Collab between [@Irredeemable] and [@Sigma]

Isabella lead the Columbian contingent through to the bridge of her vessel, trailing cigarillo smoke the whole way. She arrived to a bark of ‘COMMANDANTA ON DECK’ and a series of snappy salutes from the bridge staff, before guiding her guests to the central projector. “Can I get you anything? Rum? Tobacco? Water?” A glass of the latter was handed to her, the projector coming alive with the strategic map of the planet below them.

“The current situation on the ground is as follows. Neo-Beijing and New London are in outright revolt. Neo Paris is teetering on the brink. A foreign force has landed in Neo-Beijing claiming to be supportive of the legitimate government. Intelligence suggests this to be false, so expect more trouble there. We have secured New Westminster, and it is currently the only territory in Neo London not under the effects of oligarch psychological disruption.” She paused for breath, and to take another sip of water.

“Hmm, I think we all can use a good smoke” Colonel Bisson requested, the two captains behind him nodded in agreement. Within a short while, the three Columbian officers found themselves puffing out a small cloud’s worth of smoke, the flavor and aroma simply addicting. After Isabella made her report, the Colonel set aside his cigar for the time being. He studied a map for a moment, seeing the situation on New Hollywood quickly crumbling. Although what little footage has leaked offworld and the mention of “psychological disruption”, something tells the colonel that the White Flowers aren’t entirely in the wrong here….

Colonel Bisson cleared his throat. “I’ll soon have forces stationed in New Beijing to begin airlifting our people out, [i]If[/i] these new tangos give us any trouble, we will defend ourselves, otherwise, my men will proceed with the main objective.” The colonel paused as he allowed himself one more puff from the cigar. “And again, you have our thanks, you saved us some time in logistics, so I hope we can be out of your hair in a couple of days.”

Isabella frowned to herself, expression masked by the cloud of smoke in front of her face. Colombia was not going to be as helpful as she had hoped. Still, she played the diplomat. “I can assure you, a fellow military force can hardly be in our hair to begin with, especially when our interests are aligned. All we want is a clean end without excessive casualties, the same as you do.” She smiled.

“Yeah, I guess you can say that.” Colonel Bisson said with a hint of uncertainty in his tone, taking another puff. In a way, they both are here to save lives, granted, the Isabella’s forces trying to put down a violent revolution, whether it’s just or not is unfortunately, none of the Colonel’s business for the time being, as for Miles’ men, they’re of course, here to get people back home, people that don’t belong in a warzone on some alien world. “I may not agree 100%, but yeah, we’re both here to save lives, I can only hope that this won’t turn out any uglier than it has to be.”

“There is one thing,” Isabella concluded, taking the stub of her cigarillo and grinding it out into a waiting ashtray. “Since you’ll have boots on the ground in New Beijing, we were hoping you could provide us with some more consistent intelligence than what we’ve been gathering from the Oligarchs and our orbital contacts. We won’t force this issue, but it would be greatly appreciated.” She nodded curtly.

Miles had followed suit, grinding out his cigar. “Well, it may not be top priority at the moment, but I see no harm in such a mission, I’ll have my men provide a steady flow of updates from New Beijing.”

“Excellent. Go with the saints.” Isabella saluted.