Triss barked once as the three Sergeants made their way out of the training facility, sweaty and tired but otherwise in good spirits. Rivers had taken the round that time, assigned to take up strategic position while Valentine and Neil hunted for her. Their quarry had proved more elusive than they had accounted for, but there had been an added hindrance. Over time the rooms would fill up with a harmless, but highly irritating, gas agent that would affect the throat and eyes, forcing them to keep moving.

“I don’t like it.” Rivers complained, scrubbing at her eyes.

“No one likes getting gassed.” Neil said. “But you’ll just sit and snipe if you don’t get flushed out, so I’m putting this one on you.”

“I’m small, quick and irritating.” Rivers said. “And I know how to move in the dark.”

“Yeah, yeah, task force stuff.” Valentine muttered. “Get these weapons cleaned. You said the boss was coming down in a bit, Zigzag?”

“Yep.” Neil said, pulling apart his weapon. “Don’t know what he wants, so don’t ask.”

“Any ideas though?”

“Hopefully he’s going to take us down to the Journeymen to show us what they’re working on,” Neil said, flexing his right arm and peeling the glove he had put on to keep the metal from clacking against his weapon. “Natalie said it had something to do with us, but wouldn’t say fuck all about.”

“Secrets?” Valentine said in a sarcastic voice. “Here? Never would have thought, First Sergeant.”

Neil gritted his teeth, still not used to the rank. “Shocking, I know.”

“Does Captain Benson have anything else for us?”

“He’s still aboard the Onslaught last I checked. Another day and I’ll try to get in contact with him. Miss working flight maintenance that much?”

“Something else to do with my hands.” Valentine said, then looked down at Triss who looked moderately offended, as doggy faces go. He rubbed her ears. “You got anything else for us?”

Neil sighed and put his weapon down. “Look, First Sergeant or not, you heard Neerson. Paperwork and depth, that’s why I’m wearing the diamond.”

Putting down her own weapon, Rivers gave Neil a long look. “Does Admiral Neerson seem like the sort to just do things for paperwork, First Sergeant?”

Valentine pointed. “Point.”

“Fuck off.” Neil said before turning back to Rivers. “He seems like he’s got his reasons, but it’s just the three of us down here. Ziggenbor, Sergeant Z, or Zigzag. Works just fine for me.”

Rivers looked uncomfortable but nodded. “I’m going to go clean up. After I’ll be around the bay if you need me.”

“Right,” Neil nodded. “Don’t go far, I’ll let you know when Neerson’s on his way down.” He fell silent as Rivers left, going back to his weapon in silence for a time before something in the room felt off. He looked up to see Valentine staring at the door Rivers had gone through, digging a finger in his ear.

“Still got the chatters?”

Valentine nodded. “Little louder today. Loudest yet when we were in there on the range.”

“Heightened senses and stressful situations. Makes sense. Coppersmith didn’t tell you anything about it, you said.”

“Oh she said enough to make me nervous to sleep too long.” Valentine said darkly. “Stuff about nanites always learning. Made my skin crawl.”

“I know that feeling.” Neil said, flexing his hand. They fell silent again, assembling their weapons and returning them to the rack before walking out from the arms room.

“And Rivers has been sitting off.”

“For fucks sake, haven’t you seen enough from her to know she used to be in the forces?”

“Not that.” Valentine snapped. “She’s just not sitting right with me. Hasn’t since we got here.”

“She been here by herself for a long time, Val. Someone’s gonna have a hard time walking into a military situation after that, being under guys that she doesn’t know.”

“That’s the thing, she doesn’t have a hard time with it.” Valentine said. “She doesn’t have a problem with it at all, and it doesn’t seem like she’s been here as long as people are making it out as she has. Call it my gut, but I don’t like it.”

“Your gut probably hasn’t been the same since Rayne fed it all that baby food. But if you’ve got something to hash out I’ll use this First Sergeant bullshit and facilitate a confrontation. Better than you getting pissed off about it and doing something stupid.”

“I’ve learned enough from your brother to learn that’s usually your MO.” Valentine muttered. “I’ve been right before and didn’t say anything about it. And regretted it.”

“Yeah? When?”

Valentine stopped. “Red Savior.”

That brought Neil up short, and he turned. “You were against--”

“Fuck no, First Sergeant.” Valentine spat, vitriolic anger dripping in his tone. “I was all for going to get you guys, but I thought it would need more than a squad.” He balled up his fists, looking down at the ground. “Neerson even asked me point blank how many squads we should bring.”

Neil stood stock still. “And you said one.”

“All the information said one!” Valentine almost shouted. “But my gut told me three. And if we had had three then the rest of your guys would have made it out. And mine would have too.” He paced off, Triss at his heels as he tried to calm himself down.

