{"id":316,"date":"2013-02-03T00:00:34","date_gmt":"2013-02-03T05:00:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.embklitzke.com\/e557\/?p=316"},"modified":"2013-02-02T10:39:11","modified_gmt":"2013-02-02T15:39:11","slug":"four-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.embklitzke.com\/e557\/?p=316","title":{"rendered":"Five"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Back in the days of the Guard, they invited all psychics from every walk of life, of every creed, to join them on Mimir and later in its allied systems.\u00a0 Now, the colony at E-557 is the only haven left.\u00a0 It\u2019s not much of a choice.\u00a0 But it\u2019s a choice nonetheless.<\/h3>\n

— Padraig Danson, senior claims reviewer for the New Earth Commonwealth Colonial Office, interview by NewsWire, 20 Decem 5248<\/h3>\n<\/blockquote>\n

 <\/p>\n

3 Decem, 5249 PD<\/strong><\/p>\n

Artificial wind lifted hair away from her face, worrying it free of the braid she\u2019d pulled it into.\u00a0 The ship landing was silver, emblazoned with the white and orange of Mission Systems along its flanks, sleeker than the heavier cruisers that plied the trade lanes.\u00a0 It was clearly a ship meant for short hops at higher speeds than the usual craft built by Mission Systems.\u00a0 Lindsay took a deep breath and exhaled it slowly, glancing toward Marshal Aidan Church, a big, dark-skinned man, standing next to her and watching as the ship slowly settled down on the landing field at the air base at Nova Spexi.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow many did they say there was going to be?\u201d\u00a0 She asked quietly.\u00a0 She could feel a lot of people aboard the ship, feel the whispers of their minds, some dimmer than others.\u00a0 \u201cFeels like a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n

Aidan shook his head slowly, dark eyes narrowing as the ship\u2019s engines whined for a moment before they shut down.\u00a0 \u201cMaybe forty.\u00a0 Maybe less, maybe more.\u00a0 Ship can\u2019t hold that many and they haven\u2019t been able to get an accurate count.\u00a0 They had to turn back twice because they caught more signals from survivors in the system.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lindsay took a deep breath and eased her mental shields down slightly, rocking back against her heels and gasping a little at the feelings of desperation and fear coupled with relief and trepidation all at once.\u00a0 \u201cOh,\u201d she exhaled, squeezing her hands into fists.<\/p>\n

The military commander touched her shoulder gently, voice softening.\u00a0 \u201cAre you all right?\u201d<\/p>\n

She took a steadying breath and nodded, easing her shields back up.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m all right.\u00a0 They\u2019re just so afraid.\u00a0 There\u2019s so many of them, everyone\u2019s thoughts and feelings are melting together.\u201d\u00a0 She looked up at Aidan and smiled.\u00a0 \u201cI didn\u2019t pick up anyone that\u2019s out to hurt anyone here.\u201d\u00a0 Her smile faded.\u00a0 \u201cBut that doesn\u2019t mean there isn\u2019t one among them.\u00a0 There\u2019s a lot of generalized fear in there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Aidan nodded slightly.\u00a0 \u201cThat\u2019s why you\u2019re one of the ones working with them.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know,\u201d Lindsay said softly.\u00a0 Lot of responsibility.\u00a0 But what else can I do?<\/i>\u00a0 She wet her lips, crossing her arms.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll let you and your people secure the ship.\u00a0 You\u2019ll bring the refugees down to the community center?\u201d<\/p>\n

He nodded.\u00a0 \u201cAs always.\u00a0 Dr. Grace and Dr. Vilenauva standing by?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey should be, with some volunteers to do triage.\u00a0 Marshal Windsor wanted to speak with the Mission Systems personnel once the refugees are unloaded and the ship\u2019s secure.\u201d\u00a0 Lindsay didn\u2019t turn toward the sound of familiar footsteps approaching her from behind.\u00a0 She\u2019d grown so used to Alana\u2019s tread she didn\u2019t even need to look anymore, and Alana had learned a long time ago not to sneak up on her.\u00a0 \u201cHe said to bring them to him in conference three.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll take care of that personally.\u201d\u00a0 Aidan glanced away from Lindsay toward Alana, inclining his head.\u00a0 \u201cColonel Chase.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMarshal.\u201d\u00a0 Alana stopped and stood behind Lindsay\u2019s shoulder, adopting a parade rest stance, feet slightly spread and her shoulders straight, hands clasped behind her back.\u00a0 She was back in a fitted black shirt over baggy gray cargos and combat boots, her blonde hair pulled tightly out of her face.\u00a0 \u201cI take it I\u2019m not late to helping you secure the ship and its passengers?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot late at all, no.\u201d\u00a0 Aidan smirked.\u00a0 \u201cDo what do I owe the honor of your assistance?\u201d<\/p>\n

