Controversial Imaah “Chesty” Chehesti, General, Imperial Marines, Retired Today
- Thread starter david.wendelken
- Start date
david.wendelken
SOC-12
I kind of miss the old forum where people had to take the time to write something they liked about your posts instead of just pressing a like button. We got some interesting discussions from that!
david.wendelken
SOC-12
Thanks! I was looking for a way to explain why Chehesti would both NOT get and also GET noble titles in a non-standard way, i.e., some years after retirement. Connecting her with a young Norris whilst he was still in Naval Intelligence and a shared antipathy to Santanocheev would provide a mechanism.
It would also make Norris -- as a fairly new and unproven noble -- getting an Imperial Warrant from the Emperor more likely. Chehesti could have given him a stellar recommendation.
I think I got the date wrong, though, Should be 1106, not 1108. Oops.
david.wendelken
SOC-12
Looks like the TravellerMap.com folks subsequently published a generated map of Byret/Mora/Spinward Marches that seems to conflict with the story as written. Not sure what I'm going to do about that. I may pick a different world if I can find one, or just ignore their write-up, or try to make sense of their write-up enough to adapt the story to it.
The planetary description seems a bit odd to me.
travellermap.com
The planetary description seems a bit odd to me.
The Traveller Map
An interactive map of the universe of the Traveller role playing game, incorporating official data and fan submissions. The site also provides services for generating custom maps and APIs for incorporating maps into other sites.
travellermap.com
david.wendelken
SOC-12
Looks like the published map and system data also conflicts with the Traveller Wiki, which points out it's a shirt-sleeve world. That's a far cry from the baked and/or frozen lands on TravellerMap.com!
wiki.travellerrpg.com
Thankfully it's possible to download and edit the files on TravellerMap.com. I'll see what I can do with that to get a planetary version in line with the wiki and story. I'll post the files back here and also send them to TravellerMap.com. (Which actually seems to be using an Australian website for producing the maps and such so I may need to track them down.
Byret (world) - Traveller
Thankfully it's possible to download and edit the files on TravellerMap.com. I'll see what I can do with that to get a planetary version in line with the wiki and story. I'll post the files back here and also send them to TravellerMap.com. (Which actually seems to be using an Australian website for producing the maps and such so I may need to track them down.
The Traveller Worlds site randomly generates world and system maps using a seed value derived from the hex location, and plugs the world into the habitable zone where applicable. It does NOT check against the Wiki, so things like whether the mainworld is/isn't a gas giant satellite or tidally-locked in the canon description don't transfer over. You can play with the settings in Traveller Worlds to shape the results closer to the wiki description.Looks like the published map and system data also conflicts with the Traveller Wiki, which points out it's a shirt-sleeve world. That's a far cry from the baked and/or frozen lands on TravellerMap.com!
Byret (world) - Traveller
Thankfully it's possible to download and edit the files on TravellerMap.com. I'll see what I can do with that to get a planetary version in line with the wiki and story. I'll post the files back here and also send them to TravellerMap.com. (Which actually seems to be using an Australian website for producing the maps and such so I may need to track them down.
It's not canon unless you want it to be.
david.wendelken
SOC-12
Yes, it did come out of a career history. I just tried to come with the details to flesh it out. Well, that and tie in the Traveller5 titles I got from my kickstarter contribution...
david.wendelken
SOC-12
Here's a line drawing of the first, missing image in the original story. It's Imaah Chehesti donning her proper uniform after her first military engagement.
Condottiere
SOC-14 5K
Passing resemblance to Catherine Bell.
david.wendelken
SOC-12
More than a passing resemblance, Ms. Bell did several photo-shoots that had photos that were PERFECT for this character.
david.wendelken
SOC-12
I'm working up a full mapping of the Byret system using Traveller World's software (which is accessible via the www.TravellerMap.com website). Working past a defect that deals with the Baron noble estate. Hopefully we'll get that defect fixed and be able to move forward more quickly.
david.wendelken
SOC-12
A note from Emperor Strephon congratulating Chehesti on some of her new titles.
david.wendelken
SOC-12
Well, darn. I found this reference containing info and dates on Duke Norris of Regina's career, including dates. They don't jive with my story, which was written quite a few years ago.
I'll have to adjust some dates here and there to make them match so I can turn the work on Byret that I'm doing into a canon-compatible work.
https://wiki.travellerrpg.com/Norris_Aella_Aledon
I'll have to adjust some dates here and there to make them match so I can turn the work on Byret that I'm doing into a canon-compatible work.
https://wiki.travellerrpg.com/Norris_Aella_Aledon
david.wendelken
SOC-12
(Back-tracking a bit. This takes place after the meeting with Norris on Regina and before she leaves Regina.)
