trait, not really a failure. You were either born with the juice or you weren't. You either had the right makeup to communicate with CAP-NN or you didn't. Mitchell had heard rumors there were initiatives underway to change those facts, but it was too late for the Major.
"Being a ground-pounder is nothing to be ashamed of. It takes a lot of guts to run around in an exosuit without mech support."
"Who said I was ashamed?" She glared at him with angry eyes. Defensive. "For that matter, where did you get the idea that I was in public relations?"
"You said you were my handler. Corporal Kwon was PR."
Christine started laughing. "I'm not PR."
"Then what are you?"
"Not PR."
"Come on, Chris-"
"Stow it, Captain."
Mitchell closed his mouth. He was used to secrets. Besides, he could guess what she was by looking at her. Command didn't want him surrounded by security. Planting a Special Ops agent as his rep was the next best thing.
8
"Captain Williams, it's an honor to meet you."
He couldn't have been more than eighteen, fresh-faced and wide-eyed to be in the presence of the Alliance's newest and most visible celebrity. He was wearing a high collar and tight gold vest with three-quarter length pants and molded boots, a popular fashion on Liberty at the moment.
He held out his hand. It was pale and delicate.
Mitchell took it and shook, careful to squeeze hard enough that the Space Marine machismo was communicated, and soft enough that he didn't break the kid's hand.
"Great to meet you, too. Thanks for stopping by," he said. "What's your name?"
"Aldus, sir."
"Aldus. That's an interesting name." A stupid name.
"It's the name of the first scientist who entered XENO-1. My parents are huuuuuggggeeee history lovers. Especially XENO-1. They had so many books on it, and I read every one."
Mitchell smiled and nodded, glancing to his left. Major Arapo had positioned herself near the rear of the small enclosure, keeping an eye on him and the students who were filing in to meet him, take a poster and enlistment packet, and walk back out. There was a Private at the door making sure only one person could enter at a time.
Excellence University was the third of the five schools on their itinerary for the morning. Mitchell accessed his p-rat and checked the time. Another hour here, and then an hour at the other two campuses, which were each less than a five minute transport ride.
"XENO-1," Mitchell parroted, not really listening to the student. "I'm not that familiar." He pulled up a stream in his p-rat, some kind of romantic comedy or something. He switched streams.
"Really? The alien starship that crashed on Earth? The reason we're even standing here?"
Mitchell kept nodding, playing along. "Oh. Yeah. I remember now." He didn't. "Do you have anything you want me to sign?"
"No, but I did want you to remember Goliath."
Mitchell dropped the p-rat overlay and glared at the boy, who smiled sheepishly, his face turning red.
"What did you just say?" Mitchell asked.
"I didn't bring anything. I was in a rush to get here before the line got too long."
"No, you said something else. Goliath?"
"No, sir."
"You did," Mitchell insisted. He leaned forward, and the student shied away.
"I was talking about XENO-1. The Goliath was the first starship that was built from the tech that was recovered from it. I didn't say anything about it though. Maybe you just extrapolated it in your mind?" He kept retreating towards the door.
Christine was at his side a moment later. "Is there a problem, Captain?"
Mitchell looked at Aldus. The boy was terrified. He straightened up and spread his friendliest smile.
"No. No problem. Aldus and I were just discussing history. Did you know he's named after the first scientist who entered XENO-1?"
"Mmmmm. Did you get an enlistment packet, Aldus?"
Aldus shook his head. "No, ma'am. I don't want to enlist. I'm studying to be an engineer. I have a full scholarship from Kurida Heavy Machines."
"Are you
"Being a ground-pounder is nothing to be ashamed of. It takes a lot of guts to run around in an exosuit without mech support."
"Who said I was ashamed?" She glared at him with angry eyes. Defensive. "For that matter, where did you get the idea that I was in public relations?"
"You said you were my handler. Corporal Kwon was PR."
Christine started laughing. "I'm not PR."
"Then what are you?"
"Not PR."
"Come on, Chris-"
"Stow it, Captain."
Mitchell closed his mouth. He was used to secrets. Besides, he could guess what she was by looking at her. Command didn't want him surrounded by security. Planting a Special Ops agent as his rep was the next best thing.
8
"Captain Williams, it's an honor to meet you."
He couldn't have been more than eighteen, fresh-faced and wide-eyed to be in the presence of the Alliance's newest and most visible celebrity. He was wearing a high collar and tight gold vest with three-quarter length pants and molded boots, a popular fashion on Liberty at the moment.
He held out his hand. It was pale and delicate.
Mitchell took it and shook, careful to squeeze hard enough that the Space Marine machismo was communicated, and soft enough that he didn't break the kid's hand.
"Great to meet you, too. Thanks for stopping by," he said. "What's your name?"
"Aldus, sir."
"Aldus. That's an interesting name." A stupid name.
"It's the name of the first scientist who entered XENO-1. My parents are huuuuuggggeeee history lovers. Especially XENO-1. They had so many books on it, and I read every one."
Mitchell smiled and nodded, glancing to his left. Major Arapo had positioned herself near the rear of the small enclosure, keeping an eye on him and the students who were filing in to meet him, take a poster and enlistment packet, and walk back out. There was a Private at the door making sure only one person could enter at a time.
Excellence University was the third of the five schools on their itinerary for the morning. Mitchell accessed his p-rat and checked the time. Another hour here, and then an hour at the other two campuses, which were each less than a five minute transport ride.
"XENO-1," Mitchell parroted, not really listening to the student. "I'm not that familiar." He pulled up a stream in his p-rat, some kind of romantic comedy or something. He switched streams.
"Really? The alien starship that crashed on Earth? The reason we're even standing here?"
Mitchell kept nodding, playing along. "Oh. Yeah. I remember now." He didn't. "Do you have anything you want me to sign?"
"No, but I did want you to remember Goliath."
Mitchell dropped the p-rat overlay and glared at the boy, who smiled sheepishly, his face turning red.
"What did you just say?" Mitchell asked.
"I didn't bring anything. I was in a rush to get here before the line got too long."
"No, you said something else. Goliath?"
"No, sir."
"You did," Mitchell insisted. He leaned forward, and the student shied away.
"I was talking about XENO-1. The Goliath was the first starship that was built from the tech that was recovered from it. I didn't say anything about it though. Maybe you just extrapolated it in your mind?" He kept retreating towards the door.
Christine was at his side a moment later. "Is there a problem, Captain?"
Mitchell looked at Aldus. The boy was terrified. He straightened up and spread his friendliest smile.
"No. No problem. Aldus and I were just discussing history. Did you know he's named after the first scientist who entered XENO-1?"
"Mmmmm. Did you get an enlistment packet, Aldus?"
Aldus shook his head. "No, ma'am. I don't want to enlist. I'm studying to be an engineer. I have a full scholarship from Kurida Heavy Machines."
"Are you
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