"Kalashnikov's", Zvezdny Gorodok

[arvg]

Song

Alvin stood off to one side standing holding a glass of wine as he watched the night sky out of the tall windows overlooking the white snow swept space of Omega-52. The evening was progressing well, their guests were being well received by the dignitaries of the fighter corps.

He kept himself slightly apart from the main crowds, engaging in polite conversation with military officers that joined him to offer their congratulations on dealing with the Omicroners, or aspiring politicos hoping to introduce the dashing young Premier to their daughters.

The latter always made him smile; after eight hundred years in Sirius, a daughter was still the fastest way to gain political connections, and many of them believed that the Premier would make the ideal husband.

Too bad he was taken.

He turned from the window, looking across the floor towards the broad staircase that led to the upper level and the young man standing so uncertainly in his simple brown sweater. His hair was hurriedly combed, and his dark framed glasses sitting a little askew. They framed his sparkling eyes in the light as he pulled down on the cuffs of the sweater to hide his hands, biting his lip as he bounced up on tiptoes trying to spot Alvin.

James, a constant shadow since the recent events with the Commissariat and TOR-ONE, kept back a few paces, keeping his eye on the Premeir. Katz'€™s personal bodyguards had taken up their role after a number of protests from the Premier, but when he realized he couldn'€™t really stop them, he had come to accept their presence.

The Premier set his glass aside, moving around a large potted plant, smiling as he just watched Razin a moment. Awkward and unused to social events, yet still eager to try his best, he'€™d managed to avoid the other state functions up till this point, too shy to participate. But Mendel had insisted Alvin invite him, no doubt curious to the relationship whispered about in certain circles'€¦

"Premier! Premier, come! Introduce these good comrades of the Coalition. Show me the men we have chosen to share sheets with."

Katz turned with a slight look of surprise at Comrade Mao, and James stepped protectively up to the Premier's shoulder. the rough looking Arabic man wore a worn coat over top of black body armour, his hand flexing as he dropped a vicious knife down into it.

Alvin reached out a warning hand, to reign in James' enthusiasm, "he's just been drinking." Katz warned.

James shrugged mutely, melting back into the crowd, a look of pure violence on his face.

Smiling warmly, Katz rested a hand on Comrade Mao's shoulder, "you remember the first tenant of Katz-ism, Comrade? That Profit is fine as long as it doesn't come at the exploitation of others? In fact honest profit is encouraged... This year the IND have taken massive losses in profits to help us rebuild JiangXi, and the Zoners have made regular humanitarian runs bringing refugees to the safety of the Coalition. These are the men we have chosen to... share our sheets with. And Comrade, you of all people know that a generous bed partner is to be kept, no?"

---

[Turkish]

"Oh very much so Premier, a good bed partner is an asset to be sure."

The look on his face was pure energy. He'd seen the brutish security services child idoling with a knife for him, that spoke more truly of the Coalition he'd joined than anything else.

"They seem eager to do business. I'm sure we're getting a fair cut from this."

Nodding he resumed.

"Your security detachment is getting a work out to be sure, how is the beef steak you have there with the blade?"

Gabriel relaxed his posture and assumed a more dignified stance before turning back to his commander and chief. By then the band had moved on to yet another Earth classic, albeit a bit different this time.

---

I have a fetish for all things Norse.

[Inquisitor Gaunt]

The Newcastler was drunk off his tits, by now. Well beyond inebriated, he wasn't quite sure how to take the woman seated across from him, drinking that potato water stuff. He took a cautious stab at the situation, glancing at the lads and seeing if they'd noticed her before giving his response. It seemed she wasn't a hallucination.

"S-Simmy! Or...Simon." His head was swimming. Too much bloody ale, not enough manly stuff like...whiskey. He looked up at the bartender, hollaring for a round of shots of scotch for the contestants, before looking back to Ellie. He squinted, trying desperately to make out her uniform among the other blurs and blobs that were visible. Come to think of it, nothing was really that distinguishable besides what was on the cards. He had a fleeting thought about beer goggles, and he silently prayed to whoever was listening that this Ellie lass wasn't an uggo when he took them off.

Not one to be detered, he went for it anyway, the music changing temp sharply to a more relaxed, indy rock/alternative beat. He drew a breath, making the bare minimum of cognitive thought before speaking again.

"Plesht'meet ya', Ellie" he slurred, again thanking that power that was that they'd decided to play for drinks, instead of nudity. He'd been dealt garbage all night. "Ivya don't mind me ash- uh- az-" he paused, trying to summon the power to use his words like a big boy. "Aaaaaaahs-king. Whakinda lads does agurl like you fly for? D'thenk me rude I jus' got'em gomm- c- COM-MIS-SAHRs sittin' over'er n'they d'likeus talken' t'strange lasses y'know?"

