[ january ii log ]

[barrayarmods]

Who: Everyone
What: The end of quarantine, a breath of fresh air, and the first taste of action
When: January 18th - 31st
Where: Barrayaran camp / Cetagandan base
Warnings: TBD


Quick links:
Barrayar: Piotr Vorkosigan / Barrayaran camp / Missions
Cetaganda: Zahal ghem-Zefyst / Cetagandan base / Missions
Special thanks to Ana for last-minute PB hunting!

It's been a little over two weeks since you first arrived on Barrayar. As the month wears on, the weather shifts a little colder, and snowstorms come, dumping over a foot of snow on the ground over the next couple of weeks.

barrayar
So far, the outsiders tent has only been visited by the Countess and the Princess. But on the morning of the 18th, the General Count himself makes an appearance. Piotr Vorkosigan is a lean, hard-faced man, battle-worn and fierce, but despite his reputation as a master strategist and the bane of the Cetagandan existence in the southern half of the continent, he looks to be no older than his early thirties, and he's held the rank of General for nearly a decade. When he comes to speak, the guards make way immediately, and he doesn't waste time mincing words.

"My name is Piotr Vorkosigan. I am the commanding officer of this camp." Hands clasped behind his back in a parade rest, he surveys the outsiders at a glance. "I hope it's been clear to you all that you aren't under arrest here. We had to detain you until we could find out what you were, because you clearly were not our enemy. I'm sure you've heard by now that we're at war, and not on the winning side. This planet -- Barrayar -- was cut off from the rest of galactic society for seven hundred years, until just thirty years ago. Until then we had no plasma weapons, no spaceships, no electricity. We had just barely begun to absorb the changes that had eclipsed us when we were attacked without word or warning by the Cetagandan Empire. Eight planets already conquered, and they sought to strike us while we were vulnerable. They claim to be saving us from ourselves, to bring us the light of civilization, as though we are dogs being taught a new trick."

His lip curls. "Komarr -- the planet that controls the only wormhole entrance to this system -- allowed itself to be bribed by the Cetagandans so that they could get their warships through the other side. They demanded unconditional surrender -- no treaty, no convention -- but we answer to one Emperor only, and our refusal to surrender under any conditions was met with warfare and occupation. Some Counts, traitorous collaborators with no honor, have surrendered, but our Emperor refuses. And Vorkosigan's District is loyal to the Emperor. Our only chance at outside help is through his son, Prince Xav, using his position as ambassador to Beta Colony to try and drum up support and get supplies through the blockade. With ghem patrols on every street of our cities, we've gone to ground to fight on our terms, wherever we can, lest we fail to remind the Cetagandans that this is our planet. They don't know these mountains, this land the way we do -- staying hidden is the only way we survive."

He gestures at the camp with one hand, the worn tents, the campfires, the weapons long-antequated by galactic standards. "If we used any galactic technology, the Cetagandans would be able to trace our location as easily as if we'd sent up a flare, so we are relegated to our own traditional weaponry, to fighting from the shadows. And our location has been compromised before." His face is mostly hard and impassive, but his eyes flash briefly. "A scant month before you arrived. How, we still don't know. But we were forced to split our forces and flee. We're operating at half our usual manpower and supplies, and we can afford to take few risks, so you must understand why we had to be so cautious with you. We still don't have a clue how you wound up here, or why; that's beyond even the imagination of galactic scientists, I think. But I do understand that you had no chance in the matter, none of you, nor have any of you given any reason to suspect you might be a threat to our effort. So, effective today, I am lifting the guard around your tent. You are free to walk the camp as you please -- save for the areas restricted for military use. But as you know, we are short on resources -- manpower included. We have no room for freeloaders or empty hands. If you wish to stay, you'll work like the rest of us. We could always use extra hands around camp." He surveys the outsiders once again with an even sharper eye. "We might be able to use a few extra hands elsewhere, too, if you can prove yourself trustworthy.

