General Carmelita Ibanez(United Colonies of America)

Carmelita's lips felt warm as she fiddled with the little box, opening and closing it. Inside was nothing special. Just the biggest decision of her life. It had been surprisingly easy to get the titanium alloy band. The Alvarez Mining Corporation remembered it's friends. Even if they didn't fully understand why it had to come from that specific mine.

Their records didn't care that was the place Carmelita had met the most amazing woman she'd ever known. A little inconclusive skirmish that had set in motion what had happened two years ago.

The taste of cherry on her lips, the repatriation reports forgotten and minimized for just a moment. All those nights of half-promises and sidelong looks coming to fruition in one searing kiss.

"We shouldn't" Carmelita said reluctantly as they pulled back.

"They'll never let us fight again as is." Harriet had pointed out but it was empty words. She too knew they couldn't go further. Not yet. Maybe not ever. Reluctantly she'd pulled away. Carmelita resisting everything in her body telling her to pull her back in and never let go.

She had been right of course. The amount of time they'd spent together made both sides **** to let them once again face off. That didn't mean they became strangers. Letters flying fast between them and sometimes meeting when they happened to be in the same place.

"What if she says no." Carmelita said to herself quietly.

"What if she says yes."

Carmelita was a combat veteran with forty years of experience. None of which prevented her head from almost hitting the ceiling as her second in command's voice sounded from behind her.

If there was anyone who was the total embodiment of a light infantrywoman it was Jennifer Crusoe. She'd been Carmelita's second in command for the past ten years, a state of affairs that wasn't likely to change unless she decided to take on General stars herself. An idea to which Jennifer had reacted with nothing less than pure horror.

"I don't know what you mean." Carmelita said as her heart tried to return to it's normal rhythm.

"Carmelita," Jennifer gave her a raised eyebrow, "You've got her name engraved on the inside. You'd get slapped trying to put it on someone else." Damn her optical mods. "I'm happy for you boss, and I'll be even happier when you come back here grinning and laughing like an absolute fucking lunatic to tell me I'm in charge because you're engaged to the enemy leader."

"She's not the enemy. It's a training exercise. It's meant to be a bonding experience."

"I'm sure there will be plenty of bonding." The eyebrow wiggle was totally unnecessary. "Now get up and go before you're late."

"Yes mom." Carmelita replied, giving her an affectionate smile as she got to her feet. "Jen… thanks." She said before leaving the room. Jennifer watching her go, making sure she'd actually left she tapped the com bead in her ear.

"Falcon has flown. Make sure the nest is clear over."

"Roger that. Emptying the nest. This doesn't count as treason does it? Over." The voice on the other end asked.

"Not unless one of them says no. Out." Jennifer said, cutting the connection. Now all that was left was to hope they didn't notice the cameras.