The two moons cast their reflection on the ocean, both interrupted only by the long shape of the Chrysalis that was slowly approaching the dark jade shape of the Empire.

Captain Kaba leaned on the stern of her ship, watching the green giant grow in front of her eyes. She pushed her dreads back, then turned to her companion and only passenger, Volkert Depper, the new headman of the trading post.

She wouldn’t be sad to see him go. Even though the man was well read and an excellent conversationalist, mister Depper had been far from engaging company. This stemmed from the fact he subscribed to the fashions of his homeland, which to Kaba’s chagrin had in her absence turned to austerity, temperance, moderation and well, the opposite of all the things Kaba found made life worth living.

The skinny man’s moral philosophies were starkly represented in his clothes. A simple pressed, black linen jacket to the knees, over what was probably more black line was what he wore. The only excess he allowed himself was his hair, which had been neatly coiffed into an anastole that fought against the sea wind to stay in model.

“Say,” Kaba started, leaning down on the railing.

The man sighed, preparing for whatever bait Kaba had thought of now.

“All the money you’re making, or going to make anyway. Isn’t that against whatever of -ities covers that?”

“Charity?” Depper suggested.

“That’s the one.”

“A man needs money to be charitable.”

“Isn’t it more charitable to give when you have nothing.”

“It’s recommended you give charitably within your means, captain. I’m sure you have your own benefactors.”

Kaba didn’t respond.

“Besides,” Depper continued icily, “My reason for visiting this forsaken empire are purely scientific. Somebody has to chart their flora and fauna after all. I’ve noticed that the people they dare call scientists certainly aren’t the most able.”

“So, you’re using the Company for your personal gain. I’m sure the church has some choice words for that.”

“Fortunately,” Depper replied, “I am not beholden to the church, but only to the progress of humankind as a whole. Something the church should have no part in.”

“Oh, you and the natives are going to get on like a house on fire… That is...”

“That is?”

“That is if decadence and hedonism have a place in your progressed world.”

“There’s no enlightenment in either of those.”

“I wouldn’t say that. I generally feel a lot lighter after a decent bout of hedonism.”

She winked at the man, then turned her attention to the coast.

“That should do,” she said calmly to herself, then spun on her heel, bringing her hands to her mouth to yell at one of her crew.

“Starboard battery…Rolling volley, fire!”

The night sky briefly turned orange as the roar of artillery drowned all other sounds out until they had finished firing one by one.

“Thank you for the warning,” Depper said icily as he pulled his hands away from his ears.

“You’re very welcome,” Kaba mumbled, took her spyglass from her jacket and scanned the shoreline. Three orange pricks appeared, momentarily illuminating the towers they stood on.

“Port side!” she yelled, “When you’re ready!”

Another burst of violent thunder across the ocean, then a dozen lights appeared in the sky, rapidly heading for the Chrysalis.

“We have incoming,” Kaba said to one of her sailors, who nodded and rushed to get the entire crew ready to receive them.

“Incoming what?”

“Neckbreathers,” Kaba said mildly, “You’ll become intimately familiar with them. They’re called listeners or some such and will be at every single meeting you have. They’re flying out to see if I’m bringing anything illegal into the empire.”

“Are you?”

“I am not, which is why I have to stay outside of the bay. I’m afraid you’ll have to row to your destination, as I can not afford to lend you any Haga. Time is of the essence. Don’t worry, I won’t charge you for the dinghy.”

“You are carrying something illegal?”

“I’m carrying a shipment of weapons, yes,” Kaba pointed out, “But they’re for your own people who are quelling a haga uprising a few hundred miles north of here. As such, I won’t be here for the formalities, though I can’t say I’ll miss them.”

“Anything here you will miss, captain?”

“Nothing you’d indulge in, mister Depper. Or maybe you will, if you learn to enjoy life while you’re here.”

“I enjoy life just fine.”

“No, no you don’t,” Kaba laughed, “But that’s fine. I need people like you to make people like me look more fun after all.”

The black blade trembled in Nana’s hands as she held it above her head. She had no target, safe for two thin wires that ran from the ceiling to the floor with only the barest space between the black threads. She considered her strike carefully, meditating on the existence of the weapon before her until she was sure it was not a weapon but an extension of her arms. She struck, her sword going between the wires without upsetting them in the least.

She repeated it a few dozen times until her arms burned, then still continued her exercises.

There was a soft clapping outside the door when she was halfway through her swing and she frowned, listening for the rhythm of the claps, then nodded to herself.

“Enter, Rei.”

The door, decorated with two preying mantises getting ready to strike at each other, opened to let Nana’s junior in.

“How’s the leg?” was the greeting, as it had been for some time.

Nana bowed to the air where she had been practicing, made sure to properly wipe down the blade of her sword with the hem of her shirt, then sheathed it and turned to Rei, finally answering.

“It’s been three months,” she laughed, “I could run the Stairs of a Thousand Steps twice now.”

“Of course you could,” Rei smirked, “I’m here to say your lord wants you. Something about new orders.”

“Good,” Nana said, pacing towards the door, “I’ve been bored.”

The Gunari was in his private, quietly trimming one of the many flower bushes that turned the small square in a veritable paradise for butterflies and bees.

He looked up when Nana entered his greens and nodded to show he had seen her.

“Reporting,” Was the only greeting Nana had.

“How’s the leg?”

“Itchy when it’s going to rain,” Nana shrugged, “Nothing worth mentioning.”

“Very good,” the Gunari smiled, taking a chalice shaped yellow flower from one of the bushes, tossing it over to her.

Nana caught it and put it in her sleeve, but remained quiet.

“You’re going to Choukishi.”

“Again?”

“Again. Take Rei if you want, but I don’t think you’ll need her. Find the foreign ship. The Chrysalis it’s called I think, and tail it.”

“Why? Don’t we know where it’s going to make landfall?”

“We do,” the Gunari affirmed, “But what will it look like if I kill a foreigner on our soul? A whole crew even. I’d rather not plunge the Empire into war so readily. As such your job is to...”

“Make sure they die of an accident, preferably off shore. Understood. What if they do manage to bring their wares into the country though?”

“Not that it’s your job to question me,” the Gunari chided gently, “But you’re not my only actor. They’ll find a surprise waiting for them. Now off with you.”

Nana bowed, stepped back, then hurried to collect her equipment.

“Oh, and Nana...”

“Lord?”

“Time is of the essence. Use the hornets.”

Nana sighed, considered a protest, then simply bowed again and retreated.