

Chapter 16: The Space between Two Worlds The dark void of space was set alight by dots of burning stars as it painted the glass viewing window of the Manila's crew lounge. The room, unlike the observation room below deck was cozier for one to sit back in relax thanks in part of a small kitchenette equipped with ready to eat, microwaveable food and a refrigerator stocked with drinks of both alcoholic and non-alcoholic varieties; a small 4k Television that broadcast Satellite TV channels for the crews viewing pleasure. Stryder group was given the privilege of using the lounge for the duration of the trip (although one crew member did mention not for anyone to touch his sandwich). For Samantha at that moment, it was her opportunity to have some much needed alone time. Despite being quite a Sanguine person, the Lieutenant is only human after all and some cases she needs some time for herself alone to reflect and simply just sit off her worries of her numerous command responsibilities. She aimed her eyes at one of the soft and cushy chairs that littered the room and crashed her behind on top of it. She let out a sigh of relief as she sunk her body down chair. Thoughts of the events that has transpired earlier circled through her mind. At first, they were buzzing annoyingly like flies to an exposed cadaver but slowly they stopped pestering her besieged brain off of their stressful infections and now have become more coherent for the Lieutenant to reflect upon. Earlier that day inside the ship, Samantha was called forth in the Communication room of the Manila by the honorable UNOOSA Chairwoman Di Poppo to be given the responsibility, alongside Sergeant Crocker of being Tour Guides for the Gliesians to Kesserheim. With Lewis' experienced knowledge of the Industrial Planet alongside Samantha's valuable people skills, they should be able to make a lasting impression on the Otherworlders upon the benefits of befriending (and consequences of being an enemy) of the UFE. A quick tour of several of Kesserheim's many tourist attractions such as the foundries that fuel its economy, the metropolitan Mega Cities that house the billions of its workers and finally end it all in the most serene and the bleeding edge of UFE Technology, the Kesserheim Garden District where Princess Aria will get her reconstructive surgery. There was only one problem that Samantha couldn't get out of her head, this was also her first time being in Kesserheim in the flesh. She had heard of the sprawling industries the city has as its trademark image from only books and the television. She can easily explain away most of the simpler machinations that the myriad workings of the Industrial Planet have to offer like Holograms, Digital Advertising and Canned Goods. But she fears she could crack under so much social pressure, she was a soldier, not a Public Relations officer. Rose throbbed her head back as she continued to let out an angry but shrill roar before she sank further into her chair. "Eyah! You fucking scared me El-Tee..." Crocker's cockney voice spoke behind her. The Half-Brit and Half-Maori Automatic Rifleman wore a sleeveless shirt exposing his brilliant muscles in their Tribal Tatted glory. He carried with him a single glass cup and a bottle of whiskey with him. He quietly sat on the chair beside Samantha on her right side and placed his bottle of whiskey and cup on the coffee table. He kicked his feet on top of the table caring less of what any of the ship's sailors might complain of his slight abuse of their hospitality. "You seem to be roughed up eh?" Crocker asked her. He splashed a few milliliters of his Whiskey onto his cup. "Yeah, Crock, I am having been roughed up." Samantha sighed. "It's about what the Chairwoman said earlier." She confessed. "Really? Just that? A simple Heart's and Mind's job? Come on El-Tee, really?" Crocker questioned with a dismayed face, his hand still swirling the golden water on his cup, stirring the alcohol to release its rye scented aroma for him to inhale indulgently.