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| OutRunner's Flight |
| Episode Three: Policies, Policies... |
| Mira Nanoko stormed into Staff Seargent Chris Walker's office, literally seething with anger. "Again, Walker, it happened again." she said through gritted teeth. "Calm down, Mira. Maybe if I knew what it was that 'happened again', I could do something about it." replied Walker, in a soothing tone. Mira crossed her arms angrily. "Another smuggler. He'd just dumped his cargo, you could read it in his damned arrogant grin, and I can't bust him because "policy" doesn't permit it." Walker scratched his stubble thoughtfully. "I know it's hard to let these scumbags get away all the time, but we have to follow the rules. If we didn't, what'd really be the difference between them and us?" He leaned forward across the desk. "He'll screw up some day. They always do." Mira sighed deeply. "I know, I know. It's not him, it's all of them. Being a psychic in this line of work isn't always the easiest thing in the world. Especially when taking advantage of that would entail going against policy." "Well, I actually have something to talk to you about, sort of on that subject..." "Oh?" "Yes. You see, a while ago, OCBP brass sent down a memo, looking for candidates for an upcoming assignment. I looked it over, and under the circumstances, you seemed like the best person for the job, so I put your name in. This morning I got this." Walker handed her a memo bearing the letterhead of the commisoner of the OCBP. Mira scanned the letter quickly, her eyes widening gradually in amazement as she did so. "You know what this is..." Walker nodded, smiling. "A mobile suit commission. The first of it's kind here at the OCBP. Big news, Mira. Really big news." "Oh, wow, I can't believe this. This is amazing! Holy shit, I think I'm gonna faint!" Mira grasped the edge of Walker's desk to steady herself. "Don't get too excited just yet. That was the good news. Read on, Mira." Walker was suddenly quite serious. Mira's eyes darkened as she read on, and the anger re-lighting in her heart was clearly visible. "I can't believe this..." "Now Mira, calm down, remember, this is a milestone in OCBP history, after all..." Walker rose, hands palm-outwards towards Mira, anticipating trouble. Mira's hands slowly crumbled the paper between her fingers. "They want me to work with smuggler scum? Did they actually think a mobile suit would be enough to convince me to betray everything I stand for and essentially shack-up with the very shit I've been hunting these past few years?" "Yes, I guess they did. And with good reason. This is from the highest authority int OCBP, Mira. Turning your back on something of this calibre could mean turning your back on your job, you know. The big shots don't take it kindly when their generosity is refused." Mira just started shaking her head. "So the amount of choice I have here is really nonexistent, is that what you're telling me?" "'Fraid so, Mira. Sometimes you have to compromise a little to help a lot." Mira spent a minute or two visibly steadying herself. "Alright. Let's just take a look at this mobile suit. Maybe, just maybe that can placate me for a while." Walker grinned. "That's my girl. It's in the hangar. I've already taken a look, so I'll let you go by yourself." Mira nodded, still trembling discernibly with rage, and walked out of the office towards the hangar. I can't believe those bastards. Of all the low down, underhanded things to do, this, this takes the cake. Oh well, I guess it's not like I have to like working with him, at least. Just get through this, and you keep the MS commision, and the job. thought Mira as she rounded the corner and typed in her clearance code to access the main hangar. This better be go - Mira was cut off in mid-thought as the hangar door slid open. Her jaw dropped and, for a while, she forgot all about having to work with base criminals, and thanked her lucky stars. There in front of her stood the single most amazing piece of machinery she'd ever seen in her life. The suit loomed ominous and impressive, nearly touching the roof of the barely adequate hangar, decorated with a trim of scaffolding and technicians. A technician startled her from her revelry. "Impressive lookin' machine, eh? Love to be the one who gets to fly that baby around. The Law, I think they're calling. Sure, it's uncreative, but I think it fits." he said. "Fits like a glove," she replied dreamily. "Fits like a glove..." |