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Post by Administrator on Mar 16, 2012 22:03:34 GMT -6
Eresea and her cities and geographical areas, as noted
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Phineas Doral
Cylon Command Staff
Former Colonial President
I love humans, really. That's why I defected.
Posts: 326
Registered: Jul 25, 2009 22:22:21 GMT -6
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Post by Phineas Doral on May 11, 2012 11:27:07 GMT -6
Smiling a wide grin, Phineas waited for the comm link to come to life. Seconds later, he could hear the sound of dead airwaves, then a sfot voice informing him he was ready to go. Sitting at his desk, which was covered with dust and debris, Phineas began speaking.
"My fellow citizens, this is President Doral. I am happy to announce that I have returned to my office and am currently preparing to oversee the defense of the planet and the impending assault on the invading Cylons. I know many of you have wondered where I have been and I apologize for leaving. My departure from the government center here in the capital was necessary, so as to lure the cylons into believing we were on the run. That is not and was not the case. We are very much here, Terran and Colonial, soldier and citizen. Together, we will wipe the cylons clear from this planet, our home. Tragedy has once again been brought to not only us but to our Terran brothers and sisters. Most of our civilian ships and quite a few of our military ships have taken the necessary precautions and have jumped away. Soon, they will return to us. I ask that anyone who hears this message and is near the city of Sparta to go there now and assist in the recovery efforts. Many have died there and many more are wounded. For now, please know that our gallant military is not only fighting the cylons but beating them back. We will win this fight and we will win it as one. May the gods shine their blessings down upon us, So Say We All!"
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Judge Judith Schwein
Civilian Official
Judge, 1st Terran Circuit Court
I'm a Judge, not a general. Okay, I'm a general too.
Posts: 123
Registered: Nov 30, 2010 23:40:44 GMT -6
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Post by Judge Judith Schwein on Jul 25, 2012 20:53:15 GMT -6
Coming in low and just meters above the surface of the water, the raptor made its way towards the looming coastline. Within seconds, the tracking stations along the coast were locked onto the ship. Any deviation from the prescribed course and every anti-aircraft and missile battery for kilometers around would destroy the small craft. Judith leaned towards the cockpit, speaking softly to the young pilot.
"Easy goes it young man. Just keep on this course until you've cleared the coast line. Once you see the twin cities of Sirisa on either side, you're good to go. Fifteen minutes flight time across the Laxos Sea and we'll be at the capital."
Sitting back in her seat, she looked over at the Colonial.
"Relax Colonel, there's nothing to be worried about. Besides, you may just be mildly surprised once we arrive at the capital."
Judith was hoping the Colonial admiralty had made it to the capital. At least that's where they were supposed to be brought to anyways. Like all well laid plans, this one would be a small disaster.
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Clayton Dualla
Colonial Retired
Colonel
Terran Senior Technical Advisor
Posts: 5,380
Registered: Jul 3, 2011 19:48:16 GMT -6
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Post by Clayton Dualla on Jul 26, 2012 18:25:14 GMT -6
Clayton had been paying attention to the topography as well as to the Judge. She had shown herself to be far more than that. She had a second life, another identity. He'd known enough during his life to not be overly surprised. He watched the pilot's corrections as he followed the Judge's directions. The man was competent, Clayton would give him that. Maybe after they got where they were going, Dualla would ask the man if he'd ever stood a Raptor on its exhaust plumes. That was a technique the Galactica Raptor pilots had used with great effectiveness against Cylon ground forces.
He cocked an eyebrow at the judge when she told him he had nothing to worry about.
"Thanks, but you'll excuse me if I decide that after we land." He sat back and crossed his arms when she told him he may be mildly surprised. It couldn't be anything beyond what he had experienced in his military and political careers, as well as his personal life. He was actually skeptical. He didn't think that anything could match what he'd encountered, the things that had happend. How could it match Cylon projections, clairvoyance, coming back from death, being in love with an ememy leader, finding his sould mate after thirteen billion years? Clayton looked at the rings on his pinky fingers. They glowed again with a spark that was both here and not here. He felt that the glows were ingrained essence of the original wearers, the women who had put them on him: his wife and sister.
