SoV-5

=Scars of Victoria=
==Chapter 5 - Terra Inscrutable==
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===Arrival in Victoria===
Approaching Varangian Station, above Victoria, Capellan Confederation - 6/17/3048
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The spheroid DPA Hachiman Benkei slowly maneuvered toward Varangian Station which orbited Victoria high above its capital Barns. Despite being only slightly larger than a Jumbo Cargo DropShip, it was the largest dropship to visit the station since its construction following the Davion occupation of the world almost 23 years ago. With almost a third of the station’s mass a CNA (Confederation Naval Authority) Tiānlóng (Hoshiryokou) Tug approached the Benkei with an escorting trio of Transgressor Aerospace Fighters from Victoria’s moon Lisette to clear and aid its approach.
Minoru sat beside Dereck who manned the flight engineer’s console ensuring their ship’s reactor and thrusters were operating within limits while Aria fiddled with scrolling code on her noteputer. William and Ryuun completed their own pre-flight checks as the pilots. William leaned back and tapped on her hand, “All systems green. Aria, just waiting for your order to disembark.”
She smiled back at him, “Consider it given, my handsome chauffeur.”“Roger that, Ryuun please ask Captain Hiko to open the bay doors.”“You know she is probably going to hate that right?”“Aye, Aye, that’s why you’re doing it…co-pilot.”
“Yeah, yeah, just because I was with Minoru getting cut and spending time as the only other guy in a Pillarine abbey while you were getting flight hours with Aria on her Astrolux, and plenty of microgravity ones too.”
Ryuun leaned back, “You strapped in and ready to go, Minoru?”
“Hai.”
“Alright, Captain Hiko, the Jamila is ready to depart, please open the shuttle bay doors.”
Captain Hiko let out a disappointed sigh, “Affirmative Jamila, the Benkai’s doors will open shortly.”
Everyone donned their helmets and checked their seals and umbilical while the compartment’s (low-pressure) atmosphere was evacuated. William opened the viewport to reveal the inside of the Bara no Ryu’s shuttle bay. Only another craft occupied their four-ship space, a delta winged ST-46 bearing the logo of Hachiman-Taro Enterprises suspended by the same davit crane that held Aria’s Astrolux and connected to a central airlock via the flexible umbilical they had already stowed. Heavy doors swung out to their starboard. The black velveteen canvas of stars contrasted sharply with the colorfully marked industrial spaces inside.
Minoru felt the shuttle cranes extend and the slight pressure in his harness as it pushed the sleek white and gold Astrolux Staryacht clear of the awkward behemoth. The Transgressors flipped in front of them their RCS thrusters firing in a carefully controlled sequence that reminded him of porpoises dancing on the Obsidian Sea as one of them came alongside. A woman’s voice came over the radio, <<“Jamila, this is Sao-Wei Mei-Hui Xue of the Prefectorate Aerospace Guard. I have been tasked as Prince Minoru’s escort.">> 
Their Transgressor kept just outside proximity range just below the viewscreen as it led them forward. Thrust erupted from the CNA Tug’s vectored thrust cone as it latched onto the Benkai’s docking collar adjusting the prototype’s approach.
“Pilots follow my course and bearing to Varangian Station.”
Ryuun tapped his elbow to William’s upper arm to not interfere with the flight yoke, “It’s only right that you’re following another woman’s orders, Sōshoku danshi”
He nodded slightly before looking over toward Ryuun and toggled the crew comms, “I’m the one flying my rich girlfriend’s luxury staryacht Ryuun. How’s your way working?”
“Shut up, nerd.”
Dereck chuckled, drawing Minoru and Aria’s attention before they whispered through helmet contact to one another. “You’re not the only one on this line. We’re all nerds here. You included.”
“I continue to question how I got stuck with you guys.”
“You volunteered, it’s your own damn fault Ryuun.”
Light from Victoria’s K-class red dwarf caught on the solar power and radiator panels that rotated around Varangian Station’s central hub above the dark red/purple pearl of Victoria. Small islands of light appeared on Victoria’s darkside where its arcologies, dome cities, or dropship based industrial sites were while the blinking lights of Varangian Station increasingly filled the port side viewscreen.
