I can't do this.
“Lieutenant.â€
His heart was hammering in his chest. Where were they again? The Goblet. It all spun back in to view as he lifted his head and locked eyes with Coatleque. She wasn't alone. What did they smell like? Sand. Cloth. Metal. Cleaning oils. Perfume. Heat. They smelled like the sun. The desert.
“Ser Crofte.â€
Salute.
She did it first. Automatically his body shifted in response, giving a far less graceful salute to Coatlique in return. He sounded more calm than he felt, his face betraying little by way of his fear of the situation. His gaze shifted from Crofte to the unfamiliar Highlander and he inclined his head in less than subtle curiosity. “Your friend..?†She wouldn't have brought along someone that wasn't worth trusting, but precautions needed to be taken none the less. Mortar shifted behind him, smoothing out his shirt in an attempt to look more presentable in front of their fair featured company.
“This is Shas Terry. You needn't worry, she knows of the situation. I've brought her to help with the planning.â€
Shas nodded in response. “Aye,†she agreed with a Flame salute that he responded in kind to. Again it lacked the grace and practice of someone that had been doing it for years.
“Perhaps we should go inside?†Crofte offered.
You idiot.
“R-right!†He could feel his heart rate pick up. He should have thought of that. Why hadn't he? His hand groped backward for the door – Mortar caught the gesture and casually reached up to open it instead. “...th-thanks Private.â€
“What kind of doorman would I be if I didn't get it for a pretty lady?†The Lalafell gave his commanding officer a cheeky grin and Mikh'a's ears flexed back just a little bit as he led the two women through the front office, past the messy desk with scattered papers, the wall plastered with mission statements, hunt marks, and check ins. Down the hall, second door after his office, and in to Kanaria's office they went with little ceremony. Upon entrance he was conscious enough to lock the door, reminded as he did it that there were absent bodies from his company.
Where was Siha?
“Do you still have the papers?â€
Mikh'a took in a deep breath through his nose and moved toward Shas and Crofte. Burning wood. Trees. Lingering perfume. Leather. Metals. “I've got them locked up here... I have the plans on me though, I've been trying to do some research on the dreadnought design, look for weakness.†He vanished briefly with a crouch behind the desk.
“Did you find anything?†Shas asked curiously and he stood again with the yellow envelope in hand, passing it and the plans to her.
“Nothing that doesn't come standard with the design.†Mikh'a admitted reluctantly. “Even the steel is standard. Weak at the knees, slow to power up, the potential for flimsy joints if the craftsmanship is shoddy and rushed but otherwise it's solid and we're better off disabling it before it reaches full potential.â€
Shas grunted in response as she flipped through the papers and Mikh'a nervously looked to Crofte. She regarded him for less than a nonce, long enough to almost feel like an eternity but not long enough to let the creeping fear settle back in completely. The only tell contrary to the calm look on his face was the twitching tip of his tail until Crofte cleared her throat. His ears flexed back, surprised for no reason and he straightened up. A groping hand reached for the desk to steady the tremble before it could start and he made the fear look like a casual lean. “If that thing gets started we won't be able to stop it.â€
“That's why we need to lure him away from the city, somewhere that we can fight him on our terms rather than his own.â€
“I thought that was where the Dauntless came in?â€
Where was Kanaria?
“It is.†Mikh'a felt his stomach twist in knots. His nostrils flared, another tell that he was internally going out of his mind. “But we have to get him there. We can set up traps and scour the perimeter, ready to take him down at a nonce's notice but getting him to that point is the hard part.â€
“What was it, a drug was suggested.†Coatleque reminded him and his mind rolled back as he considered.
“Milkweed.†he remembered. “It was just a matter of getting in there to find the weakest link... we couldn't send you, they'd recognize your face.â€
“I can do it.†Shas spoke up and handed the documents back to Mikh'a. “Not as well known as Ser Crofte, and I can use that tae my advantage. I could go in and root out someone willin' tae turn on their master, ain't hard tae find in a den o'thieves really. Someone's always lookin' tae get their back scratched.â€
Mikh'a considered, rubbing his chin as he paced with the documents back around the desk. “But aren't you almost as well known as the captain?†he asked as he shut and locked the drawer. “Wouldn't they recognize you too?â€
“Nae.†Shas had a grin that reminded Mikh'a of Osric on her face as he stood back upright, folding the plans back up to tuck them in to his chest. “I've got my ways.â€
Mikh'a drummed his fingers on the wood of the desk and took in another deep breath, nodding as he considered the options. Burning wood. Steel. Leather. His tail twitched again and he tried to hold the breath to still his twisting stomach. Crofte spoke again, steering the conversation for him once more and the boy's fingers curled along the desk. “And what about Ernis? If you can't lure him away?â€
Where was Osric?
