Brink (Sadow-sama and EnkoKasumi)

[Sadow-sama]

The galaxy was on the brink of war. Ever since the human race took to the stars, mankind has been threatened by numerous forces. from the insectoid Haktu slavers to the Zindoli pirate empire. But one race in particular, especially as of late, has made itself a particular enemy of humanity: the Krand. Human-like in appearance, the Krand were pale of skin with silvery eyes, snowy-white hair, and sharp, determined features. Their bones were much harder than human's, their muscles thicker and more capable. But what set the Krand apart from the host of galactic civilizations, apart from advanced weaponry, was their threat-sense. An innate ability to pick up when something is threatening their life, this precognitive sense allows a Krand to avoid obstacles fired its way even when it cannot see it coming. An instinctual call to dodge.


The Alliance, the united government of Earth, has learned that the Krand see humanity as the next big challenge of their people. A worthy foe to conquer and war with. With this in mind, Alliance Intelligence reports that the Krand now prepare for war with a new leader at their helm. Should they rise to Earth's orbit, humanity will fall.


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Captain Daniel Elijah "Eli" Brinks had touched down on the colony world of Ferah along with his squadron, setting the group to work on establishing an outpost in the small colonial town of Zion. Turning to his second, Lieutenant Hanes, Eli ordered "Let the colonial militia know we've touched down and need the layout of the town. If the Krand really were near this sector, we've gotta know."

 

[ArcticFox]

Nicole was thoroughly bored. Living in a colony was said to be very thrilling, you were after all set to explore the unknown. At least, people usually advertised it as so. After her arrival on Ferah, two years ago, the only exciting thing that happened to her was eating a very odd egg with the yoke the color of luminescent green. She applied for this job in order to get out there more, to be on the field, to help out her home planet, to help the colonies prosper. But, living in a small town of Zion proved to be a very dull business. She was a field medic. This meant that she was a trained combatant that specialized in healing on the battlefield. She did not see much of that in Ferah. While Nicol was skilled in enough in using a gun and medicinal kits to mend bones and heal wounds, she also had a bit of healing magic inside her. That magic was not her greatest capability. Her healing tended to be a bit tricky and unstable, thus she refrained from using the magic unless it was the only option left to her. Not that she needed it working in local civil hospital, healing coughs and fevers.


The new that an airship from Terra arrived to their little colony spread like wildfire. Soon an overly excited nurse peaked through the doors of her office and announced this to her. Nicole did not hesitate. She left her desk and her office and remvoed her coat and walked out in the street to gaze at the arriving airship along with every citizen of Zion. Maybe she could audience for employment with the squadron. Her hopes soared.

 

[Sadow-sama]

"Ah great... bloody colonists." groaned Arkson, a corporal in Eli's task force.


Turning to the man, Eli smirked "Come now, Arkson. I thought you always loved bragging about all the colonial girls you've screwed."


Arkson chuckled at his commanding officer's jab, replying before putting on his helmet "Yeah, and I haven't mentioned the smell."


Approaching the town, the soldiers got acquainted with the people. Not wise, in specialist Sikes' opinion. Why get close to people you might watch die? He commented as much to Eli but the latter shrugged it off while marching through Zion's streets "Come now, Sikes. Even you need to socialize now and again."


Eli managed was on his way to the central command offices when he bumped into a young woman, not paying attention to where he was going. Thanks to his armor, he wasn't so much as shoved but he immediately apologized "Crap! Sorry, miss..."

 

[ArcticFox]

"Nicole Lewis, former medical specialist of the 274th brigade." Nicole saluted, clicking her heels. It was a habit she still could not get rid of. Part soldier, part doctor, she seemed to form a pretty dysfunctional human being. She gave an awkward smile to the man that bumped into her and then shrugged. "It's alright." He only bumped into her slightly, not causing her any real discomfort.


What she did hope for, though, was to have a chance at introducing her skills to these corps and that chance just hit her head on. But, feeling a little bit icky with jumping onto the soldier (judging by his epaulets a captain) in the middle of the street and showing her dossier and letter of recommendation into his face, she bit on her lip and stayed silent. She would let him get comfortable in the town and then introduce herself, well... introduce herself more thoroughly.

 

[Sadow-sama]

Eli blinked in surprise "A combat medic? Way out here?" He extended a hand to shake hers "Daniel Brinks, Captain of the Fifth Infantry Regiment. Omega detachment. Good to be here, have heard nice things about Ferah." True to the rumors, Ferah was a golden sea of grass and rolling plains with a beautiful sunset on the horizon. During the day, the skies turned a brilliant green and at night, one could see the purple cluster of Jilikan's Gate. A picturesque planet to be sure, despite being a bit off the beaten path.

 

[ArcticFox]

Nicole took his hand and shook it. "Glad to meet you, sir." She said politely in her usual soldier tone. Her civilian manner was disappearing quickly now that she faced a member of the Alliance military. At his remark about Ferah however, she gave a bitter laugh, but then abruptly cut it off and just smiled. "It will take you a day to see everything there is here. But, it does grow on you, I guess." She shrugged. After all she could have been off this rock many times in the past, but she was still in her tiny office, with her common patients, in the town where everyone knew everyone. Colonial life must have grown on her without her even noticing it. "I would not like to keep you any further." She said, remembering herself. "But, I would like to pay a visit to your encampment. Or you can come to the clinic. I am one of only two doctors here, you are bound to need my services at some point."

