Session 2 14

The conference has arrived! Technically.
The venue is City Hal - the local government's headquarters, specifically its spacious and moderately arted-up foyer.
[OOC] Abraham: Aaaaaand we're all still out shopping, ain't we?
Large glass windows provide a view of the end-of-sunset sky outside, not to mention the paparazzi.
[OOC] Ingenue: I think we came back from shopping between end of last and now. Else, we're missing the party and the Neph attack on Abe who isn't even polite to be there to be attacked. Sheesh, Abe.
Which you have to wade through to get in. Fortunately, a lane is held open by strong, silent types who wear tuxedos as their power armor.
Abraham pauses to admire the view for a moment before proceeding.
[OOC] WC GM: Yeah, we were going to skip the rest of the mall, no?
Zinda Tegram strides confidently forward in her…breastplate and surcoat?
[OOC] Spyboy: Oh, man. The furs idea dun got ONE-UPPED.
The building is three stories tall, with grand stairs on either side linking them, and it looks like the ceremony will span all three floors.
[OOC] Zinda Tegram: : P
Anyone striding through the lane gets many pictures taken, naturally.
They don't even care who it is. If they're there, they must be important.
B-4 pushes closer to Spyboy and grabs his hand.
[OOC] Zinda Tegram: Ruhroh
[OOC] WC GM: The party walked here, right? No transport to worry about?
[OOC] Abraham: Swaggered would be a better way to describe it. Strutted also would be apropriate.
[OOC] Hrrin: Yes indeedy.
[OOC] Zinda Tegram: That is correct.
[OOC] Ingenue: Nue walked. The strut algorithm won't be finished until Tuesday.
[OOC] Spyboy: Right now I'm thinking of the trailers for Saints Row the Third, dunno why.
Hrrin is vastly more familiar with paparazzi than she has ever wanted to be. Thusly, her whiskers and facefur are waxed, and she is-hell, for the cultural statement- dressed to the nines in her best open-chested leather vest, kilt, and baldric finery. Not that she ever owned anything so ceremonially fancy when /actually/ a citizen of the Kilrathi empire, but, hey.
Abraham treats the paparazzi like he does any other inconvenience, like bullets. He ignores them. It's worked so far.
Several microphones are shoved Abraham's way among an incoherent babble of questions. Security flocks to contain the surge as he passes.
Abraham smiles blandly and waves.
A doorman looks over the party as they approach, checking off a list, then steps in front of Ingenue. "Sorry, miss, this is by invitation only."
Ingenue: "…"
Ingenue: "But. /Data/."
Abraham: "It's all right, she's my guest."
Zinda Tegram stands beside the small robot.
Zinda Tegram: "And mine."
Abraham: "And her's."
Doorman: "Ah, sorry, she wasn't on the list." He steps back.
Abraham: "Understandable. She was a last minute addition."
Inside is a small crowd, broken into clusters of 2-5 people almost at random. Everyone seems to have someone to talk to, as if everyone here came here to meet old friends.
Zinda Tegram steps past the doorman without a second look.
Hrrin: Once inside, Hrrin scans the room. Who's talking with whom, if there are any patterns of interest?
[OOC] Abraham: Any chance of Hrrin knowing anyone here besides the party?
[OOC] WC GM: That is going to take a check.
[OOC] WC GM: Bureaucracy, probably.
[OOC] Hrrin: pretty unlikely, yeah. Let me see….
[OOC] WC GM: Culture/Tech is too general.
Hrrin rolled up 4dF: - - 0 + (Base: 1 Total: 0) (Bureaucracy (Hrrin's argued with a few desk-jockeys in her time))
[OOC] Abraham: Argued is not the same as winning said argument, it seems.
[OOC] Hrrin: Indeed.
Hrrin sees no one here that she knows, aside from the party.
Abraham does an informal scientific survey of the conversations as he circuits the room. He is curious what the percentage the conversations about weather make up of the total number of conversations. It's something he saw on an episode of Star Trek.
[OOC] WC GM: I'll let you use Alertness for that. It can be hard to make out the individual conversations.
Abraham rolled up 4dF: + - - + (Base: 3 Total: 3) (Alertness)
Ingenue slowly turns to survey the room, the people, storing everything witnessed for later analysis; the way people stand, who is drinking what, the clothing styles… ((Alertness maneuver to place the aspect "Cased the joint" .))
Zinda Tegram does more or less the same thing Abraham did.
Zinda Tegram rolled up 4dF: - + 0 + (Base: 4 Total: 5) (Alertness)
There are a few conversations about the weather - including the landing paths of debris from the earlier combat in orbit.
Abraham 'hmmm…'s to himself.
Zinda and Abraham pick up hushed complaints of "another Admiral" and "how he'll never be accepted" .
Ingenue rolled up 4dF: - 0 0 - (Base: 4 Total: 2) ((Place aspect 'Cased the joint' on Nue))
[OOC] WC GM: Aspect placed
Ingenue specifically looks for the three admirals that are already admirals.
[OOC] WC GM: If it's not clear: you're in social combat. You do not yet know what other parties are in said combat.
[OOC] Hrrin: I had a suspicion.
Zinda Tegram picks out some of the louder complainers and stands close enough to hear, not facing them, and nurses her cocktail.
