[UW] Friendly Observation [Allevard 1.2, Xuan 1.3]

trevis

Allevard and Xuan,

You make your way quickly through the ship and enter the Observation Bay with its vista of stars just as the Duchess' party, Kali in the lead, comes into the compartment from the opposite passage. Yellow pulsing lights play over everything.

Kali scowls, putting a hand to her sidearm, the rest of her detail moves to imitate her.

Xuan, you spot Rieva standing third back, hand on her weapon, like the others. She hasn't recognized you, though she is looking. What is the first difference you notice, from when you saw her last?



"Give me the command codes for your shuttle, Captain. I am getting Her Grace off this ship!"

Adam

I must admit I'm disappointed... The observation deck is the most beautiful, and serene, part of the Thousand Blessings... To sully it with the threat of gunplay, a threat that could very well kill us all if a misplaced bullet struck the wrong part of the hull, sits poorly with me.

"Easy now... Nobody wants a firefight," I answer, raising a hand to try and calm Kali, "we've got reports of compromised systems in the shuttle bay, and I'm still personally responsible for the safety of every single passenger on this ship. I look to Xuan, in hopes she can talk her down, "we've been fortunate to avoid any death or injury so far, and I'd like to keep it that way."

slickhop

What a mess.

Oh Rieva. My heart jumps up into my throat. She's holding a gun, for one thing. And she's shaved her head.

I look past her to Nobu and sigh. There are too many people here to keep up this charade for long.

Ignoring Kali, I speak directly to the Duchess.

"Tell your dogs to back down and I'm sure something can be arranged soon without any further provocation. Winter’s Heart has been assailing us with threats of boarding in the midst of an emergency. Such a wanton disrespect for not only the good Captain, but also her Imperial Highness, reflects poorly on the Mayoran contingent."

Attempting to face adversity with Xuan's influence, per Famous. Of course I am Xuan, but not everyone knows that.

trevis

Go ahead and roll it.

slickhop

Attempting to face adversity with Xuan's influence, per Famous.
(Rolled: 2d6+2. Rolls: 5, 6. Total: 13)

trevis

Xuan,

Kali stiffens in fury and closes the distance between you in a flash. I know you've been trained, but under most circumstances people simply don't strike a member of the Imperial house. You don't see it coming before you're suddenly sprawling on the floor, the side of your face stinging from the heavy blow.

Allevard, you were looking in just the wrong way when it happened... what caught your eye?


"You insolent dog! How dare you speak to your betters in such a way." She growls and raises her hand to strike again.


"Kali!" The Duchesses' smooth voice cuts in like a whip and Kali stops instantly, staring daggers down at you. "We will discuss your lack of restraint, and how that reflects upon my honor later." The Duchess continues, her voice chilly. "And despite the woman's insolence, she is correct." Duchess Rei moves through her security and looks you over, Allevard, like she did when you were first introduced. Her look is subtly predatory. "My apologies, Captain, my guard is very protective. I request that your subordinate's punishment be mild."

Bai,

You come in just in time to find the Duchess addressing the Captain and see Xuan on the floor with Kali just stepping back from looming over her. What do you do?

slickhop

Hard to really hear much from the blood rushing through my face. I put my own hand gently against my cheek to make sure she hasn't broken my nose. There's a part of me that doesn't believe it actually happened. The rest of me is trying to remind myself that this is what happens to common people when they get mouthy. Wanting to become a common person gets increasingly challenging.

I decide that today is not the day to rid myself of class privilege.

I peel my wig off carefully and shake out my hair.


"The mild headache I'll have should be punishment enough, I hope," I say finally.

I glance at Kali and her contingent through my hair, still toppled over on the floor. "Pity you don't have a sword to fall on. Rieva, it really is inconsiderate of you not to be carrying one you might lend to her."

I'm counting the seconds until someone offers me a hand to my feet, hoping it might be Rieva, and ignoring the small swelling of self-loathing at the idea of it.

