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| Expedition to Antarctica; Here it is, finally! | |
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| Topic Started: May 20 2008, 06:53 PM (1,185 Views) | |
| Comrade Queen | May 20 2008, 06:53 PM Post #1 |
Comrade Bitchqueen
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Official International Press Release from the Scientific Studies Wing of the Unity Building The Communist Republic of Yshurak is proud to announce a joint scientific expedition to Antarctica with the Constitutional Empire of the Russian Federation. This expedition is expected to last for 14 months at the old Vostok Antarctic Station. Research will consist of recent global warming trends and their current effect on Antarctica. The Yshurakan side of the expedition team will consist of 12 scientists of various scientific fields ranging from environmental science and meteorology to physics. They will be headed by Dr. Gregoroff Hjikorstaal, acclaimed expert in meteorology. The Russian portion of the team will also consist of 12 scientists whose head remains to be revealed by the Russian government. The expedition team will be leaving Vendewelle, Yshurak two days after this announcement and arrive within 2 months at the Oasis II Antarctic Station. From there, they shall journey further inland to Vostok where they will spend the 14 months of their scientific expedition. Posted Image Edited by Comrade Queen, Aug 13 2010, 04:43 PM.
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| Toussaint | May 20 2008, 07:04 PM Post #2 |
Major
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The Dual Empire of Austria-Württemberg wishes our European brothers luck in their quest for Antarctic science. We hope that Yshurak and Russia can obtain information that will contribute to our collective understandings of the world. -President Karl Hosche |
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| NRE | May 20 2008, 09:53 PM Post #3 |
Map Tsar and Southern Gentleman
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Official International Press Release from the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affaris Dr. Svetlana Aleksandrovna Kurchatov, leading Climatologist of the Moscow State University has been named by the State Duma Committee of Environmental Research to head the Russian team in the joint expedition with Yshurak to Antarctica. Though many speculated that the expedition would be called off due to the recent shake-up in the Russian government, just two weeks ago Chief Presiding Officer Yuri Vlsov of the State Duma made comments in Kvant, a popular science magazine in Russia dispelling these rumor. In the article the Deputy Vlsov stated that with the new government having no preexisting problems with the Yshurakians, the expedition would continue to be under works. Today in a press conference, Deputy Vlsov stated that he was pleased that all the planning done between the two countries had finally paid off and that the Russian team hoped to begin work as soon as possible. Already twoAntonov An-124 transports were seen loading up on supplies at the Pulkovo Airport of St. Petersburg. Posted Image The transports are scheduled to leave Russia sometime tonight to arrive in Vendewelle where they will spend the next day unloading the cargo and crew to be reloaded on a ship before beginning their journey north. As this marks a historic date in the history of scientific research between the new nations, the transports take-off from Vendewelle will be video recorded and shown through all schools of the Russian Empire. |
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| Great New France | May 21 2008, 09:31 AM Post #4 |
Major
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Great New France watches with great interest as Yshurak and the Russian Federation have decided to coordinate a joint expedition to Antarctica. Our own government very much cherishes the exploration and enhancement of knowledge on Antarctica at the dawn of the climatic changes that are happening in the world. We wish success to both the Yshurakians and Russians in their expeditions and hope to send one soon as well. Official Communiqué from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Great New France |
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| Quaon | May 21 2008, 03:07 PM Post #5 |
A Prince Amoung Men-Shoot First and Ask Questions Later
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OOC: Which Russia? |
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| NRE | May 21 2008, 05:25 PM Post #6 |
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Map Tsar and Southern Gentleman
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OOC: Well the Yusupov Russia technically although this expedition was under negotiation between the two before the Yusupov regime so it's technically a Romanov approved venture and as it would due more to hurt Russia as a whole and not so much the Yusupov government if there were international protests, so personally Paul feels no reason to be overly angry at Yshurak still working with Russia. |
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| Comrade Queen | May 21 2008, 08:31 PM Post #7 |
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Comrade Bitchqueen
