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Doc nodded his approval as Oreste spoke. He can only chuckle when he apologized.
"I'm the same way," Doc answered, "I tend to ramble. It's how people like you and I explain things in detail." He then walked a few steps with him, his hands behind his back.
"I appointed Sarah for this project and it will be her who works it. She's earned it." He then stopped and faced him. "I am placing her life in the hands of the Crayter Republic and extending trust and respect to you for doing so. My presence here will only overshadow her and I don't want that. I WILL, however, be stopping in Tau 44 once the training there is well underway."
He looked around again, admiring Yuma and again, nodded in approval. It was then he could feel wind ruffling his robes. Yes, the storms were getting closer and the feeling was reinforced when Nicole hollered to him. "If we're going to go, Doc, we should get out while we still can. If the Crayters deny us over weather, I can't refuse that."
He began walking back with Oreste, knowing he had to leave. Approaching Sarah, he put his hands on hers shoulders. "You've got this, Sarah." he said smiling, "It's your time to shine. I say that you take advantage of it."
Oreste bowed "It is always a pleasure to meet a legend of Medical World. I must say, that one day, before I am going to die, we need to have a proper chat, Doctor Holliday, because then, I can happily go to the Afterlife, knowing that I have done everything that is to be done on this realm. " he get up and he saw a civilian version of the Cheetah appearing near the pad.
"Our car is here, Commander Sarah. Are you sure you cannot stay for a little while, mister Holliday? I can show you some nice and interesting Crayterian cuisine." he continued smiling to Doc.
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"Respectfully, I must decline, Dr. Oreste," he replied. He then spoke softly so that only Oreste could hear him, "My travels are taking me to planet Leeds to give some medical aid to the many locals trapped there and to evacuate who I can, kids mostly." He then stood upright and shook Oreste's hand, "Mark my words, I will be back and will take you up on your offer."
He then went over to Sarah, "It is good to see you doing well. You are doing a great job. Perhaps you could learn some medicine yourself?" He then gave her a hug and a kiss, "I shall see you in the near future."
With that, Doc re-joined the commander of his shuttle, boarded and left Yuma.
Oreste bowed with respect and he mumble "For Leeds we are preparing also .....We shall free that planet."
He stood at attention while Doctor Holliday took his farewells from Sarah and he headed to the Cheetah and while he watched the shuttle departing he felt that he should be near her and give a hug as he sense some sadness but , he must remain professional. "Must set all aside for the Republic" he mutter to himself "Commander Sarah, shall we?"
She accepted the hug and kiss with a smile. She loved him like a father and was forever grateful to him.
"Be safe, Doc," is all she said when he left. As the door closed, she went over to Oreste to watch the ship leave. Noticing him standing at attention, she joined him. After they relaxed, she was slightly worried.
"Leeds," she began, "Doc is no military man. I sure as hell hope that he knows what he's doing. He quick with his pistols but they won't fight off an army and he often works without escorts." As the walked, she talked more about it. "That's what I like about my position. He doesn't want salutes or standing at attention as we were. He just treats people like he wants to be treated, with respect and reverence."
She smiled to him, "so um, where are we going?"
Oreste jumped inside the Cheetah and he activated the Government Signs marking the vehicle as a Road Priority "Sarah, he will not be alone there. We have begun our offensive on the planet Leeds. Our transports are dropping soldiers and picking up any refugees. Thing is that at the moment only 2 ships passed through the Blockade from 4. We are not sure if those ships were intercepted with our soldiers or with refugees." he coughed "I served with the AIT troops and they are basically fearless of death, conditioned to put their life on their line and sacrifice for civilians. I know, sounds bad" he continue while he lead the vehicle on a narrow street, which have a statue of a tall handsome man "This is Dymas, the first post Sirius president. He was the one who made a deal with Planetform and is where we learned to terraform and build on everything. He was killed by the Gaians" he bowed the head as a sign of respect. "A hero, a hero like every one serving on to the Line and why not, even our civilians. As for Doc, he will be fine. If he is in trouble and he is lucky, he may find out units or the Resistance." he continued down the 3rd Street, where a small round building was and he stopped the Cheetah.
