[color=lime]> Arias, Ellos II.
> Low Orbit
> The Light Cruiser Sirus
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[indent][i][color=7ea7d8]"No Mister Kreshaw, my problem does not arise from that fact. It arises from the simple truth of the matter that when one man makes a deal with another of similar virtue, the intended transaction should be completed in full. What should not occur is for one party to rather ungraciously turn back on the good fortune and business the other partner has shown to him over the years and delay his shipment."[/color][/i][/indent]

Executive Officer Lila Kota sighed as she walked through the empty winding halls of the Sirus. Most of the crew was either at their ready stations or already deployed planetside leaving the comparatively sparse ship when filled strangely hollow. Well almost everybody was at their respective stations, one person in particular was nowhere to be found in such a critical moment. Of course it was not like she was to expect anything [i]less[/i] from him though. Lila had been working with the Steel Hunters since their founding almost nine years ago by this point, having been working as a logistics intern with central command at Lsysus Station when it was attacked. Lila had been instrumental in helping the Captain mount a successful defense and the pair had been working together ever since. If Prowler was Terin's sword then Kota was his shield. Personal assistant, confidant, XO, and as it seemed more often than not as the case would be personal wrangler.

He had said that he would be gone for a minute, ten at the most. That was close to thirty minutes ago and now with the ground team approaching the hot zone it would be best if their "fearless leader" was actually present in the CIC. Honestly, she wondered sometimes how somebody as good as he is could be so absent minded all the time. She rounded a corner and found herself walking down a short hallway with one door on the far end and none of either side. The Captain's Quarters were at least partially isolated from the rest of the ship to give a merger sense of privacy but the hastily patched together mixture of office and living quarters were nothing to really feel envious about. From beyond the thin metal door she could hear a familiar slow and rich baritone speaking beyond. Well at least he was in there. She walked up to the door and knocked once, she heard something akin to a come in from somewhere beyond. Shaking her head trying to hid the small grin on her face she pressed the switch making the thin piece of metal slide to the left and granting her entrance. 

Captain Terin was sitting at his desk pulling off the surprising appearance of looking incredibly frustrated while maintaining a composed facade. He barely looked up at the XO as she walked in his eyes concentrated on the face projected on the computer in front of him. The face and the one he was having said argument with happened to be one Kristoph Kreshaw. Mister Kreshaw was a "war profiterer" of sorts, though he would prefer the term conflict restructure and long time supplier of the Steel Hunters  in terms of arms and ammunition for their ground troops. Mister Kreshaw had recently run into problems with the "processing" of his monthly shipment to the Hunters, which of course Captain Terin could not have. If only for the principal of the thing. Kota caught the Captain's eye tapping on an imaginary watch upon her wrist, mouthing that they had to go. Nodding, the Captain raised one finger towards her as he turned his attention back towards Mister Kreshaw who was busy explaining the dirty of semantics of his business and why things like this happen sometimes. At a moment of pause, Terin jumped in interrupting him.

[color=7ea7d8]"I'm terribly sorry Mister Kreshaw, but unlike some individuals of lesser moral fiber. I keep to my word and I currently have a job to attend, a job mind which would be considerably easier if somebody had actually sent out his shipments. So for now, I must end this call. We will continue this conversation at a latter date."[/color] Before his associate had a chance to respond, the Captain pressed a button on the communication console disconnecting the call. Shaking his head he ran a tired hand through his hair as Lila was already approaching him to go drag him off to the next beck and call [color=7ea7d8]"Oh why do I subjugate myself to such torture Officer Kota?"[/color]  

[color=dodgerblue][b]"Because you secretly love it sir."[/b][/color] The XO replied as she was already moving behind the Captain straightened his jacket and making sure his coat tails were not sticking out as he fixed his hair, like some sort of mother. Once he looked pristine and presentable, the pair moved out of the Captain's Quarters and down the halls towards the elevator that would lead them up to the Bridge. As they reached the elevator doors and Terin reached out hitting the up button with a light press of the finger he spoke.

[color=7ea7d8]"So what's our current status?"[/color] The Elevator doors opened and the pair stepped inside. The door closed a second later and this time Kota pressed the up button before stepping back.

[color=dodgerblue][b]"Mister Prowler and the ground team are successfully in position. They are currently still undetected."[/b][/color] The Elevator door slowed to halt as they arrived at the bridge, the door silently sliding open. 

[color=7ea7d8]"Alright then. Let's proceed with the operation ahead of us then shall we? "[/color]
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[color=darkgray]The sounds of the Große Fuge filled the Sirus' bridge - an old habit from Terin's days in the Coalition. The bridge crew barely noticed the pair's arrival, full focus directed towards several glowing screens all sending out constant readout data about the status of the ground team. The Sirus itself was currently hanging in a holding pattern 160 kilometers above ground level. High enough so that any SAM sight was out of range and that any aircraft coming in for intercept would be dected with ample time. At the same time the Cruiser was close enough for fast deployment as the need may come.

[color=7ea7d8]"Radar is the Composite Map ready yet?"[/color] Terin asked aloud as he moved towards the center of the room. His hands grasping the edge of a large holo projector.

[color=c4df9b]"Yes sir, it's finishing compiling now. Transferring it to the display."[/color] Replied a scarecrow-like figure with sun beaten hair in the left corner. The composite map was constructed from video feeds transmitted by the MASs units and pictures taken from hull mounted high focused camera lens pointed planet side.Using these it creates a 3D display upon which Terin could view over like a god on high.

 
[color=7ea7d8]"Rambler, send a message down to Zulu-Niner. Tell him to be prepped and ready for drop in five. As soon as those SAM sites are down I want close air support in the village."[/color] He called out to his communications officer as he paced about the display watching as the little ticks progressed slowly on the village. Opening a secure line of communication with Prowler he began to speak.

[color=7ea7d8]"Miles this is Exodous watching from above. Top priority are those SAM sites. We need established air superiority before we can worry about routing those Rebles in case of a counter-attack. How do you read?"[/color]
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