Logs for posting

["Scott" <Ferrel_Cabal@prodigy.net>]

At the behest of Boris, Baron of House Harkonnen on the Dune III Mush, I am submitting the attached logs for posting to the readers archives. You will find the title and author/players of each at the beginning of the respective logs. Thank you.

 

General Cabal

House Harkonnen Warmaster

 

Dune III - Thursday, June 08, 2000, 9:37 PM
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Harkonnen Debriefing:

Colonel Rhedek Maas arrives at the Harkonnen Embassy on Kaitain, having recently wrested victory in a major battle from the Bajazets on Malarcus Secundus, to be debriefed by the House Warmaster, General Ferrel Cabal.




Warmaster's Office -- Harkonnen Embassy (Kaitain)
This oval, moderately sized office is tasteful, if rather spartan in decor. The walls form a study in subtle blues and grays, with silver highlights that compliment rather than contrast with the ambiance due to the subdued lighting. Several paintings depicting planets and landscapes of past House battles adorn the walls, giving the room the appearance of some surreal microcosm of war. A black iron conference table stands in the center of the room. At the east end of the room, two metal chairs, which seem as indestructible as they are uncomfortable, face a modest metal desk, hard, cold and unyielding. Hanging on the wall behind the desk is an intimidating black sword and an impressive plaque filled with medals for commendations.
Players:
 Cabal                                
Exits:
 Black Door <W> leads to Security Nexus -- Harkonnen Embassy (Kaitain)

You are attempting to connect to Rhedek.
Connection has been established.

Over your communicator, a man's voice says, "Colonel Maas here."

Into your communicator, you speak in a low, gruff voice as he says in a near bark, "Colonel Maas, it's General Cabal. I heard you just arrived. Meet me in my office in one quarter of an hour, and don't be late.""

Over your communicator, a low, drawling voice on the other end stiffens instantly, years of military discipline making his words exact lines. "Aye, sir. I will not fail."

You break the communication connection.

Rhedek walks in from Security Nexus through the Black Door.
Rhedek has arrived.

Cabal is sitting behind his desk, looking over some film reel on a pop-up viewer. His attention is firmly affixed to the recording, but you realize he is aware of your entrance as he points to one of the chairs in front of the desk. Eventually, he says in a low, even tone, "I'll be right with you, Colonel."

        Ushered in by the house guards comes the Colonel, his burly frame squeezing through the doorway rather like a bull trying to fit through an elevator portal. His back stiff with the years of military ritual he snaps a salute that is razor-crisp, and awaits further address.

Rhedek just looked at you.

Cabal doesn't respond right away as he finishes reviewing the shigawire recording. Moments later, he places the film into a canister which he sets in front of him and the viewer recedes into the desk after it's turned off. His eyes move to capture your form then like targeting reticles on a weapon scope where they remain for several long breathes before he finally hmms to himself and returns the salute. Again, he motions to one of the chairs in front of him with an outstretched finger, and you can imagine that if he was wearing a black hooded cloak he would look just like Death.

        But Death is an entity that this man calls friend, and thus he is not as worried as perhaps another man would - that is to say, his breeches remain unsoiled. Quietly, displaying a rather surprising grace for one built as he is, the Colonel slips into the indicated seat. Broad hands steeple upon his knee. Waiting to be addressed.

Cabal loosely interlaces the fingers of his hands together and places them in front of him. His features are expressionless like a smooth slate of granite, and just as hard, as he speaks bluntly in a stone-like voice, "You were summoned here on Kaitain to explain the recent loss of your unit on Malarcus Secundus. I am not interested in why they died, that much is obvious being that they were sent on a suicide mission. What I -am- interested in is why they were sent on a suicide mission in the first place, and who, if anyone, gave those orders." He remains there, still as a statue, awaiting your response.

        "They died serving their Baron," he says in his rumbling voice, every word a lead ingot wrapped up in warm, soft velvet. Strange that a man like that would sound so gentle. "And every one a worthy death." This said first, almost as if he were speaking to God himself - honoring them with a word of their virtues. This passes with a moment of silence before he speaks anew. Business, then. Explanation, "If the General will see to the collected combat loss record of the Third Penal Legion," he says then, "He will see that only a portion were lost in the suicide assaults which occurred in the Malarcus Secundus theatre. The majority of combat losses were incurred during the initial assault campaign."

