The Hermes Bridge
Hayon raised, well the equivalent to a eyebrow and his antenna twitched, "Uhm excuse me Csang sir. Would the information we need be kept in digital records?" he began before extending one of his tentacles from it's Pak, "Because the Le'Ka have noted ability to communicate with machines," a data spike extended from the claw at the end, "And I could possibly extract the information."
For the Horde!
Koruuna looked highly disappointed in the Kair-Shaan ambassador, but simply sat quietly as the Terran, Fessk, Quenosequan, and Rhizon ambassadors, all in succession, stated their cases for or against the Second Skalan Empire joining the Galactic Alliance.
The Terran ambassador, Marianne Foster, always the inclusive one, spoke in favor of Yes since there was no reason to exclude them and give them a chance. The Fessk ambassador, Gannaic, was less optimistic, speaking against the Skalans due to their history of attacking unprovoked, especially against the Quenosequan (whose ambassador, Saquantion Wind-Brother, also voted Against for the same reason).
The Rhizon ambassador, Rhizon Vei, played devil's advocate, arguing the advantages and disadvantages of allowing the Skal to join the Galactic Alliance before ultimately choosing to argue in Favor of the Skal mainly to keep an eye on them.
At this moment, Koruuna stood up. "Ladies and gentlemen of the Alliance. You have made excellent cases. We will have a recess until tomorrow. The meeting is suspended until then. Everyone may return to their embassies. Except for you, Raluitee'shel. I must have a word with you in private."
Callahan nodded at Daenemaeus, pulling out his datapad and typing, then looking back up at the protz. "There, I've sent the relevant information both to your datapad and to the science console," he replied. He then shot a look at Csang. "We have no idea how many Filiidei are on Luna. We don't want to jump the gun. If we run in there guns blazing, we'll not only create excess panic, but it could alert the Filiidei to our position and drive the priority targets deeper into hiding." At that moment, he finally turned towards Hayon.
"Good idea," he told the Le'Ka. "If we can get our hands on Filiidei records, perhaps a datapad or other equivalent, we can have you hack into the records to obtain relevant information." Now, the longer we bicker, the longer it will take to reach our destination. Miss Parla'mora, set a course for the Sol system," he ordered the helm officer. The Shyleran saluted, then sat at the helm and began programming the coordinates into the Hermes computer.
edited 15th Mar '16 10:00:17 PM by AllHailThrall
I can still hail the Horde even though the company has shamed us. Strength and Honor even if Blizzard has neither.
(Avatar by Coffee)
Point Unity
Akk inwardly groaned, clicking his beak in annoyance. So nothing happened in that meeting after all. With a caw, he took off his perch and made his way to Azunn, hovering at face level near the Sirian. "If I may, Secei Berreil?" he asked.
The voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground
Dreams of Revenge
Point Unity — Azunn
It seemed that although the "Yes" side was gaining momentum, there was still the potential for deadlock if anyone became complacent. Azunn was lost in his own thoughts when Akk greeted him. Putting on a friendly smile for the Ydyff, he said, "Certainly,"
Locking you up on radar since '09
For the Horde!
The ambassadors began to pile out of the meeting hall. As they walked out, they began to group up and start chatting among each other. The Terran ambassador, Marianne Foster, approached the two Nisi women. "Excuse me. Ms. Darkspirit?" she asked. "Marianne Foster of Earth. You made a good speech back there. Confidentially I'm kind of glad that Ralu got put in their place... they've been harping on this issue for a while now."
Callahan looked back at the Nisi, who seemed to simply be looking at him sternly. He looked sternly back at her.
"Dismissed," he told the crew, who began to pile off of the bridge towards wherever they were stationed.
I can still hail the Horde even though the company has shamed us. Strength and Honor even if Blizzard has neither.
THE SLORG!
"Finally it's over" Welerate muttered as the meeting suspended, getting up and leading her sister out of the assembly hall. She was planning on heading straight back to the embassy, but both she and her sister stopped and turned to look as the Terran ambassador asked for 'Miss Darkspirit', since it applied to both of them. Once it was clear she meant Feonxi, Welerate just glanced her eyes towards her sister.
