Many light-years away, elsewhere in the universe, a similar scene played out as it had on and around Vylat. The initial preparation phase of a full-scale Irken invasion of the world of Onrek staged and standing by. The Armada's vessels in formation, making final checks ensuring all systems were nominal and weapons operational. Supporting craft and supply ships, well-guarded, prepared to rearm, refuel, and repair once the time came.
Unlike Vylat, Onrek was anything but primitive. Their technology capable of putting up ample resistance, sitting outside of their planet in-system was boldly stupid even by Empire standards. Rather, an unremarkable set of coordinates in the cold expanse of space hosted the impromptu gathering of Imperial might. Alerting their soon-to-be-conquered adversaries would result in another Vort. No more mistakes. No more impatience. High Marshal Zha restored a semblance of sanity at Tallum. She intended to continue carrying that torch to another tactically-brilliant victory.
Vaukt, taking advantage of captured Vortian facilities and trusted individuals who would keep their mouths shut about using alien machinery, was able to use materials so kindly obtained by Zha to produce the first run of prototypes: Spec Ops power armor. The General finished his conversation with the Lost Hive, stepping over a fallen warrior of Clan Korgur as he approached a similarly armored squad he was with. Their armors' red optics dimmed, and the only real light in the room. These were his most loyal men, he'd trust nobody else to hear what he just said, much less wear the prototypes.
The General held up a communicator, switching to Zha's frequency. "We've done our job down here. Good to go for the invasion. Their fleet is miniscule, their warriors are good, but we're better."
"Excellent work, Vaukt." Zha's voice chimed through his comms. "I will relay accordingly to Rear Admiral Navu. I am certain General Orlo is eager to disengorge his transports across Onrek's surface. You know your craft best, but I recommend making yourselves scarce before the fighting reaches full-pitch. We do not want another Vort taking place."
"Yes, yes, our teams are moving to secure the LZs and mark them. We'll be back shortly, out."
"I will have your drink waiting for you, General."
He looked around, seeing a few flowers in a vase nearby, sticking them into a pocket on a cloak over his own armor, as well as pocketing some Orenkian alcohol and smokes before his team made their way out. In their pre-scouted clearing, Vaukt and his team set down light beacons, guiding in dropships of Elites coming into the first wave as Armada fighter-bombers began hitting surface targets. Quick strikes without enemy air defenses, almost like Tallum once the barrier came down. Vaukt and his team boarded one of the dropships and reascended to the fleet above with their jobs done.
Once back on the ship, still in his power armor, Vaukt made his way to the CIC. He was promised a drink, he was going to collect. But, it's apparent prior conversations he held in the intervening months with Vult, Hesa, and Calla over some secured communications on Zha's strange behavior towards him. It made more sense, she clearly liked him, must have been his mysterious nature. With the tap of a few buttons on his left gauntlet, the man's helmet split in half and retracted into the chest and back of the armor, leaving the General's head exposed once more as he nodded to Zha.
"These things are performing just as I hoped. Need to make a few tweaks and address a few initial issues but I'm quite happy with how these came out."
The towering officer turned to face Vaukt's approach, slender gloved digits folded behind her back with a smile about her crisp features with the smallest hint of amusement.
"Pleased as you are, a friendly reminder that the strings pulled for your side-project were to benefit your men…but I am glad you are enjoying yourself." She teased lightly. "We can't have rumors run abound that I am playing favorites, now can we?"
"I used to be the same rank as you, do remember that." Vaukt withdrew a Vortian cigarette and lit it, taking a much needed drag. "Besides, everyone knows I'm going to be in the field with my men, only stands to reason that I get to use it as well, doesn't it?"
"The key there being formerly and not the current," She grinned, gesturing for him to walk with her as she made to take her leave from the CIC. "...and you do raise a valid point. I am only giving you a hard time. I find it equally endearing as it is inspiring that you are down there with your men, reminding yourself of the actions you are committing them to."
"I wouldn't ever ask them to do something I wasn't willing to do myself. My command style has earned me the endearment of a lot of my troops. They'd follow me into the most hopeless of situations so long as I stood shoulder to shoulder with them." He smirked after taking another drag of his smoke as they walked along. "Bit of a philosophy I live, I'm above these men but my position is something of a first among equals. I'm not aloof to their conditions, I endure it with them. Keeps me grounded, their concerns at the forefront as I do things in the wider world of Spec Ops to save as many lives as I can. Not to mention the very unique position my branch finds itself in."
