Operation story: NL-1

Operation

Story

Previous NL-ST-1	Next NL-2
Characters
Greynuty Iwona "Justice Knight" Justyna Margaret Maria Sona The Candle Knight Zofia Bald Marcin Old Craftsman Old Knight Spokesman McKee Spokesman Malkiewicz Szewczyk Brassrust Knight A Corporate Employee A Hoarse Knight A Weathered Knight An Infected Knight
Backgrounds
1 2 3 4 5 6

Before operation

Summary Spokesman McKee and the Candle Knight are discussing knight particulars, and Maria is talking with everyone about her sister's duel with Młynar. And in the Infected quarter, the Infected knights are right in the middle of planning something.
<Background 1>
Spokesman McKee	Greetings, Madam Droste... What are you reading there?
The Candle Knight	A wayside poetry anthology, Mr. McKee.
Spokesman McKee	Ah... you've always been keen on the like. I still remember my first time seeing you, stood in that blood-soaked arena with the stench of iron, carrying a book like this too. Your surroundings were every bit out of place with you.
The Candle Knight	You recall the details quite vividly, it seems...?
Spokesman McKee	Ah... haha, ashamed as I am to admit, I'm one of your fans too. If you're not busy, I must have you sign something.
The Candle Knight	It would be my greatest honor.
[A corporate employee knocks the door.]
A Corporate Employee	Excuse me, Mr. McKee. I'll leave the wine you requested right here.
Spokesman McKee	Thank you. Send my regards to the other staff. Let's take a moment to celebrate, Madam Droste.
The Candle Knight	I would be dearly happy to.
Spokesman McKee	A toast!
The Candle Knight	A toast.
[McKee and the Candle Knight have a toast with their wine glasses.]
Spokesman McKee	*sigh* Truly, a fine wine. It's a coveted Gaulish bottling, and its value would boggle any mind. A worthy tipple for a day such as today... And for a knight such as you.
The Candle Knight	You flatter me. I've simply been of good fortune.
Spokesman McKee	This poetry anthology...
The Candle Knight	Authored by a poet of little name from my hometown. I very much adore the verses he pens.
Spokesman McKee	Ah, a Leithanian anthology... the title means "Twin Moons and Marigold"?
The Candle Knight	Your Leithanian is superb as ever.
Spokesman McKee	Haha, it was simply necessary to learn for diplomacy. I'm guessing you like marigolds? We've very few Kazimierzians nowadays who know how to appreciate poetry.
The Candle Knight	In the end, the letter can't break free of our mind's eye. These are all but marks for imaginations. To the contemporary man, poetry is no more than warrens of words lacking aesthetics, too self-assuming, too pretentious. Perhaps Kazimierzians are accustomed to a different sort of consumption now, a kind poetry could never match. It's a very typical course of things.
Spokesman McKee	Might you be... insinuating?
The Candle Knight	I'm merely discussing poetry, Mr. McKee.
Spokesman McKee	Don't you have something else you'd like to talk to us about, Madam?
The Candle Knight	Oh... I wonder what. Ah. Your new glasses suit you very well.
Spokesman McKee	Haha... w-well, it's sharp of you to notice such things. What a surprise, haha... *ahem* However, that's not quite relevant to you. No, there's been some prior rumors going around the intercity net and print presses...
The Candle Knight	Ah... The red wine baths?
Spokesman McKee	Yes, it's been slandering your reputation...
The Candle Knight	Do people really bathe in red wine? Wouldn't it stick to them so?
Spokesman McKee	Excuse me? I assume... I'm not sure.
The Candle Knight	*sigh*... And who would believe such news?
Spokesman McKee	Some would, Madam Droste... many would believe it. Sure as they know it may not be the truth, they'll still let the information color them.
The Candle Knight	Could we not clear the air?
Spokesman McKee	Ah, you always do take non-knightly matters too lightly... I've gotten in touch with the Rose Paper Union HQ; it turned out to be some entertainment editor's doing. It seems it had already drawn considerable attention by the time it was noticed, and with all the factors at play, no retraction came...
