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Kaze · 05-21-2017, 12:52 AM,

Kaze looked at him with the same face while Vertiga talked. In the end, she inhaled some more smoke and savoured the taste. Exhaling it, she finally talked. "You tried to imply it was not the case, Mr. Vertiga. And fifteen minutes of not knowing its there its better than zero seconds, no? I do not need to tell you the advantages of such. And as for the technicality of Ms. Sweetwater being or not assigned to the Aphanta, well, I do trust implicity the source that pins her with you. After all, I have someone very precious to her that guarantees it." Putting the cigar away, she eyed Vertiga up and down. "Souless killer... No, I was never such. Alas, to add to my sins, I always carried a soul. After all, true monsters always do. Thus I would not have a color. But, I can surely say I would be in charge of something far worse." Her hand grabbed the cigar and flicked it, ash falling in the ashtray. "Like killing colors."

But what would it be that was of value to Kalliste, he asked himself in a thought. There was only one such individual he could think of, as Nancy told about the Witch's child. She had it? "You're right. I have met many people since the defection," he commented it, trying to not lose the charming smile while wondering about Kalliste. The kid was said to be in the hands of the SCRA. That would change things definitely. "So, tell me more about what you have in mind for me regarding the SIS job. And why I should play your pawn with this." The smoke danced upwards to the roof, as words were spoken. Kaze looked at Vertiga when he finished. "Same reason you wanted to throw your crew and your ship at the front line. And this way, you can also protect yourself, because less visible ties are non-abusable ties." She brought the cigar to her lips and inhaled. "How is Ms. Sweetwater? For what I have heard, a memory loss?"

"Massive memory loss," he said. "The only thing remaining from her past is the name. We did our background check on her. We even hired the IRG to fix her physical brain issues, but it didn't work. Whoever she was in the past, she isn't that person anymore. Apart from that, she isn't with us anymore," he told her, his smile vanishing for a moment. "A poor and restless soul." Looking up at her eyes again, he took in a little bit of the smelly air of her office. "If you can assure me three things, I take your bait," Ezrael said, moving to the chair to lean slightly onto the backrest.
"Do tell." Kaze pulled the console keyboard to herself.

"First of all, I want Maren to be safe. She is proven to be not infected, and I wish that everyone that claims the opposite is to be corrected. I showed you the proof. If that isn't enough, contact Auxesia, request the data and share it with the BDM and whatever other source you may have about her. She is innocent, and while she might have done weird stuff in the past, she is neither infected nor indoctrinated. All we want is a simple living together. I'll work for you, but keep her out of all that." Taking a silent breath, he continued. "Second condition. I need to be able to both reach Cortez and Magellan in case of an emergency. If they attack my homeworld, I need to be there and stop them. On the other hand, I need to be able to reach Livadia to repair and maintain the Apahanta there, as I can imagine people wouldn't like the view of a non-Core Mako at Southampton. So I need to be able to traverse through Bretonia. Even if only without the use of the public routes. I know your admirals aren't a fan of foreign capital ships close to the installations and planets they guard. So I don't mind moving the ship through less-visited places." A smirk formed up on his lips as he began with the third condition. "Third condition: I don't want your people on my ship. No tricks, no traps. If you want me to do stuff for you, you will trust on my set of skills to get what you want."

Typing it, Kaze nodded hearing the man's needs. When he finished she looked at the list and smoked for a couple of moments. "Hmm. I will do so in Ms. von Westefeld case. Second request, it is doable and sensible. Unfortunately, due to the war, we simply do not have a tucked away out of the way shipyard to fufill the requirements for the Apahanta. Thirdly, it will be slightly trickier, Mr. Vertiga." She exhaled some smoke, and pulled more files from another console. "Several operations may require our people to be in the Apahanta for deployment and/or support. No battle plan survives first contact, so for your safety, for the safety of our people and for the sucess of the operations, many times I must say that our operatives will be in need of docking with your ship, be it for a forward base of operations, a simple safe heaven in the middle of enemy territory or surgical strikes. Just because you will not be in the front line it does not mean you won't see battle." Putting the cigar away. "However, our operatives are trained and are mostly bretonians. So they do know how to behave, I can assure you." Kaze looked at Vertiga. "And I see you still do not trust us."

He chuckled, grinning at her. "If I could trust you, you wouldn't need to do all this shady backroom dealing with me." With the smile turning to his usual charming smile again, he continued. "I want a complete list of the people who enter my ship. Names, faces and professions. Your guys will need to know that the ship is under perfect surveilance. They will get their own rooms, but they won't get full access to the ship. No access to critical systems, no bridge access without my personal approval. The ship will remain under my command and if necessary, your people will carry out my commands as long as they are on my ship." He looked at the holo again. "You and your people will treat my crew as if they were their own flesh and blood. No illegal drugs on the ship, and most important, if there is only the slightest sign of an attempt to take over the Apahanta, you can be assured your guys will end in a giant blaze of glory." Taking a silent breath, he looked up at her again. "In other words, standard house rules and common sense. If you can agree with that, we have a deal."

