Garden
Daimyo’s Palace
Apriki
Draconis Combine
27 June 3055It was a rare nice day during this season on Apriki.
So the children were out in the garden, enjoying the day.
Yurika giggled as a harmless local insect landed on her hand.
Natsu leaned over to get a closer look.
As Yuko came over it flew away.
“Aw. I waned oo hee.” Yuko’s missing teeth giving her a severe enunciation problem.
Clara brought out a small basket. Inside were meal boxes and drink containers.
“Lunch. I’m starved.” Hideki the younger proclaimed.
“Yurika as our Lord’s eldest daughter gets served first, you know that cousin.” Clara chided as she pulled out a box and drink container and set them in front of Yurika.
“I know. I’m just saying I’m hungry.” Hideki the younger almost pouted.
“Patience.” Clara took another box and drink container out and handed them to Natsu.
“The summer wind carries songs of gratitude.” Natsu said as she started laying out a small blanket.
Yuko smiled when she received hers next.
Then finally, after what seemed like forever, Clara handed Hideki the Younger his meal box and drink container.
Clara helped Yurika with her box and drink. Yurika took the small handful of pills out of her box then quickly gulped them all down with a swig from her drink container.
“I wih my heeh would grow back in faser.” Yuko grumbled as she carefully nibbled on a rice ball.
“It is a tribulation we all must contend with Mistress Yuko.” Clara smiled.
“Yah buh you have all your heeh.” Yuko complained.
“Tomorrow ends yesterday’s problems.” Natsu said before proceeding to attack a roll.
Hideki the younger looked like he wanted to say something but stopped himself and instead began eating.
July, 3055, Tharkad…You would think it would have the decency to rain, or drizzle at least, especially here, especially now.
The Archon's funeral procession wasn't under an overcast sky, the press didn't need umbrellas.
"Funerals…" Henrietta Ngo, Baroness Hue-on-Kowloon, muttered, "are for the living."
She'd been on the way here anyway, as a witness and escorting guard for her former Commanding Officer, Colonel Sir Jameson Stonecipher, who'd managed to ****** up so badly that he ran off in the middle of offensive operations and tried to desert.
Which left the 77th Fedcom (Reserve) in the hands of an XO named Sweeney, who in turn handed off the job of explaining to Mount Asgard what the ****** happened to freshly made Kommandant Henrietta Ngo.
Just in time for word of the Archon's assassination to reach their transport at the Gibbs turnover.
If there was anything IN the box being drawn down Kaiser Freidrichstrasse, it was so mangled by the explosion as to be nearly unrecognizable, or more made of mortuary cosmetics than flesh or bone.
Henrietta knew exactly what an explosion of that sort does to human beings, she'd seen it enough in the last five years.
She wasn't the only member of the family here, she reached out, and laid a hand on Elizabeth's shoulder, "straighten up and look sad." she muttered, "and put the handbrain padd away, we're on camera."
Faintly, she wished to god that Patrick could've come for this instead.
***
"...know that a controlled and organized retreat is one of the hardest tasks an officer can carry out, routs are, sadly, far too common."
Henrietta leaned forward to the mic, "The term you're looking for, general, sir, is
Orderly retreat, as opposed to the usual circus of chaos, confusion and cowardice. The Seventy Seventh's first and second battalions executed an
Orderly withdrawal, I can't say what Headquarters company or the fourth battalion did, as communications were disrupted. Given the condition at the rally point on Melissia, I'd speculate that fourth battalion were pursued a bit more vigorously than the rest of us, seeing as they only retained thirty percent of their pre-landing fighting strength."
“The reports do paint a strange picture against this Red Corsair and her group of ‘pirates’. Is there any other clarifying detail you would like to add at this time to explain such a chaotic and disappointing engagement?”
"They knew where we were landing, they were emplaced and waiting for us." she said, "My battalion commander, Kommandant Parker, was hit from three sides, so they knew who the command element was ahead of time. They had our comms channels and encryption broken or jammed at the site, and if those were 'pirates' I'm the first lord of the ****** star league-those were Clan Regulars, likely operating under a false flag to exploit details of the Tukayyid truce."
