[ 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

[CETAGANDA] Lady Diya d'Zefyst (NPC)

[eugengineer]

Now that the initial rush has died down, the exotics aren't seeing as much of Lady Diya. She does not, it seems, socialize the way the ghem women do; she isn't a total recluse, but when she is there, she seems to exist outside the group entirely, engaging mostly in solitary pursuits of art and games when she isn't at work.

She will be present, however, at follow-up appointments for any exotics whose tests or bloodwork revealed anything unusual to the Cetagandans. This is, of course, for their edification as well as your benefit.

[ if you'd like a specific starter or follow up with Diya, hit me at runawayballista, but feel free to wild card it. ]

[mirrortide]

Lapis is expecting a call from Diya, naturally. So when it comes there's not really any surprise. The faster that she complies, the faster that she'll get her powers back, right?

That's what she hopes, anyway.

Lapis, still as barefoot as ever and still in the same clothes she arrived in, meets her.

"You wanted to see me?"

[eugengineer]

There are fewer medical personnel in the room this time; just Diya and a couple of ghem med techs in brightly colored face paint. As always, Diya is the only one in the room -- the only one on the base -- whose face remains bare and free of paint. She gestures with just the slightest tilt of her hand toward the examination chair, although the scanning equipment is mostly tucked along the wall. She seems about to say something else when she notices Lapis's bare feet.

"Have you lost your shoes? You should have been provided with some when you first arrived."

She does not actually think Lapis has lost her shoes.

[mirrortide]

"I haven't lost them." They're, uh, part of her new meepmorp that will be finished when she gets ahold of some other things. Still, Diya should be pleased to know that they're not lost. She hasn't yet found a use for the other clothing she was given, but wearing it isnt on her mind at all.

[eugengineer]

"I would recommend wearing them. It's very cold outside." And inside, you're liable to get those little blue toes stepped on, Lapis. She gestures for Lapis to have a seat.

[mirrortide]

"No thanks. I don't plan on going outside." But she will take a seat once she's gestured too. Is she going to get another exam? More of her weired blood drawn? It's not the nicest experience either way.

[eugengineer]

"Then I would advise footwear in the medical areas, at least. Leaving one's feet exposed in a medical facility is inadvisable." This suggestion is a little more pointed. But no, Lapis isn't here for another exam. Diya does not opt to sit; rather, she stands nearby the exam chair, but not very close to it, a distinct bubble of personal space of several feet between them. She folds her hands in front of her pristine lab coat over light, iridescent robes.

"You recall your agreement to assist in an advisory capacity?"

[mirrortide]

"Noted." And also dismissed. Her feet will remain bare and free for as long as she can manage.

Lapis nods as Diya brings up her agreement, though she's still not that sure how useful she is. She still sits up a little straighter though. "Yes. Did you need anything?"

[eugengineer]

"Your advisement," Diya answers simply. The one monitor she does pull up seems to be connected to an impressive and very expensive-looking microscope. The display is of a moderately magnified sample of Lapis's blood -- deep blue and flecked with impossibly living pyrite and calcite. "Do you know what this is?"

[mirrortide]

"That's the stuff you took out of me." Lapis answers helpfully, not admitting that it is what passes for her blood in this place. "What about it?"

[eugengineer]

"Blood," Diya corrects nonetheless. "It is quite curious -- color aside, even. The plasma is host to cells other than blood cells -- these flecks of what would otherwise be categorized as inorganic material -- but they're not very stable. They seem to be in flux -- attempting to coalesce into molecules of their own, but eventually breaking apart before long."

[mirrortide]

"I understood maybe the first eight words of what you're saying." That's actually being generous, but you know. "You're going to have to simplify what you're saying a lot more if you want my input on it."

[eugengineer]

"My apologies," Diya says smoothly, her face unchanging. "It was perhaps presumptuous of me to assume that even a member of so advanced a race would understand human medical terminology."

Her tone shifts slightly, almost as though she were talking to a child, but no less graceful. "Blood is made up of a substance known as plasma, which contains blood cells. These flecks of pyrite and calcite -- " She assumes Lapis's sphere of ignorance doesn't extend to geology, because that would be embarrassing for her, wouldn't it? "Much like your previous form, are typically inorganic, but they exist in your blood. They repeatedly attempt to attach to one another, but inevitably break apart again before long."

Duv Galeni

[eugengineer]

There's a lull in activity in the medbay. The CMO is off-duty, and the med techs on duty are all occupied, out of the common area, in the operating theaters or the exam rooms, or far back in the drug banks behind several closed doors. A few med techs are working in the lab, but after placing a few samples in the centrifuge and setting it to run, all three of them disappear farther back into the medbay, presumably toward cold storage. And so, for just a few minutes, the back wall of the medbay, half of it a glass window into the labs, is empty of personnel.