Preparations on Regina
Ivar looked at Imaah and asked, curiously, “So, you are the new Baroness of Byret but also have titles on 4 other worlds, including Efate and Regina. We were at Efate when you were searched for, why didn’t Norris have you take up your title for Efate then and there? And we’re on Regina now, why not start here? Why Byret?”“Because, my love, it’s a message,” she replied. “Byret isn’t my most important title. It’s the one planet in the Marches that could be expected to hate my guts and even to assassinate me. For me to go there first lets them know I value and respect them. And if I can turn them around to my – our – side, then the rest of the planets will fall into line and give us a proper chance.“
“I get it. Recon leads the way. We’re running point on Byret with the goal of a spoiling attack on Santanocheev. If we don’t make it, we don’t rock the boat by making changes elsewhere, so things remain as they were on the other planets. Is that it?”
“You’ve got it in one, dearest,” she answered. “It gets better though. Our seneschal has explained that it’s protocol to visit the sector Duke before taking up one’s title. That means we’ll visit Duchess Delphine Muudashir of Mora. Santanocheev is her protégé. We’ll need to stir up the pot a bit. The two of us have never met. I need you to blend in as the stereotypical Marine NCO, no more, no less, and therefore effectively become invisible. Whatever you do, don’t be surprised at anything I do. Act as if it’s totally normal and expected.”
“Ok, what are you going to do?”
“I don’t know. I won’t know until I’m there. I’ll have to improvise. It’s a hot LZ and we’ve got almost no intel. Norris spoke well of her and I know Norris well. But if she’s as sharp as I expect she is, she has good intel on the both of us. That’s why it’s important that you don’t look surprised by anything I do. She’ll know you’ve been on my staff for a long time.”
With the assistance of the staff on loan from Norris, Chehesti was able to locate retired Marine and Scout Service veterans who had served with her in the Spinward Marches. As a bonus, Norris had already had them vetted before Chehesti arrived on Regina. A goodly number of them were glad to drop what they were doing and follow her once more. Others needed more time to get their personal affairs in order so arrangements were made for them to join her on Byret in the future. Much as Chehesti respected Norris and his abilities, she hadn’t survived her hitch in the Marines by blindly trusting intelligence estimates – at least more than once. The rest of her new staff, the civilians that Norris had loaned to her or hired on her behalf, were ready to take up their duties upon arrival on Byret.
Norris arranged Naval transport for Chehesti to Mora on the Philippides and from there to Byret. To allow her to enter Byret quietly, Norris made use of one of several companies he owned for various purposes besides just earning money. It was a travel agency that arranged guided group tours of various planets in the Spinward Marches or thereabouts, but it had ‘special’ crews for ‘special’ missions. The Philippides would rendezvous with the tour in space so they could switch vessels to land at Byret. That, and weapons and gear for the huscarls, multiple identity documents under different names, and whatever funds were needed to pull it all off. Norris had become a very valuable person to know.
david.wendelken
SOC-12
(Still back-tracking, on the trip from Regina to Byret, via Mora.)
A Day at the Graces, Second Heat
Mora was the technological marvel of the Marches but it made no impression on Chehesti. Her thoughts were fully on the interview to come. Her hope had been that the Duchess would be curious enough not to keep her kicking her heels for a few weeks before scheduling an interview. At least that part of the “plan” was going well! They were being seen the same day they arrived.The servitor motioned to her to enter the audience room and announced, “General Imaah Chehesti, Vicountess Regina, Marchioness Efate, Baroness Byret, Baronet Junidy, Knight of Twana.” Chehesti strode into the chamber and Geshvii marched in after her in his finest Marine parade ground style.
The Duchess was seated in her Chair of State with her advisors to either side. Chehesti stopped at 15 feet and bowed respectfully, then stood at attention. Geshvii had taken up his position 10 feet behind her and a bit to the right so he could see everyone in the room. He, too, remained at attention.
“Greetings, Baroness. Please, be at your ease,” spoke the Duchess in a formal tone.
Chehesti and Geshvii simultaneously shifted to the Marine at-ease position.
“Did you ever, in your wildest imaginings as a young orphan, believe you would be a General of Imperial Marines?”
Chehesti snorted, “Hardly, ma’am. I never expected to be a officer!”
“There are some that question why you were ever made an officer or a Vicountess of our Imperium. My nephew Santanocheev certainly does not speak well of you. What do you think of that?”