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The voyage south to Antarctica from Venderwelle, Yshurak was a long one. A great number of the expeditionists were thrilled to be off of the ship and on land, no matter how frigid cold that land was. Most of them, the Yshurakans prominently of them all, were used to such cold weather in the first place. The arrival at Oasis II was a proverbial warm one as the expeditionists were greeted by a number of Antarctic scientists and guides already stationed there to see the team's safe arrival. An Antarctic guide and a number of Sno-cats were assigned to the joint expedition team to take them from Oasis II to Vostok. Dressed warm for the cold temperatures that they'd be exposed to on this relatively short trip, the scientists unwound a bit as the Antarctic vehicles crawled over the ice. In the lead was the Sno-cat driven by the guide, Harold Tarigorik, who had been conversing with Gregoroff Hjikorstaal and Svetlana Aleksandrovna Kurchatov about the great many wonders he's seen while exploring Antarctica. "It's like a completely different world down here," he was saying, having already had the two scientists' interest through the entire conversation. "Most people don't know what they're missing." Moments passed before Harold began slowing down the lead Sno-cat as a dark shape appeared within the pristine white wilderness of the world's southernmost continent. He smiled to himself as he was first to climb out, Gregoroff and Svetlana quickly following. The other Sno-cats carrying the rest of the expedition team slowed to halts behind theirs. "We're here," said Harold in a sing-song sort of way. He turned back to look at the two leaders of the joint scientific team. "As you know, I'll continue to be your guide out here as you collect samples for study. Regulation requires it for your safety. The main Vostok quarters is over there." He said this, pointing over his shoulder with his thumb. "Welcome to Antarctica." Gregoroff nodded and turned to the rest of the team. "All right everyone, begin unloading our equipment. We're going to be out of contact with most of the world for 14 months." He looked to Svetlana. "Ah... three years of planning... finally here!" |
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| Metz | May 21 2008, 09:39 PM Post #8 |
a.k.a. "Metzy"
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The Nation of Iberia Nueva supports The Communist Republic of Yshurak and The Constitutional Empire of the Russian Federation in their quest for the discovery of scientific knowledge. We hope for success as the Earth's climate is changing, and we only have questions to ask. May you discover the answers you are looking for whilst on your expedition. Yours, The Free States of Iberia Nueva |
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| Van Demans Land | May 21 2008, 11:32 PM Post #9 |
El Presidente
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Van Demans Land officially supports this expedition and welcomes any and all research discoveries that will be found by this outing. |
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| Nag Ehgoeg | May 22 2008, 05:28 AM Post #10 |
The Devil's Advocate
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OOC: Doesn't Scythirus have a prison in Antarctica? |
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| Deleted User | May 22 2008, 02:30 PM Post #11 |
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Deleted User
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The Freepolynesian government wants to express its gratitude to Yshurak for this research mission. We'll provide any help needed by your scientific team. |
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| Devin Wire | May 22 2008, 10:59 PM Post #12 |
Captain
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The Tutchone government is fearful of the use of jet engines in such a climate. They can easily freeze over in a way that propeller driven engines will not. Therefore, Tutchone is pledging its support should any problems arise. The location within the Tierra del Fuego is a fine one for dispatching assistance to Antarctica. Furthermore, on the off chance that any archaeological remain be discovered, we are pledging the support of one Professor Arthur Greywolf, a top excavation scientist in Tutchone. While it is a far fetched scenario, this sort of happening would be a major discovery for social science. |
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| Comrade Queen | May 23 2008, 08:00 PM Post #13 |
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Comrade Bitchqueen
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OOC: No. |
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| Quaon | May 23 2008, 08:07 PM Post #14 |
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A Prince Amoung Men-Shoot First and Ask Questions Later
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OOC: The Knights of the Hospital used to, but they don't exist anymore. |
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| NRE | May 28 2008, 05:22 PM Post #15 |
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Map Tsar and Southern Gentleman
