A disrming conversation

Posted on Tuesday January 29th, 2019 @ 1:08pm by Brigadier General Aidan Thornton & Major Andrew Weaver & Fleet Admiral Rokk Astrovich

1,431 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Season 2; Mission 2: It's Only Fun Until Someone Gets Hurt
Location: General Thornton's Office, TSS Providence
Timeline: Shortly after Aidan's meeting on Sloris

It took a small bit of effort for Rokk and his presidental guard to beam over from Oynx to the warship that General Thornton called his own command, admiring the craftmanship of the ship as he went and while the occasional crewmember would give him the strange look, some security officers on the other hand knew who he was and did nothing to impede his way to see the general.

For his part, Rokk did nothing to draw attention to himself or the people with him as he knew that everyone was still on edge with the recent situations which included a rumored evacuation from Sloris in case the Swarm wasn't as dead as everyone was praying to various dieties both high and low would stay dead and part of the reason why he wanted the work on Connor's plan to continue because if his life in this war torn universe had taught him one thing it was always be prepared for anything and everything.

Sigmund popped over, "General, we have a visiting Admiral from the MSA...."

Eventually the small group made its way to the General's office where Rokk pressed the activator to let him know that he had a guest and waited to see if Andrew's respect for the man was well founded. 

Frustration over the way things were shaping up was really starting to wear him thin. "I really don't have time for the hoopla involved..." then the door chime sounds. Looking over at the avatar, it was apparent Aidan was not happy. "Your timing sucks, we need to talk about that Lieutenant. Do better in the future." Resigning himself to the upcoming shit-show, he said. "Show them in." 

"Sir, yes, Sir," Sigmund said before literally popping over, then opening the door, escorting the entourage inside.

"Gentlemen and Admiral, welcome to the Providence. I wish I have time for all the usual pleasantries but I am in the middle of about literally billions of things. What I have help you with quickly?" Aidan offered. 

Rokk couldn't help but chuckle at that, "Actually general, it's the only way that I could travel along your organization's fleet without all the hoopla that comes with my job." he explained before nodding his head respectfully towards the other man. "I'm Rokk Astrovich, president of the Manticorian Systems Alliance and I actually came here to discuss things that could help you." 

"How so?" Aidan offered. 'I'm the Fleet XO. I can pass along any propositions."

Rokk nodded, "Well I noticed that Lady Rembrandt's people are well represented as is elements of the Federal forces, I'm wanting to offer a contingent of Alliance forces to be added to the Trinity and that would include ships, personnel, and access to our level C communications protocols since A is for the use of the Alliance government and B is strictly for Alliance military command." he explained before motioning outside of the Oynx.

"I can also have transports dedicated to moving large scale amounts of personnel or materials here within two hours as well if you need them, general?" Rokk added. 

Aidan's console alerted him silently that something required his immediate attention. Sigmund was invaluable in that respect. Plus being an enhanced human with a massive AI assist, he could glean information from many sources and put it together in a coherent manner faster than nearly anyone.  Aidan said, "I have to take this, one second." After ingesting the data he offered, "I see you've already seen Captain Rembrandt. Anything you want to tell me before we continue, keeping in mind that I was born at night, it just wasn't last night." he offered with a geniune smile. 

Rokk wasn't used to having being brushed off like that to focus on something else and the only outward expression of his annoyance at this was his eyes narrowed ever so sharply and slightly. "Yes, I spoke with Lady Rembrandt recently concerning a matter that I was assured that she would address to you at some point after our meeting but first matter at hand was the offer to increase the Alliance's efforts with the Trinity and then the more unpleasent matter?" 

"Then forgive my candid nature but if you've already talked to her, what do you need this simple soldier for?"Aidan asked point blank. "If it's ships and support you're offering, then I'll take them as we are in dire need, but this sounds like more. Witholding information is something I was used to with my old corrupt government. Telling my only enough to get me to the basic understanding." He grabbed a few chocolate covered coffee beans and chewed them, standing up to offer the bowl to his guest as well.

Rokk took a few of the offered beans and nodded, "I'm not attempting to hold anything back, I just like to knock things out in the order that's presented and it's the same way that I run the Alliance by practice what I preach." he explained in an honest, forwright manner to the other man. "I can offer at the present fifty transports and at least thirty five starships of various classes and specialities..my head of presidental intelligence might get mad at me but I think I can sneak a couple of our u-boats in as well if you like since they can submerge into subspace." he explained before popping a couple of beans into his mouth and chewing on them. "However the Vanguard is off the table, I need that for a different operation but I might have a good replacement for you."

His face then took on a pensive look as he thought about how to approach the other item, "My head of naval operations came up with a plan to deal with the Swarm and it was a doozy, take one of the most outermost planets in the Alliance that we can afford to loose and set up the galaxy's biggest trap for it." he started to explain. "I came here to offer it up to Sumire in person because I'm not for one to sit on my hands as it were."

Rokk then stopped and then motioned towards the other man, "I assumed that you'd already been briefed on it since I've been here a couple of hours ago now."

Aidan replied honestly. "As you know, paperwork waits for no one. I'll have to have a meeting with Sumire. In the meantime, I'll take what you are offering at face value. It seems that people are finally starting to realize that this fight is for all of us."

Again Rokk's eyes narrowed slightly, "I understood things, sir, and I did send people to help both you and this organization, so please refain from lumping me with those other lumpties." he stated simply before his expression relaxed a little. "As for taking my offer at face value, would I willingly put myself in harm's way if I wasn't willing to make it an honest offer?" 

It was Aidan's turn to narrow his mind, if not his eyes. "Let me speak plainly. I am a simple soldier not a politician. Point me at things that need to be dealt with, and I will deal with them. Whether that is lending medical or other logistical assistance, providing policing and security, or in the usual sense....making things die or otherwise dispensed with, until they are no longer a threat. You want to offer support. I am glad to take it. Call me cynical but rarely do agreements like this come with zero strings attached. Still I need the help."

Rokk couldn't help it as a small smile crossed his face, "Then I hate to disappoint you because I'm offering just that, a good sized portion of Alliance forces including several warships with zero strings attached." he explained simply. "Unless you want me to find some strong and tie it to a warship control or something?" he offered up by way of a joke. 

"Then I guess welcome to the team." Aidan said, offering his hand. "Is there anything else?"

Rokk to the offered hand and shook it, "Nothing that I can't think of at the moment, I can have my people draw up a force deployment file for you and have it in your in box in say..two  hours at the soonest?" he offered up. 

 

RSS Feed