Brotherhood Bar-Talks

[Corsair]

Ren walked into the bar, head down, as he massaged the bridge of his nose. He navigated the tables until he reached the barkeep's table. " Ugh, the most expensive and potent drink you have, Senor. I need to sleep off that deal.. " Ren said to the barkeep. The barkeep nodded. " What happened, friend? Trade trouble? " Ren nodded, picking at the table with his fingernails. " I'll illustrate it. Thanks. " Ren took the drink, and took a long drought. He cleared this throat, and began.

" So, senor, I began here, at Crete. Loaded up my Advanced Train with some of these wonderful Artifacts. I picked up some bodyguards in space, two Corsairs. One flew a Titan, and the other a Praetorian. Took me an hour to get through to Gamma-41, because some joker in a Praetorian decided to play Customs Officer.. " Ren took another drink. " Once in Omega-41, we were attacked by Bounty Hunters and Red Hessians. We made it to the Freeport to have a drink, and rest. Met a pretty Zoner woman.. Too bad I couldn't have her. Anyway, we undocked, and proceeded to the Dresden system. At this point, my bodyguards left me, as they would attract too much attention. I was able to beat off the peons of the RHA, and made it into New Berlin. I have run this route many times, so I know the patrol times. I was able to skirt around the patrols to a secret jump hole I found. Zips me right into Colorado, it does, Amigo. " He paused for another drink. " So, I make it to New York, and I decide to cut through some debris fields for Manhattan. I have several thousand Artifacts on board, you see. I don't want to risk getting caught. Some rogues and Xenos try to attack me, but they are no match for my guns.. Anyway, I land on Manhattan, and sell off my goods. HELL OF A GOOD PROFIT, AMIGO! It was some amateur that was obviously new to the business that bought them. I made nearly THREE TIMES the profit of my normal route. I bet that kid got fired. Anyway, I undock, and I am back in Liberty Space. That's when my trouble started.. " Ren finished his drink. " Some Liberty Navy jocks had blocked the Trade Lane. I nearly crashed into a huge Dreadnought, which would have sent me back into the blasted atmosphere, amigo.. Anyway, they start shooting at me! Apparently they caught on that I was a smuggler, and decided to end me. I barely made it out of the system alive. Back in Colorado, I found that my secret jump hole was blockaded. My friend had ratted me out, and sold off my IFF information, Ship ID #, and my secret jump hole. They destroyed my ship, and I made it back here in my pod. I had it retrofitted with a cruise engine, to be auto-piloted back here in case I lost consciousness. The tractor beam on their ship was ripped from their ship when they tried to pull me in. I only just woke up. "

The barkeep whistled. " My sympathy, amigo. " Ren nodded. " Luckily, they have some Starfliers here, which are normally used for initiation for new Corsairs. they let me fly one, until I can sort out my possessions and get a new ship..

---

[Gentle]

The doors of the bar smash open and the horizontal shape of the pirate Gentle flies through the door and the pirate smashes into 2 tables. "Ugh!" Gentle's cybernetic limbs propell him upward and he glances around. Noticing a bottle of whisky gentle drains the bottle and runs back out the door. *Smash...Tinkle...Thud* Gentle reappears at the door blood dripping down his nose. "Mig you might be able to fight in space but ill keep thrashing you liek that until you learn how to brawl amigo.....gha hahahha...... Hola amigos.....pedro get a crate of whisky and stretcher Mig into the bar hes a little worn after our combat training ahahaaaa."

---

The Madness of the Pirate King

[Drael]

Drael sat musing to himself, a smile always returning to his lips. Chuckling to himself he milled over the days events. The thrill of battle, himself and two other corsair pilots against three BH battleships and one Battlecruiser, yes outnumbered and severely out gunned.

