Will the Circle Stay Unbroken?

[Sigurd Odinnson]

[quote name='Sarah Tintagyl' timestamp='1325811454' post='2893600']
[i]“Madame, it is a pleasure to welcome you to our temporary capital. If you do not mind the walk, we have a special car waiting for you past the guards.”[/i]

"Oh it won't be a problem at all Excellency. I have to thank your country and your Pontiff for being so quick with the reply to my letter. I know it came across as strange, but that has always been my game. Keeping people unsure of what I'm truly all about." She said with a laugh and then she and Nika walked with Giroux past the guards and towards the the car that was waiting for them.

If the Kuklos guards found the Amazons' clothes a strange mixture, Angelika and Nika both agreed that the Confederacy had breached the gap between the Medieval and the Modern. Men in long robes looked on them with serious faces and the cold war only heightened the sense that they had been pushed back several centuries. In the back of Nika's mind she almost looked forward to a confrontation, it would give her a chance to use her spear skills against the solemn religiosity that bled from the ground. This was a Paternal world, vastly different from the Amazons own idea of life and governance, but that produced some of the strongest friendships, those who could look past the short comings and focus primarily on the mutual strength that both peoples required.

As the car began to drive off towards the Regierungsbau, the nation's air force flew over head and upon the women's observation, Giroux kindly explained, though his choice of words made both Amazons uncomfortable. Nika glared at him, but Angelika was more subtle, reacting towards the positive points the Minister had made. "Well it is good that your country can make concessions for the people who lived in this region before the rise of your nation. Civilization may be one of the great things of humanity, but a nomad is no different than a city-dweller in mind or emotion. 'Savage', Excellency, would not be a term I would use. You would be surprise how much you can learn from those who have a strong affinity to the land and the Earth. Our Queen is very...vocal...about such things. That said, I would rather meet the Pontiff now, if that is at all possible."
[/quote]

The Aston rolled up to the front entrance of the Regierungsbau, as soldiers with Mauser rifles hanging from their shoulders rushed to open the door for Angelika and Nika. They stood at attention as Giroux and the delegation pulled up in the car behind her and escorted the two foreigners up the steps. Inside the great hall, it was obvious that renovations were underway as the ladies were escorted to the office of the Pontiff, recently hung with the Pontifical Arms – the Eagle’s head bearing the Tiara of three Crowns.

The doors opened as Giroux escorted the ladies in. Odinnson stood and looked the two women over. The uniforms were certainly not what he expected, nor the weapons on their backs. He hoped they hadn’t notice his eyebrows’ involuntary motion upwards as he began,

“Your Highness, it’s a pleasure to meet you so soon after our correspondence. I do hope your journey was comfortable.” He lifted his hands in greeting; Angelika extended her own and took his right with a curt bow.

“Thank you, very much, sir. The journey was quite comfortable, it's brisk outside so I'm glad to be warming myself back up,” She responded.

“Of course. The winters here are somewhat harsher than what we were used to in the Thuringian Forest. I imagine, however, that you have encountered similar in your travels.” Odinnson recalled how cold it had been in Duluth when he landed. “Do you drink alcohol?” It was one of his vices.

“I do, I'm actually a self-proclaimed connoisseur.” the Princess responded, eyes flashing.

“Splendid, very much like myself.” Odinnson had not missed the change in her expression, “Do you enjoy whiskeys? I can call for a glass - it seems to act as a good quick-fix for the cold, I find.”

“Yes, that would be just fine, Excellency and one for my associate here,” she motioned to Nika, “We'd both be thankful.”

“Of course.” Odinnson said briefly as he rang for drinks to be delivered to the office. It would be a favourite whiskey of Irish origins – something Forrest had introduced him to. The latter had given up alcohol after reading that his ancestor had been a teetotaler. “By the way, and do please pardon my asking, but I did not properly catch the name and title of your associate. I assume she is your bodyguard?”

Angelika looked at Nika and back to the Pontiff, “My Sister's Companion actually, the Companion of our Queen. Nika Radinkova.”

Sigurd rose to acknowledge her, “It's a pleasure to have you with us, Ms Radinkova.”

“Equally, Excellency, thank you for having me.” she responded.

