---Start---
Dear Mrs. Tannen,
The team and the local dispatch have failed to deliver your package. The circumstances were out of control, and the appearance of a rather annoying distraction added to the eventual failure of the delivery. The company does admit to two errors on our part, but it is my job to inform you that this disaster befell us not by our actions. Hopefully, you will continue to remain in our service. Once again, the company sincerely apologizes for our failure and requests further correspondence for more details on the current situation. We look forward to hosting you again, Mrs. Tannen. By the way, please don't spoil our delivery boys so much, they are only doing their job.
We offer ourselves in service.
March Game, FLTR Services
PS Viitechiitachii is real.
---End---
"That's what it said?" exclaimed Lise. "What's with that crazy word at the end? What was the package? Who's Mrs. Tannen? And what kind of company is FLTR Services?"
"All great and obvious questions, but it's not like we're gonna get any answers by just saying them out loud," responded Treyle. "Anyways, let's take a look at the next one."
"Agreed." They took out the second envelope, this one as blank and white as the last, including the FLTR relief on the top-right corner. Lise got the letter knife and cut the envelope on the right again. This time, two items fell out onto the floor: one was another letter, the other was a receipt. Lise took the receipt first and read it out loud.
---Start---
Highwire Services, All-Area Sales Division
Congratulations on your purchase, Mot! This new O-20a Operaboard will suit all of your needs. Now with multi-network connectibility, inter-structure setup, virtual manipulation capabilities, a customized pseudo-electromagnetic battery and much more, your new board will become your number one tool for the rest of your life, guaranteed! If, for any reason, you have any questions, comments, or problems, feel free to contact us using the emergency function on the back of the board. We will be notified immediately and will send someone.
Good luck in your future battles,
Travis Lyman, Assistant Director of Sector Seven Sales
---End---
Treyle was shocked. Highwire produced the most expensive and top-notch technology out of Sector Seven, the haven of all things electronic! How could a lowly, reclusive student even afford any of it, much less be personally commended by one of the richest men in ZION? What did he mean by 'future battles'? she thought. "Lise, get that letter that just fell out."
---Start---
Mot Eredar, I'm impressed! So much progress in so little time! You really are my apprentice. I have some startling news for you, so I'll feed it to you in bits. First, this Operaboard should be able to replace your old one (it's still mine, you hear? You're not getting it back!), so I hope you like it. Second, First, since our boss has pushed up the schedule according to the calculations, we'll be advancing towards your AO. Don't be startled, I'll handle the papers accordingly. Lastly, I'll be assigning you a crew, handpicked by me from your most avid followers. You are more popular than you think.
With these new rules, and a few more at the next briefing, go.
Cyr
PS This will be our last correspondence by papmail. From now on, use the instruction manual that came with my little gift. And also, use the GCF for best reception, at least for now.
---End---
That settled it. There was definitely something going on with Mot, and it looked like something big. After Lise had gotten a good look at the letter, they put everything back where they found it and ran outside of the dorms to the GCF.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Dry Summer Sauce, Part I
The sky didn't seem to like Eriko. Every day she went out, the wind blew hard, it rained, or it was cloudy. And today, they proceeded to show no mercy again. Everyone decided to play together, and they invited a new friend, lightning, to the game. No matter, Eriko wasn't going to entertain them today.
Nevertheless, she had better things to do than worry about the weather. She had just come back from Quincy's house after delivering the pictures for the school paper. Tomorrow was the due date, and those photos were a must. Now that she was finished, Eriko had to go back home and prepare dinner. Her mother would most likely not be home yet until two in the morning, so there was no one to watch over her. With that, her soaking clothes could wait for a few minutes.
Eriko reached some cover under a bus stop not too far from Siren Academy, the school she has attended for some four or five years after her move. She had moved out from Derych up north only moments before its invasion, and it was not a matter she would discuss with anyone. Eriko felt as if she was forgetting something then, but she shook her head at the thought. Surely she had brought everything she needed, right?
