Idle Banter: Conversations of AIS1

Severan took a long and non-to-subtle stare at Castella's bulky new Leg's. "Not bad, give you that 'womanly' hourglass curve." He said slyly, before drawing his eyes back down to the needlework he was engaged in. 

His arms were badly damaged in the last mission. The Flesh grafts had taken well, but the scars would never fully heal, and his tattoo's had been left a complete mess. "Not that i can say much given the state of my arms... The artwork will never be the same with these lacerations."

"Oh ha ha," Cas deadpanned, casually flipping a rude gesture Severan's way. "It just means it's going to hurt even more when I kick you in the shins. And you're still a skinny bastard."

Castella clumped on over, still obviously acclimatising to her new legs, and cautiously sat down in a seat nearby. She was a little more subtle about eyeing Severan's arms, but not by much. "They do look a bit of a mess," she agreed. "Still, could be a lot worse, right?" She grinned at Severan. "You could have new arms that give you that 'womanly hourglass curve'. And then you'd probably fall over."

"If only, then i could make the armature design of the Imperator more... Authentic" He said, showing off some of the more intact artwork.

"As for trying to kick me, i feel you would need to catch me first." He leaned forward in a mock-conspiratorial way "I would suggest you try mastering walking before you run, and that before combat maneuvers-Ahh **!!@!" Severian winced, cutting himself short. "Ahhgh, Damned Gut wound's are always the worst tho..."

Cas eyed the indicated artwork, nodding with theatrical thoughtfulness. "Yes, I see, you'd really look a lot better with Titan arms. Wouldn't unbalance you or weigh your skinny ass down at all."

She rolled her eyes at Sev's comment about catching him, but before she could make any kind of comeback, Sev swore and winced. Cas flinched in sympathy, concern flickering across her face for a moment. "Well, if you learned how to dodge, gut wounds wouldn't be such a problem," she commented blandly, the hesitated for a moment before adding more quietly, "You are okay though, right? The medics have cleared you?"

Caradoc staggered towards the two of them using an old medical stand as a supporting mechanism. "At least neither of you had to deal with the fact that you had foul technology humming within centimetres of your important organs." He sat down heavily on a stone bench and sighed. "I'm sure we'll all be fine soon enough. The Emperor has protected us so far and it would be waste to cast us aside now."

His data slate chimed from his hospital gown and he pulled it out to read the messages. "Well, the Emperor better be looking out for us as this new mission sounds as dangerous as the last."

Severian took a large swig of the malt scotch on the table beside him. "Aye, it was thru and thru and missed anything overly important. Mostly just muscle damage. Should be right by weeks end so long as i keep topped up on Vita pills" He said, pulling out and jingling the small container of pills he had been issued. 

As Carradoc entered the room, Sev stopped to listen to the priests words, smiling at his flavor of wit. 

Getting the alert on his Datapad, Severian took his out and viewed the message. Despite the comedic music, his mood visibly darkened as he flashed back to the previous mission. "Other trauma's lacked such a simple prescription however" 

He fast forwarded the clip, stopping and rewinding to properly view the mention of the spec opp's team at the end. "The Emperor Protects" he muttered quietly to himself, glad to see the unit had made if off planet, and his mood lightened slightly. "It is however heartening to see we did some good down there. Wonder how many of them actually made it home..." Severian set about looking up the KIA records and see what he could find of that squad. "Where we off to next?" he asked as the others perused the mission brief.

Cas welcomed the priest with a casual wave of greeting, then grimaced. "Yeah, I'd rather not think about foul tech humming anywhere near my internal organs. Good to see you're still mostly in one piece though, Father."

As datapads chimed, Cas pulled hers out of the pocket of her hospital gown, flicking straight to the mission brief. She scowled down at the screen, unimpressed by the words. "Oh look, they didn't actually expect us to get anything from that mission in the first place. Isn't it nice to be cared about?" she commented sarcastically.

She sighed and continued reading. "Apparently our next stop is somewhere called Cyan Hive on the planet of Orbon, to investigate some pharmaceutical company called Qin Industries - and we'll be on a tight time limit again." She mock-brightened. "But at least we won't be in an active war zone this time!"

"Ohh i'm rather sure we will find i way to bring the War to Orbon" Severian replied sarcastically. 

