AbelardStopping unexpectedly, Abelard imperiously dismisses the unit to stand at a distance, and addresses your other companions, saying, "I have an urgent matter to discuss with the Lord Captain. Please give us a moment."
AbelardAbelard looks at you, and his last vestiges of restraint vanish. "Well, are you pleased with your 'investigation,' Lord Captain?"
Abelard"You kowtowed to the disloyal rabble. You believed their lies and showed them leniency. Next time the ship is attacked by cultists, that rabble will welcome them in with open arms and allow them to wreak whatever havoc they like, because they see you as a weak leader."
Abelard"Is that how you see your future at the helm of the von Valancius protectorate?"
YOU"Do not speak to your Lord Captain in that tone."
Abelard"I am obliged to speak thus. Who else can point out your errors and offer you counsel?"
YOU"Do not speak to your Lord Captain in that tone."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why are you so angry? I solved the problem."
Abelard"But why did you have to be the one to do it? And did you consider what it might cost you?"
Abelard"I would have handled the situation myself had you not decided to intervene," Abelard says irascibly. "Remember Lord Captain Theodora. Do you think she ever set one slippered foot on the lower decks? No. She did not. Such matters were left to myself and the junior officers while she dedicated herself to her grand designs for the protectorate — as any true strategist and Rogue Trader ought."
YOU"Maybe if Theodora had spent more time on 'trifling' matters, she wouldn't have wound up dead. There is a new Lord Captain aboard this ship now, and I will not repeat her mistake."
AbelardAbelard looks at you, stunned, and exhales loudly. Then he nods curtly. "I... commend your decisiveness, but I am uncomfortable with introducing new protocols in the midst of a crisis."
Abelard"And..." Abelard stands straight at attention. "I lost my temper, Lord Captain. And I believe I ought to explain myself."
AbelardAbelard speaks slowly, the words not coming easily to him. "The prosperity of the von Valancius protectorate is not just an empty phrase to me. I left the Imperial Navy for the chance to see it flourish. It was the most momentous decision of my life. I did it because I saw in Lord Captain Theodora's deeds the sign of true greatness. Rogue Traders do not simply forge new routes and capture worlds — they create order out of anarchy. That creative impulse was entirely lacking during my time in the military."
Abelard"So I left behind everything I had known, everything my family had known — I come from a long line of officers — and I embarked upon this incredibly reckless venture. Lord Captain Theodora entrusted me with all the concerns she had no time for. She would go off on her flagship for long periods, to distant frontiers, on scouting voyages, and the advancement of the entire protectorate rested on my shoulders. And then suddenly, everything that had been built over years and years began to quake, rattling like a flimsy hangar on a seismically active world."
Abelard"One of the senior officers betrayed us all, the Rogue Trader was killed, and who knows what is happening on the planets. I tell you this honestly, without fear of appearing weak. All this has come as a grievous blow to me. I am not panicking or grieving because I cannot allow myself to panic or grieve. I am duty-bound to aid the new Rogue Trader — to aid you — to find your footing as quickly as possible. And to do that, I must insulate you from problems that in the past have been dealt with by tried and tested procedures set out in the ship's regulations. Procedures that were established long ago and have functioned smoothly for decades cannot suddenly be deemed excess to requirements!"
YOU"Theodora trusted in established procedures — and she died. I won't make the same mistake. If you want to keep building the future of the von Valancius protectorate with me — stop living in the past."
AbelardAbelard solemnly inclines his head. "Yes, Lord Captain." After a moment's silence, he adds, looking at you with interest, "Your resolve is admirable and demonstrates strong leadership. I shall remember this moment, should my old habits ever begin to creep back in."
Abelard"And now, please, let us leave the lower decks. If the Rogue Trader desires to stretch his/her legs, there are far more suitable places."
end of branch
YOU"I understand, but you need to learn how to respect me as your Lord Captain and Rogue Trader. Accept it and start living in the new world — a world where Theodora is gone and where you and I have new decisions to make."
AbelardAbelard solemnly inclines his head. "Yes, Lord Captain." After a moment's silence, he adds, looking at you with interest, "Your resolve is admirable and demonstrates strong leadership. I shall remember this moment, should my old habits ever begin to creep back in."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The prosperity of the von Valancius protectorate is just as important to me. You are the only person who has comprehensive knowledge of how things are run on this ship. I think in the future I will follow your recommendations."
