Austin smiled lightly as he approached the manor steps, one of it's many side entrances, to avoid being seen by others. He raised his hand slowly to knock on the door, but it opened and a butler stood in front of him raising an eyebrow.
"What can I do for you sir?" The butler said looking Austin over.
"I'm, here for the party." Austin put bluntly taking a steps towards the man, ready to push past him.
"Do you have an invitation?" The butler asked.
Austin grinned and pushed past the man. "I tore it up." He said chuckling a bit as the butler attempted to stop him. Though, after a few minutes the butler sighed heavily and shut the door, allowing Austin in.
Austin nodded gently towards the man and continued on his way, ignoring the many fabulous paintings that littered the hall-way he was in.
After a few long minutes, that seemed like hours, Austin finally came to hearing loud noises. The guests in the great hall, was the conclusion he had came to. Carefully approaching the door he opened it slightly and slipped through, hoping unnoticed by the large contingent of guests.
If one did see him, he was wearing a gray vest over a white long sleeve shirt, denim pants, and black shoes.
"You'd think they could buy me a transport for these kinds of things," Police commissioner Douglas Palmer said to himself as he straightened his bow tie in the mirror of his Hussar, "But, no. Apparently police commissioner isn't important enough for a transport. 'Just fly your Hussar over!' they said, 'It'll be fun to attend!' they said, 'All the nobles are expecting you to be there!" they said. Thieves and scoundrels, those blasted Home Officer people, I swear."
The front cockpit of the Hussar hinged up and Douglas hopped to the ground of the parking lot, overlooked by the austere mansion of the Tarrant family. Douglas sighed, looking one last time in the mirror and closing the cockpit of his Hussar. The grandiose mansion illuminated much of the lot, however, the dim lighting of the street lamps attempting to light did little to fight off the coming dusk as Douglas moved towards the extravagantly adorned doorway. With the murmur of busy voices muffling the sound, Douglas rapped three knocks on the door.
The interior of the mansion blinded Douglas for a moment as a servant opened the grand arches that worked as the doorway of the Tarrant home. Nevertheless, the bright lights exhibited the blue cummerbund and bow tie that Douglas had fixed to his waist and neck.
"The bar is in the room off to the left, sir." the servant said.
"A mindreader?" asked Douglas, with a smile, "Thank you. I would guess you were a psychologist."
Moving into the next room from the arching vestibule housing the doorway, Douglas noticed a large room housing both a dance floor and a bar. He skipped the former area and headed straight to the bar, greeting the bartender with a nod of the head.
"Martini," Douglas said, cutting off the bartender, "Stirred, not shaken. I'm not that exciting."
Douglas took his drink almost immediately after the bartender had completed its preparation and turned his face to the dance floor, leaning against the bar and observing the occupants. He sighted Commander Lucy Silsbury on the floor and Inspector Savins on the floor, however, the remainder of the guests were largely a mystery. Douglas only sighed and took a sip from his unexciting drink.
[8:32:45 PM] Dusty Lens: Oh no, let me get that. Hello? Oh it's my grandma. She says to be roleplay.
[12:49:19 AM] Elgatodiablo: You know its nice that you have all that proof and all, Bacon... but I just don't believe you.
"- Err... I see that", considering the obvious firepower displayed on Tomoe's ship hull and the lack of it in his own, "But I though it would be better if we arrived together. Time is running short, what if we set cruise to Cambridge before more corsairs arrive ?"
He prefered to warm his engine again before hearing another possible bitter comment and activated the docking sequence to the lane.
Following the reverse route in the navboard, the two ships soon reached Cambridge atmosphere, and a few minutes later the Araluen domain. Finding their way in the landing lot proved uneasy, as many ships were already parked, enforcing some displeasant feeling for being late. What a pleasure for the eyes though. Shiny and polished liners and yatchs were majestuously lying on the land among expensive sport or tourism ships from everywhere in the galaxy. With such neighboring flying masterpieces here, one could think the mere paladin would belong to the manor staff. Hopefully, once in the main court nobody will notice it.
Bridge stepped out of his ship and a few second later a sedan land car soon parked next to him. A servant dressed in the Araluen livery noded him to board the vehicle. Bridge aknowledged but raised his hand to suggest him to wait a bit more. A minute later, Tomoe eventually joined. The silk veils of her kimono graciously whreated in the air while she silently walked to the car.
"- Kashiwaba... you are radiant tonight" he said, offering his arm to the lady.
In the last few hours prior to the party, Commander Lucy Silsbury had been subjected to an intense remedial training session dealing in: How to walk in high heels, How to walk in high heels elegantly, how to make small talk (she still had trouble with this one) and most importantly, how to restrain oneself from insulting people.
