Communication And Contracts

Posted on Fri Dec 4th, 2020 @ 10:44pm by Commanding Officer Maralen Seitha & MegaCorp Owner Ashlyn of Koryndell
Edited on on Thu Jan 11th, 2024 @ 8:35pm

Mission: New Starts
Location: Tassryth Station, Koryndell
Timeline: 247912.01 07:30

Communications And Contracts
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Maralen Seitha
Former Shaper First Command

Ashlyn of Koryndell
Owner of ShadowDragon Enterprises
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TIME: December 1, 2479
LOCATION: Tassryth Shipyards, Mount Tassryth, Kantharr Region, Koryndell / Communion of Stars, Upper Gamma Quadrant, Sector XR-14 (Milky Way Galaxy) / Universe 4179 – Realm Reckoning

It was a well-known fact – well-known to those who knew anything about ShadowDragon Enterprises and/or her owner – that said company hired only the best. It was also well-known that the owner of said company had a paranoid streak as wide as the Sector. It was further known that she NEVER worked with governments. She didn't trust them. As she had been known to say, "Every government is screwing its people; some are just more honest about it than others." So why was she doing it now? Why had she forged a working alliance with the Interstellar Coalition AND the Builder Empire?

The answer was simple. Resources. They had them, and she needed them. The Coalition had people resources she needed to crew her newest ship. And the Builder Empire had the Inter-Planetary Doorways (IPDs). So Ashlyn had swallowed her paranoia – ok, well she mostly swallowed it – and signed a contract with both governments. She still wasn't sure that was such a great idea, but she needed them, so good idea or not, it was done.

Now the Coalition crew were beginning to arrive. She'd provided living arrangements for them while they waited for the ship to be finished and the Mobile IPD to arrive and be tested, and so far, they'd behaved themselves. Perhaps this would work out after all.

The Builder ship was due to arrive tomorrow and begin testing of the Mobile IPD that would be placed aboard the FarVoyager two days after that. They'd said they needed time to re-program its Encoder and realign the rest of the Network to its status as a mobile IPD before actually testing it. It made sense, so she'd agreed and set up temporary living arrangements for them as well, though they'd said they did not require such.

Now all she had to do was find someone qualified to command such a diverse crew. Some of her own employees would be added to the crew as well, but the Commanding Officer was proving the most difficult to place. She was beginning to think she would have to look outside of even ShadowDragon for that...

TIME: Concurrent
LOCATION: Fringe Station Estarrya / Communion of Stars, Upper Gamma Quadrant, Sector XR-14 (Milky Way Galaxy) / Universe 4179 – Realm Reckoning

*** DREAM SEQUENCE ***
“Please!” He begged, staring up pleadingly and innocently at his mother. What he wanted at that precise moment was something which his Mother never permitted. His sister Larrynda and he had a special place in the forest to which no one else went. He was asking for permission to go there alone.

His mother stared down at him with love in her eyes. “All right, but be very careful.” That was Mother. She was always attempting to protect them even when they did not want it. As a child – young, full of energy, and limited in wisdom and understanding – sometimes they believed (in error, of course) that she did this far too much. However, at the same moment, it gave him a very strong sense of security and showed him the depth of her love for them.

He could feel this love radiating from her as she stepped forward, lifted him into her arms, and held him close. As she drew him into herself, he could hear her heart beating. He could smell the scent of the cleanser which she used on her hair. Her hands were soft and warm, and her touch was gentle.

The brush of her mind as she reached out and gently probed his was powerful but soft. He felt a sense of warmth and complete security pass through every corner of his thoughts. He was flooded with her love for him and her pride in him. He drew these into himself and tucked them away like a man hiding his greatest treasures.

For that brief moment, their thoughts flowed together as a stream flows into and with a great river. Then, as the river leaves the stream’s course to continue its journey to the ocean, his mother’s mind flowed away from his; and he was left with his own thoughts wrapped in the warmth and security that her thoughts had brought to him.

His mother put him down then and smiled at him lovingly. No more needed to be said. Much had passed between them in their momentary contact. He smiled back broadly and joyfully ran out of the house toward the place where the city’s edges and the forest’s blended together.

The forest rose up welcomingly around him as he ran farther into its green and red depths. The forest was beautiful this time of year. The frrosha trees were in full bloom, and their soft, red leaves presented a delightful contrast to the green of most of the other trees. Also interspersed with these were the muted blue-green leaves of the kalasha.

He soon came to their clearing and lay down on the soft, thick, undergrowth to simply enjoy the ambiance of the deep woods. He closed his eyes and quietly absorbed the forest around him.

