Insecurity and Betrayal

While waiting for the Senate to assemble in the Utopian Senate Hall, Queen Rasa waited in her high security quarters surrounded by her personal bodyguards and loyal soldiers.

Queen Rasa: ...what should i do? Will they listen to me?....even so...

Intercom: Your Highness Queen Rasa, you have an incoming communications signal using a high security channel...

Queen Rasa: A high security channel...who could it be?

Intercom: ...shall i accept the transmission signal your highness?

Queen Rasa: ...could you request for an identification's please...

Intercom: One moment please...

Queen Rasa: Who could it be? There are very few people that was given access to use a secure line channel to address the Kings and Queens of Utopia directly...could it be...

Intercom: Your majesty, the transmission comes from the Battle Cruiser: Adamant...

Queen Rasa: Adamant! That's Lord Flame personal flagship! Intercom, connect the signal to my room immediately!

Intercom: Understood your highness. Transmitting...

Queen Rasa: Lord Flame! It's good to hear your voice again!

Lord Flame: I am truly saddened your highness...have you forgotten about me after this while...did those filthy commoners bullied you?

Queen Rasa: Your dry jokes surely uplifts my cloudy days...i am inside the Senate Hall left wing quarters...waiting for the Senates arrival and was bored to death by the slowness of the process.

Lord Flame: Regardless, that's the Utopian tradition...my lady.

Queen Rasa: Lord Flame...are you sure this is going to work. When i was making my way to the Utopian Senate Hall this morning, there are ...it seems like people are not eager to support our cause to rid of the commoners and restore the old Utopian order. People...people hated me Lord Flame!

Lord Flame: When people are force to accept changes, it is in our nature to resist. When began to see the good intentions that our ideals bring and the benefits that follows it...they will slowly kissing our feet and follow our footsteps.

Queen Rasa: ...but i am scared...they will hurt me, my speech will do nothing but fueled their anger towards me...what will happen if i were to stand firm with my decision to attack Lord Velther in Zelagross...what will happen to me here...they will hurt me...kill me! I seen these outcome before...it could happen and i don't want to die!

Lord Flame: With all due respect your majesty, we cannot back down now. I know it's hard for you to stand there in front of your political adversaries and rivalries...we are so close to our goals. We are here my queen and we are willing to give up our lives in Zelagross in order to make your dreams come true...will you do the other half of the task for us, my queen? Will you do it for the people who had been all this time...supported you with undivided loyalty and will unquestionably follow you even to the death?

Queen Rasa: I...the speech...it's a burden to me...with every watching, they hate me...they will never listen to me!

Lord Flame: ...calm down your majesty. Listen to me carefully...look, we need you to declare your war against Lord Velther rebels, if you failed to announce this decision in front of the Senate no matter what their point of view is, all that we had fight for until now...will be lost.

Queen Rasa: ...but they will hurt me! I don't...

Lord Flame: Listen to me, fool! The Utopian fleet is already halfway en route to Zelagross, we had used up millions to fund this war! We are only a few step ahead in building up a new government and restore the old glorious Utopian Federation. We can't back down now...my queen. I can't afford to back out now! Do you understand?!

Queen Rasa: What about me? What will become of me...

Lord Flame: You will be free! Free to do anything! Free from your father's legacy...the burden. You can go anywhere you want when this whole thing is over!

Queen Rasa: If...i deliver my speech, i will not be queen anymore?

Lord Flame: ...as you wish your majesty! Be free, like the birds in the sky!

Queen Rasa: Will you guarantee my safety, Lord Flame? Honestly?

Lord Flame: Queen Rasa, i secretly organised a backup personnel to ensure your safety in case bad things happen during the assembly. Representing the Badlands in my absence are two of my trusted generals. They will be a part of your escape plan if the sittuation turns dire. I will relay you their transmission link...whenever you are in trouble just contacted them and they will rush to your aide.

Queen Rasa: ...how could they...

Lord Flame: ...in addition, i have rearrange the Senate seating in the hall. The location of the Badlands representatives will be directly in the front row. They will watch over you...my queen. Does that makes you feel any better?

Queen Rasa: I...i...guess...so...

Lord Flame: Good...so deliver your speeches and let the rest of of finish of the business with the rebels here in Zelagross. We are counting on you...my queen!

