Solar System

Arthur was forced into his seat as the shuttle entered Mar's atmosphere, the pilot refusing to slow down until the last minute, unwilling to run the risk that they be detected as a Federation taskforce. Like a shooting star, they descended from the atmosphere, red lights flashing on the inside of the ship as the heat shields were pushed to their limit. Finally, the pilot slammed on the retro-thrusters, a large jolt running through the ship as it juddered to a more manageable speed, now flying carefully at a medium altitude above the red planet.

As the ride become more comfortable, Arthur pulled out his dataslate, and read up on the invitation, his eyes carefully making sure they had got their position right. The pilot had been good, and the co-ordinates had been spot on, and it appeared that this meeting spot would be in the "suburbs" of some Martian city; a villa to be precise. Arthur ran a hand through his hair, and looked at the situation, before leaning over to the pilot.

"Drop us off, and leave primary security protocol to the Indomitable. Land in the wilderness somewhere, and don't get into any trouble. Be ready to come pick us up if anything fishy happens, okay? Also, keep your long range sensors running. If something big is coming for us, I want to know before it kills us." The pilot nods in a response, gesturing an "Okay" hand sign, before diving the shuttle down. With a loud rumble, the shuttle descends, grass waving and detritus swirling around the ship as it lands in the middle of the road, disgorging a dozen or so marines and Arthur himself, resplendent in his pure white-with-gold-trims Federation uniform.

With a loud screech, the mecha-suit lands beside them within moments, her retro thrusters enabling her to land with balletic grace. Making quick time across the lawn, the marines, supported by the frame, dashed to the door, securing the main portal to the household, before ushering the Captain forward. With a loud whine, the shuttle took off again, leaving them alone. Gesturing for the marines to lower their weapons, Arthur coughed somewhat, before knocking on the door, eager to get out of the open as soon as possible, noting how rediculous this would seem if it wasn't so dangerous too.

((Tell me if anything is wrong their, but as I can't look past the first page of the RP for some reason, I couldn't check the details of the invite))

Michael heard the door bell land nodded to Ms. Mary, who with incredible speed for wearing heels darted to the door and stepped outside onto the entrance. She surveyed the area and frowned at the marines and mech, but she had been given strict instructions on what to do in this case. “Lower your weapons please, this is a neutral area. I can assure you there is no need for alarm, the Jupitris forces already know you’re here and believe me when I say they won’t try anything stupid.” She breathed, “This is the home of Michael Regard, Owner and CEO of Heaven’s Break and he is confident that they won’t try anything stupid less they lose his support. Captain Wainwright, Mr. Regard is just inside awaiting you. As for your marines, if they could please follow me.” She said gesturing around the back side of the house once more. She would wait for them to comply before leading them to a large garage like building which contains a lift to the Hanger below the structure. There the marines could wait for their captain, whom Ms. Mary would have assured them would be down shortly.

Michael would have left Evangeline and Jarvis on the patio to go and greet the Mercenary and the Captain in the Foyer. He wasn’t sure if they were going to follow, and he had no clue how to explain why he had federation and coalition forces under one roof. “This was working out much better in my head. “He mumbled to himself as he reached the foyer and greeted the mercenary. “Good evening Mr. Hulter.” He said with the brightest smile he could manage, which was fairly bright, being that the world of business is one for masks and magic (More smoke and mirrors than anything else)

Arthur walked inside the household, bowing his head to the lady who greeted him as he stepped through the door, the marines following after him. With a casual gesture, he ordered them to lower their weapons, and so they did without question, the high-power assault rifles now limp on their neck straps. Along with the mech, they are cautiously led away, leaving Arthur alone, a naval issue pistol now his only defence.

"You are most gracious, madame, see that they do no harm." He smiles, before turning to the two men who now stand with him in the foyer. "Hello to you both. I ensure no ill fate has befallen either of you of late?" He bows his head, maintaining a gracious smile on his lips, unwilling to start a fight quite this early into the evening. Especially as, quite disconcertingly, the woman had mentioned that the Jupris knew of his presence here. Hopefully he hadn't betrayed the ships were abouts by coming here. He shook his head, no, no, the first mate would deal with that. Relax.