Their escorting Transgressor pitched up and burned vertical to their approach, <<“Jamila, I am handing you over to Varangian control. Follow the lights.”>>
A series of gates appeared in the pilots’ AR display giving them specific approach vectors before they arrived alongside one of the many shuttle bays set into the circumference of the central hub. One of the doors opened ahead of them at a shallow acute angle, they gently bumped into air bags before the davit crane grappled and pulled the Astrolux onboard.
Minoru translated through the air lock tunnel and into the space station’s ‘Outer Ring’ followed closely by his companions. Their jumpsuits floated away from their bodies as they secured themselves to the tunnel while other travelers brachiated along worn plastic ‘monkey bars’ mounted ‘above’ them while ‘below’ them was defined by a network of loops.
“Okay, everyone we have some time until the Benkai clears customs so what do you guys want to do?”
Dereck and Ryuun looked at one another, “We’re going to get some pork belly. No offense Aria, but I can’t take anymore lamb, lentil, and couscous pouches.”
She crossed her arms over her coat and stared at them, “Nothing stopped you from acquiring your own supplies before we left Capella. Meanwhile William and I need to find a temporary home for Jamilia that won’t incur expensive storage fees. We are already running on a shoestring budget here.So that just leaves you on your own, Minoru.”
“Not necessarily. You are Prince Minoru, right?”
Everyone turned to face a teen girl with a tight bun of black hair hanging from the monkey bars near them. ‘Liao’ was scribed in gold on the left breast of her green jumpsuit which unzipped as it was revealed a tight fitting black undershirt with the VIT logo on it.
“Hai…Miss Liao?”
“Kuan-Yin Liao,” She floated before anchored herself beside him and leaning forward with her rosy lips, “Mind if I show you around?”
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===Date with Fine Young Lady===
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“Kuan-Yin, Chancellor Tormano’s Niece?”
“Doctor Riva Allard’s too. I overheard her talking to you yesterday and I thought you might,” She paused for a momentary flutter of eyelashes, “like a tour. We don’t get a lot of interesting people this far into the Confederation.”
“It is the farthest I have ever been from the Combine. Is Doctor Allard on the station?”
Ryunn slapped his forehead with his free hand as Aria and William exchanged glances to one another behind Minoru. Dereck whispered, “He’s hopeless, should we help him?”
“I think he’ll be safe. This station’s probably wired up with a direct line to Quintus. He didn’t even try to make a move on Tsubasa and she had her hands all over him.”
“Minoru, we’re headed out to find some pork belly!Enjoy your tour.”
Minoru turned to wave at his departing companions. Kuan-Yin looked confused for a moment, “No, she’s groundside in her lab. It’s just me.”
“Je m'excuse. Enchante’ Kuan-Yin Liao.” Minoru grasped her free hand and kissed it, “I seem to find myself abandoned in unfamiliar territory. Would you like to get something to eat before we look around?”
Kuan-Yin blushed at the gesture but paused again before gently withdrawing her outstretched arm, “Ummm, there’s a dim sum place nearby.”
“What is dim sum?”
“Steamed dumplings…filled with soup.”
“That sounds delicious, let’s go.”
Minoru tapped something on his smart bracelet which emitted a small holographic arrow from the crystal face. She balled her fists as he turned and pushed off the floor toward their destination. Streaks emerged on her palm where her red fingernails pressed down. 
“Am I getting played? No one plays Kuan-Yin Liao.”
The pair strapped themselves into a private booth with a view screen presently linked to the station’s observation deck. Victoria’s star rose with a prismatic light illuminating the world’s tenuous atmosphere that caused the lens to flare. “Kuan-Yin, I don’t think I’ve ever actually seen a sunrise from orbit. It’s beautiful, I should write it into a poem.”“You are a poet? I thought you were a scientist.”
“The two are not mutually exclusive. I suppose I have become a scientist, poet, and soldier recently.”
“Right, you are a Sappy.”
