MBMSFS Chpt I2

==Manufacturing a Blueprint for a More Stable Federated Suns‎‎ - Interlude 2 - ==
== - Samantha Sterling (aka Agent Game) - ==
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===First meeting===
[Agent Game]
[Fort Andrew Corean]
[Petrolia II, Petrolia System; Federated Suns]
[August 31st, 3027]
The primary bay doors to the Leopard Class dropship Heart of the Lion opened up with a slight hiss, and a rush of warm, humid morning air flowed inside; even with the venting tunnels of Petrolia II's spaceport, the ground was more than a touch warm. However, that wasn't much of an issue as an APC rolled up the ramp and inside, and within moments a sealed forklift commonly seen in spaceport operations rolled right up after it, the vehicle's thick metal forks laden with a small sealed shipping container. 
 
Samantha Sterling, who more often than not went by the moniker 'Agent Game', stood on the stairs leading up to the command deck from the Leopard's hangar with a noteputer in her hand. She was clad in a spacer jumpsuit that bore the colors of Corean Enterprises, a white and off-yellow color scheme, with the 'C' shaped shooting star that was the company's logo on her left sleeve near the shoulder. Perched on her nose was a pair of black-rimmed glasses, and her shining red hair was done up in a loose but artfully messy bun; it had been rather crisp, but the re-entry had done a number on it, and more than a few tresses were loose; however, she sort of like the look, and it certainly fits the image of a senior level staffer who struggled to keep up with her boss.
 
The rear door to the APC opened up and a few infantrymen from the 22nd ISTG exited and cleared the area before giving the go-ahead; Samantha approved of their competence- the place a VIP was most likely to be killed was the place that they felt was safe. The next man to exit was a very familiar face, Salim Mustafa. Though she was 'External' and he was 'Internal', the man was someone that had worked with in the past on numerous occasions. He was a true pleasure to work with, and sometimes she'd like to think that it was her recommendation that pushed him to the top of the stack for the position of Section Chief for Petrolia. 
 
His mustache had somehow grown thicker if that was even possible.
 
Samantha sniffed.
 
The man who followed after him, however, was her newest and final mission. 
Arthur Corean's hair had grown a fair bit longer since he stepped away from New Avalon in the middle of the night, and Samantha had to admit that she preferred him with shorter hair; the long red tresses just made him look scruffy rather than roguish. His suit seemed to hang off of his tall frame, indicating that he hadn't been eating as much as he usually did, and Samantha wondered if Salim had been skimping on details in his reports to Countess Yeathers on Arthur's health; he would need to eat more, perhaps start an exercise regimen, and fill out some. She worked very hard to maintain her physical fitness, even when the jobs often required her to gain or lose large amounts of weight, and she would be damned if her husband would be some noodle-armed lout- brilliant scientist or not. 
 
After all, what was the fun of having a strapping young man decades younger than yourself if they lacked the physicality to utilize their vigorous youth?
 
Her lips twitched at the thought, and she continued to catalog the details. 
 
Slightly dark rings around the eyes indicated that he wasn't sleeping as well as he should, yet despite his bleary-eyed tiredness there was a certain amount of zest in his posture. When he left the APC with bags in hand his back was straight and he seemed determined to do something; what that something was she didn't yet know, but she would find out. 
 
The AFFS chaps returned to their APC, the doors closing shut before they exited back out the way they came, the forklift following along right behind them.
 
When his eyes scanned around the hangar bay Samantha took that as her cue, "A-ah! Mister Corean! It's good that you're finally here!"
 
She slipped into the personality of a jittery, frazzled twenty-something easily as her booted feet beat a tattoo down the steps. Salim led the way, the MIIO Section Chief guiding Arthur Corean right toward her, the man gazing at her intently with those ice-colored eyes; internally she repressed the slight flutter of nervousness, and she made a mental note to congratulate the dossier author who said that being stared down by Arthur Corean was like 'wading into an industrial freezer in the buff'. 
 
Samantha certainly felt the chill, even if she knew from his psych profile that he was currently stripping away at her with his eyes, his mind cataloging everything about her, much like she had been doing to him not moments before. 
 
"And who might you be, I wonder?" The man's voice was low, barely audible over the background hum of the Leopard as crews rushed about to handle their post-landing checks so that they could then begin their pre-flight checks soon after, "You wear the colors and bear the logo but I don't think we've ever had the pleasure to meet before."
 
