Finding Closure

President Mikhail Aruthyan Jr sat in his new office in the presidential residence in Sirushostan when his phone rang. Glancing at the caller id, he froze when "S.Kolovich"flashed on the screen.

"What does she want?" he thought.

"Hello" he said.

"Ah... President iAruthyan, I see you want to send investigators to Romburyan to investigate the possible lead in the case of your fathers death" Kolovich said.

"Oh, hello Selenia. Yes is that a problem?" he asked.

"No not at all. I will however make it clear Lanosian military can only be used if your delegation is threatened" Selenia replied

Mikhail had expected this... he knew the risk Romburyan imposed on KB in the past, he knew it wouldn't be easy sending a bunch of Kingfordians and Lanosians in without armed protection.

"Will Enpolians be sending us protection?" he asked...

"It is not my decision. I'd have to get back to you on that one" she replied frustratingly, most likely on the account that she was once again reminded of how little authority she now had over such decisions.

'I'd like an Enpolian diplomat to come to Sirushostan too, can you arrange that"

"Let me see what I can do...' Selenia replied. 'Goodbye'.. and hung up the phone.

Mikhail was glad there was no problems. But now had the task of informing his mother that she needed to come to KB.

Oh you silly little boy...

Marina Aruthyan was not in Lanos when she got the email from her son, Mikhail Aruthyan Jr., about the investigation finally getting somewhere after years of wondering where to look for the ones responsible for killing her first husband. All the same if she was back home, she was beside herself that, finally, they were on the right path. This only meant...she had to go there...and to recount the whole. damn. thing. Marina wasn't looking forward to that. Not at all. She hoped they wouldn't have to again but it had to be done. Then again, she could finally see her son and her husband again. Then again, her beloved dacha would get swarmed...

She shooed the thoughts out of her head. Someone else was on the bed she slept on. She went on this trip without Richard since he got a stomach bug on Lanos One en route and flew back. Instead, her little pony was there. Lily loved her mother and big brother. Now finally again, she would see her big brother. Right now, the pony was gnawing at a carrot while teething, nibbling whatever she managed to bite off. She stopped to look at her mother looking at her. Mama? Marina knew she had to tell her the news. Little pony, you and Mama are going to Kingfordia to see Mickey. The pony was instantly happy to hear that and not the real reason to go there. Yay! I see big brother! I see Mickey! When we go? I wanna see Mickey!

Marina smiled at the pony. Soon little thing soon. But first Mama has things to finish here.

November 9, 2016

Marina was heading over to Harani City, where she lived for so long, to do what had to be done. To meet her there was not only the Lanosian team but her son. She waited for so long for this to finally happen though she will wanted things to not be so rough on her...and her pony. She knew Lily would be stressed to see her mother in pain. Hopefully her big brother could help calm the pony...she wanted Lily to be closer to her brother so this would be a good time to do that. Marina took notice the plane was landing soon and waited for it to finally get to the tarmac to begin to fret over what was to come.

I want that plane to touch down without inciident.... you hear me Miikhail ordered to a security guard as he could see his mother's plane approaching.

A cloud of burnt rubber could be seen as the gear touched the ground and the plane began to roll to a complete stop. Soon the door of the aircraft opened and out stepped his mother and a galloping pony.

Kingsley Bedford wrote:

I want that plane to touch down without inciident.... you hear me Miikhail ordered to a security guard as he could see his mother's plane approaching.

A cloud of burnt rubber could be seen as the gear touched the ground and the plane began to roll to a complete stop. Soon the door of the aircraft opened and out stepped his mother and a galloping pony.

Upon the door opening, the little pony galloped out to meet her big brother. Mickey! Big brother! Lily ran the distance and lept into her crouching brother's arms, nuzzling and talking to Mikhail about all the things she did while missing him. Pony missed big brother. Mickey show me more of Kingfordia? Mama come too? Marina was close behind and saw the cute scene. Little pony, be nice to your brother. He does love you but- Marina paused to watch Mikhail be loved to death by his sister. Pony wanna see Mickey more! Pony wanna show Mickey home! Pony miss Mickey! Marina smiled and went over to her children and picked the pony up. Now now little pony. Mickey will love you for the next few days. Don't worry. *hugs Mikhail* It's so nice to see you. Little pony too. Now is the dacha ready? Dacha! I know...

