[Stalwart Defense Industries] The Man, The Ego, The LEGEND!

[FM]

ON: Meeting between SDI and Zen Armarments rep

Hair combed. Glasses cleaned. Face shaved. Clothing...business casual would, unfortunately, have to do. And of course, one of his many beloved children, ready to go forth and multiply. He stood with the confidence of a knight and a stature to match. A smile flashed as he gripped his suitcase. "Good evening, gentlemen. I am Stalwart Defender, CEO of Stalwart Defense Industries. I appreciate the time you took to meet with such a handsome, brilliant man."

The man in the black suit and green shirt adjusted his necktie to make sure it was perfect. "What can we do for you?"

Stalwart smiled with simple confidence as he opened the suitcase to reveal the weapon. "The FMS-1 Quad-barrel Linear Shot." What was within was something that could only be described by one of those words, 'linear'. "2 needles per pull of the trigger, 400 pull-capacity battery, 40 needle ammunition load using ceramic composites, cheap manufacture, and penetration capability rivaling the best of your competition's products." Beneath his glasses were the yellow eyes of an extremely honest man.

"Linear shot?" Shot was usually used to describe ammunition, not a weapon. The Zen rep examined the weapon.

Stalwart ignored the man's comment. "2 high-intensity lights, laser tracking, auto-targeting module with telepathic and cybernetic communication," he continued, pointing out each part as he said it, "all in a relatively compact form factor. I estimate manufacture costs, if you make 1 million units in first run, to be about 950KS. That is, if my dear Aria is correct, of course."

"You made this alone?" the man asked incredulously.

The inventor's response was filled with dramatic and flair, and he posed constantly. "Mostly, yes. I live a lonely existance - wandering the stars, salvaging supplies, building various things with nothing but my beloved computer and the vast networks to keep me company."

It was tempting to just shoot the man and take the invention. If what he said was true, no one would come looking. "And you load it like this," the man asked, grabbing a magazine.

"No, no, you have to put in the battery first! Here, give it to me." Completely oblivious to the man's intention, Stalwart nevertheless got lucky, grabbing his gun and showing the proper way to load the weapon - battery first, then mag. "Do you have a target set up?"

"Not here."

"Unfortunate. Could you take me somewhere with an appropriate target? I couldn't possibly sell you a weapon you haven't seen in use!"

"How much do you want?"

"Nothing up front. You get exclusive manufacture rights - and my full support! - for 40% of all profits from the sale of this weapon. Oh, and I keep the prototype." He grabbed a disk out of his pocket and passed it to the rep. "I take very good notes and it has full details and schematics."

"We'd rather pay you upfront."

"I want at least 30% profits. What's your offer, good sir?"

"Two million and a starship."

"I have a starship already, and two million is hardly adequate for such a revolutionary weapon. Soon everyone in the street wars will keep one of these under their beds! Duels will no longer be fought with swords, but with my creation!" Certainly, he had a flair for the dramatic. "How about this. You get me a genetics specialist, three million, a salvage licence, and 5% profits. I'm quite willing to go to Emrys if you won't play ball..."

"Go ahead. This meeting is over."

"Unfortunate that you can't see my way." Without an iota of anger, he took the disk out of the man's hands and pocketed it. "I'll be in orbit for the next little while if you change your mind."

[FM]

ON: Orbital Shuttle

The trip to orbit was long for Mora Fusegu - he was rather disappointed in his inability to make a sale. But still, he was confident - there is always someone who wants the next great weapon, and this was certainly it. Rather infectuous optimism, really.

In orbit waiting for him was a rusty old Sojourner-class cargo vessel. Painted on the sides were colors typical of the cargo runner and the name "SS Remnant", and over the front end of the ship was painted a huge logo and a name - "Stalwart Defense Industries, LLC". It moved to dock with the hulking 500-foot vessel, and it certainly looked big enough to hold an entire corporation, if not luxurious enough.

The docking was quick and he was off in no time, after paying for the shuttle services. A lyrical female voice greeted him as he got onto his ship, the halls rather bare with the occassional spark. "So. How did it go?"

Mora wasted no time in removing his suit. He hated those things - so needless, so restrictive. He soon put on more comfortable clothes and grabbed the disk. "They didn't buy the rights. A pity, but I expect them to call back."

The voice turned harsh as he began walking through the halls of the barren ship. "I told you not to go to Zen, you know? Don't you ever listen to me?"

"They don't manufacture linear weapons yet, my dearest Aria, and besides, wouldn't Brother want me to sell my first design to them?" Mora wasn't dissappointed at all - in fact, he seemed rather proud. "They offered me 2 million and a new ship. Completely unreasonable."

"That's a good deal, though. With that we could have paid me off and sold that ship to get materials for your next crazy project." The omnicient voice was known as Aria - "Advanced Responsive Intelligence Assembly" according to the people who created her - a failed prototype computer control system in the vein of PANTHEON. If one spent time with her, it would become clear as to the cause of that failure - despite being basically completely obedient, she had a horrible bedside manner.

"Ah, but then, they manufacture a few billion, and I end up with not a cent more! What's the justice in that?" Mora looked out the window of the ship's control center at the bustling business of orbit, the dirt of Neplesia below, and the beauty of the stars out beyond. "There is none, Grey Seraphim."

The computer blushed...or at least, would if it had a body. "I see. Then what's your plan, o fearless leader?"

"My plan, Grey Seraphim, is to wait. If Zen calls again, I'll see them again. If someone else calls, I'll see them. If I complete a manufacture-capable version of the projector, I'll go visit Kessaku with both."

