February 8th, OE 102
1:00 PM DST
Lunar Orbit
All was still on Luna. The last of the DAMON had been vanquished, and the Lamalice swarms terrorizing the Colonies kept their distance from Luna, repelled by its psychic inhabitants. It was not a calm silence - hands moved about in the darkness, maneuvering their chosen game pieces into position, the more belligerent of the Moon's quasi-aristocracy having been the first to be overrun by the extradimensional mostrosities in their eagerness for glory.
Overhead, visible from the white surface, a patch of space began to buckle and warp in a decidedly familiar fashion - but it was no DAMON that emerged.
A bright red spear burst from the murky heat-haze, followed in short order by the rest of a sleek, red-and-white vessel - the Directory's cutting edge flagship, the Air Christmas. As its presence in reality was once more firmly established, lights were already beginning to stir below across the surface.
Time had finally run out.
Air Christmas, Bridge
"ES Window, closing. No abnormalities detected."
On the bridge of the Air Christmas, there was a delicate pop as a cork flew off into the distance, and the applause of the bridge staff. Golden bubbles flowed over the lip of the champagne bottle as Brigadier-General Rodgers clapped his hands together.
"Congratulations are in order." He said, turning in his seat to his passengers; "The fastest wartime trip to Luna on record."
The man the bottle was proferred to, however, waved it aside. He had far more important things on his mind. He was a newcomer on the ship, having joined them as the vessel resupplied at Lagrange two - but all knew his name, and face.
"Somehow, it felt like it took forever."
Chairman Hammar gave a grunt of disapproval, reorienting his gaze at the looming Lunar surface in the monitor.
The most powerful man on Earth perhaps in the entire Earth Sphere, the Directory Chairman who had overseen the rise of the most properous era in all of human history. A tall, lanky man with sharp features, wearing a faded green suit, his presence alone indicated the unprecedented importance of the mission at hand. The threat of a Lunar secession, and the Lamalice onslaught were matters that could not be left to any other than his own, steady hand. Thus, he had boarded at L2, determined to tear the threat of war out at its source.
And besides...
He was a man who had learned the hard way that in politics, you could never really trust anyone. Speaking of-
"Lao."
The Director gave a thin smile as he straightened at the mention of his name.
"Sir?"
"Send out the Granzon, front and center."
"Understood, Chairman."
As Lao made to leave, the Chairman's arm suddenly reached out, gripping his shoulder and pulling him in close.
"I should hope-" He said, under his breath; "That thing is worth what we paid for it. For your sake."
Lao's face betrayed nothing but polite concern.
"I shall keep that in mind... Sir."
As Lao departed, Hammar folded his arms and turned his attention back to the matter at hand. There would be time to reign in his subordinate's excesses later, preferably in committee.
Young Queen of Everglory... What are you planning?
"Open a direct channel to Queen Selene. Time is of the essence."
1:00 PM DST
Lunar Orbit
All was still on Luna. The last of the DAMON had been vanquished, and the Lamalice swarms terrorizing the Colonies kept their distance from Luna, repelled by its psychic inhabitants. It was not a calm silence - hands moved about in the darkness, maneuvering their chosen game pieces into position, the more belligerent of the Moon's quasi-aristocracy having been the first to be overrun by the extradimensional mostrosities in their eagerness for glory.
Overhead, visible from the white surface, a patch of space began to buckle and warp in a decidedly familiar fashion - but it was no DAMON that emerged.
A bright red spear burst from the murky heat-haze, followed in short order by the rest of a sleek, red-and-white vessel - the Directory's cutting edge flagship, the Air Christmas. As its presence in reality was once more firmly established, lights were already beginning to stir below across the surface.
Time had finally run out.
Air Christmas, Bridge
"ES Window, closing. No abnormalities detected."
On the bridge of the Air Christmas, there was a delicate pop as a cork flew off into the distance, and the applause of the bridge staff. Golden bubbles flowed over the lip of the champagne bottle as Brigadier-General Rodgers clapped his hands together.
"Congratulations are in order." He said, turning in his seat to his passengers; "The fastest wartime trip to Luna on record."
The man the bottle was proferred to, however, waved it aside. He had far more important things on his mind. He was a newcomer on the ship, having joined them as the vessel resupplied at Lagrange two - but all knew his name, and face.
"Somehow, it felt like it took forever."
Chairman Hammar gave a grunt of disapproval, reorienting his gaze at the looming Lunar surface in the monitor.
The most powerful man on Earth perhaps in the entire Earth Sphere, the Directory Chairman who had overseen the rise of the most properous era in all of human history. A tall, lanky man with sharp features, wearing a faded green suit, his presence alone indicated the unprecedented importance of the mission at hand. The threat of a Lunar secession, and the Lamalice onslaught were matters that could not be left to any other than his own, steady hand. Thus, he had boarded at L2, determined to tear the threat of war out at its source.
And besides...
He was a man who had learned the hard way that in politics, you could never really trust anyone. Speaking of-
"Lao."
The Director gave a thin smile as he straightened at the mention of his name.
"Sir?"
"Send out the Granzon, front and center."
"Understood, Chairman."
As Lao made to leave, the Chairman's arm suddenly reached out, gripping his shoulder and pulling him in close.
"I should hope-" He said, under his breath; "That thing is worth what we paid for it. For your sake."
Lao's face betrayed nothing but polite concern.
"I shall keep that in mind... Sir."
As Lao departed, Hammar folded his arms and turned his attention back to the matter at hand. There would be time to reign in his subordinate's excesses later, preferably in committee.
Young Queen of Everglory... What are you planning?
"Open a direct channel to Queen Selene. Time is of the essence."