This recorded message reaches you as I'v not returned from the latest venture by now to insert the termination code. Means I'll most likely not be arriving the next weeks, or months given.
For this is the case, naming Estefania as my proxy tasked with holding line on all projects and duties my rank reads responsible for.
She's given password to my internal frequencies, the keys to all secured data and will continue with the endeavours I was involved with before.
Personal guards, the squadrons securing Galicia and the recently reactivated 087 are under her direct command.
Once I'm back, this substitution is revoked.
With Administrator's endorsement, this is in immediate effect.
A more private note at the end,... given a denial results in Estefania still holding passcodes to Galicia and her accounted to continue development started there, just as my personal guards will rather follow her as Ghost command.
For Power. For Ishmael. For the Nacion.
Salutes.
Rear Admiral-MIA Casta.
Maria came rushing into Martino's office on a late June night. All out of breath,
"Signor, signor this just came in"
Martino looked at the transmission with a grim expression. Things weren't going as he had planned.
He shut the transmission off, fumbled around his desktop for a cigarette, or rather a whole pack of 'em. He then proceeded to a bit of screaming, swearing before calling for Maria.
"Maria, i want Estefania in my office tomorrow morning, on the clock" He said with a dead serious expression.
As Martino lit a cigarette, he pondered upon when, where or why Casta went missing. How could his have happened, and how should they proceed with funerals, with no remains to present any friends or family?
With these questions weighing down his head, he set the course for his home, in the hope of some sleep before the sun once more would shine upon his face, with it's warm, innocent rays.
Administrator's response finally reached out to Estefania, an eight day delay regarded to the fact she was hiding away on Galicia's lower floors denying any and all interaction with the outside.
Perez wanted to see her, to speak about where to her sister went missing and to get informed on what happened at all the time before that. Not that Estefania was intrigued to waste her time flying over to Malta and having to deal with bureaucracy, but on Administrator's call, she could not just ignore it. She had ignored it already for several days, focused on unfragmenting the pieces Gabriella had left behind to be solved.
Maltese air. The true way to breathe Cardamine. Inhaling it without a mask, contrary to what they are relying to most of the time when away from the planet, even on stations.
Out of her Sabre, Estefania passes the technicians immediatly occupied with screening her ship for any issues and needed repairs. Ammunition is carried on, fueling-pipes locked to the underground tanks.
Her conception crystalline, her motions determined, she is making her way to Perez' office, passing the walkways above administrative departments and the malls, further past the military checkpoint at the border to civilian zones.
She would never understand why Perez had his office not within the enclosed area by the runways.
The infamous light dome one will see when on landing approach to military docks covered the end of the hall where she is been by antigravity-elevator taken down twohundred-seventyfour decks to the offset of the Administrator's official estate.
With the elevator on the outside of the plateau at which Malta's flight terminal was constructed, the view can stray far into the heart of Malta itself, with the orange fields at the horizon smooth blending into the sunset.
Not to her surprise, Kelly is already waiting for her right outside the hoistway, as usual without any given emotion, wearing the full armour she ever since her resurrection is been known for.
The both about to access the inner estate's sanctum, Estefania is hold back by Kelly marking a person sitting on the terrace to their left, smoking.
Casta, Estefania. You've ordered me here, so here I'm. What's the issue?
Martino signaled for Casta to come outside, onto the terrace. "and leave that stranger at the door" he said-
Casta signaled for Kelly to stay put for the time being, and went out onto the terrace. Out on the terrace, Martino was enjoying the midday sun, with a bottle of rum by his side, together with his trademark cigarettes.
"Buongiorno signorina, please sit down. You got a lot to tell me" he said in a dead serious tone. "Now, signorina. Tell me, what were your sister up to lately? I knew she was working on something, but i decided to cut her some slack, hoping that it was best if she didn't feel, supervised. Apparently, something didn't go as planned, did it? Since she went missing....And who the hell is that girl you brought along?" He lit a cigarette and poured himself another glass of rum, while signaling for Casta to sit down on the sunbed next to his.
The moment Estefania was about to approach the seat offered by the Administrator, she noticed a sharp whistle coming from Kelly. Turning around to the soldier accompanying her, she is given signal that arrangements are finally complete.
Estefania stopped. For a short moment, inhaling maltese air in a sense to clear her thoughts, reality around her ceased to exist working.
In a rush she is heading towards Perez,...
You think you're in control, you believe this's your place, nothing passes you unnoticed. Yet you've so many questions. Yet you're not realizing what's evolving around your closed perception of the Nacion.
There's nothing for you to achieve, nothing for you to know, nothing left for you to take.
Your world is burning, and with it you alike. Time had come, times will change.
If not for all of us, sure not for you.
Left behind, left out, left alone. You've chosen that path, now suit yourself.
The last word spoken, the two soldiers already had left the scenery, leaving Perez sit alone on the terrace.
Maltese sun is about to set.
![[Image: v1zVWKX.png]](https://i.imgur.com/v1zVWKX.png)