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So they don’t know that Paradox is a time-traveler?
Also,did Queen Marie die before,after, or during her meeting with Mami?
Also,what news wasn’t Tantomile going to break to Coricopat? (And could Tantomile take this one?)
Also,did Queen Marie die before,after, or during her meeting with Mami?
Also,what news wasn’t Tantomile going to break to Coricopat? (And could Tantomile take this one?)
Akira's presence in this story is all types of bad. She's reduced the chances of this tale having a happy ending by half.
I'm glad to hear you're enjoying this, in spite of my far-too-frequent use of "smoke and mirrors."
Partogaverse. I like it.
Seems like the name has officially stuck.
Agreed. This is the worst possible time for the two sisters to be fighting.
Sebakhira's knowledge of the Paradox is limited. She doesn't know about the time travel. However, the wealth of records on Asalele might allow Tantomile to put the pieces together... if someone hasn't done so already. Sebakhira did say that some Gifted Lions have "raised the alarm" before the events of this story.
Before. Queen Marie suffered a major heart attack aboard her transport ship long before it ever reached Daxia. The ship did not have a medical facility, so the Queen's personal medical team had to perform life-saving actions without the proper equipment. The transport ship broke formation and raced towards Daxia as fast as possible. As soon as it docked, she was transported to the Medical Center. Sadly, too much time had passed, and the doctors pronounced Marie dead as soon as she was brought into the Medical Center. This was right around the same time Toa Mami's ship docked with Daxia.
Tantomile said:I was trying to tell her about the Paradox! If she'd shut her damn mouth for two seconds, I'd have told her! Now she's acting all offended and won't even answer my calls. Cori's really pissing me off right now! And I just know she's gonna use this whole "Paku Nui Takeover" thing against me! If mom doesn't name an heir before she dies, Cori's gonna use the Takeover as an excuse to fight me for the Levakian Throne.
Tantomile’s response is priceless…
Does Mami continue trying to figure the Snowskin issue? (and can Mami take this one?)
I feel like the Guide is Paradox/Akira/Titohara (why does she have so many identities?)
Does Mami continue trying to figure the Snowskin issue? (and can Mami take this one?)
I feel like the Guide is Paradox/Akira/Titohara (why does she have so many identities?)
You'll see what she's talking about during the final segment of Chapter 2.Toa Wahine Mami Tamihana said:Of course I will, but it looks like I'm going to be working alone. The officers of Fort Daxia are too busy dealing with the death of the Queen to do anything else. I can't get anyone besides my own teammates to stand still long enough to listen to me.
-Toa Mami
The Paradox has been masking her identity for as long as she's been active. Being disguised helps her do... whatever she's doing... without being detected. Every now and then, her disguise slips and she gets spotted; like what happened in Chapter 2.5. The Paradox has been forced to get creative in how she disguises herself in order to stop people from connecting the dots. You'll see how she does this and why in Interlude #2.
Somehow I'd had a sneaking suspicion that Marie would pass away before she could meet with Mami. I don't know why...
Also, the idea of Enutanga's music being as loud as Mass Driver cannons made me think of Hotblack Desiato and his incredibly loud band Disaster Area from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, whose performances are "best listened to in a concrete bunker 37 miles away". One such performance turned a desert into a lush paradise and cured a species of forcible telepathy.
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Where does Sebakhira want to go anyway,or is Tantomile reneging on that deal?
@Tantomile Also,is Tantomile actually trying for the throne?
Will any scenes set in the “Paradox library” on Asalele be in Chapter 2.8?
And what specific update does the royal election take place in?
@Tantomile Also,is Tantomile actually trying for the throne?
Will any scenes set in the “Paradox library” on Asalele be in Chapter 2.8?
And what specific update does the royal election take place in?
I loved those books! (and the radio plays, and the tv series, and the movie) Enutanga's not at Hotblack's level yet, but she's well on her way there. There were a lot of young lions and Partogans on Paku Nui who woke up deaf after that concert.
It's complicated. Sebakhira was loyal to Waiparau, who is an ally of Emerdon, who is an enemy of Tantomile. That makes Tantomile willing to break her end of the deal for her own protection. However, people with similar traits will usually group together. Sebakhira wants to go somewhere with a lot of Gifted Lions, she'll most likely try to part ways with Tantomile at the Asalele Library.
**Note: The Levakian Imperial Succession is faster and more streamlined than its Partogan Royal counterpart. It gets extremely bloody if the Empress fails to name her successor before she dies.Tantomile said:
No.
Since this is one of the story's most dramatic events, it's been broken up into multiple parts:
Part 1: Chapter 3.3
Part 2: Chapter 3.4
Part 3: Chapter 3.5
Part 4: Chapter 3.6
3.2. I need to leave Toa Mami and her teammates somewhere they can be left to their own devices for a little while, so Chapters 2.8 and 3.1 will follow Toa Mami.
