A/N: Alright, so this was fairly much requested for a part 2. So here you go. Now it's abbreviated as I've not been feeling to good the past week so work on this and Darkness Awaits is slow going. Anyway, read and review if you can. Later!

Always Faithful Part 2

Rick sighed as he looked over the letter he was writing. And it wasn't just the one letter he had to write but this one stood out. Roy had offered to write it, as was tradition. But Rick had declined with good reason. He hadn't known Captain Geiger at all. And Rick wanted his wife and daughter to know just what kind of man...what kind of Marine he had been. It started right as they launched at the alert. The Marines had been slower to get airborne as unlike the Spacy Pilots, they'd landed main deck on the SDF-1 herself and by the time they had gotten into the air, the battle was in full swing. A stroke of bad luck had befallen his flight lead who had collided with the flaming wreckage of one of the Spacy veritechs. Momentary shock proceeded before Rick had called his flight lead was down and him taking command. The battle had been vicious for sure. Near thirty minutes of a deadly game of tag that started from sea level up into low earth orbit. Of course, it had taken a bad turn as the SDF was forced to retreat back into the atmosphere in an attempt to allow the atmospheric reentry plasma to help not only disperse the enemy weapons fire but to also hopefully shield them from weapon lock.

Much like the rest of the actions taken, it hadn't worked out as planned before the hyperspace fold system was engaged with the still untested, fully human constructed, navigation system. He had been told the results could have been a hell of a lot worse then just misjumping just past Pluto. And from scuttlebutt, the Hyperspace Fold Generator had vanished after the jump. Rick bet it was probably something in the human made navigation computer caused the ship to defold but not the generator. When he'd said that to Doctor Lang, the ship's Chief Engineer, the man had paused before a look of astonishment crossed his face.

"I had not thought of that!" The doctor had muttered. "It is entirely...I will have to check the navigation systems."

Rick shook his head before he leaned back with a small groan. "Man...this just isn't my day."

Hearing his door open, Rick turned and spotted Roy making his way in with a tired expression. He glanced and saw that Rick had completed a fair bit of the letter to Geiger's family and turned his attention back to his brother, grabbing one of the open chairs in the room.

"I know Roy." Rick rolled his eyes, knowing why Roy was here. "You want the whole story huh?"

"Right in one. Last time we talked, you called me a Psychotic Murderer."

Rick grimaced at Roy's statement. He regretted quite a lot of what he had said two years ago to Roy. Looking to his curious brother Rick shrugged his shoulders before he began explaining what had led him to this point...

(2 Years Prior)

Rick glared at the retreating tail lights of his brother's car. He could not believe the man wanted to continue using his flying skills to murder people! He felt so angry he had wanted to punch him. The soured look on his face made Mitch Hunter frown at his son. Clasping a hand on his shoulder, Mitch gave his son a serious look. "Let's take a walk."

Rick didn't want to. He knew his father would justify why his brother was still doing what he was. But it was his Dad. "Fine Pop. Let's take a walk."

Mitch gave his son a single look and Rick felt himself burn with regret at getting rude with his father.

"Watch the tone son." Mitch cautioned as they started walking toward the open field. "You were out of line with Roy you know."

"Seriously Pop?" Rick asked, outraged. "I was out of line?! He said he enjoys what he does!"

"And what does he do son?" Mitch inquired.

"He kills! Anyone who enjoys killing is a psychopath!"

Mitch frowned as they walked the property line. "He kills because it's his job as a military pilot."

Rick crossed his arms, his glare not dropping one but. "And that's why they are psychotic murderes."

What Rick heard next shocked him enough to bring him full stop.

"So I guess I'm a psychotic murder then too son." Mitch stated matter of factly, stopping and turning to his son. "You know I was military myself back during Nam with Roy's father."

"That's not...you didn't..." Rick sputtered before getting the words straight. "You and Mom always said you were a cargo pilot."

Mitch chuckled sadly. "Well, technically at the end of the war I was. Rick...I flew the Phantom. Dan was my RIO. Thirty five combat sorties with thirteen kills."

Rick's face paled as he stared at his father. He'd never really snooped into his father's military service as the man didn't like to talk much about it. "But...they bailed out though right? I mean, hitting the plane isn't the same as killing the pilot."

