<div style="text-align: center;"><a class="postlink" href="https://creativefreedomrpg.com/viewtopic.php?f=20&amp;t=41435"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="color: #BF8000">Out Of Character</span></span></a><br/><a class="postlink" href="https://creativefreedomrpg.com/viewtopic.php?f=6&amp;t=41434"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="color: #BF8000">Character Sheets</span></span></a><br/><a class="postlink" href="http://i.imgur.com/IEgGW88.png?1">[ img ]</a><br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">"From the dawn of time we came; moving silently down through the centuries, living many secret lives. Only a few have ever known we were among you... until now."</span> --Juan Sanchez Villa-Lobos Ramirez<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">"He who neglects what is done for what ought to be done, sooner effects his ruin than his preservation."</span> --Machiavelli, Chapter 15, The Prince</div><br/><br/><br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="text-decoration: underline">Lauriston Catle, Edinburgh, Scotland</span></span><br/>The haunted Scottish castle, built in the late 16th century sat alone off Cramdon Road South in the Silverknowes Section of Edinburgh. The Lauriston property abuts Silverknowes Golf Club to which Alfred Kemper was a member. He'd lived in or near the castle for the past two hundred years in one capacity or another. Due to his immortality, he found himself leaving Edinburgh every thirty or forty years and returning to reclaim his position as curator of the castle, now a museum of midievel artifacts; a museum he has donated many items to.<br/><br/>The museum itself was a front for the Royal Society of the Hunt, to which Alfred held the title of<span style="font-style: italic">Curator</span>. A  more appropriate title may have been Chief Editor, President or Commissioner as the Society had very little to do with curating a museum. But it was not a title he derived nor would it be one he would modify. Afterall, who was Alfred Kemper to throw away hundreds of years in tradtion? Naturally, someone so committed to the preservation of history, could never do that. So, the title Curator of the Royal Society of the Hunt remains. The Huntsmen, its membership numbering two hundred fifty, monitor the activities of the world's immortals. There are more immortals living among us than you would care to know. Seven of these have taken up the mantle to protect society from itself and act as a group of venerable super heroes, who not necessarily get along with one another.<br/><br/>Alfred sat alone in the library. A fire cackled to his side as he read over the London Times. Alfred preferred newspaper and print over digital news sources. At 285 years old, he may have seen some of the first newspapers to arrive on the world stage. He did recall the the early days of the newspaper known as<span style="font-style: italic">The Daily Universal Register</span>which started printing in London, England in 1785. But it held that name for just three short years when it was retitled simply,<span style="font-style: italic">The Times</span>. Alfred has always called it the London Times as opposed to its simpler true name.<br/><br/>Alfred knew many of the world's players or at least observed them. That was his job; no, his hobby. Some called it a job. Is it necessary to receive monetary compensation from an activity to call it a job or a career? Because Alfred received no such compensation. Observing the action was all he gained from the activity and keeping tabs on<span style="font-style: italic">The Seven</span>.<br/><br/>"Your tea, sir," the elderly gentleman placed the tea service down on the side table. The man known as Sir Alfred Kemper appeared to be in his mid 30s but was actually born in the mid 18th century and even served his majesty King George III with the 31st Regiment of Foot as a Captain under General John Burgoyne in the ill-fated Saratoga Campaign of 1777. Alfred lived out the remainder of the American Revolution in Quebec City.<br/><br/>Reginald, Sir Kemper's butler poured the freshly boiled water into the china cup so as to thoroughly soak the mesh tea bag with the hot water. Alfred preferred his tea steeped thoroughly and would allow it to do so as he read the news. After several minutes, he would sip at the cup, relishing the subtle flavor of cork with a slight scent of rose; always pleasing to the nostrils.<br/><br/>Alfred looked at the articles and was alerted to a calamity brewing in at least five regions of the world; one of which was getting very hot. He checked the Intelligence reports online from the<span style="font-style: italic">Huntsmen</span>working in the field. Yes, there were several situations brewing that could change the course of world dynamics. It was time for<span style="font-style: italic">The Seven</span>to step up and at least investigate what is going on if not take a more serious interventionist role.<br/><br/>The governments affected by these criminal activities had become weakened over time due to economic recession and depression. Multi-National Corporations (MNCs) had been permitted to acquire the role of ruler over the lands which in part continued to police their communities. The MNCs had risen to the top of the food chain leaving many nation's governments weak and ineffectual; unable to effectively protect their own citizens. If it wasn't for the few generous scraps of protection offered by the Private Security Companies working for the MNCs, the crime rates could increase further. For now, it was bad, but could become worse.<br/><br/>Alfred looked over the articles...<br/><br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 150%; line-height: 116%;"><div style="text-align: center;">Thousands Dead in Baja California</div></span></span><br/><br/>Mexical, Mexico (AP) - Along the US - Mexico border thousands of Mexican citizens stood up against an armed militia consisting of Mexican paramilitary and<span style="font-style: italic">"El Mano Blanco"</span>today in what many consider a severe miscarriage of justice. The citizens were armed with AK-47 assault rifles, clubs, baseball bats and machetes.