The Batten Industries' main office is a five-story building that has the unusual characteristic (for sao large a building) of being made entirely out of some red-brown wood, with a tower on top that extends at least a further two floor's lengths above the roof. A granite sign proclaims the building as being B.I.'s industrial complex and corproate offices, and beyond that there is a short, stone walkway that leads to a pair of automatic sliding glass doors, into the lobby of the building. The interior is grand elegance without being intimidation - wood-paneled walls, granite flooring and a large, smicircular desk dominate the lobby along with a fountain which adds its soft music to an otherwise silent space. Twin curving staircases sweep up behind the desk to the floors beyond, and behind the desk sits a slim and lovely platinum blonde girl, busily working at a computer console.
Karadesh is still using a walking staff because of the occasional dizzy spells. Technically the docs had given him a clean bill of health, but the concussion had thrown off his balance, and he had brief moments of vertigo. He is doing well as he walks into the office foyer, smiling to the blond woman behind the desk, "Hi there. I have an appointment to see Mister Batten. Could you tell him Karadesh Sovanii is here?"
The pretty blonde looks up with a dazzlingly white smile, nodding to him before her fingers move across the screen of the computer console as she looks the name up with swift efficiency. "Sovanii...ah, yes, here you are. I believe you are expected, sir. All the way up the stairs to the fifth floor, and down the hall to the end you'll find the elevator. If you press the button marked 'MO,' it'll take you to Mr. Batten's office."
Karadesh returns the woman's smile with one of his own, moving carefully through the halls, following the directions he's been given. The stairs prove a slight challenge, as he ends up almost loosing his balance about halfway up, but recovers without incident. Finding the elevator, he presses the indicate button, wondering why there wasn't a stop on the ground floor.
The halls - in sharp contrast to the lobby - are almost utilitarian in their appearance: taupe and grey, with simple, brushed-steel doors, and next to each a recessed panel of some crystal-clear material that glows faintly with cyan-toned light. The elevator is more of the same, and upon the button being pressed it rises through two stories very quickly, opening on a short hallway. The walls of this one are oak-paneled, the floors tiled marble, leading to a pair of dark wooden double doors. the nameplate is gold, engraved with one simple word in block letters: 'BATTEN.'
Kradesh steps out of the lift with a chuckle, "Well, at least he knows how to impress." His tail grabs up the walking staff so that he can push the doors open and step inside.
The inside of the office is...cavernous. the ceilings stretch to almost fifteen feet overhead in cathedral style. One whole side of the office is dominated by a floor-to-ceiling window, which overlooks the bay and river, and the city beyond to the south, with a breathtaking, sweeping view. Behind a desk that appears to be made of some crystalline material sits the man himself, who looks up at Kar's appearance with a grin as he speaks in a thick Cajun accent that is cultured nonetheless. "Y'all must be Karadesh." He pushes himself up from his chair and comes around the desk, holding a hand out to him. "Ah'm Ed."
The view was impressive, to be sure, however it wasn't what the blue-furred Khyrolii was most interested in here. No, that was the man behind that expensive desk. "Yes, Karadesh Sovanii." His grip is firm and businesslike. "Thank you for agreeing to see me."
Ed's grip is a strong one, hard and callussed - not the hand of a man that sits behind a desk all day. He gestures to a seat across the desk from his own before he resumes his seat. "So...Ah understand ya were in de fracas a few nights ago in de marketplace?"
Karadesh releases the man's hand and settles into the offered seat, tucking his tail along his legs and leaning slightly to the side to keep from sitting on the base of the appendage. He finally nods slowly, "Yes, I was there. That is part of why I've come today."
There's a nod from the Playboy as he leans back in his seat, interlacing his fingers and placing them behind his head as he looks Karadesh over with his sapphire-blue eyes. "All right, go 'head...Ah'm listenin'."
He nods in return, leaning forwards slightly. "That fight taught me that I need some kind of protection, more than just my telekinesis. I would like to commission you to construct some kind of powered armour for me, in case there is another fight like that, so I won't be so easily taken down. I would also like to commission the construction of basic powered or non-powered armour for the Sisters."
