With that the ship was stationary for the time being. All of which was keeping itself stable as it docked along a large sea spire as they figured out what to do for the time being. Seeing as the damages was minimal but, it was clear that they needed to figure out two things. The people that attacked them and the people that they rescued thought it was clear that from the looks of it they had a multitude of differences possibly belonging to different species in return. All in all the two were seeing their multi-limbed assailant with his arms tied and the two already having him in a room keeping him far from able to break free or hurt them.
"Large, four arms, head slightly bigger but, its clear that he hails from a warrior culture." She whispered as she was already forming a way to reach him. "From the way I see it they are pirates or raiders who attacked the wrong vessel." He continued on as he sighed and looked at her. "Its clear from the looks of it that they were trafficking slaves or they had them for ransom." He added making her sigh knowing that such people were already insane or they internalized the brutal lifestyle to the point that they see nothing bad with it.
A fact of life that required two things. Troubling times and people having the money to pay for it. "All we know is that they would likely have taken our people if we ever lost especially those that surrendered but, they don't know who we are." She spoke out before she soon enough looked at the thing making him stare back likely unpleased with the constricted matter of which he was found himself with.
"Privateers might be the word you looking at outsiders. " He spoke out with a smirk. "Mercenaries and might I add a great guide for outsiders like your people." He said as he relaxed and let her know that he was oddly ok with meeting outsiders like them. "What do you mean outsiders and aren't you eager to guide with people you have never met before." She added towards him as she was quite curious about the calm expression he was having despite how this fact could have made people go insane from the way this had happened. One that made Carl shocked as he focused on the fact that they were talking with someone that offered his services towards them and finally the fact that they were not of this world. All the while the recorder was placing his words into the ship's system likely to be shown to the admiral once he fully recovered.
"Ahh its clear that you are not from this realm. Iron ships, weird weapons and from the looks of it you are yet to have your first blessings from the gods." He spoke out making Maria think for a while as she was connecting the dots. "I see and these people are outsiders?" She asked referring to the prisoners they found. "Nope they are what we call the damned those that lost the touch of their gods." He muttered before he sighed. "This bed is quite hard, the place is damn as well and the ship is far too cold how can you all live like this.. Not willing I suppose." He said letting her know that he was also studying them as well.
"Lets cut to the chase you want to learn more about this world you found yourselves in and lucky for you I was quite the book worm and navigator so I can guide you in more ways then one." He said making her look at him wanting to know if he was up for it or not. "No offense but, you are the kind to think that you have the power to do it with ease but, we have hundreds of you already. People that have the tech or the sorcery to do it only to see that we are billions in number and we can easily overpower them and with so many minds at work that we have gotten creative." He continued on as he looked on at her knowing that he was the one with the most advantages. "Kill me and how sure are you that its far from my lands where we have millions on the ready who are eager to repel you all or meet the nasty territorial beast gods at the wrong time and place." He continued on letting them all know that he was valuable.
"You get the land on which you can settle and expand from and I get to live and return home simple really of course with some rights to the loot." He continued on wanting to strike it rich with this deal in return. "Of course kill me and get lost or wait for the interception fleet to come nasty and full of weapons that will tear apart this ship of yours." He ended making Maria take stock of the information that he had sent forth along with the fact that they were not rare in this world and rather they were the norm in truth.
"We make sure to nip the bud before they fully root." He continued on with the threats making Maria sigh as she looked at him. "Then I'll consider that your admiral is no idiot and he would be preparing for this. One that would need time to prepare which is enough for us to get away or prepare. " She spoke out knowing that in such cases logistics comes after the message and only does military matter when engagement happens.
"I suppose unless there are other factors unknown to your people." he said letting her know that this new world operates in laws foreign to them and all. "Like a watery highway." He said with a smug one that added to the list of things that they needed to examine. "Seems like you are indeed prepared and from the looks of it that you are cooperative but, that comes after." He said before she motioned for Carl to go in and start his act.
"First off name both yours and your people." Told by Carl as Maria took this time to think about an approach against this creature and the shroud they currently have since if his people operate with such things then they would be there in mere hours then days which was far too low for them. One that made it hard for her to gauge as she wanted to talk with the others knowing that they could give her a better picture then this one.
