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Post by Greywall on Jun 29, 2022 20:49:53 GMT -5
Asar Kaladhar and Tyon Akuchi had been on the boat for weeks, the simple cargo vessel wasn't made for them, but some unrefined silver convinced the crew to let them be smuggled to their destination. "This is madness Asar, have you heard the stories of these people!? They devour men, they will not bother with us." Tyon's concerns were based and rather logical, it was a stretch, their mission. But Asar was given a task, reach out to Kumosenkan for arms and support against the Union.
"We have to try, it's what we've been given to do, our people are being slaughtered. The Union won't stop til we are all dead and if our mission does nothing it is on us, if we die we die in honor to save our people."
The cargo ship began blaring its horn and over the horizon was the city of Echizen, the two men mentally prepared themselves as the ship docked itself and they made their way off the ramp. The crew looking at them as if they were mad as they strolled past the docking area and into the city itself. They soon found themselves surrounded by Kumo, they would get odd looks and hostile gazes as they wandered aimlessly. "Where are we going?" complained Tyon as they went deeper now completely attracting attention as they were standing out, "We need to find some kind of official of the Kumosenkan." said Asar.
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Post by Sophie on Jun 29, 2022 22:47:30 GMT -5
"Congratulations." A massive Kumo, standing directly behind the two, towering at nine and a half feet tall, spoke. As the two swung around and laid their eyes on her, her police officer uniform stuck out quite obviously. "You found one."
Several other Kumo began converging on the two stowaways. Most were police officers, though some were port authority, and others were in plain clothes. "You are under arrest for the crime of trespassing of government property, bribery, theft of government property, disruption of government transport, and illegal entry." The physically massive Kumo forced the arms of Asar behind his back while another officer did the same to Tyon.
As the two were being forced into the back of the officer's car, they could see her shaking hands with the captain of the vessel they had stowed away on. "Thank you for your service to Kumosenkan. Drop by the station when you can, and our captain will pay you the reward for handing these two off to us." She intentionally spoke in common to attempt to devastate the South Toulians' morale.
Echizen was a reasonably small city for Kumosenkan, but for a Touli native, it was massive. It boasted a population of nearly three million Kumo within the city limits. Massive concrete and wood behemoths towered over them as they drove from city block to city block until they reached the port's precinct.
The two were ripped from the vehicle's back seat and dragged inside. Usually, they'd be left in holding for well over a day, but it had been an exceedingly peaceful month in Echizen, and there was no one else to deal with. Tyon and Asar were both immediately dumped into the same interrogation room.
"Alright, gentleman." The massive Kumo placed a document in front of the both of them. "You were caught red-handed committing several felonies and federal crimes. Please sign your names on these confessions, and I will only charge you with illegal entry with the minimum sentence."
The documents were long and filled with text. However, at the bottom of each was 'I, ________________, hereby confess to the crime of: ILLEGAL ENTRY carrying a maximum sentence of: LIFE By confessing I, ________________, am agreeing to a sentence of: TEN YEARS'
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Post by Greywall on Jun 29, 2022 23:06:24 GMT -5
They were, to say lightly, shocked. The massive space of the Kumo car clearly made for enlarged spiders made riding in the back a bit awkward. As they were taken into the interrogation room and told of their crimes they still held an air of not really understanding what they did. To them the closest thing to authority was the union and it only really did it recently.
The two Toulians looked confusingly at the document, they couldn't read, they spoke common in a way but ultimately were limited to verbal speech. "Excuse me, is this how we contact the Empress?" Asar said in a confused tone, Tyon snapped at him "You damn fool! We've been arrested, they are gonna throw us away or eat us alive. Ancestors above what a dumb mission, these monsters were never going to help us!" Tyon slumped into his seat in anger. Asar disregarded him and spoke to the Kumo in front of him, "excuse me, I am Asar Kaladhar and this is my associate Tyon. We are from South Touli, we're here to ask for help." Tyon rolled his eyes, muttering "we are so fucked".
