Daera Varias
Always Finding Trouble
Karrigan'Xalda
Daera did not enjoy spaceflight. It was not so much she was afraid of space like she once been, nor that she had a religious objection to it…it was that she felt powerless. Now, there were times where she enjoyed feeling helpless, but those times had guardrails built in. No, right now she was flying through space with just a few centimetres of metal plating between her and a horrible frozen death in the void.
On the plus side no one was shooting at her…yet.
"Ma'am, we're beginning out descent? Objective?" the pilot called.
Daera's gave snapped back to the holomap. The arm of the Arx's commercial wing stretched before her. She remembered well this place, having fought through it a short while ago at the climax of the Firemane War. It looked a bit different now, being mostly ruins. Yet those ruins contained a lot of valuable gear and materials to salvage.
Daera assessed the map and made her decision. "Sector six, rim-ward of the old Kerrigan villa. There's an open area we can set down. Watch for danger."
"Yes, ma'am!"
Daera looked around at her unit. Her unit…that still hadn't fully sunk in. She had taken command when High Captain Caelnor has been killed in this very place, but it had only been a month ago when she was officially promoted to the rank and authority. She had thought she'd be elated, but instead she was more anxious about not messing up than ever. She wondered whether other commanders had these insecurities and just hid them, or if she was alone.
Knowing she had to say something as she reviewed her first company, stretching down the long transport. Then pulled up a microphone, to be relayed to the other transports.
"Soldiers of Galondrona, High Captain Varias speaking. Prepare for action. Our objective is to secure a perimeter so our engineers and experts can land, and then protect them. Look to your officers for direction. Rules of engagement are simple; free fire against hostile targets, do not engage civilians. May the Goddess bless us."
They were getting closer now, and through the holoprojector Daera could see clearly the ravages of war and neglect.
"Be advised, ma'am, other ships are heading towards the residential arm."
"On collision course with us?"
"No ma'am, sector four and five. Ships report Qadiri and captured Firemane tags, maybe Suquan?"
Daera pursed her lips. That complicated things a little. It made sense others would be seeking to claim the bounty of the wreck of Firemane's empire.
"Open a channel to their lead ship, and hail them. Tell them we do not seek confrontation, and we will stick to sector six and higher, and they can stick to sector five and lower."
Since the arm was split into ten sectors, one for each kilometre, this would be an even split. Indeed, it might even be advantageous to the other ship.
Daera waited to see if the other vessel would return their hail, and if they wanted to negotiate with her.