A lady soldier? There's a surprise. People actually progress to the point where that is allowed? In his time the men of a era tended to deny such a thing was possible, even though there were many women who were capable... one even that his thoughts briefly drifted to. But she wasn't here any longer, there was little point in lingering on the memory.

"I was a soldier too, for a time. Different era of course, the weaponry was no where near as advanced as you are accustomed to."

The roar of some far distant creature broke into the conversation.

"We shouldn't stay out here too long. The creatures here seem to be keeping their distance right now but there is no way to tell how long that might be the case. We should see how that fellow is getting along."