Update 47 - Preparing For a Party
[] You Will Attend. Well of course, even if he plainly despises you it would be rude not to. You may be able to unruffle some feathers.
Subterfuge Roll Off
4 + 4 + 3 + 11 Subterfuge = 22 for Reinhard
2 + 3 + 1 + 10 Subterfuge = 16 for Remorg
The Vice Admiral is obviously trying to provoke you and he is making no effort to conceal this, inviting you to his reception even whilst needling you in every sentence. Why? You know full well that Admiral Remorg is an Imperial loyalist, he is not affliated with any larger noble house, he is a baron in his own right with many of his Shares bought with prize money from the NASP War, before now you would have counted him as an example of actual meritocracy within the Navy, somebody who deserve his rank even if his personal habits and decadence is disgusting.
So it strikes you. He is threatened by you, Ramorg holds his current rank and his trusted, important position because of his ability to form and maintain a capable fleet, because of his proved track record of winning battles and keeping his forces intact even as the rest of the fleet melted away around him. In the wake of the NASP war the Imperial Navy had less than fifty surviving capital ships and one in ten of them were the five battleships of Remorg's personal squadron, one ship having been lost to Valinor zealots in the final attack upon New Theia.
He leads quite possibly the most able battle squadron in the empire entirely through his own efforts, the 1st Strike Squadron of his fleet, commanded by Commodore Baronet Angel Warder Jamoor, is argueably the most storied and prestigious appointment for a capital ship commander in the entire navy, the Aonia, Hellas and Elysium and their captains each approaching the level of fame you achieved with your own command during the war.
But over the last year you have made anything he or his subordinates have achieved look bad. Right now he has risen to Vice Admiral with the better fifth of the entire navy under his command and responsibility for any initial response in even of a renewed NASP war. He has been the rising star of the navy, now? Attention is instead upon you and you do not even have the decency to share his origin of 'backbone of the empire' minor Shareholding nobility.
But regardless of his feelings on the matter you are now Shareholding nobility and you have the money to prove it, not to mention contacts and associates to at least match his own.
"I will be glad to attend your amusements sir, it will be a welcome return to polite society for many of my senior officers. Months on the frontier for three barons and a princess was no doubt a dire imposition."
He smiles, another gulp of chocolate, then a long sip from a glass of something likely alcoholic offered by another barely dressed attendant. He then offers a small shrug. "Very well then. I will ensure that everyone of consequence is invited. We shall meet in person, Commodore."
The channel closes leaving you with a few important questions.
Who will you ask to be your plus one? Specify a first and second choice.
[] Ranca. The obvious choice, the heiress to a countess, a baroness, master duellist and black sheep of her ducal family who you are in an actual relationship with. That said her family does not view that positively and she does murder people far too often.
[] Scolly. Another baroness, she is not associated with a larger house and actually might be looking to retire from the navy soon? But is very adept when it comes to shenanigans if mimetically terrible at actually commanding ships. You have promoted her anyway though and despite a rocky start she is on your side.
[] Monson. Strick heterosexuality is considered fairly odd in Imperial high society, Monson is a friend but you have not had the chance to spend much time with him since rescuing him from the hell of paperwork. Also he was one of Remorg's staff officers prior to his current assignment and he is very good at navigating high society.
[] Hompsand. The most capable Imperial officer you know when it comes to directing and commanding ships, apart from yourself. She has already taken the Huitzilopochtli to the uttmost peak of efficiency and you have not spent much time with her since arranging her transfer from the light cruiser she previously commanded.
[] Princess Kathla. She is a Big Deal politically and, you know well enough, a formidable political and intelligence operative even if you are fairly sure she should not be a naval commander. She also seems to approve of you? Attending a party with her on your arm would hammer home that yes, you have Imperial favour.
How profligate will you be?
[] Very. You are already spending an absolute fortune on living expenses, hospitality and attendants. There is no need to go further than arriving in your pleasure cruiser starship with dozens of minions wearing the absolute latest in tastefully amazing dress uniforms and surrounded by senior and personally loyal nobility.
