|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2011 4:34 am
Captain Howlite was not the nervous sort. Things either went well, or they didn't, and all one could do was work hard and deal with the way the chips fell. Because of this philosophy, she rarely second-guessed herself, and was content to follow the orders of her superiors. Confident in her own hard work and efforts, she didn't worry over others, or make their business her own. Howlite was not a gossip, despite her observations, and if she felt any particular opinions about her fellow officers, it was unapparent.
Perhaps it was because of this intelligence, hidden behind a lazy grin and bold, dark eyes, that she was without fear in requesting an audience with the General-King.
She had been directed to the War Room, where he was undoubtably waiting, and knocked politely on the door. When she was granted permission, the lanky blonde stepped inside, a smile flashing onto her freckled face.
"Sir," it was a greeting and sign of respect all rolled into one. "I have some questions."
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2011 8:09 am
“Come in, have a seat.” He nodded in reply to her greeting, though he himself was not sitting. He was leaning over the old table, thick and much abused wood, under his hands were papers, old and new. Some being copied to new less abused sheets, the older ones having curled and torn at the edges. Some were paired up, one page displaying odd jots, symbols and half formed words that made no sense on their own, but he would look to one and copy out full and meaningful information to the next before glancing to an older page and comparing.
After he finished the line he was working on he set the pen down and straitened. “Thank you for waiting, speak, what are your questions Captain?”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2011 6:32 pm
Howlite was nothing if not obedient. The blonde took the offered seat, settling into her chair with surprising ease, she waited, dark eyes tracking Zinkenite's movements. When he addressed her, she spoke quickly, to the point.
"I'm looking for direction on combating senshi magic," both her skirmishes on the streets of Destiny City, and the battle on the Surrounding had taught her that their abilities could be deadly, and hard to resist.
"I reckon it would do well for both myself, and the others, to be more prepared for what they might throw at us."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2011 7:20 pm
He blinked at her for a moment and glanced down at his papers and back up with a small nod. “You’ve come to the right place, but I’m afraid being prepared for a senshi, depends largely on the senshi themselves. The nature of their powers and attacks are… enormously diverse.” He said with a slightly irritated note flavoring his words. No love was lost between him and the Senshi, as fascinating as it was to study the powers they possessed and how to counter or prepare for them.
“Is there someone in particular you’re interested in?” He asked shifting to trace his fingers over the mired of papers that covered the walls. Names, descriptions and powers were described in as much detail as he could provide. Some reported only by other officers but much confirmed by others or even himself.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2011 7:58 pm
"'All of them' would be too much to ask, I reckon," A quick grin flickered across her freckled face, her eyes following his fingers. So many names. Some she recognized, countless she didn't. The senshi threat seemed endless.
But there was one, in particular, that interested her. Of all the senshi she'd fought, this woman had stuck in her mind. Perhaps primarily because of her attack. "I'm not sure what she calls herself, but she..." A pause, though Howlite didn't seem embarrassed, "Kissed me, and made the world lose focus."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Oct 22, 2011 9:36 am
“If you have the time I have the files.” He said waving his hand to the rest of the neat stacks and pins of papers that were spread over the walls of the room. Some flagged with ‘red’ tags to show they were of high interest for either death or ‘other’ things.
Names like Chronos and Castor warranted attention if for no other reason than they were Royalty, and thereby quite dangerous. After all, between them and the mysterious Cosmos, they could do terrible things like ‘purify’ as they had done with Linarite, now Lina. That of course spoke little of the level of magic they possessed and could inflict upon others.
“Kissed.” He murmured with a contemplative tone “Sounds like Perseus, but would you please tell me how she was dressed?” He reached for a few papers and pulled them closer to consult older notations.
“Perhaps Kalichore, I hadn’t addressed her more recent powers.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Oct 22, 2011 1:18 pm
Did Howlite remember? Of course she did. Rather the vague generalities many could muster up about their enemies, the blonde paid attention, particularly if she liked the outfit.
"Brown and cream, her overcoat and skirt were a grey blue" She paused, "Her eyes were a bright blue, long hair dark, and she was smart, clever."
Her dark eyes returned to the walls, and she resisted the urge to stand, to walk to them and run a finger over the paper. "Also, there is another senshi, that I was distracted from killing in the Surrounding. She's not a someone I worry over, however." No, Draconis was just a stupid little girl, who ran her mouth. She'd be dealt with, in time.
"Another... She was powerful. I stopped her, before, but that was because I surprised her, before Alunite arrived to assist me, and one of the new Dark Mirrors. She touched my jaw, and it felt like it would crumble to nothing."
Nemesis.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2011 6:32 am
“Perseus.” He confirmed with the description of the uniform and slid the fresh pulled papers towards her. The first notes were attributed to ‘Lieutenant Zinkenite’ of all things and progressed from there.
An interested flick of his eyes at the mention that there was one she had been distracted from killing in the surrounding. Something to the weight and choice of her words made it sound like it ran deeper than a passing interest. “If you wouldn’t mind filling a report on the senshi from the surrounding, I’d be most appreciative. Veritas thrives on the reports of every willing party” He nodded approvingly at the idea of her observations put to paper.
“Crumble…” He repeated and his gaze darkened, something that was neither quite malice nor hate, simply something deep and chaotic, something calculating that wanted to peel the senshi in question into well organized layers like an onion. One day, one day he’d have her, everything from her friends and family to her hopes and dreams laid out on paper and presented with a Bow to General Queen Tanzanite, perhaps her gagged and broken body along with it as a coup de grace. “Nemesis, simply put doesn’t let her touch you. The longer she does the more temporary damage you will receive. She is, last told a member of the Blood Moon Court, the senshi who tortured our people. If you find her I’d recommend calling immediate back up, she’s over due for retribution.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2011 4:49 am
"Perseus," The blonde repeated aloud, thoughtfully, as if testing the syllables and finding them familiar. She felt a momentary flare of triumph, as the senshi had yet to learn her own name, or even the particulars of her attack. In fact, there was no senshi that knew her name, yet.