He leaned back, flicking out cards to everyone surrounding him. 2-7 off suit. Garbage again.

---

[arvg]

Song

Katz watched Mao turn his back, and he stared bitterly into his glass of wine. Things had changed in the Coalition over the past year. Prosperity was something that some in the Coalition were not used to. They preferred the Stigma of bitterness and hatred fueling a fire of revolution... not willing to accept that best course for revolution was to show the potential of the Coalition... that it was a better system, a prosperous system... a benevolant place.

There were always those trying to restore what they thought the Coalition should be, through ignorance or blindness to what it could be. They saw any deal, or any friendship as a potential threat to the ideals that had built McIntosh's Coalition out of the ashes of Aeon's legacy. But they were the heirs to the Coalition, it wasn't the past... the days of starving in a rock, throwing lives away against enemies too numerous to count were long over.

The groups in that room, the IND, the TAZ, the Order, the Hessians... they were all there because they needed the Coalition, and in that same way, the Coalition needed them in return.

Comrade Mao's words of scorn were nothing more than echoes of a long dead time.

Katz smiled warmly as he returned to his guests.

The Coalition moved forwards, and those that chose to be left behind, were.

---

[Yaoquizque]

A young girl wearing a pink dress and a man entered in Kalashnikov bar.

She waved at everyone and shouted "Helloooo sweet hearts! Sorry we're a bit late..." She laughed "Ehhh... Gary didn't want me to come! I don't know why..."

She then stared at all the men in the bar and grinned "Whooo!"
The girl moved to the counter and asked a coalition vodka bottle with a smile, then filled a glass and bottomed it up in a blink.
"Ah! That's good!"

Turning around, she noticed the various popes having some fun; Doc surrounded by several people as he was playing piano, Xavier and Mad John enjoying some vodka.
She laughed. "Ah! Everyone is there already! Uhhh.. Well almost everyone..."

The man with her, sipping some scotch, wondered, raising an eyebrow "You search someone, Connie?"
She refilled her glass and drank some vodka. "Hmmm? Well Gary...Wasn't Rainus supposed to be there and offer me - uhhhh i mean us - a present?!"
Gary nodded. "Ah right"

Concordia noticed Alvin passing by, as he was greeting various people and shaking some hands. She waved at him. "Hello love. Thanks for the invite! It's a nice party and there is a lot of cute boys..." She giggled; Gary shook his hand.

"Ah! Reminds me!" She maked her shy face "I didn't have enough money to buy a present.... So i thought of something to do!" She ran around to the jukebox and checked the musics in it.

"Uhhhhh... No... No... No... Ah! Well i will add one then!" She took her comm unit and uploaded a song from it.

As the song was loading she jumped in a table and shouted with her clear voice "Hey! A little attention please!" She grinned "Okay... I wanted to wish a merry... hmmm... Whatever it is! And... I have a present for you all!"

Gary facepalmed "Oh no..."

As the song started, Concordia began to dance lasciviously, shaking her hips and causing almost everyone to stop their conversations.
She then slowly removed her boots and launched them in the bar. One of them hit a random guest in the head. She grinned "Oooops! Sorry hon' "

She kept dancing, removing her dark top and launching it in the bar again. "Whooo!"
Connie then jumped on different tables, dancing in front of various ladies and men.
At some point she danced in front of an handsome coalition officer and leant forward to kiss him.

After a few seconds, the song ended and she chuckled, sighing "Uhoh... I wasn't done...."

Concordia jumped of the table and laughed "Oh well, more for later i guess!" She waved at the people in the bar "Hope you liked it sweet hearts!" and moved back to the counter, near Gary who was making a weird face.
She sat and sipped some vodka...

---

[Turkish]

The Premier hadn't seemed to welcome his energetic approach, he hadn't meant it threateningly, nor had he meant it harshly. It was to be frank very new for many of the old guard, to adapt, to change, to embrace. These were in fact the most prosperous times of the surviving Coalition.

Maybe he would just have to reassure Premier Katz of his loyalty.

He staunchly followed behind the dignitary as delicately as he could, eyeing the IND delegation far off in the corner. He would have words with them at some point. James, the "beef steak" looked ready to down a wild boar and present it to all who would hear him. Typical, effective, but typical. He was Mao's kind of man.

Rummaging through his persons he pawed at his service piece, fully loaded, safety removed, chambered. He dropped it on the ground between the Beef Steak and the Premier.

Next movement.

---

I have a fetish for all things Norse.

