Pulse of the Imperium

... and chicks for free. On Hypatea Holovid Network, in a footage recap from the recent qaraa racing, a part of the ongoing Hypatean Games, a big multi-day sporting and cultural event that has drawn throngs onto Harmonthep. The vigorous commentary was adding drama to an experience that must have been thrilling for the riders themselves or the direct observers at canyon rims, less so for the watchers of aerial shots. But on the planet it was the thing.


The commentator expressed regret that there weren't big enough qaraa for Pankratos to ride one as he would most surely have won the race. A young Zensunni slave named Bacri won instead, and in recognition of his sportsmanship he was publicly manumitted by the Archon, Irene Ptolemaios, in a grand ceremony inside the splendid Nikeion Leodrome. Bacri's happiness because of his sudden change in circumstances was genuinely boundless and well-filmed.

Then a mug detached from the kitchen floated across the holo projection and distorted it.

Laila was glad of the distraction.

She knew slavery was very much a reality on many worlds of the Imperium, but the idea that simply no longer being a slave was the main reward this Bacri could expect was... a bit depressing.

After all, his joy had to be set against the others who hadn't performed as well.

So she busied herself with the mug and tried not to say anything aloud that would... agitate anyone.

Hadrian... is asleep. Not only is he asleep, but he's also doing something akin to that thing where your head rolls back and forth. Except it's zero G, so instead of his head it's his entire body. If it weren't for the magnets holding him to the chair, he and the mug might be on the same orbit.

Beside him is a half empty glass of wine and an open journal.

Cuyler watched with some interest. She fully understood what it was like to be elevated from lowly status to something higher. At the moment, however, she was more curious about the overall culture of the planet. That was meant to be the purpose of her visit, after all. Harmonthep society and the Zensunni's place within it would be an interesting cultural and culinary study.

She pushed herself off of the ceiling as she drew near it and drifted towards the kitchen.

She'd been in zero-G before, but not lately, and Laila, mug in hand, had to fight the urge to try swimming.

Silly, the air wasn't dense enough to make that work well.

But she settled for bouncing off of a wall with a bit of a spring to follow Cuyler- to see about storing the damn mug properly.

And if, on some level, she hoped that the fourth planet she set foot on would be in some way nicer or better than the prior three, well, that was just because parts of her refused to face up to reality, which was annoying.

"Anything I can do to help?"

She kept her tone soft, not wanting to wake Hadrian. He'd already been through a hell of a lot outside of his wheelhouse, no sense in not letting him get some rest.

"I don't suppose you've found a larder filled with fresh food?" she shrugged. "Unrealistic given the circumstances, I know. But, a chef can dream."

She took stock of what was available in the kitchen. "What did you think of the race?"

"Think Hawat's keeping the good food where he keeps his compassion."

In some magical space where things that don't exist reside!

At the question about the race, she... frowned.

"Couldn't really appreciate it given the stakes. Looked difficult, a bit dangerous. Doubt I'd try it without a bit of primer on riding those things. You?"

"Those were pretty much my thoughts." She nodded. "All that pomp and circumstance, however, shows how important things like that are in this society. Could be useful, once we learn more."

"And it'll give them something to feel superior about."

Laila shook her head.

"We were just famous for fogwood and drugs for the most part..."

"The birds are probably an important symbol for those people." Xard spoke up eith some hesitation, having returned from the restroom. "They can be considered an indigenous apex predator as the lions were introduced much later. Lions sometimes attack them when the birds are nesting in the north, but for practice rather than food as the birds' oxygen carrier is not haemoglobin but a manganese-and-copper-based compound and so they are not great feline food. Harmothep's lithosphere is very poor in some metals, what limits the provision of nutrients. Manganese can be found shallow in the crust, but iron not really as it would require active tectonics, which the planet lacks. The proper circulation of available nutrients is therefore key, and qaraa are indispensible for it. During the northern summers they migrate to cis-glacial lakes in the tundra where mineral meltwater accumulates and lichens absorbing it grow. Through lichen diet, the qaraa introduce those minerals into a wider biosphere via their eggshells. Via their guano in turn they also redistribute upstream the mineral compounds converging in the swampsea, and accreting in the moss clams, their preferred equatorial diet. In the end, rivers and storms carry it all down to the equator from which the birds need to carry them back nearer to the polar extremes where the rivers begin. It is safe to say that Harmothepi ecosystem, as fragile as it is because of low biodiversity and short trophic hierarchies, would not be surviving without quaraa. I suppose the people on the planet either know or sense it, so they probably attach a lot of significance to whatever involves them? I guess it is easy to associate the qaraa with some benign force of nature even if they compete with humans for the clams, and pearls within them."

