[IC] Beyond the Fog {An Exploration Steampunk RP with a bit Fantasy}

[Blubaron45]

Lennard

"I see. Sorry to hear about your incompetent officer." Lennard responded, realizing he was still unconsciously holding a glass of the insalubrious rum which he poured for himself the night before. With one rapid gulp, Lennard drank the rancid liquid before checking his primary fight display to his radar display. "No need for the escort by the way, Kushrina." he added, then glancing again over towards his advanced radar which he built himself a few years ago. It was actually a modified version of the one he had during the war, the Xullur D9-1093f. The only difference was the receiver had been modified so that any received signals from the receiver are then sent to a data recorder for storage on a disk or tape at a much faster rate. It was therefore significantly quicker than any other radar ever built. Waiting promptly for a few seconds to think judiciously about what options he had. "I can see you from my radar, I'll see you soon. Lennard out." He concluded before turning on his engine, he had then decided to go with them.

First was always the carburetor which needed to be double checked so that the extensions he designed specifically for the engine of this exact model could invariably cool the engines for many hours of flying that would be done today. Then, he prepared the X1-585a kick-starters that would boast his vessel in order to give the airship some horizontal velocity as he were on a runway on the other ship before tilting the ship. When the kick-starters were prepared, Lennard quickly adjusted his seat belt and put his helmet which came with a headset before he began to pull the lever to his right in order to manipulate the jet turbines to make it easier to take off.

It seemed as if all engine instruments seemed to work and function properly, as there were no abnormalities with in the engine itself or the mechanics. Otherwise, Lennard would know. He was after all, one of the liberally most precisely cautious men when he came to technology, most importantly his own. Then the heat thermal was set to a rational temperature while the flaps were raised up to tilt the vessel no more than 5 degrees. Then the Kellros 10-89d hoover balls checked and seemed to work properly in order to be used to elevate him without the need to tilt no more than 5 degrees at a safe velocity. When he felt that he was definitely ready once again to take to the misty morning sky above the vale and into an adventure of his own, he preceded to turn on the engines to pull the throttle. But before heading out so promptly, Lennard qued in again to the frequency of the fisherman to whom he heeded to thank for earlier.

"Leroy, I really have to thank you for giving me a heads up earlier." He earnestly said over the microphone, being thankful for honest folk like Leroy, the fisherman to be around. "If these had been pirates or skyraiders, I would have definitely been done for given that they had an opportunity to catch me from surprise. As you can tell, I don't think I'll be back in a while, goodbye and thanks again."

"Don't mention it, boyo. Just thank the fact that I had, by sheer coincidence, been up this early in the mornin'. Farwell lad and Godspeed, miboy." The fisherman amiably replied to the young, ambitious pilot. Contently, the fisherman soon then returned to his duties and headed towards the river and departed from Lennard's signals, leaving Lennard ready to take off from the small port and take to the ambitious skies above.

Flying brought immense joy for Lennard, almost as passionately immense as his narrow-interests for mechanics and aviation all of which were affable feelings that Lennard took fulfillment from nearly his entire life since early childhood. Even with the sickness that abruptly came after a night of drinking, the man could fly a plane innately as there is almost nothing that can stop Lennard from doing what he loved doing. This was due to the many experiences he gained as a child growing up as a prodigy aerospace engineer who worked for many companies and being in the military for a good amount of 10 years of his life, plus dejectedly another 5 of post traumatic stress and temerity that followed afterwards. Lennard was burdened by both genius and exposure, but hopefully this next potential job could make him forget once again about his past.

"Well, here we go. Show me what you got, Lenore." Lennard then pulled both throttles which sent the vessel accelerating at an almost alarming rate and he soon felt his heart rush again as he was filled of excitement, eager to see what fate might have waiting for him. The airship took a while to head off but then a few moments later, it was already in the sky. The prodigal pilot was glad to finally be in the air once again after an entire tedious week of irrelevant errands he had to attend for local farmers or friends, now Lennard was free to do as he chose. He then slowed the airship to a more stable velocity and turned on autopilot to help maintain a reasonable speed while elevating the ship using his Kellros 10-89d hooverballs a few hundred more meters from the ground.

