Underdogs

[Trinity Talon]

Trinity walked up behind him, dressed in civilian clothes, a simple black pencil skirt and a grey blouse. "Still yawning? I didn't keep you up THAT long last night... " she pecked his cheek. "I think it's great that you got Kalia to replace me." she spun her keys around her finger. "I'm not in the right headspace to help with these wargames. Besides, she's got me beat in the mean XO role. Course, I need to figure out how to train our troops to fight against Ajem. Kat and I are going to work something up with those Narlin swords, because fuck getting kyber crystals for EVERY troop in our corps. Natalia's been hunting for a way to make them synthetically but according to Kat, synthetic crystals are highly unstable. Last thing these boys needs are more things that blow up on their belts."

[Ethan Talon]

"Synthetic crystals can be done, but they are usually associated with the Ajem." He shrugged, "We've been sword training the division, but yeah, we don't have enough kliden resistant swords to equip everyone."

[Trinity Talon]

"Well, it's something we can work on. Besides using this leave to attempt to get pregnant... I'm going to try and get our back end a bit more prepared. Knowing what I know about the Ajem'dasis and how they operate and think, I also know that they do not play by any kind of 'rules' it's fight to win, nothing more nothing less. Kat's a traitor to their cause, so no doubt they're going to try and kill her, BUT they won't kill me. They know damn well that if they do, they'll have both our mothers rallying a fleet to wipe them out. I heard what mom tried to offer Bellatrix and I have a pretty good idea what that plan was part of. So yeah... the more she stays around me, the safer she'll be." she reached into her purse and handed Ethan a kilden. "I made this last night while you were out tending that runaway calf. Marine Corps kilden. I tried to make it look like a baton you'd use for crowd control or inspection, but..." she tapped the brass fittings and a bright green blade emerged from the top. "The Ajem on Bellatrix's ship had kept the crystals from fallen Jase'dasis they encountered, I smuggled as many crystals as I could, figured we'd need them. I had a good feeling about this one, so I used it for you."

Trinity pecked his cheek. "Now that I'm back, I'm not letting the Ajem or Dominus hurt our family again."

[Ethan Talon]

Ethan raised an eyebrow, and took a drink from his coffee, "Well, that's why I'm wearing this uniform. I'd much rather be on Mout Archer right now looking for cattle."

[Trinity Talon]

"Or Mount Talon..." Trinity said with a saucy grin. "Don't stay out too late and for the love of the Iljuna... please don't bring that uniform home smelling like cigar smoke. I don't mind gunpowder but I am super sensitive to tobacco smoke lately. Maybe because no one smokes on a starship." she shrugged her shoulders. "Anyway... " she bit her lower lip. "I feel like I'm abandoning our men but it would take me too long to get up to speed. Just tell Kalia, if we don't win this thing... she and I are having words."

[Ethan Talon]

Ethan shrugged, "When I'm home depends on whether or not we complete our objectives, or the 3rd defeats us. It could be tomorrow evening or later. It's a tall order, and the Five-Oh-Duce is my old regiment from the War, and Colonel Yarr is one hell of a commander. Go easy on Kalia if we lose. It'll be a miracle we win."

[Trinity Talon]

"Well she was all braggy the other night. So I say put up or shut up." Trinity chuckled lightly. "I like her, I'm glad she's hung around us. And I am not jealous of her anymore. I trust you, I just trusted her less before I was gone for six months. Face it, us Lei women are flirts and we're prone to jealousy. Remember when my dad did that one mission with those Betazoid women and everything he wore smelled like Betazed perfume and mom was totally a green eyed monster. Didn't help that they were gorgeous and looooved to find ways to make mom even more jealous. Lipstick on his collar, earrings 'accidentally' dropped in his ready room. But I think we need her in some capacity, I DO plan on getting back to work, but we need to handle this Ajem'dasis situation and get our plans in place before I put the greens back on. I still have nightmares about Sigma."

[Ethan Talon]

Ethan shrugged, "My dear, I am a hammer and I see all problems as nails. You know that. I suppose that's why I'm a Marine. My job description is 'Hulk smash'!"

He loosened the reins that were tied to a bench and genially patted Jake on the the neck, and gave the quarter horse a scratch behind the ears, which the gelding thoroughly enjoyed.

Ethan kissed Trinity before swinging into the saddle, "You need to talk to mom. She wants to get the Jase'dasis more involved. A few nimble strike teams might be useful, and I heard Uncle Nick saying something about a Gray Order. I know what those two words mean, but I haven't a clue what they mean together."

[Trinity Talon]

"I do understand what it means and... I'm intrigued. After what I experienced with the Ajem'dasis and what Bellatrix tried to convert me to, they DO have a few things that at least I feel aren't 'bad' but I know the Jase'dasis do think it's not 'right'. So... yeah... new order. Might not be the worst thing to combat them." Trinity replied. "I'll talk to her. We haven't really had a private sit down, the welcome home girls' night that Grandpa Nick did notwithstanding, but too many others. I haven't really told mom half of what happened there. I feel like your mom might understand more than she would." she handed him a small tube. "Oh and don't forget the lip balm, you may be on camera." Trinity grabbed a bottle of menthol wipe from the small box near the hitching post and put some on Jake's nose. "If you're going past the Residence then you don't want him smelling that Sehlat bear that jackass guard sometimes keeps around."

[Dougal MacDonald]

"The wee laddie is a horse sasanach," Dougal said teasing her. The Scotsman was wearing full highland regalia complete with kilt, plaid, flat top Scot's bonnet, and back sword. "The wee beastie is likely ta do much worse in front of the president than 'ave a smelly muzzle."

"Yeah," Ethan said with a wry grin. "Some nice fresh road apples."