Tides of Change

[ophidian]

Moiraine was listening to her assistant, giving her the casualty list of today's skirmishes. It wasn't bright so far. Four Bastets were destroyed, two of the pods were recovered and one of the pilots inside was already dead when the salvage crew managed to tractor the pod in, due to an oxygen decompression caused by faulty engineering.

She couldn't get angry with the engineers at her command, they were doing their best to prepare the ships for battle. For them, life was six hours sleep every day and eighteen hours of workshop repairs. Some couldn't even find the time to visit the ship's mass hall for some r n r.

"How many craft and personnel we have for a quick response?". Commodore's voice was iron blickering in cold ice. She was known to be a statue of emotionless logic but compared to her recent mood, it was like a tender walk in the flower gardens of Kyushu.

"With the loss of this week's total, when we add the injured personnel to the list, we lost 7 crafts. 4 KIA's and 2 pilots are in need of medical attention for at least another 10 days." Her assistant Jeannie was with her since Rand Seith left the Order more than a year ago but she was already used to her delusional states and steel-like behaviour. Still, she was afraid of her reaction to the ever forming bad reports.

"With that in mind, we have twelve crafts left. Seven Bastets, three Nephies and two Sekhmets Ma'am."

"It is enough for now." It had to be enough...

She looked at the cold view of Alaska. Immortal's current assignment was to cover for the Minor junction and prevent any unwanted guests to enter. After a brief moment, she turned back and looked Jeannie in the eye.

"Narrow our patrol route by 10 clicks. Tell the Navigation to plot a new arch where we pass near Atum's patrol routes as much as possible. We will have to go mutual with their wings at this time."

"Yes Ma'am."

"And inform the High Command, I have to speak with the Admirals in actual as soon as possible."

With that, she turned back to stare at the cold, numb deepness of Alaska, trying to see the dangers ahead through the thick fog.

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