Serenity for Some

It had taken the better part of two weeks for him to get there. A trip that could have happened in hours if taking a simple straight line from point A to B took supremely more as he was routed from Yggdrasil to Trapper to Livenstein to Panzeria to who-can-pronounce-it-anyway in the Bastian Dominion until finally arriving in the Lucius System. He wondered if such a circuitous route was necessary to ensure his anonymous entry, but that had been a decision made way above his pay grade.

The Intelligence Service had been working on infiltrating the Most Serene Republic of Lucius since the conclusion of Heraklean-Christanan War. The original intention had been to maximize the efficacy of an invasion, but as is often the case in the intelligence field, that purpose has shifted. With the government of Lucius aligned with the Christanans, Heraklea has needed to pursue a new tact. Which is why he had been sent.

There were no official records remaining of his existence. Every document had been purged judiciously when he was recruited for intel. He had been in the program so long he didn't even really remember his name. He thought of himself as his code name. It made it easier to step into and out of his cover identities, in this case Ezio Michele.

Ezio Michele was the psion of a wealthy trade family from off world. He was a drinker, a gambler and a womanizer. Anyone giving him a cursory glance would also see a predilection to making friends of a disreputable nature, which meant when he could fit right in with the dive that his briefing listed as a likely contact point for the more militant wings of the Abolitionist movement.

Ranger James Lantfold rested his head on his hand bored out of his mind. All he did was direct authorities to possible slaves who were ready to strike. He hated his job, he was against slavery but it was in the best interests of Christana to aid these slavers.

Fact of the matter was that he hated this planet with all his being, they made him dress up like Robin Hood so he could fit in with everyone else. The other rangers were not happy about the uniform change either but it seemed command would make them do whatever they had to if it meant keeping relations good.

The alarm rang, it was time for the daily patrol. 10 rangers would be sent are sent into the slums and made sure that the slaves aren't cooking anything up, James would go with his men to make sure everything went smoothly.

He walked out the door with the rest of his men and walked to the slums.

Ezio Michelle smiled at the stone faced Christanans as he passed them on their way to the slave slums. That's one point in the Lucians' favor, he thought. They make the Christanans look particularly stupid. He continued his stroll for another two blocks before turning into the door of a rundown bar.

“Ah, I like the look of this place. Barkeep, libations for everyone!” Some of the patrons looked at Ezio a bit askance, but for the most part the bar's patrons greeted his entrance with welcome. After all, the patrons were not particularly well to do, so anyone willing to help them get drunk for less money out of their own pockets was quickly a friend.

The bartender couldn't care less. After all, the drinks were still payed for, so he set about pouring them for all of the patrons. Ezio accepted the last of the drinks and took a long draw from it.

“Oh, yes my friend, that is the good stuff. Barkeep, tell me name of this ambrosiatic beverage.” The bartender eyed him warily.

“Santigo Drought.”

“Santigo Drought. I love it. Do you have the contact information for the producers of Santigo Drought? I want an account with them.”

“Why, starting your own bar?”

“No, no. Nothing like that. I'm with an off world import-export company. I believe with a brew this tasty, I can find markets for it all over Korel. Hell, I'll give you 2,000 Lira for the information.”

“Come on, Benny,” called one of the patrons jovially. “Give him the information.” The bartender nodded.

“All right. I've got it upstairs.”

“Lead the way.”

* * * * *

“I've got it right over here.”

“It's fine if you need to look for a little,” replied Ezio. The bartender looked back at Ezio. Ezio mouthed 'Keep talking.'

“Yeah... I guess my office is a bit of a mess,” the bartender said carefully as Ezio began moving around the room, tracing his hand along the walls near the ceiling.

“Don't worry, I'm often the same way.” Upon completing his brief tour, Ezio lifted a device from his pocket and applied it to the door way. It projected a field over the door, and Ezio turned back to the bartender. “Now we can be sure no one is listening in on us.”

“And why would that be a concern?”