Deadbird: ...excuse me for interrupting my queen. It is time for the Senate Assembly...

Queen Rasa: ...one moment please, Deadbird.

Lord Flame: Go with her, and stop becoming a worrywart. Deliver the speech, and all will be over! For us!

Queen Rasa: ..promised me my safety, Lord Flame.

Lord Flame: Deliver....THAT...speech. I will handle the rest. OUT!

Queen Rasa: Lord Flame? Lord Flame are you there? Lord Fl...

Intercom: I am sorry your majesty, but Lord Flame has terminated his transmission signal.

Queen Rasa: It's alright...thank You.

Intercom: You are most welcome, your highness...

Queen Rasa: I guess we should be heading to the Senate Hall and face those angry people, right Deadbird?

Deadbird: Yes, your majesty...we need to...

Lord Flame: ...do you both understand what i was saying just now?

Amenz: Yes my lord, we do.

Django: Clearly, my lord.

Lord Flame: ...soon, very soon...the glorious days of warfare and conquest will be upon us once again. The commoner will perished and those stupid nobles under the influence of Lord Mana will kneel at my feet. I will be the sole ruler of Utopia...the 3003rd King of The Utopian Federation is mine!

Django: ...our high hopes and wishes goes with you, Lord Flame.

Lord Flame: Remember...both of you are to make sure Queen Rasa delivers and finish her speeches. Make sure she declared war on Lord Velther and all will be ours!

Amenz: What if she breaks under the Senates pressure?

Lord Mana: That's why you are there...to support her every word. To make sure she finishes her job!

Amenz: I understand...my lord.

Lord Flame: Oh yes, and one more thing Django...

Django: Yes, my lord?


Lord Flame: ...if the commoners failed to kill the stupid queen, do that for me can you?


Django: ...my lord, are you sure?

Lord Flame: ...can you do it Django? Maybe...if killing a small girl proved rather difficult for you, you may need Amenz to help you out...

Django: ...no...not at all my lord. It will be done.

Lord Flame: Good. Don't fail me.

Django: I won't....

Lord Flame: I expect good news from you both or i have your heads hanging at the marketplace. OUT!

Amenz: I don't like this one bit! Not a bit! Not at all!

SPECIAL INTERVIEW: Rose a.k.a Proyo

Been so long since we ever interviewed our AIC WARS members! In order to fill in gaps between Tailgunner's free time and his real life commitment, we decided to give it a break and cool down with another one of our Interviews segment. It's been a while since we had one! So roll the tape recorder for Rose!

ROSE has been working on the AIC project as an indirect executive member of The Dead Poet Society. Most of her work includes poems and poetry,  character build-up, and script editing. She also contributed to optional endings and scenes for the AIC WARS storyline. 



Due to her job commitment overseas, she had been sparring as much time as she could in somehow doing her part in the project. We could be getting more poetry!

Interviewer: I heard that it has been terribly cold up there in Europe. Let's warm our frozen tongue with a couple of easy questions, eh?

Rose: ...as you wish.

Interviewer: First question will be..."Hey! How is your life in Europe?"

Rose: 65% fun 35% standing-still. Winter holiday is choc-full of boredom and extremely long depending on the weather condition. This year is at it's worst. With winter rage blowing in as far as sunny side Southampton.

Interviewers: Aye. You have so much nothing to do now, did you contribute any extras for AIC WARS to kill time?



Rose: I was about to write Tailgunner an E-Mail about the slow January-February update...

Interviewers: Ah...yes, about the contribution...

Rose: ...and i was this close to pull out his eye out of it's sockets if he continues to become idle this March.

Interviewers: Ummmm...yes...yes...so what do you think about AIC WARS in whole and did you feel excited when you are given a chance to contribute some of your work and skill into the project as well.

Rose: I hardly see myself as a major/ main/ vital/ VIP contributor at all to AIC. All I've done is just passed out some of my old high school poetry work to be used in one or two pieces of the AIC WARS chapters. Hardly a contribution huh?

Interviewers: ...better poem than none. What about the character personality designs and editing the storyline? That's quite a big chunk of responsibility there, right?

