Alexis was leaning against the guard rail of the catwalk, just watching the interactions below. To Marquis, bonding had a huge place in her heart; having started her combat career with the disdain of her entire squad. She smiled to see they were taking to the rookie well. Alexis remained quiet, a part of her wondering how long it'd take for one of them to notice her just floating above them lazily. The thought put a small smirk on her face.

Surely enough, the element of surprise didn't last forever as McKnight pointed her out. She chuckled quietly and then looked to Sokolov as he complained about his pay grade, [b]"Duly noted, Sokolov. I'll put in the request for a raise to the High Commander."[/b] she teased. Alexis received a [i]'dammit...'[/i] look from Sokolov, eliciting a grin from the good captain. She started to take to the stairs to get to the flight deck of the hangar, overhearing McKnight call for a combat inspection. It made Alexis wonder if she could condition the crew to run the ship themselves, and command just by presence alone; it sure as hell worked with the 7th if not all of the 101st.

As the squad parted, Alexis heard Astelion explode, seemingly uncaring of the fact the captain of the ship was in the same area. She watched McKnight handle it, offering him a smile and nod in thanks that she didn't need to come over there. Captain Marquis decided to start with Trapp as he gave away the secret of her fear smelling abilities. She walked up to him with a grin, [b]"Now why would you go and tell the rookie that?"[/b] she whispered to him, [b]"That was to play a part in my mystique. I'm tempted to serve out potato skinning duty."[/b] she paused, [b]"Just joking."[/b]

With a laugh, Alexis strode past Trapp and to his MAS, looking it over. [b]"Hm, seem one of your kill tallies is smudged. Be sure to sharpen that one up, commander."[/b]

She walked back to face Trapp and opened up the systems diagnostics for his MAS. She looked it over, [b]"Looks good, carry on, Lieutenant Commander."[/b] she would salute him in response and move on to the next.

Alexis went through the squad, whispering some sort of comradely small talk to each of them all the way down the line until she reached their new recruit. She locked her eyes on the newbie, intent of carrying out the joke that Trapp had set up. Her face was as stern as a hardened admiral. Her stance was rigid and her movements were purposeful. [b]"Second Lieutenant."[/b] she started stern but then grinned and couldn't help but chuckle a bit, [b]"Welcome aboard the Abraham Lincoln. If you didn't catch McKnight blowing my element of surprise out the window, I'm Captain Marquis. I like your record, I think you'll come to be an invaluable member of the 101st and the 7th."[/b] she looked down the line of MAS units and whispered to her, [b]"Don't let their unorthodox attitude discourage you. Try fighting fire with fire. Off the record, I don't come down as hard on the 7th since I want the UEE's best comfortable. That being said, I have a job to do. Make banter with your unit but show respect to everybody like any other officer would expect. This is a military outfit after all. Obey my simple wish and we'll get along just fine."[/b]

Marquis looked up at the Astelion and sighed, Tori had become a good friend of her's and Alexis had gone to her from time to time to learn how to get along with the rough and tough 7th. [b]"You've been given a good machine, lieutenant. I hope to see you flourish with it in the future."[/b]

Like all of the others before her, she brought up the Astelion's diagnostics and looked it over. She nodded here and there, even raised an eyebrow at a point. [b]"Your report wasn't lying. Most recruits usually get something wrong for their first combat inspection. Seems I wasn't wrong by throwing my name in for your assignment to this unit."[/b] She lowered her holopad to her side and came to attention, [b]"Carry on, Williams."[/b]

A salute and a step back concluded the inspection. She smiled at William's once more before turning to leave. As she walked back down the line to leave the hangar, she looked at Astelion, [b]"My office in thirty minutes."[/b] she says loud enough for the rest of the unit to hear. The captain's golden rule, give respect to get respect.