“I’ll let my record as an officer stand for itself, ma’am. I’ll add that I would never have developed my plan for dealing with the disturbances on Byret without the guidance Admiral Santanocheev provided me.” The Duchess smiled at that last remark. “As for being a noble, well, time will tell. At least the Emperor knows me personally, which is more than most who hold an Imperial title can say.” Chehesti paused, then added pensively, “One could argue that fact means that challenging my qualifications as a noble would be a direct and personal attack on Emperor Strephon’s judgment.” She smiled, “But then I’m just a simple Marine trained to defend the Imperium and the Emperor, so what would I know…?”
The Duchess raised her eyebrows at that. A few of her councilors looked a bit concerned. “And I take it that the purpose of this meeting is to inform me that you are taking up the mantle of Baroness of Byret?”
“That would be correct, ma’am.” Chehesti returned to brisk formality.
“Aren’t you concerned the locals might try to kill you?” asked the Duchess with a fierce tone of voice.
“No, ma’am,” she responded. “I’m rather used to people trying to kill me. Only one who ever hit me was at a pool party and wasn’t even aiming at me!” She laughed, then added, “I reckon we already killed the folks that might be troublesome to me.”
“Hardly, they assassinated your predecessor!” responded the Duchess.
“We-l-l-l-l-l, either I’m wrong or you can surmise that I wasn’t all that concerned about any such proclivity they might have. If I’m wrong then you’ll be scheduling another interview like this fairly soon. If I’m not, then perhaps you should consider the possibility that I might be an asset to the Imperium in this role.”
The Duchess laughed and laughed. “My, but you’re as feisty as I had heard!” She motioned to her staff to leave and waited until they filed out and sealed the door behind them. “Not concerned with any such proclivity they might have!” She laughed again. “Truth to tell, I was never all that concerned with any such proclivity the people of Byret might have either. That noble family was scum, from top to bottom. Shows there’s still someone on Byret with some sense.”
She paused and looked Chehesti in the eye. “My nephew can’t stand your guts. I think that’s damn foolish. Whatever differences you and I will have – and there are sure to be some – the one thing I know for damn certain is that you’ll be doing your dead level best for the Imperium and its people. You’ll have no trouble from me and whatever assistance I can give.” At that, she got to her feet and stepped towards Chehesti, holding out her hand. “My name is Delphine.”
david.wendelken
SOC-12
(Caught up to the timeline, now arriving in Byret.)
Byret Starport
The rendezvous at Fosey had gone to plan a week ago and the transfer from the Philippides and been professionally uneventful. The past week had been full of planning and rehearsals for their actions on Byret.Imaah and Imar and their huscarles looked out the vision port at Byret as they approached. It was a jewel of a world in the void of space. Bright blue seas and skies, snowcapped mountains, green vales and forests and huge grainfields, enough to feed billions of people. All too quickly the ship had arrived at Byret Downport and it landed with no delays. (There simply wasn’t a lot of starship travel into or out of Byret outside of harvest seasons, nor at night time. Nor was there a Highport as Byret was not on a normal trade route. Anyone coming to Byret wanted to be on Byret.)
As the passengers debarked into the starport terminal, Imaah noted with pleasure that the security posture was not elevated in any way. There had been no inspections for arms, and the customs agents had seemed quite relaxed whilst going about their duties. Every passenger on the vessel was a member of Imaah’s team but they didn’t appear to be “a team”. They managed to keep Imaah surrounded in their midst without that being obvious to any possible observer. Ivar took the lead for the two of them at the customs booth. “Mr. and Mrs. Ivar Geshvii,” he told the customs agent as their turn came up.
“Purpose of visit?” The customs functionary was civil and, well, very functional.
“Honeymoon!” exclaimed Imar. Imaah blushed. The functionary glanced at her and their impersonal visage turned human for a moment.
“Congratulations to the both of you! Welcome to Byret!” The customs official handed back the identity documents and the line moved forward to serve the next ‘tourists’. As they left the starport terminal a number of identical looking rugged vehicles were awaiting the tour group. Imaah and Imar were whisked into a randomly chosen vehicle out of the group and the party travelled to a moderately priced hotel in downtown Kiilliiaa (Vilani: Sweet Water) twenty miles away from the Downport. The vehicles changed relative positions amongst themselves a number of times.
What they did not notice was a non-descript local trying to make a communicator call at the entrance to the starport terminal. The communicator would not register a signal until the tourists were a mile down the road. A grunt answered. “Star bright, star bright, star bright’s in town tonight. Seven vessels, party of twenty-three. You’ll know them. Travelling as tourists. Fellow tourists are too fit and carry themselves like ex-military special forces. Vehicles ride heavy, probably armored. Follow them.” Another grunt, this time of assent instead of greeting.