Looking up from them, Clayton saw that they had cleared the coastline. They were now over Eresea proper. Clayton had entered what appeared to be another world within the world of Terra, one even more excluded than Gondawa. He felt that he was taking another step away from the life he had known. Resigning and taking up residence on Terra was one step away. Moving into this hidden realm was another, and Clayton believed, a far bigger one.
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TerraOps
Terran Civilian
Chief, Terran Operations
Terra-beautiful, mysterious, but not what you think.
Posts: 403
Registered: Oct 30, 2010 21:41:12 GMT -6
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Post by TerraOps on Jul 26, 2012 19:39:00 GMT -6
"Colonial raptor, this is Eresean Control. Please continue on your present course and follow beacon signal to aeroport. Landing approach will be one-quarter power, descent will be in ten meter moves, over."
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npcpilot
Colonial Officer
Colonial Pilot
We do this for fun, not a living!
Posts: 179
Registered: Jan 16, 2011 0:57:18 GMT -6
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Post by npcpilot on Jul 26, 2012 19:57:13 GMT -6
As Lieutenant Joey Wojohowicz (npc)
"Uh, copy that Eresean Control. Approach one-quarter power, descend ten meter increments, Colonial raptor Six Seven Gamma out."
Looking back at his passengers, the young Lieutenant smiled, a bit nervously.
"Here we go Colonel. Might want to buckle up, the descent may be a bit bumpier than it needs to be."
Thinking to himself, he KNEW it would. Ten meter moves? What the frak for? Not that he was going to test their resolve or anything, still. He brought the raptor in slower and slower. Ahead, he could see the air station. There was what appeared normal activity, shuttles and other craft coming and going. He looked at his console and saw the blip on his DRADIS. There was the landing beacon. Continuing on course, he continued to power down and as softly as he could manage, point the nose of the raptor downward, keeping an eye on his horizon. The raptor bucked a bit but nothing that was of any concern. When he began the next descent, all of a sudden the ship lurched upward, then was slammed down, the surface coming up faster than the Lieutenant had wished for or expected. A quick move of the joystick upwards corrected the free fall and in an instant, as fast as the turbulence was there, it vanished.
"Sorry about that, we just got hit by a thermal. Now I think I see why they want us coming in as we are. Here we go one more time."
This time, Joey eased the joystick down slower, the result being a much smoother descent. Moments later he could see the ground crew signaling for him to land at their location, the bright orange cones in their hands waving in front of him, like some sort of weird Gemenon flying snakes. Easing the throttle back as he brought the raptor to its landing spot, the Lieutenant began his shutdown. Once on the tarmac, he shut the engines down, rolling to a slow stop directly in front of where the Ground Crew Chief was standing, his flashlights perfectly crossed. Continuing his standard shutdown, he turned and looked back while speaking into his comm unit.
"We are wheels down Eresean Control, raptor six seven gamma shutting down and signing off."
Getting out of his seat, Lieutenant Wojohowicz stood looking at Colonel Dualla and the Terran Judge.
"Colonel, Judge, we're here. Now what?"
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Carlie McPherson
Civilian Official
President, Colony of Terra of the 12 Colonies of Kobol
Posts: 129
Registered: Sept 20, 2010 16:23:42 GMT -6
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Post by Carlie McPherson on Jul 26, 2012 20:15:59 GMT -6
Carlie HATED this place, with a passion. And of all the areas on this forsaken continent to be sent to, it just had to be this place. What started out as a Colonial military installation had fast become the hub of Terran military activity on Eresea. Just several kilometers north of the capital city, the place still received more than its fair share of rainfall.
Today was no exception.
