The First Mission - (Chapter 1)

[DM Spiral]

---Everyone---



The Emperor smiled and gave an approving nod, "At ease gentlemen."  He moved forward and clapped Marcus on the shoulder, "Excellent strike my boy. You're going to save us a lot on artillery." He laughed, then did the same to Aaron, "You're healing powers have excelled since the last time I visited.  I see you've really been hitting the books."



General Holms laughed, "They'd better have hit the books. I personally made sure their noses were in them every chance I got for the last four years." And indeed the general had. He had been visiting once a week for those last four years when he wasn't out in the field to put the fire of the Coalition under their asses. He had always been stern but fair and the boys and Khayman had grown fond of the man.



General Underhill added as he walked up and gave Viego a pat on the shoulder, "Those energy blasts of yours were impressive, but they haven't seen you fly." He looked over at the Emperor and tossed a glance back to the high command, "I'd wager he's almost as good as I am." General Underhill was Viegos personal teacher when it came to the SAMAS. The man was an absolute genius when it came to robot and power armor combat and everyone knew it.



The Emperor turned a soft smile to Viego, "Well, he better be, he had the best teacher we could give him."  



Joseph walked up and put his hand out to Marcus and then to Aaron, "It's good to finally meet both of you.  Father always spoke highly of you two."

The others of the high command seemed to mingle with each other and observe. They did not introduce themselves, but they seemed amused and relaxed. 

The Emperor's wife stayed in the back among her guard.  It was hard to tell what she was doing.  

The three Psi-Stalkers were not given leave to stand or be at ease.  They remained kneeling.



---Khayman, Marcus, Viego, and Aaron---

For these four, the Emperor's, General Underhill's and General Holm's reactions were completely normal.  They three men had always been very personable with the boys, almost like father figures.


---Nolan---

(DM - Roll Perception and Intelligence.)

[Marcus Brand]

Marcus practically glowed at the Emperor's praise. He nodded almost to a bow, "Thank you sir." 

He couldn't quite loose his smile, even when the Emperor's son walked up to him. The man had always made him a touch nervous, and this was the first time the Minister of Intelligence had ever approached them and not just observed. When Joseph put his hand out, Marcus instinctively saluted, then awkwardly shook the mans hand. "It's good to finally meet you too sir."

[Nolan Randall]

Perception [1d100]=87 vs. 69%
espionage: Intelligence [1d100]=50 vs. 58%

Nolan waits patiently, at ease, but remains to the side and does not draw attention to himself. Whern Joseph wanted him to report he would ask, Nolan was not about to volunteer his report in front of the whole High Command unless it was requested.

[Aaron Brand]

Of course sir. The Coalition deserves nothing but our best. Aaron had actually completed his paramedic training in just over a month when it took the average soldier about six. Same story with many other classes. In fact, Aaron would usually blaze through every assigned reading and use the remainder of class time to hit the books...away from him so he could secretly fiddle around with/draw schematics of whatever pet project he was currently tinkering with. Obviously General Holms was wise to Aaron's shenanigans, but as long as the Aaron continued to produce exemplary scholastic results, the General didn't chew his ass out too often.

Good to meet you too Mr. Prosek. Aaron gave Joseph's hand a firm, but polite shake. Man, you are a mirror image of your father, sir. And of course Aaron had to scope out the armor General Holm and Joseph Prosek were wearing, out of professional curiosity.

[Viego]

Viego relaxed when he was told to be at ease. But he didn't feel like he was fully at ease, there was a lot of attention on him right now. He felt a bit irritated when the Emperor ignored him completely, he was used to it somewhat but it still hurt he had to admit. Of course when General Underhill spoke up and complimented him he grinned like an idiot. He cherished every word of praise that man said it meant the world to Viego, and he showed it on his face honestly. "Thank you sir. I try to keep up with the high bar you have set. I want to make you proud." He says to the General he saw as a father.  

The small acknowledgement by the Emperor made Viego nod though he just wish he knew how to connect with the man. General Holms was a bit of a combination of the two for Viego, he seemed to acknowledge Viego more than the Emperor but less than Underhill. He was like a cool uncle in a way.  Viego was happy that the Emperor's son ignored him though in favor of the other two boys, but he tried not to show it.

[DM Spiral]

---Nolan---

A few things occur to Nolan as he watches the exchanges between the boys and the Emperor with his high command.  Some of the members of the high command are VERY personable with the boys.  There is no way … there isn't something more to that.  Something they are not saying in the open.  With that revelation, mixed with the fact that Joseph the second sent him here and this is the first time he is meeting them? He isn't the only one to suspect some deeper connection between the Brand boys and the Emperor along with Viego and Underhill. 

For the life of him, Nolan can't imagine what it could be.  Are they related to the boys somehow? Are the boys powers directly linked to these men? God knows what's possible with Psionics … or …even magic.  He had only dipped a toe into it himself.  Was their some magic connection that the Leaders of the Coalition were dabbling with?  Where they hiding it somehow?

Would that explain why Joseph was so interested in them?  Was that why the Emperor had kept Joseph at a distance considering this was apparently his first time meeting the boys? 

There was something here for sure. And now he was deeply involved in it.  In that moment Nolan knew had to tread Veeeery carefully or this involvement could easily prove fatal.


---Everyone---



With that the Emperor gestured for everyone to follow. "Well, you boys have already had breakfast, but we have some cake, snacks and drinks set up in the Officers quarters.  We can discuss discuss your promotions to Corporals as well as your first assignments.  Welcome to the Coalition Army boys.  I have no doubt you will all do great things for your country."

Everyone started to move inside toward a spot to relax, eat and drink.

[Viego]

Viego wait till Marcus and Aaron went before he followed along. He was excited to hear what they were going to be doing, especially if he got some air time out of it. The thought of flying almost put a skip in his step, but he resigned in his enthusiasm as he followed along. He glances back at the psi stalkers curious what they were doing.

[Aaron Brand]

Promotions! First assignments! So the demonstrations that the psi stalkers had set up weren't just for practice; the boys were being evaluated from the get-go. The thought made Aaron even more thankful that he didn't projectile vomit all over Meris when she did her impromptu butcher job.

Aaron looked over at Viego and Marcus to gauge their reactions to all of this, then shrugged and began walking towards the officer quarters with the group. This wasn't exactly how Aaron expected their graduation evaluation to play out, but then again, nothing was ever "standard" when it came to himself, Marcus, or Viego.

[Nolan Randall]

Nolan hangs back a moment while the boys and the Emperor and High Command start to walk towards the Officer's Maess. Ignoring the psi-stalkers, he did not expect them to be included in the invitation, he tries to subtly signal Khayman to hang back a moment with a gesture to come closer.

[Marcus Brand]

Marcus caught the glance from his brother and smiled. His excitement was palpable, but the youth had discipline in spades, so beyond the smile he maintained his composure. 

As the Leaders of the Coalition moved to the officer quarters he followed at an easy step. Some drinks and cake would be a nice touch.  And a chance to speak with the high command was always welcome. It was hard to judge their reactions to their display of abilities, but considering they were still smiling and relaxed, he imagined they had a good opinion of them.