Max was in the middle of the garden party, enjoying the shade of a large tea tree when his wrist device started beeping urgently, sending a string of notifications.
As unit Commander, he was notified separately of every transfer, and his entire Special Tactics Unit had just been reassigned. Most were going to Special Forces units in the Noctem Regiment, some had been moved to lead other squads, while Ari, Paul, and Vincente had been rewarded with Heavy Mecha wings of their own and an official commendation, which would give them extra benefits at retirement as well as being considered earlier for advancement.
He quickly silenced his watch, but the military alert ring tone was unmistakable. Many of the guests around him were giving him sympathetic looks, knowing that his vacation had just come to a crashing halt.