"The Gas Miners are making funny posters of Kogen? I'd have thought their situation is everything but bun ... errr ... funny."
He shook his head again.
"But who knows? Black humour or even a grim sense of it is probably the best for them, although this sweet lord is rather looking like being caught red-handed at something embarrassing, than conducting some dark business. I admit I'd have expected someone with more charisma."
A thought passed his mind, and he smiled.
"If alcohol's the dark secret of some Zoner Bastards like us, Bo, what kind of things might this Bunny Emperor try to hide while chasing geishas around his noble place? And then he's probably still wondering why the Golden Chrysanthemums are enjoying great popularity."
"Don't think that Mannock is keen on researching Kusari Bunny Rituals though. Social science is at the bottom of his list."
Coen watched Ferguson walk on over and make an insult-filled statement without any visible humour on this face save the smile and the freshly lit eyes. He decided to join in.
"Heh. Mannock not keen on Social Science. How very shocking. I never would have seen it coming." Coen echoed the collective thought sarcastically; Mannock was all shoot first, ask questions later. That, and he had an unconfirmed ten thousand nomad lesser kills. That was on top of his five thousand or so confirmed kills.
"So Ferguson, the elections are over now, rather tense for a minute with all those speeches and politics." Coen sipped. "But, at least it's over for now."
"Quite an event, in my own opinion." Coen recalled the election well.
Bo looked at James and Sebastien. Hey Guys, what are you talking about? But it's no problem, i better go to help Dankien anyway.
Work always helps to get at least a little more sober. After all i have to perform another patrol later. While Bo stood up he took Sebastiens Data pad and entered a code before he gave it back. There you go, 10 million credits. Woe betide the bunny lord, *smirks*
i expect him sending at least some Christmas cards from now on! He flushed down the half beer what was left and went to the hangars
James looked at Sebastien while listening. Suddenly one half of Sebastien's face was melting down dropping fine strings of liquid flesh to the floor. The other half was getting darker and darker, withering.
James forced himself to ignore this surprising vision, because he knew that nothing was happening to Sebastien. It was him. These visions had started a few months back, and they were generated by his mind at occasions expected the least. James had to ignore Sebastien's comment on Mannock or Bo who was about to leave, while he was forcing his mind back into reality. Still a bit shocked he answered:
"Aye, these elections were exciting but I think I've got used to it so I might have missed a sensation or two. I believe the Quorum has once again chosen those of us who are able to take care of our current business, which wasn't hard I guess since many Omicrones could do that job. That's why these elections were my last. I'm longing for a change, but don't tell anybody yet, Sebastien. This is my last mandate as a Senior."
Coen laughed at how the credits magically appeared. Keek of course, just as magically disappeared.
"Christmas cards from the Emperor of Kusari aye?" Coen thought. "We'd probably end up offending the Shinto lifestyle they practice if we asked for one of them."
Coen watched Keek leave and listened as Ferguson addressed him with a most tormented face.
"So, The Quorum decided, thus it shall be." Coen echoed a founding statement which wrote the constitution of the Zoners Trading Consortium, and by consequence, the Omicroners, whilst watching Ferguson's rather augmented face.
Coen listened some more. "I figured as much by your speeches in the enclave. Deep space and peace? Or The Faceless for eternity?"
"I did. Not sure what to make of it though. Seems somewhat too perfect. We should probably contact The Order and the Colonial Remnant for more information." Coen said his piece. He would like to know all, or as much as he could before deliberating over a matter.
"The Order ... we haven't heard much from them lately, right? I guess it's about time to visit Toledo but I still don't know how much they already know about the developments in Omega 7. I would suspect them to keep their knowledge secret at the moment. The Remnants are a different matter though ... are you going to ...?"
While talking James was still pondering upon the option to join The Faceless. It suprised him that he has not thought about this option earlier.
"Visiting our friends in The Order is always good for us. Well, as long as we make it there alive." Coen mused. He knew the Omicroners were skilled enough to fight the patrols they could not avoid, and avoid the patrols they could not fight.
"Well, I figure I should not be the one contacting them. They do not know my face as an Omicroner too well. Probably best if someone else shoulders that responsibility." Coen motioned to Jake Connors. "I hear he knows them."
"Well James, The Faceless I am sure would accept you. Even though they do not have an application form for you to fill out." The scotch glass needed re-filling. "Or an interview process for that matter."
"Give it some thought." The scotch glass was being re-filled to the top; straight with no ice cubes this time. "I would hate to lose you to deep space and all."
"Bo, Sebastien mentioned The Faceless as an alternative for my holidays in deep space. I seriously doubt The Faceless would like to see us talking about them though."
"Mr John Douglas and Mr Jacob Braun joined yesterday. You could both think about proper assignments for both of them. I think John is searching for some rare weapon, but I don't know what Jacob is up to."