Operation story: 9-5

Operation

Story

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Characters
Bagpipe Horn Janie ??? (Harmonie) Colonel Hamilton ??? (Mandragora) Bard Williams Outcast Craig Chef MacMartin Greedy Businessman Operator Shredder Restless Youth Saoirse Pretentious Noblewoman Wildly Ambitious Baron MacMartin Brothers Worker
Backgrounds
1 2 3 4 5 6

Before operation

“

Horn's message to Londinium turns out fruitless. Jane obtains information from a good friend about a Taran meeting, and passes it onto Bagpipe. Bagpipe and Horn resolve to head for the meeting to find out what they can.

”

<Background 1>
4:23 P.M. \ Cloudy, turning overcast MacMartin Brothers' Chip, first floor
Horn	Still no reply?
Chef MacMartin	None. Haven't gotten a peep from Londinium, yesterday or today.
Horn	It's been twenty hours. They have to have received my last telecoms by now. Could the encrypted line be faulty?
Chef MacMartin	Hard to say, sir. Being honest, it's been nearly ten years since I graduated, transferred to Hillock. There's not much information you need to activate this secret comms line. Two years back, around the end, I reported to our group's boss, and he asked me if I had anything to say other than whatever number kid was being born. And that if I hadn't, I could save even giving the routine reports.
Bagpipe	Oh, no wonder you opened this chippy.
Chef MacMartin	Not a bad plan, right? Codename's not Chef for fun. Thought at the time, suppose some outsider wanted to sniff out our liaison point, they'd only suspect next door's bookshop.
Bagpipe	Aye, right. Besides, your chips are delicious too!
Chef MacMartin	Ought to be, eh? Hahah, you fill yourselves up. Hillock's potatoes are high quality. Locals all love my chips–if I didn't still remember my actual job as a lamplighter, I would've opened up branches ages ago. Five, six of them. Ah, anyhow, I thought I was dreaming of the time I was in training again, when you gave the secret knock at the door yesterday.
Horn	...It seems highly likely this line was abandoned long ago. Or perhaps, someone's received our info, but doesn't want to reply.
Bagpipe	You mean there's people interceptin' our intel on purpose, Leader?
Horn	Not easy to say yet. We'll send the next report as we would originally–right, and besides Triangle's findings, add on the outcome of my dialogue with Colonel Hamilton. The Colonel's targeted measures against a portion of the residents are already extremely suspicious. In the worst case, I'd like for our team to be allowed more flexibility.
Chef MacMartin	That... sounds like there's no point in me convincing you to use a barracks Messenger, is there?
Bagpipe	Ugh. Leader, I don't wanna say this, but we're a little low on numbers.
Horn	That definitely isn't like you to say. Relax, though. Nobody wants to take that step. But... the circumstances about this city are far more complicated than any of us foresaw. Chef, seeing as you've been in County Hillock for so long, how do you feel about the people here?
Chef MacMartin	Nothing unusual to me. If you put a Taran in front of me right now, I wouldn't fancy them much different from a Victorian anywhere else. To tell the honest truth, if life's not bad, who'd want to make trouble all the livelong day? Quite a few wear ideals on their sleeves, but only a minority ever take them to heart. Most just care about filling their stomachs, and if they're full, they can care about the purse, too.
Bagpipe	Right you are! I can barely imagine Damian Barry caught up in the spectre force either. In my eyes, him and the locals were all normal people, scared stiff beggin' for forgiveness the moment they're arrested, comin' together when a loved one dies just so they could fall to pieces and weep. They're nothin' like trained soldiers at all.
Horn	What you're saying is exactly what I'm worrying about–Colonel Hamilton might have been spouting more than just alarmist talk. When ordinary people take up weapons, voluntarily or not, the disaster we then face will be the likes of which Victoria hasn't seen for a very long time.
<Background 2>
Janie	Afternoon, Saoirse! Lucky me, I was just about to go find you at the newspaper.
Saoirse	......
Janie	Eh? What's wrong, Saoirse? Were you just crying?
Saoirse	Janie... No, I'm alright. I'm perfectly fine.
Janie	Pull the other one. Your eyes are all puffy, and your face is pale as sheets. The Saoirse I know would never be caught in the street looking this ghastly. Something gave you a nasty shock, didn't it? Who bullied you? Was it that soldier from last time? I'll help you think of something... There has to be something.
Saoirse	No, Janie, don't you fuss. He hasn't come bothering me again. It's... I don't know how to put it.
Janie	Come on, deep breaths–it's me right here, your very good friend. You're safe now, I promise.
Saoirse	– Janie... why? Why are you one of them?
Janie	What are you talking about, Saoirse? I don't understand.
Saoirse	I don't want you to get hurt. You're the best friend I have... and you're a good person. I'm good too, right? My ma, da, cousin... aren't we all good people?
Janie	Your cousin... Barry? You mean Damian Barry? I'm so sorry. I wasn't fast enough.
