[D3 LM, Mobile HQ Meeting Room] Terms and Conditions

[Klaus von Zinzer]

"It is a central irony" Klaus reflects as he pours out coffee into a pair of mugs. "That as things in the theater reach their busiest, that I find myself with an abundance of extra time."

Of course, he had certainly kept himself busy well in advance, and he would be busy again soon enough. It still felt odd though, to not have an immediate task at hand. Perhaps this is why he had arranged for this particular meeting.

"It was not a favorable first exchange for either of us. Let's hope that something can be salvaged.

Klaus sits and waits in the chair, the small table drawn up like old friends meeting for coffee, though the meeting was anything but.

[GM Yuusha]

Having accepted the meeting invitation after a few messages back and forth, Kurt is punctual. He arrives with less than a minute to go before the stated start time.



Surprisingly, so too is his daughter. Then again, it was probably because she'd been told to follow her father.

Kurt strides in, greets Klaus with a nod and takes a seat. "Good morning."

Lia is slower. She steps inside and looks around. She'd not been in this room before. Her father gestures sharply for her to sit down and she does. She unfolds a noteputer. Klaus doesn't even get a dip of the head.

[Klaus von Zinzer]

Klaus rises to greet them.

"Hauptmann Guttenberg, thank you coming. And with your...adjutant?" The last word makes it a question and Klaus inclines his head to the girl in greeting. "First Lieutenant Klaus von Zinzer of the Obsidian Angels. A pleasure to meet your acquaintance. I only prepared two cups of coffee, please take mine." He motions to the table. "Please feel free to sit." Klaus makes a point of sitting. He does not ask for permission. This is his meeting, and a meeting between equals. Which makes this next part galling for him.

"I have to say: I must begin this with an apology." Klaus clears his throat. ""We're not here to butcher the locals. Getting them to surrender is the surest way to victory. You do that by chopping off the head." Those were your words Hauptmann Guttenberg. And I do not believe that I have heard a Lyran commanding officer ever say them. I had suspected that you were keen to battle to bloody the enemy. And I was wrong. A good commander admits his mistakes, and resolves to not make them again. I apologize for my presumption of you and your character."

[GM Yuusha]

"..." Kurt smiled but said nothing as Klaus queried who she was. He turned to her, smiled and nodded. Lia registered this, but her attention was on the noteputer. Lia greets Klaus with a slight incline of her head. It was a start. There is a shake of her head to the offer of coffee.



"Lia Guttenburg. No thank you." She says matter of fact, her gaze lingering on Klaus for only a brief moment.

"My daughter. She's here to learn." Kurt adds with a slight touch of pride. The coffee is accepted by him and he listens as Klaus makes his apology and opening statement. He snorts at the end. Taking a deep breath, nearly a sigh, he responds calmly. "It would not be the first time. Let us put that behind us First Lieutenant von Zinzer. I accept your apology. So, what would you like to really speak about this morning?"

[Klaus von Zinzer]

"I would like to revisit the strategic objectives of the Obsidian Angels."

Klaus pads through is noteputer to once again review the contract. "From what we have been contracted for, the Obsidian Angels's primary objective is to prevent the Akos militia from reinforcing the mainland. Effectively removing them relevance so that the main contingent is able to carry out its intended timeline. I believe that this could be accomplished without ever giving pitched battle. However..."

Klaus casts his good eye over Kurt and his daughter

"To be blunt, I can tell that you are not a fan of this approach, nor have you been particularly impressed with our activity so far. Now, we certainly intend to live up to our contract, but I am looking ahead to obtaining the next one. It would behoove us to provide a service that our customer appreciates...and to be even more blunt, I am aware that how the AFFC will view our successes and failures will be filtered though your eyes Hauptmann Guttenberg. So, I feel that I must ask, with full discretion from our company" Klaus looks over at Lia, the only other witness in the room, "what it is that you specifically wish to obtain from this campaign?"

[GM Yuusha]

"If I or the AFFC were for such an approach we would put together a covert operations task force rather than hire a large mercenary force. No. We needed military force. If possible, somehow neutralising the Militia on Akos would be the ideal. Keeping them occupied, making them surrender, eliminating their ability to wage war without damaging the infrastructure." Kurt clasps his hands together. "However, even though they are an untested militia force they do have greater numbers than your own force. We are realistic. Pragmatic. As the contract says, we primarily need you to prevent them reinforcing the mainland and to damage them, reduce their fighting strength, as much as possible. All of this will expedite our assault and make this operation go faster."

