The corsair looked at Gunter then at Traudel. When she looked at Traudel, her heart hurt. So she looked away. The ambiance began to be ackward for Nina. She sighed and while she did this, she sat on the ground. It was as if her proud warrior within her ceased to be there letting place a simple young woman. Dying during a fight was something she agreed on but dying in a cell was a big no.
''What do you want to know...'' She said with a little voice. Inside her, she knew that Traudel would like that she survives. At this point, being a proud warrior won't help.
Gunter grinned almost unnoticeably again when Traudel asked why he would do that.
"At this very moment she may be of use and in the future as well. That is- "
He turns to Nina. "-IF she co-operates." His voice got a tiny bit harder and his neutral face suddenly got a little bit more strict.
He raised an eyebrow however when Nina changed her posture.
Gunter started pondering again. As soon as Traudel entered, her whole body language changed! This was interesting.
He heard Nina saying she was ready to answer everything. He was surprised!
"Having enough of your though act? Finally coming to your senses? Wünderbar, then we can finally speed this interrogation up!"
Something wasn't right. Nina started to become nervous, even a bit... fearful maybe?
"You suddenly look... uncomfortable Nina. Does another female presence intimidate you somehow?"
While he stood in front of her, the corner of his eyes looked to the right, where Traudel was standing.
Nina Rodriguez stared Gunter. Her look meant everything but to make sure he understands, Nina talked. ''As if another woman would intimidate me. You want me to 'co-operate'. You better stop trying to mess with me because it will be bloody in this cell.'' Wanted or not, she did threat the man. He should have continued with questions instead of saying this stupid question: ''Does another female presence intimidate you somehow?" It pissed her. Enough that she was ready to stand up and jump on him. Even if Traudel was there, never Nina will allow anyone to lower her.
Gunter was now warned and Traudel as well. Nina looked in the eyes of the woman. The message that Nina wanted to send her was the following one: ''If he continues, I will try to evade with your help or not.'' Then, Nina stared at Gunter again but with murder eyes.
"I have yet to see said use, enlighten me. If anything we are nearing the abrupt end of this unpleasant exchange by the looks of it, swapping it for a far worse fate." She remarks with a sigh towards Gunter, eyes remaining mainly on Nina. "Reconsider your position, if you would. Because bloody it will be indeed otherwise." As with basically any other situation the Oberleutnant was involved in, her interest in having things get out of hand seemed low. Voice still calm, albeit a tonal shift towards the end. Last sentence spoken somewhat resignedly.
"A Rheinwehr cruiser at a place you don't even know. Trained personnel on every corner. Lack of suitable craft to go anywhere, if you even make it that is. Bulkhead doors able to be closed by the simple push of a button several corridors away, cutting off your path and trapping you again. The list of aspects not in your favour is a long one." Traudel tilts her head slightly, one hand wandering to her holster. Remaining there, ready to draw her sidearm. The look she received causes a slow shake of the head. "Don't. This will not go the way you think it will."
While Traudel spoke, the corsair looked at her. Her look began to be less hostile. In a way, Nina was not surprised that Traudel read in her like an open book. She pushed a sigh and looked away. That expression of the corsair, easy to understand after getting known each other, Traudel could easy read this as well.
If only she wasn't in this miserable cell, she would be elsewhere. But time is slow, really slow right now. Even if it was just a few hours spent here, for the corsair it appeared to be days. Thinking and holding her hostility, with what Traudel said, it did not make things easier but she calmed down a bit letting a better ambiance for talks. Patience never was her strenght and Traudel already knew it. By a heavy breathin, it meant everything.
The corsair wanted to say something but decided to not. She decided to wait what Gunter will say.
"I'm not one for unnessecary violence Nina, but perhaps i should remind you i will shoot you right here right now if i consider you even the slightest threat."
He kept a stern face.
He then listened to Traudel's logical analysis of what would happen if Nina tried to escape. "How does she do that?" He thought. He knew from previous encounters they were known adversaries of each other.