Thanks for the info.
Can’t wait until the next update tomorrow (technically today UTC time,but it’s tomorrow my time,so…)!
Ninja edit:15 is the number most sacred to Partogans because Riri Nui erupted in 1515,right?
Can’t wait until the next update tomorrow (technically today UTC time,but it’s tomorrow my time,so…)!
Ninja edit:15 is the number most sacred to Partogans because Riri Nui erupted in 1515,right?
No, Riri Nui erupted in either the early winter of 1514 or the late winter of 1515. The election of Queen Miranda the Great on June 5, 1515 is generally accepted as the moment the Kingdom of Partoga was founded. The First Battle of Archer's Canyon occurred on December 25, 1515. None of these events contributed to the number 15 becoming sacred to Partogans.
It has more to do with the sizeable party of companions Queen Miranda lead during the Wars of the Famine. Miranda had 15 close friends who stuck with her all the way to the end. Ever since, the number 15 has been viewed as a source of good luck by Partogans. The Church of the Mountain contributed to the deification of the number for its own benefit; 15 Dirams is often the typical tithe asked for by Priests of the Mountain. (15 Dirams is considered throwaway money, but it adds up after a while) People who pay this amount regularly without interruption will be showered with praise and adoration by Church leadership and put on a metaphorical pedestal as model members of the community.
Also, 15 is just my lucky number.
I like to sneak it in wherever I can. See the below list for examples:- Queen Miranda the Great had 15 companions and was 15 years old when her friends voted amongst themselves to make her Queen. 15 voted in favor, 0 opposed.
- Queen Sophie the Merciful was 15 years old when she was elected. She was the last Queen to be elected at this age.
- Partogans are considered to be mature adults at age 15.
- The minimum legal age of marriage on Partoga is 15 years old.
- Before Partoga became a spacefaring empire, the Kingdom consisted of 15 constituent Principalities.
- Girls over the age of 15 cannot be elected Queen, since they are legally "adult women" at that point.
- The HMS Midak's hull number was AAJJA-15.
- The Midak made radio contact with the United Nations of Earth for the first time on August 15, 2202.
- The Midak entered Earth orbit for the first time on December 15, 2202.
- The HMAS Bushranger originally required a crew of 15.
- The climax and ending of After Everything (Chapter 4.4 through 5) all take place on the same day: June 15, 2203. The Green Guard's takeover attempt happens in the early morning hours, the Battle of Nithascal occurs in the afternoon, and the Second Battle of Archer's Canyon is finished just before the sun goes down.
- The Upper House of the Partogan National Assembly is called the Spiritual Council. It has 15 members.
- The Epilogue of After Everything takes place 15 days after the Second Battle of Archer's Canyon.
- The very first chapter of Faith in Chaos takes place on March 15, 1928.
- During Chapters 1, 2, 3, and 4 of Faith in Chaos the Partogan Royal Navy possesses 15 Fleet Carriers.
- The average Levakian will live to be about 15 years old.
- Kinloka Squadron met in Assembly Hall #15 during Chapter 1.5 of Faith in Chaos.
- At the beginning of Interlude #1 of Faith in Chaos, there are 15 days left until the End of the Cycle.
- Arahu's cousin Taiomi just barely missed out on being the second Queen Candidate because she celebrated her 15th birthday just a few months before Queen Marie died.
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Chapter 2.8: Royal Vacancy
Chapter 2.8
Royal Vacancy
August 9, 1928 A.D.
Fort Daxia, Trecta Star System, Kingdom of Partoga
Fort Daxia was in mourning. The Command Staff held a moment of silence. The dockworkers raised a drink together. Cannon crews hastily executed a 200-gun salute. Student-Soldiers sought out any window that could give them a view of the Queen’s Transport ship as it pulled away from Fort Daxia and began the solemn flight back to Partoga. Even in the infirmary, a kind of shocked silence had descended upon patients and caregivers alike.
In his medical bed, Rapati Hipango flexed his new prosthetic arm absentmindedly. He had lost all interest in the incredible Bentusi technology that allowed his new mechanical arm to do all of the same things his organic one could. He didn’t care about the fascinating micro servomotors that allowed his mechanical fingers a range of motion that was superior to the flesh and blood fingers on his left hand. He had eyes only for a television screen placed at the end of his bed. Every patient in the infirmary had one, although many of the privacy curtains were drawn so that the war wounded could mourn in peace.