Good question.<\/i>\u00a0 Lindsay looked over her shoulder at Alana, arching a brow.<\/p>\n

Alana\u2019s shoulders rose and fell in a shrug.\u00a0 \u201cI thought it would be a good use of my time.\u00a0 I have some capacity for being nonlethal when I put my mind to it.\u201d\u00a0 She held up her metal-sheathed hand.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ve loaded sedatives, just in case.\u00a0 Some of these people may be more than a little panicked, unless I miss my guess.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lindsay\u2019s brow creased, now.\u00a0 What\u2019s gotten into you, Alana? Where are you getting all of this from?<\/i>\u00a0 \u201cAlana?\u201d<\/p>\n

Alana smiled at her faintly.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ve been reading, Lindsay.\u00a0 That\u2019s all.\u201d<\/p>\n

She nodded mutely.\u00a0 I\u2019m not sure what\u2019s going on here.\u00a0 Maybe I\u2019m having some sort of crazy nightmare.\u00a0 This isn\u2019t like her.<\/i><\/p>\n

Aidan arched a brow at Lindsay, then looked back at Alana.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m appreciative of the offer, Colonel.\u00a0 Wouldn\u2019t dream of saying no, either.\u00a0 Go see Michaelson.\u201d<\/p>\n

Alana dipped her head in acknowledgement, smiled at Lindsay, then stepped away, heading over at a jog to the trim man with graying brown hair that was Major Curtis Michaelson, one of the higher ranking infantrymen on E-557.\u00a0 Lindsay frowned, watching her retreating back.<\/p>\n

\u201cSomething wrong, Lindsay?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe,\u201d she murmured, crossing her arms.\u00a0 \u201cAlana isn\u2019t acting like herself.\u201d<\/p>\n

Aidan frowned a little, following her gaze for a moment, then shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cColonel Chase is an enigma, Lindsay.\u00a0 She always has been.\u201d\u00a0 He crossed his arms as well.\u00a0 \u201cBut she\u2019s as good a soldier as I\u2019ve ever met and your aunt trusts her.\u00a0 You<\/i> trust her.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know I trust her,\u201d Lindsay murmured.\u00a0 \u201cI just feel like she\u2019s been acting a little funny the past few days.\u201d\u00a0 Maybe it has to do with whatever she and Dad talked about.\u00a0 I never did get answers on that.\u00a0 Or maybe it\u2019s something about her arm.\u00a0 Maybe they\u2019re connected.<\/i>\u00a0 She blew out a breath through her teeth.<\/p>\n

A clank echoed dully as the main hatch of the Mission Systems ship came open, a ramp slowly extending.\u00a0 The first man out wore a Mission Systems jacket as he climbed out and exchanged a few words with Michaelson.\u00a0 Even with her shields up, Lindsay could sense the man\u2019s relief to finally be on E-557 safely.\u00a0 A few moments later, the man started walking toward Aidan and Lindsay as Michaelson and Alana headed up and into the ship.<\/p>\n

He cleared his throat, a trace of nervousness in his voice.\u00a0 \u201cMarshal Church?\u201d<\/p>\n

Aidan nodded.\u00a0 \u201cMr. Tapas, I presume.\u201d\u00a0 He extended his hand.\u00a0 \u201cMarshal Aidan Church.\u00a0 It\u2019s a pleasure to meet you, though I wish it was under more pleasant circumstances.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo do I, Marshal.\u201d\u00a0 Tapas glanced sidelong at Lindsay for a moment, dark eyes raking over her in a look that was curious more than appraising, then looked back at Aidan.\u00a0 \u201cI take it that you\u2019re going to be my point of contact for this?\u201d<\/p>\n

Aidan shook his head slightly.\u00a0 \u201cJust for this initial phase.\u00a0 Marshal Windsor would like to see you and your crew at the command center once the refugees are unloaded and your craft has been secured.\u201d\u00a0 He crossed his arms, looking past Tapas to the ship.\u00a0 \u201cHow many do you have?\u201d<\/p>\n

Tapas blew out a breath.\u00a0 \u201cFifteen crew.\u00a0 Thirty refugees, ten passengers.\u201d<\/p>\n

Passengers?\u00a0 <\/i>Lindsay blinked.\u00a0 \u201cI wasn\u2019t aware Mission Systems was in the business of ferrying passengers, Mr. Tapas.\u201d<\/p>\n

