forbarrayar | [ may i log: the good fight ]

Entry tags:

[ may i log: the good fight ]

Who: Everyone
What: The culmination of months of planning and suffering finally comes to bear as the Barrayarans launch their debilitating attack on the Cetagandan base. Politics, as always, go sight unseen but felt everywhere.
When: May 1st - 18th
Where: the Barrayaran camp, the Cetagandan base, Riverfall Village
Warnings: TBD

Quick links:
Riverfall
Barrayar: Camp / Missions
Cetaganda: Base / Missions

TIMELINE
5/5 Eavesdropping
5/7 Hacking
5/11 Mystery Plot
5/15 Attack on the Cetagandan base

riverfall
The village is finally starting to get back on its feet after a few blessedly uneventful weeks. Other than the routine Cetagandan patrols, there hasn't been much activity in the village, and no new strife. The villagers merely continue their rebuilding efforts and tend to their fields, and they'll still gladly accept any help offered by outsiders.

With the village down nearly half its population, there's room to grow, even after last month's fight destroyed some of the homes, so Speaker Gura has been taking in refugees from other nearby hill villages – about ten refugees have moved to settle anew in Riverfall in the last few weeks.

barrayar
The time to strike is now.

All three camps are preoccupied with preparations for the attack on the 15th: as far as Barrayaran intelligence knows, no reinforcements are on their way to the Cetagandan base, and the guerrillas need to strike while the Cetagandans are still down nearly half their forces. It's the only shot they have at forcing the occupying troops to leave Vorkosigan Vashnoi and give them a chance at retaking the city – and they're not throwing away this shot, because they might not get another one.

The political unease surrounding Dorca and Yuri is a quieter tension, plaguing only those politically savvy (or well-positioned) enough to understand the situation, but if you're paying close enough attention to the moody Crown Prince, you'll note that Yuri's primary concern isn't the outsiders, but something much closer to home. He's never been a particularly warm man by anyone's account, but lately he's especially given to foul moods, and only part of it is grief for his most recently deceased son.

All further attempts at hostage negotiation from Zahal have been as curtly denied as the first, and just about as politely. Incorporating a rescue plan into their attack strategy wasn't exactly easy, but they won't get another shot than this at rescuing Princess Sonia – or Byerly, whose cover as a spy was recently blown during a failed attempt at smuggling Sonia out of the base. On the 15th, the Barrayarans prepare for war, some donning Cetagandan uniforms and face paint, others swiping mud over their faces to better camouflage themselves in the dark.

And the attack is a success. There's no real such thing as acceptable loss, but the top brass consider the 70 lives spent on the attack a fair cost for what they got: almost destroying the immediate Cetagandan power supply and the return of their Princess. Plus Byerly. The mood lightens considerably, but there is no rest in war, and just as soon as they take their next victory, Piotr, Dorca and Yuri are already planning the next move: finally retaking Vorkosigan Vashnoi.

camp
All three camps are heavily preparing, officers running drills nearly around the clock, quartermasters taking inventory and making sure every piece of equipment is clean and in working order, medical officers and techs preparing the sickbay tent as best they can for the inevitable injured who will return.

But despite the impending mission, tensions are still rising within the army – while top brass is vocally discouraging the fights that have broken out, it hasn't put a complete stop to them, and no one has openly endorsed the outsiders except for Piotr Vorkosigan. Vorvolk and Yuri are both still staunchly in the skeptic camp at best, but Dorca does not seem to have passed a final judgment on the outsiders before the attack. Perhaps he's merely biding his time, because for all the dissent about the outsiders, the Emperor hasn't barred Piotr from letting them participate in critical missions.

The soldiers make enough noise about it on their own. They're especially tetchy about the outsiders who crossed over from the Cetagandan side – they're as good as spies, as far as some of the soldiers are concerned. But even worse is letting Duv Galeni, a Komarran, not only remain in camp and feed on their resources, but actively participate in missions. For the most part, the soldiers in camp who have known the outsiders from the start and have befriended them are sticking with them, but the half of Piotr's army that was with Vorvolk after the split when the location of their last camp was discovered by the Cetagandans are nearly as suspicious as the Vorbarra battalion. Hostility towards Duv and those who escaped from the Cetagandan camp is especially severe, and it's no secret that some of them would prefer the outsiders dead rather than taking up space and resources in their army, though no one has been so bold as to actually make any attempts. Falco Vorkalloner, one of the Rangers who had been in Vorvolk's half of the army, hasn't been afraid to make his voice heard, though. He's even been heard saying that he thinks someone ought to make an example out of the Komarran and demonstrate just what they think of those who would side with the Cetagandans.

