Mike tugged the rolled up sleeves of the blouse until they matched on both sides, and pinned the matte painted rank to the collar as he looked in the mirror. today he would meet his permanent unit, he wasn't sure how he felt about this. he frowned as he sat on the rack and slid the holdout knives into his boots, his trench knife buckled onto his left thigh. figuring all he was doing was waste time, he grabbed the remote from the table and shut off the droning news channel that served to cover the silence and stood. setting his shoulders and readying his cover, he strode through the hallway, and out the door, donning his cap in the bright sun. 

As mike marched through the brittle grass and dust thoughts kept going through his head, was this a suicide group? maybe it was the dumping ground for those that didn't play well with others? growling he shook his head and continued along his way, thankful that his gear was inside Prowler, so he didn't need to lug all of it. digging into his pocket he found his last stick of teaberry gum, tearing the wrapper and flipping it into his mouth. a short walk later he found himself at the security gate surrounding the land cruiser dock, readying his I.D. he walked up to the pair of guards carrying high cap PDWs. 

"Mike, Nawlin. Pilot of Prowler, I'm with Parvan's claw" mike said, waiting for the usual dismissive wave and unlocked gate.
"quite a knife you got there, a little excessive don't you think" the guard said, blocking mike and making it a point to show mike the polymer rifle. 

[I]"that's why I love contracted security, lets pay civvies to have pissing contests with soldiers."[/I] mike thought, catching his slouch before it started. "no, it's not. it was with my father, and his, and I will carry it on me." mike said, granite stubbornness coloring his voice. 
the guard fingered the carbine as he poked mike in the chest. "No weapons past this checkpoint means no weapons" he said as mike crossed his arms staring the guard down. 
"tell you what," mike said scratching his chin. "I know you're full of shit, and he knows your full of shit." mike pointed to the other guard. "I bet I can disarm you with a single finger, you win, you get to take my knife, I win, you let me in" mike offered, holding his right index finger up innocently. 

"you're on!" the guard said as mike simply jabbed his finger forward, hitting the mag release on the PDW, and walked triumphantly through the gate as the mag landed in the dirt. 
"your rifle's empty, you have no sidearm, you are disarmed sir." mike said knowing protocol demanded no rounds be chambered unless engaging an enemy. smirking he walked to the land cruiser as the guard partner golf clapped. "that's why I carry a knife." 

the guard flushed with embarrassment as he picked the mag up out of the dirt shouting at his partner to shut up as mike oriented to the shining eagle rank on blade's collar. 
"Mike Nawlin, Reporting for duty Colonel Blade sir" mike barked snapping into a salute. "my apologies for the gate incident"