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thebibliomancer · 3 years ago

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Flames of the Dark Crystal liveblog pt 28

Flames of the Dark Crystal by J.M. Lee because the battle rages on. What am I going to do, just not read more? Ridiculous.

Last times on book: The seven fires of the Gelfling clans have been lit thanks to the efforts of Team Naia and also Rian helped. The Emperor was eavesdropping on the fire group call and brought eleven friends to Stone-in-the-Wood to murder the Gelfling for their insolence. With a sneaky ambush plan, the Gelfling manage to split up the Skeksis so they can be fought by clumps of Gelflling but as soon as the Emperor gets annoyed with the protagonists, he reveals a surprise of his own. skekMal the Hunter shows up and yoinks Rian up the Stonewood tower.

Chapter 28

The Emperor is real smug for a while and then eats dirt; so much for Legendary Swords.

The Emperor is real smug about having skekMal swoop in and kidnap Rian off the battlefield. And super smug about how baffled and distraught the protagonists are that it happened.

He even asks if they’ll try to fight without Rian or whether “Rian’s little toy” was the only weapon they had.

Maybe its not the time for subplot but it does feel weird that the Emperor has Naia and Gurjin in front of him and he doesn’t... care? Or recognize that its specifically them?

There’s been so much plot time spent on the Skeksis specifically wanting to capture the twins to squeeze the twin magic out of them for... reasons? Aughra thought that the Emperor thought it would let him slurp up his counterpart’s power? Or something? And skekSa thought that sounded like the dumbest thing she’d heard in her life.

But as recently as skekSa’s battle in the Sog, the Emperor wanting Naia and Gurjin captured was a thing. That was why skekSa tracked them down. It was her last chance and all.

And now that subplot doesn’t matter.

The Emperor doesn’t acknowledge them. He doesn’t make a decision on whether to order them captured or that he’s so angry that he just wants them dead at this point. He doesn’t even mention that skekSa was supposed to get them and she’s failed him for the last time.

I would have liked him to mention skekSa, give us some Emperor-side context for what she feared if she didn’t capture Naia and Gurjin.

But, it seems like that whole thing has been dropped.

It makes this whole part of the book feel less connected to the rest of the YA book series. Like... its prose DLC stapled to the end. Buy the One More Fight Flames of the Dark Crystal DLC.

ANYWAY.

Hey. In prose and not-puppets? The Second Battle of Stone-in-the-Wood gets brutal.

All around them, in pockets of battle throughout Stone-in-the-Wood, Gelfling and Skeksis voices screamed almost in unison. Trees near the border of the clearing had been lit up, choking the air with whorls of ember and stinking black smoke. Naia flinched as the Ritual Master smashed his scepter into a band of Gelfling rebels, killing one instantly and wounding the other two. Across the clearing, the Chamberlain knocked a Spriton off his Landstrider -- Lun -- and plunged his twisted dagger into his belly. Where his blood fell, the earth darkened.

Lun.... ;__;

(Bit weird for the Chamberlain to be the one who did that murder though. He’s described as standing right at the Emperor’s back so he shouldn’t be across the clearing. Unless the across the clearing is in reference to the Ritual Master and I’m bad at reading comprehension. VERY POSSIBLE. Anyway.)

Above the battle, skekMal the Hunter reaches the top of the Stonewood tower and just chucks Rian up there.

Rian managed to hold onto his special, cool, magical Plot Sword so despite being hurt in the climb, he gets up to face the Hunter.

And it looks very cool, by the way. (Source)

Back down at the battle, the Emperor suggests

“When the Hunter kills him, this battle will be over,” skekSo said. “This battle and this resistance. This rebellion. Over, in one move. Tiny flames die so quickly.”

Gurjin and Naia both insist that Rian will totally win.

Naia even says “The Gelfling and the sword have called upon Rian as their champion, and he will win” but she’s wracked with doubts. Whether Rian can defeat a beast like skekMal but also whether that’s even a good and ideal outcome since it will kill her good friend urVa.

The Emperor gets annoyed that he keeps giving these speeches telling the Gelfling to abandon all hope and they stubbornly remain defiant.

So he pulls out a sword and attacks Naia, Gurjin, and Amri dual wielding his scepter of office and a sword.

Like all Skeksis, he’s a beast compared to a Gelfling but after fighting skekSa, Naia is less than impressed. skekSo doesn’t have skekSa’s fighting prowess. He’s just swinging around reckless and angry.

Since Naia threw away her weapon back at Great Smerth so she’s blocking the Emperor’s sword with A ROCK whenever she can’t dodge. Just some rock.

Meanwhile, up on the Stonewood tower, things take a turn.

At the top of the rise, in sight of all who watched, skekMal the Hunter brought his sword down on Rian.

Metal flew in splinters, reflecting the afternoon sky. The azure light flickered as it struck the shared of the now-shattered sword blade that exploded out from between Rian and skekMal. Rian stepped away as metal pieces crashed to the ground.

Then all went still. The reverberation of Rian’s sword breaking echoed like a funeral song, a dirge that made Naia’s bones want to weep. Everyone heard it and everyone stopped. The Skeksis, weapons raised for slaying Gelfling. The Gelfling of the seven clans, scattered between them, many climbing the rise of stones that towered at the center of it all.

skekMal let out a booming laugh, holding up his weapons. Its scarred blade remained intact, whole and proof of what it had just destroyed.

And in Rian’s hand was a hilt with a jagged twist of broken metal.

Every face that could turned upward. Every eye saw Rian, staring numbly at what remained of the golden-hilted sword, falling to his knees in disbelief.

Welp. Farewell, unnamed Dual Glaive.

You were more underwhelming than your televised version.

The Age of Resistance Netflix Dual Glaive summoned the talking fires without the need for a quest to each clan. It could drain essence... for some reason. Rian used that to defeat skekVar. And, uh, it got broke.

But I think the not-explicitly-called Dual Glaive being a let down is kind of the point.

A lot of the YA novels have been questioning if violence is the right way to defeat the Skeksis and what alternate methods may be used. Its lampshaded that its incongruous for a sword to be the answer to all of that.

So the sword gets broken after being used in combat a little. Well, it has been sitting untouched in the Tomb of Relics for who knows how long. And Skeksis metal has been established as super tough stuff. Yeah, sorry, the legendary sword got broken.

But this isn’t a story that resolves with hitting something with a legendary sword.

Dark Crystal is a different beast from Legend of Zelda.

Anyway again.

While Naia is distracted by the plot sword breaking, the Chamberlain grabs her, shakes her senseless (despite her attempts to defend herself with her rock), and tosses her on the ground in front of the Emperor.

She pushed herself up as the Emperor’s shadow hovered nearer. Clutched her stone and dug her fingers into the earth and met his eyes, even as he raised his sword to kill her.

“I won’t give up,” she said. She felt a tear that had finally slipped past her lashes, one of grief and anguish, that had seen what she had seen. The tiny drop of water slipped off her cheek onto the ground and disappeared. “You can kill me. But you can’t change me. The forest is forever.”

Orange and red wings flashed in front of the sun. The Emperor’s cries were garbled as a Gelfling shot through the air. With a mighty cry, Maudra Fara struck him in the face with both feet, hard and fast as a bola stone.

YES! I LOVE A DYNAMIC ENTRY!

“Naia!” she shouted. “Go to Rian!”

She groaned as the Emperor’s talons pierced her body. At first Naia thought she was gone, but before she went, she drove her spear beneath the Emperor’s metal mask and jerked, snapping it off his beak with a grisly spray of gore.

“Go to Rian,” she said again over the Emperor’s screams. “Go --”

Her final command ended abruptly on the Emperor’s sword.

;__; >

Farewell, Mauda Fara. You went down kicking and I respect the hell out of that.

And her death marks a major turning point. As every remaining clan shows up to join the battle!

Wings of every color filled the sky: Sifa and Dousan, Grottan and Vapra. Fire and swords rained down upon the Skeksis, spears and arrows flying from the Gelfling who rushed from the woods on foot and on the backs of Landstriders dressed in the indigos and silvers of Ha’rar. Rainbow light filled the smoking ruins, flashing off iridescent wings and the banners of seven Gelfling clans.

Woo!

Adding to the chaos of sudden reinforcements, they enter the battle by dropping a whole bunch of fire dust smoke bombs on the Skeksis. The Gelfling have escalated to chemical warfare.

