Conversation · Sunday Friend

"Always my pleasure to be of assistance to the RCM. Godspeed, and if we don't meet again, bonne chance!"

The man sees you approaching and turns away...

"Officer..."

"Mr. Villedrouin..." The lieutenant nods.

The awkward silence that follows is yours to fill.

"Look what the tide dragged in."

"Is that an RCM term of art for the wrongfully accused?"

How do you expect to assign la responsabilité if you won't apologise for your own mistakes?

"Sorry, bad joke. I wanted to talk about what happened earlier."

"I'm listening." He turns to face you.

"I'm still pretty sure you were in the wrong, but I'm willing to forgive you."

"Unbelievable. I have never seen the nerve before..."

"Does this behaviour represent the RCM's official stance toward its Coalition partners?" He turns to the lieutenant.

Do you hear that contempt in his voice? He's always considered himself above you.

"I must apologise on my partner's behalf, again. Please believe me when I say that he does not speak for the RCM in any capacity."

"Perhaps he does, perhaps he does not. In any case, this conversation is over. Good day, officers."

With that, he turns his back to you once more.

The lieutenant stares at the man's back, then steps away. He makes sure no one else can hear him as he turns to face you...

"I don't understand why you have it in for this man. He's never been anything but gracious and helpful to our cause. Why do you feel the need to insult him?"

"I'm sorry, Kim. I just can't help it."

"Good god, couldn't you try at least?"

"I'm not even sure why I'm bothering. This is your side task, after all..."

This isn't the end. There may yet be someone along this coast who can direct you where you need to go...

"Now, let's go. You've done enough damage here."

"It feels like he holds us in contempt, like he thinks he's better than we are."

"Of course he does, he's from the Moralintern. But that doesn't mean we don't have standards to maintain..."

"I just don't like his face, okay?"

"Good god, couldn't you pretend at least?"

"Especially from a common officer of the Revachol Citizens Militia."

Do you hear that contempt in his voice? He's always considered himself above you.

This isn't the end. There may yet be someone along this coast who can direct you where you need to go...

"And now, this conversation is over. Good day, officer."

"It seems we had a little 'misunderstanding.'"

"That is certainly a euphemistic way to describe what I recall..."

You aren't going to get out of this with evasion.

"I would like to sincerely apologise for my behaviour. It was completely inappropriate, and I accept full responsibility."

The man considers your words a moment, then nods slowly...

"I accept your apology, officer, out of my profound respect for the RCM, and the importance of our continuing partnership."

"Now, what brings you down to the coast?"

"I need your help forming a committee. I'm trying to assign la responsabilité."

"My friend, if it's la responsabilité you're after, I have good news for you: There's no need to form such a committee, because it already exists!"

God, of course it does. These Moralintern types...

"The Comité de Responsabilité de Revachol. It acts as a sort-of clearinghouse for Coalition activities. To put it simply, they are the ultimate arbiters of la responsabilité in this part of the world."

Yes, this is just the sort of reasonable authority you're looking for!

"I would offer to connect you with the committee myself, but alas, I am not actually in Martinaise."

What? Where is he, then?

You knew there was something strange about this one! He's an astral projection, a bureaucratic phantasm!

He's speaking figuratively. He means he's not in Martinaise in his official capacity.

"I got it. You're only here on personal business."

"Précisément. Officially I am still in La Delta, preparing for an upcoming conference on fuel oil derivatives..."

"That's why it would be extremely irregular, or potentially even inappropriate for me to intercede with the Committee concerning a district I'm not officially in."

"Are you saying I should just give up?"

"I don't mean to discourage you, of course, just to say that it won't be easy to reach the Committee."

Not exactly a model of accessible and accountable governance...

"But if you have information of a vital interest, they might be willing to entertain an exception. In which case, I would advise you to contact them via Coalition Warship Archer."

"Why do I need to go through Archer to speak to the Committee?"

"You see, in addition to being an airborne artillery platform, Coalition Warship Archer is also the linchpin of the Coalition's surveillance and communications infrastructure in Revachol."

"Wait, what's Coalition Warship Archer?"

"Officer? You mean to say you haven't noticed the giant Coalition aerostatic peacefully patrolling the skies over Revachol?"

You follow the man's gaze out toward the west. There, hanging some distance above the horison, you can just make out a strange silhouette...