The Plots Thicken

The next morning, Karmen received a faux pas (2 points accepted) reminding her to check her work calendar. Apparently she had a Drazu contingency meeting and needed to go into the office. There wasn’t awkwardness after last night—at least not with Jack. She had broken through her initial concerns about being intimate in game. This morning, it felt no worse than waking up next to a new lover.

It was a little awkward when Jack followed her into the bathroom. Sitting there on the toilet trying to pee with him standing there shaving had not been easy: Karmen had never been close enough with her previous lovers to share the bathroom.

Thirty minutes later, Karmen looked in the mirror. Yes, she achieved the professional look that her character needed. She was in a fresh navy blazer and blouse. Last night’s pants had been replaced with a knee-length skirt. Her hair fell down her back in a long braid. The braid’s weight helped her feel confident. She was in what must be four-inch heels. She was nervous: she did not walk in heels at all. Her character seemed to know what to do though, and she needed all the height she could get.

Jack looked delectable in his guard uniform. He had been called up on orders to practice the guard’s contingencies for preserving order in case of invasion. Officially, it was just a drill. His battalion commander made it clear everyone needed to be paying close attention: this was the last chance to practice before the real thing.

Karmen and Jack were the last to get down stairs. Maria had made breakfast.

At breakfast, Zara asked, “Jack, Is there any way I could talk to the Drazu before they arrive?”

Zara twists luck (10 points accepted): Zara opens an opportunity. Someone else will need to bring it to fruition.

“At a technical level, probably. We know the Drazu monitor some of our emergency frequencies. When they accidentally hit the chemical factory last month, they actually broadcast instructions for our emergency response units to identify themselves as non-combatants.

“We know they hack our civilian comms whenever they like; they could probably call you at the station if they actually wanted to talk to you.

“So we could broadcast a request asking them to call you. The trick is to get permission from the civilian government.”

<I will see if I can get you that permission, > Karmen said in chat. <What are you hoping to accomplish with an interview?>

<We have several quests that focus on what happens when the Drazu arrive. General Taru talked about staying his soldiers when they sweep through. I have 200 points available for making the invasion smoother before they actually get here.>

• Zara faux pas (1 point accepted): You may call the Drazu whatever you like in chat, but leaving out General Quartz Taru’s clan family name of Quartz would be a significant insult if any Drazu heard you—worse even than speaking his forever name of 379Taru clan Stone while he still lives. If you were his intimate you might be permitted Quartz Taru, or even in privacy Taru, but never a title and registration name without a family name.*

<So it sounds like this is important. I should hold luck points to see if I can make it happen.> Karmen said.

<I think it is important, > Zara acknowledged, <but we’re very new at this and we are only guessing at how this game works.>

<We have good intuition as gamers, though, > Karmen replied. <So I will spend points if that helps.>

<Positioning ourselves to work as closely as possible with the Drazu will be worth a lot, > Osman said.

Maria stopped Karmen on the way out the door. “I’ve invited Roger over this evening. He will meet me after my shift this afternoon. If we watch another video tonight, i want to be there for that, but I am hoping to spend some time with him before.

“We were texting all night—at least after Osman and Jing fell asleep.”

“I hope you have a good time,” Karmen said. “He needs to leave before we can watch a video. We are not ready to discuss the videos outside of the people who live hear.” “We were texting all night—at least after Osman and Jing fell asleep.”

Maria nodded. “Of course!”

Karmen sat next to her boss, Michael Turner. They represented Emergency Prepairdness. The guard liaison, Captain Ramirez, and the police chief were also present. City Attorney Kathleen Rodriguez and Mayor Green’s chief of staff joined the mayor to round out the group. Mayor Green stood and began.

“I think we all knew this was coming. An hour ago, I received word that Sunshine City is on its own. They sugar coated it: we gain local autonomy to make the best decisions for our circumstances. Captain Ramirez, would you give us a situation briefing?”

The captain pulled up a map of the area. “As you know, Drazu have been steadily gaining advantage in Talthanian orbit. We estimate that by 1500 today, our ability to project orbital force will be limited to preventing orbital assets from providing ongoing support for ariel and ground engagements.

