This is an automated archive made by the Lemmit Bot.

The original was posted on /r/hfy by /u/KyleKKent on 2025-07-05 23:05:54+00:00.

First

(No idea why I’m so exhausted and unfocused. But I can barely string two thoughts together. Sorry for the lateness.)

Capes and Conundrums

Admiral Fallows just stared at the report. Wondering if perhaps the madness reported about the human was infectious. It would explain… only a little, but it would explain things in part at least. They were officially exposed. Exposed as heroes who helped contain the chaos of someone’s absurd plan of… “Expanding small herbivores to a dangerous size? And… you… okay. Okay. I understand exposure is inevitable at this point. I understand.”

“No one is comfortable with it ma’am, but from what we can see of public discourse… they think we’re fans of the same media as them and are effectively playing the local games.” Torment, still covered in ash, says.

“Meaning?”

“By standing out and being private at the same time… we somehow blend in.” Torment states and Fallows just stares for a moment.

“Really?”

“Really.”

“You girls have really overthought things when it comes to stealth.” Private Stream notes.

“Am I speaking to an actual high ranking member of your ridiculous collection or not?”

“You’re not, but hang on, I’ll shift control of this one over. Give me a moment.” Private Stream says before going limp for a moment and then going into a sort of standby mode that has his cap fall down over his eyes. Then the image shifts again and the hat is pushed up to reveal white eyes with red markings near them. “Hello! This is Herbert Jameson, first Private Stream.”

“Actually first?” Admiral Fallows asks.

“Yes, I invented the persona to use while I was still being trained for Intelligence work. It was designed as the ‘overeager assistant’ to the ‘befuddled retiree’ persona of my mentor. I noticed I was socially welcome or ignored just about everywhere and have been taking blatant and shameless advantage of that ever since.” Herbert says with a grin.

“Sounds useful.”

“Oh yes, if I return someone’s communicator it doesn’t even cross their minds that I stole it to begin with and uploaded a tracker virus while I had it.” Herbert remarks happily. “Still, things are going forward at a rapid pace. We seem to have accidentally spooked one of the malefactors for the natives and they’re applying what appears to be the ‘do everything’ strategy for dealing with the problem. Which isn’t working too well. It’s giving us legal ways to turn the screws.”

“Will my biometrics, face and name even be needed?”

“Potentially, I’m not putting aside any possibilities. We have a very fluid and energetic situation on the ground. There’s no way to tell one way or another what’s going on. We think the perpetrator has gone into hiding, but there’s no telling how many or what contingencies they may have in place. They’ve already shown a willingness to bring a Lava Serpent into the city shields which is the kind of threat on par with arming an extremely high yield explosive in the middle of a heavily populated area. If they’re willing to do that, what else are they willing to do?”

“Disturbing. What else do we know?”

“We suspect that they were aiming a bomb at their employees in Undaunted custody. It was intercepted, but did damage undaunted property. This occurred AS the animals and Lava Serpent were unleashed on the city. Meaning it was likely a coordinated attack, or more likely…”

“A distraction. That is… irritating. Still, things seem to be proceeding apace.”

“Oh yes, especially with what Rain has found.”

“Unending Rain of Retribution? What has she found?”

“She followed one of the conspirators and maintained stealth until they dropped their guard, received further orders that exposed them as a conspirator and then recorded several snippets of conversation that can easily be construed as a full on confession.” Herbert explains. “She’s on her way back now as I understand it.”

“Very good. One final question.”

“And that would be?”

“Velocity’s current location and activities.”

“Testing a potential sister wife.” Herbert remarks. “She’s getting along very well with my other sisters in-law.”

“And how are they testing this woman? What’s going on?”

“Winifred Bearbel Stein is an Osadubb woman with a very common name for her people. We encountered her employed as a low level worker for the source of our latest little conspiracy, paid through a dummy asset to destroy evidence in the form of the long desiccated bones of the natives. Why we’re not certain, but Hafid Wayne was thrown into a such a rage by the sight of it he attacked unprovoked and had to be dragged off. Leading to her having her back up and eventually negotiating in such a way she moved to extract a sexual favour for her cooperation. We assume it was because she wanted to just dissuade Harold entirely and go back to work. But he accepted. At which point she has been struggling to adjust, but clearly enjoyed it, but also does not think herself a warrior, which is the condition for joining his growing family.”

