Soon after the astropaths report the success of the mission, messages of congratulations begin streaming into the Pious Lament, there are queries and requests for information from dozens of agencies, some of which many of the crew have never heard of.

Over thee next two months the ships begin to arrive, first fast ships of the Imperial Navy, followed by an Adeptus Ministorum vessel that was neer by, smaller craft of the Adeptus Mechanicus precede a vast vessel that rivals the manufactorum in scale, these are followed by ships from Adeptus Administratum, larger ships of the Imperial Navy and all kinds of other authorities. Among them are ships and representatives of House Velspar, House Saoirse and House Shiraishi. The icing on the cake though, is when the sector governor arrives baring dispatches and instructions from Adeptus Terra.

I’m posting this passage now, ahead of the restart, so that you might make more informed decisions, more details will follow.

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A reception is held for the captains and senior officers of each visiting vessels of significant importance including those of the Navy, Ministorum, & Administratum.

The greetings for representatives of Velspar, Shiraishi, and most importantly her Uncle Aiden onboard of the Lann Onóra, the small corvette often used to scout newly established systems. The largest ceremony she has is when the system governor arrives themselves bearing important dispatches, which she takes and looks over at her own time.

It's hard to tell who has the toughest assignment for the receptions; the High Factotum, for issuing invitations and arranging for catering, or the Master of the Vox, for managing an endless series of communications, the Lady-Captain herself, being that the rarefied circles of high society are every bit as lethal a battlefield as the plains of Gelron Prime, or any of her many, many servants who are working to not disgrace the name of House Saoirse and its scion.

However, Gregory is pretty sure his job ranks up there with the hardest and most vital of them all; after all, he's in charge of managing security arrangements, liaising with the retinues and security chiefs of the guests, getting clearances and authorizations sorted (Throne forbid you should prevent a high muckety-muck from going where he pleases... or allowing a silver-tongued charlatan to inconvenience the same!). And as though the task wasn't challenging enough, he needs to navigate the... tense relationship between the Enginseer Prime and the High Factotum (both of whom outrank him too)

They say the Emperor gives His mightiest soldiers His toughest battles... But Gregory can't help but wonder if perhaps Him-On-Earth thinks a little too highly of him.

Currently, the security layout/rules of engagement are as thus; the areas in the ship are labelled Green, Yellow and Red, radiating out from the docking bays and the reception halls. Green areas are freely traversable by guests and no permission is needed to enter them. This naturally covers the guest quarters, the reception areas and the corridors immediately adjoining them, as well as the landing bays. Yellow areas are nominally off-limits, mundane guests who wish to enter them are politely but firmly advised to leave, while more important guests will be escorted to wherever they wish to go and then out again. Red zones are completely off-limits and nobody is to enter them without express permission from the Lord-Captain or at least two of the three Rank Two senior officers. Naturally, lethal force is authorized for defending such areas. Given the exceptionally high density of VIPs present, Gregory's proposal of "have the reception in the landing bays and airlock the lot of them if anything funny happens" was immediately shot down, hence this compromise.

After the usual meet and greet with the security details of the other VIPs, complete with exchange of vox-codes and a gift of complimentary fruit baskets freshly harvested from Gelron, Gregory finds himself in the heart of the ops room, surrounded by security staffers observing spy-picters and listening to reports from patrols assigned to watch the green/yellow/red area interfaces and the men attached to the various security details. The hololithic map before him shows a rough indication of all points as he silently prays for the festivities to end soon.

It was not so much an amendment as an additional set of considerations that would find their way to Master Asgard once the office of the Navis Nobilis was made aware of a delegation of their own would be in attendance at the recognition of the Rogue Trader's victory over both the fickle whims of the Immaterium and the malcontents of Gelron. It was a credit to his skill and understanding of the parameters of his guests and the... allowances that had to be made for so many people of standing that these considerations were not overly disruptive to the over all strategy put forth, merely a means to provide a thoroughfare of sorts to the Navigator's sanctum from the main reception halls where those dignitaries of House Shirashi could then be surrendered over to the care of the contingent of House Guard that had accompanied Cennet and her cousins aboard the Pious Lament. That the area was contained, well provisioned to suit the tastes of her kin folk, and well staffed with those accustomed to the... oddities of the Navis Nobilis alongside being formally sanctioned to tend to their needs helped to ease some of the burden and considerations all it's own.