Odinnson raised an eyebrow at the word “excellency” - he had never liked the title and specifically made it such that he would never go by it. He contemplated saying something when the drinks arrived and he decided against it, “Ah, good then, now that we're settled we can get down to business.” He motioned to the chairs. Angelika assumed a place immediately across from Odinnson, with Nika beside her. “My understanding is that you both are rather "free agents" at the moment in international affairs.”

“Well it is a bit more complicated than simply being "Free Agents" in international affairs. I am a refugee of the Austrian Empire when my sister ruled, before the collapse of the state and the rise of Nordic Socialism throughout Central Europe,” Angelika responded. “I am currently a citizen of the Great Horde of Tianxia, but there is a plan for a new country currently in the works, a Confederation of the various Amazon Tribes my sister has gathered to her banner as Queen.”

The Pontiff leaned forward slightly at hearing the plans for a new government in Asia. A valuable ally to have and a means to stave off Horde invasion. “I take it that your sister has gathered a significant force to her side? Where, pray, would this new nation locate its capital?”

Angelika detected Odinnson’s increased interest. “Ideally, it would be on the coast of Pontus, in northern Turkey, perhaps replacing the city of Trebizond. There is an ancient temple there, the Temple of Hippolyta. It is where my sister took the mantle of Hippolyta and became Queen of the Amazons herself. That of course depends if we can negotiate with the Rebel Army for said territory.”

“That brings me to another question I had hoped to ask,” Odinnson leaned back in his chair again. “It is my understanding that you are a pious and religious people, but I have not been made privy to the nature of your faith. As you probably know, we of the Kukloi are not a conventional religious community, though our belief teaches us that we are inheritors to the teachings and tradition of the Living God.”

Angelika took a serious tone, “our faith comes from a belief that everything in the world is divine, that everything contains, to some degree, a spirit and that these spirits are all around us. In that regard we are a Shamanistic people, at the same time, the Queen has been given her mantle by the Daughter of Ares and has as such, become the child of the War-God Himself. Ares, Artemis, and the demi-god, Hippolyta make up our pantheon.”

Odinnson sympathised with the polytheism, having made that error himself, but chose to focus instead on the positive things he heard. “Your faith in the Divinity of All Things clearly indicates a close relation to the Divine. Our own belief is similar; I am very pleased to hear this. It is often the case that polytheistic understandings of the divine easily slip into the realm of superstition that cuts them off from the Light.”


“While I have heard many a story from my sister and others, I tend to focus on reality as much as possible,” Angelika seemed to misunderstand what he said, but no matter.

“A firm grip on this world is what makes one capable of dealing with those challenges we face. Speaking of these challenges, I should say that you have great challenges before you,” he responded.

“Creating a nation was and will never be easy, Excellency. But I think you will soon see, we take pride in our strength.” Angelika’s voice changed somewhat. The Pontiff raised his eyebrow again at being called “excellency” but let it go again.

“You are right, it has never been a simple task -- we here in the confederacy have worked hard to accomplish what we have and we yet have rebellious denizens,” he let out a sigh. “They took the natives of this land and forced them into glorified prisons, and now attempt to use these same natives to overthrow the government of the Confederation,” he stood and moved toward the window of his office, “they will fail, of course. All rebellions ultimately fail their goal—but the cost will be great,” he turned toward the women as Angelika interjected,

“Sir?” she said with measured interest.

“Indeed?” Odinnson looked at the women inquisitively.

“People in your nation are trying to use the natives of these territories to over throw you?” both Nika and Angelika seemed to take great interest in the subject, making the Pontiff somewhat uneasy.

“Attempts are being made, yes,” he responded, “but I have the leader of one of the tribes in the city today. My hope is to abolish these absurd "reservations" and allow the natives to move freely in the wilderness.”

“Yes, that is what your Minister who met us at the airport said,” Angelika interrupted again. She seemed perturbed by something Adjutor Giroux had said.

“I am sure they will see the wisdom of accepting this offer of cooperation rather than joining the rebels,” he continued, “you may find their culture interesting. They have a similarly shamanistic approach to the world. They accept the divine as children - just as it is taught that we ought to accept it.
It's quite admirable.”

“I would hope so, but as a sign of friendship, Nika and I can fend for ourselves fairly easily. Is there anyway we could possibly be of help—to show our dedication to the future of an alliance? I feel it would be good to protect a people so close to our own.” Angelika looked eager, and Nika reflected her mood.