[OOC] Abraham: I assumed that was coming up.
[OOC] Spyboy: After all, it's not social combat without objectives.
[OOC] Abraham: Or at least opponents.
[OOC] Spyboy: Nah, it could be social combat without those - but the way social combat works in Diaspora, taking out your opponents can actually prevent you from achieving your objectives.
Ingenue focuses its attention on those speaking in mixed Kilrah and Terran; an excellent opportunity to test the latest Kilrah translation procedures Nue had written!
Spyboy makes his way through the crowd - wife in tow - and starts planning out his own rumor campaign.
[OOC] WC GM: I'll not enforce turn order yet, since things aren't time critical yet.
Ingenue finds some circles speaking Kilrathi - but those circles speak only that, switching entirely to Terran if someone comes in who does not understand it.
Abraham completes his survey, not as high a percentage as he anticipated, and goes to mingle with other brass.
GuestThatZindaIsOverhearing1: "So do you think he'll try to set up here?"
GuestThatZindaIsOverhearing2: "Ha! The Mayor would never let him."
GuestThatZindaIsOverhearing1: "Oh really? And what would the Mayor do?"
GuestThatZindaIsOverhearing2: "Cut off supplies, for one. Can't fly a carrier without fuel."
GuestThatZindaIsOverhearing2: "Maybe find some excuse to have him arrested. Use his example to strike down the other Admirals."
Hrrin 's ears perk. Her native tongue. Who is speaking that, and what is the matter in question?
[OOC] Abraham: Feh. If you strike the Admirals down, you will only make them more powerful than you can possibly imagine.
[OOC] Abraham: Have a Guiness.
The Kilrathi-speakers are…mostly just talking about the same things everyone else is.
Though the way they crowd together could certainly lend the appearance of dark conspiracy, to those unfamiliar with the tongue.
Hrrin sips her drink, sidles up, and waits for a good conversational opening. Nobody else in her little cadre speaks it, after all, and someone ought to keep a finger on that pulse.
GuestThatZindaIsOverhearing2: "Did you hear, he even has a squad from Oldziey in his employ. They say he might be a plant from them - infiltrating High Command in preparation for their invasion."
Zinda Tegram takes another sip of her drink and pulls a quick bio on 'The Mayor' on her datapad.
The other brass take some time for Abraham to find. Eventually he spies Kali and Dakka - each holding court, on opposite ends of the second floor.
[OOC] Abraham: The Mayor: Like all elected officials, he eats puppies. Remember, your vote matters.
Spyboy finds a group of junior officers and sidles in.
[OOC] Spyboy: I'm just gonna picture the Mayor from BtVS now.
Zinda Tegram interjects. "I don't believe they're in his employ. Unless you're qualified to speak on the internal Oldziey political situation, Mr…?"
[OOC] Abraham: A well meaning psychopath who only wants the best for his constituents until he has to kill them?
[OOC] Spyboy: Exactly!
Zinda Tegram glances back to Guest2.
The guest looks Zinda up and down. "Thomas Yveno." He holds out a hand to shake. "And you are…?"
From the name - this would be Mayor Yveno's brother, maybe cousin.
[OOC] Abraham: "What are you blind? Are you retarded? I'm the Goddamn Zinda!"
Zinda Tegram takes his hand and shakes, firm, but not too firm. "Tegram. Dame Tegram."
[OOC] Spyboy: No, no.
[OOC] Hrrin: The Goddamn Dame Te-yes. The Goddamn Dame Tegram.
[OOC] Spyboy: Who the hell do you THINK I am?
[OOC] Alexander: Batman?
Spyboy finds a group of officers speculating about Nephilim biology.
One of them, judging by his brass, is an actual doctor.
[OOC] WC GM: And cue!
[OOC] Spyboy: Sweet, a sanders finally joins!
Zinda Tegram: "I believe that squadron you were speaking of is mine. I'm surprised how ill-informed you are, for being the Mayor's brother Mr. Yveno."
Alexander: "Well, we've never had an actual occasion to examine a Nephilim, living or dead…so anything we 'know' is…"
Alexander trails off noticing the new people who've walked into the conversation.
Spyboy: "They seem to go to extreme lengths to ensure that."
Spyboy: "Oh, don't mind us, sir."
Yveno retracts his hand and gives Zinda a look. "You're from Oldziey?"
Zinda Tegram: "Of course. It's nice to be talked about, isn't it?"
Abraham mans up, makes sure his ribs are in good condition, and heads of to see Dakka.
Alexander: "We were just talking about the Nephilim."
Zinda Tegram glances at Guest1. "And nice to meet you, too."
Yveno: "Admit it, you're just using Abraham to spy on us, aren't you?"
Guest1: "Ah…"
The other guests at Zinda's circle back off, looking like they do not want to be part of this confrontation.
Dakka: "Hey HEY! Hey everyone, it's the Abraman himself!"
Dakka restrains his impulse and merely offers a large hand to shake.
Dakka's crowd is all smiles, looking Abraham over.
Abraham shakes Dakka's hand. "Hello all."
Spyboy: "I caught that, Commander. I just got down from fighting them, and the topic's always interested me."
