It wasn't long before the Alexis' security showed up and unlocked Curtis' quarters; three young women of fair complexion and matching navy uniforms. Had he cared to linger over them, Curtis might have seen their freckles or auburn hair falling lightly from their helmets in places but none such concerned the man as the quartet marched to the main deck in silence. As they neared the bridge, two of the women fell behind Curtis and the third gingerly. It might have even gone unnoticed had the man not heard the familiar click of weapon safeties.

"You know you don't have to do that." Curtis called over his shoulder, never turning toward the muzzles he sensed behind him. "You think if I had meant to leave with the others, I'd have waited thirty years to end up on a ship outside a damn oil rig with skyscrapers?" No response. "Even if I did, even if I [i]did[/i] mean to escape, where would I go? We're smack dab in enemy territory, girl scout." Curtis felt a quick jab in his back as the metal barrel of a gun struck him. Rubbing his back with exaggerated anguish, Curtis laughed. "Is that how NUA is training you kids nowadays? Picking on an old man? I swear, the French treated me better than this!"

As the four reached the door to the bridge, the two woman behind Curtis fell away with a huff and the one in front merely scanned her i.d. to open the door before walking away, back to whatever guard post they'd been assigned upon the massive Alexis. Entering into what served as the command center and war room, Curtis made his way to where Henderson stood surveying the war outside. "Admiral." With a stiff salute, the man sounded off. "First Sargent T. Anthony Curtis here on official Allied business. I trust the NUA sent word of my operations here beforehand so I'll keep this brief. My mission is to find the current acting Governor of the city of Dubai and eliminate her. While the NUA have full faith in your campaign here, they feel without localized leadership to receive the Empress' directives, the city will fall much sooner. As such, I'll be needing transport to shore." After a short pause, indeed, the only lapse in his militaristic rhetoric at all, Curtis continued. "Preferably not the beach."