Traveller Manifesto
37. Turkey - Today

Turkey – Today.

The mission was done. The courageous rescue of McFee and Professor Taylor was highlighted by the world’s media as a validation of the skills of the Special Forces and their pre-eminence as researchers for Traveller missions globally. Naturally, McAlister’s injuries and the inevitable tale of his battle with another of the notorious Varangian Guard made headlines, while Professor Taylor and McFee were, with the rest of the team, idolised by those dedicated to follow any news of the Travellers and their missions.

The actions of McAlister and Erol were finally revealed in their defence of the Turks in the battle of the village, so if there were any real heroes of Byzantium Traveller it would be them. After the news of their involvement in the most violent episodes of the mission, their faces became well-known by the public while, in what seemed to be a normal public response, Byzantium Traveller themed toys and t-shirts became best-sellers globally. Action figures included Professor Taylor in his sumptuous Byzantine robes as gifted from Emperor Basil, as well as a figure of Emperor Basil himself. Naturally, the real reason for any urgency to leave was never made public.

As a formal conclusion of the Byzantium Traveller project, the participants were obliged to attend a civil ceremony where they received medals. It was here, on global broadcast, feted by politicians and the corporate elite, that Osborne was promoted to Major. As had happened after the Saxon Traveller mission, the inability for most participants to live an incognito lifestyle was the unfortunate consequence of celebrity.

Osborne had successfully avoided celebrity after Saxon Traveller. Having your left arm severed by a Viking axe tended to keep one from public view for a while. But, as the leader of the intrepid Byzantium Traveller mission, this time there was no avoiding fame. He felt like he was a member of a rock band. He, Professor Taylor, and the Turkish Travellers, Erol and Talon, were thoroughly interviewed by Turkish news and attended just about any civil ceremony that could get their hands on them. For the Turks, their men were heroes.

Two attendees of the ceremonies were the rescued members of Kiev Traveller with their ex-team member rescuer, Lieutenant Vovk. There had been rumours of course, but real news of their survival and rescue had been suppressed. In diplomatic circles, both Ukraine and Russia were aghast that the Byzantium Traveller mission team had even bothered. Great Britain was especially criticised for allowing Vovk to be involved. After the initial rash of diplomatic angst, the Ukrainian Travellers drifted from public view. Had the rescue been made known to the public, many Ukrainians would see that as a justification, that the rebellion of Maksym and Kateryna was heroic.

A committee was convened to determine their fate. Diplomats and senior military gathered with representatives of the United Nations, Traveller Corp and Historical Research International in a secret conference. Some called for their imprisonment, others to be returned home. Professor Taylor summed it up best. “When faced with the choice, we realised we could never leave two of our Travellers in the past. Yes, we know they conducted their mission in a manner that the international community would describe as criminal, but when one hears of their tale, one cannot but feel that they have paid the price for their questionable decisions. Four of their comrades were killed and the two survivors were beaten and treated in a manner that we can only describe as monstrous. They were due to be sold as slaves in the markets of Constantinople. Our technology detected them and, yes, with the support of the Turkish Government and Military, we were obliged to rescue them. We could never, in good conscience, have decided otherwise.”

Ultimately the Turkish Government offered the Ukrainian Travellers a nominal military rank based on their recounting of their experiences with scholars and military specialists.

No doubt their fates would, for some time, remain in the hands of diplomats.

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