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Post by Commander Richter on May 3, 2012 14:52:44 GMT -5
Sector 48K-271 – Near Beaumonde
Kalidasa System
August 3, 2517
2:42 P.M G.S.T
Stepping onto the bridge, Richter adjusted his uniform. He made sure that it was straightened nicely for whatever he was being called for. He didn’t ask what he was needed on the bridge for, but that didn’t matter. If he was being summoned that meant it was something important enough that the duty chief thought that he was needed. Richter never hesitated to take care of his responsibilities, and ensuring that his ship and battlegroup worked efficiently was one of them
The central door slid shut behind him, and Richter looked over the bridge crew. They all sat at their stations, maintaining their systems. Several walked around towards the seated people, and walked away through the doors that were down at the side, off of the command platform. Richter stepped over towards the man that was standing at the center who was looking at him.
”What is it Lieutenant?” Richter asked walking towards him and stopping.
The Lieutenant saluted and stood at attention as Richter approached. “There is a wave coming from the Servitor. Captain Harris, sir.” The Lieutenant replied.
”Put it up.” Richter said then moving to a more central position on the command platform, as his crew continued working.
Seconds later a man with thin combed hair and a uniform appeared on screen.
Richter stayed centered and spoke. ”Captain Harris.” He announced. He said nothing more, just waited for what came next.
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Post by Captain Harris on May 3, 2012 14:53:51 GMT -5
Captain Harris looked at Richter, and nodded. ”Johan.” Captain Harris responded, calling Richter by his first name. ”I was surprised to not find you on the bridge.” He mentioned, commenting on Richter’s hands on nature. ”I wasn’t interrupting anything was I?” He asked with a friendly tone.
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Post by Commander Richter on May 3, 2012 14:54:49 GMT -5
Tilting his head back a tiny bit, Richter stared at image of Captain Harris. The two had known each other for quite some time, but Harris had always held a higher rank than Richter. But them knowing each other was about as far as it had ever gone. That hadn’t spent much time talking in an unofficial setting. They knew a bit about each other’s personal lives, though Harris was the only one that seemed to bring it up.
Richter however never failed to answer, and had no reason to avoid the point right then. ”I had a call in my quarters from my wife” Richter replied, not moving from his straight backed stance.
By telling him that he was in the middle of a personal call, Richter was also telling him that he was hoping this new call was important. Of course Harris never called simply to say hello, so it was far from likely that wasn’t the case. ”It was mainly the walk to the bridge that took the time.” Richter concluded, to put Harris at ease, since he would likely feel like he had intruded on something important.
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Post by Captain Harris on May 3, 2012 14:56:38 GMT -5
The face of Captain Harris dropped a bit. ”Oh.” He said. He clearly had not expected to have been getting in Richter’s way. ”I’m sorry about that, I’ll try to keep this brief so that maybe you can catch her again.” Captain Harris then adjusted himself and brought up a data pad. He looked it over for half a second and then looked back at Richter. ”There apparently has been some trouble on Beuamonde in the city of Bellforge.” Harris explained. ”A large amount of weapons fire and damage to property have been reported.” Harris looked down at the data pad and back up. ”Since you are the closest to it all, I’m sending you to handle this.” Captain Harris announced, looking at Richter waiting for his response.
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Post by Commander Richter on May 3, 2012 14:58:48 GMT -5
Richter’s jaw loosened a bit at the explanation of the assignment. It wasn’t that he was at ease about what he was being asked, and it wasn’t that he was excited to go. His lips opened up slightly and he drew in a breath slowly through his mouth. Really he was confused why he had to go to do this. He had a battlegroup that was out on patrol, and he wasn’t extremely close to the where he was being sent.
It wasn’t that Richter didn’t like going to Beaumonde, and it wasn’t that he hated the Rim and dealing with people. It was the fact that this didn’t sound like something that a set of warships and several thousand men should be called in to deal with. Aside from that they were going in the opposite direction. This was a very strange request, but not one that was terribly far from what he’d gotten before. He just got them rarely, so this wasn’t something he was very happy about.
