Surrender? Yeah, right.

[Rhi-Rhi]

Everyone and their mother had heard it, Aedolis' declaration. It was a bunch of fancy language, but take that all away and the only message that remained was, "Surrender or you're fucked. Dog-style. In the eye."

How that was physically possible, Malriiko Arabar had no clue, but she had better things to do than pondering weird anatomical issues like that. Aedolis would be here soon, and then there was the matter of Edanith. Help them? A community of mages? Edanith? It was absurd, and she didn't know what made that colony think mages were mentally handicapped, "vile magic" or not. Ugh. So what it all ultimately spelled out was this station was, basically...yeah, it was fucked. Between Aedolis and Edanith, this was going to be messy.

At least it would if they were left to deal with all this alone. The Libra was a formiddable force in its own right, but against two global superpowers? Ahaha. Right.

First things first.

Crossing the room, Mal sank into her chair and pushed a button on the intercom. "This is your captain, Malriiko Arabar, speaking. I'm sure you're all very aware of the news, and if not, I'll briefly reiterate. Aedolis is moving against us. They will be here in seventy-two hours or less, for I do not trust them to be on time. I have also received a message from the consul of Edanith, one Nacrus Servilius Quaestorian. He has promised to support us should we resist Aedolis." Mal turned her head away from the speaker so she could chuckle to herself. Lolth, it sounded even more ridiculous when she actually said it out loud.

"Obviously, surrender is not an option, and of course Edanith is, to be blunt and you may want to cover your children's ears now, full of shit. Them? Help mages with no strings attached? I agree, it's ludicrous. We will take every measure available to us to resist and fight them when they finally arrive. We will not be taken as Mordecai slaves, and we will not bow to the Network; we will remain a free people. I will be contacting the Cancer and requesting aid, but even if we have to do this alone, we will not be taken."

There was a small pause to allow that to sink in. She was no motivational speaker, but hopefully that would do. That out of the way, she could finally sink into a more familiar role. "Now, everyone to their stations! Activate all defense and stealth systems and ready all singularity drivers, laser turrets, and AMTs*! Soldiers and operators are to defend the bridge, main engines, sensors, docking bay, and weapons systems and defense systems! I want all non-military personnel to remain within the Base Block unless otherwise ordered. Military trainees eighteen and up will follow the orders and discretion of their superiors and, if deemed ready, serve in the upcoming battle. We have seventy-two hours, give or take, and I want everyone prepared, but I want everyone fresh, too. Work in eight hour shifts. I will keep you updated."

Turning off the intercom, she took a deep breath, twisted in her seat, and looked to her crew. "Get me a comm link up to the Cancer."

Seventy-two hours, hm? Mal raked a hand though her short white hair and let her dark red eyes drift shut for a moment. Hopefully that would be enough time.

[* = Anti-Matter Torpedos. See RotE's technology section. :3]

[Anonymous]

Meanwhile, out in space, just entering the orbit of Libra...

Jonah had received the message inside his spacecraft, Hellhound Zero, but he didn't need it to know what was going on. Of course, Aedolis was planning to assimilate the Seruna Space Stations for whatever pathetic reasons it has. Expansion. Order. Ideology. All lies to him. He had lived too long to be fooled by their ideals. Too many countries had already fallen to this military empire.

And he was not about to let them take over the reaches of space. He would mow them all down. But that would come later. His first concern was for the Seruna Space Stations.

He maneuvered his fighter craft towards Libra, then proceeded to orbit it to make his presence known. He was well-known and well-feared as the Ryoujin in Aedolis, and he expected those who know him in Libra to at least not trust him.

After one complete orbit around the space station, Jonah opened a closed two-way channel and hailed the Bridge, expecting to meet the captain for the first time. He'd like to see how he can help...

[Rhi-Rhi]

It had been some time since Mal had sent out the request to the Cancer, and all it was now was a waiting game. Waiting for Aedolis to make a move. Waiting for Edanith to show up. Waiting for the Cancer to respond. Ugh. She wasn't about to send out a message to Aedolis; sending out a message would only speed up the whole process, and they would need every second they could get. Besides, her lack of a response would be answer enough.

She was leaning back in her chair, drumming her nails on the plush leather arm, when a blip on the radar jerked her back up straight.

"What is that?" she demanded, more than prepared to give the order to fire on the craft if it was hostile.

"An unidentified craft. It's hailing the station, Captain," came the reply from one of her crew. Mal relaxed a little, then waved her hand.

"Very well. Open up communications. See what it wants."

Once the channel was open, Mal spoke up, rolling her shoulders to ease the tension out of them. "This is Malriiko Arabar, captain of the Space Station Libra, speaking. State your name and what business you have here with us, and know that if you are hostile I will not hesitate to open fire," she said, concise as always. There was no point wasting breath on extra words and niceties, not when time was of the essence.

[Anonymous]

Jonah smirked, but his eyes remained as hard as ever. A rougher-sounding response than anticipated, but a response nonetheless.

"I am Jonah Azrael, otherwise known as the Ryoujin. I suspect you may have at least heard of me?" he said, his voice rough and hard as steel. Bounty signs* of him were all over Aedolis, so at least a dozen might have leaked outside of it.

