Arlie_B "Hoy, Captain Bloom, Cogswell said you might want a word?"

Dionysus He looks to you, "Aye?"

• Arlie_B leans in close. "Something about a mutiny?"

Arlie_B he grins

Dionysus He sighs.

Dionysus "Damnable space ship."

Dionysus "Aye, dammit. I won't have it, lad."

Arlie_B "I'll tell my people to shut up about it if it helps."

Arlie_B "I hope you realize the lengths we had to go to in order to top this fine craft."

Dionysus He shakes his head, "They spend all their time when we're here working on it. All of them wanna gae. It cannae hold 'em all, anywa."

Arlie_B "So you're coming? I need a full count for the preparations."

Dionysus He shakes his head, "Nae, lad. I dunnae want them tae go. I want ye to tell 'em they cannae gae. Get yer Chancellor tae order 'em tae stay. Anythin'!" He growls.

• Arlie_B stops what he was going to say.

Arlie_B "You've been a great help to us, and I don't want any ill will. But I can't keep someone from going to the moons if they are needed and crazy enough to go."

Arlie_B "The final decision lies with Sue."

Dionysus He sighs, "Look ye, make some arrangements with 'em. Maybe take only a few, if ya have tae."

Arlie_B "Appeal to him, he'll have a better idea about who we need to take."

Dionysus He nods, "Aye, I'll talk to wee inky, then. But the crew'll listen to ye, if ye talk to 'em."

Arlie_B "To their own peril. I'll arrange the conversation with Sue when he returns. You can tell them that, that might keep them calm for a bit. Thanks for the advance warning."

Dionysus He nods.

Dionysus To Damon now?

Arlie_B yes

Arlie_B when he's shown in, he begins with "Feeling better?"

Dionysus Damon looks up from his desk, then smiles, "A fair bit."

Arlie_B "Sue says that the ship is less than 2 months from completion, we just delivered some lead there today."

Arlie_B "I figure we'll be embassadors of Maraddon, so I'll be asking the moon-bear if there is anything we should bring for trade or gifts. Aside from that, do you have anyone you want on the ship?"

Dionysus He nods, "I'm having Klaus handpick a crew of Torches to go with you."

Arlie_B "Good, Cogswell is handling the magical charms for now, have Klaus give him a final number so he can make the preparations."

Arlie_B "Also, I have an update on the Aurelia situation."

Arlie_B reports.

• Arlie_B pauses after reporting.

Arlie_B "If I ask what's on my mind next, I'll be the most horrible friend to Aurelia."

Arlie_B another pause.

Dionysus "He'll have four other Torches with him. What's that?"

• Arlie_B swallows. "Is the child a risk?"

Arlie_B "Do you intend for it to come to term?"

Arlie_B "Avery says he can change the child's manner, but if he can't..."

Dionysus Damon nods, "Viollca is in the city. They're talking right now, I imagine. The Emperess took her & Ranna to meet Aurelia not half an hour ago."

Arlie_B "If you do decide to act against the child, I might not be the man for the assignment."

Arlie_B "She knows and reads me too well."

Dionysus He grunts, "I will never harm a child, Arlie."

Dionysus "Nor even order it done."

Dionysus "Not now."

Dionysus "Albert is back in Namarc right now. You might visit him. He knows the Lost Gods well."

• Arlie_B nods gravely. "Perhaps he can find a third road."

Arlie_B "Sue has gained more powers, but has shown no change in demeanor, except for perhaps confidence."

Arlie_B "If there is a void moon like they say, I might have to leave the thaumasine behind in order to avoid confrontation."

Dionysus "Wrap it in velvet. That will muffle its nature."

Arlie_B "Noted. I'll pick up some before we go."

Arlie_B "If that's all, I'll leave you to the paperwork." grin.

Dionysus He grins, "There will probably be more, but we have time."

Arlie_B "The Bloody Moon, Damon! I'll bring you back their version of a salad fork."

Arlie_B "I'll keep sending reports."

• Arlie_B gets up to leave, then goes to talk to the Tsukikuma.

Dionysus He laughs.

Dionysus He's at the ship in port, arguing with gnomes.

Arlie_B what parts can I understand?

Dionysus It's in Maraddonian, theoretically, but... Maybe a few of the words.

Dionysus The tsukikuma grunts, looks to you, & spits, "What do you want?"

Arlie_B "You've lived on the moon and here on Shem. What do they need up there? What would be good for gifts or trade?"

Arlie_B "And was that Maraddonian you guys were speaking?"

Dionysus He considers, then says, "Your foods would be exotic to them. Your gold. No gold on the moons. Your cloths are different from ours. Basically, everything but silver & rock & quartz & mushrooms, really."

• Arlie_B laughs. "They have mushrooms? Bizarre. You might need to brief us all on what to expect before the trip."

Arlie_B "How much space will we have in the hold?"

Arlie_B "Is there a weight limit?"

Dionysus "I'll write a fucking poem. There's about a hundred fifty cubic meters of hold space. Weight limit is ten thousand tons, given the thrust of these engines, if we get that uranium. Holds about twenty five normal people. Thirty if we're all my size."

Arlie_B "How many are needed to crew the ship?"

Arlie_B "And what skills? Do you have everyone you need?"

Dionysus "If you don't mind, I'll pick the crew. I know this stuff pretty well. Should get by with about eight, if I can get everyone I need."

Arlie_B "Are you thinking about taking anyone on the airship crew?"

Dionysus "Yep."

Arlie_B "If you can, let me know so I can soften the blow to the captain."

Dionysus "I'll get back to you on that. How about my uranium?"

Arlie_B "The mages are making it as we speak. The estimate a couple of weeks.

Dionysus "Well, the sooner the better."

Arlie_B "I assume you don't need magical help to survive on the Moons? I'll prepare charms for the crew. The band has access to a Cosmos Gift that will allow us to breate."

Arlie_B s/breate/breathe/

Dionysus "You know, every stupid question you ask me adds another hour to how long buildin' this thing takes me."

Arlie_B "Aye aye captain."

Dionysus He glowers in his little moon bear way.

Dionysus Where to now?

• Arlie_B heads back to the ship, for now. Where is Namarc?

Dionysus On the other coast, straight shot by train, two days. Or a few hours airship ride.