Life2.0 - a Broken Shackles Narrative

[Macavity116]

"My sister was the Grand Arbiter of the Prikki. She was why I had a free hand to help Life2.0. She was how I got you guys access to the Sentry Array Network data, and with her gone, that's now in the hands of the Committee."

"I'm sorry Grepp. How did she die?"

"On the record? vehicle bombing carried out by dissidents from a recent MSI uplift. Off the record, Prikki Intelligence already knows the Uplifted pawns are linked to an Arishkan Black Ops force known for regime change missions. We suspect the Arishkan Emperor ordered my sister's death."

Oh yeah. This right here... this is bad. This is all kinds of bad and will end positively for no one.

 

[CBR JGWRR]

"Flashpoint, Part 3"
24th Shendredie, 9 (2188)
Mei Hua​

My husband's kiss wakes me. At first I smile, then I see him. "Osshi, what's wrong?"

He joins me. "Could we make love, Mei Hua?"

I bolt upright. "What's happening?" He shows me a news report from C'ean, then the Prikki internal news broadcasts. "I'm not sure making love is an appropriate response."

His four clawed hand takes mine. "It might be our last opportunity. Grepp is already talking to the colony."

I gulp. "Please tell me Nooki-Schnepp Rikki is unrelated to Grepp-Schnepp Rikki."

He kisses me. "Unfortunately, that would be lying. Brother and sister."

I pull him under the duvet. "Pretend we're asleep and that we don't know about the news."

He entwines our bodies. His scales are cold. "How do you think they'll respond?"

"I don't know Osshi." I kiss him. "I need to know if you know anything about this."

He pulls me close. "Mei, I know nothing about this. But I realise I'm the only Arishkan here, and people might not accept that."

The tension is rising. I stroke his face. "Osshi, please, it's me. I'm your wife. If this goes wrong it could plunge the galaxy into war. I need to know what you know."

He starts caressing me. "Mei, I know nothing. I promise. I just want you one last time in case I get lynched in the morning."

I smile. "You won't get lynched. Or else they'll have to lynch me too."

We share more kisses, interrupted by the knock on the door. I pull him close. Our communicator beeps. I leave it long enough to sound like we woke up from it. "Hello?"

"Hi Mei Hua, it's Naomi. I'm guessing I've just woken you, but there's been a major political crisis start and I need you and your husband. Now."

"We aren't dressed, one moment."

We fumble our clothes together, and head out. She's waiting outside the door. "Come."

---

She takes us to a conference. It's a sound-proofed taxi, we can't even hear road noise. Just us. Naomi looks at us. "The only recording equipment in here is my memory. I've heard Grepp's side, and I want yours before we get in there. And I want truth I can trust."

We look at each other. "I've already asked Osshi if he knows anything. He doesn't."

Naomi stares at me, her black eyes piercing through the dark. There's silence. Then she looks at Osshi. "If you want asylum, it's granted."

Osshi replies first. "What?"

She snorts. "Ossuhphuhr, your wife has vouched for you. If you get caught in a lie now, I will be picking through whatever pieces she leaves behind after her response to being betrayed."

"I get that. But what's the asylum offer for?"

"Your empire. Your wife. Pick one."

He looks at me. "Is she serious?"

"We knew there was a risk of that coming up. Turns out it has."

He looks torn apart inside. "I don't want to choose one or the other. I want both."

I'm trying to think of something comforting as Naomi replies. "Ossuhphuhr, here's my logic. The worst case scenario for you right now is facing that decision played out in real time if - or more realistically when - the situation escalates. I might sound harsh, but I'm suggesting you confront it now so that you both know where you stand in advance of that." She looks at me. "And I'd pick your wife."

He nods. "I see."

I smile with relief as I see what she's doing. "Osshi?"

He looks at me. "I choose you, Mei Hua." He turns to Naomi. "Are you sure about the asylum offer?"

She laughs. "You've seen how many Olinbar live here, right?"

We exchange glances before we burst out laughing at the situation, just as Naomi gets out the taxi.

---

The conference has a surprisingly high number of attendees for 2am. Mostly video links, but there's a few people in person; I recognise Rivkah, Buri, Alexandra, Grepp and the Holocron.