The Emperor still comes after Naia even with all this happening.

But before he can even raise his sword, he gets broadsided by a Landstrider! AND THEN BY A SECOND ONE!

This battle just got amazing.

It knocks him on his ass and knocks him away from his sword.

They should just keep hitting him with Landstriders if you ask me. Every time he gets up just BONK right back to rolling in the dirt.

That’ll either take the fight out of him or he’ll get so mad he’ll supplex a Landstrider. Either way, I want to see it.

The first rider wheeled her Landstrider about with perfected ease. Naia had never seen a Sifa on one of the tall beasts before, let alone such an expert rider. When the soldier raised her visor, though, she understood. The sunny, freckled face was a welcome one.

“Go!” Tae called down. She turned her head so Naia could see the crystal spider clinging to her hair, whispering in her ear. “Tavra and I will take care of these Skeksis fools!”

TavraTae!

Glad to see Tae up and not in a coma but I have so many questions!

You guys were supposed to handle the Grottan and Stonewood fires so where the heck were you and why did Rian have to handle it instead?

Also, I see that Tae is still lending her body to the cause. The cause of “Tavra is awesome.” So, like, in the long term was Onica’s vision right? Tae did meet Tavra that day in the storm. Is Tavra Tae’s significant Vapra? But in a less straightforward manner.

Like, is this going to be a permanent arrangement?

Dangit, if only this wasn’t the middle of a battle and TavraTae could stop and explain what’s going on with them.

Amri tries to stop Naia from going to help Rian because he’s afraid for her but Gurjin is still in bro-mode and tells Amri to let her go.

You’re a bro, Gurjin.

I’m glad that you’ve dealt with your deal and have gotten back to being the cool Gurjin.

Also, this is maybe funny just to me but Naia probably shouldn’t be the one who goes to help Rian.

She’s the protagonist and the POV so that’s why she has to. In fact, until she goes up there, Rian’s climactic confrontation with the Hunter is almost as off-page as the rest of Rian’s adventures in YA book land.

But any other non-Drenchen winged Gelfling would be a better option since they’d be able to fly up there much more quickly than Naia with her swimming wings.

I’m glad Fara saved Naia (and sad she died) but rather than telling Naia to go help Rian, she could have just flown up with the wings she has.

But to be fair: I assume that everyone in the battle is trying their hardest and can’t just break off. Naia was trying to fight the Emperor with a rock but he keeps getting knocked over by Landstriders so she’s actually free to go to Rian.

“Hmmmmm,” sneered the Emperor, pulling himself to his feet with an awful cough. He spat blood, weaponless, surrounded by the chaos as the battle shifted to the Gelfling’s favor. “Let her go. Let her die up there too, for all the Gelfling to see.”

“Trust me,” she whispered. First to Gurjin, then to Amri. “Trust me.”

Amri’s fingers tightened, then released. Naia gave her brother and her friend a last look, trying to pour every feeling into it, then turned away and ran for the rise.

I cannot believe. That the Emperor would so cruelly steal skekSil’s catchphrase. After all his trine of loyal service.

Tsk tsk.

#dark crystal #the dark crystal #Flames of the Dark Crystal #liveblog #Naia #Rian #Amri #Gurjin #Maudra Fara #skekSo #the Emperor #skekSil #the Chamberlain #skekMal #the Hunter #just a lot of buncha Skeks #TavraTae #Tavra #Tae

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ask-demon-princess-astarte · 5 years ago

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Inspired by the beautiful commission done for me by @dovaahkiin I wrote this fic. Enjoy.

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Night fell over the land over Skyrim, stars glittering in the darkness. In Whiterun, aside from the guards patrolling the streets, all was still and silent. Farkas sighed as he rolled over in the bed, his beast blood keeping him from getting a restful sleep. He looked up to see Azirina reading a book.

"You can't sleep either huh?" He asked, sitting up.

"Lucia was coughing earlier. I gave her a potion to help her sleep, but I am just checking that she will not wake herself up." She explained, closing the book. She turned to look at him, her blue eyes glowing in the darkness. He sat up beside her, the only sounds in the house the occasional movement of the other residents or a cough.

"So, not only are you the Dragonborn, Harbinger and the nine knows what else, but you're also an alchemist now?" He asked as he sat up. She chuckled softly, resting her head on his shoulder. He lay his head atop hers, enjoying the silence when a pounding at the door made them jump. Azirina hopped to her feet, padding down silently to the door. Farkas sat up as he heard Aela speaking.

"Another giant is attacking the farms outside the walls. They have asked the companions for aid." She explained to Azirina. Farkas didn't hear exactly what she said in response, but the door soon shut and she reappeared, grabbing her armour and pulling it on. He went to pull on his own then paused.

"I will stay here with the children." He said, standing and taking her hands. "Just shout should you need me." He added slyly, placing a kiss on her forehead. Azirina simply chuckled before heading out the door. He sat down, listening to the fire crackle and the occasional guard pass by.

After an hour, he frowned. It shouldn't take this long. He got to his feet, grabbing a blade whilst Lydia came down the stairs. "Stay here, guard the children." He said as he headed out of the door. Even in Whiterun, the distant sounds of a battle could be heard, the grunts of the giant sounding like a distant thunder storm.

In the darkness, a mighty shout echoed through the stars. "Mid Vur Shaan!" His head snapped up and he ran up to the wall to see the battle. The companions, as if empowered by the shout, appeared to glow as they battled the three giants. One fell to Aela's arrows. The second soon succumbed to Vilkas' and Aethis' blades. But the third was proving stubborn, numerous arrows and cuts upon the great beast's body. Then he saw the glow of magic.

As the giant swung its club, smashing into the ground and sending soil skywards, magic glowed, healing Aela of an injury from debris. Azirina stood out, a blue star amongst the warriors. Seeming to sense her strength, the giant turned to her. Azirina moved back, firing three arrows rapidly. He heard a faint gasp as several guards joined him by the parapet. All of them watched as one of the arrows caught the giant in the eye. It groaned, swinging blindly. In the darkness, his eyes caught the blue of her armour as she moved backwards.

"Yol Toor Shul!" A second shout filled the air, a ball of fire striking the giant.

"Was that a dragon?" One of the guards cried, looking skywards.

"No. It was the Dovahkiin." Another said. Farkas held back a laugh as more gasps of astonishment filled the air. He sheathed his blade, knowing he was not needed. The giant stumbled backwards, howling in pain. Azirina followed, running after the beast and bringing her blade into its belly. As the giant roared in agony, she pulled back.

"Rii Vaaz Zol!" The giant crumpled on the ground as a blue aura hit it. The beast lay, on the ground. Azirina sighed as she sheathed her blade, going and helping Ria to her feet. The group turned to return to Whiterun, pausing as the guards cheered from the walls of the city. Azirina stood, letting the others enter ahead of her, pausing only to share a brief conversation with Vilkas. Farkas remained on the wall as she approached.

"Why did you come from the house?" She asked him, leaning on the parapet.

"You were gone a while." He replied. "I was starting to get concerned."

"There was only one to begin with. But then more appeared. There were five at one point, and a mammoth. But I managed to get the mammoth and one of the giants away using a shout. That big one though, the last one, proved resilient." She explained.

"I saw. The big bastard was truly putting up a fight." He chuckled as he wrapped an arm around her. She smiled, leaning into his embrace. She turned, her arms wrapping around his neck, his arms embracing her waist. For a moment, it was merely the two of them. No dragons, no civil war, no expectations. Just two lovers embracing beneath the stars, silence filling the space between them. Until she spoke to him softly.

"Farkas?"

"Hmm?"

"Where is your hand going?" He merely chuckled in response.

#azirina #skyrim #khajiit #Azirina #Farkas #tw: violence #writing #fiction

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heidi891 · 5 years ago

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Loki, Asgard & War

Hela (2017): Odin and I drowned entire civilizations in blood and tears. Where do you think all this gold came from?

Before “Ragnarok” we could’ve only speculated (even though it seemed obvious), but Hela is pretty straightforward. Asgard is indeed an empire bulit on war and suffering of other peoples. What’s more, the conquered realms revolt again and again, what forces Asgard to intervene. These are the wars we keep hearing about.

Loki (2011): There was the time in Nornheim...

Odin (2013): Thor must strife to undo the damage you have done. He will bring order to the nine realms and then, yes. He will be king.

