Human Agri-world Tuathanas

Val was tired, the last few years had been exhausting for everyone but the toll showed on her more than most. The Accord-Compact war had not gone well and even out in the backwoods of Human controlled space on an agri-world news from the front had reached them. Fleets running, ships disappearing, worlds falling, all while she was stuck ground-side; her uniform collecting dust in the closet and her chance of going out doing something worthy beyond her grasp. All things considered, she supposed she was lucky. She wasn’t an idiot, while Fleet never released ship losses she could read between the lines. No casualties, no battle-damaged ships in need of machinists like her to get back into fighting shape, just ships in need of refit or no ships at all. They either come back whole or not at all, she thought to herself. It was not a pleasant thought, coupled to the realization there had never been any declarations of sunk Affini ships as well. The end was on its way sooner or later and there was no stopping it.

Affini Scout Ship Taraxacum

“Look dearest you know I love you and my vines are forever entwined with yours but you are absolutely and completely wrong” 

Torminalis sighed, his vines creaking as he restrained the urge to argue with his beloved partner of many seasons. “My most lovely and wise Aucuparia Sorbus, Third Bloom, twined of root and vine,” he said with grave formality bordering on the absurd. “I do not doubt you nor wisdom of the Compact as a whole but merely believe that for the exceptional floret the fire should be nurtured rather than extinguished”

Aucuparia shot him a glare her vines crossing around her core in a manner gesturing that yes she loved him but he was full of it. Mimicking his diction and tone she replied “Oh my most dense and unenlightened Torminalis Sorbus, Second Bloom, the fire must be snuffed out for as wildfire nurtures the forest in its passing but can not linger in the ashes for blooms to grow.” 

“Ahrghhrghh” growled a third voice. “ If you two are going to insufferably philosophical, insufferably pretentious, and insufferably flirty get off the sodding bridge” 

Torminalis, in the process of faining injury and slipping to the deck, straightened up and brought a vine up in mock salute. “Yes ma’am all serious about the bridge in the presence of Captain Tesota and her floret” The pair of exasperated sighs from both the Captain and his partner were reward enough but the burst of adorable giggling from the cute floret nestled in Tesota’s vines was the icing on the cat as the Terrans say. 

Aucuparia, possessing a sense of decorum and a sense of embarrassment, quickly smoothed her form into a humanoid shape and made to apologize. “Sorry Captain, we didn’t realize that you had come in and especially sorry to you Miss Bethany… Oh my Stars!” she gasped finally taking in the form of Bethany Olneya, Third Floret. “It's a new outfit! Tell me dear what are you today?” she squeed. 

Bethany giggled happily again. “You like? I made it myself! Except like the hat and, um, the boots, and um, the socks, and um..” her voice trailed off for a moment her mind fuzzy as she tried to focus on the question. A gentle prod of a vine from her owner brought her back to the present. “I am sub-commander Bethany in charge of the floret morale and cuteness division!” she exclaimed.

Aucuparia took in her whole outfit now that she knew the theme, the character, and nearly squeed again at the cutie in front of her. The adorable combination cover with a brass heart instead of insignia, the pink and gold-trimmed hussar coat, the white plait skirt, kitten topped knee highs, and white sneakers. It was too much, too cute, too adorable. “I think you are doing a good job in your posting sub-commander! I can tell my morale has gone up and the cuteness of the bridge has drastically increased” she voice dripping with affection and more than a little longing. 

Bethany, released from the grasp of her owner, happily twirled and spun showing off and prancing. “Oh thank you, Paria! I love showing off for you” she exclaimed before being smothered in pets and affection and becoming too overloaded to speak. 

Torminalis slid in close to Tesota whispering in earnest and sincere tones “Thank you, captain, for bringing her with you today. It brings me such joy to see Aucuparia so happy with a cutie to fawn over.”

“So neither one of you will consider a pet still?” 

A rueful expression passed over Torminalis. “She won’t consider it unless I find one for myself, and well you know well...”

“I know, I know...”