He smiled, realizing how paternal he sometimes got.. Even now, hundreds of miles from his ship, he couldn't help but feel somewhat responsible for the lives in the ship

Michael heard Mary's words and cringed, he hadn't told her to say that! "Oh well, got the point across." he whispered to himself before stepping forward to the man and bowing back. He then decided it best to easy the man's worry.

"I apologize for her bluntness," he said indicating to where Mary had been, "Mary is highly efficient and loyal. Trust worthy too, but she lacks sedulity at times and is often one to raise alarms to get things done. The Jupitris forces only know you're at my home for diplomatic reasons. They do not know where your ship is and as far as they know you're just a usual ambassador." He let this sink in before suddenly catching himself as rude and extending his hand. "I'm terribly sorry, where are my manners? My name is Michael Ragard, CEO of Heaven's Break." he said kindly.

"Ah, so you are the puppet master around here." Arthur chuckled, taking the CEO's hand and shaking it it warmly. "Arthur Wainwright, Captain of the Federation Fleet Ship Valkyrie, although I think you already know that." He nods slowly, looking around the foyer. "Certainly a nice place here. War treats a blacksmith well, am I right?" He smirked, winking at Micheal, allowing a certain amount of mischievousness to rise within him.

"So! A diplomatic foray, humm? I presume the other faction is present here then. I can tolerate this. Frame pilots are often too eager for blood, but I am a captain, not a mere pilot. The peace and silence of space faring is one I like to maintain when planetside. And guns in an atmosphere make an awful racket." He grinned, looking around once more, this time for traces of other people. "In short, I'm not about to tear up your house for a few Coalition members. I pray they are wise enough to do the same!"

Michael was very well aware of who Jarvis was now and understood him well enough to know that seeing the captain would infuriate him. So as he heard him approach he glanced casually over his shoulder to see him reach for his weapon, but as his face gave away he clearly didn’t have it on hi. Michael smiled and said without turning about, “Mr. Lagan, there is no need to be so threatened.” He said warmly as he stepped back and let the two have full view of one another with him in the middle and off to one side. “May I introduce, Captain Arthur Wainwright of the Federations Ship Valkyrie, Captain this is Mr. Jarvis Lagan a Psycho-Frame pilot of the Jupitris Coalition.”

He knew this wouldn’t alleviate their unease, and he doubted much would but he was never one to not give it a shot, after all he had tried to turn Jarvis to his side (whether Jarvis had realized it yet) and he may try a more direct approach still. “There is no need to seem so concerned Mr. Lagan, as I have said I and my company are neutral in all of this, did you not remember that? Captain Wainwright is only here to pick up a piece of technology that we have developed for his superiors. And in the process I figured I may as well give a hard working soldier a break from the battle field. It’s the same reason I brought you here along with Evangeline.” He knew that this would do little at help as well, and wasn’t certain if his slightly sterner tone would piss Jarvis off. Still, he had one more thing to do. “Besides Mr. Lagan, without your weapons what can you do to him? Oh but that reminds me.”

He reached around to the small of his back faster than a man of his age should be able to and drew from it a fully loaded Magnum Revolver and took aim at the Captain, his finger on the trigger and the hammer pulled back, it was ready to fire. His aim was right at the man’s shoulder, clearly he didn’t want to kill him if he could avoid it. “You’re weapons please Captain, I can’t let my other guest go defenseless and you armed. You as well Mr. Hulter.” He said with an indication to his other hand, which was at his stomach and held a semi-automatic pistol again aimed at the other man's shoulder, but not as well aimed as he was going to shoot that from the hip if necessary. His face didn’t change, but if any of them could see his eyes, and were experienced enough to notice, they would see a gleam in them like a shadow. Gone was the persona of the business man, at this moment he seemed to be the “Seraphim” and his old training as a soldier and his cold calculating mind were in full swing. He didn’t want to have to use violence to disarm them, but he would if he had to.

Arthur looked over Micheal's shoulder, spying the angry Coalition pilot. With a mischievous smile, he waved to him, bobbing his head a little to the fuming soldier. "A pleasure I'm sure. I'd shake hands with you, but I'm not entirely convinced that you would not tear my arm from my socket in the process. As such, I will merely re-iterate our gracious host's policy on neutrality so that a Juppie like yourself can understand; I'm not here to fight you. If I was here to fight you, I would have done so from the bridge of my ship, hundreds of kilometers away. A life ended, in the touch of a button." He winked, putting his hands on his hips, his posture defiant.