Thor (2013): Hogun, the peace is nearly won across the Nine Realms.

Odin (2013): Is Vanaheim secure?

Thor: As are Nornheim and Ria. Though our work would have gone more quickly with you at the fore.

Asgard’s culture glorifies war and warriors. Asgardians view warriors as heroes, but they don’t value masters of magic - their scientists. Even though they are partly responsible for Asgard’s success (especially because of the Bifrost and healing). Look how Asgardians speak about war.

Sif (2013): There was a time you would celebrate for weeks.

Thor: I remember you celebrated the battle of Haragon so much that you nearly started a second.

Sif: Well, the first was so much fun.

Well, Sif, I’m pretty sure war is not fun.

Thor (2011): Who led you into the most glorious of battles...

According to Thor, battles are glorious. This is not necessarily false. We tend to view battles as glorious when the warriors protect their homeland or people who cannot protect themselves. But killing - though sometimes necessary - is never glorious itself.

It’s interesting that Loki doesn’t use such a language.

Loki (2011): Why? You were knee-deep in Jotun blood. Why would you take me?

This is quite unusual for an Asgardian. His short description touches the ugly side of war - blood and killing. There’s nothing glorious about it. I don’t remember Thor ever using such a language. Similarly, when they were children, Thor made a promise to slay all the Frost Giants, while Loki anxiously asked if the Frost Giants still lived. What’s more, when Thor is fighting, he seems to be having fun, he jokes with his friends. His hammer is a dangerous weapon that brutally smashes the skulls of his enemies. On the other hand, Loki seems quite serious during battles, he avoids slaughter and kills quickly, usually stabbing people. He doesn’t seem to enjoy war.

It seems to me that he considers killing and war as a last resort, contrary to his brother. This is partly why he lets the Frost Giants into Asgard - because Thor craves battle. When he’s king, he’ll probably start a war over nothing. That’s also why Loki doesn’t lead Asgardian army to Jotunheim, but tries to blow the whole planet using the Bifrost. Of course, he attempts genocide against the Jotuns and it is quite tragic, considering his attitude towards war and killing, but at the same time he avoids risking Asgardian lives.

I think he blames himself for the war with Jotunheim. This is exactly what he wanted to avoid in the first place. But his plan doesn’t work out and things get out of control.

Odin (2011): Thor Odinson... You have betrayed the express command of your King. Through your arrogance and stupidity, you have opened these peaceful Realms and innocent lives to the horror and desolation of war! You are unworthy of these realms... unworthy of your title... You are unworthy! Of the loved ones you've betrayed. I now take from you your power in the name of my father... and his father before... I, Odin Allfather, cast you out!

When Odin is casting out Thor, Loki seems to take the speech personally. We see him, when Odin says ‘You are unworthy! Of the loved ones you've betrayed’. Loki is not being cast out, but he feels he deserves it. He betrayed ‘the express command of [his] King’ by disrupting the coronation and manipulating Thor into going to Jotunheim. He was arrogant and stupid enough to believe his plan would work and wouldn’t hurt anyone. But it leads to war with dangerous enemies. Odin is speaking to Thor, but Loki believes his words should be meant for him. He is unworthy. Unworthy of Asgard. Unworthy of Odin. Unworthy of Thor. Unworthy of his whole family. And his family and Asgard is what he values most. But he desperately wants to be worthy.

That’s why after going to Earth and lying to Thor he tries to lift Mjolnir. But he is unable to do so. He’s still unworthy. (Well, he’s just lied to his brother, so what does he expect? Obviously he’s not thinking clearly.)

Loki (2011): You will open the Bifrost to no one until I repair the damage my brother has done.*

* I don’t remember the exact words.

I think in this scene - while talking to Heimdall - he is projecting. He has caused damage - war - and he needs to fix it. Maybe if he does it, he’ll be worthy again.

When he rules Asgard for longer than two days and in more or less stable condition, he actually withdraws Asgardians troops from other realms. Thor calls it ‘chaos’, but I’m pretty sure that people from other realms actually call it ‘freedom’ and are quite happy with such new politics.

Thor (2017): Possibly... but then I decide to go out there and investigate. And what do I find, but the Nine Realms completely in chaos. Enemies of Asgard assembling, plotting our demise, all while you, Odin, the protector of those Nine Realms, are sitting here in your bathrobe, eating grapes.

Odin!Loki: Well, it is best to respect our neighbors' freedom.

It appeals to me personally, because my homeland was conquered and occupied by different empires. After regaining independence there was a period of chaos, but still independence was prefereable.

I think Loki is afraid of war. To be clear: not as a coward. He sees war as a terrible event that brings death and violence. And it is tragic that Asgardians don’t agree with him.

#loki #thor #thor: the dark world #thor: ragnarok #meta #loki meta #mcu

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atlas-of-a-human-soul · 7 years ago

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T&L pt 14: The Battle

Warnings: violence

Word count: 4033

Part 13

Darya (Persian) - ocean: The endless ocean is a sight for sore eyes.

Arya's POV

„They...He what? Hhhe left?“ I stammered. The answer was obvious by the look on Emily's face. Kim couldn't even look at me. My mind was racing, heart pounding. I was so furious, worried, hell more like terrified, trembling almost violently. Before I knew what I was doing, my legs moved me straight out the door. Slamming the door behind me, not looking back, completely ignoring Emily begging me to come back, I ran. I have no idea where I'm going, I don't even care. He left without a goodbye. Soreness I felt this morning was replaced by agonizing pain in every nook and cranny of my body. My lungs are burning, legs already tired, my thoughts wild making it impossible to concentrate and take control. I don't know how long I've been running, a few minutes, half an hour? But I finally stopped, collapsing onto my knees and hands, unable to take a proper breath. My lungs felt like they could burst any moment now, my throat dry. Sweat rolled down my skin in thick, salty beads. My skin felt like it was burning and yet, somehow, I was still so damn cold. I could feel my heart throbbing inside my chest. Tears blind me so I wipe my face and lift my head to see where I am.

The cliffs. Of course..my stupid legs led me straight to a place that would remind me of him...Paul. Why did you do it? Why didn't you tell me? How the hell did nobody tell me it was happening today? I deserved a goodbye. You promised me you'd stop hiding these things from me. You promised! Last nights memories, still vivid were now haunting me. I could still feel his warm lips on me, his hands exploring every part of me, the look in his eyes that showed nothing but pure admiration and love for me. I could recall his soft I love you's and his fingers running through my hair as I was falling asleep...Wait...he whispered something to me 'That’s all I want. Just you and me. Always. No matter what happens, I'm with you..Forever.'

Oh God, he was saying goodbye and I didn't even notice. No, no, no. That can't be our last moment together, I'm not ready. My vision started blurring with all the tears that came rushing to my eyes, spilling over like a river ready to join the ocean that danced before me.

The ocean used to calm me, it was my escape, my safe harbor. My grandma named me Darya for the same reason. She always said that her connection to nature, ocean especially was a big reason why she stayed in Forks. She was a New York girl, never once went on any kind of nature trips. Once she did, she ended up in Forks, met my grandfather and never left. I never got to spend much time with either of them as my mother didn't want me anywhere near Forks, but that one time my grandmother brought me here I never wanted to leave either. I didn't like the lack of sun, never was a fan of cold. However, that forest in her backyard, the ocean on the reservation were drawing me to them. It was an undeniable pull. Grandmother would often tell me I can do anything I want if I concentrate hard enough, trusted myself, anchored my heart, soul and mind in nature.

„Nature will always answer your call for help“, she'd say. With tears still streaming down my face, I could do nothing but sit cross-legged on the stone ledge of the cliff and stare at the horizon in front of me.

Waves were crashing below me on the hard rocks, as my mind fills with many memories now tarnished with untold tragedies. I could feel my brain was getting foggy with all the thoughts of past, present and future swirling around me, making me unsteady with all the unanswered questions. My mind fought hard to drum up a thousand different descriptions of Paul, to remember every line, jaw clench, smile, nose twitch, eyebrow raise, eye squint, everything. Fog that had started clearing from my mind as his image became clearer seemed to surround me now. Each thought I had seemed loud and exposed, just like every movement I made in the silence trying to shake the fog that wrapped around me almost as the same as that faithful morning I met Paul. Maybe the fog was somehow in me, just as I was in it. The mist swallowed the base of the cliff, it smothered the greens of the leaves, the grass and the underbrush of the forest behind me. It leached out their color, turning everything the same stony grey as the rock. I wasn't scared, I hoped that this mist was turning into a dense fog on the battlefield as well as it would help disguise the pack and the coven from the newborn army of the undead. Maybe it could help them make it back home. Sam, Jared, Paul, Embry, Quil, Jacob, Leah, Seth...just come home.