At the far end of the ward, a single bed lay unoccupied. Soldiers ignored it. Medics didn’t dare touch the medical chart hanging from a hook on the headboard. The heart rate monitor was still live, although someone had muted the dull flatline tone yesterday night. However, the screen still glowed brightly, showing in green letters the words:
Mokara Patariki
Age: 13
Female
Time of Death: 14:59 hours, 8 Akuhata 413
Cause of Death: Sudden Cardiac Arrest
No one wanted to interact with the screen, the bed, or the medical chart in any way. It was too soon, too painful.
In the bed directly across from Rapati Toa Wahine Mami Tamihana was watching the same news program as him, so the noise of the two monitors mingled and became louder, overpowering the noise of about thirty other televisions. Toa Mami’s eyepatch was lying unused on her bedside table. Partogan medics had just left a few minutes ago after examining her damaged eye socket. With her one remaining eye, the young Toa watched as a computer-generated map of Partoga City was displayed on her screen. The planned route of Queen Marie’s funeral procession was overlaid onto the city streets, extending north towards the Southern Ridge of Archer’s Canyon, where many Queens had been laid to rest before.
Toa Mami was still in shock. Queen Marie had been alive and well just yesterday. Perhaps Toa Mami was having trouble accepting this because she had not actually witnessed the Queen’s death. Instead, Rapati and Toa Mami had been escorted into the infirmary for some routine post-combat checkups, only to see about three dozen Green Guards standing in a semicircle around Marie’s body. Toa Mami didn’t need to be told what had happened. She’d figured it out pretty quickly. Like everyone else, Toa Mami was in shock, paralyzed by disbelief. She had no idea what she was supposed to be doing now that Queen Marie was dead, and she didn’t feel like doing anything else. She just wanted to sit here on this warm bed and feel bad.
Toa Mami was busy tracing the funeral procession route with her finger, so she didn’t notice the infirmary doors open and close. She only looked up when she heard a familiar voice.
“I hate to pull you away from the news, Lieutenant Tamihana. I had to do the same for myself.”
Looking up, she saw Drill Instructor Ruiha Tahana. He looked very somber. On his left, Eteka, Ango, and Arahu were waiting. Toa Mami saw an extremely uncomfortable look on Arahu’s face. She swung her legs out one side of the bed and started looking for her boots.
“Are we still doing the debriefing, sir?” she asked.
“Yes,” Drill Instructor Tahana replied, “But we’re going to have to cut it short. The Royal Navy has a large number of secret doctrines, rules, and regulations that have to be followed when the Queen passes away. I need to get back to my emergency duties as quickly as possible. Ensign Hipango, come with us, please.”
Toa Mami, Eteka, Rapati, Ango, and Arahu all followed the Drill Instructor through the halls of Fort Daxia in silence. The soldiers and crew of Fort Daxia seemed to have fallen into a rhythm. Many officers were carrying out the classified orders Tahana had mentioned. These “Orders to be carried out upon the death of the Queen.” seemed to involve a gargantuan amount of paperwork. Low-ranking soldiers were being ordered to make copies of certain documents and to destroy certain other documents. A paper-shredding machine in one hallway had been mobbed with some eighty soldiers, all clamoring for a chance to destroy sealed envelopes given to them by officers. Further down the hallway, there was a line of nearly two hundred soldiers waiting for a chance to use the incinerator. They carried a vast array of electronic devices such as tablet computers, portable hard drives, and data vaults so big they had to be carried by two people. All of these devices had been labeled with red tape and the words: “Hard-Coded Data - Destroy upon royal vacancy”
Finally, the six soldiers had returned to Tahana’s office. The Drill Instructor allowed Toa Mami and her friends to go inside first. He locked the door behind him. Once everyone was seated, Tahana reached into his desk and pulled out a sealed envelope. Toa Mami leaned forward in her chair to get a better look at the black text on the envelope which said: “Classified Orders – Open ONLY upon Royal Vacancy.”
Tahana waved the sealed envelope in front of Team Tamihana.
“This is going to become very important in a minute.” he explained. “Fact of the matter is that the entire Government is about to have a change in leadership. The new Queen never keeps her predecessor’s Kuhina Nui, and the next Kuhina Nui is probably going to overhaul the military leadership, since that’s almost always the first thing a new Queen orders him to do. By the time everything settles down again, the new government is not going to be interested in the After Action Report of five teenagers. They’ll only want to read the AAR written by the Fleet Commander. So, here’s what’s gonna happen: Admiral Kingi is a personal friend of mine. She’s agreed to make your story part of her AAR for the Battle of Aiowa. You five tell me anything you want, and I’ll make sure it goes up the Chain of Command to her, alright?”
