Illya took a minute to go get his snack and Calysta laid back thinking and winced a little. She had been having some cramps the last 2 days and it was usually a precursor to her period, though it would be starting a bit early by her calendar. Pushing down on her lower abdomen, she tried to stretch out the cramps but it only caused her belly to rumble. Apparently, she was just slightly bloated too. Not much but she was feeling fluffier than usual. Rubbing her fingers over her lower belly, she tried to east the cramps and suddenly the rumbling grew loud. A panic struck her as a long, thunderous fart escaped her. It was strong smelling and as soon as it hit her nose she gasped. Illya could not know that she just did that. Even if her belly felt much better. It must have been all the meat she ate! Leaping up, she started fanning the area with the covers, trying to disperse the smell. When that didn't work, she dove for the matches nestled between a stack of sweet smelling candles. Fumbling with a few broken pieces, she managed to get several matches to ignite to cover the smell and then lit the candle wicks, hoping their scent might cover up her misdeed.
The stairs began to creak outside the door and that was her signal that Illya was on his way back. Dashing to the bed, she dove under the covers just in time for him to come through with a sandwich the size of a three layer cake. He walked right in with his snack and crawled into the bed along side her before offering her a bite of the hefty meat sandwich. Her stomach gave another warning gurgle and she shook her head quickly as he pulled back the food. As he did, an oily slice of meat slid out and plopped right onto her cheek. "Ooops." Was all he had to say before peeling the piece off her face with gross, slick feeling. "Ew," she mumbled, "I'm going to wash off the grease."
She got up and scurried into the bathroom while Illya lost more of his sandwich in his lap and turned the water on. While she was wiping the meat juice off of her face, her belly twitched and she let out another long, but this time silent gas release. This one was smellier than the last and she grimaced, then tried to waft it away with her hand. At least Illya might not come back into the bathroom.
When she crawled back into bed, Illya announced that he was going to brush his teeth again, and a warning of her smelly remnants died in her throat. He went into the bathroom and brushed his teeth, but didn't seem to notice anything. How was he standing there in the literal haze of her quite potent methane fumes? They had made her eyes water! Was he nose blind from that onion and meat sandwich? Or was he just a boy and immune to the gaseous smells altogether? The Chippeqouti Elite could certainly burn the hair out of someone's nose. Especially if they ate corn.
If he didn't notice, she wasn't going to tell him. He came back to bed. Another fart was building up and she could feel it grumbling through her belly towards the exit. He pulled her close to him as the little spoon and she tried to hold it in. His breath on her ear was warm and still smelled distinctly of onion. She opened her mouth to say something, about his onion breath but stopped when the tiniest of farts escaped her. It let out a little put against her husband's stomach and she turned crimson before giving him an apologetic look. "I love you too," she mumbled sheepishly.
*************
They packed up their their things to leave and were escorted to the Silver Mountain by Jerzyn and Nova who were friendly as always. Nova had made it a point to bring something for each of the kids. For the twins she brought two traditional toys, for Lohgan a traditional dress made with silky tassels down the back, and for Cypher, she grinned and offered him something special.
Nova took a knee in front of him and slid a sheath from her belt which contained a sizeable hunting knife. She expertly slid it from its leather casing and displayed in her open palms for Cypher to see. The boy looked at her with wide eyes. "You like it? I had it made just for you. The handle is made from the bones of your first clean kill on the hunt. My brothers did the carvings," she explained, pointing to the handle, "And I did the paintwork. The blade was forged by the blacksmith here and it made of goddess ore. It will not rust or dull. It's big for you now, but we made it big enough for you to grow into." Nova sheathed the knife in one fluid motion, then handed it to him carefully. "It is a tradition for a man to have a knife made of his first clean kill and now, you are a hunter with us Cypher Monroe. Come back to us when you are ready to hunt again."
************
With their new security on board with everyone else, sleeping quarters had to be arranged differently. Bahn, Dane, Mihael were consolidated to one room. Rezna, and Wynry shared now. The twins were with Cypher in another room. Thomas shared with the two new Kaerelean shipmates, and Rose shared with Lohgan, something the teen was entirely put out about. They weren't going to be able to take on too many more people onto the ship and while it was luxurious for many people, it didn't exactly account for multiple Chippeqouti men or a large Udine lady passing each other in the halls.
The office was now being occupied by the Chip men and so Illya was conducting his debrief interviews in their bedroom. Calysta took the time to show Wynry a few things in flight and then sat down with her children to spend some time with them before sending both of their new security members down the hall to meet with the General.
