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The Tharash Excursion
Tweet Topic Started: Jan 16 2017, 08:58 PM (610 Views)
Traceuratops Jan 16 2017, 08:58 PM Post #1
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The Blazing Warlord

"Twenty five hours ago we detected unidentified aircraft headed toward Charlagne." East addressed the war table of the Fleet Quarter. The Federation accents being spoken in the room would be grinding to Imperial ears. Flat vowels and inelegant consonants made for what an Imp would call an unrefined, simplified version of the language. But to Federals it was powerful and heroic. Not like the wimpy, girly accent of the Imps. East continued. "We tracked their movement as best we could, but they're using stealth tactics to evade our radars. We believe they are trying to circle around Charlagne to head directly into Dawnhaven."

The words echoed in Kael's mind as his gondola flew from the last frigate he was briefly inspecting. The tiny, single pilot aircraft headed toward The Infinite Justice, his fleet's flagship. HIS Battlecruiser. Followed by two Battleships, the Blazing Ray and the Hemorrhage, two cruisers, four destroyers and five frigates, the Tharash fleet was not the bulkiest fleet in the Federation, but it was the most aggressive. Designed and placed in formation for hyper aggression by Kael himself, every ship was armed to annihilate. When the Tharash fleet was deployed, it was scorched earth. No enemy ship would be salvageable. He was infamous to the Empire for this, and his visage struck fear in the hearts of enemy commanders. To see him was to prepare for a hard, fast annihilation. He looked over his fleet with a proud and at the same time sadistic smile. How he delighted in breaching cracks with smaller ships before sailing in with the larger ship and ripping apart enemy fleet formations. The Empire did so love their defensive setups. So quaint. So proper. So elegant. He loved to violate and destroy them with his berserker tactics. And he loved to board enemy ships and burn them to the ground himself. It was no wonder the Empire knew him as a scourge. A blazing marauder. A sigh passed his lips as he resigned to more serious thinking He continued to replay his briefing in his head.

"The Tharash fleet is our most well equipped for interception and annihilation. When can you be ready to deploy, Tharash?" Kael stood at attention and nodded. "In a day, sir." East nodded with approval. "You will sail to the Charlagne border as soon as possible. This is a search and destroy mission." Kael saluted. "Understood, sir."

The gondola docked on the deck on the Infinite Justice as he requested where the bulk of his crew was waiting to shove off. The heavily armed crew of thousands looked upon him, his iconic bright red bangs and ponytail making him unmistakable even at a distance. They looked upon him as a hero. A fighter for freedom, justice, and the Federation way. ISAF knew him as such. His deeds which were viewed in the eyes of the Empire as savage and evil were, in the eyes of ISAF, the deeds of a true hero. He raised his magitech gauntlet in a fist, the gauntlet from which scorching death emitted, and shouted for all to hear: "Give me liberty!" The crew raised their fists in kind and replied with great inspiration "Or give me death!"

With that, he turned toward the helm and swept two fingers toward the horizon, signaling the fleet to depart. The colossal engines of the ships flared and slowly they began to accelerate away from Dawnhaven. Kael turned and grinned heroically at his enforcer, standing slightly off to the side on the deck. Kael stepped off his gondola toward the human-dark tower. "The men seem to be in good spirits, despite your presence, Crixus."
Edited by Traceuratops, Jan 18 2017, 01:58 AM.
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Some Guy Jan 17 2017, 01:13 AM Post #2
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Dawnhaven, Fifth Age
January 1st 5,850 ATF


THE DARK ENFORCER


Crixus Redblade leaned silently on the balustrade of the Infinite Justice's command deck, his self-same greatsword resting beside him. Beneath his helmet, the Red Templar's crimson gaze swept the busy bodies of the Battlecruiser's crew; observing their preparations as they scurried around intent on readying the vessel for launch. For Crixus, the battlecruiser had felt like home for years. He remembered the first time he'd stepped aboard; walked its halls with Kael buzzing in excitement beside him. The Infinite Justice was a more modern design; far superior to what had been fielded during the Cataclysm War. Integrated cores beneath a reinforced power heart, kinetic barriers across every inch of the hull with individual projectors, instead of a single generator that could be easily overloaded. It was sectioned, too - split in such a way that even if catastrophic damage occurred to one portion of the vessel, the rest of it would function so long as the bridge and dragon cores remained intact. Sweeping his eyes over the multitude of terminals built into the bridge below, he had to admit that it felt almost... monarchical from his current vantage point.