Odinnson moved to sit down again, “As of right now, Ritter-Kommandant Forrest is in charge of putting down the rebellion. He does not share my admiration of the natives, I'm afraid.” Odinnson looked off, “At any rate, I would not like to have my guests put in harms way. It would be a terrible insult to your sister if you were to fall on the field of battle here when you have so much more valuable work to do for her. I suggest that you take your time in the Confederation to tour and meet with those [i]friendly[/i] to the government, rather than meet the rebels in battle.” He paused, and then asked, “Is there anything which interests you specifically?”

The Princess von Hapsburg rejoined, “I assure you, Excellency, that it would be of no insult to myself or my sister. But during our tour I would be glad to speak to whomever. However, I would say, if your Ritter-Kommandant has no admiration, I would be happy to enlist my own service. It would be a great honor.”

“My goal is not to raise the natives as an army,” Odinnson responded with some firmness, “that would be doing exactly what the rebels wish to do. I merely want a guarantee that they will not allow themselves to be exploited by the rebels. Forrest believes our time is better spent by moving them north. I believe that we can accomplish what we need by simply getting rid of the reservations.”

Angelika nodded, replying “I can only hope it is a painless process.”

Odinnson’s features softened, “It is likewise my hope. The leader will be staying at the same residence as you and your companion, however, and if you do encounter him, I would certainly like to hear your impression of him,” Odinnson paused—he did not want to give the impression he was using his guests as spies, “I will be meeting with him after this, of course, but I do love to hear others' opinions.”

Fortunately, his guest seemed to understand “Of course. Completely understandable.”

He attempted again to distract them from the violent subject, “In the meantime, is there anything of specific interest you would like to see in my nation? We have an air taxi available to take you to any of the places where the rebellion has not taken root,” he said, “we have beautiful wilderness to see and our military has established a sizeable barracks on the outskirts of the city—depending, of course, on what interests you more.”

“Off hand, no,” Angelika responded, “but if you would give my associate and I a few days to tour and make up our minds. I'm sure we could present a schedule.”

“Please,” Odinnson responded warmly, “my Adjutor of Foreign Affairs will be happy to help you in whatever way you desire. We do not have any sort of schedule designed for you simply because I was so unsure as to what would be appropriate.” Angelika nodded in response as a thought occurred to the Pontiff. “Do you enjoy dancing? We of the clergy do not attend, but not all of the nobility is devoted to the religious life, however strong their belief. I believe a State Ball is being planned for tomorrow night.”

“Well then, perhaps after our Confederation is formed formally we can agree on an alliance? Since the loss of our friends in Vicidalia both the Horde and the Amazons have lost a friend on the continent. A prosperous nation as your own would an honor to call ‘friend’.” She then answered the question posed, “Also, I think a ball would be lovely. Nika?” She turned to her companion

“A lot of fun, I’d definitely go,” Nika responded.

“Excellent, then. I have to confer with the Brothers before a formal agreement can be reached, but I assure you so long as I reign you will have a friend here in the Confederation.” He looked at the clock, “Unfortunately, I believe that the tribal leader of the Anishinabe is waiting for his meeting, and I don't want to be impolitic. You ladies may tour the capital as you wish, I will have Adjutor Giroux send for a car to take you to your accommodations.”

“Of course,” Angelika responded, standing, “Until we meet again then Pontiff, it was a pleasure.”

Sigurd stretched out his hand to her and she received it, as he raised hers to his face pretending to kiss it, nodded to the door and rang for the Adjutor. Giroux arrived instantly – he probably had not strayed very far from the door in the first place. He guided the ladies down the hall and to a new car, this time a limousine, which was waiting in front of the capital to take them to their accommodations at the government diplomatic quarters. The building was originally designed as a ruler’s residence, but since Odinnson had taken up less grand accommodations in the soon-to-be St. Eckhart Abbey, it was never used for government officials.

[img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/61/Minnesota_Governor%27s_Residence.jpg/800px-Minnesota_Governor%27s_Residence.jpg[/img]
Government Diplomatic Quarters

[quote name='Markus Wilding' timestamp='1325813661' post='2893623']
OOC: (Forgot to mention) Make a separate thread, please. Let's not clutter this one up
[/quote]

OOC: will do.