Silsbury had allowed Chelsea to do something with her hair but had flatly refused to have any makeup touch her skin. Her secretary relented agreeing that it was not necessary.
The complete outfit along with styled hair presented a brand new Police Commander.
She was surprised herself and not for the first time wondered how a simple secretary had learnt all this fashion based stuff.
As a finishing touch she put a small gold necklace on. The simple piece of jewelry was one of the only things her mother had given her as she left McTiller Research.
She was very pleased with the look and despite her discomfort in being out of sensible uniform she was still thrilled with the crimson dress she had bought for a small fortune.
There was a band around her right thigh with a tiny holster in which the equally tiny P3 blaster resided. She put the earpiece communicator in her ear and tuned it to Sykes frequency and she was complete.
After a small test with the earpiece it was arranged to meet down at the BPA launch pad. Despite the misgivings of Chelsea who was keen to hire them an expensive shuttle, the Commander had chosen her Hussar as the mode of transport. Sykes, dressed in his black suit and dark glasses, patted his concealed tri-barrel blaster and agreed to ride in the cargo hold.
It would give them a chance to test the drop technique they had been working on.
The Hussar rose into the air and the red and blue lights began to flash as they jumped the queue to the docking ring.
The ship made good time as it traveled to Cambridge and it encountered no pirates on the journey.
They reached the planet and traveled towards the estate, it was quite a journey. The GPS began to receive a 3D readout of the area and showed them a large belt of woods masking the Manor from the road.
Perfect.
Near the gate but out of view, the hussar came very close to the ground and slowed right down. Ready Sykes? Lucy asked through the comm.
As Ill ever be Maam. The Constable stated grimly.
The Hussar rolled onto its back and the cargo doors opened. Sykes, who had positioned himself upside down a moment before, launched himself through the opening and landed on the ground. He stood, brushing the dust from his right knee, the only part of his suit that made contact with the road, and relayed the result to his Commander.
This little maneuver, although seemingly pointless to some, would in the future become rather important, but at this time it was just a bit of fun. Sykes moved in to blend with the cohort of MI5 as the Hussar looped acrobatically around the Manor grounds, checking for any obvious dangers.
Finding none Lucy landed her vessel amongst the few other ships in the specially commissioned and lit field and stepped tentatively out; the high heels were still presenting a few problems in the realms of balance.
Safely on the ground she locked her ship and proceeded up the lit drive towards the grand mansion.
It was rather impressive but far too decretive for her tastes. She stepped into the entrance hall and had her senses assaulted by the sound of chatter from the guests and melodies from the musicians, the smell of very expensive food from the kitchens and bright lights from the ballroom.
She flashed her invite like an ID to the security men on the door and nodded surreptitiously to a very well camouflaged Sykes situated on the upper mezzanine floor.
Servants immediately offered her luxurious canap?s and drinks. She accepted a she didnt know what it was but it tasted nice and a flute of Champaign.
Noticing she was drawing the looks from many of the men she walked over to a familiar face. Chief Commissioner Palmer was looking rather stressed in his black tuxedo while he stood sipping his Martini by the bar.
She walked over; having finally got the elegant part of the high heels sorted, and engaged him in a conversation about her latest discovery in Hussar drop tactics and how she had managed to increase the range of her latest prototype cargo scanner even further.
' Wrote:"- Kashiwaba... you are radiant tonight" he said, offering his arm to the lady.
Tomoe blushed, the captain of a science ship wasn't used to such talk, and she mumbled something in return.
She patted the formaly tied bow on her kimono, feeling the conforting presence of her concealed laser slug thrower. While not as advanced as moderd lasers or needlers, it's all polymer construction meant that it was literly undetectable..... just in case.
They walked indoors under the watchful eyes of various guards, and confused looks of the staff who were unused to seeing anyone of Kusari decent.
" Oh my..... " Tomoe quietly said as they enterd. Having been raised on Freeprot Seven, then growning up on an exploration mission, this was prehaps Tomoe's first real encounter with anything close to 'high society', baring that Cardi addict back on FP1 who ended up going out the airlock, due to letting his hands wander while in a bar filled with Zoners.
The agile Hussar belonging to Inspector Adam Savins zipped across the landscape, beginning the final descent towards the waypoint designated for the mansion. The Inspector had already seen the endless throng of participants moving into the mansion along with the constant stream of ships moving about, dropping passengers and dignitaries. The Hussar shuddered as the ship kissed the ground and Adam took a final glance at the mirror beside him. He was a little uncomfortable with the black tuxedo along with a dark brown overcoat to shield himself from the cool breeze, and wanted to at least not stand there as stiff as a pole.
