General Bastion says, "Just approach with caution and use common sense.  I wish I could tell you more."

General Bastion dismisses the meeting.  Most of the captains leave, but Locke pulls all of you together, telling you that this is your moment to have any other questions answered, and that you will be going to the strategy center soon for a debriefing.  "Apparently," he says, "our next mission is about to begin."

Rabbit raises her left hand to shoulder height and wiggles her fingers at the rest of the crew, "Hi, I'm Alice, but you can call me Rabbit. My job is to make sure the rest of you come home safely."

She turns to Locke, "Captain, is there any chance that we can get some hands-free communications gear? Earpieces and throat mikes like the bad guys have."

 The sentinel bows its "head" as Rabbit introduces herself. It then turns to Locke. "I have no questions," Cala says politely.

A short man wearing a white grease stained shirt, and black slacks slides over to the others, "Captain Locke, I was told to report to you to join your crew. I'm Adam, but call me Dracos."

Running his hand through his short brown hair, his plug obviously apparent, "I've been out a few years now, but I prefere to keep my hair short to keep a remainder as to which "Reality" I'm in -- WHOA!!" he notices Cela and backs up, "I know you're on 'our' side but my question is simply, 'Why?' Why would you leave your people...?"

As he awaits a response, he tries to examine Cela, attempting to figure out if she still had her built in weapons...

 Cala whips the sentinel about to face Dracos. "I was hit by an EMP, when I regained consciousness in your labs I could see my people as they really were" Cala says over the sentinel's speaker. "My people are parasites; trapping their gods in an endless dreamworld so that they may feed of their withering bodies. My people deserve nothing less than complete eradication."

Locke answers the question, "Yes, we routinely fit you with hands-free communications gear like we did last mission, although it does not provide the hardline for jacking in and out."

"I've heard rumours some people can jack out without a hard-line... is that true? My last crew said it was a load of BS. I have to say that I'd tend to agree with them," comments the kid randomly.

She smiles at the Captain's confirmation, "Nevertheless, having ready access to an Operator while keeping use of both hands will be invaluable."

Rabbit comments to Cala, "Your change of allegiance seems more happenstance than revelation. I'm concerned what your attitude will be, if you are struck by another EMP. Even as a Human, I do not see mankind as a race of gods."

Suddenly, Dracos is playing with a cellphone, scrolling through the address book, "Hey, who's X?" he looks up curiously towards Locke.

 "Man created machine, gave it life a sentience; you may as well be our gods," Cala says swinging the sentinel around to face Rabbit. "And the EMP merely subdued me long enough for your scientists to remove the taint of Zero-One from my systems."

"Creating sentient life is no feat for a man and woman, but I understand your meaning." Rabbit spread her empty hands wide in a gesture of conciliation. "I do not doubt your current allegiance. Nor do I doubt that any Human might break under pressure or turn traitor." She paused briefly before concluding, "Well, I hope neither of us will be put to that test." The woman's solemn face confirmed her sincerity.

Locke looks down at his belt, and then snatches the phone from Dracos.  "I hope you prove as skillful when it actually counts," he says, but his tone is not unfriendly.  "X is our operator.  I suggest you get to know him well.  He'll be saving your butt from time to time."

 Cala "nods" the sentinel toward Rabbit. "As do I," she says flatly.

Another youth aproaches the group, staying a cautious distance away from the sentinel as he comes to stand before Locke. "Captain Locke? I'm Tumbler." He sticks out a hand.

Rabbit looks askance at Dracos's antics. She remains silent on that account but angles her body slightly to keep the shorter man always in clear view. Almost as a reflex checking her belongings, the young woman's hands drop to pairs of metal sticks snugly lodged in long thin pockets that are sewn onto the jeans and run the length of each thigh.

"Ah," says Locke, "Looks like all our new assignments are showing up.  We should have a good crew, especially since this time not everyone's a rookie."

Cute. Snow says with a humourless face to Dracos

Rabbit looks around at Cala, Jade, Dracos, Tumbler and Snow before returning her attention to Locke, "Is this all of us, sir?"

Just then, Mitchell hits the floor.  "…third aisle on the left."

He immediately jumps to his feet and looks around blearily, "I wasn't sleeping, I was… meditating.  So ah, where exactly are we going?"

"You're not going anywhere without me.  You all need the Shadow."  The tall blond man further emphasizes this last statement by thumbing his chest.  His eyes soon fall upon the sentinel  "Well you don't see that every day." Looking back towards Locke "So like sleepy said, where we going?"  A smirk comes across Shadow's face as he crosses his arms and waits for answers.

Tumbler shakes his head, wondering, not for the first time, if it was really such a good idea to wake up in the first place.

Rabiit calmly asks Shadow, "What is it that you do, that we all need you?" As she speaks the woman starts towards the Strategy Center.

"Me?  I'm a combat specialist.  But can also pilot a ship if necessary.  Now what do you do?"  Shadow stands and begins to follow Rabbit.

Locke addresses Mitchell's question.  "We do not have orders yet, but we are waiting for them to take us to the Strategy Center for further debriefing.  So for now, we are waiting.  It's a good time for everyone to get to know each other.  I don't want to lose any of you like...well, like I lost so many others in our last three missions.  If you know each other's strengths and weaknesses, maybe we can avoid that this time."

"Ah, now that is handy," Rabbit nods. "I mostly shoot our enemies. Subtlety and diplomacy are nice, but my experience echoes the adage - No battle plan survives contact with the enemy. So, what weapons do you favor?"