[color=darkgray]Alexis sat at her spot around the table as high command was having a rather heated debate. It wasn't her place to speak up, so she ended up just sitting there with her cheek in her palm and her eyes watching the decorated individuals babble on. She let out a quiet sigh, attracting the attention of the captain of another liberator class carrier, the Roosevelt. He gave Alexis a knowing look, one of boredom and frustration that this briefing had extended three hours past what was expected.

[color=white]"Do we have any volunteers for this mission?"[/color]

Alexis looked at her other hand as it rested on the table, watching the index finger thrum at the metal surface. Admiral Bishop gave Alexis a sidelong glance, [color=white]"Captain Marquis."[/color]

Alexis looked up and then stood straight into attention, [color=white][b]"Sir!"[/b][/color] she said, as if she was paying attention all along.

Bishop couldn't help but smirk a bit, he knew the ship captains who needed to be there on formality were being driven up the wall with wartime politics. [color=white]"What's the status of the Lincoln, captain?"[/color]

[color=white][b]"Three bulkheads down on our starboard flank, along with a damaged deck gun. Twelve dead and forty-eight injured. The latest shot with the wave motion gun has warped a section along the firing column. Engineers report the repairs will be completed today at fourteen-hundred. As for replacement crew of those lost, a shuttle is en route, sir."[/b][/color] Alexis gave the answer straight and clear, a sort of confidence could be heard in her voice that suggested the repairs and replacements would be on time, if not sooner.

Bishop approved of her answer and then continued, [color=white]"Status of the 7th?"[/color]

Alexis took a moment to answer, [color=white][b]"The unit leader was killed in action during our last engagement planetside. I have reassigned the role and have a new recruit to fill the gap of a missing member, sir."[/b][/color]

Bishop looked back to Admiral Ardin, [color=white]"Then it's settled. The Lincoln and her crew will take on this assignment. Cruisers Gemini one and Gemini two will accompany the carrier as escorts. Marquis, Collins, Manning, you're dismissed. Brief your officers and be prepared to embark by 0300 tomorrow. Marquis, you have command of the group."[/color]

Alexis and the two captains of Gemini one and two all saluted in perfect synchronization and turned to leave the room. When the door shut behind them, Alexis and Collins exhaled and stretched. Captain Collins of Gemini One yawned, [color=white]"I thought that was never going to end..."[/color]

Alexis nodded, [color=white][b]"God, me too... I'm happy to be standing right now."[/b][/color]

Captain Manning of Gemini Two chuckled, [color=white]"You two are both younger than I am and I feel fine. Maybe I need to toughen you young whipper-snappers up."[/color]

Marquis and Collins both glared at Manning with a comradely look, [color=white][i]"Stop lying to yourself, old man."[/i][/color] they said in unison, like it was some long standing joke between them. After the brief laughter died off, they got serious again.

The young Captain Marquis looked at the both of them, [color=white][b]"How are the cruisers doing? Anything I should be made aware of before we drift into hell?"[/b][/color]

They both shook their heads, [color=white]"No damage thanks to you and your MAS teams. We're ready to depart once the Lincoln's repairs are complete."[/color]

She nodded and stood at attention, followed by the other two captains. [color=white][b]"Very well. Dismissed."[/b][/color]
__________

The airlock whistled as it equalized the pressure of the Ulysses and the Lincoln. Once the door opened, Alexis was greeted by her executive officer, marine sergeant, lead engineer and... That was it? Normally the 7th leader was with the greeting party. Alexis didn't mind, it was either the shock of losing their beloved Tori Astelion or the excitement of meeting the new recruit she picked for them, or maybe both. The captain disregarded the absence.

[color=white]"Captain on deck!"[/color] her executive officer spoke as he went to attention and saluted. The other officers did as well.

[color=white][b]"At ease, gentlemen."[/b][/color] Alexis saluted and smiled at them as they relaxed. She looked at Micheal Park, her head of engineering, [color=white][b]"How are the repairs coming along?"[/b][/color]

[color=white]"Ahead of schedule, ma'am. The warped metal in the main gun's firing column was replaced with fresh off the Ulysses alloys. The wave motion gun is at 100%. Two of the three bulkheads have been repaired and the damaged deck gun is being calibrated."[/color]

[color=white][b]"Excellent, thank you, Park."[/b][/color] her eyes traveled over to her second in command, [color=white][b]"Aston, what's the ETA on our shuttle?"[/b][/color]

[color=white]"Already arrived, ma'am. You'll be pleased to know that morale aboard the ship is high despite the loss of some heroes in recent time. A small portion of crew are apprehensive on bringing a green as grass rookie aboard a ship of hardened veterans, though. They're saying it's bad luck and are questioning your judgement on that."[/color]

Alexis put her hands behind her back, [color=white][b]"Older crew?"[/b][/color]

Aston nodded, [color=white]"Older crew."[/color]

[color=white][b]"Hm, thought so. Seems they forgot that I started in command aboard the Lincoln when I was green as grass as well. They'll be in for a surprise when the rookie gets to the field, mark my words."[/b][/color]

[color=white]"You place a lot of faith in the FNG, ma'am."[/color] Aston said as he was punching something in on a data pad.

[color=white][b]"No more than the rest of the crew. Dismissed."[/b][/color]

The officers saluted and went about their business, except for the marine sergeant. He stood around. Alexis looked at him and raised an eyebrow, [color=white][b]"Need me for something, Sergeant Hark?"[/b][/color]

He grinned, [color=white]"You're so well suited for this job, Alexis."[/color]

She smirked and started to walk down a hallway, toward the hangar, Hark kept next to her. [color=white][b]"I believe you're missing a [i]captain[/i] or a [i]ma'am[/i] somewhere in that phrase, sergeant."[/b][/color]

Hark laughed, [color=white]"You're well suited for this job, [i]ma'am[/i]."[/color]

[color=white][b]"Better. What is it you need to say?"[/b][/color]

[color=white]"Actually I was just curious was the admiralty had to say."[/color] Hark kept in pace with Alexis.

She sighed and waved her hand dismissively, [color=white][b]"Same stuff they always say. Intelligence this, logistics that. Numbers and names."[/b][/color]

[color=white]"Must've been some pretty big numbers to be away for five hours. Any word on our next mission?"[/color]

[color=white][b]"We have one, yes. But I'm going to address the entire ship before we depart."[/b][/color]

[color=white]"Aye aye, [i]ma'am[/i]. I'll be in the barracks."[/color]

Hark turned one-eighty and traveled in the opposite direction. He had been a good friend to Alexis, having initially served alongside her as MAS pilot. He had received a minor concussion that messed his vision up just enough to make him ineligible for MAS operation so he had to settle has a marine afterward. While Alexis rose to become to captain of the Lincoln, Hark had taken command of the marine detachment aboard the ship. In fact, most of her officers were fellow teammates during her MAS days. Some of the older crew had believed that there might have been a hint of favoritism involved, but their gleaming records stated otherwise.

After plenty of salutes, Alexis finally managed to reach the hangar. She stood on a catwalk overlooking the large space, spotting the elite 7th mingling with the new recruit she had taken an interest of. Alexis didn't intend on going down as interrupting them, this was an important moment for the team.[/color]