Chester Von Sebastion tugs at the neck of his carnodon pelt cloak in an attempt to keep it draped properly down his back. It is a hot and heavy thing, but it is also part of well established Von Sebastion formal wear here on Oasis, reserved for a ship's commander of the house. The formal dinner and bequeathing of ships had passed some hours ago; thus Chester was entitled and expected to wear the blasted thing over his tunic and pants. He already loathed the thing, they way it left sweat dripping down his spine, the way it tangled his hands and the hilts of his weapons, they way it marked him as the center of attention, swarmed around by fawning lesser nobles and hopeful seekers of wealth without the brains of a gildfinch.
Chester drifts around the edges of the ball room's dance floor watching the dancers move gracefully with only passing interest. The soft music in the background is almost downed out by the chatter of voices in idle politicking and deadly serious gossip. He was expecting several 'accidental' meetings with powerful individuals or their representatives and some more from those who only thought themselves powerful. Political games were always afoot in the Imperium; a new player on the scene would be sounded out for their positions... and for any hooks or handles to use. Chester pretended to sip at the champagne flute in his hand and let his eyes drift warily about for the first such encounter.
Red robes with white cogwork iconography caught his eye. Risking a longer glance Chester confirmed his suspicion that members of the Adeptus Mechanicus were indeed attending a 'meatbag' social event. This Chester judged to be most unusual as tech-priests typically had little use for things such as emotions or pleasures of the flesh. They were here for a purpose and Chester judged that their purpose was with him or the Erwin Siegmar. If their business was with house Von Sebastion in general then they would not have bothered with the social gathering and just sent a messenger to the proper office.
Chester changed the direction of his drift to end up in the proximity of the tech-priests in the next few minutes. While he was sure that they would appreciate a more direct approach there were still appearances to maintain. Chester nodded in recognition when one tech-priest broke away from the group and moved in his direction. A few moments later and it was in close enough proximity for casual conversation.
“I understand that you are the new Captain of the Erwin Siegmar. Congratulations are in order.”
“I am. I understand that you have business for my ship and I...?”
“We do. We require transport to the Gibil 2 shipyards, HJG-1034 system, in the very near future.”
“And there are no ships departing from Oasis with that destination soon enough. I see. Gibil 2 is in my ship's itinerary, but it the third destination of the shakedown cruise, not the first, so it may be several weeks before we arrive.”
“This is acceptable to us. What form of payment would you deem acceptable?”
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
“I have need of an Enginseer Primus for service aboard. If one or more of your number would serve in that role until our arrival at Gibil 2 that would prove to be satisfactory payment.”
“Which would also leave you at a station where a replacement Enginseer Primus could be recruited should it prove needed. We accept.”
“And what is your name?”
“Apologies, we forget that not all can see the glory of the Noosphere. We are collectively designated as Eta-7.”
“I look forward to working with you Eta-7. I trust that you can find your way aboard prior to departure?”
“We can. Go with the Omnisiah's blessing Captain.”
“And you as well Eta-7.”
Chester drifts away from Eta-7 and runs down the checklist in his mind. Executive Officer? Check, Shipmaster Asur Hopkins would do well in that position. Navigator? Check, Navigator Murirn was already assigned and they had the beginnings of a good working relationship. Eta-7 would fill the Enginseer Primus slot for now, and the existing officers would continue in their present positions. Chester knew that it was always awkward for a new Shipmaster to inherit the command of a crew and keep on the previous commanding officer as a subordinate but he didn't see a reason to get rid of Shipmaster Hopkins and disrupt the command structure of the Erwin Siegmar.
Chester tugged his cloak back into position and let his eyes sweep the ballroom again. He was not in the market for any cargo, given that the planned shakedown cruise involved filling all four of Erwin Siegmar's four main cargo holds. Nor were more passengers desirable for this endeavor. Doubly so considering that he did not have any dedicated passenger quarters aboard. Chester decided that the current evening was going well. Perhaps too well. He sets the thought aside and worries more about the group of Ecclesiarchy preachers approaching. Old Bishop Rynald had finally keeled over on his throne the year before, but his influence and habit of appointing equally close-minded men to positions of power continued to cause issues on occasion. Chester sighs as he realizes that this is likely to be one of them.
“Captain. You will be taking us to Viking at our earliest convenience.”
“And why is that? I have an entire shakedown cruise to complete before I can even consider ferrying passengers. Moreover my ship has no passenger's quarters installed, much less available, so I suggest that you contact the house offices if you desire passage.”
“You impudent whelp! How dare you refuse the command of the Emperor's Holy Adeptus Ministorum!”
“I can not provide that which you demand and have provided a reasonable alternative. A Von Sebastion seneschal will be by shortly to arrange that alternative. Good day.”
Chester turns and walks away from the blustering priest, already signaling for an armsman escorted seneschal to move in and make alternative arrangements. He is fairly sure that he just made a personal enemy, but given that the priests in question are too close-minded to understand how essential sanctioned psykers and Navigators in particular are to warp transit in the Imperium he isn't too worried. Moreover letting them bully him into abandoning the Erwin Siegmar's shakedown cruse would prove disastrous. House Von Sebastion's warrant of trade was not owed to the Ecclesiarchy, so they lacked the authority to demand such services. They also lacked the leverage to do the same, unlike the Adeptus Mechanicus who provided essential shipboard services as well as building and repairing ships in general. Chester would have happily bartered space aboard the Erwin Siegmar for the priests had they bothered with diplomacy instead of presenting demands, but they hadn't so he didn't.
Chester continues to pretend to sip at his drink for the remainder of the ball and trades inconsequential nothings with people who matter not at all. He notices that his drink has the wrong smell, color, and is leaving frothy bubbles despite having long sense gone flat. Chester smirks and idly guesses that between three and five would be rivals have tried to poison his drink for one reason or another. He expected this to happen, so Chester had planned on never actually taking a sip from the drink in his hand and hid a flask of water inside his sleeve. It was technically cheating instead of 'defending one's glass' as the social rules dictated, but Chester had long subscribed to the motto of 'if one is not cheating, one is not trying hard enough.'