{Base to B-Tower. Motion sensors indicate movement approximately one hundred and twenty three yards out. Confirm.} A distorted radio voice broke the silence that seemed to linger on in the early afternoon.<br/><br/>"Affirmative." Spoke the tower guard through his helmet. He adjusted his binoculars and saw a few dark blots take shape on the horizon. "Confirmed. Three targets one hundred and eighteen yards out. Approaching slowly. Looks like Scavenger Felicity and her group."<br/><br/>"Lunch time." A low masculine voice spoke up from behind the tower guard, who all but shrieked in surprise as he fumbled to keep from dropping his binoculars. He muttered curses as he regained some composure, only to lose it again upon seeing who had startled him so.<br/><br/>"Cole!" He stammered before saulting smartly. "Apologies Sir! You startled me is all." The guard rambled but was silenced quickly by Cole's raised palm.<br/><br/>"Easy Wessen. And don't salute me, I'm not a captain. You know that." Cole hated it when some of the soldiers did this. They respected him of course, but Cole hated being the center of anyone's attention. Such was the bane of any respectable sniper. "As I said, lunch time." Cole repeated. But the guard quickly shook his head.<br/><br/>"I'm good. You go on ahead. I ate yesterday." Cole simply nodded and patted the man on his shoulder.<br/><br/>"Fair enough. But don't run yourself down. Get a snack soon, yeah?" Cole proposed as he made his way down the tower staircase. Wessen shuttered slightly at how silent Cole could move, then nodded firmly before scouting the horizon again.<br/><br/>It was easy to go long periods without a full meal. Most soldiers and scavengers knew this particularly well in the field. But today it was time to cash in on a good hot meal. Through the doors to the canteen something that smelled of meat and starchy potatoes almost brought a fit a drool to Cole's mouth. It was always a pleasant sight to see people at peace just eating and lounging. It was a stark contrast to their situation outside of the base. And Cole thought that's what made it all the better.<br/><br/>After grabbing a plate of food Cole began making his way towards a table when he noticed the commotion. He inwardly sighed. "Phoenix...". It was easy to walk up to small group with as much noise their mouths were making. Cole silently placed his tray down on the table and watched his fellow soldiers berate Phoenix again. He kept his distance for now as he knew the scavenger could handle himself. Cole was considered a bit of a loner and wasn't outwardly close to anyone. But he knew Phoenix, Felicity and Xander and he respected the Scavengers and the dangers they were exposed to. The blight on Phoenix's mother was indeed a mystery and Cole could sympathize with mysteries involving parents. Cole inadvertently made quite a name for himself just to get to any rank that would give him some access, ANY access to further solve his own parent's mystery. He loved Soldier and what it stood for, but what this rabble was doing, was not part of it.<br/><br/>As the fight, or lack thereof finished, Cole made his way to the injured soldier. He glanced at Phoenix with a hint of approval in his eye. A lot of these new soldiers underestimated the trading Scavengers got. And Cole knew that Phoenix stood out amongst even the best of them. But after glancing around and not finding their Faction leader around, Cole reluctantly took it upon himself to settle this unruly unit.<br/><br/>"Attention!" He boomed with all the authority in his voice he could muster. The soldiers instantly stood at attention as Cole finally came into their vision. To them it was like he just appeared and it always unsettled them; something that usually vexed Cole but for now, it took some effort to hold back a smile. Cole bent over and lifted the bloodied man off the ground and made a show of looking him over. The scrutiny made the soldier shift with discomfort. Finally Cole grasped the sides of his head and held it firmly to look into the man's eyes. They were partially glazed over from the punishing blows Phoenix delivered.<br/><br/>"Explain." Cole demanded in a harsh voice. And as he began to gurgle something like a response, Cole abruptly pressed his thumb hard onto the mans broken nose, forcing it back and forth making absolutely no attempt to actually realign the mangled thing. The soldier shrieked in agony. "I didn't catch that.." Cole prompted as he waited for the soldier to attempt another response. When he did, Cole administered another debilitating thumb press to the man's face. Still weeping in pain, Cole shoved the soldier back into his cohorts and pointed to the door of the canteen.<br/><br/>"Get that out of here and into med-bay! Report to the Faction leader afterwards. I'll know if you don't." And with that the group shuffled away, hauling their broken friend. Cole sighed again and grabbed his tray and made his way back to Phoenix. "I apologize for their behavior. Real soldiers do not conduct themselves in such a manner." He spoke the last part loud for the other soldiers in the room to get the hint at his example and they quickly went back to their own meals. Cole gestured towards Phoenix. "May I join you?".