Author Topic: Navigating Murky Waters (Ach and Merina)  (Read 6972 times)

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Re: Navigating Murky Waters (Ach and Merina)
« Reply #30 on: June 29, 2020, 09:53:17 PM »
Despite how much she liked being restrained in a personal sense, there were moments that Hazel found it irritating and right now in a firefight situation being restrained and chained to a railing was the last place she wanted to be. Then she heard the whistling overhead and the tree down in the courtyard caught fire. That would be the mortar then wouldn't it, Hazel bit her lip as the shooting continued in the background. It didn't sound like it was getting closer but it was getting more frequent. A flash of red caught her attention and she pulled Ade down as a split second later a bullet flew into the wall behind where he'd been standing.

"Told you there was a sniper out there." Hazel said she looked at Ade, from where she lay on her back and then coughed as she noticed that the bullet had grazed her. "Oh..." she bit back the rest of the expletive comment as Ade called for the medic and then cut her cuffs so that at least Hazel could apply pressure to the nick as she waited for the medic, besides still being chained to the railing she was hardly going anywhere. As the firefight continued Hazel got the phone back out and dialled the number she'd called earlier.

"Call sign Flare." Hazel said when the other side of the conversation picked up "Tell me you've got sat imagery of my location." she sighed as she listened "Yes I'm aware there's a skirmish going on I can hear the gunfire and see the fire thank you. Tell the guy I'm handing the phone to where the troop positions are oriented from the compound I'm in." she tossed Ade the phone.

Offline Dijel

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Re: Navigating Murky Waters (Ach and Merina)
« Reply #31 on: June 30, 2020, 02:39:49 PM »
Major Keith Saunders; East of Gagh, Western Pindar, Merina

The National Liberation Army patrol were spread out along the top of the ridge, overlooking the villa from the north-east. Colonel al-Quirm's Kandak had moved into the Farsiboka area soon after the cessation of the Katamba offensive and the start of the Gaia talks, though small-scale skirmishes like this continued in an intermittent, tit-for-tat fashion. Keith and the ever-present Sergeant-Major Blackwell had brought this reinforced section up to block the road to Gagh on the suggestion of NLA intelligence, which had suggested a night attack on the outstation there was coming, but it seemed like. a mule train had blundered into the ambush instead. Panicked animals ran back and forth across the valley floor, lit periodically by bursts of tracer and eerie pyrotechnics.

A brief survey of the scene through a set of night-vision goggles showed a handful of figures crouching on the roof of the compound off to their extreme right, another dozen or so men creeping purposefully right-to-left through the wadi bed, and yet more flitting from cover-to-cover, climbing the ridge to their left. It would be time to go soon, they'd made their point, no sense in dragging through the mud over two dozen mules and some bags of rice. He shouted over to Blackwell, who was crouching nearby, merrily dropping rounds down range with the Dijlei light mortar they'd come across at the NLA depot back in town - an unusual weapon for Merina, but Keith had noticed odds and ends of old Dijeli kit getting about, clearly the Federal Republic was losing its touch. When this failed to produce the desired effect, he picked up a rock from the dusty ground and wanged it off the Sergeant-Major's boot.

"Lads coming up on the left, mate" Keith had to shout to make himself heard, gesturing in the direction where the Pidaris were coming at them up the ridge. Blackwell took one look, remembered his own night optic, took another, then nodded. Keith added: "Send them some love, then form the lads up in marching order if you could please, Sergeant-Major"

One of the men on their right was popping off some shorts towards the compound as it was lit briefly by the glow of a Schermuly. He fired once, twice, three times, aiming deliberately, before a a heavy machine gun replied the favour with a throaty bark. The man cringed back below the skyline as rounds landed around him, tearing chunks off of a nearby limestone outcrop. Keith stepped up to pull the man clear from the line of fire with a violent yank on the back of his webbing: "and lets not play with them" he added, to himself.



Ade Oywali; Villa East of Gagh, Western Pindar, Merina

Ade seemed rather taken aback at being grabbed from behind, writhing and pulling out a viciously sharp fighting blade as he rolled out of her grip, before grinning appreciatively as the round ricocheted off the balustrade behind them. Duly concerned, he crouched over her to dress the wound on her arm. One of the other men on the roof had some medical training from civilian life, but could offer little more than the odd expletive and a few words of encouragement as he sheltered from the incoming fire.

The gunner, however, had spotted the muzzle flashes up on the ridge and swung his weapon around to reply. A burst of fire, red tracers in the darkness and the clatter of brass cartridge cases on the rooftop. Another burst, then another. Ade stayed by Hazel, and the pair sheltered behind the low adobe balustrade as the battle washed over them. The rattle of gunfire, the flash of the odd rocket and whistle of the little mortar. But, by now, the NLF men were already going backwards; the Fedayeen kept up their own barrage on the ridge until their own fighters were almost upon it, then an eerie hush fell over the valley.

