<div class="floatleft">(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/f/fa/Mars_test.jpg)</div><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Character name:</strong></td><td>Lt Colonel Louise Cotter</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Location:</strong> </td><td>Entrance to the science wing.</td></tr><tr><td><strong>With:</strong> </td><td>Stefan Versatile, Dr. Gadi, Maj Jack Monroe, Maj Laura Hicks</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Doing:</strong> </td><td>Joining the group</td></tr></tbody></table><br/><hr/><br/>I tried not to rush as I headed from my quarters in the command centre (http://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=148917.msg6760267#msg6760267). The base commander must appear dignified at all times. My uniform got the odd glance of what I hoped was approval from people I passed, most gratefully changing into civilian clothes, one or two still in E-suits, presumably on their way to change.<br/><br/>I marched purposefully down the corridor, through the main dome's lower level, where I heard the sounds of unpacking and rummaging in the kitchen, My stomach growled and reminded me I hadn't eaten in nine months! But I kept on, food could wait.<br/><br/>I arrived at the entrance to the science block to see my four senior staff in animated discussion. All that were missing was the head of engineering and the shrink and we could call it a council meeting. As it was we probably had a quorum.<br/><br/>"Gentlemen, lady", I greeted them, smiling quickly at Laura as I said the second word. I saw them take in my uniform and smirked.<br/><br/>"This is official Martian Military Uniform as of now!" I told them. "It's totally impractical, but we all have one and it makes us... heh, uniform. Sorry I'm a bit late, what did I miss?" The others quickly filled me in and i nodded. "Using the wreckage that's here is a good idea. Not so sure about using shuttle fuel to retrieve orbital junk though, we only have a limited amount and so does the MCM-1. Also, some of those landers are historic land marks, the Viking and mariner probes for example. Take what you need from the Kasei-Chōsa probes." I told them referring to the Japanese landers from the mid 21st century."<br/><br/>I was concerned about the lasers. "Hmm. Lasers can be used as weapons. They're impractical, but that doesn't mean they can't kill you or seriously injure." I repeated Laura's question. "Did they vanish here, on the ship on the way here, or before we left Earth? In other words are they on Mars, in which case we need to find them and find who took them, or are they on Earth, in which case that isn't our problem".