Saoirse	It's not your fault. And I don't think it's mine. I just want to live life peaceful. I don't want to see any more people I care about die.
Janie	Cry it out, Saoirse... I'm here with you. Seeing a loved one pass on and still having to manage your work, it's too much pressure on you. Here, lean on my shoulder? It'll be more comfortable.
Saoirse	That's okay, thank you, Janie, I'm much better just seeing you. I understand what I have to do now– This is for you.
Janie	Is... this an address?
Saoirse	I could give you a few names, too. But there's no need. I don't want to put you in even more danger. This address should be enough. You can... hand it to someone you think's reliable. Your Sergeant Major, or maybe another officer, like Uncle Louis. I know there's people around asking about Damian. They want to be clear what it is we're plotting.
Janie	Plotting–Saoirse, even you...?!
Saoirse	I'm not sure. You can believe me or not–I've only been responsible for passing on some info some ways. A few notes stuck between book pages, one or two hidden signals in the Hillock Evening News's classifieds. I used to think this was for making everyone safer... I didn't twig what dreadful things they're scheming, not until the... dispatch I just heard by the chief editor... Never mind that. I'm not trying to justify myself or even repent, what's important is that you stop them as soon as you can.
Janie	Alright, I will. I'm sure of who I should give this to. She'll fairly treat you all, more than anyone else would. Saoirse, don't be scared. Everything will be alright.
Saoirse	Alright, Janie. I trust you. Remember, it's 8 P.M. Hold onto this address tight–
<Background fades out and in>
Janie	East side of the statue at District Ten... third alleyway on the left. There's a bookshop there, with a flower pot by the door... yellow rose... found it. To... Bag... pipe– (Do I just leave it under the flowerpot like this and call it done? A loose brick right there, exactly like they said this morning.) (This really is an unusual way of receiving your letters.) (Friend from Londinium, I hope you can be of help to Saoirse... and all of us.)
<Background 1>
MacMartin Brothers Worker	Boss, someone left a new slip downstairs, under the yellow rose.
Chef MacMartin	Bring it in.
Bagpipe	Eh, yellow rose? So it's for me? That was fast.
Horn	The informer you mentioned before?
Bagpipe	Aye. She's a soldier at the barracks too, but I can assure you, Leader, she's warmhearted. She's good.
Horn	I... hope you've gotten an eye for people.
Bagpipe	No worries! My eyesight's always been brilliant.
Horn	What's it say on the slip?
Bagpipe	"109 Dam St, tonight 8pm"–that's all.
Chef MacMartin	Dam Street? It's the boundary between Districts Ten and Eleven. Rings bells for me–it's Baron Bolton's estate.
Horn	Looks like there's an important meeting tonight. Bagpipe, we should go.
<Background 3>
Operator Shredder	This is where you were...
Outcast	That's right. Sipping hot tea, skimming the paper, doing things befitting a woman of my age. Phew, strong wind kicking up.
Operator Shredder	Found what you were looking for?
Outcast	(Taran) When you want to find tomorrow, you go meet with yesterday.
Operator Shredder	You can speak Taran?!
Outcast	Can't speak much at all. What you hear is what you get. Just showing off what I learned.
Operator Shredder	Hard to believe... Oliver was right, you're an incredible one.
Outcast	Hahah. You get a nice rush the first time you impress somebody, but there's diminishing returns on the second and third round.
Operator Shredder	Nobody at our office even knows how to speak Taran.
Outcast	Considering your backgrounds, that's reasonable. Oliver grew up in a middle-class household in north Londinium, with family roots in Gaul. He lives upstairs from the office these days, taking some time off every year to go back and see his wife and children. Fred's more or less an apprentice from County Peninsula. He's got bunch of brothers and one little sister, and the whole family gets along like a dream. Will's a local. His clan moved decades ago from a fixed village nearby, and his Taran blood's probably from his paternal grandmother.
Operator Shredder	You've looked at our data?
Outcast	Do I look like the type who does homework? Not my style.
Operator Shredder	Then... how do you know?
Outcast	Language. Name, pronunciation, wording, tone, and even where you pause–language tells a keen ear more than you could ever guess.
Operator Shredder	I heard about how Sankta extraordinary are, but I never figured...
Outcast	Ahah. Really, it's just a hobby of mine. Anyhow, language itself holds a special significance to some folks. Why else would the Tarans have cared so much about digging a sample of their own language out of a pile of old books?
Operator Shredder	You're not wrong. Half a decade ago, barely any Tarans regularly spoke it.
Outcast	And you?
Operator Shredder	You've probably heard it in me... I'm not a Taran. My wife was. She only taught me a word or two while she was still alive.
Outcast	Yet nowadays, you see that gradually dying language all over the newspaper. Plus, I just overheard someone outside the window teaching kids how to call each other in Taran.
Operator Shredder	Until you mentioned it... I never noticed.
Outcast	Language binds a people together tighter than most things. A language doesn't get diluted over time like bloodlines do, and it doesn't get weighed on the scales of cost-benefit analysis like everything else. Looks like there's some out there who want to exploit those ties, bring back together the community that's been loosening away. But with that, the gatherings that already were, lose their stability. Victoria won't just sit back and let this play out right under its nose. And yet, the harder you pull, the harder the backlash will snap. You all know why I came, don't you?
Operator Shredder	Actually... I'm not that sure. I just feel like, you wouldn't need to bother an elite operator to go fetch data in person.
Outcast	Numbers on paper don't mean a thing against seeing it with your own two eyes. Put it that way, I really am here fetching data. Could you just tell me one more time, in the last six months, how many local businesses suspended collaboration with us?
Operator Shredder	Seven.
Outcast	That's three on top of last month's report. In modern Victoria, when any wind stirs the grass, it's the big merchants' wallets that feel it first. I need to head out, get a few more eyefuls of this place–make it before this city gets drowned under dirty rain.
<Background 2>
Bagpipe	Leader, you've had your eyebrows wrinkled ever since morning.
Horn	We don't have much time to go. This spectre force move is inconsistent in ways with past incidents. Their execution was covert before, rapid. Every time we thought to chase them, we'd find the leads wiped clean. But now...
Bagpipe	Oh, like they finished knittin' a jumper and just tossed yarn ends on the floor? Barely an idea of how each end is linked, too.
Horn	And moreover... these leads have all cut off at County Hillock.
Bagpipe	It's not just you. I'm feelin' trapped as all heck too. This city is just like a pressure cooker sealed shut. The residents, the barracks, everyone's twitchy, and people are gettin' up in arms anywhere and anytime.
Horn	Everyone's waiting. Waiting for when the first bolt strikes. But if it does truly strike, what will this city... no, what will Victoria become?
Bagpipe	(Leader...!)
Horn	(Hm?)
Bagpipe	(Someone's tailin' us!)
Horn	(So they are... See that alley to the west?)
Bagpipe	(Understood.)
<Background 4>
Bagpipe	Stop where you are!
Craig	Urghh–
Bagpipe	Eh, hold on, what? It's a little bairn... and you look kind of familiar, too?
Craig	Uwgh, ow...
Bagpipe	Ah, sorry! I'll let go now. I thought it'd be some baddie followin' us.
Craig	...Ball.
Bagpipe	You dropped your ball, so you came here to pick it up? I'll ask you to hurry home now, it's not too safe here. Your mam and dad'll worry for you if you go runnin' all over.
[Craig rushes off with the ball as Horn catches up with Bagpipe.]
Horn	......
Bagpipe	False alarm, Leader.
Horn	Just one child? No, that doesn't seem quite right. It wasn't just one person following us, and the fact they could go several streets without us noticing means they definitely have experience tailing. Did you see anyone out of the ordinary just now, when you hid up high?
Bagpipe	Ah... if I have to say, there was a street not far away with a particularly bright ring I caught a glimpse of...
Horn	...Sankta.
<Background 2>
Outcast	Lemme get a... piece of cake, and this apple pie... and I'll have some of those cookies, too. Tough call... Warfarin has been telling me to lay off the sweets... Hey there. Quick question, which of these cakes is the sweetest?
Restless Youth	......
Outcast	Like you don't know? C'mon, you've been in County Hillock a while, haven't you? If I had to guess, probably over three years of service–
Restless Youth	Who are you?!
Outcast	Calm down. I could tell, and the nice folks you're following sure could too. Your cover's blown anyway. Why don't you try some of this apple pie I bought? It's good, I'm telling you.
Restless Youth	You weird, mad Sankta. Where did you come from? Why are you trying to get in my way?
Outcast	Me? I'm not, I'm just passing by.
Restless Youth	......
[The young man contacts someone through the radio.]
Restless Youth	Team 12, target lost, but judging by the direction they disappeared, it's likely they're heading for Dam Street. Alright... I understand, I'll bring them straight away... We'll check through one by one.
[The young man signs off.]
Restless Youth	I'm warning you, Sankta, if it's not yours to meddle, don't meddle.
Outcast	Warning me...? If I had a nickel for every time I heard that... You know, I ain't exactly used to walking around unarmed.
Restless Youth	...I've got no time to listen to you talk big. Soldiers, we're moving.
[The young man, who turns out to be an informant for the Army, leaves. Outcast signals someone hiding under the desk to come out.]
Outcast	You can breathe now, shopkeep. The soldiers are all gone. Mind bagging up the sweets for me? I got some folks back at the office who oughta try them. After all... it's about time I called all my little friends back from their field work.

