Seeing that information he gave her caused no effect Kenji decided to end with attempts to change that part of her mind. Perhaps it would be best to just tell her what she can do. While considering that he said "Killing them is an uneasy task to say at least. Too many victims... All we can ever hope to do is to decrease or destroy their influence. Specifically for Gallia we will need a very influential person." He turned around, thoughtfully observing a fountain. His expression turned grim, as he wasn't a favourer of relaying on a single person. However there was not many options.
After a short pause he turned his head to Camille, meeting her waiting look. For a second he thought that the reason she came to him could also be a solution. However there were too many ifs to proceed with this idea. There could have been a single chanse. Perhaps she knew something that would be useful to pick an approach.
"Hmm... Here is where your knowledge might start to come in handy." He turned to her completely, lightly squinting before asking "What do you think about your Marechal? Is he the kind of person who would listen, rather then blindly following someone else's will?"
"He is a military officer." She flicked a third pebble into the fountain, watching the dancing waves. "Obedience is a virtue." The Soldier's Tenets. There had been a time, not that long ago, when they had mattered to her. "But, non, he is not an automaton. He will listen, if an idea has merit. Or he would have. I don't suppose reasoning is a particular strength of these creatures."
His look traveled down to the waves she created. As she finished he replied calmly "We don't know yet if he is infected or just unaware. I suppose we could check it, however I need to know what approach would be most successful in this case."
Camille eyed him as though he were insane.
"You are aware that this is the man who, with full access to our databanks on Sirian history, decreed that the aliens were not be fired upon? I very much doubt that he is merely unaware."
"By this logic your King may as well be infected, though you deny it." he returned her look, hiding irritation her quote caused under a light smirk. "Many other people believe they can use nomads for their cause. Such exist everywhere, and they are influential enough. Your marechal might think that he can just use them to fight against Sirians."
"Perhaps. You speak as though you are not one." She forced the indignation from her voice. Agreeable or no, this man was the only link she had to the Order. It would be foolish to throw that away. She returned the smirk. "So. I will not accept that His Majesty may be infected, and you will not believe the Marechal is. What, then, would you suggest I do?"
Looking back at the fountain he said "Making any rush conclusions on the facts we have is too unwise. We will require more information. Perhaps even a... meeting... with the Marechal himself." Looking at her with the corner of his eye he asked "Do you have any thoughts on how to make that happen?"
She shook her head almost immediately.
"Non. Coming here was enough of a risk. Arranging a meeting, even if I accept that he is not infected, which I do not, would be just as likely to land all of us in front of a firing squad." She lapsed into silence for a moment as a couple wandered along the path behind them. "I may be able to get you access to base surveillance, but I cannot guarantee Naval Intelligence would not stamp out the feed as soon as I established it."
"Hmm..." his look wandered back on the fountain "We will need to watch his movements then and hope that the chance will come up." he lowered his head as the option that her worries could have a place, and that part could not be ignored as well. After a few seconds he looked at Camille "Would you be able to do that?"
"I still think that meeting him is a doomed endeavor and will get us all killed." She said it the same way one might comment on a particularly unpleasant bout of weather. "But, yes. I may be able to do that. I wasn't aware that the Order's approach to suspected alien infestation involved polite discussion. And how am I to communicate with you when such an opportunity arises?"
"You said yourself that you do not want your sacrifice to be in vain. What makes you more special then others?" Kenji asked with signs of disappointment in his voice "I want to make sure that deaths would be justified. Thus I prefer to make sure that the game is worth of a bet. Perhaps you do not realise it yet, but every agent in our organisation is risking to get a valuable information. Do not think it is special for you only." He turned around, standing with his side to Camille "Contacting me directly would be risky. So I will send less suspicious person to communicate with you. In two days from now visit a bar on Java station. There you will meet that person."
"Very well." She let the point drop with a faint air of detachment. Arguing simply wasn't worth the effort. "I will endeavor to be there. Now,-" She tucked her hands into her pockets. "I should return before my absence is noticed. It has been a pleasure." She scooped another pebble from the ground, seemed to deliberate throwing it in the fountain, and instead slipped it into her pocket. "Good day."
Kenji simply nodded following her with look. "Sayonara."
Confused by Ivy's sudden rejection, Sean held on for a moment.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to bother you with my questions.", he quickly said afterwards.
After he said that, he thought that she might felt offended in some way, so he added with a smile:
"And don't be so self-critical and low on self-esteem. If you have to say something, do it, but don't cut it off in the middle of it."
Sean stood up from his chair and placed his hands on the table when he leaned towards her.
"Anyways, I'll be back behind the counter. If you need something, just come around."
Ivy bobs her head slightly acknowledging what he said, sliding the now-empty glass across the table to Sean to take back. "Thank you for the water.. Perhaps i'll stop by later."
Slowly standing up, she starts walking out of the bar, pausing when she was a little away from Gregar. Giving him a sideways look and a slight smile. "Keep up the good work, I suppose is what I should be saying." With a slight wave of the hand, she merely takes her exit.
