[ may ii log: we're a broken people living under loaded gun ]

[barrayarmods]

Who: Everyone
What: Victory quickly curdles when the Cetagandans go nuclear -- literally.
When: May 18th - 31st
Where: the Barrayaran camp, the Cetagandan base, Riverfall Village
Warnings: TBD

Quick links:
Barrayar / Cetaganda

barrayar
The jubilant atmosphere in the Barrayaran camp doesn't die out, but it does shift back into the sense of intense focus on their next task, their exhilarating victory driving them forward. The attitudes toward the outsiders are gradually lightening -- the fact that two of them rescued Princess Sonia has gone a long way toward fostering good will. While Prince Yuri and Colonel Vorvolk are still staunch their position of mistrust, Dorca is now openly showing support for Piotr's decision, tipping the balance of politics among the top brass -- which always has a trickle-down effect. But it's a slow spread, and while some of the other soldiers have turned entirely grateful to the outsiders for their part in the attack, for most of them they're only just starting to tone down the hostility. But the shift in atmosphere, however gradual, is clear: the outsiders are starting to fall back into favor with the soldiers.

Vorvolk himself still remains unconvinced, and in the downtime between briefings, can be seen frequently in conference with Piotr, and they don't often look to be in agreement. The fact that the body of Falco Vorkalloner, one of the more vocal anti-outsider dissidents, was found dead shortly before the attack only throws things into hotter contest: although as far Lakshmi and Sisko, the ones to discover the body, reported to him, it appeared to be an accidental death. Colonel Vorvolk remains suspicious considering the timing, but a funeral for Vorkalloner complete with death offerings is held on the 19th. If one is positioned correctly in certain circles, too, one may overhear more talk about the increasingly tense succession politics – talk, say, about finding Yuri a new wife so he can produce another heir. Yuri, perhaps surprisingly, seems reluctant, and harshly bites off the subject every time it comes up.

Lapis has requested a note be delivered to Sonia through the villagers, and Sonia rushes to show it to Piotr. While the gene therapy trials weren't news – and subsequently dire conclusions could be drawn from it – any deals with Jackson's Whole are news, and dangerous at that. If the Cetagandans release the outsiders' gene complexes to the Jacksonians, they might as well be releasing them into the wild: there'll be no hope of permanently recovering them. Piotr is going to want the his handlers to pass on this information to their informants so that they can keep an eye out for any new developments or ways to sabotage the deal.

Scouts are sent to Vorkosigan Vashnoi to further coordinate their efforts with the civilian underground resistance in the city and move on to the next step in their plans to retaking the city. The attack on the base had been meant to force Zahal to withdraw some of his troops from the city, and it works – except that according to Barrayaran intelligence, by May 21st he has recalled the entire occupying force from Vorkosigan Vashnoi.

At approximately three o'clock in the morning on May 22nd, the night sky goes ablaze with a sudden flash of light. The sound of the explosion doesn't follow for another minute, but even at night, the mushroom cloud is clearly visible from the mountains. And even at night, given the vantage point, it's clear that this means only one thing: the Cetagandans have just bombed Vorkosigan Vashnoi.

There's nothing left of the city -- the Cetagandans went nuclear on it, obliterating the city and all its inhabitants and leaving nothing but an irradiated crater behind. Morale in the camp takes a sharp U-turn after the total destruction of the district's capital. Not only were they on the verge of successfully retaking the city, it's the capital of the district, and a symbol of hope for many of the soldiers, especially those from the district -- or it was, anyway. Now there's nothing left of it. Everything they've been working toward for the last few months, everything they've struggled toward -- simply gone.

The soldiers all react in different ways. Most of them are furious, angry like a wounded beast, despairing but only more determined to eliminate the Cetagandan threat to them. Many of them weep openly in grief or despair -- lost family and friends, a lost home -- and some are simply stunned into numbness at so dramatic an escalation. The Barrayarans are badly thrown, and they need to regroup before Cetagandan strikes again.

The unabridged mission results can be found here.

cetaganda
Thanks to the Barrayarans' extremely effective sabotage, there's no hope of getting the main or backup power generator back in operating oder until their next supply drop arrives with reinforcements -- still weeks away. Most of the base is without power, which also means no running water, no refrigeration, and no way of recharging their weapons' power packs. As much is being done by daylight as possible, including pre-preparing meals -- still a mix of MREs and fresh food, but especially the latter, as they have no way of keeping it from spoiling, but when they run out of fresh food from the Grow Labs, the base's denizens are stuck with MREs and rather unpalatable ration bars. Thankfully, the water treatment plant has a considerable buffer, so while they may not have running water, they do at least have some manually retrievable potable water for the time being. Hey folks, if you ever wondered what it's like for the Barrayarans roughin' it up out there in the mountains, here is a tiny fraction of what that's like.

