\u201cDon\u2019t tell me you don\u2019t want to see this!\u201d remarked Arsha as she went through her physical.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo, thank you,\u201d replied Marshii. \u201cMid-realm waters are too cold for an old Under-realm girl like me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOne, you\u2019re only 35,000,\u201d reminded Arsha. \u201cThat\u2019s just middle age. Two, it\u2019s an archaeological find!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m not interested in ruins!\u201d snapped Marshii. \u201cYou history nuts go ahead with digging up some mausoleum, I\u2019ll stay here and catch up on the medical journals I missed during the jarring trip to Falgreth!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDon\u2019t you ever relax?\u201d asked Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cReading medical journals IS relaxing,\u201d protested Marshii. \u201cI gain comfort knowing that medical knowledge is expanding. It puts my mind at ease.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf you say so,\u201d sighed Arsha. She finally got off the treadmill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAll right, let\u2019s measure the ol\u2019 heart rate,\u201d directed Marshii as she took out her stethoscope. She put it to Arsha\u2019s chest and listened. \u201cA bit fast by mermaid\u2019s standards, but perfect for a human\/kitsune hybrid. Next up is blood pressure.\u201d She got the pressure monitor out and wrapped the gauge around Arsha\u2019s arm. After a few squeezes, she released and got a reading. \u201cPerfect blood pressure for a land-dweller, you\u2019re perfectly healthy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThanks!\u201d called Arsha as she went into a changing stall to get out of her workout clothes and back into her dress. It took a few minutes, but she came out pinning her rose hairpin where it usually sits. As soon as she gave a final adjustment, Shalvey\u2019s voice came through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBridge to Arsha,\u201d she called.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGo ahead,\u201d directed Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019re just about to go over the Kurontar sea,\u201d reported Shalvey. \u201cWe\u2019ll convert to underwater mode at your arrival.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOn my way,\u201d replied Arsha. She made her way to the bridge and saw the crew doing its usual activities to keep the ship running. This time, it was little minor maintenance, nothing more. She arrived on the bridge. \u201cAll right, Nazay, underwater landing procedures.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAye, Captain,\u201d confirmed Nazay as his fingers danced across his console. The Endeavor<\/em> dove down into the sea and activated lights. An orange aura then covered the ship and its crew before it faded. It was a spell for those that weren\u2019t amphibious to walk around in the base as if they were going through air, allowed them to breath, and dried their clothes immediately when in contact with air. The Velnar Military Base and Commercial Port was lit up in splendor to attract businesspeople across the Realms to conduct their activities. It was also one of a great many places that held the weaponry and soldiers of the Kurontar sea and where Princess Marianes Caldora and her spouses worked and lived as soldiers, shop-keepers, and entertainers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCaptain, did you adjust your eyes for Kurontar lighting?\u201d asked Elmar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo, but thank you for reminding me,\u201d answered Arsha. She snapped her fingers and her eyes glowed for a minute, then she started blinking a lot, clearing away any blindness she suffered. \u201cShould have done that OUTSIDE of the ship,\u201d she muttered. As soon as her eyes adjusted for both ship lighting and the darkness of the Kurontar sea, she stood up. \u201cLaverda, Thangred, Dalengor, Elmar, with me. Oak, you\u2019re in charge until we get back.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAye, Ma\u2019am,\u201d replied Oak as he settled into the Captain\u2019s chair when she gave the order. They headed to the lower exit and opened the door to reveal the water. Arsha went first, letting the water touch her dress and allowing its weight to pull her down. She landed safely on the seafloor and looked around, breathing normally and getting as much details in the water as she would when on the surface. Laverda, Thangred, Dalengor, and Elmar followed her and scanned the area like Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCaptain, a Super Class Shellcraft is approaching,\u201d reported Laverda. Shellcrafts are shell-shaped Merfolk transports that range from the family-sized Common Class to the stadium sized Mega Class. Super class Shellcrafts were used to transport at least 20 people. The Shellcraft lowered landing struts and opened to allow a blue-haired Mermaid in a blue outfit that revealed her tummy. Her blue hair was adorned with a purple flower with a ribbon attached to it and she had a purple belt with the same flower at her hip and a bit of the belt flowing in the currents. She swam over to Arsha\u2019 away team and shook Arsha\u2019s hand vigorously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI always knew you would command a ship as grand as the Endeavor<\/em>!\u201d she cheered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt was on the docket as a political test,\u201d replied Arsha. \u201cIt\u2019s good to see you again, Marianes. How\u2019s life treating you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s been splendid, so far,\u201d answered Marianes as they all headed for the Shellcraft. \u201cI\u2019ve been updating my belly-dancing routine lately and Rosa\u2019s learned some new songs for me to perform to.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo kidding?\u201d quizzed Arsha as they boarded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd Layto\u2019s been improving the base\u2019s construction by adding stairs for land-dwellers to easily get to the upper levels instead of swimming all over the place,\u201d continued Marianes. \u201cAlthough, with the new archaeological find, he\u2019s left that to his engineers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHow good are the Engineers?