AndrewCrisp
Sergeant
Reged: 11/22/02
Posts: 176
Loc: MilCom Centre, Outpost One, No...
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Closing one Door, Opening Another
#61236 - 05/21/03 06:54 PM (156.34.213.107)
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(OOC: my empire, the Union of New Fredericton was forever lost to me when I made an impulsive - and on reflection, stupid - decision to abandon it in favour of a new empire with my original login. The old Union is still around, and is good only as LW fodder for anyone who wants the morale and rep boost. This, then, is the fictional account of how the Union was lost, and what happened to the survivors)
It was fitting, Andrew thought, that it should end as it began - one hundred survivors fleeing the dread of war. At least, one hundred in this group. He hoped that the other five thousand citizens had managed to escape the former union, and perhaps even Neveron, for more peaceful lands.
It was also ironic. When they fled Terra, they had some advance warning, and no real plan for escape. This time, they had a plan - but no warning.
He still could not believe that it was only a few days ago that he had been a leader of a nation. How had it fallen apart so fast?
It had begun, he remembered, with a simple meeting...
***
"We've lost contact with our outer patrols this morning." Defense Minister William MacKensie said to Andrew, intercepting the Prime Minister on the way to his office. Dressed in the blue and green combat fatigues of the New Fredericton Armed Forces, MacKensie looked as worried as he sounded. "Radio communication with any unit outside of the city areas is gone."
"All of them?" Andrew frowned.
MacKensie nodded. "It happened all at once. Some units were cut off in mid-report. There was no warning at all."
"Damn." Andrew paused for a bit. "What do you think? A network malfunction or something else?"
"I got techs at our installations in all the city areas checking the radio links now. It may be more than an hour before we get them operational again.
"Right now, though, we're vulnerable to an attack. With the raids on our borders from the former border nation of 1st Cloning Station, that could be a problem. I'd like to order our forces within the cities to full alert status - if the warlords try something, we need to be ready."
Andrew nodded. "Agreed. I'm meeting with Akihito in an hour; we can discuss what to say to the people then--"
MacKensie's commlink buzzed. The soldier lifted it to his ear. "Captain MacKensie." A pause, then - "Dammit. When?... Okay. Put our forces in the city on full alert, and try to reestablish contact with the other installations... Send runners if you have to... Keep me posted. Out."
He turned to Andrew. "We just lost our lasercomm links between New Fredericton and the other cities."
"But those have failsafes! Line of sight only, nonjammable..."
"Yeah. Which means this is no malfunction. I'm going back to the command post to coordinate our defenses. You had better talk to Akihito now. Excuse me."
***
One advantage of being a personal friend of the Governor General was that Andrew didn't have to set up an appointment to see him. He knocked on the door once, then walked into the Governor General's office. "Akihito, we've got a --"
He stopped.
The body on the floor had a sizeable hole in the back of the head. No exit wound that Andrew could see. From the way it lay on the floor Andrew gauged that Akihito had tried to run from his attacker.
An attacker who was standing by the desk, pointing a pistol at him. "Close the door, 'Prime Minister'. I'm glad you showed up. I have something I want you to sign."
(to be continued)
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"Why is that we always break up our history by the .. the wars, not the years of peace?... Because it's exciting, and because on some level people like to see something big fall apart and explode from the inside out. And right now, John, we're that something."
- Micheal Garibaldi
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LordSoth
Sergeant
Reged: 05/08/03
Posts: 115
Loc: Washington,
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Re: Closing one Door, Opening Another
#61247 - 05/21/03 09:52 PM (66.224.13.66)
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This looks like it can get good.....
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StCol.Selima Helmer
1st Falcon Hussars Cluster
Gama Galexy, Clan Jade Falcon
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AndrewCrisp
Sergeant
Reged: 11/22/02
Posts: 176
Loc: MilCom Centre, Outpost One, No...
