canonized said:
I think so as well...the cool part. As to luck...luck is for rabbits! It is pure, unadulterated talent, and charming good looks.
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I think so as well...the cool part. As to luck...luck is for rabbits! It is pure, unadulterated talent, and charming good looks.
Okay, after taking some time off from this, I think I am about ready to get rolling again. While I have been on hiatus from this, I have been involved in some other projects.
One, I am a judge for Snake IV's musical AAR, Paradoxian Idol. But I found myself bit by the relyricing bug and ended up writing about 5 songs myself, so feel free to drop by either the HOI2 Idol thread, or the newly posted Idol thread in the CK forum to comment and make fun of my work.
Also, I have gotten myself involved with canonized's Instrumentality monthly AAR gazetter. As a matter of fact, I will be starting a regular AAR review column starting with Aprils issue, so drop by, take a peak at all the good stuff that goes into this work, and feel free to drop comments in the AARlander comment thread.
Another thing that I have been doing is following a lot of eastern AAR's on multiple forums with the vision of inviting some more deserving writers to the "Warlord Club". So look for some new initiations in the upcoming weeks.
With that, thanks for being patient while I have taken a little break from this (I had been writing steady for a year), but now it is time to get back to the story of "The Major and the Monarch", as someone so aptly titled this sometime ago.
Ghost.
One, I am a judge for Snake IV's musical AAR, Paradoxian Idol. But I found myself bit by the relyricing bug and ended up writing about 5 songs myself, so feel free to drop by either the HOI2 Idol thread, or the newly posted Idol thread in the CK forum to comment and make fun of my work.
Also, I have gotten myself involved with canonized's Instrumentality monthly AAR gazetter. As a matter of fact, I will be starting a regular AAR review column starting with Aprils issue, so drop by, take a peak at all the good stuff that goes into this work, and feel free to drop comments in the AARlander comment thread.
Another thing that I have been doing is following a lot of eastern AAR's on multiple forums with the vision of inviting some more deserving writers to the "Warlord Club". So look for some new initiations in the upcoming weeks.
With that, thanks for being patient while I have taken a little break from this (I had been writing steady for a year), but now it is time to get back to the story of "The Major and the Monarch", as someone so aptly titled this sometime ago.
Ghost.
A little question about the WLC:do AARs with Chinese countries in mods (like KR or 1914) count,or can the ones that make such AARs get honorary membership?
The Great Duck said:
I am not familiar with these mods, but if they are mods for HOI2 then they are eligible for normal membership. If they are mods for Vicky, then the would be eligible for honourary membership.
You don't know of those mods?Kaiserreich has a thread with more than 150 (if not 200) pages,and 1914 has even a whole subforum.Anyway,both are excellent,I would recommend them.
The Great Duck said:
Kaiserreich I had heard of, just didn't know that was what KR meant. I am sure I have probably seen a 1914 AAR, but nothing is poppin in my head right now. So...I am assuming these are HOI2 mods?
Chapter 8
Agendas
Agendas
May 30th, 1936. Market District, Changchun…
Wu Lio-fan strolled through the market. It was a beautiful day, spring finally coming to Manchuria. As she walked amongst the stalls and vendors, her mind was filled with many thoughts, first and foremost, Major Wang Li. He had been gone two days now, yet it seemed an eternity. On the one hand she was glad he was gone. She had so much to think about, so much to contemplate. Yet, she missed him as well. This brought to the fore thoughts of that night, that one night. Fear and hope warred inside her. Her body shuddered slightly at the remembered pleasures; her mind trembled at the shared pain. Yin and Yang, one could not exist without the other. Her mother’s words echoed in her head.
“Men can be completely oblivious without intending to. It was one of the weakness the gods gave them to counter their strengths. That is why the gods also created women, to add balance to a man’s life, to counter their weaknesses. Individually, both man and woman are incomplete, lacking in the characteristics of the other.”
With the memories of that night fresh in her head, now she understood these words, now they had meaning, context…and they were so very true. She felt incomplete. This feeling stayed with her as made her way through the crowds, looking at this, examining that, but not really seeing any of it, so it should have been no surprise when a voice addressed her from behind, startling her from her thoughts.
“A lovely day Miss Wu, wouldn’t you say?”, said the voice in a casual manner.
Wu turned to find herself looking at a man in the uniform of the Japanese. She looked at his face, yes, definitely Japanese. Looking at the uniform again, she could tell he was an officer, but not understanding the insignias on his collar she could not say what rank he was. The man smiled at her and then looked at one of the nearby tables. Slowly…no, not slowly she thought…casually, he reached out and picked up a tomato.
