Brotherhood Bar-Talks

[McNeo]

As he heard the broadcast on the visual screen in the bar, another thing was on his mind. The smoke in the bar was as thick as ever, even though it was all but empty. He thought he saw Alexander sitting with a hooded figure as he walked into the bar, but he blinked and Alexander, along with his accomplice, had vanished. Must have been a trick of the mind.

When Juan was making his way to the table along with his good friend Ares; or Adrian, as he now knew him, he was also thinking about Zehn. The first time he had seen him in person, those two days ago. An uninspiring figure for sure, but he knew Ares had a radically different view.

Come to think about it, so did Montoya. Bested in a short battle above Crete, many moons ago, with this man in a bomber. Alex had been taken down with relative ease, but nevertheless, Juan should have won.

He noticed, just for a second, as Ares stood and saluted Zehn, the unmistakable sign of fear on his face. he knew Ares would follow that man to his death, and beyond the grave. And he knew the OPG would never stand a chance if a civil war happened between those two factions. Numbers meant nothing to the skill of the SCRA. He had heard the reports of the SCRA's countless victories in Bretonia, with one other pilot and Ares, taking down the best that the AW, SF and HF had to offer. Just two of them. If the OPG knew what was good for them, they would grovel in front of the SCRA. Swallow their pride. The Brotherhood had to do it, more than once in fact.

It was sad but true. The best pilots in Sirius were all committed to the revolutionary ideals of their forefathers on sol. Even the full might of the Brotherhood didn't stand a chance against the SCRA. Maybe Maniaco and himself could do some damage, but the rest would be lambs to the slaughter...if that ever happened. And he prayed that it wouldn't.

Ares saw the detached look on Juan's face.

"Whats up hermano?"

'Oh nothing, amigo, just thinking about the OPG...'

"Ahh, those idiots. They wont get along with us. They know were better than them. You know were better than them."

'Yes, brother...I know.'

"Did you hear that broadcast by the OPG just now too?"

'Every word.'

"HA, then you will know what they have let themselves into. You know what fate has declared for them."

'Yes...'

Juan met Adrian's gaze a moment longer, and averted.

The OPG...digging the grave of the Corsairs. They should know. They should know that the SCRA were the only people capable of holding back the horde of enemies banging on the gates of Omicron Gamma. However, the SCRA would not be able to hold that horde on their own, if ever Crete was ransacked and the SCRA were left on their own.

The OPG...digging the grave of of themselves, the Brotherhood, and the Revolutionary Army.

'Phew, its smoky in here Ares... what happened here Pedro Alonso?'

*I have no idea Amigo. Alexander and a hooded figure were just sitting over there.*

He gestured to a table at the back of the bar

*He disappeared. Look, there's still smoke where he was sitting.*

'Odd...I hope he's ok. He seems to have calmed down since our little run in some time ago. What am I saying? Alex can handle himself. Bah. Not for me to worry.'

"Right then. Pedro, fancy getting us some beer? Oh, and a bit of that Vodka in the crate outside, marked with a single letter."

*Comming right up Ares.*

"Excellent, I need to contemplate what to do with those OPG, whilst not firing on them. Until I get the order, or course."

'Of course.'

A small pause.

'Brother, please don't fire on them, unless you really need to. As a friend, this is what I ask of you. You know that rabble banging on the gates of Omicron Gamma will not distinguish between the Revolution and the Corsairs, if ever we fall. If we are not united in our efforts, we will all die. The Corsair dream of the invasion of the houses, the Revolution's dream of pure socialism in all of Sirius. All will be extinguished if we are not united against those drugged up vampires and their allies.'

"This I know, but it cannot be helped."

'Yes, I know you know. That is why I have drawn up a contingency plan if a full scale war were to ever break out between the SCRA and the OPG. At first, the Brotherhood will remain neutral, but we may side with you to end the war quickly. We cannot lay divided, for our enemies to sack this system.