After operation

“

Mandragora, as the head of Dublinn readying to leave for the meeting, receives news that its location has been leaked. Bagpipe and Horn infiltrate, and are conversing with a bard when they find themselves surrounded by troops, led by the colonel.

”

<Background 5>
[A Feline woman with black hairs approaches a nobleman.]
Wildly Ambitious Baron	Honorable lady, I'm most privileged to inform you, the dinner party is all ready–
???	So slow. You aristocrats, taking your sweet time with everything you do. You're a nightmare.
Wildly Ambitious Baron	...It was my inadequate reception. Please, permit that I express to you my most sincere apologies.
???	You can save your breath. How many will be coming today, exactly?
Wildly Ambitious Baron	All of County Hillock's fine minds have received the invitation, including our most widely celebrated bard as of recent, Seamus Williams...
???	Bard? I'm bored dead already. What about the nobles and merchants you promised to find?
Wildly Ambitious Baron	Of course... of course, they'll all be coming too. For example, the leader within the south region's textiles industry, Sir Paulet, recipient of the McCaughey Prize, Dr. Bashir, and the owner of more than ten steelworks, Mr. Evans...
???	Oh? These people you mention, especially that last one, they're definitely coming?
Wildly Ambitious Baron	Yes, and a portion of them have already arrived. I hear a most honorable guest has turned up, and quite a few celebrity intellects from other cities have come flocking too, all for a single glimpse of you and your compatriots' presence. Oh, yes, as per your request, I've drawn up this list of names, for your perusal whenever you should–
???	Bit too many words, but you've done good enough work. Alright, you can head off now.
Wildly Ambitious Baron	Deeply grateful for your generous praise. Once you're ready, please, inform me. I simply cannot wait to see this ordinary little parlor of mine be dazzlingly belightened by your arrival.
???	Why are you still here? Weren't you done talking?
Wildly Ambitious Baron	Ahem, please allow me to ask one last question–that most honorable lady there, have we even the sliver of a chance that she may alight on the venue too?
???	That's not yours to ask. Clear off.
[The black-haired Feline woman leaves.]
<Background fades out and in>
[A Feline woman with light green hair approaches the black-haired Feline woman from before.]
???	Mandragora, what has you feeling all flustered?
Mandragora	Less of that–tongue-in-cheek, giving me reflux. We all know you'd never really give a shit about anyone, Harmonie.
Harmonie	Siiigh. Then I'll have to put it another way–you've been blocking my light with your halfwit ambling. I'd like to finish reading this lovely novel, dear.
Mandragora	Tch. Are all of you rich people like this? Hang instruments up a wall, buy a few books, act like you're filling the windows so nobody notices how you've got nothing at all in your head.
Harmonie	I'll take having a window to fill over having nothing of anything inside or out, wouldn't you say?
Mandragora	You–!
Harmonie	Now, now. You're not happy to calm down for a while, I see. How about this? If which foot forward first bothers you so much in this ball you know nothing about, I can be your lead for the dance.
Mandragora	What complete shit are you on about?! I'm thinking of bigger things. With this many nobles and merchants coming, if we can get their support, then forget just occupying one scant little Hillock, we could snatch the whole of Londinium–
Harmonie	Mandragora, time to hold still.
Mandragora	At this point, can't you just let that grotty book of yours go? Do you even think for one second about anything important to The Leader or me?
Harmonie	I'm not saying anything about your oh-so-helpless gait. I'm saying, take your rollercoaster babble and hold it still, and all that absurdity you're exhausting your little brain with too.
