1340 Hours, December 14th
City Age, 345th Cycle
Earth, Great Slave Lake
"How's it look?"
"Pretty quiet today. Nothing's poked its head out yet. How was the moon?"
"Infested as ever. What's the weather like out here?"
"Been the same for weeks. Overcast, with a weak northerly - see those trees?"
"Huh. Can't be more than five knots. Six, at most."
"Don't think it'll affect our aim too much."
"I'd hope so. That a new rifle?"
"Amina-E7. You like?"
"Maybe. How's it handle?"
"Pretty smooth. You know the Andacht I had?"
"Yeah. Too floaty, you said."
"Calibration on the scope went out of whack every time you took a breath."
"Ouch."
"Drove me mad. Aminas don't have that problem - they have latched knobs, locks your adjustments in place."
"Swanky."
"Oh! Look over there, what's that?"
"Oh, that? That's a polar bear."
"That thing's huge. Should we move?"
"Nah. They aren't much of a threat."
"You sure? It looks awfully strong."
"Bjorn wrestled one about a month ago. It couldn't get through his shields."
"Huh. I haven't seen that guy in a while. How's he doing?"
"Not too good, honestly. Bumped into him at the Crucible last week - guy gets really shaken up in there."
"Why's that?"
"He doesn't want to shoot anyone. Keeps worrying their Ghosts broke and won't be able to revive them."
"Huh. He slow you down at all?"
"What? No, I was on the other team. I must have domed him a dozen times. It was great!"