[16:01] <Sakura_Hunter> <looks at the number that nate gave her>

[16:01] <Sakura_Hunter> <dials it, not knowing who will answer it or what she will say>

[16:05] <Sakura_Hunter> <nervously replies> hello...This is Dr. Hunter, I'm a friend of Nathan Carver, he gave me your number because he said that you may be able to help me.

[16:06] <Nathan_Carver> [?] Oh? Oh! Yes, <coughs.> You... must be, <coughs> Ms. Sakura. Sorry, a little under the weather. <coughs again.>

[16:10] <Nathan_Carver> [Vincentio] Yes, er... ahem. <coughes> My name is, mad'am, is Viscount Leonard Vincentio... oh, ignore the title. It's <coughs>... just foolery. Now, I daresay you have some information.

[16:13] <Nathan_Carver> [Vincentio] Excellent. Fabul.... <coughs> ous work, my dear. But, of course, you are correct. I shall send a car for you. <he clears his throat> Just tell me where it can pick you up. Somewhere away from that old base you're on, yes?

[16:14] <Sakura_Hunter> Yes. Here is my address <quotes the address to Vincentio> I shall be awaiting the car.

[16:15] <Nathan_Carver> [Vincentio] Very well. Expect it in the hour. <He hangs up.>

[16:16] <Sakura_Hunter> <proceeds to hang up the phone and walks towards her window>

[16:16] <Nathan_Carver> It's strange. It seems that this whole thing revolved around that petty little dispute. I wanted it to end so badly, but now that it's over.... <he sighs> My god, what can I tell Kristina....?

[16:18] <Sakura_Hunter> <looks outside the slush covered streets of dublin her view..she looks down, spotting a black sedan stopping by the condominiums vaulted lobby>

[16:20] <Sakura_Hunter> <taking the letter that Minister O'Reilly left for her and her pruse, she quickly boards the lift. As the floor numbers whiz downwards, she becomes anxious, uncertain what the outcome of this meeting will hold for her>

[16:22] <Nathan_Carver> <The driver of the sedan, a man who looks as if he's been perpetually terrified by his years of servitude, scurries out and opens the rear door.>

[16:29] <Sakura_Hunter> <sakura gets into the dark sedan, sinking into it's deep leather seats and tries to relax. The tinted windows almost making black the already dark exterior, she goes over all that she means to say in this important meeting. She tries to make some sort of eye contact with the driver, yet he remins steadfast as he drives , not looking anywhere else other than the road, as if conditioned to only look towards his destination>

[16:36] <Sakura_Hunter> <tries to make conversation> So, have you been working with the viscount?

[16:36] <Nathan_Carver> <The car comes to a stop before an elaborately detail, spacious luxury hotel that seems out of place in the Dublin street scene. More like a miniature chateau, it is as quiet and serene as it is beautiful.> [Driver] Err.... his excellency has... booked the entire building, miss. You can go on in, but there shant be any staff. He'll be around.

[16:36] <Sakura_Hunter> <nods> Thank you. Will you be awaiting my return?

[16:36] <Nathan_Carver> <The driver shrugs> [Driver] Too long... I'm tired of all this cloak & dagger business he gets on with.

[16:37] <Nathan_Carver> [Driver] Yes, ma'am.

[16:37] <Sakura_Hunter> Very well. <nods and then exits the sedan>

[16:41] <Nathan_Carver> [Vincentio] <Plodding around the lobby is a hobbling old gentleman, dressed in a dusty, faded blue uniform of a forgetten industrial conglomerate. As he leans against his cain, he squints to see the newcomer> Oh, <he turns, coughing> hello, miss.

[16:41] <Sakura_Hunter> <walks into the building, it's cathedral ceilings decorated with gold foil and wonderful paintings. The marble flooring covering the vast expanse of the hotel's lobby. Old masters hang on the walls, overlooking antiques that could easily be considered museum quality>

[16:43] <Sakura_Hunter> This is a beautiful hotel, very reminisce to the chateaux in the loire valley.

[16:44] <Sakura_Hunter> Do you have any tapestries here? I'm quite fond of them.

[16:45] <Nathan_Carver> [Vincentio] <Shrugs, sending a creak through the material of his coat.> I do keep a few... <coughs> Of those dusty things... <he frowns> A little rough around the edges, though. The public wasn't too happy back then... <he recollects>

[16:46] <Sakura_Hunter> <nods> how would you like me to address you? I would not like to offend you by being too familiar.

[16:47] <Nathan_Carver> [Vincentio] The title will do. My name is a bit of a mouthful... and I daresay we're being watched anyway, so hiding my identity is a moot point, hmmm?

[16:48] <Sakura_Hunter> <nods> Shall we proceed to somewhere where we can talk?

