Back in the Saddle (D10 Patrol EM-LM)

[Yori Hakamada]

Radioing back to Ezmeralda

(In Japanese) "Base cannot find the mother, it is possible she was obliterated by an artillery bombardment. Alternatively, she may merely be missing or wounded. In either case it will take some time to ascertain her fate."

[Ezmeralda]

"Oh! That's, um, a sugar pill dispenser. Um, very helpful on long patrols.... I should refill it."

(In Japanese) "That's not great news but that's how artillery goes," she sighed, "Right, we continue to Torutovy and hope there is a refugee camp there already?"

[GM Yuusha]

Long story short - there was no camp. They did have a small orphanage, which was close.

[Yori Hakamada]

(In Japanese)

"Well, I suppose we can leave her at the orphanage with as many details as we can supply. Hopefully there's some extended family somewhere."

[Ezmeralda]

(In Japanese)

"That... seems to be our only option. Better than her sleeping on the roadside, I guess."

[GM Yuusha]

Little Paula remained oblivious to her fate. By this point she was napping in Ez's cockpit.

[Yori Hakamada]

"Indeed. Even if there are no bears she could fall prey to exposure or a suitably large raccoon. Hopefully this way she will at least be safe."

[Ezmeralda]

"I am inclined to agree. Hopefully this will help with relations with the townsfolk, yeah? Always nice to have local supplies."

[Yori Hakamada]

"I am inclined to agree. Hopefully this will help with relations with the townsfolk, yeah? Always nice to have local supplies."

Yori is silently for a few moments
"Possibly, roughly 15% of the townsfolk I've met have shot me."

[Ezmeralda]

Tango let out a short cackle followed by something in Russian.

"See! We have a trust gap!" she said, "That is 3 in 20! That can't work. We need some good will missions."

"Or an alternate supply source," Tango countered.

"You only say that because you already blew your paycheck in town."

"Da! This is true! I have enough townie goodies for a few months," Tango laughed.

[GM Yuusha]

It'd be a little awkward to stroll up to the orphanage in a mech to drop Paula off. Someone would have to get off outside town and walk her in, then walk back (or have the orphanage call a taxi, presuming they had them).

[Ezmeralda]

"Alright boss, you take the kid into town while we watch your mech. Please bring us back lunch for being so nice?" Tango said after a moment.

"Yeah, that sounds right. This town is very Lyran right? So sausages?" Easy offered as she got Paula ready to go.

"With spicy mustard please."

[Yori Hakamada]

"Currywurst for us if they have it. We shall keep an eye on things out here."

[Ezmeralda]

"Alright, currywursts, spicy mustard, gotcha," she said as she opened the hatch, "Hopefully short-shorts and a coat will pass for civvies."

"They might even help you get a ride into town," Tango teased.

[GM Yuusha]

Paula was feeling gradually waking up again and feeling more energetic. She had her backpack on again thanks to Ez's help. She moved over to her when the hatch was open.

"Are we there?" She asks, all curious.

[Ezmeralda]

"As close as we can go in the mechs," Easy said helping her get ready to go. "Down we go?"

[GM Yuusha]

"Okay." Paula hums happily as she waits to grab hold of Ez so they can go down the ladder.

At the bottom she looks ahead to the hilly town. "Are we going to see my family?"

[Ezmeralda]

"Well," she starts taking her down the road, "We are going to town and taking you to a place where, hopefully, someone can help you find them."

[GM Yuusha]

"Like the head teacher's office?" She reaches up to take Ez's hand... who was probably going to feel a little cold unless she had a coat on.

[Ezmeralda]

"Something like that? Probably more like a school in general."

"You okay with that?" she asked leaning over to check on her.