Harani Aerodrome, Harani City, KB

Mikhail was glad to see his mother and little sister again, despite the circumstances. He knew the trip would not be easy for his mother who still is deeply affected by his father's murder. But at least Lily was with her.



"Where's Richard?" he asked his mother.
'Oh, he got a stomach bug and I thought it best that he didn't come' she explained

"Oh... I see. There's going to be a group of federal police and forensic scientists coming to the dacha in a few days time to look at the car and to interview you about what you saw. They need to to help find him. I'll discuss the details of what we know so far at a more appropriate time and place." he told his mother.

He knew his mother didn't want to be interviewed, but it was essential to help find the killer.

Mickey come to dacha?

"Yes Lily, I'm coming" he told the pony.

Marina went over to her personal car in order to get to the dacha. Yes, her own car. Marina felt like driving this time. In the car...come on! Lily trotted alongside Marina towards her custom-made Mercedes with her son following behind and they piled into the car. Lily was strapped in a car seat made for her while Mikhail (reluctantly) was put in the backseat. They then traveled the distance to the dacha that the pony loved going to. Along the way, Marina and Mikhail conversed about how they were and such since they last met. The car and the escort arrived at the dacha an hour later with the pony being very excited. Marina wasn't. She noticed the heavy security. Later would come the CSI techs. And then the interviews. After that the Lanosian investigators.

She had Lily to help her get through this time. She would be a good pony.

Dacha, Harani Province, KB

After his mother and little sister had settled in at the daCha he went to brief the security guardss if his expectations

'First rule, don't upset my sister... don't call her an animal either if you want to keep your job. Her name is Lily... got it?" he warned
'second rule, you aren't to speak to my mother about the investigation unless I say so.'
"The property enterance and perimetre are the areas you are to be stationed in. Do not leave them unguarded at any time'

'And most importantly... if Y.P turns up looking for me... keep her away from my mother. They don't get along'

He turned back to walk to the dacha.










[i]

While Mikhail was walking back to the dacha under some guard, his little sister ran up to him all excited. "Pony miss big brother! Pony wanna play with big brother!" She talked excitedly to Mikhail while, from the front porch of the dacha, Marina was watching Lily pester her big brother. She was all happy with a mother's love inside watching her children getting along. Good thing they were there...the coming events would cause her great issues to come...

"Mickey love his little sister? Now come inside. I want to talk about what's been done so far..."

Mikhail dragged his mother into the study, she was totally unaware of what awaited her inside.

"Mickey, why are we going into your father's study" Marina asked her son.

'The interviewer is here.'

She stopped at the doorway. She had not expected this. She saw a man in Kingfordian federal police uniform sitting in a lounge chair waiting for her. She sat in her husbands old chair and took a deep breath.

"You okay mother?" Mikhail asked her.

"Go.... go get your sister' Marina wanted the pony with her.

Mikhail returned with his sister trotting alongside him. She hadn't noticed the man in the room, and it was best that she didn't anyway. Lily didn't like the Kingfordian police. They frightened her.

Mickey, I miss pony show!

"Your mother wants you to be with her" Mikhail explained

Why?

Marina picked her daughter up and placed her on her lap

'Now be a quiet pony ok?" she told her

eeeeeeeeeep!!! Lily had noticed the interviewer
mama! no llike! no like!

"it's ok, this man is here to speak to mother. He won't hurt you" Mikhail explained to his sister.

The interviewer began the interview, barely acknowledging the pony's discomfort with the stranger in the room.

"Now Pres Aruthyan... I am here to ask you about the assasination and to get a full account of your recollection of that day. Do you remember everything?'

Mikhail interrupted out of anger "Don't ask stupid questions... my mother remembers everything and you know it'

'Did you and your husband recieve any threats in the leadup to his death?"