He unclasped his hands so he could tap the table a couple of times with two fingers. "My specific wishes are irrelevant. You may be right that my report will greatly influence the views of my superiors on the success or failure of your activities and degree of contract adherence... your value for money, so to speak. However, I only wish to see our overall success. The Armed Forces of the Federated Commonwealth." He waved his other hand idly in the air. "The specific deployment of the Obsidian Angels was decided by my superiors and without my involvement. You have an acceptable reputation and your military strength is adequate for the task, according to our assessment. What, pray tell, are you looking for me to say?" He smiled carefully. "I am only the Liaison Officer."

[Klaus von Zinzer]

Klaus gently taps his finger as Kurt speaks, unaware that he is doing so as he absorbs each new piece of information. He nods slightly at different points but his face remains impassive until the last statement. Klaus' face cracks into a cry smile.

"Come now Hauptmann Guttenberg. Of all the things that Lyran officers have been accused on, a lack of ambition has never been one of them. It is other qualities that are in rarer supply." Klaus reaches for his cup and takes a sip. "I was in the Strategies and Tactics Division in my time, and I have seen enough officer placement to know that tactical or strategic viability can give way to internal politics. I can also place a wager that greater glories are expected in the main contingent. Is this assignment was indeed one that you did not seek out, it isn't a terribly bold guess to think that you were placed into the role of liaison officer so that you would be out of the way." Klaus places the cup back on the table. "And if so, it would greatly please me to make that person choke on it"

"My role forces me to be pragmatic as well. I stand by the choice to advocate for the first strike on the communications site. But after that, our playbook opens wide. So what I want to know Hauptmann Guttenberg, is how to have our cake and eat it to: what qualities do both you and the Angels each require to consider this venture a success, and what we consider acceptable losses? You mentioned a few: the surrender of their strategic command with as little damage to the infrastructure as possible. The latter rules out a few options, but hardly all of them. For the Angels, the goal will the the greatest total profit, for the least cost, and that will guide the thinking of leadership. But if I can show the potential for future gains after this assignment, ones that may tighten our margins in the short term, but lead to sustained work...I believe that I can convince more aggressive action."

[GM Yuusha]

Kurt takes a steady breath at Klaus' first assertions before saying "go on" in a quieter voice. He listens attentively as Klaus continues. Even his daughter pauses whatever she was doing with her noteputer to listen.

When Klaus finishes the Liaison Officer doesn't reply right away. He mulls it over. Lia glances at him and speaks instead.



"If you were after the greatest total profit, why a barely important Comms Outpost as your first target? Of those you discussed, wasn't it the least important military site?"

[Klaus von Zinzer]

“That is true Lady Guttenberg” Klaus responds with a nod of his head, his tone like that of a lecturing academic. “The attack on the communications outpost has the fewest immediate short term gains, other than civilian targets. However, my training has not been about the best first win. It is about the ultimate objective: control of the continent. Crippling communications as an opening blow readies the ground for the next strike: without communications, the two harder military sites will not have advance notice of our approach. Oh, I doubt that we take them completely by surprise, but their preparation will require more advance scouting that widens the sweeps on their patrols, leaving them isolated. It also has given us time to perform ample reconnaissance on the other two hard military targets in the area.” Klaus slides over a pair of foldings with the intelligence findings on both the barracks and the Budai test site to the AFFC Captain.

“Assuming that our combat projections on today’s assault are accurate, our strength as a fighting force will be relatively undiminished, while the losses on the next strike should be reduced due to the disruption. It also works towards the long term goal. Or, another way…how do we get more of the bulk of the continental forces to leave fortified positions.” Klaus scans the pair of them with his good eye.

“That is why I am seeking your input on long term projections. Would you prefer a siege, where the linear guns at the Budai site would be most helpful. Is the elimination of the garrison enough to force reinforcement from the main host.” Klaus’ smile holds a hunger. “As I said, we wish to satisfy our customers”

[GM Yuusha]

"I understand the logic. it's just a slower approach then we were expecting. That means time for the Militia to send assistance that slows us down." Kurt interjects. "I don't care if the forces on Akos leave fortified positions or not. I only care that they don't leave the continent."

