Topic: The Sanguine Hunt - Respite

Mach

Date: 2016-02-10 09:34 EST
"Remember me and smile, for it's better to forget than to remember me and cry.?" ―"Dr. Seuss

Mach tugged and pulled on the uniform as he could, straightening it this way and that trying to get it to hang properly upon his frame. It wasn't as easy a prospect as it sounded since he'd gained a bit of muscle since the last time he'd been home as well as the fact that he'd had two hands that last time too. It seemed like he might need a bit more work before he was fully functional with just one hand though honestly he sort of hoped he'd not remain in such a state of things for too much longer. He did have a little temporary prosthetic gift from Ammy but yeah....for what was being aimed for the less capable he was the better. That and the thing did seem to have a mind of it's own which he really wasn't needing to try and deal with at this time! A few last tugs were issued to his decorative hunters mantel, a little niggling with his ribbon board, and finally he'd don a matching military beret before checking himself in the full body mirror. The schmooze cut a handsome figure, even with that bandaging over the right side of his face or the pinned up and closed right sleeve. The man would have preened himself at this point but there was nothing to be done about that haggard fatigue that wore on his friendly mask that dulled the usual glimmer in his cobalt gaze.

Such may have been the reason why he hadn't really made any calls for people to come see him off, or to inform such of his departure period. No, other than those few that actually caught him that day prior anyone that needed or deserved more than a simple text stating 'discharging home for ass chew/debrief/new bits, no longer in hospital, can buy me a drink later ;P" would be getting a letter in a few days. Perhaps it was a dickey move on his part but after a few conversations he'd had the man was convinced that this was the best way so as not to draw a crowd or have to answer too many uncomfortable questions. Moving back to the gurney that had been his home the past few weeks he let his hands trace out over the sheets, smoothing them over one last time before moving on to take a final inventory of those gifts of well wishes he'd amassed during his hospitalization. The schmooze couldn't help but smile as he touched each of the items arranged in a couple of baskets for pickup later, a scruffy pet given to the giant teddy before he stole his phone for the final time from the charger in its lap. Stopping before the window his gaze rolled out over the chaotic and anachronistic landscape that was Rhy'Din, soaking it in during that predawn glow.

And there he would remain until there was an ever so slight rap upon the door which brought the man's thoughts back to the here and now. Wordless he turned about, catching a simple cane from off the bed rail as he passed at an ambling pace which carried him to and through the drawn curtain of that second bed in the room. He'd pause a moment as he looked down at the figure that slumbered within, cane tucked aside so as he could check over the arrangement one last time of the bedside table he'd set and organized. A few last fiddling nudges here and there, dawdling in nature before he lifted rough fingers to trace a gentle caress upon caramel features as he leaned down to steal a ghostly kiss from the woman. Mach wasn't concerned that he'd wake Lauren, not with the sedative she was so happeningly slipped the night before to help her 'accidentally' miss his departure. Letting his lips linger for a moment or two he finally lifted away, his hand drawing back to his cane. "Goodbye Lauren." Barely a whisper spoken before the man retreated from the cordon of curtains, shuffling pace taken up once more carrying him to and through the door without a look back.

The hallway was stark in its brightness compared to the room, jarring even with hard, sterile whites broken up by the wall of brown and "camouflage" that awaited him. In the middle was Captain Albright who stood somberly in a brown dress uniform much like Mach's but lacking many of the colorful combat awards that adorned the hunters and his epaulettes unhindered by any sort of mantle. Next to the commissioned officer was a familiar stout red head in a service uniform, a threadbare smile offered from the woman earned one back for Warrent Officer Hardings. And rounding out the detail was a pair of enlistees dressed in universal camo fatigues decked out with light tactical kits marked with the military police logo; each of the soldiers armed with an assault rifle and a dour expression that didn't lighten any under the schmooze's smile. If anything such seemed to trigger one of the humorless fellows to fish a set of manacles out from a utility pouch.

"Oh come on' really' You think I'm going to hobble my ass away in some daring do escape?"

The man lifted a tired, brown eyed gaze to the officer. "I'm sorry sir, this is per protocol."

A tired Morgan moved to try and intercede. "Sergeant, I think we can bend the rules on this given the fact that-"

"This isn't something that is decided by hunter office personal sir, this is a mandate for prisoners by the disciplinary board to be carried out by the military police." The sergeant cut short that argument with swift stonewalling which drew a bristling glare from the older officer. Hardings, in very diplomatic fashion, kept out of the butting heads though she did give the restraints a distasteful look.

"This man did good work and is injured, he deserves better than to be made a spectacle of!"

"Sir, I understand where you're coming from but-"

"You don't understand a thing, certainly not enough to but me and-"

"Gentleman, gentleman, this isn't resolving anything. In fact all we're doing is raising a spectacle here and now." Hardings finally cut in in a very foreign affairs manner. She move to get between the two while seeming differential to them both. It was an impressive sight to behold, a woman that could have probably broken the both of them at the same time, trying to seem small and demure and totally not telling either what to do.

"Thank you ma"am. Now, Mr. Turner, if you would present-"

"I said-" "Now hold on-"

"Sergeant! Officers!" A new voice carried from down the hall garnering more than a few angry glares from the clinical staff at the newcomer to the fray. Mach cast a weary look to the man who looked like he'd just stepped away from physical training with his dirty combat boots, battle fatigues, and dirty white undershirt; a gruff and sour look smeared across broad, macho features. It took a moment for the schmooze to recognize the fellow and when remembrance finally floated to the surface, well, he may have groaned internally. Of course the last time he'd really dealt with Staff Sergeant Timmy, er, no, S.Sgt Mallen" well, he was sort of breaking the man's fingers!

The senior military policeman came to a stop before the group, form lifting into a sharp salute which was returned with diminishing crispness the higher the rank. Mach, for his part, didn't even try. Instead, he just offered an upnod to the fellow as he was sure where this was leading" "Alright Glen, put away the fetters. No need to escort this one out in chains now." " and that was not the way he had figured! The schmooze would have given the usually tight ass jerk a double take if such wouldn't have been considered extremely rude to do to someone offering you a hand to shake, and the correct one to boot! The two MP's sort of looked at each other doubtfully, the solidity of their rightness suddenly thrown out the window with the word from their superior while Hardings looked about as lost as Mach felt while he took that offered hand dumbly for a firm and vigorous shake. It would take a couple of pumps before the hunter registered a soft bite into his fingers, cobalt gaze dropping to note the simple titanium band with tiny diamond mount that wrapped about the fellows ring finger" and suddenly things started to click. The prick was married....and not to a Tangian it seemed as wedding bands were a decidedly Earth realm custom. Huh, fascinating that. The man was the definition of a racist, xenophobic, arcanaphobic authoritarian crazed butt munch but then that didn't exactly preclude one from the inklings of love and it wasn't like there weren't normies to be found in Rhy"Din" even if they did happen to be in the minority. Finally releasing the hunters hand the soldier offered a tinted hint of a grin. "Just wanted to say fine work you did with that cult Lieutenant."

And any touch of newfound like for this guy was dashed once more at the implications of those words. "Yes, explosions and murder for all?" A drab drawl from the hunter as he all but rolled his eyes. Of course he knew the sentiment; it was the sort of treatment that the schmooze was used to from back home after all - folks who generally hated him for what he was suddenly friendly for a bit when he stopped an even nastier threat to them and theirs. And what more it was usually only temporary at best and seemed to encourage folks to speak up on their inappropriate viciousness and bigotry.

"A tactical response I'd say."

"Nevermind the getting kidnapped and tortured bit." That had the staff sergeant going silent, sullen even which had the schmooze backtracking. He really didn't need to piss off the guy that was getting him out of handcuffs and hobblers after all. "Er...well, yeah. I just did what I had to....keep the peace, yeah?"

This seemed to mollify the man, teeth showing maliciously in a dirty grin. "I wouldn't particularly say what you did was keeping the peace but even I can see the net good what you did will do....this time."

Mach just rolled his eye at this internally as a grumble rouse of sound drew the two men's attention back to the leading officer, time worn features weary. "Yes, well, if there's no more objection...?"

This brought Mach's attention back to the two MP's that sort of shuffled about, very uncertain about things now. "But sir, he's under detainment until-"

"Boy, have you been in Rhy'Din long?"

This had the young man casting a dubious look to the bigot. "N-No sir, I came in with the detail for-"

"Then shut up and listen to my direction." It was almost refreshing to see the man's terse manners directed at someone else....almost. Mach still found the fellow to be a giant douche. "This guy has made a lot of scary and powerful friends in his short time here. We drag him out in cuffs-"

"And it'll be a spectacle." Hardings spoke in a grave manner with just a touch of pride to see her point being vindicated....if only by someone else.

Mallen nodded. "Yes, which is what we don't need. Some folks might get the wrong idea or might get it in their head to try and rescue Mach or stop us from taking him. And we don't need any of that. Anyway, you're not going to run, right?" A sharp look was cast at the schmooze now which prompted him to raise his hands in a look of innocence.

"On my honor." And this drew a derisive snort from the fellow. Seemed he'd found the roof those those temporary well wishes. Adjusting that cane to hand once more the hunter offered a look to the detail as they silently looked amongst each other until finally one of the MP's finally gave in and set to motion down the hall prompting the captain and warrant officer to fall in step. With a sigh Mach set to follow after though paused as the staff sergeant snapped another salute.

"I hope you beat this Lt. Turner."

"Just so long as I don't return, yeah?" His wry smile only grew as the man just remained at attention while practicing a very strict form of selective hearing or prompt muteness. It was cute in a jerk sort of fashion and prompted the schmooze to lean that cane against his thigh so he could give a proper salute in return. "You take care of you and yours staff sergeant. Hold down the post." A solemn nod was exchanged before Mach snatched his cane and proceeded after the entourage.

Silence was the name of the game as they boarded the elevator down to the ground floor and filed out of the hospitals main entrance garnering more than a few odd passing glances. Stepping through those outer doors the hunter flinched lightly at the crisp bite of the chilly February pre-dawn air. Air that stuck to the lungs, that hinted at the ocean and the earth and the wild dance of magic mixed with the grit of industrialism and the ozone of the electric world. It was a smell uniquely Rhy'din, of a melting pot spanning the multiverses. The man breathed it in, tasted it before a billow of steam rolled from him, dissipating to mist as tired blue gaze watched the sight with mild interest.

Piling into the SUV that was retrieved from the parking structure the group drove in silence for the Docks district. Each individual seemed lost to their thoughts or perhaps were just giving the schmooze quiet time to his as he just watched the landscape flow on by. The scenery shifted along as it passed, places that were foreign and familiar alike zipping on by as the vehicle wound it's way through the narrow roads and boulevards to the train station which connected this odd world to that of his birth. The thoughts that played in the man's mind where shallow, vapid at best " little more than means of distraction. He didn't want to think about what was happening, didn't want to give voice to those darker threads of logic for fear of what emotions they may bring to heed.

