Snippet #2663906

"I'll pretend that earlier outburst didn't happen." The Captain shot back, "You may carry a knife if you want but you'll be under my complete surveillance at all times. You seem to have gotten anxious once we got here...Mind enlightening us what set you off?"

Ren dropped her salute and curled her hands into tightly balled fists. Her gamble was a bust and the sympathy card wouldn't get her anywhere here. The captain seemed relaxed and respected hard-work, but it was good to know where the lines were being drawn with her leniency. That knowledge would come in handy later Ren was sure.

"Hopefully it won't come up," Ren replied, taking a deep breath to calm herself back down, "But I apologize, mam. I've tried to settle in by keeping my hands busy but news like that would piss anyone off, wouldn't it? I'll do better to keep my temper under control, mam," she added, her voice calm and saluting once again, but the hand at her side was still balled up so tight the veins on the back of her hand looked liable to pop.

Ren was just going to have to cross her fingers and hope that Monty wasn't on the station while she was there.

After the briefing, Ren had to track down her belongings that had been transferred in from the PMC ship that had dropped her off on Proud, which included an outfit that wasn't a military uniform or spacesuit. Her usual white tank-top, of course, along with a pair of loose-fitting jeans and sneakers, but the crowning jewel of her old outfit was her jacket. It was a military jacket based on an old design, more military chic than anything, a dark green bomber jacket with a two headed eagle emblazoned on the back in gold. It had been a gift from her brother Nikita way back when, having bought it at a collector's auction. Ren had no idea why the thing was valuable, but she'd always taken care of it and worn it with the utmost pride.

Once she was dressed, she headed back towards the shuttle, having to ask for directions only twice before finding the shuttle bay. A security officer handed her a standard issue combat knife and sheath, as granted by the Captain, as she stepped inside and took her seat.

-=-

There was more than a little bit of pride in Petya's smile as the Commander voiced approval of his idea over that of the other pilot he had not noticed when he'd arrived. He had little time to revel in the feeling of victory before the Captain arrived to issue his own briefing, though Petya had to admit this one was a lot harder to swallow.

Since when had they been ordered to sabotage and undermine this colony? To what end would their limited forces and resources be used in such an endeavor when their lives were already on the line due to the human's having proof of their breaking the ceasefire? Petya was not sure, but unlike with the Commander, whom he had known to be a skilled commander willing to listen to his men, he knew little of the Captain or what he might do in the face of insubordination from his foot soldiers.

Petya looked to the Commander with wide eyes, trying to convey his concern with the completely different objective the Captain wished to assign them in regards to their mission in the hopes he might speak up against them, but the action was all the defiance he dared suggest towards the chain of command. He would do as ordered regardless, though he wouldn't mind speaking with Ellis again concerning her suspicions of a rogue. This was the second time to Petya's knowledge of impromptu changing of mission objectives without due cause or orders from command.