Tiredly, Elena got on her knees, as Van Dorn stood in front of her. When he released his dick, she immediately took it into her mouth. Later, after she was cleaned, and back in her clothing, she followed Van Dorn tiredly. When they stopped near the exit, she felt his hand on her branded ass. A moan escaped her.
Van Dorn eagerly gropes the branded ass, before giving it a smack. "Time for you to leave, slave. Don't worry, we'll be seeing you again soon." He cackles.
Yannika chuckled at his first observation. "Yes... I suppose so." She brought his knuckles to her lips and kissed them gently, as though after all this time she could make the pain from so long ago go away, "In all honesty," she said "I'm not terribly well versed in the other denominations either." "As for the Sapphire Hearth, we worship the entire pantheon, but we pay special homage to the Goddess Jaya. Keeper of the Sapphire Hearth. She's a domestic goddess, with dominion over the home and family. She's a classically feminine goddess, and patron of women, mothers, and children. She's also deeply associated with sex, the saying goes Jaya welcomes travelers into her home, the sick into her arms, and the... *ahem* horny into her bed. Worshipers of hers are expected to follow her example." She paused, partly unsure of how he would take the next part, and her own hesitation of the memory. "When my father exiled me to the Church, he specifically sent me to the Sect of the Sapphire Hearth. Nearly all of us who take our vows become 'Women of the Holy Order Religious Expansion' or WHOREs. We're expected to spread the wisdom of the gods, prevent heresy and corruption by leading wayward people back to the church, primarily through... sex." She shifted and looked at Carius with apologetic eyes, "I am a Church WHORE, and it is my duty and responsibility to maintain the faith of the masses by... essentially... having sex with them. It's what I've done for the past twenty years. It's how I brought Lave V back from heresy." She cupped his cheek and continued, "I've found great fulfillment in my work, but now I ready to move on. I want to be with you Carius! and only you." she said in earnest before her expression turned solemn "But until I'm dismissed from the church I'm still bound to my responsibilities. I've negotiated with Cardinal De Rosa, and he's agreed to release me from my vows... soon. I-I don't want there to be any secrets between us my love. I didn't want you to learn about my past and feel betrayed that I didn't tell you. You are everything to me my love. I will never betray you. But, until I'm released, I wanted you to know what is required of me. I hope... I hope this doesn't affect how you feel about me."
Elena arched as she felt fingers slip into her pussy. But a few movements left her moaning, and a few moments later, climaxing again. The slap on her ass, sent a tired woman to her knees. "Yes, master." She said tiredly, before dragging herself to her transport. She spent the next day sleeping. Then she prepared to receive Van Dorn's mother and daughter along with two servants - the brainwashing machines were already prepared. She then checked on the status of the brainwashing of the captured pirates.
Carius nods. "I... When you're empress, you'll have to be faithful to me. But..." He smiles and squeezes her hand. "I don't care what you've done in the past. I don't care if others have been with you, because soon you'll be mine alone." He holds her tight for a while, before seeming to realise something, and looking at her. "Wait... The cardinal let you go? Just like that?" He releases her. "Your talents are so substantial that you converted an entire world single handedly. How did you convince the cardinal to release you?"
The two captive women from the Van Dorn estate arrive. Looking at the captives from the Ietra campaign, she sees that they're all indoctrinated. The pirate captain was damaged, and is little more than a wanton slut now, but the captain and 2IC of the dreadnought are utterly devoted to the Jade Rose, but otherwise perfectly capable of carrying out their duties.
Xavier checked if they could hit the pirate base on the way to Samodiva, going after the treasure ship immediately might be too risky.
Smirking, Elena sent the two Van Dorn slaves, to a brainwashing machine. They would be reprogrammed to be useful to the order. She sent her thanks to Van Dorn and sent an invitation - she suspected that lady Van Dorn and her daughter will accept. Playing along, Elena diverted some money for Van Dorn but not too much. She then decided to have her spies inspect Van Dorn. She wondered, where from he aquired such sophisticated brainwashing equipment.
Eanne gave the scientist a flat stare. “I hope you're joking.” She shook her head. “I am sorry, but that won't work. The Emperor can't afford to show blatant favoritism by giving any one faction lower taxes, especially not so soon after he ascended to the throne. Everyone must give their fair share for the good of the Empire, no exceptions. This will not only provide the Empire with some much needed money, but also prevent dissent by showing that no one is getting special treatment. If one faction gets a better deal than the rest, then they might find themselves resented by everyone else, from the commoners to the nobles, because it would seem like everyone else is shouldering the burden of this one group that is getting preferential treatment.” She gave Isabella a few moments to consider her words. “I hope you can see the wisdom in my arguments...”
