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Post by SimbaKovu on Oct 26, 2008 22:48:54 GMT -5
As President Vitani walked down to the base of Pride Rock for her daily intelligence briefing, she allowed her mind to wander for a few moments and thought about such things as attending the funeral of the daughter of a member of the Senate who had been stampeded, or thinking to herself whether this was the right time (a relatively peaceful and cordial period in the history of the region, which was extremely unorthodox) to call for a summit meeting of the most hostile prides and attempt to negotiate potentially long-lasting peace agreements among such prides as the Sukari and Buhati Province as well as attempt to oversee negotiations in moderate internal strifes within the Faedrian Alliance.
When she reached the base of Pride Rock, she saw considerably more of her advisors than was normal for this period of relative peace. In fact, she was extremely shocked to see her two Security Advisors Jamall and Jeshi together in the same location without being at each others throats. "Hello, everybody," she said to the group, "What do I need to be briefed on?"
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Post by Jiang on Oct 26, 2008 23:00:17 GMT -5
Jamall turned to face Vitani, giving her a bow of his head in respect and greetings. "Good Afternoon, Madame President." He replied, slowly sitting down and looking over at Jeshi. "The good Director of the Office of Strategic Services Jeshi here was just about to inform me of something that may be of interest."
A few moments later, Sefu Hishima, a black panther who worked under Jamall as a Liason to the Noveria Clan's own Central Intelligence Agency, popped up alongside his lion boss. "My report is rather dull, I'm afraid. The Noveria Clan is at the Sukari Pride's collective throats, again, and the So'Kar are demanding that the Clan abandon their northernmost outpost of the Citadel. Again. You know, just the usual, Madame President." The panther, who was shockingly enough only slightly smaller than the massive Colonel Mohatu, said.
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Post by SimbaKovu on Oct 26, 2008 23:11:15 GMT -5
Vitani's smile transformed to into a look of considerable worry. She had almost never heard Jamall speak highly of Jeshi before, so she knew something must be afoot.....but April Fools Day had passed already. "What's happened?" she asked them calmly.
Chancellor Remu turned to her lackey and said, "Thank you, Sefu. Have the So'kar issued any new threats this time around?"
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Post by Jiang on Oct 26, 2008 23:19:22 GMT -5
"Only to rip off my head and shove it up my... Err, no, nothing." Sefu replied, trying to keep a straight face. He had always found the So'Kar's idea of a 'threat' highly amusing. Perhaps the fact that he was bigger than most of the lions threatening him had something to do with that. Or perhaps it was years of experience with threats. "As usual, they're bluffing. They know that attacking us will bring the full brunt of our Faedrian, Asrian, and Pride Lands allies down on their heads in addition to our own military, and that the kind of fighting that would bring about would end them in a matter of weeks." He continued, sitting down and giving Remu a very small but cheery smile. "Would you like me to relay the news to President Vitani, as usual?"
Jamall turned to face Vitani, his own smile faltering somewhat. "Nothing, really. The situation is normal as far as I know. I was being sarcastic with Jeshi." He explained, gesturing towards the other, smaller lion with his paw.
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Post by SimbaKovu on Oct 26, 2008 23:25:19 GMT -5
Vitani breathed a sigh of relief. "Don't ever do that again," she told Jamall jokingly. She then put on her business face once again and said, "What is there actually to report on today?"
Chancellor Remu chuckled at Sefu's words. "But you'd have to realize the many internal factions within Faedrian and the Pridelands would support the So'kar and could potentially revolt, you know, Sefu," she told him cautiously.
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Post by Jiang on Oct 26, 2008 23:32:59 GMT -5
"Yes, I know that Ma'am." Sefu replied, giving her a smile. "But you know that both nations would immediately and ruthlessly execute traitors. Or, at least the Faedrians would. I am not so sure of the Pride Landers." He continued, padding over to a nearby bowl-shaped depression on a raised block of rock, which had been filled with water. He took a short drink of water, then turned to face Remu again. "Still, it won't come to that. The So'Kar are, for the most part, all bark and no bite. On another topic, how is Councilor Nyota? I heard that her leg was broken in a accident yesterday." He asked, face becoming worried. Councilor Nyota was Sefu's aunt, and last living family relation. It was only natural that he should worry about her.
Jamall paused for a moment, thinking. "There have been reports of conflict within the outlands. And a disturbing report of the ethnic cleansing of cheetahs going on. Nothing concrete yet, though, but I've got my best agents working on it. I'll let you know the moment I have solid evidence that there is actually trouble brewing, rather than warmongers stirring up old rivalries."
