"I have no idea why command even keeps you around. You have the worst damned attitude in the entire company and you have no respect at all for your commanding officers. There are several harassment complaints on file against you every week and you have missed almost all of the mandatory training exercises for the last two months without so much as a notice. You...hey, pay atten....!"<br/><br/>The noisy officer had just about gotten on the last nerves of the man sitting in front of the finely crafted oak wood desk, the hand of the commander now strongly gripped by Michael as he uses his power to silence the blubbering oaf. He let out a satisfying sigh as the sweet silence filled the room, the commander trying desperately to pull his hand away but is proven to be too weak to do so despite his mass. Though the commander was large, in a not-so-much stocky appearance as was a tad overweight, he was easily handled by the smaller yet obviously stronger mech pilot. Normally it would be considered highly unprofessional and downright disrespectful to handle a member of command in such a way but Stranard had very little respect for brass, especially those that sit behind a desk all day letting themselves turn into blobs like this one had done.<br/><br/>"Sir," Michael began to explain in a nonchalant tone, "with all due respect, you talk too much. Perhaps you would be better suited for this kind of rant if you put some effort into your time here and lost a couple pounds, eh?" He releases the commander's hand and prepares for the torrent of words that were to follow.<br/><br/>The commander did all he could to control himself from exploding while a deep red washed over his face, "You insolent little shit. How dare you lay your hands on your superior officer and talk to him in such ways? Who the hell do you think you are?"<br/><br/>Cutting off the commander, Michael leans forward with a toothy smile, "Why I am one of the few remaining utility mech pilots this military has, not to mention a rather good one at that if I do say so myself." Leaning back into the chair he continues, "But in all seriousness, all of that hoity-toity, proper attitude crap is for the birds. I perform on the battlefield, that is why command keeps me around."<br/><br/>The arrogance of the young pilot was proving to be too much to handle as the commander was feeling sweat starting to bead on his forehead from how hot his face was becoming, "Your talents on the field are only going to get you so far. You will never become an officer and take command as long as you act the way you do. If it were up to me, you would have been dumped a long time ago. You are a hazard to all good soldiers and pilots. You...hey, get back here," he screamed out as he watched the young man rise from the chair and turn his back to the commander.<br/><br/>"I don't think it's going to do me any good to take criticism from a desk jockey who chose to push pencils rather than go out to field." Without uttering another word, as the commander continued to rant on, Michael walks out of the office and slams the door before heading down the hall towards the canteen. While walking, the young pilot had completely disregarded what the commander had been speaking about, not caring for the kind of reputation he had. He was never big on authority and was used to visits to the office for an scolding about his in-house performances. Personally, he considered it an honor to be constantly the thorn in the sides of the brass. He knew eventually his talents and overall importance in battle would not always protect him but he would not let that change him.<br/><br/>As he reflected on this he made his way into the canteen to find three others having already arrived, his eyes immediately locking onto  the young woman that sat at one of tables, transfixed on her for a moment before looking at the two other only members of the room. "Well, there goes my plan for a romantic getaway for two," he says with heavy disappointment in his voice before looking back at the woman, "Hi there, Delilah," sudden excitement returning to his speech.