On the night of the 20th, Diya is discovered dead. According to Sei, she was attacked and killed by Natasha -- for what exact reason, Sei cannot claim to know, but this clearly marks Natasha as a dangerous entity. Natasha flees the base that night in a hijacked groundcar, leaving no one to fast-penta and no witness but Sei and Ba Talim, and -- even though it would be an affront to suggest it -- haut and ba are immune to fast-penta. An elaborate but solemn funeral is held for Diya on the 21st. It's about what you've probably come to expect of Cetagandan functions, but the mood is distinctly different. There is still a lot of poetry reading. When not in uniform, Zahal now dresses in mourning colors.

The one building that does still have power is the building containing the medbay and gene labs, powered by the secondary backup generator that clearly exists for that express purpose: if all else fails, protect the interests of the Star Crèche. However, even with the base's population reduced, there are still thousands of people who need power, and Zahal is in a heated argument with the haut over redirecting power from the secondary backup generator to other vital base functions. The secondary backup generator does not possess the capacity to power the entire base, but some of its power could definitely be rerouted to select other areas. By May 21st, the barracks and mess have limited power -- just barely enough to get running water and the most basic of kitchen functions running. A little bit of power is rerouted to one of the undamaged research buildings for continued research on the Star Gate Project, since it's of nearly as much interest as the genetics research.

By May 21st, Zahal has recalled the entire occupying force from Vorkosigan Vashnoi. This means a couple thousand soldiers have now returned to the base, but they're still badly undermanned. Reinforcements are slated to arrive along with a supply drop at the start of next month, but until then, it's time to make do. Some of the repairs can at least be started manually, so any off-duty soldiers and willing and able bodies will be asked to lend a hand to start fixing up some of the base now that it's more cleaned up.

At approximately three o'clock in the morning on May 22nd, the night sky goes ablaze with a sudden flash of light. The sound of the explosion doesn't follow for another minute, but even at night, the mushroom cloud is clearly visible from the upper perimeter of the base. And even if you don't have the vantage point to see it for yourself, it doesn't take long for word to get around: the Cetagandans have just bombed Vorkosigan Vashnoi.

Apparently Zahal was able to pull together enough resources to drop a nuclear bomb on the city, utterly destroying it and everyone in it. Judging by the surprise of the rank and file, this was not a long-planned maneuver, but a direct response to the Barrayarans' attack. It isn't the sort of measure they're supposed to resort to so quickly -- the city itself is a valuable resource, and it gave them leverage -- but Zahal is furious.

Between Diya's sudden death and the bombing, the atmosphere around the base is suddenly tense and uneasy. While the Cetagandans have hardly felt threatened by the exotics, after Natasha's supposed recent actions, there's a growing mistrust. The victory might go to the Cetagandans, but it doesn't really feel like it.

The unabridged mission results can be found here.

Comments

Miles Vorkosigan | OTA

[dendarii]

HORSES

[ ... is not getting a starter, but if you want to wrangle horses or generally interact with Miles before bad shit happens, he is here. Enjoying horses. ]

TOO LITTLE...

[ Late on the 21st - too late on the 21st, though he doesn't know it yet - Miles finds out that Cetaganda has withdrawn from Vorkosigan Vashnoi. He has to excuse himself from wherever he is for a moment, because his face has gone completely bloodless as the weight of that news settles on him. Cetaganda, completely withdrawn. Fuck. He'd thought he'd had more time - he doesn't remember for sure, but he'd thought the bombing had come later in the war - maybe they are later in the war -

It doesn't matter. He'd already rattled off the signs to Wash, and he sees them all too clearly now. Cetaganda's next steps will be to eradicate the city. How long from now, he doesn't know. For all he knows he's just going to walk straight into death. But - if he wants a shot at this, even the slightest chance of evacuating anyone from the city - he needs to go now.

And so Miles goes around camp, gathering supplies (but not weapons) and every outsider he can find. Grave-faced, clearly desperate on a scale that he's never been before. There's a strange sort of manic energy about him too, a crazy focus that keeps him moving even when he's standing still. Thoughts whirling as he tries to plan the next step. They'll need to borrow a few horses, some basic supplies, but otherwise move as quickly as they can... ]

Just - help me, please. There isn't much time.

