Marcus suddenly felt heavier, and knew instantly that the elevator was slowing. Looking up, he saw the doors slide open, revealing another narrow corridor lit by strips of light. A sign on the roof read 'Crew Quarters', and aside from the occasional passerby, the area was relatively quiet. A testament to how busy the Sorrento's crew was, even during the calm part of space travel.

Upon leaving the elevator, Marcus immediately strode ahead, full of purpose as he remembered Captain Baker's impending communications with Vulcanus. He swiftly came to a T-junction and turned right, then made his way down another long corridor lined with rows upon rows of doorways.

As he came down the hallway, Marcus started to hear noises. Overlapping discussions mixed with the occasional prick of nervous laughter. All emanating from a pair of doors that were identical to all the others. As he grew closer and closer, a sense of familiarity crept into him, warming him amidst the cold void of space.

He came closer and closer, eventually ending up just outside. It was then that, without warning, a figure sauntered out into the hallway, coming face-to-face with him. Marcus stopped in his tracks, recognising it instantly and smiling as he did so.

Jennifer Sakong stood before him, her short black hair swept over to one side of her head. She was dressed in the same clothing as Marcus, except her epaulet bore three polished studs as opposed to a single star, the long sleeves and leggings of the space suit hiding her muscular arms and legs. Beneath her jet-coloured fringe was a damn pretty face, bereft of makeup but featuring high cheekbones, a small nose and slanted frost-blue eyes. As she saw Marcus, something sparked in her gaze and a smile crept onto her thin lips.

"Well well well, if it isn't the Hero of Sirtha Prime, come to grace us with his radiant presence..." she intoned sarcastically.

"I see you prepared a welcoming committee, Captain Sakong." Marcus said, grinning broadly.

"Of course I did" Jennifer replied. "Haven't seen you for hours, big man. What took you so long?"

"Captain Baker wanted me to stay up on the bridge." Marcus replied.

When he said that, his second-in-command turned her smile into a smirk. "Ooooh, looks like somebody has a crush on you, Major Winter..."

Marcus scoffed. "You're one to talk, Little Miss Single."

The Earthborn farm girl laughed. "Alright, you win. In all seriousness, I need your help. Spirits haven't exactly been high, and Ferro's wandered off again."

Marcus brow furrowed. "Really?" he said with a sigh. "For fuck's sake..."

Jennifer shrugged. "Sorry, big guy. We tried to stop him, but you know how he is."

The dark-skinned man sighed. "Yeah, I know. Just leave him to me. Right now we have more pressing concerns."

"We've arrived in Vulcanus?" Jennifer asked, and when Marcus nodded, her response was immediate. "In that case, shall I get the company's attention for you, sir?"

The Major inclined his head again, smiling broadly. "Fire away, Jenn."

Without a word, Captain Sakong turned and stepped back into the room she had just left, a place full of ambient, yet quiet chatter. "Alright, listen up you S.O.B's! Officer on deck! Haul your asses outside! Now!"

As she said that, all audible speech ceased, jarringly bringing a half-second of quiet as the troops realised their situation. Then came the creaking of bed springs and the rustle of bed covers, mixed with the pounding of boots on the hardened metal floor.

Smiling to himself, Marcus stepped away from the doorway and stood with his arms crossed. As he did, twin trails of men and women came pouring out of two of the corridor's rooms, all of them fully-dressed in Navy attire, darting into line with the sharp, swift precision of soldiers. He recognised each of them instantly, and felt a warm sliver of pride as they all ranked up perfectly before him and bolted upright to attention.

His company of Orbital Commandos presented themselves in two ranks, chins high and chests out. Looking to his left, he saw Jennifer walk up to him. Following her was his Company's platoon officers. Lieutenants Leon Tenari, a well-built man with fair skin and light brown hair that receded from his forehead in two great curves, and Ichiro Miyazi, a shorter and more sleight man with angled eyes, high cheekbones and straight, thin lips.

The three of them also stood to attention before Marcus, and Jennifer spoke up as she saluted him. "All yours, Major," she said, her tone both calm and bold.

