"So, what did you do to deserve such an assignment?" Daniel asked jokingly as he took a sip of his coffee.

"What do you mean?" Melissa asked.

"Well, c'mon," he said, leaning over the table confidentially. "The sergeant-major in charge of two kids? Must be a headache."

"They're good pilots," Melissa stated matter-of-factly.

Daniel looked away. "I apologize if I offended you."

Melissa stared at her reflection in the dark liquid. "I guess I can understand your apprehension, but I'm sure you'll see what I mean soon enough." She looked around the mess hall, where the bar was just opening. The tender waved a greeting to her, which she returned. "Hey, you want to get something a little stronger to drink?"

"Should you be drinking while on duty?"

Melissa checked her watch. "I've got forty-five minutes until my shift officially starts."

ooo

"What the hell are you doing?" Kurz demanded of Melissa. "Is this revenge?"

Melissa snorted. "Don't be so conceited." She looked over her shoulder at him, "But then again, look at who I'm talking to."

"Well, what are you doing to my AS?" Kurz gestured to the open panels in the cockpit, the M9's innerds bared for all to see.

"I figured I'd take the time to check out everyone's machines – make sure they're in working order, before our next assignment. It is standard procedure for the commanding officer, you know."

Kurz grabbed the tool that Melissa held. "Checking I can understand, but this little gizmo suggests more than just inspection."

Melissa turned fully in the seat to face him, glaring. "Give it back, Weber."

Kurz played with the tool. "Tell me what you're doing first."

She lunged at him, grasping the desired item in question with one hand. Kurz brought both hands around it and attempted to yank it from her possession, but she just retaliated by using both hands as well. The two of them played tug of war, growling and gritting their teeth.

"Can't match up to me on the battlefield to get even, so you're gonna sabotage my suit, is that it!" Kurz managed through clenched teeth.

"Please! Noticed one of your cross-hairs isn't calibrated – veers to the right."

"Yeah, I know. I like it that way. I'm used to it."

"Fine." Melissa let go of the tool, causing Kurz to fall backwards on his butt. He sat there glaring at her as she reached in and grabbed something from inside the cockpit. "I don't think Sousuke would appreciate knowing you keep this in your suit," she commented, showing off the snapshot of Chidori Kaname. She dropped it over him as she passed. The picture floated slowly downwards, landing on Kurz's chest as the sounds of Melissa's footfalls against the catwalk faded away.

ooo

Melissa exited the hangar (AN: didn't know what else to call it!), rubbing her shoulder; it was still sore from landing on it and she was worried it might cause her some trouble later on.

Tessa turned around the corner up ahead and waved to her affectionately. "Major Mao, I've been meaning to speak with you."

Melissa stopped in her tracks, taking up a defensive position with her arms folded across her chest. "About what, Captain?"

"I just wanted to make sure that you weren't too upset with this new situation."

"New situation? I'm useless without an M9!" she said, waving an arm exasperatedly. "Tessa, how can Mithril not have one suit out there? Gimme the parts, I'll build it myself!"

Tessa laughed at the notion. "You're a fiery spirit, Melissa."

"You're avoiding my question."

The Captain of the Tuatha de Danaan looked away for a moment. "I think we should continue this discussion in my office," she said.

Melissa didn't bother to sit down. As soon as the door to the captain's office closed, she repeated her question.

"It's a serious matter," Tessa began. "One I didn't want to bring up really. Mithril is in worse shape than it may seem."

"What?" Melissa interjected, her jaw hanging with her mouth agape.

"I didn't want to get into it. To worry you or distract you from your new mission, but I suppose I owe you an explanation." She looked at Melissa. "Please don't tell the others of this, not yet. There's no point in spreading panic. The executive officers and I have decided that this information should only become available if an actual emergency was to arise."

Melissa bit back a comment about her being without an M9 seemed like a damn real emergency, if only for the expression on Tessa's face. "What's going on?"

"There is a new organization that we have learned of – a secret organization, very much like Mithril. Except. It's goal is very different from ours. We believe that it is being hired by a coalition of the terrorists."

"Hired to do what?"

"To wipe out us as we have wiped out them."

ooo

Kurz sat beside Sousuke waiting for Kalinin to arrive for the briefing. Daniel and Melissa sat on the other side of the room, she answering his seemingly endless supply of questions regarding the submarine. He sighed loudly.

"Is there something wrong?" Sousuke asked, looking around the room for the disturbance.

"I'm not sure I like this idea of a new member to the unit, is all," Kurz replied.

"Sometimes the addition of extra personnel can result in unfavorable outcomes, but generally it is strategically sound to over-estimate the enemy instead of under-estimating him. The addition of Major Brantain contributes to this aim," Sousuke stated.

"Seems like a lot of trouble for one mission," Kurz grumbled.

"That is because, Sergeant Weber, that time here is off the essence and because this mission involves a Whispered," Kalinin explained as he strode through the door. He walked to the front of the room and turned on a projector that showed the picture of a teenage girl with purple hair. "You'll be attacking this compound with the AS," he changed the display to show a grouping of buildings surrounded by a thick wall. "From here, here and here."

"Great, but what the hell am I going to do?" Melissa muttered

"You could sit on my lap and enjoy the ride," Kurz offered.

Melissa rolled her eyes and Kalinin, for his part, seemed to ignore the exchange.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Hi! Sorry, if this chap was a bit boring, but I wanted to set a couple of things up first. Thanks to Aislin, Shipperness and random reviewer #31 for reviewing. Shipperness: I shall endeavour to use the correct call sign next time, thanks for the correction. As always, please tell me what you think and if you want more! Thanks for reading – k.ramsey