“It’s just Sapper. It’s an important part to understanding my work here on Victoria with your Aunt.”
A waitress arrived with covered cups of warm tea and to take their order of shrimp and scallion dumplings with all ingredients taken right from the station’s aquaponics. 
“What do you do?”
“Business school. Someone has to put the Confederation back together after a lifetime of discord.”
“You didn’t want to join the military like your brother and sister?”
“The CCAF has taken enough from me. I don’t want to give anything back to them.”
“I didn’t want to join either, but I needed the skills for this project; and didn’t really get a choice in the matter. I guess I could have just refused but I wouldn’t want to disappoint everyone counting on me to get SILVERBACK operation and the Confederation safe from future tragedy from its recent past.”
“That’s very noble of you, Minoru.”
“Thank you, I never thought blowing stuff up could be done for humanitarian reasons, but I was wrong.”
She only just avoided spurting out tea with her laughter, “That’s funny. You spent a lot of time on Hachiman, right?”
He leaned in to show the HTI Tiger Sharks logo on his jumpsuit, “I sure did. I had a great time there; we were reigning planetary champions when I left.”
“My uncle told me an interesting, possible exaggerated story about how Chandrasekhar got the money to buy out Hachiman Taro after no one would loan him money.”
“Uncle Chandrasekhar was always up to shady stuff. I heard he got the money from investors in the Lyran Commonwealth.”
Her smile turned mischievous, “You could call it that. You see they were from the Lyran Commonwealth, but they weren’t investors.”
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Cathay Marina Club, Solaris City - Solaris VII, Lyran Commonwealth - 05/18/3023 Local Time 21:22
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Tormano Liao and Justin Xiang watched cigarette smoke drift over a Solaris River which reflected enough light that it seemed to be made of it. Behind them men played cards or dice while ladies in tight qipaos watched (some counted cards, others distracted the others while some were just there for ‘companionship’). A small yacht trimmed in gold and bright red drifted toward the quay. Justin tapped Tormano on the shoulder, “Not this joker again. Doesn’t he still owe you money, Tormano?”
 
“Chandrasekhar…That Hundan owes me two million Yuan.” Tormano checked his gold and jeweled watch, “Right now. It goes up to three in less than three hours.”
“Think he wants another extension?”
“The only extension he’s going to get is of his neck if he doesn’t pay back the Wo Shing Wo by the end of this week. If they get him, I won’t get anything.”
The well dressed deck crew tied off the rope as Chandrasekhar Kurita stepped his sumo bulk across the gangway while waving a fan across his face. A buxom Rasalhague blonde following close behind all dressed in fine kimonos. Tormano and Justin waited dockside, “Just the people I was looking for. Nice night, don’t you think Tormano. Justin looking sharp as usual, keep up the good work in the Arena Champion.”
“That boat or your girl’s bust better have my money onboard. I won’t have you getting into even deeper trouble with the Wos before I get paid.”
“You’re a bottom feeder like me, Tormano. I can get your money, but you need to give me some time.”
“You have until midnight.”
“That’s plenty of time.”
“Qu ni de, Chandrasekhar.”
“I don’t know what that means Gesu Yaro, but you said it in your language, so I presume its naughty.” Chandrasekhar bumped Tormano aside and reached back for his blonde, “The problem is of course that I like naughty. Let’s go, Astrid.”
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23:22 Local Time
A well-dressed man released a steel ball onto the roulette wheel as Chandrasekar settled behind the ‘no-limits’ table beside Tormano and Justin. Fourteen Million Yuan plates clapped to the velvet table, “Double of nothing, Tormano?”
Tormano looked down at his significantly smaller stack of Five, “What are you talking about? and where did you get that kind of cash?”
“Baccarat, it’s almost all the house’s money. So double of nothing, Tormano?” 
Chandrasekhar put the two plates next to Tormano’s five, “You can have two now” he tapped the two plates onto Tormano’s stack as Astrid’s leaned into his chair, “or I can almost double your wee’ little stack there?”
“You want me to gamble with the money you owe me?”, Tormano asked
“I have a really good feeling about this.”
