Cycle 2.1
[X] Plan Build the New Homeland! (Violet in Shadows edition)
-[X] [Officer] Violet d'Iris, Solar Princess
--[X] [Intrigue] Send Spies.
---[X] [Target] House Iris Separatists
-[X] [Officer] Radana, Camellia Knight
--[X] [Stewardship] Construct Chain.
---[X] [Target] New Helm
----[X] Chrysanthemum Scales.
-[X] [Officer] Dorothea, Lycoris Knight
--[X] [Stewardship] Construct Chain.
---[X] [Target] New Helm
----[X] Chrysanthemum Scales.
-[X] [Officer] Violet d'Iris, Solar Princess
--[X] [Intrigue] Send Spies.
---[X] [Target] House Iris Separatists
-[X] [Officer] Radana, Camellia Knight
--[X] [Stewardship] Construct Chain.
---[X] [Target] New Helm
----[X] Chrysanthemum Scales.
-[X] [Officer] Dorothea, Lycoris Knight
--[X] [Stewardship] Construct Chain.
---[X] [Target] New Helm
----[X] Chrysanthemum Scales.
(Construct Chain (Chrysanthemum Scales): 29 +7 (Radana) +11 (Wealth) = 47)
(Construct Chain (Chrysanthemum Scales): 52 +7 (Dorothea) +11 (Wealth) = 70)
Progress: 4/4. Finished!
New Helm has built Chrysanthemum Scales.
When one thinks of the Brilliance Knights, they tend to immediately think of the more prominent and famed branches such as the Rose Knights, those who excel in the martial arts. If not them, then the Lycrois Knights who help keep peace and order in their local communities, prominent public figures who demonstrate a mix of compassion and resolve to do whatever is needed for the smiles of all. But these branches are only a fraction of their entire kind, just those who happen to be the most public.
Yet those who work behind the scenes such as the Poppy and Camellia Knights do invaluable work themselves, the silent majority that helps keep society functioning in day to day activities. They are still ordained and honored with circuits to augment their bodies, but their responsibilities are instead towards the mundane duties and minutia instead of frontline combat or public glory. Make no mistake, they are still skilled experienced warriors in their own regard, still armed and armored with the Solarium of the Helmsmen. However, it is not in the radiance of the stars, but the warmth of the suns that they draw their power from.
Dorothea of the Lycoris Knights knew that without this warmth, she and many other far more public Brilliance Knights could not accomplish half of what was asked of them. So when she was asked by Radana of the Camellia Knights to aid in this construction for more background infrastructure, she wholeheartedly threw her support and grandly proclaimed it so. She put on a spotlight to the project in general mentions and spread word with those who counseled with her. Anything to help promote her colleague's efforts in a positive light that would eventually come around to supporting the Lycoris Knights as well.
With such public support available, Radana was able to facilitate and build strong ties between interested trade companies and organizations. When they made mention of needing a middleman venue to conduct such business, she need only smile and gesture to the burgeoning foundations of the Chrysanthemum Scales. Soon, the project was certainly not lacking in either sponsors, budgeting, or skilled contractors.
Little wonder then that it was complete within the cycle ahead of all projections, a feat that drew many a public eye. But in time, it is known that this grand market would soon become taken for granted and fade away in the background, an everyday venue that is not often remarked upon, only simply and flatly mentioned as where trade occurs. No glory, no spotlight, no prominence.
The way that these quiet Brilliance Knights like it.
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(Design Ship (Wisteria-class): 84 +15 (Kat) +11 (Wealth) = 110)
Progress: 6/4. Finished!
You had to admit, there was a sort of eager giddiness bubbling from within you when you learned that the prototype was operational. Then when you were officially informed, there was a further surprise that Heliophile Voidworks believed it to be not just working, but ready for a shakedown orbit around the planet! You did do a quick check of your various bugs and leaks to make sure it wasn't a scheme, then eagerly accepted the invitation so.
Now here you were, standing on the bridge of the destroyer Wisteria, first of her class. There was a rather conspicuous lack of a ship prefix that you did question, but it was apparently because officially, Wisteria hadn't been commissioned and ordered by your government yet. She was only a prototype whose design was be refined and smoothed out while putting her through the trials, then her blueprints then became the property of House Iris once completed. The ship herself was still incomplete and would likely remain that way, until somebody bought or scrapped her from the company's assets.
You made a note to look into that, if only because many of you people would likely latch onto Wisteria for sentimental reasons. Perhaps you did as well, but there was more importantly a great opportunity to plant further information leaks within for more secret gathering, particularly if whoever was onboard felt confident and safe within these halls. Already you felt a dark haughty laugh threatening to spill from your lips, imagining being able to remotely listen in on gatherings of ship captains from afar.
