A short chapter just before they reach Pan.
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“I told you we should have waited for the reporter before flying to Pan.”
“Yes, you did... four times!” Eric Hunt said and looked to Sarah. “But that would have delayed our flight plan for an unknown amount of time. And if the reported just had waited here at Pan, it would have been no use at all.”
Everyone in the cockpit became silent.
“So why are you annoyed about the interview Eric?” Sarah asked, “I mean I think it was quite nice.”
“Yes, nice... but I really would have preferred that these women would not have spelt out for everyone that ESA and JAXA hired a station of biomodded catgirls as a support base” Eric tried to explain. “I have not read the proposals by ESA to the EU council, but some of these guys can barely tolerate the Fen. There is no way they would have agreed to this mission if they knew about the catgirls.”
“You mean they didn’t told them?”
“Not directly Masuno, not directly. Most likely they buried the name of the catgirls company in some appendix document, together with a few thousand other details they would never read.” Eric sighed. “But I hope everyone recognizes what this means for us.”
Masuno Soetsu blinked and looked a bit puzzled, but Sarah Meier nodded.
“Yes... it seems not a single person involved in this project gave them a hint. At least the upper planning level would have known about this Fen involvement. Oh, and all of the crew too!” she said. “Which means we have some petty and powerful persons waiting for us to get back into their reach to punish us for betraying them.”
Eric suppressed a smile, it was good to know that at least some of his crew were able to see this political minefield.
“Exactly. So either we come back successful as heros or we screw up and get fired by the influence of some pissed string pullers. Powerful motivator for this mission. But that’s enough talk, we just have two hours left until landing. Check the ship for the last time, I do not want to hear a ‘but we haven’t noticed’ later.”
Masuno grinned. “And after that we go and meet the catgirls!”
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“I told you we should have waited for the reporter before flying to Pan.”
“Yes, you did... four times!” Eric Hunt said and looked to Sarah. “But that would have delayed our flight plan for an unknown amount of time. And if the reported just had waited here at Pan, it would have been no use at all.”
Everyone in the cockpit became silent.
“So why are you annoyed about the interview Eric?” Sarah asked, “I mean I think it was quite nice.”
“Yes, nice... but I really would have preferred that these women would not have spelt out for everyone that ESA and JAXA hired a station of biomodded catgirls as a support base” Eric tried to explain. “I have not read the proposals by ESA to the EU council, but some of these guys can barely tolerate the Fen. There is no way they would have agreed to this mission if they knew about the catgirls.”
“You mean they didn’t told them?”
“Not directly Masuno, not directly. Most likely they buried the name of the catgirls company in some appendix document, together with a few thousand other details they would never read.” Eric sighed. “But I hope everyone recognizes what this means for us.”
Masuno Soetsu blinked and looked a bit puzzled, but Sarah Meier nodded.
“Yes... it seems not a single person involved in this project gave them a hint. At least the upper planning level would have known about this Fen involvement. Oh, and all of the crew too!” she said. “Which means we have some petty and powerful persons waiting for us to get back into their reach to punish us for betraying them.”
Eric suppressed a smile, it was good to know that at least some of his crew were able to see this political minefield.
“Exactly. So either we come back successful as heros or we screw up and get fired by the influence of some pissed string pullers. Powerful motivator for this mission. But that’s enough talk, we just have two hours left until landing. Check the ship for the last time, I do not want to hear a ‘but we haven’t noticed’ later.”
Masuno grinned. “And after that we go and meet the catgirls!”