Versions of Diplomacy

Langley stood in her full captain regalia, hands on her hips with her legs slightly apart and her shoulders back.  The breeze from the ocean was on her face and it served to blow back her ponytail and the end of her jacket dramatically.  It tugged at the feather in her hat.  At her waist were both of her rapiers; on the back of her belt was Sword.  Her pistols were across her chest and her bag of components hung by her hip.  Sabreur was also armed with his rapiers, components, pistols, and an ample supply of firebombs.  He even had two voidbombs, very carefully tucked away under his lab coat where Langley hopefully wouldn't see them.

"I understand that typically, upon reaching port," Langley began, starting to pace before the assembled crew, "I allow the crew to take a much-appreciate shore leave."

It was dawn and she'd called them all up on deck at first light.  Nineteen in all, including Crystal.  They stood in a row before her, armed and alert.  Everyone knew that something had happened to Ajiin by this point.  And everyone was wondering who that person was that was sitting on the edge of the Ark, watching intently with a particularly nasty look on his face and a grimace just above his reddish goatee.

"However," she continued, "I hope you'll understand if I cut our stay in Swerthia short.  Very short."

She glanced at the harbor.  There were gun ships out in the open waters and they surely had orders to stop any vessels not authorized to leave by means of a cannonball or two in the hull.  Langley knew that her Ark was on the list of vessels not permitted to leave right now.

"We have a problem."

There was a rumble of assent.  The entire crew knew about what had happened upon their arrival in Swerthia, Ajiin's disappearance, and the legal trouble they'd just landed in.  None of them liked it either.

"We are going to do something about this problem."

Another rumble of assent, this time louder.

"As you know," Langley continued, her voice growing bolder and her pacing more determined, "Swerthia is currently defying Alannian citizenship laws.  This is a direct act of rebellion against our country, a deliberate move to antagonize them.  As you also know, being loyal citizens of Alannis yourselves, our country does not like to take these things quietly."

"Normally, since this is another country, we are unable to defend our rights as the courts ignore captains and ignore the Alannian diplomats.  Normally, this situation would be resolved in a very unsatisfactory manner for the Alannian crews.  However, this is not a normal situation.  We are involved."

And the crew erupted into cheering.

"Damn straight!" one cried.

"What're we gonna do to them, captain?" another called out.

"The gunners are ready to blow those bastards to the underworld, captain!"

Langley held up her hand for quiet and she got it, after a moment or so.

"I knew I would have your support," she said with a grin and Sino, no longer the attention of the crew, looked mildly surprised.

There had been a long conversation last night between her, the officer, and Sabreur.  Sino had not wanted to involve the crew, doubting their loyalty and mettle.  Langley had insisted and after a long, heated exchange, finally won the battle after making a concession.  Just one.  One that she had a feeling she was going to deeply regret.

"Right," she said, rubbing her hands together gleefully, "I've got an agent here in Swerthia that is going to help us out as well."  She pointed over at Sino and he nodded briefly before turning his attention away from the crew in faked disinterest.  "He knows the area and the politics.  I'll be partnering up with him and Sabreur will take the lead with the rest of you.  I want the ablest fighters to go with him and the rest of you stay and make the Ark ready to run at a moment's notice.  Sparrow, you have the helm.  Missim, you are in command of the gunners, all of which are to remain on the Ark."

That left nine people to go with Sabreur.  That many angry men would still attract too much attention.

"Crystal, you're with Sabreur as well."

"I am!?"

"Yes.  I need two people who will be in charge of keeping her safe."

Every hand went up until Missim reminded the gunners they were already excluded.  Nine hands went down, leaving nine volunteers.  Langley thought for a moment and then picked two of them.  The walked over to stand next to the necromancer who gleefully hugged them both and actually got their names right.  One patted her on the head and his hand pretty much engulfed the top of her hair, which was peach today.

"Sabreur?" Langley said, cueing her brother

"You and you," he said, pointing at two of the best brawlers they had, "And that should do it."

"Aaaand… one last group," Langley said, "Jarn, you stay here on the ship.  The rest of you I want stationed at the first intersection along the street leading to our portion of the harbor.  I'll be making a relay between each group so we can stay in contact with each other."

