"Urza 6!" Mao shouted over the communicator as a ruby beam seared past her M9, missing the AS by no more than a metre or so. "I am going to have your balls in a sling!"

Kurz winced at the sound of her voice; he knew the instant he let off the shot that he was dead. Dodging an enemy AS fluidly, he surveyed the battlefield as quickly as possible. He took a running leap, trying to find a the best angle for his mark. Squeezing the trigger of his rifle, another shard of energy sailed Melissa's way, just far enough out of her sensor range that she didn't yell at him this time.

They were outnumbered, but back-up was coming. The terrorist installation had been better prepared than they had anticipated. Explosions filled the area, the air filtering through his suit smelled of burnt ozone. They only had to last another couple of minutes. Sousuke suddenly flew passed him, knocked down by a volley of vicious energy.

"They've got anti-AS cannons hidden in the trees surrounding this field," Melissa reported.

'Another one!' Kurz thought frustratedly. "That bitch is mine!" he yelled gleefully. He made sure Sousuke had recovered before moving for a shot at the canon. "Urza 7, you alright?" he asked.

"Fine," Sousuke stated plainly.

Kurz smiled, monotone was a good sign. He fired into the woods where he guessed the canon was located then moved toward a group of AS that was advancing on Melissa. She had her hands full as it was and didn't need any more problems to worry about. He was just about to comment on how easy this battle was going when a sudden eruption pummeled his AS. His sensors were clouded by dust and debris rising up from the force of the impact – the subsequent shockwave sent both his Sousuke's AS crashing to the ground.

"What the hell was that?" he asked over the com.

"The enemy must have begun using some sort of high-powered projectile," Sousuke commented.

"On their own people?" Kurz wailed in disbelief.

"Arbalest's scanners can't identify the chemical signatures."

"I've got nothing," Kurz explained, looking at his own readouts. "Two?" They both waited for a response, when none came a sudden panic filled him. "Urza 2!"

The dust was finally settling. Most of the remaining enemy AS were malfunctioning, jittery motions giving away their failing systems. A few shots from Sousuke and Kurz allowed them to join their fallen comrades.

In the middle of the field, however, a huge crater had been created from the bomb's blast. Pieces of machinery were strewn about all over the place like the artificial bones from a predator's meal. There was no sign of Melissa's M9. Kurz and Sousuke ran to the crater, sliding down to its very centre just as the back-up arrived. Four more AS were dropped from carriers.

"Nice timing," Kurz remarked.

"Clean up the rest of the enemy's forces. We have to find Urza 2," Sousuke instructed of the newcomers.

"There's no need to look for me. I'm not lost!" Melissa's voice crackled over the frequency in between gasps of breath. She appeared from behind the thick trunk of a tree and waved to her two companions, then slumped down in exhaustion. "Some sniper," Melissa commented on Kurz's behalf. "Next time could you take the enemy out before they blow up my suit?" she went on bitingly.

Kurz looked down at his scanner mournfully. The first canon, the one Melissa hadn't noticed at all, he had totaled – what a blight on her pride it would be to point that out! She had yelled at him for firing at her, but he had really been aiming for what he thought was the only canon and he had hit it too. Instead he just said, "Yeah, sorry."

ooo

She was still brandishing a load of scrapes and bruises from the battle two days ago, but those hardly bothered her anymore – what she really hated was that her beloved AS had been destroyed, again. Melissa sucked on a cigarette moodily, tossing it away only half-finished, too angry even to enjoy her vice. A boot toe came down upon the smoldering butt and stamped it out. She looked up warily at Kurz.

"Did I ever tell you how bad your breath smells, especially after one of those?"

"I am not in the mood, Weber," she warned.

"You're going to die a disgusting old hag – saggy skin, teeth all yellow," he went on.

Melissa reached up and grabbed him by the shirt, yanking him down so they faced each other nose-to-nose. "You said you had that canon," she said simply.

"It must have launched that bomb just before I took it out. What's complain, you're perfectly fine!"

"Easy for you to say, you've still got an AS!" she returned heatedly, rising to her full height. She pushed him away and stalked off, but Kurz was about to let her go so easily. He followed her, pointing an accusatory finger her way.

"I saved your ass, Sergeant Major!"

"Saved my ass!" Melissa exclaimed, turning on her heel.

"You better believe it! If it wasn't for me-"

"Sergeant Major Mao. Sergeant Kurz." Came a soft voice.

Both of them stood at attention.

"Captain Tesstarossa."

The small girl smiled warmly, holding a clipboard to her chest as she nodded in greeting. "I'd like you two to come with me please." She lead them to her office where Sagara Sousuke was already waiting, and obediently Melissa and Kurz took a seat, though they still didn't know what was going on. Tessa waited for everyone to get comfortable before she said anything. She looked at Melissa in an appraising sort of way. "Unfortunately, due to the attacks the Danaan has faced and other unfortunate events, we've been having trouble getting a replacement AS for the Major."

"What!" Melissa demanded before realizing herself. She sat back down and looked away for a moment.

"Yes, it is very unfortunate," Tessa went on. "There was not enough left by the explosion of that unidentified bomb to repair and there is so much going on right now that we need every AS pilot as never before." She smiled. "However, a decision has been made about your next assignment. You'll be debriefed later on it. Right now, I am here to tell you of some changes to your unit."

"What kind of changes?" Kurz asked skeptically.

"Nothing drastic!" Tessa assured them. "But we do think that three AS atleast will be needed for your next mission. So, there will be a new addition to your squad, temporarily. His name is Daniel Brantain and his call sign will be Urza 5."

"Never heard of him," Kurz offered.

"Where is he from, Captain?" Sousuke inquired.

"He's been a lone operative for awhile now, but has agreed to come in on this. He's been working in the east mostly with intelligence gathering."

"Intelligence? Psh!" Kurz scoffed, running a hand through his golden hair. "What good is some desk jockey to us?"

"Idiot," Melissa scolded. "The East is just as dangerous as the Soviets, and if he works alone, he must be good."

"He is," agreed Tessa. She nodded towards the door where a man with short dark brown hair stood. "Come in, Major Brantain."

Deep green eyes surveyed the room, taking in Sousuke, Kurz and Melissa. He was the same height as Kurz with a swimmer's build. Chiseled features added to his expressive face. He smiled then offered his hand to Melissa, "It's an honour to meet you, Major Mao. I'm glad to be serving under you."

"Under me?" Melissa repeated, blushing a little as her eyes went over his body for the second time. "You're a major too, aren't you?"

"I though it best not to break up the chain of command already established," Tessa explained. "Major Brantain didn't have any objections."

Blushing still, Melissa finally shook his hand. "So, would you like a tour of the ship?"

Kurz elbowed Sousuke as the two major lefts the office. "I don't like him," he whispered.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

My first Full Metal Panic fic! Please tell me what you think! I apologize if any thing seems out of place, or if I misspelled something – I've only seen half the series so far! (But there is definitely a lack of Melissa x Kurz fics, so I felt obliged to clunk one out.) If you want more, please review! Thanks for reading. Cheers – k.ramsey