"Indeed. Let us head to my office." she said, gesturing the woman to follow. Just before moving off, she turned to Renaud. "Merci. It won't take long, and we can proceed as soon as we have the ship back to full operational status."
And so the two took navigated through the slightly claustrophobia-inducing hallways, climbing the staircase to the upper levels of the ship. They could occasionally notice weapon impact marks on the walls as they moved through the bowels of the Belisama, indicating its unfortunate incident. They reached a door near the very end of a hallway, and Claire stopped in front of it. She swiped her card on the security scanner with a beep, and the door slowly slid open.
"It's not what you may be used to, but you can't expect much from a warship." she said as she gestured the Outcast to enter. Inside was only a simple, relatively roomy area with a desk in the corner, with a few tables and a console. It was clearly a repurposed briefing room, refit for the duchess' use. As they stepped inside, Claire walked behind one of the desks, sitting down and offering the Outcast to do the same.
Enma is familiar with the environment of ships and small stations. There's clearly no need for apologetic tone, but there's no need to point that out either. She's yet to find out anything special about this ship too, it seems like even Royalist Gauls are all about practical approach when it comes to warships. A rather long walk through the corridors wasn't easy, Enma would slow down her step, naturally forcing Claire to slow down as well.
As they finally reached the room, Enma slightly nodded when Claire offered her to enter. Loyola looks like she's having some dizziness and her walking is getting a bit shakier inside of the room. She's almost literally falling into the chair with hard breathing, getting out a small pocket inhaler and using it almost instantly. En is taking a deep breath, but her eyes did not become a lot clearer.
— Excuse me.
She almost whispered, but still loud enough for Claire to hear. Getting her tablet and inhaler at the table in front of them, she would not turn anything on yet. Laying against the wall with pale skin, dry lips and still breathing deeply, En is still getting that aura of confidence around her.
— You should've seen your people from my perspective, I felt like they are ready to kill me at the nearest opportunity.
Enma pauses and smiles a bit sadly.
— Can't blame them though, my personal reputation and reputation of my people work not really to my favor, I understand that. Oh though, it looked like the captain or whatever is having doubts about you calling shots. The question of subordination is quite important and I assume that it will get worse the higher ranks go.
Enma unblocks the tablet, taking it to her lap, her voice sounds a bit more firm now, but she still looks kinda sick.
— With the king missing, it will be extremely hard to regain control over the navy and army ranks. This will be your main problem once you reappear for the public. If you will... In any event, my people will recon the gates tomorrow, then we will know if you are free to proceed in that direction. And it may be useful to speak with your captain as well, yes he doesn't like me, but I'd listen to his... input. He looks like a guy with experience. Excuse me for the long introduction, your highness. These are just my first impressions as of the outsider.
Loyola keeps scrolling her tablet for a moment, then resuming eye contact with Claire.
— It's not my business, but let me ask... what do you plan to do with all of this?
Claire stared in confusion as she saw Enma struggling with her addiction. She couldn't help but feel concerned for her sister, has Charlotte ended up in the same way?
"The reason they looked that way is because they have been killing Outcasts, and this is the first time all of us have seen one in person." she replied to Enma's first statement.
"My.. our plan is to return to Gallia and assist in restoring order to the Kingdom and stop the Conceillards before they completely take over the Kingdom. That, or die trying as we don't have any other choice." she paused, remembering Renaud's explosive conversation. "The capitaine is adamant about reaching New Paris, and he decided to take the Kusari exit as the Council have most likely fortified the Tau one. We were supposed to reach the gate a long time ago, but the ship's crew had saboteurs hidden in the midst."
She felt incredibly anxious just thinking about it, like a weight constantly pressuring her from all sides.
"I hope you've brought what I requested. If we can't get this ship repaired, we'll never make it back in time." she looked back into Enma's gaze. "And you don't seem to be in good shape, what do you require?"