There came a formal wrap of knuckles on the bedroom door and when prompted, a medium sized man in Kaerelean grey and black fatigues entered. His black beret with silver insignia was perfectly arranged over his dark hair and his chin neatly shaved. He entered and stood at attention, arms by his sides and eyes ahead. "Lieutenant Koda Fyrst, Kaerelean Special Forces reporting, Sir."
Illya could appreciate the formality at which the man conducted himself. Illya stood and met the man. "At ease. Yah speak freely when yah on a security team wit meh." He didn't want the man to be uncomfortable and he didn't want to treat him differently than he would MIhael, Bahn or Dane. "I have questions and yah can ask dah same of meh or someting else. Ef yah ask someting else yah may or may nut get answer. So, meh..." Frowning he pointed to the chair. "Yah can sit dere." Illya was not used to explaining to a man to take seat after he told them to be at ease for this sort of meeting. Sitting back down on the bed Illya glanced at the files again. "Yah come very well recommended Lieutenant. What about working here wit dah Councilwoman and I do yah forsee disliking dah most?" If the man was honest it was his chance to get out. Illya would offer to send him back in exchange for someone else if he didn't like the assignment. He only wanted people here that wanted to be here. "Remember, be horribly honest wit meh. Ets hard tah hurt meh feelings."
Koda relaxed his attention and sank into an at ease stance with his arms held behind his back and his feet planted wider until Illya offered him the chair. Having been asked to sit, he crossed the room and took the seat, his shoulders squared. At the question, Koda did not reply right away. It was a strange question to ask but if this is the way he wanted to conduct the meeting, then he would answer. "I'll try to remember that, sir. I forsee that I will dislike being away from my family the most, sir. And the idea that you are two very high profile targets makes the security on this assignment at challenge."
Hearing the answer was good Illya nodded. “I am nut surprised. Yah honesty makes yah good man to meh. Ef yah had opportunity would yah rater have assignment closer tah home? Ef yah really dun want tah be here dis es yah chance tah speak. Maybe yah have someone dat es suitable en mind tah take yah place.”(edited)
Koda looked at Illya with his light colored eyes and shook his head. "No, sir. When I was offered the assignment I knew the risks and sacrifices involved. My wife understands and my daughter will too, someday. She is receiving treatment in the hospital when the councilwoman visited. I would not turn down this assignment."
Illya's jaw tightened some when the man mentioned his daughter was there. "Den yah welcome here. I like tah be sure dat no man es assigned against his will tah assignment like dis. Dah Ehaui keep meh informed of progress wit dah children dere. Ef yah daughter dun receive treatment yet for cure, I will give order tah expedite et. Dis gives yah less tah worry about."
Koda looked at the General and gave a measured, but somewhat more relaxed nod of appreciation. "I would be appreciative of any updates, sir. Did you have any more questions for me, sir?"
"I like tah save dah easy one for last. Why would yah want tah work dis job?" Illya felt that he liked the man well enough. He was someone that Kirit did a good job picking out. It seemed the man was trustworthy.
Koda nodded at the fair question. "That is much easier. Sir, the truth of the matter is I wanted to work this assignment when it was offered to serve the councilwoman and the Alliance. My daughter and many other people are alot better off because of the things she has done, sir. I find that worthy taking a bullet for to see it continue."
An even bigger grin came to Illya's face. "Dat's exactly dah kind of man I'm looking for. Kalizda es dah force dat holds our peoples togeter. I too am here tah be sure she es safe. Yah should be aware dat for now dah immediate treat es nut tah her life from Federation. Dere es high number of assassins wit meh listed as primary target. Mihael and Dane will mostly do dah work of protecting meh. No offense, but yah little small tah cover meh. Dah good news es dat when I travel wit Kalizda dah Federation tinks I'm bigger target. When dey make meh primary target dey dun even give order tah shoot her unless dey are certain dat I'm dead. Dey know ef I'm nut dead and dey hurt or kill her dat all hell breaks loose. Now, yah here tah be protection tah her and dah children. Ef anyting happens to meh, I dun care what orders she gives yah. Yah get her out of dere. Yah keep her safe and yah make sure she es secure wit dah children."
The man was the General and he was the commanding officer of security aboard the ship. He also seemed to have his priorities in order. Koda looked to Illya. "Understood, sir. I am assuming the hit on you is substantial. What does intel say as far as numbers?"
