[color=orangered]"You're going to have to give it your all. [i]Boss[/i]."[/color] Astelion replied cockily as the men made their way towards the Lincoln's gym. 

The Lincoln's gymnasium was easily one of the most spacious rooms onboard the Lincoln- no surprise seeing that the gym had to maintain the Lincoln's 3,400 crewmembers. The gym was more than just an exercise room, it was a multi-purpose training room containing everything the modern soldier could possible require; multi-purpose weight machines, treadmills and weight machines in one section of the room, along with a set of sparring mats, boxing rings, and punching equipment made up half of the gym; a small zero-g training room, and a mirror/mat room made up the other half. 

The gym as it was currently, was rather quiet. Most of the crew members still had duties to attend to. On the other hand, pilots and soldiers had no need to be on duty while the ship was in subspace and thus had as much off-time as the ship had travel time. At the moment, only a couple marines were in the gym right now a small group of them making use of the weight machines. The fighter squadron pilots weren't in their usual area, and the gym in general felt rather silent. McKnight noticed the usually sunny receptionist girl wasn't present. 

[color=orangered]"Alright, who's up first?"[/color] Astelion asked, as he confidently slid under that ropes, throwing  on a pair of boxing gloves. Pointing a gloved fist at the three other pilots, his fist rested in the direction of Trapp. 

[color=orangered]"C'mon Trapp." he said with a confident smirk. "I've been looking forward to this."[/color]

[color=lightgreen]"You've been looking forward to getting your ass handed to you? You always did seem like the masochist to me Astelion."[/color] Trapp replied with a shit eating grin. The commander quickly began to pull his shirt over his head; his old academy days sticking with him as he knew how hard it was to get the blood out. Without much pomp he folded the article of clothing quickly as the process had become so drilled into his mind by that point and came as easy as waking up in the morning. Through the entire process his eyes never left his opponent's as they twinkled with the bravado that two types of peoples had: those that were old hands at the brawling arts, and those that knew nothing of it at all. The hardy MAS pilot was of the former make.

Trapp sauntered over to the ropes and grasped the top line in a loose grip. He give Astelion another little grin before he pushed himself up and into the air with his legs flipping over the ropes and landing feet first. The commander was not the biggest of men in the 101st standing roughly around 5'11" and barely 150 pounds. But Trapp himself did not enjoy the extra weight all too well. He was fine with his tight and functional muscle structure as opposed to some of the bigger giants of the 101st. Though the older man did indeed look like he had gone through hell and came out the other side still swinging. Through his life all those little scrapes and bruises had a hell of a way of adding up and accumulated into scar tissue, disjointed nerve endings and assorted pains and trauma. The perilous old fool never did turn down a fight, even when he was just a small pup. He'd take on the largest of schoolyard bullies and get trounced; black eyes and busted he did receive but he never did run away. The curse of the pugilist Trapp would explain to whoever asked him with a smile on his face.

[color=lightgreen]"Alright kid ready to begin the waltz?"[/color]  Trapp asked a twinkle in his eyes as he slipped on his gloves. [color=lightgreen]"Because running away is still a valid tactic."[/color] 

Circling him the entire time, like a lion challenging the alpha male, Astelion replied with little more than a harsh face, his demeanor changing quickly from cocky to ferocious in a flash. Astelion was no where near as big as someone like Sokolov, but he had a build that implied he knew his way around a fistfight. He immediately surged forward with a sharp jab Trapp responded in kind drawing a hand up for a block. Astelion's fist collided with the  padding of the other man's glove sending a tremor down his arm from the brute force that Astelion had in his swing. At the same moment he swung hard and low aiming for his lower body.

Astelion winced as the fists collided, but recovered quickly as he twisted to the side, allowing Trapp's fist to graze his side. Blocking Trapp's arm from returning with a forearm, Astelion swung forward with his other arm with a cross aimed forwards Trapp's head. The other man rotated his torsoe sharply as the fist came in trying to give Astelion the slip. The punch as a result clipped the side of his head rather than him getting the full brunt of it. Still stars flashed across his eyes for a moment as the punch had its desired effect. Not letting up for a moment, Astelion followed up with another jab to Trapp's lower body. 

