Late Fort Fall 2816 - Historic Thread

[stolenhart]

"Their denial is ridiculous, unfounded and completely unwarranted", Z'fet said firmly, pounding his fist into the table. The Weyrleader's wing, the wing that had gone South to politely ask for their gold egg, was gathered around the table. All thirty three of them had went as a show of support for their Weyrleader and to show their pride in the Weyr. The medium sized bronzerider, the wingsecond to the wingleader, was outspoken in his opinions and this was no different. "How dare they? Haven't we done enough for them over the Turns?"

"You are only angry that their gold is the product of a Northern dragon", the aged Weyrleader replied, shifting in his seat. He'd lost his Weyrwoman just two turns ago and still he missed her calm voice in these proceedings. Z'fet grimaced, the gold egg was the product of his dragon's winning the flight. "And they promised to give us the clutch, but a gold egg on the Sands and now we have to wait until their Sr. Queen rises? That will be two turns away! And who's to say they'll give us that clutch either? No that gold is ours".

"And what do you suggest Z'fet? We steal it? We are no Bitran holder to trick and thieve our way to a gold egg. They will give us our dragons eventually, their absurd honor code will demand it of them", the Weyrleader said. He sounded so sure and yet he was so naive. Z'fet could only stare at the old man in consernation. "I will think on our next course of action, it could be the Southern Weyr will yet come around", he saluted his riders and walked from the room, leaning heavily on his cane.

Z'fet set his mouth in a grim line, "Please tell me that if I go forth to take our gold egg from the Southerners, I will have riders with me?"

[shouriko]

Ever since becoming a dragonrider she had strived for everything that was possible. To her, it didn't matter if she rode any dragon at all, so long as it was a dragon. In the end, she had impressed green and her dear Vareth had been equally ambitious. They loved their Weyr, they loved their fellow riders even though sometimes they were frustrating beyond belief, and they loved being one of the rare Wingseconds who were both female in dragon and human form. She had fought so hard to get to this point and she had supported everything that their Weyr had done and even the association with Southern Weyr she had agreed upon. If she knew that they would refuse this clutch, she would not have given her vote for it.

Gazing at her folded hands, a new resolve built up inside of her. She stood up, her chair sliding back as she did so and she knew that she was the first to do so. Intently staring at her hands on the table, they spread apart and she turned her sights to Z'fet. He was a fair man and would want to be treated fairly. Afterall, didn't he support her becoming a Wingsecond? He was right. This was not fair to the Weyr or to him and she would indeed help him.

"I will go." She said. "You will have the wing support of Vareth and Ceres." Her hazel eyes burned with the firmness of her decision and the truth in her words.

[Femisis]

As much as he loved discord and arguing amongst fellows, this was getting ridiculous. All this ‘they owe us’ and ‘we owe them’… They were arguing circles around each other with no end in sight. Ci’ero sighed and briefly massaged his forehead before returning his attention to the matter at hand, the clutch. He folded his arms across his chest as he leaned back against the wall before pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose. As a Bronzerider and Healer (He had a couple more people to kill before he became Weyrhealer, but that was another job for another day.) he had quite a bit of standing in the Weyr. He might even make Weyrleader in a few years, but that depended on one thing.

How dare you doubt me. Sephiroth practically purred in his mind. When the time is right I will win, no sooner, no later. The Bronze assured him.

Ci’ero couldn’t help but smirk a bit at that. He could always tell when Sephiroth was boasting or making promise and he was serious this time. He was strong enough and vicious enough to win regardless of any influence on the Weyr, but could they stomach the pair as leaders? A half-mad healer/scientist who had a tendency to kill people he didn’t like and his equally mad Bronze?

“Sephiroth and I will join you.” He said finally from his place against the wall. “You will need us if you want to reclaim those eggs.” He really didn’t CARE about the bloody eggs, really (Maybe the gold just a teensy bit, but the rest was moot.). He and his dragon were itching for a fight, to be honest, and they were going to make one. That, and he wanted to be there if Z'fet died. He REALLY didn't like the man.