However, to say that having a weapon drawn on him mid conversation didn't unnerve him would be lying. Looking at the cold, harsh steel of Micheal's handgun, it took a few moments for Arthur's cool to return, remarking to himself that - with a touch of irony - he was probably the only person in the room who was not, is not, and will never be a soldier, despite quite possibly being of the highest military rank present as far as the main two factions were concerned.

Smiling warmly once a few terse seconds past, he, pulled his handgun out of his bandoleer, and put it on a nearby cabinet. Backing away from his weapon, he then shook his head dismissively, shrugging somewhat. "I believe the simple fact that this building still exists as a freestanding structure is valid enough proof that I can be trusted not to start a fight. But in the interests of keeping the peace, I willingly surrender my sidearm."

At the man's comment Jarvis bit down on his lip so hard that beads of blood blossomed in his mouth. This attitude of his didn't help Jarvis's view of the Federation become any lighter. He wanted to tear the man's flesh from his bones like a wild animal but at the moment he was at a serious disadvantage. He knew that to attack the man would end in a hail of bullets and a very dead psycho frame pilot. But this man was just asking to be destroyed. So Jarvis did what the cold persona he had worked so hard to develop often did, he filed the thoughts in the back of his mind. He strode forward slowly to stand just in front of the Federation captain and looked him straight in the eye.

"I'll rip you to shreds," said Jarvis. "I make that an oath, an oath on the grave of the father you killed."

Arthur smirked, shaking his head. "Oh come now. Unless your father was a captain of the Jupris fleet, it's very unlikely I killed him. Good sir, I think you need to define people better. Yes, I'm a federation pilot, and yes, I'm employed to deal with the Jupris Coalition. But that does not mean I harbor any personal hatred for you." He met the gaze of the pilot, staring into his deep cold eyes. He felt his hatred - pure, white anger - and knew full well this pilot was definitely not schooled in anger management.

He then paced around the pilot, looking up and down his form, examining him like some carefully. "In fact, you fascinate me. Your burning desire to kill me is something you do not hide, but if you bemoan your own fathers loss, then why do you rob other families of their fathers too. Many married fathers join the forces, I should have you know." He stopped again, turning to face Jarvis, shaking his head. "Your anger, your mind-numbing passion for killing my kin is exactly what will drive this war on, for those children left behind will come to scorn you as you scorn them. Before long, no-one will consider peace."

He knew the word was outdated, useless and irrelevant, especially in a room filled with a mercenary pilot, two Jupris pilots and an arms dealer, but peace was still an idea he clung on to, the idea that both factions could walk away from this alive, before it's too late, and every man thinks like the hothead before him. Then again, he was a captain, he mused. The closest he ever came to the war was measured not in meters, but in kilometers.

The captain glared back at the pilot, feeling the raging hate swell from him. This boy was obviously not mentally sane; which certainly made the rumours about psycho pilots more acceptable to him. How could this boy be so wrapped up in his hatred? So completely determined to kill that nothing at all could stop him? It was a life that Arthur found difficult to imagine, and thus, stopped trying, his brain hurting in the exhaustion of trying to imagine another man's thoughts.

Nodding to Micheal, he followed him to the elevator, starting to roll around what he had said in his mind. What he was suggesting was nothing short of suicide. A third faction? When the two main factions have already been set up?! Where would their base of operations be! Mars? Unlikely. That would make this new factions an anvil for the other two to break upon. Then where? He wondered, slowly stroking his chin.

He had to admit, however, that the talk of peace touched him, and he was fully aware that by joining one faction, he was propagating the war. However, he joined the service to save lives, and that, in a round about way, was what he was doing. None the less, he was no soldier, and he desired nothing more then to return to a world where the deep void knew tranquillity once more.

“It is obvious we have much to talk about...” He mumbled to Micheal, as if it were some incriminating evidence, before turning around, facing the entrance of the elevator.

Jarivs laughed to himself silently. They were discussing espionage, treason, and the fate of a war. Yet this Michael was concerned about liability waivers. It was the most absurd thing he'd ever experienced. But not wanting to deal with the fools' reaction if he refused Jarvis signed the waiver. He folded his arms as it was passed to the next person. This whole business just didn't sit right with him. The presence of the federation captain still nagged at him, like a wasp that just wouldn't go away. Well, one would certainly know how to deal with such a pest. You swat them.