Assassination (attempt) in Pretoria

[Manetheren]

"I am needed here, Minister, we need to secure the city properly and I am afraid if I come with you that will not be done suitably. I will send you with a detachment, though, the national archives likely contain documents the government needs and I don't want either the VF of ARM getting their hands on anything there. Sergeant MacDonald will accompany you" said van Haesten, gesturing for a Tahoan sergeant to come over. "He will command your escort and set up a perimiter at the archives. Have him do anything you need."

Van Haesten then excused himself and rushed dowstairs, eager to begin taking charge. Once out of the hospital and on the street, he directed police to set up roadblocks in a large perimiter around the center of Pretoria. The police would be backed up by SS troopers. They were also supposed to watch the police and ensure they were doing their job, although the police did not know that. VF supporters could be anywhere, after all.

Sergeant MacDonald saluted Minister Boersma, saying, "Shall we?"

[Botha]

Sergeant MacDonald saluted Minister Boersma, saying, "Shall we?"

“Very well Colonel, if our paths do not cross again then I wish you and your men good luck and godspeed” the minister said in a strange manner as he shook the colonel’s hand.

“Let’s go” Boersma said to the sergeant, “we’ll walk there, it will draw less attention to us than driving the streets.”

The streets Boersma were referring to were deserted. Outside of the buzz of the hospital, it felt like Pretoria had been emptied. As the minister and the sergeant walked briskly, the occasional light here and there could be seen from buildings, probably civilians who were trapped by both their own fear to venture outside and from the assortment of curfews now in effect. A cloud of smoke could be seen rising from the east around a kilometer away “That’s probably Government House still smoldering” Boersma said out loud.

After around ten minutes of hard walking, the two men rounded a corner and Boersma started to trot. There’s the State Archive Building there. The building, like many others they had seen, was barricaded up from inside. Boersma banged on the glass double doors of the main entrance “Open up, this is Minister of Interior Boersma – I am here on official business”.

After some murmuring and the sound of chairs and desks being dragged away, one of the doors unlocked and inched open. Boersma grabbed it and pried it open with the assistance of the Tahoan sergeant. The two men climbed inside and over top of the scattered debris which had been piled up.

Boersma exchange brief pleasantries with the two staff who had answered the door. It appeared that they knew Boersma firsthand through previous visits.

“Come sergeant!” Boersma waved as he trundled down one of the hallways. “Naturally, as the Minister of Interior, I have access to all parts of the building.”

They descended two flights of stairs and the building’s temperature became noticeably colder. They then approached one section of the complex, now obviously underground and probably under the street or another building, which was guarded by a woman in uniform in a booth to the right of a dark navy blue door marked GEHEIM.

“Boersma, Gert, Minister of Interior, Federal Government, Access 10003” he said as he slipped what looked like an identification card through a slot in the window of the booth. The women looked at the ID card and glanced at Boersma, before she slid a clipboard through a slot. “Sign here” she said, “him too if he’s going in”.

Boersma signed in, and then handed the clipboard to the Tahoan sergeant. Once the sergeant had handed the clipboard through the booth slot, a loud buzz were heard. “Go through gentleman!” the woman said, and Boersma opened the heavy door.

They entered a room around eight-hundred square feet in area, packed tightly with files and poorly lit, although one corner at the back appeared to be lit brighter than the rest of the room.

“What we want to find is probably in there…” motioned Boersma towards the light. In the back quarter of the secret archives there was another lock up, with a wire fence separating the two sections. Boersma pulled out a key and unlocked a simple pad lock to unlock the gate door entrance.

“Wait here Sergeant MacDonald”

Boersma went into the stockade and began to open and close draws. The sergeant was still close enough to observe Boersma in his hurried but methodical search. After around five minutes he stopped at one draw – the sergeant heard him exclaim a grunt of satisfaction – and Boersma began to thumb through it very slowly. A file caught his attention and he took out some papers and compared them to the photo copies. Judging from his expression, it appeared the Interior Minister had found a match. Boersma then continued to look though the rest of the same file which had caught his interest. As Boersma was putting it away, Sergeant MacDonald was able to catch a glimpse of writing on the folder GEHEIM: NASIONAALSELFMOORDPLAN.

Boersma pushed the draw back into the cabinet. He seemed flushed, as if something was now bothering him. “Let’s go sergeant, I’ve found what I need to find” he said as he locked up the wire stockade. “Let’s make our way back to the hospital so you can rejoin your men. Then I need to take leave.”