He glances toward his daughter and back to Klaus. "Taking out the Garrison will clearly startle the Akos Militia more. We, and I speak for the AFFC when I say we, would consider that as having a greater impact on this overall operation than the other targets. I thought I'd been clear about the day before yesterday. For long term projections we'd like similar action across Akos, as opportunities allow."

[Klaus von Zinzer]

Klaus cocks his head to the side in thought, studying the Captain. "I believe that we can make up for lost time in that regard. Assuming that the operation today proceeds as planned...how do simultaineous attacks on the barracks and the Budai testing site sound? I would request reinforcement for the push, but I believe that would bring the southern part of the continent to its knees in a hurry."

Klaus' smile grows. "And I do not believe I heard what you specifically want...or what your daughter wants."

[GM Yuusha]

"We'll see. From what the Major has said, he is following a slow but steady approach. Maximum force on the smallest obstacle. Like a hammer and a nail. However, yes, that would be a sign of good faith my superiors would be appreciative of." He taps the table a couple of times as he unhurriedly mulls it over further.



"It'd also wreck their capabilities in this area. Uh, Zone One. They'd have to send reinforcements here or fall back to another defence line."

"Agreed." Kurt admits. He smiles back cautiously at Klaus. "Senior First Lieutenant. I don't believe we know each other well enough to be talking wants. Certainly not wants of our family members."

Lia opens her mouth to speak but Kurt immediately holds his hand up slightly to stop her.

"No." Kurt says gently. "I'm here today to hear what you have to say. So far I've focused most of my time on the Major and other senior members of your unit, as is proper, but if you can show me you can influence things then I will have to recognise the necessity to involve you in discussions. Should you suggest something I perhaps find agreeable, or that my superiors would likely support, I will be sure to convey that. Does that sound reasonable?" In other words, he wouldn't reveal his hand or wishes, but if Klaus made an educated guess or pushed for a strategy the AFFC were keen on, then Klaus would give him a sign.

[Klaus von Zinzer]

Klaus pauses at the awkward moment, but decides not to push Lia in front of her father.

"Very well. Obviously, the next steps will depend on the next stage of the operation, but I believe I better understand your desires and expectations, and I will advocate for them as best I can."

[GM Yuusha]

"That would be appreciated. I genuinely do not feel any of the targets under consideration are beyond the Angels' capabilities."

[Klaus von Zinzer]

"Very good. I look forward to our next briefing." Klaus peers over at Lia. "Lady Guttenburg, are you sure that we cannot offer you any refreshment? The mess is not far away"

And I hope you are more talkative when your father is not around.

[GM Yuusha]

Her stomach grumbles a little bit. Kurt sighs.

"I skipped breakfast."

Kurt sighs again. "She slept past breakfast."

"!" Lia looks embarrassed and offended at this.

[Klaus von Zinzer]

Klaus does his best to hide a smile. "It would not be the first time that someone on the crew has burnt through the night working. If you would follow me, I can have something readied for you"

[GM Yuusha]

"... Thank you." Lia closes the lid of her laptop. She is getting up when Kurt claps his hands together.

"Take care of my daughter Lieutenant."

"Oh come. On. Father." Lia huffs in irritation. Kurt waves it off.

"Let's speak again soon." He says, looking to Klaus.

[Klaus von Zinzer]

"Let's." Klaus nods and does his best to keep a poker face of his own as he guides Lia to the mess.

"I can't promise a gourmet meal, but at least some snacks and some caffeine is in order."

He takes a peek to see if Kurt is joining them.

"Your father seems rather proud of you"

[GM Yuusha]

It was a way to go. They'd have to leave the mobile HQ, cross the open ground and snow toward one of the dropships (probably Angel's Descent) and then go up an elevator to the middle floors with the cafeteria.



"We've been having food brought to us, but I think it's from your kitchens. I'm sure it'll be fine."

Kurt remained in the meeting room. He had things on his mind.

When they were out of it, Lia touches her chest and takes a deep breath.

"He really isn't. He's just overly protective."