Valpine Was in though As she heard the words enter her head Cowardice..... her squad would likely have made no difference with how those things were cutting through people. If only they weren't using the practice ones. She Soon felt a nudge at the back from A group of storm troopers Likely something being taken somewhere for witnessing the event. She followed the others following the storm troopers wordlessly and thinking.
With blaster rifles still at their back, the trio were prodded up a stairwell immediately inside the simulation chamber which opened up into a broad walkway. At the far end lay a doorway, its opening scorched from blaster fire and the door itself missing, probably the work of heavy cutting torches. Stormtroopers in the same black armour lined the causeway at regular intervals with two on either side of the doorway. From the distance, it was obvious at least two people were in the room at the far end engaged in a heated discussion but other than the loud shouting and threats, it was hard to discern exactly what was being exchanged. With no choice but to march solemnly towards the awaiting chamber, the group was herded inwards into a wide alcove dominated by viewing screens, control panels, and several unpiloted lecterns. Without a doubt this is where the simulation was controlled from and monitored. However, what should of housed anywhere from forty to sixty personnel was vacant except for three people, one of them dead. Now within earshot, it was clear what the two had been discussing. "I don't give a damn if you have powers imbued by the Senate. This is my Academy. MINE! You can't just waltz on in here modifying the equipment without notifying me or even without my permission. You Inquisitors constantly step out of line and I won't stand for it!" His voice constantly changing from hoarse screaming to overload lecturing, the Academy's caretaker was definitely in an uproar over the whole debacle. Yet the woman whom he was addressing appeared to not have a care in the world. Dressed in a void black uniform that appeared to suck both light and color from that around her, the woman's visage was one of cold, piercing, hungry eyes that took their arrival in causing the mans outburst to stop as he straightened his uniform and turned. "You are dismissed. Remain outside until called for." The man states to the guards and gestures that the three recruits advance towards him. "I am truly sympathetic to the plight you three went through today and I know from firsthand reports that compared to many of your...colleagues...that you performed with the enthusiasm, mindset, and audacity of the Imperial Army. I wanted to congratulate each one of you on graduating from this academy and also for your stupendous work. Now, if you excuse me....this monster of a woman would like to speak with you all." Taking that as his leave, he smiled briefly and shook each one of their hands before heading out the door but not without glaring daggers at the Inquisitor. Escorted on his way out by a bodyguard detail, their commanding officer and teacher left without saying another word. Silence descended upon the room and only now did the corpse by the doorway become more apparent. Dressed in civilian clothing, a female Rodian lie with her chest blasted open holding a small and deadly compact blaster pistol in one hand and a glaive in the other. The female was obviously an assassin of some sort but whether or not the alien was solely responsible for the events was yet to be seen. Walking slowly with her eyes tracing over each of their features, the Inquisitor gazed at them with a coy smile like a scientist becoming giddy over the prospect of fresh samples. After completing her loop around them, she gestured that they come closer. Brushing a hand absent mindedly through close cropped curls of pitch darkness, the woman finally spoke. "Your performance was mediocre at best, but for such delectable specimens as yourselves, your body's are canvases that can be finished to flourishing works of art. Now that the sleazy old fart is gone and you are no longer held here until fresh orders are made, you have a choice. In two days time the rest of your 'friends' will be shipped off to a foreign conflict in which they will all die. Either you can stay here and ship out with them, or you can come with me and serve true power." Pausing to let her words sink in, she once again began to circle around them like a shark circling her prey. Stepping closer, it was now easier to make out her features. Crimson eyes flecked with splashes of silver pierced out from a lean, high angled face with sharpened features. While many would not call her beautiful per say, she was definitely stunning as only a cold hearted killer could be. "I can promise you that whatever you desire shall be yours for the taking should you serve me but I cannot promise that your sanity nor your souls will be saved. If you make your pact with me, the chances of you dying will be certain. Knowing this, will you willingly serve a higher power? Or go with those blind sheep in the Army to the butchers table on some backwater of a planet?" Stopping behind them, the Inquisitor walked up towards Valpine and ran a gloved hand across the woman's scalp like one would with a pet except whatever emphasis of a friendly petting left only a cold aching numbness at the wrongness of her presence. GM Note: You will have to decide as a group. Path A: Join the Inquisitor Removes cost for equipment, weapons, armour, and vehicles. All further missions are tripled in difficulty and the death of your character signifys the end until the ***** finds more toys to add to her collection....I mean party. Path B: Remain at the Academy until the official Graduation and be shipped off to a far flung campaign. You will receive the gratitude of those still stationed here for bringing honor to the Regiment. Difficulty will progress normally, 300% credit bonus on completion of next assignment. The Inquisitor may will not take rejection well.
Straf remained expressionless as he shook the care taker's hand. He doubts the guy can actually feel any sympathy at all, let alone for them. It was strange, he thought as the man took his leave and the inquisitor started menacing her way around the three recruits. He should be afraid of her yet he wasn't, it's almost as if the hate and anger that boiled in his mind before have numbed his insides. Ever since he first started living in the Undercity, the fear of death left him alone most of the time. It wasn't that he was suicidal, just that he had so little to lose when he first got down to the dirty, stinking patches of dirt that stim dealers and crime lords fought over that death would almost feel like a mercy. He had a similar feeling now. He had nothing to himself while at the academy, and he doubts that would change within the next five seconds. So when the Inquisitor stopped talking to listen to their response, he looked over to the other two, who nodded back at him. That was all the answer he needed. Stepping forward in a precise military fashion, he addressed the Inquisitor, staring straight forward not out of fear, but habit. Even if the woman were to stand directly in front of him, his eyes would simply stare pass her. "We appreciate the offer Inquisitor, and thank you for taking so much effort to conduct our trials and determine our worth. However, we must respectfully decline. Our duties are here with the others of our class, and to serve the Empire alongside them, even if the ultimate destination is death," he said with a plain, emotionless voice.