[stolenhart]

Z'fet glanced over at the wingsecond and the fellow bronzerider who had volunteered. He could already see others backing away, any plan with Ci'cero in it made people tend to think twice. But Ci'cero was a good man in a fight and Z'fet didn't doubt they would have a fight on their hands. And Ceres? She'd only gotten her spot because the Weyrleader had gone soft on her, but she knew her stuff and Vareth would be good for his plan.

"If you are going stay and if you are staying go and if any of you that stay breathe a word of this to the Weyrleader I will personally kill you, is that understood?", he met each and every pair of eye of the fifteen individuals that had decided to stay. And none doubted his reckoning. Z'fet was from one of the longest unbroken lines of dragonriders in the whole Weyr, from queens and bronzeriders all the way back to who knew when. His family had been a part of Telgar Weyr, turns ago and then a part of Ista and in his father's time a part of Benden. Now his family had one home left and he wasn't about to lose it and go South to deal with honor-bending dick-heads.

"When the Weyrleader goes South to try for the egg again, I will go with him", he began laying his plans out. "Ci'ero you'll take these riders and stay on the coast. If they don't give us the egg, later that night Vareth and Ceres along with myself with sneak onto the Sands. I'll take the gold egg while Vareth keeps the gold at bay. Ci'ero it will be your job to make sure the both of us", he fixed the bronzerider with a stare, "get out safely. You will also head up protection here in the North until the egg Hatches and Impresses".

[shouriko]

Ceres took her seat once more. She eyed Ci'ero after he had volunteered so casually. He was so cocky it was nausiating. Besides, all he wanted was some kind of a bloody battle complete with guts spilling out all over the sharding place. Ceres didn't trust him, but it seemed she would have no choice and even if she voiced her concern, no one was liable to listen to her.

Ah, but I listen. Vareth piped up. The green was the strong silent type of female who was occasionally flighty, but always dependable. They had the undeniable skill of being fast and sturdy and able to move quickly in and out of danger.

Ceres was happy to have the reassurance, but she already knew that what Vareth said held true. She was always there, always listening. She sat there as chairs slid and footsteps faded away. The door to the room closed and those riders who felt the truth of Z'fet's words and desired to go remained. Would they be killed if they betrayed each other? Yes. If Z'fet didn't do it, someone else might. They were all going to die one day, one way or another. There was no denying it, no outrunning the fate they all had. If they died that night, so long as the egg was retreived, then all would be well again.

"Right." Ceres affirmed her role, but she already knew what she would have to do. None of the others would be able to keep the Queen busy without harming the clutch. Z'fet's dragon was the sire, he could not be denied seeing his young, but he could be denied taking some, including the most precious gold, with him. Vareth's role was to be quick and distracting without harming. Cere had complete confidence in that ability.

It will be easy and simple, we will succeed. Vareth agreed.

[Femisis]

They don’t trust us. Ci’ero commented with a mental smirk, though his face remained passive on the outside.

Of course they don't. Sephiroth replied with an amused snort. They are jealous of us, as they should be. We are stronger than all of them. More boasting, but there was a truth to his words. Ci’ero was intelligent and had no qualms about killing people, so that combined with his resources he was an extremely dangerous person. Sephiroth was likewise dangerous in his unpredictability and near-insanity, but a sensible Sephiroth was much more of a threat than a wild one.

Ci’ero silently agreed, but he was forced to break contact with his dragon as the plan was explained. Guard Z’fet and Ceres, and then protect the egg. It didn’t seem like a difficult task at all, or at least the latter didn’t. The former was a completely different story entirely. Of course he could do it, though, and he’d have a slew of weapons to choose from that were perfect for the job. If no one screwed up, everything would go perfectly.

“Might I suggest something?” He piped up, hand shifting to push his glasses up the bridge of his nose. “Rather than simply charging in to steal the egg, would it be possible to try and lure the Queen away, maybe with food? That way the egg could be snatched and spirited away before she even notices and can alert the rest of the Weyr.” If there was any way to do it, he was the one who could figure it out, but that was if Z’fet was open to it. The other Bronzerider would get his due eventually, but it was just easier right now to let him live.

