Chapter 3

Sgt Em Vruth // Earthtown Checkpoint

Nerves…

Having served on the Guild of Watchers since his naming, Sgt. Em Vruth was no stranger to pre combat jitters, and as such he had become very good at hiding it. As one of the few lowborn officers assigned to earth town, it was just his luck that the minister knew him personally. He hated this job, too many risks, and if it wasn't a personal request from the minister he would have pawned it off on another. His small retinue of other lowborn (savages) all combat veterans in their own right, gave off a dangerous impression, And considering how close they were to the border of earth town, Sgt Vruth believed it absolutely necessary.

Earthtown sat in one of the Heartlands “Colony pods” huge can shaped mega structures that dot across the seas. Earthtown in particular had been built on one of the older models so while it glimmered with chrome and gold from a distance, once you got up close rust and wear hung heavy in this place. The humans took to it as much as any savage building their own city inside of the massive open floating space, and because of that hard concrete outcroppings and metal towers had been constructed like some jutting coral. On on the lower rim of the container sat the two massive orbital accelerator cannons, not weapons, like Vruth had originally suspected, but in house space ports, able to launch craft at escape velocity with near 80% accuracy, and fire they did whenever a transport left everyone on the Earthtown pod was warned to wear their “headphones” if you didn't well, a couple guildmates had to retire early because they didn't have headphones. Vruth knew looking down at the complex inner structure of Earthtown that each section held its own dangers, and adventures for those brave enough to delve inside. And he was about to bring a guildmaster here.

It wasn't that the humans were actively hostile… they were, but they were clever about it… normally. No, the real problem was the other lowborn. While most savages took decades or generations to learn all the ins and outs of Imperial Authority, humans had taken to it like a new breath, and immediately started abusing it. Somewhere in some documentation in imperial records is a law saying only highborn can own and represent business interests and private territory. So what do these clever primates do, go out and find lost and forgotten dregs of highborn society, addicts, failures, exiles, and criminals, then the humans bring them into Earthtown. Offer to raise them back to their “well deserved and noble heritage”, only if they do exactly what the savages say.

So these holders on of old forgotten bloodlines start having all their noble needs taken care of, but then they bring in their friends, cohorts, associates, even family in some cases. All as terrible as the high born but left without purpose stranded in earthtown with no way out. So they become violent and desperate, attacking watchers guild members to try and break out, kidnapping guild of law, or guild of scribe members to try and get some drug or funds. It was a nightmare, closer to a real warzone than a colony grid.

“Something wrong sir?” Tek Law his second in command for this operation had come up alongside him.

Reflexively pulling up and away from law in surprise, before rightening himself “yea, we've got the minister of the bloody Imperial Guild of Manors, asking to be delivered and escorted safely through earthtown on a “discreet” mission. Any way I choose to handle this it's bad.” replied Sgt. Vruth

“Can still wave off the shuttle sir, make some squawk about potential threats planning to attack the minister.” suggested Law

Law knew better than most of the other members of the guild of watchers how problematic dealing with humans could be, especially if incited into action, like when a ViP takes a tour through their little colony.

Taking a breath to steady himself before responding “sadly i doubt the minister would accept that, lets just say there is ample reason he's the minister, and it's not because he listened to caution.” The sgt didn't say the last part outloud but the implication was there.

“Roger that sir, well then, we will protect the minister with our lives, if we need too.” Law’s monotone response said far more than that statement.

“I know you'll make me proud today, but don't try getting killed, i'm already dealing with enough idiots.” Sgt Vruth said nodding to his friend.

A chafing like chuckle escaped the feline like maw of corporal Law “understood sir”

Vruth could hear the shuttle beginning its final descent, turning his sensory stalk back towards the landing pad, and he was partially taken aback. Whereas the minister had always preferred his own shuttle a gold and chrome Heavy assault Vehicle dropship, with mild customization, to increase speed and maneuverability, the shuttle the minister was taking this time looked little better than a lowborn transport shuttle, meant for small groups of lowborn to pile in together to get from place to place. Its once dark metal outline edged by a solid layer of rust, and its thrusters sputtered with strain as the older parts of the machine struggled against the obvious stress of use. As its landing gear extended to catch the shuttle, it landed with the gears creaking under the weight of the craft. The thrusters began too spool down and the sound of the stormlike rainfall, and the music from Earthtown began to return to normal levels. A large sideways tracked door rolled off with a squeak, and out stepped a titan presence. Vruth stood in shock looking up at the figure laced in gold plated armor, he knew this knight, only by reputation but he knew him. Primus Mag Te Zol Captain of the Guild of Honors, Slayer of the Hwangbue Leviathan, Champion of the Arena of Honor. Despite his training, Vruth felt himself quivering in fear, just for a moment, his mind plagued with the thought what kind of monster had his uncle brought for an errand!?