“That is a chilling prospect. Thanks to Focht we know the Clans are no longer getting intel from Comstar or the Word of Blake. That leaves few prospects for where the Red Corsair could have gotten such information.”
"They got it from
somebody."
"How did you get out?" another senior officer asked.
"I changed the comm orders to a backup on low freq RF and organized a fighting withdrawal since we couldn't call in air support or artillery." she snapped, "Not a big deal, but they apparently
didn't have the Nuclear exchange protocols." she leaned back, "I don't anticipate that working a second time."
“That is not standard operating procedure. But given the evidence and similar testimony from other officers it is to be commended. Hauptmann Ngo you have done your duty by all accounts.”
And there it was. 'Hauptmann'. The field promotion being denied.
"Thank you sir." she said.
“We have some further deliberations to make in private. So expect to hear from us again soon.”
"The witness is dismissed."
She stood and saluted the panel, executed a sharp about face, and left the chamber. She'd expected to have to testify against Stonecipher, she didn't expect to have to defend her actions on the site.
An oversight on her part.
***
"So what's going to happen?" Elizabeth asked over lunch.
"Well, they're going to 'deliberate' and then, I'll probably be offered a bad conduct discharge as the alternative to a resignation for the good of the service." Henrietta explained, "See, nobody likes losers, Lizzie. I pulled two and a half battalions out of a ****** and the very politically connected Regimental Commander was caught in an act of bald cowardice. The standard operating procedure for that, as in the one outside the regulation lists, is to go after the lowest ranking person you can pin the responsibility on and shuffle the connected noble to a desk somewhere safe and quiet…or he dies of an accident or suicide, but they have to look like they're doing
something and connected people have blackmail."
Liz put her spoon down on the plate next to her soup. "That's not right."
"It isn't right, it is, however, what
is." Henrietta explained, "Outreach is full of good officers from the AFFC and Lyran commands, most of whom aren't IN the AFFC anymore for reasons like this. We train the best mercs in the business, but the actual national service is…wanting."
“You better not go merc on me.”
"Not planning on it." Henrietta said agreeably.
A throat clearing interrupted the women and Helena looked up.
"Good job out there, Ngo, almost like your dad." Morgan Kell rumbled. "Mind if I have a seat?"
"Recruiting already??" Elizabeth scoffed, and Henrietta held up a hand in warning.
"Please, sir, if you want, have a seat."
"You think they're going to bounce you for that retreat?"
"Seems likely." she said, "I've seen it before-"
"So have I. I'm here to tell you someone has juice, on your side, your career isn't as doomed as you think."
“I think that deserves an explanation.” Liz butted in.
"The Commonwealth needs patriots." Morgan stated, "Competent patriots. I mean, I've sure as hell benefitted from the social generals chasing off good officers before, but the Commonwealth
needs good line officers...and I have a bigger bag of dirt than Stoney does. At least enough to keep the review
fair...if you want to stay in, Henrietta..or I can offer you a job with the Hounds."
"I'll take 'staying in'." Henrietta said, "it's…a family thing."
"Consider it done, the bag of dirt will remain in the bag as needed."
“Good. I’m sure as hell no ruler and aside from maybe making a living on the fashion runway it’s not like I have a lot of other talents.” Henrietta chuckled.
"What's your end?" Elizabeth asked suspiciously. "Nobody does anything for nothing."
"I'm looking to refurbish some factories, Miss Ngo, are you capable of representing your brother in business yet?"
Liz grimaced, "You got catalog numbers?"
"I do."
“Somebody came prepared. Careful Liz.” Henrietta warned.
Elizabeth sighed, "How much off the standard rates are you looking for, Your Grace sir?"
"Five percent." he said firmly, "Though I'll ask ten for old times sake, your Grandfather always claimed the best way to get the rate you want, is to ask for half what you'll accept."
"Have your rep call Ms.Whyte at the office tonight, we'll have the contract ready by morning." Liz said, "Five is fine, we'll still make a profit."