"I won't hold anyone in this camp against his will. Anyone who wishes to leave my do so -- but know that there is no protection in a war zone. All of our cities are occupied by the enemy, and their soldiers won't hesitate to shoot any man wandering down from the mountains. If you do want to leave, you'll be escorted by one of our scouts down to the foothills, to as safe a space as possible -- and to make sure you won't be able to trace back your route. We cannot afford to let our location fall into the hands of those face-painted bastards, however remote the chance."

He'll leave it at that, and when he takes leave, so do the guards who have been posted around the outsiders' tent. The detainment is over.

camp
Now that you're free to roam about the camp as you please, except for the restricted military areas, the atmosphere has changed a little. Some of the soldiers still regard the outsiders with wariness or diffidence, particularly those who might not look not quite normal. Barrayarans don't take especially well to the unnatural. But they are ultimately social and outgoing by nature, and they’ll especially gravitate toward other soldierly types, although they're sort of dubious about the women who claim to be warriors or soldiers in their own right. Still, their disposition is tentatively friendly if on the gruff side. Now that you're no longer under quarantine, they might strike up a conversation or invite you to play card or dice games with them, even if just out of curiosity if nothing else. But Barrayarans are stubborn as well: arguments might escalate quickly, and you might find yourself in a confrontation.

Now that you're no longer confined, you eat at the mess at designated mealtimes like everybody else, and you'll find that the soldiers don't eat much better than you were these last couple of weeks. You also get access to the bath tent for the first time since you arrived, if you'd like to take your chances, but bathing in the winter is always risky business. Near the bath tent are the stables, which always have a soldier or two on duty as stablehand. If you need medical attention of any kind, sickbay is the place to go, although don't expect much in the way of bedside manner from the medical officers.

Lower-ranking officers and the little old Dendarii ladies who help with the camp direct you to your jobs, a variety of mostly menial but necessary tasks. The work isn't extraordinarily demanding, and it's hardly slave labor – you're doing no more work than the average soldier here. If you're decent with knives or know anything halfway about cooking they might requisition you for the mess, if you know anything about horses, you'll probably be assigned to the stables, if you're just plain strong they'll set you to chopping firewood, and no one needs any special skills to help with the washing. But no one is assigned to just one job – when something needs doing, they'll find one of you to do it.

Life among the guerrillas is tough – none of them have it easy, and neither do you – but it isn't all bleak and miserable. When it starts to get dark and the winter chill sets in for the night, the off-duty soldiers gather close around the campfires to socialize and swap stories, maybe even share a little wine or maple mead if they've got any. Once in a while a particularly courageous (or drunk) soldier will even start a round of one of Barrayar's many traditional drinking songs, a few of which have had their lyrics adjusted with more contemporary references. However war-worn, wary, and rough they may be, the Barrayarans have an unmistakable sense of family and unity among them.

missions
After Piotr's speech on the 18th, the outsiders will be offered an opportunity: they're short on manpower, but they can't afford to waste time. Their intelligence on Cetagandan security is out of date, and the operations are risky, but if you're willing to stick your neck out for the Barrrayaran cause, it'll start to establish a bond of trust.

Piotr orders Captain Aaron Vorbataille and Captain Alexei Vorinnis to organize two recon missions to scope out the base's perimeter security, and two more to infiltrate the base and scope out the power supply. On January 22nd, the first perimeter scouting teams return more or less successfully, but with some unfortunate bonus information: there's a traitor in Piotr's camp. On January 23rd, the second perimeter scouting teams have even better success with gaining intelligence, as well as happening on a Cetagandan field science team. Adrien and Beth's squad does not engage, but another squad chances an attack on the Cetagandan team, and manages to capture one of their scientists.

With the discomfiting knowledge that there is a traitor among them, Captains Vorbataille and Vorinnis choose their infiltration teams for the power supply recon carefully. Lieutenants Dmitri Vorhalas and Boris Vortala are ultimately selected to lead the teams, though there is some heated disagreement between the captains on whether they should be bringing in more personnel at all. The power supply recon mission on January 28th has mixed results: intel gathering was mostly a success, but otherwise it was a failure. Not only were the Cetagandans alerted to their presence, but Lieutenant Erik Grey was KIA, and Lakshmi Bai and Lieutenant Vortala were both taken prisoner. No one in either squad seems to be able to provide an answer as to how or why the alarms were tripped so early. The only upside is that Lieutenant Vorhalas has taken a prisoner: Duv Galeni.

