Splintered Light
Chapter 4.3: Passing Judgment

The entire day in Tobias' mind had already been filled with enough insanity to last the week but apparently things were not done... not by a long shot.  The Prong Horn was witness to the vast majority of everything that had gone on but there was plenty that happened behind closed doors... such as the understanding that they had a Wyranese Baron's daughter on board, or the almost hour-long conversation in the Captain's cuddy between the officers of the Wave Rider and the three visitors from the Albatross.

Tobias shuddered; the Albatross TWO, he had to remind himself.  The scholar remembered the chaos and upheaval surrounding the failed presentation of the first Albatross and he couldn't help but wonder if it the reuse of the name was some hint at an ill omen to come.  Then again, the Prong Horn knew the man behind the perfection of the air ship mechanism and he believed strongly in Dean Silverfang's sound work and ethical standards.  Then again, Tobias' concerns were merely intellectual and there were very real problems the officers of the Wave Rider were required to address.

All of these thoughts and more ran through the Prong Horn's mind as he leaned against the railing of the ship, Dr. Brownell at his side talking casually about lighter thoughts despite the fact that he was certain she was just as concerned as he.  Suddenly, one of her random musings caught his attention.  "You're doing a lot better lately though, Mr. Severna... no sea sickness in days."

She'd noticed his meandering thoughts; ever since she started referring to him by his given name she only called him 'Mr. Severna' in a professional sense when she was subtly berating him for something.  He cleared his throat and moved his hand to her paw before devoting his entire attention to her and clarifying his concerns.  "I'm worried about what will happen in that meeting.  I mean-- it was good of the Captain to offer the airship crews a place to meet, but I can't help but wonder if it's smart getting involved like this."

The Mouse gave his hand a light squeeze.  "If it's not alright then we'll figure it out, Tobias.  We have to believe that the worst is over and that we're going to get resolution out of all this."

Considering how it had been his job to keep her calm earlier, Tobias couldn't figure out what suddenly changed that their positions were reversed.  Rather than let his apprehension disrupt her suddenly optimistic outlook he smiled and gave her paw a return squeeze.  "I'm sure it will be.  Alistair seems like he has his act together, and the Wave Rider is just serving as neutral ground."

Christine leaned forward and gave him a kiss on the cheek.  She let go of his hand and made her way back toward the hatch leading below deck.  "Since there's nothing to see here and I still have patients I'm getting back to sick bay.  Let me know how things turn out, alright?"

Tobias smirked, glancing over his shoulder as she walked off and he used the opportunity to give the Mouse a taste of her own formal medicine.  "Of course, Dr. Brownell.  I'll have a report ready for you by this evening."

She MIGHT have responded with "Smart ass." but he wasn't completely certain, especially since he remained in the shadow of the two massive air ships hovering a reasonably short distance off toward the horizon, hitting just the right angle to block the sun.  A motored boat had departed from the two, bringing representatives from both vessels to the Wave Rider-- over a dozen combined.  They'd joined with the officers from the Wave Rider and disappeared into the ship's meeting room; Tobias had seen it, and was willing to wager that it was probably quite packed considering all of the people in attendance.

The command team from the Wave Rider sat in on the meeting, which gave Tobias a degree of comfort considering the risk of holding such a delicate gathering on board.  Alistair and Ash-Moon were presiding over the meeting and they brought Willem and Rolf with them; the scholar knew his brother would have quite a story to tell once everything was over.  Although Jacques also joined them, Karl was assigned to look after Lady von Kriedesburg, but Tobias was confident that five officers from the Wave Rider would be sufficient to keep the peace.

All of that consideration was put on pause when the door everyone had entered opened and he saw his brother Rolf exit.  The older Prong Horn glanced around until their eyes met, and Tobias was surprised when Rolf waved him over.  The scholar stepped around the crewmen between them and moved quickly to where his brother stood.  "Everything okay?"

Rolf nodded.  "Sure is, budder... but the Captain wanted to have one more from the Wave Rider in before the meeting concluded and the Albatross II's captain suggested you."

Tobias was taken aback.  "Me?"

The Bosun nodded, waving him inside, speaking quickly in the short distance it took for them to get from the door to the meeting room.  "He recognized me as your brother and asked for you.  Apparently his orders came from Dean Silverfang and you were on 'a list' of some kind... so... yeah: Captain Jacksoni said to come get you."

Having also been on board the Joshew for the meeting early in the day so he recognized most of the people present.  Captain Clarke, who had originally had an air of command and superiority about him looked far different clasped in shackles, but that more-important-than-you aura still hadn't gone away.  Likewise in chairs were the first mate and bosun of the Joshew; the Ram was definitely faring the worst out of everyone with foam caps on his horns, a black eye, and a bloody lip while the Falcon was merely seated with a neutral expression firmly etched onto his beak.  With them was a Shepherd Dog with whom Tobias was not familiar aside from a singular instance of catching sight of him aboard the Joshew.