“Well then, pleasure doing business with you. As you can imagine I am a busy man. I’ll be in touch though.” Morgan extended his hand.
Liz took it and shook it. The deal was made.
"Five percent?" Henrietta inquired.
"Grandfather always said Morgan Kell gets five percent off the list pricing, payback for interceding with Her Majesty Katrina to get him out of Blackgate-see? I paid attention to Grandfather's stories!"
“Thus why you’re on the board and I’m living a life of ‘adventure’.”
"You
could be on the board, Henrietta, you chose to give Pat your proxies…I, on the other hand, have been using mine…with Ms Whyte's assistance, anyway."
“And you’re doing great. But I’m not you or Pat.”
"Be glad you're not me, the drugs make everything worse." Liz told her, "like, I'm having to force the food down today, because everything smells and tastes
gross."
“Everything? Even if I were to spring for some milkshakes?”
Lizzie looked tempted and alarmed at the same time.
Yurika’s room
Daimyo’s Palace
Apriki
Draconis Combine
7 July, 3055Yurika looked at the tangled mess of wires and components in front of her.
Half an hour ago it had been a standard electronic media player.
She started arranging it, straightening the cables, organizing the bits.
“What are you working on?” Clara sat besides Yurika.
“Your cousin broke the media player. I’m fixing it.” Yurika declared.
“You don’t have to do that. My cousin should face the repercussions of his actions.” Clara studied the mess.
“I want to. Besides, he will anyway. Your grandfather will demand it.” Yurika grabbed a tool and began separating parts from the shattered housing.
“Here you go Yurika.” Yuko brought in a small stack of wood.
“Thanks.” Yurika said warmly.
Natsu came in with a small box.
“What’s that for?” Clara asked.
“Old housing is broken. Need new housing.” Yurika said as she kept grabbing bits and working on them then laid them down in neatly organized sections.
Natsu opened the box and handed Yurika a wiring tool as she pulled out a wood working tool.
Clara stood up and went running off.
Yuko watched her sisters work together, handing them anything they asked for.
By the time an adult had shown up the trio had already cut the panels of wood to allow mounting of the dials and controls for the media player and nearly had it reassembled.
Hikkaru studied his daughters for a moment, not interrupting them.
Yurika closed the top of the media player and turned it on. After a brief moment it started playing an old melody.
“You three didn’t hurt yourselves?” Hikkaru finally asked.
“No father.” Yuko answered.
“The passage of time degrades us all.” Natsu shook her head.
Yurika simply held her hands and forearms up to show she was unhurt.
Hikkaru nodded.
He stroked his chin in thought for a moment afterward.
Yurika turned to look at him. She gave him a look. The kind of look only a daughter can give their father.
So much for being of steel for them… Hikkaru sighed.
“Very well. I shall create a dedicated workshop just for you Yurika. Though I suspect your sisters will spend a fair bit of time there as well.”
Yurika smiled.
Hikkaru’s office
Daimyo’s Palace
Apriki
Draconis Combine
14 July 3055“Daimyo… Your visit is most unexpected.” Hikkaru greeted his guest.
“Certain stories have been reaching me, enough that I felt concerned one of the Daimyo’s within my area of responsibility was not managing things as they should.” The Daimyo of Irurzun said coldly.
“What stories Daimyo?” Hikkaru was certain he already knew the answer but he needed to be sure.
“Your daughters. Is it true they are doing the work of technicians? With tools that are far too dangerous for ones of their age to safely use?”
“It makes them happy and they have not suffered any injuries. I see no need to interfere.”
“And what of your servant’s granddaughter? Is it true she is the product of not just an affair but the rape of a hated enemy?”
“So what if she is? She has taken to Yurika and even though they are of a similar age to one another she helps to see to Yurika’s needs. She is loyal and faithful.” Hikkaru answered flatly.
“You…” The Daimyo seemed flustered.
