Meeting Ms. Lorentino

It had been a long time since I'd seen a Hanlon factory. To put it bluntly I have no idea how Hanlon supplied anyone with weapons when I lived in the Guard, only that he did, the shipments just magically arrived without having ever been constructed or carried there it seemed. Apparently in the sixty years since I'd been in rotation that had changed.  The building the airship approached was massive, with multiple other airships on location and I could see workers scurrying about putting things on more of those carriages I'd seen in Ronerawth (those these clearly burned fuel as I could see the smoke rising off of them). The airship was directed in by lights to one of the landing pads and with a thump we were on the ground. Ordinarily this would be the point I would stop and ask a lot of questions, but my rescuers were very abrupt men and hauled me off the landing zone to the facility proper brushing past workers as we went.

The factory was awash in noises and industry, weapons were being constructed in huge assembly lines, checked at other locations, and packed for shipping elsewhere. I had never seen so many people in identical jump suits before. I was taken a back at the whole thing. I mean I assumed industry was a thing now from all the things I could see from the tower, but it was something else entirely to see it happening. Especially at a Hanlon facility which I didn't even think existed anymore. We moved away from the factory wing and came to administration. I could see names on doors that were all shut eventually arriving at the end of the hallway which had a young woman sitting at a desk wearing glasses moving her hands around on some machine that made clicking noises. Behind her was a door labeled Lorentino, and I could hear shouting coming from within.

"You tell that small dicked General if he wants his gods damned weapons on time he'll be prompt in paying the bill, otherwise I'll sell them to his enemy and he can deal with the finest weapons ever KILLING THE SHIT OUT OF HIS MEN!" The shouty voice finished and a man in a military uniform came scurrying out clearly frightened of the person who just ripped him a new one. Lorentino was short, and not just to me, she was at best around five feet tall, and pitch black, as in her skin tone matched the color description. I could also see her face appeared scarred from either an explosion or someone trying to carve it off. Her clothing was very business like three piece suit with a tie, if not for her breasts at a distance I could almost confuse her for a man because of the short hair.

"You may see Ms Lorentino now."  The secretary had finished whatever she was doing and briefly looked up at my squad of mercenaries. Lorentino looked as well first with anger and then a softening expression.

"Is that him?" I realized at this point I couldn't recall ever having something in my image, like no paintings or anything. I resolved I wouldn't do that again and have since sat for four paintings and several "photographs" a new technology that blinds the shit out of you and then captures your image.

"It is indeed, payment?" Chauncey was holding my shackles like he was going to keep me should Lorentino not pay. I could tell from her face this was an unwise decision. Lorentino waved to the secretary and she pulled out a case and handed it over to Chauncey. He released my shackles and went to leave.

"Not going to count it?" I didn't know what they were using for payment now, back in my day money was handled in bags not cases.

"Shouldn't have to." And with that Chauncey and his men left. And I was alone with Lorentino.

"Come inside Trezlan we have much to discuss." I almost felt like I was a fly jumping into a spiders web, but that was just paranoia, turns out Lorentino wasn't at all a bad person, quite pleasant actually, which was weird for someone who works for Hanlon, though to be fair I've only met a few of those ever and most of them I think we're not even real.