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Re: Closing one Door, Opening Another
#61265 - 05/21/03 11:57 PM (156.34.220.177)
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Part 2
***
William Mackensie strode into the command post, walking straight to the weapons locker. "Talk to me," he said to the gathered staff. "Where do we stand?"
"We've re-established partial communications using a field lasercomm system with Port Andrew," said one lieutenant, "but the other cities are still out of contact. Jeeps are being sent to Gardner Colony, North Gardner, and Meridian and their forces should be at full alert within the next six hours."
A technician looked up from his terminal. "Sir? I think I've found the cause of the comm blackout."
Mackensie finished strapping a pistol to his belt and walked over to the tech. "And?"
"There's a subprogram embedded in our operating system designed to disrupt communications on command - it's in the deep code level which would explain why we didn't notice it before."
"Sabotage."
"Yes sir, probably dating to the time when these systems were set up."
Which would have been four years ago - 3224, around the time of the Mech warrior crisis. "Can you disable it?"
"Not yet sir - the code's got some safeguards built into it - if we try to yank it out it could permanently disable our networks.
"There's more - the subprogram was activated by someone on our own networks - he must either have been in a hurry or didn't care if we found him out, because I was able to get his ID code..." The tech handed a paper to MacKensie.
MacKensie looked at the paper... and swore. "I'm heading back to the Parliament building. You -" he pointed to the lieutenant - "are in command until I get back."
***
Andrew's gaze shifted between the body of his friend and the gun. "Who-?" Then his shock-numbed brain placed a name to the attacker. "You. Not you."
"Yes, me." Terry Waters smiled and gestured with the gun. "Sit down, Crisp."
Andrew did so, his eyes now focussed soley on the gun. "Why?"
Waters snorted in derision. "As if you had to ask. You and him" - he prodded at the corpse with one foot - "never really ruled properly. You build a pathetic military, and bargain with our enemies when you should have crushed them! And me... as 'Opposition leader' I wasted years arguing with you and the sheep who trusted you. I'm done arguing."
"And for that you commit murder - treason?"
"Revolution, actually. You came here to talk about the recent military blackout with the ex-Governor."
Not a question, but a fact. Andrew felt soul-sick. "You caused that too?"
"For an inept leader you do catch on. A little piece of programming I put into the networks when they were set up, just in case. All it took was a small passcode from me to bring the entire military might - pardon my sarcasm - of this nation to a halt. And all it will take to get it going again will be another passcode - which only I know."
"What do you want?" Andrew asked, keeping his growing rage in check.
Terry used his free hand to pick up a piece of paper off the desk. "Your resignation. This document will dissolve the Constitution, strip you of all political power, and transfer absolute control of the Union to me."
"Why bother? You seem to have complete control of the Union already."
"Well the people will want to have the change to be nice and legal... even tyrants and kings rule only with the consent of the people and I prefer that they don't entertain thoughts of rebellion while we have an outside enemy to fight - oh yes I've arranged that too. Before long the warlords who have been chomping at the bit to invade will be in our lands, and your precious military won't be able to stop them in their current state."
Andrew nodded, the scope of the problem becoming crystal clear for him. "So you take charge, with a ready made enemy on our borders in order to rally the people around you - our army takes a few hits, maybe the warlords get into one of the cities but you drive them out eventually. And afterward?"
"Afterward we start doing things the right way! MY way!" Terry shoved a pen into Andrew's hand. "This 'direct democracy' crap gets turfed and we say goodbye to the touchy-feely 'I'm-a-nice-juicy-target' government you set up. Look at the other nations on this planet, or anywhere else in the Inner Sphere - you think they waste time asking their people what to do in crises? No!"
"So New Fredericton becomes a dictatorship, is that it?" Andrew tossed down the pen. "No deal."
"If you don't sign I'll shoot you and take over by force if I have too. I can make your death work for me too, you know." Waters picked up the pen and put the gun against Andrew's temple. "Now sign the damn paper!"
Teeth clenched, Andrew grated out, "Burn!"
"Fine!" Waters cocked the gun --
-- and MacKensie burst through the door.