[stolenhart]

Z'fet gave Ci'ero a quick glance. "I am not sure it is possible but we will try. If she were away from the eggs it would make our lives easier. The rest of you will be protection while I bring the egg here. Remember Ci'ero is your leader", he pressed on them. "Wait for our message". Finished, he walked out.
***

A sevenday later Z'fet watched as the Southern Weyrleader all but shoved the Northern riders from the Weyr. Upset, seeing a tinge of red wherever he went, Z'fet headed for Gairnath. He mounted up and followed his Weyrleader from Southern shores. He was angry and within minutes of landing at Northern had his fellow thieves gathered.

Later that night, Gairnath snuck onto the Sands. Midalth might be a Southern gold but Gairnath was her mate, the sire of her eggs, and she did not deny him entry to the Sands. Get her off the sands, Z'fet ordered his bronze who began to speak of killing wherries for Midalth and how they wouldn't be going far or be gone long. Damn him if Ci'ero's plan was working, as Midalth left the Sands seconds ahead of Gairnath. If anyone raises a cry, hurry back, Z'fet cautioned the bronze as the rider snuck onto the Sands. He had to dig around but eventually he found the metallic egg.

He uncoiled a large piece of hide, manuevering the egg onto it and then heaping large piles of sand around it to keep it warm. It only had to stay warm enough to last the three breathes to Northern's Sands. Once there it would be warmed and watched over by Gairnath until it Hatched. Where are you? I've got the egg, Z'fet prodded his dragon. I just left her at the lake. I am coming, Gairnath replied, landing a few seconds later behind his rider.

Z'fet climbed up and strapped himself in just as Midalth appeared. "Call for Vareth, we'll need her". Vareth, come!, Gairnath called for the green as Midalth launched herself at him. He deftly avoided her, wings tucked tight against his body so he could get away if the gold gave him the oppurtunity. Z'fet hoped that Ci'ero would be ready when he appeared over Northern skies.

[shouriko]

It was, needless to say really, nerve wracking waiting for the news and whether or not they would need to take action. Ceres was calm on the outside, she was quiet and passive, staring off into space as she stayed strapped in atop the green dragon that was Vareth. All the men could leisurely prepare and laugh about it, but she was very serious. She had to be, because she was the only woman among them and she was of great importance, being the only greenrider among them all. Only Vareth would be able to distract the Southern gold correctly.

When the news arrived, she was both excited and disappointed. How could they? They had promised and the North had come clean on their end, but the South refused on theirs. It was so useless of them to do so. Well, serves them right then, they would get their just deserts then. Ceres pulled her riding helmet over her head, snapped her goggles into place and flew with the others. Hopefully all would go well, quietly and calmly with no problems, otherwise they were the pair on call.

We are needed! Vareth announced and with the image of the Southern hatching grounds the green was off in between in an instant. No sooner had they been in the air with the others before they were at the entrance almost in the face of the gold. It is our egg by right! Vareth told the gold, resisting the urge to crow at her.

Ceres clung to her straps and watched for X'fet. He had he egg, but he had yet to leave. If he did not hit the air, they'd not make it in time. It was indeed up to them to see that this mission was ensured success on this front. With determination she willed Vareth to be the decoy that was necessary, the one who could dodge and snap faster and more nimbly than the gold was able.

"Go!" Ceres shouted to X'fet, what noise she made was likely nothing compared to the ruckus that the gold was. "We will hold her!"

[stolenhart]

Finally Vareth arrived just as Serae appeared on the Sands. "Z'fet", she screamed across the sands as Gairnath made for the egg. Thick leather straps held in his font legs, the mightly bronze gave a great heave and lifted up. He had hoped to not see Serae, he rather liked her and he knew stealing her egg would break her heart. Midalth's trumpet was shattering, calling every dragon to her. Even Gairnath threatened to turn but Z'fet reminded him that if they were caught, Z'fet would be killed. The thought alone was enough to keep the bronze in the air.

