Theirs Not to Make Reply

> *"It's harder to be afraid of something you understand."*
> - Castian Vadric
>
>

***Theirs Not to Make Reply*** is the third episode of Volume 2 and the sixth episode of Season 1 of *The Sojourn*.

## Synopsis

After months of surviving the dangerous nebula without military protection, the careful status quo built by the Avalon Expedition is disrupted by the unexpected arrival of Vice Admiral Redfield.

## Summary

The episode begins as Inquisitor Castian Vadric observes and reports on several vessels, controlled by the Outsiders. He observes two sentry flyers on patrol, detecting 3 larger vessels, commenting that they are different, but ultimately still related in design, to the vessel attacked by the *Cloak of Mercy*. Before he can send his finding, however, his ship is detected and disabled, knocking him unconscious in the process.

Shortly after, Vice Admiral Winston Redfield watches over the newly captured Advari. Private Paul Dalcop explains the condition he was found in, before Redfield dismisses him. However, before any further investigation can be conducted, the fleet is attacked by a host of unknown vessels.

In the ensuing battle, the fleet is separated from their Gatehauler, before the CSV *Republic* loses power and is destroyed. As the CSV *Shabayev* and CSV *Bracewell* continue to flee towards the edge of the ice field, the *Bracewell* loses weapons and comms. Deactivating its reactor safeties, the *Bracewell* rams an enemy vessel, before one of the enemy vessels fires its main weapon at the *Shabayev*, cutting to black.

Sometime later on the *Avalon*, Cassandra Farren teaches Elizabeth Ancelet proper firearms techniques at the platform's firing range. The two are revealed to be on a date, but as they just begin heading to the bar, they receive a call from Lieutenant Jasper Ravi on the ops deck that a large, unknown vessel has been detected travelling towards the platform.

As the pair make it to the command deck, Liz orders Ravi to transmit the blind guard to the vessel, trying to deduce its origins. After receiving and verifying recognition codes of the *Shabayev*, the ops deck is contacted by Vice Admiral Redfield, causing the entire deck to rejoice at their return. Ravi asks if he can prepare a side party for the arrival of Redfield aboard the *Avalon*, which Liz allows.

As the Vice Admiral arrives on the *Avalon* via Longboat, Ravi suggests they retrieve a bottle of Rialtan Stonewine that's inventoried for diplomatic functions, but Liz and Cass both admit the wine is already gone. As Redfield disembarks, he is greeted by Liz, who introduces him to her senior staff. Shortly after, Redfield takes Liz aside and insists she starts using encrypted transmissions from then on, irking the director at his swiftly draconian nature.

Shortly after, Liz boards the *Shabayev*, having heard of the Advari prisoner currently held aboard the vessel. There she encounters Dalcop, who initially refuses to allow Liz private visitation with the prisoner, before Liz eventually convinces him to back down and leave. Liz speaks to Vadric in Centran Standard before mentioning the word 'Advari', causing Vadric to speak, in Advari, for the first time since he was captured. Through some trial and error, Liz tells Vadric her name, and learns of his.

On the ops deck, Redfield insists that the repair of the *Shabayev* is made top priority, ordering Midshipman Bankole to relocate the crews of the *Belladonna* and *Sunbeam* to the *Shabayev* in order to speed up said repairs.

Immediately after, Liz boards the ops deck, insisting Vadric should be relocated to the *Avalon* holding facilities, but she is cut off as Redfield announces his support of moving the *Avalon* into orbit of the Vitrified Planet, in order to speed up extraction of the oasis' food supplies. Liz disagrees, and states that the conversation should not be occurring publicly, but as Redfield continues to ignore her authority, Liz demands he leaves the command deck, which Redfield agrees to do.

Sometime after, Ravi is recording a message for his partner, when he's visited by Redfield. Redfield commends Ravi on his actions during the difficult times before the Vice Admiral's arrival, and thusly Redfield promotes Ravi to lieutenant commander. Redfield then asks Ravi about his opinions on both Liz and Cass.

