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Mother Confessor:

We march through the flowing river of bodies going about their duties. The Captain does not speak to me as we traverse the busy corridors. Part of me would have loved to have been in the armor bay continuing my training. Though I knew that would have to wait until tomorrow. It was early in the evening, and many were heading to the mess for the evening meal. I note that we were not headed there, my stomach gurgles in hunger. My under shirt was starting to release from my skin, as the sweat dried from the rigorous duel with the Captain. A bruise on my stomach reminds me of the heavy kick to it from earlier.

Seeing a small mark on the Officers neck from my mock killing blow. I thought that I had slowed the wooden blade in the final strike. Though he had told me to fight as if my life depended on it. Feeling a little guilty as it was just an exercise, but is that not the point of it? The foot traffic was starting to ebb as we continue on our trek through the ship. My mind straying back to my first patient as we ambulate along the metal floor. Still trying to figure out what exactly had put her in such a state of peril. Sure having ones insides exposed was not healthy, but something else was causing her stress on her system. Unsure if it was the missing reproductive organs, or the method her butchers used to open her up. The former was going to have a profound and negative effect on her psyche, but the overall position that was forced upon her was rather traumatic. Another aspect that puzzles and disturbs me was the purpose of her external sexual organ being what I assume inspected. Shuddering at the thought of being strapped to some sort of surgical table and being explored like that in the most degrading and humiliating fashion. By no means am I a saint for what I have done in the past, and all I can do is beg for forgiveness for my past actions. As for the sick individuals that had done such horrible and unethical things to my patient. It seems that they would not seek such things. At least not in what I saw of their handy work. At best I hope they received punishment for their malicious dissection.

Continuing lock step with the Captain as he leads us to where ever we are going. Curious as to what the destination will be, holding my tongue despite it. Reflecting further back, as we march along. It was nice to have been treated like an average being by the Ober-Commander. Sitting in the cantina and having a normal conversation. Devoid of the fact that he is a hard as nails soldier, and I a sadistic interrogator. Still I do not understand the feelings he stirred within me, but I miss them. As well as the night we had in his quarters. We did not engage in intercourse, and that was alright. It was most pleasant to be wrapped around his muscular frame. In an odd way I felt safe and warm. Part of me wants that feeling of being with him again.

Graxis:

My responsibility is doing well with my unique approach to her training. She was not the average grunt, as she continues to excel with each obstacle I try to throw in her way. Sergeant Nimix lacked the patience to teach her properly. Not putting her down for trying her hand at training the new recruit, just some are not meant to do so. I find the fault in the Sergeant’s method to be she was expecting her to run before she learned to walk, as the old adage goes. After the lesson I taught the Sergeant, perhaps she will be more humble in her overall duty. To not wield her aggressive nature to bludgeon others like a cudgel.

We are getting close now. I wish to reward the hard efforts of my responsibility. Even the Major was quite doting of her abilities as he helps her hone her skills as an armor pilot. Though we have severed on several missions in the past, we have a good rapport and friendship.

It was also pleasing to hear from the head Surgical Technician Arinassi that she was turning out to be a very worthy medic. Starting to understand what Dlyvacko had meant about the mental abilities my responsibility has at her disposal. Even though I cannot fathom just how intelligent she is. I can understand the other aspect that Dlynvacko had mentioned. That she is very curious to learn despite her high degree of intellect.

I would speculate that she is so curious, because she had spent a long time locked away from the outside universe. Forced to do the bidding of those against her will. Though it is noteworthy that she is transitioning fairly well from where she initially started. At least as far as I have observed of her. It has got to be a bit challenging in the adjusting process after being torn away from that kind of nonconsensual servitude, and able to do what she chooses within the confines of the allowance gifted her. As she amazes me and those of her tutors, in time I am sure will continue to amaze those in the future long after the rest of us cease to exist. I admit that I was reluctant at first to take her under my wing, and teach, as well as find others to teach her the necessary skills needed to properly conduct herself in the field. Not sure what will be next in her sights to learn, but I do know that she will master it. Just as she has with her current education beyond the basic day to day activities.

Arriving at the cantina, I would like to give a more personal accolade to her, without the added stress of being her superior, but as a friend as well. Sometimes it helps to be reminded that there is more to us than simplistic nature of a soldier. That there is always time to step outside of giving and receiving orders. What better way to do that than in a relaxed environment and stripping away the titles and ranks, and conduct ourselves in a different type of camaraderie. There are those that only see each other as such by virtue of military design only. But then again there are those we put up with whether we like it or not.

Taking a seat at the far end of the bar.

“The Private and I will have a Ptaima Pomei Ruz, thanks”, I address the bartender. Looking at my responsibility she has a smile on her face. I return a smile of my own. Despite feeling a bit rusty as I had not done training in the past fifty years, I see now what I was missing in that time. Receiving the bitter sweet ale in frosted pyramidal bottles.

“Here is to you”, I begin my complimenting her progress, “may you succeed in your endeavors. Tiat mininokai.”

“Thank you, sir. I shall honor your teachings humbly” , she returns. With that we toast to her small accomplishments thus far.

Marckus:

On the return trip back to the battle ship, covered in blood, sweat, and welts. Mildly exhausted, as I figure out how to best coordinate getting the refugees out of harms way. They have been through enough, and should not be in the cross hairs. Turning my thoughts to Red Wolf being a bit clearer in my mind. I feel that I had judged her ordeal a bit hastily. Though she is shaken up and disheveled, perhaps I was wrong. She may have been assaulted just not to the extent that I had jumped into conclusion. Still I feel it best to have her checked out just to be on the safe side. After all she had beaten the fat ass, cowardly general to a pulp.

