[center][h1][color=00a99d]Garret Zarubin[/color][/h1][/center] [center]Mentions: [@DracoLunaris] and [@Kumbaris][/center][hr] "So thats her? The dragon?" Shirley nervously asked. "Yup." "The dragon we're going to be riding on?" "Yup," Thorin said again. "Wasn't her name Galmira?" queried Meisha. "Yup" "To save a bunch of people from another dragon. Great," Tess grumbled. [color=00a99d]"Sounds like fun,"[/color] commented a grinning Garret. The moment fell to awkward silence, prompting Garret to turn toward his squad, just to find several concerned faces staring daggers at him, [color=00a99d]"What? It's a genuinely new experience and we'll be helping others in the process."[/color] Tess narrowed her eyes toward her squad lead, showing no effort to hide the contempt painted on her face, "I don't recall signing up to fight dragons or saving any nobodies getting into trouble." "But you did though," Shirly quickly spoke up, "saving people is kind of our job." "Yeah, but-" "Not fighting dragons," said Thorin. "-thanks Thorin. What he said." "Yup." "But Tessie!" Meisha interjected, "Think of those innocent people down there, having to face such a dangerous fiend by themselves." "Ugh, I know!" Tess groaned, evidently being unable to argue with her sister. [color=00a99d]"We're saving them then. Now shake a leg, will ya?"[/color] It would be obvious by now that Squad Five was on edge for sure. Having crashed landed after a dubious incident with the [i]Thucydides'[/i] FTL drive, marooned in an unideal and dangerous environment, meeting up with sapient-minded dragons that could shapeshift into human forms straight out from a fairy tale, and now tasked with taking on an actual dragon. Garret himself, even with his optimistic attitude, found the entire situation surreal and practically unbelievable were the living facts not presented before him. And there were humans here too? The prospect of that fact continued to drive the ridiculousness of their circumstances even further. Still, he shared the sentiment of Captain Budiman in that they had to help those adventures in need, and having experience with escorting research teams through dangerous areas on other worlds and responding to distress calls in the worst of environments and conditions, it was unsurprising that he and his trained squad was brought in by Bonnie to tag along with the Captain in this undeniably stupid and crazy endeavor. When they arrived along with Bonnie, the squad had been greeted by Q-T, who had been handing out grav-drop harnesses. At least preparing for the stupid thing they were about to commit to was certainly better than going in unprepared, such as riding a dragon of all things. "Thanks, Q-T!" Meisha happily exclaimed as she accepted her harness. Just as she nearly managed the harness around her armored suit, her head quickly shot up, "Oh hey, guys! When need to call ourselves something!" Shirly looked over with a raised eyebrow, "Squad Five...?" "No!" cried Meisha, "I mean, maybe? B-but we're riding on Galmira's back while she's flying and we would be swooping down to save those adventures! We have to have a heroic-sounding name!" With a groan, Shirly lowered her head into her palms in disbelief, "How did Bonnie ever let you into our department?" "She has a mean wrist lock," advised Thorin Garret, suddenly feeling the need to comfort his right hand after recalling a certain training incident, peered over with a tense glare, [color=00a99d][i]"Don't remind me."[/i][/color] "Oh, I got one! 'The Wyrmslayers'!" Tess suddenly and unexpectedly chimed in. [color=00a99d]"Our orders aren't to kill any Dragons, Tess."[/color] Encouraged by her older sister's participation, Meisha jumped in as well, "What about, 'The Gallant Valkyries'!" "Aren't Valkyries all women though?" asked Shirly, "Thorin and Garret are men." "W-well, what about..." "'Dragon-Rider Squad'", came Thorin's typical booming voice. Everyone then fell silent, as if contemplating Thorin's suggestion. Tess and Meisha nodded their heads side to side, their chins resting on the webspace of their supporting palms. Shirly innocently looked up as if staying neutral, yet she too pondered on the statement. Garret on the other hand blinked and then smiled, [color=00a99d]"I like it",[/color] he said. "Yeah! It suits us!" replied a jovial Meisha, along with Tess who nodded in agreement. "Yup," acknowledged Thorin. [color=00a99d]"Then its settled."[/color] After another minute, Garret and his team, having equipped their harnessed and checked their personal gear, formed up and stood at attention in the face of their Captain. Garret took a step forward, and with a salute, he exclaimed, [color=00a99d]"Ma'am Squa-"[/color] Garret quickly stopped himself and re-oriented his words, [color=00a99d]"Dragon-Rider Squad reporting and ready to fly!"[/color]