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

The Commander's amusement elicited a frown from the Captain. She thought she had a good grasp of the [i]relationship[/i] here, but reading between the line didn't really work when dealing with the empire. It all became clear as he explained... And annoying. Mika rolled her eyes as she was told the difference between 'Imperial Intelligence' and 'the Imperial Intelligence Bureau'. When he finished his explanation, her face was a mix of derision and annoyance.

"Imperial Intelligence Bu- You know, stuff like THIS is exactly why every year, hundreds of thousands of core worlders chose to try their luck in the fringe. They actually had a poll and most independent miners prefer to deal with Joe Schmoe the local pirate lord than the Imperial Tax Office... or the Bureau for the Office of Taxation or whatever you call it."

She shrugged and gave a mocking salute to Stader.

"So hail to you, Commissar Stader! But you've been in combat so you know it doesn't work like that. When that cute twink called opportunity comes knocking, you have to grab him by the balls-" She mimicked a vulgar movement and maybe considered demonstrating it on Stader himself but held back. "-and squeeze before he gets away! We don't know what the next situation will look like! And so..."

She magnanimously spread her arms open as if to show a world of possibilities.

"...Why don't we make a deal? You wish to conserve your fighting strength to do what you must do should the time come, but considering you did that space walk earlier I'm assuming that also means you can't refuse the prince either when he orders you in the line of fire. Weeeell, I happen to have under my employ a bunch of psychopaths who are happy to do all the dying for us! Like, literally, pay is for the group so they make more the fewer of them survive, they're all high out of their mind, they don't give a shit. So, when a situation looks hot, I let you borrow my guys. Send them in the grinder first, let them draw in fire and trigger the ambushes so you and your guys do your thing. And in exchange, well... I work with you and you work with me."

She offered, a predatory smirk on her face as she extended a hand to shake on this deal.

"Plus, I think an expendable unit of mercenaries not specifically loyal to the empire and its principles can have... other use, in times of crisis."

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

The Baron took his pills as he listened to the Lieutenant, punching his chest as he politely held back a cough to let her finish speaking. When her words changed from agreeing with the chorus constantly asking Wilhelm to stand down to giving her a chance, his prideful smile and stance softened. He placed his elbows on the table and joined his hand underneath his chin.

"Hm. You know, when I first read about you I thought you and I were similar. And in a way we are, we both seek to write a glorious history really. Only I seek a way to put in a final dot and you seek to write a first chapter, so in that way we are worlds apart."

His expression then turned into a frown.

"Lieutenant, your advice is noted and while I shan't promise anything, I will try to leave some flowers as I believe you deserve them. If I may though, I would like to raise a concern of mine. Regarding you and your... style so to speak. May I?"