Four days later, the good news is coming in from all sides:
First off, Johann is doing fine. The fleet doctors have fixed him up with the acres of skin he needed and he’s about ready to take up some serious bar brawling again.
Gunther has reported to the mercs topside. Between his report and the arrival of the “Old Man”, a compromise has been reached between the shipboard mercs and the fleet. The fleet will back off from mounting a rescue mission and simply issue a stern warning to the planet that it will fully back up its people still on the ground.
The Kull Worldwide Tour has done a lot to distract the people from the Martin Martyrdom. The world governments remain split on the issue of how to deal with the coming Space Age. They take no action against Governor Algers or the province as he declares that it will become “a window to the stars on an experimental basis.” We are in. We have a franchise, and Azzeed has a woman to propose to.
And Chin and I finally get some quality time together. We’ve found our ticket out. Now all we have to do is stay alive to enjoy it. I haven’t forgotten Gunther’s words to us. We indeed aren’t in the mercs anymore. We’ll have to watch each other’s backs because the people around us will all be traitors … by someone’s definition.
Life down here is going to be fun, but it sure won’t be easy.
And this is how a power armor tale should be told. Power armor makes a difference, and if that difference is not shown, then why are you writing the story?
The End