In spite of obvious physical difficulties, Loyola morals during this conversation seem to be very good. She listens respectfully, looking at her eyes it was clear that she's thinking and analyzing every word and Claire's emotional reactions. Smiling at the first remark, she would give back in a half-serious manner.
— Oh, if it will come down to killing me, make sure to execute that in person. I'd not want to be shot down by some random officers, hope you understand.
Enma touches her chin and shakes her head with a sigh when she heard the actual plan. Taking a few notes, then as hair falls at her face, she would get it behind the ear. Her eyes then move to the side and her lips are getting on obvious tension, while her hand starts playing with the stylus.
— Maybe it's for the best that you did not reach the gate because going in without a recon sounds incredibly risky.
Taking a short look at her notes, Enma with some effort leans forward, obviously getting ready to deliver some points. At the moment she keeps direct eye contact, and her voice sounds more convincing, despite getting dry way too fast.
— Usually, there are different plans for different scenarios. I understand that you don't have the operation planning HQ here, but what you about to execute is only one plan for the most positive scenario. And most positive scenarios are usually not the case.
She pauses, being afraid to disappoint Claire with things she would not like to hear. It's about time to say something to prevent that sort of scenario. Enma softens her tone and leans back a little.
— I understand how hard all of this for you, and I understand there's not a lot of moral support coming your way. And I understand that you want to believe in the best. But as a part of my duty and service to your family, I have to keep you safe. We need to talk about scenarios where it's not possible to return to Gallia and bring back the order in short terms. That would practically mean an exile. I'd call that neutral scenario, in which you will have a chance to build up in the border worlds and act from here. Negative scenario is that Gallia is lost and you are being actively hunted down and forced to move further far away.
Enma leans back, swallowing air to the sigh heavily. She would proceed with the much lower tone of voice.
— We need to have a plan for all of those scenarios and at least make general outlines. So if bad things will happen, there will be a plan to execute. Further disorganization and panic among your people may end up your journey rather sooner than later.
Loyola looks down when remarks about her health are coming in. At some point, she even raises her eyebrows, not expecting Claire to care.
— Long-time in exile is having rather negative effects on the health, for the Outcasts that is. Inhalers are practically a joke, in the long run, you got to return to Malta anyway. I would like something to drink if possible, not alcohol preferably, there's work to be done. But I cannot recall you require to bring anything. We can launch freighter runs anytime, our supply lines are very close.
She would have asked to bring something to the room out of habit, but swiftly remembered that the man who was tasked with doing this was no longer with them. It was an awkward few seconds before she continued the conversation.
"When I contacted you, I mentioned our ship is in poor condition. The main consoles are disabled due to combat on the ship, and the cruise engines aren't working." she explained. "Most of our engineers were caught in cross-fire, and the rest are stretched really thin. I'm sure the capitaine will be able to tell you more. It's.. unfortunate, but this ship is stuck moving slowly until it's fixed."
She narrowed her eyes as soon as she heard the suggestion of not returning. "Where else are we to go, if not back home? I don't know the status of other Gallic warships, and the Kingdom is under siege. We have no allies. While I appreciate that you wish to assist, I'm sure the rest out of the Outcasts would prefer to see me as a captive much like Charlotte. There's the issue of becoming addicted to your drug, as well." she interjected. The thought of being a slave to Cardamine, always forced to return to the den of pirates, or struggle with living like the woman before her, was just a completely repulsive to Claire.
"Even then, the capitaine will not allow the ship to stop so we can review the situation, I've tried. He's made it very clear that the Belisama is flying to New Paris." she lowered her voice, not proud of admitting her inability to convince him.
En is taking notes as Claire speaks, nodding or shaking her head at some parts. Even smiling at some parts, she generally looks more relaxed and getting things she wanted to hear to work with. With a short sigh, she crosses her legs, finally placing a tablet at the table and leaning a bit forward from the chair. Drumming a simple rhythm at the table with her nails before replying. Replying to one of the questions from the top of her head.