“Because you're part of Lucian Liberation Army and I'm with Heraklean intelligence.”

(OOC: You mind if I put a fairly big psycho liberation group within the whole movement?)

OOC: Sure.

“You must have been drinking already tonight, friend. Although I can't fault you for imagination...”

“Please, Benito. I didn't come here by accident and I'm not here to put you and your cause in danger or make life harder. In fact, just the opposite. Heraklea wants to offer you help in your revolution. Material support, training, financing and personnel operating discreetly in Lucius.”

“Alright, I'll indulge your insanity for a moment. Why would Heraklea want to help a bunch of Lucian slaves?”

“You mean besides our well documented stance against slavery? Well, to be honest a big part is that the Lucian government has signed a deal with the Christanans who, you may know, Heraklea has very cool relations with. A deal that will lead to greater union under Christanan dominance which leaves 'a bunch of Lucian slaves' in chains, I might add.”

“So, Heraklea wants another puppet.”

“Not a puppet. A free state. We want a partner in our efforts to end slavery in the galaxy and deal with the Christanans.”

“If you're so fired up about regime change, why don't impose it on us? It's not like you people haven't done that before.”

“True, we have aggressively pursued regime change in the past, especially where governments that support slavery are concerned.”

“So why not do that now?”

“Because of that aforementioned deal with the Christanans. If we attack, it starts a war that we want to be especially certain we'll win. Besides, any government we ally with here will be much more stable if change comes from within. If this war goes to the Christanans, your victory may never come. Promise to help us, and we will help you.”

“And what exactly would your government want in return?”

“Plenty. But the main want will be basing rights. Lucius is a well positioned to launch an invasion in either direction when it comes to it. We want to make sure that when it does, it goes in the right direction.” The barman leaned back and considered Ezio.

“I think that's something a new government of Lucius would be willing to support.”

The LLA was progressing. Ezio was rather impressed with how effective its main fighting force was. Then again, they were determined fighters. Every one of the core group was a runaway slave with scars from and grudges against the slavery system they were fighting. He had to wonder what they might be able to do with equipment more like what the HSMC equipped their people with.

He also had to admit (although only to himself) that he had not even considered the possibility that one of the most outspoken and staunchest defenders of slavery in the Lucien Great Council was actually a major supporter of the LLA. In fact the underground facility they were in was located beneath his plantation. A base of operations so above suspicion would be very valuable.

Ezio was fairly certain that Benito the barman and Sansone X, the ex-slave leader of the LLA, didn't actually trust him. Not fully at least. Neither of them were fools, and only a fool would believe they knew the extent of Heraklea's intelligence operations in Lucius. Still, they recognized the benefits of a relationship with Heraklea so, at the very least, they were willing to work with him. And it's not like any mistrust for him had been spread to all of the people he had brought with him. In fact a number of the LLA soldiers seemed to have become quite taken with the ex-marine from Jotunheim...

* * * * *

Erik (and that was the only name he gave) was working through his morning katas. His controlled movements demonstrated an innate grace that seemed out of place on a man who stood over two and a half meters tall and whose muscles had muscles. His face was intense with concentration as he carried on his morning exercises. The mores sedate movements soon gave way to higher speed punches and kicks that blurred through attack combinations on phantom opponents. A fine sheen of sweat covered his body when he finished. Pietro, one of the runaway slaves Erik was training, handed him a towel.

“I keep meaning ask about your tattoos, Erik.” The large Heraklean looked at Pietro.

“They are symbols from my faith. I am an Aesatrite, also called an Odinist. I worship the Aesir, the All-Father Odin and his children.” He indicated the two birds on his pecs. “These are the ravens Huginn and Muninn. They fly throughout this world and gather information for Odin. They tell him of my deeds so that when I die, the Valkyries will carry me to Valhalla.” He then indicated the hammer that stemmed from his chest down to his abdomen. “This is Mjolnir, the hammer of Thor, greatest of Odin's sons. It commands the forces of nature for those with the strength to wield it. I have many other such symbols, as well as my runic charms.” He began touching the various places where the runic script was on his body. “Protection from harm, success in battle, healing, wisdom. I even have one here,” he said as he indicated his upper thigh, “for lovemaking.”