Ed's face reveals little, if anything at all, as he looks over his desk at Karadesh, his hands moving from behind his head to steeple in front of him. After a long moment of thoughtful silence he speaks, a slight grin tugging at his lips. "While Ah do man'facture some basic, lightweight armor...what makes ya t'ink dat Ah'd be up to de makin' of a powered battle suit' If Ah have what yer sayin' right, dat is."
Karadesh sighs slightly as a momentary wash of vertigo overcomes him. The man was hiding something, but to find out what, Kar would have to press into the man's mind, an effort which would prove far too taxing just now. Instead, Karadesh looked the man in the face, "I saw you activate your armour that night Mister Batten. It was perhaps the most extreme example of nanotech armour I'd ever seen. You're no simple businessman, that much is certain. If you can create something like that, then more simple suits are well within your abilities."
He manages to suppress a grimace at that, though the smile does widen a touch as he makes a mental note to put the cloaking system on in the future - in the excitement of testing the new system out for the first time he'd forgotten. He gives Karadesh a slow nod, finally, as he chuckles. "All right, ya got me dere. An' Ah'll tell ya honestly, yes, it is somet'in' well wit'in my capabil'ties. However, Ah'm not sure dat de Sisters would want somet'in' 'long de lines of powered armor...but somet'in more basic ain't out of de question dere. Seein's we all have a common adversary, Ah c'n even do dat fer free...for yer own powered armor, t'ough, Ah might have t'charge ya. Dat stuff ain't cheap to make."
"I am more than willing to pay for my armour Mister Batten, though I wouldn't mind something of a discount for providing you with technical data." The blue-furred Khyrolii grins slightly.
That gets his attention, naturally - he's always interested in technical data and designs. Knowledge, in many cases, often proves to be more valuable than simple coin. "Ah'm sure somet'in' can be arranged along dose lines. What kinda technical data we talkin' bout?"
Bingo. Even without reading his mind, Karadesh manages to find the right buttons to push Edward. "Before I got the hell out of the war, I managed to grab an archive of my colony's technical databases, including the military database. Materials science, energy production, weapons technology. I'm sure there's something you'd be interested in."
He chuckles and nods at that. "And Ah'm sure dat ya wouldn' mind havin' some o'dat tech included in yer own armor."
"That's generally the idea, yes. I'm sure you'd rather keep your own tech to yourself, wouldn't you?" The Khyrolii's grin is conspiratorial. "Mostly what I need from you is your facilities and infrastructure."
HE nods, looking thoughtful now as he leans forward a little bit, tapping slightly at his desk. The crystalline material lights up with a cerulean glow and a user interface populates the surface of the desk. As he manipulates the data feeds, pushing them aside and pulling up a new screen, he starts typing instructions into on a vritual keyboard, speaking without looking up. "Did ya want dis t'be a private endeavor, or is dat not an issue?"
"I would like these designs, both the powered and unpowered armour, to be made available to the Scathachians, but otherwise I'd prefer these not be distributed."
He shakes his head, pausing as he looks up. "Ah figgered dat...what Ah meant was did ya want yer pers'nal armor made in my on-site facilities here, or somewhere off-site."
The blue-furred male rolls his eyes and nods, "My apologies. I think building everything using your facilities would be best."
There's another nod from Ed as he looks back down and inputs a final string of commands before he speaks again. "Di, add Karadesh Sovanii to de approved access list fer de production facil'ties, as well as de Performance an' Testin' labs, expiration unknown." There's a bell-like tone from hidden speakers that comes from the desk before a cool, almost sultry female voice speaks. "Karadesh Sovanii, added. Access expiration to be determined." There's another nod as the Playboy sits back and looks to Karadesh again. "Anyt'in' else Ah c'n do for ya?"
Kar shakes his head, again slower than if he hadn't been injured. "No, I think that should cover things Mister Batten. So, should I just leave my database with your dataform when I'm done?"
He nods with a smile. "If'n ya don' mind. An' if ya need any help wit' any'ting, Diana has a wealt' of knowledge, includin' m'own designs an' work. She's a ver' useful assistant."
Karadesh stands and again offers his hand, "It's a pleasure doing business with you Mister Batten."
There's a grin as he stands, reaching out and shaking Kar's hand again. "O'course. An' if ya don' mind...de armored suit t'ing o'mine" Let's try t'keep dat 'tween us, if ya don' mind."
The blue-furred one nods once, "I don't think you'll be able to keep it secret for long. Other's likely saw you use that armour. Still, I won't be telling anyone myself." Karadesh turns and heads out.
((Special thanks to Ed-mun for RPing this out via IM.))
Karadesh is still using a walking staff because of the occasional dizzy spells. Technically the docs had given him a clean bill of health, but the concussion had thrown off his balance, and he had brief moments of vertigo. He is doing well as he walks into the office foyer, smiling to the blond woman behind the desk, "Hi there. I have an appointment to see Mister Batten. Could you tell him Karadesh Sovanii is here?"
The pretty blonde looks up with a dazzlingly white smile, nodding to him before her fingers move across the screen of the computer console as she looks the name up with swift efficiency. "Sovanii...ah, yes, here you are. I believe you are expected, sir. All the way up the stairs to the fifth floor, and down the hall to the end you'll find the elevator. If you press the button marked 'MO,' it'll take you to Mr. Batten's office."
Karadesh returns the woman's smile with one of his own, moving carefully through the halls, following the directions he's been given. The stairs prove a slight challenge, as he ends up almost loosing his balance about halfway up, but recovers without incident. Finding the elevator, he presses the indicate button, wondering why there wasn't a stop on the ground floor.
The halls - in sharp contrast to the lobby - are almost utilitarian in their appearance: taupe and grey, with simple, brushed-steel doors, and next to each a recessed panel of some crystal-clear material that glows faintly with cyan-toned light. The elevator is more of the same, and upon the button being pressed it rises through two stories very quickly, opening on a short hallway. The walls of this one are oak-paneled, the floors tiled marble, leading to a pair of dark wooden double doors. the nameplate is gold, engraved with one simple word in block letters: 'BATTEN.'
Kradesh steps out of the lift with a chuckle, "Well, at least he knows how to impress." His tail grabs up the walking staff so that he can push the doors open and step inside.
The inside of the office is...cavernous. the ceilings stretch to almost fifteen feet overhead in cathedral style. One whole side of the office is dominated by a floor-to-ceiling window, which overlooks the bay and river, and the city beyond to the south, with a breathtaking, sweeping view. Behind a desk that appears to be made of some crystalline material sits the man himself, who looks up at Kar's appearance with a grin as he speaks in a thick Cajun accent that is cultured nonetheless. "Y'all must be Karadesh." He pushes himself up from his chair and comes around the desk, holding a hand out to him. "Ah'm Ed."
The view was impressive, to be sure, however it wasn't what the blue-furred Khyrolii was most interested in here. No, that was the man behind that expensive desk. "Yes, Karadesh Sovanii." His grip is firm and businesslike. "Thank you for agreeing to see me."
Ed's grip is a strong one, hard and callussed - not the hand of a man that sits behind a desk all day. He gestures to a seat across the desk from his own before he resumes his seat. "So...Ah understand ya were in de fracas a few nights ago in de marketplace?"
Karadesh releases the man's hand and settles into the offered seat, tucking his tail along his legs and leaning slightly to the side to keep from sitting on the base of the appendage. He finally nods slowly, "Yes, I was there. That is part of why I've come today."
There's a nod from the Playboy as he leans back in his seat, interlacing his fingers and placing them behind his head as he looks Karadesh over with his sapphire-blue eyes. "All right, go 'head...Ah'm listenin'."
He nods in return, leaning forwards slightly. "That fight taught me that I need some kind of protection, more than just my telekinesis. I would like to commission you to construct some kind of powered armour for me, in case there is another fight like that, so I won't be so easily taken down. I would also like to commission the construction of basic powered or non-powered armour for the Sisters."
Ed's face reveals little, if anything at all, as he looks over his desk at Karadesh, his hands moving from behind his head to steeple in front of him. After a long moment of thoughtful silence he speaks, a slight grin tugging at his lips. "While Ah do man'facture some basic, lightweight armor...what makes ya t'ink dat Ah'd be up to de makin' of a powered battle suit' If Ah have what yer sayin' right, dat is."
