Re: [WP] Beacons (Story Thread Only)
Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2018 12:56 am
Alex waited until Brightshield was out of earshot before he sanzaied to Beryl again.
"Beryl, what I did in the teahouse was pretty shit by human standards and you'd be entirely justified to split up with me now."
"Split up, Enzin? Why? No! I don't want that. What a horrible concept even. I thought you humans bonded longterm."
"We do, Beryl, but as serial monogamists, we also need to break off things sometimes. I am very glad you aren't taking that route. I am very sorry if my actions have hurt you or Fireblade."
"It's fine, Enzin. Don't worry about it. We aren't monogamous. That you are so worried about hurting our feelings is honestly more insulting than you having fun. Fireblade and I are just reliefed that Brightshield isn't part of our group now."
"Thank you, Beryl. You should know though that Brightshield and I did talk via Sanzai. I had to concentrate and let down my guard, but I managed it quickly. Even send to Spiral this way."
"Your training is paying off then. That is wonderful. Next you'll grow pointy ears!"
The two of them had reached Alex quarters now. Beryl hesitated for a moment as if unsure whether to come in with him or not. She seemed to decide against it however.
"You'll better get some rest, Enzin."
"You wanted to spend the free day with me, didn't you?"
"Yes, we haven't spend any length of time with each other for a while now."
"I know Berly. Hey, amongst the relics you picked up from Bellarmine, where there a lot of data pads and electronics?
"Of course, we concentrated on those items in fact. I'll show you the list."
Alex mind was immediately filled with images of various electronics of human making. Too quick and detailed for him to pick up much.
"Too fast, Beryl. Tell you what, how about we pick through them tomorrow? There should be a whole bunch of human films and music pieces stored in there. Fireblade, you and me could make a movie night out of my favourites."
Beryls excitement was impossible to miss. She lighted up immediately at the prospect of a pleasurable night of human movies. Even Fireblade became curious, even though her subtext involved her studies about human literature.
"That sounds wonderful! Let's do that after we get back from the burial, Enzin."
"Let's. I'll see you tomorrow then."
"Explain this to me again." send Stillstorm. "We now have a technique to sense Enzin and the same technique can be used on the Shell Lotai. Meaning we have a counter against their secret weapon."
"That is correct, Soshret. We don't know whether this technique has the same range as normal farsensing, so we'll have to wait and see how effective it is." came from Torimor Shadow. Tempo explained further.
"We can only sense Enzins physical location, not what is on his mind or his disposition. We also can't target him with other telepathic techniques. It also takes training to sense him with precision. On the plus side, the basics are easy enough to pick up as proven by Paset Cloud. With your permission I will distribute a lection on it amongst the crew."
"Do that, Parat. Torimor Shadow, is Tazites Duskcrown already informed?"
"Of course she was informed about a development of this importance, Soshret. The Admiral was very pleased. Parat Tempos training routine will be spread with the next courier that departs."
Shadow looked also very pleased ever since she was able to announce to the room that Captain Jardin had been approaching. As a spcialist, she had picked up on it very quickly.
"Very good, that makes the next battles far easier, Torimor."
"It is indeed very good, Soshret. Your Strike Group might have turned the war for us. Your handling of Captain Jardin may have been unconventionaly trusting, but there is no arguing with results. If this works out, your position as Soshret will be set in stone. Parat Tempo, should Soshret Stillstorm decide to bring it up with Tazites Duskcrown, the Admiral might very well judge your risky behaviour with Captain Jardin to have been a necessary and valuable part of your duty."
Stillstorm saw Tempo perk up at that. The chance of getting her hair back was rare for a dishonored warrior. She shot Stillstorm a hopeful, pleading look. As much as she felt the punishment justified, Stillstorm saw no justifiable reason to refuse that offer. It still felt like Duskcrown messing with her, again.
"I will see when I can fill out the paperwork then. Will there be a meeting of the Torrai in light of these new changes, Torimor?"