<span style="font-style: italic">El Mano Blanco</span>, also know as the White Hand, a subsidiary corporation for Medellin Global of Bogota Columbia serves as their Private Security Company. They routinely provide both Military and Paramilitary assistance to local Law Enforcement agencies in the Northern Baja California region.<br/><br/>Today, when protestors arrived to challenge the PMC as well as the legitimate authorities in Mexicali, a gunfight ensued. The PMC and the Mexican Police increased their presence in Mexicali with soldiers being flown in from Los Angeles, CA; Bogota, Columbia; Managua, Nicaragua and El Paso, Texas. The protestors rapidly morphed into an armed rebellion with armed citizens crawling out of the woodwork using whatever weapons they could get their hands on.<br/><br/>The two forces fought all through the night with lines being drawn along the west end of the city. By morning things appeared to quiet down. A Mediator from Mexico City was on the scene trying to resolve the situation at around ten AM. By three in the afternoon, nothing had changed, and the fighting continued after dark.<br/><br/>By the morning of the second day, over three thousand Mexican rebels lay dead along with two hundred members of<span style="font-style: italic">"El Mano Blanco"</span>and twenty five Mexican Police Officers.<br/><br/><br/>Alfred compared this story to his intelligence excerpts.<span style="font-style: italic">The White Hand</span>is the Professional Military Corporation which inherited the former crime family's soldiers who governed Northern Mexico years earlier. When Andres Rojas Medellin legitimized the family business, they opened up shop in Mexicali and created the PMC known as "The White Hand" or "El Mano Blanco." The PMC was recruited from mostly Spanish speaking counties, but includes many Latins from the United States of America -- several of them having served in the US Army or US Marine Corps years earlier providing valuable training to new soldiers hiring by Medellin.<br/><br/>'It appears Senor Medellin is into some of his old business again and doesn't give a God damn about the Mexican people.' Alfred thought to himself. 'But they have the Associated Press in their back pocket and can paint the news whatever color they desire.'<br/><br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 150%; line-height: 116%;"><div style="text-align: center;">Interpol Tips off Deutshes Polizei About Human Trafficking</div></span></span><br/><br/>Munchen, Germany (AP) - A commercial truck traveling from Odesa, Ukraine to Frankfurt, Germany was stopped at the Austrian border at Passau, Germany. The contents of the truck consisted of thirty young women between the ages of 15 and 25 who were left in a state of drug induced coma. The vehicle transporting the women is owned by Sombor Transportation, Incorporated, a subsidiary company of Priboj-Tehnika International headquartered in Belgrade, Serbia.<br/><br/>When contacted regarding the women, no one at Sombor Transportation knew anything about the women, how they got there or where they were from. Medical personnel in Munchen identified them as being of Ukrainian descent.<br/><br/>Vladimir Stankic, Chief Operations Officer for Priboj-Tehnika International of Belgrade said, "This is such a tragic incident. People should not have to live in fear of being kidnapped and taken to a foreign country beyond their will. Our governments are weak to combat this threat of terrorism. Priboj-Tehnika International is discussing with the governments in Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Austria, Hungary, Ukraine, Bulgaria and Germany regarding the integration of<span style="font-style: italic">Odluke Srpska Inc.</span>[Serbian Decisions, inc.] personnel into the law enforcement of local communities. The current paramilitary is less than prepared or capable of performing these tasks. It is up to the private sector to provide a law enforcement and deterrent system capable of handling this heightened level of crime in Eastern Europe."<br/><br/><br/>Alfred dropped his teacup on the floor after reading the quote from Mr. Stankic os Priboj-Tehnika. 'Oh good lord,' he thought to himself. 'If Dragan Pavlovic takes hold of Eastern Europe, there will be terror like we have never seen before.' Alfred immediately dispatched an E-mail to the Cairo and Paris offices, as well as the Moskva office to observe the Seven Ronin and keep an eye on Dragan Pavlovic in Belgrade, CEO of Priboj-Tehnika. 'What exactly are they up to?'<br/><br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 150%; line-height: 116%;"><div style="text-align: center;">Republic of China Navy Discovers Ship of  Death</div></span></span><br/><br/><br/>Taipei, Republic of China (AP) - Late yesterday afternoon, the Republic of China Destroyer,<span style="font-style: italic">Kee Lung</span>(DDG) found an Indonesian Freighter adrift in the South China Sea about a hundred miles south of the Hengchun, Taiwan (RoC). The Freighter contained the bloated remains of over four hundred people yet to be identified.<br/><br/>The Freighter is flagged out of Jakarta, Indonesia belonging to Perusahaan Pelayaran Equinox. After contacting the company, they say the ship had just left Hong Kong and was bound for Hawaii. The ship was reported to be containing computer parts, furniture, children's toys and and storage bins. The company states that the ship maintains a crew of 23 sailors mostly hired out of Hong Kong, China. The exact number of bodies found on board the ship, the company has no clue as to how an additional 407 people stowed away aboard the large container ship.<br/><br/>The Perusahaan Pelayaran Equinox is a subsidiary company of Terra Australis Global headquartered in Perth, Australia. Terra Australis claims they recently acquired Perusahaan Pelayaran  in a deal with Ninkyō Dantai Worldwide out of Kobe, Japan. Just as with Terra Australis, Ninkyo Dantai denies any involvement or knowledge in what may have happened aboard the ship.