Illya liked the man the more he talked with him. Opening his pad to the report from Ehud he gave him a look at the report. "I give all dah security team look at dis report. Jes so yah know." It was a substantial number of assassins. Most were found that they had a count on, but there were those they didn't know about and those were the troubling ones. "I tink dis es biggest chance and largest number dey ever send at meh at one time. I survive I tink about 7 assassination attempts now. Let's jes hope I survive dah coming attempts too. I kinda want tah be around."
Koda looked over the information, skimming it briefly then let out a long whistle before his eyes flicked back up to Illya. "Aye, you don't do anything small, yeah? We'll keep you around, sir. Is there anything else you'd like to ask, sir, or have I met muster?"
"I like yah. Yah more den meet muster. Yah will work most wit dah Udine, she es Rezna and also en charge of keeping dah Councilwoman safe. I like tah keep dose dat will follow meh orders tah protect her and ignore any request she makes dat es nut en interest of her protection. She would endanger herself for meh sake and dat's nut what our peoples need." Illya stood and held out a hand only to realize it was the improper gesture for man and instead gave him a slight bow in the fashion of the Kaereleans. "Lieutenant I will work yah en dah schedule. Also, I should tell yah dat when I translate sometimes et es nut so good. Dane or Mihael can assist."
Koda nodded. Only a good woman would be so fierce about her partner. Learning that he would be partnered with the only Udine in any service so far would be quite interesting. "Aye sir. I will do so." He rose and bowed at the waist. "Sir, should I send in the next man?"
"Send him in." Illya answered. "Ef I like yah work I may have more propositions for yah for work. I try hard tah help meh men see value of dah Kaerlean military. Yah fine example by reputation and I expect dat yah live up to dah expectation I am led tah believe yah will meet."
"Yessir," he said. He had no objections to what the man said. He would have to prove himself beyond his record. Actions always spoken louder than words and there was no argument there. He understood his mission perimeters now and understood more about who he was working for. Koda left the room and the next man to come wore Reylian elite uniform. This uniform was more formal. A black tunic with a silver belt and a cloak. The man wore a cap with a red Cryn feather arching to his neck. He was young, fresh faces with olive toned skin and hazel eyes. His brown hair was longer on top and sheared short on the side. He came in and stood at attention. "General, sir."
When the first man left Illya stood and waited for the next one to come in. The Rey was dressed in his best and Illya appreciated that as well. He was young and he probably came with Tikan's highest recommendation. "I'm pleased yah here. Yah take seat over dere." Illya directed the fellow this time and he sat on his bed before he remembered to give the other order. "At ease. Now I jes want yah tah answer dah questions honestly. No concern of how yah answer sounds. Why wouldn't yah want tah be here?"
The young man, had broad shoulders and thick muscles but he was tall, stretching out the bulk to proportional size. He entered when invited and went to ease when the chair was offered. His borrow furrowed some at what the General said, and then he titled his head, causing his feather to brush over his broad shoulder a little. "Eh. Why wouldn't I want t' be here? It's my duty to come, sir. No reason for m' not do it. If ye ask why I don't want t'be here....eh...permission to speak freely sir?"
"Yes, yah have permission tah speak freely. Dis es all open for yah tah speak as yah wish. I dun restrict meh men from speaking dere minds regarding missions." Illya waited patiently for the young man. So far the Rey was young and a little less experienced. It was showing. He hadn't introduced himself. It might have been a Reylian thing, but Illya would ask him about that later.
Clearing his throat, the young man nodded. "Yessir. I wouldn't want t' be here because m' Dah takes on m' work while I am away. He works hard, eh? He expects m'to do good work here an' I will work hard t' make sure ye safe."
"Yah fater es ill?" Illya asked a bit further to be sure he wasn't going to be taking a young man away from an elderly father that needed him.
The young man quickly shook his head. His father would be grumpy if that kind of talk got around. "No, sir. Just alot of work t' do. He understands m' appointment here and was honored tha' th' councilwoman asked for someone 't come, sir."
Illya nodded, “Hmm...would yah father welcome assistance from worker en yah absence?”
The young man shook his head. "No, sir. He will b' fine, sir."
“Mmhmmm. So dis es yah duty and yah see no reason tah object and yah fater will be fine. I am soldier for many years. Yah answers are dutiful and correct.” Illya looked the young man over. “Why would yah be pleased tah be given dis assignment?”
