentally, as if whatever Ming had down to them, stripped them of both their body and their mind.

She placed a firm hand on Rhee's shoulder as they neared the elevator by the cafeteria. "Don't worry. I'm not going to let that happen to you and you had a lot more life then any of those kinds in there." She chuckled and showed a cut on her arm. "That's when you threw the table at me. So you definitely still have your spunk."

Getting into the elevator, Angelika took off her hat and flung out her hair, sighing happily. "Hopefully it'll be a straight shot from here back to Inchon. Then we'll be safe." She said as the doors opened and the loading dock appeared in front of them.

[Triyun]

Rhee turned to her, he looked into her eyes for reassurance and then nodded, "Ok... thank you." he said. Looking at the cut on her arm, his face turned somber again, "Again... I'm so sorry. But yeah... keep moving." he said to her.

As they entered the elevator, he immediately had a feeling of dread. He felt his heart begin to accelerate, again... "No..." he started, then to his relief it stopped. Letting out a sigh of relief he looked at her, "I am sorry. I am not the safest person to be around at the moment. Your compassion is quiet touching." he said.

As the door open his eyes scanned the trucks, he saw some strange devices being loaded onto one headed into crates marked for the Port of Incheon. "There... in one of those crates." he whispered. Grabbing her wrist, he pulled her toward the side wall to quickly move out of focus of the first security camera he spotted.

[Sarah Tintagyl]

With a sudden jolt, the Princess felt her arm pulled to the side as Rhee directed her into one of the larger crates in the shipping dock. With security cameras buzzing all around, they had to move fast and before long, Angelika found herself hugging herself tightly within one of the crates. Rhee climbed in a moment later and she thought that if the drug over took his body in here, she was a goner. Swallowing hard, Angelika kept the negative thoughts out of her mind as he fastened the wooden lid over top of their heads and the duo waited in the darkness for movement.

When the crates did begin to move, the hum of outside machinery piercing their ears. A few traces of light traveled through the crate, illuminating the chrome gadgets inside. Angelika hadn't paused to look at the silver helmets and clamps that cluttered the floor and sides of the crate, it just looked all too odd to her. Reaching down, she picked up one of the helmets and positioned herself to look at it closely. "I wouldn't even know where to begin, but it would appear that our friend Ming is doing much more than just medical tests. Helmets, clamps, wires." She said, shaking her head, looking at the heap of junk around her. "What are you up to in Korea, surely nothing good."

Then looking through the darkness, Angelika nodded at Rhee. His eyes were still a dull blue, most likely an after effect that would be with him the rest of his life. "So you have any idea where we're going? I'd rather not end up in other one of Ming's traps. That won't end well for any of us."

Edited September 6, 2011 by Sarah Tintagyl

[Maelstrom Vortex]

At various points of interest around the city where cultists worked, could get away with it, and observation/security was poor or lax.. explosives were laid in structures against key supporting engineering elements. The parts of Incheon which could be impacted.. were covertly being rigged for demolition.

Edited September 6, 2011 by Maelstrom Vortex

[Triyun]

Rhee looked around as they entered the crate. He felt the truck move beneath them, back to Incheon. Looking around the crate in the darkness, he felt a knot turn in his stomach. The equipment was... odd. Ming had mentioned more tests, and part of him said he should have stayed, but this, he was now glad he left for sure.

"Yeah..." said to himself. "I do not know... whats going on here, but I never liked or trusted the guy. Although there is one big problem... this equipment, the only person who could analyze it in the UFE government around here, happens to be Ming. We need to find a way to send this out of the country.

Is there anyway that you could get this to your sister, surely she or the Imperator could have people take a look at it. My impression has been Ming and the Imperator don't get along anyway. Though, my knowledge isn't that great, only what I can discern from mentions of the Imperator." Rhee said as he leaned back in the darkness, his eyes looking at the thin slots of moonlight coming through the top of the crate.

"Also if I may ask... you seem to have a history with Ming, how did you know him? I have to imagine it predates his transfer to Korea." Rhee asked turning to Angelika.

[Maelstrom Vortex]

X: I'm an idiot. Ignore this.

Edited September 6, 2011 by Maelstrom Vortex

[Sarah Tintagyl]

Looking out of the slits at the moon above them, Angelika sighed. "The only way we could get to my sister is if we left Korea as a whole and I don't know how that's possible right now. We don't even know where we are right now and the only ways out of the country, well, Ming probably controls those too. Honestly," she frowned, "It feels like he controls everything around here, including my past."