"Since time is short, I'll skip on the politeness. I've heard that you are in a rough spot, what with the coming of those Aedolian maggots. I'm here to let you know that I've no intention of allowing them to capture your precious station and use it for whatever the hell it wants. Grant me permission to land and I'll be pleased to explain further."

Sure, they didn't trust him. Not that it really mattered to him.

---
*Bounty*

WANTED!

Jonah Azrael, "The Ryoujin"

Estimated Age: 23
Birthplace: Unknown
Residence: Unknown

Subject is a rogue mercenary and fire mage capable of D-grade damage. According to reliable sources, the body count left behind him is unfathomably huge...near the millions, some say. Subject is equipped with a scythe, a greatsword, kinetic energy beam, and another unknown weapon capable of shooting lava at high velocity. Plus, although based purely on unreliable sources and conjecture, subject is believed to be of tiefling heritage with a potential for dark magic, as well as being immortal. Subject must not be apprehended by citizens, as subject is Platinum-Class XXX threat.

BOUNTY: 100,000,000,000 CREDITS, DEAD OR ALIVE!

Note: Has only targeted criminals of Silver-Class AAA threat or higher, as well as slave traders and slave facilities.

[Rhi-Rhi]

Jonah Azrael.

The name sounded familiar, and there was a pause over the channel as Mal ran the name through her head. Azrael, Azrael...it sounded like she should know it, it was at the edge of her brain, and--oh! Suddenly it clicked. "The tiefling?" she questioned out loud as though for confirmation, but her voice never wavered. No matter how dire the situation, no matter how shaken she ever was, she had to remain strong and fearless in the face of the people under her. "Well, if that isn't a pleasant surprise..."

Actually, she wasn't so sure of that. If he was responsible for killing as many as the reports stated--and so easily, too--then this could be either a very good situation or a very bad one. Well, he was offering help in any case, and if he could do what the reports said...he'd be a very valuable asset.

If he didn't turn on them.

"As much as it tickles me to hear you speak so of Aedolis, I cannot grant you entry just yet. Where do your loyalties lie?" she asked. "I'm not going to risk some criminal turning on us when all is said and done, you see. What's in this for you?"

Dangerous talk, perhaps. She knew she ran the risk of angering him. But it was better to know now than later, and they had enough enemies as it was. She wasn't going to risk allowing some trojan horse into their station.

[Anonymous]

Jonah mentally chuckled to himself; now THAT was an amusing thought.

"Since when have you ever given me a reason to turn against you?" he said. "Never, right? I know you have every reason not to trust me. But, for the time being, my loyalties shall lie with you."

And he didn't ask for a price for protecting the station. He had long ago stopped caring about the currency he earned in his mercenary days, now viewing it as unnecessary to his daily life.

"As for what's in it for me...I just wish to destroy Aedolis so the world can be a better place. It'd be better if we not waste time talking through our comm link. After all, time is of the essence, right?"

[Rhi-Rhi]

Mal was quiet for a moment, pondering this. Well, he was right, if the information proved true. He'd only committed his crimes in Aedolis. That was fine by her, and anyway, she wasn't about to believe he'd killed people there in the millions. It was an absurd, impossible number--that was a big chunk of the population right there; there probably weren't more than several million people left on Earth, if that--and Aedolis was far stronger than that. But Aedolis was known for spreading lies and half truths to further their cause, and its citizens weren't known for being especially intelligent, so it  was probably just propaganda and they'd picked a huge number to freak everyone out who didn't know math.

She didn't doubt he was a killer, though. She had no reason not to. The numbers? No, that was ludicrous.

Still, she didn't want to welcome a serial killer into the station with open arms if she wasn't sure he'd turn later, but right now she'd just have to trust his word. If he proved dangerous, he'd be detained.

Mal yet out a low sigh. "Very well. Permission granted." Then, turning to her crew, said, "Allow him access, he's to dock. But I want four men down there to greet him and escort him up here."

Orders given, it was just a matter of waiting for him to arrive. Rising to her feet and stretching, the drow began to pace the floor, watching the door, and smirking to herself as she pictured what his initial reaction to meeting her, a four foot ten drow, might be. Well, five foot two, now, since she was wearing her boots with their four inch soles. She didn't like craning her neck too much when she spoke to others. It was a bit annoying, especially since she was the captain.

[Anonymous]

Jonah smirked; that had gone easier than expected. "Thank you. Jonah out." He closed the channel, then maneuvered Hellhound Zero towards the docking bay, which began to open its doors. Jonah then allow the tractor beam that emanated from the bay take his ship in through the force field that held the oxygen in. The landing pads of Hellhound Zero deployed, and the ship slowly landed upon the bay, perfectly in between two other ships.

Jonah then saw four heavily armed guards approach the ship. It seemed the captain was right not to trust him. All the more reason to just go with the flow.

The cockpit opened, and the Ryoujin hopped out of Hellhound Zero. He certainly was an imposing sight; his large, scarred, muscular body stood at 6' 3" and was covered only by a long, sleeveless coat that exposed his chest and abdomen, black pants, and black steel heel boots. His left metallic arm, though studded with large silver rivets, was the same pale color as the rest of his body. He sported a thick goatee and long brown hair that barely reached his shoulders Through the messy locks of his lond, brown hair were his dark eyes that always seemed to be like atomic bombs about to explode. The thick scar that was imposed over his left mechanical eye did nothing to improve that look. He held a rather large case--which housed his greatsword, Ironheart, and his folded-up scythe, Harbinger--in his left hand.

