Dealings

[EpicToaster1]

To everyone's surprise, the recording tape would still be there. In fact, the recorder even had the citizen's name scrawled on the inside of the cover. However, upon closer inspection, one would notice the tape was definitely tampered with. It was partially crushed near the end, and, specifically, the end wasn't straight, instead being slightly crooked in its cut. It seems like the tape of last night had been removed, along with any remaining open tape it had, which by the weight change, would be quite the significant amount.

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The men would all look at it, and then they would watch as Jericho would close the tape recorder. Turning, they would all be directed in a foreign language to follow him out, and they would all wave once in goodbye as they headed out into the street again, to head back to their embassy. For now they would be quiet, but after a bit of time had passed, they would begin to compile the evidence that they had on hand, and then start to assess the situation and come up with an ample time and operations playbook for how they were going to go about exposing such. They would begin to consider giving it straight to the nation's mass media to see if that might engender any sort of response. 

[EpicToaster1]

A few days would pass after this before the nation's largest news network suddenly had an anonymous tip. The information given to them would pass through the editors with relative ease, making it all the way to the air. It'd be shown at prime time, 7-8 PM, when the entire country would be watching.

---

"Good evening and welcome to Prime Time. I'm your host, Edgar Sinolli. We've got some interesting topics for you tonight. Tonight, we'll be covering the rising unemployment rates that seem to be plaguing Western Tanus, who we believe will win this coming soccer game of our beloved Tannian Goldminers and the Fenvarian Hound-dogs, last night's golden stone awards, and developments within the recent drive-by from last Friday. But first to John with the weather."

"Thank you, Edgar. Weather's looking mighty nice this week, with highs between 50 to 60 degrees and lows averaging about 40 degrees for the remainder of the week with clear skies during the day and perfect stargazing weather at night. I hope you have your telescopes, this weekend's Savograd Astronomy Meet will be looking at beautiful weather, so I hope you're all ready to see the stars. A look around the nation, North Tanus shall be looking at highs averaging around the mid 40s, Rii is looking at low 50s, Biao is looking at high 60s and rain for much of the week, and Del Sven is looking to be high 40s-low 50s and cloudy with rain expected into next week. I'm John, and this has been your weather update."

"Thank you, John. Great news for all, perfect weather for a great week. However, we will be starting off with that we have received information regarding the drive-by shooting last weekend that resulted in the death five citizens, which includes two congressmen, and two Rouvellians..." He'd pull out the sheet of paper, looking it over briefly before speaking. "It would seem that there was audio recordings from the night of the incident. While we are still unable to get the identities of the three other citizens, it would seem as if they were guards of some type for..." He'd look closer at the paper, squinting slightly. He'd look up at someone off camera. "Mark, can you grab me my glasses please?" A moment later, someone would come on and hand him his glasses before running back off screen. Edgar would let out a disproving sigh. "It would seem as if there was a 'deal' that was being made, and the guards were there on behalf of the other side..." He'd seem to read over some more, the crew behind the camera getting a bit anxious at the long pauses. "I...I guess there's really no real good way to sugar-coat this. It would seem as if Congressmen Trulivola and Colsa were dealing in some illeg-"

Before he could finish the statement, the signal would be dropped. Everyone household would be unable to reconnect, though they'd be able to view all other channels just fine. A simple "Technical Error - We will be right back" would be displayed on every screen.

Something was up.

[Deleted]

The men in the embassy would watch the TV screen, each of them wearing their usual ACU's, though a couple of the guards would be there with their vests on and packs too. This was fairly normal, given the guards were typically always combat ready just in the off-situation that they might need to spring into action to aid authorities or defend the embassy. They would be planted in a series of seats or standing up, with Jericho being behind the couch and on his feet, arms crossed over his chest as the Commander would be in a seat behind him at a table. They were all in the Lobby really, or the 'break area' as the rest of them called it, hence the furnishings. As they got to the good part, and they would be done with the weather, they would lean in and seem to focus a little more.

Just as they were about to finish the word illegal, the signal went out.
After a few seconds had passed, the men would look at Jericho and the commander, a couple trying to get the signal back. But before very long, well.. they would all simply give up as Jericho spoke.
"No point. It's not a problem on our end." They'd say. "It's them."

"Who's them?" One of the guards asks.

