SRR Ra`KalenChapter One Hundred-Forty-Seven:
tr`Nerik on the Ts`Irk
[SNR-Ts`Irk: Raith's quarters]

The room is almost pitch black - solely light by a small blue desk light. The Enarrain sits coolly at his small desk, two empty glasses and a shinny bottle before him. The door chimes and, after the lock is deactivated, Nerik enters the room. The Arrain's eyes are forced to adjust to the lack of light but, in interest of formality, he salutes the officer he knows is some where before him. Raith returns the gesture with a simple nod and gestures to a seat in front of the small table.

"Care for a glass?" Raith asks.

"Ie, hann`yu rekkhai," Nerik is a bit taken aback - this is the first time he has ever seen Raith act in a formal 'Rihannsu' manner.

Raith pours the Arrain a glass of light orange liquid -then pours himself one as well.

"Citric?" Something isn't right here - Citric beverages are the most rare and expensive of all Rihannsu refreshments and are solely used in very important occasions... Nerik takes a drink.

When he sees the Political officer lower the glass, Raith takes a drink from his own. "Au had asked to see me Arrain?" Raith says lowering his glass.

"Ie rekkhai... may I speak freely?" Raith nods his consent and Nerik continues, "This mission we are striding into is suicide. I am in strong doubt that we can succeed with so few troops."

Raith takes a moment to reply - savoring the taste of the drink for as long as possible. "I know..." Raith says with a frown. "The entire republic is spreading too thin - we almost lost Hama to the Imperials two days ago - We need to do this mission to gain support. With out a major resupply of larger ships and non Revellion soldiers, we are a dead movement."

Picks up his glass and saviors the drinks sweet taste. "Is there anything else we can do?"

"I don't have the authority to do as I see fit... perhaps in the coming months but not now." Raith finishes his drink." I am only a wing commander - there is little I can do directly for the movement."

Nerik nods and finishing his drink. With nothing left to do he stands, salutes. and exits the room.

[SNR Ts'Irk: Corridor]

He sighs leaving the domain of his Enarrain. He takes in the surrounding corridors as dull and bland, not motioning or uttering any pleasantries to passing officers. Although, on such a ship, it wasn't customary, many took it on in order to soothe their own coarse natures of being part of a 'rebellious' sect, severing their ties with the official government and probably never setting foot upon ch'Rihan unless in the = heat of battle.

And all these thoughts fell onto tr`Nerik as he headed towards the dinglh (mess hall).

The republic *is* thin but what support could Raith hope to muster, he wondered to himself, rounding a corner to an adjacent corridor. He knew that Raith was changed, a lot, although he was still surprised once in a while, especially with the formalities just standing in his quarters.

tr`Nerik was glad he was about a warbird again. Although he got accustomed to smaller interiors and areas due to incarceration, he welcomed the thought of being aboard another grand ship with any class of its kind. D'Deridex, D'Ra'Kholh, d'Dhael, he couldn't remember which one was his favorite but he did remember D'Ra'Kholh, almost all too well, and smiled noticing structural features similar to it.

After what seemed to be endless walking, he entered the dinglh. It was cramped, surprisingly since duty and ego captured many into isolating service lives but the mess gave a sense of rogue, refreshing.

He noticed Meira t'Kethry and gradually made way to her.

"Jolan tru proud Kethry clan."

She shot a look up, as if being caught off guard, but let her facial features descend. "Oh, ie, jolan tru tr'Nerik." She accented on his name as if he were the only one of his kind.

"You are... relaxing or keeping busy?" He surveyed the occupants around her at the bar.

"Neither of which. I am contemplating. I have to say you were quite distant at the meeting," she rambled delicately, changing the subject for her own sake.

"What? oh... well it's a story behind itself. Care to hear?"

"Perhaps. I am not going back to shift for a while."

"Well then," he said, sitting down letting the thoughts of Raith briefly escape his mind to recollect older thoughts but found himself back at Raith, wondering just how he stood for him... Curiosity rang true now... "It begins with... wraith."

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