There was a pool of rainwater gathering at her feet, and Eriko decided to have a look. She wanted to see how drenched she was, and it's not like she carried a mirror in her pocket. After Eriko had taken out some little twigs from the pool, she looked down.
What she saw was not all that different from when she looked at herself after taking a shower, the only difference was that she was wearing clothes; this was expected. Eriko was more interested in her face. She had always wondered what others saw her as. Was she pretty, or not so much? Was her perpetually straight black hair a strength, or a problem? What about her face? Sure, she had long eyelashes and didn't wear too much make-up. She also had a small nose, thin lips, and vividly green eyes, which were said to be her strong points by Sei and them. But what did the others, the strangers and the boys, think?
After some five or so minutes, Eriko decided that looking at herself was not going to tell her the answer and continued on home. Since Quincy lived on the opposite side of the academy, she was running down the street next to one of its long border walls, and she was thinking about exactly what kind of school she went to.
Siren campus, as a whole, was massive. Containing the classrooms, the gymnasium, the library complex, auditorium, the outdoor auditorium, two fields, three fields, the "haunted" science/technology labs, the offices, the GCF (Global Communications Facility), a dorm for female live-in students and a separate dorm for all boys attending, and much more, the area required to house all of these and then surround it with a 7-foot high brick wall easily occupied a square mile.
Not just that, the potential education level that could be achieved was ranked as the highest in all of Sector 4, second place in all of ZION (lost to Sector 2), and eleventh worldwide. All the teachers and staff are skilled, with the oldest ones rumored to be international experts on their subject matter. The list of classes available was extremely diverse, with everything from atoms to ZION history covered. The most miraculous fact was that most of the costs for maintaining and upgrading the facilities were paid directly by Sectors 0 and 9. The only thing required was a relatively low starter price of 5000 ZEN a year. How could the homeland afford this, or even allow this? The question was not for her to answer, and she knew it. Let ZION deal with it.
However, there were sounds and smoke coming from the campus. It seemed that something peculiar was happening at the eastern entrance. Strange, no one should be here because of the rain and because it's summer, Eriko thought to herself. She decided to go check it out. Hell, she could spare a few minutes. Her mother wouldn't notice and couldn't care less if she did. Without another thought, she hurried towards Siren's eastern gate.
Nevertheless, she had better things to do than worry about the weather. She had just come back from Quincy's house after delivering the pictures for the school paper. Tomorrow was the due date, and those photos were a must. Now that she was finished, Eriko had to go back home and prepare dinner. Her mother would most likely not be home yet until two in the morning, so there was no one to watch over her. With that, her soaking clothes could wait for a few minutes.
Eriko reached some cover under a bus stop not too far from Siren Academy, the school she has attended for some four or five years after her move. She had moved out from Derych up north only moments before its invasion, and it was not a matter she would discuss with anyone. Eriko felt as if she was forgetting something then, but she shook her head at the thought. Surely she had brought everything she needed, right?
There was a pool of rainwater gathering at her feet, and Eriko decided to have a look. She wanted to see how drenched she was, and it's not like she carried a mirror in her pocket. After Eriko had taken out some little twigs from the pool, she looked down.
What she saw was not all that different from when she looked at herself after taking a shower, the only difference was that she was wearing clothes; this was expected. Eriko was more interested in her face. She had always wondered what others saw her as. Was she pretty, or not so much? Was her perpetually straight black hair a strength, or a problem? What about her face? Sure, she had long eyelashes and didn't wear too much make-up. She also had a small nose, thin lips, and vividly green eyes, which were said to be her strong points by Sei and them. But what did the others, the strangers and the boys, think?
After some five or so minutes, Eriko decided that looking at herself was not going to tell her the answer and continued on home. Since Quincy lived on the opposite side of the academy, she was running down the street next to one of its long border walls, and she was thinking about exactly what kind of school she went to.
Siren campus, as a whole, was massive. Containing the classrooms, the gymnasium, the library complex, auditorium, the outdoor auditorium, two fields, three fields, the "haunted" science/technology labs, the offices, the GCF (Global Communications Facility), a dorm for female live-in students and a separate dorm for all boys attending, and much more, the area required to house all of these and then surround it with a 7-foot high brick wall easily occupied a square mile.