Maybe they built some kind of likewise respect? "Listen to Oberleutnant Traudel, Nina. She seems to make more sense to you than i ever will."
He turns his head back to Traudel after hearing her question. "Patrols, bases, technology.. any new info could be useful for us all." "Also...-" He checked that Nina couldn't hear them. "We could try and get info about Crete. I mean good info!" The terraforming, economic situation and even more important: their planetary defenses."
"That, with the right leadership (an indirect slight to Stahl) might turn the tide of the war."
''Technology, you already saw it by fighting the Deterrence. Patrols, we go where we want. About the bases, you will need to figure out by yourself. There's no f*cking way to be homeless.'' That's much what she could tell. It was probably not knew to the military but it was better than nothing.
''And to your information, Gunter, I will only allow this woman to kill me. Because you see, among all of you, she is the only one who has some talents with a fighter.''
Watching as Nina's attention turned back to herself, a slow nod follows. Hand remains close to her holster, but relaxes slightly."Conversation tends to be so much more fruitful than actions, you just have to give it a chance. A good one can be found in the most unlikely of places, after all."
The unexpected compliment shortly afterwards prompts Traudel to lift a brow and corner of her mouth. "What an honor. We'll see about whether or not others here agree with this sentiment. Choice is in low supply these days." She almost sounded melancholy towards the end, slightly slouching her shoulders.
Answering Gunter now again, voice lowered. "Try we could. Chances are a Corsair rather dies than give up such knowledge. They are a proud people, despite all the slander. You heard it..." Gentle nod towards Nina. "Non-answers, mostly. But as i said, be my guest. Inquire, Leutnant. Crisis averted, for now. But the clock is ticking. Connections, diplomatic attempts, who crosses their space. Who isn't welcome there, except the obvious ones. Many topics to pick from, i'll continue to chaperone - for now."
Gunter raised his eyebrows. She sure is a great pilot. After all, she is the one that defeated you, right? But unfortunately your execution is neither in my hands as it is in yours. "You see, Stahl is the one tha-"
The door banged open. Stahl entered. "Speaking of the devil..." He thought.
He walked in a fast pace towards them. Did she talk yet?! Nein Frigattenkapitan, unfortunately she dodged most of our que- This is gonna cost you your career, Kunrad! Guess i'll have to do everything myself!
He turned and pointed to Traudel. ...And you, Habermeyer! I thought you would be of use as you are known with that particular scum! Expect a bad briefing of your involvement as well! You're lucky you're not straight under my command or you'd end up the same fate as Leutnant Kunrad!
He turned his head towards the door he just entered. Bring in the prisoners!
3 soldiers carrying 3 prisoners entered the room. They were pushed onto their knees. Their mouths were covered with tape so they couldn't speak.
I brought some visitors from another prison. Unofficially maybe but... ah well they will die nonetheless... Unless you finally open that mouth of yours.
This is it Corsair, give me something of use or they'll die one by one... His eyes got narrower. He looked very determined. "Fregattenkapitan! you can't do that unless perm-" Gunter tried to intervene but alas it had no use. "Shut your mouth Kunrad, or you can join them!" "You have dissapointed me for the last time."
Gunter sighed unnoticeably. "End of the line, Nina." He whispered to himself. He wished he could have done more for her. But in the end, he can only control his own actions.
Stahl's show made the corsair laughing. However, she looked at him with murder eyes. Whoever daring to threat Traudel pushes Nina in a terrible mood. But at this moment, she needed to be very careful. Not only for herself but also for Traudel's sake. She looked at the prisoners. No one of them she knew.
When Gunter has been yelled again, the corsair stood up still looking at Stalh. ''Listen up pal.'' She said to Stalh. ''Threatening those I don't have any bound with will do nothing. You can kill them, I don't care.'' She paused and the last thing she will say will surprise everyone. ''However, more you threat your crew will, more you will be seen as a bad leader and probably bring you more shame on yourself. What you are doing proves me that you are a bad leader.''
She stared at the old man with murder eyes. She saw him red and in this state, she forgets that Traudel is here and Gunter as well.
