On the Wings of the Heron

Location: Intaki System
Sovereignty: Caldari State
Region: Placid

"HKS Discovery, welcome to Intaki V, you are cleared to Laissonne Space Port, enjoy your stay!", a voice with an obvious Gallentean accent spoke, the traffic controller clearing the small Heron Frigate to it's destination. The vessel bearing the logo of the Ishukone Corporation glided down into the lower atmosphere and across the rain forest covered mountains, it's engines slowly reducing power. Turning on her on board cameras Keirra smiled at the sight of the landscape. Lush forests, waterfalls, lakes, small quiet settlements and rich wildlife, her sensors had gone wild with the life sign readings.

Twisting in her bio-gel filled pod she focused her attention on a thundering waterfall to her port side, rainbows forming from the droplets of water and the sun's warm rays. The grey metallic armour plates of the Heron reflected the sunlight as well and any observer on the ground would see a glistening shape move across the skies. Ahead the first signs of civilization became obvious. Air-cars, shuttles, atmospheric transports flying over the resort of Laissonne, darting back and forth. Slowing down the Heron slowly used it's thrusters to flip backwards, it's main engines now pointing down. It's landing gear lowered and soon the small ship touched down on it's assigned landing pad.

Air was now pumped into the Capsule, the gel slowly emptied, Keirra's lungs taking a small time to adjust to breathing pure air. Stepping out of her pod the young woman unzipped the flight suit, letting it drop on both sides. Wearing only a sleeveless t-shirt she climbed down the ladder taking her to the Heron's access ramp and she stepped off, walking out of the vessel. A wave of warm humid air enveloped her once she stepped into the light of the Intaki sun. Stretching she looked at the ground crews, most of them Intaki, a single Gallente who had remained behind with a Caldari supervisor. They had connected fuel lines, Capacitor Recharge Units and secured the ship with docking clamps onto the pad.

A young woman approached, looking at Keirra up and down, still half dressed in her flight suit, sleeveless t-shirt, dog tags hanging at her neck, Tritanium arms, Ishukone made blaster dangling in it's thigh holster. This new face starting at the Heron's pilot, obviously Gallentean, smirked but quickly changed to a smile "Miss Lukkanen, I am Claudette Devereaux, from the travel agent... I did not not expect you to come with your own ship, we did send a shuttle....".

With a wave of her metallic hand the Caldari woman responded "I thank you for that but I am far more comfortable flying my own ship. I'm sure your shuttle will be back soon. Do you have a vehicle ready here or shall I rent one and report this lack of service to Ishukone Travel & Leisure?".

The Gallentean went pale. She had organized the whole vacation for the newly arrived Caldari woman and realized that a complaint to her manager could cost her the job."We prepared a Rondelle air-car for you madame......", it was all she could say.

Extending her hand toward the Gallentean, Keirra smiled "Keys please, also i'd like the key to my hotel room please. You can stay here and see that my belongings are unloaded and sent to the Clairmont, oui?". The last word was a subtle mocking Gallente word, which made the young travel agent employee sigh, obviously saddened by the treatment she was given. With a final note Keirra smiled once again "I'm sorry if your impression of me may be bad... I am truly sorry. Tell you what, call in your office and tell them I require your presence all day long. We'll hop on by the pool at the Clairmont, treats are on me Claudette".

Confused, the other woman smiled and nodded "Very well madame". She looked with wide eyes to this odd Civire woman as she stepped into the air-car and drove off, with complete disregard for traffic safeties. The metallic red car soon vanished from sight, mixing with the hundreds of others, on the Sky Way.  Turning around she looked at the Heron, curiosity getting the best of her. A small hand knocked on the Caldari ship's armour plating....., force once she was impressed.

Location: Intaki V, Laissonne Resort, Roden-Clairmont Hotel.

The metallic-red air-car slowly pulled on by the main entrance of the hotel, a valet quickly darting to the vehicle, opening the door for it's drive, watching the woman a little puzzled as she slipped a credit chip into his hand and winked. He could see the Neural Link implant jacks along the back of her neck... she was a capsuleer.

Sliding past the door-man and into the hotel's lobby Keirra stretched her arms, finally peace and quiet displaying on her face. Moving toward the front desk, her eyes darted all around, taking in the scenes. Besides the native Intaki, many of them employees she saw the odd Gallentean and along with them Caldari on vacation. A decent looking young Intaki employee approached her, moving to the registry terminal, "Welcome to the Roden-Clairmont madame, how can I help you?", he inquired quietly.

Gathering herself the Civire, nodded once "I have reservations made on the name Lukkanen, Keirra Lukkanen, paid in advance via ISK transfer".

The clerk began searching his database, and a mere few moments later responded with a smile "Ah yes, Miss Keirra Lukkanen, you have one of our Crystal suites reserved.". Tapping a few controls on his terminal he continued, "Your access card has been cleared to the suite, do you have any luggage with you or will it arrive later?".

Confirming his words, Keirra nodded, "My luggage will arrive shortly from the space port. If a miss Claudette Devereaux asks, please direct her to my room, she is my friend". Responding to the smile Keirra waited for the man to continue, if he should do so.

"Welcome Miss Lukkanen and enjoy your stay. Might I recommend our Mirage pool? And perhaps tonight the cabaret, they're highly popular. Also if you're not into the whole Cabaret thing there's always the pool party...", he spoke but with a quick 'thank you', Keirra stepped away from the desk, heading toward the glass elevators.

Location: Crystal Suite,Roden-Clairmont Hotel, Intaki V, Laissonne Resort.

Upon reaching the location of her suite, Keirra stepped off, stepping past a  couple of Gallentean maids who looked at her as if they'd never seen cybernetic arms before. Sliding the card into the reader the suite's doors opened slowly and she stepped inside. Trying to gather herself as she looked upon the luxury of the suite she sat down, sinking in an armchair. Around her crystal furniture, lighting, decorations sculpted from the same material and a lovely overview of the region with a clear sight to the pool and beach below... Never had she seen such things in her life, nothing in the Caldari State was like it.

Moving out toward the balcony she leaned against the railing, the warm Intaki blowing through her now loose hair. Content filled her for once as she was away from order, discipline and she could be herself. Sliding out of her flight suit, tossing the combat boots away carelessly she went further to explore the suite. The bedroom was equally decorated to the main living room with a side door leading to the bath area.

Happy to be out of the spartan spaces of a Caldari she walked in the bathroom and her jaw dropped. It included a small hydro-massage pool, a complete set of bathroom utilities one could wish for. Pushing the control button for the hydro-massage pool she watched the bubbling water fill it and with a smile she allowed her remaining clothes to slide off. With that she stepped into the bubbling water, relaxing as she sank in.

Clearing her mind, Keirra closed her eyes, her mind flying away to recent events, to people whom she knew at the present or had known, images filled her mind, happy ones. Her grandparents' home on Malkalen V, her deceased parents and her first space trip, Heiran and all the other Minmatar, people she had shared everything with, now taken from her by the Amarrians. She had loved Heiran and the others but the burly Brutor more than most and with his death she had failed to express her feelings restrained under her cold and calculating Caldari demeanor. Finally she burst into tears, letting emotions run rampant.....