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Dread Patricians - Lochrath - 01-26-2022
Sierra, Coronado
She was starting to hate this station.
Sierra Starport, a rather new station in Coronado, was one of few open ports to mixed company in the independent Worlds. It's system bound cousin, the famous Barrier Gate Station, was the other. However, a growing increase in trade from the Maltese Outcasts made Barrier Gate less neutral than might be desired. So if one wanted a neutral meeting without going too far off the beaten path, Sierra you went.
The dislike came in the form of it's multi-use construction. Not all, but major portions of the station seemed to have the ability to host whatever it needed to. This caused very bland halls and rooms which was, in her mind at least, boring. There was something to say about purposed build structures that held an appeal. Walls inset just so to fit networking stations, or a hallway just wide enough to comfortably fit two standard grab trolleys. This place lacked in that greatly.
Mary Ward, dressed in a maroon jumpsuit, sat at a rounded table. Her hair was pulled up in a bun and she played with a bag of crackers, occasionally picking one out between fingers to toss into her mouth. Beside her was the tall and elderly Parlance Gellen, balded head and greyed beard making him look wizened. As if to compound this, he wore a long coat of black over a creme button up and black trousers. He looked like a business man or upper class man ready for mid day board meetings.
Lingering in the back of the room was Jasper Grey. He stalked nervously around the private conference room they were renting, muttering. His fitted suit of grey stunk of politician, not to mention the slicked back black hair. Mary took some joy in watching Grey fret.
The trio waited. A signal was made for the party that was to join them once they landed, directing them here. In the station moor their vessel, the Lochrath, sat and waited. It's crew taking this downtime after a two week crusade in their homeworlds.
Sierra Starport, a rather new station in Coronado, was one of few open ports to mixed company in the independent Worlds. It's system bound cousin, the famous Barrier Gate Station, was the other. However, a growing increase in trade from the Maltese Outcasts made Barrier Gate less neutral than might be desired. So if one wanted a neutral meeting without going too far off the beaten path, Sierra you went.
The dislike came in the form of it's multi-use construction. Not all, but major portions of the station seemed to have the ability to host whatever it needed to. This caused very bland halls and rooms which was, in her mind at least, boring. There was something to say about purposed build structures that held an appeal. Walls inset just so to fit networking stations, or a hallway just wide enough to comfortably fit two standard grab trolleys. This place lacked in that greatly.
Mary Ward, dressed in a maroon jumpsuit, sat at a rounded table. Her hair was pulled up in a bun and she played with a bag of crackers, occasionally picking one out between fingers to toss into her mouth. Beside her was the tall and elderly Parlance Gellen, balded head and greyed beard making him look wizened. As if to compound this, he wore a long coat of black over a creme button up and black trousers. He looked like a business man or upper class man ready for mid day board meetings.
Lingering in the back of the room was Jasper Grey. He stalked nervously around the private conference room they were renting, muttering. His fitted suit of grey stunk of politician, not to mention the slicked back black hair. Mary took some joy in watching Grey fret.
The trio waited. A signal was made for the party that was to join them once they landed, directing them here. In the station moor their vessel, the Lochrath, sat and waited. It's crew taking this downtime after a two week crusade in their homeworlds.
RE: Dread Patricians - Reeves - 01-26-2022
He was here alone.
Or at least he appeared to be for the moment, unless it required that he have company beyond this ragtag delegation. From the moment he had walked in, he sized up everyone in the room. Two men, extremely different postures. One stood firm and entirely assured of himself and the situation, and the way he stared struck an immediate chord of familiarity, wealthy background and all the "pedigree" that entailed.
The other hardly seemed like he belonged, fidgeting as if he were late for a conference and had stumbled into the wrong room. It took a substantial amount of effort for Morreti to not let his eyes betray the contempt on his mind. After all, they were gateways to the soul, or so the liberal arts student would insist.
He looked at Mary the last and the briefest, and for that exact second he had actually forgotten why he was here, having to divert his gaze to the crackers to remember. Having made that mental reset, and in order to break an awkward seven seconds of silence, he finally spoke up. "I appreciate you making the time for this." Since the nature of this meeting was intended to be diplomatic, he did lean into the more polite parts of his attitude, hoping to get the ball rolling in the right direction.
Or at least he appeared to be for the moment, unless it required that he have company beyond this ragtag delegation. From the moment he had walked in, he sized up everyone in the room. Two men, extremely different postures. One stood firm and entirely assured of himself and the situation, and the way he stared struck an immediate chord of familiarity, wealthy background and all the "pedigree" that entailed.
