[Omega] Meet the new blood (closed)

((AEGIS only))

The large warehouse Gorik, Bo and Kaleb had chosen for the temporary AEGIS headquarters on Omega thronged with people.
In only a few days over three dozen mercenaries had responded to the recruitment notices they’d posted on various extranet sites, eager to join up. There had been a few unsuitable applicants; mostly idealistic kids who thought mercenary work was all glitz and glamor, as it was portrayed on HV shows; or blood-thirsty psychopaths just looking for a paycheque and an excuse to kill. Gorik had made sure any such individuals were sent away. Thankfully there had been plenty of more suitable candidates.

Now the krogan warlord stood on the balcony that overlooked the warehouse floor, studying his new troops as they stripped down weapons and chatted amongst themselves.
“What’s wrong?” asked a voice to his left. Gorik turned to see Linala watching him, leaning against the railing.
“What do you mean?” He asked.
“You’ve got that look on your face you get when you’re worrying about something.” Said the asari, her face concerned. She turned to look down at the troops below. “What is it?”
Gorik shrugged and let out a reptilian sigh. “It’s nothing. It’s just… the last time we were on Omega in such numbers it was back before the Fall. It seems wrong not to see Shane, Thel and Kevla down there.”
“I miss them too.” Said Linala quietly, laying a hand on the krogan’s arm.
“Ah, don’t get misty eyed on me now woman.” Gorik chuckled, shaking off the melancholy mood that had been building. “I’m fine. Just thoughtful.”
“Dangerous, that. Thinking. You might hurt yourself.”
Gorik grinned at the asari and shoved her playfully. “Away with you. Anyway, it’s time I addressed the troops. Have you rounded up the prospective squad leaders?”
“Yes. There are seven that stand out, I’ve sent them to the back room so you can talk to them separately.”
“Good. Tell Bo and Kaleb to come through as well, if you can find them.”
The asari nodded and headed back down to the warehouse floor and Gorik followed her, heading through a side door and into what had once been an office of some sort.

A long table ran sat in the middle of the room, with a dozen mismatched chairs positioned around it. A battered holo-emitter sat on the table and was currently projecting the AEGIS clenched-fist logo in the air above the table.

A number of people already stood in the room; some stood and some sat. As the krogan entered all eyes turned to him.

“Greetings.” Gorik said, raising his voice so everyone would hear him. “I’m sure you all know who I am. I would like to say welcome to AEGIS, I look to serving with you all and getting to know you all better.”
He looked around at the gathered individuals.
“You’re all here because my lieutenants and I have marked you out as having the necessary skills to act as squad leaders or specialists for AEGIS. I thought that it would be good to greet you all together, and see if you have any questions for me. Why don’t we go around the table and introduce ourselves?”

The krogan waited to see who would be the first to step forwards.

After glancing around the room, a young batarian man stood. He wore light armor under a long (and exceedingly expensive) coat. His accent was smooth and refined, pure upper-caste. "My name is Yossin Rikuri, and I look forward to working with all of you. I have been hired for my experience in personal security..."

He had spoken, at length, about the exact form of that experience with Gorik, but it had gone no further. "And for my ability to procure items even when normal supply chains have been, shall we say, stressed. I put these talents to good use during the war, I intend to keep doing so."

A blonde man with shortly cropped hair was standing in the darkest possible corner, as far away as possible from the other people in the room. He wore a dark leather jacket and faded jeans, but the outward hunched and scared look was balanced somewhat by a holster with an M-5 Phalanx in it strapped to his thigh.

He looks around to room to see if anyone else would speak up, before taking a few steps forward. "I'm Mika. I fly things." And with that, he went back to the corner and leaned on the wall again.

The young woman, almost a kid really, who spoke up looked very much like the odd picture on her avatar. Long blond hair, garish red highlights, headband, totally unnecessary goggles. The whole bit. She had a mischievous look to her eyes and almost constantly seemed to sport an impish little grin, as though new and creative ways to shock people were springing into her head every second. On the other hand she carried a heavily customized Phaeston on her back and a pistol at her hip with the assurance of someone who knew precisely how to use them and what their limits were. That combined with her extensive skills in ship mechanics and combat engineering along with her guerrilla experience during the occupation definitely meant the adage about books and covers applied here.

