The Great Imperial Library, Outer Fort District,
Ravelin, Bastion (Autummn of 874 ABY)
Before the meeting properly convened, the young leader of 3rd Battalion politely, and quietly cut in,
'Good to meet you too, sir.', as he approached at marching-pace to sit at one of the closer reading-tables. Briefly taking the Lord-General's attention for a moment, it was clear the young 1st-Lieutenant was eager to make a good first impression, exhibiting a keenness for deployment at the earliest opportunity as he continued,
'It's a pleasure to finally know you, you can't imagine. Thank you, General. An' don't worry about me, sir, I'll be waitin' quietly until you'll get time to talk with me.', which was well-received for more than the attempt to be as non-intrusive as possible, as the eagerness to play well with the rest of the commandry (and more-specifically, Lord-General Barran himself) was something the Woad always felt was needed.
'Good man, I intend to have ye tag along to the commandry's local after this anyway. At least there ye can reveal yer plans to better effect. Trust, it helps.'
Especially in times when strategic-advantages were always yielded through the peak standard of cohesion between the officers of IMPAF and the 313th alike.
'Alright, Myrrine. Fire away - with your thoughts on the Maw.'
There was an air of disdain towards her surroundings, just a hint, though just detectable enough to discern it was lingering preconceptions that would be put to rest with time, and perhaps, with professional and camaraderie-driven familiarity with the ones who considered it a sanctuary in such a fashion. As by then, it wasn't just the Lord-General who escaped here between deployments, all three of his IMPAF-knights were practically living in the Great Imperial Library by then, along with the Major Shazzeke and Captain Marić, but to lesser-degrees than their contemporaries - owed mostly to their duties as legionary coordinators for the most part.
Then, with eyes set firmly on the Woad, Aerys replied,
'I don't want to speak ill of the dead, sir - however;', giving voice to the general disdainfulness that was almost resonating from within, discerned in that moment to be something the young soldier would have the hardest struggle against in her attempts to adjust and warm to the IMPAF-lifestyle, though not abandoning faith in Myrrine in any way. The determination alone was enough to allow Major Shazzeke to bring her into the fold with 1st Battalion, made all the more apparent to Lord-General Barran when she continued,
'As I am sure a blade bears my name in their hands, so too are their names written on the bolts awaiting departure from my blaster.', finally letting out some of that wrathful fire in her stare, the likes the old man often described as,
"That Galidraani Fury". Something the Stormchaser was hoping to see in particular, though purely on the fact Lord Erskine was sure Aerys would survive the brutal barracks-brawling experience if he saw just a slight hint of it.
Yet in continuing,
'They pray to their gods and I have mine. In the end, our blood spills for nothing more than the glory of war, but I will ensure that many more of them die for their gods, before I die for mine. Balance have mercy on us all.', Myrrine's philosophical nuances finally began to show face, gaining nods of appreciation from both the Woad and the Kandaran in the process. Many and more had proven that people can grow and develop in mind and soul alike, with some others proving to the Lord-General that changes can occur from even the deepest-set prejudices and biases alike, so in seeing this early iteration of the soldier she was on course to become in time, there would be no real concerns as far as the sterner of the two youths was concerned. The Mirialan would also express approval, though in an entirely different light to his comrades in that moment, as it would've looked very much like a heightened sense of appreciative surprise, but the truth of the matter was that this nuance had Major Shazzeke so surprised that he was wondering if 1st Battalion really was the right choice for Private Myrrine after all.
'That being said, sir.', Aerys then said, trailing off briefly as her fiery stare locked in with the cold, baggy-eyed gaze of the Lord-General, studying him as she considered how best to conclude the response prompted of her by her superiors. What Myrrine would've seen in that small pause was anyone's guess at that point, an internalised quandary that would plague the old man for a while at least, as much had changed in his heart, body and soul since any rumours of himself had reached Galidraan's expatriate caste, and every part as much had changed in title, rank and contingent with it. Whichever way her bias erred, not much time would be taken to weigh her words as she abruptly ended this process to say,
'While I am eager to watch them scream their mantra in vain, I am aware of their prowess and do not underestimate their abilities for death, and destruction.', finally letting the rage out for all to hear, though still very much reserved in the wording of her conclusion.
