***MISSIVE RECEIVED 08.05.2010.00:24:34.596***
*SENDER: JASDAR DOBERIA, CEO
*RECIPIENT: ARKANIS VONBERRA
*SUBJECT: PERFORMANCE REVIEW
*MESSAGE: I NEED SEE YOU IMMEDIATELY!
“Shit,” I muttered before plotting a course back to Ommare. Judging by the tone, I guessed he wasn’t looking for a drinking buddy. As my ship wheeled around and jetted off toward the next gate, I leaned back in my seat and tried to figure out what I had done to set him off this time.
-=***=-
Jasdar Doberia sat stiffly in a high backed desk chair at the far end of his spacious office. “Have a seat, Ark.” He indicated the chair opposite him and I sat.
For a long moment we sat in silence and I used this time to take note of a new ornament on his desk. If I didn’t know Jas well it might have appeared to be another piece of junk. However I had heard the story. Just a few days ago Jas had been set upon by a Minmatar pirate while out roaming in his assault cruiser. Secure that the frigate was no match for his heavy boat, Jas had taken the bait. It took fifteen minutes for the rifter to eat away at Jasdar’s defenses but in the end his hull had buckled and his clone followed.
My gaze shifted from the scrap of metal, all that remained from his cruiser, to Jas’s face. His skin still had the plasticized pallor of a fresh clone. The scowl that he now leveled at me said he knew what I was thinking. Jas would sometimes hold on to these losses for weeks.
Eager to change the subject before it began I spoke up. “You asked to see me, sir.”
For a moment I thought he might not let it go but finally he leaned back in his chair. “We’re joining an alliance.” he said flatly.
I knew how he felt about alliances. Reluctant to give up power and eve more reluctant to serve a higher purpose than himself, Jas had fought the idea with every fiber of his being and I didn’t think he would ever relent. But talk of joining Omega Vector had been bouncing around for a couple of weeks now. Despite myself I let a subtle smile creep onto my face.
“Hold your I told you so’s until we’ve seen some real improvements. You know how I feel about this.”
I nodded.
“On that note, I know you haven’t been back with us for long but you are one of the most trustworthy pilots I know,” he paused for my response to the compliment but I offered none.
I’m not much for kind words and pleasantries. I lead by example and hopefully through that I can earn the trust of my peers.
“I’m going to need someone at the forefront of this endeavor to make sure that we have a fair voice and that no one fucks us. I think that person is you, if you’re willing.”
I thought for a moment about the commitment both in time and in cycles. Jas was right. We couldn’t expect a fair shake out of any alliance if we didn’t have a man on the ground.
“Sign me up.”
“I’ll have to run it past the Directors but I don’t think that will be an issue.”
I stood and nodded. “If that is all…”
“Dismissed.”
-=***=-
***MISSIVE RECEIVED 08.05.2010.05:52:20.856***
*SENDER: JASDAR DOBERIA, CEO
*RECIPIENT: JASKUR CORP
*SUBJECT: PROMOTION, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY
*MESSAGE: ARKANIS VONBERRA HAS BEEN PROMOTED TO DIR. PUBLIC RELATIONS. THAT IS ALL.
I stared at the message on my pod terminal for several minutes while waiting to taxi out of the station.
What have I gotten myself into?