“What are you going to do put it on red? You Drac, or Black? Must be a difficult choice.”
“Well, I am still waiting, double or nothing, Tormie’?”
“You know what whatever, do it!”
Chandrasekar signaled something to the pit boss and his goons who were carefully watching him and their money. The pit boss nodded to the croupier with a smile.
“Fourteen million on double zeros for the gentleman in black.” said the croupier announced
Such a huge bet on a single number drew onlookers from across the gambling hall as the croupier slung the ball onto the roulette wheel. It spun and settled on green ‘OO’ to the shock of those assembled. Chandrasekhar got up with a shout and almost knocked seven people over the process. “Yeah Astrid! Baby, daddy is going to get you a dropship.”
The Triads surrounded the table, “Why don’t you guys keep the hundred I owe you.” More Triad gangsters surrounded the table, “You know what I’ll just take two hundred with me. It’s all I need. You can keep the rest.” Four of the original fourteen plates dropped onto Tormano’s stack, “We’re square now Ironheart,” and two ended up next to Justin, “Little help here Champion.”''
Justin pocketed the plates before cracking his knuckles and standing up, “I’ll give you the premium service, Chandrasekhar.”
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Dim Sum Restaurant - Varangian Station, above Victoria, Capellan Confederation - 6/17/3048
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Minoru slurped the soup from the dim sum dumpling as she finished the service, “I don’t think Tormano made any of that up, Kuan-Yin. Pretty sure the Chancellor and Chandrasekar are still in it.Now how bout I tell you about when I almost died in a Tikonov mob hit.”
“You were almost killed by the mob?”, Kuai-Yin asked
“Yeah, but I had a friend there to take care of them.”, Minoru told her
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===Small Talk before Flight down=== 
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Minoru and Kuan-Yin watched prismatic light refracting off hail high above Barns with their low powered rented telescope. Although appearing to be filled with windows each bay had a viewscreen with a link to the space station’s sensors. When not in used it projected a particular steradian hyperspectral composite from around the station with the illusion of depth. “Fist sized hail! Regularly? No way.”
“It’s true, at least once a week, they can be lethal too. There are shelters beside the main roads in case you get caught out in a storm. I’ve seen basketball sized hail. Fortunately, you don’t have to go outside often since it’s an arcology.”
He opened a picture in picture on the local display screen to display the four twenty story brutalist arcologies of Leeward that looked miniature when compared with Mount Lee behind them. Its starport and power plant sprawled out beside it as curving semi-underground buildings like concrete whales emerging from a purple lichen and gray talus sea.
“Just like Skytower City on Luthien. Although optimized for withstanding hail rather than warship fire.”
“I guess. I’ve never been there. It’s basically only been St Ives, or Victoria after that was under threat during the war.”
“Is that why you chose to stay?”
She leaned into him while pulling her arms and knees in for warmth, “I could have gone somewhere else like Arc-Royal, but I think of Victoria as home.”
“Rather cold, desolate, and dangerous don’t you think?”, Minoru asked
“Outside maybe, but its different inside. Each tower in Leeward has a central park at ground level, so much so that they call it Park level instead with a shallow dome above it. The internal passages have an ever changing lineup of vendors. Each day I find something new from somewhere else in the Inner Sphere.”
“Sounds exciting. I can tell you are passionate about your home. I always seem to be traveling for work. It will be nice to stay in one place for a while.”
His companions arrived on the Observation Deck sitting just at the edge of visual range where they too looked down on the planet. Live updates to their comm-pads showed that the Draconis Combine’s charter shuttle was on time for its originally scheduled departure. He did some quick math in his head based on the Combine citizens aboard the Hachiman Benkai destined from Victoria as well. “Kuan-Yin, There are a few extra seats on our charter. I can get you on the manifest if you want.”
“Really?” She checked her phone and tapped it forcibly in annoyance before returning it to her bag, “That would be great. Mine’s been delayed for three hours. Due to bad weather. Should’ve figured.When does it depart?”
“We have to head to customs within the hour.”