"So I have noticed," Zha nodded, her heels clipping along the metal deck sharply with Vaukt's boots thudding in contrast. "They are fortunate to have a man so charismatic and confident to follow. If my command staff possessed half the character you did, the Empire would be unstoppable."
The pair approached a closed door. Reading Zha's biometrics, the lock shifted and the door parted in twain to either side with a pneumatic hiss. The opulent, spacious quarters befitting of an esteemed High Marshal of the Irken Empire. She stood to the side with a wave of her palm.
"After you, General."
He smirked, stepping into the room and taking a seat in a nearby available chair. Remembering what he grabbed earlier thanks to his conversation with Calla, he reached into his cloak pocket and withdrew the flowers he picked, holding them out to Zha. "These are for you, something from the field."
Following after him, the door closing securely behind her, the High Marshal approached her small collection of spirits at a wall-mounted cabinet. Having knowledge of Vaukt's preferences, a choice was made and poured in short order. A glass apiece, the bottle returned to its berth. When she turned around, drinks in hand, she was perplexed at what she was greeted with.
The Special Operations General, offering her a collection of colorful blooms. Flowers from Onrek's surface. Her bright green eyes blinked in momentary confusion as she slowly set the glasses down at the table to accept the bundled plants.
"I…see…" She managed, brow furrowing as she intensely studied this impromptu offering before looking back to the man. "...is there something unique about these plants I should be aware of?"
"I uh…no." Calla's advice seemed to have proven wrong in Zha's case.
That only served to intensify her confusion as her expression shifted further.
"May I ask as to why you're giving me these…weeds?"
"...Clearly I've misinterpreted some things."
"Misinterpreted?" Zha managed, setting the flowers down on the table next to her drink. "You'll have to excuse me, Vaukt, but I am completely lost now…did I miss something? I have been known to be oblivious with you Spec Ops types." She concluded with a light jab at herself.
"Misinterpreted some signals from you about me, perhaps, but…you know what, fuck it, give me a second."
Well, what else to do in the worst case than fall back on what he knows? He reached into his other pockets, withdrawing flasks and bottles of Orenkian alcohol and boxes of smokes and set them on the table next to him. Something he definitely prefers. May as well go for broke. How could this possibility of Zha liking him go any more wrong?
"Perhaps these are more to your liking as something of a gift?"
The pilfered treasures began to pile up as he procured various items from within his overcoat. Spirits and smokes, just as he had a penchant for helping himself to on Vort. The same behavior and curiosity that garnered her attention before. Here he was back at it again. This time, however, his words kickstarted several gears to turn behind her eyes as she observed.
A shapely brow arched high with the smugest of smirks to match as she leaned against the table's edge before him, crossing her legs as she peered down at him.
"...General Vaukt…if I didn't know any better…I would say you are attempting to…fraternize with your commanding officer. That is a punishable offense, you know."
Her tone was anything but serious if her body language wasn't clear enough.
"How can I be at fault if it was the very same who initiated this on Vort?" He smirked, armored arm leaning on the table.
"Passing blame onto others isn't your style," Zha chuckled, helping herself to one of the smaller bottles he set on the table for inspection before cracking its seal with the intent to sample. "Surely a man of your conviction can't be so easily swayed. I have been nothing but cordial and professional with you." She concluded with a swig, offering the opened bottle to Vaukt.
"I do recall you being somewhat flirtatious with me on Vort. Your rather…personal manner, at least with me. I genuinely think you might like me. Perhaps because I'm such a mystery? Constantly in the shadows, ever the illusive man, you wish to know more, yes?" He chuckled, taking a swig of the Orenkian spirits within before putting the bottle down. Strong stuff but he could take it. "Or at least that's my guess."
An authentic laugh came from Zha.
"Awfully presumptuous, aren't we?" She mused in good spirits. "...are you sure it wasn't my tactical brilliance with a personal, unorthodox touch that enamored you like a moth to a flame? Seeking to drink heartily from the well of strategic genius…or is it because of my boldness in asserting dominance to make it clear who commands the room, even among her peers?"
