An understanding

Posted on Thu Jul 7th, 2022 @ 5:10am by Commander Antonia 'Tony" Stoffels

Mission: The Lost Brother
Location: Soran Office.

Soran sat at his desk in his office flipping a butterfly knife, he'd call for Tony. He needed to make sure they were on the same page. He heard the chime.

"Come," he said. without looking up from his knife.

"You wanted to see me?" Tony was back in uniform now that her little talk with the captain had cleared up that she was not actually off duty.

"Yes," Sora said. He folded the knife and put away. "We've been assigned the the same away team. The captain wasn't able to tell me everything apparently he's dealing some classified information. From what he did say we could end up in combat down there. "

"Yes he told me as well." She took a deep breath. "I am in overall command but were it comes to our safety your are senior. And I need you to tell me when I need to step back, Ren. I don't trust anybody else to do that, but I do trust you."

"That's good to hear I have a few questions for you," He smiled. "Have you ever been in combat?"

She raised an eyebrow. "Hello, marine family. My dad drilled me endlessly so I can defend myself."

"I've no doubt you're well trained," hed said. "I'm asking if you've experienced combat."

Soran gave her a calm analytical expression. He knew this was a potentially difficult subject, but it was too important not to address.

"You have met my dad. You know he prepared me well."

Soran paused, "have you ever looked down the sights of your weapon at someone who's trying to kill you and pulled the trigger?"

A muscle twitched just below one of her eyes. "Yes. And I prefer not to talk about it with you."

"Thank you Tony," Soran said "I'm sorry, I wouldn't have asked if it wasn't important. Past experience plays a critical role in situations like this, especially when you outrank me."

"I don't think you can enter the command track without any combat experience." She said softly.

"I've run into enough to warrant question," Soran sighed. "If we face a threat a I will be the first to act. I'm glad to hear your willing to trust that.

"I will. I am not happy that the captain is placing you above me in combat situation, I think it undermines my authority. But you are the expert and I will follow your lead."

"You know your brother, how do you think he'd react to a combat situation?" He inquired.

She hesitated. "Nick is not a natural marine, Ren. As granddad's only male grandchild he was pushed into a career as a marine but it doesn't come natural to him. That's why I fear for him so much."

"His mates will take care of him, good marines look out for one another. I'm sure your family taught you that." He looked away remembering his old comrades, they had taken good care of him. If only he could have saved them.

"We lost my uncle when I was small." She said softly. "I don't think granddad ever really got over that. My other uncle is brilliant but he is a doctor."

"We will do all in our power to save all we can," He stated.

"I know, I know. It is still hard and I don't know how much you know but my mother is out there somewhere looking for him as well."

Soran walked over to her and embraced her, " It hard Tony."

She hugged him back. "Thanks Ren. We have to save her as well. When she is safe then I will kill her."

"I believe that would defeat the purpose of saving her," he smiled. "But I understand your frustration.

"If I don't dad certainly will. She went against a direct order. Well you know my parents." Ren also knew that the general adored his headstrung wife.

"Leave those two to work out their problems they always do," he said.

"yeah. I know. Dad will not file charges and he will forgive her." She sighed. "He always does. Nobody ever believes that a four star general lets his wife walk all over him."

"I sincerely doubt anybody can get to four stars and still have anyone walking all over them." Soran said. "Sometimes a commander gives the order they need to give knowing their will do what believe is best."

Tony paused. "You think... you think he secretly wanted her to go?"

"I don't know, but I've seen commanders do similar things." He smiled.

"Hmmm I did not think of that." She said softly. "He wants Nick back as well and he can't go but mum can." She smiled at Ren. "Thank you, that really helped."


"Of course," Soran nodded. "If you ever want to talk anything else, I'm here."

"I will take you up on that." On impulse she kissed him on the cheek. "I am so glad to have you on board, Ren."

Soran smiled, "the feeling is mutual."

He pushed the dark thoughts and memories out of his mind. 'Focus on life's he thought, the words he'd given to CJ repeated in his head.

Tony felt a lot better about the upcoming mission now. Together they would pull it off.