”I don’t understand.” Richter said. He gave a short sigh as he tried to put his confusion into words. ”Isn’t this an issue for the local authorities to handle?” Richter asked, shaking his head to see if there was an degree of agreement between them.
That was exactly how Richter saw this. An unspecified amount of weapons fire, and property damage seemed like two local gangs started going at it over one of them being in the others territory. This hardly seemed like something for the Alliance to get involved in, at least not a group that wasn’t stationed in the area.
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Post by Captain Harris on May 3, 2012 15:00:18 GMT -5
Captain Harris nodded at Richter’s protests, and showing he understood. ”Generally yes, but apparently there is a lot more happening then just your average rim shoot out.” Captain Harris explained. ”Military grade weaponry being utilized and a great number of people involved. This also presents a great risk to the civilian population. The local authorities say they don’t have the man power or equipment to deal with this sort of thing, and they’re the ones making the request.” Captain Harris’s face moved to one of sympathy, showing he knew that he didn’t like the idea that he had to send Richter to do this. ”Are you in a position to handle this?” Captain Harris asked, suggesting that if there was a problem he could send someone else, though he would obviously prefer not to.
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Post by Commander Richter on May 3, 2012 15:02:22 GMT -5
Closing his mouth all the way, Richter exhaled a slow and light shot of air from his nose. He began to wonder exactly what it was that was going on at this city that would be cause for an entire battlegroup to come charging in to save them all. He wasn’t particularly familiar with the city of Bellforge, but he’d heard of it. He hadn’t specifically landed on Beaumonde for months, and even then it wasn’t for very long. This circumstance was rather strange for him.
What he did remember was that the air on Beaumonde was very harsh, and hard on the lungs and throat, at least in the places he’d been to. He’d heard it wasn’t like that all over the planet, but since they were going to a city he could only assume. Poor weather and poor scenery were what he recalled Beaumonde was known for, and this trip wasn’t going to change his mind most likely, with the exception of maybe adding bad people to that list.
He let in another short breath, only this time through his mouth as he came up with the words to say. ”I am.” Richter replied to the question. He knew that Harris was mostly trying to guilt him into saying yes, since everyone else would probably not be as close. But also the fact that Richter would only debate an order on the most rare of occasions, and even then he would still carry the order out. He knew what his duty was, and he believed in what he did. This was no different.
Really this was something that Richter supported greatly. He knew that the planets of the border, but primarily the rim, had a great deal of trouble managing themselves. Beaumonde wasn’t like a lot of the rim, that was filled with just empty space while they tried to get them looking like nice planets. It had large cities and a lot of people. But they also had poor administration beyond their businesses and thus Richter was not surprised he was about to go and restore order to a city there.
This was the whole reason the war had been fought. The Independents didn’t realize how poorly they lived, and how terrible things were for them over all. Many blamed the Alliance as being the reason things were so terrible in the present, but they were just lying to themselves in suggesting they weren’t bad before. And the only way the Alliance could help them was by having them actually be a part of the Union, which they now were. It wasn’t an easy process however, and they didn’t get much support. Richter knew they were still a long way off from being completely successful, but he still liked the idea of doing what they needed to do to help the process along.
”Send over any more information you have.” Richter requested. ”We’re still about an hour away, but we’ll move as quickly as possible.” Richter concluded, still standing straight backed as he accepted his orders.
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Post by Captain Harris on May 3, 2012 15:03:38 GMT -5
Captain Harris smiled. ”Good, I’m glad to hear it.” He said, though he knew that it was going to be the answer before he even sent the call. It was likely he could have just sent Richter the information in a single page document through the Desman’s communications terminal, but this was more personal and was easier. Either way Richter would have gotten there as fast as he could, been fully prepared, and handled the situation. ”I’m transferring the information to you now. Hǎo yùn, Commander.” Harris finished wishing Richter good luck in his mission. The screen then went blank and held an image of the Union of Allied Planets symbol of the eagle over the worlds.
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