“We estimate that by 2300 today, Drazu forces will project sufficient sub-orbital force to mount sustained bombing and drop-ship operations. Air Defense is faced with a choice. They can continue to defend the entire continent, even though by that point they will no longer have sufficient ariel assets to maintain adequate defense. Or Aire Defense can pull back from territory, focusing on smaller areas with the best ground-based ariel defenses.

“Air Defense doctrine is to take the second option. My intelligence analysts believe that by shortly after midnight, Sunshine City will be outside of Air Defense’s tactical defense region. Sunshine City does have mobile anti-air batteries that should be sufficient to prevent drop ship operations directly over our airspace.

“The Drazu could bomb these batteries. My soldiers have placed these batteries close enough to the city that we think it likely that Drazu will regroup outside of our local air-defense perimeter and march to occupy the city rather than risking damage to the city by bombing the batteries.”

“Do you have a projected route for their forces?” Karmen’s boss asked.

The captain pulled up the route. “We think they will come in from the north, like this.”

Michael jotted some notes on his phone.

“That doesn’t look good for us,” the Mayor’s chief said.

“No, sir, not good at all,” Captain Ramirez said. “In addition, my forces have been affected by the autonomy order too. Third company has been detached from Sixth Civic Guard Battalion. Third Company, my command, will remain with Sunshine, while the rest of Sixth Battalion divides to provide support to neighboring provinces.”

Captain Ramirez looked around the room. “Let me make it clear. Drazu doctrine is to hold a city with a battalion; initial occupation of a city our size may be at significantly greater strength. My single company will not engage a battalion of Drazu subjugators. By tomorrow evening, Sunshine city will be occupied by the Drazu. I recommend that the civilian leadership of Sunshine city surrender before that time.”

“So, we are fucked,” the Mayor’s chief said.

Before the captain could respond, Michael disagreed. “No, we bide our time while the resistance shows the Drazu that holding Talthanians will not be worth the cost.”

Karmen sighed and opened a chat with her team. <My boss is pro resistance and spouting a line about how we should just make it expensive for Drazu to hold us. I am going to need to hold as much luck as I can to try and get power.>

<Go for it, > Osman said.

Karmen put 150 points in Luck, 29 points in Faux Pas, and the group’s remaining 10 points in quest discovery. She also looked over her character notes on Michael Turner. What a prick! Of course he would be big into his title.

Mayor Green frowned. “Michael, you know the resistance is none of our concern. It was set up that way—completely separate from everything else.”

She continued, “Our job in this room is to look out for the people of Sunshine City.”

“Of course, Mayor Green, Michael said, “I just mean that we are focused on a holding action to let the resistance do its job. My team will help the average citizen of Sunshine City through the emergency.”

Karmen thought she saw an opportunity. “Director Turner, I also think we need to be prepared to work with the Drazu—figure out what they want, have a group working on their demands, that sort of thing. I would be happy to take that on.”

Karmen twists luck (100 points accepted). Director Turner is delighted that Karmen will keep him away from the Drazu where he can focus on reminding the average citizen exactly who is to blame for their hardship. Mayor Green appreciates Karmen’s initiative.

“Thank you so much, Mrs. Vasquez. That will allow me to focus on our citizens.”

“Michael, you know I favor a flat organization. You don’t mind if Karmen works directly with my office if she needs to?” Mayor Green asked.

“No, of course not, although of course I am there if you need me. Mrs. Vasquez is good at her job. I suspect she will be able to keep the Drazu tied up in paperwork and out of both of our hair.”

Karmen couldn’t believe her boss. The Drazu didn’t seem like the kind of people you could put off with a bunch of paperwork.

“Speaking of keeping everyone happy,” Karmen said, “I think some of you know that Zara Shah got housed with us after the unfortunate Green Hill incident.”

“The news anchor?” Mayor Green asked.

“Yes, ma’am.”

The mayor nodded. Karmen continued, “Over breakfast, she was asking about an interview with the Drazu—to understand what we can expect, how to avoid incidents, and stay calm. My husband, Corporal Vasquez, said that if the government ordered, the guard could invite the Drazu to such an interview.”

“What do you think, Captain Ramirez?’ Mayor Green asked.

Karmen twists luck (15 points accepted). Captain Ramirez sees the possible benefit. Director Turner is willing to trust Zara will send the right message.

“We could do that. I think it should be up to the civilian government to decide if it is a good idea.”