With autopilot on, Lennard soon brushed up against the chair comfortably and quickly glanced at the directional gyro to make sure of the direction he was heading before having to concentrate again. Once he was at a safe altitude, he was free of restrain to needlessly worry about how fast he was going as he then look a moment to gawk at the beautiful morning sky had never looked more clear. All while gaining a stable, reasonable altitude. After a few moments past of flying for several brief minutes, the sight of Kushrina's Western Cross at last became clear to him from several hundred meters away. To make sure, Lennard magnified the small screen to his right to see that it was in fact her ship. Lennard then qued in to the ship through radio while accelerating.

"Good morning, Western Cross, this is Lennard Kliemer requesting permission to land." He radioed in, waiting for a response.

[Suku]

Valkyrie group
Looking straight ahead she ignored the pirate while a curious taste in terms of a "guest" it was after all none of her business in who Kushrina kept company with. Looking to her side she let out a small nod allowing the judge to take off his helmet and dine on the food provided. Letting out a small sigh she decided it was time to open discussions. "We of the Archadian military are here to discuss matters with the Kushrina mercantile in hopes to open up a possible talk for collaboration on a "group project" of sorts." Letting what she said sink in a bit she brushed a stray hair before continuing on. "We hope in that by doing so we can bolster a more positive group experience between our groups. With that said considering the size and upkeep it would take to build and create such a thing we are willing to compensate for time used among other things." With that said she slid a folder labeled sky fortress across the table to Kushrina. "Please look over that and tell us what your starting terms are so we may discuss this in further detail.

Leviathan's Claw
Alyss sighed as she sat at the captain's chair sometimes she hated chasing down people like Edoric Thatch they were just plain annoying trying to catch. Looking at the current report she had to wonder what the point was at times the skies was not a free place with people like the Kushrina mercantile group being an overly large mega corporation it seemed yet here she was running a business yet no matter what she did to steer her group the "red eyes" as some called them she was never able to catch up. Exhausting all possible methods yet still even with black market connections they seemed night impossible to grab information on and or tech from. Though with all that said they did have one thing up on them blueprints to be precise though it would do little good without the resources to build them. Still that mattered little to her at the moment right now she was focused on getting her hands on the large debt owned by one Edoric Thatch. "Time to set sail my friend to coldiron once landed you know the drills do your business first than rest of the time is yours within reason." She yelled as she sat back down taking out her curved dagger she started to play around with it by throwing it at a nearby wooden target set a few feet away.

[Feisty-Pants]

Annaveya Kushrina - The Western Cross

Good Company for Lennard

A clear voice that was not the Kushrina Captain echoed through the depths of Lennard's ship in response to his request. It was the Dawn's Air Traffic Controller, with his always monotone, professional demure.

"Copy that, change course to zero-niner-zero degrees and hold course for the catch wires."

Far ahead of Lennard aboard the Dawn, a scattering of men darted across the top landing deck. Thick, tensile wires then stretched across the width of the ship itself, waiting patiently for the former military man to land his craft and a wave from the crewman to the tower marked the readiness for the Tower to speak once again.

"You're clear to drop. The Cross will be out shortly on a reconnaissance sortie, but she'll be back soon enough. Enjoy." Once Lennard would come to a skidding halt upon the blackened flying runway, he would find nearly a dozen crewmen standing sharply at attention with a Pilot, the Callsign Hrist-Zero-Seven waiting for him once he departed from his Airship.

"Welcome aboard, Captain. The Mistress will be dropping in on Coldiron shortly. She'll be back to speak with you about an opportunity at hand. Would you like to hear it from her, or from me?" He spoke crisply, sharply, with the hint of arrogance that Kushrina Pilots were known for.

---

Dropping In For a Party

Far below decks in her personal office, Annaveya smoothly picked up the envelope in her hands as she slipped a knife into the edge of it. Sliding the blade across, the Merchant Naval Captain carefully extracted the series of blueprints. Leafing through them mildly, she crooked an eyebrow. They were roughly hewn, as expected of a military force who was still experimenting in aviation; but the project itself was plenty ambitious.

A Flying Fortress, hm?

