Enma turned her head away a little, she was a little shocked with Claire's sudden jab, as she did not expect it. Rubbing her nose a little, Loyola considers options of what to do. Good for Claire that Enma values the makeup she just made so slapping or making her cry is really out of the picture for now. Nevertheless, she grins and Claire is not getting away with this, especially not when her subordinary is around. DeFrance already did a lot of damage by removing a wedding ring for... was it 5 times? All in public.
— Oh yes, frogface, that was indeed a masterpiece of diplomacy by the... captain, I don't believe his name worth mentioning. Saying that he should've shot my ship when I approached, calling me addict, threating me and not letting me leave the ship. I've seen how he was treating you, but what's allowed with you is not allowed with me.
Enma looks at Sarita with a smile, just to demonstrate that there's nothing to worry about. Loyola has really tried to play it polite and nice, but the frogface duchess didn't seem to appreciate it. And while there's a sympathy, Loyola is tired of this constant verbal licking of the royal butt.
— Finishing off this idiot fast was quite merciful on my part. I kind of wanted to make him suffer for a bit, but sadly we got no time there. Was it really one of the best officers the Royal Navy had to offer? I mean he looked pathetic from the first moment when I met him, until the very last moment when I discharged three shots into his face.
Loyola then looks directly at Claire, smiling and enjoying herself.
— But don't worry, frogface. The rest of the crew might be good people though, and if they indeed agree to follow you, then we will get them out of here. I won't launch scouts blindly, that's a waste of fuel and time. Not until Sarita will collect and process the data.
The repeated insults that the two flung back and forth grate on Sarita's nerves. Future family member? That would be a fun Christmas dinner, díos mío. Nevertheless, Sarita maintains her polite and attentive expression; one thing she will not do is act unprofessionally in front of a new acquaintance.
— I do think miss Loyola is right here, duquesa; flying blind in the Barrier, especially near to the northern ice fields in Tau-53, is a good, expensive way to lose assets. Forgive me, but we Outcasts have made the Barrier our operational zone for hundreds of years, and I'd be surprised if anybody knows how to operate more effectively there than us.
Realizing that she sounded a little impolite, Sarita gives the duchess an apologetic smile, as if her own experience in this field makes her uncomfortable. It isn't the smile of a soldier, but of a human to another human. She should probably sleep pretty soon. That was why she came to Ibiza in the first place, after all, and meeting Enma here was only a funny coincidence. She needed to not let herself be alone with her thoughts so much, she'd just created an awkward silence, Sarita was not in the mood for social situations like this, making that apparent would be so unprofessional, salvage it, say someth-
— So, that's why the data is important here. Tracking, intercepting, and cracking signals is more than just finding your target; it's security and efficiency. It's how we act with a quickness and without a sound, and if we stop acting like that, the whole thing falls apart. And if it's the ship you want, having a plan for the contingency situation where the Belisama's honorable crew is taking offense to... eeeh... previous negotiations, would be beneficial.
Sarita fumbles over the words, not used to discussing these tactical matters in English, but for a soldier she still certainly articulates herself well. Well enough, she hopes, to persuade Enma against dragging her into whatever drama lies between the two of them; and well enough, she hopes, to persuade Claire to cooperatively play along, at least for the moment.
Frogface, really... was that as imaginative as Enma could get? She wanted to reply, but Sarita replied before she could. Claire wasn't sure what to think of the new guest - she seemed different from the rest of Enma's lackeys so far. She sighed after listening hearing her out, clearly dissatisfied with what she said.
— Fine. Do what you must, I'll see if I can help with what data you need. They won't listen to you, but they'll listen to me if they're still there - and I can reach out to them if they are. I just hope they haven't moved to the gate.
The noble turns her attention back to the handheld computer, starting to write something there.
Loyola nods and nods and nods. Claire did not complain about her new nickname, so Enma thinks that it will stick around. It may be for the best, mentioning her full name in internal comms or wherever it may cause some problems. Frogface, while, is obviously indicating of a gallic person, nothing indicates that it has any status or importance. DeFrance as a brand is devalued, so Enma can grab some more and when stocks will start rising again, she will get her profit.
Enma pats Claire's head as she's starting to type something, doing it as a sign of approval and some affection, maybe. Was it that hard, Enma, for now, was only asking for respect and cooperation. Oh, and her hand too, but she is paying for it already. It takes a moment as Loyola yet again revalues their relationships and swings in mood.