Kaze nodded. "Standard biometric data, that's all. Information about the operatives can be compromising. The rest is standard operating procedure in all asset operation. However..." She eyed Vertiga. "You treat them as well as your flesh and blood, Mr. Vertiga." And those eyes became dead. "Or I will do what I would be forced to do... If I was a Reaver." Breathing ever so slightly she continued. "No denial of operations, full confidentiality, iron-clad agreements will be signed, and complete blackout in information regarding operations with the branch. If information is leaked out, if my people are hurt and you are the source, I will exact payment on you, Ms. von Westefeld and all that you hold dear. People that I will follow very closely. Since I do not trust you either." She held the cigar up. "And what was the saying?... Ah yes, Reavers always have what's due. Do we understand each other Mr. Vertiga?"

"The Apahanta will be at Livadia for a few more days. Once they are done with the renewal of the hull patterns, I'll notify you." He straigthened his back, his gloved hands still at the backrest of the chair he was leaning against. "As long as both sides play fair, there is nothing to worry about, then. Just don't make me regret this." Kaze's face became somber. "Mr. Vertiga... In this business, we always regret." She extended her bionic hand. "But I will do my utmost best so that you can call Bretonia home as well."

"Sounds good to me," he gave her back with a smirk at her bionic hand, moving closer to shake it, finishing the deal. "Anything else?"

"Ms. Sweetwater is the only unfinished business, really." The hands shook, the metal cold to the touch. "She is still wanted by Bretonia due to acts of terrorism. It would be best if she could stay away, or I will be forced to act." Picking up the cigar, she spoke again. "Apart from that, I will forward my positive evaluation to the admiralty, and place you and the Apahanta as a special war-time asset in the SIS closed database. Government wise, you are clear to travel. But do stick to the shadows, of course. You know how the officials get... restless when something like a Mako is not under their direct control."

"Agreed. People won't notice us. Also, as I said, Miss Sweetwater isn't with us anymore, so there is nothing to worry about." Letting go of her cold, dead hand, he made a move back. "No word shall be spoken about it to outsiders. I hope you'll handle it similar. Especially Auxesia is dislikes us for not sharing their views, and since they are allied with the Lane Hackers and probably have a few other shady deals running, I'd prefer if they don't become aware of this, apart from the permission to move through Bretonia," he told her, looking at her bionic arm, remembering a good amount of people from the Core using similar prosthetics. "Hm? Auxesia and Lane Hackers?" Kaze eyebrow rose. "Do tell."

That was interesting. She didn't know about it. "As I told you and the Admiral in Newcastle, we required something from the Lane Hackers to defect with the Apahanta, so I had a little contact with them. Many months later I wanted to use the same contact again to buy information on someone affiliated with the Core, but they refused, telling me their Auxesian friends told them I might be infected. You probably have heard of Goro Yoshida. He wanted me to come to Mactan if I wanted to prove that I'm neither infected nor indoctrinated by mania-interogating me. Something horrible, as you probably know. Instead, Maren and I went to the Eidolon Wraith and let Auxesia scan us, as they probably had the even better equipment for that, with both the technology from the Core and probably other factions of the Omicrons. We told Auxesia to share the clarification with the Lane Hackers. Given that Lane Hacker patrols still take a turn in my general direction when I move by with known assets registered to be piloted by me, I take it they still have me on their to-do list," he explained, smirking at her. "I can send you the related messages, if you need a proof of that."

"Do so. I have a feeling it will be of our common interest this knowledge. Especially regarding the latest events." She then sat, and pulled one of her consoles. "You will be contacted in the near future, Mr. Vertiga. One, regarding your safe-pass through Bretonia and a second, from our mutual friends." Starting to type, she looked up and nodded. "See, it didn't hurt that much, did it?" Looking back to the holo console, she smirked.
"I just hope it won't hurt in future either," he said quietly. "If we're done here, I'll return to my ship before the Commander starts to use your marines as punching bags." With that, he patiently looked at her, smiling rather satisfied now, intending to head for the door.

"They aren't marines." She replied, continuing to type. "Safe winds, Mr. Vertiga. The two marines stationed at the door will walk you back to the bay. Good night." Kaze replied, looking at the newest reports from the front lines. "Until next time," he said, leaving the room. A few minutes later, he was back at the Apotheosis, intending to launch as soon as possible. The gunship would leave the York a few moments later, heading towards New London, then to Cambridge...

[08:11 PM] Dusty Lens said: Well in that case. NUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUKE & #SAVAGE & #STORIES

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