She intentionally leaned over, elbow to the table to lower her gaze to meet his evenly.
"...or do you simply like what you see, General?"
"You came to me when your lower commanders didn't respect your authority and it was my advice that fixed that situation." He leaned closer, smirk growing to a grin, "Perhaps you are intriguing for a reg, but you must admit that you have a thing for me. If I thought you were simply being odd I wouldn't be having this conversation now, would I?"
"Perhaps…" She intentionally left hang with a bemused huff. "My curiosity into the man capable of driving Supreme Commander Grimm into fits of incomprehensible anger on a routine basis certainly grasped my attention…I wasn't expecting him to be such a rugged, charismatic leader. You don't posture. You act. Actions speak louder than words…"
With that, she intentionally leaned closer, a matter of inches between their faces now.
"...are you going to sit there and keep talking or are you going to act, Mr. Mysterious Stranger?"
Vaukt paused for a moment, taking a swig of the spirits again as he thought it over. The silence of contemplation was followed by a chuckle. "I would but these sorts of affairs are beyond me. I have no idea what to do next."
His response, or lack thereof, earned a snicker from Zha, followed by a sigh.
"Once again, I see my illustrious guidance is required…" She cheekily mused before helping herself to another drink from the same bottle.
Sliding it back onto the table, her booted foot found purchase on the inside of Vaukt's leg and the chair leg behind it. A firm push turned him some distance away from the table in a brief skid. The subtle change permitted the High Marshal to casually slip into Vaukt's lap. Settling in casually, her long legs to one side, arms wrapping around the General's neck with a smirk the entire time.
"...now…do I need to hold your hand through the next step or can you figure it out?"
What did Hesa say? Instinct? What was instinctual?
A pause, and then an armored hand reached up, coming to rest on her cheek. The other to her shoulder, giving a gentle push until her lips met his. It was brief but it allowed Vaukt to crack a smirk.
Before another bout of banter at his expense could be mentally prepared, she was drawn into a kiss. Despite her apparent knowledge and supposed expertise, most of it was assumption based on observation. Vortians and the like across the universe, the natural attraction, and behaviors of companionship. To experience it firsthand for the first time was exhilarating.
Never breaking contact with Vaukt, one of her hands rose to grasp the bill of her cap, tossing it onto the table, permitting her to lean further into their embrace as her arm fell across his shoulder once again. A simple breach of personal space, voluntary or otherwise, completely changed the dynamic of their association. What began as colleagues and peers on Vort became respect and admiration into friendship…and whatever this was followed thereafter.
He pulled back, the man's silvery eyes gazing back into her's. He chuckled first, "If only we were capable of going further than just this."
"Awfully presumptuous for someone who didn't know what to do sixty seconds ago." She teased at his expense, resting her forehead against his own. "...so…we are in agreement then, yes?"
"Believe so…if you don't mind that I'm a field man through and through and know all the risks that entails." A subtle reminder that he was always one to stick his neck out and that one day he may not be so lucky.
"I'll manage. I wouldn't dare convince you otherwise…just as you are going to accept the tens of thousands of others who require my attention so you may not always get it when it is convenient for you."
A content exhale as she rested against him, pondering briefly before returning her gaze to his own.
"...not that you need to be reminded but this obviously needs to stay discreet. Last thing either of us need is rumors abound. I can't imagine Grimm passing up the opportunity to lay into either of us over it."
Vaukt only returned her reminder with a kiss to her cheek instead. He knew full well she would be regularly busy. He was a self sufficient man, more than capable of seeing to his own needs. Though having a companion made things more interesting.
"Yes, but I could hardly care less about what that blowhard thinks or does. I've been looking for an excuse to give him a new hole to breathe out of ever since Vort."
"So you have said and made abundantly clear," Zha made light of the morbid subject with a bemused huff. "Unlike you, however, I am without the luxury of conveniently disappearing on a whim being a "Reg" as you so affectionately refer. I am forced to play politics while trying to win wars."
"Truly I feel sorry for you." Vaukt chuckled as he pulled her closer to his armored form. "Maybe you should consider a transfer? Maybe once I get my rank back. Grimm's the one who took it from me in the first place anyhow."
