Conversation · Trant Heidelstam

"I believe that is intentional. You see, the Coalition are very sensitive to how they are perceived by the people of Revachol, which is why they generally prefer for their warships to remain at a discreet distance from major population centres..."

"It's amazing. An inspiring symbol."

"That is certainly how the Coalition intends for it to be seen! You know, I once read a very interesting paper from Messina on the psychology of air-based artillery..."

"Apparently its presence stimulates the exact same part of the neural cortex that more primitive cultures associate with divine judgment. Isn't that fascinating?"

You look around, but you don't see anything unusual. Then again, your eyes aren't the sharpest...

"I don't think I've ever noticed it before."

"Fascinating! You know, in one sense, that's exactly what the Coalition intends. You see, they would prefer that most people in Revachol don't think of themselves as living under a military occupation. That's why they generally prefer to keep their warships at a discreet distance from major population centres..."

"Oh, right. The Archer. I thought you said... something else."

"Ah, well, that's a relief to here. It would really be quite concerning if you hadn't been aware of it until just now..."

You follow the man's gaze out toward the west. There, amidst the low-hanging stars, you can just make out signs of motion...

It's a set of position lights moving in unison, like a restless constellation...

No, it's more like a creature from the abyssopelagic zone, a great dark bioluminescent fish...

Don't let the shiny lights fool you, it's a goddamn killing machine, and there's nothing you can do to stop it!

You can't see anything. But then, it's dark, and your eyes aren't the sharpest...

"Why do I need to contact a military warship to talk to a civilian bureaucrat?"

"A very astute question! You see, in addition to its role as a military warship, the Archer is also responsible for coordinating all Coalition communications and surveillance operations in Revachol."

"I feel like there's got to be another way."

"Well, I suppose you could rent a private aerostatic and attempt to rendezvous with Archer directly, but I must caution against it. Warships like the Archer are usually authorised to fire on unidentified aerostatics on sight."

"Hold on, it's watching us, too?"

"Not just watching, it's listening as well. I don't know the particulars, of course, but I would expect a warship like the Archer to possess the most advanced surveillance equipment available outside of Seol."

"So how does one go about contacting a Coalition warship?" (Proceed.)

"That might be the trickiest question of all. From a technical standpoint, it shouldn't be all that difficult. You simply require a radio transmitter capable of broadcasting on Coalition frequencies..."

"The problem is that those sorts of radio transmitters are tightly controlled by the Coalition. Even the RCM doesn't typically have access to them outside of special joint operations..."

"He's correct. It makes coordinating operations with the Coalition exceedingly difficult, from our perspective."

"What am I supposed to do then?"

"All that said, someone with a powerful radio and a certain level of technical skill might be able to circuit-bend their way onto the Coalition frequencies..."

"It's only too bad the old Feld engineers are no longer available. This sort of thing would have been right in their wheelhouse."

"Hmmm, she's not a 'Feld engineer,' exactly, but perhaps that programmer from the church might be of assistance?"

"In any event, it's a fascinating technical challenge. I'll be very interested to see how you tackle it."

This sounds like something that programmer you met in the church might help with...

"Hmmm, no one would mistake them for Feld engineers, but perhaps your young friends in the tent might be of assistance?"

Perhaps your new friends in the tent might be able to help you?

"Oh, good: Now we're circuit-bending into radio towers. Just what this side task was missing..."

You will figure it out. Something tells you the person you're looking for is already on this coast...

"What kind of political system do you think represents my innermost character?"

"Who handles the money? There's got to be an economic component."

"Of course there is! The Coalition's economic affairs are handled by the Bank of the World -- Revachol Mission. They operate in concert with the Institute of Price Stabilité in Sur-la-Clef."

"What's this Insitute for Revacholian Culture?"

"Oh, the Institute is a marvellous organisation, my favourite part of the Coalition by far. Their mandate is two-fold: To export notable works of Revacholian culture throughout the Moralintern, while also importing the most important cultural products of the wider world to citizens of Revachol..."

"There's an exhibition on Vespertine proto-expressionism that I can't wait to take Mikael to. We're working our way through the major artistic movements of the last cenutry."

"What's INSURCOM?"

"INSURCOM is responsible for all aspects of the military occupation of Revachol. During the Revolution, they coordinated the efforts of the Occidental and Graadian invasion, but these days their function is primarily logistical."

"Great, thank you for all the interesting information." [Leave.]

"No, thanks to you for having me and little Mikael here to pick your brain... A very interesting conversation indeed."

Pick your brain? If anything, this was rather one-sided. He did the talking. Whatever...

"You look like someone who has money. Do you have any money?"

"I do have some money, yes, but that's not what's really important here." He brushes it off like it's not a thing at all.

He's not gonna give you money, what are you doing? Clearly you were just profiling.

No, I mean, c'mon -- you need the money. If it's not a thing, he can give you some.

"I don't want your money, I just wanted to see whether my profiling skills were working."

"Of course, detective, I wouldn't have assumed anything else. Matter of fact," he looks up again, a playful hint shining in his eyes...

"I don't know if you're familiar with this, but the Vespertine Department of Justice has published a rather interesting paper on the criminal profiling in former socialist states. Have you read it?"

"If not, then you definitely should -- if not for tips and tricks, then just for theoretical curiosity. Anyway, that's just a little something that sprang to mind." He squeezes his son's shoulder lightly. "You were saying?"

Forget it. They don't sell those kinds of books at "Crime, Romance & Biographies of Famous People."

"Could I have some of that 'unimportant' money then?"

"Oh, no, I don't have it on me, officer, I was talking in more... general terms." He looks uncomfortable, his left hand squeezing his son's shoulder.

"I'm just spending time with my kid here, showing him around the lesser-known parts of our home town... It wouldn't be wise to carry huge amounts of cash on such expeditions!"

Not that he would have to worry about being robbed -- he looks surprisingly buff. Does he work out?

"By the way, do you work out?"

"I do some Lo Manthang stick fighting now and then."