The guards hesitated at first, but, after a quick nod from Jonah, they surrounded him and after a quick "The captain is expecting you. Come with us," they escorted him to one of the transports that connected the decks. After a quick ride up, the doors opened, and Jonah beheld the Captain, who seemed to be a female drow from the looks of her. He made no outward comment about that, for he believed that most humanoids tend to take on unexpected roles in life, such as a drow being the captain of a space station.

[Rhi-Rhi]

Mal immedietely stopped pacing when the doors slid open and a tall man was escorted into the room, flanked by four guards as instructed. The doors shut behind them, and Mal folded her hands behind her back and looked upwards.

Of course he'd have to be not just a tall one, but a very tall one.

No matter. Her Napolean complex wasn't important right now, whoever the hell Napolean was. Tapping a finger to her lips, she looked Jonah over, expression thoughtful. The guards standing around him shifted, awaiting further orders. "Hm. A bit less fearsome than I'd imagined, but no matter. Have a seat," she said, pulling out an unoccupied chair and gesturing for him to sit. She made no move to do that same; she preferred to stand so she could be taller. "Oh, and kindly hand that case over to my men for inspection, if it hasn't been inspected already. I'm sure you understand. Times are harsh and I'll not risk hazardous materials onboard my station."

Heh, follower of Eilistraee or not, she still had all her drow instincts firmly in place, and that included never trusting anyone. Probably not the best habit in all cases, but it had never lead her astray yet.

"Now, if you will, elaborate on what you've already told me. You've only ever attacked Aedolis, yes?"

[Anonymous]

“Yes mother, I know. I know you’ve heard about it, that’s why we’re having this conversation. Yes. Yes. Alright, I have to go now mother. Goodbye.� Nacrus touched the holographic screen to end the call. His mother had indeed heard about the Aedolian threat to the Libra.

He leaned back in his expensive leather chair. It was real leather, which was hard to come by. The entire room was expensive. But so was the entire ship. The Al’teir was a magnificent beast, named of course after the legendary mordecai of the Connlaoth era, Beatrid Al’teir. Top of the line, completely technologically advanced in every possible way. Every system in the ship had been designed specifically. It was a marvel really.

The ship was long, shaped like old sea faring ships, with a cluster of sub light engines at the stern. The bow was capped with red and gold, his house colours. Along each side sprouted eighty twin linked Kinetic Energy Weapons (KIWs) that fired explosive rounds powerful enough to punch right through a cruisers hull, and it bristled with missile bays. It was the largest ship Edanith had ever produced, sporting a full compliment of fighters that could spew from the Al’teir via its landing strip, which spanned the length and breadth of the ships underside, sitting below the main gravity generators, making the fighters land upside down compared to the rest of the ship. But most impressive was the Al'teir main gun, a weapon so new it didn’t yet have a proper name. It was, effectively, a shotgun that ran the length of the ship, some three kilometres. A shell the size of a medium sized spacecraft was propelled by delicately tuned energy beams until it accelerated to a point where, once the shell exploded after firing, the fragments would rip through almost any form of matter. Each fragment was also charged with energy that overloaded the systems of whatever they hit. The only problem of course was that only ten shells could be carried by the Al’teir at any given time.

Nacrus idly rolled a stylus between his fingers for a moment, contemplating the conflict to come. The Aedolians were assembling a small fleet, according to the intelligence received by his spies within their military. Dangerous work, spying on Aedolis, what with all the mages and psychics there to catch you out.

A red light blinked on the console on his desk. Nacrus pushed the button, and the console projected a holographic screen in front of him, showing the communications officer standing on the ships command deck. “Yes lieutenant?� he inquired softly.

“Sir, refuelling and arming is completed. We’re ready to depart.�
“Very well, spin up the jump drives.�
“Yes sir.�

The soldier saluted, and the window disappeared. He stood up, lifting his coat from the back of the chair. He was in military uniform, black boots, black pants and a beige sleeveless shirt. He slipped on the coat, which was black and slightly shiny, made from a very expensive fabric that was resistant to laser fire. It fit snugly around his torso, then flared out a little from the waste to hang loose around his legs. He touched the waist parts together and they stuck, and then ran his finger up the join. The coat pulled itself together as he did, making the split almost invisible. That automatic zipper cost more than a pretty credit.

He pushed open the door, or rather, the bulkhead, to leave his room. The doors on the Al'teir were manual, with manual locks, so that in the event of power failure the crew could still operate the doors, and an invading enemy wouldn’t be able to open the bulkheads by hacking the system.

Outside Erin, one of his personal retinue of mages, was leaning against the wall, keeping watch. She was perhaps the most important of his guards, capable of instantly projecting shields that took the force of a ships bun battery to penetrate. She was small, young and quite pretty, which was useful, because no assassin would suspect that she was a particularly important bodyguard. Erin wore similar clothing to him, except that her jacket was only waist length, and it was deep crimson with gold trim. She carried a sidearm strapped to her thigh, as did all of his retinue. She was a mage, but she didn’t have the standard head collar. Instead she had the latest model, two teardrop shaped nodes attached to her head at the temples, where they were attached to her brain. It was newer, pain free and less obtrusive that the older collars that most mages still wore.