Finally finding the unit he was looking for, Severian actually brightened "All of them got off, How about that. The Emperor provided us as salvation to that unit at the very least. Should tag there numbers encase we find ourselves around the Risen Again, it would appear He has plans for this unit." Tabbing over to the mission brief, Severian skimmed the text. "Hmm, i should see what my contacts know about the conglomerate. Father, does the ship have accessible records we could peruse?"

Suddenly, with a slightly terrified look on his face, a Private with a hardware trolly loaded with uniforms of varying sizes and a number of standard issue packs came charging into the room.

Ah, AIS1. Im looking for the new recruits, AIS1!

"Father? Do I look like I have children? On second thoughts, don't answer that." Caradoc cleared his throat.

"Now, I'm sure this ship has something we can use but, to be honest, I don't rightly know." Caradoc scratched his chest absentmindedly and winced at the pain. "We'll find whatever we need on Orbon and get out, but a hive city can be as dangerous as any war zone. It won't be easy. I'll search the records as much as I can to see what I can find on Qin Industries. That medicae facility on Arose might have had connections."

A bemused look played across his face as he saw the young man hurriedly pushing a trolley towards him. "Calm down man. You're likely to put yourself in a bed if you go charging all over the place. Who are you looking for?"

The young man panted. eyes darting around checking faces frantically. Looking for a signal or a gesture to reveal itself and beacon him to his intended recipients.

"Im looking for the new recruits of AIS1. there are 5 members. I am to fit them with new uniforms and give them their standard issue kits immediately."

Sev nodded at the elder priests comments "I think that's worth investigating, see what you can find out. Ill go look into who is in the know planet-side, see if we have any good contacts." 

As the runner entered the room, a smirk crept upon Sev's face. "That was rather fast." He fiddled with his Data-pad a bit more, as he walked up and inspected the proffered supplies.

"Well what in the God Emperor's name were we forced to don last time? Is it only now that the Inquisitor actually cares enough to formally recognise us?" Caradoc sighed heavily and gingerly made his way over to the cart.

"What's the point of all this then?" He grumbled as he hauled out a cloak that was emblazoned with a large Imperial =][= on the back. "Are we supposed to wander around a hive city dressed like this? Why not just paint targets on our foreheads and prostrate ourselves before our enemies? Emperor preserve me."

The Private private quickly realized who he was talking to an let out a sigh of relief before offering uniforms. To each of the Agents.

"I am sorry I didn't get these to you earlier." The Private winced trying to inconspicuously rub his chest

As Sev and Caradoc discussed the mission briefing, Cas took the time to view the accompanying video. Her only response to it was a slight snort of morbid amusement, then she set the dataslate aside as the runner rushed in with his trolley.

At the runner's response, Cas raised an eyebrow. "Do we still count as new recruits, given we've already completed a mission?" she asked her companions dryly, then shook her head. "Wait, never mind, I don't care, I just want actual clothes - even if they DO paint us as a target. These damned hospital gowns are far too drafty for my comfort."

She clumped up beside Sev and Caradoc and eyed the uniforms the private was offering, looking for one that looked like it would fit her.

"Relax runner, or you will die of a heart attack before the Venerable Father hear." Severian signed the forms accepting the gear for the squad, and passed around the clipboard for the others to sign. "You will find the others in the primary mess hall."

Severian Began to lay out the gear, and peruse the handbook.

"In the Emperor's name Severian, I'm only 22. If I'm venerable then the Inquisitor is ancient history."

Caradoc carefully pulled out clothing and other items that suited his sensibilities. It reminded him of boarding school in a way, before his parents abandoned that idea and pressed on him to join the Ministorum.

Severian waited until the runner continued on to find the other squad members "If Only.. Tho that begs question, who is the leading Interrogator?" 

Getting a blip on his data-pad, Sev checked the new message. "Looks like we will wait and see for equipment. Best i get this book consumed i guess... Blasted things are always so bland, makes me miss the ministorum texts.."

As the first of the AIS agents were kitted out, the Private, despite Severians caution turned the trolley and dashed out of the room with nibble affinity.

A second later, a Man looking like he was nearly run over breezed through the doors with a data slate in one hand. He carried himself with a relaxed poise, tempered with a certain authority. He wore his officers jacket unbuttoned with a plane black shirt and his officers slacks. He rubbed the back of his bald head as he glanced quickly at the slate and then at the three individuals toying with their standard gear.

