07 October 818 AS
Location: Onboard Terminus
0700 Hours
As Elijah and Frederich walk towards Jack's quarters, Elijah felt the need to correct Frederich. "Ummm....Mr. Kassel, unless I have been demoted or you do not know how to read officer insignias I find the need to inform you I am a Commander, not a Major."
Frederich just let the comment hang in the air and continued walking. Elijah was feeling a little awkward. Since he did not get any response. Or maybe it is the fact he did not have any coffee yet and his boss woke him out of a good night sleep. Either way he was not in a good mood.
Upon arriving at Jack's quarters, Frederich reached to push the button that allowed the Col to know he was there, but before he could Elijah opened the door and entered the room.
07 October 818 AS Currently onboard the CFS Terminus...
0710 HOURS Sector Position: Omicron Lost, in orbit around the 'Pink Princess', Sector Y-12-33-A3
Jack sat behind his desk, tinkering with a sort of antiquated handgun, while watching the SDN, or Sirius Daily News on the television, a television behind his desk, occupying almost half of the metal wall behind him. When Elijah and Frederich entered in his quarters, he turned off the holographic projector and turned back on his deskchair. The general atmosphere, and the lighting in Jack's quarters was cold and dark, with only a dim light that illuminated the whole room.
Thinking that Jack didn't noticed them in the overall dark, Frederich murmured at Elijah:
Frederich Kassel: I'm very zorry for zhe mistake, but as you may know, I'm not a military man, I'm a doctor and professor aboard the Terminus, nothing more and nothing less.
Jack stood up, carefully placing the gun from before on his desk, and with a forced smile on his face, greeted Elijah and Frederich, he was clearly worried about something
Jack Aubrey: Nice to see you here Elijah, nice to see that you've managed to get here in time, despite the bounty hunter patrols looking for the Terminus, the dark side of the Pink Princess kept the Terminus concealed for almost a week, *Jack returned to his desk, pressed a couple of buttons, and the armor plating covering the windows slided into its socket, revealing an intense electromagnetic storm in the gas giant's upper atmosphere* thanks to the new radar sistem, we've been able to detect the heat-signature of one bounty hunter heavy battleship, the Black Widow, the enemy warship is probably looking for us, but they didn't found nothing yet. Now, since I suppose that you didn't had the time to have breakfast, I'll call in for some coffee, and maybe something to eat.
Jack picked a dossier from his desk and gave it to Elijah
Jack Aubrey: That's the debriefing for the expedition within the Kingdom of Gallia, I suggest that you read it in the meanwhile...
Jack sat down, and began to tinker with the handgun from before, while Frederich was busy looking outside from the thick windows, at the gas giant's atmosphere, the darkness outside being illuminated only by the storm within its atmosphere, he was clearly affascinated.
07 October 818 AS
Location: Onboard CFS Terminus in the Omicron Lost system
0715 Hours
The room was dark until Jack pushed the button to remove the armor plating from the windows. Now the entire room lit up. Elijah now had to squint until his eyes became accustomed to the bright light coming from outside.
He thought he heard Jack place something on his desk but until the armor plating was removed he did not know what it was. Then he saw it, a handgun, but played it off like it did not matter. Although, he knew Jack would not have it out unless he thought it was necessary. And by the forced smile on his face he obviously thought it was very necessary.
Elijah reached out and took the dossier from Jack. Quickly perousing through the file, Elijah's face was showing some concern. Not some concern, but so much that his face started to turn pale. Then Elijah spoke.
"Holy crap Jack, what is this? How many systems do they have? I can see what a total of about 14 here! By the looks of things they have basically depleted their resources and if that is the case they may come looking to replace them. I really do not think they will be negotiatiing any type of trade treaties either! Since they are not a very friendly bunch!"
Elijah just stared in amazement. Not knowing what to really think. All he knows is what his father Nicholas taught him about business and what he saw while on his expedition to Gallia a few weeks prior. You either work with people or if they are unwilling to...well let's just say you got what you wanted anyway you could get it.
If that meant you stole it, manipulated people, or backed them into a corner that is what you did. By the looks of things, it appears Gallia may be backed into a corner and when your corner a hostile animal they will do whatever it takes to get away.
07 October 818 AS Aboard the CFS Terminus
0720 Hours
Finally Dave arrived at the location where the Terminus was hidden. He requested docking permission and headed to the meeting room. He was informed a few moments later by Amanda that the meeting was in Jack's quarters and that Elijah and Adrianna already joined. She suggested him to hurry. He was a little anxious because he knew something was odd with Jack. He then entered the room...
Dave : Greetings ! *smiles*
The others looked at him with little care because they were attentive with some documents in their hands. Dave's optimistic smile already dissapeared when he saw the cold mood in the room.
Dave : Sorry i.... am late...
Dave wondered when he saw Jack with a handgun playing with it like it didn't matter. Something was not in its usual state and Dave was about to learn too. Jack gave Dave a dossier regarding the operation in the Kingdom of Gallia. Dave was surprised when he saw the real number of the Gallic systems. Opening trading relation could be a great success but also very dangerous.
Dave : I have a strange feeling that our quiet "friends" from the corner of Sirius, will transform in a war hound that will be very hard to domesticate. 14... and they kept their systems in secret from all the Sirius houses..... interesting also... we need to take all matters in time...