“Serve the Dragon. I do not care about the origins of those who serve me as long as they are able to carry out their duties and so far none of my servants have failed in that regard.” Hikkaru pressed a button on his desk.
The monitors around his desk came to life showing financial information, battle reports, and streams of all sorts of news reports.
“Death is as light as a feather. Duty is heavier than a mountain. This is my mountain. This is how I serve the Dragon. It may not be the glorious honorable death that bushido teaches but thanks to people such as I? The Samurai get their swords, they get to battle, they are clothed, they are fed, and when the battle is done? They are healed.”
The Daimyo of Irurzun seemed taken aback by everything he was looking at.
“And how I see to my family is my business.” Hikkaru steeled his gaze.
“You overstep. I demand satisfaction.” The Daimyo gathered himself finally.
“If you survive mine. You have insulted your host, even if you are his superior, this is poor behavior. And you have insulted my granddaughter. For that I shall be your opponent first.” Hideki stepped into the office.
“Very well.” The Daimyo of Irurzun stepped out of the office.
“Hideki, be cautious. He is of the old ways.” Hikkaru looked at the aging man.
“Then my victory is certain.” Hideki had a gleam in his eye, one Hikkaru knew that meant Hideki was indeed certain.
Hikkaru followed Hideki out to the dojo.
Hideki changed into his dueling gi. Then he stepped to the wall where various katana and wakazashi were on display before he settled on a pair with red scabbards.
Hikkaru took his place as lord of the manor.
The Daimyo of Irurzun drew his katana and went into a high guard/ready stance.
Hideki drew his blade in a lower stance to his right.
“Begin.” Hikkaru commanded.
The Daimyo stepped forward, bringing his blade into a counter-clockwise fient.
Hideki side stepped and on the Daimyo’s counter swing he batted aside his opponent’s katana, flat to flat.
Hideki blocked two more quick strikes before he saw his opening.
With his own feint Hideki caused the Daimyo to over commit to a high block, and with a lightning quick counterswing he caught both the Daimyo’s arms.
Hideki withdrew his blade.
“It is done.” Hideki declared.
The Daimyo’s hands were still attached but the damage was obvious. Hideki was correct. The duel was over.
Doctor Greene was quickly summoned and began tending to the Daimyo’s wounds.
“Honor has been satisfied.” Hikkaru judged.
None of the entourage that the Daimyo of Irurzun had brought with him that were now serving as witnesses objected.
Once the guests were gone, Hikkaru laid a hand on Hideki’s shoulder.
“You know what I am going to say don’t you?” Hideki said.
“Yes. And I know you’ll fight my enemies for me. But that is part of the problem isn’t it? To solve this problem long term I need to make some additions to the staff.” Hikkaru nodded.
“I am getting old. If I were younger he would not have even gotten the second swing off before I had ended the duel.” Hideki shook his head. “Still it was good to feel battle once more.”
“No doubt. But I think it is time for you to start doing what my father wished.”
“Hai. I shall start tutoring Natsu and Yuko along with my grandchildren.”
“Thank you old friend. Now that our business is taken care of and my duties as Daimyo are concluded for the day I shall cease neglecting my children as it is almost time for the evening meal.” Hikkaru smiled.
Late evening, 25 July, 3055 (Tharkad Local Time)"Partisan Politics!!" Henrietta practically snarled. "Do they just not
understand we're at war?"
Elizabeth shrugged noncommittally, "You expected different? Oh, right, since Pat got back you've been able to avoid having to come."
"You're one to talk, Lilbit."
The hired car pulled up to the secure passenger door and opened. Elizabeth carefully helped herself out of her seat, "thank you Harvey, I've got this…" she said, planting her Grandfather's bluewood cane on the ferrocrete sidewalk and leveraging herself out of the seat, while Henrietta accepted the driver's aid.
"You
could have worn something more formal." she told her little sister.
"Tonight I'm 'Baroness Spider Moon', there's forms to follow, one of them, is I don't have to gussy up like a Dirtyfoot." Liz said, "besides, black business
is formal…enough. Nobody's going to care…" Liz paused and examined her older sister critically, "You left the sixteen kilo platinum hammer in the trunk."
