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Post by Evangeline on Sept 3, 2008 20:01:02 GMT -5
Mairi, Penelope and some other clerical workers were peering out the dusty windows, opening them to get a better view of the harbor scene. They weren't the only ones doing so! People were climbing on rooftops and long-disused light fixtures and telephone poles to get a glimpse of these creatures.
"Holy bleedin' Mother of God!" Mairi called out. She turned to the one woman in the room who had remained seated. "Jessica, come on and get a butcher's at this!"
Jessica finally abandoned her typewriter, with its tabulated page of supply and inventory reports, and rose wordlessly. She stood on tiptoe to see over the shoulders of Mairi and Penelope before the latter, a taller, stouter woman, stepped aside to give her a clearer view. Her eyes widened, then narrowed as she took in the scene all at once and then a few elements at a time.
"My God." she whispered. "What the hell is this, Theodore Tugboat on acid?"
"I'm surprised anyone still remembers that show." Mairi rolled her eyes. "But Theodore never carried a full rack of missiles, did he?"
Lazaro smiled politely and extended a hand towards the gentleman identified as "Leroy". "Lazaro Morena Duran, chief human liason for this expeditionary group." he identified himself before introducing the major vessels. "The frigates are from the counterparts of Australia and New Zealand in the continuum where we have been living for the past fifteen years, we know it as "carsverse." The one now at dock is Capt. Colin Urqhart, Royal Australian Navy. The one still out is Commander Rachel Lowes, Royal New Zealand Navy. The United States Coast Guard cutter is Lt.- Commander Benjamin Stokes, and his superior is Capt. Bridget LeVasseur, or "Bree", and she's the Eurocopter Dolphin who made the first approach." Then he swept an arm to the approaching container ship, who was eyeing two rusty old harbor tugs with some trepidation. "The container ship is Park Jin, flagged in carsverse Korea, chartered for the expedition. There are additional personnel aboard, who will also be introduced as soon as possible."
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Post by elizar on Sept 3, 2008 20:14:46 GMT -5
"Leroy Wells, regional commander. These are the men under my command." Leroy said and introduced them. Aron was trying to appear calm. He had the past years studied engineering moreso than before to prepare himself for a moment like this. He looked around, seeing that the facility ran on some power, but suspected that the little there was, was being used for just the important things. Now would be a need to build better power plants, though nuclear would be out of the question.
"You are speaking with an American accent." Leroy commented. "We have few that managed to escape, first to Europe but after the Three Year War there, some of those who survived fled over here." He looked at Urqhart, and then Bree. "How about we come inside Fort Dock and talk there? I'll have the guards do the prison transfer, and call some dock workers to help Jin offload."
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Post by Evangeline on Sept 3, 2008 20:45:28 GMT -5
Lazaro smiled again in response to the port commander's invitation. Three-year war, hmm? Lemme guess... the usual suspects ganging up on western Europe - Russia and the Middle east? "That would be good, Mr. Wells." He turned to Aron. "Coming along?"
The port of Auckland reared up about them - all crumbling buildings and quiet, dusty streets, its roads travelled only by handcarts, horse-drawn wagons and the odd vehicle adapted to run on charcoal gas or alcohol. Already, a crew was down at the cargo docks, working furiously to bring one of the long-dormant cranes to life. After a few moments of hesitation, Jin finally accepted the assistance of the tugs and harbor pilot to bring him through that last mile to the dock. Auckland in its carsverse incarnation was not unfamiliar to the huge vessel, one of the reasons that he was selected for this job, but this town's state of dingy, depressed disrepair could give even a Panamax freighter the heebie-jeebies.
Jessica turned back from the window, and hurried out of the room and downstairs with Mairi fast on her heels. Already there was a crowd gathering; it seemed that all 20,000 remaining inhabitants in the city were converging on the scene as the news spread. The city police, what few of them there were, attempted manfully to maintain order and keep the roads clear. Jessica and Mairi halted just outside the office entrance as it appeared that the emissaries from this fleet-out-of-nowhere were heading their way - their newish machine-made clothing contrasted starkly with the patched, threadbare togs, recycled tablecloths and drapery, newer homespun and roughly tanned leather that now passed for high fashion in the much-diminished New Zealand.