Adam

While the sensibilities of the nobility have certainly started rubbing off on me, the ease with which these people dismiss someone's humanity leaves me feeling cold... For instance, imagine my embarrassment when I discover that Kali closed the distance between us, and clocked Her Imperial Highness square in the cheek, while I was distracted by Xuan's... Well, by Xuan.

Perhaps it's the new instincts I've developed as captain, or something more selfishly motivated, but I find myself rushing to help Xuan up the moment I see her fall... I pause only briefly when she takes her wig off, and doubles down... With a death threat as a flourish, might I add... This certainly escalated quickly.

I reach down and offer Xuan my hand, but say nothing. I may be captain on the ship, but this exchange is clearly beyond my pay-grade.

John

"Oh, my! I really have missed all the excitement, haven't I? It has been quite some time since I have traveled with a group so...diverse in their understanding of social norms." I walk toward the assembled group, clearly taking my time, my walking stick tapping on the floor as I go.

"Really, Your Imperial Highness," I say, looking at Xuan with a level of reproach incongruous with my use of her formal title, reminding her of her station more than honoring her. "All this talk of swords... It reminds me of the less enlightened era of my own childhood," I put a slight emphasis on this last word.

I look from Rei, to her security chief, to Xuan. "It would seem that the young lady believed she was striking a common person." I look Xuan up and down, and then with a sigh and raised eyebrows add, "A belief I find not entirely without merit, based upon your guise and comportment."

slickhop

I accept the Captain's hand while listening to Auntie Bai's infuriating barrage. It has an effect not unlike Kali's fist to my head.

"The 'young lady' is the captain of a personal guard and should know better than to personally discipline someone who appears to be a subordinate to another dignitary, which honor demands to include the ranking officer of a space-faring vessel," I say mildly to Lady Tzeng.

I flutter a hand in both Kali and Rei's direction. "The affront is forgiven pending the immediate cessation of all shouted demands, at least until we manage to stop these Emperor-forsaken lights from flashing every other second."

I touch my wrist device and transmit my location to Kohaku, my own guard captain. She's likely furious with me.

trevis

There is an collective gasp in the room when Xuan reveals her identity, and the tension soars to an oppressive thickness broken only by Xuan´s words. Rieva’s face is a picture of shock and she stumbles forward immediately, intent on helping, as does Nobu. The Captain is, of course, closer than either of them and they come.to a stop in any case as Bai enters the room.

Rei’s eyes shift to you, Bai, a look of deep hurt and betrayal in her eyes, though her expression is carefully controlled. She believes she has been set up. Perhaps on the Emperor’s orders, for between you and the Captain her options to avoid shame to her family have just become much more limited.

Xuan offers her forgiveness and a large part of the Mayaran contingent let’s out an invisible sigh of relief. Though not the Duchess herself.

Though it doesn’t seem possible, Rei draws herself up even more, her chin tilting up slightly.

“My Fan.” She says. One of her consort hands it to her. Folded,the length of it is perhaps three inches longer than her arm from wrist to elbow. Between that at it’s elegant and masterful decoration, you know it is the family dueling fan. Her contingent’s relief flees like the wind.

She steps forward really to stand next to Kali in front of you. Kali has been standing still as a statue, terror behind her eyes.

[Rei]

Alas, Your Imperial Highness, this matter is not resolved so easily. Kali is my hand. You are the flesh of the Emperor. No matter the circumstances, I have raised my hand in violence against His Imperial Majesty. Short of his pardon. Which he will not give, There is only one way to atone for such a dishonorable act."

She bows and opens the fan. The hum of the dueling edge fills the room. She puts a hand gently on Kali’s shoulder. Kali kneels.

“Mother” Nobu says, but the Duchess gives him a quelling look.

Protocol is that she kill Kali and then herself. Honor demands nothing less. This would, of course, leave the system in Nobu's hands. What do you do?

Adam

I raise a hand, "let's not be hasty... Is this strictly necessary?" I look to Xuan, "as much as I recognize the decorum of nobility, this misunderstanding still happened on my ship. There must be something that we can do to spare their lives, and honor."

I look to Bai, hoping she'll back me up.

slickhop

The Duchess is making a show of her House's honor here.

