Azjah made her way into the Annex. She had no intention of staying, but wanted to see who might be competing for the Tower key. Soerl was reading a small leather book, but he looked up at her arrival and smiled, ?Evening.?
?Good evening Soerl? she told him as she headed for a nearby table with a comfortable chair.
?How are you doing this evening?? He quietly closed his book and placed it inside his cloak.
Azjah glanced around the Annex, ?I?m doing alright, how about you? It looks like a quiet night.? She glanced around for one of the serving lads.
He nodded, ?I?m well, thank you. Thus far anyhow.? He told her regarding how quiet the Annex was at the moment.
Azjah nodded at his book, ?I didn?t mean to interrupt. What are you reading??
?It?s not a problem, I?d prefer to work than read, but there?s no work to do just yet.? He chuckled a bit at her. ?It?s a?. magical item. One of a pair. Lydia got it for me so I could speak to my daughter more frequently.?
Azjah blinked and lifted a pale brow at him, magic just seemed so very wrong to her, but she knew it was her world and its prohibition against magic that she felt. ?The book allows you to speak with your daughter?? She wondered why they didn?t simply use technology instead.
?In a sense. Whatever is written in one book appears in the other. A strange artifact, but useful nonetheless,? he told her.
About then, Topaz appeared on the couch next to Soerl. Her holographic image flickering and somewhat ghostly.
Azjah greeted the holographic image as though Topaz was truly there in person, but her appearance startled Soerl so badly that he scrambled onto the couch?s arm nearest him. He mumbled something to himself and settled back down onto the couch properly, but still eying the ghostly form of Topaz with some distrust. ?I wish there?d been some sort of warning to your sudden appearance, Topaz.?
Azjah hid a smile as she inquired how Topaz?s trip to Auriga was going. Topaz told them that it was going splendidly and that they were having a glorious time.
The Governor, Matthew Simon came walking down the stairs. Azjah gave him a nod and a greeting before inquiring how his wife Koy was doing. She hadn?t seen her, and knew the child was due shortly.
Matthew smiled, ?She?s tired quite a bit of the time, but she?s all right.?
Azjah gave a soft chuckle hearing Soerl, but continued to study the Governor. ?I?m glad to hear that Matthew, please give her our greetings?? She then sent Marcus for the 50/50 treat and glanced at him again.
Matthew raised a brow at her, ?Our? Should I be seeing double? Or are you speaking in the royal ?we? tonight??
Azjah chuckled, ?Ah, Wil and I, sorry about the vagueness.?
He chuckled, ?Oh, of course, certainly.?
Azjah smiled, ?The Colonel is, of course, not here at the moment, but we do wish to convey our greetings.? She toyed with the drink before adding, ?I have worked up some numbers Governor.?
Bran walked in and Azjah gave him a wave, but her focus remained on Matthew for the time being.
Matthew flashed her a grin, he had decided that they were an unusual pair from his previous encounters with them, ?You two are quite the pair.? Then he grew more serious, ?Favorable numbers??
Azjah quirked a pale brow at him, ?We are?? She wasn?t going to ask, their introduction to him on an official level had been a trifle rough to say the least. She dropped it and opted to continue, ?The numbers are such that I think we might be able to reach a mutual agreement, at least for some of what you need. Some of the bigger things may not be feasible for the time being however.?
He shrugged, ?Some is better than none.?
Azjah was pleased with his response, ?The upgrades have a lead time of about 8 weeks though.? While she could get them a cost plus shipping price, they would have to sacrifice expedite services.
He nodded, ?We better move fast before my term ends then.?
Azjah was prepared to initiate the orders on his word, he had a reputation that allowed her to take that leap of faith, ?I?ll take your word as a gentleman to initiate the order, in exchange for free passage for DWI vessels.? She took a sip of her drink. The thing she had to have out of the deal was a no boarding, no scanning exemption.
He studied her a minute, ?Everything but the capital ships, those are too big not to bypass, but the others, yes, as we discussed.?
Azjah nodded, ?I can live with that exemption. Consider the upgrades ordered Governor.? She would keep the capital ships to bare minimums.
