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Post by Carrow on Aug 12, 2009 13:47:32 GMT -5
Sciurus continued to help in the breaching of those gates. The squirrel was finding that the method that he had chosen in an attempt to help, that is, throwing himself in amongst a group of other creatures who would then charge the gate, was quite painful. He would no doubt be bruised by the end of it all. The squirrel just had to hope that that would be as far as his injuries would go.
As he rushed the gate yet again, Sciurus glanced quickly around him. The gates leading to the courtyard were beginning to give way under the combined strength of around thirty thousand creatures and a considerable number of weapons of various kinds. Every sound that was being made around him snowballed into the next, until it was like Sciurus was surrounded by a constant stream of white noise. The hairs on the nape of his neck were beginning to rise now, as a sort of oppressive heat, caused by being in such close proximity to all these other beasts, began to press in on him. Sciurus was about as far from claustrophobic as you could get, but this was an entirely new experience for him, and the jolts of pain that he felt every time he made another charge were becoming more intense as time went on. He wondered how his friends were getting on; Sciurus was sure that they were in better condition than he was. In time, he would recover, but now he was beginning to feel slightly disoriented as he continued in his efforts.
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Post by bookity101 on Aug 12, 2009 18:46:19 GMT -5
Noel stepped back from the Major, knowing that the pressure of the uprising was getting to the beast, but this was crazy. He threw up both paws in front of him in an appeasing gesture. "Major please calm down, all I want is to get in side, away from that mob." Noel heard Myles intake of breath, but it had come timed with a very loud boom from the door, so he hoped that the Major would take it as fear of the rebels.. not as fear that their ruse would go through. ><><<><><><><><><>< Miri nodded and followed Monty out the door, taking her place just a few paces behind Monty, her head felt like it was attached on a swivel joint. There were beasts everywhere, in the shops, the streets, in window, hanging out of windows. She did remember to pay attention to what was going on around her so she didn't run into anybody, but it was hard to keep track of who was where. She nearly lost Monty several times in the crowd, having to hurry to keep up with him.
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Post by Ladorak on Aug 13, 2009 0:28:15 GMT -5
"Inside? Not without an escort....here....take these two....you two....head with him!" the Major shouted, pulling on the arms of two Guardsbeasts. He stood aside, letting Myles and Noel pass if they so chose. Just as he was doing so however, the gates finally gave way, breaking in and allowing a flood of beasts into the courtyard.
"Go! Go!" von Bachmann shouted, practically shoving Noel into the palace to get him out of the way and off the steps. The weight of the beasts and their blows against the gates had finally forced it in, and now it seemed the long awaited confrontation would be inevitable at this point. "Alright.....PRESENT ARMS!" the mongoose Major yelled, and the Guard forming a line in front of the Palace raised their muskets, leveling them all at once. It was rather an eerie atmosphere now thanks to the poor lighting of the gaslights.
Otto had been expecting this, and was not caught by surprise by the Guard raising their weapons. Several beasts entered into the empty soon to be museum and opened up windows and doors, pointing their own muskets down at the Scarlet Guard. It was a bad position for them, as they were now flanked on all sides by hostile insurgents. Cannons were also pointed at the Palace, and von Bachmann was aware that his position was now incredibly dangerous, but he did not flinch. He was a highly trained professional after all, and the same applied to his soldiers.
"ALRIGHT!" von Bachmann yelled at the top of his lungs as the seething, roiling mass of beasts ground to a halt (though only at Otto, Milton and Cutter's behest) in front of the Guard. "Listen up you damn rebels! You have NO right to arbitrarily enter the King's residence without an invite! You are to disperse at once and go back to your homes and there you will STAY unless the King summons you! This is his private property and right now you're trespassing!" he glared at them all with defiance.
"Now you listen up Major!" the voice came from Otto Kurtz. "The King's time is over! We have come here for one thing and one thing only! For him to abdicate and surrender his throne to the people! We WANT a republic and a republic we shall have! This is your one and ONLY chance to comply with our request. If you refuse then we shall move immediately upon you and storm the King's Palace in order to force the King down off his throne. One chance Major...what's it to be?" the otter was equally defiant and obviously afraid of nothing tonight.
