GoldenCat/Fids2

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Seaside Meetings

As far as Fate is concerned, it began with an attempted coup. Calistas and Lyrin know that; That it began as some malcontent generals of the Varangian City-States, the astrologically-obssessed empire southeastern of Creation, tried to overthrow the royal family on the first day of the first week of Ascending Wood. And they had Zombies and Hungry Ghosts at their side. And the people... they were driven and psychotic, the same way the Immaculate Monks sent to clear up Rainfall had found its populace when they came for the purge, on the wake of events an year ago. Said coup was stopped by the Varangian forces, but not before its king, the powerful outcaste Anteus Delei Akhil, its queen, Maya Akhil and most of its Dragon-Blooded Elite Guard, were struck down by the rebels. The Generals’ executions have yet to come, and are scheduled to be held during Calibration.

An even greater chaos would ensue if the Royal Astrological Ministers hadn’t placed forth the firstborn of the Varangian royal family, the Mars-Born Asha Akhil – and she was no disappointment to them, managing to muster enough presence to hold back the chaos and fill the commonfolk with confidence. At least, for the moment. The seeds of revolution are still fertile, and a number of powers are aware of any crack in the wall they can leak in by... like the nearby Jackal Tribes, and the inclement Fair Folk. Varang needd help to keep its order, and so, it called for the instituition they have always been great supporters and allies of - the Realm.

Asha is a Dragon-Touched lady, but not a real Exalted, to her shame. Varang needs good blood, money, and power, to make up for what they lost during the coup attempt... and beyond. They need the Dynasty. Peleps Leonidas was a good friend of the queen, and grieved her death deeply. Well-liked on Varang( To the extent a foreigner, even a Prince of the Earth, can be, there.), and of good breeding – both grandson and great-grandson to the Empress from mother and father - his’ was a logical choice to marry princess Asha. Peleps needs the foothold on the Threshold, the power and money that come with it. But... something seems to be up in Varang aside from territory... something that made other Great Houses cast their lot on it as well.

V’neef has little intention of actually losing the money for the initial investment of the courtship and social help in Varang, since trade with it is already so lucreative, but is determined to have a foothold in it as well. The courtship would not only be expensive, but unsure – since Leonidas already has such a good standing there, any competition would be risky at best, and they cannot afford to try and lose.

And as such, in well-planned gestures of ‘good will’, they lent one of their few First Age Luxury Liners to Leonidas, and a escort... that is at the same time their plant on the Peleps projct, someone with charisma and skill to create a power base in Varang, a way to have Peleps in their debt and to spat on their face... by giving them the talented, ill-reputed social outcast V’neef Lyrin. But it’s not only V’neef’s hands. There are eyes for other houses among Lyrin’s own troops as well. And of course, house Ledaal feigned political maneuvering sending a bureaucrat, Ledaal Calistas, to court.

But Ledaal is not interested on the Throne, or in maneuvers for it. It is interested on the Realm.. and on the implications of the events in Varang. Calistas is there for the Realm, and for Heaven – for where those who work fate are blind, he who perceives the terrestrial veil shall see, and find out why. Winter Rose, his wife, is with him, unknown to the Dynasty. Her and Blaine, a walking fountain of trouble, but himself a Chosen of Fate as well.

But Winter Rose knows the truth Calistas and Lyrin have not heard about – of how, on the wake of the Coup, the City Father of Yane vanished, as did all of its protector spirits. On the realm of spirits, Yane is now empty. A Celestial takeover has begun, cloaked in the Terrestrial one, and Heaven has already lost one agent to it. And then, there is Lily... an agent of the All-Seeing Eye, sent there to spy and learn. To protect Calistas, and learn what he does, and from him. But, unknown to herself, also sent there, cryptically, by the higher eschelons of Heaven.

Soon, they shall leave with Leonidas and his fleet, towards Varang’s capital of Yane, and the darkness and chaos building within it.... as Calistas, Winter Rose, Blaine and Lily take a carriage to meet the ship that will take them there.

The carriage trip is short and pleasant, through one of the most well-tended and well-guarded roads on the face of the earth, the Seaside Thread, connecting the Imperial Port to the Imperial City, of course it would be. Traffic was constant, and merchants, coming with foreign goods from strange lands, or going with great goods one could only find on the Imperial city crowded the road, as well as eventual thieves along its many inns, but these are always taken by the Dragon-Blood walking on the road for this or that purpose, and dealt with... swiftly. The trip, even with a fast carriage that managed to speed most of the way, the trip takes a whole night, and most of the following day, but, late afternoon of the next day, you all arrive at the Imperial Port....

