Steel couldn't believe what he saw when Nash opened the doors to the armory. The room was massive, much more than one might expect from a small resistance.

"Where did you find all this?" 

"Find it? Steel, we aren't some ragtag group of rebels barely putting together scraps. We are a shadow unit. We have no real chain of command. My men and I report directly to Fleet Admiral Oliver Hayes."

"That man saved my life."

"I thought you couldn't remember anything."

"It's very fuzzy. I remember important things. Childhood. Family. Neither of which I had much of thanks to the Empire. But thanks to Hayes I was able to live through it. Also apparently thanks to Hayes we have this," Steel said in a sweeping gesture to the enormous room.

The armory was filled with every kind of equipment ever used by the Republic. Rows upon rows of armor,  weapons, and explosives. "So this is where Bernard gets it?"
"No. We have actually no idea where he gets the amount of explosives he uses. In fact if I can only ask the Source one thing it will definitely be where the hell does he find enough explosives to blow this planet to hell six times over. If I could have a second one it would be how he plants it without anyone knowing about it."
"It's a secret," the large bearded man said with the ever present smile on his face. "And you'll never know it."
With that, Bernard walked over to a red and orange, beaten up power armor and began putting it on.
"You really think we're going to need that kind of heavy equipment?" Nash asked.
"Brother, I don't know what we're going to need. All I know is that if she's asking to meet us she probably needs help."
"Grab mine and get Wakefield his. If you're right and she does need our help in such a bad way then it's going to take all the heavy equipment we can get our hands on. Bernard, see if you can find something for our friend here."
"No need, there was a box of equipment that came with the orders," said a man standing by the door. He was average height with a muscular build. Like the rest of the crew he appeared to be in his early to mid thirties. Judging by his disheveled, light brown hair and several days of scruff, he had been extremely busy. "Captain Steel, I presume?" he said offering his hand.
"That's what they tell me," Steel said smiling. "And you are?"
"Travis Wakefield. I'm the guy they go to when shit hits the fan."
"Meaning?"
"Close quarters, sabotage, things of that nature."
"He's kind of an asshole too," Bernard said clapping the man on the back.
"Yeah fuck you too man. Anyways I did you the favor of not opening the package and going through you're stuff."
"My stuff?" Steel asked, confused.
"Yes sir, this huge ass box is addressed to 'Cpt. Maxwell Steel, Republican Navy Special Operations'. I'm assuming that's you."
"Must be. Let's open it up."
"About damn time. I've been dying to see what she sent you."
Wakefield tossed Steel the crowbar he had been carrying and they opened the crate. Inside they found a note.
'Captain Steel,
Enclosed you will find brand new equipment that was put together based on your preferences from past missions. I trust you will put it to good use as it was not easy to obtain. Even for me.
See you soon,
The Source'
A suit of black and dark green armor gleamed from the fluorescent bulbs overhead. Next to the armor were two black handguns, a long curved blade, and an assault rifle. What was next to it was what got the most attention from Bernard. "Are those-!" The large man bit his knuckle to conceal the complete joy he was feeling.
"Are they what?" Steel asked.
"Hydrogen mines!" Bernard managed to squeak out.
"Get a hold of yourself man," Wakefield laughed. "What's so special about those?"
"You set one of these things and boom everything within a hundred yards, poof gone. No radiation."
"How does that even work?"
"No idea I just know it does. I also know that I've been searching for some for years. Hell even tried some people who work for both sides. Nothing. I don't know how she does it."
"They're yours then." Steel handed them to the large, bearded man. "Are you crying?"
"No. The dust from the crate got in my eyes," Bernard said.
"There was no dust on the-"
"Don't make me get Natasha."
"Gotcha. We're good then.
 "So Wakefield is the ship ready?" Nash asked, staring dumbfounded at the man now hugging a handful of grenades.
"Walker is doing the final checks but we should be good to go in about 20 minutes. Go grab some chow and clean yourselves up. Particularly you, Steel. It's like you you've never looked in a mirror."
At this point Steel became suddenly aware that he hadn't had a haircut or shaved in years. "Holy shit," He said noticing his reflection in the visor of his armor. "I look like Karl Marx"
"Who?"
"No idea. Just kind of popped into my head."
"God I can't wait for you to get that brain of yours straightened out." Nash said, shaking his head as he left the room.
"Remember brother. I've let it slide so far but I'm the only one allowed with giant beard. It's kind of my thing."
After years, Steel finally got a look at his face after years. Relatively handsome, he had hazel eyes and dark brown hair, now cut short and combed to the side. Standing at about 6'1", whatever program he was a part of had allowed him to keep his physique after years of exhaustion and starvation. He put on his armor and  stepped out into the main hangar to join the others.
"Everyone ready to go?" Nash said over the intercom. Steel took notice of the ship for the first time. It was about 50 yards long, with swept back wings. The ship was a matte black so that it would not be easily detected. It's small size meant limited room but it could also land anywhere without attracting attention. Most ships would be unable to pick it up on radar and the ones that could would discount it as a glitch due to the size. Steel stepped aboard. "How long until we reach our destination?"
"About six hours."
"Isn't this ship a little small to have a hyperdrive?"
"Seeing as it's going to take us six hours to get to another part of the damn solar system I'd say no." Wakefield, the helmet of his gray power armor sitting nest to him, offered.
"Thanks asshole."
"I warned you about him.," Bernard said.
"Cut the chatter, men." Nash said from the cockpit. "Carson are we cleared for take off?"
"Yep."
"Real professional."
"Just go already. Jesus."
"Roger."
With that the blast doors opened and the ship hurtled out of the valley into the dawn.