Paul's POV

We were preparing for the battle, going over some last minute details when I felt immense anger, fear and sadness in my heart. I knew Ria finally woke up and found out we were gone. I knew I should have told her, given her a chance to say goodbye, I was going to do it, I was. Initially I was going to tell her three days ago, when we knew as well, but she wasn't sleeping and was already worried all the time, I just didn't want to add on to it by putting an official date to our possible departure. I held off until yesterday, I wanted to tell her, but then things went in a different direction. Just as my mind started to wander to last night Sam and Embry both warned me of the mind link and yelled at me to keep daydreaming for my human form.

'You know, if the vamps don't kill you, she will', Embry thought.

'I know, but I couldn't tell her. She was finally sleeping, at peace, completely safe and happy. If I said something...I just didn't want her to worry. I hoped we'd be done by now', I said through the mind link.

'Focus on finding a spot to hide, they'll be here soon', Sam barked out an order.

'There's nowhere to hide but the tree line. We'll be easily spotted since we ARE giant furballs' Embry continued using Ria's nickname for the pack causing my heart to beat faster. I hope she can forgive me.

Out of nowhere, a bone-chilling mist clung to every surface around us as it quickly thickened into a dense fog. I blinked a few times, surprised by the sudden onset of the grey surrounding us. It reminded me of the freaky fog that morning I met my butterfly.

'This fog covers us better then any tree. Thank you Mother Nature' Jared pipped in clearly happy with the way things were going.

I looked to the clearing, Cullens were taking their places which meant we were about to have company. Time to rip off some heads.

I see the whole newborn army blitz out of the woods and into the field with frenzy in their red eyes, running as their rabid thirst takes over following the scent of Bella's blood. But the scent trail ends here which confused them and as they looked around suddenly something bolts from the trees with lightning speed and tackles a newborn as the other newborns spin to find a lethal-looking Jasper in a crouch beside his victim's body. Gotta admit, that was pretty good..for a vampire.

They rush Jasper but he doesn't hesitate – Bam! Bam! Bam! Three of them go down, tackled by Esme, Rosalie, Carlisle, Emmett and Alice. Sam orders us to go in. Jared and I follow Sam as we lung out of our foggy cover tearing a newborn to pieces. Just as we jumped in, the fog is completely lifted. What the hell?! I see others diving into the fray, now all of us smashing them one by one brutally. The big muscled idiot sprints full-bore into the fight, relishing the battle. We work as a pack, coordinated, deadly as Jasper controls the field – strategy and speed vs strength. The blonde one, Rosalie fights with icy calm. Alice with her ability. Esme and Carlisle fight side by side. The newborns are brutal and strong as hell. I found out the hard way when one kicked me into my ribs causing me to fly back hitting a tree. It only angered me more. I have to return to Arya, I can't leave her alone. I shake my head and run back into the battle grabbing a newborn by it's shoulder ripping it off with one clean bite. Turning I see Jacob charging into the clearing, tackling a newborn, going for it's neck. Sam and Jacob charge a newborn – each wolf grabs an arm in the mouth and rips him apart. I turn and find myself surrounded by three newborns, ahh GREAT! Suddenly the big muscled idiot...No..Emmett comes to my aid. I sent him a look, sort of a battlefield rapprochement.

From Seth's thoughts I could hear Victoria was with them, and she wasn't alone. Damn it! We shouldn't have sent him alone! But I can't think about that as another newborn launches itself on me trying to wrap it's arms around me. I manage to shake him off, while Jared finishes him off for me. Embry was finishing off the one on my left with Leah so I was in the clear for now. I concentrated to see how Seth was doing, just in case if the pup needed help but thankfully he was already finishing the leech off all by himself. It gave me a sense of pride, our puppy was finally killing his first vamp.

As I look around I see the battle was over. All over the field there were scattered body parts, Cullens were already pilling them up and setting a fire to make sure everyone was truly dead. Edward, Bella and Seth soon join us on the clearing. I see that the Cullens also took a young vampire with them making me snarl but Sam stops me. Jacob comes into the clearing after chasing a vamp in the woods and starts walking toward Bella, images of her kissing him before the battle start popping in...disgusting. He kissed a leech lover, ugh. But suddenly we hear a vicious snarl coming from behind him in the woods, and he spins to see Leah cornering one last male newborn who was hiding. Leah charges as Edward yells

„Leah, don't!“

The male newborn maneuvers out of her way, spins and grabs her ruff, fiercely yanking her off her paws but Jacob leaps on the vamp tackling him, they roll into the clearing where Jacob bites a piece of his face off. But the leech gets his arms around Jacob and crushes him, hurting not only Jacob, but in a way all of us as we could sense his pain. He howls in agony as Bella runs to him. We jump at the bloodsucker, detach it from Jake and finish him off. Jacob unwillingly shifts into his human form and we soon follow not wanting to feel his agony and pain any longer. He's naked, grotesquely twisted and broken, barely able to breathe. Carlisle quickly examines him as he writhes in pain; Edward steadies him, gripping his hand.

Getting dressed as fast as we could, we race back to our brother.

Leah yells, worry and pride laced in her voice:“Jacob, you idiot. I had it.“

If you had it why didn't you handle it right away....I kept my mouth shut even tho' i was seconds away from shifting again. Think of Ria, her chubby cheeks, her warm eyes, the way her gentle hands runs circles on my back to soothe me.

Sam steps in and warns her:“Leah!“

Carlisle continues his examination:“I need to set the bones before his accelerated healing kicks in. It's already starting.“

Oh, this is going to be bad. If Jacob heals, they'll have to break his bones again.

„We need to get him out of here. We're not gonna win a fight with the Volturi.“ Edward exclaims as Sam states: „We'll take him back to Billy's.“

„I'll be there as soon as I can.“ Carlisle assures us as Bella mumbles something to Jacob.

Each of us stand around Jacob, slowly lifting him as he cries out in pain. We move fast trying to keep him as steady as possible to minimize the pain he must be feeling. Finally coming to his house, leaving the woods I see Billy on the porch waiting for his son to return. Rachel wasn't there, she probably went back to Seattle like she always planned. I never asked Jacob, it didn't occur to me at all. I felt guilty because I knew she really liked me, I mean I liked her too, but I was never serious about us. I made that clear to her from the beginning.

Setting Jacob on his bed I walked outside, giving a curt nod to Billy and leaned back on the side of the house. I wanted to go to Arya, more then anything, but I had to be here. If Sam and Jared weren't leaving, I couldn't either. We were all outside listening to Jacob's painful cries and grunts, Embry and Quil were with him trying to keep him calm. Soon Carlisle arrived and as we all feared he had to break all the bones AGAIN as they were healing in the wrong way. Screams of agony came from the house making me flinch with each one. If only she was here it might make all of this a little more bearable. Out of the corner of my eye I see Emily and Kim arrive..wait..where is Arya?! They were reuniting with Sam and Jared but I was losing it.

I jumped up and ran to them:“Emily, where is Arya?!“

She looked at me, her lip quivering. Why was she holding back tears?

„Emily, where is SHE? Is she okay?“ I repeat.

Emily looks at Sam, then me and finally speaks up:“When she found out you all left for the battle, she left. Just walked outside and ran into the woods. She didn't return.“

I felt a sinking feeling of despair settle in my heart. The voices around me were muffled, it almost felt like the world was spinning, and I just wanted to sit down. My words and my actions divergent, they pull in opposite directions as if my brain's the narrator and body a navigator and they have entirely different ideas about the world. I talk the talk of the valiant protector, yet when push comes to shove I'm useless.

„She ran into the woods and didn't return“, I repeat with my body shaking. „IT'S ALMOST NIGHT, WHAT DO YOU MEAN SHE DIDN'T RETURN?“ I was losing control and fast, but I had to keep it together long enough to find out where she is. What direction did she run in? Something, anything.

„That's enough Paul“, Sam cuts me off. „If she was hurt you'd know. If she's not back in an hour, we'll all go look for her“, he finishes, but I could hear the underlining alpha voice he used on me. My whole being was screaming to go and find her but I couldn't move. He definitely used his alpha voice.

