Liese Redwing's Story

Liese Redwing looked to Laura with an icy glare, finishing despite the interruption, "... And this is Laura Rosalind, Archduchess. You might recognize her, if you look closely enough."

"A tact assessment, Admiral. One not far from the truth."

The two women looked rather indecisive on the matter, glancing at each other before turning to the bodyguard who stood behind their chairs, the man possessing in his stance more authority than the two combined. It was obvious that Redwing didn't think much of her, but that was everybody, and Rosalind, still with the mind of a teenager, was confused.

Liese Redwing shrugged, looking rather displeased with the matter at hand. "I have no idea, Mr. Hagen. I suggest you start taking action to ensure the well-being of your guests."

"Good day."

She still stared out over the panoramic view of the vast metropolis that the office's window provided, her hands clasped behind her back under her greatcoat, waiting a few moments to respond to Thistle's words. It wasn't that she meant any disrespect to her, but Redwing made sure to set the pace of the meeting, and she had to admit, the reference to the Erutin leader with such a prestigious title couldn't help but irk her. The Erutin didn't know, and they weren't to blame for their ignorance, the prophecy of the matriarch was something that, now, looked to be an impossibility. Turning from her commanding view, the Archduchess revealed her face to the two, taking a moment to look them both over before descending to their level from the office's raised portion. "An honor and a pleasure. I am Redwing, Archduchess and regent of the Hegemony." Approaching the twins, one could see much more of her attire than earlier, the black of her uniform hiding the details against the brightness of the city.

The tunic she wore had an open collar, like most Landwächter tunics, with two gold bullion oak leaf collar tabs on red wool backing that contrasted well with the rest of the tunic's body. Trimmed in gold bullion, her collar hinted at two shoulderboards, a rather fetching blend of silver and gold bullion weaved knot designs, hidden underneath the greatcoat, barely visible. Oddly enough, unlike most uniformed Hegemony personnel, she bore little in the way of awards; with only one buttonhole ribbon and a single badge on her left breast. However, what truly finished her look were the breeches, along with the ever-present Belkan jackboot.

"But you two," she continued, "may call me Liese."

Redwing blinked in immediate response, sympathy was a rare emotion in the Hegemony. As it stood there were three different words to express the concept in the Azrelk tongue, and well over twenty for the concept of retribution. However, Liese made no move to look surprised, her Landwächter indoctrination serving her well. "That is a very warming thought, Thistle. But I don't believe it was in His plan for the Erutin to be in the thick of it in the coming storm." Redwing now allowed her arms to drop, the left revealing a rather lithe but toned hand which barely touched a nearby seat. She hadn't been entirely briefed regarding the situation of the two twins here on Tannhäuser, she just knew they were in the wrong place at the wrong time. "Now it's my turn to apologize, and I am sorry for your treatment following the incident." She trailed off, not entirely sure how to proceed regarding the mention of the situation, one which she hadn't familiarized herself with.

Drawing her right hand to her chest, she laid it flat upon her breast as she continued, "I'm sure your mother must be quite worried. But just how did you get here?"

The thought of personal devices that could allow for intergalactic travel rather piqued Redwing's curiosity, but she digressed. Were it that the Hegemony would ever have the chance to even inspect that kind of technology, peaceable relations with the Erutin would have to be maintained. Simply put, withholding members of a royal family without good reason wasn't a good way to go about that. "Then who are we to hold you?" She asked rhetorically, a smile crossing her lips as she spoke. "I would ask that you send my regards to your mother, but... perhaps it's better that I don't." Having moved her hand from her breast to pick, for a moment, at the golden chain which held the overcoat together upon her.

Redwing offered another glance to Steel at Thistle's mention of his desire to return, one that Steel dared, for a moment, to meet. Regardless of the nature of her stare, Steel drooped his head once more, his vision affixed to the floor ahead of her again. "Well, it warms my heart to know that we are of interest to you." There was a subtle inflection to her voice that seemed off, whether for worse or for better Steel couldn't tell. "And you are free to come and go as you please, and your gratitude to your mother's generosity is too kind." Turning around and beginning to return to her previous roost, Redwing finished, under her breath, "It is our pleasure."

