Catelyn
She stood upon the castle walls of Riverrun staring down at the bizarre sight in the courtyard. Catelyn had intended to leave for the south, to treat Renly Baratheon who claimed his brother's title as King rejecting the ascension of his nephew. She hoped that Renly might be convinced to aid their cause in defeating the Lannisters and perhaps be able to end this war swiftly ensuring the safety of her daughters held captive in King's Landing. But the night before her departure a star fell from the sky raining fire, the omen was so ill even Robb urged her to remain until the ominous event came to pass but then came the news of their Bannermen encountering strangers in the forest to their north. Now the strangers had arrived crossing the flooded moat with a roaring machine, it recalled the Wheelhouse that Queen Cersei rode into Winterfell, but this creation was far more foreign.
It stood upon eight tall legs which could stretch and kneel like a horse, it was made from shining steel like a newly crafted sword adorned with white paint covered in sigils and writings covering the body with several windows which were covered by a darkened glass that made peering inside difficult. As it rested in the courtyard a great crowd surrounded it, knights, lordlings, staff, and children all stared fascinated at the machine and likewise were fascinated by the strangers. Foreign did not begin to describe them, they were dressed as soldiers, but they carried no banners, no personal sigils and their only weapons were small knives and exotic steel weapons that she had no recognition for. Their attire was a confused mess of greens, browns, and reds with black stripes that made them difficult to see in foliage.
If not for their Wheelhouse and their claims to have knowledge about the reports of queer sightings across the realm she would have urged Robb to have them dismissed at once. Catelyn had little trust for strangers since the day Bran fell from the tower and was nearly assassinated, but necessity demanded they treat with these foreigners. Even now the leader was being brought before Robb and his assembled Lords. Catelyn had not been invited to the gathering, but she intended to see these foreigners for herself she had heard that they claimed to be sellswords and she feared Robb might be tempted to recruit them into his army. It would not do for such foreigners to carry their banner if they acted dishonorably, it would stain the rightful cause of the Northern army, and armed foreigners ignorant of their ways could prove a greater threat if they betrayed their cause.
As Catelyn peered down at the strangers below, she could hardly make them out in their armor but from her vantage point, she could swear a few of them were women, something that sent a shiver down her back. She could not explain why it unsettled her but to see them travel with armed women convinced her of their nature as outsiders. Footsteps interrupted her observations as she looked up to see the familiar face of her uncle, Brynden Blackfish approaching with a serious look.
"Their leader is being brought before King Robb and the Lords now," he said. "Come Cat, we should not miss this."
Catelyn nodded silently and motioned for the Blackfish to lead the way. They moved into the castle at a brisk pace, Riverrun was as known to both as the back of their hands, so they needed no aid moving in. They walked in silence but exchanged a look, Blackfish's face was guarded and tense as he looked upon Catelyn and saw the same. In these times only your blood could be trusted so they kept themselves guarded and alert.
As they entered the Great Hall of Riverrun a great table had been set up. The Lords of Robb's host were all gathered with Robb seated at the head of the table with his crown resting atop his head. As a man-at-arms announced their entry the Lords stood and gave quiet greetings as Robb having a slight look of annoyance nevertheless motioned toward a pair of empty seats near his end of the table where Edmure, Lord Bolton, Lord Karstark, and Greatjon Umber were standing.
"Lady Stark," Roose said nodding. "I had thought you departed south by now."
"The gods have seen fit to delay my journey," Catelyn said. "I will leave on the morrow after we have treated with these…strangers."
Lord Bolton nodded. "A wise choice."
They did not have to wait long as the sound of footsteps approached the hall. The doors opened and the leader of the outsiders stepped in the Lords and Robb remained seated this time as the man walked with a confident step and stood before them with a grin. He was rather short by Catelyn's eye roughly around her height. The man looked almost like a Rhoynar in appearance his skin was tanned with messy straight dark hair and dark brown eyes. He was not wearing any armor, simply trousers and a jacket with black boots and small sigils sewn into his shoulder. The man-at-arms stepped forward alongside him and leaned toward the man exchanging quiet words he whispered to himself before speaking.
"Your grace, I present Ser…Eddie Martinez. Ser Martinez you stand before his grace, King Robb Stark, and the assembled Lords of his host."
"Thank you for having me," Eddie spoke. "My Lords and Ladies, let's see your…Majesty?"
"The king will be addressed as your grace if you will. Ser Martinez."
"Of course, no insult intended," Eddie said. "Under normal circumstances, we would not be meeting like this, but desperate times require desperate measures. Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Chief Eddie Martinez I am a security contractor employed by Hammer Interstellar Industries."
"So, you're a sellsword," Lord Karstark said. "How is it a foreign mercenary finds his way to Westeros and whom do you serve?"
"Armed civilian security contractor sir, not mercenary, there is a very big legal difference I promise you," Eddie said a smile on his face indicating he was joking if only to himself before his face straightened. "However, for lack of a better term, I will not argue the semantics. Whom I 'serve' is what brings me here, I surrendered myself to the escort of your men because we are not Indigenous to your land, we are outsiders."
