Traudel remains outside, watching and listening to what happened inside by following the audio and video feed. The pilot crosses her arms, right hand tapping her left sleeve without her even noticing. A subconcious expression of thoughts still circling, an inner and mental interrogation of herself going on while watching one unfold only mere steps away in the cell.
Nina's words, Gunter's responses. Words about defiance, words about hate and no hate. And then came the tales of cruelty. Slowly Traudel lifts a brow, then frowns. A deeper breath, followed by a look around. Only to end up staring at the monitor again - the audio feed told her the most anyway. Unable to escape the situation that had presented itself, she might as well witness all of it. Just in time to notice Gunter's apparent distaste for the described methods and how mentioning and remembering those affected the man. Whatever thought process may have been going on, it was abruptly ended with a certain set of words. "..., there are worse fates than death."the audio feed blared back in slightly distorted fashion. A grim nod is Traudel's silent answer, suddenly finding herself with a lump in her throat.
"Does he know? He can't know. How could he know? Last thing i know is von Herzsprung prepares for Liberty..." Bright blue eyes stare at random parts of the room. The bed, the chair... a part of the floor. Nina's hair, a wall, Gunter's boots."Stahl seems like the kind she would use though." Not coming to any conclusions, Traudel shakes her head and calms herself by breathing in and out in a controlled fashion.
Hearing what the man said about Stahl being such a devil toward a prisoner, even for her, it was hard to listen and she knew that Gunter was not lying according to his voice and his gestures. All the defiance she had vanished as if a hurricane blew a little town and letting nothing behind. The crimson haired corsair thought about if it was wiser to continue this show. Thinking being skinned at her age and especially because she didn't live yet her full life, she decided to let on the side the proud corsair for a moment.
She walked a moment in circle before to say anything. After a long and terrible minute, the corsair stopped moving and looked into Gunter's eyes. ''I find this a bit hard to believe but judging your voice, you seem to not lying... Bien... how do you want me to help you? I seriously wonder why the military wants me so badly and it is not just because I crushed many of your ships.''
Many possible questions that she thought were the main ones: ''Why are you here, in Rheinland? Are you acting on your own? Where are the bases of your people?'' She could answer to some but telling where the hidden bases are was not questionable. She will be quiet to this question.
He kept his pokerface, but he let a off soft, almost unnoticeable sigh of relieve after hearing she was willing to talk.
Letting someone die a horrible death, especially someone this young is something he didn't want to happen. Though he still couldn't guarantee her safety with Stahl around.
He started pacing around the room again, almost like he was talking to himself. "I'm glad you see reason, Nina. For your own sake. If you tell me the truth, i will do what is in my capabilities of helping you. "
"But i'm warning you now-", He suddenly stopped walking and looked straight at her. "i'm very good at detecting lies. And if i notice even one, this whole conversation ends at an instant."
He continued pacing but this time kept his eyes on Nina. "I often see you raiding our transports and fighting against our troops, even at defying odds.
Yet, in the countless fleet battles between Rheinland and the Corsairs, i've never seen you around."
"My point is: Why are you raiding our systems, yet refrain from defending your comrades let alone your home system?"
While Gunter was pacing around the room, Nina Rodriguez followed him with her eyes. Even if she was 'willing to collaborate' , she was still on her guards. She let him to speak first. Gunter made himself clear that he was somehow a lie detecter. The corsair found that funny. However, she will comply and answer to his question.
''The reason why you didn't see me during battles is simple. I was busy somewhere else and I have something against my 'comrades'. I am sure you rarely saw The Brotherhood on field as well. Those with whom you are fighting are the Deterrence. It's a group I prefer to not give a hand even if they are corsairs.'' She shruged. ''Funny isn't it? A corsair who is not willing to help other corsairs but only The Brotherhood.''
After saying this, she let some silent minutes before to answer to the other part of the question. ''I raid your systems because of my personal pleasure. I could go anywhere else but I decided to be here. In a way, it costs you more energy than focusing on attacking us in our territory. Let's say I compensate this way. Instead to defend, I attack behind the lines.''
Gunter smirked inside himself. As always barely, if not visible at all.
She was clever with words for her age. Guess the though life on Crete forced people to grow up faster?
Things for thought later, right now he needed to focus on the questioning.
After letting her finish, he knew where to go first in his questioning.
He didn't wait with his answering this time. "As a personal pleasure?" He wasn't sure yet she was either acting though again or actually had a sadistic side hidden inside her.
"If that is really what you're after, than you can consider your imprisonment a pleasure of mine, Nina. The longer you stay here, the longer i keep my people safe. I'm sure deep inside of you there are morals. Perhaps... is this your only way of income?" He said that with a neutral face again, looking neither taunting nor remorsing.