The Command chair that Kael occupied was on an elevated platform, set at the back of the bridge to overlook it, with a staircase at the back that granted access, protected by reinforced blast doors. The staircase itself branched at the first platform; allowing someone to turn right for the path that led to the crew quarters, infirmary, and cargo bay - or turn left, and traverse the path to the marine garrison, armoury, and brig. The engine room and central core were themselves restricted - guarded and locked down by Crixus' best marines. A squad of Blood Knights he'd brought with him from the Federation homeland. He wasn't about to allow his friend's pride and joy to fall out of the sky because of lacking security. The captain's chair itself was an ornate piece; black metal highlighted in gold, with a personal projector crystal on each arm for an interactive terminal screen and ship-wide addresses. The vantage point meant that Kael had a full view of the several hundred person bridge crew, arrayed before him.

The bridge itself was sectored, with the right side cordoned for the starboard kinetic barrier, weapons, and boarding coordination crew - and a mirror team on the left for the port side. The section immediately before and beneath the command platform was for engineering and power regulation, and the crew at the far centre front handled heading, navigation, and fleet command. In the middle of the room, powered by an independent dragon core reactor and built with six crystal projectors was a huge map display of Eurennas - complete with a real-time image of the Infinite Justice and her fleet. The Empire's territories were marked, as were Charlagne, Francenia and Dawnhaven; the last of which currently also held the fleet's chevron marker. As a new scent met his nostrils, Crixus turned, noting Kael's arrival as the hiss of the blast doors opening heralded him - though he had seen his body’s carmine aspect through hemomancy already. The Red Templar focused fully on his helmeted commander, noting the way that Kael seemed to almost vibrate with excitement.

“Everything is prepared. From what I gather, the crew appears rather eager for the hunt - though I can't tell if that's true courage or simply the desire to leave dock.” The Red Templar turned his gaze from Kael and instead fixed it down to the crew below, body still resting against the reinforced metal railing. When the Admiral spoke, his voice drawing forth an answering cheer of response from the bridge crew; Crixus remained neutral and impassive. Despite my presence? Hmph. Such speeches had been given before - likely, they'd be given again; and he had neither time nor desire to allow himself to be swept up in idle morale games. Besides, the Admiral was not wrong - he rarely was. Crixus could scent the fear he inspired, see the way that hearts beat with greater anxiety when near him. He could smell it, the terror, the intimidation. He was a predator amongst prey.
Truthfully, it was somewhat intoxicating.

“So,” he said conversationally, “what's your master plan, Tharash?” Friends? Yes, they were friends. But more than that, they were partners - Kael won the glories, and Crixus reveled in the blood within which they were built. A fine communion between them. “Enforcer” they called him. Well, as long as it meant imperial blood, “enforcer” was just fine. Crixus had neither time nor patience to sit and pretend to some deluded sense of social morality in order to be lauded. His was the glory of carnage and slaughter - the intoxication of the abattoir. Let Kael be the hero; Crixus was happy to be the monster.
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Ariel Jan 17 2017, 03:48 AM Post #3
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The Watchful Eye

Carnelia Bloodlily stood near the front of the command bridge bedecked in her formal wargear, a metal marvel covered in gleaming black enamel that reflected the unwavering glow of the map terminal's hologram within her silhouette. With her red-feather plumed helmet tucked under one arm, the other gauntlet rested along the back of one of the chairs in which her finest officers sat monitoring fleet command communications. Each had been hand-selected for their ability and their loyalty, hers a difficult vetting process to survive, and she had every confidence in their competence. It was still habit to oversee their operations periodically, her tilted crimson eyes scanning across the illuminated screens to skim the contents being reported live.

