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SUMMARY: Details a single mission undertaken by Marsden Security, a small "navy for hire" operating in the year 2413 AD.

Dialogue Legend:
"Spoken Dialogue"
//Telecommunications\\
::Private Thoughts of a Character::
--Other--


Part 5

July 21'st, 2413AD

The following evening Tevvin invited the captains together to have dinner aboard the Dawntreader. He also asked Teska to bring Arthur along so he could meet the boy who had defended the other children aboard the derelict module. When Teska and Arthur arrived at the Captain's dining room the other captains as well as the Dawntreader's head doctor and engineer were already there. Tevvin was still standing as all his guests hadn't arrived yet and he waited until his spacemarine commander, Major Jennifer Koziutelski, arrived before asking everyone to sit down. Unlike an official navy, Tevvin observed no traditions of rank at his table, with people sitting wherever they wanted to, although he did ask Arthur and Teska to sit opposite him and Kirika.

As soon as everyone had sat, Lieutenant Yoshi Tanner, the Dawntreader's head chef, came in and announced with a smile that he would personally be serving them. Tevvin noticed that the small man gave Jennifer an especially wide smile as he began setting out bowls of miso soup. Jennifer, well muscled and imposing at 187 centimeters tall, gave Yoshi a shy smile of her own as she thanked him for the bowl of soup he set in front of her.

"So what is it tonight, Yoshi?" Captain Gabriel Tomblin asked as he received his own bowl.

"Vegetables, fried rice and tender steak cooked on the Hibachi grill," Yoshi replied.

Gabe smirked as he picked up his bowl and said, "Isn't that what you always serve?"

"I only cook what the Captain likes, Gabriel," Yoshi said. "If you want, next time I'll cook you a whole steak and some fries."

"I'll hold you to that," Gabe replied, about to take a sip of his soup when Teska glared at him from across the table and motioned for him to put the bowl back down. Gabe got the message and replaced the bowl, waiting until everyone else had been served. Once Yoshi had left to prepare the rest of the meal, Tevvin looked around the table and asked Arthur to give thanks.

"Me sir?" Arthur said, shocked.

"You're the one who just survived ten days as a castaway," Tevvin replied, "You have the most to give thanks for at the moment, so its your call."

Arthur gulped and pulled himself up straight before bowing his head and saying a short grace. Everyone at the table bowed their heads as well and said "amen" when Arthur was done. After that Tevvin asked Teska to describe the whole rescue exactly as she'd experienced it. The whole story occupied the first half of the meal, as people kept asking questions about details. Tevvin ordered a rest when Yoshi passed out the bowls containing the main course, but asked here to continue once everyone had made good headway into the meal. At last Teska finished and there was silence around the table for several minutes as the listeners digested the story and their food.

"Incredible," Kirika whispered as she used her chopsticks to transfer the last bit of steak from her bowl to her mouth.

Teska nodded, a mouthful of rice preventing verbal agreement.