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A Path Through the Skies [RP]

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Inferi

Inferi

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Bridgett's readout was likely something Gareth wasn't expecting to see, although since it gave only the slightest bit of information it didn't give a reason for what was there.

Bridgett Melisandre
Daughter of Melisandre Noble Family
Suppress if necessary
Do not kill

Chloe's readout was interesting as well, although probably not outside the realm of what one would expect given what had been said and what had transpired.

Chloe Senia
Engage and Eliminate
Mission Priority

The Captain's matched what had taken place during the boarding process, and although Gareth had been part of the group that had not seen him actively fighting during the monster attack it made sense that, given his past, they wouldn't want him entering the combat.

Marcio Adalis
Former Nalis Combat Pilot
Captain of Enerias
Prevent from entering combat
Engage only if necessary

Talia's was probably the strangest of the four, and, apart from her name, contained only a single line.

Talia Silvandros
DO NOT ENGAGE
Done in by the dubious doings of destiny.

03-Apr-2018 02:52:21 - Last edited on 03-Apr-2018 03:48:51 by Inferi

NotFishing

NotFishing

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Gareth Arenar

Gareth's eyebrows raised slightly when he saw Bridgett's readings. Particularly, the 'Do not kill' reading. Apparently, to this group she was worth more than royalty... which made Gareth wonder what his own reading would say. Then he looked to Chloe, and his eyes widened slightly - 'Mission Priority.'

They came here for her!?

Unless he was misunderstanding what 'mission priority' meant, that revelation was certainly quite bizarre, and if true it would throw everything he thought he knew about the situation out the window.

The captain's readings were far more detailed, but far less interesting. It didn't tell him anything new.

And then his gaze set on the author, and that... that just didn't make sense. He actually found himself stepping backward. She was supposed to be an author...

...but she was clearly more than that, given her experience with matrices, or her ability to alter the helmet. She was not who she said she was. And perhaps Chloe wasn't either, it would seem. Gareth was grateful the visor covered his face, and he was suddenly unsure of the situation he found himself in. This turned everything on its head.

But then again...

The enemy would surely know they had the helmets. Perhaps they had updated the database to sabotage the readings, and hide the objective? And yet... it was Talia's skills that gave the assessment some merit, far-fetched as it may be.

Taking a moment to compose himself, Gareth finally spoke. "Gareth Arenar," he said, and then with a great deal of resignation added "No, not the one you're thinking of. I will confess I could not hear your end of the conversation. However, I do distinctly recall my companion issuing an ultimatum of either a trial or single combat. I will concede that the first option is simply impractical under these conditions. However, a challenge was issued, so there must be an equipment failure on your end."
Beneath the gold, the Bitter Steel.

03-Apr-2018 05:27:56 - Last edited on 03-Apr-2018 05:45:11 by NotFishing

NotFishing

NotFishing

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Gareth walked back to his seat and sat down, briefly glancing at Bridgett. "You're right. There is no force of law here." He said to Harbinger. "And this brings us back to the challenge. We fully understand that dueling no longer has a place in any sort of legal system. However, as you said we are currently outside of any legal system." He gazed at the other crew members - Ben, Riley, Travis, even Annie, just to see what information the enemy had on them, as he continued to speak.

"I will make this simple. You have something that we want, and we have something that you want. If our representative wins, you give us your ship. If you win, you can have something you want from us. But first you will have to tell us what you want, so we know what is at stake. Does that sound reasonable?" He paused, then added: "It's an outdated practice, I know, but the alternative would see both our groups exposed to elements for hours, or perhaps days, as we each await an attack from the other. And that isn't even mentioning the giant apes."
Beneath the gold, the Bitter Steel.

03-Apr-2018 05:44:35 - Last edited on 03-Apr-2018 05:48:54 by NotFishing

Annie1227
Jul Member 2011

Annie1227

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Annie listened conversation but staying quiet. She was waiting for a way that she could do to help to get out of here. She waited for the plan. -Dances-

03-Apr-2018 05:52:09 - Last edited on 03-Apr-2018 06:01:30 by Annie1227

Inferi

Inferi

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Negotiations - Take Two

There was a laugh from the other end of the line when Gareth gave his name followed by the disclaimer, although Harbinger did the courtesy of not interrupting what he was saying with words. The laugh itself wasn’t mocking, and the man seemed to be genuinely amused by the disclaimer. The amusement clearly faded as Gareth went on, however, and when the man spoke again it was clear that he was at least a little irritated with what Gareth had said. Even so, it was not as though he was irrational or angry, but more irritated in a tired sense.

An ultimatum and a challenge are not the same thing. An ultimatum is, by nature, something that the one on the receiving end has no choice but to accept, and has no bearing unless given from a place of power. It is also the entirely wrong way to open up a negotiation of any kind, and will gain you nothing but animosity from whoever you happen to be speaking to. A challenge, on the other hand, provides the option of refusal, and gives the receiving end the illusion of choice. Thinking the two are the same thing is incorrect, and it would be best to learn this as soon as possible before the same mistake is made in a more serious situation.


