Polyphemus Member
They/ Them
- Last Seen: 4 yrs ago
- Old Guild Username: Vulture
- Joined: 12 yrs ago
- Posts: 1829 (0.41 / day)
- VMs: 0
-
Username history
- Polyphemus 12 yrs ago
Status
User has no status, yet
Bio
User has no bio, yet
Most Recent Posts
And we're in action. Some of it might be a bit repetitive from the first post in the thread, I apologize for that. I know that map isn't so great, either, but it works for quick reference. Try Google Maps if you want something with more detail.
Van Eyck saw the invisible nod General Laprasse gave him, and felt his mouth go dry. He wasn't much for public speaking- sure, he addressed his troops regularly, but he never felt fully comfortable doing even that. Nonetheless, he straightened his necktie, checked his cuffs, adjusted his dark blue beret, and delicately cleared his throat. Finally, once he was sure he was as ready as he could be, he stepped up to the podium.
"At ease, ladies and gentlemen," he said to the military personnel who had automatically stood to attention when he stepped to the podium. He spoke in English, which seemed to have become the lingua franca for the team. "Please be seated. I will keep my remarks brief.
"Firstly, I would like to say what an honor it is to be with you here today. I do not have the privilege of knowing all of you personally yet, but I look forward to working with and getting to know each of you over the days and weeks to come." Van Eyck paused, as he took a moment to look over his audience. Hopefully that line would at least buy him a little trust from the civilians. The research staff and military staff had formed their own exclusive cliques, rarely interacting and occasionally eying one another with mutual contempt and distrust. Not a healthy way to interact, given that their lives might depend on the other team's actions.
"Just a few hours ago, we received a formal request for help from the governments of Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda," he said with a gesture to the three ambassadors, awkwardly seated on stage. They were not trained diplomats, really, just someone's nephew or the recipient of a favor. Any man who is ambassador to Switzerland never expects to deal with much of a crisis. "We have been closely monitoring the situation for some time now, and in conjunction with these three governments we have arrived at the conclusion that there is a predatory kaiju currently living in Lake Victoria." He tapped a small button on the podium, and a map of the lake in question was projected onto the blank white wall behind him.
With a laser pointer, he highlighted a few points of interest. "Five weeks ago, there was a general decline in fish stocks in the lake- odd, but hardly remarkable. Then, four separate fishing boats sank with all hands aboard, almost like they were pulled underneath the water by some immense force. Goats, cattle, and other livestock have gone missing from farms and ranches situated around the lake, not to mention an alarming increase in missing persons reports in the general area. Large animals, such as buffalo, wildebeest, elephants, and hippopotami, have been disappearing at night from numerous game preserves around the lake. On more than one occasion, corpses washed ashore with enormous bite marks taken out of them." He clicked a second button, showing a graphic photo of an elephant missing its trunk, ears, and most of its torso. Parts of it had been messily torn away. "This elephant, by the way, was tagged by the rangers at Serengeti National Park, in Tanzania. It washed up on the shore of Koome Island- nearly a hundred miles away in Uganda."
He cleared his throat once again, taking a sip of water as he replaced the photograph with one of a wooden frame house, the walls pushed in from one side and the shingled roof peeled back like an onion skin. "The worst incident yet occurred early this morning, at a cattle ranch outside Mbita, on the Kenyan side of the lake. Five ranchhands dead or missing, twenty-six head of cattle butchered, a house destroyed, smashed to kindling. Several of the men and animals were dismembered and cut, as though by a gigantic razor-sharp blade. These three governments have been in conference with one another over this issue, this incident convinced them to seek our aid and advice. Ladies and gentlemen, we will be deploying in Africa at the earliest possible opportunity. If you have personal business here in Geneva, I would advise you to conclude or cancel it within the next few hours."
"Now, a few issues I wish to highlight," the colonel said as he returned to the map of Lake Victoria. "This is one of the largest lakes in the world- or at least Wikipedia tells me it is." He hoped his attempt at humor would cut some of the tension, he was not a naturally funny man by any means, but he knew the danger of going into combat full of anxiety and dread. Instantly feeling foolish, he cleared his throat yet again and carried on. "We have a difficult task ahead of us. Islands included, there is a shoreline of approximately 4800 kilometers- 3000 miles, for the Americans. Several major centers of population are situated on the lake as well. Kampala, 1.7 million people. Mwanza, 700,000. Kisumu, 410,000. Musoma, 140,000. Bukoba, 92,000. Jinja, 90,000. Not to mention countless smaller hamlets and villages. A kaiju landfall in one of these densely packed cities could outstrip the combined death toll of all previous attacks. Evacuation merely on a possibility would be ruinous to the local economy, as well as a logistical nightmare. Therefore, unfortunately, we will most likely have to take a reactive role rather than a proactive one."