For just a moment, doubt clouded von Bachmann's eyes. Were they really going to go through with this? Charge his soldiers and get cut down? For just a moment....the mongoose seemed to become aware of how vastly outnumbered he was. There were National Guard AND commoners facing him.....what could be a lethal combination. "Mr. Kurtz...for that IS who you are I take it.....you're nothing but a common criminal.....there's a warrant for your arrest..." he was cut off by hissing, booing and jeering from the crowd. "HOWEVER!" the mongoose continued, shouting to be heard. "However....I have dispatched a messenger into the Palace seeking King Augustine for his orders. If he permits you access then so be it...if he orders you to leave then you WILL leave...and if he orders me to fire then.....well may the Black Forest claim you and show you more mercy than I would be willing to grant." the Major said testily. "Permit the messenger to return...and then you shall have your answer."
"Very well!" returned Otto. "You have until this messenger returns....but just in case this is a bluff....we'll move against you in exactly thirty minutes REGARDLESS of what Augustine wants if this messenger does not return by then. Thirty minutes Major...you have thirty minutes...and I WILL be counting." the otter said, folding his forearms with a smirk. Von Bachmann seemed to snort contemptuously. The standoff had begun.
********************
Monty looked behind him from time to time to ensure that Miri had not been separated in the crowds. Many beasts were shooting them dirty looks as they saw the well dressed Monty go by. He looked like an aristocrat....which he technically was, but not from Rosferia. "Miri." he said, speaking in a normal tone as whispering would do him no good. "I hope you're well armed...just in case." he said, his eyes darting from left to right and attempting to keep everything in sight. He moved onto a sidewalk, sticking close to the walls of buildings. He had to be wary...watch every quarter....like there!
A knife flashed ahead of him, and Monty barely managed to avoid it in time. Out of the alleyway stepped Sveltlana, that wicked lemming Countess. "I thought you were a weasel of your word Montegu. You double crossed me...." she snarled in her husky and slightly foreign accent.
"I was going to show you the contents...I AM a weasel of my word Sveltlana...you know that. I wouldn't be Montegu Sylver in that case...you KNOW me....I had to get away...and was rather forced into that situation." He wasn't blaming Miri though...he was rather glad she had done it but now...well it complicated things. "Leave us be.....I have no business with you tonight."
"I want that case!' she demanded, advancing towards them. Monty began to draw his sword from out of his cane.
"Please Sveltlana...not tonight...."
"Oy! You aristocrats! Get off the sidewalk!" the crowd was shifting their attention to Monty, Miri and Sveltlana now, because they (particularly Monty and Sveltlana) were far better dressed than the commoners. "Let's gut 'em all and hang their bodies over the Trist! Then drop 'em in to feed the fishes! Stinkin' aristocrats!"
Exhaling with exasperation, Monty turned to face the advancing crowd. There were about three or four heading for him, another of similar number for Miri, and still a third group that was drawing towards Sveltlana. Monty could tell the lemming had no more weapons on her...except perhaps her brooch, which doubled as a sort of stiletto. Despite knowing it was a bad idea....Monty felt bad for Sveltlana. He was a chivalrous beast after all, and though Sveltlana should not have been a respectable jill in his mind, he still felt a compunction to protect her.
Gritting his teeth, he pushed off the sidewalk and launched his blade into the beasts around him, hoping to cause enough damage that he'd draw more attackers to himself in order to allow Sveltlana to escape or at the very least have less pawpads facing her. Miri he was fairly certain could take care of herself...and together he hoped they'd be enough to somehow get out of this situation.....
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Post by Carrow on Aug 13, 2009 5:42:38 GMT -5
Sciurus, too, did not seem to be afraid of a thing tonight. He had come here set on doing his best to help achieve what he knew in his heart was right: a Rosferia truly free. The squirrel had been hoping that their attempts in breaking down the gate would soon pay off, and he had been proven right. One moment, he was in the thick of the action, throwing himself at the gate, the next he heard a creaking noise. The gate tore free of its hinges, finally unable to stand any more punishment. The mass of creatures stood waiting as Otto and the mongoose major exchanged words; only a select few entered the grounds to show the Scarlet Guard that, if it wasn't already apparent, that the uprising was now in full flow.
Sciurus had been pushed out to the front of the ranks while everything had been going on, and he now had a passable view of von Bachmann, and it was clear from the look on the hypnotist's face that the mongoose was really getting on his nerves. He vaguely recalled seeing him when he was in the palace a few months back. So much had happened since then, he thought. What gave him the right to order all these beasts? The mongoose was as doomed as every other creature associated with the King, he thought. Thirty minutes, he heard Otto say. Thirty minutes that would determine whether the night passed relatively peacefully, or descended into utter chaos.
