Observer Effect

> *Your sins I now requite, spoke she, the* Grey Stablemaid. *In cold and bitter lands, she cast us ashore.*
>
> - *The Grey Stablemaid*, performed by Laura Faye Smith
>
>

***Observer Effect*** is the second episode of Volume 4 and the eleventh episode of Season 1 of *The Sojourn*.

## Synopsis

The crew of the *Avalon* prepares for the worst as a fleet of Advari Lightships slowly draws near.

## Summary

The episode opens with Cass waking up in the depths of the night to find Elizabeth toiling away over the Pulsar data. After some jostling, she pulls her back to bed, and the two flirt back and forth between kisses. Before they can escalate, however, Elizabeth receives a hailing bloop, which she ignores, before Cass receives the very next called from Lieutenant Commander Ravi. Cass awkwardly rebuffs Ravi, and the two... get back to their evening.

Later, Cass and Elizabeth enter the Ops Deck, seemingly late as usual. Ravi informs them that the return gate is almost complete, and should be running within a week. Elizabeth is excited at the prospect of a crew refresh and the chance to explore the nebula further, but Ensign Bankole brings word of a LIDAR ping at the end of The Greenhouse's system. Three Advari Lightships have been detected, and they're approaching The Greenhouse, the *Avalon*, and the entire Flotilla

The commanding officers of every ship in the fleet are brought together shortly after to discuss their next move. The group is chaotic until they meeting is brought to order by Admiral Redfield. Elizabeth explains that the battle group will be upon them in five days. Captain Felix LaBelle opens questioning by asking how the Advari found them. Captain Darnick of the *Hotstepper* is quick to blame Castian Vadric for their discovery, and when Meds steps up to Vadric's aid, the Captain turns his accusations to Meds instead.

Quickly, however, Captain Maaluwda shuts his subordinate down, defending Meds' right to be at the meeting. He also points out how every second wasted bickering is wasted in the face of the approaching ships. Redfield is certain the return gate could be completed in time, but it'd be cutting it fine.

Captain Quintero of the *Kestrel* asks if there's any way they can fight the lightships off. Redfield, however, confirms there isn't a feasible option. Captain Kovacs of the *Sunbeam* then asks if they can pack up the return gate onto the Avalon and relocate, but this is also deemed impossible, as there's no chance in hell they can disassemble the gate fast enough, not to mention that deeper in the nebula, the gate might simply not be able to connect back to Tantalus.

Commander Harper questions whether they could bring reinforcements through from Tantalus, but this is again not possible - such a force would take too long to build up, and may be ineffective regardless. As such, Captain Blake of the *Friendly Expedience* suggests to cut their losses, take as much food with them and run. Elizabeth is upset by this, because of the vast scientific potential still unknown in CDC-41-Gamma, which Captain Weisheimer of the *Siochana* concurs with, explaining any such food they could bring back would only buy the cluster a couple of weeks.

Despite this, the other captains seem to be in agreement that running is the best and only option. However, Ravi suggests they also take a significant about of topsoil from The Greenhouse's surface back with them, with Captain Weisheimer explains would be a significant boon to the nutrient-starved, overdeveloped soil back in Tantalus. Such a move would improve crop production long term, rather than just mitigate the problem for the time being.

As Gate Transit takes a long time, Commander Harper notes they'll be cutting their escape close. Cass determines they need to slow the Advari down. Maalsuwda suggests that the *Tserekai*, *Hotstepper*, and *Guinevere* attempt to bushwack the Lightships as they travel in system, buying time for the ships to escape. Redfield expresses concern over the Fliers that the Lightships can manufacture, which Meds suggests they create improvised mines for, Favara-style.

The final concern is that leaving the return gate after they've left might lead the Advari back to Tantalus. Although Vadric isn't sure why his people might travel to Tantalus, he does feel concerned that they might be willing to do so after what he overheard at the Aegis of Invia. They determine explosives would be needed, specifically a nuclear device, but given that nuclear weapons are strictly controlled in Tantalus because of the Cape Thornwood Mandate, they have no such weapons. A ship's reactor is needed.