Savins took a deep breath and began to feel giddy as he walked up to the door along with a few other invitees. He entered as he gave the butler a quick glance at the invitation given. Walking in slowly to admire the delicate artworks, musicians playing their melodies, and the bustling of carterers constantly moving about overwhelmed the young Inspector. Trying to regain his composure, he moved about, giving quick "greetings" and "hellos" to the bystanders. Feeling a bit stuffy, he took off the overcoat and folded it over his arm, and walked towards the bar.
---
"This is it" the man thought as he was eyeing the front enterance to the mansion. He looked down... then up just in time to see the door open to allow more of the invited to enter, then took action. The butler only saw but a flash.. and a flash is all he would reveal from his ill concealed clothing. Mismatched yellow and green socks, patches of clothing missing from his coat and blue pants, he streaked across the corridor, frightening some of the patrons into shying away. The man began yelling and whooping until he ran into one of the security detachments. Air rushed from his lungs painfully out from his mouth and keeled over. Trying to continue the scene, he writhed and thrashed his feet and arms but to no avail. The last thing he saw was an Armored transport slowly growing in size, the cruel pavement beside him, then the creeping darkness set in.
---
Inspector Savins saw the commotion, but of course, didn't ruin his giddy nature. He shuffled over to the bar seeing his colleagues, Commander Silsbury and Commissioner Palmer by the bar, both looking somewhat uncomfortable. Adam awkwardly waved as he approached and greeted them with a smile.
Upon disembarking the dark luxurious sedan that ferried him from the landing pads to the estate itself, Deneth was taken aback for a few moments, due to the sheer scale of the estate and the surroundings. The comfortably warm temperature, blue skies and fresh air had paralyzed the young man briefly. After all, the only environments he was used to living in were bitter dark winters, cramped battleship rooms, cramped humid rooms on a large asteroid base and finally, constant rain and smog. These new sensations were sinking into Aleski's skin, albeit slowly.
"So this is Bretonian aristocracy, huh... not too shabby." he whispered to himself. He briefly remembered the houses of prominent politicians and business owners close to the Kanzler's entourage on New Berlin. They were certainly impressive, but in no way comparable to what stood before him.
He climbed the set of stairs leading to the grand entrance, music and the sound of people speaking already slightly audible.
"Are you a guest, sir? What is your name?", a member of the presumably large security detail on site asked.
"Ensign Wilhelm Deneth Aleski, I've been invited by the Countess herself." replied the man, simultaneously showing his invitation card to the sharply dressed security man.
While the person was busy making sure the Ensign was indeed on the list of guests, Deneth looked around at the seemingly unique environment. Everything in the vicinity seemed unimaginably expensive. Then, his attention snapped back to the security man.
"Everything is in order, sir. Welcome, and by all means, enjoy yourself. Please come in.", said the man clad in black, as he gestured to Aleski to follow him in. His tone was suddenly formal, but inviting and warm. Aleski nodded with a gentle smile and followed the estate employee as he escorted him towards the Main Hall.
Once there, Deneth's senses were initially bombarded by the variety of sounds and sights emanating from the giant room. Classical music, people conversing, laughing, the smell of delicate foods and drinks, dignitaries and other seemingly important individuals with a wealthy variety of accoutrements marking the different origins of the many guests were simply some of the many things to behold in that single location.
For the occasion, the ensign decided to go with his issued No.2 Parade Uniform, with every single strain of dust and fur immaculately removed from the navy-coloured vest and rank tabs, perfectly polished golden belt buckle bearing the insignia of the Bretonian Armed Forces, nicely adjusted cap and smoothly polished black shoes that glistened with the ambient lighting. This Rheinlander knew how to maintain his uniform.
But more surprisingly, even in this bazaar of upper-class bourgeois customs and traditions, Deneth spotted Commander Goodmen, in relaxed but stylish clothing, evidently trying to blend in incognito within this sea of wealth and high class workings. Deneth was grinning lightly, obviously entertained by the idea of seeing Austin there, despite the less than stellar relationship him and the Countess share. "Food really does win the heart of all men...", he thought.
Back to focus, Deneth set out to find the Countess and offer her heartfelt birthday wishes.
"Well Damn...this is awkward..." Djinn muttered to herself as she stood by the front gate of the manor.
She was wearing an almost low cut, black silk dress that fit to her body, had a stylish split along the right leg and stopped just below her knees, with a simple pair of short heeled black shoes. She would've looked just like any of the other nobles to a passer by, but in her mind she stuck out like a sore thumb, and it didn't help that with her tanned skin, black hair and an accent some would call thick, she was obviously not Bretonian, even if she dressed extravagantly.