Dakka: "I'd like to get on with the ceremony, but you know how it is. Meet and greet first."
Zinda Tegram: "Cute, but you've got it backwards. I'm to serve as a consultant regarding our own future invasion efforts of Oldziey."
Alexander: "So you've encountered them in person, then!?"
Dakka: "Hey, fair warning, sounds like the Mayor don't like you much. Think you and your cronies can talk him down before your promotion?"
Yveno blinks. "…so you're turning traitor to your own people?"
Abraham: "Have I even met the mayor? What's his beef with me? Actually, if I have met the mayor and forgotten, that might be it."
Zinda Tegram: "Not precisely. I'm sure you're aware of the humanitarian situation in the system, and how the perpetual internal state of war prevents meaningful peace talks and reintegration negotiations."
Dakka: "Power, my friend. He's been trying to use his position to set himself up as President of the sector."
Dakka: "Not a word on how he intends to protect us from the Nephilim."
Abraham: "Another one?"
Hrrin: Hrrin catches the words 'traitor to your people,' and Tegram's voice. "#Excuse me, I need to ask my friend a question,#" she avers, and slips away from her current circle to sidle up Zindawards.
Yveno smiles, dangerously, and offers his hand to Zinda again. "My kind of scum! Ha ha!"
Spyboy: "In as much as anyone has encountered them in person, yes. I was actually on a few stations they boarded a few days ago, but the only conversing we did was gunfire. [And silent hate-filled screams.]"
Zinda Tegram smiles slightly and accepts it.
Zinda Tegram: "It's good to see we can work together."
Zinda Tegram: "With regards to the squadron considered be in soon-be-admiral Abraham's employ, those would simply be my men. What sort of spy comes with a whole military unit?"
Zinda Tegram rolled up 4dF: - + + + (Base: 3 Total: 5) (Intimidation, placing 'Soon-To-Be-Admiral-Abraham')
Abraham: "Well, I could just go up and ask him, loudly, what his plans are for Nephilim defense. If he can't actually give a decent answer, then problem solved. If he can, then maybe he /should/ be Sector President."
WC GM rolled up 4dF: 0 0 0 - (Base: 3 Total: 2) (Resolve)
[OOC] Zinda Tegram: Discussion: Framed.
Abraham: "Especially if someone with Neph experience, like me, is there to shoot down ideas that simply won't work."
Yveno's eyebrows arch. "Y-yeah, well. Say, what's his plan about Crest?"
Dakka: "I already tried that. He keeps changing the subject."
Ingenue settles in near a group of Kilrah. Strangely, whenever a non-Kilrah approaches they shift into Terran, which is useless for Nue's purposes, so it finesses its way near enough a group to listen to their dialogue without the Kilrah noticing Nue. ((Possibly a stealth check, but Nue isn't looking to backstab here.))
Hrrin quickly arrives at the Zinda/Yveno conversation.
Zinda Tegram: "I'm sorry, but I'm not in the habit of leaking classified information. I can say, however, that we have no intentions of interfering with any legitimate business interests Crest may hold in this cluster."
Yveno: "Which is no interests. Trust me, *all* their business is corrupt in some way."
Zinda Tegram smiles slightly more.
Hrrin: "Ah, but there's corrupt, there's illegal, and there's 'will anyone bother to riot, if they are fed?" Hrrin interjects.
Zinda Tegram: "I'm not going to disagree, but you understand that things must be investigated in the proper manner."
Abraham: "Well then, I will just have to change it back. That should be easy if the croud also wants the answer to that."
Yveno smiles at Hrrin's words. "Ahh, a Kilrathi who speaks more sense than most Terrans." He holds his hand out to her. "And you are…?"
[OOC] Spyboy: Sweet. Hrrin just volunteered to be Zinda's keeper.
Hrrin: She takes it, and shakes, familiar with the gesture. "Hrrin Rask'Thar, of no planet or clan at this time. Like the Dame, an, ah, independent contractor."
[OOC] Hrrin: Hrrin believes this is an important function to serve!
KilrathiThatIngenueIsOverhearing1: "#How does this 'Mayor' stay in power?#"
KilrathiThatIngenueIsOverhearing2: "#There's an election - a count of the preferences of each person. Strict numbers, officially. Whoever gets the most backers wins. They will repeat the process soon. I believe it's called an# 'election'."
Alexander: "You were at the Mu Cephie shipyards during the attack?"
Hrrin: "And yourself? I don't believe we've been intrroduced."
Yveno: "Thomas Yveno. And if you speak such sense, you're welcome to call Armstrong your planet."
Dakka: "You'd be surprised. I know I have."
Spyboy: "Strictly speaking we were some of the reinforcements who helped drive it off, but yes."
Hrrin: "Much obliged, although I might confess the paperwork for Salaam is awaiting my ink and thumbprint, as it were."
Alexander: "Well I hope you killed a lot of 'em."
Abraham: "Hm… I still think it's worth a try. Of course, if I go up to some random person and start ask how they plan on dealing with the Neph, I might be seen as… crass. Which one is the mayor?"
Yveno: "Ah. Well." He kisses the back of her hand. "At least someone like you will have a home again."
