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forbarrayar2017-06-20 09:47 pm
barrayarmods) wrote in forbarrayar2017-06-20 09:47 pm
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.
What: Let's go steal us a spaceship.
When: June 18th-30th
Where: the Barrayaran camp, the Cetagandan base
Warnings: TBD
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.
no subject
Right now, the focus is on making sure Tucker is going to get on that damn ship. On making sure he's going home.
Which means, of course. Training. Wash is pushing him as hard as he always did, and he's always beside him, too. All the laps he demands Tucker to run, he runs with him, making damn sure he keeps pace the whole time, every pushup, every exercise, every drill. Wash himself keeps falling back to his knives because that's what he knows best, but he forces himself to practice with the rapier, too, has Tucker spar with him. They've been at it for a while, now, before Wash finally, finally calls for a stop.
"That's enough for now." Wiping the sweat from his brow. Taking out the waterskin he carries around, taking a good long drink. "We can finish off the day with a few more laps after you rest up some."
no subject
This training… it felt more intense than normal. Maybe Wash was projecting; maybe it was just him, but God he had zero time. Zero for anything else. He hadn’t even gone to see Sonia—
“Wash…come on. This is insane.” But he needed it. He needed this more for the looming trophy room than he did for something as simple as this mission. He was probably going to his death when we he got home, but maybe if he was stronger, better… “I’m going to be too fucking tired to do anything with all this training!”
no subject
Wash knows he's pushing him hard, but he wants him to be ready, wants to give him everything he can in these last few moments, because Tucker's probably going home alone, because this mission might just be their last together, because he's run out of things to really teach him but he can still push him, show him that his limits are so much higher than he thinks they are. If he's still going to trust him somehow, after everything he's done, then he's going to damn well give him something for it, while he still can.
He crouches down next to Tucker as he collapses. His expression completely unimpressed, but there's some amusement in there if you look hard enough. A light nudge against his arm.
"Here," he says, offering him the waterskin. "I used to get tired after just one or two laps of that distance. You know what I did about it?"
The answer is super fucking obvious, Tucker.
no subject
“Indulge in masochistic urges and inflict even more pain and suffering on yourself?”
Push through it, but in Tucker speak. He handed the waterskin up to him, eyes closed. Ugh. Hot. “Whatever gets you off, man.”
no subject
Wash speaks fluent Tucker. For the most part. He moves to sit down beside him, after a moment, one knee folded against his chest, elbow propped up on top of it, taking another drink from the waterskin after Tucker hands it back. Another nudge against his arm.
"How've you been holding up, then?" And no, he isn't talking about the training, but complain to him more about it all you want, it's not going to change anything. He's talking about everything else. The mounting pressure and the mission on the horizon. The thought of going home.
no subject
"I mean, I'm happy that I'm going to see those losers against, I guess." His friends. His family. His-- "I wish I could see Junior, but you know..."
There wasn't exactly time for a video conference or lengthy recorded speeches for most people that weren't A.I. He was almost jealous that Wash didn't have to hear that stupidly painful speech, but he had a feeling that Epsilon left him one of his own. He was pretty sure he left Carolina one, and probably Caboose. If one existed for Tucker, he hadn't gotten around to listening to it yet.
"I'm just ready to go back, kill Hargrove, and get drunk on Chorus. I mean, that's all any of us want, right?"
The bravado tasted like ashes in his mouth, dry. Bitter. Not what...he really felt. "What about you?"
no subject
Instead, after a few long moments of silence, he moves his other hand up to his own neck, fingering a little along the chain of his own tags, of Maine's. His own tags he never thinks about anymore after wearing them for so long, and it's not like another pair makes that much difference, but he keeps noticing it, these days. Sometimes it feels like it just weighs so much.
"I still keep thinking of Maine." It's been weeks. He'll never stop thinking of it. The image of Maine's head in his hands as he drove a knife into the back of his skull. "Still worried about Miles. We're outnumbered and outarmed, and the only real advantage we have is the element of surprise and the Barrayarans' sheer fighting spirit. There are so many moving parts that have to go right, and in just about every aspect the odds are well against us."
"I'm scared. I'm tired. It's alright to be." Just tipping his head to look at Tucker. A slight, tired smile. "We've pulled through on worse odds."
no subject
Well, fuck.
Tucker sat there, cross-legged now, looking down in the dirt and-- "I'm...pretty sure I'm going back to die."
