Marie Estate, Planet New Paris, Ill-De-France
06/5/741 A.G.S, 21:15
His lung is collapsing as well, look, his chest isn't moving. He can't react to it because of his head trauma. Get that syringe over there! We need to take the air out of his chest!Max pointed to a kit sitting over on top of one of the tables in the living room. The vastness of the house was a bit to take in for a split second, but only for just that length, they needed to keep Bernard alive. Steiner whipped it out and handed it over to Max, who had just finished ripping off Bernard's shirt to find where the weak point was. Without hesitating, he took the syringe and and inserted it right over the lung that appeared to be leaking.
After a few seconds, Bernard began to react, only to reveal that his other injuries were just as dire - better he was alive though.
Alice has a catscan x-ray device in the restroom, it's at the end of the hall there and to the right. It should be in a cabinet to the right of the mirror if she told me correctly, and oui, your help is appreciated. This isn't the first one we've brought back in this condition. I'll put him under, once we have the X-Ray scans you should go talk to Alice, she said you were our way out.
Very well. he said leaving the room and wandering the great halls of the mansion unaccompanied. He took into account the paintings, sculptures and the markedly different style of architecture that only served to remind him of how far away from home he was. Such luxury was hardly uncommon back on Cambridge, and he knew well the benefits of living a privileged life, but wealth did not seep into the walls, and it did not serve to remind everyone who saw their home that those who lived there were better. But this place seemed to be designed around that very idea, to reinforce the idea of nobility, and he didn't think much of it.
Soon the desire just to sit down crept up on him and he set about finding a chair or something to that effect. His search found him in what he suspected to be a drawing room, pale afternoon light filled the room through large windows that looked out to the New Paris skyline. Various parchments and canvas littered the rooms tables and desks and he took a up a position on a couch. Four months in a Gallic prison to relative freedom in one day..he wasn't doing to badly. John didn't want to speak to anyone at that moment in time, he wanted to enjoy the relative comfort of silence before being thrown back into whatever these strange people were doing. Alas, his peace was fleeting, and voices in the corridor alerted him to someone, or some people approaching his room.
Marie Estate, Planet New Paris, Ill-De-France
06/5/741 A.G.S, 21:30
The sound of footsteps grew, forcing Steiner into a posture that made him look relatively useful. Steiner reacted with a hint of shock to realize the source wasn't max, it was Alice. Who wore an all too serious face for the occasion. Maybe it was Bernard's condition? The thought's broke as Alice spoke up after examining him.
Max has the catscan, he can handle this, come with me - we need to talk.
Steiner followed Marie as the two walked up a large set of stairs further down the hall, the two ascended to find themselves in another hall identical to the one below. Alice walked out a bit but then turned to ascend even higher, the enormous mansion seemed to go one forever with the hypnotic effect of the ceiling. But the stairs ended on the third floor, Alice walked down yet another hall, the layout looked slightly different. Everything was more modernized, more customized, maybe the bottom two layers were just for an impression.
Alice slowed her walking pace as the two continued down the hall, Steiner walked a bit behind Alice.
Steiner, the name is familiar, do you have a brother by the name of Victor?
Now how do you know that.. he wondered, he became ever so slightly defensive, presumably something that anyone in his position would feel. I do, yes...why? he asked cautiously What's he to you?. The question did surprise him a little, not only did she know who he was but why she would bother asking about him was another mystery, common ground perhaps, but if she though he would be any use to her, she was mistaken. Victor hadn't been seen in months and the remainder of his family, with the exception of Edmund, were in no positions of power to help this woman.
Marie Estate, Planet New Paris, Ill-De-France
06/5/741 A.G.S, 21:35
Ah so the two were related, maybe that would be a plan B should any issues go south with the initial plan that would roll out a few days from now.
I know a lot of people within the Armed Forces, we've had run ins considering my former position. Hall, Victor, McIntire, Brennan, all of them... They all ended up with a grudge against me.
The two continued down the hall slowly as Alice thought for a second, the ceiling arose slightly as they approached what seemed to be the center of the mansion. Alice walked out towards a table in the center, the table was covered in glass, likely a projector or computer with a built in touch/monitor display.