Mandragora	You, telling me to hold it now? As if I could! Laying out and assigning roles, swallowing my sick to set this meeting up, how much of me do you think I've poured out for this plan? I couldn't wait since forever ago! I can't wait! For Dublinn's fires to burn this city through, rip this lie of a titan under our feet apart! And you, huh? You and that shameless fake taking what should be the glory of The Leader–
Harmonie	It is really, really, time for you to shut up now. At what point–was your job to make decisions for The Leader?
Mandragora	...... Tch–
[The light green-haired Feline woman, now known as Harmonie, receives a call. She picks it up.]
Harmonie	Mm, it's me. Yes, we're still here. Oh? Things have gotten a little interesting at long last.
[Harmonie hangs up.]
Harmonie	Seems we've no need to scrap in here about whether your little schemes of insolence are feasible or not.
Mandragora	Is it news from that bastard?
Harmonie	Someone's sniffed out this location. I've a feeling it'll be more than your friendly little invitees coming to the meeting tonight.
Mandragora	...People from the army?
Harmonie	More or less. My, my, maybe some of my acquaintances too.
Mandragora	Tch. God on high, I want to–
Harmonie	Put away your staff. You'll get your chance. But it won't be now. It's time we go, we've got other things to do. Leave it to her in here; we might be in for a good show before we know it.
Mandragora	Heheh... I was starting to fantasize about how it'd look if this horrible room broke down into slag.
<Background 6>
Bagpipe	Leader, I didn't imagine slippin' in would be as easy as this. Here I thought...
Horn	We'd have to find a way to infiltrate? Not out of the question. That said, go in the proper way, and it's more convenient to find a conversation partner.
Bagpipe	Guess my friend at the barracks got some real precious information. Can't be that many who know about this meeting.
Horn	A lot of secret aristocrat parties are held this way–they usually think of invitation letters as passé. So long as you have a channel to tap for info, plus a token as proof of identity, you have what you need to pass the doorstep.
Bagpipe	You never told me your family was all big famous nobility.
Horn	Does it make a difference?
Bagpipe	When I was in school, the noble students always stuck with their own. Course, they studied together, but after school, they never did much with the rest of us if they could help it.
Horn	Don't tell me you actually like all the pomp and formality? Ceremonial gowns you only wear once, the trending look changing every week, courtesy greetings ad nauseum.
Bagpipe	Don't even remind me. Actually went to that kind of thing once or twice with a good friend, and just tryin' to remember which fork you use to eat first made my head want to explode on the spot.
Horn	Perfect, I'm not much of a fan either. Even if I'm loath to admit it, just having this family name does come in handy once in a while.
Bagpipe	Leader, the people comin' here today, are they all supporters of the spectre force?
Horn	...I don't necessarily think so.
<Background fades out and in>
Pretentious Noblewoman	Mr. Williams, I finally get to meet you! I heard you were coming, and came bolting right over from County Peninsula, just to ask if you could sign the anthology in my collection here.
Bard Williams	Of course, fine Lady, it would be my honor.
Wildly Ambitious Baron	Seamus, my dearest great bard! Here you were. I just finished reading your newly published tales from history. Such fascinating writings. It was the first I learned that us Tarans had such a grand, storied past.
Bard Williams	Thank you, but they're works of fantasy, adapted from an array of folk legends. The greatest value in my work is simply unearthing gems buried by sandstorms, all the better for more to see.
Pretentious Noblewoman	You truly are too modest. The Draco King Gaeil you penned, founding by himself the most radiant culture that was Tara–he stood grand and wise, so much so that my dreams are flush with emotion and he's part of them all–
Wildly Ambitious Baron	Yes, too true. In my eyes, you're alike to Leithanien's grand musicians, with the chance to make change to an entire era!