Trapp with great speed jerked his body backwards as Astelion overextended himself as his fist kept on moving when he had expected to hit a body. As a result the other man was open to quick counterpunch. Trapp responded with a straight directed towards the head as he stepped backwards creating some distance. The commander had to be careful around Astelion; he was throwing hard punches that might end badly if he got a solid hit out. Though the older pilot did not seem angry but calm like he was some sort of war-ridden Buddah. He knew all had to do was make it so the other man made some rudimentary mistakes by making him think with his fists first and respond with a quick jab or combination as punishment. 

Astelion's face scrunched in pain as quick counterpunch nailed him in the nose. Quickly shaking it off, Astelion continued with a series of crosses and jabs directed at Trapp's gut and head. Unlike Trapp, Astelion was a hothead both in an out of the cockpit. The hot headed pilot finished his chain with a wild uppercut, an eager attempt at taking the commander down. Trapp remained calm as he went into action deflecting or dodging the blows with quick timed movements of the torso or with quick deflections by his hands. As Astelion came up with the uppercut he ducked low and bobbed going under the arm as it soared upwards and coming up on Astelion's unprotected side. The commander acted quickly with a combination a hard left hook into his side and powerful jab to his face with the intent to stagger him and set him up for the knockout. 

Astelion stumbled back and to the side, shaking his head roughly as he attempted to collect himself. Trapp not letting the moment go to waste moved foward with quick footwork as he came in like a tiger ready to take down his wounded prey. As he stepped in Astelion roared and took a large step foward throwing all his weight behind one punch in an attempt to end it all there. Trapp smiled as he knew right then and there it was all over, he jerked to the side as the punch rushed through the air where his head once was. Astelion having pushed his weight foward was slow on his return to his guard and Trapp punished him as a result. A heavy combination followed a hard hook to the side of the face and with little time following a harder uppercut as the commander dropped low and sprang up. The first fist sent him staggering backwards and the second hit square in the jaw. Astelion still stood out of pure determination at that point and took not one but three whole steps before Trapp ended it with another hook. Astelion stood there for a moment his legs shaking as their foundation was rocked before they collapsed underneath him and hit the ground.

Astelion struggled to his feet, staggering, and made an attempt to raise his fists again, but his left leg gave way and he fell back to a knee, panting hard. He glared at Trapp, and spat a globule of blood off the ring. Trapp walked over to the man with a small smile on his face and slowly removed one of his gloves and reached down and offered the hand to Astelion as he offered some words of praise to his combatant.[color=lightgreen]"Aye lad, you hit like a fucking brick."[/color]

Astelion spat again reluctantly took Trapp's hand. [color=orangered]"Next time Trapp..."[/color] He growled, as he slowly climbed to his feet. 

[color=lightgreen]"I'll be here when the time comes."[/color] He said and he knew that all he really needed to say to Astelion at this point as he shook his head. Somehow it felt to the commander that Astelion at least respected him just a little bit more. 

As Astelion staggered to the edge of the ring, McKnight swung in with a confident and casual stride, not unlike Astelion. Winding his shoulders as he pulled on a pair of gloves McKnight shot Trapp an appraising look. [color=lightblue]"Haven't seen anyone take a full swing from Astelion and stay standing since Wes."[/color] Sokolov opened his mouth to protest, but McKnight cut him off. [color=lightblue]"You don't count Sokolov, you literally have armor on your skin."[/color]

Trapp let out a small chuckle as Sokolov muttered something under his breath in his native tounge. The older pilot shook his head clearing it as he prepared for his next bout. When he spoke to McKnight it was of simpler speech far from his usual commanding tone. [color=lightgreen]"When you got into as many fights as I did as a kid you learn to take a punch or two."[/color]

[color=lightblue]"I'll keep that in mind Trapp."[/color] McKnight said with a shrug as he raised his fists to his face, his body bouncing on the balls of his feet. Trapp nodded in response approaching the man and bumping his gloves against his to signal the start before he backed up and began to circle the younger man, he did not swing yet as he observed McKnight's own movements trying to feel him out.

The two men circled each other for a while, as both were rather defensive in their combat styles, and as such were often loathe to make the first move. McKnight was the first to make a move, taller man using his length to keep Trapp at bay as he launched a quick blow to check Trapp's reactions. Trapp casually moved to the right as the blow soared by his head as he threw out an experimental jab at the lower body. There was no intent with the hard blow just trying to see how McKnight acted in response.