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Post by bookity101 on Aug 13, 2009 21:13:27 GMT -5
Noel rushed up the steps, stopping just inside the building turning to the escorts. "Listen fellows, that mob is not going to go peacefully." He turned to Myles, motioning for him to go on ahead, "You to head back to the others, I know my way around, and I'm not going to do anything stupid." He smiled at them "I promise." With that he dashed off after Myels, towards the office of Maklos de Vuis, the friend that Noel had on the inside of the palace, and also his best friend. ****** Minutes later, Noel barged into Maklos' office, causing the striped polecat to jump. Noel held a paw to his friend to keep him from saying anything till he had shut the door and stationed Noel out side of it, just incase the escorts had followed them. Then he turned back to Maklos. "Hello there Mak." He said, approaching the desk, "Its been awhile since I saw you last."
Maklos looked up from his desk at his friend, a smile growing on his feature. He stood leaning on the unbroken leg, holding out a paw to Noel. "Been far to long Noel." They shook, and Mak settled back into his seat. "What brings you to the palace Noel?" Noel shook his head, "Are you deaf Mak?" He pulled on his own ear. "Can't you hear the bells!? There's a mob outside wanting the King to abdicate, and they will use force to get him to." Maklos looked up at him, impassive. "I don't think that they will be able to find him."
At that Noel stopped, remembering the fundimental difference between him and the beast that he considered nearly a brother. They were both high ranking nobility, Noel, being a Duke, outranked Mak's title as a Lord, but Noel had never been taught to look down on other beasts, Mak had. And he was having some difficulty changing those ideas now that he needed to.
"Mak, could you please tell me where the King is?" Noel leaned on the desk looking him straight in the eye. "I know you don't believe in the Revolution, but please Mak, tell me where he is before some innocent beast dies." Mak sat silent for a few minutes, finally shaking his head "I can't do that Noel, not for all the years we've been friends." Noel would've felt worse if he hadn't seen Maklos grab a piece of parchment and write down 'He's in the Assembly Room, with his whole family, Be careful my friend.' Noel smiled and ran out of the room, hoping that he made it back to Otto before the time limit was up.
Noel didn't try to go through the guards, instead he shimmied down a tree that was near one of the windows, an escape he had found during one especially oppressive ball several years ago. He dropped down, not waiting for Myles to catch up with him, trusting him to be smart enough to follow his lead. Noel dashed through the side courtyard, coming out behind most of the beasts, he began to push and shove through the ranks of beasts milling about, which was hard to do until he drew his sword and began poking beasts who got in his way with the tip. He had about 10 minutes left when he entered the crowd, and he was sure that he had less than five when he reached the last few rows of beasts. So he began yelling, forgoing his normal courtesy so he would hopefully be heard.
"Otto! Otto! I know Where The King Is Don't Move In On The Palace!" He paused, as he broke through the line, then ran towards the blue otter and the crocodile, knowing he had run out of time, "Otto, He's Not In There!!"
><><><><><><><><
Miri nodded, pulling put her knuckles, which were her favorite weapon to use, she was attaching the knife part to both of them when she saw Monty avoid the knife, she was stepping forward to talk to the Countess, already starting to say that the double-cross was her fault, when the crowd around them started forward to attack Monty and Svetlana, mostly ignoring her until she stepped up behind Monty. She blocked many attacks from some more of the drunks in the crowd, laying them out with well placed punches, her precautions about the knuckles came in pawly*. Finally she was faced with a beast who was more of challenge, not drunk and carrying a knife.
She fended him off, as best she could without moving to far from Monty, finally dropping to her forepaws and sweeping the legs out from under the beast, she was able to knock him cold. When she stood again, she couldn't see Monty. As yet another best confronted her, she yelled, "Boss, Boss where are you?!"
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Post by Ladorak on Aug 13, 2009 22:53:16 GMT -5
Time was passing, but it wasn't too long before the soldier returned with news for von Bachmann. "Sir! The King....I couldn't find him sir! I tried looking but..."
"What?" whispered the mongoose harshly. "What do you mean you couldn't find him? What about the Queen?"