Coasting along the road that ran parallel to the piers the man looked out over the lazy ebb of the waters that were already coming to life with the rays of sunlight cresting the horizon, sparkling like champagne sipped around a sprightly bonfire. The torrent of little water bound starts shimmer ever closer to the coast while the sky molted through a rainbow of plums and bruised purples, fading to lighter and lighter shades until the first rays of day shone forth like a beacon, splashing over the sleepy landscape. It was a sight to behold, a sunrise like any other but somehow so very different today. The hunter enjoyed the majestic splendor, a touch of a warm smile blooming on rugged features before it was extinguished by the soft pull of inertia as the vehicle pulled into a parking space.

Shuffling out of the vehicle the group proceeded solemnly up the steps of the train station, passing through the gates and the ticket takers until finally they found themselves on that lonely platform. The transport to Tanga wasn't a busy one in the least, mostly ferrying supplies and commercial trade back and forth between the two worlds on a clockwork schedule before and after the more productive train traffic. Crossing the platform to the waiting train the group filed into the lone passenger cart one at a time, the officers filing in first leaving Mach standing at the precipice between that which was Rhy'Din...and that which was Tang. He looked at the small gap between the train step and the platform, the distance small and yet almost insurmountable. He didn't want to go. He didn't want to leave. He was making something for himself here with the people he had come to become friends with, whom he was learning to love and rely upon. He'd only been here a year damn it! But....a tick of blues caught sight of the officers before him and a turn found the soldiers behind him and in that moment he was once again reminded that truly, he had no choice in this. There was only one path forward, and he couldn't help but feel that it was straight to the slaughter. But then, when else hadn't it been"

The thought drew a dry smirk from the man as he shook the thoughts from his mind, form turning to look one last time at the city he had started to call home. "Goodbye Rhy'Din.? A soft whisper of a farewell, lost to the gentle sea breeze, and the hunter that was Lt. Elitia 'Mach' Turner took that step, crossing the threshold of the train and left the world of Rhy'Din.

Mach

Date: 2016-02-22 00:20 EST
"There's no way to rule innocent men. The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren't enough criminals, one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws."

- Ayn Rand

Mach found the warm, bright, sunny weather that awaited him on the other side of that tear in the very fabric of space, time, and existence to be a little inappropriate given the circumstances of his return. "Inviting" wasn't exactly the feeling this homecoming really engendered but then when had anything ever really been appropriate in regards to the schmooze" Fittingly ironic and mocking, on the other hand, followed him around like a couple of lost ducklings were he made out of bread. Of course this inappropriateness didn't stop his companions from trying to engage him in conversation or, perhaps, prompted such to try and alleviate some of the palpable tension in the air though Mach was not of his usual humor for entertaining such. And so, after a few awkward attempts they left him to his pensive mood as that lone cobalt blue orb watched the landscape fly by.

Such was the state of things through the rest of the day as the group worked through a couple of transfers. Hardings parted ways at a junction to fly off to administrative duties elsewhere but she made sure to give the hunter a big hug of good luck before heading off. The exchange, Mach thought, had a strange feel to it; a blend of off kilter cheeriness mixed with grave finality which was usually reserved for folks being sent on a meat grinder mission or out to the glue factory. It was a little discouraging but he couldn't fault the woman for a frank assessment of his situation. And hey, she had to have a little hope since she still didn't tell him her first name so obviously she thought there was a chance they might work together again! That or his rather explosive resolution to the Sanguine Hunt case and the foreign affairs fiasco that had to have followed in its wake cemented in her mind his total fuck up-it-ness" but he was choosing to believe in the former because he was just a ray of sunshine like that!

Arriving at Dransmyt tyl Agdryn (D.T.A.) Fortress long after the pitch of night had fallen the schmooze was setup in a detention cell under a new group of armed guards. At very least it wasn't any less comfortable than the gurney he'd been living upon for the past few weeks but he had to admit the view and company left a lot to be desired. And then, what was more the tragedy was the fact that they'd taken everything away from the man upon entry to the facility so he was bereft of his beloved cellphone! Hell, they even took his uniform jacket with all its sharp pins and his cane so he had to hobble about like an Igor while wasting away his time reading dead tree formats of military regulation manuals which were left in his cell for his enjoyment. Who ever said the military didn't take care of its guests!

And when morning came the schmooze was treated to a bland and paltry, compared to his voracious appetite, breakfast and later on an equally paltry lunch. It wouldn't be until the middle of the afternoon that the hunter was finally summoned to the court; his freshly cleaned and pressed dress uniform returned so as he could dress for the occasion though he was denied his cane so there'd be no semblance of respectable grace as he trudged and hobbled along through the correctional facility to its in-house courtroom. Of course this fact was only driven home by the finger binding mitt he had to wear on his one hand that prevented glyph signing as well as the electroshock controller choker attached firmly about his neck. One would have thought him a mage given the precautions in place! Catching a glimpse outside the weather had taken a turn to the ornery with gray, mottled clouds churning as they wept lazily in a springtime storm. It felt a little ominous and foreboding but Mach worked to put a lid on those thoughts as he continued on, a thin smile found and offered to Morgan as they met up along the way, a salute and wooden smile offered in return as he eyed the man. "I hope you rested alright."

"Like a baby on a roasting rack in an oven."

The glib touch of humor did little to improve the administrator's mood, hazel gaze looking harder at the hunter until it finally hit him what was missing. "Cute. Where's your cane?"

The three guards around him looked amongst each other nervously before Mach finally put them out of their misery and broke the awkward silence with a with a grin. "The boys here are afraid I'll use my Gimp Fu on them so they're trying to hedge their bets. What they don't know is that I mastered in unarmed combat and I'm at least a quarter way closer than any of them at actually being "unarmed"!"

The officer's expression only withered at the groan worthy attempt of humor while stern expressions stole across his guard as they continued on in silence to their destination. Pushing on through the heavy doors lead into a simple courtroom lavished with rich mahogany furniture which matched well with the stiff, wood panel walls. A few empty rows of benches straddled the aisle up to the bar which separated the peanut gallery from the proceedings. On the other side of the bar stood an older man with daper styled jet black hair and rich olive skin in a dress uniform who was combing over the contents of his briefcase laid out on the table to the right though a counterpart for the other table was worryingly missing.

Of course a lot of individuals that should have been present were worryingly missing as the jury box sat empty. At the front was a raised, broad tiered bench which seated a trio of older individuals in dress black uniforms with matching black robes of office. Past that there was the court recorder in their work uniform and a few more armed and armored guards that bordered "the well" bringing the total number of folks ready to vent the schmooze's braincase at any given moment just shy of double digits. Mach was lead into the round, waist high wood rail enclosure that was the prisoner's box set between and before the two counsel tables; his lame butt taking a seat on the provided stool which was bolted firmly to the floor. An anemic smile was offered to the judges who each gave him a humorless stare, one of them even going so far as to write something down though this might have been in regards to the quietly hissed argument that raged behind him.

"Alright, let's have order!" A thunderous crack of wood on wood reverberated throughout the room from the rap of a gable, the most important judge casting a dour look upon the gathering. At very least Mach figured them to be the most important judge given that they held the tallest and central most seat which looked down upon his little circle though the octagram denoting the rank of colonel certainly helped in that assessment. A shrewd looking man dogged by years and more than a few bad habits with peppered hair that was parted in a poor attempt to hide the thinning of his crown. "This tribunal will now hear case HAD22031738-6 on-"

There was a growled exchange behind which ended, Mach assumed, with the olive skinned man shaking his head disapprovingly as Morgan's voice rose up. "Excuse me, your honor, I had thought that this was to be a peer review for determination of trial?"

Mr. Combover cast a rueful glare at the administrator, his expression more than a little displeased. "You are not excused Captain. These proceedings are not up for interruption whenever you feel like it. If you make a habit of this I'll have you removed from this courtroom and held in contempt of this tribunal, is that understood?"

"Y-Yes sir, it is. But I was not made aware of the change in format of these proceedings. I had filed for witness subpoenas and prepared a number of resources for-"

"Yes Cpt. Albright, we are well aware of the legwork you've been putting into this and it is regrettable that you had not been informed of the sudden change in format of this review until now. But a message was left for you at your offices while you were out." The woman to the left of the high one had a naturally harsh look to her made worse by the passage of time with a hooked nose along with hazel gaze and short cropped grey hair giving her a look sort of like a goshawk. He couldn't make out a rank on this one but Mach could clearly see the thunderbolt, eye, shield, and sword insignia broach of the purity board proudly displayed on her robe.

"Upon further review of the facts after our last meeting along with positive testimony we received from within the Rhy"Din governance offices, law enforcement offices, and in particular from C.L.E. Captain Hope Jubal who was the Rhy"Din contact for Lt. Turner we had decided to make this into a disciplinary tribunal rather than a peer review trial which would have opened the Lieutenant to the potential of civilian criminal investigation and penalty of civilian law when clearly all of his actions fall under the purview of his military mission. And as stated before, being reviewed in this manner lends certain protections to the Lieutenant." The last judge of the trio was the odd one out with a portly build and doughy affect softened further by the laid-back tanned hue of their skin. Verdant greens peeped out from behind wire framed glasses with shocking white hair kept short and neat giving him an everyman's jolly grandpa look.

"And so for the record let it be known that this military tribunal boarded by Justice Beller of the Office of Military Police and Discipline, Justice Hackett of the Hunter Purity and Disciplinary Board," a motion to hawkwoman "and Justice Dorellen of the Office of Military Justice and Ethics" and one to beach side gramps "is in session on 19 Balensreed 1738 for the review of the handling of "The Sanguine Cult' investigation by one Lt. Elitia Vance Turner in the sovereign land of Rhy"Din."

"In particular, we will be reviewing Hunter ET108751727-A32B2C for the charges levied against him for the actions taken in specific between 17 Desnsreed and 27 Desnsreed 1737 as well as the preliminary events which lead up to this....engagement."

"And this review will be conducted as pursuant to the regulations outlined in the U.T.R.A. Code of Military Conduct and the U.T.R.A. Foreign Affairs Pact with the Sovereign Nationstate of Rhy'Din. Do you understand Lt. Turner?"

Mach looked at the three judged before him, a hesitant glance cast down to the restraint mitt that clung uncomfortably to his hand. This was wrong, this was all wrong. And the only thing he could do about it was lift a thin smile as he nodded. "I understand."

"Then let this review begin."

Mach

Date: 2016-03-03 07:01 EST
"It is better to be hated for what you are than to be loved for what you are not.?"