There was quite tug at your side that helped stifle that, and you looked to see Kat twiddling her fingers nervously. "Um-m, we...we will launch now-w!" She stuttered and looked over to the volunteered crew of Wisteria. "A-a-activate the re...reactor!"
Even though her words were barely a whisper, the officers still heard and heeded the commanding Prism's command. Within moments, you could feel it, the subtle rumbling of the ship's distant power systems turning on for the very first time. The dimmed navigation and weapon stations of the bridge grew bright and the assigned personnel began to rapidly interface with those in front of them, intense looks of concentration on all their faces. Soon, reports began to fly and you watched Kat close her eyes to listen intently to them all.
"Reactor at seventy percent efficiency and growing! Time to eighty percent, thirty seconds!'
"All hull sections reporting green! Airlocks cycled and sealed!"
"Weapons online! Safeties...on!"
"Engine ignition confirmed! Thrusters, ready!"
"Docking controls established!" The one who called this out paused, then turned to face Kat. So did many others with expecting faces. "Ready whenever you are, ma'am."
"I...um…" The words fumbled coming out of her mouth and her face rapidly crew red in wake of so much attention outside her workshop. She became even more flustered with every passing second, resulting in her tongue twisting even further, creating a destructive loop that didn't have an easy out. Soon, the atmosphere on Wisteria's bridge grew awkward from the growing silence, everybody tensed and hoping the Hyacinth Prism would just bark the single command needed.
It's not going to happen. Kat's just not that sort of girl out of her workshop based on all my observations. You hid an exasperated sigh and gritted your teeth. You couldn't let this carry on any further and took a quiet step to her side, leaning down to whisper into her ear. "With your permission?"
A shaky nod, then you drew yourself to your full height, suddenly becoming the star of the moment. You took in a moment to mentally scream inside, then sucked in a deep breath with flashing eyes. "All hands! Ready yourselves, for today you may consider yourselves proud successors to those brave men and women from eons ago who first decided to leave Terra, leave Luna, leave Sol itself!" You declared, deciding to tack on some fancy words of encouragement that your best friend would have encouraged you use. "This humble vessel is not much, but it will herald a new generation of ships for House Iris. In that alone, take pride; for in the tradition we honor today, we launch a brighter future for us all!" Oops, that may be a little overboard. Wrap it up, wrap it up!
"So then! Prepare!" You gave a dramatic pause, then your hand shot out in a forwards motion. "Launch!"
On the outside, large clamps that had been holding the prototype destroyer in place while she was under construction for the last two cycles abruptly released with the hiss of hydraulic pressure. But instead of falling to the bottom of the deserted drydock, the ship immediately jolted forwards under the power of her own thrusters. It was slow at first, rising sluggish while it fought the planet's gravity, then it began to pick up speed. A reddish glow surrounded the outside plates when it warmed from the intense drag, one that petered out the longer and higher she climbed. Behind those glowing plates, crew members held on tightly while keeping wary eyes on the bulkheads, engineers ready to slam emergency alarms in case of faults.
Soon, Wisteria had broken the atmosphere and moving into the empty space around Andernia IV. Status reports echoed throughout the bridge from the officers at their stations, confirming that she had entered a stable geocentric orbit. Once the final adjustments were made and the appropriate thruster force applied, a ship-wide message was sent out announcing the successful launch. You didn't even need to listen in on the intercom to hear the cheers reverberating through the ship's hulls, the officers even allowing themselves to loosen up and smile in wake of the overwhelming success.
But after a few minutes, order was called for and the list was called upon, an exhaustive detail of every test the destroyer had to work through. It was likely a process that would continue even after you took a shuttle back down to New Helm, but one that would finalize any last minute changes that would need to be made for the Wisteria-class. You only stuck around for a few more hours before departing, satisfied that your first of many ship designs was off to a grand start. With that, you planned to relax and do a little recreational scheming in a dark room, only to arrive back to your office with Radana giving you a smug grin...and a video playing of your 'inspirational' speech.
As it had turned out, part of the shakedown orbit involved recording everything that occurs onboard for later review. This included the bridge before launch, and then somebody decided to do a public service by leaking a clip of it on online websites. Within hours, it become yet another rallying point for your people, thinking that you were definitely the true heir of the Solar King!
You spent the rest of the day locked in your office so the screams didn't escape the room. You could only hope that perhaps, given how public the launch was, that your sister was experiencing the same amount of grief.