"No sir....nothing. I could try again... "It didn't make sense! Where could His Highness be at a time like this!? There were many rooms he had to himself of course...and the Palace WAS big...it was possible that he had just been missed somewhere. It never occurred to von Bachmann that the King would abandon his own cause and desert the Palace. He was beginning to get nervous. He had no specific orders after all.....so what was he to do? Try and get them to disperse....charge the cannons and take them?
The crowd was getting restless, as was Otto. "Well Major? What's the King's answer?" the mongoose snapped his head in the direction of the otter.
"You are NOT permitted entry into the King's Palace at this time." the Major snapped. "No beast is. Disperse at once or I'll be forced to fire into you!" he cried, figuring a show of force was necessary now.
"Not if we get you first!" shouted some beasts, who started moving towards the Guard. Otto was getting ready to call everybeast forward. There was no point in having them just stand here after all. "Very well Major...have it your way!" he exclaimed, but then was stopped suddenly by a shout from behind him.
Turning about he caught sight of Noel quickly who was shouting out to him that the King was not in the Palace. What!? Was this some sort of trick....or was it true? Von Bachmann HAD seemed unsure of himself...but then several sharp cracks rang out and a small fight erupted. It was hard to see WHO had started the firing, but both Guards and crowd were firing into each other.
"Dammit! FIRE!!!!" shouted the mongoose Major, and as one his entire line let loose with a sheet of flame that stabbed the night air and exploded in the faces of the advancing crowd. Many were cut down then and there, but this seemed to enrage the crowd now, who started a general advance, firing their own muskets and dropping a few of the Guard as they quickly reloaded. "FIRE AT WILL!!" von Bachmann was shouting, firing off a shot with his pistol and dropping a young bandicoot at the foot of the steps. A cannon discharged somewhere off to the right, and it's shell exploded amidst a set of Guardbeasts, throwing their bodies every which way.
To the horrified eyes of Boneparte, the battle had unfolded and was quickly disintegrating into an all out fight. The Guard seemed to have the upper paw right now, but they were hopelessly outnumbered. Unless von Bachmann did something audacious, it seemed as if the Scarlet Guard would be overwhelmed at some point. "The cannons..." the meerkat muttered under his breath. "Go for the cannons.....turn them around....." if the Guard could gain control of the cannons they'd have the advantage. A professional force against a group of rebels armed with cannons would surely lose.....unless of course the cannons could be turned on the crowd. Boneparte, as an artillery officer, recognized this, but wasn't about to head out there to tell the mongoose that himself. He just wanted the fighting to stop, and figured it would end poorly for the Guard if they lost. What to do....aside from watch the carnage unfold now?
Otto was keeping low, firing off his pistol at a Guardsbeast and trying to listen to what Noel had to say. "What? You said the King isn't in the Palace? You SURE about this? Where could he possibly be then?" he asked. He only hoped the meerkat wasn't lying to him....they were in a battle now and, it was either going to be the Scarlet Guard or the people tonight, and Otto would do everything in his power to ensure his group won....
*****************
The Assembly was still debating about what to do with Augustine. They were unwilling to commit to anything just yet. They were cleverly taking a neutral approach, not condemning him but not supporting him either. It seemed as if the majority of the legislators wanted to wait and see WHO was going to win tonight. The royalists or the republicans...and based on that....THEN they would pass judgment on their monarch.
It was all very nerve wracking for the leopard, who wished they wouldn't play games with him like this. He was used to toying with string but...now it appeared he himself was the ball of string and the Assembly was the cat. A sudden booming from outside caused everybeast to hush up and listen. Yes....deep rumbles that indicated cannon fire...and the pop-pop-popping of distant musketry. What was that!? It held the gathered assemblage spellbound for a few moments before someone managed to look out of one of the gallery windows.
"Oh blasted hellgates! The Scarlet Guard is engaging the crowd!"
"What!?" the King demanded, standing up now and drawing attention to himself. "That's ludicrous! I gave them NO such orders to fire! Well...in fact....I gave them no orders at all..." he said softly, realizing his foolishness only after it was too late. "I.....somebeast get out there!" he yelled. "Tell them to stop firing at once! Here..." he said, quickly leaving the box and grabbing a sheet of paper from off the raccoon president's desk and scribbling out an order on it. "I don't have my official seal with me but von Bachmann should recognize my signature. Somebeast get out there and tell them to STOP FIRING! I didn't authorize this!" he practically screamed hysterically. It was clear the leopard was beginning to crack under pressure, which was odd since he was supposed to be head of the nation.