Tell her we are clear, Z'fet ordered the bronze. Vareth come home, Gairnath sent seconds before they were urged between. Seconds later they came out of between a short distance away from the Sands. We need to hurry, the bronze ordered his rider. Tell Sephiroth to be on watch, Z'fet ordered his bronze. Be ready Sephiroth. We have the egg and go to the Sands now, Gairnath passed on.

Little did the North know, Southern was massing their entire Weyr to retrieve the egg.

[shouriko]

The gold was furious, as if the egg being stolen were not enough for her, having a pesky little green bar her from her dear daughter was just simply too much. Vareth darted and swerved and watched for the clutch. It was safer over them because the gold dared not harm them and she was too large to hover over them and move as the green did. It was what made them the best suited for the role of the decoy. It worked elegantly even with the many close calls that they came across.

Good work Vareth, you've got the energy for this, we've got here right where we want her. Ceres told her dear dragon, keeping eyes out for the retreating figure of Z'fet until he had vanished. They've gone.

And so are we! Vareth whirled around and faster than any gold could, she was out of the grounds and gone from sight, gone from Southern, and back where they belonged. Right! Back!

Ceres had a bad feeling about what was to come. They had gotten what they had come for, but it had not gone quietly. Surely the Southern riders would come to retrieve the egg that was rightfully the North's. Vareth landed on the heights to await orders. There would be a fight for sure and hopefully the North would prevail and secure the egg as theirs without further contestation.

[Femisis]

When the news had come of the North’s failure to procure the egg, Ci’ero was ready. Instructions were given, riders were made ready and fifteen dragons and riders saddled and standing at the ready before the hour was out. Ci’ero himself was still working, of course. He’d left Sephiroth to make sure their little battle party was ready and kept discrete and the Bronze had done it well. He’d even let slip that something might happen tonight to a silly little Green who began shrieking about a midnight raid. Though most wrote it off as nothing, there was a heightened sense of alertness, which was exactly what he wanted. Things could easily get out of control and the Weyr needed to be at his beck and call.

Everything is in place. Sephiroth informed him after a while. The sun was falling beneath the horizon when the message came to him, but he still had plenty of time to finish. He was in their weyr at his desk, in the corner that contained the lab he constructed from scratch himself, playing with a new poison he’d almost perfected. One perfected, it would kill any human within two minutes of contact, a wher in five and a dragon in ten. He probably should have made the antidote first, but there wasn’t time.

He heard Sephiroth’s amused rumble before he heard the Bronze land on the ledge but didn’t look over at his dragon. Will it work? The dragon asked as he came over to see. His head snaked over Ci’ero’s shoulder and he nearly inhaled the fumes but His shoved his muzzle away before he could. Saving it for yourself, are we? He growled sourly as he pulled away.

“The fumes alone would make you sick for weeks. There’s a reason I’m covering my face.” The healer replied, his words indeed muffled by the cloth wrapped tightly around his mouth and nose. Lifting the bottom for a moment he blew out the flame beneath the small caldron and dropped it again. “Once it’s cool I’ll coat all the weapons in it.” He explained as he got up, pulling the cloth away from his face once he was far enough away. “Let’s get ready, I’m not quite sure when Z’fet is going to attempt this suicide mission, all over a stupid egg…”

It was fully dark when they joined the others, dressed and ready to fly. Every rider had been given twenty throwing knives coated in poison with the instructions to make sure they didn’t hit any of their own riders, though he doubted that any of them would hit anything at all. His own weapons were covered in poison as well though he hadn’t told them that he’d poisoned any of the weapons. If this got out to the Weyrleader, he’d be in quite a bit of trouble, not that they’d dare to exile him.

It was much later that anything happened and Ci’ero was dozing on Sephiroth’s neck when he felt the Bronze shift beneath him. We are ready. He rumbled, wings unfurling half way as he tensed to spring into the air. He was ready, was the South?