The other hardly seemed like he belonged, fidgeting as if he were late for a conference and had stumbled into the wrong room. It took a substantial amount of effort for Morreti to not let his eyes betray the contempt on his mind. After all, they were gateways to the soul, or so the liberal arts student would insist.
He looked at Mary the last and the briefest, and for that exact second he had actually forgotten why he was here, having to divert his gaze to the crackers to remember. Having made that mental reset, and in order to break an awkward seven seconds of silence, he finally spoke up. "I appreciate you making the time for this." Since the nature of this meeting was intended to be diplomatic, he did lean into the more polite parts of his attitude, hoping to get the ball rolling in the right direction.
RE: Dread Patricians - Lochrath - 01-27-2022
As Morreti came in, Mary casually lifted a hand and smiled. It appeared as if she wanted to do more but the nature of the meeting was keeping her restrained. That or the exhaustion that coated her expression.
Gellen beamed and hobbled around the table to the Libertonian, extending a hand to shake. One leg seemed stiff and it was likely he used a cane normally, though any sign of such was absent. "Of course, of course! Do excuse our delay, there was dutiful action that was of much import." Gellen said. He then motioned to one of the chairs about the round table and moved back to his side. He motioned towards the third figure who now joined them at the table.
"And this is Jasper Grey. He is here to represent the Green Front, if unofficially. I am sure you can understand why he would be needed in such a discussion." Grey dipped his head while Gellen looked to Mary, who didn't stand or move. She continued to snack on the little bag of treats. "And as you know this is Quartermaster Ward." He explained shortly.
A motion for them all to sit. Grey sat up stiffly and seemed uncomfortable. Gellen took his time to sit, the leg giving him some minor trouble though he fell into the chair with a faint huff. Collecting himself, Gellen looked towards the Xeno.
"What was it you wanted to speak on?"
Gellen beamed and hobbled around the table to the Libertonian, extending a hand to shake. One leg seemed stiff and it was likely he used a cane normally, though any sign of such was absent. "Of course, of course! Do excuse our delay, there was dutiful action that was of much import." Gellen said. He then motioned to one of the chairs about the round table and moved back to his side. He motioned towards the third figure who now joined them at the table.
"And this is Jasper Grey. He is here to represent the Green Front, if unofficially. I am sure you can understand why he would be needed in such a discussion." Grey dipped his head while Gellen looked to Mary, who didn't stand or move. She continued to snack on the little bag of treats. "And as you know this is Quartermaster Ward." He explained shortly.
A motion for them all to sit. Grey sat up stiffly and seemed uncomfortable. Gellen took his time to sit, the leg giving him some minor trouble though he fell into the chair with a faint huff. Collecting himself, Gellen looked towards the Xeno.
"What was it you wanted to speak on?"
RE: Dread Patricians - Reeves - 01-27-2022
Stripping his hands of gloves, he considered how he was going to word this. "Well." Taking a breath soon after the hand-wear was carefully put to a side, and also adjusting the collar of his red and white dress uniform. It bore all the telltale signs of being handmade, and featured "service" emblems which resembled each base operated by his cause. There were some other embellishments and personal touches, from the Free Republic stars on either shoulder, to the personal insignias he was known by on the ends of the collar.
"We've seen it with Coronado, we're going to see it with Hudson. If you give the Houses a chance, they roll over everybody and take whatever they want. I want systems that are untouched by House influence to stay that way, by any means necessary." His eye contact was consistent while he spoke, switching between the three people in the room. It was obvious he was the most comfortable with Mary, and on the verge of saying something offensive to Grey.
"We've seen it with Coronado, we're going to see it with Hudson. If you give the Houses a chance, they roll over everybody and take whatever they want. I want systems that are untouched by House influence to stay that way, by any means necessary." His eye contact was consistent while he spoke, switching between the three people in the room. It was obvious he was the most comfortable with Mary, and on the verge of saying something offensive to Grey.
RE: Dread Patricians - Lochrath - 01-27-2022
Grey looked all the more nervous at the venomous gaze. He made himself busy with a datapad.
Gellen nodded some in the way that one does when listening. He leaned forward some taking the pause to voice a question. "And what do you propose is done about this apparent problem?" A hand motion towards the end of the sentence was an invitation to explain.