Spyboy: "See the barbarian over there in the surcoat? She overloaded her laser cannon and threw it under a pile of them. All the Lago stations are spin-habs, so blam! Blew the lot of them out into space."
Dakka: "Tch. Third floor, you can't miss him. DON'T go up there by yourself. Trust me, you want backup on this, just like flying with a wingman."
Abraham: "Oh I'm not. I want *witnesses*. Preferably ones with recorders."
KilrathiThatIngenueIsOverhearing1: "#By the way, I thought terrans did not allow their young to attend gatherings like this.#"
Hrrin: "Strictly speaking, I have been homed, and a citizen of the Confederacy, for some time predating the Treaty of Torgo. Nonetheless, the sentiment is appreciated." She waves a hand dismissively. He wouldn't know, it's not worth being stiff about. "But, that's history, yes? We're here for politics."
KilrathiThatIngenueIsOverhearing2: "#Ah, you mean that young one over there? She is at least respectful, but something smells off.#"
Yveno: "Yes, yes, of course." He sighs. "Ahh, who knows, MAYBE you can get the Mayor on your side. It'd be a minor miracle."
[OOC] Abraham: I told you not to use Zinda's "Ode to Bloodshed" perfume.
Dakka: "I take it your crew's mingling?"
Dakka: "Might want to keep Zinda away from Kali, unless you want to spark a fire."
Dakka: "Wenser asked that the weapons check be turned off. Kali agreed so fast I wondered if she didn't know what he was gonna say."
Dakka shrugs. "With both of them in such agreement? I couldn't really say no."
Hrrin: "I've inferrred Armstrong's civilian government is not wholly comfortable with supplying a military machine," Hrrin nods, leaning a little on her accent for effect. "Does that sentiment reflect the civvies themselves, would you say?"
Dakka: "I just hope they're not actually planning on weapons fire in here."
Abraham: "You forget, this is not the first time I've been to one of these. Zinda and Kali haveing… words… might be the only entertainment we get. Who am I to deny the guests?"
Spyboy scans the room and assesses the relative location of Commander Morello's circle.
Alexander: "Rapid Decompression… is unpleasant…"
Zinda Tegram leans a bit back from Yveno and Hrrin's conversation, to get a feeling for any other problem sentiments she might be inclined to react to.
Spyboy: "Less unpleasant when you're wearing powered armor, unfortunately. We deemed that it wasn't enough for the Nephilim. So we heated things up with the turrets."
Spyboy and the doctor are on the first floor. He can see Zinda and Hrrin elsewhere on the first floor, and Ingenue near some Kilrathi near one of the stairs. Abraham is not in his immediate line of sight.
Alexander: "Oh, I'm Morello, by the way"
Alexander extends a gloved left hand for a hand shake.
Alexander: "Dr. Alex Morello"
Spyboy: "Lieutenant Michael Pearson. Ah…..you're testing me, aren't you?"
Spyboy shakes Alex's hand after a bit of a false start about which hand to use.
Zinda feels a GLOWER from somewhere above. If she looks, she can find Kali up above - though the glare is broken off quickly, a smile forced on Kali's face as she chats up those around her.
[OOC] Abraham: Abraham is hiding behind Dakka, as is Amelia Airheart and Jimmy Hoffa.
Spyboy: "And this is my wife, Lieutenant Junior Grade Helvetica Gertrude Francesti Janictam."
B-4: "Please, call me Heggy."
Zinda Tegram looks up, and a dark smile spreads across her face. She waves back to Kali.
[OOC] Spyboy: So the Admirals are on the second floor?
[OOC] WC GM: Kali, Dakka, and Abraham are.
[OOC] WC GM: No sign of Wenser yet, as usual.
[OOC] Hrrin: He's cagey.
Alexander: "I have no idea what you mean, Lieutenant."
[OOC] Abraham: It's time I told you. Ingenue is Wenser.
Spyboy: "[ You hear tonight, Admiral? ]"
[OOC] Zinda Tegram: D :
[OOC] Spyboy: Man, that would blow Zinda's mind.
Zinda Tegram scans the room a bit more. Mmm, what are those other guests who ran off up to…?
Wenser: "[Of course I am. I'm talking with the biggest idiot here.]"
Kali does not wave back, pointedly looking like she did not notice.
[OOC] Abraham: Wenser isn't talking to me.
Spyboy: "[I assume we'll be getting there eventually.]"
[OOC] Abraham: Is he?
Ingenue perks. The Kilrah can differentiate human form non via low concentrations of volatilized chemicals? Intriguing! Also, for the moment, problematic, as this could result in a penetration of the ruse. Such a waste to wander away from good data, but the observer should not impact the observed unnecessarily… Oh, the communicator. Nue slips away from the Kilrah, moving back under the stairs to…
Ingenue …listen…
[OOC] WC GM: Nope. Ingenue knows, though.
Wenser: "[Yeah, take your time. Or don't - he's whipping up a crowd.]"
Spyboy: "[Understood. I need to get a read on someone else first, but I'll arrange for Captain Bounty to be up there soon.]"
Wenser: "[Agh - don't send him up here alone.]"
Spyboy: "[I won't.]"
Spyboy: "[That's why he'll be a bit.]"
Wenser: "[Good lad.]"
