2017-04-26: Priorities
- Log: Priorities
- Cast: Kahm Yugh, Loren Voss
- Where: Bledavik - Noble Quarter
- Date: April 26th, 2017
- Summary: As instructed, Loren has a meeting with Captain Kahm Yugh, regarding their mission.
<Pose Tracker> Kahm Yugh has posed.
Captain Kahm Yugh was back from the field, taking another opportune moment of downtime in Bledavik to take care of the ever-increasing amount of paperwork that seemed to be coming by his desk. Ignominy was beginning to look tempting If this was a consequence of command's good favor. The Captain's office was a small one, with just enough space provided to allow for his desk, a seat for visitors, and a few items that passed for Kahm's personal effects (His commission from Jugend, a golden pen, and a few coin stars he kept safely hidden away in a desk drawer most times).
The walls were bare of adornment, a more telling sign of how rarely the Captain was actually found here, though the beigely opaque paint job did little to weigh on the officer's mind as his eyes skimmed through a handful of reports.
His eyes glanced furtively at the time in between dry paragraphs, and he felt an impatient rhythm in his foot. Just a few more papers, he quietly promised, and then he'd be on to things that actually needed doing.
<Pose Tracker> Loren Voss has posed.
If Loren had been asked to attempt to predict how his first week would go... well, it probably would not have involved 'been informed by command that he would be working closely with the only member of his graduating class to commit multiple murders'. He also probably would not have guessed that he would be assisting with matters in Adlehyde this soon, particularly in this capacity. But in its own way, it figures.
Well, the cultural advisement team certainly had been thorough. The 'extra reading' they'd handed off on him would probably take at least the rest of the night to complete. But with that last meeting with the team out of the way, there was only one person left he'd been advised to speak to. Allegedly, they even have an appointment.
Not a big office, is it? Loren knocks on the door, once, waiting just a handful of seconds before announcing, "It's Lieutenant Voss." His hand lingers on the doorknob, waiting for an answer before letting himself in. Assuming the captain /is/ in, that is.
<Pose Tracker> Kahm Yugh has posed.
If he'd asked around, Loren may have already heard from others that Kahm was rarely sighted in Bledavik these days. His activities in the field-and the frequency with which he seemed to spend time in Adlehyde under his alias-had likely contributed to more than a few rumors of having 'gone native', as far as the Bledavik brass were concerned.
Personally, Kahm was unperturbed by such talk. Results always spoke sooner or later, as Loren would no doubt learn when his knocking earned the muffled sound of the Captain's voice a few second later.
"Come in." He said, not looking up from his report.
He compiled the mess of papers littering his desk and placed them off to the side in the time it took the Lieutenant to take a seat, though if Loren was particularly sharp-eyed he might catch a passing glimpse of one report title labeled Lunarians on Filgaia before it was banished to the abyss of the Captain's outgoing pile.
"Lieu...pardon, Second Lieutenant Voss, is it?" Kahm asked, narrowing a pair of prussian blue eyes in an absent recall that yes, someone by that name was scheduled to come by today. The Captain hands clasped loosely as he pulled himself up to the edge of his desk, poised as if to say 'What can I do for you?' without actually saying it.
<Pose Tracker> Loren Voss has posed.
It always comes down to rumors, doesn't it? It was a little disgusting how quickly people had been willing to talk like that, even to someone new. But in the end it hadn't mattered -- what had was the likelihood of his being able to meet with the Captain.
Who is, apparently, in. Loren takes a breath, as if it could steady himself, and opens the door.
The young medic isn't given much to emoting, but he raises a blond eyebrow slightly at the sight of Kahm's paperwork pile. And he thought his to-do work seemed bad.
The paper's there and gone fairly quickly, but his eyesight is excellent, especially with the glasses. 'Lunarians on Filgaia'. Without the context of the paper, though...
He doesn't comment. Instead, he gives a strictly-standard salute. "Sir." Only then does he pull back the visitor's seat slightly and make himself comfortable. ...Reasonably comfortable. ......Pretty stiff-backed, honestly.