The young man blinked. It was a strange question to ask and he'd never been asked it before. Thinking for a moment, he looked at Illya. "Eh, it is my duty an' m' privilege t' serve th' Alliance, sir. An' I like t' gain more experience off planet from th' Chippeqouti Elite, sir. Ye are warriors looked at well on Reylia."
There was almost nothing that stood out about the young man in his manners except that he was young. “Yah here wit many experienced warriors. Dere will be rotations. Yah primary duty es protection of dah ship, non-military crew and dah children. Yah will draw up plans for defense. Also, I like yah tah introduce yahself eh?”
Some how, the General seemed less than pleased, though he didn't know why. "Yessir." When asked to introduce himself, he took in a deep breath and said his name. "I am Akten, First Son of Chief Tikan, 40th son of Lyr, First Officer of the Cryn Elite and Reylia Ground Defense...eh...sir."
“Yah come wit great recommendation. Anyone selected by Tikan es his best. Kirit was first sent to meh by Tikan. I expect no less en yah work.” Illya nodded as he looked over the file again. “Yah understand dat yah will be doing work critical to dah entire crew, Councilwoman and mehself. I want yah tah report directly to meh after yah make assessment of dah shep, crew and best defense. Also, yah introduce yahself to dah oters on dah shep too.”
Akten gladly let his formality drop some. The general had not recognized him at all and that was just as well. "Yessir." He had introduced himself yet because the formalities hadn't been clear. In this setting, he wasnt bragging. Outside of this setting people treated him differently sometimes when they discovered who he was and he didn't like it. "If ye looking for complete assessment, I will make m' work inside first, use th' schematics for th' Outside an' then we land. I will assess th' exterior in person, unless ye prefer m' t' just use th' schematics, sir."
“I am treating yah same as officer wit experience and I want best job. Yah use schematics and observation.” Illya grinned. “I am sure yah will do well. Yah dismissed unless yah have questions.”
"Yessir." The General was grinning at him and Akten felt a sense of relief as he rose from his chair and gave a bow with his feathered cap fluttering some. He would change into fatigues now and make his assessment. He was used to both receiving orders and giving them. Before he left, he paused and looked back at Illya for a brief moment, then continued out of the door, his cloak trailing behind him.
************
The afternoon went along fairly quietly. Calysta spent some time with each of her kids, though Rose refused to come out of her now shared room. It was coming close to 4 days of pouting now. The girl was stubborn like her father if anything, but she wasn't going to get her way abou things. Lunch came along and they had a mess of sandwiches, soups with chunks of meat and salads. Dinner would be served at 7 and tonight was Rezna's night to cook which would prove to be interesting. Nobody knew what sort of menu the Udine woman had cooked up. Koda and Akten were catching up the security briefs given by Illya.
Akten had asked to be given a tour of the ship and Calysta obliged, making notes as he went, though he didn't get the opportunity to look into Rose and Lohgan's cabin. "I will do th' portion later," he said.
Dinner time rolled around and Rezna stooped slightly over the oven and stirred at something boiling away on the stove. It was suspiciously bright, sulfuric yellow. Whatever it was smelled plenty spicy too. The Udine woman ladled chunky yellow stew into big mixing bowls and handed it over to the Chip men before tossing ladles into smaller bowls for everyone else. Bread was served with it the strange concoction. "Eat up. It's an Udine recipe I think you might like."
Akten looked at his bowl and then to Rezna, shrugged his shoulders and then began downing the bowl into his throat. The kids slurped along at it the spicy meal and Calysta poked at the rubbery chunks of what she presumed were meat. "What kind of meat is in this?" she asked curiously. Rezna swallowed down a big bite of her own with a satisfied gulp. "It's supposed to be chim-chuk but they didn't have it, so I subsituted it for nyte beast brains and the stomach." Calysta nodded politely while Thomas turned pale. "It's pretty good," Calysta added, "What do you think Illya?"
*************
After dinner was over, Akten requested the last bowl and Rezna ladled it out to him. Rather than eating the strong smelling stew in the kitchen, he slipped out of the mess hall and walked down the to the end of the ship where Roses' door was. He gave it a solid knock and was told promptly to buzz off by the young woman inside.
"I was told ye not eat much for several days," he continued, unpreterbed. "It' m' job t' keep keep safe now."
"Go away! I don't need you to keep me safe."
Akten rolled his eyes as he stood there with the soup. "And I don't need ye too weak t' run if I tell ye too. Ye slow m' down. Now, ye gonna be weak."
That managed to get something to happen. The door opened with a flying jerk and Rose stood there, scowling in absolute fury. "I am not weak and it's not your job to worry about it."
