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Investigation. — Description
Gav watched the planet, an argon-rich gas giant in the 86 G. Sagittarii system, growing steadily larger. The large windows of the rec deck provided an excellent view of the surrounding space, and the absence of enlisted personnel at the moment calmed her.

  It had been several days since they arrived in system. Disembarking from the rack had proceeded perfectly, as it had the hundred times before. Say what you will about Soviet engineering, but it preformed the tasks it was designed for. Gav chuckled to herself quietly.

  Five days of low velocity thrust makes for a long, boring journey, but it's cheap, and doesn't light up the enemy's sensors. The dull thuds of the IMP retrograde thrusters echoed through the recreation deck. The task force had finaly arived at their destination.

Strelets-37, an old Bernal Sphere and home to eight thousand fellow Soviet citizens. Gav had bribed the communications officer with a pack of Belomorkanals to reveal the name of their destination.

  Yet the simple fact remained. Two Gromov assault craft, each carrying two hundred fifty highly trained troops, had been dispatched to a lonely colony in a system twenty-two light years from the nearest military installation. As far as she was able to determine, this system was useless, no other factions had ever tried to make a claim for it. The presence of this Bernal Spehere, and its true purpose remained unknown. The unknown didn't frighten Gav, but it did make her uneasy.

  Ringing of metal on metal. The pressure in the recreation deck subtly shifted. The door had opened, and two enlisted soldiers walked through. Gav immediately recognized them as members of the squad under her command.

"I'll bet it's a rebellion." Val, her second in command.

"Horsedick. Their reactors crapped out." Kiska, the Tuvan grenadier.

"Sir, final preparations are underway. Everyone is heading to the shuttles now."

    Val and Kiska argued while Gav followed them toward the shuttles. Gav shook her head and ordered a radio check just to shut them up. As the members of her squad checked in, their voices chirping in through her environment suit microphone, Gav continued to think to herself. Whatever they found on Strelets-37, she had a feeling it would keep her up at night for some time to come.

Thanks to for the excellent 3D models of the Gromov as well as the Bernal Sphere, references worth their weight in rhodium. Visit his page or the Zampolit will have a word with you.