She could care less if these less-than perfect meteorological conditions added to the difficulty in the continent being detected. She hated what the humidity was doing to her hair and clothes. Still, she had no choice but to be here, after all, she WAS a government representative. And, this was better than being in Corinth or Sparta, both of which received the brunt of the Cylon attack on the planet proper. Standing there under the umbrella being held by a rather large Terran officer, Carlie looked back at the vehicle that contained a small contingent of senior Colonial Fleet officers, spirited out of their now destroyed (mostly) headquarters in the capital city. From what she had been told adn what she had read since coming here, the Cylon fleet had taken a brutal beating from the Colonial and Terran fleets.
Still, there were several groups of Cylon forces scattered around the planet causing havoc. They needed to keep their guard up. Carlie waited patiently (mostly) for the occupants of the Colonial raptor to exit. She was ready to get to a nice dry location and get back to the business at hand. The Judge was the last official they were waiting on. The addition of the Colonial Colonel was, while not all that unexpected, a small departure from the schedule. She began waving like a crazed person at a music venue, shouting out to the now appearing individuals.
"YOO HOO! OVER HERE!! YES, C'MON"
Carlie finally decided since she had gotten their attention, she could get the heck out of this rain. Looking at the Terran officer, she smirked while looking down at her feet.
"Two hundred cubits! Two hundred cubits ruined! Look at them."
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Clayton Dualla
Colonial Retired
Colonel
Terran Senior Technical Advisor
Posts: 5,380
Registered: Jul 3, 2011 19:48:16 GMT -6
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Post by Clayton Dualla on Jul 27, 2012 23:55:59 GMT -6
Dualla smiled knowingly.
"Thanks for the warning, Wojo. I've been through worse. A lot worse."
Clayton watched the ground crew, then looked out farther, for the security guards. They appeared to be carrying a projectile rifle. No energy weapons. Those things didn't exist yet. It would have been neat to develop one. He'd wanted to outfit the first Seaview class boats he'd built back on old Earth with something really high-tech. She had the reactor power to drive such a weapon. Maybe now he would. Maybe, if he got the chance to build the fabulous clear-nosed submarine again. This place may be the perfect location for sub pens. Seaview. Flying Subs. A music career here?
Watching the crews swarm around the Raptor, Clayton thought of the times aboard Galactica. Flying with the Angels, they made an awesome team. But they were gone with Galactica. Gone with his immediate family.
He glanced at the Judge, then back to Wojo.
"Now what? We crack the hatch and enter this new world. Now, if Her Honor weren't here, I would wait until they come knocking. However, I think she's going to be our meal ticket around this place."
The hatch opened, and the party stepped out onto the rain-soaked port wing of the Raptor. The non-slip coating kept them all from losing their footing and crashing to the pavement. Clayton stepped into the footholds on the port leg and off onto the tarmac. He would have felt more comfortable with his Colonial Metal Storm pistols, but they were gone along with his military career. Besides, he would have been horribly outnumbered anyway. This wasn't a combative situation. He seemed to be a welcome guest, and he had a high-power chaperone.
A commotion broke out from the crowd. A woman in expensive clothing was jumping, waving, and screaming a them. A dark eyebrow climbed up toward a bald pate.
"Here comes the Welcome Wagon."
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Clayton Dualla
Colonial Retired
Colonel
Terran Senior Technical Advisor
Posts: 5,380
Registered: Jul 3, 2011 19:48:16 GMT -6
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Post by Clayton Dualla on Jul 29, 2012 10:13:34 GMT -6
What looked like government functionaries stepped up with umbrellas. They all had the same appearance, whatever the political body or civilization. All too faceless, all too homogenous. Even in the military, where everyone wore the same uniform, there was more .... life .... to them. The warrior's heart shone in their faces and gave them a character that was absent from the minor bureaucrat. Even the high-level bureaucrat, if he or she wasn't either a go-getter or a criminal, was bland.
Frak me, I'd hoped to get away from this cynicism when I'd retired from the Fleet. I'm too young for it to be a sign of age ... am I?
Clayton stood behind to let Judge Schwein take the lead, and with a jerk of his head, ordered Wojo to take the rear. At least the man is real. He's a soldier. Who else, besides the Judge and Wojo, is genuine? I'll find out. I'm not sure about the greeter. I almost feel like I'm in a Colonial Mart.
