Thread Closed
Staging Point of the Immersabilis, Location Unknown
A sharp stamp of his boot on the ground. A crisp salute, arm across his chest. Above all else, Ulf made sure to lock eyes with the men and women of the cohort as they returned the gesture, one by one, while leaving the guts of the great metal beast to report to their centuries aboard the Firmitas.
The Pilus was well aware that his gesture delayed proceedings. The cohort’s engineers would need the vessel clear ere they could perform maintenance, and a delay in the return of the crew would likewise slow the arrival of those bound for service in the submersible - strange word, even in Garlean, which did not roll easily off the tongue - for the next sennight. Any centurion could handle this matter, and were he answering to a Tribunus for the duration of the expedition, Ulf was sure he could expect to meet with disapproval for his actions, if not censure for those of stricter mind.
In his own command, however, he would have none of it. Those willing to risk their lives for the Emperor by climbing into the Immersabilis and plying the waters of the Sea of Jade deserved at least this moment, if not more. In Garlemald there were memorials aplenty for those who had braved the first airships, whether to share the triumph of their successes or honor those lost to the failures. Ulf had no such guarantee that the soldiers of the Special Expeditionary Cohort would ever see such appreciation - not with what the Architectus had said of the operation, at any rate - and so he would give the soldiers what respect they were due.
As the last of the men stepped off of the small plank connecting the submersible to the lower decks of the Firmitas, Ulf broke his salute and signalled with a slight nod for the architectoi crews standing nearby, tools at the ready. “Standard maintenance. Have the vessel ready within two bells’ time.â€
“No - no, a day, at least!â€
Ulf’s attention snapped to the figure clambering up the gangplank, one he hadn’t expected. The Architectus Magiteci tended to sleep on the Immersabilis rather than make use of his quarters on the battleship. The Pilus couldn’t fault him for that, as it was the man’s invention, and closer to his heart than any child he might have. But it did mean he saw little of his own superior in this expedition, and it was also another mark against the sanity of Academy graduates. Looking over the submersible’s design, with its squat exterior only barely above the waterline and the bulk of it beneath, as if it was threatening to sink at any moment, Ulf could not fathom any soldier wanting to spend their days living in such a thing.
And yet there before him stood Virgil nan Gravis, clambering up the ramps and out of breath as if he had not tasted the air above ground in nearly a moon, clutching a transcribed reading from the submersible’s instruments tight against his chest.
Ulf held out his hand to stay the engineering crews, giving Virgil time to reach the deck. “Architectus, that will put us behind our patrol schedule. The colony is expecting a supply shipment within the day.†He tried not to glare down at his superior. The Architectus was already nervous around a crew of Ala Mhigans, the Pilus among them. To his knowledge, the expedition was the first time the Garlean had been outside the borders of Garlemald proper, and the lack of a third eye amongst any soldiers of the cohort was doubtless upsetting.
“Use the gunships, then. Aerial observation for the supply vessels at high altitude. We have to make these changes, Pilus.†Stumbling to his feet, Virgil’s frame was still not that much taller - he was short for a Garlean, short enough that without the third eye he never bothered to conceal, he could be confused for a Midlander. He held the transcription record, a device patterned after old Allagan tomestone methods of storing information, up to Ulf’s eyes as if the Pilus could decipher the series of parallel lines by sight alone. “I have it, Pilus. I’ve found the source.â€
Unable to conceal his surprise, Ulf’s eyes widened too much for Virgil not to notice, judging by the victorious smirk that crossed the Architectus’ face. He worked quickly to regain his composure, his face returning to the placidly stern expression he used with superiors and soldiers alike. “How, sir? We still haven’t charted the new search pattern, and the patrol routes cover well-known waters.â€
“Depth, that was the mistake, Pilus.†Virgil ran a hand through his hair, dark and matted from too many nights in the submersible. “Depth! The signal was in the original search pattern, we just weren’t searching low enough. We had but to press a few hundred yalms deeper than safety projections allowed - “
“Sir - “
Virgil cut him off with a wave of his hand. “A brief dive, Pilus, very brief. Well within the expected ranges of tolerance for the ship, have no fear - though your crew might be a bit ill after. Nothing lethal, I’m sure. Suffice it to say we were able to get a position, but it’s deeper still. We’ll need to make adjustments to the converter to handle a trip that extreme, and likely install some materials for visibility - I have some notes here about a reinforced searchlight, and - “
“And the crew?†Ulf tried to stand straighter still. This wasn’t a conversation to be had in front of the engineers, but Virgil’s love of his ship overrode any concerns about security he might have. “And the colony? Reports from the Sea Wolf indicate that they ought to have two more ships inbound since you rewrote the codes. They still need our guarantees.â€
“Never mind the crew. Once the proper adjustments are made and a few points on the interior are reinforced, they’ll be as well as ever. And as I said, gunships will suit just fine for temporary security. We only need to make small dives to pinpoint the source’s location. Beyond that? Well, we accelerate! Do you still have your woman in Limsa?â€
“She’s not ‘my woman’, Archi - “
“Pilus Hartsblood, do you still have your woman in Limsa?†Virgil tended to avoid eye contact when he was plotting out repairs and adjustments to the Immersabilis, but now there was nothing but a direct, unblinking stare, marred only by a slight twitch in the center of his brow, as if his third eye were trying to blink.
“...Yes, Architectus."