His Praetorian was now no longer in existance save for the escape pod. Kintaro's Titan was much the same. Despite his good humor he stopped, the glass of spirits at his lips. What was the other pilots name. He placed the drink on the table and gripped the edge of the seat. The medics said that he had hit his head quite hard when his escape pod was caught in his ships explosion. Carrying that many Nova torpedo's could be expected to explode so violently. He chuckled to himself again, going over the days events in his mind from the beginning.
'Drael sat in his cockpit, the cruises engines kicking in as his rocketed away from Crete. A solitary Titan orbited Crete, scanners indicating it was Kintaro. He reached for his console and activated his comms. “This is Bomber Pilot Drael Vitarie to all Corsair Pilots, I'm headed to Omega 3 for some pirating, my source tells me theres three traders leaving Frankfurt now, I'll see you when I get back”. Various responses came back over the comm each wishing him the best. A grim smile marked his face. When I get back. The phrase echoed through the confines of his mind. Something rarely ever guaranteed in the life of a Corsair. He pushed the thought from his mind and proceeded with his weapon checks beginning with his Antimatter Cannon and Nova Torpedo Launcher.
“All corsair pilots we have a dire threat in Kappa. Reports indicated a Bounty Hunter Battleship to be stationed not far from the Gamma jumphole. To all pilots rendezvous at Crete to engage hostiles.” The warning came over the comms and Drael yanked the controls to the right and headed straight for Crete. “This is Bomber Pilot Drael Vitarie en route to Crete.” Drael's response was followed by Kintaro's and Jamo's. A gunboat orbited Crete with a Titan flying in formation, Drael engaged the formation protocols and slipped into formation with the two other corsairs.
As the three Corsairs flew to the Kappa jumphole the Gunboat commanders voice came over the comm. “I have some dire news. Reports now say that there are three BH battleships and one Battlecruiser stationed in Kappa.” Drael paused the hum of the cruise engines filling his ears and mind. “We are going to our death” Kintaro's voice was filled with steel and confidence. “For the Corsairs” the Gunboat Commander yelled with vigor over the comms, Kintaro following with his own battlecry. “Death comes for us all, it is how you face it that depicts ones true honor and courage” Drael said over the comms. With the Kappa jump hole looming before him, he knew he was going to die, he knew that he would never fight in the name of the Corsairs again but he felt no fear. He felt anger, he felt confident, he felt honored, to fight for that which he loves, to fight and die so that others may continue to live their lives as they know it, he felt honored to have lived, fought and died a Corsair!
“Oh Ho what do we have here?!” voiced a BH Commander. “Ready to die?” voiced another. As the three corsairs rocketed their way to the battleships, their insults and battlecries lashing violently across the comm at the BH's they flew towards death, guns blazing, torpedos and cannons burning like the sun from fire. Drael's ship reeled violently under the punishing blows from two battleships, coming from up high, a BH battleships weakest point of defense he banked hard and unleashed a salvo of torpedos and Antimatter cannons at the Battleship. His target analysis display beeped indicating that the targets shield were at ?. He smiled, though as he hammered along the Battleships port side he felt his ships armor give way as the Battleship dead ahead brought all its guns to bear on him. He hit the eject button above his head and was flung into space as his ship was torn asunder as his ammo cache detonated.
He drifted in and out of conscious as he drifted in space and awoke to a friendly face. Jamo. “You alright Drael, I'm amazed you weren't killed. I'm amazed none of you were killed. Smiling Drael did not reply, he simply sat chuckling to himself.

---

En el nombre de los Corsarios lucho!! - In the name of the Corsairs I fight!!

“Death comes for us all, it is how you face it that depicts ones true honor and courage”-Drael Vitarie

[Drael]

Drael finished off his drink and called the barman for another. Perhaps bounty hunters wouldn't be so cocky next time he thought to himself. Laughing out loud he thought, fat chance of that.
Sighing he cracked his back and settled down into his drink hoping that someone he knew would enter the bar so he could have a chat.

---

En el nombre de los Corsarios lucho!! - In the name of the Corsairs I fight!!

