Radio; Foreigners Only [Forward-dated to the 14th]

[purered]

I have spoken with the Grand Justicar on the matter of removing the bodies. She has agreed to allow it. I will be contacting a mortician forthwith.

I speak now to all the foreigners here; Please do not act rashly. I understand your anger at the Justicar. It is justified. Risking your own lives and those of the people here, however, is not. The situation now is precarious at best.

We are guests in this city the same as the Justicar. I would hope we can show more consideration for Keeliai's denizens than her, however.

Comments

[insertdadjoke]

While that's a distinct possibility, the fact of the matter is that we've never claimed to be working with the citizens and they have every right to denounce us for their actions. If the Justicar is interested in a peaceful facade for any length of time, she won't be pursuing that for a while yet. She's safe where she is right now; hopefully whatever end she means to achieve can't be done all in one visit.

[ Cain watches Klaus, appearing rather calm for the situation. ]

This isn't as simple as all that. They've tried once and failed to take over and unless she's got a larger contingent hidden just beyond our sight, it's more likely that this is intended as a sort of reconnaissance or ground-laying. We should talk to the techs we have around to see if there's anything we can discern going on with another frequency, but it's entirely possible they're operating with more old fashioned communication if she's speaking with anyone she hasn't brought with her.

[purered]

You're right.

[He sagged a bit, and removed his spectacles to rub at the bridge of his nose.]

I apologize- I am assuming the worst. I cannot imagine why she'd leave the bodies out on display as anything but an act to provoke aggression, however. If only to see where we are weak.

[insertdadjoke]

[ He shakes his head. ]

Fear tactics can sometimes be so ingrained into a culture, especially military culture, that there is the possibility — however distant — that she was showing confidence in her own leadership rather than trying to provoke us. Something to cow us with how easily she found and dispatched people who tried crossing her. Now there's simply no way to tell if that was her original intent or not; she wouldn't claim anything that wouldn't make her appear in control from the start.

[purered]

That much is certain, yes.

My concern is that this is a lot of trouble to go through for some deserters. You would think that the Chihuelan Empire would try to negotiate the return of these soldiers before sending an envoy to collect.

What is she after? Do these deserters, perhaps, have information that poses them as a risk to the Empire that they must be apprehended like this?

[insertdadjoke]

Almost definitely. They have whatever orders they were originally issued that were presumably never met, and then they ran from their government rather than simply take the price of failure. There was a lot more going on for everything we missed during that year.

As for specifics... we don't really have a way of telling. Not as we currently stand. We do know she's willing to run us dry and not actually intent on keeping any of her promises if given a chance to watch how desperate we are on smaller matters.

[purered]

And I suspect she'd be keen on making us very desperate. I expect she will maneuver things in order to force our hand before we're ready.

I can't shake the feeling she's looking for a fight. She has... no respect for the people here.

[insertdadjoke]

No respect, yet they came to try and take over anyway. Deign to attempt peaceful communication first, even if it's more of an ultimatum than anything. They likely don't want to risk their own people, the ones who won't defect... or won't be given the chance.

[purered]

The Kedan are already doing a fair bit more than grumbling. If they are not careful, things could go very badly for all involved.

[insertdadjoke]

The kedan, at least, have the families to worry about if they act up. No one wants this to go poorly, but our occupiers aren't making it easy.

[purered]

It's a frightening thought to be sure. Even with my limited knowledge of this place, there has been more than enough bloodshed. I will continue to watch them, but endeavor not to overtly antagonize them.

[insertdadjoke]

Which is basically what we should all be doing. [ He runs a hand through his hair, and idle motion, before he settles once again. ]</small. It's not easy, but they've yet to do anything to the natives or even the foreigners, and I'd really like for us to not be the instigators of any sort of violent incident.

[purered]

No, and I don't feel it's our place to start a conflict that will, ultimately, effect the Kedan. They have agreed to allow the Justicar to conduct her business in their city. However, the moment she oversteps her bounds, we should be prepared.