Agent Game forced a nervous smile on her face, the woman blowing her bangs out of her face as she tittered with a slight edge, "I'm Samantha Sterling. Uh, I was the understudy of Miss Daisy for the position of Head Receptionist? Along with Mackenzie and Delilah."
 
His shoulders tensed up slightly, though where most would attempt to cover up their lack of remembrance for someone who should ostensibly be a member of the staff they recognized, all sense of tiredness was washed away and he refocused on her like an 8cm Laser. She could see his lips part, only the barest amount, indicating that he was about to call her out on her ruse, but a quick dart of his eyes towards Salim's beaming smile had him quickly abort. Instead, he brought a hand up and rubbed at his bearded jaw, "Ah, yes, Samantha. I do remember you now. The one who always stood behind the other girls, right? I can't say I'm surprised that she chose you to be her understudy over Mackie and Delilah, she always did say that a proper receptionist was meant to be unassuming and unobtrusive."
 
His lips tilted up into a lopsided smile as he let his eyes roam over her once more, "Though now that I have a chance to look at you without all of the distractions around I'm surprised that I didn't immediately recognize you on sight."
 
Samantha allowed her eyes to roll just a touch as he put on a touch of a show for the Dropship crews that were taking an interest in a conversation they shouldn't be taking an interest in; the woman had initially believed that with his direct nature and personality that he would have taken a touch longer to understand what was transpiring, but the First Prince did remark that he had a fairly keen eye for noticing subterfuge. However, in her case, they had never met before, so it was impossible for him to have memorized any physiological tells that even twenty-five years of training couldn't quash. Of course, he could just be obtuse and have genuinely not recognized her, but given his exceptional memory she found that highly unlikely.
 
Maximilian Liao would grow wings and leap from the rooftop of his palace before Arthur Corean forgot the face of an employee who should be in his daily orbit.
 
The former MIIO Agent allowed her eyes to crinkle as she let out a hum, "Well, now that introductions are finished... can we go to a secure room so that I can update you on everything that's been happening at Corean while you were gone?" 
 
"Well, I think it will be another two hours before we can take off again, so we might as well. I can use the burn up to digest what we cover, and then during the burn out we can review and come up with some plans to enact when we return to New Avalon." Arthur gestured for her to lead the way back up to the command deck where two briefing rooms, which she had secured personally before their arrival, were waiting for them. 
 
While they walked, she talked.
 
"Yuri has been doing a good job, but it was a touch shaky in the beginning, mainly stemming from confidence issues," She reached up and grabbed the top of the hand railing and hauled herself up to the bridge where she nodded to the Leopard's Captain and XO who were both busy with their own tasks, "He did have some rather large shoes to fill, but between your advisors- Mister Seymour Harding in particular was a great assistance- and the department heads he was able to find his stride rather quickly."
 
Arthur huffed lightly as she guided the pair into the secured, hardened briefing room, "Old Man Seymour is a good sort. He might be on the board for fun, something for him to do in his advanced age, but he's always had a good head on his shoulders and he always puts the welfare of the Company first."
The light bars flickered on, illuminating the small holotank in the center of a much larger steel table with wooden trim, and Samantha took her seat while Arthur and Salim took theirs. The moment the doors shut behind them and the automated white noise generator kicked in, Salim's politely neutral smile morphed into something more whimsical, "It's good to see you again, Boss'ma'am."
 
Samantha Sterling rolled her eyes as she set the noteputer down on the table with a soft 'clack', "Please, Salim. It's been many years since we last met, I would appreciate it if you saved the cheek for later."
 
"So I was correct," Arthur Corean's lips tilted up slightly as he resumed his study of her like she was a complex work of art at the New Avalon Gallery, "It is a pleasure to finally meet you, Miss Sterling. If that is your real name."
 
It appears that someone had watched a few too many espionage dramas, but while the amusement was plainly apparent in his voice, the expression on his face told her a slightly different story; a hint of... sadness?
 
"It is who I am now, and who I will hopefully get to be until the day I die, Mister Corean," Her words only seemed to darken his eyes, so she changed tack, "I hadn't expected my new identity to be sniffed out so quickly."
 
