God 💀☀️ Plot Finale - Containment

[blessmefather]

[ CW: epidemic
-This post is another mingle event. ]

Early measures have been taken to prevent the spread of the disease, but there's still work to do. A vaccine is under development with Emery overseeing the effort. Once it is complete it will need to be distributed to the people. In the meanwhile, additional attempts at warning others- including those in Imperial controlled areas- must continue.

Air Drop and Spreading the Word

A command to the Corsairs to educate each other and the civilians in the Lower Isles is all it takes to jumpstart the effort to contain the disease in Corsair controlled regions. While the outbreak is almost entirely contained in the Lower Isles, the Upper Isles are still at risk, and Corsair spies have observed possible signs of Upper Isles cases. The Corsairs cannot wait for the Empire to take notice of the problem, so Matthias leads an effort to warn the Upper Isles as well.

There are two main plans for educating the public in hostile territory:

Airdropped flyers. A Corsair airship over the Upper Isles would be the start of a full on aerial battle. Instead, airdrops must be carried out by those who can pilot Armors or those who can fly by other means. Act quickly and be ready to retreat when the Imperials send their own pilots after you.

Posting flyers and speaking to the public when the Imperials aren't watching. The Corsairs have posted flyers on walls in enemy territory before, but unless the walls are well covered, nothing will be as effective as word of mouth. If the opportunity presents itself, those brave enough might call on a crowd's attention and give a very quick speech about the disease.

Vaccination Development

Those who have experience in potions and medicine making are asked to to help with the vaccination development. Others might be asked to fetch materials, books in The Vault, or even volunteer themselves as the first to receive the vaccine.

Delivering the Vaccination

Corsair supply ships must be loaded and guarded on their way to distribution sites in the Lower Isles. While the Corsairs control the Lower Isles themselves, the Empire will try to make swift air strikes against any kind of Corsair supply ship they catch sight of.

In the Upper Isles, delivery is even harder. Small batches must be carried into Upper Isle towns and cities without drawing attention. There may also be a demand for treatment of the sick among the poorer citizens, who have overall been quicker to accept the Corsair's help despite the risk of the Empire discovering them.

Rumors will begin to spread in the Upper Isles about the good will of the Corsairs, and the names of the Old Gods are whispered a little louder.

Comments

[theriflespiral]

In a world about to be split between lower and upper by war, Penguin Logistics dares to ask:

"Why take all this time doing clandestine deliveries, when you can be entirely above board and smuggle shit in right under the Imperial nose? Into the heart of their military industrial complex? Because you can?"

Well. In truth, Natalia has been working hard to get all her ducks in a row to have this new expansion in Bluvink. There might be some problems as it stands with the ability of the Mad Archer to cover the route, but with the Humboldt nearly ready to fly as she stands... Well. Things are going to be quite busy!

... Her only regret is that she does not have the ability to do all of this clandestine work and still post all the bills she needs to post.

Getting One's Ducks To Row
"Hail, the Vault," Natalia calls, from the deck of the Humboldt. "We are ready to load."

She looks over to some of the loaders, who are armed. "You are our guards?"

Vaccine Delivery
Dressed in a courier's uniform-- from another company, replicated from photography and newspaper advertisements-- Natalia ran the rooftops of Bluvink workers' quarters.

There's one door in particular she's looking for, as she recalls.

But... What Corsair would run a clinic all the way up here?

Or what Elysium contact awaits?

Vaccine Delivery

[blessmefather]

Matthias hears her arrival outside the door and goes to answer. He's pretty sure it's an ally, and the vaccines are the one delivery someone should be carting into the area about now, but he cracks the door at first just to be safe.

"Delivery?" he asks.

He doesn't hear anyone following or standing near her. Looks like this is going smoothly thanks to the Penguin Logistics company.

Re: Vaccine Delivery

[theriflespiral]

"Yes. Some small amounts of medical supplies." Ah, that would be the voice of a previously behind-the-scenes actress now. "... Blood, the streets're dead. Shouldn't be surprised it's no one except us delivery folk. Still, I'm ahead of schedule, mind if I take a seat inside while you sign?"

