BoTH Chpt 59

==Blood on the Horizon - Chapter 59 -==
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===Reflection of life and Rest===
Location: Valexa, Federated SunsDate: June 7th, 3006
It was easy sometimes to forget that I wasn't on Earth. Terraforming literally meant "To make something like Terra." While you were out and about, you could almost fool yourself into thinking you were in a rural area in the midwest of the United States or any rural area. But that was before you got into the seasons. 
 
Now, I'm a man who was born in the Southern United States. June is the month when God decides to heat the skillet, and he keeps that shit on high heat until well after July. That's why it was such an unusual thing in my mind to have to deal with four feet of snow on the ground in the middle of the freakin' summer! It wasn't supposed to be like this, and I struggled to make it work in my mind. 
 
"Stupid cold when it's supposed to be warm," I stomped towards the mess hall, the winter version of our working uniform, working overtime to keep me warm in the humid and biting cold. 
 
I pulled on the door, and a gust of wind caught it and slammed it open, the metal ringing loudly while I swore and dragged the door shut behind me. 
 
"Enjoying the weather?" Francesca Peterson asked.
 
"Not exactly," I pulled my gloves off and gratefully accepted a plate of chicken noodle soup. "How're you and the rest of the dependents handling everything?"
 
"Well, our prefabs are better insulated than the ones for the barracks," she grinned. "Not that it means the complaining stops, but we'll be fine. What's your plan for the next few weeks?"
 
"Well, if I'm going to be forced into a vacation, then I'm going to do it on my terms," I pointed my spoon at her in accusation. "I know that you put Jack and Thomas up to this, and I will have my revenge in the future."
 
"Look," her smile turned into a serious look. "I know that I'm just a simple soldier's wife. But I grew up 'round people who overworked themselves. And I don't want any friends of mine to work themselves into an early grave."
 
"My PawPaw never retired," I replied. "He was a pastor and a farmer until the day he died. He made it to ninety-six before passing away, surrounded by four children, nineteen grandchildren, and thirty-seven great-grandchildren. The way I figure it, I'll make it to seventy-five, and then we'll see about retiring. But until then," I shrugged. "I push on. After all, I can sleep when I'm dead, and that day hasn't come yet."
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===Working out the Kinks===
Location: Valexa, Federated SunsDate: April 12th, 3006
"I want them," Thomas Peterson looked out at the field where Doctor Rogers' engineers were supervising demonstrations of the new powered armor. "As many of them as we can make."
 
"We're still finishing the field tests," Adamina jotted some notes into a notebook. "Lieutenant Mathis is reporting some issues with joints sealing, so we'll have to review how we manufactured that piece, and that's before getting into the other issues in moving from experimental to production."
 
"How long will it take to move from experiment to production?" I asked. 
 
"I've got a team putting together the documentation for that now," Rogers sighed. "Until we can build a factory for it, though, we'll have to hand-craft the suits if you want them for our troops."
 
"Get the kinks worked out first," Peterson replied. "I want to use them as soon as possible."
 
"Agreed," I nodded. "I don't think you understand just how much this is going to increase the survivability of our troops once this is put into use."
 
"I've seen the statistics," the engineer nodded.
 
"Statistics don't quite always portray the reality of things," Peterson peered through his binoculars as a soldier went through a bunch of mud and then began running through small arms fire. "This isn't just about survivability. It's about morale and the ability to fight 'Mechs and tanks. This is about us no longer being 'poor bloody infantry.'"
 
"Give me a month to iron out the kinks, and we'll work around the clock to build as many suits as possible."
 
"And I'll see if we can get some support," I finally said. "I have a feeling that I know some people who will be interested in this."
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===Off to the wilderness===
Date: August 1st, 3006
"I've approved the funding for purchasing whatever we need to build the powered armor," I looked up from the paperwork on my desk at Sheppard and Peterson. "Everything's in order, and we've been over the plans for the rest of the month."
 
"Relax," Jack grinned. "We've got things handled. Go enjoy your vacation."
 
"Just remember to bring us back some meat if you manage to get anything," Peterson said. "I've got a delicious jerky recipe I've been dying to try."
 
"It depends on what I manage to bag," I stood up and grabbed my duffle bag and rifle, slinging them both onto my back. "But I'm hoping for an Elk."
 
With a few handshakes, I was out the door and headed for the VTOL that I was taking to a rented cabin in the nearby foothills. 
 
----
 
"Thanks for the lift," I spoke into the mic. "Make sure they get you some R&R when you return."
 
"Copy that, Major. Enjoy your time off."
 
I hopped off and laughed as I sunk a foot or so down into the snow.
 
"Whelp, this should be fun," I stomped to the cabin.
 
"Generator's in the shed," I muttered as I opened the door and set my gear on a nearby table. "I should probably get that started and then get a fire going."
 
Exiting, I exhaled and grinned at the crisp air before looking at my surroundings in the twilight. The mountains were aglow with a brilliant glow, the atmosphere shining in an array of reddish colors, from pink hues to a dark royal purple. 
 
And the snow magnified the experience. The white powder covered the ground, hiding any imperfections in this mortal coil.
 
But I had the rest of the month to observe the wilderness I found myself in. And right now, I had to get the power and heat on before the temperatures dropped for the night.
 
So I walked to the shed and nodded at the internal combustion engine that lay within. A massive fuel tank sat beside it, and the gauge on the side showed how much fuel was left as well as the efficiency of the generator.
 
With a careful twist of some knobs and a flip of a switch, the generator roared to life, the gentle roar now providing power to lights all around the cabin. 
 
Grabbing a few bundles of firewood, I slid the door shut behind me and headed for the cabin, making my way inside and stashing the dried and split logs on a rack beside the fireplace. 
 
"Let's get a fire going and some of this food cooked," I opened my duffle and withdrew a small cooler with a giant steak (that had been marinating for 48 hours) and some potatoes waiting to be grilled. "Dinner, bed, and then we'll track down some venison."
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Chapter 59