The Old Sailor Pub, Roppongi Station
New Tokyo System
After her talks with the Shogun, Aela honestly didn't want to deal with the incredibly complicated situation that was here in Kusari any longer. She just wanted to get to Perkins and go on to Liberty, her last stop before arriving at Curacao to meet the Citadel representatives.
Which found her here, back on Roppongi, in an admittedly different bar, or 'pub' as the bartender insisted. The Shogun provided an escort back to Roppongi to meet her esteemed guide, Perkins, who had apparently been given carte blanche on the station, by the Shogun as a way of apology. In the absence of her, had been enjoying eating and drinking where he pleased, though not to excess.
"Nice to see you again Aela," he said merrily as he raised a glass in her direction. "You know, the expat community here in Roppongi can tell you alll sorts of stories where they get picked on too. Just nothing this violent, and very rarely with the kids, who just love this station."
"Really?" she said with genuine curiosity. So the more conservative elements were the ones who attacked them?
"Yes. They eat up just about anything foreign." he said. "SynthPaste, shows, books, all sorts of things really."
"Huh." she replied. "Well I think we stayed here in Kusari long enough. I think it's time we left for Liberty."
"Too right." he said as he stood up and gave the bartender a chit. "This should cover what I owe you and more, Tim."
"Thanks Perkins." Tim replied.
"Let's go then." Perkins said as they both walked towards the docking bay.
"Aren't you a little too… drunk to pilot the ship?" Aela said tentatively. She knew that drinking and flying did not mix. Especially with something that weighed several tons and moved at speeds she'd rather not think about.
"I know," he said a little smugly, with that smirk on his face. "Which is why I'm letting you take control."
Aela stopped right there in the middle of the corridor. "What."
"It mostly pilots itself outside combat, really," he said a little too smugly for comfort. "I'll point out what you need to press. Besides, you won't be the first pilot I've taught."
While that statement wasn't exactly what she'd call encouraging, she'd rather try and pilot the ship than let a drunk pilot do so.
At least, that was what she really hoped, as they arrived at the docking bay.
Planet Junyo
Shikoku system
If there was one thing Junyo never lacked for, it was water, thought Interspace Commerce Rep Henry Watts. The whole damn planet was literally an ocean. In fact, up until 150 years ago, no one thought this ball of water was worth anything, till Kusari's traditional fisheries started to collapse. Then Samura thought this planet ideal to convert into one giant fishery.
These days, Junyo was dotted with platforms, where many fishermen worked in. Many would love to live in them really, but the costs of living on them, due to what Samura deemed 'maintenance', were incredibly excessive and only the more well-off fishermen could really live and work there.
Hence why he was here to meet up with his Samura counterpart on one of the older rigs on Junyo. Despite modern materials, man could only do so much to fight the inevitable decay of their works. The salty sea's effects could be seen in the rust hanging off the platform' edges, likely due to the fact that no one lived on this particular platform, and those that did work on it weren't here right now. It was reasonably controlled by Samura and highly unlikely to be heard by anyone who didn't work for either of the two companies.
"Are you Mr. Watts?" said a voice coming from the platform's tower. He turned around to see what he had come to associate as typical Kusari heading toward him. He had that polite, yet somehow condescending look on him, as if you don't know any better. Kinda like his 5th grade teacher now that he thought about it.
"Yeah. And you must be Mr. Tanigawa, representing Mr. Samura himself."
"Hai. And you represent IC's interests?" he said,.
Henry simply smiled at that. "Yeahp. Let's get to business then. We know that Samura would like more… say in what goes on in Kusari. What we want is better deals on fuel. You talk to the GMG for us, and we'll handle SynthPaste."
Tanigawa narrowed his eyes at that, which somehow, with him in his charcoal grey business suit, made him look even more condescending. "While this is certainly something that we can arrange, we were hoping for something more along the lines of… arrangements regarding our new neighbors."
"Ah… The Blue Stripper Chicks from space." Watts said, enjoying the man's frown at his nickname for the Asari. That video from Rhineland had already made a sensation throughout the Neural Net. "What do you propose then?"
"Merely that you don't give them any sort of favourable rates for any of their companies that wish to… approach the markets here."
"Hmm..." he said, taking this moment to think about what to ask for. Interspace Commerce wasn't planning on giving them good rates in the first place anyway. "The aliens will have nice and shiny new tech for us if they went to us for financing. With the amount of potential lost profits… We'd want a piece of your Battleship and Space Station projects for the next century. You go to us for financing and we get 20% of all profits from those projects."
"10% Mr. Watts, is a much more reasonable percentage."
"I can give you 10%. But with that we'll want you to go to us for financing on any new mining and refining projects you'll handle for the next century as well. Who knows what we'll find out there with the aliens involved?"
