Islay Base's tavern has always been a favourite among Gaians for much the same reasons the base itself was a favourite - its close proximity to Gaia, its secure and strategic location, the brief but striking glimpses of the green planet across the ice clouds, resplendent in the azure halo of the solar winds.
A sight to stir the heart of any who would look upon it, and placate weary spirits; and in turn, an ideal place to gather information about the situation.
Or so she thought, making her way down there.
"Um... where's everyone?", Amy fidgeted. "I seem to recall significantly greater attendance, captain", Eita commented. "So do I...", Lefina agreed.
The place was deserted, save for a few droid menials. No din of chatter, no curses directed at who have you, not even the glum pilot or two sitting in a corner that seemed to come with every tavern and pub ever established in Sirius.
The three stood on the doorstep for a couple of seconds, looking in and quietly hypothesising, before the captain adjusted her hat and stepped in.
"Ma'am, do you think something bad happened?" "Hrm. Doubtful, the bar is in remarkably good shape. No signs of damage or altercation, nor have we detected any disturbance of note on approach."
the captain nodded and stalked over to a table, then passed her index over the surface. "Dust... this place hasn't seen people a while, it would seem." "Dust?"
They stepped closer. Unlikely as it sounded, it was indeed dust - a thin layer of it, unevenly distributed, but dust nevertheless.
"Weird. The base is crewed, isn't it? I mean, control did answer us and they did let us dock and all. Sure they acted like we were ghosts", Amy added, with a nervous chuckle, "but well, they seemed alright?" "I'd say so, yes." (I wonder...)
The captain looked out the large windows, pensively.
Eita furrowed his brow and rapped the edge of his glasses, checking whether they were working properly and if so, what was it she was looking at - nothing out of the ordinary stood out to his eyes.
Amy busied herself looking around the bar, partly because of simple curiosity and partly because the eerie quiet bothered her.
"Cabinets are half-empty too... or mostly empty, actually..." "Didn't figure you one for drinking, Amy."
the girl smiled from behind the counter. "I'm not. I'm just having a look... maybe see if we can't figure out what's up, or at least get Sean a pint... um, do you think he'll like-" "Bollocks!" "Eep!"
Startled, she'd almost dropped the bottle of gin she was examining, as the XO stormed in with all the fury of an inadvertently trampled Gaian ferret.
"Sean?" "Grab a chair, people! I got news for you, and it ain't pretty."
He went over to the counter and sat on a stool. Lefina and Eita followed suit, after a brief look to each other; Amy put down the bottle, Sean reached for it.
"What is it?" "It's about the Guard." "Yes?" "It's gone."
Silence dropped like a meteor.
"W-what?", she stammered. "Why, that's..."
the captain looked down, saddened. "What they told me. Haven't seen a Guard in years, let alone a destroyer, they say", he growled, shaking his head as he unscrewed the cap off the bottle. "Unbelievable..." "They're all gone...?" "Can't believe it either. The fuck's happened here?! Leave two years and it all goes to hell in a handbasket!", he huffed, downing unappreciatevely a large gulp of liquor. "Ugh. Sawdust and alcohol." "Did anyone say why, XO?" "Nah. Didn't know, they came in later to replace 'em. Ain't much of a crew anyway." "Ah..."
they remained silent for a few seconds more; then, Amy turned to the captain, still staring at some indefinite point on the floor. "Captain...?"
the woman blinked and straightened up. "You're awfully quiet..." "I... think I know why they left."
She stood up, as three sets of confused and expectant eyes looked to her, and walked slowly over to the glass panels looking out of the station.
"What were they to guard, when what they - what we - held dearest fell to Gallia, was then reclaimed not by our hand but that of the Navy, and is now rife with human activity?"
As if bidden by her words, the ice began glittering brightly and the cloud cover thinned.
Sean shot her a look, while the two younger officers watched the
"Behold, the very sight we had all sworn to protect upon our honour and lives; the sight that inspired us and spurred us on through hardships and sorrows.
And now there is stands, conquered and tarnished... a stark reminder of our failure, no matter how beauteous."
she turned around, a melancholic smile on her lips. "Would you blame them for losing heart and leaving?"
Amy and Eita remained silent and looked down, unsure of how to respond to that.
Sean took another long gulp, sighed, and leant on the counter, hands resting on his weary face.
"Okay. Guard's gone and Gaia is fucked. What's the plan now, captain?"
she crossed her arms, in reflection. "If I may, captain..." "Speak, Eita." "We still don't know nearly about the state of Bretonia - or Sirius, for that matter - to make any definite plans. I suggest we collect information, first and foremost."
a nod. "Indeed. That, and honour the commitments we made with the Navy, I should think - but presently, the Artio is unable to do either."
she turned towards Amy, who recoiled slightly under her clear gaze; and soon after, those of the rest of the room. "Y-yes? Do I-" "Amy. In the coming days, I will see that you be provided with an Anaconda. I want you to act as our eyes and ears, as well as our envoy."
the girl paled. "B-but-" "I know you're not a combat pilot and that you're not used to the craft. As such, I will not ask you to take part in combat except for self-defence; rather, I want you to assist by flying recon and relaying to both us and them information about Gallic movements. Should time allow for it, do also explore Bretonia... from a distance, at least until our presence stops rousing the ire of every turret within a 5k radius. Can you do that for us?" "Y-yes, ma'am. I'll try to..."
Lefina smiled sweetly and gently placed a hand on the shoulder of her very nervous 'envoy', then nodded. "As we place our trust in you, so you should place yours in yourself. Have faith, Amy."
Eita adjusted his glasses, grinning encouragingly. "As the captain says. Give it your all, watch out, and that'll be more than enough."
Sean finished his bottle, and started looking for more.
"Alright, Amy gathers intel and plays nice with the lads. Sounds good enough to me. Still not happy about working with the bastards, but the Gauls are a lot worse. And then what?" "And then we'll see. Was it not you who imparted upon me the virtues of not planning too far ahead, given incomplete information?", she smirked. "Hmph. You know what I mean, captain. Best start thinking about it in the meantime... but you're right, for now let's worry about what's on our plates. Stars know there's more than enough as it is"
Despite the gin, the man's mood hadn't improved - and the scenery wasn't helping either, although her younger officers were busier marveling at the fading spectacle of nature or worrying about their new assignments than grimly reflecting upon the fall of the old Guard.
As the cloud returned to its usual dull, azure tint, she would offer them all a drink and a toast, to future endeavours and their present well-being.
"Though unfamiliar and unsettling the skies we are returned to may be, we cannot afford the luxury of dwelling on the past overlong.", she said, standing before them and speaking in the soft, yet resolute, tone of voice common to her speeches. "Let us make the most of this brief respite, that we may rejoin the fray with renewed ardour and uphold the oaths we could not. We are given a chance to set the record right - let us seize it.", she continued, and raised her glass of misty liquor. "Gaia's will be done." "Gaia's will be done!" "Gaia's will be done." "Right... Gaia's will be done."
A clink of glasses echoed through the room - a ringing of bells to salute the future, whatever it may have in store.