Somewhere, a bird sang, and the grey light of dawn began to filter over the barren landscape.

It was in this soft light that, a little while later, the convoy came in, corralling their remaining mules into the compound courtyard. Ade led Hazel back down the stairs and into a scene of controlled chaos: wounded men lay on litters inside the main building, and a few in the shade of the trees where Hazel had spent her night as a prisoner, while a somber party were hard at work digging a grave pit by the compound wall, stripped to the waist and already sweating in the mild morning air. Supplies from the compound were being brought out and piled in the courtyard, while anything which could not be removed was being burned in a small fire in another corner.

Sam was there, speaking diffidently with a tall, lithe man in camouflage fatigues under the shade of the fruit trees. As Ade led her closer, Sam made a gesture towards Hazel and the tall stranger turned around to look. His dark face was deeply scarred, with a patch over his left eye, while a fresh dressing covered part of his jaw, though his features were nonetheless sharp and striking. A carbine was slung by his side, and he rested his forearm on the top of the weapon easily as the pair approached.

"Good morning, Ade" He grinned broadly, as if greeting an old friend, and the two embraced. The stranger's command of English sounded far more comfortable than any of the Pindaris from the outpost, an air of sophistication to his voice "So, here is our spy?" He turned to Hazel with a wry smile on his face "The appropriately-named Miss Flare? Samuel, my man, I had rather hoped for a little more, the way you talked her up. No matter. Look, could you take over here for a moment, pal? I'd talk to her for a moment"

Sam deferred without protest, and wandered off in search of a wayward mule handler to victimise. The stranger ushered Hazel to walk through the courtyard with him, angling away from the more busy areas. Ade followed, but at a respectful distance, as watchful as ever.

"So, Madame spy" The stranger chuckled as they walked "Or perhaps that is too presumptive of me, no. I am Captain Cecil Banda, by way of introduction, and this is my country into which you have so... delicately inserted yourself" He paused momentarily for effect, before adding, conspiratorially "They tell me you came here in search of the Prince Ezana?"

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Re: Navigating Murky Waters (Ach and Merina)
« Reply #32 on: July 12, 2020, 06:56:53 PM »
"Talked me up seriously." Hazel asked with a wry smile as she and Cecil walked "He spent half the time tying me up and the other half doing a fairly good impression of several drill instructors I know. Ade's alright." she sighed as she felt her bandaged wound "Anyway I digress. Yes I came here looking for Prince Ezana. As I'm sure your man has told you, I work for Achkaerinese Intelligence. I'm here to fact find I believe is the appropriate phrase and determine support viability for the Prince."

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Re: Navigating Murky Waters (Ach and Merina)
« Reply #33 on: July 14, 2020, 09:44:20 PM »
Ade Oywali; Villa East of Gagh, Western Pindar, Merina

"A deadly serious man is our Samuel" Cecil smiled back, with a soft chuckle at her description "Though that is not such a bad thing, not in these most serious of times. I've been told of your claim, though, I must admit, I am also a little dubious. But that's of little consequence out here. You are my guest now, so there shall be no more tying up... well, not unless you two" He chanced a sideways glance at Ade "Are... well, far be it for me to judge. There'll be no ill-treatment, is what I'm saying, your life shall be made no more arduous than any other out here. Though, and I must caution you on this, if you do try to leave, you'll find me in a less charitable frame of mind. Anyway, no need for any more mention of it"

"You are certainly a brave one" His expression softened again as he changed the subject "I'll give you that. So you would like to meet Ezana in person, or perhaps you are simply here to walk the land and feel its pulse? Are there not... simpler methods which Valtheim could have employed to contact us?" He raised an eyebrow quizzically with this last question, only half teasingly.

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Re: Navigating Murky Waters (Ach and Merina)
« Reply #34 on: July 27, 2020, 10:40:21 PM »
Hazel grinned a little at Cecil "I'm here to do a little of both I guess you could say, meeting Ezana is why I'm here but at the same time gauging the lay of the land, getting to know some of the people so to speak is another thing I've been doing, might have to employ that with Ade, he's tied me up three times and I don't know much about him, first guy to be able to say that." she took a breath and her smile broadened "Well simpler methods would have been nice but we didn't exactly have an email address, instant messenger name or phone number not even a postal address...relax I have a very bad sense of humour. Anyway I'll play nice don't worry about that."

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Re: Navigating Murky Waters (Ach and Merina)
« Reply #35 on: July 29, 2020, 07:07:54 PM »
Ade Oywali; Villa East of Gagh, Western Pindar, Merina

"You two" Cecil chuckled, sending another backwards glance at Ade, who appeared not to be listening "Do seem to have gotten quite attached to each other... You will come with us back to headquarters, where we shall determine if you are, indeed, who you say you are. If you are, then perhaps I shall send you back to Qandaris, where you'll be able to antagonize people to your heart's content. Naturally, you will need someone to escort you, to make sure you do not end up lost, or dead by the side of the road... and I think I may have just the person in mind. Sounds fair, no?"