[Sarah Tintagyl]

As Angelika and Nika were escorted from their meeting with the Pontiff, the Austrian Princess was in good spirits. Kuklos seemed like a nation that could eventually be brought into the circle of influence that the Amazons and the Horde enjoyed in the Alaskan Imperium and what had once existed in Vicidalia. The Confederacy was a peculiar nation and it had a fair share of problems, including that the two Amazons found themselves in a country that was on the verge of open rebellion by racist conquerors. She took back her generalization of the country when she had first arrived and knew that if the Pontiff could take care of the rebellion in its first movements, the Confederacy would be a strong ally in the Horde's attempt to reassert its voice on the continent.

Checking into the diplomatic quarters, the two women found their beds and Nika collapsed onto the soft mattress without another thought in the world.

"So what do we do now?" The Russian girl said covering her face with a white pillow. "I don't really know if I want to be touring a nation if there are these internal problems going on."

"Well we offered our service, maybe we could do a small tour around the immediate area and head back to Ehestadt. I kind of agree with you, this isn't a goodwill tour and with the German War still going on, our service is needed elsewhere." Looking back at the bed, Angelika shook her head already hearing Nika beginning to snore, her uniform still hugging her body. "Good, I'm glad you made a decision already." The Princess laughed and took off her coat and climbed into the other bed where her eyes quickly and pleasantly closed into sleep.

[Sigurd Odinnson]

[quote name='Sarah Tintagyl' timestamp='1325958538' post='2894877']
As Angelika and Nika were escorted from their meeting with the Pontiff, the Austrian Princess was in good spirits. Kuklos seemed like a nation that could eventually be brought into the circle of influence that the Amazons and the Horde enjoyed in the Alaskan Imperium and what had once existed in Vicidalia. The Confederacy was a peculiar nation and it had a fair share of problems, including that the two Amazons found themselves in a country that was on the verge of open rebellion by racist conquerors. She took back her generalization of the country when she had first arrived and knew that if the Pontiff could take care of the rebellion in its first movements, the Confederacy would be a strong ally in the Horde's attempt to reassert its voice on the continent.

Checking into the diplomatic quarters, the two women found their beds and Nika collapsed onto the soft mattress without another thought in the world.

"So what do we do now?" The Russian girl said covering her face with a white pillow. "I don't really know if I want to be touring a nation if there are these internal problems going on."

"Well we offered our service, maybe we could do a small tour around the immediate area and head back to Ehestadt. I kind of agree with you, this isn't a goodwill tour and with the German War still going on, our service is needed elsewhere." Looking back at the bed, Angelika shook her head already hearing Nika beginning to snore, her uniform still hugging her body. "Good, I'm glad you made a decision already." The Princess laughed and took off her coat and climbed into the other bed where her eyes quickly and pleasantly closed into sleep.
[/quote]

As evening fell on the city of Paulstadt, Odinnson put on his cloak and hat and began downstairs to head to his now-reduced home in the middle of the St. Eckhart Abbey construction. The stone, brick, and mortar had been delivered and was now being put to good use in the construction of the Abbey walls. The house which had once been a full ranch-style modern home had been half-dismantled already, and the remaining half served as quarters for the pontiff while the workers and monks kept quarters in the nearby tents and trailers. Their accommodations would not greatly improve upon the construction of the abbey and the completion of their monk cells, but they would at least be in a functioning religious community; the construction as it was constantly interrupted their routine of work and prayer.

The car took the Pontiff back to the soon-to-be Abbey from the Regierungsbau, and on the outskirts of town he felt a minor tremor and soon heard a number of sirens wailing throughout the city. He looked toward the city to see an eerie glow. His first thought was an attack on the Regierungsbau – he jumped back into the car and ordered the driver back to the centre of the city. The phone in the car had three emergency buttons – he pushed the blue to direct him to Ritter-Kommandant Forrest.

It rang.

It rang again.

By the third ring, Odinnson knew something was wrong if the central office was not receiving calls on the emergency line. He dialed Forrest’s personal phone. This time it went through.

“What is the situation, Commander? I thought the city was absolutely secure.”

