Rainblade-Ryalors Private Zann's Alley/Backyard Sic Semper Impeccabilis

[Dusk Rainblade]

Dusk watched her sister dissecting the information placed before her, that keen, analytical edge to Tanya in display in the subtle tension of her shoulders and arms, like a dagger ready to be drawn. That was good; that was the beast they needed to pull this off. Not the Addled Admiral, nor the Crazed Captain, the Mad Minister, nor any of the other appellations that had been affixed to Tanya like disservice medals, but the Last Quartermaster - that was the beast who would shift the balance of power in the Imperium.

"The goal is fairly simple," Dusk stated, topping up her own cup of tea. "We are going to remove the current Minister of Niceties and replace him, if all goes well," she nodded to her squirrel friend, "with Orina." She glanced toward Tanya, adding, "Do you remember how I mentioned I have a grand-niece at court? Mileya, sweet girl, bit of her mother's temper. Once there's an unexpected vacancy at the top of Niceties, I can induce her to advocate for Orina's appointment. She'll undoubtedly anger so many in Amarone by doing so that the Empress will go along with it for the sake of her own amusement."

She sipped at her tea before continuing, "Before we can get there, though, we need to remove Kilaris in such a way that his death doesn't point at either myself nor Orina. Here we have ideas, but nothing concrete. A false flag operation, disguising you as, say, an Alkamarian assassin, might play so well, though that would come back on my outfit for failing to prevent it." She grimaced as she set her cup down. "Perhaps it should be a threat that is more interior, one that Niceties, had they listened to Orina, might well have anticipated and dealt with themselves. Perhaps a rogue, radical vulpine supremacist?"

 

[Tanya Keltoi]

Reaching for her cup of tea, Tanya blew on it lightly before taking a sip in reflective silence. Acquiesing to this job was a a decision not to be taken lightly: not only was every assassination at such a level loaded with personal risk, but installing a new Minister was no small matter. Dusk was an intelligent vixen and she was inclined to agree on the need for change but still it felt prudent to do a little digging herself on this current MinoNice later. Any change of Minister came with its own unique challenges but it would be interesting to see how Bully Harbour responded to a woodlander in office - especially these supposed vulpine supremacists.

"If you don't want anything pointing at you we'll have to be careful about an obvious assassination," she mused. "Much as I like to take credit for bein' good at my work, no amount of disguise save one hard to work in is going to stop beasts seeing a short vixen - especially if you're pointin' claws at vulpine supremacists. Anything too obvious runs a risk of beasts confusing me for Dusk unless the situation places you very ovbiously near this Kilaris. A knife or an arrow runs risk of things going wrong unless poison's used, and if we fail a second attempt'd be even more difficult." A sip of tea and she chuckled. "See, now if it wasn't so useful making it a public spectacle I'd just say we look at making his death look like accident or illness. Still, creatin' a little bit of a stir sounds like it could well help get you where you need to be. Per'aps you can spin it like you say that Orina could have prevented the attack, and having a competent woodlander running Niceties could be reassurance to the city that the supremacist movement won't be tolerated, that sort've thing. Seems like it's the Ministry to spearhead change, after all."

Nodding to Orina she watched the squirrel over the top of her tea cup. "I've got two questions to start: one is about Kilaris. Can you tell me much about him? He a paranoid sort, jolly sort who pays little attention to detail, got any interests or hobbies, anything we can capitalise on? Second's about your ongoing support: Dusk mentioned Mileya could vouch for you, but what about your general relations in the Ministry? You have enough support to carry this through longer-term or are there any other voices against you we might need to consider?"

 

[Orina Emberkin]

Orina leaned an elbow on the arm of her chair and swirled her mug of tea. "Afton Kilaris is a rat from old family money and influence in Amarone. He's young--early thirties--and utterly self-obsessed. He's pleasant enough on the surface, but he's vain, naive, and easy to control. He's also wildly idealistic and has numerous grand plans that never seem to come to fruition. When he's not politicking he fancies himself an actor and playwright. 'Gates, he even has a birthday coming up in which he intends to debut a monologue at the Opera House as the culmination of a grand celebration of himself and his accomplishments." She stopped, tapping a claw on her knee in thought. "Put a pin in that as I answer your second question, but we should circle back to that event.