Jarn was the ship's bosun.  He was a good foreman, able to manage shifts and crew disputes but he had the unfortunate quality of not being able to think very fast on his feet.  He'd be able to make sure the Ark was ready to flee in a pinch but when that pinch actually came one of the twins or Ajiin would have to be present.

The men milled about, muttering their disappointment at not being able to go with one group or another – or go at all.  The mutterings of excitement were much louder, however, and this pleased Langley immensely.  She called over someone from each group – her lookout group selected their own leader, and the three stood in tight knot around her.

Jarn, of the Ark.  Hernan - one of the sailors who also doubled as an engineer or upkeep – from the lookout group.  Sabreur from the group with Crystal.

"Here," she said, handing each a piece of piano wire.  There were other things that could be used to establish a relay but for an extended long-distance one she had to use the best.  Even then, she had a small fear nestled in the pit of her stomach that the relay would fail at some point.  She hoped everyone could think without orders if that happened.

"Do NOT drop this," she said, "I can't stress that enough.  Tie it around a wrist, a finger, something.  It'll link you to everyone else carrying the wire and you'll be able to talk to them like they were standing right next to you.  Of course, they'll sound like they're standing right next to everyone near you as well so please use discretion."

"Now, I'll be dropping in and out of the relay because I'll be having to use some stealth for part of this.  Expect to get your orders for Sabreur.  He'll be on the streets and his part won't be stealthy.  At all."

And the group chuckled, able to grasp what this meant immediately.

"Don't drop this, don't break it, don't even bend it overly much," she continued as the leaders tied it around their wrists, "It's going to be a heckuva fragile relay and I'm not certain it'll even hold up.  Hernan – you're our lookout.  Disrupt any authorities trying to get to the Ark but make sure to pull out if it gets too hot.  The Ark needs to be kept under our control even if I or Sabreur are missing."

"Yes, captain.  I get it."

"Jarn, be ready to sail.  Keep an eye on the gun ships out there.  We're probably going to have to shoot them on our way out.  Sabreur… you don't need instructions.  Have fun."

"Oh, I will," her twin replied gleefully.

Sabreur made the relay.  He would be the one holding it up on his end and the twins just hoped that he could maintain his concentration for long enough and over such a distance.  Langley was initially part of the relay but she dropped out seconds after it was created.  The wire would retain enough of a memory to the ‘mancy that she could hopefully jump back in to it.  Hopefully.  It wasn't an official aspect of ‘mancy but there was something odd about twins that might make such a thing possible.  There was a link of blood there and perhaps even a link of ‘mancy.  She was hoping for it.

"Let's go!"

She twirled and adjusted her hat and marched over to Sino.  He nodded at her and they walked down the gangplank.  Sabreur's group would come a little bit after he was done briefing them.  Neither wanted Sino to be part of that particular briefing.  All Sabreur had said was that he was going to create a distraction for the two.  He didn't say what kind of distraction and Sino was kind enough not to ask.  The Cadre officer had an idea, smelling the reek of pyromancy that hung about his lab, and that was enough for him.  However, Sino was only half right.

"You will stick to our bargain, of course?" Sino asked demurely as they walked down the streets in the direction of the governmental offices.

"I'll try my best.  So long as nothing goes wrong."

"You'll stick to it even if something goes wrong."

The back of Langley's throat went dry.  His voice, which had always been so calm and civil this entire time, had just become cold and hard.  It was a dangerous tone.  She sneaked him a sideways glance and found that his usual expression of casual disinterest hadn't changed.  It was eerie.

"Right, right," she said, slightly wounded, "I'm not one to leave someone… even if they are a Cadre officer."

"Then prove it."

He handed her a piece of piano wire, his own relay.  It would only be between her and him.  She tied it around her wrist without a word.  Then Sino veered sharply, heading off down a side street.  Langley took out her pocket watch.  This was it.  She concentrated on the piano wire and after a brief moment of feeling lost, latched back onto the relay it had been a part of.

"Time to move," Langley said and then dropped out of the relay again.

Sabreur nodded and turned to Crystal and his portion of the crew.  They had been waiting on the Ark for the signal, finishing up briefing as Sino and Langley got a head start into the city.

"We're ready," he said, "Everyone got their firebombs?  Good, good.  Now, let's go massacre some livestock."

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