Planet New London was a lush and vibrant world, from what he could see of it. Flying craft zipped around the skyline and traffic lanes alike, like giant arteries and veins supplying the lifeblood that kept the Bretonian Capital thriving, as if there was no war outside the system.
The bustling tranquility was hypnotizing, but Daniel had seen too much to fall under it's spell. He would have liked some time to truly experience the place, but his appointment with the recruitment office precluded that, and, god willing, he was accepted by the armed forces, he doubted he would ever get that chance, until the Gallic threat was defeated once and for all. He didn't want to imagine any other outcome.
Stepping into the recruitment centre - it was unmistakable amongst the rest of the city - he identified himself to the desk clerk.
"I'm here for my appointment..."
"Right this way" He replied. "You're expected."
"I would hope so." Daniel quipped wryly.
He was led into a small office, where a lieutenant (judging by his uniform) waited, a folder laid out before him.
The clerk backed out quickly, and then the officer spoke.
"It says here that you are one Daniel O'Lachlan," The man drawled, a strange sound combined with his thick northern accent. "Caucasian male; twenty-five years-old, five-foot-eleven, blonde hair, blue eyes, passed all your physicals. Parents are divorced but both still live on planet Cambridge with your younger sister and only sibling." He paused here, glancing down at the pages in front of him again, then raising his eyebrows when he met Daniel's eyes again.
"You were formerly a novelist, before enlisting - living in and writing about the Edinburgh System, off of Perth Station?" His drawl had vanished.
Daniel swallowed uncomfortably, remembering the Gallic invasion and his own frantic escape from the system. He quashed the memory of civillian ships being ripped apart by Gallic fire, claimed to have been identified as hostiles amongst the retreating Bretonian forces. "That's right." He finally replied. "You know why I'm here, then."
The other man nodded. "Any experience with flying spacecraft?" Doubt coloured his voice.
"Some." Daniel replied "But not in combat. But I am smart - very smart, false modesty aside - my record will tell you that, so whatever I don't know I'm willing to put in 110% to learn."
The lieutenant nodded again, considering what he'd learned. Daniel waited with baited breath for what his decision would be.