Marina pointed to a draw in the desk... 'In there" she said

Mama?

"I know little pony'

The interviewer looked confused as to what the pony meant but continued looking in the drawer and hiding a snigger.

"Do you mean these two letters?' he asked holding up two letters

Marina nodded slightly

Did you realise he was in danger?

Marina couldn't believe this... how insensitive and stupid was this guy?

'He never listened to me, I tried to tell him' she said breaking down

'he insisted I didn't worry... the sneaky devil put an aphrodesiac in my tea a couple of times'

Was the name Rasiak Culveen ever mentioned to you

Who?

'Rasiak Culveen" the interviewer repeated

'He never brought work home with him' she replied

Well he is our suspect...

Marina was shocked. They had a suspect.... it took them long enough... she became overcome with emotion.

"After... all this time" she said tearing up 'You never bothered to do this years ago'

Mikhail knew he should step in at this point. His mother needed to know why it took so long to find the assassin.

'We only just found out about him' he explained

Marina wasn't listening.... 'Your father would have come back from his grave in Harani to tell you off, Mikhail!'
'I know he wouldn't let me suffer this long and he would have railed on you people for not doing this earlier!' she ranted

The interviewer seemed shocked by the reaction and shared a confused look with Mikhail. Hopefully Marina and Lily didn't see him roll his eyes in response.


Mama! Lily had noticed her mother was crying.

Mama no cry!

"I'll try not to cry Lily. Mother's very hurt from all that years ago' Marina told the pony.

The interviewer was keen to move onto another question. He found the situation kind of awkward and wanted to get the information needed.

Can you remember what you saw that day? he asked

Marina glared at him angrily

Mikhail; 'Of course she does.... don't ask stupid questions'

The interviewer apologised and asked Marina for a recount of the events of that day.....

Marina; Here, let the pony rub against your leg

She put Lily down and the pony trotted over to the interviewer before trotting back to her mother

He look at me funny

'He did? well he's not like his father. I've seen him before with his father. he was a bigot" Marina told her.

how many suspects did you see

Two

"Both armed... but I made sure one of them would carry a bullet in him for a long time' she added.

the interviewer was surprised. you shot one?

' My father gave me his old Karabiner 98k because he didn't trust Kingfordians at the time' She replied.
'Imagine that guy's surprise when he was in the sights'


Mikhail never heard of that... his mother never mentioned she shot anyone to him.
"you shot one of the assasins?' he asked

Marina paused. 'What did I just say?' she replied

'I grabbed the rifle and fired at them' she said.

"what did they look like?"

: 'one of them sort of looked like a Kingfordian soldier' Marina replied

Mikhail: Mother, were they dressed in KB uniforms?

"one was... the other was in a Hobbesian uniform" she replied.

he died in the car right?

'No! In hospital. I made sure he didn't die here'
'He was alive when he was taken to the hospital. I tried to save him" she sobbed


Where's the car?

"Go find the shed, it has been in there since' she told the interviewer.

wOULD you look at this photo the interviewer requested

'What photo"

Marina was handed a photo of a seedy looking man in his 30's... she recognised the face all too well. This was the man who killed her husband.

"Do you recognise this person" the interviewer asked her.

"He shot him...' she replied.
'He wore the Kingfordian uniform' she added

Lily saw the photo... No like! No like!

Marina calmed the pony down and then turned to the interviewer 'I shot that man'

'his shoulder should be lame' she chuckled... "Now go' dismissing the interviewer.

She was glad this part was over.

Indeed she was glad it was over. She huffed out of the room, surprisingly leaving Lily behind, and headed straight for the master bedroom. She went in and locked the door and thereupon lept on the bed and began to cry. That bastard of a police officer had to be indifferent to her, or to any widow for that matter, and the painful memories lept out of her inner mind thanks to his bullshit. Marina eventually cried herself to sleep. Mikhail later came into the room with Lily and put her on the bed next to their mother. "Mama? Mama. No cry Mama. Pony no like. Mickey no like." Marina smiled and kissed her pony. "It's ok Lily. Mother loved Mickey's daddy very much...she still does..."

