Kale
EFF Officer 
Sublieutenant
Posts: 620
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Post by Kale on Feb 16, 2010 17:54:42 GMT -5
3:47 a.m.
The analog clock blinked, rewriting seven into eight. Aldo P. Armistad stirred. He rolled over, right arm falling off the side of his bunk, its knuckle scraping the floor.
Pupils danced beneath slumbering lids. Their frantic movements were at odds with the baby-like smile on Armistad's face.
It was black in his quarters aboard the Virgil. Aside from the faint, red glow of the alarm clock, the room was featureless underneath a blanket of darkness. It was quiet, too.
Quiet, that is, before the sharp crack of pine against metal began to echo like intermittent thunder from somewhere outside.
Aldo's eyes fluttered one last time, before squinting hard, and opening to half-mast.
"Donny..." he groaned, looking up at the clock and letting the blurred numbers collapse in on themselves as his vision achieved focus.
3:52 a.m.
Aldo rolled back over, put his pillow against his ear, and went back to sleep.
4:00 a.m.
The alarm sounded. Its piercing shrill was louder and more annoying than the steady drum of Donny's bat. This time Aldo's eyes shot wide awake; his fist slammed down hard on the clock, bringing it to silence.
Yawning, he sat up. His feet rested on the cold, smooth floor panel. With his right foot, Aldo probed around, blindly, until he found his discarded pants. He dragged them back with a toe, and then kicked them on one leg, and then the other.
Donny's hammering continued. It made Aldo wince, as he bent down and wrestled the pants up past his thighs. He fell backwards, weight on his shoulders, and finished lifting them onto his waist. Throughout the maneuver, his belt buckle jingled, until it was finally clasped as he fell forward onto his ass.
Bending down and finding his shirt was less difficult, and he quickly threw his arms into either sleave, not caring to button it more than two or three high.
Then Aldo sat there, eyes closed, basking in the solitude of morning, cocking a smirk each time Donny's bat rang out.
4:08 a.m.
He was out the door. Looking right, he peered down the hallway. He saw Donny same as Donny saw him. The drumming stopped.
Aldo turned left. He began to walk, Donny trailing at a distance.
It didn't take them long to find their destination. It was a door, open only slightly, from which light spilled into the dimly-lit hallway.
Aldo didn't bother knocking. He pushed the door open, and closed it behind, leaving Donny to his own devices.
Aldo stared at Xavier Brennan. "G'morning," was the pleasantry he offered.
Outside, the hammering began anew.
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Chris
ZMF Officer 
Obersturmbannfuhrer
Ubersuperduperbannfuhrer!
Posts: 849
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Post by Chris on Feb 16, 2010 19:03:42 GMT -5
"Go figure..." Was all the officer could mutter as he pensively rubbed his temple. Xavier sighed as he looked at the clock that sat near the edge of his desk.
4:02 a.m.
It was far too early in the morning for such things, but he was promptly awaken when orders from Odessa came in; He was to surrender prisoners to Lhasa for exchange.
What were they thinking? Xavier just shook his head as part of him felt they were better off dead; The officer in him did not want to disobey the orders however.
With a yawn and a grunt, he lazily reached out for a glass of amber liquid, a couple of ice cubes floating in it to keep the drink cool. The Obersturmfuhrer closed his eyes for a second, savoring the whiskey as he held the glass to his lips and took a sip. He let the taste linger on his tongue as he went back and forth on how to deal with his controversial prisoners...
4:08 a.m.
"I have no choice... Orders are ord-"
"G'morning." A familiar voice followed the sound of his office door shutting. The Schuzstaffel officer looked up from his papers and his glass, letting out a sigh as his eyes confirmed the presence of Lieutenant Aldo P. Armistad.
'As if my morning wasn't difficult enough...'
"G'morning Lt. Armistad..." Xavier took a second to set his glass down, and another second to take another look at the Mobile Assault Officer that stood just inside his office; oh to what pleasure did he owe this visit?
