Ask Jin and Tonic

[Ceris Odrosess]

Ceris was incredibly disappointed with the Senator's decision to come along, but had to keep a neutral face. The loss of control was driving her mad. A single man threatening her entire career, albeit unknowingly, and there was nothing Ceris could do about it. Just for this very moment, Ceris vowed to find a way to eliminate this man in the future. However for now, she just had to keep him safe.

The smell in the village was even worse than imaginable, it made breathing unbearable. "I don't see much. Probably some weapons and artifacts lying around. I think any food would be spoiled by now." A thought popped into Ceris' head the moment she spoke the word spoiled. She quickly made her way towards the market stalls to take a look at the food. All the dead bodies within the era had to have been fully consumed already, or they were turned into infected. That meant there had to be an insane amount of spoiled food left over, especially meat, in order to cause the smell. However, Ceris did not see much left in the market stalls. Her mind raced trying to think of what was causing such a powerful smell. The infected had a similar rotten smell as the village, but it was impossible for the smell to come from them; their corpses laid outside of the village.

Ceris quickly turned around to speak to El'oan "Has anyone else come to this village?" The leader had a confused look on his face "Not that I know of. We are the first people from the villages within my control to come here." Ceris' eyes scanned the surrounding era, she even checked below the huts, but there wasn't any sign of infected. "Are there any villages nearby?" she asked El'oan once again. "One, but even further down east. Pretty far away, I do not see why they would come to this small village." The smell seemed to have gotten worse, as if something was exuding even more of it. "Corporal", Ceris called out to one of her soldiers "Check the huts that those infected individuals came from. Look for any tools or objects they may have had." The man swiftly made his way into the hut following Ceris' orders.

As she waited patiently, Ceris noticed something strange occurring in the ground; Venka seemed to have noticed it as well. Below the feet of the other soldier, the ground seemed to be shifting. "Private, are you standing on quick sand?" Just then, the corporal came out of the hut "I found a couple shovels Captain!" Ceris immediately understood what was happening and yelled "Get out of the village!" Just as she yelled a Cyborrean arm came bursting from the ground beneath the private and grabbed onto his leg. The ground below started to crumble a bit, the infected were buried. Ceris ran away from the center of the village, hearing the cries of her soldier as his limbs were being ripped apart from the infected that came from the ground. She couldn't get a good look, but there appeared to be at minimum a dozen infected Cyborrean men, rising up from the dirt.

@Feng Mian

 

[Jin Vaisra]

Ceris was piecing together a strange puzzle, leaving Jin in the dark. He didn’t quite understand what was happening, even as Venka guided him away to rockier ground, until the corporal emerged from the caved in hut and given his report. Shovels. The dots connected in his mind just as Ceris screamed at them to leave, then imprinted there as an arm exploded from beneath the soil. The private it had captured shouted for help, but it was too late. He was being eaten and torn apart by the time Jin had booked it for the village gate.

Another hand burst out of the ground in his path. The senator didn’t bother trying to skirt around it, however, and instead leapt and crushed the Infected’s fingers beneath the heel of his shoe. Next a head appeared, bared teeth thrashing, but Venka stepped in and swiped her blade down like a scythe, as if she was clearing grass. The top of the Cyborrean’s head slid clean off. Jin pressed forward to the speeders. Still, no matter how fast he could run, the undead Cyborreans ran faster. A dozen, at least.

Nearby the village gate, Jin whirled and began firing. Now that he knew where to aim, the next several bolts he shot crashed into the Cyborrean’s faces. The end result was like smashing a sweet plum with a hammer—lots of red and black, and rather too messy for his liking. On the other hand, Venka moved with practiced grace, dancing out of each Infected’s reach before cutting them to pieces. Alongside the corporeal, Ceris and the El’oan, they formed a defensive line by the parked speeders, a proper fighting force.

El’oan’s glee during the battle was, once again, a little much. But whatever made the tribal leader happy, then Jin was happy, too. As for Ceris, it was clear she was a remarkable fighter outside of the ship. He would find good use for her in the future. Unfortunately, she wasn’t dumb, so he would have to be careful not to be used in exchange. A mutual using, then? Jin scoffed. He would see about that soon enough.

@Altaria

 

[Ceris Odrosess]

Ceris stood by the gate firing alongside Jin. "Bastard." she thought to herself. The Senator could have easily been the first one to be grabbed and torn apart, leaving Ceris a mangled body to bring back to Fondor. She didn't care if his carelessness was unintentional either, she would find her uses for him somehow.

