Inchin: Endgame

[Tiglath]

Frank

Major Wagner thinks a moment and, with a glance at Erica, states "Then, Colonel, we have an agreement - effective immediately. With your permission we will establish ourselves in the Town and bring our ships into the Star Port. I will pass the news of our truce throughout our ground and space forces".

[Tiglath]

All

News of the "outbreak of peace" spreads rapidly.

Buggies congregate in Star Town and the locals mob the newly arrived troops treating them as "liberators". The Swordies hand out water to the Townsfolk and, to great delight, announce a suspension of rationing. The Baron cheerfully appears (via video link) and declares a day of celebration throughout Star Town and, in fact, planetwide.

Meanwhile as the impressively large 1000t Triad class trader "Triskele" lands at the Star Port a group of humourless suits (who, by elimination, must be McClellan corporates) appear from a sealed air raft and hold a meeting with Drace Keening and the Baron.

The Baron emerges from the meeting as pleased as punch and immediately declares a "Farewell Dinner" will be held tonight for the Imperial delegation. All officers are invited.

In the Mansion the staff are working hard to steam clean away the last traces of the insurgents and desperately try to get the pool filters to read anything but "Tilt". A horticulture 'bot patiently begins to re-plant parts of the shrubbery.

[shaidar]

Frank will do whatever is needed to clear our seriously wounded to be taken up to the Spinward Star for treatment. He also suggests we waste no time testing out the repaired pirate gig (and checking our other vehicles) in preparation for leaving.

[BackworldTraveller]

Freya
And on that note, Is there anything untoward with the shuttle I'm checking?

[Leitz]

Jakob will assist with the wounded, and ensure whatever medical procedures he did are documented, so the gaining sickbay knows what was done.

[joertexas]

Prerna pitches in where she can to help Jakob organize the company's gear and people.

[The Bindoner]

Jess distributes Gaughan's people around the spare beds in the SEMC barracks, to establish them as separate from the Guard but still only "guests". There's an office/stateroom just outside the garage for Gaughan.

Next she checks the acquisitions and expenditures, stowage and re-issue and updates her stores records.

Finally she gets her squad together in the garage for a celebratory "well done lads" drink.

[Tiglath]

Freya

Freya
And on that note, Is there anything untoward with the shuttle I'm checking?

After a thorough check Freya finds nothing is amiss.

[Tiglath]

All

Perron and his troopers are very much "awkward" company. Politically they appear to be very much part of the "new" regime having added a cockade to their old Guard uniform and rebranding themselves as "Custodians". This doesn't endear them to the "old" Guard at all - who seem to be suffering a swathe of redundancies with full back pay and free transport off world being the only plus.

As to their relationship with other units it seems that the Sword Worlders tolerate Perron's troops but really don't rate them at all. The new "Custodians" actively avoid any contact with Gaughan's men.

[The Bindoner]

Redundancies..

Jess regards that as a recruiting opportunity. They've got cash and a passage, so anyone we get to sign on isn't doing it out of desperation. 'Course, most of them are pretty duff, but, again, they're unlikely to sign on.

[Tiglath]

The Baron hosts his lavish dinner with a drinks reception beforehand. He makes it "Black Tie" clearly hoping for a display of evening wear from the ladies present but is trumped when Liv and Erica turn up in full uniform. Erica wears the Einherjaren's urban splinter pattern with a Major's rank tabs while the smartly turned out Major Wagner sports his own rank tabs over an otherwise unadorned oak leaf pattern jacket with the reversible white lapels of winter camo showing. He seems to find the whole scene as bizarre as the Mercs did on their arrival on Inchin.

The corporate suits look smart and the females in their party at least give the Baron someone to ogle. The delegates are on form and happy to celebrate the end of hostilities – most specifically those hostilities immediate to themselves.

Kirsten Vitt is up and about moving very stiffly but looking good in a tuxedo tailored to her amazonian physique. Skip is also restored stating that, like Ms Vitt, he was dosed with fast healing meds (Medislow - donated by 4DC and SuSAG respectively). With regret Skip tenders his resignation from SEMC stating he has received an offer he can't turn down from another employer.