Rose: I based the character personality(ies) according to their own persona or alter ego when we were interacting amongst each other inside whatever forum we ended up knowing each other. Some of the characters may not acquire these qualities in real life but as they say "...you can be anything when you are on the Internet." So be it, let's bring their persona's into life. Let's do that in AIC WARS. 

Interviewer: You mean the characters are the exaggerated alternate personality of a real forum members involved in the AIC WARS storyline?

Rose:...not exaggerated, more like alter ego. Realizing your significant other is what makes forums more enjoyable. You can be the "bad ass" on the internet, the bully, the law enforcer, the "know-it-all", joker and an infinite more. Yeah...while forum can make such dream comes to life, why not entertain our self more by embedding those "dream come true" personality and relived that image into solid visual.

Interviewer: ...

Rose: Let me give you an example; Vladurac in real life is a 186cm skinny dude who wear glasses and plays basketball in high school. While he's engaged with his online activities, let's say online games (and at that time, involving in forum discussion) Vladurac took form as one of his admired alter ego: Vladurac, the so-called-vampire...and while in another forum, he adopted The Rock attitude, talks and verbal style while roaming at a different forum.

Interviewers: I see...

Rose: Another example would be Ravenmin. Intuitively, Ravenmin in real life must be a reserved, observant type of person; but that if you don't get to know her pretty well, when you do she's that kind of person that is more outspoken, a little impulsive and somewhat short fused in the temper department. However she potrays this characteristic into a "split personality" while socializing in forums. Thus the (Raven - loud, Impulsive, reckless, hot tempered, easily taunted side of her personality) versus the (Min - quiet, keeping to herself, passive, unable to express her feelings) type of alter ego emerges. My job is to combine both reality and the fiction into something worthy of an interesting character which represents the real person in AIC WARS cast line ups.



Interviewers: You based your information on intuition alone?

Rose: I had been observant while my days in Atlantis Info Centre (and at previous forums that i went to...and interacted with the same person) Ain Khairi for example is one of the earliest forumer I've met (others are Sanji-Q, Flame13th Alonqexe and Divinekid) and from all these years of interaction with Ain Khairi, she display an image of a well behaved person by choosing her words carefully while others are cursing and dissing...she also give out an image that she knows her stuff, educated and had that noble aura glowing around her while she speaks (or write or expressing her tought's to the public / forumers) Her other side of the personality however suggested that Ain Khairi is a person that is always torn between two sides of life. A Damsel in Distress, timid and somewhat dependant of others for security.

While engaging in forum discussion it is interesting that she portrays herself as a part of Gunslinger Girl...focused on a character that had the ability to wield a gun as effectively as she plays violin. I was wondering, is Ain Khairi a type of person that tries to calm herself with courage gathered from the external sources while preserving the elegance, nobility, high class quality (playing tunes from Mozart,perhaps?) that of a violin player. 

Gathering all these information helps me to determine what kind of role, character, combat style, even the type of image Ain Khairi is projecting towards the audience and readers of AIC WARS chronicles.

Interviewers: So in AIC WARS chronicles, what type of character is Ain Khairi?

Rose: YOU tell us...

Interviewers: Let me think...she works in the Utopian State Library and love book, that explains the intellectual part. She also mentioned that she is the continuation of a 3000 long line of Utopian Librarians specially trained for the sole purpose of decoding the recorded ancient texts and manuscripts in the library...showing that she is proud of her lineage...

Rose: ...and the way she was indecisive about her dreams of producing her own books was a minor indicator of her personality tearing apart between "should i do it" or "should i not".

Interviewers: So the bottom line is, you are using the alter ego personality of each forumers involved in the AIC WARS project to add that sense of variety of unique characteristic to flavour up the storyline and made everything more interesting in comparison to their real life reality characteristics?

Rose: Yeah...cos real life sucks (not to that point of extra sucks) i mean, in real life...action don't come every 10 seconds and nobody promotes bad or tenacious behaviour in front of the public and get away being labelled as "normal". Real life in a fiction show is boring, if you are going to put some real men with real names and make em real interesting. You gotta give some fiction to facts; twist em and make a lie and turn it into some kind of reality bullshit.

Interviewer: ...do you apply the same formula when editing the script?

