BoTH Chpt 27

==Blood on the Horizon - Chapter 27 -==
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===Dodging the Gold Diggers===
Date: December 2nd, 3001
Location: Pierce, Capellan March, Federated Suns
I don't want to be in another simulator for at least a week," Sheppard groaned. "You're done with the hiring for the Dropships, right?"
 
"Kaylee had enough people that passed the background check to crew the Jumpship," I pulled apart a paper clip that I had, twisting it around into different shapes. "We've got just enough to crew one of the dropships, I figure we'll spend another month here, let y'all enjoy Christmas with your friends and family before we start heading for New Syrtis to pick up more crew and get the medical problems squared away."
 
"Thanks," Peterson sat down next to Sheppard. "We'll need the rest of the time to work out some kinks with our movements and coordination between us and the 'mechs. I wish the militia had been willing to part with some of the APCs. But until we get something to bridge the gap between the 'mechs and our infantry we're going to have some problems."
 
"We'll see what we can pick up on the open market when we get the chance," I jotted down some quick notes. "At this point, we've got quite the shopping list, and I doubt we'll be able to find everything on it."
 
"One can dream though," Peterson grinned. "Sides, with how you've been throwing money around I'm surprised you haven't been propositioned yet, plenty of folks would love to try and get some of that money away from you."
 
"Have been." I sighed. "I ignored them, I don't have time for that sort of thing right now anyway," I felt my stomach sink for a moment before I pushed the surge of emotion away for the moment. I could break down later, I had a job to do right now.
 
"Anyway, we've got a lot of work this month if we want to be ready for departure," Sheppard changed the subject to ease the tension.
 
"More like three weeks," I shrugged. "I'm giving y'all the week of Christmas off, seeing as we'll be in transit for any New Years celebrations."
"What's the plan for base security while we're gone?" Peterson asked. "Squatters might try to set up shop after we're gone if we're not careful."
 
"I'm leasing the land out to farmers," I explained. "And giving them the authorization to shoot anyone who doesn't provide proper identification."
 
"So we're not leaving anything here then?"
 
"Nope," I smirked. "Only thing we're leaving here on the base is a handful of indy-mechs that I'm letting the farmers use. And if anyone tries to steal them then they're going to have to deal with a bunch of pissed off farmers."
 
"Ouch," Sheppard shuddered. "I'd hate to be the son of a bitch that tried that."
 
"Exactly," I replied. "Now, let's discuss training plans, Paige's got her group training up on the DropShips and Jumpship for now, but we've got to get our own stuff together before we take on any contracts."
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===A White Christmas===
"I guess I'm getting a white Christmas," I looked out at the snow falling down around the prefabricated buildings of the base. "My kids would've loved to see this."
 
I swirled my cup of hot chocolate around as I stepped out into the brisk air and breathed deeply, enjoying the fresh air and the nice crisp feeling of freshly fallen snow.
 
Grabbing the guitar case that was leaning up against the wall, I slung the soft shell onto my back before heading to the nearby truck I had bought.
 
Tossing the guitar into the back seat, I climbed in and cranked the truck up, the combustion engine roaring to life as I shifted into drive and headed for the nearby copse of trees that I had left standing when we cleared the majority of the land.
 
In the middle of the trees and boughs laden with snow, was a small stone circle, with a small roofed cutout with dried logs underneath it.
 
Bringing out a large stump, I stacked a log onto it, and grabbed the nearby ax that we had stationed there. Taking a few practice swings, I nodded to myself and drive the ax down, splitting the log into two pieces before grabbing the halves and splitting those as well, stacking the dried lumber in the middle of the stone circle as I continued to chop wood.
 
Sweat dripped down my body as I set the ax down and removed my jacket, rolling up my sleeves on the long sleeved shirt I had on and stacking the extra wood to the side.
 
Then, grabbing some kindling, I stacked the wood up in the way I had been taught many years ago. I started with the kindling, some dried leaves and other small easy to catch items that immediately caught flame, the orange glow gradually moving up the larger pieces as the fuel began to be consumed.
 
Warmth entered the clearing, melting any snow that surrounded the fire pit and filling up the twilight of the evening.
 
Heading back to the truck, I grabbed a small bag and the guitar case before seating myself at the fire. After sitting down, I opened the bag and took out a small metal skewer and a bag of marshmallows, a stack of graham crackers, and a chocolate bar.
 
"It's not Hersheys," I grinned at the sight of the ingredients. "But it's as close as I'm gonna get."
 
Putting two marshmallows on the end of the metal stick, I set it at the perfect distance for melting and cooking while I prepared the rest of the S'mores sections, the graham crackers sitting on the stone surrounding the fire to toast up a bit while I set the chocolate on top.
 
Seeing a light golden brown on the marshmallows, I pulled them from the fire and set them on the chocolate, folding the other half of the cracker and crushing the fluffy goodness before removing the metal rod.
 
And then I bit into the treat, the flavors bringing me back to time spent with my family around a similar campfire, of a time when I wrestled and played with my kids and taught my siblings how to shoot properly.
 
But all too soon, the food was gone, and the memories faded away once again, leaving me alone in a small forest clearing with a guitar and a fire.
 
Picking up the instrument, I hooked up a small electric tuner to it, checking each string before strumming and picking with the four chords I knew to play.
 
I closed my eyes and began strumming, enjoying the soft melody of a song that I used to play, and as I did so, it felt like a warm blanket or hug descended over me, a warmth I hadn't felt since I had arrived here, and a peace about the decisions I had made settled in.
 
"Y'know, it's not good for anyone to spend Christmas alone," Sheppard stepped into the clearing, followed by the rest of the unit we had put together.
 
"I hope you brought more skewers," I replied. "I only have enough for one person."
 
"We got you covered boss," Peterson brought out a metal grate that he set on top of the fire, and then opening a cooler, he brought out strips of beef and other meats. "I hope you're hungry, because we're eating good tonight!"
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Chapter 27