FROM: @CMDR | TO: @ALL

[byfist]

ATTN: ALL PERSONEL.

We have had recent recruits that have joined our fight. I understand you have been briefed and given training for this mission and our stay in Aranean society. As for the rest: I am your Commanding Officer, Grothia, previously of the Regency. Unfortunately, at present, I am often tied up in diplomacy meetings with the high court. But you can reach me via your BCE, or at certain times during the day in COST's supplied quarters.

Field Officer Young, who is at present wearing of her human appearance, is also present. She can be found at similar through similar means.

If you have any concerns, you may bring them to either of us.

As for your mission here. Our main concern is to secure COST's supply of Ymir, this substance is responsible for powering all forms of time travel in the Galaxy and the dimension shifting required to do so. It is the bones of the fallen God, Ymir and it seems mankind was not made to touch their Gods. Aranean's are a species genetically made to mine such a thing and no human is capable of it. That is why they are absolutely crucial and our alliance with them over the Regency, at all costs, must be assured.

At present, High Queen Thsch is our best bet of this. There is no denying the woman is cruel. A slight is enough to make her snap your limbs, one by one. But the natural Jhashcn bias to those who would eat those who suppress inclines her to us, and we need to foster that fondness.

Her daughter, on the other hand, wishes to overthrow her mother, as is their way. So far in my dealings with her, she has been far more moderate. She favours neither heavy slavery nor absolute forms of punishment. She even has an open, qualitative relationship with her brother as I have observed them. They frequently whisper together at the meetings I have attended. That may be appealing, but she will have no bar with us, as we cannot at present assure what she needs to take the throne.

That is as much as my limited position has allowed me to learn. Sadly neither Officer Young or I can move too freely due to our high profile scrutiny. Remember: if it moves, it is a spy, here. There is nothing you say, or do, that is not being reported to someone unless it is done through the BCE.

As such: COST operatives, I require a debrief of your actions, so they we may assist one another. If you have an idea, a skill, speak up, so that we can use it. This is not a usual type of battle, more's the pity, and awareness of movements is needed more than ever.

Comments

@ponytail

[horsepowered]

In your estimation, how much more information is required before we can decree a concrete plan of action and put it into motion?

I concur that in this particular operation a more united front is required, especially as the Regency is trying to take the place of the missing House that has been destroyed. Trying to echo that move may not be the worst concept, and it may give us certain advantages with regards to any Regency confrontations. That is to say we are copying the the methods of our hosts to some degree.

[dipolar]

We find out if the High Queen is willing to treaty with COST.
If she is, we gather the allies we have and prepare for battle.
There will be one - Princess Chch, the Prince, and the Regency must be eliminated for any of this to work.
That includes giving up Kebechet and Mhic Nathair.

Instead of replacing Chchai, we're acting as the 3rd party we are.
This needs to remain very clear, because we're not trying to change Jhashch like the Regency - our mission is to secure a Ymir supply.

That's all the information I imagine we would need, apart from investigating the fall of Chchai.
The Regency is clearly involved, so we can take that to the High Queen as well.

[horsepowered]

Hm. So by presenting evidence that her own children and the Regency have undermined her at various turns and destroyed an entire house, the judgement regarding the royal family as well as the Regency puts all decisions into the hands (so to speak) of the High Queen. That's an interesting potential path to ensuring mission objective.

At the very least it speaks to playing by the rules of engagement here. I'll not be pendantic and debate how this will in fact change Jhashch, because no matter our actions here, the place is going to change. What we need now is an investigative game plan to bring that to fruition.

Since you're the intelligence expert, how would you advise gathering the remaining information we require here? I don't doubt that a few teams would be useful and make quicker work of the matter.

1/2

[dipolar]

You still mentioned it and it's certainly something to discuss, as I generalized -
It's not going to change as much with COST as it will if the Regency gets Chch on the throne.
They'll return to their unfortunate roots as slaves and exist only to mine Ymir.

I have a lead in with House Shaiy, I'll be finding out more on what happened with Chchai's demise.

Apart from that, we spread propaganda about the Regency's intentions to enslave the Araneans and force them into rigid society of miners - it could be a shock and an insult to hear such things when they've worked hard for their independence.
That's something everyone can do.
Bring it up in conversation, spin rumours, take the deceitful route.

I have one more idea.

2/2

[dipolar]

Two of our strongest operatives publicly challenge Kebechet and Mhic Nathair in the arena.

I VOLUNTEER

[kometes]

I'll do it.

[dipolar]

(OPRESSIVE SILENCE)

[dipolar]

Give your 2 brain cells at least 24 hours to take this information in.

(i'm so tired)

[kometes]

I don't care about the information.

I'll kill Kebechet myself.