"That is abundantly clear," Edmure said quietly.
"If I might be presumptuous for a moment, I believe you all in the last few days are familiar with the sight of objects falling from the sky?" Eddie said. "Perhaps including news of strange happenings, falling debris, people where they shouldn't?"
"We are familiar with what you are describing," Brynden Blackfish spoke up. "Are you claiming responsibility for what has transpired?"
"Yes actually," Eddie said. "My team was assigned to provide security to a ship known as the UAS Thorfinn Karlsefni. It traveled from a land far from here to survey your land in peace, but it was attacked and struck down."
"A ship!?" A Lord shouted. "You are a long way from the sea. How pray tell does a ship relate to falling stars!?"
"Well, that's simple," Eddie said. "The Karlsefni was not in the ocean but was in the sky."
"A flying ship? This man is surely mad dismiss him at once!"
Several Lords agreed and began shouting as arguments broke out. Eddie stood impassively waiting for it to die down as Robb raised a hand.
"Enough!" He spoke. "You are Lords of Westeros, conduct yourselves or you will be dismissed and dishonored. Ser Martinez will speak uninterrupted."
As Robb made his orders clear his wolf, Grey Wind stood with fangs bared and growled. Even Martinez looked toward the dire wolf with wide eyes.
"Thank you, your grace," Eddie said. "Gentlemen I know this is difficult to believe and ideally, I would not expose you to this information, but the desperation of my situation has forced my hand. I can only ask that you listen and for a moment believe your eyes. King Stark with your leave may I present some items to the room?"
"You may, Ser Martinez."
Eddie reached into his pocket and produced a small item which he placed into his ear and whispered quiet words to himself. There was a brief moment of silence before another man appeared he was tall and muscular towering over Eddie Martinez carrying a large bag which he handed to Eddie before quickly excusing himself.
"That was Lance, one of my men," Eddie said. "Now while I cannot provide a ship for the moment to prove to you that flying ships exist, I can at least give you an example of a flying machine."
He reached into the bag pulling out a bulky container which he sat before him. He rummaged through it a moment before standing up and attaching a curious article to his arm before he began pressing at it.
"I need you all to remain calm," Eddie said. "You are in no danger, there is no threat."
The room became weary at that statement as the Lords braced themselves some reaching for swords. Martinez stood back, there was a sudden noise, a quiet whining like the blowing of a flute as an object suddenly appeared from the container. It hovered before taking into the air over the room, which caused shouts of surprise as it circled the room. It drifted across the Great Hall doing spins, flipping and glowing with bright green and red lights before it slowed returning to Eddie's hand. The room fell silent not since the days of the Targaryen golden age had anything other than arrows and launched projectiles flown the skies of Westeros and now a small machine had done the impossible.
"That, ladies and gentlemen, is a drone," Eddie said. "A small one meant for observation. I demonstrate this to you to show that my people possess technology that does not exist in this world judging by your collective reaction. Technology is machines, advanced machines capable of countless things. So, believe me, a flying ship is more than within our means."
Eddie placed the drone back in its container leaving it sitting on the table and then reached into the bag once again. He pulled out a long object and slowly pulled it open like a scroll. A transparent blank tapestry appeared which he gently laid on the table. He interacted with the object on his arm again and suddenly the transparent tapestry was replaced with a vast image it was a long stretch of colors bright greens, and dull browns surrounded by a vast blue it took Catelyn a few moments to realize that she was looking at a map. The Lords and even Robb leaned in closer to view the map.
"Seven above…that's Westeros!" Edmure shouted. "This is the Riverland."
Eddie smiled. "You will not find a more precise map on this planet ladies and gentlemen. Go ahead and touch it move your fingers over it and pinch it."
A few men went to the map as instructed and began moving it around they could see the North and when they pinched their fingers the ground grew closer.
"Gods…you can see Moat Calin and Winterfell too!"
Robb approached the map and stared closely at it moving his fingers over it. He stared at Winterfell a long moment before moving south, he looked at Harrenhal and then went down to King's Landing though it was strange Catelyn recognized its shape among the coast.
"Ser Martinez..." Robb said. 'How much does this map cover?"
"It's based on information the Karlsefni collected it is nothing terribly detailed and has no live feed but it covers the entire globe."
"Globe? What does that mean man?"
"Sorry," Eddie said. "Your world, that right there is your entire world. Slide it all the way back."
Robb did as requested and let out a quiet noise as the map transformed into a spinning sphere. The entire map of the Known World circled joined by lands no one had ever seen before the full shape of Sothoryos, the full size of Essos and even land beyond the Sunset Sea. The entire room fell silent once more.
"Ser Martinez," Robb said. "I am inclined to believe your claims. How might we acquire this map?"
"It's yours, your grace," Eddie said. "Take it free of charge, consider it a gift."