He continued right afterwards to the second question.
You're saying the Corsairs are divided among themselves in a way?" This could be interesting. Division among their ranks could be opportunistic for Rheinland. After all the Corsairs were their biggest foes at this point. "Enlighten me. Why is it that you refuse to help each other, yet fight for a common goal?" Also if i'm correct, this...brotherhood of yours.. From your description i assume they are commandos in a way?
Gunter checked the door from the corner of his eye, he wondered what took Oberleutnant Habermeyer so long...
Still staring at him, Nina showed disgust but she kind of had no choice to comply if she wants to get out of here. ''I simply enjoy to fight because I want to have some reputation. It's simple as that when I say 'for my personal pleasure'.'' She backed off a bit, her back against a wall, she crossed her arm. Still looking at the man, she sighed when he said ''You're saying the Corsairs are divided among themselves in a way?''
''Not anymore. But I am probably the only one who hates them. Always welcoming outsiders even if we have 'laws'. If could, believe me, I would already shot some of them. They are lucky that The Elders told me to not do it.'' She paused and took a breath before to talk about The Brotherhood. ''The Brotherhood is one of the oldest groups still in activity. We are called ''The Sword and The Shield of the Empire''. We are not a lot anymore but we are probably the must skilled. We mostly use fighters and bombers to take down our enemies. The reason is simple. Take for example this cruiser, The Ostkantone. It's a big ship. Two or three bombers, it does not have chance to win.''
Proceeding to simply observe and take mental notes of what was talked about, Traudel's attention remains mainly on the screen. From time to time, a simple nod. Acknowledgement of steps taken, knowledge being presented or expression of something else entirely. Tapping of her own arm had ceased at this point, either distracted or calmer than a few minutes ago.
With one last look at the monitor, she walks over to the heavy security door and enters the holding cell as well. Bright blue eyes wander around a little.
"Depressing."
A single word, so simple and fitting for a multitude of things in that room - or the room itself. Gunter receives her attention first, stopping next to him. Arms behind her back, head slightly turned to the side. "I've listened and watched. What we've been told is correct so far and nothing particularly new yet. There is an interest to ... bargain, Leutnant? To make a deal here?" One brow rises slowly, as Traudel's eyes wander over to where Nina was leaning against one of the walls. Pursing her lips, before clicking her tongue once. "Not that i'd be a pessimist, rather am i known for quite the opposite, but this may be a doomed venture. By all means, proceed after i have adhered to manners." A small sigh follows, before her head turns forward again - matching where she was looking already.
"Hallo Nina. Unusual circumstances for an unusual day, nein? Sooner or later this outcome was destined to take place." Voice, as to be expected from Traudel, more or less cordial as always. An air of graveness stuck to each single word, however. "The stakes are high, a grim day it is for some and for some others a time to celebrate even. Surely you must realize the journey may end here already. How does that make us feel?" No taunting, no gloating - only Traudel's usual conduct. Face difficult to read, there was concern but a certain degree of sternness as well.
While she was speaking, Nina did not notice Traudel. When the military said something, her attention went on Traudel. Her eyes were big. Thoughts couldn't stop in Nina's head. It was probably the same for the other woman. She wanted to kneel but she did not.
The questions asked to the corsair from the woman were like a knife landing in her chest. Her eyes met Traudel's and she 'tried' to say ''What are you doing here?'' but the corsair said something else. ''Seems you need to be both togeter to make me talk. What a party.'' She was sarcastic but hoped the hidden message reached Traudel.
Gunter looked to his right for a second when Traudel stood next to him. "I think bargaining is the only way to have a chance keeping this Corsair alive. At least if she is willing to collaborate."
Then returned looking to the Corsair. "I'm not one for bloodshed if not needed, but my CO thinks otherwise as you might have noticed."
"I thought we might start the questionary a bit light, see where we can go with it. But by all means i'm open to other... ventures by lack of better words.
Something was off. He couldn't pinpoint what yet but the ambiance suddenly changed with Traudel saying those last words to Nina.
He didn't show his feelings as usual, he kept it to himself for now.
Traudel lifts her shoulders as well as a corner of her mouth while answering Nina. "You know me, i always enjoy company. Rare that i off all people would be alone often. If there even is a need for assistance in making you talk is a topic in itself, however." Gloved hands raised for a quick moment, palms facing upwards. Whether or not the message got across remains a mystery.
"Keeping this Corsair alive? She repeats, eyes slowly wandering back to Gunter for a short moment. Voice a bit lowered in order to not disrupt the main conversation taking place - carrying a degree of confusion or doubt, hard to exactly tell. "And ... why, if i may ask, would you want to do that of all things, Leutnant?"
In the end, bright blue eyes simply look at Nina once more.