She looked at Mikhail with her characteristic glare. "The Lanosians will be here tomorrow. But first, I want to see your father."

Back at her dacha, Marina was readying herself to meet the Lanosians in Harani. Today was a special occasion for them since they had been so nice to her after her Mikhail's murder that she decided to repay the kindness. There all those years ago, they said to her that she needed to go back home for her own good. She took their advice and it worked. Now she was fussing about a dress and whether or not her little pony liked it. "Do you like the dress?" "Mama look pretty!" "I know...you like?" "I like!" "Then this is the dress." Marina smiled and went back to getting ready. Things were still on her mind. Business back home, the whole investigation going on, the Lanosian police arriving and readying for their jobs, and whatnot. She never visited Mikhail since arriving, a huge disappointment to herself. "Nobody over there knows what I feel...they all act like this isn't a big deal...stupid police had to go and fuck it all up...Yuliana never did a damn thing either...maybe because who he was married to..." Marina talked to herself about the lack of progress until now in everything and even the lack of an investigation until now. She was convinced Yuliana was a closet Lanosian-hating Kingfordian like those people of the old days. She was sure the police were too despite the whole Mikhail thing. "They never did their jobs..."

She looked at Lily. "Ready to go?" Lily nodded and followed her mother downstairs until Marnia stopped at the bottom looking at a delegation of Kingfordians. "What do you want?" she asked to the leader of the bunch, if there was one.

The Kingfordian stepped forward...

'President Aruthyan's grave has been defiled" he told her.

"A Kingfordian who went to pay their respects to him this morning reported the vandalism to police"
Marina was furious... How dare anyone touch her husbands grave. She couldn't believe what she was hearing... she didn't want to believe it either.

''Find out who did this! And don't let them get away with it.' she told them.

"You're not going to invite us to sit down?" the Kingfordian asked. "I see you have company"

Marina glared. "Not until you find out whwo did this to my husband's grave" she told them

She had to see this for herself... she stormed off towards the front door. Forget the Lanosians waiting for her... she needed to what they did to Mikhail's grave. The pony followed her as they got into the car and sped off to the cemetary.

Kingsley Bedford wrote:

The Kingfordian stepped forward...

'President Aruthyan's grave has been defiled" he told her.

"A Kingfordian who went to pay their respects to him this morning reported the vandalism to police"
Marina was furious... How dare anyone touch her husbands grave. She couldn't believe what she was hearing... she didn't want to believe it either.

''Find out who did this! And don't let them get away with it.' she told them.

"You're not going to invite us to sit down?" the Kingfordian asked. "I see you have company"

Marina glared. "Not until you find out whwo did this to my husband's grave" she told them

She had to see this for herself... she stormed off towards the front door. Forget the Lanosians waiting for her... she needed to what they did to Mikhail's grave. The pony followed her as they got into the car and sped off to the cemetary.

Marina picked up her pony and rushed to the cemetery with everyone following behind. The Lanos National Police detailed to her already secured the area but she had to run over and chase everyone away from the immediate vicinity to see what was done. Seeing the defiled tombstone, she broke down and cried with her pony being by her side and crying too. "nononononononono..." She was inconsolable. Until...

"Where's Mickey? Does he know about it...his father?"

PRESIDENTIAL RESIDENCE, SIRUSHOSTAN, KB

Mikhail had just heard about some terrible news. His father's grave had been deformed by some coward. He knew it was no coincidence. He summoned the top officials from the Kingfordian delegation to his office.

Accompanying them was Yuliana Pashkchenko, the opposition leader who was assigned to represent the Kingfordian government in the investigation due to her good relations with Enpolian officials. They sat down and began to discuss the issue.

Mikhail wondered if his mother would be safer in Sirushostan for a bit. After all this was evidence that someone was trying to spite her. But what Yuliana had to say concerned him most of all.