He pushed his chair away from his desk and sat back for a second, pausing, as he thought of the best way to break the news to the mourning Lieutenant. After the two sat in silence for a moment, Xavier stood and stared his visitor in the eyes, preparing for the confrontation that was to come.
"As much as I would like to see you and your boy take that trusty bat of his to the side of their heads." He paused, the steady clanking of Donny's bat filling the awkward silence.
"I have orders from high command that they are to be transported to Lhasa in preparation for an exchange with the Federation." Xavier's face was long and worn as he hadn't time for much sleep, but he stood fast as he delivered the orders; no matter how much he disagreed with them...
'I'm sorry Aldo...'
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Kale
EFF Officer
Sublieutenant
Posts: 620
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Post by Kale on Feb 16, 2010 20:59:11 GMT -5
Aldo steeled his jaw. He took a step further into the office, absorbing it with the same detached gaze with which he had approached Donny's earlier knock-down, drag-out against the dreadlocked Feddie.
It was a spartan room. Desk filled with papers and regional maps, and a clock to match his own. One chair for Xavier; two for guests, though Aldo would occupy neither. Save for the bottle of liquor, and a picture of Brennan's little SS princess, this space lacked personal affects. Clearly, Virgil was not the Obersturmfuhrer's home ship.
Still. Maybe that was just the type of person Brennan was, deep down inside. Empty of anything but his daughter and his orders.
Shrugging off the thought, Aldo snatched up Xavier's rocks glass and downed what remained of the amber. It was sweet; not quite bourbon, but not quite bad, with just enough burn to make Armistad exhale through gritted teeth.
Picking the whiskey bottle up, Aldo poured himself another gulp's worth, and then fell back against the far wall.
"Well then, Herr Brennan..." he started to trail off, but quickly picked his words back up. "I guess you and I is at an impasse."
Aldo took a sip of whiskey, then pointed the bottle-laden hand at his Schuzstaffel counterpart. "Course, we both know what's really gonna happen... Sure as you dragged me into this shitstain operation, my boy Donny and I is dragging those Feddie down 'ta hell."
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Chris
ZMF Officer
Obersturmbannfuhrer
Ubersuperduperbannfuhrer!
Posts: 849
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Post by Chris on Feb 16, 2010 23:17:45 GMT -5
Every ounce of Xavier wanted to yield to the Lieutenant's wishes; they deserved every last crack Donny would drive home to the sides of their skulls. After all he's lost to the hands of the Federation, why should he be asked to let them live? The Schutzstaffel Officer just shook his head; he was never one for politics... But orders were orders, and he was loyal to Gihren.
"I'm afraid I can't be allowing that Lieutenant." He shifted his weight anxiously, pulling his shoulders back and staring the roguish officer in the eyes. Xavier narrowed his eyes as he took yet another swig of the Obersturmfuhrer's liquor.
'I can see we'll have to do this the hard way my friend...'
"As Commanding Offi-"
"Obersturmfuhrer!"
4:28 a.m.
A communications officer burst into the room, a look of worry covered his face as hunched over, hands on knees while he tried to catch his breath. In one hand was a crumpled piece of paper with a message from the Lorelay.
"Sir... I- we- we just got word from Captain Nimue and the Lorelay, they've been under attack by the 87th." He wheezed and coughed as he handed the message to Brennan. The officer's eyes closed as he took a deep breath, afraid of what he was about to read; hopefully everything was OK.
"The Baekhesten and the Melusine are lost, but the Lorelay has safely made its escape from the area." The young officer stood up, his breath regained and color coming back to his face. Xavier's shoulders dropped in relief as he heard that Marina and Hans had made it out alive; Ariel really was watching over her...
"Those god damned cowards..." Xavier growled, anger slowly setting in as he looked over the transmission transcript; he was becoming rather irritated with the habit they were getting of attacking Marina in his absence. He crumpled the paper and tossed it onto his desk with a sigh; time and time again, they've sought to end her life; he was not about to lose a daughter again...
'They picked the wrong day...'