“Fascinating. Although I don't really have much use for gods of any sort. There's none I know of that do anything for me and my lot.”

“The Aesir are not just gods. They are heroes who come to our world to join us in battle in times of great need. When your uprising begins, Thor will join with you, for your heart is brave and your cause is just. Live and die as a man of honor and you too will know pleasures of Odin's table in Valhalla.”

“I've got some more supplies for the cause,” Ezio said to Sansone.  The ex-slave looked over the crates the Heraklean spy brought in.

“This is Lucian army equipment.  Uniforms, even.”

“I had noticed that, yes.  Inferior maybe to what we can supply you, but it should be helpful when the time comes.  With legitimate equipment, you may be able to sneak your people onto a base or something.”

“We'd still need identification for that.”

“Don't worry.  I've got specialists coming in just for that.”

“Specialists, huh?  More Herakleans?”

“Former slaves, actually, from some backwater in Western Korel.  They're part of a movement we've dealt with previously.”

“I'm guessing that it's an abolitionist movement.”

“Indeed.  They're also officially designated as terrorist for the way they treat captured slavers, so our involvement has to remain under the table.”

“Forgive me if I don't shed a tear for some poor tortured slavers.”

“You're in a different position.  You get to support whatever anti-slavery movement you like.  As a country founded on law and order, we don't get that freedom.  We have to be more circumspect about who we openly back.  Besides, this particular group is on the bad side of a major power.  That could spell all kinds of trouble.”

“Fair enough.  I also apologize if it seemed somehow I don't want your government's help.  We appreciate it, I assure you.  It just seem like you already are influencing my people quite a bit.”  Ezio followed Sansone's eyes.

“You mean Erik's religious study?  I can speak with him if you want me to.”

“No.  He isn't proselytizing.  My people are asking, and he is answering.  That sort of thing is part of the freedom we're fighting for.”

* * * * *

“Odin, you see, is not just a god of war and victory.  He also holds dominion over wisdom and poetry.  He sacrificed an eye to drink from Mimir's well that he may gain the Wisdom of Ages.  He wanders too and fro that he may see all lands and give reference for the tidings told him by Huginn and Muninn.”

“And what of Thor, Erik?” asked Pietro.

“Thor!  Greatest of Odin's children.  He is the god of skies and storms, nature and fertility.  He is the guardian and healer of men.  He grants us strength and joins us on the battlefield as our champion.”

“Have you ever seen Thor, Erik?” laughed one of the former slaves.

“No, I have not.  Thor comes only when most needed, when the battle is most desperate.  I have yet to face such a fight, but we may just here on this world.”

“You think our chances are that poor?”

“I think you face an army better equipped and trained than the vast bulk you hope to recruit when the revolution begins.  Still, it's not so bad as all that.  I shall stand with you in that fight, and I assure you I count for much in a battle.”

IOC: give me a bit, been busy looking into schools)

Mangini Plantation, Lucius I

Claudia was well loved by the slaves on the Mangini Plantation.  A kind girl who would often bring water and bread to the poor souls toiling in the fields.  She had come to fields to do just that, and as always the guards began harassing her.  Today, however, they were particularly belligerent.

“Come on, Claudia.  Why do you keep going out to those animals, huh?”

“They're not animals.  They're people, with needs just like you and I.”

“Oh, so they take care of your needs, eh?  What, do laborers have the nice big cocks needed to satisfy you?”

“You are a pig.”

“Oh no, Claudia.  I am man.  More so than those field hand fucks.  Here, you can feel it.”  With that, the guard grabbed Claudia's wrist and forced fer hand to his crotch.

