Iska puffed out a cloud of smoke, then turned to dwan with a raised an eyebrow.
"Three cheap beer" she said with a smirk, "Iska pay for mercenary man here" she continued while punching Varns shoulder.
"That's very nice of you, Iska.", Dwan said in a mellow voice, as he brought the two three beers. "Enjoy.", he told them, as he served the beers.
"Whatever you have as beer can't be as bad as that Slurm that's been in that cabinet for the past month. I'll have whatever she's having."
[editline]4th September 2015[/editline]
Varn started drinking his beer, when he noticed something about Dwan was off. "Hey, Dwan. Are you ok? You seem a bit shaken up."
Iska nodded and gently pushed the beer glass to Dwan while she pried open the cap of the other bottle.
Dwan put back the glass, as he heard Varn's comment. "I'm fine, just fine. Just slightly mad that I didn't get to that fucker Rask before he escaped.", Dwan said, as he tried to change the subject.
"Anger doesn't cause someone to look like they just saw a ghost."
"Emotions are quite mysterious in their ways, aren't they?", Dwan said.
"Your body language doesn't agree with you." Varn took a swig of beer. "Your eyes aren't focused, your body is drooping and your speech is flat." He took another swig. "Look. I'll drop the subject if it's getting to much for you, but in my line of work sharing what's eating you helps a lot more than you think."
"Varn, trust me, it is nothing.", Dwan tells him.
Varn was a bit frustrated, but it was obvious that he wouldn't get anything out of Dwan. "Fine. I'll trust that you'll be at a 100% when the chaos starts." He continued to drink his beer.
"Hey serek, how long is this jump gonna take?" Rask asked as he squinted at the blur of stars outside the window. "It feels like we've been at warp for [I]days[/I]."
"We'll get there sooner or later," Neasha replied with a roll of her eyes.
"Roger, Commander. Good luck as you piece though voids itself on your travel towards Rigel." Viper responded to Lion though the comms channel before linking the Sanghvi's Implant to the Archius visual and scanning systems to watch the Roughrider as it departed from the Hanger and entered warp, staring for a moment at the pure dark space, contemplating it's thoughts as it stood motionless within it's room, the drones had kept the place in near spotless condition during the Sanghvi's leave.
The Sanghvi's Implant once again flashed, Again it's the UGC but this time it was an code red, the highest level of urgency within the UGC's hierarchy. Something Viper couldn't ignore for any longer as it would be an act of treason to its commanders and as such answered gurgly over an secured channel to not reveal the Archius's position along with anyone on the Archius that was trying listen in.
"Ensign Solari, this is Commandant Synthzuckohr. High command has ordered that all watchmen operatives are to disembark from their stations immediately, that includes you too Solari and from Archius IV at once." The Omnicon officer said through the hyperspace frequency with an tone of tiredness and frustration slipping into his synthetic voice towards the Sanghvi, very rare does an Omnicon ever show much emotion in their voices but with the fractured state of the UGC's Peacekeeping forces after their failure to protect the council has pushed many of it's more cynical members into departing from the already diminishing power of the UGC.
"Sir, I must unfortunately decline in favor of staying abroad the Archius IV for one final mission, I have strong evidence that an exterior party has famed HarkArk for the act abroad Odenia." Viper said over the transmission as it walked towards from the metal corridor into an unoccupied elevator to maintain the Sanghvi privacy, closing it's doors and locking them shut.
The Omnicon took an microsecond before replying back, for a species with capacity for faster than light thinking, Viper response had less than the wellcome impact on him.
"Ensign Solari, This is above you and I, this is a matter of galactic stability. Already we are getting reports of mass desertion, entire planets and systems are being abandoned by our once trusted comrades, forgoing their years of service to galaxy for the lust of power or to their devotion to their own people over that of the many. Our once great organization of peace and understanding is now nothing to them, our place is being taken by extremist organizations to cimb their way back to power, Even the all but crushed Divinity Creed has already found new streams of recruits and supplies from these now isolated sectors in exchange for solidifying their safely as their began to orchestrate a mass exodus of anything that doesn't isn't them. years of progress are being squandered in every direction, including yours." Synthzuckohr told the Sanghvi, his voice slowly rising as he spoke over the channel.