The Candle Knight	This is the way they work. I give them no mind.
Spokesman McKee	You're very forgiving, but that strengthens my feeling you've been wronged. You've donated practically all your income to the poor of Leithanien, to build schools back home, to set up nomadic platforms. But even if you deny the rumors now, the masses know the taste of delirium already, and they won't care what the truth is. Hurting and slandering are simple things. They'll grab hold of the rumors and spread the news. And how many times have you seen, after the truth came out, those who'd worked against you turned to help you wash away the lies, to make the facts clear?
The Candle Knight	Gossip can be fresh and exciting to people, while the truth is an all too boring thing. By all rights, this is how it is.
Spokesman McKee	*sigh* How are you so unconcerned?! Others should see an example in an upstanding, honorable knight like you! This ought to be better for your reputation, and besides–
The Candle Knight	McKee.
Spokesman McKee	Erk...
The Candle Knight	I'm touched. You're all too thoughtful a person... and all too tender.
Spokesman McKee	...... As a Chamber spokesman, ensuring no external factors are of disturbance to any knight is part of my duty. That said, I'd like you to care more, please, about what happens to you.
The Candle Knight	Oh, I have a question for you. When will we have the competition schedule?
Spokesman McKee	*sigh*... How can not even your own matches concern you? Provided nothing happens, your next opponent will be Graybeard Knight, followed by... the Radiant Knight.
The Candle Knight	......
Spokesman McKee	Are you that shocked, Madam?
The Candle Knight	Of course. The Radiant Knight, Margaret Nearl... I've heard this name many, many times. Such beauty, firmness, and grace too.
Spokesman McKee	The Chamber wishes you victory.
The Candle Knight	Mm... and yet... A "Candle" to the "Radiant." What chance do I have of winning?
Spokesman McKee	Don't be like that. Knight titles nowadays are more for catchiness than anything else. They've got nothing to do with true power, Madam Droste. You're very strong.
<Background 2>
Old Knight	Oh–I've won!
Old Craftsman	Dammit! You cheater!
Old Knight	Ahahah, ol' V's still top of his game~♪ You're the big fat loser tonight, Kowal~♪
Old Craftsman	You belched on purpose calling "start," didn't you?!
Bald Marcin	Put the stool down, Kowal, that one's not built good. Get another one.
Old Knight	I win, Kowal~♪ You big fat loser~♪
[Annoyed, Kowal grabbed Vogelweide as Zofia joins in.]
Zofia	What did I walk in on?
Bald Marcin	Arm wrestling. What are you carrying there?
Zofia	Some medicine I just picked up...
Bald Marcin	Oh, for Młynar?
Zofia	But he'll turn me the other cheek, I know that. Besides, I don't even think he'll start taking it on time... They couldn't be more different, personality-wise. But there are some areas where he and the sisters are very much alike.
Bald Marcin	I heard him and Margaret had a real, proper duel once. Margaret won.
Old Craftsman	Who knows, maybe that's how you wake Młynar up some.
Old Knight	Pfeh, I don't reckon that boy's got anything to wake up to. He's awake as can be. Too awake, he is. That's what turned him so funny these days.
Zofia	Oh, Młynar... ...No, never mind.
[Maria barges in to the bar.]
Maria	Hi, everyone! Oh, Zofia's here too.
Zofia	Maria? What are you doing here alone?
Maria	Someone came looking for Margaret just now, so I came over ahead of her. There aren't a lot of cases where someone's been exiled and then allowed to return as a full citizen. They need to check over so many legal documents...
Old Knight	Funny, that. Their bunch went to hell and back to catch Margaret out, and now they welcome her back with open arms?
Old Craftsman	Plotting something, aren't they?
Zofia	That's what was haunting me before. Can't you two talk something nice for once?
Old Knight	We're just worried, you know...
Old Craftsman	If things really do go belly-up, we'll pack our bags and leave Kazimierz, head to that... Drohes Island whatsit to take a looksee.
Zofia	...Rhodes. Rhodes Island. Maria, how's your uncle?
Maria	Ah... I think Uncle Młynar's still at work. His shift might be over soon?
