There Is No Call We Do Not Answer [Night 2]

[Kannon]

"Sergeant." Paul interceded with a calming word, using a tinge of Voice.

“Remember: the world is supported by four things: the learning of the wise, the justice of the great, the prayers of the righteous, and the valour of the brave. But all of these are as nothing without a ruler who knows the art of ruling.” Paul quoted from memory. "The spiritual pacifism of the Muadh is as essential to us as the Atreides as the strength of our arms and the inevitability of our justice. Thanks to them we know what we are called to protect and never descend into savagery of pointless violence." He nodded firmly to support Efren. The trust for the young Lanville grew on him.

[Efren Lanville]

Efren replied to Paul’s nod with one of his own.

In truth Ambrose was merely expressing Efren’s own internal monologue over the past few days. He understood well where the angst was coming from. They had seen the same sight in the cave.

And knowing he could not live as one of them, increased his desire to live to protect them.

[Ambrose Pantazis]

Wise and heavy words, spoken with the power of a Great House Ambrose could feel reverberating through his very body. He glanced towards Efren expecting recrimination, but saw only understanding.

"Of course. We will fulfill our duty and protect them. For the meek shall inherit the universe." An old, forgotten lesson from his childhood suddenly surfaced unbidden. Followed by another, When law and religious duty are one, your selfdom encloses the universe. He didn't know what it all meant, but felt it was right. More and more he felt drawn back to the OCB.

[Kannon]

Paul smiled. He was proud of these men. They were good soldiers without being wanton killers. But the burden of leadership was crushing him nonetheless. He hoped that all the powercraft he'd been imbued with and he apparently could exercise shall never be put to some terrible purpose that would unleash indiscriminate violence, in which good men like these would forsake their own humanity for some seemingly grand calling. But did he even have a choice in that? Cuyler's appearance could mean the clutches of the oracle were never too far from his throat.

Think you of the fact that a deaf person cannot hear. Then, what deafness may we not all possess? What senses do we lack that we cannot see and cannot hear another world all around us? Ambrose's quotation from the OCB reminded him of Gurney first, but then cast some sense of foreboding onto his mind. He tried to banish it.

"It looks like the rest is the fog of war, gentlemen. Sergeants, Corporal, you know what to do. Prepare the gear and your teams. I'll have some last word with the Captain."

[Efren Lanville]

Having been dismissed, Efren saluted firmly and went to make his preparations for the task ahead.

[Bernard Martikova]

Bernard salutes as well and goes to gather whomever was still around to prepare for what was to come.

[Ambrose Pantazis]

Ambrose offered a smart salute, while Mr. Bravo seemed to now be napping on his shoulder. He would have to be taught proper decorum in the presence of his superiors.

Gathering the fuel cells, he started back on the trail to their base camp.

[Kannon]

Paul saluted back each of them. Then waited for a moment.

"If this fails, Captain, I want you to cut our losses and oversee falling back. It is crucial that as many people survive as possible. If the support is called, go to ground and wait for them. If the antenna doesn't work when we need it most, evacuate and fly back to tell Roger everything. We must make sure that Chaen Marek does not win this by silencing us all. This supercedes the parameters Roger gave you. If we can't save Duncan and I can't save myself, then it is what it is. My father can still have sons, perhaps this time by a wife like Vikka Londine rather than a concubine at the beck and call of the Witches."

His young voice faltered a bit by the end, but it did not diminish his resolve.

[Razar Lanville]

"I will do as you command to the best of my ability, for Atreides and the people that are relying on us," Razar replies with a nod. He strongly suspects Leto would admonish and not praise such thoughts on the loss of Paul. As though replacing a child was so easy a task for a man that understands respect for life and compassion. But then, Razar understood a more practical view of the world, so didn't say anything. It simply struck him as likely being at odds with what Leto would want.

[Kannon]

Razar was most likely correct. Alas, the Duke was away and for the time being authority on Caladan was in the hands of this teenager who had just been abandoned by both parents and had lost most of his mentor friends, all to circumstances either suspect or unknown.

And then, they heard gunshots in the forest, roughly from where Bernard had gone.

[Razar Lanville]

Razar immediately looks in that direction, and draws his blade... then looks at the opposite direction. He pulls a blade in one hand and sidearm he pulled from their equipment in the other, "I've got our backs, let's move and make sure we're not being attacked."

[Kannon]

Paul, blade in hand, nodded. They set off at pace.

[End of Thread]