Soma had gotten lost in her own little world. What would have happened if the Super Soldier facility hadn't been attacked. Would she be piloting a Mobile Suit for the HRL right now? In her heart she knew she wouldn't have a choice. That's what this personality wanted. To fight for someone, even if it was the people who practically tortured them. But this was better. It had to be better than what could have been. 

Because of this daydreaming, she jumped a bit as the door was knocked on, and let out a long breath to return herself to reality. As the man approached, and saluted her, she stood up, and returned the salute. [color=ed1c24]"Soma Peries, Squad Commander. I suppose we will be working together from now on. Did they tell you why this squad is forming?".[/color] They had likely told him whta he already believed. That they were simply spreading the skill out evenly. More skilled pilots in squads with rookies would mean the rookies would learn quicker. They would get back up to full strength in no time. And in part, this was certainly true. But for this squad, posted out in the middle of nowhere, certainly had its own reasons for existing.

As for Soma herself, she didn't even look like a Commander. Even only being three years younger than Chad, she still looked more like a child in many ways. Not someone who was scarred by war in any way. Yet Chad had no doubt been told that she was Commanding Squads through the war against Celestial Being, as if to say "Don't worry, you can trust her" in case he doubted her ability to lead. But then again, there was always someone above her. She just relayed the orders. This was the first time that she would be making the decisions, the plans, the strategies. The Colonel of the base was little more than a flight planner and intel dump. He gave the intel, she chose how to act on it.