The planetologist became less sure as he spoke. Biology was his domain, biopolitics not so much.

Laila gave the Imperial a smile. Their bond from the trauma on Caladan might have lacked the added weird Bene Gesserit dimension of her connection to Kian, but it was still there. The ailar had given each of them a brief look at one another's minds, and despite the age disparity going the other way, she felt a bit like a big sister again.

"See, this is a whole different level of thinking than I've used most of my life- I see some big birds with people riding them, you see a piece of a system, and you actually understand some of how it works..."

"Would that I was so sure about any of this. I try to trust science, but planetology is not a precise one, by far, and so I always feel whatever I say may just be informed guesses..."

He looked at the sealed up glass with wine sleeping Hadrian had used as if wondering if he also wanted some. Apart from his daughter and his late wife, he had never been at ease around women. The fact that he could react with genuine openness to Laila was a discovery for him too, and to tell why was that would require another bold guess.

As on cue, another broadcast cleared in the holo-view. This one presenting the insides of the Dikasterion Theias Sofias, with the semi-dome ribwork and reliefs making a point about the role of qaraa in Harmonthepi culture. Archon Irene was presiding over a ceremony of decoration from her throne inside the giant sculpted bird's beak. Footage did meandre through just the right angles and shades to underscore her timeless beauty and regal dignity.

She was flanked by two men, standing just behind the throne, though at a chilly distance from one another. The one on the right, middle-aged and no less regal than the Archon herself, bore armour and a sword and was dressed in cloak in the colours of House Ptolemaios. He could only be Philadelphos, the Strategos of the planet, and the Archon's sibling. The one on the left, however, was rather unique. Sculpted like by an artist's chisel, tall, casting an aura of a Herculean figure chosen by God for great things. But the glint of his irises was strange, lifeless, even for a holo.

The footage carried no sounds from the Hall of Divine Wisdom, only a commentary. In it, the attention was paid to how Bacri, who was receiving his medal from the Archon, had transcended his humble marshland limitations and now had a world of opportunities waiting for him. Emphasis was made that this is the dream any slave can share with him if they work as hard for their success as Bacri had.

While the expressions of the Archon and the Strategos were corresponding with the decoration, as if they had done it many times before and knew perfectly how to move through the ritual motions to maintain the spectacle, the mysterious demi-god-like man folded his arms and watched it with a slightly dismissive smirk, perhaps at Bacri's tears of joy from being there and then, and appreciated by very important people.

A slight frown crossed Cuyler's features. She wondered what opportunities Bacri had truly gained. How free was he? He'd still be treated differently. There would still be expectations of him. He would still be beneath those surrounding him. None of this was really for him. This made the populace feel better about having slaves.

She took a cleansing breath and cleared her mind, shifting her thoughts back to the birds.

"You would certainly know more than we would, Dr. Vim." She offered a smile. "But, your speculation sounds reasonable. As you say, the birds are a significant symbol to the people of this world. I wonder what myths and legends there are regarding them."

Kannon wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 18, 2025 7:44 am

... for practice rather than food as the birds' oxygen carrier is not haemoglobin but a manganese-and-copper-based compound and so they are not great feline food. Harmothep's lithosphere is very poor in some metals, what limits the provision of nutrients. Manganese can be found shallow in the crust, but iron not really as it would require active tectonics, which the planet lacks. The proper circulation of available nutrients is therefore key, and qaraa are indispensible for it. During the northern summers they migrate to cis-glacial lakes in the tundra where mineral meltwater accumulates and lichens absorbing it grow. Through lichen diet, the qaraa introduce those minerals into a wider biosphere via their eggshells. Via their guano in turn they also redistribute upstream the mineral compounds converging in the swampsea, and accreting in the moss clams, their preferred equatorial diet. In the end, rivers and storms carry it all down to the equator from which the birds need to carry them back nearer to the polar extremes where the rivers begin. It is safe to say that Harmothepi ecosystem, as fragile as it is because of low biodiversity and short trophic hierarchies, would not be surviving without quaraa. I suppose the people on the planet either know or sense it, so they probably attach a lot of significance to whatever involves them? I guess it is easy to associate the qaraa with some benign force of nature even if they compete with humans for the clams, and pearls within them."