Augustine's mind could think only of his Guard firing into the crowd and butchering them (though in reality the crowd was giving a fairly good account of their selves) and of what the people would say about him after it was all over. They'd call him a butcher...a sadist...one who loved executing his own citizens in public. He was no such King, and he intended to prove it tonight....provided it wasn't already too late. Spinfer stepped forward.
"Your Highness...I shall deliver your orders. I feel partly responsible for suggesting you come here after all." the stoat said, though in reality soul blame rested with Augustine for failing to inform his security about his plans to vacate his residence. "Get them to stop firing at once." Augustine said, his voice strained now as Spinfer nodded and hastily exited the Assembly hall in order to travel the short distance back to the Palace with Augustine's orders. No.....this couldn't be happening! The leopard felt weak in the knees, and stumbled back to his seat, a look of dejection and disbelief on his face as each boom of the cannon, each discharge of a musket was like a dagger turning in his chest....
****************
Monty was ducking and weaving, slashing this way and that and cutting his way over to Sveltlana. As much as he hated to do this, he felt compelled to defend her. She was practically unarmed after all, and he was far too much of a chivalric weasel in order to let her get attacked. Just as one swung a particularly rusty looking axe at her, Monty was on top of this beast, slicing into his backside and causing him to scream in pain. It was a horrid task for the weasel...he hated bringing harm to others and this was no exception....but it had to be done.
A beast managed to grapple with the Countess and knocked her down, but Monty kicked the pawpad aside. He went after a few beasts, chasing them off with his ferocity and then turning towards a new group. One was drawing a pistol....leveling it down at Sveltlana....and Monty's instincts took over at that point. He raced forward just as the beast fired, the bullet striking Monty as he took it for the lemming. Sveltlana could only watch all of this with disbelieving eyes. Had Montegu Sylver REALLY just done that?
The shooter was reloading now, intending to finish the job. Monty had crumpled down onto the pavement, bleeding from a wound in his chest on his right side close to his shoulder. He couldn't tell if his lung had been hit or not, but he could definitely see his vest being stained crimson. His sword arm was in pain, and he could barely hold the blade up. He swiftly reached into his vest pocket with his undamaged left paw and drew out his pistol, shooting the other beast dead just as he was about to shoot at Monty's head.
Panting, the weasel dropped his gun, letting it clatter to the street. Oddly enough...it was as if his shot had scared the others. They all stopped, listening for something it seemed. There was a deep rumbling in the distance....almost like thunder. "The King's Palace! Sounds like it's starting chums!" one urchin exclaimed. "Let's get over there right away! Forget these aristocratic scum! They'll be dealt with after the King's gone!" taking off in another direction (towards the gunfire) Monty breathed a heavy sigh of relief. "Here...I'm over here!" he called out to Miri, pain finally catching up to him as he winced when he dragged himself up onto the sidewalk. Sveltlana was watching him with wide eyes, still in disbelief over all that happened. Her initial instinct was to escape...run away to live to fight another day....but could she really leave this bleeding weasel like this? One that HAD technically taken a bullet for her after all?
Urrrrgh it made her irate. He shouldn't have done that! Now she owed him one! And owing Montegu Sylver was the LAST thing in the world the Countess wanted. Monty, for his part, was feeling his wound up....it didn't feel as if any of his ribs had been bullet, and from the pain he judged that the bullet had passed right through him and exited his backside. He didn't feel as if his lung had been hit....but he really couldn't be sure either. He'd just need to stop this bleeding...that was what was most important right now.....
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Post by Carrow on Aug 14, 2009 7:25:45 GMT -5
The fur stood up at the back of Sciurus Whirlpaw's neck as he heard the mongoose Major give the order to open fire on the crowd. He trembled slightly as the insurgents surged forward, withdrawing his pistol from his belt. The first ranks of creatures broke and scattered, and the hypnotist went with them. He knew that he had to get his nerves under control. He was hoping that he would be able to get behind something so he could try to assess the situation, but soon realised that there were no such places to be seen. The courtyard was completely open, with very few places to hide, at least from where the squirrel was standing.
Sciurus spotted a Guardsbeast racing towards the crowd. The squirrel's keen eyes quickly identified the creature as a ferret. To Sciurus, who had quite seldom raised a paw against another creature, it really was asking a lot of him to fire a weapon. Under normal circumstances at least, the squirrel would have hesitated, but he knew that it was kill or be killed now, and he had no other choice. Thinking swiftly, he fired at the ferret, and then, oddly, smiled slightly as the creature was taken through the chest. Sciurus was unsure how he would react once verything settled down, but there was no time to think such thoughts. His trembling ceased. He had often been told that it wasn't in his nature to do violence, but he was quite clearly enjoying the adrenaline that now coursed through his veins.
