The team were just making their way out of the room they'd been briefed in when the announcement came over the small speaking up in the corner. The light-hearted jibes and laughter died quickly when a few of them recognised the Admiral's voice and gave the 'silence' sign.

As the final words were said there was a soft chorus of ackowledgement, "so say we all," and each man in the room looked around at the others.

"We're back!" grinned LeRoy, Rubble to his team mates.

"We are," rumbled Avalanche, his grin widening slowly as a series of punches went around the room, ending up with him.

"C'mon, get yer asses packed and meet up on the hangar deck, and no going via the bar, we're on 'countdown'," John told them, some jeering at him in jest, but each man now clearly back in the frame. As he ran his eyes over the room, Spider the only one still in there, as usual checking they left nothing behind, he gave his 2IC a wink. "Good to be back," he told the other man quietly. "Yeah, you said it, boss!" As John made his way out of the room he grinned to himself. It really was good to be back...