“Frankly, so did I.” Forrest sounded more than a little annoyed, “and if you’re unhappy now, wait until you hear where the bomb went off. It was an assassination.”

“If it was successful, you can expect to start looking for a new uniform from the enlisted men’s lockers.”

“Don’t get worked up,” Forrest replied, showing no trepidation at being fired, “it wasn’t. We’re with the intended victim and his bodyguards now. He’s not even shaken—his only request was for a gun. I think Your Holiness’ attempt to befriend the savages has worked in spite of you.”

The blood ran right from Odinnson’s face at the thought of Chief Crane-hunter dead on the diplomatic visit. He was, though, from a historically pugnacious clan and had been instrumental in leading the Gichi-ziibiwininiwag Identity movement, summoning memories of the all-but-extinct Mississippi River Ojibwe bands, and had risen to prominence as a spokesperson for the entire Anishinabe Nation even in the CANADA and Pravus Ingruo – some of whom he had convinced to begin moving to the reservations in what was now the Confederation. He was not a soft man by any estimation, but his death would still have meant a fracturing of whatever allies the Pontiff could have had in the Ojibwe people as well as their fellow Anishinabe.

Then it hit him: the Hapsburg and her companion were also in the house. “What other damage was there?”

“Not much. We just pulled up to the building now. The eastern wing is in flames, but the actual diplomatic quarters is fine,” Forrest responded, “the explosion was in the back of the building. It looks like it was largely untouched.”

“Good, my car is bringing me down now; I’ve had the driver secure a military escort from the Order,” Odinnson calmed down. “I’ll be there in a matter of minutes.”

“Good. The ladies are coming out of the building now. They have a bit of soot on their white coats and I don’t see the one’s spear, but it looks like their otherwise fine,” Forrest responded, “I’m going down to receive them.”

Forrest was in full military dress when he went to meet Princess Angelika and Nika. The fire illumined the blue-grey tunic with white pants, making the gold stripe down his pantlegs disappear in the orange-and-red light. His beard, carefully shaved in the appearance of his ancestor, was thick and obscured some of his features except his grey eyes. The fire wasn’t nearly as intense as the glare in Angelika’s eyes. She seemed as incensed as Chief Crane-hunter by the whole thing.


OOC: For those unfamiliar with the Great Plains and Western Amerindians, the Anishinabe are Algonquin-speakers of the Midwest, comprised of the Ojibwe (Chippewah) Indians in Minnesota as well as the Ottowa and Algonquin nations of Canada’s First Nations. They are related to the Massachusett, Mohegan, and Narragansett in the Northeast, the Powhatan, Lenape (Delaware), and Nanticoke of Virginia, and the Shawnee and Miami of the American Midwest, all of whom speak languages in the Algonkian Language Family.

[Sarah Tintagyl]

The thunder of the explosion which tore through the diplomatic hall threw both Angelika and Nika out of their beds. For a moment they were both confused, still shaking off the fog of sleep, but as alarms, sirens, and screaming filled their ears, the Amazons focused thesmelves and realized that the danger of Odinnson's rebellion was real and close. Throwing on her coat and grabbing her titatnium spear, Angelika ran towards the door and gazed out at the smoke filled halls and the flames lapping against the walls of the corridor.

"Nika! Hurry up! We need to get out of here!"

Nika had seen a lot in her life in the past year, but the surprise of the explosion knocked her off balance as she moved through the smoky room trying to find her outfit and weapons. "Where did I put my spear? I swear I just had it." Then she felt Angelika's hand wrap around her wrist and pull her forward.

"There's no time, we need to get out of here. The building is under attack."

They ran out into the burning hall and throught the corridors towards the entrance. With the smoke, heat, and fear of being trapped, it was easy to get lost in the confusion, but they moved towards where the sirens were ringing outside. Angelika realized then that they had been staying at the same building where Odinnson had placed the Tribal Chief and it filled her with rage thinking about the Pontiff's earlier considerations. It would be disrespectful for laides as Angelika and Nika to place themselves in danger, but danger had found them just fine and now the Austrian Princess found her own reasons to see this rebellion crushed. She was indirectly targeted herself and that was a tremendous breach of honor and integrity. When the Princess and the Companion finally ran down the stairs of the Diplomatic Quarters they were approached by an officer in the Kuklos Military who addressed himself as Ritter-Kommandant. Angelika glared up at him, she had no time for titles and less time to be reassured that everything was being handled.