“Death comes for us all, it is how you face it that depicts ones true honor and courage”-Drael Vitarie

[Zelot]

Miguel walked into a the dim bar, noticing the number of people in it was small. He walked over to the bar and orderer a drink. Turning around he saw only a scattering of lonely Corsairs, not at all the place he remembered spending so much time in with his Hermanos when he was a young pilot. Miguel's mind wandered back, remembering his glory days, watching Lucenez and Ben Laowai coming to blows, and Ares and Gentle before that. He remembered all the pilots he had flown with, all those faces of long lost Friends, Pedro, and Juan, Ivan, all of those who had flown beside them. Miguel drank his beverage, letting his mind jump from place to place and time to time.

---

 

[Gentle]

Gentle entered the bar and nodded to the independants spacely occupying the bar area. "Hola amigos. This place needs something." Gentle addressed the corsairs and noted a couple of raised eyebrows. Opening his comms device Gentle connected to the Venganza Del Las Putas central network. "Esmeralda.......Hey wench.......ESME answer damn you". "Si husband ees me dont be so tetchy i was beesy doing the OTC accounts. What do you want?" Came the alluring voice of the pirates first wife. "Ah your there good. Ok im gonna need 20 dancers and the same amount of pleasure girls and 50 cases of whisky sending down immediately. Send out a message on general comms to all corsairs and allies that the OPG is throwing a party the likes of which has not been seen in many a year. Send down the synth weed supply from the Venganza and send out for another 300 units from Atka. And while your there get some painkillers brought back too theres going to be some sore heads. I want the shipment of luxury food that was stolen from that freighter in sigmas sent down here as well." gentles orders came through and the wife of the pirate smiled. Many years had passed since Gentle had provided a feast of this kind and curiosity overcame her usually blase demeanour. "Si husband eet weel be as you say. What ees eet that breengs this about. I hope you are not wedding another woman?"

"Hell dont you think I have enough on my plate...no.... there has been too much sorrow. Crete has become as much fun as a leprosy filled puss bucket and I think we need to bring some joy back to the place." Gentle grinned at his wife. "you never know though I might meet a nice young girl..and...". Gentles baiting of his wife brought about the desired response.

"YOU FEELTY PEEG I WEEL KEEL YOU EEF YOU DARE" The stunning beauties inflamed lips curled back into a predatory snarl.

"Ah Esme.... You know i only take wives when you recommmend them. One day when I have taken my fill of the slaughter and thievery we will live out our lives at spineholme in joy." Gentle gave a rare smile and showed the warmth that was only seen between him and his closest comrades and lovers.

"Pedro. Make sure security is ramped up. I want no HAF forces in here spoiliong a legendary shindig. make sure the door security have access to fully automated salamanca turret defence systems and ill provide the necessary cash and an installation team sent down straight away."

"Si senor gentle." The implacable face of the barman almost showed a smile. Gentle grabbed him by the shoulders and embraced him warmly. "Smile amigo we are going to throw a party that the whole of sirius is going to talk about for months. Id hide the furniture and clear a space for dancing...or fighting hahaha!"

Gentle moved to the comms console and began making arrangements. Within a couple of hours the whole of crete would hear of the party tonight.

The old pirate grinned from one lop sided ear to the other and his cybernetic eye flashed red as it scanned the names of the primary contacts he would use to spread the word.

---

The Madness of the Pirate King

[ivr56]

Elder Gonzales Walks in toward the Bar from a shuttle. Having just been in the Elder chambers for the past few hours he is looking tired and exhausted. He finds the bar near the main center and walks in. He hasn't been here in awhile. Nothing changes by the looks of it. Same bartender same folks coming here day after day.

"Hola I need the strongest thing you got amigo" Said Gonzales. "Right away sir" Said the bartender.

Gonzales looks around and seeing if he sees anyone he knows. Sees no one.

"Here you go sir" as the bartender says handing him the glass of hard rum. "Gracias" Gonzales responds taking the drink.