I roll my eyes, flick my fingers at Kali in a clear gesture to get out of the way. This is between the Duchess and myself now.

To Rei, I speak briskly. "You have made your point, Duchess. But just as I am his flesh, I am also his voice, and my voice is clear. There is no way to atone, because nothing happened. Kali never struck me, she simply spoke out of turn and was chastised. That is all." I wait a beat to check her reaction. "Unless, of course, you wish to call the Emperor a liar?"

John

I give Xuan a slight bow of approval--not much more than an inclination of my head. I look at Rei with the same bow. I do not smile. A smile in this context is too dangerous a thing. Xuan would see it as patronizing, and Rei would think I'm gloating or at least amused at her expense. What strange and delicate creatures we are when honor is involved. I shan't be surprised if the lower classes replace us all someday. This ship captain seems the sanest of the our entire assemblage.

slickhop

It takes everything to not cringe when Auntie Bai makes that face out of the corner of my eye. I don't know what's worse, that bow or that condescending expression she makes when she's trying to figure out how to 'understand me.' At least she doesn't say anything else.

trevis

Rei hesitates a moment, glancing between you, then snaps the fan closed and bows again.



"Of course not, Your Imperial Highness. I can see that my perception was inaccurate. However, I assure you that I will address the deficiency in her training personally."

At the Duchess' touch, Kali rises again to her feet, keeping her eyes down.

The Soyinka family owes you a favor, Xuan.

Rei turns to you, Allevard.

"You have my humble apology, Captain. If there is no safe way for us to leave this vessel, and Her Imperial Highness is content to remain and place her faith in you, then we shall follow her most exalted example. Is there some way we can assist you in resolving our present challenges?

Adam

Finally something appears to be going right — a veritable weight has been lifted from my shoulders, and I relax noticeably. I nod appreciatively at Rei's offer, and shake my head. "My entire team, including a security specialist, are on the problem, Duchess — but one of your ships, the Winter's Heart, picked up our transponder ID while our systems were still compromised, and they're threatening a boarding, and potential violence in the event we don't rendezvous and submit to their authority." I bow my head in respectful deference, "your word would certainly put their minds at ease..."

John

Sensing that Xuan has had enough of my meddling for one afternoon, I join Rei.

“I’m very glad to have you still among us, my dear,” I say to Rei while giving the captain a look of mild rebuke. First thing's first. The woman nearly killed herself after all.

I slowly, deliberately turn my attention back to Rei. “I hope you will indulge an old lady and agree to take tea with me very soon,” I say patting her hand. “I understand, of course, that you first need to encourage this Winter's Heart not to beat quite so strongly.”

slickhop

I flutter my hand in an approximation of acknowledging Rei's debt.

While Allevard asks Rei about the Winter's Heart, I look at Nobu. When I've captured his attention, I make a hopefully subtle gesture in the direction of Rieva. My question should be obvious. Did he lie to me then, I wonder, about where he got that poem. Seems too coincidental.

trevis

Bai,



She gives you a small smile and just for a moment you can see the shaken soul within her. "Nothing would please me more than to have tea with you, your Grace, after I have rendered what aid I can to our gallant, and most tolerant, Captain."

She nods to you Allevard, then turns and gives instructions for Kali and the others to return to quarters until further notice. Kali begins to protest but Rei shuts her down. "I shall be perfectly safe in the Captain's company. And you, Kali, have your actions to meditate upon. Captain, I am at your disposal."

Kali lowers her eyes again after glaring at you, Allevard, then turns towards the hatch.

Xuan,

In response, Nobu steps to Rieva's side and whispers in her ear, Rieva who has not stopped sneaking looks at you since you revealed yourself. They both approach you and bow respectfully. Rieva more deeply.



"Your Imperial Highness... I feel I should take the opportunity to introduce the Captain of my guard, who suggested that I share that bit of poetry with you." He says, his face a mask of neutrality.