Arthur shrugged, "What can I say? My memory is quite good, and I always make sure to have a personal hand in the hiring of employees who work on the upper floors of the main office. Especially if they're going to be working reception- as much as people might think that only the industrial and R&D areas are worth paying attention to security-wise... receptionists and secretaries have access to a lot of information that could prove to be useful in the right hands."
 
"Such as Daisy Rittenhaus," He added a moment after, his voice bitter, "And speaking of Daisy... I know that I might not be privy to all of the goings on, but did she at least provide something useful?"
 
At his question, Samantha shrugged her shoulders, "That I cannot say because internal affairs were never in my wheelhouse. That falls to someone like Salim here..."
 
At his sudden inclusion in the conversation, the man's shoulders twitched faintly, but his easy-going smile remained fixed in place, "I'm not certain how much I can tell you, but... let's say that she managed to take care of herself before we even knew she was gone."
 
Arthur's shoulders slumped as he muttered, "After everything my men went through to secure her? Time-delayed poison, perhaps?"
 
The Section Chief of Petrolia II's MIIO office held up a hand, "What can you do? Sometimes no matter how many steps ahead you think, there is always someone with enough experience to think just one step further. Considering her physical age and competence... you can rest assured that your paranoia turned out to be something that even she couldn't account for."
 
"It's not paranoia if they really are out to get you, Salim," The CEO of Corean replied dryly as he shook his head, "Nothing for it, I suppose. If I want more of the details then I could just ask the Prince himself, but honestly, I doubt that digging any deeper into it would be a reasonable use of my time. I'll just let that particular dog lie. Now, Miss Sterling, you said you had the rest of the details on the happenings back on New Avalon?"
 
"You wish to go over my reports in detail, Mister Corean?" His words made her heart stutter in her chest for a moment, but a slow, steady breath kept her calm and focused; while she hadn't expected to have to do this, she had prepared a shorter presentation for him to consume. Though she was once more thankful for the thorough write-up MIIO did for Arthur Corean's personality; it wouldn't do to look incompetent in front of her husband-to-be on their first meeting. 
 
"Of course, we have two hours, and I'd like to make the most of them," Arthur was already digging into one of his bags before pulling out a noteputer, "Shall we begin?"
 
"And that is my cue to leave," Salim Mustafa popped out of the chair and strode toward the door like a baboon with a scalded ass, "You two have fun!"
----
===Friendly Seduction of a Future Husband===
"-and the Board had a problem with Yuri's decision on that matter?" Arthur's eyes were focused on the trio of noteputers in front of him, and not on her thankfully; the intensity of his gaze was something that could supercool a Jump Core.
 
"No, it was mainly the Finance Department Team and Miss Asakamori," Samantha replied as she clicked out of the previous program and popped open the word processor that contained the minutes from the meeting she transcribed from the annual July board meeting, "Mister Heddiger of Finance and his team were rather proud that they were able to bring down projected construction costs by supplementing the construction firms with employees who had a background in construction. 'Using idle hands to free up more important hands' was how he put it."
 
With the reconstruction of the Corean complex on New Avalon, with numerous buildings and warehouses being torn down, a fair number of employees were cross-leveled into other areas, however, there was still a sizeable amount that was without work. While they were collected a reduced retainer fee to prevent them from jumping ship, the Finance department and Human Resources departments put their heads together and found a way to get more of those non-working employees back into the field. Assigning them as laborers and contractors working under the direction of the two Construction Firms Corean had hired to rebuild the facility was one such method.
 
"No more than twenty thousand or so could have fit that description, as Corean prefers to hire fresh graduates so that we can train them to our specifications, but it is a neat little fix." The red-headed Duke mused as he pulled out yet another noteputer and flicked it on, his finger skimming across the touch screen as he absorbed whatever data was on it, "Ah, yes. A neat little thing he did there; paid at the average wage of a laborer, which would be deducted from the quarterly payout on the front end. Very nice. I take it that there weren't any complaints from the firms?"
 
The former MIIO operative shook her head, "No. If anything they seemed grateful to pick up the additional labor. I think they overestimated their capabilities more than a little when they wrote up their initial plans. Likely to secure the contract so that you didn't go shopping around."
 
