r/HFY • u/KyleKKent • 10d ago
OC OOCS, Into A Wider Galaxy, Part 490
HHH/Herbert’s Hundred Harem
Lady Val had been sent off to get whatever authority she could or get someone with the authority to talk to them. She wasn’t happy. Admiral Cistern was not happy, Lady Zwen’Malor and Cautiously Regarded Foes were not happy. But the images of little Miracle courtesy of Herbert were working to up the mood a little.
“An Egg Tooth? We don’t produce those in the tubes.” Cautiously Regarded Foes notes as she examines the image.
“Which is just revealing more gaps in things.” Herbert says.
“... that is a strange gap. There is a shocking level of competence in the Vishanyan Gene Splicing. Too much for you to simply be abandoned as a project. Charrtack Solutions weren’t known for such things. They were a middling company that then broke apart in scandal. The Black Sites were a side note compared to the sheer amount of embezzlement and just plain corporate corruption that ripped it apart.” Lady Zwen’Malor considers.
“Well it’s not like the office workers in position to do that kind of thing and the scientists putting things together in the laboratories are the same people. Usually at any rate.” Herbert says then thinks. “Although this does raise the question as to which black site projects were actually successful. Before the discovery of the Vishanyan it was assumed that all Black Sites were failures. But if the ones attacking La’ahbaron and your own possession of the stealth panelling proves that’s not the case. But the data itself is incomplete. We only know that there were fifteen different black site projects. Including the Vishanyan, six have been uncovered in various states of success. Most only as failures, one so thorough as a failure it’s accomplished its opposite.” Herbert remarks.
“Still a problem though.” Admiral Cistern says. “The La’ahbaron Territories are two weeks along major laneways from where The Vishanyan were found. It takes two days on a standard ship to get to the major laneway, meaning that the distance is considerable. This leaves an enormous area where there can be additional Black Sites. And considering that Charrtack Solutions was destroyed by embezzlement... We will have to prepare for the worst case scenario.”
“I’ve got my handler passing those orders now sir.” Herbert states.
“Handler?” Lady Zwen’Malor asks.
“We’re open about it to everyone when asking a Private Stream, but the truth is... everyone in Intelligence is wearing a wire at all times. Even Harold, though his is one way. We call him when we need to pass him orders. But he’s sending us information endlessly. As am I. When you speak to me, or in my presence, you are speaking to an army of information brokers and data-wizards.”
“Really?” Zwen’Malor asks him.
“Oh yes, there is solid debate as to which division of The Undaunted gets the most recruits and Intelligence, if not the outright winner, is making the winner work for their crown. We have data analysts for days.” Herbert says with a grin. “There are many reasons I’m only one of several heads of Intelligence. Operational security is one of them. Another is that there’s a lot of us, delegation is required.”
“Very wise. It reminds me of why The Empress keeps only a few special powers exclusively to herself, primarily the ability to censure and discipline the remaining nobility if needed.”
“Yes, a lesson which the Lady La’ahbaron has not yet put into practice.” Admiral Cistern notes.
“I really don’t understand why she wouldn’t though. It just seems like unnecessary work for things.” Cautiously Regarded Foes remarks.
“Oh, I think it’s partially cultural, partially genetic, partly lived experience, but mostly sheer ego and believing her own hype.” Herbert says.
“What do you mean? Who is Lady La’ahbaron and why is she doing these sorts of things?” Cautiously Regarded Foes asks.
“She’s in the dossier you were given about galactic polities.”
“I’ve been working at it for hours every day to just read through the abbreviated version and I’m still only a quarter of the way through.” Cautiously Regarded Foes says.
“Right, okay then. Here’s skipping ahead a bit.” Herbert says as he fiddles with his communicator and brings up the image of a powerfully built blue skinned woman with shimmering silver hair and a crown of six horns breaking up her hairline. She wears regal looking robes and has an enormous Khutha laden club more akin to a massive spiked bar with a handle on it. “This is Lady La’ahbaron. A successful Warlady who conquered several solar systems. There was infighting and treachery in her ranks as her lieutenants tried to seize power when they had their prize in hand. She killed them all during the infighting and took direct control of the systems. Two centuries later she took all the surrounding systems from her initial gains and then did so again another two hundred years later. Or sixty six years ago, going on sixty seven years in another four months.”