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Post by SimbaKovu on Oct 27, 2008 17:36:33 GMT -5
Chancellor Remu sighed and said, "Well, the area is infected, but they should be fairly able to contain it before it spreads too far. Or at least that's what I've been told."
Vitani took a barely noticeable sigh and asked Jamall somewhat impatiently, "Well, Colonel, is there any evidence that this is occurring?"
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Post by Jiang on Oct 27, 2008 17:45:52 GMT -5
"Only the word of a battered and beated lioness who arrived just a few hours ago. But she was very tired, and not all there. She's resting in the infirmary right now, in the military barracks outside Pride Rock. Hopefully she'll be in good enough condition to provide a official statement in a couple more hours." Mohatu replied, frowning very slightly. "I wish I had more to give you, I really do, but there's nothing."
Sefu slowly nodded and sighed. "I should go and check on her..." He said softly, more to himself than to Remu. Very few people knew that he was related to Swafi Nyota, and Chancellor Remu was not one of the people who knew.
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Post by SimbaKovu on Oct 27, 2008 17:55:49 GMT -5
Vitani thought to herself for a moment. Then she came back with the response, "Is there any way that I could speak with her personally?" Vitani asked the question even though she was fairly confident of what Jamall's answer would be in situations such as these.
"I know what it's like to have a friend be in a situation like this, Sefu," Remu told him. "Go and visit her, Sefu. From what I've heard, she needs somebody there."
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Post by Jiang on Oct 27, 2008 18:03:56 GMT -5
Sefu smiled a little, nodded, then wordlessly turned and left the Chancellor's office. He proceeded down through the cave network that held the offices of the Noverian government, then once outside and in the center of the Lokaran, he took off down a crowded street, heading towards the large, hollowed-out rocky dome that his Aunt called home.
He soon reached it, and after passing the guards assigned to the entrance, he went straight to Swafi's quarters. He knocked twice on the stone wall outside her room, to let her know it was him, then brushed aside the richly embroidered red and black curtains shielding the chambers from view, and walked in. "Aunt Swafi?" He called out, looking about for his Aunt. Her chambers were large, and there were several different 'rooms' [areas isolated from the others with curtains similar to the one blocking the entrance] within her chambers, and she could be anywhere. It was best for him to simply ask, then follow her voice.
Jamall slowly nodded. "Of course, I think she'd like that, actually." He replied. "You know the way to the barracks, so I shall follow you. Oh, and when you meet her, the lioness's name is Savi."
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Post by SimbaKovu on Nov 8, 2008 17:18:14 GMT -5
Jeshi felt the need to speak up. "Jamall, I really don't think that the lioness is stable enough to recount her experience at the time," he said somewhat confrontationally.
Nemu sighed and looked out towards the lush plains, the borders of the respective nations and kingdoms clearly distinguishable by the manner in which the plantlife was treated under that nation's policies. For example, the border between the Pridelands and the So'kar showed thriving trees and plants on the Pridelands side, and sparse, exhausted plantlife on the So'kar side. These disparities got Nemu thinking. She began thinking about whether the whole concept of nations was even an intelligent one. After all, weren't they all part of the "Circle of Life," so as envoys from the Pridelands had told her on their many visits.
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Post by Jiang on Nov 8, 2008 17:32:31 GMT -5
Jamall glanced over at Jeshi, frowning at the other male. "Jeshi, with all due respect, I actually bothered to talk to her. You simply read my report. She's ready, and perfectly capable. She is, after all, as stubborn as I am." He replied, returning his gaze to President Vitani. "She's ready to talk, Ma'am. In fact I think she'd rest better, knowing that the message she fought so hard to deliver, reached your ears without alteration."
"Are you all right, Nemu?" Kopa asked, padding up alongside the slightly younger lioness, smiling faintly at her. For a long time, Kopa had considered Nemu as one of only a handful of people he could trust, and he frequently asked her opinion and advice on many matters. "You look somewhat down. What's on your mind?"
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Post by SimbaKovu on Nov 10, 2008 23:37:50 GMT -5
Vitani stared somewhat blankly at Jamall for a few seconds before rendering her decision. "You can take me to her after the meeting, Jamall," she decided on saying to the Colonel.
Jeshi was very displeased with Jamall. Most of the time, he felt as though he was the only voice of reason on the entire panel of Vitani's advisors. He had nothing but disdain for Jamall, with whom he had always been bitter rivals. He made a contorted face as the President expressed her desire to speak with the lioness.