The fear caused my thoughts to loop around in my mind until there was no room for anything else. Dread owns me, pushing against me like an invisible gale. Dread has my stomach locked up tight, nothing getting in or out, my jaw clenched, teeth locked tight together. The wall clock ticks like the timer on a bomb. I can't stop it, reverse it or slow it down. Each tick drags me forward, helpless and nervous to the allotted time. I can no more avoid it than the beating of my own heart as it pounds with futility against it's cage of bone and cartilage. The dread is an invisible demon sitting heavy on my shoulders and only I can hear the sharpening of it's knives. I sweat and the tremor in my hands begins. My brain is numb and my stomach nauseous. All I can do is wait. My train of thought is broken by the sound of Bella's old truck.

She hurriedly climbs out and as she reaches the porch a loud yell of excruciating pain emanates from inside the house; Jacob. Bella flinches, almost like she's feeling the pain herself like we all do. I see Billy is trying to keep it together. Emily, next to him, puts an arm around his shoulders.

Quil is the first one to speak up:“It's been going on for a while.“

Embry continues:“Doc's re-breaking his bones.“

Leah paces in front of the house, visibly upset, but too proud to admit she would have been in the same situation, if not dead if Jake didn't step in.

Leah starts rambling:“Why'd he have to butt in? I could've taken that tick...“ Which caused me to speak for the first time since my conversation with Sam:“Oh, give it a rest, Leah.“ I say, my voice weak and cracking as my worry and anxiety levels are at an all time high. As the door opens, Sam and Carlisle exit, we all spin toward the front doors waiting to hear the news. Carlisle let us know that the worst is over and that he'll be alright. Billy exhales heavily, tears threatening to spill as Sam puts a hand on his shoulder. Emily wraps an arm around Sam's waist to comfort him, Jared wraps his arms around Kim...Where are you Ria?

I release a shaky breath. Carlisle lets us know he gave Jake some morphine but with our temperature he will definitely need a bigger dose so he promises to return soon with a drip. Carlisle turns to Bella:“He's asking for you.“ We all look at her. A combination of pleading – “don't hurt him�� – and threatening – “if you hurt him” – as she walks inside, probably to break his heart for the hundredth time. I turn to Sam:„Now can we please go find her.“ He nods and I run to the trees almost immediately the pack following close behind.

„Find who, what's going on?“ I hear Embry ask.

„Ria ran out this morning straight to the woods and never came back.“ Sam replies moments before he shifts. The rest doing the same.

'Why would she do that?' Jared questions through the mind link.

'Because Paul was an ass and didn't tell her about the battle. Didn't even say goodbye.' Embry fills him in making me snap in his direction.

'I'll start at the house and follow her scent from there' I say already running in that direction.

Sam sighs and starts barking out orders. He sent Leah and Seth west to the border, but I doubt she'd go that far...at least not by choice. Embry and Quil went north and Sam took Jared east. I didn't get any specific orders, I just followed her scent which really did lead south, the only direction no one was sent in. I ran as fast as my paws would allow me. The scary fact is I didn't feel anything on her side, no emotion, nothing. I knew she was alive, because if she wasn't I'd be in agony as well. Well, more then I am right now. But why couldn't I sense her emotions right now?

The thought prompted me to run faster, the voices coming from the mind link were quiet and jumbled, I didn't pay attention. I ran till I got to the cliffs. Just as I was about to question my sense of smell I realized my nose wasn't wrong. She was there, lying on the ground. She wore a green sweater and black jeans with her combat boots. Her eyes were open, watching the sky above, stars already out shinning bright. I felt she was cold, really cold...how long did she lay there? She's freezing! I shifted quickly grabbing the denim shorts hidden beneath a rock just a few feet away and hurried back.

„Ria?“ I called. She didn't respond. „Ria“, I repeat a little louder, reaching for her, worried if she was okay. Her eyes shifted from the sky and focused on me for the first time.

„Paul?“ She asked her voice cracking.

I nod and sit beside her slowly wrapping my arms around her trying to warm her up.

She didn't say anything, just hugged me back, resting her head on my chest, warm tears running down her face.

She backs up to properly look at me, putting her hands on my face turning it slightly right, then left, trying to see if I was hurt in any way.

„I'm okay, we all are. Jake got hurt saving Leah, but he'll be fine.“ I say before she even asks. Pulling her closer I nuzzle my face in the crook of her neck, inhaling deeply just to feel her beautiful scent again. But her usual smell was mixed with something else beside the rocks and trees and the ocean that surrounded us. It was blood.

„Ria, I smell blood. Are you okay? Where are you hurt?! I ask, slightly panicking, giving her a once over.

„I'm fine you silly wolf, it was just a nose bleed.“ She replies giving me a beautiful smile that lit up my whole world.

„You're not angry anymore? I thought you'd kill me when I came back.“ I ask.

„Oh, thanks for reminding me. I'm angry all right!“ She said getting up pointing her finger at me.

„Why the hell would you do that to me? I deserved better than to wake up alone after our first night together! I deserved to say goodbye to you, to wish you good luck, to kiss you once more! But you robbed me of that! What if you didn't come back? Do you have any idea how I'd feel?! I'd choose death over that faith! No doubt in my mind! You made me a promise Paul Lahote and you broke it. And if you ever do that again I won't be so forgiving next time. Do we have an understanding?!“

She finishes, her face slightly red from all the yelling, eyes narrowed slightly, her finger still pointing at me. I grab her finger softly and pull her closer kissing it lightly before I got up as well.

„I'm sorry I broke my promise. I just didn't want to worry you more then you already were. You were soundly asleep for the first time in weeks and I didn't want to be selfish and wake you up only to give you bad news. It won't happen again. Now please let me carry you back, you're freezing.“

I took her in my arms bridal style, and walked back to the house. On the walk back she fell asleep almost instantly as she warmed up. I walked inside, the boys were already there. They must have known I found her through the link. As they saw us, the room went quiet.

„She's fine, just sleeping. I'll take her upstairs to bed.“ I whisper and see them all relax.

Setting her on the bed I pull off her boots knowing she hates to sleep in her shoes. Putting a blanket over her body I kiss her softly on the forehead.

„Goodnight my beautiful butterfly. I'll come back later if Sam lets me. I love you“ I whisper and go downstairs slowly to eat something and exchange our stories of today's events.

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courtneytincher · 5 years ago

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The CAR Murders: A Critical Cold Case in the New Cold War Points to ‘Putin’s Chef’