Not just that, the potential education level that could be achieved was ranked as the highest in all of Sector 4, second place in all of ZION (lost to Sector 2), and eleventh worldwide. All the teachers and staff are skilled, with the oldest ones rumored to be international experts on their subject matter. The list of classes available was extremely diverse, with everything from atoms to ZION history covered. The most miraculous fact was that most of the costs for maintaining and upgrading the facilities were paid directly by Sectors 0 and 9. The only thing required was a relatively low starter price of 5000 ZEN a year. How could the homeland afford this, or even allow this? The question was not for her to answer, and she knew it. Let ZION deal with it.
However, there were sounds and smoke coming from the campus. It seemed that something peculiar was happening at the eastern entrance. Strange, no one should be here because of the rain and because it's summer, Eriko thought to herself. She decided to go check it out. Hell, she could spare a few minutes. Her mother wouldn't notice and couldn't care less if she did. Without another thought, she hurried towards Siren's eastern gate.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Operation X: Challenge
"Soul Opera is by far the greatest game ever made."
"Even critics from around the globe have attested to the glory of such a technological wonder."
'...Using a combination of the best pseudo-electromagnetic software and compression systems, Soul Opera is the most vivid simulated program created, accomplishing itself as a full-scale real-time strategy game that allows the users to control the ingame AI with utmost precision, along with massive multiplayer capabilities. In fact, several tournaments are held annually between assembled teams in the full Soul Opera, skilled individuals in one-on-one mech contests named Concerto, and a down-graded version of SO for beginners named Sonata. It is by far the largest and most popular worldwide online game ever made."
Sector Seven Live Updates Channel
"Those tournaments in the full SO just happen to be the largest attractions in the entertainment district of Sector Seven. The spectators for even a low-level match fill entire stadiums just to watch the event on a MegaScreen. Banners, commercials, signs, trinkets, and more, the popularity for the sport spread like wildfire after its debut. The craziest of fanatics have dedicated their lives solely to support their favorite teams.
"When I was forced; no, invited to join the ranks of the Conductors behind the scenes, I thought there was no way I could make it. The power and glory, I couldn't grasp such a concept physically or mentally. I was only Mot, the silent, insignificant guy in the back of the classroom. I had my place, not by my choice but because it was given to me. My appearance, my grades, my act, my lack of social interaction, and several other factors made it impossible for me to go to any other spot.
"But now, I am a new person. Outside the classroom, I am no longer silent, nor am I irrelevant anymore. I have a new name and a new face. I am Rave, the commander. The revolutionary leader and the matchless soldier. Reputation is my armor, and my Operaboard is my sword and shield. With these tools, I have climbed to the top of the hill, and I am king. I am invincible-"
"Ahem," interrupted the attendant.
"This was just... a... it was... How long have you been here?" Rave sputtered.
"Quite some time. I had no intention of ruining your little speech there, but I have some news."
"And that is?"
"You have received a request. A challenger has appeared."
"Who?"
"No idea, sir, but whoever it is has a video for you. It should be in your inbox right about now."
Rave rushed to his Operaboard and checked his messages. Indeed there was a new string, but a sender was not specified. He knew who it was already. Rave opened the attached feed.
.
..
...Connected...
"Ah, it's good to see you again, Mot. Though, I should call you Rave, now, shouldn't I. Congratulations on first place in the league! I hope it hasn't gotten to your head. If it has, I'll be more than happy to fix that.
As your mentor and accomplice, I challenge you. A full match, a full fleet, everything. You may bring as many friends as you like. You will need them. If you don't want them, then I'll be more than happy to put them on standby. You have a week to decide the time and place, and the match will start the day after. Don't run away, now. (End Transmission.)
Friday, January 2, 2009
The Alliances
Throughout the story, a variety of different alliances will appear. These are their acronyms and a little overview. PS these are English titles, other names for them will appear later.