Bring your mother to Sirushostan. Drag her here if you have to. Her being at the grave right now is a risk. Someone is out to get your mother in Harani. Your mother and sister should come here for a bit she said

Mikhail thought about it... how bad must this be for Yuliana to care about his mother. For one, they couldn't stand each other since the election campaign incident. and now she is warning him about her safety. This called for him to go down to Harani and convince his mother to come. If Lily wants to go... she'll have to come here... Marina would have to have the pony with her. But the police in Sirushostan scare her. Oh fuck it... he will drag his mother if he has to.

"Yuliana... if I bring them here to Sirushostan. You won't engage in an arguement will you?' he asked Yuliana.

No... not unless she starts it. Besides I adore your sister... I wouldn't want to upset her by fighting with her mother. Just make sure your mother minds her manners around me. I know how those Lanosian women can be when they don't like someone she replied

"Oh god... don't start the Lanosian thing.... I beg of you'

'I'm going to head to Harani, see the damage myself. In the meantime, try and get some new info for me won't you?' he asked.

Yuliana stood up and nodded.

Mikhail began to reflect on the deformity. Why did it happen/ Did someone know where his mother was? would they come for her. Would they harm her, would they harm Lily? After all... they had the guts to vandalise a sacred gravesite. They could possibly kidnap Lily for randsom! He didn't want to think about that..

He pressed his intercom button on his desk ""Bring the car around to the front... I'm leaving for Harani'

At her dacha, Marina had recovered enough of her composure to tell off Mikhail of his (or Yuliana's) idea to take her to Sirushostan. Marina was not pleased one bit with the whole idea. "How many times did I remind your father...'you need to come! They want to see you!' No! I kept telling him why I wouldn't go! He had to be reminded every time! I'm not going there!" Lily trotted around her mother with questions about the whole incident. Marina sighed. "Lily, you're going with your brother to the capital. No..." She stopped the pony. "I'm not going there. Mother doesn't like it there. Your brother knows I'm not going there." She picked the pony up and told her that she would be a good pony to go with Mikhail. She put her in his arms but she was tearing up. "Mama! What if-" "No don't think of it. Be with your big brother and be a happy pony. Mother will be fine here ok?" The pony quieted down and nuzzled Mikhail from where she was. Mikhail looked at his mother with an incredulous look. "Why won't you go?" "I had a bad memory of the place when I was carrying you in me a month in when I had to go to work there for a day. I will not talk about it in front of her.' The incident she referred to was where a bus of Lanosian tourists was attacked with RPGs and she had to go off and treat these casualties. The whole attack and the aftermath didn't scar her. It was the bystanders...she hated them for what they said afterwards. She swore she'd never return to the place and she made sure Mikhail Sr. understood it and why she refused to go there ever again. She slipped her son a note explaining the whole story and placed a finger on her lips to tell him not to tell Lily. She looked at both of them with a smile.

"Now go off and have fun with your sister. She'd like to see the city, wouldn't you little pony?"

Lily shook her head in agreement with her mother. "I wanna see capital!" After that, Marina kissed Lily and then sent Mikhail and Lily off to Sirushostan minus their mother whom Mikhail tried and failed to drag with him to the city she despised so much. Lily was excited and fidgeted around in her brother's arms about going to a new city. "Mickey what it like? What I see? They like pony?" The pony pestered her brother with questions and he was glad to answer them for her. Looking at them in the dacha was Marina Aruthyan staring at the two of them leaving. "You'll see the world one day by yourself little thing..." Marina knew that she would grow up but she wanted to enjoy it. Despite the photo emails being sent to her work email, she didn't bother to check it. Someone else, her secretaries, would do it later. Marina, though, wanted to go sewing a quilt. She had been working on one for Lily and brought it here to finish for her in the dacha's quilting room she set up, against Mikhail Sr.'s wishes, to quilt when she wasn't busy raising their son.

"Oh she'll like this quilt. Little pony loves everything I make for her."