Rose: ...not all of the script work needs to be rewritten or restructured by me. That's more or less like robbing other people's hard work and tearing it of to your liking. My job is to identify a static and stagnant situation inside the storyline...giving it a little twist (with supervision-if nobody agrees on my editing then i 'll just leave it out and not disturbing  it) so it all depends on how is the story progressing. If there's a drag i will try and fix it...WITH other staff advice and open feedback.

Interviewers: One last question...is it impossible to commit fully to the AIC WARS project after you had been married and having to manage carriers and family at the same time.



 Rose: I am lucky enough that i was STILL a part of something fun.

Interviewers: Well said ma'am...

Rose: No worries...



Lord Armdagger

Lord Armdagger is the 27th ruler of the once independent nation of Avalon. The nation embraces bio-technology, experimenting with both creating a synthetic life forms and merging human genes with other species to form the "ideal human".

During the Utopian Federation expansion, the leaders of Avalon knew that sooner or later...the Utopians will set their eye on the technologically advanced Avalon nation. The Avalon's had been debating over the issue of being "conquered" by the  greater nation - just like other lesser kingdoms. Avalon may had all the technology to be that of a formidable opponent for the larger Utopian military force, however the option of resisting will cost Avalon life and resources, as well as the risk of being stripped out of their technological knowledge.

In order to preserve the peaceful nature and in pursuit of more intellectual breakthrough, the Avalon's send out delegation to the Utopian Federation in order to build a good relationship with the Utopians, hoping that the Utopian Federation would spare the kingdom from conquest.

Unfortunately, the Utopian King had already set his eyes in occupying Avalon due to it's advanced hi-tech culture. With Avalon joining the Utopian Federation States, the Utopian would be taking a huge leap in improving the quality of their own knowledge in science and technology.

While the Utopian Federation is looking for the one nation that will boost it's potential in terms of knowledge and science, Avalon in the other hand is looking for support, security and a steady influx of cash to fund their research. Thus the two nation signed a peace treaty, with that the nation of Avalon had acknowledge the Utopian Federation as their sovereign.

Thanks to the steady influx of resources pouring into Avalon, the nation Research and Development had been steadily doing vast research and developed new designs for the Utopian Technology and Military Intelligence.

Lord Armdagger himself personally instructed his major project: the combat cyborg - humanoid robots that can be mass produced and easily trained in combat arts.

During the Utopian Crisis, he personally selected the best cyborgs produced by his department - to be tested firsthand in real battlefield.

Lord Armdagger carries a large broad sword as his weapon.



...and she did it her way!

 FRANK SINATRA - My Way

And now, the end is near;

And so I face the final curtain.

My friend, I'll say it clear,

I'll state my case, of which I'm certain.

I've lived a life that's full.

I've traveled each and every highway;

But more, much more than this,

I did it my way....

 

Regrets, I've had a few;

But then again, too few to mention.

I did what I had to do

And saw it through without exemption.

I planned each charted course;

Each careful step along the byway,

But more, much more than this,

I did it my way...

Yes, there were times, I'm sure you knew

When I bit off more than I could chew.

But through it all, when there was doubt,

I ate it up and spit it out.

I faced it all and I stood tall;

And did it my way...

I've loved, I've laughed and cried.

I've had my fill; my share of losing.

And now, as tears subside,

I find it all so amusing...

To think I did all that;

And may I say - not in a shy way,

"No, oh no not me,

I did it my way..."

For what is a woman, what has she got?

If not herself, then she has naught.

To say the things she truly feels;

 

And not the words of one who kneels.

The record shows I took the blows -

And did it my way!

Tangerine: Now...let's pay Queen Rasa a suprise visit shall we?

Everyone: Yeah...!!!!!!



Hanging On A Thread Of Silk

Dawn breaks in the Utopian Capital. The world today will shift it's focus on the Utopian Senate talks between the Utopian ruler; Queen Rasa and the member of the Utopian Senate.

The day is an important day for Utopia...not only that the assembly marks the climatic end towards the Utopian civil war crisis, it will again, test the fragile pact of co-existence between the Utopian Nobles and the Utopian Commoners.

Queen Rasa decision to use military force over delegation and negotiations when dealing with the rebels under the command of her majesty most trusted knight: Lord Velther Von Dash had shocked the world. Many condemned the desicion as either to harsh or an excuse for the Utopian Noble to get rid of their Commoners counterparts.

