Grimbold's face was blank when he continued making his way to the base head office. A young squady was guarding the door, his assault rifle held almost threateningly in front of him. Grim walked up to the soldier stopping about six feet away. The young man had been watching his approach and an expression mixed of surprise and disdain was locked on his rather thin face.
"I am Grimbold Theoman, I represent Ambassador Alighieri, I need to see the base commander and any of the representatives of Earth Governments still here." The ex-mercenary spoke first, not giving the soldier chance to challenge him. He was thrown momentarily by the note of command in Grim's voice, he even started to turn a fraction before he realised what he was doing. The guard turned back to Grimbold and raised his gun a fraction. Again the ex-mercenary spoke quickly, not giving the young man chance to take control.
"Private, I have the commanders permission to land, I couldn't be here other than with his grace, perhaps you would inform him that I will see him now."" His tone brooked no argument and the soldier turned and pressed an intercom beside the door. Grim could not catch what was said but the door swung open a moment later and the guard stood back to let him pass.
"The commander will meet you at the end of the corridor"
"Thank you, soldier"
At the end of the short corridor stood the base commander, a major from his insignia, he held out his hand as Grim approached. He looked tired and haggard, he had clearly not slept well for some time. Grim took his hand and shook it briefly.
"Welcome Mr Theoman, I am Major Dunnet. How may I help you?"
"We need to go somewhere where we can talk in confidence, and if there are any government officials here I will need to talk to them too."
"We can talk in my office, it's just upstairs. I am afraid that all the government officials were rushed off the base soon after the attack, before we even had word you were coming in." Grimbold nodded, he had not expected that they would still be there. He had been badly delayed in getting there and he would not have let them stay either.
"If you would show the way then, Dunnet"
The major turned and led the way to a door on the right which he unlocked with a key on a large bunch that hung on his belt. Beyond was a stairwell stairs led up a couple of floors and down about the same. The climbed to the top and again stopped monetarily at another locked door, this the major opened and locked again after they passed through. They went a short way down the corridor and into an office on the right. The room was large with a huge window in the far wall that overlooked the smoking ruins of the airbase. The major walked round behind a large antique looking desk and sat motioning Grim to take a chair opposite him.
"Now, Sir, in what way may I help you."
"First I would like you to tell me what happened, the Ambassador will need a full report; then I would like to review the video and audio records that I am sure you have kept from the base surveillance. I will send copies of those to the Ambassador too." He paused thinking of the effect watching those records would have on the Ambassador, maybe she wouldn't watch them, and maybe she would. Grim hoped that either himself or Gabriel could be there when she did. He woke from his brief reverie and went on. "Thirdly, I would like access to the secure net so that I can send messages to the Governments. The Ambassador has asked me to arrange a summit meeting to discuss this attack. And lastly I need to have my plane re-fuelled and moved so that I can take off again as soon as I am finished here."
The major reached for a phone and arranged to have his plane seen to then Grimbold sat back and listened to the base commander run through the whole day, his slow southern drawl not seeming the right tone for the relating of such events. He interrupted only once to clarify a point about the attacking mobile suits. Once the commander had finished they watched the surveillance record. It was almost exactly what had been broadcast on the news channels, though clearer and sharper. It was with a growing feeling of depression that the ex-mercenary allowed himself to be lead to the communications room. This was cleared and he was left alone to send his messages. First he sent messages to the Governments of Earth requesting their representation at a summit to be held in the former United Nations building in New York. He paused before deciding on a day thinking of the Ambassador and her desire to find Gabriel, eventually he decided on ten days time at mid-day eastern standard time. He hoped this was both soon enough and far enough off to do all that needed before hand. He sent a copy of the request to an address on Lagrange 1, an address that used to belong to General Sinful's secretary. It might not matter but he felt the colonies should be kept informed that they were still trying to arrange peace.
He then sent a message to Seraphina's mobile telling her that the video and a report had been sent to her e-mail address, he considered advising her to wait for him to catch up with her before watching the video but in the end did not, she probably would not have listened anyway. Finally remembering Sera's request for help in locating Gabe he scanned all news, police, and hospital reports for the area around Nice for anything that may be Gabriel Faile, there was nothing showing yet so he decided to ask Miyumi to see if she could turn up anything.
That seemed to be all that he could do of any use there, so he rose straightened the slight kinks out of his back and went back to the commander's office.
"Well Major Dunnet, that seems to be all I can do here, I take it that my plane is fuelled and ready for flight?"
"It is all done Mr Theoman, may I ask where you will be flying on to?"
"I will be going to New York, at least initially, then to where ever the Ambassador needs me to go." It was partially true, he would be flying towards New York but as he felt that Seraphina needed him in Nice that would be his ultimate destination. "Thank you for all your help, the Ambassador will be most grateful. Now I am sorry but I really must leave I have a lot to do to prepare for the summit."
Major Dunnet showed him out opening and locking the doors as they went. Grim headed back across the littered tarmac for where his plane was waiting. Already thinking about the search for Gabriel. At the back of his mind he hoped that Gabe had not gone back to his old allegiances and ways, it seemed unlikely, he had supported Sera in their attempts to broker and maintain the peace these last two years. He shook his head to dislodge the thoughts, he had a lot of flying to do.
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