There had been run-ins between Internal Registrations and the Services before as some personnel seconded as import-export services (The war had made certain materials in the colonies scarce) or had opened their very own loan services or other forms of enteprenourism.

   But of course, if I obtained the necessities on my own, then there would be sheaves of paperwork needed.  So of course, Subassistant Scurridae gets to fill out reams of forms, make the proper transmissions, and sure enough the proper files, slides and drives would then be delivered by a ships personnel who would be slighlty grumpy because they had lots of other important things to do than deliver cargo to a mere subassistant. And one who worked for Internal Registrations at that.

   The next two workdays I think, were spent setting up my cubicle to handle the influx of paperwork certain to occur after the coming Exchange.  And I thought there would be another way to get a quick tour of the famous Battlestar. Like I woulod need desks, computers, slides, files, and all that. And a little roundabout routing could produce a fairly thorough tour. You would just have to know when your oppurtunity came up.

   As best as i can figure, I was located on a lower rear floor, er, deck of the battlestar. I'll have to ask Webstrum and Meadows on that. They can get maps of about everything. Registrations needs to know where everything is, of course.

As things went, I was wedged down between other passengers and didn't get to see the Galactica before we set down. My tour consisted mainly of riding a tracked-mover, then disembarking in a dimly lit corrider. And after a considerable hike, I was shown an after-compartment. I was told that it was to be my cubicle for the next few work-days.

   As the shuttlecraft lifted off, word got around that we would be heading for the Battlestar Galactica. The Battlestar would be providing escort for the Exchange Commission. I was impressed. The Galactica is legendary amongst the Colonies. I had hoped to get in a quick tour before I had to begin the Filing and Shuffling the inevitable paperwork the Exchange would generate.

My path into this assignment p4robably owes mostly to my being the Backman in the trojannus Equine. Or else as Webstrum over in auditing pointed out, everybody else wanted to celebrate rather than be stuck stacking slides in obscurity. But as meadows down in analysis put it; it would be a chance to joyride in a battlestar without taking unacceptable risks. Funny Girl.

   The family name is Scurridae. the Real Warriors call me Scurry. Yeah that's me, Cartographical Archival Subassistant Scurridae, Colonial Interna lRegistrations and Collections Department. That is a long way of saying I go get slides,  files, and maps whenever someone else tells me to.

   The ship shakes from another direct hit. There is a power surge and the video-screen blows up.

   Well at least one thing has gone my way...

   Other than that, there's been nothing else to do between feeding times except watch the countless luminaries give endless speeches about the armistence and peace in our own time. The President, Sire Uri, and an endless procession of luminaries give their speeches. Each speech is more inciteful and grandiose than the last.