Zinda sees the other guests have dispersed to other conversations.
Ingenue acquires target lock. Hmm. Rephrase; term 'target' could be taken out of context during log processing by others. 'Wenser' located.
[OOC] WC GM: …somehow, I suspect "target" would be correctly parsed. :P
[OOC] Abraham: A Wenser. They come in six-packs, you know.
[OOC] Ingenue: By Zinda. Spyboy, who can hear Nue's thoughts, might object.
[OOC] Alexander: A baker's dozen of Wensers, please
Spyboy: "I'm sorry, Commander - I'm afraid we're working tonight. I need to talk with some brass."
[OOC] Ingenue: That'll be 2000 credits. What, did you think Wensers grew on trees?
Spyboy bows his head and glances at Alexander's right hand.
Alexander: "No problem, nice meeting you, Micheal."
B-4: "Which one?"
[OOC] Abraham: Are you saying Wenser is… fruty?
Spyboy: "Zinda's best friend in the whole wide world."
Yveno: "I'd say that's a fair assessment."
Spyboy leads B-4 up to the second floor to the court currently being held by Kali.
Yveno: "Thing is, the Nephilim need to be dealt with - but there's all kinds of supplies and infrastructure that need to be rebuilt too, since we can't just import things."
Yveno: "Industrial needs - mostly antimatter and nanofabs - are what everyone talks about, but there's a long list."
[OOC] Zinda Tegram: Who's Yveno talking to?
[OOC] WC GM: Hrrin
[OOC] Zinda Tegram: OK.
[OOC] WC GM: Zinda's still close enough to hear and respond if she wants to, though.
Kali: "Ah, Spyboy, B-4!" She extends a hand. "Welcome, welcome."
Zinda Tegram stretches a bit. "Sorry, but I think I've got to go meet some friends. It's been good meeting you, Mr. Yveno."
Zinda Tegram extends her hand.
Yveno shakes and nods, but his attention is on Hrrin.
Spyboy shakes Kali's hand, then fries the bugs on his hand.
Hrrin: "What else is sought after, that is not, or cannot, be produced in-system? The shipyards and foundries here are not inconsiderable. If they were pointed toward local concerns…?"
Spyboy: "How are you doing, Admiral?"
Abraham: "Well, guess I should try to gather my squadron and go gunning for the mayor. See you around Dakka."
Zinda Tegram steps out of the two's conversation and saunters up the stairs to join Kali's circle. The bitch.
Abraham goes to do that very thing.
Dakka: "Good luck." He salutes - as does his immediate crowd.
[OOC] Spyboy: Does that mean - DRAT. Now I get to be Zinda's keeper.
[OOC] Spyboy: Down, girl! Down! =p
[OOC] Zinda Tegram: Heehee!
[OOC] Zinda Tegram: Rawr~!
[OOC] Spyboy: Actually, bad terminology. Zinda's not a dog, more like a lion. So *crack of whip*?
Yveno: "If they were pointed to local concerns…ahh, medicine, better shipping - there's always been a demand for more small civilian ships."
Yveno: "Water imports, better crop diversity, tourism…"
Yveno: "But if I had all the shipping I needed? Terraforming." He nods. "Now THAT'S an unlimited demand."
Kali tries to reposition herself so she is not looking at Zinda. "Fine, although there have been some annoying pests around."
Zinda Tegram: "It's nice to be talked about, isn't it?"
Zinda Tegram looks directly at Kali.
Spyboy: "I wouldn't know."
Abraham soon finds the disposition of his forces: Spyboy, B-4, and Zinda over there, Hrrin down there, Ingenue standing alone in a niche toward the back.
Kali: "Do you hear a buzzing? Some sort of insect, that needs to be swatted?"
Abraham sees that Zinda has found Kali.
Zinda Tegram narrows her eyes.
Abraham mutters to himself, "And so tonight's entertainment begins."
[OOC] Spyboy: I want Zinda to know that I appreciate how difficult she's made it to get information out of Kali. Unfortunately, Zinda didn't get a neutrino comm.
Zinda Tegram: "It's not my fault you can't hear anything over all that dandruff you're shaking off."
Zinda Tegram glances around looking for one of Kali's telltale bugs.
Hrrin: "All those things would give Armstrong a more balanced position than just 'shipyard of the cluster,' I note. Security in uncertain times. How does terraforming factor in?" Her ears and attention flicker sideways. Oh dear. Someone's found Zinda.
Abraham gets close enough to intercede with the Kali/Zinda dynamic, but does not do so yet.
Kali's bugs are notoriously difficult to easily see. If they were not, they would not be bugs.
Zinda Tegram rolled up 4dF: 0 0 0 - (Base: 4 Total: 3) (Alertness.)
[OOC] Zinda Tegram: Tagging her aspect, 'Bugs like Dandruff'
WC GM rolled up 4dF: 0 + 0 0 (Base: 4 Total: 5) (Communications)
[OOC] WC GM: Correct aspect, but Kali still defends.
Zinda Tegram: "And it's even less my fault you're so incompetent with fighter doctrine that you let two groups of Oldziey pilots tag your destroyer."
Spyboy: "So, Admiral, leaving certain historical animosities aside, what do you think of the party's attendants?"
