I had just finished up investigating a lead I had in the IA. This lead had tuned up nothing, as the person I was looking for had died a week before I had arrived. With that frustration diving me, I was now heading to a contact in the FSA. I was unable to take a direct route, so I found myself far off corse in the Harbor city of Toricva, one of the largest cities in the Federal Republic of Vanconer, a former colony of Versi, now in a federation with the Nrdlands. I was getting off my steamship when I noticed something along the harbor. It was a small building that looked out of place. While most of the buildings along the waterfront were connected in someway to the shipping industry, this didn't have any shipping company names on it. There was a flag outside, but there wasn't enough wind to fully reveal it.

After finding out that my next ship wouldn't be leaving until tomorrow, I hit the streets. I strangly found myself drawn to this building. With uncertain steps I made may way to it. Once I grew close, my attraction became clear. The flag that was fluttering outside was the Azur Lanes flag. The sign out front only made me more certain about visiting the establishment. "Azur Lanes Musem, Early Years to Present '' is what it read. There was no AL base in this part of the Federation. In fact the Federal Republic of Vanconer was distinctly non-algined, not allowing any orgninzation to set up a base here. That meant that what ever this museum was about, was not a hold over or funded by AL. With a newfound sense of hope and interest I entered the building.

The first floor was mainly open, with a desk to the right side, with a door behind it. To the left was a massive open room that had different pictures and displays in it. In the back I could see some stairs. The only people in the building were two women that sat behind the desk. I entered and paid the fee, taking my time to explore the exhibits. There were a lot of pictures I had never seen. I reconginzed some of the ships, such as Javilen and _ some of the most famous early ships in Azur Lanes. One picture was of Javelin smiling holding up some sort of reward, while another figure was next to her. I couldn't make them out as they weren't fully in fame, and it appeared as though someone else off frame was attracting their attention. The placards offered up some interesting information. For instance the one that had Javelin smiling with a reward was labled: "first reward for capturing slavers". Some of these pictures seemed too personal for a standard museum to have. Needing information I decided to ask the recpetionest about the start of the museum.

"Oh that? Well, we are really too young to remember it well" one of the two women replied to my question. The other nodded.

"If you really want a good answer you need to speak with our father"

"The easy answer is, these are personal encounters, but given the way you have been taking notes in the museum that's not going to cut it for you" the first one added. I couldn't help but nod at their assessment.

"If I may ask, why do you want to know?" the second one asked me. I then explained my cause. I wanted to know about the organization, about its founding, and publish what I learned. The two of them looked at one another. They didn't say anything. Instead, a voice from another room answered.

"Its okay, that just reason enough." Out from the doorway behind them came an old man. He appeared ot be in his 60s. He had smile lines around his face, and his eyes were warm. "If you could follow me, the main floor is not for discussions such as this" I did agree with that, so I followed him to the stairs. It was only now I noticed they were cordoned off. the old man removed the cordon, and beckoned me on. I followed through on that, heading up the stairs and reaching a living area. there were even more photos here, not just of the Azur Lanes members, but of the two women downstairs, and what must have been the man, and his wife.

Interview 7

We sat at the table in a dining area. For a long while, neither of us spoke. Finally, I asked him what he knew.

"Hahaha. I can't say how much I know, but I do have some information. You see when I was younger I was one of the city guards, predecessor to the police force. I was in charge of the anti-piracy and slaver elements of the guard. It was in this role that I first encountered them." I had not expected that. Here was someone of the masses, one who was not a government official who knew them. "I remember when they first arrived. It feels just like yesterday, yet its been nearly 30 years. Yes I can tell you what I know, but you better listen well…"


This marks the first part of the second arc.