Marina had just finished her quilt for Lily when she heard the telltale sound of choppers landing on her dacha's lawns. She was not impressed with what that could entail now. She grabbed the quilt and went downstairs to encounter the Lanosian special forces that came down to protect her from whatever was going to be a threat now. When told of the story, her face went white. Marina could not believe that something like that could happen to Lily and Mikhail. She held the quilt and cried her eyes out even when she was told her children were safe. To make things better, Richard had come back from Lanos to be with them but events required his immediate presence. She was heartbroken until the two came back to the dacha to be safe. She was on the front porch when the car came up. Lily, regardless of what her brother tried to do, ran out as fast as she could towards her mother. Marina ran too and caught the pony on the front steps and held and cried with her pony that she and Mikhail were alive. "Mama I no wanna go there! They scary! They try to hurt Mickey! Mama...Mama...!" Marina held her pony trying to calm her down. "It'll be ok little pony...Mama's here for you...she's here...it'll be ok...daddy's here..." Richard had come up and Lily nearly lept out of Marina's arms to see her daddy. "Daddy! Kingfordia scary! Mean people try to hurt pony! Try to hurt Mickey! Mama...Daddy...no wanna be here!" Both knew that she was terribly upset thanks to the attempt on Mikhail's life and that she needed to be taken inside. Marina took the pony inside while Richard went over to Mikhail. "What the hell happened? Do you know what fresh hell is going to come down on these people?" Richard had seen enough hell to know that Romburyan was going to face a lot more than just a stern letter about this. Marina had walked up to her son and hugged and kissed him. "You're alive...but your sister doesn't like Kingfordia thanks to this...but she thinks you scared those men away. You did good. Your father would be proud that you saved your little sister." She beckoned the two inside and sat down next to her pony now entangled in sleep in her new quilt. Marina sighed and looked up.
"Get your people and those Enpolians Mikhail. Your mother will want a meeting with them. Yuliana too. I want them to know what it's like to face a very angry Lanosian mother."

At a Kingfordian base

It wasn't that this incident had effectively rendered the Army Field Military Police, National Police Security Service Threat Identification and Investigation Unit, and the National Police Emergency Response Tactical Force (or SWAT) near-worthless in regards to the investigation but it seemed that the SWAT boys had a new job. Instead of investigations, they would go with the Special Operations Ground Force of the Lanos Air Force, sent to do the hard work of finding the guys, into the fire to get the fucks responsible for this whole incident and, come hell or high water, people will be found. This wasn't an investigation anymore. This was a manhunt. Fuck everything else. Now it had become a war on terrorism, at least with finding this guy.

GOVERNMENT OFFICES: SIRUSHOSTAN

Kingfordian opposition leader Yuliana Pashkchenko was busy day dreaming of winning the next election when her office phone rang. Caller ID showed a number she recognised as that of the Harani Dacha belonging to Lanosian President Marina Aruthyan.

What does she want now? Yuliana thought as she picked it up. She'd never been fond of Marina and she knew Marina despised her so she was surprised to be recieving a phone call.

"Hello, Yuliana Pashkchenko's office" she answered

The caller was not Marina, but infact Kingfordian President Mikhail Aruthyan Jr. who despite being his main political opponent, she considered him a friend and was stunned as to why he was calling her in Harani. Wasn't he supposed to be travelling to Sirushostan with his sister Lily?

"Yuliana, it's Mikhail" Mikhail said.

"Mikhail? What the heck are you still doing in Harani? I thought you were on your way to Sirushostan" Yuliana responded.

She hadn't yet been informed about th incident that occured 2 hrs earlier yet and had assumed Mikhail, his sister Lily and his mother were heading for Sirushostan, that was where they were supposed to be after all.

"What? No one told you" Mikhail asked

"Told me what?" Yuliana was puzzled. "Why are you calling from Harani? why are you there... did your mother pursuade you not to take my advice? I'm trying to keep her and Lily safe."

"Well nice going Yuliana... I almost was assasinated 2 hrs ago. Our convoy was ambushed" Mikhail told her sarcastically.

