This logfile is imported from aitelogs2 and may contain errors or wrong timestamps.
#RedrockAgency – November 12, 2016
The Redrock headquarters sits on the outskirts of Freedom Falls, a recently constructed building two stories tall, surrounded by a chainlink fence that wraps around the parking lot as well. A large portion of the building is taken up by a small shuttle hangar. There is only one door aside from the hangar, and it faces the parking lot. The surrounding area consists mostly of warehouses, many of which stand empty, and even empty lots
of pavement and a gravel pile or two. The winter weather has been chilling all day, and fine snow is currently swirling in the wind in an almost ghostlike manner. The parking lot, which was recently shoveled is already filling in with snow again.
They say dress for the job you want, but she'd probably look like a major tryhard if she showed up in her hardsuit already. Besides, it wasn't a warzone. So, wearing her old Alliance Naval Cadets jacket (with all the insignia carefully torn off, so at least she wasn't advertising the fact she learned pistol shooting from a kids' organization), a plain black shirt, gray generic fatigues favored by bodyguards
failing to be discreet everywhere, and boots Germany's SWAT favored (okay, so she can afford to look like a tryhard every once in a while), she crunches snow up as she approaches the compound, a dufflebag in one hand and the other remembering that putting your hands in pockets was frowned on by gun-toters everywhere.
The haptic interface of the door to the base is orange, and on getting closer Luna would be able to see that the display says to press to request entry. There is a single car in the lot, gray, with the Redrock logo emblazoned on the side in red - a circle with a sharp cliff rising up.
She's vaguely reminded of a science institute somewhere back on Earth. In any case, she taps at the button, setting her dufflebag down and standing ramrod straight, like it's inspection day again.
The door's interface spins for a couple of seconds before shifting color to green. With a hiss the door slides open, revealing a lobby with several chairs, a few potted plants, and a reception desk. There is a door marked "WC" and a corridor leading further into the building. Behind the desk a green holographic figure materializes - a rugged-looking human man with a short beard and a mustache. He's clad in the plate armor of a
medieval knight, currently lined with furs and complimented by a thick fur coat, to fit the season. He bows in greeting, a one hand at rest on the hilt of his holographic sword. "Ah, greetings! You must be Ser Masako! By all means, come in and escape the winter's chill outside. I am Fergus, virtual intelligence of this humble bastion." The VI speaks with an exaggerated tone and a British accent.
Strange to see green in the middle of snow. Even if it was the future and they were potted plants genetically modified to survive office air, but still. Picking up her dufflebag, she shuffles on in. "That's correct," she says, uncertain of being called 'ser'. That implied she was wise and old enough to not be a fuck up. She got the 'old' part down, by Asian standards. "Thanks." Setting the dufflebag next to a
Fergus gestures down the corridor leading further into the base. "Lady Vasquez is expecting you in her office. The second door on the left is the one you seek. Good luck in your interview, ser."
"Thank you, Knight Fergus." ...feeling momentarily awkward for calling it a knight, she picks up her dufflebag (again) and set off, following the directions and knocking twice firmly on the door. Probably unnecessarily, but.
Vasquez is looking towards the doorway as the door slides open. She's seated behind a desk in the medium-sized office. To the right are a couple of lockers and to the left a bookshelf. On the desk itself is a computer terminal, a stack of papers and a datapad, as well as a half-empty cup of coffee. Behind the desk is a window looking out at the dreary, snow-covered lot outside. Mounted on the wall above the shelf is a
large machinegun, looking to be a heavily modified Typhoon LMG, battered and worn but imposing nonetheless. The woman herself looks to be in her early thirties, with olive skin and black hair that is tied back in a ponytail. A large, ugly scar covers the left side of her face, running all the way from her lips to her ear, which is missing a chunk. She's wearing a crisp gray uniform with the Redrock logo on it,
similar in design to an Alliance navy uniform. She has a stern look on her face and she studies Luna appraisingly for a moment before speaking. "Ms. Masako, I take it? I'm Chief Vasquez." She gestures at the chair in front of the desk. "Have a seat."
Luna glances around - professionally, of course, almost the kind of room clearing veterans did when they entered anywhere that had a door leading out. Her eyes do linger on the Typhoon, and don't on the scars. Resisting the urge to salute, she nods and settles onto the chair, stiff, at attention, bag settled neatly next to her.
