{"id":49,"date":"2009-03-07T12:01:47","date_gmt":"2009-03-07T16:01:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.auroraforce.org\/blog\/?p=49"},"modified":"2009-03-13T12:50:00","modified_gmt":"2009-03-13T16:50:00","slug":"weights-and-measures","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.auroraforce.org\/blog\/?p=49","title":{"rendered":"Vong War Annals – “Weights and measures” 3.07.2009"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Papers, not datapads, not holograms, littered the office, scattered like snowflakes across the floor, the furniture.\u00a0 Tag paced amongst them, frowning to herself deeply as she threw another paper over her shoulder.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cFielder, file last as unavailable for duty.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The old R2 unit beeped at her and she exhaled, pressing the heels of her hands against her eyes.\u00a0 \u201cToo much, Fielder.\u00a0 There\u2019s just\u2026just too much.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cYou could always take a break.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 She spun, blinking in shocked surprise.\u00a0 If that had been an assassin, I\u2019d have been dead.<\/em>\u00a0 \u201cWho let you in here?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Dalsuna shrugged briefly, hands tucked into the pockets of his civvies.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 His civvies.\u00a0 I haven\u2019t seen him in a uniform in almost fifteen years and I still think of them as civvies.<\/em>\u00a0 She looked down at her own clothes and exhaled, shaking her head at herself.\u00a0 I barely ever wore one myself and out of the service I wasn\u2019t comfortable in my own skin, let alone whatever I was wearing.\u00a0 But I haven\u2019t been comfortable since\u2026since a long time.<\/em>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cNot happy to see me?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Her mouth worked a moment but no sound came out.\u00a0 She finally sighed, smiling wryly.\u00a0 \u201cNo, it\u2019s not that.\u00a0 I\u2026what are you doing here, Dal?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He looked around, then picked his way through the mess she\u2019d created in her pacing, her tossing, smiling wryly.\u00a0 \u201cCame to see why you weren\u2019t home yet, why Molly and Corsem hadn\u2019t stopped by.\u201d\u00a0 He crouched and picked up one of the sheets of paper.\u00a0 \u201cYou learned something from me, huh?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cThey\u2019ll complain about me making a mess as bitterly as I complained about you doing the same thing with your crumpled bits of paper and flimsiplast.\u201d\u00a0 She smiled wryly.\u00a0 \u201cBut, then as now, I\u2019m the one cleaning up the mess.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He set the few papers he\u2019d gathered up from the floor on the corner of her desk, shaking his head.\u00a0 \u201cYou told me I should know that I was working too hard when I started throwing things around without thinking too much about what I was doing.\u00a0 Considering the blank pages, I think you\u2019ve passed that limit, Tag.\u201d\u00a0 He took her by the shoulders and kissed her forehead, smiling.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019re working too hard.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The smile that came was wry.\u00a0 \u201cSomeone\u2019s got to do the work, Dal.\u00a0 Guess it just ended up being me getting volunteered for it.\u201d\u00a0 I\u2019m the one who knows what nooks and crannies to check first.\u00a0 Of course\u2026anyone who hasn\u2019t shaken loose yet\u2026might not be coming.\u00a0 She sent that call out so long ago…<\/em>\u00a0 She shook her head a little.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s the least I can do.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Dalsuna stroked her cheek gently.\u00a0 \u201cAre you happy, Tag?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Am I?<\/em>\u00a0 She frowned a little, leaning into his chest and letting him enfold her in his arms.\u00a0 The ache was fading, the one that she\u2019d carried for so long.\u00a0 There was a war on\u2014nothing short of that could have dragged her back into the game.\u00a0 But in a strange way, with everything in the galaxy going wrong, it felt more right than anything had in a long, long time.\u00a0 She slid her arms around his waist, pulling him tightly against her as she nodded.\u00a0 \u201cYeah.\u00a0 I think I am, Dal.\u00a0 I really think I am.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He leaned back, looking down at her.\u00a0 \u201cWe\u2019re staying here, then?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cYeah.\u00a0 Yeah, I think so.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Dalsuna nodded, head tilted to one side, and smiled lopsidedly at her in that way all Corellians seem to be able to do.\u00a0 \u201cGuess I\u2019d better get myself a seat on a flight back so I can start packing up the house, huh?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 No.\u00a0 I don\u2019t want you to leave here just yet.\u00a0 <\/em>Her arms tightened around his waist.\u00a0 \u201cCall someone at the university and have them send over your grad students to pack up the house.\u00a0 I don\u2019t want you going on a transport that\u2019s not escorted\u2026and it\u2019ll be a couple weeks before the next one leaves.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cOne leaves tomorrow, doesn\u2019t it?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 She nodded.\u00a0 \u201cBut I don\u2019t want you on it.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 His brow furrowed and he looked like he was about to say something.\u00a0 She pressed a finger to his lips.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cDon\u2019t\u2026don\u2019t ask, Dal.\u00a0 You\u2019re happier not knowing.\u201d\u00a0 She moved her finger and kissed him gently, standing on tip-toe.\u00a0 He laced his fingers through her hair, shaking his head slightly.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cMake me unhappy, Tag.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 She sighed, looking down and resting her forehead against his chin.\u00a0 \u201cYou sure?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He nodded, hugging her across her shoulders.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m sure.\u00a0 Tell me.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Tag closed her eyes and exhaled slowly, arms tightening briefly, then loosening again.\u00a0 \u201cReports from Conceli VIII, with regards to the military complex and the state of their defenses\u2026don\u2019t look good.\u00a0 There are holes in system security that you could drive a Star Destroyer through.\u00a0 They can\u2019t stand up to an attack like the ones we\u2019ve seen without help, and odds are\u2026well.\u00a0 All things considered, that help might not be available.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2026you\u2019re serious?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 She looked up.\u00a0 \u201c\u2026Robyn Scarlett asked for her bars back, Dal.\u00a0 She\u2019s on the 58th<\/sup>\u2019s active roster again.\u00a0 Do you really think the governor would send his wife back to the New Republic it something wasn\u2019t\u2026\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He exhaled a long breath, head drooping.\u00a0 He kissed the top of her head gently, sighing.\u00a0 \u201cI have to do something to help them, Tag.\u00a0 If the New Republic\u2026why can\u2019t the New Republic help?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cBecause last night, the Aurora Force lost the Fifth Fleet.\u00a0 Sixty-five percent of their fighting bulk, give or take.\u00a0 A good chunk of the heavier ships assigned and captured over the years.\u201d\u00a0 She tilted her face up toward his, chewing her lip.\u00a0 \u201cWhat\u2019re the odds that they\u2019ll get more ships?\u00a0 Command always thought that there were too many left here in the first place.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Dalsuna nodded slowly, hugging her again.\u00a0 \u201cI guess I have a couple calls to make, huh?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cGuess you do.\u201d\u00a0 She stroked his cheek with her thumb.\u00a0 \u201cAre you okay?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He nodded a little.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll be fine.\u00a0 I\u2019ll see you at dinner, all right?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The corner of her mouth turned upwards in a smile and she nodded.\u00a0 \u201cYeah.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Dalsuna kissed her gently and then let go, slipping out of the office that she\u2019d taken over.\u00a0 Tag turned around slowly, looking around at the papers scattered on the floor, took a deep breath, exhaled slowly.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201c\u2026what a mess\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

~ Erin<\/p>\n

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