Outsider

[Laowai]

"What is this..?" he turned sharply... "This has GC markings, how did you...?"
Isabel interrupted him: "Yes its GC, its about Mum.."
Laowai turned back to the screen and looked shocked "Mum?" he said, "How?... where...? where did you get this?"

And yet he found he had to look, so much about their mothers life had been an unknown to them, especially this part, the part that they both knew existed but never spoke of, the part that Ben knew of only 2 other people that knew of it: His sister, and by benefit of their connection and joining over the years.. Zarita.
Their mother had been taken from the Golden Chrysanthemums by their father, weaned off Cardamine and brought to Crete, no one save their father knowing just who she was and who she had been.

Yet here it was.

The file was dated almost forty years earlier, each page bearing the mark of the GC in its upper left hand corner. His mind was filled with questions and yet he found himself reading silently, Isabel for her part, sat and waited.




G.C. Personnel File

Name: Zhang Lei.

D.O.B: 15 March 745 A.S.

Place of Birth: Tianshan, Riben Province New Tokyo.

Next of Kin: Zhang HuiZhong.

Rank: Lieutenant.

Current Assignment: 12th tactical wing. 4th platoon spec op.

Gradings: Adv Tactical, Spec ops, munitions grade #4.

Decorations: (If applicable) Bronze Lotus: (append report 11213)

Notes: (Maj: Fumiko Sata)

Lt.Zhang has demonstrated efficiency in her tactical training with emphasis on unarmed and bladed combat, recommended that she be graded at trainer level for 6th platoon (see . *****). Her performance of her duty has been exemplary thus far and she has proved herself a capable and motivated soldier.

Current: M.I.A 763 A.S. (append report Sa41a)


Ben quickly opened the documents attached to the first page and continued reading:

GC COMMENDATION FILE 11213:

For Personal Heroism, Honorable conduct and selfless gallantry in the service of her Comrades Lt. Zhang Lei is awarded the Bronze Lotus for Bravery. Let this conduct be a testament to her character and an example to all in our struggle for freedom.

.The shuttlecraft crash docked after taking fire from the attacking Corsair forces. Several of her crew were still trapped and unable to escape the craft which was now leaking fuel and on fire which posed a considerable danger to the rest of the ship. Lt. Zhang ran to the craft and, ignoring the heat managed to drag the remainder of the crew to safety. She then returned to the bay and began to combat the growing fire in the hangar, leading a fire crew to extinguish the flames. It is the opinion of this officer that had Lt Zhang not acted in such a manner, the crew of the shuttle would have most surely perished and had the fires on the shuttle not been contained it would have almost certainly exploded and taken the rest of us with it

FILE Sa41a:

LT ZHANG LEI. MISSING IN ACTION:

Report reads:

we had successfully breached and boarded the target vessel, however upon entering the main cargo bay found ourselves under heavy enemy fire from several positions on the overhanging gangway and from the far corridors. 2nd squad, and 4th squad were ordered to the left and right flanks respectively, 1st squad remained at the bridgehead and provided covering fire. Sgt Makora 2nd squad was hit almost immediately and 2nd squad found itself pinned on the far side of the initial breach point. Lt Zhang and 4th squad reached the right corridor and neutralized the enemy forces located there. I then ordered Lt Zhang to take her squad up to the second level via the corridor and attempt to nuetralise the enemy forces overhead.
1st squad suppressed enough of the fire from the right overhang for 2nd squad to regroup and move back towards the breach, however as they moved back Corsair infantry appeared from the right corridor and we, both 1st and 2nd squads found ourselves unable to advance. During this engagement, pvts Sato, Michima and Narika were killed, Lt Tohama 2nd squad was also wounded. With the situation becoming increasingly untenable I ordered all forces to move back to the boarding pods, however Lt Zhang reported that 4th squad was pinned in the stairwell between the right corridor and the overhead levels and were unable to move, she reported that they were attempting to move back and that was when we lost comms. We held the position as long as prudent however after sustaining further casualties were forced to move back to the pods. I contacted Maj. Nakajima who ordered a general withdrawal from the position. I could still see blaster flashes from the general position of 4th squad and it is my opinion that at the time of withdrawal they were still in combat





The story arc following Zhang Lei and Raul Dominguez can be found here.

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