Compared to the blueprints she possessed concerning the Dawn and its inner workings and machinations, it certainly needed a good amount of work and improving. That aside, she simply folded her fingertips together in front of her after she settled the blueprints down upon the table.

"Well, good Valkyrie." The infamous Western Cross stated amiably with a constantly unsettling professional air about her. "We of the Kushrina Mercantile Company will be more than happy to assist your Queen in this venture. But as you very well know, such talents we hire are rather credible, oft revolutionary in fact in terms of their inventiveness."

Drumming her fingertips upon the envelope that held the blueprints for a moment, the Kushrina Captain studied the Valkyrie for a moment. She knew all too well the kind of metals that could be unearthed from Archadian soil; and of course there was doubly the benefit of raw currency.

Why not have both?

Yes, both. Both would be good.

"Our initial offer is we will lend you seven of some of our most talented Aeronautical Engineers for a period of four years. This however, will come at a price, as all talent does. Twenty-million worth of Archadian Gold, and private ownership of forty-five of your most bountiful Mines in return for our investment. Naturally, the locale of said mines will receive benefits of such fruit; it is only just that it happens as such."

A long pause happened then as the sum was rather large, but it was well known that there simply wasn't another company or privately owned corporation that was further along in Aeronautical development than the Kushrina Company, so the Valkyrie begrudgingly nodded.

With a wry and cunning smile, Annaveya took a little satisfaction in the advantageousness of this deal. Archadian mines oft held rare metals, ones that were sturdy but light; and were simply magnificent to combine into alloys for further advancements in speed and agility.

"Well, I will have my Second in Command oversee the writing of this contract," She continued, only to be interrupted by the knock upon her office's door.

"Come in."

Hurriedly, a crewman pushed the door wide open and Annaveya impatiently looked to him as he finally spoke. "Ma'am! We're over Coldiron now, at thirty-four thousand feet. They do not have a dock for a ship our size, it's still being built."

Sighing in almost mocking dismay, the Kushrina Captain made a simple order. "Fine then, I suppose we'll have to jump. Insure that the Devil's Folly and Mjolnir do dock under heavy armed guard in Coldiron since they do have the facilities to handle them."

Casting a sideways glance to Genie, Annaveya offer a telepathic word of sympathy as she ruffled scratched the thick hide between the massive white direwolf's ears. Affectionate words that only she and Genie could hear. Seems like there is no rest for the wicked, my dear friend, I should be back soon enough. Keep an eye on the Valkyrie and her pet for me, will you?

Standing then and dusting off her hands, she would look to the waiting crewman.

"Order Strike Team Six to the drop deck. Edoric and I will meet them there. Full weapons" Motioning for the two guards at the door to take the Pirate, she only offered a nonchalant glance to the Valkyrie in departure while the crewman sprinted away."Sorry, I have some pertinent business to attend to. My dear Genie is good company, she knows this ship just as well as I do. Won't you give them a tour, dear?"

Perhaps it seemed a little insane to outsiders that Annaveya was speaking with her hound as if it were truly sentient; but then again only she and Genie knew the truth.

It was time to drop.

Leading Edoric and the two armed crewmen through the winding labyrinth that was the Dawn's Guard itself, it took some time as she inevitably found herself standing in sealed, pressurized area with eight men that were heavily armed. A far cry from the original teams that had captured Edo, these men were similarly draped in black. Yet the weapons they held were not quite what was normal.

They were slightly longer, made of a subdued blackened metal, and they were sleek. The Pirate might have seen something similar before, but he would be able to recognize them as magazine-fed weapons.

"Afternoon gentlemen." The Western Cross stated simply. "Are you ready for some vacation time?" A casual chuckle emanated from a few of them while the others remained rigidly silent. "We're here today to deliver Edoric Thatch here back to his crew, and naturally recruit them for a future...much more dangerous task. Nonlethal, but disabling rounds. We don't want to kill any of them, copy?"

A resounding "AYE!" echoed through the empty hallway. "You've already all been given reconnaissance reports on the target location, as well as old blueprint records. We're going in quietly...we do not want to make a mess today."