"The name is Tuskus a proud Gawigawen and a navigator of the eternal confederation." He said letting them know that their enemies are well established and most of all dominant in this part of the world. "Defenders of the precursors endless garden." He muttered in looking at them as he wanted to get their names. "A dominion of endless land and people." he continued letting them know that he knew what they were about to ask. "But, we can get to an agreement one that will benefit your survival as a people." He muttered once more.
"There is much to learn and there is much to understand one of which is that you and I will get the best outcome if you agree to accept me as your guide within these uncertain lands." He continued on as he was up and eager to be their guide. "And why should we do that aren't you part of this confederacy?" He asked knowing that such a thing was quite a problem for them. "We cannot trust you." The commander spoke out letting him know that he was more trouble then good at this point.
"Well I've given you plenty of information and from the looks of it that the ones that stand to benefit the most is you." He replied back in return one that made the commander quite irritated. "The damned will not help you rather they are as lost as you are for their lands are far from these shores and worst off was the fact that you would find no allies there." He said sure about such things in the end. "Rather what you have in your company are smugglers, illegals and most of all exiles." He replied making Maria step in knowing that she had gotten quite the trove of information from him all.
"Thank you." She spoke out catching him off guard while she soon enough gestures to the commander to follow her. As they left him alone one that made him nod knowing that they would be overloaded with ideas and information that it would mess them up far too much. "We will have to discuss such offer to our stakeholders for now know that you aren't the only survivor." She said making Tuskus sigh as he laid on the tiny bed which buckled from the weight that they needed to support as the navigator laid down and soon enough sighed knowing that he would need to stew for more within this small cell.
"What do you think?" She asked as she went on to see the transcript as she soon enough uploaded it towards her storage and started to dissect the information given to them. Creating a mind map of what they needed using a presentation software embedded within the ship. "From what I can discern is that this world is filled with life to a fault but, I would like to have Grabriella's input in the matter since she is the inhouse expert along with several others from my side to form an emergency committee task with the exploration of this new world." She said as he looked at her and soon enough had him sigh in return.
"Those two are already quite too busy and from what we are now its clear that we can't afford to allocate resources and men especially after the casualties that we had suffered along with the fact that this job will be hard and its a hard pass on me especially if our chief engineers and head doctor is out." She spoke out in return just wanting to measure up expectations after the sudden information they gathered from one person. "His educated and its clear that he knows the world better then we would ever have as a navigator would be boon to us." He said yet he knew that he could guide him straight towards an ambush or that of a strong fortified location.
"That would be true knowing that we opened up the apprentice program those two were swarmed." She said before sighing. "How about the damned?" She asked adopting the name as she crossed out the two for now. "Lets not call them that for now lets talk for them but, lets call them beastlings." He said knowing that they had animalistic attributes but, he knew that the name would be better with their input at that. "Yeah lets go with that." She said changing the name. As the two would go back and forth as they iron out this new paramilitary branch dedicated to finding more about this new land. One that adopted the name of Pintados since they found that giving them tattoos would be the best and most beneficial form of identification of their deeds and as it was a nod to the ancient and near history of tattoos for their nation.
"Its a hard job but, the prospects are good." He said knowing that they made an organization that would become their eyes and ears but, such is still limited and those that could apply were small in number and possibly small. "A new organization which will cooperate with both the military and the public interest one of which is in the middle. " He spoke out making Maria nod as she was crossing her arms and was happy with the creation of this emergency organization. One that will be checking out the various locations that could be of interest to both the military and the civilian. "Paramilitary at worse and explorers at best." He said letting her know that this organization would allow them to have some leeway for the future.
"That should be enough but, for the one that would be perfect for it would be the fisherman as he does have an otherworldly pet." He told her knowing that he was perfect as the leader for this organization. "Thinking about it the beastlings could be perfect for this I mean they have been here longer then us and they would have a means of work then to just be refugees." He recommended making Maria look at him. "Might work but, their input is needed." She told him in return. "Its true that it is clear that it could work but, I do need you to understand that we cannot force them." She explained making Carl nod as he soon enough sighed in return. "What I want to understand is if we are going to accept them or are we going to let them in." He answered back.
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
"We have to talk with them first as the better we know about the damned the better would be able to manage them." She replied making Carl nod. "For now the ones that we can draw for this organization will likely be the injured and some of the others for the refugees a small pool but, it could work." She replied as when added to that of the beastlings then it would give them plenty of people to work with them.