[dipolar]

Calm down, you sound like a wild animal.
You're a warrior, act like one.

[kometes]

Is this not the bloodlust of a warrior?
I'll calm down once Kebechet is dead.

[dipolar]

No, it's the arrogance and ignorance of a spoiled hothead.
Your behaviour is embarrassing.

@MODERATUS

[bloodings]

no.

you have no idea of the stakes here. even more than that, it has nothing to do with you.
stay out of this, rider.

[kometes]

You dare talk down to me?

You've no idea what Kebechet has done to me.

Don't stand in my way. Either offer to join me or fight me for the chance to take their head.

[dipolar]

Mordred's right in that the stakes are too high for this.
Kebechet has slighted all of us, my intention wasn't to start some idiot quarrel within our ranks.
Both of you want her head and there's enough blood here to go around.

[kometes]

She needs to pay for what she did to Noctis.

[bloodings]

you were not one of those taken. more than that, you failed to stop your master from being among them. to claim you have a right to her head because of your failure is utter nonsense.

for the sake of my father, i will kill that accursed woman. and i will fight you to see that happen, rider.

[kometes]

[ LMAO OWNED. ]

[kometes]

Even if you're right about all of that it's still my duty to take vengeance in his place.

I will fight you if I have to should it come to that, though I don't want to.

[horsepowered]

Absolutely not.

LOOK WHAT YOU DID

[horsepowered]

...Ah, perhaps that idea should have been placed under a lock and key.

I'll return to it in a moment. I conceed your point regarding changes. I think you're correct to say it's a matter of the extent of these changes. It certaintly feels like the most true representation of it all.

As far as spreading information. It would be very helpful if there were one or two statements said that can be pointed to as an absolute truth that came from the Regency's mouth. It's all well and good to points things out, but forcing the Regency to defend something that they themselves have already uttered would add to effectiveness.

Now, to your final suggestion: this is a high risk situation. What do you think we genuinely gain, and is there any way to recover if there is a loss? I'm worried about someone going in only to be destroyed.

I'M ASHAMED OF MYSELF

[dipolar]

I will get control over Rider.
Nothing will come of that mess.
I agree, however, in that statements have to be made... unfortunately I'm not the best with words.
If someone could fashion subtle but impactful statements to twist into rumour, we can spread them.

We gain the favour of High Queen Thsch and the political gain would be staggering if we defeated two of the Regency's best.
Mhic Nathair is also a native Doine of Lemuria - the Araneans were created by her people.
Overthrowing Mhic Nathair and Kebechet would be a staggering statement.
It's worth the risk.

As for what would occur if we lost, I don't know.
It could be very bad.

(HE'S TRYING HIS BEST)

AS YOU SHOULD BE at least these two are getting along

[horsepowered]

For the sake of everyone, I hope not.

You aren't the best with words, but if there are things you have overheard (and aren't traceable to your ears in specific), that is a place to start. I am unsure who would be well suited for this task myself, but whoever it is must be sought out within the next few das for this concept to be as effective as it could be.

...The Doine heritage is useful, especially in relation to propaganda. Revealing that particular element might galvanize the society against the Regency. But it isn't something that can be revealed too early, and I would defer to you and your work on when to deploy it.

This unknown quantity of what would happen if we lost is why I am hesistant about the fight element, in the end. The first part of what we've discussed seems straight forward enough to manage. If the evidence we present to the High Queen (and for argument's sake we should include the Doine element) is timed with a battle with Mhic Nathair and Kebechet, we could demonstrate that in defeat, this is what the two had been planning all along. But that assumes that we win the High Queen's favor.

...I believe I've actually just made the proposition riskier, haven't I?

BLESS THEIR HEARTS... LOOK AT THEM GO...

[dipolar]

I will relay the information I gather regarding House Chchai from Lady Hthyj.
In the meantime we can think up some statements to make:
1. "The Prince and Princess are colluding with the Regency sect compromised of Doine operatives."
2. "If they take the throne, the Doine will once again have power over Jhashch and the Araneans."
3. "Was the Great Consumption for nothing?"

Et cetera.

You're suggesting the fight could be bait to use our own defeat against them?
You most certainly have made it riskier, but I like it - win or lose, we get a leg up.
There's now the matter of finding the most suitable candidates.

good job buckaroos!

[horsepowered]

For someone who claims to not be very good at this work, you show a talent for it. Variations on these themes will work well. My only issue is will revealing the Doine origin of Regency operatives put you at risk?

It would be a means of at least trying to control the issue. But I think that additional safe guards are required, just to be certain that we have managed every angle of this.

If magic wasn't a disadvantage against the Regency and if I didn't trust them not to anticipate her, I would nominate Mordred for pure fury.