[center][h2][b]The Indomitus - Bridge[/b][/h2][/center]

The captain was looking at the data streaming in. With her job mostly done now, she reflected on the... discrepancies she had been witness to. Norton getting killed by some of his own men, who then made sure not to be taken alive. That kind of fanaticism she had seen only in 2 places in this sector and she believed it had to be a Republican plot. 'Liberty or death' and all that... but there was another place she saw that, when she was much younger: The Cult of Lethos. She couldn't believe this perverted old man could have extended his influence outside of his backwater planet, but it had been a while since she had left the sector and the end of the Piracy wars had significantly changed the political layout of the sector.

But no matter. Discreetly she looked at her own personal communication slate. 

'You still like jewelry? -T.'

She glanced up to look at one of the dozens of displays around the bridge, eying one where Tarsis was supervising the loading of 'tactically acquired items' into the shuttle. They might work for the empire, but among her 'auxiliaries' Mika still maintained an under the table 'bonus structure' so to speak. Officially, captain got 5 shares, lieutenant 3 and enlisted 1, so they divided the shares by the total and then spread them out. In truth the spread was more like 10-4-1 with only Tarsis and the quarter master being in the know of course, with Mika heavily favoring paying her crew in drugs and other recreative items that would be hard to fence for a mark-up on top so she made infinitely more money than her goons, but they were pirates after all.

'Got something cute? -M.'

She answered. It was an innocent conversation enough, but she knew the imperials could read all of her mail so she kept things cryptic, simple and deniable as much as she could. As she considered her share of the spoil, Mika didn't feel the gaze of the Prince on her back.

_____________________

[center][h2][b]The Indomitus - Debriefing[/b][/h2][/center]

The moment Prince Cassian entered the room, Baron Wilhelm practically jumped on his feet to do a salute, which he managed to perform before being dismissed. Even then it was with a certain hesitation that he sat back down, looking with a frown at those who had not bothered to get up. Chief among them was captain Ganishka who swung from left to right on her swivel chair with impatience. Then there was also Hierophant Tyche Comstar who had graced the room with her presence and who occupied the seat on the Prince's right, though considering he spiritual status it was much less of an offense than others. She remained straight in her seat, only he cybernetic eyes following the prince as he took his seat.

The trio listened to the items one by one, until came the critique regarding the Baron's own performance. There was no anger on his face, perhaps some annoyance but also supreme confidence as he rose up from his seat to answer.

[b]"With all due respect, at my age I get medical readings outside of acceptable range when I climb stairs! But I've known this body for 103 years now and I know what it can and can't do."[/b] His expression softened and he gave a friendly slap on Titus's back. [b]"Our prince has been gifted with an admirably competent Lance, I am afraid that honor compels me to follow the example of my comrades! And anyways-"[/b] He sat back down before smiling politely at Lucia. [b]"-our magnanimous prince accepted that I join him in his glorious endeavor on the understanding that I would not fight like an old man."[/b] [i]'And what you are asking me to do, is to fight like an old man.'[/i] Wilhelm silently implied.

[b]"Her Beatitude Tyche Comstar wishes to bring a point of order."[/b] A semi-robotic voice came as behind the imposing frame of Tyche an acolyte dressed in a red hooded robe with a white stripe with the 3 red Comstar diamonds on his right shoulder going all the way to his feet. He raised a furious finger to point at Hartwig. [b]"While her Beatitude can ignore the contempt this man has for a Lockheed-Raytheon engine like the one on the [i]Guildcrest Venture[/i], his use of boron-carbid alloy tools instead of blessed titanium-steel for the repair of the Comstar reactor of the [i]Percheron[/i], along with records that shows a complete lack of holy canticles being recited during the repairs is unacceptable! Albert Hartwig has also been found to not always use proper procedures during the maintenance of the Indomitus as well, which leads her Beatitude to seriously question the worth of thanking such barely satisfactory methods!"[/b]