Yannika pressed his hand to her heart. "This has been yours since the day you were conceived my love." she said and kissed him tenderly "Thank you for understanding." She relaxed into him and enjoyed being in his arms until he released her. Once he was finished asking her his question she shook her head. "No, he didn't just release me. After I accepted the mission to Lave V I went to visit Cardinal De Rosa. Partly because, as a member of the church, I wondered if they had any special instructions or information for me that wasn't in the brief; and partly because I already desired to rescind my vows... and be with you. I told him as much, he was already aware of our... connection and knew of my commitment to my faith. He agreed that if I was successful at Lave V he would sponsor my leaving the Church. I thought nothing of it at the time, but now... "I went to visit him this morning and delivered my report. His reactions were... disconcerting. As members of the church we're supposed to put forth compassion, understanding, forgiveness, and love into the galaxy. That's what the Sapphire Hearth has always taught and it's what I believe. But the cardinal, he was... disappointed with my actions; he said my solution was 'a little soft'. When I informed him of the complicity of an Archbishop and another Cardinal in the matter, he initially brushed off their involvement, saying they would 'pray away their sins'. I had to press him to pursue justice! "When I told him about your confessor, he didn't seem outraged over what had happened, instead he seemed overjoyed that a rival's protege was eliminated. Like politics were more important than staying true to the gods will! or upholding people's trust in the church. But the last..." Yannika bit her lip in concern. "I-I told him about last night... us last night, and this morning. He was elated about that but... he was concerned about you having a waning eye. H-he gave me a vial and told me to pour its contents into your drink to ensure your obedience." Her face turned to apologetic fear at that point. "You must know Carius I would never do that to you! I didn't know what to do, I took the vial and put it in a cabinet in my room. Her voice trembled, "I fear what has become of my Church..."
Consulting his star maps, Xavier sees that the base is between his fleet and Samodiva. Changing course to go to it would only be a minor deviation from the established route.
The Van Dorns send a response stating that they accept the invitation, adding that Elena should prepare herself. With Elena's reputation as a war hero, it isn't hard to get the funds diverted, especially an insubstantial amount. The triumph itself will be occuring soon. Some nuns of the Rose are assigned as spies, but it will likely take a little while before they report back with anything interesting.
She finds the scout at a small Institute starport, sparks flying as she welds some machinery to an armoured exosuit.
Spoiler: Persuasion Roll D100: 97 (Crit) (Arghhh....) "Yes, I suppose that makes sense." Isabella sighs. "Fine, then, I'll keep your suggestion in mind during the negotiations."
Carius smiles softly and touches her cheek. "I'm glad you told me. I know how hard this must be for you." He's silent for a few moments, thinking. "Before we can marry, there are two last tasks I need you to complete, then we can be together. The first involves the Church."
Yannika smiled with tears in her eyes, happy that he understood. "Of course my love. Anything for you."
He returns the smile, wiping away her tears softly. "I need you to return to the cardinal, acting as though you're fulfilling his task, spiking my drinks. You'll gain his trust, and his affection, and then do to him exactly what he wanted you to do to me." Carius squeezes her hand. "Clearly, the trials of holding so much power have gotten to the man, and he needs to be reminded that his first duty is to the gods. You can fix his woes, and return him to the right path. Someday, we might return the entire Church to the right path, with him." The young man looks distant for a few moments, before his gaze returns to Yannika. "The second task I have is...difficult. It could cause you pain. I'm not sure...not sure I could stomach making you do something like it, even so we can be together..."
Yannika felt no small amount of pride in how clever Carius seemed to be. So much more than she had suspected. "I shall Carius. A cunning plan." Yannika took his hands in hers and brought them to her lips where she laid a kiss upon them. "Don't worry my sweet boy, if it means we can be together there is no hardship I will not gladly endure. You are the only thing that matters to me, and I will do anything for us to be together."
He gladly returns the kiss pulling her towards him once more. "I need you to return to House Wulfkin, to your father. If he was intelligent, he would have kept some evidence of my parentage, as leverage against my father. I can't allow us to live with a sword hanging over our heads. We need that evidence, whatever the cost. The cardinal likely has some record as well, but we can get that from him easily enough when you begin spiking his drinks."
Vizelle carefully aproaches, "Excuse me, I'd like to ask for some information, regarding a certain mission." She called out, and if the mechanic replied, she asks about if they know how the men disappear, and if they disappear in groups, or one by one.