• Lily grins, wondering what Rose said to Blaine to make him that enthusiastic about behaving himself at least for the moment.

...In time to see an imposing Wood Aspect ordering a rather large group of soldiers close to the huge ship you shall take - a First Age wonder of breathtaking quality and awe, shining under the sun, clear as no metal could be. The Wood Aspected Captain has on his hand a Dark Blade that seems to shine in a way that rejects the sun touching it - that would be V'neef Lyrin.

• Lily gawks at the ship. "Ooo!"

Calistas: Calistas is also staring, but not at the ship -- he will have plenty of time to inspect that particular wonder in the near future. On the moment, however, his eyes are fixed on the black sword in Lyrin's possession. Is that Soulsteel?

• Not too far, there is a rather large court, with many servants and slaves, some lifting a heavy litter where a pompous Dragon-Blooded sits, its veils colored by the colors of Peleps and decorated with symbols of Venus. Mistress and conselors crowd the litter as they make a procession towards the ship....

Lyrin: Lyrin would stand with his back to the one coming carriage and presession, his gaze sweeping across the even ranks of troops once again, a hard eye on the look out for any signs of wear on weapons, any hint that armor has been failed to be polished into a painful gleam. He would drum his fingers against the handle of his sword idly, feeling more impatient than his face displays and his mind continually drifting away to the news he had heard upon coming home, less on his duty and more to what he was about to leave behind.

• One Dragon-Blooded appears before the carriage, his markings clearly that of a chosen of Hesiesh. "Ledaal Calistas and his delegation, I presume? I am Miran, cousin to Leonidas.... and I welcome you to our trip."

Calistas: "I am honored to make your acquaintance", Calistas responds, returning the greeting with a slight bow. "And this is my wife, Winter Rose."

Winter Rose: The first age ship is of course a wonder, but Winter Rose only has eyes for the sword, not even its wielder. Not that it is soulsteel, she has had to kill people wielding soulsteel before -- nemessaries and war ghosts of greater than normal power. No, that's not it at all.

Obscenity. That sword is profane.

And in answer, comes that little voice in her head.

Of course, darling girl, you are an obscenity as well. A delightfully vile doll of flesh and blood which houses my essence. The voice purs like a incubus, velvet taunts hooking into her psyche like the fangs of a viper. Beautiful little hellspawn, you--

Winter Rose cuts the voice off, realizing she had been holding her breath the entire time, then takes her gaze off of the sword, not able to make out how many seconds have passed.

Calistas: "My beloved...?" Calistas lifts his eyebrows at his wife's ominous silence.

Shinari: The little wings on her bad flickering in antecipation, Shinari would approach her Lyrin, "Leonidas is approaching, Captain. And seems like the Ledaal envoy has arrived as well."

• Lily glances back and forth between the sword and Rose - she's heard of soulsteel, and it's ominous enough to look at, but it seems to mean more to Rose, somehow.

Winter Rose: Recovering her composure, the Sidereal nods and replies to Calis's introduction with "The pleasure is mine, prince of the earth." She gives her husband a quick flicker of her eyes indicating 'Nothing is the matter...for now.'

• "Your... Wife?" he is married? Miran wonders, scratching the back of his head, then pointing to the young Dragon-Blooded Commander and his troops, "That is our escort... he may not look like much, but I am sure our V'neef friends gave us their very best, don't you think, Ledaal?"

Calistas: It's that sword, isn't it. Calistas would need to exchange a word about that with Winter Rose soon. Quickly continuing the conversation with Miran, he gives Lyrin's brooding back a customary inspection before responding: "Absolutely. Your honored cousin deserves only the very best."

Let him interpret that however he wishes. "I trust everything is proceeding as planned?"

Lyrin: Lyrin gives his lieutenant a brief nod and straightens to full height as he addresses his men. "All right you rotten bunch of drunkards, straighten up and look proud! You should know the drill by now. Don't speak unless spoken to. No talking in the ranks. And I'll flay alive the first of you smart-asses who starts to whistle at _anyone_, no matter how much silk and perfume they're wearing... that goes double for you, Lieutenant Ming."

