Andrei snorted as he snatched his towel from his locker and started to dry himself.

"I'd rather be naked with Vulich if it meant being off-duty," he said. "I'm dreaming of a week's leave in Saint Pete's."

Out of the corner of his eye, and just beyond Matvei's shoulder, he noted that the newcomer, Irinarhov- Captain Irinarhov, he reminded himself, the man actually outranked him- was close behind them, although not constrictively so.

So he had unit loyalty. Well, that was all he needed, as far as Andrei was concerned.

However, aside from training drills. it would be Irinarhov's first time reporting for active duty, and Andrei couldn't help but wonder how Ocelot would react to the dark horse transfer.

Ocelot generally preferred seasoned, not veteran soldiers, if only because he was remarkably young for his rank, and it saved on the tiresome process of having to prove his authority again and again.

Still, thought Andrei, if Irinarhov was transferred to the Ocelot Unit, surely it was at Ocelot's behest.

He gave a mental shrug. Then he grinned and crossed his eyes at Ilya as he buckled his jodphurs around his hips.