The Fragility of Dreams (D18, LM)

[Lucretzia Winters]

"But who? And why?"

Lucretzia scowled, punching the side of the dropship, and then wincing, and shaking out her fingers.

"It just doesn't make sense."

[Dr. Reinhardt]

"If they want us to stop talking to the 331st then maybe they have the answers to our questions"

[Lucretzia Winters]

"That's true... we have proof someone is out there. Far, but not too far."

Lucretzia furrowed her brow, already contemplating that.

[Anastasia Winters]

"Mother won't fund that. It's barely a lead, and too far for her to keep an eye on us."

Anastasia chipped in.

"This planet she might accept as a cute diversion for her darling daughters, but a journey into the dark... where she can't come lord over us? No chance."

Her expression was bland as she glanced at those present, and then added, "As things stand, we saw far more action than we expected - I'm sure we'll get an earful already."

[Lucretzia Winters]

"Then maybe we do it on our own! We can find funding another way!"

Lucretzia punched the dropship again, winced again, and then turned to face the other two.

"Listen... I don't know what the future for the company is, but you have a point, Doctor. We may have lost our biggest find, but we aren't out of leads, and we have all the data, all the scans, all the videos... I'm sure we can find something of value. Though I suppose your debts are paid after this journey, by and large. Do you want to go back to your university?"

[Dr. Reinhardt]

"This has been quite...exhilarating, I might be able to be persuaded to stay on. Besides you own a drop ship now, even if you give one of the two to the fortunate ones as part of their cut. That's got to go a long way toward helping make you a little more independent, I would assume." He frowns, "Have you heard Technician Hall's report about his home kingdom on the periphery?"

[Lucretzia Winters]

"No... I heard it was a little far-fetched."

She glanced at her sister. "Why?"

[Dr. Reinhardt]

"He claims he is from the Pentagon system, where some of the missing SLDF fleet settled down, he also claims the 331st were part of their colony, but broke off, taking a lot of technology with them, warships and star league era medical tech and mechs of course"

[Lucretzia Winters]

She considered that, and then inquired, "So how the hell did he end up here?"

There was skepticism in her tone, but she trusted the Doctor not to waste her time, so there had to be at least some merit to the tale.

[Dr. Reinhardt]

"He was captured by Pirates, sold into slavery, and eventually freed by one of the houses forces." He shrugs, "But giving credence to his claim is the fact that /Pentagon/ was part of their originally broken transmission if you remember."