[ january i log: barrayar ]

[barrayarmods]

Who: Everyone
What: Arrival on Barrayar and what follows
When: January 2nd - January 17th
Where: Barrayaran guerrilla camp
Warnings: None (at the moment)


welcome to barrayar.
It's the dark of night when you come to in the foothills. Snow on the ground, chill winter wind whistling. A steep mountain range towers just ahead, its peaks illuminated by the light of two moons. Whatever you last remember, it isn't how you got here, and you feel oddly jetlagged, slightly queasy.

And you're not alone. There are nine other people close by, all looking equally lost and confused. But before any of you have a chance to figure out what's going on, the soldiers arrive.

They're dressed in weather-worn green uniforms, bearing swords and bows, and they surround you immediately, poised to attack. But they quickly realize you're not their enemy, the ones they call Cetagandans. They're just as confused as you are, but rather than hanging around to puzzle it out, they start shepherding you toward their camp in the mountains while it's still dark. There's a war on, they say, and you unlucky bastards have just been dropped right smack in the middle of it.

the guerrilla camp
It's a few hours' hike through the mountains to get to their hidden camp, set up in a clearing framed by dense, hard forestry and backed against a rock face. Daylight is finally dawning when you make it there. You and your fellow sudden arrivals are ushered to an empty tent on the far end of the camp, just big enough to fit all ten of you. You can't help but notice they've posted guards all around it. You aren't under arrest – they just don't know what else to do with you.

You are able to glean, from hearsay and what the soldiers are willing to share with you, that you are on a planet called Barrayar, and this is their home, and ten years ago they were attacked without warning by the Cetagandan Empire. They've been holed up in the mountains fighting against their invaders ever since, outgunned and outmanned, but scoring little victories where they can. They don't tell you much more than that. Some dialect of Russian seems to be one of the predominant languages of the camp, but for the most part they all speak English too, if with an accent. They're gruff and wary, and if you look a little less – or more – than human, they'll eye you with suspicion, maybe even make obscure hex signs at you that seem intended to ward off evil or disease. But they aren't hostile to you, not unless you start something with them.

the outsiders' tent
It's not in the greatest shape, but if you look around the camp, the rest aren't much better off. It's cramped, but you've at least been provided with bedrolls and heavy wool blankets to ward off the frozen chill, and if you're in need of clothing, they'll provide it, although it probably hasn't been washed in…a while. The soldiers bring you food at mealtimes -- not very good food, mostly tough meat and groats, and they keep you your own campfire, just to keep you warm. They've also hastily dug you your own latrine area at the edge of the perimeter, just behind the treeline. No private bathroom stalls in this outfit, unfortunately. The entire camp seems tense and wary, and the soldiers are alert, but they don't talk much. You could try sneaking past them, but you probably won't get far.

Well, at least you've got each other for company: the outsiders on Barrayar.

Comments

[dendarii]

[ Miles twitches a bit. ]

I am capable of some subtlety.

[vorrutyer]

I suppose you are sometimes beneath one's notice.

[dendarii]

Hilarious, Byerly. I don't intend to go spying much, if only because I am very distinctive, yes. That would be a one-time infiltration.

[vorrutyer]

Unless you defected altogether. Not that you ever would, of course. I can't even imagine a Vorkosigan acting as a double agent. I feel as though you'd break out in hives, or shrivel up altogether. Or challenge the whole of the Cetagandan Empire to a duel.

[dendarii]

[ Miles' expression flattens. ]

Have you actually been to Eta Ceta? Because I have.

[vorrutyer]

Why, of course; I've been invited along on so many state visits. A representative of the new face of the Vor, you see.

[dendarii]

[ Has Byerly? Miles can't remember. So, it must be sarcasm. ]

Hilarious. My point being that we're both drawing from the same knowledge pool, roughly speaking.

[vorrutyer]

I learned about Cetaganda well enough back in school. Well, back when I was in school.

[ He waves his hand in dismissal of that whole being-a-dropout thing. ]

But please, go on. What insights do you have that would make you an amazing spy?

[dendarii]

[ What does he have? A better working knowledge of the haute, for starters. Are they even here? Could they be? Miles begins to pace in their small space as he begins to think in earnest. Whether that was meant sarcastically or not, it's lit a fire for him. ]

The real question is what they're doing here.

[vorrutyer]

[ By shoots Miles an are-you-insane look. ]

Invading? I might not have attended the Service Academy, but I seem to remember that part of history class.

[dendarii]

Obviously, yes. But why?

[vorrutyer]

To make a new...what do they call it, satrapy. Their thirteenth, isn't it?

[ Ninth, Byerly. Ninth. ]

[dendarii]

[ Miles is all too happy to help. ]

The Ninth. I've never quite understood it. If they wanted just the planet, they could bioengineer a plague and be done with it. Especially at this stage of development.

[vorrutyer]

That would be an atrocity. Plenty don't have the stomach for atrocities.

[dendarii]

Vorkosigan Vashnoi.

[vorrutyer]

Yes, but be fair - Vorkosigans are uncommonly irritating.

[dendarii]

[ Miles rolls his eyes a bit. ]

And they were trying to crush resistance, yes, yes. But my point stands. They wanted to assimilate us. Maybe cull genetic samples.

[vorrutyer]

[ A small shrug. ]

And what does it matter?

[dendarii]

It matters because that's how we drive them off early. Find out what their actual purpose is and make it impossible to achieve.

[vorrutyer]

Or convince them the bare rock is worth it after all.

[dendarii]

It's a fine line, yes. But I'm sure you're up to the challenge.

[vorrutyer]

I thought we were talking about your spy career.

[dendarii]

Oh, no. I wouldn't leave it in the hands of anyone short of a master.

[vorrutyer]

You're aware I am Domestic Affairs. I've hardly ever even talked to Cetagandans before.

[dendarii]

You'll figure it out. It can't be any worse.