[Manetheren]

"Yes, Minister." The Sergeant spoke Afrikaans, like all the NCO's selected for this mission, but his was among the weakest. He spoke it with a thick accent and his reading was significantly subpar. He did notice the writing on the folder Boersma had selected: Geheim: Nasionaalselfmoordplan. He thought for a moment, forehead wrinkling as he worked out what that meant. When he came to his conclusion, his face visibly got darker. The folder was marked National Suicide Plan...or something similar at least. MacDonald had no clue what that meant, but whatever it was, the look on Boersma's face told him it wasn't good.

They walked back to the hospital in silence. Boersma couldn't keep his eyes of the folder in his hands and MacDonald silently scanned the buildings, as if on guard for assassins. Back at the hospital, MacDonald saluted and quickly rushed off to rejoin his squad, leaving Boersma alone on the front steps.

[Botha]

Boersma watched and waited until Sergeant MacDonald had entered the hospital. As soon as the Tahoan disappeared, he looked around and then made his way to a Krygsmagte troop carrier he spotted abandoned on the street. ‘Hopefully the radio still works’ the minister thought to himself.

To his relief, the carrier had suffered only external damage. While one axle had been broken and the vehicle wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon, the electronics inside were still functional. He switched on the radio and entered in his government identification code which would unlock the secret and emergency broadcast bands.

He then opened his small satchel briefcase and pulled out a codebook, thumbed through it, and then entered in the encrypted radio frequency for the CIC headquarters.

A voice crackled at the other in. “This is CIC, over. With whom am I speaking?”

‘Good’ thought the interior minister, now to get hold of Marshal Cruywagen.

[Botha]

FEDERAL REPUBLIC REGAINS MOZAMBIQUE

CYBERNATIONS NEWS NETWORK [PRETORIA]: After two days of coordinated operations along the Zambezi River in Tete district, the last portions of rebel territory in Mozambique were re-occupied by Transvaler Krygsmagte forces.

Military intelligence believes that after more than a week of fighting, approximately half of the guerillas under the Azarian Resistance Movement have now been eliminated; civilians casualties caught in the crossfire and unrestrained strategic air strikes are unknown but believed to be substantial according to refugees crossing the frontiers into Angola and Tanganyika.

Marshal Paul Cruywagen went on the radio in Lusaka and appealed to the guerillas to lay down its arms and surrender as continued resistance would only result in more bloodshed and death. “The Azarian organization has made its point but further resistance was futile as the Krygsmagte continued to gain the upper hand in the military aspects of the conflict”.

He also stated his belief that ARM only represents a minority of the people it claims to represent and that it was only creating more harm than good for the general populace.

[Botha]

Van Haesten then excused himself and rushed dowstairs, eager to begin taking charge. Once out of the hospital and on the street, he directed police to set up roadblocks in a large perimiter around the center of Pretoria.

While Colonel Van Haesten was busy coordinating his troops, a black Mercedes limosine with tinted windows pulled up and screeched to a stop in front of the hospital. A blond woman, dressed smartly in a black business suit and skirt, climbed out. She carried with her a briefcase which was chained around her wrist as a security measure.

Two Armtha-SS approached her - and then after a brief exchange, led her over to where the Colonel was. “Sir, this woman here says she has an appointment with Mr.Strijdom”.

Before the colonel could ask to present her identity papers, she spoke.

“Van Matteus. I am here to report to the Prime Minister.” She glanced at Van Haesten’s uniform to confirm the rank. “Can you take me to him, colonel?”

[Manetheren]

“Van Matteus. I am here to report to the Prime Minister.” She glanced at Van Haesten’s uniform to confirm the rank. “Can you take me to him, colonel?”

The Colonel looked up from a map of Pretoria he had spread out on a table outside the hospital. He looked at Van Matteus blankly before saying, "Yes, ma'am. A guard will have to be with you at all times once you are with the Prime Minister, unless he orders otherwise though. This way, please." Van Haesten gestured, leading Van Matteus into the hospital.

[Botha]

This way, please." Van Haesten gestured, leading Van Matteus into the hospital.

Van Matteus showed a muted look of annoyance when Van Haesten mentioned the need for a guard. She chirped “Well then colonel, lead the way then…”

As they made their way to the elevator, Van Haesten informed Van Matteus of the recent attacks on the hospital and politely ‘apologized’ for the unfortunate but necessary security requirements. He couldn’t tell if this eased her annoyance or not, but he could tell that Van Matteus seemed to be focused on something bothering her.

