A week had gone by almost they were almost home. The Crew was in high spirits.
Lafiel lay on her bed wondering what had happened to the engineer that had valiantly protected them or at least Loyaly. She wasnt sure if she had made a mistake telling him of her identity yet no ill had befallen her. He had been named engineer an he had been looking for more important work maybe maybe father could employ him or the armed forces everyone needed a combat engineer these days it would be the least she could do to find him a permanent job an she had tied herself in even deeper when he had told her his story. He didn't know his name an was in need of an operation she had whole heartedly accept to pay for such an operation for him it was the least she could do for a loyal person who had protected her.
She let this thought drop away as she wondered how the first meeting between her new employee she would be a direct member of the government. But she would do all in her power to do her best for the crown. It was at then a message came through to her room. My Lady we have reached Bretonian space we are headed for the Leeds system we will be picking up more refugees but will drop you off at New London on our return from Leeds.
Lafiel couldn't supress a smile to herself as the voice of the communications officer fell silent she was home.
Once at Leeds Lafiel decided to make an announcement to the crew.
She stepped gracefully onto the bridge out of the elevator crew members saluted her but that was not her intent. She made her way to the Senior Aviator Sampson were she quietly whispered to him an he nodded an she pressed a button on his console.
"Attention may I have your attention please crew members of the Trexus." The gentle posh accent of Lafiel flowed through the speakers an various compartments an quarters of the ship. she continued, "For all of you that don't know me personally or I haven't had the pleasure of meeting in my time aboard this vessel I am Lady Lafiel Tarrant Countess of Araluen Of Cambridge. I just wish to make this announcment to thank you all the men an woman of this ship for your harbouring me in this time of need for you putting your lifes on the line in this great act of protection an sacrifice. It is to you all that I humbly thank now as I am not sure how much time I will have once I reach New London. Know that my best wishes go with you in your great service to the crown an the people of the Bretonian empire in your great deeds to the innocent civilians of the many worlds an stations of the empire.
May the grace of the queen an her people shine upon you in your glorius honour serving as a medical transport an that no hinderance be they of the enemy at our gates the pirates in the dark or our friends standing from our backs.
I thank you all again
In the name of her majesty we all serve
Carina Regina Imperatrix
*************************End of SHip wide announcement.***********************************
The crew on the bridge Saluted for her Her majesty before erupting into torrentual noise. The senior aviator whispered to Lafiel, " Your slowly growing up muh girl. We are all proud of you"
After being dropped off at New London Oliver had aranged transport to the suffolk once there Lafiel was most surprised when he had brought her to the hangar. Lafiel saw many paladins in rows as well as templar an challengar he lead her to a Paladin. He turned to her as her green eyes searched upon the Paladin, "My Lady this will be your vessel. You will be based at New London an are to meet at the Foreign office I will not be flying with you while you travel however I will be on New London to protect you in person if you are to travel abroad out of Bretonia only then will I accompany you." Lafiels eyes were wide with surprise yet she grimaced as she responded, "You know I hate flying, Twice so piloting." Oliver nodded," Indeed however you will need to travel please look it over an make yourself familiar with it You have been requested to observe fleet operations I will meet you on New London."
with that he dissapeared Lafiel entered the cockpit hestiantly but once in she found a letter it was sealed with her fathers crest her hand shook as she picked it up but she opened it to read it.
It is my hope that you are well an safe, I have heared of your travels an your ability to undermine the protection set for your own safety. I however am not angry as I think working in the Foreign office is safer than many others but I must instill into you the fact you are but 19 you are not invincible, you are beautiful and in many places you will still be regarded as a child out of Bretonia. If I hear any inclining of your safety being extremely compromised well we will just let that sit for a while, more importantly though should I hear my daughter becoming with child at such a young age I will most definitely have many unpleasant words to say an said indiviual to have done the dead will find himself apropriately dealt with you are most vulnerable you are young an like a bird spreading its wings as it learns to fly you can be easily taken advantage of. On a whole do not get capture by Kusarian forces while traveling just to leave it in the air not to frighten you but keep you fully informed they tend to do distasteful acts to young girls such as yourself.
Onto happier topics, as you have joined the foreign office an will be currently mainly based out of New London you wll require vessel hence I have had this vessel you are now sitting in commissioned I managed to snag one off the construction line just as it came off with the rest of the Suffolks new fighters. this is now yours as you will require transport.
There is a high chance of us managing to meet in New London, as I am now once again out in the open an part of the armed forces should you be on New London at 8pm at Crescent House 120 Oxford Crescent You can't get lost its a medium sized building near the Oxford university itself Splendid views of the river. Dress well I know there might be a bar downstairs but the restaurant itself is fine dinning of which the patrons are of noble blood only
Till then
You have my love an best wishes my dearest daughter
your father
Sebastian
...............................................................End of Letter.................................................................
