After departing from ship they headed to party room where meeting suppose to happened Don Menendez and his escort come up on discussion between Gen'an Cell and Sisterhood of Light. There was almost a clash, but Marshal Amelia prevented it all. My escort stood between me so that the crossfire would not accidentally move towards me, I told them "Boys be ready we don't know who is now who here". After a short discussion, Alexandra Amelia Marshall of Hispania Imperial addressed us
A smirk crept up on Hemlocke's face with Amelia's demeanor, his arms uncrossing to give a simple response, knowing how busy she was in this current moment.
"I'm rather used to my twin counterparts in the Hackers and Chrysanthemums behaving as if they are superior without ever lifting their delicate noble hands to prove it. It's why I hate them. No, I won't take up anymore of your time, this meeting will keep you quite busy. Enjoy the politics, Amelia."
Hemlocke moves away from Amelia a bit, motioning for Montes to follow. Not moving to pat the man on the back. Ashwood moved far more gracefully than either of the two did, almost entirely unlike a rogue, though she wore their symbol. Hemlocke stopped to look Montes over, noticing his demeanor. Many rogues behaved this way when outnumbered, it was natural.
"You didn't miss anything, I simply handed over our gift to Amelia. Don't worry, we didn't show up unprepared, it's just rude to crowd the freeport. If we're gonna get shot, we're gonna get shot. So behave as if there's nothing you can do to stop it, and you're able to have fun from there. Think I saw Mixtape's ship roll in a bit ago."
Suddenly Eliza's PDA buzzed inside her back pocket. Someone was messaging her. A moment later it buzzed again. What the hell did they want? And why exactly now? The situation seemed to be easing and perhaps the powder keg was going to stay unexploded, just a bit longer at least. Or long enough for her to check what the hell they were messaging her about right now. Eliza moved away from the crowd and towards a pair of cargo containers, likely the kind that gets attached to the civilian series transports for ease of transport, and pulled out her PDA. She had two messages. One was from old man Muerte, who she had decided to spare this meeting, but apparently he wasn't aware that Valdez would still attend. He wanted to go fishing. Fishing? The girl figured it is a good hobby as any if you suddenly have a lot more free time on your hands. And free time wasn't something that Eliza had at the moment so she replied politely enough telling him that she's busy at the moment.
The other message though was much more interesting. It was a man whose name rhymed with spaghetti. It wasn't even anything important, but what was concerning was that the transmission was coming from inside the station. Did he know about this gathering? He probably did. It was hard to not know once you see all those warships just outside of the No-Fire-Zone. But Eliza didn't arrive through any of those, so why message her? Did he know she was also here? She didn't know. Could have asked him, but that would be giving it away, wouldn't it? Instead she decided to paraphrase "fuck off" into "you should go check on Pittsburgh" and set her PDA's messanger to Do-Not-Disturb. It was better to focus on the meeting right now. The spaghetti could be tended to later.
As Montes followed Hemlocke and Ashwood he couldn't help but laugh a little at Hemlocke's rationalization.
"Whatever the hell they want to talk about here I doubt any of it will be fun for anyone, probably gonna remind us how we dropped the ball with Rochester. Then again maybe not if they dragged the flower girls down here as well."
Montes thought to himself for a slight second, Hemlocke wasn't wrong though, whatever happens next wasn't really in the hands of the Rogues that had shown up.
"Guess it's time for the worst part of any card game, waiting to see what cards get dealt out."
Hemlocke listened to Montes, a rogue he respected due to his unflinching defiance, even towards the packleaders. Turning to look over the landing bay, watching the Gen'an cell and their Matriarch silently, a face to face meeting was never had between the Hellhound and Matriarch. Their two factions haven't interacted in well, a couple years now.
"Fuze tells me you're a crude, yet effective individual, Jack. How would you describe yourself? Oh yes, and don't worry, that braindead baboon will be here to annoy you soon enough. I had to work tirelessly to maintain his vital signs with this last suicide mission he went on."