[stolenhart]

Z'fet dashed to the Sands, rolling the gold egg gently about checking for cold spots on the hard outer shell. Nothing. It seemed she would Hatch just fine. From outside the sounds of dragons roaring, preparing for battle was getting louder. No one could hope to sleep through that and then, there was no need. "Z'fet what have you done!", the Weyrleader appeared on the edge of the Sands. His face a mask of horror at the gold egg on the Sands. "You will take it back!", he ordered.

Z'fet blinked and made the decision to do the hardest thing in his life he had ever done. "No". The man he respected more than he espected his own life staggered as if he had been hit. "This is our egg, I will protect with my life but when this gold grows it will not be Southern dragons she births but Northern ones. We need her", he said softly, his voice just enough to carry across the sands. "Oh Z'fet who put you up to this?" The old man could get to the crux of a problem quickly. "No one".

The Weyrleader sighed, Z'fet never lied. "Someone did. We both know who it was talked the Weyrleader into keeping this egg, talked you into retrieving it and is talking Southern into coming back for it. You have played right into his hands. A Northern candidate Impressing the gold would have worked out just as well", Z'fet turned a ghost white. He had just realized what the Weyrleader had known all along. Tannic would change the face of Pern tonight. "Faranth forgive you for the stubborn man you are", with that the Weyrleader disappeared.

You will capture any rider that lands and surrenders, the voice of the Weyrleader's dragon was strong, not to be denied at any cost. Death rode in his words. In the skies above Northern it seemed the entire Southern Weyr had come for their egg. Do what you must to the gold first, she will command the entire battle. After her the wingleaders, the dragon ordered. On the wind of his orders the massive bronze joined the others in the Weyrbowl, the Weyrleader astride. A quick glance up and then the dragon went up, roaring loudly as they descended to meet the flying army of the South.

[shouriko]

Ceres took her place in her wing as WingSecond in respect to the wing pattern. She was prepared for this, even though she knew that her WingLeader had not been in support of her actions. In the least her fellow WingSecond had been in support of it and was among those who had remained. It was nice to have someone who understood.

But could anyone truly understand just how much danger she and Vareth were truly in? Not likely. They had been the ones to keep the Queen from pursuing her egg and forced her to protect the rest of the clutch. Likely the golden beast would remember Vareth and want to tear her limb from limb. They would simply have to avoid her as best they could, or even better yet, be the ones to harm her. Ceres knew from Vareth that it was ordered as such by the Weyrleader himself.

Do not worry so Ceres-mine, we will not falter. Vareth told her rider with absolute confidence. She did not doubt the choice they had made or the actions they had taken. She was quite proud of her actions as it was. This is our home, our Weyr, and it is our egg by right. We will make them see it as such.

Ceres smiled in a sad sort of way. Vareth was an amazing green in her own right, but she would not see the faults in her rider. No matter what happened, she had to live up to be so deserving of a fine dragon. Right, Vareth, let's fly and fight and flame in true Northern form.

[Femisis]

Ci’ero watched the mass of Southern dragons appear in the sky passively. He didn’t seem as excited about the upcoming battle as he thought he would, but with good reason. This was going to get out of hand and the Weyr was going to be torn to shreds. A Weyr in shambles was hardly any use to him and at this rate they weren’t going to have any dragons at all if the South was out for as much blood . “I’m going to watch that sharding egg, stay here.” He growled to the Bronzerider next to him before Sephiroth took off, angling back toward their Weyr. He didn’t care if they were breaking protocol or anything. Z’fet got them into this mess and he and Sephiroth were going to have to fix it for the fool.

The Bronze touched down on the weyrledge just long enough for His to dismount. Go to the sands, I’ll join you once I’ve gotten some things. He ordered as he went inside and began digging for various weapons, not even noticing when Sephiroth left. Anything with a blade was being thrown into a sack he’d found along with a few vials of strangely colored liquids. He wasn’t long in his collecting before he was rushing down the hall, down some stairs, going this way and that toward the hatching sands.