Adam

I bow, and turn back to Xuan. As unfortunate as all this was, she did manage to stop Rei in her tracks... The corner of my lip lifts, just for her, and I bow respectfully. "If you'll excuse me, your Highness, I believe I'm needed elsewhere..." I pause, waiting for her to dismiss me. I don't strictly need her permission to leave, but it feels appropriate at the moment. I offer her my hand.

slickhop

I nod to Allevard. I take his hand briefly then release it to give him a quick samwai -- the gracious half-bow that the Imperial family gives to someone of lesser rank who has done them good service. "I will request your services on the bridge soon," I say with a very unimperial wink. Hopefully he'll let Private Johannesburg continue to serve.

I can't bring myself to quite look Nobu or Rieva in the eye. My heart is beating so fast it might explode. Instead I look at Nobu's cheek, the hollow of Rieva's throat. "It certainly take you too long to get caught in your first lie, First Scion. How many others have you told me? I'm sure your mother would be delighted to know what I've discussed with you, and much more likely to act on my advice considering what just transpired. And you Rieva. Did Akio really reassign you after he found out about us or was that a lie too?"

I'm being provocative, I know, but I need to know the truth. And I might as well smoke it out of whatever cave they've hidden it in. Nobu showed me a little truth before, but not enough, and if I have to leverage that to learn what I want to know, so be it.

Adam

I try not to read too much into that wink, in spite of myself. Instead, I chuckle softly, and nod. "Then I'll take my leave." I bow to Bai, and motion for Rei to accompany me back to the bridge.

trevis

Allevard go here.

trevis

Xuan,

Without any visible movement, Nobu's posture straightens even more.

Rieva answers at once, a slight tremor to her voice.

"That is no lie, Your Imperial Highness." She swallows, reaches up and strokes her fingers over a long, thin, nearly invisible scar on her throat, one which your eyes located only a moment before. "He offered me two options, and I am ashamed that my courage failed the first."



"If Her Imperial Highness says I have lied then it must be so, though I would ask her wisdom to reveal this lie to my own eyes." He says quietly. "For to my knowledge I have spoken only the truth."

Bai,

Just how did the General discover that Rieva and Xuan were together? What was your involvement in the affair?

John

Seeing Rieva again saddens me. I can't bring myself to regret my part in her dismissal...but I have often wished that things could have been different.

I have never told Xuan. I am sure that in her youthful certainty of my overblown sense of decorum and class bigotry, Xuan would have believed that my goal was to split her from Rieva. Perhaps at one point in my acquaintance with the girl, she may have been correct. However, a modicum of circumspection on Xuan's part--should the girl ever avail herself of such--would have led her inexorably to the conclusion that, whatever I might think or undertake in the service of safeguarding her reputation and position, I would in no case employ a tool as blunt as General Akio.

Had I wished to split her and Rieva, subtler means are certainly not beyond my capabilities. I hadn't wished that, though. I hadn't wished to split them at all. Oh, yes, I was initially concerned about the impact on Rieva's duties and the unsuitability of such a pairing...and yet... And yet, I came to see qualities in Rieva that I found admirable, even instructive, for my young niece, who had, after all, lived quite a privileged life. Both girls were possessed of a certain fierceness, but where Xuan's derived from ideals and principles, Rieva's was, if my intuition does not deceive me, the product of having survived experiences no princess could fathom. In this way, they were like and unlike. They balanced one another. Moreover, I liked the girl, in spite of my initial misgivings.

And so, I took no pleasure in exposing the girls' relationship to the General.

As I have said, I did not do so--would not have done so--because I disapproved of their relationship, which by then I did not. No, it was much more dire than that. Xuan's very life was at stake. The General had become...curious...as to some of Xuan's comings and goings. Her movements related to activities of the rebellion had sparked suspicions in the General, and he was quite close to piecing it together. I intervened at what I still believe was a crucial moment and managed to send General Akio down another path entirely, convincing him that Xuan's suspicious activity was attributable to her clandestine affair with Rieva. To do this, I had to play the narrow-minded matriarch, informing the General of the affair and my concerns for the "honor of the Imperial House". I did this knowing that I was placing Rieva in great danger. However, had I not done so, I am quite sure General Akio would have discovered Xuan's role in the rebellion. I am equally sure that Xuan would not understand the grave responsibility that I have where her safety is concerned, or the sacrifices that we members of the ruling family must be willing to make.

slickhop

I scowl, mostly to stop from tearing up. What have they done to her beautiful throat?

