At least there's always Milliways.
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She doesn't seem to have much to say. She avoids looking at the refugees, aside from looking pityingly at them once or twice. She gets a drink from Bar and retreats to the backyard.

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"Anyone want to go back with me to get the rest of your group?"

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Sure. Three of them step up to go back with him.

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It'll be even more crowded on the way back with two extra people but maybe that's the minimum number needed to convince everyone he's trustworthy. He doesn't know who trusts who, maybe they're all somebody's worst enemy.

He gets more fuel and checks if Liane or someone is ready to hold the door some more.

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One of the other locals will hold the door more! They're going to try and strip the factory of anything useful or sellable, as long as it is. Liane puts the headset back on in case translation is needed.

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Skyward! These people are great, he wants to bring every last one of them home with him and hit Craven with his staff.

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The guys inform him that they won't need to cram everyone into the ship - mostly just the kids, probably, they want to pack stuff and will use the automaton to pull a sled full of all their stuff and ride it and he can go off to that other place Liane mentioned while they do that.

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He checks the fuel gauge. "No problem. But if you're counting on me stopping by on the way back for the kids there might still be problems if there's enough people at the other place who want to come."

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Well, then they'll make another trip. Or stick all but the tots and most elderly and sick on the sled.

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"I guess we'll see what we have to do when we know how many of them will want to come."

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They'll figure it out. They're very confident of that. (This is the first time they've had a clear direction to go in a long while.)

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They'll be fine. Definitely.

Such depressing ruins.

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When they land, the three ambassadors start marshaling an exodus of sorts. They disassemble walls, pack boxes, make lists of everything they have, even bringing the little kids into it by making 'who can count the potatoes the fastest' into a game.

There are a couple of arguments between the ones who want to stay over just how much stuff the venturers are entitled to. The venturers argue that, hey, you already have these heat cores. You have a friggin greenhouse. We're leaving most of the heavy boilers and so on, for chrissake. If you want more, come with us.

There's shouting.

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They're not all his people or he'd handle this. Trying to step in as an outsider might make things worse or people angrier.

He stays quiet and hopes someone else does something.

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Maybe if Katherine were here she'd defuse it, but she stayed behind this time.

The argument is eventually resolved when a very old woman suddenly stands up, whacks a rolling pin into a tin wall to create a deafening sound, and tells everyone to stop shouting already and just let each group take turns choosing one of the communally-owned things-in-contention to keep, she's very disappointed in you all squabbling like children don't make her start whacking people!

This, possibly surprisingly, defuses the tension just fine.

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He really hopes she's one of the ones coming home with him.

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She's not. She doesn't have many years left anyway, and she wants to die and be buried in her homeland, in England.

The venturers are ready to set out soon enough, though, and only have five people who should really be in the airship instead of on the sleds. Four small children and one middle-aged man with a mangled leg and no prosthetic for it.

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"That shouldn't be too many. I'm hoping. Want to come with me now or wait here?"

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Now is best. They're all set to leave, so they need to leave and not let the tension rise up again. Passions are running high today.

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He'll help them get in if they need that.

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They appreciate the lift. And the warmth in here. The little kids don't seem to fully understand what's going on beyond 'we're going somewhere nicer'.

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Well, they are doing that.

He gets directions to the next place.

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Liane can provide directions.

But then on the approach, "Woah woah woah break off that lunatic just pointed a gun at an airship-"

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He turns sharply.

"Any idea who that is?"

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"Jesus Christ, it's Chistopher. What the hell, Chris. And now - morse code - they're signalling 'no airships above us land far away and walk here if you want to talk'."

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