“We'll have people both in and out of the city in preparation and open pearl contact. If we need to move from outside back in to the city it can be done swiftly.†Mikh'a straightened up again and looked between Shas and Crofte. “Our best bet is to take him off guard and on our terms, so that we can disable the device.â€
“If we don't disable that device it's going to wreak havoc and destroy Pearl Lane.†Coatleque agreed and Mikh'a's ears went flat at the thought.
“Aya is supposed to be the ears to get people moving if needs be.â€
“Aya Foxheart? From the Quicksand?†Crofte asked and Mikh'a nodded. “Good. The Dauntless will do their part from there, and the Sultansworn will be standing by with readied blades. I'm sorry we can't offer more aide.†The smile she gave him was apologetic and he could only straighten up with confidence in return.
“No need to be sorry, this is what the Dauntless is for.†he reminded her. “And I'm more than confident my people will be on point and capable of handling their part.â€
“Good. They'll need to be.†The grim tone was not lost on him and Crofte looked toward Shas who nodded in return.
“Will you be alright?†Mikh'a had followed her gaze to the woman who only waved a hand and with equal confidence said, “Aye I'll be alright. They won't see me comen' and if anything were tae happen there's always open communication on my end as well.â€
“Then I trust the next we meet we'll be on point.†Crofte looked toward the window behind Mikh'a and the setting sun. “The hour grows late, we should be on our way to take care of things in Ul'dah.â€
There was an awkward pause, and a raised brow reminded the boy he'd locked the door. Grunting to hide his panic he moved swiftly to release Coatleque and Shas from their would-be office prison. “I'll be sending someone to see you soon,†Crofte added as he opened the door. “Jana Ridah. She's part of the Free Brigade but I believe she'll be helpful to you in the absence of the Sworn's assitance.â€
“I'll keep an eye out for her.†Mikh'a smiled.
Salute.
He initiated it this time, ending the conversation with a far more graceful salute than he'd pulled off in the beginning, near flawless in its execution, and it was returned by the women with equal practiced grace.
“Be safe.†He could never remember which of Eorzea's gods were appropriate to call to people as they were traveling in to the night, and omitted them as often as he could both to save himself the humiliation of offending someone, and because of personal conflict in beliefs.
“You as well, Lieutenant.â€
“Aye, watch yourself.†Shas gave Mikh'a a nod, the last from the room. Mikh'a shifted to watch them down the hall and out the front of the building, though he didn't follow. They parted right, as he went left to his lab while unfolding the Dreadnought plans once more.
Maybe I can do this..
“Lieutenant.â€
His heart was hammering in his chest. Where were they again? The Goblet. It all spun back in to view as he lifted his head and locked eyes with Coatleque. She wasn't alone. What did they smell like? Sand. Cloth. Metal. Cleaning oils. Perfume. Heat. They smelled like the sun. The desert.
“Ser Crofte.â€
Salute.
She did it first. Automatically his body shifted in response, giving a far less graceful salute to Coatlique in return. He sounded more calm than he felt, his face betraying little by way of his fear of the situation. His gaze shifted from Crofte to the unfamiliar Highlander and he inclined his head in less than subtle curiosity. “Your friend..?†She wouldn't have brought along someone that wasn't worth trusting, but precautions needed to be taken none the less. Mortar shifted behind him, smoothing out his shirt in an attempt to look more presentable in front of their fair featured company.
“This is Shas Terry. You needn't worry, she knows of the situation. I've brought her to help with the planning.â€
Shas nodded in response. “Aye,†she agreed with a Flame salute that he responded in kind to. Again it lacked the grace and practice of someone that had been doing it for years.
“Perhaps we should go inside?†Crofte offered.
You idiot.
“R-right!†He could feel his heart rate pick up. He should have thought of that. Why hadn't he? His hand groped backward for the door – Mortar caught the gesture and casually reached up to open it instead. “...th-thanks Private.â€
“What kind of doorman would I be if I didn't get it for a pretty lady?†The Lalafell gave his commanding officer a cheeky grin and Mikh'a's ears flexed back just a little bit as he led the two women through the front office, past the messy desk with scattered papers, the wall plastered with mission statements, hunt marks, and check ins. Down the hall, second door after his office, and in to Kanaria's office they went with little ceremony. Upon entrance he was conscious enough to lock the door, reminded as he did it that there were absent bodies from his company.
Where was Siha?
“Do you still have the papers?â€
Mikh'a took in a deep breath through his nose and moved toward Shas and Crofte. Burning wood. Trees. Lingering perfume. Leather. Metals. “I've got them locked up here... I have the plans on me though, I've been trying to do some research on the dreadnought design, look for weakness.†He vanished briefly with a crouch behind the desk.
“Did you find anything?†Shas asked curiously and he stood again with the yellow envelope in hand, passing it and the plans to her.