Oh, she's ready for combat. I'm sure of it now.
Intent. Real intent.
But I do wonder what she'd say if I told her those same foes adore us, an' fiercely at that.
'Good speech, Stormy.'
No' telling 'er the-day, old man.... No' until 'er first deployment's done an' dusted.
Turning head to see Tsilor properly, Barran agreed,
'Seconded, as I dare say it was more honest than I could've hoped for anyway. We'll address it soon though.', pausing to light a cigarette and turn his attention to Ellie with a scrutinising eye, hoping for the young Imperial Knight's thoughts on the Maw in the same vein as Aerys' answer before her. This one was still very much unsure of her place there, like the library itself felt too large for comfort, a clear-cut contrast to the Sabretooth who spoke up just moments before, and this worried the Lord-General, knowing how confrontational his non-coms were, knowing that he recruited a vast majority of his subordinates on the merit of this trait primarily. The usual policy for any with IMPAF-aspirations was,
"Greenhorns need not apply.", but with Sabretooth Legion, the likeliness of self-endangerment was much higher from the offset, and if this individual had no Force-Power permissions between deployment, the chances of fighting some of the toughest troopers in the Empire would increase very quickly.
If they didn't hold their own during the training exercises or in fist-fights with the others, it would very quickly become apparent if any of the troopers or officers there didn't have what it took to survive in the long-run, and Ellie would be no exception to this. Taking a few draws from his cigarette as he studied her demeanour and facial-expressions in the hope a fire could be found deep within her eyes, Lord Erskine couldn't help but sympathise a little, but when he drawled,
'Aw'right, Ellie. Your turn.', the Stormchaser was still clueless as to what he would hear next, with hopes of a pleasant surprise walking into absolute destruction without a single inkling stopping these thoughts early enough to stop the Woad's first assumptions from being correct. He didn't want it to be so, but Barran's gut instinct hadn't failed him yet, but it pained him immensely every time, much like it would this time.
'General Barren sir, I request to join the 313th Sabertooth Legion 117th battalion 4th battalion 19th Company Third Platoon, Second Squad as a Knight Errant.'
Not good. But I've never been one to torment the uninitiated either.... Be kind, Erskine.
Sighing, Erskine's head dropped for a moment, eyeing the datapads arrayed across the table before him before he finally had the heart to address the matter, remarking,
'Before I begin, please don't judge me for overruling your request. I'm only looking out for you, as these legions are very different to those you've been told about - very different indeed.', as calmly as he could for Ellie's sake. And yet, the Lord-General could only express kindness to a certain extent, as the 313th Stormtrooper Legion itself was a doctrinal reflection of his nagging disdain towards weakness after all, and making matters worse was the fact that seeing it in others made both his own and the Sabretooth-Troopers' thoughts turn sour instantly. Imperial-Knights often appeared unassuming, even out-of-place in some instances, but Ellie seemed an exception to both - even by the standards of her Force-Wielding caste.
'And thus my instinct will rule my decision today. You shall henceforth be attached to 3rd Battalion, 1st-Lieutenant Tsilor's battalion to be precise. Tested within the confines of a unit who are also working under test-conditions, safest place among us by far.'
'Now! As for you, Private Myrrine.... Your fate is in the hands of Major Shazzeke now, so keep yer wits about ye.', Lord Erskine said with endearingly gruff coarseness as he turned his gaze back to Aerys, happy to address a matter that didn't irritate him as he considered what best to proffer as relevant advice for a journey of that magnitude. Whatever was expected of the 313th on the Private's part would be expected almost tenfold of Myrrine in turn, for the lower rungs of Sabretooth Legion's chain-of-command would always see the worst, most-barbaric aspects of the war, thrown into the crucible like lambs to the slaughter. In a sink-or-swim domain, only the strongest of wills were able to keep their heads above water among the other Sabretooth-Troopers, prompting the honest approach as Barran admitted,
'1st Battalion get the toughest engagements every time, appearing to be exactly what you might be seeking from military service.... Just keep your cool and keep with the pace of your battalion's movements, the rest is all you.', before returning to smoking his cigarette in silence again, hold up a hushing hand for time to conclude properly.
'Besides that, I have no more concerns to discuss with the four of you.... Unless one or more of you have a question for us?'
Gat Tambor
