One
6 Months later
Evelyn stared at the communication screen, fighting back the wave of emotion that threatened to sweep over her. She closed her eyes and sighed deeply, trying to process everything she had just heard.
"Major?", the man on the screen spoke, breaking through the fog in Evelyns mind. "Major Quaritch, do you understand your orders?", he asked firmly. Evelyns eyes flickered open and she set a cool gaze on the monitor. In the course of several minutes she had learnt that Pandora had suffered an uprising, the Na'vi striking at those who dwelt on Hells Gate and sending many of the humans off the planet.
It had been a devastating blow for all concerned and Evelyn had found herself unable to ask the one question she so desperately needed an answer to.
"I do General, but I have to question why you haven't sent this request through to Colonel Quaritch. After all, he is on Pandora", she paused and furrowed her brow. "Isn't he sir?", she asked softly, already knowing the answer. The General turned those brown eyes away from the screen and sighed, "I am so sorry Major, but from all reports Colonel Miles Quaritch was killed during the attack".
Evelyn wanted to scream down the communicator. She wanted to tell the General that there was no possible way her husband was dead. He'd promised her that he would always be there, that he would come when she needed him. Evelyn was not about to loose control though and took a deep breath.
"So, you want me to go back to Pandora and help the very people responsible for the death of my husband? What the hell makes you think I won't crap on you sir?", she spat angrily.
The General returned his attention to Evelyn, "Because, the fate of an entire species is at risk. You may hate the Na'vi Major, but I know you will not tolerate Genocide".
"Fine", Evelyn said coolly, "I will do as ordered sir".
"As of now Major Quaritch, you are in command of SecOps. And I am sorry to push this matter, but you really need to make a start on this mission".
Evelyn slowly rose to her feet and saluted the General, "As you command sir", she hissed, turning her back to the camera.
"And one more thing", the General said firmly, making her turn to face him, "You aren't Major Quaritch any more. You have been promoted to Colonel".
Evelyn sneered at the camera and turned away, "Lucky me".
Two
"I picked you to be my team on this mission because you are the best!", Evelyn said firmly as she paced back and forth in front of the SecOps team. "The six of us are all that stands between the Na'vi and utter devastation". She turned her cool green eyes on each of the men, "Now I know many of you have no sympathy towards the natives of Pandora. Personally I can't stand those hyped up blue monkeys. But for someone to attempt to wipe out an entire species, that is just wrong".
Evelyn placed her hands behind her back and stood to attention before the men in front of her, "If I can put aside the fact that they murdered my husband, then you can put aside your feelings towards them. I will not stand for insubordination on this mission. There are to be no distractions. We go in, do what we have to and get the shit out of dodge. Do you understand?". All the men stood to attention and saluted, each of them nodding as they rose.
"Good!", she said firmly, "We leave the ship in 20, people. Pack light cause this ain't no cruise we're going on".