“Nothing that doesn't come standard with the design.†Mikh'a admitted reluctantly. “Even the steel is standard. Weak at the knees, slow to power up, the potential for flimsy joints if the craftsmanship is shoddy and rushed but otherwise it's solid and we're better off disabling it before it reaches full potential.â€
Shas grunted in response as she flipped through the papers and Mikh'a nervously looked to Crofte. She regarded him for less than a nonce, long enough to almost feel like an eternity but not long enough to let the creeping fear settle back in completely. The only tell contrary to the calm look on his face was the twitching tip of his tail until Crofte cleared her throat. His ears flexed back, surprised for no reason and he straightened up. A groping hand reached for the desk to steady the tremble before it could start and he made the fear look like a casual lean. “If that thing gets started we won't be able to stop it.â€
“That's why we need to lure him away from the city, somewhere that we can fight him on our terms rather than his own.â€
“I thought that was where the Dauntless came in?â€
Where was Kanaria?
“It is.†Mikh'a felt his stomach twist in knots. His nostrils flared, another tell that he was internally going out of his mind. “But we have to get him there. We can set up traps and scour the perimeter, ready to take him down at a nonce's notice but getting him to that point is the hard part.â€
“What was it, a drug was suggested.†Coatleque reminded him and his mind rolled back as he considered.
“Milkweed.†he remembered. “It was just a matter of getting in there to find the weakest link... we couldn't send you, they'd recognize your face.â€
“I can do it.†Shas spoke up and handed the documents back to Mikh'a. “Not as well known as Ser Crofte, and I can use that tae my advantage. I could go in and root out someone willin' tae turn on their master, ain't hard tae find in a den o'thieves really. Someone's always lookin' tae get their back scratched.â€
Mikh'a considered, rubbing his chin as he paced with the documents back around the desk. “But aren't you almost as well known as the captain?†he asked as he shut and locked the drawer. “Wouldn't they recognize you too?â€
“Nae.†Shas had a grin that reminded Mikh'a of Osric on her face as he stood back upright, folding the plans back up to tuck them in to his chest. “I've got my ways.â€
Mikh'a drummed his fingers on the wood of the desk and took in another deep breath, nodding as he considered the options. Burning wood. Steel. Leather. His tail twitched again and he tried to hold the breath to still his twisting stomach. Crofte spoke again, steering the conversation for him once more and the boy's fingers curled along the desk. “And what about Ernis? If you can't lure him away?â€
Where was Osric?
“We'll have people both in and out of the city in preparation and open pearl contact. If we need to move from outside back in to the city it can be done swiftly.†Mikh'a straightened up again and looked between Shas and Crofte. “Our best bet is to take him off guard and on our terms, so that we can disable the device.â€
“If we don't disable that device it's going to wreak havoc and destroy Pearl Lane.†Coatleque agreed and Mikh'a's ears went flat at the thought.
“Aya is supposed to be the ears to get people moving if needs be.â€
“Aya Foxheart? From the Quicksand?†Crofte asked and Mikh'a nodded. “Good. The Dauntless will do their part from there, and the Sultansworn will be standing by with readied blades. I'm sorry we can't offer more aide.†The smile she gave him was apologetic and he could only straighten up with confidence in return.
“No need to be sorry, this is what the Dauntless is for.†he reminded her. “And I'm more than confident my people will be on point and capable of handling their part.â€
“Good. They'll need to be.†The grim tone was not lost on him and Crofte looked toward Shas who nodded in return.
“Will you be alright?†Mikh'a had followed her gaze to the woman who only waved a hand and with equal confidence said, “Aye I'll be alright. They won't see me comen' and if anything were tae happen there's always open communication on my end as well.â€
“Then I trust the next we meet we'll be on point.†Crofte looked toward the window behind Mikh'a and the setting sun. “The hour grows late, we should be on our way to take care of things in Ul'dah.â€
There was an awkward pause, and a raised brow reminded the boy he'd locked the door. Grunting to hide his panic he moved swiftly to release Coatleque and Shas from their would-be office prison. “I'll be sending someone to see you soon,†Crofte added as he opened the door. “Jana Ridah. She's part of the Free Brigade but I believe she'll be helpful to you in the absence of the Sworn's assitance.â€
“I'll keep an eye out for her.†Mikh'a smiled.
Salute.
He initiated it this time, ending the conversation with a far more graceful salute than he'd pulled off in the beginning, near flawless in its execution, and it was returned by the women with equal practiced grace.
“Be safe.†He could never remember which of Eorzea's gods were appropriate to call to people as they were traveling in to the night, and omitted them as often as he could both to save himself the humiliation of offending someone, and because of personal conflict in beliefs.
“You as well, Lieutenant.â€
“Aye, watch yourself.†Shas gave Mikh'a a nod, the last from the room. Mikh'a shifted to watch them down the hall and out the front of the building, though he didn't follow. They parted right, as he went left to his lab while unfolding the Dreadnought plans once more.
Maybe I can do this..