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Carlie McPherson
Civilian Official
President, Colony of Terra of the 12 Colonies of Kobol
Posts: 129
Registered: Sept 20, 2010 16:23:42 GMT -6
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Post by Carlie McPherson on Jul 31, 2012 17:16:58 GMT -6
Standing there still bemoaning the loss of her expensive shoes, Carlie smiled widely as the Judge and the Colonial Colonel came walking up to the waiting vehicle. Extending her left hand to the Judge, Carlie spoke above the roar of departing craft and the pounding rain.
"Welcome, finally, Judith, er I mean Your Honor. Sorry for the weather but this is pretty much the norm. You'll also have to excuse the noise. This place has been really busy ever since the Cylons attacked. Thank the Gods for all those Colonial Vipers and Raptors that were stationed here. Anyways, Colonel Dualla, it's good to see you again Sir. There are a few Colonials with me that are happy to see a man of your extensive experiences here. Now, if everyone will climb inside, we'll head to someplace more comfy and dry."
Carlie motioned for the group of three to get into the waiting vehicle. As soon as everyone was seated, the driver made her way towards the line of buildings off to the other side of the tarmac. Sitting there in a neat row were Colonial and Terran fighter craft, all being serviced and readied for action. Carlie could see the looks on the two Colonial officers. Turning in her seat, she spoke to Colonel Dualla.
"Yes Colonel, your Colonial Fleet had the foresight to stash a few squadrons away at various locations here on Eresea. They've come in handy springing a surprise on the Cylons who thought they would sneak in coming across an "empty" ocean. They never knew what hit 'em."
Looking further back in the vehicle, Carlie made a few introductions.
"Colonel, sitting behind you are Fleet Commander Hosay and Fleet Commander Pruitt of the Terran Defense Forces. Sitting behind them are a few of your Colonial officers, members of your headquarters staff. Fortunately, they were able to get here. I believe you know VADM Helena Montrose and VADM Shane Naguchi, as well as Commander Sharon Aguti, who by the way, is responsible for getting our communications systems in synch with your fleet. We'd still be in the dark without her extensive knowledge of communications. I guess that's why she's your communications chief, huh?"
Carlie turned back to face the front as the pleasantries were dispensed. Soon enough, the mission of getting the Cylons off the planets surface would begin and there wouldn't be time for pleasantries. It was good to have two Colonial Admirals here. It would make it much simpler getting the Colonial Fleet to do what the Terrans wanted them to do.
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Clayton Dualla
Colonial Retired
Colonel
Terran Senior Technical Advisor
Posts: 5,380
Registered: Jul 3, 2011 19:48:16 GMT -6
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Post by Clayton Dualla on Aug 3, 2012 21:14:46 GMT -6
Clayton looked at the craft, straining to see any that bore the name 'Galactica'. No such luck, not that he was expecting it. It would have been nice, though. Maybe another location, since Carlie had mentioned that.
"They could have use a few XF-01s - Hammerheads - but that was a low-volume craft, though. There have been a lot of other designs, but the old standbys of the Viper and Raptor keep soldiering on".
They got into a ground car, a stretch limousine. Inside were several others. The seats were on either side, facing each other in the style favored by this class of automobile. It allowed for eye contact as well as greetings as their host pointed out each in turn
"Yes, hello Commanders. Admirals." EThough retired, he gave each the salutes their rank deserved. It felt good to him, he noticed. Dualla wondered why so much Colonial brass was here. It was clear that some of the Terrans were overcoming the unwelcomeness they harbored toward the fugitives.
"I can't call her 'my' communications chief anymore. I retired from the Fleet, remember?" He gauged the faces of the others in the car. How they responded verbally and non-verbally would tell him much about why he was in this group, and what was going on. There was a combat action finished recently, but this suggested something farther than that, a mutual cooperation beyond merely fighting off one attack. And what did they want of him? The only way to find out was to stick around and not alienate them.
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Post by fleetops on Aug 3, 2012 22:47:24 GMT -6
As VADM Helena Montrose and VADM Shane Naguchi (NPC)
Sitting in the cramped rear of the vehicle, VADM Montrose spoke to Colonel Dualla.