As he walked down the corridor she followed silently, eyes searching for hidden attackers. Nacrus reached the nearest teleport station and stepped inside. It was a little round room, like an elevator, with glowing blue rings on the floor and ceiling.

“Command,� he commanded. A flash of blue light and it was done. Nacrus stepped out onto the command deck, Erin close at his heels. The entire ship was networked with teleporters. Without them, it would take an hour to get from one end to the other.

A soldier looked up from his console and noticed Nacrus. He stood up and shouted, “Officer on deck!�

Before everyone could drop what they were doing and waste time saluting him Nacrus barked, “At ease.� Striding down the steps that lead to the sunken floor of the command deck, he watched the men and women doing their work.

“Sergeant, what’s our status?�
“Green sir, we’re about to make the jump.�
“Excellent.�

A metallic female voice came over the ships speakers. �All crew, prepare for immediate FTL jump.�

There was a deep rumble in the belly of the ship as the jump drives released their energy. A flash through the single window into space was all that marked their travel, but once it was gone, a different sight filled the window than what had been there before. The space station Libra.

“Jump is complete, all systems normal. We’re reading a single Aedolian ship on the far borders of our scanners, their weapons are powered down.�

“Signal the Libra,� Nacrus ordered.

The sound of the teleporter activating several times meant the arrival of the other members of his retinue that would be accompanying Nacrus to the Libra. He’d ordered eleven, nine mages, two mordecai, including Erin who was of course already with him. There were two healers, a Kirin, a teleport, and other assorted mages.

“Space station Libra, this is ENS Al’teir. Consul Nacrus Servilius Quaestorian requests permission to board.� ENS identified them as an Edanith Naval Starship.

[Anonymous]

Of course it was time to help Libra. Why wouldn't it be? Oh right, they were mages for one. Responsible for the destruction of earth, killing it off, hurting it...no no, this was a bad idea but...he would not question his leaders of course. They had generously allowed his family to settle in Edanith, provided they helped and pulled their weight, and they did.

Havaror was the bi-product of the weight pulling.

Human qualities, mixed with his alien heritage, he was a fine genetic specimen when it came to being a Mordecai. It had been him who wrangled in the Kirin, who had taken her down with his own bare hands, despite some wounds and burnt skin he had dragged her back to get outfitted with a collar. Of course, he made sure he had the matching headband for the Kirin, and where she went, he would follow. After all, she had been his proudest catch, and there was no way he'd let her go.

He was almost like...her bodyguard in a way.

That thought amused him.

Right now, the large hulking being was sitting in his room, in one hand he held a very large cup, the other had a large metallic keg of some sort. No doubt filled with alcohol. As he lifted the glass to his lips, there was suddenly a jump, a sensation running through him like nausea as the cup suddenly jerked from his hand. That's when the swearing started.

"Computer!" His voice was harsh, deep, a rumble that formed deep in his throat. "Why was I not informed of the FTL jump." He barked, waiting for the computer to respond. "It was announced on all decks in all rooms Havaraor Tyekkson." As Havaror began to clean up his drink he scowled, throwing the cup at the computer's speaker, which it bounced harmlessly off of. "Next time speak a little louder." This was alcohol brewed by his great great grandfather, and he had just wasted an entire cup! This wasn't normal either, this was good stuff, from the Old World, not like what he'd find on Earth now.

"It is time for you to head to the nearest teleporter Havaror Tyekkson, you are expected on the bridge." The computer informed in that still cold voice. Havaror sighed as he went to his bed, looking at his clothing which looked like ti could fit quite a few people in it. He wouldn't deny he had a rather bulky frame, it was his people's nature.

He made sure to put on his shirt, a dark material that shimmered slightly, good for repulsing some lasers, but not good for other things of course. Then came his jacket, the thick material helped to keep the heat off, fire resistant, but it was good for keeping him cool actually. He pulled on a pair of pants, his sleek boots, gloves, and of course his belt with weapons and a few gadgets attached to it, scanners and what not just in case he needed them.

A hand ran through his bronze hair, trying to comb it back just a little bit from being the mess that it was. His skin shined, what could be seen anyway, the cold tinted peach skin was all the more interesting on the large man. His eyes, a strange combination of silver, black, and gold stared at the people he passed in the hallway, giving a few nods to some faces he recognized. Soon it would be time wouldn't it?

Sharing a space with mages and outcasts and what not. That would be...for an interesting time. Clashing would probably happen, and he wasn't sure what Narcus had planned really. No doubt they would fend off Aedolis, but after that...it was a mystery to him really.

Stepping into the transporter, which had him on the bridge in the manner of seconds. Augh. It was always a little disorientating, took the brain a second to realize what had happened. He stepped off the platform and went to the command deck, stepping close to Narcus, his arms crossed. Hm. So they were really going to go through with it then. He would support Narcus in this endeavour, whatever it was he wanted to do. Havaror knew just to keep his mouth shut of course, all he had to do was stand around, look menacing, and follow orders. That he could do, rather easily.

Still, he wondered where his Kirin was. She should have gotten her summon by now. He didn't feel the need to wear his own collar right now, she was...usually good at following orders without. Sometimes she was a fighter, but it wasn't like she could really fight an order.

His face remained calm, collected, he would approach this with his usual demeanour of course. A level head could always be trusted in battle. It kept him alive for all these years, and it would serve him still no doubt.