The smells and sounds of the woods caressed his senses, drawing him to a place of restfulness. He could smell the strong scent of the thriving frrosha trees as well as the various aromas of several species of wild flowers. In the distance, he could hear the spirited calls of the majestic kherralt in flight. Nearer at hand, the timid rustlings of the smaller forest creatures hoping to remain unnoticed by the larger ones reached his ears.

He smiled to himself. A giggle of sheer glee escaped his lips. It all made him feel so very lively and full of energy. But at the same time, it was peaceful here. Nothing disturbed this place and its creatures. He could have stayed here forever . . . if his mother would let him. Which, of course, she would not. After all, he was only five. He sometimes wished he could stay here though.

Then the forest changed around him.

The birds fell silent, and the subtle rustlings nearby became frantic. It was strange. The forest had never felt like this before. What could be wrong? He opened his eyes and stared around him in confusion.

It flashed by right in front of his eyes!

It was large and dark. Its form was a thing out of the worst nightmare. It emanated malevolence like a thing of substance.

For a moment, he was completely overcome by a fear so deep that it almost froze him where he lay on the grass. Almost. Those things were flying toward the city. Everyone was in the city. That thought was enough to force his body into action.

With the agility only children have and adults wish they could have kept, he leapt to his feet and ran as fast as his legs would carry him toward the city. These things were much faster than he was, but in his fear and haste, he failed to realize this as he ran to warn my family.

After what seemed like hours, but was, in reality, only a few minutes, he reached the edge of the forest and ran out into the alley, calling to his family. “Mom! Dad! Larrynda! They’re –“ The sentence drifted off unfinished as he passed beyond the forest edge and saw the city.

Before him lay the remnants of the city. The buildings lay in pieces all around him. As he passed through the ruins, it became terrifyingly clear that there was no life left in this place.

Desperately, he ran for the house hoping beyond hope that that building had survived. Childish hope obscured the truth that those things would not have left any person living or any structure standing.

He reached the site where the house had stood and found the building in ruins like the rest of the city. At first, he saw no sign of anyone. Then a soft moan reached his ears. It was a sound which at the same time made him happy (it was living) and frightened (it was so quiet and full of pain).

He looked over the property again and saw her half-buried under some fallen girders. Fear raced through him as he looked at her.

“Mom!” He ran, stumbling over pieces of rubble as he went. As he reached her and tried vainly to lift the heavy structural fragments off of her, he could feel her pain. He could also feel her weakness.

She was leaving him!

He could not allow that!

In the desperation which had prompted the attempt to remove the pieces of the building, he had neglected to remember that it had taken two full-grown men to lift each one of those girders. There was absolutely no way a child of five could have even hoped to budge one of them.

Finally, exhausted from the fruitless effort, he had no choice but to give up. He could not save her. He went to her and knelt beside her, taking her head in his arms.

“Momma, don’t go! Please!” He pleaded sobbing. Somehow he knew that she would die though he could not have, at the time, identified the source of this knowledge. He also did not understand what that meant, or that she had no control as to whether or not she would go. And he wanted and needed her to stay.

For a split moment, her eyes fluttered open; and she looked at him. He could feel the love radiating from her even through her own agony. She seemed to be trying to say something to him that came out only as a strangled moan.

He held her even closer and pled with her even harder, the sobs shaking his small frame. He could feel her getting weaker by the moment. Some part of him thought that, if he held her tighter, that would prevent her from going. He tightened his grip even more.

Her eyes locked with his for half a second. They were still full of love. Then, in the next second, the life passed out of them; and they were completely blank. Desperately, he reached out with his mind the way she had taught him to do, hoping to find that gentle contact which had always greeted the effort. But there was nothing.

It was over.

She was gone, and he was alone.
*** END DREAM SEQUENCE ***

“No!” Maralen jolted awake, sweat rolling into his eyes. His heart pounded in his chest, and his breath came in ragged gasps.

He panted, trying desperately to shake off the dream and still the shaking that gripped his body. Hot tears tracked down his cheeks, and a soft mew passed his lips before he could stifle all of these and hide them as he always did… before They saw and punished the emotion not sanctioned.

But no punishment came.

Confused, and still shaken by the dream, he closed his eyes and tried to calm himself so that he could think clearly. Calm was eluding him, dancing just out of his reach even as he grasped desperately for it. What was happening? Why had that dream come now… so many years distant from the event? And why was he not being punished for it?

