IC Contact Post [Hadriel]

[mismanagement]

This is Maketh Tua. State your business.

Comments

[mismanagement]

[A straightforward answer, at least. Maketh can respect that. She pushes her mug away, watching him.]

We are on the defensive. Fortifying what we have. The Guardsmen are motivated and strong, but our numbers are low. I will not order my men into an unknown situation unless it gains us something worth keeping, Doctor Sweets.

[The Guardsmen are her responsibility. She won't fail them like she failed her men on Lothal.]

[lifetothefullest]

They're all waiting for your direction on this matter?

[He finds that hard to believe, even if his tone continues to be neutral. It's especially difficult for him to believe after seeing several of them have conversations with the Null and Fear that are making their stances very clear.]

[mismanagement]

You are capable of speaking to them directly, [Maketh points out blandly.] I share command with Henry and we value the opinions of all our Guardsmen. If you have a suggestion, make it to one of them.

[lifetothefullest]

I am, and I probably will.

[There are at least a few he feels comfortable contacting at this point, although he raises an eyebrow at her last comment.]

I'm not interested in telling them what to do. I just find it surprising that you're expecting everyone in the Guard to act a unit, unless I'm understanding wrong.

[He adds the caveat not because he thinks he has the wrong impression, but because it's a counterbalance to the rest of his incredulity and therefore probably annoying.]

[mismanagement]

That is a horribly foolish thing to say, Doctor Sweets.

[Maketh frowns at him.]

Of course I do. The Guardsmen understand the need for a chain of command. They have proven themselves in the field multiple times and your failure to comprehend the fact does not negate it. You may disagree with me all you wish, Doctor Sweets, but you will not disrespect my men.

[lifetothefullest]

[He raises both eyebrows in return at that, considering it; it seems he might've struck a nerve, and the urge to be petty and run with it is so tempting, but he's not going to. It gains him nothing, and the point of this conversation isn't to antagonize Maketh.

At least not as a main goal, anyway.

And something she says gives him an opening to bring up another topic he's interested in hearing her view on, so he can move onto that smoothly enough after briefly addressing her response.]

I don't see how it's disrespectful to believe that those in the Guard might have their own opinions.

[In fact he's pretty sure that's the opposite, but moving on--]

As far as proving themselves in the field, I had actually heard about an incident that took place some time ago; I was wondering about your view on it.

[mismanagement]

And their opinions are given weight before a decision is made, [Maketh snaps. She doesn't know why this is difficult for him.] When the time comes, the Guard will act as a unit. Regardless of whether or not I, or anyone else, approves of the choice, it will be done. Do not insult my men again, Doctor Sweets.

[It's been made apparent he'll never respect her. Fine, that's fine, she can work around that. Regardless, Maketh won't abide him disrespecting the people under her command.]

I see. And the reason you haven't simply read the public report on the incident is....?

[lifetothefullest]

{He stares back at her, eyes narrowing just slightly as he tries to gauge how much of her response is posturing and how much is actual threat, but decides to move onto the other subject and avoid pressing the first one any further.]

Have you made the reports available somewhere besides on paper at the Guardpost?

[He's pretty sure he's made it clear why he doesn't read the reports, if not. Besides--]

It's also difficult to ask a piece of paper questions.

[mismanagement]

The network is compromised. Coded copies have been hidden in case the Guardpost is compromised as well.

[She stares back at him, unwilling to back down.]

And what questions do you have?

[lifetothefullest]

[He decides not to mention that if she doesn't trust the network then she should really make more of her conversations on it private, instead trying to keep his focus on the subject at hand.]

The Guard, as I understand, is a peacekeeping operation and not some sort of law enforcement, correct? Especially as there are no laws here to keep.

[mismanagement]

We break up fights.

[She says it bluntly.]

So long as the people here don't kill each other, the Guard doesn't interfere.

[lifetothefullest]

What if they do kill each other?

[Because that's very relevant to the matter at hand.]

[mismanagement]

[Ah. So that's what this is about.

Maketh leans back.]

We settle it.

[lifetothefullest]

In what manner?

[He get to the issue of 'with what authority' in a bit.]

[mismanagement]

Community service.

[Her eye twitches a bit.]

It was not my decision.

[lifetothefullest]

[So far this lines up with what Mello said, and why is he not surprised Maketh doesn't approve of community service?]

Whose decision was it? Henry's?

[Since he's the other leader, although he's... Not sure he could see Henry making the suggestion either. Maybe Nick. Also--]

Is it the same penalty for everyone who commits a murder here?

[mismanagement]

We voted. Nick suggested it.

[She grimaces, not bothering to hide it. She doesn't like the current system.]

Yes. Not much of a deterrent. But we do not have the resources to maintain a prison and my methods were considered a line too far.

[lifetothefullest]

[Hey, score one on guessing. Also wow, not surprised that Maketh's methods would be considered too far.]

How many people have you actually dealt with who've committed a murder here? I know there was one just recently.

[Although he's more interested--in terms of this particular subject, not in general--in the one Mello had mentioned them ignoring. It seemed Mello thought they did it on purpose, but Lance wants to be sure of if they were even aware of it.]

[mismanagement]

Two.

[Maketh exhales slowly.]

I'm aware of the recent ones as well. Will and Sharon. We haven't been able to determine the culprits yet. I take responsibility for the failure.

[lifetothefullest]

[Hm, that's one more than he knows about.]

Who were they?

[As far as Will and Sharon go, he's pretty sure Sharon knows who killed her and isn't telling so it's not like that can be held against Maketh, and Lance doesn't know anything about the situation with Will. They haven't spoken in some time.]

[mismanagement]

Mello and Bianca. Mello killed Sharon and Bianca took offense to that.

[Maketh thins her mouth into a tight line. That was a mess all around and it hadn't ended cleanly.]

That girl has not fared well here. At any rate, we were concerned with preventing further retaliation.

[lifetothefullest]

[Hm. Mello seemed to be under the impression Bianca had gotten away with things without penalty, so Lance wants to make sure--]

And they both just agreed to community service?

[Lance didn't really know Bianca, but he did have the impression she wasn't exactly the type. And Mello definitely isn't, although Lance understands why he agreed in this instance.]

[mismanagement]

To my great surprise, yes.

[Maketh grimaces.]

We had them watched, of course. I liked Bianca, but I wasn't foolish enough to trust her. There were no further incidents with those two.

[lifetothefullest]

[Interesting. Lance will just file that away mentally for now, moving onto the logical next question and a more pressing concern.]

What happens if someone doesn't agree? The Guard doesn't have any real authority to enforce such sentences.

[It's neutral, as a statement of fact instead of a particular point. He'll get into that issue more depending on how Maketh responds.]

[mismanagement]

[Ah. That's the real question he's pushing at, isn't it? Maketh just shrugs. She waves for another drink. A shot of whiskey this time.]

It hasn't come to that.

[Not yet. She downs the shot without a word.]