>>FROM: @CMDR | TO: @ALL | ATTN: ALL COST OPERATIVES

[byfist]

We have a few matters to discuss, and not as much time as I'd like for each of them, as often is the case. I hoped to give you more time to recover but the Watcher wants the next dance to start, so dance we must.

To begin. We have final confirmation on when we will be heading too, if not where. Enough that we are comfortable to begin your training. Late 1916 Earth, it looks like. Which... for those of you that are not familiar, is in the middle of the First World War. We aren't sure which Front yet, we hope for confirmation in the next few weeks so that we may brief you fully. But that can come later. For now, your orders are to report to Sergeant Chiron. He, Special Operative Young and I will see to your training. Report tomorrow morning 0600 to begin.

Secondly, as to the matter of rank. Seems many of you have never been in an army before to know these rules or have had your memories erased. To which we are still working to find out the direct cause of.

I am Commander Grothia, previously of the Regent's special division, defected. I oversee this contingent of COST, which there are many and we number only one amongst.

2IC is Sergent Chiron, Centaur, formerly the trainer of Grecian Heroes. Many of you have met him so far, he has 5000 years worth of history in that head of his. Use it as frequently as you can, I certainly do.

Lastly, there is Special Operative Young, whom you have all met. By that, I mean the crows. Yes, all of them are one woman. Stop feeding her, she'll get too fat to fly again.

They both answer to me, as you do. When I am not present, orders are to come from Chiron, when he is not present, it defers to Young. Likewise, I overrule any of their commands.

Unless special circumstances dictate it, I am the only one who enters the field with you. I will not dictate your every move, you are all far too capable for that. But let me be understood:

In the field, if I give an order, I expect it to be followed. If you have issues with that order, you may bring it to me - privately. I will always hear you. But if you openly question me in the field and get others killed for your insubordination? I will not hesitate in what I have to do to save lives.

To the final matter, and in regards to that. I know many of you found the work in France distasteful, getting the King and Queen killed for being hapless fools. I know it seemed extreme to just leave them to their fate.

But let me be clear if you interfere and change history as much as some of you might have by what you think is saving lives? I will leave you in the next plague-ridden field we find ourselves in. It is not single person's choice to dictate these events. Take France. Some of you have never seen or heard of Earth, but for others - those events are what birthed their whole new world. You would deny them that because you could not stomach what must be done? Mourn privately if you would, I will not say it is easy or fair or kind. But I will not tolerate such selfishness in my unit.

That is all. All operatives please acknowledge within the next 12 hours.

[ ooc: make sure to head over to the training info to get a look at what your characters will be dealing with ]

Comments

[mylawn]

I'm surprised to hear they're concerned with limits.

[byfist]

Openly, they must be. After the night we call the Night of Echoes. They swore never to use their ability to travel in such ways to be openly destructive to the ruling families again.

[mylawn]

What happened?

[byfist]

The night of echoes?

[ A nightmare and a bedtime story of all children of the Regency, whether they be clone or noble born. It had all come tumbling down in that moment, and the story had been repeated and repeated since then in every manner of tone. ]

Before the Regency took hold, we had three ruling families. Three lines that had been the descendants of Kuon the I who first unified the galaxy as it was known then. The head of each family was as much are formed, no different to triumvirates of the past, be they Roman or otherwise. Each had particular domains and something of a stranglehold. For those looking for political advancement, it was... difficult.

Until someone came up with time travel. Its intentions were animal repopulation due to what had gone extinct in the many centuries people have existed. It only took the then political up and coming Tal-Viero to see the potential.

He said that one of the ruling heads of the families who had ever been a great enemy of his had committed treason and she was seeking to overthrow the other two to reign supreme. It continues to be one of the most successful coups in our history. He went far enough back, found her ancestor, and killed them.

