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

You asked Radana to organize meetings with York and Kelon while you slipped away to meet the Stellarch, heading towards where House Sol was sequestered before these Senate meetings. It was ordinarily a futile attempt to do so, with the Stellar Guard ruthlessly turning away all petitioners without an appointment no matter what. Even if it was concerning the survival of their people, you've seen them eject beggars and sycophants alike without a moment's hesitation or consideration. If you were not requested to appear before the Stellarch, you simply did not get in through their perimeter.

However, that was just through the more well-known public entrances. There were other ways to get in, not exactly secret but rarely taken corridors and paths that were watched over by automated security systems. Of course you could try and plug a virus to take control, but that was going to take time with how House Sol did care about digital security too. So you took the way of least resistance.

A hand rose up and pressed against the advanced biometric scanners. It gave an affirmative beep and you waltzed straight through without need of further manipulation. A few hallways later and you found yourself in front of an achingly familiar room you remembered from days past, despite never have been here before in this setting. Shaking off the memories, you rose an arm and rapped your knuckles politely against the door, tapping out a specific code taught in your youth.

The door's security locks eased at the pattern while a voice echoed from within. "Mind the mess, I'm still getting ready."

"I always thought that the entire attire was a bit over the top," you mentioned when stepping in. "The headpiece especially, that looks like it'll break your neck if you get caught in it."

"It really does feel like theater- oh." He stopped mid-speech and blinked, taken aback. "Oh, it's you."

"I have a name," you teased and he sighed.

"Yes, of course, Violet...d'Iris," the young man said haltingly with a frown. "Again, I suppose I should be bothered with how you go in, but given everything, I have a suspicion otherwise about your actual last name."

Your lips curled up into a thin line. "I made my decision, and Helm is...was my true home," you amended with a sigh. "I apologize, I forget sometimes."

He nodded sagely, instantly understanding. "You miss it dearly of course, but I wish your new home is equally as comforting. I hope the aid package we sent when you arrived helped so."

"It did, it was a very nice housewarming gift." After a moment, you used the topic to direct to an ongoing issue. "What about House Kelon? Would House Sol be willing to give them a welcoming package as well, to help retake their homelands?"

His expression grew considerate and he raised a hand to press against his chin in thought. "If the Senate wishes it so, then we would provide as obliged by the laws of the United Empire. But if the motion is defeated, then I cannot ask the Stellar Guard to mobilize against a threat deemed by the people as non-significant." There was a slightly regretful tone at the mention, but his logic was sound. Even more so when he added, "Especially when the troubles of House Orochi may require our attention instead."

"The troubles of the Great House itself, or," you hinted, "the troubles of the other Great Houses that could come with?"

The exasperated breath was all the answer you needed. "I just want to build a good home for all," he tiredly told with a shake of the head. "But it just seems that this universe wants to make us fight for the infinite stars we already have."


Radana had a beaming smile on her face at your return. "Good news. We've been invited to partake in teatime with House York's representative."

You raised an eyebrow. "Is that really good news? Didn't he just shovel useless propaganda tripe in our face last time?"

"Last I heard, he was given the big boot and somebody else was sent in. Somebody that, according to the grapevine, has a lot more actual meaning and poise to their words."

"How much of this gossip is actually true?" You asked while following your best friend. "And how can you be so confident so?"

"Because only the truly refined understand that true diplomacy is being able to politely share a cup of tea at a table together without shooting each other," proudly declared Radana. You resisted the urge to point out the obvious bias in her statement and settled for rolling your eyes. Admittedly, you were just a bit curious about just who you were about to meet.

That curiosity was ratcheted up when you realized there was a fair bit of security now surrounding York's area of the Senate. It was actually almost admirable so, the number of guards that insisted on checking with their boss before letting you through. It was also equally surprising that they were competent enough to realize that a body check was ultimately not going to matter, what with you and Radana being augmented with solarium circuits that could probably snap a body in half barehanded.