He walks into a empty booth. Takes a drink and leans back to watch the Monitor display CNS and the recent activities of Corsairs in Bretonia and the Omegas.

---

[Skyelius]

After having two or three bottles of rum that evening, old Emilio could barely stand and return to his house and dona Silvia, who in his drifting thoughts appeared as a roaring forest beast from which there's no escape.

"One mohr.. one mohrar.. *hic* ..otro trago, si?", he finally said.

"Usted esta loco, don Emilio. Your fights with your lady are gonna eat what's left of you. Think it over, okay?", Alonso stated.

-"N-n... okay, viejo."

Emilio de Jesus was a frequent customer and long-time buddy of the well-known Pedro Alonso. He had spent most of his savings on providing his children the best life he could, but his wife could not withstand having both live as drunken scallywags like her husband. "No, no, and no!", were the words Emilio heard at least once a week.

One night, dona Silvia sent Eduardito and Silverio off on a transport eventually headed towards Manhattan, using up almost every single credit in the family's account. Years later, news came from their children, and old Emilio could not bear having both his sons become simple traders.

"R-reh.. oye, Alonso!", he stated.

-"Diga usted..."

-"Otro trago, porf.. ph.. one more, please...", hardly putting on the face of a child who asks for permission.

-"Bah, que rayos. Here you go.. but I won't be explaining anything to your wife again if she catches you.", he stated.

-"Si, si...", and before swallowing the first shot of rum, he fell asleep on the counter.

A typical day at the Boozer's Lounge, it wasn't a surprise that Alonso began to serve drinks for a whole table all of a sudden. Shortly after returning to the counter, the nearby landing platform gently rocked the bar, and before long, a few pilots of The Brotherhood came in and sat on the table.

The loud vibrations also woke up Mr. de Jesus, who had been peacefully sleeping for more than five hours. Recognizing a few familiar faces, the 50-something year old (nobody knew his exact age) watched as one of his old friends and long-time wingleader of an extinct Legionnaire squadron walked towards him, over the ceiling...

"Manu!", Emilio shouted.

-"Como estas, Emilio?", Manuel replied.

-"Err... why are you up there?"

-"Up? Up where?"

-"Up.. upside down..."

-"........."

Overhearing a bit of the conversation, Elder Gonzales came to the scene, with a mere look attracting Alonso's attention. The friendly bartender grabbed a glass of cold water, and looked at old Emilio with a tired face.

"Don Emilio...", he said.

-"Aja?", was the reply.

All of a sudden, the old pirate nearly jumped off his seat, nearly tripping over Montoya and Skyelius, who were walking by, talking indistictively.

"Ey, don Alonso, careful with the tables; you might trip over something...", Sky said.

-"Buenas noches, mi buen amigo. Still here at this hour, eh? Silvia's going to rip our heads off; maybe you should get back home, hermano.", Montoya added.

-"Eh.. disculpen ustedes, mis amigos.", said Emilio.

-"Don't worry, my friend.", Gonzales acknowledged, heading back to his place.

Alonso went to the back to prepare a round of drinks for the new Gladiator pilots, a ship that began to acquire the nickname "Glade", as Skyelius put it. Both aces resumed the walk through the bar as Manuel whispered to Emilio...

"Oye, have you read the rumors about tons of weapons and equipment arriving at The Brotherhood hangars, but never coming out? Those two over there are planning something - look at them."

Both men watched as Juan and Sky turned towards them, waved, and continued chatting. The old Legionnaire pilots looked at each oher, and Manuel kept on wondering.

"Yeah, I'm sure. They're definitely up to something. especialy that Skyelius type. He's awfully suspicious. It also looks like Montoya's listening carefully. That never happens. And it's like - hey, are you listening to me?"

"...oh perfecto, gracias.", don Emilio stares at the rum, and then realizes that Manuel was talking to him.

"What's that, Manu?", he asked.

"Santo Dios..."