The caller smiled, chuckled to themselves at the choice of Star Bright as a code name for Chehesti, the ‘winner’ of six Starbursts for Extreme Heroism, and returned to the starport terminal to pump the customs agents for info.
In the city, several individuals hurriedly fanned out to cover the roads leading into the city and two others waited in their vehicles ready in reserve. The net began to close as the caravan of tourists arrived at the city limits. The caravan went straight to the Spinward Marches Hotel, now owned by the Orphans of Imperial Military Parents charitable organization. Chehesti was a local legend for bilking the rich folks out of some of the best real estate in the city and donating it for charitable causes.
The various members of the “reception” committee began to converge on the Imperial and set up a surveillance perimeter. They were able to count the number of folks leaving the vehicles and entering the Hotel, plus the drivers and the number tallied. The one they seek was within. Why she was at the Marches instead of at the Baronial estates was a mystery. Were it anyone else they wouldn’t look a gift horse in the mouth, but they had learned to their dismay that was a fool’s choice in the “battle” of Kiilliiaa. Chehesti beat them so bad it didn’t really qualify as a battle. Nor was it a bloodbath, to their surprise, for Chehesti had used hidden sonic charges to stun them and then chemical agents that put them to sleep for capture. They never knew what hit them. They all settled in for what could be a long stake-out.
The original caller, the team spotter at the starport, finished pumping the customs agent on duty for information about the new arrivals. Some Tour group from a company based out of Yori. Not a lot of detail to share, did remember there was a couple that had just gotten married. After that waste of time they left the starport and headed into the city. A quick communication had let them know to head for the Marches to meet with the rest of their team.
It was just by chance she spotted a vehicle leaving the local Lover’s Lane, a steep hill overlooking the star port and the city. It didn’t follow the road downwards, it headed overland. It was a grav vehicle, a sporty model with a sunroof. There were only a handful of vehicles like that on Byret and not many grav vehicles at all. It was just idle curiosity to wonder what wealthy bastard was fooling around with who, until she realized that the grav vehicle was doing nap of the earth flying. Her instincts were triggered and she followed that vehicle towards the city. It arrived at The Imperial, the finest hotel in the city, another one owned by the Orphans, and she watched a man and woman hand the keys to the valet and enter the hotel. Jackpot! It was Chehesti. The man looked familiar, but that would wait.
She pulled out her communicator and called her team, “Abort the Marches, converge on the Imperial.” Then she started searching thru the various dossiers on Chehesti she had stashed on her comm unit. It took a few minutes but she found him. Sgt Major Imar Geshvii, the one constant enlisted non-comm on the General’s staff for decades.
david.wendelken
SOC-12
Welcome to Byret!
As the team vehicles pulled into the parking lot at the Imperial, she was inside schmoozing the night desk manager for info on recent arrivals. A CR50 note and a long-standing relationship of this behavior was sufficient for her to gain access to the room log. The most recent entry was for the newlywed suite for Mr. and Mrs. Imar Geshvii. Surely not!!?? But such a lame alias didn’t match their expectation of Chehesti’s manuevers.Her team as they entered the hotel with several suitcases, a low-tech way they had discovered worked very well for carrying “items needing discretion” around town. A colleague rented a room at the hotel. It was the quickest, easiest and most discreet way to subvert security for the guests within. Her team went thru the electronic security doors with the room key and she discreetly joined them without the desk clerk noticing.
The team stacked up down the hall from ‘The Geshvii’s Room’ and quickly got their equipment ready. One had a man-portable battering ram, two had transparent ballistic shields that could be unfolded from storage, and everyone was armed with automatic pistols with silencers. Once ready they they quietly moved down the hall and to the door of the room. With a silent 3-2-1 they broke the door inwards and rushed into the suite’s living room. They saw no one but heard Chehesti’s voice greet them from the bedroom, “Relax. Come on in and let’s talk.” They ignored the voice and executed their plan to have a third of the team clear the bathroom and the rest rush to the bedroom. There was no one there but a life-sized three dimensional hologram standing in the room, wearing a Hotel Imperial bathrobe. The hologram figure looked at them, held out her empty hands, and gently stated, “Seriously, let’s have a chat. There are refreshments on the sideboard. I’ll wait until you’re more comfortable.”
The team wasn’t sure what to do. When the first person who decided to leave the suite found themselves covered in red dots as they stepped into the hallway, the immediate consensus was that a chat might be a better choice. The hologram spoke again, “Thank you all for making my arrival in Byret as exciting as my last trip here! Who is your spokesperson?”
One of the insurgents stepped forward, “I am, General.”
“Engeddi Vaneshaa, do I remember correctly? It is you? It’s been a few years since we last met.” She rattled off several more names. I apologize for not recognizing all of you.”
