Razor One wrote:One potential counterpoint that I believe could be beneficial might be to introduce a loroi male to the mix. It has been stated several times that they disdain the war, so having that conversation could be interesting, with neither side really changing their position and the loroi male coming to the conclusion that human males are barbaric whilst Jardin views his opposite as effete and sheltered.
Actually, I thought along the same line, that it would have to happen sooner or later. Given that Duskcrown did allow - or rather ordered to have - him access to one sensitive resource already, namely
Tempest's farseer, another one wouldn't be too far out of question. Especially since Loroi males aren't
solely busied with that one singular purpose and actually serve in more civil roles, as scientists, for example. Duskcrown could ask Alex to bounce a few of his more outlandish ideas off of them.
Stillstorm and Duskcrown, especially Duskcrown, wouldn't hestitate to use all resources available to win this war. Personally, they do might appreciate Alex, but when duty calls, personal likes and dislikes come second, as Duskcrown had made it evidently clear. She gives off the vibe of "listen, I like you, and I wouldn't want to execute for dereliction of duty if you're slacking off, but I
will do so if necessary".
Apart from that, it is difficult to bring up an antagonist in direct contact with Alex in a setting like this. For example, if it's someone from the rank and file starting to harass him, one superior officer would sooner or later order them to put a cork in it for the sake of the smooth operation of the ship, and if said superior officer with a lot of clout has it in for Alex, she could easily revoke his privileges and toss him into the brig... or worse. And in the latter case, Alex is acutely aware of his still quite precarious situation and would do its utmost to not to tick off anyone up the command chain.
Yet, Alex could face some crosswind, though on a less direct level. The ideas he bounced off Stillstorm and Duskcrown weren't
completely novel, but already quite controversial in certain circles. The latest example was the idea to field gunboats in a more aggressive manner, where Duskcrown is already aware that she herself, and by extension Alex, would surely face a lot of opposition by the Tenoin caste elders.
And politics can be quite a quagmire.