"Sir, We have work together before and you have seen first hand that if I know-" Viper said before being cut off by the Omnicon. "And what if it doesn't go through? What is your hunch is wrong? You should know better than anyone I have served that instinct and faith is one of the most detrimental lines of thinking in an UGC officer, This isn't a old teran action vid where you can just ignore your directives and go off shooting first and asking questions like some mercenary, that is how innocent people die. Again, something you should know many than anyone within this crumbling mess of a bureaucracy that we peacekeepers have to suffer to." His voice held an sense of tiredness more than anger, Synthzuckohr was someone Viper had respected for years and worked with him for each one of them, they saw comrades met the hands of death and brought many back from it.
"What about the evidence I have? The Crimson Son isn't just some boogeyman for Saw to used as an cover, there real. I'm sending it all over now." Viper rushed to explain as it hastily put together an large collection of photos and information over the channel, struggling to keep it hidden as it all laid in within his cybernetic brain, taking nearly an entire second to fully process and verify it all. It was quite mind blowing the skeptical officer.
"I'm Sorry I doubted you, this all makes sense and yet, as I understand your importance within this highly volatile operation...I just can't fully comprehend the thought of...Well, The thought of my complete uselessness in whole grand scheme of things." He said with as his voice began to exhibit a sense of sadness.
you must of have already realized that there is possibility of I. Or, as a matter of fact that no form of reinforcement from UGC. Every warship, every weapon and every form of personnel from the highest commander to lowest grunt are being put into service to just protect what we have now. And even that , isn't enough."
"That isn't needed, Synthzuckohr. All I need is from you is let me stay aboard this vessel for just one solar day, that's all I need from you." Viper said over the channel, slow and calm to the disturbed Synthzuckohr.
"But Solari...We..I need you. And as I said before, we have already seen the Kercan United State and Botans left the UGC, then the Kanads and now even the Sol system have began to question the possibility of withdrawing peacekeeper military support from us, nearly half of our forces have had to face multiple rebellions and insurgencies and combined with the new and rather frightening news of another Sanghvi uprising in not just the eastern fringes but they have already begun the early stages of an hostile expansion into neighboring sectors, the UGC fleet that was stationed there has gone dark, sightings of highly damaged ships of UGC make and markings have been seen in an full retreat as the chain of command start to break down more and more within the galaxy, pushing extremist organizations such as the Divinity Creed into stardom..There's already been massive retreats from nearly every unstable system, full scale warfare have gone underway between the Hiscan Guard and the TriEnterprises, The Alpha Sisters and the Omega Brothers....There's already been unofficial sightings of the Pheonix Corps marked ships when the Alexander sector declared itself independent from the UGC an hour ago. We can't handle this alone, Solari and neither can we. We everyone here, now." Synthzuckohr begged, the desperation was clear in his voice for once in his life.
"I understand Synthzuckohr...But I still to finished this, I'm one of the few qualified for such a import task and you know it." Viper said to him over frequency. It over a minute for Synthzuckohr to response back.
"I..I.I understand." Synthzuckohr said before taking an microsecond to continue his sentence. "I always hated the ideal of "flavors" putting something that may compromise everything just because you own something to someone......And yet, Here I am." Synthzuckohr spoke in a defeated tone towards the Sanghvi.
"I hate to put you into position, Synthzuckohr." Viper said, it's reget beginning to show through it's voice as it spoke.
"It's...fine..It just that the time we have spent together, It's just I have begin to dread while you left the peacekeeper corps a year ago is the time without you...And the possibility that could never have it again." He said with as his voice began to exhibit a sense of sadness.
"Just do one for me, Solari.." He added
"What is that?" Viper asked.
"Just come back alive." Synthzuckohr said before cutting off the transmission.
"I will...." Viper said lowly within the empty elevator. Standing there for a minute before having the Implant connect back to the Archius's main systems, activating the lift to lower down to the deck the bar was on as most of the operation crew were staying within it as they slowly past the time until the engines are fully prepared for warp. The Sanghvi to join them in the wait.
Viper walked in and stood next to Iska looking down into her drink as she blankly started, laying her eyes onto the large skull of Screecher Queen, now an ornament above the bar.
Dwan saw Viper walk in. "H-hey, Viper. What can I get you?", Dwan said nervously, as the thoughts of Viper looming over him menacingly earlier still haven't left his head.