"I have solid and unwavering support from the Unsmudgeables. Within the Ministry, I've garnered favor with beasts on every level of power who will back me. I believe I have enough backing to outweigh the other two vice ministers, especially given direct support from Amarone." Setting her tea down, Orina steepled her fingers. "Of course there is the issue of what I am. While Niceties has been publicly at the forefront of pushing for woodlander integration, there are those within the Ministry who would balk at the concept of one in such a position of power. They will use the excuse that it is too much too quickly, that I could never be accepted or taken seriously, or would be outright and violently rejected by the Imperium. Truly they are bigoted and afraid of vermin being replaced."

She scoffed and shook her head. "We will have to make enough of a statement to overpower their objections. I like where Tanya was going with the concept of showing the public that I would not have allowed such an event to occur. Perhaps I can capitalize on my history with the Unsmudgeables and my loyalty to the Ministry for over three decades to help sway public opinion. Because Niceties is--both fortunately and unfortunately--the one Ministry where public opinion actually matters to them."

 

[Dusk Rainblade]

Dusk listened to the plan formulating, her mind turning over the pieces in her head. "I'll admit, Orina, you're far better at the public relations business than I am," she allowed. "If I'd been put in Niceties instead of Misanthropy, I'm sure I'd have committed either suicide or regicide - though the security surrounding the Empress makes any attempt at the latter an execution of the former." There was a certain note of grim humor in her voice that hinted at such acts having been considered extensively. "If, to Tanya's point, it is necessary to eliminate the other vice ministers so that you can install your own beasts, it is paramount that an attempt be made on your life as well, Orina. That concerns me greatly." She took a sip of her tea before explaining, "The trouble in faking an assassination is that it's far too difficult to make it convincing. Miss by too much and it looks obviously faked; aim too close, and the word 'attempted' is stricken from the next day's headline. So, I think that taking Kilaris out alone and relying on public opinion, your backing, and the weight of narrative to carry the day is the safer play.

"Nonetheless," she allowed, "this is going to be a bit tricky." She glanced to Tanya and added, "If you don't mind working with others, I have two beasts who are among my most trusted operatives - indeed, I consider them both candidates for my Director's Men. If you don't mind kitsitting two young MAUL agents, I might assign them to back you up - in whatever manner you see fit, of course. I'd be quite interested to hear your opinion of them as well." Having the Last Quartermaster herself assess Matisse and Yaro would actually be quite useful to Dusk; if she was going to trust them quite literally with her life and the security of the entire nation, she needed to be absolutely sure that they were up to the job.

"As for making the case privately to the Empress," Dusk continued, "I'm quite certain that Mileya will be up to the task. I'm sure that, in the wake of an assassination by the paws of vulpine supremacists, the cowards in Amarone will be calling for the Empress to roll back the past decade's gains in woodlander rights - which is why Mileya's argument that the Imperium should double down on those rights will bear fruit. The Empress cannot afford to look weak, and nothing projects confidence more than appointing a woodlander to a position recently made vacant by those who hate woodlanders the most. As long as we do not overplay our paw, within a day," she glanced to Orina, "you will be picking out curtain colors for your new office."

 

[Tanya Keltoi]

Another slow sip of tea and Tanya drummed her claws against the cup with a rhythmic clinking. That Orina had a solid base of support was heartening to hear, and though she was only getting to know the squirrel the way she spoke of the current Minister painted a picture of her values as a reflection. Dusk's comments on the Empress then caused the vixen to utter her own quiet noise into her teacup, expression turning childish for the briefest moment. Her sister had put down a challenge: one Tanya was not stupid enough to take but one she wagered on herself regardless.

"Aaah don't go saying a staged assassination is too difficult," she chuckled dryly, "we could make that happen if it came to no other option. Be far easier though if we don't and see if you can't swing those vice-ministers around to your side, Orina. Failing that, well...Some chemicals can be slower acting. Nothing to say one of them can't develop a little somethin' which takes them out of office for a while after the fact."

