G.L.A.D.I.U.S.

UNSMC Clypeus

"Welcome aboard the Clypeus, Corporal," grunted a weary voice from the throat of one Captain Matthew Gomez. His dress blacks were neatly pressed and seamed, his shoes freshly polished, and his numerous pins and medals shone gallantly in the frigate's interior lighting.

A new pair of hands walked behind the Captain who lead him through the entirety of the military ship as a sort of tour- one that the ethnic officer had given many times before. "It's an honor, sir. May I ask where I'll be stationed, sir?," Corporal Lee questioned.

"In due time. For now, let's get you acquainted with the ship and her crew, right?," Captain Gomez replied. He strode stiffly through a tight hallway of sorts, one that would probably only allow enough room for two people to stand shoulder-to-shoulder. This path was lit by fulgent luminance, bathing the metal and its treaders in a white glow.

Before long, the two stepped behind the helmsman at the head of the vessel. Flight Lieutenant Cole Phillips turned in his swivel chair that was rooted to the floor by a steel pole and gave the Corporal a wink and a smirk. "Howdy, howdy! You must be... uhh, shit. I'm bad with names," he said. Phillips leaned back and stuck his legs out to stretch out his slender body before returning to an upright position.

"Corporal Allan Lee, sir!," Lee nearly shouted and snapped to attention. He presented arms, and just as quickly Phillips lifted his hand and made a "calm down" gesture.

"At ease, Corporal. I'm Flight Lieutenant Phillips, and I'll be steering this giant metal box full of soldiers through an ocean of nothing at the speed of sound," Phillips remarked, running a hand through his short yet oddly still unkempt blonde hair. "You're standing at the brains of the Clypeus, brother. I make her go where she needs to, and in live fire situations I'm in full control."

"You have quite the job, sir. I couldn't begin to imagine how stressful it must be to pilot it, sir."

"She. A ship's a she, brother. Yeah, it gets bumpy but..." Phillips spun back around in his chair and flipped the airlock switch- GLADIUS was coming back aboard. "Oh. Okay, it was nice meeting you, Corporal, but we're preparing to leave the Hub. You're dismissed or whatever, just go do something else."

"Yes, sir!," Corporal Lee chimed.

Captain Gomez gave an irritated huff. This boy was as green as they came. "Follow me, Corporal. Now's a fine time to introduce you to your Commanding Officer," the older Spanish gentleman stated while leading the young soldier back through the bright path.

"You're not the Commanding Officer, sir?," Lee asked as they walked.

"I'm only your CO when Colonel Mars is absent. I'm your XO, son: your Executive Officer," he replied.

The two arrived at the airlock just in time. Sagittarius swiftly ducked through the bridge crew to avoid talking with the new hand on deck. They always had questions. So many questions.

Bellator stepped over the threshold and glanced over Corporal Lee, offering a grin. "Hey-hey, fresh meat. Try not to cry too much when ya get shot, got it?," he teased, nudging the young man's shoulder as he walked past.

Ventus stopped before Lee and gave him a quick once-over with his golden yellow eyes. "You believe in the Lord, my brother?," he asked sternly.

"Pardon, sir?," Lee asked in confusion.

"God, my brother. The good Lord. Jesus. The Messiah," Ventus repeated. "Do you believe in him?"

"I... I do, sir. I know it's crazy nowadays, sir, but--"

Ventus only smiled and held up a finger to tell him to be quiet for a moment. He ducked his head and fiddled with something behind his neck. A small snap was heard, then the dark-skinned man tugged free a segmented steel chain with a silver cross clipped at the center of it. He took Lee's hand and rested the bauble in his palm. "God bless, my brother. Keep this with you, got it? It'll keep you safe."