What should I do about him? Sephiroth asked as His entered, gesturing with his head at Z’fet. He was crouched protectively over the egg, wings half furled over it, though he moved with his rider shooed them off. You have a plan, yes? He watched his rider rummaging in the bag, coming over when Ci’ero gestured for him. He seemed uncharacteristically confused for a moment, but when he finally caught on, his upper lip curled into a facsimile of a human grin. I see. How cruel of you. The Bronze remarked, sounding rather amused which brought a smile to Ci’ero’s face.

“That’s the plan.” He murmured as he continued to bury the newly poisoned blades in the sand around the egg. If anyone tried to take the egg back, they’d end up with a blade in their foot and poison in their veins. He wasn’t quite sure what kind it was, but he didn’t quite care at the moment. He ignored Z’fet completely as he worked, not even sparing him a glance when he finally stood and brushed the sand from his breeches (He wasn’t bothered by the heat as he was quite the masochist of a masochist.) and turned to draw a long sword from Sephiroth’s straps. “Let’s see them try to get in here, hmm?”

[stolenhart]

Z'fet turned from his thoughts to see Ci'ero coming onto the Sands, followed by Sephiroth. Gairnath grunted at his fellow bronze but made no move to stop him from hovering over the egg. "You are supposed to be in the air", Z'fet said walking across the Sands to Gairnath. "What good is it going to do with two bronzes guarding the egg? Faranth Ci'ero go get your glory elsewhere", he finished. Z'fet's mind was not on the approaching fight, already he could hear the roars and thumps of dragons fighting. And somewhere, nearby, thunder was starting. All he could see was Lord Lidal's concerned face as he spoke with Z'fet earlier in the afternoon.

"I'll make sure Serae and the Weyrleaders are away from the Sands tonight. I know you do not want to do this but you must. To save your Weyr. I am ashamed of my fellow Southerners for going back on their word, they should help you, to save your Weyr", the words had dripped like poison into Z'fet's ears and he had done what had been suggested, what he had already been planning to do.

We should go, they are here, they can watch the egg, Gairnath was itching to protect his Weyr, Z'fet could feel the dragon wanting to fly. "We will go, that way there will be some riders left to fight Lidal", he answered, climbing his straps. "You will stay here Ci'ero", he took back his previous order, "And I will kill you if that egg is not here or harmed in anyway when I get back", he added as an afterthought. Gairnath chortled deeply as he walked to the entrance and was quickly in the air.

He was relieved, when they found the gold, that it was not Midalth but rather Unilath, the Senior Weyrwoman's gold, that lead the Southern Wings. Midalth must have stayed to guard the rest of her clutch, trusting in her mother to retrieve the gold egg. Capture the Queen, Gairnath's voice burst into every dragon. Capturing her they could return her to Southern with a promise to never come back. But even as the order went out they could see that Unilath would not go quietly. Screams of pain issued from any who tried to attack her, fire from the Weyrwoman's tank, bursts of light from dropped charges all created a nearly impenatrable shield around her.

[shouriko]

This was a different kind of battle altogether. Ceres could almost drink in the frantic feelings and chew through the agitation. She tossed firestone the moment Vareth thought she was low. There was no time for dallying or questions, it was all do or die. She kept looking to where the gold was, but to get to her was certain death. The window open for chances to hit her were so few and short that no dragon could get to her. The flamethrower was a big problem and the charges only made it worse.

I could do it. Vareth said, piercing the momentary thought with her voice.

Ceres's eyes were wide to even think that Vareth would be able to. She had so many dragons around them as it was and they were dodging and flitting in and out of wing formations that her energy would be running low. If they did make it, it would only make an opening for the others, they might not come out of it. Still, if they could, it would help to turn the battle in their favor.

I have an idea to open the Queen to attack. Vareth called out to Gairnath and she sent him the idea of her coming out of between just above her, having the opportunity to at least get the flamethrower from the rider. It was dangerous, high risk, and had low success, but Vareth was certain that if there was a distraction and it was timed right, she could do it and right after that a larger, stronger dragon could take on the gold.

Ceres directed Vareth, but she would not do this, not unless directed to. Would it work even then?