melodiesoflife | The Fete at the Observatory

Entry tags:

The Fete at the Observatory

Characters: All (hopefully) uncaptured Heroes of Light
Where/When: At the Heroes' Observatory, the evening of February 10th
Summary: Ashelia has called a meeting - under the guise of a party - to discuss the next steps forward for the Heroes following the revelations revealed in the shared dream.
Warnings: N/A
Note: Each part of Ashelia's speech is centred around a different topic. Feel free to indicate what in particular your character is responding to in the headline for your top level! Alternately, if your character is bringing up something on their own, or not in direct reply to something Ashelia has mentioned, feel free to out the subject in the Subject line! There's a lot going on and a lot of ground to cover, so let's keep it organized so things are easy to find later!

"I would like your attention, please." With her experience as an accomplished politician, Ashelia's voice cut through the din of the gathered Heroes. The high ceiling of the meeting room lent itself well to the sorts of echoes that could easily cause headaches, unfortunately. The Queen planned to bring in some fabrics to soften the effects, but there had been little time for decorating, and it seemed there wouldn't be anytime soon.

The Lady Ashelia stood at the head of the incredibly large wooden table that dominated a good chunk of the room. Wooden chairs lined the edges of the tables, straight-backed and unfortunately not cushioned. It was clear that the Queen of Dalmasca didn't want anyone getting too comfortable in this particular room. There were papers in front of her, books and file folders and ledgers, all organized into neat piles. She picked up one of the papers, clearing her throat quietly before continuing. "If as many of you as possible could take a seat, I can call this meeting to order - and yes, I would like to apologize.

"As you may have guessed, this is not a fete. It is important for everyone to know..." Ashelia paused, waiting for the last straggling voices to quiet down before continuing, "that Mognet has been compromised. There is no longer such a thing as private correspondence, if ever there was. Keep this in mind in the coming months. The war has begun."

Ashelia paused for questions and comments before continuing.

"As many of us have realized, and Markus observed earlier over Mognet, the usual appearance of new Heroes of Light at the Crystal of Fire around the fifth of each month did not occur. This disturbance of the established cycle may seem abrupt, but upon further examination, 'tis not so." The Queen took a sip of water. "The cycle has been disturbed previously, though not in such a drastic manner. Last month, crystal statues appeared and disappeared within the hour. Heroes awakened from the crystal stasis were unceremoniously dropped from the sky. So you see, this disturbance has simply progressed. I welcome your thoughts on this."

Ashelia paused for questions and comments before continuing.

"Next on my agenda is the true motivation behind my calling this gathering. The night of February 5th, I had a dream." She stopped, shaking her head. "No, a vision. It did not take me long to realize I was not the only one to experience this. I've written the contents here." Ashelia held up a file folder. "However, if I am correct, many of you need only read it to refresh your memory." She stopped for a moment, putting the folder back on the table. "The ramifications of this new information are clear. The Empire holds four of our number captive, as well as countless other displaced Heroes in crystal stasis. It is my belief we must act on this information. We must save them."

Ashelia paused for questions and comments before continuing.

"The last subject I would like to cover is this." She held up a small, worn notebook. "This is the diary of the Lady Kalki, one of the Empire's Triumvirate. This woman, more than any other, has made clear her intentions are in opposition to us as a group. I encourage everyone to read through this document." Ashelia put the notebook down on the table and held up another file folder. "I have written a transcription myself, as the original is quite delicate." She put the file folder down. "This document provides invaluable insight into whom we can only assume is our enemy. It , unfortunately, poses more questions than it answers, but it does make clear that it is she who holds the answers that we need."

Ashelia took another sip of water, looking around at the gathered Heroes. "I once again open the floor to questions and comments. I believe it will take all of us to rescue our comrades; however, I also believe that if we do work together as one, we shall not fail."

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Ramza stood as well. "I volunteer as well. We must find a way to rescue our compatriots. Their safe return must be our priority."

He glanced at the file folder about their shared dream, but did not need to flip through it. The vision he had been granted might as well have been etched into his mind.

"They will expect an attack during their festival. That must be why they allowed us access to their information. They plan to lure us out by tempting us with the presence of the Triumvirate. I say we give them what they expect...and then, when their guards are down and their numbers wearied at the end of their celebrations, we begin our true initiative."

Yuna stepped up next to the pair with an encouraging smile. "I volunteer as well. I will be able to get in using the Bliztball team during the celebrations but we need to know our way around. Have any of the moogles been there before. I don't think we can get a map."