They took it in turns. First Toa Mami and Eteka explained their suspicions about Titohara and how they had been confirmed by the Levakian crew of the Shieldbreaker. Arahu gave a blow-by-blow recount of the space battle in the Aiowa system, explaining in great detail how the Rauuira’s Ion Cannon had nearly overheated because the firing sequence was too short. Toa Mami elaborated on her meeting with the Levakian exile Tantomile and she explained the theories the white lioness had come up with to explain Titohara’s murder and impersonation. Ango talked at length about the boarding of the Rauuira, about how Rapati’s arm had been blown off by a Tunderflash bomb and how Toa Mami nearly been shot in the back by Homai Kewhena before she had earned her Tuakiri Tattoo. Rapati told of how the Rauuira crew had been rescued by the Levakian ship Sheildbreaker.
After ten minutes Team Tamihana just collectively ran out of breath. Drill Instructor Tahana had written their statements across seven sheets of paper, his handwriting getting messy as he tried to keep up with them. When he got to the end of Rapati’s last sentence, he set his pen down and sighed.
“Metaphorically, a lot of heads rolled here at Daxia when we found Titohara Nopera’s body. Major General Ranginui was investigating that case for a lot longer than you and he still hasn’t found anything of worth. I’ll pass your information up the chain of command.”
Toa Mami sat up very suddenly in her chair.
“That reminds me!” she burst out, “Sir, has anyone called for me on the Hyperwave Relay?”
Tahana fingered a slip of paper on his desk.
“Uh, your mother called for you twice.” He said, “But I thought you returned both of those calls. Were you expecting someone else?”
She nodded.
“A Levakian, the one on the Shieldbreaker who ran into Titohara’s impersonator.”
Tahana shook his head again.
“No one else called for you, Lieutenant.” he said, “But someone did call for your teammate. Ensign Ranginui, this is for you.”
Toa Mami, Eteka, Rapati, and Ango all dropped their jaws as the Drill Instructor picked up the sealed envelope and passed it to Arahu, who accepted it with shaky hands. Arahu stood up and shuffled into the far corner of the office. Toa Mami would have watched Arahu open the envelope, but Tahana gave the “don’t look” hand signal, and everyone else turned their backs on Arahu.
“Don’t forget, Ranginui,” Tahana said loudly. “You can’t tell us what it says unless you’re authorized to do so.”
For a few moments, there was silence as Arahu opened the envelope and read the message inside. When Toa Mami heard Arahu gasp out loud, she had to fight the urge to turn around and look.
She didn’t have to fight the urge for long.
“Uh, guys?” Said Arahu. “It’s okay.”
Everyone turned around. Arahu was clutching the paper close to his chest, smiling wider than Toa Mami had seen him smile in years, and had tears of joy streaming down his face.
Eteka scoffed.
“You gotta be kidding me.” he said, “What’s going on, Ranginui?”
Arahu sniffed.
“I’ve been ordered to go back to Partoga.” he said. “They want me to be a bodyguard for my little sister. She’s a Queen Candidate!”
Eteka, Ango, Toa Mami, and Rapati all surged forward and dog-piled Arahu, trapping him within a massive group hug!
“Congratulations!!” Toa Mami shrieked,
“How about that?” said Eteka, “I told you Irirangi was gonna go far!”
“Good for you!” added Ango, “That’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!”
Rapati however, poured some metaphorical cold water on the cheerful moment:
“When are you leaving?” Rapati asked, “No one’s announced when the Royal Election is going to be held yet.”
“Hipango’s got a point.” Drill Instructor Tahana brought all attention back to himself. “The Election can’t happen until the other three Candidates have been found. The Government has a list of Queen Candidates, but Government officials usually have to go out and collect them. Chances are, Ranginui, your little sister hasn’t been picked up yet. Your entire family lives in Partoga City, right?”
“Yessir.” Arahu answered.
Tahana nodded.
“Okay, the government is definitely going to collect your sister first. Then the search radius gets wider depending on who else is on the list. Four years ago, when Marie was elected, one of the Candidates was living all the way out in the Nithascal System. It took almost six months to get her to Partoga City.”
“Oh!” Eteka interrupted, “I remember her! That was Maoro Hinakiri, right? Wasn’t she the Candidate who got exactly zero votes?”
Everyone cringed. They had all watched the infamous defeat play out on live television. Awhina Mahuika had been dealt the biggest electoral defeat in Partogan history, with zero members of the National Assembly voting for her becoming Queen, 29 voting against her, while the rest of the Assembly abstained from the vote. Awhina was humiliated so badly that she committed suicide in public just a few days after Queen Marie was enthroned. It put a damper on all of the celebrations.
Arahu gave a very deep sigh.
“There’s no way that’ll happen to Irirangi. She’s too likable.”
Everyone snapped out of their dark thoughts and raced to agree with Arahu.
