Waking the Dead 2.0 || August 6, 2063 || Saturday

[takeitinstride]

[Here's an official memorandum from your beloved Kaiser, in your inbox.]

SENT: 11:04 AM
Greetings, War Hounds. There are several matters that I need to bring to your attention, as a blade.

First: congratulations on the successful completion of your two most recent engagements. Keep up the good work.

Second: in light of recent events, effective August 6 until August 31, the Malice Kings of Netsach have decreed that your blade will be placed on a forced leave of absence from major engagements within the Vigil. You will only be allowed to participate in minor engagements.

Bostova, Marisigan, Zobel de Ayala and Stevenson: I have spoken to the leaders of the conspiracies that you possess additional licenses with (i.e. Magistrate Kalika Shinta of Zangyaku, Cardinal Paolo Inojosa of the Brotherhood of Violence, Senior Operative Jessiah Vice of the Methuselah, and Lord Thomas Regardi of the Thrones). They are happy to inform you that they share the sentiments of the Malice Kings, and have subsequently placed the lot of you on shore leave. The aforementioned dates still apply.

Third: Netsach's contingent will return to the Falner Estate at 00:12:00 hours tomorrow. All blades who participated in accompanying President Catherine Stone are under orders to remain grounded at Naufragio until call time.

Fourth: I would like to personally extend my gratitude for watching over the Blade King. He is beyond a comrade to me - he is family. In as much as his participation during President Stone's diplomatic mission was unplanned, his presence prevented 99% of the casualties, and your subsequent actions prevented him from overstretching himself. I understand that having him come in the first place was a call that your team, particularly your blade leader, decided to make, and it was a wise one.

If you have questions on any of these matters, you are free to approach me. I will make myself available for you at your convenience.

OOC Notes:
+ Liandrin actually sends this text after idling around with Jessie, Hikaru, Kaz, Josh, Taning, and Yulia. She'll be going around Cape Town all the way until departure time the next day: August 7, in-game.
+ Brianna and Brigade are free to react to this accordingly, and decide on the time that they wake up. So that there's no time paradox, though, make sure to pick any hour after 12 PM, in-game.
+ Josh, Kaz, Yulia and Taning: you're pretty much free to do whatever in Naufragio and Cape Town until August 7, so that gives you guys a day and a half, plus one evening.

Comments

[atlas_shrugged]

[ Seeing the part on Kaz makes Brig even more thankful Kaz made it. A wash of worry goes over him. Never again. Not with these ones. ]

SENT: 12:16 PM
It's good that Kaz is a fighter, Ma'am. But we'll keep it from happening again. I should have delegated someone else in the Blade to stay and support Kaz when news that Anton had gone into Dark Hour hit the comms. I apologize for the lack of foresight; the President was a major target.

And no, Ma'am, "sit down and take a frakkin' break" is enough poetry for me. Been too long since I had dinner with Jessica and Kitty.

[takeitinstride]

SENT: 12:18 PM
The President was your primary concern, and all of you - especially your blade leader Joshua - did what had to be done. Just know that there are things you can prevent and things that you cannot, even in a matter like this.

On another note, I must admit that I find your lack of resistance to this arrangement refreshing. I am sure that the leaders of the other organizations that you belong to feel the same way.

[There's a subtle reminder that it wasn't just her call, and that it was deliberated upon carefully.]

[atlas_shrugged]

SENT: 12:20 PM
I know, Ma'am. Hard decisions and casualties always happen in a war. Brother Hikaru checked up on me as well last night to check if I was blaming myself for what happened to Kaz. If I had some notion in my head that if I'd been there with him I could've changed how things went. I told him truthfully, Ma'am, that I didn't. Those were Coffins. And I'm not on the level of Brother Wolf or Brother Seer.

Still, these kids, my Blademates, they're special to me. I will endeavor to be better to avoid any possibility of re-occurrence. I have no "destined hero" delusions. Just good old soldier training that believes skill and preparation always help. Even in the slightest, most unnoticeable ways. At least I know I'll have tried my best. They deserve my best.

I admit I'm hardheaded, Ma'am, but not as hardheaded as people would think, I believe.:)) It just takes time to hammer it in. Getting thrown back into a situation akin to how life was before Netsach, and almost losing Kaz like I've lost so many friends in the past, those are pretty big hammers.

[ He notes that last part. He laughs a bit inside. He understands their reasons and is seeing them now from less jaded lenses. It helps that he finally has the taste of normalcy in his life. He used to only have wars and missions, and life outside of those was just that little dream. He had one now. A real one. ]

[takeitinstride]

SENT: 12:21 PM
And even one such as yourself needs time to recover, yes? As do the rest of the Hounds. I do hope that they will come around eventually.

You've done us proud so far, Brigade, and it is good to see that you care about your blade mates - they are, after all, your life and family now, in as much as Jessica and Kitty Leitman are. I am certain that Aidan and Riley share my opinion. Keep it up.

[She does not bother adding anything about how he'd make an excellent human, as others might. Lia already sees him that way, because believing in it is one step closer to making it happen.]

[atlas_shrugged]

[ Brig wonders at that statement of hers. "I do hope that they will come around eventually". Brig hasn't yet received that call from Josh. He just brushes it off though. He has a feeling some of the others may have tried to argue with the benching. It was expected really. ]

SENT: 12:23 PM
Thank you, Ma'am. I'll make sure my performance is consistent. And I promise to look out for my Blademates always.

For the meantime, I will take this time to rest and reflect till the bench orders are lifted. Can't wait to get home.

[ She may be firm and strict, but Brig likes her very much because he can tell she has a kind heart. ]

[takeitinstride]

SENT: 12:24 PM
Good.

Tomorrow then. Rest up.

[And she'll have them back at Falner Estate in a jiffy.]