You discretely checked your Senate bugs and blinked when your discrete wrist gauntlet informed you just who was here. "Oh," you dryly mentioned, drawing your friend's attention. "I see why they're being very jumpy here."

Before Radana could ask, the final door opened and you were ushered in. The room was indeed a tearoom setting, a large table filled with a pleasing variety snacks and confectionery to accompany the hot leaf water. There were a few seated around that looked to be other retinue members from House York but all you could see was the one at the head of the table, the lady who placed her cup down on a saucer. The sound echoed about in the room as her eyes met yours, instantly scrutinizing and analyzing you.

A moment later, and she seemed to be satisfied with something with a casual gesture. "Our honored guests have finally arrived. Come, please take a seat and enjoy a cup of two while we talk. Upon my word as a daughter of House York, be welcomed to our temporary abode."

Radana seemed to catch on immediately and nudged your side meaningfully. You gave the faintest of nods back to her, then took a seat like suggested but making no other movement. Instead, it was your best friend who busied herself with delicately picking up the teapot and measuring out the exact amount in cups. It was served to you along with a plate of curated bite snacks, the perfect tea service earning an approving nod from the unlikely host of today.

"It seems that Miss Violet is surrounded by truly cultured and excellent aides," she commented with a pleased smile and sipped at her drink. "Miss Radana, was it? Is there any chance I could poach you?"

"I'm afraid I have an ongoing engagement with House Iris that requires my service," elegantly deflected your friend, seeing the subtle offer disguised within the joke. "Though were House York were to engage with Her Majesty, it could be possible for my talents to be made available in a joint effort."

"Is that so? I suppose it is something I shall advise the Grand Mayor on," she mentioned with a hum. "They might be interested in it so, provided adequate benefit so. A daughter's words can only go so far though, I'm afraid, so I cannot make any promises. I'm not the heir-apparent, after all."

"Still though." you hazarded out, ignoring Radana's frantic kick at your ankle beneath the table at the technical breach of etiquette, "They surely will listen to your words especially regarding our closeness to House Archon and by extension, Great House Tyto. You surely have that much sway through your position, Miss Maya."

Eyes flashed dangerously at your casual knowledge of her name. You hid a smile with a bite of the snacks, glad you had casually infiltrated some spies to gain that preliminary information on York already. "I regret to inform that my reassignment to handle matters in the Frontier means I am operating more on discretion than authority," she eventually made out. "The cooperation with House Tyto shall depend on the developing situation involving the Ababil spies we exposed in Archon."

"I'm sure that it is at least more palatable than the ongoing troubles with Orochi," you told with an agreeing nod. Radana made a low choking noise behind you for some reason, so you hastened to wrap up your mention. "Their ongoing situation is say, an unsavory mess that neither of us surely wish to get involved in."

"That it does," breathed the former spymaster of House York, the one who had likely orchestrated the unusual alliance of convenience. "We should count ourselves lucky to hold such blessed and strong homes. If only House Kelon could now be granted this same miracle, then I would think that this galaxy would be just a bit better."


You sighed and patted at your stomach, feeling slightly full after all those table bites. But it did feel rather underwhelming compared to the ones that Radana would put on herself, despite those being usually of far smaller and of less grander variety. Maybe because it was just more personal and less formal, casual food and drink shared by two friends who knew each other so well.

Or maybe just because it didn't have your favorite food. "Did we pack any velvet cake? I want some velvet cake."

"If we had, then I'm hurling it out the airlock at the first chance I get after how much stress you just put on me." She pinched the bridge of her nose. "I don't know what possessed you to tease her daringly so, but she'll definitely be remembering you now. For good or ill, I don't know."

You blinked before blanching. "Wait, what? I was just trying to be considerate of her former position! Don't tell me I'm now in her line of sight after that!"

"Are you that- wait, you are. Oh stars, you absolutely would," she drawled in a long-suffering tone. "You have no social grace and don't understand that going from spymaster to diplomat is usually considered a specific societal upgrade."