"Always a pleasure to knock down an opponent in a verbal match. We Savages pride ourselves for quick thinking and sharp wit in all aspects, not just on a field of battle" Feonxi said to Marianne, flattered. And maybe this will go to show that here in the GA we are not to be underestimated, even if our species' average intelligence is low Feonxi thought to herself, deciding not to bring it up aloud.
"Still, I must say I expected more from the Kair-Shaan ambassador, not just its temperament but also in its opinion. The Savages' old enemy of the Sirian Union is here in the GA, but we accept their presence nonetheless" Feonxi went on, letting the fact slide that the Savages had only joined the Alliance in the first place to keep the SU from getting a political upper hand against them. "Surely if even we can learn to intermingle here, than the Kair-Shaan can manage to tolerate the presence of the skal" she added.
Csang stayed silent and just continued to glare as Callahan made his argument and then looked sternly back at her. Might be time to ease it up a little. I don't want to get kicked out of the mission after all Csang thought to herself, though a part of her felt reassured that Callahan probably couldn't send her back so easily without some political repercussions. This was supposed to be a joint international mission after all, so the Savages higher ups could start a fuss if their representative in the mission was removed from it; how effective that would actually be, Csang had no way of knowing unless it actually happened, but she figured that Callahan most certainly had it in mind as well.
Still, all in all it seemed to be going okay Csang figured as she left the bridge and headed back to the armory. The more the captain thought of her as being just like any other nisi, the better. (Except in the matters of her abilities, which was why she was on the mission after all.) After getting back to the armory, she went back to looking over the available firearms, moving on from the handheld potential replacements to the potential alternatives that were the sniper rifles.
You are reading this.
Attitude is prohibited
[Point Unity]
Mnhiri did not care much for speeches. Surely everyone present was smart enough to see through coded language and emotional appeals? Regardless, she also didn't care very much about the fate of the Skal, and did not intend to reveal her position on the subject until the vote, or at least until the proper debate started.
In the meantime, though, she hadn't quite finished her lunch before the meeting had started, and so was still hungry. She began to pack up her things, planning to head back to the cafeteria to buy some tiornas, an Izeran pasta inspired by tortellini.
[The Hermes]
Linda jumped at the opportunity. There was so much to be excited about today!
She approached Summer Breeze. "S'cuse me," she said. "You busy?"
Not entirely dead.
For the Horde!
Foster crossed her arms and nodded, walking alongside her. "I also have to criticize the manner that Raluitee'shel has been conducting itself for the past few days. Shaantu should really have sent a more.... professional ambassador than the one we received. I just hope that this incident prompts them to send someone more qualified," she muttered quietly to the Nisi ambassador.
I can still hail the Horde even though the company has shamed us. Strength and Honor even if Blizzard has neither.
Huthizki was still reflecting on the last thing said to him directly. "Lethal Force". Heading towards the engineering department and getting ready to set off, he was sure, positive, entirely absolutely certain that he wasn't going to end up having to kill someone.
He wasn't sure, of course. He'd already had to kill someone before. A stowaway onboard one of the first vessels he worked on. It only ended up that way when the stowaway pulled a gun on him and his crewmate, and when he had come back to consciousness he was getting commended for having saved his fellow crewman's life. Huthizki had beaten up people, he had brawled and knocked dents into other people's chitin, but he wasn't ready to kill again. Of course, none of that would happen, so he was fine. It obviously didn't show in his blank plate of a face, but as he started making pre-flight checks with the rest of the crew he was worried.
Eh, Tukantz saw where the Kair-Shaan were coming from. Ultimately, himself and those he represented were certain that not letting them in would end up with more pain down the road, but the Skal weren't reputable at all, so it was understandable. Entirely reasonable to dissent, both ways. Yes.
He didn't have much left on today's itinerary. There was a brief meeting he had set up with a local author about a book on Borentine history (the answer to what demographic on this planet that book would appeal to notwithstanding) later that night, but aside from that his day was free. He chose to stay inside Point Unity for a little while longer. There was one room made just for pleasant meetings, and the giant windows there opened up to a stunning view. Tukantz did enjoy watching the clouds go by, especially these non-blanketing ones that every other planet seemed to have, but it would be undignified to lay on a hillside with his hands behind his back, no?
edited 24th Mar '16 1:38:49 AM by wikkit
For the Horde!
