Marcus waited as Ferro pulled his naval gear back on, then promptly led the Tartarusan into the elevators and, keeping a close watch on the little man's actions, guided him up toward the Sorrento's bridge. As they strode in through the door, the Major was glad to find his company of SOSC's all present and accounted for. Jennifer stood in the centre of the group, talking to Captain Baker, and Marcus heard the tail end of their conversation as he approached them directly.

"... so yeah, that's the worst experience I had out here." Jennifer finished her sentence.

Captain Baker nodded at her. "I know the feeling, Miss Sakong. Been spat at when I'm planetside more times than I can count."

"You should come to Pyongyang sometime. I'm sure my folks would-" Jennifer started to speak, but cut herself off when she saw Marcus approach. "Ah! You've arrived!"

"That I have, Captain." Marcus replied, looking first at his officer, and then at Captain Baker. "I see you two have been socialising."

Jennifer smiled. "What can I say? We core-worlders gotta stick together! Isn't that right, Captain?" The female Commando clapped a hand on Baker's shoulder and shook him gently.

"If you say so, Miss Sakong." Baker replied with a shrug and a thin-lipped smile. Marcus smiled in kind, even as he saw a certain glint in Baker's eye when the Martian gazed at Jennifer.

"So, Captain, how long until we get in contact with Vulcanus?" he asked.

Baker's head jolted about. "Any second now, Major. The signal's being relayed back to us from planetside."

"Well, we're all here..." Marcus said, smirking at Ferro "...so let's get this done."

As L.J rolled his eyes, everyone else took a moment to prepare for the marshal's presence, smartening up and brushing down their uniforms. As Major Winter straightened out the wrinkles in his clothes, the main screen of the Sorrento bleeped with an alert, and the computer narrated its nature; an incoming transmission. Upon hearing that, the Orbital Commando turned his head to the Sorrento's commander.

"Ready when you are, Baker."

Without a word, Baker nodded to his communications officer, who opened a comms channel to Vulcanus. A projected window, rimmed in light blue, flickered against the dark grey background of the screen, and in a flash of static, Marshal Haren Idriah, a brown-skinned and greying-haired lady weathered both by age and by war, appeared on the screen. Clad in naval dress blues, her lapel and chest almost totally covered with multiple medals, the supreme officer looked Marcus dead in the eye from her seated position and nodded. "Major Winter."

"Marshal Idriah." The Orbital Commandos all stood to attention, and Marcus saluted his superior.

Idriah casually tapped her forehead. "At ease."

Marcus lowered his hand, but still stood bolt-upright. "It's good to see you again, ma'am."

"Good to see you too, Major." Idriah replied. "Finally I get to speak to you in person." Her dark eyes scanned the room, looking at each one of the Orbital Commandos. "I appreciate you all coming here, and I apologise about the lack of information in my orders.

"It's no problem, Marshal." Next to Marcus, Jennifer took a step forward, her voice speaking with polite deference. "Your wish is our command."

Marcus saw Ferro roll his eyes. On the screen, Idriah's wrinkled lips smiled. "Dutiful as ever, Captain Sakong... but you can dispense with the ceremony here. According to official army records, we're not having this conversation."

Marcus nodded. "We expected as much, Marshal. But if I might ask, why was the reason for our meeting not relayed on the comm-ship you sent to Colonel Kanda?"

"Malevir Cartel activity has been incredibly high in this sector, Major Winter." Idriah replied. "We couldn't risk the comm-ship being raided. Especially with a mission this critical and this secretive."

Marcus' interest piqued. "Secretive?"

"I'm afraid so, Winter. Due to recent events, we've had to keep this under the radar." Idriah admitted. "But now that you're here, I can relay your orders directly."

It was then that a gruff voice barged into the conversation. "So, out with it. Who needs killing?" Ferro blurted rudely.

Idriah's gaze levelled on Ferro, all amiability fading from her face as she looked the Tartarusan dead in the eye. "Hopefully no-one, Master Sergeant Ferro. But I can guarantee you won't enjoy this task."

Marcus shot Ferro a glare before stepping forward. "Alright, Marshal. What are we here to do?"

A heavy expression crossed Iriah's face, and she looked at the floor briefly. Marcus felt a flicker of dread inside himself as the silence in the room loomed over him.

A moment passed before the marshal answered his question. "Major Winter... I'm sending you and your company back to Sirtha Prime."

Shocked silence engulfed the bridge as Idriah said those words. A silence that was broken by L.J Ferro.