[Issue 40] [Story] Blemishes - Part 1

[TriNitroToIuene 4,765]

 

PEACEKEEPING CONFERENCE, BARDA

9:00 AM

 

Generalissimo Ehrlich looked up from his watch, and then to the massive clock hung behind the speaker's podium, just to cross-check. There was a furrow on his brow, and he was pacing up and down the dais.

 

He was worried.

 

Behind him, the hall slowly gathered with representatives from each of the State's districts; Kungur, Osa, Magistral. The General of the Serpuhov Regiment shuffled in, and, Generalissimo Ehrlich was happy to note, even the military spokespersons of Rio and Iran had taken the pains to come overseas to attend this historic meetings.

 

The clock chimed nine, and Generalissimo Ehrlich slowly walked across from his seat to the podium to initiate the welcome address.

 

He twisted the microphone towards his mouth, and spoke.

 

"Ladies and Gentlemen, it gives me a very great pleasure in welcoming you all to the recently instated Peacekeeping Conference. Welcome to Barda!"

 

Everyone put their hands together and started clapping. Once the din had died down, Generalissimo Ehrlich cleared his throat and continued.

 

"This year, in an otherwise peaceful State, we have had certain... ah..... disruptions by the triads who call themselves 'Decateurs'. They have raided treasuries, plundered our districts and killed innocent people. I'm sure you all know the rather shocking news that the death toll has risen to triple figures."

 

There was mutinous muttering throughout the conference. Every seat was abuzz with discussions on the Decateurs, and the damage they had wreaked.

 

Ehrlich took advantage of the disruption in proceedings to rake his eyes over the chairs in the hall.

 

All were filled, except for two - the chairs for the representatives of Barda and Gubhakha.

 

The Barda Chair, of course, was his own. But the Gubhakha chair's occupant's absence..... that was the one which worried him the most. He was the one who had formulated the plan to eradicate the Decateurs. Without him, the whole fightback was useless.

 

Where was Connor Lynch?

 

***

 

At that moment, Connor Lynch was peeping out of his window, waiting for the two shady-looking people standing outside his front door to disperse.

 

He should have left half an hour ago, but he was tensed as to what would happen if the men (or thugs, as his paranoid mind called them) turned out to be hostile. After all, he did have really important documents to give Generalissimo Ehrlich.

 

He could have emailed it to Generalissimo Ehrlich, but he needed to be there for the conclusion of the meeting - the part where he unveiled his master plan. The one that would change the face of the State - and that of the Decateurs.

 

Faces would be changed, if he could get out of his house first.

 

His paranoid brain went into action mode again - What if those guys are planted by the Decateurs to kill me? He shook off that thought. If they wanted to kill him, they would have broken in long back.

 

He looked at his watch. He really needed to get to the conference.

 

***

 

'Got a signal lock yet?'

 

'Analysis shows that the action is ninety percent executed, sir. You'll just have to wait.'

 

'Dammit, that Lynch sure is one tough nut to crack......or track.'

 

'Nice rhyme, sir!'

 

'You fool! Get on with your work! And the peacekeeping conference?'

 

'Blueprints are obtained, sir. All we need to do is download the security features and booby traps onto our device.'

 

'Good, good. Now, I want Lynch's whereabouts within the hour. Make it fast!'

 

'Patience, sir. We've already got sepoys posted outside each of the sixteen locations in which Lynch could be residing.'

 

'Good. I've got a bone to pick with him.'

 

***

 

Meanwhile, Generalissimo Ehrlich was now tapping his feet incessantly and looking at his watch every other second, putting off speaking further in the slim hope that Connor would make his usual, dramatic entrance and dictate his plan to wipe out the Decateurs.

 

A murmur of impatience rose from the audience, waiting for Ehrlich to speak. Still, he feigned ignorance at this outbreak and whistled away to himself.

 

However, when a shout drowned out his whistle, Ehrlich started and looked at his watch, alarmed. It had been fifteen minutes since he had last spoken.

 

With one last, exasperated glance at the clock, he sighed, shuffled his notes and began to read.

 

***

 

Meanwhile, Connor formulated a plan in his mind. He'd message the draft of the plan to the Generalissimo, delete every trace of it from his house, and make a dash for the conference. Of course, he had his Wasp ready in the garage.

 

With one quick look at the two men outside, he switched off the lights. Immediately, they tensed, and turned in the direction of the door, as if waiting for him to come out.

 

He crouched under a table, drew up the file of 'Operation Decateur' on his phone, and with three, swift taps of his keyboard, emailed it to Ehrlich. Then, casting furtive glances all around, he deleted the file.

 

He was ready to go.

 

He dashed to his garage through the connecting door and fired up his Wasp, cursing his lack of maintenance for the racket it made.

 

That gives me a window of about ten seconds to get past those men.

 

He opened the garage door, and drove past. And then, he stopped dead.

 

The two men had machine guns pointed at his Wasp. 'That's a 20mm calibre gun,' he observed. 'One shot, and I become rubble.'

 

He gunned the engine and slotted it into first gear. As he did, he gaped in shock.

 

The first man gave him a piercing stare through his hood. 

 

That's Alan.

 

These two men were Decateurs. And moroever, Decateurs he knew well.

 

He set the sat-nav for the peacekeeping conference and gripped the steering wheel tightly, praying silently in his mind, as well has hoping he got to the peacekeeping conference. Without him, the whole State was doomed, as they had no way to fight against the Decateurs.

 

Lesson learnt - always trust a paranoid mind, Connor thought.

 

He stepped on the gas and ran for it.

Edited September 18, 2015 by Lhamster

[BlueDragon_tamki 3,204]

Nice story!!

[zaintahir 458]

is that it?

is there gonna be a part 2?

how come there are people in this thing instead of tanks being the people?
are the decatuers a referance to dictators?
how can all of the sudden gubakha be such a major map?

if enrilch did the meeting why wasnt he going to plan the attack?

what about all these questions???!

LOL

but anyway nice story ;)

Edited September 19, 2015 by zaintahir

[thunderousrailgunner 1,934]

Lol Nice one , Wasp hadn't turned nitro :P ??

[BlueDragon_tamki 3,204]

is that it? no but there's different parts

is there gonna be a part 2? duh! if there wasn't, why would he add "part 1" to the title?

how come there are people in this thing instead of tanks being the people?

are the decatuers a referance to dictators?

how can all of the sudden gubakha be such a major map?

if enrilch did the meeting why wasnt he going to plan the attack?

what about all these questions???!

LOL

but anyway nice story ;)

I did laugh at the end of your post

[Hex 11,520]

Nice story!!

^

[Palm-Face 378]

Cant wait for part 2 :P

[halloween 11]

Nice One !!  :D

[dj112_TURBO 388]

(CLAPS) (WHISTLES)

[Penguin40 1,714]

is that it?

is there gonna be a part 2?

how come there are people in this thing instead of tanks being the people?

are the decatuers a referance to dictators?

how can all of the sudden gubakha be such a major map?

if enrilch did the meeting why wasnt he going to plan the attack?

what about all these questions???!

LOL

but anyway nice story ;)

I'd like to answer.

 

1. No.

 

2. Actually, let's say it's set in Russia. Now, it's in the future. Tanks have been built that can be used as cars. Real people drive the tanks. That all is, in the story.

 

3. No, they are terrorists. Simple.

 

4. It's set in the real world! Gubakha is probably a city, or a town.

 

5. Meh, maybe he is the commander, but he can't plan an attack as well as the strategist Lynch!

 

Btw TNT, nice job! Waiting for Part 2. :)

[krishnarjhun 1]

I did laugh at the end of your post

lol me tooo