Arthur sniffed, "And if you picked up on that then that means Yuri did too, which is why he brought on a third Construction Firm to help out. He's pretty damn observant, you know? So, tell me about the firm he hired. What made him pick them over someone else?"
 
Samantha minimized the word processor and pulled up the corporate dossier that MIIO had on Highrise Construction; maybe Arthur was onto something with having multiple noteputers so he didn't have to keep switching back and forth?
 
"Highrise Construction is a firm specializing in above-ground construction that has been operating on New Avalon for almost one hundred and fifty years. A little young given the sea of older firms that they compete with, but they have a solid track record of delivering on time and within budget. However, there was a rough patch from 3002-3020 when Johnathan Hightower operated the firm, a few lawsuits about cutting corners, but since Mister Hightower passed away of a heart attack in 3020, his son, Anthony Hightower, has been hard at work repairing the company's reputation." 
 
Not needing the dossier for the rest, Samantha looked up at Arthur, "According to Yuri, Anthony's son, Bertrand Hightower, is attending the business course and they have every class under the sun together. While the construction is proceeding along as planned while being under budget, Hetzman and Bauer are putting the screws to their crews to see that the buildings are torn down, the underground bunkers excavated, and everything after construction. The past year has been rather hard on the crews, with them even working through some holidays to meet deadlines, and it is plain to see that this cannot be sustained."
 
Arthur stopped working on his noteputers and looked up at her, the man rubbing his chin, "So rather than wait for the crews to start fraying at the edges, Yuri used his schooling connections to feel out another firm to take some of the load off?"
 
Samantha nodded in ascent, "Yes. While Mister Seymour thought it was a good idea, Mister Chen and Miss Moore abstained from voicing their thoughts, however, Miss Asakamori was reluctant to see off the savings they made with Mister Heddiger's plan. That and while the construction materials and equipment rentals were already paid for, the additional skilled labor would add on an additional seven percent to the overall cost of the construction."
 
At that the CEO chuckled, the man's head bobbing from side to side, "I can understand her position. Tacking another Billion and some change to the final price tag is no small thing, but I take it having a few extra thousand skilled hands will speed up the process some?"
 
"The initial construction was slated to be completed by October of 3032, but with the inclusion of the Highrise firm it can be sped up a fair amount with improvements in the division of labor; March of 3031 is the current completion date as it sits." The hydraulics of the shock-chair hissed slightly as she leaned back, "However, this raises some concerns about there being too many cooks in the kitchen. Already the three teams are starting to butt heads as to how the above-ground workflows will go."
 
"That's fine," The man shook his head dismissively, "If anything it makes things easier for me in the long run. Who is the most vocal about Highrise being included?"
 
Miss Sterling blinked as she dredged up the memories, "That would be... Hetzman Subterranean. Their Chief Foreman has been making a note to politely critique the 'upstarts' from Highrise at every opportunity during the weekly planning meetings between the three firms."
 
"Even better," The red-haired man toyed with his beard as he grinned, "Hetzman is the foremost expert in subterranean construction and excavation in the Federated Suns, and I'll need them to focus on that and that alone. I have the new facilities that need to be dug out here on Petrolia II, so I'll have them apply that expertise solely toward digging and reinforcing, and when there is nothing left for them to dig on New Avalon I'll hand them another contract to start working on Petrolia II. Solves the 'too many cooks' problem for the above-ground construction, but I'll leave Bauer Construction Corp and Highrise Construction to snipe at each other; that way they'll be sure to keep each other honest without there being any issues with the two ganging up on the new firm." 
 
His joviality left him within moments, however, and he scrubbed at his face with his hand, "Seriously though, try as I might, I still just can't understand some people. They're stretched so thin that they'll gladly accept the help of their client to solve some manpower shortages, but adding another firm into the mix has them roth? Have they no sense? It's like a bucket of crabs..."
 
"While I can't speak to the thoughts of Hetzman and Bauer's leadership, I can confidently state that large-scale overhaul construction projects like what Corean is undertaking only come around once in a very blue moon... barring rebuilding after an attack, of course. With that comes a certain level of prestige, and bragging rights to tout to their peers or customers, and while the inclusion of client employees in the workforce can be spun positively for optics, the inclusion of yet another construction firm is much more difficult to brush off. It makes them look as though they over-promised and under-delivered unless they can point to demonstrable delays that were either inevitable or unavoidable." Samantha added as she toyed with the rim of her glasses.
 
