SOMEWHERE IN 19██
As the audio log crackles to life, the scene opens on a panicked man, his voice fraught with terror.
"He's gonna kill me, he's gonna kill me, ah shit what the fuck did I do this time?"
But the video feed has since degraded, leaving only the audio behind.
Suddenly, the voice of Gabe Oscar, a supposed hero and feared agent of Arstotzka, breaks through the static. "Sir! Sorry for being late, had a quick phone call, and some important stuff, whatever it is make it quickl-"
But a deep and dangerous voice interrupts him. "Quickly… yes, we have read your audit. You've been in countless mass murders and terrorist groups since the day I hired you. Traitors are not what we need. We need professionals, not a mass murdering asshole who is definitely trying to get his gang to kill and imprison me. This is as fast as I can talk…"
Gabe tries to apologize, but it's too late. The voice cuts him off. "Backstabbing your own coalition, eh? Seems like someone's been gossiping about our coalition. For years, I have been searching for this 'gang' of yours. Tell me…"
Gabe attempts to explain himself, saying he left the gang five months ago, but the voice has already made up its mind. "I forgot to mention it now…"
And with that, the audio log ends with the sound of gunshots ringing out.
JANUARY 28th 19██
Months later, Gabe Oscar is arrested for his involvement in a dangerous terrorist group known as THE ORDER OF THE EZIC STAR. But questions remain about their true intentions. Could they be planning a laser gun? A full-scale invasion? The man behind the voice muses on the possibilities, interrupted only by a knock on his door.
"Sir, it's me," a deep voice says from the other side. "Uh huh, and how do I know you're not one of those people?" the man replies suspiciously. But the voice persists, revealing himself to be Jester Clobber, the fourth member of The Coalition and an explorer with a penchant for killing moose.
Jester Clobber informs the man that the President wants to talk to him, despite their previous violent encounter. The man begrudgingly agrees, knowing that he could be charged with treason if he refuses. But he also knows that the potential rewards are too great to pass up.
As he makes his way to the meeting, he mutters under his breath, "гребаный ублюдок." But his loyal companion Jester Clobber remains steadfast, offering a rousing cry, "Слава Арстоцке, товарищ!"
"Yeah, yeah, 'Слава Арстоцке, товарищ!' to you too," the man replies, ready to face whatever comes his way.
As the door closed behind him, the man sighed, the weight of the world seemingly resting on his shoulders. The conversation he had just had left him feeling drained, but he knew he had to press on. After all, he was a man of duty, a servant of the state. He straightened his tie and adjusted his jacket, then made his way down the hallway towards the President's office.
The air was thick with tension as he approached the heavy, ornate doors. The guards stationed outside eyed him warily, their hands never straying far from their weapons. He couldn't blame them, he was a controversial figure within the government. Some saw him as a hero, others as a traitor. It all depended on who you asked.
He cleared his throat and announced his presence to the guards, who quickly opened the doors and allowed him to enter the room. The President sat behind a large desk, his face etched with deep lines of stress and worry.
"Ah, there you are," he said, gesturing for the man to take a seat. "I apologize for my previous outburst. These are trying times, and we all have our moments of weakness."
The man nodded in understanding, his eyes never leaving the President's face. He had learned a long time ago that reading body language was just as important as listening to words.
"Tell me," the President said, "what do you know of THE ORDER OF THE EZIC STAR?"
The man's heart skipped a beat. This was not a conversation he was prepared for.
"I'm afraid I don't know anything about them, Mr. President," he said carefully. "I've heard rumors, of course, but nothing concrete."
The President frowned, his fingers drumming on the desk.
"I find that hard to believe," he said. "You have a long history of involvement with groups like this. Your loyalty to Arstotzka has been called into question more than once."
The man held his tongue, knowing that any argument he made would fall on deaf ears. The President had made up his mind, and nothing he said would change it.