Mayor Green looked to her chief of staff. He nodded. The mayor said, “Set it up. Make sure Ms. Shah does not broadcast the interview live. She needs to make sure it does not panic the populous.”

“Yes ma’am. I’ll pass along the order to Corporal Vasquez’s lieutenant.”

<I got you your interview, > Karmen said. <It was expensive.>

<I know. I’ve been watching your meeting. Thanks, I hope it will be worth it, > Zara said.

The rest of the meeting focused on the city’s state of preparedness. The big problem was food. The Drazu had generally avoided bombing agricultural areas. Meat processing facilities, packaging plants, and other food processing were considered acceptable targets. Transportation, especially major Transmatics depots had been a primary target, even when collateral damage could not entirely be avoided. Also, much of Talthania’s produce was shipped off-world for final processing. Once Drazu had blockaded the system, that interdependence became a huge liability.

The government had established assistance centers like the one where Ash’s official job placed her. They helped ration food and provide essentials to people displaced in the war. Stocks were running low. If the Drazu did not have a plan to feed the city, starvation would be a bigger problem than the Drazu.

“It would be amazing if you could do it,” Zara’s boss said, “but there’s no way.” Zara rebalanced their few remaining points. “Care to place a little wager on that?”

“What are you thinking of?”

“If I get an interview with a Drazu officer or a soldier who will be part of the occupying force before they land, you let me have the final word on how we cover the invasion.”

“It has been a long time since I told you how to cover a story.”

“I am asking for a little more than that. If I want to show a slave on air, I get to. If I want to tell the world that the resistance is useless and will just get the Drazu all pissed off, I get to do that.”

Zara twists luck (10 points accepted). Since Zara is never going to get the interview, her boss can agree to whatever preposterous conditions she proposes.

Zara’s boss laughed. “Sure, why not. If you do the impossible and get a Drazu interview, I will not stop you from doing the suicidal and taking on the resistance.”

Before Zara could respond, her assistant nocked on the open door and entered without waiting. “Ms. Shah, there’s a Major Krisel on line 2 for you”—she took a breath—”Either it is an elaborate hoax, or he is a Drazu major.”

“You better take that,” Zara’s boss said. His hands were shaking.

“I am Zara Shah, and here with me by video link is Major Knife 3Krisel of the 512th Drazu Subjugators. Thank you for joining me Major Knife 3Krisel.”

“Thank you for reaching out Zara Shah. I am here on behalf of the commander of the 512th, Colonel Ruby Theck. On behalf of the colonel I appreciate the opportunity to help your people understand what they can expect in the coming days.”

“If your battalion occupies Sunshine City, what will that look like for us? We hear all sorts of horrible predictions—the government executed, the city burned, slaves dragged off by the thousands.”

“Much of that is up to you,” the major replied. “We will install officials into your government. Until Talthania is accepted into the Supremacy and permitted to raise clans, we will have ultimate governmental authority. We would prefer to wield that authority alongside your existing government. They know you best.

“Immediately, we will work to feed your city and understand the gaps caused by the war: businesses that lost key staff or owners to fighting, infrastructure and services that are damaged, and new opportunities that being in the Supremacy can give you.

“My soldiers—all of us—have lost people dear to us in this conflict. If you meet us on your knees, we are honor-bound to respect those of you who will be citizens and let those losses go.”

He showed his teeth. “If you attempt to resist after my soldiers land, the gloves are off. Many of you will personally submit until lust quenches my troops’ anger.

“Even in that situation, our anger would run its course and you will raise a clan in the Supremacy.”

“I did not hear you talking about executions and blood running through the streets. Is that a myth?”

“It’s completely false, whatever it is. Drazu do not execute anyone, ever. Slavery is the penalty for a significant transgression, not death. We would not waste a valuable slave.”

“Let me recap. If we do not resist after the subjugators land, you will come in, work with our government, feed us, and work to restore Sunshine City. You will eventually allow us to raise a clan in the Supremacy.”

“Yes.”

“But the slaves—that part is not a myth.”

“There is a price for threatening the Drazu. You knew that price before you ever blocked our trade. That bill is coming due.

“You will become Drazu. You will accept Submission and Supremacy. Enough of your people will be sold as slaves that you will never forget the price of threatening the Drazu. You will accept enough of our slaves that our culture will become yours.”

Zara asked, “Those of us who are not enslaved will become full citizens?”