"Huh?" You were still confused and lost. "But I don't want to do your job, so why is it an improvement? Seriously?"

"Because sometimes, people want to be seen more! Even if all they do is repeat what they're told to say, sometimes being the face matters more than being the one who gives the order!" Radana hissed before pausing. Then a thoughtful look came over her. "Hold on though. You got her to mention something interesting."

"Oh, the part about her having discretion instead of direction? It's pretty obvious that she's still tied to the spies and agents under her command from then," you reasoned. "So all she's got is additional responsibilities and annoyances to handle, right? I was just trying to hint that I share her pain, not imply anything like insults of the sort!"

"I...no, there's probably no way for me to understand what exactly goes in your head," she muttered darkly. "At least not without cracking it open, though I doubt I would actually find something within at this rate."

Before you could snipe back at her, frantically trying to ignore your plan backfiring, there was a digital knock that had both Radana and you straightening up. "Enter," your aide casually told, her voice now completely serious and focused. The doors to your room swung open and a woman entered by her lonesome, leaving behind an escort of individuals of identical faces to stand outside. You of course already knew who she was but waited for your aide to give you a bit of cover when she announced the identity. Maybe she had a point about you being a bit too blatant with York. "Head Keeper Layla, I see you have taken Her Majesty's offer to hear out your petition."

"Of which I am extremely grateful," she responded, inclining her head. "Any chance for my people to plead our cause to gain sympathy is something I will always take. Even better if it can actually materialize into concrete support for our efforts to free our homeland."

"A curious word choice there," you noted with a measured sniff. "Considering who currently occupies and insists that they are 'liberated' from you."

An expression of anger warped her face and her hand balled into a fist. "Oh yes, the Free States, the greatest form of mocking irony there is," she spat violently and leaned in. "We still receive correspondence smuggled through the border, and do you know what they tell us? That these 'liberators' are making use of victor's justice to enact their own plans!"

Your eyes narrowed and Radana spoke exactly what came to mind. "That's quite an allegation that needs more details."

Layla nodded and explained, "Our people constructed grand and mighty energy shields to withstand the meteor impacts that ruined much of our home planet. Even when we expanded since and created better, we have always let them be as an acknowledgment of our roots and past. It isn't a small thing to say they're akin to holy relics at this point, proof of our ancestors' blood and toil to make them so." A scowl worked its way onto her expression. "But now, the Free States see that they are...inefficient so, and are tearing them down to replace with 'superior' versions."

"You say that with some skepticism."

"Because we're experts, and we know what we see isn't an upgrade- it's an experiment," she growled. "Our captured people are being used as guinea pigs to see if their shields work or not. If they do, then they can claim true superiority. Maybe even win over some of our more gullible populace into supporting them. If not, well, there's not going to be much of a people left to complain."

"I see." You were fairly sure that one or more of the Free States did possess a rather mad science streak to them, so there definitely were grounds for something like this to occur. But at the same time, you were fairly sure that the Free States wouldn't be so callous and writing off a potential population in a casual experiment. It just didn't make sense when they needed every advantage they could get against the United Empire. The mention of convincing others more made you wonder if perhaps they were leveraging an opportunity to earn goodwill among the people if their conditions were eased by intervention from afar.

Though the destruction of holy shield artifacts, that probably held some weight. Plus, there was real passion when speaking about the importance of those, so you tested to see how far that went. "Should these already be destroyed, then would you call off your return home and build them anew?"

"No, not even if our people were released to us," she responded after a moment of thought. "We would still take our planet back, where those before had paid for every bit of ground reclaimed with their lives. That is what matters most."

"Your home planet above all else?" You asked, slightly wistfully. "At least you can travel back there again. But would it not be better to do it alive than dying fighting?"