"You're trying to change your criteria Rick." Mitch chided gently. "And not always Rick. Not always. Let me tell you something boy. Enjoying the life of a fighter pilot is not the same as enjoying killing people. A pilot is a warrior in the air just as much as the infantry guy of the ground. Serving one's country to defend those who can't defend themselves back home is nothing short of a hero. Yes, there are those who enjoy killing, but that's not just in the military.

"Putting your life on the line to fight the enemy isn't crazy." Mitch paused before smirking in memory. "Okay, maybe it is crazy but it isn't anything to be ashamed of. What I am ashamed of is your behavior. It reminded me too much of what I had to deal with when I came back home from Nam."

Rick felt shame wash over him as Pop's expression hardened.

"I faced the same bullshit you spewed at Roy when I came home. The almost verbatim. It pissed me off then from a stranger. Hearing it from my son makes me think I massively screwed up in raising you. Honestly Rick...I'm disapointed in you." Mitch held up his hand as Rick started to apologize. "I don't want to hear some apology Rick. Honestly, I know part of what's got you ticked is you don't like the thought of taking your flying skills and using them as a military skill. I get that. But the person you owe an apology to just left here, upset that his brother thinks his a heartless killer. Don't apologize today or tomorrow. I want you to actually look at yourself and think of what I said here. Once you understand...then you'll know how to apologize."

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

Rick eyed the recruitment office with some trepidation. It had been six weeks since the conversation with Pops and Rick came to one solid conclusion. He was wrong. He had tried to figure out how to actually apologize to Roy but nothing he thought of actually seemed to make what he wanted to say real. At least to him. And that had led to another question, just what the hell was he doing with his life? Two weeks, he'd toyed with the idea of joining the Air Force before he sat down and actually read up on all the branches in the US Armed Forces. Even though the UEG had been established and the UN Spacy had formerly been signed into being, the nations of Earth still maintained their own military services. And now, he'd made his choice and was hesitating to enter. A voice from behind him almost made him jump. "Richard Hunter?"

Rick turned around and saw it was the US Marine Corps Recruiter Staff Sergeant Kruppa. The Marine eyed him with curiosity as Rick nodded his head. "Yeah. Yeah that's me sir."

The Marine grinned and extended his hand that Rick took. "Good to meet you. I understand from our conversations that you are looking into Aviation field, correct?"

Rick followed the man into the office and saw two other Recruiters behind their desks, talking to people near his age. "Yeah. I was actually hoping to become a pilot for the Marines actually. I'm civilian certified and have an aviation degree too."

Rick took a seat opposite of the Staff Sergeant who looked at him in interest.

"Officer then huh?" He mused. "Well...let's see what we can do then."

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

Rick walked toward his father after the grueling 10 week training that was OCS. He felt great and proud of what he had done. One year after he had last spoken to Roy, Rick was now standing before his father, a First Lieutenant in the UMSC. Pop eyed his son and Rick was surprised to see he had gotten his Navy Officer Blues out and more impressive that Pop had made sure he slimmed down to wear them. Rick came sharply to attention and saluted his Father. Pop returned the salute with a grin before pulling his son into a hug. "Congratulations son! I'm very proud of you!"

"Thank you Pop!" Rick smiled as they pulled away. "I got my orders for flight school and I'm looking forward to getting back into the air!"

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

"Hunter, McMillian, Norman! You're with me." Captain Geiger called.

The three rose from their seats, curious about what was going on as they their CO to his office. The man stood by his window, eyes landing on the newest fighter the Corps finally had delivered from the UN Spacy. He turned to the pilots before him and smirked. "Congrats boys and girls. You three are getting training on the Veritech fighter I'm sure you've all heard about. And even better, you three plus six others get to become Space Marines."

(Present Day)

"...and now I'm here." Rick finished.

Roy gave a proud smirk. "Well damn Rick. Gotta say, that's a hell of a way to show you're sorry. I do have one question though."

Rick gave him a curious look as Roy grinned.

"Why the Marines? Why not Navy like me and Pop?"

A cocky smirk crossed Rick's face as he leaned back and clasped his hands behind his head.

"Well Roy...you know what they say..." Rick trailed off before his grin got wider. "Marines are where the real men go."