With the last infected being gunned down, there was a moment of silence. Everyone seemed to be waiting for another to come out from the ground before taking a step. After a good half-minute, Ceris began to walk towards the body of the private. He was ripped in half from the torso, with an arm missing as well. Ceris knelt by his side and caressed his cheek, before standing up and unloading 5 blaster-bolts into his face. Turning around she walked back towards the gate "Just a precaution." she stated. "El'oan I think we're done for the day. Let's return." Ceris was a bit more stern in her tone this time, and she was definitely commanding him instead of suggesting this time. Once again the man was a bit hesitant, but nonetheless agreed to return to the village.

Returning to the village, the amount of crates stockpiled up was noticeable, but the shuttles were still bringing more. It would probably take a few more hours until the rest was brought down. "Haha!" El'oan made his way towards the front of the group "It is disappointing how short it was, but the thrill of the hunt can never beaten!" he shouted. "Now then you wanted to discuss diplomacy correct? Come along" he said to Jin. Ceris placed a hand on the Senator's shoulder "You will have to deal with a bloody suit for a bit longer." she said with a chuckle.

Led to what seemed to be a war-room, the group stood around a table with El'oan at one of the end; Ceris and Venka would stand behind Jin. "I understand you come wanting something in return." El'oan's tone was more serious than before, one could say even sophisticated. "I'm no fool, and know that to receive such a massive amount of help, will require to give a lot. State what it is you have come for." he said directly to Jin.

@Feng Mian

 

[Jin Vaisra]

Jin wasn’t lost to the authority Ceris was trying to wield over the Cyborrean leader, but instead of being concerned, he only felt relief as El’oan begrudgingly agreed for them to return back to the main village. He was exhausted and, frankly, in desperate need of a shower. He also wasn’t quite sure if competing with the captain was worth the trouble. After seeing her coldly unload a clip into the private, he almost took it as a personal threat, as if to say, Cross me, and you might just lose your head.

Or perhaps he was just being paranoid.

Once they were back at the original landing point and El’oan was quick to cut to business. Now that the medical supplies were about halfway through unloading, it was time for them to begin negotiations, to etch into stone a proper deal. Given the Cyborrean’s warm—albeit gory—reception, Jin felt confident about his odds. “The bloody suit’s not a problem,” he told Ceris, breaking out a cold smile, once again to El’oan’s approval. “I think it quite suits me.”

If he was being honest, he wanted to burn the whole suit to ash—but they didn’t need to know that. Jin had a warmongering chief to impress and a planet to win over. “As you can understand, El’oan, all the Republic would ask for is your support in a military alliance and defense pact. We would like to establish a base of operations here on your world. This is, of course, for your own benefit, in order to protect your people from any outside threat in the future.”

“Along with our ships and improved medical equipment, in exchange, we ask your people to also lend their support in defending Republic assets here, and to potentially assist us in combating our mutual enemy, be it the Empire, or the Five Syndicates.” Jin folded his arms over his chest. He wasn’t asking too much of Cyborrea, nothing like swearing fealty. Yet.

@Altaria

 

[Ceris Odrosess]

El'oan continued to stare at Jin after the proposal. The room would be silent for half a minute, until El'oan seemed to have realized something. "Well that proposal is natural of course, but," he paused for a moment "what do you have planned for the other tribes? While I am inclined to agree, I am certain the many others will not. I assumed unification would be the first step." El'oan scratched the back of his head with a confused look.

Ceris was rather shocked at the level of intelligence displayed by El'oan. She was unsure whether or not he was making a mockery out of Jin, or if it was a total accident. How aware was this brutish man? "I understand your republic enjoys solving problems with thought and communication, but the other many tribes are not so willing to take a part in it as I am. It has been at least thousands of years since the last time my people as a whole engaged in a military alliance."

It seems another problem has occurred. Ceris could easily solve the issue by bombarding the other tribes, wiping them out, and calling it a day. Unfortunately ruining her reputation, the Republic's reputation, and potential future soldiers was not a great idea. El'oan definitely was one of the bigger powers on the planet, but even the amount of manpower he possess is trivial in the entire scope of armies the Republic and Empire held. At most El'oan could probably offer 100-150 soldiers; Ceris alone commanded roughly 800 soldiers. Even if one were to assume that a single Cyborrean was worth 2 humans, Ceris would still have around 4 times the manpower just by herself. There wasn't much that made up for the lack of manpower either; it wasn't like Cyborrea was filled with precious metals.