Bard Williams	Ha, ha... I must say you exaggerate.
Wildly Ambitious Baron	So long as you wanted, all of Victoria's publishers would be wide open to you, every one of them waiting to translate your works into the ink of different languages. And when that happens, every country across the land will realize our Taran culture has its own unique charm, not to be stifled by the ever-same grumble of Victoria's machines.
Pretentious Noblewoman	If only things could be so wonderful. If more and more international figures come to support us, our voices will be so much more easily heard by the dukedom and Parliament.
Greedy Businessman	Right you are! I'm a Victorian citizen same as anyone else, but just because some great-great-great-grandfather of mine was King Gaeil's subject, suddenly I'm being asked to pay so much more inheritance tax! How preposterous!
Pretentious Noblewoman	Even so, Mr. Evans, you still give vigorous employ to plenty enough of our fellows, providing everyone the chance to gain their footing upon this city of grace. No wonder you and your clan are the pride of us Tarans.
Wildly Ambitious Baron	Ahah, quite right, our fellows. It's far from easy for them to find any respectable work. I hear they toil in the factories for a week, and only earn yea little coin.
Bard Williams	Yet Victorian workers from other backgrounds are able to earn twice as much, in your factories.
Greedy Businessman	Eh-hem... Allow me to say something perhaps a little out of fashion–it's far from simple to have our neighbors of strength acknowledge us, isn't it? Please, think about it, everyone. Were it only with its music and poems, how could Leithanien become the Leithanien of today? Just as Leithanien has Casters that intimidate– We Tarans must depend on more practical power if we want to gain recognition. Such as the... technological support of some friends from far away. And by pure luck, I have just the tiniest means by which I receive sponsorship, and I would be overjoyed to take the opportunity to let the friends of the Baron share in it.
Wildly Ambitious Baron	Hahah, you're absolutely spot-on! Any subsidy is of great importance. If you let it all pass you by, then no matter how deft your tongue, you watch for the day it dries up and lacks the power to express.
Greedy Businessman	From that perspective, I'm the same as everyone here. We are all yearning for a whole new era–so, why not give a toast to this common dream of ours?
Pretentious Noblewoman	Truly, an evening to inspire... how strange, where did Mr. Williams get off to?
<Background fades out and in>
[Horn approaches Mr. Williams and greets him.]
Horn	Good evening, Mr. Williams.
Bard Williams	Greetings, ma'am.
Horn	I hope I'm not bothering you. Are you writing?
Bard Williams	Ha, ha... Just a small poem. It's been several days now, and I still haven't finished it. I was thinking this meeting would give me some inspiration, but it seems now there's still no forcing the muse.
Horn	These settings always like to use up a person's energy too quickly. Do you also feel a little worn out?
Bard Williams	Ha-ha... caught red-handed. If it weren't for Charles–I mean, the Baron inviting me so ardently, I would've preferred to spend the night reading by my own fireplace.
Horn	Wouldn't we all? I bet every person willing to participate in this sort of thing is forced to for a living.
Bard Williams	I like that way of putting it. You're not a Taran, ma'am, are you?
Horn	You guess correctly. I imagine a Lupo's a rare sight among the residents here.
Bard Williams	Ha-ha, I've inadvertently judged background by race. Though you're deliberately choosing vocabulary we're more used to, your accent still exposes you–it's the accent only a Victorian noble receiving a standard Londinium education would have.
Horn	No wonder you're a great bard. Extremely sharp.
Bard Williams	The first step to writing is observation. I can even tell, you and they have differing purposes for coming.
Horn	You're suspecting me?