[ He will tell most people why he's panicking so badly, but if you'd rather your character be surprised, let me know. ]

...TOO LATE

[ And then, just as whatever rescue party he gets together takes its first step outside camp, a blaze of light fills the sky. Miles jerks his head towards it, his mouth falling open in horror as she watches the mushroom cloud billow up from the ground.
No. No no no no. He slumps forward against whatever horse he's managed to commandeer, tightening his fingers in the reins. The one thing he really had a shot had preventing, or so he'd thought. The one thing in the war he'd really been able to predict.

And now that city is gone. Nervelessly, eyes staring forward at nothing, Miles slowly dismounts. There's no point any more. No survivors in that wreckage, only ruins that will glow for the next two hundred years. Only death. ]

Turn back. There's - there's nothing we can do now.

[ He needs a drink. He need to be drunk. He - he can't deal with this. ]

too late

[protocol]

[ There was never going to be a good end to this. With no way to actually predict when it might happen, the nuclear strike has just been a shadow looming overhead, and there was never going to be much they could do about it. He just hadn't expected it so soon. He'd been right there when Miles had started gathering supplies, anyway, keeping up with that manic energy and focus as much as he could, but at the back of his mind he'd been ready -- if they got out too far, he might have to head him off before they actually get too close to the city.

Turns out there's no need for that. There's the light, so bright it's like dawn is breaking too fast and too suddenly, and all Wash can do is stare until the rush of sound his them, too. There's silence, dead air, the horses they'd gathered shifting nervously -- his limbs feel heavy, but he forces himself to move, right to Miles' side as he dismounts.

He hesitates slightly, before he slings an arm over his shoulder, squeezing, and he doesn't say anything, but it's in his eyes clearly enough, what do you need? That includes telling him to fuck off, he'll leave Miles alone if he wants it, but. ]

[dendarii]

[ Miles just goes stiff in Wash's arms, still staring at the horizon ablaze with Vorkosigan Vashnoi's death. The destruction of the capital. His district's capital, his people ... And he couldn't do a damn thing.

No, that's not right. He had a chance but he squandered it. Now what? Now where the hell does he go? ]

Get the horses back. It's too late now.

[protocol]

There was no time. [ Wash can't quite tear his eyes from the light, either. He's seen worse, technically, but. That doesn't ever make it any easier. ] There was only so much any of us could do.

Help me with them?

[ The horses, he means. Something to do, anything to do, that's what Wash does sometimes to distract himself and calm his thoughts, would that help? God, all those people. His voice is wavering slightly. ]

[dendarii]

[ He's good with horses, after all. He needs to make sure they're safe, at least ... He jerks his head a bit, indicating for Wash to follow. And begins leading his back. ]

Only so much a normal person could do. More that I could do.

[protocol]

[ He moves with him, leading the horse he'd taken, too. Trying to ignore how deadly silent the camp is, and failing. ]

You had some imprecise foreknowledge. Not much more than that.

[dendarii]

[ Miles whirls at that, his voice rising in pitch. Not caring who else hears. ]

Are you joking? It happened exactly the way I predicted! Cetaganda pulled out and then blew up the capital!

[protocol]

[ Goddamn it Miles. That definitely must've caught some attention, and Wash gestures pointedly to keep moving. He will literally pick you up and clamp a hand over your mouth if he has to. ]

And neither of us knew how quickly it would happen.

[dendarii]

[ You may still have to. He's not getting any quieter; if anything his tone is rising as they go along. ]

What does that matter?

[protocol]

[ Look he'll do it but it's going to be a last resort. Don't yell until we're back in the car, Miles!! ]

More time could've meant everything.

Lets get to the stables. [ Which they're already on the way to, of course, but just using that as an excuse to try and urge them to move faster. ]

[dendarii]

Then I have even less excuse for not acting sooner. I should have told Piotr, dammit. He could have done something.

[ He jerks the reins along. Gently, even in his agitated state. ]

[protocol]

He wouldn't have believed you.

[ Wash is, thankfully, not as helpless with horses as he used to be, he's perfectly capable now as a matter of fact, enough to know what to do as they get to the stables. There's still people here, everyone's awake. He's watching Miles so, so closely. ]

[dendarii]

[ He carefully restables the horse. Carefully begin removing the saddle, tack, other items... ]

I could have made him. I'd have found a way, dammit, I'm his --

[ You might want to interrupt him, Wash. ].

[shri]

[ She takes in Miles, she takes in his urgency and - that is all she needs to know. A lot of people she will question, double check and later, she might. She might ask a lot of question but when Miles asks? She doesn't hesitate. Even when he speaks to a few of them at once, that's enough, she goes to collect her gear, pulling on her belts, her scarf, the blackwater tucked back underneath them. The sword that sits heavy on her side and comfortably so.

