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

OPERATION SILVER MIRROR
[DEBRIEFING REPORT NO 1225]
[CLEARANCE LEVEL REQUIRED: COUNCIL SECRET]
[ACCESS GRANTED. WARNING: PORTIONS OF THIS LOG HAVE BEEN REDACTED]

+++[BEGINNING PLAYBACK]+++

█ █ █: "Beginning recording. Ahem. Date is █, █. Location is a secured briefing room onboard the vessel █ █ █ █ █ █. I am Colonel █ █ █ appointed Council State representative. In front of me is Professor █ █, an expert in archeology who was leading a research team on the planet █ █ █ █ █. Is this correct?"

█ █: "It is."

█ █ █: "Please elaborate on the circumstances of your presence on the planet █ █ █ █ █ .

█ █: "Simple, we were just looking to excavate some ruins. If I must explain to the unknowing, we must recognize that not every faction of humanity had survived the Age of Troubles, with a multitude of causes that could very well have led to their failure to endure to the Age of Expansion. Or so what those Imperials would call."

█ █ █: "Please remain on topic, Professor.'

█ █: "Right, right. Well, we received word from word of mouth that some uncategorized human ruins had been unearthed on the planet █ █ █ █ █ . Naturally, it's our duty to go and dig them up so that we can understand what had happened to these lost people, and give them whatever last rites they would need to pass peacefully on."

█ █ █: "This is the standard procedure in your line of work?"

█ █: "Indeed. I would even go so far as to say that those of similar profession in the United Empire have a similar obligation. We might be grave robbers to some, but we're also tomb keepers for what has been lost in the chaos of our race shattering apart. We take our job very seriously, and pay attention to every little detail there is."

█ █ █: "Thank you for the answer. Now, please talk about the circumstances surrounding Evidence █ ."

█ █: "As part of being that detailed, we have exacting diagrams and charts of popular weapons used over time. There are mostly historical records of firearms and their evolution, allowing us to compare and attempt to line up to similar ancestors to help give us a frame of reference as to the ruin's age. After a few days of work, we came across █ and went about routine comparison to see if we could find the closest match. However, after a few days, we realized an issue- it was too new."

█ █ █: "Too new?"

█ █: "I won't bore you with the specifics, so I'll say it was basically resembled a modern firearm, more so than what we were used to working with. We did suspect that perhaps a passing pirate or scavenger dropped it, unlikely as it was. That was seemingly the only answer we could come up with at the time. We set it aside that time, requesting a security team just in case whatever pirate or scavenger decided to come back to retrieve their lost gear, and continued digging."

█ █ █: "Records show that you excavated approximately 60% of the total ruins before the requested security team arrived."

█ █: "That sounds about right. Should I talk about what we found?"

█ █ █: "That is unnecessary, I will direct people to Log █ █ █ █. Instead, please talk about your realization."

█ █: "Oh, that very defining moment that changed everything...Very well. One of the newly arrived mercenaries from the security team was showing off their recently purchased weapon, something called the LL-A4 I believe. A battle rifle, manufactured by some House in the Frontier. However, the sight of the rifle bore an uncanny resemblance to █ . We brought it up and compared them, only to realize with shock that the two were near-identical in every war."

█ █ █: "How was this shocking? Surely it just means they likely had a common origin point."

█ █: "I stress again, it was near-identical in every way. This includes the serial code numbers on each and every part."

█ █ █: "...That's impossible."

█ █: "It very well should be. Even a copycat weapon will have parts with different code stamps by the various makers. But the one we held and the one that the mercenary held had the exact same codes, down to their receivers and chambers! They obviously thought we were just pranking them and we accused them of tainting ruins, but it just didn't line up. Especially when we eventually realized a key difference in the two guns that made us start questioning everything."

█ █ █: "Elaborate."

█ █: "The rifle the mercenary brought used ballistics. The rifle we unearthed? It appears to be have made with the usage of some esoteric and unknown fuel source in mind. We can't figure it out, we can at best suspect it could perhaps relate to the power sources so channeled by Council State Hecia. But now, alerted to the possibility of something wholly new on our hands, we decided to return to the ruins and reexamine them in detail. What we found was enough for us eye-opening."

█ █ █: "That was when you called for the Council, insisting that you had made a discovery that could change our very galaxy."

█ █: "Because what we found was just not the remnants of an old and forgotten civilization- it's the ruins of a modern one that had been abandoned and transported to us! We went over everything with a fine-tooth comb this time, every scanner, every spectrum. There's a disturbing amount of Quantum energy associated with the place that had us immediately cease working."

█ █ █: "Quantum mechanics are...poorly understood."

█ █: "Not a single people can claim to truly master them, don't believe a thing the Cult of the Seekers say. I heard there's some studies even done by House Sol that haven't gotten anywhere just because of how weird it can get. But I think we now have a clue."

█ █ █: "Oh?"

█ █: "The reason why it's so hard to understand them relates to how everything in Quantum studies seems to be based around uncertainty. Possibilities. What if...this applied to other human civilizations then? What if we are seeing is a possible path humanity could have taken here?"

█ █ █: "This verges on wild speculation."

█ █: "It does, which er, leads many...astray."

█ █ █: "Is this your official excuse for Incident 1225?"

█ █: "What else can I say?! Some of the younger and brasher researchers decided to refine the theory through experimentation, and it didn't go well. How goes the search?"

█ █ █: "All search teams on planet █ █ █ █ █ currently report negative findings. They are still unable to find anything resembling the ruins described and were it not for your detailed reports combined with extracted evidence, it would not have been believed."

█ █: "Dammit. My students were among them, and now we don't even know if they're alive."

█ █ █: "We will continue the search, Professor █ █ , I promise. In the meantime, it is imperative that we secure this evidence and present it before the Council. This discovery is definitely of critical interest to the Free States."