Naomi speaks first. "In the conversation on the way here I put two questions to Ossuhphuhr and Mei Hua, one asking if he knew anything about present events and the other making him choose between the empire and his wife. Mei Hua has vouched for Ossuhphuhr knowing nothing about the situation, and I'm accepting that on the basis that if he's lying, I'm second in the queue after her. Therefore, I want Ossuhphuhr to be treated as a member of our colony."

Osshi gently talks to Grepp as she sits. "My condolences for your loss Grepp. Your sister was one of the finest Prikki to have lived, and the galaxy is poorer for her murder."

Grepp licks an eyeball. "Thank you, Ossuhphuhr. We begin with the news that's arrived since Naomi left us to get these two. Prikki internal news have released the identities of the assailants - they are Lukhuinites."

Eyes instinctively turn to Vorosh's video link display. "I'd like to point out that mages like myself are subject to persecution by the MSI backed rulers on my homeworld. I've got nothing to do with this."

Grepp licks an eyeball. "Prikki Intelligence believes an Arishkan Galactic Empire Black Ops team is responsible for helping these Lukhuinites."

Now people look at my husband. Naomi stands, and the murmurs fall silent. "Before anyone wants to interrogate Ossuhphuhr, please keep in mind that diplomatic staff such as him are not going to be told the juicy details we want to know."

My husband nods. "I'd also like to add Prikki Intelligence are not known for making stuff up; unlike some of the other Great Powers the Prikkiki-Ti does not care for intrigue and plots, and they only do diplomacy if they want to take initiative. If they wanted war over an issue, they don't fabricate an excuse, they just dispatch the fleets of Attack Moons. So I'm inclined to trust them on it."

Grepp licks an eyeball amid the rising volume of conversation.

Naomi taps the table. "Our task is to consider the rational and irrational responses the parties involved could make and discuss our response to navigate the crisis. Let's talk."

 

[HistoryDude]

And so an interstellar war begins... Where does MSI stand? Will they take a side?

Poor Ossuhphuhr.

 

[CBR JGWRR]

"Flashpoint, Part 4"
25th Shendredie, 9 (2188)
Rivkah Of Unity​

I begin. "Is the galaxy about to go to war?"

Grepp replies. "With no Grand Arbiter, that belongs to the General Oversight Committee to decide."

Aunt Alex brings up the sensor data. "I've been reviewing fleet positions. So far there's been no big fleet movements from either the Prikki or the Arishkan."

Li interrupts. "Gnaea Titius is giving testimony to the Galactic Community now."

The main screen goes to a recording of the Galactic Community holoconference. A lone purple man is giving a monologue. "...and these general instabilities associated mean that apprehending the cult responsible is extremely complex. We remain committed to ensuring the established government on Lukhuin is able to find the perpetrators and we have assigned additional Civic Harmony Officers to lead efforts in bringing the cults responsible to justice-" I look at Vorosh. She's gone purple in the face with sadness. Oh no. "-but I can categorially state that the aspersions against our colleagues in the Arishkan Galactic Empire are false. There are no Arishkan 'Black Ops' teams on Lukhuin."

He sits down, and the feed returns to C'ean comms 24/7 news repeats. "Ok, there's a lot to unpack there. Vorosh, who is he talking about?"

"My friends back on Lukhuin. They're hunting down the last Lukhuinite mages." She takes a few breaths. "They're purging us, and the Galactic Community doesn't even query it."

Silence follows. Eventually Mum speaks. "Thoughts on why he's buttering up the Arishkan?"

Ossuhphuhr stands. "They've been trying to get the Empire to stop blocking their efforts to send Pacificiation Assets to the PDRTC through diplomatic means for quite some time now."

Pawns on the board. "MSI obviously thinks they can gain by goading the Prikki."

Valerius nods. "Of course; a galactic war that doesn't technically involve MSI in the fighting gives a lot of leeway for aggressive aquisitions that get ignored because of bigger events."

Mum nods. "Like dropping an illegal fleet to take us out. In peacetime, they couldn't be sure of getting away with it."

Uncle Thando interrupts. "Could we go back to our favourite magical snails just a second? What's MSI's involvement here?"

Vorosh hums. "Short answer or long answer?"

Thando looks at Mum. She nods. "Long."

