Project Demeter

[Jeremy Hunter]

The Concordia, the current flagship for the Colonial Republic's Fleet, detached from Sabah's drydock after the refit. It currently was carrying the supplies needed for a very important Project, code-named Demeter.

Onboard the Concordia, Minister of Science and Technology Xi de Mortis stood on the observation deck. Demeter...the Greek Goddess of Agriculture. A fitting name for the title of the project that she currently was heading up: the colonization of Planet Yuma under the colors of the Colonial Republic. The world was ripe for colonization, and right now, the Republic needed to rebuild. Yuma was their best bet.
"Ma'am, Colonel Crowe and the 117th will be ready to head down and make sure no fauna - or flora - will be causing harm to the initial survey team in a few minutes."
Xi looked over her should, pizza trailing from her mouth back to the piece. She had just taken a bite of a slice of cheese pizza when she was accosted by a young marine.
"Fank joo." she said, the tore the cheese off, pulling it into her mouth before chewing it up and swallowing. "Thank you Corporal." She said. "Tell Crowe I'll be heading down there with his men and a small team to sample the ground and the flora."
"Uh, ok ma'am." The marine started to backpedal, but Xi held up a hand. "One moment."
"Yes ma'am?"
Xi held up a slice of Pepperoni pizza. "Want some?"

__________________________

Colonel Wayland Crowe of the 117th LASS Battalion paced the hanger deck. Two Celestras were being loaded with the necessary supplies. The science team, which was heading down to take more soil samples, was also going down to test the ocean's composition...or something. He hefted the heavy machine gun and turned.
"Corporal Stanz, Corporal Halle, why are you not stowing your gear! I said get your asses onto this transport ten minutes ago!"
The two men hustled up, hefting their rifles.
"Sorry sir, couldn't find my PDA."
"Uh, I was stuck with the Minister of Science."
Crowe dropped the heavy gun on a crash seat and placed himself in front of Halle. He was easily a foot taller then the man.
"Corporal Halle, you were to tell the Minister we were almost done waiting on the eggheads. Not to spend time staring at her ass."
"Sorry sir, she...offered pizza..."
"Now you know why she is known as the Unofficial Minister of Pizza, because she loves it. That is no excuse. Get into your seat, strap in, and pray."

Crowe exited the Celestra to make sure everything was onboard.
What he found, made him facepalm.
"Colonel Crowe."
"Miss de Mortis. Why is there a...portable pizza over on this hanger deck?"
"Must you ask? Why are you bringing such...firepower down to Yuma?"
Crowe raised his hands in defeat, then placed himself behind it. "Because, we don't know what's down there besides our few small camps." He rubs his forehead. "Let me guess, you want to ride with us jarheads."
"Yes, I do." She smirked and briskly walked onto the Celestra, duffel bag over her shoulder. Crowe shook his head and shoved the oven onbaord, sticking it by the cockpit. When he turned, he found de Mortis had taken the seat right across from where he was going to sit. Sighing inwardly, Crowe dropped into the crash seat and buckled in.
"Buckle up Miss de Mortis; this will be a bump ride."
"I know. Try not to throw up on the way down."

The Celestras powered off the deck and floated towards the main doors. five Eros Light Fighters also lifted off from the deck, and soon enough, the seven ships were out in space.
"This is Charon One, preparing to enter the atmosphere."
"Epsilon Lead to Charon One, we read you. Preparing Atmosphere-entry interface. We'll follow in your wake, over."
"Roger that Epsilon Lead. We're going in five."
Five seconds later, the seven vessels hit the atmosphere.

Inside Charon Two, Xi de Mortis calmly held onto the crash seat as the Celestra bucked and tossed in the atmosphere. A few loose crates bounced around, threatening to hit someone. The pizza over smacked against the wall twice before wedging itself still.
Crowe took out a cigar and lit it, and then turned on the music.

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May you ever walk in the Light, Shizune.