Eutopian Central Bank

[von Streusser]

"That leak was well inside our LZ, sir. It's useless."

The squad radioman pipes up. "Major! I've got one of the rescue coordinators on the horn!" He hands McGrath the receiver.

"Major? This is Captain Clariana. I checked your coordinates, and it looks like there was a petroleum station there before the bombing. Looks like that area's going to be leaking fumes for a while. I've marked it on our maps and alerted all our crews to steer clear of it until we can get the situation under control. Just keep your unit out of there...and pray for the souls of anyone trapped there.

We can't send more rescue teams into that area, it'd be too big a risk. Focus your search for survivors elsewhere. Anything else you need from us? Over."

-vS as NPCs

 

[unmerged(24047)]

"Thank You, Captain, at least we know what's down there...i'll keep the area clear, i really hope that the bulldozer people will move carefully down there, we had enough explosions today. We'll keep diggin elsewhere, and now that our men arrive, we'll be much more effective. Over"

The LIRA, the Pathfinders and all the civilian rescue teams kept digging the remains of the buildings surrounding the ECB.
Rescue dogs were running all around, nosing in search of life. Or death.
Few survivors were lucky, mainly because of structures collapsing in particular ways, and leaving chambers under the rabble.
With much disgust of the rescuers, most of the people were not lucky at all. Corpses in the worst states were found, mutilated by the explosion or crashed under the masonry.
Stretchers ran in and out of the search area, toward the LZ for the lucky enough to nedd a lift to the hospital, and to the ambulance area for those who didn't make it.

After a whle day in and out of the ruins, the Pathfinders were catching their breath on a pile of debris. Someone drinking from bottles of water, someone chatting, but most of them simply stood there silently.
McGrath was there, talking to a police officer about the next search area. When they finished, for the first time since the Helos unloaded them from the Foss River Valley, he had a minute to look at himself. He was covered from head to toes in dust. Stains of blood were evident on the arms, the chest and legs.
He was exhausted.
Mentally and phisically.
But there was still job to do.
He looked at his men, they woke up the other morning focusing on a miltiary excercise and found themselves in digging for human remains in the aftermath of human madness.
Major McGrath was proud of them, they honoured their unit and Eutopia with this day.
"Ok, i know it has been a long long day, but we still have a job to do. Back to work, Pathfinders"
The men got up and slowly moved to next rubble hill.

 

[Amric]

Former President Al'Aeshir arrives prior to the advance team of his Environmental Clean Up Division.

"Hello. I've spoken to VP Fourgeres, and he has approved of my team coming in to clean up the mess and cap off whatever flows are going on. Where do you want us?"

 

[unmerged(24047)]

Major McGrath spots the newcomers, and jumps off a hill of rubble to greet them. Removing his gloves, he saluted them and shook his hand with Amric.

"Hello, Mr. Al'Aeshir, thank you for coming. Per Fourgeres told us about your arrival. We had a bad time..."
McGrath turned around and guided Al'Aeshir a few steps ahead. He pointed the remains of a building some 30 meters away, nothing more than some masonry elements precariously piled together.
"You see that? It was probably the edge of a building. Behind that there is a large space filled with rubble. We discovered under that rubble a gas station. Luckily one of my men smelled the leaking before it all went in a giant fireball. Probably their only vapors from the broken pumps, the underground tanks shouldn't be damaged. At least we hope it. Can you do something for that?"

 

[Provolution]

Entry of Sir Augustus de Provolution

The black motorcade came sliding gently towards the wreckage surrounding the Eutopian Central Bank, five cars, a shimmering black metallic Toyota Lexus with the awe inspiring banners of the "Knights of the Imperial Order" placed on the hood on top of the headlights was escorted by two black Audis with security consultants from the American Vinnell Group, a white telecommunications van, supposedly a Mercedes, a pale grey Porsche and finally 6 motorbikes with KIO emblems emblazoned on the sides. The motorcade sung with humming engines and crushing wheels as it slowly drove over dislocated debris and gravel from the explosion site, and a relatively young man came out of the Lexus, tall, strong and aristocratic, wearing a 10 000 USD Italian suit and holding the rosy colored Financial Times under his elbow, his hair waxed thight around his head, his intimidating presence aroused some immediate interest among rescue teams and military guards around the site.

