Traitors' Rendezvous - Freeport 4, Magellan

[Sprolf]

The Freeport 4 bar was, much as usual, a moderately busy but somehow always-desolate bar. Perhaps the fact that the station sat at the heart of the barrier, each icy stripe visible on either side of this station, was what made it feel so desolate. It sat in a void at the heart of a rift of water and ice that sliced through space, and was quite aptly named "The Barrier," due to its impossibility to navigate quickly. This astral formation cast a dim bluish light across the entire station, and across the floors of the bar inside. The white lights did little to offset the gloomy, abyssal tone that pervaded this bar.

A young man - about twenty - sat in at a table along the windows. He wore some old style of olive military coat, over the rest of his rough but sturdy miner's garb, likely bought from an IMG surplus store. His face was young and his hair light, but there were subtle wrinkles and lines that seemed totally incongruent with the rest of his being - and then again, perhaps not. He was young, but he'd seen a lot of hardship and stress, one could tell. One could also tell that he'd seen a lot of the bottom of a shot glass, like as not the only way he could dull the hardship of his life enough to survive through it.

He indeed raised a glass to his lips, but just took a half-hearted sip of it before he placed it roughly on the table with a clear clink. He was looking, and feeling, somewhat depressed, despite what he was even here for. The blues, purples, and whites of this system were so diametric compared to the reds, browns, and golds of his beloved home, Dublin. Even this station was depressingly colder and more desolate. It was just a skeletal, ancient freeport. Arranmore was a smaller base, perhaps, nestled in an asteroid. It felt somehow closer, more like home, more protected there. Warmer, even. There was definitely less heat lost from Arranmore than from this station, he realised. Besides that, affairs back in Dublin were somewhat dire, and they were nagging at the back of his mind, so deeply that not even drunkenness could cover them over. He mused idly with the question of whether death would dull them or not...

Still, he didn't mean that. He was young, with quite a life ahead of him, and many people who needed his help desperately. And despite the unpleasantness of this stormy system - or, more like the eye of a storm - it was a vital link between the Mollies and the Rogues, the link between Liberty and Bretonia. It was also easy for anyone to get onto, and that's why he, Colin Breen, de facto leader of the Molly Republic, was meeting his nemesis here - the ex-Commander Austin Goodmen of the Bretonia Armed Forces. Goodmen had recently become one of Bretonia's most wanted... and Breen was always the type to respect his foes if they deserved it. Goodmen did.


He might also be less of a foe at the mmoment.

---

[Wolfs Ghost]

A lone Templar glided across the barrier gate path, a small opening in the barrier gate, which the lovely Freeport 4 was situated right in the middle of.

His trip from the Rheinland systems was quick. Knowing the smuggler routes from his days of flying with the Armed Forces, at least now he could mention that as his past. He was still proud to be called a Commander of the Armed Forces. Despite his rank being stripped.

There was no doubt that his records were destroyed, everything he's accomplished was replaced by this desertion. Meaning, the medal he carried with him was nothing then a piece of metal with a cloth. Though, if anything it was still of sentimental value.

"Freeport Four, this is Freelancer Alpha Yankee Three. Requesting permission to land."
"Granted, Freelancer Alpha Yankee Three. Proceed to Dock two."
"Copy that, proceeding to dock three."

He swallowed hard as the heavy dock doors opened in front of his ship.

After his ship settled, he climbed out of the cockpit and dropped to the ground, landing in a crouch. He was wearing a white dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up, a gray vest buttoned up over that, and dark blue jeans. On his right hip was a holster, and an Armed Forces standard issued pistol.

He figured he would need it, after receiving that transmission from Siona Kithe. The girl gave him the chills. Which was nothing to what he was expecting here on the station.

He proceeded from the hanger with caution, heading to the bar.

---

[Sprolf]

Colin was quite aware of the fact that a ship had just arrived in the station. The low growling of the space traffic controller was broadcasted to the bar through a speaker in the far corner. The last ship that had landed was ten minute prior to this, but that had been a Gateway transport coming in for repairs, apparently. The fact that a Freelancer was landing was somewhat more promising to Colin. It could certainly be Goodmen.

He played with a peculiar coin that he had, running his fingers over it in one hand. It was gold, and had the Republican Shamrock on one side, and a Werewolf fighter on the other... one of Daniel's coins. He'd kept it in pristine condition, not only because it was of immense personal significance, but because it seemed to embody Daniel and the Republic as a whole, the gold standard of the greater purpose, the very heart of the Republic when it was boiled down to just a few grams. Freedom, equality, pride.

He flipped it over in his hand again, rubbing his thumb across the Werewolf engraved there when then door to the bar opened, to the right, across the bar. He put it on the table carefully, glancing over his hunched shoulders to see Goodmen walk in, looking quite prepared - as usual. He was a good soldier, even if he wasn't technically one anymore. As much as Goodmen might have been Colin's nemesis at some point in time, he still couldn't help but feel a good amount of respect for the soldier.