After the attack, the atmosphere of the camp is noticeably changed – the return of the Princess as well as what can only be considered a resounding victory for the Barrayarans has led to a jubilant and triumphant environment. And with Barrayarans, all celebration comes with a whole lot of drinking. Wine, vodka and maple mead are passed around aplenty in the nights and days following the attack, as soldiers burn offerings for their dead comrades and trade stories of action.

The tension with the outsiders begins to lessen after this victory, too. The fact that two outsiders, Wash and Lucy, are responsible for the Princess's rescue goes a long way toward relations between the outsiders and the rest of the army, and after the attack, Dorca gives the outsiders his endorsement as comrades to be trusted and honorary warriors fighting alongside them. Of course, this doesn't mean all hostility and tension merely dissipates – there are still plenty of soldiers like the now-deceased Falco who still think the outsiders are a threat and a parasitic presence. But things do start to lighten up a little after this victory...finally.

missions
General Piotr Vorkosigan himself leads the attack on the Cetagandan base, and Yuri leads his own contingent. Although there are some hitches getting in undetected, their plans to disable base security are overall successful, as is their sabotage of the power supply generators and Sonia and Byerly's rescue.

Meanwhile, Lakshmi and Sisko have found Falco Vorkalloner's dead body, and while it looks like an accident, it also looks like someone might have taken care to make sure it looked like one.

The unabridged mission results can be found here.

cetaganda
The social relief brought by the flower-viewing party quickly fades, and tension settles back over the Cetagandan base, underlined by Zahal's frustration with Piotr's flat-out refusal to meet his demands, or even so much as discuss them. He's sent more than one political ransom demand since Dorca's arrival, too, but to no effect. Given the recent guerrilla activity in Vorkosigan Vashnoi, he knows Piotr must be planning something, but with no informants left in the Barrayaran army, his intelligence is dry, and the investigations into weapons smuggling were ultimately fruitless. All known civilian resistance cells seem to have scattered and disappeared, their bases of operation boarded up or burned down. All he can do is concentrate as many troops as he can afford on the city's occupation, though he doesn't leave the base totally unmanned. But he does add another thousand troops to the occupying force in Vorkosigan Vashnoi in the week before the attack on the base.

Not everyone is being sent over, though, and the transfer doesn't make for as smooth a cover as one might hope. Gail is caught on an unauthorized trip to the city while off duty, and you might hear -- or overhear -- the dressing-down he gets from his commanding officer for it. He doesn't appear to have a ready excuse for it -- at least, not one that doesn't sound flimsy as hell.

Military matters affect those of the Star Crèche, however, and Zahal's frustration does not touch that sphere. Not that it isn't without its own tensions -- anyone who spends enough time with Diya and Sei (and Ba Talim, for that matter) will feel the rising tensions between them, though their origins are as obscure as the haut always are. The Star Gate Project, now officially under the jurisdiction of the Star Crèche, continues on with Micah at the lead, although they haven't for a moment forgotten that they are a prisoner here, or where their true loyalties lie.

After the attack, Zahal's fury reaches a boiling point, and since the Barrayarans did so much infrastructural damage, the consequences of military matters finally reach Diya and Sei, rankling them, too. The power shortage and damage to the science/medical complex has put a serious damper on Star Gate research, although as far as anyone is aware, the gene therapy trials and other related Star Crèche research goes on unimpeded, thanks to the successful protection of the secondary backup generator, which seems to exist only to power the medbay and gene labs. But since power is a hot commodity right now, Zahal is going to start pushing to reroute some of that power to what the haut would probably deem as lower priority needs.

base
The mood around the base is restless, Zahal's frustration trickling down into tensions among his officers and seeping into the very atmosphere. They're hardly prepared for the attack that comes because they don't even know what to expect. The soldiers all seem on edge, nervous, a little tetchy, particularly after Tarn's altercation with Diya and Natasha, and then the failed attempt to smuggle out the Princess -- but that did, at least, lead to the outing of Byerly Vorrutyer as a spy among the Cetagandans, confirming some suspicions held by the higher brass in Cetagandan intelligence. About the only comfort, if one can call it that, in all this tension is Byerly's summary fast-penta interrogation.

The gene therapy trials, despite some...trials, continue, and with much greater success than last month. Sei and Diya are as impassive as ever, but even so, there's a tangible undercurrent of mixed relief and triumph. Micahworks as feverishly as ever on the Star Gate Project with the aid and oversight of the military's scientific division and the exotics working as lab assistants. The satellite launch has proven to be a highly productive venture -- it's yielding data they couldn't have gathered otherwise, which is proving to be critical, and Micah spends time having Kaidan, Symmetra and Pearl put through another series of brain scans and consulting the neurology team as they study the results.

