Tabula Rasa Roleplayers

Major Andyrs stood at parade rest as he waited patiently for his new recruit to arrive. It was an odd sensation, after being put in charge of the 1st Engineers then pulled away to work on classified PAU projects, only to be asked to reconstitute them because of their usefulness to the AFS. He was proud of his unit, they worked hard, fast, and in some of the worst fights he'd even seen in his life. With Captain Pyrestorm being MIA as well, it only made it harder to bring them back from the ashes, even if it had only been seven months.

He sighed to himself and rolled his shoulders to release the tension. Though slightly nerve wracking to bring in new recruits to the 1st, he always appreciated the candidates that came. Some were older then him, some were not, but they all expect him to be a leader. It wasn't the leadership that worried him, it was the various walks of life who were thrust into a military unit. Not everyone fit, but his belief was based strongly on his Marine Corps training; once a Marine, always a Marine. He always tried to keep a well greased unit, capable of being adaptive and effective, but that usually meant he lead with a fairly strict set of rules.

Looking at his readout he knew it had only been a few minutes since the orders were transmitted, but he wanted the 1st in full swing again. Lead from the front, he thought to himself. Patience paid off more then its fair share in a Engineering Battalion, here was no different.

With a glance around, he could see old and new walking among the barracks. Some of them were AFS personnel, but just as many were not. Though amount of mercenaries was a necessity it still made him a little bit nervous; to trust so many to handle the affairs of the human race when some were only out for their own survival bothered him. They should all be trying to protect what they had left, not out for personal gain.

He sigh again and laughed slightly, Patience Andyrs, just have patience.

Ed walked to the barrack and straightened his uniform. It still felt odd. he had worn armor for so long he felt naked out of it.

He was about to enter whe he looked over and Gerin was standing there grinning at him. Gerin waved and his heart slowed a bit. He tried to remember what the AFS protocol was for entering a building then figured he couldn't do far wrong. He strightened his posture, took a deep breath and walked in. he immediately picked Major Andyrs out of the bedlam, Gerin's description had been dead on, as always. he marched with reasonable accuracy to in front of teh major, straightened to a almost corect form of attention and saluted. With the wrong hand! He wanted to die right then and there. He held his salute and prayed.
Facing Bane stalkers and striders isn't this hard!
He waited for the lambasting he was sure was coming his way.

((OOC this kid is huge, tough and very, very nervous. he is also obviously NOT prior military, so he doesnt have a clue what to do next))

Though he was tall as well, Major Andyrs looked up at the large man with respect to his size. He had seen him on his way out when they were at the CP, but that was in armor, and armor always made everyone look big.

As the large man saluted with his left hand, he quickly looked him over and studied his right for a moment. Realizing that his nerves were likely to blame and the general lack of military courtesy taught to most, he spoke firmly but not impatiently, "Is there something wrong with your right hand Recruit?"

"Nosir... Major Andyrs sir." Ne immediately switched hands. "Recruit Edward Kalenath reporting, Major." The major's matter of fact, and not unkind, response centered him. "I was ordered to report to you sir."

With a small twitch of his lips, he was glad that the new recruit was able to pick up on switching hands quickly. "There is no need for a 'sir' sandwich, just one sir is courtesy enough." His hand snapped to a salute in return and then lowered it quickly to his side. "Recruit Kalenath, I'm glad to see that you can respond to an order in a swift fashion. I take it all of your paperwork is squared away then?"

Ed remembered to wait till the Major dropped his salute before Ed dropped his. Gerin had been most emphatic about that for some reason.
"Yes sir. My paperwork was filled out mostly before my arrival. I... I had some time so i filled out the rest."
He hands the major a datapad with his personal information on it.

(it shows him with a rank of grenadier with specialty in propellant guns and launchers. It also warns in dry official language to keep him under tight control in combat situations. It lists Gerin as next of kin. They look nothing at all alike, aside from being both Caucasian.)

"Very well." Handing the datapad back to Edward, he speaks openly. "Stand at ease Recruit." With his hands returning to being folded behind he back he begins, "I'm not one to blow smoke, so I'll get to the point. The 1st was constituted back just after the initial attack on Earth. It was put under my charge in hopes that with the new technology of personal armor, shields, and various other tech we stole from the Eloh; that we'd keep it in good working order. We did just that for many months after the initial onslaught, but unfortunately we were removed from active duty due to various other reassignments. We were, frankly, too good at what we did. They figured they didn't need us anymore, which was a mistake. Once they figured this out, they asked me to reform this unit."

Motioning his hands to the empty barracks, "As you can see we are pretty barren at the moment. Promotions will come fast to those who deserve it, so if you want to excel or prove to me that you want a leadership role, then bust your ass and I'll keep an eye on it. As the weeks press on I will be continuing to recruit and rebuilding the battalion, but its up to everyone in the unit to keep their eyes open for potentials. If you see someone that looks like a good candidate, talk to them about the 1st and pass it up the chain of command."