Captain Alistair did a fine job of introductions in that regard.  "Gentlemen and ladies, this is Tobias Severna, who, as you know, was asked to sit in as a representative from one of the University's deans, Dean Roland Silverfang.  Mr. Severna, this is Edmund Clarke, Sager Vergesse, and Aescwin Lightfeather, all of whom you've met before.  In attendance are also Maximilian Rusck, the Joshew's cheif engineer and Soyrian representative Ruslan Borovich, who had been stationed aboard with them.""

Tobias looked around the room when one more individual was introduced than he saw.  It took a moment before he spotted the Snow Leopard lounging in the only arm chair in the chamber; a seating chair stationed against a wall usually reserved for Captain Jacksoni when he was preparing for a meeting.  Ruslan wasn't so much seated in it as he was lounging, with one leg up on one padded arm and the other swinging free off the end.  The feline smiled in his direction, eyes focused wholly on the Prong Horn. "Sdravstvuyte yeshche, Mister Severna."

Something about the predatory gaze from the noblemen left Tobias feeling even more ill-at-ease about taking part in the meeting.  He returned the greeting, but expanded the target audience.  "Hello... gentlemen."

Rolf moved to take a seat among the other representatives from the Wave Rider, located closest to the door, motioning to the representatives from the Albatross II across from him.  "And ladies as well."

Tobias looked to the men (and indeed women) from the flying ship and he saw that more than one member of the female sex was present; in addition to Professor Davies there was also a middle aged Dog who was still quite fetching despite being into her middle-years.  The Golden Retriever was seated next to a male counterpart, and had they were joined by a young male who appeared to share many of their features despite also having some obviously mixed parentage.  The Prong Horn didn't have to wonder for long as Captain Aleski introduced them.

The Tiger motioned to the two Humans of the group first.  "Professors Edgar and Laurelai Davies you've already met in passing, Master Severna, along with their leonine traveling companion, Mr. Fare.  The Albatross Two also sent a number of their overseers."

Tobias nodded to the Humans and Lion, introducing himself formally by his pre-ratification field of study.  "Tobias Severna, formerly WSA."

Alistair smiled as each of the three nodded in return greeting and then motioned to the three Dogs. "This is Professor Prindt Gald, of the UPU, his sister, and nephew.  The Professor focuses in applied science, I believe?"

The male Golden Retriever nodded with a polite smile, adding a chuckle at the end of his elaboration.  "Applied sciences and cross-field studies... formerly ASA, I suppose you could say."

Tobias nodded.  "A pleasure."

The Dog then went on to introduce his two companions.  "And may I introduce my sister Cythess and nephew Clarke-- no relation to the esteemed former-Captain."

The clarification of not being related to the Coyote seemed entirely unnecessary, but Tobias was willing to overlook it at what was possibly off-beat humor.  The Prong Horn felt a little put-out being introduced to everyone when they were obviously already in a meeting but he resolved to weather it for the sale of polite discourse.  He acknowledged each of the other two dogs amicably.  "Miss.  Young Sir."

Once introductions were completed, Tobias took a seat next to his brother, who sat at the end of the table with the rest of the Wave Rider crew; that left the scholar with the seat at the foot of the table opposite a Coyote that wasn't Edmund Clarke.  The man gazing at him was impeccably dressed though his choice of clothing was mundane and low-born and, while his fur was meticulously styled it was done so with an eye for function rather than showing off.  He also had a ready smile despite a very distinct acuteness to his gaze.  "Captain Jessen Lazarus of the Joshew.  A pleasure to finally meet you, Master Severna."

It was, in fact, not the first time Tobias had met the Coyote; he recognized Jessen well enough, though the last time he recalled meeting the man he was a Templar among an order of disciples to an unpopular sect that was hunted by the Church.  It seemed strangely fitting that the Coyote found his way to the University, but the man's assumed family name caught him off guard.  Still, there was one thing he found even more surprising.  "Captain of the Joshew?"

Captain Jacksoni answered for the Coyote.  "In light of recent events, Captain Clarke has been relieved of duty and Captain Lazarus has been ordered to take command of the Joshew and return it to the UPU.  Captain Lazarus and his advisor Alvis will be staying with us this evening before taking command of his new ship.  The Albatross Two's First Mate will be taking control of that vessel and both are scheduled to head back to Lehsunia tomorrow morning."

Alvis was another name Tobias knew well-- better than Jessen, in fact, and much of the stress of the moment disappeared immediately; he was able to trust the newcomers.  One thing did linger in the Prong Horn's mind.  "It sounds as thought the talks are complete.  May I ask was I invited if everything is settled, Captain?"

It was the male Professor Davies who answered the question.  "Technically you are not employed by the Wave Rider, which means you are a neutral affiliate to the University.  As such, all parties here agreed that having you present for the conclusion to the meeting would be useful as a neutral observer to whom the University can look for an unbiased view of the proceedings."

Tobias cleared his throat and sat up a little straighter, realizing finally that he did have a specific, formal purpose.  He offered a confident nod, feeling much more at-ease in a professional capacity than as a guest to negotiations.  "Very well.  I am ready to hear the findings of this gathering."