Singling her out, he would give the young Dragon-Touch a stern glare, but a knowing wink hidden in it.

"Be on your best behavior, all of you"

He would let the pause linger for a moment, then offer the troops forming the front ranks a faint smile. "Remember, these are 'civilized' folk we're dealing with."

Leaving it at that, Lyrin would turn his back to the troops and look towards the assemblage chit-chatting and time wasting out there, waiting for someone to have the good sense to get moving towards the ship.

• "Of course, we also had an Immaculate drop from going with us because of.... that." He would point to the sword, "And he... has a story with them as well. But if he survived what he did, he might at least be competent." then he would look at Calistas with a mien of cocky confidence, "But of course! We have all that will be needed inside that magnificent ship, and the Peleps fleet with us could shatter the greatest pirates. Nothing can possibly go wrong!"
  
  "YES SIR! " all of the troops, and especially the three women, would say, looking, if underfitted and devoid of a certain... decor of true Imperial troops, like a disciplined, deadly legion. Which is not an inch far from what they are.

Blaine: Blaine would show up on the window of the carriage, and look at the litter procession, "Who's the fruity peacock?"

• Miran would look at Blaine, indignation and disbelief on his face, "What did you just say, MORTAL?!?" the fiery color of his aspect would flare as his eyes narrow....

• Lily winces.

Calistas: As does Calistas, although inwardly.

Winter Rose: "Be silent, child." Winter Rose would say cuttingly, throwing a glance up at him.

Blaine: "That the guy in the litter is a fruity peac..." then he'd be cut by Rose, and just look down, "Yes, ma'am. But if that Dragon-Blood flares again, I swear I am kicking the crap out of him."

Calistas: "He asked whose was the fruity peacock", Calistas responds to Miran quickly. "We have some in the carriage. We had to come in a hurry, and we had to take a quick snack while riding."

Lily: Nice save! Might've worked if Blaine was a bit less dumb.

• Miran would look at Calistas for a moment, his eyes narrowing, "You expect me to believe that?"

Calistas: "Are you saying I am lying, then?" Calistas counters smoothly.

Lyrin: Lyrin sighs softly to himself, feeling his thin patience wearing already. It had been so long, he had forgotten what Dynast life was like. Half-hour of social niceties just to step out the damn door. And a return to this was the reward waiting for him if the mission went well? Lyrin keeps down a sardonic smile as he speculates on just how difficult it would be to sink that ship from the inside.

"Lieutenant Shinari, to me please."

Winter Rose: "Now now," Winter Rose would chide the man, looking into his eyes slyly. "Is this the time for useless bickering? Or shall we be cursed with very inauspicious conditions of leaving?"

Calistas: "You are correct, my beloved, as always", Calistas chimes in, albeit he is well aware his contribute is unnecessary whenever his wife takes that look to her face. "We cannot let your honorable cousin wait because of such matters, can we?"

• Miran would be caught off-guard by Calistas' reply, and confused, before he could even think a reply, be throughotly defeated by Rose's remark, shrugging and letting his arspect marking recede. "Very well, then. I am deeply sorry for mistaking your companion's words and losing my composure." He woud say, humbly, "Shall I take you to meet V'neef Lyrin, the man who will be in charge of the military in our party?"

Calistas: "Of course", Calistas responds with a humble bow. "Let us proceed with all the haste."

Shinari: Her silverly hair waving on the sea breeze, her angelical features that enticed even the faerie trying to hide the smile from being so close to the sea again, Shinari would come close to Lyrin, "Yes, captain?" on the corner of her eye, she would see the Jade litter and gasp once again, never having seen something so opulent or costy as it or the ship before....

Calistas: Even as he allows Miran to lead him down towards the docks, Calistas lifts his hand to his mouth, rubbing his chin and quickly gathering a thimbleful of Essence for Wind-Carried Words Technique, which he directs to send a silent message to Lily:

First task: watch the boy. If he attempts such things again, restrain him.

Lyrin: "Mmm... never mind, Lieutenant.," he sighs, waving her back to her place in the line. "It looks as if they're finally ready to cross the street. Just be ready to have the troops give our honored guests a proper salute."

• Lily gives Calistas a quiet little nod, and keeps an eye on Blaine even as she admires the finery on our way to the ship.

Winter Rose: "Blaine?" Winter Rose would say haughtily, like a noble to a servant, making sure he follows her and does not cause anymore trouble. "Attend me."