Surprised, Waters lifted the gun to cover the soldier -
- taking advantage of the sudden distraction, Andrew batted at Waters' gun arm, spoiling his aim -
- and Mackensie drew his gun and fired.
Waters staggered back, blood seeping from the hole in his shirt, but he still held the gun. He swung back at the Prime Minister, but before he could pull the trigger MacKensie fired again, this time planting a bullet in the traitor's brain.
Andrew stood and looked down at Water's body. "Dammit."
"Oh, you wanted him to shoot you?" MacKensie said, irritated.
"No, but he had the only means of getting our comm problem solved - he's the one who disabled the networks."
"I know. Waters was sloppy and left his ID code in the system from when he triggered the shutdown. Don't worry, we'll get it running again."
"We won't have time... Waters also tipped off the local warlords. We could be looking at an invasion at any moment."
(to be continued)
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"Why is that we always break up our history by the .. the wars, not the years of peace?... Because it's exciting, and because on some level people like to see something big fall apart and explode from the inside out. And right now, John, we're that something."
- Micheal Garibaldi
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TheDeadlyShoe
Lieutenant Colonel
Reged: 06/22/02
Posts: 1621
Loc: Redmond, WA
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Re: Closing one Door, Opening Another
#61422 - 05/22/03 07:24 PM (4.41.52.189)
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excellent RP. 
I lurk!
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Shoe for the NSI
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crusader523
Sergeant
Reged: 01/27/03
Posts: 398
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Re: Closing one Door, Opening Another
#61424 - 05/22/03 08:33 PM (67.8.16.221)
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Very good
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AndrewCrisp
Sergeant
Reged: 11/22/02
Posts: 176
Loc: MilCom Centre, Outpost One, No...
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Re: Closing one Door, Opening Another
#61456 - 05/23/03 12:47 AM (156.34.214.221)
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Shoe. crusader: Thanks ^_^ And now to wrap this up (I hope)
Part 3
***
Breaking the news of the betrayal to the public was one of the hardest things Andrew had to do. The civilian communication networks were still open, so he was able to inform the whole of the Union. He reassured them that everything was being done to insure their safety, and asked for calm. The words seemed hollow, however; insufficient, but it was all he could do at the moment.
Once the address was over, Andrew went straight to the Command Post where Mackensie was trying to turn his promises into reality. He entered the building to find a textbook case of controlled chaos.
Trying his best to look confident, Andrew walked over to Mackensie, who was leaning over a terminal where a technician was wrestling with some problem on the screen.
"...what about bypassing the code?" Mackensie was saying to the tech. "A password generator?"
"Waters built in several safeguards into the subprogram," the tech replied. " We'd need to know how long the passcode was, whether it could be sent from any terminal or even if there are any additional ID checks the program might ask for. We have to assume Waters wanted nobody but himself to override the lockdown."
"There's no barrier one man can create that another man can't find a way around," Andrew said. Mackensie and the tech looked up at him, and MacKensie saluted. Andrew returned the salute then turned to the tech. "Can you give us a timeframe? How long to get around Waters' safeguards and give us full communications?"
The tech let out a breath. "Assuming Waters didn't build in some kind of self-destruct system that could zap every military comp from here to Meridian if we make a mistake?... Five, six days." He saw the look on his bosses' faces and raised his hands. "Hey... this is not state of the art equipment. If we had Advanced Computing technology I might be able to shave it down to four days but that's the best I can do."
Andrew looked then at the Defense Minister, who caught the unspoken question. "If the warlords didn't have anything more than the makeshift combat vehicles they've been using, our border patrols should be able to defend themselves in that time," MacKensie said.
"But if a bunch of refitted trucks were all they had, they wouldn't be a sufficient threat for Waters to use to rally the people around him," Andrew said. "We have to assume they got something more powerful with them."
"If they have tanks, or even mechs, they could take the border patrols apart... and then the cities." MacKensie turned to his lieutenant. "Get me a status report on our runners."