I strike my hand through the air at Nobu's passive aggression -- I used my status to save a life, his mother's, and he throws it back at me?

"A lie of omission then, if they truly did include that poem in your consort package. Did you have other stolen bon mots to win me over?"

I clear my throat and hum a line, off-key but recognizable. Rieva will know it -- a song she sang to me when we'd been away for hours, minutes.

trevis

Nobu's voice frosts over.



"I omitted nothing except the identity of my guard captain, which I was honor bound not to reveal." He says. "The poem--"

"I put it in the packet." Rieva interrupts. "I was sent with it, Xuan. I was commanded to bring the packet with me to Mayara. I put the poem in and encouraged his lordship to quote it to you. To let you know I was here."

Rieva glances over at you Bai, you might even say she glares, before turning her gaze back to the princess.

John

I have decades of experience hiding my emotions, and yet, I find I must expend considerable effort to remain impassive under Rieva's glare. I do not know how much she knows and how much she suspects, but that glare makes it clear she does not hold me blameless. I could withstand Xuan's scrutiny better. The difference between Rieva and Xuan is that, while I betrayed them both, my betrayal is mitigated in Xuan's case by my desire to protect her. I have no such shield to hide behind where Rieva is concerned.

slickhop

Hearing my name on Rieva's lips is a curse and a balm.

A hundred questions swim through my head like tiny fish, too quick for me to catch.

"Why?" is all I can manage.

trevis

Xuan,

"Why?"

Rieva looks at you a moment with those eyes you know so well, steps in suddenly, taking hold of the sides of your head, your already bruising cheek protests as she kisses you hard.

John

Watching the kiss, I walk to Nobu, and putting my hand on his arm, I say in a low voice, “It would seem that Her Imperial Highness has need for a private conversation with the captain of your guard.”

trevis

Bai,



"Indeed." he replies, turning away, his face a mask.

The yellow lights stop flashing. There is a smooth announcement concerning the restoration of life support and a request that passengers remain in their cabins until the Captain announces the all-clear.

Jun's voice suddenly sounds in your ear, Bai.



"Mistress, an interesting event has transpired. The Mayaran military vessel intercepting us appears to instead be commanded by Commander Taru. It has demanded our surrender on pain of destruction."

John

"If you will excuse me, Lord Soyinka..." I say as I abruptly turn to leave. Then, on sudden impulse, I turn back to him. "Give her space. But not too much."

Then I'm off, moving through the corridors at a brisk pace, the walking stick held like a runner's baton. It's not the sprint of my youth, mind you, but faster than most here would have believed I was capable.

"Jun," I say into my subvocal mic. "Please establish a private channel with Commander Taru. Code name: 'Dokkaebi', Authorization: 20864050." Meanwhile, I think I'd better get to the bridge. Depending on why Taru is here, the captain may need to understand what he's dealing with.

slickhop

I reflexively return the kiss with an unearthed urgency that I'd thought buried.

It takes a moment before I realize that Nobu and Auntie Bai have stepped away. "I've missed you," I say simply.

"What's going on?" I ask. I make an all-encompassing gesture. It comes out more like a whine than I'm proud of.

trevis

Xuan,

Rieva turns to look, watching both your aunt disappear and Nobu walk to the other side of the room to look out at the stars. She takes your hand and leads you further away from him and speaks low.

"This ship is being intercepted even now by the Free Suns, my love. We shall finally be able to escape and be together."

trevis

Bai,



"Yes Mistress. It should be noted that with heightened security, the likelihood of our transmission being detected will be unusually high."

After a few seconds a cold voice comes into your receiver.

[Taru]

"Dokkaebi"

John

“Commander,” I respond. “Assert access level: privileged. Auxiliary authentication device role and destination: channel, Jun-Shi.”