“Let got of me!”  She wrenched her hand free then slapped the guard's face.  “How dare you treat me like this.”

“How dare I?  How dare you!”  The guard pounced on Claudia and began groping at her as his companion laughed.

“Let go of me!” she cried as she struggled against his hands.  A sudden force collided with the guards head and he fell off the woman and sprawled on the ground.

“Claudia, are you all right?” asked the slave.

“I'm fine Paulo.”

“You just hit me,” snarled the guard.  “You're fucking dead, slave.”  He raised his gun and pulled the trigger.

“Paulo, no!”  Claudia interposed her body between the guard and Paulo, and it jerked twice as she was hit.

“Claudia!”  Paulo caught her body as she fell.  He looked into her eyes but already the light of her life was gone from them.

“She got in the way!” the guard shouted frantically.  He turned to his compatriot.  “You saw it!”  He turned back to Paulo and said “her death is on your head, slave.”  Paulo looked up at the guard and released a low growl.  He lept at the guard and hit him again.  This time as the guard fell, his head struck a sharp rock that embedded itself in his brain, killing him instantly.  The second guard raised his own gun and shot Paulo in the chest.  He leaned over his fallen comrade.

“Oh shit, he's dead.”  The guard looked up and realized that the other slaves had gathered around the gate and had seen the entire affair.  He could see the seething anger on their faces.  The slaves hefted their tools as they began approaching the guard.  “Oh shit.”

Nearby, a Bastian under the human name of Glaber had been observing as well. His official cover was the observation of Lucian agricultural practices for the benefit of the Dominion. His real purpose was the documentation of slavery in the area and how to possibly use that to bring the Republic to Bastian control. After remarking to himself of the coincidences that life presents, he saw this as his chance.
"Come quickly," he told his translator and bodyguard, Xarn, as he hopped the fence and made his way around to the guard's rear. "Hello there." That would presumably be the last words the guard would hear before Xarn disemboweled him with his claws.

(OOC: For those not in the know, Xarn is a Sobekian, a species best described as talking deathclaws. They are the "linguist species" of the Bastian Dominion, as they can understand the Neithian language and speak the Bastian one, along with human languages. The Neithian language is "spoken" in colors with a combination of stripes racing across their heads. What makes it difficult for humans to understand it is some of those colors are in the ultraviolet and infrared range. But yes, anyway, talking deathclaws. Ten feet tall with big sharp claws that can tear through armor.)

Mangini Plantation, Lucius I

Other guards rushed to investigate the shots.  The first to arrive witnessed the scene and immediately raised his own weapon only to be struck by a quick thinking slave who gabbed one of the fallen guards guns.  The other slaves took the example and began equipping themselves and cut down four more guards.  Fourteen of the slaves now carried a firearm, and others had grabbed the guards melee weapons.  The slaves then looked between each other and the Bastian interlopers.

“What do we do now?

"We sack this place! Kill the masters! Kill the guards! Break the chains of every slave here! This is the beginning of the end of your oppression!"
Xarn translates.

(OOC: I'll name somebody Spartacus later.)

LLA Headquarters, Lucius II

“Sansone, I just got word from Lucius I,” said Ezio as he quickly approached the LLA leader.  “The slaves on the Mangini Plantation are revolting.”

“I haven't heard anything about that.”

“The government is suppressing the information for now, but they're mobilizing the Lucian army to deal with it.”

“Son of a bitch.  This is too early.  We don't have everything in place yet.”

“I don't think we have a choice.  If this rebellion is crushed, we may not see the will for another for a generation or more.  Look, the Liberation Army is your movement, okay?  I'm just here to provide support.  Victory right now is a lot less certain than I would like, but we can win.”  Sansone considered for a moment.

“Let's do it.”

* * * * *

“Erik!” called Pietro.

“Make it quick, Pietro.  We need to get moving.”

“Summon them.  Summon Thor and Odin to our cause.  We need their strength now.”

“They will come when we strike at the enemy.”