Just... wow.
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Post by elizar on Sept 3, 2008 20:59:06 GMT -5
"Even though we don't have any cellphones, and any working phones or telecommunication device is not for commercial use, news travel fast." Leroy said as he noticed the increase of people traffic. "And then, you kind of stick out from the crowd."
"I'm not noticing much power being used." Aron said as he looked on the street. It was nearing twilight, but any hint of electrical power, such as lights, were absent.
"The powerplant that was used for Auckland is still there, but the power output is too weak to power the whole city. Thus we have routed the powerlines to the more important places and some apartment complexes for our citizens." Leroy said.
"We can help you get the powerplant up and running again." Aron said confident. As they approached the offices, his eyes wandered over the gawking crowd of employees. Before he could focus on the faces, Leroy replied to him, drawing his attention.
"Middle-east is still being a bitch to us. They have decided to raise the price of oil. It's mostly political, but the statement they are making is that they want their state-sponsored pirates given some leniency here. That if we capture some alive, they want them sent back, where they are 'supposedly' punished."
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Post by Evangeline on Sept 3, 2008 22:18:52 GMT -5
Lazaro noted the high percentage of animal-drawn vehicles on the streets. "I'd assume the price per barrel is already between "stratospheric" and "unobtanium" to begin with. The 'taurcat girls aboard the container ship were actually kind of let down that they didn't get to "play" with the pirates before the boarding party got to them, but they would probably be satisfied with seeing justice done, especially after hearing about the women we found on board. They were taken to Capt. Urqhart's sickbay where they're still being cleaned up and treated for whatever the pirates afflicted, or infected them with."
As if on cue, yet another fantastic creature presented itself, emerging from Park Jin's superstructure. From rubber-shoed hooves to withers, it was the body of a small, slender horse, about twelve hands at the peak of the first set of shoulder blades. From there on, it was melded into a humanoid torso, topped by a head with markedly feline characteristics and upstanding ears that twitched alertly to the noises from the dock. It had a fine head of hair, with decorative thread wraps and beads about the face and a long plait down the humanoid portion of the back. Like the humans, it wore a red and black "Hobart" jacket and a belt hanging heavy with a radio, sidearm and knife, and a rifle was slung over its upper shoulder. It was blonde-sorrel in color, lightening to cream down both chests and the belly, and high white stockings ran up its legs. The sorrel was countershaded by slightly darker stripes on the upper legs and barrel, and the tail was a luxuriant fall of hair as pale as corn silk. Its gold-green eyes took in the surroundings in a frankly inquisitive manner, in contrast to the discretion of its "machine" companions.
In the meantime, police barriers had been set up to keep the crowd at a distance from the docking ships, who regarded the throng with expressions of polite mild curiosity. The pirate boat was turned over to the local harbor patrol by an obviously relieved Casey, who then blew the stink out of her nostrils with a resounding snort that startled nearby observers.
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Post by elizar on Sept 3, 2008 22:44:27 GMT -5
"Our budget is just enough to get oil for our ships." Leroy said. "I may not be the prime minister, but I know what is going on in this country." He continued as he looked at the police force blocking the crowd. "I suggest that we get inside as soon as possible. You're drawing enough attention already."
The group went inside as Leroy showed them a larger room, which was probably at the time a some sort of debriefing room.
"Now look." Leroy said as he took a seat after motioning Lazaro and Aron to do the same. "Fifteen years is a long time. I'm even afraid to ask how you got here. But is this your first trip back to this world?"
Aron shook his head. "We've been here few times. The first time was just month after blowout. We had contact with the NORAD base in Colorado, and extracted the soldiers and their families. Then we have gone few times more, mostly to scout, plant seeds with modified rockets."
"Do you have any idea how the situation is here now?" Leroy asked plainly.
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Post by Evangeline on Sept 3, 2008 23:10:56 GMT -5
Mairi and Jessica followed the men inside, lingering just outside the door with other employees while the conversation continued.