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Post by Sophie on Jun 30, 2022 10:25:45 GMT -5
Mounting cofusion plagued the Kumo officer's face as she tried to puzzle out what on earth the two stowaways were talking about. "Empress? Eat you alive? South Touli? What on Ouhiri are the two of you on about?" She tapped the papers in front of the two of them. "You realize your under arrest right? I don't care where you're from, or your motivations for breaking the law. Just sign these papers or I'll have the book thrown at you." Sitting down at the table she shook her head. "Why on earth would the Empress want to talk with two criminals who can't even confess in their own best interest?"
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Post by Greywall on Jun 30, 2022 11:45:15 GMT -5
"We're not criminals, we've come here seeking help for our people. We are tribesmen of South Touli, and our people are being slaughtered. You may throw us away, but we are on a mission here, we must acquire aid or we shall die trying." Asar spoke with confidence this time, but Tyon was starting to sweat fearing his doom.
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Post by Sophie on Jul 1, 2022 16:30:45 GMT -5
The Kumo stared at the two. She couldn't make sense of whether they were insane, trying to fool her, or telling the truth. "You're trying to acquire aid? Are you trying to claim you're refugees or something? If so, you're wasting your breath. Kumosenkan doesn't accept refugees." As she was about to command them a final time, to sign the confession and be done with it, there was a knock on the door. In walked another Kumo, significantly shorter than the other. The interrogator turned back and frowned. The two whispered to each other for a moment before the original officer left with a pointed sneer directed at the humans, replaced by the much shorter of the two.
The new woman sat in front of the two humans at the table. She brushed a spot of lint off her black suit jacket. With a smile, she addressed the toulians. "I apologize for my subordinate's indignant behavior. I have heard much about the strife your country has been going through in the past few days; I am truly sorrowful that you must experience such strife." With a sympathetic smile, she took out a pair of handcuff keys and freed their arms from the table. "My name is Maruko Akimoto. I'm an officer with the Ministry of Enforcement and Security. What sort of help are you two looking for?"
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Post by Greywall on Jul 2, 2022 19:27:42 GMT -5
"AHHHHH HAAAA! See Tyon!? I told you we were okay!" Asar exclaimed excitedly. Tyon just say there, with a soured expression on his face completely done with the entire situation.
"We're looking for firearms, our people are being slaughtered by the Union and we need the capability to fight them. We need Kumo firearms."
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Post by Sophie on Jul 11, 2022 0:56:32 GMT -5
"I'm sure a meeting can be arranged," Akimoto assured the two. "Though for now, you're going to have to stay here while I complete the paperwork to waive your charges. I will get a message out to my contact in the ministry of war, it will be up to them whether or not Kumosenkan is willing and able to give aid to your people. I recommend using your time here until then to formulate a plan to convince"
Two weeks passed as the two were left in the prison without another word from Akimoto. Eventually, the same officer who arrested them opened their cell doors. Not only dejected that her first illegal entry bust had just gone up in smoke, but annoyed that she had to usher two humans to a fanciful car. "Your charges have been dropped. There's a car waiting for you outside to take you to a meeting."
Only a short car ride later and the two South Toulians were brought into the main governmental office in the city center. The humans were led inside to a meeting room with a sizable handful of women awaiting them. Including Maruko Akimoto who was happy to introduce the two. "Good afternoon everyone, this is Asar Kaladhar and Tyon Akuchi. They are the humans from the South Touli Union requesting arms and ammunition from Kumosenkan." She quickly ushered the two to their seats and began introducing the women around the table.
"This is Meiteru Hanyu from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the head of the newly formed South Touli Crisis taskforce. Teriha Seshimo and Aroe Munakata are her two direct assistants, and this of course is Totsuko Kako, the liaison from the Ministry of War."
Hanyu held looked over the two humans and scoffed. "You told me they were humans from South Touli, but you didn't tell me they were men. How are we to trust two males to understand the finer details of war, diplomacy, trading, arms, and ammunition?"