“Is there no way to gain their blessing before hand?”  Erik looked at the man a moment.

“I will give their blessing.  On the way.  Now move it.”

* * * * *

The former slaves were gathered around Erik in the back of the truck, all dressed in the uniforms of the Lucian army.

“Wilt thou renounce wickedness?” asked Erik.  As one the LLA troops responded.

“I shall renounce it and punish those that turn to it.”

“Wilt thou live a life of honor?”

“I shall live and die as a man of honor.”

“Wilt thou renounce faithlessness?”

“I shall renounce it and break no bread with oath-breakers.”

“Wilt thou live a life of duty?”

“I shall give homage to the Aesir, service to my leader and protection to the weak.”

“Wilt thou renounce cowardice?”

“I shall renounce it and stand above the craven.”

“Wilt thou live a life of bravery?”

“I shall defend to my last my brother, my body and my virtue.”

“Then may Odin teach you wisdom,
Thor gird your strength,
Sif fill your fields,
And Freyja give you love.
On the day you finally fall,
May the Valkyries carry you
From the battlefield to Valhalla.”

* * * * *

OOC: Mood Music

* * * * *

Lucius City, Lucius II

No one knew that the delivery man was once a slave on an asteroid mine.  No one knew the boxes that supposedly carried meat for the cafeteria were really filled with explosives.  No one knew that the LLA had identified the kitchen freezer as centrally located point that would guarantee the destruction of as much of the building.  No one knew what hit them when a bomb was detonated in the heart of the Ministry of Commerce.

* * * * *

Torino Plantation, Lucius II

The hidden communication device alerted the field slave that the time had come.  He was worried that there wasn't any warning, but he gathered his friends anyway.  They quickly prepared their ambush.

“Hey, guard.  I have something to say,” the slave shouted as he walked up to the group.

“And what would that be, slave?”

“That I'm a man, not some beast of burden, and I will no longer be treated that way.”

“Really.  That's what you have to say?”  The guard drew his weapon and pressed it to the slaves head.  “Anything else to say before give you a new hole?”

“No.  I've said my piece.  Now I can do this.”  Quicker than the guard could expect, the slave shoved the gun arm up and twisted, stealing the gun from the guards hand and shot him with his own weapon.  The other guards immediately moved to attack only to be ambushed from behind.  The slaves looted the bodies and turned to the their astonished friends.  Holding a gun aloft, the leader began to shout.

“Freedom!” he called.

“Freedom!” his friends answered.

“Freedom!”

“Freedom!”  Slowly the other slaves began joining the chant.

“Freedom!  Freedom!  Freedom!  Freedom!”

* * * * *

Port Borgia, Lucius II

“What have you got?” asked the sentry.

“Reinforcements for the port.”

“Alright.  Bring them in.”  The convoy of trucks rolled into the port and began dispersing immediately.  A handful approached the control tower while another went to the hangars and a third traveled to the armory.  Time so that each arrived at roughly the same moment, the doors on all the trucks suddenly flung open and LLA fighters spilled out.  Lucian soldiers were caught by surprise and were quickly cut down.  The sentries were overpowered and soon the LLA was in possession of the military base.  The contents of the armory were loaded onto the trucks to be sent out to the various rebellions occurring across the continent.

* * * * *

Serfton, Lucius I

The police had moved quickly into the slave ghetto known as Serfton as soon as word of the Mengini Plantation revolt had reached them.  They imposed a twenty four hour curfew on the slaves and began patrolling the streets.  Already scuffles between the police and slaves had been reported and now a nexus of roads had been occupied by the residents, standing across from the police shouting insults at the officers.  The riot guard began marching towards the mass of slaves.  One of the multitudes of slaves flung a bottle at the police which shattered against his helmet.  The police started firing into the crowd, a severe miscalculation for even with all the deployed police in Serfton, there was still twenty slaves for every officer.  Instead of being frightened into submission, the gunfire broke the dam on the rage of the slaves.  The flood of slaves ran over the police, their vehicles were overturned, and in their anger, the slaves moved on from the broken police force into the city proper.