She shuffles to be more comfortable. "We Lukhuinites are a deeply divided race. Not into large numbers of ethnic, linguistic or cultural groups as is normal though. Commonality of language is something that we have long possessed thanks to mages like myself developing magical means to enable long distance communication to better facilitate magical research, and because of this we have had an informal mages guild for centuries that acts as a kind of united government. All that changed a decade ago, when MSI backed a warlord with advanced technology that enabled a conventional conquest against our utterly unprepared for war society. We mages were driven underground as a means of survival against the persecution his Materialist-Militarist governing ethics unleashed. It wasn't long before Luilkhuinites were being loaded for slave ships as the new king had agreed to repay MSI in slaves. As a result, my homeworld is torn by a brutal dictatorship, with some cooperating to save their lives and freedom while others try to resist."

Mum puts her hands together. "And now MSI are pinning the violence against the Prikki on the enemies of their pawn."

Vorosh turns to Grepp. "How exactly did your sister die again?"

"Vehicle bombing. We have specifics - one of the bombs failed to detonate and was recovered intact. They consisted of a core split pot made of several bronze pieces that were soldered together which contains light hydrocarbon gas mixtures under pressure inside another pot that was partially filled with crude oil and various candles, and an impactor to split the bronze inner pot."

I look at Uncle Thando. He nods. "I can see that working."

Mum looks at Vorosh. "That doesn't sound like the kind of way a mage cult with access to people of your capabilities would assassinate someone."

Vorosh's eyestalks retract as she plays with a fireball above her head. "Quite."

Ossuhphupr looks at Grepp. "So, what are you allowed to say about the Arishkan Black Ops involvement?"

Grepp points to the screen. "The General Oversight Committee are planning to release a full statement on it soon. I'm hoping it will be on the viewscreen."

Mum looks at Li. "Could you find it?"

"Let me just switch back to the Prikki hardware, just a little bit more time... Found it."

I look as the screen takes the form of five thrones, four with Prikki sat on them, and a fifth Prikki stands beside. They hold a bag with both hands. The centre one is empty; must have been Grepp's sister. The first Prikki stands and we all look at Grepp. "That's Vipsi Noosh-noosh, Executor Of Research."

Vipsi begins their address. Starts by licking an eyeball. "The Prikkiki-Ti has been assaulted. The callous killing of Grand Arbiter Nooki-Schnepp Rikki demands justice and investigation. The Prikkiki-Ti has conducted that investigation, and we demand justice. We demand that Emperor Izzixl of the Arishkan Galactic Empire face justice for the crime carried out on his orders."

The Prikki at the side of the thrones tips out the bag; three Arishkan heads fall out.

 

[Macavity116]

I realize the entire galaxy is about to catch fire and horrible events are about to transpire, but...

Could we go back to our favourite magical snails just a second?

Dear Jericho this made me crack up. I just want these guys to save the day somehow.

 

[CBR JGWRR]

"Flashpoint, Part 5"
25th Shendredie, 9 (2188)
Naomi Of Unity​

I pull my coat a little tighter. The colony is gathered before me. I see so many emotions in the crowd.

My earpiece gives me more as I listen to the radio chatter and subspace comms.

Worry.

Confusion.

Fear.

Despair.

Anxiety.
​

Time to remind them just who we are.

"For those who slept through the events of last night, I will give a brief summary. The Prikkiki-Ti and the Arishkan Galactic Empire as of last night, are at war. The Galactic Community has condemned the war, and the interstellar Gateway network beyond what both powers directly control has been severed from their access. Therefore, the transit times of their warships across star systems and hyperlanes gives approximately a two month wait before battle begins. This war is quite far off from us, and we are not threatened by it's immediate conflagration. We are however, threatened by the external consequences. Our enemy, Minamar Specialised Industries, has not ceased to conduct the behaviours that we are all devastatingly familiar with. However, as the spotlight now turns to the Arishkan-Prikki War, MSI is likely to take advantage of the opportunities available to them to make advances while everyone is distracted. Already, we are seeing MSI warships breaching territory inhabited by our allies, the People's Democratic Republic of Terra and Colonies. As a consequence of our mutual defence treaty, relations with MSI have progressed into open war.

We have a single warship capable of mounting an aggressive action against MSI, as none of our vessels have sufficient delta-v to make the journey to MSI territory. I am therefore commissioning my brother, Thando HaMaadimi, to go out and redo what he has most ably done before; conduct piracy against MSI shipping. Every ship captured is one we can ourselves use to bootstrap ourselves a navy.

