Re: SDNW4 Story Thread 2
Posted: 2011-03-28 03:20pm
First section co-written with Siege.
The Grand Cloister of the Silver Moon, Darnis
Doreia, Star Kingdom of New Anglia
27 October 3400
Volunteers had come from across the planet once word had spread, with Master Jaina and Syrandi spending the entirety of the 26th picking those who would accompany them. Twenty would be selected, with Syrandi leading ten more from Lochley's Retreat.
While waiting, Stephen was discussing the matter with Sidney via private communications. The Wild Geese were being gathered and he was trying to find the planet Shroom Fighter was to take place on, exactly. It was going to be one of the few independent planets on the Bragulan frontier, kept independent primarily so that Bragulan government officials could use it as anything as a conduit for under-the-table black market trading to a route for IBGV arms smuggling. The planet's ostensible independence was a sham, with the central government modeled as close to "Byzonist" models as possible without being an outright part of the Bragulan Empire.
The issue was... where? The Bragulans wouldn't want it too near the Solarians, lest a Solarian raid interfere with their venture. On the other hand, putting that many Espers close to the Karlack Swarm is something that the likes of R. Julia would never risk. Stephen suspected they'd find a planet near the broken Outlands, perhaps along the furthest extension of Wild Space in Sector AA-25, from which overpowered Bragulan hyperspace transmitters could send the signal across the Koprulu Zone.
"AA-25 and the environs seems the best position," Stephen was saying over the encrypted link, looking at the blue-tinged image of his friend on the small holotank. “The chaos in local space will keep outside powers from being able to detect, and interfere with, the tournament.”
“Alright, but even supposing you’re right that’s still an entire sector, hundreds of cubic light years. A lot of space to comb through.” Sidney’s holo was grainy with static, the cloister’s modest submesonic core straining to retain the datalink as it was. “You have nothing more specific to go on?”
“Not at this time, I’m afraid. I fear we’ll need someone with knowledge of Bragulan assets in the region to determine the actual location.” An attempt at hypercom triangulation wasn’t as feasible, not with just one or two ships and dealing with the overpowered Bragulan comms tech, which would make triangulation imprecise.
“Someone with knowledge of Bragulan assets, you say? Hmm.” Sidney frowned. “I suppose I might give Shady a heads-up, find out what the Swarm knows about the region. Funny, I never thought I’d be calling the bugs for a favour...”
Stephen thought on that for a moment. “I am concerned with such a course of action,” he finally replied. “If the Karlacks know about the tournament and our plan to be there, it might entice them to intervene for their own reasons. Can Shady prevent that?”
Sidney shrugged. “Who knows? He’s still our best bet. Unless you know somebody else who’s best buddies with Byzon?”
At that Stephen chuckled. “Presuming there is a Byzon,” he remarked in humor.
“There is. Or there was, at any rate. I saw him once. Long story.” The hologram looked at something outside the view of the camera. “One more thing. This might be nothing but... Someone was poking through my history back on Nova Terra, set off all kinds of alarm bells with a string of queries that, well. We may have another returner on our hands.”
“I’m sure you’ll find out soon enough.” A slight frown appeared on his face. “I get the feeling, Sidney, that this is more than just a typical game for Q.”
“The possibility had crossed my mind. But it’s not of immediate importance. Let’s first shut this bloodsport operation down, then we can worry about it. You have the Sisters on board yes? Is there anything else you need?”
He looked around, reassuring himself that none of his hostesses were in earshot. “I’ve managed to convince them to let me bring thirty of their number. It is about what I figured they’d agree to, though given the likely resistance I’d prefer twice that. Still, we will need a ship, I think, one sufficient to carry your mercenaries, the Sisters, and the dozens of people we might end up rescuing. Not to mention one that can evade Bragulan frontier patrols and, if need be, race them all the way back to Solaris.”
“I’d let you borrow one of mine, but most of my off-the-book ships are mothballed and it’ll take some time to retrieve them. Time we don’t have.” He scratched his chin. “Although I might know a guy who’d know where to get a properly quick ship.”
“I’m all ears...”
Syrandi watched Master Jaina put the final signature on the roster of volunteers they were bringing with them to Wild Space. Syrandi and Yamia were leading the Outback contingent which, to her trepidation, was limited to just ten Sisters overall. She wanted more of her brave girls, who were tried in such operations, but she darkly suspected that Order politics were starting to come in and, moreover, that the Masters simply weren't willing to risk that many skilled members, even if it hurt the chances for the rest of them.