"A good enough bargain Mr. Watts." he said as he extended his hand. "It was a pleasure doing business with you."
"And you as well." said Henry as he shook the man's hand.
God he really needed to get out of here. Too much sea and not enough booze for his liking. That and he was running low on his preferred SynthPaste flavours.
In Orbit of New Tokyo
New Tokyo System.
Really, once Perkins had pointed out the very basics of taking off (which essentially was push green button for the anti-grav landing gear, turn ship slowly, ease the throttle then don't hit the walls) flying the ship was as simple as moving the joystick around to direct the ship's direction. If she wanted to keep a steady course, it was simple enough to just let go of the stick and let the ship fly on. It was even possible for it's own auto-pilot to go and perform basic docking and landing maneuvers, though all Pilots knew how to do it manually, just in case.
Really, Aela could easily see herself flying her own ship in the future, similar to this. Her Helmet HUD told her everything relevant: shields, hull and energy levels, any sort of damage and even important waypoints that Perkins had set up as a 'trial run' ... essentially she was flying until they hit the Shikoku jump gate, which wasn't too far away. Just one Trade Lane away really.
"Right, you're doing real good so far," Perkins said encouragingly. In fact… he wasn't slurring his words. He even still had that calm pilot look on him.
"You're not drunk at all, are you?" Aela asked a little accusingly.
"I am, for your information, legally too inebriated to fly," he said defensively. "I mean, it's not like you'd give up the opportunity to fly this beauty, eh?"
Aela had to give him that. There was a little part of her, the Maiden really, that liked a little excitement in her life. Flying this ship was incredibly exciting. New technology from a completely different tech base, highly intuitive controls, and a little part of her, the rebel from her Maiden days, was squeeing at the amount of firepower she had at her disposal right now.
"I guess you're right," she said as she very gently directed the ship toward the Trade Lane to the Shikoku Jump Gate. "It is kind of fun flying this ship."
Perkins merely smiled at that. "I can make you a pilot yet," he said confidently. "Now, go initiate docking procedures with the Trade Lane. Press that green button over there to signal the Trade Lane, and let the ship do the rest."
Really, with how easy it was to learn how to fly one of these, she could begin to see why there were so many Humans out in space. These ships just seemed so foolproof.
Tau 30 System
With the upcoming talks with the Human Houses coming up soon, the Citadel Council felt it wise that the Humans know exactly what they were dealing with. Hence why the current representative, one Matriarch Benezia, was going to be arriving in Curacao in style, aboard the latest Dreadnought in Citadel space, the Salarian Union's Jaelor, attended by an Asari Dreadnought, Asha, and of course the proper attendant fleets too. Part of the Turian 7th would be joining them, along with the Asha's and Jaelor's escorts.
Not to mention her entourage of both bodyguards and experts. Along with her own personal band of Commandoes, the Council felt it wise that one particular Specter join her group. One Jondum Bau was there as her escort and of course a few dozen Turian Legionnaires who were to escort her and provide a more… balanced and unified outlook when she goes to talk to the Humans.
Which was also why she was here on the Bridge of the Jaelor, two weeks away from the nearest Mass Relay, as they entered the Tau 30 system. It wouldn't do for the Humans to panic and think they were under attack. According to the reports they had yet to meet a Salarian, and were unfortunately likely to react violently given the large fleet that was arriving.
Sure enough, the Communications officer reported an incoming hail from the local fleet: a single Dreadnought, accompanied by a few cruisers and frigates.
"This is Captain James Dunbar of the HMS Stirling, of the Bretonian Armed Forces. Be aware that you are treading on sovereign Bretonian territory. Identify yourselves or prepare to be destroyed." the hail said, the Human's voice surprisingly calm and aloof, despite being clearly outnumbered.
Benezia took this as her cue to reply. "This is Matriarch Benezia, here to represent the Citadel Council in the upcoming talks on Curacao," she replied, remembering to keep her voice as neutral and humble as possible. It wouldn't do to appear too high and mighty to the Humans.
"Ah. We've been expecting you then." the Human, Captain Dunbar said. "Though we honestly didn't think you'd bring along this much baggage, ma'am."
"Baggage?"
"It's the only possible explanation for all the attending ships ma'am," he said in a straight voice.
Somehow, Benezia had a feeling that they could eventually get along with these people. Eventually.
"I'm afraid not Captain. This is my escort fleet." she replied.
"Rather smashing if I do say so," replied a little merrily. "I'm sure that you've had to pass through some rather dangerous part of space and all that, but from here on, you'll be under our protection. I'm sure you can leave a few tonnes of your baggage behind."