[] Extremely. You are rich thanks to your victories, help display this. Ensure that not just you but every one of your senior officers have brand new outfits in the latest styles and that the local media is saturated with your and their exploits prior to the event. (-10 Wealth, -5 Political Capital. Make the kind of impression that will seriously impress even baron tier nobility and rear admirals.
[] Ludicrously. Ramorg has annoyed you and you are riding high off the acquisition of immense, planet changing wealth. Crush him. Completely overwhelm any effort he makes to ensure his reception is impressive with an entourage of thousands and a colossal media campaign, ensure Alfheim knows you have arrived and that you are the most important and amazing person ever. (-20 Wealth, -20 Political Capital. You are spending the equivalent of hundreds of billions of US dollars on a blitz PR campaign and also ensuring that the Imperial censors and officials are totally on board with this.)
Do you Bling the Sword of Democracy?
The Sword does not need a refit because you are a paperwork freak, she has an amazing crew and as aa result she is apparently immune to attrition. She will be in dock for two weeks though.
[] Leave The Sword Be. Regulation Navy Grey is fine.
[] Custom Paint Job. Specify it! (-1 Wealth, write in a cool custom colour scheme).
[] Gold Plate. Cover a 100,000 ton battlecruiser in gold plate, because you can. (-10 Wealth. Be shameless).
[] Abstract Artwork. You have so far avoided the Sword taking a single hit from enemy fire under your command, so why not have her turned into a work of art? Hire some genius (you can afford a genius) to cover her in fractal designs or spirals or whatever is currently high fashion (-15 Wealth).
[] Imperial Glorification. Ensure that the Sword is covered in statues, scrollwork, actually tasteful and well put together stuff but glorifying the Imperial House (-15 Wealth, +5 Political Capital).
[] Other Flagship Bling Option. Write in.
Flagship blinging options may influence people's reactions in future. Also note that a battlecruiser is absolutely incapable of stealth under any circumstances so this will not impact anything there, unless you want to have her try to pretend to be another battlecruiser at some point.
Subterfuge Roll Off
4 + 4 + 3 + 11 Subterfuge = 22 for Reinhard
2 + 3 + 1 + 10 Subterfuge = 16 for Remorg
The Vice Admiral is obviously trying to provoke you and he is making no effort to conceal this, inviting you to his reception even whilst needling you in every sentence. Why? You know full well that Admiral Remorg is an Imperial loyalist, he is not affliated with any larger noble house, he is a baron in his own right with many of his Shares bought with prize money from the NASP War, before now you would have counted him as an example of actual meritocracy within the Navy, somebody who deserve his rank even if his personal habits and decadence is disgusting.
So it strikes you. He is threatened by you, Ramorg holds his current rank and his trusted, important position because of his ability to form and maintain a capable fleet, because of his proved track record of winning battles and keeping his forces intact even as the rest of the fleet melted away around him. In the wake of the NASP war the Imperial Navy had less than fifty surviving capital ships and one in ten of them were the five battleships of Remorg's personal squadron, one ship having been lost to Valinor zealots in the final attack upon New Theia.
He leads quite possibly the most able battle squadron in the empire entirely through his own efforts, the 1st Strike Squadron of his fleet, commanded by Commodore Baronet Angel Warder Jamoor, is argueably the most storied and prestigious appointment for a capital ship commander in the entire navy, the Aonia, Hellas and Elysium and their captains each approaching the level of fame you achieved with your own command during the war.
But over the last year you have made anything he or his subordinates have achieved look bad. Right now he has risen to Vice Admiral with the better fifth of the entire navy under his command and responsibility for any initial response in even of a renewed NASP war. He has been the rising star of the navy, now? Attention is instead upon you and you do not even have the decency to share his origin of 'backbone of the empire' minor Shareholding nobility.
But regardless of his feelings on the matter you are now Shareholding nobility and you have the money to prove it, not to mention contacts and associates to at least match his own.
