07-11-2026, 09:07 PM
Mara’s apprehension about joining the group vanished the moment Ju leapt out of the chair. The Korean was straight in for a hug and Calleja reciprocated with a gentle squeeze.
“Missed you too,” the Bandaran replied with a grin before sitting down. The grin didn’t fade as Hally and then Ardanna took the bait dangled by the coffee machine jibe.
The conversation soon came around to what they’d like to see in a mission.
“I wonder where we’re going on this mission,” Ju said wistfully. “I kind of hope we get to go planetside, I think it would be nice to see something new. Maybe, a lack of monsters, would also be nice.”
"I know it probably isn't surprising, but I really hope we get to visit a place none of us have been before," Hally joined in.
"Either of those would be good, and it'd be nice not to be shot at for once." Svenson’s reply drew a feral smile from Mara.
“Hey, if there’s no shootin’, we’re likely surplus to requirements,” the Bandaran threw back. “If it’s all peaceful, they ain’t gonna want our giant boots scuffin’ up the botany an’ messin’ with the geology ‘fore Lucy can study it prop’ly. An’ I don’t do well watchin’ from the sidelines.”
She took a long sip from her coffee.
"So, Mara, how was the rest of your leave?" Hally asked.
“Y’mean the bit after Sydesh entered me in a wet fuckin’ t-shirt contest?” Just for a second, the smile on Mara’s lips wasn’t quite as genuine as it had been earlier. She rallied quickly, although that was very much still a sore point.
“I went home,” Calleja said. “Hadn’t been back to Bandar in nearly 4 years. Kinda wish I’d left it a bit longer though honestly. Yeah, I’d missed the family. Certainly a lot changed there. But the place itself… I just called it home but it ain’t, not any more. I was kinda crushed to see ‘ow little ‘ad changed. Bandar joined the Federation formally I think 7 years ago, an’ it was supposed to be the start of a great new era. Credits rollin’ into the place, Federation influences, specialists everywhere. An’ it’s still a shithole. Everything just kinda… stalled. An’ they did not appreciate me tellin’ them as much, that’s for sure. Gonna be a while ‘fore I get welcomed back.”
She sighed and shook her head.
“Not pleasant memories,” Mara admitted. “But hey. Glad to be back wi’ all of you. My place is out ‘ere now. I feel like I belong ‘ere. An’ yeah, I’m pretty glad ‘bout that. ‘Opefully a while yet before you’re rid of me.”
The Security Chief raised her mug in acknowledgment. It was an unusually emotional verbal tribute to her crewmates, another sign of her growing comfort around them.
“You ready for the off?” Calleja asked the group. “Felt like a long ol’ break. I kinda wanna get stuck back in now.”
== Tags all! ==
“Missed you too,” the Bandaran replied with a grin before sitting down. The grin didn’t fade as Hally and then Ardanna took the bait dangled by the coffee machine jibe.
The conversation soon came around to what they’d like to see in a mission.
“I wonder where we’re going on this mission,” Ju said wistfully. “I kind of hope we get to go planetside, I think it would be nice to see something new. Maybe, a lack of monsters, would also be nice.”
"I know it probably isn't surprising, but I really hope we get to visit a place none of us have been before," Hally joined in.
"Either of those would be good, and it'd be nice not to be shot at for once." Svenson’s reply drew a feral smile from Mara.
“Hey, if there’s no shootin’, we’re likely surplus to requirements,” the Bandaran threw back. “If it’s all peaceful, they ain’t gonna want our giant boots scuffin’ up the botany an’ messin’ with the geology ‘fore Lucy can study it prop’ly. An’ I don’t do well watchin’ from the sidelines.”
She took a long sip from her coffee.
"So, Mara, how was the rest of your leave?" Hally asked.
“Y’mean the bit after Sydesh entered me in a wet fuckin’ t-shirt contest?” Just for a second, the smile on Mara’s lips wasn’t quite as genuine as it had been earlier. She rallied quickly, although that was very much still a sore point.
“I went home,” Calleja said. “Hadn’t been back to Bandar in nearly 4 years. Kinda wish I’d left it a bit longer though honestly. Yeah, I’d missed the family. Certainly a lot changed there. But the place itself… I just called it home but it ain’t, not any more. I was kinda crushed to see ‘ow little ‘ad changed. Bandar joined the Federation formally I think 7 years ago, an’ it was supposed to be the start of a great new era. Credits rollin’ into the place, Federation influences, specialists everywhere. An’ it’s still a shithole. Everything just kinda… stalled. An’ they did not appreciate me tellin’ them as much, that’s for sure. Gonna be a while ‘fore I get welcomed back.”
She sighed and shook her head.
“Not pleasant memories,” Mara admitted. “But hey. Glad to be back wi’ all of you. My place is out ‘ere now. I feel like I belong ‘ere. An’ yeah, I’m pretty glad ‘bout that. ‘Opefully a while yet before you’re rid of me.”
The Security Chief raised her mug in acknowledgment. It was an unusually emotional verbal tribute to her crewmates, another sign of her growing comfort around them.
“You ready for the off?” Calleja asked the group. “Felt like a long ol’ break. I kinda wanna get stuck back in now.”
== Tags all! ==