 

[Sadow-sama]

Eli chuckled at her statement "Hopefully not too much. See you around, doc." He nodded to her in farewell and strode past, getting acquainted with different personnel on his way to the Command Offices. The colony of Zion was relatively small, settled on a hilltop with a few trees dotting the landscape, the tops of which looking like huge brown bushels of wheat. Strangely enough, these cluster of "leaves" were used in the making of a rather dull, brown stew that the Omega Detachment got to be served during their time in the Mess Hall, with some complaining of the taste and strange texture.


"What is this? Diarrhea?" asked Arkson with Sergeant Jules responding "Looks and tastes like it."


Lieutenant Hanes called out from near the head of the table, next to Eli "Secure that shit. This stew beats anything your mama's make, boys."


The men chuckled at their second-in-command's jab with Eli munching on some bread and eyeing those in the Mess Hall, seeing if he can spot any familiar faces he might rather sit with. As much as he loved his comrades in arms, their complaints often soured what could've been a tolerable meal.

 

[ArcticFox]

Nicole had entered the local mess hall for lunch. While she did have a temporary apartment, more of a shelter, really, she did not cook for herself. Living alone had its advantages, but also many disadvantages, like being forced to seek out companionship at all times. She was a social person after all and she got to know the colonists easily and took a habit of joining the workers and soldiers for lunch in the mess. Taking a bowl of the usual Zion stew she made her way across the room to seek out a familiar face in the crowd to share a conversation with. She was surprised to see so many of the new soldiers occupying the hall and complaining about food. Her lips curled into a knowing smile - it happened to her the first time she tried it. It grew on you after a while, like much of the other aspects of this life.


As Nicole gazed across the room, her eyes met that of the captain she ran into earlier. Or rather, who had run into her. She gave him a slight wave of the hand, taking up a chair at a near empty table. Her plans changed. The captain looked like he was doing the same thing as her - looking for someone to talk to. She would just sit there, subtly inviting. This might be her chance for that dossier-shoving she had planned.

 

[Sadow-sama]

His eyes resting on the Combat Medic from before, he opted to go sit with her. He knew his men might snicker and joke about it behind his back, but he didn't care. Sitting at the table, he gave a tired smile and asked "This seat taken?" He had the same food as everyone else but while some of his men enjoyed a beer or soda, he had apple juice on his tray, contained in a small, paper cup. His bread was mostly eaten with his stew barely touched. He found adding salt helped with the dull flavor but there was only so much one could do.

 

[ArcticFox]

Nicole shook her head. "No, please." She gestured at the seat opposite her. When the captain sat she took a quick look at him, noting that he did not eat much of the stew, which made her smile. She was almost done with her portion. "It gets better." She said in comfort and then continued eating. After a couple of moments of silence, which she judged was the proper amount, she begun again. "As a matter of fact, I've been hoping to get a chance to talk to you, sir." Just after the words left her mouth she realized how it may have sounded, so she quickly corrected herself. "Professionally." She cleared her throat. "Do you have any plans to stay in the colony for a longer time? Do you have a medic with you?" Nicole knew that she was asking a lot, maybe a bit too much, but she was far too excited to let this opportunity slip.

 

[Sadow-sama]

At the first bit where her wording suggested some form of romance was involved, he gave her a quirky smile with a raise of his brow. When she clarified her intentions, he chuckled, seeing where this was heading "We don't have a field medic per se, but we do have a Science Division Officer with tier-seven training in medicines and surgery." He proceeded to point a finger at a man sitting at a nearby table, speaking with the others. He wore generally the same military uniform but a white badge with a symbol of a gear at the center showed he was from the Science Division. Beneath the badge, he had numerous colored additions beneath it signifying his specialties; medicine, biology, chemistry, metal works...


The Captain went on "Al is our man. Why? Looking to get off this rock and sign up with the Omega Detachment?" Not impossible, but he'd like to know why. Besides, he couldn't leave this colony without a medical specialist. If there was no one to replace her, she'd find a hard time leaving without transfer papers.

 

[ArcticFox]

As she listened to the man speak, her heart first soared. They did not have field medic. But, then he revealed that they in fact had a medical specialist and by his titles he seemed much more qualified than she was. Her hopes fell onto the floor and shattered in a million little pieces, as she looked at the indicated man. Her brows furrowed and her face twisted with disdain, but that also passed quickly, it was not that man's fault. Maybe she was supposed to stay on that god-forsaken colony, to treat old people and children with allergies and eat tasteless swill day after day. She sighed. Still, the captain asked her about her intentions and she gave him a defeated shrug.


"Would I even be able to do it? I mean, I know I can try, but what are my chances?" Nicole said, looking at the man. "While I would like to get away from this colonial life for a time, if you already have that position sort of filled, I would not like to waste my time." She had more than enough time to waste, but he did not need to know that. "I only want some change in my life." And it would be a welcome change. Sure, it would mean that every one of her obligations would fall down to doctor Simmons, but he was more than happy to live in this colony and being a very dedicated man he would not mind the increase of work. If he did, Nicole would need to think of something.

 

[Sadow-sama]

Seeming to notice the disappointment on her face, Eli gave a sympathetic grimace and reassured "If you guys have a replacement ready and you meet the qualifications, we'd be happy to have you. But I wouldn't bank on getting off this rock anytime soon even if you sign on with us. We've been stationed here to make sure no whitehairs have any plans of attacking this colony. Frankly, I hope not."


Eli faced the Krand once before. Even their least trained were on par with seasoned veterans. Martial experts with advanced weaponry and a keen sense of danger allowing them to almost predict an enemy's next move before it happens. These guys were unlike anything the Alliance had ever faced before... and they're rearing to go to war.