Angelika looked up at Rhee through the darkness and nodded. "When my sister was first engaged to the Imperator to be married. Most of the more conservative Chinese aristocracy, did not favor the marriage. Hell, conservative Austrians looked at it with the same disdain that the Chinese did. Bridgette Saenger comes to mind, almost immediately. Anyways, he and I met after their marriage and him and some man name Kang, a criminal lord in the south, they were the ones who plotted secretly against Jia and Theresia. They hid it well, but the Imperator knew and I knew just by keeping an open ear." She paused and looked back out at the moon. "Now with Kang actively attacking the Federation in the South and these strange becomings of the Vikings and others in Korea, Ming being here isn't a coincidence. He used to try to recruit me for a special experiment, the enhancement of the body and mind. Kind of what happened to you, Rhee, I think this is his doing. If I left you in that hospital, you'd be a walking zombie. A Viking really, all muscle, no brain, and that would be a real pity."

She clenched her fists and hit the side of the crate. "We have to take him down, maybe if we do that, we can cure you and we can fix this mess of a country."

[Triyun]

Rhee bit his lip, as Angelika gave her grim assessment of getting the equipment out of the country. But she was probably right, and right about Ming controlling the ways out. If Ming was involved with this drug, then that would explain how it was even getting in. He was new to the UFE bureaucracy, but he knew much of the scanners were developed by special projects, that was Ming's department. Li was given everything by Jia, and Zhou was a general of decent reputation, Ming was the only other man powerful enough to get this stuff through the naval and coast guard blockades.

"I see, if we can't get it out, then we should hide it somewhere, till we can get someone to take a look at it... if its going to the docks, who knows where it will end up. It could even end up on the ship we were on, used to experiment on more people." Rhee said.

He then listened to her story. It was fascinating to him on a level, he had no idea the degree of factionalization within the UFE. On the outside, Jia had always appeared to be a man with solid control of the Federation. By observing the meetings of the Deputy Imperator, he had begun to suspect there were Shadow Factions in the UFE less loyal to the Imperator, but only now was this confirmed. Taking the story in he paused.

"Angelika, if I may be blunt... I do not like the Imperator. His actions in Korea, were terrible. I know Kim Jong Un was a butcher, but... it was a horrible war... and the fact that Jia gave Korea back to Kim Jong Un makes it worse. That said, Ming... the devil you know is better than the devil you don't.

You have been kind to me, more so than I deserve, and I owe your family a debt of honor." he said. Rhee paused contemplating what he was about to say.

"I am a detective by training, I've worked undercover cases before. If Ming controls as much as you think, the only way to get him is with more information and proof... perhaps, I should allow myself to be experimented on." he said painfully. He didn't like the idea at all.

"But I am afraid I must ask your help, it will be useless if I get turned into a zombie, I can't get into the Deputy Imperator's head quarters without an appointment, but you can. If we hide this equipment and then go there, ask for help from Ming in front of the Deputy Imperator, Ming cannot just push me into the closet and have me forgotten. Hopefully then, he'll have to keep my mind somewhat in tact and maybe we can get some information... at least... well god I hope he will!" Rhee said.

[Amyante]

[quote name='Sarah Tintagyl' timestamp='1315252404' post='2795436']
An hour later, Bridgette found herself walking the streets of the slums. There were police sirens far off, probably where Rhee had finally succumbed to the energy of the serum. But she kept far away, there was no sense to risk being discovered by Ming or any of Jia's lackeys. Then as she was walking, the blonde woman heard voices nearby.

[i]"Eh, probably a couple of drunks, or some of those idiots that watched Fight Club too often. Doubt it was a mugging, this area's too out of the way for people to just randomly wander into."[/i]

Bridgette smiled and stepped out as the two detectives began to walk away. "Actually, forgive me for bothering you both, but I know exactly what caused that little commotion and would be willing to help both of you find the monster, and I assure you, it is a monster and take him into custody. I have the tools you need and the boost required. No cost either, because I'm looking for the brute as well." She fingered the two vials in her jacket with ecstasy. "Care to indulge me?"
[/quote]

Jinho turned to Brigitte, giving her two colleagues a wave of her hand to let them know she'd take care of this.