"That and they'd have to share the glory... Mechwarrior culture seeps into everything."
 
//"Attention on the deck. Attention on the deck. Pre-flight checks have been completed and we have been refueled. All hands, please store your belongings and report to your assigned seats; prepare for departure."\\
 
"I suppose that means us as well." Arthur made to stand up, but Samantha stopped him.
 
"No need. These chairs work just as well as any other; just make sure to put away your things in the locker over there," The former Agent pointed at the row of lockers within the room with her chin, "Besides, I'd like to talk to you about my cover and how we will proceed going forward."
 
It took him only a moment to power down his noteputers and return them to their proper places within his bags, and he got up and stuffed them into the locker before yanking on it to make sure it was sealed. "Alright, now I think we're getting into some good stuff..."
 
"I don't know, Arthur, I found all of this business talk rather stimulating." She replied honestly as she reached around and began clipping herself into the seat, and at his slightly shocked expression, the woman couldn't stop the coy smile from pulling at her lips, "What? Are you surprised?"
 
The metal restraints clicked into place as the man considered his words, "Yes and no. 'Yes' in that... when I asked Hans for a MIIO Super Spy for a wife I sort of expected her to have a wide range of competencies and would at the very least be somewhat interested in the particulars of the corporation her future children would inherit... but also 'No' because... well... it isn't that exciting for a first conversation, is it?"
 
He fiddled with his restraints as his words lost their coherency and he started to ramble, "I mean, we're about to get married and spend the rest of our lives together, right? Shouldn't I be thinking about what you would like to talk about to test the waters? To feel each other out? Numbers and office politics is not the best way to start this but..."
 
Samantha couldn't help but feel her heart stutter, and she smiled warmly as she rested her elbow on the chair of the arm and cupped her cheek, "I have been many things in my time serving the Federated Suns, Arthur. I've been a small businesswoman plying her company's wares in the Lyran Commonwealth. A Jumpship Captain working the trade lanes within the Draconis Combine. A Professional Hangeron of a Court Noble within the House of Scions in the Capellan Confederation. As well as a Mechwarrior in a Mercenary band out in the Periphery- mainly the Taurian Concordat and Magistracy of Canopus. Though on my last assignment, I was a simple crewmember of a Jumpship."
 
She let that hang in the air for a few moments before continuing, "So you don't have to worry about what I might find interesting for a... 'first date'. I'll have you know that I don't intend to merely kick back and relax while enjoying the fruits of your family's labor; I aim to be a proper wife and be the rock you can lean on. In the case of a massive corporation such as this, with your skills best put to use in the lab or testing range rather than the board room, then learning the ins and outs of Corean Enterprises and handling the detail work while you focus on the big picture is a good thing, no?"
 
"But is it what you want to do?" 
 
The sheer intensity of his simple question caught her off guard, stunning her to silence. When was the last time that had happened? 
 
Summer?
 
Her shock seemed to only invite the man to forge ahead, "I mean... I know you signed up to join MIIO. Took on those assignments yourself. But when was the last time you actually did something because you wanted to and not because it was necessary for the mission? You've... likely given up far more than I could ever imagine. Your name. Your face. Your hair- ah, you're not blonde. I just now realized that."
 
She snorted, his last few words jarring her out of her daze, "I do remember the Prince saying something about 'a blond-haired, big-tittied' woman to fit the bill for your sexy super-spy wife. Does that bother you?"
 
"Damnit, Hanse," The man hissed to the ether before his eyes returned, "I was half-joking when I said that. I don't actually have a preference for blondes, red hair is actually rather fetching on you just as it is on me. But my main question is yet to be answered: what do you want? Do you like being a redhead? Or would you like to change it before we step out on the big stage?"
 
At that Samantha couldn't stop the slight bubbling of warmth from spreading throughout her chest, "I like the way I look right now just fine, Arthur dearest. Though my original hair color was black, and while permanently changing my hair to red is easy enough, there will be no hiding that."
 
He gave her a lopsided smile as he shrugged, "And my ancestors sprung for the good Star League genetic tinkering, so my red hair and blue eyes aren't as much a recessive trait as they naturally would be. Though that's all talk for the future, for now... shall we refocus? Cover story?"
 