Blocking the blow with his offhand, McKnight quickly closed the distance and launched a short ranged jab Trapp's lower jaw before quickly bouncing back.The commander's free hand snapped quickly back to protect his face from the jabb getting pushed back a few inches from the force of it. [color=lightblue]"I'm not Astelion, Trapp, keep that in mind."[/color] McKnight advised.

He then followed up with a rapid feint with his right hand and followed up with another low jab with his left hand. As McKnight followed in with the feint and the jab Trapp twisted his body to the right letting the jab glace off his side rather than making full contact. Ignoring the sharp pain that followed Trapp smiled and stepped in close trying to not let him get advantage with his longer punches. As he did he threw a one one combination with two quick jabs at the stomach, grazing Mcknight's sides and stomach as the man backed away. [color=lightgreen]"I figured as much McKnight."[/color] Trapp called out as he pulled back circling him again. 

The dance had begun as the two fighters watched one another closely both waiting for an opening. Their first blows had been playful at best as neither of them threw enough weight or speed into them. But the two had quickly begin gauging the other up in their head as they thought of ways to outsmart and beat the other down. 

[color=lightblue]"That order was fucked, Trapp."[/color] McKnight said, referencing the Captain's order to retreat. 

[color=lightgreen]"What you mean at Cerol? Yeah it was pretty fucked but I know why we did it. It was either we lose the Lincoln and henceforth, our only opreational ship in the sector or we all die trying to save a planet that we all knew we could not save."[/color] Trapp replied moved in first with a heavy cross directed at the face his other hand sticking close to his body in a guard. McKnight mirrored Trapp with a similar cross, turning is shoulder to make use of the advantage of his longer arms. The two opposing fists both hit home hard as the two men staggered backwards away from one another. Trapp shook his head and spat onto the ground the liquid tinted red.

[color=lightblue]"Thats some shit."[/color] McKnight spat, recovering just as quickly, [color=lightblue]"I know the order had something to do with those Imperial Service guys."[/color]

Moving forward again with a high jab, following up with hook with his offhand. Trapp reacted quickly and dropped low the jaw going over his head as the hook hit into a more solidified foundation dampening the blow. Trapp popped back up in the pocket to the side of McKnight's guard and sent a straight to the side of his face before quickly doubling back again bringing his guard back up as they began to circle one another once more.

[color=lightgreen]"Ardin and his boys?"[/color] Trapp asked as he threw out some jabs into the air trying to confuse the eyes. [color=lightgreen]"You think I have a high enough paygrade to know what he wants with us? I can make up some ideas based upon experience with their kind but I can't give you much more than that."[/color]

Calling Trapp's bluff, McKnight, sent a hard cross through the flurry of blows, aiming for Trapp's lower jaw. [color=lightblue]"Ardin's bad luck, Trapp."[/color] McKnight said mid pant, [color=lightblue]"Every fleet he's commanded has gotten torn apart. Mission success of course, but not much more."[/color]

[color=lightgreen]"You think I don't know that lieutenant? He values success over lives which in some form I can give him the respect to be that coldhearted."[/color] Trapp responded as he brought his hands up in a close guard feeling each of McKnight's blows slam into his gloves as tremors ran down them. Trapp responded in kind with a quick jab and a heavy hook to the side before once again creating more distance between the two of them and starting the circle once more. [color=lightgreen]"But I will tell you one thing that I know. The Imperial Service does not go on milkruns and if you took notice when we went into FTL travel the ships vibrations were lower than they usually were."[/color]

[color=lightblue]"Yeah, so?"[/color] McKnight asked as he recoiled from Trapp's hook, giving ground as he backed away, his arms guarding his body.

[color=lightgreen]"Meaning that we are flying with the reactor going low. Which means that we are going somewhere that would not like an unregistered FTL signal and a big one at that appearing on their radar. You connect the dots kid, and tell me which direction of space we are heading."[/color] Trapp explained as he pushed the offensive driving forward and pushing McKnight up against the ropes with some solid blows to the body

[color=lightblue]"We're going into Coalition space with no support? That's fucking suicide."[/color] McKnight said as he launched his fist forward and landed a solid blow to Trapp's chest, forcing the smaller man to give him space. Pushing forward, McKnight let loose a quick sequences of jabs and punctuating the combo with a solid hook.