"Where is the Pontiff?" She growled. "Your rebellion here has hit a little too close to home."

[Sigurd Odinnson]

[quote name='Sarah Tintagyl' timestamp='1326054530' post='2895839']
The thunder of the explosion which tore through the diplomatic hall threw both Angelika and Nika out of their beds. For a moment they were both confused, still shaking off the fog of sleep, but as alarms, sirens, and screaming filled their ears, the Amazons focused thesmelves and realized that the danger of Odinnson's rebellion was real and close. Throwing on her coat and grabbing her titatnium spear, Angelika ran towards the door and gazed out at the smoke filled halls and the flames lapping against the walls of the corridor.

"Nika! Hurry up! We need to get out of here!"

Nika had seen a lot in her life in the past year, but the surprise of the explosion knocked her off balance as she moved through the smoky room trying to find her outfit and weapons. "Where did I put my spear? I swear I just had it." Then she felt Angelika's hand wrap around her wrist and pull her forward.

"There's no time, we need to get out of here. The building is under attack."

They ran out into the burning hall and throught the corridors towards the entrance. With the smoke, heat, and fear of being trapped, it was easy to get lost in the confusion, but they moved towards where the sirens were ringing outside. Angelika realized then that they had been staying at the same building where Odinnson had placed the Tribal Chief and it filled her with rage thinking about the Pontiff's earlier considerations. It would be disrespectful for laides as Angelika and Nika to place themselves in danger, but danger had found them just fine and now the Austrian Princess found her own reasons to see this rebellion crushed. She was indirectly targeted herself and that was a tremendous breach of honor and integrity. When the Princess and the Companion finally ran down the stairs of the Diplomatic Quarters they were approached by an officer in the Kuklos Military who addressed himself as Ritter-Kommandant. Angelika glared up at him, she had no time for titles and less time to be reassured that everything was being handled.

"Where is the Pontiff?" She growled. "Your rebellion here has hit a little too close to home."
[/quote]

Forrest could hear the Anishinabe chief arguing with Kuklos medical personelle trying to convince him it was important to check his vitals after the shock of the explosion. Wearing nothing but a pair of jeans and work boots, the Chief was shouting about the vengeance of his people against the murderers who had lied to them. Forrest would have to address him after he dealt with the clearly enraged Hapsburg.

“The Pontiff is on his way. In the meanwhile, I would not allow yourself to get too shaken by the whole thing,” Forrest said in his usual tone in-the-moment; he was a very poor diplomat. “The bomb missed—unsurprising given the security we’ve had in the city and the misinformation we’ve been feeding into the rebellion for months. Whatever property is still in the building will be retrieved—and since you two ladies are unharmed, I’m quite sure your belongings will be likewise. At the moment, however, I’ll have to direct you to our medical teams to ensure your physical well-being before we do anything else.”

As he finished, the Pontiff’s car pulled up and he stepped out, first moving over to Chief Crane-hunter, who he tried to calm down by ensuring the Kuklosian military would allow him to operate fully independently against the rebellion. The Austrians seemed sufficiently frustrated with the medical procedures, though they dealt with it much better than the Chief. They grabbed his attention as soon as the Chief calmed down and called to his body guards to make their way back to the tribal headquarters. He was accompanied by a military guard by Forrest.

Both Forrest and Odinnson were now standing in front of Angelika and Nika, who were more than a little perturbed by the events.

[Sarah Tintagyl]

Forrest's nonchalant attitude was the last thing that Angelika wanted to hear after running out of burning building that had just been bombed. She wasn't completely what she wanted to hear, but his tone just did not rub her the right way. "So you've been feeding information to this rebellion and deliberately stuck me and my associate into a dangerous building? I don't know how you run security in your country, Ritter-Kommandant, but you're doing it wrong. Damn poor excuse for a knight of any order. Bah!" She threw her hands in the air and turned towards the medical teams which were tending others who had been effected by the blast. "You give me soldiers and the right information and I'd end this rebellion faster than any 'knight' ever could."

As Angelika turned, Nika frowned and turned away. "Just let her calm down, but if you knew about that attack. That was a pretty !@#$%* thing to do."