Jack looked at Dave with an approval figure on his face...
Rudimentary creatures of blood and flesh, you touch my mind, fumbling in ignorance, incapable of understanding. - Sovereign
07 October 818 AS Currently onboard the CFS Terminus
0720 HOURS Sector Position: Omicron Lost, in orbit around the 'Pink Princess', Sector Y-12-33-A3
Adriana D'Angelo: And I though I was late. That Gallia was observed by Maltesans long time ago.
She took out holographic map of sector.
Adriana D'Angelo: Here, Omicron-80. One of the Gallia entrances for long time was just a unsolved mistery. And then strange fighters appeared, now we know those were from Council. Their whole wing was destroyed in the encounter. Path itself is very narrow, if we need to get through we should use Orkney entrance.
She turned map to Tau sector showing another minefield and Reunion station.
Adriana D'Angelo: That's safest aproach, controled fully by Council, never been out there but they builded a station called Reunion at our side. I do not know what Council objectives are, seems for a paramilitary group. We should check them out.
07 October 818 AS Location : Aboard CFS Terminus
0720 Hours
Dave listened and watched carefully the indications Adrianna made and then he interferred.
Dave : Ok so let's say we go there at the Reunion Station owned by the Council. What can we expect there ? I mean, I have lots of possible scenarios that might not end well for us. For instance, what if we go there, and it's a trap, the Council might be a terrorist organization, well armed , well organized we don't know yet. We can expect everything from them. Perhaps they guard the Gallia sector from outsiders, in this case us ! I think we shouldn't go unprepared there. They might be allies, but they might be enemies too. Since we can't go with a war fleet there, because of political reasons, it might be bad for our image to the strangers *shy laughs*... we should send first a few scout drones to see the area, number of ships, type, possible threats and so on. Jack you will decide...
He then studied again the holographic map to see if no surprises can appear.
Rudimentary creatures of blood and flesh, you touch my mind, fumbling in ignorance, incapable of understanding. - Sovereign
07 October 818 AS Currently onboard the CFS Terminus...
0724 HOURS Sector Position: Omicron Lost, in orbit around the 'Pink Princess', Sector Y-12-33-A3
Jack carefully listened to Adriana's speech about the two possible entry points in Gallic space, but when Adriana and Dave finished their speech, the general mood from before came back to haunt them.
The overall atmosphere within Jack's quarters was dark and silent, illuminated by a rather sporadic light ray from the ongoing storm within the gas giant's upper atmosphere, the rather silent mood was broken when Jack pointed the old flintlock pistol and pressed the trigger towards Dave
The flintlock pistol was only charged with powder, no bullet was inserted in the barrel
Frederich Kassel: Mein god.. that was scary to see...
Jack carefully placed the gun on his desk, and a happy smile appeared on his face, even if everyone within the room was watching him
Jack Aubrey: That handgun belonged to Sir Horatio Nelson, a famous Royal Navy admiral back in the Sol System, he distinguished himself in the Battle of Trafalgar, during the Napoleonic Wars, where he perished. This handgun belonged to him, in theory this gun is old about one thousand years.
Meanwhile, two cadets, followed by the cook of the Terminus, carried their breakfast on big round plates.
Jack Aubrey: Well, shall we? *Pointing towards the food*
Jack sat down at a small coffee table, with Adriana at his left, Dave on his right, and Elijah infront of him.
07 October 818 AS
Currently onboard CFS Terminus
0730 Hours
Sector Position: Omicron Lost, in orbit around the 'Pink Princess', Sector Y-12-33-A3
Elijah having taken a seat across from Jack was hungry but disturbed. He did not know what was going on with him. Why would he point a pistol at Dave and pull the trigger? The room was cold and dark with a somber mood permeating throughout.
Elijah was going over in his head what Adrainna and Dave had said and decided to thrown in his two cents.
"Dave, I have been to Gallia before joining Cerberus. The Council is on our side and not our enemies. They broke through the minefields because they were isolated from what I have been told. The King is a tyrant if you ask the Council. I also know the GRN and GRP will shoot you on sight without warning. If they speak ...well it is to tell you to leave and consider yourself lucky."
Elijah took a drink of his coffee. He could not shake the uneasy feeling that he had. I know Jack has destroyed quite a few Bounty Hunters but I guess that was enough to start hunting him down. Surely that is not enough to make Jack......paranoid is it?
07 October 818 AS Location : Aboard CSF Terminus
0735 Hours
The "joke" that Jack made with Dave, wasn't so welcomed by the others and especially by Dave, but he knew Jack from a long time so certainly he hid something from the remnants. Regarding the event, he sit down always looking at Jack with a look of distrust. Elijah told Dave something about Gallia and who are the Council. Dave understood there will be no problem with them, but still he said that a meeting with a Council official could be useful more informations could be gathered...
Adrianna broke the silence with a direct question of what's really wrong with the mood and the atmosphere in the room. Then Dave continued...
Dave : Indeed it wouldn't be an easy approach.. Perhaps Jack, you have something to say to us ? Since you spread some gun powder over my head, and at a moment I thought you were about to kill me . This is not your normal behavior, so ... what's going on ?
Dave looked deeply in Jack's eyes, very anxious.
Rudimentary creatures of blood and flesh, you touch my mind, fumbling in ignorance, incapable of understanding. - Sovereign