They had to know where those captured were taken. "Also we need a way to communicate inside. Maybe direct messages? The moogles aren't always discrete." Her last comment would have gotten a foul look from Celes. Luckily he wasn't here at the moment.

Ashelia nodded slowly when she saw Tifa, Ramza and Yuna stand and offer themselves for infiltration. When Ramza proposed a diversionary strike though, she raised an eyebrow, conflicted. There will be casualties. We cannot guarantee they would wake up here in Aqures Ixen. I cannot allow this.

It took a good long moment for Ashelia to respond. She turned first to Tifa. "We cannot involve any moogles, unless we trust them implicitly. With Mognet compromised as it is, the less people know about this the better. That goes for involving the governments of Aqures Ixen and Esdham. We cannot know how deeply the Imperial infiltration has penetrated. This stays between us, in this room."

She looked at Ramza, Tifa and Yuna in turn before settling once more on Ramza. "You...speak true. They will be expecting us. Thus far, there has been little and less subtlety in our movements. Perhaps this diversionary attack is the only way to mask our infiltrations."

"It's wishful thinking that all of us will come back from this in one piece, or worse. If it means getting my friend to safety.. then-"

She puts a hand to her heart, clenching it to a fist and rapping it at her chest as she stiffens her lips before speaking.

"I'll gladly do what I can to see that they at least make it back in good hands. If it means laying down my life to do so, then so be it."

Kidd waited for the others to speak up before taking a swig from the bottle of wine she brought with her. She clunked it down on the table in front of her, not enough to command the attention of the whole table but at least enough to preface her own comments. "I have some experience in infiltration back home. I lost some of my skill when I came here, but it seems to be coming back in interesting ways. I'd like to lend my blade to this."

She looked around to everyone before finishing, "And unless they've been tailing us day and night, I don't expect the Empire knows everything they think they do about me."

"That's supposing they haven't already tapped into your crystal." A raised voice rung out from not so terribly far away from this particular discussion. After a pause, steadying his nerve some, Sephiroth pushed up from the chair he'd been sat on and between one underarm crutch and the other furniture, made his way over - no quick transit given his left leg being solid in it's plaster cast, hidden beneath the loosest pair of joggers he had at home. Carefully looking around at those that were so eagerly to lay down their lives in a rescue attempt.

Bold, but his tactical mind couldn't quite be turned from how dire the odds were.

"-or the crystallized form of someone else from your world, in which case they will very much know everything there is to know about you. Even exactly what you may come to be in your future."

Kidd glanced at Sephiroth and gave him a quiet nod. All they could do was make a lot of assumptions and hope for the best. Still, she didn't discuss the secret of her identity in public and she took care to change in seclusion, so she wasn't expecting they had many chances to catch her.

If they were able to tap into the memories inside of Edward on the other hand, that would greatly complicate things.

She can't believe she's even going to say it, feeling as if she should cut off her tongue for even thinking it, let alone trying to form the words to do so. Nevertheless, there were more important things at stake here, and if her compliance was the first step in saving Yuffie..

"Sephiroth is right. It'd be stupid to assume they don't have some of information about us. If they're anything like some of the scum back on Gaia, they're going to be investigating the people they've captured. I don't see them being the sort to keep them in cozy prison cells. If this dream is any indication of that, then it would also be stupid to assume that they have no clue on how our existence works here.. I don't want to say we're "immortal", but coming out of stasis has been both a blessing and a curse for us. They know about it, obviously, and they might now know a way to exploit it and thin out our numbers."

"So then, what we need to do is find a way to use it for us, not against us."

Genesis looked over at Sephiroth, knowing that he at least was far better at planning then Genesis was. The dream and the hints inside the dream had to be useful somehow, but he wasn't sure how. Maybe Sephiroth had an idea, or maybe they can work something out together.

"If they have information about us, then they know how to defeat us, but if we are able to work against what they might be assuming... They could be probably led to giving us openings if they think they can herd us and we let them think that."

"How do we do that?" Yuna had been standing quietly to the side listening to those around her speak. She didn't have much to contribute except the burning need to help save her family from the Empire.

Her eyes looked up at Genesis curiously wondering if he was merely making a suggestion or if he actually has an idea in mind. "Besides the trouble of getting in, how do we find them? Or know where they are?"

"There's only so much we can do from here." Kidd took another pull from the bottle of wine she'd gotten ahold of. "And even if we try to gather information now things may change by the time we begin. Worse, we may be given bad information.