Miran: Miran would take some steps and wait for Calistas, and his wife, to descend from the carriage, and walk with them towards Lyrin, with all the formalities of Dynastic life, "Oh, and... do not mind if he has harsh manners, he spent.. a long time with the vermillion, after all. It says Vermillion blood pollutes even pure Dynastic blood." He would say, in the affected way an aristocrat speaks of someone he clearly sees a lower than him.

Blaine: "Ok, ok..." Blaine would say, bored, jumping out of the carriage and walking alongside Rose, hands on his pockets.

Winter Rose: "Everyone and everything has their uses and their place, good sir." She'd reply matter-of-factly to Miran. "Even them. The Dragons do not condone senseless waste."

Even such as you have your place. She'd think to herself as she speaks.

Calistas: "Ahh, he is from Vermillion legion?" Calistas responds, appropriately impressed by the revelation. Although he usually was not much into fashion, he was well aware that those who return from Vermillion Legion to the social life of true Dynasts were highly regarded - after all, if they have survived the Vermillion, what else could they endure? "I thank you for the warning."

• Lily walks on the other side of Blaine, casual-looking like it just happened to end up that way; but she wants to be in arm's reach of him in case it's needed!

• As Calis and his party come close, the soldiers receive a command from Shinari, and, as one, straighten themselves, becoming rigid and tense on attention, trying to avoid looking directly to the Dragon-Blooded, but still keep watch for all threats to them. Amongst the soldiers three of them, lieutenants, all female, easily catch one's attention....

Calistas: Hmm, Calistas thinks dryly as his eyes scan across the lieutenants. It seems our Vermillion has a good taste for his lieutenants.

Lyrin: Lyrin would start to regard each as they begin to step out of the carriage, his dark eyes sizing each of them up though finding little use for it. One can never say what's lurking behind public facades so rigidly set force by most of these soft-bellies. But one seizes his attention before it can be turned past any of the others. The woman. The silver haired one... his eyes are caught suddenly, unable to tear away from her as she approaches. It's as if the entire world grows dark around her and only she remains and as he watches, one single emotion rages through his mind.

Hatred.

Pure and uncontrollable, his eyes narrowing darkly, the even line of his mouth setting into a frown. He can feel Sorrowful Dreamer burning cold through his thick gloves, whispers of a nameless rage swirling through his mind.

Then, as suddenly as it came, it fades as they grow closer, receding into an itch of irritation as he looks at the woman and those around her. This will be fun...

"Iron Saviors!" he calls out in rough, even voice. "Salute!"

At his own command, he draws Sorrowful Dreamer from his hip in one smooth motion and taps the flat of the black blade to his brow, staring for a moment into the face of some twisted horror lurking inside, before swinging it down evenly to his side again.

• One, the woman once known as Languishing Sky - one could miss her there, in the sense that, she didn't even seem to breathe. Just standing there like a pale doll. Through body language and some uncertain feel, an aura, we communicate most of our presence - the Frost White Maiden seemed to not have any of that. She stood there so impassively one may very well be looking at a tree. But she was very much human, and that alone, that... absence... was enough to give some shivers even at the sight of such a fair maiden. And so, there she stood, silent, blank, cut from the world around her in a fundamental level, and yet, still there. Standing closer to Lyrin than any of the others, she would give as much of an aura of... darkness... around Lyrin as his sword.
  
  Another, Ming Hu, smiling and absent-mindedly watching the litter procession, would be a small girl, with clear marks of the touch of the Dragons, mounted over a large, menacing Direwolf. Seeming too harmless and young to be there, and yet mounted over a creature menacing enough to give princes of the earth a pause, yet scratching it absent-mindedly, amused by the Dynasty around her...
  
  And finally, Shinari, her appearance a rival to White Rose's, and unnaturally pale as the Chosen, though with a certain pearly porcelain tint that seems almost... unnatural. She would stand close to the sea as if she belongs in it, marks of a westerner on her manner, if not on her features...

Miran: "Yes," Miran would reply to Rose, still humbled by her, Arcane Fate making him regard her as a Dragon-Blood, "But the place of some should never be too close to the realm." He would say this close enough for Lyrin to hear, purposefully.

Blaine: "Wow, cuties!" Blaine would let out, eyeing Lyrin's lieutenants, then he'd whisper to Lily, "But that guy is a fruity peacock, don't you think?"

