Blackangel
Preacher of the dice gods
Wasn't it 35% remaining? I thought we lost the majority of our unit? I'm pretty sure we did.
Uhhhh… chef. Gotta avoid food poisoning. Sometimes actual poisoning.
Solar Auxilia Officer Quest. A 30k Early Great Crusade quest.
- Thread starter Mayto
- Start date
- Sci-Fi
Night_stalker
Slava Ukraini!
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Blackangel
Preacher of the dice gods
Oh wow that's way better than I thought. Welp my bad then.
Wow that's pretty good rates for us.
- Pronouns
- He/Him
It is hilarious, the dissonance between fighting and going to a schnob elite event.
Blackangel
Preacher of the dice gods
I'd rather get punched in the face than do that. Almost all the food will suck, everyone is uptight but semi-welcoming so you can't relax too much because it's rude but if you are stand-offish than your frowned at, people will come in hella late and you have to delay the eating by 2 hours because one person isn't there, and you were told not to eat before hand so your hungry as hell, and finally when you get to eat something, it's either a fancy dish that is so off tasting that eating a Popeyes biscuit dry is a welcomed alternative or the most bland and non-creamy cheese, can't spread it on crackers so you have to make a cracker sandwich, and your sitting there with all these "Rich upper class" people while your eating something that you last ate in preschool.
I may have went into a rant, but I've had fist fights more enjoyable than these events.
Which will have us horrible rates of death instead of doing a little bit of political scenery.
Terran Preparations: Part 1
- Location
- Netherlands
"It's a pleasure to see you, Sub-Lieutenant," Philip "Pip" Bernadotte greets you with his trademark grin as you board the transport shuttle. Seeing the newly promoted Void-Sergeant waiting for you is a pleasant surprise. If there weren't other passengers around, you would have embraced him in a short, manly hug. But for now, a simple nod will have to suffice.
You and Philip found seats on the transport shuttle among a group of Imperial Army officers heading to the Gyptus deployment. Among them, you two are the only ones fluent in Franc, so you naturally switch back to your native language.
"How is life on the surface? Enjoying the sand, I take it? It is about as course as you."
"Exhausting and strenuous." He laughs. "In addition to our regular training, we're also assisting with demolishing some of Gyptus's abandoned cities for repurposing."
"Reclamation work?" you say, your voice laced with a hint of disdain. It's not the type of task you aspire to do, even if you won't be doing any physical labor. It might affect how your regiment is perceived, and you are starting to enjoy your comrades.
"All in the name of a noble pursuit," Pip retorts, his attention drawn to an intriguing spectacle outside the shuttle's viewport. The spacecraft was leisurely traversing an authorized orbital path, offering a rare chance to admire the plethora of ships suspended in space. "See that Orbital Plate over yonder?"
Your gaze trails his pointed finger, landing on an oddly tinted Orbital Plate, distinct from the other two within your line of sight. "The mustard-hued one?" you inquire.
Pip grins mischievously, savoring the moment. "That's no Orbital Plate."
A pause hangs in the air as he lets his words sink in.
"That beauty," he continues, still grinning and pointing towards the object in question, "is none other than Imperator Somnium - our Emperor's pride and joy. Flagship of the Imperium, the ship he will use to reclaim the galaxy."
His revelation takes a moment to fully comprehend. Your jaw slackens noticeably. "Gods of Old Earth... That ship is..." If it could be mistaken for an Orbital Plate, its length must span at least fifty kilometers at the very least. "And here I thought Bucephalus was already colossal."
"That was His personal yacht compared to this. This is going to be a warship, a real worldbreaker. I found some interesting information about it," Philip says.
"You? Reading something other than smutty romance?" You quirk an eyebrow for comedic emphasis.
Philip acts as if he has been hit by a thrown dagger, feigning offence. "Sir, you underestimate me. I have a fascination for military technology and tactics. Plus, they told us where the materials and artifacts we are reclaiming will be used. It definitely motivated the soldiers. I've never seen them so eager to scavenge rebar from concrete or strip copper from roofs."
"So you're a professional salvager now?" His kind expression hints that he may have actually done those things, but he won't divulge any further information. You change the subject. "To contribute to a ship like that…" You allow yourself to dream for a moment, until Philip interrupts with a laugh.
"Sorry to burst your bubble, Sir. But half of the metalworkers, reclaimers, and salvagers on Terra are contributing to that project." He chuckles. "Two Hive Cities have already been dismantled for materials, and that gilding? All that gold is from the treasuries of warlords he forces to submit."
Your initial excitement fades. "They're breaking down hives?" You say, closer to an affirmation than a question.
Pip nods gravely. "A dozen of them, aye. And all the ruins left by the Unification Wars on top of that. Every last scrap of Archeotech and Dark Age alloy we can find."
"Mines emptied of rare metal, cities broken down for scraps of archeotech alloys." You attempt to process this overwhelming information - how the Solar Reclamation isn't merely another conflict but humanity's last shot at re-establishing its dominance over the galaxy.
"True... But what a sight she is," Pip murmurs. "Whatever happens, we will not go quietly into the Old Night.
The initial thrill of beholding the colossal Imperator Somnium begins to ebb, supplanted by a hollow sensation. The reality is that it is likely the final grand warship that Terra will ever craft. Mars and Jupiter will take that task going forward, and the last using the might and knowledge of the Golden Age.
You both allow the moment to sink in, looking out the window as the Shuttle continues to descend. Then you find yourself unable to resist asking the next question. "So, what kind of weapons does it have?
He grins. "Do you know what a Nova Cannon is?"
You think deeply, dredging up a memory from a primer on naval warfare terminology. "A spinal cannon, right? A ship of the line is built around one of those."
