011: The Tarsus Institute

[terrymixon]

Kidding ‘bout the grav tank…

I did type:
“I’ll be ready to go just as soon as I throw together one of each of our advanced toys in a locker. Give me a couple minutes.” With the key word “one of each”. So as not to speak for everyone.

I've looked at my design and expanded it to account for the clothes horse of the party. You can get one for everyone now.

[ateno]

Arkar grabs his gear and helps with the other load out.

Arkar

[terrymixon]

Walt and Arkar have their stated gear. Anyone else have special stuff to gather before heading to pick up your temporary ship?

[Tiglath]

I'm good with all the standard (non standard) gear we have.

[helvorn]

William looks at both Ciencia's for a moment and then nods. "As the Archduke of the Domain Ciencia can you give us carte blanche with the Navy and Scout Service? I want rank and command codes that will allow us to shut down the mid-Rift calibration points. Before we break up we also need to interact with the Aslan and Zhodani Ambassador's. I take it that you and your mother will handle that."

He looked at the rest of the group. "Garvin, I was thinking that we would offer an additional contract to the mercenaries to help if we need spec ops support. Also, it may be awkward but having our teacher along will be helpful."

[terrymixon]

William looks at both Ciencia's for a moment and then nods. "As the Archduke of the Domain Ciencia can you give us carte blanche with the Navy and Scout Service? I want rank and command codes that will allow us to shut down the mid-Rift calibration points. Before we break up we also need to interact with the Aslan and Zhodani Ambassador's. I take it that you and your mother will handle that."

“We will handle the diplomatic dance,” she agreed. “Riftspan Station is Imperially run, and while technically inside the Domain of Deneb, it will take orders from Illish. Chandler station is on our side of the rift, but is privately owned and operated. I can give you rank with my father’s warrant, but I don’t have codes. If they decide not to cooperate, you will have to come up with something else to convince them.”

She walked over and kissed your cheek. “William, you keep reaching for blunt weapons. These tasks will take finesse and cleverness. Don’t try to beat everything into submission. That’s Walt’s job.”

[Thumper]

She walked over and kissed your cheek. “William, you keep reaching for blunt weapons. These tasks will take finesse and cleverness. Don’t try to beat everything into submission. That’s Walt’s job.”

Walt grunts and smiles upon hearing that!

”Speaking with the Zhodani Ambassador … what’s his nuts … before we go is probably a wise move.”

[terrymixon]

"Then shall I call him back to the ship so we can see what he has to say?" Ciencia asked. "I thought you wanted to leave that to me, but I'm open to having an audience."

[Thumper]

Walt-
“Sure!”

[helvorn]

William looks at both Ciencia's for a moment and then nods. "As the Archduke of the Domain Ciencia can you give us carte blanche with the Navy and Scout Service? I want rank and command codes that will allow us to shut down the mid-Rift calibration points. Before we break up we also need to interact with the Aslan and Zhodani Ambassador's. I take it that you and your mother will handle that."

“We will handle the diplomatic dance,” she agreed. “Riftspan Station is Imperially run, and while technically inside the Domain of Deneb, it will take orders from Illish. Chandler station is on our side of the rift, but is privately owned and operated. I can give you rank with my father’s warrant, but I don’t have codes. If they decide not to cooperate, you will have to come up with something else to convince them.”

She walked over and kissed your cheek. “William, you keep reaching for blunt weapons. These tasks will take finesse and cleverness. Don’t try to beat everything into submission. That’s Walt’s job.”

William reached and caught Ciencia by the waist and gave her a full on kiss including a dip. "We'll be careful, even subtle but I want to hold you tight and crush our enemies like bugs. Even Walt. As for the private station we can just buy them out."

[terrymixon]

Ciencia decides that Walt is the perfect person to watch over the Ancient's city on the other side of Zhodoni space, so he'll head that direction.

She's going to leave the events in the core sectors to you, though she admonishes you to be subtle. The actions and fallout will all be on you.

When everyone is ready, she will call the Zhodoni Ambassador and he agrees to come to the ship right away. It feels as if he was waiting on the call, or was at least ready to respond to it right away. He and his guards will arrive at the ship in half an hour, looking much as they did the day before.

How will they be received? Last time was chaotic, so I'll let you tell me what you're doing and how you are prepping.

[terrymixon]

Ciencia decides that Walt is the perfect person to watch over the Ancient's city on the other side of Zhodoni space, so he'll head that direction.

She's going to leave the events in the core sectors to you, though she admonishes you to be subtle. The actions and fallout will all be on you.

When everyone is ready, she will call the Zhodoni Ambassador and he agrees to come to the ship right away. It feels as if he was waiting on the call, or was at least ready to respond to it right away. He and his guards will arrive at the ship in half an hour, looking much as they did the day before.

How will they be received? Last time was chaotic, so I'll let you tell me what you're doing and how you are prepping.

Bueller?

[joertexas]

How will they be received? Last time was chaotic, so I'll let you tell me what you're doing and how you are prepping.

Bueller?

"I plan to sit back and observe the meeting," Jaelah says.

[terrymixon]

How will they be received? Last time was chaotic, so I'll let you tell me what you're doing and how you are prepping.

Bueller?

"I plan to sit back and observe the meeting," Jaelah says.

