forbarrayar | [ june ii log: the underestimated power of the forces of the unseen ]

Entry tags:

[ june ii log: the underestimated power of the forces of the unseen ]

Who: Everyone
What: Let's go steal us a spaceship.
When: June 18th-30th
Where: the Barrayaran camp, the Cetagandan base
Warnings: TBD

Quick links:
Barrayar / Cetaganda / The Hijacking

TIMELINE
6/28 Hijacking of the Star Gate, Haut Sei's death

barrayar
Things are as tense as ever in the Barrayaran camp, but at least morale is on the rise -- in a way. While Piotr's decision to help the outsiders as part of his plan to strike back at the Cetagandans hasn't been the most popular, ever since Vorvolk's summary demotion and dismissal from Piotr's general staff, few are bold enough to put forth criticisms of the General Count, especially considering his plan now has Emperor Dorca's endorsement. House Vorkosigan has always been deeply loyal to the Emperor, and that loyalty is repaid in kind with confidence, though it isn't necessarily shared by the Emperor's son. Yuri still has his own objections, and he certainly has no love for the outsiders, but he recognizes Piotr's brilliance as a military strategist, and rather than continue to stir malcontent in Vorvolk's wake, he has decided to fall into line with his father in backing the plan.

It isn't just the Emperor's endorsement, either. In the wake of Vorkosigan Vashnoi and the despair its destruction had wrought, the soldiers crave some direction, something to rally behind -- anything to get back at the Cetagandans. And those soldiers who have known the outsiders since the start…well, many of them are just as sympathetic as Piotr, some of them even more so. Piotr makes a public speech in his camp on the matter to drive up morale, and points out to both his and Dorca's troops that they have an utterly unique opportunity: hit the Cetagandans in a way no one has done before, and nip in the bud what could be the biggest threat of the war to date. "We won't let there be another Vorkosigan Vashnoi," Piotr declares to his troops, impassioned. "Not as long as I walk this planet. The Cetagandans may have already left its scars on Barrayar, and the war may rage on still, but we can ensure their ambitions go no further than this world -- and if this does not bring us honor, what else will?"

The speech is to great effect, but to anyone paying close enough attention, it's clear that what's really keeping Piotr upright these days is Olivia. The destruction of his own district's capital dealt an especially hard blow, but he's not a man who can afford to buckle now.

Vorkosigan's District is wracked with a heat streak, the sun beating down on them from the cloudless sky. Rain is rare, and while it's cooler up in the mountains, it's still hot as hell. Make sure you're drinking enough water, maybe take a cold bath or a dip in the creek, and…don't stand too close downwind of the stables.

The Barrayaran camps have spent the last few weeks communicating with Micah and the outsiders on the other side, preparing for the hijacking of the Star Gate. They pull together a modest cache of weapons and do their best to ready themselves, but when the night of the 28th comes, all they can do is make do with what they have. Sonia, unbeknownst to Olivia, Piotr, or anyone else, disguises herself as a soldier and slips into the rank and file at the last minute. There's a small panic among the top brass when they discover the Princess missing, but after the fight, when the dust starts to settle, soldiers who were in the shipyard report having seen the Princess there -- and that not a single one of them was able to stop her from getting aboard the Star Gate ship.

cetaganda
The atmosphere around the Cetagandan base is increasingly conflicted. Sei carries out her gene therapy experiments as always, and in Diya's stead she runs the genetics research project with ruthless efficiency and, apparently, increasing pressure. Amai is perpetually uneasy ever since she was drafted (blackmailed) into working against Sei, and there are murmurs that Sei is frustrated over some of her coms not going through properly.

Zahal is catching some serious flak from central command for resorting so quickly to nuclear measures on Vorkosigan Vashnoi; it was clearly not an order he received or even requested, and his superiors aren't happy with that. Coupled with Diya's recent passing, he's not so much his usual composed self these days. And with no clear direction after Vorkosigan Vashnoi, the soldiers are getting restless and antsy.

By the 25th, construction on the Star Gate is complete, and Micah is working with the exotics to execute their plan, loosely codenamed the midnight shift, in conjunction with the Barrayarans. They've been providing directions about how to proceed with regards to sabotage and preparing for the hijacking on the 28th. In their off hours in the lab, they've been constructing dozens of small, short-radius EMP charges to be planted in the other ship sin the shipyard.