"Well, I'm Samantha Sterling, a Baroness whose noble title can be tied back to my adopted father, Keith Sterling," The former Agent began telling the man a story, "After graduating from the Mechwarrior Academy I was assigned to a House Garrison unit under the First Prince's personal guard but saw no action. Seeing that my father had made some backroom deals with the Prince to ensure that I would never see a battlefield, I left the Guard and came to work at Corean Enterprises. I was slated for a slot within the company's Security Forces, but there wasn't one available, so I ended up sliding over to the Human Resources department while I waited."
 
She toyed with her earlobe a bit as she gave him a faux coy smile, "Officially I stayed because my father didn't wish for me to join the Security Forces, however, unofficially, I found myself entranced by the CEO's brilliant son. Seeing an opportunity to bag an eligible bachelor by dint of simply being around more than other girls who might try to capture your attention, I worked my way up through the ranks to become your Number Two Secretary, and with Miss Daisy's passing, I am now your Chief Receptionist. Although I will be taking over a role as your personal receptionist while Mackenzie takes the slot as See-Arr."
 
"It wouldn't do to deprive Mack of her efforts, she's worked hard, and as far I can tell she doesn't have any outside loyalties," Arthur mused openly, "And now that we've finally met?"
 
Agent Game played with her scarlet tresses as she forced a light flush and bit her bottom lip, "Well since I've had you all to myself these past seven months, acting behind the scenes here on Petrolia II, I went out of my way to seduce you, and after a year or so of drip feeding the tabloids the whirlwind romance we'll officially marry and tie the knot."
 
"Ha-hem, s-seduce me, hmm?" He cleared his throat, but his suave words were belied by the stutter, "And how, perchance, would you go about... seducing me?"
 
She let her eyelashes flutter naturally as she turned her head away, "We have a month on this bird, Mister Corean. Why don't you let me handle the approach, hmm?"
 
It was rather cute seeing a 30-year-old man's cheeks flush as the fantasies no doubt began to flash through his mind, and he subtly adjusted himself in the chair, "We can't go all of the way though. As old-fashioned as it sounds... I'd like to save the first time for my wedding night."
 
Teeth were shone as internally Samantha began to gush.
 
Her ennobled, multi-billionaire, genius scientist/engineer husband-to-be couldn't possibly be this cute.
----
===Teasing and Closeness===
[Twelve days later]
 
The burn toward the jump point was uneventful, but it was busy.
 
Truth be told, she had not expected Arthur Corean to be such a whirlwind of constant activity- the man was rarely seen without at least one noteputer in his hands, and more often than not, with one or two in his lap. When his hands didn't have a noteputer, then they had a stylus and ruler as he worked on one of his coveted, Star League era portable engineering Pads- the metaphorical pen always to paper. 
 
She learned a great deal more than she had before as he spent every moment that wasn't alone teaching her about the corporation and its holdings. Most of it was old knowledge and would be subject to change in a few years as Corean sold its various weapons and component licenses to smaller manufacturers in the space, and this was because Corean Enterprises would be focused solely on building their own weapons and equipment. 
 
All of this would take place within what Arthur called his "Self-Contained Manufacturing Facilities", which were very large, multi-floored buildings that could repurposed relatively quickly to manufacture components or even a complete line of Battlemechs and Vehicles. They were roughly equivalent in size to the still-standing Star League era automated Valkyrie plant, but thanks to the multi-story design, it meant that each plant was completely self-sufficient. Everything from weapons and heatsinks to communications and targeting & tracking packages and even armor plating would all be housed in a split above/below ground set-up that would allow each line to function independently from the rest of the Corean Enterprises' complex.
 
The only things that wouldn't be produced inside each SCMF building were the engines, and the reasoning behind that was because those buildings had to be hardened to an even higher degree, and considering the safety standards of the Federated Suns, making those improvements to every building would be even more costly. So eight of the thirty-six new buildings were set aside solely for the production of Fusion and ICE engines for the vehicles that Corean was going to produce. Though there was a new design for ICE engines using Andosteel and Turbochargers that he wanted to build and test, but that required the help of Dimurot Incorporated, which was a ground vehicle manufacturing company that 'lived next door' to Corean. 
 