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"An all well worth it" Svetlana answered as she took in the breath-taking view. The wind began to blow, the cold like small knives against what little exposed skin she had on her face. "Our children will thank us someday" she said to Gregoroff before walking over to one of the supply Snow-cats. The teams spent a good hour getting everything they had brought off the trucks and into the station. Room assignments were made, people got comfortable and equipment was brought out of their crates and setup. Some of the finest equipment in all the world was all nicely and neatly setup for the teams to use. No expense had been spared by either governments when it came to the equipment the teams hand brought. Dr. Svetlana Kurchatov was as brilliant a mind in her field as either governments could have gotten for this job, as was Dr. Gregoroff Hjikorstaal. She felt privileged to be working with Dr. Hjikortsaal. She had been a fan of his work for sometime, never missing a chance to read a new journal or report he might publish. When she was approached by the Russian government about the project and heard he would be the leading Yshurakan team, she said yes without hesitation. With most of the equipment now set up Svetlana removed her coat and let down her long blonde hair down, only to take and put it up into a ponytail. She began to rub her hands together in almost school-girl like delight as she stood over the instruments as they all began to come to life in front of her. Turning to the rest of the two teams and Dr. Hjikorstaal she said "Shall we get started?" |
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| Comrade Queen | May 28 2008, 06:25 PM Post #16 |
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Comrade Bitchqueen
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Gregoroff nodded with a smile as he turned on the main computer that was connected to each of the instruments and translate their input. Wires traveled across the rear of the room's floor into the wall sockets where circuits would connect to more complex machinery stationed outside and on the roof. The doctor was most excited to see the most recent weather patterns in Antarctica, having only seen notes from earlier expeditions in journals. He wasn't disappointed in the least. The weather monitoring device on the computer lit up with a pattern of colored clouds and wind as it churned in curious designs on screen. The side panel of the application reported this data in a series of numbers. "Ah yes... we can certainly see already that global climate change has had effect on Antarctica," he said studiously, finger tracing the formation of the winds. "From earlier journals, years back, the Antarctic weather didn't even behave like this...." About an hour passed as both he and Svetlana made notes of the recent developments in Antarctic weather when Dr. Mikael Erkko approached them. Looking over their shoulders at the computer screen for a moment, he spoke up. "Me and a few of the other biologists and botanists are going out to collect samples from the frozen lake," he said, hands wringing nervously. "We'll keep you notified before our return." Gregoroff Hjikorstaal turned his head and nodded. "Remember to consult Harold, our guide, for any outing. He has to be with you for everyone's safety." Mikael smiled with a nod and hurried off to find the expedition's guide. Gregoroff looked over to Svetlana. "I'm a bit famished, how about you?" |
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| NRE | May 29 2008, 09:59 PM Post #17 |
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Map Tsar and Southern Gentleman
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"Yes, I could do with a nice break" Svetlana began to stretch while still seated in hear chair. "Besides I wanted to begin running a few simulations with the data we have thus far. I know it's not much but it'll help to begin forming a hypothesis for the climate change and the effect it will have of the global weather condition." Gregoroff nodded and the two went the mess hall and grabbed a bite to eat from the rations they had packed up and taken with them for the expedition. Enjoying their meal, and the conversation they started between them an hour passed before Svetlana remembered the simulations she was having the computer formulating. Eager to see what the computer might have already the two of them got up from the table they had been sitting at an returned to the main lab. "Just as previous studies would suggest" said Svetlana as the typed up the commands to started the hypothetical simulation. "Look at that, the climate will only get worst if major changes are met. Still this is hardly enough data to make any definitive theories yet but still, if this is any small peek into the future climate of Antarctica it is certainly not encouraging." The two again returned to conversation, this time on the findings of the simulation as well as more data which was pouring in from the other instruments. They were yet another hour into their conversation when Svetlana looked at the time. Remembering the team that had gone to the lake she turned to Gregoroff asking: "I wounder how the team is doing out there?" |
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| Comrade Queen | May 30 2008, 08:09 PM Post #18 |
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Comrade Bitchqueen