"Colonel, what we are hoping for is that this partnership between our people and the Terrans, who have been so gracious in allowing us to live here, among them, that our partnership will grow. The reality of the situation is WE brought the Cylons here in the first place. It's our responsibility to protect this planet and its people but we need a better balance of things. As it is now, or was, we were the dominant force here, mainly due to our fleet. We need to help the Terrans in growing. Already, we have thousands of their people serving in the Colonial Fleet. What we could use from you is your experience in R&D and tactics. The Terrans have the industrial capability, and the finances for such things."
Before she could continue, VADM Naguchi spoke up.
"Pardon me Admiral Montrose. Colonel, since you are a retired Colonial officer, your assistance to the Terrans will not cause any, uh, official problems between our governments. As you know, Colonial personnel above the rank of Major are not permitted to, uh, well, serve in certain positions that involve both fleets or military establishments. The only way the commanders of those ships we transferred over to the Terrans could serve on those ships was to resign their commissions and accept new ones in the Terran fleet. We have the designs and schematics but we no longer have the capability to produce, not since we turned over all that to the Terrans, since they had the work force."
Both admirals waited for the Colonel to respond, unsure as to how he would react to what they had just told him. if the Colonial Fleet were going to end the Cylon threat once and for all, the Terrans needed to be able to fully defend themselves. Already, the Terrans were sharing more and more information about their past with the Colonials. It was time for the Colonials to do the same with their technology.
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Clayton Dualla
Colonial Retired
Colonel
Terran Senior Technical Advisor
Posts: 5,380
Registered: Jul 3, 2011 19:48:16 GMT -6
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Post by Clayton Dualla on Aug 4, 2012 12:06:09 GMT -6
Clayton became very toughful. The statement from the Admirals explained as many questions at they raised new ones. The mutual suspicion and distrust was an inhibition to a coordianted defense against the Cylons since day one. Montrose was dead-on with the admission that the Colonials brought the Cylons with them. We were the cause of the problem, and we have to be part of the solution. Egos were what was in the way, and it gratified Dualla to see that there were enough top-ecehelon Colonials to be of that same mind and in the position to do something constructive at the same time.
The question of 'What did Judge Schwein have to do with all this?' became murkier, as she had apparently been privy to all this. Why is she in such a high position? Just who is that woman?
Admiral Naguchi's words, though, were what had pushed Clayton into the deep thought. He was being asked to assume a role he had walked away from when the Skulbaka administration - including service to Samantha Martin when she took over after Alexandra resigned and left. He'd his Presidents and his Secretary of Defense - his direct superior - with honor and loyalty. He really had no desire to go back to it, especially without his family. It was during that service that he'd met, married, and lost Anastasia Dualla. He didn't want memories of that resurfaced. Her loss had nearly destroyed him, and his recovery had been slow.
Do I want to do this? He understood what Naguchi was doing: offering him a job, on behalf of the Colonials and the Terrans. They'd chosen him. I wonder how long this had been going on? Since I retired? Or before? Now that was unnerving, but not surprising. He understood behind-the-scenes machinations. He knew what it would entail from the technological and administrative sides, as well as the tactical side. There'd be politics again, and speaking with forked tongue. On the plus side, there were resources that the Colonials did not have. He'd experienced some of that on Earth before it was destroyed, being able to follow some of his personal ideas becuse of the resources. It would free a lot of things up. He'd learned how to make do on a shoestring, and that philosophy will only help him.
He also knew that he was being asked because they needed someone who knew the Cylon side better, and who was a competent designer. He also knew that turning his back on it was just as egotistical as considering it beneath a Colonial to work for the Terrans. He had no out there, no excuse. It was not only the extinction of one vestife of humanity at stake, it was perhaps the one remaining one as well as the Cylon tribe of Gondawa. He really had only one decision.
