Socialize with Fellow Officers

As she parted company from the Authority... whatever Mizuki was, she knew there was one person who might know a bit more about the situation. At least someone who roved in the circles who did.

"Commodore Katla, good to see you." Artemesia greeted, before indicating two of the people with her one of whom Katla recognized vaguely as the one who'd pulled Semiramis away the first time she'd met her. She was wearing a naval uniform but the others had a different cut and the ranks differed as well from what she was used to seeing. "I don't believe you've met, this is my Flag Captain, Lady Mira of House Cvelt, and my friend Colonel Denali of House Revere." That explained it, she was Queen's Army. Katla hadn't really had a chance to interact with the Queendom's ground forces just yet.

"We've seen one another in passing," Katla said of Mira before turning to Denali. "It's good to meet you."

"Likewise, I reviewed the boarding action you conducted. That was some tight efficient work." Denali complimented, giving a smile. "Especially for the Navy."

Artemesia and Mira both rolled their eyes at the small jab, they were clearly used to it. It was a joke rather than an actual attempt to offend.

"Keep it tight to stay tight. Keep it loose to get loose." Katla agreed, reciting her Raider Jarl's favorite saying.

"Too true." Denali agreed.

"But that does bring us back to our good friends the Authority," Katla said, shrugging a shoulder in Mizuki's general direction.

Katla could see that Artemesia knew things were going to get sensitive, and a privacy field was needed. Before she spoke she activated one, taking the additional precaution of covering her mouth to prevent lip reading. "We're going to be moving out in **** soon, preparations are already being made. Do they think we're coming after them?"

Katla mirrored the gesture, wondering if those outside the field would think that the funniest thing ever was going on within. She wasn't too concerned about Mira and Denali hearing. "No. They wanted our help as a matter of fact. Mine specifically, to attack a Directorate system."

"Which system?"

"Mwaro."

"Then its no coincidence." Artemesia said with finality. "Mwaro was on the Admiralties target list but it was just a little too far out to justify going for it. Pretty much a coin flip. The Authority either has someone watching or intelligence let that slip for some reason. Why you specifically?"

"A Council-Admiral requested me. Specifically a Council-Admiral I suspect is related to my last opponent." Based on what Shyna had said during sex it was almost certain. However, she hadn't looked up how many Admirals there were with the last name of Yang so there was an ever so slight chance of her being wrong.

"Which means one of two things, either she's trying to get back at you, or she's trying to extend an olive branch of sorts." Artemesia noted. "Did you do something to really piss her off?" Mira seemed to almost **** at those words while Denali simply covered her own mouth. Great. Now three people were in on the longest joke ever.

"I took a ship and bred its captain. Does that count?" Katla asked.

"First off, congratulations. Second, I don't think so. Hell," Another Mira ****, that girl really needed to get out more. "it almost would have been worse if you hadn't. Taking a trophy means a trophy was worth taking. If you'd thrown her to the enlisted it would be as good as a smack across the face. What did they offer?"

"They want to set up a base in-sector. They're offering docking rights and shared mining rights." Katla informed her.

"That means this isn't totally personal. Mining rights? Sure. Docking rights? They want us looking that way for some reason." Artemesia's voice was thoughtful. "They certainly need someone to invoke peerage to get this heard. Did you say you would?"

"I said I'd give her an answer at the end of the night. Do you think I should?" That was truly the crux of the matter.

"I'm hesitant to say yes but I know someone will." With her free hand she waved over at where the Directorate ambassador was standing. "Ambassador Jabari isn't very popular at the moment. She's having to tell people no who aren't used to hearing it and some of those people are connected with Commodores."

"What about the main offensive you mentioned? Are we targeting the Authority?" Katla asked.

"Yes and no. Its a broad front. We're going after a region that we used to control a long while back. We sold most of the claims during a draw-down when the Isolationists held sway but they're expiring soon." Artemesia explained. "It's Second Fleet's show primarily but they need Third Fleet to provide escort vessels. Especially because there will be at least one campaign."

"Damn, how much did they sell?" Katla asked. A campaign meant either they had sold most to one major buyer or that there were several buyers who were willing to commit to a full-scale action for the opportunity to increase their holdings at the expense of the others. They lasted for at least several months with ships seeking to seize critical points and bases. What you held at the end was what you kept and supply lines were a major part of keeping fleets in action.

"We needed the credits more than we needed the territory." Artemesia said with a noncommittal shrug. "Mira, drink something." She said to her flag captain who was still 'reeling' from Katla's remark. Katla was sure the flag captain was just playing it up at this point.

"Anywhere near Mwaro?" Katla asked

"It's close enough that it could be used as an exterior supply base. It would be better to have it than to not." Artemesia said, clearly doing a little bit of star math in her head. "But again you don't have to be the one to do it. The fleet will have work enough for all of us."

"Well at least the corporations will get to see their tax dollars at work." Katla noted, like most nations Avalon primarily paid for its military via corporate taxes, there were some who said that meant they were doing their bidding and that was somewhat true. War was an extension of economics and politics and the greatest thing that had managed to bring the relative peace of the modern day was nations being more open about their motivations and having a formal system with which to exercise them without talking in circles about something that was impossible to agree on. Quite a few matters did still get resolved with a mixture of diplomacy and good-will. For all the others, there was war.

"Yes, quite a few of the movers and shakers are here tonight even, see them?" Artemesia asked, gesturing at the cluster of nobles Katla had noticed earlier. "Lady Hollow, Baroness Avar with her wife, and of course Lady Bridges. Between them they're some of the most powerful people in this room. Before you leave tonight I'd suggest talking with them."

The major matters had been discussed and after there was no more confidential information being discussed the privacy field was allowed to drop. Katla made a bit of small talk but there wasn't really much else of interest. One of the servers wearing green seemed to catch Artemesia's eye and Katla politely took her leave so that her fellow Commodore could have some fun.

Denali stopped her for a brief moment first. "Here's my card, if you have need of the Army any time soon feel free to give me a call. I know how to get the gears turning." She lowered her voice. "And I'm dying to get away from my damn desk."

Katla took the proffered piece of plastic. "Thanks. If anything comes up I'll let you know." With that they parted ways for the time being. Katla making her way over to where the other nobles were standing.