RP: The Silent Horizon Welcome to the Fire

Meeting "Room"

Nara had utilized copious amounts of alcohol to bribe powers that be to allow her unfettered use of a relatively out of the way meeting spot. Sure, this was likely a conversation that could have been held at any tavern. However, she took the rare chance to ply people with liquor for some quiet to discuss an opportunity with Alex. The room was fairly empty, minus whatever Valhallan decor was present. There was a small bar, a fair sized meeting table and some chairs. If someone had designed a meeting place with a mead hall in mind, this place was it.

After Adrin had arrived on Njord it had swiftly become apparent that he was looking for capable crew to aid in a special task. There was a few people that came to mind, one seemed particularly suited to what the crew of the Alyelume would face. Not to long in the past Nara had ran into an NDC operator while doing some work for the Iron Company. It was not easy to impress her, but this man surely had in such a brief time that their paths had crossed. As a matter of fact she could count on her fingers the number of non-Norians she trusted in situations such as those now facing Adrin and his crew. She herself could not go with them. So, she did the next best thing and phoned in someone she knew would stand a good chance of getting things done right.

There was little to no pleasantries exchanged when Alex's shuttle arrived. Nara made eye contact, nodded as if to indicate he was to follow her, and she walked towards the meeting room. She was not one for small talk, but would be open to discussing things if initiated by her counterpart. Though as she saw this meeting, it was work and anything other than work related discussions would wait. After a short walk in the miserable heat of Njord's tropical hell the pair arrived at their destination. Quickly Nara walked inside to get out of the sun's dagger like rays of sun. Though her cooling undersuit helped, her face was exposed to the heat which made her nose wrinkle slightly. She stood by the entrance with her arms crossed as her violet eyes watched to see if Alex had followed.

While she waited for the operator to enter her legs shuffled about a bit, as if her body suit made her a bit uncomfortable. A combination of the climate, her norian undersuit and a black bodysuit on top of that surely did not make for the most comfort. It was the closest thing she had to a uniform and had plenty of little places to fasten her daggers to. Nara leaned her head to the left causing her braided platinum blonde hair to fall over one shoulder. "If you get sidetracked out there I cannot guarantee your safety!" she hollared out the door towards Alex in a semi-serious tone. "Come on in and take a seat, we can get you settled in after this chat."

‘If you remain upon the Deiphobos you will lose, diminish your Contribution.’ The typically direct words of Alice, captain of the Deiphobos, Alex’s captain in more ways than it could ever be said was true of a natural, cast a shadow over his thoughts for the whole journey to Njord. He had served ably, more than even, however, his capacity was for more - and he knew that - so to linger was to fail, to not maintain his Contribution, to be lesser - to be more akin to naturals, some of his cohort might have said or at least thought. However, it was Alice - a natural - that was rightly pushing him to continue to exceed what was enough and to rise to what was right. So, here he was descending into the atmosphere of Njord because one natural had reached out with an opportunity and another had suggested he look for more. The sudden jolt of the shuttle as it hit a wind shear made him keenly aware of the fact that he wasn’t this shuttle, that it was being merely piloted, and his mind refocused on what was ahead not behind.

Nara had the rare quality of a mercenary that actually conducted themselves with professionalism rather than a wild passion, and it had been that quality which had first caught Alex’s attention. Their interactions when crossing paths were relatively brief, he recognised, but fruitful and extensive given he rarely interacted in this body… It was too small. Closing his eyes he recalled the sensation of stellar radiation running like rivulets of rain over his Ancile shields. It was vast, even at the atomic level, when he was the Deiphobos he felt right, felt whole… His eyes looked down at the hands folded neatly in a lap, his hands, his lap, and yet… He made a thoughtful sound and focused again on what was ahead. Nara wouldn’t have reached out for something trivial, nor for something profit driven, she had enough of a measure of him to know he didn’t care for either. As the shuttle touched down he rose in a fluid motion, mentally reviewing the latest news headlines, the data available on Njord, and collecting his things.

Alex returned the nod, and stepped right after Nara without any unnecessary chatter, slinging his kit bag over one shoulder. He had brought the essentials for an extended tour of duty, and in a typical fashion wasn’t overburdened with sentimental or leisure driven choices, and presently was dressed in his Mithril bodysuit and his side-arm within easy reach. A practical choice. That Nara was waiting to speak in private was not missed by Alex, appreciating the discretion, and approving of the professionalism. The sunlight and weather could generously be called ‘tropical’ or to use the vernacular that some of the sailors on the Deiphobos had used after returning from a supply run to a similar planet: ‘a humid hell-scape you are more swimming through than walking’.