"How many tribes are there in total, and do you know their numbers?" asked Ceris. "I would say 20 more tribes, however, Cyborrea is large. There may be even more that I myself am unaware of." 20 more tribes was pretty significant, although it would be painful to convince them. They were probably 20 individually led tribes, unlike the 10 that are joined together under El'oan. Although the manpower from the combined tribes would be decent if it could be done.

@Feng Mian

 

[Jin Vaisra]

The other tribes. Of course. Jin hadn’t quite factored them into today’s negotiations. When he first began scoping Cyborrea out to build a Republic military installation, he’d always assumed El’oan served as the planet’s de facto ruler, given he fielded the largest number of tribes and territory compared to the rest. But now that he brought it up, Jin realized the importance they would have in the future. Still, it would not affect these negotiations, not yet.

Jin smoothed the lapels of his jacket. “The other tribes are welcome to decide whether or not the Republic is worth their support or time. This military alliance, after all, is not a worldwide draft or conscription. It is merely a treaty to establish a new friendship between Cyborrea and the Core, and more importantly, to establish a Republic base in order to further our mutual interests.”

He put particular emphasis on ‘mutual,’ which was not exactly true. The point of Cyborrea was to serve as a staging ground or a frontline in case the Empire or the Syndicates began a real offensive against the Republic. So, instead of assaulting key Core worlds, they would turn their attention to this backwater planet, like moths to a bright lantern. On the other hand, it could become a springboard for a full-fledged invasion into the Syndicates, which were already struggling in their own war against the Consortium.

“The outlying tribes may remain independent, for now, until the Republic has planted a proper stronghold here—in your territory, perhaps, if that is to your liking. That way, we might better protect your people, and if you so require, assist in uniting the rest of the planet under your name.” Jin knew that would pique El’oan’s interest. Power often did that to people, Jin included. “I’m sure even Captain Odrosess could help you in that regard. What do you say, Captain?”

@Altaria

 

[Ceris Odrosess]

"Being able to take a part in any action would be fine with me." Ceris responded to Jin. Getting recognition for something, even if it were small, was beneficial, and if anything bad happened the Senator would take the hit for endorsing this mission. Benefits with no blame, it was a good few days for the captain.

El'oan scratched his chin for a moment "Alright, I shall accept your offer." Taking out a small knife, El'oan made a small cut in the palm of his hand. With a small bit of blood trickling out, he reached his hand out towards the Senator. A symbol of the new 'alliance'. "After this I have much work to attend to, so I will not be able to see you off. I assume your return shall be soon." he continued on. "Probably so," Ceris chimed in "maybe with a new offer in hand, depending on how your work turns out here."

After everything was settled the group could leave, while El'oan stayed in his hut. The soldiers had just finished dropping off all the medical supplies, and everyone was ready to return to the ship. Ceris turned towards the Senator "Now then if you're ready to return back to Fondor we can go ahead and make our way back."

@Feng Mian

 

[Jin Vaisra]

“Splendid,” said Jin, and as El’oan sliced a cut across his palm and extended it, he accepted. There were other stipulations he would have liked to discuss with the tribal leader, but the Senator was eager to finish their negotiations and leave this horrid rock. The air stank of manure and he could distinctly feel the sweat on his back, courtesy of the planet’s unreasonable heat and their recent hunt. Jin had nearly died. Twice. He was more than content with just establishing a Republic base here.

Even if the remaining tribes would not bend the knee to them, it made no difference when the rest of the galaxy was concerned. This was officially New Republic territory now, and nothing could change that. In a matter of time, more than just medical supplies would be unloaded onto the planet’s surface, but stores of titanium and steel, crates of munitions and one soldier after anther, all brought over to ensure the world’s smooth shift in power, from El’oan to Emil.

Or Jin, in the close future. Schemes within schemes.

As he returned to the shuttle with Ceris at his side, Jin nodded. “Let’s. We’ve accomplished a lot today, Captain Odrosess. Who knows—keep this up, and I wouldn’t be surprised if you manage to rise to the rank of Admiral within the year. Fleet Admiral, even, if you’re so ambitious.” There was a glint in his eye, one he hadn’t quite shown since they’d met. “Or higher. After all, they say power has no limits. Wouldn’t you agree?”

Jin didn’t bother to hear her answer. With Venka following him like a specter, he boarded the shuttle, disappearing into the cabin and into the shadows where he'd always belong.

end of thread.​