There were pieces of assault rifle scattered on the table in front of him, along with various tubes of oil, brushes and parts. McGarrety had already broken down and rebuilt the rifle twice this morning but he was bored and after his service with the Alliance this was the best way he knew to relax. Anyway he hated weapon jams, they always happened at the worst time possible usually when he right in the biggest gorram fire fight of his life. He had his pistol next to him which he was planning on working on next. With a bit of luck it would take him most of the morning. 

New Melbourne was just about the dullest place he had ever visited. Just fish, fish and more fish. He had visited a local tavern last night to find himself confronted with fishermen who were even duller than the planet. Who cared about the size of the catch or what bait who was using with success. Even the barmaid wasn't responding to his usual charms. "Getting old" he thought to himself "Starting to lose my touch". He only had one drink then had headed back.

He had to stop himself from thinking about the past to much, to many bad memories. He was proud of his service, proud to be a member of the Alliance but that pride only went so far. He wasn't proud of the things he had done, nor in the end of the men and women he had served under. To many bad decisions, to many life's lost on both sides on trivial planets which made no real difference to the end result. It had been obvious to him and all the others he had served with that the rebellion was doomed. Nor could he understand what had led the to rebel in the first place. The Alliance had always offered him a roof over his head, food in his mouth and money is his pocket.

In the end it was one of those bad decisions which led him to retire from the service. Even he had questioned it but no avail. The orders were given. And he just couldn't do it..... McGarrety looked down to see he had rebuilt the rifle without even realising it. 20 years of service and that was one skill that would always remain with him. "One more time" he thought as he started dismantling it again.