The only distressing news came from outside the enclave. The war between Manuel and Ruth continued. After the initial opening of hostilities they had ...eft our door alone, but both sides had staged multiple attempts to claim the armory and the AI soon reported additional casualties. The numbers continued to be unclear, but it sounded like both sides had lost at least three more fighters. We were saddened though when the AI reported that Kathy, the sponsor who had left the two babies in Mike's. Enough to fund a quick getaway to a nice friendly Caribbean island and with more than enough pocket money to handle significant unexpected expenses for a month or two. Add in a couple of fake passports, each with Wally-boys cheerful smirking mug on them and it was more than an adequate haul.No secret Grand Cayman bank account numbers or a laptop computer chock full of every single Watters' family secrets, but one can't wish for everything. Well, you can wish for everything, but you'll be damned. My images of Meriah were more general and diffuse and tended to focus on qualities rather than body parts. I digress.Alexis Hume was an officer in their Space Marines, attached to the Destiny. That was a branch of the human military, which was a group of people who were assigned to defensive and offensive fighting encounters. As such, her thoughts concerning space were mostly of assignments and missions and various planets upon which she led groups of men and women who did the fighting. She had. "I don't want to screw up and disappoint you and Mr. Benson today." Listen Mike, don't worry about disappointing us" he said. "We know you're green and going to make mistakes. Just do the best you can. Err on the side of caution and you'll do fine. We will try and get you out only against their third or fourth lines so you should be ok." Ok, I'll still be nervous if it's ok with you" I said."Hey, this will be like nothing you've done or felt before" he continued. "There will be over 6,000.