Old Knight	The Radiant Knight gave that boy a harsh talking-to, didn't she? Hah, been a long time coming. If Old Man Nearl was still around, he wouldn't have stood for Młynar letting himself go like this–
Maria	......
Old Knight	Maria?
Maria	My sister could only make her return to the field because Młynar lost that duel. He's not going to have much more to say now.
Bald Marcin	Oho. So Młynar knows when to admit defeat, then?
Maria	But–But when they dueled, he didn't even use the slightest bit of Arts until the end...
Old Craftsman	What? Was he throwing that one?
Old Knight	Scared to go all out, gave himself an excuse for losing? That's my sad reckoning.
Zofia	Of course not. Admitting defeat, throwing? What makes you think he'd do something like that? He... he just can't stand Margaret. He can't stand the Radiant Knight. He didn't deem her worthy of using his full Arts, pure and simple. Nothing else.
<Background 3>
Justyna	"Ashlock" Greynuty, have you seen Sona?
Greynuty	She's right over there... Why is my name the only one you put the title on?
Justyna	...I can stop. If you don't like it... I just felt–it's the impression you gave me.
Greynuty	...Whatever. Sona!
Sona	Whaaat–?
Greynuty	Come on! Everyone's here!
Sona	Hup–
[Sona walks to her Pinus Sylvestris sisters-in-arms.]
Sona	Alright, alright. Are you all better now?
Greynuty	My wounds won't get in the way... What's that? A figurine?
Sona	Ahaha, I'm a girl of my own, right? Is it so wrong to like cute things?
Greynuty	Sona...
Sona	Okay, I get it. No leeway for jokes right now. "Industrial accidents" are on the rise. They're herding the Infected about, terrorizing them and the slums alike.
Greynuty	Seeing as the Armorless Union's dropped all pretenses, hiding away's not an option anymore. Szewczyk gave us some very interesting information. We need to hurry and– –Sona?
Sona	Huh?
Greynuty	You seem kind of distracted.
Sona	If one day... we win our freedom... ...what would you like to do then?
Greynuty	We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. We'll think about it together. What's with you today...? Why so melancholy all of a sudden?
Sona	Ahaha, nothing. C'mon, hop to it. Let's go meet Pinus Sylvestris Knightclub's new members.
<Background fades out and in>
A Weathered Knight	Seems it's nearly all Infected here.
A Hoarse Knight	The National Council could be watching, right?
A Weathered Knight	The Council don't hide when they're watching, and in the worst case, we just throw some money around. Money's the key to getting the law on your side. But if this keeps up... will the Armorless Union stand by and let it happen?
A Hoarse Knight	The Armorless Union? Do they even really exist?
A Weathered Knight	Best not doubt them. You'll be wiser for it. Oh, look over there, the ones coming over. They must be the Pinus Sylvestris knights. Huh. They look like a bunch of kids, at a glance. But... maybe some things, only the young can do.
[The hoarse Infected knight looked at Sona...]
A Hoarse Knight	"Flametail" Sona.
[...Greynuty...]
A Hoarse Knight	"Ashlock" Greynuty.
[...Justyna...]
A Hoarse Knight	"Fartooth" Justyna.
[...and Iwona's pet robot, Justice Knight.]
"Justice Knight"	(Loud beeping noises)
A Hoarse Knight	Huh. I thought they had another one, a Kuranta...?
A Weathered Knight	Are we going to even make it through alive, if we jump on board with these kids' plans? And if we do, what then? What about next month? Next year?
A Hoarse Knight	There's something Infected often say, my friend. It all depends on you. We've got Oripathy. Plenty choose to resign themselves to that... our lives will be short, and they could end at any moment. But at the same time, my thinking is that's no guarantee we'll die tomorrow. As long as we've got so many "tomorrows" lined up in front of us, we should damn well be taking them, fangs out.
<Background fades out and in>
Justyna	Our numbers are dropping. We won't be able to save the Infected like this, Sona.
Sona	I know. That's why we need to find an opening, ASAP.
