Alpha Bravo Charlie

Virell-7 had been a crucible, a stark reminder that Eve couldn't be everywhere at once.

The Xhal'Kar face-off encouraged Nomad to improve tactical support and firepower. Mira was all over it once she recovered.

The Starfleet promotion had cleared the path, and now, it was time to build.

When Eve picked the squad Mira had no say. Now it was Mira's turn.

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Nomad Hangar Bay 9.

The air in Hangar Bay 9 had a nervous energy Mira found almost amusing.

The core squad – Jax, Kai, Anya, Axel, Vayne – stood on the observation gantry, joined by a scattering of curious Nomad crew members. Below, five identical white transport pods hissed open.

From them stepped five women.

Each was clad in a glossy, form-fitting white nanofiber outfit, strategically cut to reveal toned abs, athletic thighs, and sculpted shoulders. Sleek visors. High, disciplined ponytails. They were the Cesnas, IC's perfected soldiers, and they were, unmistakably, hot.

Men across the hangar, even seasoned veterans, found their gazes snagged, a silent, appreciative gasp rippling through the onlookers.

Hannah, herself a master of silent precision, stepped onto the hangar floor, a rare, almost imperceptible smile playing on her lips.

"Commander Mira, They're here," she commed, her voice low with satisfaction.

Mira nodded, observing the effect from above.

Below, the Cesnas began their demonstration. It wasn't a drill; it was a deadly ballet. A series of combat drones, programmed with Xhal'Kar soldier attack patterns, swarmed the bay. The Cesnas didn't break formation. Their long rifles, energy blast machine guns one moment, precision snipers the next, spat blinding fire. Plasma swords flashed, carving precise arcs through the air, dissecting drones before they could even register a threat.

There was no hesitation, no wasted motion, no individual thought. Every move, every shot, every defensive posture was executed in flawless unison. They were synched power machines each as lethal as Hannah herself.

"Gods above," Jax muttered, leaning over the railing, his usual boisterousness replaced by awe. "They're like… ghosts. But, you know. With juicy abs."

Anya, ever the engineer, whistled. "That nanofiber weave… the energy distribution in their exoskins is insane. Zero-loss movement."

Kai, typically detached, pushed his goggles up. "seemless neural coherence and wow they are hot!"

Vayne, true to form, was practically drooling on those thighs. "I could just watch them fight for a century."

Mira allowed herself a small, private smile. This was her plan, team alpha.

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Tactical Briefing Room.

The briefing room was dark, save for the blue glow of holographic screens that filled the air.

"Alright, team," Mira began, her voice crisp. "Virell-7 showed us what happens when we're stretched thin. We need big guns."

She gestured, and the main screen flickered to life, showing chaotic, first-person combat footage.

"These aren't just soldiers," Mira continued, her gaze sweeping across the squad members, watching their reactions to the unfolding chaos on screen. "These are lethal war machines, handpicked from the IC's most formidable allied planets… the best of their kinds."

The screen flashed to a wide shot of a fortified enemy position.

"First, meet K'tharr," Mira narrated, as a hulking, four-armed figure appeared on screen, smashing through what looked like a reinforced concrete barrier as if it were paper. The footage, from a helmet camera, shook violently with each impact. K'tharr looked like a living, breathing tank.

"K'tharr is our living wrecking ball. Watch." The feed showed him take a direct hit from a heavy plasma cannon, a shockwave that threw enemies twenty meters back. "He absorbs damage and hits back with blows that feel like mini-earthquakes. Enemy lines. No problem."

Next, the view shifted to a high-speed aerial chase. "This is Aura," Mira stated, as a sleek, iridescent figure zipped across the sky, weaving through a storm. Her feathered wings that flared from her suit.

"She's a whirlwind in the air. Watch her move." The footage showed her slice through enemy fighters with her razor-sharp wings, leaving trails of debris. She was amazing with her sword like Valkyrie meets the angel wings. "She owns the sky with aggressive, acrobatic precision. Fast, graceful, and deadly."

Another clip. "Here's Zohan," Mira said. He moved through enemy ranks, not touching a single foe, yet bodies were thrown, weapons twisted, and barriers collapsed by unseen forces.

"Zohan is our telekinetic powerhouse. He can lift, move, and throw objects with his mind, create invisible shields, or unleash powerful telekinetic blasts that punch through armor."

The a huge form appeared n the screen. Vorlag charged, shrugging off laser fire, then, with a roaring transformation, his body swelled, his skin hardened, and a massive, armored head with two sharp horns erupted, transforming him into a powerful beast rhino. "His body can generate intense heat, turning his fists into molten hammers. And when he needs to really smash through, he can transform into a charging rhino beast."

