2017-02-20: Nothing Ever Changes
- Log: Nothing Ever Changes
- Cast:Kahm Yugh, Myyah Hawwa
- Where: Ramses's Cruiser
- Date: February 20, 2017
- Summary: After their initial arrival in Lahan, Myyah summons Kahm to get his take on the situation.
<Myyah Hawwa has posed>
Due to the ongoing investigation of the Lahan incident, Commander Ramses' cruiser has been stationed over the Arlian woods. The woods provide a natural staging point of the vessel, as the Aveh military has heavily increased border security in response to growing regional unrest. No one gets into Arlia, no one bothers Gebler while they're doing paperwork.
All of the paperwork comes by Lt. Commander Hawwa's desk sooner or later. As Kahran's adjunct and the director of Gebler's Military Advisement Board, Myyah is responsible for coordinating communications between Gebler and Solaris. Any kind of military activity means an uptick of workhours for her.
This is, perhaps, why it is surprising that Myyah requested the individual presence of Kahm E. Yugh. Kahm has already been through the standard debriefing process, and it isn't unusual for an interested superior to investigate on their own time, but speaking to people individually and in person is a high level of investment. Where does she find the time?
Myyah's has the luxury of permanent office space, which is at a premium on a ship even the size of this cruiser. It is located to the rear of the command section, near other meeting rooms and high-level briefing areas. Kahm has to use his ID card a few times to get past the checkpoints.
The door is open when Kahm arrives. Inside, Myyah sits behind a desk with a built-in terminal. She is focused on writing something. Her office is notably green compared to the rest of the ship--she has a variety of plants, and seems to keep them herself, judging by the watering can sitting on top of a small cabinet next to a couch in the sitting area. Very few of the plants are flowering; most seem more hardy than beautiful. The art on the walls are landscapes of places that are not here--tundra, ocean views. Apart from the few small peculiarities, it's all very Solarian.
<Pose Tracker> Kahm Yugh has posed.
Captain Kahm E. Yugh had hardly had the time for leisure when he returned from the initial incursion he, Commander Ramses, and the Black Ties had lead into the ruins of Lahan, not that he was one to pursue it. Anything the military did required some degree of paperwork, and Kahm had spent most of his prior evening overseeing the proper stocking and tagging of the equipment they had recovered, along with a considerable amount of time writing his report (Which Myyah had no doubt read at this point). Some of the work could have been delegated, but there were enough green deployments among their company that the Captain decided against it.
He didn't want any details missed.
In fact, he was still double-checking some of the more minute aspects of the cache-counting bullets, in fact-when the Adjunct's request reached him. Though unusual, the summons did not catch Kahm completely unawares; he had a thought or two on what it could be about.
His trek to Myyah's quarters was both uneventful and efficient, familiar enough with the Commander's cruiser to need little in the way of direction at this point, though the area the Adjunct's office laid in was not one of his more frequent haunts. The crystal-toned sounds of keycard approvals and hissed, sliding doors formed became the background music to Kahm's inner thoughts until he finally found himself before the door bearing the Adjunct's name and rank. With a slight intake of air and last once-over of his uniform, the Captain tapped on an intercom and, once approved, stepped inside.
"Adjunct." Kahm greeted her with standard military bearing, looking neither tired or particularly refreshed, "You wished to see me?" His eyes scanned the contents of her office, more out of habit than anything else and silently approved of the woman's well-kept, organized environs.
<Pose Tracker> Myyah Hawwa has posed.
The door slides shut behind Kahm.
"Captain Yugh, thank you for making time," says Myyah. Her gaze remains on the terminal screen for a few moments longer, until she finishes typing and turns her attention to Kahm. She folds her hands on the desk.
"Please, have a seat. I would like to speak to you about the recent investigation."
There is a chair available in front of Myyah's desk.
<Pose Tracker> Kahm Yugh has posed.
"Certainly."
Kahm took a few steps forward and seated himself with a slight degree of discomfort, the pulled shoulder from the same investigation still nagging at him. Nonetheless, he maintained straight posture once seated.
"I take it you have already reviewed the report I submitted." He offered, and awaited further questions.
<Pose Tracker> Myyah Hawwa has posed.