"Master Jaina, I am concerned," she finally said aloud as Jaina hit a button to upload the roster from her personal notepad. "While some of our volunteers are skilled young ladies, no doubt, and I have noticed a few Knight-Captains listed... I cannot help but think the force should be larger, or more orientated toward Knights, than it is."
The blond Human woman betrayed no outward emotion, but Syrandi could sense her unease. Yes, I agree, she answered telepathically, and in a guarded fashion that made it clear she didn't want her thoughts overheard. But this is the will of the Council, Sister. They do not fully trust your hermit friend, nor his allies. I am afraid this is the best I can do.
Through Yamia I know him well, he deserves better than this, Syrandi retorted.
The Council has its reasons, and that is all I can say, she answered, with a finality that told Syrandi their discussion was over. Now, I must go get the local volunteers ready. Please make sure your Sisters still at Lochley are ready for pickup.
With Jaina departing, Syrandi followed, knowing it inappropriate to be in the senior member's private office and spaces when she was not present. She returned to her own dorm to find Yamia present there, in meditation. "I could feel your irritation across the Great Cloister, love," she said to break the silence.
"This would not be the first time the Order has committed half-heartedly, and like every other time I fear it will come to regret it." Syrandi sat down on the mat beside Yamia. "I owe him, love."
"He has made clear that he doesn't consider that a debt," Yamia replied firmly. "Certainly not that great of one."
"He might not consider it such, but I still do." Syrandi put a hand on her shoulder. "How can I look at you, restored to me after so long, and not give him everything I have to give? I was falling, Yamia. Falling into pain and despair with each passed week and no news of your fate. Focusing on duty kept it away, but even that was no longer enough. Had you not come back when you did..."
Yamia shuddered. Through their Bond Syrandi felt that such would have confirmed Yamia's own dark fears during her exile; that Syrandi had intentionally gone on suicidal missions out of pain for her loss. "You have done everything you can for him, Syrandi. He can ask no more. He wouldn't ask for any more."
"Nevertheless, there is more I can give," she whispered, "and give it I shall."
The Grand Cloister of the Silver Moon, Darnis
Doreia, Star Kingdom of New Anglia
27 October 3400
Volunteers had come from across the planet once word had spread, with Master Jaina and Syrandi spending the entirety of the 26th picking those who would accompany them. Twenty would be selected, with Syrandi leading ten more from Lochley's Retreat.
While waiting, Stephen was discussing the matter with Sidney via private communications. The Wild Geese were being gathered and he was trying to find the planet Shroom Fighter was to take place on, exactly. It was going to be one of the few independent planets on the Bragulan frontier, kept independent primarily so that Bragulan government officials could use it as anything as a conduit for under-the-table black market trading to a route for IBGV arms smuggling. The planet's ostensible independence was a sham, with the central government modeled as close to "Byzonist" models as possible without being an outright part of the Bragulan Empire.
The issue was... where? The Bragulans wouldn't want it too near the Solarians, lest a Solarian raid interfere with their venture. On the other hand, putting that many Espers close to the Karlack Swarm is something that the likes of R. Julia would never risk. Stephen suspected they'd find a planet near the broken Outlands, perhaps along the furthest extension of Wild Space in Sector AA-25, from which overpowered Bragulan hyperspace transmitters could send the signal across the Koprulu Zone.
"AA-25 and the environs seems the best position," Stephen was saying over the encrypted link, looking at the blue-tinged image of his friend on the small holotank. “The chaos in local space will keep outside powers from being able to detect, and interfere with, the tournament.”
“Alright, but even supposing you’re right that’s still an entire sector, hundreds of cubic light years. A lot of space to comb through.” Sidney’s holo was grainy with static, the cloister’s modest submesonic core straining to retain the datalink as it was. “You have nothing more specific to go on?”
“Not at this time, I’m afraid. I fear we’ll need someone with knowledge of Bragulan assets in the region to determine the actual location.” An attempt at hypercom triangulation wasn’t as feasible, not with just one or two ships and dealing with the overpowered Bragulan comms tech, which would make triangulation imprecise.