- "Good afternoon, miss. We've received a call from someone claiming there was a fight in this area, and we're currently investigating it. You mentioned you were able to give a description of the ones involved?"

The red headed police officer took a small notebook and pen out of her pocket, and stood ready to make some notes. In the meantime, the other two officers were approaching the end of the alley where Rhee had made his last stand, though they of course were not aware of this.

[Sarah Tintagyl]

[i]"Good afternoon, miss. We've received a call from someone claiming there was a fight in this area, and we're currently investigating it. You mentioned you were able to give a description of the ones involved?"[/i]

"I can," Bridgette nodded her head. "He was about six feet tall, probably about two-hundred fifty pounds of pretty much solid muscle and screamed, ranted, and raved, like the world was coming to an end. His sky was gray and his eyes most likely burned like bright sapphire. Of course he also could look like a one-hundred fifty pound Korean, with dark eyes, lighter skin, and probably only five foot and some odd inches tall." The woman laughed, "You see detective, you aren't dealing with just any person here. You're dealing with a guinea pig of a science experiment."

Then she feigned a stumble and leaned against a building. "He's going to keep reverting back and forth, back and forth and I tried to stop the experiment on him from happening, but the others...they wouldn't listen." Bridgette looked up into the red-head's eyes. "Please, if you have any chance to stop him," she whispered, "Come with me, I can help you."

She gestured over to an abandoned building. "We can work in there."

[Amyante]

Jinho wrote down both descriptions Brigitte gave, with a small scribble in the side saying [i]'two people?'[/i] for her own personal reference. Going by what she heard it was likely that the woman had either been a little too far to see properly or was on some kind of hallucinogenic at the time, but going by her current state most of the effects seemed to have been ebbed away already. She moved to catch Brigitte as she stumbled, but was too late, but believed it fortunate that the building was there or she'd have fallen on the ground. Meanwhile, behind her, both her colleagues were inspecting an area, pieces of the conversation drifting over to them from the way the alley had been built.

"...told you the shards were too far apart... bottle was thrown, not dropped..."

"...good work, we'll run that through the computer... find a DNA match."

Unbeknownst to Jinho, the two had found some blood samples on the bottle Rhee had kicked into the Viking's face, and were planning to run it through the computer to see if the DNA matched that of a known offender. If they did, they'd at least have something that wouldn't result in another dead end. She looked around at her two colleagues before reaching for the transceiver at her belt.

- "Guys, i'm going to take her inside, she needs to sit down."

"Roger that, be careful. This isn't the best neighborhood."

- "Will do sir, i'll be leaving this on for safety."

Trusting that the transmission was on a secure channel, she followed Brigitte inside, knowing that both her colleagues were only about half a minute away. She needed to get her testimony on what happened in case they managed to catch whomever did it. They'd likely get off with a fine or a warning, but that was something for the judges to decide on. She just supplied the suspects and proof.

[Sarah Tintagyl]

As Jinho took Bridgette inside the abandoned building, the woman's eyes sparkled for a moment. Her colleagues were close and she couldn't just let another brute loose in Inchon...or could she? If she could just find a way to inject her without the girl knowing. It was possible, just difficult.

There was a couch in the abandoned room and Bridgette steered Jinho towards that, she had long fingernails and perhaps if she was fast enough, she could disguise a syringe prick for her stern hold on the detective's body. After all, it didn't matter where the serum was delivered, so long that it entered her body. Then, Bridgette would have her under her control and Ming's pet Rhee would be a think of the past. She'd have her very own guard and what's more, a girl, just to show the bigots who surrounded her that feminine subjects could be just as powerful.

She wrapped her hand around the syringe in her coat and felt Jinho begin to walk her towards the sofa. This was her chance. Feigning a trip and falling to the ground. Bridgette tumbled into the detective and with the woman's eyes forward, took out the syringe and pushed it into her calf, discharging the serum throughout the Zargathian's body.

"Oh, I'm sorry, detective." Bridgette shoved it back into her pocket before the detective could look and clenched her fists. "What they tried to do to me. I'm so terribly weak. I can tell you whatever you want though. The beasts that these criminals are trying to create, I wouldn't be surprised if the Dragon Cult will get involved." With a bit of acting prowess, she began to push out fake tears as well. "You just have to protect me, please, I'm afraid they're after me."

