[The Cataclysmic Meeting of the Ages]

[loannes]

Vice President Fredericks watched the Nationalgardet as he guided Hanson off the plane. He nodded graciously to von Richt and continued to watch the guards. He knew he was safe, but nonetheless, he missed his old handgun. "Beautiful architecture," he commented, surveying the buildings in and around the airfield. Hanson, still paranoid, watched the guards suspiciously. "Forgive him," Fredericks added, "he's been twitchy since that whole Nordland breakup thing. His office was so flooded with papers and reports that he momentarily snapped." He left it at that.

[Elrich von Richt]

Elrich von Richt nodded, and said simply. "Thank you for your wonderful comment. And, personally, I can understand that. Don't worry about the guards, though. I can see the suspicion in your eyes, good sir, but they are for your safety, nonetheless. Hopefully we don't run into any radical citizens. They're still are a small few who believe you should not be here. That foreigners should not touch our soil. But i can understand what your friend has gone through. Me, i've seen hell and back three times so far. Twice long ago, and once in my homeland here." With that statement, Von Richt eagerly awaited the remaining two. He seemed more eager than he'd been in awhile. The time for action, and change in Chimaira had continued to come over the years, but through this, Chimaira would be seen to the world, and happiness would ensue, still, and forever more.

[Subtleknifewielder]

As Anthony stepped off the plane, he nodded approvingly at what he saw. Perhaps it was because of his background, but he happened to be partial to Baltic and Scandinavian architecture.

He eyed the guards with an unreadable gaze, before allowing the barest hint of a smile to show. If anyone attacked him, they would get a surprise, but it would most likely be better for all concerned if the guards were the ones to inflict any injuries on attackers. Less likely of international backlash.

He greeted the nearest official who appeared to be here to greet guests by bowing his head slightly in a show of respect, and addressed them in English.

"I am Anthony Harlem, Promised Land's representative. Is there another language you would prefer we converse in? I know several European languages."

[Elrich von Richt]

Elrich, knowing his German from years past began to converse in the language to Mr. Harlem. "How are you sir, and welcome to Chimaira." He knew people viewed the guards as suspicious as well, but safety and the avoidance of an international incident was the best thing to keep in mind. He just hoped Sarah Tintagyl would get off the flight, because he was waiting to wrap up the introductions and move forward.

[Subtleknifewielder]

Anthony smiled--one of the languages he knew. Excellent.

"Very well, thank you. I appreciate the chance to see your nation, and shall do my best to avoid making trouble."

Elrich von Richt would most likely never have a clue how much weight that promise carried. The man standing before him could cause quite a bit of mischief if he was so inclined--but he'd given his word, and so he would not.

He also turned back to look at the plane. he'd seen someone else when he'd first gotten on, but he hadn't gotten a good look at them. It looked suspiciously like Sarah, but he couldn't be sure.

OOC: A little OOC information. You may be wondering at my cryptic coments. He was once a spy, and now he's much more than that, though less than a dozen people on the planet know that.

Also, yes, he knows Sarah Tintagyl.

[Elrich von Richt]

[OOC: Bump.]

[Sarah Tintagyl]

OOC: Sorry it took so long.

IC:

Sarah was the last one off the flight and it would be the last time she would sit in the very back in the luxury seats. She had fallen asleep in the leather chairs, and even after most of the other guests had come off the plane, she hadn't been woken up. Finally, as her eyes fluttered open, she realized that the sounds of chatter that she had fallen asleep to had disappeared. Sarah jumped up off the chair and grabbed her purse running over to the door.

"Damn it all!" She yelled, running down the ramp to where the other leaders had gathered. Nearly tripping herself as her heels stuck inside the grating. "Mr. Von Richt!" She called out. "I'm so so sorry. I overslept. Please forgive me." She saw the other leaders immediately turn their stares to her. "Well I'm sure all of you have been in that situation before." She looked back at Elric. "So did I miss anything?"

[Subtleknifewielder]

Anthony had stepped back, behind another guest, when she emerged from the plane, letting her greet their host without being distracted by his presence.