Lazaro drew his hands to his hips. "I wouldn't assume, but I could make an educated guess. From what I observed of the population density, there are perhaps 20-30,000 in the region, and that is all you can support. If I were to make a population estimate based on what I've already seen, there might be half a million people in the whole country, tops. Only in the last five years have you seen anything like a decent outdoor growing season for anything more than grasses and trees. Subsistence farming is the #1 occupation, medical services are back to 19th-century basics and only one in three children makes it past the age of five." He raised his arms to a folded position. "I'd be happy to be wrong about some of that."
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Post by elizar on Sept 4, 2008 5:09:25 GMT -5
"And I would be happy as well." Leroy scoffed. "I'm sorry for this, but when it looks like you come from the land of sunshine, cookies and cartoons, I didn't expect you to really know how it has been for the rest of us."
"Since you are looking for a trade agreement here, I assume you have dreams of rebuilding the Earth with your new allies?" Leroy asked. "I'm bit proud that you would choose New Zealand for that purpose. Europe is still in shambles and Scandinavia is getting bit loopy. The countries that were already third world countries are even worse put now."
"Someone really has to consider you a security risk." A guard came to the meeting room to see Jessica and Mairi listening in. He opened the doors quickly.
"I'm sorry to interrupt, but nine of the pirates have been moved into our custody. The visitors want to tend to the other pirates' wounds after they have let the asian girls out of their medical bay." The guard said. "Should we pressure them into giving us the other pirates?"
"If the others have wounds which can be tended to in prison, get them." Leroy said.
"Mairi, go to the hospital and see if there are any patients in ICU. Get their charts and go to the medibay in the Frigate. See if the doctors can help them. The charts you take should have complete information." Leroy didn't even have to look up to see the usual suspects.
"Jessica, Mr. Duran here is here for the trade agreement, but previous communications indicate 'freebies'. Since you were in charge of keeping stocks, go or get your assistant to prioritize those gifts at the dock."
Aron turned around to see the group of three Leroy had given orders to. And with a name to go with the face, he recognized Jessica.
"Christ."
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Post by Evangeline on Sept 4, 2008 13:29:58 GMT -5
For all this time, Jessica had only seen the man's back, and his sailor's gear had obscured much of his movement and features. And up till now, he hadn't opened his mouth in her presence. As he turned, the face finally came into view - hair going salt and pepper, face tanned and weathered, but it was the same one she had known years before. A clipboard she'd been carrying - her "social armor" -- fell from her fingers and clattered on the floor as her hands flew to her face.
"Aron!"
Mairi took this as a good time to dodge out and see about those patients.
Lazaro noted the additional drama, as was prudent, but maintained his focus on the task at hand. "A full manifest will be made available to your representative at the dockside, Mr. Wells. In addition, we have documents and recordings detailing our own past and present situation where we now live. Those will also be turned over." He then contacted Capt. Urqhart and the sickbay staff on his radio and informed them of incoming patients before getting back to Wells.
"Maximum sickbay capacity is twenty patients for each of the frigates, but Commander Lowes will be docking shortly. Jin Park also has such a facility, though smaller."
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Post by elizar on Sept 4, 2008 13:41:08 GMT -5
Dammit! Aron thought and stood up. He was slightly apprehensive, unsure if Jessica had told anyone how their last meeting had gone, or would be as he was here now.
"Lazaro, call me when it comes to discussing the engineering stuff." Aron said. He went out, but taking up the clipboard as well. "Jes, wait!"
Leroy looked after the pair. "Information is good." Leroy nodded. "But I'm fairly certain that this does not come free. What do you want for all the oil, seeds, service and what else you think of bringing here?"
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Post by Evangeline on Sept 4, 2008 15:13:07 GMT -5
Jessica ran about thirty feet, but froze as Aron caught up. She was half-hunched over, her shoulders shaking.
