Smirking at the sight of Raven, Ezrael exhaled for a moment. "Now that we're all gathered here, why don't we make it ourselves more comfortable and you tell me why exactly I am here?" the man with the long black hair asked, guessing Leviathan was to lead the conversation and the way.
"Right." Hunt waved them along. He led them inside the spire via a small door to the right of the guarded main entrance, which connected to a hallway that ran parallel of the larger room to their left The large hall was occasionally visible through open doorways as they went. The foot traffic in here was a lot more work-oriented. Guards were everywhere, with officers and senior staff alike moving in and out of the various side entrances in the hall. "It isn't often we let people outside of our society here, but that usually goes without saying." Hunt commented.
They made a right turn about mid-way down the hall, entering another hallway. This one was much shorter, with a set of four elevators. Hunt pressed one of the up buttons and waited for the doors to open. It didn't take too long. He gestured everyone inside, following last and pressing another button. The panel wasn't numbered. Not in any readable sense. It was coded. A security measure against wanderers and infiltrators, to make navigation without a keen understanding of inner protocol rather difficult. "You're here because we've got a job offer for you. One that requires a lot more trust than we've given you before. That's why you're here and not being chased off by the paramilitary with belligerent gunfire." Hunt explained as the doors open. They couldn't have been on the elevator for more than ten seconds.
The elevator doors slid open, and Hunt stepped out into the new and equally as bland hallway. He made a left, guiding the group for another thirty seconds before they finally reached their destination. The lounge-like room had a set of windows which overlooked the snowy mountain range outside of the shield barrier, where a heavy snowstorm raged on. A low, dark table with a set of snack foods and beverages was waiting for them. Tea, water, coffee, wine and some small brownies. Surrounding the table were four chairs, all of which faced inwards. "Make yourself comfortable."
The entire setting became more and more like a fairy tale. Something one would expect to see in fantasy books and artworks. It made Ezrael wonder which of them designed the base, as someone had to make these decisions. He looked at Raven for a moment. Maybe she was less of a bird, and more of an Ice Pri- Oh, there was wine! Probably some cheap import from Cambridge or Stuttgart. Before the Curacaoan got the chance to inspect it further, Hunt caught his attention again.
"Brownies. Looks like someone here is constantly trying to feed me with unhealthy stuff. First waffles, then Transhumanist Cream Pie and now brownies." Smirking at Raven for a short moment, he turned to Hunt again, sighing. "So, a matter of trust. Nice change of pace, to be honest. Tell me what you want from me."
"To put it bluntly: Your cooperation." Hunt explained. He moved over to one of the chairs, settling in and getting comfortable. "The job we had in mind was your participating in some security and foreign operations more directly with our forces. Specifically, starting here in Inverness." Hunt said, waiting for the others to be seated.
A sigh escaped his mouth. There were a few things he had expected, and weaponized assistance was one of them. "I wish I could say I'm surprised, but looking at our previous encounters and the thoughts you shared with me when you helped me with the desertion from the Core, I did expect you to ask for some involvement in your wars."
The Curacaoan was biting his cheek slightly, kneading it with his teeth before continuing. "It probably doesn't surprise you that I have a guess who we are talking about. I happen to know there is a very big nomad nest not too far away from here. If I didn't know you better, I'd have assumed you're interested in removing said nest from your territory. However I know you better." He took an audible breath for a moment, looking at the personified transhumanism sitting over there. "I assume we're not the only people in Sirius that know about that installation. In fact, I assume you have an Order battlegroup here in Inverness that is observing any activity around the nest, either because they are infected or allied as rumored or to find weaknesses and good opportunities to take on that thing. I assume you don't like them being here as they might also have an eye on Elgin and your watchtower over there. And I assume that you know the Order is hunting me, which means we have a common enemy. Are my assumptions correct or is there an unknown factor like another involved party?"
Leviathan shrugged. "Close. Yes, The Order is indeed our primary concern. The hive you're referring to is less of a security issue due to its minimal traffic, and remains far more valuable in tact as a point of study. The immediate threat is the mobile assets that - as you've pointed out, we share a mutual poor relationship with." He replied. "It's in our best interest to rid the area of destabilizing elements. I'd like you and your ship to assist the First Fleet with a little search and destroy." He tapped his fingers against the arm of the chair, staring with his expressionless faceplate at the Curacaoan.
"You'll be paid of course, and it'd be the start of a long series of jobs which you've already taken part in by providing recon information."
Chewing on his cheek, Ezrael eyed Leviathan, then Raven and Foulke. "You know very well I hate to put my ship and my crew at risk. I can provide recon and additional firepower, the latter only if we are talking about _additional,_ as in, not necessary to win the battle but to limit the losses. I will not send ship and crew into a battle that puts them at serious risk. We won't play expendable force for you." He paused for a moment. "If you can guarantee that much, as well as monetary compensation and, in case of damage, access to your shipyard at your Citadel to apply enough fixes for us to leave to where we usually repair, you can count on me." With that, Ezrael gave Leviathan a firm look.
"Your concern is noted, though the recon work and preliminary evaluation has already been done. So I'll offer you the shipyard access, the payment and I'll include an apartment in the Angels district here." Leviathan shifted in his seat, leaning on an elbow. "This is an isolated target surrounded on all sides by a foreign war. The locals are largely distracted, or have already been dealt with. Thanks to your recon work we know enough to place the nearest friendly forces to them in the Omegas region, aside from those a couple systems over who - have a warzone between us and them." Leviathan explained further.
"Your vessel would assume a flanking position in the event of attempted escape with one of our other primary craft, and called in for fire support once the target is isolated and ready for dismantling." Leviathan explained further. He raised a finger in the air, drawing a circle lazily out of the air. "We approach from all sides, leave no room to maneuver, and give them no quarter. The threat is eliminated and we can carry on. I've no intention of sending you in directly as a laser sponge. That'd be a terrible strategy."
"Alright. You'll hopefully send me a detailed attack plan via transmission, so I can brief my crew. It'll take some convincing and a motivational speech, but I believe getting rid of the Order will help us more in the long run," he sounded, the latter slightly mumbled. For a moment, he looked over at Raven, mostly caught in his own thoughts. "When do we launch the attack?"
"I'm glad you agree, and yes - the details will be sent in an encrypted message to you and the other captains involved as soon as the details are compiled. We'll all review the details closely twenty-four hours prior to ensure everyone is refreshed and on the same page. You'll be privy to other positions in the event something does not go as planned." Hunt explained.
"I'll be making preparations in the meantime. So..." Hunt leaned forward, placing his elbows on his knees and locking his fingers together. "Business set aside, is there anything you or your crew require while you're guests here?"