Glaber looks over the victorious ex-slaves at the Mangini Plantation and the stock of food, weapons, and armor they liberated. "Good quality arms. Not Bastian arms but they will do for now. I will be acting as your liaison with my leadership. Choose a leader among yourselves."
When the ex-slaves did, he asks, "What is your name?"
"My name is..."
"No. Don't tell me. We need a new name for you - one to strike fear into the hearts of slavers. I name you... Spartacus. He was a gladiator in the Roman Republic on Earth. He and his gladiators rose up and made the mighty Republic tremble before him and his army of slaves."
He takes him aside and says, "We will be receiving a shipment of arms shortly, though the location is not yet determined. We need to find a secure location to act as our base of operations. Once we have it, we will strike at the nearest plantations and liberate the slaves there."

OOC: Sorry for the delay.  Work tempo is picking up something wicked.

Lucius City, Lucius II

His Beneficence, Tristano Liggio de Lucie, Patriarch of House Liggio and Doge of the Most Serene Republic of Lucius, strode imperiously into the board room where his cabinet was waiting.  The Assistant Deputy Minister of Commerce for Trade was seated where the Minister of Commerce should have sat, but the late minister had been killed in the blast that destroyed the Commerce Building earlier.

“Tell me some good news.”

“Don't have much, I'm afraid,” said Councilor Amelto Torino de Lucie, the Minister of Defense.  “74% of all slave ghettos are in open revolt, as are 63% of all plantations and 18% of all asteroid mines.  An additional 14% of the asteroid mines have gone completely dark.  It's probable there was some sort of revolt on them, but we don't have any further intel.  It's possible the managers shut them down to stop the insurrections, but that's just guess work.”

“Wonderful.  I suppose it's too much to hope they have no citizen support?”

“Not just citizen support.”  The Doge raised an eyebrow.  “I have confirmation of four commanding officers refusing our orders.  They've locked down their commands and are not responding to hails.  Seven other commands appear to have mutinied.  Those ones have begun equipping and fighting alongside the slaves.  And three of our bases have been overrun by rebels.  The numbers get worse with a lot of the local police departments.”

“Is there any good news?”

“The LCPD and the local army garrisons know who butters their bread.  We can rely on them at least.  They've cordoned off the ghettos here in the capital and have begun rounding up the slaves and forcing them into the ghettos.  It's making some people angry, we've got protestors outside the barricades, but we are still mostly in control of the city.  Lucius III has had much fewer insurrections, and what few have occurred have been successfully crushed by the army.  But good news isn't important right now, I'm sure you agree.”

“I suppose.”  The Doge turned to look at another member of his cabinet.  “Any word from the Christanans?”

“None I'm afraid,” replied Councilor Silvestro Cecilio de Lucie, the Minister of Foreign Affairs.  “Aligning themselves with us was never particularly popular with their public, and with the more conciliatory tone they are taking with Heraklea and their allies while focusing their attentions elsewhere may they may have simply decided to cut their losses.  If that's the case, I can't see the Herakleans sitting this out.  We can't stop one of their expeditionary fleets with our own forces.  Hell, the only thing keeping them out has been Christanan protection which it seems we can't count upon.  If the Herakleans invade, they would be able to hand this system to the rebels in a matter of hours.  That's assuming the military doesn't realize how hopeless a fight it is and choose to surrender the system and us to the bastards.”

“Damn it all.”  The Doge paused to consider.  “I'm exercising my emergency powers.  As of this moment, martial law is in effect throughout the system.  Any slave caught in insurrection will be immediately destroyed.  We will ensure our security by proceeding systematically.  We will consolidate our hold on all areas that we still control, then move district by district.  Until the situation has been stabilized, I want the capital purged of all slaves.”