Needless to say, the implications of a traitor being in camp are troubling, but with two prisoners from the Cetagandan side, hopefully they'll be getting some answers.

The unabridged event writeup is here.


cetaganda
Zahal ghem-Zefyst approaches the gathered exotics with a welcoming smile, and a near bounce in his step – face fully painted in a more intricate manner than any of the other soldiers present. Unlike the rest of the Cetagandan soldiers, he's dressed in multiple layers of robes, all in colors matching his face paint to the exact shade. To the casual observer he looks unarmed and relaxed, but those who know what to look for will find that some of the folds of fabric are designed to keep things hidden, especially at the hip. Once he's certain he has the attention of every exotic, he gestures, open armed, as his smile grows.

"Good day. I am General Zahal ghem-Zefyst, commanding officer of this base and all operations, and I would like to first offer my sincere apologies for what has occurred – ending up here from wherever," and here his eyes light upon the most non-human of the group gathered before him, "you originated from must have been a shock. You've been told little of what is going on, but I see no reason why that should continue. You are currently on a planet known as Barrayar – but we," he gestures to himself, his wife, and the assembled soldiers with him, "are from the Cetagandan Empire. Nine planets wide, the Cetagandan Empire has existed for centuries, and flourished for all of them. There is nowhere else in the galactic Nexus that can rival our standards of living, our level of technology, and our way of life.

"This planet," he continues, cheerful voice taking on an edge of scorn and sadness, "has been left in the dark for seven hundred years. You can imagine what befell them without modern technology – society could not handle the strain, and these past eight centuries have been filled with bloodshed and fighting. Only recently has the government become truly centralized, and even then it is a tenuous peace, enforced by more bloodshed. Cetaganda's hope – our hope – is to bring them back into the Nexus as a whole. We wish them no harm, and some of their district Counts have willingly joined us, having seen the value of our cause.

"But the Barrayaran Emperor – Dorca Vorbarra – has resisted us, and there are still some districts where the population refuses to acknowledge the value of galactic technology. Of what it can do for them, of what we can do for them. This fracture between Emperor and Counts, of subjects and their ruling class, is only proof as to how fragile this society is, and how desperately it needs to be guided. We wish to be that guiding hand, and want nothing more but to live side by side with the Barrayarans."

The statement is made with a soft gesture of togetherness, before Zahal continues, smiling again. "Again, I apologize for your quarantine. We know you are here not by choice, and are taking steps towards understanding how you arrived and perhaps, how to send you home again. Until that time, however, you are free to go wherever you wish on base, respecting those areas set aside for military use. Some of you have expressed interest on learning about our culture – if you desire more in-depth information, that will be provided on request. You need not do anything beyond respect the boundaries and continue to be as civil and courteous as you have been. There are all only ten of you, and we have plenty resources to spare.

"Lastly – none of you are required to stay here with us. If you would rather brave the elements and undiscerning Barrayarans, we will escort you out, so long as you leave any technology you acquired here behind. Thank you, all of you." He bows, then, and turns to leave – gesturing the guard to follow him out of the room.

base
Now that you're free to roam about the base. as you please, aside from the restricted areas, the atmosphere has changed a little. It's still heavily military -- they are at war, after all -- but the genteel, almost delicate air hinted at during the exotics' quarantine seems to permeate the entire base, a certain fundamental Cetagandan sensibility. On a military level, everything here is built with function in mind -- but to the Cetagandan eye, form can rule supreme even in utilitarian contexts. Even such ordinarily mundane areas as the mess or the washrooms are dotted with art and designed to please the eye, even if subtly. You couldn't mistake it for anything but a military installation, but it's probably the most beautiful military installation you've ever seen.