Zinda Tegram: "Is everyone in Confed that bad or just you?"
Yveno: "Most of the inhabited planets could use it. Better outdoor conditions, nice weather year-round, bringing up metals to the surface, that sort of thing."
[OOC] Zinda Tegram: Taking a compel for Pride.
WC GM rolled up 4dF: - 0 0 - (Base: 2 Total: 0) (Resolve)
Kali WINCES, then finally turns a glare upon Zinda. Apparently she did not hear Spyboy's question.
[OOC] Spyboy: Heh. I'm a little worried that one of my own compels could come up. =p
Spyboy: "Dame Tegram. Would you come with me please?"
Spyboy drags Zinda off into the crowd.
Zinda Tegram follows Spyboy, more gracefully.
Spyboy soon finds Abraham, who has been right there.
Spyboy: "Do you want to win this or do you want to lose?"
Hrrin: Hrrin thinks of a certain community of highly proficient 'miners.' But that's always a matter of budgeting, isn't it, and this is a crisis situation.
Alexander looks around to find Admiral Dakka.
Zinda Tegram: "You want me to just take it then?"
Dakka is a floor above Alexander, but easily approachable.
Spyboy: "I would prefer that you avoid her."
Spyboy: "I'm not going to say that there's no tactical advantage to poking someone to see how they respond."
Alexander heads upstairs to meet with the Admiral.
Spyboy: "But we already know how she's going to respond. Getting any meaningful information out of her is going to be impossible now."
Zinda Tegram: "Tch. Yeah, well, she's the bitch giving glares before we even spoke."
Zinda Tegram smirks.
Zinda Tegram: "Besides, it was worth it just to watch 'er squirm. I'm better and she knows it."
Spyboy assesses Kali's current rage level versus his ability to manage women filled with rage.
Spyboy rolled up 4dF: + 0 - - (Base: 4 Total: 3) (Charm)
Zinda Tegram fakes spitting to the side. "I'm gonna go blow an EMP in the bathroom. Get the crawlies off me."
Spyboy: "Tomorrow we'll have a little talk about tactical versus strategic victory."
Zinda Tegram shoves spyboy off and saunters off to do just that.
Dakka looks as Alexander approaches, holding out a hand in the ritual position. "Hey there. I don't believe I've had the pleasure…?"
Spyboy: "And wait five seconds and do it again - some of hers idle for that."
Alexander extends his right arm, awkwardly, for the handshake.
Alexander: "Sorry, Admiral. I'm Commander Morello."
Spyboy sees that Kali is actively calming herself down, with Zinda no longer present.
Spyboy raises an eyebrow to the captain in invitation.
Dakka: "Ah. Medical, I see. Call me 'Dakka'." He smiles. "So who are you with?"
Spyboy heads back towards the irate admiral.
Alexander: "Well, I was told to meet you here to receive orders. They weren't very specific."
Abraham approaches Spyboy and Zinda. "Hello, Zinda. Making friends?"
Spyboy: "Sorry about that, Admiral. She's very good at what she does - but you already know that. So far I'm wonder if it's worth the price."
Zinda Tegram shoots Spyboy a look.
Dakka: "Me? Are you sure you don't mean anyone else? I'm sure I'd know if I had orders to give you."
[OOC] Spyboy: You're in the bathroom, Zinda, remember?
Kali: "I doubt it."
[OOC] Zinda Tegram: Derp.
[OOC] Zinda Tegram: Oh, Abraham meant Spyboy and Kali?
[OOC] Ingenue: And Zinda's glare blows a hole straight through the wall?
[OOC] WC GM: Abraham: Spyboy and Zinda are no longer close together. Which one is he approaching?
[OOC] Spyboy: I figure he's got connection problems and it's lagging ridiculously.
[OOC] Abraham: Yes I did. Sorry for the confusion.
Spyboy: "I dunno. She is *very* good. But you are definitely correct that she is very bad at any number of other things."
[OOC] Abraham: And my connection has been good actually. I just got called away for about ten minutes and failed to catch up properly.
[OOC] Spyboy: Ah.
[OOC] Abraham: And now that I've said that, that's the cue…
[OOC] Spyboy: For one thing, it's nice that I have someone who I don't have to worry about betraying their oaths to the Confederation. Too bad I have to spend more time worrying about her stabbing the Confederation in the back than anybody else. =p
Alexander: "All I know is I was told to report to you, Admira- Dakka."
Spyboy: "So, what's your assessment on the people here?"
Kali: "The usual. Some good…" She gestures to the crowd around her. "Some just here…" She gestures across the balcony to Dakka. "And some, well." She frowns, then gestures upstairs.
Kali: "Do be careful if you go up there."
Spyboy: "I'd heard that."
Abraham: "Well, Dakka has a low opinion of the mayor, which seems to be mutual."
[OOC] Spyboy: Any chance I can configure my computer to run a silent weapons scan?
Abraham: "Though I haven't actually met the mayor yet."
Dakka: "Hmm. Odd. Oh! Are you sure you don't mean the Mayor, Dakun Yveno? He's upstairs."
Spyboy: "Admiral Wenser doesn't seem to have that high of an impression of him, either. So we're three for three so far. And once the ceremony rolls around, we'll see."