— I have no ability to bring anything practically useful to repair Gallic warship. There's no way we are able to get the parts you need, only partners we have in Gallia are Brigands and there will be the last people to help you. Not to mention those gangs have no access to the parts you need either. The only way I see is to bring the ship to one of the Outcast shipyards and replace the engines and other things with our tech. But that option would not work on too many levels.
Enma is pausing, swallowing saliva, her voice is getting more and more dry and scratchy. She would lick her lips so they are becoming less pale for a moment. Loyola then looks at the low ceiling, making it too long to look natural, she's having trouble catching up with her own thoughts. She then writes something down at her tablet.
— Cherry Blossom! I needed an operation name for the gate recon. That's punchy enough.
She then looks back at the notes that she took while listening to Claire, to come back to actual conversation. She would look somehow sad remembering something.
— Ah, Charlotte. Well, I hardly can call her captive. She's now addicted to Cardamine and spending her time at one of the family's best mountain residence. Cardamine concentration there is very low, which allows her to live comfortably without affecting her body too much. She's quite charming in a way, I at some point almost fell in love with her, but she's too cold for that.
Enma is having a little bitter smile while looking away remembering something.
— I thought that Gallia would win a war and Charlotte will end up being duchess of Malta. While I would be the first among local Dons and run business. But life had it's own plans, breaking ours.
She then looks at Claire, with friendly sadness. Then she takes a look at the tablet again.
— Right, the captain. Well, from what you say, he's an idiot, who will either die or end up being captive. With broken ship and skeleton crew this operation is having low chances for success. I don't want to make pressure, but if you go in just like that, you will follow the same fate, but likely worse. Remember the recent exile of the Kusari Emperor, he and his followers have entered Kusari only when they were ready. And for that, you need to be alive and not being a captive.
She's getting her elbow at the table, touching her forehead.
— In case if the gate is held by the hostiles. I suggest you kill that captain person somehow. Or leave this ship, while it isn't too late.
"The capitaine will not budge on his stance, and this is his ship after all. You're welcome to try to talk him down, but it won't end well." she replied sternly. "There will be no more killing on this ship, and I'll never even consider assassinating a servant of the Roi!"
She stopped for a second, catching herself becoming overly emotional in her voice. Activating the holographic console, she pulled up the ship's nav data. Estimated time: 16 hours to the next checkpoint. That checkpoint was, in fact, the gate to Lorraine.
She sighed, inverting the display for it to be readable from Enma's side of the desk.
"I have no where to go, but being stuck there. If I go with you, I'll end up being a slave to Cardamine, and god knows what else. I don't like the idea of risking it all, but it doesn't seem like there's a choice." she said, after letting Enma look into the details on the display.
This girl is nothing like Charlotte, who's been holding up for years without giving out anything so emotional. Enma is even somehow shocked, completely not expecting such Stylus would fall off from her hand by itself, but it's not like it was really noticeable. She's biting lower lip and knocks at the table three times, slowly coming up with the answer. There is some degree of amusement in her expressions, but she's far from being happy. She starts speaking with a short sigh, her one of voice wouldn't change
— Your highness, I cannot recall offering you to come with me. This may be very problematic for me given many circumstances. I will not tell you a secret if I say that DeFrance family is having not the best reputation among the Sirius population, right? I don't believe you know my position well, but my reputation cannot take many more hits if I care to proceed with big plans on Malta.
Enma then fixing her position at the chair, making a couple of weird sounds along the way. The moment after her hand covers her mouth as she yawns, almost tearing up. Then she would blink, trying to dry out her eyes before tear rolls down and fucks up her makeup. It was such a tense moment that most of the muscles of her body reacted to it somehow.
— I will pass talking to your captain if he is not listening to you, I doubt there's a single chance that he will listen to me. It's sad that you don't want to resolve a problem with him in the easiest manner, but that's your choice. I am not really here to force the decisions, your highness.
