You flip the selector over to the intercom, clearing your throat before speaking. “So Patton… What happened down there?”

There is silence on the other end for a good ten seconds before she replies. “Imperial ships have a very good crew survival record when it comes to crashes. Did you know that?”

You grimace. “I wasn’t aware, no.”

She continues. “I… Most of the crew were still alive.” She trails off. “My mission was to eliminate the target, as well as any survivors I encountered.” She pauses long enough for you to almost consider speaking up again. “And thank you. For patching me up, I mean.”

You frown. “Don’t mention it. Let’s just get back to base. I’m sure there’s one Hell of a debrief waiting for us.”

----

You run a hand through your hair as you recall the rest of the mission. There was indeed a nightmarish debrief waiting for you back at the base, consisting of a lecture from a couple spooks that lasted more than three hours. You remember that Guerra was spared a court-martial on account of the mission’s secrecy, but the story of him running from the fight ended up getting out among the men anyway. You look over at Cynthia as you finish your story, gauging her reaction.

“I had no idea you were involved in anything like that.” She shakes her head. “Did you ever find out what the spies’ target was?”

“No,” you reply. “Them and their craft were out of there by the next morning.” You sigh, crossing your arms. “And it wasn’t long after that when the three of us were transferred to the Fleet, each of us to a different ship.”

“So why do you think the reporter was asking about that mission?” Cynthia raises an eyebrow.

“I honestly don’t have a clue.” You shrug. “Could’ve heard about it and been curious, could’ve been connected to the spooks somehow…” You frown. “Doesn’t matter now though.”

“I suppose not,” she nods. “Anyway. I’ve got to be up early to do more work with Allie on the ship.” She nods toward her hotel room. “See you tomorrow.”

“Right,” you reply. “See you.”

You head back to your own room and get some sleep as well, though not as much as you would’ve liked. It is early morning when you wake from a dream you can’t remember. Whatever it was, it must’ve been bad. Your heart is racing as soon as you sit up. You look at the clock and see that you still have a good hour before sunrise.

>Go back to bed. It’s too early for anything productive.
>You remembered seeing a billboard advertising a used starship showroom on the ride home last night. Those places are open 24/7. May be worth taking a look at their inventory.
>You’re going stir-crazy. Time for a walk.
>Turn on the TV and see if there’s anything worth watching.
>Write-in.

>>2338902
Put on a put of coffee and clean your service weapon

>>2338902
>>You remembered seeing a billboard advertising a used starship showroom on the ride home last night. Those places are open 24/7. May be worth taking a look at their inventory.
Might as well take a look around.

>>2338902
>>You remembered seeing a billboard advertising a used starship showroom on the ride home last night. Those places are open 24/7. May be worth taking a look at their inventory.

>>2338902
Turn on TV and see what’s in the news

I don't want to be tempted by a new ship in case the bad habit gets or of extensioning surgery to find we dumped d her for a newer model.

>>2338902
>Turn on the TV and see if there’s anything worth watching.

>>2338991
Na, see, we're looking at prospective future ships for our fleet.

>>2338902
>Turn on the TV and see if there’s anything worth watching.
Interworld events ho! Although seeing the ships is sorely tempting. Window shopping for literal spaceships and looking at all their peculiarities and such could be addicting.

>>2339048
Oh, I forgot about that discussion.

You grumble, reaching for the remote and turning the TV on. The news is already on, and it appears to be the typical early-morning programming. Weather forecasts and re-airings of last night’s broadcasts. You see mention of a conflict flaring up between two independent colonies on the Frontiers, an unusual occurrence, but not unheard of. You aren’t exactly sure why it would make the news here on Mars.

Changing the channel after about half an hour, you find your way to a cooking program, but that only makes you hungry, so you switch the channel again. You eventually end up on a program that talks about the century of constant war that led up to humanity reaching into the stars and creating the first of its colonies. It’s nothing you haven’t heard before: shifting alliances and shady non-state actors led to a series of wars that lasted almost a hundred years. Your more… Patriotic history teachers in high school described it as the sole driving force behind the creation of the Federation and the re-emergence of a desire to colonize the stars. However, your father called it as the most destructive blow to civilization since the fall of the Roman Empire.