"No contact from Charlagne yet, ma'am," said the young man over whose chair she leaned. "Last dispatch received just under twenty four hours ago following radar detection. All official channels have gone silent." Carnelia afforded a sigh, her expression unaffected and stony neutral despite the ominous news. "And the field agent?" When the officer shook his head, she gave him new orders without dropping a beat. "See if you find his communicator in the logs, I want to know his last location before signal drop." He inclined his head in confirmation and turned his attention to the task, fingers flying across the keys.

Satisfied for now that the loose end was being traced, the Red Templar wasted no time with concern for the allied city. Their fate would cause her to lose no sleep at night regardless of the outcome, but the radio silence was an unanswered question in her mind that raised many others. She was not fond of walking into situations in which she did not hold all the cards, but patience was a virtue to which she subscribed. Due diligence would be followed, for she was nothing if not fastidious, but it was the prospect of a proper engagement that truly inspired something akin to butterflies in her stomach. The sensation was neither pleasant nor unpleasant, a rush of adrenaline before the battle, the anticipation in the calm before the storm. She straightened and turned as the Captain came on deck, offering a swift salute in the same moment. With one last glance toward the data consoles, Carnelia pushed the matter of the missing operative to a corner in her mind, compartmentalizing for later assessment before she took off toward the command platform and left nothing but the click of her armored boots on the polished floor in her wake. The rumbling purr of the Infinite Justice's mighty engines beneath her feet was no cause to break her stride, the woman's balance unfaltering as though all-too accustomed to the subtle shifts of airtravel.

As she approached, she caught the tail end of the exchange between Redblade and Tharash over the quiet ambiance of the bridge and let only the tiniest hints of amusement break the bored facade she wore. Her piercing eyes pinned Crixus with a strange, unreadable intensity only momentarily before Carnelia came to a halt just outside of arm's reach. Relegating her helmet to one hand, the other rose to lay cold, metal fingers in an almost protective manner against the side of her neck before speaking.

"It is both; your crew are eager to prove themselves. A racehorse will get antsy under the reins if left in the stall too long, but they are ready for the hunt." She greeted Kael's entrance personally now that she was near, affording him a respectful bow of her head in deference. "Welcome aboard, sir."
Edited by Ariel, Jan 17 2017, 07:48 PM.
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Spark Jan 17 2017, 06:25 AM Post #4
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The Thunderbird

Ah, to take to the skies again! What a wonderful thing, to fly. Andalia Nightheart stood with her hands folded behind her back, rocking back and forth on her toes and practically beaming with excitement. Her grey, stormy eyes were fixed upon the horizon, looking ahead to the travel, and to the coming battle. She could almost feel the tingle of electricity on her fingers at the thought of it. Oh how she lived for this!

The Blazing Ray was abuzz with activity in light of the departure. Preparations were made, and various calls of "Checked out" and "Running smoothly" came from the crew, and this was pleasing. By what Andalia heard, everything was prepped and ready, and they simply needed to wait on Kael's signal. With a grin on her lips, the Captain swept herself around to her chair on the raised platform in the back.

Her ship was much smaller than the Infinite Justice, only about three-quarters the size, but had much the same structure. To the left and right were starboard and port weapon, barrier, and boarding controls, respectively; at the front was navigation; and directly in front of the raised platform was engineering and power controls. On the platform itself, though, to Andalia's right when she sat in her chair, was the control for the Blazing Ray's pride and joy. The weapon that gave the ship its name. This station controlled the large laser cannon on the belly of the ship, which she could use to set the ground below ablaze at a whim if she wished. But, she did not. She only used the weapon at Kael's command.

Her cousin commanded her every move. They grew up as friends, with Andalia the older of the two, but Kael always took the glory in whatever they did together. She'd watched him rise to glory, and she had risen at a slightly slower pace than he. She would never say out loud, would never admit (sometimes not even to herself), but she felt jealousy of her cousin. Jealousy of his fame, of his heroism. But she never made this known. She always supported her cousin, and followed his orders.

