[color=0076a3]"Were I not a devoted servant of the Committee in oath and in spirit, I would comment that the councilwoman has all the vibrancy and creativity of stale rainwater, but as it is I would not dream of disrespecting the esteemed councilwoman."[/color]

Aamara's words actually made Raymond laugh. It was strange to think that after all that had happened today, and what he did, that he would suddenly be in a such a bright mood. Maybe it was because he was exhausted, maybe he was too used to it... Maybe both. Maybe he just didn't care anymore. Either way, he was glad that the Security Officer was starting to catch on to the banter. It was as if they were all employees talking crap about their managers. Except their bosses ran the galaxy, and could quite possibly send most of them to prison. [color=lightblue]"Hey, that's an insult to rain water everywhere... You'll have to give them all the respect, I'm not going to be too happy with them."[/color]

Raymond waiting for the Security Officer to enter the communications room. They both stepped on the metallic plate on the floor and with a press of the button, like-like holograms filled the room, all tinting white. In front of them was the Galactic Council. Some smiled, some frowned, others simply looked on. 

"Captain Chase." G'Pol, the Chairman said lowly. Raymond put a fist over his heart and bowed out of respect. The man had approved of some of Raymond's actions in the past. He knew the side effects of war better than anyone on the Council.


"We just read the report that Officer Tulez submitted." Felix Copper, the Human Representative said. "We understand that the crate was successfully retrieved from the Ulnar?"

[color=lightblue]"You read the report, Councilman. We found it. With a cost."[/color]

"Was the crate damaged?" The Yhei Councilwoman asked. 

[color=lightblue]"Yeah, it was crushed when the Ulnar crashed into our ship and killed the Loadmaster, Eli Anderson--"[/color]

"What do you mean it was crushed?" The Forgei Councilwoman and Raymond's least favorite out of the Committee, Bruma spoke.

Raymond clenched his fist to stop it from shaking. [color=lightblue]"It was destroyed as the Ulnar tried to retrieve it from our docking bay. Anderson risked his life for it, you know. Because he thought it would mean something."[/color]

"Please, Captain Chase. How many loadmasters have you had before? He's just a casualty--"

[color=lightblue]"He had a daughter. He was going to get out of his sentence with Admiral V'Sul's authorization--"[/color]

"The box, Captain. How badly was it damaged?" The Furtim spoke quietly. Raymond shook his head. [color=lightblue]"Enough for us to figure out what was in it."[/color] He paused for dramatic effect. [color=lightblue]"A whole lot of nothing."[/color] Some of the Council shifted in their seats. Raymond glanced at Aamara for a second, telling her to play along for now. [color=lightblue]"You read the mission debrief. I sent what was left of the contents to our science officer for further analysis. There was a lot of metal, glass, and organic residue. With all due respect, what the hell did you guys make us risk out necks for? Some ancient artifacts, some ancestral burial vases?"[/color] In Raymond's defense, he wasn't exactly lying about the contents. 

"Captain Chase, are you certain that this was the right crate we assigned?" The human councilman spoke once again. "Do we normally mess up, Sir?"

"do you want me to count the ways you have?" Bruma scoffed. [color=lightblue]"it wasn't me who messed up this time, councilwoman. A good man died going after this box. He wasn't like us."[/color]

G'Pol cleared his throat, and looked at Aamara. "Is this all true, Security Officer?"


Raymond let her answer, looking around at the holograms. They didn't need to know the specifics just yet. Something was very fishy about all of this, and he was interested in why exactly they wanted to risk political scrutiny for human trafficking. It was an old instinct that told him to hide Rendyl's status for now. A few more questions for Aamara were asked before ultimately the Council hung up. As soon as they did, Raymond looked at his Security Officer. [color=lightblue]"Send the real report to the Admiral. Right now she's the only one I trust. Come on, we got other things to attend right now."[/color]

-----------------

Raymond entered the lounge to see everyone exhausted, angry, or both. He saw Rae cooking with was a rare thing to see, and Rendyl in there as well. The place was quiet, but Raymond made it to the center of the room, sitting down at the table, and rubbing his eyes. [color=lightblue]"I just want to say that these last couple of days have been hell on all of us... But at the end of it we nearly made the Ulnar go extinct. Yasaliah, that was some of the best piloting skills I've ever seen, Astrid, Dev, I don't know who else could have made a nuclear weapon in that time, but it'll be another legendary tale that they'll tell about us one day..."[/color] Raymond sighed and nodded. [color=lightblue]"Anderson would have been proud."[/color]

[color=lightblue]"He wanted it to be a secret until after the mission but... He was going to retire. After this mission. He worked something out with the Council, and Admiral T'Sul pulled some strings and he was going to be able to see his daughter again. He gave all to the Monroe. To us. He was rough and could smell like a Space Bear's behind sometimes but he managed to make a connection with all of us. I don't know about you guys, but to me he was a friend. I know I can lose my temper. I can scream, I can punch, I can call everyone names here, but Anderson wouldn't want that... At least, not genuinely. He'd want me to do those things after losing a hand in poker." He smirked slightly. He pulled out a large bottle of alcohol. "T'Veerian bourbon. Legends say its the best tasting stuff in the galaxy before it burns off your taste buds... I say we all grab a seat, all grab a drink, and play some poker and let our anger out that way. In Anderson's honor."[/color]

[color=lightblue]"Who wants to be dealt in? I gotta warn you, I've been practicing. Diaz, look in that cupboard real quick, I think Anderson hid some Forgei cigars in there."[/color]