Despite having understood the questions the moment they were asked, Aidan took a few moments to flick his eyes around and think about what he was going to say. "My orders were to wrap up here and then report back to Gabrielle Daniels, I'll also assume that for further instructions it'll be the same thing, subject to her decision and discretion. I don't mind the option between either a few days off or simply just helping the personnel here, but I feel it's only right if I stuck to chain of command, sir."
He was fairly respectful in how he had answered, moving on to the next question that was posed to him.
"Regarding questions, I'm not so sure. If I do ever have any I'll direct them to the appropriate person at my disposal."
Though treating his Guildmaster with respect, he hadn't overly indulged him with it, only so much as was necessary for his rank and status within the Core, nothing more and nothing less.
Now he was just curious if there even was anyone on the other side of the comms, or had he just been talking to himself all this time?
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Daniels signaled the man to wait for a moment and then he pulled a holopad out of his pocket.
He quickly recorded a message about a zoner ship and something about execution.
The guildmaster then straightened his suit and placed his hand on Aidan' shoulder. Milliseconds later, Aidan could feel the sheer amount of augmentation that Daniels possessed.
Both strains of nanites reacted to each other and the rest of the room got blurred, everything slowed down and silence fell upon the two men.
Just so we understand each other, Mr. Reeves, I am the chain of command. I am every single link in it. I am alpha and I am omega.
I am, if you wish, a master and a slave.
And no, they can't hear us, this is a direct line, so to say.
I came down here for a reason. You have potential. Potential I have not failed to see.
You are the future, Reeves. Do not waste your shot. It's your only one.
Someday, in the distant future, you might even take my place...but that depends solely on you.
I won't be around forever, so I'd like to have backups.
Backups like you, backups like Gabs and Scarlet. Anyhow...
Jack lifted his hand and everything went back to normal.
Dismissed, Paladin Reeves.
Debrief to Gabrielle. Or do not. It's your call.
With a curt but respectful bow, he took a few steps away from the Guildmaster. "I'll report back to Gabrielle on the Tangra for my debriefing. Glad to have served you, Guildmaster."
Having said that he promptly left the room, having the luxury of walking out of the front door of the installation now that he'd reclaimed it. Calmly and steadily pacing his way across the barren sands and into his grounded ship, initiating a take-off sequence for the battleship that was in orbit above the planet.
Once docked and out of his ship once more, he didn't bother requesting for permission and merely walked his way into the bridge, the doors making a mechanical hiss as they both scanned and then cleared him to enter, he was curious if the person he had to debrief to would even actually be inside, but the following seconds would answer that question.
In those few seconds before his mind could fully process things he wondered about what exactly his future had in store for him, power and elitism seemed among the top of the list should he continue to perform this consistently or even begin to outdo himself. He could only hope and pray that all his gifts didn't come with a steep and hidden cost somewhere down the line, one that he wouldn't be able to recover from.
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The door slid open and revealed Gabrielle, sitting in her almost throne-like chair. However, she was in full combat gear. More specifically, infiltration gear.
Her hair was tied in a tight ponytail and her assault rifle was leaning against the desk. Two "Scalper" pistols were tucked into the harness on her chest and a third one around her waist.
Upon seeing the man, she undid her ponytail and shook her head to further loosen it.
"You're late, Reeves. I was almost getting worried.
The direct feed from your gear was cut as soon as you entered the facility...must've been a jammer or something.
I was just about to head down there myself...
...but seeing how you're back in one piece, I've managed to avoid yet another trip to that disgraceful...right.
What I meant to say is that I'm not very fond of Nauru and it's climate. It's too dry for my taste.
So anyways, how was your mission? I take it everyone except you died? It better be so..."
Once within a distance of what must have been exactly five feet, he lowered himself onto one knee, remaining in a respectful bow before where she sat. "All intruders were eliminated, despite some of my own efforts, I left none of them alive. Our personnel who man the station were relatively unharmed, the security staff suffered single digit casualties and some wounded guards."
He paused for a split second, his eyes flicking to the left and breaking contact with hers within that mere moment as he recollected everything that happened and explained further. "The Guildmaster and his two personal guards were there. He expressed to me how impressed he was, promoted me to Paladin and then gave the choice to stay within the facility or simply come back and report to you. I made the rational choice and followed chain of command, leading me back here and submitting this to you now."
With how heavily armed and appropriately armored she was, it seemed as if she were getting ready for something, though Aidan was fairly uncertain about what she might be preparing for and did not want to overstep his place by asking when it may turn out to be none of his own business.
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The date 9th of January could be seen on the display behind Gabrielle, as well as the schematics of the nearby Freeport and the schematics of the Tangra, Task Force Ehrgeiz' flagship. "Splendid job and thank you for returning to me with the mission report. I had plans to take you with me on my next mission, but alas, you arrived a moment too late.
I've already assigned the crew. But I digress. " Gabrielle took off her necklace, a light blue emerald that seemed to emit a faint glow. She put it in the drawer on her desk and stared Aidan down again. " Now listen to me, very closely. Guildmaster Daniels, as you know him or dad, as I know him will need all the help he can get in the coming days.
What I am about to do might be considered radical and extreme, but it's the only way out of this stalemate." The woman stood up and started adjusting her combat gear. " But know this, whatever happens, have a little faith and everything will be sorted. Or alternatively, everything will crash and burn.
Either way, it's a solution of sorts." Gabrielle actually smiled for a brief moment before going back to her usual serious self.
She stood tall and gave the man a formal salute. " Dismissed, Paladin Reeves! Farewell and godspeed!"