Chapter 2007: Chapter 2007 Unrecognized
Chapter 2007 Unrecognized
The discussion with the three Larkinson elders hardly resolved his doubts and uncertainty surrounding the imminent adoption of outsiders into the clan .
On one hand, Ves gladly welcomed the expansion of the clan as long as the original Larkinsons remained in control .
On the other hand, Ves did not want the clan to become too stratified and locked in class tension .
He knew from observing other family organizations that dividing family members into a group of core members and outer members happened very frequently .
Many families, clans, noble houses, dynasties and etcetera often faced a similar situation as the Larkinson Clan . Expanding their group often had to be done for one reason or another, but the persistent question remained . How much power did they need to give up to accept the outsiders into the clan?
When it came to these kinds of matters, self-interest often trumped fairness . Even if the outsiders had contributed far more to the group than the so-called insiders, they were still deprived of the rewards and recognition they deserved in order to preserve the interests of the latter!
This could become a very major fault line later on . A lot of families and clans went down because of the infighting and intrigue such divisions provoked .
Ves did not want to turn his clan into a group where one Larkinson wasn't able to trust another Larkinson . This kind of future was something unthinkable for the old Larkinson Family and he wasn't about to let his clan descend so easily!
After a lengthy and illuminating discussion with elders, Raymond said one last piece before departing from the Scarlet Rose .
"Whatever road we take, we best make our decision after considering all of the angles . The outcome of this serious question will determine what it truly means to be a Larkinson . Think carefully before you make your own choice, young Ves . Are Larkinsons only confined to those who possess the blood? Or is it possible that there are already a lot more Larkinsons among us, just waiting to be recognized?"
Obviously, Raymond still preferred to take the riskier but more rewarding choice of treating outsiders as equal .
When the three old fogeys left, Ves lingered in his office . He tapped his fingers against his desk as Lucky playfully swiped them with his paw .
"Meow . "
"Are you feeling lonely?"
"Meow!"
"Is Clixie not enough for you?"
"Meow meow!"
"You want to become in charge of an entire posse? I don't know about that . I don't want to turn the Scarlet Rose into a cat zoo!"
"Meeeeooow . "
"Hmm, maybe you have a point . There's not enough life on this ship . "
As the former mobile supply frigate of the CRC, the ship wasn't all that big to begin with . Due to his paranoia, he only stationed his most loyal Avatars and Battle Criers as her crew . While they were very dedicated to their jobs, they were always serious on duty and off duty .
The design teams and Larkinson seeds residing on his ship possessed a lot more personality, but as current and future mech designers, they always recognized the vast gap between their employer and themselves .
"I'm a bit too isolated here . " He muttered . "I'm cut-off from the rest of my fleet . I don't even know how others are doing . "
He supposed he could patch into the monitoring system feeds to observe what was happening on the other ships, but that sounded a bit too lazy and detached for him . Since the fleet required half a day to cycle the FTL drives of its slower ships, why not take advantage of this window of opportunity to tour his sprawling organization .
After he made his decision, he broke the news to Gavin, who blinked at the sudden initiative .
"That's rather unexpected of you, boss . " He replied, though he made sure to tap into his data pad to ready a shuttle and accompanying escorts . "You have two big mech design projects in the pipeline . Is this really the time to go on a tour?"
"It'll only be half a day . I've never really taken stock of my people after we fled Kesseling VIII . We've been running from the Fridaymen for so long that it was as if they were right on our heels . Now that we have the Penitent Sisters to guard us, the crisis isn't so severe anymore . "
His personnel quickly readied an armored shuttle for departure . After sending a note to Gloriana that he wouldn't be attending today's design session, he took Lucky and Nitaa and started his short tour .
Surprisingly, Ves didn't opt to drop by the Redfeather or any other ship in his possession .
Instead, his first stop was the Serendipity . Venerable Brutus Wodin perplexingly welcomed his arrival at the hangar bay of light frigate .
"Welcome to my personal ship, Mr . Larkinson . " The expert pilot said with reserve . "I have some very nice bottles of authentic Hexer vintages waiting to be opened up . Would you like to peruse my collection?"
Ves waved his hand . "No thanks . I'd like to take a look at your Star Dancer instead . I've never seen a second-class expert mech up close . "
"My mech is right ahead . Please be mindful that we can't allow you to peek too much . The mech is built using some of the best technology the Hegemony has mastered . While Gloriana is permitted to know the technical details, you are not on the list . "
Sponsored Content
"Understandable . I just want to take a look to appreciate the craftsmanship of your mech . "
They walked a few bays over until they reached the Star Dancer . Just as he expected, the expert mech was fully ready to deploy if needed .
"Impressive . " Ves sighed in admiration . "This is perhaps the most powerful ranged mech that I have ever personally laid eyes upon . Its craftsmanship is exquisite . "
The expert mech was everything he expected and more . Though he had reviewed the battle footage of the Star Dancer in action against the CRC's Screaming Blade, seeing the mech up close was an entirely different experience .
Though dormant, the mech carried the spiritual flavor of its mech pilot . Even now, Brutus' strange protective field merged seamlessly with the mech, making it appear as if they were connected despite the latter's dormancy .
The blue-and-black mech looked a bit different from the last time he had seen it . Ves noted keenly that it exhibited a bit less armor and a few more modules that looked like boosters and other mobility-related enhancements .
