Chapter 2.2

[yhlee]

[Sorry I didn't get this out earlier, y'all. Happy summer/winter holidays!]

The Cantata emerges from the rift on an approach to the Lanterner stronghold called Autumn Pyre. The Cantata hums very quietly to reassure the mothlings, then falls silent; it's been impressed on the Cantata that discretion will be necessary. For their part, the mothlings have free run of an enclosure with Fluffy the Vraselian pseudo-dragon, and both mothlings and dragonet seem to be entertaining each other with games of tag and hide-and-seek. They are happy to play with any humans who stop by, as well.

Scan reveals that Autumn Pyre is heavily fortified by the standards of the day, mostly with invariant weapons like railguns and missiles. A few dozen moths are already docked there, and several more are patrolling the area. Two small Lanterner patrol moths, nearly identical, veer lazily toward the Cantata.

Patrol moth #1 hails the Cantata in several different languages, including the high language. For its part, it transmits the Lanterner emblem--a stylized yellow lantern against a blue background--and the speaker is requesting that you halt and identify yourselves. "This is the Lanterner Federacy in the year 852," the speaker goes on, "under the benevolent rule of the Honorable Aramis kae Pharon. Are you human? What are your hospitality requirements?"

[Feel free to take advantage of the between-moves planning post if you need to, and to make whatever preparations, including rearranging the Cantata's variable layout, you deem necessary.]

Comments

Re: at the dock - paging Reshad, Seyli, Alaric, and Mafyyil

[kese_seyli]

Seyli had, in fact, pulled a uniform out of the matter printer. It's a simple combat uniform --although there were designs for an undress option-- they felt more comfortable in tactical clothing. They wear the uniform like a second skin, the gun at their hip another extension of their being. They know Sasha wants them all to look incompetent, but they don't know how to turn that off. (Crashhawk status notwithstanding, who the fuck knows how they turned that off.)

They also aren't comfortable with is being a second in command, even playacting at it, but they keep that information to themselves. Seyli doesn't trust anyone here just yet. Still, with no other option, they align themselves to Reshad's right side.

Re: at the dock - paging Reshad, Seyli, Alaric, and Mafyyil

[zuhrovet]

[Never fear, Seyli! Your discomfort with the rest of the party will do the work all on its own!]

Re: at the dock - paging Reshad, Seyli, Alaric, and Mafyyil

[hoardingpearls]

Reshad gives Seyli an approving nod, well aware of their distrust and offering no apology for it. "We've got everything we need," she says, by way of reassurance, aware that they may already be monitored.

Despite the lack of anything to flow in the sensible uniforms the group had fabbed up before arrival, she manages to sweep forward as the hatch opens, and makes a show of being a leader of this group.