"Mmh." Vizelle let out a throaty moan as they returned, "Fuu. Really now." She sighed, grinning as Jaya as she left. With a few hours before she returned to normal, she decides to send a message to Lian to ask for an update on how things are going back in the capital
Lian's response arrives after several hours. She states that the syndicate's business is going normally. The change of leadership hasn't interfered with profits, and had largely been kept quiet thanks to Xi Fei, who had the memories of Lady Zhou's guards erased. A matter has come to Lian's attention, however. One of Markus' lieutenants has sent word: She'll be coming to the planet Vizelle is on, in a matter of days. What her intentions are is a mystery.
Mining, eh? Interesting... “I see, I see... Yes, please send me the details later.” Eanne nodded along while trying to come up with a way to ask about the mining without being too obvious. “Also, do you know what sort of minerals are there to be found? I assume there is nothing so valuable that it could attract the attention of the Empire's neighbors? If my assumption is incorrect the Emperor will want to know.” She watched carefully Aurelios' reactions to her questions.
Aurelios maintains a sturdy poker face. "Oh, nothing exciting. Just some platinum and iridium, mostly. Useful, but non-exeptional."
When Lian's response arrived a few hours later, Vizelle figured her bust should have returned to normal. But as she read the response, "Hmm. So the information has leaked." She hummed, "Well, as long as they didn't bring an army. A few soldiers should be easy enough to deal with." The sorceress grins. And if her body has returned to normal, Vizelle asks Jaya and her mechanics to upgrade the mechs they had into proper ground troops.
Vladimir nodded as he regarded his handiwork, not paying attention to the woman beside him. She was attractive, and her appearance oftentimes caused his pants to tighten in the crotch. He often found it better to disregard her rather than unleash his arousal upon her. Such distractions were... compromising upon the battlefield. Even when in what was supposed to be a secure location. "Inform Shryke and the captains we are recalled on the Emperor's command. Organize the logistics of our withdrawal. I want us headed for the capital by this time tomorrow." His voice was inhumanly deep and rumbled like thunder. It carried with it an accent from the ancient realms of Eastern Europa on Holy Terra, now rarely found outside of the inhabitants of Noctis. It was only then that he regarded the woman next to him, and his eyes filled with near rage. His hand grabbed a fistful of her hair and he yanked her head back. "What. Is. This!?" He snarled, outraged, and reached between her legs with his free hand. His fingers pinched the flimsy, transparent fabric of what passed for lingerie panties and tore them off. He brought the offensive item up so that it hung between them. "You forfeited your right to wear such attire with your attitude. If I've told you once I've told you a thousand times you must EARN the right to wear these again!" He crumbled the ruined fabric in his massive hand and tossed them aside, uncaring of where they fell. He then smacked her bare ass hard, leaving a giant red welt where his palm impacted. He hunched over to whisper in her ear, "When we are on The Night and headed back to the capital you will attend me in my chambers where I will punish your disobedience." His free hand moved up and groped at her breast, pulling on the chain that joined her pierced nipples. "Understood?"
“So no reason to worry about the Empire's neighbors. That's good to hear.” Eanne nodded, playing along. “Alright, sounds good so far. Is there anything else I need to know, or that you would like to share?” She asked in a way that made it obvious the question was just a formality. (That's all from me for now. Night!)
Spoiler: Engineering Roll D100: 2+15 (Research Institute)=17 (Fail) Unfortunately, try as they might, they're unable to substantially upgrade the mechs. "Ship approaching!" After a few days, Vizelle hears one of the crew calling out.
"Sure thing, mast-eek!" She cries out as he grabs her, looking up at the giant before her with fear and lust, though with her, the feelings are inexorably linked. "I-I understand, master..." She moans softly.
(Night!) Aurelios gives a slight shrug. "Nothing I can think of is worth bothering a woman of your stature." He smiles charmingly.
"Unfortunate." Vizelle sighed as she realized there was no way to properly upgrade the mechs, so for now, she has Rikkert pilot the gunship, while Iona moved the heavy ship some distance away to avoid detection, but be able to join in, in case a fight broke out. She positions Verner somewhere he can hide, and pick off enemies. While Alexandros, Halipha, and Jaya join her in welcoming their guests. Stay calm for now. Let's see what they want first. She telepathically said, smiling as she watched the ship land.
"Good." He growled and set her down more gently than his anger would indicate. His grip on her hair loosened and his hand traveled across the back of her head slowly then down her back almost as though he was petting her. Finally his hand came to a rest on her ass where he gave it another *SLAP* but again more gently this time. His features softened as he regarded her before he donned his helmet again and set off to his shuttle to return to The Endless Night.
The ship touches down in front of the city, and from the lowered ramp emerges a squad of Imperial Navy marines. They fan out tactically, before the leader approaches. "Ma'am, I'm Lieutenant Calvary Gaines, of the 2nd Marine Division. We're the reinforcements you requested."
The slave gives a loud yelp as he strikes her again, before she nestles against him, whining slightly as he turns to leave. Before too long, Vladimir once again stands on the bridge of his flagship. "To the the capital, then?" Beside him, Admiral Artax, commander of the Nightfall Fleet, asks. The admiral has been something of a thorn in Vladimir's side, not letting herself be browbeat and supplanted like every previous fleet admiral before her. She's made it very clear that she's his equal, and won't be bullied. Nonetheless, her strategic vision has so far meshed with his, and they haven't had a significant difference of opinion.
"Greetings. I am Vizelle, of the Emperor's council." She introduced herself, looking arounf with a smile. "As you can see, we've successfully secured the planet. But currently short on man power to properly hold, and operate it. But before I request for people to be sent here. I'd like to ensure it is safe." She said, leaving out what kind of threat could be expected.
The lieutenant salutes. "Understood, ma'am. We'll put ourselves at your disposal. Oh, and before I forget." He hands her a hologram projector, locked with a bio scanner. "One of my superiors asked that you be given this, and asked to activate it in private."
"Indeed Admiral, with all haste once the legion is stowed and secure. The Emperor commands." Vladimir instructed the woman and took up a position staring out the observation screen, leaving the command seat to her. So long as she continued to prove herself capable he'd honor her office as commander of the fleet. In truth as much as a pain in his backside as she'd become, insisting he discipline his men for improprieties and mistreatment of the human crew, he respected her. She regarded the sailors that served under her in the same way he regarded his legion; for that alone he, grudgingly, held her in high esteem. He watched as the war vehicles, atmospheric fighter-craft, and shuttles rose from the planet's surface to return to the Endless Night, and made note of the time it took to recall the legion. Admiral Artax had shaved nearly forty minutes off of her predecessor's best time, and he nodded in her direction with approval. Then she gave the order to depart for Constantinopolis Secundus, and soon after they had entered FTL. It was then that Vladimir turned from the observation screen and departed the bridge. As he passed Atrax he instructed her, "Inform me when we arrive at the capital." He then made his way to his chambers.
"Hmm. How lovely." Vizelle takes the projector, deciding to peek into the lieutenant's mind as she "accidentally" touches his hand.
"I'll send a message on comms." She nods as he walks away, heading to command her crew. Not long after Vladimir enters his room, his enhanced ears hear the sound of the door sliding open. Turning, he sees Sextia, crawling on her hands and knees towards him. "Reporting for punishment, master." She breathes the last word seductively, as she crawls between his legs.
Reading the young officer's mind isn't hard, but the results are disappointing. She sees the man reporting for duty, being given his orders, and the projector, by his CO. However, he has no idea why, and due to the bio lock, couldn't pry even if he wanted to.