August 12, 1928 A.D.
Fort Daxia, Trecta Star System, Kingdom of Partoga
In two days, Arahu was going to leave for Partoga. Ango Karaka would permanently replace him on Team Tamihana. Toa Mami found that this impending departure had brought out a side of Arahu she knew existed, but thankfully had only seen on very rare occasions.
In his last days inside the Fort Daxia starbase, Arahu started making serious attempts at getting Toa Mami to be alone with him. This was frustrating because Toa Mami, Eteka, Ango, and Rapati were trying to spend their free time tracking down and interviewing people who had known Titohara Nopera before her death. Arahu, however, had lost all interest in the investigation. He was completely distracted, and Toa Mami knew why. She had known that Arahu had feelings for her for several months, ever since she overheard Arahu’s Hypercomms chat with Irirangi, but those feelings only went one way. Toa Mami simply didn’t feel any attraction to Arahu. Whenever he asked Toa Mami to go somewhere with him, she made up an excuse to bring Eteka with her.
Eteka, for his part, quickly clued in to the change in Toa Mami’s “relationship” with Arahu and was starting to act like a bodyguard. He elbowed his way in between Toa Mami and Arahu at every chance and would force his way into every conversation between them. Eteka ran interference for Toa Mami for two full days before she finally worked up the courage to do what needed to be done.
While Team Tamihana was waiting outside the Infirmary for Rapati (who was having a test done on his prosthetic arm) Toa Mami pulled Arahu aside and told him in a stern voice:
“If there’s anything you want to say to me before you leave, this might be your last chance. Do it now.”
Arahu sucked in his breath, considered his options for amoment, then released:
“Toa Mami, you’re an incredible woman. I don’t know anyone like you, who can bounce back up after being knocked down like you can. You’re resilient and very beautiful...”
Toa Mami shivered and bit her lip as Arahu’s eyes seemed to scan her from head to toe. His gaze lingered on her Tattoo for a second too long, making her feel very uncomfortable.
“... and I was thinking,” Arahu went on. “Why don’t you come to Partoga City with me? We could-”
“No.” she stopped him cold. “I’m sorry, Arahu, but the answer’s ‘no.’ You’re my friend, teammate, and I outrank you by a Kio. I respect you too much to jeopardize that relationship by trying to build something that just doesn’t belong there. I’m sorry.”
Toa Mami saw Arahu withdraw a little and ball up his fists. Thinking fast, she added;
“This doesn’t change anything, Arahu.” She said. “I’m still your friend, and I’ll be there to support you when it counts the most.”
Arahu opened his hands and slowly reached toward Toa Mami, who stepped back and folded her arms in front of her chest.
“I can’t do that for you, Arahu. I can’t be that woman. But I can be that teammate, friend, ally.”
She unfolded her arms and put her hands on her hips.
“Look, if your sister does get elected Queen, the two of you will need all of the teammates, friends, and allies you can find. You can count on me then, alright? I’ll come you as one of those, but that’s it.”
Arahu nodded.
“Okay. Fine.” he said softly. “Thanks for, uh, talking to me... and all.”
August 14, 1928
Fort Daxia , Trecta Star System, Kingdom of Partoga
For the first time in four and a half years, Team Tamihana reported to morning formation with only three of its original members. Arahu had been picked up by a transport craft and flown back to Partoga very early in the morning. Ango had finally been issued a Daxia Officer Training School uniform, but Toa Mami thought it had been given to him by mistake. Rapati’s prosthetic arm had finally been cleared for use in frontline combat, which meant that Team Tamihana had been added to the list of Teams awaiting an assignment to a new warship.
Mami had tried her hardest to stop her team from being redeployed to the front. She personally wanted to stay on Fort Daxia and investigate the death of Titohara Nopera, but Queen Marie’s death had left the government only semi-functional. By the time someone processed Toa Mami’s paperwork and issued a ruling on her request to stay aboard Daxia, she would be very far away from it and unable to return.
This morning Toa Mami, Eteka, Ango, and Rapati had gathered in one of Fort Daxia’s many assembly halls like always. Alongside them were about 400 Partogan soldiers who had just been released from medical treatment and were waiting to be cycled back into combat. The soldiers milled about in the assembly hall and talked amongst themselves while they waited on a group of Navy officers, who entered and left the room every few hours or so. Every time this happened, the officers would take the names of everyone waiting for an assignment, and then left again.
“What are they doing?” Rapati groaned, “I thought the Navy was desperate for soldiers. Why the backlog?”
“The government’s decapitated.” Ango commented. “Normally, the Kuhina Nui or someone in his government has to sign off on ship assignments, but he’s probably busy hunting down Queen Candidates or setting up the Royal Election. Too busy to approve ship crews right now, I guess.”
