Rhyme turned away from the, apparently, somewhat silent and brooding fellow clutching his datapad like the world's last liferaft.
"Sounds good, ah, might want to re-enforce that we don't have a mooring avaiable for his ship and that he'd b... Well point I'm getting to is that a minimal presence of, ah, body guards would probably be a fine idea.
If things go south I wouldn't want to start pouring drinks for a legion of Corsair shock troops. You know what I mean?"
"Nothing personal Mr. Rhyme, but all information about Freeport 9 so far is maintenance, which is confidential for reasons unknown to me. I'm asuming that it's just to keep word from getting out of our current condition."
Jonzz looked back at the newcomer.
"Gabriel? When did you get here?"
"Not I'm not insane... why would you ask that? I'v already been tested."
-Jumpy
"Well, since the population of the Freeport is on-board with the talks and nobody's screaming anymore, I'm feeling rather like a lame duck. If there's nothing else you'd have me do at this time, I'll be returning to my ship while you gents are talking and getting drunk, Mr. Caudill."
"Head of Security, I want an honor guard at the dock 3, unarmed ... and not launch any combat ship" Grito Mannock by intercom. "The other staff, I never liked Shepardi, but it is one of the most honorable people I know. Appear respectful, not submissive, if anyone do so I will be kicking his ass until the Doomsday"
That the negotiation may be well to finish this f*****g reconstruction and continue my work, Mannock said softly.
Howard watched the flurry of conversation pass in front of him. He was content to sit back and watch, loitering near the door, although he was certain Ms. Mannock had asked him to do something. For the life of him, he couldn't figure out what. It also seemed the Corsairs would soon be coming aboard. Which meant he was keen not to be.
They were a proud and honourable people, yadda yadda, resolute and bold, ect. But also prone to snap and cave your face in with their foreheads at the slightest provocation. Howard preferred dealing with Outcasts. Haughty, condescending, arrogant bastards - but not overtly violent without reason.
He'd already taken off his helmet, given that is was treating his head to greenhouse therapy. Not to mention it made him look even more silly when attempting to mingle in a bar-full of people wearing casual gear. He gave a weak and pained grin and aimed an ineffectual kick at the water barrel in an attempt at light-hearted camaraderie. He merely came across as slightly limp and dejected. "So, um. I'll leave this here and get out of you people's, um, way then?"
Jonzz, I think it s too early to say that Timothee will represent the zoners of Freeport 9 in the negotiations.
By the way, here are some names and neural-net addresses of those who should be involve in the Zoners Resistance:
I did this quickely, so I would not be surprised if there are some errors.
Order:
Orley, Order | Orley
Barnes, TCG Order | .Waratah.
Commodore Aaron Taggart, CV order | Tommeh
Kell, Second in Command of the Order Wedjat | The Bunny Lord
Robert D'Souza, Vice Admiral (order?) | Hot Rod
Corporal Casse, (order?) | Andrew.
Zoners:
Gabriel, OSI (zoners) | Stygian
Arch Bishop Ryodan, Virulian Enclave (zoners) | Magoo!
Admiral Gideon Ravenor, Commander of the ZDF (zoners) | exlibrismortis
Commodore Helfari, ZDF (zoners) | Lieutenant
James Ferguson (ZTC Bod) | Lou
Marco Cabulb ZTC (zoners)| Cabulb
John Douglas ? (Zoners ztc ?) | Omicron
X Seven (zoners?) | n00bl3t
LaHoue (zoners?) | Dancing Lady
Freelancer:
Escher Taskmaster of the Vagrant Raiders (freelancer) | Thexare
Outcasts
Dennis Jameson Administrator of the Ghosts of Razgriz Outcast | Dennis Jameson
Set Ramirez Outcast venezi syndicate | Set Ramirez
Lieutenant Cagliatta MNS outcast | Eppy
"Oh goodness, we've got another live one here. Confidential maintenance logs he says. I swear to bob this place is more fouled up than back in '01 when some drunk Sair "speed docked" with an environmental station.
As for a nine rep, oh holder of the super secret maintenance logs, don't really need one at this juncture. Coming up is a sit down between the only body of any manner of authority in this neck of the woods and the Corsair liaison. They're going to have their talk. Hopefully some groundwork for as much of a ceasefire as we can get will be laid out.
If anything that's brought up involves our home we'll get to weigh in on it.
This isn't just about nine ladies. This is about arranging a ceasefire on a larger scale. We'll tend to our home and we'll make sure that we're not caught unaware. But let's do keep in mind the larger picture. Yes?
Er, and, maybe put away your grocery list of alliances to bring down the 'sairs before the rep from the same wanders onto the station. Yeah? Might give him a negative view of things. Just saying.
Oh yeh! New guy! Come have a sitdown at the drinking slab here. We're open till we're not. Which is probably going to be about the time the rep shows."