Of the three, Gellen was clearly the oldest and most experienced in these type of meetings. He stared at Morreti intently. His motions and gaze showed he was giving his full attention, yet not giving away his own thoughts. Entirely opposite, Mary munched and crunched until Grey shot her a pleading glance. The bag was then abandoned somewhere under the table.
Gellen nodded some in the way that one does when listening. He leaned forward some taking the pause to voice a question. "And what do you propose is done about this apparent problem?" A hand motion towards the end of the sentence was an invitation to explain.
Of the three, Gellen was clearly the oldest and most experienced in these type of meetings. He stared at Morreti intently. His motions and gaze showed he was giving his full attention, yet not giving away his own thoughts. Entirely opposite, Mary munched and crunched until Grey shot her a pleading glance. The bag was then abandoned somewhere under the table.
RE: Dread Patricians - Reeves - 01-27-2022
The proposal would be thrown out into the open without any hesitation. "An organization dedicated to keeping the independent worlds independent, groups like yours and ours would contribute to it. Supervisory posts are elected offices, and membership is voluntary across the board. Deployment would require the consent of whichever group has the most solid presence within the system in question." A smirk crept across his face for a moment, he had to appreciate the irony of him being the one to propose this.
"The Independent Worlds Alliance. Made up of volunteer personnel from its member factions, entitled to a common pool of resources and hardware, but with one vision - the preservation of self determination." His choice of words towards the end conveyed a tangible sense of belief, he did truly want this to work, but also for it to last and accomplish something he valued immensely. It was oddly personal, but on a scale that might prompt confusion if thought on more deeply.
"I don't want to waste your time, and I mean that. I just need to know if you're in or out." He didn't want to spend hours stacked upon hours "negotiating" and appeasing other parties regarding the exact nature of this joint effort. He would much rather actually start working on it, focus on the practical elements and all the gritty day-to-day preparations that would be required to start the formation of what was currently just an idea.
"The Independent Worlds Alliance. Made up of volunteer personnel from its member factions, entitled to a common pool of resources and hardware, but with one vision - the preservation of self determination." His choice of words towards the end conveyed a tangible sense of belief, he did truly want this to work, but also for it to last and accomplish something he valued immensely. It was oddly personal, but on a scale that might prompt confusion if thought on more deeply.
"I don't want to waste your time, and I mean that. I just need to know if you're in or out." He didn't want to spend hours stacked upon hours "negotiating" and appeasing other parties regarding the exact nature of this joint effort. He would much rather actually start working on it, focus on the practical elements and all the gritty day-to-day preparations that would be required to start the formation of what was currently just an idea.
RE: Dread Patricians - Lochrath - 01-28-2022
Gellen's head bobbed along at the rough overview. At the curt cut off, the needing for an answer then and there, his chin lifted. "There is a lot proposed here. I commend you for being so direct with it. However there is a lot that must be considered. Nothing this large of a scale can just be signed off on a whim. It can to tell the truth, however not without repercussions. I agree with the concept of idea, though the more gritty details are not something we can so blindly accept without losing out in other spots." The captain's gaze flicked to Grey, who cleared his throat and scrolled to a certain part of his datapad's contents.
Grey's voice was like a snake. A slight rasp to it from some form of damage to his throat and lungs. Yet it was confident and self assured. "These are concerns that affect more than just the Independent Worlds. There is many considerations of taking such a struggle fully outside of our Kingdom. We all know how California Minor went." He referenced. "The movement the Captain represents is centered around the betterment of Bretonian lives. Without due cause, a mostly exterior conflict can and will shatter trust and support. You must remember that those backing the Captain and those like him are not the same that back you and yours."
Grey paused, a tactic used by politicians to give a moment for words to sink in. Mary suddenly cut in before he could continue. "They want t'know how this benefits us an' Bretonia. We're backed by politics, workers and higher class alike. We can't just start ah war on the 'houses' for being somewhere. It needs ah reason more than independence, as that ain't our main fightin' motto."
Both Grey and Gellen looked at Mary. Grey wasn't happy with the bluntness, but Gellen seemed pleased. Eyes were on Morreti for a response.
Grey's voice was like a snake. A slight rasp to it from some form of damage to his throat and lungs. Yet it was confident and self assured. "These are concerns that affect more than just the Independent Worlds. There is many considerations of taking such a struggle fully outside of our Kingdom. We all know how California Minor went." He referenced. "The movement the Captain represents is centered around the betterment of Bretonian lives. Without due cause, a mostly exterior conflict can and will shatter trust and support. You must remember that those backing the Captain and those like him are not the same that back you and yours."