It was also where the Hit Squad from SAFE set up, and Arthur was fairly confident that the Board would be open to a partnership; if 30% of the weight of an ICE Engine could be shaved off for ground vehicles- and 25% for Aerospace Turbine engines- then there would be no reason for them to oppose. What helped Corean helped Dimurot, never mind the 'Honor Debt' they owed to him for being an unwitting party to Arthur's assassination attempt.
 
So yes, the days have been busy indeed, even if he only let her look over designs to prevent what he called 'stupid mistakes'. 
 
According to Arthur, there were many times an inexperienced eye could save a lot of heartache early because instead of focusing on the particulars, which went over the heads of most who looked at the plans, the onlooker could see some things that might stand out as odd. Odd things that the engineer or designer in question would be forced to have a very good explanation for- such as: "How is the door supposed to open all of the way if that thing right there is partially blocking the path?"
 
More often than not their observations were either unfounded or able to be explained, but there were some things that couldn't be, so having an unbiased eye take a peek could and did help sometimes.
 
It also helped her feel included and let them spend some more time together, which Samantha thought was pretty sweet of him to do.
 
She used that time to slowly start working her charms on him, something that was quite the treat since she couldn't remember the last time she seduced someone because she wanted to. 
 
Leaning into his side while they sat on the couch going over designs together. Fingers brushed over his when he handed her something to look at. Their feet and legs bumping and resting against each other's underneath the table. Squishing a breast upon his shoulder as she leaned over it. Speaking a little too close to his ear when she could have easily maintained distance. 
 
All of those little things and more were slowly starting to drive him up a wall, the poor man was quite keyed up this far into their journey, and his reactions despite being a full-grown man were rather delectable. He wasn't quite a rabbit, no, he had more control over himself and didn't flee from her advances, but he wasn't an unflappable, uninterested panda either.
 
It got to the point where even one of the Mechwarriors on the Leopard with them pulled her off to the side: "Stop bein' a cock tease and get on with it. The rest of us are dying because you two keep hammin' it up without actually going anywhere."
 
That had been a rather unexpected development since most people stayed in their own lanes, but Samantha always found such interactions to be both amusing and refreshing; had the woman known that she was a MIIO Agent- active or retired wouldn't make a difference- then she would have kept her mouth closed and treated her much like they did Salim. By staying on the opposite side of whatever room he was in, and by never being alone with him.
 
The rank and file seemed to have odd notions as to what MIIO did and how they functioned, but with the Maskirovka, Internal Security Forces, SAFE, and LIC setting the standard... MIIO was painted by the same brush. 
 
As if they were commissars meant to keep them in check with loyalty tests and executions for those who didn't toe the party line.
 
Still, the Lieutenant had a point, Samantha had toyed around with him long enough, and now it was time to reward him for his patience.
 
So, clad in a bathrobe and slippers, with her towel over her shoulder and her cleaning products in the hand caddy, Samantha Sterling slipped quietly into the small shower hall that the Leopard sported. Though to call it a 'shower hall' was rather generous, as it had four spray heads with two on either side of the left and right walls; if all four heads were occupied then the phrase 'Nut to Butt' was rather succinct if one turned around to wash their backs off. The entrance to the small hall was a simple 1.5 meter square box with four small lockers, and as she stripped her bathrobe off and hung up her towel the woman smiled impishly to herself as she saw Arthur's jaw drop slightly before he swallowed thickly and cleared his throat before resuming his short five-minute wash.
 
The former MIIO Agent pulled out a simple wedge and placed it in behind the sliding door so that it couldn't open, a necessary measure since the doors to the shower hall didn't lock, and once it was in place?
 
She stalked over to Arthur and stepped under the spray of his shower head with a purr, "Hello Arthur dear~."
 
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Though they slept separately before, for the remainder of their trip to New Avalon, Samantha gave up hot bunking with the other three female crewmembers in favor of slipping into her husband-to-be's stateroom and sharing his bed.
 
It was a tight squeeze for two people of their size on a twin, but for both him and her, the little bit of discomfort was more than worth it.
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==Chapter Note==
*Chapter Note from the Author ; A 3k interlude became 9.3k. Lol Well, more character interactions and development is better than less, in my opinion.For those reading on SB, it might be shorter because the juicy scene was cut because of the rules on lewds. You can find the lewd in full on QQ. 
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