Authors Note:

CoalTrain: Aw bless thank you, that's really made my day :D But believe me I don't think this plot is that original, but then again what is nowadays lol.

AuraBell: Heh yeah fiery that's definitely the idea, I'm glad you liked the description of the Antarian take over. I was a little worried myself that it was too…blah, if you get me.

Candygirl: Okay the phrase "Abeo efficio nobis pars" is a mystery but a key to unlocking his past. It is something he will eventually work out. So I guess you will have to go along with him on the ride. ;) I'm really glad you like the fic so far!

Blonde-Existentialist: Confused? The first paragraph explains what the dialogue is about; Maria is stopping the Demolition man from trying to tear down the old Museum. It's an introduction to Maria's personality, rather than just describing her at first.

Thank You reviewers so much for your comments, I definitely am Updating quicker because of you guys!



Assignment

The building was a 20 storey grey concrete tower, complete with few windows and many highly trained soldiers. It was designed to look forbidding, intimidating and efficient, to make insubordinate cogs like himself feel miniscule beneath the might of the General. But it wasn't working. It never did work with Michael – he had balls of brass. Many a time he had been called in, reprimanded for his pranks and rule-breaking, added a black mark to his record and a punishment of some kind – cleaning the toilets or docking of his pay (if he had damaged something.)

He stood there regarding the building, his hair ruffled and his Army style uniform neat, smoking a cigarette and making sure he was at least 10 minutes late. All of the Antarian soldiers wore the old Earthling style of uniform; the first troops found earlier on in the invasion that with the green and brown colours, it was easier to blend in the habitat. However, every soldier wore the mark of Antar on their right arm, the V burnt in, to distinguish the Earthlings from the Antarians, who served their own King.

Satisfactorily stamping out the butt, Michael sighed and scratched his eyebrow then with the traditional Stone Wall soldier face on, he marched through the doors. The Headquarters were a busy place, doctors and scientists and soldiers rushed around, always working on the "latest thing" to keep control of the humans, whether it was an act of compassion and negotiation, or a general threat to ruin them. There were many revolts again the Antarian control but they were short lived after many leaders were shipped off to Antar to deal with the Supreme Council.

In the year of 2005, things were fairly normal as Earth history goes. No flying transportation, no jet-setting off to Jupiter when the fancy takes you, no pills as a supplement to food…sure there were spacecrafts and flying cruisers, but those all belonged to the Antarian army, prohibited to be used without proper clearance. The only difference to people's lives with the invasion, was that their own governments did not control the Armed Forces or make decisions without the approval of the High Court. Resistance to them is futile, which most people understood and carried on with their small lives, working, marrying, having kids and dying. Though there were small groups who tried to fight the process of change, there always are.

Pulling out his clearance card, Michael swiped it through the digital lock, looked into the retina scan, smirked cockily at the microphone, knowing full well the General would be watching he said "Michael Guerin, baby!" A digitised voice told him he was cleared to enter, as door opened. Through the doorway was a long metal corridor, Michael walked steadily down it, his boots thump-ing in a regular rhythm. Thump…Thump…Thump…

After what felt like an ice age, Michael reached the Generals office and knocked on the thick metal doors.

"Come in." A voice called from inside. Michael had almost an insane urge to yell back 'Not by the hairs of my chinny chin chin!' Fortunately, he suppressed it and opened the doors.

"You sent for me?"

"Ah yes, Michael Guerin. Baby." The General said in a stiff voice. By his age Michael guessed it was probably the only thing stiff nowadays. He was a round-bellied balding man, with a grey complexion and sharp silver reading glasses. Without his uniform Michael guessed he looked more like a Counsellor or a Head teacher – one with a major bug up his ass.

"Oh…Am I in trouble?" Michael asked, trying to keep hold of his almost defiantly nonchalant expression, but it was slowly threatening to turn into a grin as he thought once more about the cruiser parked outside of his window.

"You're damn right you're in trouble soldier! You mooned the Major, gave the Ambassador the finger, and stole my cruiser while yelling "Here's to a long service, you goat-ramming fuckers!"

Michael snorted with laughter. He couldn't help himself, just imagining the frail Ambassador witnessing that display, his reaction…wow…he really did have a lot to drink that night! No wonder the General was so angry, and why Max sounded so panicked on the phone.

"Guerin, I don't see how that is funny to you. Don't you realise that I could be forced to take your privileges, discharge you and even send you to Antar to answer to the Supreme Court about your behaviour? I can't for the life of me understand why you're just pissing away your life like this! I know after the accident -"

Michael held up hand and cut him off. "With all due respect, don't ever talk to me about that. I don't give a tiny rat's ass what your feelings are on that matter." His eyes narrowed as he waited for the General to argue, but he didn't. Smart move on his part.

"Very well." The General sat there and studied him for a few minutes, tapping a pen absentmindedly against the desk. "Okay I'm going to give you a last chance to turn your life around Guerin, or it's Community Service until you're old and grey."

"Um…thanks, I think. What do I have to do?"

"Well you have to fly to Antar with a prisoner, a Miss Maria DeLuca; Head activist of Human Rights Organisation. She had a trial with the Antarian Council last night and has been found distinctly unremorseful for attacking the guards, or for standing in the way of progress. She has a long record for this kind of behaviour, dating back to her first offence following the recent death of her mother, at 12 years old she was charged for torching an Army Jeep with hairspray and a lighter.

She's a very cunning and devious woman, Guerin. She has escaped from custody more times than I care to remember, which is why you have been chosen for this assignment. Your temperament was the closest match to hers; you have a better shot at controlling her than any other soldier on our force, which is why you have been chosen for this assignment. Don't fuck it up, or you will also be thrown to the mercy of the Supreme Court."

"Okay…" Michael let out a breath as he thought about the problems he could face with this mission. Scratching his eyebrow, his rings glinting in the artificial light, he briefly thought of Max's reaction to this. He always said that Michael could get away with anything, this was almost proof. "Am I going alone?"

"Don't be an idiot man; of course you're not going alone! You may be a good soldier but a magician you are not. You may take a small team with you, by legal reasons you must have one female upon the board as it is a female prisoner. You may then choose three other men; one navigator, one pilot and one engineer. Is that a problem?"

"Hell no." Michael grinned.

"Get that shit-eating grin off your face soldier!" The General barked, but Michael noticed a slight twinkle in his eye. "I may be your uncle, Guerin, but don't mistake me, I don't hold favourites. I don't bend the rules for anyone. Now get your ass out of here and pick your team, I'm tired of looking at you."

Michael smiled as he faced the door, he just knew that this was the adventure he had been waiting for all along.

tbc...