"For support," she nodded to Dusk. "You're the Ministry and the mind for propaganda, you'd know far more'n me about how to make it all happen with wider reach in the city. Reckon you could work up a few good stories with what you've got so far. As for inter-Ministry support, what're your thoughts on getting a statement or two from yourself and the other Ministers to the effect of acceptance? Being a fox yourself some public support in the face of a vulpine supremacist attack might reflect well, though equally could look placatin'. As for your agents, I dare say there'll be plenty for them to do once we nail down a solid plan and you let me know their areas of experience. Be good to have paws on the ground familiar with the city as it is now."

Setting her cup down, the vixen seemed to pause for a moment. "Ultimately, my work ends at seeing this Kilaris dead. It's goin' to be in your paws to take it from there, ladies. As it stands a few on the ground know I'm back but I'm still as good as a ghost in the higher circles. Be a risk to make this my way of returning considering my reputation 'case beasts put two an' two together, so the way we do this needs some thought." She inclined her head to Orina. "Supose we start at location: you mentioned a party. That sounds promising. Big sort've event by the sounds. It well known in the city, the sort to attract attention? He generous with his invites?"

 

[Orina Emberkin]

Orina listened to the sisters plot. Impressed as always by Dusk, she was not surprised by the wit and strategic mind of her sister. Though she was certainly wiling to sacrifice her well-being with an attempted assassination if it would further her goal, a plan that avoided such necessity was, as Dusk and Tanya also concluded, superior. She was pleased Dusk was willing even to offer two of her agents to the task of assisting Tanya, should such assistance be needed. Not that she was concerned about the Minister of Misathropy's dedication to the plan, but it was certainly a welcome offer.

She considered Tanya's questions. "Kilaris is holding the party in the Opera House. All of Niceties is invited, as are all the Ministers and higher-rated Captains of ships and Factions. He's pulling in anybeast from the Philharmonic who wishes to perform as entertainment. Of course plenty of nobility and anybeast with money and influence is invited as well. So," she shook her head. "It will be a security nightmare. In addition to on-duty Smudgies we'll have Guard and Fogeys stationed both inside and outside the Opera. But even with that, we can't possibly cover everything. Honestly, we could not ask for a better opportunity. If I were a better beast, I might have reservations about killing a beast on his birthday, but he's about eight years too late for me to care enough about such things."

 

[Dusk Rainblade]

Dusk smiled over her teacup, a slight malicious glee in her eyes. "In some cultures, it is considered auspicious for a beast to die on the date of their birth. None that are anywhere near here," she allowed, "but they're out there. Really, if anything, Kilaris should be thanking us. On his own, he'd be just another mediocre Minister of Niceties, forgotten within two years, if that. Now he'll get to be a martyr for the cause of a species-progressive Imperium. I would say that's a far nicer present than he'll get from anyone else."

 

[Tanya Keltoi]

"Remind me not to cross you two any time near m' nameday," Tanya laughed, the dark tip of her brush curling in amusement. "Still, sounds like an act of compassion, eh? I'd hate to stand in the way of making history. Per'aps you'd even be so kind as to commission a play for him after the fact: I hear that's where real immortality lies nowadays."

It felt, strangely, like coming home to be indulging in dark jokes surrounding such a violent act. She had pursued the work for most of her life but in the absence of the Imperium and the beasts she had come to trust it had become an increasingly isolating profession. Jobs had been lower-level and short-term, single kills for a middle-class client or two: rarely had she been conspiring as she was now since her younger days. It was exciting.

Still, that didn't mean she could afford to be sloppy. "So security is going to be high. Could work with that as another angle after his death - how he encouraged so much security for his guests at the expense of himself, bless. I'm thinking an arrow or a knife is going to be hard to use in a space so crowded." She tapped her chin in thought, quiet for a moment. "Kilaris one who likes his wine or the odd fanciful bit of food? If he's an indulgent sort it might be we start even sooner, get a poison in him before the party, timed that he goes down that night. Not visually stunning necessarily, but would save on some of the tactical issues an' make it easier for most involved to show their faces an' have an alibi."