When she turns back and finds him there - she's busily tying her forearm braces, looking up to him briefly. ]

Tell me what you need.

[ She yanks the laces hard, holding it up to her mouth to catch the string with her teeth, focusing on him in the movements even so. ]

[dendarii]

[ Bless Lakshmi for instantly getting on his wavelength. Not that he expected anything less from her, but - when he's already out of his mind with desperation, he's glad to have one less thing to think about. ]

Horses. That'll be the fastest way. We won't make it to town in time without them. Light on everything else. We have to spread the news first, that's the most important part.

[shri]

[ If she can give him anything, she knows she can give him this, the surety of herself. ]

What plan after that?

[ A sharp-toothed yank of the lace until it's tightened to where she likes and she pulls back in deft, economic movements. Tying it off before she begins working on the second one. ] What am I telling them?

[dendarii]

[ He turns to tend to his own supplies. Still mentally focused on her as he prepares his horse's tack. ]

To get out. Leave their belongings, take their families. Pass the message on. They'll need to get a good distance clear of the city to have any hope of surviving.

[shri]

Acknowledged.

[ She repeats the same process on her other arm, bracing into the hard leather. Flexing her fingers in stiff movements. She's keen down to every limb, ready for something like a fight or worse. Feels like worse. Feels like a taste of gunpowder under her tongue, a Lycans blood sprayed on her face. ]

[dendarii]

[ He takes just a moment to pause, here. Just a moment to lay his hand on Lakshmi's arm. ]

Thank you.

[shri]

[ She stares at him a hard moment when he does. Her mouth set, her shoulders stiff and God knows what Miles has them running from. It's words and a destruction that she will not understand, and yet perfectly know the feeling of, when it comes.

She takes him by the arm, yanks him hard. Her hand coming around him up to the back of his head. Pulls him into hard to catch her mouth to his. A thick heavy breath in, teeth to his lip, catching. Her fingers drawing through his hair as she kisses him the once and full and quick before she lets him go.

After all, what good was be careful, when she knew neither of them would be. ]

I'll meet you out there.

[dendarii]

[ Ah. He just melts against her for a moment, eyes fluttering closed as he drinks in the feeling of her for a moment. Like a man parched of thirst in a desert, knowing he must go on but not knowing when he might see another oasis. He slides his own hand along her waist to rest there a moment.

And then, the moment ends. He pulls back, refocuses on his preparations. ]

Good. In a few minutes then.

[ The hour grows late, and 3 AM is too soon... ]

[shri]

[ Whatever warmth she can cut out in the face of so much, it's reserved for him, in this and for now, when she smiles at him briefly before she steps away. Finishing up her own preparations.

And then, she's there, astride her horse, reigns in her hand. Ready and waiting, a stiff nod to him, whatever else follows, follows, she has her instructions, she has never made a fuss in times like these. ]

[dendarii]

[ Once everyone's ready, Miles signals for them to move forward -

Only for that deadly flash of light to fill the sky. Miles draws up short, staring at the brilliant flare of light, mouth falling open with horror. ]

No ...

[shri]

[ She has never seen light like that. She has never known something so bright, so utter, so destructive. It feels like watching a story her father had told her about the divine fire that Sita set inside of herself when her husband had been insulted. It was more than fire. More than light. To know death, like that, destroyed in a way she cannot even begin to fathom.

Nor does she care too, not right now. This isn't her home. These aren't her people to mourn. Not her way.

She doesn't go to him, right then, there's no point. Maybe someone else will be better at the immediate shock. Because what even is there to say? There isn't a term for it. There isn't a single thing to begin. So she finds him, later, much later. A day past, when it's quiet again, late at night and she goes to see whatever kind of drunk he quite probably is. She would be, if she were in his place - or not. She hadn't had the time when she had been.

But she hadn't been alone, either. Moves into campfire light, to find him. ]

[dendarii]

[ He is exceptionally drunk by then. Having been forced to return all the supplies he'd borrowed, after letting Wash walk him away from the immediate danger, after spending a day staring at the glow on the horizon, mourning the lives of his people. And cursing himself. Cursing himself for being here, cursing himself for being unable to do anything ...

And now, he sits at the fire, eyes dull. He has a knife in one hand. The same he'd stabbed Tarn with, the same he keeps on him on all times. He's alternately taking swigs of mead - and cutting off small bits of his hair, tossing each lock into the fire one at a time. ]