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Act of Conspiracy, Chapter III: Insinuation
Posted By: russ687<russ687@hotmail.com>
Date: 2 February 2005, 5:57 PM
Read/Post Comments
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Chapter III
Insinuation
December 26, 2524
City of Standyle, Pacificatorius Capital City
Pacificatorius, Atropos System
National Assembly Government Building, City Center
"Tell me something good."
The Defense Advisor felt worried, at best. After hearing about the first explosions of this insurgency, and then actually seeing it on live television, nobody working the holiday shift was very confident or excited about the situation that had arisen out of nowhere. Just twenty-hour hours ago, they were daydreaming about endless possibilities, endless endeavors, endless ways to improve upon the commerce and economical potential of Pacificatorius. Now they were rigorously thinking of ways to save the planet from this new, global threat.
Global? That wasn't the word. System-wide more accurately put this in the right perspective. The initial kidnapping of Chief Justice David Swarner the night before was just the beginning move in this surprise skirmish, and the subsequent explosions at his residence was the public announcement that this was no joke. The casualties at that location were now mere figures amongst the global and System-wide tally that was climbing by the minute.
Never before, in the history of Atropos, had such an uprising taken place. This was far beyond what anyone thought feasible, and it certainly threw off the Intel spook's predications and interpretations of how formidable such a terror threat was, and how easily it could ravage through the State's defenses. Years of half-hearted attacks and mild rebellion had grown them naïve and vulnerable to the possibilities, the true possibilities and potential of the GDSO.
It couldn't all be clustered to the Government Dissimulation from Society Organization, since they had help from nearly each and every other anti-government group out there; and such support tripled their potentiality. They were no longer looking at several broken, spread out organizations; they were now looking at one formidable group that had started a war right under their own noses.
The entire System was now in turmoil.
"Well?"
The Defense Advisor looked up, breaking his thought and bringing him back to the luxurious office on the fifth floor. The wood paneled walls, rare fixtures and assortment of collections made this far too nice for his own taste, but he wasn't the one in charge, so he didn't call the shots. Instead, trying to make the best of problems seemed his course of work, but that status quo job descriptions would mean nothing now. They were deep in a hole that no one saw coming.
The Executive Chairwoman looked at her advisor, question etched on her face. The older woman held all the keys of power to Pacificatorius, and was not known to react well to bad situations. Completely evident now, of course, since her condemning look and offensive posture could scare away all but the most experienced office staff.
"I cannot tell you as much as we would both like," the Defense Advisor's words were not met with enthusiasm. He continued anyway, knowing that a pause at this moment would result in a very angry politician. "But from what information we have been able to gather, primarily through the Department of International Security, is that the formerly separate organizations—the GDSO, PAO mainly—have combined to take on what is being referred to by the media as the 'Revolt.' It is in fact System-wide and is proving to be larger and more effective then the analysis thought."
The Executive Chairwoman looked at him, annoyance in her voice. "So we have a threat double or maybe triple what we had expected. Can't our armed forces handle it?"
"Apparently not, since we've heard—"
The Chief of Staff cut in. "We don't have the manpower and resources to ensure that this threat can be taken care of. However, it's not entirely a matter of whether or not we can handle it in force, it's more along the lines that were going up against an unconventional enemy who has the element of surprise." The veteran soldier, looking rather uneasy in a suit, leaned back in the leather chair, ignoring the squeak and continuing to speak. "The units' stationed in the System are not trained nor prepared to fight an urban, guerrilla threat that plays in the cities, and law enforcement is hardly prepared for this. These terror groups are fighting a war on such a hit-and-run scale, that use of force on our behalf would cause significant collateral damage, which is unacceptable by all means.
"These insurgents pick a high value target, get in, and do the job, all without implicating or causing harm to any civilians or public buildings. With the conventional forces we have, there is no way we could retaliate in kind. In addition, we only have a limited number of Special Forces teams in the System who are trained to combat this enemy under the same, delicate situation. It's not like we can just deploy our armored brigades and search every house of every town, blowing stuff up in the process."
A very true yet unfortunate position. Under nearly every condition, there was no way feasible to lunch the Marine or National Guard units to fight such terrorists offensively; hard lessons learned from the past had taught them that. The best they could do with those forces is secure roads, cities, and select sites with the limited number of personnel they had as deterrence's to the GDSO and PAO. But as every man and women with any military experience knew, that type of strategic reaction left the enemy with the initiative, and with them on the defense, reacting instead of acting. They couldn't beat this threat off like that.