Nemu was surprised by the sudden appearance of General Kopa. She turned to him abruptly. "Oh! Hello, General. I was just thinking...." she replied in an empty manner.
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Post by Jiang on Nov 10, 2008 23:46:17 GMT -5
"It's Kopa, Nemu." The lion replied, smiling warmly at her and laughing softly. "What are you thinking about, my friend?"
Jamall silently nodded, a smile on his muzzle. "Please, refresh my memory, Ma'am. What's the meeting for?"
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Post by SimbaKovu on Nov 22, 2008 23:36:23 GMT -5
Vitani stared at Jamall in somewhat disbelief. "Um, you know, the meeting where you guys brief about what's happening and what needs to be responded to.....?" She said to him sarcastically.
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Post by Jiang on Nov 22, 2008 23:43:42 GMT -5
"Again, sorry, I got it mixed up with another meeting. You know I've been a little frazzled here lately, Ma'am, what with my sister being pregnant and needing most of my free time to help her out..." Jamall apologized, with a sigh. "Anyways, Jeshi, why don't you go first, give me a moment to collect my thoughts."
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Post by SimbaKovu on Jan 2, 2009 0:45:52 GMT -5
Vitani had a sudden jolt of recollection come to her mind. "Oh, yes! How is Sky holding up, Jamall?" she inquired of the Colonel enthusiastically.
Jeshi has just opened his mouth when the President began asking about Sky. Even though he was not party to the conversation, he still wished to here everything he could about Jamall's sister, given that he cared for her very much, given that they used to be friends in their cubhood. He secretly wished to become her mate, but he wasn't sure if he could live with Jamall as a potential brother-in-law.
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Post by Jiang on Jan 2, 2009 1:03:13 GMT -5
Jamall smiled faintly at Vitani's enthusasm. That's one of the many things he loved about the president: Her Enthusiasm. Secretly, even though he wasn't really a hardcore member of her party, he was very glad that she had become president. He doubted that any male lion could do half the job she did. In truth, he wanted nothing more than to be able to express those feelings, along with deeper and more romantic ones, to her, but their respective positions made that professionally impossible... But it sure made Jamall think about quitting his job, if he thought he had so much of a chance of having Vitani. But, on to the question.
"Sky's fine. Full of energy, as usual. Getting some really weird urges when it comes to food. She wanted fruit to put on top of a zebra steak yesterday afternoon." He replied, laughing at the memory. "So I got her some kind of sweet fruit from Rafiki and sliced it up for her. She put the stuff on her meat and ate it. Seemed to like it to. She's odd that way, but I love her, and I wouldn't have her any other way." He said fondly. It was no secret that Jamall loved his sister dearly, nor was it a secret that he was very protective of her.
"Oh, and Jeshi, Sky wanted to talk to you tonight. I don't know why, she hasn't been working for the past couple months so it doesn't have anything to do with the press. Maybe she's tiring of seeing my ugly mug every night and wants a change. Either that or she figures that I'll think she's wacked if she has me get more fruit for her, and so she intends to make you play delivery boy. Knowing her, it's probably the latter... But you never know." Jamall said, a cordial smile upon his muzzle.
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Post by SimbaKovu on Jan 2, 2009 1:19:20 GMT -5
Vitani chuckled heartily at Jamall's anecdote. When he turned to Jeshi, Vitani's true feelings for Jamall, which had been briefly lost during the previous night's sleep, suddenly came rushing back to her. She had always been friendly with the Colonel on a professional level, and even though many of her party colleagues had been recently publicly criticizing the Colonel as a sexist, and she somewhat shared these views, Vitani still had secret feelings harbored towards him. She knew she could never have him while they were working together, but even though she couldn't, she wanted him....in the worst possible way.
Jeshi's ear's perked up at the prospect of Sky requesting his presence. He turned his head to Jamall, chuckled at his suggestion and asked of him, "When does she want me there?"
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Post by Jiang on Jan 2, 2009 1:29:59 GMT -5
"Around sundown. She's staying in my den." Jamall replied, turning his gaze to Vitani. "Oh, and President Vitani, keep a eye out for a male panther reporter who calls himself 'Kam'. He's been a thorn in the side of my family for a long time now, and Commander Kell gave me a heads-up that this Kam fellow has recently been digging for any scrap of dirt he can use to put as many black spots as possible on your record. Steer clear of him if you can, he's only interested in marring your public image so he can get better ratings." Jamall advised, partly because he wanted to give her warning, mostly because if he kept his thoughts turned to business, he could stop himself from thinking of how beautiful Vitani was that day.
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