Davion Interlude: 3029

Davion Interlude: 3029

"You're sure you want to go on a tour of the Outback Ian?" Hanse asked. "I know that it has improved a lot over the past fifteen years or so, but apart from some areas where Sharpshooter has invested heavily into mining and production there's still not much there aside from raw materials currently."

"We need to show them that they are just as valuable to the Federated Suns as the core production worlds." Ian stated. "I'm appointing you as regent in my place while I go on. Now, try not to burn down the place or the Alliance while I'm gone."

"No, I'm more worried about you burning down the Outback." Hanse muttered. "Just be careful along the Outworlds Alliance border, with the HPGs shut down the rumor mill reads like the Spanish Inquisition."

"I'm not worried about that Hanse!" Ian chuckled. "We'll have plenty of escorts and anyone trying anything overt will be obliterated. Besides, I've been waiting for an excuse to try out the new Titan that NAIS started production on, I've got the prototype and it looks like a lot of fun."

"Just be careful Ian, we don't know how many MASK cells are still out there, or if Takashi would be willing to try something." Hanse cautioned.

"The Kuritans are people of honor Hanse, it's just a different kind of honor than we have." Ian chuckled. "They're even reasonable when you pair them up against the Liaos."

"Many people look reasonable when you compare them to the Liaos." Hanse said. "That;s not exactly a stunning argument in their favor and they are still our enemies, you should treat them as such before you find yourself dead on the battlefield."

"I'm going to be fine Hanse." Ian said before tempting Murphy. "What's the worst that could happen while I'm gone?"

Delos IV

"Ahh, aren't you a pretty one!" Ian greeted the courtesan that entered the hotel room that had been rented out by and for his entourage. "Shall we talk for a bit?"

The woman just nodded as she made her way closer to the First Prince. There was an almost unnatural beauty to her, as if she were perfectly made to attract Ian to her, and he found himself neatly entranced by her eyes.

"How long are you supposed to be on Delos IV?" The Courtesan asked as she unpacked her bag and brought out bottles of what looked like massage oils.

"A couple more weeks and then I'll be heading for Woodbine to ask some questions about how the overall state of the Outback is. "Ian replied as he enjoyed the view. "We might stay longer if I find a reason to though."

"Would you lie down please?" The woman asked gently. "I like to start this off with a soothing massage."

"Of course," Ian responded, "Should I take my shirt off?"

"It is my job to grant you your every desire Prince Davion, so do as you wish." The courtesan replied as Ian dressed down to his underclothes. "I'll start on your back."

"Oh, that feels good." Ian yawned as she massaged his back. "I like that massage oil too, it kinda numbs the back a little bit and makes me feel a little sleepy."

"It's a special brand I buy from a supplier in the Outworlds Alliance by the name of Kristofur." She responded after spending a long time massaging the muscles in his back. "It makes all of the nobles that come through not feel anything when I do this." She said as Ian groaned and stopped moving. He was too numbed to react or do anything when she brought out a sedative that had been concealed in her hair stick. "Now, be a good First Prince and make sure that this all sinks in, you're going to be here for an awful long while.

Somewhere in the Outworlds Alliance…

"How is the Narco Interrogation going?" Vesar Kristofur asked the team he had put together. "I expect results soon."

"Well sir, we've already had our people working on making sure the double is the same down to the DNA structure, but if we push too hard then it will kill both the First Prince, and the Double we've spent so much time on."

"I understand that." Vesar replied. "But we have a limited window here, and we have to make this subtle enough that by the time Hull or anyone else realizes there is a problem that it's too late."

"Sir, the double is only going to last for a minimum of three years due to strain on various parts of his internal organs, so if we want to make sure that this works we may have to really dig into the First Prince's brain."

"We'll step up the interrogation." Vesar said, "Now I have to make sure that our allies of convenience are cooperating."

"Kurita-San." Vesar bowed as he greeted Marcus Kurita. "I take it Coordinator Takashi Kurita was pleased with us filling in the gaps on the core that the Davions tried to mislead you with?"

"Indeed," Marcus Kurita replied. "Now, while we have been able to restore production in many factories amongst our worlds, you have still not informed me of your plan to place me on the Coordinators chair."

"Patience my friend, these things take time." Vesar said to the man. "Besides, wouldn't it be better for you if both your cousin and nephew were unable to handle what might be coming and then you swoop in with better technology and strategy than the both of them to save the day."

"Potentially, but unless we start to see results soon, my friends among the Black Dragon Society will start to get anxious." Marcus replied. "And I have still not seen how you intend to handle Duke Hull, he sits there across the border mocking us and everything we have tried."

"Don't worry," Vesar smirked, "With the ISF assets that you have helped us gain access to we have been able to make inroads into our plans for dealing with Hull and his group."

"And I see that your plan for gaining the Wolf's Dragoons Loyalty worked out as planned." Marcus said coldly. "Having two extra regiments of Elite Warriors dedicated to training allowed us to focus on getting some of our troops back up to full strength in the meantime, and to also raise these new units that Takashi Has named the Ryuken."

"Joshua Wolf was easy to manipulate," Vesar gave a small wave and a smirk. "The man believes that Hull stole the love of his life from him, and both Love and Hate are powerful motivators to ensure that someone comes to a war." Vesar then swirled his drink in his glass. "Joshua Wolf needed some help, but now firmly believes that Hull is his rival in taking Natasha Kerensky's love and affection." He smiled to himself. "And that the only way to win her over is to kill him and all of his "Inferior" offspring."

"That is madness on the same level as Maximilian." Marcus Kurita said. "A wise man steers clear of those sorts of things."

"Don't worry about it, everything is going to plan, everything."

New Avalon

"Ian, good to see you back home." Hanse greeted his brother. "I've been working on some of the long term logistics and strategies for the Draconis Combine when the ceasefire is up, would you like to review them?"

"There is no need to go over them." Ian said with a smile, "I trust that Takashi will not be the one to first break this ceasefire, and so we shall not move a single soldier until he first makes a move."

"But Ian, we've got everything set up already, and given the War Games we've had over the last few years we've never been better prepared to do this." Hanse argued.

"My word is final Hanse." Ian said, "We will not be the ones to break the ceasefire first."

"I hope you're right about this Ian," Hanse said. "Because if you're wrong it'll be hell to pay."

"Now, I don't know about you Hanse, but I need a vacation after all of that." Ian said with a laugh. "I'm going to take a small vacation on Kentares IV for a little while, Hull won't mind after all."

"I don't know Ian," Hanse said. "Hull hasn't exactly been happy with you since the duel on Proserpina, and you staying there might just make him angry."

"He'll do as I say." Ian patted Hanse on the back. "We were friends for a while after all."