Andalia sat herself down in her chair, and opened the communication between the Blazing Ray and the Infinite Justice.
"Justice, this is Thunderbird reporting in. All systems checked out and ready to depart, over." She sat back in her chair as if she were lounging, an excited grin upon her red lips. She steepled her fingers, and it wasn't long before she saw that Kael's ship was setting off. "Engines at full burn," she commanded her crew. "Let's give the Empire hell."




Edited by Spark, Jan 17 2017, 06:27 AM.
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Traceuratops Jan 18 2017, 01:45 AM Post #5
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The Blazing Warlord

The fleet pulled away from Dawnhaven, leaving it behind at an increasing pace. Their beloved home city shrank slowly as the ships sailed away at half burn. Members of the crews of the ships watched their beloved city shrink into the distance. But not Kael. Kael looked forward toward the grassy horizon. Hands on his hips and a smile on his lips. He wanted to watch the the land creep below them as they sailed over it. He looked over his shoulder to Crixus as he spoke.
“Everything is prepared. From what I gather, the crew appears rather eager for the hunt - though I can't tell if that's true courage or simply the desire to leave dock.”
Kael raised an eye brow, still smiling. His faith in his crew was great. They had been through many battles, victorious or not. They never backed down without order. They never gave up on each other or their Admiral. None of the crews in the Tharash fleet did. They stood side by side at all times, fighting to the bitter end. They were famous for their relentlessness. Their berserker-like fearlessness. He partially had Crixus to thank for that. Crixus, being the marine commander, led the combat crew in many battles, boarding enemy ships or landing on enemy ground. When the Tharash marines touched down, they plowed their way through opposition together. And when the battle was lost and the retreat order was given, and it was given extremely rarely, they retreated together, side by side, leaving no brother or sister behind. Kael couldn't help but grin as he thought this, and Carnelia's reply to Crixus at the moment of her arrival made him grin even wider.

"It is both; your crew are eager to prove themselves. A racehorse will get antsy under the reins if left in the stall too long, but they are ready for the hunt." She'd then turn to Kael and bow slightly. "Welcome aboard, sir."
Kael nodded at her with a "Thanks" and looked back to the horizon. By now the engines of each ship were at full burn. The landscape below them sailed by. Carnelia was right. His crew was tried and tested, but there were always new recruits joining every month, eager to prove themselves to the Blazing Warlord. Eager to become worthy of the deadly Tharash Fleet.

“So... what's your master plan, Tharash?” His best friend asked. Kael spun around energetically, that famous flashy smile that Federals adored and Imperials deathly feared beaming at Crixus. "I'm so glad you asked! To the map room!" Without another word or any warning, he began briskly walking to the large door that led to the interior of the bridge. Through the massive bridge room they walked, across the decorative red floor, passing the carefully hired members of the bridge crew, each one a trained strategist and technician. They would pause what they were doing as the Admiral and his party passed by. Up a long staircase, not far from the stairs that led to the command seat, was a large platform occupied by elite navigators of high rank and decoration. In the center of said platform was a holographic map table. Kael brought his party to the table and let them surround it as they pleased. A three-dimensional image of the surrounding landscape covered the table, glowing with an orange hue. The landscape slowly crawled in one direction across the projecting table with the image of the fleet stationary in the center. A larger map was attached to the wall a ways away, displaying a large portion of the continent with landmark and city labels and a red chevron with the fleet's insignia pointing to the fleet's position. It seemed that way-point markers had been set up at points on the map that made a circle around Charlagne.

