Frozen ambitions (Inactive)

Game Master Merisal The Risen

I think they're ugly, replied Chiaiese.

The powerful Korasha admonished the older and brasher of the two with a finger to his lips and a shush.

They're fascinating, observed the younger daughter, Rilynn. Intrigued by their distinctly insectile appearance and mannerisms, the young Damaya sat enthralled by the entire experience. The Lashunta Dilomatic entourage was led by her mother Cacia, advisor to Lady Morana Kesh, and an esteemed mystic on the cultural university faculty. Rilynn barely noticed her father leave them to rejoin his General Staff of the Red Guard, a largely ceremonial unit of retired military officers.

The Lady herself stood at the end of the long chamber, flanked by dozens of dignitaries from across Castrovel, include many from Corporatist factions which, on any other day, actively worked to depose the monarch. This was a rare occasion indeed. The Diplomatic wing turned out as the Shirren envoy approached the end of the grand runner at the base of the dais. Cacia presented the foremost Shirren with the customary scepter, and received from him some odd token in return. It was all very formal.

Look at that funny one at the end, gestured Chiaiese, bumping against her younger sister.

Father told us to be quiet, said Rilynn, but her attention was diverted all the same. Oddly, the very last Shirren in the envoy was lagging behind the others, deliberately, it seemed, and constantly poking its head from side to side while it fidgeted with something under its long green cloak.

The young Damaya could not help herself from probing, forgetting that Lashunta Galactic Diplomatic Protocol expressly forbid such telepathic intrusions during ceremonial processions, under penalty of exile. At first, she merely detected the Shirren was, in fact, thinking, but its mind was racing. It was excited but fearful, and... there was anger, no, more than that, rage. Then an intelligent thought surfaced, and it flashed in Rilynn's mind like lightning: "Do it now!" But the thought had velocity, direction, and she followed it, her eyes flowing over the crowd from her perch among the guest rows in the antechamber; she settled on the old Korasha standing beside her father, a General she knew - a family friend! The General received the Shirren assassin's telepathic thought and his hand reached for something behind his back.

Rilynn shot to her feet, not knowing what was about to happen. She only knew she had to do something. Father, the Shirren and General Novus - they're going to hurt people! Her telepathic message was desperate, but it was all she could do.

Colonel Biviano straightened but did not reply. He slid closer to his old friend and put an arm around him, while the envoy filed past. The General froze, his plot exposed. Yet the Shirren continued ahead. Rilynn redirected her mind at his. Now the assassin burned hatred, betrayed by its lone ally. She saw in its mind another flash, of how it would charge the dais and kill Lady Kesh.

In the next moment, Rilynn screamed a thought at him, STOP! The Shirren halted as if struck, staggered before regaining its wits, and pulling the cloak aside, exposed a pistol. But it was careless, its mind slowed by the force of her command. She swatted the pistol out of its clawed hand telekinetically, and it rattled onto the floor. Now the rest of the guard could see plainly what was happening, and they acted swiftly, four of them collapsing on the rogue Shirren. The rest of the envoy turned and the ceremony abruptly ended.

"What is the meaning of this assault?" demanded the Shirren attache. A number of shouts rose up as the assassin pleaded its innocence.

Now Rilynn' mother stepped forward and raised her hand, then bowed, Lady Kesh descending from the dais behind her to address the assembly.

"General Novus, explain yourself," she said, her voice commanding and clear.

Rilynn shook, the swell of adrenaline washing over her. We'll talk about this tonight, the voice of her mother resounded in her mind. Then she added, You were very brave, little one. The Red Guard quickly emptied the chamber of guests, and Rilynn and Chiaiese were escorted to their mother's office. They were surprised when, hours later, Lady Kesh herself walked into the office, with their parents behind her.

Lashunta ceremonial protocols are vital to our diplomatic efforts. We must never break them. As punishment, neither of you will be allowed entry to any such events ever again. Do you understand me? Both girls nodded. Lady Kesh leveled her steely gaze at them, then, at the last moment before turning to leave, she winked.

Rilynn demonstrated her gifts at an early age, combining the talents of both of her parents - her father, an accomplished fleet commander, and her mother, mystic diplomat, and developing her path as a technomancer and xenobiologist. After graduating from Academy at the top of her class she interned in the offices of the Admiralty, applying her keen sense for alien biology and culture. She was on the fast-track to a position of diplomatic or political importance. But did she want it? As in every endeavor before, she excelled in the Admiralty, learning the systems and weapons of war, but also the politics of it. And yet, Rilynn wanted something... more.

Ten years to the day after the incident with the Shirren envoy, she was summoned to Lady Kesh' office. I remember a girl who risked exile to save the monarchy. Does that same spirit stand before me now?

Rilynn couldn't suppress a smile.

Welcome to the Camerarius, Agent Rilynn, said Lady Kesh, handing over a datapad with the secretive Lashunta spy agency watermark. Here's your first assignment.