There's only so much one can see at a few minutes' observation. A few elegantly organized racks of vials – because with Cetagandans, everything is elegant – containing blood samples, those taken from the exotics during their physicals, each clearly labeled. Most of them look quite ordinary, but a few might catch the eye – the one labeled LAPIS LAZULI is a deep blue, with swirling flecks of gold pyrite. A vial labeled RATCHET would look quite normal, if it weren't tinged a curiously glowing pink.

The racks of vials are arranged next to the currently running centrifuge. A back corridor extends off near the centrifuge, the route the laboratory med techs had taken their leave by. Along that wall, just visible from this vantage point, is a rack of uterine replicators, indicator lights on.

[komarran]

There's not much investigating he's willing to do, not when their quarantine has only been lifted so recently. They were far too aware of his planet of origin and its involvement with this affair made everything extremely... dangerous. Giving them a reason to truly interrogate him is the last thing he wants to do. But he can't stand around and do nothing. Curiosity gets the better of him when he finds himself in the medbay after an exam, lingering about in the unrestricted areas.

His brows furrow when he catches a glimpse of the window and what's inside. Vials of their blood is hardly surprising, he expected they'd be taking samples and keeping them to add to their genetic vaults though there's a couple of vials that are colors he's never associated with blood before. When his gaze settles on the devices further back in the room, he stops and moves closer to confirm. Uterine replicators? Here? A warzone was hardly the place to have those in operation and their proximity to 'exotic' blood has him wondering if it's coincidental due to space constraints or done for a purpose he'd rather not contemplate.

This is a piece of information he didn't know about the Cetagandan invasion. What else did their bases come equipped with that had been missed in documentation?

[eugengineer]

There's a soft pneumatic hiss as one of the restricted access doors at the rear of the lab opens, and out steps Diya from a halo of fluorescent light that disappears as the door closes almost instantly behind her. It isn't until she's passed through the lab doors into the medbay that she notices Duv, and she comes to a halt, turning her gaze on him. Her hair is worn long today, though its considerable length still doubled up along her back to finish in an elaborate fanned shape at the back of her head. It swings behind her gently as she turns.

"Ser Galeni," she says, surprisingly tonelessly. "Are you in need of medical attention?"

[komarran]

Not yet is his first thought when he sees the haut woman. Whatever is beyond his reach and the implications it brings with it are pushed to the back of his mind. He turns to face her looking the part of the curious foreigner. It's easier than he expects given this is his first time in a Cetagandan base. If only he could get a real tour and be allowed to take notes of his observations.

"Not at the moment," he answers easily. A hint of concern seeps into his voice as he asks, "Unless something unusual came up in my test results?"

[eugengineer]

"You would have been notified." It doesn't take a rocket scientist -- or a head geneticist -- to figure out that Duv's somewhere he doesn't belong right now, even if he's not strictly not allowed here. At least he looks at her directly. That, she appreciates.

"How may I assist you?"

Haut-speak, of course, for what the fuck do you want and how can I shove you out of here.

[komarran]

Oh, he picks up the nuance and quickly ignores it. This isn't the first time he's had to deal with Cetagandans and he will gladly hide behind the curious professor persona if it might help him gather information.

"I was hoping you could tell me about the work you and your cohorts have started here," he says, seemingly oblivious to her annoyance.

[eugengineer]

Diya's mouth tilts in a tiny, hautish version of a smile. "All the work we do is for the Star Crèche, of course. Our Celestial Lady saw fit to extend operations on the Ninth Satrapy."

[komarran]

He frowns lightly in concentration. "Forgive my ignorance, I'm afraid I haven't heard much of the objective's of the Star Crèche or the Ninth Satrapy."

[eugengineer]

Academic or not, his curiosity outreaches his welcome. But Diya is never anything but diplomatic, and she smiles slightly, radiant. "The Star Crèche has a branch on every Satrapy. It only follows that the Ninth Satrapy should have the beginnings of its own."

[komarran]

"What does that entail exactly?" he asks, undeterred for now. Once he felt he was truly stepping on toes, he'd withdraw. This could be the closest he'll get to a proper account from a Cetagandan of this period. "I've always been interested in how other governments extended their reach."

[eugengineer]

This man is starting to irritate her. She's not sure what Zahal thinks of him, maybe he thinks Duv is more trustworthy than the rest because he is Komarran, but Diya doesn't buy into that theory. It only changes the kind of distrust.

"Perhaps you should have studied political theory," Diya suggests diplomatically. "The Star Crèche needs facilities and staff. The facilities are built, and the staff appointed."

[komarran]

"I only had a chance to dabble in it during my studies," he says with a shrug. An undermining of his own education that he hates to make, but it's not as if his focus had been on the Cetagandan Empire and its functions.

"There's more non-military personnel here than I would expect from an occupation force."