“Now, look”, Gerrin stood by the passenger door addressing the crew gathered around him. “I know you all don’t like me barking like a drill instructor, and I’ve been trying to tone it down lately, but now it’s different. I’ve got to keep trained soldiers in line, and that won’t happen if you all start questioning my decisions. So, for the time being, I tell you to do something, you do it. Maybe that way we can get through this alive”.

“But-“ Loomie started.

“No!” Gerrin cut her off. “No ‘buts’, no questions, no pissing and moaning. These guys don’t have a high opinion of civilians as is, except for maybe the sergeant, and on top of that, I can’t tell how much combat he’s ever seen. They see you pushing back, they’ll push back, and we’ll all wind up getting killed for not working together. So just do it. For now”.

“What about Reilly and Aldous?” Lewis asked.

“Reilly and Aldous’ll keep moving cargo. I’ll have to rotate them from the warehouse to the field so no one catches on what’s going on, but the drill’s the same but with one add-on: switch out the cargo, fend off these ‘Purist’ guys and get out of here alive”.

The crew looked at each other before nodding in agreement. “Okay”, Gerrin concluded, “Let’s get back to work”.

As the crew disbursed, Gerrin stopped Anna. “Anna”.

Anna turned toward him. “I need you and Lewis to take Park’s place with Aldous and Reilly, just for now”.

“For what?”

“Reilly and Aldous are switching out the cargos and they’ll need some help”.

“Not sure what I – or we – can do”.

Gerrin stared at her. “Right now I need every experienced soldier I’ve got out on the field. And I need for these Alliance types to see some changing faces to make it look like we’re working all over the place”.

Anna looked toward the building, then back at Gerrin. “All right”, she conceded, “tell him we’re on our way”.

“Wait”. Picking up the comlink Gerrin called “Reilly”.

“Righ