Sei is murdered by Jasper on the evening of the 28th, before the hijacking begins. Lapis did tell Amai that they'd take care of things with Sei, after all. But because things go to hell so quickly that by the time they have a chance to process the site of Sei's death, the responsible parties are already long gone. Amai also seems to have gone missing, except she isn't really missing -- having been blackmailed into helping with the hijacking, she had no choice but to go with them. Her career might has well have a DNR order on it at this point.

In the aftermath of the hijacking, the base is in a logistical shambles, despite them having taking comparatively much fewer casualties than the Barrayarans. However, beyond the initial emergency response, Zahal's response has been disorganized, enough that they don't manage to immediately get any ships off the ground to pursue the hijackers.

the hijacking
The unabridged mission results are located here.

The Barrayarans don’t descend from the mountains until after dark, their faces smeared with mud to keep the light from reflecting off their skin. Ezar and Piotr lead the infiltration force, while Yuri and Dorca lead the assault on the shipyard perimeter. Casualties in a mission like this are inevitable -- it's just a matter of how many.

While Byerly and Lakshmi are infiltrating along with the rest of the security task force, another force is taking out the shipyard perimeter security. An initial wave of soldiers takes out the perimeter guard, while a second wave fans out through the shipyard to dismantle internal security, including any inner guards. Sonia sneaks herself in on the mission, disguising herself as a soldier in uniform and sticking with the second wave. They're able to secure the shipyard more or less successfully, but it's at the cost of quite a few bodies, and their hold is shaky at best, especially with alarms being triggered after the security task force fails to disable internal security.

Meanwhile, Micah and Kaidan are working on the anti-aircraft protocols, Julian and Pearl are destroying the gene samples, Nash and Symmetra are destroying the research, and Tarn and Lapis are trying to create a diversion. Unfortunately, it doesn't entirely succeed, and with the alarms going off, it makes everyone's job harder. Sisko and Deanna move in with the second wave into the perimeter so they can get started on re-engaging the flight mechanics.

It doesn't take long for things to get bad, and the ghem soldiers begin to close in on the shipyard. There are Barrayaran assault teams both inside the base and in the shipyard, among which are Wash, Miles, Vex and Tucker. The Barrayarans are fighting fiercely, but they're still vastly outnumbered, and they push the perimeter into the shipyard, forcing the rear guard further back. Timing for the Star Gate's departure is starting to run out. Thankfully, though, despite the delays, everyone manages to get to the Star Ship just in time for takeoff -- except for Vex and Tarn.

Micah detonates the EMP charges in the Cetagandan ships as they take off, but they've only planted 23 devices. Luckily, the Barrayarans took initiative and brought along some bombs to plant in the shipyard, like they do. The Barrayarans provide cover fire until the the Star Gate ship clears, and once it does they begin to fall back, taking even more casualties as they pull out. The bombs that go off shortly after their retreat take out another 22 ships, leaving the Cetagandans with only 5 immediately available -- but plenty enough to go after the Star Gate ship.

The Barrayarans retreat back to the mountains, many of them wounded, and at least a hundred of their small army died in the attack on the base, including both Lakshmi and Tucker. The Cetagandans' attention is sufficiently occupied right now, which is good, because now more than ever the Barrayarans need a chance to recoup.

The Star Gate ship breaks orbit, but it's only a matter of time before they'll be pursued. In addition to Micah, both Sonia and Amai are aboard the ship when it lifts off, and later Negri is discovered to have somehow stowed aboard while no one was looking.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

i - and the future hangs over our heads | weapons cache

[ The one benefit of his little solitary adventure earlier in the month is that it'd allowed him to reaffirm the memories of the area closer to the Cetagandan base in his memory, and he knows surrounding terrain well enough that making use of it to get to the patrols comes -- easily enough. Maybe it's because he's trying not to let the latent anger still boiling inside him overtake him, but things aren't nearly as clean for him whenever he engages a patrol this time. He manages decently well, strips the patrol of what they have and bring them back to the designated cache. Stays there for a moment, looking over what they have, updating the rolling tally he has in his head.

They're running out of time. This won't be enough. With the pattern of patrols out here it's going to be too risky for him and anyone else with him to stay out here much longer today, and there aren't many days left. He shakes his head, straightening slightly, still knelt on one knee in the dirt, just staring at what they've managed to gather. ]

Shit.