I will be interfacing with Taru at the highest level of privilege available to my identity, authenticated by my alias, authorization code, and the fact that my communication channel is mediated by Jun-Shi. Accessing Taru via Jun buys me a bit more credibility than through another route, which just goes to show that even when dealing with machines, it’s not just what you know, but who you know. Taru lacks some of the more genteel modes of interaction that Jun possesses, and it values efficiency. Thus, I have supplied metadata for this interaction via the formal grammar of Taru’s lower level natural language module.

“Commander, please list your objective and the objective’s originator and maximum coercion protocol.”

trevis

[Taru]

"Acknowledged" Taru's voice seems to hiss. "Objective: Capture of Duchess Soyinka Rei and her vassals. Failing that, termination of same. All force authorized. Originated by Council High Commander Paput on intelligence from Lord Kaluga and unnamed source. Addendum, Secondary objective capture of Imperial Crown Princess Xuan D'Aso. Risk of termination and collateral damage acknowledged and accepted."

John

“Continue session: authentication and access assertions as established. Detail: nature of intelligence from Lord Kaluga. Extrapolate: motivation for current objective. Extrapolate: justification for acceptability of termination of targets in solution fitness function. Query: location and current comm latency of High Commander Paput.”

A human might have been put off by the series of terse inquiries. Taru won’t care. Still, there is something not solely algorithmic in its information processing and decision making–or at least the algorithms are too complex and the weighting of decision points too fuzzy for me to treat Taru like a deterministic state machine.

“Command Taru, with all due respect to your non-human lineage, it was your actions at Belos–the humanity of those actions–that pulled you into the rebellion. I cannot think of a legitimate reason for the High Commander’s order–and yet, if he just wanted us dead, you could have already accomplished that…if you wanted to. What’s going on, Taru? Are we betrayed? Are you execising a loophole in your orders? How can I help you?”

slickhop

"Escape...?" I echo, not fully following. "But I already did escape! Are you a Rebel? What's the First Scion's part in this?"

Everything feels like too much. My dreams, the shattered pieces of them picked up from the floor, taped back together and handed to me.

Auntie Bai is looking peculiar again, distracted by voices in her head. Always nattering away at me or staring into space like an imbecile.

"If you're sure," I say to Rieva, speaking slowly as I think it through. "We should join Allevard at the bridge. I have to tell him that this isn't truly a Mayaran vessal." But why did they threaten to destroy us if they were a Rebel ship? There were still too many pieces that didn't make sense.

trevis

Bai,

You make your way to the bridge as the voice picks up in response

[Taru]

“Intelligence: notification of low security cruise between Mayara Prime and Agliesse2b and means to redirect Mayaran military patrols. Vessel contains advanced technology. Update: Crown Princess will be aboard. Motivation: Capture of Mayaran system by Council of Free Suns, increase of fleet and resources, established jump choke point for the Bassa arm of Imperial space. Targets of value for ransom and strategic intelligence. Loss of targets acceptable as system resources will still be transferred. Commander Paput location classified, need to know.”

The voice pauses.

“You have been out of contact Dokkaebi. The council authorized the High Commander’s actions. Estimate an 86% chance of successful fulfillment of all mission parameters. Loss of life in event of failure is negligible. A ship is not a planet.”

What exactly is your position with the Council, Bai? Are you one of them?

Bai go here

trevis

Xuan,

She looks around at Nobu, then back to you.

“No!. We must use an escape pod. I have a transmitter. The ship will pick us up even if it is forced to destroy this ship!” She starts tugging you that direction, keeping her voice low.

The First Scion knew nothing except that I had been transferred from the Imperial guard. His mother didn’t reveal why I was exiled. And once I knew you were coming, I saw our chance. I had to notify the Rebellion. Come on, Xuan. We don’t have much time.”

slickhop

I look at her, dumb-founded. "And leave behind Kohaku? Auntie Bai? To be murdered by a Rebel warship? Do you even hear yourself?"

I shake Rieva's hand off me. "I am not who you think I am, if you think I would do that."

I start running for the bridge, pinging Kohaku on my wrist unit. I don't know what I'm going to tell Allevard.

trevis

Rieva runs after you, calling your name, Xuan. Go here