The ghem troops are nothing short of civil, same as everyone has been. Some of them are even quite interested in the exotics -- whether seeking camaraderie or merely partaking in a novelty, it may be difficult to gauge, but there's no getting around the fact that anyone who doesn't look quite human, or anyone with an especially aesthetically pleasing form, is getting a little extra attention. However, they are all quite polite, in a way that is clearly cultural rather than circumstantial. The ghem ladies are a bit more elusive and much fewer in number, but they're even more outgoing than the soldiers, and any of the ghem on base might be pleased to share with you any Cetagandan cultural pastimes or teach you about Cetagandan art, although there may be a few polite laughs at the expense of anyone particularly "uncultured". 

Now that you're no longer confined, you eat at the mess at designated mealtimes like everybody else, and you'll find that the artfully prepared fresh cuisine served along equally (somehow) artfully prepared meal rations you've been getting are the standard here. There are no longer any guards posted around the exotics' room, which has been officially dubbed as your living quarters, and you share a communal bathroom with the rest of the hall. There's a common room on each floor where soldiers often go to spend their off-duty hours, with the appropriately recreational accoutrements: the materials for a few kinds of games popular on Cetaganda, a couple of sizeable vid plates for watching holofilms, as well as the supplies for a variety of Cetagandan art forms. There's also an exercise room in each barracks building with about what you'd expect, but probably prettier and more future.

You aren't asked to do any work, just politely told to keep away from restricted areas. A couple of ghem officers appointed by Zahal take you in individually for interviews of a sort, a couple of times a week. They're perfectly civil, and the interviews themselves are tame -- the Cetagandans are merely trying to collect some more information to better understand this phenomenon. So while there might be some questions in the personal sphere, they're primarily interested in where you come from. They won't try to force you to answer in any way -- if you sit there in stubborn silence for the hour, they will endure it politely, if in exasperation.

missions
We're using that word loosely, because none of this is official or even remotely organized.

Now that the exotics' room is no longer guarded, curiosity gives rise to temptation. On the night of January 22nd, Ratchet and Kaidan sneak out to the science/medical complex and overhear Zahal and one of his science officers talking about signs of wormhole activity as they try to puzzle out what happened. On the following night, January 23rd, Lapis and Darkstalker make their way near the war rooms and listen in on Zahal and one of his intelligence officers discussing the Barrayaran information leak and confirming that there are 'exotics' among the Barrayarans too. They have also learned that the Barrayarans are planning a raid sometime in the next week.

Things get a little chaotic on January 28th, when security alarms are suddenly tripped and a few curfew-cutting exotics run into outsiders from the other side. The evening is sort of a mixed bag for everyone involved -- Duv is captured by one of the Barrayarans and this time, no one gets back to the barracks without getting caught. On the other hand, Wash and York manage to capture Lieutenant Vortala, for which the soldiers thank them in appreciation as they take him into their custody.

The unabridged event writeup is here.

Comments

[eugengineer]

"The war is causing delays," Diya concedes, folding her hands in front of her. "It limits the scope of our work, unfortunately. But we cannot, of course, build an unguarded facility while the war is still going on."

[dendarii]

Is that what he's doing? Throwing himself off every cliff knowing that he has nothing else to lose at this point? The extreme strangeness of the situation has temporarily spared Miles from having to resolve his incipient identity crisis, but it hasn't actually gone anywhere. Only pushed down below the surface level of his consciousness, to bubble up in new and unexpected ways. What else can he say? What else can he do? As Vorkosigan or Naismith, he had honor to trade on; here, he has nothing.

"I've no coin to gamble with except my life," he says with a trace of bitterness. He shouldn't let even that slip through, but if he doesn't he'll feel sorry for himself instead. "The goal is to win, not die."

[eugengineer]

Oh, that -- that is interesting. The light in Diya's eyes seems to shift as she does, interest rising like water levels in a tank. "That is extraordinary. What purpose does it serve?"

[mirrortide]

"Well if it's the same type, it just makes them stronger. If it's two different ones, then they get have both of the abilities of the other gems, and a new one too. But that doesn't normally happen, two different Gems. Homeworld doesn't approve of it." And Lapis isn't a fusion expert by any means. Garnet would have more information than her.

[vorbratta]

"Don't worry -- the Count and Countess's horses are at the far end of the stall. Here," she says, reaching over to pat the rump of a chestnut gelding. "Take Promise. He's a gentle one, and I think he could use a little exercise. You've ridden before?"