If my plan fails than we have no chance of bargaining with anyone within the Armed Forces, and quite frankly - I don't want to be anywhere near this conflict. Negotiating with any of the names listed except your brother is impossible, you however, make that exception with Victor. Do you think you could reach him given the right tools?
He raised an eyebrow, surprised that she was turning traitor, be he decided it wouldn't be a good idea to bring that up, Victor has been transferred out of the Armed Forces and into the Secret Service...I've no idea where he is, so no, I'm afraid I can't get a message to him. And I would be inclined to ask why I ought too. You have given me little reason to trust you at all.
Marie Estate, Planet New Paris, Ill-De-France
06/5/741 A.G.S, 21:37
In that instant Alice snapped around, the quick impulsive change was met with no sort of internal barricade.
You know you may paint us all out to be monsters working under the hand of a larger monster but that isn't the case with all of us. We're people, just like you, most of us fight for our country because we've no other choice to earn a successful living. So don't nag me about lack of trust as if I'm just some thing with a Gallic tongue holding you hostage. I took you out of that cell, if you had stayed they would've killed you - and now I'm about to put the lives of everyone here at risk so that we all walk away with our limbs attached.
You know why I'm asking you to contact a ranking member within the Armed forces, don't act stupid. More importantly, don't pull the "trust" card with me again, you can count on me to get all your asses out of here. The change in tone struck like lightning, Alice began breathing heavy. The humored face turned cold, Steiner really hit a nerve when he asked that question. Or maybe she was already trying to prove herself. Alice gave Steiner a dead serious look for a second before speaking up again.
Unless of course, you question my humanity like that again after what I just did. I'm sure this place could use a guest when the Royal Police pay it a visit.
It is unwise for you to threaten me when you have come asking from my help. he said coldly The circumstances surrounding my release are hardly grounds for me to assist you, it was an opportunity that you took to serve your own ends that just happened to benefit me at the time. You are not known to me, or my family. However he continued, his voice beginning to loose it's previous flare of anger As you so aptly put, our positions...my position, does not allow me to stay here in this place, and you have offered a route of escape, thus it is in my best interest to help you. However it is not Victor that can arrange this, he is not available. Yet my other Brother, Edmund, may be able to do so. I trust you are acquainted with Admiral Jacob McIntire?
Marie Estate, Planet New Paris, Ill-De-France
06/5/741 A.G.S, 21:39
His help was plan B, but then again, it was the plan B. Still, she was in control, and Steiner was not. She had no need for him beyond his help really, and maybe the words would drill into his thick skull if she pressed them just a little bit further. Alice stood her ground, taking in the bitter tone of Steiner's little fit before rebuttling to get a point across.
Lets make something clear, your contact with whoever you know within the Armed forces is as you put it "plan B". Plan A is going to be our first, best, and safest attempt at getting off this planet and away from these brainwashed idiots. I'm not here to violate your trust, or to make you an enemy, but you're not my priority - and right now my patience is about as thick as a spec of dust. So, do yourself a favor, and don't piss off the person who just bailed you out of a death sentence.
"Can't keep arguing, if he acts like a little shit I'll just ditch him." Alice thought to herself, she took a second to catch her breath, back to considering their options.
McIntire and I were at each others throats last time we met in space, but oui I have. It won't matter though, the Bretonian front is too far, we'd get killed if we tried to even enter the taus. That leaves us with one option, which means you're going to need to tolerate Gallic tongue for a while.
Alice turned back, pressing her knuckles over the table and leaning forward as she looked out the window against the wall. The sunlight glared over the entire room, it looked quite dramatic with her blocking some of it out.
The Council movement has been opposing the Royal Navy for decades, and spreading civilian propaganda over telegrams. podcasts, and PSAs. The Provence system is nearly overrun with their soldiers, civilian traffic goes in and out with no issue. We can enter the system, contact the head of the movement, maybe my name will speak for something again...
Maybe they'll take my help. Either way, I need to know if you're willing to stick with us for a while. Maybe after some time you'll realize for certain we're more human than you think.
As you wish he said, resigning himself to whatever this woman was planning. Since you are in command, I shall leave you to your plans, I presume you have wounded or Sick, if there is nothing else to discuss, I will attend to them...with your permission of course.