"UN member nations have pledged support and resources to those of us in the White Gloves for the duration of this mission. The Bolivian Army and the Swedish Army have both pledged 150 infantrymen apiece. The Bulgarians have generously lent the support of ten T-72 tanks and crew, and the Ethiopian Air Force is forming our air wing with twelve Su-25 warplanes, to be placed under the command of Major Miller. The Japanese Self Defense Forces will be responsible for setting up a field hospital in order to treat both civilian and military casualties. The contractors of Silver Talon will help round out our ranks. Finally, the combined military forces of Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya will be receptive to our advice." He refrained from commenting on the general state of African militaries. While those three countries had some of the better organized and equipped forces on the continent, they were still a long ways off from the standards set by many developed nations.
"As regards the research team," van Eyck continued, "I will happily accept volunteers to accompany us into the field, though I stress you are under no obligation to deploy with us. Your knowledge and ability will be invaluable to our efforts, and I assure you that every soldier and contractor here will do their utmost to protect you from any harm.If you should choose not to come, we will be closely in touch via satellite phone."
He nodded to himself, before looking out at the assembled audience. "The floor is now open. Suggestions? Comments? Questions?"
"At ease, ladies and gentlemen," he said to the military personnel who had automatically stood to attention when he stepped to the podium. He spoke in English, which seemed to have become the lingua franca for the team. "Please be seated. I will keep my remarks brief.
"Firstly, I would like to say what an honor it is to be with you here today. I do not have the privilege of knowing all of you personally yet, but I look forward to working with and getting to know each of you over the days and weeks to come." Van Eyck paused, as he took a moment to look over his audience. Hopefully that line would at least buy him a little trust from the civilians. The research staff and military staff had formed their own exclusive cliques, rarely interacting and occasionally eying one another with mutual contempt and distrust. Not a healthy way to interact, given that their lives might depend on the other team's actions.
"Just a few hours ago, we received a formal request for help from the governments of Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda," he said with a gesture to the three ambassadors, awkwardly seated on stage. They were not trained diplomats, really, just someone's nephew or the recipient of a favor. Any man who is ambassador to Switzerland never expects to deal with much of a crisis. "We have been closely monitoring the situation for some time now, and in conjunction with these three governments we have arrived at the conclusion that there is a predatory kaiju currently living in Lake Victoria." He tapped a small button on the podium, and a map of the lake in question was projected onto the blank white wall behind him.
With a laser pointer, he highlighted a few points of interest. "Five weeks ago, there was a general decline in fish stocks in the lake- odd, but hardly remarkable. Then, four separate fishing boats sank with all hands aboard, almost like they were pulled underneath the water by some immense force. Goats, cattle, and other livestock have gone missing from farms and ranches situated around the lake, not to mention an alarming increase in missing persons reports in the general area. Large animals, such as buffalo, wildebeest, elephants, and hippopotami, have been disappearing at night from numerous game preserves around the lake. On more than one occasion, corpses washed ashore with enormous bite marks taken out of them." He clicked a second button, showing a graphic photo of an elephant missing its trunk, ears, and most of its torso. Parts of it had been messily torn away. "This elephant, by the way, was tagged by the rangers at Serengeti National Park, in Tanzania. It washed up on the shore of Koome Island- nearly a hundred miles away in Uganda."
He cleared his throat once again, taking a sip of water as he replaced the photograph with one of a wooden frame house, the walls pushed in from one side and the shingled roof peeled back like an onion skin. "The worst incident yet occurred early this morning, at a cattle ranch outside Mbita, on the Kenyan side of the lake. Five ranchhands dead or missing, twenty-six head of cattle butchered, a house destroyed, smashed to kindling. Several of the men and animals were dismembered and cut, as though by a gigantic razor-sharp blade. These three governments have been in conference with one another over this issue, this incident convinced them to seek our aid and advice. Ladies and gentlemen, we will be deploying in Africa at the earliest possible opportunity. If you have personal business here in Geneva, I would advise you to conclude or cancel it within the next few hours."
"Now, a few issues I wish to highlight," the colonel said as he returned to the map of Lake Victoria. "This is one of the largest lakes in the world- or at least Wikipedia tells me it is." He hoped his attempt at humor would cut some of the tension, he was not a naturally funny man by any means, but he knew the danger of going into combat full of anxiety and dread. Instantly feeling foolish, he cleared his throat yet again and carried on. "We have a difficult task ahead of us. Islands included, there is a shoreline of approximately 4800 kilometers- 3000 miles, for the Americans. Several major centers of population are situated on the lake as well. Kampala, 1.7 million people. Mwanza, 700,000. Kisumu, 410,000. Musoma, 140,000. Bukoba, 92,000. Jinja, 90,000. Not to mention countless smaller hamlets and villages. A kaiju landfall in one of these densely packed cities could outstrip the combined death toll of all previous attacks. Evacuation merely on a possibility would be ruinous to the local economy, as well as a logistical nightmare. Therefore, unfortunately, we will most likely have to take a reactive role rather than a proactive one."