The leader visibly stiffened. “Yes, at the surrender ‘ceremony’.”
The hologram responded, “Well, that’s one way to look at it. The other would be a peace treaty.”
“Yeah, a ‘peace treaty’ under threat of death!”
“You were only under threat of death when you were in arms against the Imperium. You were never under threat from me once you were not. And you did not leave my custody until you were pardoned under local laws. That the rich and powerful here raised wages after you were captured was a symptom of caring about you? Did you think that magically happened? Did you ever wonder how that came about? Surely you didn’t think the rich and powerful on this planet suddenly learned to care about your well-being?”
The insurgents looked at each other. It was obvious that they were re-assessing their viewpoints. One of them spoke up, “She did bilk them out of a bunch of their property and set up an education fund for our people…”
“I’m guessing that since you were waiting for me to arrive on planet, you knew I would be coming and why. Fair enough?” She got nods from the insurgents. “Well, think about how I treated you and the rest of your citizens in the past. Ask yourself if that’s earned me the right to prove to all of Byret that I will work for the very best for all of you. I’m asking for your word that we’ve got a cease-fire agreement. I’m also asking that you meet me at the baronial estate in two weeks with your recommendations on public policies to implement. I’ll give you my ideas, we’ll dicker, and we’ll see what we agree on.” The hologram paused for a moment, and added, “Oh, and regardless of whether you agree to a ceasefire or not, you’re free to go.”
“We would know if the police were on their way, and they aren’t! We have enough firepower and explosives to fight our way out of this place if we choose to!”
“Perhaps you do. But what would it gain? How would that help you or your people? And since I’ve said you’re free to go, who would you be fighting?”
“You will just let us walk out of this building? With all our weapons?”
“Yes. Though I recommend hiding them in your suitcases on the trip out, just like you did on the way in, in order keep any bystanders from calling the police. I would prefer to keep them out of this.”
“Why should we trust you? And why would you trust us?”
“Why would I trust you? That’s really easy. Warfare was my profession. I’ve studied military science since before I had a training bra. I know the kind of vicious, senseless, terroristic violence that insurgents can perpetrate. None of you ever did. That’s why I trust you. Did you think I didn’t notice your behavior? It’s why I cut you the deal I got you. Not as much as I wanted for you but as much as I could get – as an active duty Imperial General in the field.” She paused to let that sink in. “Now I have better leverage and significant allies against the mega-corporations and their factors on Byret. I think I can do better now.” She paused again. “Oh, yes, you had one other question. How can you know you can trust me? Well, I didn’t have to arrange this chat. I could have just captured or killed you at any time after you entered this room. I still could. Legally, too. This hotel, like most of this city, is within my fief and thus subject to my personal jurisdiction. Don’t panic, I’ll disable the devices directly after you assure yourself that they are operational, but do take a glance into the various drawers around the room. The living room and bathroom are the same.”
“<traditional Vilani expression of dismay>! She’s not joking! Explosives! And gas canisters!”
“More negotiations under threat? You don’t change!” said Vaneshaa, bitterly.
“Vaneshaa! Think! You asked how you could know you could trust me. Now you know. You know because you’ve all walked into a trap, you’re all still alive and unharmed, and you’ll know for sure when you leave here unharmed. I haven’t alerted the local police, so do try to avoid their notice.” She paused. “So, do we have a deal?”
Vaneshaa answered, “We’ll let you know.”
“Fair enough. My cards are on the table. You’ll be able to reach my personal comm device with them. Let me know what you decide.”
The insurgents filed out into the hallway, quietly packed up their gear, and left the hotel.
Chehesti, in a different room on a different floor, looked over at her comm technician, who stated, “Couldn’t infect all their comm devices, most of them followed good security and had turned them off, but I got one of them. Lusirka. We’ll know who he contacts and we can start building up a map of the insurgent network from there – assuming they don’t catch their mistake and promptly switch comms.”
“Get the munitions out of my rooms, release these three floors for other guests to use, and get the door fixed. And arrange to pay for any of these rooms that don’t get rented out to others, no need to make businesses and the orphans suffer because of these activities!”
She looked over at her new head of security, a retired Marine commando who had served with her on Byret the last go round. “It looks like your belief that we had been spotted at the starport and a ‘greeting committee’ would be waiting for us in town was spot on. This was a good plan! Local comm blocking and comm monitoring in place, an alternate transport ready and waiting part way here, and baiting their spotter to divert to here, where an ambush would be ready. And well executed by everyone. Sweet! If you all keep doing this good a job I’ll lose my nearly legendary ability to curse like a Marine!”
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