The counter clicked downwards, and Lucas shivered slightly as he felt a sudden wash of nauseia pass over him. He glanced at Kira, wondering how she was feeling at this moment, but the featureless helmet visor gave nothing away. Shaking his head clear of the feeling, he fixed his helmet on, hearing a slight hiss as his flight suit locked the helmet in place. Checking his harness was together correctly, he looked out of Terra's Glory cockpit, seeing people rushing to their stations.

"God help us if we're hit in the atmosphere....." he whispered.

The only fear Lucas ever had was burning alive, and he had seen it happen to other Pelicans before, and worst of all heard it until the explosion finally cut the transmissions short. He lost his best friend on their first mission in such an incident, and he had cursed himself for not being able to help him while he screamed his last moments away, the sudden silence was almost relieving to hear. But the screams had stayed with Lucas ever since, and echoed loudly during the nights.

"Lucas? You ok?" asked Kira.

"What?"

"We're almost full, just a couple of Marines left, then we're clear to go," said Kira.

"Yeah, never trust a Marine to be at his station on time, eh?" said Lucas laughing slightly.

"Unless your meeting them late night..." said Kira.

Lucas looked at her through his reflective visor, getting an impression she was smirking.

"You got a man now Kira?" said Lucas.

"That's need to know,"

Lucas laughed, then felt a sudden shudder run through the Pelican. The hanger suddenly dropped into a dark red lit area. An alarm was sounding and the Ship Hanger personel were running full sprint away from the Pelicans.

"All Flights, this is Tango One, prepare for immediate dust off, Code Red!" came a voice through the comm unit.

"Kira, get the engines Primed, I'll ready the Marines!" roared Lucas, unhooking his harness, and moving to the hold of the Pelican.

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"It is not the enemy's plans I am fearful of, it is our own mistakes" a famed wording from.......... a random ancient guy me thinks <_<