She spoke up -rather surprisingly- in perfectly fluent Palvaven Standard, admittedly with a very thick Omegan accent. For once however she managed not to drop most of the letters she would have normally. It wouldn't sound very professional. "My name's Karina Nasica, nice t' meet y'all. I'm looking forward to workin' with ya. I've been hired fer my skills with combat engineerin' and ship mechanics pr'marily. But I can shoot straight too."

The next person to stand up was an asari with dark red markings that flowed from her eyes to her scalp. She was wearing a silver-grey longcoat over semi formal asari fashion, similar to what would be worn at a job interview, which this was.

"I am Niala Sorn, I am a former Asari Commando who had come out of retirement to fight the Reapers in the N7 program." her tone was formal, she was obviously trying to make a good first impression. She sat back down again.

There was a quarian, decked out in black and purple, standing quietly until things came to her. She gave Gorik and his fellows an appreciative nod before speaking.

"Velte'sen vas Tayseri. I'm a sniper, I work infiltration, computers, scouting and hacking." she spoke, hesitating momentarily on "Tayseri". That'd be changing soon enough, she wagered. "I'm also capable enough with engines." She added as an after thought. She looked over to the rest new blood, arms crossed.

Kaleb found his way down to the room the meeting was taking place in, nodding to Gorik the assembly of mercenaries with a gentle smile. "Sorry I'm late, y'all. I'm Kaleb, an' I'm in charge of the medical services for our happy little family. If any of y'all got a propensity f'r gettin' shot, I'm sure we'll be best'a friends."

Blues wandered in behind him as Kaleb sat down, the golden retriever first going to rub her head underneath Gorik's palm to force some pettings, and then began making the rounds to sniff and wag at each of the newcomers, enthusiastically greeting each one.

Kaleb chuckled, gesturing towards the dog.

"An' that'd be Blues. If y' come along with us I'm sure you'll get familiar with seein' her fairly often. She loves her people." He smiled and petted her head absently as she returned to him and laid her head in his lap.

After quickly glancing around the room, a bluish-grey drell stands. He wears grey medium armor, but it is mostly covered by a cheap-looking indigo cloth vest and headdress. He quickly clears his throat, his exotic accent sounding almost forced. "I go by Ahkyn. It's not my real name, but I prefer it. I was hired for my expertise in irregular warfare, and my ability to shoot straight. I look forward to working with you all." He sits back down, nodding to each person in the room as he does.

"Good, good. There are one or two more we're waiting on," Said Gorik, "But we'll start without them."

The krogan sat down at the head of the table and tapped a command into his omnitool. On the table the AEGIS logo faded from the holo-emitter and was replaced by a map of the Omega Nebula, marked with a number of small icons.
"Each of you has received an information packet regarding AEGIS and our activities. I hope you've all had a chance to review them, but just in case I'll go over the basics again."

"Before the Reaper War AEGIS was known as a small mercenary commando unit who specialised in anti-slavery actions, mostly rescuing captured colonists and mounting punitive strikes against known slaver compounds in the outlying systems such as Hinath, Lorek and New Canton. We were also know for our practice of refusing payment and instead salvaging equipment in order to finance such operations."

The krogan grinned and shrugged. "It might not have made us millionaires, but it certainly ensured that we became well known, at least in certain circles."

"During the Reaper War we repurposed, allying with over a dozen similar-sized mercenary units to become a large multifaceted force that was better able to deal with the Reaper threat. Working with local forces and the Council Emergency Response Office we helped evacuate several worlds and provide aid missions to other colonies already under siege by Reaper forces."

Gorik tapped a new command and the holo changed to show a small model of a large, rather famous, shipyard and the krogan’s voice turned serious.
"Our contribution to the war ended here; Veratix station. While helping to eliminate the Cerberus forces that held the shipyard we suffered heavy casualties that left AEGIS out of the war for good. Luckily for us that turned out to be only a few weeks."

"Since then we have been rebuilding our strength. During the last year we have worked closely with local authorities to help protect inter-cluster traffic from pirates, dig out smugglers from the asteroid belts and crack down on dissidents on both Omega and the Wreck. Not glamorous work, but it kept us going until the relays reopened."

The holo changed again to show Omega, slowly spinning at the center of it's attendant asteroids.
"Now here we are. AEGIS cannot go back to being what it was before the war, that much is obvious. I want us to become larger, able to cover more territory and with a larger skillset than before. I plan to contract for more traditional security work for the various Terminus colonial governments; anti-piracy, border patrols, that kind of thing."