"If that happens I have a plan that might get our people to safety, but I don't want to use it unless there's no other choice." Andrew thought for a second. "This might be a little crazy, but what about the civilian comm networks? You could use them to organize our forces until the military networks are back up."
"We'd need to make them secure - using them as-is would be suicide - but, it's doable. I'll get a team on it right away--"
"Sir?" It was the lieutenant. "The jeep we sent to Gardner Colony is not responding. And we're picking up something from the local newsfeed you should see."
The tech brought up the feed on his screen, and cut in the speakers. The screen showed a very worried looking reporter.
"...we've had only sporadic reports on the extent of the combat, but it is confirmed that there is a pitched battle on the southern edges of the city. We can hear machine gun fire from here... wait a minute, there's something els--"
A high-pitched whine was heard, then an explosion rocked a building behind the reporter. "The city's being shelled. Possibly artillery or missile fire, we can't tell. People are in a panic, running for cover... we're going to move to a safer area where we'll continue to cover the situation--"
"I've seen enough." MacKensie turned back to the lieutenant. "Contact our forces at Port Andrew and have them sent units to Gardner Colony, and relay orders to our runner being sent to Meridian, tell him to contact the company of LRM Jeeps we've got on the border and get them to the capital right now." Turning back to Andrew, he said, "looks like you were right. Perhaps you could inform me of this plan of yours?"
Andrew grimaced. "Not much of one... in most of the cities I've had some buildings set up with transportation and supplies... if worse came to worst and the Union was about to fall, we'd get as many people out of the Union as we could."
"Some plan." MacKensie frowned. "What about the Vault? Did you make arrangements to get that damnable HyperPulse Generator that defector saddled us with out of here as well?"
Andrew shook his head. "My concern was for civilian lives... but if we can save the HPG for our scientists to continue to study it..."
"I don't think so." MacKensie straightened up. "Prime Minister, I know I supported you earlier about our decision to keep it, to find some way of breaking the ComStar and WoB stranglehold on advanced technology... but I have to be honest with you. We can't protect the Union and the HPG at the same time.
"I've rigged the Vault with explosives. If we're going to abandon the Union, I can destroy the HPG. It will be quicker than trying to waste lives hauling it out of here. But... if you order me to try to save it, I'll do my best to carry it out, sir."
"More information from Gardner Colony, sir," said the lieutenant. "The local news service reports that the warlords have entered the city."
They turned back to the screen, and Andrew felt all hope die within him. In the center, marching down the street with a couple of battle-scarred jeeps, was a Commando mech. Behind it was a Stinger.
"Mercs," MacKensie said, shoulders slumped. "Waters must have paid for them to aid the warlords."
Andrew bowed his head. "We don't have a chance anymore, do we?" he asked softly.
To his credit, MacKensie sounded apologetic. "No. Not even if we got every unit to Gardner Colony right now. Jeeps and Geckos against a couple of mechs? No contest."
Andrew sighed. He didn't want to do this... but what choice did he have? "Can you get me in contact with the mayors of all our cities? Even Gardner if you can."
"Through civilian channels?"
"Yes. It won't matter now if the warlords hear what I have to say."
MacKensie said nothing, but nodded after a second's pause.
It took thirty seconds to set up a conference call with the mayors of New Fredericton, Port Andrew, North Gardner, and Meridian. The mayor of Gardner Colony didn't respond -- which meant a thousand more dead or enslaved people on Andrew's conscience.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Andrew said, "I'd like you to open the classified folder I handed to you a year ago. These are your instructions and I expect you to follow them to the letter. John, since North Gardner is closest to the warlords' advance I expect you'll want to get to work right away.
"Along with the instructions is a list of nations on Neveron with spaceports or with whom we have good relations. I'll leave it to your discretion as to where you will send your people once you get them out of Union territory."
"Andrew?" It was the mayor from New Fredericton. "This means our people could be scattered over the planet, or even over the Inner Sphere. You realize what this means?"