The Governor smiled, ?I?ll have Chase and Alyson tell their squadrons.?
Azjah greeted Lydia and Rena before adding to Matthew, ?Make certain they understand the timing. They will need to schedule a day of down time to make the upgrades, so space out the change overs.?
When Matthew agreed to doing one group at a time, Azjah added, ?I?ll bring in a crew drom Rigel for several weeks to accommodate their vessels. I trust there won?t be any issues with doing the upgrades in Star?s End, Governor??
About then, his wife made her way down the stairs and into the Annex. While she was pregnant, she was far from dowdy in a garnet red cashmere pleated coat that was belted above her stomach and black stockings peeked out from underneath the coat. Azjah smiled and greeted her about the same time Rena did. Matthew turned at the announcement of multiple Koy?s. She smiled and waved back as Azjah told her she looked fabulous.
She glanced at Matthew, ?Ye hear tha, Matt? Someone thinks I look like somthin? other than an overstuffed cow.? Then she flashed Azjah a smile and thanks.
Matthew grinned, ?Daven making fun of you again?? She nodded at Azjah, ?No Azjah, Star?s End will be fine.?
Azjah had already been making plans to secure a private bay for the upgrades after he?d accepted the offer.
Koy chuckled and pressed a kiss to Matthew?s cheek, ?I was talkin? more ?bout ye, Boss.?
Azjah winced hearing Koy and idly wondered if Matt was insane to voice such a notion to his wife. But he wasn?t done putting his life in jeopardy, ?I never said cow, I said large water manatee!? He grinned at Koy and finished setting up his emitter.
Azjah did cringe then, thinking he had a clear death wish.
Koy shot Azjah a grin, ?Don?t worry, Azjah, I?m keepin? a tally. I?m jest waitn? ?til after this baby?s born ta settle the score.?
Azjah chuckled hearing Koy, ?You know woman, I?m sorry I had to have my dress made on Rigel, but from the looks of it, I had no choice. So when will you be able to begin seeking amends from him??
Koy watched him set up his emitter before telling Azjah that the baby was due in a few weeks. With that deal ready to wrap up, Azjah bade everyone a good evening and made her way out of the Annex.
?Good evening Soerl? she told him as she headed for a nearby table with a comfortable chair.
?How are you doing this evening?? He quietly closed his book and placed it inside his cloak.
Azjah glanced around the Annex, ?I?m doing alright, how about you? It looks like a quiet night.? She glanced around for one of the serving lads.
He nodded, ?I?m well, thank you. Thus far anyhow.? He told her regarding how quiet the Annex was at the moment.
Azjah nodded at his book, ?I didn?t mean to interrupt. What are you reading??
?It?s not a problem, I?d prefer to work than read, but there?s no work to do just yet.? He chuckled a bit at her. ?It?s a?. magical item. One of a pair. Lydia got it for me so I could speak to my daughter more frequently.?
Azjah blinked and lifted a pale brow at him, magic just seemed so very wrong to her, but she knew it was her world and its prohibition against magic that she felt. ?The book allows you to speak with your daughter?? She wondered why they didn?t simply use technology instead.
?In a sense. Whatever is written in one book appears in the other. A strange artifact, but useful nonetheless,? he told her.
About then, Topaz appeared on the couch next to Soerl. Her holographic image flickering and somewhat ghostly.
Azjah greeted the holographic image as though Topaz was truly there in person, but her appearance startled Soerl so badly that he scrambled onto the couch?s arm nearest him. He mumbled something to himself and settled back down onto the couch properly, but still eying the ghostly form of Topaz with some distrust. ?I wish there?d been some sort of warning to your sudden appearance, Topaz.?
Azjah hid a smile as she inquired how Topaz?s trip to Auriga was going. Topaz told them that it was going splendidly and that they were having a glorious time.
The Governor, Matthew Simon came walking down the stairs. Azjah gave him a nod and a greeting before inquiring how his wife Koy was doing. She hadn?t seen her, and knew the child was due shortly.
Matthew smiled, ?She?s tired quite a bit of the time, but she?s all right.?
