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       On the narrow staircase leading to the bridge:  I remembered Robert and Blanca: and Lyra
and my apartment:  and the years I had spent there.   The past: the present: the future: facts:
dreams: assumptions - it all rushed into my mind at once: and I was suddenly very anxious about
that crowd.
       Sometimes life doesn't offer you the opportunity to say goodbye.   :It simply grabs you:
takes you: and drops you into other ones rivers.  :This was exactly the case - if I knew that I
would see my palm trees for the last time: I would at least sprinkle some water on their leaves
- if I knew:  that I would never go to the Gray tea house with my colleagues again    - I would
drink more greedily and hug tighter..
       I straightened up  and focused on the ends of Lena's hair in front of me:  on my precise
steps and regular breathing in my chest.
       The captain  and navigator  were bending over the horizontal  holo-map of northern hemi-
sphere: and discussing in hushed voices the maneuvering possibilities of the green shuttle.
       "Captain:" Lena said and we raised our hands in greeting.
       "Captain:" he said: and gave me his hand: "My name is John. Welcome to EDFS MoRay. We do
not have much time: so I'll get straight to the point: do you agree?" :he looked directly at me
with his hard eyes: he didn't wait for the answer: "I would like to include you in our missions
and thus also in the green fleet.   We are in a state of war  and in our young army  there is a
great lack of naturally gifted officers.  In my opinion: you're able to take over in command of
a fully manned starship - so I had all defects repaired on your vessel: and applicable upgrades
installed.  We failed to perform miracles: but Hydron is no longer dependent on fuel cells. The
movement speed and range of the defense system cannons have been slightly increased. Part of my
crew: including one android and thirty-five pilots: are ready to come under your command. We're
leaving to evacuate our Arctic and Atlantic extraction points  - and several presumably trapped
green families await you at our Indo-Pacific research base.       Can we start the transfers of
troops and equipment?"