[quote=@Dyelli Beybi]
[@InfamousGuy101]

[h2]Zoe Spyrou[/h2]

"Oh, I'm sure they will," Zoe said, with an offhand wave in the direction that the officers had retreated earlier, "Its not their gold anyway and there are state actors with more of a say over what we do with it than our officers.  There are Generals, Admirals, Ministers and Royals, for a start."

As the second song concluded she stepped back with a charming smile and small nod of the head, "Well Mr Carter, it is always a pleasure... but I suppose I should mingle a little." 
[/quote]

[h3]James E. Carter[/h3]
[hr]
Carter watched Zoe slip back into the throng, her words lingered with him much like those of Mitunbaal. Admirals, ministers, royals, a whole ladder of hands just waiting to rake across the pile they’d bled to haul aboard and the soldiers were probably more than eager to just bring it over to them, he doubted much of it would actually be used for the war effort.

It left a sour taste in his mouth. He wasn’t much for politics but there was one principle he’d kept his whole life: a man’s owed for his labor. And this had been no small task. He’d risked his hide for a treasury that wasn’t his nation's, a country that had never flown his flag and he’d kept this creaking beast in the sky when every gust, bullet, and fire threatened to tear her down. If that didn’t earn a share, then what did?

Even one bar was enough, more than enough, if it meant seeing his crew’s families made whole again and owed debts paid. But he wasn’t fool enough to think the officers would part with it out of charity.

He gave Zoe a proper nod then slipped from the dining hall. The music and laughter dulled behind him as his boots carried him slowly through the corridors, eyes scanning for anyone. Where had they gone, those two? Tucked away somewhere, whispering up plans while the rest of the crew danced blind?

His mind ticked between options: seek them out and drag the truth into the light… or head down to the hold to carve out his and everyone else's share now before command chains and state orders found their way aboard. One way or another, the gold would be spoken for.

And Carter knew damn well he didn’t like leaving his fate in other men’s hands.