"I will be glad to attend your amusements sir, it will be a welcome return to polite society for many of my senior officers. Months on the frontier for three barons and a princess was no doubt a dire imposition."
He smiles, another gulp of chocolate, then a long sip from a glass of something likely alcoholic offered by another barely dressed attendant. He then offers a small shrug. "Very well then. I will ensure that everyone of consequence is invited. We shall meet in person, Commodore."
The channel closes leaving you with a few important questions.
Who will you ask to be your plus one? Specify a first and second choice.
[] Ranca. The obvious choice, the heiress to a countess, a baroness, master duellist and black sheep of her ducal family who you are in an actual relationship with. That said her family does not view that positively and she does murder people far too often.
[] Scolly. Another baroness, she is not associated with a larger house and actually might be looking to retire from the navy soon? But is very adept when it comes to shenanigans if mimetically terrible at actually commanding ships. You have promoted her anyway though and despite a rocky start she is on your side.
[] Monson. Strick heterosexuality is considered fairly odd in Imperial high society, Monson is a friend but you have not had the chance to spend much time with him since rescuing him from the hell of paperwork. Also he was one of Remorg's staff officers prior to his current assignment and he is very good at navigating high society.
[] Hompsand. The most capable Imperial officer you know when it comes to directing and commanding ships, apart from yourself. She has already taken the Huitzilopochtli to the uttmost peak of efficiency and you have not spent much time with her since arranging her transfer from the light cruiser she previously commanded.
[] Princess Kathla. She is a Big Deal politically and, you know well enough, a formidable political and intelligence operative even if you are fairly sure she should not be a naval commander. She also seems to approve of you? Attending a party with her on your arm would hammer home that yes, you have Imperial favour.
How profligate will you be?
[] Very. You are already spending an absolute fortune on living expenses, hospitality and attendants. There is no need to go further than arriving in your pleasure cruiser starship with dozens of minions wearing the absolute latest in tastefully amazing dress uniforms and surrounded by senior and personally loyal nobility.
[] Extremely. You are rich thanks to your victories, help display this. Ensure that not just you but every one of your senior officers have brand new outfits in the latest styles and that the local media is saturated with your and their exploits prior to the event. (-10 Wealth, -5 Political Capital. Make the kind of impression that will seriously impress even baron tier nobility and rear admirals.
[] Ludicrously. Ramorg has annoyed you and you are riding high off the acquisition of immense, planet changing wealth. Crush him. Completely overwhelm any effort he makes to ensure his reception is impressive with an entourage of thousands and a colossal media campaign, ensure Alfheim knows you have arrived and that you are the most important and amazing person ever. (-20 Wealth, -20 Political Capital. You are spending the equivalent of hundreds of billions of US dollars on a blitz PR campaign and also ensuring that the Imperial censors and officials are totally on board with this.)
Do you Bling the Sword of Democracy?
The Sword does not need a refit because you are a paperwork freak, she has an amazing crew and as aa result she is apparently immune to attrition. She will be in dock for two weeks though.
[] Leave The Sword Be. Regulation Navy Grey is fine.
[] Custom Paint Job. Specify it! (-1 Wealth, write in a cool custom colour scheme).
[] Gold Plate. Cover a 100,000 ton battlecruiser in gold plate, because you can. (-10 Wealth. Be shameless).
[] Abstract Artwork. You have so far avoided the Sword taking a single hit from enemy fire under your command, so why not have her turned into a work of art? Hire some genius (you can afford a genius) to cover her in fractal designs or spirals or whatever is currently high fashion (-15 Wealth).
[] Imperial Glorification. Ensure that the Sword is covered in statues, scrollwork, actually tasteful and well put together stuff but glorifying the Imperial House (-15 Wealth, +5 Political Capital).
[] Other Flagship Bling Option. Write in.
Flagship blinging options may influence people's reactions in future. Also note that a battlecruiser is absolutely incapable of stealth under any circumstances so this will not impact anything there, unless you want to have her try to pretend to be another battlecruiser at some point.