Although Sei is never seen outside of her force bubble, and doesn't actually travel around the base all that much, her presence seems to dominate the more civilian areas of the base, overshadowing even Diya -- although Diya is considerably less visible around the base after her altercation with Tarn. Amai is, of course, somehow seen just about everywhere, a constant social and professional presence that refuses to let anyone forget she's there. But after the 5th, she seems to be troubled -- she's far less impassive than the haut, and her anxiety and discomfort are much easier to see.

After the attack, Diya seems somewhat shaken -- it's almost impossible to tell how Sei is affected, but with facilities down, audits are being done on all existing projects to determine what's important enough to remain active while they have limited power. The base isn't quite in a shambles, but there's a lot of damage -- while the Barrayarans personally only carry swords and bows, they clearly have no issue with taking the Cetagandans' plasma arcs to wreak havoc at home -- and the atmosphere is overall demoralized. Sending more troops to Vorkosigan Vashnoi was clearly the wrong move, and it's a bitter pill to swallow, but Zahal begins to recall troops from the city in small waves to help better man the base, knowing full well that this must have been what Piotr intended.

missions
A few interesting tidbits are overheard in the dark of night, and Amai finds herself in the uniquely uncomfortable position of holding Diya's dark secret in one hand, and Sei's in the other -- and Ba Talim seems to know something, though it isn't clear what. And some creative hacking turns up some unexpected dirt on Sei that makes Diya's illicit ba experiments look like mere misdemeanors.

Despite the best efforts of the soldiers and the exotics and the fact that, even undermanned, they still outnumber the guerrillas by a landslide, the base is still overrun by Barrayarans and their attack is successful. The main and backup power generators are totally disabled for the time being, and it's unclear how long it will be before full power is restored to the base.

The unabridged mission results can be found here.

Note: Gavalas, Olivia, Zahal, Diya, and Sei & Ba Talim are available for threads on request. Hit up Madi (Gavalas, Diya, Sei & Ba Talim) or Ammay (Olivia & Zahal) if you'd like threads with these characters!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ It's Wash's bad luck, perhaps, or merely it's the fact that this is the easiest place to get away from the carousing and celebrations, that within ten minutes someone else stumbles across him. Though stumbling is perhaps the wrong word: in spite of the fact that there's a bottle of maple mead in Byerly's hand that sounds rather light when it's sloshed, his step is steady and his voice is precise when he says: ]

Ah. Well, this is awkward.

[ It's certainly different from how he usually sounds: Byerly is almost always slurring, always has that slushy diction of someone who starts their day out with wine. Not the case now. His voice is positively clinical, every syllable crisp. ]

I'll leave you to it, then, I'm sure.

Edited 2017-05-06 23:39 (UTC)

[ Sigh. It is his bad luck.

Unfortunately for you, Byerly, Wash has acquired some sense of responsibility over you, and he's absolutely the kind of absolutely miserable killjoy who'll do his best to keep an eye on someone who appears to be wandering off with an entire bottle of alcohol to themselves. He does notice the difference in his voice, curious, not sure what to make of it. ]

Too late for that, Vorrutyer. [ You're already here and the quiet is gone. Might as well stay where he can keep an eye on you. ] That whole bottle for you?

Edited 2017-05-06 23:49 (UTC)

[ Byerly looks at it, lips pursed, an eyebrow cocked. He looks up at Wash, then, and responds - ]

Well, since I have been repeatedly told how you simply cannot bring yourself to drink, I suppose it is.

[ And he lifts the bottle in salute to Wash, takes another swig, and wipes his mouth off with the back of his sleeve. ]

Unless you finally want to join. You can say it's to save me from myself.

[ If the opportunity comes up he'll likely try and swipe and hide the bottle. Right now, though, he doesn't feel quite responsible enough for Byerly to put too much effort into it, though he's still going to keep an eye on him. ]

Don't think there's much left to save you from. [ Not by the sound of it, when Byerly lifts that bottle. ] Keep it.

Shouldn't you be back where there's more celebrating?

Don't underestimate me.

[ He pats his pocket, where a flask weighs him down. No, he'd come prepared for this forest retreat.

He leans up against a tree indolently. He doesn't look at Wash; he stares instead off into the gloom of the woods. ]

But no, I don't have much reason to be back there. Believe it or not, even I can tire of parties.

[ Wash is mostly doing the same, seated where he is looking off into the woods, watching Byerly closely now out of the corner of his eye. The difference to his voice really is curious, given how much drink he has on him. ]

Really, now? Then I guess we have that much in common. [ Because Wash is, quite obviously, not even slightly a party person. ] What were you going to do instead, just wander off into the woods on your own and drink yourself into a stupor?

[ A thin smile. ]

Why are you asking that like you expect the answer to be no? Yes. Of course that's what I was going to do instead.

[ A swig from his bottle. ]

What was your plan? Wander off into the woods and brood yourself into a stupor? How very manly.