A few days pass without another sight of the young girl, however 52 hours later from when she left the first time, a taller figure enters the room, and begins walking up to the bar. She gives a sideways look at the hulk known as Gregar, chuckling quietly and walks up to the bar, pulling off a hood and setting a credits chip on the table.
"I'll have an Abner beer if you have it."
Raising her gaze up to the bartender. Sean would immediately recognize a familiar facial structure, as well as the distinct long hair which was braided in two places reaching all the way down to her waist. Tara glances around the bar quickly, shrugging and paying attention back to the wood of the bar which looked more and more interesting as the seconds ticked by.
Xanjer walked to the gazebo where the two men used to meet. Mr. Noburu was already waiting for him, pouring hot water over the pots to keep them moist.
"Excellent news, Noburu-sama.. We've gotten word from human resources department and they say that at least three of our pilots are committed to the cause." "Good good.. I was getting worried. We need them to come through if this endeavour is to be succesful. And what about the labs at Freeport 10?" "I haven't gotten around to that yet. I know it's not the best solution, but for now we are still working out of the docked gunboats." "You mean we still have those?? Baka! I told you to get rid of them! We cannot afford any complications in our relationsship to the Order."
A short silence fell upon the gazebo. Xanjer looked down, with a mix of embarrassment and pride in his face.
"I understand.. I just cannot bring myself to let go of a ship I hold so dear. We have managed to replace all the other ships though, so I'll prepare the necessary documentation and contact Mr. Golanski as soon as it is in order." "Hmff.. I just hope your decisions won't affect the company in an adverse way. Things are already strained as it is. Now.. Did the pilots find a suitable location for the new HQ?" "We spent quite some time exploring the options, but unfortunatly the reasearchers missed some quite important details, Noburu-sama." "Huh? Explain yourself, Xanjer.." "You see.. We were told by Intelligence that according to Hessian regulations, we should under no cicumstances acknowledge the space as being under Bretiona rule . But on the other hand, Bretonia claims superiority and will not allow any settlers without permission. Lastly, there is the Corsairs, who might pose a threat if we decide to align with any of the two former parties." "And all this means what?" "Basically, we couldn't clarify the situation and file the proper paperwork before the engineers had begun construction. So now we are a sitting duck in a pond full of piranhas.." "Dame.. This is a catastrophe!"
Noburu slapped his hands together and covered his face with both palms. The old man seemed exhausted and like a branch, bent by the wind, you could almost hear his will crack and break.
"Perhaps not all is lost, Noburu-sama.. A kind BMM employee contacted us and clarified a couple of things, so we may still be able to rectify this situation. I will try to get the paperwork done as soon as I can and contact the Bretonian authorities." "Huh?" "Yes, it seems that Lady Luck has cast her gaze our way for once. Let's just hope it lasts.." "Indeed, Xanjer. Let's pray that we'll get through these dark times so we once again can see the sun rising over new horizons."
Xanjer nodded in agreement. The two men sat quietly for a while, thinking about the tasks that lay ahead. Enjoying their tea, not one more word was exchanged before they said their goodbyes.
Having had past troubles with sleeping. This time she seemed to sleep longer than usual, however. But that dream is soon to be over, as she wakes up, shuddering, confused as to where she is located at. A realization soon hits her head.
"I... might have slept for too long." Her train of thought was interrupted by sounds coming from her abdomen. "I should really get something to eat.. jeez." She climbs down from the tree branch, slowly.
But before she could make her way to the bar, she spots a person she's seen before. "Where do I remember her from.." The thought puzzling her tired mind, she decides to just simply observe. For now.
From the very same tree, on a different branch of course, lays another girl. Calmly reclining against the trunk of the tree and looking up at the top of the bio-dome. Stiffing a small yawn, she slowly glances down, spotting the person who just climbed down from above her.
"Rmm.." She slowly climbs down from the tree and begins to follow the strange woman, curious on who it looked like she was chasing after.
Poking her head up, spotting who she was watching, she lets out a quiet giggle. Slowly sneaking up on the half-asleep person, she takes a seat on the ground.
"She catch your eye? About time she came to visit. I didn't think you would be so interested in her, Ellie. you usually kinda just.. do your own thing."
Hearing whatever came behind her, she looks behind her. Staying quiet for a few seconds, before responding. Rather delayed.
"Huh...?" Looking rather dumb for a moment. "Wait a minute... Ivy.. right?" She yawns, and realizes. "Uhh, Is she someone you know? Or am I missing something here.." Looking rather confused. And half-asleep.
"Well, we live together. I guess you could say that we're related. She's the one who dropped me off here as she had to do something a bit more dangerous for her work. Although I hope she'll be done with that soon.. I mean, sure it's nice and all around here, but.."
Sighing quietly, rubbing her head. "Life is.. complicated. But I guess it's like that for everyone, at least so i'm told."
Slowly standing again, spinning around in place. Wanting to go see Tara, but deciding to talk with Ellie for a little first.