Author: Derek
Ward Manor Happenings
Day Job Happenings – We got word this week that the threat of a RIF has abated. So, for the foreseeable future, I will be gainfully employed at the .gov. My position is still under review to determine if I should be at the grade I’m currently at, but I can weather a loss of grade much better than I could weather the loss of job. Plus, there’s this inexorable relief – like a Sword of Damocles has been removed.
Fourth of July Happenings – For our Fourth this year, the plan was to have dinner over at BIL and SIL’s place. SIL has her granddaughter down for a couple of weeks. I was asked to smoke some ribs for the dinner. Small problem. Rain. Plenty of rain. I still gave it a go. Worked for a bit, and then fire went out. We ended up finishing the ribs off in the oven. Not my finest smoking work, but at least folks enjoyed them.
We also had The Wife’s Niece and our grandniece over for a “sleepover” as we were going to the zoo the next day. The grandniece was very interested in my Autobot Blaster toy. It’s rugged, so I didn’t care if she manhandled it.
Dinner was good because we got to see The Wife’s Nephew and his wife. We don’t get to see her very often due to everyone’s different schedules. She works at Apple, so she gets to field all the questions about “what iPhone should I get” and such. The Wife and I have discussed with MIL that she should get a new phone. Also, we think she should get an Apple Watch. The fall protection is a big reason, but also the phone locator. We’ve been discussing it for months. Nephew’s wife had her convinced over dinner. It was very amusing.
After dinner, we shot some fireworks off in the backyard. A pretty decent Fourth.
Zoo Happenings – Saturday the group of us traveled up to Tampa to go to ZooTampa. Since I have lived in Tampa for the better part of five decades, I will always think of it as Lowry Park Zoo. We managed to get into the park just as they were doing the macaw flights. Imagine four large parrots flying at head height around a large plaza. It was pretty neat.
Sometimes I forget how big, how loud, and how pungent some of the animals are.
Here’s a series that NatGeo did a few years ago.
I would highly recommend stopping through if you are in the Tampa Bay area.
House Happenings – Over the last year or so, we’ve gone through three different lawn companies. It’s always the same. They tell us they can do everything and then it just goes down to mowing and edging the lawn. We’re on our fourth company – this one run by a cousin of The Wife’s Niece’s SO. The cousin wants to break into our neighborhood – and he considers us family – so, his team has been taking care of all those little details we asked for. Like getting rid of some shrubbery the builder put in that makes it hard to make full use of our postage stamp of a driveway. I’m sure the HOA is going to get bitchy at some point, but we’ll deal with that when it comes along.
Monday Links
I don’t know if it’s just the times we’re in or what, but I’m kind of drained on politics. So, for the time being, I’m going to post links here on things that interest me. Intellectually or feeds into one of my interests.
First, one of my favorite animes “Gate” is getting a second season 10 years after the first debuted.
The long-awaited second season, which is officially titled Gate 2: Tides of Conflict, will adapt the first two volumes of the Gate Season 2 sequel series, focusing on the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.
So, it feels less like a direct sequel and more of a “setting sequel.” Which I thinks sets up my expectations well.
Second, the new Transformers / Macross 7 collab toy was set up for pre-order.

Okay, I don’t hate it. I like how they merged Optimus and the Firebomber mecha. However, the more I watch of Macross 7, the more I really dislike the Basra character.
Ward Manor Happenings
Vehicle Happenings – With me now having to go into the office five days a week, The Wife and I knew that we needed to get another vehicle. We were holding out to see what future plans my day job was going to unfurl, but leadership is being cagey as hell. I don’t even know when they will reveal our new re-org. Anywhoo, there’s been a couple of close calls with The Wife not having a vehicle at her disposal while I’m an hour away.
So, last weekend, The Wife and I moseyed up to the dealership where we bought the Ward Wagon. We told the salesfolks we were interested in this Kia Carnival, a Subaru Ascent, and a Nissan Pathfinder. So, what did we end up coming home with? None of those!