The distinctly thoughtful, careful hand of the Lady Cennet Melek Shiraishi writ large across all of it with a deliberate and careful consideration towards propriety, duty, and other matters of the insular culture of her nomadic house.

Privately, there was no small anxiety over the matter as the arrival of others of her house brought with it a complicated sequence of emotions. Her fall from grace due to the expression of her genetic imperfections was hardly an unknown quantity among her peers. She had, in her youth, represented a new chapter... A possible future where the fickleness of their flawed genetics might be finally conquered all for that house to come crashing down. The purest of silver linings being that, to date, her navigational skills were beyond reproach so that at least their reputation and honour as natives of the Stars and Endless Sea beyond them could not be questioned. This informed, in kind, the extensive efforts that the Navigatrix pushed herself to with the staff and provisions afforded to her to ensure every comfort possible to the delegation.

It was perhaps in these moments of dutiful and frenetic activity that she was, perhaps, at her most comfortable if only because her mind could not be allowed to wander with vengeful recrimination over her perceived failures for things that had never once been within her control... Nor to pull and pick at the wounded pride and vanity that she had nursed these past few decades even with each step towards an acceptance of her diminished self. A fact her cousins, Lady Sheridan and Lord Levi, had not doubt become acquainted with. Not that she was so unaware of herself that her choice of... modification and hiding of all that she now was didn't scream that loudly enough for anyone to pick up upon.

3.281.103.M41 and there is great excitement on the Planet Gelron and within the twenty or so capital ships that now hang in orbit around it, Sector Governor, Marius Hax is due to arrive in person within the next two days, his ship ‘Destiny of Drusus’ has left the warp but is far to close to the Sink Hole and is struggling to get clear, some of the smaller escort vestless have already entered orbit and his personnel are making preparations dirt side for his accommodation in the Governor’s Palace.

With so many ships in orbit the capital city is stuffed beyond capacity with the high and mighty trying to retain some semblance of dignity and gravitas while ‘slumming it’ on a ‘backward and primitive planet’. Actually, the planet is neither of those things, it just lacks the infrastructure to cater for such a large number of the sector’s ruling classes.

A lot of the visitors have chosen to remain on their ships and visit each other in orbit but trips dirt side to the governor’s palace are required for time to time and Lady Anastasia MaCregge, the reinstated Governor General is doing her best to cope. Until now she had been the biggest fish in a fairly small pond now, the pond is the same but a lot of much bigger fish have moved in and all are waiting for the biggest fish of all.

Meanwhile, it is known that the Pious Lament is to be handed over to Lady Captain Searlait Saoirse, however, Lady Marilyn Velspar, sister of Lord Harington, the previous Captain, is not happy, she has come to oversee the transfer of the ship but has made it clear that all of the crew, from lowliest servitor to the first officer have sworn allegiance to House Velspar and all of the mechanicus on board are subject to an ancient contract between the Lords of Mars and House Velspar while much the same applies to the Astral Quire and the House Shiraishi of the Navigators. This ship was the founding vestal of House Velspar dynasty since she was decommissioned from the Navy and gifted to Admiral Gabriel Velspar along with Traders Charter in recognition of his services in the Imperial Navy during the Ophidian Campaign in 605.M39. The ship is also packed with treasure, art work and trophies accumulated by the Velspars over the centauries, all with great meaning and relevance to the family and none of which they wish to ‘let go’.