[ Just muttering under his breath. This won't do. This isn't enough. ]

ii - it only feels worse when i stay in one place | pre-mission

[ Days leading up to an op are always tense. This is -- worse than usual.

Maine's loss is still sharp and fresh in his mind. Worry about Miles hasn't eased at all, especially since after circling the drain on telling something or the other to the general about who he really is, he's mostly decided that saying nothing is still the better choice. He still has to do something, knows the base well enough to cut a detour to the cells, but he'd be abandoning his post, though Tucker could cover for him, but. And there's just the mission in general, so many moving parts, so many points of failure, so many things that could go wrong and so little they can control. The odds feel stacked against them, still, and.

Then there's going home. There's talking to Tucker. There's the looming specter of a choice to make, but it's so much easier to just focus on the mission, instead. As always, rest is something Wash clearly needs, the fatigue is clear in his eyes -- but nowhere else. He's intent on his training, either with his knives or with his rapier, more likely with the former than the latter, and whoever comes by and lingers for even a while, he's likely to challenge to a spar.

Keep busy, keep thoughts from straying -- and be ready. There's only so many days left. ]

iii - i know 'im leaving but i don't know where to | post-hijacking

[ Wash is on the ship. Tucker isn't. Lakshmi isn't. Maine isn't.

He isn't entirely unscathed, mostly out of carelessness, recklessness born out of anger and grief and it could've been a hell lot worse -- a plasma burn against his right thigh. The bolt hadn't actually hit him, but plasma's intense enough to burn even on a close graze, and it mostly hurts like hell. But pain is fine, pain is something Wash can handle, is almost a welcome distraction, even, from everything else buzzing in his head. He's talked to Sonia as much as he could, but god, the look on her face. It hurts, but he can't talk to her about this. Not now. He's not the right person to talk to her about this. Someone else can do it, there has to be someone else.

Raw determination and adrenaline is mostly what keeps him upright when he staggers onto the ship, or maybe someone helps him limp on -- but once everything finally settles, that's when the pain really hits, both from the burn and from the grief twisting around his lungs in his chest, just as sharp and just as real. He finds as quiet of a corner as he can on the ship and just -- collapses against the wall, sliding down against it until he's little more than a crumpled heap, knees tucked against his chest. One hand clutched over one knee, his knuckles bleached from how tightly he's gripping it. He looks like a fucking mess, like he's struggling to even breathe, tipping his head back against the wall.

There's a chain dangling from his other hand propped up over his other knee. Another set of tags to match the ones around his neck. Too much, too quickly, too soon. He closes his eyes and tries to breathe and sees nothing but Tucker falling in a hail of plasma fire. Tucker had saved him. Tucker had fucking saved him -- that idiot, that goddamned idiot, why is it always someone else, why is it never him. ]

iv - wildcard;

[ Wash will in general be in various states of distress before the mission and in one very extreme state of distress after it. Feel free to run into him at any time, though he's probably going to be kind of snappy with you in the latter depending on who you are. ]

[ Mercifully for all involved, Miles is not actually locked up when Wash comes to find him. The Cetagandans somehow decided he'd be less of a maddening thorn in their side if he was allowed to wander, so wander he has. The catch is that, as soon as things start to blow up, the guards go for him to lock him down - and dammit, he's not quick enough to get away from them before they can.

And then he sees Wash, his hero, god bless you Wash for showing up right at the best moment possible. Struggling against his captors, Miles nonetheless manages an ecstatic-- ]

Wash!

[ Miles may be ecstatic to see him, and Wash is too, really, but in the moment he's mission-focused and what catches his intention much more immediately are the guards trying to drag Miles back. The look on his face is intent, maybe almost too much so -- even with his little revenge quest, even with the other patrols he's helped attack in the lead-up to this attack. Maine's loss is still a gaping wound, and Miles' capture had been another. Fueling that into anger and focus is easy.

The guards are distracted by Miles stubborn struggling, and Wash takes the opportunity to close the distance as much as he can, disruptor already ready at his side. He's manages to make it pretty close before Miles calling out is warning enough for them to look up -- but it's a little too late. A well-placed shot for one, a knife in the gut for the other. The knife was honestly unnecessary, and so is the way he pauses to drag the blade through his flesh, but. Intent.

