[A bird. A damned bird speaking with a human voice. A trap, of course, it must be a trap to lure them out into the open, except that no ambush comes. There's nothing but the echo. Maketh lowers her fists.] Emily--
[Of course this is when another one shows up, diving past Maketh's head. She ducks with a hiss.]
Minister! Minister Tua!
[She whirls, fully expecting to see Commandant Aresko standing there. Except that's impossible because he's dead, he was loyal to her - borderline competent, but one of hers - and he's fucking dead--]
A...a psychological tactic. It must be. Yes. Very clever.
[The bird with Aresko's voice is crying at her, reedy and sad. Maketh grits her teeth.] If you wouldn't mind, Emily, I would very much appreciate you shutting that thing up. I can't...throw anything. Right now.
no subject
[Of course this is when another one shows up, diving past Maketh's head. She ducks with a hiss.]
Minister! Minister Tua!
[She whirls, fully expecting to see Commandant Aresko standing there. Except that's impossible because he's dead, he was loyal to her - borderline competent, but one of hers - and he's fucking dead--]
A...a psychological tactic. It must be. Yes. Very clever.
[The bird with Aresko's voice is crying at her, reedy and sad. Maketh grits her teeth.] If you wouldn't mind, Emily, I would very much appreciate you shutting that thing up. I can't...throw anything. Right now.