You roll your eyes, changing the channel yet again to a news station based on Earth, where apparently the morning news cycle is just starting. You squint to see the broadcast better, as the FTL broadcasts are always a little grainy. Apparently the Federal Assembly passed a resolution sometime last night that essentially gave all their remaining power to Leander. You grimace at the thought of democracy on Earth breathing its final breaths, but it would seem that the Supreme Court is pushing back with their remaining authorities. One of the newscasters is defending the resolution, and the other is clearly against it, as per the usual format on these things. The topic changes rather quickly to the results of various sports games across the Federation, with the newscasters commenting on the results of a few championship games. You’ve never personally been big on sports, so the commentary doesn’t mean much to you.

With a sigh, you turn the TV off and sit up, throwing a shirt and some pants on. The sun looks like it’s about to come up now. You look down at your communicator absently, checking to see if you have any missed calls. Nothing. Well, you don’t have anything planned for today, do you?

>Head downstairs and get some breakfast.
>Go for a walk. You’re getting stir-crazy.
>Come to think of it, when is that official CFP thing you were invited to?
>It’s been a bit since you’ve talked to Brooks. You should see how she’s doing.
>Write-in.

>>2338902
I believe thread 36 hasn't been archived

>>2339872
>>Head downstairs and get some breakfast.
Food is always a good option.

>>2339872
>>Come to think of it, when is that official CFP thing you were invited to?

File: 1516075733927.png (915 KB, 1280x720)

915 KB PNG

>>2339917
Thanks for reminding me. It's archived now.

>>2339936
You're welcome, I love this quest. Your writing is fantastic

>>2339872
>It’s been a bit since you’ve talked to Brooks. You should see how she’s doing.

>>2339872
>It’s been a bit since you’ve talked to Brooks. You should see how she’s doing

>>2339872
>Go get some breakfast

>>2339872
>Head downstairs and get some breakfast.
>Come to think of it, when is that official CFP thing you were invited to?

>>2339872
>>It’s been a bit since you’ve talked to Brooks. You should see how she’s doing.

>>2340137
Thanks! I'm glad you like it.

Also, quick update: Next story post will be later tonight, around five-ish hours from now.

File: Ensign Brooks.jpg (36 KB, 385x385)

36 KB JPG

You open the front door and head downstairs to the little diner attached to the motel. It isn’t a very nice establishment, but the food’s edible and the staff are polite enough. As you arrive at the bottom of the stairs, you look in to see a familiar face sitting at one of the booths. Samantha Brooks is picking at the remnants of an omelet when you sit down across from her.

“Planning on getting any coffee?” You raise an eyebrow as you speak. She looks up at you tiredly.

“Probably. I’ll definitely need it if I’m going to do anything productive today…” She shakes her head.

“I know what you mean,” you reply. “Coffee’s on me.” You gesture to the waiter. “Two cups of coffee and some bacon and eggs, please.” The waiter nods gruffly, calling it out to the cook as he walks to the coffee pot. You direct your attention again to Brooks. “How have you been? It’s been a while since we’ve spoken.”

She rubs her eyes. “I’ve been doing much better.” She lingers on the last word, nodding to herself. “With everything that’s happened… I think I’ve just needed time to digest it all.”

You nod. “It’s never easy. Losing people, I mean.” You grimace. “If there’s anything you need…”

“I’m good, Captain,” she replies quickly. “In fact, I think I might not go to space with you all once the ship is done being refitted. I’m thinking of staying around Mars for a while…”

You raise an eyebrow.

>”Didn’t you want to go back to the Warsaw? I remembered you mentioning that.”
>”Mars isn’t exactly the best place to jump back into the world. Maybe Earth would be a better place for you to go…” (cautious)
>”We could really use your navigation skills moving forward.” (pragmatic)
>”If that’s what you want, I won’t try to stop you.”
>Write-in.

>>2343272
>>”Didn’t you want to go back to the Warsaw? I remembered you mentioning that.”
>”We could really use your navigation skills moving forward.” (pragmatic)
but
>”If that’s what you want, I won’t try to stop you.”

>>2343272
>>2343291
this

>>2343291
support

>>2343291
Sounds good.

>>2343291
>”Didn’t you want to go back to the Warsaw? I remembered you mentioning that.”
>”Mars isn’t exactly the best place to jump back into the world. Maybe Earth would be a better place for you to go…” (cautious)

>>2343291
Da

>>2343272
"I am going to cum inside you, and nine months later you will give birth to the next George Lincoln Rockwell."

>>2359209
What