((Post between [@Letter Bee] and [@ArmorPlated]))

[b][i]Flashback[/i][/b]

Theodore Narra, in Perfect Qamishlo, had repulsed the assult on Darwin's north just shortly before sounding the call to retreat; normally, he would stay behind for a while in order to make sure his orders were followed perfectly, but he had to go back to Haven Base [i]now[/i]. The early defections of Hisako and Tabris had put his trump card, Alexander Sky, at risk; he knew it, and so he had to get the International Volunteers back in fighting shape. And to do that, he had to meet the Smoke-Bear convoy that had radioed an hour ago.

He radioed, "Field-Captain Adam Philips, do you copy? This is General Commander Theodore Narra, returning to base." A calm, gravelly voice responded over the channel, "This is Adam Philips, and I copy. I am not a Field Captain as of yet, Commander Theodore Narra." 

Bringing his slow NC back to Haven Base's secondary hangar, he looked around said hangar to see Adam and his tribe had arrived and were already in the process of unoading their equipment into a hangar bay. Adam himself was standing to the side of the center vehicle, it's integrated radio's receiver held before his mouth.

[center][IMG]http://i63.tinypic.com/o9iyds.jpg[/IMG][/center]

The Smoke-Bears milling about the unpacking convoy vehicles stared as Perfect Qamishlo entered the hangar, a three-meter tall humanoid NC surrounded by massive ring, each flipping end over end around the same axis as it entered the hangar. One engineer whistled before muttering into his radio, "So that things' the Quamishlo, huh? One of the big-shot Three Reformers' finds-" The Smoke Bear was cut off by a comrade, "Hot mic on an open frequency, dumbass!" The channel quickly went silent. before Theodore himself climbed out of the central mech, standing atop a translucent sphere surrounding the internal mech.

Walking on the scaffolding that had automatically fixed themselves on the rings, Theodore met up with several mechanics and medics gathered at the edge of his mech, and said, "I'm okay, I'm okay!"

Chief Mechanic Cecily, who had been transferred from the main hangar, spoke, "A likely story, General Commander! We both know that despite the humanoid form at the centre of Perfect Qamishlo, that driving an NC like it is not normal for the human brain! No offense meant to our new arrival, though." Cecily glanced at Adam,  who had taken the opportunity to break away from his tribesmen and was climbing onto the scaffolding from a nearby ladder. "A good Pilot knows his NC as well as he knows his own body. If Commander Theodore Narra is one such pilot, he will know his limitations." Adam affixed the Chief Mechanic with a stony expression, hands clasped behind his back.

Theodore smiled at that and said to Cecily, "Don't worry about it; as Adam says, I know my limits."

Walking towards Adam, Theodore said, "Pilot Philips, I am happy to see you." Pursing his lips, he said, "The other pilots of the International Volunteers will be here in a few minutes; I'll give you a briefing on the battle situation on the way to the Operations Room."

He gestured to Adam to walk beside him, before saying, "Once we get to the back corridors leading to the Operations room; we walk alone - this will allow us the needed privacy while saving time.  Because as of right now, we're going to need to adapt to both failure... And unexpected success."

As they walked, Theodore indeed ordered both mechanic, medic, and would-be bodyguard to fall back, so that he can talk with Adam alone. The cameras and other surveillance equipment also turned away, a signal that Theodore relied only on himself and the consequences for Adam if the latter turned on him for protection.

Then Theodore gave Adam an unexpurgiated report, including his hopes that Alexander and Phoenix Inferno were the key to turning the odds against Red-Star. After that he said, "But, here's the important thing; the pre-emptive defection of Hisako - Who was expected to need Alexander to crack - and TABRIS - same - has disrupted said plans. What should have been an organized attack on the Red-Star flagship, followed up by a mass breakout attempt, has now turned into something more haphazard." A purse of his lips. "And the worst part is that Alexander, should suspicion focus on him, will either be killed, tortured, or even brainwashed once more into becoming our true foe."

He let Adam grasp the implications of his words, as well as the expression on his face. Theodore Narra genuinely cared for Alexander.

Adam's expression remained unchanged as he listened to Theodore's assessment of the conflict, the only change being that he actually looked at the Commander when he announced his informant's botched mission. "Priority should be to get the turncoats into fighting condition. Walking away with two cutting-edge Red Star assets alone is a large advantage. Losing them to defection is a morale disaster. Fighting them immediately after losing them? infinitely worse." He took a deep breath as he thought through the exact words he needed to use. "You need to assume this 'Alexander' is fully compromised. Knowing what Osamu is capable of, you need to view everything he does with suspicion. Even if he surrenders. Even if he personally shoots down his comrades. This screams "bait in a trap" more than anything, and if you want Haven to survive, it needs to come first."

Theodore nods as they reach the door to the Operations Room, "Indeed. Now, I'm going to brief the remaining Pilots of the International Volunteers of your coming; I'll give you a live feed so that you know when to introduce yourself."