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Post by Captain Benjamin Maxwell on Nov 19, 2004 20:47:39 GMT -5
I tore my tattered uniform top from my battered torso, and threw it forcefully onto the bed. The firey glow from Tau Ceti IV's upper atmosphere filled my cabin with an angry light that mirrored my inner fury.
I was angry - angry at the mission - angry at my contact - angry at the Kell Hounds for their cold indifference - and angry at myself for the decisions that cost the lives of thousands of JumpShip and freighter crewmembers that had absolutely no participation in the mission whatsoever.
I sat down on the edge of the bunk and buried my face in my hands. I was exhausted. The mission had taken its toll on me, and my mind ached nearly as much as my bruised and battered body.
I laid back on the bunk as clouds whipped past the viewport. We would be touching down in a half hour, and I had to be prepared to put on my best game face for the welcoming committee of ground support crews and administrators who would be meeting us when we arrived.
I closed my eyes, and drifted into a restless slumber, memories of the mission haunting my mind.
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Post by Holms Net on Nov 20, 2004 6:41:23 GMT -5
As we were walking, we finally reached the Bridge (after Seargant Wildmen took over leading us there. I had forgotten where it was with all the commosion during the mission). We were deinitly getting close to base; I knew we were already in the atmosphere of Tau Ceti IV.
I wasn't really sure if I should be going in. I did feel like I had authority to, and I was sure that if I did, the Corporal did, but I was pretty sure we were all thinking the same thing. That shockwave had caused immense confusion. There was no doubt the people who needed to work the old Thorin were in a bit of a... well, they were definitly busy beyond the door we were standing behind.
"Well, we gonna head in, or do we want to wait for the Captain to come out?"
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Yeoman Hobson
Yeoman
Senior DropShip Pilot
DropShips...the only way to fly!
Posts: 18
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Post by Yeoman Hobson on Nov 20, 2004 11:59:26 GMT -5
"Right, Jennings, take the conn...I need to run through the touchdown checklist with the boys down in payload to make sure they've got everything tucked away and ready to be offloaded once we hit the tarmac."
As Jennings took the conn and continued the landing sequence, I moved toward the back of the bridge, running down my mental "to-do" list. Mission wrap was never an easy procedure, and I wanted to make sure that nothing got botched on this one. We were lucky just to have come out of it alive.
As I stepped through the hatch at the rear of the bridge, I noticed a knot of new faces huddled on the other side, evidently debating whether their presence was needed or welcome in the command center. One of them was Lieutenant Holms Net - he had just recently come aboard, as I recalled, and was still learning the ropes.
"Lieutenant...sir...is there something I can do for you?"
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Post by Captain Adam "Gunman" Wolf on Nov 20, 2004 18:07:14 GMT -5
Wandering through the hallways and corridors of the Thorin thinking to myself about the previous mission and all that had happened, I suddenly stopped and reached around behind me, realizing I was missing something, I quickly turned around and ran back towards the bridge, just at a casual speed though not overly exerting myself. Arriving at the last hallway before the bridge I slowed down to a crisp walk, striding quickly towards the door, my combat boots thudding heavily along the metallic floor, rounding the corner to where the command center's main doorway was located, I stopped abrubtly to avoid running into Yeoman Hobson.
OH, Ca.. Captain.
He stammered for a moment before recovering and snapping a quick salute, returning the salute and then giving the 3 MechWarriors standing there a salute as well. Stepping around Hobson and giving a nod to him and the others, I move between them quickly heading into the bridge.
Excuse me Gentlman.
Once on the bridge, I went straight for my command chair and on the far side of it grabbed my Katana which I had forgotten earlier, heading back out of the bridge again passing between the men with a bit of a smile.
Forgot my sword
I said chuckling a little, then stopping I turned around standing just off to the side of Hobson, turning to the 3 MechWarriors I said
Did you men have a concern or question? Or were you just wanting a tour of the Command bridge?
Still chuckling lightly, wondering to myself how I manage to keep my exterior demeneor so calm and collected when I was troubled inside from all that has happened, shrugging it off in my mind I focused my attention on why the 3 MechWarriors were here. Seeing as how they were a bit hesitant in answering and seemed a little unsure of whether or not they should be here.
Well MechWarriors, if you just want a tour, Im sure we can arrange you something once we set down on Tau Ceti IV, in say oh about .... Looking down at my watch I noted the time until we land ... 15 to 20 minutes or so. We should be clearing the upper atmosphere shortly, and then from there its only a few minutes to base, ... just takes forever to send this old bird down gently though.
If your not interested in a tour right now, is there anything I can help you with? Or was Hobson here helping you?
Turning to Hobson, I said Sorry if I interupted you Hobson.
Turning back to the MechWarriors, I said Well if you dont need anything right now, I'll be on my way Snapping the MechWarriors and Yeoman Hobson a salute, I turn to begin heading back towards my quarters, wondering if there were going to ask me something before I left.
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Post by Captain Benjamin Maxwell on Nov 21, 2004 9:58:45 GMT -5
The Thorin gave a "thud" as it touched down gently on the tarmac of the Tau Ceti IV installation, waking me from my troubled slumber. I pivoted my legs over to the side of my bunk, and rubbed my eyes. A light was flashing on my pocket communicator, and I grabbed it from my night stand, flipping the screen open. A new text message had arrived. Hitting a few keys, I pulled it up.34rtkg8812: This is goodbye, Benjamin. It's been...fun.Quickly, I keyed back a response.What? What are you talking about? There's some things we need to discuss! I want answers!There came no response.
Another icon began flashing on the unit's screen. It was a ComStar news feed...and I tabbed over to it. As I read the headline, a sense of horror and anguish washed over me as everything started coming together."WORD OF BLAKE" RELIGIOUS FACTION DECLARES JIHAD AGAINST INNER SPHERE
Splinter group of ComStar strikes unannounced, Outreach decimated by Blakist nuclear firestorm The comm unit clattered to the deck as my hands lost their grip on it. It had begun.
And this time...no one was safe.
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