“Someone with knowledge of Bragulan assets, you say? Hmm.” Sidney frowned. “I suppose I might give Shady a heads-up, find out what the Swarm knows about the region. Funny, I never thought I’d be calling the bugs for a favour...”
Stephen thought on that for a moment. “I am concerned with such a course of action,” he finally replied. “If the Karlacks know about the tournament and our plan to be there, it might entice them to intervene for their own reasons. Can Shady prevent that?”
Sidney shrugged. “Who knows? He’s still our best bet. Unless you know somebody else who’s best buddies with Byzon?”
At that Stephen chuckled. “Presuming there is a Byzon,” he remarked in humor.
“There is. Or there was, at any rate. I saw him once. Long story.” The hologram looked at something outside the view of the camera. “One more thing. This might be nothing but... Someone was poking through my history back on Nova Terra, set off all kinds of alarm bells with a string of queries that, well. We may have another returner on our hands.”
“I’m sure you’ll find out soon enough.” A slight frown appeared on his face. “I get the feeling, Sidney, that this is more than just a typical game for Q.”
“The possibility had crossed my mind. But it’s not of immediate importance. Let’s first shut this bloodsport operation down, then we can worry about it. You have the Sisters on board yes? Is there anything else you need?”
He looked around, reassuring himself that none of his hostesses were in earshot. “I’ve managed to convince them to let me bring thirty of their number. It is about what I figured they’d agree to, though given the likely resistance I’d prefer twice that. Still, we will need a ship, I think, one sufficient to carry your mercenaries, the Sisters, and the dozens of people we might end up rescuing. Not to mention one that can evade Bragulan frontier patrols and, if need be, race them all the way back to Solaris.”
“I’d let you borrow one of mine, but most of my off-the-book ships are mothballed and it’ll take some time to retrieve them. Time we don’t have.” He scratched his chin. “Although I might know a guy who’d know where to get a properly quick ship.”
“I’m all ears...”
Syrandi watched Master Jaina put the final signature on the roster of volunteers they were bringing with them to Wild Space. Syrandi and Yamia were leading the Outback contingent which, to her trepidation, was limited to just ten Sisters overall. She wanted more of her brave girls, who were tried in such operations, but she darkly suspected that Order politics were starting to come in and, moreover, that the Masters simply weren't willing to risk that many skilled members, even if it hurt the chances for the rest of them.
"Master Jaina, I am concerned," she finally said aloud as Jaina hit a button to upload the roster from her personal notepad. "While some of our volunteers are skilled young ladies, no doubt, and I have noticed a few Knight-Captains listed... I cannot help but think the force should be larger, or more orientated toward Knights, than it is."
The blond Human woman betrayed no outward emotion, but Syrandi could sense her unease. Yes, I agree, she answered telepathically, and in a guarded fashion that made it clear she didn't want her thoughts overheard. But this is the will of the Council, Sister. They do not fully trust your hermit friend, nor his allies. I am afraid this is the best I can do.
Through Yamia I know him well, he deserves better than this, Syrandi retorted.
The Council has its reasons, and that is all I can say, she answered, with a finality that told Syrandi their discussion was over. Now, I must go get the local volunteers ready. Please make sure your Sisters still at Lochley are ready for pickup.
With Jaina departing, Syrandi followed, knowing it inappropriate to be in the senior member's private office and spaces when she was not present. She returned to her own dorm to find Yamia present there, in meditation. "I could feel your irritation across the Great Cloister, love," she said to break the silence.
"This would not be the first time the Order has committed half-heartedly, and like every other time I fear it will come to regret it." Syrandi sat down on the mat beside Yamia. "I owe him, love."
"He has made clear that he doesn't consider that a debt," Yamia replied firmly. "Certainly not that great of one."
"He might not consider it such, but I still do." Syrandi put a hand on her shoulder. "How can I look at you, restored to me after so long, and not give him everything I have to give? I was falling, Yamia. Falling into pain and despair with each passed week and no news of your fate. Focusing on duty kept it away, but even that was no longer enough. Had you not come back when you did..."
Yamia shuddered. Through their Bond Syrandi felt that such would have confirmed Yamia's own dark fears during her exile; that Syrandi had intentionally gone on suicidal missions out of pain for her loss. "You have done everything you can for him, Syrandi. He can ask no more. He wouldn't ask for any more."
"Nevertheless, there is more I can give," she whispered, "and give it I shall."