The NATO Conference

[Jeremy Hunter]

The battlecruiser Hampton Roads exited the tradelane above Cambridge, it's escort breaking formation and powering out to form a perimeter. While Gallia had been pushed back to Edinburgh, no one was going to be resting easy, and especially not Admiral Hunter. Fussing with her dress blues, annoyed as anyone could really get, the woman just...didn't like them. Either her fatigues or..anything. She hated how formal it was. Rubbing her forehead briefly, she tucked her fiery locks in a bit, then checked the ponytail. Resigning herself to this, she picked up her cap, pausing to look at her ring. Better be waiting for me at home, Lizzy. she thought briefly. The image of Lizzy waiting there did bring a small smile to her face, but a few sharp raps at her door tore her from the hopeful daydream and back to the cold reality. Conference. Not her ship. Not that taking the Unsung War from the frontline was a good idea - so she had to settle for one of the support vessels that had survived the loss of Gettysburg and her cohort. Tucking her cap on, she keyed the door open to reveal her aide-de-camp.
"Kei." She said warmly, returning the salute that shot up once the door clinked open. "At east."
Kei relaxed. Captain Kei Nagase. One person who had been with Alexis for most of her time in the upper echelons of the Liberty Navy, and a friend she had shared drinks with when off duty. Alexis did owe the woman much, taking a load off her shoulders when needed. At Kei's side was strapped a sidearm - she never went anywhere unarmed. Libertonian through and through.
"The shuttle's ready, Admiral." Kei reported.
"Let's not keep everyone waiting. Leave that to Counts and Queens, right?" She smiled ruefully. Kei chuckled and stepped aside for her, and together they headed down the corridor to the elevator. Luckily, no terrible elevator music. The two were silent as the lights passed them by, before it opened to the meager hangar bay. The Interdictor-Class was not known as a carrier, and so far only a pair of Liberators and a shuttle could even fit in here. Leading the way, Alexis ducked and entered the shuttle, Kei close behind. The two took opposite seats from each other and shot the breeze as the ship seals itself. Soon it dropped, exiting the artificial gravity of the Hampton Roads. Engines flaring, it headed into the Docking Ring. The shuttle lightly shook before it finally was fully in-atmosphere. Banking, Alexis was pressed into the crash seat before the shuttle leveled off.
"...feels like forever since I got my feet on dry ground."
"War does that." Kei said, looking up at the ceiling.


The shuttle would find it's way to the Amber Palace. After an exchange of codes and compliments, the vessel settled onto the landing pad, and the two made their exit. As a few dead leaves blew past, they crunched through theme towards the front door. Kei was keeping watch. Even in friendly territory, the Captain trusted no one but Alexis. As was her nature. A nature Alexis didn't care to comment on. The other shuttle had been here before theirs even crested the horizon, so Alexis searched for a doorbell, pressing one if it was there or just using the knocker if there was not one.
"...Politics." Was all she muttered to herself.

---

May you ever walk in the Light, Shizune.