"I'm sorry, Mr. President," he said finally. "If there's anything I can do to prove my loyalty-"
"There is," the President interrupted. "We have reason to believe that the EZIC STAR is planning an attack on our borders. We need you to infiltrate their organization and report back to us with any information you can gather."
The man felt a chill run down his spine. This was not the kind of mission he was comfortable with.
"I understand, Mr. President," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "But I must ask, what if they find out? What if they-"
"We will do everything in our power to protect you," the President said firmly. "But make no mistake, failure is not an option."
The man nodded, his mind already racing with the possibilities. He knew the risks, knew that this mission could cost him his life. But he also knew that he had no choice. He was a servant of the state, and he would do whatever it took to protect Arstotzka.
"Very well, Mr. President," he said, standing up from his chair. "I will do whatever it takes to complete this mission."
The President smiled, a cold, calculating smile that sent shivers down the man's spine.
"I knew I could count on you," he said. "Dismissed."
The man turned and left the room, his mind already working out the details of the mission. He had a job to do, and he would see it through to the end.
Jester Clobber stood nervously in front of the mysterious figure. "Sir, there's something you need to know. It's about THE ORDER OF THE EZIC STAR."
The figure's eyes narrowed, and he leaned forward. "What about them?"
"Well, sir, they're not just any ordinary terrorist group. They used to help Arstotzka, you know, with its troubles. But then, something happened. In 1956, a man named Arnold Baloskchin attempted to assassinate the EZIC leader and Arstotzka's President Timofey B. Alexeyev. He succeeded in killing both his targets and proclaimed himself the leader of EZIC."
The figure listened intently as Jester Clobber continued. "In 1972, they renamed themselves as THE ORDER OF THE EZIC STAR, and their new mission is to destroy Arstotzka, overthrow the corrupt government, and kill the members of the 909 Council."
The figure's eyes widened in shock. "That's quite a lofty goal."
"Yes, sir," Jester Clobber said, nodding. "And that's not all. In 1976, EZIC supported Kolechia in the 6-year war, but then Kolechia lost half of Grestin in 1982. The government in Impor became corrupt in 1981, which made the arrival of EZIC even more dangerous."
The figure stroked his chin thoughtfully. "And what do they claim is their reason for doing all this?"
"They claim that their main cause is to free Arstotzka from its greedy and corrupt leaders," Jester Clobber said. "But their political ideology is not specified. Members Ulysses and Martha McDonald hint that EZIC's aims and methods are ironically not at all dissimilar from the autocratic Arstotzkan regime."
The figure leaned back in his chair and let out a long sigh. "Well, it seems we have quite the situation on our hands. We must do everything in our power to stop THE ORDER OF THE EZIC STAR from carrying out their plans."
Jester Clobber nodded vigorously. "Yes, sir. We'll do everything we can to keep Arstotzka safe."
The figure looked up at Jester Clobber. "And that includes keeping an eye on any potential traitors, like Gabe Oscar."
Jester Clobber nodded once again. "Understood, sir. We'll be vigilant."
The figure leaned forward, his eyes fixed on Jester Clobber's. "Good. We cannot allow anyone to compromise the safety of our great nation. The stakes are too high."
Jester Clobber stood at attention, his eyes fixed straight ahead. "Yes, sir. We will not fail you."
As Jester Clobber and the Head of their Coalition against Terrorism walk out of the President's residence, they exchange a few words and nods before heading towards their car. Once they are inside the vehicle, the Head of the Coalition starts discussing their plans for the day.
ELSEWHERE
The camera focuses on Arnold Baloskchin, THE ORDER OF THE EZIC STAR's leader, as he stands on a makeshift podium in a dimly-lit warehouse located in West Grestin, Kolechia. Behind him, rows of EZIC members clad in black hoods listen intently to his every word.
