Chapter 97: The Red Planet
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DarkDestroyer
The Destroyer Of Worlds
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Warner Brothers Discovery Owns Babylon 5. For Entertainment Purposes Only. Non-Profit.
I am on Mars. The Red Planet. Ares. Partially terraformed over the last two hundred or so years since the original colonists along with IPX drilling crews began reshaping the land scape to make it...suitable for human life. I say partially because at some point funding stopped and so did any kind of further land mass development on the planet. This Mars actually reminds me of "Total Recall" than anything. It is dirty, gritty, and dismal. Michael wasn't kidding when he joked that he hoped it didn't disappoint me. This is after decades of neglect, violence, and destruction. Repairs are underway from the bombings during the Battle of Mars. We purposefully only hit military bases to distract from what we were attempting to do with the main fleet, and also to give the Resistance an opportunity to fully seize control of Mars Dome One---which is where I am now.
The Translink tube stops at the main Mars station and I get off and present my ID card to the security at customs. They do a double take as they recognize me.
"Mr. Young. Sir...Mr. Garibaldi is waiting for you at Edgars. There's a car waiting to take you."
I nod as he gives me back my card and waves over another security guard and gives her instructions to take me directly to the Edgar's building. I have heard that most planetary security was provided by private Edgar's people. Now I'm sure most of them are former resistance now, hand picked by Tess and Michael to attempt to enforce what little law they have currently. Still signs of celebration around the place as banners, and ribbons are scattered across various streets. Walking has become somewhat normal again, I'm still astonished that I can feel muscle and bone in my foot. There's little pain, still just recovery pain. Stephen said that would last for another few weeks before it goes away for good. The security escort takes us to another building that I immediately recognize as Edgar's Industries because it has the huge logo slapped on it. It is strange being here physically, can't describe it properly.
"People in the building have been informed of your arrival sir, there'll be someone waiting for you in the lobby."
"Thank you." i reply as the car pulls up right to the entrance and I get out and head into the main doors. I pass through them and am greeted by someone from Edgars who offers to take me to the main floor, and I accept. It is weird being inside here---again I can't put it to words. I am escorted to the main office floor and shown in where I see Michael Garibaldi with a stogie sitting in an oversized leather chair, looking happier than I can ever remember seeing him.
"Adam! You made it. Thank you Travis." he acknowledges the escort who nods. Michael gets up and we exchange a hug as I put my bag down. I'm feeling jet lag now. I sit in the other big oversized leather chair.
"I have indeed made it...Michael...I'm exhausted...this had better be good." I say
"Oh, it will be. You'll like the new board members. You were of course right about the old ones. Had myself a time blackmailing them....and you weren't kidding about Tessa having dirt, she was the perfect choice to head Covert Intelligence."
"Why does the Board want to see me?" I ask
"They're mostly curious. They also want to know why we appointed you in the first place, someone who has no prior business experience, or degree--they also probably want to know if they can manipulate you at all." Michael is positively gleeful
"I see."
"So how are things?! How's the foot?" he looks down and I Can't help but smile
"For the first time in my entire life, I'm not in constant pain. At first in the immediate aftermath of the surgery and recovery, sure....tons of it...but it's subsided now that I've actually learned how to use it. It's also been incredibly emotional." I reply
"I can imagine...Lianna?"
"Is busy in her new job...but doing great. We've discussed somethings. Nothing major---Michael I need a favor."
"Shoot...just not in the back." Michael jokes and my eyes go wide---he really is happy. I couldn't be more happy for him.
"Lianna inquired about Elizabeth Lochley the other day, in a most unusual way---out of the blue---which for her is extremely rare, as she's blunt with everything she says."
"What are you concerned about?" he asks
"Nothing really, I'm just curious what they're connection is. If any."
"You could just ask your fiancée you know." He says and I sigh
"I know...okay. Sure. I don't know what I was thinking. So are the Board---here?"
"They are. We can recall them and introduce you in a few minutes if you'd like."
"I would." I nod
Michael presses a button on his desk.
"Madeline, can you gather the Board members please, tell them if any complain, that Mr. Young is here."
"Yes sir."
Together we head out of the office and down the hallway to the end where a huge room is. It is the room from the episode where Michael deals with the Board of Directors. I stand beside Garibaldi while the members of the Board shuffle into the room, one by one. They're all the replacement members Michael selected from "Objects At Rest".
"Ladies and Gentlemen, as you requested, straight from Babylon 5, and with a short fuse due to exhaustion and jet lag---our newest appointee to your illustrious group, I present Adam Christopher Young." I nod
"Greetings. It has come to my attention that you requested this meeting, I'm flattered. First of all I will allay any concerns you may have. I have no designs on anyone's job, or to step on toes. I agreed to this as a favor to Mr. Garibaldi. Depending on the vote---I will vote with whatever the Board's consensus is on any given matter. I share Michael and Lise's new vision for this company, and I am not here to babysit anyone. I expect you to all do your jobs, whatever those maybe entail , and I promise you---if you've concerns about lack of experience, which I'm sure most of us have anyways given how we were all hired---I will do the work to familiarize myself what needs to be done. I am not a threat, I am ally. Harm me or mine, and I WILL become a threat to you. You don't want that. Trust me."
"So with that out of the way...does Mr. Young's appointment to the Board, agree with all of you?" They all reply positively
"You're all dismissed. Thank you for coming." they all nod at me as they shuffle past
"Was that really necessary? I could have done this from Babylon 5."
"From the Bat Cave? Uh-uh. They needed to see you assert your authority from the beginning, and more importantly, clarify what your relationship with them will be. You did both. So---dinner? You must be starving. Lise is cooking a roast."
"I'd actually love that...and then sleep."
