@Karyra @ShiroKiyoshi
Arguments sparked between the Rothmer and the Guardian but it wasn't anything that could surprise the Captain. This was a risky mission, suicidal even, Agatha would be confused if
no arguments took place.
"I believe I have made my points clear." She interjected,
"This is a gamble, I admit, but the stakes are worth it. If we are going to war regardless, it is better to have an ace which is the princess." She exhaled,
"John is correct. We are the Lughanta, improvisation is our forte." If there was one thing Venesians were good at, it was adapting to the flow.
@Click This
The laid-back attitude of the ship's only Nosferatu was welcomed in the tense air of the war room really. Agatha allowed herself a small chuckle as the golden-haired girl heaved her mock disappointment.
"Heh, at least you can masquerade in the Grand Ball, Charlotte." The captain crossed her arms, pondering,
"I think it is better you take on an alternate identity, just in case." Sure, the Doge already arranged with his contacts in the Empire to cover their tracks but rather be safe than sorry.
"Only I need to show up as myself out of necessity."
@Skyswimsky
As an experienced leader who worked with all kinds of people, Agatha discerned the hesitation plaguing the white-haired Holy Knight. She had questions to ask, inquiries to speak, but the fact she didn't was a sign that whatever doubts in her mind weren't something to be shared openly. The Captain would make sure to spare her time to talk with Laura privately. It would be fatal if her designated squad leader made blunders because her heart wasn't in the right place.
@Everyone
@RedArmyShogun @Lstorm
Of course, Sorina just had to rub Charlotte in regarding her eccentric hobby of posing as a green-eyed human. With all of the information received, arguments raised, questions asked, and answers were given, anyone was free to take their leave now.
"Of course, it's still two weeks from now, no excuses to not be ready when the time comes." She gave the blood devil a knowing smile,
"That's obvious, mostly for the second team. For the first team, we are allowed to bring weapons into the grand ball within limits. The Empire favors warriors after all and the nobles want to show it off. Now, a sword is fine for example but... unfortunately, your giant hammer is no go, Adale. Simply put, don't dress as if you're going into battle, the weapons will be part of your attire, like an accessory."
@R-9 Pilot @Karyra
By the Divine One, Agatha couldn't believe she didn't realize how incredibly stereotypical this mission would be for Saki. A dragon kidnapping a princess, the cliche was just
oozing from her.
"Pffft..." A quick snort was the best Agatha could do in stifling her amusement. From the looks of things, the Dragon perfectly realized the implications and to make matters even better, she was
loving it.
"Like I said if we're going to war regardless, better to have a crutch. We'd have help from our contacts and sympathizers, I am not that suicidal."
Good point, Harukayama was a 'mystical' land often the topic of 'exotic' stories and tales, Saki being there would definitely serve as a fine distraction for the crowd, paving an easier way to the princess.
"Isn't that what you have in mind in the first place?" Agatha smirked,
"You're our only 'Harukayaman Beauty' after all." Taka and Shinobu didn't count, the former because of his sex, the latter because of her race.
The Rothmer was going to help Saki pick clothes? Wonderful then as the dragon likely needed major modifications to her dress due to her draconic appendages.
"Go right ahead to the ship's quartermaster, I have prepared selections of clothes for us to choose, there are several backless gowns for Saki."
@LowDefinition
Agatha couldn't explicitly mention the one potent thing that'd serve Silvania well in this mission out of respect. However, she was confident the silver-haired woman knew she possessed curves many women would envy.
"I am thinking either a noble or my adviser. I leaning on the latter." The brunette answered,
"Wear something fancy. I should tell you that your looks will turn many heads and that's exactly what we need to make this work, Silva." The captain's tone was completely serious, she might not like it but it had to be done.
"Certainly, you can go with Sonya and Saki or you can ask one of the female crew members to help you."
@Crow
"Well, Wukong, if we don't do this, there'd be no ten missions, just a world ravaged by the flames of war." Agatha shrugged, echoing the Infernal's point.
"Just contain your excitement, listen to Laura, do exactly as she says, understood?"
@Lstorm
"Yes, Adale?" Captain Nightingale turned her attention towards the heterochromatic knight of the Truthful Voices.
"It is indeed, I fully acknowledge that." This certainly topped anything they had done in the past.
"We all do. Let's make this work." She gave the knight a reassuring smile,
"Ah, I'm sure you'll do fine. You have a certain etiquette and decorum about you. Being a minor noble should give you little trouble. I know you're nervous, I am too, most of us do, but we'll get through this."
<----->
@Beowulf @Skyswimsky
The blue-haired male noticed the not-so-subtle hateful looks the Owl Youkai gave to their resident Drow. While Drows were hated in general, Taka seemed to have a personal grievance with them. However, he knew better than to question his captain's decision in the middle of a meeting, he was confident Agatha had her reasons, most likely as these two would waste their talents in the first team. Still, he had to tell Laura later to watch out for any internal fightings. They would be going against the Empire, they were delving into enough risks as it was.
Strength guides us
Honor teaches us
Courage drives us
Glory to the Empire
@Everyone
Time passed and soon enough, Sol relinquished his reign to Luna for the fourteenth time since the briefing. The Crimson Phoenix had entered Imperial territory, heading towards Regnum, or specifically, the skies above it.
"Captain," A crew in the bridge reported to Agatha,
"You might want to take a look at the Horizon." The prompt resulted in everyone peering towards the main window facing the ship's bow. Immediately, murmurs and whispers wisped between the crew while Agatha narrowed her eyes. There she was, the dreaded leviathan, a flying titan, a cruel manifestation of the Empire's red iron fist, the Sovereign.
