✧04

[bi_otic]

Who: Kaidan Alenko
Broadcast: Fleetwide video!
Action: Vaguely planetside, if desired
When: Today!

[The second Kaidan turns on the feed, the sound is distant and barely controlled chaos. He's moved into a side room near one of the space ports in the area, and the air is filled with the buzzing and chiming of a great many comm feeds going off in rapid succession, the constant chatter of traffic controllers almost a drone of noise over the top of it all. In addition, the noise outside can just be made out - the terrified shouting of civilians and the low whir and roar of engines as shuttles come and go.

Kaidan doesn't look scared at all. Strained, at best, but his gaze on the camera is one of steely focus.]

I've done what I can to reach out the Lyukite military to help coordinate their efforts down here. I'm sure most of the captains are ready and willing to lend their ships, but if we deploy our shuttles we can double our efforts.

I need a count of how many operational shuttles we have in the fleet, their capacity, and the names of a pilot for each that's willing to do some heavy duty for the next couple of days, and then I'll patch that list over to the command center down here so they can add us to the schedule of evacuation and supply runs.

The more smoothly this runs, the better.

I've had to stand by and watch a world get destroyed because I couldn't do anything about it. [His voice cracks, just a little] But not this time. Not a chance.

Comments

[bi_otic]

[Kaidan's own recollection of the events aboard the Marsiva are equally fuzzy, but it's at those words that a flicker of somber understanding passes over his face.]

Not this...exactly. As far as I know the planet will survive things just fine, regardless of whether we win or not. But I've definitely had to deal with the denial.

[A beat, as he lets out a breath, knowing this will stretch them to their very limit before this was over.]

I don't know if it's better or worse...it not being something we can really fight back against. But we'll do what we can.

[scanninggaydis]

It won't be drawn out, at least. We know it's coming, and we know when.

[For all that this is a reminder that is too personal, too much, there's something....reassuring about those facts.

Not that it will probably stop him from thinking that he could have done more, when this is all over. But he knows when it will be over. In any event, he nods at Kaidan's last statement. It's a firm nod, even though he continues to look concerned.]

Yeah. Hope to the gods it'll be enough. [Alright, that's enough dawdling, enough seeking out of understanding.] I should get back to work.

[bi_otic]

Of course. Same. [He nods, almost reluctant. The unspoken truth between them seems to hang heavy in the chaotic air around them both, but the understanding feels like an anchor. Hopefully it will save them, rather than weigh them both down]

If you or your team need anything, don't hesitate to reach out, ok?

Good luck.

[scanninggaydis]

I won't.

[Another small pause, and then he forces himself to smile slightly, with a short nod. Forces himself to actually get off the line.]

You too. See you on the other side of all this.

[Metaphorically, or literally. In case they don't end up crossing paths.

Then he's gone.]