"Of course. The guest room's been made up."
"It's good to see you Michael. I mean that."
"It's good to see you too, Adam."
I am on Mars. The Red Planet. Ares. Partially terraformed over the last two hundred or so years since the original colonists along with IPX drilling crews began reshaping the land scape to make it...suitable for human life. I say partially because at some point funding stopped and so did any kind of further land mass development on the planet. This Mars actually reminds me of "Total Recall" than anything. It is dirty, gritty, and dismal. Michael wasn't kidding when he joked that he hoped it didn't disappoint me. This is after decades of neglect, violence, and destruction. Repairs are underway from the bombings during the Battle of Mars. We purposefully only hit military bases to distract from what we were attempting to do with the main fleet, and also to give the Resistance an opportunity to fully seize control of Mars Dome One---which is where I am now.
The Translink tube stops at the main Mars station and I get off and present my ID card to the security at customs. They do a double take as they recognize me.
"Mr. Young. Sir...Mr. Garibaldi is waiting for you at Edgars. There's a car waiting to take you."
I nod as he gives me back my card and waves over another security guard and gives her instructions to take me directly to the Edgar's building. I have heard that most planetary security was provided by private Edgar's people. Now I'm sure most of them are former resistance now, hand picked by Tess and Michael to attempt to enforce what little law they have currently. Still signs of celebration around the place as banners, and ribbons are scattered across various streets. Walking has become somewhat normal again, I'm still astonished that I can feel muscle and bone in my foot. There's little pain, still just recovery pain. Stephen said that would last for another few weeks before it goes away for good. The security escort takes us to another building that I immediately recognize as Edgar's Industries because it has the huge logo slapped on it. It is strange being here physically, can't describe it properly.
"People in the building have been informed of your arrival sir, there'll be someone waiting for you in the lobby."
"Thank you." i reply as the car pulls up right to the entrance and I get out and head into the main doors. I pass through them and am greeted by someone from Edgars who offers to take me to the main floor, and I accept. It is weird being inside here---again I can't put it to words. I am escorted to the main office floor and shown in where I see Michael Garibaldi with a stogie sitting in an oversized leather chair, looking happier than I can ever remember seeing him.
"Adam! You made it. Thank you Travis." he acknowledges the escort who nods. Michael gets up and we exchange a hug as I put my bag down. I'm feeling jet lag now. I sit in the other big oversized leather chair.
"I have indeed made it...Michael...I'm exhausted...this had better be good." I say
"Oh, it will be. You'll like the new board members. You were of course right about the old ones. Had myself a time blackmailing them....and you weren't kidding about Tessa having dirt, she was the perfect choice to head Covert Intelligence."
"Why does the Board want to see me?" I ask
"They're mostly curious. They also want to know why we appointed you in the first place, someone who has no prior business experience, or degree--they also probably want to know if they can manipulate you at all." Michael is positively gleeful
"I see."
"So how are things?! How's the foot?" he looks down and I Can't help but smile
"For the first time in my entire life, I'm not in constant pain. At first in the immediate aftermath of the surgery and recovery, sure....tons of it...but it's subsided now that I've actually learned how to use it. It's also been incredibly emotional." I reply
"I can imagine...Lianna?"
"Is busy in her new job...but doing great. We've discussed somethings. Nothing major---Michael I need a favor."
"Shoot...just not in the back." Michael jokes and my eyes go wide---he really is happy. I couldn't be more happy for him.
"Lianna inquired about Elizabeth Lochley the other day, in a most unusual way---out of the blue---which for her is extremely rare, as she's blunt with everything she says."
"What are you concerned about?" he asks
"Nothing really, I'm just curious what they're connection is. If any."
"You could just ask your fiancée you know." He says and I sigh
"I know...okay. Sure. I don't know what I was thinking. So are the Board---here?"
"They are. We can recall them and introduce you in a few minutes if you'd like."
"I would." I nod
Michael presses a button on his desk.
"Madeline, can you gather the Board members please, tell them if any complain, that Mr. Young is here."
"Yes sir."
Together we head out of the office and down the hallway to the end where a huge room is. It is the room from the episode where Michael deals with the Board of Directors. I stand beside Garibaldi while the members of the Board shuffle into the room, one by one. They're all the replacement members Michael selected from "Objects At Rest".
"Ladies and Gentlemen, as you requested, straight from Babylon 5, and with a short fuse due to exhaustion and jet lag---our newest appointee to your illustrious group, I present Adam Christopher Young." I nod
"Greetings. It has come to my attention that you requested this meeting, I'm flattered. First of all I will allay any concerns you may have. I have no designs on anyone's job, or to step on toes. I agreed to this as a favor to Mr. Garibaldi. Depending on the vote---I will vote with whatever the Board's consensus is on any given matter. I share Michael and Lise's new vision for this company, and I am not here to babysit anyone. I expect you to all do your jobs, whatever those maybe entail , and I promise you---if you've concerns about lack of experience, which I'm sure most of us have anyways given how we were all hired---I will do the work to familiarize myself what needs to be done. I am not a threat, I am ally. Harm me or mine, and I WILL become a threat to you. You don't want that. Trust me."
"So with that out of the way...does Mr. Young's appointment to the Board, agree with all of you?" They all reply positively
"You're all dismissed. Thank you for coming." they all nod at me as they shuffle past
"Was that really necessary? I could have done this from Babylon 5."
"From the Bat Cave? Uh-uh. They needed to see you assert your authority from the beginning, and more importantly, clarify what your relationship with them will be. You did both. So---dinner? You must be starving. Lise is cooking a roast."
"I'd actually love that...and then sleep."
"Of course. The guest room's been made up."
"It's good to see you Michael. I mean that."
"It's good to see you too, Adam."