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Gregoroff shrugged at the question with a slight smirk. "I'm sure they'll fill us in on the details when they get back," he said. He took a sip from his most recent cup of coffee while he watched the screen. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Harold Tarigorik watched the group of scientists secure the core sample of ice that they took from the lake. The sky was at its lightest at this point, a curious twilight, signifying that it was day on this side of world in more northern areas. Antarctica was truly a strange place to live in as result, 6 months of night, 6 months of day... not much different from his homeland of Yshurak, actually. Once everyone was ready to return to the station, Harold led the way on the short trek back. He whistled a soft tune to himself as he trudged through the ice and snow, the six scientists who wanted the core sample trailing after. He had to admit again and again to himself that this frozen wonderland always looked so peaceful. But that sense of peace was was soon interrupted. He heard the aircraft moving through the sky, and he looked up, half-expecting a supply jet passing high overhead. What he saw instead he quickly decided didn't look right. He ordered everyone to stop while he had a look at what was speeding across the sky. He pulled out a pair of night-vision goggles and set them over his head and had another look. It was just as he suspected and feared. There were two of them, and while they were rapidly climbing the atmosphere, there was no mistaking the prominent armaments on their wings. Military aircraft. Taking off from Antarctica. There were so many levels of illegal and wrong in that, he couldn't even count them. This had to be reported. He radioed Oasis II. "Hello?" replied a feminine voice. "Hey, Sam, this is Harold," he answered, "I just spotted a pair of military jets taking off from an area several hundred miles southwest of Vostok Lake. I'm sure you are aware of how many treaties that breaks." "Well aware," said Sam's voice from the portable radio. "We'll send a team in Sno-cats to check the area at." "Please do, and keep me informed," Harold said back before turning off the radio and securing it back to his belt. He turned back toward the biologists and botanists, removing the goggles. "Okay, we can get moving again. Looks like we have a little interesting story to tell everyone when we get back to the station." |
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| NRE | May 31 2008, 07:27 PM Post #19 |
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Map Tsar and Southern Gentleman
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Svetlana was like a child waiting for Christmas morning to come as she waited for the survey team to return. The core samples they would bring would only further reveal the mysteries of the cold, dark, and beautiful place. The simulation she had ran on the computer were all done now, so she kept herself busy by watching several storm patters around Antarctica while continuing a lengthy conversation with Dr. Hjikorstaal Though barely scratching the surface of their supplies you would have believed they had already gone through several days worth of coffee. Always ensuring their cups were full and warm, it kept the both of them motivated and kept their research going. Once every now and again one of them would rise from their work and while on their way to the coffee machine they'd look out the window in search of the team. "A watched pot never boils" the other one remind and they would laugh it off and return to work. Neither of them ever heard the thunder of the jets even though for the most part their lab was quiet. So deep in conversation and work there wasn't much time for outside noises. Finally after about the 10th cup of the day, Svetlana looked out the window and before anything could be said she announced in pure delight "I think I see them over the horizon!" |
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| Comrade Queen | May 31 2008, 07:59 PM Post #20 |
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Comrade Bitchqueen
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Harold grumbled to himself as he led the way into the station, hanging his exploration equipment near the hatch as was standard. The six scientists that had went with him brought in the core sample and hurried it toward the culture lab. Yawning, Harold wasn't the least bit surprised when Drs. Gregoroff Hjikorstaal and Svetlana Kurchatov greeted his return. "Well, how did it go?" Gregoroff asked. "Oh, it went smoothly," Harold replied bitterly. "No one got hurt, the biologists' core sample came out without a hitch, and they've just taken it to one of the labs presumably." He gestured over in the direction of the culture lab. "However, I've just noticed a problem for Antarctica itself." Both scientists stared at him blankly while others arrived in the room behind them, curious of the hubbub. "Problem?" Gregoroff asked again. "Yeah... it seems someone has had military jets on Antarctica," Harold explained, beginning to relate the events. "We spotted them in the air as we were coming back here to the station. Radioed Oasis II about it, so they'll be checking it out within the next few days." |
