Ryo Kase is heading toward the island of New Astarte , the Crayterian University home , the 53rd Headquarters. He looks at his time and see that it is 11:20 YST.
*Good , still have enough time to settle everything*
Ryo is feeling a nod in his stomach , is the first time he is meeting the delegates from
IMG and
Planetform.
*They are here for two weeks and I am meeting them for the first time and to make matter worse , I represent the Republic* is one of the thoughts that is crossing his mind while directing the shuttle pod towards the island.
While is changing it’s course to counter a storm another thought is crossing his mind
*It must be happening in the best conditions , nothing is too much for our guests … Damn storm … I need to look into securing a better meteorological control over Yuma … Air power… This is how we will tame this planet … Air power…. Gods , focus Ryo , focus , meeting , scientists , the future is ahead*
Deep in the distance , the glittering towers of the island can be seen and his
AICIISS started to alert the pilot about a shield been active at the location.
*The storm must have hit New Astarte, good thing that we managed to install this old army shields on the islands*
“ New Astarte Control , this is CRSP-111 , requesting permission to dock”
“CRSP-111, We have you on our scanners , please send security password to lower the shield”
Ryo is typing his numerical code and looking at the small
AICIISS hologram thinks
*Ehh , Lidia , you can change the government and change the people leading but in our Republic , the militaristic way can be seen everywhere. We always live behind our weapons and shields , behind our Army and Fleet. When all of this ends?*
“Roger that CRSP-111 , your access code had been authorize , shield is lowered , please state destination!”
“ I am heading towards the Compound A, please notify Secretary Aumi to join me”
“Understood, Minister Ryo , please proceed to pad 11. Security detail had been also sent. Secretary Aumi is joining with you know sir. She wants to report that Conference room 6 is ready for your inspection”
“Thank you Control. Proceeding”
Ryo is heading his shuttle toward the pad and lands. Opening the canopy he feels the fresh salty air of Yuma ocean , called
Rubicon Ocean , in the memory of a warship.
“Minister , the conference room is ready. Please follow me”
Jumping from the shuttle , Ryo is looking at the young secretary
*She is not even in her 30’s but she seems capable of administration jobs. Let’s see how she will surprise me*
Following her , Ryo enters the enclave that is called
Compound A , luxurious buildings in the center that are surrounded by habitacle units , labs and all kind of small utility buildings.
![[Image: images_1.jpg]](https://s18.postimg.org/npc7qhol5/images_1.jpg)
From the beginning , Ryo is amazed what they have done there , having to approve funds for redecoration the moment secretary Aumi took over.
“It looks amazing , Aumi , it truly does.”
“Thank you minister , we tried to make it more comfortable.”
“ It is , this looks like our ambassadorial buildings from Crayter. Look at it , it just gives you the feeling of being at home. Amazing , good job again Aumi”
Aumi moves forward to the magnetic elevator, followed closely by Ryo. She press the button to floor 6.
![[Image: 216b66edffd373cb54cb1664c0cac41a.jpg]](https://s21.postimg.org/4exlt837b/216b66edffd373cb54cb1664c0cac41a.jpg)
“This is the Conference lounge. It is designed to give the guest enough resting place and to gather their minds. Entertainment is available and the room have been recently cleaned and refreshed. “
“Aumi , you are amazing , it is exactly as I envisioned from the sketches that I approved”
Aum heads to the end of the room and opens the door.
![[Image: 9d1bda6b0738e3ae58ffbefee4a90b06.jpg]](https://s2.postimg.org/mic23p549/9d1bda6b0738e3ae58ffbefee4a90b06.jpg)
“This is the conference room as you asked, for a small party”
“Indeed. Looks good Aumi , looks good. Now tell me , did you do all of this just to earn a promotion? “
“No Minister , I just wanted the best for the best , sir. It is my compound after all and I want to look and be one of the best on Yuma”
![[Image: 626db1823ae799d943947a9a80957582.jpg]](https://s12.postimg.org/6bfb55rrx/626db1823ae799d943947a9a80957582.jpg)
Aumi heads to the kitchen
“Here we have a small service kitchen , nothing fancy , having some heating units , food stored in the cupboards , a selection of tea and coffee , wine also and fresh Supernova cockteils. “
“Excellent. And the cups or glasses ? “
“The cupboard on the right , Minister. “
“Thank you, Aumi”
“Anything else , sir ?”
