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"Here, take this."

A particular 'morning' aboard the Hermies, Dax presented his group with some strange badges and a black mask which would cover their mouth.

"What's this?"

"Official identification, these badges serve as proof that all of you are members of the 125th, as such each of you needs to keep it on your person at all times."

Opening it up to inspect it closer, Solaris found that the badge contained a picture of her, together with the 125th's logo and information about her rank, intentionally omitting things such as age, place of birth and personal background.

"It says I'm not in a relationship…"

"That's because such a thing relates to me and is therefore classified, sorry about that."

With an apologetic smile on his face, Dax placed a hand on top of Solaris' head as she sulked, meanwhile, Terra who wanted to leave the lovebirds to their things as soon as possible asked about the other thing she had been given.

"So what about the masks?"

"Good question, try putting it on."

"... Okay."

Feeling another one of Dax's peculiar lectures was about to happen, Terra did as he suggested with a hint of reluctance on her face. Securing the black mask to her face with straps which fit behind her ears, Dax quickly made sure it was fitted correctly.

"Then what now?"

Finding no issue in speaking or breathing with the mask on, Terra's started to wonder if the mask even had a use.

"What's my name?"

"..."

"Just answer my question please."

"It's ---. Wait, what?"

Answering Dax's seemingly stupid question, Terra found herself unable to say Dax's name out loud no matter how much she tried to. Seeing that commotion happen, Mu who had so far kept to the sidelines stepped in to explain.

"Dax's identity is classified, as are your own identities with the exception of what's on the Hellwalker identifications. A bunch of other things we have so far casually shared with you too is also not something which we would like to become common knowledge and instead of making sure that any of you don't accidentally share classified information these masks will block it out."

"Ah, okay. Thanks for the explanation --."

Finding out that Mu's identity was also classified when she thanked her, Terra suddenly got really tired of wearing her mask (Read: dog's collar.)

"No problem~ When we're out in public, Dax is 'commander', I'm 02 while Ra is 01."

"Sure… But why do we need these masks anyway?"

"Because we're hitching a ride and heading to Hellwalker command in the Galactic capital first, Phillipa told me some things I can't afford to ignore so I need to take care of them first. Just think of this as a short holiday before going to war."

With Phillipa being mentioned all eyes turned to her who had so far remained silent.

"Can I tell them?"

"Sure, go ahead."

Having received permission from her superior, Phillipa breathed a deep sigh before she started explaining.

"In my time as acting Hellwalker command, I've found trace evidence of both misuse of power and corruption within the unit, together with mounting evidence that the recruitment of new Hellwalkers has been compromised." 

"Compromised? How can something like recruitment be compromised?"

Looking around the room Dax saw that the other's also shared Terra's confusion, making him realize that he had never explained the Hellwalkers' normal recruitment process.

"The 125th is the most elite fighting force in the Galactic navy, as such all members must have qualifications to match. Recruitment takes place all over the empire every 5 years in an event known as the semi annual selection matches which normally has a cadet failure rate of 99.995%, but recently it has fallen enough to call into question its integrity."

"So there's a possibility that the 125th has splintered into corrupt groups or even infiltrated by a 3rd party? That sounds extremely bad."

"Yeah it is, what's worse there's even a chance that some members have been either selling weapons or are directly involved with criminal organizations for their own benefit."

"So it's fine to get directly involved with criminal organizations if it is for the sake of the government?"

"Yeah, the 125th is a black operations unit, we do whatever we need to get the job done."

Taking some time to digest what Phillipa and Dax had just told them, the girls fell silent with grim expressions on their faces. Seeing the heavy mood Dax put on a reassuring smile as he broke the silence in an attempt to lighten the mood.

"But that's my problem as the commander. While I get those things sorted out and possibly purge a few members of the organization, the rest of you are free to explore the capital and have fun. The identifications I've just given you also work like cash cards without any spending limit and if anything happens they're also beacons for me to locate you in an emergency situation, just depress the icon and drones will be at your location within 60 seconds."

Explaining a bit further how to seek aid in the event of an emergency or contact him using their personal communicators or even Reaper drones acting as police units, Dax told the group that they would soon branch off from Ra and Mu's and head to the capital by hitching a ride on a Galactic navy vessel while they moved to Ra and Mu's hidden research facility.

"Why can't we just remain on this ship? Is it that out of the way for Ra and Mu to drop us off at the capital?"

