Screwball Post

[b]Opposing Forces Gruta do Centenário, Brazil, League Earth[/b]

The portal flickered oddly, shimmering like a patch of oil on one wall of the gallery. The cave had been much enlarged. Rock was still being sucked up and dumped through a second portal designed for the purpose by several mages and earth elementals.

Along one side fighters and ornithopters were being repaired

Tomas frowned at the portal. There was something slightly off about it. He wasn't sure quite what though. He felt as if maybe someone else was in his mind, maybe reaching out, intruding on the edges of his consciousness. He looked down at the portal board in front of him and frowned, suddenly unsure about the coordinates he'd programmed in.

There was a shimmer and a figure in red silk robes that looked designed for desert wear stepped through. She looked around the cave then stepped forward to Tomas's side. "A woman?" The mage blinked, trying to focus.

"Why how kind of you to notice." The dark skinned woman patted him on the head. "Be a good boy and prepare things for the arrival of my troops would you? We've already fought a long and hard battle and we need refit and ammunition."

"There's a battle here too." Tomas suggested, still feeling dizzy. His senses were starting to return though. He realized now this red witch was entitle to his help and loyalty beyond any king or prince. Strange that... perhaps he'd fallen in love with her. She was uncommonly pretty. The young mage blushed to himself.

"Oh I know." The woman nodded as soldiers and clockworks began to stream through the portal "There's something I have to do."

[b]Mnemosyne Aggressor Carrier [i]Themis[/i][/b]

The office looked down on one of the [i]Themis'[/i] cavernous Lancer bays. The great hold was currently devoid of combat aircraft but held hundreds of landing craft, moving vehicles and troops instead.

Jina looked down across the bay, picking out the AR symbols floating above each of her troops. "You know Sir, I never thought that I'd be dropping on earth again." She looked back over her shoulder at her commanding officer. The Junior General grinned boyishly in return.

"Well, think of it as an experience. Plus you can take in the tourist spots we bombed." He rose, silver skin glittering in the light as he stepped over to join her at the window.

"I would rather like to see historic Richmond without the crater yes." Jina nodded. "So what'd you ask me up here for?"

"Last minute addition to your mission. You saw the AfA battleship or explorer or whatever they call it off the bow?"

"Yes. Am I going to have a rep from that with me?"

"That's it." The General nodded. "Just another person to know the legend, only..." He frowned "Try to play down the secondary elements of our mission to her. The AfA is peace loving, almost pacifistic. They don't really play power politics the way we do."

"Are you asking me to spin her?" Jina couldn't help her voice from becoming disapproving."

"Well you're spinning the locals. Think of her as a foreign military officer, not a journalist. Also see what she's like. It's possible you can learn quite a bit about the AfA's methods from her just like we'll be learning the Directorate's methods from them."

Jina sighed and then nodded. "I'll do what I can sir." She looked at the bay again. "So who is this AfA rep?"