"Hanyu-kan." Kako interjected. "You must at least give them a chance. The Empress has been looking for an in to the crisis and this very well could be it." She turned to the two toulians. "Please, make your pitch."
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Post by Greywall on Jul 11, 2022 20:33:11 GMT -5
To say being in a jail cell for two weeks while their people were being genocided put the two men in a poor mood would be an understatement, even Asar showed some disdain despite his usual bright disposition. "Our people, have lived in this part of Touli for thousands of years. It's always been our home, and while we might not have always gotten along we have a leader now that unites us against the threat of the Union. But the Union is slaughtering us and not just men, women and children are being killed. A mother had her unborn child gutted and ripped out of her. And you left us in the cell for weeks! I'm sorry but as we sit here my people are dying, we've come here for help and we need it dammit. I cannot wait anymore, every minute we wait, is a child dying because Okeena thinks they're animals to be discarded."
Asar's anger surprised Tyon who added, "If you want something from us, we control the Southern Hideaki mountains, we have this." Tyon would pull out a chunk of gold and put it on the table "My friend, is angry. Not at you, no, just understand we are running out of time. If you can't help us, either just kill us or let us go. Maybe the Ulster-Gaelics can help." They would sit there, tired having not rested well and growing more and more desperate not knowing what was going on back home.
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Post by Sophie on Jul 11, 2022 23:50:42 GMT -5
"Your friend needs to watch his tone." Hanyu interjected. "I did not spend my life climbing the ladder to be berated by some sub-sentient male. Irrespective of you being in a prison cell this meeting would not have occurred any earlier. There is a correct way to go about such important dealings. I and my colleagues are all leaning on the side of helping you, but should your unappreciative attitude continue we will do everything in our power to not only punish you but punish the people you have come here to help."
"While I would challenge the abrasive nature of Hanyu-kan." Kako brought up once more. "I don't disagree with her. Threatening to contact Kumosenkan's greatest enemy as a response to our thorough nature is no way to gain our favor. With that said, we are authorized to engage in an arms deal for your people. Our logistical web can spare a significant number of our outdated type ninety-nine bolt action, as well as type ninety-five seventy-five millimeter field cannons. How many arms are you looking to purchase?"
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Post by Greywall on Jul 12, 2022 19:21:19 GMT -5
Asar and Tyon leaned in together whispering with one another, "Enough rifles to arm 200,000, and 300 field guns."
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Post by Sophie on Jul 12, 2022 23:47:14 GMT -5
The women all looked between themselves, confused for a moment. "That's all?" A moment of tepid laughter was shared between the group. Hanyu continued, "Make your order double that, and it'll be worth our time."
Without even looking to the two men actually purchasing the weapons to confirm, Kako responded. "For four-hundred thousand rifles and six hundred field guns we would ask in return twenty tons of gold, as that is what you're offering."
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Post by Greywall on Jul 13, 2022 21:16:47 GMT -5
Asar's eyes drifted off as he tried to divert his anger away, "That's a lot of gold, this seems expensive for some guns and ammo." Tyon was too tired to protest his comrade, the lack of sleep in the jail cell was catching up to him and it seemed that the women in the room were almost draining him with their judgmental stares.
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Post by Sophie on Jul 13, 2022 21:58:47 GMT -5
"It's more than guns and ammo." Hanyu scoffed as if the complaint was the single most foolish thing ever uttered in her presence. "It's transporting guns and ammo from Kumosenkan to Touli, your people aren't on the coast, so we have to bribe dock officials, train operators, inspectors, and we have to rewrite operators' manuals for non-Kumo to operate our weapons."
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Post by Greywall on Jul 13, 2022 22:10:29 GMT -5
Asar clenched his fists and dropped his eyes to the ground, he was trying to keep his composure when a warm familiar touch graced his shoulder. Tyon leaned in to tell him, "We've done it brother, please let go of your pride. Remember our people at home. Asar nodded, "I'm sorry, we accept your conditions."
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