A shot was fired in his direction, and the squirrel's quick reflexes saved him from injury. It had come from an angle where he could have easily dodged it, but it was still in relatively close proximity to him. Sciurus fired again, and his opponent, a mouse, cried out in anguish as he was taken through the footpaw. Spotting his friends, Otto and Noel, nearby, he sprinted over to them. surprised to see the meerkat Captain back so soon.
"What news, Noel?," he said into his friend's ear, as the battle raged around them.
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Post by bookity101 on Aug 14, 2009 13:49:48 GMT -5
Noel ducked as bullets whizzed past his head, wincing as he saw them hit beasts behind him. He nodded to Scuirus, but continued talking to Ottp. “He went to the Assembly, he’s hiding there with his whole family,” Noel kept his voice low as possible to make sure only the beasts he wanted to heard him. “And before you ask, I trust my source.” He waved for Myles to join him. “Maklos de Vuis is my best friend, he is also an upper aide to Spinfer, the palace secretary fellow.” Noel ducked again as more bullets passed over him.
Noel looked around, grimacing as he saw the decimation around him, Saying to the beasts near him “We have to end this quickly…” he thought for a few moments, then a trick that was valuable at sea occured to him, he moved to put into action, hoping it worked as well on land as it did at sea.
Turning slightly, he yanked a seasoned hardwood staff out of the paws of one of the beasts around him. He then burst from where he had been under a sort of cover, keeping low, Yelling as he did “Otto, Sciourus, This Way!!” He led the way along an outer wall, mostly out of the line of sight of the beasts on the steps. They had all most reached them when one of them saw him, taking a flying leap at the beast, he knocked him cold with the staff. He made his way to the Major, coming up behind him quietly as he could, under the circumstances that was not very quiet. He only hoped that his paw didn’t shake as he raised the loaded pistol at him.
“Major! Call Off Your Troops, Now, Or I Will Shoot You!” He knew that Myles had followed him, because he stood now at his side, his own pistol drawn, along with an extra he had picked up somewhere. He cocked his own, patience wearing thin. “Major, please, call off your troops. There does not need to be any more bloodshed, on either side.”
><><><><><><>< Miri dashed to were Monty lay, dropping to her knees by him, not panicked, but worried about the amount of blood she saw. Working quickly, she cut open his vest with the knife she had gotten from one of the unconscious beasts. She bit her lip at the wound, relived that it appeared to have missed everything vital, and that the bullet was out, but still he was loosing a lot of blood.
Miri began ripping stripes of cloth from her shirt to use to pad the wound. She glanced up at the Countess, who seemed to be having problems deciding what to do. Looking down at Monty again, she addressed the other femme. “Look Countess, you can stay or go, I can take care of Boss with you dirtying your paws.” Hear she paused from wrapping the wound to look her in the eye’s her blue ones alive with… well, memories of the last misunderstanding she had caused, “But you should know that he didn’t double cross you, I did.” She shrugged, focusing in on the wound again, a small tear forming in one eye as she remembered what had happened to the last beast she had worked with. She blinked it away quickly, only a small number of beasts would’ve even noticed it at all.
“Anyway, you can go if you wish, I won’t stop you, but if your staying to help” Here Miri waved a paw, motioning for her move out of the sun, so she could see better. “…go find a cab or something so we can get him to a vet.”
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Post by Ladorak on Aug 14, 2009 15:15:22 GMT -5
Otto could hardly believe what he was hearing. The King had fled his Palace!? But then....why were the Scarlet Guard resisting? What could they possibly hope to gain. Was such a report true? "We'd need to check the Palace regardless I'm afraid!" Otto yelled to be heard over the battle. "Just in case he isn't in hiding....and besides...quickest way TO the Assembly is through the Palace now!" the otter explained.
Ahead of them, some of the Guard had made a spirited charge at a few of the cannon, driving off the artillery beasts and taking possession of them. They were working to turn them around into the crowd. Yes! thought Boneparte. That's it! They'd get an advantage now! Truth be told though....Boneparte had NO idea about WHY he was cheering on the Scarlet Guard. He hated royalists...but perhaps it was just in the meerkat's nature to root for the underbeast. He came from an island that was struggling for independence after all, and seeing the Scarlet Guard putting up such a fight well....it WAS a bit admirable despite how badly they were outnumbered.