Benezia could concede that to him. She rather thought they got the message across that they had numbers. This was after all only an escort fleet. Imagine a real battle fleet. "We'll proceed with only a few ships from the other races to Curacao, Captain. This was a fleet to merely ensure my safety. You may not know it but you lie in a rather… active part of space."
"Thank you," Captain Dunbar replied, "Right then, you'd want access all the way to Curacao then. I'm sending you a data packet now. It should contain the Jump Codes for the Jump Gates linking you all the way to the Curacao system, though I will be escorting you there myself, to make sure you don't take any wrong turns and all that."
"Receiving data packet," said one of the deck officers. "Packet received and redistributing throughout the fleet."
"We've specially programmed the Gates on the route to take these codes. Just upload, wait for the wormhole to generate, then enter. Slowly." Captain Dunbar said.
"Thank you," Benezia replied. "I'd like to request that we go in first. It would be… an experience I think."
"Be my guest. The Norfolk will meet you on the other side. Together, our two ships will escort you to Curacao."
Willing to trust, but properly cautious. Signs of wisdom perhaps?
"Thank you again," Benezia replied. "Captain, if you would kindly direct us towards the Jump Gate?"
"Of course, Matriarch," Captain Geron of the Jaelor said. "Flank speed towards the Gate. I want us to stop 5 ks before the arms. Then we upload the codes. Lieutenant Bau, I want the full sensor array online and on full power recording whatever we experience as we go through that wormhole."
Lieutenant Bau simply nodded and went to his work.
Meanwhile, Benezia tried to maintain a calm and aloof exterior, as was proper for a Matriarch. On the inside however, she was giddy with excitement. She just knew that Aethiya and Liara would absolutely love to see what she was seeing now. Maybe when she returned home, she could get them to come with her to tour the Human Sirius Sector.
"Uploading codes. Gate is opening," said one of the bridge officers.
"Detecting anomaly at the center of the gate." reported another.
"I think Captain, that would be our way to the next system," Benezia said.
"Indeed. Helm, ahead at quarter speed."
"Aye sir. Quarter speed." reported one of the deck officers.
Benezia took this moment to simply observe the event, as ever so slowly, the ship moved towards the wormhole. Suddenly, as the ship approached the center of the gate, she felt a great pulling sensation, and then before her was one of the most beautiful things she had ever seen.
"Goddess. It's full of stars." she said, awestruck.
Keiun Cloud, Near the Kepler Jump Gate
Shikoku System
"Oh God." Perkins said as they exited the Trade Lane.
Aela was quite worried too. There were five fearsome looking heavy fighters directly between them and the Jump Gate. While Perkins was a good pilot, she wasn't sure of his ability to take on those five if those ships attacked.
"Blood Dragons." he said in a slightly fearful tone. Which was in itself a bad sign. If even the ever stoic Perkins was terrified of these Blood Dragons, that couldn't be good. "Keep quiet. I'll talk to them, if we're lucky they'll only want our food and water and let us go."
Perkins then calmed himself, clearly trying to make a good impression, "Good day sirs!" he said merrily. "We surrender. We haven't got much in food or water aboard but if you really want, I'll go eject it right now. Just let us go. Please." he said.
A few moments of silence hung about, making both Perkins and Aela more nervous. Were they offended? Did they take the surrender well?
"We aren't here for your cargo, Mr. Perkins and Miss D'Avo. We are only here to say goodbye."
"Well, it was nice knowing you," Perkins said as he turned to Aela. "Because now, we die."
"What." was all Aela could reply. "Can't we fight back?"
"I can try, but I don't think I'll make it far." Perkins said seriously. "They're the best damn pilots in the Sirius Sector. Could take a freighter and make it fly as nimbly as a light fighter. I mean these guys are the sort to cripple a Battleship with nothing more than a mere squadron of fighters."
"We're not going to kill you if that's what you are thinking." said the comms suddenly.
"What?" was all the both of them could say.
"We've made sure to… clear the path of undesirables . From here on out though, you are on your on as you make your way to Liberty. No problems for a pilot of your caliber, Mr. Perkins."
Which really just caused him to mumble and stutter. Praise from a Blood Dragon? About his piloting? He must've been dreaming.
"Good luck you two." And like that, the squadron flew deep into the cloud, and out of their sensor range.
"Come on Perkins," Aela said, trying to get him to snap out of the daze he was in. "Let's go."
"He complimented me. A Blood Dragon complimented me," he mumbled, a faint smile on his face.
No sense in shaking him out of it then. Might as well take control till they hit the other side. Maybe by then, he'll have snapped out of it, at least enough to pilot and tell some stories about these Blood Dragons. As she took control of the ship, she noticed on the sensors that there was indeed a little bit of debris gently drifting further into the nebula.