The voice of the half-cyborg was rising into a screech as he became agitated, until finally Tyche herself raised a hand to interrupt him, commanding his immediate silence as he lowered his head and stepped back. Lowering her long and slender fingers on the table in a theatrical pause, Tyche finally spoke without moving her lips, her voice completely synthetic but also much more soft. [b]"Military practicality may sometimes justify more expeditious methods. But as the empire brings back the Procyon sector into the loving arms of mother Earth, it is important to remember that by right of ancient corporate rites, it is also Comstar holy land. Only when men follow the laws of Earth and machines those of Comstar can prosperity be achieved and the Great Work continue."[/b] For the first time, Tyche turned her head to look at the Prince. [b]"The people of this sector are unbelievers and so, to prevent heresy or worst, apostasy, people from my retinue should accompany Albert Hartwig when he interacts with the natives and their machines, so the proper holy methodologies be used."[/b]

The words of the Hierophant didn't seem to allow a refusal and weight heavily in the room. Finally it was the Captain that broke the silence as she looked at the Prince and Tyche with a bemused smile. [b]"Uhhh, okay? Putting a pin on this uh, very important point of course, on the subject of the Venture's possible special cargo... why don't we just search the ship? My guys know all the nooks and crannies where something could be hidden, if there's something hidden, we'll find it."[/b]

_________________________

[center][h2][b]The Indomitus - Aside with Stader Volger[/b][/h2][/center]

The meeting was moving on, its attendees splitting in smaller groups to talk about the major points that had been brought up and minor ones that weren't relevant to everyone assembled. As she got up to leave, Mika Ganishka quickly found herself face to face with Commander Volger. She looked up to the man with her usual aloof smirk, but something in her body language told the Commander that she was on the defensive. Simply put, Mika had participated and led her fair shares of mutinies, she knew that when the chips came down being a captain didn't mean shit if a Marine decided to give you a power armored fist in the face. She always tried to keep her boarding teams as far away from the bridge as possible for this reason.

"Commander." She answered with a raised eyebrow, seemingly less surprised at the sarcasm as much as a man like Volger actually deign to call her that in the first place. 

Listening to his request, Mika looked around a little and seeing the conference room was a bit crowded, nodded her head toward the door, signaling him to follow her outside. Once in the hall, she went to a corner of the small atrium they found themselves in, one where people wouldn't go pass them unless they got out of their way to do so.

"What can I do for you Commander?"

_____________________

[center][h2][b]The Indomitus - Captain's Cabin with Sharlin Vande Tanne[/b][/h2][/center]

[b]"Ah, Sharlin! Please come in."[/b]

It was good to be the boss and just command people in and out of her cabin, especially on a ship so massive as the Invictus where this could mean quite a walk. As the automated doors opened, something jumped from the corner of Sharlin's eye to hide underneath a piece of furniture, an alien pet with a feline demeanor but dark blue scales that looked at the spy from the darkness of its hiding place with big slit eyes. 

The captain's quarters were the second biggest ones after the Prince's, it seemed that much more smaller due to how overfilled it was with a lifetime of adventure on display all over the place. At the center of it was a luxurious desk made of exotic alien wood complimented by other pieces of furniture of the same wood. Behind the desk on the wall was a huge painting of... something? A battle? It was an impressionist artstyle but one could distinguish two sides of faces that fought with expressions of indescribable furor in tones of blue and red. Off to a more remote corner, there was also a case with a uniform that was certainly not imperial along with a few medals on display.

[b]"There she is! Please, come in, come in. As you might know I'm not big on formalities so please relax. Can I offer you a drink?"[/b] The pirate turned captain Mika Ganishka herself saluted Sharlin with a suspiciously wide smile as she entered the room.

_______________________

[center][h2][b]The Indomitus - Mess Hall with Aria Dvalin[/b][/h2][/center]

Being a capital ship of a decent size, the Indomitus had the luxury of a restaurant style Mess Hall for its officers where one could eat with some peace and quiet. That is if some crusty old war hero didn't decide to bother you. [b]"Ah, the Ace to-be herself!"[/b] The Baron had come up behind Aria to give her a slap on the back just as she was swallowing her bite and didn't seem to notice any distress he might have caused as he placed his plate down in front of hers. A very light meal, though complimented by about a dozen different pills in a little cup. He sat down in front of her with a jovial smile.

[b]"You so seldom eat with the rest of us Lieutenant! I do hope you're not cross at me for our last sortie?"[/b] He said as he generously seasoned his meal with pepper before looking up to Aria for her answer expectantly.