<br/><br/>Investigators on the scene claim the bodies were both bloated to double normal size and had a pinkish tint to their flesh. This is generally a condition associated with Carbon Monoxide poisoning. The international community will investigate this incident further as they attempt to identify the deceased.<br/><br/><br/>Alfred Kemper finished reading the article and could not help but suppress a giggle. "Oh how bloody awful. What a mess. Certainly another human trafficking incident. Those poor people probably spent their entire life savings to get a ride to the States and out of China." Alfred sent an E-mail to their office in Hong Kong, China telling them to keep an eye out for  The Se7en and to monitor the activies of the Japanese Yakuza or as they have legitimized their activities, now known as the Ninkyō Dantai. Edward Lee's Australian group had been running a legitimate business for years, but was rumored to have a hand in the poppy fields in South East Asia. They also have a Pharmaceutical company located in Hong Kong, China.<br/><br/>Alfred Kemper didn't quite know what to make of these situations and hoped the Seven Ronin would read about these stories in their local newspapers wherever they may be and investigate what was behind these stories. He did not maintain contact with either of them and could only hope for the best. They are the planet's last hope.<br/><br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 150%; line-height: 116%;"><div style="text-align: center;">WAR! in Central Africa Ravages Millions</div></span></span><br/><br/>Nairobi, Kenya (AP) - The war in Africa continues into the fifth month with no resolution in sight. Logan Securities International armed with mechanized armed soldiers are battling the mechanized warriors of Transvaal Group Securities. Logan Securities International is a subsidiary company of Kinder-Logan International, a MNC headquartered in Bonn, Germany with interests in the diamond mines of West Africa. The Mech armed soldiers have occupied the war torn nation of Somalia to use as their base of operations in their fight with the Transvaal Group. Transvaal Group Securities is a subsidiary of Nyaminyami Zambezi Transglobal, a MNC headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya.<br/><br/>Berhanu Diallo, Chief Executive Officer, for Nyaminyami Zambezi stated that the soldiers of Kinder-Logan are intent on over taking his possessions and eliminating the African based Multi-National Corporation. He believes the Germany and UK based conglomerate feels threatened by their operations in Southern Europe and the Middle East. They have taken up arms in order to damage the African corporation.<br/><br/>This war has seen some of the finest in state of the art Robotic Assisted mechanized combat suits the world has ever seen. The Transvaal group consists primarily of African soldiers who are trained in the use of the "Mechs", which the suits are informally referred to and the Logan troops are primarily Western and Northern European soldiers trained in the use of the suits.<br/><br/>On the battlefield, each side uses both traditional infantry and mech warriors. The traditional infantry ride to the battlefield in state of the art Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFV),  trucks, helicopters, airborne insertion or by foot. Those Infantrymen who ride in IFVs do so accompanied by the Mech Warriors which have replaced the Main Battle Tanks (MBTs) which were rendered obsolete twelve years ago, by the introduction of these new Mech Warriors.<br/><br/>So far, the fighting has stalled out along the Kenyan-Somali border with raids conducted by the Logan Group in the MNCs capital in Nairobi. If the Zambezi group falls this would bring out a disruption of the balance of power in the region and send Africa back into its dark ages. It had only recently dug itself out in the past fifteen years.<br/><br/><br/>Alfred was deeply concerned about this story. This war showed two things. First, the international community had changed. No longer were nation states responsible for the actions of their citizens. These Multi-Nationals had come to dominate the rightful governments, at least in Africa. For two opposing Corporations to finance and sustain military operations in a sovereign nation was unheard of twenty years ago. And now, today, it was happening in East Africa. One would think that if Kinder-Logan were serious about taking the diamond mines of West Africa, they would have their combat troops in the west, instead of the Horn of Africa. Alfred knew that the headquarters for Nyaminyami Zambezi Transglobal was in Nairobi and the elimination of the MNC headquarters was the true aim of Kinder-Logan.<br/><br/>"What has this world turned into?" Alfred uttered to himself. He would E-mail information on this situation to the field office in Cairo. "What more is going on?"<br/><br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 150%; line-height: 116%;"><div style="text-align: center;">OPEC Signs Historic Pact with Roberts-Lehman</div></span></span><br/><br/>Atlanta, Georgia (AP) - Roberts Lehman, the American Multi-National Corporaion headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia has signed an historic pact with the Oil Producting and Export Countries (OPEC) of the middle East which permits Roberts Lehman unrestricted control over the middle eastern oil fields. No longer will oil pricing be determined by the OPEC nations. Roberts-Lehman will now control the rights to the wells and permitted to set fair market prices based on their situation.<br/><br/>"Good God!" Alfred bolted upright. "What the hell has Mister Paul Roberts done? and more importantly, what does he plan to do?" Alfred Kemper knew if one MNC controlled the oil fields in the Middle East, then that company would have a global monopoly on petroleum exports around the world. Alfred had to alert the Huntsmen in both New York City and Cairo, Egypt the ramifications of this new treaty.