Mustafa Visits The Barracks

[*Tisiphone]

Hograth's scroll flared into blue energy as it disintegrated, blossoming into a glowing hand that plowed down the hallway into the back of the desperately fleeing journalist-turned-terrorist. The impact lifted Mustafa from his feet, knocking him sprawling to the ground where he blinked dazedly for several moments.

In that time, he was quickly apprehended and rendered incapacitated. Within a few moments the papers that he had stuffed into his sleeves were revealed. More damningly, the remaining firebombs on Mustafa's person may as well have been the knots on the hangman's noose.

Less than ten minutes later, Bureau Chief Stodge "The Meticulous" Regulu signed Mustafa's arrest warrant and ordered that his arraignment and subsequent trial be closed to the public.

As a matter of course, S.I.G.I.S. sent their own top counsel, Prudence Cates, to speak in Mustafa's defense. Shortly after learning of the evidence found on Mustafa and the damage done to the barracks, Cates sent word back to Harbinger House.

That evening's S.I.G.I.S. led off with an editorial disavowing Mustafa, and deploring his crimes, while still endorsing the notion of a free press and the merit of an informed public. Coincidentally, an anonymous organization made a six figure donation to the Harmonium Ball at about the same time the evening edition was hitting the newsstands. Whatever the reason, Harbinger House escaped any further entanglements with Hardhead investigators.

The next morning, following testimony from Cryptbane, Hograth, and others, Mustafa was convicted and sentenced to be hanged until he was dead, such sentence to be carried out in 24 hours.

((The thread is reopened to IC responses in the aftermath of the trial. Tomorrow at around this time, Mustafa will be hanged.

[*WhenWizardsWar]

It wasn't perfect, it didn't really help beat back the tide of civil unrest the Harmonium has been faced with lately, but maybe just maybe the reporters swinging corpse would send a sign, hopefully a loud and clear one that the time of anarchy and unrest are over and that peace and balance are on the rise.

Measure One Cryptbane sits back in his chair at his desk after hearing getting back to the barracks after Mustafas's trial. He thinks for a long moment before inking a letter to the measures and movers. He still states he believes operation Red Ink should be carried out because the problem of the insiders S.I.G.I.S has within the harmonium is still an issue that should be looked into and dealt with.

He then sends a letter to Charae of the Mercy Killers, he simply states to her that he offers what ever assistance the mercy killers would like to make sure Mustafa makes it to the sudden stop at the end of his rope. He believes that just because SIGIS denounced Mustafa doesn't mean everyone else does and it is very likely an attempt will be made to rescue him before his hanging.

[*Tisiphone]

"Cryptbane!"

A voice booms from the doorway.

An officer that Christopher Cryptbane does not recognize looms over his desk, dropping a sealed letter onto it. "Eyes only. Destroy it afterwards." The insignia on the man's chest indicates that he is a Measure Five. His eyes bore into Cryptbane briefly before he turns crisply on his heel and disappears into the maelstrom that accompanies the repair of the Barracks.

[*Agony_Aunt]

Mustafa was in shock. All his plans, in ruins. A short future with a long rope lay ahead.

How did it happen? Things were going so well. The Harmonium were behaving exactly as expected... and then... the bombs.

He lay back on his pallet, and awaited what would come next.

((Mustafa hanging, in public, possibly tonight))

[*WhenWizardsWar]

Christopher looks at the folder for a long moment, drumming his fingers on it in thought.

What could it be he wondered?

He was hoping he finally got through about the Harmonium doing things the way he believed they should be doing things to get results.

Or...it could be another project..

Perhaps something to do with Mustafa's trial, something he wasnt aware of.

No one could question his loyalty to the Harmonium way, anyone who did should have their bolts of their brain box tightened, but there was that possiblity that he might be regarded is a potential loose cannon, which he knew was far from the truth.

Still..a noticable of dismissal was a small possability, in fact if the Harmonium ranks are indeed compromised to a level he firmly suspects maybe the insiders pulled strings to remove someone they think could make trouble...

He finally stands up and locks the office door and sits back at his desk, after using divine divination spells to see if anyone was hiding in the room.

He takes a deep breath and lifts the folder, unsealing it and opening it carefully.

[*Tisiphone]

The note is written in a soldier's, no-nonsense hand.

--Cryptbane,

Come to the north door, east hallway at High Guard. A portal will open for exactly ten heartbeats.

Pass through.

Virto Hym
Mover3

[*WhenWizardsWar]

And pass through he does, but not before ensorcelling himself with divine protections and having his righteous hammer and shield ready.

The portals energy whirls around him and laps at his armor, his dark vision kicks in on the other side if nessicary, he does not step through right away, using the length of time the portal will stay open to take a reasonable look at the other side before stepping through with still enough time to arrive on the other side.

[*Cadence]

The elderly Harmonium officer shakes her head disappointedly, quite disgusted by the numerous breakdowns in both security as well as information gathering. The entire episode involving Mustafa - his imprisonment as well as his execution was one that did not sit well with her, especially after Phoenix's threat.

[*Tisiphone]

As Cryptbane passes through the portal, he is immediately assaulted by brilliant light. A bright sun shines down into a small garden courtyard. An impressive collection of various weapons, shields, and armor wait patiently in one corner of the courtyard, clearly placed for training purposes.

The rest is a garden of meticulously tended plants, carefully placed stones, and a small stream flowing from a pool of bright gold and orange fish.

A man with salt and pepper hair, square jaw, and piercing eyes looks up from where he tends a bonsai of a magnificent tree.

"Well? Are you going to just stand there?" Virto Hym asks. "Get over here! And bring those shears there with you."

[*WhenWizardsWar]

Christopher looks confused for a moment before setting his shield down and hooking his weapon into his belt before picking up a pair of shears and heading over towards the man.