 

[Orina Emberkin]

Orina let out an audible snort of laughter at the jokes made by the sisters. Yes, she had chosen the right vixens to ally with. It was refreshing, really, being able to be so open about such things. Not that she thought herself a murderous or bloodthirsty sort--she had been an Unsmudgeable, after all--but there had always been too much tiptoeing around the practicalities of her job, too much paw-wringing and oversight by beasts who simply didn't know how to most efficiently get a job done.

"He will be indulging all day prior to the party, I expect," Orina answered. "A long acting poison could work, provided we can get it to him and only him. He's not an overly cautious sort, though those in his circle will be watchful.

"You're right in that there will be a crowd, but there will be a time when he's separated from others. He has a monologue planned; I've heard it's nearly twenty minutes long in its current iteration." The squirrel could not keep the exasperation from her voice. "Something about dictating his life and accomplishments and how Niceties has thrust the Imperium into a new era of prosperity. It may be an opportunity to take him out in the most dramatic way possible for the greatest effect."

 

[Dusk Rainblade]

Dusk let out a small, thoughtful "Hmm," at one of Orina's comments. "Tanya," she inquired, looking to her sister, "are there any substances that are harmless when consumed initially, but become toxic in the bloodstream when a second substance is introduced? My thought was that, if timing was an issue, and if we wanted a precaution against collateral damage, we could introduce one substance earlier in the day, then, during his speech, we could spike his wine or water with the second. Each one harmless by itself, but murderous in combination. That would also help to disguise the trail of his assassination."

 

[Tanya Keltoi]

Brows raised as Tanya listened, evidently appreciative of their input as it sparked further ideas they could toy with. There were multitudinous routes they could take, each with its own risks and rewards; that they were making a public spectacle was, in itself, a deeply risky business even if necessary for the discourse it would generate.

"I think splitting the poison might be wise, and it's somethin' I can do, just got to work out what will act with the right timing" she agreed. "Be smart to keep elements of his death divided and cover the tracks. That can be done, can even be insurance if anything happens an' he doesn't, say, take the second part. Might still slow him down enough to take him out another way, though I'd prefer that he pegs it mid-speech. As for meself, per'aps I can attend in uniform for one of your Ministries once it's all been placed, keep me head down and spread a rumour or two once it's happened about who we saw sneaking around kitchens or near Kilaris."

Sighing, she rubbed her muzzle, and her expression became increasingly sombre. "That does leave us with the issue of the scapegoat. I know you wanted this pointed at the supremacists, but what's the play there? They intended to be a forever mystery only you, Orina, would have known about with the added resources, or do you two have names and faces you're pointing this at?"

 

[Orina Emberkin]

Orina glanced Dusk's way at Tanya's question. "There have been various attacks within the Imperium by the supremacist movement. To the public they are seen as a loosely organized group, but we've been gathering information on them for a time. I believe Misanthropy recently came into possession of documents that illuminated more of their leadership structure, including names, correct?"

 

[Dusk Rainblade]

Dusk nodded in confirmation. "Thanks to a number of agents, and the acceptably competent work of my son, we have more insight into their structure and backers," she remarked. "While many of these gangs work as seeming rivals to each other, they appear to share many of the same backers. We're still working on determining the identities of all these backers; we've long suspected the Vermillion Nobles for one, but have never been able to pin them to anything. I have my best analysts on it.

"In the meantime, we just need to make it look plausibly like a vulpine supremacist attack. Sadly," she added, her voice turning downcast, "that may require some collateral damage. The supremacists are not known for either mercy or consideration... Especially after they made an attempt on Talinn's life."

 

[Tanya Keltoi]

Worrying her lip in absent thought, Tanya's eyes unfocused for a few moments as she tracked a few options. That there had been an attempt on Talinn was interesting - telling, perhaps, why Dusk was keen to make them the focus of this work also. It was not for her to chase then and there.