Abraham: "I've actually been asked to take the mayor down a peg, and I'm considering it. It's a risky political move, but a) I think I can pull it off and b) it might be better for the sector in the long run and c) Dakka doesn't like him, and he likes everybody."
Spyboy shares a look with Admiral Kali about people taking people at face value.
Hrrin: "So that's what Armstrong wants, then. Is that what its Mayor wants?"
Kali: "For the record, I don't have a high impression of him either."
Alexander: "Ah yes! That must have been it! Thank you, Admiral."
Alexander salutes and walks to the stairs.
Abraham: "So I didn't get too many details out of Dakka, exactly what is the contention?"
Yveno: "That's what he says. It's one of the central themes of his campaign platform."
Yveno: "He's up for reelection soon, you know."
Spyboy blinks as he recognizes the figure headed up to the third floor.
[OOC] WC GM: Is Spyboy intercepting?
[OOC] Spyboy: No…
Kali: "That we're a war machine, and we're going to wreck the economy just being out there."
[OOC] Spyboy: Currently deciding on a plan of action.
[OOC] Abraham: Not a Ferengi then. All Ferengi know that War is good for Business.
Spyboy leans over to whisper something to B-4, then turns back to the Admiral.
Abraham: "And his plan is to fight off the Nephilim with swords made out of money? I've heard worse defensive strategies, but not often."
Alexander reaching the third floor, Alex looks around the mayor.
Alexander *for the mayor
Spyboy: "If you'll excuse me, Admiral, I just saw a friend walking into a hornet's nest."
Hrrin: 'Hn. And yet, where does your money come from, right now? Well, we already know the answer to -that-.'
The Mayor is easy to spot. Rotund, gesticulating, sharply dressed - and the crowd around him laughs at regular intervals.
Spyboy heads up the stairs, blending with the crowd, leaving Heggy to provide fire support for Abraham if needed - or comms relay if the junior officers get into trouble.
Zinda Tegram steps out of the bathroom after 'debugging' herself and sees Spyboy hurrying somewhere. She follows.
Spyboy rolled up 4dF: 0 0 - 0 (Base: 4 Total: 3) (Charm to stay unnoticed.)
[OOC] WC GM: Hrrin: was that a thought, or "" instead of ''?
WC GM rolled up 4dF: 0 + + - (Base: 1 Total: 2) (Alertness)
Spyboy is trying to stay hidden. The crowd he is hiding from is not expecting that.
This is sufficient to camouflage him.
[OOC] Spyboy: Heh.
Alexander walks over to the crowd surrounding the Mayor, listening in.
[OOC] Hrrin: yes, that was a speaking.
[OOC] Hrrin: sorry.
Yveno: "My money? Trade. His? Taxes."
[OOC] WC GM: Is Zinda sneaking too?
[OOC] WC GM: Since she can see Spyboy being stealthy.
[OOC] Spyboy: But given that it's social stealth, she may not realize it.
[OOC] Abraham: Zinda does not sneak. She goes forth boldly, and no one dares notice.
[OOC] Zinda Tegram: Zinda's follow'n Spyboy. But not making an effort to be sneaky. Where would the energy bolts come from?
Spyboy looks for the third Admiral.
Mayor: "…oh! Dame Tegram!"
Mayor: "You honor us with your presence, Knight!"
Zinda Tegram: "Mayor Yveno."
Zinda Tegram nods.
Spyboy: "[ Tell the Captain that the Mayor appears to be flattering Zinda. ]"
Zinda Tegram: "Thank you. And you honor me as well."
B-4 leans in to Abraham and whispers that into his ear, despite knowing that Kali can almost certainly hear anyway.
Spyboy spies Wenser facepalming.
Zinda Tegram: "I just spoke to your brother. Charming fellow."
[OOC] Spyboy: He in the group, or lurking on the edges?
[OOC] WC GM: Lurking on the edges now.
Mayor: "Tom?" He smiles. "My apologies if he hit on you."
Abraham: "Well I had better go and see what the mayor is up to. It was good to see you again Admiral."
Zinda Tegram is…a little unbalanced by the sudden show of respect from one who is not her countryman.
Zinda Tegram: "It was no trouble, surely."
Abraham heads into the killing fiel… I mean to see the mayor.
B-4 follows.
Kali: "Be careful. And I mean that."
Zinda Tegram glances back out at the crowd, now realizing the landmine she just hit.
Mayor: "So what do you think of Captain Bounty, Miss Knight?"
Zinda Tegram rolled up 4dF: - 0 - + (Base: 4 Total: 3) (Alertnness 'Uh….')
Abraham: "I? I am the most careful officer the confederacy has."
Zinda Tegram glances back at Abraham.
Zinda Tegram: "I think my good friend would be best represented by himself."
The Mayor smiles. "Ahh, Captain Bounty, I was wondering when you would come up here." He extends a hand. "Surely you'll decline the Admiralty."
Everyone can see the expectant eyes of the crowd, ready to pounce on Abraham if he objects.
Zinda Tegram: "Really? Why should he do that I wonder?"
Abraham: "Oh? Wouldn't that be like you not running for reelection, Mr. Mayor?"
Alexander moves to the back of the crowd. What did he walk into?