Karadesh sighs slightly as a momentary wash of vertigo overcomes him. The man was hiding something, but to find out what, Kar would have to press into the man's mind, an effort which would prove far too taxing just now. Instead, Karadesh looked the man in the face, "I saw you activate your armour that night Mister Batten. It was perhaps the most extreme example of nanotech armour I'd ever seen. You're no simple businessman, that much is certain. If you can create something like that, then more simple suits are well within your abilities."
He manages to suppress a grimace at that, though the smile does widen a touch as he makes a mental note to put the cloaking system on in the future - in the excitement of testing the new system out for the first time he'd forgotten. He gives Karadesh a slow nod, finally, as he chuckles. "All right, ya got me dere. An' Ah'll tell ya honestly, yes, it is somet'in' well wit'in my capabil'ties. However, Ah'm not sure dat de Sisters would want somet'in' 'long de lines of powered armor...but somet'in more basic ain't out of de question dere. Seein's we all have a common adversary, Ah c'n even do dat fer free...for yer own powered armor, t'ough, Ah might have t'charge ya. Dat stuff ain't cheap to make."
"I am more than willing to pay for my armour Mister Batten, though I wouldn't mind something of a discount for providing you with technical data." The blue-furred Khyrolii grins slightly.
That gets his attention, naturally - he's always interested in technical data and designs. Knowledge, in many cases, often proves to be more valuable than simple coin. "Ah'm sure somet'in' can be arranged along dose lines. What kinda technical data we talkin' bout?"
Bingo. Even without reading his mind, Karadesh manages to find the right buttons to push Edward. "Before I got the hell out of the war, I managed to grab an archive of my colony's technical databases, including the military database. Materials science, energy production, weapons technology. I'm sure there's something you'd be interested in."
He chuckles and nods at that. "And Ah'm sure dat ya wouldn' mind havin' some o'dat tech included in yer own armor."
"That's generally the idea, yes. I'm sure you'd rather keep your own tech to yourself, wouldn't you?" The Khyrolii's grin is conspiratorial. "Mostly what I need from you is your facilities and infrastructure."
HE nods, looking thoughtful now as he leans forward a little bit, tapping slightly at his desk. The crystalline material lights up with a cerulean glow and a user interface populates the surface of the desk. As he manipulates the data feeds, pushing them aside and pulling up a new screen, he starts typing instructions into on a vritual keyboard, speaking without looking up. "Did ya want dis t'be a private endeavor, or is dat not an issue?"
"I would like these designs, both the powered and unpowered armour, to be made available to the Scathachians, but otherwise I'd prefer these not be distributed."
He shakes his head, pausing as he looks up. "Ah figgered dat...what Ah meant was did ya want yer pers'nal armor made in my on-site facilities here, or somewhere off-site."
The blue-furred male rolls his eyes and nods, "My apologies. I think building everything using your facilities would be best."
There's another nod from Ed as he looks back down and inputs a final string of commands before he speaks again. "Di, add Karadesh Sovanii to de approved access list fer de production facil'ties, as well as de Performance an' Testin' labs, expiration unknown." There's a bell-like tone from hidden speakers that comes from the desk before a cool, almost sultry female voice speaks. "Karadesh Sovanii, added. Access expiration to be determined." There's another nod as the Playboy sits back and looks to Karadesh again. "Anyt'in' else Ah c'n do for ya?"
Kar shakes his head, again slower than if he hadn't been injured. "No, I think that should cover things Mister Batten. So, should I just leave my database with your dataform when I'm done?"
He nods with a smile. "If'n ya don' mind. An' if ya need any help wit' any'ting, Diana has a wealt' of knowledge, includin' m'own designs an' work. She's a ver' useful assistant."
Karadesh stands and again offers his hand, "It's a pleasure doing business with you Mister Batten."
There's a grin as he stands, reaching out and shaking Kar's hand again. "O'course. An' if ya don' mind...de armored suit t'ing o'mine" Let's try t'keep dat 'tween us, if ya don' mind."
The blue-furred one nods once, "I don't think you'll be able to keep it secret for long. Other's likely saw you use that armour. Still, I won't be telling anyone myself." Karadesh turns and heads out.
((Special thanks to Ed-mun for RPing this out via IM.))