- Andr" Gide,"Autumn Leaves

"To begin this case has been classed as a military action given the nature of the aggressors. Initially identified as a cult in worship to the extinct eldritch being named Dukra"nas Vu Sirill"merchaar or termed 'The Sanguine Lord'; they have since been reclassified given new information gathered in the aftermath of the Lieutenants abduction as an arcane boosted terrorist cell of the greater Mage Rights and Liberty Movement."

"As such the charges brought up regarding property damage have been waived since the estimated cost of the damaged rail yard and the destroyed warehouse falls well within the parameters of acceptable and foreseeable loss given the military and not peacekeeping scope of this operation. The jolly judge spoke with an almost chipper tone as though they had personally championed the hunter. But then, for all Mach knew, he may well have been the only kind voice in those backroom dealings. "As well, military rules of engagement warrant a permissible loss of life and right for egregious action against unsensitives that for most cases that occured this tribunal would agree was justifiable given the conditions. Even the gross breach of ROE with the elimination of known terrorist Yorada Rister in opposition of the standing capture alive order has been deemed an unfortunate but necessary outcome given the circumstances you were forced to face a class S1 Mage under."

Something about what the other judge said seemed to irk the older woman, her expression taking a dour turn as she glared down at the hunter. "For the record though that last waived charge is not something that is fully agreed upon as there was no evidence to suggest that any means were attempted to capture this individual alive. As such, a potentially valuable source of information on the logistics and future operations of the M.R.L.M. has been squandered" information that could have saved lives further down the road. I hope you understand this Lt. Turner."

It took a concentrated effort on Mach's part to not simply roll his eye at the woman's condescending tone. This was obviously an officer who’d never seen a day of field service in their life and knew or acknowledged next to nothing of the differences between the idealism of orders and the anything but reality they were often carried out in. "Yes ma"am, I understand." He tried his best not to sound like a scolded yet surly child but apparently he'd done poorly as the woman simply scowled at him' or else that was just her misfortunately standard expression.

The chief justice cleared his throat to try and ease some of the tension that had built in the large room though any such relief was soon forgotten as he continued on with the review. "As such there are only two charges pending review for the Lieutenant " the charge of gross negligence in the line of duty and the premeditated homicide of Travix Ker Volston.

"Your honors, about the charge of gross negligence - I wish to move to strike those as well given the lack of other involved U.T.R.A. assets. Thus there really were no other "compromised" assets other than my own client due to his sloppy handling of the primary investigation." The voice that emanated from behind was a confident rumble with all the raspy smoke charismatic card shark. Of course the man just had that very' lawyer" feel about them in general which comforted and skived the hunter out in equal measures.

"Your motion is noted and overruled counselor." The hawk woman's voice was a calm and crisp smack down, dry even in its presentation but her steely gaze cast just over the schmoozes shoulder spoke volumes of the fervent challenge she lay down.

As for the suave lawyer his tone held it's congenial note as he rebuked just as calmly. "Then may I inquire as is to what other asset was compromised by the Lieutenant's actions?"

"Haven't you reviewed this case before stepping into this courthouse counsel?"

"I had your honor, but much as Cpt. Albright I had assumed that this would be a general peer review and not an actual tribunal defense so my notes are....ill organized for this sort of action."

"The asset in question, Cpt. Rickers, is The Harbor Breeze Apartments at 49 Gnoles Fang Street in Rhy"Din" apartment 305 to be specific." Pausing a moment Justice Dorellen put on a pair of reading glasses as he shuffled through the assortment of documents before him. "That apartment along with those that border around it are officially owned by the U.T.R.A. for the purpose of installing multiple layers of defensive barriers and illusionary spell weave wards for a proper hunter safe haven."

"The negligence factors in as given evidence found during the post operation investigation as well as testimony from cult members which finds that it was due to direct fault of Lt. Turner that all these protective measures were breached thus compromising the location of what is officially a U.T.R.A. shadow asset and allowing the cultist to capture one of our operatives."

Mach's expression thinned as he was sure he didn't like the direction this line of thought was going, particularly considering who the one keenest on crucifying him regarding this was. Rather than raising any sort of objections the man, for once, decided to keep his mouth shut though his counselor didn't seem to share his insight and wisdom on this. "Yes, I see that they had used the remnants of a barrier pass key that had been in possession of my client to penetrate the illusion wards so as to setup an ambush but I am not seeing how this exactly equates to "gross negligence.?"

Of course right here and now was the first time he was meeting this representative which may have seemed daft but again this was supposed to be a review and not a defense so there had been no need for them to have meet with the schmooze beforehand. Hell, a review could have been held without him present if not for the fact that they wanted to try and illicit sympathy with his gimped up state. Watching as a thin smile crawled upon the woman's lips Mach's expression flattened even more as he knew there was no sympathy to be found in this courtroom.

"Because it is most likely that the key used to compromise this location was dug up by the cult members from the burnt remains of a shared residence with his ex-personal relation. It was known that this woman did possess a barrier pass key to the apartment in question from surveillance of her visiting the location with ease in the past indicating that she could penetrate the wards. And the damage done to the key suggests that it had been in a natural fuel fire, such as one would find were the key in a place of residence when it was burning down. Thus we believe there is enough evidence to suggest that the Lieutenant failed to remain objective and let his own interpersonal problems get in the way of his duty to assuring the safety of U.T.R.A. assets by retrieving the key from said woman once their relationship ended."

"If anything one could perhaps argue that this Ms. Farron may have willingly given up information about this key and it's purpose to the cultist feeling some misguided sympathy for their plight being-"

"She did not!" The hunter snarled out that objection, a hard glare cast at the woman raising more than a few hackles around the room.

"Order!" The crack of the gable sounded through the lonesome courtroom adding emphasis to that stunned silence. "Lt. Turner, you will conduct yourself as an officer of the U.T.R.A. during these proceedings, do you understand!?"

"I'll conduct myself as an officer as soon as I see the same rather than seeing this trial sidetracked onto slander of those not present, sir."

Mach was sure he wasn't making any friends by browbeating and talking over the judges attempt to interrupt him but then nothing about this was particularly friendly to him to begin with so what the hell. Of course Cpt. Rickers didn't agree as he heard no shortage of angry hissing to 'shut up" coming from behind him. And Morgan, well, he likely saw this as the baiting that it was" and was sighing tiredly as the schmooze fell for it hook, line, and sinker.

"Lieutenant, I am warning you right now " if you cannot be civil during these proceedings I'll have you removed and we'll make our judgment without any rebuttal or input in your defense. Is that clear enough for you?"

A tired sigh left the hunter as he reigned back that kneejerk reaction to defend those he cared for, that binding mitt creaking softly from the tension of his hand. "Yes sir. Crystal. I apologize for my outburst."

The head judge frowned but seemed content with apology, sullen as it was. As for Justice Hackett she cleared her throat before continuing, the sharp edge of her tone blunted. "As I was saying, such a scenario could be argued" but there is little more than circumstantial evidence and supposition to support this and so it is imprudent to further investigate this particular theory. Regardless, this still does not change the fact that the source of his key was likely from this woman. Do you deny this fact or have some other explanation to account for this Lt. Turner?"

The man ground his teeth as he thought how best to respond to this though really it was the difference of eating a turd sandwich versus a crap taco. "No ma"am, I have no other account for this key."

"When you terminated your relationship with Ms. Farron did you make sure to account for and retrieve all property of the U.T.R.A. from her?"

"She terminated?"

"I’m sorry?"

The man shook his head bitterly at that prompt, feeling more than a little foolish at letting that bit of pain slip out. "No ma"am, I did not do an inventory for all property of the U.T.R.A. when our relationship ended."

"So you didn't account for anything missing then. Would you say that it is probable that the key which was used by the cult to penetrate the illusionary web was the same key that you had given to Ms. Farron which was subsequently damaged in the destruction of her property?"

"Objection " Leading." The defenders voice chimed out in a professional manner, the adherence to etiquette granting them but a nod from the chief justice who now looked over to the purity justice for her response.

"Not leading counselor, seeking affirmation for the record."

"Questioning does not account for possibility that the key came from a prior resident of the apartment. As I understand Lt. Turner has only been the most recent tenant and only for one year which before the late Cpt. Danub inhabited and others more before him."

A thin smile pulled on the woman, pleased as the cat that ate the canary. "The keys are hunter bound and hunter specific. When the hunter dies the glyphs on the keys collapse rendering them just regular keys. And even if that doesn't happen automatically part of the reassignment process is to clear out binding of any and all outstanding glyph connections. This was done at the end of Cpt. Danub's tenure in Rhy"Din and has occurred with the Lieutenants keys as well just to decrease the chance of surprise attack for the hunters currently resolving the remainder of the case and providing coverage until the posting is figured out."

There was a quiet but most certainly exasperated sigh followed by the flap of a folder being dropped. "Objection rescinded." Mach could hear the bitter crack in the man's confident voice and couldn't help but feel bad for him. This wasn't at all what he'd been brought in for and whether he liked, didn't like, or couldn't care less about the schmooze it was still a slap to the face to have to watch your professional pride getting beat down and dragged through the mud without any means to really stop such.

"Thank you? Lieutenant, my question still stands " is it not probable that this key used to breech the defenses of a U.T.R.A. property was the one that you had given to Ms. Farron during your two's relationship and then failed to retrieve or render inoperable at the end?"

Mach could feel his teeth creaking under the tension of his jaw as he tried to keep his melancholy and rage in check. "Yes ma'am, there is decent probability that that key could have been the one I had given Serah when we were dating."

"Could there have been, perhaps, others with a key that could have been stolen or given away that was used for this purpose?"

And his jaw creaked once more as he felt his brow lift in outrage at where she was trying to go with this. "All whom I know and have given a key I trust implicitly. These are people of quality character that would not have betrayed me like that!"

"Oh?" A dim tone as the woman shuffled through some of the assorted documents before her, one report taken in hand. "According to this IPR103-D and corroborated with prisoner testimony the location of your apartment had been gleaned by scrying which should have been impossible with the barriers and wards....except traces of a focus spell were discovered in the apartment. A hidden rune of blood in the bathroom, obviously placed there by someone who had entered the apartment....were invited in likely as a implicitly trusted friend."

The schmooze fell silent as he thought about his response though really there was nothing that he could say that wasn't damning at this juncture. No, at this point he was mostly just trying to prevent tipping his hand too much and giving the purity department something that could be used to hassle those he cared about. The whole point of just up and vanishing was to do so without leaving men in suits behind to bother folks after all! "I speculate that the blood was carried in unbeknownst in a wound received by my..." He paused and shook his head. Trying to lie through that would only bring more trouble as he was sure the woman from purity had read up as much as she could about hunters and their abilities. "....by one of my comrades who had been injured during a combat operation against several mages of the cult."

"A comrade injured during a combat operation' Are you speaking about the....infernal creature: Sarai" As I understand her injuries during the capture of fugitive Tom Hopel were not that severe."

