luceti, on the coming two-front battle

[daisy023]

You know I'll be needed on both sides, but you haven't picked which.

I'm not fond of space, but I don't think many in the enclosure have fought there in the past, and the General is going to be there; and I don't like Bil [To say she wants to choke him while he sleeps.], but we can't leave him to the Malnosso and take the bargaining chip we have, either.

Whichever you choose, it's a decision I'll regret. Just don't flake on it.

-Daisy

Comments

[simplestgift]

We're opening the ship to refugees. We'd always like to have you with us.

[daisy023]

Thank you, sir... But I can't. I'll need to be fighting when it happens.

[Winning, or no. Tempted into impossible missions like moths to the fire.]

The MJOLNIR is too heavy for me to be at the ship, too.

[simplestgift]

Is it really so heavy? Fighting this battle won't do anyone any good, not on their terms.

[daisy023]

One thousand pounds. There's a reason I was in a heavyweight fight in Segretar. [...] To not fight now is leaving my team behind... It's not Spartan nature. Even a friend of mine would insist a small chance is still a chance.

[And it'd be possible with him around.]

[simplestgift]

Good god, only a ton? Of course it wouldn't be too heavy.

I...urge you to reconsider. There isn't a small chance, not here. They'll come for what they want, and fighting has never made a difference against them when it is their initiative. If there is to be a battle, it should be on our terms, not theirs.

[daisy023]

Lieutenant, it's about resisting. It's not just about fighting them head-on -- Hunters and Elite Zealots always teach you that much. It's about outsmarting them.

With all due respect, sir, the other option is surrendering. It's not something I can accept. Not when my CO is going to be fighting. I am not a deserter.

[Not anymore.]

[simplestgift]

Except that isn't the other option. Don't you understand? It isn't about us, it's about this Catherine fellow. Whatever we do with him must be up to others, but there is such a thing as picking one's battles. If we're going to outsmart him, we have to begin with the problem, which isn't physical force. It's a little old blue man.

[daisy023]

Right now he's the only bargaining chip we have. Our prisoner. A source of intel we can't lose. We're going to try to hide him, divert the droids -- slow them down if needed.

[Not stopping them, she knows, but a necessary measure, nonetheless.]

I know it won't end well if we face the things head-on -- we won't do that if it won't help. But so far most of our powerhouses will be sent to the Space Op.

[Another place she will regret not being there in to fight.]

[simplestgift]

I didn't say to give him up, just that force isn't going to help.

...Either way, I'd like you on our crew someday.

[daisy023]

...

So do I, sir.

Once this all blows over... I'd like that.

[simplestgift]

...Thank you, Daisy. It would be an honor.

[parangosky_jr]

Things getting a little heated over there, Daisy?

[daisy023]

Boiling.

[Too many factors.]

The Malnosso just demanded to give them back their ex-CEO in an ultimatum -You can guess we told them to shove it-. They'll send us a storm and a lot of droids; they'll also drag some of us to a fight in space, with the General of a fanatic faction -- someone even the powerhouses here have had trouble facing.

They want to stretch us thin. It's going to be a busy week.

[parangosky_jr]

Well, if anyone's up to the task, it'd be a Spartan. Whichever side you end up on is going to be blessed.

[daisy023]

I'll do my best.

[Not that a Spartan shouldn't -- though it's going to require even more than that.]

My only regret is that I'll still feel needed on the other front, whichever he chooses. [The mun.]

[parangosky_jr]

Do you have a lack of other reliable allies? Or is the threat just that strong? [Crossing her arms and frowning slightly, thinking more tactics and strategy now then anything else.]

[daisy023]

A lot of my friends will be sent to the draft. Part of my temporary team and a new friend of mine are staying -- we'll have to use guerrila tactics and a lot of decoys if I stay. Space worries me because not a lot of people were instructed on operating on zero-g, while the village won't have as many resources as the ones in the draft.

[parangosky_jr]

Hm. Sounds like you might be needed more in space; you've got the training and the equipment, you can certainly give them the advantage there. Is there any time to instruct them? Even on the basics?

[daisy023]

I wish we had. They accept requests for gear and some vehicles [Which means this bad boy might be available.], and I write a lot of briefings for the residents, but all drafts are warned only a few days beforehand. Sometimes less.

But... There's our prisoner.

[parangosky_jr]

[Oh yes, she remembers seeing the schematics for those. Not that she was the most eager to get up in one; she'd let Daisy handle that.]

[She cocks an eyebrow.] I'd like to hear more about this prisoner, if you're able to divulge the information. [Not that she couldn't get access to it herself, just sent BB searching and she was confident he'd root it out.]

[daisy023]

[She nods... While she's sworn loyalty to her friends in Luceti, this might be more important.]

"Catherine" Biliruben. [By the name alone, it's clear Daisy hates the man with passion.] He used to be the CEO of the Malnosso organization in a hostile takeover. While he's claimed to focus on getting people home, to call him an "ally" wouldn't be entirely correct. He's smarter than he looks.

After a bunch of screw-ups and disagreements with the rest of the Malnosso organization, he was overthrown by someone called "The Commandant", the one leading the drafts right now. He hid in the Battle Dome with a former intern from a rogue faction of the Malnosso organization in the middle of a shift, while everybody... Was under a mental shift.

[Unfortunately. Had she seen him the first time in her clear mind, she would have killed him then and there.]

A year later, they sent new-generation droids. Incredibly powerful. They took down the stronger of my companions without effort. They took his companion, wrecked his lab, and left him in a coma... But they didn't capture him. It's only now that they're demanding him back.

[redjacketthief]

Daisy.

You'll go where you have to go in either case, and the people on the other side will find a way to survive. Your efforts, as always, are appreciated.

...maybe I should consider myself lucky that I have an idea of what I'm doing in all of this. Not that it's better.

[daisy023]

It is. Even if you know your fate... It's still possible to make plans around it.

And with what you'll do...

[Decoy.]

[redjacketthief]

[It gets worse.]

I'm one of the best guys for the job, and a lot of people know it. It's not gonna be easy, no, but it'll be worth something in the end.

It better be, or all of our plans are wasted effort. I hate wasting my time.

[daisy023]

It will still be a message: We are not their tools. And if they see us as that, they will pay for it.

But for whatever happens... I hope we do more than that.

... I don't know yet what role will I take next week. But I need a favor when you're taken.

[redjacketthief]

Same. We're risking too much to not get more.

...Ask away, Daisy. I trust you, and my Princess will see what she can do.

[daisy023]

Keimi. She was taken shortly after the announcement.

[Mun hiatus.]

If you find her... Get her out. Please.

[redjacketthief]

[The mermaid, the one he was going to ask to make him a new coat.]

...Of course. Always. She doesn't deserve to be in there.

I'll do the best that I can for you.

[Except for the fact that he's not getting out with the rest.]

[daisy023]

Thank you, Lupin... And be well.

[She can't say "be safe". For the following days, they would all be in the midst of danger.

And that's beside not knowing if everyone would make it.]