"Once we have evaluated the situation, the tactical situation might change. You will be informed about that as soon as possible."
"Good, then this meeting is concluded, Torimor?"
"Not yet, Soshret. There is a disciplinary matter I need to bring up."
Neither Stillstorm nor Tempo liked to hear that. A Torimor bringing up such a matter never meant something good. The rank and file was handled by Mizol from the SG. So with some apprehension, Tempo asked.
"What is it, Torimor?"
"I don't expect it to be a serious matter, Parat. Quite childish, really. Two of your Torrai have visited the Torrai Lounge on Nezel with Captain Jardin. While that is fine to do with a Captain, the two did talk about civil war with him."
"What?" asked Stillstorm incredulous.
"How did they even get to that topic?" an equally shocked Tempo added.
"Apparently they were very friendly with Captain Jardin and tried to impress him. Neither I nor Tazites Duskcrown believe them to be serious. Her exact words were:"If their lips must drip, at least they should keep their mouths shut.""
Stillstorm let out a groan. That sounded like Duskcrown.
"Who was it, Torimor?"
"Mazeit Moonglow and Torret Ashrain. I understand there is a bet involved."
"I will take care of it, Torimor. Will a standard loyalty check of files and mind be sufficient?" volunteered Tempo.
While the Torimor answered, Stillstorm received a message, which she checked.
"Yes, that will be enough. And do reprimand them for talking about the Deinar files in public."
Idiots, thought Stillstorm. Using spoken language in a public place with those topics had been an invitation of trouble. Now she would have to find some way to punish two of her senior Captains. She resolved to make it a biting warning shot.
She also send. "Torimor, another matter has sprung up. Captain Jardin asked to burry the remains of his crew. Losat Brightshield just requested permission to send their remains down to the surface."
"To bury, not cremate?"
"Yes, that's the human custom."
The Torimor took a short moment to deliberate that.
"I trust you already extracted any information you could out of those bodies? Then by all means bury them and send the coordinates to the Green River. I will send a crew to cremate the bodies afterwards."
"Cremate them afterwards?"
"We aren't about to let a genetic data bank of our telepathic progenitor species lie around. Find a quiet, secluded wood. Just don't tell Captain Jardin.He'll be happy, we'll be happy."
Long years of experience had honed Stillstorms cynicism to a point where she now just nodded in disgusted resignation at the ways of the Mizol.
"Is that all, Torimor Shadow?" she coolly asked.
"One more matter, Soshret, then I won't take up anymore of your time. The recent excursion of Captain Jardin to Nezel has raised some concerns about his effect on discipline. By his presence alone he caused several scenes and gatherings. Luckily he was accompanied, but his status as an emancipated male makes many warriors hope for a quick, uncomplicated encounter."
"So what do you suggest?"
"I suggest you rethink your decision to not give him official caretakers that handle such matters for him."
Stillstorm had indeed decided against giving Enzin caretakers. Back then she had done it to annoy Tempo and stop her from controlling Enzin and to give Enzin exactly the trouble he had asked her for. Now she felt apprehensive of the idea because Enzin had shown that he could handly himself. Even outnumbered four to one, it seemed.
She answered Shadow: "Captain Jardin has made it clear that he doesn't want to be a kept male. He would resist even the attempt. I tend to agree with him on this, too."
The Mizol before Stillstorm grew visible uncomfortable. She pulled out a small data pad and pushed it across the table towards Stillstorm.
"This will convince him of the advantages of having others refuse his suitors for him. I am quite certain of that."
Stillstorm caught the sliding pad with the fingers of her right hand, never taking her eyes from Shadow. She elected to not switch it on just yet.
"Understand that this is against my express advice, Soshret. Thankfully she requested only a social encounter. Parat Tempo, for tomorrow evening you will make Captain Jardin a request he can't refuse."
"Just who made this request?" an irritated Tempo demanded.
"Tazites Duskcrown."