The jest about his safety as he followed earned a small ‘Hmm’ and half-smile from Alex as he stepped inside. “‘Settled in’, already certain that I will take up the offer?” He asked as he walked over to one of the seats, his deep and lilting voice rolling over the syllables invitingly and with good humour. He didn’t take a seat right away, though he unslung his kit bag and placed it, not dropped it, onto the floor. “My captain is prepared to authorise an away assignment, however.” He added to make plain that the first was a jest, and that he wasn't here to waste Nara’s time. Humour he had learned was arguably the most subjective and difficult part of interacting with naturals. He didn’t waste time with socialisation, no ‘how are you doing’, no ‘what have you been up to’, those questions if they were needed could come later. It was clear that Nara wanted to get to the heart of the matter which had her reach out to him, and he wasn’t inclined to delay that either.

After Alex stepped inside, Nara immediately shut the door. His commentary after he had entered elicited a rare smirk to appear on her face for a brief moment. "Settled in or settled out. The choice is up to you." she said with a soft voice that bore a hint of mischief in its tone. She stood there in front of him watching as he placed his kit bag onto the ground. Her eyes went from looking at the bag upwards in an analytical manner ascertaining if he was truly ready for what she was about to propose. "Well that's good. Did they stick around in case you turn the assignment down?" she said tilting her head to the side a bit out of curiosity with just as much jest as he had.

"Well lets cut to the chase here. A small crew of norians are being headed up by a man named Adrin. They tactically acquired a ship from the United Norian Imperium, mind you this ship is rightfully Adrin's anyhow. A delightful shit stick by the name of Vaelaris stuck his hands in a few things after the former leader died and has now chased Adrin and his crew out of their homeland in the UNI. We can only assume this is so that Vaelaris may bungle things unfettered by outside intervention. Well," she paused a moment. "The crew of the Alyelume does not intend to let that happen. They aim to stop this man, prevent him from extending his reach and hopefully one day evict his dark stench from their home. Where you come in is this, I cannot leave due to my previous obligation here. So, I suggested to Adrin that I bring someone else in. That is why I invited you here." she watched briefly.

There was a sensitive reason she had brought him here to talk in person. Though if it had not become apparent already, it would be soon. "This man Vaelaris has extensive influence over resources amongst those in the United Norian Imperium. He likely has spies elsewhere, extending far beyond the UNI possibly into the Kikyo sector and just about anywhere else his rank touch has befell. If you are interested, I am sure you and Adrin could come to some kind of terms for compensation. That part would be between you two." she said crossing her arms over her chest as if to signal her piece in speaking was done, for now.

Alex’s half-smile lingered a moment longer as Nara retorted and a mischievous smirk danced upon her features. She hadn’t needed the elaboration, she had understood the humour immediately, it was another reason he had found their brief interactions in the past not inconvenient - she paid attention. The question about his transport remaining was equally run through with humour, but the cant of the head suggested a genuineness too, so he answered, “Naturally.” Some naturals might have been offended, Alex suspected, that he was prepared to simply walk away but he knew Nara well enough to know she wasn't one. As she set to the task at hand and began to elaborate the offer she had for him, Alex listened carefully, his face a study of neutrality and curated control. No surprise flickered across his eyes, no corner of the mouth turned up or twitched with interest or disapproval, he was statuesque in his observation.

He was aware of the civil war which was unfolding in the Norian state, the influx of refugees, and had of course retained the basics of the history of the Norian interactions with the NDC. However, Alex wasn't about to pretend, even in the halls of his own mind, that he truly understood anything meaningful about Norians nor their current situation. ‘Tactically acquired’ was a euphemistic way of expressing stolen that Alex hadn’t heard before, he would remember that he decided, liking the way it sounded - insouciant. It was a sympathetic outline of the situation, Alex didn’t doubt that nor condemn it - Nara was clearly aligned if not firmly in the camp of this Adrin, loyalty to a version of events which favoured them was to be expected and admirable. Still he wasn’t bound by such loyalty, not yet, and so he catalogued his questions. There was a brief pause, space enough to interject them, but Nara’s posture suggested she wasn’t finished yet, so Alex simply nodded that he had heard and let her continue.