█ █: "And the United Empire, I suppose."

+++[END PLAYBACK]+++

The paperwork was all neatly done ahead of time, with Radana giving flourish to the final form. She supposed that really, there wasn't much she actually decided or considered on her own. It had already been hinted by the Solar Queen that most of their military was likely going to join the upcoming campaign, including the soon-to-be-built cruiser. It was a rather interesting and daunting choice, in the noble lady's personal opinion, to commit so much to this endeavor. Almost foolishly so.

However, better a fool sit on the throne of House Iris than a sadist who could very well have just voted for an offensive, then sit back to let others die in their place. It was reassuring, in a way, the fact that her best friend's choice to support a conflict's ignition was being given all due seriousness it warranted. There were tragically too many who would cast the glove idly for some minor quibble or affair, waving off the lives that would soon be consumed by the flames of war.

Radana's thoughts on the matter were interrupted by a ping on her wrist gauntlet. She glanced downwards and realized it as summons to the main office. It seemed like her presence was being requested by the Solar Queen. The desk and paperwork was swiftly tidied and filed, then she made her way to undoubtedly rescue her lady from whatever social situation she was screaming internally about.

The door hissed open and Radana could catch the glimpse of overwhelming relief that flashed across your face before it was quickly schooled back to an expression of forced hospitality. "Ah, and there she is!" You pivoted in a high-pitch voice that absolutely didn't reek of panic. "The diplomat you really should be talking to instead of just boring old me-!"

It wasn't enough the clasping of hands and sparkling eyes from the newest retainer of House Iris. "But you're the brilliant and genius that absolutely inspired me!" Hifumi, Holly Knight, cheered and they frantically shook your arms up and down in excitement. "Even when things were looking bad out there, I just kept thinking of how great everything was back home and used that to inspire myself to work even harder!"

"A rather common tale that many do happen to share," Radana smoothly cut in while stepping up. She gracefully extended an arm and layered on as much noble poise she could. "Though I wonder if etiquette has dulled since."

It took a moment for realization to sink in for them and Hifumi gasped, releasing your very sweaty hands. "Oh, oh! You're the Marquis!" Your best friendly merely tilted her head impassively at the title while the Holly Knight stepped up to hand-kiss the offered limb. "You're another great source of inspiration that I take to heart, truly. Your words always seem to touch the hearts of others about, and push them into greater deeds of glory!"

"You mean they just make sense and logic," you muttered under your breath, taking the moment to reassure yourself. A little burst of solarium helped you control your racing heart, and that allowed you to finally regain your own bearing. "Well, I daresay that those descriptions of you barely did your...enthusiasm the appropriate justice, Ser Hifumi. Such energy will surely be of great aid to House Iris, regardless of whatever avenue you choose to pursue. Or would you prefer direct tasking?"

They beamed and made the blade salute. "Whatever you like, though you've probably figured out I like chatting to others, and learning about them as well! There's so much I could already talk about if you wanted. Did you want me to?"

"Not immediately," you hastily answered and cursed inside, realizing how blunt that came across. Surely that would already begin to sour your relation with them, begin unraveling your string-

"Oh that's a good idea my lady! I should absolutely organize my thoughts first!" They yammered ceaselessly, taking your statement as advice instead of rejection in some bizarre misunderstanding. "Progress and understanding only comes when one knows what topic to begin the encounter with!"

They...weren't wrong. In fact, that was actually a rather interesting unconscious recommendation, to task research work with a general topic idea first to try and nudge a certain avenue to pursue. It would definitely help cut down and narrow what you wanted to be done, though you had to do it subtly. Something to help mask your meddling in their efforts.

The thoughtful expression on your face was apparently recognized by Hifumi, who let out a gasp and hastily bowed their head. "You've an inspiration, you're about to do something amazing! I'll get out of your way now, so that you can do it. Once again, I'm glad to be working with you, Lady Violet!"

"Well," mumbled Radana the moment the office door slammed shut behind. "They're certainly a character."

"A useful one at least," you sighed before shaking your head. "I take it you've finished organizing our newest battlegroup?"

"Letters of introduction are already being sent to Dorothea from the various officers."

"Good. I expect them to be mustered soon."

Resource Stockpile: 60/60

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 a new retainer (finally)! They're a bit loud, but I don't think you're exactly spoiled for choice here. But maybe it's worth it, so long as you get some earbuds.
- New learning action! Taken from discussion here, you can now choose to try and put a hand on the scales to increase the odds of getting something you'd want from your research actions. It won't be guaranteed, but it should help increase the odds of landing what you're looking for. I might expand it a bit further and add more keywords or sub-groups if folks like it.

Close to end of their introductory induction stage, Brilliance Knight aspirants are presented to Prisms in a rite that symbolizes and represents the legend of the mother sun giving the gift of solarium to the Helmsmen. It is a ceremony where Prisms are to gauge and examine the candidates, who are about to soon begin the augmentation process. This moment is in fact the start of it, where the master artisan would then select and present an ingot of solarium to each aspirant, the very same one that would be used in the circuit imbuement process.

Given the significance of the event for their people, it has become something to cheer and rejoice in annually. Communities that include these training programs often go all out, putting on a holiday celebration that highlights the ceremony. Those without do still observe it, though of varying levels of grandeur ranging from private gift giving or public festivities.

A new tradition that has sprouted up recently since the ascension of the Solar Queen is a live broadcast from the head of House Iris herself, delivering a message to all Brilliance Knight aspirants wherever. It had curiously started out as an off-comment mention made by her on a relevant briefing program around the time, but the accidental popularity of the speech was undeniable. Now it is practically enshrined as a new tradition of the holiday, and all giddily await year after year for the grand words of their great leader.