He couldn't help a small smile as she apologized for overseleeping. As a matter of fact, he had, once, though it hadn't been from exhaustion or boredom, he recalled with a more wry expression.

[Shadowsage]

A rising power in the vacuum of Eurasia would most certainly warrant the attentions of the Imperium, specifically for continued rights for trade in their sphere of influence. It was with these possible achievements in mind that the Imperator sent his acceptance of the invitation ahead of his flight towards the meeting place in Chimaira. Several reports from global news-networks had come in already outlining the arrival of several world-class diplomats, including one Sarah Tintagyl with whom his own views of the world shone in stark contrast.

He landed in a privately chartered flight from Imperial Center's gargantuan airport and stooped to exit the doorway. As usual the Imperator was clad in his midnight black trench-coat representing his status as an officer in the Imperial Army. He smiled ruefully around the gas-mask he wore to disguise most of his accumulated scars; military regalia was one of his few indulgences. It did nothing to hide the glowing artificial eye, though.

He stepped to a nearby official and began in his native Latin before stopping with a smile and using the bits of Russian he picked up while communicating with Crimean Iso.

"I was...spoken...about a meeting for world leaders here. Where is this?"

[Elrich von Richt]

Elrich von Richt eyed this other Military Persona akwardly, His plane had landed in the right spot and yet he was laughing under the balaclava. He pulled it off for a second and said, in Latin, "You're in the right place, and the invitation place, is right here, if you can't notice the odd gathering of folk here, and i don't mean that as an insult." Elrich von Richt was glad everyone was here, plus an added guest, and saw that Sarah had just rushed off the plane after falling asleep. He chuckled. He used to do that as a boy, on the train in Kashlinkov, oh the memories. "Miss Tintagyl, it's ok, I can understand. As, i've had it occur to me sometimes on plane flights. It's good to see you're hear though," He pointed towards the Aircraft Architecture, very clearly hoping to make an impact. "and this is Chimaira, our glorious land." A limousine of sorts pulled up shortly after, per the arranged schedule set up by Elrich von Richt, they were heading to Infektiongrad, a marvel of sorts in his opinion. New Novograd held nothing on this city. He gave Sarah a smile, something he hadn't done in a long time, since losing his wife in the bombing of New Novograd, and his two children passed away. The man was now 34, still young, but he felt so old. As the limousine pulled up, he directed those who had arrived into the car, and prepared them to see the sights they were to see. "My guests, my friends of honor, now begins something many people have never seen, the city of Infektiongrad, and the landscape of Chimaira."

[Subtleknifewielder]

As Anthony got into the indicated Limosine, he couldn't help wonder at the name Elrich von Richt was using to refer to the city. The implications behind it--he shuddered to think what they might be.

[Shadowsage]

The Imperator crept into the limousine with a grace seen usually on the battlefield after listening to the unusually accented Latin. The directions he was given indicated he was to sit within the car, and that he did, sliding in next to the only other representative in the car.

[loannes]

Fredericks pushed Hanson into the car and entered himself. Hanson seemed to relax slightly when not in the open. A bit like reverse claustrophobia.

[Subtleknifewielder]

Anthony turned to greet the man next to him.

Displaying a hint of a smile, and appearing not the least bit intimidated by this visage, he offered a hand. "Anthony Harlem, representing Promised Land. You must be the famous (or should I say infamous?) Imperator Holihan."

[Markus Wilding]

We iwas one of the last to get in the car, being too awestruck by the architechure to notice the car was there until people started disappearing.

[Shadowsage]

"You guess correctly." The Imperator smiled grimly and clasped the other man's forearm in a military greeting. Absently, he notes it was the hand with two artificial fingers. Something about the other man brought a few disturbing reports to mind.

"And you must be the Promised Land employee who is more than he seems."

[Subtleknifewielder]

"I see you're not the only one whose reputation precedes him."