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(Send Spies: 98 +18 (Violet) +11 (Wealth) = 127)
Progress: 4/4. Finished!
The video ended, and the gathering of like-minded entrepreneurs was in an uproar.
"A destroyer! Your sister dares?!"
"More importantly, why were we not told until now?! Why has none dutifully reported such an act of rebellion beforehand?!"
"We are already struggling to establish trade with settlements to other planets, they are refusing our partnerships! At this rate, we can't even proceed with the plan to coerce them-!"
"Enough." The word echoed through the room, the voice augmented by pulsing circuits. There was a pause, then the speaker idly took a sip from a wine glass, smacking her lips. "Enough. I understand your concern, but please, let us remember our manners. This is a banquet, not a war gathering. We will address this in a manner befitting of the rightful rulers of this system."
There was a round of mumbling from the assembled, then chairs were gently scraped back into position to resume the feast. It soon became an awkward but tolerable silence broken up only by the sound of food and drink being consumed. For her part, the Solar Princess drank and ate daintily, seemingly not bothered at all by whatever her younger sister was up to.
Yet her eyes were sharp still, reflecting that serious thought was given to the affair at hand. Her gaze swept over the various finely dressed individuals at her table, eventually settling upon those who sat at the end, the newer members of her inner cabal. Specifically, sharply dressed man who calmly cut and at at the dinner without seeming worry, so she raised her voice. "These developments are unforeseen and unanticipated, so in which case I would like to hear the thoughts and opinions from those newly introduced tonight. A fresh mind could contribute considerable insight as to the machinations of what the pretender is aiming for."
There was a pause while the man realized that the Solar Princess was addressing him in particular, but still he properly finished his current chewing and made sure to drink from the goblet to freshen up. This raised her estimation for him, so she studied him carefully, especially when he began to speak. "Simply put, my Lady, it is clearly an attack on you."
"So it's war?!" A panicking individual blurted, only to pale in realization of their mistake. Indeed, it seemed at the Solar Princess did not tolerate those who disobeyed her standing orders when she gestured and guards marched into the room. They roughly grabbed at the offender and bodily hauled them away, uncaring about the pleas and begging for forgiveness.
Once that little distraction was gone, the Solar Princess spoke up. "So it's war?" She softly asked and her newest guest shook his head.
"Nothing so grand so far as I would believe, as she hasn't the guts your sire had." A few hackles rose at mention, but the very recent demonstration kept any further interruptions from occurring. "It is merely a public face to try and demonstrate her growing power. Much like how your eldest sister would do it."
Shadows crossed over her face. "Do not mention her again," She darkly ordered in a cold tone. "Your ignorance earns you one pardon. You have used it."
"I see. Then if I may continue my explanation independently, it is an attempt to shore up her image in hopes of possibly competing against you." His eyes locked onto hers. "What we see implies that this is the first of its kind, a prototype perhaps. Complete or not as well, it is only one ship, yet here she is flaunting it so. You would know best if she would be the sort of fool to do so."
"Hm." A finger tapped against the glass flute. "Perhaps so. She was...reclusive. Shy."
"Then why has such a video been shared?" He pushed, striking to the point he had sensed. "I call it for what it is: a paper tiger bluff. She projects power she doesn't have compared to you, my Lady. You may choose to respond however you wish, but it should be in a way that you see fit."
There was a long moment after the simple statement, one that was finally broken up by an approving smirk from the Solar Princess. "I do believe that you will need pay attention to changes made for the next gathering, as the seating arrangement is likely to be shuffled about." She inclined her head towards him. "Do not make such a foolish mistake at that time."
His heart finally settled back in his chest and he disguised a nervous swallow with a respectful nod. "I will strive not to." He couldn't believe his luck- it had gone just as those mysterious individuals had told, even about the mention of the First Princess! He paused, then subtly reached up to press a button on a pen attached to his breast pocket to deactivate it. No, it wasn't luck, he decided. It was his manners and cool analysis.
He'd work his way into becoming closer to her without them, and if they should try to demand him back, well now he had the damn favor of the Solar Princess! The commissioned enforcers would take care of them! But he'd have to damn careful to dispose of that pen they had gifted him- he didn't want anybody to ever learn of how he had even managed the first entry fee in the first place. Future fees was going to be an issue, but that was likely already taken care of judging by the interested looks from others around the table. He had made it, and he wasn't going to be anybody's puppet after erasing what he knew from them.
He settled more comfortably into his seat and tapped his foot, too used to the old wear and tear that disguised a false heel compartment with blinking electronics. This time, he didn't know about them.
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- Violet's favorite tune? "I've got no strings on me"
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