“No”
“ I will take my leave then and let you here.”
“Thank you and you managed to impress me Aumi”
“Thank you Minister”
Aumi is heading to the exit and come back in a few seconds
“Minister , there are some Marines here assuming guard positions and there is a CIS officer also”
“Ahh , yes. General Duncan sent it. What can we do , Military , neh ? “
“Yes, Minister , once more , good luck sir.”
“Thank you”
Aumi leaves the room and
Ryo is putting his briefcase on the table and gets some copy of the latest report made by 53rd and starts to put them around the table, but then it changes his mind and puts them all in one pile. The name and series number can be seen
*EXPEDITION ON TRIPOLI – 53- 44122312-C*
![[Image: f9c12b6e1db18498a272ed0cccf6b17b.jpg]](https://s28.postimg.org/q7ilp9z9p/f9c12b6e1db18498a272ed0cccf6b17b.jpg)
Ryo looks again at his watch and realise that there are more then 35 minutes before the meeting. Looking at the table , he realise that there are compartments under it and stash all his files.
A
Marine and the
CIS officer enters and make the introduction and then they switch their headset to headset communication and they ignore
Kase until a sudden growling is heard.
Both Soldiers look at Kase and the CIS officer is contemplating the situation ..
“Sir , did you had anything to eat today ? “
“ No”
“Far for me to order you anything Minister , but maybe a toast and a coffee may do the trick ? “
“ You are right , Officer …”
“Shelter”
“ Really , officer Shelter ? “
Ryo is going to the kitchen and fast is making two pieces of toast and a coffee and comes back and sits toward the Soldiers
![[Image: aa39acac5bda7ccc24286bb01504b651.jpg]](https://s27.postimg.org/vvkg1g0eb/aa39acac5bda7ccc24286bb01504b651.jpg)
“I knew an Officer Shelter from CIS in Tau 44 , before the Exodus.”
“ No relation , sir”
“ Actually , it was during the CFF conflict and if I remember correctly , a lot of CIS agents were called Shelter”
The CIS officer smiles and states
“ Maybe sir , we are a band of brothers”
“So , I cannot know the name of my stomach saviour ?”
“No sir , but I can tell you the marine name , is Gareth”
“ But still not yours”
“ I am sorry sir , for that you may need to speak with CIS Superior Forum”
“ Will do , will do”
The Officer and Marine again entered in a state of silence and Ryo is having his toast and coffee and looks at the time : 20 minutes.
“ Soon , they will come”
Doctor Rio Umeda looks up from the files of the newest patience in the care of the Crayterian medical service as a nurse enters the new bureau on New Astarte. Even though she is proud that the government decided, after she repeatedly suggested it, to place the studying branch of medicine in the Crayterian Univeristy as well. With this her plan of granting the people of Crayter, her hopefully final home, the best possible medical treatment in all situations made a bigger step to its goal.
"Dr Umeda, you asked me to remind you that the conference shall start in less than thirty minutes."
The kusarian woman wrinkles her forhead. "What do you mean with conference? I thought the professors we got for the nurse pupils and the medicine students agreed that, even though I lead the Medical Service that currently I can focus on what I know best. Saving lifes."
"But Dr Umeda I am talking about the meeting Mr Kase asked you to join. Representives of IMG and Planetform will come there as well. And since you already had some kind of field experience you were asked to assist them as an emergency doctor."
