Making a Point

Posted on Sun Mar 14th, 2010 @ 11:36am by Captain Vorn Krace & Lieutenant Commander Sara Archer

Mission: Borderline Diplomacy
Location: Bevrud - Capital City
Timeline: MD08 0600hrs

The morning light had barely crept above the horizon. Throughout the Bevrud capitol, agents loyal to Atakimpa set the stages for their greatest demonstration yet. Cameras and other recording devices were in place. The communication grid had been spliced into, and the event was ready to be broadcast. Only one last piece of the puzzle remained, and he was safely locked away.

The sound of boots echoed across the floor outside of the First Minister's cell as the appointed hour grew near. Without warning, the door was quickly thrown open as two Bevrud guards entered with their guns drawn. An Elyshan man enters behind them, the same one that accompanied Atakimpa the night before. The prisoners stirred awake quickly by their entrance, which meant the Elyshan didn't have to wake them. He went straight for Hitampki, pulling him up to his feet. "We require your presence, First...Minister," he says with a snarl.

"Get your hands off me!" the First Minister snapped, though he instantly regretted it, feeling as he did that his weight wasn't being supported wholly on his legs, but he was infact being held up by the bulky Elyshan.

"As you wish," the Elyshan said with a smirk. He flung the Minister out of the cell towards another Bevrudl guard before shouting out his orders. "Restrain him." He turned back to rest of the prisoners. "We'll deal with the rest of you later." They left as quickly as they arrived, the guards slamming the door closed behind them.

As his hands were bound behind him, the First Minister felt himself being shoved through the corridors of the building they were in, taking in the details as he did so. In the back of his mind he was conscious of the fact that his head hadn't been covered, but the thoughts towards the front of his mind were split; firstly, they were recognizing that the building they were in looked like a personal residence of some kind, and secondly they were trying to think of a reason why he had been pulled out of the cell. Surely it must be because he was Bevrudl, like Atakimpa? Or they wanted to negotiate?

"Please," he said, trying to break the fear of being shoved down corridors. "Please, let us sit down and talk about this."

"You had your chance to talk. If you want to beg, bring it up with the new First Minister." The Elyshan led Hitampki to a set of large doors, which open to reveal an office. Sitting at the ornate desk in the center of the room was Atakimpa. Other than the two guards at the door, there was no one else in the room. The Elyshan led Hitampki to a seat across from the desk and shoved him into it. "I have some things to take care of. I assume you can handle the rest of this on your own?"

"Don't worry, Sovereign. You have been most helpful," Atakimpa replied. He sat in silence as the Elyshan and his Bevrudl escort left from the same doors they entered. Atakimpa spend the next few moments just staring across the table at Hitampki. He could tell that the Minister was getting uncomfortable. "So, Hitampki," Atakimpa started. "I suppose we should just get down to business."

"Why are you doing this, Atakimpa?" the First Minister said, clearly distressed, but trying to keep himself together. "I thought you were for relations with outside worlds - why else would you apply for a job as an ambassador? And isn't working with these... Faction Elyshans just contrary to the basis of Shintaka? Their motto is Bevrud for Bevrudl."

"Which is exactly what we are going to get. Don't you see? If the Elyshans or the Federation gain a foothold here, they're not going to let go. This Faction wants Bevrudl to stay independent. They will not have any power, I will. All they ask for in return is a safe harbor, a far less demanding request than anything the others will ask for."

"You can't really believe that," Hitampki said, his fear being buried by his disbelief. He had been in office and aware of galactic politics long enough to know that that would never happen; especially not on the good will of a faction member. "They'll just control you, Atakimpa. The moment you do something they don't like, you'll be gone."

Atakimpa bellowed a laugh at Hitampki. "Maybe, but I'll have the support of the entire Bevrudl military, plus all the arms the Elyshans gave us. I'm not worried." He had no intention of reason getting in the way of his naivety.

"They're giving you arms?" Hitampki responded, shocked. "And you don't think that they'd have included some sort of insurance for themselves in that deal? A... faulty power cell that only they can replace? An override switch they can throw the minute you don't do as they ask?!"

“Of course they’re giving us arms. How else are we supposed to overthrow a regime that’s selling us out to the highest bidder? I’m not too worried about the Elyshans. Sovereign Lissek values me as an ally. The matter at hand is rather what to do with you. We can’t have you building sympathy, can we?”

Realising that Atakimpa wouldn't see reason in the mistake of trusting the faction to leave them alone to control the planet, Hitakimpa felt the fear for himself returning at the other Bevrudl's last statements. "What are you going to do with me?" he asked, his voice starting to waver again.

Atakimpa let loose his creepy grin again. "Simple. We're going to make an example of you. We need your supporters to know that we're serious."

"What do you mean?" Hitampki was really starting to feel the fear now, and was becoming aware that he was in more danger than even he had thought at first.

"It's time to address our public," Atakimpa siad as he stood. "Come with me." He led Hitampki to the doors behind the desk, which opened to a balcony. In the plaza below, thousands of Bevrudl had gathered, at the behest of the Shintaka forces. Television cameras were poised to capture everything, even if they had no idea what was coming. Atakimpa was able to get planet wide coverage of this event, so that all of Bevrud could see. Monitors in the schools, offices, private homes, and even the prisons were about to show everyone that Shintaka meant business. Atakimpa and Hitampki were flanked by two more Bevrudl guards.

The Shintaka leader walked up to an array of microphones at the center of the balcony. "People of Bevrud. No doubt that you have heard about the events of last night. There has been a coup in the Bevrudl government. First Minister Hitampki was planning on selling out freedom to the highest bidder, be it the Federation, or the Elyshan Empire. You can now ease your fears. His reign is over. I am Atakimpa, leader of Shintaka, and the new First Minister of Bevrud."

He paused for the smattering of cheers coming from the crowd below. "As my first order of business, I have decided to show the people that they are safe. The tyrant is no longer in power. He stands beside me here today so that I can show everyone what happens when you try to hand our world over to another Empire." Atakimpa turns and grins towards Hitampki. He wanted that smile to be the last thing he saw. Pulling a dagger from his belt, he quickly lunged forward, thrusting the blade deep into Hitampki's chest. Gasping for breath, the Minister stumbled around the balcony before Atakimpa gave him a shove. Hitampki flipped over the railing, and tumbled quickly to the ground below. He offered no further movements as his body was surrounded by Atakimpa's troops. Shintaka's cameras caught the whole ordeal, broadcasting the execution for all of Bevrud to see.

Stepping back to the microphones, Atakimpa finished his speech. "Let this be a lesson to anyone who opposes us. Shintaka is here to stay, and we are fully prepared to eliminate anyone we deem to be a threat." The new First Minister walked back into his office, while his guards dragged Hitampki's body inside below.

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Former First Minister Hitampki (Deceased) (NPC)
Played by Vorn Krace

First Minister Atakimpa (Self-titled) (NPC)
Played by Sara Archer