“There are over a million slaves in the capital,” interrupted Councilor Torino.  “We don't have the resources to move them to holding facilities outside the capital.  In fact, we don't have the holding facilities.”

“You aren't listening to me Amelto.  I want this city purged.  Every slave withing the city will be destroyed.  All owners will be compensated for the destruction of their property as soon as the crisis has been averted.”

“Of course, your beneficence.”

In the meantime, Spartacus' army continues to swell with plantation slaves. In addition to "appropriated" Lucian arms, intelligence from any who survive will notice some of the slaves using Gauss weapons of Bastian origin and even a few Rhean blaster rifles, particularly the ever popular E-11 blaster rifle used by the Rhean Army. (The latter might not mean anything, though, since they are plenty of them available on the black market.) They might detect some activity on the fringe of the system as well, in the form of ships briefly popping out of hyperspace and use of transporter technology to send something in. Once powerful enough, Spartacus' army will march into the slave ghettos in support and attempt to rally them to him as their leader. They spread propaganda through the rumor mill and tell the tale of the original Spartacus, the escaped gladiator who made Rome tremble before him and his army of slaves. They end with the same lesson: even the mighty Republic bleeds when struck.

(OOC: Just going to add a small post. Not going to get fully involved just work from the sidelines)

*The Ordenreich had been keeping tabs Lucius through the Arcanii Network but despite being opposed to slavery they really could do nothing to intervene. Lucius was outside the Ordenreich sphere and the new Writ forbid Ordenreich military intervention on any small time powers outside the Ordenreich sphere and the new government was opposed to any foreign intervention beyond support which meant that ground troops were near impossible. However, the Ordenreich thought that it needed to intervene in some way and after much deliberation it found a way to intervene without violating its own laws. Using the Arcanii Network, they would secretly begin feeding supplies, weapons, and information gathered from stealth frigates that would soon be secretly entering the system. Very soon Ordenreich small arms (too tired to be specific but just think halo style weaponry using mass effect technology) and food and medicine supplies began being spotted within rebel controlled areas with a very simple message attached to it, "Use as necessary." Within the next couple of days the Arcanii stealth frigates would begin secretly orbiting the Lucian homeworld and providing the rebels with troop movement information and other important strategic information*

To: The Government of Lucius

From: The Council of Christana

As the situation has grown more and more dire, Christana will not be able to sustain the current Lucian government. Our troops will be ordered to evacuate the planet and stand by. We give you this one and only chance to decide. We will protect you physically and international by evacuating your nobility and upper classes and relocating them to a new planet in which the Lucian government can live undisturbed. If you deny this offer, we will still evacuate just without any Lucian citizens.

Lucius City, Lucius II

“Can I help you?” the woman asked as she opened the door to the two policemen.

“Sorry to bother you ma'am. Are you Estella Santi?”

“Yes.”

“Ma'am, according to Piazzo Labor you purchased a slave six months ago, does that sound right?”

“Yes, but I had to sell him on seven weeks ago. Financial difficulties. You understand.”

“Of course ma'am. Do you have the documentation of that sale?”

“Not handy, I'm afraid. I keep such documents in a safety deposit box.”

“We understand. Do you remember who you sold it to?”

“Some private dealer, I don't remember his name. Why is this important?”

“We're tracking down all the slaves in the city ma'am, just making sure that they are obeying the curfew order.”

“Well I'm afraid I can't help you any further. Good day, officers.” Estella shut the door and turned and began breathing deeply to calm herself. Her slave Peppino came down the stairs.

“Mistress, I don't understand. I should go to West River like the government ordered.”

“You will not. You will stay right here where I know you're safe.”

“Mistress, you lied to those officers. If they find out you will be in big trouble. I don't want that to happen to you.” Estella walked to Peppino and grabbed his arm.

“I don't care. You heard them, they are rounding up all the slaves in the city. With what's going on right now there are no reasons that are good for you to be in that ghetto. So you are staying right here with me until this ends one way or another, do you understand?”