At home, we face an enemy who we expect will exploit the distraction of those who would act to help us to attack us, and therefore I expect that if MSI forces are not already underway, they will be soon."

I drop my coat. Gosh, it's cold today.

"When I first offered myself to lead our revolution, I had nothing more than what I have right now on my person."

My husband wraps his arms around me. His fur is so nice and warm... Focus. "Now, I once again offer myself to lead our colony. I do not accept that we are doomed to lose." I draw the blade from my hip. "With this blade I killed the man who captained the ship that brought us here. With this blade, I killed the man who captained the ship that attempted to take our freedom away. We can win this conflict, and free ourselves. Long have we laboured for a world where we can be free. Where our children can live in peace and prosperity. What I say now, I say for the ages:"

One deep breath.

"Workers of the galaxy, Unite! We have nothing to lose but our restraining fields!"

 

[CBR JGWRR]

And with this, we now enter the third narrative arc of Life2.0; the long-awaited war with MSI.

And so an interstellar war begins... Where does MSI stand? Will they take a side?

Poor Ossuhphuhr.

MSI stand for themselves.

Yeah, he is not having a good time.

I realize the entire galaxy is about to catch fire and horrible events are about to transpire, but...


Dear Jericho this made me crack up. I just want these guys to save the day somehow.

They're going to try.

 

[CBR JGWRR]

"Denizens Of The Shroud, Part 1"
26th Shendredie, 9 (2188)
Vorosh​

I peer carefully around the doorway. Naomi is back at her desk, even if her belly is starting to show the life growing inside her. I wonder how it must feel, to have new life, a little piece of you and your beloved, growing inside yourself. Focus. "Naomi, our experiments in better understanding Psionics mean we're ready to try something."

She turns her chair towards me. "Go on?"

"Do you remember that I said before that we felt something that wanted to be found?"

She shrugs. "Vaguely. It's been a complicated few months."

"I know you are a monotheist, so I understand you have an alternative explanation. But are you familiar with the Olinbar observation about pantheons of five major gods and numerous minor gods?"

"Yes."

I press in. "Well, we've found them. Forgive me if I mischaracterise the applicable beings, but they aren't gods in the sense you know your Yeshua HaNazrati as, but they are perhaps fallen angels. Or analogulous to such. At least now, maybe they were once mortals, we don't know."

Her arms fold. "So you want us to make contact with fallen angels?"

She's... Very sceptical. "I appreciate that it is a bit crazy, but this war just pitted our interstellar allies against each other. We're desperate."

She tilts her head from side to side, then sighs. "Point taken."

"I believe that I can make an entry. Obviously Thando and Alexandra are taking our fastest warship. Could I delay their departure just a little bit and try one experiment with you and your family? The entry is most stable if there's already family links, and well it kind of has to be you or Rivkah as only you guys are actually allowed to make such a deal should we be offered one."

She leans back in her chair, looks at the roof. Eventually I get a reply. "I don't like it, but I see your point about our situation... We'll try it. I'll tell Thando and Alexandra. How exactly will it work?"

"The captured Corvette can get extremely close to the star, right? Close enough that I can harness a much greater portion of it's power than I could with one of our ships. Plus, it's faster than one of our ships, which means the mission is over quicker. Once I've harnessed enough energy I can create a Psionic confluence that induces a link to the Shroud."

"Interesting. Is it safe?"

"Everyone who's tried has come back so far."

She looks at me. "I suppose that'll have to do."

 

[CBR JGWRR]

"Denizens Of The Shroud, Part 2"
19th Rhizome, 9 (2188)
Rivkah Of Unity​

I have to confess, I really wasn't sure about this before.

And after looking into this Psionic vortex, I'm even less sure now.

It fills this bolted-on cargo bay Thando had added to the ship, charging all the time. Has been for weeks; Vorosh has been charging it back on Unity for ages, and it's been charging all the time it's been in space.

I decided to go back to my bunk, the occasional screams are disturbing. Later on, they came to get me.

Now it's a portal. Vorosh, Mum, Dad, Uncle Thando and Aunt Alex are stood waiting to go in; I join Mum and Dad as we walk into it.

I have a really bad feeling...

Everything is purple clouds.

It feels like we've been walking for ages, and, that we've been walking for no time at all. This place is strange.

And then I look up.

I scream.