"As you all know, the checkpoint at the Arstotzkan border is our main target," Arnold says in a hushed voice, his eyes glinting with malice. "We need to create a diversion to distract the guards and give us the opportunity to smuggle our people across the border. And for that, we need your help."
The members nod in agreement, eager to prove their loyalty to the cause.
"We need to act fast," Arnold continues. "The Arstotzkan government is becoming more vigilant every day. Our informants tell us that they have tightened security measures at the checkpoint. We cannot afford to let them catch us. We need to strike now before it's too late."
A murmur of approval rises from the crowd, and Arnold's eyes narrow. "But we cannot do this alone. We need more people. We need to recruit. And I need you all to spread the word to those who are willing to join our cause."
As Arnold speaks, the camera pans to the faces of the members, some of whom look resolute, while others appear uncertain.
The scene ends with Arnold concluding his speech, his voice ringing with conviction. "Remember, brothers and sisters, we are fighting for the greater good. The corrupt government in Arstotzka must fall, and we are the only ones who can make it happen."
As the day progresses, tension in Arstotzka builds up. Everyone is on edge, knowing that something big is about to happen. And as the sun sets, Arnold Baloskchin's plan begins to take shape, ready to strike at the heart of Arstotzka.
The scene opens to the bustling streets of the Vescillo District as the mysterious man, known as the Head of The Coalition Against Terrorism, and Jester Clobber drive through. After a few minutes, they arrive at their base stationed in Orvech Vonor, the old capital of Arstotzka, now a strategic port city.
As they step out of the car, a group of armed guards welcome them and escort them towards the base. The building's exterior is unassuming, but once they step inside, it's clear that this is a high-security facility. They pass through several layers of security before they arrive at a hallway named "The Hallway of Leaders."
Each portrait of the past leaders of The Coalition Against Terrorism is pinned on the wall, and all of their signatures are signed on the portraits. As they make their way down the hallway, the Head of The Coalition Against Terrorism stops in front of a particular portrait. It's a portrait of his father, who was one of the founding members of the Coalition.
After a moment of silence, they continue down the hallway until they reach the end. There, they see the current Leader's name, Maximilian Volkov, pinned above a large double door. The Head of The Coalition Against Terrorism takes a deep breath before opening the door and entering the room.
As they walk towards the end of the hallway, Jester couldn't help but glance at the portraits, each one representing a leader who had fought against terrorism and sacrificed their lives for the cause. He felt a sense of pride and honor to be working alongside such brave individuals.
When they finally reached the end of the hallway, they stood in front of Maximilian Volkov's portrait. Jester looked up at it in awe, feeling a sense of reverence for the man who led the Coalition.
Maximilian turned to Jester with a small smile, "Impressive, isn't it?"
Jester nodded, "Yes, sir. It's an honor to be working for the Coalition and fighting against terrorism."
Maximilian nodded in agreement before leading Jester into his office. The room was spacious with a large desk and several bookshelves lining the walls.
"Please take a seat," Maximilian said as he gestured towards a chair in front of his desk.
Jester sat down, feeling a bit nervous in front of the Coalition's leader.
Maximilian sat down in his own chair and began, "Jester, I wanted to speak to you about our current situation. We've received intel that THE ORDER OF THE EZIC STAR is planning a diversion at the Arstotzkan Border Checkpoint."
Jester's eyes widened in shock, "What? How did they manage to plan something like that?"
"We believe they have some inside help," Maximilian replied with a stern expression, "That's where you come in. We need you to go undercover and find out who's working with The Order."
Jester nodded in understanding, "I'll do whatever it takes to stop them, sir."
"Good," Maximilian said as he handed Jester a file, "This contains all the information we have on The Order and their operations. Study it carefully and report back to me with any leads."
Jester took the file and stood up, "Consider it done, sir."
As Jester walked out of the office, he couldn't help but feel a sense of responsibility weighing on his shoulders. He knew that the fate of Arstotzka was in their hands, and he would do whatever it takes to protect his country and stop THE ORDER OF THE EZIC STAR.