She would look up the display Claire demonstrated, nodding showly after narrowing her eyes. Then switched her look at Claire, En looked with care and some sadness.
— Oh, well, since I've promised to help you and technically under oath, I will get you out of here. We will have to think what place will work the best for the first time. Considering that captain will for sure be interrogated and inform that you left with the Outcasts.
She would open up a navamap at her tablet, starting at it with empty eyes. She would visibly try to focus and think, but blinking and holding her head, but apparently it wouldn't work.
— Heh, looks like I am not in the best condition to think. But please don't worry, we will handle everything. I have a rich experience of exile and running from people trying to hunt me down. I guess that with you it will be more of a challenge than usually.
At that point her voice would become impossible dry and scratchy, she holds her neck.
Claire didn't like seeing the woman before her struggle with her health, the sight only reminding her that Charlotte is likely doomed to be in a similar state. Reverting the holographic screen back to her side, she quickly wrote up a message to one of the crew members she had talked to previously to bring them some water. Normally, this would have all been Léon's role, but now she had to bother the already stretched crew for assistance. At least they were still willing to accommodate her requests, albeit not as efficiently or as willingly.
Having sent the message off, she turned her attention back to Loyola.
"Wouldn't that be seen as traitorous? Running away from my responsibilities, cowardice in the face of danger when my own Kingdom is under siege? I still have a responsibility for my people, what will they think if I ran off at the first sight of trouble?" she continued her monologue. "I don't think I'd be able to live with myself if I decided to bide my time, hiding like the Kusarians. They had a military, and chose let hooligans run amok in their House."
Her rant was cut off by the office door opening, and a man in uniform bringing in a few bottles of water. His body language and facial expressions made it clear that he was irritated with the task, but kept it to himself. Apologising himself for the intrusion, he turned around and swiftly left the room to return to his work.
"I was hoping that with your arrival we could fix this ship so it could return to Gallia in time, but that seems to be a failed cause, too..." she blurted out after the man left.
Enma is carefully listening to Claire, catching up even minor mood and tone shifts. Enma was hoping that Claire would serve her with water personally, but it appears not to be an option in the princess's head. When the glass is brought, she looked at the unamused person who was on doing this work, slightly nodded to them as they turned to leave. Her finger would slide along the glass' edge, making a few rounds.
— Not poisoned?
Enma asked, as her dry lips are moving in to make a smile. She then takes a glass with the index finger and the thumb, directing it to her lips. As she wanted to drink, the first few sips are quite audible, especially considering a very pressing silence in this room. Enma just noticed how gloom this place looks now, giving her a fresh look at Claire as well.
— I see princess education in Gallia is very well put. I like that responsibility of yours, I had high expectations and you do clearly meet with those. Charlotte looks much more selfish comparing to you, your highness. From the obvious, you need to be alive to let your people serve and follow the wise rule of your family. Many died in DeFrance's name, for your Kingdom and family to live and prosper. Running into the literal suicide mission is something that people who made sacrifices would not approve.
Enma stops, switching to sound more casually, finally putting that glass at the table.
— In addition, they themselves refuse to listen to you. If you are able to convince some other people to leave with you, I will gladly allow it. I understand how important it is for you, your highness. In this way, you will have your duty fulfilled and will make a wise choice of not putting yourself into a high-risk situation.
Loyola sighs, looking at the glass, inhaler and her tablet, focusing her look at the last thing. She would write something down before resuming the conversation.
— The recon missing will be underway tomorrow, if results are negative I suggest you convince as many people as possible to leave with you. If so happens, I will think about the place where we could provide housing and security for the first period of time.
Enma leans back into the chair relaxing, at her last statements she had a commanding tone, not really assuming any objections.
— Do you have a music system in this room? I suggest we talk about something else now. You will breakdown if remain so emotionally tense for long.