Her voice came again… the ship… Fira-leyn. “I told you,” she said softly, gently, compassionately, “They are not permitted here. No punishment will come.” She seemed almost motherly.

He had managed to stop mewing, but his body still shook with the emotional strain that had just been had. “No… punishment?” For a moment, he felt as though the words did not make sense… as though, somewhere in his mind’s process of assimilating the information, it had lost a bit of it. He blinked. “I…” He swallowed hard and forced himself to a semi-calm state. “Thank you.” He offered, slowly sliding his legs from beneath the furs that made up the coverings of the bed he had been sleeping on.

“No need.” Fira-leyn answered in those same, motherly tones. “Are you hungry?”

He was indeed. Though he still had his doubts as to the veracity of her claim that she only did this for purely altruistic motives, he did have to grant that, so far, she had been truthful… at least where They were concerned. The Song no longer permeated his thoughts, and no punishment had been forthcoming for his reaction to the dream… both of which implied that she had, indeed, left Them behind when she had absconded with him. So he owed her that much at least.

He opened his mouth to answer her, but she spoke first. “We are being communicated with. Do you want me to answer or ignore them?” She asked as though he were in command here.

He blinked twice in rapid succession. Confusion became dominant. “Why do you ask my wishes on this matter, Fira-leyn?” He queried.

“Because your opinion is important to me, Maralen.” She answered softly almost as though it should have been self-evident. But to one who had served as long as he had, it was not so self-evident. He was accustomed to being told where and when and what… not asked.

“Who are they, Fira-leyn?” He asked, wariness creeping into his tones as he made his way to the bathing chamber across the room from the bed and began a quick cleansing. Running fingers through mussed fur and mane, he gathered his wits about him, avoiding his own reflection in the mirror. Goddess, but he hated those things!

“They identify themselves as Fringe Station Estarrya of the Communion of Stars.” She answered immediately, continuing before he could ask the next question. “The Communion of Stars is what their name suggests… a collection of worlds who have banded together for mutual trade and protection… by choice.” She offered.

He considered this as he dressed and examined his attire. He would have to find somewhere to gain other clothing soon. He could not continue wearing the same clothing forever… even if Fira-leyn could keep refreshing it. Taking a deep, cleansing breath, he nodded to her statements.

“Understood. You know of them from experience?” He asked as he made his way back to the Control Room she had first brought him to. He could not help the suspicion he carried where large powers were concerned. The last thing he needed was to be snapped up by yet another and used for Goddess only knew what.

“Yes, Maralen.” She answered, her tones seemingly understanding. She was trying to assure him that these people were safe to deal with. “They are hailing again.” She informed him.

Almost by instinct, he took the Central Chair, and his features resolved themselves into Rep Mode. “Show me the Transmission please, Fira-leyn.”

She did not speak, but the front of the Command Center rippled, resolving into the image of a slender, middle-aged man with sharp lines and even sharper eyes. He looked Maralen over for a moment before speaking. Finally, when he did, his voice held a tone of wariness.

“This is the Communion Fringe Station Estarrya. Identify yourself and your business within Communion Space.” He commanded, those sharp, green eyes scrutinizing Maralen as he did so.

That instant-adapt ability came in handy here. Without missing a beat, Maralen met the man’s searching gaze, his own reflecting nothing but the expression of a businessman who has been interrupted on his way to a very important meeting. Yet, there was a hint of polite respect in it as well. He rested his arms along the arms of the chair, seeming perfectly at ease.

“I am Maralen Seitha, Captain of the Starship Fira-leyn. I am an independent for hire. I have heard that there are… interests… within your space who might find my skills of use.” He answered smoothly.

Most of that was true. And if Fira-leyn disapproved of him calling himself her Captain, she would correct him when the Communication was ended.

The man considered him a moment longer before speaking again. “And do you have prior arrangement with these… interests, Mr. Seitha?” He asked, turning then to whisper something to another officer who had remained off camera. Then those eyes came back to Maralen.

Maralen was no fool. If he lied and said that he did, they would ask with which interests and check this story. And somehow, he doubted that the old “ask me no questions, and I tell you no lies” would work here. At least, he doubted seriously it would work with this particular Fringe Guard.

No, truth was the better option here. He shook his head lightly. “No, not as of yet.” He admitted. “However, I am in the market and felt it prudent to solicit alliances with…” He hesitated. *Fira-leyn,* he telepathed to the ship as he commenced tapping controls on the arm of the Command Chair, appearing to be in search of something, *what is the largest Corporate interest in these spaces?*

Fira-leyn did not miss a beat. *That would be ShadowDragon Enterprises.* She answered immediately.