Mayor: "Not at all! You'd simply keep doing your job, acknowledging the proper, duly elected civilian government."
Mayor: "Rather than furthering the military coup."
Abraham: "There was a coup and I wasn't invited? That /is/ a reason to turn down the Admirality."
Mayor: "Quite. So you'll be saying 'no', then?"
Zinda Tegram steps in.
Mayor: "Can I count on you to stand up for the average citizen? To do your duty in service to the Confederacy?"
Zinda Tegram: "I don't think those things are really the same, Mr. Mayor."
[OOC] Spyboy: To be fair, Zinda is perfectly in favor of military coups.
Zinda Tegram: "Hypothetically, if there were a coup, wouldn't such an upstanding citizen in an admiralty position be an asset?"
[OOC] WC GM: Ingenue, Communications check.
Abraham: "Well, first I would have to hear how you plan on dealing with the Nephilim. I haven't heard any details on your strategy for that."
Zinda Tegram rolled up 4dF: - - - 0 (Base: 5 Total: 2) (Intimidation, tagging Soon-To-Be-Admiral-Abraham.)
Mayor: "It's a matter of appearances. No one doubts that he is one of the four in charge of the military."
[OOC] Spyboy: Ouch.
[OOC] Zinda Tegram: Tagging Pride for a reroll.
Zinda Tegram rolled up 4dF: 0 + + + (Base: 5 Total: 8)
[OOC] Spyboy: Nice. Aside from…but ah well.
[OOC] Abraham: As long as you're not tapping me. I don't want to be rotated 90 degrees.
Ingenue rolled up 4dF: 0 - 0 - (Base: 2 Total: 0) ((Comm check))
[OOC] WC GM: What's the Intimidation for? He agrees with that assertion - but spins it off.
[OOC] WC GM: Spyboy can check Communications as well, though higher difficulty for him since he was not actively looking.
[OOC] Zinda Tegram: Well, let's use it here then.
[OOC] Ingenue: Free tag established maneuver, if applic, plus FP to tag Hybrid Mind, doing two things at once isn't hard.
Spyboy rolled up 4dF: 0 + 0 + (Base: 4 Total: 6) (Communications, please tell me if it's not sufficient, I have tags.)
Mayor: "My strategy? Arm the civilians. Treat the Nephilim like we would any pirates."
Zinda Tegram: "Surely you'd not insult our veterans by supposing that ranks in the confed military are merely for show?"
[OOC] Abraham: Where is Ingenue?
[OOC] Zinda Tegram: Use the intimidation for that then?
[OOC] WC GM: First floor, standing aside from all the conversations.
Mayor: "N-not at all! I just mean, above Captain there's really no need…?"
Spyboy: "No, he'd like to believe that the Nephilim are no more subtle than pirates and no more dangerous that people who prey on trade."
[OOC] Ingenue: Currently out of most people's sight-line, so that no one tags the floating scene tag 'little girl at military function, wtf?'
Abraham: "Arm them? With presumably civilian-grade weaponry? Against a demonstratedly military threat? Mayor, surely you can come up with something better than that."
[OOC] Spyboy: Zinda - most importantly, what effect are you trying to use Intimidation for? FATE works on the assumption that skills are used to achieve more general results than just carry a line through.
[OOC] Zinda Tegram: Was more to try and achieve a force of personality to get the remark to register.
[OOC] Zinda Tegram: Which I think it did here.
Abraham rolled up 4dF: 0 + + - (Base: 4 Total: 5) (Bureaucracy)
Spyboy sidles up to the mayor to offer a suggestion.
Mayor: "Yes, of course! Military-grade weaponry, where necessary, to anyone who can demosntrate responsibility and loyalty."
Spyboy: "May I point out, Mr. Mayor, that adding one more admiral does nothing to increase military power, but does further divide the power of those who already hold that rank…"
Spyboy rolled up 4dF: - - + 0 (Base: 4 Total: 3) (Charm to ensure that he doesn't realize that advice is from one of Abraham's allies/the military)
Alexander: "You'd give military grade weapons to civilians with little training just to spite the military?"
Mayor: "The power is already divided. This is nothing more than a show of support for the civilian government."
Spyboy: "But if he orders them to support one of them, as things stand, he must. As an Admiral that would not be the case."
Mayor: "Not 'just to spite'. These Nephilim - are they organized, like the Kilrathi were? Is there a front line we can defend?"
Mayor: "We are all under constant threat. So arm us all."
[OOC] Spyboy: To be fair he has a bad point but a good point, too.
Abraham: "This is positively fascinating. So… to sum up, your plan is to arm… oh more or less every civilian with military grade hardware. Not bother to provide any training what so ever in either the ethics of using the hardware or even /how/ to use the hardware? Well, if /I/ were commanding the Neph I would certainty think twice about invading. I would just wait it out and let you do yourselves in."
Ingenue: "[Receiving several small data inputs from all three floors. Suspect massive infestation of covert listening devices. Recommend reduction in problematic data transmission via non-secure methods, such as speech.]"
Spyboy: "[Confirmed, but I don't think there's much we can do about it. But I have a worrying thought. Well, one of many.]"
Wenser: "[…damn. She got my notes.]"

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