[Anonymous]

Jonah almost laughed when he was called "not as fearsome as expected," but he paid little mind to it. Of course, he kept his unchanging hard expression as he always did.

When he was told to have a seat and hand his case over to the guards, he nodded, then gave his case to the guards, then left them with this warning:

"You may inspect it, but I'd advise you against touching what's in it. Can't risk anyone taking off with my weapons."

Taking this warning to heart, the guards proceeded to open the case and find Jonah's two weapons, Ironheart and Harbinger in molded munitions-proof lining. Ironheart's large blade had gone a deep scarlet from the blood staining it, but it still looks as sharp as ever. The scythe, Harbinger, was folded up at the point where the blade met the staff on the other side of the case, but its blade was as bloodstained and as sharp as Ironheart was. Both of them were integrated with ultrathermal energy projectors that, when active, covered the blades with heat energy that could sear through any known alloy without compromising the structural integrity of the blades, provided that they don't overheat. The guards showed them to the captain before closing the case and guarding it.

While that was going on, Jonah had taken a seat and folded his hands in his lap. When asked that he only attacked Aedolis, he nodded, then said, "For as long as it has been in power, yes, I have only attacked Aedolis. Before that, I worked as a mercenary, killing so many people as per instructed. I also killed every slave trader I came across, which then resulted in the slaves' liberation. I've had a small army come at me once; not one survived. Everyone felt and thought I was a danger to this world...but I didn't care, really. I was just doing my job, cleansing the world of corruption.

"When Aedolis--back then, it was known as Adela--started to acquire vast amounts of technology and power, it, too, started to become corrupt. You know how that works: too much power too quickly can easily demoralize and envenom anyone. Then, under its own thirst to become the dominant force on this world, it started to consume other independent nations to expand its size, while others were forced to flee. And you don't need me to tell you that Aedolis is also responsible for putting Earth into the pitiful state it's in now. Were it not for those pathetic excuses for Dragons who stopped Aedolis from doing that...well, you know.

"Lecture aside, I realized that the entire world was at stake because of this corrupt empire who speaks so highly of order, peace, and unity. I have lived far too long to be fooled by those ideologies. So I cast aside my mercenary status and made myself a revolutionary. Since then, I have focused my attacks on Aedolis, though I am waiting for the opportunity to destroy it at its source. I seek the total annihilation of the Aedolian Empire, so that the other nations can reclaim what was theirs."

Jonah paused, then looked at the captain, his hard, empty eyes gazing intensely at her. "Does that answer your quiestion?"

[Rhi-Rhi]

Mal pursed her lips and eyed the weapons the guards showed her, mildly disturbed by the bloodstains on both weapons. Not because it meant they'd killed, but because she couldn't believe someone wouldn't take the time to properly clean and care for their weapons, especially fancy ones like those. Upkeep was important, after all! But hey, that may have just been her military discipline speaking; she was a bit OCD when it came to cleanliness and order, and she had to bite back the urge to bark at him to clean those off before they rusted. Right. Now wasn't the time nor the place.

She nodded as the guards closed the case and set it between them, standing watch over it though they weren't about to confiscate it. Just the fact that he'd handed the weapons over to them told a great deal about his character; he wanted to be trusted, and was making every effort to come across as trustworthy. Mal respected that.

Looking to him as he sat as instructed, she clasped her hands behind her back and listened to him speak. Much of it was information she already knew, things she had learned in standard history courses, though she raised her eyebrows when he basically confessed that he had been around since Aedolis was Adela. Damn! His mercenary background was a bit troublesome, and she furrowed her brow at that but didn't interrupt. Offing people for the highest bidder. Cleansing the world of corruption. After all, corruption was in the eye of the beholder for the most part; Edanith thought mages corrupt!

Still, beggars couldn't be choosers, and he seemed to have a single-minded determination to fight Aedolis. That worked for her.

"Mm...a lofty goal, but yes, that answers my question. It seems you and I share similar idealogies," she said, tilting her head thoughtfully. "That's all I needed to--"

"We're reading an Edani ship, captain!"

"Shit! I can see the bloody ship," Mal growled under her breath, quickly turning to face the screens. Edanith?! Already? Fuck. They'd come out of nowhere.

"We have them on the line. Consul Nacrus Servilius Quaestorian is requesting permission to board."

Mal silently ground her teeth and began to pace, Jonah forgotten for the moment. Fuck. That ship was huge. And Nacrus? On board? No way he'd come alone. He'd probably want to bring some of his damned Mordecai with him. Eugh. Matters of diplomacy...

She took a deep breath and raked a hand through her hair. "Very well. Permission granted, but he is allowed no more than eight of his own men to accompany him. I want soldiers down there to greet him, and I want he and his people to be shown every curtosy befitting a person of his stature. Do not draw weapons. They are to be treated and respected as guests. Please show them to my conference room."

Looking to Jonah then, she shook her head. "If you'll excuse me, I have...people I need to greet. Long story short, I accept your help. I'll have you shown to your quarters, and you may feel free to have free reign of the upper levels of the Base Block. Know that if you cause trouble, you will be detained. Since some citizens might be a little...unnerved about your presense, I hope you don't mind a couple guards tailing you. It's more for your protection than anything, that and they can explain the situation where I just don't have the time to right now."