"OK, Aron." With that, Lazaro returned his attention to Leroy. "What we're looking for... parts and replacements for our own equipment that came across with us, which is now really starting to show wear and tear. The "carsverse" might not have serious climactic or environmental issues, but just the same, the infrastructure there was not made for us, though the taming of certain native animals, such as "wolfbikes" helped out considerably. Houses we can build, furniture we can make, some parts we can machine ourselves, but whatever we can find in salvage parts and equipment would make quite a difference."
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Post by elizar on Sept 4, 2008 15:43:24 GMT -5
"Those things don't come quite cheap." Leroy said. "But given the resources you have, that are considered cheap in your world but luxury in ours, we could make a deal. There is a warehouse in Wellington, I guess you can take a look inside when finalizing the deal with the Prime Minister. My job in this trade agreement is to see if you are who you say you are, and what you got and what you need."
Aron wanted to grab her shoulder to get her to turn around, but he knew the reason why she had run.
"You dropped this." He said and extended the clipboard to her. "I thought you had died."
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Post by Evangeline on Sept 4, 2008 16:12:20 GMT -5
"Good enough." Lazaro nodded. "We will also disclose identities of all persons in the expedition, along with background." He pulled out of his own pocket a well-worn wallet, and extracted from it a yellowed, battered U.S. Army reservist ID, along with proof of honorable discharge from regular enlisted forces. "This was mine."
"I thought the same." Jessica turned around at last, hesitantly. "I was in Portland - Maine, that is - when the caldera blew. My mother and I managed to get a flight out to Newfoundland, where our plane joined a bunch of others flying out to Europe or wherever we could go. You know about the frying pan and the fire, well, this was out of the fire into one frying pan, and then another one and another and another..." Jessica's hand flicked up vehemently with each "another".
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Post by elizar on Sept 4, 2008 17:05:10 GMT -5
Leroy spent few seconds reading it and studying. "I'm amazed at how well you preserved it." He said. "I was a captain of a cruiser when Yellowstone blew. When we couldn't get enough oil to run our navy effectively, I found myself commanding this region." He handed it back to Lazaro.
"Other than first dips to a warehouse, is there anything else you need?"
Aron was relieved to some extend. When he had seen her, he had been afraid of her trying to get revenge on him or something for what he did, but it seemed like his presence had reminded her of what had happened.
"Calm down." He said, finally allowing himself to put his hand on her. "I don't really know what has happened after the blowout, but I doubt you want to talk about it." He took a deep breath, then moved his left hand slightly to get Jessica's attention on it, and the ring he bore. "I'm sorry for how we parted ways." He said carefully, not wanting to reveal how they parted ways to any passersby.
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Post by Evangeline on Sept 4, 2008 17:37:41 GMT -5
"At the time, I thought that was the worst thing that could ever happen to me." Jessica leaned against the exterior wall. "The basic plot of all the "Lifetime channel" movies of the week, right? Three years caught in Europe between the Russians and the Arabs and whoever else wanted a piece of what was left of western civilization gave me some perspective on the matter. Mom died about a year after we left - cholera outbreak. I had the bad luck to be on the street in Milan, just scavenging, when a Hanafi raiding force swept in and I was taken as war booty. Compared to being the "entertainment system" for a squad of modern-day Barbary pirates, our last meeting was pure, sweet love."
Jessica paused to rein in her emotions again. "I was taken aboard a ship bound for God-knows-where in whatever territory they controlled. There was cargo and loot aboard, but mostly they were shipping slaves. The ship ran into a storm that blew it off-course - no GPS any more, eh? In addition, fuel was running low and they were starting to take on water. There was a group of us who were figuring that if our chances were dwindling anyway, we might as well go for broke, and when the ship really began to founder and the crew were mostly preoccupied with staying afloat, we overcame some of them, set fire to the engine room and siezed a couple of lifeboats. Then we drifted for ten days until a ship from New Zealand found us."
"We might also be looking for animal genestock that we may be lacking in our adopted home, and any media and books that could be spared." Lazaro added. "For rare or irreplacable items, we have copying facilities on board."
He turned back to the docking ships. "There are also representatives, scientists, aid workers, envoys and media correspondents from the carsverse who would like to meet with you."
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