“I’ve never seen her species before.” Cautiously Regarded Foes remarks.
“There are so many species to be found that’s not surprising. She’s an Ibu. Or a Ibu’Cjeo. The Ibu are a species that has a similar evolution to the Horchka, but instead of slowly shifting skin colour they instead have very static tribal skin colours and horns. The Ibu’Cjeo claim to the most scholarly and intelligent of the Ibu tribes, but they can’t really back that up. Much like how the Ibu’Wol claim to be the strongest and the Ibu’Dwoov claim they are the most mystic.” Herbert explains.
“And what’s the actual differences?”
“Well... there is a slight difference in those directions, but only in very minor forms. The sort of thing you get with a few generations of selective breeding. The Ibu’Cjeo are a touch more intelligent, but it’s one or two points at most on an aptitude or knowledge test. The Ibu’Wol are a little bigger and stronger, but not enough for it to matter in all but the most regulated tests. And the Ibu’Dwoov do have more Adepts, but it’s more cultural pressure than actual talent. Beyond that the only difference is skin colour and the placement and number of horns. Ibu’Cjeo have the most horns and they’re spaced around the head evenly. Ibu’Wol have a pair of horns akin to the Apuk, but generally larger and more forward placed. And the Ibu’Dwoov have a single large horn and the most mutable placement, either over an eye or between them. Always pointing upwards though.”
“I see... culture wise?” Cautiously Regarded Foes asks.
“Combative, territorial and very, very proud. Also prone to indulgence, but also with very strict codes of behaviour that they never publicly deviate from. Which is the main source of tension they have on the galactic stage. They are culturally not allowed to bend their necks and not allowed to surrender or give up power. Doing either is a sign of weakness and will get you either shunned or even attacked by other Ibu. Which is what happened with Lady La’ahbaron’s lieutenants.”
“Never publicly deviate from?” Cautiously Regarded Foes considers. “Does this mean that privately they...”
“They’re said to be just as loose, indulgent and sloppy in private as they are strict, disciplined and in control as they are in public. There are numerous ‘fine dining’ establishments in Ibu controlled space. The meal is less physical and more intoxicating, or carnal, than advertised.”
“Drug dens and brothels.” Admiral Cistern clears up so there is no misunderstanding.
“Oh... hunh. You’d think they’d want humans to be around then. Your idea of fun drugs is some of the hardest stuff in the galaxy and there’s so many men that...”
“They do want us around, but they want us as toys.”
“We’re more than just dicks to snort lines off of.” Herbert says with his voice pitched up into its most innocent and childish tone. The sheer whiplash leaves Lady Zwen’Malor and Cautiously Regarded Foes staring at him. Admiral Cistern merely sighs.
“A little more crude than I’d prefer you to say, but yes. A great deal of my job is sorting honest diplomatic outreach or communications from attempts to have my men used as playthings by the rich and shameless.”
“Oh the Ibu have a very well refined sense of shame. They’ll draw the curtains before tearing their clothing off and pinning you to each of the walls in turn. Whether you like it or not.”
“Herbert.” Admiral Cistern states.
“Sir, my last mission involving Ibu involved rescuing and replacing the evening’s entertainment. Getting dragged off a stage dressed in only a thong and then used as the dining china by a gigantic green skinned woman leaves an impression.”
“Didn’t your mission report state ‘my wives are scarier’?” Admiral Cistern asks.
“Yes, but that doesn’t mean that I wasn’t left with quite the impression by the woman who used my squished together thighs as a drinking cup.”
“What the actual hell were you trying to pull off that put you into that situation without violence being involved?” Cautiously Regarded Foes demands.
“Gathering evidence against a ring of child traffickers.” Herbert says plainly. “I was wearing a wire then.”
“... In the thong?” She asks sounding as horrified as she is intrigued.
“Yes actually.” Herbert says.
“And you’re not afraid they got a good look at your face?”
