Ten minutes later Shair and John were sitting in an airfield a few kilometers away from the HQ building. Shair sat on one of the many crates that were placed near a Pelican II, a drop ship from the old kids game ‘Halo’, except this one was much leaner and equipped with a smaller more compact version of JT9D engine fiddling with his Man-O-War. John was crouched over another crate next to Shair polishing a large M60, both were whistling as they each went about their tasks like professionals. Shair loaded the magazine into the chamber of the gun, aimed at the ground, switched the safety off, tested the attachments then took out the mag and loaded once more, repeating the process like he had done so many times before as he waited for the other to arrive. The sun’s rays shone down on the two through the cracks between the large grey clouds that covered the sky indicating an upcoming storm. It was as if the light was an indication of interest of the passing by Soldiers or engineers.

*Did you hear? It’s their last mission*

*I know right, they’re our best team and command wants them to retire.*

*This is a war for survival and they are going to retire, cowards*

*Shhhh I think that psycho heard you*

“Damn it feels good to be popular” Shair smirked while shaking his head as he leaned into his rifle.

“Quite a mixed crowd, huh” John joked.

“What do you think?” Shair looked at John “is 46 a good age to retire.”

“Your 46?”

“On paper, yes”

“Good enough, considering all we’ve been through”

“Hey, you hear what they’re calling us nowadays”

“Something better than ‘The Crazy Bunch’ I hope” John moaned.

“Team Frontline”

“Hmmmm” John held his shin in an exaggerated thinking manner “could’ve been better.”

“Hahahha” Shair laughed.

“Hey guys” a woman came out of the Pelican II and smiled at the two soldiers. She wore a dark, tight-fitting black body suit with a single gun holstered at her hip and was carrying a small metal box. She had reddish short hair a pale complexion and a charming sweet smile which made the world seem like a much better place. She approached the two and opened up a crate opposite Shair taking some medical supplies and transferring them into the metal box. “You look good.”

“We look exposed,” John pointed out “We should have more armor on us, especially you, Miss Medic.”

“They want us to fail the mission.” Shair spoke up his face grim.

“Hey, come on, you know Jake is doing his best” the woman looked at Shair.

“I ain’t sayin’ it’s his fault, I blame the Council as a whole” Shair motioned with his hands creating a circle.

“Even Commander?” Miss Medic smiled amusingly and leaned in closer to Shair. Shair adopted a painful look on his face as he rubbed his chin.

“It’s her fault for keeping that seat all this time. I’m surprised that they haven’t gotten to her yet, Mia”

Mia punched Shair’s shoulder and asked questioningly “And they’ve gotten to Jack?”

“No, No, Jack is too…eccentric for any of them” Shair shied away from the hateful looks Mia gave.

“Hey, guys you ready”

The group looked up at the newcomers and a low growl could be heard coming from Shair’s mouth. Approaching them was a bald man of short stature, he had a friendly smile and a bit of a pot belly on him, his uniform was slightly different from the rest of the group. Where they wore pitch black clothes the bald man wore a slightly green ones and had more armor covering his body. All parts of him was practically covered with metal pads or plates, only his head seemed to have no armor. However the object of anger was not the pot-bellied man but the two soldiers behind him. The Mark II’s, the new generation soldiers, the bloody head Harry and long hair Daniel.

“Yeah, Jon” Shair shook Jon’s hands while giving Harry and Daniel dirty looks.

“Hey, J” John said also shaking Jon’s hands doing the same a Shair.

“Just waiting for Commander” Mia chimed in giving Jon a curt nod, she then stood up to do the same to Harry and Daniel.

“It’s good to meet you guys. I hear you will be joining us for the mission to help out.” Mia shook each of their hands.

“It’s more like we’re here to make sure that the mission is-” Harry started to speak up.

“Arhm, Arhm.” Shair interrupted with a cough “Hey John, what do I need to do to stop my forehead from itching so much.”

“Perhaps bashin’ it in somethin’. Again.” John laugh slightly while giving the Mark II’s a strong glare.

“That’s not what you need. Right Mia?” Jon looked at Mia missing out on the low-key threats.

“Yeah Jon, stop joking around guys” Mia turned back to face them and asked “you were saying”

Harry regarded Shair for a minute while in the meantime Daniel took the lead and said; “We’re just here to help increase the chances for success. I know you guys don’t have much to go on so we are here to help.”

“We aren’t completely strapped, sure.” Shair stood up to look at the two “But you two seem to be.”

“I know what you’re thinking Shair but just let it go man.” John whispered.

But Shair was no longer regarding the Marks II’s; his gaze was fixed on the person behind them. A large person of almost 7 feet was making her way towards the group. Her face a stone cold mask filled with authority and seriousness. Her short blond hair neatly brushed to a side and hung low just side of her right eye almost covering those sea green pupils. She had a similar outfit as Mia except metal plated armor covered her entire abdomen, hugging her large muscular frame. She held a large modified HVK-30 aimed downwards and two MR6 strapped on her hips. Despite the lack of a curvaceous bode she drew attention from every soldier, engineer, or medic she walked by, perhaps due to the fact that she exuded power , and charm in her own way.

As she came near them the rest of the group followed Shair’s stare and spotted her making her way across the field towards them at the Pelican. They quickly stood up straight and gave her a salute stone faced as professionals, Shair fell behind in the salute but nobody seemed to notice. When she came near the group she stood at least a good two inches taller than everyone else creating an intimidating atmosphere which only seemed to affect the Mark II’s. She stared at the Mark II’s, her strong gaze accessing them carefully, she halted her assessment however when she saw the injury on Harry’s forehead. She looked at the rest of the group and her gaze stopped on Shair who was the only one with similar injuries.

“Is this going to be a problem?” She said to both, motioning to the injuries on Harry’s forehead.

“No, Commander” Harry and Shair, both spoke out at the same time, the bad blood between them already forgotten under the Commander’s gaze.

“I apologize for being late Commander, Sergeant Mustafa reporting for duty” A black man in his late 50’s with a green camouflage shirt covered with a black Kevlar and black trousers with green camo knee pads, came running out of the Pelican II and stood to salute with the rest of the group. He was the only one in the group who kept a beard, he came down proudly presenting those porcupine like hairs that jutted out of his chin. The Commander acknowledged his apology with a curt not in his direction and stepped back to give a once over to her team. Although each member was joking before hand, as soon as the Commander came every one stood as one, exhibiting a dangerous aura. Satisfied, the Commander walked around the group and towards the Pelican II.

“Grab what you need, load up and let’s go!” Commander shouted as she boarded the airship.

The soldiers; both Mark I and Mark II’s moved with hustle, grabbed the ammo crates, the supply boxes and moved them to the Pelican. Once inside the group separated and moved to their stations on the Pelican II. There was a lot of space in the aircraft, there were seats on the sides facing each other where Mia, and John sat on each side. Harry and Daniel sat next to each other on the seats facing the front behind the pilot’s cockpit. Shair and Jon sat to the left of Harry and Daniel, their seats wedged between the co-pilots seat on the left and a wall on the right and they were directly facing the Mark IIs. The Commander did not sit down instead she stood between the pilots and co-pilots seats hand on Mustafa’s seat looking at her crew.

“Let’s go!” Commander shouted. As she looked out the window with Mustafa.

*Sigh* Shair let out a loud sigh, with that one, long, drag of air into the lungs and the exhalation that followed, dispersed the tension within the team just as air was dispersed out of the soldier. Only the newcomers were still tense, everyone else relaxed; stretching their legs, taking yawns and preparing to sleep for there was a long journey in front of them.