Juno was confused. This was so sudden, so out of nowhere. One minute she was a marine, the next someone was trying to get her to be a privateer in some private army.

Everyone anticipated an answer, but Juno took her time to think. It seemed a unanimous decision around the table. On one hand, she was honored and proud they all thought of her as someone so important to the human cause. On the other hand, they were asking her to walk into unclear danger, just to be a piece in a political game she didn’t fully understand.

This was not where Juno thought her career would take her. Being a marine meant a lot, and a promotion to First Sergeant would have shown her she was truly valued as one. This promotion did not feel similar. It felt like she was being passed off.

First Sergeant wasn’t something she aspired to in itself, but whatever promotions she gained only helped her in her real goal: saving more lives under her command. This new job, whatever it was, didn’t sound like she’d be saving soldier’s lives, or anyone’s lives. It sounded like she’d be a pawn to a multitude of factions she’d never met.

They wanted her to be a handle in their proxy war. She’d rather die in a hole.

Juno looked around the room one last time, at all the faces that believed in her. Hernandez especially seemed on edge, his face contorted with anxiety. Juno knew what he said, but what did he really think? Would he want her to do this? Somehow, she doubted it.

Finally, she met Lin’s gaze. There he was, wise beyond doubt. He’d seen it all, and done it all. The glint in his eye told her he already knew what her decision was.

“Thank you for this opportunity,” she started finally, “but I have to decline. This doesn’t sound like a job for me.” The room breathed a sigh… not a happy one. Lin nodded respectfully.

“I’m sorry you feel that way. I can’t say I don’t understand your reasoning. The offer will stand until your position is filled. Still, afterwards, if you change your mind we can find somewhere else to put you. If you don’t change your mind, then, well, I’ll put through your promotion to First Sergeant. Congratulations, Juno.” He stood abruptly, the other officers following suit. Juno popped up out of her chair awkwardly, a second late. Lin reached his hand out towards her, and she shook it. Everyone saluted and the Assistant to the Commandant left the room.

Everyone could feel the air returning. It wasn’t an easy feeling, though. The weight had left, but the vacuum had yet to be filled. They were all clearly disappointed in her decision, but awkward astoundment kept the silence. She’d refused the position, and even refused the Assistant to the Commandant. Juno had guts of steel.

Capt. Marlin walked over in the silence and clapped her on the shoulder. “Well,” he started, “Glad to have you back, marine.”

“Congratulations,” Miller said blankly, shaking her hand. They both shuffled out of the room afterward without any more ceremony. Despite their reactions, Juno was solid in her convictions. She knew she’d made the right call.

Sergeant Major Alloy at last sighed. He said, “I understand your concerns, marine. I couldn’t leave the Corps myself if they tried to drag me away.” He shook her hand with a genuine “congratulations” following, but his face was clearly panged with as much disappointment as the others.

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Juno was left with Capt. Hernandez. She tried not to make eye contact with him. His opinions on the matter were still unclear to her. At first, she thought he’d agree with declining the offer, but his silence told her otherwise. Juno wasn’t sure she could take a chastising from a trusted friend like him.

But, the silence became too awkward to bear. Juno turned. Hernandez was, indeed, not happy.

“What did you do that for?” She was a bit hurt. Didn’t he understand?

“Because the Corps is where I belong.”

“You don’t even realize what you’ve turned down, do you?” She could feel anger bubbling up inside her. If anyone understood her, it should’ve been him. Juno felt a bit betrayed by the Captain. Miller too.

She shot back with poison in her voice, “What? A chance to become a pawn in some galactic scheme? I’m a soldier, not a peacemaker.”

“After all this time, didn’t it sink in what we’re trying to do as a species? We’re forging ahead, trying to mark our path in the galaxy. Along comes a way to do that and you throw the chance away. How could you be so stupid?”

“This mission is beyond my skill set. I can’t broker peace deals between species, or survey colony sites. I only know one thing, and that’s how to be a marine.”

“Maybe that’s true, Gunnery Sergeant, but you just threw away a chance to be more.”

“I don’t see it that way, Captain. In my eyes, I dodged a bullet. You really think the initiative will last? For how long? You can’t get a group of politicians together to agree on anything, and everyone wants to add guns, and interspecies political strife to the mix. What happens when it fails, Captain? What happens to me?”

“You’ll endure, like you’ve always done. There’s a reason the Assistant to the Commandant came down here himself. They asked the Marines for a few handfuls of soldiers, select candidates like no other, and you were one of those chosen. Out of the millions of marines, you were selected. That means something, Juno.” She was struggling to keep her footing in the conversation. She knew she was right, but a part of her wanted to believe she was that special.

“How does helping alien causes help humanity? I don’t see it.”

“By increasing our chances to create lasting alliances, trade, allowing safe expansion into the galaxy. It will give us a foothold into the political sphere other species take for granted. Let’s face it, humanity is not a popular species. They’re afraid of us out there, and people kill things they’re afraid of. All of this will help keep our people defended from bigger threats, and it may even bring peace and stability to our region of the galaxy.” Juno didn’t have a response. It sounded okay in her mind when he framed it that way.

Keeping humanity safe was one thing. She’d do anything for that. Helping the galaxy as a whole? That was an angle she’d overlooked. A sudden wave of realization came over her as the idea finally struck home. Peace and stability for everyone. That sounded nice.

But she still hadn’t seen anything for herself. The pill was hard to swallow. Hernandez knew he was getting through to her, though.

“The other officers in this room would kill to have that opportunity at your age. You’ll be second in command to an entire unit, and answer to your captain alone. Damn it, the Commandant just promoted you to an officer in one conversation. No one has gotten that chance before. And think about where it can take you. Commander of your own unit. A ship at your command, even. And what after that? This is bigger than the Marines, Gunny. This is bigger than humanity.” Juno gave him a look that, all in one moment, told him how she felt. She was scared, hesitant, but understood what he meant. He was right and she knew it.

“Of course it’s gonna be hard, Juno. Hell, that’s why you’re the only one who can do it. We need you now, more than ever. Humanity needs you more than ever. What do you say? Will you do it?”

She didn’t like how persuasive he was, but he was right. This was about more than just herself. Was she the right person for the job? Juno didn’t think so, but only time would tell. Regardless, if humanity needed her, she’d step up.

“Alright, if humanity needs me there, then I’ll do it.” Hernandez grabbed her hand unprompted, shaking it fervently, excitement playing across his face.

“Good. We better get to the Assistant to the Commandant before he gets away. I think he’s gonna be happy.”