Upon approaching the Sol system, the Hermes jumped out of hyperspace, still cloaked. Things were eerily quiet as they moved towards the third planet from the sun. Moving at lightspeed, it would take more than four hours to reach Earth from the farthest reaches of the Sol system, but the ship slowly but surely made its way there anyway.
"All hands report to the docking bay for disembarkation," a voice on the intercom told the crew. Callahan stayed on the bridge, as Rodger, the first mate, was going on the away mission in Callahan's stead.
"Did you notice how we didn't even get stopped when we entered the Sol system? No ship asked for our identification?" Rodger asked the assembled crew. "No ship even seems to know we're here. And we have reason to believe our cloaking device is less powerful than the Filiidei one. Sol is in more danger than we anticipated. Those Filiidei could be anywhere in this blasted system and we would have no idea," he told them.
I can still hail the Horde even though the company has shamed us. Strength and Honor even if Blizzard has neither.
With the meeting over for now, Cliomone decided to tend to other business. She sought out the Republic of Fasil's fessk ambassador, Gannaic.
"Good day, Ambassador Gannaic," she said. "If you would be so gracious as to allow room in your schedule, I was hoping to discuss certain matters with you in private."
Daenemaeus entered the docking bay, geared up and ready to go.
"Cloaking technology truly is remarkable, sir," he said to Rodger, standing at the ready.
THE SLORG!
"Replacement or not, I just hope they stop pursuing the matter of the skal so fervently" Feonxi said, giving a slight shrug. She then turned her head to Foster and smiled. "Did you want to join us in the embassy, ambassador? I must check on my children first, but I would be free to talk after that" she offered.
Csang stretched out her arms as she entered the docking bay, and promptly went to lean against a wall close to where the other crew members were assembling. "So, who going on mission?" Csang asked. She figured herself and the sirian were a given, but wasn't sure what other tasks they were expecting down there. She also figured that if they were going to walk around in a civilian area and try to be inconspicuous, then a few other crew members would be necessary; the sight of a sirian and nisi alone together, getting along with each other instead of fighting? Even here that seemed bound to raise some eyebrows.
You are reading this.
The Hermes
Hayon stepped up loading a Plasma capsule into his Rifle, "I'm coming with. I have the best long range support and I can handle software if need be," he said.
The Le'Ka also stuck his helmet back on, his face vanishing behind the visor and faceplate.
For the Horde!
Gannaic, the Fessk ambassador, turned towards the protz. His single eye blinked and he tilted his somewhat bulbous-looking chitinous head, his four insectoid legs clacking against the floor. "Of course, Miss Cliomone," the Fessk replied. "We can speak in my office if privacy is required. What is it that you need to discuss?" he asked. Foster smiled at the nisi ambassador and nodded.
"Of course, Ms. Darkspirit," Foster replied. "Take all the time you need. I know what it's like to be a mother. I have a son myself. Only eight years old," said Foster. She sighed wistfully. "My husband and his family are taking care of him. There's not a day goes by where I don't think about him."
Rodger nodded. "We will indeed need some of our crew members to stay behind on the Hermes for the duration of this mission. The Captain, Parla'mora, Donovan, Khu, and Summer Breeze will be on board. We will also require Anax to stay on board to maintain our comms network. Everyone else will be coming with. Any objections?" Rodger asked, looking over the assembled crew.
I can still hail the Horde even though the company has shamed us. Strength and Honor even if Blizzard has neither.
Attitude is prohibited
[The Hermes]
"Uh," said Linda. "As the Chief Engineer, wouldn't I be more useful on the ship too? I mean, unless something's changed and we're expecting to board the enemy ship, or at least expecting some serious tech... It's probably just gonna be a few drones and 'infiltrators,' right?"