“A perfect day for this sort of thing, no?”, he said as he examined the fruit, and then just as casually replaced it…perfectly…in the spot he had taken it from. She did not know why his movements were making such an impression on her, but they were. There was something in the way he moved that was familiar, yet…not. She returned her gaze to the man’s face. The smile was still there, casual, nothing threatening in any way, so why was a feeling of dread welling up inside her.
“Do I know you sir?”, she asked.
The man’s smile never faltered. “No Miss Wu, you do not, my apologies. Please allow me to introduce myself”, he brought himself into a formal posture, heels together, as he bowed from the waist. “Lieutenant Colonel Ryochi Naito, Imperial Japanese Army.”
The name meant nothing to Wu. “A, uhm….pleasure to make your acquaintance, and uhmm…how is it that you know me?”
The man’s smile broadened slightly, as if he knew some secret and was enjoying the fact that only he knew. “Again, my apologies Miss Wu, it is not my intention to confuse. I know you only by your acquaintances. Are you not on friendly terms with a certain Major Wang Li?”, his eyebrow rose in a questioning manner momentarily, and then the smile returned. “Or am I mistaken?”
Wu was getting more confused by the moment. What was this about? How did this man know her, know Wang? Everything about this was telling her that this was no chance encounter, which meant only one thing…he had been following her. The dread inside her grew as she struggled to keep her thoughts from betraying her.
She put on a smile of her own, though she could not be sure how genuine it looked. “You know Major Li? Why yes I know him, he is an old family friend. And how is it that you are acquainted with Wang?”, she asked, still smiling, trying to remain calm. But it was hard, it all felt so forced.
The Colonel smiled again as his eyes wandered to the next table, his hand slowly moving over the produce. “Ah, yes, well you see Miss Wu, we are in the same line of work. Major Li works for Imperial Security, while I am assigned with the Kempeitai. The same job, so to speak, just for different governments. Imperial Security and the Kempeitai work very closely to ensure state security, so our paths have crossed from time to time.” His eyes came back to hers, the smile never wavering. “So you see Miss Wu, we are…”, his eyes wandered as he searched for the word, a slight frown of concentration replacing the smile, and then the smile returned as his gaze came back to her again. “…colleagues you could say.”
“I see”, said Wu, when in fact she could not see.
The Colonel placed his right hand in his pocket while he used his left to gesture. How fluid his movements were. His eyes scanned down the street. “Family friends you say. Come now Miss Wu, I think we can safely say that there is more to it than that.” His eyes came back to her again. Again came the knowing smile. “Much more.”
Wu’s eyes widened slightly at this. That night…by the gods, this man had been there. The Colonel’s smile broadened slightly again as he noted her reaction. His eyes wandered from her again, as he moved towards one of the other tables. She followed him with her eyes. So graceful, so…deadly. She had not seen this kind of ease in a man since…
“Wu! How wonderful to see you”, said a familiar voice from the side. Wu turned her head, her eyes wide with surprise and…relief.
“Pinch!” she said.
Pinch moved up next to Wu and took her hand. “How are you Wu?” he asked, a friendly smile on his face.
Wu smiled back. “Fine Pinch, fine.” She felt Naito’s presence beside her. “Pinch, I would like you to meet…”
“…Lieutenant Colonel Ryochi Naito”, Pinch finished for her. “We’ve met.” Pinch looked to the Colonel, came to attention and presented a formal salute. “Sir. And how is it you find yourself so far from Harbin?”
Naito returned the salute, if not quite so formally. Naito smiled at Pinch, Pinch smiled back. “Official business Lieut…”, Naito stopped, noting the new collar tabs on Pinch’s uniform… “I’m sorry, Captain. Congratulations.”
“Why thank you sir. Quite unexpected I must say.” Pinch turned to Wu. “Wu, Sergeant Duang here will escort you home.” Another uniformed man came seemingly out of nowhere. Pinch moved Wu towards the man.
“Captain”, Pinch turned to Naito. “Miss Wu and I were having a converstion…”
“…Which appears to be over”, Pinch finished, then turned to Wu, “Wu?”
Wu looked from Pinch to Naito and back. There was more going on here than she could see…and it scared her. “Well, uhmmm….Colonel?”, she said, looking at Naito.
Colonel Naito smiled and looked down. “But of course. Another time perhaps?”, he said, his eyes meeting hers again.
“So, it is settled then. Wu, please go with Sergeant Duang.” The Sergeant held out his arm to her and she took it as he led her away down the street. She looked over shoulder to see the two men eying each other like stalking tigers, and then Duang took her around the corner.
Pinch looked over his shoulder and watched as Duang and Wu disappeared around the corner, and then turned back to the Colonel. The Colonel had also watched and now his eyes came back to rest on Pinch. “Fortuitous”, said Naito.
Pinch smiled, “Isn’t it” said Pinch.
Naito chuckled, “Until we meet again Captain”, he said as he turned away.