One of the ships in orbit is Iolar Neamhni, an Exorcist class grand cruiser captained by Lord Cormac, current patriarch of House Saoirse, come to visit his daughter in her hour of triumph, he has already classed on more than one occasion, with Lady Marilyn. The Cruiser is escorted by the corvette Lann Onora.

There are two ships of the Mechanicus in orbit, (both docked at the manufactorum), but the Magos who has just arrived on the Pious Lament has travelled on the Iolar Neamhni. ‘Harrow of Laith’ has presented his credentials to Jak and informed him that he has been tasked by Lord Cormac, patriarch of house Saoirse, to take technical control of this vestal and Jak is welcome to stay and assist if he does not have other commitments to house Velspar.

There are three high ranking members of House Shiraishi in attendance on Gelron, Lord Malferon Shiraishi, an ancient navigator who never leaves his sedan chair, caried by twenty servitors, (although it actually hovers on gravity plates) and attended by house juniors, many servants and two tech priests. Among these is another, young Navigator Philipus, and Gregory Bevrett, the house Auditor.

Sister-Chatelain Delores, of the Orders Famulous specifically wants to see Harmonia as she has heard tell of the miracle Emperor’s face. Bishop Lasherat has been sent by Cardinal Ignatio himself as Adeptus Ministorum representative.

Shipboard meetings with these people are mostly one or two at a time and they leave so security is manageable for Gregory. Bigger meetings mostly take place on the planet and he only has to provide security for ships personnel, unless Searlait is hosting. A big problem is discipline, troop, the ship flown by s planet and crew planet side have been fighting with their opposite numbers from other ships, especially the Iolar Neamhni Searlait’s father and the Lann Onora, the small corvette flown by her uncle Aiden

Point to note that all of the players owe allegiance to the Velspar family in one form or another.
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 Two solid months in orbit, buoyed by the extensive reengineering of the Manufactorum's purpose which he engineered - one which prioritises long-term operations, and so can be stretched to the upkeep of the local supply chain, and so can provide some modest amount of spare components and repair facilities - is Jak's variation upon the theme of silicon heaven.

 He's a little distracted - and entirely absent for a day or so - around the time that the Inquisitorial Retinue depart, but beyond that there's little time to be found when he isn't leading repair and exploration parties around the ship, reciting catechisms to the laity as they labour upon great refits and vast acts of preventative maintenance or forming a key part of the developing network of supply-and-demand that's reviving itself around the newly awakened economy of Gelron... Well, except for when the Ark Mechanicus turns up. That is cause for an entire day of 'pious reflection' to be declared for the Mechanicus population of the Pious Lament (which fortunately seems to involve a lot of small-scale maintenance anyway, so while not a lot gets done on the big projects, a positive swarm of smaller repair tasks get expedited in amongst the chanting, incense-wafting and praying).

 He does make some time for Archmilitant Asgard during this period, presenting him with the work of his extremely limited leisure time in the form of a sealed case large enough to fit a (slightly trimmed) human body in, festooned with assorted purity seals and glyphs of protection and restraint, presumably it's important to at least one of them. Navigator Melek-Shiraishi has attention proffered to her as well, with her and the Engineseer often being seen together plotting some project or other, with whatever it is seemingly important or prestigious enough for him to be seen at her little social gathering, a small tray of dainties clutched in the fine brass manipulators of one mechandrite and a complete lack of expression upon his aquiline faceplate - although he does at least make an effort at 'small talk' in the course of his doing so, an endeavour every bit as horrifying as one might expect - more or less regardless of what situations unfold before him. He's attentive however, and seemingly prepared to speak well of the piety and diligence of the Navigator of the Pious Lament so all in all he's probably a net benefit to things.

 Much to do then, and much to be done...

 And then Magos Harrow of Laith shows up.

 Jak is of course, a loyal (if distant) son of Mars and accepts the data he's offered without initial complaint, instead taking a good hour or more to high-band relate the details of the ongoing refit and repair plans to the Magos, ensuring that - should the transfer go through - as seamless as possible a transition of authority and subservience to the needs of the great ship-shrine can be achieved.