[color=lightgreen]"Ah look at that the kid has figured it out..."[/color] Trapp replied in between a grunt as he took the brunt of the blows that McKnight launched out, as the younger man was successful in pushing him back

[color=lightgreen]"And if Ardin intends to kill everyone on this ship for one of his schemes at glory... let us just say that I'm not going to be the first dog that kneels down to his new master!"[/color] Trapp replied punctuating his words with his own retort as he opened with a hard left hook to the jaw before driving his fist hard into his second's stomach.

Reeling backwards, McKnight held his hand out to signify a pause, quickly shooting a look around. There was no one around them, or within earshot at least, aside from Astelion and Sokolov who were having their own conversation. Raising his fists back up in a guard, McKnight returned to the fight. [color=lightblue]"Careful who you say that around boss, that could be regarded as treason to the wrong ears."[/color]

[color=lightgreen]"Damn sedition and damn treason up the ass. Lieutenant humor an old man and tell me how much love do you have for the Imperial crown?"[/color] Trapp asked as he panted.

[color=lightblue]"As much as the next man,"[/color] Sterling replied almost mechanically, as he shot forward with another jab, the response a common and unbiased answer to a question that could easily get a man in deep shit. [color=lightblue]"Been a military brat all my life, such sentiments go hand in hand I suppose."[/color]  

[color=lightgreen]"That's a fair assessment"[/color] The older man replied turning to the left as the hand shoot foward allowing it to slide with out much effect against his body. [color=lightgreen]"Listen to me kid, I'm not asking for you to go jump off a bridge or anything for me but when the shit hits the fan just remember who your friends are."[/color] Trapp explained casually as if the words he was speaking would not normally mean a firing squad soon after, following up his earlier dodge with a low aimed cross to the side. 

[color=lightblue]"Yeah?  -insert sick burn here-"[/color] McKnight replied as he took the hit to the side and powered through it with a hook to the face. to the face. [color=lightblue]"I don't intend on letting Ardin and his cronies walk all over me."[/color]

The Commander staggered backwards as he took the brunt of the blow but recovered soon after an followed with his retort with a hard jab to the stomach with his offhand and a heavy uppercut aimed at the jaw. [color=lightgreen]"We have a saying in my country [i]Auch der kleinste Feind ist nicht zu verachten.[/i]"[/color]

[color=lightblue]"Yeah, and what does [i]that[/i] mean?"[/color] Sterling replied with a grunt as he recoiled from the jab and ducked to the left to avoid the vicious uppercut. Sending a cross of his own towards Trapp's lower gut.

[color=lightgreen]"[i]There is no little enemy[/i]"[/color] Trapp explained as he pulled back a second too late Sterling's blow hitting into his gut but the commander remained standing letting out a grunt. [color=lightgreen]"We do not want to think too lightly of Ardin, he's a snake."[/color] The commander warned as he launched a hard straight aimed at his chest to create some distance.

Sterling grunted as he fell back, he drew back and prepared another blow when Astelion interrupted them with a low pitched whistle. Shooting a look over at the man, McKnight watched as Astelion gestured to the front door with his head. Two of the Imperial Service pilots had walked in, their flight suits traded in for a set of UEE standard issue exercise clothes. Even so, it was weird being able to see their faces. Looking back at Trapp, McKnight grunted.

[color=lightblue]"I'll keep that in mind Trapp."[/color] he muttered in a low voice, as he slid off his gloves, watching the Imperial Service pilots walk across the gym. The commander nodded as he took his own gloves off and calmly slid out of the ring giving the two pilots another nod as if he was not just speaking words of sedition. He grabbed his shirt from the floor and threw it over his shoulder turning his head back to Sterling.

[color=lightgreen]"We will call this one a draw kid."[/color] He explained a smirk upon his face as his eyes shot the younger pilot a knowing look.

[color=lightblue]"Yeah, good fight Trapp.[/color] McKnight replied between pants as he slid out of the ring, the Imperial Service pilots shot them a look, but didn't approach the UEE pilots. They eventually went about their own business, leaving the 7th team to their own vices.