Colin raised a hand for Austin, keeping his elbow lazily on the table.
He drained the shot glass with his left hand as he did so, then glancing back at Austin.


Their gazes met like the collision of two white-hot stars.

---

[Wolfs Ghost]

As their gazes met, Austin made a slight motion towards his pistol, then stopped. He took in a deep breath and began walking towards Colin.

He had came here on fair terms, seeing as this station wasn't heavily under Bretonian influence. They both came here on fair terms. Austin was just slightly more prepared, and sober, from the looks of it. Finally descending upon the table he slide into an empty chair in front of Colin.

He gave him a hard stare. Austin was still a Bretonian nationalist, and despised the Molly's. Though the thought crossed his mind that this man, the leader of the rebellious group, had willingly went out of his own needs, his own way, to invite Austin to this meeting.

Former foes sitting in the same room. Nearby patrons recognized whatever there was to recognized between the two and moved away.

"Well. Mister Breen, the last I was expecting was a Molly."

---

[Sprolf]

Colin smiled grimly. "Well, here I am. I apologise for the deception, but the chances of your meeting myself here would have been rather lower had I actually made myself known in the first place." He spoke in a natural Cambridge accent, which was rather uncharacteristic of the Molly, as his usual mode of speech was the Invergordon brogue.

He leaned forward in his chair a little bit, resting on his elbows. "We Mollies, we never wanted this, you know. We were slaves once, under BMM. And then we revolted from them. The Armed Forces responded with overbearing force. There were mistakes on both sides, perhaps. The Mollies fled, consolidated their position in the asteroid fields. The response of Bretonia to us precluded diplomacy. There was little to do but fight... and that's what we've been doing for the longest time. There's been efforts for peace on both sides, from the Union's treaty to my propositions, but nothing ever can ever bridge the gap." He looked down at the table. "Not even me." He glanced back up with tired eyes. "It doesn't look like there could be peace in either of our lifetimes, Goodmen. Emotions run too high, too far back, too deep. They cloud logic. Reason. All we want is Dublin so we can live in freedom, and all you want is our extinction. Few can see the possibilities of mutually beneficial relations after the ceding of Dublin to the Mollies. I'm convinced that we could even become, well... allies... in a few decades after that." His eyes became tired again. "We're simple folk, Austin. We don't need much but freedom and our honour."

He sighed, leaning back in his seat. He took a pause for a few moments.
"Perhaps I ramble." He began as picked up the shot glass, but found it empty. He put it back on the table with disgust. "Point is, Goodie," he began, "... ye're still Bretonian. But Bretonia won't have ye, aye?" He had begun to slip into the brogue, but corrected himself swiftly as he leaned a little bit closer. "... but I bet you'd give anything to be able to fight for your queen right now." he said pointedly, decisively, as if he knew Austin like he knew himself.

---

[Wolfs Ghost]

"Aye, I know the story behind the Molly up-rising." He said, calmly shaking his head. "I'll take you up on your offer, but I'm not wishing to join the Mollies under their banner. Nor would I get involved in any engagements on their side."

He waved for a waitress, who gradually walked over. "Water please." He asked, smiling a bit. She nodded and quickly walked away, coming back later with a glass of water. He handed her a credit chip, and went back to the business at hand.

"I might be a simple solider. Yourself and your chaps might be simple people. But under no circumstance will I be willing to aid the Mollies for any cause. Not even an attempt to bring peace between Bretonia and the Republic." He paused a bit to take a sip of his water, "The Monarchy wouldn't listen to me even if I attempted diplomatic solutions for both sides. Though, I have a feeling you didn't invite me here to request me on joining the Republic."

He raised the glass to his lips and took another sip of water before setting it down, staring coldly at Colin.

---

[Sprolf]

Colin nodded. "Aye, you're not exactly in a position to act as our liason. I'm not asking you to make peace between us and Bretonia. I'm just letting you where I stand."

He picked the coin up, feeling it absentmindedly in his hand. "I'd never ask you to betray your queen, Goodmen. I know you too well to ask that of you. Even though it's a sentiment opposite to mine, I can respect a man like you." He pointed a finger at Austin. "And that's why I'm going to make a proposition."

"The Republic will grant you amnesty on its bases. We'll let you repair, rearm, eat, drink, sleep on them. If I know you, you'll want to keep your own Bretonian technology rather than adopt ours." He smiled a little, glancing at the Werewolf on the coin. "Now," he said quickly, "I know you'll never betray your queen. I'm not trying to turn you into a Molly, though you'd be welcome. I'm giving you a chance to keep fighting for your house."