"Whoever at the news station they paid off to cut the broadcast, or the Corporate CEO. Either or, maybe none of the above. For all we know they're being jammed." He'd say.

"..They were a bit late with it, yeah?" One asks. Jericho nods.

"I don't think people are just going to.. accept, that. Are they?"

"They're not Rovuellians. They may, MAY being the keyword, not riot because of this. Optimally however they might be very curious as to why the broadcast got cut." He'd step to the side, and go to the wall, looking out the window while the Commander would pick up a phone and make a phone call. A few of the others would move to the window and look outside, while two more go to the edge of the compound and look through the fences.

[EpicToaster1]

Several minutes would pass, the signal seemingly not coming back.

Eventually it would, with a female anchor now in place of Edgar. "We are terribly sorry about the technical difficulties. Mr. Sinolli is currently speaking to the higher ups and will be returning shortly. Until then, I will be filling in to continue Prime Time." She'd grab a paper, looking it over briefly, before looking back to the camera. "Actually, I'll be passing it over to the panel, for their views on the upcoming game."

The camera would pan away, changing over to a group of people all in sports outfits. They would then proceed to talk about their predictions for the game, everyone in the studio seemingly on edge and acting as if the earlier story had been finished.

[Deleted]

The commander stared at the screen, as did the others. Before too long, he would pick up the phone, and call a number. The line then would go dead after he said 'Climb Mount Naraodnaia.' 
Putting it down, he'd look at the screen. 

 "They're moving. Now we wait." 

---

---

As the topic of the hour changed, and the original anchor that was to break the story had been called up to the upper levels to be reprimanded, three men wearing black clothing, suits and ties that had a stranger look than just normal fabric, would break out of their spots and head to the bathrooms all at the same time. Six more would emerge from the rank and file office staff, four of which would be Festria. Removing their face paint with a strong solvent, the red fur would be dissolved and replaced with that same black appearance, and the contacts in their eyes removed. All of them had on their sides, held by rope, briefcases, and as they would open them they would remove the interior contents, and assemble them. 

 The nine men would divide into two teams. One of five that would go to the central hub, and then the remaining four would go to the roof. Quick to execute the plan, they would all shed their suit tops, and reveal below the armored vests of thin steel plates with kevlar weave over them, and then stretch their arms some, before grabbing the rifles and leaving the bathroom. Pushing many people out of their way rather than going the route of making threats, they would all still be told to get onto the floor, and no one would fire any shots. They simply made the threat to shoot if people got in their way. 

 A security guard would make an effort, but as one of the men would tackle them into the wall it'd be fairly hard to fight back, the Festria slamming their fist into their stomach and confiscating their weapons, but not the radio. As they reached the door to the room, they'd kick it open and walk inside, the five men then raising their weapons. 

 "Everyone, onto the floor, Now." They'd order. 
When they complied, else they'd all learn a hard lesson, they'd then go and turn to commercial. 

 Meanwhile, the team on the roof would make it up the stairs, and two would stay to watch, while one set up their camera and the other would settle themselves down by a cable. Cutting it open neatly, they would soon connect it to one linked to a microphone and a camera of their own, the 'adapter' of sorts managing to get the signal in. The footage wouldn't be astoundingly good, but it would be enough, and as the man on the roof would turn said camera on and begin to film, they would have their feed switched on by the men in the central hub. Once they were live, the man of whom would be saying it all, a Festria with red fur would crouch down in front of said camera. 

---

He clears his throat, and puts on his glasses, flashing a smile to the camera. 
"Hello, I'm Janus, and I'll be your host this evening, exposing the extensive corruption within the Tanusian government, how their politicians would be willing to sell out the well-being of their own people for a little extra cash~" He would raise up his hand to mimic the money-rubbing gesture with his fingers, before he would then grab the transcript from his briefcase, having cut it free with his knife. 

 "Gonna have to make this quick, so bare with me, but I'll be as detailed as I can." He would say. "And I ain't sugarcoating anything. The people of Tanus deserve the unfiltered truth." 
As he would raise it up, he would then grab the recording device from his case as well, holding it in one hand. 

