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Post by Deleted on Mar 6, 2019 18:43:32 GMT -5
Aside from being smacked around a bit, the Saiyan prisoners were no worse for wear. They glared and snarled, spat at the feet of any soldiers who came too close, hurling insults and threats alike. Truly a pair of uncivilized monkeys. Brisk frowned as he stood aside, observing their outlandish behavior. He could see the hate festering in their eyes, sense the malice exuding from their chaotic auras. He'd seen this sort of hate before. It was often founded upon generations of indoctrination. After all, weren't the United Systems suppose to bring a peaceful solution to all of the racism and in-fighting? Yet it did not seem to stop these Saiyans. The last two surviving members of the squadron that had infiltrated Planet Kanassa and attacked a platoon of Galactic Patrolmen who were on duty in one of the villages. As far as Brisk could discern from eyewitness statements from some of the braver Kanassans willing to speak on the matter, the Saiyans had instigated the conflict. Brisk knew his own men weren't void of guilt, either. Both sides often antagonized the other, and hardly needed an occasion to instigate a full-fledged brawl. They should have counted themselves lucky to be alive. Some of his patrolmen were not. "Mind your manners," Brisk warned them as they struggled against their katchin-reinforced cuff restraints, hands held tight behind their backs. He nodded at one of the Ultramarines assigned to guard them. With a low chuckle, he raised the butt of his rifle, drilling it hard across the bridge of the nose of the ex-Dominion soldier nearest to him. Brisk sighed, returning his gaze to the skies above. This particular clearing was miles away from any Kanassan villages, as good a spot to rendevous with Saiyan forces as any. He'd long since grown weary of babysitting the prisoners. This was slated to be a simple exchange of prisoners, as the Saiyans had captured some of his own marines in the ensuing conflict. A couple of Kanassans had gotten caught and killed in the crossfire. The village government, namely the chief, was calling for justice and penance. Brisk promised to punish the men responsible. First he needed to commandeer them from the Saiyans. Ultimately, his goal was smooth over relations with the Saiyans. Despite the enmity between their people in the past, he had no intentions of harboring some foolish vendetta against them. He had no personal qualms against them. Not yet, anyway.
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Post by Cassava on Mar 6, 2019 20:59:00 GMT -5
Kanassa.
Cassava couldn't say that she had came here too often, if at all, in the past. If she had it was during her military service and in passing, but the memories from that time were slipping farther and farther away each day.
 She snapped to the attention of nauseating Ultramarines who had been hurling derogatory insults at her all day; though, it didn't take much of her wrath to get the point across that she wasn't the one to provoke. She steadied her footing as a voice echoed overhead.
"Access to the planet was granted Lt. Cassava, we will be meeting with the other party shortly."
Cassava made a mental note and moved to the main body of the ship. She prepared her leave of the ship with a quick check in the mirror. She needn't look frazzled when negotiations and peace talking were imminent.
Soon, they landed. Miles away from civilization, but enough quiet to get the job down. The landing gear hissed and leveled before the door to the ship popped open and lowered into a neat ramp. The katchin boots of the Saiyan clanked against the metal of the ship as she makes her way out into the brilliant light. Immediately her eyes looked for who she was meeting.
She hadn't had much intel either. Aside from a meeting place and a negotiation of prisoners, she didn't even know the name of the person she was dealing with. Shockingly, what worried her more was that he was a literal Frost Demon. One that could still have a bad taste in their mouth. The ebony haired woman shrugged and looked towards the direction Brisk and his crew were. From there she cleared her throat and began walking to close the gap.
Hopefully he wouldn't find that bit intimidating however. Cassava was certainly on edge enough to intervene if need be.
"Hello there," She simply stated.
@brisk ||| WC: 318
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Post by Deleted on Mar 9, 2019 19:24:32 GMT -5
The ship arrived without much fanfare. He paused in his pacing, his cool gaze watching the landing gear extend as the ship touched down in the clearing not far from his own. Some of his patrolmen raised their energy rifles, but a raised placating hand from Brisk put them at ease. A silent edict for them to lower their weapons. "No need for panic to ensue," he stated. "This is an exchange, and nothing more." A raven-haired woman exited the ship. She did not walk with the boisterous pride Brisk had come to associate with Saiyan high ranking officers, yet she had an air about her that spoke volumes. This was no ordinary woman. Much like himself, she possessed an easy gait despite the tension of the situation. Perhaps she was quite familiar with the battlefield, much like himself. He could almost taste the bile in his mouth. To compare himself to her, even in the safe confines of his own thoughts, was unthinkable. Brisk did not hate Saiyans. In fact, their species left much to be admired. But they also left even more to be desired. He often thought of them as the bratty rebellious teens of the Empire. Teens he would no doubt need to placate here today. "Greetings. I am Commodore Brisk, of His Majesty's Imperial Navy." He glanced past her shoulder, expectant to see some of his men bound in chains follow suit. "I believe you are in possession of some prisoners of mine?"
