[Open]

[indeliblepast]

Sumeragi glared at the console, and instructed the computer to bring up the simulation once more. It was a fairly simple one - just dodging an oncoming asteroid field - but she'd run it three times now, and each had ended with her ship as an asteroid bug-splatter not too far in. She could drive a car just fine, but the finer controls of the ship eluded her. She had imported the Ptolemy's basic design and control scheme into the program, so at least it was a ship she was vaguely familiar with.

Nonetheless, ten minutes into this fourth run, a fairly loud stream of curses - in more than one language - could be heard outside the door to the sensorium she was using.

Comments

[quick_strike]

"Simply put, I do what I wish. If called to do a mission, I will complete it but only because I need to fight when the chance is offered."

[indeliblepast]

Potentially useful... "I see. What's your skillset like? Piloting aside."

[quick_strike]

That was a specific question if she had ever heard one. "I have some knowledge in the ways of healing but infiltration, exfiltration, tracking, sniping, hit and run, teleportation, sword fighting, and any art of war are all something I have centuries of experience at."

[indeliblepast]

Sumeragi tapped her fingers idly on the edge of the console. "All close-range, though?"

[quick_strike]

"I would not call it all close range. I am an expert with long range precision weapons and my main weapon is medium ranged."

[indeliblepast]

"And the sort of weaponry a ship like this has?" It was probably becoming clear that Sumeragi was driving towards a point, here.

[quick_strike]

"Yes, that would be simple enough. I have experience in void combat on a raider. The principles are simple enough and it is not as if human technology is complicated. No, all particle weaponry should run on the same basic physics. I could use these weapons with plenty of skill."

[indeliblepast]

The proposal running through her mind was a risky one - after all, she'd just met the woman. But risk was part of her game, ultimately.

"Would you be interested in being a gunner aboard this ship? We mean to end this war - but I refuse to follow orders blindly, which is what Command asks."

[quick_strike]

"That all depends if you plan on getting better at piloting or find someone to pilot." Dying too quickly to do anything was always a concern.

[indeliblepast]

Sumeragi grinned. "Well, I haven't stalked off in a frustrated huff, yet."

[quick_strike]

"I suppose you can consider me a part of this then." Hopefully there would be no rock ramming in the process.

[indeliblepast]

Sumeragi grinned. "I suppose you should probably give me your name, in that case."

[quick_strike]

"Alendian. Of the craftworld Alaitoc." She thought she may as well throw out that last part to save questions for later if it came up.

[indeliblepast]

Sumeragi offered her a hand to shake. "Sumeragi Lee Noriega. Of.. Earth, I guess. Not that it matters much out here."

[quick_strike]

Alendian holds out a hand too but...no. She has no idea what to do with it. Human customs and all. "There is pride to take in where you are from."

[indeliblepast]

Sumeragi's lips quirked slightly, but she managed to refrain from laughing. Instead, she took a step forward, and gave Alendian's hand a firm shake.

"I suppose that's true. I'm not sure humanity has reached the point where I can be proud of us, though."

[quick_strike]

Alendian looked down at their shaking hands and shrugged. She held back a comment on humans remaining barbaric and xenophobic for as long as her race remembers. It probably wouldn't help morale in the slightest. "Do what you can, I suppose."

[indeliblepast]

Sumeragi smiled. "That was this ship's mission, before. To end war and unite humanity."

[quick_strike]

Oh, did she have to say that. "I have bad news for you. Uniting humans only makes them fight other races even harder. There has been non-stop war for the past ten thousand years thanks to humans being united."

[indeliblepast]

Sumeragi's expression changed rapidly to one of shock - and then anger. "Damnit!" A fist came down on top of the console. "That's not... that's not what I've been fighting for. What any of us have been fighting for."

[quick_strike]

"I know nothing about your...world but you say you are from Earth. That is the ancient name for the human capital world of Terra." She leaned back in the chair, fingers tapping on the armrest. May as well throw her a bone.

"Either way, with the barbaric orks and the tyranids running rampant in the galaxy, complete peace is an impossibility."

[indeliblepast]

Sumeragi could only hope that their worlds were not the same, but the idea of humanity as a conquering force left a bad taste in her mouth. "I'd like to learn more of where you come from, then, so I can keep humanity from making those mistakes again."

[quick_strike]

Now she could offer a shrug. "I know little of human history aside from the most recent news." Recent for Eldar had an entirely different definition than for humans since the Eldar lifespan stretched on for many centuries.

[indeliblepast]

"Still," Sumeragi persisted. "If I can do anything to change humanity's path - I will. That was our mission."

[quick_strike]

"I suppose I am agreeable with that." Now, how to get those Space Marines off her craftworld.