Szewczyk	Hmph... Where's a couple of Infected-turned-knights' wealth and privilege going to get you in this city? All the money you spend on charity for these Infected, all the meaningless work to conceal them, dragging out their miserable lives in shacks and gutters. The city itself let you have all of this. You've got nothing close to an opening.
Sona	Ahaha, that's real hurtful to hear, Plastic Knight, sir.
Greynuty	What about your family, then, Szewczyk? Didn't the knight nobles win all those entrepreneurs over for you, heart and soul? With the General Chamber of Commerce targeting you, you're no different from us. Take a long, hard look at yourself.
Szewczyk	...Keh... fair enough, we're all trash smashed down to the dirt here. No real difference at all. Your name was Greynuty? The knight nobility have been doomed since the moment all those years ago when the Retainers were established. Don't tell me you hold onto any delusions about your old clan, little squirrel.
Greynuty	......
Sona	(Did you think he'd go for an argument with you?)
Greynuty	You're calmer than I expected.
Szewczyk	Keh. You know what, I'm dying to get out of this place. Heaven knows when you're going to pass that Oripathy around– But seeing how you're not going to die for the next while, let's focus our attention on other matters–
Sona	The Armorless Union.
Szewczyk	The Chamber's scumbag lackeys. I'll give them something to regret. On that note, you're all so willing to face off with the Armorless... so you must have some ace up your sleeve, right?
Justyna	...Area 0. Or in other words, the Grand Knight Territory's Infected assembly and treatment section. A place for Infected healthcare, formed by an alliance of several companies.
Szewczyk	Aren't you Infected knights regulars in those parts? So you tell me. What secrets are the Armorless Union hiding there?
Greynuty	–Slow down, Szewczyk. Of course we've got methods... but that doesn't mean we'll tell you about them just like that.
Szewczyk	If that's what you really thought, Infected, you would've left me in that wretched hospital and waited for the Armorless to come torture me for answers–you wouldn't have busted me out of there. Don't you talk at me like this. We're only here now because we all did what we had to. Would your status alone give you the standing to address me, Ashlock? Or do you think your busting me out means I should be weeping over you with gratitude?
Greynuty	You arrogant noble–
Sona	Uh–alright, alright, I'm not against you two fighting it out here and now. Better right this moment than a stab in the back after the Armorless Union shows up, anyway– –We've been doing this for a few years now, for better or worse... we have ins with some government channels. There's the impoverished and Infected who can't even get by day-to-day, but do you know who else in Kazimierz hates the General Chamber of Commerce?
Szewczyk	...Keh. Either I've gone mad, or Kazimierz has. You couldn't be telling me a ragtag group of Infected are in deals with the Adeptus Sprawiedliwi to take down the K.G.C.C.?
Sona	Ahaha... Look at where you are in life. Look at the knights, Szewczyk. –They went mad forever ago.

After operation

Summary Malkiewicz hears from McKee about "Area 0," and is greatly shaken. Meanwhile, in a match about to start, Brassrust Knight seems to have an axe to grind with an Infected competitor.
<Background 1>
[McKee calls for Malkiewicz...]
Spokesman McKee	A moment please, Mr. Malkiewicz.
[...and he answers.]
Spokesman Malkiewicz	Ah, Mr. McKee. Do... do you need me for something?
Spokesman McKee	It's good to see you again. Have you gotten the letter from the Chamber? The only spokesmen on competition duty for the duration of the Major will be us two... an arduous task, but a gallery of eyes will be trained on us. If you want to continue your ascent up the ladder after you drop the 'spokesman' title, this is your greatest chance.
Spokesman Malkiewicz	Haha... even if you're joking, I'm not really into the attention. I'd rather go off and handle arena event planning and stuff...
Spokesman McKee	Is that your particular expertise?
Spokesman Malkiewicz	It's not exactly expertise or inability or whatever, I'm just...
Spokesman McKee	You're being modest again. You've adapted much faster than any of the more senior personnel. –But I have something else I needed to tell you first. I need you to know in advance. Let's find a lounge to talk in?
Spokesman Malkiewicz	Yes, you're the boss...
