[Thracyn Caldor]

Third Brightening of the First Cycle of Immanis, Era I of the Celestine Mandate, Era XV Post Fractum

Thracyn Caldor pulled the navy blue cloak of the Protectorat tighter about him and cursed very softly so that his squad would not be able to hear as they trooped along behind their sergeant towards the waterfront. The closer the patrol got to the sea the more deep and chill the biting wind became and the young Medonian thanked the gods that he had not come here during the Everwinter. Four months seemed quite long enough.

He turned his head to catch a glance of his squad, strung out behind him in single file, as they maneuvered their way through the increasing crowds near the waterfront and the beached Zaratan. His corporal, a Medonian elf named Kelenda Mor'atar, headed the little column following Thracyn and offered a nod of acknowledgement and a slight smile at her superior's gaze. Behind her tramped the other four members of his squad, a mixed though predominantly human group. Besides Mor'atar, his senior NCO, Thracyn had Darus Vectrix, a human as a tough, capable but somewhat shady Private First Class, and three additional privates under his command. Two were human, Erik Handshold the massive Vagaran with wits quicker than his looks belied and Elera Nynalti, a young woman who had just recently joined the squad under Thracyn. The final member of the patrol was a dwarf, Jorgar Pebblesmash, of indeterminate age whose chief pleasure in life was smashing heads, or knees, whichever was easier to reach. The squad had worked together long enough under Thracyn to be used to him and confident in his leadership, and he in turn had had time to find out the various strengths and weaknesses of the people under his command. Though he was still feeling his way forward more often than not in his new duties, Thracyn thought he had acquitted himself rather well so far.

The squad members were all arrayed in leather armor over which they wore the blue and gold uniforms of the Protectorat du Paix, and wielded weapons appropriate to their skills. Mor'atar carried a exquisitely crafted elven longsword, Vectrix an efficient looking steel shortsword, Handshold a shortsword and dagger, Nynalti, a short bow and long dagger, and Pebblesmash a wicked looking two headed axe. Thracyn himself had, after some consideration, returned to his apartment and clad himself appropriately for the new assignment. He wore the chainmail greaves, boots, and gauntlets which had already served him so well, though in place of the elven steel cuirass he now wore the black leather vest he had been gifted by the New Order after the battle at Chateau Noir. The vest was amazingly strong yet light as normal leather, and Thracyn had to admit the silver eagle emblazoned on the front was rather striking. The final piece, or pieces, of his equipment he wore were the twin elven steel longswords, which were secured on his back by twin leather scabbards which crossed over his chest in a X shape.

Thracyn nodded to other men of the Protectorat who were already present and keeing the crowds back as his squad finally neared their destination. He thought he caught a glimpse of some researchers from the Universite but he couldn't be sure from the distances involved and he quickly gave up the idle speculation as he pushed his way through the crowds and finally came upon the beached Zaratan. It was some few hundred yards away but its' scale immediately struck the young sergeant, who whistled softly as he saw small blue and gold figures around the perimeter of the poor dead beast who he belatedly identified as men of the Protectorat standing guard.

He turned to Mor'atar again who nodded and brought the squad to a halt and Thracyn looked around for any officers to report in to to receive his assignment as the crowds continued to swell.