"According to the 'official' estimate." He actually makes air quotes, confusing those looking at the two Franks having a conversation in their own tongue. "The Imperator has seven barrels. And twenty Exterminatus-capable Torpedo tubes."
You blink. "What the hell does the Emperor expect to face if he needs that kind of firepower?"
"I assume the things he made the Custodes to guard him from."
Your half-erased memories of Proteus briefly throb in the back of your mind. You wonder for a moment just what in the name of Terra's dead gods The Emperor expects to face out in the void.
Gyptus Training Fields.
A field of prefabricated structures and large tents stretches an area large enough for a city, a city raised up from nothing, all evenly distributed in a grid pattern, with different coloured roofs or flags above the buildings inside each of the squares.
Landing at one of the pads inside the city, you step off the shuttle and head towards a waiting all-terrain groundcar whose operator is waving you over. To your delight, it is your Vox-Operator Primevére, whom pulls the door open for you and ushers you inside. Before you can get inside, you note that the thin layer of protective grey paint smells very fresh.
"A pleasure to see you, Primevére. How has Gyptus been treating you?" You ask, noting that her ordinarily pale skin is covered with a solar-protective spray, that hasn't saved her from appearing sunburnt.
"It is hot, dry, and full of foreigners, sir.." She says with a chuckle.
"Now, now, we're supposed to have moved past bickering with the other peoples of Terra." You say, puffing up your chest as you extol the virtues of Unity, while grinning. You open the window of the Groundcar.
"Does that include Jermani, Sir?"
"Absolutely not." You are slammed into the back of your seat as she races across the central road towards your Cohort's encampment. You clutch a safety handhold and look out the window as the car races past, tightening your seatbelt just in case. The woman drives like a broken Servitor, but she's making progress.
You look out the window. Primevére is right about there being a lot of foreigners in the training camp. You can see every skin colour and set of features recognized as human-normal represented as the Groundcar races past.
There are the flags of former Pan-Pacific regiments, the varying symbols of the many tribal armies joined to the Imperium, the star-banners of the Merican Armour, the dragon-banners of the Han Hives, the crosses of the Cantine Heavies, The black of the Marian Deep, the white of the Terrawat Mountaineers, and others that you fail to recognize.
Large posters with drawings of the Gothic alphabet and pictographic representations of common words are predominant at each street crossing. Hanging next to them are warning posters about the punishments for failing to speak the common tongue.
A simple warning re-occurs as you pass.
You are expected to be fluent in Gothic by the end of your training deployment! Failure will result in disciplinary action.
"They're making Gothic mandatory?"
"Afraid so." Philip says. He has taken out a small square datapad and is playing a game on it involving what looks like falling square blocks. You're very sure his datapad is not supposed to have a game installed on it. "We are all supposed to understand Gothic."
Just thinking of the announcement of that ruling is making you grin. "Can't have been a popular announcement."
"You can say that again. Most of my technical crews are under-hive scum and boys from the countryside. The extra lessons are really cutting in on training time."
Letting out a snort of disapproval, you turn to Philip. "Speaking of technical crews. Did you manage to evacuate your Rapier?"
Philip frowns. "No." He curses under his breath. "I only just had it calibrated the right way. I hope I can get one of the new Laser Rapiers. I bet operating one of those is amazing."
The Groundcar stops outside the grid set aside for the 7th Verdyn, allowing Primevére to take out her documentation and provide it to the guards at the checkpoint. You can smell something akin to fresh bread in the distance. Is it already time for the weekly communal bread-baking? You wonder which Tercio will have made the best bread this time around.
But first. To speak with the Marshal.
Pierre Mardon awaited you in the residence set aside for him in the compound. A prefabricated structure, with an interior like a country estate. The furniture is made of high quality lumber, inlaid with tiny amounts of silver. Just enough to enhance the aesthetic without overpowering the lacquered wood.
Standing in the room are his four lifewards. Each wearing their Chasseur armour. Cuirasses of golden plate connected to silk-thin archeotech clothes that appeared like cloth, but were as strong as power armour, and enhanced the strength of the wearer. The men quietly observe you, tense with restrained energy from their augmented physiologies. You occasionally wonder if they are Pseudo-Warriors, soldiers augmented using techniques developed from dissected Thunder Warriors during the Wars of Unification. You believe the Marshal has the right connections with the Tech-Clans to acquire some.
Not that any of them will ever tell you. These warriors had their vocal cords removed long ago.
"We're in a real mess, and no doubt about that." Mardon says, matter of factly. "Officer corps gutted. Heavy losses. And now deployed here on Terra for retraining and reorganisation. What a damn mess. It will take at least a year for us to be ready to deploy again. There aren't enough officers, and all the good candidates have already been picked."
"Terrible mess, sir." You nod, taking a wafer with Foie Gras from the plate on the delicate table and enjoying the taste, before sipping your fine wine. You can get used to this mentorship for the fine wine alone.
The Marshal shakes his head. "Solutions. Enough lamenting what happened. We need to discuss solutions." He leans forward, close enough that you can see the liquid flowing through the transparent tube in his nose. You consider the words of the Marshal as he continues. "As an officer, you will be sending brave men and women to their deaths. You have done so already, and done so without hesitation to accomplish your goals." There is no distaste or judgement in his voice, but neither do you register any approval.
He slides a data pad over to you. You raise an eyebrow as you see that it is documentation for your promotion to Lieutenant. Recommended by the late Lieutenant Albrecht for your actions aboard the Neptunian habitat. It has already been signed. The Cohort has taken heavy losses indeed if you are rising this quickly. "I have lost several officers I had been grooming for positions of leadership, Herrand Sallas."
His eyes bore into you.