The guards that had escorted Jonah in once again stepped in around him, handing him back his case at a nod from Mal. As she walked out of the room to the conference room, leaving the bridge in the hands of her crew, she trusted they would see him out.

******

Miyurin finally appeared on the command deck, escorted by a pair of soldiers as she couldn't be trusted to come on her own. Even when they'd arrived to escort her she'd resisted, but it was futile in this form, that of a female human, and no amount of struggling, snarling, biting, or desperately trying to draw on her magic made any difference in the end, and that only angered her all the more. And frustrated her. She could feel her magic, it was right there, in sight but just out of reach. The horrible things attached to her temples made it impossible to contact it.

She'd tried to claw them off the first day they'd been attached, shortly after waking up from the procedure. She still had a few scabs on her temples from scratching herself since something had prevented her from touching the device itself, but she hadn't gotten to try for too long before she'd been stopped, and she hadn't attempted it again after she'd learned that if she just so happened to be successful in removing it herself--an impossibility since she couldn't even touch it--she'd be dead. Since it bolted into the brain and all.

Flanked on both sides by a guard, she stepped out of a teleporter and glanced around the room, frowning--and then narrowing her yellow eyes when she caught sight of Havaror, the one in charge of her, the one who had captured her. But after that one quick glare, she averted her eyes and pretended to be very interested in the other mages. He was the one who had caged her, and she'd never forgive him for that. She wouldn't even look at him if she could help it. It wasn't a matter of pride; her pride hadn't been damaged by her defeat, for she wasn't a boastful creature to begin with. It was, however, a matter of anger and grief.

She stopped beside the other mage, Erin, and folded her hands in front of her, sighing and watching everyone but Havaror with no small amount of trepidation. Like the other mages, she was dressed in a shirt and pants with a gold-trimmed red coat over it, and a pistol was strapped to her right thigh. Her waist-length hair was pilled on top of her head and out of the way, allowing some of the green scale "tattoos" on the back of her neck to be seen, vanishing beneath her jacket. The pattern continued over her back and shoulders, over her bottom, and stopped midway down the backs of her thighs, though she was probably the only person that would be seeing that in its entirety. Her only other tattoo was a circular flame on her forehead.

Other than that, the Kirin looked perfectly human. A bit exotic perhaps, but still human.

[Anonymous]

Jonah looked at one of the screens to see an Edani ship. Damn, that's huge, he thought. He always thought of both Aedolis and Edanith as corrupt...Aedolis with its world domination, and Edanith (he once knew it as Connlaoth) with its view on magic and mages. But at least Edanith's reasons for seeing magic as evil was reasonable; he couldn't blame them, really. He just found Edanith a tad...distasteful. Aedolis was just a bunch of blind fools.

He only nodded as the captain gave him his restrictions and left. When the guards surrounded him, he accepted his case and stood. The guards then escorted Jonah off of the Bridge and into a transporter, which then took them to the Base Block.

As the guards escorted Jonah through the corridors of the Base Block, random passersby hurried past them with worried looks on their faces, whispering.

"My god...what's he doing here?"

"Oh no...we're all doomed."

"What are they thinking, bringing a demon like him into this?"

"The Ryoujin..."

Jonah didn't care what other people thought of him, just so long as he had his way. He only had one ambition, and that was to completely wipe Aedolis off the face of the earth.

When they arrived at his quarters, two of the guards on either side of his door. They opened it for him and allowed him entry. As the door closed behind him, Jonah looked out of the large window that beheld a magnificent view of the earth.

Or, in Jonah's opinion, a rather horrendous view. Seeing the massive cities that Aedolis carved out of other nations only served to sicken him. He wondered what the Earth would look like without those cities.

Jonah went to the refreshment materializer. "An eight ounce mug of Dragon's Blood whiskey, chilled to thirty-three degrees farenheit," he said to reciever. Then, a mug of dark amber liquid materialized on the platform. Jonah took it and sipped it, feeling his body temperature evaporate the alcohol in it. He then looked down at the earth once again.

It would be soon.

[Anonymous]

Nacrus glanced behind him at the eleven of his retinue that had assembled as ordered behind him. Eight she said? He chuckled. The captain evidently thought she was the one making the rules.

He walked over to one of the mages, a tall man with a vacant expression. “Bilai, take us onto their bridge, all of us,� he turned back to the command deck, “Admiral, you have the ship.� The admiral saluted, and then disappeared behind a flash of blue light as Nacrus, the mages and the mordecai teleported away.

Blinking and fighting the slight dizziness that came with this kind of teleportation, Nacrus got his bearing. They were standing on the bridge of the Libra, re-arranged by Bilai during the teleport so that Nacrus and the two mordecai stood in the middle of a circle of mages. Around them were consoles, blinking lights, screens. All primitive in comparison to the Al’teir of course.

The various soldiers around the room stood in stunned silence, barely blinking. A few of them had pulled weapons, but slowly lowered them as they realised what was going on. One of them stepped forward, an officer, judging by his uniform. “W-welcome aboard sir,� the officer stuttered out, “If you would, the captain requests your presence in the conference room. This way.� He gestured for them to follow.

The pack moved after him, most of the mages looking like cats watching a mouse, ready to pounce at any moment. The Kirin was new, but she would learn with time.