Arnold Baloskchin stood on a makeshift stage, surrounded by his loyal followers. He raised his voice and addressed the crowd.
"My brothers and sisters, we have a duty to fulfill. The corrupt leaders of Arstotzka have oppressed us for far too long. We must strike back and show them that we will not back down. Our plan is simple. We will create a diversion at the checkpoint and draw their attention away from our main attack. This will give us the opportunity we need to break through their defenses and strike at the heart of their regime."
The crowd cheered and shouted their approval. Arnold smiled and continued.
"But we cannot do this alone. We need every able-bodied man and woman to join us in our fight. We must show the world that we are not to be trifled with. We are THE ORDER OF THE EZIC STAR, and our time has come!"
Meanwhile, Jester was busy making his own preparations. He had arrived in East Grestin, Arstotzka, and was now meeting with his own group of soldiers. They had been planning this invasion for months, and they were all eager to strike a blow against the terrorists.
Jester stood before his fellow soldiers and addressed them.
"My friends, today we make history. Today we take the fight to the enemy and show them that we will not be silenced. Our cause is just, and our hearts are pure. We fight for the freedom of Arstotzka, for the rights of its people, and for the future of our great nation."
The rebels shouted and raised their fists in solidarity. Jester continued.
"We have planned this invasion for months. We know their weaknesses, and we know their strengths. We will strike hard and fast, and we will not stop until our mission is accomplished. So let us go forth and show them what we are made of! For Arstotzka!"
With a resounding cheer, Jester and his rebels prepared to move out. The stage was set, and the battle for Arstotzka was about to begin.
As Arnold Baloskchin leads his troops towards the border, a group of suicide bombers created a diversion to disrupt and confuse the Arstotzkan military. The sound of explosions echoes through the air, causing chaos and panic amongst the soldiers.
Jester Clobber was already on the move, making his way towards the border to coordinate with the Arstotzkan forces. However, as he reached the checkpoint, one of the bombs went off too close to him, and a sharp fragment struck his cheek, causing blood to pour down his face.
Despite the injury, Jester pushed through the pain and continued to lead the Arstotzkan soldiers. The EZIC soldiers were relentless in their assault, but the Arstotzkans fought back fiercely, determined to defend their country and people.
As the battle raged on, Jester couldn't help but wonder about the true motives of the EZIC terrorists. What were they trying to achieve by attacking their own country? He knew that Maximilian Volkov and the Coalition Against Terrorism would have some answers, and he made a mental note to speak to them as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, Arnold Baloskchin had pushed his troops as far as they could go, and they were now dangerously close to the border checkpoint. The EZIC soldiers were starting to falter, but Arnold refused to give up. He had to succeed in his mission, no matter what the cost.
Maximilian Volkov composed a formal letter addressed to the 909 Council, more specifically to the member known as 909-7, who holds authority over the Council's Task Forces. Upon receipt, 909-7 swiftly initiated mobilization efforts with the assistance of 909-15.
The Arstotzkan military was quick to respond to the attack, engaging in a fierce firefight with the EZIC soldiers. Jester, despite being injured, bravely continued to fight alongside his comrades. Eventually, the Arstotzkan military was able to push back the EZIC assault, forcing the remaining EZIC soldiers to retreat back to Kolechia.
Back at their base, Maximilian received a response from the 909 Council, authorizing him to take whatever actions necessary to eliminate the threat of EZIC. He immediately ordered the Task Forces to launch a full-scale offensive against EZIC strongholds in Kolechia.
As the conflict between Arstotzka and EZIC escalated, Jester's injury forced him to take a temporary leave of absence from the front lines. He spent his time recovering and reflecting on the violence he had witnessed and participated in.
The 909 Council's Task Forces arrived in East Grestin with an intimidating presence. The EZIC soldiers, who were already outnumbered and outgunned, knew they couldn't take on the Council's forces. They quickly retreated, leaving their weapons and equipment behind.