"Second Lieutenant, yes. I'm associated with the medical division. Lieutenant Commander Hawwa said that I should speak to you at my earliest convenience, as she would like me to assist with intelligence efforts in the Adlehyde region." He looks at Kahm intently, over the top of his glasses. "I understand you have extensive experience in this area. I've spoken to cultural advisement already. What have you learned that could be of use?"
<Pose Tracker> Kahm Yugh has posed.
Loren was evidently in good company when it came to posture. Kahm remained no less uncomfortably upright as the new recruit introduced himself, rendering a salute in return before the Lieutenant seated himself. His eyebrow lifted a touch when the younger man mentioned the Lieutenant Commander's name behind his visit here. "I see." Kahm said, perfectly aware that Commander Ramses's right hand woman did nothing without a reason as he leaned slightly against his chair. "Well, if the gravity adjustment and onboarding process aren't already spinning your head enough, I suppose I can give you another turn or two." He said, retrieving a few choice folders off-screen and laying them out on the desk like a loaded poker hand.
"What I've learned right now amounts to this: Something is happening in the Adlehyde region, but we're not sure precisely what, nor how concerned we need to be." Kahm said, flipping open each manila folder perfunctorily as proceeded through his summary, "The King has been reasonably helpful in some matters, but we have reason to believe he is hiding something. That, or he has no idea what he possesses." The papers are full of reports about digger sites and reports from local resources (i.e. patsies) who've gathered information on Kahm's behalf, "There are a few sites in particular i'm interested in performing a more thorough inspection of. It may give us a better idea of what Adlehyde has found."
"There's also the matter of the Lahan incident." Again, reports and photos, many of the destruction of the village and a few grainy nightvision pictures of the notorious 'Black Gear' that was known to have caused the disaster, "Both the gear and the pilot remain at large, and we suspect the desert rebels may be taking advantage of the situation, but nothing is yet confirmed." Kahm said, pausing the lift his gaze, "Any questions so far, Lieutenant?"
<Pose Tracker> Loren Voss has posed.
That's some hand of poker.
Outwardly, Loren looks on the report folders as Kahm lays them out on the desk as distant and cooly as anyone of his birthright might. He's silent, his gaze shifting from one to the next.
Inwardly, though -- just how many more reports were even left at this point? He should have realized -- even getting the jump on his reading before even arriving in Aveh hadn't been remotely enough.
Loren furrows his brow slightly. "Hiding something... do you mean in terms of people, events, or the ruins?" He's still getting up to speed on Adlehyde's history, but he /does/ know about the ruins in the area. Which, as he leans forward a touch, he can see featured in many of the reports. "...Which sites in particular?"
He's going to end up crawling around in some ruins littered with hazards, isn't he.
"The Lieutenant Commander mentioned several people of interest were also in the area. Speaking of which..." He glances up. "I understand we are using cover stories when encountering Lambs to allay suspicion. What would be advised?"
At least most of the contents of the last folder are familiar. "Yes, I am... familiar with the incident in Lahan." From reports. Obviously, he wasn't present. "Has the Gear involved been seen since? I know that the Gear's capabilities far exceed the capacities of any typical civilization on Filgaia." Myyah had surmised that Shevat might be involved with it, which did not bode well.
<Pose Tracker> Kahm Yugh has posed.
"All likely possibilities." Kahm said immediately to Loren's initial question, and spoke again to clarify, "However, we're more concerned with what Adlehyde has in store for their historical festival. Traditionally they've walked a fine line in the conflict between Aveh and Kislev, and the line grows ever tighter. It's possible they may be planning to maintain their position with relics discovered from the ruins."
Kahm turned to one particular file, a high atmospheric image of a good portion of at atlas, and circled three rough coordinates in red pen. "The Sult Ruins, The Sacred Ground of Linga, and The Leck Mines in particular seem promising for recent activity by the Adlehyde government. I intend to see to it that we take a more active investigation of these regions."