"I do, and I don't like it any more than you do. Following this order will effectively disband the Union of New Fredericton - but as of now it's the only way for our people to survive. I can't have any arguement over this... there isn't time for anything else.
"You have all performed your duties until now admirably. I expect you to continue to do so in our final hours. Keep our - your people safe. Goodbye, friends."
Once the connection was closed, Andrew looked at MacKensie. "William, how long would it take you to blow the Vault?"
"Ten minutes."
Andrew nodded. "Do it, then get to Port Andrew. I've had our old dropship moved their a few years ago, kept in good condition. The plan calls for the ship to be used to get a hundred people out of here. I want you to lead that group."
"Me?" MacKensie shook his head. "I'm a soldier... not a leader. I can command troops, not govern a country. Besides you'll need me here to coordinate what forces we have to cover the evacuation."
"So who should take your place on the dropship? Akihito's dead. Waters betrayed us... there's nobody else who's qualified enough..."
"There's you. Though if I may be so bold you seem to have some kind of martyr complex right now." MacKensie put a hand on his old friend's shoulder. "You gave us six good and peaceful years. I can't think of anyone else to lead those people.
"There's a good chance that once the warlords finish chewing through Gardner Colony they'll head straight for the capital. North Gardner only has a couple of damaged jeeps there and won't even slow them down. Someone will have to muster a last stand - buy our people enough time to get out safely. And just as you're the best person to lead the people escaping, I'm the best one to lead that last stand."
Andrew sighed, "You're right, of course." They clasped hands. "But it still doesn't seem right for me to escape while you have to stay and die."
"Don't worry about me, sir. Just promise me you'll give those people on that dropship a good home and a better future." MacKensie stood back. "Lieutenant! Make sure the Prime Minister gets to Port Andrew safely."
***
After that, there was no time to reflect on the decisions made. The rush of the evacuation effort occupied Andrew's every thought and action for several hours.
Halfway through the loading process, a report came in that the hostile mechs had reached New Fredericton. Andrew bowed his head and said a silent prayer for MacKensie's safety.
The next few hours were the most tense. The evacuees crowded aboard the dropship, fearful that the battle could reach them at any time. Andrew did his best to keep up their morale - a panic now would kill them.
In the end, the dropship lifted off the pad, and Andrew took one last look at the lands that he once ruled. As the dropship gained altitude, he could see smoke coming from the direction of New Fredericton... the city was burning.
***
The dropship didn't have enough fuel to make orbit, and they were forced to land a few hundred kilometers further south. The ship touched down on a heavily wooded plateau.
The hundred refugees stepped out into the sunlight, looking at the forests around them, a mix of emotions on their faces. After a few minutes, they turned to face Andrew.
"What do we do now?" someone asked.
Andrew looked over the group. Young faces looked back - all of the refugees had been recent immigrants or children born after New Fredericton had been founded. I'm the only one here who remembers old Fredericton, he thought sadly.
And he knew what he had to say.
"New Fredericton is dead. It's culture, its government, its values are dead. To try to ressurect it would be pointless."
He raised his voice. "But we, gathered here, can start over. We cannot ressurect New Fredericton but we can learn from its fall, and with those lessons we'll build a new nation. A better and stronger nation, with justice for all of its citizens. On this land we'll build a new future."
"If we're not New Frederictonians anymore, who are we?" called out a woman near the back of the crowd.
Who indeed? The rather sketchy map stated that this spot of land was called the "Mycros Plateau". It was as good a name as any.
"Our nation will be known as Mycros... and we are now Mycrosians. And we will remain Mycrosians until the end of time."
***
End.
(OOC: Yeah, it seems a little lame, but it's the wee hours of the morning here and I'm tired.)
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"Why is that we always break up our history by the .. the wars, not the years of peace?... Because it's exciting, and because on some level people like to see something big fall apart and explode from the inside out. And right now, John, we're that something."
- Micheal Garibaldi
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