An Unexpected meeting

She'd set Astrid loose and her friend had quickly started lambasting how unprepared the crews were for boarding actions. Something the enraged new warrant officer had resolved to fix as quickly as possible. Katla knew she could trust her to make them at least basically competent before they shipped out. Testing them against whatever skeleton crew the Authority had guarding the stockpiles would be a good test. She'd send along a few of her Raiders just to make sure they got the job done but that was one part of the mission she didn't think she would have to worry about. Astrid was such a good friend to come all this way with her. Even if she had gotten a little overexcited the other night. Katla hadn't been face fucked like that since the third week of training back on Asgard. Her friends mod had made it slightly uncomfortable from the ridges but denying someone so obviously pent up would have been practically derelict in her duties. It was rare to find a Viking unable to share a bit of oral relief with a comrade.

Or in some cases any kind of relief. Katla wondered how well her old crew would mesh with her new one. If the officers were any indication it would be a bit of a bumpy ride. Speaking of officers a familiar face was on her way over. "Princess." Katla greeted, "How's it going?"

"Oh please, call me Rami. I get enough formalities from everyone else." 'Rami' waved her hand as if clearing the air. "I just wanted to wish you luck. The raid right?"

Katla smiled. "Someone has to. IAA get bold if you don't smack them in the ass." Aaand forgetting who you were talking to again. In polite company she raised her hand over her mouth but unlike the others nearby Katla had a feeling it was because the princess was genuinely amused rather than mocking.

"Very well said. Of course I presume more than smacking will occur." The others around didn't seem to know how to react to best toady to what the princess had just said. Half lifting a hand to their mouths and the other half pressing two fingers to their foreheads just above their noses. Katla had no idea what that one meant. Fortunately the princess did. Turning to them with a raised brow. They immediately moved their fingers to the side of their temples with unseemly haste. "Perhaps we should speak elsewhere." Getting an affirmative nod before leading Katla to a side room. To her surprise Artemesia was also waiting there, relaxing in a comfortable looking chair.

"Bit more than just a chat then?" Katla asked, giving the former privateer a respectful nod which was returned.

"Oh no, simply a chat with better company." The princess said, taking a seat as well, waving Katla to the one that remained.

"Katla right?" The silver haired privateer asked as she sipped a drink she'd gotten from somewhere.

"That's right. Artemesia?" Katla knew damn well who she was but she was trying to learn the social game.

"Also spot on." The sipping woman was clearly amused. "Hate to possibly make this awkward but do you know Alfhild by any chance? Brendasdottir?"

"That was you then? Thought so." Katla said with a nod, "The name matched at least. Last I checked she was doing fine, kids were too."

"I'm sorry but who was this?" The princess asked, looking between her two sequestered companions in confusion as they talked about some random woman she didn't know.

"Someone your friend here got the better of. Fucked twins into her and took her ship as a prize of war." Katla explained, the video had been hot, Alfhild loved being on the bottom. Not that she would ever deliberately lose but sometimes well-endowed slaves got a pleasant surprise.

"Oh, um well I'm sure she meant no offense." The princess said lamely.

Katla could see that the princess thought she was taking issue with what had happened. Alfhild had hated losing her vessel but she'd known it was fair, she was staying home at the moment to enjoy a bit of motherhood before she returned back to the stars again. "If that was non-offended I'd love to see her angry." Katla teased.

"I'll let you know if it comes up." The privateer assured the Viking. "Of course, if you don't want to wait that long..."

"Artemesia!" The princess sounded completely affronted on Katla's behalf. Artemesia just laughed and after a moment Katla laughed with her, leaving the princess once again confused and struggling not to show it. Katla finally took mercy on her.

"Princess. People get fucked. Its part of our line of work. Today we're sitting in here enjoying some drinks, tomorrow we could be on our backs getting triple teamed and creamed in every hole until we look like ghosts. Our friend here is just offering to do it on friendly terms." Katla explained, turning back to Artemesia, "No thanks for now. I want to see how long my streak can last."

"Really? Still a virgin?" Artemesia sounded impressed.

"Every hole below the belt." Katla confirmed with pride, she'd been part of losing battles before but the system had never picked her after her ship 'blew up'. "I'm sorry we got so off topic. What did you need uh, Remi?" The princess obviously had some kind of agenda. One which had been thrown off by the current conversation.

"Nothing, really. I just thought it would be a good idea for the three of us to get together. We're all going to work together at some point. I just thought a little get-together would be prudent. Especially with all of soon to go on our missions." The Princess explained. Katla finally figured it out. The woman in front of her knew she had no clue what the fuck was going on and wanted to surround herself with people who did.

"What ops did you two get by the way?" Katla asked, curious.

"Oh, I'll be moving in my ships to intimidate and if need be engage Incan forces." The princess said, her voice turning bright. It was a decent mission for her, a larger battlegroup came with larger intimidation factor.

"They've left me on the back-foot for now unfortunately." Artemesia sighed, "Guard duty. Just in case anyone decides to attack while the rest of the fleet is busy. First Fleet is planning something big and they need their supply ships protected."

"That sounds aggressive." Katla noted.

"If we stay on the defensive we'll just get slowly whittled down. The Queen has authorized the admirals to engage in offensive action." Remi explained.

"What's the ground forces situation like then?" Katla asked, if there was a naval offensive about to start they would need to secure stations and anchorages. Not something that was proper for ordinary naval personnel.

"The Royal Army is ready. Its just about pointing them in the right direction." Artemesia said. "They're getting a bit of a cold shoulder from everyone else of course."

"Why's that?"

"The Army's officer corps is primarily commoners. Makes people turn up their noses a bit." The princess explained.

"Let me guess, not enough upper crust wanted to slog it out in the mud?" Katla asked, forgetting she was talking to two of said upper crust. And was one herself now that she thought about it.

"Got it in one." Artemesia agreed.

They continued on with their conversation for another hour, Artemesia and Katla talking about past battles and operations and Semiramis doing her best to keep up and explain things every time Katla got a confused look about some subject in Avalon culture. Departing Katla couldn't help but notice that her slightly drunk companions had been keeping a speculative eye on her body. Not that she could say she was totally innocent there either.

Astrid gave her a call as she walked towards the docking area. She'd have to take a shuttle to get to her flagship. "Go." Katla said

"Captains are waiting for you. They wanted me to get an estimate on when you'd be joining us." Reading through the lines Katla could tell her old friend was highly annoyed. Not at her but in the way she must have been asked.

"Tell them that I'm en-route now. We've got some planning to do. Pass along this mission profile to them. Read it yourself too." Katla said

She could tell when Astrid finally had read enough to realize what kind of operation she'd chosen for them. Her friend's smile carried through the link.