Voxcast Elana Habs tonight
"Welcome to Elena Habs Tonight, where we deal with the news for Emila Habs, every day of every week of every year. But first, a word from our sponsors." Sarah Elana, anchor of the show, spoke in unhurried, precise tones.
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"And we're back to Elana Habs Tonight. Tonight's news of interest concerns temporary visitors to the city, we go to their laager on the hive spire, where Tomoto Jurgens is waiting with the latest. Good evening Tomoto!"
"Good evening Sarah, I'm here in front of the Laager, as we've not been able to get permission to shoot inside, but we have the visitor's representative, a Commissar Goldenrod, who will answer a few questions."
Sarah heard in her headset the commotion from her producers: "His name is what?"
Michael had expected this, and jumped in: "Hi, I'm Michael Goldenrod, like the flower on Terra, where I'm from, it's got no connotation like you think, just a peaceful pretty little yellow flower. I am the Commissar, that is the representative of the Officio Prefectus for the 8745th Montral Fusilliers, holders of the distinction of "Terra" Emblazoned."
"How many people is that?"
"Including baggage train, when we perform embarkation, the Imperial Navy accounts for us as 12800 person-equivalents to transport."
"And you command all of them?"
"I am a Commissar, not a commander, I am responsible for their willingness to fight, not for their disposition on the field."
"8745th-actual on this channel, 8745th-actual to 8745-prefect, acknowledge, Sophia wants a word." Rang in Michael's comm-bead, accompanied by static.
"8745th-prefect to -actual, you are go." Michael said on the voxcast, unable to seperate his audio at this particular time.
"I want to speak to them, let me speak on my own behalf, Mike."
"Hi, to help answer your questions, Colonel Sophia Van Pelt, Commanding officer, 8745th Montral Fusiliers would like to join this channel, is this acceptable?"
"Sure, let me introduce her." Sarah interjected, as Tomoto swore silently, keeping his face away from the cameras, he might as well go home, his role in the affair was officially over, now that the two visitors would join the call directly to Sarah.
"I am Sarah Emila, I am anchor for Emila Habs tonight, to whom am I speaking? Please repeat even if we already know you, in case anyone is joining our broadcast just this moment..."
"I am Sophia Van Pelt, Colonel, Commanding Officer, 8745th Montral Fusiliers, MCR."
"For our listeners, what's a MCR?"
"Macharian Cross Recipient. It's ..."
"Oh, I've heard of those, you're the first one on our show though..."
"And I am, as I said, Michael Goldenrod, as the flower, Captain-Commissar, Officio Prefectus, 8745th Montral Fusiliers, OTS with bar."
"OTS?"
"Order of the triple-skull, with bar."
"Err, what's that? I'm afraid you have the advantage of me."
"It means I, and those with me, survived catastrophic losses to our unit, but rallied and still helped our comrades in arms, and the bar, says I did so thrice..."
"Err, a fearsome warrior then?"
"Michael is a Commissar, our troops look to him for inspiration, so of course he is a warrior's warrior!"
"Thank you, I but do my part, as is proper, with the benediction of the God-Emperor. Going back to why we're here, we're reinforcing units in the vicinity that have earned rest and recuperation, and one that needs to be re-formed, everyone in Emila Habs is perfectly safe, we are just passing through, since your port facilities would admit our transport."
"Thank you Michael, yes, we're just passing through, although I do believe you and a few of our soldiers who were here and reached out to some of the lovely locals asked for leave time to renew your bonds with the locals, a practice I heartily endorse, you need to get out more, you ladykiller..."
Michael blushed, he knew just who she meant, well, he mostly thought he knew who she meant... There'd been a few oats sown... He was reminiscing again...
"Thank you, Colonel, would our host have any more questions?"
"What's the most demanding task facing the two of you at the moment?"
"Resisting Temptation." Michael blurted out, without thinking.
Sarah couldn't believe he'd said that! On air! This would be gold for ratings though... "My, so our people are, acceptable to Terran standards?" Her own eyes hooded.
"You are just as human as we are, and to us who have traveled so very far to help defend the work and spirit of Saint Sabbat, many of you are fine people indeed." Michael tried to focus, tried to get calm again, but this came over as truthfully honest, almost an unwanted admission.
The result was the program's vox lines were swamped with propositions, raunchy calls, dirty limericks and various other forms of impropriety, all aimed at the newcomers, but most aimed at Michael, who remained oblivious to his new fame and sex-symbol status.
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