"We're both professionals."

"Well. You're certainly a professional. Whether or not that's reassuring for us working together is another question entirely."

"And...you're better how exactly? Anyway. I'm fairly certain we can work together without any issue. A little sniping is perfectly normal between us, don't worry. Where would you like to start?"

"… Might be useful to know more about your respective organizations, or – ties, affiliations, whatever they are."

"ViaTech Industries is one of, if not the largest corporation on the planet. Any company as large as us has problems. But we aren't evil. We have many different projects ongoing. Agriculture, aerospace design, pharmacology, robotics including medical applications, several computer related projects. We have a lot of different things under our umbrella. Our main goal is to improve life for everyone on the planet. And that includes reducing wars where we can. Unfortunately, not very many of the warlords are willing to listen to reason, and governments seem to think that listening to a corporation is in some way betraying their democratic mandate."

Jay doesn't roll her eyes, and tries to figure out what to say here. "I can't say anything more than what I already have," she says eventually.

"I'm sure you can be a bit more forthcoming than that, Lady Jennifer," Tau says, hoping to get something a bit more useful that what little she does know about Lady Jennifer's mysterious organisation.

"Not if we all want to keep our heads on our shoulders and our blood in our bodies," Jay says firmly. "Who I work for is so far beyond classified that even telling you that it's classified is borderline for misconduct."

Blink. "Your organization sounds far meaner – haven't they ever heard of freedom of speech and transparency protocols?"

"They are mean."

"I wasn't going to deny that. But we are effective."

She pauses, and smiles. It is not an entirely pleasant smile. "The people we deal with aren't very nice either. Sometimes fire is the only way to beat fire. Can you imagine what the response would be if people did know what we're doing?"

She shakes her head. "It doesn't mean we like it. Just that that's the way we have to operate."

"… Wouldn't that only work assuming people did know that? And it also sounds like a great way for everyone to go up in flames."

"People don't want to know about the horrible things that have to be done to keep them safe. They like to be able to live in a bubble that their pacifist ideology is being adhered to where possible." She shakes her head. "And yeah, maybe everything will go up in flames. But we'll take down as many of the bastards as possible."

"That sounds like you could ultimately do better by not and just developing ways to get away from them, but I guess that's not particularly… feasible." He sighs. "This seems like a mess and really I'm too young to have much experience with politics."

"Efficacy's important, though. Waiting people out doesn't always work."

"You should never try to wait out, say, a human trafficker." Tau's voice is carefully blank. "These people don't want to change. Your ideal is wonderful, Itaruko. But I don't think our world's ready for it."

"… Are human traffickers particularly common, here?" asks Theira, a bit flatly.

"More than anyone would like," Jay admits, rubbing one hand over her face. "Refugees from wars, conflict in developing countries. It gives them a supply chain, harsh at that sounds. Vulnerable children, and adults, desperate to get out of whatever hell is going on around them. Desperate for a new life."

"We also see far more of it than the average person. Just with the areas we operate in." Tau's tone and face continue to be utterly blank.

"That," says Theira, "is quite horrifying."

"I'm sure you," he indicates the other two, "think so too, but – there's not anything we can do about it, not directly." Sigh.