"Ensign, contact all captains for a meeting." The young woman replied with a casual "Yes, sir." Clearly she'd had this job for a while and felt very comfortable even around Kael. Projectors from the cieling began to shoot down orange tinted images of the fleet's captains began to appear around the table. They would all salute to Kael, who would salute back with a smirk. "Status report, ladies and gentlemen. How are the ships and crews fairing after launch?"
Edited by Traceuratops, Jan 19 2017, 04:21 AM.
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Some Guy Jan 19 2017, 12:48 PM Post #6
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ISAF Battlecruiser Infinite Justice, Tharash Fleet, Fifth Age
January 1st 5,850 ATF


THE DARK ENFORCER


Crixus picked up his blade and sheathed it upon his back before he stepped after Kael with the lazy grace of a lounging lion. There was no hint of docility to Crixus' stride; no measure of restraint or hidden furore. The Red Templar was a force of nature, a carmine juggernaut whose only purpose was the ruin of the False Empire and the pursuit of immortality along the sanguine path. What need did he have, regardless of Kael's assertions to the contrary, to disguise who he was, what he was? Carnelia's presence alone was proof enough of the necessity of his viscerally lethal aspect. Even under the shadowing bars of his horned greathelm, Crixus could see the denizens of the Infinite Justice outlined in perfect clarity. Each armoured footstep brought new scents to him, at the same time as introducing him to figures who prior had been seen only by the succulent crimson rivers that comprised their mortal coil. It was a common misconception that the Order of Blood were hedonistic, debaucherous, or otherwise revelled in murder - it was simply that they embraced the tenets of natural selection.

The Accuser's writings had outlined the theory of natural selection; of micro-evolution and the variance of species based on climate and locale, even amongst the earliest generations of the mortal races, when they first emerged from the world and the Ascendants sought to guide them. Evolution as a whole was a fundamental part of natural progression, and survival of the fittest remained a premier part of that cycle. With Carnelia clicking alongside them as the walked, Crixus very nearly managed to ignore the thud of his own plate, sending vibrations of fear skittering through the veins of those they passed - more than one crew member pushed to a subdued panic at the passage of the towering Templars. One such individual he turned his helmet towards, regarding silently as they passed. It was amazing how still someone could become, even when their heart appeared about ready to burst out of their chest. Crixus smiled without mirth. The ensign squeaked. Pathetic.

Upon arrival to the map room, the silver-haired enforcer motioned to Carnelia, skirting around the inhabitants of the room - many of them subtly shifting to step out of the pair of predators' way - and coming to a halt, half-shadowed near the back, but on an elevated step that allowed both he and Carnelia to have an eagle-eye view of the map table. Stunning renders of the landscape and vessels of the Tharash fleet were combined with topographic analysis and intelligent estimations, and the Ensign to whom Kael had seemingly taken a liking to was all but begging for the Admiral with her eyes, and if her scent had been any more laced with pheromones Crixus would have probably launched her against a wall and taken her without reservation. Another effect of embracing one's most primal nature; the inherent need to satisfy the demands of more carnal pleasure, even absent the imperative to reproduce. That was no longer a path he could, or desired, to take: Blood Magic had an unfortunate effect on one's viability to reproduce.

Immortality, however, demanded no less than total dedication.

Crixus' hand snaked upwards as he listened to Kael and his officers, obsidian-encased left gauntlet reaching for Carnelia's flaxen hair, his fingers tightening within it as he found his mark - gripping the strands close to her skull. Nothing more he did; not here, not in the midst of the Admiral's toadies and sycophants. The men and women assembled were competent, of that there was no doubt - but neither was there doubt of their true imperative. They sought to elevated themselves on Kael's successes, ride the Blazing Warlord's fame and ferocity to fuel their own dreams of dominion. Once again, the same thought: Pathetic. Where was the satisfaction in elevation, unless torn from the flesh of one's foes? Where was the ritual truth of superiority, unless it came from the sanguine tide of those that sought to bar your passage? The Order of Blood taught that honour was the capacity to face one's own weakness, overcome it, and use the subsequent steel to decimate all who stood before your pathway.

