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

Yes. I was expecting some details. Honestly, with how it is at the moment, this all sounds so bloody generic that I'm starting to think you're a virgin again. Tell me, can you describe to me what a breast feels like?

We're still trading, aren't we?

[ He'll give you some deets if you give him some. Is this how gossiping works? Sure, lets go with that. ]

Well, they're quite soft, especially when they're on the larger side. You can't just grope and yank at them, either. You should treat them delicately.

[ A soft, amused sound. Okay. Fine. ]

Unless delicate happens to be the last thing that she wants, of course. [ And delicate isn't what he usually does, either. ] But you don't do that kind of thing, you said.

What, delicacy?

Tying people down. [ Like when he'd suggested it, earlier. ] Being the one to bring the knife to bed.

I'm all about control, Byerly. What do you think I get up to?

The honest answer, Wash? Given your prior performance? I think what you get up to is deciding to proposition someone, tripping over your tongue, blushing, and then waddling awkwardly away.

[ He shrugs. ]

I'm just used to skipping the pretense.

[ And also being the one to approach people, okay. Being flirted with is just. Not. His usual experience. Especially not like that. ]

[ A skeptical beat. ]

All right. Let's see your technique.

[ God this is actually literally what happened with Miles he can't keep letting himself get talked into this shit. There is an immediate something that lights up in his eyes, but he just gives him a look, after a moment. ]

Vorkosigan Vashnoi.

[ Look. That works as an example as fine as any. ]

[ A flip of his eyebrow. ]

My dear man, you were planning to kill me in Vorkosigan Vashnoi. Or, yes, all right, planning to do some violence. I was actually frightened back there. I cannot truly believe that that is how you pick up pretty girls and pretty boys in spaceports.

Frightened and unquestionably turned on. Pretty sure you'd have let me fuck you if I went for it.

[ HE DOESN'T WANT TO BE TALKED INTO THIS AGAIN ]

[ The look he shoots Wash is pure offended annoyance. ]

Oh, yes, because I definitely had time for a quickie during an active mission. Give me some fucking credit here. Or take your head out of your own ass.

Some missions get long and awfully boring.

[ And Wash may have done some shit on those kinds of missions. But yes, okay, point taken, not Vorkosigan Vashnoi. ]

Still. Doesn't that work just fine?

Not really.

[ He crosses his arms, frowning at Wash. ]

There's a wide gap between hitting on someone and shoving your hard-on against them in the line of duty. [ Well. ] At least I hope there is for you.

[ Sigh. Wash has never been competitive, never needs to be the best, but he does have confidence, does have pride, and whenever he's blatantly challenged on something he does find it difficult to back down. He does look distinctly annoyed, but he does stand up, anyway, taking a moment to move a hand up to his shoulder, lazily rolling it back. ]

Sure there is.

I hope you realize how ridiculous this is, Byerly.

[ But he is walking over there. ]

Ridiculous from your perspective. From mine, you seem to be a liar. I should like to be proven otherwise for my peace of mind.

[ He's waiting. ]

[ This is in fact almost literally what happened with Miles and Wash might hate himself a little for it. Moreso for this, because this really more or less entirely because of some petty pride.

But he does walk over there, and it's been a while, not quite as natural given that Byerly is sitting on some damned rock, but it's easy and effortless enough when he brushes a hand against Byerly's arm as he moves past him, when he lets that touch trail featherlight over his shoulder. Wash moves around behind him, his hand pressed lightly against the small of his back as he eases himself down beside him. ]

Fine. [ He's leaning close ( no pretense, right, usually when he does this everyone involved already kind of knows what they're there for), his other hand moving to curve over his knee, palming slightly up over his thigh. A moment, his breath ghosting against the shell of his ear, his voice sliding just a little lower. ] Not that ridiculous, then.

Oh, you can't convince me for a moment this is how you start out.

[ Not that Byerly is completely unaffected. A handsome man touching him - when, damn, it's been a while since he's been touched. Prison really wasn't all it cracked up to be. Nor was the Cetagandan camp, really...But his voice is flat and practical; he extends his index finger and shoves lightly at Wash's cheekbone. ]

You just come up to someone and start groping their leg? That seems like an excellent way to get slapped. Or worse.