“I tremble in anticipation of the day sir”, said Pinch to his slowly retreating back.
“As do I Captain. As do I”, Naito replied as he brought his hands together behind his back, while he walked away, his eyes wandering about the market, as if he had nothing better to do than go for a stroll.
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Ahh, that Naito, always womanizing. Wait, you mean that's not what he was doing? He was maybe trying to get at Li through Wu? Oh...
Hmmm this was an intriguing chapter . You have this wonderful knack for getting us to sense danger and feel dramatic danger which is essential in this . Our japanese friend is dangerous .
Wow! Very scary for a minute there! I was afraid it would all be over between Wu and Li before it even started! Glad to see the Pinch was around nip it in the bud! If at least for the moment...
There is a game here, and it is not a pleasant one. Well, we know this is not a pleasant business. The Major should be on his guard.
Myth: The man can't get a date on his own, so he goes after another man's women. Maybe...right now he's just pokin the bear to see what happens.
canonized: Thanks. Dangerous would be putting it mildly, and he is not the worst...that is to come.
Quanto: That was the effect I was going for. And Pinch showing up that way was no accident. How are the story boards coming?
Stnylan: A game is exactly what it is at this point. Service rivalries and personal rivalries creating some tension. Right now the game is merely being played for the sake of playing...but the playing will push some people to the next level.
Nice to see I haven't been forgotten after the layoff. Another update this week sometime. Have to write a review for canonized first, so probably this Friday or Saturday. A visit to the training grounds...and secrets revealed.
Maybe...right now he's just pokin the bear to see what happens.canonized: Thanks. Dangerous would be putting it mildly, and he is not the worst...that is to come.
Quanto: That was the effect I was going for. And Pinch showing up that way was no accident. How are the story boards coming?
Stnylan: A game is exactly what it is at this point. Service rivalries and personal rivalries creating some tension. Right now the game is merely being played for the sake of playing...but the playing will push some people to the next level.
Nice to see I haven't been forgotten after the layoff.
Another update this week sometime. Have to write a review for canonized first, so probably this Friday or Saturday. A visit to the training grounds...and secrets revealed.
The Story Boards are actually finished and they were very well recieved. Unfortunately my Rapid Viz professor is holding on to them >_<. And since its the start of a new Term, I'm not sure when I can expect to get ahold of her to get them back
I'll keep you updated...
I'll keep you updated...
Quanto said:The Story Boards are actually finished and they were very well recieved. Unfortunately my Rapid Viz professor is holding on to them >_<. And since its the start of a new Term, I'm not sure when I can expect to get ahold of her to get them back
I'll keep you updated...
BOOO , and yay , we better get to see them !! Both for you and for grayghost's greater glory XD
Quanto said:The Story Boards are actually finished and they were very well recieved. Unfortunately my Rapid Viz professor is holding on to them >_<. And since its the start of a new Term, I'm not sure when I can expect to get ahold of her to get them back
I'll keep you updated...
Well, I really hope you get them back, and we can somehow get them posted on here. Feel free to PM me when you get some news.
Just a heads up, will have an update in by Saturday.
What I really wanted to relay though was that the newest issue of Instrumetality is up and has some great articles. One of them being a AAR review by yours truly. So if you get a chance pop on over and read the articles and then please comment in the AARlander Comments and discussion thread.
Thanks all.
What I really wanted to relay though was that the newest issue of Instrumetality is up and has some great articles. One of them being a AAR review by yours truly. So if you get a chance pop on over and read the articles and then please comment in the AARlander Comments and discussion thread.
Thanks all.
Hello everyone who would still like to follow this.
First, apologies for lack of updates.
Second, this is going on hold, maybe permanently. Life is busy, and I really don't have the time to put into this, and If I can't produce quality updates, well...I would just rather not continue.
I make no promises that this will ever return...but maybe...someday.
To all of you who followed this and encouraged me, thank you. It was great fun writing again, and it didn't turn out half bad if I do say so myself.
To canonized, Myth, rcduggan, and thrashing mad, thanks for being there from the beginning. You guys are great.
To Quanto, I would still like to see those story boards, but if I dont, it was really flattering that you used my story. Thanks.
First, apologies for lack of updates.
Second, this is going on hold, maybe permanently. Life is busy, and I really don't have the time to put into this, and If I can't produce quality updates, well...I would just rather not continue.
I make no promises that this will ever return...but maybe...someday.
To all of you who followed this and encouraged me, thank you. It was great fun writing again, and it didn't turn out half bad if I do say so myself.
To canonized, Myth, rcduggan, and thrashing mad, thanks for being there from the beginning. You guys are great.
To Quanto, I would still like to see those story boards, but if I dont, it was really flattering that you used my story. Thanks.