After the shuttle left the atmosphere and circled halfway around the moon, it pulled up next to the gray hull of a Systems Military Transport vessel with it precious human cargo. "This is the USM Valiant, Please pull closer and transmit authorization code" The pilot steered the vessel through the vacuum, inching closer with a press of the stabilizers, the co-pilot responding and transmitting the code with a press of a button next to the flight stick. A small beep emitting from the console as the code was accepted, the communications lieutenant coming over the speakers again. "Code accepted, you are cleared to dock" with that, the familiar hum of the magnetic arms locking onto the small transport reverberated throughout the small vessels metal frame. The door pressurizing and unlocking, synthetic gravity activating while pressurized air flowed throughout the cabin and storage bay.

Several men in gray jumpsuits entered and began moving the stasis pods out of the bay while the pilots watched. One of them piped up as four of the pods were loaded on a different carrier and wheeled into another transport bay for a larger vessel docked on the other side, "Hey, where are those four going?" one of the jump-suited men responded "I don't know Captain, all I know is that these are going to be loaded onto a Mark VI stealth cruiser. Real piece of work too, I'd really love to pilot one of those someday" he shrugged and continued loading ammunition boxes and food rations, remarking lightly "why do all those marines have their gear and rifles in the pods with them?" the captain chuckled "Nothing better than a Marine and his rifle ready for action."

The man smiled and nodded, but before he spoke again, a man in a black military uniform with no insignia other than an eagle on his shoulder patch pointed for him to get the supplies onto the ship, turning to the pilots and speaking in a low voice "you gentlemen forget you ever saw these pods under orders from the Systems Military R&D brass. If you even speak of them, the craft, or the mission, you will be court marshaled to the highest degree. Do I make myself clear gentlemen?" Both pilots saluted "Yes, Sir!" smiling, the black clad man turned around; uttering "at ease" Before slipping through the pressurized door and down the corridor, the metal doors of the transport closing with a whispered click.

[Transmission received from USM Silent Dawn]

Decoding...done.

Translating...done.

[Message Reads]

Cargo received, heading back to base. ETA: 00:05:30:15.

Out.

[End Message]

The tall thin man put down his datapad and looked up from his desk. Surveying the metal room with a mix of disdain and contentment, standing up and moving over to the window overlooking the entire station. His slouch straightening immediately as he turned around to greet the black uniformed man who entered his office. "Pleasure to see you Commander, never thought you would come down to the medical section this early!" Tugging on his shirt, the uniformed man quickly moved to the mans side, staring out the window before responding "I don't mind a brisk walk down to the medical section now and then, I just hope you're right about the research and it's success."

Looking over; the man was astonished "Commander, I am a doctor; we can only hope of success. That is why we do research!" He turned and grasped a coffee mug, holding it out to the commander "Coffee?" " Nah, don't drink the stuff, makes me jittery." he said with a smile. "Now, what is it that you needed the Silent Dawn for, doctor?" He clasped his hands behind his back calmly, waiting for an answer; while the doctor stirred in sugar from a nearby container. "We had to get test subjects somehow, and I don't think that soldiers would willingly sign up for the program if they knew it had anything to do with the R&D department; we have a very terrible reputation for the well being of troops."

He chuckled "Besides, we already have the specimens prepared, they are maturing as we speak and will be ready in three days, and since our most gracious subjects are in cryosleep, they'll be perfectly fine until we're ready to begin our experiments." Smiling, the commander turned toward the window once again "Ever since we found the organisms we were hoping to create a super soldier, and it seems that with your research we finally will be able to achieve that. Ever since your close success with number six, Dr. Groves" "Don't get your hopes up Commander, we still don't fully understand these beings" adding a grim shake of his head to his statement.