"Looks like you've prepared your mech for a rematch against the Screaming Blade . "
The expert pilot crossed his arms as he stood next to Ves . "Dueling a light mech is not something that I enjoy . I fight best when I can take my enemies out before they reach my position, but that isn't always possible . Mobility is one of my mech's strong suits, but against the Screaming Blade, I was barely hanging on in the last battle . If that mech ever shows up again, My Star Dancer has to be even faster because my enemy will certainly have prepared for me as well . "
This sounded like an interesting dynamic to Ves . Instances where enemy expert pilots frequently clashed against each other happened all the time in the Bright-Vesia Wars . Just like the mech games, the mech pilots constantly tried to adjust their mechs and battle tactics to counter their enemy and avoid being countered in the next clash .
"Before you became an expert pilot, did you follow the trajectory of other male mech pilots in the Hegemony?"
Brutus shook his head . "I'm a Wodin . With my impeccable training and excellent results, my dynasty has always set higher expectations upon me . Don't mistake me as the other boys who serve in our armed forces . "
"You're a boy yourself, you know . " Ves pointed out .
"I am . "
"Doesn't that bother you? I've seen how boys are treated in the Hex Army . The women who are in charge never allow boys like you explore their full potential . "
"Control is necessary, Ves . " Brutus replied without emotion . "There are good reasons to impose these conditions on boys . "
"They don't seem to apply to you anymore . "
Sponsored Content
"That's because I'm an expert pilot . "
"Does that make a difference? You're still a boy . "
He shook his head . "Becoming an expert pilot in the Hegemony is a blessing, not a curse . To become a demigod as certain people call expert pilots is a blessing . My state has no cause to doubt that I am anything but a loyal Hexer! It is because of this trust that I am allowed to pilot the powerful and dangerous Star Dancer!"
The Hegemony would be fools if it didn't thoroughly vet Brutus before allowing him to pilot an expert mech . His loyal outlook and his Wodin upbringing probably reassured the female Hexers that he wouldn't abuse his power .
"What about the other boys who aren't lucky to advance to expert pilot? Are you okay with how they are being treated?"
"We follow the natural order, Ves . " The expert pilot sternly replied . "Just because I haven't said anything about how your Avatars of Myth and other mech forces treat boys the same as women doesn't mean I think they are fine . They are not . Everytime I am confronted by such ignorance, I feel uncomfortable . "
"They haven't exhibited any problems!"
"So far . "
"I think my Avatars, Sentinels and Battle Criers will surprise you . What you fear will not take place, because you know why? Just like every other mech force in the galaxy, the gender of their officers and commanders is not a factor!"
Neither of them were able to sway the other's opinion . Ves felt frustrated by Brutus' idiotic adherence to the fallacies of Hexer ideology, but the expert pilot had grown up with it for his entire life . It was a bit too much to ask a Hexer, an expert pilot no less, to alter his entire mindset!
After a bit of chatting, Ves finally broached the last subject .
"I don't know if you haven't heard, but it is possible that my Larkinson Clan will welcome a lot of new additions . Do you have any opinions you'd like to voice?"
"We Wodins won't be a part of your clan . " He immediately said . "At the very least, Ranya and I will still hang on to our Wodin names . As for Gloriana…"
"She's already a part of the clan . She's in our member rolls . "
Brutus shook his head . "The Hegemony and the Wodin Dynasty doesn't recognize your laws . As far as my mother is concerned, your clan's laws and customs don't have any weight . "
That sounded swell . Ves frowned at the obvious disregard to his clan .
Sponsored Content
"I hope that will change one day . " He responded in a diplomatic fashion . "Our Larkinson Clan may not seem like much to you Wodins, but I hope that Gloriana and I can work to change your impression . "
"I don't mean to disparage your efforts, Ves . My sister is quite enthused about the future prospects of your clan . The point I'm trying to make is that your clan is not really significant on its own . The only reason to take note of it at all is because of you . Without your presence, your Larkinson Clan wouldn't even register in my mother's mind!"
That was very much true . Though Brutus didn't mince any words, Ves recognized the implicit warning in his tone . Right now, the Larkinson Clan was hardly a player, let alone a recognized entity!
Anyone could start a clan . However, it took genuine effort to earn everyone's recognition . Right now, his Larkinson Clan lacked too many achievements . Its fame was virtually nil and even its victory against the CRC wasn't enough to skyrocket its reputation .
Ves realized that the Larkinson Clan shouldn't keep looking inwards . Just like himself, the clan needed to build up its reputation in order to earn society's recognition! Only through becoming a known entity would his clan gain true legitimacy!
"Thank you for your opinions . I've gained a lot from our talk . "
"You're welcome, Ves . " Brutus nodded . "Don't get me wrong . Your Larkinsons and your people are a fine bunch . I truly admire the soldier tradition of your old family . I hope you can perpetuate this focus on service . Discipline and control is the foundation of a well-run organization!"
Ves chuckled . "You're only saying that because you want to steer my clan closer to how Hexers run their organizations . "
"It's irresponsible to let boys run wild . If you don't want to shackle them completely, then at least attach some cuffs to them . We Wodins will feel much more reassured if your clan is bound by rules . "
"We Larkinsons will run our clan in our own fashion, thank you very much . " Ves dryly replied .
Ves would never make a decision to alter his clan just to earn the approval of Hexers!
If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc . . ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible .
Tip: You can use left, right, A and D keyboard keys to browse between chapters .
Please download our sponsor's game to support us!