Neil was at a loss for words. There was no part of him that wanted to add Valentine to the list of people to blame for the disaster on Mars, but even as he thought about it he felt resentment creeping in. He was spared from entertaining it by the docking alarm. “That’s his approach.” Neil snapped. “Lets go get Rivers and find out what he’s after this time.”

They walked in silence to their sleeping bay, but Rivers wasn’t there. Steam came from their washroom and they went in. “Rivers,” Neil barked, and Rivers came around the corner. She was dressed in uniform pants, boots, and a sports bra, and when she saw them her face went blank and bloodless. The moment after she saw them she wrapped her arms around her midsection and turned.

It was too late.

Both men had seen.

And Triss growled low.

--

“These office quarters are more in line with your current command.” Neerson said, nodding his approval.

“Thank you sir. It didn’t take long to move everything up.” Jericho said, looking around at the sparsely furnished room. “But I have to admit that the extra space makes walking back and forth trying to figure out difficult problems easier.”

“A body in motion aids a mind in motion.” Neerson nodded.

“So, what is it today, sir?” Jericho asked, testing the waters. “I noticed today you did me the courtesy of letting me know you were coming.”

“I don’t make it my business to intentionally antagonize my officers, Commander. However, sometimes information must be kept from my subordinates in a way that they find distasteful, especially in contrast to the rest of the way that other chains of command see fit to do business.”

“You won’t believe this, sir,” Jericho said with a small smile. “But the command now is a bit better than what I’m used to. Even the communication.”

Neerson nodded. “A small sign that I am an above average commander, I hope. But it’s actually a conversation with Captain Benson that brings me down here today. A matter of the future that I wish to discuss with you.”

“At your command, sir.” Jericho said at once.

Now it was Neerson who smiled. “I was hoping to hear those words from you, Commander. As you know, I am still able, willing, and though I would do so reluctantly, prepared to honor your request to be transferred out of your current posting to something more conventional, should you make it.”

Jericho was surprised by this. “Thank you sir, but I hope you don’t see that as a necessity. I feel like I’m catching my stride with the crew of the Vigilance and coming into my own as their commander.”

“A sentiment shared by myself and your subordinates, I assure you.” Neerson said. “But it was this conversation that made me think I might be doing you a small disservice now, should you continue on with me not being completely forthcoming with you.” He let out a small sigh. “Unfortunately, to be completely forthcoming with you, I would ask you to forego my offer and remain under my command.”

“For how long, sir?”

Neerson thought about that. “Until our mission is completed.”

It was Jericho’s turn to consider the words. “Is this the part where you explain to me that the mission could be dangerous and long and have unexpected complications?”

“In a way. This would be the part where I tell you that the mission set before me will undoubtedly take a great length of time. And there will most certainly be danger. But the most troubling matter to me is the place it could take me and those under my command. I do not wish to bring anyone with me into those places without them knowing that there could be… consequences for them in one way or another. You least of all, with your history of Commanders. Regardless of if my name is added to the list next to Commander Macintosh as senior officers to not handle your considerable skills in both technical matters and commanding with respect, I would like you to make that decision yourself.” He seemed to relax some in his chair. “And I will not accept your answer until you’ve had some small peek behind the curtain of what I am doing here, at Titan, to advance that mission.”

“Does this have anything to do with the transmission I helped you send to Mars?”

“You have not done a single thing that I could not absorb blame for, Commander. I have seen to that carefully. However, there is coming a time in the foreseeable future where regardless of your knowledge of the happenings, you would be made to bear some responsibility for them. Before we reach that point I would need your answer, whether you would follow me on this mission, or whether you would choose to seek a more suitable posting.”

Jericho sat in silence for several minutes, and Neerson did not interject further. His words were nothing surprising to her, but even still hearing them spoken aloud gave her hesitation.

“Thank you, sir.” She said at last. “For telling me this, and giving me the option. How long do I have to decide?”

“Within thirty standard days.” Neerson said. “As I said, however, I will give you some insight to what lies ahead before I take your answer.”

“Won’t that be bringing me in, sir?”

“Everything I would show you is already available to those with the ability to see clearly, and with a bit more free time than you are afforded.” Neerson said with a smile. “I don’t think your schedule allows for reading of shipping logs and senate bills, or the finer points of regulation that might be becoming a bit foggy out here. However, I will show it to you plainly.”

“That doesn’t seem like an offer that comes around often from you, sir.”

“Indeed not.” He said. “There are very few to whom it comes around to at all.”

“What’s the criteria to get on that list.”

“Trust.” Neerson said simply.

That settled it for Jericho. “When would I gain this insight?”

“Now.” Neerson said standing. “If you would accompany me to the Vulcan, I have a meeting with my three Sergeants, and my Journeymen. We will pay them a visit, and then we shall return here. I will be willing to field your questions within the bounds of reason and the ability to maintain your ability to remain free of my,” He smiled to himself, as if sharing in a private joke with only himself. “As of yet unrealized avenues of strategic advantage.”