‘Spies everywhere’ it certainly made sense to choose him then - one probably couldn't get further removed from Norian political intrigues than an Operator from the NDC, Alex thought. ‘Compensation’ was a deliberately chosen word, no mention of ‘making profit’ or anything so base, Nara had selected a word which did not insult him and yet acknowledged his Contribution required recognition. Alex’s neutral expression repented with a small smile of appreciation, she was as he had remembered her - deliberate, rational, and professional. “I am sympathetic to people wishing to save their home…” His tone was warm with a stark honesty as if deception could never possibly inhabit his syllables - though it could of course, he could lie as well as any natural, better even, but he wasn’t here. “… Though I would need to know more of this ‘Adrin’ and ‘Vaelaris’ - not that I am doubting your assessment.”

Alex could list all the questions he had, but he had learned that that was not an optimal method of interacting with naturals. To them it felt inorganic and made them less detailed and likely to answer. So, he selected what he considered to be at the heart of the constellation of questions: “Given I am not a Norian, why do you think my sympathy should motivate me to assist Adrin?” That was the crux of it, his loyalty was to the NDC, to his crew, to himself - in that order - and Nara was asking him to move beyond the confines of where he had served. This Adrin may be able to offer some ‘compensation’ equal to the request, but Alex wanted to understand whether in Nara’s mind there was enough of a reason to say yes regardless. He had always been curious about those who eschewed service to their community and elected to take up the life of a mercenary - it felt so close to being a vagabond, purposeless and indulgent - as they clearly didn’t wish to do nothing and yet they did not serve… What would make someone like that care enough to reach out and ask a relative stranger to offer aid to their community? He watched and waited and listened, as quiet and ever present as the hallways of himself that his crew walked through when he wasn’t so small.

Nara uncrossed her arms, moving to a seat next to her as she spoke. "It goes far beyond a people wishing to save their home." She sat facing him to maintain eye contact while she continued. "This man will not stop with just our home. He has enslaved others to force them into doing his bidding. As if that was bad enough, we suspect he likely is being controlled by darker forces. Think something that would make the Mishhuvurthyar look like squid kittens. If Vaelaris and those that control him are not stopped, they will spread to wherever they are allowed to infiltrate." Nara paused as a haunted sigh slipped past her lips.

There was a reason she had chosen Alex, he did not take people at their word for face value. He asked questions, he wanted facts, and data before making decisions. There was no heartfelt emotional pleas that would sway him, so she gave it to him straight. "Adrin is a former leader of our people, former Chancellor of Ayenee, and he's seen things I cannot fathom. After his son died, he was betrayed and cast out by Vaelaris. We ascertain this was to eliminate any opposition to Vaelaris' take over, which I can see at face value could be average coup. However, Vaelaris stands to contaminate any where him and his cronies pervade. Not to mention those he is suspected of being under the control of. Adrin is one of few, possibly the only one who stands a chance of leading a force to help set things the other way." she was not emotional in the least when she said this.

His last question made her shake her head which made her braid swish. "No, not sympathy. These enemies have likely not encountered someone like you, with your skills and abilities. You would be an asset to the team, because you provide a new perspective. Not just in regards to the enemy that is creeping up, but also to any challenges they might encounter. The motivation would hopefully be to squash any advances into this area of space so that these forces do not succeed in taking over everything in existence. If left unchecked, they will. I suspect within the next few years they could have the squidlings collared as pets with everyone else dead or enslaved." she sighed.

"I joined the Iron Company, because it was the best spot for me. Not to be a mercenary, but to serve and protect those I love the only way I know how. Before we knew the UNI had survived the previous wave of Craethel onslaught I had thought about joining another force to the same effect, protecting those I love. It did not work out due to the difference in mindset among other things. The Iron Company welcomed me in with open arms, they approach things in a manner that has saved my people before. I would not have changed the place I now find myself for anything. There is no glory or pay here for me, its not why I do this. Hopefully you understand why I cannot abandon my obligations here to go." she slapped her thighs resolutely. "They will not sit idly by either, we will be involved on this side of things to. Do you have any other questions?"

As Nara elaborated Alex listened, not with a view to find what he expected in her words, but with a clear and unalloyed interest in finding in those words truth. Not ‘the truth’, he wasn’t sure there was a singular truth, rather there was ‘a truth’ or rather complimentary ‘truths’. But he set aside the ruminations on complementarity, archiving the thought for another time as he did wish to return to it, and instead retained his whole focus on Nara. She wasn’t an orator, her words were unadorned by gesture or tone, she would not persuade a crowd to believe her, but that wasn’t an obstacle to Alex. Even so her small gestures, the fixed gaze, the sigh which seemed to linger on her lips like light in an event horizon - there but gone - all convinced him that she wasn’t underestimating the scale and worry in her opinion. This Vaelaris, these forces, they were horrifying.