Cabal frowns a bit in impatience and his voice seems to lower an octave as he returns sternly, "I did not ask about combat statistics, Colonel. I have access to that data. What I don't know is who gave the order to send your unit on that suicide mission, and why. Confine your explanations to those questions, and leave the excuses to a woman." His eyes narrow a bit in a glare as he presses the point.

        "Very well," replies the towering man, face impassive, voice serene. One would think he'd have semuta music chiming away within his brains at all hours with that air of stark impassiveness. But again the ritual flares, and he responds to his commander, speaking that which is requested of him by the smaller, glaring man. "The General will recall that the Malarca campaign was fraught with the incompetence of the shock commanders and the general unpreparedness of their troops; by the end of the third cycle of the invasion it was clear that this rash of bad judgement had given the Bajazet defensive line several opportunities to reinforce their positions around several key tactical sites. One of these, as the General knows, was the fortress Seradnul on the southern continent."
        Unabated the Colonel continues, every word like the tolling of a tarnished funeral bell - despite the empty droning of his voice it is clear that this is not a speech that he has practiced; these are simple realities, dicated by the tongue of the man who engineered and experienced them to the fullest extent. "The 17th Klevek Corps was assigned to initiate the assault on the fortress, but they were obliterated by the Bajazet after their commander made too many orders whilst under narcotic influence - we were completely cut off from the rest of the House's forces, one legion of hussars surrounded by fifty of the enemy. It was...alarming, initially." He draws himself up, then, massive chest forming a curve that hints at pride but seems more engineered for comfort. "However, my men were prepared - we dallied not with slaves and narcotics, semuta and the elacca-drug. And we saw that for the invasion to succeed, we would have to bring Seradnul down ourselves."

Cabal tilts his head slightly to one side after listening to your report, as if to work something out in his mind before he replies stoically, "So you acted on your own initiative, without orders, and sent your men against the Bajazet fortress knowing full well they would be wiped out in the attack?" His nebulous eyes scrutinize you, as if to gauge your reaction to the question.

        "We spread through the countryside," he intones. "The towns and villages we razed to the earth in order to bring them out in force - knowing that the sight of their women and children strung from the ruins of their homes would force them farther into their rages. The Bajazet do not possess the focus of my men, and thus we knew this would be a worthy gambit. And indeed, it was; by the end of the second month almost a full quarter of the area's forces had been destroyed. But still we knew that this would not be enough. We had managed to spread the enemy's forces thinner, giving us an avenue of attack, but the shielding walls and remaining legions would soon find us and grind us under. It was clear what measures were to be taken for victory to be won, so that we would not simply be crushed under Bajazet wheels."
        A nod your way, if briefly cast. "The Bajazet had managed to wall off communications in that region after the seventeenth's destruction - we were entirely cut off. And we are Harkonnen men, to the last. Simply waiting for death is not a virtue we were ever taught. We would make our deaths bring glory to the Baron and his House." The colonel leans back a bit, fixing his fanmetal eyes on your own, darkly fluid pools. Fixation, there. Solid. "We would not be simply crushed."

Cabal shakes his head dismissively, as if the details of your heroic campaign were unimportant to him. He snaps in irritation, "Yes yes, Colonel, I know all that." He glances down to the shigawire reel canister in front of him as if to emphasize that point before continuing, his mild annoyance still present, "Just answer the question, Colonel Maas. Did you commit your forces into combat without orders, knowing full well that they would be destroyed?" His hands unclasp then and drift into his lap somewhere under the desk...

        He shifts a bit then, and nods. "Yes, General. I submitted my men to destroy themselves in the name of the Baron."

The corners of the Warmaster's mouth begin to turn up in a wry grin, as if he knew all along what the answer to his question was, but merely needed to confirm it. His head rights itself then like a listing ship that had managed to bail the water out from its hull before he questions, "So tell me something, Colonel, was this experiment with making prisoners into suicide soldiers a quirk of fate, or is it something you could do again?"

        "I would send them into Hell itself if it would mean victory for the House." He says this without hesitation and with full confidence, his back again drawing into a solid line. You're certainly asking all the right questions.

