Characters: Fleet Admiral Alastair McKenzie, Lieutenant Junior Grade Miranda Collins
- McKenzie comes to brief Mir
- Mir was not expecting him, and scrambles a bit.
- He tells her not to bother getting up; it's his fault for surprizing her.
- McKenzie asks if she's going stirr crazy yet, and she gets kinda cold
- She hasn't been debriefed in over a month
- All the survivors have been isolated from each other
- She still doesn't know who lived and who died, save from the few she met while in medical.
- She's more than a bit pissed.
- She wants to know what the fuck is going on
- McKenzie needed to vet the survivors, to make sure there weren't any additional deep cover agents, but everyone's been debriefed, finally.
- Everyone except her. Which she wants to know why.
- McKenzie admits he's kinda been avoiding this, but there's reasons.
- McKenzie debriefs her
- Most of the crew survived
- She held off the Terrans
- The ship is salvagable, but most likely not going to see service again.
- He personally thanks her, explains how he was involved with Archigos' design.
- Nintey five our of one hundred and twenty survived.
- Rekonin arrived, and that greatly helped.
- Mir still questions if she needed to do what she did, and McKenzie says that yes, she did. She mostly accepts that.
- Mir will be awarded like, all of the awards
- Congress has declared the cease-fire void; it's back to war with the Terrans.
- Mir points out congress isn't usually so ready to delcare war.
- McKenzie tells her that the media got it's hands of fottage of the fight, and footage of the carnage on the Archigos. They've been running it non-stop.
- Also, the Terrans attacked a convoy of returning evacuees a few days later (they were tipped off it was weapons) and the media got that carnage on film, too.
- They've been running both segements for weeks, now, milking it and driving up rage.
- This is in no small part due to McKenzie's people bribing and otherwise assisting this effort.
- Mir is a bit overwhelmed by the fact that they're at war, now, saying that she's waiting for the other shoe to drop. McKenzie agrees.
- The other reason McKenzie is here is to offer her a choice.
- He starts off ominously with, "I want to offer you something, but you need to understand what you're agreeing too, and that this is really a choice."
- She asks what happens if she says no.
- He responds with, "I write you a letter of recommendation, and you get a bump from Lt. JG to Lt."
- She doesn't like the sound of that, but accepts it.
- His offer is that she take a promotion to Captain, and takes command of Rekonin.
- His reasoning is simple: he likes her. The way she commanded impressed him, and he feels like if he fosters that, she could be amazing.
- Normally he's wait a few years, guiding her accreer, but given recent evetns, he needs to act faster.
- Also, he's doing her no favors with Rekonin.
- He explains how Rekonin is special, and about her AI.
- They have an interesting conversation about AI, and why it's not like sci-fi writers seem to think.
- Mir realizes that Rekonin was build to be a single ship that takes on fleets.
- She asks why, and he basically says, 'for the LOLZ, but I'll tell you the real reason, someday, maybe.'
- McKenzie tells her that this offer means working for Intelligence, and it's a career killer. She shouldn't take it.
- She asks to be indulged in something.
- She wants him to play devil's advocate for her for a moment.
- They play back and forth, and she convinces herself.
- He asks for her choice, and she says she'll take it.
Characters: Captain Miranda Collins, Commander Hugh Daniels, Lieutenant Commander Gabriella Lopez, Lizbeth Locke, Rekonin
- Mir is making her way to where Rekonin is docked.
- While walking (with a cane), she is considering the damage she took.
- She lost her right leg from the knee down, and it was very nasty.
- Lots of nerve damage, and she'll likely never be 100% again.
- Currently, she's in such bad shape, still, that her doctor recommended an honorable discharge, not active duty.
- McKenzie overrode that, but everyone knows she does not meet the current fitness level for crewing onboard a starship.
- She finds Daniels and Lopez waiting for her.
- The two chat, and awkwardness is avoided mostly.
- There's a little flirting from Lopez, establishing she's 'equal opportunity' and liked 'pretty people'.
- They get along well, and it's established Lopez will be running engineering, while Daniels is now XO.