Hadrian had began stirring awake a short while ago. At Xard's entrance, though, he finally found an island of consciousness between unconsciousness. The lecture was fascinating. He listened with much entrance then privately began all that he had heard.

Kannon wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 18, 2025 10:21 am

As on cue, another broadcast cleared in the holo-view. This one presenting the insides of the Dikasterion Theias Sofias, with the semi-dome ribwork and reliefs making a point about the role of qaraa in Harmonthepi culture. Archon Irene was presiding over a ceremony of decoration from her throne inside the giant sculpted bird's beak. Footage did meandre through just the right angles and shades to underscore her timeless beauty and regal dignity.

She was flanked by two men, standing just behind the throne, though at a chilly distance from one another. The one on the right, middle-aged and no less regal than the Archon herself, bore armour and a sword and was dressed in cloak in the colours of House Ptolemaios. He could only be Philadelphos, the Strategos of the planet, and the Archon's sibling. The one on the left, however, was rather unique. Sculpted like by an artist's chisel, tall, casting an aura of a Herculean figure chosen by God for great things. But the glint of his irises was strange, lifeless, even for a holo.

The footage carried no sounds from the Hall of Divine Wisdom, only a commentary. In it, the attention was paid to how Bacri, who was receiving his medal from the Archon, had transcended his humble marshland limitations and now had a world of opportunities waiting for him. Emphasis was made that this is the dream any slave can share with him if they work as hard for their success as Bacri had.

While the expressions of the Archon and the Strategos were corresponding with the decoration, as if they had done it many times before and knew perfectly how to move through the ritual motions to maintain the spectacle, the mysterious demi-god-like man folded his arms and watched it with a slightly dismissive smirk, perhaps at Bacri's tears of joy from being there and then, and appreciated by very important people.

He'd seen the pomp and circumstance before and barely stopped to consider it. Though he did find himself matching a similar smirk to the dead-eyed figure next to Irene. We all serve after all. Regardless of where our station is, true freedom is never far away.

He yawned awake after Cuyler spoke, "Not sure I've ever heard any. Though going off the doctor's lecture, it sounds like the soil is too alkaline for wine."

He chuckled and pulled himself up. Forgetting for a moment that there isn't any gravity keeping him tied down.

"Ohhh shit..."

Coordination (Fluff roll): 2eA+2eD 0 successes


The action sent him spinning towards the ceiling. Apart from the lite embarrassment there was no harm done.

"I hate space."

Cuyler Gray wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 18, 2025 2:37 pm

"You would certainly know more than we would, Dr. Vim." She offered a smile. "But, your speculation sounds reasonable. As you say, the birds are a significant symbol to the people of this world. I wonder what myths and legends there are regarding them."

"I wouldn't know. A Bene Gesserit would. They should be quite present on Harmothep, actually." Xard looked at the holo more attentively, as if looking for someone in a black aba looming in the corner. His gaze somehow landed on the hypnotic large eyes of the quaraa relief in the Dikasterion.

Kannon wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 18, 2025 7:41 pm

"I wouldn't know. A Bene Gesserit would. They should be quite present on Harmothep, actually."

And in NO WAY was that making Laila nervous, nossir!

Hadrian Martikova wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 18, 2025 2:48 pm

"I hate space."

Fortunately, a change of subject was near to hand!

"I dunno, you're kinda cute up there. Like some kind of ornamental vintner..."

"We could get him spinning and he could be a fan." Cuyler suggested.

“Hah! You two are funny.”

He pushed off the ceiling and returned to grab his wine.

“All of this waiting around will have me spinning my wheels before too much longer.”

He privately wondered if there's a hydroponics bay somewhere that he can amuse himself with.

“Can I get you a glass doctor?” He asked floating over to the kitchen. Making a brief stop to kiss Laila’s cheek first. Then onwards to their poorly provisioned purgatory's mess. Which Hadrian found equally wanting.

"Maybe just a taste, to honour your fare. I am past those years when stomach and vacuum can easily find mutual accommodation." Xard admitted sheepishly.

Laila let herself enjoy the smooch- life was far too uncertain not to- then floated after Hadrian.

She had one surefire cure for boredom, assuming a little privacy could be had...