Flight Therapy

The mechanical whirr of the Pelicans ramp sealing shut was all that permeated the tense air within the troop bay; inside sat Bodark-B076 and the rest of her squad, PERUN Team. Though rather than the camaraderie which teams may have after a successful mission, the climate in the troop bay was frigid at best as Bodark wiped the last of the blood off her armor. Casting a look towards Major Braughner, Bodark could easily make out the frustration and exasperation on his face. 
‘Can’t really blame him, though it wasn’t his fault’ she thought to herself before casting a glance to Obadiah-A227 who was massaging his clearly bruised jaw. 
While official reports would cite ‘Mission Successful’ with ‘Moderate Efficiency and Team Cohesion’, the reality of the Raid on Camp Hawkhurst was far less subdued. 
‘Getting undermined and left behind by the Alphas, having to fight my way out of an alerted base and nearly breaking the jaw of the asshole behind it all, sounds a bit more than ‘Moderate Friction.’ Bodark thought bitterly before letting out a breath and standing up. 
Not paying attention to how the others tensed up, she walked up the bay and to the cockpit doors before opening them and stepping inside. Once in, she nodded to the pilot who responded in kind before speaking, 
“We should be reaching the Vorpal Sword in a couple of minutes ma’am” 
“As I recall, you outrank me Lieutenant” 
“I don’t outrank a Spartan ma’am” 
The two fell into silence after the Lieutenants response, Bodark feeling somewhat better after their awkward exchange.
“With all due respect ma’am,” the pilot piped up, “I’m not sure what happened down there, but judging by the ice in the troop bay, I’m assumin it wasn’t anything good,” 
Bodark eyed the pilot cautiously but stayed silent, prompeting the pilot to continue.
“Judging by the bruise on Obadiah’s face, I can guess he had somethin to do with you comin back covered in blood,” letting out a breath he continued, “I’ve seen my fair share of sour teams over the years, so it’s pretty easy for me to tell when a team is about to fall apart. I don’t see you letting this team fall apart any time soon, I just hope that Obadiah and Cassandra realize that”
Bodark had been surprised and silent at the pilot's claims but found she couldn’t necessarily refute them. 
Finding her words, Bodark responded.
“And what if they don’t.”
Letting out a huff as he brought the Pelican in for a landing, the pilot gave a quick look back at Bodark. 
“Then I have a feeling one of you will make ‘em,” he finished as the Pelican touched down in the hangar of the Vorpal Sword. 
Despite barely knowing him, Bodark found the assuredness of the pilot's words a welcome respite from the tension of the troop bay. 
“I’ll hold you to that” Bodark finished as she stepped down from the co-pilot seat and exited the cockpit
A few moments later, Major Braughner stepped into the cockpit, not looking at the pilot and rather at the datapad in his hands. 
“How’d it go?” Braughner asked 
“I did what you asked, I just talked to her,” the pilot replied 
“Come on Sal, I need more than that,” Braughner huffed
“I told you I’d help you settle ‘em, never said I’d snitch on ‘em”
“Sal…” Braughner growled as he locked eyes with Sal
“Pilot-Passenger confidentiality Roland, you know how it is” Sal said as he stepped out of the cockpit, leaving a further annoyed Major Braughner in the cockpit.
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