Grey paused, a tactic used by politicians to give a moment for words to sink in. Mary suddenly cut in before he could continue. "They want t'know how this benefits us an' Bretonia. We're backed by politics, workers and higher class alike. We can't just start ah war on the 'houses' for being somewhere. It needs ah reason more than independence, as that ain't our main fightin' motto."
Both Grey and Gellen looked at Mary. Grey wasn't happy with the bluntness, but Gellen seemed pleased. Eyes were on Morreti for a response.
RE: Dread Patricians - Reeves - 01-28-2022
Nodding once emphatically, he continued and made sure to clear up their doubts as best he could. "The way your House operates is the biggest justification for why you'd need this. BMM and Planetform are each their own kind of predator. The things you're sworn to protect? It's not sacred to your political system, the party that might be inclined to agree with you is a minority." That last sentence was enunciated with a brief stare in Grey's direction, directly suggesting a degree of contempt for bureaucrats and authorities alike.
"It's important to have checks and balances, in practice the Houses have few, especially when it comes to interaction with minor entities. It's only a matter of time before Bretonia's gutted industrial sector starts advocating for a strip mining project. Where do you think they'll look? And when they start looking, poking and prodding, would you really prefer being all on your own? Doubt the military's going to sympathize with you." What he'd done was elaborate in a way that made this important and beneficial from their perspective and situation, rather than beat the same drum of independence. It was important for him to try and highlight how they could have a vested interest in this, it was the most surefire way to secure support, or so experience had taught him.
"It's important to have checks and balances, in practice the Houses have few, especially when it comes to interaction with minor entities. It's only a matter of time before Bretonia's gutted industrial sector starts advocating for a strip mining project. Where do you think they'll look? And when they start looking, poking and prodding, would you really prefer being all on your own? Doubt the military's going to sympathize with you." What he'd done was elaborate in a way that made this important and beneficial from their perspective and situation, rather than beat the same drum of independence. It was important for him to try and highlight how they could have a vested interest in this, it was the most surefire way to secure support, or so experience had taught him.
RE: Dread Patricians - Lochrath - 01-28-2022
Gellen couldn't help but scoff lightly. He seemed mildly offended. "How our house operates, sir, is much more complicated than what you try to boil it down to." The tone was stern, yet lacked any anger in it. "The core of our system is mostly fine. The Queen, bless her, and those noble houses do try their best to stand with the people. It goes without saying that there are those who's interests are purely for their own benefit but that is the price for any form of structure to exist. What plagues us, Commander Morreti, is the corporate greed."
Gellen continued, hands placed palm down on the table. "We have stood within our cause for decades. Little to none stood with us as Gallia came. None but opportunistic dogs tried to stand with us as we worked to liberate our Green Jewel. You speak where they look next. They will look towards Gaia. Towards Ayr, towards Wight. Those worlds within our own borders for their greed to consume. A greed we fight for the betterment of our people. Your alliance speaks of the Independent Worlds. What do we gain to fight in our internal struggles by giving some focus out there? We are stretched thin as it is, and directly fighting exterior forces such as the Liberty Navy and that vassal state of Crayter outside of bordering skirmishes will not help us in the future."
Gellen sat back, lips drawn closed. Grey spoke up, a softer tone. "While the initiative is great, I can't exactly see the famous Xenos, who are as the namesake says, helping out those outside of their own house, especially those of an entirely seperate kingdom." A waved hand for emphasis. "I can view a world where a spin could be put on keeping Liberty at bay from growing too close to Bretonia, or striking at corporations who forfeit ecology preservation. But these are not what you are proposing. An all out war to install a new alliance in those free worlds hardly makes it free. How does one denote what is and isn't self made there? How does one justify to the citizens that they should not have more to work with?"
Gellen continued, hands placed palm down on the table. "We have stood within our cause for decades. Little to none stood with us as Gallia came. None but opportunistic dogs tried to stand with us as we worked to liberate our Green Jewel. You speak where they look next. They will look towards Gaia. Towards Ayr, towards Wight. Those worlds within our own borders for their greed to consume. A greed we fight for the betterment of our people. Your alliance speaks of the Independent Worlds. What do we gain to fight in our internal struggles by giving some focus out there? We are stretched thin as it is, and directly fighting exterior forces such as the Liberty Navy and that vassal state of Crayter outside of bordering skirmishes will not help us in the future."
