Red Falcons to Black Eagles
((This is hopefully a multi-part story in the storystick tradition. Hopefully we will get Clio and Vanya in here and maybe you? Have a reason to be in Kugane for a few days IC? Want to be swept up into some spy nonsense? PM me if you do and we can add you to it and this could be fun. The only rule of joining is someone's player character is theirs. All other NPCs even ones made up by others, are free to use to carry your story. Enjoy!)))
He did not know what to expect. Most times he never did. His entry was public, arriving on his airship, The Falcon, recently upgraded to handle the trip. As was made public, Flame Captain Eirikir Mynhier, was being sent to oversee a shipment of weapons from the Alliance to Doma. The shipments themselves being overseen by he East Aldenard Trading Company, a firm with ties to the Thanalan Government. The cargo would be handed off to Doman forces in the neutral nation of Hingashi, in it's port city of Kugane.
Acting as an escort, the Falcon had followed over head of the traditional ships carrying the cargo. No Imperial ships of any kind had been seen on the trip, neither they nor any form of piracy. Either threat would have been met by the Falcon, a Flame Airship, as well as its Maelstrom counterpart, a traditional three-massed galleon. Both ships were heavily armed.
Erik's pearl lit into a buzz of activity as the Maelstrom ship called up to him in the routine check as they approached the archipelago. Erik had taken the ship with just himself and his faithful helper Montblanc, per Flame Hall instruction. With their names in public records at the airship docks, Erik was to hide in plain sight to accomplish his true objective.......
(days before......)
U'jakka stood in the Red Wings' hanger going over the plan to the assembled senior staff. "We have several shipments of not just weapons, but humanitarian supplies going out almost a year. Multiple routes, shipping methods, and contacts. Not to mention several Operatives we have in the Empire, mostly in their eastern zones but some here in the west too." Erik raised a hand, "Someone made off with that much? How? And how do we get it back if they have already gotten it and looked it over? Murder every Imperial in Othard and Eorzea?"
The Commander tilted and bent back his ears, "No, of course not...." he says with a nod to the Red Wings' Chief Engineer. "The opportunity lies in the fact they have not seen it. It was encrypted in an experimental tomestone based off Allagan designs. He physically had it and took a boat yesterday from the Gold Coast to Limsa. From there we followed him to a Doman charter, but he gave us the slip. The Maelstom was informed and they maintain a tight watch, and won't let him slither north. Last we heard he is three days to Kugane. His.... very helpful partner told us that if they could not take the tomb north, they had a round-about backup plan. The tombstone will be examined and held in the Garlean Consulate until their weekly shipments from home. That will be six days from today."
Turning to face them, "There is an inbound shipment of supplies also three days from Kugane from Ul'dah, being watched over by our friends in the Maelstrom. In two hours you will take that ship of yours to the sky and catch up with the convoy. If my math is right you can catch up with them in a day and a half. Then follow them in Captain. Sign in, get a drink, be seen, go to a show or buy a girl. The guards change at tenth bell, you will be over the fence and in there somehow. Any damage you do will be denied to avoid embarrassment so kill them all for all I care. But bring me that tomb." Erik saluted, "Yes Sir. Am I taking anyone with me?" The Commander gave a wild look, "Now this tomb is worth more then your hide. So I will tell you shit beyond if I send help..... IF, I won't tell you as I don't want them torturing it out of you when you fuck up. If help comes we will send it via alternate means, that way if you are caught, your final service to the nation will be as a decoy toy for the interrogators while someone else does your job." Erik had trouble telling when his new Commander was kidding or not.
(The Present)
Erik had only been to Kunage once before. He wondered if the man's head was still on the tower. Checking in at the Trading Company office, he was given a gift, preordered for him. It was a large box. Given a room to open it and change in the back, he found inside a simple kimono, his folded sword Clio had made him, "How did he get that out of my office safe?" and an Eastern Imperial Army uniform. Dressing in his Kimono, he placed the uniform in the traveler's bag he was to carry as well as his weapons. He then wandered into the fresh morning sun, somewhat excited to see new things, somewhat curious who he would meet. He had to admit he missed this part of the job.