His fist tightened in Carnelia's hair, and he bared his teeth subconsciously, the razor and pronounced upper canines of his jaw scraping boldly against his lower lip - cutting it just barely. Pain was the reminder of one's life; and glorious conquest of mortality was the gift of one's dedication. To bleed was to be alive; and to revel in the blood of one's opposition was to know true and unerring victory. Kael spoke of fleets and ships and mighty victories; debated strategy and tactics, planned and plotted. All of these things he had done for years, and would do for years to come. Crixus understood this. He also understood he would willingly stand as Kael's nightmare until the end; the grim harbinger that reaped for the foolish the destruction they had sown in seeking to oppose the Blazing Warlord. He turned, and regarded Carnelia, fingers jerking her head slightly, admiring the bitemarks he'd left on her from their previous night's violent primal indulgence. I am his blade and his wrath. But when he is ash and dust, I shall be eternity - and even the False Emperor himself shall understand the truth of fear.

Crixus' smile very well could have stopped someone's heart.

He knew it would do a very pleasant opposite for his sadistic lover.
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Spark Jan 21 2017, 07:39 AM Post #7
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The Thunderbird

So much for a moment's rest, Andalia thought viciously as she made her way to the map room for this meeting that Kael had called. Her boots struck the smooth floor, and she came into the room with her grey cloak fluttered behind her as the door closed. She stopped at one side of the table, and the orange-tinted images appeared around it, depicting Kael and the other captains. She saluted to Kael's image, along with the others, before folding her hands behind her back once more and rocking back and forth on her heels. "Status report, ladies and gentlemen. How are the ships and crews fairing after launch?" The Warlord's voice came through slightly distorted.

"We're all quite excited," she said with a grin. "The crew are all eager for some action. It's long overdue, I think." She bounced on the balls of her feet, that grin still playing on her lips. She placed her hands on her hips and shifted her weight to one side. Clearly, the excitement of the launch was causing her to have a bit of trouble sitting still.

She and Kael had always had that in common. They both loved the thrill of battle, and delighted in any chance at giving the Imperials hell. She thought for a moment about how she would love when she heard the crash of thunder as her lightning bolts cracked the skies in two... Music, music it was. She could almost hear it now. Could almost feel it running through her veins and tingling on her fingertips, that raw electricity. Raw power. How she couldn't wait to unleash it.
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Ariel Jan 21 2017, 06:38 PM Post #8
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The Watchful Eye

Carnelia was every bit Redblade’s shadow, following him without a word at his gesture down the long hallway to the map room, silent save for the quiet idling whine of her suit’s magitech cores and the taps of her brisk steps. Upon arrival at their destination in pursuit of Kael, she let carmine eyes survey the flickering, orange images of each Captain as it appeared from the individual hologram generators with a gentle crackle the arcane. She knew each by name, could recall the intimate details listed within their dossiers that often included long summaries on their personalities, motivations, and flaws, frequently with enough accuracy to predict behaviors - treasonous or otherwise. The Empire kept itself in place by an unconstitutional, fear-based theocracy; the ISAF preferred far more humane tactics, in their eyes, by utilizing a spy network that kept tabs on every individual flagged for observation regardless of station. Those in positions of power, it was therefore safe to assume, were under deeper scrutiny.

As Crixus stalked across the outside edge of the hologram ring, Carnelia seemed content to obey his direction at present, and cautiously circumvented the presenters to take her place at the Red Templar’s side. Her expression gave little hint to her feelings, placid and detached as she seemed, but she appreciated the vantage point this position gave them. From here, as Kael raised his voice to address the Captains of his fleet, Carnelia’s lips thinned into an annoyed line - not as a result of the Admiral’s question, no, but a direct response to the cold, armored fingers she felt snake into the pleated lengths of her platinum hair.

Her eyes left the debriefing momentarily to fix Crixus with a piercing look, all the more venomous in appearance with the scarlet shade of her gaze on her deadpan visage. There was a warning in that look, a fleeting flash of anger she smothered as quickly as it arose, that said do not tread on me. She did not appreciate his interference, invested as she was in listening to the Captains speak their statuses. This was her life’s work, and admittedly while she could easily ask one of her officers to repeat the statements should she miss them, the hold Crixus held on her skull was the source of endless frustration. There was a sense of powerlessness she felt whenever he laid hands on her that both frightened and excited her in almost equal measure, but her anger knew no bounds to be made a public spectacle. For the time being, she tolerated his hold on her if for no other reason than the image of solidarity they seemed to display, but the tension in her form was unmistakable at close proximity.

