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Bruchsal base. It had been since forever since John Holliday stepped foot in it. His memory ran deep and even he couldn't remember when he was there. It was a place where he had little reason, if any, to be. He only heard the rumors of the place...college students who thought that they could change the world. The Rheinland government viewed them as terrorists so a Junker shuttle brought him anonymously. He brought only his medical bag, his sidearms and a pack of playing cards.
The request he received however, was unique. Who was this Civil Servant? What did he want and what were his motives? His request sounded sincere but dealing with the unlawful side of the tracks forced him to be careful. Still, he was relaxed as he walked into the bar at Bruchsal to meet his contact. Servant wanted something and Doc thought he may find opportunity.
The bartender was younger than most and looked at Doc suspiciously. After all, Doc was a stranger.
"What can I do for you, Stranger?" was all he asked.
"I am here to meet someone in confidence," Doc replied. He took a quick look about the bar. "Until he arrives, I will take a double Scotch over the rocks." He then gave the man payment with a very generous tip and found a table. It wasn't but a minute before his drink arrived from the now smiling bartender. "Let me know if you need anything else, Sir."
Doc just looked up with a nod. "Just anonymity from anyone except my contact and he will know who I am." With that, the bartender left. Doc sipped his Scotch and began playing Solitaire.
The few bars and canteens on this station were generally a shared place amongst all Bundschuh, many made of local Rheinlanders who seem to be of friendlier nature to strangers and independent individuals, as some of its regular visitors and residents whom many from certain backgrounds called home far elsewhere but have found a community they can blend in with here. There wasn't really a aura of ego or caution around this place as people were more than happy to keep their heads up and shown around each other unlike most freeports. Likely from the lack of the regular troublemakers.
As Doctor Holliday had settled in with his first drink, the bar was pretty lively, a single individual at the table wasn't really common to see around this bar... Except for one other, an individual that didn't seem to bother taking off her flight suit after arriving. Still wearing her pilot helmet and all, she sat at the table with an empty glass and a data-padd in hand that she seemed busy with, compounded in thought as one leg was crossed over the other under the table as her gaze never broke from her educational reading... Although her presentation was nothing short of social isolation. A strange juxtaposition for such a location to be in alone.
As Doctor Holliday's drink almost came to its last sip as the ice danced in his glass, there wasn't any sign yet of the individual that requested the meeting just yet, that was until the room slowly dipped in decibels... Chairs screeched, footsteps rushed and the occasional whispering annoyance of some of the other patrons describing a 'Dead man' to fornicate himself in a certain direction... A sudden turn of tensions.
Almost without a sound, another helmeted individual had brought himself to stand at the side of Doctor Holiday's table, although there wasn't much of a word from him... He just stood there like with arms down by his side and as stiff as a statue who's head was on a gimbal, observing not Doctor Holliday directly... But that game he was playing. His flightsuit a combination of blacks and greys augmented with combat webbing and extra pouches, The helmet of his fully encased his head and his visor was a dulled and visually opaque shade of teal that made eye contact difficult to maintain for onlookers. Not a single bit of what person was underneath was showing.
"Doctor Holliday I presume, unless my eyes are incredibly mistaken. I hope the Void kept your journey secluded."
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He flipped a card on one of the piles on the table before stopping and looking up at the helmeted individual.
"Dr. John Holliday," was the reply with a nod. "I guess it has been quite some time since I was last here as I do not remember seeing your kind before."
He started picking up his cards.
"You have me at a disadvantage," he continued as he used the table to neaten his card pile, "You know who I am but I do not know you."
He then put the cards in their box and put them in one of his jacket pockets. He then took a look around.
"We have some rather delicate matters to talk about so maybe we should find somewhere more private."
He stood up. His robe flowed around him as he took his bag in hand. "Let us find an office or conference room, somewhere away from the crowd."
"The Platform welcomes you to Bruschal, good Doctor. We're a recent civilian movement and paramilitary formation, but if you mean specifically myself and my tribe then not to worry, a case of me knowing you and you not knowing me means I'm doing my job effectively... My name is Civil Servant, but many just rely on 'CS'." His tone was more genuine with a hint of exhilaration rather than one of pride showmanship, even if his body had an uncanny machine like smoothness as he observed the room around them both. CS allowed the doctor to gather his belongings and assortment of playing cards from the table, ensuring that he nodded as he listened to show acknowledgement of the doctors conversation. "Yes, I have made arrangements for a SCIF to be made available for us on a Platform administrated deck, we take our privacy concerns here seriously. I hope that alleviates any pressures of potential interruptions."