He nodded as if to himself, his hands ceasing their activity as his eyes came back up to meet the intense gaze of the man from the Guard Fleet. “ShadowDragon Enterprises.” He finished his statement to the man, eyes once again locking with those of the Guard Commander.

The man’s eyes narrowed a bit, but he did not say anything for a few moments. Finally, he nodded. “I will alert the owner that you are on approach and seek an interview.” He answered finally, and the channel went silent.

Maralen blinked. That seemed too easy. But then, maybe it was just him. Maybe he had just worked for so many paranoid powers for so many years that an easy task seemed… wrong to him. He leaned back in the chair and watched the stars move by on the screen, which Fira-leyn had left on so that he could do just that.

“Fira,” he queried, not actually realizing that he had shortened her name, “is that common for this region of space?” He asked quietly, still slightly confused by the relative simplicity of their entry into this space.

For a moment, she did not answer. And when she did, he could hear the hint of a smile in her voice. “Maralen, not everyone has need to be as… careful... as you or those whom you served.” There was also a touch of compassion in those tones. He could tell that she had not said what she had in order to hurt him. Rather, the reverse. Her attempt was to set his mind at ease.

He sighed heavily. Was she right? Had They made him paranoid? But he knew the answer even before the question finished forming itself in his thoughts. They had indeed. Every situation was a strategic dilemma to be solved. Every new life form encountered was a possible hostile waiting to either harm him or enslave him as They had. He let his eyes close as his head rested back against the back of the chair.

“I know, Fira.” He said softly. “Will I, one day, be able to see new life forms as possible friends and allies instead of waiting for them to…” He let it drift off there. She knew the Singers. She would understand what he could not bring himself to say now.

Her voice was filled with compassion as she answered, not even needing a moment to conjure up the correct answer. “Yes, of course you will, Maralen.” She assured. “It will take time, but yes.”

He sighed once more and nodded softly. “Thank you, Fira.”

The smile had entered her tone once more. “You’re more than welcome, Maralen.” She answered softly as she began the slower travel through the Communion of Stars to where ShadowDragon Enterprises kept its main facility… Koryndell.

TIME: Moments Later
LOCATION: Tassryth Shipyards, Mount Tassryth, Kantharr Region, Koryndell / Communion of Stars, Upper Gamma Quadrant, Sector XR-14 (Milky Way Galaxy) / Universe 4179 – Realm Reckoning

Ash had finished going over the Dossiers of several likely candidates. Well, she had thought them likely until she'd read the files that were NOT attached to the Dossiers on them. None were up to her standard, it seemed, and this made her decidedly unhappy. She sighed and sat behind her desk, eyeing the terminal before her. Where was she going to find the right person for this job? The terminal's message light was flashing. She tapped the Receive Key and sat back, her manner suggesting that she was at ease, even if she wasn't.

“Yes?” She answered, her eyes narrowing slightly as she realized that the face belonged to the Commander of one of the Communion’s Fringe Guard. “What’s wrong, Nerryth?” She asked, suspicion tingeing her soft tones now.

“There is a ship on approach to you, Ash.” Nerryth answered, his eyes still slightly narrowed. “He says he’s an Independent seeking alliances with ShadowDragon.”

“An Independent what?” Ash asked before realizing she had said it aloud. “Sorry, Nerryth. Did he specify his business or venue of trade?” She asked.

Nerryth shook his head slightly. “No, and I felt it prudent to... leave that to you.” He answered evenly. “I merely thought you should be aware of his arrival before he arrives.” He added, an odd tone entering his voice.

Ash frowned a bit at his words. “And why do you feel I need to be warned of this one?” She asked, pointedly altering the word used to a more accurate one. She understood Nerryth’s reasons. He was Fringe Guard which meant that he not only served as first defense should a given life form prove hostile. He was also the first member of the Communion of Stars any life form saw and; therefore, had to be somewhat of a diplomat. Thus his more... careful... choice of words.

Nerryth frowned. “I did not say that, Ash.” He protested.

“No, you didn’t. But we both know how diplomatic you can be at times. Now answer the question.” She countered easily, smiling a slight smile to let him know that she was half teasing him with that statement about his diplomatic nature.

Nerryth hesitated, thinking about it for a moment. “I don’t exactly know, Ash. He just seems... off to me. There’s something... dark and mysterious about him.” He finally tried to formulate his perceptions into words.