[Yuveraj Khan]

Song

Razin spotted Katz, steadying himself with a slight smile as he made his way across the room, weaving amongst the dancers and the tables, pausing to collect a glass of vodka, slamming it back in the hopes it would provide some Dutch courage.

He smiled as he reached Alvin, feeling the trepidation that haunted him of late. "Alvin."

Katz turned, his eyes lighting up in pleasure, reaching out to touch Razin lightly on the arm, "Merry Christmas Stenka."

Razin nodded, "this time last year it was Vodka and cigarettes in the Social Credit, this is definitely... warmer."

"Christmas should be warm," Katz replied his smile broadening. "I..."

Both of them stopped at the dull thump, as the gun dropped to the ground between the ragged looking James and Comrade Mao.

"Oh hell no..." Razin uttered, bending down to scoop up the gun and quickly stuffing it into the small of his back. "You two want to fight, do it where no one can see you. This is a party, and you..." he nodded to Mao, "are an Officer of the Fighter Corps."

---

[Tenshu]

----Incoming Transmission----
----Zoner signature detected ----
----Zoner ID verified----
----ID: Temporary Autonomous Zoner----
----Operator: Xavier Triton----
----Accessing...----

After his brief attempt at courting a Coalition woman...which ended with a rather heavy handed slap to the face.
Xavier stood with his face firmly planted in his palm after seeing Concordia's "public service".

"Con-cor-d-ia!" Xavier fumed.
Xavier couldn't help but laugh and sigh. There was little chance in controlling her anywhere much less here.

Across the room Xavier saw Alvin contemplating his beverage. Upon approaching Xavier caught a glimpse of a firearm changing hands. Not very reassuring for a celebration but decided to ignore it nonetheless. Besides the Premier had many loyal men behind him who would stop at nothing to ensure his safety in any situation.

"Alvin.." Xavier greets as he shakes Alvin's hand "..Thank you for the invite! This is a great celebration you have organized here, and the alcohol is excellent! You must be very proud of what you have accomplished this past year! Oh! and in case you were wondering I am Xavier Triton. John Holliday's diplomatic aide and protege."

Regards,

Xavier Triton
The Trident of Eris, Shasta Orbital Skyhook, Baffin

---Ending Transmission---

---

[Turkish]

He turned to eye Razin.

"I'm not looking to fight, I'm looking to illustrate that had anyone chosen to commit acts of treason, war, or aggression it seems painfully easy to carry a loaded, chambered, and fully capable firearm within point-blank distance of the Premier."

Gabriel looked at James.

"Don't you think that proves a wary point? Dilligence comrades."

He took a pause.

"Had I been a dissident the Premier, the delegates, our men, your children, we would be dead. And our splendour soured with blood."

"What do you think James?"

He ended the statement by disarming Stenka of his pistol and emptying it of it's rounds calmly while ignoring the Zoner politely.

Next movement.

---

I have a fetish for all things Norse.

[arvg]

Song

A woman's voice carried across the bar, "Hey! A little attention please!" She grinned "Okay... I wanted to wish a merry... hmmm... Whatever it is! And... I have a present for you all!"

Katz turned, blinking.

As the song started, Concordia began to dance lasciviously, shaking her hips and causing almost everyone to stop their conversations.

She then slowly removed her boots and launched them in the bar. One of them hit a random guest in the head. She grinned "Oooops! Sorry hon' "

She kept dancing, removing her dark top and launching it in the bar again. "Whooo!"
Connie then jumped on different tables, dancing in front of various ladies and men.
At some point she danced in front of Colonel Rhade and leant forward to kiss him.

After a few seconds, the song ended and she chuckled, sighing "Uhoh... I wasn't done...."

Concordia jumped of the table and laughed "Oh well, more for later i guess!" She waved at the people in the bar "Hope you liked it sweet hearts!"

Katz stared in shock, glancing back at Razin who was equally as shocked by the sudden display.

"I... didn't expect that..." Katz said shaking his head.

"They... certainly are a pair of..." Razin coughed to clear his throat... "very... umm... round..."

Katz shook his head, "well at least it's a merry Christmas for some..."

"Alvin.." Xavier greets as he shakes Alvin's hand "..Thank you for the invite! This is a great celebration you have organized here, and the alcohol is excellent! You must be very proud of what you have accomplished this past year! Oh! and in case you were wondering I am Xavier Triton. John Holliday's diplomatic aide and protege."

"Yes, we have met a few times..." Katz said, still stunned by the sudden display. "H-have you met Stenka? He's one of our top Ambassadors, spends most of his time on that sky hook of yours as the err- consul."

---