Tools of War [Omega Pyre]

[Ayden Cater]

"Done." Ayden very nearly breathed a sigh of relief. Things had very nearly taken a disastrous turn. But for the time being, the crisis had been averted. Speaking of, Ayden turned to back to the vidscreen and brought up the communications network. It wasn't difficult work to figure out where Sarge was being taken. Very fortunately, the shuttle had yet to take off. "Shuttle 2267. New orders. Stand down flight path to Hoth and let the passenger go. I repeat, cool your jets."

 

[Valiens Nantaris]

At that moment Tegaea entered the room. She was possibly a little annoyed on hearing that last order, but @[member="Cira"] hadn't interfered so she didn't mention it.
"You must be the elusive and mysterious Ayden Cater. I'm Tegaea Alcori, CEO. Think we've met before, but only in passing, you know." She offered a hand to him politely.

 

[Sarge Potteiger]

Slowly, one of the guards reached over and undid the stuncuffs. "You're free to go.", the man grumbles angrily, clearly not happy to be leaving him go. A moment later, the ramp lowered and Sarge walked down it.

Turning back, the dangerous gleam still in his eye, he asks a simple question. "Weapons?" The guard scowled but threw a pistol to the man.

"Thanks... pal."

Checking the weapon, he puts a round into the mans thigh and walks off whistling. "All good, boss. Everything is as it should be.", he muses.

 

[Ayden Cater]

Ayden nodded and smiled congenially. "I see my reputation precedes me. I'll have to show up to the cocktail parties more often." He took her hand and gave it a firm, professional shake. "It's a pleasure. So to what do I own the pleasure of this visit?"

 

[Valiens Nantaris]

"Well, Ms Cira was supposed to be meeting me in her office. Instead I found your associate there, and you know the rest of the story. So I figured I should come and see what's going on. I am supposed to know that after all."
She looked between them. "Everything good here?"

 

[Ayden Cater]

Ayden chuckled and nodded in understanding. "Yes... He's still adjusting to the change in order and expectations. Most of the time he's worked alone, so the sudden drop into a group setting is... unfamiliar to him. However, I assure you; his work in the field in unequaled." He turned to Cira and raised an eyebrow. "I believe so. Are we?"

 

[Cira]

Up went her right eyebrow at Ayden at Tegaea's question. She'd given a ghost of a smile in greeting at Tegaea, and the woman would be able to read her better than Ayden. She'd been irked earlier, that would show. Now how things proceeded... well....

Her golden gaze flicked over to Ayden as if to say, Guess that depends on you.

 

[Valiens Nantaris]

Tegaea caught the look, knowing that whatever had happened had made Cira change her mind about Sarge. Interesting.
"Well I'm very glad to hear that. I know when things don't go the Prex's way she tends to make her feelings known. Still, good to hear. I'm assuming we can discuss most things later, Cira, but there is one issue. The latest Jaeger is having some delays with the hyperdrive parts. I'll need to overhaul the latest thing. I'll sign for it, but you should know when I spend a hundred grand," she said, eyes flicking to Ayden.

 

[Ayden Cater]

Ayden chuckled. "Miss Alcori, I assure you that the money taken from the coffers is going to the workers constructing the ship behind us." He turned and looked it with a noted look of pride. It was definitely shaping up to be one of his crown jewels. Still, he knew exactly what they were driving at. So as he turned around, Ayden did something he very rarely did. "I apologize for the lack of forthcoming information. Like my associate, I suppose I'm still getting used to working with others." Pausing, he looked between the two women before settling back on Tegaea. "While you're here, is there anything else you wanted to know?"

 

[Sarge Potteiger]

Sarge waited for the prison shuttle to depart before calling up one of his own. Or rather, he commandeered one without permission; they wouldn't miss it.
Probably. Hopefully.

Time to go find Ayden.

 

[Valiens Nantaris]

Tegaea leaned back slightly, examining the ship. "Impressive. As for that though, I know the feeling. I ran my own mercenary band for several years. Small stuff compared to this, but it's hard to get into a more communal mindset if you've never had one before. You get the picture. Let's hope you enjoy this place like I do. I mean, there's this Sullustian chef we have downstairs who makes the best steaks. I don't even know if we pay him."

She looked at Ayden and pointed. "That hat is magnificent. If I had a hat like that it would be worth an entire company. Where'd you get it?" Tegaea was a fairly upfront sort, but she could play the fool when needed to judge other people's reactions.

 

[Ayden Cater]

Ayden smirked and ran his fingers along the rim of his hat. "Old family store on Corellia. Real nice folk. Good prices." He lifted the hat briefly off his head and gave it a twirl before setting it back on his head. "Now then, how about the next question. Because I know that you did not walk in here to give my hat a compliment." The smirk never left, and his smile was still jovial, but it was clear that he wasn't fooled by her question.