Quickly, two crewmen came forward and strapped a heavy backpack onto both Edoric and Anna. Attaching then a mask with a bottle of oxygen also attached to it that lay embedded in the chute, Keener eyes would realize that the eight men that stood before them had similar equipment. And then they bolted as the loud sound of machinery going to work caused a crack of light to appear at the end of the chamber. Once it was fully opened, all could stand at the edge and see Coldiron far below, as tiny as ever while Viltgances also circled beneath.

Two of which were heading in towards the city's dock for purposes alluding to repair.

At once, all eight men broke into a sprint like madmen and leapt from the Dawn's Guard.

Edoric, while standing at the edge would feel a boot plant into the middle of his back as Annaveya promptly kicked him off the side with a sense of utter satisfaction. She had been waiting for some time to do that after all.

Lastly leaping from the craft itself, she folded her arms inward to give herself a more aerodynamic figure as she caught up with the descending pirate while the wind roared past them. With increasing rapidity, Coldiron rose up to meet them, and simultaneously as the city was so close that they could almost touch it, all ten parachutes opened at the last possible second.

Barely moments later, all ten dropped and hit the ground and with a swift, silent hand motion from Annaveya, five of them disappeared. Tailed slightly by three others who blended impeccably into the shadows, Anna walked with Edoric into the entrance towards the docks that supposedly housed his Pirate crew. By now, the Pirate's bonds had been cut and he could walk freely...mostly.

"Well, where are they?"

---

A Radio'd Warning Greeting

Elsewhere in the distance, Gutters managed an outstanding streak of luck as he escaped his pursuers and emerged from the thick maddening depths of the fog and once again saw the sapphire beauty that was the sky. Distantly over a town he could see a massive shadow that slowly circled about the town accompanied by silhouettes of other airships alongside it.

Judging by the fact that the nose of his vessel was also pointed directly at the circling Capitol Ship certainly didn't bode well.

Yet more importantly, there was a garbled breaking of radio traffic upon the small, barely functioning airship full of corpses that he had stolen borrowed.

"Hail and respond, unknown vessel. This is the Air Traffic Control Tower aboard the Kushrina Mercantile Navy. State your bearing and purpose or you will be targeted as a Pirate. Over."

[SepticGentleman]

Jolly Gutters

---

"Hail and respond, unknown vessel. This is the Air Traffic Control Tower aboard the Kushrina Mercantile Navy. State your bearing and purpose or you will be targeted as a Pirate. Over."

Gutters let out something of a growl as the words sounded through the airship. Without much though, he replied in a yell, "MY skin! MY endeavor! MY reward! NOT YOURS."

Almost instinctively, he placed his hands upon the airship's thrust lever and pushed it forward, causing it to accelerate towards the massive fleet in the distance, very much blind to - or ignorant of - the danger such an action posed. There was more chatter on the radio, but he wasn't listening. A retching, snapping sound worked its way through the back of his head. His eye was set on... something. He didn't know what or where. But he was moving forward, very fast, without thinking.

Suddenly, a low clap in the distance. And several more following it.

The airship jolted as one of the shots from the fleet connected. Gutters reeled back, and two more shots landed on the hull. After the third one, the glass over the cockpit broke, and the locator artifact that brought him here jumped out of the airship, falling to the obscurity of the land beneath. Gutters braced himself as the airship dipped downward and quickly began to lose altitude. And he caught only a mere glimpse of a city below him, before smoke and fire clouded his vision.

Within moments, the airship descended upon the docks of Coldiron. The frontmost came into contact, and sparks flew as the wreck skidded along the dock. Within moments, it stopped, thanks to a few posts and crates blocking its path.

Inside the flaming wreck, Gutters quickly jumped back into action. He grit his teeth and his eye widened. He shot up, pistol and sword both well and armed.

"SERENDIPITOUS." He yelled, as he kicked down the loosely-hinged cockpit door.

[Diabolicalrhapsody]

Solomon Jadek

A figure lay prone in a dark room, no longer than the prison cells on the ship. The room was entirely devoid of light, not even a speck of it found its way inside. Only the noise of static and intermittent commands and directives broke the heavy silence that hung around. The figure was a lot bigger than a normal criminal, though the room was cramped in the least. The fact that it was bare, even without a bed meant that it was somehow worse than even the jail onboard. This was the Captain's personal quarters, the one where the man known as Solomon Jadek spent his free time.