[Amyante]

OOC: Korean actually, Jinho isn't connected to my nation, she just happens to have the same last name as my old ruler

IC:

Jinho almost lost her balance herself as Brigitte tripped into her, feeling a sharp bit brief pain in her calf that made her wince. Helping Brigitte up, she paused for a moment to rub the sore spot the sysringe had left, before sitting down on the couch.

- "Damn, you may be weak but your fingernails are pretty sharp there."

She shifted her seat, trying to get a little more comfortable. She'd have to look at her calf later when she'd be back at the precinct, she was sure the woman's nails had to have left a mark. She once again took out her pen and notebook.

- "Right, let's get on with this then... You mentioned the Dragon Cult possibly being involved, do you have any proof of this? It's rumored that they revere genetic mutations of some kind, though understandably we cannot act on rumor alone."

[Sarah Tintagyl]

"To be honest detective," Bridgette sighed as she lay on the couch. "I can't be sure. I was a humanitarian who came with some European Aid movements to Korea, after the regime fell. Once this chaos took over Inchon and of course the rest of the country, everything kind of went to hell. The Vikings arrived and then with them came the Dragon Cultists. Brutes all of them. The man you are after, was infected by a chemical that the Vikings have been using, though I wouldn't be able to tell you much about it, it's not my area of expertise. As to the Cult's involvement, you can see them, speaking in hushed tones that their savior, the abomination is trying to make himself known again."

She began to cry again. "This entire city, this entire country is starting to change and it has to be the radioactivity. It's mutated the countryside. Mutated the people's minds and their bodies. Those who aren't changed, just simply brutalize the rest of the people. Hobbes was right, the war of all against all and it is being waged in Korea." Then Bridgette smiled, "You need to have a way to change the game in your favor, or you can't possibly come out safe or on top."

Calmly, she sat up on the couch and turned to the detective. "By the way, Miss, are you okay? You're feeling fine? I apologize for that trip, it was clumsy of me." The woman looked into Jinho's eyes and they sparkled. "Sometimes though, curses can be blessings to the right people."

[Triyun]

Deputy Imperator Li sat in the back of his office, waiting for reports to come in. He was nearly drunk as he looked out into the city before him. Few of the buildings had their lights on in the down town, in sharp contrast to pre-war photographs. Beyond that though a sprawling mass of refugee camps lay before them. The lights were on but it was a sprawling mass of tents. Nothing like the cities of the surrounding areas.

Li sighed, he hated this. Korea was supposed to be a triumph, a perfect Confucian enclave, and it just seemed to be getting worse by the day.

He let out a loud sigh as he took another sip of his drink, Zhou came into the room. "Sir we are receiving multiple intelligence reports of more disruptions in the city. It appears the Cult is involved now as well as the Vikings and the Juchists."

"Wheeeres Rhee, has that !@#$%^& sold me out too?" Li said angrily, his words slightly slurred.

"We've heard no sign of him. Director Ming reports that he's MIA, he sent a convoy to the docks to find him, but there was no sign of him." Zhou replied. "Sir, it may be time to ask your brother for more resources, and advisers."

"Whats that!" Li growled, "No, I can handle this. Your men, they are just not trying hard enough!" he declared. "I want these cultists dealt with, and I want Rhee found, make sure every man is mobilized. I shall not tolerate laziness under my command!"

Zhou stepped back, a bit shocked by the unprofessional outburst. "I will redouble my efforts." Zhou said. "I apologize for disturbing you..."

As Zhou stepped out of the door, Director Ming stepped in.

"General." Ming said.

"Director." Zhou nodded irritated.

"Please close the door behind you." Li said to Zhou. Waiting to hear the door close he turned around to Ming.

"What news do you bring?" he asked.

Ming smiled, "Forgive me Deputy Imperator, I am sorry to disturb you. As you know, I have always been a proponent of your rule here." he said. "I do not want to..."

"Spit it out." Li ordered.

"Your brother has dispatched one of his agents here. Angelika von Hapsburg... I did not want to tell Zhou, as we do not know where his loyalties lie. Mine are though directly connected to you and your success here." Ming said.

"Not tell him what?" Li asked.

"It appears that she was the one with Rhee, and that Rhee had been subjected to some experiment when I found him. I brought him to a hospital to receive treatment, but I suspect he broke her out." Ming said. "... I do not want to attribute motive to a member of the Imperial Family... but..." he said.

Li was now at the edge of his seat, "But what?" he asked.