"The conventional forces we do have in the System should be deployed to protect high-value assets," the Defense Advisor said, drawing upon his own experience in the military. "However that will leave us in a terrible position; reacting to their attacks. What we need is to bring in some support to help cover the gaps that we have in our own forces, but also to wage counter-offensive operations against this combined anarchical group."
The five other officials sitting in the large office looked at him, question etched on their faces. It was obvious that these politicians, accustomed to writing memorandums and amending laws, had no clue what he was talking about, or even the direction of his proposal. Only the Chief of Staff could see his point.
"We need to call in a Rapid Deployment Force."
The Executive Chairwoman looked at him in surprise; she had apparently not comprehended the severity of this situation until he brought that up. "A Rapid Deployment Force?"
The Chief of Staff nodded, taking over the proposal. "It's a sound and logical idea. The forces we have on hand are, honestly, incapable of handling this threat. In addition, we don't have the manpower among them to cover all areas of attack, which will leave numerous options available to the GDSO. If we don't bring in more support, it's only a matter of time before we find ourselves running for the bunkers."
No pun intended, obviously. The situation is really that bad.
"Do you know what it would take for me to call that in?" The Chairwoman asked. "I would need to call a global state of emergency." Her tone betrayed her obvious dislike for the option.
"We've lost over four hundred personnel just on this continent alone," Defense Advisor interjected. "And that's in the last twenty-four hours alone. With all due respect, ma'am, this is getting out of control faster then we could act if we don't move now; if we don't call this in, we will lose this."
Silence ensued upon the staff in the office, as his point was painfully clear. The Executive Chairwoman was the highest authority in Atropos, and called all the big shots. She was no pushover, either, and her current position reflected decades of grueling work that brought her up to this authority. She had experience in nearly every area of Office, but like the rest of the bureaucrats sitting in the room, she was not well versed in security threats of this scale.
The question that haunted them all, though: was anyone prepared or experienced to handle a System-wide threat?
The Chairwoman leaned back, the wrinkles on her face clear. "If this is what it takes."
"It is," Defense Advisor reassured her.
"Okay then," she replied, accepting her staff's judgment. "Let's get it done."
The Chief of Staff spoke up, changing the topic. "Before we dismiss, I have one more matter to attend to."
"This better be good," the Chairwoman said, sighing.
"The National Guard System Defense Command has issued several warnings in the last two days regarding some—" The Chief of Staff searched for the right word "—Anomalies on the System radar scans."
The Chairwoman's reply was borderline anger. "And this has what to do with our global threat?"
"Nothing directly, ma'am, but it may be something to keep in our meetings, since such reactions from the NGSDC are very uncommon."
"And these 'anomalies' would be...?"
"Unknown for certain, but it's an obvious security risk."
"How so?"
There was a short pause. "They can't be human."
Standyle, Department of International Security, City Center
Branson waited as the memorandum finished printing out from the printer. After witnessing the explosions of Chief Justice Swarner's mansion on rerun-live television, he had seen what could have been prevented. The PAO, or GDSO, he wasn't sure anymore, had launched a flawless attack into the heart of their proclaimed safe haven, and had detonated a message that announced their new intentions to the entire System.
Reports were flooding in from all around the globe that government and even military installations have been targeted and attacked, and the official death toll thus far was well above four-hundred. This type of aggressiveness and success by there terror groups had never been experienced in Atropos, and it was being met with much surprise to the entire Defense community, and with utter shock to the general public.
Was it to be considered a failure on their part? The DIS was tasked with ensuring the safety and security of each and every colony-world that the United Nations embarked on, and for any threat of this type to arise fell upon the shoulders of his own federal department. Obviously, there was no way to predict such a skirmish, since even their own operatives deep inside the organization hadn't gotten word about this until after it was too late. But was there something they missed? He tried not think about that. He needed to devote his attention and efforts to amending this current situation.
He grabbed the paper as it finished from the printer.
BEGIN TEXT
Pacificatorius National Government
Memorandum Direct from Executive Chairwomen
Priority: High
Distribution: Limited
Subject: Global Threat
1. After consultation it has been agreed upon that this threat is real time and posses and high precariousness to the State and its Citizens.