- Mir makes her way to the bridge, parting with Daniels and Lopez
- In her office she finds Liz is sitting in her chair, Rekonin is sitting nearby.
- Liz says she's gotta size up the captain, and Rekonin tells her to go easy.
- Liz dives right in with talking about her suspicions Eva was inappropriate with Rekonin
- She was not.
- Rekonin defends her.
- Mir suggests Rekonin talk to a councelor.
- Rekonin understands it... oddly, but well enough. And agrees.
- Liz accepts this, then gives Mir a warning about the war that's coming.
- Liz offers help, if she needs it. But on one condition.
- If Mir hears anything about Simon (or at least Liz's description of Simon) she let Liz know.
- We find out that Liz holds the rank of 'Vice Admiral'.
- There's some mutual posturing, but Mir gets the upper hand, and kicks Liz out, according to the regs.
- Rekonin is glad to do it, because she likes giving Liz shit.
- Liz says she'll do just fine.
- Sean is in an unknown prison.
- His cell is nicer than some Terran quarters.
- It had enough room for him to move around or exercise in.
- The restraints keep him from being within an arm's length on the door.
- The restraints are gravitic.
- That's significant, because one race he knew of could do that on such a small scale.
- He's putting two and two together, and getting a very improbable "4".
- He figured out that they're super advanced, can pass as human but aren't, and their goal is conquest.
- Sean isn't bothered by the aparent goals of his employers.
- In fact, he's aware of how much power he could have in being a favorite or pet.
- Selene fucked him, then drugged him, then he woke up in prison.
- Sean realizes he tipped his hand to Selene.
- He did tell her he'd basically worked it out.
- In retrospect, might not have been the smartest.
- He'd been there for weeks, and in that time, he'd had several conversations.
- The questions were the same every time.
- His requests to speak to whomever is in charge are ignored.
- He does what any prisoner should do, and befriends the guards.
- The first guard he befriended for 'comfort' items, like extra food, alcohol, pad with books.
- He groomed the second one to be an advocate. He worked her well, but the moment she went to talk to her bosses, she neer returned.
- Sean’s cell was then stripped of all contraband, and he never had an encounter with another guard again.
- Not a total loss, Sean learned some important thing.
- He might be the only prisoner here
- His restraints could knock him out.
- They now do that to feed him.
- This all taught him they learned quickly.
- Mr. Zaine comes to call.
- Sean understands this is going to be a nother series of tests, like everything else has been, so he is already prepared.
- Zaine asks if now is a good time, or if Sean would rather wait until after lunch.
- Sean knows it's dinner time, and sees the ploy to mess with him.
- Sean decideds to take a gamble, and askes how Selene is doing.
- Zaine is surprized by the unexpected amunition.
- He says she is quite fond of Sean.
- Sean drops another hint that he's fond of her.
- Sean asks why he's there, and what he needs to do to get released.
- Zaine pointed out the first part is obvious; he discovered the Sooni, and they need to control that situation.
- The second part, however, is more tricky. He needs to convince the Sooni that they can trust Sean.
- Sean points out he's inherently untrustworthy. First for being who he personally is, second because he's human.
- The custody thing is also more fuel for the fires of distrust.
- Zaine says the guards were terminated.
- Sean asks for clarification; were they killed?
- Zaine smiles and says eh mispoke. They were transfered.
- Sean sees this as a form of intimidation, and engratiation.
- Sean counters with, "I'm toats your man. No resentment."
- Sean also points out Selene should have reported how self-serving he is. That's an asset in this situation.
- Zaine points out that Sean isn't as self aware as he liked to think he is. Everything he said is true, but it's not the whole truth. That's the problem they're facing.
- Zaine says they're interested in the monster under his cool exterior, not the calm and collected officer.
- "You see, Mr. Krimm, just beneath your cultivated, cool exterior is a monster that likes to hurt people. That monster does not care where, when, or how, though it’s preferences strong lean towards ‘here’, ‘now’, and ‘sexually’. It is the monster, Mr. Krimm, that we are interested in using, not the calm, collected officer."