Lily: Erg... Blaine isn't the only one who needs someone to stop him shooting off his mouth!

"Be quiet," she whispers back. "At least you had the sense to whisper that time."

Blaine: "Awww," He'd whisper back, "You hurt me like that. Aren't we friends? Well, since now, anyway~?"

Calistas: Following a sudden, unnatural hunch that there was something he should see, Calistas' eyes flit momentarily from the lieutenants to their commander -- and pause there for a breath or two, before returning to inspecting the troops once more. That man had just seen something he had not liked... Absently, he concentrated on his Gemstone of Surface Thoughts, focusing its power on V'neef Lyrin.

• Lily whispers, "Friends don't let friends get themselves killed. Now shush."

Winter Rose: As she approaches, Winter Rose would hear him again, laughing inside her head. Laughing about the superiority of his prison to a mere lump of dead iron. It would trinkle into her own consciousness, and she'd give Lyrin -- no, the sword -- a razored, arrogant smirk, before catching herself. Her face would return to its normal expression, the mask she wears for the time being.

Lyrin: ~Lyrin is mostly thinking impatient thoughts, wanting to get on the boat and out of the Realm with his men quickly, the very presence of your group reminding him of just what he hates about this place. Miran's barb dredges up a few memories of worse insults hurled at him, both thinly veiled and ruthlessly open, but it's a scattered thought.~

• The Soldiers, down to the last, would present theri weapons, faces hardening in a professional, purposeful mien, as they shout as one a salute for the Princes of the Earth,
  
  Long Live the Scarlett Empire! Long live the Imperial Dynasty!
  
  In perfect High Realm, even being the only phrase most of them know in the language. The shout would echo, seemingly amplified by the Pearlescent Hull of the First Age ship, losing itself on the ocean, filling everyone on the Port with a momentary respect for what the Empire represents....

Calistas: Albeit loud and filling all the listeners with awe, much of the chorus' impact misses Calistas' ears - his mind is occupied with some other matters. Hmm. Your look spoke of more than that, my dear man.

Lyrin: As the din of his soldier's cry dies away, Lyrin would step forward to meet the group with a coldly proffessional tone, speaking to no one in the group in particular. "Captain V'neef Lyrin, Vermillion Legion, First Dragon, Second Wing, First Talon. The Iron Saviors are here to escourt you to Yane and see to your protection for the duration of your stay." Finishing, he offers a brief bow. "At your service."

Miran: "An Impressive display for the Vermillion!" Miran would say, as his group gets close enough to Lyrin. "V'neef Lyrin, I would like to introduce you to Ledaal Calistas, and... oh, of course! His Wife!" For a moment, Miran would sigh, wondering why they didn't have a mortal around to play the... courtier... as much as Leonidas insisted he was playing the host.

Calistas: "The reputation of Captain V'neef Lyrin preceeds him far and wide", Calistas announces his greetings to Lyrin, although he struggles not to draw a dry smile to his lips. The Captain did not seem like one for Dynastic pleasantries.

Winter Rose: "Indeed." Winter Rose says simply, looking him up and down, as well as his subordinates, keeping her eyes off the sword for now despite the voice's urging.

Blaine: So, that is the Vermillion? No bigige there, just.. disciplined and cute. Dumb Dynasts... hmm, cute pale girl!

• Lily is favorably impressed by the soldiers' display of discipline... except for that one woman who gives her the willies. She's not sure she even wants to know her story.

Lyrin: "Lord Calistas, it is an honor to be protecting you and your lovely wife. You have my oath as an officer no harm will come to you or yours under our watch." Lyrin would nod to the man, staring into his eyes cooly at Calistas. Rose's single word draws his attention to her though and an instant of chilling rage pours over him as well, but contains itself into a curt nod. Much as he dislikes this woman already, there is something... haunting in his mind about her. "Have we met? You seem familiar somehow, lady..." Lyrin trails the sentance off, waiting for someone to finally off her name.

Calistas: Calistas throws a quick glance at Miran - the man had omitted to speak out his wife's name... purposefully?

Winter Rose: "Hmm." Winter Rose considers, then continues with a smooth "I have no recollection of any such meeting, I am afraid."

Of course, she smothers the voice in her head preemptively this time, not wanting to hear him ranting and raving again.

Calistas: That look you gave us earlier... It was at Winter Rose, was it not?