He leaned back as the waitress neared the table, carrying Austin's water. They both kept a stony silence.
She deposited the water on the table, and Colin watched her walk away coldly.

He thought for a second, running his hand through his hair. "This... I don't know. It isnae going to be a popular decision with the rest of the Mollies. I..." he looked very stressed, letting out a slightly choked sound. "Look." He spread a half-gloved hand out in midair. "I can help you. You know Tayport Base? Of course you do." He glanced to the side, as if expecting someone to be standing there with a rifle trained for his head. "It's up north, our arm against Kusari, up in Dundee. You know that Bretonia leaves it alone, you could crush it in two days' siege if you wished. But you leave it alone. Why?" He leaned a little closer, moving his hand aside. "It's because we fight the Kusarians too. You tolerate our presence there because we raid them - we know that if they take Bretonia, the Mollies will cease to exist." He pulled himself back a little bit, taking a breath. "That... that's what I can offer you, Austin." Colin's voice was somewhat earnest now, low. "I can give you a bunk and a bay on Tayport. It's... out of the way, really. And it's the last place Bretonia would look for you - it's one of our bases. They intentionally steer clear of it, ignore it." He smiled slightly. "You'd be able to use it to carry on your fight against Kusari, you'd be able to be safe there. And, if you wanted, you could accompany some of our raids into the Taus if you wanted. You know we don't touch Bretonians up there. Only those blasted squinties. I'd never make you attack a Bretonian..." He stared off into space, at the red nebulae barely visible through the barrier. "... and you never could be made to, I imagine."

He turned back to Austin, voice lowered, and whatever emotions there had been were now neatly packed away. "I'm offering you supplies, Austin. Repairs, and a safe place to sleep. I'm offering you a chance to continue your war despite being wanted by the very side you still hold dear. You could figure out your next step from there, maybe prove yourself to Bretonia again, I'm not sure. It's up to you."

---

[Wolfs Ghost]

"Granted your people will be ignoring my coming and going."

He muttered shortly after Collin finished, taking another sip from his water. "I'll accept your proposal. Though I'm sure I won't be using the station that much. It will however be a great place to stop in once in awhile. I'll have you know now that you didn't have to extend your hand to an enemy." His cold glare turned to a somewhat warm and calm smile.

"I guess I'll in your debt. However, there is still a slight problem I'll have to take care of. My ships computer will still transmit my vessel as hostile to any and all Molly ships in range. Meaning I'll be fired upon by the stations automatic defenses. This will require some time to fix before I'm able to start using Tayport as a safe haven." He paused briefly to look out the view port, and let out a light sigh. "This is going to be a long haul before I'm able to redeem myself to the Admiralty, and Crown. They're probably spreading lies to turn those few that do support me, against me. It's only natural."

He looked back at Collin, smiling, "After all, I'm sure your people know what exactly I'm talking about."

---

[Sprolf]

Colin nodded. "Oh, aye, we're well acquainted with that end of Bretonia's intelligence division." He chuckled a bit, but then his expression became more serious. "I'll be telling my men to be ignoring you. I don't have too many pilots stationed up in Tayport in any case, so I imagine any interactions will be minimal. We've a contact on Trafalgar, if you could venture back to Bretonia... he'll be able to install the Molly-neutral ident systems in your ship for a few hundred thousand."

He knitted his fingers together, glancing down at them for a moment, smiling a little bit - perhaps nervously - before raising his eyes again to meet the Bretonian's. "You might be my enemy, Austin, but that doesn't mean I don't respect you. You're a good man, honourable, steadfast, and strong. I might dislike Bretonia and what it's done to me and my people, but that doesn't mean I can't honour your dedication to its cause." He stopped speaking for a moment. "I don't know the details of whatever happened... but I'm rather sure that you shouldn't have got what you did." He smiled a little bit, looking down again. "I don't really know... they say sometimes the fiercest enemies can make the closest friends in times of trouble... not sure if I believe that, but I feel like I owe you this. Good men are hard to find, they say."

---

[Wolfs Ghost]

"Terrible pun." Austin said standing up, a smile on his face. "Well, Mister Breen. I've stayed here far to long." He nodded towards a holo-screen showing his image. "Someone's bound to notice me and make a direct call to the Armed Forces, or Liberty Navy. Which ever one wants me the most."

He chuckled lightly. "As the saying goes. Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer. I'm pretty sure this will be the last time we meet. Unless you stop by Tayport. You may feel that you owe me. But you don't. I owe you for your hospitality."

He picked up the glass of water and finished it off as another waitress walked by. He handed her the glass and nodded towards the Molly. "People find friends in strange places. I bid you farewell, and good luck. If we ever meet again. Let it be on similar terms."

He started off towards the door, only stopping at the nearest Holo-screen to listen to the report. He laughed lightly and shook his head. "Bloody amusing the news can be." He said loudly, this time heading off once more.

---