It wasn't that she felt she couldn't go on the mission - she was a fully-trained and capable soldier, even an honorary Marine, at least according to her Marine Corps friends - but she did not particularly want to go. Their ship was far more interesting than ground-work on some dirty, dusty old moon orbiting some boring, blue planet. So it happened to be the cradle for all of human life and civilization... So what? Humans persisted just fine elsewhere, and she was living proof of that. Besides, Terrans were usually a pretty stuffy bunch. She didn't really want to risk bumping into any new ones...
Not entirely dead.
THE SLORG!
"Hmm... I don't think it's quite like how you think it is, ambassador" Feonxi admitted, though did keep her best respectful tone as they walked through the doors into the Savages embassy. After passing through a small entry room where Merucoco was managing the reception desk, they entered the main room of the embassy; it was a wide open room that acted as a central hub from which offices, meeting rooms, storage rooms, bathrooms, and a hallway that led to the Darkspirits' personal quarters all attached to. The center area of the room had the standard floor removed and a dirt pit added, in which a host of Jotunian plant life was growing under the artificial sunlight panels in the ceiling above the pit; most prominent was a big tree in the center, much like a weeping willow with larger, hefty branches.
Deacon was to one side of the room when they entered, catching up with Chessnut, the two of them sending messages directly to each others' datapads without playing them aloud. Among the plants in the center of the room were Ngeth and Fesa, along with six nisi children of varying ages and genders. "We have returned!" Welerate announced, getting their attention. Three of the girls ran over to Feonxi enthusiastically, while Ngeth and Fesa walked over calmly with the other three children.
"Hello girls, mommy's home" Feonxi said, crouching down and giving them some quick hugs, before picking up and holding the youngest in her arms. "Ambassador, these are my three daughters: Cssisi, Kouma, and Mica" she introduced them, gesturing to each and going from oldest to youngest, "girls, this is the Terran ambassador, missus Foster."
"Your ears small!" Kouma said loudly after looking at Foster.
Meanwhile, Fesa walked over to Welerate. "Deacon mentioned some sort of meeting that came up? Nothing important, was it?" Fesa asked, holding her little girl in her arms while her son walked behind her, staring at the Terran ambassador curiously.
"Just the stupid Kair-Shaan trying to pull a fast one; they want to keep the skal out of the GA. So, Feonxi made their ambassador break composure with some good wit. The whole thing now looks like a shamble, and the Kair-Shaan are the ones stuck out in the open" Welerate explained to her cousin and second cousin.
"Big party then" Csang muttered, her right ear twitching once. "What we bringing with?" she asked, wondering if they'd make her leave her guns behind if they were going into a civilian zone.
You are reading this.
For the Horde!
Foster looked around the embassy. There seemed to be several Nisi who were working and staying here, and Foster followed the Nisi down the hallway. When she saw them, she knelt down and smiled at the children, looking amused at the one young child who pointed out her Terran ears. She laughed slightly. "Such wonderful children," Foster told Feonxi. "You're right, it's not like what I thought it was," she admitted.
Rodger nodded. "I don't see why not," he replied to Linda. "All right. You are to report to Engineering, Linda. Effective immediately. Dismissed." Then he turned to Csang. "Keep the munitions light. They need to be easily concealed. After all, we don't want to cause a panic. Stick to a sidearm, the lightest arms you can."
I can still hail the Horde even though the company has shamed us. Strength and Honor even if Blizzard has neither.
"I would prefer to wait to discuss the details until we can communicate in a more secure environment," Cliomone replied to Gannaic.
For the Horde!
Gannaic tilted his head, confused at the sudden insistence on secrecy, but he trilled. There wasn't a problem with them discussing this matter in private. "Of course," he told the protz ambassador, walking towards the Fasil embassy. "Step into my office." The walls were rocky and slightly covered in moss; it was quite obvious that the building was designed for fessk because it was dark, clammy, and somewhat claustrophobic inside the building.
Gannaic stopped at a large desk labeled with his name, and stood in position at the little cubby-hole that represented his seat. "Now, please continue," he urged.
I can still hail the Horde even though the company has shamed us. Strength and Honor even if Blizzard has neither.