Several moments passed as the Inquisitor remained behind Valpine, her hand still outstretched but unmoving. Seconds drew on to minutes as neither side moved and after a tense four minutes of silence separated only by their breaths and the sound of activity outside of the compound, she broke the tension. Arching her back as she began to laugh cynically, the Inquisitor appeared to find the boys response quite humorous yet a single look at her eyes would tell a different story. Moving behind the three as she continued to chuckle, the Inquisitor spoke once more. "I will admit that you have some balls to think that this was in anyways a request you could refuse. My generosity must have been unnaturally bountiful when I even worded it as an offer. Yet the situation is so more exciting than the dull retorts your poor pitiful Head Master could come up with...I wonder if his death screams will be the same? Be gone now before I decide to kill you as well." Before any of them could turn a flash of light erupts bathing the entire room in blinding spasms of pure white and when it clears, the Inquisitor is no where in sight. Surely even an Imperial Inquisitor wouldn't be mad enough to attack a respected Imperial Officer in his own Academy, right? There would be only one way to find out. With nothing left for them in the room, they might as well seek out the Head Master and see if the Inquisitors threat was but a ruse....yet knowing how she had tempered with the simulator, it would be a poor ruse indeed.
Rubbing his eyes after the bright flash the Inquisitor's words still ringing in his ears. Could she really be thinking of killing their Headmaster? "We need to warn the Headmaster!" It wasn't the smartest thing for them to do, but he felt like they owed the Major. He began heading out in the direction of the Headmasters office. He could only hope to warn him, because he would not be able to stop the Inquisitor. It was a miracle that she didn't kill them on the spot when they turned down her.
Straf watched as the Inquisitor's threats came and gone. When she decided that the Headmaster will die instead of them, he actually felt a tingle of emotion trickled through for the first time after the day's events. It wasn't relief; it was satisfaction. Satisfaction that someone who had done him an atrocious wrong in the past finally has coming to him what he deserved. After the flash of light and the inquisitor disappeared, he switched from attention to parade rest, though still with an air of military professionalism. When Andros exclaimed his intentions, Straf far from sharing the same sentiment. In fact, Straf just wanted to go to the mess hall and grab some dinner and then head back to the barracks to turn in early. It's been a long day after all. Yet he knew if one of the Sergeants caught him alone without his squad the fact that he just evaded death and punishment where a majority of others did not today would be in vain. Sighing, he turned and followed his squadmate out, toward the headmaster's office. Though instead of running, he took his time, his pace more of a casual walk than an urgent run to warn someone of about their impending doom.
Valpine Followed in suit of the others knowing they would likely be heading to the head masters office she followed at a somewhat jogging pace they would need to inform him of the threats of the inqusitor. She kept her pace with the others and kept silent she could still feel the cold touch of the inquisitors hand upon her head. She hadn't felt something that cold in a long time..
The outside training fields were barren as night had fallen across the city. Even in a military Academy, it seemed most people followed a regular sleep cycle and if it weren't for the guards and occasional recruit or student passing by, it would of seemed entirely abandoned. Bright floodlights lit up the entire area in warming embraces of yellow rays even as a chilling wind swept in from the east to rob them of any heat offered during the planets cold evening. Over three hundred meters opposite of them, the imposing structure of the central administration wing rose up into the sky. Dominated by a massive Imperial crest across its front dressed up in flowing tapestry's and banners with the same crimson, black, and white emblem. Flowering buttresses swept out from each wing making the three story tall structure appear like a miniature palace of malice and malcontent. A pair of white armored Stormtroopers stood guard outside with a compliment of off-duty instructors lounging around. No one appeared to be alarmed or even concerned about anything and if one looked closely, it would seem as if they weren't even really paying attention as none of them turned at the sound of the approaching footsteps. Yet further progress was blocked as the two guards moved into their path, blocking the door with their imposing uniforms and blaster rifles held outwards slightly menacingly. "Administration hours are 0600 to 1500. Unless you have been summoned by the Headmaster directly, no unauthorized personnel may enter by order of the Headmaster himself." One of the guards spoke blandly as if this wasn't the first time he/she had been forced to say so already. There was no way of knowing if the Inquisitor had even bothered entering this way or not as the guards showed no sign of knowing nor did they seem entirely inclined to listen to any explanations. Do you: Explain the situation and hope for the best? Back off and attempt to enter from the second level by scaling a wall? Who cares, let the impompous bastard die already!
Straf finally reached the entrance a bit after the other members of his squad, noticing that the guard was saying something. Even though he only caught the last bit of the guard's speech, he got enough context to know what the white armored soldier said. Straf shrugged and backed off. He was only here because the rest of the squad was. He contended himself with staying back, not really caring for the life or death of the Headmaster. In fact, he's about to head to the nearest mess hall for some food, since he haven't eaten since the simulation incident started.
"Sorry for wasting your time." He gave a crisp salute before marching away from the guards. It was hard to believe that in a matter of days they too would be part of the Stormtrooper core. Once he joined Straf and Valpine they began walking away, once they were out of ear shot he spoke to Straf. "Well, what should we do now?" Walking in step with his fellow recruits, he had a war raging inside his head. Did they do the right thing? Was the Inquisitor bluffing? How long would it take for the Inquisitor to follow through with her promise to take them?