- "This leads to the obvious problem; how do we exhume the monster, without destroying the parts of the man that make it such a feared hunter? Your self control is too good; when presented with guards with obvious sexual attractions to you, you used one to get contraband, and the other as an advocate; not instead to help relieve your mounting frustrations. Isolation didn’t work, and neither did monotonous aggravation."
- "You’ve spent most of your life hiding what your are. Hiding your nature, and finding out how to get away with slaking your thirsts. What if you were given carte blanche? What if you didn’t have to hide, but instead were encouraged to be the monster you truly are?"
- Sean is impressed with just how well they read him. Says he might be interested in what they're after.
- Zaine lays the offer on the table. Either Sean takes it, or he'll never see another living being again.
- Sean agrees, but with addendums.
- He wants to be in charge of the invasion force.
- "I want to plan the battles, pick the targets, and be on the front line of the major offensives. Second, I want Selene as my right hand. Give me this, and I will do whatever you want, to whomever you want."
- Zaine says that he's more than welcome to try, but the invasion force is a very special unit.
- Selene is brought in, gagged and restrained.
- "You have to prove your sincerity about releasing the monster, Mr. Krimm. I know you’re fond of her, but we really must have a show of good faith on your part."
- Sean points out her strength is going to be an issue.
- Zaine says they've improved him. He can remove the restraints by force any time he wishes. Also Selene shouldn't be a problem.
- Zaine also points out it is lunch time. They've been throwing him off by knocking him out, or keeping him asleep longer than he thought.
- Sean removes the restraints, and then proceeds to brutalize the shit out of Selene.
Characters: Kashk, Jirael
- Kashk is winding down from a long day onboard Prometheus.
- It is difficult for a creature as big as a NorAellian to find space to relax; his quarters are one of the few places that can accomidate him.
- He considers human representations of dragons, and wonders if an ancient expidition of his people ever visited humanity.
- (Fact not in novel:) They have, a few times over the millenia, though in each case it was accidental, and the expedition was considered "lost".
- (Fact not in novel:) Only once was the intention to go to Earth herself, though the records of that have been lost.
- (Fact not in novel:) The Terrans have discovered some of the NorAellian remains from these expiditions (mislabeled as dinosaur bones), but have never told anyone.
- Jirael arrives to talk with him, a completely unexpected turn of events.
- He was sprawled out, and so having her enter with him being so undignified is a bit embarassing.
- Kashk is old, almost too old to sill be in space, over 800 years old.
- He has had many mates in his life, and raised several broods of children.
- He loved each and every one of his mates, and even occasionally has "liasons" with a few of them.
- Like most NorAellians, however, he feels the concepts of "love", "romance"., and more importanlty "monogamy" are misguided at best, harmful at worst.
- He once, when he was younder, lobbied for a tariff on "human romance candies" to prevent young NorAellians from brooding too early. Now the idea sounded idealistic at best.
- Fifty years ago, he met Jirael ( Lyndri Ambasaador).
- The two were at each other's throats, being rivals for the first decade.
- Somewhere, in their fighting, they both fell for each other.
- The fighting turned to something distinctly not, though equally as agressive.
- They have been in a committed (if often long distance) ever since.
- They have an open relationship; as long as the liasons are "non-binding", it's fine.
- In practice, they both can occasionally get jealous, especially if someone is trying to coerce one of them into a sexual encounter; it's generally only kosher if one of them intiates it eith an outside party.
- Kashk is the one who is more ok with Jirael sleeping around, though Jirael is the one who is much more jealous.
- She loves Kashk, deeply. Her "liasons" are driven by lust. If real feelings start complicating it, she backs out entirely.
- She would never want to "cheat" on Kashk by having romantic feelings to another.
- Everything went sideways a few months ago, when the Lyndri declared war on the NorAellians.
- Ever since, she's been avoiding being in the same sector as him, refusing to take his calls, and ignoring him.
- Now she's back, though he has no idea why.
- Kashk offers to make room, and she refuses, knowing he's been in chambers all day.