"Damnit Valentine...where are you? I can't very well just walk up to the front door....can I?" She shuffled her feet a bit and looked over the large courtyard before her. "Heh...would've been easier to come without a disguise..." She began to laugh quietly at herself, here she was, a feared bomber pilot of a terrible Empire and yet she was afraid to walk up to the front door of a manor full of nobles?
Djinn eyed the group of Security men guarding the front door and let out a soft sigh. "I don't even know who I'm damn well supposed to be...and if Valentine's inside already...I'll never get in there on my own!"
She let out a defeated groan and stomped her foot on the ground as she buried her face in her right hand. Shivering slightly as a breeze washed over her.
"That's all very interesting," Douglas said to Lucy as she explained her findings regarding the Hussar, "But right now I really don't care. Tell me about it in the Hub. Right now, I kind of want to sit down and not think about serious things. Between the Kusari in Leeds and Dublin, Mollys in New London, Dublin, and Leeds, Gaians in New London, Edinburgh, and Manchester, the Corsairs basically everywhere, and the foreign elements, I'm quite exhausted. Paper, paper, and more paper. However you get away from it is beyond me."
Running his fingers through his near-black hair, Douglas scanned the crowd again, taking another sip from his beverage.
"Tonight, Ms. Silsbury," Douglas continued, still looking through the crowd, "We're off. Always need to turn off once and a while. If we don't, we lose ourselves, become obsessed, and we lose the respect and honour we've worked so hard to attain."
"And, we can't forget," Douglas said as he looked around again, sighting someone particular in the crowd, "If we were to really try, we could probably arrest everyone in here for one crime or another. Who really knows what happens in those deep pockets."
"Mr. Savins!", Douglas said as he saw the man approach them, "Enjoying the finer things of the party, I can see? The local Cambridgers can take care of that scoundrel. To hell with it. Cheers to being off."
[8:32:45 PM] Dusty Lens: Oh no, let me get that. Hello? Oh it's my grandma. She says to be roleplay.
[12:49:19 AM] Elgatodiablo: You know its nice that you have all that proof and all, Bacon... but I just don't believe you.
Word of a streaker filtered through the crowd to the obvious amusement of BAF Commander Goodmen who could be seen having a good chuckle with a foreign looking Ensign. The Nobility appeared rather shocked and began discussing poor security and incompetent staff.
Savins sidled over to Silsbury and Palmer and began to recite a few nervous jokes and stories in order to settle himself in a bit more. Lucy could understand his nervousness at being among the upper class, She herself was more worried however as to the amount of the surrounding persons.
She was not a people person as the raggedy Inspector Price would say and the thought of having to mingle made her a bit standoffish.
Palmer, after his rather philosophical outburst, finished his drink and reluctantly moved off to associate with various interested Noblemen, Savins agreed to accompany her as curious persons came to inspect and converse with the woman-who-had-punched-Kelvin-Finch-on-live-television.
She forced smiles for each one and tried to be as polite and courteous as possible, she even managed to compliment the ostentatious outfits of some of the noblewomen. Inside she was scowling, she knew why Goodmen hated Nobles, the snobby attitude and the way they judged you viciously made her simmer in suppressed anger.
-----+-----
Sykes moved along the mezzanine floor taking careful note of every security person he saw. Unfortunately the Manor guards were in distinct uniforms, his apparel matched the MI5 crowd perfectly however and he passed un-noticed.
He noted the positions of the security personnel. He was fairly impressed. Each door had one member of the Manors staff standing sentry, checking invites and giving directions while an Intelligence counterpart stood silently on the other side of the door. All main entrances and exits were covered on the ground floor and the stairs from the higher levels were being covered as well. The Mezzanine where he strode now had agents at strategic positions along every walkway.
He smirked; Nobles and their need for the ground floor rooms to have two story high ceilings. The mezzanine did allow portions of the second story to be utilized and it also gave security good vantage points in an indirect way.
He followed the walkway past various doors leading into guestrooms and small offices until he reached a door marked Ballroom Walkway.
-----+-----
She was introduced to various persons of medium importance, the higher class people preferring to remain among their own company and would only see the Admiralty of the BAF and occasionally Commissioner Palmer. Fortunately, just as she started to become a bit ruder with the visitors, a cohort of BAF Lieutenants came in.
Lieutenant Blair detached himself and soon they were chatting about ship maneuverability and weapon loadouts and such. Lucy was just beginning to enjoy herself when a flash of pain lanced through her head.
Clutching her temples she moved towards a wall as the headache began to gain in intensity.
She cursed herself for not bringing pain killers and signaled a servant over.
Panamol, now! She ordered and leaned back against the wood paneling as the intense pain throbbed within her cranium.
Perhaps the Commissioner was right and this was the result of being too wrapped up in her work. She scoffed at this notion almost immediately.
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