There was barely any time to think though as soon Noel was dashing off, having picked up a stave from someplace and calling for Otto and Sciurus to follow after him. "Crazy fools the mustelids!" shouted Otto, obviously referencing himself as well as he was part of that family. He made his way carefully along after the meerkat. "Milton...conduct the battle from the front!" he called back to the crocodile as they parted ways. Milton was more than happy to take charge up here. He had to admit he rather hated seeing the people fired on, but he'd have to snuff out all resistance now in order to restore peace.
Major von Bachmann, having been trained in elite schools, caught sight of the movement off to his right as Noel was able to penetrate his ring of Guards. He was equally as fast, whipping his pistol up and into the meerkat's face just as Noel did the same to him. Otto's eyes widened at what was going down....a regular standoff here it seemed. The Major's eyes blazed with animosity as several of his Guard noticed, turning around to level their muskets at the gathered beasts who were threatening their commanding officer. "Call my soldiers off?" asked von Bachmann, rather incredulously. "Are you out of your mind? My troops are defending themselves AND the King's residence! Stopping the fighting now would be a literal impossibility!" Otto was bringing his own pistol up, but didn't see this as a very good situation.
"Go ahead! Shoot me!" the mongoose Major puffed out his chest, his pistol paw not wavering as he kept it trained at Noel's throat. "You kill me, then I might kill you as I fall, and then my soldiers fire, and everybeast dies, and the Revolution loses one of it's leaders. I'm prepared to die....are you Captain?" the mongoose demanded of the meerkat, his close relative in terms of species.
Otto was not afraid of death....but he realized that he had more to lose by dying. If the Major died then so what? The Guard were already fighting for their lives as it was, they had nothing to lose at this point. He would have to get the fighting to stop on his OWN end as well. As this rather tense standoff continued, a huffing Spinfer managed to appear out of the shadows and skid to a halt next to the mongoose. "Major von Bachmann! Major von Bachmann! I come, bearing orders from his Majesty!" the stoat wheezed, thrust the paper in the Major's face. He angrily grabbed it, shoving it back at Spinfer.
"Read it you oaf...can't you see I'm busy?" gulping, Spinfer nodded uncurled the parchment.
"By orders of King Augustine XVI, Lord of Rosferia, he orders his Scarlet Guard to disengage and join him at the Legislative Assembly!"
"What!?" the mongoose could hardly believe his ears. "Is this some kind of joke!? Disengage....HOW?" he roared, nodding with his head whilst not taking his eyes off of Noel. "We're a little busy at the moment...in case His Majesty didn't notice. And since WHEN did His Majesty head for the Legislative Assembly? I received no such notice of that."
"It happened a little while ago...he neglected to inform you. He wants you to disengage at once and recall your troops!" Spinfer said, wishing he could do more.
"Disengage.....we're fighting for our lives here!" the Major protested, unsure of what to do.
"I would order my troops to cease fire if you did so for your Major." Otto said. "However...I'm NOT leaving without having the King abdicate tonight. We've lost too much blood here to just walk away." The mongoose sneered.
"And I won't let you anywhere near His Majesty I'm afraid." was the Major's reply.
"Then it seems we have an impasse...."
"Yes...it seems we do."
"Major von Bachmann....the King's orders..."
"I know!" von Bachmann snapped, cutting off Spinfer. He couldn't just tell his troops to stop firing and walk away...they'd be cut down. And he couldn't abandon his security detail of Augustine either. The best he could do was order a withdrawal and hope that once his unit's ammunition ran low they'd be allowed to surrender. "Call a retreat into the gardens!" shouted the Major. "Fall back into the gardens!" the word was passed along down the line, much to the amazement of the Guard. They reluctantly abandoned their newly won cannons. NO....NO! What were they doing!? Boneparte could hardly believe his eyes! Was the King so weak that he was giving up his position! All would be lost now....when before they COULD have stood a fighting chance!
The Scarlet Guard began conducting a fighting retreat back into the Palace, intending to pass through it and head out into the gardens out back. "I would surrender of course..." Major von Bachmann stated, "but I have no guarantees about the safety of my troops. Besides....His Highness has not ordered it."