The massive airship, nay, the flying fortress was no doubt awe-inspiring. Its sheer size dwarfed even the Draconus and Golden Midas, wide and long enough to support crews numbering to the equivalent of a city, it was a marvel of Imperial engineering... or abomination depending on one's perspective. Escorted by numerous battleships, cruisers, and destroyers, the display would snuff any reckless bravado from even the most courageous of warriors. Only suicidal madmen would even think of taking such monstrosity head-on. As if to announce itself proudly to the skies, the Sovereign's base sparked purple Erchius lightning as it hovered in the air.
"Everyone, we are approaching the Sovereign, landing soon. Guests, finish dressing up, we are attending the Ball." Agatha spoke to the voice transmitters around the airship. As they closed the distance with the massive fortress, the Lughanta looked even tinier than an airboat by comparison. An incoming call was soon received by the Lughanta.
"You are approaching the Sovereign, a territory of the Empire, Identify yourself. Over." A stern voice rang from the speakers in the bridge even as airboats began gathering around the Lughanta, maintaining a comfortable distance but it wouldn't take a genius to figure out why they were there.
"Affirmative. This is the airship Lughanta of Venesia, Sovereign, carrying guests of the Grand Ball. Requesting to land, Over." Replied one of the bridge crew. A pause, likely they were checking the guest list. This part should be smooth sailing.
"This is Sovereign. You are confirmed, permission to land granted on Deck 3. Welcome to the Grand Ball, Glory to the Her Majesty Kyrie and The Empire, Over." See? Just like clockwork.
"Glory to the Empire indeed..." Agatha huffed as she patted Aster shoulder,
"Take care of her while I'm away, remember the plan."
"Roger, Captain." Aster saluted,
"Stay safe and good luck."
<---->
@Team 1 (Agatha, Adale, Helen, Cera, Silvania, Saki, Charlotte, Herman, Sorina, Drayton)
After the airship landed on one of the fortress' many landing areas, Agatha disembarked together with the group. The brunette was already clad in her Ball outfit, favoring elegance compared to her usual adventurer attire. The brunette also let down her hair, gaining her a rather mature look compared to her twintails.
"Stand straight and smile, Agatha, straight and smile." She whispered mentally as she grabbed her quarterstaff, holding it elegantly in her left hand. Time to remember every Ball held by her father in the Nightingale's Patrician Manor in which she was forced to attend.
The entourage was welcomed by servants, clad in elegant clothing befitting an event celebrating the Empress' birthday. A butler, a man nearing his senior years with graying hair, personally welcomed them.
"Welcome to the Sovereign, Lady Nightingale and Company of Venesia, we are honored to have you here." He bowed with as much decorum as a man of his position would entail. He stood straight,
"Please follow me." turned on his heels, then guided the group into a small airboat. The Sovereign was so humongous, walking to the building where the ball took place would take ages.
Moments later, they airboat parked in front of a mansion and judging from the rather crowded area, this was their destination. Moving carefully into the porch, the ladies were helped down first by servants then the gentlemen. Long crimson carpet paved the way towards the entrance as the party would be graced by the sight of a massive ballroom. Serene music was already being performed by the band on the red-curtained stage.
The dominant colors were all shades of red, crimson, ruby, amber, strong and passionate just like the Empire itself. Among the noble guests were servants frolicking around and some of these servants wore a padlocked leather collar around their necks. For those unfamiliar with the concept of thralls, the Empire allowed people to own other sentient races as indentured servants. In practice, only the wealthy could afford to own one. Most - if not all - of the attendants and servants were humans while the thralls were of various other races.
"Please enjoy yourselves." The butler bowed once more before he went on with his duties, leaving the group to join in with the guests. The Empress and her little sister were nowhere to be seen, it seemed they hadn't made an appearance yet. Good, the party could survey the room, communicate with each other on the best course of action when things went to hell.
"Alright, everyone, you know what to do. Blend in and observe." They all had their roles, whether nobles, guards, or servants, they all shared the same clandestine goal.
<----->
@Team 2 (Laura, Taka, John, Shinobu, Wukong, Seven, Marumei, Yumi, Saone, Sonya)
Meanwhile, a few hours ago...
Unlike the first team, Laura and her group wouldn't be making a public appearance. Instead, the Lughanta made a short stop on their way to the Sovereign as an Imperial airboat landed, piloted by none other than Vendrid Grossel, a crewmate who already went undercover as a guard in the flying fortress since two weeks ago. They embarked on the airboat with their assigned disguises and equipment, including the remote-controlled magitek explosives. By default, Laura, John, Shinobu, Wukong would masquerade as guards. Taka and Saone as engineers. Seven and Marumei as servants. Yumi and Sonya as thralls. Of course, improvisations could be made, Agatha gave her trust to Laura to direct the crew as she saw fit.
The airboat arrived not too long after the Lughanta landed, entering one of the side landing bays of the Sovereign, all made smooth by the spies and contacts already working in the flying fortress. Subtly, one of the 'crew' entered the airboat and gave them all parchments containing the floor maps. Conveniently, they were already marked with the shortest way towards Erchius Reactor #2 and spots where the bombs should be placed along the way were also highlighted. It was clear that the Doge wasn't jesting around when he said that not everyone in the Empire were megalomaniac warmongers. With a silent nod, the insider left the airboat, now was the time, the fate of the world hung in the balance of the Lughanta Company.