Toa Mami was about to chime in when someone accidentally walked into her.
“Hey! Watch where you’re- oh!”
She just stared for a moment, and Amaya Maori smacked herself in the forehead.
“Tamihana!” She gasped, “Or, I guess I should say ‘Toa Mami’ right? I swear, I didn’t recognize you! It’s the Tattoos, you know?”
“What are you doing here?” Toa Mami and Amaya asked simultaneously.
They both laughed. Amaya shrugged.
“My whole team got killed at Aiowa. So, they sent me back here for a mental evaluation. Took some time, but I proved that I was fine and now I’m heading back into combat.”
Amaya gave Toa Mami a forced, uncomfortable grin that convinced absolutely no one that she was “fine.”
“I gotta get back out into the fight.” Amaya said. “I owe it to my team, you know? Especially Paikura. She deserved better.”
Instinctively, Toa Mami hugged Amaya very tightly.
“Damn right.” she said.
When she tried to let go, Toa Mami found out that Amaya was holding onto her extremely tightly. Both soldiers held the embrace for another minute, then let go when Eteka said,
“Look! Something’s happening!”
An officer wearing an Admiral’s insignia had just stepped into the assembly hall.
“Soldiers!” he yelled, “Your attention please! As of this moment, we are enforcing a temporary moratorium on combat deployments!”
Confused chatter arose all around the room and the Admiral called for quiet again.
“Soldiers, listen to me!” he said, “The change in agenda is due to a major development in the upcoming Royal Election!”
The atmosphere in the assembly hall changed dramatically. Every female soldier below the age of fifteen was suddenly hyperconscious of the hundreds of eyes staring at them. Toa Mami and Amaya stood back to back, terrified of the looks people were now giving them. When the excited chatter died down, the Admiral spoke again.
“The Royal Government has positively identified two young women aboard this station as Queen Candidates. Representatives of the Kuhina Nui will be boarding the station in two hours' time to collect both of them. Combat deployment operations will resume once both Candidates have left the station. To facilitate and accelerate the collection of the Candidates, all female soldiers below the age of fifteen must report to Assembly Hall #1 immediately. That is all.”
Armed members of the Military Police began working their way into the crowd of soldiers, grabbing teenage girls by the arm and guiding them towards the exit. Toa Mami, Amaya, and her comrades all turned to face one another.
“Amaya, how old are you?” Toa Mami asked,
“Fourteen.” Amaya answered. “You?”
“Fourteen. They’re gonna take us both.”
Toa Mami rounded on her teammates. There were only two dozen teenage girls in the room, which meant she had less than a minute until the MP’s spotted her.
“Okay, guys. Amaya and I will be back in two hours. Rapati’s in charge until then. If you guys get deployed before we come back, we’ll stay in the Hypercomms Room and wait for a message from you. If you can’t reach us, the next point of contact is Drill Instructor Tahana. Clear?”
“Yes, ma’am!” said Rapati, raising his mechanical arm and giving Toa Mami her first salute since she had been promoted to Lieutenant.
“You two!”
The Military Police had reached them.
“How old are you?” The MP asked.
Amaya stepped forward.
“I think that’s obvious, big guy.” She said curtly. “Just point the way to Assembly Hall One.”
…
As it turned out, there were exactly 160 girls below the age of fifteen and above the age of ten living on Fort Daxia. 85 of them were actual soldiers, while the rest were family members of Daxia crew. The 85 female soldiers (including Toa Mami and Amaya) clustered together on one side of the hall, leaving the other 75 girls to gossip and chatter amongst themselves.
Amaya passed the time by quizzing some of her fellow soldiers on the General Orders. (a set of rules and regulations that always applied to Partogan soldiers, regardless of situation or context) Toa Mami killed time by asking her comrades if they had known Titohara Nopera.
After about an hour of interviewing some thirty soldiers, Toa Mami had gotten a decent idea of the “real” Titohara. When she was still alive, Titohara had been a chatterbox, unable to stop talking once someone got her going. She had also been something of a clutz. When her corpse was found, many initially assumed Titohara had accidentally shot herself, since a firearm had been found on the scene. Toa Mami found this detail interesting. Perhaps the killer had been the real clutz, since no murderer in their right mind would leave the murder weapon at the scene. However, the suicide theory had been invalidated once it became known that Titohara’s body had been found stuffed into a locker.
Strangely, no one could agree on why Titohara had been killed. She had no known enemies and was extremely friendly and outgoing. Many soldiers said that if Titohara and Toa Mami had met, they would have quickly become friends.
“It was impossible to get angry at her.” An Ensign from the Outer Rim said. “She had that kind of smile, you know?”