The elevator finally arrived in the basement.

“Wait here while I clear your meeting with the Prime Minister” Van Haesten instructed Ms. van Matteus.

“Sir, sorry to interrupt you but Ms. Annetjie van Matteus is here to see you.” Van Haesten voiced the question is such a tone as inquire whether this was a pre-arranged meeting or if Van Matteus had just shown up impromptu without Strijdom’s knowledge.

The prime minister looked up and replied grimly “Hmm… show her in”. It sounded like this was pre-arranged government business, although Strijdom didn’t sound too thrilled with his guest.

“You may visit with the Prime Minister now, Ms. van Matteus” called the Colonel from the entrance way.

Once Van Matteus had entered and taken a seat, Colonel Van Haesten then said “Sir, I shall get one of the SS troopers to stay here with you”

Strijdom replied curtly, “Colonel, no - that won’t be necessary… you stay here, I trust you more than anyone else here right now.”

Van Haesten stood off to one side of the room while Strijdom and Van Matteus conversed. It appeared they were discussing Projek Vela, Transvaal’s nuclear bomb programme. Van Matteus had all manner of blueprints and documentation which she was using to almost overwhelm the prime minister.

After a few minutes of this, Strijdom lost his patience and interrupted her sternly, asking “Tell me, exactly how long before Vela is operation?”

“Mr. Prime Minister, if our funding and research remains on its current course, barring any unforeseen difficulties we should have the initial device ready on March 10. The only delay at that point is locating weapons grade uranium. Give me two days to set up the necessary trade, and we should have the six bombs requested by March 18 or 19.”

She then added, as if it were an afterthought – but not – “That would be one month ahead of schedule!”

Feeling pleased with her work and presentation, Van Matteus waited for the hoped for compliment of a job well done or some other statement of satisfaction to stroke her ego.

“Good – now get out” Strijdom barked. Colonel Van Haesten could tell that as much as the prime minister displayed a noticeable loathing for the woman, she was probably the only one in Transvaal with the intellect, science background, and contacts to procure a nuclear weapon for him.

“Colonel, see Ms. van Matteus outside… thank you”

As Van Haesten was ushering Van Matteus back outside to her waiting vehicle, Minister Boersma spotted him. He waited until Van Matteus’ car had driven off before cautiously approaching the Colonel.

“Colonel, I need to speak with you in the uptmost secrecy...” The Minister looked worried and was sweating profusely. It wasn't from the heat.

Edited February 4, 2009 by Botha

[Manetheren]

“Colonel, I need to speak with you in the uptmost secrecy...” The Minister looked worried and was sweating profusely. It wasn't from the heat.

"Just a moment, Minister." Van Haesten turned to one of his troops and ordered him back inside to see Strijdom. "Don't disrupt him, though, just wait outside his door. If he needs anything he will call." Turning back to Boersma, he said, "Sorry Minister, security business" he shrugged as if it could not be helped, which, of course, it couldn't. "Over here, if you need secrecy." Van Haesten lead Boersma into a deserted alleyway on the side of the hospital. "What can I help you with, Minister?"

[Ranather]

OOC: Civil War...Nasionaalselfmoordplan...Nuclear Device...I don't know whether to congratulate you on this awesome RP or be worried at where I think this is going...or both.

[Botha]

"Over here, if you need secrecy." Van Haesten lead Boersma into a deserted alleyway on the side of the hospital. "What can I help you with, Minister?"

Boersma hesitated, looked around to make sure no one else could overhear his next words. “I need to know what your stance is… in that if it came to a showdown between our government and the armed forces – whose side would you be on?”

After a long silent pause… Boersma added “Or would you and your men simply stand aside?”

[Manetheren]

Boersma hesitated, looked around to make sure no one else could overhear his next words. “I need to know what your stance is… in that if it came to a showdown between our government and the armed forces – whose side would you be on?”

After a long silent pause… Boersma added “Or would you and your men simply stand aside?”

Van Haesten stood quietly for a short while, although it felt like an eternity to both Boersma and Van Haesten.

"Well, Sir...I uh, I don't...uh, well it would probably, uh, depend on the position my government took. I know the Taoiseach is friendly with Strijdom and many in the government, and I know that Cruywagen is seen by many...especially in the Armtha SS, as being weak, but uh, I really don't know. It probably depends on who is leading each side. I know the Taoiseach won't order us to stand down, he isn't the type of man to sit around and let things be decided without his input. The Staatspresident's position would have a large role, too. He is likely the most popular foreign leader in Tahoe."