You can imagine of course, what this did to an interbred and closely related group. In one night, what you saw happen to Little Xici, happened to anyone that was related to that ancestor. On every level, maids who were the bastard child, the results of affairs that had never be known and grown up as legitimate children in other families - gone, in one single night. They say the screaming of the families left could be heard echoing even outside of the royal houses. Thus the name. They clawed at their own blood and said that they were damned by the lines that they had once held dear as proof of their own nobility.

After that, he was given the position of Regent, formally it was said to safeguard them all from this corruption but with the promise, he would never do so again. Informally, of course, we all know it was their bargaining chip they had to protect themselves from him.

So he must, to a certain extent that he is a regent who rules upon this condition... keep up some appearance of not using it.

[mylawn]

[That sure is...a lot. 76 is grateful for the information, at least--for all his distrust and missing memory, Grothia has been nothing but forthcoming. He hasn't yet stumbled on anything that's strictly 'need to know', and she's always done her best to answer his questions in full. He finds himself glad to know the story, even if it's horrific. It gives him context to the world they're in, and the kind of enemy they're fighting against.

It's a lot to process. He'll have to corroborate it with other sources, but this seems entirely too elaborate to make up wholesale. It has him wondering how Grothia might have been affected. If she's ever lost anyone this way. If she even knows, given the fact that people are literally erased from existence.]

Keeping up appearances of not using it doesn't mean he's given it up.

[Perhaps he's never attempted anything so large-scale, but if the Regency has prognosticators and the knowledge of all history at their disposal, it's not out of the question that this could happen on a smaller, more unnoticeable scale, to suit their needs.]

[byfist]

Especially in this case. The family lines that the noble families have spent years counting so prestigiously and have lorded over it all others are now their own downfall.

And as you saw, he most definitely hasn't given it up. He will do it to his own people the second they pose a threat.

[mylawn]

Yeah, I got that with the spy. Guess it's not hard to see why there's a rebellion against him.

[byfist]

He leaves a great deal with be desired.

Not that he leaves his capitol very often anymore.

[mylawn]

Isn't that how it always goes.

[byfist]

At times.

Perhaps he will go the way of that... oh some Scottish King, or Gertria VI from Thurka, they both came undone by their own stupidity.

Stood in front of their own guns and yelled fire.

[mylawn]

Would certainly make our job easier.

[byfist]

We live in hope.

Even if it would be a rather anti-climatic image to cast into bronze about the fall of the Regency.

[mylawn]

If I'm being honest, I've had enough commendations. Anti-climactic suits me just fine.

[byfist]

Then, thank you. For putting away your chance at a quiet life, for this war.

[mylawn]

You don't need to thank me. I wasn't gonna have a quiet life either way.

[byfist]

No?

[mylawn]

Not suited for it. Never was.

[byfist]

I would say I was surprised... but I have read all your files now.

And I were to speak earnestly? I do not feel well suited either.

[mylawn]

Then you know I've been at this for a long time. You understand.

[byfist]

To some degree. My own experiences have been different, and there is a certain... finality.

[mylawn]

Yeah, I can't say I time traveled before this, so you've got me beat in that department.

What do you mean by finality?

[byfist]

I am a direct product of the Regency, once it has been erased, so shall I be. Much like Little Xici was.

I promise that with some time, the most exciting thing that comes about us is watching new recruits sense of wonder and joy at the things they never felt possible.

[mylawn]

Admirable, then. That you choose to fight.

[And, strangely, maybe it convinces him a little more that COST is on the right side of things. Then again, the Regency is likely just as willing to die for their particular cause.]

We had an isolated incident of time travel back home. Nothing quite like this. We're still learning about it.

[byfist]

Too many have already died, too much suffering has already been paid for me to hesitate over something as minor as my life.

When we return you, I'd advise being careful. I have it on good authority now that even with the best of intentions, it can get away from you.

[ Grothia that... that isn't funny. No one likes your jokes. ]

[mylawn]

[It's a good thing this all over text so nobody has to know he's vaguely amused.]

You'll have to take that up with the surviving remnants of my science department. I hear they're independent contractors now.