Right when Toa Mami was starting to regret not having a notebook to preserve all of this information, the door to the assembly hall swung open and silence fell.
Thirty members of the Green Guard came in and stood along the walls, pointing their Gauss Rifles at the ceiling. Four men and one woman followed them inside. They were dressed in very expensive looking outfits that had been decorated with colorful sashes. Toa Mami knew at once that these Partogans were members of the National Assembly. The girls of Fort Daxia fell silent as the National Assemblymen gathered at one end of the room. A man in his middle fifties broke away from this group and pulled a small slip of paper out of his pocket. He unfolded the paper and spoke at the same time.
“There are only twelve women who have been elected to lead our great nation.” he began, “The important part is that they were elected. The Royal Election is one of the most sacred institutions of our Kingdom, and to be a Candidate is a great honor, second only to being elected Queen.”
The man finished unfolding his sheet of paper and looked around the room again.
“My name is Akuhata Tunui. I am the Prince of Kaitaia and a member of the National Assembly Secular Council. I will be one of the 52 electors who will choose our next Queen. In my hand-”
Prince Akuhata waved the sheet of paper above his head for everyone to see.
“-I hold the names of two Daxia soldiers who have been chosen by the Royal Government to be Queen Candidates.”
There was a loud oooohhh. The huge collective groan of disappointment had risen from the 75 civilian girls as they realized that none of them had been chosen. Prince Akuhata ignored them, focusing on the soldiers.
“Listen closely to me. The Royal Government takes its choice of Queen Candidates very seriously. We in the National Assembly also seek to honor the legacy left by Queen Miranda the Great. She did not seek to become the founder of our great Kingdom, nor did she aspire to become a ruler. Power was thrust upon her. It may be thrust upon you too. If you are chosen as a Queen Candidate, you will not be permitted to shirk or dodge your responsibilities. You WILL PARTICIPATE in the Election. You WILL stand before the National Assembly, and if elected, YOU. WILL. RULE.”
The words echoed around the silent assembly hall. Toa Mami could sense the nervous apprehension filling the room. All 85 female soldiers grouped closer together. The feeling of camaraderie kept everyone standing as all of the girls trembled with nervousness, anxiety, and a wide array of other feelings.
Some girls were scared of being humiliated in the election.
Some girls were prepared to throw tantrums if they weren’t picked.
Some girls were terrified of the thought that their friends might get picked.
Some girls didn’t want to be on television.
Some girls didn’t want the national spotlight.
Some girls didn’t want to be Queen.
Some girls just wanted to go home.
Prince Akuhata held up the paper to read it.
“When I call your name,” he said, “exit the door to my left and follow the Green Guard soldiers. They’ll take you to our ship, and we’ll fly you to the capitol, where you will stand for Royal Election. First: Ensign Amaya Maori!”
Toa Mami felt Amaya’s legs give out next to her. Stooping quickly, she caught Amaya before she hit the floor. All around her, noise erupted! The cheering and clapping were so intense that Toa Mami thought she would go deaf. Amaya was still conscious, but in shock. Deciding against letting Amaya embarrass herself, Toa Mami grabbed Amaya’s arm and draped it over her own shoulder. Letting Amaya use her body for support, Toa Mami started pulling the Queen Candidate out of the crowd towards Prince Akuhata. Walking side-by-side, she guided Amaya all the way to the Prince and she said to him;
“I’m sorry, sir. She’s a little stunned!”
Prince Akuhara gave Toa Mami a sympathetic look.
“Don’t worry.” he said kindly. “This isn’t the first time that happened.”
Prince Akuhata signaled his soldiers. Two Green Guards shouldered their weapons and offered their hands to Amaya. The newest Queen Candidate turned around and, leaning against one of the Green Guards for support, waved enthusiastically to her comrades one last time. The female soldiers of Fort Daxia broke into a fresh wave of cheering and applause! While Amaya was escorted from the room, Toa Mami started walking back towards her comrades, eager to rejoin them.
Toa Mami was able to see all 83 of her fellow soldier’s faces. She saw every expression change to one of excitement and wonder as behind her Prince Akuhata held up the paper a second time. As he began to speak, Toa Mami was still about 3 Bios away from her comrades. They were all looking over her shoulder towards Prince Akuhata.
“The other soldier who will be a Queen Candidate is: Toa Wahine Mami Tamihana!”
Every one of her fellow soldiers shifted their gaze from Prince Akuhata to Toa Mami. She saw their mouths moving, but didn’t hear the cheers.
Overwhelmed, Toa Mami had gone numb to the universe.
END OF CHAPTER TWO
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Oh,I can’t wait until next Tuesday…
Although we already know Amaya gets picked, or do we? You could’ve been trying to trick us…
Also,how did Angiangi react on the First Hyperwave call to Toa Mami having the Tuakiri?
