The Recovery of Dreams

[Stoner_Steve]

Brad takes the flask from Leo with a sigh, uncorking it and taking a long whiff. "Freeport 9's finest," he mutters, a hint of longing in his voice. "Whiskey just hasn't been the same since the Corsair occupation shut down production." He takes a swig, grimaces slightly, and hands it back.

"Another knock at the door, huh?" he says, gesturing towards the door with the flask. "Come in!" he calls out, a hint of amusement in his voice.

The door opens to reveal Emily, and Brad offers a tired smile. "Welcome aboard, Emily. Always good to have fresh eyes on a project." He leans back in his chair, internally acknowledging the very real need for extra personnel on this mission. "Though," he thinks to himself, "under normal circumstances I wouldn't throw a new recruit into something like this..."

"Alright, let's get down to brass tacks," Brad continues, addressing both Leo and Emily. "The Gryphon's a marvel, no doubt, but towing the Dreamscape back? Not exactly its forte. I was thinking of bringing along the Leviathan - the heavy lifter we used to haul materials for Ikarus Station. That should give us the muscle we need to bring the old girl home." A wry smile touches his lips. "Though, let's be honest, even with the Leviathan, we won't be able to bring back everything we might want. Just getting into Earhart is going to be a challenge, let alone coming out with a whole starship in tow."

He leans forward, elbows on the desk, and steeples his fingers. "So, that's the situation. Leo, you've got your concerns about the mission itself. Emily, you're eager to prove yourself. Let's hear your thoughts. What are we walking into, and how do we mitigate the risks?"