Captain Volkova of the *Triumph* offers up her vessel, stating that they weren't meant to be here, and that it would only be a burden to try and transport her back. Captain LaBelle offers to take her crew aboard the *Kestrel*, but Volkova has one request - that she be allowed to take Richard Sedgewick back with them for a proper trial in Tantalus. Captain LaBelle and Director Ancelet both agree to this condition.

Captain Quintero asks the big question; do they really have a chance? Redfield answers truthfully; they have no idea. Elizabeth begins evacuation plans, and adjourns the meeting.

Cass writes a supplmental ship's log for 159th of Equinox, 305 PCU. She explains that the days have dwindled quickly, but they've managed to prepare a defence and evacuation plan. Cass' plan. She frets over the fact that everyone is looking to her for answers, for a stalwart bastion, and it's taking a lot out of her not to panic. She resolves that they deserve better than her.

In the *Guin's* galley, Croft and Meds prepare a last supper before the battle. They decide to break open the bottle of Firewatch Whiskey gifted to them by the bartender back at Edric's Gate, opting to drink half before the battle, and half after when they win. Cass enters, reporting that her planning is finished, and now they just have to wait.

Cass decides to ask the hardest question; the *Guin* signed up for the expedition for a comfy job and an easy paycheck. They're Privateers, and this isn't their fight. Thus, Cass asks if they'd rather make a run for it. However, both Meds and Croft shut her down, showing that they nor Cass couldn't leave if they wanted to. They have the obligation now. Cass expected as much, but thought it worth asking.

In the Ops Deck, Ravi dismisses capstan shift, as everyone makes it down to the bar. Elizabeth suggests, then orders Ravi to go down with them, to enjoy himself whilst he still has the chance. As for herself, she's backing up as much data on the Pulsar as she can, as she's certain there's something important about it that she can't yet see.

Down in the bar, Vadric greets Cass, and takes a drink when offered. Ravi enters shortly after, giving Cass the cold shoulder, which Vadric points out - Cass says she's noticed it too, but wish she knew why. Moving on, Vadric brings up something that's been troubling him since they returned from the Aegis. He knows he has done great harm in the name of the Faith Eternal, and despite cherishing the words of his people on paper, in practice, he's now questions how those words have been wielded. He's personally sacrificed more people than he can remember, and he fears their lives ended for no reason.

Cass can relate, and explains that you can't absolve yourself of your past actions. To her, the only path forwards is learning how to bare the weight, as it'll never get easier. Vadric understands.

Meanwhile, Meds greets Maalsuwda, offering some Komusār she nabbed from under Captain Darnick's nose. Maalsuwda apologises for the captain's conduct, and they toast. Meds notices how calm he seems, and Maalsuwda explains that they'll all die some day. And, after all, amongst the entirety of Tantalus, brought together for perhaps the first time in generations, there are worse ways to die. Maalswuda asks what she plans to do back in Tantalus, but Meds hardly has an answer. In return, Maalsuwda muses that he wants to take his husbands to Centrum, and maybe try fishing.

Outside the bar, a drunken crewman salutes Redfield, though the admiral waves him off, as he's out of uniform. He recommends the sailor skips the next round, but he doesn't want to sto[ - he's scared. Redfield concurs, that he's scared to, but all he can ask of his men is what they can deliver. He suggests the man rests, and he does.

Exiting the bar, Cass runs into Redfield, and the two sit down to speak. Cass is surprised at Redfield being out of uniform, and recalls something her father drilled into her - "A Captain must never suffer themselves to be a person". She refutes it, saying she quite likes being a person.

Pushed, Redfield decides to apologise to Cass. He explains that his actions during the Frontier War were exaggerated, both by himself and others. Most of his time was spent handingly logistics for KDFY. Although he saw some action, he admits he was a middle manager, who never served with Commodore Hawker. In fact, so much of a nobody was he, he doubts Hawker would remember his name if she were alive.