Jester, who was wounded from the suicide bomber attack, was evacuated by Arstotzkan medics to a nearby hospital. Maximilian, who had been monitoring the situation, arrived at the hospital to check on Jester's condition.
As Jester slowly recovered, he and Maximilian discussed the events that had transpired. Maximilian revealed to Jester that the 909 Council had been aware of the EZIC's plans for some time and had been monitoring their movements.
He also informed Jester that the Council's ultimate goal was to eradicate all forms of terrorism and insurgency in the region, and they saw the EZIC as a threat to their mission.
Jester, feeling disillusioned with the EZIC's tactics and the outcome of their mission, decided to part ways with the organization. Maximilian offered Jester a position within the Coalition Against Terrorism, and Jester accepted, eager to use his skills for a more noble cause.
The EZIC, now weakened and demoralized, went into hiding, their operations and movements closely monitored by the 909 Council's Task Forces. The Council's grip on the region tightened, and they continued their relentless pursuit of eradicating terrorism and insurgency in the area.
As Jester Clobber is against EZIC, he was happy to hear about the Task Forces' arrival. He knew that they could take on the EZIC soldiers and bring them to justice. However, he was also worried about the fate of Arnold Baloskchin.
Meanwhile, Double Agent Belikov of Arstotzka's ally, The Soviet Imperium, was called to action. Belikov had been deep undercover within EZIC for years, and he was finally able to capture Arnold Baloskchin. He brought Arnold to a secret location, a torture chamber where he planned to extract information from him about the EZIC's plans.
The room was pitch-black when Arnold finally came to. He was strapped to a chair, his mouth covered in duct tape. Arnold struggled against his restraints, but it was no use. After a few moments, the door creaked open, and a shadowy figure walked in.
"Welcome back, Arnold," the figure said, his voice distorted by a voice modulator.
Arnold's heart sank. He knew who it was, and he knew what was coming.
The figure removed the tape from Arnold's mouth, and Arnold tried to speak, but his voice was hoarse.
"Where is the EZIC headquarters?" the figure demanded.
Arnold remained silent, and the figure sighed. "Very well," he said. "I had hoped to avoid this, but I suppose there is no other way."
The figure pulled out a small knife, and Arnold's eyes widened in fear. He struggled against his restraints, but it was no use. The figure advanced on him, and Arnold closed his eyes, bracing himself for the pain.
The figure is revealed to be Belikov.
The screams of Arnold filled the room and exited through the cracks, as Belikov began to drain the blood from him. After a few moments, Belikov stopped the horrifying torture until Arnold's body went limp. He lets go of the body, blood dripping from his hands and the knife. The blood seeping from Arnold's orifices.
Jester received the news of Arnold's death with a heavy heart. Despite being against EZIC, Jester respected Arnold for his dedication to his cause. He couldn't help but feel a sense of sadness at the way Arnold had died.
But Jester knew that this was far from over. The death of Arnold Baloskchin would only serve to galvanize the remaining members of EZIC. Jester had to be ready for whatever they had planned next.
As the dust settled and the chaos dissipated, Jester Clobber couldn't help but wonder, "Who would be EZIC's new leader? And what is EZIC's fate after the death of their leader?" The future of EZIC was uncertain, and the ramifications of their actions would reverberate for a long time. But for now, Jester had to focus on the present and the task at hand. As he walked away from the scene, he couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning of something much bigger, something that would shake the very foundations of Arstotzka and beyond. Only time would tell what fate had in store for EZIC and its members.
Maximilian had averted the crisis.
Meanwhile, Daniel Gotenfargment smiles.
©2021, Arstotzkan Universe All Rights Reserved. Scorched Sundays Theme and modules were designed by Hudson Nolan. The Arstotzkan Universe © 2021-30 Apr 2025 12:24