She wasn’t someone he considered prone to exaggeration or overreaction either, if she considered them horrifying, then her truth was worth heading in Alex’s estimation. At least until his own first-hand experience might allow him a different assessment, but in that case accepting the offer was necessary regardless. There was a cool but not cold rationality to how he thought, it wasn’t that he was absent emotions - he had them, and they were as powerful forces in him as they were in any natural - it was simply that for him his purpose was all consuming. He had been made for it. Nara continued offering her thoughts on Adrin: there was no outpouring of emotion for them, but her words spoke of someone worthy in her assessment. Worthier than the rather mundane tragedy of a coup, a dead child and heir, might suggest she stated and the quiet neutral tone of respect made plain.

Alex hadn’t said anything as Nara elaborated yet he didn’t look disinterested, just the opposite, she had his fullest attention and he was ceding all the space in the conversation to her. In Alex’s opinion, trying to find a truth in someone’s words by interjecting questions constantly was like walking through a clear stream again and again, you only disturbed the sediment and clouded the waters. He wanted to see what was in this stream. ‘It's not why I do this…’ And there it was, the truth, swimming like a shimmering scaled fish in the stream, bright and eye-catching. That was why she had reached out, why she was someone he could cooperate with, and most importantly why he could believe her now. Alex finally sat down, across from Nara, one leg crossing over the other gracefully and finally he spoke, “Are they aware of what I am? If the situation is as dire as you suggest it would be… Unfortunate to waste time on smoothing over any awkwardness about my nature.” His question was also an answer: he was going to do what she asked.

Softly she rested her palms flat on the table before pressing them flat against each other as if she were about to pray. From Alex's words she had gathered that he would accompany Adrin, for which Nara was quite grateful. "Well," she said tapping her pressed hands against the table before continuing. "As long as you are not a giant bag of ass, which you are not, then you will be fine. Adrin is aware of what you are, I did give him a heads up about things before asking you here. His first officer would not tolerate any waste of time on something like that."

There was some spare quarters in the same vicinity as hers, one she had reserved just in case Alex had agreed. "The shuttle from Alyelume is slated to arrive here shortly. The Grandmaster, myself, and other members of the Iron Company will be gathering at the Grandmaster's Gantry before heading to meet them. If you don't change your mind in the next few minutes, you can follow me to your quarters. We will pass the Gantry along the way. That way you know where to meet us and I will not have to wait outside of your room to show you like some kind of awkward companion. It will also give you some time to make whatever arrangements you need with those on your side of things. I'm not sure how long they will be here, might want to hold off on any unnecessary unpacking."

Not wanting to waste anytime she stood, heading towards the door. "Try to keep up, its easy to get lost in these parts." With that she was off to get him settled in. She would have to haul ass to meet up with Auli'i before heading to the Gantry after making sure Alex got settled, if he chose to do so.

Alex released a small amused rush of hot air from his nose at Nara’s ‘giant bag of ass’, his eyes looked comprehending and amused at once. A new posting was always a period of adjustment, it had been the same when he had arrived on the Deiphobos - and while this posting was going to be decidedly more challenging, fundamentally the obstacle of integrating into a new crew was not dissimilar. It would simply require understanding what the professional standards and cultural norms were amongst his crew, and how he might accommodate them. The small insight into the First Officer was noticed, catalogued, and would be used when meeting them. “That is good to hear.” He said simply.

‘The shuttle from Alyelume is slated to arrive here shortly.’ That piece of information might have startled some, people who wanted more time to prepare for a first impression, or to ‘settle in’, or whatever other excuse might be presented to delay doing what was needed. Alex didn’t have a flicker of concern or worry, he nodded, “Very well.” He didn’t bother adding, ‘if it isn’t an imposition’ as Nara wasn't the sort to make the offer if it was unwelcome or a burden. She had made it because it was efficient, effective, and not transgressing some cultural norm either of her mercenary company or the arriving Norians, Alex thought and again found himself at ease with her.

“I do not have much that needs to be unpacked.” He said matter-of-factly as Nara led the way out of the room, and reminded him to keep up. An unnecessary addition, but which he read as demonstrating care for his person and not a lack of faith in his capacities, as he moved quickly and kept pace with Nara. He received a message from the transport, he instructed it to remain on-station for now, as after all his truth surrounding this Adrin might not be the same as Nara’s. However, ‘To serve and protect those I love the only way I know how’ she had said of her choices, it was an echo of sentiment which had nestled in the heart of him since the very beginning of him. So, he suspected he would find his truth would be the same.

Alex, as he had stated he would, simply placed his kit bag in the quarters he was given and thanked Nara for the consideration of having quarters for him before quickly returning back towards the gantry. The future awaited.