A single officer, dressed in a clean olive green dress uniform with a beret, marched through the halls of the United Nations Space Peacekeeping Forces Headquarters in San Diego. The tall, towering structure was a recent addition, constructed thirty years ago due to humanity's expansion into space. Fifteen stories tall and encompassing an area the size of a soccer stadium, the UNSPFHQ was the military arm of the United Nations at home and in outer space.

A military arm often fought over by the member states, especially among the eleven ruling members of the UN Permanent Security Council, the United Nations was only united in one aspect: trying not to destroy each other. Otherwise, everything else was fair game.

Still, due to the strict demilitarization of space for individual members of the United Nations decades prior, the UNSPF and the Discovery Corps were the only two entities available to aspiring soldiers and officers who wanted to deploy into space.

For the member states, these were the only two avenues of projecting their influence into the galaxy… which was filled with nothing but rocks and giant balls of gas until that discovery just over a decade prior.

Captain Jonathan Moore took off his beret and grasped it tightly while he marched into the office of one Brigadier General Robin Turtledove. The office was on the tenth floor, offering a spectacular view of the San Diego beachfront and the spaceport in the distance. The city of three million souls went about their daily lives under a clear blue sky. It would've been a perfect day for the beach, though the captain was here for more important matters.

The younger officer snapped a salute and stood at attention. "Captain Moore, reporting in, sir."

"Good to see you again, captain," General Turtledove acknowledged. The man had a forest of grey hair combed neatly to the side, his weathered face displaying only a tad of exhaustion. His sharp blue eyes remained bright, unmarred by any hints of age or wariness. "Congratulations on your promotion from first lieutenant. I've heard about your fine work on Nova. Take a seat."

"Thank you, sir." Captain Moore sank into the chair before the general's desk and awaited upright.

General Turtledove took the time to scan through the thin transparent computer screen on his desk and frowned. "I see that you've requested an assignment to either Luna or Mars. Why those two places, captain? A bright officer like you should be looking for better opportunities elsewhere."

"Some peace of mind, sir. I've had my fill of action on Nova… and I don't think I'm cut out for an administrative role."

"You wouldn't reconsider for a chance of a lifetime?"

"No, sir. I just want some peace and quiet, preferably away from Earth and Nova, for a nice change of scenery. Battling terrorists for two years on Nova and seeing an American city go up in smoke would do that to you." Captain Moore chuckled deprecatingly.

"Well, I feel a bit sorry for you, son," General Turtledove said. "Because you've been handpicked by one of your former commanders. You're slated to be sent somewhere else, not Luna or Mars."

"Where to? Io? Isn't there some training base that was recently built there?"

"No, to Roana."

"Roana…" Captain Moore's eyes widened as he bolted up from his chair. "That Roana? The inhabited planet they found eleven years ago? I thought it was quarantined!?"

"Do you follow the news at all, son?"

"No, sir."

"Well, they un-quarantined it. There's a UN mission set to depart for the planet in three months. Science and first contact, no big military action planned. It should be right up your alley."

The captain crashed into the seat of his chair. "I'll be damned."

"You've been assigned to Bravo Company, under First Brigade commanded by Colonel James Wilson. Sounds familiar? He requested you specifically."

Captain Moore sighed. "Of course he did. Is there any way I can…"

General Turtledove raised his hand. "No. You were also recommended by the CO of the Tenth Mountain Division, and since this UN mission is of utmost importance, we're sending the best of the best, which includes you and parts of Tenth Mountain. Some of the men under your command will be familiar since you will be leading a light infantry company formed with soldiers from Tenth Mountain."

"The biggest group I've led personally was a platoon."

"A platoon of Tenth Mountain men, from the reports. Something that happened accidentally, but a position you excelled at. There is no way out of this, captain. You're going to Roana."

"I… Yes, sir." Captain Moore's shoulders slumped, yet he maintained eye contact and held back a grimace. "I… I guess I'll do my best then. When do I have to report?"

"A week, captain. Take your time and get ready for the long trip ahead. The relevant material will be sent to you by the end of today. And remember, the mission is of great importance: our first opportunity to meet with foreign life. Failure will not be tolerated."