\u201d asked Elmar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThey\u2019re some of the greatest,\u201d replied Marianes, \u201cthe problem is that it\u2019s a mix of Under-realm technology and Mid-realm magic.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThere\u2019s a problem right there,\u201d muttered Thangred. \u201cGood thing you brought me along, Captain.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI was hoping you\u2019d relax when we were there,\u201d sighed Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNever let an Engineer relax,\u201d advised Thangred.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIllogical,\u201d said Elmar. \u201cYou need rest as much as anyone else.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMaybe in your eyes,\u201d argued Thangred, \u201cbut I can overhaul a base no problem!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHonestly, I wouldn\u2019t be surprised if poor Major Palmanar had complaints while I was away,\u201d mused Marianes as she piloted the Shellcraft to the base.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Marianes was right. Palmanar, a neon-green tailed Mermaid in full armor, was at the Operations station when Floona, a raven-haired, teal-tailed Mermaid in a floral-pastel outfit, and Troga, a pink-tailed, brown haired, bearded Merman in armor, swam up to her. They spoke at the same time before stopping. \u201cGo ahead,\u201d they said to one another before talking to Palmanar at the same time again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOne at a time!\u201d snapped Palmanar. \u201cTroga, you first.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI need an engineering crew,\u201d began Troga, \u201cto run a diagnostic on the security systems. There\u2019s been an unusual number of false alarms lately.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019ll send one right away,\u201d assured Palmanar. \u201cFloona?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThere\u2019s something wrong with the fire suppression spells in my shop,\u201d reported Floona. \u201cEvery time I try to feed my lava lilies, the spells engage, make the area too fuel-deficient for them, and they wither and die in an instant!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019ll put it on the list,\u201d sighed Palmanar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPlease do,\u201d urged Floona. \u201cYou have no idea how much lava lilies cost for both me and my customers.\u201d A bald, bare Merman swam in, wearing only a headband. Erga was his name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cExcuse me, Major Palmanar,\u201d he began.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDon\u2019t tell me!\u201d snapped Palmanar. \u201cThe Seals in the Ancestral Shrine are out of whack!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2026How did you\u2026never mind, I can guess,\u201d sighed Erga as he saw his other two spouses. At that moment, someone was pounding on the inside of the transport tubes. They looked up to see a pink tailed Mermaid in a Singing Idol\u2019s outfit inside the tube. Palmanar and Troga swam up to open it. They had a bit of difficulty, but they pried the door open and let the Mermaid out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cRosa, are you alright?\u201d asked Troga.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAside from a bit of claustrophobia playing up?\u201d snarked the Mermaid, Rosa. \u201cFine. Major, do I even need to say what my complaint is?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo, I experienced the same thing around the base,\u201d replied Palmanar. \u201cI have an Engineering team working on it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe seem to have a lot of system glitches,\u201d muttered Floona as Rosa, Troga, and Palmanar rejoined them down below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHappens every time Layto leaves the base,\u201d sighed Palmanar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI don\u2019t understand why our husband\u2019s staff can\u2019t maintain the base while he\u2019s away,\u201d grumbled Troga.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMust have left my brother in charge,\u201d groaned Erga.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe Engineering Crew is doing the best it can,\u201d assured Palmanar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe problem is,\u201d supplied Rosa, \u201cno one knows how Layto can keep all this Under-realm tech working with Mid-realm magic.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell, we\u2019ve GOT to do something!\u201d insisted Floona. \u201cThis can\u2019t go on!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIs he at the site again?\u201d asked Erga. \u201cI told him Marianes was picking up Arsha today.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHere I am!\u201d called a voice. A blue haired, green tailed Merman with a cybernetic left hand swam in. His purple shirt was a little dusty and he had a satchel of artefacts. \u201cErga, we have reason to believe that this was the original site of the Order of Ancestry! Look! Here is a worshipping bowl with the same insignia as your buddies! It was buried for around\u2026!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLayto,\u201d interrupted Rosa, \u201cI like archaeology as much as the next girl, but we have more pressing issues. Arsha\u2019s gonna be here any minute and the base\u2019s mechanical systems are NOT functioning at their best.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2026I left the staff specific instructions on how to fix this!\u201d snapped Layto. He packed up his satchel. \u201cI\u2019ll get on it, but I can\u2019t promise the base will be fixed in any reasonable time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cJust do what you can,\u201d sighed Palmanar. The instant she said that, the proximity indicator beeped. She checked who it was. \u201cOh boy, it\u2019s Marianes\u2019 Shellcraft. She\u2019s got Arsha and her party.\u201d She then activated the viewscreen and a channel opened with Marianes and Arsha displayed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHello, Major!\u201d called Marianes. \u201cI have returned with Arsha and someone that I\u2019m sure Layto would appreciate.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOh?\u201d asked Layto. \u201cWho is it, sweetie?