Login

Hawk · 10-18-2010, 04:04 AM,

Elijah Tallwood stepped through the steel doors out onto a wooden deck. There were several small trees growing around the deck and some larger ones in the distance. He could hear birds chirping and flying around him. About a quarter mile above is head was the reinforced glass of Invergordon's biodome. He walked across the deck and saw Jack Crow sitting in a chair on the edge of the deck. He had a glass of brown liquid in his hand and a book in his lap. 'Thought I'd find you out here," he said as he walked up to his boss. 'That was a hell of a pep talk you gave to everyone in there. What the hell's come over you?'

'Was it that much of a surprise Lije?'

'Not to the rest of them I guess, but then I've known you longer than most of them. Today I saw a hoodlum teenager, turned misfit naval officer who left the navy to become a small time captain of a smuggler ship, until he became some kind of crime boss, and now he's a crusader going to save the world.'

'I'm not saving anything but my own hind parts Lije, and maybe a few people that I care about if I'm lucky. Pull up a chair and chat a while.'

Elijah grabbed another chair and sat down next to Crow. 'It was still pretty impressive. That was not the same guy I met so many years ago speaking in there today. What's that you're reading there?'

Crow flipped the book over and showed him the cover, City of God.

'So you're still clinging to that old religion even now. I wonder what your dear St. Augustine would say about the leader of an organization that dabbles in cardamine traffic.'

'Uh, Lord give me sobriety, but not yet?'

'HA! At least you haven't lost your sense of humor.'

'You want a drink? This is some really fine rum. I don't think I've ever tasted anything quite like it.'

'What'd you do raid AJ's private stash on the station?'

'No, this actually came off my ship. Doc gave me a case of it a while back after one of the jobs we did for him.'

'In that case I will have a glass, 'Elijah answered as he reached for the bottle and turned over an empty glass next to it 'Speaking of Doc, have you heard from him lately?'

'Not a word, but that doesn't surprise me all that much. I imagine he's still holed up somewhere on Gran Canaria.'

'What the hell got into him to do something like that?'

'Well, I wish he hadn't done it, but I certainly understand his reasons for doing it. I hope I never have to deal with what he did.'

'It's a little different for us, we're used to people hunting us down. It's just part of being a Junker.'

'True enough. So, what are your thoughts on everything that's going on now?'

'I'm just wondering what you're trying to do. You've been playing it smart for the longest time trying to keep the Congress from becoming over militarized. I think that was a smart idea. Now it looks like you're getting ready for a war.'

'I'm still hoping there's not going to be a war. I'm hoping Doc was wrong. Anyway we're not going to fight a war, just stay alive.'

'You think it will work?'

'I have no idea. Worse comes to worst, I'll just go into hiding like Doc. I can certainly afford to do that and live out my life comfortably.'

'What's stopping you from doing that now?'

'Like I said, I'm hoping it won't come to that. Besides, if there is a Gallic invasion, there's a chance they will go into Kusari as well, if they do that it could put Liberty's northern born on the front line.'

'Since when have you ever cared about Liberty?'

'Since my home planet is located on the northern border of Liberty. I still have family on Planet Denver. What will happen to them if that area becomes a war zone?'

'What will you do if it does?'

'Well, we definitely won't be able to fight off the invaders. Hopefully Hale can. We'll offer whatever logistic support we can of course to help him do that.'

'You and Hale aren't exactly on the best of terms, and he certainly doesn't like me.'

'My love for Denver trumps my feelings about Hale, and if he gets in a bind he certainly won't turn down help from us.'

'What do you think the Xenos will do about that?'

'The Xenos will protect Denver too. They'll probably hate invaders from Gallia worse than any of us. They'll hate working along side us, but I hop that won't cloud their judgment for doing the right thing. Who knows?'

'You really think it will come to that?'

'Damn I hope not. Like I said earlier, I don't think Gallia is going to invade. However, if they do they can maybe hit Bretonia and Kusari. I can't image they can go farther than that right away without stretching themselves too thin.'

Elijah took a sip of his rum, 'I hope your right. I've seen enough insanity already. Can't we just have a normal peaceful life?'

'Lije, if you wanted that you'd still be in the Liberty Navy.'

'True enough my friend.'

Login
Username:
Password:	Lost Password?
	Remember me