"Battlefield losses mean you will be promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and placed in command of Tercio Primaris of Sub-Cohort Quintus. If you want to rise beyond that rank, I want to hear good things from Commander Richelle. I consider him to be an excellent judge of character. If he holds you back, then I will stop assisting you. Prove yourself worthy of my eye."
You frown at the bluntness. You nod respectfully.
He continues. "Next, you should start planning a retinue, Sallas. Show me you have a good judge of character."
"A Retinue, sir? Only Sub-Cohort commanders are supposed to gain personal retinues according to-" He cuts you off with a wave of his hand. He pauses for a moment as his armour injects something into his spine with an audible click. "You will not get a retinue officially, not yet. But you should make preparations for any event."
You nod. The Solar Auxilia, like most of Terra's armed forces, although professional in the lower ranks, become progressively more feudal and personalised as one rises through the ranks. You will absolutely need to develop a household staff, have personal guards, and attain high standards.
He types something into his datapad. "You have two months leave. Make the most of it. Make political moves. I will be watching you, and expecting a report describing just what you are planning."
You frown. The marshal just gave you Homework.
Your personal room within the Compound assigned to the 7th Verdyn Chemical Engineers is furnished with well-built metal and plastek furniture, colourful red drapes, and contains all the amenities that you might need. A table, a desk, personal desk cogitator, and a personal bathroom and shower.
The people that the Marshal has instructed you to form the core of a future retinue out of surround you. Amélie leans into the back of the guest chair, twiddling her thumbs, Philipe is examining the cogitator, while Jeanne is sitting on the side of the bed, bouncing to test the mattress, with great approval.
Jeanne blows a raspberry as you finish explaining to her just what you have been told by the Legate Marshal. "Moving up into the big leagues, are we?" Jeanne says with a coprophagic grin.
"I am. And if you commit yourself to me, I can make you a very wealthy woman. I intend nothing less than to become the leader of this Cohort one day and be given a planet of my own to rule."
Her gaze shoots towards you, eyes narrowing as she considers your words. Her look is a hungry look, but not one of hunger for sustenance. It is a hunger for power, for influence, for the ability to decide one's own fate. Amélie looks somewhat incredulous at your statement, but there is no confusion or anger at the statement, in fact, she seems very respectful.
"Sounds good. It sounds like a good chance for making it through my service alive so I can actually cash in on those rewards." She pauses. "I might know some people possibly worth bringing into this. Back alley scum that we can get into uniform and assigned to us."
"Wealth and power will be mine to grant." You say with absolute seriousness. You then turn to Amélie Beaufort. "Your family has been blackballed by the military. Your career is dead because of your name. Join me, and I'll drag you with me to the top, and we'll eventually tip the old guard out of their seats."
The daughter of a political dynasty looks at you, crossing her arms as she no doubt considers her options. After a long while, she nods. "Fair enough. I'll be your eyes and ears in political circles. My family still has connections."
You finally turn to Philip Bernadotte, trying to think of something to say, when you realize you don't know him. At all. "What do you want, Pip?"
He shrugs. "I think we just really get along, sir. I'll be with you in this."
A nod of affirmation and a grin.
You are Lieutenant Herrand Sallas of the 7th Verdyn Chemical Engineers Cohort.
You are in command of Tercio Primaris. Tercio Primaris is a part of Sub-Cohort Quintus, led by Commander Belgois Richelle. Sub-Cohort Quintus is part of the 7th Verdyn Chemical engineers Cohort, led by Legate Marshal Mardon Lentierre:
Your future retinue will consist of:
First officer: Amélie Beaufort:
Senior non-commissioned officer: Jeanne Denise
Heavy weapons specialist: Philip "Pip" Bernadotte.
Vexilla bearer Jean Claude.
Vox-Trooper Primevére Cartier:
16 Solar Auxilia veterans of Neptune and the Proteus incident.
You have found yourself under the mentorship of the Legate Marshal of your Cohort, who considers you to be a potential candidate to one day be a Marshal in your own right. His eyes are upon you, and he will judge just how you use your time.
How will you use your medical leave?
Choose 2 actions from among your connections.
Sallas connections:
You are a rising star in your family, but not the greatest of them. Your family's assets are being heavily invested right now, and you will not be able to ask for everything you want. But at the same time, you are in a good position to continue to aid your family's rise to power. You will leverage your new status as an officer and a veteran by:
[] Attend board meetings alongside your father:
Your father constantly works to keep Sallas Arms operational. Meet with the rich and powerful individuals of the Franc economy, talk about the prospective interstellar expansion, try to leverage their political support for promotions through hard economic promises.
Increase the financial status of the Sallas Family.
[] Attend the grand ball of Albia:
Your mother's ambition knows no bounds, and she seeks to rise as high as she possibly can. Attend a formal gala held in Albia for the Urban Classes of Europe, Nordafrik, and Arabia, as they send out their sons to war. Proudly show your scars, mention your accomplishments, and ensure that your name is one known far and wide.
Increase the social status of the Sallas Family.
Retinue Connections:
Your unofficial retinue gives you an opportunity to make connections to rise through the ranks, and prepare for getting the world that you are certain to earn by the end of your military service.
[] People from the gutter:
Jeanne still knows powerful individuals in the grey market. As Terra's rules and laws tighten, there are bound to be a lot of people who need a new paycheck. These are desperate men and women with firepower, and a desire for power and control over their lives. Work with Jeanne to find her former criminal partners and get them jobs within the Sallas Family. They will do honest work as security, and dishonest work against rivals.
Increase the security of the Sallas Family.
When you acquire a Retinue, you will have a loyal core of fighters.
[] The political scion:
Pars's republic is a strong government that had endured millenia of hardship and attempted coups and power grabs. Have Amélie introduce you to the power-brokers of the Franc republic, specifically the newly elected Bloc Imperial that have been elected on a platform of emancipation and expansion of the electorate. They could lobby for your promotions, provided you prove tough enough to survive the wars.
