Trial by fire [flashback RP; 2141]

desolas-arterius:

His chest vibrated in soft laughter, muscles relaxing a bit as he talked to Victus, glad that their differing ranks did not seem to stop them from being friends. 

“I’ve plenty to be nervous about. This may be your first time in the field, but we’re just taking going to shoot some bugs. I have to demonstrate that I can actually lead.” Something that could actually prove difficult on a mission like this. There wasn’t really anything he needed to lead. But it would have to do. It was only for a low-level leading position, after all, not like he was about to lead a platoon… just his own little squad. More than enough for now. “Hm, I’ll see. Maybe I’ll advance even faster on purpose so that you’ll get off your ass to follow me.”

"You talk like you could fly this ship. I can fly a fighter but this thing? I’ll have to agree with you. I’d probably manage to crash it somehow before even taking control”, he noted with a light chuckle, letting his arms drop to his sides as he started to make his way towards the armory. “Come now, then. We’ll check the weapons one last time.”

[——]

Checking up on weapons and armour couldn’t have possibly prepared them for what had waited planet-side. Not for the destruction some bugs seemed to be capable of. 

“Careful, private”, Desolas’ voice echoed through the comm as he gave a signal to one of the young turians in his squad, motioning him to stay put. All of them just kept on wanting to charge in, and they hadn’t even reached the colony yet. What a mess.

Adrien hummed in amusement, hooded with a lazy cunning that usually indicated he was going to say something biting. “Worried you won’t get to lead? I wouldn’t be. You do remember how bossy you were to us recruits during our training exercises in the Aspera mountains? ‘Cause I certainly do.” He wasn’t about to betray his tease with any as obscene as a wink — his mocking tone was light and obvious.

The private threw up his arms in defense, talons splayed innocently. “I never was about to claim I could be a pilot, only that you were sure to send us careening into our fiery doom. I know my limits.” He added with a touch of exaggerated, theatricl ego. “You’ll kill us all someday, Des. I, on the other hand, will be hailed as nothing short of savior of the turian race!” And at this he did laugh aloud — laugh at the absurdity of such a notion, that they should ever be enemies or that he should ever gain so lofty a position.

He followed the lieutenant with a lighter heart; reassured of the lasting bonds of their friendship and renewed confidence in the mission ahead.

-x-

Spirits. He nearly vocalized his thoughts in a pious whisper, but Desolas’ commands buzzing through the comm in his helmet served as a fair reminder that he would not go unheard. How had it all gone to hell, and so quickly? For his part, the young Arterius had rallied his squad and bridled them with his orders, keeping them from charging recklessly — suicidally — at the hostile arthropods, even as his own claw longed to hook itself around the trigger. He had a sense of movement as they all hid in cover, a barely-audible insectile chittering…from the wrong direction. He wheeled, but held his fire. “Sir,” he hissed into the comm, “they’ve flanked us!”

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