<Background 4>
Spokesman Malkiewicz	What is it that needs such secrecy??
Spokesman McKee	I... shouldn't actually be telling you this, but Mr. Czarny left quite hastily. On each Major occasion, Kawalerielki picks three of the cities with the most rapidly developing economies to merge into the Grand Knight Territory you see now. Within the few months following each Major, non-Grand Knight Territory cities aside, the nomadic cities return within their own one-month span to their original routes, following the route engineers' plans. Each merging of the four cities is glorious. Marvelous flows of people, seamless trade relations, as well as the chance... to deal with a few problems. To be honest, if it weren't for how excessively enormous the Kawalerielki Alliance is in scale, how unable it is to effectively move and avoid Catastrophes, and how difficult it is to handle supply distribution and mining... I'd hope to never see the disbanding of the Kawalerielki Alliance. But what I'm going to tell you today is about... mm... an unspoken rule.
Spokesman Malkiewicz	Regarding...?
Spokesman McKee	...The Infected. This year, Mieszko Industrial Group has provided the Grand Knight Territory seven nomadic platforms, to rival other countries' whole cities in scale... of course, this is how it appears on the surface.
Spokesman Malkiewicz	I heard about this from my colleagues.
Spokesman McKee	The main thing we should focus on right now is Area 0. It shows up nowhere on the legal listing Mieszko Industries has given. It is a unique plate–a small-scale nomadic platform, currently linked at the southwest corner, outside Plate #17.
Spokesman Malkiewicz	That's where...
Spokesman McKee	Yes. It's right next to the Infected shelter and treatment center. Do pardon me, Mr. Malkiewicz, but every word we're about to exchange must be on video record. This is by regulation. No spokesperson is permitted to act in any way which would betray the General Chamber.
Spokesman Malkiewicz	...... ...I understand.
<Background 1>
Spokesman Malkiewicz	......
Spokesman McKee	You look pained. I understand. When I first heard of it, I felt much the same as you.
Spokesman Malkiewicz	It's just, this is too cruel...
Spokesman McKee	You are now an executor of the Board of Directors, a spokesman of the General Chamber of Commerce, Malkiewicz, my good man. That's a reminder, nothing more. Of course it's not an admonishment or a threat–haha, Mr. Czarny always did carry that air, didn't he? Get a grasp of it all. Know what he's told you. Do as he said.
Spokesman Malkiewicz	......
Spokesman McKee	I don't mean it that way, Malkiewicz. We have to help each other. You need to chew thoroughly over what I've told you. I'm off to check on a few Knightclubs. Be seeing you.
<Background 5>
Zofia	...Młynar? Are you there? M–
[Zofia enters the room, only to see Margaret.]
Margaret	Aunt Zofia?
Zofia	Oh... Margaret. Why are you still at home? Didn't Maria say you were going to the Knights Association? That girl...
Margaret	It's rote procedure. It won't take much effort.
Zofia	Heheh. You really have changed. Is it thanks to that "Rhodes Island" place? You never were any good with the paperwork side of things before. Do you still remember when you'd just applied to become a knight? Independent knight Margaret Nearl, always getting her documents and processes mixed up...
Margaret	Yes. I'm lucky I had you then, Auntie.
Zofia	*Sigh*... I understand it with Maria at least, but aren't you the same age as me? I spent so much energy getting you to call me by name. We're apart a few years and now that's undone? We can't have gotten strange from each other, can we? Hm?
Margaret	Heheh, don't worry, Zofia. It's just been a long while since I've talked with family like this, face to face. Were you here looking for Uncle?
Zofia	Yes. Is he still at work?
Margaret	Still not home anyway.
Zofia	You know, Młynar...
Margaret	...I know. I'll be civil with him, and I won't blame him either. .So don't worry.
<Background 2>
Maria	Oh... the match's about to start.
Old Knight	Same as it ever was. Turnout's ridiculous. That Bladehelm Knightclub sap there, didn't he show up last year too?
Old Craftsman	Here, forget him, even their Left-hand Knight fell to Maria. What's the Bladehelm Knightclub got?
