Episode description[edit | edit source]
Days after the crew of the Myriad establishes a connection between Quire and the Divine Fleet, the Beloved* Dust meet at the digital club called the Steady to relax and catch up. But before Tender Sky, Fourteen Fifteen, and ⸢Signet⸣ can really unwind, they’re called back to base… where they meet supposed allies, a young recruit, and someone who they hope can offer answers about the murder of Gumption.
It started from nothing...[Note 1]
This week on Twilight Mirage: We Want You To Come Home
The Living Library of Memorious // VOLUME 103Ɨ:
Organizations: Divine: Intelligence and Security: The Beloved
The Beloved were founded alongside Seance itself, soon after the death of Affinity, the tenth of the lost Divines. Per the pact that brought the group into being, it can operate with no less than 3 and no more than fifteen members—including a commanding officer. Empyrean extends their Divine authority to the group, whose members must first be approved by the sitting Cadent. In the event that the Cadent dies, the Beloved are placed on extended furlough until a new Cadent can approve the members. There is no explicit procedure to be followed in the event of Empyrean’s death, thus standard practice applies. (See: Extension of Divine Authority in the Case of Death)
Contents[edit | edit source]
Opening[edit | edit source]
“
[Primary] Dispatch 92.
You asked me a question last week, Satellite. You asked what it meant to be part of something larger than yourself. Let me ask you a question back. What does it mean when the thing you're a part of is so distant from everything else?
Their culture… it's a fleet, right? It's always been a fleet, not a commonwealth, not an empire, not a principality or a demarchy or a coalition of free states. The Divine Fleet. The Resonant Orbit. For 30,000 years, they defined themselves through their devotion to beautiful, ceaseless flight. Their little utopia has always been built on the premise that the hundreds of millions who lived in it could continue with unbroken momentum to find their own pristine paths through the stars.
There is real irony here, Satellite. It's easy to live a peaceful life away from others. Just ask any monk in a mountain, or any woman alone in a floating box, like me. But the Fleet doesn't do that. It soars through the sky even as it is whittled down. And when you're always moving, when you make momentum, not only your goal but your very notion of the good… collisions are inevitable.”
Plot[edit | edit source]
The Beloved Dust are hanging out at the Steady: Tender is tending the bar, Fourteen is gambling in order to act like a typical gunslinger, and Signet is sitting in a corner, letting people come speak to her as an Excerpt in an informal setting. They receive a message from Cascara calling them back to base. After complimenting the DJ, Biff Briar, they dock back with their ship using a space balloon. This is the first time they've returned to the ship since the death of Gumption. After getting situated, they meet with Cascara, the Beloved Ivy, and the newest members of the Beloved, Chiron and Sho, in the common room. Morning's Observation is also there, in restraints. Cascara wants them to investigate who killed Gumption. Sho will be the trainee working with the Beloved Dust, while Chiron will be with the Beloved Ivy.
Acre Seven begins peering creepily at the energy cage over Morning's Observation, and after she moves away Signet goes to speak with him. She lowers the lights on the cage to make him more comfortable and asks if there's anything else she can do. Morning's Observation tells her and Tender that he doesn't care, just doesn't want to be stuck here on this couch without a home. After Fourteen fails to get anywhere talking to Waltz about the pasta sauce he's making, they join the conversation. Signet offers to make sure Morning's is transferred to a place he can live if he gives them information. She backs it up with a plate of their dinner.
Morning's Observation explains he is from the New Earth Hegemony, which is led by a Hegemon. He's from Seattle, on Earth, which is located in the center of the galaxy, after being moved there long ago. He came here on sleep detachment, and has no real ideological commitment to fighting the Divine Fleet.
Fourteen goes to get a plate of food and returns to ask Morning's why they are attacking the fleet. He's no minister of the NEH's religion, the Blue Path, but explains that the Fleet's nomadic lifestyle and commitment to their Divines conflicts with the New Earth Hegemony's desire to bring the people of the Fleet home. When Fourteen tries to give him the food, it gets cold, and they agree to let him out so he can eat a warm meal. He joins the table with everyone else, and tells them that the leader of his squad, Robin's Song is also his brother. He's not willing yet to give them more information about Robin's Song, and asks them to give him some time.
Cast[edit | edit source]
- Austin Walker (GM)
- Ali Acampora (Tender Sky)
- Janine Hawkins (⸢Signet⸣)
- Jack de Quidt (Fourteen Fifteen)
Other Characters[edit | edit source]
- Biff Briar
- Pure Cascara
- Morning's Observation
- Massalia d'Argent
- Waltz Tango (Cache)
- Acre Seven
- Chiron
- Shoghig Salon