"...that's not that bad a plan. For you, anyway."

"Of course. I'm a genius."

[Kylen Phylar]

On: Equine Mercenary Ship The Alucard

"Got it....Well, I can see the ship from here, so i am going to try to do this now." Ken says over the link. "Just make sure he's.." "I know. Don't worry, okay?" the merc said, cutting him off before turning on a comm to someone else, leaving a message, before starting approch on the SS Remnant. "This shouldn't be too hard....luck be it I was coming in for a little bit a fuel..."

[FM]

(OOC: Your post needs more legibility.)
Location: SS Remnant

A sigh came from nowhere. "Incoming ship. Probably someone from Zen trying to blow us out of the sky. Didn't I tell you it was a bad idea?"

Mora looked at the display that Aria brought up for him. His ship had primitive sensors that couldn't ID much about the enemy, but he knew it was there, at least. "Initiate combat protocols. I assume you know what you're doing. Oh, and shoot to disable."

Another sigh. "You never let me have any fun. Combat protocols initiated, arming pulse cannons. I'll keep a comm channel open too, just in case you want to try one of those 'negotiations' you're so fond of."

[Kylen Phylar]

ON: Equine The Alucard

A sensor on the consle blinked. "It's charging weapons, huh? Well, better get in there all friendly like first, so I don't get blown out of the sky." Ken said, scanning for an open comn to the ship infront of him.
"This is The Alucard, please do not fire. I am not here to attack. Hell...I'm just in an Equine. I couldn't faze your ship if I tried." he said, hoping the captian over there would unarm his weapons.

[FM]

A harsh female voice barked at the ship approaching. "Identify yourself and your purpose, and then I'll consider powering down my weapons. The master is not violent, but he will ground your ship if you try anything funny."

[Kylen Phylar]

"This is The Alucard, and we were wondering if we might be able to make a deal. I heard you sell weapons from a reliable source." Ken said back, making sure his pistol was in it's holster. I hope they don't skimp out on the money....I need that new ship.

[FM]

A tall, grey-haired man with round, thick-rimmed glasses appeared before the approaching mercenary. "My name is Stalwart. If by 'weapons' you mean 'weapon designs and schematics', you've come to the right place! That said, you don't seem like a businessman to me. So who are you, then?"

[Kylen Phylar]

"My name is Ken Miller. I do freelance work, to put it lightly. I was told by a friend of a friend you might have some interesting designs, and asked me to look at some." Ken replied, smiling. "He trusts my judgement, and if I like what I see, he might buy some from you, including sales profits."

[FM]

Stalwart remained confident, adjusting his shirt. "Ah, I do have a manufacture-ready design, but do you represent a corporate buyer? I can't sell for private manufacture, of course. That would be favoritism! Imagine if I sold a weapon to only one side of a war! You'll have to tell me who you represent before you come aboard, though I do welcome all visitors if they simply wish to have a friendly chat."

[Kylen Phylar]

"I am repersenting a former employer of mine, the KFY, and I am not opposed to some friendly banter." Ken replied.

[FM]

Stalwart seemed to grow pale at the mention of his employer, but kept up his dramatic style of speech. "Ah, the Ketsururi! Feel free to dock, then! Aria, end transmission."

As soon as the transmission cut out, he fumed. "How did they know about me?" He hated the idea of selling that weapon to the Zaibatsu, completely and utterly.

"Look, beggars can't be choosers, and that guy doesn't seem like a negotiator. You should be able to get a better deal for it that way." Aria, on the other hand, seemed somewhat happy at this turn of events. "Shall I meet him at the door?"

"Of course. And make sure you're armed."

"Mmm, sounds fun." A slight seductive hint was in her voice as her sensor eyes went dim.

[Kylen Phylar]

When the screen closed, Ken let out a chuckle. "Well, that wasn't all a lie at least." he said to himself manuvering to the docking port, running over all the basic checks while the docking supplements and such attach to the larger ship. "This shouldn't be too bad."

[Kylen Phylar]

((Only doing this so that it's noticed.))

Ken stood at the door, waiting for the green light to show that everything was hooked up and pressurized, which flashed, opening the door. Through it he walked over to the Remnant, and straightened his clothes, waiting to be let in.

[FM]

The door opened and a rather menacing-looking woman with a blade on one hip and a sidearm on the other glared at the newcomer. (You wouldn't think a young, short girl with cherry hair and in violet latex would look menacing, but she has quite the stare.)

"Call me Seraph, and don't touch me, him, or anything unless one of us asks. I'm two times stronger and faster than you'll ever be at the best of times, so watch yourself, kid."

[Kylen Phylar]

Ken nodded, almost afriad to speak. She might be a problem. he thought to himself, steping in. "It is nice to meet you Seraph." he said. "I do belive you already know who I am, but I shall say anyway. I am Ken Miller." he said, doing a slight bow. "Thank you for allowing me upon this nice ship."

[FM]

She turned and led him through the halls of the ship. Small, but the corridors seemed complex. "Don't mind my exposed wiring, it sparks a little but it's harmless." Indeed, the ship seemed to be in quite bad shape, however, there were retrofitted sensor strips everywhere, which appeared inactive.

[Kylen Phylar]

Ken scoffed. "Anything is better then that scrap yard I call a ship." he said, smiling. "KFY didn't give me what I asked for, and gave me the Equine I use...not the best, but it gets me places."

[Wes]

OOC: Who is this new character "Seraph" and where did she come from? I don't remember approving her. Could you link me to her bio?

[FM]

OOC: NPC. AI's physical avatar. Aria/Seraph = same person. Check Mora's bio, this *was* approved.