[16:49] <Nathan_Carver> [Vincentio] Very well. <He walks, limping slightly, and proceeds up the grand staircase.> The trappings, as I said, are a little rough around the edges. People can be so careless when they're rioting.

[16:51] <Sakura_Hunter> <follows behind the viscount, the grand staircase dispite its lack of attention was still impressive, dwarfing her>

[16:54] <Nathan_Carver> [[Vincentio] Rioters... I tell you, there was a time when solving political problems was as easy as pushing a button. Send out the legions, put them to rout. Then, we had AC 195...

[16:55] <Nathan_Carver> [Vincentio] Some crazy colonial decides to try and bomb the Earth back into the iceage by dropping a colony on it. Lucky for us some of those smarter folks had morales. <laughs, coughing> Goes to show, we old folks can be troublesome.

[16:56] <Sakura_Hunter> Times change. Who knows what the future holds for today's youth. I'm expecting, and I wouldn't want my children to be brought up in this chaos. I'm hoping that our meeting will somehow put a stop to this.

[16:57] <Nathan_Carver> [Vincentio] Well said... well said. I always liked youthful enthusiasm. Never failed me before. <he winks>

[16:58] <Sakura_Hunter> <notices a room with a door ajar> Viscount, perhaps this will do? <the door led to a darkly decorated parlor with a cherry oak desk and floor to ceiling shelves, with numerous leather bound volumes> Please, after you. <holds the door open for the viscount>

[16:59] <Nathan_Carver> <Vincentio walks on in.>

[16:59] <Sakura_Hunter> <waits for the viscount to sit down, and then takes a seat herself in the leather apholstered high chair>

[17:00] <Nathan_Carver> [Vincentio] <Sits>

[17:00] <Sakura_Hunter> Viscount, I am unsure of your relationship with Mr. Carver, but he seemed convinced that you would be able to help me.

[17:01] <Nathan_Carver> [Vincentio] Oh... yes. Our tin solider. <he chuckles> Nice young man, but a little off. Too much idealism. Still, that kind of drive is what we needed. <He shrugs> We pulled the same trick thirteen years ago.

[17:02] <Sakura_Hunter> Very good man. A shame really, I feel that all he wants now is to live life peacefully...isn't that what we all want?

[17:03] <Sakura_Hunter> well, I guess i should explain my appearance, if Nathan hasn't already done so.

[17:05] <Sakura_Hunter> In helping the preventers try to expose the Black Dove's connection with some our world governents, I took upon myself the mission of trying to infiltrate the Irish Government's Ministry of Defense. Starting there, I was able to uncover their Lazarus suits, AMDs programmed with some of our best pilot's profiles, downloaded with data from destroyed preventer base sim programs. I then suspected my superior, the minister

[17:05] <Sakura_Hunter> of defense was somehow involved...i was not totally sure until i saw Joshua Armaros in his office just a few days ago.

[17:06] <Nathan_Carver> [Vincentio] We know about Armaros. <He frowns> In retrospect, we should have turned Carver on him, instead of sending him to the colonies. Let them take one another out. But... one needs to set priorities.

[17:07] <Sakura_Hunter> Joshua sensed my connection with Nathan, and left a psychic imprint for me to pass on to Nate. I was quite disturbed by the meeting, and had been involved in an accident. I took a few days off to recuperate on the Retribution...upon my arrival back on earth, I'm met outside of my shuttle by Minister O'Reilly's Secretary, given news of his suicide, and this...<hands Vincentio the letter>

[20:15] <Nathan_Carver> [Vincentio] <He coughs> Now, about your little project...

[20:16] <Sakura_Hunter> <nods>

[20:22] <Nathan_Carver> [Vicentio] We'll do what we can... <frowns, and stifles a cough> However, it shall take time.

[20:23] <Nathan_Carver> [Vincentio] I cannot marshal the resources to bring down a government in one day.

[20:23] <Sakura_Hunter> I understand that, i'm available if there's anything more that needs be.

[20:23] <Sakura_Hunter> Is my work at the base done? or do you feel that i shall still be needed there?

[20:24] <Sakura_Hunter> Quite frankly, I'll go anywhere, except into battle, I've never been one to pilot, even more so in my fragile state, however otherwise, should my services be needed elsewhere, i'd be glad to render them.

[20:25] <Nathan_Carver> [Vincentio] That, is up to you. As far as we are... <coughs> Concerned, this conversation never happened. However...

[20:26] <Sakura_Hunter> <nods> yes?

[20:26] <Nathan_Carver> [Vincentio] <His brow furrows, setting his whole wrinkled complextion into a rather sour state. Then, brightening, he nods> The colonies... <coughs> Yes, that will do nicely.

[20:27] <Nathan_Carver> [Vincentio] Earth will be safe.... so, how would you like to route out the same rogues in space?

[20:27] <Sakura_Hunter> <confused look>

[20:27] <Sakura_Hunter> GCE?