When the Pontiff finally arrived, both of the women were being cleaned up by the doctors but tore away in seeing Odinnson. Angelika was the first to speak as she crossed the lawn and narrowed her eyes. "Not the best welcoming ceremony I've been privy to, perhaps I might reinstate my offer now that Nika and I have been directly effected by this rebellion of yours."

[Sigurd Odinnson]

[quote name='Sarah Tintagyl' timestamp='1326264085' post='2897289']
Forrest's nonchalant attitude was the last thing that Angelika wanted to hear after running out of burning building that had just been bombed. She wasn't completely what she wanted to hear, but his tone just did not rub her the right way. "So you've been feeding information to this rebellion and deliberately stuck me and my associate into a dangerous building? I don't know how you run security in your country, Ritter-Kommandant, but you're doing it wrong. Damn poor excuse for a knight of any order. Bah!" She threw her hands in the air and turned towards the medical teams which were tending others who had been effected by the blast. "You give me soldiers and the right information and I'd end this rebellion faster than any 'knight' ever could."

As Angelika turned, Nika frowned and turned away. "Just let her calm down, but if you knew about that attack. That was a pretty !@#$%* thing to do."

When the Pontiff finally arrived, both of the women were being cleaned up by the doctors but tore away in seeing Odinnson. Angelika was the first to speak as she crossed the lawn and narrowed her eyes. "Not the best welcoming ceremony I've been privy to, perhaps I might reinstate my offer now that Nika and I have been directly effected by this rebellion of yours."
[/quote]

Forrest was not in the mood to be accused; the truth was he didn't know how the bomb had made it into the city - and he was angry enough as it was that he'd have to get the Order involved to find out what had gone wrong. His attempts to make things seem like he had things under control had gone over very poorly with the women visitors, something he hadn't expected. His relief was found when Odinnson finally arrived and he could depart to organise the manhunt.

Odinnson approached the ladies and offered his apologies for the trouble. “If there was [i]any[/i] suspicion of this kind of action on my part or the part of any of my government, I assure you we would have found you other accommodations. If you are upset, I can understand why; you are certainly not alone in that reaction. I can only say I’m extremely glad – overjoyed, really – that neither of you are harmed,” he spotted Nika’s lack of spear, “and your spear will be recovered, I assure you.”

He motioned to the ladies to his car and started moving in that direction himself, “as for your offer, I remain of the opinion that with the amount of danger you have already both been in, and with the miracle of your survival unharmed, provoking fate is—”

“Usually typical of fighters. If these two think they can do a better job that I have, then they can have weapons and uniforms from the main armoury. I’ll even give them each a Zenturium of troops to command.” Forrest was bitter but he was not stupid enough to let an opportunity like this pass; when he overheard Angelika pressing to join the move, he wanted to make sure to silence the inevitable opposition from the Pontiff and the Brothers.

Odinnson pulled him aside with a quick, but politic “excuse us” to the Hapsburg and her companion, “I believe that what you are talking about is extremely rash – besides, do you know how it will reflect on the government in general? Use the Inquisition – that’s what they’re there for, and they’re happy to work. The Chief Inquisitor has been pressing me for a more active role in putting down this rebellion for weeks. Considering what has just happened, I have half a mind to simply assign him the job.”

“Your Holiness has far too much experience with my work and too much respect for me to do that and I know it. You want the Inquisition involved? You have that. Give me these two – they want to fight, and they’re willing. If something goes wrong, it reflects poorly on them and they know that. I can use that kind of drive.” Forrest replied firmly. He was the only man in the Confederation who could address the Pontiff in that way – which is why Odinnson made sure he didn’t do it often.

“If you think insubordination is the means to get your way you’re quite mistaken. Then again, let’s see how willing they are to work with you.” The Pontiff had observed Forrest long enough to know when someone had criticised him, and he was guessing there had been a heated exchange before he arrived at the scene. He might be able to count on a grudge preventing Angelika and Nika from joining the fight.

He turned to them, “Ritter-Kommandant Forrest is in charge of security. If you have nothing against working with him, or indeed under him, then I cannot see how I can prevent righteous anger and vengeance for wrongs committed against you. How do you feel about working in this capacity?”