"Your troops would be put on trial Major....I can't give you any further promise than that." Otto said, shaking his head. "We wouldn't kill you after you threw down your arms however."
"Hmph! Trial! You have NO right to try me in this country! I'm from Gradvar after all, and most of my troops are from there as well. They would HAVE to be tried in the courts of their own nations! You have no authority over me." the mongoose said defiantly. Rebels were pouring into the Palace now, following after the retreating Guard. "I'd rather die in combat than be tried by one of your illegitimate courts."
"I wouldn't be able to authorize you to leave this country...that authority does not rest with me I'm afraid." was the otter's response.
"Yes...and I suppose it doesn't. But once Augustine goes...what protection would I have? No....this is a battle for survival now. Back off meerkat.....I'm not ordering my troops to cease fire....to do so now would be suicide. You can shoot me if you like, but I might get you on the way down if you don't kill me outright. And my troops would fire into you as well....what would you accomplish by killing me? They all know their jobs......" the mongoose said, not blinking as he stared down at Noel. It was clear that von Bachmann's level of devotion was close to fanaticism, though Otto was quite dismayed at this. They'd search the Palace....but it seemed as if the King was indeed at the Legislative Assembly....which should be their next target. He didn't WANT to see the Scarlet Guard cut down of course, but this fight was catching both sides now and it was as von Bachmann had said....they were fighting not to defend the Palace anymore...but to defend themselves.
"Sciurus....pass the word on to Milton. Tell him that if the Scarlet Guard be willing to surrender we'd stop fighting....and tell him TO cease fighting if they do." Otto said simply. Milton by now was moving through the Palace out into the gardens out back.
"Surrender? Only if I have no other option." von Bachmann stated. "We have our job to do after all...and our lives to protect. Like I said....better to die fighting than to be condemned to a death by a court that has no legal authority over me whatsoever. I will NOT back down. It's your move meerkat." he said, fixing Noel with a challenging gaze.
******************
Sveltlana seemed finally moved into action. As much as she hated to do this......she ran out into the street, hoping to hail a cab someplace. Very few were actually working this early, and even fewer wanted to be out in the chaos that was going on right now. Monty coughed, happy there was no blood in his sputum.
"Miri....what was that?" he asked her. The weasel was sharp, and missed almost nothing. He had caught that brief tear in her eye, and had also seen how she quickly tried to hide it. "What's....wrong?" he asked, suddenly remembering something. "Here...make sure you check my back side...I think the bullet passed clean through. I might be bleeding out the back as well." he said, trying to pivot his neck in order to see behind him but it was a such an angle that he could see nothing. He THOUGHT he saw blood but couldn't be sure. The sun was just coming up after all and the light was not that good.
Sveltlana had managed to wave down a passing cab, directing it over to the sidewalk where the two weasels were, one nearly lying the other kneeling over him.
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Post by Carrow on Aug 14, 2009 19:21:51 GMT -5
Sciurus had listened intently to the exchanges. That light-headed feeling that had come over him when they had been charging the gate began to descend upon him again. It came slowly, disorientating the weary squirrel, and clouding his mind, sidetracking him, making him unable to think clearly. How could... this be... happening now?, he thought sluggishly. I thought... these episodes of mine had passed... had left me... never to come back... None of his friends knew that in his early twenties, due to the stress he had been put under through work and furthering his education, he had regularly experienced blackouts. Each time, they had come upon him unexpectedly, and without warning. A brief moment of light-headedness, and he was out. They had lessened over the years, and had seemed to leave him around the age of twenty-five, never troubling him. He had had no time to think of how he had felt earlier, for in amongst all those creatures, his mind was focused on battering down the gate. But now, with a million thoughts whirling around in his head, he was beginning to succumb to this strange feeling once again.
A low voice in his ear brought him back to himself, at least temporarily. "...pass the word on to Milton. Tell him that if the Scarlet Guard be willing to surrender we'd stop fighting....and tell him TO cease fighting if they do." The squirrel nodded, and went to seek the crocodile out. Quite a tall creature, the crocodile would be relatively easy to identify. Shaking of the feeling of weakness that had come upon him so suddenly, Sciurus looked about him. There he was! Racing over to him, he tugged at Milton's paw to get his attention.
"Mister Dragonis, sir... message from Otto... He says that if the Scarlet Guard are willing to surrender we should stop fighting, and if they DO surrender, we will cease fighting."
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