Cooperation Perks

Posted on Sun Aug 3rd, 2025 @ 12:28pm by Commander Alex Flynn & Ramielos Volsunga
Edited on on Mon Aug 4th, 2025 @ 12:49pm

834 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: Shoreleave [3-4]
Location: Volsunga's Quarters, Lower Sphere
Timeline: Morning - MD7

Ramielos approached his door when he heard it chime, and he looked down instinctively when it opened. It was the woman Flynn, apparently the only actual human he'd spoken to since he came to this strange place.

"Yes?" He asked her.

"Hi." Alex said, hoping her feigned enthusiasm would prove infectious. "Sorry to bother you, but I thought I'd see what you were up to. Can I come in?" She had some kind of handled case in her left hand, looking like it contained something long.

"You people always ask that like I'm not your prisoner." Volsunga noted.

"Yeah, we do, don't we?" Alex agreed. "Our society is based on consent and cooperation. Asking permission is part of that."

"You can come in." Volsunga said, moving away from the door.

Alex entered, and looked around. It had changed since last time. "Interesting decor. Do you mind if I ask what it's based on?"

"This is a recreation of my quarters on the battle barge. It has everything I need, and nothing I don't." Volsunga explained. There was a bed, a bench, a chair, and a little square window above the bed, about 20cm by 20cm. There was a faux-thatched aesthetic, like a Viking longhouse. A small shrine with a number of mostly-melted wax candles had its own shelf on one wall.

Alex realised her initial impressions were right, he had made it smaller. "This is more comfortable for you?" She asked.

"Comfort is not a consideration. It is all I need." Volsunga said.

"Fair enough." Alex said, looking at the seams of the walls. "It reminds me of Klingon quarters. Except they like the lights lower, and don't use mattresses."

"Long-term exposure to unsupported rest can result in reduced rest quality and injuries." Volsunga noted, as though justifying his own mattress.

"Do you know about the Klingons?" Alex asked, wondering how much reading he'd done since arriving.

"Xenos. Humanoid. Highly aggressive warrior culture, redundant organs and forehead plating are characteristic. Homo Kronos Exitiosus. Early skirmishes with humanity after first contact, several outright wars culminating in 23rd century. Now an ally, pacified and emasculated by Federation soft power because they know they can't win any future conflicts."

"Why do you suppose that is?" Alex asked.

"Your Federation grows egregiously. It shouldn't work, but it does. You somehow manage to diffuse all balkanisation and ethnic tension." Volsunga observed.

"I'm not an expert, but I think that has to do with the fact that nobody gets preventably sick, starves, or is left homeless. It's a surprisingly motivating factor in cooperation." Alex explained.

"Matter replication and transportation. The Imperium has never mastered such technology. Seems like heresy." Volsunga retorted.

"And does that bother you, our flagrant heresies, numerous though they are?" Alex asked.

"I suppose not. You are not an enemy of the Imperium. Things are sideways here. Normal rules don't apply." Volsunga explained.

"You said to us once, 'An open mind is like a fortress with its gates unbarred and unguarded,' do you still believe that?" Alex asked the supersoldier.

"In the context of being where I was, in the context of being within the Imperium, faced against the hordes of Xenos and the tide of Chaos, it is true. Here, there may be... more to it." Volsunga conceded, obviously struggling with any sort of about face.

"So you appreciate that our way, at least in the context of our universe, has some merit?" Alex pressed the matter.

"So it would seem." Volsunga hesitantly agreed.

"I was hoping you'd say that." Alex said, moving to the small table he had, though it still went almost to her armpits. She rested the case she carried on it.

"You asked me about this before, and you've behaved well, so I think the time is right." She flicked open the restraints on the case, revealing its contents. His damaged boltgun, and a suite of tools to repair it with.

Volsunga looked at it sternly, making no expression one way or another.

"But just a reminder, not that we don't trust you, but this is something you've earned. You can also unearn it very easily. Just keep up the peaceful cooperation, and we won't have any problems. But anything to the contrary, and we might. Got it?" Alex asked, realising in that moment how easily he could shatter her to pieces.

"I understand. Thank.. thank you." Volsunga said, his focus locked on the weapon. "If you need anything from me, you may ask." He said.

"Well, I don't right now. But can I keep hold of that offer for later?" She asked.

"You may." He nodded, examining the tools.

"Great. I'll leave you to it. Keep up the good work."

"Yes." Volsunga said simply, waiting until she was gone. "Computer, add a workbench." He told the machine that heard all, and when it appeared he realised he may need some more space. "Increase room width by 30%" He said, and smiled at the change to finally appease the machine spirit within.

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