“Why?”

“Because he plans to have a hectic, action packed life and bringing in people who can’t handle that is downright unfair.” Herbert replies. “He finds his way into trouble and loves it. He’s a fighter, a warrior, a soldier and a bit of a lunatic. If someone can’t handle that then a relationship with him is a bad idea.”

“And they’re testing to see if this Winifred can handle it?”

“They do not doubt she can handle it, but she seems to have doubts about herself. She is very powerful practical and focused. But…” Herbert shrugs. “She says she’s not a warrior. She broke a shuttle over another woman, after literally smashing her through the deck plating in a rage, but she’s apparently not a warrior.”

“Perhaps by her species standards she is not. I am a commanding officer and not a spy or scout for the Vishanyan, but my natural skills in stealth means that near anyone would dismiss that claim out of hand.” Fallows says and Herbert shrugs.

“Very true, hence the tests. I think.”

“You think?”

“Despite my skill in cold reading, I cannot read minds.”

•-•-•Scene Change•-•-• (Winifred and the girls)•-•-•

She nods to herself and stands up before looking at all of them. “Alright then. Can this be turned into teaching instead?”

“You wish to be a warrior now?”

“I no longer think it wise to shy away from a warrior’s life. If I don’t want the easier path that being a synth would offer me, then I clearly crave something more. Physical labour and clear thought can likely give me most of what I want in life. But for the rest I will need skills beyond what i have now, abilities I do not yet posses, and likely many of those skills and abilities will be on the warrior’s path.” Winifred says. “So if you don’t mind… I think I need some training instead of testing.”

“Is this just a way to get more food?” Javra asks.

“No, that will be a happy accident.”

“The best kind of accident!” Javra says.

“I suppose so… what’s next?” Winifred asks.

“Well… you kind of messed up the purposes of these tests… and mine was always a throwaway anyways. The Vishanyan don’t have a very robust culture for food. More rations than anything.”

“Oh my goodness, are you alright?” Winifred asks Velocity.

“I’m fine. Rations are healthy and plentiful.” Velocity states.

“But they’re… rations… barely a step up from nutrient bars.” Winifred states.

“Anyways, my big test was on precision and subtly. Can you eat carefully, or not leave any trace behind. Basically I’m going to have some drones moving in a patrol path and you have to eat your meal without being spotted, or leaving a trail. Meaning the noodle and sauce dish has to be eaten cleanly as well.” Velocity offers and Winifred looks considerate.

•-•-•Scene Change•-•-• (Brutality and the family)•-•-•

Harold was off to do his own part of the investigation. It was likely for the best. Either that or he was still around and using that unusual ability to blend. One of Brutality’s ears flicks to the side as he focuses. The problem is that when one looks that exquisitely hard for a pattern, it’s almost impossible not to imagine one even where there aren’t any.

It’s part of the issue that Brutality has not explained to the man. It’s just so dangerous. A level of stealth where fantasy and reality blur.

Ace taps him on the shoulder and he looks to her. She signs that she’s willing to go around the back and he nods. Most of the family reflexively head to higher ground when infiltrating an area, the front or back door is rarely an option when most of them very much prefer the window.

Which is why he’s going in the front. There is…

A drone flies overhead and his ears swivel to catch the sound profile. There is a bit of wear and tear at the front right rotor and he doesn’t otherwise react to it. Even as it quickly turns around to get a good look at him. It’s not too suspicious, but his back is up and he has long learned to trust his instincts.

The vehicle they’re tracking has led to this building. Registered to one Alice Thanquil, a Fire Erumenta and odd jobber.

On the surface at least. Drack has dug up a potential five more identities of the woman and if he’s correct about even one of them then Alice is very much just the vacation identity for when she doesn’t want to deal with the infamy of the other ID’s.

He enters the apartment building and quickly gets into the elevator and heads on up. He hears a very distinct click, dist…

Content cut off. Read original on https://old.reddit.com/r/HFY/comments/1lsmo8z/oocs_into_a_wider_galaxy_part_384/