Transfer 14

[Sturmwind]

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<span style="font-size:24pt;line-height:100%]Transfer 14

A gigantic metal construct floated over the famous West Point Military Academy in the busy New York system, a pair of Navy fighters paving its way among the flow of space commerce. The huge vessel in question was a Liberty Dreadnaught, possibly one of the oldest still in service. Its appearance was made more unusual by a duck insignia painted on its side, which was to be found on each of the fighters accompanying it as well. The inscription above the logo read "Feathered Pond"; it was the mobile headquarters of the 36th Soaring Ducks squadron.

The battleship lazily placed itself above the mooring clams of station and sat down on top of it in the company of flashing crimson lights. A pillar erected from the academy and joined the airlock of the vessel, granting its visiting crew passage to the interior. Using the opportunity, three silhouettes crossed the corridor and entered the space station.

A metal door hissed and slid open.

[color=#000066]"ATTEN-TION!"

The deep voice of the deck officer echoed through the hall. A dozen Liberty marines standing near the doorway clicked their heels and raised their heads hastily despite the heavy armor they wore, their sights covered by their helmets flashed as they looked towards the corridor's light projector.

The three characters previously seen in the spaceport jetty stepped in; spearheading the group was a female Captain in her late fourties, wearing a black trenchcoat over a navy blue uniform. She kept her brows lowered, which made her entire face shift into an intimidating, angry look chiefly due to the eerie placement of her wrinkles. On her side stood two of her Lieutenants of an entirely opposing character; one was muscular and visually uneducated, the other's intellectual manners were betrayed by his complexly assembled eyeglasses while one could tell he had difficulties with even lifting an assault rifle. The general appearance of the soldiers shifted into a tone of grotesque even more so once their unit insignia, as described above a duck, was noted.

The deck officer welcomed the guests with a salute, which was a gesture the Captain repeated.

"Welcome back to West Point, Captain Evans."

"Can't say it's a pleasure to be here, Lieutenant. We have some mean stuff to discuss with the Real Admiral..."

She raised her eyebrows, looking behind the deck officer greeting her.

"I trust he's expecting us?"

The Lieutenant nodded.

"Yes, ma'am, your arrival has been scheduled but... in all honesty I can't say the Rear Admiral was happy about it."

"In all honesty, I couldn't care less. Take me to his office while my Lieutenants pick up the necessary supplies."

"Yes, ma'am."

The officer turned around and started marching towards the elevator, Captain Evans following closely behind. The news she brought was not even remotely pleasant, her frustrated look betrayed her intentions before she even set her foot on the station.