It was clear to Boersma that Van Haesten wasn't telling him everything. Boersma knew the Armtha SS was fanatical in their ideology, but whether that ideology would mean supporting the military or government, he didn't know. Either way, he knew the Armtha SS would support somebody, with or without orders from Cruachan.

[Botha]

Either way, he knew the Armtha SS would support somebody, with or without orders from Cruachan.

“The Staatspresident is above and beyond such things - whichever side comes out on top will get his blessing so long as the Federal Republic itself is not threatened in any way.”

Boersma hestitated again, not sure if he had already compromised too much by revealing to the Colonel. He then sighed.

“Colonel… the military high command – that is, the army, air force, and navy – are convinced that continuing further bloodshed has now become pointless and will only result in severe, long-term damage at reconciliation in Southern Africa. ARM has realized that it cannot defeat the Krygsmagte. Both sides met secretly at Lusaka last night and a tentative deal has been hammered out... for peace.”

“ARM will surrender its weapons on the condition that no reprisals will take place afterwards and a general amnesty is made. The military will force Strijdom to agree to a formal ceasefire. Originally ARM wanted Strijdom sent packing immediately into exile, but Cruywagen would not agree to this. He will not take power in a junta and rather wants to maintain a semblance of democratic order in the civilian government. Strijdom will be given the option to serve out the remainder of his term - with the military looking over his shoulder - and then not stand for re-election... or he can deal with putting down a military coup that has the backing of all three branch commanders.”

“The Marshal knows you and your men are protecting Strijdom, his praetorian guard in effect. He respects your loyalty and dedication to duty as well as for what you have down for Transvaal during this crisis – therefore he wants to know what will happen when Krygsmagte troops show up here, in front of this hospital where we are standing, in the next 24 hours to inform Strijdom of his options.”

[Manetheren]

“The Marshal knows you and your men are protecting Strijdom, his praetorian guard in effect. He respects your loyalty and dedication to duty as well as for what you have down for Transvaal during this crisis – therefore he wants to know what will happen when Krygsmagte troops show up here, in front of this hospital where we are standing, in the next 24 hours to inform Strijdom of his options.”

"Am I correct in assuming you are backing the Field Marshal? Well, not that it matters, anyway. It is my duty to protect the Prime Minister and if he refuses to see the Krygsmagte field commanders, than I am afraid I cannot allow them an audience with the Prime Minister. Needless to say though, I won't act further without orders from my government. You may communicate that to whomever you wish."

[Botha]

"Am I correct in assuming you are backing the Field Marshal?

Boermsa responded sheepishly. “Yes, I am with the Marshal on this. It pains me that we have to resort to a coup, but my nation has reached a crossroads and as soon as I realized the nature of those documents from the archives, I knew that Strijdom had lost my confidence in him to act in the best of national interests.”

“Anyways, Colonel, I wish you and your men good luck. Hopefully we can meet again one day under better, different circumstances. I’ve always fancied a vacation in Tahoe.”

As Boersma walked away across the square in front of the hospital, he stopped and turned.

“Colonel… do you want to know what Nasionaalselfmoordplan is?”

[Manetheren]

“Colonel… do you want to know what Nasionaalselfmoordplan is?”

"Minister? I can't say I haven't been wondering..."

[Botha]

"Minister? I can't say I haven't been wondering..."

Nasionaalselfmoordplan means National Suicide Plan. It is a last-ditch contingency measure which was originally drafted back in the days long ago when Transvaal was in Nordreich and Van Matteus was prime minister - where if Afrikaner racial supremacy were ever threatened and the nation were close to eminent collapse, pandemics like the AIDS virus and engineered diseases – as well as nerve toxins such as soman – would be used to eliminate the non-whites and make the nation inhospitable afterwards… basically a crude, scorched earth and genocide policy.

After Van Matteus was overthrown, the NSMP became forgotten and lost in the depths of the national archives.

However sometime after Strijdom became prime minister, someone somewhere re-located the NSMP in the archives – my guess is Van Matteus went looking for it, or perhaps the VF through Van Zyl stumbled across it. He’d certainly have had access through my office to go digging in the Geheim files we visited.