Ward Wagon 2.0 is a 2024 Outback. It was the one that was in the right price range with the right features.

And an action shot.

Retirement Happenings – This week, The Brother “retired” from his day job at the same .gov where I work. He’s been there for nearly 30 years, and took advantage of the early retirement. He has a plan to start up some projects and do some retraining. It’s just weird that he and I are not going to be working at the same “company” like we have for the past sixteen years. I’m sure it’s even stranger for him not going to the place he’s worked for pretty much all of his adult life.
Some Times You Have To Take the Loss
I am, at heart, a proceduralist. The populist fervor to destroy all institutions bothers me on a fundamental level. It wasn’t until I came across the principle of Chesterson’s Fence that my intuition was turned into words.
There exists in such a case a certain institution or law; let us say, for the sake of simplicity, a fence or gate erected across a road. The more modern type of reformer goes gaily up to it and says, “I don’t see the use of this; let us clear it away.” To which the more intelligent type of reformer will do well to answer: “If you don’t see the use of it, I certainly won’t let you clear it away. Go away and think. Then, when you can come back and tell me that you do see the use of it, I may allow you to destroy it.
Essentially, don’t destroy something you think is an impediment without first understanding why it was put there in the first place.
So, we come to the Senate Parliamentarian. In the “Big Beautiful Bill” was inclusion of taking silencers, short-barreled rifles, and short-barreled shotguns off the NFA so we can buy them like normal firearms. Is this something I would love to see pass? Oh, hell yeah. Yet, the Senate Parliamentarian ruled that part of the BBB didn’t meet the rule to override the filibuster.
That sucks. Especially since getting those bills passed on their own have been non-starters since the first time Trump was in office. The backlash? I’m getting flooded with emails about contacting Vance and Thune and other senate folks to override or fire the parliamentarian.
Wait folks. There’s a reason that rule was put into place. The big reason is because Congress is a collection feckless pundit-wanabees who are more than happy to hand their job over to the executive branch and judicial branch as long as they get to keep their donors without doing any actual work. That rule made sure they could at least pass some kind of spending bill without their normal shenanigans completely derailing the process.
Also, the one lesson that neither side seems to fucking learn – whatever you do to further your side today will be used by your opponents tomorrow.
Do I want silencers, SBRs and SBSs off the NFA? Yes. Do I think the parliamentarian made the correct decision? Also yes, but I could have seen it going the other way. Yet, I remain unconvinced that the next step is to get damage the position or incentives around the Byrd Rule.
Promise to the Magic Heart – Chapter 7
What can be said of Ela Madrigal, a woman whose story is so tragically overshadowed by her counterparts? While many of the Heroes found redemption through their journeys, Ela’s tale is one of profound misfortune. Often referred to merely as Ela the Huntress, this label reduces her to a single aspect of her multifaceted identity. It was indeed her extraordinary hunting skills that brought her to prominence during the Reclamation War, leading the scouts with unparalleled expertise. However, her narrative is much more than her martial prowess. Had she been afforded the recognition she rightfully deserved, perhaps she would be celebrated today as a distinguished military leader and strategist. Her unwavering loyalty to her brother Marteen, though noble, ultimately led her into obscurity after the war’s end. One might ponder if her path would have been different had she not followed Marteen into the ranks of the Heroes, where she met Ral the Betrayer and became soulbound to a man whose treachery would seal her fate. Forced to kill her soulbond, Ela spiraled into madness—a consequence of the stringent roles and tragic circumstances imposed upon her. Ela’s story demands that we question the notion of fate. Should we believe that her tragic end was preordained, or can we accept that she possessed the agency to make her own choices? If her destiny was as unchangeable as it appears, then it stands as a testament to the most merciless force in existence. Yet, it is essential to recognize her as a woman of immense potential and complexity, whose legacy deserves to be remembered in full.– Artist Baken Baken, “A Retrospective of the Heroes – Five Years Later”
KURT
Kurt stood up from the bedroll and stretched. The morning pains were worse than Kurt remembered. One of the perks of being an Imperial emissary was he didn’t have to sleep on the ground. Of course, if he didn’t have to deal with Marteen’s hangover, then Kurt could have found a nice inn and slept in a bed.
