"The bugle-call to arms again sounded in my war-trained ear, the bayonets gleamed, the sabres clashed, and the Prussian helmets and the eagles of France stood face to face on the borders of the Rhine... I remembered our own armies, my own war-stricken country and its dead, its widows and orphans, and it nerved me to action for which the physical strength had long ceased to exist, and on the borrowed force of love and memory, I strove with might and main." - Clara Barton

I woke to the high pitched clarion of muster. Squadrons would be issued orders. And the war would be on again. Feliciano stood at my doorway. He could not hide his anxiousness before battle. He lacked the cool nerve many of the sqaudron pilots possessed. I know many things about my brother. While I was at ease with our team mates I know he would be in the hanger bay working on the mech armor. He always had the uncanny ability of setting me at ease, while taking the worries I had upon himself. I knew, just by looking at him, that he had not slept a wink. In the same breath I praised and berated him in my thoughts.
"Ve Lovi." He smiled wearily at me."Did you sleep well, big brother?"
"Yeah" I grumbled at him. I eyed the mug of steaming coffee on the table as I quickly dressed. Four minutes and we would be in the meeting room. This was getting too damned familiar. I could not help but wonder what the day's mission would be.
"Status report?" I said to him as we hurried from the room.
"Not good." Feli hung his head."We are still waiting on actuators for Vash's mech."
"What?!" I growled in futility."Command better have a damn good answer as to why they are late!"
"Jazera IV" Feli offered weakly in response."It fell to the enemy two days ago."
"Son of a bitch." I whistled low."When did the report come in?"
"Seventy five minutes ago." Feli said, looking at his watch.

"So Vash is out of this one." I said, while trying to formulate a strategy without my best weapons guy.
"He won't be happy to hear that." Feli said quietly. We had reached the meeting room door at this point.
"Feli, this is Vash we are talking about here. Is he EVER happy?" I almost chuckled.
"Oh yes, when he is shooting at people!" Feli broke into a full grin as he swung the door open for me.
"Attention!" Gilbert snapped to the crew. They rose almost as one from their chairs and snapped a salute to me.
"At ease." I said as I surveyed them. My team stood tall in my mind. It was much like being a father. These were my children, my responsibility for their safety always stood paramount in my mind. I would rather die than see any one of them come to harm. Of course I will never say as such. I would like to think that my actions have always spoke it loud and clearly. My eyes fell to the comm station and the text message from General Winter.
My heart sank. While Winter wasn't our commander, his son was once my team mate. Seeing that last name even in a message made me think of Ivan. I knew Winter blamed me for his son's death. Hell, I blamed me as well. Every night I see that face before I sleep. No father should have to bury a son.
"Commander Vargas." I read aloud from the message."You are hereby instructed to move your Squadron to Theta sector. You will dock with the Battleship Burya, to be placed under the command of General Gregori Winter."
There were some small intakes of breath, a few mild gasps among my team. I went on to state the signed seal of Admiral Thoreau. There was also a message from Thoreau, in private. Telling me to "tough it out, son." and "it won't be so bad." I privately hoped that Winter would have actuators on hand for Vash's mech. As Vash wouldn't be the only one wanting to shoot someone.
"Pilots" I cleared my throat as I addressed my team."Break camp and be ready for transport in one hour. Mechanics, any last minute check you need to make can wait. Have the mechs loaded and ready to move in 60."
"But sir..." Roderich raised his hand.
"Did I stutter, Sargeant?" I gave him a frosty look. Yeah I was pissed but not at him.
"No sir, it's just that 60 minutes to move the entire sqaudron is..." He stammered.
"Preposterous?" I finished for him. "Insane? What word were you looking for?"
"Tough." He said gulping.
"Well it certainly isn't going to get any easier, Sargeant." I said as I turned away. "Dismissed!"
Feli caught up with me as I stormed from the meeting room. He didn't say anything. He didn't have to. He knew exactly what mood I was in. Damned empathic bonds.
"What?" I had that note of exasperation in my voice."Just tell me that you'll be ready to go, okay? That is all I really need to hear right now." My tone softened.
"Ve" He exhaled and nodded. Then moved past me to the hangar bay.
I continued the walk to my quarters. It would be a four day journey to Theta Sector. I would have exactly four days to deal with the ghost from the past. Four days to find our place again among the stars, under a new command. To be honest, I would rather be flying into a fight right now. In battle, you know who the enemy is. I was altogether uncertain if we would be so safe among the men of Winter. Not that I had much of a choice. A good soldier follows orders first and worries of the fate of it after the fact. And I would try my very best to be that "good soldier."
I packed my gear in record time. The command to "Break camp" meant to gather your belongings and the belongings of your mechanic. So I had to go to Feli's room and get his stuff as well. Feli never kept much in the way of personal things. We both traveled light and often. So this should be quick. Or so I had hoped. As I was packing his gear, a small scrap of paper fell out of one of his pants pockets. Thinking that it would be a receipt, I read it.
"Feliciano.
I love you always and forever.

-L"
What the hell?! Did Feli have a sweetheart here? Oh my God. Am I taking my brother away from true love? My mind started spinning. Who was "L"? Was it Lily? They would make a cute couple now that I think about it. Okay Lovino, pull it together. Just keep packing and ask the questions later. I can't help but be curious though. Thirty five minutes to go. Feli had found someone to love him. That lucky bastard. Done and ready with twenty minutes to spare. I sought the other pilots and gave them each a hand in packing. At the end of every day, we are all in this together.