LC Main Base

"Lieutenant Campeti, there a large Dynasty force has landed and is on its way to the LC Base you're at!" The Mission HQ speaker, Major Sandra Garret, warned Andi via his earpiece-radio. "The invasion force is on it's way, but it'll probably be ten-twenty minutes yet." She continued.

Andi listened as she gave her warning. "No worries, Major," he said cooly (he was never one to fret or worry), "we have charges on the solar panels, as well as at their huge fuel dump. I feel bad for the poor Dynasty bastard who get caught in that much exploding liquid hydrogen," he said with a bit a of a laugh, "Excuse the foul language, ma'am. Anyway, we're in the base armory, so should I plan on fortifying and holding here?"

There was a moment's pause before Sandra replied, "Yes, Lieutenant. A very good idea. You just need to hold until the main force reaches you," she said, then paused again. "We'll try to get you out alive . . Andi, but there's no guarantees."

"There's never any guarantees in war, Sandra," Andi said, replying with Garret's first name as she'd used his. He was touched by the gesture, but didn't say it. "We're Army Rangers!" he said instead, "We'll fight the best we can to the last man . . . like the Alamo, it could be a last stand." He said, loud enough for the platoon to hear him. The little rhyme was meant to lighten the dark mood.

"Hooah!" The Army Rangers shouted.

Andi watched carefully as the Dynasty trooper disarmed himself then moved some crates around to sit on, and couldn't help but smile at the way his own troopers had their own guns covertly on Alexi as he moved about.

He laughed in turn at the Dynasty captain's humor. "Yes, blowing a hole in the wall is not the best way for one to begin peaceful negotiations," he said, sitting on the crate Alexi gestured toward.

Taking a canteen off his belt and casually taking a drink out of it first, he offered it to Alexi, "Water?" he asked, "Mars dust really makes you parched," he continued.

When the Dynasty man had taken his fill of water, Andi took the canteen back and put it on its clip on his combat belt. Clearing his throat, Andi continued, "Now, what terms would you like for the ceasefire?"

"First I would like your men to man up. If they want to point guns at me then they should just do it, instead of hiding it. (raising his voice to make sure they hear) Of course if they were real men they would fight me without a gun," Alexi says. He continues, "Then I would like to skip any further threatening, blustering, and preening. Instead lets get straight to the point." Taking a deep breath he presents the terms with an official sounding voice, "In exchange for non-hostile action against Dynasty forces, the Dynasty will allow safe passage through our lines. From there what you do is your own choice."

He pulls a Dynasty ration pack from its place on his armors belt and he tosses it to the UCS trooper. "They are not the best tasting things out there, but they do keep one running," He says.

Over his comm comes a communication from the men he had sent out.
"Captain, we have reached the LC vessel and are on our way in. However, sir, we encountered these strange insect things."
"What do you mean strange?"
"Well sir, they look like organic machines, but not like anything the UCS has ever produced."
"I see, then just leave them be for now."
"Yes, sir."