"Oh, don't go making me promise you can't keep now. I may complain but I'm extremely fortunate." She mused, pausing in momentary reflection. "…but I may be able to put a good word in to see you restored at the conclusion of this campaign. You have been instrumental both here and abroad at places such as Vylat."
"And Grimm will just pull it again I'm sure." He scoffed, reaching over and taking a large swig from a bottle. "That man is the scum of the scum under my boots. In a saner military he'd have been thrown out. Yet we have this strange hierarchy of height rather than promoting the truly deserving."
"He may…but he also would have to contend with me and unlike him, I didn't botch the Vort campaign and continually fail to deliver on my promises." The High Marshal countered snarkily. "Your chances of retaining it remain high so long as I'm around to protect you from yourself."
"What's that supposed to mean? He shot her an odd look. "Look at me, I'm clearly the superior officer and soldier. Someone like Grimm should be nothing more than a janitorial drone on Foodcourtia."
Zha laughed, grinning at him.
"Are you being serious? On more than one occasion you've threatened bodily harm against him. Grimm is…a jackass, but you aren't doing yourself any favors among High Command by doing that, either."
"Yeah, well," the man let out a frustrated huff, "if it were up to me they'd all be out of a job and probably not at the unemployment office."
"Including me?" She pursued with a smirk. "I am just as oblivious as they are."
"I might have a job for you. Need even more of a reason to be mindful in the field and have a drink ready for me as soon as I walk in the door." He cracked a playful smirk right back at her.
"Oh? And what job would that be?"
"Why you can be my personal live-in…" he paused as he recalled his previous conversations, "I believe the term is girlfriend." He chuckled, planting a kiss on her cheek. "You'd only have to worry about one man instead of tens of thousands."
Zha blinked, perplexed. So much so that she barely registers his kiss.
"Live-in girlfriend? What's that mean? We have our own separate quarters…and I can't shirk my duties, even for you."
"...I mean you'd live with me, and I thought we were still talking hypothetically." He paused. "Would be better if we promoted on merit rather than height, don't you think?"
If his odd choice of implied topics wasn't enough to jarr her, that certainly was. Her arms unraveled from around his neck to clasp his shoulders. Sitting upright at a relaxed arms-length, she studied his features momentarily at his sincerity. He was quite serious.
"...the same systems of the species we subjugate and enslave. Why emulate the tactics, culture, and customs of those we defeat? I know your thoughts and manners are cavalier at best, but that is bold, even by your standards."
"It only works because of people like us being able to command an army to bring about victory or someone like Grimm who only seems to win by throwing a massive amount of bodies at the problem. If we had a system that promoted based on merit instead of height, someone like us would be Supreme Commander rather than Grimm, who probably would have never been allowed to ascend beyond Captain."
A conflicted, pursed expression immediately took hold over the High Marshal's features. Her lime-green gaze found nothing in particular to focus on, only avoiding Vaukt's momentarily in contemplation.
"I'm…not sure I want to hear the rest of this conversation, Vaukt." She pointedly spoke, returning her attention back to him. "The implications you are making…dangerously close to lines I know you are more than aware of existing."
Vaukt chuckled, moving one of his hands to rest atop one of her's. "Perhaps it's the alcohol. Maybe we should just enjoy each other's company? I'm sure your command staff can handle the invasion without your presence if you have invasion plans laid out well like I'm sure you do."
Equal parts relieved as she was concerned at the General's ambiguous words, Zha let it slide - for now. To remotely suggest something contradictory to the Imperial Standard had seen many a good soldier evaluated by IIA or even outright executed on the spot for their heretical implications. The same allure of his devil-may-care attitude had its own drawbacks of not knowing when to stop at well enough. Something she could very quickly be caught up in should she lack mindfulness.
For the time being, however, she accepted his verbal bowing out of the idea. Less that she wasn't curious to hear what he had to say, but more she was afraid of what he had to say. Where it would lead them. What it could lead to. The sort of attention neither of them wanted from their least-favored colleagues in the entire universe.
"...I see no reason not to. This early on, it hasn't become a quagmire mess just yet…enjoy the peace while it lasts until I have another proverbial fire to put out. I may even let you man the hose."