2. As of 0930 (26.12.2524), an official State of Emergency has been declared across the globe as a whole. All Military and Law Enforcement forces are being put on Condition Five (HIGH) Alert, and the National Guard is being mobilized (FURTHER DEPLOYMENT STATUS CLASSIFIED).
3. All Government Agencies must retain full accountability of all employees. The following Agencies are required to be fully staffed and operational NLT 1200 (26.12.2524): DIS, DOD.
4. By order of the Executive Chairwomen, with consensus from the National Assembly, a Rapid Deployment Force (RDF) is being called in to support the defense and counter-offense of this new threat.
ALL RECIPIENTS OF THIS MESSAGE MUST CONFIRM NOTIFICATION
END TEXT
Branson raised his eyebrows, partly in surprise, but he knew the situation merited such a response from the Executive Government. No doubt at this very time they were contacting the United Nations Space Command and ordering an RDF to enter the system as soon as possible. It was evident this was not being taken lightly by anyone, and very soon they would be finding themselves amongst a 'light' war with the insurgence of this System.
Ryals walked up next to him, and read the document quickly. "Heavy stuff."
Branson nodded. "And your expert opinion tells you...?"
"That very soon here, we're going to find ourselves in a shooting skirmish with these bastards. Hell, if it's as big as we think it is, this could be something close to a civil war."
Not a fact to be taken lightly. "Yeah, but over what?"
Ryals shook his head. "Something tells me we will find out shortly."
The divine intervention has begun.
The Prophecies will be proven true
Doubt should be eradicated; those doubtful should be put to death. For by the hand of the Gods, the pathway to Salvation has begun. Let no being, living or dead, stand between the treasures and lands of the vast Beyond.
Let only the counsel of the Wise Ones speak out in these troubled times, as they have been granted true ambrosial abilities to seek out the Truth and pass down the Cleansing Torch.
Stop at nothing to achieve this victory, this fulfillment that will pave the corridors to your afterlife. The actions of your might in this universe will transgress to the next, let the glory of your feats prepare your eternal resting place with riches beyond comprehension.
And this is true?
Do not doubt the ways of the High Ones. All that has been said is true, and all that has been foreseen to pass has passed. Nothing will remain except the glorification of our Kind in this universe. Treasures and abundance will flow from the ground and fall from the sky after we have served our life's purpose.
What faith do I have to believe this?
Faith is not needed. The Prophecies of the Wise Ones have already proven true; what is there not to believe? Look at the world before us; look at the turmoil and separation this filth succumbs to. They have no unity, no future. They fight amongst themselves for ideals and ways of lives. They do not understand the higher purpose of the Great Journey. How could they? While inhabiting such a Sacred World, they do not see the full destiny ahead of all of us.
And for this reason we must act against them?
The Great Journey has no room or place for divided filth such as this. How could they possibly see what is at stake? How could they see the future set before us by the Gods? They cannot even see the value of unification, of coadunation, of existence in one accord. How could they possibly yield to our Purposes? The Purposes of the High Ones?
How could they not? If our pathway is so righteous, what defiance should they have?
You are amiss. Our path is chosen by the High Ones, and holds no fault. The substantiality remains, they cannot comprehend such a true and holy future to aid us.
What if there are more like them? What if they exist in this universe just as we do?
Then they shall fall to the blade of our swords. Because of this division among them, they cannot and will not see the Pathway of the Gods. Had this filth been under the same orientation as we are, our combined accord would put us on the Path to Salvation much sooner. But we can see they harbor no unity, no concurrence. For this lack, they shall be pushed from this universe by our Will to the next, where they shall see the fiery Pits of the Dead.
We were not so unified in the past.
Your history is irrefutable, yet times have progressed. We cannot wait for a unity to come into existence with this filth; our concord is set and will never be broken, and such a rapport with these beings' would delay the Journey.
If we cannot assimilate them, we must act now.
We will act, in due time. As the Vision showed, we can make this faster and easier then most could have imagined. Our Pathway will be walked, and we shall take it with silence and precision. The High Ones will recognize our Redemption of the Sanctuary, and we will pass on into the afterlife with glory beyond the provenance of the rest.
The Pathway beckons, and we shall take it.
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