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMy Chief Engineer, Thangred,\u201d replied Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat old-timer?\u201d said Layto as he grinned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt sounds like you need an old-timer\u2019s help!\u201d rumbled Thangred.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBarring any malfunctions not yet reported,\u201d interjected Palmanar, \u201clanding pad 3 is available. We\u2019ll meet you there, Your Highness.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cUnderstood,\u201d confirmed Marianes. \u201cMarianes out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Shellcraft landed on the assigned pad and opened to let everyone out. Rosa and Troga were there to greet them and gave a big hug to Marianes and Arsha. \u201cWelcome to the Velnar Military Base and Commercial Port, Your Highness,\u201d greeted Rosa, \u201c\u2026such as it is.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt still looks magnificent to me,\u201d assured Arsha. \u201cLead on and we will follow.\u201d Everyone followed Marianes to the Command Center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHere\u2019s where the action is coordinated,\u201d lectured Marianes. \u201cAnd here\u2019s Layto. How\u2019s repairs?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGoing badly,\u201d sighed Layto. \u201cSomeone practically rearranged all power transfer relays in the base. I\u2019m REALLY going to need Thangred\u2019s help.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou have it,\u201d replied Thangred. He followed Thangred to where they would start repairs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m surprised you didn\u2019t bring another Engineer with you,\u201d remarked Palmanar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe DO have another, but he\u2019s a Drider,\u201d answered Arsha, \u201cand NOT one of the water ones.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAh,\u201d realized Palmanar. \u201cWell, Layto\u2019s got an expert with him. Things should be good.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cExcellent,\u201d praised Arsha. \u201cNow, what\u2019s this about an old Mer-kingdom being dug up?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFrom what Layto\u2019s tried to tell us before you arrived,\u201d replied Troga, \u201cthere\u2019s proof that we\u2019ve found the Order of Ancestry\u2019s starting point.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOrder of Ancestry,\u201d muttered Arsha as she tried to recall where she heard it, \u201cyou\u2019re going to have to remind me of it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s centered around the belief,\u201d answered Laverda, \u201cthat Merfolk do not need clothes as they interfere with remembering the past. They\u2019re a religious order that keeps records of the past except where they started. That was lost long ago.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSounds like a group that would start trouble over clothes,\u201d mused Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou would think that,\u201d replied Marianes, \u201cbut the Order has specific rules of tolerance. Granted, you must have no clothes in their shrines, but they never turn their nose up at clothes in public. One of my husbands, Erga, and a few of my parents and siblings are members of the Order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cQuite a few Merfolk are members of the Order,\u201d continued Troga. \u201cAs long as no one interferes with their activities and they don\u2019t interfere in anyone else\u2019s, both are tolerant.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat changes my views entirely,\u201d chuckled Arsha. \u201cSo, if this IS the place where the Order was founded, what does that mean?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt means that their whole history will be published,\u201d replied Rosa. \u201cWe can unravel the mystery as to why they came to our part of the Kurontar sea!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLayto, while not a member, has been studying the Order in his free time,\u201d giggled Marianes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSo, he\u2019s over the moon at this discovery,\u201d guessed Arsha. \u201cWe\u2019ll help with the dig.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThank you!\u201d cheered Marianes. \u201cNow, I\u2019ve got to go. I have rehearsal for my routine tonight and I would like you guys to come.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe wouldn\u2019t miss your belly-dances for the world!\u201d assured Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSplendid!\u201d squealed Marianes. \u201cNow, you need some quarters!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019ll provide that,\u201d called Palmanar. \u201cIf you and your company will follow Troga and I, Your Highness.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLead the way,\u201d directed Arsha. Everyone soon departed for their various destinations.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u201cDon\u2019t tell me you don\u2019t want to see this!\u201d remarked Arsha as she went through her physical. \u201cNo, thank you,\u201d replied Marshii. \u201cMid-realm waters are too cold for an old Under-realm girl like me.\u201d \u201cOne, you\u2019re only 35,000,\u201d reminded Arsha. \u201cThat\u2019s just middle age. Two, it\u2019s an archaeological find!\u201d \u201cI\u2019m not interested in ruins!\u201d snapped […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1795,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[97,94],"tags":[482],"class_list":["post-1975","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-three-realms","category-the-three-realms-book-1-her-highness-the-captain","tag-fantasy"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1975","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1975"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1975\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1976,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1975\/revisions\/1976"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1795"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1975"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1975"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1975"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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