She paid no mind to the salivating Ensign, nor truly to the other support staff inside the room with them, returning her attention to the data feeds on display hovering over the map projection at the center. In her peripheral, however, Crixus was always in view in the effort that any predatory motion would be seen before it could be acted upon. It was almost as if she didn’t trust the man in public. As the Thunderbird spoke, she drew Carnelia’s eyes and had her head not been ensnared by the Commander, she would gave given a confirming nod. To Carnelia, Captain Nightheart was practically radiating excitement despite her relatively controlled posture, and it reinforced the reports she had already received about the fleet: the hounds were eager to be unleashed.

She was content in this fashion only until she felt the grip on her scalp tighten and send unpleasant tingles down her spine, her head wrenched to one side to expose her vulnerable, wounded neck to the larger predator. A furious hiss escaped through her teeth before she could think better of it, masking the sharp intake of breath that had been her response to unexpected pain. Crixus did so love to provoke her, his merciless grin all she needed to decided that she was obliged to respond. In that moment she hated him, hated him for exploiting her weakness, for playing his games of domination in a space she felt inappropriate, for taking her tolerance for granted.

Stone-faced, the present annoyance on her face withdrew into that unfeeling mask she was so fond of, she released her helmet to clatter to the floor at her feet and free both hands for what she planned to do next. Coiling her metal-encased fingers around his larger gauntlet, Carnelia planted her feet and rocked her hips hard against Crixus’s frame to use her lower center of gravity to offset his larger mass, the clash of metal on metal an unmistakable sound likely to draw unwanted attention. Carnelia didn’t care, she was tired of this game. In the same moment, she would twist within her own magitech armor and pull with every ounce of strength she could summon in an instant, to launch him off his feet, over her reinforced spine, and onto the hard deck that awaited him on the other side.
Edited by Ariel, Jan 22 2017, 01:06 AM.
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Some Guy Jan 25 2017, 02:07 AM Post #9
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ISAF Battlecruiser Infinite Justice, Tharash Fleet, Fifth Age
January 1st 5,850 ATF


THE DARK ENFORCER


Crixus hit the metal floor of the Infinite Justice with a resounding crack of metal on metal. The ring of steel filled the air alongside the retreating echo of Carnelia's discarded helmet, and the hulking behemoth that was the male Templar released a throaty chuckle. No harm had befallen him; the sheer power of the magitech veins running through his obsidian plate precluded that as a possibility. No, he had not been hurt; but neither was he walking away from the 'encounter' absent a mark to bear. Carnelia's displeasure was pronounced in that slam, and it had been public enough that the entire crew - and assembled Captains' projections - had heard it. Crixus doubted anyone would remark, save perhaps Kael, thanks largely to the lack of desire to aggravate a member of the Order of Blood.

But part of him hoped someone would, anyway.

Hand pressing to the floor with an echo of impact, Crixus pushed himself up, rising to his feet and simply turning to nod at Carnelia. Just a nod. Something animal and basic had passed through the interaction, and he accepted her argument - non-verbal as it might have been. Turning back to the briefing, the hulking Knight folded his arms and simply waited; crimson eyes shining faintly behind his helmet, glowing with the power raging in his veins. He could smell the uncertainty in the air; though whether that was excitement for the battle to come, or trepidation from his gaze, was entirely unknown. Crixus' entire purpose was to contrast Tharash; to give the brilliant Admiral an unrelenting rock upon which his enemies would be crushed.

With Carnelia to join him, even if it was on South's orders, there was little that could threaten the security of the Tharash fleet - or its prodigious commander. No apology was uttered for his behaviour, nor for Carnelia's reply. Such things were simply part of having Templars aboard. Blood Knights could be worse, when Templars weren't present to rein them in. It wasn't a lack of discipline, it was simply the natural contradiction of their Order: they embodied military doctrine, but eschewed suppression of passion. The Sanguine Path demanded absolute dedication, both to the pursuit of power, and to the truth of one's personality. Never would a member of their Order suppress their natural selves with intent to meet another's expectation. It was why only the bravest, only the most wilful, only the most daring and bold of leaders - leaders like Kael Tharash - dared to have Templars or Blood Knights under their banner. For Kael to have a full detachment... well, some called him mad indeed.