AIS1, good morning. I am Lachlan Morroe, Captain of AIS1. Get your shit together, well met the rest of the unit.

The agents in their varying demeanor's collected their new belongings and moved to follow Cpt. Morroe. After a series of iron halls and elevators the group moved through a pair of huge Iron doors.

Team... Welcome to AIS1

Before the group was a large common hall, functioning as a rec room. From it, branched tunneled six additional halls, three to each side. Opposite the group, at the end of the common hall was another pair of iron doors, slightly smaller than those they had entered through. Above them the high gothic words read "Words whispered in faith, are still heard by the Emperor"

Let me give you the run down here guys. I am Cpt. Morroe, and i am in charge of this outfit better known as AIS1. AIS1 is comprised of 6 teams. The books call them AIS 1A, 1B and so on, but we let the boys and girls call themselves what ever they like, so long as the job gets done.

The captain gestures towards the conspicuously struck out 1A through to 1F above each branching hall. Each of the New AIS1 agents noticed the equally conspicuous signs hanging in varying and unique fashions as makeshift heraldry.

You are now AIS 1C, but you are welcome to assigned yourselves a code name like everyone else, so long as you get the job done. Each of the men and women you see here are equally, if not more talented than you are. We have all undertaken equally rigorous trials to reach this point, just as you. I have read your mission files and while i'm impressed, you need to know at least half of these people experienced worse with less training. While few other officers will admit it, it is a brutal screening process. However, those selected to be among the agents of the Maverick's Luck are required to be the best in all things as we are the ones called in to deal with the truly exceptional and dangerous, as you have not doubt noticed.

Your hall is fitted with a bunk room for 6 and a shower/locker room. The central rec room has a standard gym, and a few recreational activities. In addition, I afford my men and women a relaxed command structure, because they don't need it to known whose in charge. I expect you'll respect that luxury and get on with the others as best you can. Any disobedience or insubordination is met with a religious penance, Fasting, Hours of kneeing contemplation before the alter. The point is, in this hall, don't be a dick and when i say jump you say, how high. Welcome home AIS 1C

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Taking in his surroundings, Sev responded with "Sir" and a curt salute. It would seem decidedly better to blend in with rank and file until he could get a feel for this place.

Sev took a moment to compose himself, the mental image of his more zealous squad mate relishing the concept of insubordination being rewarded with "Free Time" almost causing him to loose composure.



"Orders?" The question seemed redundant, but without the time to read the handbook it seemed safer not to take risks, even with the apparent laxity of the Officer in front of him.

Cpt Morroe was about to respond when a new message alert on his data slate sounded. He glanced at it, and his brow deepened. After a awkward moment of watching his bottom lip flutter as he silently read the message his attention returned to 1C.

" well your first orders are to stop pissing off the Master of Arms. She's a bit pointly to deal with if you don't handle with care, but as you Wil quickly find she has two constants: first, she's damn good at her job. When Ivan needed an extraction for you 5 in 15mins she was the one who made some calls. Two, you tic her off and she makes things difficult for you and everyone around you, to remind you what she does for you on this ship."

Over Cpt. Morroe's should 1C agents could see other AIS1 agents giving them dirty looks after reading a schedule update for Servo Skull training.

"Looks like you lot have started early Huh? Well put your shit down because you been signed up for basic, with all the trimmings. From this point on, I own you lot, you are my assets and you are no longer expendable. You've earned that much. Meet on the training deck in 2hrs"

"Sir." Sev set about getting a top bunk and stowing his pack. As the rest of the team filed in he commented "well there goes my idea for a squad name 'The Expendables' had a nice ring to it too."

Once the squad had grabbed bunks, he walked over to Caradocs bunk. "what did you do.."

Castella had just finished donning her new uniform when Morroe waltzed in and began speaking. Cas gathered her gear and wordlessly tromped after the others, though she did raise an eyebrow at Severian when Morroe commented on pissing off the Master of Arms.

Once they'd reached their designated quarters, Castella eyed one of the so-far unclaimed top bunks mournfully, then glanced down at her legs before letting out a quiet sigh and setting her gear down on the bottom bunk beneath Severian's.

"It does have a nice ring to it, but I don't want to go giving the bosses ideas about us," Cas replied dryly to Sev's comment about a team name as she began stowing her own gear away in its proper places. She paused though to watch curiously when Sev headed over to Caradoc's bunk.