Human Agri-world Tuathanas 

The sound of singing and hammer blows echoed around the shop as Val beat a plow blade back into shape. Sweat sizzling on hot metal, the rhythm of the swings in time with her voice, her mind was lost in the trance of the work. Strike, breath, turn, chorus, strike, over and over becoming one with herself, her hammer, and her work. Just her and the…

“Hey, Val why is the shop called Svartalfheim anyway?”

Ahhhhh damn it, Val was brought screeching back to the here and now, as the sudden interruption caused her to miss her swing. Her lovely assistant Lyra sat on the workbench painting her nails. “Lyra, long have you been my apprentice now?”

“Um it’s been six months since I got kicked out and you adopted me as your little sister, why?”

“You are my apprentice, not my sister you bum. In those six months of running around my shop and my place have you not figured out that I am a pagan?” Val said with an exacerbated tone.

“I just thought you were a giant nerd” Lyra replied impishly. “Apprentice... Does that mean I can call you master, no wait, mistress?”

“You are a menace and sister it is cause Master would make me want to cry and Mistress is just weird. As for your original question, Svartalfheim is the realm of the dwarven smiths, so ya know its machine shop so it’s a hall of smiths and tinkerers.”

“So what you are saying is I am correct and you are a giant nerd”

Val flicked a bean bag she used for dead blows at Lyra in reprisal of her cheek. It flew straight and true and smacked the girl square in the middle of her forehead with far more force than she intended. Shit. 

Lyra swallowed a cry, her eyes starting to water, as the blow brought memories better left alone to the surface. Val cursed under her breath, she knew better than to use physical jokes with Lyra, stupid, stupid, you dumb brute this is why no one will ever see you the way you want to be. She dropped her tools and rushed to Lyra’s side.

“Hey hey, princess, come on back it's okay you are safe I am an idiot you aren’t going to get hurt I swear” Val’s hushed murmuring as she wrapped the girl in her arms. Lyra let out a sob.

“Sorry Val it's, I, sorry.”

“Hey Princess it's my fault I am the dummy I know better than that you won’t get hurt while I am here I’ll protect you with all I got” 

Lyra breathed deep, suppressing a shaking sob, and smiled at her big sister, even as tears ran down her cheeks. “I know, I know it's just hard to let go, but I know my big bad Viking sister will protect me.”

Val held her adoptive sister in her arms and squeezed her tight. “A Princess and her Viking? Guess that makes me your Thane.”

Lyra laughed “Told ya you were a nerd”

Affini Scout Ship Taraxacum

“Torminalis, report” Came the order crisp and clear from Captian Tesota. Her tone showed she was braced for whatever new shenanigans the Affini had come up with.

A 3d projection of the surrounding systems appeared above the briefing table centered around one green world. “As you can see Captain, as of last night, the combined Compact fleet has secured and ensured the safety of every world being supplied by this agri-world here, including two forge worlds, one hive, and one garden world. Logistically speaking it is now safe to proceed with securing the final planet in this sector without risk of famine due to disrupted supply chains.” 

Torminalis’s voice was clear, professional and his presentation of to the point. Tesota was filled with suspicion and narrowed her eyes at him. “Is that all?”

“Yes?” Torminalis said with a tone of hurt. “I take my role as the foremost expert in scarcity logistics and supply chain management in the fleet very seriously you know.” 

The Captain relaxed, “Sorry, well you know, it’s you after all, without Paria to reign you in” she trailed off a vine gesturing into the air.

“Oh I understand you completely but before play, we must work, and therefore it is my recommendation that we make for Tuathanas as the Terrans call it.”

Tesota nodded, and gave the order “Helm make course to Tuathanas.”

“Also Captain before the briefing I gave your lovely floret three bars of marshmallow-filled chocolate and a box of markers, do send pictures.” 

“Wilt your leaves, Torminalis get back here!” Tesota shouted at the rapidly fleeing Affini. Well, at least Bethany is adorable on a sugar rush and crash.