I was fumbling around out in the back shed as usual when I heard a muffled beeping coming from the house. Amazed, I walked out of the shed and through the back yard into the kitchen where the Linker had been busy accumulating dust on the bar. I shook it off, and opened it up, scarcely able to believe that I was receiving some communication from them after all this time. It was Admiral Davies, the leader of my squadron.
"Hey Admiral, it's been a while," I offered.
She brushed the pleasantries aside and got straight to the point.
"Petrus, we want you over here as soon as possible. Something's come up, and I want everyone in Alpha on it."
"I'll be right there," I answered.
"Ok." She responded. "Davies out."

I went to the fridge for a quick Coke before leaving, my mind whirling over what had just happened.
It had been two years since I had joined the Jihad, and after joining and putting in some time at the training facility in Melbourne, I hadn't heard from them again until now, although I had made sure that I was being sent periodic reports on what was happening. Now it seemed that I was finally going to see some active duty, something I was looking forward to.
I went to the back door and called out into the yard.
"Arz! You there?"
Arzani appeared from 10 or so metres away, walking up to the house.
"Yeah," she called back. "What's up?"
"I've just had word from Admiral Davies of Alpha Squadron. They want me, and that means us of course, to report to the HQ in Colorado immediately."
Arzani raised an eyebrow, then moved one hand up irritably, seeking to brush her unruly black hair out of her eyes. I guess we'd better get moving then."
She walked further forward towards me, becoming transparent and walking into me, my vision blurring for an instant as it always did when she went either in or out.
I began walking towards the front gate of the house, and after passing through it, found myself crawling through the tunnel of the van, between the two front seats of the car. I stepped outside the driver side door, and looked around at the quiet suburban street that we'd called home for the last six months or so. Then I turned my attention back to a small device strapped to my wrist. I punched a few buttons, and a black beam shot out and formed a precisely rectangular door in space, a mountainous landscape and the high walls of TRES Corps HQ barely visible through it. I got back into the car, gunned the engine, and flew foward into the rift.

I pulled up a few seconds later next to the gate guards outside the half rebuilt front gate of the HQ. One of the guards walked up to me, and asked for identification. I displayed my slightly faded TRES ID, and he waved me through.
Having been shown a topographical map of the headquarters at one stage I knew my way around to a vague extent. I pulled the car up outside the front inner wall, and walked through to the barracks. I was somewhat surprised to run into Admiral Davies there, but I had read that the barracks served as accomodation for senior officers as well as juniors if they wished. I also reasoned that she was here talking to her squad in preparation for whatever was happening.
"Hey, Petrus," she said, losing the formality she displayed during our Linker conversation. "We'll be receiving a briefing from Grand Admiral Marburger in about 15 minutes. Before that though, I suppose there is the business of assigning you quarters here."
"Thanks anyway, but with your leave, I have accomodation in the back of the car here, which I'm used to using," I answered her.
"Ok. Wander around here for a few minutes then if you like. It will give you some time to get to know the other squad members, or at least introduce yourself."

I wandered around for a few moments, looking at various different parts of the barracks. I looked around at the people standing around talking, when I noticed CP or Grand Admiral Marburger talking to a couple of people. I walked over to him when he'd finished with them.
"So you've decided to join us in a mission?" He asked sarcastically.
I grinned.
"I realise I haven't exactly made myself available over the past two years. Things to see, people to do, you know," I joked. He took a turn at grinning now.
"But it seems to me old Barfney is in serious need of a damn good hiding. I may be a little green, but I'm an extra gun."
"If you manage to avoid getting yourself killed in this first one, we might be able to find a use for you then," he answered me. "See you in the briefing."

I nodded and he walked off. I went back to the others and followed them into the auditorium, where a small number of seats appeared to have been roped off for us. There was an empty seat next to me.
"Is that seat taken?" Another member of Alpha asked idly, pointing at the seat next to me.
My vision blurred momentarily again and Arzani stepped out of me, walking over to the empty seat and sitting down in it.
"Yes it is, sorry," she said to the female Squad member who had asked, grinning broadly.
The woman looked visibly unnerved.
"Sorry for asking," I heard her mutter.
I chuckled, and sat back in my chair as the briefing began.

Copyright API, 1998.