Rio raises as she finally reminds what the nurse was talking about. "Ahh. Arigatou for reminding me. I will see that I work some more later on and plwase don't hesitate to call for me if the constitution of the emergency patient gets worse again. Sadly he is not on the safe side yet." With a light smile the doctor leaves the room and walks slowly to the conference room, reading on her device about the healing process of the other patients she was working with. As she reaches the conference room she closes the files and sets the modes to emergency notices only.
The doors of the room open with a silent sliding sound and allow a sight at the three men already waiting there. Just now she realizes that she still wears her lab coat over her buisness outfit, so she opens it to look more formal and less like she is on duty.
"Kon'nichiwa Gentlemen. It is a pleasure to meet you. Please excuse me." Without waiting for an answer she walks to the small kitchen and prepares a cup of black tea for herself, knowing she might need it to calm herself down a bit. With the tea in her hands she return to the meeting room, smiling lightly as the men are still more or less frozen in her movements. "Gentlemen, you all know me and I doubt it is my buisness outfit that impresses you enough to silent you all."
Quietly the two military member return her greeting, Ryo Kase on the other hand rose from his place and moves towards her. "Dr Umeda, it is a pleasure to see you again, it has been a while since we saw each other."
"Hai, but we both were busy Kase-san. Working for the sake of Crayter and its people takes time. And I advice you return to your meal since my guess is that it will take some time as well that you get the chance to eat something after our guests arrive."
Mattia Breisacher was just enjoying once more the overall comfort of his habitat in Compound A of New Astarte - nohing compared to his appartment on Falkland. Having his eyes closed while laying on a couch, he daydreamed, mostly about when he could finally see his wife and children in person again. Even though it just had been a few days so far, he was already missing them too much for his likings. "Damn Guild, damn Henderson, damn Byrne, they just can't stand leaving me alone one time", he thought, while mumbling the words silently. These thoughts slowly vanished though, as he remembered what he was on Yuma for. There were great plans from Mr. Kase, ones which would also concern the IMG, and as he was one of the Guild's most known specialists, especially regarding terraforming processes, he had been ordered to supervise the expeditions and plans to fit IMG's interest.
Suddenly, a knock on the door interrupted his daydreams, as he heard a woman's voice. "Mr. Breisacher, are you in there?"
Being caught off guard, he sat up on his couch and blinked tiredly, before he understood what was going on. "Ah ... yes - yes. I'm here. What's the matter?"
"I just wanted to remind you the meeting is going to take place in 30 minutes, in the conference room. Mr. Kase and the Doctor have already arrived", she said.
"Oh right, thanks for telling me", Mattia replied. "I'm on my way!" Hectically, he stood up, quickly smoothed down the wrinkles on his suit, before grabbing the small pile of paper that he had put on the table besides him. Having a look into the mirror, he saw how ugly he actually looked, with his beard that he rarely took care of, and the suit that didn't fit him in any way and made him look beefed-up. Mattia sighed loudly as he saw himself. He might didn't look professional, but in his own opinion, his knowledge would make up for it more than enough.
After a short walk through various corridores of New Astarte, Mattia finally reached the conference room. The two doors silently opened as he entered it, being fascinated by the luxurity from the first second. As the woman had already told him, there were two people in the room, one man and one woman, who both sat at the table and were talking to each other when he came in. Now, both of them had turned their heads towards him, the woman having one of her eyebrows raised.
Even though Mattia had never been the man for social interaction, Byrne had given him some insights beforehand on how to act professionally. Trying to play everything cool, he began to speak, with a slight smile on his face. "Good evening, ladies and gents. Good to see I'm not the first one." Walking over to Kase in order to shake his hand, he said: "So, I guess you must be Ryo Kase, right? My name is Mattia Breisacher, leader of the IMG team on New Astarte. A pleasure to meet you finally - the Ambassador has only told me good things about you. It will be a great honor for me to work with you."
Turning around to the woman, he added: "Excuse me, where are my manners. You must be Doctor Umeda if I'm not mistaken. I heard some fancy things about your work. It's a pleasure to meet you as well, of course", while reaching out for her hand.