Increase the political clout of the Sallas Family.
Expanding the Retinue:
(Choose one addition to your retinue)
[] An artificer:
Philip "Pip" Bernadotte has friends in curious places, specifically, an artificer from the Ef-En Tech Clan looking for something more exciting than remaining on Terra. Only, he knows that he will not be allowed to leave if he asks, and has no personal funds to just leave.
Pip has a plan to break him out. When pressed he claims it will involve a party, an escape car, a shuttle ticket to Nordafrik, and a gang war that 'Was going to happen anyways.'
The Ef-En Tech Clan will not be happy one of their scions left.
You acquire an artificer that keeps your weapons and armour working optimally.
[] A biological Lifeguardian :
Work through your family to acquire a Lifeward from the Alpyne Tech Clan. They will be a butler and manservant genetically engineered to be loyal to you, augmented with hidden weapons, poison-detecting equipment, and a trained medicae.
Creations like these have a long history in the courts of Europe, and more than one assassination attempt has been foiled by one of these Lifeguardians and their integrated weaponry.
The Sallas Family increases cooperation with the Alpyne Tech Clan.
You acquire a cybernetic servant of unimpeachable loyalty.
[] A mechanical Lifeguardian:
Work through your family to acquire a Lifeward from the Alpyne Tech Clan. You will choose an android with hidden weapons, poison-detecting equipment, and medicae abilities. It will have capabilities beyond a servitor, but without the ability to self-modify or improve.
While not breaking the law on Silica Animus due to an inability to 'think', these creations are rare and expensive because the Tech-Clans that can make them refuse to share the knowledge, and are unable to adapt their production techniques to mass-manufacture.
The Sallas Family increases cooperation with the Alpyne Tech Clan.
You acquire a cybernetic servant of unimpeachable loyalty.
[] Personal chef:
You ensure that you have a personal chef to make meals for you of the most impeccable quality. (And are thoroughly checked for poison)
The Legate Marshal is likely to approve of this display of priorities.
Welcome to the politics of being an officer in a neo-feudal militar. Good luck!
Four hour Moratorium on voting. Plan voting
You and Philip found seats on the transport shuttle among a group of Imperial Army officers heading to the Gyptus deployment. Among them, you two are the only ones fluent in Franc, so you naturally switch back to your native language.
"How is life on the surface? Enjoying the sand, I take it? It is about as course as you."
"Exhausting and strenuous." He laughs. "In addition to our regular training, we're also assisting with demolishing some of Gyptus's abandoned cities for repurposing."
"Reclamation work?" you say, your voice laced with a hint of disdain. It's not the type of task you aspire to do, even if you won't be doing any physical labor. It might affect how your regiment is perceived, and you are starting to enjoy your comrades.
"All in the name of a noble pursuit," Pip retorts, his attention drawn to an intriguing spectacle outside the shuttle's viewport. The spacecraft was leisurely traversing an authorized orbital path, offering a rare chance to admire the plethora of ships suspended in space. "See that Orbital Plate over yonder?"
Your gaze trails his pointed finger, landing on an oddly tinted Orbital Plate, distinct from the other two within your line of sight. "The mustard-hued one?" you inquire.
Pip grins mischievously, savoring the moment. "That's no Orbital Plate."
A pause hangs in the air as he lets his words sink in.
"That beauty," he continues, still grinning and pointing towards the object in question, "is none other than Imperator Somnium - our Emperor's pride and joy. Flagship of the Imperium, the ship he will use to reclaim the galaxy."
His revelation takes a moment to fully comprehend. Your jaw slackens noticeably. "Gods of Old Earth... That ship is..." If it could be mistaken for an Orbital Plate, its length must span at least fifty kilometers at the very least. "And here I thought Bucephalus was already colossal."
"That was His personal yacht compared to this. This is going to be a warship, a real worldbreaker. I found some interesting information about it," Philip says.
"You? Reading something other than smutty romance?" You quirk an eyebrow for comedic emphasis.
Philip acts as if he has been hit by a thrown dagger, feigning offence. "Sir, you underestimate me. I have a fascination for military technology and tactics. Plus, they told us where the materials and artifacts we are reclaiming will be used. It definitely motivated the soldiers. I've never seen them so eager to scavenge rebar from concrete or strip copper from roofs."
"So you're a professional salvager now?" His kind expression hints that he may have actually done those things, but he won't divulge any further information. You change the subject. "To contribute to a ship like that…" You allow yourself to dream for a moment, until Philip interrupts with a laugh.
"Sorry to burst your bubble, Sir. But half of the metalworkers, reclaimers, and salvagers on Terra are contributing to that project." He chuckles. "Two Hive Cities have already been dismantled for materials, and that gilding? All that gold is from the treasuries of warlords he forces to submit."
Your initial excitement fades. "They're breaking down hives?" You say, closer to an affirmation than a question.
Pip nods gravely. "A dozen of them, aye. And all the ruins left by the Unification Wars on top of that. Every last scrap of Archeotech and Dark Age alloy we can find."
"Mines emptied of rare metal, cities broken down for scraps of archeotech alloys." You attempt to process this overwhelming information - how the Solar Reclamation isn't merely another conflict but humanity's last shot at re-establishing its dominance over the galaxy.
"True... But what a sight she is," Pip murmurs. "Whatever happens, we will not go quietly into the Old Night.
The initial thrill of beholding the colossal Imperator Somnium begins to ebb, supplanted by a hollow sensation. The reality is that it is likely the final grand warship that Terra will ever craft. Mars and Jupiter will take that task going forward, and the last using the might and knowledge of the Golden Age.
