>>FROM:@STORMBORN | >>TO:@ALL

[dorzalta]

I ask that you use caution if encountering Yhych in the courts. Or at least carry with you an anti-toxin.

[ dot dot dot . . . ]

Is anyone a weapon-maker here?



>>FROM:@STORMBORN
>>TO:@BURGERKING, @PONYTAIL, @MODERATUS, @POINTANDKICK, @DIEDHARD, @BOARING, @AEGONNER, @PERSONALSTAFF

Ignore my next message until you are alone or are able to control your reaction.

[ There will be a pause, one which seems to tick away as an eternity for her. And then: ]

I'm told Kebechet is here.

Comments

[dorzalta]

What I want and what needs to be done will not always align. If her death comes as a result? I would be satisfied.

And what of you?

[mylawn]

I don't really want to kill anybody.

She's more valuable alive, provided we can extract information from her. We just have to wait for the right time to make our move.

[dorzalta]

What if we cannot extract information from her?

[mylawn]

I said I don't want to kill anybody, not that I wouldn't.

But if that's the case then we should expose her to the Queen.

[dorzalta]

It's an important distinction to make.

[ Meaning they can rely on him to help complete this task--not that she'd doubted that. ]

I wonder how much of a benefit that would be. The Queen could easily read that exposure as a weakness. Why could COST not destroy its enemies? Are they too weak? Should we ally with them?

[mylawn]

I'm a physical match for Regency soldiers. I can do it if that's what it comes down to.

I think it's more likely the Regency wipes her out as soon as we capture her, like they did with Xici. We might not even get that far.

[dorzalta]

Mordred could not fight her during our capture. She spins illusions, draws from memories, though she'd made a note about the room she took me to playing a part in what I'd seen.

She seems a far more important operative than Xici was. I don't know how much I believe of what she said, but it sounds far worse than how it was explained to us.

[mylawn]

What'd she do to you?

If she's important, all the more reason for the Regency to keep her information from falling into the wrong hands. She might kill herself if they don't.

[dorzalta]

While I was held captive? She conversed with me, explained some of the contingents within the Regency, and when I refused to offer my kingdom's aid, I was swallowed alive by the ground and left in a fiery lair.

[ With her father, a decrepit corpse. ]

We'll have to ensure that doesn't happen, then. A man of your worldliness is aware of what methods she may resort to, no?

[mylawn]

Could be any manner of things. In less high-tech days, you'd carry a poison capsule. Someone light Kebechet might have cybernetics that do the job.

[dorzalta]

How do we beat cybernetics?

[ What are cybernetics, exactly? ]

[mylawn]

Depends. If they're deeply integrated, shutting them down or otherwise disabling them might kill her anyway.

[dorzalta]

A loss to us only if her death creates a barrier to the success of our mission.

[mylawn]

If her death happens at the wrong time, I'd say it's pretty bad news for us.

[dorzalta]

We've faced worse odds.

[mylawn]

Generally speaking, yes, but the consequences for misfiring on this one might be disastrous.

[dorzalta]

Which is why we will prepare. Contingency plan upon plan, considering all which may occur. If need be, I will accept any and all responsibility for what may come, to divert those consequences as best I am able, and under the guise of teaching the High Queen's progeny of how best to overcome one's enemies.

[mylawn]

I hope for your sake we don’t need those contingencies.

[dorzalta]

[ She hopes for hers as well. ]

I failed to do what was best for COST in Paris. That mistake will not occur again.

[mylawn]

If you've got Grothia's blessing, then I'm on board.

[dorzalta]

She's given it, but said to act with care.

[mylawn]

Good enough for me.