Allenby landed behind her, and Trudy turned around with a raised eyebrow. "You're going to fix that X-Wing for me. You'd better hope you can do it," she said.

Trudy stuck her hands in the pockets of her plantsuit as they walked into the hangar, the lines of her shoulders relaxing as soon as she passed through the door. She was a pilot, and this place felt like home. She was sure Allenby felt the same way, and that was the reason she was going to give the kid's Gundam back.

"Look," she said, turning to Allenby. "What I saw that day was one of my pilots setting off to get herself messily killed in a fiery explosion because she thought she could take on an army. I haven't lost a pilot yet under my command, and if I ever do I don't want it to be for a stupid reason. Every single one of you is recklessly brave and ridiculously talented, and every one of you lost makes us that much weaker against the Ohm. You scared the hell out of me, Beardsley - I thought the next time I saw you would be a holo over your coffin. I don't want to have to float you out."