Doctor Catrine Berg was sitting in her room, located in a residential block, when she decided to start moving towards the conference room. Sighing, she put off her travel diary and looked around the room. Well, it was worth noting that it was made flawlessly. She really liked it's modern and laconic style. Some of the laboratory equipment was already delivered to the dedicated laboratories, but, nevertheless, the doctor planned to arrange a small personal laboratory in her room. It remains only to wait for "Minerva," a personal transport ship. Looking at her watch, she noticed that she had a bit time before the first meeting with the Minister of Science of the Republic. She had to admit that she was very worried about this. She had met with high-ranking scientists before, but this was the first time she had ever come across anything beyond the walls of her second home, Cambridge University. Standing up, she went to the mirror and looked at her costume. An ordinary field suit with a lab coat over it. Maybe not quite formally, but this trifle helps the doctor feel herself more confident. Convinced that she took everything she needed with her, she went into the corridor, closing the door to the electro-magnetic lock. However, on reflection, she decided not to immediately go to the conference room, and wait a bit for her colleague in the waiting room. In general, in these corridors it was easy to get confused, so the doctor kept the plan of the building, stored in her personal PDA, before her eyes. Passing through numerous corridors, she often met different people. Many of them, like her, wore laboratory gowns and smiled back. Apparently, they were in a good mood. Finally, she reached the waiting room, which was located near the conference room. It was all the same laconic room, made in a modern style. Several comfortable sofas, coffee tables with scientific journals were there. After the doctor took one of the magazines and sat down on the sofa, a service robot approached her:
"Greetings, miss, would you like to drink a cup of tea or coffee?"
To be honest, the doctor could never deny herself a cup of coffee, so she nodded in agreement:
"With pleasure. Thanks."
The robot disappeared to appear in a second with a cup of strong hot coffee. Once again nodding, the doctor took a cup in her hands and took a sip. The coffee was excellent. Continuing to enjoy the drink and reading an article about new terraforming-technologies, she began to wait for her colleague...
It was just his second day on Yuma, but Dr. Daniel Brooks already knew that this planet of wonders will take a toll from him. It started from approach and landing. Using access rights of the team leader, he connected to open channel between the bridge of Blackthorn and Yuma ground controls. Never before he heard so many military talk in such a short time. It contrasted so much with the usual liberal and gentle manners he was used to that it literally hurt.
Compound they arrived to was basically a fortress by Dan's standards. Though he spent most of his good 65 years in labs, auditoriums and on the green lawns of Cambridge University's grounds, he still have seen couple of military installations and believed he knows what it looks like. But this compuound surpassed his expectations. Mobile and stationery turrets on like each corner and roof, men and women in uniform and combat armor everywhere, passwords, shields and all. This was not remotely like any science center he has been to. Even his wristband felt like handcuffs.
And pollen. Overgrown vegetation outside was infiltrating the otherwise secure compound with those microscopical particles. It irritated Daniel's eyes and throat, causing nasty allergy which was successfully resisting rather strong antihistamines.
Anyways, Brooks still had job to do. Awaken early in the morning, he prepared his records for the meeting and put on his usual garments: shirt, sweater and jacket, informal look of a scientist away from his lab.
First stop on his way to the meeting was a lobby where Dr. Berg was waiting for him. Brooks met Catrine first on board of Blackthorn and only had time to brief her on the goals and results of the research so far. Daniel stepped into the lobby and reached out for her hand.
- Nice seeing you, doctor. Hope you had good night sleep. We have to do our best today and show the though leadership in this project. Those Crayter guys might have learned something while they were employed with Planetform, but still these technologies are ours.
- But we should be careful, this newly found trust between us is still shaky, as far as I can tell.
The doctor smiled and shook hands. It seems that she wasn't the only one in informal clothes. She almost didn't communicate with Daniel Brooks, but she read his articles and other works and had very good opinions about him.
