Private Deep Sleep

[Denniston Thrast II]

2nd Post

-A PRELUDE TO THE "ARISE/REPENT" SAGA-

AIDE-DE-CAMP TO MOFF MARCUS BASTION
COMMANDER OF TASKFORCE: REAVER
DRUID-GRANDMASTER OF THE HIGHLAND BROTHERHOOD

Tags: Marcus Bastion Albrecht F. Herlock Bex Tarring Silya Thrast Thade Rhas Martin S. Senée

THE MAVERICK I: A WATCHFUL ROGUE - PART 2

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DIAGNOSIS HALL, INFIRMARY,
NIV: INDOMITABLE, BRAXANT RUN,
EN ROUTE TO NIRAUAN (901 ABY)

'Well, if ever certain elements present certain risks to that effect....'

About time, I reckon.
​

Removing his eye-protection first, the hidden Druid decided his time to reveal himself was nigh at hand, turning around to face his kin and comrades as the hair-cap was slipped off next, surprising everyone by the time his sanitary mask was pulled away from his face.

Though Thrast couldn't help but chuckle a little at the sight of everyone's surprise as the dosimeter was unclipped from the gown, he chose wisely to continue,'...I'll wager all the consequent actions will be discussed between you an' I personally.', untaping his sleeves away from the gloves all the while. It was then that the others began to chuckle, still surprised in marvelling at the Hunter's infiltration prowess, though there were plenty welcoming, joyful expressions to be seen, all happy to reunite with one they saw as a friend, a cousin, and most of all - as brethren.

'Whoever you so wish to observe, meet.... Or remove, its likely you'll be calling on the finer nuances of the Brotherhood's strategic acumen going forward. That is.... If you so wish such orders to be handled - with discretion.'

With the first skintight glove removed, Thrast could snap his fingers more easily, introducing the others to Denny's personal signal for a demanded cigar from the nearest subordinate, and the nearest in this case would be none other than the Arkanian Priest-King standing next to the rousing sleeper. Then without fail, and without so much as missing a beat, Novania's greatest hero reached into his coat-pocket and tossed a Calavaran Crown cigar into the beckoning hand of his new Druid-Grandmaster, resuming straight posture only after following up with a matchbox to light it. He then removed the other glove to reveal a druid's sigil tattoo, and with that hand lit his Calavaran and muttered,'Jus' a moment.', before inhaling his first dose of tobacco for months before that day, an intoxicating rush of which was strong enough that the Highlander had to lean on the hospital bed for a moment of room-spinning turbulence.

After regaining his composure, the Hunter then removed the medical gown, the overcovers for scrubs leggings and shoes; revealing the general-practicioners' attire and equipment beneath, exhibiting a showing of the lengths Denniston was willing to endeavour in preparation made art-form. It was only then that Thrast laid the cigar across the corner of the nearest computerized surface, as in the momentary satisfaction with his lot for a little while, the main focus of his entrance began to take precedence and opened the way for custom and military-standard procedure; adopting at-ease position in drill-square posture, as any Moff's subordinate would, making sure to face Bastion head-on before making his next parade-ground gesture.

'Trooper - troooooper-shun!'

Standing to attention at the Lord-Imperator's command, the Druid-Grandmaster was making his tribute loud and clear for the Moff to see, nodding in a slow, bowing-head statement of respect before their leader continued,'Byyyy the right - salute!', in loud, fierce drillmaster cadence. An order of which was obeyed and enacted with quick precision, still as adherent as ever to military tradition, as Thrast himself had thrown on a fist-over-heart, a salute that other Empires wouldn't know unless they had devoted time to studies on the finer points of Tavlar's and Fel's administrations. External Imperiums always stuck to known norms, thus the Defiant would always be the sort to seek a salute with grander symbolic meaning, though Bastion and Thrast alike knew they would need to learn to use other salues when the time was right.

'Denniston Thrast the Second, Lord-Marshal of the Highland Brotherhood - reporting for duty, sir!'

 

[Marcus Bastion]

Bastion raised an eyebrow at the new addition of the Lord Marshal to the room.

"Welcome Dennistan Thrast the Second, Lord Marshall of the Highland Brotherhood." Bastion received dryly.

"Well You've already proven yourself capable of stealth. I'm sure you'll be a valuable addition to my staff." Bastion paused as the thought solidified in his mind. "In fact I insist upon it. If the Emperor has no objection of course. I was just pondering the need to have a personal agent for communications and the occasional odd job. I believe you to be well suited to the role."

Bastion nodded. The Highland Brotherhood was a superior force and having a Lord Marshall on his personal staff would be a huge boon. Bastion would need someone he could depend on for the delicate missions. Dennistan had already proven his ability to be discreet having infiltrated a private meeting with an Emperor and several of his high ranked officers. A meeting which in the hands of the enemies, most especially other Imperial factions they were discussing would be valuable intelligence indeed.

Bastion hoped to utilise Thrast's skills in such a manner that would prove to his advantage as a newly minted Moff in the Empire of the Lost.

"Lord Imperator. I propose other than the inevitable emergency situation, communications between us be done through the Lord Marshall here." Bastion nodded continued the thought. "It would provide someone directly on my staff I can have total assurance of our true goal. While also an independent agent of whatever the duties the Empire of the Lost throw my way. It would also provide you with a second agent to keep an eye on the Empire of the Losts activities. A Moff may have rank, but a member of staff may have far more freedom of movement and access to a broader range of Imperial divisions than I could easily obtain."

"A Moff who personally inspects a division will just gain parade ground salutes and whatever the division wants the Moff to hear. Thrast will be able to attain more valuable and perhaps more accurate information. If he's caught I can give him a reasonable amount of cover as a Moff's agent."

Bastion nodded as he continued to think through how useful an agent Thrast could become. It also gave the Lord Imperator an effective agent to keep an eye on Bastion himself. Just because he was loyal didn't mean Bastion was a fool when it came to Imperial politics. Having an agent to ensure the loyalty of a risky mission was vital trade craft. Bastion would be mildly insulted if he weren't under some safe guard against such a possibility.

"With no objection Lord Imperator. I believe we have the groundwork of an effective operation. In the mean time…" Bastion picked up his comm's tablet and typed in his code. "This is a list of rebel stashes and hideouts I was tracking during my career. I believe they may now be of use to us. Some I shutdown but the bases are still useful. I don't know there status, some may have been scavenged or pirates or even more rebels set up but it should provide you with a basis of bases to scout."

Bastion paused and brought up another screen.

"This is a list of Special Order 15. My broadcast may have awakened some. Some may still be in carbon freezing. They could be valuable assets. If convinced your- ours is the true Empire. I believe them to be loyal to the cause. They would not have followed Special Order 15 if they weren't. Still they should be visited one at a time to verify their loyalties."

"It might be all I can do to overtly support the Protectorate before I go undercover. It's not much but it's a start."

"Now with your permission I need to see to my men."


TAG: Albrecht F. Herlock Bex Tarring Silya Thrast Thade Rhas Martin S. Senée Michael Barran