Sir Augustus openend "What a terrible disaster, business will be down for at least two-three weeks, and our national development is severely hampered, not to mention the tremendous losses in the corporate sector. This is not personal, and it is business, where the perpetrators will be hunted down and dealt with with extreme prejudice". His face infuriated by greed and anger, he turned to his advisors and aides from the grey Porsche...

"Ms Sullivan, I want the background information on all our company losses, and break it down into both USD, Euro and Euro-Yen bonds for our venture capital presentations. Also consult with the authorities if there is any way to track down the financiers of this operation. The KIO backed by my consortium will actively seek to facilitate this process and mete out the ultimate consequence to the parties committing this heinous act."

Sir Augustus strode along the security detachments in the black Audis, now talking to a veteran senior security consultant, one of the very same ones that built the Saudi National Guard up to 80 000 men and participated in Private Military Contracts (PMC) during the War on Terror.

"Mr Smith, can you develop a report brief after consulting Major McGrath on this event, and I will be most pleased. I will add stock options to your entire team if we can succesfully manage this crisis and profit from it".

Mr Smith smiled, this was an event uncalled for, but highly useful for a man of his calibre, with an education worth a full 3 million USD, he should better earn some good money on this situation.

Sir Augustus picked up some debris, and clenched it in his hand, crushing the
tarnished and smoldering concrete and feeling the composure ebb out.
He thought too himself...why not...Bird Phoenix potential here...
"Ms Sullivan, we should buy up the companies subcontracting to the contractor of the previous Eutopian Central Bank and distort those subconctracting relations, and make a public bid for the reconstruction of the Eutopian Central Bank. Please also tell the in-house lawyer to step out of the car."

Out came Mr Finneran, another redheaded Irish-Eutopian, the company lawyer for the consortium backing KIO. He could remind people of a redheaded version of Meatloaf, but then again, this was Mr Finneran.

"Mr Finneran, I want you to handle all contractual development and make sure we win the public bid for the banks reconstruction, I want you calling our traders and acquisisitons unit to buy up short supply construction material and buy out core suppliers of the previous contractor of the Eutopian Central Bank.
While you are at it, look into various security firms and technology firms we can expand into in order to bankroll investments into this new market.

Sir Augustus de Provolution thought to himself "I may not be a Rockefeller, but I am sure winning a good business opportunity today"
He sneered triumphantly and stepped over some debris before he reentered his Lexus. "Please fill me a glass of champagne Ms Sullivan and rejoice".

-edited to comply with NPC Rules

 

[Amric]

Amric stared at the rubble and sighed briefly.

"Yes, Major, we can do something about it. But it will take some time. Due to the rubble situation, which will have metal in it that could spark an explosion..." the former President trailed off.

He turned back toward his men," You've trained for this, gentlemen! You know what to do and you are aware of the dangers! Let's get started!"

The men are in flame proof environmental suits and they begin swarming around their trucks like industrious ants, pulling out various kinds of equipment, including some truly stupendous fans which are being quickly assembled and placed around the rubbled site.

"Major, we're going to try and disperse the vapors as much as possible with these fans by sucking them away and so forth. But this whole operation will be very tricky. You might want to evacuate at least a six block radius from this site of all non essential personnel. Any rescue workers that stay are welcome, but they must stay away from this particular site while we are working. If we find a survivor or body we'll call upon a rescue team to come in and remove that person. Carefully."

Amric begins putting on his own environmental suit," No, Major, I will not be int he rubble site myself. But I will be nearby here to coordinate and make sure that whatever equipment my men need will be able to get in here quickly and carefully."

Amric shakes the major's hand and starts fiddling with a headset in which he is soon speaking to various team leaders.

 

[Provolution]

Sir Augustus de Provolution sends a white OPC van (mercedes) with flowers to relatives of disaster victims, as well as other relief packages as parts of the OCP
Corporate Responsibility and Ethics Division.

 

[unmerged(24047)]

Out-Of-Character:
Provolation, this is the thread staged in the ruins after the explosion or in the building of the ECB. THe post you made (the questions) was already posted elsewhere. There is no mean to post your stuff everywhere. The characters in this post are with the rubble to their knees, digging for survivors or trying not to be killed by leaking of gas. How can they answer the questions to a commission that is elsewhere?
Another small tip. DOn't over-do in the first day you're here. Concentrate on few matters, there is no use in thrashing aorund posting like an hurricane. Don't worry, take it easy
And welcome to Eutopia, of course

 

[The_Hawk]

The police officers and LIRA soldiers manning the barriers approach Sir Augustus's motorcade and politely ask him to clear the area. They look none too happy about his proximity (and the proximity of his vehicles) to the security cordon without appropriate authorization.