Akten shoved the bowl toward her, "Then eat an' prove ye not in m' way," he grunted.
Rose grabbed the bowl roughly, spilling the contents on the floor. "Whatever gets you to go away," she snapped, before slamming the door on him.
Akten looked down at his boots and shook his head before walking back toward the bathroom to clean them up. On the way, he saw Rezna and a few others staring at him curiously. He shrugged. "She opened th' door, yeah?" Then he went back to his tasks before it was crash time.
The stairs began to creak outside the door and that was her signal that Illya was on his way back. Dashing to the bed, she dove under the covers just in time for him to come through with a sandwich the size of a three layer cake. He walked right in with his snack and crawled into the bed along side her before offering her a bite of the hefty meat sandwich. Her stomach gave another warning gurgle and she shook her head quickly as he pulled back the food. As he did, an oily slice of meat slid out and plopped right onto her cheek. "Ooops." Was all he had to say before peeling the piece off her face with gross, slick feeling. "Ew," she mumbled, "I'm going to wash off the grease."
She got up and scurried into the bathroom while Illya lost more of his sandwich in his lap and turned the water on. While she was wiping the meat juice off of her face, her belly twitched and she let out another long, but this time silent gas release. This one was smellier than the last and she grimaced, then tried to waft it away with her hand. At least Illya might not come back into the bathroom.
When she crawled back into bed, Illya announced that he was going to brush his teeth again, and a warning of her smelly remnants died in her throat. He went into the bathroom and brushed his teeth, but didn't seem to notice anything. How was he standing there in the literal haze of her quite potent methane fumes? They had made her eyes water! Was he nose blind from that onion and meat sandwich? Or was he just a boy and immune to the gaseous smells altogether? The Chippeqouti Elite could certainly burn the hair out of someone's nose. Especially if they ate corn.
If he didn't notice, she wasn't going to tell him. He came back to bed. Another fart was building up and she could feel it grumbling through her belly towards the exit. He pulled her close to him as the little spoon and she tried to hold it in. His breath on her ear was warm and still smelled distinctly of onion. She opened her mouth to say something, about his onion breath but stopped when the tiniest of farts escaped her. It let out a little put against her husband's stomach and she turned crimson before giving him an apologetic look. "I love you too," she mumbled sheepishly.
*************
They packed up their their things to leave and were escorted to the Silver Mountain by Jerzyn and Nova who were friendly as always. Nova had made it a point to bring something for each of the kids. For the twins she brought two traditional toys, for Lohgan a traditional dress made with silky tassels down the back, and for Cypher, she grinned and offered him something special.
Nova took a knee in front of him and slid a sheath from her belt which contained a sizeable hunting knife. She expertly slid it from its leather casing and displayed in her open palms for Cypher to see. The boy looked at her with wide eyes. "You like it? I had it made just for you. The handle is made from the bones of your first clean kill on the hunt. My brothers did the carvings," she explained, pointing to the handle, "And I did the paintwork. The blade was forged by the blacksmith here and it made of goddess ore. It will not rust or dull. It's big for you now, but we made it big enough for you to grow into." Nova sheathed the knife in one fluid motion, then handed it to him carefully. "It is a tradition for a man to have a knife made of his first clean kill and now, you are a hunter with us Cypher Monroe. Come back to us when you are ready to hunt again."
************
With their new security on board with everyone else, sleeping quarters had to be arranged differently. Bahn, Dane, Mihael were consolidated to one room. Rezna, and Wynry shared now. The twins were with Cypher in another room. Thomas shared with the two new Kaerelean shipmates, and Rose shared with Lohgan, something the teen was entirely put out about. They weren't going to be able to take on too many more people onto the ship and while it was luxurious for many people, it didn't exactly account for multiple Chippeqouti men or a large Udine lady passing each other in the halls.
The office was now being occupied by the Chip men and so Illya was conducting his debrief interviews in their bedroom. Calysta took the time to show Wynry a few things in flight and then sat down with her children to spend some time with them before sending both of their new security members down the hall to meet with the General.
There came a formal wrap of knuckles on the bedroom door and when prompted, a medium sized man in Kaerelean grey and black fatigues entered. His black beret with silver insignia was perfectly arranged over his dark hair and his chin neatly shaved. He entered and stood at attention, arms by his sides and eyes ahead. "Lieutenant Koda Fyrst, Kaerelean Special Forces reporting, Sir."