Yuliana was stunned... and angry that no one informed her of the attack when it happened. She afterall was the one who suggested they move to Sirushostan after photos were taken of Marina and Lily at the cemetary in Harani which appeared to be a message from someone who wanted to threaten Marina was sent to Marina's computer. Yuliana had thought they'd be safer in Sirushostan... where there was more security.

"Mikhail! What the hell happened. Why did no one tell me?"

Mikhail was disappointed that no one informed Yuliana. She was supposed to be in contact with Panthera, the company who is in charge of security for the Kingfordian government officials.

"We were ambushed 30 mins into the trip. a car was blocking the road and when Panthera stopped to investigate there was an explosion, followed by gunfire. Lily and I ducked onto the floor until the firing stopped. She is terrified and now thinks our country is a bad place where the people want to hurt ponies. I think it'll be hard to for her to trust Kingfordians again"

Yuliana was devastated. She had a feeling Marina would blame her for this. And she felt so bad for Lily, for whom it took a long time to convince her to trust the people in KB.

"Who... who... were the bastards?" she asked.

"I don't know, but they were professionals and I suspect RSA has a hand in this. I want you... no let me re-phrase this for you... My mother wants you to come to Harani immediately. She wants to talk with you" Mikhail responded.

More like rage at me Yuliana thought.

"Fine" she said, "But I ain't travelling in convoy, I'll take the jet and have security ready at the Harani aerodrome to accompany me to the dacha. And try and calm your mother down before I get there, I can hear her ranting in the background"

"Oh you can can you?" Mikhail replied "She's been going on and on since we came back" *he put on an imitation of his mother* 'That wretched braided woman! it's all her fault! She wanted the pony to go to Sirushostan, it's her fault she hates the country" "Mickey could have died! I hate the woman! I hate her" Mikhail actually did a good imitation of his mother, it seemed to amuse Yuliana too.

"Tell the nervous wreck there that if she tries to accuse me I'll strangle her with my braid if she's not careful" she warned. "You know I'm joking of course" she added.

"Of course I know... now get in the bloody jet and get over here before my mother drives me insane" Mikhail ordered.

Yuliana hung up the phone. Damn! now I have to go and talk to her... and no one bloody tells me that this happened! What type of abuse will she subject me to this time she wondered. Now she had to get to the airport and go face the wrath of a Lanosian mother.

OOC: Marina didn't interview the bodyguards. That's all I have with your post Enpo. Thanks.
IC:

Marina was too busy trying to calm a very upset Lily down. She did catch Mikhail making an imitation of her. She thought "If he wasn't in politics, he could do comedy...he should tell that to his sister." Damn near good one at that. She made sure Lily didn't hear it by talking to her and trying to get her to cheer up and like Kingsley Bedford again. So far, her motherly efforts weren't working. Lily was too terrified to to be convinced that the place was pony-friendly. The poor pony didn't want to even leave her parents' sides. Strangely enough, Lily didn't go chattering away with her answers. She stayed silent and shaking, only talking when she had to. Marina knew this wasn't a good sign. "Lily...why don't you go to your big brother?" Lily shook her head no. Marina sighed and picked up her pony and took her over to her brother. Lily then reached towards her brother silently and with big eyes. Marina answered for her. "She wants to be in your arms...don't ask why she's not talking...it's...a part of what happened earlier..." Lily teared up and spoke. "Mickey hold pony?" Marina handed her pony daughter to her eldest son belatedly and with tears in her eyes. "Yes he will...yes he will little thing..." Marina ran out of the room with tears in her eyes. She hadn't been this emotional since 2009. Only this time, someone tried to kill both her children at once. She didn't know what would happen next. All she wanted was her children to be safe and sound. Only this time, Lily needed all the reassuring she could get. She was left nuzzling Mikhail. She later said "Big brother save pony." Marina caught it and commented. "Yes he did...he's a good brother."

"Mikhail...when is everyone getting here?"