... That is an extremely low heartbeat, the scent of gun oil and iodine, a touch of baked tea and onion-- is that spiders' silk? She covers up well with soap and mint, but between the voice and the scent-- plus whatever other abilities he might have-- there's probably no mistaking who this is, especially after helping them with shipments for months now.

[blessmefather]

Only a couple people he comes in contact with fairly regularly have a soul that feels so chilly when nearby. He raises his eyebrows and swings the door open for her, shuffling aside to make room for the load too. "Come in," he replies. "Early is more than acceptable."

Once she's inside with the delivery, he closes the door and locks it again.

[theriflespiral]

Natalia breathes a sigh of relief as the door locks behind her, and she pulls off the hat and sets it on a nearby table. "Yes, this is the stuff. Not much of it-- I'm going to be here a while working personally to make sure it gets all over the island-- but I figured starting with the Servants was a good idea."

She remains convinced that, in fact, the Servants are the Empire's greatest weakness. Not just because Outlanders make up a good portion of the Corsairs as it is-- though there are plenty, there's at least as many natives, if not a lot more-- but also because she's pretty sure she's not the only one who's squirming out of suppression collars by sheer dint of the fact that they weren't, technically, above baseline human.

And of course, wakening the Lotus in every Servant in Bluvink... Well.

It was a possibility she wanted to keep in her back pocket, but she wanted to hope.

Can't have that.

Ducks to Row

[redprayer]

"That's right," Rezo replies, his tone and expression pleasant. He is indeed armed, although not heavily, with a pistol in his belt. For emergencies, really, since his primary weapon is himself.

Since he realizes a blind loader and guard might not inspire confidence, he goes ahead and adds "You needn't worry, I can get around better than people realize."

Re: Ducks to Row

[theriflespiral]

"We've met, Rezo, though I suppose you might not remember that disaster as fondly as I do." A mad scramble for the means to get off the island while fighting off necromantic horrors and Imperial zealots. Not her finest hour, she'd readily admit.

"I assume you've been briefed as to our route?"

[redprayer]

"It wasn't the most pleasant of trips," Rezo admits. "Hopefully, this one will be a smoother operation." The presence on that island had been an unsettling one, though it hadn't been so bad after the initial shock.

"Yes, though a refresher wouldn't hurt as brief was an apt description."

[theriflespiral]

"Mission is simple: we're going to deliver the vaccines to Penguin Logistics at Bluvink. The first leg at least is unfortunately up to me, since we'll be relying on celestial navigation to ensure our longitude. We'll be meeting with the airships out in the middle of the Eternal Ocean, off the main shipping routes, to ensure the cargo's luft, at least, is mostly unobserved. From there we'll head towards Bluvink aloft and the Humboldt will secure another shipment in our absence."

It's a simple plan, and since sailing vessels, especially small sailing vessels, are usually both beneath the Empire's notice and presumably suicidal far from the shore, it's... Not bad from the detection side, either.

[redprayer]

Rezo nods as Natalia finishes. "And my part in all this will be to follow along in case anything goes awry and requires either firepower or a healer," he summarizes.

And with any luck, his presence will be mostly superfluous outside of an extra pair of hands to move supplies around.

[theriflespiral]

"Correct. Expected opposing forces include active ether-influenced monstrosities of the Eternal Ocean, and the possibility of interception by Imperial forces once we're aloft."

[redprayer]

"Have you faced many of those monstrosities before?" Rezo doesn't inquire about Imperial forces. Just about everyone in the Crimson Corsairs qualifies as having had (bad) experience with Imperials.

[theriflespiral]

"A few times. I've been out trawling old battlefields, it happens just often enough that you're never quite as ready as you think you are. But it is survivable."

[redprayer]

Rezo can't help but smile slightly, in a wry manner, at Natalia's phrasing. She sounds like a weary veteran giving moral support to the uncertain newbie. That might well be the dynamic, from her perspective.

"I'm sure they're not much worse than a mazoku," Rezo says. "But I'll be sure to stay on guard."

[theriflespiral]

"Together, we certainly have the capability," Natalia agrees. "If that capability is needed, and if we can rise to the task, only time will tell."

She nods and starts loading. She's pretty fast at it. Some of her crew are irritated. She's a captain, she has people for this now-- namely them.

"Well? Let's not keep everyone else waiting."