"I still intend us to perform no-fee anti-slaver raids from time to time -if someone comes to us who cannot afford our services but clearly needs them I will not refuse them- but the price of having more troops is that you all need to be paid, and scavenging weapons from the battlefield won't cover our expenses any more.”

“That said, it is a sad fact of life in the Terminus that many colonies often have need of specialists trained in hostage rescue, commando strikes and counter-terrorist actions. We can still help people in need, and hopefully earn a tidy sum in the process."

“So,” Gorik finished, “Does anyone have any questions?”

"Yeah I got one," Karina replied sitting up straighter in her seat, "I know I prob'ly don' speak fer everyone here, but I haven't got any leadership 'sperience. I'm damn good at what I do but I ain't ever had t' lead anyone 'fore." A hint of worry made it through her confidence, "That gon' effect my employment status?"

"In your case, Miss Nasica," Said Gorik, turning to the young human, "You were chosen more for your skills than your experience. I believe in leading by example; from what I've been told you are a highly skilled mechanic and I need someone like you as an example for the other engineers we're taking on. AEGIS has only a small engineering unit; you will fill a support role, rather than a front-line one. I sense potential in you, and in everyone in this room; the potential to lead and to be more than simple soldiers."

"So," he continued, "Does that answer your question?"

"So, if we're going to be acting as role models, are we going to be leading training for the other troops?" Velte asked, leaning over the table and propping herself up with her hands. "I'm gonna guess that I'm in the same boat as her, considering my skill set?" she nodded to Karina.

Karina nods, "Yeah I think that 'bout covers it, y' won' regret hirin' me Boss, that's a promise."

The human in the corner raised his hand slowly. He crossed his arms across his chest and looked straight at Korik, without sparing the rest of the room much attnetion. "What's the company arsenal like? Do we get a full kit, or is it your own weapons and armor? And what about the heavier equipment?" said the pilot, naturally meaning what were the things with wings AEGIS had in store like.

Gorik nodded in response to Velte's question.
"Indeed. We've had a few applicants who are passable snipers and infiltrators; if you can take them under your wing I'd appreciate it."

"In regards to your question Mr Järvilehto, we will provide you all with basic armour and weaponry appropriate to your role, as well as any mission-specific equipment you might need. AEGIS has a decent armoury and we also have shares in Calamity station to draw on so adding to our existing assets isn't too much of a problem. If you think we need a piece of equipment we don't have, pass a request to the quartermaster."

"As for equipment related to your skillset," Gorik said to the pilot, "The new frigate we're renovating has seven launch bays, intended for shard-class interceptors. I'm currently looking at purchasing a mixture of shuttles and gunships to fill those bays, so if you have a preference or recommendations I'd like to hear them."

Gorik turned to address the rest of the room once more.
"AEGIS' previous success was due to the teamwork between our members. Although the new vision of AEGIS is larger than it previously was, I hope that teamwork will continue to bind us together. We can make this company great together, if you will help me. If any of you have suggestions you'd like to make, please let me know."

"I don't know whether this is real necessary 'r not," Karina begins, "But bet y'all have heard 'bout them Hegemony weapons on the news right? The one the Theocracy is bringin' in Citadel personnel to get rid of." She leans forwards a little drumming her fingers on the table pensively, "I bet a few of 'em made it onto the black market. Prob'ly into the hands of some nasty people. I had a coupla thoughts about that. We could use 'em for one thing. But if not... I betcha certain agencies over in C-Space would pay pretty good money t' know where them WMDs are an' who's got 'em." A small smile touches her mouth, "Prob'ly not easy money. But it would be good money an' it would get us a decent reputation right from the get go."

"We could, but we'd probably have to burn through a lot of contacts..." Yossin touched his fingers to his mouth in thought. "And it's the Batarians who are more likely to hire us, not C-Space."

Gorik nodded to the batarian's assessment.
"I think Yossin is right," he told Karina. "Those weapons are too dangerous, both physically and politically, for us to go near. I have a feeling we'll be seeing a fair few people armed with them around the Terminus before long, but I'd rather not get involved in the situation until AEGIS is back to full strength."

"I do appreciate the suggestion, though."

Kaleb raised his hand, unnecessarily, before speaking.

"There's also that bounty what was posted the otha day, for that one-eyed batarian fella. However, I would think our first priority once we get our forces togetha will be t' get 42 back."