Letter Bee

Innocence Lost - A Science Fantasy RP [v.03]

Windsor and His Crew - Flashback

As the Xuangang fought against the remnants of the Delios Fleet on the way to Plenty, William Windsor and Captain Aisha Ibrahim's 'freighter' were joined by two more converted merchantmen from the Autonomous Trading Fleet bearing additional supplies for the 'mercy mission', a mission that Windsor was now getting nervous about.

"What if the people on Ponin hate me? What if they consider me a fraud? Or what if they want to get back in the Ascendancy's good graces and are hostile for that reason?" Windsor, now changed to a normal crewman's clothes (though he still had the badge of the Trading Fleet's CEO), said as he paced the cargo bay, which was now loaded with food and clothes and medicinal supplies for the population of Ponin. "Or what if I flub up and they decide that I'm a selfish ass who's trying to imitate the person on whose behalf the Ascendancy committed atrocities against?"

"Can it, Windsor!" Aisha's voice cut through the speakers, "If you want to be useful, go check the shipboard recyclers for leaks instead of whining for hours on end! You chose this, remember?"

Windsor took a deep breath, then said, "All right, all right - But what if it seems I'm making light of the sufferings of those people?"

"Recyclers, now!" the Captain said, and William knew better than to continue to slack off. Not that he was that good at checking shipboard recyclers for leaks in the first place, but he was getting better. And to be honest, it was interesting to learn the skillset - He couldn't believe that people did this sort of thing as a job, yet they did, and he had to admit admiration for the people who did this regularly...

Ponin, Orbit

Ponin was a world that had suffered, and beneath the walled compounds where the rich lived, it showed. After the purges which occured on the world, only the most vital economic assets had been rebuilt, with the rest of the cities and countryside left derelict. Education had been especially restricted, with schools only teaching the basics needed to make a productive worker and nothing more, and children of former rebels, unless adopted into a 'loyal' family, being forbidden from secondary school or higher. While no one truly starved, people went hungry, and sickness was rife as hospital access was similarly restricted, especially for those injured in the rebellion and the atrocities afterward.

As the three ships flew into low orbit, Captain Aisha asked Windsor, "How did you manage to get them to let us through?"

Windsor said, "Bribery. Plus I told them I was testing new food products, clothes, and potential medicines on the people of Ponin, which is technically the truth."

"So, we're just going to set up a soup kitchen and call it a testing station, then?" Captain Aisha said. "And you'll be with us all the while, serving food?" At seeing Windsor nod, the young woman said in exasperation, "You know, you don't need to do this just to be more like Kherol. Being loved is all well and good, but fire kills, an ancient general once said back when we were confined to one planet. Just have more guns and shit and you won't need to be loved."

Windsor smiled thinly before saying, "I have plenty of guns, but what use are they without people to shoot them for me? Or people who won't turn them on me when faced with a superior threat or offer? No, I have to do this or else I'll be unworthy to put myself in the Rebellion's helm."

Ponin, Capital City

It was winter in the capital city, and Windsor, now wearing a cold-weather jacket and thick trousers, was having a snowball fight with some slum kids while Captain Aisha looked on with disapproval. At first, she thought Windsor was idling around instead of manning the soup kitchen, which some of her subordinates were keeping stocked instead. Then she thought that Windsor had some... Unhealthy impulses which did not merit being talked about in polite company. But, as she was him genuinely having fun with these orphans - At least she assumed they were orphans - Captain Aisha grasped something which had been vague to her for days.

Windsor was, in his heart of hearts, a child himself. Despite being an adult in body and in years, Windsor clearly had not had time to play games or play them with other kids back when he was one himself. At most, he had socialized online or with only a small circle of real-life friends. That didn't mean that what he was doing, treating slum kids like friends, was in any way safe or rational, and so she should pull herself back before he got stabbed with a shiv.