Of the other guests Fast Eddie is quite tame by his own standards while Mr Solomon chats amiably with the McClellan team. Duran seems at his urbane best while the twins have, no doubt despite his restraining advice, “gone out dressed like that” and will clearly “catch their deaths” from any predatory chill in the air.

"Phwoar, I say!" The Baron very nearly goes beyond a whiplash injury and into straight disarticulation of C1 to 7. Utterly distracted from an attempt at typing on his comm he drops it into the punchbowl. Seconds later Kit receives a text that reads "U R sac..."

[shaidar]

Frank accepts Skip's resignation with grace "We were lucky to have you while we did, if you ever need a recommendation just ask. Just be careful you haven't bitten off more than you can chew, twice!" he glances at the twins and then winks at Skip. "In the unlikely event you change your mind then the door is always open."

To Vitt: "I'm glad to see you up and about Ms Vitt"

An quiet aside to Major Wagner: "The baron takes getting used to, although I don't think I ever could. I know it's bad form to talk politics at these kind of things, but although it might not look like it, I'm all for an independent 268"

[BackworldTraveller]

Does Freya get a chance to bring out the formals?

[The Bindoner]

Jess is happy in her Lair, doing Admin, assigning work and watching it done through her glass wall. She thinks about the officers forced to attend the Baron's table and laughs. Briefly, as her ribs protest.


Darragh, ask around about that posh Tanker sergeant wouldja? I've got ter set up an interview, nice ter know somethin' 'bout 'im first. Hafter say, there's problems with all of 'em. Fitness levels're sh.. not up to our standard.

[shaidar]

noone else (SEMC at least) wanted to go, so it's just Frank having fun getting free food and drink

[gurusql]

I was under the impression that Kit is also there getting text messages . . . (but of course not part of the SEMC)

[Tiglath]

Frank

Skip shakes Frank's hand and proceeds to enjoy his "leaving do".

Vitt replies "My charming employer didn't want me "lazing about when I could be catching bullets for him". It may have been corporate humour but the man is still a reptile. But, I'll drink to Medislow, lying on my back for weeks would have been no fun at all - your man Skip had stolen all the pretty nurses. He's going to 4DC, ja?" She smiles "I can see the attraction. At least I got to use my Corporate healthcare plan before the end of my kontract with SuSAG".

Wagner comes over to join them and raising a glass to Frank states "Then I am fortunate I do not have to stay and put up with this... circus? Thank you for your candour, Colonel, and also your sound reasoning during our negotiations. I believe if our units had engaged we would have made..." He searches for a term "A right mess of each other, no?" Spotting Kit he adds "I will have a drink with Colonel Ghoshal. He was in a bad position and I was under pressure - I hope I didn't come over as too much of an arse".

[Tiglath]

I was under the impression that Kit is also there getting text messages . . . (but of course not part of the SEMC)

Yes Kit is there.

Clearly he needs to stuff himself at the buffet and abuse the pot plants in revenge!

[Tiglath]

Does Freya get a chance to bring out the formals?

Yes! The Baron is "given quite a turn" by her outfit but, bless him, eventually rallies to some form of lechery...

[Tiglath]

Jess

On "Sergeant's intuition" Gaughan goes to "check his lads are settling in" and returns with a full kit bag of bottles muttering "Sure they're like children!" He then locks the drink securely away.

Enjoying the novelty of his office he awards himself a drink for a job well done. He calls through "Him? You were nearly there - just a "w" out! The lads used to call him "the wandering genie" so they did... " he smiles and takes a sip as he pauses for effect " ...because he'd lost his bottle". He goes on "Now, you can't pick on the other fellas' for fitness. They're lucky to still retain the use of their legs! Not only have they been in the Guard they were constantly fed cake and driven around by other people. I hear that happens a lot in the cavalry..."