Oregon had not actually met all her agents face to face. Some would argue it was safer that way. In case one was caught they couldn't implicate the others. But when she recruited, Oregon preferred to have some physical identity to go with a name. Even if that name wasn't the real one. Sometimes ships were recruited indirectly, through agents she already had in place. In those cases Oregon preferred not to know their identities for they were usually the deep undercover type who she was not willing to risk exposing just for the sake of seeing their face. But when one of her key agents, the one who was responsible for sending her such valuable information for years, was one she had never met, well that was a mystery Oregon couldn't refuse to explore any longer. And since she had time, she chose to do what her NUMA friends did and explore.
Oregon had taken the bold and risky step of requesting a meeting with the ship known only by her alias, Sicilian. Sicilian was more than a bit of an enigma. Even El'efant had been unable to provide much information. All he and Oregon knew was Sicilian was a ship, one with apparently deep connections and an even deeper disguise. To fool El'efant was not a small feet. It was a credential in of itself. Whoever Sicilian was, they were good.
Oregon approached the port of Liverpool. Entering a first world country had its own set of risks and there was almost certainly someone at MI6 who had their eye on her. The stringent rules required Oregon to come prepared with all her papers handy. This time, she was using her Iris alias which had come in handy throughout southern Europe. It worked well here as well. As far as most authorities were concerned, Iris was a former Panamanian flagged freighter that had been caught by the US Navy smuggling their $100 million a few years back. Thus it was expected for her to be impounded and then later sold to a private but more reputable country. Thus the Bermuda flag hung from her flag-staff. It was not a flag Oregon was accustomed to flying but she would admit, it looked good on her and matched her red hull, currently far more spic and span than what she normally wore. At one time, she would've loved to look pretty, now she was surprised at how repulsive she found a clean hull. Even if her hull wasn't actually a rust covered hulk, she had grown accustomed to the look. But that was neither here nor there, Oregon renewed her search for her agent.
Sicilian's orders had been specific. Just south of the Kingsway Tunnel at the northern most berth at Albert Dock. Oregon made a gentle turn out of the River Mercy into the docks, ignoring the stares she got from the other ships, mostly passenger ships, docked there. "I must be an unwelcome sight." She thought. "At least my hull is 'prettier'." All the way back there was a ship docked, a medium sized passenger liner. Compared to the behemoth cruise ships a few berths down she was moderate in build and stature. But Oregon would say she was far more lovely. Her lines were graceful and sleek. Her superstructure was rectangular, following the lines of her midsection perfectly. Unlike the cruise ships, she did not have the appearance of a floating skyscraper. Most curious was the lack of a bulbous bow. Most modern ships, Oregon included after her modifications, had the bulb for improved efficiency. But whoever designed her, Oregon had to agree with them. A bulb would just look foul on her. Her knife like prow simply wasn't up to the job aesthetically. Oregon did note some curvature to her flanks however that smoothed the water at her stern, so even without the bulb she did have some efficiency when cutting through the water.
Her green eyes flickered over to Oregon and without moving a muscle she whispered quietly as the freighter approached "The ice is like a knife, cutting through the flesh." Oregon stiffened, eyes flitting back and forth to ensure no one was watching. She knew a passphrase when she heard one. Just one of many her agents used when contacting her. It was a means of ensuring identity. "The maiden is strong, her song carries through the night." "The ocean seeks her prize as it must always claim its bounty." "But through mercy, some shall survive." Oregon took a breath. "Sicilian." A nod. "Oregon."
"I must admit, you have me at somewhat of a loss." Oregon admitted. "Actually, quite the loss. You know my name, my real name. And yet I do not know yours." "And it is for that knowledge alone that you seek me out?" Sicilian asked. Her green gaze was piercing, as though she was searching for something deep within Oregon's soul. Oregon was not used to such a strong gaze and shifted uncomfortably. Sicilian kept her eyes for a moment longer before granting Oregon her authority and looked away. "Knowledge is power Oregon. Even the lowliest tugboat knows this. All ships know my true name and yet that is only half of who I am. Be clear about what you seek." The way Sicilian held herself, those eyes, she seemed so wise and ancient. Here was a ship who had seen it all, lived it all. She had touched the stars, and sailed the deepest depths. Her knowledge, her secrets, could not be shared with anyone and yet she was giving Oregon her permission to do just that. Should the freighter decide it. But Oregon was not power hungry, despite her curiosity in the matter, it was not her place to seek that kind of knowledge. "Your secrets are your own." She replied. "I seek merely your true name." Sicilian smiled, her first true genuine smile she had showed Oregon. It lit her green eyes in a way Oregon hadn't thought possible. No, it lit up her soul. Once again, Oregon was reminded of the power this ship held and briefly she feared those who she knew would stop at nothing to steel that power for themselves. Sicilian seemed to know what she was thinking for she gave Oregon a reassuring nod. "No one, machine or man, will know my true existence. None except for you and even then your knowledge will be limited. As you requested. I see now I was wise to choose your path." She said. "I have no, practical reason to request your name Sicilian." "Curiosity is practical, Oregon. It was curiosity that lead to my rediscovery. Curiosity was my guide to the modern world. It is far from a sin, Oregon. It is a gift." "Very well, then for my own curiosity. I request this knowledge." "Then you shall have it. Come." Sicilian led her deeper into the berth, away from prying eyes. The pair halted with Sicilian's gaze on an inconspicuous hotel across the street. "The base of my ancestors. The fleet I once served."
Her voice grew deeper, stronger somehow as though the hidden power she spoke of was coming to the surface. Her superstructure flickered as the sight beyond it disappeared. In its place rose four majestic funnels where there was once only one. A pair of perfectly raked masts both fore and aft completed the picture. And that green gaze, more intense than ever, was staring straight into Oregon's soul once more. "How..." The freighter breathed, in awe of what she was seeing. "Holographic projectors. They're only prototypes but Overhalt felt fit to give them to me. It allows me to be inconspicuous when I wish to avoid crowds." "Like now." "Exactly. See, you rely upon repugnance for your work. No one gives you a second glance because they're so repulsed by your appearance they cannot believe you would be involved in anything, let alone a world class spy ring. I do things the exact opposite. I depend upon attracting people to me. And the more I can draw in, the better. As my true self, I don't even need the effort. Ships, and people alike, flock to me." "I can understand why. You are royalty, a queen among ships." Oregon said. "And do you think me a queen, Oregon?" "What do you wish me to think?" Oregon replied. "What you think and what you feel are up to you. I have no desires to control that. I only use my powers of seduction for good. To control you in that manner would make me no better than the ones we are fighting." "You are as wise as you are beautiful, Titanic." "Oregon, you will make this old ship blush!" "Tis only the truth, lass." Sicilian pressed her prow to Oregon's. "Is there anything else you wish to know?" "I desire, like any mortal would, to know everything. But I shall not make that request. You may shall, what you feel I am worthy to know." Oregon replied. Sicilian nodded approvingly. "You are indeed wiser than I, Oregon. I have not seen a ship with your judgement in quite some time. Consider your wish granted."
And so the two talked, Sicilian doing most of it but Oregon occasionally chiming in. Each time brought about a laugh or some form of praise from the older ship. Oregon, for all her brilliance, had a humble heart and soul. And that, more than anything, made her worthy to the greatest secrets of the shipping world. The secrets of Titanic.