Stepping out from the shuttle, the Primus, took a step and a half forward before scanning the large border wall behind the Sgt, and company. Taking it all in, then turning and acknowledging those still on the shuttle for them to disembark. Next off was Minister Cluse, shifted out in his ancestral armor. Seeing his batch uncle disembark reminded Sgt. Vruth that he had a job to do with a level of professionalism to present. This didn't do him any immediate favors however as he realized that his Djikit had nearly been exuding raw fear for the past several seconds.

Straightening himself in his combat armor and standing at ready attention he began to move up the shuttle ramp to greet the minister, when the other two passengers disembarked. Two females, probably his scribe servant and possibly a translator, nothing too unregular except for their staggeringly beautiful djikit that seemed to almost dance around them. This time however while he did take note, he was not distracted by such things as he now stood before the golden behemoth primus.

“Welcome Minister Cluse, i take it your shuttle ride was pleasant and swift, Hail lord Primus of the guild of honors, may Vu’s grace be bestowed on you this day.” the high greeting strained his djikit as he presented it unto the guests.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

“Ah my nephew, it is good to see you still in fortunate health.” replied the minister, nothing came from the primus Vruth noted.

“Thank you uncle” came the reply.

“So this is to be our escort then? They seem a little unsure of themselves.” the minister chided before Vruth turned to face his squad. As he noted the straightening of backs and the sudden return to control over their djikit, Vruth felt slightly better knowing he wasn't the only one who was staring this time.

“They are ministers, and while they may seem unsure they are all veterans of the watch, and will serve with honor and pride.” replied Sgt. Vruth.

Turning back to the landing party “Minister, I need to have a private and short conversation with you for a moment, then we can begin our journey.”

The minister nodded and followed Vruth some 50 feet off the main landing pad as the squad formed up and escorted the other three inside the checkpoint itself.

“What are you doing with Primus Zol, uncle? This job went from a simple escort to a potential shitstorm in under a second.”

“Mind your tone, I'm still a minister, and besides I didn't see the harm in bringing along extra security.” his uncle shifted his form under his armor to raise himself physically above Vruth.

“I'm sure but you didnt ask me if it would, ya know the expert on Earthtown. Look, Earthtown has two threats, and they will almost never work together… i was prepared for the type of threat that was likely when a high born wanted to come into earthtown and take a quick look around…DISCREETLY'' Vruth raised himself as well with great effort as his Djikit was nowhere near a high born, and as he did his voice also raised to match making him sound almost manic.

“Instead, as it turns out, my uncle's DISCREET visit came with its own hulking tower of gold, and if that wasn't bad enough you still haven't even told me where to go, or allow me to inform my supervisor so we can have air support. this job just became so much more dangerous we might as well be walking into a Hwangbue outpost, we'd definitely have better odds of getting out of there alive.”

His uncle for his credit let him finish his thought and let a pregnant pause sit between them before continuing “first dramatics don't work on me you know that, so don't bother getting worked up for effect. second the primus’s presence is non negotiable, and no you can't ask why. Third, in all honesty I'm not sure where we are going.”

“What, how do you now know?” vruth was exceptionally confused; he had never seen his uncle without an answer or a contact ready to go… then again he was trying to deal with humans.

“Well, to put it simply, I have an issue I need to handle discreetly, and when asking my allies about how to handle it these new savages came highly recommended.”

“Can you tell me about the issue then? Atleast to help me figure out why you would be sent here?!?” Vruths mind was like an electrode throbbing different ideas into his stream of conscious

Drugs, probably not, murder, maybe but uncle had other friends for that. theft, possible but vruth couldnt think of anyone dumb enough to steal from the guildmaster of Manors, to make an enemy of every planet governor yea not likely. Illegitimate children or illegitimate coupling was the most likely options in vruths mind before being pulled back by his uncles stern but steady

“No you can't ask about the issue, not in detail anyways. I need a spaceflight species to handle a problem and it can't be by anyone who would recognise me, or worse proposition me.`` In Vruths mind this confirmed some kind of illegitimate love issue.