Edit:since there are 4 candidates and 3 have been found and the 4th is Enutanga, where is Enutanga right now? After all,the election can't start until all the Candidates are on Partoga and in Partoga City...
Although we already know Amaya gets picked, or do we? You could’ve been trying to trick us…
Also,how did Angiangi react on the First Hyperwave call to Toa Mami having the Tuakiri?
Edit:since there are 4 candidates and 3 have been found and the 4th is Enutanga, where is Enutanga right now? After all,the election can't start until all the Candidates are on Partoga and in Partoga City...
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As I always say: "What could possibly go wrong?"
SO IT IS, AND SO IT SHALL ALWAYS BE.
The Paradox said:
Just like a lot of Partogans, Angiangi stared at Toa Mami's Tuakiri Tattoo long enough to make her daughter uncomfortable. Angiangi was able to understand the story of what happened by reading the Tattoo, and said that she didn't blame Toa Mami for killing in self-defense. When Toa Mami admitted that she was a little scared of what other people were going to think of her Tattoo, Angiangi also said that "Anyone who takes the time to listen to your side of the story will understand and forgive you." Toa Mami then joked about how her father once said something like that before he died. Angiangi also tried to drop a hint that she's bought a glass eye for Toa Mami, but the call had to be cut short because Toa Mami had to return to duty.
She's aboard the Partogan Heavy Cruiser Kongu, which is speeding towards a Hyperspace Gate that'll take it directly to Partoga.
When the news of Queen Marie's death broke, a Partogan Carrier Strike Group was already flying towards Paku Nui in response to the Takeover which happened a few days earlier. Because Paku Nui is a hotbed of armed Levakian resistance to Partogan rule, Enutanga was found and picked up by the Carrier Strike Group instead of a National Assemblyman. She was picked up at roughly the same time as Amaya and Toa Mami and will most likely be the last Candidate to arrive. (Irirangi, Amaya, and Toa Mami are all in the Trecta system, either on or near the Partogan Homeworld)
I'm so sorry for bursting the bubble... but if you're waiting for Chapter 3.1, you'll have to wait a little longer. I'm going to make a proper announcement after Interlude #2 goes up on Friday, but Faith in Chaos is going on a 2 week hiatus starting next Wednesday due to a pre-existing obligation that I can't get out of.
Chapter 3 will start in March.***So if anyone has any questions/comments, please feel free to continue leaving them, but after the 19th, I'll be in a location with really poor cell service and unable to return to the forums for two weeks. I'll get back to you then.***
That is very cryptic. Especially Paradox rejecting it…
I'm so sorry for bursting the bubble... but if you're waiting for Chapter 3.1, you'll have to wait a little longer. I'm going to make a proper announcement after Interlude #2 goes up on Friday, but Faith in Chaos is going on a 2 week hiatus starting next Wednesday due to a pre-existing obligation that I can't get out of.
Understandable. Maybe this means I can actually work on my submod. I’ll probably end up working on the AAR ideas I have, though…
I’ll probably re-read this AAR a lot,though.
So after Interlude 2, the next update will be on March 5th?
Also,what’s stopping you from posting Chapter 3.1 next Tuesday? It’s not like anyone will be angrier at you than if you ended on Interlude 2, and it would finish up the 2.6/2.8-3.1 story arc. Just sayin’
Ninja Addition:Also,I’m not sure if the viewAARs will care if you break the 2-3 updates a week thing…if you have a legitimate reason,like now.
Also,what’s stopping you from posting Chapter 3.1 next Tuesday? It’s not like anyone will be angrier at you than if you ended on Interlude 2, and it would finish up the 2.6/2.8-3.1 story arc. Just sayin’
Ninja Addition:Also,I’m not sure if the viewAARs will care if you break the 2-3 updates a week thing…if you have a legitimate reason,like now.
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March 5th is the travel day, and I won't get off Active Duty orders until the next morning. (unless the unit commander asks or orders me to stay later, which has happened before) so the next major update would be on either the 6th or 7th, depending on how long it takes me to get back into the swing of things.
I have considered posting Chapter 3.1 on Sunday or Monday, but that segment is supposed to be the starting point for the next story arc: "Chapter 3: The Nation is Calling." My thought process is this: "If I post 3.1 on Monday, then I'd probably drop 3.2 about 24 hours later, so the story can pause on an appropriate cliffhanger." This way, I could dive right into the Royal Election as soon as I get home. Like I pointed out many posts ago, I like to use cliffhangers, and the Interludes are already a good source of those.
I remember that post…
Your logic makes sense and the Royal Election story arc will take 2 weeks,so…
Thanks for the info.