Setting there as we got closer to the ship, the engines dull roar in my ears. Every one had packed up and left. As we were departing the Callisto installation, I noticed that the Centurian Armor had taken a beating despite taking the ground. It was a damn shame to add in the thirty one soldiers littering the corridor on the first level. Seems between them and the Confederation forces they were caught in a stalemate. Save for the lone brute I had come across, before Dlynvacko had skittishly showed up. Still wondering why she had snuck on-board the breach ship. let alone why she came all the way down into the fray. I may never really know for sure. We did seize the day, but at a steep price.

The other thing plaguing my mind was the way the Confederation troops acted. I had never faced a Terran force that fought that hard. Things had changed considerably. Yes I could see and feel their fear, but they fought on without any concern for themselves. Just throwing their lives away, and for what? A piece of real estate? Like a new breed of soldier that I had never had the likes of meeting before. It was a taste of what we can expect when we hit Terra. Not sure how I felt about this as they seemed all to willing to do the bidding of their masters and lords. If their leadership is anything like the fat oaf, then they may be at a disadvantage. Still I had to admit they had remained resilient in their tactic to try and cut our numbers as they set up in pockets to thin our numbers down. Sure was a hell of a fight. Lost a couple of Uldivarions along the way. I am still curious what they are doing here, and what they are up to. As long as they are here to help, I welcome their presence. Going to need all the help we can get, as it will be a hell of a task straight out assaulting a whole planet. After catching a glance at their ship out the cockpit window. I estimate between both war ships, that we were about a million strong. We had the firepower, but the Confederation forces easily dwarfed our numbers. The next few days are going to be trying in pushing forward with this campaign. We are going to have to come up with a plan to work out the delicate task of how to best avoid collateral damage while pounding the Chairmen’s military into submission. This is our new challenge, and it was not going to be over as soon as I would like it to be. Was going to be a daunting task in fighting a hydra.

Back aboard I set about the problem at hand of getting the refugees safely out of the cross fire. Working with the Uldivarions, we manage getting this underway. Utilizing the hangar still on the base, we move the civilians there so that they could leave the system to safety. At least the troop transports in the hangar would offer some protection should they need to defend themselves.

Catching the sniper in her tattered dress uniform, “Red, go and get checked out”, I order her.

“Sir, I am fine”, she replies.

“Not to sure about that, you almost beat the hell out me when we found you”, I return the interaction.

“I told you I am fine”, she snarls back.

“Don’t make me haul your ass there myself”, I match her heated tone.

“And I said that I am fine”, her face twisted up and becoming more pissed off.

“Volkov…”, getting more assertive, she cuts me off. Catching her fist before it connects with my jaw. Her knuckles bite into my palm with a loud smack from the impact.

Pulling her close to me by her fist, “Honey, please go and get checked out”, I say to her changing my tone, stepping back into a more fatherly role instead of her commanding officer. I can tell that something had happened to her, despite the fact that she dispatched the pig.

“It is not your fault for what happened. We had no idea that it was all going to go tits up. Turned out we had been betrayed. Captain Graxis has no doubt by now locked the traitor up”, I explain my understanding to her, trying to get her to calm down,” I only want what is best for you, that is all I ever wanted child. I know I was not the best when I took you in, but I did the best I could. So do it for the man who did his best for you, not the man who barks orders at you.”

Having got her back on my side, we set off to get checked out. My kidneys hurt like hell. But I don’t care, because I took my lumps for her. I would wade into any number of nightmares for her. I think she knew that I was still that soldier who took pity on the child that was torn apart by the wages of war. By now she must know that if it came down to it I would fight till the bitter end so she could have a better life. One free from all the sleepless nights, and all the senseless killing. I feel I owe her that much for all she had taken from her.

* * *

Graxis:

Sitting at a table with the two Uldivarions, having decent time with them. They really do have an odd sense of humor, but it somehow makes them less creepy. Never spent much time with them in the past. Looking over at my responsibility across from me, she too is having a good time. I need this, seeing as it was really a tumultuous morning. It bothers me that my own commander could do something so underhandedly. The Council of Elders would decide what his fate is to be. No one is above their decisions, as they are not fools. They would not have had us go and get such a man as the Ober-Commander, unless there was a good reason for it. Perhaps they knew what he did, in the fact that the Confederation would try another full on assault on Centuria . The treatise was always stretched thin, and there were skirmishes, and displays of dominance. That cannot be the real reason, seeing as our worlds were to far apart for either to impose too much one way or the other. I figure it is best to trust their judgment on the matter, as their collective wisdom was used for the better. I just wanted to be able to find our two planets at peace, and not an armistice that was loosely enforced. Waiting for one or the other to show up and obliterate the other. Maybe that is the reason we are all the way out here in Sol system? I had little to work with on the grander design, but that is what I could figure it to be. From what I remember from my history lessons, we were trying to subvert another event that would spark an all out war between our worlds. Evidence would suggest this based upon the fact that we are a lone ship, and have not expected any further reinforcement. As for the Uldivarions, I am very curious as to their presence. What were they holding in their hand that they are withholding? Should find out in the next few hours while dining with Commander Kionxxia aboard her ship.