Making her way across the compound where the prison was located to the northwest corner there was a culvert leading to the section where the main assembly building was located, she crouched behind a stack of crates. As she previously observed from the mountain top ruins the northwestern area of the fortress contained the west wing and a motorpool of HISS Tanks and STUNs it still puzzled her as to why would Cobra would have a considerable presence if this was just a temporary arrangement. It wouldn't be a leap of logic for Grey Fox to consider whatever the repercussions Cobra would still be in bed with the Ultranationalists.

Suddenly a siren rung throughout the base as she neared the fenced area adjacent to the main wing leading down into the sewers she would have to vault over several large pipe to reach the access hatch.

Even though Fox had smelled and travelled through worse, she did not rate touring a sewer high on her list of life's ambitions. But she had no other avenue of escape, climbing down the ladder into the sewers. Great now all I need is four pizza eating turtles. Fox thought to herself remembering her brother was a fan of that insipid childish show as a kid. But she would never admit it to anyone she loved watching Garfield and Friends as a child; and when no was around she would watch Pinky and the Brain and Batman the Animated Series. There were a few times she would watch Pinky and the Brain because the writing was very adult and greatly amused her. Fox had to chide herself for such unnecessary thoughts but in all fairness if she didn't take her mind off her current situation she would probably lose her shit. Maybe this was how Tolkien dealt with the Somme? Of course to Fox that was a partly foolish question.

With no time to waste, Fox ventured into the sewers; with no doubt Cobra will send the proverbial dogs after her.

After getting a refill on his coffee Hawk returned to his office, his thought dwelling on Sylia.

As he tried to take his mind off her with paperwork, Duke entered the office. "Latest mission reports, General."

"Hmm…" Hawk muttered, "Thank you Duke."

"Something wrong, sir?"

"Yeah. It's Sylia. It feels like she needs to prove something. When she doesn't."

"Tell me about her." Duke asked as he took a seat.

Hawk took in a sigh as he mulled Duke's request. "What I'm about to tell you is to be kept between us. Sylia has enough trust issues already."

"I understand."

Before I requested Sylia for this assignment and before her Mideast mission, she was sent into Cambodia. The mission went to hell because she was saddle with a nut job in her unit. She had to answer for it. Duke, I've never heard her so distraught asking, almost begging, for my help. I couldn't refuse…."
General Abernathy approach the BOQ room assigned to Lt. Stingray. After their phone call he pulled a few strings to get a military flight out to Benning because he was deeply concerned for his protégé. At the door he knocked.

"WHAT!" The voice on the other side barked.

Inside, Sylia's quarters was dark with exception to the window she had been staring out of trying to make sense of what happen.

"Sylia?"

Turning around she smiled in relief at her mentor's appearance. "Clayton. I'm sorry for being rude. I'm surprised you would come all the way down from Washington."

A fatherly smile crossed his face. "I'm your friend and you were in trouble. How could I refuse?"

Sylia walked closer to Clayton she was trying to put a brave front for him. "It's okay to be human, Sylia." She gently told her. With that Sylia broke down and cried. In front of others, many would attest that Sylia had no feelings at all, some would call her "ice queen" behind her back or those brave enough to her face. But Sylia trusted Clayton enough to express her feelings. And she just sobbed in while Clayton held her. "Thank you, Clayton; you've always been there for me ever since Uncle Robert died."

"One, it was a promise, I made to Robert as he was dying and I intend to keep that. Second I do care about you, Sylia." Hawk told her escorting her to the couch. As the two sat down he noticed a half a bottle of scotch on the coffee table, but he decided to ignore that. "Now tell me what happen."

Sylia told Clayton everything how her Ranger unit was sent into Cambodia to track down and eliminate a Cambodian terrorist group that was responsible for the deaths of American government and navy officials and bombing several Navels vessels. But before her unit was to deploy they received a new squad mate who was nicknamed "Maggot" Sylia took a near instant dislike because his religious fervor bordered on fanaticism. But she was able to reign in her emotions for the good of the mission. Then everything went to shit…. Her tracked down the leadership to a civilian village. Sylia wanted to take the leadership alive and minimize collateral damage. But Maggot stormed the village killing the leader of group and then shooting the villagers referring to them as sinners. She ordered him to stand down. But he would listen and continued firing. With no other alternative, Sylia shot him in the head.

"When our Terp reported what happen to the Cambodian government, it opened up a political shitstorm, Clayton, and my head was in the noose."

"They blamed you?"

"Right now, I'm facing a board of inquiry into the situation. I'm being blamed because I couldn't control my subordinate and let a massacre happen. Clayton, they gave me a goddamn Section 8 case and it my fault?!"

"Sylia… I know it's not easy for you. I've been in the Army a long time. I'll let you in on a secret; the Army wants to think they're infallible and when they screw up someone has to take the blame. I'm sorry it had to be you. I'll be at the inquiry, I hope I can speak on your behalf."

"I would appreciate that, Clayton," Sylia smiled as she placed her hand on top of his.

"I kept thinking back to incident, Duke, I believe Sylia doesn't want another failure on her conscious. I have no doubt she believes the stakes are much higher."

"Well, let's hope she can pull it off." Duke answered. "And thank you telling me about her. At least she's a good soldier."

"One of the best, in my opinion."