---
Meanwhile, back at the Golden Wave's head ship, the W-01. Everyone was ecstatic that they had managed to escape the Perikal, but everything came to a halt when they realized they were back at square one; not knowing where the Archius was.
"Aver, can you take a look at this?", Nokhea asked, holding a tablet in her hand. Aver Lagul took the tablet and looked to see what it was. It was Intergalactica, reporting on a incident that happened at Odenia. "Hm. An interesting development.", she said. "Check the next article.", Nokhea said. Lagul did so. "THE UNION DISSOLVED!?", Lagul said, as she stood up from her captain's chair. She was surprised that an event like this could cause something so drastic. "Call back any ships we had near the Union's base of operations! We can't let them get caught!", Lagul yelled at the bridge staff, as they sent messages to said ships. "Nokhea, any underground info?", Lagul asked, worryingly. "The Omega Brothers are moving into the territories of the Death Vigil, whilst at the same time fighting a war with the Alpha Sisters. The Star Dusts are feuding with the Kabelas militaristically. The Hiscan Guard and the TriEnterprises have essentially gone to war. The Pheonix Corps and the Divinity Creed are growing stronger. But, in good news, the Gold Dusts can't fund any stabilizing activity, presumably because we left.", Nokhea said, with a laugh at the last statement. "I doubt HarkArk orchestrated this. They've spent the last months trying to get the UGC to act against the Crimson Son. The latter party might've done this.", Nokhea added. "Hm...", Lagul pondered for a moment.
"I got it!", Lagul yelled out. "Now, you know how I said we'll be switching over to a more diplomatic approach with the Archius? Well, here is our chance!", Lagul said. "Elaborate.", Mavis, who was listening in on the conversation, said to the captain. Lagul glanced at him for a second before turning back to Nokhea. "We ally ourselves with HarkArk.", she said. "Yeah, and get caught in the crossfire between the war with the Crimson Son.", Mavis said. "Mavis, this could give us the prime opportunity. I'd imagine the Son would go all in for this. Which would include...", Lagul waited for someone to end the sentence. "...their slave ships.", Nokhea concluded. "Clever. And I'd imagine HarkArk would be grateful for our work.", Nokhea added. "Of course they would be! After Odenia, people have been demonizing them. I mean, just look at these comments beneath the article! They want Saw's head!", Lagul said. "Captain, while this all sounds fine and dandy, you have to remember that the Union has been dissolved. Any other mercenary group could attack us right at this moment.", Mavis reasoned. "Our numbers are growing with each passing day. We've been getting nothing but good PR by just freeing slaves. If we ended up on the right side of this war, our PR could skyrocket. We could evolve as a mercenary group.", Lagul told him. "Fine, do as you want. But if this goes bad, you are to blame.", Mavis said, before leaving the bridge.
"Alright, now... how do we contact HarkArk?", Lagul said aloud. "Nokhea, find me the yellow pages!", she said. As Nokhea sighed and was about to leave the room, the bridge received a communication request from a secured line. Nokhea and Lagul pause for a moment, before the latter tells the staff to accept the request.
Viper turned it's head to face the jumpy Dwan, the implant shown that the soft-carbon's vitals shown signs of stress and anxiety.
"Negative, Barkeeper Ascedor. I do not require any of products at this given time...But thank you for the offer at any rate." Viper replied back to him as the Sanghvi began leaning inwards on the bar counter, turning itself over to look over Vran who sat at the other end of the bar.
"I'm assuming everything is in order, Senior Enforcer Merner?" Viper asked him as he was about to slip from his glass.
Varn put down his beer and looked at Viper.
"Everything seems normal sir. Every gun is accounted for. So is every person on board who can carry a gun. Every vehicle that can be used, minus the Roughrider, is in the hangar. Let's hope that the son hasn't accounted for any ace in the hole that Saw may have."
"Everything checks out. Excellent work as always Varn, I'm sure you're going to be making vast amounts of credits after going back to your merc crew." Viper said as it gives a quick overlook of the Archius's inventory and personal through its implant and lower it's head to look down at the table,poundering it's thoughts.
"Heh. That's the funny part to me. This whole job was never about credits. Honor, reputation and a twisted version of duty towards family is what put me here. I'm sure if this was about money, I would have left a long time ago." He said as he lid a cigar. "Damn, I'm running low on these."