"UN member nations have pledged support and resources to those of us in the White Gloves for the duration of this mission. The Bolivian Army and the Swedish Army have both pledged 150 infantrymen apiece. The Bulgarians have generously lent the support of ten T-72 tanks and crew, and the Ethiopian Air Force is forming our air wing with twelve Su-25 warplanes, to be placed under the command of Major Miller. The Japanese Self Defense Forces will be responsible for setting up a field hospital in order to treat both civilian and military casualties. The contractors of Silver Talon will help round out our ranks. Finally, the combined military forces of Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya will be receptive to our advice." He refrained from commenting on the general state of African militaries. While those three countries had some of the better organized and equipped forces on the continent, they were still a long ways off from the standards set by many developed nations.
"As regards the research team," van Eyck continued, "I will happily accept volunteers to accompany us into the field, though I stress you are under no obligation to deploy with us. Your knowledge and ability will be invaluable to our efforts, and I assure you that every soldier and contractor here will do their utmost to protect you from any harm.If you should choose not to come, we will be closely in touch via satellite phone."
He nodded to himself, before looking out at the assembled audience. "The floor is now open. Suggestions? Comments? Questions?"
I can't see that pic, I'm afraid.
We've done what men can do. I've boarded the place up, sent my employees home with pay for the day.
No, much more serious.
Alrighty, folks, I will do my post to get a plot post up tonight. I've had one hell of a day- I run a shop down the street from where a certain controversial court case is being decided, so I've been busy dealing with the police and press, not to mention doing emergency planning and preparation to keep my employees and property safe if the worst happens. As such, I'm pretty beat.
So, anyways, my strength might fail me, but I'll do what I can.
So, anyways, my strength might fail me, but I'll do what I can.
KB, the sheet looks great! I'm pleased to have you with us.
About eight AM.
And we're off. Go ahead and take a post to introduce your character, maybe interact with the others, then we'll start on the briefing and the action.
MBITA, KENYA
JUNE 9, 2015
Joseph Odoyo sighed to himself, clutching the Sako rifle closer to his chest. Coming to the countryside had been a mistake, he was beginning to think. His mother, of all people, had been the one to convince him Nairobi was no place for a young man. A Luo man had to get out of the city and into the fresh air, see the real Kenya, she had said. And so Joseph had found himself out in this nothing town on the shores of Lake Victoria, working for peanuts. A farmhand, for God's sake. If he had stayed in Nairobi he might be running his own company by now. He cursed again, softly, to himself. Guarding cattle in the middle of the night. He certainly wouldn't include this in his next email home.
Not that the rancher's concerns were unfounded, Joseph conceded. Something odd was going on all around the lake, there was no denying it. Fishing ketches and other small craft sinking at an alarming rate. Elephants and giraffes disappearing from the Biharamulo reserve in Tanzania, then washing up in Uganda, ripped to pieces. And, of course, cattle disappearing from ranches all around the lake. The last of these concerned Joseph the most. That, after all, was what he owed his employment to.
He heard the soft lowing of the cattle, nodded, turned back to look at the lake, a mere hundred yard away. The moon looked nice on the water, one of the sole amusements he had on this endless, boring night. But the silvery reflection didn't seem to be sitting on the water. Instead, there was. . . something. Some kind of immense black hulk, sitting in the water.
And then, to his horror, the black hulk seemed to be rising out of the lake.
Joseph wasn't sure exactly what to do, but as it approached him, the lowing of the cows turning into cries of panic, he stood frozen to the spot. Something in him, perhaps bravery, perhaps panic, made him level the Sako at the approaching monstrosity, much taller than the barn and farmhouse. Three .223 rounds did absolutely nothing to stop or slow the titanic figure that loomed over him, blocking the bright light of the moon. Joseph turned, attempted to flee, but barely managed a step before he felt an immense pressure on his middle, found himself falling to the cool grass.
But he was looking at the bottom of his own shoes, how could that be? He was not twisting his own legs to look at them, how could he see them?
The last thing to register in Joseph Odoyo's mind was that he had been somehow cut in half. That, and the panicked screams of the cattle.
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
JUNE 9, 2015
EIGHT HOURS LATER
"Two companies of infantry- one from Bolivia, one from Sweden. A troop of tanks, ten of them. T-72s, from Bulgaria. And one squadron of attack aircraft, generously contributed by the Ethiopian Air Force. Twelve Sukhoi Su-25s, slightly outdated."