- Nice to see you too, doctor Brooks. It's an honor to meet you. I took some of my planning sheets with me. I hope that they will help show our serious intentions and leadership in the project.
The doctor pointed to the thick folder on the coffee table. A relatively new piece of paper, covered with chemical equations, DNA strings and calculations, lay on it. It seems that the doctor could not forget about her work even for a second.
- I set up in my room a small laboratory for... Private experimenters. I have already managed to find some of the most promising plant samples, but this is still not enough. Anyway, I think, that we should discuss about it with our colleagues, shall we? If you don't want to talk about something, then let's head to conference room. I do not want to seem incompetent.
The doctor took her folder and prepared to go. She was excited, yes, however, she just could not show it.
- Yes, it would be impolite of us to be late to the first meeting. The conference room should be just round the corner, - Brooks checked something in his data pad.
- Let's go then.
He let the woman lead the way. It took them less than two minutes to get to the conference room. Daniel shivered a bit seeing that the entrance is guarded by a soldier in uniform, but quickly put on his warmest smile and greeted the sentinel. Soldier responded politely, but somewhat dry, and Planetform scientists entered the room.
The first thing Brooks realized with slight anguish is that he's going to be the oldest person in the room. This was something he could never really use to. He smiled at the people in the room while trying to get the most off the first glance at the faces.
Tall and somewhat handsome man in uniform, looks like descendant of Kusari. However, this impression is misleading, Brooks reminds himself, Colonials left Earth long before Kusari sleeper ship was even built. This is Ryo Kase, the minister of science. Daniel noticed slightest traces of anxiety in his face and the way he raised from his chair when they entered the room.
Lady with medical insignia on her garment. Never saw her before, Dan thinks to himself. She looks tired and focused on something else at first, but the smiles rather pleasantly and raises to welcome the newcomers.
Shaggy man in untidy suit. He throws tenacious gaze at Daniel and he knows at once that this guy's going to be either a big problem, or an excellent associate. He could only hope for the latter.
- Good day, my friends, good day from me and the whole Planetform family. My name is Daniel Brooks, this is doctor Catrine Berg. We are here to do our best to help you take this huge challenge. - Brooks makes a pause here to let mister Kase take the lead of this meeting.
Ryo is looking toward the door and to the two security and his eyes meets Rio , in her lab suit.He waits for Rio to salute the two Security Officers on the door and then waves to her
“"Dr Umeda, it is a pleasure to see you again, it has been a while since we saw each other."
"Hai, but we both were busy Kase-san. Working for the sake of Crayter and its people takes time. And I advice you return to your meal since my guess is that it will take some time as well that you get the chance to eat something after our guests arrive."
“Hai , Umeda-sama. Domo arigatou, I will but I just finished , plus is not polite , dong ma ? “
“Hai”
Ryo moves to the kitchen and drops the sandwiches to the recycle bin , smiling.
*This is a proud piece of Crayterian technology , nothing is wasted. This now will be turned into a fertilizer and used by our farms.*
Ryo turns around at the sound of security beeps that are coming from the Officers.
“Our guests are here.” “Rio , please get ready to meet our guests.”
“Hai”
The IMG delegate are entering in the room and Ryo salutes him . He waits for Rio to also finish the greetings and is thinking about the new Joint Academy that is starting on the compound.
*What a glorious time for our Republic and our allies*
“Please Mr Breisacher , have a seat. “
The micro receptor implanted near his ear catch the beeping of the security line reporting that the Planetform delegation is going to enter.
“And now we will meet our colleagues from Planetform”
The door is opening and two persons enter the conference room. One of them looks with a curious eye as in the ascertain Ryo origins.
“Greetings ladies and gentlemen , welcome to New Astarte. Please have a seat.”