But she couldn't. What her boss was doing was foolish in the extreme, but seeing him smiling and happy, well, it was no substitute for the genuine commitment the Grand Admiral he was harping on about had inspired in others, but she still felt it, she still felt aa ghost of affection for the idealistic and blatant person whom she worked under. But would it last? Did she want it to last?

Tales From Landrunia: Ten Thousand Suns

understandable, if you need me to write a door for you to make it easier let me know

@Blizz

Thanks!

Fate/Novus Apocrypha - The Ends justify the Means!

I put in a new rule on the OOC OP.

Tales From Landrunia: Ten Thousand Suns

I am in writer's block for this RP now.

Innocence Lost - A Science Fantasy RP [v.03]

Ashton and Flame

The answer came, and it was more devastating than Ashton had expected. Squad 0... Crowley had been his friend, like a brother to him and Flame, albeit one which even he knew was hiding something - Everyone had a trauma to hide in the Star Marines, after all. Clenching his fist as he looked at Flame, then Narvia, he said, "We're going to the cells."

Then to Nero, the young man said as he began leading the way, "Common mercenaries have Magic now? Adult ones at that? The Ascendancy must be planning something," He paused, then continued, "By the way, Team Lamia, Team Horus, and Everyone Else, there's something I should have told you earlier... I don't believe the Ascendancy was telling the truth when they said, or rather, implied, that Kaisoken dust works only when infused into a kid."

Flame added as he followed Ashton, "The Ascendancy was mistreating us on purpose, perhaps for some greater plan. Even if we were child soldiers, they could have lightened up the abuse." A pause. "I never trusted Crowley. I liked him, but I thought he was going to cross certain lines one day in the name of 'ending our torment'. Then it turned out he was merely a sadistic goon after all."

In the pause which followed, both Ashton and Narvia can tell that Flame still doubted that last fact, that he, normally a professional cynic, hoped against hope that Crowley hadn't truly betrayed him, hadn't truly betrayed Ashton. He had seen Crowley looking protectively at the other boy, and looking at him in a way which said, 'If you ever hurt Ash, I'll have your head'. Heck, Crowley might have even said those very words to him as well - His memories were hazy and he had wanted to forget!

But for Flame Brooks, it seemed to forget wasn't an option. As they drew closer to the cells, passing by patrols of guards who looked strangely at them, he said to Ashton, "This corridor is long - Let's try and find some way to take our minds away from that traitor."

One look at his face and Ashton said, "The corridor is indeed long, and I think I have a way to distract ourselves from Crowley and Squad 0 - At least until they decide it's time to confront us. Navi, can you keep watch for both of us? There is something I need to do with my Omni-tool."

"What?" said Flame, "Bet stocks on the food shortage ending when the Ascendancy finally stops playing with the rebels?" He saw Ashton nod at that, causing him to say, "And I thought I was callous. So, are we donating the funds to Moonstrike, or are we keeping the proceeds for ourselves?"

His boyfriend's answer was, "We're splitting the profits among the crew, of course - They each get a few million or more." Then he pulled out his Omni-tool and sent a covert message to Flame, all encrypted, Flame, Grand Admiral Kherol is less than four days away. And with Squad 0 and Crowley already on the planet, I'd give the rebels on Plenty 48 Hours before they fold. Once the news spreads, which in turn will be in some days more, various agricultural companies will have their stock rise again, while various speculators who have been hoarding food will sell their stores of it all in one go or continue their hoarding to keep prices high. If the Wolf Cub of Wall Street returns now, obviously under another name, we can take advantage of it to make a metaphorical killing.

Flame sent an encrypted message back, Uh-huh. So we're going to make money from warfare. Ashton, you concern me sometimes. Now, are you still in contact with 'Gloriana' and RealAscendancyStockBets?

Intermittently, even during The War I had my ways, was Ashton's reply as they reached the doorway to the cell chambers. Now give me some time to buy up currently-low shares in the Agricultural companies formerly collecting from Plenty. Lead me by the hand if you need to guide me as I walk - This is going to be a brain-heavy exercise. Actually, one more thing...