Even with his sterling career as a Royal Airforce pilot behind him, he held the respect of his crew. Sheerly by his talent alone. He was a natural-born fighter, leave him in a dogfight with even outrageous enemy numbers, there were high chances that he would still be in one-piece by the end. But there was another reason why people followed him unquestionably, it was because he was sinister. Not an abominable evil but a necessary one.

The Western Cross acquired the faith and loyalty of her men by her various achievements, her complex personality had a regal air to it, but Solomon was rooted in grim and brutal reality and he was dangerous. Vindictive, overwhelming and authoritative. They both were like a match made in heaven, had he been younger.

He remembered that day, as Annaveya's lovely voice came on the military frequency. Her directives crystal clear and precise. One of the main skills of a Captain. While in air, you are not only responsible for yourself but your crew. Some would argue that the Kushrina scion was the most skilled asset of the company. But she wasn't a specialist like him. She was good in a lot if things. Solomon was just good at killing.

As the instructions came to dock into Coldiron. Solomon put on his Black overcoat with a golden dragon on the lapel. He was one of the elites and while he knew the kind of shithole, they were coming into. It would mess with the girl's special mission. He reached the bridge swiftly in a short while and ordered for all the canons to be loaded at broadside. His ship was fast but he had a special ace up his sleeve to once the event doesn't go as that he had planned.

[ClocktowerEchos]

Edoric Thatch - The Amazing Flying Pirate

The past hours swept by Edoric like petals in the wind, his memory was hazy and he regained his senses as he was marched down another hall back aboard the Western Cross. Alcohol probably had a hand in that given his flask was now largely empty. He regained his senses as a large, heavy pack was dropped on to his back, a bit rougher than he would have liked. As he took note of some maganzine fed weapons the guards held with a tinge of pride, he instinctively put the attached mask on. He had little knowledge of what it'd do, but with the amount of dangerous air and gas that resided in the Fog, "masking" was one thing second nature to him.

"Stand right here pirate." one of the masked guards positioned Edo next to the edge of the open room. He looked down and could see the giant old propeller of Coldiron Landing's mill. He casually grabbed a rope that hung next to him, reminiscing on his memories in the shanty town, some more pleasant than others. His crew should have been here, he could see one of his ships on the dock having its rations refilled. He gently sighed like an old man revisiting his old school, "No place like home."

Loud footprints quicked caught up to Edoric who titled his blonde mane to see what it was. Anna and eight of her men in similar equipment (minus the weapons and armor of course) broke into a sprint and without a second of hesitation, Anna half shoved and half drop kicked the pirate out into the air, 35,000 feet above Coldiron Landing.

"GGGAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!" Edoric flailed around in the air as he tried to recover from the solid boot Anna introduced to his spine. Thank god Edoric was born with strong bones, other wise he might have gotten a complentary broken back with that introduction. As Anna and her men skillfully dived in the air, their actions syncronized and well-drilled; Edoric flopped about like a fish thrown out of an airship in a wind storm until he was able to posistion himself himself correctly in a way that ensure he would not be deep-sixing himself in some poor sod's home and deployed his chute along side everyone else.

After watching one of the men steer himself away from what could have ended in a horrible situation involving a fruit stand, a horse-cart full of crates and a fire-breathing juggler, he felt his bond get cut by another before Anna ordered all of them into the shadows. They would be tailing them no doubt for the duration of time spent here. Wether it was to protect Anna or to ensure he didn't escape was a topic Edoric mused about as Anna asked, "Well, where are they?"

"Patience love." Edoric rubbed his wrist as he skillful took a beer from a passing cart full of them, "They'll show themselves in due time. Until then, I know a place where to find them should they decide that they should spent their time there."
_____________

The duo walked down the dirty street, dodging a drunk who confused Anna with a hooker (and received a solid punch to the gut from her as a reward). The path became narrower and narrower until it had devolved into a dingy back alley. Edoric could just barely see Anna's men from the corner of his magical eye, they were good, he gave them that.