Cassavatotal word count: 414 + 248 = 662 |
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Post by Cassava on Mar 10, 2019 13:53:03 GMT -5
The warrior had noticed the guns of the Imperials pointed at her shuttle as soon as they touched down. Though, after a concise order they lowered their weapons and made the environment a little less tense. The Saiyan rolled her shoulders while approaching the man who soon introduced himself as Brisk. The people of his race always had such cute meanings; while her people were mostly named after vegetables of the root variety.
"Commodore Brisk, good to see you're well," Cassava stated with a soft smile. She bowed her head for a moment before the frost demon mentioned her lack of prisoners. She quickly sat up at attention. Of course, it made her look silly not to have her cargo out in the opening. What was she trying to do? Some sort of ambush?
OF COURSE NOT! Cassava was a diplomat. A builder of relationships between the great factions of the galaxy. She strove for peace and the end of all wars; while she knows that goal is a bit farfetched. Cassava aims to uphold her values in her fighting. The fighting was terrible, the lives left behind, every bit of it a horrible time.
Of course, he had his prisoners out in the open. Cassava easily could validate their authenticity with her eyes. She glanced back towards one of the guards that waited behind her warily. The Saiyan then cleared her throat before giving the order. It wouldn't take long for them to move after her command, her guard respected her for the service she provided in the wars of the past.
"Bring them out, single file please. I need to make sure all our eggs are in the basket for this."
The Saiyan woman then waited. The guard obviously disappeared before returning the with prisoners of all sorts of demeaners and backstories. They looked irritated, but relieved to return to their respective home. Still, all of them were there, accounted for, and in relatively good shape for prisoners of war.
"Yeah, looks like I got all yours too! Sorry, I'm not used to these jobs, I suppose I'm used to the battlefield," Cassava muttered aloud as if Brisk cared. Either way, she wasn't sure how the next part of the exchange went.
@brisk WC: 374 || 692
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Post by Deleted on Mar 12, 2019 12:03:42 GMT -5
Brisk gave a nod of approval as the captured marines were marched down the ramp of Cassava's ship. Her men eyed him with disdain, but Brisk ignored their venomous looks. He was far more interested in the men forced to kneel in the dirt at Cassava's side. His gaze slid from one face to another. Each of the men humbled in kind. They understood such a look. And should much rather wish to remain as prisoners of war for all he had planned for them. Brisk ran a tight ship, and did not fancy his men acting upon their own desires and instincts. A skirmish this close to the establishment of the United Systems looked bad upon his squad, and his leadership. That was nothing he would take very kindly. "They seem to be in order," he admitted, returning his attention to Cassava. "I must say I do appreciate your handling of the prisoners. I trust my men didn't give you too many problems?" He raised a hand, gesturing with a finger. Two of his men shoved the Saiyan prisoners forward, the point of their rifles jammed between their shoulder blades to deter any sort of insubordination. They were forced to their knees in the dirt as well, on either side of Brisk. "Your men, on the other hand... well, I'm sorry to admit were not very cooperative. So I did what was necessary to teach them manners."
Cassavatotal word count: 662 + 238 = 900 |
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Post by Cassava on Mar 12, 2019 13:06:50 GMT -5
Cassava stood face to face to Brisk now. He had arrogance about him; perhaps what they said about his race is true? Still, the warrior knew better than to judge a person based on the group.
While the Imperials clung to the dirt at her knees, Cassava thought on how they weren’t as pristine as could be. The same could be said for her own men. She was sure that they fought even after their capture. She could vividly imagine the brutish warriors spitting, clawing, and biting at any limb that got too close. Their pride refused them the luxury of cooperating with an enemy. That’s where Cassava was differently minded. She strove for a strong sense of individualism in combat. She was sick of a war of numbers.
“No, of course not. Such pleasant soldiers, as always,” Cassava chuckled and joked on with the men.
While the Imperials should feel happy for their freedom, fear still stained their expressions. Cassava shrugged and responded to Brisk with a smile. He went on to unload her men, and rough them up slightly. He spoke of their misbehavior, as if a Saiyan was a pristine prisoner of war.
“Well, while they aren’t technically my direct responsibility, I must apologize. You see, no one really wants to be captured eh?” Cassava cleared her throat, her eyes looking towards her men before motioning the release of prisoners on her side. It would be a careful one by one ledger, but hopefully everything would go smoothly and no blood would be shed today. At least, that was Cassava’s hopes as she swallowed hard.
Suddenly the Saiyaness felt like she should have complained about his men, yet she was too kind.
“Wouldn’t be nice to have no prisoners?” Cassava uttered while watching the skies. She would let the exchange take place, but she never said she wouldn’t talk while doing it.