Steel looked to Thistle, and then again to the regent's turned back. She'd released them from the meeting, or so Steel assumed.

The ships were largely unassuming, three destroyers and a cruiser, and looked to be, for all intents and purposes, just another one of the many raiding groups that the Hegemony had sent out to raid the Coalition-Caliphate border, save that it lay in the heart of the latter. Even if they were military vessels the Caliphate did little to interfere with them, having a live and let live attitude, being that the Hegemony vessels had done little to interfere with their customs or power their weapons. Before long they'd traversed the portal to Dev Eru, the Erutin world witnessing, for the first time in quite a while, Belkan vessels nearby.

Proceeding to enter orbit, a delegation of three shuttles with escort descended from the cruiser, accompanied by communications from the cruiser, informing them of their arrival.

The shuttles sat down with ease on the pad, the fighter escorts flying a circular patter around once before returning to their base of operations on the cruiser. For a few moments they just sat there, whatever motion that was present inside not being visible to whoever might've been watching for it, like a still pond. The stillness was, however, interrupted by the descending of boarding ramps, almost in unison. Not long thereafter hobnailed boots could be heard descending them, their owners were soldiers, guardians of the regent, Landwächter troops clad in parade gear but still armed.

It was a few moments before she descended the ramp herself, likely awaiting word from her people that it was safe to do so, but when she did it was a rather slow motion, taking her time. Accompanied by a personal retinue of her own, a guard on either side, the two companies of troops snapping to attention at the sight of her presence. Advancing beyond the shuttles, Redwing and her sentinels took up positions directly opposite of their Erutin hosts, and she made the first move to salute the fellow monarch. Snapping her hand into the air, her heels clicked together, something that all her guards mimicked.

Dropping her own salute at the behest of her host, Redwing moved to a state of parade-rest, as was habit for her. She smiled subtly, not wanting to appear unpleasant to their gracious allies, "Queen Wing, we are most thankful for your generosity. The character of both you and your people is further emphasized by such an imperial mindset." She utilized a compliment rarely seen outside of the Hegemony, modern society in the Milky Way having corrupted the word into a pejorative, the adjective imperial alluding that one is akin to Him. "We have all the time we could wish for, madam. We would be honored to celebrate with you." Her smile, having grown now, still didn't exceed what one would expect from the hard woman. Taking an initiative, of sorts, Redwing closed with Wing, still flanked by her guards, and offered her hand to shake.

The simple gesture, Redwing thought, would help emphasize their egalitarian nature.

"But of course." Redwing responded almost immediately, shifting her piercing gaze to Blade for a moment before looking back to Wing, "You laude us with honors, Queen, and I'm afraid I do. Even as regent," she then offered her hand to Blade, shaking his as well, "one never truly leaves the service." Stepping back a pace, having shaken both of their hands, Redwing's left fell onto the hilt of her saber, easily worn, as now, without the overcoat that she preferred in colder climates. "My only regret concerning the visit is His absence."

Liese Redwing accepted his sympathy with a nod, acknowledging again His death, an unpleasant look making itself present on her face before being subdued by her will a moment thereafter. "It isn't a problem, Wing... if I may?" Catching herself there, she offered her right hand forward as if to remedy some wrong, hoping that her brash nature hadn't offended her. "Love is a rare luxury in this age, you are privileged to enjoy it."

The suggestion of transport, however, had Redwing undecided. Being that her men were assembled in formation, were they to move anywhere they'd do it in step. "Perhaps we could ride while our entourage could march to the palace? Today is a nice day for a parade." She wasn't wrong, the day was rather pleasant thus far, and she didn't wish to impose upon the Erutin's transports to accommodate all of her guards.

Redwing took the invitation in stride and approached the vehicle with a lengthy step, reaching it in little time. Speaking quietly with her two guards one moved away, rejoining his usual contingent that had now assembled with the Erutin forces, the other still stayed. "Queen, you don't mind if my guard rides with us? He'll stay out of the way, I assure you." She intended for him to ride up front, away from the two, though her motives regarding his presence weren't entirely present. Having asked as she took on the of rear seats, she held her saber so that it wouldn't interfere with her seat, she looked to the Queen, somewhat eager to be off.