To Crixus, it just made him worth fighting for.

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Traceuratops Jan 27 2017, 04:05 AM Post #10
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The Blazing Warlord

Kael nodded at Andalia as her report was given. He looked to the captain of the Hemorrhage for his report. "Everything is ship-shape over here, sir. The men are glad you're with us." He looked to Crixus and Carnelia with a pause. "...We're all glad to have the Red Templar at our front as well. There was only some truth to that last statement. While the Blazing Ray was more heavily armed, designed to carry artillery and ammunition, the Hemmorhage had more marine personnel. It was that ship which sailed into the enemy fleet formation and forcibly boarded the enemy ships with its enormous population of soldiers. Alongside the Infinite Justice of course. It was always nice to have Red Templar beside you in battle, even if it was terrifying. Captain Strahd was not lying about that. Of course it was also terrifying to fight beside Kael. These crews were no stranger to fierce combatants. Years of working with Red Templar in their fleet made each captain somewhat accustomed to their presence, though it would never completely be something to get used to. Despite their presence of fear, however, the Red Templar were seen as heroes by the fleet's crews. The fine men and women in black and red.

Kael smiled confidently at Strahd and replied to him "Glad to hear it, Captain. We'll quench their thirst for Imperial blood soon enough. Let's go over the course." Kael pointed to the map on the wall, silently instructing all present to turn their attention to it. On cue, the ensign entered a command into the console and a yellow dotted line pitter-pattered up on the map in little beeps. It began at the chevron which marked the fleet's location and made a circle around the image of Charlagne. It rotated in a full circle around the city. "This is a search and destroy mission. Our favorite kind." The faces of each captain lit up at the mention of search and destroy. They had known already at a previous briefing, but just hearing it from Kael seemed to excite them. This was the Tharash Fleet. "We'll be sailing around the perimeter of Charlagne's border, scanning for the enemy fleet which is trying to circle around the city and get directly into Dawnhaven. We're starting out directly east, then turning out 35 degrees Southward in five hours to converge to course, at which point we'll-" CLANG!! Crixus hit the floor hard sending a sound which echoed through the bridge. The crew didn't seem phased save for the map room crew who were very visibly startled. As Crixus stood, Kael gave him and Carnelia a drilling, searing look. The captains around the table, even through hologram, looked upon the two Red Templar with a mix of nervousness and frustration. Anyone who then looked to Kael immediately changed their expression to one of utter knowing fear. The insane, mad glare in Kael's fiery eyes which bore down upon the Templar would make anyone BUT a Red Templar white with fear. Even to Templar themselves it was a fiercely intimidating look that was compounded by his reputation. Kael tolerated their strange way of communicating. He even admired it. But to interrupt his meeting, to interrupt his SPEAKING... no one would dare.
"Are you two FINISHED?" The inflection in his famous voice made the stoic captains flinch hard. His look and his tone reminded everyone that NOBODY crossed Kael Tharash. "GOOD!" His expression finally faded to everyone's great relief and he continued on with his briefing. The change in attitude from apocalyptic marauder to brilliant hero was quite profound. He was a man of two faces, each known to their own faction by design.

"We'll be traveling at half-burn for the duration of the mission, radar scanning in consecutive sections as we go. Remember that we'll be crossing over mountains, marshes and forests, so expect appropriate wildlife. White Wyverns, Rocs, Stirgeons, you know what else. Yes, we will be sailing over water, so eyes out for Dire Mantas. We don't want to sail head-first into a school. Questions?"

After questions and discussions had commenced, Keal dismissed everyone. Each hologram flickered off after a loyal salute to their hero-admiral. Kael made his way over to the ensign to have a quick word with her as everyone was free to go about their own business.
Edited by Traceuratops, Jan 27 2017, 04:26 AM.
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