Cass is confused, as he received the Order of Whitecourt for his presence at the Battle of Atamara. However, like many who received the medal after the battle, he arrived late, and was rewarded just for showing up. Redfield calls himself a fraud compared to what Cass went through, the difference she made. Refuting that, Cass explains that Redfield let that man tell him what it meant to be valuable, and he believed him. Without men like Redfield, no one would've had ammunition back in the war, and even more presently, the Avalon Expedition would've collapsed without him. They have a chance of getting home, because of him. Of course he mattered - he always mattered.

Back in the bar, Croft runs a betting ring on an arm wrestle between Meds and Vadric. Unsurprisingly, Meds wins. Croft asks Vadric if he's excited to see Tantalus, but the man fears he will not be welcome. Despite that, Croft assures him that he'll be safe with them, and they'll always have a place for him.

Across the bar, Ravi and Bankole muse about an old Professor Kulkarni they both shared back in officer school. However, their discussion is interrupted by Cass' arrival, which Bankole quickly chooses to flee from. Cass asks Ravi to open up, to tell her what's happened between them. Ravi, however, snaps back about how Cass "decided" he didn't have what it takes to be Defence Adjutant as soon as she saw him. Ravi explains that despite her saying otherwise, Cass waltzed in, took the position, and left Ravi behind to file the paperwork. Cass apologies, and explains that she was trying to protect him, but Ravi refutes this, saying Cass just wanted him out of the way, before storming off.

Cass leaves for the Ops Deck, finding Elizabeth there alone. Surprisingly, she's the one who asks Liz to put down what she's doing and come to the bar, but Elizabeth is focussed entirely on the Pulsar Data. Cass pleads with her, and she finally relents.

Down in the bar, they greet the rest of the *Guin* crew, before Vadric asks to speak to Elizabeth privately. There, he explains that he wishes to remain in the Sanctum. He explains that its not over fear of mistreatment, but rather his own shame, mixed with his desire to save the one he loves. He wishes to depart immediately. Understanding this, and being only slightly worried about the consequences, Elizabeth lets him go, but not without giving him a sudden hug first.

In a quiet area inside the bar, Cass explains to Elizabeth about how conflicted she feels about departing. To her, the nebula provided her a safe place to exist that she never had, far, far away from her abuser and all the expectations and guilt that brings. On top of that, Elizabeth was there for all the better moments, and it felt like a dream. Elizabeth says I love you, and Cass echoes the sentiment.

At four bells, the crews reconvene at the bar for a quiet final parting. Elizabeth asks what one's meant to do before a battle. Cass says you try and sleep; Maalsuwda says you sing. Asking for songs, Croft volunteers Meds, who pulls up the bar's mic, and sings *The Grey Stablemaid*, as Advari music and Lightship warbling fades in.

## Cast

### Main

* Larissa Thompson as Captain Cassandra Farren
* Emily Serdahl as Director Elizabeth Ancelet
* Ben Prendergast as Mathias Croft
* Laura Faye Smith as Tamara 'Meds' Melari
* Stephen Trafford as Inquistor Castian Vadric

### Supporting

* Matthew Kaufman as Lieutenant Commander Jasper Ravi
* Matt Surges as Commander Lewis Harper
* Tarek Esaw as Ensign Arin Bankole

### Guest

* Jimmy Lockett as Vice Admiral Winston Redfield
* Angela Tran as Captain Maxine Blake
* Pam Kearns as Captain Bridget Volkova
* Martin Roach as Captain Omar Maalsuwda

### Additional Voices

* David John Bores as Drunk Crewman
* Matthew Vanston as Captain Felix Labelle
* Joe Bianco as Captain Lucas Darnick
* Andrew Goulding as Captain Keagan Quintero
* Hesham Elshazly as Captain Nikau'o Kovacs
* Lelia Symington as Captain Rachel Weisheimer

## References

1. ↑ Episode description on TheSojournAudioDrama.com