As they walked Nacrus moved close to Havaror and said quietly, “I want that Kirin of yours watching her. You stay close to me, and grunt if the good captain should speak with less than honest meaning.�

The conference room itself was long, with a large table and chairs planted in the middle. The mages placed themselves around the room, while Nacrus took a chair at one end of the table.

“So, where would you like to begin?�

[Anonymous]

Sigh.

Miyurin would never truly feel comfortable around him would she? He knew her feelings, and he knew why she felt that way about him to. Why wouldn't she? Still, he wished things weren't so terribly awkward. That would take a very long time however, it wouldn't be overnight after all. It wouldn't be over months. It might take years, and considering he didn't have her good luck on his side...it might even take longer than that. He'd be asking for a miracle really, and if the Kirin were so connected with the other world then...the Gods probably weren't going to give him it.

Once more a teleporter. Couldn't they have just docked a shuttle or something?

Well it was faster after all, and Nacrus wanted that. Havaror gave a small shake of his head, sighing as things came back to him, cleared up again. He noted the weapons that the guards were holding onto, and he almost was prepared to jump and put them down, but it hadn't been needed thankfully. They had just been surprised, that was all. Havaror seemed to just tower over everyone as he walked, he was close to Nacrus, but closer to Miyu, keeping her within arms length. No one would touch her, no one would force her around, not while he was here.

Havaror looked to Nacrus, his face saying nothing but there was just a small nod of his head, almost unnoticed if you weren't looking for it. At least Nacrus was thinking on his feet, little signals and what not. Though, the grunting was just a stereotype. He didn't grunt. Alright, he didn't grunt often at least. Most people expected someone the size of Havaror to grunt after all, so it would be nothing suspicious he hoped. Havaror made sure that Miyu was one of the mages near the end of the group, though he didn't sit either.

He stood, not far off from Nacrus, his eyes ever watchful of everyone. The people around the room, guards, other mages, and then he looked to the woman in charge...a Drow. Aw! Wasn't she just a cute little thing! For Havaror, she looked like she could pretty much be a teddy bear for him, that she could could be crushed if he even just fell on her. Havaror could only smirk a little bit, amused by her. This was what was being fought against.

His smirk suddenly was removed however, as it might have looked a little...interestin g. Like 'Hey, you might be good with a collar around your skull and in my bedroom.' Havaror didn't want to send any mix signals after all! Just the bedroom part would be interesting. After all, they probably shouldn't enslave their allies, at least not in the very beginning of things. She would be a fun little playmate, but this was neither the time nor place for such thoughts. No no, this was time for negotiations. To try and make friends.

Maybe over a couple of barrels of ale later other possibilities could arise. For now he had to focus on Miyu, to get her readings, using her special little lie detector powers on the Drow woman.

[Rhi-Rhi]

Miyurin always hated the teleportation, the way it made her stomach lurch and her head swim, but soon it was over, the nausea faded, and she didn't even look up to see where they'd ended up. She listened vaguely, but it wasn't like it mattered to her. Right now she was little more than a puppet, walking where she was commanded, going where they wanted her to and doing what she was commanded, no matter how much she didn't want to. What she wanted didn't matter, of course. She could sense Havaror near her, but she still stared pointedly at the ground as she walked, refusing to acknowledge his presense.

She wished she could say he was dead to her, but she was forced all to often to deal with him, so it didn't really work.

But then she did blink and look up when she caught what Nacrus said, and her body tensed. Not something like this again...that ability of hers was something that was never meant to be abused like this--and considering her opinion of these...Edani and Mordecai, it couldn't be anything other than abuse.

They entered a large conference room, and Miyurin aimed a glare at Havaror--finally acknowledging him--when he made her remain at the back of the room. With a sigh, she stayed put and folded her arms over her chest, snorting softly and fixing her attention to the front of the room, where the captain was. She was sitting at the head of the table on the other end where she could watch the door, a rather small woman with ebony skin, pointed ears, and short white hair that was worn spikey. She had her hands clasped in front of her on the table, face calm but expressionless as she watched Nacrus and his entourage enter.

Miyurin leaned back against the wall. She didn't want to be here.

And neither did Malriiko.

Mal noted with a small pang of annoyance that Nacrus had brough eleven of his people instead of eight as requested, but irritating as it was, it really wasn't worth commenting on now of all times. She scanned them all with her eyes, idly wondering which were the mages and which were the Mordecai--they all wore headgear, so it was hard to distinguish them. Annoying. Well...hmm...the girl with the red hair looked sullen enough to be a mage, perhaps. Ah, didn't matter.

Straightening up in her seat, she splayed her hands flat on the table and focused her attention on Nacrus. "Welcome, consul," she greeted. "That was quick. Anyway, onto business, and where better to start than at the beginning? As I said in the message I sent you, I would appreciate any aid you can provide in the upcoming battle with Aedolis, provided there are no unpleasant strings attached."

That was said with a pointed glance to the Mordecai and mages in the room before she turned her attention back to Nacrus. "I don't expect you to help us for free, but I also don't expect that price to jeopardize the freedom of the Libra or its people in any way, shape, or form. That said, I'm very curious to hear what's in this for you and what your terms are, though I can't promise to agree to them, depending on what they are."

Miyurin shifted a little and glanced briefly to Havaror. So far, so good. She'f told the truth thus far.

