Isthul - 72 hours before military action

[the-overseers.livejournal.com]

Who: All agents and enforcers going into Isthul
Where: Isthul
What: Diffuse the situation or withdraw


Both Isthul gates are now fortified basecamps, the Agents manning it more than a little nervous. The military's declaration is fresh, and while the battle was won, there are a scant 72 hours before the promised strike. Things are tense, and beyond the picket lines you can already see a massive force of Isthul troops preparing to attack your position.

[Because this situation can be handled any number of ways, instead of restricting posts to what I come up with for possible action, characters may start their own threads. Please title your thread with a description of the action you are taking.

Isthul forces CAN be contacted via radio or signal flares, although whether or not they respond is another matter entirely.]

Comments

[king-of-flames.livejournal.com]

[Roy is taking a bit of a different approach. He's wearing a three-piece suit, though he still has his gloves. He intends to talk to people to gather information -- first the soldiers manning the defenses, then the civilians in the nearest settlement.]

[razthepsynaut.livejournal.com]

*Roy would be the obvious face of this operation. Less obvious is the invisible child moving about, keeping close to Roy and hiding in various locations. More importantly, Raz's hat is off, and for once he's FOCUSING on the mind reading, which means thoughts are as loud to him right now as words.

Never hurts to have some backup, after all.*

[the-overseers.livejournal.com]

Through their teamwork, Raz and Roy generally gather that the soldiers are a bit tense. It seems a lot of these orders are coming as a bit of a surprise to them, and the top officers are being very tight-lipped with what their plans are. Very few soldiers knew about the full-scale assault in 72 hours before it was announced publicly.

The civilians are also very nervous. A number of the rioters went into this with the intention of forcing the government to stand up to Confuto Ordinatio, but now that it's come to out-and-out war, a lot of them are having second thoughts. Many are scared for what is to come, especially since there are unsettling rumors that the Military used the anger against the trade sanctions to overthrow the government and take over.

Raz will also pick up some intense paranoia and rumors that dissidents against the military have been disappearing.

[king-of-flames.livejournal.com]

[Once that information is obtained, Roy alters the subject a bit. He tries to see what the civilians think of General Mikhaylov and the other high-ranking officers involved in the military coup.]

[razthepsynaut.livejournal.com]

*Raz continues in Roy's wake; the good thing about being able to pick up thoughts is that what the populace are too afraid to speak out loud, he can hear in their brains. This is definitely interesting, though; a manufactured coup, playing off emotions? Sneaky, sneaky.*

[the-overseers.livejournal.com]

General Mikhaylov is generally well-respected among the people of Isthul for his hardline stance against Confuto Ordinatio and strong commitment to military strength, but he is also known to be a man you do not wish to cross. There are some unsavory rumors about Mikhaylov's stance on dissidents but nothing has really been substantiated.

[king-of-flames.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, that was of limited use to Roy. He focused his thoughts toward the boy behind him.

Agent Aquatos. I want you to see if you can pick up any names of supposed dissidents disappearing.

[razthepsynaut.livejournal.com]

Roger, sir! echoes Raz's voice in Roy's head. He salutes -- even though Roy can't actually SEE him saluting -- before shifting his focus and paying close attention to names.

[the-overseers.livejournal.com]

The list is actually quite extensive, there are about 30-odd names, some families and some individuals, who have vanished recently and haven't been heard from or seen.

[king-of-flames.livejournal.com]

"Can you memorize them, or should one of us write them down?" Roy asked Raz quietly. "This could give us some leverage."

[razthepsynaut.livejournal.com]

Memory's kind of a tricky thing to rely on, Enforcer Mustang. I got a notepad I can take some notes down on if you want, Raz telepathically replies. Man, these military guys sound like a real buncha jerks, don't they?

DIPLOMACY

[wright-idea.livejournal.com]

Phoenix, newly armed with the goings on in the bill sessions, sends word to the military council that he would like to try to negotiate with them and discuss this situation. It's a simply worded note which suggests he has news that they might consider worthwhile paying attention to, and which may help stabilize the economic and technological issues going on currently.

He drums his fingers as he waits for the results.

He rubs his face.

DIPLOMACY

[the-overseers.livejournal.com]

A message is returned: General Mikhaylov will meet with you at 20:00 (3 hours from present time). You will be authorized to enter Isthul territory alone, the guards will be alerted to your presence. You will not be harmed so long as you are back to your side before the 72 hours are up. Should any other Confuto Ordinatio personnel join you, you will all be killed on sight.

Re: DIPLOMACY

[wright-idea.livejournal.com]

Phoenix is a bit pale as he accepts the message, nodding. Besides the color change, his outward appearance is more or less stoic; inside, he's a frantic mess.

He gulps, sending another message back to HQ...

DIPLOMACY CONT. (aka Phoenix shits bricks)

[wright-idea.livejournal.com]

The hardest part is not looking. He wants to, desperately, but doing so might give away the positions of his guard, and he's already got visions of bullets, and blood, and more money than he'll ever know how to pay off in any given lifetime.