[oldvor]

"Could've fooled me," Piotr says, voice hard and dry. The man has a face like a stone wall, but his eyes burn. He plants a hand on the table scattered with maps and the occasional, very worn flimsy. "Nobody here has anything more than you to gamble with, Illyan. I have only gotten this far because I place my bets carefully. I choose my battles."

He leans forward, jaw set. "Choose smarter. This one isn't yours."

[dendarii]

That's where Piotr's wrong, Miles thinks. He hasn't the luxury of choice here. Not when he's stranded in this time, in these conditions. Shirking a battle will be as fatal as failing it. But somehow he thinks his grandfather won't be sympathetic to that particular line of reasoning.

Instead, he keeps his head bowed and his teeth gritted. "It's not a question of intelligence," he says. "It's a matter of loyalty. Duv Galeni is my friend. He'd do the same for me."

[oldvor]

Piotr's eyes go flat. "And your loyalty to this Komarran outweighs your loyalty to Barrayar?"

[dendarii]

Dangerous. Fucking dangerous. But the only way to answer is honestly. "No," he says, raising his head again. "Barrayar is my first loyalty. But they're not mutually exclusive."

[littlemissfutility]

"Yeah." She approaches Promise, stroking a hand over his mane after a moment spent watching the horse watch her. He's a handsome thing, a soft shade of brown that reminds her of a horse that died long ago. "We had a few horses on the farm, before everything happened."

Beth's determined not to let the day turn sour on account of things that happened years ago, though. So she quickly adds, keeping her voice light, "It's like a bicycle. You don't forget."

[komarran]

"Unfortunate," he says in way of condolences. "Has your facility already begun work then? I didn't think there would be much to do until the storm passed."

Because he's almost certain that's how Cetaganda views this. A storm that will blow over if they bunker down long enough.

[oldvor]

"This is Barrayar," Piotr says, and though his eyes are narrowed there is a slight softness to his voice, "and we do not carry our wives and daughters into battle. I condemn enough to death every time I send men out on the front lines. I will not add my own wife to that death toll."

He grimaces, shoulders tightening. "Do your interests truly lie in protecting the Countess's life, Maharani?"

[shri]

She respects in the same breath that she wants to correct. There will be no carrying involved. A woman is equal to any man on the battlefield once given that chance. The words are just there - but she does not have the power in this room, half open with them as she lets out a breath and swallows. Because she cannot pretend she does not know what he means. It's a weight, a weight she still carries though she's no longer able to express it - or much of any of it.

"Yes." Is the simplest answer to his question, direct, firm, no more pretty words about it. "I will stand by her side, answer to her first. As she decrees, so I shall do. Without question. But for my loyalty, I wish for the right to a weapon, not only for myself but for every other woman in the camp."

[truevor]

It's an impressive list of qualifications, when told as such. Olivia listens impassively -- Rani need not sell the girl so hard, but she appreciates the effort to lay out her qualifications so thoroughly. As if the young woman was from a time and place where that was of no concern. So beyond her protection, were they to teach her how to play the game as they know it? It would be difficult, but not impossible.

If the girl should choose to accept, that is. "To take you on as a maid, a lady-in-waiting. It would provide you with some measure of security, as young and as unwed as you are. But more importantly, it would give you the chance to take up arms again, outside any of your other duties in the camp." She is no Vor woman, but Olivia knows that arming them is the easiest part, once Piotr comes around to it. Knives first, to set the others at ease.

[standsentinel]

"Our hosts paid off the planet on the other side to let them through. Anyone trying to send a force of their own in would have to care enough to pay up as well." And the likelihood of that... well, Kaidan doesn't know Daryl's personal history all that well, but he suspects he doesn't need to spell out the concept of talk is cheap, war is expensive.

[truevor]

"Wished to fight for Barrayar," is Olivia's simple reply. "He fled this planet in order to flee the persecution," just or unjust -- depending on who one asked, "that his existence brings him. And now that he has returned, he wants nothing more than to fight for it. I cannot say whether or not he will be of use, but to fight and die for a planet that has rejected him -- is that no less admirable than you or I, willing to do the same?"