If Kahm pays attention, he may notice that Myyah's gaze briefly dips to look at the weakness in his body. She is perceptive. However, she does not comment.
"I have. I want to get your personal take on the situation, off the record." Myyah offers Kahm a small smile. "I know there are things that reports don't have room for. When did you become aware of the initial mission to capture the prototype Gear?"
<Pose Tracker> Kahm Yugh has posed.
Kahm did not expect to pass anything by Myyah's notice, mission-related or otherwise. Although not personally acquainted with her, he knew something of the woman's reputation for knowing the right things.
"Ah." Kahm nodded, and his shoulders dipped by a hair, perhaps a touch more relaxed, though he did not return her smile, instead clearing his throat.
"Officially, I was aware there would be a covert operation conducted behind Kislevi borders approximately one week before the mission took place. I received word from my superiors." The Captain's eye contact was clear and level-he seemed to have no issue recalling fine details, "Unofficially, I had heard some details about the nature of the mission, related to equipment procurement, but the need-to-know was strict. I was didn't know the full story until things had already gone...well, sideways."
<Pose Tracker> Myyah Hawwa has posed.
"Mm."
That's the fullness of Myyah's commentary. She moves smoothly into a related area of questioning, starting by establishing supporting facts. She's done this before.
"You heard Lieutenant van Houten's preliminary report concerning the loss of the target Gear. Recently, you saw the incident area in much closer inspection. What do you think of the spy theory?"
<Pose Tracker> Kahm Yugh has posed.
Kahm considered the Adjunct's question for a few moments before he answered, perhaps doing much the same as she was: Compiling facts and establishing an internal chain of events.
"There is...some evidence to support it." He says, emphasis on 'some'. Then, less reservedly, "The other witness made repeated references to an individual called 'Doc'. When I took a squad to investigate the we scouted further up from Lahan, we found some signs of medicinal practice-herbs, potions, physicians tools, and such. We also found some simple machinery that was confiscated and cataloged, possibly a hobby or personal pastime. They suggest an individual of some learning, though perhaps no more than a simple country doctor."
Kahm laid his fist on his chin, "Any other evidence of a spy rests entirely on the reliability of the Lieutenant's testimony. Our language is not a skill most surface dwellers are likely to pick up."
<Pose Tracker> Myyah Hawwa has posed.
Myyah doesn't seem to mind however much time Kahm needs. She is not the kind of person to fidget or lose focus.
"There are some ways one could, however," says Myyah. "We have had a few cases of third-class escapees. Then of course there's the possibility of contractors receiving unsanctioned education. There is also Shevat. Judging from the recovered equipment, do you think this 'simple country doctor' could operate an experimental Gear at the level you surmised from the wreckage?"
<Pose Tracker> Kahm Yugh has posed.
Kahm inclines his head to all of Myyah's points. Certainly within the realm of possibility, if not incredibly unlikely. But then, they were dealing with an incredibly unlikely situation in the first place.
His next answer comes more quickly, "He could be capable of operating the gear to some extent, but I do not believe it was him." He considers what he saw in the investigation, the damaged inflicted to the town, trying to put his thoughts into words, "The degree of damage inflicted, taken alongside the consistent pattern we found throughout the town, suggest that this was not a tactical engagement, but a single decisive attack. Furthermore, there appeared to be no meaningful distinguishment between our forces and the town residents, which leads me to believe there was no specific target in the operator's mind at all."
Realizing he is mincing his words somewhat, the Captain elects to speak plainly, "This has more in common with how a wild animal attacks, not a trained professional."
<Pose Tracker> Myyah Hawwa has posed.
"A wild animal," says Myyah, repeating the words slowly as if trying them out. Afterward, there is a silence as she studies Kahm's face.
Then:
"Captain, I want to recommend you to Commander Ramses for the assignment of tracking the two villagers mentioned in van Houten's report. You may come face to face with this animal you describe. Are you prepared for that?"
<Pose Tracker> Kahm Yugh has posed.
Kahm's face doesn't hide anything-the disdain he holds for whoever operated the gear was worn openly. A threat that could not be allowed to run across the continent unchecked.
"Prepared and willing, ma'am." The Captain nodded, adding, "And I can begin pursuit immediately."
<Pose Tracker> Myyah Hawwa has posed.