His eyes moved back to Lt. Armistad, staring him down for a moment before moving to his desk. Xavier promptly opened the right hand drawer, pulling out a pair of black leather gloves, and his pistol. He took a moment, inspected the chamber, and the clip and turned to his original visitor once satisfied.
"As Commanding Officer, it is my duty to report that it is a shame and unfortunate circumstance that the 08th was actually, indeed, killed in action on October 19th..." Brennan clenched his fists as he pulled his gloves on. His gaze rose slowly to meet Aldo's who was waiting at the door; Why should he show mercy where they were unrelenting?
"Thank you, you may return to your post." He saluted the communication's Officer before he rushed back to the radio room, brushing past Aldo and skirting around Donny.
"Shall we give your boy Hugo a proper send off?"
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Kale
EFF Officer
Sublieutenant
Posts: 620
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Post by Kale on Feb 17, 2010 1:17:01 GMT -5
"Heh," Aldo muttered, watching Xavier brush past him and into the corridor. Polishing off the last of his drink, Aldo dropped both bottle and rocks glass onto the floor, and made after the Obersturmfuhrer. "Glad to see you at least know his name."
There was a snear on his face, as he fell into step behind Brennan, Donny falling into step behind him. "Say Don-nay," Aldo spoke over his shoulder. "How's it feel to know exactly where's you and I stack in the peckin' order? I mean, personally, I'm glad there's no con-fusion...
"Hugo dies? Hostages go home. His little baby girl gets a bloody nose? Bullets in peoples' heads.
"Makes total sense."
If Xavier was going to respond, Aldo didn't afford the chance. He just kept on pressing, picking up the pace so he walked shoulder-by-shoulder with his commander.
"Tell me, Mr. Brennan. How's it feel to lose two more ships? Gotta be getting pretty routine by now, I'd imagine. What's the count at, exactly? Eclipse, Morrigan, Hugo, that little ugly Grabro that suicided itself into the aircraft carrier back at Manila...? And God knows how many of those floatin' phalluses you've gotten sunk. Must be pretty nice -- the idea of tuckin' your baby girl into bed when you two make it home.
"Rest of us dead; you and her alive? Guess that means everything's peaches and right in this world."
Aldo rolled his eyes and drew his knife. That was all he had to say to Brennan. The 08th weren't far away, and no matter his animosity towards the man at his side, it didn't nearly compare to the fire raging for those ahead.
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Chris
ZMF Officer
Obersturmbannfuhrer
Ubersuperduperbannfuhrer!
Posts: 849
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Post by Chris on Feb 17, 2010 18:50:43 GMT -5
The words cut like a knife as Aldo smugly recounted all the assets lost under the Obersturmfuhrer's command. Xavier was not proud of any of it, but he did what he needed to be successful. for the Duchy; for Marina...
True, the Lieutenant had lost a comrade, a brother, but he had lost many. What did he know of the loses and pain the Schutzstaffel officer had suffered? He had lost everything through the course of this damned war; his wife; his daughter. Xavier had fallen so deep that all he had left was his rank and his orders; the job became his life.
How could he think things were so simple? The Officer's eyes seemed to almost glass over before he reacted; he had enough. Unleashing the frustration of so many years past, Xavier grabbed Aldo's shoulder, spinning him around and slamming the smaller Lieutenant against the cold steel wall.
"Watch your tongue soldier..." Xavier almost hissed in a low gutteral tone as he held tightly to Aldo's shirt with both hands. The arrogant Lieutenant tried to lean forward, but was quickly and assertively pressed back against the wall; this cocky son of a bitch was going to hear what he had to say, whether he liked it or not.
"Listen here. I understand you lost one of your men. And as you so colorfully and happily explained, you more than know I've lost many. The Federation has taken everything from me; EVERY-THING." He stared into the eyes of his MAF counterpart, gritting his teeth as his blood ran hot with anger.
"My wife, my daughter, my life... I had nothing. Do you honestly think I wouldn't want to see those bastards dead any less than you do?!" He paused for a moment, trying to fight the tide of emotion that was beginning to sweep over him.