"No, not the Hopel hunt. This was in Amnsreed, the Falcone Delroy and Renton Molden hunt."

"Delory and Molden" SC-34?" All three judges took a moment to start shuffling through their respective piles of paperwork, looking over different documents. Obviously that had slipped under their radars....as was intended. But then an inquest was never in Mach's greater schemes of things to try and slyly get around.

"Ah....hmm....I don't see any sort of contractor injury report mentioned in the PHIR7 submitted for this."

"It's not' Oh, well, perhaps the....SR203-M..."

This warranted a host of dim looks from the judges. "You listed a contractor injury on a requisition for medical supplies?"

"I thought I put something in the incident report as well but I may have missed that..." He lied like a champ as he sat back on that stool under the heavy scrutiny of those justices. It was probably pretty obvious to them why he did as he did, why the demoness' name remained off the official incident debrief but did make it onto some obscure supply requisition but obvious wasn't official and that made all the difference when one was trying to be squirrely. "And there wasn't any sort of need for professional medical attention so I didn't need to file any sort of safety and injury debriefs. But she was deeply cut up by the Magus Molden and....may have had some of his crimson servant still lodged within her"

The justices exchanged a few disturbed yet concerned looks, a few soft words spoken in a hush as they contemplated this. Of course it wasn't really something people had to consider on a normal basis....having some entity of blood lodged in a persons body which could then escape and be used as a tracking device. It was these sort of odd occurrences that always made hunter reviews just that much more entertaining watching normies attempt to order, quantify, and organize a mad world whose rules could be bent near to breaking with the power of magic.

"Was this a power that you were aware that the cultists could do?"

"Such is not a skill that I was aware that any of the cultist would be capable of though there is precedent for blood rune writing at distance from blood mages in the past....among a myriad and multitude of other powers and abilities I'd not noted in any of the cases."

"You did not think that any of the blood mages that you were pursuing could possibly do such?"

Now it was Mach's turn to level a weary glance to the justice as she stumbled out of her comfort zone and into the strange world that was his. "Hunters deal in facts and certainty while trying to account for as many unknown as possible-"

"But I think we all can agree that there has to be reasonable limits of expectations." The smooth voice of the lawyer pushed over the schmoozes with just a little pressure to it that was almost imperceptible....almost. To the hunter that lived in the world of high stake grays though it was a signal that was read loud and clear. And so like a good soldier he shut up and let the professional do the talking. "No one can account for everything that can come up in life, and as such we can not hold others accountable for things that are completely bizarre."

"Yes, but the Lieutenant's position as a hunter means that-"

"That he is just as much a fallible human as any other present."

"Then what about the creature that he had consorted with' An infernal is hardly a trustworthy thing and-"

Mach felt his form quaking in rage at how Sarai was being described which may have been why Cpt. Rickers worked on being quicker on the draw despite the disapproving looks this warranted him from the justices. "Objection, your honor, but I thought this was a disciplinary tribunal over his actions regarding a particular incident and not a purity review of himself or his relations..."

"His negligence is directly tied to his purity and that is heavily influenced by his relations! Were he not so influenced by personal relations with mages or demons, if he could think about any more than what warm hole he was going to shove his dick he might well-"

A rap of gable echoed through the room, cutting short the woman's tirade before, what Mach assumed, would have been the best part. "Objection sustained. Maj. Hackett you would do well to remember that this isnt' a purity review. He is being judged on his actions leading up to the aforementioned incident. Any review of his purity as a hunter is to be brought up at a separate inquest, is that understood?"

"Yes sir." The hunter could have pumped his fist at the smack-down the glib woman had just received or the dour expression that marred her sever face but he kept all such back to a simple smile as, yeah, no need to poke the badger when you were still in it's den. "Let me rephrase than. Lt. Turner, were you aware of the ability of distance blood writing or servitude parts of a summon being able to create runes before this case?"

"Yes ma'am, I was aware of such abilities but they-"

"Very good Lieutenant."

The hunter bristled as she tried to cut him off, a hard glare cast as he pushed forward regardless. "But they are not something that is covered under normal hunt conditions or protocols, even against blood mages."

"Lieutenant." Justice Beller shot the schmooze a warning glance warranting a raise of mittened hand in placation though he'd already gotten through what he wanted recorded on the court record. "Does the inquest have any further questions regarding the charge of negligence?" Shifting his steely gaze the man looked to each of the other justices that simply shook their heads, obviously finished with this particular bit of persecution. "Defense or defendant, any more you would like to add?"

Mach pondered this but, given how angry he was about how they'd smeared about those he loved he opted just to bit his tongue, a shake of head offered. As for his counsel he could almost hear a tone of relief in their voice as the spoke up. "Yes. Lt. Turner's actions were, understandably, shortsighted but we cannot fault him so heavily for this. He is posted in a foreign nation, a land away; and there is no conceivable way we can nor should expect him to be hyper vigilant at all times. Especially since he is not only the leading hunter but the sole offensive hunter in such a role with no one else to lean back on for support. And he is not compensated to be a slave of the state, to be on employ thirty hours a day, eight a week. Could he have done more to prevent the compromise of U.T.R.A. assets, an asset I remind which is completely recoverable and is being such as we speak" Yes, that goes without question, but we must remember that he is a human and not a machine and so must be considered with leeway for, frankly, short sights of judgment and not gross negligence."

"Yes counselor, but at the same time he is held to higher standards because he is the representative of the U.T.R. and Tang itself in Rhy'Din. Not only does he have a peacekeeping role there, but a foreign affairs role as well as this case so aptly illustrates with his close work with the 'Watch'."

"We will take what information has been brought to light in his inquest into consideration when we deliberate your innocence or guilt Lt. Turner. I know it's hard, but thank you for being honest." Mach nodded dumbly to this, not exactly sure what he was really to say.

"With that investigated we now move on to the second charge " the murder of Travix Ker Volston..."

Mach

Date: 2016-03-11 13:25 EST
"Whether or not an utterance can be called law depends on how it is heard, not on how it is meant. Law is defined by its effect rather than its intention, and its chief effect is accusation the intimation of a less-than."

― Mockingbird, Law & Gospel: A Theology for Sinners

"Does the defense have anything they would like to say before this charge is inquired about"

Mach couldn't see the look on Rickers face but he could only guess that it was probably a little irate as there was the sound of papers being rifled through and folders in disarray only being dispersed to ever greater chaos. "I am curious as to why all the rest of the casualties caused by the Lieutenant had been classed as acceptable military losses but this one death in particular has been classed as premeditated homicide" This is particularly questionable as a few of the deaths were of Rhy"Din natives such as Lawrence Reynolds yet this Volston is a Tang native and with known ties to the M.R.L.M. so obviously this isn't a foreign affairs issue."

"The rest of the casualties occurred from' acceptable and humane means. It was felt that those who perished were combatants whom posed a clear and present threat for Lt. Turner and were dealt with using an appropriate, though borderline in a few cases, level of force. Even Yorada Rister was dealt with swiftly per medical investigation despite inflicting grievous injury to the Lieutenant."

"So we've okayed death by indiscriminate blast concussion and bleed out from shrapnel wounds but not of this one particular combatant?"

"It's not an issue of who the combatant is counselor but-"

"It's a matter of how the lieutenant dealt with Mr. Volston." The hunter noted a hard shift in the tone of that jolly seeming fellow, their expression growing unsettlingly stern. It had been a wonder to the schmooze why a member of the ethics committee was part of this tribunal though he was beginning to get a sinking feeling about such. "Which was nothing less than atrocious and paramount to unmitigated cruelty and torture done by a craven spirit."

The atmosphere in the courtroom took on a sticky, thick gravitas at Dorellen's obvious abhorrence of the hunter's treatment of Travix Volston. Of course thinking back on it Mach felt pretty disgusted at himself about such too which may have been what mollified any residual ire the man had at hearing any sort of sympathy for that rightfully dead bastard. This didn't seem to deter Rickers though. "Okay, so he belabored this combatant a little more than the others; is this truly so inexcusable given the state my defendant was in" Lt. Turner was under severe psychological, physical, and physiological stress fighting for life and remaining limbs while in a adrenalized combat state."

"Respectfully counselor there is nothing excusable about the punishment that this hunter visited upon his victim. Did you read the medical examiner's report on the state of the late Mr. Volston's body or the cause of death?"

"Yes, multiple instances of sub epidermal hemorrhaging, abrasions, and contusions indicative of defending oneself. But it was noted that he had two different types and patterns of dispersal of gunpowder on his person with one matching the remains of the earthrealm Kalashnikov found on scene with the body which corroborates with his active role in attacking the Lieutenant. He was a combatant."

"He was a combatant, yes. Right up to the point the Lieutenant, literally, disarmed him with a class A3 Firelance spell. Wound analysis puts together a timeline of events since the Lt. Turner glossed over such with a mere 'seeing red' statement on his reports. The first injury the man had received was the forceful amputation of his arm and the subsequent destruction of that weapon which is where the shrapnel damage had come from. From that point on there is no indication that Mr. Volston could have been a threat to the Lieutenant."

"Yes, he was 'seeing red', a common occurrence of soldiers in high stress combat situations. His actions were being driven by the said stress which pushed him into a single, focused tunnel vision of putting down any and all threats in his way."

Hackett frowned at the lawyers attempt to put a spin on things. "Yes, but Mr. Volston was not a threat after loosing his arm."

"And how could we know" How could he at that time" It was obvious that Mr. Volston was part of the upper leadership of this terrorist cell and as such may have been granted some favor from the eldrich horror that acted as mascot of this cult. In a situation as Lt. Truner was in it was only due diligence to terminate any and all threats to the 'at the moment' mission. Mr. Volston may have been stripped of his obvious combat potential but that does not mean he was no longer a threat to the Lieutenants mission." The lawyers tone took on that air of confidence as they seemed to find their footing, find purchase in murky legal grounds which was his bread and butter to try and argue the schmoozes innocence....or at least add reasonable doubt to his guilt.

But those words only seemed to incise the jolly fellow as their expression grew dark and hard. "Yes, that is one interpretation of the situation but then how does that explain the myriad of injuries visited upon the man' He had his right eye destroyed by a blade with no obvious clean laceration damage to the rest of his features indicating no contest to this savage act. He had been beaten, repeatedly, with minimal resistance and then shot at point blank in execution manner right to the brow..."

"Yes, I understand there was a fair amount of aggressive passion involved in his assault of the man but-"

"BUT NOTHING!" The other judges seemed almost as taken aback as the hunter was by the angry growl of that friendly and doddering seeming grandpa figure. "Do you know what was the cause of death for Mr. Volston' It wasn't the hollow point bullet to his head that killed him....no. He lived for a good number of minutes after he'd received that telling wound, dying not from the traumatic brain injury but from regenerative potion toxicity." Venom filled the man's words as a hard glare was set on Mach. "Do you know how death by regenerative potion toxicity is" To die because your body is being forced to overheal leading to a mass resurgence of body wide tumors that quickly destroy the individual, ravishing them to death."