— Great, Frogface, do that... and then I would like to contact the House governments, just so they know that DeFrance claim to the throne is strong and that all deals made with the so-called Confederacy are illegal.
Outcast here sounds somewhat inspired and hyped, for a moment it even could remind of some propaganda minister.
— Oh and don't dare to trash-talk me on comms, I will check everything anyway, go it?
Enma smiles at Claire, before turning to Sarita.
— I believe you wanted to go to Kusari anyway if I remember correctly. Now you have even more things to do down there. This stuff is important, so if you need any funds, equipment or assisting personnel let me know. Frogface is my future wife after all, hopefully, and she needs that fancy ship. You just need to track it down, I believe in you.
Loyola is trying to inspire her employee while holding hands at Sarita's shoulders and looking directly into her eyes. Maybe it wasn't the best motivational speech ever, but she tried.
Sarita hasn't spent enough time around Enma in person to know how to react to these theatrics. The physical contact, especially, is hard to read, and definitely unexpected, but she nods with as much solemnity as she can muster under the circumstances.
— I do not plan to start letting people down now, jefa. But, it seems like this situation has a lot of ins and outs, a lot of what-have-you's, so, eh... is there any background info I should be briefed on? Are we to locate la Belisama and have la duquesa simply give it the order to yield to her command, or should we be looking at getting something to breach it with? You know, for contingency.
She frowns a little bit, before sitting up straight in her chair.
— Regardless, I think I should travel to Lentini alone at first, so as to attract less attention, but it would be good to have someone else on standby nearby to RV with me later. Capable in a fight, but not a meathead like, say, Aparicio is. Any suggestions?
Enma is making a short, but a sharp glance at Claire, who seems still don't give enough care for Enma's great effort for the Royal cause. She's noticing that her body is a bit tense, but why would it be? Workhours like this were always bad days in her calendar, while she enjoys the power and devotion of the people, she absolutely hates to work for it. Maybe it's a bit hypocritic to blame Claire for it then? Loyola shakes her head and trying to concentrate on what Sarita was telling her. Who, by the way, still may be a potential traitor.
This girl is solid gold, being a common person, she is actually useful and productive. Enma wished she had more people like Sarita. Even loyal people sometimes causing trouble, Sarita was nothing like it, until her recent strange appearance. She really cannot concentrate on the task at hand now.
— There are no real ins and outs for you Sarita, your task is purely technical. Leave the politics and complicated matter to me and Frogface. I appreciate your initiative, I like initiative people, but those matters are too sensitive for you to touch. Your task will come down to just tracking and providing us with the potential location of the ship. So yes, you track it and you inform us of your progress if you have any.
Loyola pauses, thinks of people Sarita described, Gabriel would do if he won't be busy by then.
— And si, I will make sure to provide you with a competent security specialist.
Enma then pricks duchess' ear with the nails. Not too hard, but Claire could feel a certain pain. She then smiles widely and it almost turned into the light laugh. She then proceeds with a rather friendly and cheerful tone.
— Yo Frogface, what's up with Enclave comm, are you finishing?
Claire had already sent the transmission to the Enclave and was waiting for the confirmation that the message was sent successfully. The gaul recoiled a bit from the unexpected prick, only to hear her call her frogface again.
The noble had originally ignored and dismissed Enma's attempts at trying to spite her, but her immaturity was slowly making Claire's blood boil.
— I have a name and title, I'd kindly ask you to refer to it instead of inventing your own little insults. Unless you'd like me to call you a sniffer like your Bretonian friends did?
She sighed, turning her attention back at the computer, only to see the confirmation appear on the screen. She turned it towards Enma, showing the green check-mark on the screen.
Loyola gazed at the screen for a few moments, reading some parts of the message. It would prove to be enough to get the overall meaning. She's grimacing a little, Enma would want something more, but knowing herself that it's realistically the most optimal wording and stuff. Loyola then hearing Frogface's attempt to get rid of her new name, trying to blackmail Enma with doing the same thing.
— You can go ahead and call me a sniffer, Frogface.
Loyola smirks, not implying anything bad with her tone as it seems. In fact, Enma seems like she's enjoying the situation, especially since she considered it not to be an insult. Emma then ruffles Claire's blonde hair once more.
— But yeah, don't worry, I will tell everyone to address the Frogface properly.
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