"I struggle day in and day out; my morals vs my orders. And as in regards to Captain Nimue, that young girl may be the only thing keeping me from losing that fight; she's my humanity, Lieutenant..." Xavier released one hand as he reached inside his jacket, pulling out a locket, opening it towards Aldo. Inside it was a picture of what looked like a younger, red haired, Marina; engraved next to it was the name, 'Ariel Renee Brennan'
"Her name is Ariel, I lost her almost seven years ago. And I'm sure you can see why I may have a slight soft spot for our young Captain Nimue." Xavier took a breath, letting go completely of Lt. Armistad as he straightened his uniform. He let out a sigh before returning his gaze back to Aldo.
"I don't care what reservations you have about my character. And quite frankly I don't care how you feel about any 'pecking order'; but we're both getting what we ultimately want, so why is there a problem, Lieutenant?"
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Kale
EFF Officer
Sublieutenant
Posts: 620
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Post by Kale on Feb 17, 2010 21:10:35 GMT -5
Donny waited patiently for Xavier to finish speaking, before cracking the Obersturmfuhrer's skull with the bottom of his bat.
Xavier crumbled. Aldo smiled, fixing his shirt collar and giving an appreciative "Thank ye" to Donny. "Gotten from behind twice in one day, eh Brennan? Might want to learn to watch that, less you want it to take the rest of what you care about."
Aldo bent down, falling to a knee, leaning in close to Xavier's ear.
"Yeah, you's real cut up about all this -- I can tell. Wife; daughter; must be hard." He was on the verge of laughter. He looked up at Donny. "Hey Donny -- how many wives you reckon starved thanks to the Federation blockade these last ten years? How many daughters you think Zeon killed at British and Loum?
"Hell, Donny. How many scalps you and I and Hugo collected so far?"
"Nearing two-fifty, boss," Donny smirked. He alone was a handful away from the century mark.
"Sounds about the total," Aldo agreed. "Lots of sons in that mix. Not far from the number of players I coached back up in Side 3, before any of this fightin' commenced. Wonder the number of those who dead now? Wonder if any of 'em were aboard those ships our friend X here got sunk?"
Aldo stood up, brushing off his pantsleg and flipping his knife back and forth in his hands.
"Y'see, Mr. Brennan, we all got the worst of this war. 'Reckon Hugo and Donny and me is part of that worst, matter of fact. No tellin' the suffering we've inflicted." The last words were delivered with immense pride. "Nobody gives two shits about anyone's grief anymore. Not yours, not mine. So what we've got left is your orders and my justice. And I'd weigh mine against yours any day. Just you remember that, next time you feel like ignoring a dead man for a bit of red tape, then turn around and ignore that red tape for your little girl."
Almost satisfied, Aldo and Donny went on ahead -- yet not without one last dagger: "And for the record, Brennan. You got my man killed; not me..."
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Chris
ZMF Officer
Obersturmbannfuhrer
Ubersuperduperbannfuhrer!
Posts: 849
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Post by Chris on Feb 19, 2010 2:07:11 GMT -5
For a moment, his world was turned upside down as he found himself laying face first in the hall way upon the Virgil. He couldn't help but let out a slight smirk as he listened to the Lieutenant try and justify his brand of justice, then shirk any responsibility he had to his men onto the Obersturmfuhrer.
"Heh. You cocky son of a bitch..." Xavier chuckled to himself, slowly pulling himself up to his feet; his eyes filled with pity and disdain. A squad of Panzergrenadier's came running around the corner, their armor clanking and their heavy footsteps pounding against the steel as they came to assist their officer.
Five of the six ran to the Mobile Assault officers and accosted them, pulling their arms behind their back and readying to apply restraints. The armored beasts seemed to dwarf the two soldiers as they surrounded them; their breathing exaggerated by their masks, their eyes, almost lifeless, staring down at the captives through blood red lenses.