"Alright," says Myyah.
For a moment, that's enough. Myyah turns to her terminal and begins typing. She hasn't dismissed him--and she won't, because the questions continue.
"What are your thoughts on Lieutenant van Houten and the Black Ties mercenary asset?"
<Pose Tracker> Kahm Yugh has posed.
Kahm, indeed, doesn't make a motion to do anything until Myyah has said the magic word. Since she instead said something else, he continues one.
"Most fresh officers don't have to see what Lieutenant van Houten did so soon into her deployment." His lips twisted somewhat uncomfortably, "How she will continue to comport herself as a soldier remains to be seen, but I sensed a certain dedication in her despite her experience. It has not broken her."
On the subject of the Black Ties, Kahm's face visibly dipped despite effort to the contrary, "Wild cards." He finally said, "Kent and his men possess the natural talent for violence to be expected from their kind, and that is useful in so far as it can be exploited, but they require considerable oversight to prevent from becoming a liability in the field."
<Pose Tracker> Myyah Hawwa has posed.
"Might you be that oversight?" says Myyah, without losing a beat.
<Pose Tracker> Kahm Yugh has posed.
Kahm shifted somewhat uncomfortably in his seat.
"If so ordered." He said, after a few moments. If nothing else, if the Black Ties were told they /had/ to listen to him, that might be something.
<Pose Tracker> Myyah Hawwa has posed.
"I'll take it up with the commander, then," says Myyah. "I would like you to provide mentoring for both van Houten and the Black Ties."
Myyah stops typing, glancing back over to Kahm. "At this point, we are not looking to indoctrinate the Black Ties. They have use as an... unpolished local asset. I think we would all appreciate more professionalism and cooperation during missions. Don't you agree?"
<Pose Tracker> Kahm Yugh has posed.
Kahm is not sure the Black Ties would take particularly well to indoctrination anyways, but the thrust of the Adjunct's point is received wide and clear.
"Understood and agreed." Kahm exhaled and dipped his head slightly in acknowledgement, "I will endeavor to ensure future operations remain...harmonious." They do have enough enemies on the surface already, he supposes.
<Pose Tracker> Myyah Hawwa has posed.
"I appreciate you stepping up," says Myyah. "I read your file. You have an interesting background. Very distinguished. You would have made a good Element."
Jugend gossip notes that Myyah was a long-time hanger-on of the original Elements, and was initially an understudy herself. Her immense Ether response rate and simulator scores made her a greatly anticipated pilot candidate, but she washed out of the program after her first live fire exercise. Panic attack, so the story goes. In this moment, she doesn't seem like the kind of person to panic.
Maybe she sees something familiar in Kahm.
<Pose Tracker> Kahm Yugh has posed.
That his file had slipped by the Adjunct's desk was to be expected. The compliment, less so. Again, Kahm dipped his head in appreciation, "I appreciate the thought. In the end, it was an honor to even be considered." He considered the purple-haired woman in her own right, considering what he had heard with who he now saw before him. They probably had not missed one another in Jugend by that much. Different circles, he supposed.
"Commander Ramses is fortunate to have you supporting him." He offers, "And by extension, so is Gebler. As an officer, I thank you for your work." He then, maybe, allowed just the slip of something like a smile, "Is there anything else I can answer?"
<Pose Tracker> Myyah Hawwa has posed.
"No, that's all."
Myyah returns her attention to the terminal. "Thank you for your time, captain. I want you to know that the commander greatly appreciates personal initiative and individual merit, more so than other superiors you may have worked with. We hope to see good things from you."
<Pose Tracker> Kahm Yugh has posed.
At that, Kahm stands and renders a more formal salute.
"I have heard as much, and thank you, Adjunct. I will endeavor to live up to those expectations."
Provided there is nothing else, the Captain will turn and excuse himself from the room, leaving Myyah to whatever other tasks she has for herself.
<Pose Tracker> Myyah Hawwa has posed.
The door closes behind Kahm. Myyah continues typing in silence. Her cursor reaches the edge of the page, and then she sits back to reread what she has written. A paragraph in, she stops. Her eyes lower as she turns her thoughts over in her mind.
A wild beast.
In rare form, Myyah smiles for herself. It is a faint, humorless thing.
Nothing ever changes.