Fifth Contract/Oh Look, its this Jackass

[lastfeather]

[1] [Hangar]

[A familiar Black and Red machine has returne to the Chalice. Its everyone's unfavorite morally questionable Mercenary. The moment he steps out of his cockpit he's stretching quite a bit as he goes over the costs of repairs and ammo - in comparison to the pay he's been getting. He grimaces.]

I guess I'm probably going to be short on money again...

[He turns around to give you a rather resigned look.]

What? You surprised I came back?


[2] [Lounge]

[Ryou seems to be kicking it back on a sofa with a pile of rather aged books next to him. After dealing with the Festum, suffering an orbital drop and losing plenty of pay, relaxing with a glass of fine wine and some good books felt like the right thing to do... which begs the question, if he's so tight on money, how can he afford that wine and those books?]

[He glances in your direction for a moment, but doesn't say anything, going back to his reading and his gentle sipping from thee glass.]

[CLASSY SWAG- I mean... are you going to talk to him?]


[3] [Locked to Zeon Personnel + anyone with Colony based contacts/info networks]

[To anyone who has access to any Zeon related military networks... or has contacts in the Colonies, one would pick up on some news of a black and red machine taken to liberally reducing various Zeon patrols nearby neutral colonies to scrap and corpses.]

[The attacks were intensely vicious and seemed to be unprovoked at first glance. Then when one considers a notice Char had put up not too long ago... maybe the Colonies got nervous and needed something to keep the Zeons away as much as possible.]

[In this case, as much as possible happens to be large amounts of agression, carving messages to keep away from the colonies and leaving them where any other patrols to find. If anything this would probably put Axis on edge.]

[Also, that particular machine from the few recordings of the attacks and the absolutely miniscule accounts of what few survivors were left of the unfortunate patrols happens to be in the hangar, and the pilot is merely looking over some data for it.]

[Confront him?]

Comments

1

[gamerqueen]

"And here I thought you Armored Core pilots had some corporation paying for your ammo..."

The girl hanging down from a nearby staircase is wearing a Zeon uniform, but is completely unaware of the fun you had up in the colonies.

"Thanks for the help with those Festum guys back there, by the way!"

[lastfeather]

... We pay for everything ourselves. Any Raven worth their salt won't get too involved with the Corporations unless they're itching for a painful death.

Something those idiot Lynx would know about.

[He raises an eyebrow at the Zeon uniform, but doesn't say anything. He isn't looking for trouble.]

I just do what I'm paid for. Besides. I always wanted the chance to be a part of a story similar to the ones I read.

[gamerqueen]

Stories?

[lastfeather]

Pre-Impact myths, far older than I am. You wouldn't have heard of most of them.

[Ryou is being somewhat dismissive here.]

3

[nietzsche_waifu]

[A document - showing only the bare minimum of data, enough to tell people who don't know what's going on almost nothing, lands in front of Ryou.]

So that was your "charity work".

[lastfeather]

Yes. It was. I had a job that took me to space and I needed something to keep me busy before I could find a way back to Earth.

[He raises an eyebrow at Devon and folds his arms calmly.]

And Charity implies I'm doing it for free. This is a humanitarian service. I'm getting paid to 'help' people the best way I know how.

[Through vicious slaughter and untold carnage.]

[nietzsche_waifu]

Let me share a few words of wisdom. Maybe you'll be able to direct them to whomever hired you.

When I want to fight someone, but without it looking like I started it, I try to provoke them into attacking me first. Taunting, daring them to strike at me, with word and action.

That's what I do when I want them to attack me. Not avoid me.

Do you understand what I'm talking about here?

[lastfeather]

Hm... I'll pass it along then.

[He grunts as he scoops the documents off the floor.]

Either way, I've been paid for the job. What's done is already done...

[He seems a little irritated by something.]

I have a question... have you ever heard anything about something called 'The Dominant Theory'?

3 Locked from other Zekes

[zetahatsudo]

[You're being approached by someone with a scowl on his face, and he's wearing a Zeon uniform. Best be prepared for an-]

I have an offer for you.