"I want to see what you have, first off. Numbers, quantities, quality, dispersal, facilities, all of it. From there I can start to put together a plan. I still need to speak to the President though, and I want to meet those I'll be working face-to-face with on a daily basis. We need to start developing the workign relationships immediately. I'm also going to need to be trained and certified in the inventory of combat aircraft as well. I need to know the strengths and weakness first hand. Next will be the land forces and then the sea forces. The sooner the better."
He'd made the choice. He was walking back into that which he had walked out of. Only time would tell what he had truly gotten himself into. He only knew that failure was not optional because failure meant eradication.
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Post by fleetops on Aug 4, 2012 15:14:19 GMT -6
As VADM Helena Montrose and VADM Shane Naguchi (NPC)
Admiral Naguchi was the first to speak.
"Colonel, first off, you will be more of a free-lancer on this. Although you will be working with both military establishments, you will be in charge of the entire operation, from procurement to production to implementation. I know your suspicions and your trepidations. I have my own, I assure you. With both of our Fleet Admirals out of the loop, Admiral Whaley having retired and Admiral Middleton off on her own little war with the Cylons, there has been a change in direction from the remainder of the Command Staff. If any of us are to survive, we MUST work together. Let's face it Colonel, none of us are going anywhere. Since you will not be a member of either military, I will take it you will no longer wish to be called by your Colonial rank. We'll leave that up to you. As for the nuts and bolts of all of this, both Miss McPherson and the esteemed Judge can fill you in on all of that. As for the President, once he is located, AGAIN, he'll meet with you."
Turning to Admiral Montrose, Admiral Naguchi waited for her to speak.
"As Admiral Naguchi has stated, this is your project, if you'll take it. We will provide you with anything that you need-resources, manpower, you name it. We'll also see to it no other member of the Admiralty or Command Staff gets in your way. Know this Colonel, this has been sanctioned by the President and this project will come to fruition, I assure you. Do you have any questions?"
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Judge Judith Schwein
Civilian Official
Judge, 1st Terran Circuit Court
I'm a Judge, not a general. Okay, I'm a general too.
Posts: 123
Registered: Nov 30, 2010 23:40:44 GMT -6
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Post by Judge Judith Schwein on Aug 4, 2012 20:26:12 GMT -6
The vehicle had stopped and everyone climbed out. As it usually goes with men, they began speaking, in the open and in the hot sun.
Judith stood there, taking it all in, listening to the Colonial Admirals, then the now former Colonel. She had pegged the man correctly. All her sources had told her this project would fail because of the Colonial egos. They had their ships, they said, had their technology they said. For all their ships and technology, the one resource the Colonials were sorely lacking in was manpower. Oh sure, they could man those ships, with skeleton crews. Sure, they had the designs and blueprints to build more ships, but not the industrial capacity, even after all these long years they had been here, on the planet they christened Terra, along forgotten homage to a planet burned up so many thousands of years ago. The man named Dualla knew of this of course. Judith reminded herself to make certain her intel people paid the price for wrong information, albeit a very lenient price it would be. Of course, she had doubted herself there at first, the second time in her life that she had done so. The first was so many years ago and millions of people lost their lives because of that doubt. No, Judith was quite pleased with how this was going and would continue to go. The Terrans needed this Colonial more than he or anyone else could imagine. She waited until the Admirals had finished before stepping closer to the Colonial. Tugging at his jacket sleeve, she pulled him off to the side.
"Well Mr. Dualla, it seems you now have a new job. I know you have many questions and I will answer them all, in due time. First, we need to get settled in for the evening. There's a nasty storm heading this way so we'll call it a night early. This is the most meteorological challenged location on the entire planet, trust me."
Judith personally hated this place, even if it had some of the most fertile soil on the planet. It was the weather-hot during the summer solstice, freezing during the winter. It was the equinoxes that were the best times of the year, and the most productive. Right now, they had entered the start of the summer solstice and with that came storms. Another reason why the continent was shrouded in an almost impenetrable fog, something akin to squash soup. Really messed with electronics something fierce until you were over the coast.
"Come, Mr. Dualla, or is there a first name? Our quarters are the next building over."
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