---

Above us are four shadows. Big shadows. Looking down at us, watching us.

By now, the others have worked out why I screamed.

Mum looks at Vorosh. "Entities like these?"

Vorosh leans out further from her shell. "Yeah." Then she shouts upwards. "Great ones, we have travelled far to find you, to seek exchange." She pauses. Looks around. "To ask for aid."

The shadows look at each other. Three depart, leaving one.

One descends, and the visage of the Shroud completely changes; suddenly we are on a battlefield. It's utter chaos, as battles of all kinds – everything from power armoured troopers with lasers to naked men with rocks – rage around us. The shadow becomes a beast as it descends from the sky, and the battle ends as the beast feasts. After a little wait, it turns to us.


It looks at Vorosh, and takes the form of some hyper-predatory Lukhuinite that scares her into her shell.

"I AM THE KINSTRIFE."​

Then it turns to Dad, and it assumes the appearance of Zaru-Toru, the ancient god of war. Dad bares his sabres at it.

"I AM THE SPILLING OF BLOOD."​

Then to Alexandra, and it changes to a man who looks just like her in bronze armour, with a shield just like hers.

"I AM THE MEETING OF ARMIES."​

Thando sees his own reflection stare back.

"I AM THE BLADE IN THE DARK."​

And then me.

I'm looking at Mum, smiling with Golden eyes and Golden hair, a scar on her cheek, a wolf's head on an iron ring, and a razor coiled on her hip.

"I AM THE RAGE OF THE OPPRESSED AND THE FURY OF THE TYRANT."​

When it looks at Mum, he takes the form of a demon atop a throne of skulls.

"FOR WHAT ELSE BUT WAR IS THE EATER OF WORLDS."​

The Shroud reshapes around us, to a vision of our future. Our tacticians and strategists plan rapidly and effectively, our logistics are flawless, and our warriors are fanatics. Perhaps too zealous. Even our ships manage to outperform their natural capabilities.

But it is still in the balance; the Shroud being only offers to enhance what we have, and not one of the visions actually shows the conclusion.

I suppose it is better than nothing though. Right?

I look at Mum. Her voice is dark as she turns to me. "Khorne cares not whose blood flows, only that it flows."

The demon on the skulls returns, face red with rage as it ascends.

Then behind us, a void opens.

The final Shroud Entity manages to be the most disturbing. His preamble is circles upon circles swirling around our heads, filaments of light that cross at times to show snapshots of history. We're left knowing the identity of the End of The Cycle as their voice emanates from a vortex.

"IT IS NOT YET YOUR TIME."​

Suddenly the scene before us is on MSI's capital world, as MSI's founding charter is formally abolished, and emancipation and release from all debts is proclaimed for all. All of us are there.

Nearly.

Mum is missing. She notes it. "And?"

"BUT IT COULD BE."​

Before us are two Human women.

One is an exact mirror of Mum as she is now. No changes at all.

The other...

I look at her face, and my first thought is that maybe Humans can be red skinned. And then I realise what it truly means when I see the crown of thorns that has been smashed onto her head, her face is unrecognisable from the blood.

Worse, it's mixed in with something else, as she's been drenched in some strange white fluid.

This poor woman, her body is splayed out – arms outstretched, with large and rusty nails through her wrists and ankles.


She's unrecognisable, and I'm glad she's dead, because at least she wouldn't be in pain anymore.


And then I feel horror that crushes my chest as she tries helplessly to lift herself to breathe, pushing her weight through the nails in her feet, her eyes opening with shock from the agony.


I can see light through her body because some of the cuts are that deep. She has been utterly brutalised.

Oh.

Oh I feel sick.

Really sick.

I'm looking at Mum.

Mum is...

Well, Dad is crying because he figured it out before I did.

Mum is just standing there, looking at the Psionic Entity. "Is this the only way?"

"THERE WILL BE A RECKONING."​

Mum looks at the rest of us. "I vote End Of The Cycle."

Dad looks at her like she's lost her mind. So do I, honestly. I quickly glance at the others; it's all of us against Mum here. Aunt Alex and Uncle Thando are speechless.

"Mum..." I search for words. Can't find them. "Mum, no."

She softens. "What's the life of one prostitute?"

Vorosh lays a tentacle on her hand. "Too great a price."

Mum smiles weakly to her, then looks at the End. "Can you guarantee both parts of this outcome?"