The Lords quickly took the map and had it ushered away before Martinez could change his way. Such a precise map was worth more than a thousand dragon eggs and would be vital for the war effort assisting in navigation. After calm returned to the room all eyes fell to Eddie Martinez, it became increasingly clear that his claims were true. He was a man from the stars.
"As I mentioned, the UAS Thorfinn Karlsefni was a flying vessel far beyond your sky, its mission was to observe and study your world," Eddie said. "We were attacked and the Karlsefni was destroyed there were people aboard many of them civilians' scientists and crewmen."
"Scientists?" A voice asked.
"Learned men…scholars," Eddie said. "People who dedicate their time to learning."
"Like Maesters then."
"Excellent," Eddie said. "But yes, after the Karlsefni was destroyed, the crew was forced to evacuate there were smaller machines designed to carry people safely down to the surface of your world where they are currently stranded. Due to the nature of the attack, they were scattered and many of them might be potentially hurt. As the Chief of Security, it is my responsibility to locate those people who have been lost and bring them to safety."
"I am beginning to understand your purpose," Lord Bolton spoke up. "You require aid in this task."
"Yes," Eddie said. "I am requesting information to aid us in our mission to recover our people. I only have eleven men aside from myself we cannot cover much ground so to do our mission we need marked maps and information on your culture, who we might encounter, and what their disposition is. Additionally, we need you to spread the word to your fellows that if they happen to find strange people who are lost and fallen from the sky it is in their best interest to see them escorted to safety and cared for."
"Best interest?" Lord Bolton said. "Curious choice of words."
"I mean that firmly," Eddie said. "The Karlsefni belongs to a nation known as the Interstellar Union of which I am a citizen. A collection of nations across the stars that have banded together under one flag in the name of cooperation and defense. The Union is a very large and very powerful nation with machines that are far more shocking and powerful than anything my team has with us today. Make no mistake, the Union will respond to the destruction of the Karlsefni and will be coming to recover the Karlsefni crew, if you keep them safe and cared for you will find the Union to be very generous and grateful for your aid. Should they be harmed, kept hostage, or killed…Well, let's just say you would regret it."
"Is that a threat Ser Martinez?" Blackfish said guarded.
"No simply a promise," Eddie said. "The Union was born out of the goodwill, but we learned a long time ago the universe is a dangerous place. There are monsters out there you cannot begin to imagine, and we have met them directly and sent them straight to hell. The Union will make an excellent friend but an even worse enemy."
"Prepare Ravens to send a command to all Northern houses and keeps," Robb said. "Any strangers to Westeros who bear the sigil of this UAS Thorfinn Karlsefni are to be received and treated as guests of the highest honor on the authority of the King of the North."
Catelyn fought the urge to smile. Though she did not take kindly to Ser Martinez' vague threats there was no denying there was some merit to his claims. It was better to make potential allies than enemies. Still, she prayed that Robb would give them the information they needed and send them on their way, she was not inclined to see this Union step any further into their affairs than completing the rescue of their people.
"Lord Tully?" Robb said. "Would you be able to provide Ser Martinez with information?"
"I will consult with the Maester your grace," Edmure said. "Father kept the libraries well stocked they should have the information you request."
"Your grace I appreciate your cooperation." Eddie Martinez said. "I've taken up enough of your time."
"A moment ser if you please," Robb said. "May I inquire your destination?"
"We're traveling south," Eddie said. "We believe the majority of those evacuees fell there and with your command being sent out anyone recovered in the northern regions should be safe. I'll have to put my faith in you."
"The honor of the North shall not leave you wanting," Robb said. "But I do have a proposition for you."
"Proposition?" Eddie said. "I'll have to warn you I cannot get involved in your war if that is what you hope to request."
"No, I understand you have your own task. However, I believe there is some way you could aid us that would have my gratitude/."
"The gratitude of a King is hardly something to pass up on," Eddie said. "Okay your grace, let's have it."
Catelyn was unsure what Robb was referring to when she noticed his hand pointing toward her.
"This is my mother, Lady Catelyn Stark. She is traveling South to treat with a man named Renly Baratheon, he too has claimed the title of King after the death of his brother King Robert Baratheon rebelling against the tyrant King Joffrey. It is our hope that Renly will join our cause, and we will be able to defeat our foes, I know this is not your war and I do not wish to involve you but if you could escort my mother to the south she will be able to back your claims if you request aid in the South."
Eddie Martinez looked in her direction his face neutral for a moment as he stroked his bare chin. The man smiled for a moment and then looked toward Robb.
"Very well," he said. "An escort is no trouble. You have a deal."
Catelyn sharply looked over at Robb, who was looking toward her with an amused expression. She knew at once what he was doing, he wanted the strangers observed to make sure they were true to their cause and were not courted by the Lannisters. Catelyn could kiss Robb for the sharpness of his wits but also fought the urge to throttle him for putting the burden on her.