Chapter 12

"Sir," informed Brandt's Comm. officer, "EMF cruiser is on scanners, coming into range,"
"Fielding's cruiser?" questioned Brandt, lifting himself out of his chair.
"Yes, Sir," replied the Comm. officer, checking the registration on file with the ship's signature.
"Link us up," ordered Brandt, "I'm boarding it as soon as we do," he added, walking for the airlock at the rear of the bridge.

"I don't know what to do," thought Rachel, as she checked the systems in her suit, "I know how it feels, but I can't just tell him to get over it."
She bit her lip, pondering upon her next move.
"At least he didn't watch it happen like I did," she thought, running the suit's computer through a simulation.
"What's this?" questioned Rachel, seeing she had a message from Dr. Ciao.
She closed it out and jumped out of the cockpit to the ground, running for the tent.
"Rush! Rush!" she yelled, holding a printed-out copy of the message.
She opened the tent, nobody to be seen.
"Where the hell did he go?" she thought, coming out of the tent.
Rachel turned and saw him, crouched down by the stream, skipping stones across the crystal-clear water. She jogged towards him, slowing down, and knelt beside him.
"I have a message from Dr. Ciao," she informed, handing it to him.
Rush grabbed the piece of paper without a word, read it, and handed it back. He stood up and began walking towards the tent.
"I have to get him out of this mood," thought Rachel, concerned for Rush, "He will have plenty of time to mourn after all of this crap is over with."

"Attention on deck!" yelled LeGraud, coming to attention as Brandt entered the bridge of Fielding's cruiser.
Everyone came to attention, even Fielding.
"At ease," stated Brandt, walking towards Fielding.
The crew returned to their task of fixing the cruiser. Fielding stayed at attention, saluting Brandt.
"Commander Brandt, Sir," said Fielding, snapping the salute.
"At ease, Captain," replied Brandt with a laugh, "Are all of always so uptight like this."
"Yes, Si-" said Fielding, interrupted.
"Call me Derril," informed Brandt, "You are Thomas, correct?"
"Tom, Commander," replied Fielding.
"I read the report on the battle that took place here, Tom," said Brandt, "and I am absolutely amazed."
"Only doing my job," replied Fielding, cracking a minute grin.
"We need more Captains like you, Fielding," Brandt praised, "1 cruiser against 8, and won, that is again, amazing."
"You're too kind, Commander," Fielding replied, looking over at the hologram of the system.
"On to business," stated Brandt, walking towards the hologram, "I came aboard to talk tactics with you, Tom."
Fielding followed, Brandt taking out a laser pointing device.
"We are here, correct?" questioned Brandt, point to the representation of Side 3 on the map.
"Yes, Commander," replied Fielding.
"I have already requested that you stay here, even though you are assigned to pull Solomon duty for 6 months, which I will explain," Brandt stated.
"Go on, Commander," said Fielding.
"Here at Sides 4 and 5, the USC have begun amassing large armadas of cruisers, easily twice the size of the armada at Side 7," informed Brandt, moving the pointer across the map, "and I need a Lieutenant Commander to lead up our defense forces to keep our straight route to Mars open and out of USC hands."
Fielding snapped to attention, saluting Brandt.
"My cruiser and I are proud to serve under you, I will gladly accept," said Fielding.
"Glad to hear," replied Brandt, returning the salute, "besides, crews lose their edge on Solomon duty."
Brandt headed out the airlock back to his cruiser.

"Come on, Rush," growled Rachel, "We have to leave, now, that transport is on a schedule, so we need to be in position."
Rush finished packing all of his gear and crawled around to the cockpit of his suit. He strapped himself in and activated the suit.
"Will you at least talk to me?" asked Rachel over the communication system, "I know it is tough, I have been through the same thing, but I need you now, I need you to help me do this."
"I will," he replied, solemnly, "I will help you destroy this bastards, I will help you make them pay for the pain and suffering they have caused me, you, and everyone else."
"That is the Rush I know," she replied, "Let's go," she added, thrusting through the treetops, leaving their little slice of paradise in the middle of the forest.
Rush followed, leaving the place as well, having a thirst for blood.
"That winged suit," thought Rush, remembering the photos in the file, "it's pilot is inhuman. Human or not, he will pay dearly for what he has done, as long as the rest of the EMF."