Piotr has never felt crippled or constrained by Barrayar, not in the way she knows that she and Sonia have. But he is no less aware of it in Olivia's case, even if he cannot understand it. Olivia reaches out to brush her fingertips over the knuckles of his hand, fondness seeping into the steel of her eyes. "Grant him an audience. That is all I ask of you on this matter."

[artsofwar]

Komarrans. Always looking for a new way to make money. Zahal can't say that he understand that urge -- but for some it must replace all other desires. "The must have made quite a lot of money." He says, neutrally as possible.

[shri]

She falls quiet as Beth asks a sensible question. Good, be smart about it. Is all she can think. She doesn't know nobles, but she knows nobles. Vicious as they are, being on a different planet didn't change that wariness. Seems Beth might not know nobles, but she knew to worry.

Slides her eyes briefly to the Countess with a thankful little nod. Then back to carry on. "Whatever you do not know about the position, I can teach you. As I said, everything is about who is to be held accountable. Likewise, anything you do, the Countess will similarly be upheld to. The same applies to myself, for recommending you."

The power in this situation, worked many ways.

[eugengineer]

"When I asked what purpose it serves, I meant in your society," Diya clarifies, clinical, but her eyes are bright. "Fusing with different gems is some sort of taboo?"

[mirrortide]

"War, mostly. Fighting. But yes, fusion of different Gem castes is considered taboo. You can be shattered for it." Which is really a frightening thought, but it's one that is so unbelievably far away right now. What would even happen to her if her gem became cracked while she was human?

It's hard to imagine, really.

[littlemissfutility]

What Lakshmi says gives her pause, her mouth thinning as she tries to decide just how bad it'd be if held accountable ends up being...well, really held accountable. The last thing she wants is to have to choose between answering to them and screwing up their reputations. She's used to being part of a group. Having to worry about people judging the leader based on what she does--that's new. And it feels constraining.

But the countess said take up arms and it doesn't sound like she only means when you're told to. That strikes up hope in her chest.

"If I can have a knife," Beth says slowly, "like...all the time. Not just on perimeter scouting, or...or whatever else they want me to do. Then I'm in."

It's what she wants more than anything, and that makes laying her cards on the table more difficult. But there's only one way to get what she wants, in this situation, and that's asking.

[oldvor]

Piotr's expression doesn't relent. "They might as well be," he snaps. This mutant's pushiness isn't granting him any favors. "If he turns out to be innocent of espionage, then perhaps I'll ask your opinion." His tone is not as charitable as his words might be. "But you are not one of my officers, Illyan -- you're not even one of my soldiers. Don't you dare presume to dictate to me how I ought to handle prisoners when there is a traitor in our midst."

[vorbratta]

Sonia can understand the urge toward willful ignorance of the past -- or present, for that matter. It's why she's out here in the first place, happy to show Beth around the admittedly small riding area even in this devastating cold. They'll probably get frostbite if they stay out too long, but after -- after they could light one of the braziers in the barn and warm up a little before going back to camp. Yes, Sonia decides as she completes her mental itinerary, that would be just fine.

"Isn't it?" Sonia starts taking Moonfire up, her voice cheerful. "I only got to ride sparingly when I was growing up. I didn't take to it as much as my sister did, but I like it. Do you need a hand tacking up?"

[eugengineer]

"I would not be here if there was no work to do."

That isn't strictly true. She'd be here whether she liked it or not; it just happened to be part of a larger strategic move on both a political and military level. Kill a few elegant birds with one stone.

"Merely setting up operations on a new planet, let alone a new facility, takes time. And the Emperor wishes it so."

[oldvor]

There's no wavering there, no reason for him to doubt her honor. She strikes him as a woman of tremendous honor -- he would have no less responsible for Olivia's wellbeing. He nods shortly.

"You will be supplied with a weapon as part of your duties to my wife," Piotr grants with a wave of his hand. "But for every woman in camp..." He scoffs, a soft breath through his nose. "If my wife wishes to add to her guard, then she is well within her rights to do so. I have plenty of armsmen to protect her, but she feels the need for feminine companionship in such a capacity. I won't begrudge her that."