/Mounting DNA Data...
/Sequencing/Digitizing...
/Launching ...
/**Full Sequencing FAILED, Indexing to Memory files**
/Sequence 3, Memory 3
June 1798 – Malta
Arno strode briskly down the hallway of a well to do government building in Malta's capital. His cloak clean and clipping at his heels and his face free from the filth of the past few days fighting. He reached the end of the hallway and dramatically pushed open a giant set of wooden doors.
They revealed Napoleon alone at a desk. He quickly snapped shut a box he was peering into and up at Arno.
" General d'Hilliers informed me that the canon battery overlooking his landing location ominously stopped firing after it's first or second volley." Napoleon stepped around the desk, stopping to lean on it's short side, as he watched Arno pace about the office looking at the maps and trinkets.
"I'm certain the cannon battery fled at the sight of General d'Hilliers's men's fighting spirit." Arno said sarcastically as he uncorked a decanter of some variety of alcohol and brought it up to his nose. He gave a slight nod and poured some into a glass.
"That's certainly what I'll be telling them." Napoleon responded. "Unfortunately General d'Hilliers's illness has finally caught up with him, you're more than welcome to his quarters aboard his vessel. I have decided to send him home with the captured flags before we press on to Egypt."
Arno raised his glass in acknowledgment to the offer of quarters and took a gentle swig at his beverage selection.
"And when about do you think that will be?"
Napoleon smiled and paused for a moment before responding.
"Very shortly, thanks to the 'revised' terms of our resupply here, we should press on quickly to avoid meddling from the English fleet."
With that a knock on the large wooden door drew both of their attention away from the conversation. It was a younger enlisted man, clearly nervous about having to enter the room.
"Pardon the interruption...but I was sent here as a courier to raise the alarm about lookout's spying masts in the distance. The lookouts could not see colors, but they reported seeing more than what was needed for a supply route." The corporal stood awkwardly in the door waiting to receive and undeserved scolding, or be dismissed.
"Very well..." Napoleon though aloud as he walked to the wine rack. He looked over the bottle and selected one from the middle of the shelf. After dusting it off slightly he walked over to the Corporal he presented it to him.
"Well done, please take this bottle of wine and split it with the lookout who saw the masts while you are both off duty..."
"I'm sorry sir?" The corporal said cradling the wine bottle.
"You heard me Corporal, now go" Napoleon said waving him off.
"Seems like we'll be moving sooner then expected, I'd go prepare you new quarters Arno...time here on Malta is running short."
Several Hours later
Arno lugged his heavy bags of clothing and gear up the gang-plank of the vessel where his new quarters were located Napoleon would not give him specifics on when they were leaving, but he alluded to 'very soon', and the other ships seemed to be loading up quickly.
Arno nodded to the ships crew that were on deck and walked toward the door that led to the better living accommodations, he looked at one of the sailors and said.
"I've been given General d'Hilliers old living quarters...where exactly are they located?"
"Through that door right there and to the left" The sailor responded pleasantly pointing at the proper direction. Arno gave him a nod and stepped through the door and then was quickly faced with 3 doors. One was clearly for the captian of the vessel the other door had a piece of paper nailed to it that read.
Nicolas-Jacques Conté
Conservatoire national des arts et métiers
Commission des Sciences et des Arts
Arno gave it a quick once over before proceeding through the door to his new quarters. The were dark, and slightly more cramped than other quarters he had been in, but the would do. He dropped his bags, un-clipped his cloak from his leather chest plate. He tossed the unattached cloak unceremoniously over a hook and collapsed in the sheet style hammock that had been left by the General.
He quickly began undoing the buckles on his bracers, belt, and pauldrons. He had been wearing his equipment much to long over the past few days. He wanted nothing more then to lounge around in the lightest garments he owned.
As he tossed items onto the dresser while spacing out staring at the ceiling, he began to experience the sensation of being watched. He hated that feeling, thus he popped his head up quickly to see if someone had decided to take advantage of the door he hadn't quite felt like shutting.
In the door stood a man in his early to mid forties wearing an eye patch and a stained over coat. Certainly not threatening, but odd none the less.
"You're replacing the General in these quarters I assume...A bit young to be a General aren't you?" The strange man asked as Arno allowed himself to wiggle out of his hammock to shakes hands with the stranger.
"Not a General...I'm...well...An aide to Napoleon" Arno said, trying to figure out the best way to phase his job within the trip.
"Arno Dorian" He said extending his hand.
"Nicolas Conte" The man said grabbing and shaking the outstretched hand. "I'm and engineer with the scientific group that is along for this trip."
Both the men stop for a moment as the yelling and noise above them begin to pick up. It was a pretty good indication that preparations were underway to sail tonight.
"Quite a bit of technology you've got there." Nicholas said gesturing to the Phantom Blade on Arno's left wrist. Arno removed the buckles and held it in his hand.
"Yes it's certainly and interesting gadget, one that has served me quite well throughout the years."
"Should you ever need that looked at, let me know" Nicolas said " I'm sure I could get it operating should it fail."
Arno smiled and nodded at him. With that Nicholas went back to his room, but ass the door opened Arno's eyes widened. Inside Nicolas's cabin was quite a few trinkets that looked quite promising. He quickly stopped himself from jumping to stop him, he had plenty of time to look at those sorts of things on the journey to Egypt.
Arno locked the cabin behind him and returned to the deck. The day was simply far to beautiful spent inside putting up his things. He walked over to the side of the ship and stared off at the sea. Then almost as if by magic or some god level coincidence as pigeon landed in front of him.
He looked it over and noted a small note tied to it's leg. He slowly reached out, as to not frighten the carrier pigeon, and removed the note. He unfurled the tiny paper and read to himself.
Arno, Hopefully this message finds you and finds you well. We have not heard from you since your mission to Toulon. Please respond if received The Mentor.
'They really do have a way of finding you anywhere' Arno thought to himself.
Arno stuffed the paper into his pocket and looked at the pigeon, who looked back, as if waiting for the return. Arno reached out and grabbed the bird once more to descend to his quarters. It was probably best that he responded to the Orders call, but he needed to create a response that would justify leaving like he did...
/ End Sequence 3, Memory 3