You both allow the moment to sink in, looking out the window as the Shuttle continues to descend. Then you find yourself unable to resist asking the next question. "So, what kind of weapons does it have?
He grins. "Do you know what a Nova Cannon is?"
You think deeply, dredging up a memory from a primer on naval warfare terminology. "A spinal cannon, right? A ship of the line is built around one of those."
"According to the 'official' estimate." He actually makes air quotes, confusing those looking at the two Franks having a conversation in their own tongue. "The Imperator has seven barrels. And twenty Exterminatus-capable Torpedo tubes."
You blink. "What the hell does the Emperor expect to face if he needs that kind of firepower?"
"I assume the things he made the Custodes to guard him from."
Your half-erased memories of Proteus briefly throb in the back of your mind. You wonder for a moment just what in the name of Terra's dead gods The Emperor expects to face out in the void.
Gyptus Training Fields.
A field of prefabricated structures and large tents stretches an area large enough for a city, a city raised up from nothing, all evenly distributed in a grid pattern, with different coloured roofs or flags above the buildings inside each of the squares.
Landing at one of the pads inside the city, you step off the shuttle and head towards a waiting all-terrain groundcar whose operator is waving you over. To your delight, it is your Vox-Operator Primevére, whom pulls the door open for you and ushers you inside. Before you can get inside, you note that the thin layer of protective grey paint smells very fresh.
"A pleasure to see you, Primevére. How has Gyptus been treating you?" You ask, noting that her ordinarily pale skin is covered with a solar-protective spray, that hasn't saved her from appearing sunburnt.
"It is hot, dry, and full of foreigners, sir.." She says with a chuckle.
"Now, now, we're supposed to have moved past bickering with the other peoples of Terra." You say, puffing up your chest as you extol the virtues of Unity, while grinning. You open the window of the Groundcar.
"Does that include Jermani, Sir?"
"Absolutely not." You are slammed into the back of your seat as she races across the central road towards your Cohort's encampment. You clutch a safety handhold and look out the window as the car races past, tightening your seatbelt just in case. The woman drives like a broken Servitor, but she's making progress.
You look out the window. Primevére is right about there being a lot of foreigners in the training camp. You can see every skin colour and set of features recognized as human-normal represented as the Groundcar races past.
There are the flags of former Pan-Pacific regiments, the varying symbols of the many tribal armies joined to the Imperium, the star-banners of the Merican Armour, the dragon-banners of the Han Hives, the crosses of the Cantine Heavies, The black of the Marian Deep, the white of the Terrawat Mountaineers, and others that you fail to recognize.
Large posters with drawings of the Gothic alphabet and pictographic representations of common words are predominant at each street crossing. Hanging next to them are warning posters about the punishments for failing to speak the common tongue.
A simple warning re-occurs as you pass.
You are expected to be fluent in Gothic by the end of your training deployment! Failure will result in disciplinary action.
"They're making Gothic mandatory?"
"Afraid so." Philip says. He has taken out a small square datapad and is playing a game on it involving what looks like falling square blocks. You're very sure his datapad is not supposed to have a game installed on it. "We are all supposed to understand Gothic."
Just thinking of the announcement of that ruling is making you grin. "Can't have been a popular announcement."
"You can say that again. Most of my technical crews are under-hive scum and boys from the countryside. The extra lessons are really cutting in on training time."
Letting out a snort of disapproval, you turn to Philip. "Speaking of technical crews. Did you manage to evacuate your Rapier?"
Philip frowns. "No." He curses under his breath. "I only just had it calibrated the right way. I hope I can get one of the new Laser Rapiers. I bet operating one of those is amazing."
The Groundcar stops outside the grid set aside for the 7th Verdyn, allowing Primevére to take out her documentation and provide it to the guards at the checkpoint. You can smell something akin to fresh bread in the distance. Is it already time for the weekly communal bread-baking? You wonder which Tercio will have made the best bread this time around.
But first. To speak with the Marshal.
Pierre Mardon awaited you in the residence set aside for him in the compound. A prefabricated structure, with an interior like a country estate. The furniture is made of high quality lumber, inlaid with tiny amounts of silver. Just enough to enhance the aesthetic without overpowering the lacquered wood.
Standing in the room are his four lifewards. Each wearing their Chasseur armour. Cuirasses of golden plate connected to silk-thin archeotech clothes that appeared like cloth, but were as strong as power armour, and enhanced the strength of the wearer. The men quietly observe you, tense with restrained energy from their augmented physiologies. You occasionally wonder if they are Pseudo-Warriors, soldiers augmented using techniques developed from dissected Thunder Warriors during the Wars of Unification. You believe the Marshal has the right connections with the Tech-Clans to acquire some.
Not that any of them will ever tell you. These warriors had their vocal cords removed long ago.
"We're in a real mess, and no doubt about that." Mardon says, matter of factly. "Officer corps gutted. Heavy losses. And now deployed here on Terra for retraining and reorganisation. What a damn mess. It will take at least a year for us to be ready to deploy again. There aren't enough officers, and all the good candidates have already been picked."
"Terrible mess, sir." You nod, taking a wafer with Foie Gras from the plate on the delicate table and enjoying the taste, before sipping your fine wine. You can get used to this mentorship for the fine wine alone.
The Marshal shakes his head. "Solutions. Enough lamenting what happened. We need to discuss solutions." He leans forward, close enough that you can see the liquid flowing through the transparent tube in his nose. You consider the words of the Marshal as he continues. "As an officer, you will be sending brave men and women to their deaths. You have done so already, and done so without hesitation to accomplish your goals." There is no distaste or judgement in his voice, but neither do you register any approval.