Maria	Ugh... it was just luck, all luck. It's always embarrassing when they blow things out of proportion.
Bald Marcin	Oh. Seems like "Brassrust" Olmer Ingra's in this match tonight too...
Old Knight	Ha, well-acquainted, aren't you, Maria–
Old Craftsman	–Learn to shut your mouth.
Maria	It's alright, Master Kowal. I've already given up on becoming a competition knight. It just doesn't suit me.
Old Knight	That's what I'm saying! You've got a wide world of options open to you–no need to choose this or that! That's a bit of old-timer advice there! Besides, you've made a mighty fine showing already! Cheers to you!
Old Craftsman	Speaking of, we still haven't done final testing on Margaret's armor, have we? Her last suit had some decent work on it, but it still doesn't fit a Kuranta as big and brave as Margaret.
Maria	Ah... I already started on adjustments myself. I'll need a bit more time. And there's her weapon...
Bald Marcin	When Margaret was new to the knight competitions, she used a warhammer. After that, she switched to a knight's longsword. Halos shone at her blade's edge. Now–she's on a swordspear.
Old Craftsman	Hah! It's a Minoan beauty forged of D32 Steel. The ultimate in Originium Arts conductivity! Really takes me back. She came knocking, asking if I could change her sword out for an easier one to handle–the very first time Old Nearl's granddaughter ever asked a word of me–
Old Knight	Enough nostalgia, Kowal, the Radiant Knight's down in the arena next week. Are you people even helping her?!
Old Craftsman	Repeat that? You think I'm anything like you? Nothing but drink and idle hands all day?
[Kowal and Vogelweide went into a fight, but Marcin ignores them and pays attention to the match on TV instead.]
Bald Marcin	(Brassrust Knight's lined up for... capture the flag? Why's Bloodboil Knightclub squandered an elite knight on such a high-risk low-reward format...) (His opponent is... Oh, they're all small-time Knightclubs...) (...Hold on, there's an Infected knight in this...)
<Background 6>
[A familiar knightess observes the arena...]
???	The main Major matches. Mm-hm. When you became an Infected, did you ever picture a day like this? Ever picture being in this arena, winning yourself more wealth than nine lives could make?
[...together with an Infected knight.]
An Infected Knight	I know... I know. It's been my honor to join Pinus Sylvestris Knightclub, Wild Mane.
???	Hah, just call me by my name.
An Infected Knight	Fine! Once I get that prize money, I'll take you for drinks, Iwona.
[The knightess turned out to be Iwona Krukowska the Wild Mane Knight.]
Iwona	Deal! No one ever drinks with me except Ashlock. Here I was getting bored out of my skull– –Do you still remember the rules of capture the flag?
An Infected Knight	I do. Stay inside the score lines and avoid direct clashes–
Iwona	Hey, that's all the boilerplate Sona teaches you–if you ask me, you smash those noble knights' armor to pieces, you're the champion. Anyone makes for your points, you sort them out. Easy as easy comes, yeah?
An Infected Knight	Ha, hahaha... if I can do it, yeah.
Iwona	Have a little confidence. You don't sound off proper, they won't give you any respect. If you want others looking up at you, it's simple as dumping them on the ground, right? But signs say someone's out for you, hah. Didn't Ashlock beat him bad enough?
An Infected Knight	Olmer Ingra... is he only here to knock Infected heads? He sure has a narrow mind.
Iwona	Kid nobles, pteh. Looks like the Ashlock thing hurt his self-esteem some. Puffed up bags of hot air don't even deserve to stand in the arena. Ugh–man, I'm scrapping. Maybe I should find a chance to beat him up in private.
An Infected Knight	......
[The notorious Brassrust Knight, Olmer Ingra, stands ready outside the arena.]
Brassrust Knight	......
A Voice on the PA	Now–will the knights please enter the arena–
Iwona	Gettem.
An Infected Knight	Alright! The kids are still waiting for us to get back.
[Olmer enters the arena.]
Brassrust Knight	...Gahah. Pinus Sylvestris... The Infected, a living scourge... dares to call itselves[sic] knights? To Hell with you!