Meanwhile, Tamara 'Meds' Melari and Mathias Croft visit the bar for a drink, only to find it filled with sailors and marines off of the *Shabayev*. They overhear Dalcop bragging about a jacket he'd taken off of a wrecked civilian vessel they'd come across, which angers the pair. Meds chides them for their conduct (as a veteran marine herself), but Dalcop retorts, suggesting it was the Admiral's idea, causing Meds and Croft to storm off.

Cass returns to the *Guinevere*, to find Redfield on the bridge. Redfield speaks about seeing the *Guinevere* when she was still under construction and testing, before explaining he came to ensure there was no tension during the transition of the defence adjutant position to him. He slights Cass about her new life as a privateer, asking what her father thinks of her new position, but Cass rebukes him, and tells him to leave.

Liz and Cass meet up shortly after, where Liz explains to Cass just how dangerous Redfield is - she reveals that over 700 crewmen, and a gate component, were lost by Redfield's fleet in their battle with the Advari just before the *Shabayev* arrived at the *Avalon*. She posits that Redfield is on a warpath, trying to make up for his bruised pride. Liz also notes how her command is mostly an illusion - with the *Shabayev* outside, Redfield is in reality the one in control of the situation. She asks Cass if she can trust her, and Cass confirms that she can.

Meanwhile, Croft and Meds perform repairs and general upkeep aboard the *Guin*. However, during their repair, Commander Lewis Harper - the XO of the *Shabayev* - demands the two to make way for him and a squad of CMC marines, as they have been ordered to comandeer the vessel by Redfield. The two are forcefully taken into custody when they refuse to move, both being assaulted and tased in the process.

Liz speaks with a research assistant about Vadric, who has now been moved to the *Avalon*. Vadric has picked up Centran Standard fairly quickly, already having a workable knowledge of the language. Liz apologises to Vadric for his treatment, and explains how much of the crew of the Avalon Expedition Fleet fear the Advari. Vadric explains that, according to the Faith Eternal, humanity - and all life outside CDC-41-Gamma, for that matter - cannot exist. However, Vadric wishes to understand humanity, as Liz wishes to understand the Advari.

On the ops deck, as Liz enters, Ravi reports that the *Guin* has suddenly pushed off and decoupled from its moorings. Cass attempts to hail Meds and Croft, but they receive no response. Moments after, Redfield enters, explaining that the *Guin* has been confiscated for recommissioning into service with the CDF, and that Meds and Croft have been taken into custody for assault, with the intention of them being press-ganged into navy service.

Furious, Liz chastises Redfield for his actions. However, Redfield declares that she no longer has authority, as he prepares to commandeer the *Avalon* Platform also, placing the entire expedition under direct CDF control. Liz refuses to let that happen, with Redfield threatening her with forceful removal from the ops deck. Cass warns Redfield against this, but the Admiral orders Ravi to arrest the pair. Reluctantly, Ravi follows the Admiral's orders, taking both women into custody. Then, in a speech to the entire flotilla, Redfield announces his takeover of command of the Expedition, with the express purpose of readying it to take the fight back to the Advari.

> *"From this moment on, the purpose of this expedition is to strike back against the creatures that have savagely attacked us. We will seize the resources our home worlds so desperately need, and we will destroy this new enemy that dares to stand in the way of our salvation. Through our efforts here. Tantalus will endure."*
> - Vice Admiral Winston Redfield
>
>

## 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 Jasper Ravi
* Matt Surges as Commander Lewis Harper
* Tarek Esaw as Midshipman Arin Bankole

### Guest

* Jimmy Lockett as Admiral Winston Redfield

### Additional Voices

* Marta Da Silva as Ensign Lydia Telfer
* Ryan Philbrook as Private Paul Dalcop
* Jill Raymond as Research Assistant
* Toby Ridehalgh as CSV Republic Captain
* Daniel Orrett as CSV Bracewell Captain

## Trivia

* The episode's title references Alfred, Lord Tennyson's poem *The Charge of the Light Brigade*.
* Dan has stated that this episode is intended to be a two-parter, with the second part found in Volume 3's *Theirs Not to Reason Why*.

## References

1. ↑ "*Theirs Not to Make Reply* Transcript"