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Post by Evangeline on Jun 24, 2010 15:46:50 GMT -5
"Don't blame you." Randy sighed. "Especially with pr*cks like Carl in the business." With Annikki tapped out for the rest of the day, it would be at least a day's journey back to the mainland.
Hours later, Picard touched down at Anderson, and found out that any R and R would have to wait, for all six of them, as they were handed over to the medical teams as soon as it was safe to approach and offload. They would be held for observation and debriefed over a three-day period, dredging up the remaining reserves of their patience and good nature while waiting to return to KSC. Lionel was going to have to wait for his beer.
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Post by elizar on Jun 24, 2010 16:02:32 GMT -5
(( Time for a wrapup jump? How far should we have it? ))
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Post by Evangeline on Jun 24, 2010 16:21:28 GMT -5
<<< When they're back at KSC? >>>
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Post by elizar on Jun 24, 2010 16:59:27 GMT -5
(( Okay. ))
Three days passed in a grueling manner for the crew. Most of them just wanted to be able to relax after the stressful mission, but having almost been hit by something that had the force of a small nuke made others nervous. There was no wonder why Anderson airport had been chosen, it was one of the better medical research airports while quite isolated. There the medical teams could ooh and aww over Picard without having many people looking over the fences to see what was going on.
The crew of humans had similar experiences. Their schetule had been always either medical teams looking at them or scanning them with geiger counters, or being asked to repeat for the one hundred and thirty sixth time how the mission went. At least none of them had the bad taste of humor to start bullshitting about alien abductions, though Miles had been pretty close to do it in the end.
When Lewis had finally arrived there had been genuine cheering going on. And then they finally got news of how things had gone for the other team.
Jerome had been quickly operated on and brought back to his family. He had been traveling a bit hoping to find sprites like his sister had done, but had been ambushed, tranq'd and woken up in the compartment. Despite his obvious wishes to be able to control flame, he had gotten the opposite, and could freeze stuff. While imprisoned he had been forbidden to, and his first attempts to defy the wishes of his captors just to be a bit more comfortable in there had resulted in the implants activating.
Bryan had begun the application process to enter West Point, but while waiting he had taken a leave where he spent it in Florida, invided to KSC by Zoe, where he got to see Jerome's operation, and the machine as well.
Three days was a long time for impatient people. Things had gotten done in the space crew's absence, and it felt like a lot of things. When Lewis had stopped and waited for the ground crew to allow his passengers to depart, Miles stood up to where he could address everyone.
"I think what's on all our minds." Miles said overly dramatic. "I need a drink. Thus I've taken the liberty to prepare a selection of the finest booze inside hangar three."
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Post by Evangeline on Jun 24, 2010 18:04:25 GMT -5
Lionel grinned savagely. "The first beer I meet is going to have an early death."
Picard, in the meantime, perked up eagerly as he saw Serafina watching in the distance. It would be a while yet to lift him off Lewis and set him on the ground, but the shuttle already had hopes and plans. No doubt Serafina did too! Lewis was happy to see Christina, now almost healed up and ground-mobile. He lifted his head to catch her scent.
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Post by elizar on Jun 24, 2010 18:15:55 GMT -5
"So I'll give you the cheap stuff first since you're so eager to down it in one gulp." Miles said. Finally the doors opened up and let the crew out.
"I'll see you later in hangar three Picard." Gates called up to make himself hear. "Likewise Lewis."
Christine headed out to Lewis once the humans and ground crew were away. "They're planning a coming-home party over at hangar three." She said and rubbed against Lewis. There was nothing anymore attached to her right wing, but she was still grounded, the wing was still healing.
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Post by Evangeline on Jun 24, 2010 18:24:29 GMT -5
Lewis whickered through his nose as he rubbed cheeks in return. "Yeah, I guess that's the plan. How've you been holding up the last few days?"
Picard, in the meantime, was busy texting with Serafina, who still had to wait beyond the gate with the others not directly concerned with NASA operations, until the procedures were over with.
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Post by elizar on Jun 24, 2010 18:34:45 GMT -5
"Still exercising." Christine answered. "And I thought I had a good workout flying before all this. They keep me going every day."
Miles went into the hangar, with Amara, Terrel, Zoe and her husband along with handful of the workers, both human and mechanian. Hangar 3 was a communal hangar, large enough accommodate a number of aircrafts and support crew. Kids were not invited to this, and most of the beverages served for everyone were intoxicants. Miles was quick to throw a cheap beer to Lionel as he promised to do, while taking up a four year old wine from humanverse Italy, and poured into four glasses.
"For surviving a bloody user nuke." He raised his glass.
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Post by Evangeline on Jun 24, 2010 19:26:15 GMT -5
"At least we're not glowing in the dark." Pilar said as she raised her glass. "Hey, it must've cost a bundle for this stuff."
It was at that point that a VIP was admitted to the hangar. Bree entered with her aide, a small Yaris woman. She came up to greet the crew, looking happy and relieved to see everyone back safe.
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Post by elizar on Jun 24, 2010 19:31:53 GMT -5
"Heya Bree!" Gates called before Miles could answer Pilar. He looked back to see the old admiral approaching.
"I was hoping you could make it." Miles said. "And can I say that we all are desparate for news from your side."
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Post by Evangeline on Jun 24, 2010 19:52:05 GMT -5
"Well, Juno took a bullet near the tail, and was pretty winded besides." Bree disclosed, leaning in. "They packed her right onto the ambulance trailer to the hospital as soon as the ships made port. They say it's for observation, but it's the only way she's going to take a proper rest. Of course she'll complain, but I've heard that from her ever since we were cadets." She paused. "And that boy is back with his family, they were waiting at the dock as soon as they heard."
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Post by elizar on Jun 24, 2010 20:03:12 GMT -5
"That boy dropped a nuke, and had enough power left for Carl to attempt to rig the machine to blow up." Miles said. The radio conversation had told him enough to deduce so. "While Kam could only blow the circuits in satellites and occasionally burn a small hole. And we haven't still not heard what that kid does."
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Post by Evangeline on Jun 24, 2010 20:20:57 GMT -5
Zoe came up as she overheard the conversation. "Jerome is basically a living cold generator. It's his one trick, and not transferable over distance, but it's powerful enough to turn atmospheric gases into liquids."
"And Carl's device only needed raw, undifferentiated power at the root." Bree nodded. "That's how Randy explained it to me."
"What did you do with Carl in the meantime?" Lionel inquired, knocking back another beer. "You locked him up good, I hope."
"All trussed up like your Christmas turkey." Zoe confirmed. "He's got a whole pen to himself at the marine supermax facility at Oak Harbor. It's a basin connected only by a single canal a half-mile long. He's not getting out of that."
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Post by elizar on Jun 24, 2010 20:36:36 GMT -5
"I wonder just how close to absolute zero he may get to." Helen shrugged. "Pretty powerful lad."
"But it's case closed, is it not?" Miles asked. "We got the terrorists, Carl is in prison, and people have adjusted to the slightly less satellite coverage there is now, which will balance out in a decade or less."
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Post by Evangeline on Jun 24, 2010 20:52:56 GMT -5
"We didn't go that far down, but theoretically he could manage it." Zoe replied to Helen. "But safety measures would have to be strict and he knows that. Fortunately he's a resilient, level-headed kid and can bounce back."
"The big issues are wrapped up, it's the messy little details we still have to address." Bree sighed. "Harold and Ursa are still awaiting trial, right? That'll be a real shining moment for GM."
"It'll be painful, and sickening to view." Zoe concurred. "Like draining an abscess, but it has to be done."
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