 

[von Streusser]

Amric Al'Aeshir feels a tap on his shoulder, and turns around to see a man in a foreign military uniform looking at him. The man catches his glance, and speaks. "Mr. Al'Aeshir? Captain Juan Clariana." Remembering Amric's glance at his uniform, he nods and says "Tilapian Army, and one of the rescue effort coordinators. Before you go flying in there, I ran up the logistics and maps for your teams. I was going to meet you on your way in, but it looks like you and Major McGrath were eager to get started. He and his troops are scheduled for relief shortly, they're showing signs of fatigue..." He says the last bit as if to himself, making a mental note.

"Anyway, here's a map of the site. The leak was discovered here, in an area designated LZ1. Judging by the coordinates and the former site map, that's the location of a petroleum station. Which means we have approximately two tanker trucks full of flammable liquids down there to extract, and fumes everywhere, probably in pockets under the rubble. Any sparks...from bulldozers or anything scraping against metal, and we could have another fireball. All of our people have been extracted as far as they can and still work, but that only gives you about a block and a half radius any given direction.

I talked with your foreman about vehicles, and sent him this" he hands Al'Aeshir a street map with three color-coded lines on it, showing routes into a central point. "This will get your men in quickest and most efficiently. They already have it and should be coming in that way. Command and coordination frequency for the entire operation is on this channel" he shows Al'Aeshir a radio frequency on his own headset "so we ask you to stay off that one unless you need to get in touch with one of us.

Oh, one more thing. We pulled a live victim out of that rubble right on top of the leak not two hours ago. So be careful, and keep an eye out for breathers. If you need anything; medical, helicopter support, supplies, logistics...ask for me on the command frequency. Be careful in there...we've lost enough people today." The Captain salutes.

-vS as NPC

 

[Amric]

Amric nods with a relieved smile," Thank you Captain. This information will indeed prove extremely useful. All of our blades are coated with rubber to keep sparks to a minimum. Right now we are most interested in stopping the leak and then pumping all of the fuel out before we get too involved in anything else. If we do find any more victims you can be absolutely certain to contact you on the command channel.

I appreciate your team being here to help Eutopia in her time of need. We'll be as careful as we can, believe me. I suppose we can live with a block and a half radius. I just hope there won't be a flare up. Believe me, I certainly don't want such.

We'll need a cleared exit route to send the fuel out of here once we have pumped it out of here. If that can be arranged? I figure it is going to take us about six hours to pump out the fuel. Depending on how much rubble we have to move carefull to get pumping. I'm not going to move much until we get that fuel out.

Once we get it out I'm going to pump in some fuel neutralization agents to keep it from sparking when we really start clean up. If you will excuse me?"

He switches to a new channel," How far down are we going to have to dig out to get a way to pump this stuff out of here?"

He turns back to the Captain and motions the Major over as well," You might want to have an off site area set up to sift through the rubble we will be taking out so that you can go through it with a fine toothed comb to get any kind of evidence possible. Major, perhaps you might want to get FLEA involved as well?

By the by, where is the commissary area? If we don't have one, we need one. A place for those here on site and keeping it clear of bystanders to get a cup of coffee or a bit to eat. I'd be happy to make a couple of calls and get something set up if we don't have one. Let me know, if you would?"

 

[von Streusser]

Clariana nods. "I'll clear a route expressly for your use, and keep all other teams and personnel off of it. Do you have tankers already? I can requisition two for you if you don't have any on hand, that should be enough to evacuate the site.

We already have an off-site dumping area, where we're putting everything. Your Federal Law Enforcement Agency and some other service I'd never heard of has been cataloguing and investigating everything we've removed so far. The dumping area for all rubble removed from your block is...here" he circles an area on Amric's laminated map with a dry erase marker. "As for the Commissary, it's over by the command tent on the perimeter. It's not much, but we've got Army Coffee and some donated baked goods. The Field Hospital is over there, as well as a tent with some cots if you need to take a nap.

Speaking of which, Major McGrath...you and the Pathfinders have been relieved. Some more of your LIRA boys are coming in to take over for you. I recommend you get some sleep and something to eat...you've been here since we started, and we need you and your men sharp. Sir." He tossed McGrath a salute, then turned back to Al'Aeshir. "You don't need to thank me or my countrymen for being here, sir. We thought we were coming for a military exercise, and now we're sifting through Ground Zero. We just happened to be in the area...just because we're in another country now doesn't mean we've forgotten where we came from.

