Contents
CHAPTER 35: Stranger Allies
Overview
Espenia’s secretary of international affairs courts Kekon at Euman Base, pressing No Peak and Chancellor Son for military or political support in Oortoko in exchange for trade concessions. Hilo bluntly refuses to send Green Bones and warns against foreign overreach.
Back home, No Peak debates exploiting Espenian leverage against the Mountain, targets Iwe Kalundo via a shine connection, continues raids on Ti Pasuiga, and decides Hilo—not Shae—will travel to Espenia to assess Port Massy’s Green Bones and reconnect with Anden.
Summary
On Euman Island, Hilo, Shae, and Kehn observe Espenian IBJCS cadets before meeting Secretary Quire Corris, Ambassador Mendoff, Chancellor Son, and General Ronu. Espenia admits slow progress in Oortoko and seeks Kekon’s military support or, failing that, political backing, pairing the ask with promised trade reforms favoring preferred partners like No Peak.
Hilo rejects sending Green Bones to fight for foreigners and challenges Espenia’s growing footprint and conduct in Kekon. The Espenians warn of Ygutanian expansion and argue for stricter controls on refugees to prevent infiltration, effectively asking Kekon to shield ROE assets. Hilo ends the meeting warning against overreach; Corris departs with a pointedly respectful salute.
At dinner, Hilo, Shae, Kehn, and Tar dissect Espenia’s multi-pronged pressure. Shae argues that Espenian ties remain No Peak’s best advantage over the Mountain. Kehn reports successes and challenges in raids against Ti Pasuiga: significant seizures but increasingly sophisticated smuggling methods often intercepted by the ROE navy.
Seeking to destabilize the Mountain, Shae reveals a potential vulnerability: Iwe Kalundo’s family’s shine connections. Hilo orders Kehn to quietly identify the dealer without acting yet. Domestic calm intrudes briefly—Kehn’s new marriage, the children upstairs—before strategy resumes.
Shae proposes traveling to Espenia to understand Port Massy’s emerging jade battleground. Hilo overrules her, citing domestic political volatility, and decides he will go himself to assess potential allies and to finally see Anden.
Who Appears
- Hilo KaulNo Peak Pillar; refuses Espenia’s request for fighters, warns against overreach, orders probe into Iwe via shine, sustains raids, decides to visit Espenia.
- Shae Kaul-jenWeather Man; manages Espenian trade leverage, identifies Iwe family’s shine vulnerability, proposes trip to Espenia but is overruled.
- Kehn ToroHorn; attends Euman meeting, reports major seizures from Ti Pasuiga, tasked to quietly find the shine dealer linked to Iwe.
- Quire CorrisEspenian secretary of international affairs; seeks Kekon’s support in Oortoko and offers trade concessions, presses for political alignment.
- Chancellor Son TomarhoHead of government; hosts ROE delegation, stresses Kekon’s defensive posture and sensitivity to foreign troop presence.
- Ambassador Gregor MendoffROE ambassador; underscores Kekon’s jade strength and pushes for tighter refugee controls and alliance reliability.
- Colonel Leland DeillerROE base commander; showcases IBJCS training, frames refugee risks as security threats to ROE assets.
- General Ronu YasugonRoyal Council military advisor; outlines Kekon’s modest official forces and unique jade context within the military.
- Wen KaulHilo’s wife; participates in strategy talk, supports quietly finding the shine dealer; tends to family.
- Tar SonVeteran Fist; skeptical of Espenia, notes irony of relying on ROE to curb smuggling they fueled.
- Iwe KalundoMountain Rising Pillar; personally clean but vulnerable through relatives’ shine ties; target for No Peak pressure.
- Anden EmeryIn Espenia; catalyst for interest in Port Massy’s Green Bones; Hilo plans to visit and reconnect.