[20:29] <Sakura_Hunter> <looks thoughtful> Never spent much time in the colonies...I don't see why now isn't a good time to start.

[20:29] <Sakura_Hunter> What is needed there?

[20:29] <Nathan_Carver> [Vincentio] You catch on fast, m'dear. <Coughs> Yes, one of your expertise can find a position up there... dare say that they're desperate for good engineers, yes?

[20:30] <Nathan_Carver> [Vincentio] We need... everything. Carver will not win a head on war... we've lied to him about the resources we have on his side. <coughs>

[20:32] <Nathan_Carver> [Vincentio] We have no resource situation, because we have no resources. <he laughs> My dear, do you think that everyone would become one, big, happy union after a few words? The UA's members are all holding out. They don't want to committ.

[20:34] <Sakura_Hunter> Perhaps that's a more immediate situation then? Or do you feel that infiltrating into their Stronghold will weaken them enough to give us the advantage? Perhaps not even an advantage, at least a fighting chance?

[20:35] <Nathan_Carver> [Vincentio] If nothing else, it would make a few of us feel better, knowing.. <coughs> someone's helping us on the inside. <He clears his throat.>

[20:36] <Sakura_Hunter> <nods> alright then. anything to alleviate pressure on everyone else.

[20:37] <Nathan_Carver> [Vincentio] That's a good girl. <he chuckles> Of course, you're on your own.

[20:37] <Sakura_Hunter> I'm not expecting you to know, however, are you aware of any area that I would be most suited for there? Yes, I understand an engineering post, however, I can't just knock on their door asking for a job. I knew of an opening here in Ireland...but in the colonies? I have no contacts there to even start me on the right track.

[20:38] <Sakura_Hunter> <laughs> I've been on my own this whole time. Nothing new. Everyone else has a part to play, mine just had to be played alone.

[20:39] <Nathan_Carver> [Vincentio] <Coughs> Very well... <he frowns> There has to be a GCE unit or ship that was caught recently. We could simply dress you as a survivor, and send you "home."

[20:40] <Sakura_Hunter> <frowns> that's a tough one, a survivor wouldn't be able to have access to much, not without being a high ranking engineer...however, if i were a high ranking survivor, people would recognize me...

[20:40] <Sakura_Hunter> ...it'd be suspicious.

[20:40] <Sakura_Hunter> <thinks>

[20:41] <Nathan_Carver> [Vincentio] Bah... then think of something. <he glares, losing whatever 'grandfatherly' air he had>

[20:41] <Sakura_Hunter> <smiles> are you losing patience with me sir?

[20:41] <Sakura_Hunter> <laughs>

[20:42] <Nathan_Carver> [Vincentio] The colonies are in chaos, people are moving all the time. <he coughs> Old people, my dear, are generally irritable. It's a wonderful scapegoat... age.

[20:42] <Sakura_Hunter> Well, I will keep that in mind when i'm "wiser" like you are. <smiles almost affectionately for the old bugger>

[20:43] <Sakura_Hunter> I think I can think up of something.

[20:44] <Sakura_Hunter> I'll do my grandfather proud.

[20:44] <Sakura_Hunter> Is there any colony in particular that you'd have me go?

[20:44] <Nathan_Carver> [Vincentio] <Stands, gradually> In the meantime, I shall try to acquire those mobile dolls... yes, they will be a valuable resource. <coughs> Nice of these Doves to fix them for us.

[20:45] <Nathan_Carver> [Vincentio] The L4 area is the most embattled... the war effort is intense there, and so shall be the secrecy.

[20:45] <Sakura_Hunter> <stands, taking the viscount's action as a cue> Yes, is it nice of them.

[20:46] <Sakura_Hunter> <nods> I shall take a few days off, in order to recover from my injuries. I'm still not in top shape, I don't want anything to hinder this mission, my physical health included. My husband is here on shore leave for a couple of days. I'll leave at his departure. <extends hand> I'd like to say it's a pleasure meeting you, however the circumstances don't make this a social visit.

[20:47] <Sakura_Hunter> Perhaps under different circumstances Viscount.

[20:47] <Nathan_Carver> [Vicentio] Well, off you go. <He shakes her hand, lightly> And, it's likely not. I only ever come down to the real world whenever someone is blasting it to bits... <sighs> Children and their toys.

[20:50] <Sakura_Hunter> <exits the office first, making her way down the grand staircase> Farewell viscount. I'm sure you'll hear whether or not I succeed in my mission.

[20:51] <Nathan_Carver> [Vincentio] I shall... <coughs> we all shall... <he turns back to a painting, losing himself in the serenity of the scene> Every, single, one of us.

[20:53] <Sakura_Hunter> <makes her way down the staircase, still a bit overwhelmed by the faded grandeur of the edifice. She exits the hotel and as if rehearsed, there stands the staid driver, door held open, awaiting her command.>