Photo Illustration by The Daily Beast/GettyST. PETERSBURG, Russia–It’s been more than a year now since someone murdered three Russian journalists on a dark road in a remote corner of the Central African Republic.Within days of the killings on the night of July 30-31, 2018, as The Daily Beast reported at the time, there were suspicions the journalists had been set up. Since then, the official investigations have gone nowhere or been diverted down blind alleys, and if the Kremlin and its front men have their way—which they normally do in the Central African Republic—the case will go completely cold. But the families of the victims, their colleagues, and the exiled Russian tycoon who sent the journalists on their fatal mission in the first place say they are determined to see justice done. Their investigations have peeled back layer after layer of an ostensibly private “company” noteworthy for conspiracy and corruption, which Russian President Vladimir Putin evidently employs to extend his influence around the world.Russian Journalists Murdered in Africa May Have Been Set UpAmericans concerned about the ruthlessness of Moscow’s operations to subvert or dominate other countries should take note as evidence mounts that some of the central figures in the cyberattacks on the U.S. presidential election in 2016 may also be implicated in the Africa homicides. The victims were Orkhan Dzhemal, 51, a famous Russian war correspondent; Alexander Rastorguyev, 47, a film director; and Kirill Radchenko, 33, a cameraman. They had traveled to Africa to make a documentary about the “Wagner Group,” a highly secretive private military contractor allegedly created by the infamous Russian billionaire and Putin crony, Yevgeny Prigozhin.He is the same figure named in a detailed indictment by the Mueller probe in February 2018 and in the subsequent Mueller Report released this year as the money man behind the Internet Research Agency, a troll factory here in St. Petersburg that set out to defeat Hillary Clinton, then help elect Donald Trump in 2016. (Prigozhin told a Russian state news agency that he was not upset about his indictment. “Americans see what they want to see,” he said.) But the troll factory is just one of many operations that are part of what his underlings refer to as “The Company.”Prigozhin, often given the anodyne sobriquet “Putin’s chef,” initially built his fortune on huge Russian government catering contracts, but the tentacles of his organization are spread far and wide, and in some surprising places. He even has a firm that makes candy, and there are many here who would tell you the sweets have a sinister background. “These are bloody chocolates, produced by the same people who attack and kill journalists,” claims Yegor Alekseyev, a blogger from St. Petersburg. “Two men broke my nose and smashed my teeth in 2016 after I published stories about Prigozhin’s ‘troll factory.’ These are dangerous people backed up by the [Russian government’s] special services.”In 2014, when Putin made his move to take the Crimean peninsula away from Ukraine and launch covertly a separatist revolution in the east of that country that has now cost more than 13,000 lives, combatants linked to a mysterious organization of mercenaries started showing up. Many of its recruits appeared to have come from Russian military intelligence, the GRU, especially the special forces component known as Spetsnaz. They answered to a former officer named Dmitry Utkin, nicknamed “Wagner.” These operatives also surfaced in Syria, in Sudan, and in the Central African Republic. Their objective was not only to extend Russian influence, but to take control of industries and especially natural resources, further enriching their backer, who was soon reported to be Prigozhin. He has issued pro forma denials, but evidence of Prigozhin’s ties to the group has continued to mount, especially in the private investigations of those trying to get to the bottom of the Central African murders. * * *DUELING INVESTIGATIONS* * *Mikhail Khodorkovsky was once reputedly the richest man in Russia–an oligarch so wealthy and powerful that Putin felt threatened, and finally managed to put him away in prison for almost a decade. When Khodorkovsky was released in 2013, he went to Britain and has since worked as one of Putin’s most active opponents in exile.It was Khodorkovsky who funded the fatal trip to the Central African Republic by Dzhemal, Rastorguyev, and Radchenko to report on the Wagner Group’s activities, and it is Khodorkovsky who has underwritten the most exhaustive investigation of their murder. “Somebody has to put evidence together for the day Putin’s crooks end up in court,” Khodorkovsky told The Daily Beast last year. He hired journalists, military experts, private detectives and others to delve into the killings, and issued a “final report” under the auspices of his Dossier Center on the anniversary of the murders.The picture that emerges over the course of almost 80 pages is highly detailed and deeply disturbing. For starters, the Dossier investigators addressed the official version put forth by Russian authorities and the CAR security forces, many of them trained and funded by the Kremlin directly and also by Wagner personnel. Their claim is that the Russian documentary makers were ambushed on a back road at night by bandits wearing turbans and speaking Arabic who shot all three of them dead. The killers let the local driver, named as Bienvenue Douvokama, escape in his car and the sketchy account of the attack came from Douvokama. When the official version failed to satisfy the victims’ families, friends, or colleagues in the independent press, a Prigozhin-backed news agency, RIA FAN, conducted its own investigation of the murder and named Dominique Christophe Raineteau as the mastermind, claiming that he was a French mercenary or agent in league with terrorists.“We have our vision of what happened in CAR,” RIA FAN editor Yevgeny Zubarev wrote in an email to The Daily Beast. “It was a planned provocation but you are never going to publish our conclusions… Your publication is neither going to mention in a negative light Mikhail Khodorkovsky, the main suspect of this crime; nor the Western (French) special services, the possible accomplices,” wrote Zubarev.Actually, the RIA FAN conclusions are quite interesting, because they do not agree at all with the official government versions blaming unknown Arabic-speaking thieves. The general thrust of the RIA FAN report is that the Russian journalists were killed in order to embarrass Russia (if not indeed to blame Prigozhin and Putin). The agent who organized the murders, according to RIA FAN, was Raineteau, a French mercenary who is protected by the French secret services, and Khodorkovsky himself, who supposedly paid Raineteau to set up the team Khodorkovsky had sent. RIA FAN notes the extensive French-Russian rivalry for resources and dominance in Africa as the motive for the French plot, and says Khodorkovsky’s motive is to “discredit any activity of Russia abroad, particularly in Africa and the revenge directed at the Russian Federation.”All of this makes for a fascinating narrative of conspiracy, and is typical of disinformation that tries to ascribe presumed motives—“who benefits from the crime”—as proof when it is really self-serving conjecture. There is some hearsay in the RIA FAN report, but the documentary evidence linking Raineteau to the killing is virtually nonexistent, while the account compiled by Khodorkovsky’s investigators appears to be based largely on minute examination of phone records and emails (albeit without any explanation of how they were obtained). The narrative developed by the investigators for Khodorkovsky’s Dossier Centre goes roughly like this:The three journalists made a critical mistake when they were looking for a “fixer” to set up appointments, transportation, lodging, translation and the like while they were in the CAR. Even though they were investigating one Prigozhin operation, Wagner, they asked a journalist working for another Prigozhin company, RIA FAN, for help. This may not be quite as unusual as it sounds, because journalists working for conflicting media often believe they have more common bonds as professionals in the field than as servants for their bosses in the home offices. That may have been the case where the request for advice from FAN journalist Kirill Romanovsky was concerned.He in turn suggested they contact by text message a Dutch man with experience in the CAR as a United Nations employee or contractor who went by the name of “Martin.”The RIA FAN report would later suggest Martin was none other than the mysterious French operative Raineteau. But the Dossier Centre investigation concludes “with a high degree of probability that the fixer ‘Martin’… never existed.” Rather, “he was invented by the coordinators of a thoroughly planned operation.”“Martin” did not show up at the airport as expected, when the crew arrived, and they never once laid eyes on him or, for that matter, spoke to him on the phone. Everything was handled by text messages, including Martin’s claim that he was 376 kilometers from the CAR capital Bangui in the town of Bambari, where they were headed initially the day they were killed. According to the Dossier Centre report, cell phone records show “Martin,” or at least that phone, never left the capital.The Dossier Centre investigation notes that the local driver the crew hired, Bienvenue Douvokama, is believed to be an agent or informer for the local gendarmerie, and was in “constant operational contact with gendarme Emmanuel Kotofio” who “tracked the journalists’ movements and was in their immediate vicinity.” (Kotofio is quoted by RIA FAN saying he and Douvokama are old friends and just like to shoot the breeze.)Kotofio, in turn, “maintained contact with a man identified by the Dossier Centre as an ‘instructor in surveillance, counter-surveillance, recruitment and intelligence work’” from another Prigozhin company, M-Finans, run by one Aleksandr Sotov, who then reported to Valery Zakharov, a Russian adviser to the president of the CAR and head of a team of instructors in Prigozhin’s “Company.”On the fatal night of July 30, according to the Dossier Centre, Kotofio the gendarme passed through a military checkpoint at the town of Sibut, on the same road the journalists would take only minutes later. With Kotofio were three Caucasians, “presumably Russians,” according to the Dossier Centre report. Kotofio drove back to the checkpoint later at 8 p.m. The journalists’ driver reported their murder about 45 minutes later at a village near the scene.The following day, according to the Dossier Centre, a “disinformation campaign” began to confuse and impede any outside investigation.According to emails obtained by the Dossier Centre, which cannot be independently verified, Prigozhin is personally involved in running the Company’s projects in the Central African Republic.* * *THE PAIN OF THE FAMILIES* * * The Kremlin remains deaf to the victims’ families’ demands to question Prigozhin and his men on the ground, including commanders of the Russian militia working for CAR’s leadership. Alexander Radchenko’s, the father of the cameraman, says it is easy for him to connect the dots identifying the main suspects. Since July 30, 2018, the day his son’s body was found in CAR, Radchenko has been analyzing reports by private investigators and journalists, and read and watched interviews with Moscow’s key man in CAR, Valery Zakharov, a former Russian military intelligence officer, who is now the country's main security adviser. “The investigators–along with Russian diplomats, FSB, GRU–back up the Russian military instructors working in CAR instead of questioning the main guy, Zakharov,and his bosses,” Radchenko told The Daily Beast on Tuesday.The heartbroken father has written more than 30 petitions to Russian state detectives investigating the criminal case. Some of his requests ostensibly were taken into consideration, but most of them were ignored. Radchenko told The Daily Beast that in his opinion the murder was “undoubtedly a set up.” Over the last six months, the father says, he has seen enough evidence collected by independent reporters to conclude that “Yevgeny Prigozhin, Valery Zakharov and his aide Alexander Sotov are the principal suspects to be questioned about the murder of my son.” But Radchenko sounds hopeless: “Every time I ask the state detective on this case, Igor Zolotov, to call them for questioning, he seems too shy and tells me: ‘We should not bother such important men, they must be busy.’”Putin’s Man in the Central African Republic: Is Valery Zakharov at the Heart of Russian Skulduggery? Khodorkovsky’s team has tried to fill that investigative gap. “We have done our part of the job, presented mobile phone billing to demonstrate that Zakharov, his aid Alexander Sotov, the gendarme they trained and the crew called each other dozens of times during the two days before the murder,” Maxim Dbar, Khodorkovsly’s spokesman, told The Daily Beast. “We have no authority to question the key suspects."Irina Gordiyenko, a reporter for independent Novaya Gazeta, especially wants to know who killed Orkhan Dzhemal, the father of her son. “I want to ask both Zakharov and Sotov about the billing data, what sort of actions they coordinated from the moment of the journalists’ arrival in CAR,” Gordiyenko said in a recent interview with The Daily Beast. “I have questions for Zakharov about CAR gendarmes being trained in Russia. I want to ask the Russian MID [ministry of foreign affairs] why the journalists’ belongings have not been moved to Russia, why our diplomats consult with Prigozhin’s Wagner about the official version of the murder to give to the public.”Somebody shot Rostorguyev from a 7.62 mm Kalashnikov assault rifle. Two bullets hit the journalist’s heart. “Only a professional could fire so accurately in the dark,” Gordiyenko added her doubts. The United States imposed sanctions against billionaire Prigozhin and his Concord holding company in 2016 for constructing a military base for Russian forces near Ukraine. But neither the sanctions, nor the links to the CAR murder that shook the entire country, has slowed the growth of Prigozhin’s business empire. Concord keeps working on immense state contracts, his Zinger Development group is planning to build an artificial island in the Gulf of Finland, and foreign tourists keep buying his chocolates at Eliseyev Emporium, a historic architectural landmark on Nevsky Prospect. Jessica from Vermont was purchasing Marzipans shaped as carrots, half a pound of Lukum and chocolates with lime taste. “I am not sure I know who Prigozhin is, I am sorry,” the tourist told The Daily Beast.Prigozhin has access to the highest offices in the Kremlin and cooperates closely with the defense ministries of both Russia and the CAR. The power is on his side. “The murder of the three journalists is not going to be investigated, at least there will never be public knowledge of who ordered the killing,” a political analyst close to the Kremlin, Sergei Markov, told The Daily Beast. “Prigozhin has created private military forces to help Russia, he is fighting the war against Russia’s enemies that are constantly undermining our power, so of course Moscow will not go against him to support the dossier created by Putin’s enemy, Khodorkovsky.” In the eyes of much of the world, however, Putin’s name will be linked forever to the murder of the three journalists just as it is linked to the killing of journalists Anna Politkovskaya or Natalia Estemirova.Dzhamal, Rastorguyev, and Radchenko were—and remain—important symbols for Russians who still believe the search for solid facts and the truth is the only way to combat corruption and the disinformation used to disguise it, even if the quest costs you your life.Anna Nemtsova reported from St. Petersburg, Christopher Dickey from Paris.Read more at The Daily Beast.Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now!Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more.

