BoTH Chpt 75

==Blood on the Horizon - Chapter 75 -==
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===May I Have this Dance?===
Date: August 19th, 3007Location: Davion Palace Complex - New Avalon, Federated Suns
"Hanse, I don't know how to dance," I stopped him and Dana. "I can at most sway to the beat of the music awkwardly."
 
"You think you're the only one like that?" Hanse chuckled. "Do you not see Natasha Kerensky out there?"
 
My eyes eventually found the Redhead awkwardly following the lead of some FedSuns officer.
 
"Okay, fair enough," I sighed.
 
"Now, get out there, find a dance partner, and have fun. We'll have that talk after the party's over."
 
With a quick shove, I was out on the floor and stumbling into a woman in what seemed like a less intricate and more practical dress with few, if any, embellishments.
 
"Major Hull," she inclined her head as she subtly showed me where to place my hands. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you."
 
"I'm afraid you have me at a disadvantage," I replied, desperately trying to follow her lead on this dance. "In that, you have my name, but I don't have yours."
 
"I'm Countess Elizabeth Durand," She smiled. "I believe that you own land on Pierce?"
"Aye," I replied, raising an eyebrow in confusion. "The unit does own land there."
 
"Then you are a part of my domain," She indicated for me to twirl her in synch with the rest of the dancers. "I am the ruler of Pierce, and luckily, I was on New Avalon when this Banquet was announced. I intended to depart today but was set back because I wished to meet with you and discuss several things."
 
"I assume they're business-related," I started to get the hang of the current dance, finding the rhythm and stepping into the beat. "So I'd like to ask for us to hold those later as I'm currently beholden to the First Prince and his family for this event."
 
"Of course," she replied. "But I believe you'll wish to have this conversation sooner rather than later. It will benefit both of us if we cooperate in several ways."
 
"I'm currently staying at the mercenary's inn," I replied. "Give me a heads up in the next few days, and I'll be sure to set aside time for a chat."
 
"I'll do that," she gestured for us to step off the dance floor. "Thank you for the dance and the time," she said with a slight bow and a half-smile. "You didn't do half bad for someone who has clearly never danced before. Get a few lessons in you, and I'd love to accompany you as your date to functions such as this in the future."
 
"I'll give it some thought," I replied, bowing in return and wiping sweat off my forehead. "Thank you for the dance, Countess Durand."
 
With our conversation finished, the Countess let me be as Hanse appeared again, his escort seemingly possessing the teleportation powers he was showcasing now.
 
"Were you a Drill Instructor at some point?" I asked Hanse.
 
"I serve as one for a year, why?" Hanse seemed taken aback by the question.
 
"It all makes sense now," I put together the pieces of the puzzle. "The teleportation, appearing when least expected, everything."
 
"Stop being dramatic," Hanse rolled his eyes. "Now that you've performed your social obligations, please come with me."
 
Hanse and Dana walked me up the stairs and into a private room where First Prince Ian Davion, Field Marshal Hasek-Davion, and the Senior staff of the Wolf's Dragoons were waiting.
 
"I'm telling you," Ian laughed, throwing back a glass of whiskey in coordination with Natasha Kerensky. "You, me, a beach, and my Atlas," He winked at Natasha. "We'll have so much fun you'll never want to leave."
 
"You couldn't handle me on my worst day," Natasha replied, gesturing for the First Prince to pour another drink.
 
"Ian, how about we stop trying to hit on the Black Widow," Hanse took a seat and gestured for me to do the same.
 
"Fine," Ian stopped drinking and set the glass down, seemingly sobering up for this conversation. "Let's get this over with so we can return to having fun."
 
"Basically," Michael Hasek-Davion spoke up. "We're interested in those suits that you utilized on Tybalt."
 
"Then why are they here?" I indicated Jaime and Natasha.
 
"We want to license the design from you," Jaime shrugged. "And the Federated Suns were already planning to hold these talks with you, so we figured we would use the opportunity."
 
I paused to collect my thoughts, stroking my beard for a moment while I figured out how to respond.
 
"I can tentatively say yes," I finally said. "But there will probably be caveats on parts of this."
 
"Such as?" Hanse asked.
 
"The Concordat already has the rights for first refusal for the suit production runs," I replied. "And I don't exactly have the exact documents or numbers on me to give a solid confirmation of anything."
 
"We'll arrange a meeting with you later," Michael Hasek-Davion interjected. "Preferably before you leave New Avalon."
 
"Now that business is done," Ian poured us each a glass. "Let's drink and get to the fun!"
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===High Cost of Communication===
Date: Two days later…
(("I'll keep this brief as we're quite literally burning money to have this conversation,")) Sheppard's hologram flickered as he transmitted data. (("WarWorks and the Calderons are allowing this deal with the Davions with a small list of exceptions. I've transmitted you the list of things we're allowed to negotiate for, but I wouldn't expect the Davions to reject this outright."))
 
"Copy that," I nodded. "I'm going to finish things here and head out when the Whirlwind and Tornado get here."
 
(("Understood, Sheppard out."))
 
I collected the data chip that had downloaded the list Sheppard had sent and tucked it into a backpack before nodding at the Comstar Acolyte on my way out.
 
I'd have to run this through the equipment onboard the Messenger before plugging it into any of the 'Noteputers I had around.
 
I left Comstar's New Avalon complex and climbed into the car I'd left parked outside before pulling out into the traffic headed for the spaceport. I had work to do.
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===Marksman Senior staff (up through 3007)===
CO: Major Mark HullXO: Captain Jack Sheppard
Infantry CO: Captain Thomas PetersonXO: Raymond Packer (Previously Staff Sergeant but was promoted due to expansion)
Combat Vehicle CO: Captain Juliana RoseXO: Naomi Brown
Logistics Supply Officer: Captain Alice JohnsonXO: Francesca Peterson
Aerospace Fighter CO: Captain Aiden BlazeXO: Kei Nagase
Dropship/Jumpship CO: Commodore Victoria JewelXO: Kaylee Frye
Marine CO: Captain Felicia PaigeXO: James Mathis
Intelligence CO: Jimmy DunhamXO: N/A
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Chapter 75