"Obersturmfuhrer Brennan, we cam as soon as we could. We-" The squad leader seemed to hiss from inside his mask as he addressed his officer but Xavier wasn't concerned; he held his hand up to silence him.
"Hold them still..." The Schutzstaffel officer brushed off his uniform, straightening it as he slowly walked over towards the Lieutenant and his Sergeant. He stopped just in front of Aldo and stared him down with a look of disgust on his face.
"Your capacity for disrespect is quite impressive you bastard... How can your view be so Jaded? Is it really that black and white to you people?" He shook his head; what a shame. Xavier paused for a moment before leaning in closer.
"Your recklessness and arrogance cost Sergeant Lethe his life... And that damned pride of yours will be your downfall as well Lieutenant." The Obersturmfuhrer spit at Aldo's feet in disgust as he took a step back from the smug officer.
"I expected better from that bitch Kycilia..." He growled as he gritted his teeth; what a waste of rank. The Schutzstaffel officer rubbed his chin as he looked over the restrained MAF soldiers.
"As despicable as you are, you can have your 'justice' today. But KNOW its only because I allow it. Next time I will have you arrested for such insolence; if you live long enough for there to be a next time that is..." He turned his attention to the Sergeant, Donny Gerard, taking a step over and facing the young boy.
"As for you Sergeant Gerard..." A smirk formed across Xavier's face as he stepped in, putting a fist into the Sergeant's gut, almost knocking the wind out of him. Donny doubled over in pain, gasping for a breath as he was caught off guard. The Schutzstaffel officer paused, fist still in his stomach as he whispered into his ear.
"Do that again boy, and I'll kill you myself..."
He stepped back next to the panzergrenadier squad leader, nodding to the rest of them to release the two. Xavier looked up to the Unterscharfuhrer and then back to Aldo and Donny. "Let them take care of our guests... I am needed elsewhere anyways."
Donny collapsed to his knees as the squad formed up around Brennan, pushing Aldo out the way. "Don't be long Armistad..."
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Kale
EFF Officer
Sublieutenant
Posts: 620
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Post by Kale on Feb 19, 2010 4:22:20 GMT -5
The moment he felt a bit of give, Aldo shook from the Panzergrenadiers' loosening hold. He bent down to help Donny; the sergeant was folded over, gasping for air, the pain of each breath obvious on his reddened, cringing face.
"Elsewhere?" Aldo chuckled. "Like you was elsewhere when me and my boys were doin' the fighting? Like you was elsewhere when all those ships sunk? Good ol' SS. Delusional, cowardly, impotent and illogical. Not to mention can't hold no blame of their own. Gotta love Gear-in."
By now Brennan had disappeared behind his wall of black-carapaced help, marching towards sectors of the ship unknown.
"Steady there, Donny," Aldo's attention returned its focus on his young number two. Gerard was in the process of getting on hands and knees, and he reached for his bat as if to retaliate. "Wouldn't want him to kill another of my boys twice in one day."
Donny looked up as if to protest, but Aldo was having none of it. "Let 'im walk away. Guy needs time to think an' stew, and we have bis'ness to attend. Pride ain't the battle we're s'posed to be fightin', anyways." He paused for a moment. "B'sides..."
Aldo leaned in close to Donny's ear. A moment later, the sergeant burst into a fit of pained laughter. "Yeah boss..." Donny stood up, grabbing his bat and resting it over one shoulder as he watched Xavier and his bodyguards turn a corner. Speaking loudly enough for his words to carry deep into Virgil: "Hugo and his wife are prob'ly having a real good time."
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Chris
ZMF Officer
Obersturmbannfuhrer
Ubersuperduperbannfuhrer!