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines

Photo Illustration by The Daily Beast/GettyST. PETERSBURG, Russia–It’s been more than a year now since someone murdered three Russian journalists on a dark road in a remote corner of the Central African Republic.Within days of the killings on the night of July 30-31, 2018, as The Daily Beast reported at the time, there were suspicions the journalists had been set up. Since then, the official investigations have gone nowhere or been diverted down blind alleys, and if the Kremlin and its front men have their way—which they normally do in the Central African Republic—the case will go completely cold. But the families of the victims, their colleagues, and the exiled Russian tycoon who sent the journalists on their fatal mission in the first place say they are determined to see justice done. Their investigations have peeled back layer after layer of an ostensibly private “company” noteworthy for conspiracy and corruption, which Russian President Vladimir Putin evidently employs to extend his influence around the world.Russian Journalists Murdered in Africa May Have Been Set UpAmericans concerned about the ruthlessness of Moscow’s operations to subvert or dominate other countries should take note as evidence mounts that some of the central figures in the cyberattacks on the U.S. presidential election in 2016 may also be implicated in the Africa homicides. The victims were Orkhan Dzhemal, 51, a famous Russian war correspondent; Alexander Rastorguyev, 47, a film director; and Kirill Radchenko, 33, a cameraman. They had traveled to Africa to make a documentary about the “Wagner Group,” a highly secretive private military contractor allegedly created by the infamous Russian billionaire and Putin crony, Yevgeny Prigozhin.He is the same figure named in a detailed indictment by the Mueller probe in February 2018 and in the subsequent Mueller Report released this year as the money man behind the Internet Research Agency, a troll factory here in St. Petersburg that set out to defeat Hillary Clinton, then help elect Donald Trump in 2016. (Prigozhin told a Russian state news agency that he was not upset about his indictment. “Americans see what they want to see,” he said.) But the troll factory is just one of many operations that are part of what his underlings refer to as “The Company.”Prigozhin, often given the anodyne sobriquet “Putin’s chef,” initially built his fortune on huge Russian government catering contracts, but the tentacles of his organization are spread far and wide, and in some surprising places. He even has a firm that makes candy, and there are many here who would tell you the sweets have a sinister background. “These are bloody chocolates, produced by the same people who attack and kill journalists,” claims Yegor Alekseyev, a blogger from St. Petersburg. “Two men broke my nose and smashed my teeth in 2016 after I published stories about Prigozhin’s ‘troll factory.’ These are dangerous people backed up by the [Russian government’s] special services.”In 2014, when Putin made his move to take the Crimean peninsula away from Ukraine and launch covertly a separatist revolution in the east of that country that has now cost more than 13,000 lives, combatants linked to a mysterious organization of mercenaries started showing up. Many of its recruits appeared to have come from Russian military intelligence, the GRU, especially the special forces component known as Spetsnaz. They answered to a former officer named Dmitry Utkin, nicknamed “Wagner.” These operatives also surfaced in Syria, in Sudan, and in the Central African Republic. Their objective was not only to extend Russian influence, but to take control of industries and especially natural resources, further enriching their backer, who was soon reported to be Prigozhin. He has issued pro forma denials, but evidence of Prigozhin’s ties to the group has continued to mount, especially in the private investigations of those trying to get to the bottom of the Central African murders. * * *DUELING INVESTIGATIONS* * *Mikhail Khodorkovsky was once reputedly the richest man in Russia–an oligarch so wealthy and powerful that Putin felt threatened, and finally managed to put him away in prison for almost a decade. When Khodorkovsky was released in 2013, he went to Britain and has since worked as one of Putin’s most active opponents in exile.It was Khodorkovsky who funded the fatal trip to the Central African Republic by Dzhemal, Rastorguyev, and Radchenko to report on the Wagner Group’s activities, and it is Khodorkovsky who has underwritten the most exhaustive investigation of their murder. “Somebody has to put evidence together for the day Putin’s crooks end up in court,” Khodorkovsky told The Daily Beast last year. He hired journalists, military experts, private detectives and others to delve into the killings, and issued a “final report” under the auspices of his Dossier Center on the anniversary of the murders.The picture that emerges over the course of almost 80 pages is highly detailed and deeply disturbing. For starters, the Dossier investigators addressed the official version put forth by Russian authorities and the CAR security forces, many of them trained and funded by the Kremlin directly and also by Wagner personnel. Their claim is that the Russian documentary makers were ambushed on a back road at night by bandits wearing turbans and speaking Arabic who shot all three of them dead. The killers let the local driver, named as Bienvenue Douvokama, escape in his car and the sketchy account of the attack came from Douvokama. When the official version failed to satisfy the victims’ families, friends, or colleagues in the independent press, a Prigozhin-backed news agency, RIA FAN, conducted its own investigation of the murder and named Dominique Christophe Raineteau as the mastermind, claiming that he was a French mercenary or agent in league with terrorists.“We have our vision of what happened in CAR,” RIA FAN editor Yevgeny Zubarev wrote in an email to The Daily Beast. “It was a planned provocation but you are never going to publish our conclusions… Your publication is neither going to mention in a negative light Mikhail Khodorkovsky, the main suspect of this crime; nor the Western (French) special services, the possible accomplices,” wrote Zubarev.Actually, the RIA FAN conclusions are quite interesting, because they do not agree at all with the official government versions blaming unknown Arabic-speaking thieves. The general thrust of the RIA FAN report is that the Russian journalists were killed in order to embarrass Russia (if not indeed to blame Prigozhin and Putin). The agent who organized the murders, according to RIA FAN, was Raineteau, a French mercenary who is protected by the French secret services, and Khodorkovsky himself, who supposedly paid Raineteau to set up the team Khodorkovsky had sent. RIA FAN notes the extensive French-Russian rivalry for resources and dominance in Africa as the motive for the French plot, and says Khodorkovsky’s motive is to “discredit any activity of Russia abroad, particularly in Africa and the revenge directed at the Russian Federation.��All of this makes for a fascinating narrative of conspiracy, and is typical of disinformation that tries to ascribe presumed motives—“who benefits from the crime”—as proof when it is really self-serving conjecture. There is some hearsay in the RIA FAN report, but the documentary evidence linking Raineteau to the killing is virtually nonexistent, while the account compiled by Khodorkovsky’s investigators appears to be based largely on minute examination of phone records and emails (albeit without any explanation of how they were obtained). The narrative developed by the investigators for Khodorkovsky’s Dossier Centre goes roughly like this:The three journalists made a critical mistake when they were looking for a “fixer” to set up appointments, transportation, lodging, translation and the like while they were in the CAR. Even though they were investigating one Prigozhin operation, Wagner, they asked a journalist working for another Prigozhin company, RIA FAN, for help. This may not be quite as unusual as it sounds, because journalists working for conflicting media often believe they have more common bonds as professionals in the field than as servants for their bosses in the home offices. That may have been the case where the request for advice from FAN journalist Kirill Romanovsky was concerned.He in turn suggested they contact by text message a Dutch man with experience in the CAR as a United Nations employee or contractor who went by the name of “Martin.”The RIA FAN report would later suggest Martin was none other than the mysterious French operative Raineteau. But the Dossier Centre investigation concludes “with a high degree of probability that the fixer ‘Martin’… never existed.” Rather, “he was invented by the coordinators of a thoroughly planned operation.”