Illya could appreciate the formality at which the man conducted himself. Illya stood and met the man. "At ease. Yah speak freely when yah on a security team wit meh." He didn't want the man to be uncomfortable and he didn't want to treat him differently than he would MIhael, Bahn or Dane. "I have questions and yah can ask dah same of meh or someting else. Ef yah ask someting else yah may or may nut get answer. So, meh..." Frowning he pointed to the chair. "Yah can sit dere." Illya was not used to explaining to a man to take seat after he told them to be at ease for this sort of meeting. Sitting back down on the bed Illya glanced at the files again. "Yah come very well recommended Lieutenant. What about working here wit dah Councilwoman and I do yah forsee disliking dah most?" If the man was honest it was his chance to get out. Illya would offer to send him back in exchange for someone else if he didn't like the assignment. He only wanted people here that wanted to be here. "Remember, be horribly honest wit meh. Ets hard tah hurt meh feelings."
Koda relaxed his attention and sank into an at ease stance with his arms held behind his back and his feet planted wider until Illya offered him the chair. Having been asked to sit, he crossed the room and took the seat, his shoulders squared. At the question, Koda did not reply right away. It was a strange question to ask but if this is the way he wanted to conduct the meeting, then he would answer. "I'll try to remember that, sir. I forsee that I will dislike being away from my family the most, sir. And the idea that you are two very high profile targets makes the security on this assignment at challenge."
Hearing the answer was good Illya nodded. “I am nut surprised. Yah honesty makes yah good man to meh. Ef yah had opportunity would yah rater have assignment closer tah home? Ef yah really dun want tah be here dis es yah chance tah speak. Maybe yah have someone dat es suitable en mind tah take yah place.”(edited)
Koda looked at Illya with his light colored eyes and shook his head. "No, sir. When I was offered the assignment I knew the risks and sacrifices involved. My wife understands and my daughter will too, someday. She is receiving treatment in the hospital when the councilwoman visited. I would not turn down this assignment."
Illya's jaw tightened some when the man mentioned his daughter was there. "Den yah welcome here. I like tah be sure dat no man es assigned against his will tah assignment like dis. Dah Ehaui keep meh informed of progress wit dah children dere. Ef yah daughter dun receive treatment yet for cure, I will give order tah expedite et. Dis gives yah less tah worry about."
Koda looked at the General and gave a measured, but somewhat more relaxed nod of appreciation. "I would be appreciative of any updates, sir. Did you have any more questions for me, sir?"
"I like tah save dah easy one for last. Why would yah want tah work dis job?" Illya felt that he liked the man well enough. He was someone that Kirit did a good job picking out. It seemed the man was trustworthy.
Koda nodded at the fair question. "That is much easier. Sir, the truth of the matter is I wanted to work this assignment when it was offered to serve the councilwoman and the Alliance. My daughter and many other people are alot better off because of the things she has done, sir. I find that worthy taking a bullet for to see it continue."
An even bigger grin came to Illya's face. "Dat's exactly dah kind of man I'm looking for. Kalizda es dah force dat holds our peoples togeter. I too am here tah be sure she es safe. Yah should be aware dat for now dah immediate treat es nut tah her life from Federation. Dere es high number of assassins wit meh listed as primary target. Mihael and Dane will mostly do dah work of protecting meh. No offense, but yah little small tah cover meh. Dah good news es dat when I travel wit Kalizda dah Federation tinks I'm bigger target. When dey make meh primary target dey dun even give order tah shoot her unless dey are certain dat I'm dead. Dey know ef I'm nut dead and dey hurt or kill her dat all hell breaks loose. Now, yah here tah be protection tah her and dah children. Ef anyting happens to meh, I dun care what orders she gives yah. Yah get her out of dere. Yah keep her safe and yah make sure she es secure wit dah children."
The man was the General and he was the commanding officer of security aboard the ship. He also seemed to have his priorities in order. Koda looked to Illya. "Understood, sir. I am assuming the hit on you is substantial. What does intel say as far as numbers?"
Illya liked the man the more he talked with him. Opening his pad to the report from Ehud he gave him a look at the report. "I give all dah security team look at dis report. Jes so yah know." It was a substantial number of assassins. Most were found that they had a count on, but there were those they didn't know about and those were the troubling ones. "I tink dis es biggest chance and largest number dey ever send at meh at one time. I survive I tink about 7 assassination attempts now. Let's jes hope I survive dah coming attempts too. I kinda want tah be around."