Continuing on with his speech, "We run PT sessions every day at o'six-hundred, barring we aren't on duty or in the slop. You are expected to keep your gear, bunk, and foot locker in good order. I'm not going to hold inspections, but take some initiative and be ready to move on a moments notice. If you need personal leave, pass it up the chain and we'll get you what you need. We work hard, but we play just as hard. Any questions so far Recruit?"

No sir... One problem however." Major Andyrs motioned for him to continue.
"Sir... they didn't tie me into the network. they said if I wasn't in a recognized unit they couldn't authorize it."
That meant his emergency teleporter wouldn't work. If he went down, it was permanent.
"I was tied into the network until a week ago, then my access was denied. I don't know why. I've asked who I can and they all say they are investigating the problem."

"That I can assure you will be fixed immediately. Have you stowed your gear already? You can take any of these racks here, just make sure your security is set and the data is correct. I may not hold inspections, but I expect that if one were held that we'd pass without incident."

Taking a few steps away, he clearly opens a comm channel to somewhere else. "Waypoint's and Portals Division..." After a moment he begins speaking in full, "This is Major Andyrs, 1st Engineer Battalion. I need to see to one of my men not being included in the network."

After an explanation comes across the line his face turns sour. "Very well, please add him back in." Another pause. "What do you mean negative?" As he continues his conversation his face darkens further, "I don't give a flying rats ass who said he's been locked out Lieutenant, you have about ten seconds to put him in or I'm coming down there and we can discuss this face to face." A short pause. "Good and he better remain there or I'm sure your CO is going to wonder why your station has suddenly lost all power. Andyrs out."

With a heavy sigh he turns back to Edward. "You are in the network again."

Listening to the major, Ed managed, with difficulty, to keep his face straight.

"Thank you sir. My gear is secured sir. Security is set." And anyone from the AFS trying to breach that security would have... problems. "Except for the heavy ammo, which is, per reg, locked in the armory until I go out."

Excepting his backup stash of course. He was NEVER without ammo. But he was also sneaky about hiding it.

"Good. When you have time, you should visit our battalion intranet. It has some basic information that will become useful to you. It also contains our roster, unit message boards, mail service, and various other things you might find useful."

Returning to his original position in front of Edward, he stands at ease again. "I noticed on your personnel record that it says you have trouble controlling your anger sometimes. Is this going to be an issue? I'm going to be giving you a pretty big leash, but you'll only hang yourself if you can't keep it in check."

"You seem a pretty capable soldier and I fixed much of your handy work back at that CP, something you need to be careful of is collateral damage. Wrecking crusty is fine, but when you take down half the base with them, you're not helping anyone. What you destroy may be the only thing keeping someone else alive. Are we clear on this?"

"Yes sir. I... I'll be honest sir. I don't remember most of the fight at the CP. I know it is a problem. I've seen the docs and they say there are things they can do meds and such. I've been read the riot act before sir."

Boy had he! "I will keep it under control or I will inform you or my immediate superior immediately. I don't want to be responsible for a blue on blue."

He grimaced for a moment in memory then he stopped talking and braced back to attention.

"Just as a note and this is a personal peeve of mine. Just because someone holds rank over you they are not your superior, just your senior. Be responsible for your own actions. One thing I do not tolerate in the 1st is ignorance. The fact that you are aware of your problem is a good step. We'll work on keeping you under control, that just takes training and time. I promise you when you keep yourself in check, you'll find that you are not only ten times as devastating in the field, but almost everyone will back you up because they know they can trust you."

Reaching into his pocket, he pulls out a patch and a set of single stripped chevrons ((see here)). "Both Recruits and Privates wear these, see that you put them on your uniform. The patch goes on your left shoulder. Make sure your armor denotes the same, rank on the right- patch on the left."

Ed looks the Major in the eye and nods.
"Sir, if I may..." When the Major does not silence him he continues "...you are not the first person to tell me that. And I hope to be worthy of your and my comrade's trust."

He examines the patch and the rank marks, then nods. The markings are simple enough for Recruit and Private, ((cool, btw)) and that is all he will be for a while.

"Good to hear. Very well, I'm sure you have some missions to attend to and I will not keep you from them. I have to deal with some paper work, but I will be in the field this evening. Expect to hear from me. Do you have anything else Recruit Kalenath?" He stands a bit straighter, a sense of formality about him.

Ed braces back to attention, this time he is in the correct posture.

"No, Sir!" He replies evenly.

((he is standing there and he doesn't know what to do next.))

"Very well then. Carry on and dismissed. Oh, by the way. Read up on your military courtesy on the unit's intranet. You'll find it useful."

"Oh.. yes Sir." his face falls and he almost turns to go, but catches himself, and renders a perfect salute. He holds it...

With a small smile he returns the salute and drops it in quick succession.

Ed drops his salute and waits for the major to go. Once the major is out of earshot he sighs mightily in relief. Then he whispers under his breath.
"I am such an idiot sometimes..."