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Re: Navigating Murky Waters (Ach and Merina)
« Reply #36 on: August 10, 2020, 08:24:53 PM »
"Very fair indeed." Hazel said smiling a little "I've had more than enough of the excitement of the last day or so." she glanced around "So where did you park?"

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Re: Navigating Murky Waters (Ach and Merina)
« Reply #37 on: October 27, 2020, 10:29:29 PM »
Ade Oywali; Villa East of Gagh, Western Pindar, Merina

"Park?" Cecil asked with a smile, raising a quizzical eyebrow "Madame, our mules will carry our supplies and our wounded, alas, the fortunate of us must walk. Stick with Ade, we'll be leaving soon. Now, please do excuse me, I've other duties to attend to"

And so they left the villa, and the valley, on foot. The patrol strung out along the road, spaced for combat, while a small rearguard flitted along the shoulder of the ridge above, screening against a return of the NLA's men, though to the relief of all involved, this never materialized. Creeping up over the next ridgeline ahead of them, the tired and dusty group passed back through the Pindaris' main line, and the men began to relax, falling in to a closer order. Given an opportunity to observe Captain Banda's force up-close in the light, Ade and Hazel could see a group in good spirits, well-armed and dressed in the same mix of camouflage and loose-fitting Pindari garb, apparently unperturbed by their long march.

Last light saw the tired Pindaris troop back into a larger town, where, apart from yet more Fedayeen manning perimeter checkpoints, normal life seemed to return. In the town square, market traders where packing away their stalls, while strains of music and exotic smells drifted from some of the larger buildings around the space. Just above the marketplace sat the remains of an old star-fort - a large raven banner and armed men on the ramparts showing the place not entirely abandoned - into which the patrol began to file. Cecil chose this moment to reappear, pulling down his dusty shemagh to consult with Ade in a brief exchange of Pindari, before addressing Hazel.

"Welcome to Doolow" He smiled warmly, directing an expansive gesture towards the adobe buildings around them "Our own little slice of paradise, this. My boys have quarters in the fort, but you two will be coming home with me, I'll not have it said that Captain Banda is not a generous man! It's been a long day... tomorrow, we shall ask each other searching questions, I'm sure, but for tonight you are my guest!" At this, he fished for a moment within one of the inside pockets of his combat jacket, before producing a big, old-fashioned brass key, presenting it with a flourish to Ade "Here, lad, it's the sienna one on the end there, look. I'll get the boys bedded down for the night, then I'll join you in a few minutes. There's some stew in the pot, please do help yourselves, it's more than enough to go around"

As abruptly as he'd arrived, Cecil turned on his heel and was gone, disappearing amongst the dusty ranks. Ade nodded for Hazel to follow him, heading across the square grasping the key as if his life depended upon it. They were greeted by a decorated front door, set back into the painted adobe wall, which the key unlocked, bringing the pair into a roughly square room with a range against one wall and two long divans against the others. The floor and walls were roughly made of packed earth, though well concealed with hangings and rugs; there was another door in the far corner, presumably leading to a yard, with a flight of simple wooden stairs above it. Ade gestured towards the nearest divan.

"Please, sit" He smiled, dropping his own baggage by the door before shedding his boots and making a beeline for the big, black cast-iron range. It was still warm, and lifting the lid of the wide earthenware pot sat on top of it revealed a heavily-spiced stew, in which big lumps of sweet potato, miscellaneous vegetables and some anonymous chunks of meat floated. A dip into an adjacent cupboard revealed a stack of similar earthenware bowls and collection of well-used wooden spoons; Ade selected two of each, before filling the bowls from the pot.

"Eat" He said, reassuringly, seating himself beside Hazel once this was done "Is good. See?" He ate a mouthful of the stew from his own bowl, before grinning childishly and handing over hers, sitting back and pushing his legs out straight in front of him "How feeling?" He asked, after a couple of mouthfuls more "You like?"

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Re: Navigating Murky Waters (Ach and Merina)
« Reply #38 on: November 13, 2020, 09:19:58 PM »
Hazel was partly grateful not to have a pair of handcuffs on her wrists for the first time since making her way into Pindar territory. She ate the soup slowly, it wasn't the best thing she'd ever tasted but it was far from the worst. She smiled as she looked at Ade "It's good." Hazel said smiling she flexed her shoulder, her body felt increasingly better after taking the snipers bullet, though she still made sure not to put too much weight on the arm that had taken the hit. She looked over at Ade again between mouthfuls of soup. "Did you grow up here?" she asked

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Re: Navigating Murky Waters (Ach and Merina)
« Reply #39 on: November 29, 2020, 10:23:42 PM »
Ade Oywali; Captain Banda's House, Western Pindar, Merina

"Glad" He smiled again, before wolfing down a couple more mouthfuls hungrily, barely stopping to nod in answer to Hazel's question "Not far" He stopped eating for a moment, as if lost in thought, a pained look flashing temporarily over his usually mirthful visage "Gone now" He shook his head, before brightening up again "Long time ago. You? Where home? Long way away, yes?"