“Good. Be in touch, and tell her to activate the Shadows. If we can’t spare the time to keep them safe, we’ll keep Limsa too busy to want to go there.â€
A sharp stamp of his boot on the ground. A crisp salute, arm across his chest. Above all else, Ulf made sure to lock eyes with the men and women of the cohort as they returned the gesture, one by one, while leaving the guts of the great metal beast to report to their centuries aboard the Firmitas.
The Pilus was well aware that his gesture delayed proceedings. The cohort’s engineers would need the vessel clear ere they could perform maintenance, and a delay in the return of the crew would likewise slow the arrival of those bound for service in the submersible - strange word, even in Garlean, which did not roll easily off the tongue - for the next sennight. Any centurion could handle this matter, and were he answering to a Tribunus for the duration of the expedition, Ulf was sure he could expect to meet with disapproval for his actions, if not censure for those of stricter mind.
In his own command, however, he would have none of it. Those willing to risk their lives for the Emperor by climbing into the Immersabilis and plying the waters of the Sea of Jade deserved at least this moment, if not more. In Garlemald there were memorials aplenty for those who had braved the first airships, whether to share the triumph of their successes or honor those lost to the failures. Ulf had no such guarantee that the soldiers of the Special Expeditionary Cohort would ever see such appreciation - not with what the Architectus had said of the operation, at any rate - and so he would give the soldiers what respect they were due.
As the last of the men stepped off of the small plank connecting the submersible to the lower decks of the Firmitas, Ulf broke his salute and signalled with a slight nod for the architectoi crews standing nearby, tools at the ready. “Standard maintenance. Have the vessel ready within two bells’ time.â€
“No - no, a day, at least!â€
Ulf’s attention snapped to the figure clambering up the gangplank, one he hadn’t expected. The Architectus Magiteci tended to sleep on the Immersabilis rather than make use of his quarters on the battleship. The Pilus couldn’t fault him for that, as it was the man’s invention, and closer to his heart than any child he might have. But it did mean he saw little of his own superior in this expedition, and it was also another mark against the sanity of Academy graduates. Looking over the submersible’s design, with its squat exterior only barely above the waterline and the bulk of it beneath, as if it was threatening to sink at any moment, Ulf could not fathom any soldier wanting to spend their days living in such a thing.
And yet there before him stood Virgil nan Gravis, clambering up the ramps and out of breath as if he had not tasted the air above ground in nearly a moon, clutching a transcribed reading from the submersible’s instruments tight against his chest.
Ulf held out his hand to stay the engineering crews, giving Virgil time to reach the deck. “Architectus, that will put us behind our patrol schedule. The colony is expecting a supply shipment within the day.†He tried not to glare down at his superior. The Architectus was already nervous around a crew of Ala Mhigans, the Pilus among them. To his knowledge, the expedition was the first time the Garlean had been outside the borders of Garlemald proper, and the lack of a third eye amongst any soldiers of the cohort was doubtless upsetting.
“Use the gunships, then. Aerial observation for the supply vessels at high altitude. We have to make these changes, Pilus.†Stumbling to his feet, Virgil’s frame was still not that much taller - he was short for a Garlean, short enough that without the third eye he never bothered to conceal, he could be confused for a Midlander. He held the transcription record, a device patterned after old Allagan tomestone methods of storing information, up to Ulf’s eyes as if the Pilus could decipher the series of parallel lines by sight alone. “I have it, Pilus. I’ve found the source.â€
Unable to conceal his surprise, Ulf’s eyes widened too much for Virgil not to notice, judging by the victorious smirk that crossed the Architectus’ face. He worked quickly to regain his composure, his face returning to the placidly stern expression he used with superiors and soldiers alike. “How, sir? We still haven’t charted the new search pattern, and the patrol routes cover well-known waters.â€
“Depth, that was the mistake, Pilus.†Virgil ran a hand through his hair, dark and matted from too many nights in the submersible. “Depth! The signal was in the original search pattern, we just weren’t searching low enough. We had but to press a few hundred yalms deeper than safety projections allowed - “
“Sir - “
Virgil cut him off with a wave of his hand. “A brief dive, Pilus, very brief. Well within the expected ranges of tolerance for the ship, have no fear - though your crew might be a bit ill after. Nothing lethal, I’m sure. Suffice it to say we were able to get a position, but it’s deeper still. We’ll need to make adjustments to the converter to handle a trip that extreme, and likely install some materials for visibility - I have some notes here about a reinforced searchlight, and - “
“And the crew?†Ulf tried to stand straighter still. This wasn’t a conversation to be had in front of the engineers, but Virgil’s love of his ship overrode any concerns about security he might have. “And the colony? Reports from the Sea Wolf indicate that they ought to have two more ships inbound since you rewrote the codes. They still need our guarantees.â€
“Never mind the crew. Once the proper adjustments are made and a few points on the interior are reinforced, they’ll be as well as ever. And as I said, gunships will suit just fine for temporary security. We only need to make small dives to pinpoint the source’s location. Beyond that? Well, we accelerate! Do you still have your woman in Limsa?â€
“She’s not ‘my woman’, Archi - “
“Pilus Hartsblood, do you still have your woman in Limsa?†Virgil tended to avoid eye contact when he was plotting out repairs and adjustments to the Immersabilis, but now there was nothing but a direct, unblinking stare, marred only by a slight twitch in the center of his brow, as if his third eye were trying to blink.
“...Yes, Architectus."
“Good. Be in touch, and tell her to activate the Shadows. If we can’t spare the time to keep them safe, we’ll keep Limsa too busy to want to go there.â€
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Current Fate-14 Storyline:Â Merchant, Marine
Current Fate-14 Storyline:Â Merchant, Marine