|
"Hey, commander... where do you suppose they're taking us?" Michel Ninorich asked, absentmindedly fiddling with the chain on his cuffs. Most of the Southeast Asia HQ staff had safely evacuated on the sole surviving Medea before the Gaw had brought itself over the base, cutting off further escape. The fate of the 08th Team, as well as the crew of Colonel Kojima's land battleship, was at the mercy of the victorious Zeon forces. "Probably California Base..." Ensign Shiro Amada, the 08th's commanding officer, noted with a bit of a sigh. He'd heard stories about how Zeon treated prisoners of war before - how much of it was true and how much was propaganda he wasn't exactly sure, but he was certainly hoping it was more of the latter. Patriotism was something better served for when you were in the company of allies. "Well, at least we'll be on the beach, right?" Michel said, trying to keep up in good spirits. The other members of the 08th Team, along with Kojima's men, were manacled together in pairs but generally just left wherever there was room. Shiro hadn't thought the "Zeeks" were all that bad, considering they could have killed him easily enough. Major Vereschagin, Private Zuhr and Sergeant Darwesh had all come off was being nice enough people - it was just an unfortunate circumstance that they happened to be on other sides of the flag, as it were. These thoughts ended up evaporating, however, after they were loaded onto a pair of six-axel trucks and driven towards the coast, where a foreboding-looking submarine had surfaced offshore. A hydrofoil zipped out to collect them, and the Federal POWs were loaded onboard. "Loaded" was too formal of a term - the Jukon lacked a formal brig of any description, so the POWs were simply stuck in whatever open places were available. "We're probably going to end up in a labor camp, you know," Sergeant Karen Joshua muttered. "There's a damn good reason why the Zeeks are the enemy." "A labor camp?" Michel whined. "What about the Antarctic Treaty? They can't do that... Oh B.B..." "Right," Sergeant Terry Sanders added. "We'll lodge a formal complaint with the Earth Federation Assembly about the spirit of the treaty not being observed during times of war. I'm sure we'll be rescued by the glorious bureaucracy just as soon as they've finished the paperwork." Laurent Auclair slowly thumped the wireless message that Peter Weiss had delivered to him against the top of his thigh. The skipper's quarters were small but comfortable; Laurent was reclining in the comfortable chair he'd brought aboard, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "Do you plan to comply, sir?" Peter asked, raising an eyebrow. Laurent mused a response. It wasn't really a question; what choice did he have? "I suppose so, Peter," Laurent replied after a while. "It is from the top, after all..." Pursuant to orders from H.E. Gihren Zabi, Unterscharfuhrer Kratos is to be included with the previously approved prisoner exchange. This is non-negotiable. If Federals are not agreeable, you are authorized to execute O-6 Kojima. Ensure compliance from U-996 crew. Report any complications at once. Message ends. "Well... how much longer until we're at the point?" Laurent asked. He didn't like this business, altering an agreement after it had already been decided upon. He imagined the Federal Forces wouldn't much like it either. "We're moving in on-schedule, sir," Peter nodded. "So, then, I have your authorization to transmit the... 'revised' terms?" "I suppose," Laurent sighed. "Make it happen." Well, THIS is unfortunate... Bishop Kratos thought to himself. The Big Tray's brig was quite secure, at least to the extent of which he'd been able to probe. No loose vents or unfastened paneling. Perhaps when we get to wherever it is we're going, he thought, eyeing the back of the soldier on the other side of the bars. That train of thought died off rather quickly when he spotted his captor, the EF Army's Tobias K. Obrien, cross the precipice of the corridor and salute to the guard. "Good news, my good Zeek," Tobias said with a smirk. "Looks like you're getting bailed out. Be happy you have friends in high places." Laurent Auclair: 1 VP gained, promoted to 1st Lieutenant Bishop Kratos: 1 VP gained, exchanged to Odessa Tobias Kendrick Obrein: 1 VP gained, promoted to Corporal |