Marcus saluted her back and said "Thank you, Captain," before turning to his troops. "Company, at ease."

Immediately, the puffed-out chests sank slightly, relief gleaming in many sets of eyes. "I hate to rouse you from your relaxation time, boys and girls, but Marshal Idriah is set to respond to the ship's hails in T-minus five minutes. Now's when we get our orders, and I want all of you up there to hear them on the double." He paused and scanned the group. "Any questions?"

In a sea of silence, one voice spoke up. A woman's voice stating "Sir." Marcus turned left, following the sound, and came eye-to-eye with Lieutenant-Doctor Elizabeth Nilsen, the platoon's medical officer - a woman with bright eyes and a tight bun of golden hair tied behind her scalp. Her face was taut and stern, her body strong and powerful, but her gaze glimmered with a compassion and selflessness that made her the one to ask questions on behalf of the company.

Marcus looked at her and nodded his head. "Doctor?" he asked.

"Do you know why the Marshal's been so secretive with our orders, Major?" Elizabeth asked him.

Eyes glanced silently at each other. A few heads turned. As Marcus scanned his unit, he saw their war-weathered faces grow stern, almost nervous.

"I'm afraid not, Elizabeth."

As he spoke, Elizabeth's gaze lowered slightly, and Major Winter felt a pang of unease. Even after fourteen years, seeing his men become disheartened always put him on edge. He blinked, and then turned to eye the entire company, opening his mouth to speak.

"I'll be honest with you; I don't even know why we're out here. The orders we received two months ago were all I've had to go on." He paused. "But whatever it is, I'm sure it's important. We may not be the poster boys this time, but I've no doubt that Idriah wouldn't have called on us if the need wasn't great."

It was then that another Commando spoke up; Arjun Lagahri, a heavily tanned man with a buzz-cut of deep black hair. "I'm with you, sir. Idriah wouldn't use a war hero like you for some menial task!"

Marcus smiled humbly. "I've said this before, Arjun... I'm no more a hero than any of you. We all descended on Sirtha Prime together. We were all there the day the war ended." The dark-skinned man looked to his unit, smiling broadly as he saw their spirits pick up. "If Idriah just wants me, she's gonna have to accommodate all of us... cause I'm not going anywhere without you."

"Ooh-ra!" Jennifer called out.
"Ooh, ra!" the company echoed back.

"No more questions?" Marcus asked. "Then unit dismissed. Myself and the Master Sergeant will be with you shortly."

When he ceased talking, Jennifer immediately took over. "Alright, ladies, to the bridge, double-time! Move, move, move!" Immediately, the two ranks of Commandos turned and started down the corridor, moving in swift and perfect lockstep. Jennifer gave Marcus a swift and casual salute before moving along with them. Major Winter watched the event unfold with pride, savouring the moment as he prepared himself for the task of getting one of his platoon officers to follow orders.

A relatively simple task... unless the officer in question was Master Sergeant L.J Ferro.

Sighing, Marcus lifted his right arm and gazed downward. Strapped to the forearm of his suit was a simple screen, no bigger than a handphone, that he proceeded to tap with his fingers. With a single touch, the screen of his suit's PDA lit up bright blue, whereupon he lifted it to his mouth and then spoke.

"Sorrento, this is passenger Major Marcus Winter. ID 45903."

The response was immediate. "Credential accepted. Awaiting request."

"Please locate passenger L.J Ferro."

"L.J Ferro is currently in the firing range on deck fourteen, sir."

"Call him." Marcus ordered.

The slow, monotone beeping of the suit's communicator resonated out from his forearm. Waiting patiently, Marcus tapped his foot as the signal tried to worm its way through multiple steel floors and walls. As he stood there, he muttered to himself.

"Of all the times for you to fucking run off..."

The signal tone continued to bleep. And bleep... and bleep...

"Ugh..." Marcus sighed.

"Call is still pending, si..." The A.I started.

"Cancel it."

The blaring sound ceased the moment he interrupted the A.I's words. Looked like the Major was doing things the old-fashioned way again.

"Dammit, Ferro..."