Koda looked over the information, skimming it briefly then let out a long whistle before his eyes flicked back up to Illya. "Aye, you don't do anything small, yeah? We'll keep you around, sir. Is there anything else you'd like to ask, sir, or have I met muster?"
"I like yah. Yah more den meet muster. Yah will work most wit dah Udine, she es Rezna and also en charge of keeping dah Councilwoman safe. I like tah keep dose dat will follow meh orders tah protect her and ignore any request she makes dat es nut en interest of her protection. She would endanger herself for meh sake and dat's nut what our peoples need." Illya stood and held out a hand only to realize it was the improper gesture for man and instead gave him a slight bow in the fashion of the Kaereleans. "Lieutenant I will work yah en dah schedule. Also, I should tell yah dat when I translate sometimes et es nut so good. Dane or Mihael can assist."
Koda nodded. Only a good woman would be so fierce about her partner. Learning that he would be partnered with the only Udine in any service so far would be quite interesting. "Aye sir. I will do so." He rose and bowed at the waist. "Sir, should I send in the next man?"
"Send him in." Illya answered. "Ef I like yah work I may have more propositions for yah for work. I try hard tah help meh men see value of dah Kaerlean military. Yah fine example by reputation and I expect dat yah live up to dah expectation I am led tah believe yah will meet."
"Yessir," he said. He had no objections to what the man said. He would have to prove himself beyond his record. Actions always spoken louder than words and there was no argument there. He understood his mission perimeters now and understood more about who he was working for. Koda left the room and the next man to come wore Reylian elite uniform. This uniform was more formal. A black tunic with a silver belt and a cloak. The man wore a cap with a red Cryn feather arching to his neck. He was young, fresh faces with olive toned skin and hazel eyes. His brown hair was longer on top and sheared short on the side. He came in and stood at attention. "General, sir."
When the first man left Illya stood and waited for the next one to come in. The Rey was dressed in his best and Illya appreciated that as well. He was young and he probably came with Tikan's highest recommendation. "I'm pleased yah here. Yah take seat over dere." Illya directed the fellow this time and he sat on his bed before he remembered to give the other order. "At ease. Now I jes want yah tah answer dah questions honestly. No concern of how yah answer sounds. Why wouldn't yah want tah be here?"
The young man, had broad shoulders and thick muscles but he was tall, stretching out the bulk to proportional size. He entered when invited and went to ease when the chair was offered. His borrow furrowed some at what the General said, and then he titled his head, causing his feather to brush over his broad shoulder a little. "Eh. Why wouldn't I want t' be here? It's my duty to come, sir. No reason for m' not do it. If ye ask why I don't want t'be here....eh...permission to speak freely sir?"
"Yes, yah have permission tah speak freely. Dis es all open for yah tah speak as yah wish. I dun restrict meh men from speaking dere minds regarding missions." Illya waited patiently for the young man. So far the Rey was young and a little less experienced. It was showing. He hadn't introduced himself. It might have been a Reylian thing, but Illya would ask him about that later.
Clearing his throat, the young man nodded. "Yessir. I wouldn't want t' be here because m' Dah takes on m' work while I am away. He works hard, eh? He expects m'to do good work here an' I will work hard t' make sure ye safe."
"Yah fater es ill?" Illya asked a bit further to be sure he wasn't going to be taking a young man away from an elderly father that needed him.
The young man quickly shook his head. His father would be grumpy if that kind of talk got around. "No, sir. Just alot of work t' do. He understands m' appointment here and was honored tha' th' councilwoman asked for someone 't come, sir."
Illya nodded, “Hmm...would yah father welcome assistance from worker en yah absence?”
The young man shook his head. "No, sir. He will b' fine, sir."
“Mmhmmm. So dis es yah duty and yah see no reason tah object and yah fater will be fine. I am soldier for many years. Yah answers are dutiful and correct.” Illya looked the young man over. “Why would yah be pleased tah be given dis assignment?”
The young man blinked. It was a strange question to ask and he'd never been asked it before. Thinking for a moment, he looked at Illya. "Eh, it is my duty an' m' privilege t' serve th' Alliance, sir. An' I like t' gain more experience off planet from th' Chippeqouti Elite, sir. Ye are warriors looked at well on Reylia."
There was almost nothing that stood out about the young man in his manners except that he was young. “Yah here wit many experienced warriors. Dere will be rotations. Yah primary duty es protection of dah ship, non-military crew and dah children. Yah will draw up plans for defense. Also, I like yah tah introduce yahself eh?”