He slides a data pad over to you. You raise an eyebrow as you see that it is documentation for your promotion to Lieutenant. Recommended by the late Lieutenant Albrecht for your actions aboard the Neptunian habitat. It has already been signed. The Cohort has taken heavy losses indeed if you are rising this quickly. "I have lost several officers I had been grooming for positions of leadership, Herrand Sallas."
His eyes bore into you.
"Battlefield losses mean you will be promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and placed in command of Tercio Primaris of Sub-Cohort Quintus. If you want to rise beyond that rank, I want to hear good things from Commander Richelle. I consider him to be an excellent judge of character. If he holds you back, then I will stop assisting you. Prove yourself worthy of my eye."
You frown at the bluntness. You nod respectfully.
He continues. "Next, you should start planning a retinue, Sallas. Show me you have a good judge of character."
"A Retinue, sir? Only Sub-Cohort commanders are supposed to gain personal retinues according to-" He cuts you off with a wave of his hand. He pauses for a moment as his armour injects something into his spine with an audible click. "You will not get a retinue officially, not yet. But you should make preparations for any event."
You nod. The Solar Auxilia, like most of Terra's armed forces, although professional in the lower ranks, become progressively more feudal and personalised as one rises through the ranks. You will absolutely need to develop a household staff, have personal guards, and attain high standards.
He types something into his datapad. "You have two months leave. Make the most of it. Make political moves. I will be watching you, and expecting a report describing just what you are planning."
You frown. The marshal just gave you Homework.
Your personal room within the Compound assigned to the 7th Verdyn Chemical Engineers is furnished with well-built metal and plastek furniture, colourful red drapes, and contains all the amenities that you might need. A table, a desk, personal desk cogitator, and a personal bathroom and shower.
The people that the Marshal has instructed you to form the core of a future retinue out of surround you. Amélie leans into the back of the guest chair, twiddling her thumbs, Philipe is examining the cogitator, while Jeanne is sitting on the side of the bed, bouncing to test the mattress, with great approval.
Jeanne blows a raspberry as you finish explaining to her just what you have been told by the Legate Marshal. "Moving up into the big leagues, are we?" Jeanne says with a coprophagic grin.
"I am. And if you commit yourself to me, I can make you a very wealthy woman. I intend nothing less than to become the leader of this Cohort one day and be given a planet of my own to rule."
Her gaze shoots towards you, eyes narrowing as she considers your words. Her look is a hungry look, but not one of hunger for sustenance. It is a hunger for power, for influence, for the ability to decide one's own fate. Amélie looks somewhat incredulous at your statement, but there is no confusion or anger at the statement, in fact, she seems very respectful.
"Sounds good. It sounds like a good chance for making it through my service alive so I can actually cash in on those rewards." She pauses. "I might know some people possibly worth bringing into this. Back alley scum that we can get into uniform and assigned to us."
"Wealth and power will be mine to grant." You say with absolute seriousness. You then turn to Amélie Beaufort. "Your family has been blackballed by the military. Your career is dead because of your name. Join me, and I'll drag you with me to the top, and we'll eventually tip the old guard out of their seats."
The daughter of a political dynasty looks at you, crossing her arms as she no doubt considers her options. After a long while, she nods. "Fair enough. I'll be your eyes and ears in political circles. My family still has connections."
You finally turn to Philip Bernadotte, trying to think of something to say, when you realize you don't know him. At all. "What do you want, Pip?"
He shrugs. "I think we just really get along, sir. I'll be with you in this."
A nod of affirmation and a grin.
You are Lieutenant Herrand Sallas of the 7th Verdyn Chemical Engineers Cohort.
You are in command of Tercio Primaris. Tercio Primaris is a part of Sub-Cohort Quintus, led by Commander Belgois Richelle. Sub-Cohort Quintus is part of the 7th Verdyn Chemical engineers Cohort, led by Legate Marshal Mardon Lentierre:
Your future retinue will consist of:
First officer: Amélie Beaufort:
Senior non-commissioned officer: Jeanne Denise
Heavy weapons specialist: Philip "Pip" Bernadotte.
Vexilla bearer Jean Claude.
Vox-Trooper Primevére Cartier:
16 Solar Auxilia veterans of Neptune and the Proteus incident.
You have found yourself under the mentorship of the Legate Marshal of your Cohort, who considers you to be a potential candidate to one day be a Marshal in your own right. His eyes are upon you, and he will judge just how you use your time.
How will you use your medical leave?
Choose 2 actions from among your connections.
Sallas connections:
You are a rising star in your family, but not the greatest of them. Your family's assets are being heavily invested right now, and you will not be able to ask for everything you want. But at the same time, you are in a good position to continue to aid your family's rise to power. You will leverage your new status as an officer and a veteran by:
[] Attend board meetings alongside your father:
Your father constantly works to keep Sallas Arms operational. Meet with the rich and powerful individuals of the Franc economy, talk about the prospective interstellar expansion, try to leverage their political support for promotions through hard economic promises.
Increase the financial status of the Sallas Family.
[] Attend the grand ball of Albia:
Your mother's ambition knows no bounds, and she seeks to rise as high as she possibly can. Attend a formal gala held in Albia for the Urban Classes of Europe, Nordafrik, and Arabia, as they send out their sons to war. Proudly show your scars, mention your accomplishments, and ensure that your name is one known far and wide.
Increase the social status of the Sallas Family.
Retinue Connections:
Your unofficial retinue gives you an opportunity to make connections to rise through the ranks, and prepare for getting the world that you are certain to earn by the end of your military service.
[] People from the gutter:
Jeanne still knows powerful individuals in the grey market. As Terra's rules and laws tighten, there are bound to be a lot of people who need a new paycheck. These are desperate men and women with firepower, and a desire for power and control over their lives. Work with Jeanne to find her former criminal partners and get them jobs within the Sallas Family. They will do honest work as security, and dishonest work against rivals.