The response was immediate. "Never. If we, true or clone, cannot even expression a fraction of the devotion showed by our fathers and mothers in reclaiming every bit of ground from the heaven's wrath, then we would not be Kelon. Our homeland has always been watered in our blood, so we aren't afraid to spill as much of it as need be to take it back so. Even if we are alone, we will march."

- Bleh, wanted to do the vote arguments as well but these just got out of hand. Feels much more appropriate to dedicate another bit for those.
- To make it clear, the Free States are probably looking to create a splinter faction within the House Kelon populace that agrees with the changes for the better. That way, they could establish a collaboration government much more friendly to them. Hence why the government-in-exile is maybe in a rush to get back before this happens.

The first thing that everybody naturally noticed was the very blatant absence of an entire Great House when the Senate was called into session. The space where House Orochi would have taken was notably blank, not a single speaker or voter from their bloc present. The Stellarch observed this neutrally, then signaled for all to listen. "It would appear that Orochi continues to forgo their right to participate in these sessions. It is disappointing, but I have been assured they intend to return once ready. We will welcome them warmly back then."

That did reassure some of the more nervous attendants, as a Great House refusing to participate in the Senate could be the prelude for withdrawal from the United Empire. Such cases were admittedly rare, but they were quite severe when they did occur. Or at least according to what you recalled from when some had tried to protest-betray the Stellarch in your sire's time.

It really did get quite messy then.

You shook your head to shake off the memories and sighed, settling in to hear the arguments to come.


"Now that the United Empire is flushed with the seized wealth obtained from illicit and unused assets, we must consider how to spend it thus," announced the Stellarch and the contents of the bill digitally appeared in the Senate balconies. "The most immediate and obvious usage is on funding military development, given that we are presently locked in conflict with the Free States. It is mostly a stalemate across the various fronts and the Frontier is no exception. So perhaps then, were the Senate to approve of a budget towards the contracted industries, we could gain a technological advantage to defeat our opponents.

"We will now open the floor to hear the arguments for and against this proposal."

Immediately there was a signal to speak from House Ababil. Assistant Research Vernoica casually put away the concoction she had been inhaling moments before and stood up, dusting at her attire. "Ahem. Allow me to be the first from my people to say that this is a welcomed direction for the United Empire to take." She looked on lazily over the assembly, a smirk almost quite on her face. "Embrace the wisdom that is understanding internal development is ultimately a zero-cost effort. What you spend will be returned tenfold sometime later, so don't hesitate. Take the hit now, regret it briefly, then celebrate the results later!"

Almost right away, there was the indication of a desired rebuttal from House York. The Stellarch frowned but allowed it, watching intensely when the replacement speaker for York in the Frontier made her Senate debut. "Before we begin, I must first tell Miss Veronica that her enthusiasm is quite refreshing," Maya started, her statement throwing others off-balance for a moment. It meant her follow-up struck with so much more impact. "Were her people perhaps so equally forthcoming with their thoughts, then perhaps we would not have to work so hard to insist Ababil to respect the sovereignty of others."

"Oh," Radana breathed with a hiss. "That's quite provocative."

"You think?" you mumbled back, eyes flicking between the two glaring representatives of the Great Houses. The Stellarch looked like he was doing the same, prepared to interrupt should this rebuttal turn into a more explosive argument. Perhaps York and Ababil had more bad blood with one another than it first seemed.

After a very long minute to let the hidden insult sink in, Maya elected to focus on refuting the topic instead of continuing the bickering. "Continued military development across the United Empire will not give us the edge we need to triumph over the Free States, especially with the budget's current proposal. I would draw attention to the fact that the proposed contracts give special preference to certain companies over another, thus creating the possibility of only a few truly benefiting."

"Are we not to reward those who show the most talent and ability?" Veronica returned with a bit of returned heat. "Is it our responsibility to cuddle and gift those who cannot rise to the task? We are at war and cannot afford such senseless spending."

"Then we should look for ways where such spending do not fill the pockets of a select few industrialists while the masses clamor for relief. It seems like madness to give more to those who already profit off war when we should be focused on actually waging it so." Maya turned and inclined her head to the Stellarch. "I have no further argument."