Cabal leans back a little as his smile fades like so much chalk on a blackboard, "Hmmm, I see. Well, although every soldier is ultimately expendable in the name of the Baron, and our House, it is a poor commander who wastes House resources foolishly. I'm sure you agree with me." He doesn't wait for you to reply, as it was more of a statement of indisputable fact than a question left to interpretation. "I've reviewed your service record, and the film documentation of your...exploits that we have been discussing. Your record is nearly as impeccable as mine is, though you seem to lack...ambition. Are you that content with your current assignment, or do you desire something else?" The direction he is going with this line of questioning is as much a mystery as it is somehow unnerving.

        His eyes crinkle at the corners - zealotry he may exhibit, but the man is not a lemming. "I would have the rank that would allow me to do as much as possible for the House," he replies, and there is a note of caution there. "Up to now, all that's been required of me is to slaughter the House's enemies - this I love, very much. However, if the General believes that I may be of greater benefit elsewhere...."

Cabal comments sardonically, "You have the tongue of a diplomat, Colonel. What I believe matters is not the point here, since I would just assume assign you without asking for your opinion. I am intimately aware of your abilities, and where in the Harkonnen army they are best suited, but what I am asking you is what are your ambitions, if any?" He opens a secured drawer on his desk and pulls out some orders, though you can't see what, if anything, is written on them as he turns them face down on his desk.

        A nod - that was the expected response. "I would see that I be placed in a position to help return the Harkonnen legions back to their former glory," he replies slowly, his voice dropping back into its velvet rumbling. "It is not a matter of title, but of responsibility and command. I would see that the entire military be of the same stuff as my Dragons were - that is my ambition."

Cabal allows a dry chuckle, which sounds more like subdued coughing, as he states, "What a truly excellent answer, Colonel. I don't think I could have said it better." His face suddenly becomes so devoid of emotion as to be menacing, like a judge about to pass a particularly unpleasant sentence on some hapless defendant. He turns the orders over and places on top of them a slender, black velvet box produced from somewhere under his desk where his hands had drifted to not long ago. He adds with a coy smile that appears out of nowhere as if camouflaged, "You sacrificed your men, who were nothing more than convicts trained to the point of fanaticism, so that our regular forces would be spared the losses. You took the initiative to be resourceful when the field commander failed to direct the attack effectively and placed the entire line in jeopardy. For this, Colonel Maas, I award you the Gauntlet of Iron (Silver Star) for conspicuous gallantry. Furthermore, you are being reassigned and will be stationed here at the Embassy on Kaitain as part of my personal staff." He stands up then from behind his desk as he extends a gloved hand to you in offer of a handshake.

        Unexpected, this development, but he makes no move to fawn or show surprise - the Dragon of Sibirsk is indeed a quiet one. He reaches for you, clasping your forearm in the ancient military manner - a manner that also shows the prudent caution of any man who wears kindjal and maula as their life's tools. "I will not fail you," he says simply, shaking once and letting go. And it is business as usual, again.

Cabal nods almost proudly as he says solemnly, "See that you don't, Colonel, and your military career will know only distinction. Disloyalty or disobedience from anyone under me, and they will wish I had put a Maula round through their head when I am done with them - I assure you that my reputation for results does me no justice." He pauses a moment to change gears and become more pleasant as he adds evenly, "Remember why you were rewarded here today instead of being turned over for trial, and you and I will work well together." Of course, there is no such thing as military trials in House Harkonnen considering how swift and brutal such things are dealt with, at least not officially anyway.

        Such is life under the Harkonnen House, that institution which he loves. With a further nod the towering man bows his head but a fraction in salute, then clasps his hands behind his back as he remains standing there. "Does the General have any further orders?"

Cabal inclines his head in acknowledgement of your semi-formal salute before instructing, "You will need to see the House Mentat for a security interview as soon as the opportunity presents itself to do so. Ultimately, it is -his- decision on who is cleared for Embassy duty and who is dead." He adds that last part with sour distaste as if some bile had risen into his throat. "If you successful pass his scrutiny, then we will talk again. Otherwise, welcome to Kaitain, Colonel Maas. You're dismissed."