I'll clear your route for you, and send it to you on GPS. Anything else you need from us, sir?"

Amric's radio crackles, and a voice on the other side comes through. "The surface rubble is going to be the tough part, Mr. Al'Aeshir. We've got maybe four or five feet to dig through, then it's straight on to the tanks. They don't usually keep them too far down. We got lucky, looks like this area was mostly open air parking and this gas station, maybe a boutique or two. Over."

-vS as NPCs

 

[Amric]

"Captain, still you should be thanked. As should the Major and his team. You've all been doing yeoman work here," Looks at the laminated map," I have four tankers actually. Due to the fact that this stuff could be rather unstable because of the amount of time it has been down there. You may not be aware but gasoline destablizes over some years of time.

As for the commissary, I think I will make a call and get some better food sent here. You fellows deserve it."

Nods in understanding to the radio message directed at him," Understood. You know the drill. Rubber bladed shovels and the fiberglass hand trucks. You know, the ones with no metal parts? Yes, those. The trucks are located here."

Describes the location of the trucks to place the rubble in longitude and latitude coordinates.

"Captain.....You might want to keep any heavy traffic, such as semi trucks or trains at least half a mile away. I'd prefer that there isn't any trembling of the rubble while we are working. We ought to route any aircraft away from above this site. More rumbling isses, of course. I know I am being somewhat anal about this, but any kind of tumbling rubble could create a spark."

OOC: Yes, I know it is a bit odd, but such things COULD create a problem, and I prefer as a player to eliminate as many unpleasant variables as I can....

 

[von Streusser]

The Captain cocks an eyebrow, takes out a notepad and starts scribbling. "Hunh, I was unaware gas would do that. My specialty is logistics, not Haz Mat. Well, glad you've got the tankers.

As for heavy traffic...well, this *is* New Lancaster. But I think the airport is still shut down, I'll check and verify that. Your dig site is located a little more than half a mile inside the security cordon, so there aren't going to be any trains or semis passing through today. I'll tell the rest of the crews that the helicopters are off-limits except for emergencies, and put them on the ground. They'll enjoy the rest anyway. If there's any dumptrucks or anything moving around, I'll have them sit tight until you're finished. This operation is top priority right now, Mr. Al'Aeshir...even if I'd rather be digging people out, it's no good if we just roast 'em right after.

And don't worry about being a little cautious. I have no more desire for a fiery inferno than you do.

Oh, and thanks for the better food. Just don't tell my superiors that I don't love army coffee." He smiles, and for a moment looks incredibly tired. As soon as the expression wears off his face, however, he returns to a neutral and efficient looking state. "Anything else you need? Like I said, cleaning that up is our number one concern right now, and everything we have is at your disposal."

-vS as NPC

 

[Amric]

Amric notices the man's fleeting expression of tiredness," Captain, you look like you are about done in yourself, if you don't mind me saying so. I wish there was more you could do to help, but this is indeed delicate and my men are highly trained at this kind of thing. The most important thing is to keep gawkers out and a minimum of people tramping about until we get this cleaned up. Why don't you join me for a cup of coffee at the commissary? I believe there should be some Moonbucks coffee coming along soon.

My men know what to do, and I can coordinate from there for a little bit. By the way, the fuel we are going to remove is going to be taken to my recycling center here in New Lancaster. There it can be disposed of in an environmentally friendly fashion. Let me buy you a cup, eh?"

He begins to lead the man toward the commissary, taking a moment to talk on his radio link to his men," Okay, I'm going to be at the commissary, but I am still in constant contact with you all. Anything you need or any questions, feel free to ask. Be careful and let's get this done."

Amric looks at the map again," Wait a second. This isn't an abandoned fuel station. It was in use just prior to the bombing. Well the fuel isn't old, but with the leaking it is indeed probably contaminated. Sorry, Captain. I was mistakenly under the impression that this was a long abandoned gas station."

 

[von Streusser]

Clariana sighed, and his shoulders drooped. He looked at his watch. "Yes sir, I'm beat. The military exercise I was supposed to observe started in the middle of the night, and I've been up probably close to 38 hours now. But..." he looked over at some of the other coordinators. One of them, an older woman with a Red Cross uniform on, waved him off. She walked over and took his papers and notebook.