“Mind if we just stay here until then? I don’t get many opportunities to get off-world.” She leaned her head back resting her neck on his shoulders while her hair tickled his neck, “You can work on your poem.”
“You’re leaning on my writing arm, Kuan-Yin.”
“Oh? So, I am.Well, then just tell it to me Minoru.”
The Victoria Home Guard waited for them at the departure terminal with noteputers in hand and revolvers full of frangible rounds on their vests. Magnetic boots held them to their posts while a train of carts attached to the overhead rail accompanied each group. 24 Cosby Myomer Engineers, 10 Brotherhood Physicians, 10 DCA Espatiers, 5 HTI students, and a single VIT student.
Questions were asked about the contents of vials of unusual liquids, weapons were impounded for later transfer to Leeward’s City Constabulary, questions were asked about Ryuun’s ‘bag of medicinal tea,’ Aria’s ‘desert resins,’ and William’s ‘Incense pyramids’ although all managed to clear the checkpoint.
Their ST-46 had been modified to function more like a normal airliner meant to carry passengers and some cargo from space station to surface or between surface points. Loaders ensured their luggage was secure in the cargo compartment and all straps on their uncomfortable seats were tight. Kuan-Yin sat adjacent to Minoru and put her soft yet cold, shaking hand into his, “I’m really not good with flying.”
“Well, we won’t be flying right away, we plunge through the atmosphere at hypersonic speeds creating incredible heat from the friction involved.” Her hand tensed in his as he continued, “The MetWatch predicts calm skies at our designation. So, don’t worry about the flying. You're in good hands.”
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===Interlude - Trial of a Mad Woman===
Court of Celestial Judgement, St Ives, Capellan Confederation - 8/17/3044
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Chancellor Tormano Liao’s green robes swished as he returned from his recess chambers to sit behind judge’s bench made from Highspire hardwoods. A pale and worn woman with disheveled black hair and gray prison clothes stood before him flanked by black and green uniformed Jie Fang Legionnaires with their right hand already on their sidearms. Others armed with automatic shotguns manned the doors while demonstrators shouted “Death!” outside. A skeleton crew of ministers and functionaries occupied the benches behind them. 
“Romano Liao, former Duchess of Highspire and Chancellor of the Capellan Confederation, after careful consideration I, Chancellor Tormano Liao, Mandrinn-in-Exile of Capella, find you guilty on all counts.” 
Tormano flicked his hand out as the monitors showed the incredible number of charges against her ranging from High Treason, Terrorism, Use of Weapons of Mass Destruction, Intentional Massacres of Civilians, Crimes against Humanity, and hundreds of similar Ares Conventions’ violations.
Romano bowed her head before raising it again, “Sister, before you continue.I know you didn’t start this conflict, but we can’t put the actual people that did and continued it on trial. We were both victims of Maximilian’s machinations and events beyond our control.Yet you will have to pay for your crimes. If there is any justice left in the universe those others will face judgement as well, if not in this life, then in the next.Your title will transfer to your daughter, Kali, whom we have recovered from Highspire.” Romano’s heart seemed to drop thinking on how that might have been, “She surrendered to us willingly in exchange for a cease fire with the Thugees. Before you are exiled to Brazen Heart you will have some time with her, to say goodbye. She can visit but you cannot leave, that is the best I can do.As an innocent Kali will live free, and no retribution meant for you will befall her.I swear it.”
Once more Romano looked upward, “If you have anything else to say know it will be taking time away from your daughter.”
She gave a courtly bow although tears formed in her eyes, “I accept your judgement, Chancellor.”
One of the functionaries presented the Chancellor with an edict scroll with the sentence scribed upon it. Tormano removed his Mandrinn’s seal from its box and stamped it with a bloody red ink. He waved to the Bailiffs, “Legionaries, take the prisoner to her grace, Kali Liao. After getting her more appropriate clothes.”
The Chancellor watched his sister depart for likely the last time. Thinking of what he could have done wouldn’t get him anywhere and he had more work to do before him. He wiped the ink of his seal and returned it to the box.
“Guards, bring in the next group of prisoners.”
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