Regardless, it somehow got fed to Strijdom – who was convinced to revise and update it with the addition of soon-to-be-acquired nuclear missiles – aimed not at foreign targets, but at ourselves. Six nuclear warheads, one each for Pretoria, Johannesburg, Bloemfontein, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, and Maputo – knock out those major cities and blanket the country in radiation.

That would explain why Van Matteus is in charge of Projek Vela – ever since she appeared on our political scene, she has advocated and strove for Transvaal acquiring nuclear weapons. “Boers with Bombs” I heard her joke once… the PAC would have a giant glass parking lot on its southern doorstep if NSMP were activated.

Needless to say, in such dire circumstances it could also be used as a Damocles’ sword, which would likely be Strijdom’s preferred usage, to be revealed at a time of national rebellion when the demand by Black Africans for equal political power over South Africa became too loud to ignore and beyond the point of our military force to maintain power.

While Cruywagen and the rest of the military support generalised Afrikaner supremacy over Transvaal, they don’t believe making threats of nuclear self-destruction as a means to terrorise its own residents into submission as being the way to maintain it, to put it lightly.

Now can you see why the military is putting its foot down? Once the branch commanders realised that NSMP was not a myth, and worse yet, reactivated - they decided that Strijdom had to be reigned in.

As far as we know, neither ARM nor even the Staatspresident himself are aware of NSMP's existence. Apart from you and me, probably half a dozen people know of its true nature.

Edited February 4, 2009 by Botha

[Ranather]

OOC: I guess my internal assumptions weren't crazy afterall.....

[Sumeragi]

OOC: Plan Orange.

[Botha]

KRYGSMAGTE LAUNCHES MASSIVE OFFENSIVE

ARM-controlled territory now severed into three parts

Field Marshal Cruywagen launched the largest ground offensive of the anti-guerilla campaign yesterday as large portions of Central Zambia and Nyasaland came back under Federal Republican control. In the process, the offensive broke the Azarian Resistance Movement into three separated zones and tightened the strangle-hold against the Blantyre headquarters.

[Botha]

OOC: I guess my internal assumptions weren't crazy afterall

OOC: The irony here is that around one third of of Transvaal's tech - if not more - has been bought from from Franzharian suppliers.

[Ranather]

OOC: The irony here is that around one third of of Transvaal's tech - if not more - has been bought from from Franzharian suppliers.

OOC: ZOMGLOL!

*Injects Sedative to stop uncontrollable laughter.*

Yes, I must admit, from a certain point of my view it is funny, from another disturbing, yet all around fully ironic.

[Manetheren]

Now can you see why the military is putting its foot down? Once the branch commanders realised that NSMP was not a myth, and worse yet, reactivated - they decided that Strijdom had to be reigned in.

As far as we know, neither ARM nor even the Staatspresident himself are aware of NSMP's existence. Apart from you and me, probably half a dozen people know of its true nature.

Van Haesten visibly recoiled at what Boersma was telling him. It was, to say the least, shocking that people could support such a plan. The destruction of the enemy was one thing, but slaughtering your own people is quite another.

"Minister, you need to contact my government immediately. I would do so, but I don't have the clearance to talk directly with the Taoiseach, it would take to long. Field Marshal Cruywagen needs to contact Ambassador O'Grianna who can arrange for the Taoiseach and the Field Marshal to converse."

[Botha]

CEASEFIRE DECLARED IN NORTHERN RHODESIA AND NYASALAND

CYBERNATIONS NEWS NETWORK [PRETORIA]: Rumours are now fast circulating throughout the capital that a ceasefire between Federal Republican and Azarian Resistance Movement forces has been declared.

The Federal Government has yet to confirm nor deny the truth of these rumours, but according to numerous civilian eyewitnesses contacted in the operational zones, shooting between the two sides in the de facto civil war appeared to stop at noon today.

[Botha]

Field Marshal Cruywagen needs to contact Ambassador O'Grianna who can arrange for the Taoiseach and the Field Marshal to converse."

Boersma answered: "Field Marshal Cruywagen and Admiral Kruger are on their way here by plane from the north, they should be arriving in the next four to six hours. Could you contact your people at the Tahoe embassy and make arrangements for them to meet with your ambassador before they proceed to present their ultimatum to the prime minister?"

"Cruywagen knows that Tahoe has reservations about him - but he did specifically ask what would Tahoe's position be, as he does not wish to cause disruptions in the close economic and political relations between our two nations. He views this as a purely internal, domestic matter that should not affect Tahoe."