The alley eventually bloomed into another open street, some how even dingier and dilapidated than the last. Sticking to the center of the road, the two walked pasted unfavorable characters and dusty windows of aged shops. Walking in the middle of the street was something Edoric learned to do to above the muggers and bandits that enjoyed hiding in the alleys or in the numerous trash heaps.

Anna's face sullened as they walked deeper, not to Edoric's surprise. But they had almost reached their destination. As he was lost in his musing, he grabbed the tiny arm that suddenly appeared in his pocket. One of countless child pickpockets had snuck up without Anna or Edoric noticing. Edoric held the tiny boney arm harder as he turned to face the little girl scared out of her tiny childish brain.
"Little girl," Edoric started as the girl began to tremble, "Don't steal from people. There are better ways to make money."

He reached into his pocket and dug up a piece of paper and a small bag of coins, "Go to a place called 'Hearthling's and Borrik's' and mention a 'Chrysanthemum Throne' and give them this paper. They'll help you and you'll be living better than what you are in the streets. The coin is just a personal gift."

The little girl held the items in her open palms and looked up and innocently asked, "Are you Captain Thatch?"
Edoric smiled and said, "Only to you."

He watched as the girl happily ran off to the place he mentioned, "There's more to being a gentleman pirate than you think love." Edoric turned to Anna before walking off towards the end goal, Anna's men was close by no doubt, lurking in the shadows like hunters.
_________________________

"Here we are." the two finally arrived at the Red Flag Tavern, the hotspot for all sorts of criminal scum and shady businessmen. Just like home for a man like Edoric, although Anna didn't seem to enjoy the partly rundown establishment. Edoric immdeately headed towards the bar, "I'll go a head first lass, rule number 39 of being a pirate gentleman states to always try out new alcohol. Don't worry about my boys, they ought to be here soon-ish. I think."

As if right on cue, the doors burst open and a group men and women burst in, high spirits shared all around. At the front of it was a noble looking man with a magnificent handlebar mustache and a faded Royal Airship Officer uniform, "Captain, welcome back, I presume you had good fortunes?"
"Almost Galahad," Edoric nodded at the bartender who promptly began filling more mugs with frothy ale, "However, I did manage to bring home this dove." Edoric noticed towards Anna who looked noticeably out of place in the fine establishment.
"Ahh, fair tidings to you miss." Galahad bowed his regal head down and turned to the captain, "Some of the others followed me."

With that a group of people charged over to Edoric's position all shouting some version of "Captain!". Edoric was half hugged, half tackled as they group laughed. Borris, strongest of them all with his broad chest, lifted Edoric up with Zhang the Engineer helping him with one of his legs. The pirate captain barely was able to keep his mug straight as some of it escaped the confines of the mug, "I see you ladies and gents missed me." he laughed as Rose, the sweet girl she was, handed him another round before the entire group toasted, the alcohol dripping from their mugs.

"Scratched that, everyone might have followed me." Galahad laughed as he downed a mug in one go before wiping his mouth with the edge of his sleeve and turning to Anna, "And what brings such a dove like you to Coldiron?"

[Suku]

Alyss sat back as she watched the interactions after landing she noticed the large ship for the Kushrina mercantile group doing a "hell jump". Interesting she thought to herself all these players in one place still they had nothing against Kushrina nor did they bother them it was a we acknowledge you exist but we wont do anything to you for the same. A situation like that was both precarious and a bit unnerving never knowing when one was going to over step the others boundaries. Sure Leviathan's Claw was smaller but they could move where Kushrina couldn't they were a "semi" illegal business as she liked to call it. They had connections people lacked that being to the black market. Such a thing was something that made them somewhat valuable to the Kushrina they could banned items "legally" to them for a small fee.

