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 Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2006 9:35 pm
"Alternately, we can duplicate your current abode. Simply because many in the community" (he used it merely as a word, and not as the new title Community) "choose to live in mansions and castles doesn't mean it's a requirement." Durris smiled at that, amused. "It's unfortunate, some of the examples of excess in the Neighborhood so far, but I think most of us have chosen houses of moderate proportions. Your road in particular."The casual tone the conversation had taken was slightly undesirable. It only served to underscore the loss of military protocol.
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Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2006 9:43 pm
"Again I thank you but I plan to remain on Gaia while I make my decisions." The firmness never lessened but Serafima bent just enough to add, "My feien is attached to the place and I have found that one location is just as suitable as another when one needs to meditate."
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Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2006 9:52 pm
Atri both agreed and disagreed with that, since personally he was capable of meditating anywhere, but for the average person, surroundings made a big difference. He wondered where Serafima truly ranked on that scale. "You will have to relocate if you come to work with Perimeter Defense, of course, and for your own safety I would prefer that be sooner rather than later. Gaia... is not covered under the cease fire agreement." How Atri knew so much about an agreement that had only been signed ten minutes ago, Serafima could only guess. Clearly he had his own lines of intelligence separate from what Serafima knew from INT.
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Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2006 9:56 pm
"I see. I will take all of that into consideration, of course." Clearly, nothing he said was going to budge her into accepting out of hand. "I do not intend to make myself any sort of military target during my meditations."
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Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2006 10:04 pm
"We're all targets," said Durris gravely, both reminder and warning. "The enemy makes no distinctions between us. Simply because we call the group something different doesn't change the political situation. They hate us on principle. Do not misunderstand: simply because we dismantle our Fleet and agree to a cease-fire does not change who we are or our cause, or the aims of our enemy."
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Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2006 10:08 pm
His words poked through her careful shell and Serafima's dark eyes flashed a warning. Admiral or not, respected comrade or not, he was on dangerous ground. "I have not forgotten my training at the mere disbanding of my calling," she answered icily. "I remember the risks and the enemy. I do not expect coffee and cakes from the enemy simply because my former occupation no longer exists." She took a step backwards, away from him. "I will contact you when I have made my decision. It should not take a long time."
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Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2006 10:17 pm
"Sera," said Atri sharply, suddenly very grave and almost frightening. This was a face Serafima was more familiar with, the face of a hardened commander and career killer. "Whatever you think you were called to the Fleet for, remember what you were told by your recruiting Praetor. It certainly had nothing to do with your occupation."
Grim-faced, Atri snapped his heels together in attention and phased out. What was left was a lingering sense of his disappointment in her for having lost whatever it was that brought her to the Fleet's attention in the first place.
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Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 7:58 pm
Serafima's eerie immobility lasted until the ex-Admiral had fully disappeared and then a vicious curse exploded from her lips, eyes sparking fire and her hands once more balling into fists at her sides. Spinning on her heel, she began to walk towards the icy waste with long, swinging strides. How dare he look at her in such a manner? How dare he think her hesitation strange or her resistance to the new world order queer?
She gritted her teeth and lowered her head. The Fleet was no more. It had called her and crafted her and now, without hesitation, it had abandoned her. Whatever had called her to the Fleet was dead and whatever had drawn the Fleet to -her- mattered little now. For all she cared, they could all drown themselves.
Reaching a presumably safe distance from the others, Serafima paused and straightened, shoulders slipping back into perfect military posture as her chin came up proudly. With effort, she unclenched her fists and drew a deep breath. To hell with it all. She was going -home-. Right now. Her eyes closed and, the muscles in her jaw still tense, she faded slowly from view.
No one would want to visit the ex-Captain Rabik for a while. Not with her in -this- mood.
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