[color=f7941d][b][u]Corporal Yazan Mohammad - Mojave Checkpoint [/u][/b][/color] Yazan rubbed his face and checked his watch; it was almost midnight. The ambassador and his entourage were supposed to have arrived more than six hours ago but aside from a skinny boy chasing a gaggle of goats no one had crested the hill into the Mojave Checkpoint. The rest of his squad sat on the benches beside Yazan, most of them half-asleep while a few played cards. Staff Sergeant Keyes and Sergeant McKinny were chatting between themselves sipping hot coffee. The sergeants had originally ordered the squad to keep formation in expectation for the ambassador’s arrival but after an hour they had let them break for dinner. Then another hour of standing in formation until the sergeants dismissed them again, allowing them to catch a break while they could. That had been nearly four hours ago and though he had been in the army for two years Yazan had yet to become accustomed to the boredom and monotony of waiting that his service so often entailed. “Aye Yazan, come around and join our game.” It was Emily, a boisterous recruit who had taken on the role of the squad's joker. A perpetual gambler, she was playing caravan with Andrew and Leonid. The cards were laid out over an old shipping container that they were lounged around. Under the colonel’s orders gambling was expressely forbidden when not on leave;but in D Company, those orders were rarely enforced. “I don’t know how to play caravan.” “Well we sure as shit got time to teach you. Come on.” Emily smiled and patted the dirt next to her. Her helmet was off and Yazan could faintly see her spider tattoo through her close cropped hair. He had been intimidated by Emily at first but over the past year of deployment that had turned to infatuation. Yazan welcomed the opportunity to sit beside her and joined his comrades in the game. Emily had just begun to explain the rules of the game when the shriek of the gate whistle was sounded announcing the arrival of the ambassador’s entourage. Yazan and his squad grabbed their helmets and rifles and got into formation. He buttoned his fatigues and adjusted his dust scarf. The gate opened and the squad presented a standing salute to the entourage as they entered. There were thirteen of them, twelve of them sported identical suits of black painted combat armor. Their helmet’s were visored and they held plasma-based energy weapons at the ready. Yazan felt a flash of fear when he saw the casual manner in which they strode up to his squad. The man leading them wore a large brimmed black felt hat and a matching suede jacket. He smiled at Yazan’s squad as he smoked a cigarette and approached Staff Sergeant Keyes. The two men shook hands and the at ease order was given. “Welcome to the Mojave Ambassador.” “Thank you sergeant and please, call me Benny.” The ambassador flashed another smile and promptly threw his cigarette to the ground, extinguishing it with his heel. “I appreciate your patience, we ran into a little, uh…trouble further back.” Benny waved his right hand around “You know how the road can be, always a little hiccup or three, it makes for an eventful time.” “Well, I cannot ensure that you won’t run into any more trouble once you get to Vegas, but D Company can take you there safe and sound.” “Hooah!” Came the resounding call from Yazan and his squadmates. The ambassador nodded as he looked over the unit. “That I can believe, but I assure you my bodyguards.” he motioned to the corporate security forces around him. “Will be adequate enough. “Well sir, Colonel Abernathy wanted to ensure your safety.” “Very well.” Benny smiled. “Tell me sergeant, are there enough accommodations here for my men and I? We had hoped to get some rest before getting on the road.” “Certainly, I’ll show you to your rooms.” Keyes and the ambassador moved past Yazan’s unit, the corporate security bodyguards tailing them. Once they were out of sight sergeant McKinny informed the squad they could break for sleep and rest, but should be ready to go no later than four hours from now. Yazan caught up to Emily as they made their way to the bunkhouse. “Still up to teach me the rules?” He smiled, she shrugged. “As long as you have some caps to lose.” ------------------------------------------------ [color=f7941d][u][b]Ambassador Benjamin “Benny” Watts [/b][/u][/color] Benny rinsed off his razor in soapy water before dunking it in a container of vinegar. He stooped low over the wash basin and cleaned the remaining shaving cream from his face. He checked himself in his hand held mirror, smiled and then spit on the floor. “How do I look?” He turned as he asked the head of his security detail. The man was reclining on a bed, his eyes closed. “You look fantastic sir.” “Oh horseshit Peter, you cannot even get up and look at me when you lie?” Benny dipped his hands in pomade and started to style his hair. “I gotta make a good impression today.” “It’s four o’clock sir. I’m sure you’re the best looking one here. There is no one to impress today sir. We got a two-day march before we even reach New Vegas.” “Oh horseshit, I wanna get there by tonight.” “You plan on running?” “In these shoes?” Benny motioned to his feet, fine leather boots that he had spent twenty minutes shining this morning. “We’ll need to take a couple horses.” Peter sat up on his elbows. “That’ll sure send Abernathy a message after he pulled this escort together.” They dressed themselves and met the other CSF agents in the hall. Together they headed out to the small stable attached to the Western side of the checkpoint. A young recruit and two skinny civilian boys were feeding and caring for the animals in the pre-dawn light. Benny pulled them from their tasks and requisitioned three of the five horses. The boys were confused but compliant when encouraged by looks from the CSF agents. Benny chose for himself a large gray spotted mare. The molting of her coat matched his suede jacket and he thought it the perfect choice for setting a good impression on the people he met on the way to Vegas. Saddled and ready, Benny and his entourage met staff sergeant Keyes and his squad under the unification monument. Benny had seen the ridiculous monument partially illuminated the night before. But now cast in the cool light of the morning the colossi towered over the Mojave behind them and seemed far more threatening than what Benny had imagined from the stories he’d heard. Keyes stepped from the formation assembled at the feet of the giants. Benny noticed a tinge of disappointment on the sergeant’s face but the officer stilled saluted him. “Are you and your men ready ambassador?” “We are indeed sergeant, please.” Benny motioned to the desert beyond them. “Lead on.”