Letting himself lower back down till his body hung just above the landing pad, “alright uncle ill help you, and i have an idea of what you may need, that said i need to be in command for this “tour”, things work differently in Earthtown than in other savage colonies”

“Oh i'm so intrigued, but you will need to work out the chain of command with the primus, not with me” same monotone controlled response Vruth swore if it wasn't for his uncle’s Qwoo constantly pounding he would swear he was talking to an automaton.

Leading back towards the small checkpoint office with his uncle Vruth crossed the rain covered landing platform and waved above the ocul scanner its round bulbous form rotating inside its golden scabbard to scan him as he approached. “Authorization for Sgt. Vruth and one additional guest labeled anonymous, code…” before continuing in his given high speech id number.

Stepping inside he could see the already small space exceptionally cramped as a titanic gold crustacean like figure sat in a corner as best he could, his 4 soldiers standing at attention around the room, while Law was trying to run down security protocol for the servant girls.

Stepping up before the hulking golden figure, Vruth cleared his Qwoo of some phlegm, before expanding his djikit as best he could “Primus, i need a moment of your time before we depart.” Vruth spoke like one of his drill Sgt.s from back when he was in the Guilds Training regime. Respectful but forceful; however The hulking figure was either so well trained his Djikit was non-existent or he simply didn’t care, so Vruth continued.

“I need to know your priorities on this mission, and i need to know you will be willing to be under my command, at least until we leave Earthtown” Vruth didn't need highborn detection to know that all sensory stalks, eyes and djikits in the room had turned and focused on the conversation between the lowborn sgt and the massive form before him.

The pyramid-like helmet located in the middle of the crustaceans shell turned to examine the lowborn who had dared to speak. “My priorities? They are simple, kill any threats, and safeguard the… minister and company.”the way he spoke made it seem like low speech was a struggle for him, as he butchered and slurred nearly every word, but still the menace emanating from his djikit made it all too clear.

Vruths terrified mind wanted him to scream, lash out, cause a distraction and bolt for the door. Instead what came out of his mouth surprised even him “oh that's great and when you butcher 30% of Earthtown because you don't understand a custom or what a sign says, how are you going to protect the minister then?the whole room was dead silent, Vruth thought even the rain outside had held its breath and stopped falling. Well if the primus was going to kill him, he might as well try to make a convincing argument not too

“ From the fallout of all his enemies seeking to take his position will point to you and your actions on these “poor” savages. This is a warzone in a peaceful world, and underestimating it will only get them or my people killed.” Vruth Coiled around his Djikit Drenched in memories

“Humans are clever and treacherous, and none of them like being like any other human as you'll see down there. One might drop a building on you just to steal your armor. While some Females might try to proposition you for “fun times”. The minister or the maidens may be taken hostage to try and buy something, or people may try to shoot at the minister merely for sport to say they have done it.” Vruth started to raise himself again as he flashed back to other “visits” from nobles whose trips were cut short.

“ And what happens then you just kill everything? Great, how about the school group of children or the elderly human serving food to them too great all dead. Caught in the crossfire on Guild Watch, meaning we failed to protect our charges. Think anything useful comes from slaughter?” his djikit began to match the cold menace of the primuses not by choice but because he had done all of that and then some, and it horrified him. He could feel the darkness of his heart start to reach out and try to take him, in that moment right before he lost himself, he felt a soothing tide wash over him. Its warmth swept his mind up and hugged it back down, giving it just enough control to realize what was about to happen.

Vruth took a pause and let himself descend, calming himself internally before continuing. “I'm not saying any of this will happen im saying a knight is out of place in this world and if you don’t have someone like me someone able to warn you, and who knows what to warn you about, you'll either be made a monster or be made a victim so i ask you again please willingly follow under my command until we leave.”

The Primus’s Djikit had finally shifted to one of respect as he nodded towards the Sgt. “very well if you attempt any betrayal or attempt to harm the minister or his company in any way this invalidates this oath.” Vruth nods in acceptance of the old ways

“Alright then, let's go over the rules of Earthtown.” began Vruth