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Re: Navigating Murky Waters (Ach and Merina)
« Reply #40 on: January 11, 2021, 03:37:14 PM »
Hazel mentally pinched herself, she had to be careful, she had to remember that as much as she was growing fond of Ade that she still had a cover to maintain - a cover that had been her whole life but such was the way of the Bene Gesserit in hiding across Mundus Live the lie until the lie becomes your life. She took a breath and smiled her eyes brightening for a moment "I grew up in Achkaerin but my home...like yours is gone, taken away by something, by someone...every night when I close my eyes I can pretend even if only for a moment that it never happened, that we were never forced to flee to escape the devastation and destruction." she sighed "But I guess nothing is really gone not while those that remember it are still around."

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Re: Navigating Murky Waters (Ach and Merina)
« Reply #41 on: February 04, 2021, 08:56:05 PM »
Ade Oywali; Captain Banda's House, Western Pindar, Merina

"Me... sorry" Ade mouthed in return, sympathy in his eyes. Cautiously, he reached out a scarred, calloused hand towards hers "Feel pain, your. I..."

Whatever may have followed was cut off abruptly, however, as the front door rattled open again, admitting an even more dusty and tired Captain Banda. With a great yawn, he brushed the worst of the muck from his jacket and, after hanging it upon a peg beside the door, made to fetch a bowl of food for himself.

"Evening both" The Captain smirked, spotting Ade withdraw his hand superstitiously "How's the stew? Make a change from life in the field this, eh lad?"

"Is nice" Ade smiled back, a little sheepishly.

"Well, we'd ought not get used to it, I fear, there's been some excitement while we've been out of the loop. I'll spare you the details now, but best we get an early night, tomorrow will be busy for us all"

The remainder of the evening was uneventful; Cecil tried to entertain his guests with an irreverent story about a priest and an actress, though Ade reverted to a more subdued state. Once the stew was eaten, and the tall tales told, the company turned in for the night. At their guest's insistence, Hazel found herself billeted on the bed - a strange affair with a woven cotton mesh within a wooden frame - while the two men took a divan each downstairs. The night, for once away from the front, was quiet.



Dawn was heralded by the sound of pipes, the wailing strains of music echoing across the town square from the little fort where the garrison was being roused. Hazel was encouraged to rejoin the men downstairs shortly after, finding the pair warming some small chapatis and a little pot of fragrant potato curry on the stove. Not standing on ceremony, no sooner was this devoured than Cecil marched his guests up to the fort where, just inside the gate, a vehicle had been prepared.

"Today is lucky day" Cecil chortled when he saw it, and the two Fedayeen mechanics pulling about something in the engine bay "Proudly made in the USR, circa 1972... one, aha, less than careful owner"

The little jeep on which the two guys were working was, indeed, a vintage import. These were not so uncommon in Merina, where the tough and, at least somewhat, reliable vehicles were kept going mostly with duct tape and the collective prayers of their occupants, often in direct contravention of the known laws of mechanical engineering. This example, painted in a very fetching two-tone army olive drab, had a large stylized crow daubed in white paint on the bonnet and both doors, along with a couple of bullet holes in the bodywork on the driver's side. Ade went to speak with the mechanics, discussing their vehicle in animated Pindari, while Cecil drew Hazel aside.

"Ade will drive you" He explained "You will be at Qandaris by this evening. Ike has agreed to speak with you tonight, though you will have to be brief, I fear. The army's offensive has been stalled for now, though the situation there is still fragile. My advice is to be honest and direct, the Prince is an honourable man. If you are straight with him so shall he be with you, if you try to fuck him, in all honesty, probably you are dead. Understand?"

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Re: Navigating Murky Waters (Ach and Merina)
« Reply #42 on: February 11, 2021, 02:42:47 PM »
"Completely." Hazel said looking at Cecil, her mind already on the task at hand and what to do afterwards, her orders had been simple enough job number one had been the Free State and getting information, that she'd achieved, job number two had been getting an audience with Ike to do the same thing. After that she had to get out of the country without attracting attention. She glanced at the jeep and grinned it had certainly seen better days but it's worn, wounded look made it a little bit charming and she'd certainly traveled in worse even if she did prefer a motorbike to a car. But then again Ade was going to be driving so it wasn't that bad of a situation was it?