(jinggle)

Television Broadcast: ...and now for our national morning news with Utopia's top announcer...Ume Modoki.

Ume Modoki: A wonderfull good morning to all of our viewers today. The big day that we all been waiting for is now here. Today, will the Utopian political turbulence settled down to a more softer breeze...or will it transformed into an enraged hurricane?

...the Utopian Senate decided that Queen Rasa is taking matters unto her own hands without consolidating and reffering to the Utopian Senate. Thus today, the Queen and the Utopian Political leaders from Utopian colonies and sovereign will be holding talks and dialogue session to verify the validity of the actio and it's impact towards the Utopian society.

...while outside on the streets, commoners and Lord Velther symphatizers are gathering around in a peacefull demonstration...demanding that the Utopian army withdraw from their assault at Lord Velther stronghold in Zelagross Plains as well as restoring the priviledge once promised by the former ruler of Utopia which would grant nobility to commoners of Utopia measurred by their contribution and good deeds for the Federation.

...Queen Rasa and her escorts had been seen entering the Senate Hall early today...however she is holding back from interviews and decided not to evaluate on the talks with the Senate.

Yuusuke: No cameras...please...the Queen would wish to be left alone. Thank You...

...the representatives for the Utopian commoners seems optimistic and wishes to deal with the issues as soon as possible. They also condemmed Queen Rasa actions without consulting with the Senate members as "Selfish" and "Self-Centered".

...more senate members are arriving to the capital. We will interview them personaly and get their opinions about the current crisis.

Amenz: ...wow, look at all those angry crowds. Looks like the Queen screwed up pretty badly...eh?

Ume Modoki: The representatives from every corner of the Utopian Federation are making their way into the Senate Hall. The hearing and dialogue sessions between the leaders and the queen will begin anytime soon. We will be back shortly to give you more live report on this historical events once we get back after the break...(jingle)

Alonqexe: Looks like the whole mess is going to start...

Lutherniel: What mess? We are the ones who are diving into this "mess" while that little brat are tidying things up in the main capital playing "Bodyguard" with Queen Rasa.

Silver: Playing "bodyguard" with who?

Blinkiddies: ...(sigh) at least try not to talk it all out on an open channel!

Ain Khairi: Listen to all the commotions...i was wondering, to bad that we had to locked ourselves inside this boring library. right Kanbei?

Kanbei: Right.

Ain Khairi: I mean, we should be going outside looking at these events live and all that! ...coming back maybe we can record the whole events and publish a book about the whole events ourselves! We might be famous...and...and our picture will be hanging on the library hall of famers.

Kanbei: Right.

Ain Khairi: ...and then our book will be used as a reference by every Utopian Historian, Politicians and Economist! Better yet...our book is the essential...number one...must-read references for every higher education students in Utopia...no! The World!

Kanbei: Ridiculous.

Ain Khairi: Wha...what's that you are muttering there?

Kanbei: Nothing.

Milkshake: Looks like the stupid Queen won't back out on her decision to turn Zelagross into seas of blood.

Kanon: Yes, it seems so. I wonder what is Prime Minister Tangerine preperations right now?

Tangerine: Hello...hellooo......check system....Testing...testing...one, two, three...uno...is this thing on?



Ready.....Action! CUT!

I bet we all are twigging and irking while waiting for the latest AIC WARS post. It was a hectic new year, and the hecticness lasted a million days! Before i realised it i was now thrown back to march! Rip Van Winkle! I was neclecting my online duty for so long now.



The scenery and chereography for the next AIC instalments is not an easy task. The whole scenario becomes more complicated. Last year we ran around making palaces dioramas, bases, houses and much more, now we are moving into the skies, spaces, seas! Terribly endless!

 

New characters are pouring in. Fresh line ups with an attitude. SPOILER! To bad some of the old characters "have to go". I'm not the script writer here, no complaints accepted for that part.

Mechas Gallores! some mecha fetishes and overload of fighting machineries for the mecha fans to feast their eyes upon!



Find out why the Atlantians stick their noses into the Utopian Crisis, hidden agendas and new allies in the next new chapter of AIC Wars! We will take a journey to the heart of the Atlantis itself and the rise of factions due to political differences.

 

Never ever call it quits, be right back soon for more interesting AIC Saga. Tune in and thank you for your support all these years.

That's a wrap!