"The Steward of Imperium"
2nd post
OBJECTIVE 1: REVELRY IN THE QUIET
THE_WOAD
APPOINTMENTS WITH THE WOAD: TO IMPROVE ON GREATNESS - PART 2
Ravelin, Bastion (Summer of 874 ABY)
'G'evening, lads.'
Blessedly early, just in time for that verdict-questioning.... Actual perfection.
Blessedly early, just in time for that verdict-questioning.... Actual perfection.
'I'd recognise that Archaisian accent anywhere, Bolter! GREAT T'SEE YE AS AY'WAYS!!!'
Stepping forth into view for the benefit of the ever-vigilant guards and to see his old friend a little better, Konrad Bolter continued,'Been a long while since I'd seen your name on the tac screen, Lord General. The top brass suits you, well earned I'd say. Seems the Hell's Hammers will be at your disposal in the coming days, however, unless something changes which- you know as well as I, something always changes- I'll be at your behest, Lord General.', in the process of approaching the old Woad's reading table. Making a New-Imperial salute, fist over heart as the IMPAF-Knights had just moments before. Much and more was revealed in this process, a reminiscing for what could've been, a mild melancholy, and a smaller rank on the left pectoral area of his coat, something Lord Erskine very much wished to change as soon as possible.
Not for long, my old friend.... The way I see it - that demotion is nothing short of a slight.
In the process of noticing the cigarra, the Stormchaser reached into his pocket, muttering,'Stub that out. Gowrie had something better for you afore we left Archais, an' so do I.', before pulling out two Faslaner cigars for the occasion, knowing Bolter's expected arrival had called for it beforehand. As he passed one to Konrad, Lord Erskine continued,'As the way I see it, an advisory role would often have me at your behest. More oft than not anyways.... Chief-Advisor and Commander of the 66th both, an' I haven't even sat back down yet.', before lighting up both with the lighter that always remained magnetically stuck to his cybernetic left wrist. Both veterans would take a moment to enjoy the taste, nodes of pear and vanilla with a cinnamon kick that took both individuals out of themselves for a while, breaking library protocol with single care in the world.
'Here is the deserter who sympathized with the Imperial Concordat My Lord'
Nae peace to be had for veterans the-day, naw? Fuck it! Work we will then...
'Aye, no bother.... Settle down with the pomp an' sit him over here, hm?', Lord Erskine responded, keeping his Faslaner comfortably-rested at the left corner of his mouth, biting down on it slightly for a moment to unleash some more cinnamon delights in his next draw. When the deserter was sat on a seat at Annor E-059's reading table, sitting directly opposite so the Elite-Trooper could study his reactions more easily, Barran turned to Bolter, then looked down at contract papers on the table between them, muttering,'If ye sign those, ye can join in.... As this one is a defector in the making, at least, as according to the reports we received anyway.', before idling his cigar in the ashtray an' stepping forth with his datapad to sit next to Annor for the rest of the makeshift verdict-hearing. The deserter would remain compliant throughout this early process, clearly ready for whatever fate awaited him, though he knew not what Hell awaited him in the event the Lord-General reached a,"Kindly", verdict - as there was still no doubt that this individual was in fact guilty of his transgressions against the Imperium.
'I'd like to think that, but I know soldiers too well.... I don't even think you were taking such thoughts seriously at the time, too much of a merc at heart to go all the way in that regard? Nah, can't be it. Too dreamy for an Imperial, too - fresh - to be a merc also.'
Muttering to himself as he leaned back in his seat, with Annor still leaning forward as she sat next to him, Barran would silence himself as she continued in her efforts to scrutinise the new-arrival whilst Lord Erskine took one last little gander through his interrogation files for a moment or so; Barran wanted him to sweat a little, though there was no doubt Paircrit would take it in stride, the Woad just needed the others to see what he was seeing.
'So what was it, Paircrit? What opened the door to your resentments in the first place?'
Placing his datapad onto the table between them, Lord Erskine then slouched a little, folding his arms and reaffirming eye-contact control as he awaited the answer. There was always a catalyst for such things, and the old man knew there were examples in his clan's history that he was all too happy to forget, all too happy to discard what never applied to the traits or sensibilities he lived by, but the Stormchaser still knew it was wise to consider the seditious ones among his Sinn'searann in times like this. There was always something that drove such men to act in such ways to begin with, always something that never quite sat right with them or someone who never could quite earn their undivided trust, but not everything is as it seems with the disobedient souls of a more modern generation, sometimes things aren't so simple.
This was the meat of the matter the Lord-General was trying to get to, this was the deciding moment on whether Erskine chose between a court-martial verdict that was surely to end in execution by firing squad, or a penal-conscription with the 313th Stormtrooper Legion. The very first of it's kind to grace the Sabretooth concept.
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