2023-01-06: Pistol on the Table
- Cast: Vitaly Sokolov, Treize Khushrenada
- Where: Barge - Side 7
- Date: U.C. 0097 01 06
- Summary: Vitaly presses Treize about the events at the recent PLANT takeover.
<Pose Tracker> Treize Khushrenada has posed.
The office of one Treize Khushrenada, looks as if it was decorated for Treize. Walls of books, a small bar in the corner, a large ornate desk with a marble top filled with papers, and matching ornate chairs on both sides. Everything as one would expect except in the corner opposite of the bar is a small workbench filled with mobile suit model pieces and finished pieces on a shelf above it. At the moment Treize is sitting at this workbench, jacket removed as he works carefully on a kitbashed model. It appaers he is using pieces from the popular gundams of the previous gundam fight, particularly dragon gundam.
In a way this is how he hopes he gets to retire, simply designing new suits, at the same time he can only hear Lady Une chiding him about there are much more important things to do at the moment. However at the moment he is waiting if anything else which gives himt he perfect time to indulge himself. What he is waiting on though is the arrival of one Vitaly Sokolov, if for no other reason then that Treize felt that her next set of orders may require a bit of explination otherwise she may just end up shooting someone.
So for now he simply takes a dremel to the arm of the dragon gundam and looks at it closey. "Legends and myths, is it the power of the gundam that only feeds those myth or is it the opposite and the power of the legend is imbued in the gundam?" Treize raises the question to himself and the supposed empty room.
<Pose Tracker> Vitaly Sokolov has posed.
"I'm coming in." Is the announcement Treize Khushrenada hears, at the door to his chambers. Letting it slide open, reveals Vitaly Sokolov wearing proper military regalia. Sidearm at her side, one of the few people who'd likely be permitted near Treize bearing any kind of weaponry, and wearing the type of clothing expected from a well established G-Hound operative.
Lacking the rank of Captain, one would expect these two to have a relationship more representative of their difference in position. But this woman shows not a shred of nervousness as she steps into the office. Her pale eyes falling immediately on the man working on his hobby.
When the question lifts to the chambers about Gundams, the woman instead salutes. A 'mere' Lieutenant Commander. "Sir." She remarks, before lowering her arm. She doesn't wait for him to tell her to be at ease. But she will at least show him the respect someone of his station deserves.
At a more conversational tone, she then answers; "Is both. Is spiral that drives legend into Gundam, and legend that drives power into Gundam." The woman declares this with the utmost belief in her own words. It is so rare for anything to be just 'one thing'.
"I wish to speak on matter of Commander Roger Thompson." A short pause, before she adds, "And why you permit this to occur." There's another pause here, as her head tilts down. She lifts one hand, making clear that she wants him to wait with his answer. She then removes a cigarette pack from her pocket, taps one out from the bottom, and proceeds to light it up.
At the end of her first puff of the stuff, she finally adds; "What is your playbook. Do not recall student being this much of a fool. So you have play, Khushrenada."
<Pose Tracker> Treize Khushrenada has posed.
"Yes I think, you, are, right." Treize says as he places the arm down and takes a small cloth sheet and covers his work before he stands up. " So good to see you Lieutenant Commander, please have a seat. " A gesture is give to one of the chairs as he moves towards the other side of the desk. "I hope you are doing well, is the new unit treating you nicely?" It might seem that the Colonel is trying to just be polite and disarm the situation with small talk but really it is a stalling tactic as he gets himself situated and to gather his own thoughts.
Finally Treize settles and circles back to the matter at hand, "Commander Roger Thompson is in charge of the large Blue Cosmo contingent, ordered to occupy the PLANT colony and to allow our G-Hound fleet to use it as a waystation for a staging front for the war that ZAFT has brought to us. On top of this, they are using this new waystation as a place to complete Project Cerberus." The colonel smiles as he simply rehashes what Vitaly, or really any G-Hound pilot should be able to find out with even a low level clearence.
Treize gives her a smile as he laces his fingers and sets them on the desk as he looks at the one who taught him just how the battlefield is. "So my friend, from everythin gyou can see and know before I continue I am curous what it looks like I am doing?" It's not a complete confession that he has some plan behind everything but it at least makes it sound like there is one.
<Pose Tracker> Vitaly Sokolov has posed.
Vitaly Sokolov does move towards the seat, taking her time. But when she gets closer, she takes out her gun - notably showing the safety is on - before putting it on the desk itself with a firm press into the wood with it. Looking him dead in the eyes as he sits down first, making sure he understands this gesture.
This is not a visit of pleasantry. She is here for the truth.
The woman then circles around the seat, and slowly sits down. Releasing her hand off of the gun itself. The barrel is facing him. But it remains between the two of them. The safety is on.
Vitaly Sokolov would not permit it to not be loaded.
She doesn't answer the matter of the Hazel Proto. He has seen himself how the unit functions. It's old, and the kind of ride that other pilots would not be able to handle. It cannot keep up with the Unicorn. But that isn't the point to that machine.