Some how, the General seemed less than pleased, though he didn't know why. "Yessir." When asked to introduce himself, he took in a deep breath and said his name. "I am Akten, First Son of Chief Tikan, 40th son of Lyr, First Officer of the Cryn Elite and Reylia Ground Defense...eh...sir."
“Yah come wit great recommendation. Anyone selected by Tikan es his best. Kirit was first sent to meh by Tikan. I expect no less en yah work.” Illya nodded as he looked over the file again. “Yah understand dat yah will be doing work critical to dah entire crew, Councilwoman and mehself. I want yah tah report directly to meh after yah make assessment of dah shep, crew and best defense. Also, yah introduce yahself to dah oters on dah shep too.”
Akten gladly let his formality drop some. The general had not recognized him at all and that was just as well. "Yessir." He had introduced himself yet because the formalities hadn't been clear. In this setting, he wasnt bragging. Outside of this setting people treated him differently sometimes when they discovered who he was and he didn't like it. "If ye looking for complete assessment, I will make m' work inside first, use th' schematics for th' Outside an' then we land. I will assess th' exterior in person, unless ye prefer m' t' just use th' schematics, sir."
“I am treating yah same as officer wit experience and I want best job. Yah use schematics and observation.” Illya grinned. “I am sure yah will do well. Yah dismissed unless yah have questions.”
"Yessir." The General was grinning at him and Akten felt a sense of relief as he rose from his chair and gave a bow with his feathered cap fluttering some. He would change into fatigues now and make his assessment. He was used to both receiving orders and giving them. Before he left, he paused and looked back at Illya for a brief moment, then continued out of the door, his cloak trailing behind him.
************
The afternoon went along fairly quietly. Calysta spent some time with each of her kids, though Rose refused to come out of her now shared room. It was coming close to 4 days of pouting now. The girl was stubborn like her father if anything, but she wasn't going to get her way abou things. Lunch came along and they had a mess of sandwiches, soups with chunks of meat and salads. Dinner would be served at 7 and tonight was Rezna's night to cook which would prove to be interesting. Nobody knew what sort of menu the Udine woman had cooked up. Koda and Akten were catching up the security briefs given by Illya.
Akten had asked to be given a tour of the ship and Calysta obliged, making notes as he went, though he didn't get the opportunity to look into Rose and Lohgan's cabin. "I will do th' portion later," he said.
Dinner time rolled around and Rezna stooped slightly over the oven and stirred at something boiling away on the stove. It was suspiciously bright, sulfuric yellow. Whatever it was smelled plenty spicy too. The Udine woman ladled chunky yellow stew into big mixing bowls and handed it over to the Chip men before tossing ladles into smaller bowls for everyone else. Bread was served with it the strange concoction. "Eat up. It's an Udine recipe I think you might like."
Akten looked at his bowl and then to Rezna, shrugged his shoulders and then began downing the bowl into his throat. The kids slurped along at it the spicy meal and Calysta poked at the rubbery chunks of what she presumed were meat. "What kind of meat is in this?" she asked curiously. Rezna swallowed down a big bite of her own with a satisfied gulp. "It's supposed to be chim-chuk but they didn't have it, so I subsituted it for nyte beast brains and the stomach." Calysta nodded politely while Thomas turned pale. "It's pretty good," Calysta added, "What do you think Illya?"
*************
After dinner was over, Akten requested the last bowl and Rezna ladled it out to him. Rather than eating the strong smelling stew in the kitchen, he slipped out of the mess hall and walked down the to the end of the ship where Roses' door was. He gave it a solid knock and was told promptly to buzz off by the young woman inside.
"I was told ye not eat much for several days," he continued, unpreterbed. "It' m' job t' keep keep safe now."
"Go away! I don't need you to keep me safe."
Akten rolled his eyes as he stood there with the soup. "And I don't need ye too weak t' run if I tell ye too. Ye slow m' down. Now, ye gonna be weak."
That managed to get something to happen. The door opened with a flying jerk and Rose stood there, scowling in absolute fury. "I am not weak and it's not your job to worry about it."
Akten shoved the bowl toward her, "Then eat an' prove ye not in m' way," he grunted.
Rose grabbed the bowl roughly, spilling the contents on the floor. "Whatever gets you to go away," she snapped, before slamming the door on him.
Akten looked down at his boots and shook his head before walking back toward the bathroom to clean them up. On the way, he saw Rezna and a few others staring at him curiously. He shrugged. "She opened th' door, yeah?" Then he went back to his tasks before it was crash time.