 Actually assimilating that mass of data is likely to take a good few hours - or days - and it leaves Jak able to secure assorted data-vaults of his own personal information (armour schematics, some genetic information and the like) and go looking for The Captain, since he's rather curious about what's going on.

Searlait's time is spent coordinating meetings with the various arriving personnel, whether on the Pious Lament, the planetary surface and very rarely she would visit on their vessel, the most notable was when she went back to her childhood home the Iolar Neamhni which was a shock since she and her father were not on the best of terms, so his arrival was the most shocking.

The arrival of Lady Marilyn Velspar, the sister of Lord Harington, and her attempt expropriate the entire ships contents in a less then friendly manner has he contacting Vormav, Finnigan & Emerson to search over the official transfer that gave her dominion over the vessel to find some way to confirm her command of the vessel and all of its assets including any information from the High Lords that she has. The Mechanicus members she sends a missive to Magos Tesla to see if he can confirm if individual Mechancicus personnel were subject to subservience to House Velspar or if the compact referred to just manning of vessels with appropriate skilled staff. She would ensure that he knew she was more then pleased with his service and would greatly prefer if he stayed aboard in his capacity to restore the grand vessel to its full functionality.

So as not to interfere with day to day operations of the ship Harmonia holds her meeting with Sister-Chatelain Delores in her most private office that looks out over the Temple shrine to the God Emperor at the stern of the ship.  Very few have ever been invited into what is intended to be a place of personal reflection and thought, but in chaotic times like this it is often best to share such a sanctuary than to hoard it's use for one's self.

As soon as Searlait gets a whiff of the political manoeuvring of both her father and Lady Marilyn Velspar she orders a meeting of all senior personnel to a conference in her private quarters at 1900h ship time. Those that arrive will notice that its the guard squad she took with her that patrol the deck and all are fully armed and armoured, each has a mix of melee and ranged weapons ranging from brutal shock mauls and shields to heavy combat shotguns and hellguns. No one who isn't supposed to be here will get unto this level and meeting each officer as they get off the lift is Órlaith Ita, the massive icebear pelt cloak across her back and vanaheim shotgun in hand as she offers greetings.

She leads each of you to Searlait's private study, a well appointed room with an actual fireplace, polished dark grey ouslite tile around the fireplace leading to rich oak wood planks and a 20 seat table with various hors d'oeuvres spread around. Searlait is, like the the guards fully armoured and pacing around the room.

When the last officer arrives Órlaith locks the door and waits outside and Searlait says "Delightful everyone has arrived, as many of you may well be aware with the arrival of My father, Lord Cormac Soairse and Lady Marilyn Velspar there is a contest being had with the Pious Lament and all of her crew as the battleground. One wishes to assert there dominion over what he sees as his latest acquisition, a vessel of rare age and vintage to his diminished fleet since the disappearance of my elder brother and the Stríocóir Réalta he seeks to keep potential enemies at bay, and Lady Velspar's anger at losing her family's ancestral flagship, a great disaster to any dynasty and one usually accompanied by the destruction of the Dynasty. As each tries to assert their dominance attempting to install their own puppets, supplanting your positions with their own choices or attempting to remove things from this ship. As of now I officially order you all, should you wish to remain at your post here. Your services here have all been exemplary and I could not have wished for a more capable crew. Any requests or demands for crew changes from either is denied, any request or demand for removal of property is denied, if they try to get pushy kindly remind them they have no authority on this ship, if they still get push, have security escort them to the airlock. All shore leave is hereby revoked until this matter is settled. Are there any questions or concerns?"

"Just a question of vernacular mi'lady. Is the airlock they are being escorted to intended to have a vessel waiting on the other side?"

He rests his hand near his side arm suggestively.

"Further might I suggest, as the officer responsible for finances, that escorting them to the brig and ransoming these presumably capable officers back to their respective vessels might be worth while. If we can get away with it."