He glanced at her again and smiled weakly.\u00a0 \u201cWe\u2019re not, Miss\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cConsul Lindsay Farragut.\u201d\u00a0 She extended one gloved hand to him, smiling faintly.\u00a0 The thin leather didn\u2019t seem like much to separate them, but it was enough to kill all but the strongest of touch-based visions of the future.\u00a0 That sort of precognition had plagued her since she was a child.\u00a0 It was only recently that she\u2019d been able to bring it under tighter control, but more recently it had started to slip here and there.\u00a0 She\u2019d told herself it was due to the sheer weight of what was coming, of what was beginning to build around them.\u00a0 Perhaps it was true.<\/p>\n

Tapas hesitated a moment at the glove and then shook her hand.\u00a0 \u201cAre you any relation to the late Senator Farragut?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was my grandfather, Mr. Tapas.\u201d\u00a0 Whatever powers that be safekeep his soul.\u00a0 One of the first to die when Mimir fell.\u00a0 That\u2019s part of why the Commonwealth even gave a damn.\u00a0 They\u2019d lost one of their greatest reformers when he died.<\/i>\u00a0 \u201cI never knew him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMy father met him, once.\u00a0 Said he was a great man.\u201d\u00a0 The smile Tapas gave her was genuine.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s good to know that his line hasn\u2019t disappeared into the ether.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you, Mr. Tapas,\u201d Lindsay said, squeezing his hand slightly before she let go.\u00a0 \u201cNow, about your passengers?\u201d<\/p>\n

Tapas nodded slightly.\u00a0 \u201cYes, the passengers.\u00a0 We\u2019re not actually in the business, but we picked up a group of ten adrift just out of orbit in-system near the Whispers.\u00a0 They\u2019d been inbound when everything happened.\u00a0 From New Earth.\u201d<\/p>\n

From New Earth?\u00a0 That\u2019d be a first, I think.<\/i>\u00a0 Lindsay\u2019s brow furrowed.<\/p>\n

\u201cInteresting.\u00a0 I\u2019m sure Consul Farragut would be very interested in speaking with them.\u00a0 Our current intelligence on the situation in the Commonwealth has been sketchy at best.\u201d\u00a0 Aidan glanced at her for confirmation and Lindsay nodded slightly.<\/p>\n

I\u2019d be very glad to get information untainted by D\u2019Arcy Morgause, yes.<\/i><\/p>\n

Tapas nodded, smiling weakly.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll have one of my crewmen bring them to you as soon as I can, then, Marshal, Consul.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019d be appreciated.\u00a0 Do you have wounded?\u201d<\/p>\n

Tapas took a deep breath and exhaled it slowly.\u00a0 \u201cWe do.\u00a0 One of my people was an EMT in a past life, so he\u2019s been taking care of some of the worst of them.\u00a0 Couple we weren\u2019t sure were going to make it, but they\u2019ve made it this far and he said they\u2019re stable.\u00a0 You have medics standing by?\u201d<\/p>\n

Aidan nodded.\u00a0 \u201cTwo of our best.\u00a0 Consul?\u201d<\/p>\n

Lindsay glanced at Aidan.\u00a0 \u201cMarshal?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPing Colonel Chase and have her get the wounded off-loaded ASAP, will you please?\u00a0 Ask her to escort them to Dr. Grace and Dr. Vilenauva immediately.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lindsay nodded and closed her eyes, though not so quickly that she didn\u2019t see Tapas blink quickly, a look of shock crossing his face.\u00a0 She was aware of him speaking as she mentally extended a tendril, seeking Alana\u2019s familiar mind.<\/p>\n

\u201cDr. Grace?\u00a0 Dr. Ezra Grace?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve heard of him?\u201d\u00a0 Aidan faked surprise rather well, all things considered.\u00a0 That Tapas had heard of Ezra wasn\u2019t surprising\u2014Ezra Grace was well-known throughout human-controlled space.\u00a0 He was near the top of the short list of doctors specializing in decyberization and reconstruction: removing cybernetic and biomechanical components from men and women who\u2019d had them installed, willingly or unwillingly, often for years, and then reconstructing their bodies in the wake of the removal.\u00a0 His advances in that field had won him a great deal of recognition.\u00a0 That he was well-known was of no surprise to most of the men and women who knew him on E-557\u2014he was one of the brightest stars in the Foundation\u2019s constellation of brilliant minds\u2014but most men and women from off-world thought that the denizens of E-557 lived in some kind of bubble, cut off from the rest of humanity.\u00a0 It generally seemed safer not to disabuse anyone of that idea.<\/p>\n

