It's been three days now...three days of tension...at least, it was for her as Maria was in the hangar, doing routine work on her Neo Angel.

Maria had alot on her mind. Katya's pep talk though did help. For one, she was more interactive with people generally over the last three days. Though she did avoid talking to the new squad members. Even more so with Elizabeth Fullbright due to their brief past history. Still, she ran simulations and studied the martial art that sqaud Sigma expected her to learn and master.

Back then with the Helldivers though, their style though was much different. For one, it didn't really focus on rapid strikes and brute force so much that you can smash metal and perhaps other impossible objects. It was focused more on finesse and...assassination...neck snaps...arm and leg breaks...stealth tatics...even learning both "Human" and "Cruxi" body studies. Knowing where EXACTLY to hit was the trick with her. But she had to admit, the style this squad was trying to learn was useful if her previous style failed to get the job done since it was more about an all-out fight rather than stealth and passive-aggressive hits on critical body areas her style focused on.

But what was on her mind was the whole issue with their P.O.W. Cruxi and Serah and Elora...Jake had told her yesterday that he had submitted the information to Captain Ritsu but it generally has been a whole day without any word on if it made a difference. Honestly, Maria felt that either Ritsu wasn't going to submit it or someone above Lorenzo wanted to simply...execute Serah and even Elora.

That was what frustrated her. Back when she was Mai "Seven" Twilight, she surpressed those emotions though or at least, Seven herself kept her in check. They didn't believe it or perhaps they did but wanted it covered up so that word about a "mind-controlling" Cruxi was out there, ready to control you and make you look like a traitor. Now that she thought back on it, that was probably why high command shut down the helldivers...maybe it was that Caulder, scientist and her old commander, didn't agree with all the "methods" high command were doing to battle the Cruxi.

Based on "Seven's" memories, she did recall him showing his displeasure with the whole "cloning" experiments...the Homonculus project...cloning ace pilots since it was rumored that the Cruxi were doing the same as well. But Caulder believe in "quality" pilots over "quantity". With the power frameworks had even at high sync rates, he said that one trained pilot would easily best a squad of lower class pilots. He said that, eventually, the Cruxi will overwhelm them all since their technology was more advanced than humanities in that department.

There were other things but Maria felt that was the general reason...and when Caulder didn't fall in line...despite the success record the Helldivers had...despite all the "dirty work" they did for high command...the demand...the training and perhaps torture...Setsuka...Mom...

Maria shook her head at that. She didn't need that anger right now. Even more so due to her believing that Cruxi P.O.W. was the same one that shot down mom. But yet again, was forced to "follow orders"...like high command knew what was best for humanity.

[i]...ugh stop!...that's dangerous thinking Maria...just stop...[/i], Maria thought to herself.

But clearly, doing routine work wasn't distracting her. Still, she was all finished so, attaching the magnetic hook next to the cockpit, reeled herself down to ground level and detached the hook.

She was in her black plugsuit right now actually holding her black helmit with it's red visor plate in the face area of it. Just in case something DID happen. And she still believed something will...either that Cruxi tried something...or perhaps it had friends ready to attack their HQ ship just to get it out.

Wrapping things up, Maria was about to leave the hanger when she saw her superior, Elise, looking up at her framework. Feeling the guilt from her eye patch as well as her outburst in the containment area three days ago, Maria felt that she had to clear the air between them.

She walked up to her and gave her a salute.

"Ma'am", she then said.

* * * * * * * * * *

Meanwhile, Jake was going over intel data on his tablet. So far though, no new Cruxi units had been reported. But he knew that would change sooner or late. The Cruxi were never lax when it came to any new "toys" they develop.

But right now, as he was walking down one of the many hallways of the ship, his mind was on the evidence he had submitted to Elise a few days ago. It had been a whole day but Jake was sure it was all the "red tape" that stuff had to go through...which didn't make him feel better.

Despite all the work he put into putting it all together into a neat electronic presentation of all things, he was actually starting to show doubt. After all, it came down to high command to actually decide if Jake had resonable data/evidence to show that both Serah and Elora weren't at fault or they simply say "no" and go through with what he KNEW was both of their executions.

[i]...*sigh*...gotta love high command and their "sweep it under the rug" solutions...wonder how long before that same solution bites them in the ass hard[/i], Jake thought to himself.

But by the end of the day, even with him being in "recon", they had the last word in everything. Even when it came to him and his family...

Shaking that thought off though, he then continued towards the hanger. He was told Elise was there and he just wanted to touch base with her.

He did check with Jason and Katya on this of course before he submitted it and they both agreed on what he had. But now, as he thought just before, it was up to others now to believe what Jake had presented.

Jason was doing his part to keep Serah calm but to Jake's perceptiveness on Jason's body language the last few times he spoke to him, the "waiting" was driving both him and Serah nuts now even though it had only been more than a day since he submitted his report.

Still, he had to touch base with Elise and even Captain Ritsu if necessary...he had to make sure high command's decision making didn't claim yet another innocent life...