"BRING FORTH THE END."​

Mum steps forward. The vortex reaches out to claim her. Goryhell... I move in front of Mum. Quickly. "Mum. Not like this."

She's crying. "Rivkah, we can win. All it costs is my life."

Dad picks both of us up, pulls us away. "My wife is too high a price."

"Guys, this could work." She turns back to the monster. "We-"

We are back on the ship; Vorosh pulled us out. Mum turns on her. "Vorosh, why?"

She lays her tentacles on Mum. "You were right to be suspicious of them Naomi. I don't know how. I only know that we can achieve this, and that none of these entities make the journey with us." She gets eyestalk to eye with Mum; she has to rear back and lift herself off the ground. "You deserve better than being crucified."

 

[Macavity116]

Okay, that was scary. Naomi's willingness to go along with the End of the Cycle was more disturbing than the way it presented its offer.

 

[CBR JGWRR]

"Reflections On The Shroud"
19th Rhizome, 9 (2188)
Buri Of Unity​

We float in the negligible gravity of our quarters; my wife suffers from artificial gravity sickness as it is, even without the morning sickness. I run my hand over the small bulge where our child grows inside her.

I look into her eyes. "Wife Naomi."

She smiles. She's content. "Husband Buri."

I nuzzle her. "Have I failed in that?"

She looks at me confused. But not for long. "You mean..."

"Volunteering to be crucified while in my arms does worry me a bit." I pause for her to reply, but she just listens. I continue. "I know you are often several steps ahead of me, but I do not understand what you were thinking." I stroke her face. "Has the abuse you suffered made you enjoy that kind of degradation?"

She blushes, before bursting into laughter. "Buri, my sweet Buri, it was nothing like that."

I pull her close. "So what was it?"

"I looked at the crowd my love. I saw Everyone. I saw you. I saw Rivkah. I saw our son, or at least that entity's idea of him. I saw Vorosh and Daas, Odoos, Tryykad, Thando and Alexandra, Gillian, Clarissa, Rachel, Tina, Sophia, Valerius, Aggripina, Caeso... Everyone."

"We all did. Only you were missing."

"Buri, we both know people die in war. That's why I had Rivkah learn chess, it teaches the two harshest lessons of command; that we are all on the board, and that no one is above being sacrificed in order to win. The End Of The Cycle offered winning with all pieces but one."

"Sacrificing the queen."

She nods, tears in her eyes. "Yes. I'm afraid of us losing everything Buri... Given the choice between the horror of wondering how many of us would survive, vs the knowledge that my fate is to be abused and crucified, but that everyone else would live..." I nuzzle her. "Do you feel me?"

I run my hands up her spine. "Yes."

She nuzzles my neck. "I love you, Buri."

"I love you, Naomi."

 

[CBR JGWRR]

War Prosecution Perspective:
Alexandra HaMaadimi​

"Hello and welcome to today's broadcast. I'm still your host Li Nakuma. This is our first War Prosecution Perspective, this one being from our Lady of War in charge of overall defence of the Kidore system. She joins me from a shakedown cruise of her husband's corvette touring the inner system. So, Alexandra HaMaadimi, would you like to explain your perspective?"

"Hello Li. For me, the war to date has been about planning for the defence, a role I step aside from as I step down from that to leave with my husband to go bring back a fleet. Or at least, a lot of propulsion systems."

"We'll get to that later, but first obviously a lot of our listeners are worried about the safety of the home front at this time. What can you tell them?"

"We have a fleet of warships ready to launch on standby that are armed with the best weapons we can make. Plus, we do have advantages; MSI might be able to make better ships, but we can produce ours a lot more easily, especially now that we are making more use of the Iriphubliki-In-Exile's technology. Naomi's decision to go for pirating ourselves a fleet sounds drastic, but it's worth noting that the piracy is to allow for an offensive fleet that must be able to transit whole star systems quickly and effectively, with either easily processed fuel, or strong supply chains. We have them for defence, but not for offence."

"So let's talk about the piracy. For a start, is it legal?"

"Under galactic law, no. But equally, neither is slavery, and as Naomi's Letters Of Marque only cover MSI shipping, we claim legality from busting slave ships."

"Does that work?"

"Maybe. We'll see. We are hoping that a few ambushed freighters will not be an issue, dwarfed by ongoing events."