He glanced to Veronica who matched the statement, then cleared his throat. "Very well. Though I will issue a warning to House York for unnecessary provocation. It might be your first time in the Senate, but I will not tolerate further jabs and barbs no matter how well disguised they are. Are we clear?"

"My apologies, Stellarch. I will watch my words."


"Despite House Orochi's non-attendance, it seems that they have already penned and arranged for a petition from House Kelon to be heard in the Senate." The Stellarch paused before continuing, "This is in spite of Kelon and Orochi having apparently severed formal ties only just recently. How interesting, but the rules dictate that the petition be heard in full anyway."

There was a murmur from the assembly at the reveal that you had already known about. With its ongoing internal troubles, it was only natural Orochi suddenly wanted to prioritize their own well-being first over that of their vassals. A speculative future one at that with Kelon, entirely depending on their success in recapturing their homeworlds.

That chance of success was looking quite grim without the direct reassurance of a Great House, and the Head Keeper knew it. So at this point, the only way they could actually get the necessary support for their endeavor was a direct appeal to the Senate, to those who had the power to move the entire United Empire so. Layla rose up from her seat now, looking straight at the Stellarch when she talked.

"In the reign of the previous Stellarch, House Kelon were among the faithful to heed the call to act against the Free States. It is why so many of us mustered out from our homes and marched forth to battlefields that your predecessor deemed worthy of spilling blood for. Whether or not they actually were, we never questioned, for we are true and loyal to the United Empire. Now, we ask for this devotion to be repaid in kind with the liberation of our captured homeworlds!"

Her gaze turned away to meet the faces of those who held the power to her people's survival in their hands. "The cowardly Free States struck while we were away, and now our people are hostages in their grasp. We would have immediately rushed back home in an attempt to rescue them, but the death of the former Stellarch meant that chaos was on the verge of engulfing the United Empire. So did we steel our hearts and delay our return, moving to act and guard worlds of Orochi so that none may suffer the fate forced upon us. Now that we are ready again, we have stayed our hand long enough! I ask you, join my people on the march back, to retake what is rightfully ours by birthright!"

(The Reaction)

The words of House Kelon's representative seem to ring through the Senate now, perhaps even bouncing about in the head of some. It started with a few nods from some heads, then some slow clapping that echoed through the room. Layla's face seemed to brighten at the noise, but you knew something was off. With some activated circuits in your neck, you pinpointed the noise as coming from a very unlikely source. Or perhaps it was to be expected, given that it was an entirely non-verbal gesture so atypical of their people.

The Stellarch spoke, cutting straight through the noise. He had a more direct sight and direct observation on who was applauding not in respect, but mockery. "Did House Tyto wish to comment on the petitioner's appeal?"

"I...will." Speaker Luisa rose up and spoke haltingly again, their people's preference for telepathy leaving vocal chords quite unused. Yet that did not reduce at all the weight behind each of their words, each directed straight at the Head Keeper. "You campaigned. You fought. You bled. But not for the United Empire. Not for the Stellarch.

"It was for the people who...ordered you to do so. The ones who sent you off to serve for obligation, nothing else."

You blinked, then hummed. That was a rather interesting omission, given that Layla did act more out compared to her retinue of identical faces. But now, that did perhaps put their passion to return in a different sort of light. "What do you think?" you absently commented to your aide. "Genetic programming to return back, or genuine desire born from cultural induction?"

"Whichever it is, it's not going to matter soon," your best friend warned when she studied the rapidly reddening Layla. "This isn't good."

"How...how dare you!" Layla shouted, slamming her hands firmly on her balcony. The Stellarch swiftly attempted to calm the situation and muted the microphone, but her offended speech still carried through the floor. "Tyto, we know it was you who let them through! Your mighty arkships, turning tail and running from the incoming invasion that would take our home! You're responsible for us being made homeless, forced to beg and plead for others to survive!"