Dreams of Revenge
Hermes — Erruan
Thankfully, the journey to the Sol system had been rather uneventful. Erruan stood to one side, dressed in her Vanguard Mk II semi-powered armour. She looked every bit a Sirian mercenary, albeit one from a low to middling PMC. Secured in her holster was the black shape of her L1 Combat Pistol. Although she would have preferred to take the L74 with her (firepower was an excellent equaliser in her books), she grasped Rodger's rationale. If nothing else, in a CQB situation it would be somewhat more handy. She remained at attention, though since she had no questions right now she remained silent and instead let others do the talking.
Locking you up on radar since '09
Hermes
Hayon looked at Eurran and her armor "Interesting set. Does it have any features?" he asked as he fiddled with the scope on his rifle.
Truth be told he was getting somewhat anxious, he could wait a long time, especially when you considered the lifespan of the Le'Ka, but the Biomecha was getting uneasy. Plus he wasn't good with CQC so he was pondering whether or not he'd be set up somewhere high and far away.
edited 1st Apr '16 6:54:31 AM by EchoingSilence
THE SLORG!
"You see, we nisi women are always with our families; it is the way our people are. Technically by Savages law, all of us Darkspirits except for the boys are employed by the Department of War and attached to my sister's assignment of ambassador, as assistants and guards and the like" Feonxi said to Foster. "Now if you'll pardon me a moment," she added, then turned her attention to her daughters, "did you three get your chores done?"
The two older of the three girls gave some quick confirmations, and Feonxi smiled and gave them some quick head pats in return. "Alright, you go play with your cousins then; mommy has to take care of our guest" Feonxi told them, setting the youngest down and sending them off to rejoin the other three children. "Now missus Foster, what did you want to talk about? We can talk in that room" she asked, indicating one of the empty conference rooms to the side of the main room.
"Sidearm only? We not even taking big guns..." Csang muttered, stepping away from the wall and heading back towards the hallway. "Nisi just have to do twice much work then" she added, then grumbled under her breath about humans and their tactical decisions as she headed to the armory. Her default SMGs wouldn't work for this mission, so she would have to find something else to use. She returned not long after, with a small Savages pistol tucked away on one of her hips, plus some spare ammo just in case.
You are reading this.
Attitude is prohibited
[Hermes]
"Mmkay," said Linda. Then she slapped Erruan's back as hard as she could without hurting her hand on the armour, and cheerily said "Good luck out there, bestie!" before turning and heading back to Engineering. It had been a little while since she'd reminded her sirian colleague about her newfound status, and since she still thought the joke was funny, she wasn't about to let Erruan forget it.
Not entirely dead.
Hermes'
Summer Breeze had been silent during the briefing and remained so after being dismissed. A part of her felt irritated that she had not been chosen to leave the ship. She had volunteered for this mission so she could do something, now she was just floating here again in this empty husk.
No sooner did the thought go through her circuits did she look towards the wall of the Hermes and then look away again. A feeling of regret for her opinion towards the ship surafaced, even though she just as quickly reminded herself that just feelings were illogical. The Hermes really was just an empty husk. There was no life in the ship, it was no fellow Nomad or any other sort of mechanical being.
Right? There's nothing there.
Despite the half-hearted conviction, Summer broadcast a hail to the ship she was in. "Hello?''
Nothing,
Feeling stupid for trying, Summer flew out of the room, catching up to Linda.
"I beleive you wished to speak with me earlier." she said to the human's back.
Seeing the Kair-Shaan ambassador squirm at the podium made Feonxi grin maliciously in triumph. "Good to see I'm not losing my edge" Feonxi muttered; it had been a while since she'd been able to make somebody else break their composure like that.
"I think you're getting better at this" Welerate commented, leaning back in her chair.
"And with an improvised speech no less" Feonxi added, and both sisters snickered a bit while they waited for the meeting to be over.
"Dead men not kill either" Csang practically growled out in a low tone, before lifting her chin up a bit. "Human is silly to think Filiidei would wage war for this; is spy ship in middle of enemy space. To wage war would to admit to the spying" she added, folding her arms.
You are reading this.