A stunned silence fell over the courtroom as that vivid imagery was left to sink in, the confidence of the lawyer seeming to be pulled right out from under them as a heavy weight sank into the pit of the hunters stomach. "And how do you suppose he died such a gruesome death? The man was poisoned by Lt. Turners specific formulation of the battle regeneration potion. And though it was hard to reconstruct due to the....healing....in his mouth the O.M.I. report states that there was laceration damage to the man's mouth and heavy physical damage to his mandible as well as glass vial shards trapped in the heavily proliferated tissues of his mouth. The Lieutenant obviously-"

"There is reason to believe..." Browbeating over the ethic judges soap boxing Justice Beller gave a warning look to the fellow to quell their anger. "...that the Lieutenant forced a regeneration potion on the unwilling Mr. Volston and with obvious ill intent in mind."

"And this corroborates as well with the disparity of force and threat. Tunnel vision and combat stress as you may have had Lieutenant one cannot simply ignore how much force was used on this one individual given what was done to the mage prior and the eldrich horror afterwards. This tribunal cannot help but feel that there was a premeditated desire to see this man suffer that is unfitting for a soldier of the U.T.R.A. or are we missing something Lt. Turner?"

Mach squirmed under the scrutiny of the judges that had him dead to rights. He had wanted to see Travix suffer, to see him squirm and break....there was no denying such. It was a particular bit of nasty that he just couldn't let go of, couldn't forget so many weeks after the ordeal. A part of him which he had been trying to deny existed for many, many years which reared it's ugly head to monstrous result. "I-I didn't premeditate causing such harm to the man. Like I said I....I just saw red....acted on instinct while trying to get out..."

"And for the record it was stated in report that Mr. Volston in particular had come to see the Lieutenant, directed and enjoyed some of that atrocious torture session Lt. Turner had been subjected to. This man, this fiend even ordered the conscious removal of the Lieutenant's eye! Is it not understandable to seek some vengeance upon your tormentors in such a twisted situation, to maybe go a little overboard?"

"That is a topic of much contention Cpt. Rickers given the sheer brutality the Lieutenant showed, particularly as an officer in the U.T.R.A. and a hunter who is somewhat accustomed and trained for such....extreme situations."

Mach's jaw clenched as these blowholes spoke about what he'd gone through in such a clinical fashion, detached and unknowing of the truth of his experience. What did these bastards know about what he'd been through!" These blowholes who'd likely never seen a day of battle in their cushy little lives, who'd never had to kill or be killed" The hunter just wanted to rip the stool he sat upon from its base and dive at these worthless windbags of portentousness, see just how well they'd handle a crisis situation. Of course that was just those same vitrolic emotions talking as Mach knew how well that would end for him....he'd be lucky to get the stool to just start breaking before someone ventilated his contempt for the court ass. No, just as that time before, just as he always did he simply had to grin and bear others telling him what kind of screwed up he was and then try to make as decent a situation out of such as he could. Turn a crap hand golden as it was though there was only so much one could do with such terrible cards. And if anything the schmooze was starting to suspect a deck change had been made now leaving him to play poker with Uno cards.

"But more than this there is suspicion that this wasn't just driven by the Lieutenant's treatment during this....trying event....but rather was perpetuated by his hatred for Doran Egret Ker, the older brother to Travix Volston whom the Lieutenant also wrongfully slew eight years ago."

He could barely hear the confused shuffle of files or the slight groan of stressed wood behind him over the wicked thrum of blood in his ears. The hunter wasn't sure what dark look took to his features, but the purity judge looked somewhat pleased with herself at what she had stirred. He could feel the anger boiling over, his lips sneering back to let her have it but a surprising voice rang out stealing his vehement thunder.

"Objection! That case has nothing to do with this case!"

"Cpt. Albright!"

"I concur. Objection " Supposition. There is no evidence linking those two cases together other than victims being from the same family. This statement is also misleading as Mr. Turner was..." Some frantic folder shuffling filled the brief void, a few papers sent to gliding out into Mach's view before an audible thump of hand to wood brought focus back to the lawyer. "...found guilty of over stepping his rules of engagement as an A2 Hunter and not any sort of homicide charge."

"But there was note of an excessive use of force with three fire lance spells and twelve rounds of munitions used in the elimination of Doran Ker." The hawkwoman's retort was crisp and obviously planned.

But such didn't seem enough to push the counselor off his game. "Which again occurred due to a severe situation he was in. He had just witnessed his entire command be slaughtered by this Mr. Ker, and worked through the trail of devastation that mage had wrought throughout the academic university he tore through. If anything, Mr. Turner was and is a victim in these cases not needing disciplinary action but rehabilitation against the severe psychological trauma he's been subjected too repeatedly!"

"There is no doubt that this has been a traumatizing event and that some lenience may be called for in our judgment, but this does not wholly excuse Lt. Turner of the standards and expectations he is to uphold as a peacekeeping officer and a military officer."

Mach just tuned out the rest of the bickering that was going on as his ire seethed, as opinions were exchanged and shaped about him without ever truly regarding him. It was a maddening state of affairs that seemed to happen all too often to him being a hunter; that expectations be made and demanded from those who were ignorant of how things truly were. This was something the man had been dealing with since his youth as a young punk fighting the world to eek out a living for him and his. And now that he was older things really hadn't changed in the least other than the number increasing of those who felt obligated to pass judgment and demands on the man while huddling in on their own values, views, and beliefs.

These thoughts peculated in the man's mind, spun impotently in the pit of his stomach until a voice finally broke through, pulling the man's attention back to the claustrophobic feel of that courtroom, lone cobalt lifting wearily to the head justice as he repeated themselves irate with the man's lack of paying attention to his pre-prescribed decimation. "Lt. Turner, do you have anything to say about any sort of link between the termination of Doran Ker and that of Travix Volston?"

He just observed each of the judges blandly, his expression drained and lifeless as a soft scoff rose to give him animation. "Does it matter" This court already has a verdict in mind and we're just here playing justice to make things look good on the books..."

"You petulant, toxic-"

"Lieutenant! This hearing is for your benefit, your chance to tell your side of the story so as this panel can make the most informed decision it can, so we can understand why you did what negligent and atrocious things that you did."

Mach failed at suppressing a humorous smirk at those words which only served to take the panel back. "I put all that happened in my report." A tired sigh escaped him as he thought to just leave it at that but a small part of him pushed him to continue, to absolve himself of those nagging thoughts that curled in the back of his mind. "I spent ten days getting destroyed, taken apart, and put back together again so that those bastards could do it all over again and again. Do you know what that does to a person?"

There was an uncomfortable silence that loomed for a moment before Justice Hackett cleared her throat. "Yes Lieutenant, we are aware what experts believe-"

"I didn't ask about what experts believed, I asked if any of you knew what such torment could do to a man. The answer is simple....whip a man long and hard enough and you no longer have a man....you have monster. So did I do monstrous things when I escaped" Yes, yes I did."

"Than you freely admit that you purposefully killed Travix Volston?"

There was a hiss from behind trying to sway him to keep quiet but Mach was just sick and tired of being what everyone needed or wanted him to be....or maybe that part of him just never returned after that. Either way he simply shook his head before pushing forward against the advice of his counsel. "I purposefully killed each and every individual that I did that night. That's what it is to be a soldier....to make that decision and to live with it. And you want to hang negligence on me" Negligence in my part about this investigation and my life in general" Yeah, you're probably right. I have quiet the ability to not only screw up mine by the lives of those involved with me. But if you think I do such willingly, or that I kill out of immorality than you are gravely mistaken. I fuck up, I stumble, and I keep moving forward. If you want to pass judgment on me for that, if anyone does than fine....just stop wasting my time with your bull."

There was no shortage of solemn expressions to be had at his little rant but really, Mach just couldn't find enough to care at the moment, not when he knew how this was going to turn out. "Is that all you had to say Lieutenant?"

A spark of ill humor found it's way to the schmooze at those words, a dirty smirk pulling upon rugged features as he looked up to the man. "Yeah....I've said my peace."

A terse nod was offered before the head justice turned their gaze behind the hunter. "Counselor?"

"No, your honor." There was an exasperated sigh that followed with the sound of files being tossed down onto the tabletop.

"Justice Hackett, Justice Dorellen, do either of you have any further inquests?"

"No sir." The woman looked pleased with herself, a rail thin smile gracing her stern features.

"N-No sir..." As for the jolly one he most certainly didn't look as such now so much as just aged and old. There was a guilt that held to him at perhaps pushing the hunter to such words though such did not tarnish the stern dignity of his values as he sat there erect and almost proud in manner.

"Then if there is nothing more I believe we have covered all that was needed to be addressed in this inquest. We will deliberate on all that has been learned and pass our judgment on Lt. Turner in the morning. Until then this disciplinary tribunal is adjorned.?

The rap of the gable rang out as though the doors of Mach's fate were slamming shut before him. Being retrieved by his guard from the penal box there would be no words spoken as the hunter was lead back to his cell. Oh, Cpt. Rickers and Albright certainly talked at him but the schmooze just did not have any more words, paid their aggravation with silence. He was just tired and so upon return to his cell the man stripped out of his uniform as he could and collapsed onto the barely padded slab so as to seek the horror of dreams over the horror of this reality which he was faced with now.

Mach

Date: 2016-03-17 12:49 EST
"Great spirits have always encountered opposition from mediocre minds. The mediocre mind is incapable of understanding the man who refuses to bow blindly to conventional prejudices and chooses instead to express his opinions courageously and honestly."

― Albert Einstein

The next morning came with somber weather which hid away the sun behind gloomy overcast that threatened to once more weep the day away. It was yet another disappointment in a long line of many for the schmooze who had awoken hours before the dawn with little more to take his mind off things than the insipid selection of books on military regulations and protocol. Leaving those to gather dust the man just spent his time in solitude staring out the small slit of a window in his cell, his thoughts meandering to the place whence he'd come and the feelings such welled within him. They were thoughts that went without voice, without record....simply pondered and played upon his minds eye in a bid to seek some solace from the situation he knew he faced and the powerlessness he suffered in his fate at the moment. For a man of action like he was prone it was maddening.