 "On that fateful night, when the shooting occurred, the two dead Congressmen named Trulivola and Colsa were in fact dealing in something incredibly illegal. They were dealing with a local cartel operating in that city, of which was aiming to expand its reach beyond the simple confines of just that territory, to reach further north. As well, they were handed a bill enclosed via an envelope by one of the three men, of whom were actually guards of this cartel, all of whom would be gunned down by this rival cartel. What did the bill entail, one asks? Well from the transcript here, we can figure out that they in fact were going to use this to pass a bill of which would have several ride-alongs, that would enable this cartel to expand while drastically harming the business of another, with the politicians responsible receiving upwards of 30 million dollars as a result of their cooperation." 

 He'd then look at the recording, setting the transcript down and putting his knee onto it so the papers don't fly off in the wind. By now police sirens are probably audible. 
"You see this tape recorder here? We got the transcript from it. We left it at the police station as it was considered to be evidence of the events that transpired at the time. But when we had men come back to grab it, so they could send it home to the family and as well extract the tape within, we found this:" He would open the tape with the two latches, and then display the insides, using his finger to point to the crumpled part. "Right here? This is where they cut the tape after removing a significant portion of it, INCLUDING the bit that i'm sure everyone wants to hear. This is the condition that an originally fully intact tape was returned to the Rovuellian Guard ambassador in, tampered with." He would set it down. 

 "If I damn well could, I would play the tape in full for you right now. But your government has made in full an effort to ensure that I cannot, by straight up removing the entire part of the tape in question. And making it so it won't ever play something right without a new role of tape anyway." He'd then put the recorder down, and look at the edge of the building. 

"We've gotta go. But I'll leave the camera running." He'd say. Then he waves at the camera and flashes a wink, before standing up and walking off, leaving his weapon on the ground outside of the view of the still rolling camera. 


 
 

[EpicToaster1]

As the men would finish and vacate from the scene, the people of Tanus would be left in shock. Even those in the news agency would be caught off guard, as many hadn't even seen the transcripts that Edgar had earlier. As the soldiers in the central hub would vacate, the people rising up from the ground, they wouldn't act to change the feed. Even as they'd be radioed to cut the feed, they would not act, letting what just happened be processed. One of them would eventually come to, changing the feed back to the main camera. It wouldn't help, however, as everyone in that room was just as dumbfounded. They'd be staring at their own TVs, not even registering they're live. The hub would then switch to commercial break, the people finally coming to their senses.

---

The police would arrive on the scene not too long after, several vehicles surrounding the building. The cops would rush in, storming the building. It wouldn't take long before the nine of them would be apprehended. No shots would be fired, the men telling the police that they were Rouvellians. To avoid making an international incident, the commanding officers would just order them arrested, where they'd be taken to the cars outside. Some people from the surrounding buildings would be outside now, looking at the scene as it unfolds.

The men would be pushed into the police cars, the upper administration of the building walking out of the front door to look at them. One of the officers would walk over to them, speaking something to them too faint for others to hear. The guy at the front of the group would simply nod, before they all turn and walk back inside, the officer walking back to his car. The vehicles would depart, returning to the fortress of a police station, where they would be processed and each placed in individual cells separated and not allowed to speak to one another for the time being.

The officers would seem to be keeping the closest eye on Janus, but it was unclear if it was just coincidence or intentional.

[Deleted]

Throughout this time, Janus is simply just planted on his wooden bench in the cell, a smug smile on his face. The others don't seem to have any regrets, and their demeanor suggests all the men are perfectly content with what they have just done, and what they have accomplished. Each of the men really just seems to be calm and content despite what had just occurred. It'd be about this time however, that someone transported by a full convoy of Rovuellian APCs would arrive outside. None of the vehicles are armed with weaponry and for the most part they have their tops open, and there aren't many men besides the drivers. Only one man disembarks from an APC out of its side door, and makes his way to the entrance of the police station, wearing an entirely black set of fatigues with a grey beret, and the Logo of the Rovuellian Office of Naval Intelligence, as well as the SITOC emblem on his shoulder.

He'd enter the lobby, and would go the receptionist.
"I'm here about my men." He would say, planting his hands lightly onto the desk and smiling down at them, the Lykoi's yellow eyes seeming to pierce through them like a blade, cold and analytical. "And I'd like them pronto."

[EpicToaster1]

The receptionist would look him over, studying him before nodding, pressing a button on the counter. "Person retrieval, Rovuellians."