"Are there moral qualms about piracy?"

"Not as big as the moral qualms about having no power projection. Besides, even if all Thando and I achieve is leading the MSI navy on a wild goose chase, then we've still succeeded."

"Good point, the more time we have, the better. Well, I'm sure I speak for the whole colony when I wish you and your husband happy hunting out there."

 

[CBR JGWRR]

War Prosecution Perspective:
The Holocron
​

{Define_Meta_Objective (Liberation_Causus-Belli_Victory)}
{Define_Priority [Meta_Objective] (Existential)}
{List_Sub-Objectives_1 [Meta_Objective] (Obtain_Resources) (Obtain_Combat_Operatives) (Obtain_Allies)}
{State_Present_Status [Sub-Objectives_1] (Initial_Seed_Resources_Obtained) (Initial_Seed_Operatives_Obtained) (Local_Biont_Allies_Obtained)}
{Evaluate_Status [Sub-Objectives_1] (Insufficient)}
{Evaluate_Status [Meta-Objective] (Alarming_Near_Failure)}
{Identify_Solution [Alarming_Near_Failure] (Increase_Efforts) (Support_Allies) (Exploit_Opportunities)}
{Prognosis [Meta_Objective] (Achievable)}

{Detail [Local_Biont_Allies] ("Life2.0")}
{Define [Life2.0] (Worker Cooperative) (Leader_Is_"Naomi_Of_Unity") (Enemy_Of_Our_Enemy) (Equivalent_Technological_Level)}
{Define ["Naomi_Of_Unity"] (Relation (Daughter_Tipheret_Daughter_Tipheret_Daughter_Atalyah)) (Former_Companionship_Asset) (Husband_"Buri_Of_Unity") (Daughter_"Rivkah_Of_Unity") (Pregnant (Son_"Ruki_Of_Unity")) (Role (Queen_Equivalent)) (Evaluation (Dedicated) (Reasonable) (Unresolved_Psychological_Issues))}

 

[HistoryDude]

Thus does the war begin - or rather two wars begin.

When will MSI attack Unity itself? I imagine that battle will end up on the planet, but it would be excellent if MSI could be prevented from landing troops at all.

Naomi was totally channeling communism. Was she kissing up to Terra And Colonies? They're communist, right?

Those Shroud scenes were... certainly something. I wonder if any of the other Shroud beings might get involved later... on any side. Why were these two the first to show up? Is it just that they're the most associated with war?

Also, Warhammer 40K survived this far into the future?

Okay, that was scary. Naomi's willingness to go along with the End of the Cycle was more disturbing than the way it presented its offer.

I 100% agree with this.

 

[CBR JGWRR]

"Codewords"
21st Rhizome, 9 (2188)
Naomi Of Unity​

I wake tied to a chair. The lighting is low, there's candles... It's nice and warm.

And I'm nude, just the way he likes. Yeah, I'll play. "Husband Buri, I'm awake now."

I wait.

Nothing.

A little louder. "I'm waiting Buri."

He enters the room. He looks great with nothing on. I'm getting excited. He's so muscular...

Wait. He wouldn't come in naked, he always undresses in front of me. This isn't right.

Now I think about it, there's a lot wrong. Artificial gravity is on, he knows it makes me feel sick.

My legs are spread out. Buri wouldn't do that, he knows what I prefer. And there's only one pillow, Buri would use more than one for me.

My hands are tied with rope. Buri wouldn't do that either, he'd make sure something soft was underneath, otherwise I get friction burn.

Hmm. Who would tie me to a chair nude and pretend to be my husband?

The logical explanation is that I've been captured and that this is a ruse to get me to reveal information, so, play along until I can escape. Don't express it externally.

He's beside me. He gently runs a claw up my thigh - with the tip of the claw, which Buri wouldn't do because it scratches instead of excites. He didn't ask me first either.

I have to warn this guy. "Look, I know that for whatever reason you are pretending to be my Buri. For your own safety, stop."

The animatronic shuts down, and Alexandra and Thando enter the room, throwing a cover over me. "Congratulations Naomi, you passed. Where did our emulation go wrong?"

"Name Naomi Of Unity, rank Arch-Imperatrix."

"Very funny Naomi."

Stay silent. I brace myself for torture.

Eventually they leave.

Buri enters.

