The room is a cramped cabin, wall panel lighting and a table with two chairs, one door that led to a short hall. Well lit, clean, but nothing particularly glamorous, but there was snoop-wares showing in the corners of the room, the sort of things that could easily have been put behind the lights, and the sort of thing that could see you, inside and out, in ways that humans only barely understand.
A woman with complexion like translucent caramel walks in, a few veins showing through freckles around her eyes. She closes the door to the interview room, and sits with her back to the wall, spreading a notepad and some files out in front of her.
“Hello Mr Sheppard. I'm Mhari. I'll be conducting your interview today."
She smiles and reaches out a hand, they shake, and then she points to the corners of the room, where some small recording devices had been made obvious by the architecture.
“You understand that your responses and biometrics are recorded, and subject to personality analysis?”
David thought to himself for a moment before giving a quick and decisive nod, followed by a simple follow up with a quick verbal confirmation. Mhari picks up her pad, taps, and begins taking notes as she begins to ask questions.
”You've been a pilot for 4 years? Started in the 5th fleet, but, you found that to be less than engaging? What was your position?”
“Aye, there abouts'. I originally had my training within West Point Military Academy, where I signed up with the 5th Fleet once my training was complete. It was pretty boring, nothing really like my training. The most common job we'd be assigned was a basic routine patrol around the Core systems, I always felt this was more the job of the police than navy. I was expecting different, things like shooting Gauls and whatnot, action. While I was serving in the 5th, I obtained a couple of promotions, nothing major. I can't remember the different positions all that well, so I couldn't name a direct rank. I make it out that I hated my time in the 5th, it wasn't the best but I don't hate it as I make it sound.”
She crosses her legs and and taps her stylus a few times.
“Mhmmm. So, just an overstatement of emotion there. That should be fine.”
She gave a rather reassuring smile in response to his answer before continuing on with the interview.
“Are you familiar with the goals of the commonwealth and the legion?”
“I wouldn't say I am directly familiar with the Legion. I don't know how much of the information I was given a few years ago would be considered current, but overall I think I am right in saying your an alternative government. You guys aim to reform the current government and remove the widespread corruption that you can find littered through-out Liberty. That was something along the lines that I was told by one of the captains a few years back, if I recall correctly that is.”
"I’ll be sure to send you an ‘educational’ pamphlet." She says in a wry tone, “Did working with the Core seem more fulfilling…and..Why?”
“My work with the Core? Interesting time of my life. I knew a few different people from various avenues that had moved onto elsewhere, and a number of them had ended up working for the Core. It was actually one of my buddies in the 5th that brought me there. In the first place. I don't think fulfilling is the word that I'd use though. At the end of the day, it was just a job. It paid well, and I was around a few of my mates, but I was still missing something. It was actually one of the things I lost with the 5th.”
“You'd been in the HF for a short time before, did your position with us not feel fulfilling?”
“I was technically enlisted with the Legion for a short while, but it wouldn't surprise me if I wasn't even on your books. I was there for an incredibly short time, and it was mostly for the purposes of revenge. It was that reason I worked with you guys to take down Athena Station. After that business was taken care of, I stayed a couple more weeks before taking off towards the Omicrons. It wasn't long after that I enlisted with the Core.”
Before continuing, Mhari straightens up her posture. She quickly explained to herself, and then continued.
“Following friends to another position, as you’d said. Well. You said you were back in liberty on unfinished business. How do those goals dovetail with the work of the legion?”
“My business is both short and long. I'm looking for someone, but I have no leads or even an indicator they're going to turn up soon. They may not even be in Liberty anymore. My business shouldn't get in the way at all, but if I do pick up a lead on it, it would be nice to obtain permission to chase it up - but we can cross that bridge if and when we come to it.”
Nearly biting off his words, with a finger on her page, she responds
“Good Good! And how long do you expect your tenure to be?”
“I'll stay with the Legion for as long as I feel it benefits me as a person. If I feel like what I am doing is wrong or I lack justification for my actions, I'd take my leave. However, if past experiences are anything to go by, this won't be something I run into as an issue. I'll stay for as long as I am content, if you want me to phrase it simply. I know this may not be what you want to hear, but it's the honest truth. Or maybe it is, I don't know what level of freedom within your military you seek.”
Sitting with a few second silence, David took it upon himself to move the interview forwards.
“Is there anything else you'd like to ask?”
Mhari smiles and begins to collect her paper.
”No sir, that should be more than enough to satisfy the spooks. Its mostly about getting a baseline to compare their models to, you see. I’ll forward you a document that explains our goals and your accesses to Commonwealth records. I hope your search goes well.”