Finally, the screens focused on a subtle, unsettling scene. An elegant figure, Voila, who looked human, but almost 7 feet tall, and her black eyes were huge. There were no combat footage.

"Where's the action?" Anya asked. "I was about to get a popcorn bucket." 

Mira replied, "she's practically the head of the bravo team. Her unique strength is phasing… during which no motion or infrared camera can capture her. She just moves, her blades swing. Next thing we know is battlefield's gone silent. We just don't know how she works."

Now the room is lit with lights accompanied by a round of applause in the briefing room.

"These are our new alien friends on the front line," Mira announced, her gaze sweeping across the core squad members, who now sat in silence carefully listening to her. "Each one, a champion of their people. They will push the boundaries of what Nomad can achieve on the field."

Vayne was about to say something but Anya kicked him on the feet judging from the smirk on his face. She whispered to him, "save it for dinner you idiot."

"Vayne, they will be here shortly. They were just notified they are joining Nomad."

If that was the question stinging anyone.

"Anyone else?"

No hands were raised. The meeting was dismissed.

Ten years into combat had taught these guys Mira deserved all the respect. Mira's actions, dedication and character earned it from them. Her new strategic additions made them love her more.

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Nomad Base HQ on Saiyara. Operational Compounds. 

Mira always saved the best for last. Her heart swelled with a familiar pride as she overlooked the newly recruited team Charlie.

Ten figures, five men and five women. They were her people, the most loyal, the most unwavering.

These were not IC-engineered super-soldiers or exotic aliens. These were humans from the core worlds of Andromeda, trained, disciplined. Their faces held the pride of generations...held an unshakeable devotion to their Queen who stood before them.

Mira had personally overseen every aspect of their selection, from combat aptitude to psychological resilience, but above all, trustworthiness. These were the ones who would never falter, who would always obey, who would do anything for Andromeda and for Eve.

"Sentinels!" Mira's voice boomed, amplified across the training ground. "You are the shield of Andromeda! The promise of our future! Welcome to Nomad!"

Leading the women was Elara, a brilliant tactical analyst and team leader. Beside her, Brenna, an Andromedan demolitions expert. Kyra, a Saiyaran, master of close-quarters combat. Samara, an Andromedan sniper. And Tiana, a Saiyaran combat medic.

Among the men, Kinze, a Saiyaran, was a natural leader and frontline assault specialist. Riz, Khalil, Kamran, Dave... we're all highly capable frontline soldiers.

"When all else fails, when the technology glitches, when the alien powers prove too unpredictable… these are the ones who will hold the line," Mira told Eve. Eve shook their hands one by one.

Then they started walking back to their ride. "What do you think?" Mira wanted Eve's output. Her excitement was noticeable.

"Commander Mira," Eve said and Mira was stunned by her words, this was the first time Eve called her commander Mira besides her squad or Nomad crew. "Just bring them home," Eve said to her in a convening confidence and walked towards SoulDrifter, "see you on Nomad."

Watching her leave, Eve's words about her original squad echoed in Mira's mind: "…those crazy bunch might be a lot for you, but I see a lot of potential and good in them."

Now, Mira saw it too, perhaps even more clearly. This was not just about combat power; it was about the synergy of wildly diverse talents, bound by a shared purpose.

SoulDrifter left for Nomad. After conducting some ground delegations with Saiyara's royal families (which included her own) and government members, Mira left for Nomad on a private cruiser.

She hated the fact that she got to use the Nomad command chain, resources and protocols more than Eve did. But she could mentally process the irony. Eve needed her ordinariness to be herself. She was proud, her Queen didn't need royalty like people did.

Eve's beauty was her royal seal and her style... a royal stamp.

Mira was always fond of the fact that Eve wasn't born human, yet, her heart glowed like an eternal fairy's soul flower.

She thought about Eve a lot on her trip back. She always thought about her Queen. Next, she would think... how to empower her more as a commander, and how to facilitate her more as a friend.

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Back at Nomad.

Mira was heading to the command center. She hadn't seen Eve since Eve left Saiyara after Mira showed her the faces of team Charlie. But it wasn't just about the latest development. Mira was always anxious to see Eve whenever an intermittent short break stretched longer than a week.

A lot had happened since Mira rescued Eve from Thelarians 10 years ago. Mira was thirty four now, although she had not married, but all her worries about Eve never left her room for a husband or a child. Not to mention, her other children, the squad members. And the officers on Nomad, all the crew... her responsibility.