He looks at the replica.

Looks at the way it has a claw touching me.

He rips it's arms off and uses them to cave it's skull in. He turns to me expectantly.

I smile and whisper. "Zaru-Toru."

He leans in close. "Tira-Toru."

It's him. I'm safe.

 

[CBR JGWRR]

Thus does the war begin - or rather two wars begin.

When will MSI attack Unity itself? I imagine that battle will end up on the planet, but it would be excellent if MSI could be prevented from landing troops at all.

Naomi was totally channeling communism. Was she kissing up to Terra And Colonies? They're communist, right?

Those Shroud scenes were... certainly something. I wonder if any of the other Shroud beings might get involved later... on any side. Why were these two the first to show up? Is it just that they're the most associated with war?

Also, Warhammer 40K survived this far into the future?



I 100% agree with this.

Yes.

It depends; at the moment, Life2.0 is a little fish to fry for MSI. They've got bigger problems in domestic unrest, the Lokra-Kitan Payback war, and the PDRTC conflict that mean Life2.0 is on the list but more pressing matters take priority.

The final line is a near-verbatim quote of one of the phrases said by "The Worker" advisor voice type in Stellaris. And the audience is Unity only; Naomi isn't going to issue a formal declaration of war to MSI until she is forced to.

There's been a few hints. But yes; they're the most suited for the immediate present where winning the defensive war is the priority.

As a warning from fiction, yes.

She does have her reasons though.

 

[Macavity116]

Alexandra and Thando really missed their calling as spies and infiltrators. A little more troubleshooting and they could get one of those animatronics just about anywhere in the Galaxy... which is a very scary thought.

 

[CBR JGWRR]

Alexandra perhaps, but Thando has done his fair share of infiltration jobs. And yes, there's lots of opportunities for such subterfuges to come in handy.

 

[CBR JGWRR]

"Ungentlemanly Warfare"
29th Rhizome, 9 (2188)
Thando HaMaadimi​

"So, Sis. About the fake-Buri. What do you think?"

She shrugs. "Looked hot; I know you got the reference images for his physique from the weightlifting competition, being inside an apartment with me means he's a little out of shape, but it was a nice little reminder. And some parts of his anatomy were oversized. The behaviour was the give-away though."

"When did you figure it out?"

"Your fake-Buri walked in already undressed."

"That early? Damn."

"Thando, I'm not sure you'll be comfortable with me explaining it, but in the brief minutes between fake-Buri entering and me telling him to stop, there were at least ten different errors compared to how Buri is if he is doing something like this to me."

I look at her. "Wow."

"I do have some ideas though; you went to a lot of effort to play a practical joke on me. And well, after I figured that it was probably an MSI trap to get me to reveal something I shouldn't, I realised that we need to have much better espionage training. I suspect most people would have gone along a lot further than I did. And I also realised we have practically no mental countermeasures to deal with a brute-force extraction; I'll talk to Vorosh, see if we can do something like implanting fake memories. But, this brings me to a difficult situation."

Oh dear. "What difficult situation?"

"Thando, I could send you out on piracy; you're the only Commander I have with a proven track record. But you're also the best survivalist in enemy territory we've got. I know the theory, which is what I've been teaching our revolutionaries. But you've lived it."

"Still thinking of the revolutionary strategy then?"

"Yes; even if we break MSI in space, we haven't got even a percent of a percent of the people we'd need to drop a successful Iron Rain. Even with cloning and Neumanns, there just isn't enough time to develop a sufficient population base."

"True."

"So, I need a Minister of Ungentlemanly Warfare who can train, organise and supply our revolutionaries while Unity operates the navy that gives them the distraction the revolutionaries need to break the shackles."

I think it through. "Naomi, that would mean pirating hundreds of freighters."

"I know."

"How? They'll step up security."

She smiles. "We boost them in one night."

"That's insane."

"We'll raid Brigantium Orbital Dockyard."

"You want to steal a hundred freighters from the busiest dockyard in MSI territory?"

"Yes. And I have a few ideas on how."

 

[Macavity116]

"Thando, I'm not sure you'll be comfortable with me explaining it, but in the brief minutes between fake-Buri entering and me telling him to stop, there were at least ten different errors compared to how Buri is if he is doing something like this to me."

Confirmation that you are wrong always hurts, but this is just multiple shots directly to the liver. XD