 

[Valiens Nantaris]

Tegaea's eyes moved from Ayden to Cira, then back. She was curious about this man, but Cira evidently trusted him, and so Tegs would refrain.
"No, I guess not. I came in here to see what was going on. And also...this." She handed a datapad to Cira. "That's the information on Sullust you requested from my sources."

"But you, Mr Cater, what do you know about Denon, and do you have any contacts there?"

 

[Sarge Potteiger]

Sarge docked the shuttle at the shipyard, and made his way into its depths and towards where Ayden was. Although he wasn't aware Tegaea was there too. Walking in, fiddling with his sidearm, he raises a slow brow. "Better question is... where don't he got contacts."

 

[Ayden Cater]

"Denon? Ecumenopolis, second only to Coruscant. Sits along the Corellian Run. Seat of operations for the Denon-Ardru mining and refinery corporation. Somewhat cutthroat, but gets good returns on their investments. Why, planning on taking a visit?" Ayden chuckled at the question, already knowing the answer. "It seems like it'd be a bit of a hurdle to bring them in. Don't have a current idea of their population, but prior to the plague they had a population about half that of Coruscant. So we're talking about a couple hundred billion people. Think Omega Pyre is up for the challenge?"

As Sarge walked in, Ayden stiffened for a heartbeat. 'Well... This is unexpected... and unfortunate...'

 

[Cira]

All the while, Cira had been quietly listening in, taking the datapad from Tegaea with a curt nod. Fingers swiped back and forth over the display, reading over the documentation about Denon. At least until Ayden started spouted more information.

There came another wave of mild annoyance, but she kept it to herself.

That's when Sarge walked in.

There was a narrowing of her eyes at the solider, one finger lightly hovering over the illuminated display of the datapad. He was the LAST person she wanted to see.

A flickered glance over to Ayden would relay that. He better get him out of here. Now.

 

[Valiens Nantaris]

Tegaea looked between them all. Denon was forgotten for a moment.
"Well this is awkward. Want me to shut the door and you three have your little tiff in private? Because frankly all this scowling, meaningful nods and sarcastic comments needs to be resolved. I don't understand what's going on between you three, but Ayden is clearly a genius at what he does, which is why he and Sarge are still here. But what I don't understand is you can't just settle your problems and work together like normal people. Gods, I thought I was weird for not wanting to sit in an office, and this is why. You three try not to kill each other...or maybe it'd help. Whatever, I have work to do."
She headed for the door.

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

Siobhan Kerrigan seemed to choose just this moment to show up. One imagined that she had been doing whatever Siobhan did for work when she wasn't killing things. She couldn't off-load all the paperwork on her secretary, after all! She gave Tegaea a smile but then took in the scene between Sarge, the Prex and Ayden.

Siobhan had not really interacted with any of them - well, she didn't know that she had met the Prex during the Vandelhelm assault, but could tell that the tension was as thick as any cortosis blade. For no doubt important reasons she didn't feel like knowing. "Ok, I suppose this is a bad time and you're all in conference," she said, then looked at Tegs. "Boss, there's things we gotta go over. My sources have new information about...," what was that planet again Tegaea had just mentioned, Siobhan tried to remember. "Sullust. Sure you'll find it intriguing" Yes, that was the one!

Not entirely implausible. After all, Siobhan did have sources. Whether they'd be able to provide useful information on Sullust, in another league from the underworld her sources mixed in, was a different question. But nonetheless, a convenient excuse to escape!

 

[Ayden Cater]

Well even if Cira didn't appreciate his skills, it seemed as though Tegaea did. At least someone at the top had a level-head on their shoulders. Ayden picked up a datapad and quickly began typing new data and bringing up relevant data before handing it to Sarge. "I need you to head to Denon. Big world. We need fresh intel on the planet and you're the best I know." He just hoped Cira could avoid exploding right then and there. "Get in, gather intel on the local government and planetary status. Find out what life is like on the planet and return back in a week with your preliminary report." Hidden amongst the data was a second set of instructions that only Sarge would be able to pick up on, encoded in a manner Ayden had personally developed.

 

[Sarge Potteiger]

Sarge locked his gaze onto Cira with a playful smirk. This time though, there was some steel to those eyes; a promise that bore not a single good intention. She was, in her own way, being just as childish as he acted but for now... he kept that to himself.

"So long, Colonel.", he says quietly as Tegaea exits stage left. Then the smirk disappears. All attention from him shifted solely to Ayden and the datapad. A gloved hand shot out and snatched the device while he scanned it with practiced efficiency. "Scouting mission? Awesome." He snorts.

He hated scouting where he couldn't kill people.

Sighing, he nods and pockets the datapad.

"That all, boss?"