PALISADE 35: Weapons Ready Pt. 1

Episode description[edit | edit source]

This episode carries content warnings for civilian casualties, description of the Kent State shooting.
With the Divine Filigree recovered by the Blue Channel and transferred to Cause leadership, a choice must be made. Spurred on by Millennium Break’s recent victories, should their allies commit to dramatic action? Or should they take the opportunity to rest, recover, and prepare for the next Bilateral strike? For some, this is a question of strategy. For others, it is one of identity.
This week on PALISADE: Weapons Ready Pt. 1
[Ah, a flare cuts through the landscape]^{[Note 1]}

Dossier[edit | edit source]

People[edit | edit source]

Jesset City (he/him): After helping to kick off Millennium Break on Partizan, Jesset served as one of its major leaders during its expansion across the Principality. Now, he uses his talents in Hollow and Altar engineering, piloting, and cipher breaking on behalf of the Grey Pond unit of the cause. Still considers himself to be a member of the Party of the Wolf, though those designations have largely fallen from use.

Gentian (she/her): Elect of the Divine Crusade. Impossibly old, yet a source of power and vibrance. Attended to by her two sword bearers (Ramondre (she/her) and Ignadiah (he/him), Knight of Books (Clawed (he/him)), and Knight of Cups (Perevel (they/them)).

Cassander Timaeus Berenice (they/them): An Apostolosian war hero of the Golden era, 55,000~ years ago in the Golden Branch star sector.

Lucia Whitestar (she/her): The young “Lady Whitestar” emerged as a strategic genius during the early conflict between Kesh and Apostolos on PARTIZAN five years ago. Daughter of the Peaceful Princept, Cynosure Whitestar-Kesh.

Factions[edit | edit source]

The Bilateral Intelligence Service: Formerly called the Curtain, the BIS is a Kesh-operated organization which specializes in espionage, subterfuge, and surveillance. Recently removed from power on Palisade

Rose River: Though they are undoubtedly committed to the Cause, this unique research unit (combining Veronique (she/her), her Divine Fealty (any pronouns), and their followers with an out-of-time NEH Sleep Detachment squad) hope for a day when they can be something other than soldiers.

Jade Kill: Based in Joyous Guard, this military arm of the Cause is operated by the Delegate liberation faction known as Reunion and supported by Kalar Anakalar's (he/him) Giantkiller unit and a wing of Swordbreakers. Led by August Righteousness (he/him).

Places[edit | edit source]

Bontive Valley: Blessed by the departed divine Bounty, the Valley provides the Bilats with fruit that never rots and hyper-nutritional grain.

Divines[edit | edit source]

The Divine Filigree: The instrumentalized operating core of Palisade's extensive GravTrain system. Currently being taken into Dust's catacombs by the affliction's minions.

The Divine Motion (she/her): One of the founding members of the Pact, the necromantic Apostolosian divine once led its infamous retinue, the Black Century, on Partizan. They were defeated and dispersed, turned into part of Kalmeria, during Operation Shackled Sun.

The Divine, Arbitrage (it/its): The amoral machine turned de facto treasurer keeps the Frontier Syndicate a step ahead in all matters of commerce. Sole minter of “glint,” a newly popular currency on Palisade.

The Divine Integrity (it/its): Sometimes appearing as an articulated staff or a metallic spine, Integrity integrates itself into its chosen user. Once the two are connected, Integrity becomes a powerful exoskeleton, and supports its user in matters of military and morale. Until being assassinated by Brnine, Dahlia, the Glorious Princept, was the elect of Integrity.

The Divine Crusade (they/them): Leads Stel Nideo’s occupation on Palisade along with their Elect, Gentian. Crusade is an enormous, bipedal machine covered (or perhaps made with) beautiful stained glass.

Additional Notes[edit | edit source]

Delegates: In plain terms, Delegates are synthetic individuals created through a process of forcible extraction from a living Divine. Originated by the Fabreal Duchy, who were left behind to "attend to" Palisade by the Divine Principality around 5000 years ago, these Delgates were designed and used as slaves. Currently, a Delegate resistance group called Reunion operates out of the fortress Joyous Guard in the Caldera Stretch.

Connadine, your first mistake was moving much too slow. Can't set the rhythm, set the tone, by acting from below. Is it any wonder you were out before the fight began? You spent more time on festivals than on your battle plan. Well, all that's over now. You've wasted too much time playing pretty music and writing petty lines. My father has grown weary of subtlety and spy games. It's time to set the world on fire with noble Whitestar flames. Send message.

New note: a memo to my generals. Eight rules for fighting, scratch that, eight directives for engaging rebels. Number one, never build a base that you intend to keep. Number two, never give up the air. Number three, never let them retreat. Number four, be sure to delegate, but always lead from the front. Number five, weapons aren't only for killing; they're for getting what you want. Number six, never waste a meal on a silent captive. Number seven, authority well-worn is never unattractive.

Number eight needs a little more space: begin sub-memorandum and fix this lighting on my face.

If you're watching this, then you're trusted, beloved, aristocracy. No matter your name, you're noble to me; blood spilled means our blood is the same. And that's what we're fighting for. We aren't here for profits, and we aren't here for prophets. We're here to clean up a mess, and duty is success. Duty is opportunity, opportunity to be the best. The best version of yourself, made of steel and fire, made of blood and gold, made of wins and losses, made of spirit and stone, made of spit and bruises, made in conflict zones, made of violence and knowledge and courage and broken bones. And that is number eight, carry that in your eyes. I want you to break them with a glare, I want you to make them realize that you're fortifying a vision of clear blue skies while they're frying and dying for an imaginary future they can't even describe.”

– Lucia Whitestar