As she chuckled at her own play-on-words at the General's expense, the communicator at her belt vibrated, chiming with a notification. A suppressed groan of annoyance and roll of her eyes followed as she sat up, standing from Vaukt's lap to reach for the device. He understood. He dealt with much of the same. Absolutely awful timing though.
"I just left the CIC. What is it?"
"Apologies, High Marshal, but your presence is requested on the bridge."
"For what, exactly? Why is my presence requested?"
"...Personnel issues, Ma'am. You may want to hurry."
An annoyed sigh and pinch of the bridge between her eyes followed before regaining her composure.
"Very well, I will be there shortly." Zha concluded, snapping the device shut to reattach at her hip and take up her visor cap. "Unbelievable…cannot leave them alone for five minutes…" She muttered, already making for the door.
Vaukt finished another shot before standing himself and following her out the door. So soon out the door? Could the regs have messed things up this badly already? Though with a trip back to the CIC quickly revealed that the problem wasn't the invasion but command itself.
"I cannot believe this! How is this runt ever granted the rank of Major General?!" Major General Inz, a pink eyed, tall woman yelled, absolutely dumbfounded. "Good thing I got here when I did! This short idiot probably would have messed up the entire campaign if he were to remain in command any longer!"
Despite Inz's indignation and fury, Saro remained at parade rest before her. Statuesque and taking it all in stride. Equal parts confused as he was annoyed but she was taller than he. His recently-repaired ocular implant and remaining natural eye both caught the movement of Zha and Vaukt entering the room. Relief filled him at the sight.
"What in the blue fuck is going on in here?!" Vaukt yelled, the room going silent as he entered the room with Zha. His voice alone would have done that, but additionally nobody in the know wanted to irritate the man wearing power armor. He glared right at the new face in the room, demanding an answer.
"General, sir!" She snapped to attention, saluting him, only for Vaukt to promptly slap her hand.
"Fuck your salute. Speak, now."
"Y-yes, sir." She reached into her coat pocket and withdrew a dataslate to hand to him. "I'm freshly transferred in from Devastis per High Command to relieve Captain Saro of his command and see him returned to his command as a company level officer in the Elite. Major General Inz, at your service."
Zha felt it prudent to step in, gingerly placing a palm to Vaukt's chest. A physical "settle down" gesture as she made herself Inz's target of focus in the moment.
"...Major General, that runt is the reason why we aren't still at Vort at this very moment and why I haven't put you in the field leading from the front. You come to my command staff, berate my staff, in my CIC…Devastis not teaching you who your commanding officers are these days? You do know who I am? Who he is, do you not?"
"Yes, ma'am, you're High Marshal Zha and he's High Ma-General Vaukt the head of Spec Ops."
Vaukt would have spoken up but ever since Zha had him back off he went over to Saro, motioning for the man to relax. "Is what she's saying right? She's replacing you and you're being demoted?"
Saro's chin tipped up, steadying himself to speak. Quite the bitter pill to be force-fed, but he took it in stride.
"Yes, Sir. My promotion was out of necessity and numbers have been replenished. I am a company-level officer as a Captain of the Irken Elite."
His eyes betrayed the words he forcibly regurgitated. He proved himself above and beyond his station on Vort. He earned the right to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the likes of Zha and her command staff. Even if he may have had outside assistance initially, what followed thereafter was of his own doing and merit…and Inz's transfer made it moot.
"Let me see what I can do with Zha, I know she likes having you around." Vaukt nodded to him before making his way back over to Zha and Inz.
"So you know who we are and you still think it a good idea to come in here ranting and raving over a member of my command staff that made our victory at Tallum possible?" Zha pressed, her calm fury something to behold. "Are you stupid, Major General? Did they forget to grow your brain in the vat? First impressions mean everything and this is what you decide to do as yours?"
"Your first impression has me wanting to put a fist in your face." Vaukt added, "I'm sure they also told you about our command styles, yes?"
"...Yes, General. You don't say things, you act."
"And from what I can tell already, you're a petulant, inexperienced fucking idiot and are going to get people needlessly killed. All because you think you're entitled to this position. Saro? He earned it."
Zha nearly felt it prudent to play good IIA officer again as Vaukt verbally laid into Inz. Not that she was undeserving, but scaring the living daylights out of her solved nothing. She needed to be reprimanded, not shown the proverbial light. Thankfully, the Spec Ops General didn't press any further as Inz appeared all the more rattled catching flak from two of the Empire's highest-ranking officers.