That conveniently brings Kahm to the subject of aliases. "We're currently utilizing one of our front companies, the Smith & Luio Agency, as cover for activities in Adlehyde. You'll want to come up with a name and general background to use as an investigator of the firm. I go by Marcus Rider among the lambs, and I believe Lietenant Elhaym goes by the more commonplace name of Elly." Kahm said, his hands already moving to retrieve another sheaf as he spoke-yes, there was a form for this as well.
The matter of gear saw his face twitch almost involuntarily, "Strangely, there's been no reported sightings of the gear since Lahan. The perpetrator stated that he had it hidden away when we had the chance to interrogate him, and at this point we may have to consider that he may have told the truth." His lips pursed as he spoke, "However, that only means it's still out there, waiting for someone else to find it."
<Pose Tracker> Loren Voss has posed.
"So they may be planning to maintain neutrality by show of force. Hmm. It would align with what I know about their history."
Leaning forward, Loren squints at the imagery. "Three sites... Of these, which has seemed the most promising?" Forget just tonight. It's going to take days to catch up on all the reading now, especially when he's going to have to add survey reports into the mix.
"I see. The cultural attachment recommended I collaborate with others to ensure cohesion. I think something where I can explain my medical knowledge would be best." Maybe apprentice doctor, even though he doesn't know anything about Lamb diseases. Loren pauses. Really? She's going by 'Elly'? "I'll also need to come up with a suitable name."
As deadpan as ever, his gaze falls on the form. Oh good. More paperwork.
Aaaand there was the other part of the story he'd partially gleaned from reports: they'd caught the person who did it, only for a bunch of pirates (...) to have rescued him. "I would certainly hope a Gear like that wouldn't go unnoticed by the locals," he says, a little more dryly than he meant. Damn, and in front of a ranking officer, too. Briefly, Loren looks away from Kahm. "...I don't suppose he had any associates who might be hiding it?"
<Pose Tracker> Kahm Yugh has posed.
"It's difficult to say at this point, though I think the Sult Ruins have the most potential. They are comparatively unexplored."
Kahm did not seem to have a particularly stinging comment or rebuke to levy on Loren from his tone; the Captain's face kept the same neutral, flint-like expression that he he'd maintained throughout their meeting, and perhaps this alone was enough. "Indeed, he appeared to have an associate that we have thus far only identified as 'Doc'." Kahm spoke while Loren recovered his posture, "Allegedly he was little more than the village's doctor, but Lieutenant Van Houten reported that he was able to speak to her in fluent Solarian. Given that Fei himself stated this 'Doc' had hidden the gear away, and that it has remained undiscovered all this time, we must presume that we are dealing with more than a simple country doctor in over his head."
Kahm had little more to say on the matter, closing the file on Lahan and setting it aside.
"Now then..." He began, re-asserting the dominance of the ruins files on the table, "As the Lieutenant Commander may have told you, we have limited resources to operate in Adlehyde in order to prevent arousing any suspicion on Kislev's behalf about our activities in the area, to say nothing of Adlehyde's own government-they think we're just looking for the gear right now."
That may seem an obvious explanation, but Kahm was going somewhere with it. "In other words, we have to make do with what we can leverage from the local digger community insofar as we can retain their cooperation." The Captains thoughts about working so closely with lambs could perhaps be read in his own dry tone when he said next, "So far, we have enjoyed modest success."
"Once you've secured your alias, I had planned to assign you the task of recruiting workers through the local adventurer's guild and leading an expedition into one of these sites. Lieutenant van Houten will take another, and I will take the third."
<Pose Tracker> Loren Voss has posed.
"Sult... Understood." He'll prioritize research on that location.
It's indeed enough. While Loren's expression doesn't change -- he seems the type to hold a stone mask to the rest of the world -- that brief glance away from Kahm when he realized his error speaks louder for him than any twitch of the rest of his face might have.