The former captain of the Joshew spoke first.  "I, Edmund Clarke, under no duress or compulsion have acknowledged that the actions taken by the Joshew were under my orders.  The majority of all souls aboard acted in good faith to orders that were not issued by the University without understanding that they were acting on my will alone.  The exception with regard to those acting knowingly against the University's wishes are exclusively here in this room with me."

The Ram to the Coyote's left scowled.  "I, Sager Vergesse say yeah... I knew what I was doing and I knew the University wouldn't approve... and I'd do it again.  Wyra is a blight on the world and they don't understand anything other tha--"

He was silenced when Professor Gald gave a tug on a chain leading to his shackles.  "That's enough, Mr. Vergesse."

Aescwin's feathers puffed up when eyes went to him and the neutral expression on his beak wilted slightly into a scowl.  He looked down at his shackles as he spoke.  "I, Aescwin Lightfeather acknowledge my actions as my own, undertaken of my own free will.  Edmund told me what he wanted to accomplish and I approved.  I acted of my own free will and purposefully kept the real purpose of our journey a secret from the crew.  They followed orders without knowing that our mission was opposed to the will of the University."

Next to the Falcon the Shepherd Dog, who was not in chains, folded his paws in an almost sympathetic impression of the men beside him but the hard line to his jaw suggested that he was disgusted by them.  "I, Maximilian Rusck attest that I did not know of the deception as undertaken by the commanders aboard the Joshew.  I acted in good faith based on the assumption that our orders came from the University.  I have been unaware of the majority of actions taken by our Captain, First-Mate, and Bosun as they have willingly and actively deceived the crew, excluding the mercenaries here in this room, who have done the majority of what I am now understanding to be atrocities."

The Dog sell sword, who was lingering in a corner of the room near Ruslan sneered.  "Sure... when all else fails you can throw the mercenaries overboard."

Alex, the Human of the pair silenced him. "Shh.  We'll get our chance."

Captain Lazarus looked to the Human.  "And now you have that chance.  You are welcome to speak on your behalf, sir."

The Human did just that.  "Captain Clark hired us for a University appointed task.  We signed on thinking we were doing work for the institution, not the individual... different rules apply for institution work."

Tobias had never particularly liked mercenaries, and that went well before his unpleasant run-in with the no-longer-in-service Order of Blades.  The idea of selling loyalty for money and killing others for coin seemed wrong on a number of levels.  Regardless, the Prong Horn was never one to pass judgment, but, hearing Alex say different rules applied when being hired by a group rather than a single person left a bad taste in his muzzle.  He managed to avoid speaking up, but just barely.

Davit closed up the commentary from the mercenary duo. "We didn't know the Captain was a liar.  we don't work with liars."

Captain Lazarus looked to Tobias.  "Both of these men are licensed and bonded.  They were under contract that was written, even if it was misrepresented."

The Prong Horn lost his ability to keep quiet, and he pointed at the Dog sell sword.  "He shot two defenseless women."

Davit glared at him.  "Cuz I was ordered to... not cuz I wanted to."

Tobias' scowl deepened.  "In the head."

The Dog's expression shifted to match the Prong Horn's.  "The pistols shot em, not me."

The scholar looked to Captain Lazarus, pointing at Davit as he did so.  "That man pulled the triggers."

The Coyote sighed, lowering his head for a moment before looking up.  "Yes, he did... and he was ordered to do so by Edmund Clarke.  You can blame the bullets for those womens' deaths as easily as you could blame the pistols as easily as you could blame the trigger puller as easily as you could blame the man who ordered the pistols be fired.  What we are required to do in this case is to find the one responsible and, despite being the executioner, this mercenary is responsible only because he accepted a contract that required it of him."

Alex spoke up quickly when Jessen paused.  "A misrepresented contract."

Rolf grabbed Tobias' wrist and pulled him back down into the seat, whispering into his ear once the scholar was planted firmly in the chair.  "They went over all this already, Tobias-- you're just here to witness the decision... now shut up."

Tobias planted his elbows on the table and crossed his arms in front of himself, gritting his teeth as he heard the full littany of charges presented against the minority of people from the Joshew.  Edmund, Sager, and Aescwin would be relinquished to the Wyranese court and the rest of the Joshew's crew would continue to operate it under the command of Captain Lazarus and his first-mate and advisor Alvis.  The 'remaining crew', however, did not include the men in the room, and that left Ruslan, Max, Alex, and Davit unaccounted. 

In addition, due to the command restructuring of the two air ships they would be required to revise their crew rosters... and there was also the matter of the Baron's daughter.  Despite having had so much time together the meeting of ships officers and UPU Professors still didn't have all the answers, but they were okay with that.

The Baron's daughter had expressed an interest in returning home but she did not like the idea of being on an airship.  With the contract between the sell swords and Edmund Clarke voided that left them without passage or work; the Davies couple and their Lion companion had expressed an interest in sea travel; Lord Borovich's status as a representative was voided by Edmund's deception; and Maximilian was no longer commissioned as a chief engineer.  According to the gathered council the answer with regard to them was left up to Captain Alistair Jacksoni, to take or leave as he would.

Tobias had a few words of wisdom to offer but they were unneeded; apparently the Tiger already had his mind made up when it came to every last one of them.