Felina Golumbine was excited about her position on the starship Daedlus but she did her best to remain professional. Of all the people Vanz Kerrigan could have chosen to host the documentation of the journey of the Daedlus and its crew, he had chosen her. Felina was not hard to describe. She was a skinny blonde with blue eyes. She was pretty as long as she did not pull her hair back because then you could see her ears and she always though they stuck out just a little too much so she always kept them covered by her hair.
So far the interviews had gone well. Most of them anyway. Ryoko Jeagan had been great. She knew how to work the interview. Ryoko was more than just the greatest super soldier of the Human Enhancement League; she was a natural born star. Duron Ardiniero had remained professional. He had no time for questions about love life and such and he dodged them very well. Therazan Sajan was the same although she seemed a little nervous about the love life question. Samal Hectorese was not very cooperative. Within the first two minutes he decided the interview was a waste of time and left. The interview with Mr. Kerrigan was in a sense ongoing. He always had something new to say and Felina spent a lot of time following him. Occasionally she got his cute little assistant in the shot but the girl never said anything beyond reminding Kerrigan what was next on his daily schedule. Her favorite had been the interview with Raddy Volcane. Felina was a sucker for that old fashioned bad boy charm and she was considering seeing him again for a more personal follow up interview. There were still plenty of crew members to talk too. Now Mr. Kerrigan was leading the way.
Vanz Kerrigan was a handsome man. He carried himself like he was the most important person in the room, like he owned the place. Technically as the CEO of the Solar Fleet he did own the place. Anyantha Whitecross followed close next to him with a pair of data frames on. Also with them was the portly bearded man that operated the camera who was actually responsible for filming and editing the documentary. He did not say much. He mostly just observed and recorded.
“You see it is not enough that we just win the war against the Spectral Horde,” Kerrigan said with a smile, “Once we beat the horde, and there is no doubt that we will with the Daedlus, but afterwards what will happen back on Earth. The last few decades have been without war on Earth because for once humanity has a common enemy but even that had not completely united us. The world is divided into six power blocks. The New American Union, The European Coalition, The Eastern Alliance, the African Alliance, the Chinese Empire and the Human Enhancement League have all been working together through the Solar Fleet but they still compete with one another economically and in their efforts to be the ones that produce the soldiers that win the war. The only thing that will truly unite us is victory. But it can’t be just one nation or one power block’s victory. The victory must belong to the entire Earth so the Daedlus had to have a diverse crew. Every major power on Earth has members of their military on the crew of the Daedlus. Everyone shall do their part to ensure victory. This brings us to the next interview on the schedule. We will be talking to none other than the natural born pilot of the prime squad, Janessa Kepshawn.”
Kerrigan pressed the call button outside the door and Felina got ready. The documentary maker used the remote to position the camera to float just above their heads. The door slid open and Janessa Kepshawn stood with a confused look on her face her hair wet and nothing but a towel wrapped around her.
“Can I help you with something?” she asked.
“Are you busy pilot Kepshawn?” Kerrigan asked jovially.
“Yeah kind of.”
“Ms. Golumbine is here to conduct your interview.”
“Oh crap, Junitha warned me about this.”
“Yes Ms. Findragon’s interview was interesting you could say.”
“She said the f word a lot,” said Felina, “and she kept coming out with these strange random quotes I’ve never heard before. But she did seem to be having a good time.”
“We are definitely going to have to do some significant editing to that one,” said Kerrigan.
“Listen I don’t have time for this,” said Janessa, “I just got back from the showers and I need to get dressed. It’s been a long day.”
“I understand Commander Jeagan is very demanding,” said Felina, “how do you feel about that?”
“She had to be demanding, we have to be at our best,” said Janessa, “Anyantha, I didn’t know you wear glasses.”
“They are not glasses,” said Anyantha with a smile, “They are data frames. I can use them to call up any information Mr. Kerrigan might need. It is much handier than carrying around a data pad.”
“They are a product of one of the Solar Fleet’s affiliate corporations I own,” said Kerrigan with pride.
“Ms. Kepshawn?” Felina continued, “Do you feel any extra pressure as a natural? Do you feel there are any unfair expectations of you?”
Janessa closed the door.
“Oh god I pushed that question way too early didn’t I?” said Felina.
“If you want to be a real journalist you have to ask the hard questions,” said Kerrigan, “let’s not let this one roadblock stop us. We can move on to the next interview. Anya, check the schedule and see when Ms. Kepshawn’s interview can be rescheduled.”
Janessa waited in her quarters for a while just to make sure Kerrigan and Felina had plenty of time to get far away. When she went on her way someone passed her in the hall then followed after her.
“Oh uh Ms. Pilot Kepshawn,” he said.
The ship was not strictly divided into a male or female section but most of the women’s quarters on the ship were on one side of the ship and the men’s were on the other. It was not impossible to find a member of the opposite sex in the opposing area but it was usually for a reason. This young man in a black staff uniform carrying a data pad did not appear to be in the area for any reason. He had short brown hair and brown eyes behind a pair of data frames. Janessa was tempted to ask why he needed a data pad and data frames.
“Do I know you?” asked Janessa.
“Oh no, no one really knows me,” he said, “My name is Evan Evaide. I keep track of the ships supplies and inventory. They have computers that do that but Mr. Kerrigan believes everything should have a human touch. And I have a photographic memory and I can calculate as fast as any computer. I’m just doing some routine checks with some members of the crew. You know you are one of the few people who consume any of our vegetable stock. You and commander Ardiniero actually, there are a few others, but not many and not as much.”
So Duron was still eating the diet Janessa had taught him. It made her wonder how much he was still doing the same or what had changed. Then she realized she was thinking about Duron again and tried to stop it.
“So, what, you came here just to talk to me about salad?” asked Janessa.
Evan tried to come up with an excuse but could not find one.
“What do you really want?”
“Okay… uh… the thing is…” it took Evan a moment but then it came out, “you know Anyantha Whitecross.”
“Kerrigan’s assistant? Yes I know her.”
“Well I noticed that you have lunch with her sometimes. And I make reports to Mr. Kerrigan when he requests them. And he always insists they be in person. And Anyantha is always there. And she seems nice. And she is beautiful. But as soon as I finish my report Mr. Kerrigan makes me get out of his suite.”
“Are you asking me for what? Advice?” asked Janessa.
“I was just wondering,” said Evan, “since you seem to be friends with her. If you had any suggestions about…”
“Just talk to her.”
“Eh?”
“If you like her than just go up and talk to her. Just say hello. Maybe when she is on one of her breaks when Kerrigan doesn’t need her. Just talk to the girl. That’s the best advice you are going to get.”
Janessa walked away and left Evan Evaide to ponder her words. A few seconds later a combat alert went off. Janessa ran to the fighter hangar.
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