"Well?" Zha needled, gesturing towards Inz in annoyance. "What do you have to say for yourself? Where is all that vigor you were needlessly expelling over the undeserved Major General? Why don't you show it to me, hmm?"
"I…I…uh-" she stammered.
"You know, I say we let Saro keep his position and demote this moron to janitor." Vaukt spoke, seeing Inz completely lose her composure as a result of some pressure put on her.
"Amusing as an idea that is, I have a better one." Zha began, resisting the smug smirk of satisfaction as she looked to Saro. "Major General, front and center."
Beckoned, Saro obliged his superior officer with a salute as he stood at Inz's flank.
"High Marshal, Ma'am."
"At ease, Saro." She returned, glancing to Inz before speaking again. "...what is your impression of Major General Inz? Your supposed replacement?"
Saro hesitated. Did he regurgitate what he was trained to do countless times before or speak the truth? Zha's sharp gaze didn't miss it.
"You may speak freely, Major General. Inz is fortunate that is all you are doing."
"...anything I would say pales in comparison to General Vaukt's assessment, Ma'am."
"So you believe her to be an inexperienced idiot then?"
"Yes, Ma'am."
Zha resisted a laugh at allowing the much-shorter Saro embarrass Inz in front of everyone before turning her attention back to the newly-arrived Major General.
"Now…out of the kindness of my heart, I believe in second chances, Inz…you are Major General Saro's understudy. Until you prove yourself competent at command to a point I deem acceptable, you will call him "Sir"...am I made clear?"
"I…I…" Inz grumbled at this apparent humiliation, "I understand, High Marshal."
Vaukt chuckled at her misfortune, part of him was wanting to literally beat some sense into the new commander. He smirked at Zha, gesturing to Inz and Saro, a fine example of the previous conversation he cut short.
"But- the orders I received from high command explicitly state that Saro is to be demoted to Captain and returned to the infantry. I'll have to report this deviation to the Supreme Commander."
"Please do, that would be absolutely hilarious." Vaukt laughed off her threat.
Zha facetiously smiled in Inz's face as well.
"Be sure to spell my name correctly when you file it, Inz. I will gladly sign and attest to its authenticity. Learn some manners next time…Saro?"
"Ma'am?"
"Seeing as Major General Inz requires your guidance and mentorship, you aren't going anywhere anytime soon. I'm not turning loose of my ace-in-the-hole so willingly. You're stuck with me."
Saro couldn't help but smile faintly with a nod.
"Yes, High Marshal. An honor to serve beneath you."
"Be sure to teach Inz how much of an honor it actually is, would you? I want her to appreciate her station."
"Absolutely, Ma'am."
Having dressed her subordinate down thoroughly having made a fool out of herself, the High Marshal returned her attention back to Inz.
"Have you anything else to add or did you wisen up enough to keep your noise tube shut?"
"Whatever your orders are, High Marshal," Inz responded, sounding defeated.
"Good answer. Get out of my sight and listen to your mentor." The High Marshal unkindly jerked her head towards Saro. "Dismissed."
"Well, get back to work, Saro, you have a campaign to carry out." Vaukt turned and made for the door, satisfied the situation was resolved without his additional intervention. He wanted to get back to his drinks and some private company with Zha.
"At once, General," Saro nodded, turning to his much-taller understudy "Right this way, Ma'am-"
"Inz." Zha corrected sharply. "She is your subordinate. Not the other way around. She doesn't deserve her rank until she proves competency."
"Yes, Ma'am…right this way, Inz."
The High Marshal all but dared Saro's supposed replacement to say a word in defiance over the arrangement as the pair made their way to the waiting holo-projector where the campaign map of Onrek resided. She almost wished she had the gumption to, but Inz tucked antenna and fell in line.
"Oh, one last thing, Saro."
"Ma'am?"
"Someone better be dying the next time I am summoned to the CIC off-duty. I expect you to handle it accordingly."
"Yes, High Marshal."
"As you were, Saro." She nodded, turning about to take her leave once again.
Vaukt had a head start, managing to make it to her door as he leaned back against the wall with a very smug look of satisfaction on his face from what transpired. He glanced over, seeing his new companion make her way back, not saying a word, his visage would be message enough.