Azjah gave a soft chuckle hearing Soerl, but continued to study the Governor. ?I?m glad to hear that Matthew, please give her our greetings?? She then sent Marcus for the 50/50 treat and glanced at him again.
Matthew raised a brow at her, ?Our? Should I be seeing double? Or are you speaking in the royal ?we? tonight??
Azjah chuckled, ?Ah, Wil and I, sorry about the vagueness.?
He chuckled, ?Oh, of course, certainly.?
Azjah smiled, ?The Colonel is, of course, not here at the moment, but we do wish to convey our greetings.? She toyed with the drink before adding, ?I have worked up some numbers Governor.?
Bran walked in and Azjah gave him a wave, but her focus remained on Matthew for the time being.
Matthew flashed her a grin, he had decided that they were an unusual pair from his previous encounters with them, ?You two are quite the pair.? Then he grew more serious, ?Favorable numbers??
Azjah quirked a pale brow at him, ?We are?? She wasn?t going to ask, their introduction to him on an official level had been a trifle rough to say the least. She dropped it and opted to continue, ?The numbers are such that I think we might be able to reach a mutual agreement, at least for some of what you need. Some of the bigger things may not be feasible for the time being however.?
He shrugged, ?Some is better than none.?
Azjah was pleased with his response, ?The upgrades have a lead time of about 8 weeks though.? While she could get them a cost plus shipping price, they would have to sacrifice expedite services.
He nodded, ?We better move fast before my term ends then.?
Azjah was prepared to initiate the orders on his word, he had a reputation that allowed her to take that leap of faith, ?I?ll take your word as a gentleman to initiate the order, in exchange for free passage for DWI vessels.? She took a sip of her drink. The thing she had to have out of the deal was a no boarding, no scanning exemption.
He studied her a minute, ?Everything but the capital ships, those are too big not to bypass, but the others, yes, as we discussed.?
Azjah nodded, ?I can live with that exemption. Consider the upgrades ordered Governor.? She would keep the capital ships to bare minimums.
The Governor smiled, ?I?ll have Chase and Alyson tell their squadrons.?
Azjah greeted Lydia and Rena before adding to Matthew, ?Make certain they understand the timing. They will need to schedule a day of down time to make the upgrades, so space out the change overs.?
When Matthew agreed to doing one group at a time, Azjah added, ?I?ll bring in a crew drom Rigel for several weeks to accommodate their vessels. I trust there won?t be any issues with doing the upgrades in Star?s End, Governor??
About then, his wife made her way down the stairs and into the Annex. While she was pregnant, she was far from dowdy in a garnet red cashmere pleated coat that was belted above her stomach and black stockings peeked out from underneath the coat. Azjah smiled and greeted her about the same time Rena did. Matthew turned at the announcement of multiple Koy?s. She smiled and waved back as Azjah told her she looked fabulous.
She glanced at Matthew, ?Ye hear tha, Matt? Someone thinks I look like somthin? other than an overstuffed cow.? Then she flashed Azjah a smile and thanks.
Matthew grinned, ?Daven making fun of you again?? She nodded at Azjah, ?No Azjah, Star?s End will be fine.?
Azjah had already been making plans to secure a private bay for the upgrades after he?d accepted the offer.
Koy chuckled and pressed a kiss to Matthew?s cheek, ?I was talkin? more ?bout ye, Boss.?
Azjah winced hearing Koy and idly wondered if Matt was insane to voice such a notion to his wife. But he wasn?t done putting his life in jeopardy, ?I never said cow, I said large water manatee!? He grinned at Koy and finished setting up his emitter.
Azjah did cringe then, thinking he had a clear death wish.
Koy shot Azjah a grin, ?Don?t worry, Azjah, I?m keepin? a tally. I?m jest waitn? ?til after this baby?s born ta settle the score.?
Azjah chuckled hearing Koy, ?You know woman, I?m sorry I had to have my dress made on Rigel, but from the looks of it, I had no choice. So when will you be able to begin seeking amends from him??
Koy watched him set up his emitter before telling Azjah that the baby was due in a few weeks. With that deal ready to wrap up, Azjah bade everyone a good evening and made her way out of the Annex.