#lead ins

“What do you mean the weaponry isn’t working?” Nijah swiftly made her way down the stairs within the Wolves estate ahead of one of the crewmen of The Barghest.

“They jammed up when we were doing our inspections before setting out to Limsa this morning.” The short gentleman tried his best to keep up with Nijah’s strides of fury. “W-we noticed much of the pieces are missing and not just in one but all of them. The hangar door was open when the crew arrived.”

“Anything else?” Nijah flew open the door leading into the workshop and hangar of the two Airships, “What of The Skydancer?”

The sound of their feet against the grates sang out and all those working among the vessels paused to acknowledge Nijah herself and their crewmate who had nearly keeled over beside her, hands to his knees, “We’re inspecting her right now though there is evidence of our vessels being tampered with. This isn’t just a coincidence or a case of faulty machinery.”

The singular eye of the Ala Mhigan bore down to her employee, “Sounds like sabotage to me. Whatever you find have it brought to me. Missing nuts, bolts right down to any hairs you find.”

“There….is one more thing.”

“What is it?” she rose a brow.

“All the ammunition was also taken. We’re trying to get a beat on the exact numbers we had on the ships but the current stores of ammunition in the warehouse are all accounted for. We suspect whoever took it came in the night. The Hangar doors show little signs of destruction but – whoever they were, they were quick and quiet and professionals.”

“So sabotage and theft is it? Right well, get on that quick and report back to me with findings. Until then locate Belgrave and get him in here to have a closer look at the weaponry. I trust his opinion on these sorts of matters and he might be able to afford you more answers. In the meantime, I have to report this to Isenheart and get a few more hands on deck.”

The dark-haired Ala Mhigan paused, giving a once-over of the two airships that have been within the bay overnight. It was likely that no trips were going to be made for inventory any time soon and would only leave The Azreal open for transport via the sea until operations were to continue as usual. They would have to make due with what they had currently.

Her brow furrowed and the woman stalked towards the large console within the bay that happened to overlook all the logistics of their ships. Even that seemed a tad jumbled as it thought a tool had been brought down along the main screen. For years the company went untouched and Hadriel had even taken some precautions for the company based on the slew of different work the people here had done -- sometimes terribly questionable. It could have been just about anyone to was lashing out at them – but this was a sign. They certainly could have done far more damage to them and the company but chose to go the route of their transport.

Swiping her fingers along a streak that was laid out along the broken console, she fussed with the black and steely substance along her flesh that came off in the swipe, within the texture was a single golden thread and eventually, Nijah pulled it from where it had been connected. It was as if someone’s clothing had gotten tangled in the jutting shards and mess of the console after striking it. A robe, a dress, perhaps a long sleeve – any garment really -- it could have come from just about anywhere but she never knew anyone in the Company of the Ashen Wolves to be scampering around with golden threads.

With a narrowed gaze Nijah regarded The Barghest and The Skydancer once more, moving from the consoles and out of the workshop and Hangar entirely, hand making its way to the linkpearl in her ear. She was in need of a helping hand, quite possibly an extra vessel, “I need Vahalia. If anyone sees her please direct her to me.” the broadcast went out and by the time she reached the threshold of Hadriel’s office she paused, “I need Blythe when he is able, I have work for him.”

Luckily for the Ashen Wolves, they had friends but also…it seemed they had been making enemies as well.