“Good morning,” Rin said, pouring a cup of coffee.
“I thought Marteen had the last watch,” Kurt said before taking a sip.
“I needed the time alone to think.”
“About Ela?” Kurt asked.
“I keep wondering if I did the right thing by not killing her,” Rin said.
“I think it would have shattered you – just as killing Ral shattered her,” Kurt said. “She didn’t leave you any good choices. You took the least bad. You had no way of knowing how it would all end.”
“Don’t you think I’ve been telling myself that?” Rin snarled. Kurt took a step back. Rin held up his hand, silently asking for a moment.
“I’m sorry. After finding out what happened to her and dealing with Marteen’s hangover, it’s harder to keep this anger under control.” The words were a gut punch to Kurt.
“I hate seeing you in this pain. I’m so sorry about what I did,” Kurt said. “I will do anything to make this better between us. To get us at least close to where we were.”
“That’s one thing I realized last night,” Rin said. “I don’t know how to explain it, but it’s like this ball of anger inside me is separate from my feelings towards you and Marteen.”
“Hrm.” Kurt stroked his beard.
“I know that look, Kurt. Something’s tickled a memory.”
“Yes, and I know it’s important, but I can’t remember what and why. Best to just let my mind rest and the memory will come up on its own. Good thing we have a long ride back to Lisandra.”
“I’m not going to Lisandra. I’m hunting my quarry, and then I’m going back to Marei.”
“Rin, there’s only one major road around here – the Imperial Highway. Your sorcerer and those nobles will have to travel down that at least part of the way.” Rin frowned, but there was something comforting about that. It was the same frown Rin always used when he got muley because he didn’t want to admit Kurt was right. Kurt could see the boy he raised in that expression.
“I’ll go wake Marteen. We need to get moving.”
“You remember—”
“Yes, I remember. It’ll be nice to be able to let out some of this anger,” Rin said, walking over to the sleeping Marteen. Kurt went to saddle his pony. Marteen deserved whatever Rin did. Besides, Marteen didn’t hold grudges for what they did to him when he was hungover. With long practice, Kurt ignored the shouts and sounds of scuffling behind him. There was a particularly sharp yelp from Marteen. Yep, the boy dumped water on the elf. Kurt was going to have to saddle Marteen’s horse as well, but he was going to make Rin get the elf on the horse.
After much more time than Kurt wanted, the three Heroes rode along the Imperial Highway in silence. Marteen was in the throes of his hangover and just stared at the road. Kurt was grateful for the silence. He needed time to think. He hated lying to Rin with their relationship on such shaky ground. However, as his father, he needed to help Rin. It wasn’t much to go on. An intuition based on an old conversation with Ral on their journey to rescue the princess. Plus, there was the look in Rin’s eyes when he spoke of Illana. If Kurt was right, he needed to get Rin to Lisandra. It was no longer about the promise, but healing his son.
Rin stopped in the middle of the road. Kurt brought his pony alongside Rin’s horse. Marteen didn’t notice and continued to let his horse walk. Kurt looked around, trying to see what caught Rin’s attention. This stretch of the Imperial Highway went through the Fellal Forest. Like the rest of the highway, the road was hard-packed dirt with grass on either side before the forest reasserted itself. Rin swept his eyes back and forth along the left tree line, but Kurt didn’t see or hear anything out of place. Without taking his eyes off the trees, Rin reached down and drew his rifle from the scabbard on his saddle.
“What is it son?” Kurt asked.
“Someone is stalking us,” Rin answered, still searching.
“Then we should probably find cover. Over there?” Kurt suggested, pointing to the tree line to the right of the highway.
“Lead Marteen there. I’ll cover you,” Rin said. Kurt nodded and kicked his pony to catch up with Marteen. Just as the dwarf grabbed the leads to Marteen’s horse when a loud thundercrack echoed through the forest. Kurt felt more than heard something whistle next to his head.