Bard Williams	Suspecting what? I'm only here to exchange some ideas, and you're exchanging with me right now.
Horn	No matter if I'm not a Taran?
Bard Williams	Precisely because you're not. A glass of malt liquor, thank you–would you like anything to drink, ma'am?
Horn	I'll be fine. Standing in the window breeze is plenty enough for me.
Bard Williams	Then we'll continue our merry chat. What were we just saying? Right, yes. Words and writing were born for the purpose of exchange, including both conversations past and future, and this talk between you and I, here and now.
Horn	You're the one allowing for me. If you used Taran, I'd be as good as deaf.
Bard Williams	Ha-ha–in this party, you'll be hard-pressed to hear any Taran.
Horn	It just clicked for me, actually. All the works of yours I've read are written in Victorian.
Bard Williams	Rhyming confines a poet's imagination. Characteristically, Victoria's poems, when you read them, are very unlike Leithanien's. I much love reading poems written in Old Taran. Reading the writing is like touching upon, feeling another face of history. But I've no plans to pass myself off as anything. I grew up speaking Victorian, my thoughts are molded by the language, and if I started to write in Taran instead, I'd be a clown dancing in shoes far too big for him.
Horn	I hear there are many longing for the revival of Taran culture–
Bard Williams	Of course, I'm one of them. Our city roams upon the land, this soil unchanging, yet at the same time, change constantly happening. Perhaps a day will come when Taran once again becomes the building blocks of our children's minds, and I'd be willing to embrace such a transformation.
Horn	And if–there were those who wished this change to be rapid, an explosion even reversive of the natural trend?
Bard Williams	– "What is the use of an idea? You are planting a feather in the ground, imagining it growing into a fowlbeast."
Horn	From the first poetry anthology you published. It's one of my particular favorites.
Bard Williams	That is my answer to this question of yours. In my own view, I can't, and have no thought to alter this soil. I'm simply the one trying hard to plant feathers. And ideas fundamentally ought to be free, with no one who can interfere–each feather that grows in each person's heart may be totally unalike, just as we all have different hopes for the future of this great swathe of soil.
Horn	I understand, Mr. Williams. Allow me to speak from the heart–it's been truly pleasant to chat with you.
[Suddenly, Bagpipe rushes to Horn's side.]
Bagpipe	Leader, somethin's not right.
Horn	What is it?
Bagpipe	Cello's lot have gone over forty minutes without sendin' anythin'. Weren't they meant to be dealin' with the troops at the barracks? You told them they were to send a message every half hour. Right as we set off, Cello was even gripin' at me how this mission was too borin'.
Horn	......
Bagpipe	And on top of that... don't you feel it's a little too quiet all around? I've been keepin' watch at the window. Ought to be able to see people goin' in and out of the plaza. But then all of a sudden, it was like somethin' happened, and everyone scarpered away.
Horn	Don't tell me... the ones tailing us before were the barracks'...
The ballroom doors are kicked open without warning. Dozens of soldiers armed to the teeth come charging in.
[The attendees panic upon seeing soldiers of the Victorian Royal Army inside the ballroom.]
Pretentious Noblewoman	Good heavens, what's happening? Why the sudden show of force? You have the audacity to point weapons at me... do you understand who we are?
Greedy Businessman	Who is it? Who let the secret out?! Damn and blast... we need to get out of here, quick!
Wildly Ambitious Baron	(Hurry, go inform Madam Mandragora, just say we've got trouble...) (What?! You mean they're all gone? When did this happen? A whole hour ago?!) (You useless...!)
Victorian Soldier	All of you, stay where you are!
Colonel Hamilton	– Ladies and gentlemen, yes, no mistake, you have been–utterly captured.