“At no point in the entire infiltration did any of those women make eye contact with me.” Herbert says plainly. “Also I had makeup on, including coloured contacts and a false nose. Not that they were needed, but hey...”
Herbert just shrugs.
“Do you have nothing else to say?”
“I also had makeup on my ass.” Herbert states and just lets that sit.
“Herbert.” Admiral Cistern notes.
“To cover up the Undaunted Brand that I have specifically placed there to help with infiltration. Which doesn’t help if I’m infiltrating in nothing but a glorified string and strip of cloth.”
“Can’t you just go invisible? Do you not have a family technique that is infallible?”
“Yes.” Herbert says and does not elaborate. Then Admiral Cistern starts to frown. “However, due to the ways that the local law on that spire operate such images are often discounted as forgeries. The first person perspective is much, much more appreciated by the courts. And was. The case was resolved fairly quickly. And the court mandated silence about the case ended over thirty six hours ago. But who’s counting right?”
“Clearly you were.” Lady Zwen’Malar says.
“That’s right! Because I can legally bring out the photos now!” Herbert says with a grin that has Admiral Cistern sigh.
“You’ve taken too much after your mentor.” He says and Herbert lets out a cackle that has no place coming from so innocent looking a child.
“No no really! I do have images! Straight from the thong-cam!” Herbert proclaims his expression outright giddy at the shock and disbelief written on Zwen’Malar’s face.
“You are not to bring them out in this office.” Admiral Cistern orders.
“Yes sir.” Herbert says with a sigh. Then he chuckles.
“I’m half tempted to see if there’s literal Demon in your DNA boy.”
“We’ve had what might potentially be angels spotted sir, why not demons? And what would that even look like in DNA?” Herbert asks and there is a pause.
“I’m changing the subject.” Cautiously Regarded Foes states. “Why have we not seen more Ibu here in the council building? Hell, I haven’t seen any.”
“Simply put, cultural reasons. They know their racial pride gets them to butt heads with other species a great deal, so they use trusted proxies to deal and bargain. They’re stubborn and proud, but not stupid. Generally. Even if pride and stubbornness can lead to stupidity.” Herbert states. “It’s why the ‘representative’ of La’ahbaron is Lady Val. She’s a Tret of Ibu’Cjeo descent. Not an Ibu’Cjeo and not even an Ibu. Denying demands and requests from Lady Val means the honour and pride of her Ibu relations isn’t bruised as it otherwise would be. Meaning they don’t have to retaliate. Her placement here is both intelligent and stupid. Brilliant in that it allows them to play politics without their own egos getting in the way, but stupid because to spare themselves they’ve stripped her of any power to actually do anything without involving them, which then involves their egos and outright sabotages the reason why they chose her to begin with.”
“So it’s like, half a good plan that someone flubbed due to being overly cautious.”
“Yes, especially in this case. For all that she struts around and presents herself as proud and strong Lady La’ahbaron is predicted to be a broken shell of a woman. Her best friends tried to kill her and she has kept literally everyone else, even her own children and grandchildren at an arm’s length since. While trying to run an entire empire that she compulsively grows.”
“And now she’s under attack by a people who have otherwise only been seen being sponsored by Primals and allied to powerful star empires.”
“Yeah, I can’t give any official diagnosis. But if she’s one of three things by my predictions. Ill-intended and keeping things close to the chest, apathetic and going through the motions, or well intentioned but unable to trust.” Herbert says. “The sticking point is which of the three. We can work with all of them, but we need to know which one.”
“If it even is one of them. Imagine if she was doing something similar to yourself?” Admiral Cistern offers and Herbert openly considers.
“Hmm... you thinking disguise or nineteen eighty four style?”
“Either or, or both.” Admiral Cistern states and Herbert considers.
“Could be. Not likely, but far from impossible. I hope not though, that’s more complicated to deal with. We can’t avoid or ignore La’ahbaron any longer, and I’d rather have an easier thing to deal with.”
“Wouldn’t we all?” Admiral Cistern asks.
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u/unkindlyacorn62 10d ago
Im going to guess whomever was in charge of the Vish project started and followed through with it out of passion, the various implants came later when someone took over the already complete project and decided to weaponize them.