Fluent in Solarian. Ever-so-slightly, Loren narrows his eyes. Yes, he remembers this now, from the report. "It might be worthwhile to look into the identity of this 'doctor'. If we can get a name or track him down... Someone has to know who he is. Have the Lahan survivors been questioned about this already?" Assuming they were able to get anything concrete out of them. Knowing the people of the surface, it's surprising they have as much information as they have already, Loren supposes in silent. "I suppose I'll need to speak to the Lieutenant about any identifying characteristics. We may have an infiltrator among the Lambs..."
Kahm moves on, though, and Loren nods as the Captain recaps some of what he'd heard previously. They're working under limited resources, the better to stay as background noise and avoid a repeat of the battle from 500 years ago. That was the way they always operated.
He's silent, as still if he were a stone statue seated here instead of a living and breathing human being.
That's ultimately to be his mission at present. To get a group of the... animals to accomplish proper work for the empire, while they try to resolve things with the Gear, regional stability, and probably other things aside, knowing his luck.
"...Understood." What else can Loren do but agree? "This is the will of the Empire. I will do my utmost."
<Pose Tracker> Kahm Yugh has posed.
As a matter of fact, no survivors had been questioned in the way Loren had asked, largely because they had been unable to find any survivors save for a single child whose testimony was somewhat uncertain. It was another curious facet of the incident-either nearly everyone had been killed in the blast, or a significant portion of the village's remaining population had simply...well, vanished. An unsettling proposition to be sure, and one the Lieutenant could easily learn about with later research if he so chose.
"As must we all." Kahm returned with a clipped nod. Every report on the Captain's desk was subsequently ordered and placed back within the folders from which they had come, which where then further organized and slid across the desk for Loren to take, "You'll want to review these as time allows while you go through the rest of your surface prep. If you have further questions, I suggest reaching out to the cultural attachment-I'll be back in Adlehyde before long and less responsive to communication." He explained, finger clasped lightly while cerulean eyes silently reviewed the Lieutenant's next actions, "That's all I have for you at this time Lieutenant, but we'll no doubt be in touch more often as you finish getting spun up."
"Ah, there is one more thing." Kahm adds, before Loren could leave, "The lambs on the surface are not like the ones you know of in Etrenank. They are wilder, more cunning, and much more predisposed to violence."
The Captain's mouth flattened into a line as he spoke his parting warning, "It would be an error to underestimate them, or to put too much trust in what they say. We too must walk a fine line, Lieutenant, if we are to see our duty done."
<Pose Tracker> Loren Voss has posed.
This is undoubtedly something that is both going to make Loren feel extremely foolish (since he's still in the midst of catching up on the voluminous reporting on the Lahan incident, among everything else) and really really wonder about what happened to the villagers. Most of the dead were accounted for, and for people to just /vanish/, well.
It suggests that either the monster population around Lahan is /really/ out of control, or that someone else has a hand in this. No points for guessing which is most likely.
Kahm, naturally, piles each of those hefty-looking folders on top of one another and hands them over. Great. This is going to be days of reading, when added to everything else he has to review from Cultural, Operations, and Protocol... And he needs to run an inventory on the infirmary, and check in with the junior medical staff, review medical files... And develop an alias.
He's going to need a whole lot of CNS stimulants to pull this off in the time he has available. Sleep is just going to have to be a fading wish at this point.
He's definitely going to die.
"Understood," he says, not a bit of his rising inner panic visible to the outside world as he reaches over and accepts the stack of report folders. "Thank you for your time with me, Captain. When I have finished, should I return these to your office here, or retain them for now until you return from Adlehyde?"
Loren stands, holding the reports. He might have moved to leave next, but...
"...Judging from what I've read, that would seem to be accurate. The scale of the Lahan disaster proves it. Only a Lamb would manage to cause so much damage with a Gear." He pauses for a moment. Only a Lamb, and someone like his brother. "...I will keep it in mind when engaging with them. Even animals are dangerous when cornered."
Staring down at the folders in his hands for a moment, Loren glances up, meeting Kahm's gaze. Holding the files against his chest with his left hand, he salutes, stiffly, with his right.
"Have a good evening, Captain."
With that, he'll head out. He has much left to do.