A slightly smaller Mess

Charles: Good. That way if I do something wrong, they'll tell me.

Hera: *She sighs* "Or they won't follow an order when its most important."

Charles: There's a line between loyal and fanatical hera. A line I don't like being crossed.

Hera: "I don't believe its possible to have every man loyal enough for this. A commissar's presence ensures they knows the price of failure."

Charles: well, agree to disagree then. I don't like using fear. Makes me no better than our enemies.

Hera: *shrugs* "I am what i am." *adjusts the red sash at her waist, partially to give context, partially, charles thinks, as a comforting gesture*

Charles: *smiles* That you are. I'm sorry, I don't mean to offend with anything I've said.

Hera: "You haven't. But your men will have to learn to respect the rank, or tollerate it at least."

"Of courses. I'll make sure they do."

Hera: "On... another note."

Charles: yes?

Hera: "My mother... we had a talk."

Charles: she told me that you would be.

Hera: "She's rather unhappy."

Charles: I know. Her bias against people who share my job description is rather deep rooted.

Hera: "Can you exactly blame her?"

Charles: of course not. I understand her concerns, but I also know her bias is effecting her judgement.

Hera: "Inquisition isn't really popular in my family as it turns out..."

Charles: indeed... *she can tell he's a tad nervous about the outcome of that conversation*

Hera: "In essence... she told me not to trust you. Stating three examples of being betrayed by inquisition troops."

Charles: and your response?

Hera: "That you're not the inquisition. But apparently you said that too."

Charles: I did. She's a strong woman. And I understand why she thinks the way she does.

Hera: "We all have our biases. She's old and jaded, the world hasn't been kind to her. But... i think she's wrong about this one."

Charles:... *smile creeps back in* really?

Hera: *she picks her words carefully.* "Well... so far you've acted... exactly the opposite of how you'd expect an inquisitor to. So... I don't think... that she's right about you."

charles gently reaches out to take her hand

*she lets him.* "Don't go all sappy on me now."

he smiles
"Can't help it sometimes"

Hera: "oh here we go..." *wry smile*

Charles gently moves his arm around her, still smiling

*she gently pecks him on the cheek, then rests her head on his chest* "You thought i'd leave?"


*back in the hangar, Apothecary Su'nan walks over to his new charges. His power armour is highly customised, bearing specialised optics over his right eyepiece, and a narthecium mounted on his right arm. The bright white his armour was no doubt once painted, has faded to a dirty white, scuffed with burn marks over years of service.* "Brothers."

Charles: no... but part of me was worried. I couldn't bare to lose you.

the sergeant of the ten reivers replies as they stand to attention. "Sir."

Hera: "...I did say don't get sappy." *She whispers in his ear*

Su'nan: "At ease brothers."

Charles: I told you I can't help it sometimes.

*they do so*

Hera: "I suppose i can endure it." *She pecks him on the cheek again*

Su'nan: "Stealth warriors... Interesting."

he smiles at that

they don't reply

Hera: *pushes him away playfully* "No rest for the wicked."

Su'nan: "Ideally we'd pair you with scouts, no word of a doubt... But it seems your stuck with me."

Charles: aye, i suppose so

Sergeant: it would seem so, sir.

Su'nan: "Leave the the honorifics for brothers with rank, Sergeant. My name is Su'nan."

Hera: "See you tonight charles." *she smiles, and slips out of the door*

he nods back. "Xa'ven."

he smiles back at her

*meanwhile caiber checks on laurence*

Su'nan: "I'll hope to learn all of your names, forgive a few mistakes from an old soldier."

*Laurence's room, having claimed a spare soldiers billet, is closed.*

Xa'ven: of course.

Caiber knocks

*The door is answered, rather quickly, by laurence. Looking well rested, without the gentle signs of chronic fatigue he usually bears, almost masked by his biomancy. Behind him, the sheets of his bunk are unmade. The first evidence caiber has ever seen of laurence sleeping, besides unconsciousness on a bar's counter. On the desk across the room from the bed, a ledger is open, next to an unopened bottle of vodka. he reacts with slight surprise at seeing him, neither having talked since the beginning of the battle for the star forge* "Oh. Hello."

Su'nan: "Now down to business. Give me a rundown of your favoured battle tactics."

Caiber: you look...well.

Xa'ven: We specialise in close quarters combat or close range firefights. Our primary weapon is the heavy bolt pistol *shows him* essentially a bolt pistol with more punch. Other than that we either use combat knives, or bolt carbines depending on the mission. Our helms can emit a sonic pulse which can demoralise the foe, allowing us to more easily cause a rout, along with shock grenades to stun the enemy. In addition, our packs can be equipped with grav-chutes for drop insertion, and we use grapnel launchers to more easily manouver around the battlefield. *shows him all of em*

Laurence: "I feel it. I'd written of sleep. Feels good."

Su'nan: "My wargear will need adapting i see. Given the length of time since i engaged in stealth operations. I will defer to you Xa'ven. Lead, and i will advise if necessary."

Caiber: written of?

Xa'ven: as you wish

Laurence: "Didn't need it technically." *shrugs* "So i didn't."

Su'nan: "Well at least our glorious captain didn't pair you with Arneus!" *he laughs* "Arneus... stealth... ohhh..."

Caiber: riiiight....

Xa'ven:....Arneus?

Laurence: "Biomancer things... anyway!" *he claps his hands* "What can i do for you?"

Su'nan: "Chaplain Arneus? Skull *gestures at his face*... black... shouts a lot?"

Caiber: came to check on you. See how you were doing.

Xa'ven: ah. Sorry, haven't met him yet.