ZION (Zirech International Organization of Nations)
-Most of former Europe and other scattered countries rallied under the Zirech, a political party
LAA (Land-based Asian Alliance)
-Like the title, except for small coastal countries
SAA (Sea-based Asian Alliance)
-Like the title, including small coastal countries
WUN (Western Union of Nations)
-Most of the former states of the dissolved US, some were absorbed by neighbors and others didn't join
NSC (North-South Coalition)
-The Republic of Antarctica, Greenland, the islands north of Russia, and Australia
SEC (Southern Entity of Continents)
-The continents of South America and Africa together
Disk
-An alliance consisting of several nations, territories, and political bodies around the equator
Note: does NOT include all countries along the equator
PEPR (Peace and Prosperity)
-The acronym for the macro-sectors as a country
ZION (Zirech International Organization of Nations)
-Most of former Europe and other scattered countries rallied under the Zirech, a political party
LAA (Land-based Asian Alliance)
-Like the title, except for small coastal countries
SAA (Sea-based Asian Alliance)
-Like the title, including small coastal countries
WUN (Western Union of Nations)
-Most of the former states of the dissolved US, some were absorbed by neighbors and others didn't join
NSC (North-South Coalition)
-The Republic of Antarctica, Greenland, the islands north of Russia, and Australia
SEC (Southern Entity of Continents)
-The continents of South America and Africa together
Disk
-An alliance consisting of several nations, territories, and political bodies around the equator
Note: does NOT include all countries along the equator
PEPR (Peace and Prosperity)
-The acronym for the macro-sectors as a country
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Oops, Forgot Some
More Random Info
-Sector 6 lies on large beds of compressed oxygen. Combined with the slightly hostile nature of its people and their weapon caches, this sector poses a serious combustibility problem and houses enough firepower to completely eliminate Peace and Prosperity.
-Sector 7 is the home to Highwire HQ. Highwire is the leading producer of pseudo-electromagnetic goods and other electronic devices. This makes Sector 7 the most prosperous sector ever.
-Pseudo-electromagnetism is created through the use of two new elements: aerium and noraon. This new form of energy produces effects like electromagnetism, but it has a completely different spectrum and form, requiring different measurements and standards. In equal amounts, electromagnetism always wins against pseudo-electromagnetism.
-The refugees in Sector 5 refuse to be evacuated for unknown reasons.
-The inhabitants of Sector 0 are very proud to know that they are or are descended from the first settlers in Peace or Prosperity.
-Sectors 2 and 3 have united in several aspects too hard to explain, and have created a bridge connecting the two at all time in addition to the other transportation available.
-Originally, Peace was the title of Sector 0, and Prosperity was the title for Sector 9. The sectors were not numbered until 2585.
-Sector 9 is the only sector known to have active reserves of aerium and noraon.
-These two elements received their names based on the places they were discovered: aerium from Aeolis, and noraon from Norae.
-ZION has yet to publish an official statement concerning the motives for establishing Peace and Prosperity.
Hope you enjoy the excerpts!
-Sector 6 lies on large beds of compressed oxygen. Combined with the slightly hostile nature of its people and their weapon caches, this sector poses a serious combustibility problem and houses enough firepower to completely eliminate Peace and Prosperity.
-Sector 7 is the home to Highwire HQ. Highwire is the leading producer of pseudo-electromagnetic goods and other electronic devices. This makes Sector 7 the most prosperous sector ever.
-Pseudo-electromagnetism is created through the use of two new elements: aerium and noraon. This new form of energy produces effects like electromagnetism, but it has a completely different spectrum and form, requiring different measurements and standards. In equal amounts, electromagnetism always wins against pseudo-electromagnetism.
-The refugees in Sector 5 refuse to be evacuated for unknown reasons.
-The inhabitants of Sector 0 are very proud to know that they are or are descended from the first settlers in Peace or Prosperity.
-Sectors 2 and 3 have united in several aspects too hard to explain, and have created a bridge connecting the two at all time in addition to the other transportation available.
-Originally, Peace was the title of Sector 0, and Prosperity was the title for Sector 9. The sectors were not numbered until 2585.
-Sector 9 is the only sector known to have active reserves of aerium and noraon.