Vasquez nods, pleased to see a prospect making a professional first impression for once. She glances briefly at her terminal and then back to Luna. "Alright, let's not waste any time. Why don't you tell me a little about yourself." she says as she leans back in her chair, studying the woman.
Down to brass tacks (and maybe knuckles). She nods, still straight in her chair, and speaks in even, measured tones. She's practiced. "I have been a Contractor for five years, first serving with Spartan Security in Los Angeles, providing security to compounds that warranted heavier guns than regular security guards, but not requiring an actual private military. I cut my teeth on protecting against gang and
cartel raids. From there, I successfully translated it into other operations - such as Garvug and Taetrus, most recently. Among other well-known contractor companies, I have been with Corvid GmbH, Ultor-Sakura, and Chiu-Wai.""
Vasquez listens in silence, nodding faintly a few times, and entering something into her terminal. "Your listed residence has me curious... what brings you all the way out here to Aite? More importantly, why are you interested in working for Redrock? It sounds like your past experience is primarily with bigger companies." Her gaze leaves the screen, going back to Luna.
"They are PO Boxes at this point - I do too much travelling for my contracts to really stay, and a majority of my contracts have jump-off points from the Citadel and Earth." A slight pause. "After serving through three major operations with a coalition of major PMCs, and Sonax beginning to downsize its PMC coalition, I believe it was - is - time for something smaller in scale, but no less important. I got my
start in small PMCs - Spartan Security hasn't changed much since I parted ways with them - and I served with a variety of smaller PMCs between and prior to these operations."
Vasquez raises an eyebrow. "You must jump around a lot, huh? That's a lot of companies. Are you concerned about staying with the same people for too long? We do accept the freelance sort. Hell, many of us started out that way. But I should say our focus has been shifting towards keeping agents for the long term. Building a team that can trust each other. How do you see yourself fitting into Redrock?"
Luna shakes her head. "I still return to serve Spartan Security and SF-SJ Security Solutions, my first two companies." A pause that's not quite as short as the first one. "I've done a bit of everything. Admittedly, that does not mean I'm good at everything, but, I've served with enough inter-agency operations and different PMCs to be familiar with cooperation and integration, especially with operations as
big as Garvug, where it seemed like we were in a different company each day. I've seen my fair share of firefights, so you can count on an extra gun. I know how to drive a Mako," the latter bit in a tone that means 'mostly'.
Vasquez is starting to look wary, the seemingly constant hopping around to different locations and companies doing little reassure her concerns. "I'm afraid Redrock frowns on taking on outside jobs while employed by the agency. We also require employees to be available whenever needed for a mission. It sounds like this may be a problem. If you're unable to fullfill these requirements we could discuss the possibility of a
freelance arrangment, since we do sometimes find ourselves in need of some extra personnel, and your supposed experience is undeniably impressive, but this would of course not come with any of the benefits of proper employment at Redrock - no medical coverage, no legal assistance, no access to Redrock equipment or our facility. But it would allow you to operate independently. It's your choice. Provided, of course,
"That's no issue." If she's fazed by her wariness, it doesn't show. "I am used to freelancer contracts, and am familiar with the stipulations." A nod that's more slight than the previous pauses.
Vasquez nods, making another note on her terminal before looking back at Luna. "Alright. Tell me, in your own words, what you primarily feel it is that you offer to Redrock."
"Experience." Even if she's doubted on that, she's certain of herself, at least. She has the contact info and enough pockmarks on her hardsuit to prove it, but bragging about war wounds meant nothing in this case. "Five years straight on a variety of ops, pulling security, pulling out assets, or being another gun. I've served under a good deal of commanders and I know how to get their orders done."
Vasquez looks a little skeptical. Five years is only so long, especially when she has people with decades of experience. And she finds herself unable to shake a certain other concern. Ragardless, she speaks again: "And your combat speciality?"
Vasquez nods again. "I could ask you a few more questions, but honestly, since you're applying as a freelancer I think I have what I need. We have your information, and we'll keep you in mind should the need arise for an extra pair of boots. I will contact you if we have any further questions, other than that... we'll let you know if we need you. Any questions, Masako?"
Luna is as stoic as ever. "No, ma'am. Thank you for your time." She doesn't stand until Vasquez does.