Lafiel's heart leaped she felt a little Giddy. She wouldn't have to be an observer till tomorrow she would be able to see her father. She took out her PDA and looked at the time it was 5pm New London time. She had three hours she could go to her fathers city apartment an get changed oh he might even be there himself she thought her mind beginning to race. she looked around the cockpit there was enough room to fit about 1 pilot and 4 additional people in the reccess of her Paladin it appeared to be none standard issue her fingers hovered around the controls till she found the communications button she input the frequency she needed and spoke through her comms, "Suffolk Control this is Lady Tarrant in shuttle bay 1 I am ready to depart for New London." A crisp military voice replied from the bridge, "Affirmative Countess Opening shuttlebay doors now. We report no signs of Kusari in system but we shall send a patrol of Templar with you to the planet they are just returning now. Do you require a elctro magnetic boost." Lafieil frowned she was not in the mood for a bumpy launch an a boost tended to make her space sick, "Negative control I will make it under my own steam." Control responded, "Confirmed Countess No boost shall be given your clear to make way on your own thrusters. God speed control out." Lafiel engaged her thrusters as the shuttle bay door came to a halt she piloted the Paladin forward she heard a slight scrapping sound she looked at the sensors an saw her vessel touching as it scrapped past a templar. She shivered an gasped at the noise she looked at the radar an leveled out moving herself to the side an got free then engaged thrusters to full an zoomed out side of the shuttle bay.
There was a bleep at her comms an she pressed the button to receive it, "This is Suffolk fighter patrol 2 we are forming up on your wing now an shall escort your to New London."
Lafiel replied quickly, " Thank you fighter patrol 2 it is much apreciated."
it took an hour to get to New London once Lafiel was in her fathers apartment she was let down to find her father not there but she got to getting ready none the less. She showered an got ready changed into a fine white dress with a thin deep red belt which fastened behind a deep red rose it had white lace an slightly puffy shoulders yet apparently it was the height of victorian Elegance. She had been most amused when her father had gotten her this dress such an ancient design yet her father had had it tailored for her so she would do him proud an wear it though secretly she actually love the dress her families love for history an hoarding it had rubbed off on her. She took a small white bag that matched the dress putting her PDA an some credits into it before she left her fathers apartment for the restaurant the Oxford Crescent.
Lafiel entered through the gates of the Oxford Crescent and strolled leisurely with grace along the path leading up to the regal building before her careful not to stand on the grass an dampen her shoes. Her long blonde hair flowed down her back. She wore a fine white dress with a thin deep red belt which fastened behind a deep red rose an was left to dangle loosely down a third of her dress it had white lace an slightly puffy shoulders reminiscing of an older time. Her green eyes gazed at the stars which made her alibaster skin look pale in their glowing brilliance. She was greeted by two doorman at the entrance which opened the double doors for her.
Her heart caught in her throat threating to overwhelm her with emotion as she saw the tall man standing at the foot of the grand staircase in a fine suit. His medium length blonde hair his green eyes that pierced deeply seeing through you yet at the same time reflected great kindness an warmth those green eyes which were now looking upon her now surveying her from a distance a warm smile on his face his skin only a few shades darker an richer than her own pale white alibaster.
Just as Lafiel thought she would explode with emotion an run to her father disregarding all formalities and hugged and kissed him proving the fact he was real an not an illusion she suddenly felt a heavy arm around her shoulders as she was swung round an manouvered in the direction of the door to the bar by an enormous man much taller an stronger than her his intoxicated voice slured his voice, "Allo Luv ya cumin with me Aight be with a ral man." Lafiel shivered an went cold at this thought an recoiled at the smell of his breathe an body odour how someone smelling like this could get through the door she didn't know but she was very alert to the trouble she was in she wasn't going to scream but she was going to be very pissed off having her night seeing her father for the first time in almost a year an a half. She yelled at this point, "Get off me you common pig. Take your damn hands off me your not a man your a miserable exscuse for anything even a pig is titling you to nicely." Lafiel's words fell on death ears as she recoiled violently managing to move just enough out the way as he spilled beer over the edge of his enormous glass
Sebastian Tarrant watched from the stairwell as his daughter in all her beauty graced the premises with her presence she walked through the double doors that now closed behind her. She had stopped by the sign with rules in awe she seemed to be. He grinned at her but his expression from many years of practice was gaurded his affection an love for her his daughter was carefully hid but he wasn't going to neglect her a hug in greeting he had afterall missed her birthday in his absence in the armed forces an later capture.
Just then he saw to his shock a blaggard seize his daughter an begin to drag her towards the bar. Her shock an panic was clear upon her face though she might of thought she could mask it her father could see she was extremely upset an ready scream. How dare he touch my daughter! his roaring anger in perfect check he took three strides which brought him to them with his right hand he released the blaggards arm around his daughter his left he took the blaggards left wrist dislodging the mug sending it down the hall towards the door he then calmly procceded to seize him by his collar lifting the blaggard with the round odd looking head off the great an he spat venomously at him as his green eyes pierced into his brown, "Get your hands off my daughter. If you touch her or bother her again I will kill you understand." He then hurled him to the ground further back down the hall. As Guards in suits appeared from nowhere but it was an ensign an a lieutenant from the armed forces that came running from the restaurant in the door opposite the bar they gingerly picked him up one of either side an ran him through the enormous double doors an hurled him out they then followed through the door the lieutenant turned briefly to salute the Marquis before closing the doors.
