[center][i]Fort Huangdao, Nansheng, Xiang Cooperative Dialogue[/i][/center]

	The [i]Samigina[/i] dropped its hatch, having closed to a crawl and eventual halt on the grounds of Fort Huangdao. The Panthers were lined up along the edge, unit jackets on and dancing in the wind kicked up by the landcruiser's turbines. Cecilia stood tall, eyes on the XCD flag atop the fort. A small contingent of XCD FRAMEs were arrayed like chess pieces before the landcruiser, firearms held at parade rest. Richard whistled. When they'd come to a stop, the Panthers were led down the ramp and greeted by a lanky officer, who corralled them down the path of FRAMEs.

	After a brief security clearance, the Panthers shuffled into a hall, where a sunglasses-toting colonel awaited them. She regarded them only with a slight turn of her body as they entered the portal. The woman was solid, broad-shouldered and short. The Panthers deposited themselves in the rows of metal chairs and given the low-down on how things were going to be.

	An hour or so, and the Panthers were back on-board the [i]Samigigna.[/i] They'd use their landcruiser as their own barracks, but assemble within the fort daily for the day-today operations and procedures. Tomorrow, they'd begin their first joint-exercise with the pilots of the 26th, under the supervision of Colonel Wang, the bodybuilder of an officer that'd given them their briefing. They'd also be assigned new, XCD FRAMEs - for those who wanted to switch, anyway. Bentz had recommended they trade-in. He knew plenty wouldn't.

	Cecilia was pacing the hallways of the landcruiser, shooting orders left and right to the support personnel on-board. Richard had instructed her to make the rounds, keep the [i]Samigina[/i] and her crew in shape. He wanted to look good for their hosts, and so did she. Their job had taken them all over the globe, and now she was back home. There was some innate patriotic duty Cecilia found in their new assignment, and she'd be damned to let this one go sour.