@brisk WC: 315 || 1007
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Post by Deleted on Mar 12, 2019 14:06:44 GMT -5
No prisoners? That was quite the thought. He'd served the Galactic Empire for well over a century. All he knew was conflict, strife, and battle. Things such as peace and happiness were contingent upon the success or failure of struggle. Emperors fought and soldiers bled just to grasp hold of some temporary tranquility that never lasted. "That is a nice sentiment. Unfortunately... it would never be," he responded. "It is our nature to war with each other over petty differences. Take you and myself, for example. How much enmity exists between Saiyans and us of Frieza's clan?" Even saying Frieza's name aloud sent a ripple of discontent between the Saiyan soldiers present. Brisk watched them shift from foot to foot, slip hands around their weapons, perhaps hugging the trigger a tad bit too tight. It didn't help that, in some circles amid his own folk, he bore a very slight resemblance to the tyrant. Not that Brisk could see it. He wanted to be as different from his ancestor as possible. Frieza ruled by fear and discord. Brisk sought to build an empire using guile, tactics, good connections. And of course, lots and lots of money. "Do you suppose our respective people will some day awaken, realize how fruitless it all is, and decide to bury the hatchet? For every frost demon killed, two more of my kind exact vengeance upon yours." Every time one of his patrolmen crossed the threshold here he stood, Brisk gestured to release one of the Saiyans. So far, the exchange was going according to plan. "How would you suppose to 'fix' the problem, my lady?"
Cassavatotal word count: 271 - 1171 |
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Post by Cassava on Mar 13, 2019 12:17:44 GMT -5
Cassava could see that her words amused the man. It was but fever dream about peace and carefree living throughout the galaxy. Of course the Saiyan was a bit optimistic now and days, but that was impossible. She could see that much in Brisk’s eyes. He thought she was foolish, perhaps she was, perhaps that was what the galaxy needed?
Questions flurried her pounding head as she struggled to bring herself back to the conversation despite the tense terms it was on. Again, a speech on the never ending life of a machine called war. Her father, generals, and superiors throughout her life had taught her that lesson. Still, Cassava wanted to break the mold. She wanted to be more than a Saiyan, more than a woman, and more than a warrior. Cassava wanted to be perfect. Yet, that was another foolish ideal, like peace.
Cassava ignored the man’s question at first. Mostly because she didn’t know what enmity meant. Still, she tried to use her context clues.
“Ahh, a lot?” Cassava answered warily.
Soon the prisoners started trickling between the two leaders as they continued on with their conversation. Cassava was good with appearances, but when such in depth questions arose, the woman often questioned her own mental capabilities. She tapped a katchin covered claw against her chin before motioning to continue the exchange until about half the prisoners were swapped out.
“I know? Someone who wishes to end such a thing should at least pose a solution yeah?” Cassava paused her bright eyes remaining filled with hope.
“I just want to show others that Saiyans aren’t all brutes and idiots like these fools who got themselves caught,” The woman glared at her prisoners as they huddled behind her .
“Even if it doesn’t make a big impact. I figure easing relations in any capacity probably doesn’t hurt. . .”
@brisk WC: 311 || 1318
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Post by Deleted on Mar 14, 2019 3:56:53 GMT -5
Easing relations? This Saiyan...For once, Brisk had nothing to say. No bitter truth to point out, no obvious flaw to exploit in her words. He found himself silent with something akin to admiration growing within for Cassava. His shoulders visibly relaxed, eyes closing as he exhaled a deep breath. Tension eased from his being. "Do you know how long I've waited to hear those words from one of your kind?" He opened his eyes, watching the last of his men cross the threshold upon which he stood. He nodded for them to be taken aboard his ship. "I have lived a very long time, Cassava. Had you been around long before now, I would imagine... well, not that it would have made a difference, really. Saiyans really are stubborn. Same could be said for my kind... but..." He stalked forward. Her men raised their rifles, barking orders for him to stand down. Brisk ignored them, his own men retaliating by raising their weapons as well. With only a wave of his hand, they understood, lowering their weapons in kind. His gait was easy and measured, his tail swishing behind him, almost as if the appendage was lazy. He stopped a foot or so from Cassava, having to crane his head back to stare up at her. Brisk extended a hand, which sent a ripple of shock and gasps throughout the entire clearing. "...I should be glad to have made your acquaintance."
Cassavatotal word count: 242 - 1413 |
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Post by Cassava on Mar 15, 2019 8:54:09 GMT -5
For the entirety of their meeting, the frost demon seemed on edge. His body was rigid, the language of it seeming to block out any words she may have said. Yet, here he was, standing before her with softening features.
The Saiyaness smiled, her body straightening as the last of the men danced between the two leaders. Cassava noted the change in demeanor of Brisk before he decided the break the silence. It appeared as if he was solely waiting on a helping, or at least, willing hand to ease relations between their kinds.
Cassava motioned for her own men to be loaded upon her ship right as Brisk did the same. The man continued his monologue, his body shifting and moving for the first time in the five minutes of eternity. He made his way to the woman, and while her guards were on edge, as were his own. The two were in a standoff, frost demons were unpredictable types. For all she knew he could be moving in for the kill. Alas, she stood rigid with a stern brow locked on Brisk.
But he stopped.
Cassava told her own guards to stand down as he did.
She looked down towards him, her golden eyes different from the normal Saiyan gaze.
Brisk held out his hand, and she met his grasp. With a firm handshake the Saiyan could breathe easier. She pulled away, her men loading up into the ship as she prepared to follow them inside.
“Pleasure Brisk. I think that having an open mind like you do may be what your people need,” Cassava spoke, her back turning to the man before she boarded the ship and prepared to head towards other business. Perhaps again one day their paths would cross; on terms other than war.
@brisk WC: 299 | 1617
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