        "My thanks, General," he replies, dipping to collect his orders - the case is almost forgotten for a moment as he sees to position first. Indeed, that is the make of the man. With another salute, this one crisp and formal, the titan turns, and takes his leave.

Rhedek walks to the west and passes through the Black Door.
Rhedek has left.

Reporting.doc

Dune III - Sunday, June 18, 2000, 4:25 PM
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Harkonnen Reprimand:

The House Warmaster, General Ferrel Cabal, reprimands Colonel Rhedek Maas about disregarding his chain of command.




Chamber of Blades -- Harkonnen Embassy (Kaitain)
A hexagonal chamber brightly lit by suspensor globes. The walls of the chamber are a soft blue soapstone; the floor is polished black marble that is worn as if it's seen much use. Harkonnen banners are hung on all the walls. A large circle has been marked off in the center of the room for sword and shield fighting. The southern area of the chamber is fitted with a variety of exercise devices. House personnel mill about, some practicing sword and pistol, some merely observing.
Players:
 Cabal                                
Objects:
 Holzhammer                           
Exits:
 Archway <N> leads to Slave Pits -- Harkonnen Embassy (Kaitain)

Rhedek walks in from Slave Pits through the Archway.
Rhedek has arrived.

Cabal is at the pistol range practicing with his Maula pistol. He doesn't seem to notice you entering right away with all the other training activity occurring around him, and his concentration on the target board. After firing several more rounds, he begins reloading and has the target board retrieved for inspection.

        Down the hallway into the training hall comes the Colonel, the titan of a fighting man approaching with a light step today; though his pace soon slows, and his breathing catches as he reaches the end of the ramp. "Kull wahad!" is the big man's breathless reply at the sight of the mammoth Holzhammer.

Cabal looks over his target after he finishes reloading, and scrunches up his face in disapproval at the lack of grouping in the bullseye area. He begins adjusting the sights a little when he looks around idly and sees Colonel Maas. A grin begins forming on his face like a moonrise over Giedi Prime and he motions you over to him.
You paged Etta with 'Feel free to drop by the training hall (Chamber of Blades), but it's not going to be pleasant for Rhedek. I thought you might enjoy sitting in though if you didn't have any other pressing engagements. ;)'.
Etta walks in from Slave Pits through the Archway.
Etta has arrived.

        "Good day to you, sir," the Colonel says as embarks on approach for the Warmaster. "Just who I wanted to see."

Etta enters quietly, but immediately says, "Knock knock? Am I interrupting?"

Cabal and Rhedek are at the pistol range area of the chamber. Cabal is holding a Maula pistol with several perforated target boards littering the firing bench behind him.

Cabal looks past Rhedek's massive shoulders as someone else enters the chamber - someone strikingly different in a distinctively feminine way from those busying themselves with training here. His grin flashes a smile to her, but he doesn't respond other than that before turning back to the Colonel and suggesting with a certain insistence, "Colonel Maas, I wished to speak with you as well. Would you mind putting this fresh target board up for me down the range? Say at about the 50 meter mark?"

        "Certainly," the big man states, taking up the board; quietly he carries down the board to affix to its mounting, then begins the approach back to where the Warmaster - and now, the lady - stand.

Etta returns Cabal's smile and moves further into the room with a cautious glance at whatever guards or slave gladiators may be busying themselves here.
Etta says, "Practicing?"

Cabal holds up a hand to Rhedek to halt his return, and states more as an order than a request, "Actually, Colonel, I want you to hold the target board for me. Off to your right side." He looks to Etta again, his smile a faded memory as he replies evenly, "Yes, but please feel free to watch, Lady Etta. We'll be finished here momentarily." He turns back to Rhedek, holding his pistol out to fire...

Etta blinks, watching as Rhedek holds the target, "Isn't that...dangerous?"

        The big man pauses...turns...heads back. Smoothly and without hesitation. The fear of death is lost on him, that fear that the average Harkonnen flunkie may have - but this is no flunkie, and the man is far from average.

        "By your leave," says the Colonel, lifting the board up high - and with his face set grave as stone, bids the man to fire with a nod.

Etta watches with mute fascination, her face expressionless, though her eyes never leave the target.