As the sky molted through various shades of threatening or depressing monochrome the hunter barely stirred from his ponderous self reflection that bordered on meditative even as his breakfast and freshly laundered and pressed uniform was delivered. He was informed that he had an hour before the hearing over the tribunals verdict would convene. Such news tickled a touch of ill humor in the man, a dry chuckle finally stirring him to life from his pensiveness to vanquish that bland breakfast with aplomb. He had apparently slept through supper which was a rarity but then again he had....still just felt so run down. Finishing off the meal he dressed in that crisp uniform, attention taken to adjust everything just so. Of course it wasn't like he bought into the whole notion of militaristic pride which was usually the culprit for such meticulous preening; no, today such seemed appropriate because it felt a little rebellious for him to do such simply because it was against expectation. Because really, who expected a rogue like him to take pride in his military pedigree" And besides, the distraction was greatly appreciated over any further time spent in personal thought.

Finishing up with that priming he next moved on to straightening out the room to look as though he'd never been there, an activity that held his attentions until there was the knock on the cell door by those sent to retrieve him. Joining that entourage of armed soldiers Mach noted Cpt. Albright and what he'd barely seen the day before to be Cpt. Rickers already with the group, glum expressions held to each as they barely acknowledged him while exchanging greetings. From there it was heavy quiet that held over the group as they meandered along, the hunter having refused his cane so as he could walk upright with pride as he was lead off to that same courtroom. Entering that domicile of rich wood textures once more the schmooze noted the three judges already present and in their respective seats with masks of stoicism held to their features.

Moving to their respective places Mach once more took to the penal box, the stool ignored today as he decided to remain standing for what he assumed was to be a rather short session given the paltry amount of time spent deliberating his case. As the last guard took their place there was an uncomfortable moment of silence as the hunter looked over the three judges, Justice Hackett being the only one who met his gaze with a defiant on of her own cast over that crooked beak of a nose. She really didn' t like him but then Mach was fair certain his name brought an angry, cursing scream to many a purity investigator.

Clearing his throat, the head justice didn't even bother with his gable as he looked about the small gathering. "Good morning Cpt. Ricker, Albright ....Lt. Turner. Today, 20 Balensreed 1738, we reconvene this disciplinary tribunal over Hunter ET108751727-A32B2C with a our verdict in regards to case HAD22031738-6."

Dorellen looked conflicted as he continued, his gaze failing to ever met the hunters sole cobalt orb. "Reviewing the evidence collected by independent investigation as well as testimony both of those involved with the case and Mr. Turner we have reached a decision."

"And as such we are ready to pass judgment on the Lieutenant and outline any disciplinary or corrective actions we see fit in accordance with the laws and sanctions outlined by U.T.R.A. protocols." The woman seemed to make an emphasis on 'pass judgement' as she continued her steely gaze on the schmooze.

"The remaining charges levied against the Lieutenant were for gross negligence and for premeditated homicide. Given all the facts and information we now believe we have a better understanding of the situation and as such....this tribunal moves to strike those charges as being unfitting given the current context." There was a buzz of commotion behind the hunter, quiet whispers exchanged between the two captains though such elation did not find it's way onto the his rugged features. Hunters were good at remaining vigilant for any unexpected boots to the head.

"However, one thing is still clear. Lt. Turner: before the investigation, throughout the investigation, and during the deadly resolution of the investigation showed a lack of demeanor that is....expected of commissioned officers in the Unified Tanga Republic Army." The excitement of whispers died down from that the proverbial touch of sole leather that the friendly judge threw out. "While he was not grossly negligent he still put his own interests ahead of the interests of the mission and let his personal life and feelings affect his performance and endanger not only his own, but national safety. As well, while his treatment of a combatant turned non-combatant is....abhorrent at best....such can be understood given the extreme situation he was in. But that does not excuse him of his responsibilities to the sanctity of human life. If anything, as a soldier and an officer he is expected to uphold such even more than your average man for it is those who are granted the power by society to take life as a means of preserving peace that are to be most scrutinized to ensure that they fully weigh the gravity of such a decision each and every time they practice such a tragic necessity of their duty."

"As such, this tribunal has come to the verdict that Lt. Elitia Vance Turner is guilty of the downgraded charge of behavior grossly inappropriate of an officer." There was a stunned silence that fell over the courtroom as the woman seemed to bathe in that proclamation of the hunters guilt. Even the two behind him joined in for a moment before a hissed exchange arose regarding the validity of changing charges as such during the middle of a trial, mostly by Morgan. And the administrator had a point, such would have been unheard of....in a civilian court or even a military peer review. But a military disciplinary tribunal didn't abide by the same such rules and did hold the power to change and alter charges on a rolling basis so as to ensure proper punishment was dolled out to those who 'justly' required such.

Beller looked over the gather before him, his expression neutral in a fashion that was obviously well practiced. "Does the counsel or the accused wish to contest this charge?"

"Of course we would like to-"

"We would not actually your honor." Rickers voice held a sharp and threatening curl to it as he cut off Albright.

"Cpt. Albright, need I remind you again about speaking out in this court of law?"

A tense sort of silence took hold of the atmosphere, the sorts one associated with key moments in hostage negotiations or bomb disposals. It was not a comfortable mood in the least as Mach saw it for what it was: the career administrator was actually considering speaking out in his defense! It was an almost touching notion that the stringent rule follower was willing to get in trouble on his behalf but at the same time here and now was most certainly not the time to practice such a misguided sense of duty to ones subordinate! No, Mach knew there was no way he was ever walking out of this tribunal absolved of any and all guilt; behavior unbecoming an officer was, really, one of the best compromises one like he could possibly hope for.

And it was something that may well get taken away if Morgan continued making a stink of things! So rather than wait for the man to build himself up over his particular stupid threshold the hunter instead decided to answer the question for him. "We would not like to contest that verdict."

The hunters cool and unflinching response drew the attention of the justice away from the handler, that glower giving way to a smidgen of approval perhaps marking his otherwise indifferent mask. "Than you accept this charge?"

Three sets of eyes held on the hunter, the tone muted but varying wildly as they held their breath for his response. "I acknowledge the charge and can see the context....but I don't accept it....I just don't contest it."

Such was most certainly not the response that any of them wanted as those muted tones took decidedly dour turns. His response was asininely legal having him accepting their verdict but not taking claim of said deed which would have been like admitting his guilt of such. Hey, he was a peacekeeper after all! The man had boned up on legality, precedent, and verbiage to help him not get his nuts nailed to a wall. And while he was too tired to fight he could still work to avoid throwing himself into a pitfall.

The hunters most apathetic defiance rose a murmur of discussion between the three justices; Hackett, of course, seeming the most animated in her aggravation which only seemed to build speaking volumes of just how much his refusal to, even inadvertently, accept the charge threw a wrench in her plan to see him twisting in the wind. It wasn't exactly a great though but it was one that pleased the man nonetheless. What seemed like a few minutes would crawl on by before the judges returned their attention to the dimly smiling hunter, a puff of breath harsh upon the woman's teeth though it was Dorellen that would speak up first. "Then you are fine being sentenced based off of this?"

This warranted a sickly humorous chuff to escape the man as he shrugged in that wooden encasement. "I didn't figure my approval mattered for sentencing. The right punishment for the right crime or so it's suppose to go, yeah?"

The man's expression dimmed a little more, that hint of unease finding their azure depths as they let their gaze fall to the soldier's ribbon board, but the woman seemed to have recovered albeit with an unpleasantly sour tint to her stoic mask. "Yes. Disciplinary actions are very much needed to correct aberrant behaviors in those who would....flout their duty and the letter and spirit of the law which they should be upholding as keepers of the peace. So while your input or approval doesn't matter as your failure still stands it will be noted that you do not agree but adhere to both your charge and your punishment."

Clearing his throat Beller looked at the two judges, a sternness to his gaze acting to molify any further commentary from the two. Best not to tip their hand after all, or so Mach figured. "So, as such this tribunal will now render punishment for the crime of gross inappropriate behaviors for an officer. Lt. Elitia Turner - you are sentenced to be temporarily stripped of your rank and privileges both as a hunter and a soldier of the U.T.R.A. while you serve six months imprisonment at the maximum security facility of Kerns Mordarte. There you are to receive physical, behavioral, and psychological rehabilitation as well as psychiatric care for your disturbed mental processes. And after such time a special board will convene with you to determine your fitness to return to duty and to what rank, office, and posting you will hold or whether you are to be evaluated for discharge from service."

Mach knew that he wasn't going to get away from this clean, knew they would strip him down and come down on him hard. None of that mattered to the man, he had made his peace with such. But six months....half a year of his remaining life....a force that flickered and flagged already....that was just too much. He worked to hold himself together as he slumped back, that coy smile of his draining away as he had not humor for such....didn't have much of anything save, he hoped, the resolve to keep himself together rather than giving in to the crushing anguish or the blazing fury that vied for dominance within.

Sitting there stunned from that blow to the proverbial gut the schmooze barely remained cognizant of the explosion of ire that rose in his place from behind. "Kerns Mordarte!" You can't send him there! That's a mage and madsci long term detainment and rehabilitation prison!"

"Given the severity of his crimes, the need for rehabilitation, and the danger he posses-" The hawk woman's voice cut in, crisp and calm to try and mollify the raging handler though he seemed ill interested in such as he cut off the woman sharply.

"Danger!" What of the danger to him! Who knows how many of those criminals Lt. Turner has personally been responsible for sending to that place! They'll tear him apart in there!"

"Cpt. Alright!" Beller's voice rose up angrily in what seemed a bid to browbeat the officer down while quietly hissed words from the counselor worked to reign him in from the back.

The old crone of a purity officer though seemed intent to lure the man on as she continued, her tone just a touch ruffled from the disrespect he'd just paid her. "Are you trying to imply that our prison system is not up to task Captain" Anyway, Mr. Turner needs that added level of oversight given that in a years time he's cast not only one, but two S3 level spells that one of his profile and marks shouldn't be able to do at all much less while surviving them! Until this can be understood-"

"Justice Hackett!" A sharply hissed tone for the woman now, the irritation building more and more in the elder judge.

"But he's going to have all his mana processing locked down and his EPP and MPC removed, right!" So why would he need to be locked up with mages when he can't even process mana at that point!" And in the condition he's in with his arm' You can't be-"

"Yes, he'll be on lockdown....but he's still done the impossible....twice. So in the name of caution we are placing him in a mana-null facility. As for his condition he will be monitored as with every other inmate. And besides, he's a soldier, is he really so weakened by the loss of one arm that he can't defend himself from a gaggle of clawless madscis and psyzards?"

"That's not the point and you know it! He's-"

"ORDER, I DEMAND ORDER!" The crack of the gable was almost threatening as the head justice battered the top of his stand, a rouge color having filtered blotchy upon his features as he shot angry glares between the two arguing officers. "Maj. Hackett, you will contain yourself! And as for you Cpt. Alright you are ejected from this courtroom! And if you say a word against that so help me I'll hold you in contempt! Now get him out of here!!"