[Anonymous]

Nacrus grinned, a slightly evil looking thing, but that was just the way his face was.

“Strings? Riiko, may I call you Riiko? Edanith is here for the sole purpose of protecting the freedoms the Seruna stations have always enjoyed,� he said in coddling tone, as if he was explaining the simplest thing to a child. “We of course do not offer our services freely, the potential cost of a prolonged war, in both lives and resources would be astronomical. While I am confident of our eventual triumph, the cost is too great for us to actively wage war at this time. So, my offer is this: The ship I have brought is the fastest, largest, most powerful ship in the fleet. It, combined with the Libra’s own defences and the aid I’m sure you’ve already requested from the Cancer, should be able to throw back an Aedolian attack. Furthermore, I have moved all non-essential ships into a blockade around Edanith. If they move too much of their fleet away, they risk an invasion. That should limit their deployment here and make them think twice about the worth of this station. I have a more detailed plan drawn up, but that can wait for later.�

He looked at her for a moment, trying to change his eyes. He had been looking at her as a captain, but now, now he looked at her as a woman. It was a trick he used to throw his political opponents off. Worked especially well on men, who tended to get quite jittery when they thought another man was eyeing them sexually.

“Now,� he said more softly, “Now down to the real business end. In exchange for this aid, which carries substantial risk, I require three things. First, an agreement pledging full support to Edanith should we go to war with Aedolis over this, or any future dispute. Second, all of Aedolis’ existing trade deals will be transferred to Edanith without any sanctions. Third, I require a representative of Edanith to command a high ranking position which will be created within the ranks of the Libra.� He held out his hand, and one of the mages handed over a data pad. The thin, paper sized touch screen displayed a contract that ran off the page, with the scroll bar at the side indicating that the document went on for quite a while. He looked at it for a moment, and then slid it across the desk to Riiko. “Now, you can either sign and we can begin preparations, or you can argue and risk the safety of your station and the people on it.�

He steepled his fingers and rested his elbows on the table, staring at her intently. Such a pretty creature, in an intense, powerful sort of way. He couldn’t help be attracted to that power, to the potential it held. It paled in comparison to his own, yet he couldn’t help but want it. He sat in silence, thinking, plotting.

[Tally]

From outside the conference room came sounds of muffled arguing and one particular voice raised in obvious discontent.  No words could be made out by those inside, but after a few moments the door slid open and in stalked a youth in the form-fitting body suit of a Libra fighter pilot, helmet still on and obscuring his face.  The colors of the uniform marked him as a squadron leader.

Riot ripped his helmet off, revealing a young man in his early twenties, wild hair poking up every which way and his mouth set in what could only be called a pout.  "Ey," he said, gesturing with the helmet as he spoke, his attention all on the captain.  "Just what the hell?  Why was I called back?  Why aren't we out there shooting those douchebag slave traders out of our space, huh?"

It was only then that he noticed the other people in the room.  The older guy at the table, him Riot didn't recognize.  He looked important, and Riot would've sworn he was at least familiar with everyone of importance on the Libra.

Then his gaze shifted upward to the people arranged against the wall and he had to blink at them a few times.  He had to because he couldn't possibly be seeing what he was seeing.  Edanith mage slaves on Libra?  No.  No way.  But there they were with those damn unnerving skull collars, right in front of his eyes.

Other possible explanations:  uh, maybe he was hallucinating?  Cripes, he knew those drug trips in his teens would come back to haunt him.  Or maybe this was just a dream?  Scratch that, a nightmare.  Maybe the captain was throwing a sodding costume party?

"Whoa."  He shook his head and rubbed at one temple.  "Okay, like, am I having a stroke or what 'cause this is like...like whoa." Sure, the guys in the fighter bay had said something about the captain treating with those slimy Edanith fucktards, but he'd thought they were just yanking him.  "Captain?" he said, and it came out kind of whiny but damn.  He was looking for an explanation, a reassurance, something.  And not just him, but his whole squadron was wanting an answer.  Just about the only thing they hated worse than Aedolis was Edanith, and it wasn't sitting well with them having a war ship hovering around like it had any right to be here at all.

The situation against Aedolis wasn't so bad that they'd have to resort to this...was it?

[Anonymous]

Nacrus watched, with more than a little amusement, as a pouty youth walked….no, burst into the room. Were it not for the uniform, he might have believed the young man to be some sort of male spokes model, the sort of person you saw standing next to the latest cleaning product to encourage middle aged women to buy.

He gestured to his people, who had suddenly tensed, to stand down. His mouth tweaked a little though at the poor security.

Douchebag slave traders? The Al’teir should have picked up any illegal vessels on its scan but he didn’t recall any….oh. He meant them. Right.

He leaned back, considering why he was considering these things. And then, as if some large breasted woman who sat on high and commanded the lives of dozens of people in various time periods, often subjecting them to humiliating and rather unlikely situations, and who, for example, enjoyed both receiving and inflicting pain in a sadomasochistic orgy of imagination, was commanding the handsome, intelligent, and above all sexy man-god that controlled Nacrus’ own actions, he decided to speak to the young pilot, despite not being addressed.

“Hello.�

He waved, a slight motion of the hand, nothing more. Were he alive during a much earlier time, he might have compared the motion with a similar gesture often made by the queen of England. But as he did not know of England or its queen, he did not make this comparison at all.