In the dacha's dining room, now a conference room

Marina waited while the Enpolian, Lanosian, and Kingfordian representatives she requested to come arrived. She noted the presence of Yuliana, which she prayed didn't do anything stupid. It took her a monumental effort not to release her rage upon anyone that suggested anything stupid or say it in the first place. To help her keep this down, Lily was next to her side nuzzling her mother's leg. Marina knew that it would take a lot of effort to get her to like this country again. She waited until everyone was settled in and then spoke in a calm demeanor, shocking Yuliana on the inside that she did that in the first place.

"I'm not here to assign blame or to rage on anyone here. That's reserved for those who did this, which aren't here. But I called this to discuss multiple things related to this entire investigation. It has now changed focus on finding those responsible for both attacks as soon as possible. It also changed to finding whoever leaked or is leaking information to those responsible for the attacks. There's also those who supported the attackers and I want to see those people brought down. I would like to hear from the Enpolians first since it's suspected the assassin is now back in the territory." Marina sat down and waited for the Enpolians to respond.

Marina then asked about something that seemed a bit obvious to everyone; who supported this guy and his band?

"What about the various terrorist and criminal organizations that are in Romburyan? It's pretty certain a few of them could have supported the assassin, including the Lebs from what I hear..." Marina watched as the group began to discuss things. "I would like to focus a part of our investigation on them now since they provided support to these terrorists as well as devote some effort to the leaker. That person should be found as soon as possible before anything worse happens."

Yuliana couldn't bite her tongue any longer. Why was Westov denying this. She had to step in now.

"Nikolai, sorry to interrupt you. But cut the crap. President Aruthyan deserves better. She almost lost her son and daughter. Be truthful with her'

"Marina...' she continued. "The Lebs did have involvement transporting for your husbands murder... but we doubt they have involvement this time. But we can't be sure. Infact I can confirm who was there during the ambush. One of Mikhail's guards identified Rasiak Culveen at the scene. I believe their van has been filmed on CCTV crossing the bridge back to Romburyan. They are no longer in Kingfordian territory."

Nikolai looked annoyed by Yuliana's interruption. Why she had to be such a know it all was beyond him.

Fucking bitch has to make me look stupid. I can see why Marina hates her he thought. But she was right and he couldn't deny it as much as he'd like to do so.

Lily Aruthyan had been nuzzling her mothers leg when she heard that familiar voice. She trotted from under the table where she looked up to see a room full of people. One of them was a woman with long blonde hair which had a braid wrapped tightly around her head. Only one person she knew wore her hair that way.

Yulia! Lily cried out.

Yuliana was happy to see Lily. Who she had feared would be traumatised by her ordeal earlier today. "hello Lily" she said.

Yulia, bad men tried to hurt pony! they tried to hurt Mickey!

Marina turned to her daughter "Alright little pony, you've said hello. Why don't you go play with your brother'

Mama! Lily didn't want to leave her mother's side. Still shaken by the ordeal, she felt safer with her mother.

"Alright' Marina relented. 'You stay here and be a good pony. Ok?"

Lily nuzzled her mothers leg.

"Now..." she said turning to the Kingfordians. "What do you have to say for yourselves?"

Nikolai's outburst and sudden leaving probably terrified the pony, not as much as what happened, but enough to force her to cower on the floor with her forelegs covering her face. Marina, though you couldn't tell, was furious on the inside that the outburst had to happen. She stopped being furious when Lily grabbed her leg after Nikolai left. "He go away?" Marina sighed. "I would prefer to look into the Lebs just the same regardless if they had their hands in this or not. It's all the more likely they have supported things so why ignore it?" Marina turned to the Kingfordians (Yuliana got a glare) and waited for them to answer her earlier question but adding "And the leaker? In fact, what about the leak and what else are you going to answer for?"

By this time, Lily had gone over to her brother to sit by him. She dodged the rest of the delegates there and even dodged Yuliana trying to reach for her with a firm "No!" Marina knew she thought Yuliana lied to her. Lily remembered how nice Yuliana was (after wrangling with her mother that oh so hated that whole incident and the arrogance coming from Yuliana) and now she thought Yulia had lied to her about the whole country being nice to ponies. Mikhail could tell when Lily grabbed his legs since he was close to Yuliana.