She hadn't been part of a parade in over a decade, recently having been on the receiving end of parades, even while He still lived. Thinking back to that time didn't do her any favors, and instead offered a spare glance to the assembled men and women, the Belkans looking quite the part, their white gear contrasting delightfully with their black uniforms. "I must say, though, you enjoy something of an advantage with your monarchy."

The guard sat in the seat in front of Redwing, who had decided to take the right side in the rear of the vehicle, and made sure that his rifle didn't interfere with either his seat or the others in the vehicle, finally relaxing in the seat with a sigh. "It's habit." Redwing offered, speaking truthfully. Returning her eyes to Wing, Liese tried to explain, as best she could, of her meaning, waiting politely for her fellow monarch to finish. "Governors can be something of a bother, but the threat of retribution tends to keep them in line. But, my thought was..." She paused as the vehicle started, finding it a rather pleasant change from the many repulsor-rift craft so common in the Hegemony, "... that your government isn't as centralized, in a way. You bear your responsibility with another."

The beauty that Kampf found in the world was rather evident, even in the cities. Perhaps it was the bunting and decoration that won Redwing over, the national colors were always something she loved to see.

Redwing shook her head, not wishing to imply that their hosts had to change their plans to suit their tastes. Public executions weren't uncommon in the Hegemony, but broadcasted ones were another story, their punishment having had to be worthy of their sins to be shown to the entirety of the population. "May our eyes augment their shame." The crowds that now began to line the streets rather interested Redwing, some of them in their natural forms. The Erutin were odd beings, but ones that could prove undoubtedly useful in the coming conflict.

"As evident as His will is in our daily lives, our media rarely shows our punishment of dissenters and criminals." She mused on the topic for a moment, trying to think of how best to state her thoughts, "It... helps to emphasize the severity of the punishment when they do."

Redwing took her host's initiative and let the topic be, though her curiosity was now piqued, being that her interaction with the two young ones might have something to do with the incident they'd see later on. She made something of a mental note concerning Wing and her children as she stepped down from the vehicle, accompanied by her guard, and rested her eyes on the rather beautiful scene before them.

As magnificent as the Hegemony was, were one to say that they'd forgotten the beauty of nature they wouldn't have scratched the surface. The Belkans, in their desperate war for survival, had disregarded the environments of their worlds greatly in favor of victory and total dedication to the war effort. Such a sight, outside of invasions or the frontier, was quite rare. "You do have quite a world, madam. Where to?"

Redwing walked beside Wing, her guard hanging off, not wishing to eavesdrop on the two. The mention of her Emperor, not to mention His death, brought a heavy feeling to her heart, as it did for most loyal followers of the faith. "As are we all..." She muttered under her breath before speaking aloud, "We know that he was in the field to negotiate, as he did with your civilized people, to hopefully solve our issues here in the Milky Way with words, not action, and he was, at the last time his entourage checked in with the fleet, going to meet with an Aschen businessman."

Looking to the ground now, one wouldn't have thought there had been much change in her feelings, were it not for her eyes, which bore the hatred that she conveyed so often in her speeches. "They never returned, and several scouts reported several incidents of Taiyou vessels leaving the area."

The emotion that was ushered from Wing's depths was rather surprising to the Azrican woman. While she enjoyed a much more subtle response upon hearing the noise, Wing's emotion was something that, Redwing mentally admitted, pleased her. The imperial regent simply nodded her head as the Queen of the Erutin spoke, agreeing with her as she continued, slowly realizing just what she was suggesting. She remembered, of course, how the twins had left her office days prior, in a flash of light, and such things had haunted her mind since.

Now, it seemed, that the Crusade, if it wasn't before, was going decidedly in Imperial favor. "Your generosity, again, knows no bounds, mistress Wing. What would you ask of us to barter for such a priceless commodity?"