[center]
[img]https://orig00.deviantart.net/f2b8/f/2017/092/a/f/percy_name_by_adparis-db4ftbi.png[/img][/center][right][hr][color=gray][b]Falcon's Reach | Command Center[/b]
March 27th, 2677[/color][hr][/right]
[indent][color=lightsteelblue][b]"So..."[/b][/color] Percy began, attempting to secure the rights to ask the first question, [color=lightsteelblue][b]"Uh, they set up camp instead of just going up and activating the thing? That's.. [i]weird[/i], right?"[/b][/color]

[color=aa8483][b]“Not really. They are essentially holding Falcon’s Reach hostage. It puts our settlement at risk of the local wildlife among other things. The weird thing isn’t they are sitting on it, the weird thing is they haven’t demanded any credits yet.”[/b][/color]

Percy slowly nods, following along. [color=lightsteelblue][b]"Alright, cool. And.. the only reason you can't send any of [i]your [/i]people is because you're scared of... What? Deer? [i]Rabbits?[/i] Are you kidding me?[/b][/color] he makes a sound somewhere between a snort and a scoff, [color=lightsteelblue][b]"You have got to be joking, right-?"[/b][/color]

[color=aa8483][b]“-You’ve never been outside of Smith’s Rest, have you?”[/b][/color] Skarsgård uttered, unimpressed by Percy’s candor. He sighed as he continued down the corridor in front of him. [color=aa8483][b]“The Alaskan wildlife is dangerous and we need the manpower to defend Falcon’s Reach from frenzied salasaurs, dire eagles, and land sharks."[/b][/color]

It took Percy a beat to comprehend that last bit, and even still... [color=lightsteelblue][b]"Wait-"[/b][/color]

Skarsgård continues over Percy's confusion, [color=aa8483][b]"The device controls a defense system that lets us optimize our people’s safety considering we’re in what some of the corporations call a wilderness red zone.”[/b][/color]

[color=lightsteelblue][b]"But [i]wait[/i]-"[/b][/color] Percy's voice was frustratingly softer, allowing Stein to interrupt with ease.

[color=0076a3][b]“That makes a degree of sense."[/b][/color]

Percy couldn't help but shoot an incredulous look at Stein - well, the back of her head, but still. She's not even phased by [i]that?[/i] How is he the only one that's freaking out right now!?

[color=aa8483][b]“On top of all of that, the only guy we have that has a neural uplink is in no shape to go to the node. We would’ve asked Graham to drop you guys in your NCs, but we don’t want the neural uplink destroyed. That’s basically priority number one.”[/b][/color]

Percy nods in understanding despite not entirely listening, [color=lightsteelblue][b]"Yeah, sure, ok, I- I just- I'm think I'm still stuck on fucking [i]land sharks[/i]?!"[/b][/color] He just couldn't believe what he was hearing. It sounded fake, but the way he said it made it sound like it was just as normal as any other animal. Sharks with legs, obviously, are [i]not[/i] normal.. Or maybe they are, and the world is far more horrifying than he thought it was. [color=lightsteelblue][i]I shouldn't have brought a child into this world, holy [b]shit[/b].[/i][/color]

[color=808080][b]“Laugh all you want, but a land shark can drag a man thirty feet trying to tear his leg off,”[/b][/color] Alan muttered.

[color=lightsteelblue][b]"I'm not laughing,"[/b][/color] Percy retorts, [color=lightsteelblue][b]"I'm kinda [i]horrified[/i], actually."[/b][/color]

Skarsgård scoffed, glancing towards Alan. [color=aa8483][b]“You sure he’s a pilot?”[/b][/color]

[color=808080][b]“He’s capable and he’s survived combat already. I trust him enough, even if he’s a little green.”[/b][/color]

[color=aa8483][b]“Fair enough.”[/b][/color]
[/indent]