He relaxes, stows the knife away as the guard falls to the ground -- and then finally turns to look at him. His expression easing into one of genuine relief, grabbing him by the arm, one hand sliding to the back of his neck to haul him a little closer as he leans down, presses their foreheads together, a fond gesture he's done with him more than once before, and. ]

You fucking idiot. [ He's missed you Miles he swears. ]

[ That was brutal enough that Miles feels a bit bad for them, but - well, if it makes Wash feel better and gets Miles free, then he'll roll with it. No complaints about being rescued, after all. Once he's free, he gladly returns the gesture, lifting his own hands to Wash's face in turn. Taking a moment to just. Be grateful for the physicality. To be here and relatively safe again. ]

Very much an idiot, yes.

[ And - because of that, and because things are surely coming to an end now that the plan is going into motion, he leans up and kisses Wash. Quick, light - pulling back after unless Wash stops him. But he just wanted to do that once, dammit. ]

[ It could've easily been more brutal than that, but time's of the essence. But he's not immune to sentiment, far from it, taking the time to just relish in his relief. Miles is safe, or at least relatively safe for now, and they'll be able to get him to the damn ship to go home. A deep breath, and it's just when he starts to straighten and pull away when Miles leans up to kiss him, and it's.

He doesn't keep him close, though he doesn't push him away, either. Just looks down at him, still and quiet, as if it takes him a few moments to even entirely process it, and then his expression just softens, tender and fond, his hand sliding slightly from his nape to the side of his neck, thumbing a little against the hinge of his jaw.

A breath. He steps back, looking at him carefully. ]

You're unhurt?

[ Ah, well. Had a small part of him been hoping for a passionate reprisal? Of course. But he's glad to have done it anyway, and that's all he cares about. He won't even comment on Wash having skipped much of a reaction to ask about Miles' safety. Of course. Did he expect anything less? He laughs, even, at how very much like Wash that is. ]

Completely. They roughed me up a bit in the interrogation, but nothing terrible.

[ Which is to say that ended with a seizure and probably some slapping. ]

[ Sorry, Miles. Wash is going to Wash. Always. Even with Miles' answer Wash obviously immediately occupies himself with checking him over, getting a good look at him, he does genuinely seem unhurt. With that he noticeably relaxes a little more, allowing himself some small indulgence, his hand slipping down from Miles' elbow to curve over his wrist, his thumb stroking down slightly over his pulse. ]

Good. I know a queen who'd kick my damn ass if I got you back to her with so much as a papercut. [ Probably. A slight sigh, squeezing his hand gently over his wrist. ] I'm sorry I never came to get you out earlier.

[ He didn't do anything stupid while Miles was captured. But he'd really, really wanted to. Briefly looking up, checking around them. It's quiet here, at least, aside from the guards that had been trying to get Miles locked down, it seems most everyone's probably preoccupied with the actual attack. ]

[ Still going strong, despite everything. Miles always was a stubborn little survivor. ]

I'm glad you didn't. They'd only have captured you again, and I shudder to think of that fast-penta interrogation.

[ He shivers a bit even now. Wash's memory, and a lack of Miles' idiosyncrasies... ]

Dunno. I'm getting pretty good at busting people out of these cells, apparently.

[ He's had so much practice by now. There's a smile there, a real fondness, god he is very glad to see him again and it's strong enough that it shows even when Wash is still mostly focused on the mission, on the possible danger at hand. ]

I really wanted to, anyway. Between me and Byerly . . . [ They did consider trying to convince Piotr to allow it. ]

[ Miles blinks a bit at that. Honestly surprised. ]

Byerly? Byerly wanted to break me out?

[ Some amusement at the surprise. ]

He wanted you out as much as I did. [ He pauses there for a moment before he moves to kneel beside the nearest guard's body, and he doesn't even have to search for it, just grabs the disrupt or off of him. Offering it to Miles. ] We thought about going to the general.

[ Miles gladly takes the weapon. Turning it over carefully in his hands. And considering this idea that Byerly might actually, truly care about him. ]

To Piotr, huh. What did he say to that?

[ Moving to systematically strip the other guard of his weapons, too -- the rear guard is lacking, and they might as well bring back anything they find. ]

We didn't go to him. Only way I could think of to try convince Piotr to mount a rescue mission would've been -- too risky.

washington | barrayar & ALSO SPAAAAAAAACE

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aaaaand iii

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