Course of action

Posted on Wed Nov 11th, 2020 @ 10:13pm by Skyplex Administration Scarlett Wilson & Security Johannah "Mack" Shepard

Mission: This Week's Special
Location: Tenzing Momo Resort and Spa
Timeline: Following meeting with Carnahan

Scarlet exited the minister's suite to be immediately confronted by two purple belly troopers that were guarding the outside of the suite. She gave them a passing smile, not wanting to get mixed up in anything. Looking down the hall she saw a man in the skyplex security uniform. She quickly headed towards him.

"Officer Davies, Where's Mack at?" she inquired.

"She was setting up the perimeter, down by the junction to the main lobby. She's likely there if you hurry Administrator Wilson." he responded.

Scarlet still felt a burst of pride when people referred to her with her proper job title. To anyone near her age or younger she was just Scarlet, or something much more derogatory. Being a Plexie always stuck you with the fmailiarity that everyone knew you and your business, not to mention every stupid thing you've ever done.

She could have had the officer call ahead, in fact he might have, but Scarlet knew where she was going and it wouldn't take long. Indeed she arrived at the junction fairly quickly. The cooridor overlooked the main entrance to the Spa one floor below. Scarlet could see Mack giving instructions to one of her officers before looking a bit pissed.

"How's it going?" she asked as she approached Mack.

"I'm providing security to a vile, indecent piece of crap while his lackeys treat me as though I'm their lackey," Mack said. "And I have the station's Companion putting on airs and talking to me like I'm something she stepped in and didn't like the smell of. That's a real treat, let me tell you. Makes me feel really awesome. On the other hand, I haven't sliced open yīnnáng, cut off his gāowán, and forced them down his throat. I didn't kick Major Black's ass up one side of the hotel and down the other. So... I get a raise, right? You know, for not resulting to violence?"

The comment actually made Scarlett laugh. "I think we may all need one after this little visit. I have a feeling the Major may be more of a pain in the ass than the minister, but we will see. Hopefully our companion can keep him occupied and out of our hair.

Seems they are here on a man hunt of some level. A ship called the Kestrel. They want to know everything about anyone that came in contact with it. Its not one of our usual customers. Reports show it was in port about three months ago. Nothing exceptional about it. But he's giving me a list of people on the station they think are tied to it they would like to interview. I'm not really in a position to say no, but I want to make sure our people are treated decently. And that includes you. You are essential to this station. I want you to know that whatever is going down, I have your back."

Mack visibly relaxed, at least a little bit. "Thank you," she said. "If I'm being honest, my bravado is covering a fair piece of fear when it comes to Carnahan. Towards the end of the war, I was brave for my people, but secretly terrified we'd get caught by the butchering bastard. When I ultimately surrendered, I made sure I was nowhere near his area of responsibility, but things were hectic and I wasn't sure I wouldn't somehow come under his control. I was spared all of that eventually. I guess my father heard that I'd surrendered. I assume he arranged for me to be transported to Londinium and made sure no one touched me until he was able to arrange a pardon... after which he essentially banished me. I was angry about that for a while, but eventually decided that in his own way, he was looking out for me." Mack looked Scarlet in the eye and smiled. "Your support is appreciated. I'll make sure to spread that message around to my constables. They'll appreciate it, too. Black's troopers are giving the stink eye to them, even the ones that are former Alliance soldiers."

Scarlett nodded. "Yeah, they seem like a pretty serious bunch. Of course if you were assigned to guard a U-War hero, I guess its a big deal. My family didn't get involved with the War, we just did everything we could to keep this place open to anyone that could dock with us. Then my father got framed by folks coming out from the Core looking to earn some quick cash. We spent all we had saved to fund my father's defense. They took him away and I havent been able to track him down since. So I am not too happy about outsiders coming in and throwing their weight around. Just keep your eyes and ears open, something could go really wrong really fast. OF course how is that any different than normal here." she said with an honest smile.

Mack raised an eyebrow and grinned. "You do remember my first day here, right? I'd barely set foot on the station before I had to shoot and kill six people and kneecap a seventh, after which I saved a plexie kid by killing a giant mutant cat thingee that wanted to eat him by stabbing it with my boot knife until it died. So, yeah, I am aware that things can go sideways at the most inopportune moments."

Scralet giggled a little at the statement. "The plex is always trying to kill us somehow. Just make sure it takes as much time as possible. I'm going to head back to my office and start processing reports the Minister requested. Get your people deployed and try and enjoy your evening."

"Yeah, I'll try my best," Mack replied. "Thanks." The former Browncoat Captain turned Security Chief headed off to do one last sweep before heading to her office to start another review of the files of the constables she'd assigned to the VIP detail. Mack didn't think she'd find anything, but she since she hadn't known Carnahan would be the VIP when she picked them, she hadn't been looking for people who might have a beef with him specifically. But she had made sure no one she assigned to the detail was likely to attack a Purple Belly VIP. In any case, she'd look and she'd handle anyone who needed to be taken off the detail. But unless the person presented an eminent threat, Mack wouldn't hand any of that information over to Major Black.

And if Alice LeMat flashes his Purple Belly Marshal's badge at me, he'd better have a warrant in the other hand! Mack thought to herself. Mack liked Alice a lot. They'd been friends for a while now. But that didn't mean she'd hand people's confidential information over to him in the name of a wángbā dàn like Carnahan. Sorry, Alice, but there ain't that much love in the Verse!

"Just remember to get some sleep. They won't be here forever." Scarlet said with a smile to her Security Chief as she walked towards the stairs to deck 3.