"Not really, but it's one thing to privately own a warship with technology multiple generations ahead of anything in service and another thing entirely to have that very ship show up in one of the Galactic Empire's busiest systems."

"Ah, yeah that makes sense."

---

Parting with the research group, Dax and his group boarded a CAS-7A and travelled a few hours in deep space before rendezvousing with the Galactic navy's 3rd strike group, docking with the battleship Ingenuity, the flagship of the fleet. The ship in question was radically different from Ra and Mu's ship, both in form factor and sheer size with a length of 2.4 kilometres and a beam (width at the widest point) of 900 metres at the rear engine mounts, coming to a stumped point at the bow (front of the ship) with docking facilities housing everything from transports to torpedo boats, fighters and arsenal ships running along the port and starboard sides of the roughly triangle shaped ship. As the rear ramp of the CAS-7A came down a busy flight deck filled with personal and drones doing maintenance was revealed, along with a grey haired man in his sixties with an impressive beard.

"It's been a long time admiral Simmons. I see you've gotten fat while I wasn't looking."

With a large smile on his face, Dax greeted the fleet commander who had come to greet Dax at the hanger together with a bunch of curious looking officers.

"Meanwhile you haven't changed at all commander, it is nice to be of use to the 125th again, please tell me if there's anything you need doing your stay here aborad the Ingenuity and feel free to rely on the officers behind me, they're all my most talented subordinates."

Shaking hands with the admiral, Dax took a quick look behind him to judge the young men and women who the admiral had taken under his wing while Dax had been gone, finding them to be bright and capable looking officers. 

"They sure look like some fine men you've gathered under you, Simmons, I would love to take some time and introduce my men to them but sadly I'm not allowed to do so."

"That's completely fine, I know how you special ops types operate. Now, follow me, I'll show you all to your quarters."

Taking a quick tour of the ship's basic facilities, Dax and his subordinates were eventually led to a series of isolated officers quarters.

"Use these rooms however you see fit, I'll make sure to make sure none disturbs you."

"That's perfect Simmons, I'll swing by the bridge later this evening to catch up and perhaps meet some of your seedlings?"

"That would be great, I'll have a bottle ready for that occasion then."

Once more shaking hands with the admiral, Dax and his group was left with their bags (which hid classified equipment) to settle in while the admiral and his officers went back to their tasks.

"You sure are chummy with that guy Dax."

"Of course I am Lilly, he's an old drinking buddy who has helped me out countless times. Are you jealous?"

"Not really."

Puffing out her cheeks as she looked away, Lilly proved that she was, in fact, a tiny bit jealous of one of Dax's drinking buddies she didn't know anything about.

"Mistress, let me take your things."

"Ah, Thanks, Lia. Just put them in your quarters, I'm sure we won't need our armour on board this ship."

Lia, the formerly blind beastkin enforcer who had settled into the role of Solaris' attendant after the archangel had picked her up quickly started taking care of their equipment and hauling it into the room she had claimed as her own.

"There are two double rooms, Mare do you want to sleep with me?"

"Mmm."

Lilly quickly claimed a room for herself and Mare who had gotten somewhat attached to her among all these unknown sights, sounds and smells.

"Dax do you want to share a room with me?"

"That would properly be a bad idea, why don't you take the room together with Terra?"

"... Okay."

Seeing the light drain from Alice's eyes as she was shot down by Dax, Terra breathed a deep sigh as she quelled her annoyance.

"Hey don't look so disappointed, I know I'm not the love of your life but you can at least pretend to like me."

"I-I didn't mean it like that! Terra, wait for me!"

"Then I'll take the room down there commander, call me when you're going to meet with the admiral~"

Already used to living in officers quarters, Phillipa swung her backpack over the shoulder as she lazily waved goodbye to the others and disappeared, Dax knowing her, she was most likely going to check up on the state of the Galactic empire now that she had an uplink.

"I don't really need a room…"

"These rooms usually have a fridge filled with drinks and snacks."

"I'll take this room here Dax, see you tomorrow~✿"

Left alone in the hallway Dax quietly breathed a sigh as he swung his massive backpack over one shoulder and moved into the only room which was left. Seeing the completely standard officers quarter Dax placed his backpack where he always did before plopping down on the bed which was a tiny bit too short for him if he stretched out fully.

"Home, sweet home."