Kase awaits for the delegates to sit down and then he starts his memorized speech
“Greetings and welcome to Crayter Republic. Allow me to introduce myself , I am Ryo Kase , Minister of Research and Development. I am not what you call a posh man, I was a technician on Planet Harris and afterwards I worked on the now lost Sarawak Station for the RD Division and I must say that you are looking at a descendant of Crayter. *shows towards a small insignia
” This means I was born on Gemini, of ancient Japanese origins, nothing to do with Kusari.”
Kase gives a quick smile and takes a pause to let the information sink.
“ But enough with me and let’s get back to what we are all here. I want to welcome all of you to Yuma , Crayter’s new home. I know some of you may think that this is just a whim but I need to inform you that the current Republic is changed from the one in the past. While we didn’t entirely loose our history we adapted all that happened and now you see a new and reborn Republic , a Republic that is looking to grow and to develop the space that is occupying and not to focus mainly on the military. Thus been said , I welcome you here , for a brighter future of us all”
Stops a little , take a deep breath
“ My esteemed Collegues , as you know , the Crayterian University and the 53rd are currently launching expeditions into the Yuma Landmasses. You have now on your desk a file of a recent expedition on the Tripoli Continent. Before you start reading it , please allow me to tell you that I am really excited as this can prove that Yuma can give us exciting new breakthrough in science , maybe in terraforming technology and maybe we can actually provide Sirius with a new organic crop that can help farmers in need. With your help we can reach new heights and we can help whole of Sirius. Please , if you have anything to ask or say , I am more then happy to hear you”
Ryo stands back and waits for the people to
read and ask questions.
Brooks reads through the report, amazed and puzzled by certain things, nodded to others, as if he was listening to someone invisible and inaudible. As a lead xenobiologist among those who were still loyal to Planetform, he was familiar with multitude of species across number of inhabitable planets. However, each time he got to know another ecology, he felt excited as a small kid in comic store. Some of these plants covered in the report were unbelievably sophisticated.
Daniel finished reading and stared at the last page for some time before started to talk.
- Well, this is very interesting. I cannot wait for us to go there and see all of those wonders for ourselves. Still, we need to understand, where we are and which direction we want to take. First things first. We brought several samples of our new solution for field tests, as you know. We will start by applying them in controlled environment here in the compound, as you requested, Mister Ryo. Me and Dr. Berg will begin the program once we are done here. - Brooks nodded to Minister.
- Now, to more general things. I am personally see this project as a way to restore some level of trust and mutual understanding between Planetform and your Republic. Mister Jack Worth is relatively new addition to our family, but I do remember working with Crayter people on Harris and elsewhere, and I remember how all that ended for us and for you. I hope this won't happen again.
Brooks paused and took a sip from his glass of water.
- We will do our best to help you tame this planet... And hopefully make some profit for both our organizations.
Ryo is looking towards Brooks and awaits for him to finish , sipping from his glass of water.
“As I said Mr Brooks , I used to be an Engineer on Harris. I remember the assault of Gaians on our President at that time , the betrayal that led to the first of three wars with Kingdom of Bretonia. Hard history. But yet , here we are and we are , having a new start and for once we are on the same side. “
Ryo nods toward IMG representant
“We here , all of us had at one time or another issues with the other representatives but now is not the time to repeat the history. It is time to break the circle.”
Kase smiles
“ It is in all of our interest to work together and to improve our organizations. Yuma seems like a good place to start that.”
Ryo holds his breath a little and continues
“ I for one assure you all about the good will of this Republic and I hope that we will get all that we can from this planet , that our combined resources will find a way to make this place a worthy place for all of us , to turn this backwater system into a place of commerce and science , to put it back on the map.”
Ryo looks again towards the Planetform delegation
“ I think that on this planet , we can find a way for Planetform to improve their terraforming techniques and maybe even a new method , a biological one to get the balance of gases needed for a planet suitable to human life , as there are some plant life on the slopes of Yuma mountains that requires less acclimatization and it seems it can survive in different hostile areas , especially if there is enough CO2. “