[... unlikely proposal?]

You're the one wasting the Axis patrols, right? And before you answer, this isn't a counteroffer on Zeon's behalf.

[lastfeather]

[Which raised an eyebrow.]

If you want to make me an offer, you're going to have to go through official Raven's Ark channels.

Direct contracts are grounds for expulsion, and following that being hunted down and shot to death. Repeatedly. Until there's nothing but smears and junk left.

I can hear the offer before you put it through as a job though. So I'll think about it

[zetahatsudo]

[nods]

You've taken a job trying to keep Axis away from colony patrols. There are certain units that I want to protect that claim their loyalty to Zeon that aren't on this ship. I don't have all the details yet, but once I do, the job will be as thus: don't shoot them down. You're a pro, you're likely to be skilled enough to be able to shoot their weapons and render them harmless. They're likely to get heavily involved in the coming battles, so I'll scale payment as appropriate.

[Well there it is.]

3

[redcomet]

You realize this could be considered an act of war, correct?

[ He demanded, catching him in the hangar. There are two armed Royal Guards accompanying him. ] Attacking Zeon personnel unprovoked is a good way to get on our bad side.

[lastfeather]

[And Ryou merely raises an eyebrow.]

Its not my problem. As a contractor of the Raven's Ark any acts of war or violence that I have committed are done solely in the stead of those who have purchased my services.

[With that he shrugs lazily and looks away from Char and the guards.]

Besides, you Zeons don't have any trouble getting on people's bad sides. As far as I can tell, having your patrols get too close for comfort for some people was already an act of war on your part.

[redcomet]

It will be, very soon. Keep in mind, if Toto lets the patrols off their leash, there's nothing I can do about it. My command is limited to the Royal Guard, but I'll be sure to tell High Command that your actions weren't endorsed or condoned by the White Chalice.

[ Char scoffs. ] If they'd prefer to have the Titans back, I'm sure we'll oblige. The patrols are under strict orders to sweep for stragglers. That's it. If they'd prefer to be handed back to the Federation to be made into indentured servants again to pay for war debts, that can be arranged.

3

[not_the_deer]

The colonies' new hired protector... That's you?!

[lastfeather]

Pretty much. They paid me well enough, so I figured why not.

[Its not like he liked them or anything... b-baka colonies.]

And considering Zeon's on everyone's bad side, I figured I wouldn't piss anyone off on here... anyone important anyway.

[not_the_deer]

I kinda understand why they did this, but don't you know there are several Zeon bigwigs on White Chalice? What are you gonna do if they find out?

1

[gurrenbrigbonded]

Matthew, battered and worn out from guarding a munitions depot during the offensive, downs some water from a canteen and holds it out to Ryou.

"I should not have been surprised. I heard you fought bravely on the front lines against the Festum....Merc Scum."

[lastfeather]

[This earned an eyeroll from Ryou. Right. This guy.]

And I'm surprised. I figured your attitude would've gotten you killed by now birdbrain.

[gurrenbrigbonded]

[Matthew grits his teeth at that remark and instinctively touches the stitches in his uniform...sewn back together after a ill-advised encounter with a Brazilian...]

"A faulty metaphor on your part, if you mean to insult my intelligence. Birds have been known for their keen intellect: the Falcon in particular..."

He arches an eyebrow at ya.

"...And the Raven."

2

[make_history_chew_scenery]

Enjoying a hard-fought and won victory I take it?

[lastfeather]

[Now at that he smiles.]

Yes I am... as bad as my bills have gotten, I still got to take a role in the finale of a real life Seigfried..

[Ryou chuckles softly at that.. though he seems to focus on his book a little more.]

The end was a bit more tragic though, but that's what life is.

[make_history_chew_scenery]

You make it sound like the original Volsungsaga did not end in absolute tragedy. Considering how many lives were saved by all of this, we most likely have, at worst, been on par.

[hobo_lantern]

Those are some fancy wine.

[lastfeather]

Heh. If a man's got money, you may as well spend it on the good stuff to celebrate.

[With that he takes a nice long sip, relishing the fruity, earthy taste.]