He tries to keep a straight face as he approaches the guards. He tries not to add, "and either win it all or lose anything" to that analogy, and instead wraps his hand around the magatama in his pocket for comfort.

He approaches the guards, showing his ID. "Diplomat Enforcer Phoenix Wright. I've been authorized to pass into Isthul territory," he says, trying not to let his voice waver.

[omnomnompoyo.livejournal.com]

Nearby, Kirby was using Raz's invisibility ability to hide from the guards, trying his best not to be seen. You think you have it bad, Phoenix? Your safety and everything else lies in his stubby little arms!

[exmarineexbride.livejournal.com]

A select group of the press has been allowed to see the proceeding. The reporter from the Weekly World Weekly looks a trifle familiar. She is either diligently taking notes, or possibly doodling on her notepad while keeping track of everyone in the room.

[the-overseers.livejournal.com]

At the line of demarcation, General Mikhaylov is there to greet you. He is flanked by two guards, both holding guns with obvious Astral Silver components.

"You would be Mr. Phoenix Wright? Please, come this way."

He turns on his heel and begins to lead you in the direction of a small basecamp with several armed guards around.

[wright-idea.livejournal.com]

"Thank you." He nods, and follows.

Phoenix's heart is half beating out of his chest. As he follows the general, he looks about somewhat nervously at the guards. The press, too, trying not to focus on the familiar face.

[omnomnompoyo.livejournal.com]

As Phoenix heads in, Kirby starts to make his move, making sure not to make noise as he followed the gathering. This was tougher than he thought - Meta Knight would probably have been better at this!

[exmarineexbride.livejournal.com]

Mao simply blended in with the other reporters as they followed to get what would no doubt be tomorrow's headline news.

[the-overseers.livejournal.com]

General Mikhaylov leads Phoenix into a room with a large circular table. He motions for Phoenix to sit at one end before taking a seat at another, another man (http://l-userpic.livejournal.com/113787639/24155537) sitting at his right hand.

"Now then, Mr. Wright," Mikhaylov says magnanimously, cracking a broad smile for the cameras. "Tell us what Confuto Ordinatio has to say. I am sure it is quite fascinating."

[wright-idea.livejournal.com]

Phoenix already doesn't like this guy. That obvious media front, and the condescending way he's speaking to him all scream to him that this may already be a waste of time. But he has to try. And as long as he has that magatama with him, maybe he can even get something out of this.

"General Mikhaylov," begins Phoenix, nodding. "I understand the amount of pain we have caused this world by imposing such harsh trade restrictions upon it, especially on such a central resource. I am afraid I had nothing to do with that decision, having only joined Confuto Ordinatio relatively recently, and I am very sorry for what has happened in the past. But I do not feel that cutting yourself off from Confuto Ordinatio entirely is the answer to your problems."

He shakes his head. "Our organization, for one, is better equipped to deal with dangerous multiversal threats to your world. After all, we have access to the tech of many worlds, and we have a vested interest in protecting as many as possible, and the resources to do so. Our division in particular has a good record as far as doing everything in its power to help other worlds. For another, I think you will find it is far better to maintain positive diplomatic relations with other worlds by not cutting yourselves off; isolation has, from my personal observation, rarely helped any one country develop, and I cannot see it helping an entire world either."

And now the real carrot. "But I suppose that doesn't mean much coming from an organization which until now has extended little aid to assist you in your time of need -- which is why I have the pleasure of informing you that as we speak, the council of 0134 is voting on a bill which will alter the restrictions on Astral Silver and shift more control of trade into your hands. Surely that would help remove one of the main bones of contention?"

The butterflies in Phoenix's stomach are shifting at a mile a minute. What if he said something wrong? What if this isn't enough? He grips the magatama with a death grip.

[the-overseers.livejournal.com]

"While I appreciate the steps the council is taking, why did it take this long? Why do we receive nothing until we force such power? Is Confuto Ordinatio's grasp on multiversal security so flimsy that they must grind us underfoot for ten long years because we have a magnificent resource that may be dangerous to the multiverse?"

Mikhaylov makes a show of shaking his head sadly.

"Mr. Phoenix Wright, this is not enough. Why do you come here with flimsy promises and pretenses? Why is it always 'the council is deliberating'. Where was the aid when we needed it? Where was the offer to assist our infrastructure when you brutally shut down our industry and commerce?"

[wright-idea.livejournal.com]

The defense attorney shuts his eyes. "Believe me, General, that is a question I would like an answer to myself. And I am afraid I currently lack one. Our division is very young -- and, it seems, still poorly informed of the overall political situation. In all honesty, I was not even aware of these sanctions until your world's appearance on the news. It is very frustrating to me as well."

He opens his eyes again, looking more determined; he'd slam a desk, if he could. "But we also have an advantage. As a young division, we have the capacity to look at these things with clearer eyes, to approach these problems without old politics or conflicts tainting our views. It may have taken the rest of the organization ten years and a conflict to come around -- but our division has already begun to move, to look into the situation, and to come up with answers. And I have the fullest confidence that they will come up with something definitive very quickly."

He crosses his fingers.