The gas giant primary of Regina hung in the western sky, low on the horizon.  The sun, however, was in the eastern sky, just rising.  Emitted light from the star created shadows that warred with less sharp shadows that were cast by the reflected light of the Jupiter-like world that Regina orbitted.<br/><br/>The spaceport had those shadows, cast by the towers, and processing structures, and passenger and cargo facilities, and even by the grounded spacecraft at the different landing sites.  One large ship, a warship, was parked at a closed area--not a military site, the scouts and navy had their own sites near, but separate from, the main starport.  The site the warship was in was a contract site--for people who wanted and could affort privacy, and met certain requirements--and was secured by guards and fences and electronic security devices.  Next to the warship was a smaller ship, perhaps a quarter to a third the size of the larger ship, this ship appearing to be a long range cargo deliverer.<br/><br/>The ships were parked next to a terminal facility, and cargo and equipment was being loaded on both.  Ground crew and ship crew were busy working on different tasks on both ships, loading cargo, or doing maintenance, or checking out systems.  One woman, tall, strong-looking, fair skinned, well built, with dark hair and blue eyes, and wearing a medium green jumpsuit, met with a shorter man, similarly attired, though darker complected and brown haired and eyed.  They stood on the ramp, out in front of both ships.<br/><br/>"Captain, I've got just one more slot to fill--the doctor, and then I'll be ready to lift.  My exec has everyone not already aboard on comm recall.  How's the loading and repair going?"  The woman gestured slightly, indicating the cargo being put on board.<br/><br/>"It's going well, Colonel.  We should be done in about four hours.  The maintenance crew is on about the same schedule."  He gave her a nod.  "We'll be ready to lift at 1600 local, just about on schedule.  And the trade ship says that she'll be ready then, too."  He paused, then looked back at the ship for a moment, and then back to her.  "Any more words from the Admiral or Mister Kashvillii?"<br/><br/>She shook her head.  "Just some more data dumps on the forces the Federation has in each system, and another on possible intel assets in the systems in the Federation."  She looked at the city skyline off to the south.  "I've got two candidates that I've messaged.  Hopefully both of them will come."  She held up a tablet computer as if to demonstrate she was busy, then chuckled a bit, smiling.<br/><br/>They exchanged nods, apparently approximate equals in whatever military or para-military organization they served in, and the woman walked into the terminal, entering a temporary office that was part of the berth accomodations.  On a data pad she had in one hand, she called up the text communication she'd sent to both doctors yesterday, inviting them to come to a job interview this morning with Gryphon Security, specifically the ship<em>Talon</em>and the Ground Commander attached to her, Colonel Ellen Vinlander.  They invitees were asked to bring pertinent data files for their employment and training records, and any letters of recommendation they might have.<br/><br/>Vinlander smiled a bit, looking at the images of both.  The woman was cute.  Her background was a bit... unusual, though.  But she checked the boxes on what they needed.  The man looked businesslike--functional.  Good looking enough, and his background hinted at ultra-competance.  But, he'd never actually been in a fire-fight...<br/><br/>"Fifteen minutes until the woman's here, hopefully."  The clock on the wall in the office said it was 0745 local.