A few moments later, an officer would walk out of the reinforced security door, a younger looking officer in tow. The older of the two would stop, motioning something while the other walks up next to him. The younger one looks a bit uncomfortable, adjusting his collar before speaking. "D-due to the acts of the persons in question, we are unable to return them to your custody at this time. They can be returned only after we've tried them..." The officer would slunk back some, obviously not wanting to be the one to convey the news.

The older officer would simply nod to the younger, the younger walking back through the door. He'd then speak up. "What they did was illegal, they hacked into a company's property and held several people at gun-point. They will be found guilty and will be required to pay fines, but will not be made to serve any time, then will be extradited back to your country and barred from reentering. Good day, sir."

[Deleted]

The man would look at the man of which he basically towered over. But his expression seems to soften some as he looks to them, not seeming to be particularly interested in loudly objecting to it, but he wasn't going to pretend to be quite happy about it either. He'd cross his arms and then tilt his head a little bit as three or so more men soon enter the space, one being a diplomat, the other two being representatives of the armed forces, of which did a great deal of Rovuellia's diplomacy really.

"Either speed it along, or I'm going to raise political hell." He'd state, his expression returning to the stone-cold death stare from earlier.

"And I recommend you tell us their bail if they have one that's set." The Diplomat says. "And what date their trail is scheduled for."

[EpicToaster1]

"Well I'm sorry, but as I said, your men committed a crime. Judge has yet to get back to us, so we don't know what bond to expect. And I'd expect within the next three days."

The officer would simply shrug. "You can raise whatever you want, these men do not have diplomatic immunity, nor were they on work with staff immunity. For what they did, they should be serving five years in prison, but we've already pulled that off. We will contact your embassy when we have the information available."

[Deleted]

The various men would look at them, and then after a moment, the SITOC representative would seem to smile, and then nod his head, before turning to make his way out.
The others in the room would have visible expressions of concern as they watch them go, before they look to the police officers. The diplomat would walk forwards once the SITOC officer had left and then speak.
"Those men are military personnel belonging to the Rovuellian armed forces. While we're going to allow the trial to proceed if these men are found to be harmed or missing in any capacity we'll be holding you personally responsible and we will have your head on a pike. Yours. And all the higher staff at this station." They'd say, before they then would take out a small box, and set it onto the receptionists' desk.

"These are any relevant contacts of which you may need to speak with when you, if you do, interact with these men in private. They will not respond unless you speak to them." They'd say, before turning and making his way out. The other two men would look at them and watch them go, before they'd sigh.

"They've got a stick up there ass. Don't blame them." He'd say, Jericho being among them. "While we concur with the diplomat, in less blunt fashion, we're going to ask that if possible a message be relayed and that we are allowed to sit in on the court proceedings."

[EpicToaster1]

The receptionist would simply push the box across the counter, the officer standing there taking it. The officer would speak. "As we said, we'll contact your embassy when we get the relevant information, but until then we have no reason to contact you."

He'd watch as they'd leave, listening to Jericho speak. "We should have the information available by tonight." He'd study Jericho for a moment before turning to the door. He'd put his hand against it before stopping for a moment. "I just hope the cost was worth the price." He'd walk through the door before they could comment on it.

[Deleted]

Jericho's expression wouldn't change, though when he is gone, he'd turn to the side some.
"The price you'll pay is nothing compared to the benefits you'll reap from it." They'd say, before turning and making their way to the door. The last man out with give the receptionist a mock salute before turning and following them out, the Festria seeming somewhat confused as to the nature of the statements made but not making anything in the way of a effort to question them.

[EpicToaster1]

Later that night, the embassy would receive a call from the police station, informing them that their court date was set to be in two days, with bail posting at five million each with the exception of Janus, being at fifteen million.

------

The following day, the news would chime on in the background of the noise of the Rovuellian Embassy.

"Breaking News. What started as a house fire has erupted into a neighborhood fire moments ago when the fire seemed to have spread to the gas main. Firefighters on the scene are battling the fire across ten houses now, and the number appears to be on the rise. The blaze at the first house has yet to be contained, officials noting that they are unsure if anyone is within the building at this time. With the gas line now on fire, it is unclear if they'll be able to contain all of the blaze at this time. We have reports of nearby districts sending their teams as support. We will have more on this in a few."