lucetilogs | TERRACE Draft

Entry tags:

TERRACE Draft - Day 1

Who: All Draftees
What: Arrival at TERRACE
When: The first day, from 8AM to the wee hours of the night
Where: TERRACE!
Summary: Information post here
Rating: Varies on thread, please mark explicit material.

This post covers the first day, before the attack. Remember, characters here are not expecting an attack and are under the impression they will be going to Region 1 to fight. During this day, draftees will be restricted to T6 and T7 and not permitted access to other areas.

Be sure to tag this post appropriately: [canon] character name

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"Would that be a case of somewhat differing ideologies, would you know? Or merely a disagreement on how to get things done."

His second question has gone unanswered, but Law can only assume it's in a sorry state. He never expected Bil to answer it.

"Regardless, that is... I don't know if I want to call it fortunate that they're killing each other or terrifying that this new group is growing so quickly. The General has more than enough men. Now..." A thinning of the lips. "... how much a threat do you think this new faction is if they win?"

"They're barbarians. It was always extraordinary the General commanded as many as he did. But if this new faction does win and unite all the cultists?" He remained pokerfaced. The guards shared wary looks behind him, the faces of men who knew exactly how screwed they were in that event. "Well, I shouldn't worry! Once you've claimed Region 1, we'll be in a position to truly weed them out of that jungle they like to swarm in!"

Overnight, then.

As much as what Bil says and does not say is fascinating, the guards reactions are revealing as well. Maybe it's time to take a gamble. Maybe not.

"You'll excuse me if I remain reasonably concerned given these troubling times. You never quite know what will come. But it sounds like Region 1 is next door to that jungle... their origin point." Which make strategic sense to why they'd want to take it badly... "We're in transit over... 2, was it?" He doesn't know. But there are possible patterns at work, and perhaps the regions are in numerical order as well. "That's what I just heard, anyway. Once you get the jungle, it's starting the endgame."

"I'm afraid you overestimate our influence. There are entire continents that the cultists dominate. Region 1 was on one such continent. The endgame is quite a ways off."

A faint mental smile.

"Unfortunately but naturally, I'm afraid, given my ignorance at large. I would ask where exactly things stand, but I have a feeling you're not going to correct me on that point."

"It would be a question better suited for the Commandant, I believe."

"As would most questions about military matters. If she's ever in a mood to speak with me, I'll ask her."

Given what he told Law about her, after all.

"Perhaps we should switch to a more pleasant topic. How have you been lately? The last time we met was not as pleasant as this."

"Well enough, I believe. Busy, of course. Changing the world is an exhausting task, best suited for young men."

"I would imagine. Hopefully though, you don't have to remain in seclusion any longer. Everyone was quite worried."

The pirate takes a small sip of his coffee. It's grown lukewarm. Even more dreadful than before. But he masks his disgust at the taste.

"I must ask though... would this working towards the future involve what we discussed in June?"

"Ah, you may have to remind me. I have many discussions about many things."

"We were speaking about long term relations between Luceti and the Malnosso."

They had also been speaking about the droids, and Law has a few choice observations about that. He finds it interesting that the droids on the draft can be fought off now when they had infiltrated a Rogue facility and not one from the main Organization. That could mean a few things.

And then there was the incident in January. Which he still wasn't sure of.

"Integration with the organization." That was part of it, now that he thought back. "It is certainly possible. Were you, perhaps, at the battle of Vaskoth? There was a woman there. Carol."

"No, I wasn't. I was involved with the creation of the cure there, but my role was doing research and simulations back in Luceti and transmitting what we found back to the battle site."

He looks thoughtful. What was it Raine had said? Aa, yes. There had been a schoolteacher back then named Carol. And he had definitely heard details of things going on in Vaskoth as they came, due to his own involvement. Were they the same person? Who knew. Carol wasn't exactly an uncommon name.

"The name is familiar, though. She was running relief for the enclosure there, or so I heard."

Edited 2013-04-02 16:04 (UTC)

"Ah, well, Carol is a rather extraordinary woman. Relations between enclosure residents and the organization is something of a specialty of hers. Of course, she isn't scheduled to visit Luceti for some years, but ah, I believe I can pull some strings and expedite things."

