[center][h2]Terra Dyson
96th Bulwark Lancer Division Barracks
0750 hours[/h2]


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Max entered her captain’s office of her division's barracks on Terra Dyson, nervously fiddling with her uniform. The office is spacious; large windows overlooked the busy trade and military station. Everything was placed in an orderly fashion, everything looked so clean it almost seemed like the office was never used. 

Nevertheless, her Captain sat behind his large desk, his dull blue eyes overlooked a 3D map that hung in the air in front of him just slightly above his desk. He was reclined back in his chair, somewhat relaxed when he motioned the soldier to enter with his hand. His name tag read ‘Jones’. 

“Sheppard,” The man greeted. He was bulky but balding, which he covered with a beret. Sure, he could get hair implants but that was for fancy pants who needed to make a good impression he thought - and he was way past caring about how he looked. Bunch of limp dicks if you ask me.

[color=00aeef]“Sir,”[/color] Max entered further into the room and stood at attention, motionless, giving the impression that she was calm. 

“At ease Max,” Jones nodded at the seat in front of him, “I don’t think this should be so formal.”

[color=00aeef]“Right,”[/color] Max stood by the chair in front of the Captain’s desk. She considered sitting down, but she felt way too jittery to sit still. 

Jones chuckled, “Sit.” He instructed firmly, though there was a hint of jest in his tone. As he stood up, the map disappeared and he walked to a very beautiful cabinet in the left corner of the room. He opened the double glass doors and clutched a bottle of Bourbon and two glasses. He turned and watched his soldier heed his instruction and finally sat down. 

“You know,” Jones placed a glass right in front of her and poured it halfway knowing the woman could handle her liquor, “I’ve had to say goodbye to thousands of soldiers in my day and none of them I missed.” He paused as he then poured himself a glass and took a sip. He grimaced slightly as the amber liquid burned his throat, “Until now.”

Maxine remained quiet as she took a sip of her drink, then another. Liquid courage was aptly named - she was sad to leave too, but she couldn’t pass up this opportunity. [i]Goodbyes sucked ass[/i], she thought. [color=00aeef]“Way to make this easier, Cap.”[/color]

He sunk back into his seat and reclined backward and then propped his legs up on the edge of the otherwise spotless desk. “You know me, I’m the sentimental type.”

Max took another sip, and instead of the sharp sting, it went down smoothly. She hadn’t had bourbon of this quality in a really long time. [color=00aeef]“Damn, top shelf?”[/color]

“It’s only fitting that a damn good soldier would be served damn good Bourbon,” Jones explained proudly as he raised his glass towards her before tipping it back into his mouth once more.

Max shook her head, her cheeks getting a slightly rosy tint from the compliment. [color=00aeef]“Speak for yourself, sir.”[/color]

“As humble as they come,” he shook his head and chuckled. He then narrowed his eyes at her and added: “Or just a smartass.”

[color=00aeef]“Both,”[/color] she winked at him with a wide grin.

A few quiet moments passed before Jones cleared his throat, “In all seriousness, Sheppard, I’m proud of the work you’ve done and who you’ve to become a soldier. You’ll be a great lead,” Jones took another sip of his drink and added with a tiny smirk, “you’d better not embarrass me.”

[color=00aeef]“You’ve seen me sing Rebel Yell when I was wasted off my ass - don’t think I could top that.”[/color]

Jones let out a loud laugh at the memory, he remembered he had to drag her off stage long after the song had ended. “Don’t sell yourself short, I’m sure you could.” 

Instead of taking offense, Max narrowed her eyes and asked with a smirk: [color=00aeef]“is that a challenge?”[/color]

Jones sighed deeply, “God help us all.”

They continued to reminisce about the past few years and Jones gave Max some advice on going forward in her career, which she appreciated deeply. When Maxine joined, she already had a protective brother and father and now she had about a dozen of them. She never complained about it though, her fellow soldiers were like her extended family, and as much as it pained her to leave - her family will grow that much bigger again.

Max and Jones finished both of their drinks, feeling the effects of the strong spirit they had drunk while talking. They stood up at the same time and they shared a brief handshake before the much taller man pulled Max in for a hug, which she returned in full. 

“I’ll miss you kid,” the man spoke with a softer tone, emotions running high between the two.

[color=00aeef]“Nah, you’ll find some other young soldier to harass constantly.”[/color]

“And I’m sure your superiors will enjoy when you purposely clog their cabin toilet.”

They both pulled back from the hug, smiling as tears shone in both their eyes. [color=00aeef]“You remember that?”[/color]

“I remember the 1000 push ups I made you do because of it,” he chuckled. "Took you nearly 3 hours."

Max grimaced at the memory, she could almost feel the ache in her arms and chest again. [color=00aeef]“I block it out of my memory as much as I can.”[/color] Sam joked. Once their laughter died down, she looked down awkwardly as a lump began to form in her throat. She really hated goodbyes, probably because they always made her cry and much to her embarrassment, even when they didn’t involve her directly. [color=00aeef]“Take care Cap, and don't be a stranger.”[/color] Max managed to say before she left Jones’ office. She heard a dry chuckle and a deep sigh.

Not only did she hate this, she’d have to do it again with her squad. [i]Ugh, come on, get it together Max. You’ll see them again. Maybe. Wow, you’re a big help. And now you’re talking to yourself, moron.[/i] Max quickly dried her tears and made her way through the dull grey corridors, arguing with herself.

[i]Ms. Sheppard, you have just received a message from the Apollyon, it reads classified intel. There’s also an attached file.[/i]

[color=00aeef]“Read it,”[/color] Max instructed.

[i]It reads: Captain Sheppard-[/i]

Maxine interrupted the VI, [color=00aeef]“Repeat that would you?”[/color] She asked with a grin.

[i]Captain Sheppard?[/i]

[color=00aeef]“Go on,”[/color] Max chuckled, still not used to the new title. 

[i]Attached is the list of soldiers selected to be part of the Apollyon's Lancer division. Please review their files and notify us if there’s anything you would like to change - [/i]

Max interrupted the VI once more, [color=00aeef]“read me the names, Jon.”[/color]

[i]Specialist Mia Davies, of the 33rd Sentinel Lancer Division.

Corporal Axel Sheppard, of the 78th Gambit Lancer Division.[/i]

As soon as Max heard the familiar name, all sounds had slowly faded out and she missed the rest of the list spoken by her VI entirely. She stopped in her tracks and almost bumped into an officer that passed her and gave her a dirty look. 

[i]What the hell? Why didn’t he tell me?[/i]