"Commander Roger Thompson is buffoon, as Britannian would say." She points out as he finished speaking on the use of the new Waystation. "You know he is buffoon, and you permit him to be the messenger - vanguard - of your words. To end atrocity. To end war." The woman lays her arms on the sides of the chair. Remaining upright and in excellent posture.
"Already, he let in spy. Already, he use unskilled labor, not because it is good idea, but because he wishes harm. He is a man who was put in place because of family. Not because of foresight." She reveals her own cards, because she doesn't need to be afraid that she needs to hide any of them.
"You let man weaken you, and weaken G-Hound." She leans a bit closer. The chair creaks beneath her. The metal of her arms and legs scrape through the cloth against the material. "It seem, you wish to destroy G-Hound, and let Blue Cosmos take fall. But you will go down with ship. Desperate tactic. Is student this desperate?"
<Pose Tracker> Treize Khushrenada has posed.
Treize can't help but watch the gun on the desk for the moment before Vitaly takes a seat and he listens to her outline the situation and nods his head in agreement, "A fine assessment based on the information at hand." Treize takes a pile of paper and sets it on the floor for a moment revealing what looks like a few built in buttons. The first one closes the blinds behind Treize darkening the room a bit. Then he presses a pair of buttons and if one was to listen very closely now in the silencce there would be a small hum.
Taking a moment he leans back in his chair and meets Vitaly's eyes, the smile disappearing. "I hope you don't mind, I fear the walls potentially have ears. " Taking a moment to lean back and make sure there is no issue for the extra security, if Vitaly had any sort of phone or anything trying to get signal from the outside, she would notice the signal was cut off. "The incident at JOSH-A, the nuclear weapon that was deployed, my time spent with the ZAFT forces and my escape. All of these events were what led to this situation. Are fight with that Kaiju was simply the garnishment that only encouraged this move. " Taking a moment he stands up and moves toward his bar and begins to get down two shot glasses.
"The nuclear weapon, who used it? " Treie asks as he reaches under the counter and pulls out a bottle of vodka before he takes the two shot glasses and the bottle of vodka back to the desk and pours each of them a shot of vodka. " The ZAFT soldiers thought it was us. Their commander claimed it wasn't them. Our own side points fingers to them of course. So who did it? Who decided that it didn't matter if you were a friendly or an enemy or an innocent and used such a horrible device?"
<Pose Tracker> Vitaly Sokolov has posed.
Revealing those buttons, the woman remains unmoving, but her expression turns firmer. He will not do something as foolish as calling in security. And Treize is not the kind of man who would install a trap. This is a man who would take out a rapier and request she challenge him in a fair manner to defend his life.
Instead, a slight darkening. A silencing. She can feel the 'tremmor' that enters the ear through the old mechanics in her body. Instead of her knees aching when there is rain, her prosthetics ache when there's EM in the air. She is of course, quite familiar with this kind of methods. She is part of the REA. All he'll find with her in that moment, is an affirmative acknowledgement. She doesn't bother checking a phone.
"Was not nuclear." She points out when Treize mentions the weapon spent at JOSH-A. Watching him get to his bar take take the two shot glasses, she waits for him to fill her glass, and put the vodka bottle on the desk. Right where it belongs.
She takes the bottle then, and though the shot glasses are clearly filled, she fills them further to the brim, allowing just a bit to spill onto the desk itself. The scent of vodka filling the air, before she takes her shot and shoots it back with ease. The first to drink, because she is his guest.
"Playbook was too similar to what happen at Jaburo." She answers him. "It was done by Federation who do not care about soldiers, and who want to escalate war." Vitaly feels almost certain of this. This is why she'd gone after Eight York when rumors came out so soon there-after. "But, ZAFT response was too immediate after planting. Proper playbook say - hide weapon better."
<Pose Tracker> Treize Khushrenada has posed.
Treize smiles a rather fake smile as he watches Vitaly pour more but custom is custom and waits for Vitaly to throw back her shot before he does the same. The Colonel for all his etiquette and training for similar situation still fails to not make a face, a grimace and then shrudders a little. It would appear even now after all those years as a trainee he still hasn't devevloped a taste for vodka straight up.
Setting the shot glass back down he nods his head, "My sources point to similar, the federation coalition at the very least. The corruption of that action I fear may also be spreading into G-Hound through certain associated organizations."
The words are left to hang for a few moments in the air before he continues, "The Commander is not a messenger, he is a, well he is to unreliable to be considered a means to an end so I suppose I would classify him as a problem. A problem, that could not simply be solved as one normally would for the same reason he is a commander and more importantly a problem that could help that corruption spread." Treize pours another shot for each of them and throws back the second shot, totally breaking custom, as he shrudders less due to a numb tongue.
Finally Treize says, "So I simply gave him the rope that is needed and am letting the situation unfold as it will. In the end I expect it will hurt as much as a broken bone, it will hurt but G-Hound will be stronger after."
<Pose Tracker> Vitaly Sokolov has posed.
Vitaly is quick to take the bottle again, and refill her own glass, while watching Treize as he speaks. Waiting for him to set the shot glass back down, and immediately filling it while his fingers are still on it. Some of the vodka staining his fingers as she urgently refills his shotglass.