“GO!” yelled Rin as he snapped the rifle to his shoulder. Rin aimed at a cloud of blue-gray smoke wafting out of the trees and fired. An elf in hunting garb fell out of a tree. Kurt’s eyes locked on the musket clutched in the elf’s hands. Did that bastard Valera send assassins after them?
“Are we in a fight?” asked Marteen, looking up at the sounds.
“Yes, you idiot!” Kurt snapped. The forest exploded in deafening sound. More musket balls whistled by Kurt and Marteen.
“Excellent!” Marteen yelled. The elf slid off his horse with a burst of energy. Kurt snarled as he led the horses off the road. Damn the Mad God. Give that fool elf a fight and he was all smiles and sunshine.
“Rin, where’s your bow?” Marteen asked, running up Rin’s horse. Rin didn’t act surprised by Marteen. He just fired his rifle again. Another elf fell from the trees. Rin’s hands blurred as he reloaded the rifle and brought it back up to his shoulder.
“I don’t have one,” Rin answered an instant before killing another assassin. He reloaded his rifle again with that same deftness. Well, the boy hadn’t lost any of his speed.
“Don’t have one? What do you mean you don’t have one? Well, what do you have?” Marteen rummaged around Rin’s saddlebag and came up with a hatchet. Marteen scanned the tree line, ignoring the musket balls whipping around him. Marteen’s eyes narrowed as he found a target. He pitched the hatchet into a shrub at the base of one of the trees. He was rewarded with a scream of pain. Marteen leapt into the tree line and out of view.
Kurt was useless in the fight. All he had was his sword. How was he supposed to fight against people armed with guns? Kurt ducked as another bullet cracked above him. This was the most terrified he’d been in years. How did Rin just sit there on his horse and calmly trade shots with these brigands? As if on cue, Rin killed another an almost casual ease.
The firing from the trees stopped. Four brigands sprinted out of the treeline down the highway. Holding his long rifle in his left hand, Rin drew his revolver and scythed them down in one long stream of fire. As the last one fell, Rin holstered his revolver. He slid the rifle back in its scabbard before dropping down off his horse. Rin focused on the trees. There was some thrashing in the branches, and then Marteen emerged dragging a bleeding elf. Kurt led the horses back to Rin and Marteen.
“Rin, I brought you a present!” Marteen boomed. Marteen’s clothes were tattered and bloody from several nasty-looking cuts.
“Release me, you foul spawn of a sow!” the elf screamed. “If you do not–” As soon as the elf saw Rin, he fell silent and stared at the boy in horror. Rin gave the elf a predatory smile that chilled Kurt’s bones.
“So, this is what we were killing,” Rin said, and then walked closely to the elf, “Perhaps you best explain why you attacked us, friend, before I get annoyed.” The elf collapsed and bowed before Rin. The three Heroes traded quizzical looks.
“Goddess, you’re a human,” the elf said with wide-eyed surprise, “Please, they didn’t tell us there would be another Acolyte.”
“What were you told?” Rin asked.
“We were to kill the three people who were following the Acolytes. They didn’t say anything about there being more Acolytes. Please forgive me, Acolyte.” Rin motioned for the other two to back off a bit. Kurt dragged Marteen off the road before Marteen could say anything.
“You missed the three you were supposed to kill,” Rin said, “I was tracking them and because of your attack, I don’t know if I can find them.” The elf looked over at where Kurt and Marteen were standing before looking up at Rin in confusion. Rin could see the question bubbling up in the elf.
“They work for me,” Rin said, in a low tone that Kurt could barely hear, “They don’t understand our cause, but they are useful tools.” The elf nodded solemnly.
“Where are the others?” Rin asked.
“At the camp, Acolyte,” the elf answered, confused. “Where else would they be?”
“If you don’t know that, then you don’t need to know any more at this time,” Rin answered, menace coloring his tone. The elf paled. “You will lead us to the camp after I tend to my mercenaries. In the meantime, take care of your comrades’ bodies.” The elf nodded furiously and scampered off to the underbrush. Rin walked over and picked up one of the Purist’s muskets.