- She says she will make do with his needs, since she is the uninvited guest.
- She finds a spot near him on the floor, but not touching him.
- He takes this as a calculated message: "I am not willing to make contact with you, but I recognize I haven't been fair to you, either."
- She is there for the truth; the full truth.
- The implication here is that she already knows the NorAellians have been lying about their interactions with the Lyndri, so he'd better come clean.
- Kashk explains their history with the Lyndri
- He compares this mistake with that of the GikDaa, another sentient race that shared his planet, and the NorAellians inadvertantly erradicated.
- They are attempting to bring the race back, but it's difficult.
- Two thousand years ago, Lyndri were expanding, building technology and "growing without wisdom".
- The NorAellians were trying to be careful, only offering assistance they thought the Lyndri could handle.
- "You warred with yourselves, lashed out at us, and in general did not behave any different than was to be expected of a race of your youth.”
- In their expansion, they met a race that was far more advanced than NorAellians are currently. This race, though few in number, offered technology freely.
- They looked exactly like humans, of which the NorAellians were not aware, and the NorAellians called them the 'Sooni', or 'Gifted'.
- All they asked was for the Lyndri not to expand into certain areas of space, mainly an area around Sol.
- It was this that eventually lead to the NorAellian expidition that discovered humanity.
- With the alliance limiting the direction they could expand, the Lyndri started annexing systems from the NorAellians, and eventually they drew first blood.
- The NorAellians were also worried about the Sooni. Their level of advancement was a cause for concern, especially considering that they did not hold any space, and claimed to be nomads.
- The NorAellians saw them as 'sneaky', manipulative creatures.
- "They had a motive, we could taste it in the air around them. But they had done nothing overtly wrong, so we felt our hands were tied."
- “You may think you’ve seen my people when they are angered, but I am thankful that is not the case. We, as a people, lose ourselves. We become terrible engines of destruction the likes of which can shake the foundations of the galaxy. I say this not to excuse us, but to explain fully the depth of our cultural insanity. And your people’s attacks drove us to that madness. Not at first, at first it was a simple war, seeking retribution but nothing more. But with the Sooni guiding your people’s hands, we were driven to the furthest extent of madness we have ever reached. And your people paid the price.”
- “At first, we simply sent our fleets against yours. However, with your new allies, and your people’s honed tactical skills, you were able to hold your own against our much larger forces. It did not help that no NorAellian living had personal experience with space combat. While we had to accustom ourselves to war once again, your people were primed for it. In many ways, you are the opposite of us; we are the slow moving avalanche, where as your people are the nimble blade. We sought to slow that blade, force your people to rethink your haste to go to war with us. What better way to defeat your enemy than by making him more like you?"
- "We engineered a biological weapon to extend your lifespan, and reduce your birthrate. Your people would surely rethink this war if life was more precious, would they not?"
- Jirael points out that what the NorAellians have done certainly hasn't stopped the current war.
- Kashk points out that, in part, that is because her people don't value their lives as they once did; Jirael gets upset at this suggestion, but he counters with the fact that they both know it to be true.
- (This is a reference to the fact that females are seen as barely worth anything, and often sold as slaves, or conscripted.)
- Kashk says they were careful with their weapon; those infected would not see any effects, but the new traits would be passed down to the next generation. It would be decades before her people saw the error of their ways, however they would, eventually.
- Jirael points out that seems out of keeping with this 'cultural insanity' he mentioned.
- He explains the weapon was designed first, before that bit.
- "We had not reached the peak of our insanity, when we’d designed the weapon, truth be told. We had already used it when your people had pushed us too far. And here lies the worst part of all of this. Unknown to us, your people were dealing with a problem of their own. A epidemic of a virus that, while serious in it’s side effects, had a near zero mortality rate. Unfortunately, our weapon broke a very simple gene that produced a rarely used protein in your people. That protein bonded with this disease, and allowed your immune system to combat it. This virus was especially hard on males, as they barely had any of this protein to begin with. It turned a near zero mortality rate into a seventy five percent mortality for females, nearly one hundred percent for males."