Lady Ashwood focused her ghastly gaze upon Montes, an air of superiority oozed from her that almost made Montes sick to his stomach, her head still high and arms folded behind her back, usually Hemlocke butchers these types, so why was she around? Her gaze was ever so judgmental over the pill popper, and it was clear as day despite her quite literally dead eyes.
The mere mention of the name "Fuze" had Montes rolling his eyes. His last encounter with that moron lead to them missing a transport due to Fuze dropping the ball.
"Oh great Fuze is going to be around that just fills me with joy. Surprised he even knew what crude even meant to be honest though."
Montes matched Ashwood's gaze and noted her attitude that was unlike that of any pirate never-mind any rogue he had ever met. If someone like her was kept around by a person as easily irritable as Hemlocke they obviously had something of immense value to offer, probably something to do with being able to keep that moron Fuze alive which seemed like a waste of anyone's time in Montes' opinion. But for his own curiosity's sake he'd play along with her game for now, even if it was just to find out how full of herself she really was.
"Me? Well I guess you could say I'm effective but personally I'd say I just pull my weight and cap keep my eye on the ball long enough to pull in a decent score for the day. I am curious as to what you would have to say about yourself however, I don't think I have ever met a rogue with skills focused more on keeping someone in one piece rather than turning them into a load of small pieces, especially someone as self destructive as Fuze."
Sykes' boot made a slight crunch on the hanger floor, and he kicked the filter from his second cigarette between the nearest cargo containers. He slipped his datapad into his front coat pocket and made to follow Montes into the pile of bodies lining up for a word with their hosts. The dull light from above gave his jacket an unoriginal sheen.
He stood next to Montes and bumped his shoulder before slipping a toothpick in his front teeth. Interrupting Hemlocke during a conversation wasn't something he intended to get in the habit of.
"Aye, let boss know I be 'round, but I ain't lookin'a get involved wit' the kowtowin'. Got some bidness if the opportunity presents, feel me?"
He turned his head to the side to watch some of the Kusarian women glide through the various hallways, some having made their overtures, others waiting their turn. He moved the toothpick back to the rear of his mouth.
Ashwood watched Montes, a smug smirk crossing her lips, she answered in a humble manner despite her posturing,
"I handle paperwork and make sure he isn't disturbed by menial issues, and keep his loyals in line, fairly difficult with Fuze."
Hemlocke glanced to Sykes briefly as he felt the man approaching behind him, before glancing back to the landing bay to watch the other groups, as Sykes mentioned business, his crimson gaze turned to the man, before Hemlocke shifted to face him and spoke.
Heads turned, jaws dropped, and the work environment of ames' hangar stopped as the retrofitted Z-Series Sabre swooped on in without notice. The engines, weapons, and shielding looked at least a decade ahead of their times. Though everyone knew what they were about to whitness, no one had the courage to cough up a single word or gesture. Lane Hackers didn't make in-person appearances unless they deemed it necessary. Mildred was breaking that streak as a Lane hacker, warfare lead - and now a Professor.
No one touches it, or they'll be snorting this for the rest of their lives. Si? She said to the deck officer, waving a Cardamine capsule in his face. Shaking as if he were freezing to death, he composed himself for just long enough to nod at the Lane Hacker before turning away and ordering everyone to continue. Mildred took a hit from the capsule as she started to walk off. Where's the armory? She said as she walked away. Just kidding I know where it is. The deck officer exhaled in relief as she finally exited the hangar.
The meeting had already gotten underway, the guards already knew who she was. No hassle was given over being locked and loaded, but that part was probably to be expected. The introductory phase had begun, Mildred was careful to hide behind everyone else. The tactical gear and arsenal decorating her flight suit didn't really work to her advantage but her height did. No one would notice the short Maltesian until someone called her out.
The thought of anyone keeping someone as unhinged as Fuze even remotely in line was something Montes couldn't ever imagine and he was about to ask just how one pulls off such a thing when he felt Sykes bumping him and his attention was fully grabbed by the word business he was about to ask what business when Hemlocke turned around to address Sykes.
"Well I guess you can run it by him now."
Montes added rather helpfully in his own opinion though it would probably come off more sarcastic than anything which didn't really bother him as long as he found out what Sykes had in mind.
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