"Alright, so how's this: we get the first poison into Kilaris in the morning at his own home, some insurance that he'll at least be unwell come night if the second part goes awry. Should be easy enough to slip something into a bottle delivered that morning or some such. That night, the second part is spiked to a number've the crowd, maybe his enteourage. Again, on its own it shouldn't be lethal but it'll make 'em sick overnight and kill the Minister, keepin' their heads down whilst you make your case. I can intentionally leave some've my fur in the kitchens and make a hash of some exits on purpose so it looks like a fox was pokin' about. You two can spin up a logical chain've thought from there and put the focus onto you, Orina. Beasts'll forget worryin' overmuch once you're in. If he don't drink the second part of the mixture I'll have to do somethin' bolder. Paws crossed it won't come to that. It'll be a tragic old mystery, but one which won't happen again with such a bright squirrel so well-versed in the practicalities of the job, eh?"

 

[Orina Emberkin]

Orina shifted forward in her seat with a quiet clicking of the mechanisms within her prosthesis. "Dusk is right; we may need more collateral damage to make this look like a wider attack rather than one simply targeting Kilaris. Certainly the double poison route seems to be a viable option, and I do agree that the second dose should be doled out to more beasts. However, we may wish to give the first dose to more than only Kilaris to avoid suspicion that he was the sole target. I can provide names of beasts who would also be useful to have taken from the playing field." She rubbed at her chin in thought.

"While I would prefer to not fall ill myself, it may be unavoidable if we're to keep suspicions off of me. Considering I'm the highest ranking woodlander in Niceties, I would be a target for the supremacists. I may need to take the second poison at the party and keep my head down while I let Dusk work with my supporters during the acute phase of the upheaval to garner Ministry-wide support for me."

 

[Dusk Rainblade]

There was a moment, as Orina discussed the possibility of having to take one dose of the poison herself to evade suspicion, that the vixen briefly considered how easy it would be to slip her friend the first dose as well. The entire senior leadership of a rival ministry, decapitated in a single night. Even Vladimir Ulyanov had never accomplished that. Then her senses caught up with her and, to her surprise, she actually felt shame over the thought. That was certainly something new; she'd had faint icky tendrils of guilt start to worm their way into her stomach over the past decade, but full, ear-drooping shame was something different entirely. Perhaps having Tanya back is taking more of a toll than I thought, she reflected. That, or Thistle's admonitions are getting to me.

"We can certainly work a propaganda op on your behalf," Dusk confirmed. "We have a few operatives in the supremacist groups we can leverage to spread confusion about just who carried out the attack, even as we unite the groups against you. With them decrying the idea of your ascent, we can have a few of our more highly placed agents begin to advocate in your favor. Before long, we can make the idea of a woodlander minister seem daring, even avant garde."

Dusk glanced to Tanya, adding, "Can you get the first dose of the poison to him earlier in the day, or should I have my agents at your disposal to help deliver the first dose?"

 

[Tanya Keltoi]

Orina was a bold one. Tanya nodded her approval at the squirrel’s inclusion in the scheme. As far as she was concerned broadening the targets would not be an issue; there was plenty of time to get the plan implemented and already she was calculating dosage and type of poison. All told it wouldn’t be an impossible task, if the rest could all be accounted for.

She regarded her sister for a moment, a flicker of curiosity as she stared at Dusk’s inscrutable face before the question was asked. “I’ll handle the first dose personally,” she replied, “but if Orina can supply that list for the others who need to be dosed up, I’d not say no to a few paws getting the rest down. Depending on their areas of experience I’ll doubtless have a use or two for them past that and all.”

 

[Orina Emberkin]

"I can write up a list, as well and their residences and general habits of comings and goings." Orina picked up her tea and took a sip. "I have two Stealthblades who I trust to bring in, should we need them."

She motioned to Dusk. "And I will entrust several Songblades to working alongside your operatives on advocacy. They've already been doing some of that work for me without knowing the full extent of my plans. I am certain they will continue to advocate for me once Kilaris is gone. So," she turned to Tanya. "If I am to get the second dose, what symptoms should I expect and how long will they last?"