-These two elements received their names based on the places they were discovered: aerium from Aeolis, and noraon from Norae.
-ZION has yet to publish an official statement concerning the motives for establishing Peace and Prosperity.
Hope you enjoy the excerpts!
Peace and Prosperity
There'll be a lot of problems for readers if I don't say this: all my work is completely made-up and there is no information on it on the web. Just clearing that up, followup below.
The story is set in the future, the far future. Although the continents look generally the same, several man-made islands and other structures have been made to compensate for the growing global population. One of these places is Peace and Prosperity, an exceedingly large set of territories set off by ZION, one of many international alliances established to prevent the absorption of smaller, weaker nations, and settle intercontinental disputes.
Peace and Prosperity is divided up into ten sectors, numbered 0 through 9, and into two macro-sectors. 0 to 4 make up the first macro-sector Peace, and 5 to 9 make the second, Prosperity.
Each have their own respective characteristics, people, and circumstances. Here is a short overview of all ten. BTW all of Prosperity is underground, directly under Peace.
Peace
Sector 0- The first sector established and the head of all international affairs.
Sector 1- The former nation of Soraton, now fallen into a civil war with no known motives.
Sector 2- The school compound, a sector devoted to the education and protection of the pupils.
Sector 3- The aboveground residential extension of Sector 7, now called Renham.
Sector 4- The "Dynasty" Sector, a general sector now feeling the tug of war from Sector 1.
Prosperity
Sector 5- The refugee camp made of escapees from its respective other above.
Sector 6- The "Rebel's" Sector filled with miscellaneous fugitives from other sectors.
Sector 7- The most technologically advanced sector, once a branch of Sector 9.
Sector 8- The medical sector lovingly dubbed "The Ward".
Sector 9- The second sector established and the head of all domestic affairs.
Other Information
-Being an official, recognized sector gives the area and its citizens considerable rights and power.
-Sector 6 contains "Gateway", the fastest transportational system available. Nevertheless, conventional transportation is available to and from all sectors.
-Sector 7 is one of the few producers of pseudo-electromagnetic products.
-Despite its close proximity to Sector 1, Sector 2 remains scot-free of damage.
-The war in Sector 1 is rarely reported because no information ever makes it out.
The story is set in the future, the far future. Although the continents look generally the same, several man-made islands and other structures have been made to compensate for the growing global population. One of these places is Peace and Prosperity, an exceedingly large set of territories set off by ZION, one of many international alliances established to prevent the absorption of smaller, weaker nations, and settle intercontinental disputes.
Peace and Prosperity is divided up into ten sectors, numbered 0 through 9, and into two macro-sectors. 0 to 4 make up the first macro-sector Peace, and 5 to 9 make the second, Prosperity.
Each have their own respective characteristics, people, and circumstances. Here is a short overview of all ten. BTW all of Prosperity is underground, directly under Peace.
Peace
Sector 0- The first sector established and the head of all international affairs.
Sector 1- The former nation of Soraton, now fallen into a civil war with no known motives.
Sector 2- The school compound, a sector devoted to the education and protection of the pupils.
Sector 3- The aboveground residential extension of Sector 7, now called Renham.
Sector 4- The "Dynasty" Sector, a general sector now feeling the tug of war from Sector 1.
Prosperity
Sector 5- The refugee camp made of escapees from its respective other above.
Sector 6- The "Rebel's" Sector filled with miscellaneous fugitives from other sectors.
Sector 7- The most technologically advanced sector, once a branch of Sector 9.
Sector 8- The medical sector lovingly dubbed "The Ward".
Sector 9- The second sector established and the head of all domestic affairs.
Other Information
-Being an official, recognized sector gives the area and its citizens considerable rights and power.
-Sector 6 contains "Gateway", the fastest transportational system available. Nevertheless, conventional transportation is available to and from all sectors.
-Sector 7 is one of the few producers of pseudo-electromagnetic products.
-Despite its close proximity to Sector 1, Sector 2 remains scot-free of damage.
-The war in Sector 1 is rarely reported because no information ever makes it out.
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