Posts: 849
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Post by Chris on Feb 19, 2010 14:51:20 GMT -5
Xavier began to pause as he heard the bastard's voice echo down the hall. A cold armored hand rested on his shoulder to urge him to ignore it as the Schutzstaffel group continued back to the officer's quarters; They both knew it was not worth the Obersturmfuhrer's time. ~ The Schutzstaffel officer sighed as he laid down his pen, resting his head in his hands; He was starting to hate politics. Xavier sat up, and looked at the picture that sat on the edge of his desk, of his daughter, Ariel. 'Am I doing the right thing?' They deserved what the Lieutenant and his boy were going to do to them, but it left a bitter taste in his mouth to allow those ingrates to have their 'justice'; If he were to see that boy Gerard again... Xavier grabbed the letter and had it taken to the Virgil's communication's room; It was time he made his way back to the Lorelay; to Marina... |
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Kale
EFF Officer
Sublieutenant
Posts: 620
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Post by Kale on Feb 20, 2010 9:19:30 GMT -5
Aldo and Donny descended a groaning, metal staircase, which led them from Virgil's belly out into the early, East Asia morning. The compound was noisy, despite the hour -- a perpetual soundtrack of buzzing insects and sharp jungle calls competing with roaring machinery and the loud hum of engines. Off to the right, near the northern treeline, the Basterds could see their prizes being strapped to Gunship Helis: three Gundam Mass Production Ground Types ready to be airlifted over to Lhasa. "Heh," Aldo flicked a spray of spit between his incisors. "Kycilia won't be happy 'bout that Ghinias fella gettin'hold those devils." he thought. "Oh well," was all he really said. The two Basterds strode through a maze of engineers and mechanics along their route. Every last step of earth was being scanned for wreckage; every blast crater examined for a shard of luna titanium. "Excuse me!" one bespectacled old woman glared at the passing men as they trampled over an area of dirt she was sifting. Despite the distractions, it wasn't long before Aldo and Donny found their destination. A lone Panzergrenadier stood as sentry outside the long, wooden, rectangular building. He let them pass without issue -- Brennan had cleared their path for the business at hand. Inside, the single room building was as any regulation barracks. Two tiered beds ran in alternating rows along either wall, each one capped off by a footlocker. The floor was gray-painted wood paneling. Windows appeared between every-other-bunk, but were closed to the outside world by tight, drab green curtains. A trio of oil lamps, hanging off hooks bolted into the ceiling, produced three globes of orange-gold that caused every surface to glow with a hazy, luminous halo. Aldo took one, creaking step. Men and women at the back of the room craned their necks to see who had entered. The expressions on their faces were ones of quiet, angry, disgusted resignation -- but resignation nonetheless. "Yeah, you know who we are..." Aldo continued forward, approaching them with a cocky swagger and an equal smirk. Donny held back, guarding the door.
Five hours later, propellers began to whirl and kick up dust. The mechanics and engineers who had been so eager to comb the former Federation base were now scrambling to flee. Word of the 87th Brigade in East Asia had given wings to the mighty SS. They were taking their Gundams, and they were going home... but not without two extra letters, their contents identical -- one addressed to Gihren Zabi, the other addressed to Elizabeth Gerard --, tucked into the pocket of a well-bribed pilot. "Think the Earthers'll find it?" Donny said, as he watched his commander dig a shallow hole in the ground and place a third envelope, half-buried, into the dirt. "Nah," Aldo replied. "Chances are it gets blowed up with the rest of this shithole. But we got the other two headed out, so won't hardly matter..." He smiled, cupping dirt into a mound around the envelope, leaving just a white tip exposed and pointing towards the sky. Then he picked up a large rock, and placed it between the mound and the Virgil. With a smile, he looked up at Donny and muttered, "Blast insurance." Satisfied, the two men began heading for the treeline. Behind them, the last of the Virgil's crew, including Obersturmfuhrer Xavier Brennan, lifted off into the sky. In a matter of minutes, the Dodais and Dopps were as pinpricks on the midday horizon. "You sure you want to do this for them?" Aldo said. "'specially Xavier? Not too late to get away." Donny just shrugged. "You wanna run, boss?" "Hell no," Aldo laughed, climbing into his cockpit. "We got a history with those 87th fellars. Plus," he added, letting the hatch close behind him as he fell back into his seat. "I wanna see how this one ends."
Dear Gihren, |
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