Raine slept.<br/><br/>*   *   *<br/><br/>Pat Nise was just a civilian, but her status as a former cop made her the automatic leader of this survivors of this lifepod.  The oblong craft had skipped over Novus' atmosphere for several thousand miles, the pilot using extensive air braking to shed off velocity.  Good thing to, because most of the other lifepods underestimated their speed upon landing, failing to take into account the slightly heavier gravity.<br/><br/>Ten minutes later, the pod had touched down on the broad beach none the worse for wear.  No one was injured, and certainly no one was dead.<br/><br/>When the people had started deferring to her illusionary authority after the crash, Pat had looked to the pilot for help.  He had simply shrugged and shook his head.  Bastard.<br/><br/>So, she was overjoyed when a military squad, dressed in naval uniforms, came marching around the bend of the beach.  Behind the tightly knit group of officers was a long string of people, most of whom lagged behind in the heat, humidity, and gravity of Novus.<br/><br/>The man in front was tall, with a weathered face, broad shoulders, metal gray hair, and a slight paunch.  He walked with authority.  Just as the people in her lifepod had turned to her for leadership, Pat turned to the Colonel for aid.<br/><br/>She met him and his group at the beginning of the short furrow of glassy sand behind their lifepod.  He held up a fist, and the military officers behind him stopped abruptly.  The civilians clumped up around the stoic men and women, their red faces sweaty and miserable looking.<br/><br/>"You are?" the Colonel asked her.<br/><br/>"Pat Nise, unwilling leader of this lifepod," she responded with a reluctant grin.  The Admiral certainly had been a miserable fellow to deal with.  She hoped this strong, reassuring man was more friendly.<br/><br/>"No leader is willing, let me tell you."  He looked up at the sky.  Although there were still auroras dancing across the upper atmosphere, it was nothing compared to the earlier light show.  The last hurrah of the<em>Traveler</em>would still be clearly visible at night, but for now, the twin suns outshone it.<br/><br/>To the north, over the ocean, the edge of the horizon was a black band occasionally lit by flickering lights; lightning.  Above them, the sky was a dark, slightly purplish, blue.  The suns were hanging over the western horizon, on their way down but not yet obscured by the curve of the planet.  It was the time of day where, if there had been clouds in the sky, they would have been painted a fierce red.<br/><br/>The Colonel looked back down at Pat.  He stood 6'1", a good couple of inches over the shorter woman.  "I'll take over from here.  These people," he said, jerking a thumb over his shoulder, "...are from six other lifepods.  You were the last one we could spot on the beach."<br/><br/>Pat anticipated his next question.  "No one's hurt, sir, and no one's dead, for sure."<br/><br/>He nodded, smiling slightly.  It was more of an upward curve to his lip than a genuine expression of happiness.  "Our last pod said that a group of theirs went off into the jungle, for some reason.  No one seemed to know why."  The Colonel looked at the distant storm again.  The black band seemed slightly bigger now.  "Think we can find them before that storm hits?"<br/><br/>Pat seemed surprised to be asked for her input, by the Colonel no less.  "Uh...  Well, maybe.  I really don't think your nonmilitary types are up for it, Colonel.  Did they take supplies?"<br/><br/>One of the civilians immediately behind the Colonel nodded.  When he spoke, his tone was sour.  "Ya.  Medical supplies, camping equipment, water.  You know, all the stuff we needed too."<br/><br/>The ex-cop looked back at the Colonel.  "Well, then....  I guess they'll be able to weather the night.  We can... find them in the morning?"<br/><br/>The officer nodded.  "Good logic, ma'am."<br/><br/>"Pat Nise, sir."<br/><br/>He smiled, a real smile this time.  "Pat Nise.  We'll be needing you."