“Martin” did not show up at the airport as expected, when the crew arrived, and they never once laid eyes on him or, for that matter, spoke to him on the phone. Everything was handled by text messages, including Martin’s claim that he was 376 kilometers from the CAR capital Bangui in the town of Bambari, where they were headed initially the day they were killed. According to the Dossier Centre report, cell phone records show “Martin,” or at least that phone, never left the capital.The Dossier Centre investigation notes that the local driver the crew hired, Bienvenue Douvokama, is believed to be an agent or informer for the local gendarmerie, and was in “constant operational contact with gendarme Emmanuel Kotofio” who “tracked the journalists’ movements and was in their immediate vicinity.” (Kotofio is quoted by RIA FAN saying he and Douvokama are old friends and just like to shoot the breeze.)Kotofio, in turn, “maintained contact with a man identified by the Dossier Centre as an ‘instructor in surveillance, counter-surveillance, recruitment and intelligence work’” from another Prigozhin company, M-Finans, run by one Aleksandr Sotov, who then reported to Valery Zakharov, a Russian adviser to the president of the CAR and head of a team of instructors in Prigozhin’s “Company.”On the fatal night of July 30, according to the Dossier Centre, Kotofio the gendarme passed through a military checkpoint at the town of Sibut, on the same road the journalists would take only minutes later. With Kotofio were three Caucasians, “presumably Russians,” according to the Dossier Centre report. Kotofio drove back to the checkpoint later at 8 p.m. The journalists’ driver reported their murder about 45 minutes later at a village near the scene.The following day, according to the Dossier Centre, a “disinformation campaign” began to confuse and impede any outside investigation.According to emails obtained by the Dossier Centre, which cannot be independently verified, Prigozhin is personally involved in running the Company’s projects in the Central African Republic.* * *THE PAIN OF THE FAMILIES* * * The Kremlin remains deaf to the victims’ families’ demands to question Prigozhin and his men on the ground, including commanders of the Russian militia working for CAR’s leadership. Alexander Radchenko’s, the father of the cameraman, says it is easy for him to connect the dots identifying the main suspects. Since July 30, 2018, the day his son’s body was found in CAR, Radchenko has been analyzing reports by private investigators and journalists, and read and watched interviews with Moscow’s key man in CAR, Valery Zakharov, a former Russian military intelligence officer, who is now the country's main security adviser. “The investigators–along with Russian diplomats, FSB, GRU–back up the Russian military instructors working in CAR instead of questioning the main guy, Zakharov,and his bosses,” Radchenko told The Daily Beast on Tuesday.The heartbroken father has written more than 30 petitions to Russian state detectives investigating the criminal case. Some of his requests ostensibly were taken into consideration, but most of them were ignored. Radchenko told The Daily Beast that in his opinion the murder was “undoubtedly a set up.” Over the last six months, the father says, he has seen enough evidence collected by independent reporters to conclude that “Yevgeny Prigozhin, Valery Zakharov and his aide Alexander Sotov are the principal suspects to be questioned about the murder of my son.” But Radchenko sounds hopeless: “Every time I ask the state detective on this case, Igor Zolotov, to call them for questioning, he seems too shy and tells me: ‘We should not bother such important men, they must be busy.’”Putin’s Man in the Central African Republic: Is Valery Zakharov at the Heart of Russian Skulduggery? Khodorkovsky’s team has tried to fill that investigative gap. “We have done our part of the job, presented mobile phone billing to demonstrate that Zakharov, his aid Alexander Sotov, the gendarme they trained and the crew called each other dozens of times during the two days before the murder,” Maxim Dbar, Khodorkovsly’s spokesman, told The Daily Beast. “We have no authority to question the key suspects."Irina Gordiyenko, a reporter for independent Novaya Gazeta, especially wants to know who killed Orkhan Dzhemal, the father of her son. “I want to ask both Zakharov and Sotov about the billing data, what sort of actions they coordinated from the moment of the journalists’ arrival in CAR,” Gordiyenko said in a recent interview with The Daily Beast. “I have questions for Zakharov about CAR gendarmes being trained in Russia. I want to ask the Russian MID [ministry of foreign affairs] why the journalists’ belongings have not been moved to Russia, why our diplomats consult with Prigozhin’s Wagner about the official version of the murder to give to the public.”Somebody shot Rostorguyev from a 7.62 mm Kalashnikov assault rifle. Two bullets hit the journalist’s heart. “Only a professional could fire so accurately in the dark,” Gordiyenko added her doubts. The United States imposed sanctions against billionaire Prigozhin and his Concord holding company in 2016 for constructing a military base for Russian forces near Ukraine. But neither the sanctions, nor the links to the CAR murder that shook the entire country, has slowed the growth of Prigozhin’s business empire. Concord keeps working on immense state contracts, his Zinger Development group is planning to build an artificial island in the Gulf of Finland, and foreign tourists keep buying his chocolates at Eliseyev Emporium, a historic architectural landmark on Nevsky Prospect. Jessica from Vermont was purchasing Marzipans shaped as carrots, half a pound of Lukum and chocolates with lime taste. “I am not sure I know who Prigozhin is, I am sorry,” the tourist told The Daily Beast.Prigozhin has access to the highest offices in the Kremlin and cooperates closely with the defense ministries of both Russia and the CAR. The power is on his side. “The murder of the three journalists is not going to be investigated, at least there will never be public knowledge of who ordered the killing,” a political analyst close to the Kremlin, Sergei Markov, told The Daily Beast. “Prigozhin has created private military forces to help Russia, he is fighting the war against Russia’s enemies that are constantly undermining our power, so of course Moscow will not go against him to support the dossier created by Putin’s enemy, Khodorkovsky.” In the eyes of much of the world, however, Putin’s name will be linked forever to the murder of the three journalists just as it is linked to the killing of journalists Anna Politkovskaya or Natalia Estemirova.Dzhamal, Rastorguyev, and Radchenko were—and remain—important symbols for Russians who still believe the search for solid facts and the truth is the only way to combat corruption and the disinformation used to disguise it, even if the quest costs you your life.Anna Nemtsova reported from St. Petersburg, Christopher Dickey from Paris.Read more at The Daily Beast.Get our top stories in your inbox every day. 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September 02, 2019 at 10:23AM via IFTTT

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