He noted in the grip that the man had two artificial fingers. If the Imperator was paying attention, he might notice something strange in his grip as well--hidden under Anthony's sleeve was a sheathed knife, ready to spring into his hand at a flick of his wrist. This would only confirm to the Imperator that the man greeting him was more than he seemed.

"Although I think I'll keep you wondering just what I really am," he said in a low tone, just a hint of a smirk forming on his lips.

[Shadowsage]

"Judging from your choice in weapons, I would say assassin. But then I would be disregarding my sources and classifying myself as a commando." He pulled his hand from the shake and demonstrated. The two artificial fingers opened up and a razor-edged blade slid forth from each with a polished grace. A single thought later, the blades retracted innocently to his fingers.

"I believe in being prepared."

[Subtleknifewielder]

Anthony nodded, impressed. "Definitely no harm in being prepared. And no point in wasting oportunities presented, even ones brought about by loss." He eyed the two artificial fingers.

"How did you lose those, anyway, if you don't mind me asking?" No need for him to say what he was referring to, considering what the Imperator had just shown him.

Edited July 24, 2009 by Subtleknifewielder

[Shadowsage]

The Imperator laughed. "I'm going to take the assumption that your government's intelligence service at least has the rudimentary information concerning my life before coming to power in the entity known to the world as the Republic of Daorim, yes?"

He paused for a moment, considering his words. The subject was still touchy in ways, but one he was prepared to share.

"Well, it was in executing a group of traitors to the Republic, eco-terrorists as you would know it. Armored Combat Suits do not protect the wearer against focused explosives. It was up in the air whether or not I would keep the hand, at all."

He used his other hand to peel off the fingerless gloves accompanying his uniform, showing heavy scarring and discoloration on his hands. The evidence stretched back until it disappeared beneath his sleeve, and after giving the Promised Land Representative a look he replaced the glove.

"We still killed them, but it turned out that they were the good guys. And that, coincidentally," the Imperator smiled darkly, "is how I got into politics."

"The eye, however, is another story."

[Elrich von Richt]

Elrich escorted Sarah and one of his officials into the car, the official being Stigandr Fenrisulfr, his Finansminister. He calmly entered the car himself afterwards, directing the Nationalgardet member into the seat next to the driver. He casually strolled himself into the car, sitting across from Wei, and the representative from the Promised Land. He also had the Imperator, Fredericks, and Hanson to his right. He felt this was a good moment, foreigners sitting side by side, idling in conversation, Hopefully they would see Chimaira for it's glory, and what it was worth, not for the surface paint, but for the interior the lie beneath. The government, people, and culture. He was already suprised one person had been awestruck by the architecture of just the airport. Wait until Infektiongrad, he thought, just wait. As the limousine strolled away, he jokingly laughed at how serious he was being. While this was a tour, it wasn't crazily formal, it was more laid back than that. The limo drove through the countryside outside the small town of Freikreuze, where the Airport was situated. The citizens seemed to not mind the limo even driving past. All the architecture outside the windows was apparent, and the rolling countryside, hilly, lush, and green had made it's prescence known outside the same windows. He figured, he might as well speak, as it had gotten akward. "So, gentlemen, how does it feel to be in a land noted for isolationism, confined borders, and a very nationalistic stance towards it's people?"

[loannes]

"Feels like being in an internment camp," the ever-paranoid Hanson muttered, glancing at the guard. Fredericks put his head in his hand and sighed in exasperation.

[Shadowsage]

"Feels just like home." He gave what seemed to be an encouraging smile at the thought.

[Subtleknifewielder]

"Sounds like the way my nation was not so long ago. As an immigrant before their borders were really opened, it was a long time before anyone was willing to trust me."

[Elrich von Richt]

Elrich sat up and looked around the countryside, the place was so beautiful, he couldn't believe what the country was becoming, a landmark. He sat there with his hands closed before finally speaking up again. "Later, you'll learn something, why we're so isolated, why we crave no foreigners for the most part, a history bound in self-reliance." He knew they wouldn't take that so seriously, but Infektiongrad was in the distance and the skyscrapers and amazing architecture came into view. The city itself, was worth billions.