“Yes mistress.”

“Good.” Estella hugged Peppino. “Come hold me awhile. Make me feel safe.”

* * * * *

LLA Headquarters, Lucius II

“I gotta say Benito, I'm really envying this Spartacus guy his body count,” said Sansone.

“Don't worry. There are plenty of patricians our people are putting into the ground, but taking prisoners is a better proposition in the long run. That's one thing Ezio is right about. Makes us look more magnanimous and reasonable to the rest of the galaxy, which will be important after our revolution succeeds. It also encourages the patricians to surrender instead of fighting to the death. That should shorten the war also.”

“I suppose. So how do we handle him after the revolution? There are going to be plenty of people who will want to put him in charge.”

“Given how bloodthirsty he seems, that would probably be the wrong move. We would need to honor him somehow, maybe give him some position that seems important but has no real responsibilities. An ambassadorship or some such shit.”

“We'll see.” Sansone saw Ezio running over to them. “Ezio, what's happening.”

“We just got some fresh intel from the capitol. They've barricaded the ghettos and they are getting ready to exterminate all the slaves.”

“We have to do something,” said Benito. Sansone nodded.

“Send in Erik and his, what is it they started calling themselves? 'The Sons of Odin?'”

“Sounds about right,” replied Ezio.

“Send them in to open the barricades. Let the slaves flood the city.”

* * * * *

Fort Venezia, Lucius II

“General, take a look at this.” General Igino Spigarelli looked at the intercepted communique.

“God damn it. The Doge is really going to bomb the capital.”

“It looks like sir. What do you want to do about it?” Genereal Spigarelli shook his head

“I don't know.”

“Sir, if I may. If this slave revolt is crushed, all of us will be charged with treason anyways for our insubordination. Since that's the case, I think 'in for a penny, in for a pound,' would be a good policy.”

“Dammit, you're right. Give the order. Intercept the bombers.”

* * * * *

Lucius City, Lucius II

“Amedeo, where are you going?”

“I'm going out, mama.”

“Why are you going out there with all this chaos. There's a slave riot going on.”

“It's not a riot, mama. It's a revolution. Those people are fighting for their freedom.”

“So let them fight. Who want's to keep them from fighting? I don't want to keep them from fighting. I just want you to stay home.”

“Well I can't mama. This day is going down history and I don't want to have to tell my children that today I cowered in my home. I want to say that I took a stand. And that's what I'm going to do.”

“Amedeo! Amedeo, no! Come back, please! I don't want you to get hurt!”

OOC: Will do more later if I can.

Glaber and Spartacus, in the meantime, are actually expressing a bit of frustration in their inability to keep their followers from taking revenge on the patricians, though for different reasons. Spartacus wants to keep them alive as hostages to potentially ransom while Glaber, though also desiring ransom, largely doesn't like the idea of killing aristocrats, given that he kind of is one. He's able to keep those closest to him from pulling that but he can't oversee everybody. In any case, once the Sons of Odin open the gates, his army will flood the city. He is also attempting to get open Bastian support in the form of air power in addition to the much-needed aid the Ordenreich is sending them. Before the opening of the gate, he gives a speech. "Come with me and take this city!" Not the most eloquent of rousing speeches but eh, it'll do.

(OOC: Yeah, the name Glaber is ironic, given that he was the first Roman general Spartacus defeated. Stannis from Game of Thrones/A Song of Ice and Fire, more or less.)

(OOC: Just a reminder, you slave RPers have Ordenreich support)

(OOC: Have not forgotten. Come to think of it, Spartacus' group will try to court the Ordenreich and the Bastians when the revolution is over. He will be no easy puppet to handle. Will edit to include stuff in the previous post, though.)

OOC: Wait a minute, Sparticus is on a different planet. Lucius City is on Lucius II while the Mangini Plantation where Sparticus's story started is on Lucius I.

(OOC: Oops. Redacted those parts, then. Dunno what to do further.)