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| NRE | Jun 4 2008, 08:49 PM Post #21 |
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Map Tsar and Southern Gentleman
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"I have half a mind to trek out there and give those idiots a piece of my mind" said Svetlana as the idea of military jets got her blood to boil. "As it the environment of Antarctica was not in enough danger as it is, military knuckleheads have to come in and accelerate the process." Svetlana, perhaps due to the fact that her own father was a military man, held little respect for military organizations. In the history of the world few other organized groups had the global effect on the world's environments as did the military. Humanities continued quest for total destruction have left whole ecosystems beyond any point of repair. Jets flying around in Antarctica only further highlighted her thesis against Military. "So I guess we just sit here and let Oasis II handle the situation? I have half mind to write home right now though I know honestly it won't do much." Svetlana sighed. "Depending on how long they've been operating here and the amount that are here, we'll have to adjust our findings to compensate for this new variable." She moved over to a nearby desk, mumbling as she went. "This was certainly one of the last variables I had believe I'd need to compensate for during our study...." |
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| Comrade Queen | Jun 5 2008, 07:23 PM Post #22 |
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Comrade Bitchqueen
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For the following days, the knowledge of military presence on Antarctica hung over everyone's head. Nevertheless, the scientists from Yshurak and Russia were determined to make the best of their experiments and pretend the incident didn't occur. Most of them were gathered now in the mess room, discussing their various theories, private lives, and swapping funny stories. It was Dr. Mikael Erkko, still toiling away in the biology lab with the samples collected from the lake, that saw the dark figures approaching the station outside his window. He squinted his eyes, counting everyone he saw... there had to be twenty or thirty of them. But his face went pale when he saw what they were carrying... assault rifles. "Oh shit!" he whispered to himself. He turned to rush across the room to switch off the lights so he couldn't be seen, and went to look out the window again. As his eyes adjusted to the dark, he could see the human shapes more clearly. They were clearly Americans. He could see on their parkas the identifying marks of the United States and Goreprime Enterprises with military ranks. Far behind the approaching soldiers he could see a curious dance of lights that didn't seem to make sense to him. Some of it seemed to be moving in a circle? Was this some helicopter? No time to waste... the American soldiers were coming closer. He turned to run out of the room and began to shout down the hall toward the mess hall. Just at that point, he heard a loud clanging noise, like a steel door being battered down. Undoubtedly that was what it was. He ran across the narrow hall and into another lab and instinctively ducked when he heard automatic gunfire. Screams issued down from the mess hall to meet his ears, and he cursed softly under his breath. He knew what this meant. They've come to kill us! More gunfire and screams echoed down the hall as he scrambled to his feet again and went to the window. With all his strength, he forced it open, then looked out. The coast was clear on this side. He climbed out of the window and crouched down to the ground. He couldn't just run out into the cold Antarctic wilderness, he'd never survive! He had to find a place to hide... but where? His thoughts immediately came up with an answer. Underneath the station! Frantically, he dug at the Antarctic ice and snow with his hands, pushing it all to the side to expose the underside of the Vostok station. Looking around the area one last time, he made sure that no one saw him before crawling backward into his hiding place. Pushing around, cramped and cold, he brought what displaced ice he could in front of him to block the exposed hole. Now all it was was a matter of waiting until the soldiers left. He waited long. After hearing various gunshots from the station above, Mikael wondered if an eternity was passing. Finally he heard footsteps on the ice outside his hiding spot. "Looks like one got away," a voice said. "This window is open." Shit! Mikael thought. I forgot about that. "Eh... don't worry," said another. "The bastard'll likely freeze to death before he reaches help. Come on... Captain's expecting our report." The cracking steps on frozen ice and snow trailed away from hearing. Mikael was left hiding, alone. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Sir!" said the two soldiers with salutes as they approached Captain Kelson. Kelson returned their salute. One of them stepped forward. "All scientists and their guide save one are accounted for and terminated, sir. We suspect that one ran off out into the wilderness for help. The Antarctic weather will likely kill him before he reaches the nearest station." Captain Kelson nodded. "Well done, troops," he said, and now he was shouting for everyone nearby to hear. "Our secret is safe. No one within a thousand miles of here can confirm that we were here. America and Goreprime Enterprises hold you all a great debt of gratitude. Now, before we leave, I want that station's interior cleaned of bodies and blood so that it'll look like the entire team vanished." A number of "yes sirs" responded, followed by troops moving in and out with the bodies. All blood that was found inside the station was sponged down and cleaned without a trace. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Come in Harold... do you read me? Do you read me?" Samantha Tizigorcski continued repeating in frustration into the station radio at Oasis II. Finally, after enough tries of contacting the guide, she gave up. "It's no use. His end is just as dead as the investigation team that we sent five days ago." A mustached gentleman seated nearby nodded. "Clearly we need to inform the Yshurakan and Russian governments that the scientific expedition may have been compromised." And so it was quickly radioed out to the nearest ship at sea. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ FOUL PLAY IN ANTARCTICA? The Yshurakan and Russian governments have received word that underhanded activities seem to be at work in Antarctica. Just two months ago, the two countries sent off a scientific expedition into the frozen continent to study the effects of Global Warming. The team arrived in Oasis II a little under two weeks ago and transfered immediately to Vostok Station. During the first day at Vostok, the expedition's guide radioed back Oasis II and reported what he believed to be military jets taking off from somewhere southwest, directly north of the South Pole. Oasis II sent a investigative team to check the area out, but never reported back within the 4 day window that their report was due. Subsequently, radio contact with Vostok was also lost. Yshurak's government is currently considering of assembling an international coalition of investigators to be sent into Antarctica to discover what is amiss. An invitation has been sent globally to seek nations that will participate in this investigation. |
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| NRE | Jun 5 2008, 10:25 PM Post #23 |
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Map Tsar and Southern Gentleman
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Posted Image You're watching RRBC television, a leader in Russian telecommunications and your number one source for quality programming... *News Jingle here* Live from Moscow in our RRBC studies in Red Square , this is National Nightly News. With your host Aleksandra Stasov... Posted Image Good evening everyone I am Aleksandra Stasov and here are our top stories from around the world and the Empire. Posted Image The Russian Antarctic team that left bound for South Pole just two months ago has gone missing! Reports have just reached the Russian government that both the Russian and Yshurakan teams have gone out of communications and missing. The government released this information minutes after receiving it along with their own comments of outrage. "We must get to the bottom of this" said Prince Felix Yusupov in a press conference earlier today. "Tsar Alexei has expressed that the Russian Empire will use all available resources to join with our Yshurakan allies to search for our lost people. We also wish to fully investigate these military jet sightings. If a national military is operating in the Antarctic, we want to know who and see if there is any connection to our teams disappearance." Though we have no official word yet, insiders tell us here that Russia is already assembling several ships for the search and rescue expedition to Antarctica. The Empire is said to be in constant communication with Yshurak and fully supports whatever world governments will join them in their expedition. |
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| Comrade Queen | Jun 11 2008, 06:28 PM Post #24 |
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Comrade Bitchqueen
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Kiru Tao shall lend a team of investigators to Venderwelle, Yshurak for this worldwide joint effort. Militarization of Antarctica is by far one of the highest illegal acts in history, and should foul play have occured with the scientific expedition, the list of crimes grows longer. We will see to aid in discovering the culprits of this travesty. - Emperor Kojirou Gokaru Most Benevolent Ruler of Kiru Tao OOC: *Cough!* Y'know... anyone can join in this now. |
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| Nag Ehgoeg | Jun 16 2008, 05:04 AM Post #25 |
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The Devil's Advocate
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ACO Ltd will send our finest Arctic explorers - currently investigating the effects of global warming on the North Pole - to search for the missing explorers and investigate these shocking claims. While we know the conditions of Antarctica differ greatly from the Arctic, we feel we must "do our part" - no matter how small. Edited by Nag Ehgoeg, Jun 16 2008, 05:06 AM.
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