"Lets go and talk with them as we are still seeing just how the other gawigawen will before we can agree with Tuskus proposal see if he was telling the truth or not but, I do think that to prepare for a quick departure if a interception fleet does come." She said knowing that they aren't in their best shape since they have wounded. "Our defences are in shape but, I doubt that we can waste our limited gas keeping the engines heated." He said but, he did wanted to talk with the damned first to see if they could rely on them for the time being. "All the while the captured gawigawen could be good enough for ransom or a bargaining chip in the future." He said as the two had their agreement and soon enough started to wrap things up as they confront the refugees.
Seeing them eating at the cafeteria and were quite glad about how they eager about all of this and more. With the kids quite happy and playing peekaboo under the tables and some of the adults were looking at them quite eager and making sure that all of them were safe one of which Carl would soon enough come to them as they remembered the commando that helped freed them. "Thank you for your help." One of the humanoids said one being a tall fair skinned female. Her clothing being that of a dirty faded red robe one that had resulted from being confined to the fleshly prison he saw before hand.
All the while she was towering against him but, she inspired no fear rather had an welcoming aura as the kids were circling her before he had come. As she looked at them her yellow eyes humanlike except for the slit that was in the middle. "You had helped a damned race, a godless race you are clearly a outsider." She spoke out letting him know that she knew about them being foreigners. "Its better that we speak there." Said that of Maria knowing that it might be better to talk in a more secure location as they went on towards the break room where they would be talking all the while the cooks were busy keeping the beastkin fed while they were able to talk to her. While they had called one of the free staff to go be the recorder for the time being.
"Thank you champion for your bravery it will be a good template for the children's path for the warrior." She spoke out letting them know that this was a warrior's test rather than unwilling. "Ohh my I am sorry for that but, let me introduce myself." She said before she bowed towards them. "I am what you could known as a recorder like him." She said pointing at the man typing away. "These children are part of my race called the anito." She said out as she smiled and looked at them.
"Like you our ancestors had come from a broken world." She said making the three look on quite shocked at the revelation. "Many of such races came from such worlds." She spoke out as she smiled knowing that they shown that she was right. "Now for why we are called the damned then I would say that we were abandoned or our gods had died out." She spoke out as she motioned that from the two it was not clear. "I see." Maria spoke out knowing that there was truth to all of this since they didn't mention the word damned towards her. "You will get your own. A caretaker of utter brilliance and a granter of wills and wishes." She spoke out letting the two look at one another.
"How do you know?" Asked Carl as he looked at her. "You won't its as natural as breathing but, once you lose them it will make all of the difference." She answered knowing that she had come to know this curse quite well. "Hopeless as you might feel now and an emptiness all too clear." She muttered as she looked on sorrowful at her new fact of life. "You on the other hand do feel one of its gifts one do you not as it is quite a noticeable one." She spoke out hinting that for a race so new to this that they were able to bridge the language gap in return. "Our race had learn plenty of languages but, the nuances are still there but, you understand the difference with the homonym within my words." She spoke out letting them know that they had a gift not just of tongues but, of meaning.
"A bridge of meanings and understandings.. A generous gift your god has given and in time does it grow to join become an elder or gather others under it." She said letting them know that their encounter was not one that was trouble but, rather an introduction. "This doesn't make sense you mean to tell us that we a world that had gods that either didn't care or are passive at best and now we have gods that actively care?" Asked Carl as he chuckled at the thought of it all. "You think that we believe any of that?" He asked before he could see a ball of light emerge from the her hands making them all look at it before looking away afterwards not knowing how she could make such a thing. "We call it divinations but, god's force is presence to all but, as you can see ours had shrunk down to what it should be in the past revealing that we are damned... We do not lose everything that the gods provide us but, its clear that we grow weak without their embrace and will.
"We are damned because our gods grow weaker or left us." She spoke out letting them know that this was not permanent at all. "Such prey is enticing to the others of course but, in return we had come to improvised and adapt. To create a culture that will allow us to improve and one that we found was to keep ourselves hidden and those still young the ability to travel the worlds and hone their skills for the eventual return of our gods or the embrace of a new one.
" She said before Carl looked at her. "Isn't working well if we found you within the Gawigawen's fleshy ships." He said making her nod. "It is not my business to take care of the young just to record and see." She spoke out letting them know about their odd way of caregiving. "These children know of why they do this and such we have the consent of their parents and their own." She added in return. "Sacrifices to discover the secrets of this world and such exposure gives them an inkling to the ways of this unforgiving world." She added in return as she looked at them and sighed her face quite easy to read as she didn't care to hide it.