Howlite was not prone to giving a calling card.
Her attention snapped to Zinkenite as the mood in the room changed, dark eyes flicking over his features as if noting his reaction. History. One both familiar, and alien, as she was not apart of it, but it effected those around her. Zinkenite. Hematite. Uranophane. They all dealt with it differently.
She nodded, then, just once. "You'll have you report, General-King."
It seemed, for a moment, that she was done, moving to rise from her chair, when she paused, tone slow, musing.
"There is... Another matter."
It was not like her, to propose a new idea, but these were strange times, and Howlite had felt something growing within her. She had never liked to sit idly by, after all.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Oct 25, 2011 4:58 am
‘Another Matter’ intrigued him, he paused and looked at her, waiting and watching for her to continue before he nodded and said quietly. “Go on Captain.” He sounded pleased. New ideas delighted him, seeing the seeds of them appear and to watch to see if they would grow and flourish or wither on the vine, some even ripped from the soil to prevent them from growing like a virulent weed.
“I would say something ‘witty’ and ‘clever’ like ‘the only bad idea is an unspoken one, but I think we both know that’s not the case.” He added with a Cheshire kind of smile. “But I have a good feeling about yours… go on.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Oct 25, 2011 5:07 am
"Permission to speak freely, sir?" When it came, Howlite frowned slightly, settling back into her seat.
"Most of the lieutenants, and an uncomfortably large number of captains... Lack basic skills. First aid, self-defense," She laughed, briefly, "Common sense. We're dealing with an army of, well, mostly teenagers, and many haven't come with the skills they need to survive."
The blonde shook her head, once, before continuing. "A lack of discipline, of dedication. Those in higher ranks showing open disrespect. At this rate, we'll destroy ourselves before the senshi can."
"Sir," Her fingers drummed on the arm of the chair. "I'd like to create a company, of sorts, dedicated to that kind of training. To instilling qualities we need in soldiers, and to drum loyalty into their cores."
Howlite's dark eyes met his bright ones, "It would only work, General-King, if it was autonomous from the regular ranks. A group like this should only answer to Metallia, first, then you and the General-Queens."
She may only be a Captain, but she saw the downfall of having to obey those that happened to be superior in rank. What could a group like this do in the hands of traitors? No. It would have to be avoided from the start, before the poison could set in.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Oct 25, 2011 5:18 am
He nodded, a careful and thoughtful nod. Something so potentially dangerous, and so potentially beneficial could never have been nodded at without careful thought. Weighing in the balances, eyeing the proverbial chessboard to see where the pieces lay, was it a good gambit or a fatal one?
Though many would never know the truth of it, the very reason of his promotion spoke of his reluctance to sacrifice ‘good’ men and women needlessly. Any who knew him, whom had ever worked with him, knew that well enough. It was not something he could not take in stride, and he knew now better than ever that sacrifices must, at times, be made. But this, this idea was tantalizing, needed, and perhaps vital.
It encompassed many things he wished to see, that he knew others wished to see as well. Training, discipline, no tolerance for lack of respect that threatened to tear the already dangerously shaky infrastructure apart. Some might not have the wit to understand what division would do to them as a whole when they were already so greatly outnumbered but he’d seen it often enough even if it had been played out by Civilians and Senshi, and many never knew that they crippled themselves by their actions.
He nodded more distinctly. “I’d like to see that Captain, I would like to see that very much, you may consider Veritas at your disposal for assisting in the training of this… Legion.” He chuckled softly imagining the Roman Legions, well trained soldiers made more deadly by their ability to work together. “We could provide you information that might prove useful in training your team to deal with specific Senshi threats, I’ll recommend some of our medically trained personnel to intersect with you regarding a class. I have put forth to at least one person the idea of a small infirmary, here in the rift. By necessity it would be transient but it should serve well as a training area for basic first aid.”
He looked thoughtful and then amused.
“If you can get enough people together, we will speak again. I have thoughts I’ll share with you if you can make good on the promise you’ve shown here today.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2011 3:39 am
"Yes," Howlite's dark eyes were earnest, behind her tinted lenses, and she leaned forward slightly at the imagery Zinkenite proposed. "A battery, of sorts." The word sounded accurate, strong. A relentless force to destroy their enemies. Many working as one.
She'd already met one such officer, Captain Mica, whom she hoped to speak with about training. In fact, her thoughts had already begun to piece together their team.
As her superior continued to speak, voicing his hopes about gathering others to the cause, the blonde stood, pushing back her chair. Her jaw tightened, briefly, before she answered, almost cryptically.
"If I cannot, I'm afraid that we have already lost, General-King." A brief grin flashed onto her face, breaking the serious, dark air, and she offered a gloved hand across his desk, as if to seal a contract. Thanking him for his time, the young captain excused herself.
There was much to be done.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2011 4:05 am
He watched her go, eyes bright with interest and nodded to himself. She saw surprisingly clearly for a Captain, it thrilled him to see that, hope and promise rising through the ranks towards General. She would do very well, he thought, she would do very well indeed.
Those too that followed her would bear watching, for better or worse.
“God Speed Captain Howlite, may you find your ‘Battery’, may it serve us well and do us proud.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