Cabal takes aim and squeezes off the first round. It hits slightly off center of the bullseye by millimeters, but it might has well have been a miss as far as the General is concerned. He pauses to adjust the sights again, and comments as he does so, "I would like to remind the Colonel for future reference..." He fires again, this time it hits dead center of the bullseye. "...that should he find any incompetence among our troops, especially those stationed here..." He fires a third time for effect, and the round finds the center of the bullseye again leaving no hole that wasn't already created by the previous one, "...he will either take care of it himself and inform me of the action..." He fires three more rounds in rapid succession of one another leaving the hole in the bullseye not widened, "...or he will inform me first and then take action." He stops momentarily to look at the Colonel, his pistol still in the ready position.

You paged Rhedek with 'I am going to shoot you in the hand, but it will obviously not be lethal and it will not cause you to loose your hand. Do you consent?'.

        "As you will, sir," is the Colonel's only reply. If there is any unsettling effect brought on by the staccato thrum of the darts penetrating the flimsy target board, it is not visible.

Etta lets out a breath she didn't know she was holding and smiles, "Impressive shooting."
From afar, Rhedek doesn't see any reason not to consent. As long as you know, the Colonel does take pain-deadening drugs to keep him razor-sharp even under the duress of battle. The effect will be the same, pain or not. The message will be given.

Cabal presses his lips into a thin even line as he takes aim again, "The Colonel, or anyone else under me for that matter, will -not- take such matters to the Mentat or even the Baron himself." He fires then, the dart flying straight and true right through the hand Rhedek is holding the target board with and he completes his thought, "I am your superior, and the troops under me are my concern. If you ever report inadequacies of our troops to anyone other than me ever again, I will have you hobbled and placed in a pit of kleveks for the amusement of your fellow officers." He waves you toward him then as he begins to reload the pistol again, apparently satisfied with its accuracy. "This pistol is working properly now," he says to no one in particular.

A flicker of surprise crosses Etta's face, there and just as quickly gone again. She says nothing, but her gaze moves from Rhedek to Cabal and back again assessingly.

        The exotic herbal drugs that have slid through the Colonel's bloodstream for many years do their work; the pressure of impact and the wet-cardboard sensation of his flesh rending is well felt, as is the warmth of blood coursing over his palm, but there is no pain there. With a leaden expression the big man takes the target card by the other corner...switches sides...and holds the target up for him to fire again.
        "The point is taken, sir," replies the Colonel as if the impact had never taken place, blood tricking from his fingertips to splatter on the training room floor in a thin, steady stream. "Would you like another salvo to make certain of its accuracy?"

Cabal smiles approvingly at Rhedek's composure, and his understanding, before responding, "No. There is an emergency meeting of the Landsraad High Council tonight that I must attend in place of the Mentat and the Baron. You, and Lady Etta," he looks to her as if to illustrate whom it is he refers to, "are welcome to accompany me, but mind your tongues while we are there." He hands the Maula pistol to the range officer then, and a medic comes over with a motion of the General's head to attend to the Colonel's wound. He removes his sidearm as he prepares to leave. "We should be going, if either of you are coming - the meeting will start soon."

Etta says, "I'll be going, yes. Lochinvar's future is of some concern to me, and I believe that is the topic of the meeting, is it not?"

        "I have matters to attend to here, sir," the Colonel replies, never sparing a single look at the gushing hole bored into his palm as the medic sets to patching it. "In keeping with your command I must discipline eight lesser guardsmen for violations of house secrecy policy. However," he looks to Etta now, "If the lady would excuse us for a moment, I would discuss their fate with you."

Cabal nods knowingly to Etta and answers, "Among other things, but yes." He turns to the Rhedek then and returns, "Give me a report, Colonel, I trust you will exercise good judgement in the matter. I need to go before I am late." Without another word, he begins to depart.

Etta nods, "I think I've had enough for one day. I'll wait in the hall upstairs."

        "As you will, lady," he replies, taking out a handkerchief to daub a few drops of blood from his sleeve - a silken square of lace-edged fabric, it stains most delicately.

Etta turns and leaves the room.
Etta walks to the north and passes through the Archway.
Etta has left.

        "I simply wish to reeducate them," the big man replies. "To make them....loyal. As my own men were to this grand House."

Cabal nods to you in acknowledgement as he leaves.

You walk through the Archway.