“Should we be letting him run free?” Marteen asked, walking over. Kurt followed behind him with an exasperated look on his face.
“As far as he’s concerned, I’m an Acolyte and you two are my minions,” Rin answered.
“Acolytes? I’ve heard the term come up from investigations into the Purists. We know they are high in the Purist hierarchy, but not how high,” Kurt said. “What do you have there?” Rin held up the musket for Marteen and Kurt to see.
“It’s one of those black-market muskets Valera’s been smuggling to the Purists,” Marteen said, disgusted. “He must have sent these brigands. I told you we shouldn’t have just left him.” Rin shook his head.
“Marteen, do you remember how much grief you gave me when I couldn’t tell the difference between a Crystal Woods long sword and a Southern River broad sword?” Rin asked.
“Yeah,” Marteen said, confused by the question.
“Be very glad I’m not as petty,” Rin replied, “See that stamp on the barrel?” Rin pointed at an eagle with its wings outstretched grasping a lightning bolt in its talons. “That’s an Arsenale Granito manufacturing mark. This musket was made for the Mareian Army. It was probably part of the lots surplussed to the Imperial Army.”
“How do you know that?” Marteen asked.
“If this musket was sold to the public, the armory would have placed a stamp over the eagle. Being in possession of an Arsenale weapon with a clean stamp is death by summary execution. No smuggler in his right mind would be caught with a musket with a clean mark. There’s enough private gun makers to risk dealing in these.”
“I guess that makes sense,” Kurt said.
“I’m going to find a sword,” Marteen grumbled as he strode to the line of bodies the captured elf was assembling for a pyre. Kurt sidled up to Rin.
“So, how did these weapons end up in the hands of the Purists?” Kurt asked.
“They’re either stealing them from Imperial Army units or a sympathizer in the Imperial government is diverting them.”
“Something to discuss with Sonya. You had me worried there, boy,” Kurt said.
“Why?”
“You were just standing out there in the open when all of those elves were shooting at you.”
“Oh that,” Rin said, nonchalantly. “If they’d lined up for a proper volley, we might have been in trouble. When that first ball went whistling by us, I knew they didn’t know how to use them properly. Muskets are finicky if they’re not handled properly.”
“How did you know that they were shooting muskets and not something like what you’re carrying?” Kurt asked, pointing at the revolver at Rin’s hip.
“Sound of the first shot and the smell of the gunpowder,” Rin answered. “Kurt, it’s not the first time I’ve been shot at.”
“Sometimes you’re as bad as Marteen,” Kurt muttered.
“I’m nowhere as bad as Marteen. I’ve never enjoyed battle the way he does,” Rin said.
“Then explain Pallus and you bickering during all those fights,” Kurt said. “There’s no way you two could keep that up if you weren’t enjoying the fight.”
“I was doing it to keep Pall from knowing how terrified I was,” Rin said. Kurt grunted what could have charitably called a chuckle. Rin looked back at their prisoner.
“Thank the Protector, we’ve picked up Smythe’s trail. With some luck, I can put that bastard in irons or in the ground and be back on my way to the Republic before the fortnight.” Kurt decided to test his theory a bit.
“So, you’re really not going to keep the promise to Illana?” Kurt asked, “I know you don’t owe the Empire anything, but what about Illana? Don’t you owe her an explanation for why you haven’t been in her life for the past decade?” Rin was quiet for a long moment. He turned and walked away from Kurt without answering. So, there was something still there.
“If you want to grab one of those muskets and a cartridge box from the dead, I’ll show you how to use it,” Rin said. “It might not hurt to have another gun on our side.” Kurt watched as Rin checked over the gear on his horse. Kurt smiled but made sure not to let Rin see it. Rin still fiddled with things when he didn’t want to decide. Kurt couldn’t blame his son. Women could be frightfully difficult to understand. Kurt just hoped the others wouldn’t ruin things before Kurt managed to get Rin to Lisandra. And Illana.