"If you could, it would be greatly appreciated." Law's going to abandon his coffee until he can go later to find a microwave to heat it up. "Very recent events have just proved to me that at this time... we're at the point of knowing enough to make decisions that could prove very costly in the long run to a lot of people, but not enough to know or understand the consequences of our actions. Integration might be a ways off still, but I'm sure you'll agree that now some guidance wouldn't be amiss."

There's another thoughtful pause as he lets that sink in.

"There's another person to keep in mind if you can pull those strings. I would understand if the Organization doesn't want to send Miss Carol in alone - it's us, after all. However there's a member of the MSF who is extremely well respected in our enclosure - Specialist Davis. I haven't met a single resident who has had a bad thing to say about him. I would highly recommend him."

The guards behind Bil exchanged glances, but said nothing. They looked a bit somber.

Bil chewed on a fry thoughtfully before concluding: "Specialist Davis was relieved from his post after being found unfit for duty. I'm afraid he won't be of much use to you."

"..."

The briefest expression of shock flits across Law's face as he stares hard at Bil first, then at the guards. He doesn't even bother trying to hide it; it would work well to mask the furious round of calculations running through his mind. Because of course, he knew of the Specialist's involvement in one thing... and what the rumors had hinted at.

"... hell. People are going to have a tough time with this. I know I'm having a hard time processing it - I served directly under him on the Tyr's Revenge, as you're probably aware." Second Officer to Davis' First. Captain Fruthers barely left her cabin. "What happened?"

"I'm afraid I can't say, on account of not knowing myself. The MSF are rather private when it comes to their own members. The Commandant doesn't even like me using her name, after all."

"... I see." He's been keeping a close eye on the guards' behavior ever since the inital glancing, looking for more clues. "Well. ... well, that is a damned shame. I hope whatever it was, he can return at some point. If it's something that can be returned from. He was a fine commander."

... he can't help himself. He crooks an inquiring eyebrow at Bil at the mention of the Commandant's name. The expression is a muted - really? Is it that embarrassing or does she just have a hard on for titles like some people I've met in my time.

Edited 2013-04-04 09:28 (UTC)

The guards are stone faced, though in such a way that shows they know more. Possibly more than Bil does.

"Indeed, indeed. Quite a good man. I certainly enjoyed working with him."

Law'd be willing to bet Beri that they do. Hmm. Finding that out will be a priority, then.

The first step is figuring how far down the chain of command news of this has traveled. He takes their rank insignia while his main focus remains on Bil, as it should. It doesn't mean much to know their rank, not in the grand scheme of things where who knows what is often based on involvement and need to know, but it's a start. He also runs their faces through his mind. If he's encountered them somewhere before - say the Tyr's Revenge - and had their names uttered in his earshot, he'll remember.

He nods and continues smoothly, not missing a beat, "I'm sure whoever they assign to work with the enclosures will be equally good - if there's been a choice made already. The MSF has many fine officers."

One was a Foreman, the other a 1st Arms Manager. Two and three ranks below Specialist. But neither of them have encountered Law before.

"We shall see, but I can't speculate on who would be picked for such a post."

He can't place them. But a Foreman and a 1st Arms Manager. That would put them squarely middle of the MSF pecking order. Hmmmmm. It seems perhaps news has gotten quite far down the food chain. So it's likely big. Or something scandalous. Or both.

"I guess we will." It promised to be interesting, like the response to what he says next will be, "While we're chatting, is there anything you would like to know, Mister Bil?"

Bil seemed to consider this. He knew a lot of things, after all. But on the subject of Luceti, he was aware of most things that went on.

"That's a tricky question, Mr. Law. It suggests you might know something I don't and are more interested in that absence of knowledge than actually giving it."

But you've already given him what he's wanted, Bil...

"Well, here's the thing and I'll be blunt - I might. I might not. Depends on what you might be interested in, if anything. Will it possibly be informative for me? Sure. I believe we touched on my ignorance to your reach of influence... can't say I have a good idea to how far your knowledge stretches to things as well."

That is the truth of it.

"So the floor's open if you want it. It's fair - we poke questions at you every time we meet."

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biliruben - 2013-04-10 19:20 (UTC) - Expand

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deathsdoctor - 2013-04-11 03:48 (UTC) - Expand

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