She walked through corridors of the spaceship absorbed in these thoughts. 

The huge command center hall was dimly lit one could hardly see anything. Mira instincts kicked in. Now she took measured steps towards the command console, treading in darkness. She tapped her comm. No response. The comms. Were silent.

Then suddenly…

The entire hall lit, blinding lights and happy Birthday choir.

The hall was teeming with everyone she knew. Core squad, the Cesna sisters, a variety of offers from different sections of Nomad and some of the commanders from fellow IC ships.

She moved through the merriment and noise as people patted her shoulders and raised toasts to her, smiling and cheering. She smiled back and reciprocated all the while her eyes scanned for… the only missing person, the one true love of her life. Eve.

Gigantic Jax hugged her and moved aside when Mira found her standing behind him. Eve smiled and blinked at her. Mira didn't know how to react. Her eyes were a little humid. The squad surrounded them, as Mira quickly held Eve in her embrace as tears washed down her face.

This was the first time a birthday was celebrated on Nomad. 

"Vayne whispered to Anya," I didn't know our strict mommy was a little baby.

Anya, exhilarated, said nothing but laughed, and then just liked that, grabbed Vayne's neck and clasped a kiss on his lips. He looked at Anya incredulously.

"Wow!" Then he received a punch in his stomach. Vayne instantly understood, the thing was in the moment and his out loud wow was a little impolite. 

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The command floor missed a sleeping schedule and shift turn over. Dancing, cheering. It was nice and warm.

Speeches were delivered in Mira's eulogy and appreciation from home crew and fellow commanders.

Then staff members left. Offers slipped out. The fellow IC commanders said their farewell and left for sleeping quarters. Mira and Eve headed for Eve's sleeping quarters.

Both women left squad members to the company of vine and newly added Cesna girls who laughed a lot, talked less and always stayed close to each other. They looked unbearably hot in party dresses. This was first time in years they had been in a party. All they knew were combat. They enjoyed the new club, especially Vayne's attention towards them.

There was a long warm chat between Eve and Mira. And out of nowhere a new subject popped up. Eve was worried Mira was too alone. She needed to settle down. 

"I can't."

"Don't tell me I invited all the hot and most eligible commanders in vain."

"You know what I mean."

"And I need an heir from Mira's bloodline. You are the perfect womb."

"You haven't aged a day. Now I can feel my mother's awe. Why she loved you so much. We get too see you slip away while we age. It is not fair."

"I never got to spend enough with Ammara but I have you all for myself. A little too much."

"I don't feel this way. These are my obligations. There isn't another person or life I would choose other than this."

"Ammara was your age when I first held you in my arms. You were just two years old. I am beginning to miss a family not there."

"There will always be a Mira right beside you Eve and you know that."

"Coincidentally, all of my besties just happened to be Mira's bloodline, except this one is too stubborn to pop a belly."

Mira now turned away to the other side. Eve caressed her hair. "I know you get to be the elder sister, but I am kind of an old mama myself with generations of regret. It holds me together… to see first Mira's face in yours."

Eve kissed her cheek and lights dimmed as she closed her eyes and vanished into the valley of dreams.

Her words kept Mira up. 

It holds me together, to see first Mira's face in yours. What she didn't say echoed echoed in her mind. 'And I don't want to lose that after you are gone.'

Tears filled her eyes. She only had a sister, but the real queen was ageless and seen her mother, grandmother, her mother and all the way to her original rescuer Mira… Eve was really alone. She doesn't have a true family, besides hers.

Saiyarans will always give Eve royal caretaker even outside her family. But it might feel different, it might not feel like the home Mira knew Eve always felt being with her. A little difference might add up too much space.

She could never take it away from Eve. Her home. It was in Mira's genes. Her family line.

Mira was raised learning about Eve. Her childhood schooling was comparable to P.Hd. Her mother was always possessive when it came to Eve. Time and again, she realized why. If Eve was the only superstar in their universe... then Mira was the biggest fan this family had ever raised.

That night Mira decided… Eve will never be alone. 

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The next day, when Eve opened her eyes, Mira had already left. Of course, all responsible Mira has to be somewhere doing something. She smiled to herself.

Eve took a nice shower, dressed up and was planning to meet Vayne when she opened the door.

Mira stood. Arms crossed.

"Only on one condition. A full year of delegations. No questions asked."

"Before or after your marriage?"

Mira raised an eyebrow. Eve gently pulled her into her arms.