"Can you really trust the Hapsburgs?" Ming said. "They're a minor nation in Europe, whose global prestige is entirely based on your brother's infatuation with their youngest sister. Certainly they are nothing compared to your family's destiny. One which is not just carried by your brother but also by you. Have you asked yourself what happens when the time comes for Jia to retire?"

Li frowned, "I do not like where this is going." he said.

"You may not... but think about it. Think about all these factors, you getting this assignment right as Leopold is born..." Ming continued.

"Enough. I will hear no more of this. Leave my office." Li growled. "You are lucky I don't shoot you for treason!"

"Of course, I only live to serve the Federation and its rightful leaders." Ming said bowing and leaving. He smirked, he knew he had planted the seed in an already insecure mind. Everything was proceeding according to plan.

[Amyante]

Jinho noticed that she wasn't feeling all too well, now that Brigitte mentioned it. Still, her training had taught her that it was important to convey feelings of authority and security when talking to civilians, and admitting to being sick -- and by extension, weak -- she would undermine the trust Brigitte was placing in her and seriously making it harder to get her to testify at the precinct later by no longer making her feel safe. God, she could use an aspirin right now.

- "Yeah, i'm fine. Miss, i just live here, if there's radioactivity then it's just something we'll all just have to live with."

She sighed, focusing on her notes. It was unfortunate the rebels weren't able to advance further south to take Incheon. Sure, they ended up fighting the UFE later but at least the nukes stopped falling in the north, which to her was the main reason why so many people supported them in the first place. As a law enforcement officer however, working for the UFE supported government, she would keep that opinion strictly to herself or she'd find herself out of a job [i]real[/i] fast. There was an itch spreading from her calf though, and she looked up, straight into the woman's eyes. She was excited about something though, she could tell that much.

- "And Hobbes would be...?"

[Sarah Tintagyl]

"Thomas Hobbes, Miss. The English Philosopher, who talked about the need for a single ruler, a strong monarchy and idle to keep chaos from happening. In a way, I feel like that kind of thing is happening right here. You know, detective, I feel like there's a lot you and I could learn from each other. All in time though."

Bridgette looked at Jinho as she tweaked in her leg a bit, the sign of an itch and hid her smile, it was working, she only needed to keep her busy for a little bit longer while it finished pumping through the girl's system. "Did you ever think about setting out on your own though, Jinho? Something greater than this, something better than a detective in Korea. There's a whole world out there and I'm pretty well traveled myself. You think well on your toes, what is keeping you here?"

Edited September 6, 2011 by Sarah Tintagyl

[Amyante]

Jinho took a deep breath, leaning back to rest both elbows on the edge of the couch. Much to her surprise though, she found that her uniform was getting a bit tight, making her wonder whether she had washed it on the wrong temperature last weekend. Abandoning the position she settled on keeping her hands in her lap.

- "Well... To be honest, the precinct i work with is small, and all we get are the crappy jobs because regional HQ claims all the career cases for themselves. To... It's going to sound terribly cliche, but the best way to describe it would be [i]'Someone has to do it.'[/i] My colleagues are nice though, those that don't file for transfer every two weeks to where they can make a career."

She shifted in her seat again. Her uniform [i]was[/i] a bit too tight now. Sighing, she reluctantly added [i]'Go over to Supplies to request a new uniform'[/i] to her already far too long list of things to do once she got back to the precinct.

[Sarah Tintagyl]

Bridgette watched her move back and forth and she could see the change in Jinho's breathing. She moved and rested a hand on the woman's shoulder. "Listen, Jinho, things are about to change. Very soon, minutes, maybe even seconds and the entire world is going to look different. But different in a good way." The Austrian's tone was sincere, almost mother-like as she sat back onto the couch and folded her hands. "I want you to offer you a job in a way."

Bridgette crossed her legs and immediately the disguised sense of weakness was gone. "I take a very keen interest in what goes on in Korea and really what goes on throughout the world. My name is Doctor Bridgette Saenger and I was hoping that perhaps, you might find it in your heart and in your mind that in exchange for a gift and of course a partnership between you and I, Jinho, we could save Korea from this abomination of the Dragon Cult and the UFE. I know, you're a native, you dislike the Federation forces and I can provide you a way out of this lifestyle." Her eyes glittered with promise and power.

"You, me, and my associate, Dr. Y, why, we could change the world."

Then she snapped her fingers.

Edited September 6, 2011 by Sarah Tintagyl