Her approach moments later caught eyes with him with a similar expression and shake of her head as she unlocked the door to her quarters.
"Can already tell her and I are going to be best friends." She muttered, stepping through the threshold with Vaukt in tow before locking it once more. "...and something tells me you enjoyed that far more than I did."
"Making some pissy thinks-she-knows-it-all almost shit bricks? Yes, very much yes." He made his way back to his seat, coming to rest in it once more and pouring a glass for the two of them. "She cracked under pressure. Not horribly but such hesitation will get someone killed. If you can't handle getting chewed out by your superiors you have no business in this line of work."
"A projection of insecurities before a shorter man who clearly tasted combat and capable of doing her job." Zha summarized soundly as she moved to accept one of the glasses while leaning against the table's edge. "Inexperience and arrogance go hand-in-hand. Should throw her on the ground for a while and let her wisen up. We'll see how this goes first."
He did want to say it was a perfect example as to what he was saying before, but perhaps it was still early to bring that conversation back up again. "Worst case, give her to me and maybe a fractured skull will wisen her up." He grinned, seeming to wish the opportunity would present itself.
"Perhaps…but it will be one more thing to add to the pile of reasons why Grimm would like to see you spaced. Let's not give him more ammunition than he already has, hm? Who knows, maybe I will be his next target of ire…I did clean up his mess on Vort and countermanded his orders just now."
"I would love to see him try. Maybe he'll need a full mask by the time I'm done with him." Vaukt made no bones about it as he took another sip of alcohol. "Be a better universe without him around really."
"I'm a big girl, I can take care of myself." Zha assured in usual fashion at his defensive implications. "...though I am fortunate he was given Vylat. It has been…pleasant not dealing with him."
"You see but one reason why I prefer the field." He gestured for her to return to him once more. His armored arm wrapped around her waist as she took her seat in his lap once again. "Let's just enjoy each other for now. You could use a break and I like having you around."
Bemused by his insistence to pick up where they had left off prior to her summoning to the bridge, Zha obliged the General with a wistful smirk.
"Well, now I feel honored being one of the few people you want to be around." The High Marshal teased, flicking a single digit against the metal alloy of his chest plate. "...and believe it or not, this suit of yours is extremely uncomfortable. Afraid I may hurt you?"
Vaukt chuckled, "No, nothing like that. Simply some acceptance of the fact that I may be needed to get up and go once again at a moment's notice. Were it not for some friendlier faces to come back to, I'd be sleeping on Orenk tonight." The General gave Zha's waist a gentle squeeze as he paused. "When it's apparent I'm not needed down below I'll take the armor off."
Zha gave a small trill of a laugh herself, her hand lingering within reach of one of the suit's release points near his collar.
"I see…more pressing matters than my company…" she facetiously mused, never breaking eye contact with him as she disengaged the lock. "...and if I ordered you to remain aboard until further notice? Are you going to treat me like Grimm and defy me out of spite?"
A hiss and clicks followed as his power armor unsealed and released, allowing him to shrug off the piece covering his torso. A sleek purple body glove served as the inner layer. The General heaved a sigh, his tone showing how serious his dedication was to his job.
"You know my men are always going to come before anything. I don't care if I have to defy you, Grimm, or the Tallest even, they're my priority as their commander. I just can't turn that off even for a good thing like this."
The High Marshal's green gaze closed with a weary sigh and bemused huff.
"I am trying to be flirtatious with you. Seems a kiss is not the only thing I am going to have to teach you. Not everything needs to be serious all the time. Unbutton your collar and let your antenna down every once in a while. That's an order."
"Order like that makes me want to do the exact opposite." Vaukt smirked as he leaned over to grab a pair of bottles of alcohol and bring them over, holding them up so she could take one. "Just shut up and have a drink with me before I have to inevitably go back down there because someone messed something up, huh?"
"One of these days, you will not be able to run away from me. I'll make sure of it." Zha teased, accepting the offered bottle to give him an impromptu toast with a clink of their exteriors. "May fortune favor the brave and you find a sense of humor."
He chuckled before downing a large swig from his bottle. Ever the dedicated worker, but who knows, maybe some part of his mysterious charm made up for what he lacked in humor and skills in romance.