"I
Left it at the condo!!" Henrietta snarked back.
Liz cocked an eyebrow, "Harvey?"
The boot of the car opened, and the driver brought the heavy ass metal Medal around.
"Public show. The Archon's wake, and Victor's Coronation." Lizzie said, "you're representing
Patrick, as his Heir-apparent, I, on the other hand, am the almost-disqualified
spare."
"You're still going to have to do your swearing in." Henrietta teased. "Eighteen…which is why you got your very own invite."
"Bitch."
"I've been called worse by better, lilbit."
"No, I mean,
I'm high as a kite on this stuff. I've got to fake being straight all night now." Liz huffed.
"So the docs…"
"Prescribed harder stuff than what I WAS taking, and I'm not used to it yet. This is going to be a fiasco. Thank god I'm still super-duper minor…"
"And I'm not? Baroness Hue?"
"You've got an actual
city Henrietta. As far as these innahs are concerned, I'm basically a hassenfanger who owns a bunch of 'worthless real estate' separated by distances best calculated in astronomical units."
"Maybe he'll let you out of it."
'You sound doubtful."
"Victor's sharp." Henrietta said, "he's got a gift for people. Katherine's also sharp with people, sharper even. You got your invite because someone looked at the books…and that's also why you didn't get to wait until Christmas."
Liz made a face as they passed the door scanners.
Henrietta hefted the enormous platinum
thing onto her shoulder one handed, and caught her sister's stumble with the the other in a move almost as graceful as a ballet. "Knee?"
"Knees." Lizzie nodded.
Henrietta blended…well, she would've, if she wasn't escorting her younger sister. Elizabeth
stood out. Mourning black business jacket, ankle length skirt, white blouse and of course, their Grandfather's Bluewood cane.
An antithesis of fashion, neither of them wore makeup, but it really was
noticeable with Elizabeth's too-pale complexion and flat, unstyled hair.
The blue armband with the Lyre, instead of the fist, was probably part of that, marking Elizabeth as a devoted Conservative supporter like a silent primal scream in the face to everyone who saw the FedCom merger as a good thing.
"Remember your third grade year at Groningen?" Henrietta cautioned.
"Yes…"
"Don't do that. I'm going to go talk to some officers, don't start any fights, you're not eight and they're not other kids."
“One time and now I have a reputation.” Liz sighed.
Henrietta let her sister find a spot and mingled her way over to a group of semi-familiar faces.
"Babysitting, Kommandant?"
Henrietta shrugged and took a glass from a passing steward, "Lizzie's eighteen now, she doesn't need it, and nobody here would trust their kids with her as the sitter…so, I noticed we've got some new faces."
“War is hell. A fair number of officers killed in action were Dukes or Duchesses of worlds. Now their heirs need to swear in.”
"Yah, but Lizzie's exempt and a baroness. Why?" she asked. "Why are we here? Why am I not going back to my unit to help
end this war?"
“Because for a moment, we have time to breathe. So we’re taking it.”
"How many of these children are we going to be sending out to get back by parcel post?" she nodded at a group of young officers, fresh from graduation. "They're
Kids."
“Too many. But that’s the way it always is isn’t it? Some of them are older than you at least."
"You
know what I mean-they've been
protected their whole lives, they're not ready."
"Were you?"
"No…but that's the point isn't it? Most of my enlisted and junior officers have at least got some life experience before they were called to the colors again…" she sighed.
“Find me the secret answer and I’ll use it. Until then, that’s what they make schnapps for.”
"What's the scuttlebutt on the Archon Prince, why did he include Elizabeth? She's got a permanent draft exemption for medical, they won't even let her
into an academy."
"Might be an oversight."
"Might be a disaster waiting to happen." Henrietta corrected her peer.
“Yeah. Probably. Honestly what makes more sense is someone is wanting to send a message and your sister has a rep. So they might be counting on said disaster.”
A pair of Guards sequestered Elizabeth and led her to the Archon's office. "He's interviewing her." Henrietta muttered, "Shit. I should be in there."