She felt Alana\u2019s confusion and a sudden surge of concern at the touch.\u00a0 Lindsay cursed softly under her breath.\u00a0 \u2018Lana, they want you to make sure to bring the wounded out first, and quickly.\u00a0 Marshal Church wants you to escort them directly to Ezra and Tiana.\u00a0 Personally.<\/i>\u00a0 She felt Alana\u2019s confusion recede, replaced by understanding.\u00a0 Lindsay withdrew back to herself with a slight shiver.<\/p>\n

\u201cAye, I\u2019ve heard of him.\u00a0 My cousin was on a team working on a study testing some of Dr. Grace\u2019s theories on tissue cloning methodology.\u201d\u00a0 Tapas looked a little abashed.\u00a0 \u201cHe\u2019s famous in the medical community.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAlana knows what you need her to do, Marshal,\u201d Lindsay murmured.<\/p>\n

Tapas took a deep breath, looking between the pair for a moment.\u00a0 He focused on Lindsay fractionally longer and finally worked up the guts to ask his question.\u00a0 \u201cPsychic?\u201d<\/p>\n

She inclined her head and smiled faintly.\u00a0 \u201cA little.\u00a0 Guard stock.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tapas nodded slowly, seeming to take the answer as it came, then turned back to Aidan.\u00a0 Lindsay watched them but didn\u2019t really listen, instead extending a thin tendril of her sixth sense toward Tapas, taking his measure gently, simply getting a feel for the man without reading his thoughts.\u00a0 His nerves were clearly apparent, though that seemed to come more from dealing with new faces and the situation at hand than anything untoward.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s used to dealing with Uncle Adam, I guess.\u00a0 Seeing me and Marshal Church unexpectedly is a shock, I suppose.<\/i>\u00a0 Lindsay withdrew slightly, feeling that Tapas was honest, if rattled by circumstances and situation.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I\u2019ll let you get back to getting your ship squared away, Mr. Tapas.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you, Marshal.\u201d\u00a0 He glanced toward Lindsay and inclined his head slightly.\u00a0 \u201cConsul Farragut.\u201d<\/p>\n

She smiled and nodded to him.\u00a0 \u201cMr. Tapas.\u201d<\/p>\n

He withdrew toward his ship almost as Alana was following the first of the stretchers down the ship\u2019s gangway.\u00a0 Lindsay swallowed.<\/p>\n

Kara hugged Ezra, tightly, murmuring something to him.\u00a0 He laughed weakly, then turned to help with the stretcher Brendan was laying on, face pale, head bandaged, eyes sunken and ringed by strange colored bruises.\u00a0 She started to step forward but her uncle touched her arm.<\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cLet them at least get to the ground, Linny-pie,\u201d he murmured.<\/i><\/p>\n

She bit her lip but slowly tugged her arm away from him.\u00a0 \u201cI promised him I\u2019d be here the minute he got back.\u00a0 I want him to know that I was here.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n

She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, watching the Mission Systems crewmen as the handed the stretchers over to elements of E-557\u2019s small infantry force.\u00a0 There was no one here waiting for these wounded, no one they were coming home to here.\u00a0 Their families could be dead in the wake of the bombings.\u00a0 They might have no one left.\u00a0 It was a terrible thought made all the more terrible by the realization that this was only the beginning<\/i>.<\/p>\n

\u201cMarshal, I think I\u2019ll go with Colonel Chase and the wounded, if that\u2019s all right.\u201d<\/p>\n

Aidan blinked, then nodded.\u00a0 \u201cOf course, Consul.\u00a0 I\u2019ll send Mr. Tapas\u2019s passengers to you as soon as they disembark.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you,\u201d Lindsay said softly.\u00a0 She turned to follow Alana across the landing field to where Ezra and Dr. Vilenauva had set up shop.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Back in the days of the Guard, they invited all psychics from every walk of life, of every creed, to join them on Mimir and later in its allied systems.\u00a0 Now, the colony at E-557 is the only haven left.\u00a0 … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-316","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-book-two-ashes-to-ashes"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p25yjF-56","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.embklitzke.com\/e557\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/316","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.embklitzke.com\/e557\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.embklitzke.com\/e557\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.embklitzke.com\/e557\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.embklitzke.com\/e557\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=316"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"http:\/\/www.embklitzke.com\/e557\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/316\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":318,"href":"http:\/\/www.embklitzke.com\/e557\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/316\/revisions\/318"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.embklitzke.com\/e557\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=316"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.embklitzke.com\/e557\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=316"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.embklitzke.com\/e557\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=316"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}