Welcome to Gaia! ::

Max encountered a clearing about a mile from his ship. It appeared to have been hacked out years ago and never grew back... or, perhaps, it just wasn't a place where plants could get much sun. Strange marks and ancient scars in the trees and rocks signified that something had once been here. At the time, Maximilian was unaware of his surroundings and the Balrogs that had once made camp there. That was until he spotted a fire pit, some strange-looking tools lying on two stumps and a rock, and a dead fodder-type animal rotting seven yards away. Uneasily, Max drew his rifle from his back and glanced around suspiciously. Something was watching him, perhaps out of curiosity, and then again, possibly out of hunger. After becoming somewhat satisfied with his surroundings, Max lowered his weapon slightly to examine the tools. "Strange... these tools seem to have not aged a bit, and that fire is still smoldering... almost as if its inhabitants were merely out for a hunt!" He muttered, looking up as if something would pop out and attack him. When nothing did, he turned around towards his ship... or was it towards his ship? "Where did I come from again?" He asked himself. The jungle had already reclaimed where he had stepped, so he couldn't backtrack towards his ship. To make matters worse, if he did use his locator beacon, the IEF would be all over him. "Damn!" Max cursed, looking up ahead towards where he had been facing not five minutes ago before running in that direction. He was more interested in coming to the IEF on his terms than theirs, where he might even hack out a chance of getting a bit of cash as a hired hand.

Maximilian had already been spotted by two IEF guards before he could even react. 's**t! How did they find me?' He thought nervously. Max decided his best course of action would be to go peacefully, since if he was captured, they would surely find his ship and the weapons inside. "My name is Maximilian. I am a bounty hunter that takes contracts universally, regardless of race. I came here for some fuel, and maybe even a contract with the IEF." Max replied, not lowering his weapon in case the two IEF soldiers decided it was best if they put him down.

Three steel rods erupted from Max's gun with a Gauss-like explosion. They stuck the Balrog in the back of its leg, shoulder, and head. With a chilling rattle, the creature's eyes went blank as it passed on. Max shook his head, chuckling as he stared at the ground. "Well, that's not suspicious... I don't think it is, at least." He added as a second though. Maximilian was more marksman than anything, but when it was all broken down, he was quite the covert-ops fighter. He had once enrolled in the IEF about ten years ago, where he learned his basic skills. Realizing that the military wasn't for him, he left almost right after basic training before seeing any action. Although this wasn't a major part of his life or career, Max saw it as the one means that he used to become a bounty hunter.

((That's her buddy, right? At the base on Orcus?))
Max lowered his weapon and looked at them skeptically. "So... you're with the IEF at the base a mile from here... why aren't you at your post?" He inquired. One or two men could definitely not hold off an attack by a tribe of red demon-like creatures. "I think we should head on there and discuss any agreement we may or may not be able to work out." Maximilian suggested.

"Your orders," Vega began, "were to call for support if there were any attacks, private, not just large ones. These creatures aren't as stupid as some of your friends might lead you to believe." He then turned to the other members of the group, not having noticed Max yet. "Which one of you gave the order to pursue this enemy of yours?"

Matt had his head bowed and opened his mouth to talk, to tell him that he had run off without thinking and the others only followed to make sure he was okay, but Mia cut him off before he could even speak.

"I'm sorry, sir. I take full responsibility. I wasn't thinking and I'm ready to receive punishment." Mia stepped in front of Matt who stared sheepishly at Mia.

A flash of recognition appeared on Vega's face. "You're the General's daughter aren't you? I should have known as much... Recruits don't spend enough time in training anymore, and just think that because of a family member's rank, they have the same privileges. But as long as you serve in my company, you will follow all your orders." Vega drew in a deep breath, readying his lecture. "A sergeant may be able to give orders to a private, but if those orders are in violation of those that they are already under, then it is a direct violation of command. You will be punished, no doubt, but I'm not sure how yet... How does latrine detail for a week sound?" The sarcasm in his final statement was biting.

This was the first time Max showed any interest in the conversation. The thickly lensed dark helmet lifted itself almost mechanically, a bleak surface for Vega to stare at. His arms had been crossed the entire time, and this did not change; in case the already-aggravated captain decided to advance towards him with a rifle aimed at his gut, his hand rested easily on his pistol.