Shaking those thoughts from her head she nodded to her darling "liebchens' they knew the drill she scouted for whatever was needed and or to conduct the main front of the business as a personal arms manufacturer. While they didn't focus on the large ship weapons they focused on gear for survival no matter the situation. This made them vital to a lot of people military and pirate alike it was something she was used to she supposed she went into a nearby bar leaning back against the wall her hat on the table she watched with interest as she looked at Kushrina head be swarmed by what appeared to be a hired pirates crew. Though her interest was peaked when she heard Edoric's name mentioned it seems that today was a very good day after all. "well well Edoric Thatch appears before me saves me the time of looking for you saved me a lot of trouble you did." She spoke out her body covered in shadows obscuring her from view as was standard to hide her age. "There is price you owe "captain" quite a sum you racked up. Now tell me my dear "captain" how do you plan to pay for this price you owe?"

[Blubaron45]

Lennard - An introduction

On boarding Annaveya Kushrina's large, elegant vessel, Lennard was formerly approached by one of the officers who auspiciously offered him an 'opportunity at hand' to work for the entire fleet of the Western Cross. Behind him, crewmen scattered and stood sharply at the attention of the pilot as military men in the background professionally darted to secure Lennard's vessel that just boarded their airship carrier. Lennard then gingerly observed the officer rather briskly, looking at his hard-earned metals and ribbons that blew against the cool morning gust of winds but where strong enough not to be swiftly blown away by these outside forces. There was almost a prideful, almost-conceited nature in both his approach and his demeanor as tall as he stood in his clean, well-just uniform while the wet morning wind blew in Lennard's face and thick brown hair. The man was light skinned, blonde, blue-eyed and tall. It was almost importunate for him to be addressed by a subordinate rather than by the 'mistress' herself, where she was he had no idea. Lennard couldn't care to ask such petty questions, all he needed was a job that could provide him not only a fair sum of money but a little cut of the action as well and with his talents, he most certainly could provide for the Captain.

"With all due respect, second lieutenant" He added in a calm manner, trying not to be annoyed by the lower ranking officer. "The mistress herself was responsible for inviting me to travel all the way here on this ship so that we may discuss and hopefully conduct business together. It would seem more befitting that I should be introduced to her personally with this potential business offer."

"It would indeed, I apologize for the rather abrupt inconvenience" He replied earnestly, bowing his head almost submissively. "The captain will be here shortly if you would be patient. In the meanwhile, our elegant vessel has a lounge for you to sit in with a library as well as a cafeteria for you to feast in completely free of charge, but if you'd really like, you can take a tour of the ship provided by a guide. I am almost certain you'd be interested in looking into our rather powerfully modern engines..." He offered, trying to both sufficiently accommodate and entertain the Veteran pilot with the grand vessel's attributes.

"No need, I can see myself to that. This after all very familiar architecture which might have been either built or inspired by the Wellhelm company before they went bankrupt now that I think about it." Lennard added, briefly looking over the second lieutenant to admire the ship's architecture.

"Oh really? That's very intriguing; How can you tell?" He curiously asked.

"Well, for starters: You see that over there?" Lennard pointed in the direction of the black, tenacious propellers that confidently spun at tremendous speeds, they most certainly were at the highest of quality. "Those are not ordinary propellers, they are not only provided by your company but they also have a design that strikingly resembles the way they are positioned and essembled on the vessel. It's architecture also exclusively derives from the fleets of eastern countries. This provides much better stability in not only controlling where this vessel is going but built just far enough from the reactors and engine to maintain a minimized proper distance for stability control itself. It's almost perfect, quite indefinitely impeccable. in fact, there are many things which stand out in this vessel." He added.

"Why thank you captain, I see you have quite a keen eye for our grand vessel. Which is why we are in need for someone with your prodigal talents" He added, chuckling with astonishment that Lennard could point that would with just one brief glance alone, wondering what else he can notice about the ship.

"Anyway second lieutenant, I think I'll just have myself a look around if you don't mind, hopefully your commander does not mind either. It's why I'm here after all, isn't it?"

"Yes it is. I do not mind at all, Lennard. Please, be our guest. If we ever need you, we will call you via intercom whenever our Kushrina Captain returns from her voyage." He concluded with a pleasing smile, his chin still held up higher than his arrogance itself. Lennard then turned his back politely and found his way into the direction that would descend him into the grand ship itself, the wind still blowing against his dusty brown air, leaving the second lieutenant to his duties while he went to observe the ship and possibly it's fallacies that he cold hopefully amend for, assuming he will get the job.