"Get some sleep, Captain. You've been running on coffee for the last 12 hours. I'll cover for you, there's nothing more to be done right now anyway." She headed back to her station, and left Juan looking more than a little sheepish. But now that he was out of command, he let himself fall a bit, and he looked very tired indeed.

"Thank you, Mr. Al'Aeshir. I'll join you for that cup of coffee. Oh, Jesus...I also need to check the Field Hospital, see if...no, no they airlifted him out already. Oh, I'm sorry, I was talking to myself...my unit commander, Colonel Antonin Alarico, was injured rescuing someone from the rubble today...hit in the face with a snapping steel cable, right on top of the scene of the gas leak. They had to airlift him out to Eutopia General. Maybe I should call there, after I get some sleep..." The Tilapian tailed off as they walked to the commissary. Both Al'Aeshir and Clariana picked up styrofoam cups and helped themselves to some army ration coffee out of large plastic hot-pours. It was mostly still hot, though they'd have to try a mighty long time to burn themselves.

The pair sat down at one of the several tables, most of them empty, and Clariana's eyes had taken a rather distant look in the last few minutes. A few tables to the side was a Tilapian surgeon from the Field Hospital, his scrubs blood-stained, nursing a cup of coffee and looking at a newspaper disinterestedly.

Clariana finally spoke. "This scene...it's the worst thing I've ever taken in with my own two eyes. And I haven't even really gone digging in there. It's how I imagine Hell must look..."

-vS as NPCs

 

[Amric]

Amric nods sadly," It is pretty bad, I am sure. I've seen some terrible things, including some from during the aftermath of the hurricanes. It just proves that terrorists are scum who have no compunctions about killing and injuring the innocent on their quests for power and notoriety. Oh, and their supposed 'struggle' " Amric used his fingers to put quotes around the word.

He sipped his coffee and made a horrible face," This is awful stuff. I am sorry to hear about your Colonel. Eutopia General, eh? If you would like I know some people there, I ought to be able to get some kind of update on his condition. It's the least I can do for you and your men."

Amric looked into the Captain's haunted eyes," Hell, indeed. Can I ask you something, Captain?"

 

[von Streusser]

Clariana looked up when Amric mentioned connections at Eutopia General. "I'd appreciate that. He's a very well respected man among us, and a good friend.

Not a fan of the coffee? Well, you have to remember, the Army likes multi-purpose equipment. This stuff can be used to degrease an engine...or you can drink it in a pinch." Clariana took a sip of his coffee himself; it still tasted awful, but he'd grown used to it over the years. His thoughts were wandering to some far off place when Amric asked if he could ask a question.

"Hmm? Sure, what's on your mind?"

-vS as NPC

 

[Amric]

"Captain, this bombing has impressed upon me more than ever the importance of the three nations on this island working together to combat terrorism and keeping the peace between all of us. I would like you, and I know I have no real power in Eutopia other than as a former President, and your men to really let your people and your government know of the horrors you have seen here. Remind them of the importance of our three nations working together to combat terrorism so that something like this can never happen again. In any of our nations."

Amric switches to a new channel," Get me Eutopia General Hospital. I need to find out the status of Colonel Antonin Alarico of Tilapia. Tell them that former President Al'Aeshir is asking. Do NOT take no for an answer. Find out his status and full prognosis as well. Thank you."

He switches back to his normal frequency to keep track of what his men are doing at the clean up site.

"Captain," he smiles somewhat lopsidedly," Grease an engine, eh? That is somewhat disturbing on so many levels. I have put in a call to find out what is going on with your Colonel. I should be hearing something soon. If my secretary wants to stay employed, that is..."

He chuckles briefly," She's very good. She'll get the information. No, I wouldn't fire her. She is my good right arm, and she keeps me pointed toward all the different things I have to get done every day. Believe me, it is quite a few things."

 

[unmerged(5730)]

A note from Mr Eugéne Sweerd CEO of The Sweerd Economical Corporation and the Orian Bank is recieved at the ECB.

"Dear Sir Adam Greenbridge.

I contacvts you on behalf of the Orion Bank concerning the status of the current interests. I am interested () in knowing both the 7 day interest and the shorter "over night" interests for both lending and loaning money. I would appreciate a quick answer as we are putting up our interest for the next quarter at the moment and would like to finish them of as soon as possible.

Thank you, Eugéne Sweerd"