I'm proud to announce that I've been told I'm recieving a promotion to the Second in Command of les Fulgurites. I'm honored to be selected to bear such a burden, and excited to see what the future brings.
[An audio recording seemingly produced from a device hidden on Nera's person. The contents have been auto-transcribed via comp/con below.]
ASTERIA: Nera. It is good to speak to you.
NERA: You always say that like it's a joke, Commander.
ASTERIA: Perhaps that will change when you stop toying with me, Nera. What do you want?
NERA: I would like to be advanced in my role on the command track. Your initial timeline had me stationed here after my rookie year. That year just ended, yet I am told I will be sent back out again after festival season.
ASTERIA: I determined you need an additional year of experience and besides, none of the positions here have opened yet.
NERA: This is not what was agreed upon.
ASTERIA: Why do you want this so bad?
NERA: I would like to limit my piloting hours.
ASTERIA: You spoke with the Baron a while ago, and I'm told he already gave you a way to do that. Why didn't you take his offer, if that's what you want?
NERA: What offer, Commander?
ASTERIA: Don't play dumb with me. He was offering you heir.
NERA: Oh, that? Because you are going to give me second in command.
[The click of plastic hitting wood.]
NERA: A data chit. You really don't want it leaving this office.
ASTERIA: Nera, blackmailing your commanding officer is not the time to be coy.
NERA: It is a collection of journal entries from one Anahera Kauri of the House of Smoke, House of Sand special operations logs, unsecured camera feeds from the Inverted Tower, the contents of a file dated 4992 buried deep in secured Karrakin Cavalry College Archives, and a collection of blinkgate travel logs, for good measure.
ASTERIA: You don't haveā
NERA: In 4992 you were a student at the Karrakin Cavalry College and fell madly in love with a woman, a noble of the House of Smoke, named Anahera Kauri. However, she was already engaged to one Arte-Chiron of the House of Sand. You pursued her anyway, and entered a whirlwind relationship, and when he caught you one night in her chambers he challenged you to a duel. Need I continue?
ASTERIA: You do. Everything you've said so far has been long since laid to rest.
NERA: The time of the duel was right then, not in chassis but on foot, and without College approval. You gathered your gear and went to the dueling fields, where the terms of your duel were decided. Bladed weapons, no shields, but the condition of victory was unclear. 'To first blood,' you said, but he insisted that no, it would end only in surrender or death.
NERA: His terms were taken. For the better for you, for he took first blood and you learned quickly that his blades were poisoned. Regardless, you persisted. You took the advantage soon after, and gave him wounds that would cause any other man to concede on the spot. But he persisted. You would later tell Anahera that you believe that he still fought because you had entered a dangerous game of attrition: he was losing blood, yes, but you were poisoned and beginning to feel it. He was gambling that you would lose your grip first.
NERA: No, you asked and I deliver, Commander. He was correct in a way but not to his benefit. None of your blows were meant to be lethal but you slowly lost your capacity to aim, and in the process you punctured one of his lungs. The medical authorities were too slow to save him. In the end he died gasping.
NERA: You were expelled from the College, of course, unsanctioned dueling alone would have done that, but the question of murder was resolved behind closed doors. His father was the House of Sand representative on the Baronic Council, and his murder could spark interhouse conflict. In the end a deal was reached. The crime would be covered up, but the House of Sand would handle your punishment, and you would never be allowed to see Anahera Kauri again.
NERA: Your service to the House of Sand lasted five years and resembled that of a loyal member, though. Your punishment was extensive, sure, but they opted to use your skills as a pilot to flush six different suspected Ungratefuls cells in the Concern and countless others labeled "pirates" besides. Upon return, you were given les Fulgurites for this expertise.
NERA: Now, all of this would have the tabloids eating for years, but do you know the most interesting part?
ASTERIA: You've made your point, Nera.
NERA: The most interesting part is that you never stopped talking to Anahera. She bought you an apartment in the Inverted Tower ten years ago. You still visit regularly under a pseudonym. Her son calls you "momma." As far as I can tell, no one besides the two of you know this.
ASTERIA: You want second in command.
NERA: I do. And I assume you read my file. You know that getting rid of me doesn't make this problem go away for you.
NERA: Good. Are we done here?
ASTERIA: I think you are.
[Shuffling, the sliding of plastic across wood.]
NERA: Keep this chit, cousin, as a reminder. I have plenty others.
