Board Thread:Roleplaying/@comment-5543592-20160120005043/@comment-5543592-20160201040458

Gray stared blankly at her hand for a moment, before rising and accepting it. He nodded in reply to her thank-you, "It isn't much, but it's what I can offer."

Admiral Zekoff appeared on the view screen. Brody could see the older man's image from here.

And Howard stared the man down. Zekoff was sitting at his desk, likely to hide his short stature, but Howard with his wiry build and strong face stood tall, and alone, before the screen, arms folded. Joseph wore simply camo fatigues with the sleves rolled up. Zekoff was in full military dress, badges, buttons and all. So much of leadership was posturing.

The two men knew of each other, but had never met.

"Admiral Zekoff." Howard said, clenching his jaw. Zekoff had picked the perfect time to strike, and Howard was at his mercy. Both missile stations Hercules and Highwater-Trousers were out of range, on the other side of the planet. The Quetzel couldn't risk aiming it's weapons at the two Soviet ships, as it had to focus on the nearby Alien Mothership as well, while the Trotsky and Stalin could coordinate. Not to mention that the Soviets would notice if the Americans started to line up shots.

"Joseph Howard." Zekoff replied in heavily accented voice, intentionally insulting the Admiral by not acknowledging his rank. The Ukranian born officer had a satisfied, infuriating smirk on his face. "I see you are considering the parlay?"

"I am." Joseph replied. "You didn't give me much of a choice."

"No I did not." Zekoff, chuckling. He glanced off camera for a moment, as if sharing a joke, before focusing back on Howard and growing serious.

"We will meet.  In person.  I understand you have information, regarding this new addition to our conflict."

"And that is?"

"The Mothership.  Don't play coy, Joseph.  My squad encountered your's onboard."

Joseph blinked, a little offput. ''What? Carter didn't mention that. ''He really should've debriefed that man sooner. That information was urgent!

"So you want to parlay.  Regarding the Epsilon?"

"Obviously." Zekoff said, as if Howard had asked the stupidist question in the world. "A Conflict can not continue while that thing remains to threaten our assets."

He knows that it can't be engaged. Howard realized. If the Epsilon ''wanted to, it could smash Mir into nothing. He needs this parlay. For his own safety.''

"Then I agree.  What are the terms?"

"A meeting, on neutral ground.  Perhaps the Stalin?  Or maybe the Trotsky?" Zekoff proposed, choosing obviously not neutral ground. But, of course, he was in the position to decide. "I've got two of them, you know, it makes it difficult to decide."

"I will go with your earlier suggestion." Howard said, ignoring the taunt. "The Stalin will be the meeting place."

"Of course." Zekoff replied. "Oh... and bring that prisoner you recently acquired with you, along with whatever it is you poked around Mir for.  A theft of two assets is such poor start to an agreement."

Before Howard could reply, Zekoff cut transmission, the view screen switching back to a wide image of both the Trotsky and Stalin sitting in space, some guns pointing at the Epsilon, but mainly the Quetzel.

Howard frowned. ''Prisoner? What prisoner? And how does Zekoff know what it is we breached Mir for? What kind of information does this man already have access to?''