Increase the security of the Sallas Family.
When you acquire a Retinue, you will have a loyal core of fighters.
[] The political scion:
Pars's republic is a strong government that had endured millenia of hardship and attempted coups and power grabs. Have Amélie introduce you to the power-brokers of the Franc republic, specifically the newly elected Bloc Imperial that have been elected on a platform of emancipation and expansion of the electorate. They could lobby for your promotions, provided you prove tough enough to survive the wars.
Increase the political clout of the Sallas Family.
Expanding the Retinue:
(Choose one addition to your retinue)
[] An artificer:
Philip "Pip" Bernadotte has friends in curious places, specifically, an artificer from the Ef-En Tech Clan looking for something more exciting than remaining on Terra. Only, he knows that he will not be allowed to leave if he asks, and has no personal funds to just leave.
Pip has a plan to break him out. When pressed he claims it will involve a party, an escape car, a shuttle ticket to Nordafrik, and a gang war that 'Was going to happen anyways.'
The Ef-En Tech Clan will not be happy one of their scions left.
You acquire an artificer that keeps your weapons and armour working optimally.
[] A biological Lifeguardian :
Work through your family to acquire a Lifeward from the Alpyne Tech Clan. They will be a butler and manservant genetically engineered to be loyal to you, augmented with hidden weapons, poison-detecting equipment, and a trained medicae.
Creations like these have a long history in the courts of Europe, and more than one assassination attempt has been foiled by one of these Lifeguardians and their integrated weaponry.
The Sallas Family increases cooperation with the Alpyne Tech Clan.
You acquire a cybernetic servant of unimpeachable loyalty.
[] A mechanical Lifeguardian:
Work through your family to acquire a Lifeward from the Alpyne Tech Clan. You will choose an android with hidden weapons, poison-detecting equipment, and medicae abilities. It will have capabilities beyond a servitor, but without the ability to self-modify or improve.
While not breaking the law on Silica Animus due to an inability to 'think', these creations are rare and expensive because the Tech-Clans that can make them refuse to share the knowledge, and are unable to adapt their production techniques to mass-manufacture.
The Sallas Family increases cooperation with the Alpyne Tech Clan.
You acquire a cybernetic servant of unimpeachable loyalty.
[] Personal chef:
You ensure that you have a personal chef to make meals for you of the most impeccable quality. (And are thoroughly checked for poison)
The Legate Marshal is likely to approve of this display of priorities.
Welcome to the politics of being an officer in a neo-feudal militar. Good luck!
Four hour Moratorium on voting. Plan voting
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[] Plan Political Animal
-[] Attend the grand ball of Albia:
Increase the social status of the Sallas Family.
-[] The political scion:
Increase the political clout of the Sallas Family.
-[] A biological Lifeguardian
The Sallas Family increases cooperation with the Alpyne Tech Clan.
You acquire a cybernetic servant of unimpeachable loyalty.
I think we already have enough money (for now), it's the connections that would really let us start to skyrocket ourselves and our family up.
-[] Attend the grand ball of Albia:
Increase the social status of the Sallas Family.
-[] The political scion:
Increase the political clout of the Sallas Family.
-[] A biological Lifeguardian
The Sallas Family increases cooperation with the Alpyne Tech Clan.
You acquire a cybernetic servant of unimpeachable loyalty.
I think we already have enough money (for now), it's the connections that would really let us start to skyrocket ourselves and our family up.
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- Pronouns
- He/Him
How is this not being stamped down? Is it too early and Emps' control not solidified enough to risk making waves so long as it's idle individuals and not whole units?
Actually, how do they avoid the degradation effects?
Oh the Francanity!
- Location
- Netherlands
It says "based on", not the same as. Genetic engineering and augmentation is not forbidden in the Imperium.
And Thunder Warrior augmentations are "simple" technologically, just pushed to their absolute limit to an insane extent.
- Location
- Plato's Cave
Is this two actions from the entire list or two action from the 3 listed under Sallas Connections?
[] Future Patriarch
-[] Attend board meetings alongside your father:
Increase the financial status of the Sallas Family.
-[] People from the gutter:
Increase the security of the Sallas Family.
When you acquire a Retinue, you will have a loyal core of fighters.
-[] A mechanical Lifeguardian:
Work through your family to acquire a Lifeward from the Alpyne Tech Clan. You will choose an android with hidden weapons, poison-detecting equipment, and medicae abilities. It will have capabilities beyond a servitor, but without the ability to self-modify or improve.
Let's not forget that our previous plan was to take up the Marshal's idea of expanding Sallas Arms across all the newly conquered worlds and these options are likely to help with that.
-[] Attend board meetings alongside your father:
Increase the financial status of the Sallas Family.
-[] People from the gutter:
Increase the security of the Sallas Family.
When you acquire a Retinue, you will have a loyal core of fighters.
-[] A mechanical Lifeguardian:
Work through your family to acquire a Lifeward from the Alpyne Tech Clan. You will choose an android with hidden weapons, poison-detecting equipment, and medicae abilities. It will have capabilities beyond a servitor, but without the ability to self-modify or improve.
Let's not forget that our previous plan was to take up the Marshal's idea of expanding Sallas Arms across all the newly conquered worlds and these options are likely to help with that.
- Location
- Netherlands
Sallas Connections and Retinue connections are one group.
Then a seperate pick for your retinue.
I think our plans should focus on strengthening the family rather than jumping into politics immediately. Build on what we are good at so we can become great at it and make sure that when others inevitably come for us we are secured in our strength. There is strength in blending into the furniture until we can reveal how strong we actually are.
- Location
- Plato's Cave
Gotcha.