There was a commotion of movement as a few of the guards peeled off from the periphery, storming over for the desk behind the schmooze. Of course given the muted smack of flesh upon hard, oaken wood just before an aggravated swish and the hard tap of shoes as they stormed off sort of told that Morgan wasn't waiting around to be personally dragged out from the room. The doors were flung open, any attempt to slam them thwarted either by the hydraulics of the door or by the guards the still rushed after the man so as to secure the courtroom from any further interruption from the captain.

A few moments would pass in silence as the judges seemed to recenter themselves, or more at least Justice Beller did while Hackett just sort of stewed in the shame of being talked down to by the lead judge and Dorellen, well, they just sort of kept their gaze flighty and preoccupied from all the drama. After the near palpable tension eased to but an oily murk the head justice turned their gaze back now to the proceedings. "Now that thats handled....Cpt. Rickers, do you have an appeal you'd like to claim?"

The schmooze didn't figure there would be one given that he and the counselor never had spoken. He'd received word that the man had tried to visit him yesterday but the hunter just wasn't getting up then. And so they were probably just on autopilot, trying to close this case up as quickly as they could so as they could move on to other work that wasn't so stacked up against him without his knowledge. And as such the man's tone was mild as he chirped out that simple 'no your honor.'

This led the fellows gaze now back to the schmooze who still leaned in a slouch against the stool with, what he suspected was, a dim and dumbfounded look on his face. A look that fought valiantly against a vicious sneer or a crushed lament which tried to rise up. "How about you son. You have anything more to say....an appeal to make against this sentence?"

That lone cobalt blue rose to meet the man's gaze, the words distorted by the rush of blood that pounded in his ears. Of course what was he to say, to do at this point' There were no words to escape this fate....one the man had known he was walking into since the moment he saw Cpt. Albright step into his hospital room in Rhy'Din. Stepped in, full of delusions of helping the schmooze....delusions he held even up to the end. This ironic thought drew a smirk from the hunter as a new player to the table reared it's ugly head - shame. Now, no one would ever accuse the hunter for having pride given how he acted and lived....but that didn't mean things didn't bother him for stupid reasons. Like jerk officers who played middle manager to him suddenly one upping him in the brazen and stupid when it came to his own screwed up life.

So no, he was utterly defeated....broken and too tired to viciously fight, but that didn't mean he had to just roll over. Raising that mitted had he held such aloft for the judges to observe as a dirty smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. "Only that you read between the lines."

There was an exasperated flap of folders upon the desk behind him as Beller's face rocketed to a ruby red color, his teeth grinding even as he battered the desktop with his gable. "No lenience for appeal will be heard, full sentence! Hearing dismissed, get him out of here!? That last part was growled out even though Mach knew that there never was any room for an appeal....not really. Nothing, at least, that he'd be willing to accept in any good conscious. And so he just held on to his smile even as the four guards that surrounded his penal cage yanked him out, putting him into bindings that fastened to his belt before leading him out of the courtroom.

Mach

Date: 2016-03-30 18:10 EST
"The best way is not to fight it, just go. Don't be trying all the time to fix things. What you run from only stays with you longer. When you fight something, you only make it stronger."

- Chuck Palahniuk, Invisible Monsters

Riding high on that touch of pride Mach only allowed himself to be partially drug out of the courtroom, a struggle ensuing as he was wrenched free of the penal box breaking him free from the grasp of his wardens. Righting himself he took a moment to stare down each of the guards (an impressive feat given his lack of eyeballs though, in hindsight, such may well have been the reason why his sharp and warning gaze was effective) as he adjusted his uniform. The schmooze put on as much an air of importance as he could muster given his state, a turn and salute offered to the judges which looked nothing short of comical given that anti-signing mitt he wore before he twirled about and marched stoically out of the courtroom by his own leave. The look he caught of Rickers as he passed was withering though nothing in compare to the near hateful glares the schmooze noted from the justices before he'd turned his back on them.

Outside the door that lone cobalt gaze fell upon the captain that stared sullenly at the door; a mix of impotent anger and loathing guilt working in tandem to age the fair haired man even older than poor genetics worked to do. He looked even more haggard and tired than Mach felt with that weary expression only growing at the sight of the hunter. Falling in step beside the man the group set off in silence, the twists and turns changing from what they'd been the past few days now leading into a sparser decorated part of the facility done up in welcoming unmasked concretes and iron bars across the narrow slits of windows that let in the drab light of the day. Another turn and another was taken before the administrator suddenly perked up, some thought catching his interest. "Where's a secure patio area for smoking?"

The four guards looked amongst themselves for the measure of a few steps, an uncomfortable back and forth in those gazes before a loser was finally determined to act as the voice of the group. "Sir?"

"A smoking area. I want to take this man out to smoke." Mach had been curious as to what the handler was getting at but this" this surprised even him! Of course he knew why the man was doing this; he just didn't understand what there really was for them to talk about other than maybe to try and ease the fellow's guilt. Another conversation of soulful gazes was held between the guards as they worked to determine how much they could deny liberties to the hunter given his incarcerated status versus how much aggravation they wanted to subject themselves to by questioning an officer. Another turn, another drab hallway, and finally the spokesman let out a sigh. "This way sir, fifteen minute limit, no outside calls or communication. Do you need to go retrieve a pack?"

"No' I have one, thank you." Another surprise that had the hunters brow lifting this time, sidelong glance cast to the handler suspiciously though the man continued to avoid eye contact, their gaze set firmly to the monotonous rows of linoleum tiles that lined the halls. Morgan, to put it mildly, did not approve of his smoking habit' anyone's smoking habit really. It was a small wonder how he could deal with hunters as he did given that the lot of them in whole tended to go at it such like chimneys during a particularly nippy winter. So to hear that he not only wanted to try and gain time to talk by going out to smoke, but that he was already prepared for such was no small mystery and perhaps source of wariness to the schmooze.

Moving at the broken hunters shambling pace it would take a few minutes before they reached a particularly depressing corner of the military installation. Badging through a double set of security doors would lead out to a small patio area with a couple of highly uncomfortable looking rolled steel patio bench and table combos amid a steel caged view of the hangers and runways in the distance. The venue just screamed "prisoner holding" and was only made more cheery by the overcast of the clouds above which churned in indecisiveness about whether to rain or just look gloomy. Shuffling on over to mount one of the patio sets the schmooze planted fancy pantsed butt down upon the tabletop, one polished shoe setting atop the bench while the other hung loosely. He looked rather casual there save the stiffness of the formal uniform he still wore and the shackle that tied his sole hand a comfortable six inches from his crotch.

One guard held duty in the hall of the building while another two remained in the no-man's land between the two security doors. The last one was stuck on in-cage guard duty, the far corner picked so as to give the two the most privacy as was possible in cage. Morgan gave the man a glowering look, impatience running up on his features very likely leading up to him telling the guard to take a hike if not for the mild kick from the schmooze which brought that glower his direction. "Comeon Cap, they can't leave me alone, you know that. So about that smoke" um, you're gonna have to get sweet on me thanks to my' predicament."

That coy smile that rose upon him only made that glower etch deeper though the expression was tinged once more with guilt. "Ah...yeah...right." Fumbling into his brown jacket the officer produced an unopened pack of? well. Mach just watched in quiet revere as the other fumbled their way with the wrapping to the schmoozes favorite brand of cigarettes. It was something he'd not had since his last time out in Tang as they weren't exactly a luxury brand that would find a market being imported to Rhy'Din. The man had considered buying and toting a crate of this particular brand of cigarettes back with him when he returned at the end of that trip but then at that time he was considering quitting because, well, yeah' more the fool him.

Finally getting one free the distinctive red filter was tucked between the schmooze lips, a fresh disposable lighter now fished out and used to help light the cancer stick which was puffed to life with a content sigh, the blend of Tanjar Mountain specific herbs giving the cool rush of mentholated nicotine a distinct pallet. Taking a few more drags of the cigarette the schmooze just enjoyed the moment in peace and quiet, his lone cobalt eye cast out over the airfield as a military transport taxied out onto the greasy black tarmac. After his third drag the man finally cast a look back to the officer that stood there uncomfortably, fidgeting with the hem of his jacket while a war of tension waged across there aged features. "You knew this was going to happen, didn't you?" Tension held on their voice drawn so with agitation and guilt the finally found the courage to pose the question the captain obviously didn't want the answer to.

To this Mach simply shrugged lazily, another drag taken from his cigarette as he considered it but for a moment before shooting down the others hopes. "Yeah Morgan, I did?"

"Then why did you let me bring you back!?" Bitterness tumbled together with pleading as he hissed that imploring question. "Why didn't you say it was a pointless effort' Let you rest up with your friends?"

Those questions drew a bland sort of pensiveness upon rugged features as the cigarette between his lips softly crackled beneath the draw of his breath, that airy smoke left to coil upon his tongue languid as a lover. After a few moments he finally offered an anemic shrug. "Why' This was going to end in a shit sandwich for me no matter" so why prolong things, yeah?"

"Because you could have spent that time with those you care for rather than rotting is some prison!"

This drew a coy smirk from the soldier as he worked to motioned for a second cigarette from the pack left on the table while he was still working the first. Hey, he didn't know when next he'd get a chance to smoke again so he was going to enjoy the hell out of this pack while he still had the chance! Wiggling the lit cigarette so as to encourage the officer to just light off the original cherry he watched as the ember carried over to the second cancer stick with mild interest even as the outrage bubbled and boiled over in the other. "Eli!"

"Look Morgan, me showing up here now versus in a month or so wouldn't have made a damn bit of difference" just woulda dwindled my will to say goodbye is all?" This was mused over mildly, spoken with all the bluntness and reverence of a bad joke only meant to humor the teller. ""then you really would have needed that guard detail to keep me contained." And this warranted a dry chuckle and a dirty glance from the guard in the corner at his meaning.

Shifting his gaze to the expended cigarette which was let to drop to the bench seat to be crushed out beneath his shoe, Mach noted how bitter a pill it seemed to be for the officer to swallow. How wrong they had read the situation, how easily they had played into the purity board's game; an easy thing to do for a career rule pusher to be fooled by that deep seated want to believe in the authority that you upheld. But Mach had been on the short and painful end of one too many sticks to not be cynical, to even possibly believe in any capacity that the authority he worked for had his best interests at heart. The schmooze knew well how people in general and those who created him saw him, understood better than even the forever warning Morgan the minefield he bumbled through....and the jackals always trying to drive him to one of those lovely traps.

And so this turn of events was nothing more than status quo to the schmooze, the betrayal he not only expected but had, to a point, accounted for. This was the thought that held as he took a drag off his fresh smoke while trying his best to ignore the melancholy that befell the superior officer. Hey, why should he be guilted for what the other man's myopic callowness got him' Why should he feel any sort of debt to the man for their own foolish pride that had them believing such a caper hook, line, and sinker!" No, he was going to enjoy his smokes and Morgan could just learn a little of the fine art of sucking it up like he was doing!!