Ash shook her head at him. “Nerryth, there’s something dark and mysterious about *me* too.” She pointed out. “But don’t worry... I’ll be careful. Thank you.”

He smiled, relieved. “You’re welcome, Ash. Good fortune.” And he closed the channel. She sat back in her chair and shook her head again at him. That man had a paranoid streak wider than her own, if that were possible. But his instincts were impeccable. So she would watch this man coming to see her very carefully. Watch him and wait...

TIME: An Hour Later
LOCATION: Tassryth Shipyards, Mount Tassryth, Kantharr Region, Koryndell / Communion of Stars, Upper Gamma Quadrant, Sector XR-14 (Milky Way Galaxy) / Universe 4179 – Realm Reckoning

Ash watched on her screen as the very large ship stopped outside of Koryndell's system. She suspected that, given its size, it did so to avoid altering the planet's gravity. It was an impressive ship, she had to admit. She'd never seen one quite like it. Briefly, she wondered where the man had acquired it, but decided that it was likely more prudent not to ask that kind of question. After all, would SHE tell someone that if the roles were reversed?

The Comm. light lit up, and she switched modes on the Crystal Interface Terminal before her. The image of the large, black ship was immediately replaced by the face of a man with distinctly feline features. His posture was straight and his attire immaculate. His eyes were sharp and wary.

"Greetings." He offered in a voice that was silken edges. It was crisp and precisely spoken, but there was warmth underlying that tone. "I am Maralen Seitha. I request a meeting with you, Ashlyn of Koryndell." He was so damned formal! She hoped that he would relax once he had been granted his meeting, otherwise this was going nowhere really fast.

She did not answer too quickly, instead looking away from him for a moment as if studying her calendar. She did not need to; she had nothing scheduled just now. But it would give him the impression – correct impression – that she was a busy woman who did not have time for games. After a moment, her eyes came back to his. "I have some time now, yes. You may Transport." She informed him, keying her shield to open for him as she said that.

On the screen, the man nodded, stance shifting ever so slightly to indicate he was relieved. It was not a large movement, but an observer like Ash couldn't help but to notice it. "Thank you. Translocating." The screen returned to its dormant state, and on the other side of the desk from her, a flash of black energy deposited the man between the desk and the chair on his side of it.

Ash blinked twice at him, but recovered quickly. She had seen many different Transporter Effects in her day, but that "flash" effect was different. She stood and motioned to the chair behind the man. "Welcome, Mr. Seitha. Please sit." She offered, watching his reactions to her and his new surroundings carefully.

Maralen studied the woman before him with the trained eye of the good Rep he had been. Then those catlike brown eyes flicked away from her momentarily to study the room around them, taking in every detail for later study in an instant. Then those same eyes came back to her. "Thank you." He responded, eyes and manner steady. He was in Rep Mode now, calm and precise, efficient and watchful. Just as the Partnership, the Realm, had taught him to be.

He took a moment to study the chair before actually sitting in it. Vigilant always. Even a small thing like a chair could be a trap waiting to spring on an unsuspecting individual. Taking the chair after that momentary study, he adjusted his posture to appear at ease, though he was never fully at ease, always watchful and ready should he need to move at a second's notice.

Ash noted all of this and smiled to herself. She could appreciate his caution, even admire the bit of paranoia. It showed her that the man before her took nothing for granted, watched everyone and everything, and was ready to act in an instant, should the need arise. These were all qualities she liked in her people and respected in them. She might not know this man's background, but she knew this about him. He would survive the world of mercenaries she lived in just fine.

That smile curved the edges of her mouth as she spoke. "Very good. I like someone who takes nothing for granted, Mr. Seitha." She complimented genuinely, sharing that thought with the man, encouraging such behavior with its revelation. "That will serve you well here."

He frowned slightly. When had he agreed to work for her? Wait, analyze. No, she was testing. She wanted to see if he would catch her wording and correct it. He tilted his head a bit and smirked just a bit. "I did not agree to work for you, Miss Ashlyn." He stated, adding a "Yet." to show that he had not arbitrarily decided against it either... yet.

Again, Ash had to smile. This one WAS good! He'd seen the test for what it was... and passed it. "Very true." She agreed. "Shall we negotiate then?" He HAD come to HER looking for "alliances", and she suspected that what he really wanted was work. She was right, of course, and that made itself clear in his answer.

Agreement to negotiate...



OOC: It is assumed that they negotiated a contract for him to CO the ship as her Representative. It is also assumed that they spent quite a bit of time getting to know one another and building enough trust TO agree to that. So... next?