12-21-2019, 10:02 PM
Pierre Residence, Lunalea Region, Kerlile
21st December 2019 - sunset
“Eva, I find myself in a difficult position,” Councillor Pauline Pierre said to her second daughter, sighing and leaning back in her armchair, nursing a glass of whisky she had yet to drink out of. “We have three options, all of which are terrible for our family, our position and our future.”
“Tell me them, Mother,” replied Eva, who was standing by the window, looking out over the gardens as the sun set in the distance. “Perhaps I can help you make a decision.”
The Councillor sighed, and stood, joining her daughter at the window. The pair stood in silence for a moment, watching the sunset, before Pauline took her daughter’s hand and led her out of the sitting room they were in and down the corridor to the library. The Pierre family library looked to an outsider to be just like any other Councillor’s library, but it had been built to be one of the most secure rooms in the house, and contained the entrance to the family’s safe room to be used in the event of attack. They sat down among the bookshelves.
“Option one is what the Council agreed. We work with Kvask in order to extract any Aurora who wishes extraction, giving them names of those in their country in exchange for those they send home safely from elsewhere. This means they will continue their black-market operations in the country which we need in order to maintain security given the current economic climate in the country.”
“I do not like that option,” Eva said darkly. “We cannot trust the Kvaskm – our family cannot, and our country should not either. I fear for the future if that is the decision the Council made.”
“Option two is what I would like to do, but it would be risky. Ignore the Council’s decision, refuse to work with Kvask and see what happens. If we go down this route, then chances are, the smuggling will stop, people will be unable to acquire any luxury goods, and we risk riots and revolution. Aside from that aspect, there is a chance the Council will punish me, especially if Robinson has her way. It would be a risk.”
“As much as I loathe the idea of working with Kvask, I do not think this is a risk worth taking,” replied Eva.
“Nor do I. Which brings me to option three – we can just send Kvask a list of the Auroras within their country, and tell them not to contact us again on this matter. They get what they want, and we do not need to work with them. I would hate to betray our people like that, but I do not believe they will be harmed and I just cannot bear the thought of having to work with the anarchists. I would rather we get it over with quickly than have a long, drawn-out cooperation which gives them the chance to… remember certain things.”
“That makes sense,” mused Eva. “You are right, none of the options are particularly good. I think the third one, though, might make the most sense. Can I suggest one alteration, however?”
“Please do,” urged the Councillor.
“We give them the names, but we also issue a general order to all Kvask-assigned Auroras to return home immediately. Whatever happens, their cover will be blown and they cannot continue on their mission. We might as well get them out of the country.”
“I agree,” sighed Pauline. “We are going to have to face it – these leaks have destroyed the Programme. The Council will issue an evacuation order at some point, I can tell. Our family’s greatest triumph, destroyed. Robinson’s revenge, finally.”
“You needn’t be so dramatic, mother,” Eva said, shaking her head.
“They already know Pavlina’s identity, and I fear it will be difficult to convince her to leave. She has not followed orders of late. Well, I guess she is their problem now. There’s also the other one… the one who vanished. Still, we can extract those we can.”
“This is not a terrible plan, given the situation,” nodded Eva. “I imagine Olivia will be returning from Shuell soon. Hopefully the situation with Kvask will be handled before my sister returns. Goddess knows what trouble she could cause here!”
“Yes, your sister does tend to destroy everything she touches. I shall have to deal with her sometime,” sighed Pauline, standing. “For now, though, I need to make a call. We will send the evacuation order to the Kvask-assigned Auroras and give the anarchists the names a few days later. Give them time to return.”
“Excellent. Well, one of the Chiu cousins is hosting a party tonight, I said I would attend so I ought to get ready,” Eva said, heading for the doorway. “Good luck, Mother.”
“I rather think we shall all need it,” said Pauline grimly, as her daughter left the library.
21st December 2019 - sunset
“Eva, I find myself in a difficult position,” Councillor Pauline Pierre said to her second daughter, sighing and leaning back in her armchair, nursing a glass of whisky she had yet to drink out of. “We have three options, all of which are terrible for our family, our position and our future.”
“Tell me them, Mother,” replied Eva, who was standing by the window, looking out over the gardens as the sun set in the distance. “Perhaps I can help you make a decision.”
The Councillor sighed, and stood, joining her daughter at the window. The pair stood in silence for a moment, watching the sunset, before Pauline took her daughter’s hand and led her out of the sitting room they were in and down the corridor to the library. The Pierre family library looked to an outsider to be just like any other Councillor’s library, but it had been built to be one of the most secure rooms in the house, and contained the entrance to the family’s safe room to be used in the event of attack. They sat down among the bookshelves.
“Option one is what the Council agreed. We work with Kvask in order to extract any Aurora who wishes extraction, giving them names of those in their country in exchange for those they send home safely from elsewhere. This means they will continue their black-market operations in the country which we need in order to maintain security given the current economic climate in the country.”
“I do not like that option,” Eva said darkly. “We cannot trust the Kvaskm – our family cannot, and our country should not either. I fear for the future if that is the decision the Council made.”
“Option two is what I would like to do, but it would be risky. Ignore the Council’s decision, refuse to work with Kvask and see what happens. If we go down this route, then chances are, the smuggling will stop, people will be unable to acquire any luxury goods, and we risk riots and revolution. Aside from that aspect, there is a chance the Council will punish me, especially if Robinson has her way. It would be a risk.”
“As much as I loathe the idea of working with Kvask, I do not think this is a risk worth taking,” replied Eva.
“Nor do I. Which brings me to option three – we can just send Kvask a list of the Auroras within their country, and tell them not to contact us again on this matter. They get what they want, and we do not need to work with them. I would hate to betray our people like that, but I do not believe they will be harmed and I just cannot bear the thought of having to work with the anarchists. I would rather we get it over with quickly than have a long, drawn-out cooperation which gives them the chance to… remember certain things.”
“That makes sense,” mused Eva. “You are right, none of the options are particularly good. I think the third one, though, might make the most sense. Can I suggest one alteration, however?”
“Please do,” urged the Councillor.
“We give them the names, but we also issue a general order to all Kvask-assigned Auroras to return home immediately. Whatever happens, their cover will be blown and they cannot continue on their mission. We might as well get them out of the country.”
“I agree,” sighed Pauline. “We are going to have to face it – these leaks have destroyed the Programme. The Council will issue an evacuation order at some point, I can tell. Our family’s greatest triumph, destroyed. Robinson’s revenge, finally.”
“You needn’t be so dramatic, mother,” Eva said, shaking her head.
“They already know Pavlina’s identity, and I fear it will be difficult to convince her to leave. She has not followed orders of late. Well, I guess she is their problem now. There’s also the other one… the one who vanished. Still, we can extract those we can.”
“This is not a terrible plan, given the situation,” nodded Eva. “I imagine Olivia will be returning from Shuell soon. Hopefully the situation with Kvask will be handled before my sister returns. Goddess knows what trouble she could cause here!”
“Yes, your sister does tend to destroy everything she touches. I shall have to deal with her sometime,” sighed Pauline, standing. “For now, though, I need to make a call. We will send the evacuation order to the Kvask-assigned Auroras and give the anarchists the names a few days later. Give them time to return.”
“Excellent. Well, one of the Chiu cousins is hosting a party tonight, I said I would attend so I ought to get ready,” Eva said, heading for the doorway. “Good luck, Mother.”
“I rather think we shall all need it,” said Pauline grimly, as her daughter left the library.
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