"You ask us sacrifice our homes. Foolishness. Find new homes. Better homes."

"No, I name you cowards!" The summoned Stellar Guard finally managed to get through the balcony's door and enter to roughly pull at the screaming woman. "We fought and we died for you and yours! Do the same! Do the same for us, for us to see our skies again! To go home again after all this time!"

Any further words were cut off when the doors slammed shut and the balcony turned off, representing Kelon's ejection from the Senate. The Stellarch stared at the empty space before his expression hardened and he turned to Luisa. "...is it true?" He asked in a low tone. "Did House Tyto abandon their defense of Kelon's homeworlds?'

"If we stayed, so many would be silenced in the void. If we ran, we could return. But tactic to withdraw and return in force was interrupted by predecessor's demise," was all Luisa could say. "Blame not us. Blame Free States invasion."

"An invasion that was in reaction to Kelon campaigning elsewhere," you softly realized with a sigh. "A cycle of robbing homes that won't ever stop because it's always in justified to them. What a miserable wheel."

"It could be coming to an end soon though if Kelon intends to follow up on their ambition, and not in a good way." Radana surveyed the Senate and gave a low hiss. "That was a terrible ejection. Kelon's not going to be popular now even if they win the vote for support. Few are actually going to respect them enough to give them what they need to win."

"Which means we might have to pick up the slack ourselves if we want," you tiredly declared. "Or just not bother. What a tricky situation, and what a cruel aggravation by Tyto. Looks like they're going to get away with it too for 'revealing the truth' of Kelon."

"The court of public opinion does so weigh that way. But what about the court of political opinion?"

"We'll see. For now, let's get our votes counted up and ready to put in."


Create a vote plan!

-[ ] Topic: The Kelon Reclamation Campaign.
--[ ] YES ( )
--[ ] NO ( )
--[ ] ABSTAIN
-[ ] Topic: Military Expenditure of Seized Assets.
--[ ] YES ( )
--[ ] NO ( )
--[ ] ABSTAIN

Total House Iris Votes: 13 (Andernia) +7 (Calenwyrm) = 20 Votes.

- Yeah, that final appeal got botched. Badly. But I will say that political voting will not be swayed by it, only the odds for considerable war support afterwards from the various powers if passed. It could still go well for them, just that it's a bit more uphill now.
- Remember that Orochi is abstaining from all voting due to them mustering up their political power.

Without a central figurehead body like House Sol in the United Empire, the Free States rely on their personal armies more than any of the Houses. However, they are not blind to the need of a centralized force available for members in need to request. After much experimentation and reform, they created the current concept of the Council Vanguard.

It is recognized as the most multicultural and uniformed military organization to date, described as a shield against tyranny wherever it should be found. Only volunteers are accepted, and only if they are made clear that they renounce all forms of individual citizenship to serve the Free States as a whole. Thus freed of their ties, they are trained and equipped jointly by the Council States and answerable only to them, hence their name.

But unlike their name, it is not a small or focused force. Rather, there are entire armies divided into different cells of command. The disjointed and independent nature of this structure means that they have the discretion to carry out issued orders as they see fit on the front. Some groups have even specialized themselves into specific counters against frequent enemies they face.

The equipment is often cutting edge arms and armor manufactured by the Council States, or as close as they will get without compromising their own elite armies. Training comes from experienced mercenaries hired to pass on their experience to them. The result is the average soldier of the Council Vanguard being considered better than most regular forces in the galaxy in a straight fight.

But war is hardly so fair, and the people who fight them equally as complicated. The Council Vanguard has received criticism of being just glorified enforcers for the Council States, acting out their agendas under the mask of direct deniability. Some even reportedly continue to favor former ties and bonds which go against their spirit of equality.

Still, reports indicate that the emblem of the Council Vanguard remains an inspiring symbol for the citizens of the Free States, a stalwart promise that they have not been abandoned by their allies.