"If he wanted you in there, you'd be in there."
***
"...I looked at your requests." Victor Ian Steiner Davion was tall enough Liz didn't have to crane her neck to meet his eyes.
"And?"
"No way in hell." He said, "You're a Noble, sure, but,
you're a civilian, period." he stated. "The idea of a Naval Militia's interesting, your prospectus claims you can pull it off, but no."
"I qualified-"
"As a terminal patient." he interrupted, "Yes, I saw the Guild cert card, and Yes, I checked with the Guild Reps, it's real, but you might be qualified to helm a jumpship, for now-but what about in three years, Lady Ngo?? When you're on the kind of drugs terminal patients have to take to stay
rational? So no. I mean, christ, you're high as a kite right now."
"I can lower the dose-"
"No." he said. "Can you build it without wearing a uniform?"
She hemmed, frowned, "Yeah."
"Build the ships, the realm will buy the transports at least." he told her, "but you're not going to get a uniform, and I don't have to be the ****** who sent a terminal patient off into combat."
"Then we'll build the ships, can you get the licenses?"
"I'll lean on them, we need transport jumpships and couriers." He told her, "Focus on those."
"As you command, Your Majesty."
"Oh, and we're going to make
that one official, you're swearing in tonight so there's no question about your loyalties, or who's responsible." he added. "They can't put up a fuss, if it's by my order. It's truly amazing what an Archon's Decree can do about removing red tape."
Liz made a face like she wanted to say something but didn’t.
That part done, Victor shifted gears, "How's your sister
really doing?" he asked, "That ****** with the Red Corsair…"
"I worry about her." Liz said. "Henrietta has…the last few years have been hard on everyone, or so I'm told, but she keeps wanting to
go back out there."
“A soldier, through and through. Some people are not meant to be civilians.”
"Yeah, look what it did to our father." she countered, and rubbed the spot just below her collar bone, "Or mom."
“She’ll find her balance. We all do eventually. And she has you to help her find it.”
"For as long as I last." Liz agreed, "This…" she swirled the tumbler, "it's from Kowloon?"
"Your grandfather sent my grandmother a bottle every year." Victor said, "most of them are gathering dust, I first tried this stuff as a kid, because I was curious, it
burns."
"That's how you know it's good." Liz said agreeably, "Cheers."
“Cheers.”
***
"So?" Henrietta met her sister coming out of the Archon's offices.
"I got my boon." Liz told her, "most of it, anyway. He flat refused some of it, but I got
enough. Sanction for the project Grandmama Cheryl wanted to try back when we were little kids."
"Which is?"
"I get to build a small fleet for the realm, and we don't have to keep it a secret." Liz said happily, "I just can't be part of it."
"Too right. Gawd, when Pat said you were apprenticing with Li…"
“Li’s good. Plus I can’t stand being idle, you know that.”
"Make sure you stick to his terms, Lizzie." Henrietta said, "You're going to be carrying
Archon's paper."
"I know."
“You going to be able to make it through the rest of the ceremony?”
"Have to. I made a promise." Liz said, "You know what Grandfather would say about that-always make sure your promises are stronger than your threats."
“Yeah. Okay. If it gets too much we’ll figure out the consequences later but you don’t dare keep it from me alright?”
****
Elizabeth's oath was slightly modified with Victor's assent. She swore loyalty to the
Commonwealth, as opposed to any specific individual or even family, then he granted her 'boon'- Royal Permission to build a shipyard in the Kowloon system and produce transport jumpships for the AFFC.
The painful price of that boon, was public acknowledgement of Elizabeth's medical condition, her exemption from the draft, and a broad hint for the rest of the Nobility that this was an Archon Prince indulging the fantasies of a sick girl.
Henrietta was appalled, right up to the point that Liz quietly informed her that it had all been arranged beforehand.
Political Theater, to cover what had been going on in the outer system for years.
Which did make Henrietta glad her job wasn’t public relations for Ngo Industries.
to be continued
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