Sebastian watched as the armed forces dissapeared before he brought an reassuring arm around his daughter an began to task of trying to calm her down
Lafiel felt panic bumbling up in her she closed her eyes she was fighting repressing a scream yet what use would that do an it was impolite in such a place. What about... She felt the oppressive weight of the arm suddenly removed an heard the sound of glass thudding its contents splashing she opened her eyes an followed the black suit to the face of her father who now stood over her holding the man high like a god in both might an wrath. She quickly moved away an to the safety behind her father as his voice thundered his face calm his gaze cold and hurled the man to the ground further down the hall way. Lafiel had experience her fathers fury felt it to a much lesser degree but seen it in full blaze before when she was little she had almost drowned an frozen to death in a river he had visibly torn shreds off the staff member who had been looking after her.
Lafiel wanted to cry everything had gone wrong this wasn't meant to happen she turned to see two armed forces officer streak past them her back was turned to them she heard the doors open the loud fleshy thud the doors close again an then the violent sounds of grunting a sickly crack was heard an she shivered. She suddenly felt a familiar arm around her an she looked up into her fathers eyes kind lacking any of the fury he had displayed before. She felt her self begin to cry an turned into her father an hugged him as she sobbed all her heart felt pain an worry from the past months an the scary commoner who had almost carted her off.
Lord Tarrant let his daughter cry into him but slowly guided her upstairs as he went he watched through either doors for more drunk patrons seeing none we was satisfied once he reached the top half carrying her half guiding Lafiel they were greeted by a Man in the uniformed suit of the restaurant he bowed Low to them Acknowledging the Marquis an his daughter the Countess the man quavered slightly under the frosty gaze of Lord Tarrant as he spoke, "Right this way your Lord an Ladyship I have a table prepared for you by the window as requested." Tarrant nodded an they were guided to were they would sit he shewed away the man an turned to attend his daughter whom had now buried herself in his side but it mattered little to him that her tears were drenching his suit. He uncurled her gently an hugged her properly his frosty eyes made any heads that turned there way immediately think twice about that course of action an turn back to their previous engagement."
Lafiel felt safe in the strengh of her father as he gently guided her up the stairs they stopped for a moment she heard a voice a mans voice but she wasn't just keen to show her face the tears in her eyes that would embarass not only her father but herself in public yet she could feel her fathers clothes dampening his cologne smelt refreshing an light reminding her of home. She felt ashamed at her actions an that she was far from acting her age but everyone else would cry to if they were her an had the events happen to them that had happen to her. She felt them stop an her father gently attempting unwrap himself from her she quickly glanced at the room saw many heads turned inquisitively their way she quickly turned her head back again before giving in an letting herself be unraveled from him.
As Lafiel unwound she almost gasped she saw the most beautiful sight in the centre of the room there was an enormous fountain which was in three tiers at its top it had a beautiful statue. There were high vaulted windows all along the walls to the very high cieling an many tables set with platinum cutlery an crystal glasses in the far side of the room there was a wide blue an gold trimmed runner carpet that ran from the fountain over to an enormous fireplace which was roaring with flames an burning logs. She could see that no exspense was spared even in the napkin holders there was a beautiful jewel bigger than your thumb nail. All the crockery was finely crafted bone china her eyes kept scanning till they set upon Oliver who had attempted to inconspiciously hide an observe her a newspaper was in his hand failing to hide him she wondered how long he had been here an why he hadn't helped her when she was in trouble her eyes moved on an she was glad that no one she recognised like the Admiral or any one from the foreign and colonial office observed her crying in public her scanning was abruptly ended an her gaze brought back to her father.
As he looked at her carefully an gently produced a handkerchief an wiped away the tears before looking at her apraisingly satisfied that he had dried all the tears on her face. Lafiel alibaster cheeks started to go bright red but she managed to stop it halting it at a faint trace of pink as her father hugged her. She spoke in a whisper, "I'm so glad to see your alive. I know you spoke to me but oh I've been so worried papa so very worried about you I I don't think I could take it if I lost you as well as mother." She suddenly observed that the patrons had all stopped looking at them but didn't think to much of it. Her father responded, "Its ok my daughter you will never lose me. I have missed you so much my you have grown." They both seperated an sat down Lafiel sat looking at him for a little while as he perused the menu before she herself joined in.
She almost leapt for joy as she read all the tasty an wonderful dishes on the menu. After enjoying the meal her father left they had both enjoyed the evening but Lafiel tarried afterwards she had wanted to stay to see the owner of the establishment one Sampson Mertel whom she had before known as the Trexus's Senior Aviator.
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