She is setting the pace, even as he is giving the explaination.
"You make him messenger, when you give speech, and allow him to make the first move." The Ravnuin woman points out. "Now, he has served means." She answers him. "Now, you must ensure G-Hound has broken bone, not broken back." The woman points out, as she pours another shot, drinking it quickly, then slamming the shot down again. Another pour for the both of them.
"I will take care of him, and take over project." She then points out to Treize. "I will pull string, and bring people on who can help with project. I will make point, to ensure G-Hound understand incompetence is not accepted."
The woman pauses for a moment, before staring him right in the eyes. "You think - fool will bring on friends onto secret project. Think, they all die to ZAFT retaliation. But they will bring on crew. They will bring on military. You sacrifice too many of my Pawn, to get to Bishop. Tell me I am wrong."
<Pose Tracker> Treize Khushrenada has posed.
Treize doesn't compete to set the pace of the conversation, in the end who is leading and who is following at the moment isn't the real issue anyways so Treize concedes to that situation as he watches the shot glass get refilled again and again.
The more important situation is the conversation they are currently locked in, fighting to win back Vitaly's confidence in his actions. "Just so you remember, those pawns are my people. If you wish for me to, I can tell you each one of their names, ranks, and associations right here and now for you. I have thought heavily about the potential loss of life and how I am potentially burning the forest to kill a single tree." Treize states as he looks at the last shot glass.
"I can not allow you to go and take over Lieutenant Commander. This is the commanders mess and when it is no loger his mess it will be mine. " Treize states raising his eyes back to hers, " Instead I am sending you there under orders that when Project Cerberus is complete you will be taking over the administration of the colony. You will have say in who is stationed there and will make sure that nothing of value is loss to spies or incompetence. I expect the Commander to stay in charge until the completion of project, after that, well the bishop will have no more value on being on the board." Treize states calmly before he lifts the shot glass and waits this time.
"Keep your name out of this uchitel, I need you to move pass this moment in time and on to the next. You still have more to teach." Treize says as he continues to hold the glass, waiting for the moment knowing that he is either going to get shot or take a shot.
<Pose Tracker> Vitaly Sokolov has posed.
Vitaly slowly slips one leg over the other, as Treize explains the situation. It's a position of ease. One it'd be harder to reach for that weapon from. Drawing back some of her own role in the conversation, and offering Treize the opportunity to be the Voice of this discussion.
She watches him, as she takes a long draft from her cigarette once more. Letting some of the ash fall to the floor. Leaning away from him a bit within her seat. Distancing herself from him as his words continue. She looks unimpressed at the idea of him knowing each of their names.
Calculated losses. Burning a forest to get to a tree. She doesn't look impressed with her student. Her expression harsh as she closes of her heart to the truths of war once more.
When he was younger, she'd often hear Treize speak, or find him reading. She has always had high hopes for him, and knows that he thinks like a strategist. He's a man with heart, who will gladly make a martyr out of himself in order to bring a greater goal to life.
"No." She tells him. "I have no interest in administrating colony after Project Cerberus is complete. There is better Commander for handling that." Rejecting this idea. She isn't looking to administrate. This is the woman who, for years now, has remained as a Lieutenant Commander.
If she wished, she could have Rear Admiral now. She has enough clout. She could be an administrator anywhere. "Uchenik make liar out of me. You owe me that man's life. I will wait until Project Cerberus is complete. I will let you have your plan. But in trade for many life you take to cut down tree, I will take further payment." The ruthless woman presses.
And that payment is the most frightening payment in the Federation.
A favor... to the Winter Witch of Ravnui.
<Pose Tracker> Treize Khushrenada has posed.
"I fear you misunderstood the offer as some form of bribe, I would never have insulted you with that nor have taken you out of the pilot seat, however I understand and accept that when this is all done you will come for your pound of flesh, which I will happily give." Treize says, no smile or happiness added to his voice. In some ways he sounds a little numb to it all.
With that said Treize gives a smile and presses the same buttons in reverse order on his desk as the slight electrical hum stops, the curtains open automatically and light returns to the room. "I appreciate the opportunity for the lesson in strategy and will find a way to make up for the time you took out of your day for me." Treize then tosses the shot of vodka back before turning the cup upside down and placing it on his desk.
<Pose Tracker> Vitaly Sokolov has posed.
"I did not misunderstand." Vitaly points out. "I was making point. Is difference." It seems she's had enough Vodka. Which, by Treize's recollection, this means she's 'slowing down'. No doubt a sign of her age. In the past, she'd drink any of her superiors under the table without a problem, and then some. And while she just had an unhealthy amount of Vodka... it's still more paced than before.
"Next time... bigger tree." She tries to impress upon Treize, as he reaches for those buttons. Quieting as it begins to lift the curtains, and the light returns.
She doesn't say anything on the matter of lessons. She stands up, takes the gun, and removes the cartridge. With her thumb, she flicks a single bullet out of it, and catches it in her other hand - which is still holding her cigarette. She then taps the bullet onto the table by its rear, and puts out her cigarette into her shotglass.
"Keep bullet. In case plan fail." Vitaly points out, before she turns around and steps out of the door.