"Getting intel as close to the time of the operation as possible will help prevent them from making any changes afterwards. From there, we just need to be able to adapt as we go."

"Now you're thinking." Sephiroth nodded towards Kidd; what an improvement from that first comment he'd overheard. The silver haired man on the crutches spent a long moment scanning those gathered nearby, resting on Genesis for a moment after which he made a 'hmph' of agreement.

"How do we know, for example, that it wasn't intended for us to dream that dream? For all we know, rushing right in to action without properly surveying the options could be just walking into a trap."

"We need a set of eyes in there, not only to verify what we think we may have been lucky enough to glean but also to ascertain that which we don't know." Again, Sephiroth slipped into quiet as his thoughts again were drawn to a certain moogle. Would he? If given the correct leverage, perhaps?

"All very good points, for sure.. But how many of us are willing to attempt such a thing? I'll freely admit, and open the floor to judgment, that I'm more than willing to put myself on the line if it comes to it. I've my fair share of experience at diving into situations like this, but obviously the more eyes we have the better."

She scratches the side of her head, catching Cloud in the corner of her eye. No. There's no way you could ask him to come along. But-.. Tifa lifts her eyes to look back at Genesis and Kaji. "How many encounters have you had with the military here in this world? I don't want to rule him out, but Sephiroth here is pretty unmistakable. I know Kaji and myself should be very easy to blend in. We're rather unassuming, I'd say. Is there anyone else here plain enough that could keep up the guise?"

Yuna took a half step forward raising her hand.

"I volunteer." Yuna didn't know much about what to do once they were inside but she knew about people. It wouldn't be so hard for her to blend in. She would have reason to be in the Empire anyway so it seems like a fitting move.

She didn't know if Genesis or Sephiroth would be the type to blend in to a crowd considering they see over most crowds.

"I'm afraid that I was in the midst of battle against them the past month, and I cannot say that my appearance is one designed for blending into a crowd."

Most Scholars would have stayed hidden or used their skills from behind the lines. Genesis had gone straight to the heart of the battle, using his boosts on those fighters that looked promising and clearing paths for other fighters to give them room. He had also backed up Sephiroth for as long as he was able, but the forces had separated them in the end. He doubted that there was not a description of a Scholar that fought with sword and book in the middle of battle circulating among the Empire.

"However, that does not mean that we are not able to help. Sephiroth has led armies and my skills have been bent towards using information. If there is a way to send either of us information, we will be able to put together a solid working plan."

Kidd nodded at Yuna and then to Tifa. "As I said, I have some experience with infiltration back home. Even if I've had to reteach my body some of my skills since I got here, I still have the knowledge. I'd be willing to run drills with anyone else who is interested." She had noticed a few people in this motley crew of heroes who would make for good Assassins, but right now she just needed them to be prepared.

Speak for yourself Genesis. He'd hardly agreed to team up and work with his ex-comrade -he reminded himself of the 'ex' part- on anything at all especially given a certain dump of information he's recently buried Sephiroth in. That said, Genesis' logic was sound and for that reason Sephiroth held back the urge to protest right away. How ironic that they ended up having to put differences aside and work together again; no matter how it left an uncomfortable knot in Sephiroth's stomach. Not to mention, Genesis had betrayed him before, and that fact was like a stubborn stain which refused to shift.

Besides, despite the fact he was pretty damn recognizable, Sephiroth wouldn't be going anywhere for at least a few more weeks while his leg was mending. Though he yearned to be involved, Sephiroth was starting to wonder where his role even could be if not at the front somewhere leading a charge. He had a settling feeling of dread already starting to form; if anything happened to any of them and he'd not been there to prevent it, or been unable to spot an issue in the field-

So for now, he quietened up and let the others in the group discuss while he tried to think about what use he -could- be rather than what he clearly was unable to do. From the look on his face at least, a frown that kept slipping down his brow and then being dismissed on several occasions, he didn't much like whatever he were coming up with on his own.

She was getting used to keeping quiet in thought as of late, putting a finger to her own lips as she goes over the different contributors over the course of the conversation.

"We need to have a small, concise number of us at the ready to do this. I don't want to rule out any one or say that I'm the one in charge of organizing everything, considering it WAS Mister Kaji's idea, after all." She turns to face Kaji, giving him a wink and a thumbs up before continuing. "But we've got a lot of interested people. I'm used to working with small, desperate numbers, so this is a nice change of pace.

