trans_9 | Case studies [Open]

Entry tags:

Case studies [Open]

Tarrant strode along the bank of the River, eyes trained on the invisible, delicate web of power that stretched out even to this remote location. He picked out eddies in the flow, interpreting minute fluctuations as an animal might discern a faint scent in the air or vibrations along the ground.

There was life here, yes. And the river should provide adequate housing and space. Combined with the equipment in the Castle, supplemented with supplies from the various shore leave planets...

He pulled out his datapad, slender fingers dancing along the screen -- rapidly charting out the flow of the water, the depth, the amount of shade. Yes, this might do quite nicely.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Tarrant fixated on Howard. "Let us have the ship back? What do you mean by that?"

"I mean them leaving the ship and disabling the preprogrammed course. More aunotomy. I mean, I'm sure they'd still boobytrap the place, but it's a step up from the way things are now. Right now even if we ran they'd know exactly where to find us."

Tarrant considered this new little nugget of information. Or perhaps tasted it, inhaled it, like one might sample the bouquet of a fine wine.

"They would have to be incredibly trusting to simply bestow those kinds of favors on us," he said, musing. "Or monumentally stupid. If I were in their position, I wouldn't even consider slackening the leash. What makes you think we can inspire that amount of trust in them, even if they truly believed we'd had a change of heart?"

If he'd only been allowed access to them, this would have been so simple. All the answers would have been his for the taking, and they would have been none the wiser.

"I know, it sounds hella stupid, but Leon's been following them around for months now. If anyone's got an idea what's going through their heads, it's him. Or was, since, you know." Howard makes a hand gesture like shoving a sleeping bag into a sack. "But they might be playing at the same game we are. Getting our trust, giving us the illusion of control before they bring the hammer down."

Tarrant's expression really said all there was to say about Leon's activities up until this point. Perhaps the man had been busy. Perhaps the Daligig were a handful. No reason to leave his crew casting about, playing guessing games about what their commanding officer was doing.

"So you believe that even if we do gain their trust, we'll be playing into their trap. Perhaps they won't really remove the preprogrammed course. Or they'll keep a contingent of their people on board to make sure we toe the line." Geez, Howard, make up your mind.

"No, what I'm saying is - we might get something we want, but we need to watch our backs. If we get off the preprogrammed course, there's no reason to thing the Daligig still won't have us bugged or have Stacy relay information to us."

Howard does not believe in committing to a plan without second-guessing it into the ground.

"Leon thought he probably shouldn't have a big role on the ship because an active captain would get repodded." Howard frowns, because clearly he thinks this plan was complete bullshit and just an excuse for apathy and bad communication. "So I'm thinking he had reason to believe the Daligig could do it on purpose, so either the avia thing's bullshit, or the Daligig would do it anyway, or the Daligig can fuck with your soul, which is fun to think about."

He's rambling a bit. "Anyway, what I'm saying is that they're afraid of the crew enough to be underhanded. So maybe don't expect a trap, but totally be ready for it."

He waved Howard's talk of traps aside as largely irrelevant. "They've already set up traps on the ship. And I'd be a fool if I didn't assume they've taken the opportunity of being on the ship for months unopposed to construct even more." They'd have to watch their backs no matter what action they took.

So. The only evidence they had in favor of pretending to cooperate with the Daligig was (a) some overheard chatter and (b) a secondhand account of one absentee captain's feeling that it would somehow work. Not particularly what Tarrant would consider assurance at all.

And yet... as unlikely as the route of kowtowing to the Daligig seemed to be, what did they have to lose? Either way, the Daligig would be leaving the ship soon, leaving him an opportunity to see them off. And once they were gone, work could continue on getting control of the ship, unencumbered by their presence. If their plan failed, they had nothing to lose but their pride -- as unpalatable as that might sound. If it succeeded, the rewards might be considerable.

Sometimes the only choice was between a plan that had little chance of working and one that had no chance at all. Tarrant just wished those choices would stop presenting themselves one after the other. They were getting irritating.

"A masterful plan," he remarked almost idly, returning his attention to Howard. "Be an active captain, return to the pods, and leave the ship without a leader. Alternatively, be a nonentity, leave your crew doubting your competence, and leave the ship without a leader. Still, the Daligig have apparently confirmed his theory about the repoddings. Someone overheard them discussing it."

He spared himself a brief moment to listen to the strange, alien music of the dark fae as it curled about the banks of the river around them. Strange how quickly one became accustomed to having it ever-present. "I'm planning to pay a visit to the Tapestry," he said finally. "I don't know how likely the Daligig are to fall victim to the kind of farce you've suggested, but I'll explore the possibility. It may not net us anything, even if we play things as convincingly as possible. But I believe we have little to lose in the attempt. Rest assured that I'll present the crew with my results. All of the crew, naturally."

"Hey, I didn't say I liked Leon's leadership style. I've been pretty vocal for Team Leon Sucks." Howard raises his eyebrows. "So we know for sure that they're repodding people? That explains where all the department heads went, I guess."

Howard nods. He figured no one would take the idea very seriously because, let's face it, it's a long shot, so he expects Tarrant's mostly humoring him about exploring the idea. But at least Tarrant sounds genuine enough. "Makes no diff to me, I'm out of here tomorrow. Got my papers and everything."

"Yes. Although to be honest, even without confirmation, the timing of the repoddings was extremely suspicious.

Tarrant glanced at Howard once more, as if appraising him. "Are you? Congratulations." Of course, it would leave them without a liaison to Command, but hopefully they wouldn't need Howard. Hopefully.

"It was. But they were also all people who showed up around the same time. At least this confirms that it wasn't like, some degeneration of the weird soul thingy."

He nods. "I'm not risking my life for this ship's bullshit missions anymore. I'm over it. You guys have fun."

"True. But as far as I can tell, repoddings don't generally follow that pattern."

"I'm not sure 'fun' is quite the way I'd put it. But thank you for your well wishes all the same." Tarrant clasped his hands behind his back. "It was nice speaking with you, Mer... Bassem, was it?"

Oh, thank God the new Councilor isn't one of those touchy-feely 'shake my hand' types. Howard likes him more already.

"Same. Nice talking to someone in power who isn't a tool." He gives a little wave and heads off. "Good luck with the job from hell!"

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Case studies [Open]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject