Fate of Terra - Rise of Empires

Chapter 3.3 - Continuation

Author Note:
Happy New Year to you all. I hope this year brings you all happiness and challenges in equal measure. 
This is a longer chapter than usual, partially to make up for the lack of content and partially to round out a change in direction that the story will be following. 
Without further adeu, enjoy!
JC
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Michael collected his preordered meal from the Deli and slid through the crowds to his companions. Aki was occupying Tanya in a discussion over something in excited whispers while Reinah spared him a smile before going back to her native dialect with Dejah. Before he could even bite into his food his stomach moaned at the thought of the steak; a round of giggles breaking out.

"To busy to eat?" Tanya asked, her blonde har scattered across her forehead.

"Hardly." Kat offered whlie brushing a strand of her own hair over her shoulder. "He's been too busy talking to do any actual work."

Waving a hand at them dismissively as Pan and Aurora joined them at the quickly filling table. "Well what're all your excuses?"

He got a swift slap to the back of the head. "All your checks and orders!" Aurora groused, yanking his bread roll off his tray and statching a bite. "New projects, new R&D, new flight patterns, new simulation drills and that's not to mention those bloody cargo ships... What the fuck are we doing all this for anyway?!"

"Best tell Stacey you need help de-stressing," He offered while rubbing the back of his head.

Aurora shot him a dangerous look. One of murderous intent and lust that told him 'If you don't fuck me so good I'm going to murder you.' Eventually the last of the high command appeared at the table, including Marcus.

Clearing her throat to Stacey started, "What are w-"

"Not yet," Michael cut her off.

"But-"

"Not, yet." Michael shot her down.

It was clear the nubile teen wanted to rebel but found it within her to hold her tongue.

Curious heads tilted questioningly to one another, though none dared break the silence. It was the same stillness felt over an undisturbed field of snow and frozen stalks; somehow feeling wrong to tread into the chilled space.

People picked at their foods initially, the desire to delve into the churning waters of upcoming events, but they respected Michaels wish. It also helped that the food was far better hot than tepid. A server came quickly to retrieve their plates and the table was cleared; Pan activated a distortion field as Michael turned to Stacey.

"Ok, now you can say whatever you want," Michael said, resting his elbows on the edge of the table. "How are we doing with getting the freighters upgraded?"

Aurora and Stacey sighed in unison.

"Better," Stacey began. "Your show has 'convinced' many to see things our way. Though a few are being stubborn."

"It's the damn Captains. They don't want to relinquish control over their ships and be 'demoted,'" Aurora grumbled. "They think they're being smart, trying to weave words together about treaties or obligations or assinine bullshit. Their so transparent it'd be like a kid saying they hadn't eaten any chocolate with half a bar stuck to their face!"

"Are they really that bad?" Michael frowned.

If this was the attitude they were giving he'd may as well cut them loose now. He didn't need anyone high on their own self importance; people like that didn't fit into a command structure and he'd spent far to long cultivating a harmonious environment for pricks like that to mess up.