Metal Militia

[Shulsky]

A wry smile crossed the woman’s face as she appraised the figure on his approach. He commanded respect, that much was certain, though his face was understandably unfamiliar. Were it otherwise, Blake supposed she might have been concerned. Celebrities do not rise to the occasion like that, not outside the holo-dramas. If she’d seen him before in the teeming classes at West Point, that would have also been somewhat concerning, but more understandable. But no, the man’s face was unfamiliar. He seemed well taken care of enough, muscular enough, not ailing away or falling apart, and his walk reinforced that. It was a confident kind of walk. She supposed it wouldn't do for such a person to be otherwise.

He held out his hand, taken and shook with just the same confidence in return. It was a display, sure, for the Xenos about them and the crews and such but Blake didn't quite put weight there. Xenos thoughts were Xenos thoughts, and the legitimate companies or authorities wouldn’t necessarily put stock in them if word ever leaked. If they did near every corporation in Liberty might be suspect.

“Glad to finally meet you,” she replied somewhat guarded. It wasn’t good to make assumptions on public titles. “I think I've looked forward to this for some time. It's good to be in Ontario.”

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Operation Have Sea