• Lily remembers Rose's look at the sword. There's something strange going on with those two.

Miran: Miran would look be looking at all the party with a bored expression, a absent-minded lusty expression to Shinari every now and then. In proper english, not only was it probably purposeful, but he also could care less.

Lyrin: "As you say it to be..." Lyrin answers softly. And still, no name for her. Interesting... turning back to her husband, he tips his head marginally towards the two young people waiting in their shadows. "You haven't introduced the rest of your companions, but might I suggest we board the ship before we continue with the pleasantries? We'll have an entire voyage to get to know one another."

He offers them a faint smile. "Perhaps better than some of us would like. Boats, even large ones, tend to become rather... close in after a time."

Calistas: "An excellent suggestion, Captain", Calistas responds, pleased that Lyrin is willing to leave the matter be... for a while now, at least. Whatever was going on between Lyrin and Winter Rose, it would simply have to wait for another time. However... the sorcerer underlined his mental note for exchanging a word or two with his wife, soon. "We shall trust our lives to your hands."

Blaine: Blaine would take a step foward then, looking at Lyrin's blade, "Forgive me if I am wrong, but isn't it, like, against your estate religion to go around weaving a blade made of PEOPLE'S SOULS? Just curious."

• Lily sticks out her foot as Blaine steps forward, her hand going to the waistband of his trousers to give him a push forward and down. Trying to make him trip and fall flat on his face before he can say anything dumb

Unable to utter anything but the start of his first word, stopping at ‘For - -‘, Blaine falls flat on his face on the dock....

Lily: "Oh dear!" she says sympathetically, offering him a hand up. "Are you alright?"

Blaine: ".... Ouch." He'd say, his face flat on the ground.

"I...think I am... a kiss could heal it, though..."

Calistas: Thank you, Lily, Calistas thinks, careful not to look at the situation unfurling behind him. As if nothing had happened at all, he gestures at the shining bulk of the ship with a sweeping motion and addresses his words both to Lyrin and Miran: "Shall we proceed?"

Winter Rose: Looking down at Blaine, Winter Rose would stare at him and Lily so intensely it'd be a wonder the dock beneath them doesn't burst into flame on the spot.

• Lily smiles, pulling him to his feet. "That which does not kill you, makes you stronger." She says, looking like butter wouldn't melt in her mouth!

Lyrin: Lyrin would look down as the boy suddenly tumbles to the ground, caught between bemusement and confusion.

Another one...!

His fist would suddenly clench around the handle of his sword as a forzen chill sends a faint tremor through him. Black hatred as strong as he felt for the nameless woman throbs in his skull a moment, before swirling back into the darkness as Caslistas speaks.

"Yes... let's get this underway," he would answer absently, then turn towards his Leiutentants. "See to it the troops are boarded and bunked properly. I'll join you later."

Peleps Leonidas: In this moment, the procession finally stops close to all of you, and, atop his litter, Peleps Leonidas looks down on everyone, a pleased look at the Vermillion salute. Not that he actually can look down on everyone, at least as far as titles go, but he has power and influence within his House and the realm, and just that bit of superiority complex. "Is everyone here already? I take it you are the Ledaal envoy," He would say, looking generally, not really acknowledging Calis, "I suppose we are ready to go, then. Make yoursellves at home on the ship... but I suppose that I don't need to say that to you, huh, Lyrin? Tell your troops," monkeys would be implict, "To go on the Peleps fleet, but you can bring some bodyguards with you, of course. Shall we board?"

• Lily cheerfully walks on board the ship, still staying close to Blaine.

Calistas: Calistas shakes his head, mentally. A wife who was suddenly behaving much in a same manner as a cat who had met an intruder in her territory, a Sidereal trainee who did not know when to keep his mouth shut, a Soulsteel-wielding Captain and an arrogant employer?

This was bound to be an interesting journey.

Lyrin: The Peleps fleet? The command, and no matter what Leonidas's station it is impossible to see it as anything else, shakes him back into a soldiers mentality. He would have preferred his troops at his side just for the added protection. At the very least to give them a moment of comfort they had more than earned the right to.

Second best for the Vermillion again, it seems. And that he would be spending the voyage with less than desirable company. Though, there was at least small concession.

"Belay that last order, ladies. See to it they're boarded and bunked properly with the Peleps fleet, then you join me when you're done."

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