Viper took a moment observe the soft-carbon inhale the smoke from the small nicotine package in his hand, a soft-carbon tradition that made even less sense to Viper.
"I can fully never understand you soft-carbons, you and the rest of your company even less. You all hold an sense of "honor" in rather fail attempt to establish a basic rules of engagement and warfare in an environment where you get paid to cut some poor bastard's throat or blow up some plant. I understand the ideal of it perfectly but it doesn't seem to of much use within the lawless edges of galaxy where majority of your company operates at anyrate." Viper sated as it stared towards Varn's face.
Iska put out her cigarette in the ashtray and looked at Viper.
"Honor is not birthright, is reward" she said with a frown, raising the bottle and taking a swig.
"What Iska says is true. Years ago, even before I was born, our father decided to put us to work. The initial results were catastrophic, with high casualties and on our side and among civilians. With Boomes loosing control and going on drug fueled rampages and other groups being the powerhouses that they were. It's where our reputation of incompetence comes from." Varn took the cigar out of his mouth and took a swig.
"That changed when my mentor took charge. He started to round up any scientist who didn't want to deal pesky things like moral restraints and started experimenting on fixing us. That's where the walking science experiments rumor comes from. But, it worked. We became more stable, more professional and more focused as a result. Our honor comes from the accolades we've earned since and the efficiency with which we get the job done. You may view it as pointless among the lawless and you're probably right. But who would you rather have at your side? The Gold dust out for cash, The Alpha sister looking for someone else to torture, The Death Vigil member obsessed with death, or the guy who has some form of honor?"
"Preferably none, Boome and all the other large scale private contractors shouldn't of ever been allowed to build up and expand to a frankly unbelievable level of military power....And it's their fault in the first place for this whole mess that the rest of Galaxy has devolved into, the UGC should have work harder to prevented this all in the first place, not allowing itself to slowly crumble into a pit of hopeless corruption and petty strife." Viper told to Varn as it's anger begin to slowly rise in it's voice, leaning in closer to him before laying back to it's previous position.
"But alas, there's nothing to gain in talking about my thoughts about the sad state of an organization I have pledge my own existence towards, all the peacekeepers I used to service within the past...All it now squandered.." Viper reminisced, losing itself in it's tack of thought.
"You know what they say. The interstellar war economy pays.", Dwan said.
"A toast to the war economy. Keeps the wheels to the galaxy spinning." Varn said in a sarcastic tone.
Everything Viper had to say directed to Varn was told though it's blank stare towards him after his snarky remark.
Boom. The silence of space was broken as Roughrider returned to the Archius. The trip to Rigel had been quick; Lion had dropped off Bubal at the main tradeport where the eager Uzhaki was waiting.
Having been paid yet another sum of credits, Lion had arranged for Uzhaki to transport Bubal and the crate of LWA Volgrims back to the Volgrim clan.
As Roughrider touched down in the hangar, Lion gave Sheila the go-ahead to make the jump to the coordinates provided by Saw.
He then made sure that the ship was completely offline before heading to the armory where two projects awaited him.
Shelia nodded as she saw the message. She placed her hands against the controls and began to move.
Varn answered Viper's look with a look of indifference. "Cheer up sir. You still have us and this ship."
Dwan could feel the atmosphere in the bar. Dwan decided to break the ice with a little question. "Viper, I don't think anyone has asked, but how was your species before its current situation?", he asked the Sanghvi.
Viper gave Varn just uninterested shrug as a response from it's shoulders as it face towards the blank wall behind the bar counter, turning to face after Dwan asked the Sanghvi a question about the rest of it's species.
The Sanghvi gave the rather short soft-carbon an interested look, tiling it's head left before answering his query.
"Witch one? Before the UGC's "pacification" effort or before this whole mess that the galaxy has dragged itself into?" Viper asked Dwan as it leaned it's torso inwards on the top of the counter towards Dwan.
Lion leaned back and observed the two weapons which were probably his final projects before they'd reach Termina Central.
He opened up the crew channel. "Can Pippin please report to the armory alongside Viper & Varn? Thank you."
He then opened up a channel to Shelia. "What's our ETA to the target?"
Sorry, you need to Log In to post a reply to this thread.