"Everyone needs to know the real risks here. This isn't some heroic deed or a plight in proving yourself. Death, more than ever, is a very real danger. I think Kaji can agree with me here that once we go in, there is no coming back. We have to go into this as if we're saying our "goodbyes" to the others here, and we need to be settled on that fact while looking forward at all times. Or, am I wrong in thinking any of this?"

"Well, I was thinking of going into the city with the Blitzball team during the parade. Maybe there is a way we can communicate once we are inside that is safe? That way I can be set up to assist, as well as anyone else who gets invited within the walls?" It was an idea but that way Yuna wouldn't be in the way and she would still be in a potion to help.

Getting in didn't seem as hard with this parade coming up. She wondered just how they would get out once they have four people with them and what state would they find them in? Could they really get out with so few people?

There was so much to think about and plan.

Ramza looked at those standing with him. They all seemed better suited to stealth than he. He gave Tifa a nod; she had been there with him when Yuffie had been taken, and neither of them would rest until she was safe.

The blond turned back to Ashelia. "I can lead the diversion. If they have any intelligence about my previous actions, I do not think they will consider it suspicious behavior on my part." There was little subtlety in the way of justice, and he knew he was often too predictable when it came to his course of actions.

He thought he knew the reason for the Queen's reluctance, and moved to counter it. "If I lose my life, so be it. This is my path, the one my father would take, and I shall not stray from it. I will take volunteers, if there are any, or I will stand on my own, but I cannot forsake the friends the Empire seized."

"There...may be a better candidate, though I will surely take your offer under advisement." The Queen paused before continuing, hurrying to try to cut off further protests from the supposedly disgraced knight. "I do not ask you to forsake our friends." Our friends, Ramza. "I simply ask that you put your skills to use in the most effective manner."

It made sense, and Marshal Sparks did seem to be a better candidate to lead whatever diversionary attack there may or may not be, but Ashelia wouldn't lie to herself. She valued the companionship of someone else from Ivalice too much to agree with his offer right away. While she had kept Ramza at more or less the same distance she did all the other Heroes, the fact they shared a homeland was never far from her mind. There was a loyalty there.

However, she didn't want to further strain their relationship after her shameful display that night by the Crystal of Fire. "I would, however, like you to help gauge interest in and, given enough volunteers and possibly with the aid of the Republic of Esdham, organize and execute such an attack. Your tactical training will undoubtedly be invaluable to the success of such an endeavor."

Hurt flashed across Ramza's face, and even as quickly as he forced himself back to indifference, it had been there, plain for anyone who had been watching to see. The queen did not think he could do it, did not trust him well enough even for a suicide mission. He could understand her not wanting him to take part in the extraction; he had now allowed three young women he cared about be captured, not a track record he would trust in. But this, being allowed to atone by standing strong against their enemies...did she think even that was beyond him?

"I am yours to command, your highness," he conceded. "But I swear to you, I will not fail in this. Dispel any doubts you carry about my resolve, and let me serve where the need is greatest." He could ask for volunteers, but only those closest to their captured friends were likely to respond to that call.

Yuna was watching the scene quietly when she saw the look on Ramza's face. She didn't know the relationship between Ramza and Ashelia but she understood that look. She stepped over with a confident smile placing a hand on Ramza's shoulder in order to comfort the hero.

"We can do it together." She wasn't going to waver with her family captured behind enemy lines. "We just need a plan and then we can execute it together. We can minimize casualties that way and show the Empire our true strength." She wanted the Empire to know it couldn't just take their family and friends away from them.

I am yours to command, your highness. How often had she heard those words in her lifetime? Usually they made her feel proud, at least in recent years. There was a time when they made her anxious, made the knot in the pit of her stomach tighten just a bit more. After defeating The Undying, Ashelia had told herself that would never be the case again. And yet, here she was.

"I could never doubt your resolve, Ramza," Ashelia replied, but she wasn't sure what else to say. Now didn't seem like the time. There was work to be done. "You both have my thanks in pursuing this endeavor. Report back when you've sufficient developments."

Ramza clasped the hand Yuna placed on his shoulder, giving it a squeeze before releasing it.

He gave Ashelia a bow. "I will do all that I can," he told her, his voice neutral.

He faced Yuna. "I will take my leave now. We can talk again once I have gathered enough support for my plan." He turned to find other heroes who might help retrieve their friends.

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The Fete at the Observatory

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Sorry Kaji!

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