There was suddenly a considerable absence of patrons around where both the Doctor and CS were occupying, so the overall temptation to bother the pair were so far free from likely disruptions. The helmeted individual gazed over at the other similar helmeted female sitting quietly in her own isolation in, who in return lowered her data-padd as she responded with an equal staring silence to CS in return. "Do you require anything else during your stay here?" Bringing his attention back to Doctor Holliday as the helmeted female had began to prepare herself for departure as she packed the data-padd into her own flight suit. "If not, Doctor Hope and I will escort you there now or while you browse the stations communal districts."
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He rose to his feet and offered a hand shake to the suited man. He noticed the other helmeted person but for the moment paid no real mind for the moment.
"No reason to browse for now," he replied. "Let us commence with business then perhaps we can do more."
Doc was looking around as they walked. He wanted to know where he was should something go awry although he didn't feel any danger. He held his bag in his left hand as they walked. His only thoughts were who were these people who wanted his help? He had not heard of them but time would tell. He did wonder how he would feel about his diplomatic stance towards Liberty considering he had a home on Erie. Again, all in due time.
Eventually, they would find themselves in a private office where they could conduct business. For a moment, he looked out a window into the space of Frankfurt. It had been some time since he had been there. His time in the system had been mostly passing through. Relaxed a little, he poured a seltzer from the small bar and took a seat, putting his bag beside him.
"So....CS....I must admit that I was caught off guard by your request. I had to think on it for a bit but I think you may have something I could use...or someone for that matter and you may not even realize it."
He then looked at his helmet. "Am I allowed to see who I am speaking with or do you prefer anonymity?"
It took some time to reach the conference room, CS paced himself with Doctor Holliday to ensure his escorting was sufficiently maintained through the crowds and corridors of the communal spaces, seeing Doctor Holliday observe his space around him was easily cued as being aware of one's space. A familiar action...
As CS reached the entrance of office, he placed has palm over the control panel of the entrance, although gloved it recognized his presence and bestowed a makeshift conference room upon opening. "We usually reserve these rooms for internal discussions and local council meetings, it's less likely to be bugged than with our diplomatic rooms..." He said with confidence as he was highlighting potential previous experiences. A basic steel dining table was set in the centre, likely stopped off a military ship with a few mess hall chairs. Thankfully it was accompanied by a welcoming stack of beverage filled boxes on some storage shelves and workbench counters... But there she was again, she was last seen about to depart as soon as CS and Doctor Holliday left the bar, how she got here without being seen during their route to the conference room was done without a whisper. The helmeted figure finishing up her arrangement of data-padds and various goods on the table, quietly pacing around
"I'd like you to meet--""Hello Doctor Holliday... I am Doctor Forlorn Hope." It was as blunt as could be and without hesitation, not an interruption but a seamless continuation of his sentence. She kept her hands behind her back, stood at the end of the table observing doctor Holliday at the bar, a seemingly alluring position for himself. She gazed on with her helmet's muted purple visor and her flight suit is also fully concealing herself too just like CS, although several markings and embroidery on her suit is slightly different.
CS in the meantime looked over the arranged documents on the table, circling around it before sliding out a seat from the table. Just as he was about to sit down, the question of identity was brought forward, forcing him to hesitate and address Doctor Holliday immediately. "... Our seclusion is much preferred. In my honest words, bad secrets are to be taken to their grave for good efforts to justly flourish. It would be better for yours and my wellbeing if you didn't know... If my compatriots can tolerate it, I ask if you do the same." Spoken with true deflection like a politician, but without the self-praise that comes with that position, but his insistence felt as if the room itself was drowned out by his words; calm yet captivating.
Both Civil Servant and Doctor Hope placed themselves on one side of the table, leaving a pair of empty chairs on the other for Doctor Holliday to choose."Whenever you're comfortable Doctor, we may begin."
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