There. Open, out in the ether. He plucked at some grass, pulled it up from its roots, and tossed it aside. "I don't know what sort of shit you're walking into when -- if -- you get there to evac us." It could be a bloodbath. You could be coming to collect their bodies. "I just know that the Meta's suit was fucking badass for a bit, and then...then I was here."
He took a deep breath before looking over at him. "But I'd rather die there with the guys than here, you know? I'd rather die at home." Because who wouldn't?
no subject
People don't always get what they deserve. That goes both ways.
Hearing Tucker actually say that, though. Listening to him say that he's quite sure he's going back there to die. Watching him pluck at the grass, an anxious kind of gesture he recognizes, something to busy his hands, give him an excuse to keep his eyes down as he talked. He was ready to die. And the worst part of it is, even if instinctively that has something in him tensing, protective and insistent, no, that can't happen, it's also just. Easy to accept. Because they're soldiers now, aren't they, people in a war, and everyone on the front line has to be ready to die or they're just goddamn kidding themselves. This is who Tucker is now, David, that voice in the back of his head tells him. This is what you've taught him to be.
He looks back at him, meeting his eyes, his expression unreadable -- before he closes his eyes, tucking his chin against his chest briefly. A slight, bitter kind of smile, but somehow still genuine, too.
"I'm proud of you." Tipping his head up again, not entirely, just enough to meet Tucker's gaze. "You know that, right?"
You've come a long way from when he first met you.
no subject
But smarter, stronger, knowing his place, his loyalties. Knowing what was probably waiting for him and still wanting to do it because it was the right thing, because he could save some folks. It's why he couldn't ever be a hundred percent here; he was still silently fighting the war back home, still fighting with his brothers there.
Tucker felt the heat in his cheeks, felt himself blushing before he blinked, then shrugged a little. Proud of him. Wash was proud of him, even though Tucker drove him crazy half the time. Well...fuck.
"Of course I know that; why wouldn't you be? I'm awesome." If this was the last talk they had, well, they were making it a good one. "You know I'm glad Caboose bugged me to take you in, right?"
no subject
"It was still a stupid thing to do." A shrug, but there's humor in his voice. Leaning back slightly again, one hand moving to brace against the dirt and grass. Another pause, before he continues.
"I know that Carolina and I might not find much left when we get in there. I know that the odds were slim -- that with what you were going up against, we'd be lucky to save anyone we found, if we found anyone." Said simply, matter-of-factly. Turning back to look back at Tucker again, and his tone is still perfectly serious, like he's just listing off things that he knows, things that are true. "But I know that you could have done it, too. That you could have fended them off, could have held your ground."
A slight smile. "I believed in that."
And you, Tucker. He believed in you. And belief can be wrong, but that doesn't change that he really did -- and still does -- believe that you were strong enough to stand.
no subject
No lies there. Driving various vehicles into various people tended to prove that. Dressing up as snowmen proved it. Just about everything they did proved it. But Wash was just as bad, be it from hanging out with them or his own secret idiocies from before them. Didn't matter. They were all stupid now.
But it made them tighter for it.
Tucker watched him, listened to him talk, listen to him be honest. Carolina and Wash knew it was going to be bad, but they believed in them anyway. These stupid idiot Sim Troopers that they yelled at all the time, that had nothing on the Freelancers, that were just supposed to be target practice. They believed in them.
Wash believed in him.
Tucker opened his mouth, shut it, opened it again. The bravado was gone, and all that was left was Tucker, looking grateful, looking happy, still tinged with fear but also hope. Freelancers didn't have faith in just anyone after all. "I just have to keep everyone alive until you can pick us up. I can do that."
no subject
He laughs a little. Warm and genuine, at the ridiculousness at what Tucker is saying, at just -- this. All of it. One hand still braced against the grass, his other hand moving out to push a playful mock-punch against Tucker's shoulder.
"Or you can just kill all of those damned assholes before we get there so all we have to do is some cleanup." A tilt of his head. "That'd be nice, too."
no subject
The punch was friendly, kind, shit he was used to, and he realized that this might be last time they had a chance to breathe, to exist, to just talk. Maybe this was their last talk before Wash came storming through with evac. The last time before Tucker had to go back to a place without Epsilon, even as the suit hummed with all that power.
Tucker tilted his head up, looking up at the sky with big brown eyes, a little smile on his lips. "Dude, after this, I'm so fucking retiring. I'm done, done fighting for everyone else. I just want to hang with the guys and my kid."
I miss Blood Gulch. It wasn't supposed to get this far.
But that was assuming he survived the trophy room. He had to, though. He fucking had to, because like hell would he have let Epsilon's sacrifice be for nothing.