"That's all?" Marius van Eyck asked incredulously.
Divisional General Marcel Laprasse shrugged, an unbelievably French expression. "You ask for miracles if you expect more, my dear Lieutenant Colonel. We are new and untested, we are lucky to have even these units pledged. The Japanese are sending a medical unit, and of course you have the excellent services of Silver Talon to fall back on. And naturally the armed forces of Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya," the general said, with a sideways glance at the three ambassadors sitting in the briefing room. "At any rate, what else can we expect? It's the middle of Africa, the press and other countries do not find it sexy enough to donate top-shelf troops."
"True," Van Eyck admitted. "We will have to make the best of what we have."
"And I am certain you will, Colonel," General Laprasse said tolerantly. "You have a brilliant team to fall back upon. I have every confidence. Shall we assemble them for the briefing?"
Van Eyck nodded wordlessly, stepping over to the tannoy mic that put him in touch with every room in this massive building. "All personnel, please report to the briefing room," he said over the intercom, hearing his accented English echo through the corridors. "We seem to have a situation developing in Eastern Africa."
JUNE 9, 2015
Joseph Odoyo sighed to himself, clutching the Sako rifle closer to his chest. Coming to the countryside had been a mistake, he was beginning to think. His mother, of all people, had been the one to convince him Nairobi was no place for a young man. A Luo man had to get out of the city and into the fresh air, see the real Kenya, she had said. And so Joseph had found himself out in this nothing town on the shores of Lake Victoria, working for peanuts. A farmhand, for God's sake. If he had stayed in Nairobi he might be running his own company by now. He cursed again, softly, to himself. Guarding cattle in the middle of the night. He certainly wouldn't include this in his next email home.
Not that the rancher's concerns were unfounded, Joseph conceded. Something odd was going on all around the lake, there was no denying it. Fishing ketches and other small craft sinking at an alarming rate. Elephants and giraffes disappearing from the Biharamulo reserve in Tanzania, then washing up in Uganda, ripped to pieces. And, of course, cattle disappearing from ranches all around the lake. The last of these concerned Joseph the most. That, after all, was what he owed his employment to.
He heard the soft lowing of the cattle, nodded, turned back to look at the lake, a mere hundred yard away. The moon looked nice on the water, one of the sole amusements he had on this endless, boring night. But the silvery reflection didn't seem to be sitting on the water. Instead, there was. . . something. Some kind of immense black hulk, sitting in the water.
And then, to his horror, the black hulk seemed to be rising out of the lake.
Joseph wasn't sure exactly what to do, but as it approached him, the lowing of the cows turning into cries of panic, he stood frozen to the spot. Something in him, perhaps bravery, perhaps panic, made him level the Sako at the approaching monstrosity, much taller than the barn and farmhouse. Three .223 rounds did absolutely nothing to stop or slow the titanic figure that loomed over him, blocking the bright light of the moon. Joseph turned, attempted to flee, but barely managed a step before he felt an immense pressure on his middle, found himself falling to the cool grass.
But he was looking at the bottom of his own shoes, how could that be? He was not twisting his own legs to look at them, how could he see them?
The last thing to register in Joseph Odoyo's mind was that he had been somehow cut in half. That, and the panicked screams of the cattle.
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
JUNE 9, 2015
EIGHT HOURS LATER
"Two companies of infantry- one from Bolivia, one from Sweden. A troop of tanks, ten of them. T-72s, from Bulgaria. And one squadron of attack aircraft, generously contributed by the Ethiopian Air Force. Twelve Sukhoi Su-25s, slightly outdated."
"That's all?" Marius van Eyck asked incredulously.
Divisional General Marcel Laprasse shrugged, an unbelievably French expression. "You ask for miracles if you expect more, my dear Lieutenant Colonel. We are new and untested, we are lucky to have even these units pledged. The Japanese are sending a medical unit, and of course you have the excellent services of Silver Talon to fall back on. And naturally the armed forces of Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya," the general said, with a sideways glance at the three ambassadors sitting in the briefing room. "At any rate, what else can we expect? It's the middle of Africa, the press and other countries do not find it sexy enough to donate top-shelf troops."
"True," Van Eyck admitted. "We will have to make the best of what we have."
"And I am certain you will, Colonel," General Laprasse said tolerantly. "You have a brilliant team to fall back upon. I have every confidence. Shall we assemble them for the briefing?"
Van Eyck nodded wordlessly, stepping over to the tannoy mic that put him in touch with every room in this massive building. "All personnel, please report to the briefing room," he said over the intercom, hearing his accented English echo through the corridors. "We seem to have a situation developing in Eastern Africa."
© 2007-2026