AbelardAbelard dips his head in a sign of assent. The shadow of incredible strain, which evidently had been wearing on him for some time, finally lifts from his face. "I am glad you see the value in the foundations laid down by your illustrious predecessor. Why fix what isn't broken? As for me, I shall endeavour not to cause you any further consternation, Lord Captain."
Abelard"And now, please, let us leave the lower decks. If the Rogue Trader desires to stretch his/her legs, there are far more suitable places."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I value what Theodora created and I trust that this situation is an aberration in the ship's otherwise smooth operation. Since the established procedures are working, I see no reason to change them."
AbelardAbelard dips his head in a sign of assent. The shadow of incredible strain, which evidently had been wearing on him for some time, finally lifts from his face. "I am glad you see the value in the foundations laid down by your illustrious predecessor. Why fix what isn't broken? As for me, I shall endeavour not to cause you any further consternation, Lord Captain."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I have seen plenty of sentiment and handwringing in recent days, but very little competence. I have no plans to rely on your judgement or your 'tried and tested procedures' in the future."
AbelardThe Seneschal's thick brows loom over his darkening eyes like thunder clouds. "Yes, Lord Captain. You will not hear anything from me apart from reports on my direct duties." Abelard is silent for a few seconds. "I suppose my presence in your retinue will be extremely short-lived. But for now, let us leave this cesspit."
end of branch
YOU"I would be only too willing to trust in my Seneschal and not fill my head with such matters, but the situation had spiralled out of your control, Abelard."
AbelardAbelard's face relaxes slightly. "You're... right. At least as concerns junior officers making complaints directly to you."
Abelard"And..." Abelard stands straight at attention. "I lost my temper, Lord Captain. And I believe I ought to explain myself."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Give me a reason why I should continue listening to your advice and trusting your judgement. Right now I don't see any."
AbelardAbelard frowns, his affronted dignity clearly at war with his military training, but the latter wins out. He shrugs slightly, juts out his chin, and speaks in a calmer, graver voice, "I never expected to hear such words after all my years of service. But I suppose I have brought this on myself. Allow me to explain."
AbelardAbelard speaks slowly, the words not coming easily to him. "The prosperity of the von Valancius protectorate is not just an empty phrase to me. I left the Imperial Navy for the chance to see it flourish. It was the most momentous decision of my life. I did it because I saw in Lord Captain Theodora's deeds the sign of true greatness. Rogue Traders do not simply forge new routes and capture worlds — they create order out of anarchy. That creative impulse was entirely lacking during my time in the military."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"There is some truth to your criticism."
Abelard"I should say so!" Abelard heaves a sigh, but he visibly relaxes. "You simply needed to trust me."
Abelard"I would have handled the situation myself had you not decided to intervene," Abelard says irascibly. "Remember Lord Captain Theodora. Do you think she ever set one slippered foot on the lower decks? No. She did not. Such matters were left to myself and the junior officers while she dedicated herself to her grand designs for the protectorate — as any true strategist and Rogue Trader ought."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Let's talk about your role in all this instead. You allowed this revolt to happen, your actions practically guaranteed it would."
Abelard"I would have handled the situation myself had you not decided to intervene," Abelard says irascibly. "Remember Lord Captain Theodora. Do you think she ever set one slippered foot on the lower decks? No. She did not. Such matters were left to myself and the junior officers while she dedicated herself to her grand designs for the protectorate — as any true strategist and Rogue Trader ought."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why are you so angry? I solved the problem."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"There is some truth to your criticism."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Let's talk about your role in all this instead. You allowed this revolt to happen, your actions practically guaranteed it would."continues where this line first appears above
Abelard"You kowtowed to the disloyal rabble — worse still, you put weapons into their hands. Now we do not simply have an untrustworthy mob in the hold, we have a mob that is armed. Next time they decide to start an uprising, it will be far bloodier — that is, of course, if they don't accidentally wipe themselves out first."
Abelard"Is that how you see your future at the helm of the von Valancius protectorate?"continues where this line first appears above
Abelard"You made a harsh but necessary decision. But before that, you danced to the tune of a panicking junior officer. You put your life at unnecessary risk in the midst of a potential uprising. And your actions triggered everything that followed. If you hadn't given Lieutenant Vent false hope and then snatched it away again, she wouldn't have snapped! You had no business going anywhere near the lower decks."
Abelard"Is that how you see your future at the helm of the von Valancius protectorate?"continues where this line first appears above