So, no.
” he said, for the first time sounding entirely serious, “
A challenge was not issued.


There was a pause before he spoke again, and his tone was more laid back when he did. A bit of exasperation was in his voice as well, but not enough to say that he was entirely fed up with what was happening.
Done in by the dubious doings of destiny.

03-Apr-2018 19:06:27

Inferi

Inferi

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While you seem to think that you are negotiating from a place of power, I appreciate that you are getting to the point. What you are asking, however, is entirely unreasonable. I don’t believe you understand what surrendering my vessel would actually mean, and I sincerely doubt you have anything that I care at all about. If I remained here, and you there, I would lose absolutely nothing, while you would still have everything to gain. I am the only one that loses anything in this deal.


There was another short pause, and when he continued the grin that was almost certainly on his face was entirely apparent in his voice.

And with that said, I’ll accept your challenge of a duel. My condition is that you, as well as whoever you choose to be your representative, will owe me a favor that I may call in whenever I please should I be the victor. It will be nothing that will be beyond your capabilities, nor will it be something that will overtly destroy your life, career, or what have you. I’m also dying to know, now that my terms are laid out, what you think you have that I need so badly.


The database entries for everyone else on the ship were about what one would expect. There was nothing important in any of them, or at least not anything that wasn’t known.

Annie Wells
Citizen of Nalis
Expendable

Travis Fenwick
Guild Member - Nalis Branch
Expendable

Benjamin Carter
Citizen of Theosis
Expendable

Ridley O'Connell
Minor Nalis Nobility
Expendable if Necessary
Done in by the dubious doings of destiny.

03-Apr-2018 19:06:47

NotFishing

NotFishing

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Gareth Arenar

Gareth rolled his eyes as Harbinger lectured him on the difference between a challenge and an ultimatum. Of course he knew the difference. Direct taunts had failed, so he instead adopted a more subtle approach, to attempt to frustrate the man into making a slightly more reckless decision.

"And let me guess." Gareth commented drily. "You intend to call this favor in the second you are victorious. I suspect this is just a loophole to avoid telling me what you need. As to your other conditions, 'nothing beyond our capabilities' should almost go without saying - it would not make much sense for you to demand something we can't give you. Though it is good to know my non-existent career will remain intact."

As to the readings, the revelation that Ridley was minor nobility was quite shocking, but even more interesting was the fact that he was only expendable if necessary - that was the second Nalis noble they were reluctant to kill. They must be in the employ to some sort of company or organization from Nalis, he realized.

He glanced down at his body, wondering if his own reading would display, or more importantly: what it would say. At the same time, he continued speaking. "And just to clarify something - would we owe you one favor each, or would it be one favor between my associate and I? If it's the former, then you are demanding two things, not one."
Beneath the gold, the Bitter Steel.

03-Apr-2018 22:38:29

Inferi

Inferi

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Negotiations - Take Two

"
I do not, actually.
" was the matter-of-fact response to Gareth's dry comment. "
As I said, I do not believe that you have anything I actually care about. Having a future favor is far more valuable than simply using it as a screen anyways, and in my current position I get far more from gaining favors than I do from any form of instantaneous gratification.
"

Gareth's look down at himself produced no results. It was very likely that the helmet's display used facial recognition as the primary form of identification, and therefore it would be impossible to gain information about himself if he was wearing the helmet.

Harbinger continued, "
One each. Contrary to what you are thinking, the value of my vessel greatly outweighs a single favor from someone that has very little power or influence, and even two are weighed in your favor. I will not tell you the specifics, but if you actually manage to obtain this vessel you will find that it is a rather sensitive piece of technology. As I told you, what you are asking for is unreasonable, and I will not negotiate the terms. I have told you what I require for your plan to come to fruition, and now it is up to you whether or not you will accept it.
"
Done in by the dubious doings of destiny.

03-Apr-2018 23:03:47 - Last edited on 03-Apr-2018 23:04:15 by Inferi

Annie1227
Jul Member 2011

Annie1227

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Annie didn’t understand what was going on because she doesn’t have a mask. She waited patiently to know what the plan going to be. All she wants to do is to help. She felt a little nervous what’s going on. -Dances-

03-Apr-2018 23:04:23

NotFishing

NotFishing

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Gareth Arenar

"Very well." Gareth said. "I will give your terms to the group, and see if they find them acceptable. We will contact you again shortly." And with that, he disconnected the helmet, setting it in his lap.

Then, he looked back up at the rest of the room. "He will accept the challenge." Gareth said at last. "...on the condition that, if he wins, both I and whoever faces him will each owe him a favor that he may call upon in the future. In his own words, it will not be beyond our capabilities, and it will not overtly destroy our lives. I for one do not like the idea that he may one day turn up on my doorstep with a demand, but they seem like the best terms we are going to get, if we are still serious about this course of action."
Beneath the gold, the Bitter Steel.

03-Apr-2018 23:44:20 - Last edited on 03-Apr-2018 23:44:31 by NotFishing

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