" Or this was what Mach really wanted to be able to do. To let that nasty vitriol within him off it's leash and revel in the other man's stupid misery. But then what was the point of subjecting this one to his particular brand of piss and vinegar other than some want for another to feel even a fraction of his hurt' The answer to this, of course, was that there was none. That it was simple, selfish jealousy that wanted him to just let the man stew....and despite knowing this, despite his loathing to be that person the hunter just couldn't find the will to speak up, to console the other. So it was the worst of both worlds where he was being a dick and didn't even feel particularly good about it but just couldn't rile up the will to be a better man at the moment.

It was as such that Mach spent the next few minutes scowling in quiet contemplation while burning through that smoke as the other just squirmed, coming to terms with their own sin. Inevitably though it was the administrator who was wronged the less of the two that finally found the will to fill that void with words or the courage to ask that question that Mach knew was coming. It was the same one the man had asked him years ago when he was being put away for wrongfully burning several holes through Doran Ker. "Is there....is there anything I can do for you? Your family....your friends while you're....while you're away?"

The mans milling manner aggravated Mach, made him want to reach out and punch the officer. Or perhaps there was more than just the guilt ridden way in which Morgan talked that annoyed him, but rather the false hope that such words tried to plant. Of course Mach felt all the more angry at this because a part of him wanted desperately to jump on that hope, to suckle on it's comforting teat as he begged the man to see if he could save his posting in Rhy'Din so as maybe he could return to that daft, mad, yet oddly soothing place to live out the last of his days. It was funny that a little over a year ago he had vehemently cursed his fate to be sent to what was a crappy terminal post....and yet now he wished for nothing more than to return to it's complete nonsense. How a few good friends and a load of decent memories could sway the fickle heart of a rogue like him.

But the silver lining that made the prospect of going out to Rhy'Din even remotely appealing was the very same silver lining that stood before him now " that he could just 'vanish' and in doing so ease the guilt and pain that he may well bring to those he had grown to care deeply for in that land apart. No one there would ever have to watch him deteriorate, to be just as helpless as he while he lost to the one fight he had no means of fighting. He could just sort of fade from their collective memories; let them forget him by his absence which was perhaps cruel in it's own right....but also a kind of blessing than knowing the cold and hard end of the hunter. Because as much as one might spout that time heals the wounds of sorrow, Mach had found that such was just honeyed B.S. to supplicate the grieving soul. That all time did was add enough fodder to try and bury the pain of loss so it was barely noticeable....but always there.

It was with this thought in mind that he took that last drag killing the second cancer stick which joined it's brother beneath his heel, cobalt blue gaze never leaving the scene that played out before him on the runway. "Nah Morgan....there's nothing you can do for me..." It felt as though someone else were saying those words, hallow and distant but in the blunt yet friendly tones of his own voice. This was for the best, right' It at least made the most sense though the schmooze felt he was going to have to say it a lot more before it started to even remotely feel right.

"A-Are you sure" I know you don't hold a lot of faith in me Eli but I can-"

"It's fine Albright!" The cobalt blue orb took on a hard glint as the hunter snapped down the whinging of the other. He....he hadn't meant to do that, but there was only so little care for propriety that the man had left in him. Breathing out a tired sigh he tried to shake away the heavy air of the mood with a flitting gesture of hand. "Look, it's nothing against you, yeah' I just....I can't do it right now, okay' Can't think about that place or what I'm losing....because that's not the problem before me. Kerns Mordarte is the problem before me....and if I can't focus on that....then yeah..." Both men knew the implications of that statement, that Mach was going somewhere not where he could rest and recuperate....but to fight for his very survival. "Anyway, there's a dozen or so reasons for me not to go back and like....two or three selfish ones for. So yeah, if you want to do something for me about Rhy'Din....then support the cutie that got sent over....Elodie I think her name was when I saw her in the hospital" See, Rhy'Din is an enchanting and dangerous as hell place for hunters like me much less fresh meat like her....so yeah. She might need all the support she can get....and maybe she can inadvertently keep those I care about safe. Sorta karmic, yeah?"

The officer mulled over this, his jaw taut before finally they released a tired sigh. "I'll see what I can do. But what about, you know....any that ask after you? Any friends that might work through the system or those who live here?"

Now it was Mach's turn to mull over things though his was much more the peaceful variant of one coming to terms with their fate, releasing the bitterness that never served any purpose but to poison the ingenuity of survival. After a few moments he finally just shrugged. "Tell them the mostly truth - I fucked up and am getting punished for it, just leave off the details of how long. Any more you can direct them to the prison....I'm sure they'll be more than glad to smoke and mirror everything with bureaucracy."

This seemed to sting the man yet again as the shuffled some under such cold and blunt instruction, a protest rising though the guard in the corner beat the man to the punch as they finally stirred to life. "Sir, it's been fifteen minutes. Time to move."

Morgan turned an angry glare to the soldier and how callous they regarded this meeting but Mach's hand on their shoulder quashed any harsh words that may have been bubbling up. "Thanks sergeant. Cpt. Albright..." The man turned a murky but tired look to the hunter as he clasped the officers hand firmly. "Take care yeah' And thank you....for everything."

The man couldn't help but dumbly let his hand be pumped in that shake before Mach released the older officer even as he slid to his feet. Adjusting his uniform just a little he moved to fall in line with the guard that had sidled over to the door, key card in hand as he awaited the hunter with a stony expression that did little to hide the relief he had that Mach didn't seem keen to let the captain make any more trouble for them. Of course that wouldn't stop them from trying as something seemed to click in the guilt ridden man, a wild turn of gaze shifting to the schmooze. "Eli, wait-"

"Go home Cpt. Albright. You're job here is done and you've got folks waiting, yeah?" The hunter's tone held a note of finality which seemed to work well to quell the others insistence. Whatever had been planned to be said, what momentum there was to say such was lost as only the distant rumble of the powering up air transport was heard as Mach stepped back into the facility content to follow the guards to his final holding area before his ship out. And all the captain could do was watch until they were out of sight and, frankly, out of mind of the tired schmooze.

- - - - -

Dragging into that administrative lounge it had been nearly a half hour since he'd parted ways with Mach....and fifteen minutes since he'd received that text which had brought the man back to his senses. It wasn't like the base was overly large being more a hub for transport layaway or direction rather than an actual military asset proper, but Morgan was just feeling sluggish after that one two gut punch from the subordinate that he'd failed to help yet again. Of course seeing the lone figure outlined by light pouring in through the ceiling to floor window that they stood before set off another emotion in the man as he stepped up next to the woman.

They were just a little shorter than the administrator but had an athletic build that was both curvy yet sharply cut. This conundrum continued on to her angular features with a defined jaw and cheekbones that gave her an alluring if not severe look. One that wasn't helped in the least by the short and efficient cut of her hair or the natural frown her nude, pouty lips took. Pulling the mostly whole pack of cigarettes from his jacket he thrust them out for the woman to pluck and inspect with stormy slate gaze. "Only two?"

"Yes ma'am, only two... The man couldn't hide the bitterness from his tone as his jaw worked tightly. "Did you know too?"

That slate gaze flickered momentarily from the pack to Morgan before their attention turned out once more to the field of hangers across the way, more transports taxiing about in a bustle of activity so contradictory to the depressing lethargy prompted by the weather. "Do you really want the answer to that question Captain?" There was a mirthless levity to her coolly melodious tone that well assured the man that he probably didn't want to know.

"Right..." A listless sigh deflated the man as he turned his gaze out to the dance of transports in the distance. "So what happens now?"

The woman considered this for a long moment as she idly drew one of those red filtered cigarettes from the pack, the cancerous stick set between her lips before she tucked the pack away. Rather than making any attempt to light the smoke though she just chewed on it as though the mere presence of the vice helped her to think. "Now....Mach serves his time. It's unavoidable given the target he painted on himself with purity dating a mage and being so chummy with so many demi-humans..." The thought brought a sharp, humorless scoff to the woman though the slip of a smile that blossomed was nothing if not warm. "....really, he's such a dummy."

"Then what are we suppose to do?"

"You do exactly as he asked."

"But Col. Trang-!"

"And I'll do exactly what he needs." That warm sliver of an expression shifted to something shark like as she bit down on the filter of the cigarette.

"What he needs-"

"Is to go back to Rhy'Din." Morgan paused as the Ivera beat him to that conclusion, the expression that rose upon his features obviously puzzled as the woman chuckled some before she continued. "I don't approve of all...or most of what he's been doing....but even I can see that out there....he's trying. Trying to lead a life, trying to plant roots, trying to be more than the good monster dying for his family. I don't know what it is about that place....sounds nothing less than a dreadful anarchy to me....but it's...it's changing Eli....or maybe it's more like awakening the him that's invested in life. And that's what he needs"

The administrator mulled over this for a long moment, the woman giving him time as she occupied herself with that cigarette. Finally though the man gathered together his thoughts on the greatest fork that stood in the way of such a venture. "But he's purposefully just gone silent on most his ties out there....he's trying to see them wither out naturally."

"But of course, he's a dying hunter after all. That's just part of the game..." That last word warranted an ugly sneer as the cigarette was plucked from her lips and thrown into a nearby trash receptacle. "But I'll worry about that. You just do as he says....maybe keep ties open for him."

"Do you really think you can pull it where he can return to Rhy'Din, ma'am?"

This warranted a soft smirk from the woman. "That'll be up to Eli. I can certainly set up the opportunity but that stubborn ass is the one that's gotta take it when the time comes."

Despite the bite of the words themselves the woman seemed genuinely concerned for the welfare of Mach....which just seemed so counter intuitive given how things had ended between the two several years back. It was a pretty well known scandal of how she'd thrown him under the bus rather than commit career suicide by staying with him....but her actions now were anything but the sort one would expect from a true 'Ice Queen.' It was a curiosity, but one the woman seemed ill interested in sticking around for him to gather the nerve to brooch such a touchy subject as she was already turning about on heel for the door.

"M-Ma'am-" A clumsy word hastily spoken that had the desired effect regardless of pausing the woman's retreat long enough for him to snap to attention, a salute offered. "-thank you for helping him."

The show of respect hardly registered any sort of response upon the mask like stoicism that held to the woman's features though those words of smirk did garner something of a sad smile to crack through to the surface. "Don't go thanking me yet. Hunters live a life of hardship and blood....and to continue forward Eli's going to have to face even more such pain. I honestly can't say whether such can be considered good for him or not....but....it's better than the alternative. And I know for a certainty that Eli is the sort that just won't....can't stop moving forward. Or maybe that's just my hope of him." And with that the most warm and honest smile flit across the woman before vanishing ephemeral as it was. "Anyway, good day Cpt. Albright." And with that she continued on her way to and through the door of the lounge leaving the man alone to his thoughts and the guilt that he just couldn't shake.