So noted. Roscoe will do the same. As will Metz and Bianca. Bona has gone with Walt. What are Garvin, Arkar, and William doing? Accepting things as Ciencia does or taking any steps in welcoming the Ambassador back?

[Tiglath]

How will they be received? Last time was chaotic, so I'll let you tell me what you're doing and how you are prepping.

Bueller?

"I plan to sit back and observe the meeting," Jaelah says.

Garvin agrees "Yeah, Ciencia has her bodyguards on hand and I don't think we need to be messin' about in vital diplomacy now she's 'ere".

[helvorn]

"I think we should keep this fairly casual but let's have Frederick and Teresa in their dress uniforms and sidearms. I will meet the ambassador and his party at the airlock and escort them into the wardroom. Ciencia should be seated when they arrive but certainly can rise to greet them. I will stay standing next to Ciencia." William glanced over at Ciencia to see if she objected. He smiled a bit as he caught her eyes. "It will be good to see some high-powered negotiating before we set off and stir up the core sectors."

[terrymixon]

"I think we should keep this fairly casual but let's have Frederick and Teresa in their dress uniforms and sidearms. I will meet the ambassador and his party at the airlock and escort them into the wardroom. Ciencia should be seated when they arrive but certainly can rise to greet them. I will stay standing next to Ciencia." William glanced over at Ciencia to see if she objected. He smiled a bit as he caught her eyes. "It will be good to see some high-powered negotiating before we set off and stir up the core sectors."

Anything to add before I proceed, Ateno?

[terrymixon]

"I think we should keep this fairly casual but let's have Frederick and Teresa in their dress uniforms and sidearms. I will meet the ambassador and his party at the airlock and escort them into the wardroom. Ciencia should be seated when they arrive but certainly can rise to greet them. I will stay standing next to Ciencia." William glanced over at Ciencia to see if she objected. He smiled a bit as he caught her eyes. "It will be good to see some high-powered negotiating before we set off and stir up the core sectors."

Anything to add before I proceed, Ateno?

As there are no further declared actions, I'll write this up tomorrow. I would have done it today, but the wife dragged me off to see Mission Impossible.

[ateno]

"I think we should keep this fairly casual but let's have Frederick and Teresa in their dress uniforms and sidearms. I will meet the ambassador and his party at the airlock and escort them into the wardroom. Ciencia should be seated when they arrive but certainly can rise to greet them. I will stay standing next to Ciencia." William glanced over at Ciencia to see if she objected. He smiled a bit as he caught her eyes. "It will be good to see some high-powered negotiating before we set off and stir up the core sectors."

Anything to add before I proceed, Ateno?

As there are no further declared actions, I'll write this up tomorrow. I would have done it today, but the wife dragged me off to see Mission Impossible.

No just put Arkar where you think he might do the best. Will there be others not part of the talks, maybe he could keep track of them.

[terrymixon]

As this is something you’re letting an NPC deal with another NPC, I’ll do narrative in chucks to allow you to have input if you so desire. I’ll aim for manageable chunks.

The group sets the common area up as well as they can with a raised platform for Ciencia to sit on a chair on. Her mother will stand behind her on one side and I’d imagine William will do the same on the other. Fredrick, Teressa, and four other Imperial Guards in uniform stand both behind the three and against the walls.

Aster will meet the Ambassador outside and escort him in. His guards will stay back, but they are watchful.

The ambassador approaches and bows. “Thank you for seeing me during this trying time, Highness. You have my deepest condolences on the loss of your father. I wish that I did not need to intrude at all, but matters of state rarely allow us the time we would like. Even so, I will dispense with the unnecessary pleasantries. There will be time for those later.”

Ciencia nodded. “You were never meant to see any of that, and having done so causes me even more problems. Your intrusion—though unintentional—isn’t what I would call welcome. You know things that will cause trouble when it gets back to your people.”

He smiled a bit wryly. “I’m sure. Even so, I appreciate you talking to me rather than attempting to remove the problem.” He looked around at everyone else. “I don’t see your big friend. He would recommend direct action, I’m sure. It probably wouldn’t have worked—and it certainly would not stop the report I wrote just in case from making its way home—but that would be a line too far to overlook and in these days, you need to hear what I have to say and need me to be a friend—such as one like me can ever be.”

“I try not to solve all my problems by murder,” she said evenly. “Just a few deserve that. Like the person that murdered my father.”

“Understandable.”

“Why did you seek me out, Ambassador?”

“I came to find you in a ship built by your man Metz.” He turned to face Metz and bowed low. “I bow to your genius, sir. It awes and humbles me. You are the kind of mind that should be celebrated and nurtured. It saddens me that you were not born of my people.”

“We never have that choice,” he said. “But thank you, though I am sure that you didn’t come all this way to tell me that.”

“No, but it is a factor. A storm is brewing. Everyone knows that, but I am telling you that it is coming, no matter what we would wish. Within a year, our peoples will once again be at war. Even so, you and your friends present a different potential outcome for all of us.

“What I discovered—the thing that offers a new path—is something I never dreamed possible. I couldn’t explain it before yesterday, but now the answer is so clear. All of you are all psionic and that makes things possible that were inconceivable before. That is what I can to discuss with you, though we have many other things to speak on.”

He looked around at everyone, giving you time to respond.