Gellen sat back, lips drawn closed. Grey spoke up, a softer tone. "While the initiative is great, I can't exactly see the famous Xenos, who are as the namesake says, helping out those outside of their own house, especially those of an entirely seperate kingdom." A waved hand for emphasis. "I can view a world where a spin could be put on keeping Liberty at bay from growing too close to Bretonia, or striking at corporations who forfeit ecology preservation. But these are not what you are proposing. An all out war to install a new alliance in those free worlds hardly makes it free. How does one denote what is and isn't self made there? How does one justify to the citizens that they should not have more to work with?"
RE: Dread Patricians - Reeves - 01-28-2022
It seemed as if every time Grey spoke, a little more of Morreti's patience eroded and revealed more and more of his outlook on people of his sort. But with a swift inhale, he carried on. "I already have a list of volunteers. But it's not just your borders, and it's not just your worlds, and quite frankly it isn't just about you. I don't think either of us would like to see Atka go the way worlds graced by Planetform do. But it could, and although we might be able to delay the process, we can't stop it. Not like this and not on our own." His tone of voice had unintentionally shifted from perfect politeness to something that actually revealed his commitment to the idea, it could almost be interpreted as aggressive.
"If a colony like Erie was allowed to self govern, free of the confines of its protectorate status, it would be free. I don't think I need to start defining what freedom is, or what it means to make things yourself. And since I need to spell it out, don't you think those people might end up grateful? Grateful for the fact you gave them a choice, unlike the Houses and their militaries do? It's all insignificant and dismissible by a hand wave until an entire system's population sees you as the best bet for preserving their way of life. With an emphasis on it being their way." With that bit of frustration caused by Grey disposed of, his tone reverted to normal again. At least to Morreti, this was a compelling scenario, humble beginnings in the present could lead to independent polities that govern their own systems becoming members. And if that were to happen, the growth of an organization like this would accelerate rapidly, more for every new flag willing to fight for its right to be displayed. This would in turn bolster the resilience and scope of their movements immensely. But it was still an incredibly ambitious investment, its boldness complimented by a certain natural confidence from the person proposing it, one that suggested experience with ambition.
Looking directly at Gellen this time, he figured there was more he could say, and some of the things the old man had mentioned caught his interest. "I know it's simpler to just keep doing things the way we've been doing it. I know we don't share the same vision, and I'm not asking you to give more than you can afford. But you're smart enough to understand that repetition's not a recipe for success. When push came to shove, your compatriots largely revealed themselves to be opportunists. So maybe it's time you chose differently this time around. At least I'll shoot you in the face instead of stab you in the back." The last part was clearly sarcasm, but it might have seemed quite literal if it had been addressed to Grey instead, it certainly was a tempting prospect.
"If a colony like Erie was allowed to self govern, free of the confines of its protectorate status, it would be free. I don't think I need to start defining what freedom is, or what it means to make things yourself. And since I need to spell it out, don't you think those people might end up grateful? Grateful for the fact you gave them a choice, unlike the Houses and their militaries do? It's all insignificant and dismissible by a hand wave until an entire system's population sees you as the best bet for preserving their way of life. With an emphasis on it being their way." With that bit of frustration caused by Grey disposed of, his tone reverted to normal again. At least to Morreti, this was a compelling scenario, humble beginnings in the present could lead to independent polities that govern their own systems becoming members. And if that were to happen, the growth of an organization like this would accelerate rapidly, more for every new flag willing to fight for its right to be displayed. This would in turn bolster the resilience and scope of their movements immensely. But it was still an incredibly ambitious investment, its boldness complimented by a certain natural confidence from the person proposing it, one that suggested experience with ambition.
Looking directly at Gellen this time, he figured there was more he could say, and some of the things the old man had mentioned caught his interest. "I know it's simpler to just keep doing things the way we've been doing it. I know we don't share the same vision, and I'm not asking you to give more than you can afford. But you're smart enough to understand that repetition's not a recipe for success. When push came to shove, your compatriots largely revealed themselves to be opportunists. So maybe it's time you chose differently this time around. At least I'll shoot you in the face instead of stab you in the back." The last part was clearly sarcasm, but it might have seemed quite literal if it had been addressed to Grey instead, it certainly was a tempting prospect.