"We do this because we wanted to and that we are no longer needed or wanted back home." She said knowing that everything had not worked out for quite some time and this fleet was their salvation. "This realm is quite brutal.. Fauna of various ability and strength and flora who does not wait for chance to feed." She said knowing that they had lost plenty because of this. "Its clear that we had come to suffer much and we sadly lost our way finders and such we have lost our key back home. She said letting them know that they were effectively nomads and stateless in a land that preys and tries its best to make them in chains.
"I Lily and the others had talked and we would like to offer our bodies in exchange for the children's safety and health." She said offering themselves all for them making Carl look at her. "Good because that is one of the things we wanted to talk to you about." He said in return as opened up a tablet as he shown her the presentation the two had made before hand as he shown her that they wanted her people to join them under the organization called the pintados which would not just help them but, also themselves in return. Letting the two show her about the rates and commissions that they could which she listened in. Quite impressed and quite happy knowing that it was a way for them to be safe while also teaching their younglings about the skills that they would need to learn to aid them in future travels.
"Plus I am not going to lie Lily the fact that we pitched this to you is because we would have likely dropped you the first time we get access to land." She said out knowing that they were unproductive mouths at the time being and she knew too well that they can't afford to feed them all well due to their numbers coupled with the problems they already have at the moment. One that they would need to leave behind if need be. "That would be favourable for us." She said smiling as she knew that this was already generous enough especially if the other elder races found them that they would likely be turned to slaves or sacrifices for their ever eager gods.
All in all this made the two glad to know that they would have quite the sizeable organization that would help them with their key ideas in return. "With that we would want to know about this organization." She said as was shown about the various things that they would be responsible for. From surveying land to the procurement of resources of course with various degrees of rewards along with special perks like that of special rights to the claim of land alongside with irregular participation in things like warfare from harassing, espionage, along with recon capabilities.
"Something that your trainees would find quite rewarding as a means of gathering experience along with their deeds being recorded as well." She said knowing that they would need to have the tattoo as a way of identification and a way to record their deeds in return. "I see we would be happy to join such a organization." She said as she bowed as a way for her to show them that she was happy to accept such rules and procedures as well to make sure that the organization works as intended.
"That would be good as for quarters you will be allocated a place within the quarters but, it will take some time as such you will be sleeping here in the canteen until we allocated enough room for your people." He continued on as he was just glad to know that they were shaping up to fix all of this from now on.
"That would be acceptable." She replied as she was happy to know that they could operate semi independent. "Of course sadly we will not supply you with our weapons since we need to train you and that we do not have enough but, of course you can petition and ask us for such training." He muttered knowing too well that they would need to prove that they could be trusted and that they could handle such weapons without accidence from now on.
"Acceptable but, I would like to ask your smiths for help from time to time to create weapons and equipment that we can use for such forays." She asked making the commander look at her and for a minute think about it before accepting it. "If you will procure or pay for the materials that will be used of course along with helping us of course we will set up simple jobs for the time being like identification of ores and what they can be used for." He continued on as this was one that she accepted quite easily knowing that they could do that especially when they were going out in the field.
"Of course anyone can make a request and credits will be given to the organization but, know that we need to make sure that things are set up like training your people to use the ship's systems where we will be sending in the requests for now." She said in return as from the looks of it they knew that she was up and eager for all of this knowing that this would allow her to help train the younglings while also have them earn their place within the fleet from such a system. "Of course for the tattoos if you have cultural reasons as to why along with personal reasons we can revise that part." She said out in return.
"That will be ok we have no qualms with such a thing." She said as she looked at her with a happy grin. "We will be happy to have such a thing as it will allow us to carry our own stories with us along with the fact that it will make our jobs easily as well." She told of her as she was up and eager for such a system. "I think that this is all ok and preferable. More then enough for my people and I am glad accept such reasonable terms." She continued as it was clear that she was getting something that was completely reasonable and better then they could have hope for. "Of course its still a work in progress but, I am eager to help create such an organization since I do have some ideas." She muttered as they ironed out the organization as they figure out what they could do in the event of a rogue agent along with punishment and merits that it could provide to its members and those that aren't.
As the fleet lived on as while they took quite the damage the survivors continued on as they continued to sail trying to get things in order as the admiral was still recovering. Its people adapting as through the captured and the refugees they would figure out more of this vast new world.