[] Technological Stability
-[] Attend board meetings alongside your father:
-[] People from the gutter:
-[] An artificer:
Get moving on the whole "selling autogun packages to other worlds" plan, since that's what the future of the family will inevitably hinge on. Getting loyal people into the cohort will pay for itself in the future when we acquire a retinue, and the artificer is a force multiplier on our cohort as a whole, which means that standing out and being successful on the Crusade will be easier. Not having a personal bodyguard kinda sucks, but right now we need to have good, reliable troops under us to be able to stand out and accomplish anything.
Blackangel
Preacher of the dice gods
I say these two.
[] Attend board meetings alongside your father:
Your father constantly works to keep Sallas Arms operational. Meet with the rich and powerful individuals of the Franc economy, talk about the prospective interstellar expansion, try to leverage their political support for promotions through hard economic promises.
Increase the financial status of the Sallas Family.
I'm wanting this over the two other family aid options mostly because this does give us political support while also increasing our families wealth. I'm not too confident in giving us that many political connections with the scion option.
Also the ball is purely social, which I can see the use in with lots of powerful people, but I want the political support for us, not just future avenues of success.
[] People from the gutter:
Jeanne still knows powerful individuals in the grey market. As Terra's rules and laws tighten, there are bound to be a lot of people who need a new paycheck. These are desperate men and women with firepower, and a desire for power and control over their lives. Work with Jeanne to find her former criminal partners and get them jobs within the Sallas Family. They will do honest work as security, and dishonest work against rivals.
Increase the security of the Sallas Family.
When you acquire a Retinue, you will have a loyal core of fighters.
Quite simply we were warned about starting one early to avoid assassinations and being walked over. I think it'd be smart to grab these now and not wait.
I say the artificer because good equipment. The chef is a close second but practically takes precedence.
[] Attend board meetings alongside your father:
Your father constantly works to keep Sallas Arms operational. Meet with the rich and powerful individuals of the Franc economy, talk about the prospective interstellar expansion, try to leverage their political support for promotions through hard economic promises.
Increase the financial status of the Sallas Family.
I'm wanting this over the two other family aid options mostly because this does give us political support while also increasing our families wealth. I'm not too confident in giving us that many political connections with the scion option.
Also the ball is purely social, which I can see the use in with lots of powerful people, but I want the political support for us, not just future avenues of success.
[] People from the gutter:
Jeanne still knows powerful individuals in the grey market. As Terra's rules and laws tighten, there are bound to be a lot of people who need a new paycheck. These are desperate men and women with firepower, and a desire for power and control over their lives. Work with Jeanne to find her former criminal partners and get them jobs within the Sallas Family. They will do honest work as security, and dishonest work against rivals.
Increase the security of the Sallas Family.
When you acquire a Retinue, you will have a loyal core of fighters.
Quite simply we were warned about starting one early to avoid assassinations and being walked over. I think it'd be smart to grab these now and not wait.
Oh well than.
I say the artificer because good equipment. The chef is a close second but practically takes precedence.
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[] Plan It's Not Bolted Down If I Can Melt The Nuts
-[] Attend the grand ball of Albia
-[] People from the gutter
-[] An artificer
This is a plan devoted to mutually beneficial choices - specifically, options that patch holes in our skill-set and cover for the damage each one does.
I want the artificer, both for keeping our own stuff in order and for the potential to teach some of that skill to our family. We're going to be here at least a year for retraining, that's enough time for a crash course.
I want the gutter scum because that gets us both a perspective and skullduggerous/espionage skills we don't have. The loyalty also reduces the need for either of those bodyguards, and helps prevent infiltrators of the social kind.
And I want the social stuff to both boost the family name, and offset any social contentions the other two options cost.
Between an improved tech option, the alternative methods of the gutter folk, and the social boost which can be leveraged into more contracts via word-of-mouth, it also fulfills our duties to family, at least at a basic level.
-[] Attend the grand ball of Albia
-[] People from the gutter
-[] An artificer
This is a plan devoted to mutually beneficial choices - specifically, options that patch holes in our skill-set and cover for the damage each one does.
I want the artificer, both for keeping our own stuff in order and for the potential to teach some of that skill to our family. We're going to be here at least a year for retraining, that's enough time for a crash course.
I want the gutter scum because that gets us both a perspective and skullduggerous/espionage skills we don't have. The loyalty also reduces the need for either of those bodyguards, and helps prevent infiltrators of the social kind.
And I want the social stuff to both boost the family name, and offset any social contentions the other two options cost.
Between an improved tech option, the alternative methods of the gutter folk, and the social boost which can be leveraged into more contracts via word-of-mouth, it also fulfills our duties to family, at least at a basic level.
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Zedman7054
Eternally 3rd
- Location
- United States
Display of priorities certainly sounds like a thing with diminishing returns the more it's put off. Plus, favor with the Marshal is something quite useful and powerful.
@Mayto Quick question; Retinue Connections is listed as a different category to the Sallas Connections option, or so it seems to me. Does that mean we get two Sallas, one Retinue, and one Recruitment action like so?
[] Plan It's Not Bolted Down If I Can Melt The Nuts and Pawn Them
-[] Attend the grand ball of Albia
-[] The political scion
-[] People from the gutter
-[] An artificer
'Cause if we do, that would be nice.
[] Plan It's Not Bolted Down If I Can Melt The Nuts and Pawn Them
-[] Attend the grand ball of Albia
-[] The political scion
-[] People from the gutter
-[] An artificer
'Cause if we do, that would be nice.
Sir_Travelsalot
Never wakes up tired.
- Location
- At Home
Mayto already said that the Sallas connections and Retinue Connections use the same pool of two actions, and then the retinue addition pick is free.
I am teaching here or is the "Alpyne Tech Clan" just Bayer pharmaceutical?