"Here we are." he said as he went around and opened the door for Sarah "Please allow me" and he helped Sarah to get out. They entered Angela Cradle , where they were met by a waiter and took them at a table. While they were taking their place, menus were handed. Oreste took a look at the menu and he choose a menu.
"Here, let me suggest you the Gemini menu. It is composed, as you can see on a tomato based soup, spices and a little bit of garlyc and leaves of Kania. The second course is of Bacca beef steak and grilled vegetables, served with a Tartarus Wine and as dessert is something based on sugar and honey and is kinda .... fluffy. Also a lemonade is served in case is really that sweet." he said and he saw her looking over the menu "Anything else caught your attention, Commander?"
Sarah was intrigued. She wasn't familiar with the cuisine but she did like tomato soup.
"That tomato soup menu looks pretty good," she stated, "Gemini menu it will be." With a second thought, she ordered a sampler of the Bacca beef. Something with wine had to be good. As they waited, she dug a little bit into the situation on Leeds.
"Doctor, I've never been to Leeds. I've only heard of how dire it is there. Doc is a good man.....too good for a place like that. I mean sure, he carries his pistols but I fear he's getting into something that he greatly underestimates and to take aid from someone could well make it worse."
She sighed. The very thought of what he was doing was making her scared and it was visible. "He himself could become trapped there." She sighed. "I should have stopped him or at least said something."
Oreste remember the horrors of other battlefields and he shrugs "Let's say that we fight against a determine and ruthless enemy. All this bloodshed is really necessary? But yeah, while we are thinking about an answer to that question, the situation is even worse. The Gauls are holding to anything that they conquer dearly, especially when it is a world as Leeds. They will not give that industrial planet that easily and we need to fight for every inch of the planet and now to make it worse, we also send our ground forces. Imagine also all of the people who could not escape gallic invasion and now are leaving their life in camps, as their new masters doesn't really trust them."
He watched the waitress bringing the first course. "War is evil, Commander, but let's for now think on the present and enjoy the moment, as tomorrow we may be dead." he said and had a spoon of the soup.
"This soup is really amazing. Need to speak with Ministry of Development to find a way to put this in Combat Rations." he continue chuckling.
She was enjoying her food when Oreste mentioned putting it into rations. With her mouth still full, she bobbed her head in agreement and managed an "absolutely!" For the moment, thoughts of war and death were back burnered to the cuisine. When she swallowed her food, she said to him, "Crayterians certainly know how to live in such hostile times. I mean, the food, the planet, all of it."
As she enjoyed the food and Yuma itself, she thought of growing up back on Stuttgart. The rich, fertile fields and forests on a planet that no one had to modify to work the soil.
"Have you ever been to Stuttgart?" she asked. "It's truly a place of beauty. Rich soil and thick forests." She then sighed, "Been too long since I've been there."
Commander Sarah Coyle
Commanding Officer, [MFE]Med Force Two
Finishing his soup, Oreste moved to the steak and while cutting he nodded at Sarah "Well, since we came to Sirius we have been at war. We learned to make the best of it." he said and had a piece "This is good. Juicy, medium rare, exactly what the doctor ordered, pardon the pun. But is great to see that our spirit is not broken. Which is why we have the Phoenix as our symbol. We will always resurface."
He look on the window and saw that the storm was hitting at full power "Stuttgart? No, I have never been there. I was with battlegroup 88th in Omega 7 but that is it. However, I saw Borneo. I was marked by what was there, so much serenity yet not really. If you want, I can arrange for you to go with 53rd in expeditions either here or on Borneo."
Oreste took another bite and he looked at Sarah "But I would appreciate if you would come to Borneo. Anyway, will you be on our meeting about the new project?" and he sighs "May I ask you, why you sent the Med Force Two to Freeport 6?"