[ A slight amused sound, despite everything. No, he wasn't expecting a no, but well. He could always hope for better. ]

Sorry to ruin your plans, then. Drink all you want, but I'd rather you not wander off and end up dead in a ditch somewhere. [ A shrug. ] I can brood myself into a stupor just fine where I am, anyway.

Edited 2017-05-07 00:21 (UTC)

[ A laugh - short, but there's some amusement in it. ]

Oh, look at you. You want to take care of me. Good heavens, a Betan therapist would have a field day pulling you apart.

[ Therapists of any kind would probably have a field day with Wash and that is why he wants absolutely nothing to do with them. Also aren't the Betan ones sex therapists. Look, he has a very limited view of your world. ]

None of those around here, as far as I can tell.

Is it really that unthinkable that I don't want you staggering yourself off a cliff?

[ Byerly looks back at Wash, a smile curling his lips. It's an ambiguous sort of expression. Maybe hostile, maybe not. ]

Let's play Betan therapist, then. It's a fun game, I promise. I guess something about you, and you have to tell me whether it's true or false. No lying.

Really doesn't sound like a very fair game.

[ And he's probably going to lie. ]

What do I get out of it?

Tit for tat? Question for question?

[ He presses a hand to his heart. ]

I'm an honorable man. If I promise to be truthful, so shall I be.

[ Sigh. This does seem like a terrible idea, but if playing along will keep Byerly in one place, he might as well. Not to mention, ah, he is still curious. His read on what kind of a person Byerly is keeps shifting. ]

I'm a little too old for truth or dare, but fine.

-- Come sit down, Byerly. [ Not much of a therapist's office if he ain't looking at you. ] We'll have you start.

[ He hesitates a moment before pushing off the tree - but he pushes off. Crosses to a rock where he sits down rather primly, one leg across the other, elbow on his knee. He actually does look decently like a therapist - well. Except for the bottle of booze hanging from his hand. He starts in fairly savagely: ]

You don't trust yourself.

[ Wash is a little amused by the way Byerly settles himself down on the rock, and to his credit that expression manages to stay even after Byerly starts. He'd not expected anything soft, but the sharpness of it still does surprise him. And frankly, it's not something that Wash thinks is too hard to figure out.

It's easy to tell there's something wrong with him, not to anyone who has the eye for it, who has a mind that wants to dig, and Wash is frankly quite comfortable with the fact that there's something terribly wrong with him. The parts that Wash guards the most fiercely are why he's become that way. ]

I trust myself with some things. Not with others. [ A lift of an eyebrow. ] Be a little more specific.

Are we supposed to get full cross-examinations?

It's up to you. Rules of a duel, after all - the challenged gets to name time, place, and weapon. Follow-ups or no?

[ He takes a deep swig from the maple mead as he waits for Wash's answer. ]

[ Ah, dueling. Of course dueling's a thing. ]

Follow-ups until whoever's being asked decides it's enough. [ Watching the way Byerly drinks from the bottle -- he's gauging to see if he's drinking from it at all. Speaking of which, he'll let you be more specific on your next go around. ] You don't think we should've gone back for you.

[ Simple, easy. Wash would rather start there. ]

[ By doesn't even flinch. ]

Not in the least. It was a bad tactical decision. That opinion is one that Sonia is not permitted to know I hold, by the by - as far as she is to know, I am humbly grateful for the life I have been granted.

You don't trust your self-control. It's why you faff about with all that extreme self-discipline. No drinking, strict exercise regimens - a man doesn't keep himself leashed unless he thinks himself a beast.

She won't know. [ He does mean that. Wash doesn't really react much to the question, statement, either. ]

I don't trust my self-control, no. That's not the only reason behind the discipline, though.

[ The other reasons are easy, to Wash's mind, but no less important, perhaps even more. He'll let Byerly press on it. ]

[ He waves a finger. ]

Are you referring to your soldierly duties? Needing to keep up the physical form to be the soldier par excellence?

No. Close, though.

[ He's just completely unremarkable as a soldier. Capable, yes, but in a team that was expected to be extraordinary. He was the worst of the lot, by a very far margin -- hard work and discipline beyond anything reasonable was the only way he could even barely keep up. The only way he could make himself even the slightest bit useful. And even then. ]

Tactical decision nothing. You just don't think you were worth the rescue. If it'd been Natasha, you'd have wanted me to go back for her.

[ A snort. ]

Be fair and honest, Agent Washington. I was not worth the rescue. A spy with compromised cover is as much use as a soldier with no arms. His value is purely sentimental.

And I suppose any sentimental value is inherently worthless.

You took the fall for her. It could easily have been Natasha whose cover was compromised -- it should have been her, even.

Hm. Do you think honor is a lie, Washington?

ii!

oh good i was just trying to think of an excuse for this antisocial asshole to go talk to him

Byerly always brings the party to you

but he didn't want the party byerly!!!

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject