The Reluctant Vassal's Guide to Living in the Frontier (with some Treason)

"Couldn't you have honestly come up with a better name?" Radana complained while putting a cup of tea in front of you. "I feel that anything would be better than that silly title."

"Hm?" You sipped at the hot beverage and pretended to act innocent. "But I thought you wanted nothing to do with said title? So why does it bother you so?" You threw out with a sly grin and your best friend rolled her eyes before shoving a scone in your mouth to silence further trolling.

"Hush you. Names aside, that's all the planets that we've now properly developed in the system," She considered while you chomped through the fresh-baked snack. "It's almost hard to imagine that we've come already so far since we first arrived. The way we've established ourselves as fairly self-sufficient already would surely have been cause for recognition back in Helm."

"If my eldest sister would dare permit others glory, and my older sister here would also be so generous to recognize all this work I'm doing for her." You swallowed the pastry and smacked your lips. "No, that's not quite true. I don't want recognition, I just want to get back to my scheming."

"Such as?"

You shrugged, admittedly having already settled and wrapped up the vast majority of them before leaving on the colony expedition. Helm had not much appeal to you as a result, so perhaps that was why you weren't so bothered like others about not having news from your old home in a very long while. "Finding a way to control the entire food and beverage industry? That could be a neat little project."

Radana snorted dismissively. "How ambitious, noble scion of House Iris."

"If you help me, I'll give you a discount to all tea purchases from my takeover." It said volumes about how your best friend stilled and seemed to consider the proposition with a troubled face, definitely tempted to take said deal. You smirked, then gave a reminder. "Relax, I'm already pretty much in control of all that here. With how limited land is slowly becoming, I've already put into motion a number of conservation programs that would lobby hard publicly to receive popular support. From there, they'll be appointed custodians of the remaining federal land, with a whole song and dance about how they'll be 'considerate' about development from now on."

"But in reality, they're all dancing to your tune," She summarized with an interested tilt of the head. "Clever. Even when you appear be conceding something for popular support, you come out on top without losing anything."

"Of course. Though hopefully by then, it's not me having to put up with all of that headache but my sister instead. Speaking of whom regarding developments, I'm getting quite concerned now." You picked up a reported and handed it to Radana to skim. "My dearest sister's aerial program is apparently already almost complete."

"What!" Radana muttered with a heavy frown. "But surely, there hasn't been enough time? It took us only until recently to establish our infantry kits. You surely cannot believe that she has somehow managed to finish constructing such a specialized factory already?"

"Not just that, but training up new pilots already," You murmured, rising up from your chair and going over to your little board of webs. A finger came up and trailed along to the mention of your sister investing in some minor manufacturing companies in Helm, what you were sure was the closest she ever got to actually working with military industry. "She definitely has to be skipping steps...again. It's a pattern, a methodology to this."

The Camellia Knight frowned and stepped to study your work, not making any snide comments this time. "I always thought she was just corrupt, taking money for herself and her friends with nothing else to it but amassing it so," She quietly admitted. "Do you think there's more to it?"

"Maybe, but don't hold your breath. She still lives quite lavishly compared to those who work for her, and seems to put a disproportionate amount of rewards at the top," You noted and rubbed at her chin. "But assume then that perhaps this is done on purpose. If so, then would her primary goal would be to foster intense loyalty at the top?"

"It wouldn't be the farthest or wildest concept, I think." Then Radana frowned. "But why only the elites? Why not those masses as well?"

"I don't know. All I know is that from these records, she wasn't actually a bad investor this time in these design firms. Though said firms happened to also have their own controversy when they purportedly poached special engineers to manufacture proprietary components. A massive salary with huge benefits that helped soothed the sting of betrayal." You plucked back the parchment from Radana and studied it intently. "But you can't steal from us here, especially when we don't even have the industry ourselves for said jets. So what are you thinking?

"And is it something worth actually worrying about?"

Resource Stockpile: 30/30

Create a plan that you and your aides will execute over the duration of the cycle. Each person will have a general order that they will attempt to carry out at your command. Orders can be repeatedly taken by multiple characters for greater progression, but characters will be locked in the order until it is finished. Many actions will require a target.









- You have plenty of building slots in your new cities, especially if you want more chains. But mind your resource and wealth expenditure.
- It is currently estimated by Violet's best guess that whatever air force your sister wants to put up will be ready by Cycle 10. Hence her confusion at what is clearly a violation of developing jets here.

(Found City (Dinadan): 23 +7 (Radana) +3 (Wealth) = 33)

Progress: 4/4. Completed!

Dinadan has been founded. Industry +5, Resources -5

"Are you tired of non-stop scorching heat? But you don't want to put up with cramped cooled rooms? Then there's a new option for you!" The camera panned slightly to show an open city center filled with relaxing people, many of them notably looking quite smug and comfortable with water sprinklers gently dusting them. "A new city center has just opened close to the northern pole! Cooling water, all day, all the time! Come to Dinadan, and find a luxurious life like no other on Andernia IV!"


(Commission Ship (HMS Callerya): 92 +14 (Dorothea) +3 (Wealth) = 109)

Progress: 5/3. Completed!

HMS Callerya has been built.

The star sailor on duty straightened up slightly at the sight of the Lycoris Knight approaching them and tried their best to not stare. "What can I do for you, ma'am!"

"Hm." Dorothea leaned over and examined the offered wares, rubbing her chin. "I'll have...those. If you would please."

"Aye, aye!" They took her offered tray and went through the motions like a machine, trying their very best to not spill anything. "Is there anything else I can help with you!"

Dorothea's eyes slid side to side, as if checking to make sure nobody was listening in. Then her voice dropped to a conspiratorially low tone, one that the cook strained to desperately catch. "Would you happen to have a cup of coffee?"

"Certainly, I have some black here-"

"No, um…" She bit her lip. "Please, load it up with milk and sugar, as much as you can. I...like it a little sweet. Don't you dare tell anybody else."

The enlisted sailor stared, then swallowed at the slight twitch to her side. "U-understood."


(Construct Post (Camp Barracks): 33 +17 (Kat) +3 (Wealth) = 53)

Progress: 2/3. In Progress.

"That's her? That shivering little thing?"

"Oi, quiet. She could hear you."

"I don't get it though," The Prism Initiate muttered at the sight of Kat nervously approaching the foundation stake, clutching a hammer like a pillow in her arms. "She's our top talent? It looks like she's about to curl up and cry herself to sleep!"

"That's because you haven't seen her-"

Whatever words they were about to say was drowned out by a loud slam when the hammer came down on the stake. Eyes widened through the assembled watchers, many of them seeing a young woman who was on the verge of a breakdown mere moments before suddenly driving a steel stake into the ground with barely much effort. Again and again she struck, her confidence and strength growing with every single bit further entrenched.

Then when it was deep enough, she grunted and let the hammer's head loudly impact against the ground while she rested. Now there was a scowl on her face, one that she turned to face the pale-faced juniors with. "Stop yapping your mouths, and fucking get over here! Show me you can at least get a few inches in, or are you really that incapable both here and in bed?!"


(Recruit Regiment (1st Andernian Guards): 33 +14 (Violet) +3 (Wealth) = 50)

Progress: 2/7. In Progress.

You had to admit, you were fairly surprised by how quickly the recruit pool almost immediately filled up barely days after you gave the green light for the advertisement campaign to start. It made you scratch your head confusedly, though your weren't going to ultimately complain. After all, you definitely needed those willing and able-bodied individuals to help protect your sister going forwards. There was honestly nothing to it but to shrug and give the official stamp of approval to put them through basic first, then advanced specialization later.

Once the digital signature was away, you leaned back in your office chair and sighed, feeling slightly exhausted. From doing all this annoying paperwork to even apparently providing a few sound bites to the recruitment ads, it definitely meant you have had little time to relax over the last few days. But with the approval sent, your desk was finally cleared of work for a little while. You could probably afford to take a small break.

So you decided to see what the local broadcasting stations were playing. A wave of your hand, and your desk's interface swapped from work-related programs over to entertainment channels, a variety of small screen previews popping up to inform you of what was available. There was also a portion dedicated to home-created content, for those amateur or professional projects without the backing of a big studio. Though for now, you were more interested in just whatever could help take your mind off things.

Oh, there, a little nature documentary on local flame blossoms was debuting. You did already know it was more focused on entertainment than science thanks to having casually peeked at the script during production, so it was perfect to just waste some time on. You selected it so and settled into your chair, preparing to just turn your brain off from all this work soon.

Then came the pre-roll ad that you weren't quick enough to skip past. Not that you had the mind to do so, especially when it was your own damn voice that came through. Your eyes widened and your jaw dropped when you beheld the recruitment ad your subordinates had apparently come up with.

A despondent looking young man is trudging through a busy looking street, a sort of depressed and helpless aura about him from his disheveled attire and bowed head. He comes to a stop in front of a sidewalk crossing and seems to be deep in thought about his future. It is then that a gust of wind blows a discarded newspaper into his face and he flails about before managing to grab the rubbish to hold before him. There is then a focus on his widening eyes, reflecting a featured saluting soldier in the paper.

Then an abrupt zoom to show the same man now suddenly clad in a combat kit, looking slightly out of his depth but with a determined expression on his face. He is surrounded by several others also in the same gear, all of them shaking slightly from what appears to be a bumpy ride. Then a loud alarm sounds and the gathered soldiers shout bravely before storming out the back of a Pelican, onto dry land to take battle positions.

A series of different scenes rapidly flick then, featuring the soldiers doing a variety of activities from helping distraught citizens to traveling across large expanses of land. Swelling music builds with every new scene, until it hits a crescendo featuring a soldier smiling confidently and proudly...before flashing back to reveal the very same individual, back to standing at the crossing.

He shakes his head, then his eyes rise up to see a recruiting station right across the street before him. A wide smile breaks on his face and he steps forward in time for a familiar voice to deliver a message. "It's time to take charge of your life. Find the direction to take the next step forward. Find the courage to do good. Find your local recruitment office and enlist in the armed forces today."

There is a parting jingle when he pulls open the doors and steps in, then it ends.

"Ah, I'm finally back," Radana tiredly greeted while entering your office using her special code. "I don't know about you, but I'm quite tired of all this development work- ah?! Violet?! What's wrong? Why are you rolling around covering your face!"

- Violet is super effective against herself.

The video flickered and sped forwards to the timestamp. Then it began to play, your sister's face smugly in the frame. "-so thus, additional security measures must be taken. We must not only be at peace on land, but in the air as well!"

There was a chorus of scripted applause from the crowd and she stepped back to gesture upwards. "I am proud then to say that already, we have implemented such effects! From today on, look up and hope for a better future- and know that upon experienced wings do they carry them towards the future!"

On cue then, there was a loud scream when a fighter jet rocketed overhead, not too far away from the podium-

Your hand shot up and hit the pause button right there, capturing the still of a fighter jet in motion. You stared at it for a moment longer before letting out an exasperated sigh. "She did it. She actually did it."

"She actually got planes," Radana numbly repeated with a shake of the head. "Say what you will, but that's a-"

"-stupid and idiotic stopgap!" You finished with a slam on your desk, then frowned at Radana's surprised reaction. "Wait, are we on the same page?"

"I'm not quite sure?" She weakly suggested with a tilt of the head. "Or well, rather, I don't understand. All I see is your sister somehow being able to produce jets out of thin air and pilots to go along with."

You blinked and rubbed your chin, eyes lighting up when realization kicked in. "Right, you probably haven't studied actual military history in detail. Or hell, you've probably just gone about seeing what the posters commonly depict. Huh, now that I think about it, maybe my sister is actually onto something neat, albeit ill-advised."

"I really am lost now," Your friend confessed and shook her locks about. "Please, what am I missing?"

"Namely that," A gesture to the captured video frame, "Is a modern fighter jet...of the Iron Flower incident."

"The incident that brought His Late Highness close to the Stellarch?" She considered for a moment, then blinked. "But that was...ages ago!"

"Yep. It's wonderfully outdated and outclassed by every other modern aircraft, and was actually retired long ago. The remaining stock was then sold off to private collectors...which then explains how my sister probably acquired them," You reasoned out and nodded slowly, seeing the puzzle pieces fall into place. There was one last piece you wanted to confirm and you activated an interface program for unit recognition, targeting the painted insignia on the jet's tail.

While the program ran, Radana continued to ask away to clear up her ignorance of the subject. "If it's that old, then why was it still plastered everywhere? I recall it being quite prominent in a few of Dorothea's movies, to the point where it seemingly was invincible."

"Because it's become something of a popular icon thanks to the Iron Flowers incident," You answered with a slight grumble. "It was so popular that any 'realistic' take on their antiquated nature simply failed to catch on. It didn't help that even as it was being phased out, a lot of veteran aces happened to cling on and prefer it over any offered replacement. Such as- aha."

The insignia recognition chimed with a successful match and you flicked the display about to show a curious Camellia Knight. "Behold. The 92nd Intercessor Squadron, a distinguished unit from the old days. Listed as retired, all personnel discharged."

"But clearly not anymore," Radana pointed out and began to piece together the picture herself. "So perhaps then that those retired pilots came along on this expedition, so your sister simply reactivated them. They might have even brought along their old planes, though I feel that is somewhat a stretch."

"Could be, or my sister already had them nicely tucked away on a ship somewhere listed as civilian cargo." You paused, then checked to make sure your office door was truly sealed. "Which has an...implication in itself."

The noble diplomat's eyes narrowed. "You think she had them in reserve for a reason," She concluded and put it out there, words that normally should never leave the lips of a House Iris retainer. "Treason, likely against the First Princess."

"I could see it. She has the chance to build up here, and if put in that light, her rather scrupulous scrimping and scraping for any military force makes sense. Along with enforcing total control over the populace- she doesn't want them to go to the other side of whatever grand conflict she has planned." You huffed and crossed your arms over your chest, deep in thought. "What a mess. I absolutely want no part in this struggle for the title."

Radana calmly leveled a gaze on you. "But you're right now the one the people of Andernia follow. So you're already involved. Unless somehow there is something bigger...ah. I see."

You grinned and reached over your desk to pat where the Solarium Codex was hidden. "I think then my plan to negotiate and disappear just got a lot more legs to it. Whoever has this little thing has a massive advantage in whatever conflict, so the price is definitely high. Best of all, I get to set the price as well!"

"I can't believe this actually worked out completely in your favor then," Radana mumbled, half in disbelief and half in awe. "Violet, your luck is quite out there for this to all just line up to your favor."

"True, but it's still going to be some work to do. Namely, starting the negotiations for said price." You rubbed your hands together and locked eyes with your most trusted secret-keeper. "Radana. I want you to start putting out feelers to try and bring my sister to the table."

"Of course," She responded instantly without hesitation. "I'll start the preparations. Just let me know when you want to have it done by."

"Right. Thanks, and hang in there. I think we can see the light at the end of the tunnel now, one final push then we're out!"

Resource Stockpile: 30/30

Create a plan that you and your aides will execute over the duration of the cycle. Each person will have a general order that they will attempt to carry out at your command. Orders can be repeatedly taken by multiple characters for greater progression, but characters will be locked in the order until it is finished. Many actions will require a target.









- If you want an idea of how outdated the plane would be, it'd probably be akin to the Phantom II at this point in time.