---

"It is a cold universe until you know God as your Father, and then it becomes a home. Even the next life simply becomes the Father's house, home."
—David Pawson

[Zelot]

Miguel walked into the old bar, the times he saw the inside of this old hole become less and less frequent the last few years. With the move to Mindelo and his subsequent return to Crete and return to the Council, he realized he had not been in here since his return to Crete. Everything in his life seemed to have changed since that first time all those years ago that he had walked into this place, but some things never changed, and Pedro was still behind the bar, like all those years ago.



"Pedro, Amigo, a drink for me."

---

 

[Laowai]

As Miguel took his seat on one side of the room, Pedro looked up from the bar to see a familiar sillhoette, framed by the outside glare entering the room. It was accompanied by a smaller, slimmer sillhoette which was not at all familar.
Pedro raised an eyebrow.... "He usually comes in here alone" he thought... and as he sized up the female companion of the man he knew quite well "And definitly not with a.... Senorita like this?".

Elder Ben Laowai moved himself and his companion to his regular haunt in the dark, dimly lit corner. Pedro watched with mild interest as the younger woman took her seat beside him, he had heard the rumours... "so they must be true" he thought to himself once more.

Ben took his seat, tossing his coat into one corner, Zarita did the same, placing her overcoat gently on top of his and sitting beside him.
"So this is actually the place?" She whispered quietly... She looked around "Your memory of it is..." she paused and a line creased her forhead... "A little blurry actually!".
She looked at him with a slightly amused look "you were drunk most of the time you were here werent you?"

Laowai blushed, or at least, blushed as much as someone like he was able to. "Well... yes... but, this is where we do that?".
She chuckled... "Senor Laowai, i do believe you dont even remember what you did and said here half the time?"
Ben shook his head, "Can't a man have his secrets"? he asked rhetorically, Zarita laughed in return, "well, actually... not really, no."
Pedro appeared suddenly beside them. "Senor Laowai, it has been some time." He turned to look at the young woman sitting close by in the booth and he bowed his head slightly - "And so the rumours i have heard are true... you must be the good Senora"
Zarita held out her hand and shook the barmans' warmly "Zarita" She said, introducing herself, "Good to finally meet you Senor".
Pedro shook her hand and then cast a look at Laowai... "Senor... let me compliment you on..."
Laowai looked unimpressed and seeing the exchange, Zarita giggled slightly. Pedro looked slightly awkward and changing the subject said.... "Er... the usual i suspect Senor?" Laowai nodded and Pedro turned once more to Zarita... "And you senora?"

She paused a moment, looked at her husband and said "ill have the same".

" Senor Laowai, not only Beautiful but with the same... peculiar taste in liquor?" Pedro quipped, "Senor Laowai, you have outdone yourself"
Ben scowled, " Yes yes Pedro, spare your charms, it wont work here... 2 Baijiu's, get 'em coming."

The barman turned and walked to the bar. Laowai turned to Zarita; "You know, you have no idea at all what this stuff will do to you?"
She nodded and said "Well, true, but i do recall enjoying it you know, i may as well get reaquainted with the taste"?
The Old Corsair chuckled...."Your people dont even drink, aside from that fermented Corn swill they call alchohol... This is the real stuff..."
Zarita shook her head... "Yes yes, i know i know, One or two isnt going to kill me."

Ben saw the figure sitting on the other side of the room and nodded to him, "Miguel Sephardi?" Zarita asked and Laowai nodded... she glanced at him a moment, "You're glad he's back arent you?" She asked quietly.
and Laowai nodded again, he was indeed, it was good to see his people unified once more, Pedro brought over the glasses and Ben raised it in silent salute to his Brotherhood comerade, the two of them downing their shots without words but understanding the occasion.

"BLAH!!!"" Zarita spat suddenly, "By Crete" She exclaimed, gasping "You actually drink that stuff?"


Chuckling to himself, Ben downed his glass and then motioning to Pedro ordered another....

---

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