The lone figure sat in the ready room with only the whisper of air blowing from the ventilator ducts. The only illumination was the briefing table, displaying the graphics of the mission of the day. The bearded figure in his mechsuit sat leaning forward, one leg out to ease the twinge of pain that had nested in the knee years ago. He sat and studied the map and displays like a commanding officer seeing that all the details were dress right dress and covered down. But this man was no commander, fact was he was hardly an officer. But he was indeed a warrior. His callsign was “Wizard.” Not because he was a super-hot mech pilot or brilliant tactical mind or some golden clad warrior hero. It was the beard. Few pilots sported any facial hair, but Wizard seemed to care little for that tradition. Nor was he attempting to be colorful as the CO occasionally remarked. He wore it because he had decided that shaving was a waste of time, and it kept his neck warm on wicked cold windy days down planet. It was also because he nearly always seemed prepared. Whether it was reminding the team of some minor but important detail or being in a good covering position to allow the team to advance. Another reason was his demeanor. While he did get along with the unit and was nearly always ready with something witty and funny to say at the right time, he did spend a lot of his off-duty time alone. Finding wizard sitting alone in a dark room or his quarters was very normal. That or watching ancient video shows few if any heard about. He drank slightly, mostly after successful mission with the team but would seem to fade out soon after. Wizard was that pilot that was where and when he was needed. They knew him but at the same time knew nothing of him. He was the pilot that when you called him his reply was short, sweet and to point. Wizard heard the doors whooshing open and heard the S2 and lance member chatting. He rose as swiftly as his old bones allowed for where he was seated was not his seat. He’d switch off the table quickly as to not vex the S2 and quietly slide into his seat a row or two back. “Wizard, you messing with my OpOrd?” Asked the uniformed Captain. “No sir, just making sure it’s all warmed up for the brief, I heard there was a firmware update on the table today.” Wizard replied more as a statement. The Captain nodded, pretending to understand, because he knew that Wizard likes to know what he is jumping into and almost assuredly He’ll have at least one small but difficult question to ask.