He sent a covert message to Ariel, saying, Hey, Ariel, can you monitor the situation in Plenty as a whole with your Seance powers? We need to know how the Rebellion is faring so that we also know when to leave.

Kingdom Hearts: Alternate Lights [Reboot]

And... I only wrote three or so paragraphs before hitting writer's block.

Innocence Lost - A Science Fantasy RP [v.03]

@The Man Emperor, Accepted, but Jest and Conscripts can override, not that it is likely as your sheet is good...

Fate/Novus Apocrypha - The Ends justify the Means!

I might also make a Master for Ruler.

@Letter Bee

Actually, Ruler has not been accepted yet - I am not approving this character without my Co-GMs' approval.

Fate/Novus Apocrypha - The Ends justify the Means!

I might also make a Master for Ruler.

Innocence Lost - A Science Fantasy RP [v.03]

William Windsor and his Crew - Flashback

As he finished reading the journal his contacts had acquired, one of many from those who were under Kherol's command, William's first thoughts were that he must be inexperienced in the ways of the world, if he hadn't grasped that atrocities like the ones in Ponin could be fed by feelings of love, love for someone who had done everything to earn his men's trust, love for someone who was doing his job and genuinely believed in his nation. Can he spark such feelings in those who followed him? Did he want to be so loved that his men and women would go on an orgy of bloodshed if he were ever in Kherol's situation? Not that he himself had his own choice - He needed to be loved enough that his folk would risk going up against Kherol at all.

Before despite his doubts, he had believed that his men and women would follow him to war, that grievances against the Ascendancy as well as a belief that everyone deserved better no matter their outward differences, would be enough to push them to conflict with the central authorities. But now, two factors had shown themselves - One, that love and ideological commitment should not be taken for granted, and Two, that steps must be taken to nurture love and ideological commitment, that people needed to be convinced that people must be treated according to the content of one's character and not one's race, class, or species. But how? What should he do? Write a tract? Start a media campaign? No, no, those were too impersonal!

He needed to inspire love, as well as to conduct audacious but not stupid gestures. And as an idea came to him, Windsor put down the journal and walked out of his personal chambers, not bothering to change from his 'home outfit', a woolen sweater-vest over a cotton shirt plus soft trousers and rubber slippers - Okay, scratch that, he did change to socks and leather shoes as he took a mag-lev pod to the Queen Elizabeth's hangar. He had with him his Omni-tool and cred-sticks, and his attentive mother had sent several bodyguards, Tayanen in metal shells, on the way once it was clear that Windsor had an idea and was so inflamed by it that he was forsaking obvious safety measures. Gesturing for the bodyguards to follow him at a discreet distance, William Windsor entered the hangar bay, a vast artificial cavern where dozens of smaller craft were docked.

Approaching a freighter at random, bringing up data on its crew with his Omni-tool, William walked over to just outside its bow, where its Captain, a young woman named Aisha bin Ibrahim, was supervising refits to turn the freighter into a warship. Surprised by the CEO's arrival in such an... informal manner, she turned around and gave a deep bow before saying, "Mr. Windsor! What are you doing here?"

Windsor was tempted to gulp in nervousness, and not just because of what he was about to propose - The woman had a perfectly-shaped nose and lips, after all. But he managed to clear his throat to cover up any sign of indecision to say, "Captain Aisha Ibrahim, of the 'freighter Eon Hawk, now being refitted to a Corvette-equivalent as armor and weapons go. I have an extra job for you - It's going to pay well."

The woman's eyes turned charmingly sharp in their skepticism, before she said, "Uh-huh. What is it, and it'd better pay well as it seems you're going behind your mother and the Board of Directors' backs?"

Now was the moment of truth, "We're going on a mercy mission. To Ponin."