Sudden interest raised suspicion and feeling of victory, seeing he wanted to take this job when Taruko mentioned contacting others. Other plans were coming and leaving as soon as they appeared as too risky or complete nonsense. "Don't get me wrong, but we are talking about battle groups, with scouts and patrols in the proximity. They will pick up your EM signals before you even approach the main target. Isn't that right?" She raised her eyebrow again and leaned forward, now with chin on her palms.
"Locating battle groups is out of question for now, however Rheinland part of the plan is still doable. I just would add one more task to the scouting part. I need to find out from where Daumann obtains armor platings and raw materials, I will take care of the rest." She couldn't really help herself with this situation and more questions have appeared. However she truly believed it could work that way. "As for the reward... I had to invest my credits into restoration processes, however I am able to help you ease your life slightly. You won't have to report your Bishamon anymore and service of damaged ship will be done gratis. Also is there anything you would request as the reward?"
"Miss Ishibashi," he began, smirking at her for a moment before continuing, "The laws of physics apply to them as much as they apply to you and me. There is a universal constant when it comes to the EM radiation created by cloaking devices. Such devices bend the light and partially other particles around a starship, rendering it invisible to optical sensors such as eyes or shape or contrast-based scanning systems. Said universal constant is the point of where the spread of EM signatures is so high in open space that the radiation becomes absolutely indifferent from cosmic radiation. Long story short, there is no way mankind can detect a cloaked ship, at least not via EM radiation scans, beyond said hard limit of three to four clicks. Imagine it like dropping a grain of sand in a desert. The chances to find said grain of sand ever again are lower than you and me dying in the very next second."
And then they instantly died! Oh, no, they didn't. He paused for a moment and looked around, then back at her. "If they are outside those nebulae, they will be easy to find. If they are not outside these nebulae, they must be either inside or somewhere else. I'm certain having some sort of information on that is already helpful to your cause."
Maybe he was trying too hard, he wondered. But then again, he knew the limits of the Apahanta and her cloaking device better than anyone else outside of the ship. He took a moment of reconsideration before answering her other question. "The reason I asked about the Order is the fact that the Overwatch bountied me because of two scenarios where I was forced to open fire on them. One was during their siege on the Zoner installation Port Carthage and Freeport 11, the other was in Bretonia, where they invaded with two capital ships and refused to solve the situation peacefully by provoking a fight with the law enforcers. Given the Order appeared to assist the Guild and Kusari against Rheinland, and knowing they are considered terrorists in Kusari, what by the process of elimination made me believe the Guild has a standing with them that made the Order consider openly joining a war against Rheinland, I had my hopes you might be able to use some of your influence - if there was any - as former guildmistress to make my name disappear from their bounty board. That would have helped me much more than a quality of life improvement regarding formalities." He blinked at her, expectingly.
Is he seriously giving me a lecture about physics right now?
"That wasn't really polite of you to tell me how this all works. Even these clicks are a way too danger, because as I said, and I am stubborn so to say, they've got scouts and whole battle groups circling around. Even a little alert may force them to relocate. And what about the disruptors, I don't suppose you expect them to walk in unprepared. My fault I haven't thought of these before? But we don't even know if they have access to these devices. However the risk is way too high for me. She said in calm manner, focusing more on the Rheinland part now. However she was surprised by his thinkin about GMG and The Order relations.
"Aren't you, Vertiga-sama quickly jumping on your conclusion based on one encounter? As far as I know, Rheinland used to hunt The Order operatives as well and not only in Rheinland. And I sincerely doubt it has changed, unless you can prove me otherwise...
I believe it was just a coincidence that The Order attacked Military together with the Guild and Empire. Even The Core and The Order attack the aliens and yet I do not think they are partners, but still enemies. In this case as I stated, we do not bother them and they do not bother us in return.
And if we had something to do with them, more than neutrality as I stated, do you think you still would be sitting here? I could have just dial them and hand you over to them, hm? You are playing a very dangerous game, Vertiga-sama. You should be careful about the stuff you are talking about with people you don't know well. I like your confidence
However, if you prove yourself useful, like you did in Takashi's case, I will try to get personally in touch with someone who knows them well. But for that, I expect a very detailed Intel. "
Taruko blinked back and leaned back in her chair, while smirk has appeared on her face. Something not really often seen on her face, something like a little victory.
That made him smile, almost a bit too much. She might have been a guildmistress once, but she didn't poker too well. "I guess I have to respect your decision. If you don't want us to locate the Rheinlanders in Honshu, we won't do that."
He averted his eyes for a moment, looking around in the room while thinking of something. Continuing to make bold statements would probably just result in her defending herself and the Guild even more, but once me she had hinted the Guild had contacts with the Overwatch. That would suffice, and if everything went well, maybe she actually was able to pull a redemption off. One thing less to worry about in that case. Facing her again, he gifted her with another charming smirk. "I will arrange something regarding New Berlin. I am certain I will be able to satisfy you."
Looking down for a moment, then at her again, he nodded slightly. "If there isn't anything else you want from me, I believe we are done for now. The sooner I can get to work, the sooner you can react to the threat Rheinland currently poses."
And that's it, everything is done for a little while. One step closer to the restoration.
"Just find out if they are building new ships and from where does Daumann obtain armor and raw materials. After that I will get in touch with one of my friends who has contacts with The Order and see what can be done about your mistakes." Taruko slowly got up and crossed her arms.
"Are you able to reach the ship yourself? Or do you need me to carry you by hand?" Grinning, she almost forgot to mention one thing. "And do not forget to pick up your friend and silly woman, just in case you would be in such haste."
Standing up, he made a few steps away from the table. "While I would love to see you carrying me around, Ishibashi-sama, I believe your hands are not meant to perform that kind of manual labor," he returned to her with a cheeky smirk. "I will contact you again once I have something for you." His smirk dwarfed down back to a normal expression. Wanting to keep it professional in some way, he bowed deeply infront of her, then smirked at her again as he stood up straight again. And with that, he turned around and left her alone.
In the meantime, Sombra and Noel had taken a deep dive into the public commercial section of the Star City. Armed with various dresses she had found, the curacaoan woman had taken control over a changing room. The young rheinlandian boy sat on a bench, bored, lost in thought. Left and right were each two bags filled with their recent purchases. "Noel, could you lend me a hand?" Sombra sounded out of her changing room, and as if going shopping with that girl had sucked any life motivation out of him, he slowly stood up and moved to the changing room. Peeking inside, he sighed, then pulled the curtain back to fully seal the inner area off from any curious eyes. With a slight blush, he turned around, leaving uncommented what he just saw.
Ezrael stood infront of him now, giving the boy a surprised look. "Huh. And here I thought I was the pervert."
"What, eh, I mean, she asked me to do it!?" Noel returned, trying to defend himself. The last thing he wanted was to look like he was a voyeur.
"You really surprise me, Noel. Anyway, Sombs, get dressed. We're done here and have to leave now, time is running." He smirked at the young boy.
"But I'm not done yet!" she sounded out of the cubicle, her voice slightly muffled.
Ezrael sighed, looking at the four bags on the bench. "Get dressed. If you're not ready in two minutes, Noel and I will return to the ship without you."
And thus, only half an hour later, Noel, Sombra and Ezrael returned to the Charming Rover in the hangar bay, packed with six bags stuffed with clothing. The Hussar launched, heading for what seemed like a void area of space, just to disappear without a trace from any radar as it landed in the cloaked mothership...