[ He makes some quiet, amused sound, keeps his hand right where it is curved over his thigh. It's his other hand that moves up to lightly push Byerly's aside so he can turn to look at him again, tilting his head slightly, his expression curious. His tone is even, but he's still keeping his voice in that slightly lower register, just because he can. ]

Sometimes it takes a bit of talking up. But being forward pays off. [ Not like he hasn't been turned down, of course he has, but not all that much, either. His hand shifts slightly over his leg, just enough that he can press his thumb against the inside of his thigh, his other hand lightly tracing his fingers up over his back, lingering over the bare skin at the nape of his neck -- and further up, tangling through his hair and twisting hard, just enough for it to hurt a little as he wrenches his head back. ] It helps to watch for a while, figure out who'd be more open to approach. Who's here for the same reason you are.

[ He doesn't seduce people, exactly, not anything like what Byerly's work would likely consist of. He just knows what he wants, finds someone who wants the same, and gets it. ]

[ The rough handling gets a response, in spite of himself - a leap upwards in the speed of his heartbeat, a slight intake of breath, a sudden cessation of blinking. His eyelids just flicker slightly, his eyes fixed on Wash's, his lips parted only slightly. Yet his voice remains conversational, light - all but for the very, very slight drop in its tone. ]

And then you come over and manhandle them. My word, no wonder you've never had a relationship.

[ He reaches down, then, and grasps the hand on his thigh. He lifts it to his lips, twists his fingers so that it's curved around his hand, and kisses the knuckles. In contrast to most such kisses, though, which tend to be courtly and polite, this is rather lewd - a wet, hungry, teasing, skillful kiss. Tongue flicking between the valleys of his fingers. A licentious parody of something good and honest and romantic. ]

Edited 2017-05-17 21:44 (UTC)

[ Mm, well. He catches those little signs, of course he does, that's what he watches for, what he's learned to watch for. There's something flickering in Wash's eyes too, how could there not be, something darkening as he watches Byerly tongue lewdly over his knuckles. His hand stays surprisingly relaxed, for a few moments, until he decides that's quite enough.

His hand twists even harder through his hair, this time hard enough to actually really hurt as he jerks his head further back, enough to force his mouth away. He pulls his hand back, then, just enough to lightly brush those knuckles against the curve of his throat, slightly damp with saliva, stalling over his pulse. ]

I didn't say you could do that.

[ Another shift to that tone of voice. Conversational as before, but still a little lower, and now with something a little commanding to it, too. He's still demonstrating, of course. This is how he works. ]

[ This is a bad idea. Not because he might do something he regrets, but because he knows how this is going to work: he's going to get all hot and bothered, and then Wash is just going to drop him and walk away to prove a point. He knows how this works. He knows how this man's mind works. But, damn the man, that harsh admonishment is nearly enough to make him shiver, because you don't grow up on Barrayar and not get a little bit of an authority kink. Not possible. And that pain, too -

He licks his lips, still not blinking, liquid eyes with their long lashes absolutely intent on Wash's. The man has his absolute, unflinching, breathless attention. Utter and rapt, even as Byerly responds to him with a drawling - ]

You didn't earn my obedience, either. [ Experimentally, his hand dances forward, stroking at Washington's knee, to see if the man will slap it away. ]

[ Unfortunately, Byerly, just because you expect it doesn't mean Wash is going to do anything different.

Wash watches him closely, and really, Byerly is the type of man he might've approached if he'd seen him in some bar waiting for the right sort of person to come along. Someone with a taste for authority, who responds that way to a little rough treatment, that's pretty much just exactly what Wash tends to be after. Such pretty eyes, too.

He doesn't slap it away. Instead, he just keeps his hand in his hair, still tugging with enough pressure to hurt, that hand near his neck turning until calloused fingertips are resting against the side of his neck. He lets the pad of his thumb trail slightly against his skin, over the damp trail of saliva he'd left there moments before, pushing up against his pulse, and digging in. Just enough for there to be the slightest sting when his nail digs into his skin, and the amount of pressure perfect and clearly practiced, just enough to make it ever so slightly more difficult to breathe.

Calmly, with that same tone but with a bit more of a growl to his voice; ] Didn't say you could do that, either.

Drop your hand.

[ The hand drops. He feels a corresponding little howl of lust rattling through him. He swallows hard, his throat bobbing against the pressure of that hand. Damn it all, sex is boring except for when it's like this, when there's a man with a face just a little stubble-roughened and hard eyes barking orders at him, or a woman with coldly contemptuous smiles sneering at his feeble efforts. Then he feels dizzy, then he finds it so damned hard to resist...

But he is trained. He's well-trained. He can manipulate right back. His voice is low and husky and raspy when he prods at Wash, asking him - ]

Can I get on my knees for you?

[ And his eyelids flutter down, his gaze lowering submissively. He knows just what his eyes can do. ]

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