- “It took a few months for your people to understand what was happening. However, in that time your people had pushed us past the edge. We attacked with all our fury, determined to end this war in months, not decades. We threw everything we had, and we burned a dozen worlds to ash before your people could even respond. We turned towards your inner colonies, and came face to face with your largest fleet. It was only then that we realized the magnitude of our mistake; a single even that even in all our fury stopped us cold.”
- “We faced your largest fleet, opening fire from maximum range, with a multipronged attack designed to trap them, and destroy evert last ship. If they had reacted. The ships defended themselves, but only with automated systems. They did not move, nor did they respond to hails. When we boarded one of them, we found the crew dead, or incapacitated. At first we assumed this was some plague unrelated to our actions. But as we moved from colony to colony, each one dead or dying, our anger turned to horror. We collected the survivors, all women, and took them to your home world, which so far had been spared. We met with your Queen, we explained everything we had done, and everything we had found about the survivors. We worked as hard as we could to undo the damage, but we could not spare your homeworld. Those few who survived were entirely dependant on us. Your homeworld languished, and it’s basic infrastructure collapsed. Meanwhile it was all we could do to keep your people alive long enough to try and combat the virus. It kept mutating, and changing, in a way we’ve never seen before. We put everything we had into fixing our mistake. Every attempt to fix the gene was met with a mutation in the virus that broke it again. We even attempted to undo our weapon, returning your people to their natural state. The virus mutated to incorporate our weapon into itself. Instead, we decided to do what we could despite it. Eventually, we were able to stabilize the female birth rate, but males were frequently stillborn. It was the best we could do, after decades. I don’t understand the details personally, but I have been making the attempt in the last few months.”
- Jirael accepts this as true, but askes why his people have lied to them for centuries, treating them as they have.
- Kashk's story is true, mostly. He doesn't know that some of the details are more... complicated.
- Kashk says they have been following the orders of the Lyndri Queen.
- Jirael dismisses this, saying that the wishes of a long dead monarch mean nothing.
- “No, your current ruler. The great, great, great, great granddaughter of that ancient Queen, I believe.”
- Jirael declares there is no such person, and everyone knows it.
- Kashk reveals that a group of Lyndri live in exile, and are actively working to combat the disease. The Queen is among them, still ruling her people, from the shadows.
- Jirael has trouble accepting this, questioning the war, if this were true.
- Kashk shows her confidential NorAellian documents, dated from before the "surprise" declaration of war
- Jirael starts coming around. She acknowledges that Kashk could lose his position for showing her these documents.
- Jirael is now more calm, more willing to accept this version of events.
- She asks if the Sooni still exist.
- “Oh yes. They are the reason for the secrecy, and we suspect, the single reason for how difficult it has been to combat this disease. Something natural cannot mutate this quickly or perfectly, over twenty centuries, and not be the work of a third party. What’s more, we have kept strains of the virus, allowing them to progress naturally in isolation, and they have shown no signs of change.”
- “No, I know. You see, I was approached by one. He attempted to persuade me to help start this war between our people. It is unfortunate that he will live to regret such actions.”
- With age, NorAellians continue to grow in size, and strength. However, they lose their speed, and it is very difficult to kill a more agile opponent when you're so large.
- This is a literal "Had I been younger" moment.
- Jirael asks how he knows that it was a Sooni, not someting else.
- Kashk reveals they have strange abilities that no human posseses.
- "They seem to be able to predict blows, and we’ve seen evidence of what appears to be gravitic manipulation, though we’ve never confirmed it. And those are the most believable on a long list."
- Jirael asks why the Sooni are coming out of the shadows after so long.
- "This Sooni was collecting monsters. He knew things about myself that I have spent centuries forgetting. He was not successful, but I must assume he will have success with others. The only reason to take such risks, amassing a group such as that, would be if you were not worried about subtlety any longer."
- Jirael leans against him, and starts stroking him, and asks gently if he'd tell her why a man recruiting monsters would want him.
- Kashk promises to himself, no more secrets from her.