Elena Valeeria
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Elena Valeera sat leaned back and legs crossed in a nice blue velvet chair, one of the many... donations from the anonymous contributors to the cause, at a curved semi-circle table in the meeting tent. On one side of her sat the Spymaster Rei Meena Rowen, and no doubt somewhere in the background was one of her many underlings. It was a pure stroke of luck to find her, or rather, her find THEM. On her other side behind Elena stood the mysterious yet entirely reliable Tacitus. Although unsure with how to deal with him at first, in the past few months, he has become a welcomed and even comforting presence for Elena. With one hand holding the documents passed out by her Lieutenant and the other hand propping up her head, she regarded Oberon with a half-lidded look. Oberon... her Lieutenant, her Shadow... and her greatest friend spoke and summarized the information, courtesy of Rei, and the strategies they had been discussing for weeks now.
To the onlooker, she would appear disinterested or maybe even bored, but to those closest to her they knew that she was entirely concentrated on the matter at hand. She hung on Oberon's every word and regarded each fact with a careful deliberation. She flipped her gaze to the table, a very detailed and well-made map of Orina laid out before her. Many marks and pins already spread across it with many Zankor controlled points already marked. And counting.
"If there are questions, concerns, let them be said now."
Elena paused a moment and stood up.
"Well, I cannot speak for the others... but I have no objections." She slowly walked around the table towards the entrance of the tent.
"Now, I do believe our newly graduated troops are looking for a pep talk. I see no more reason to keep them waiting." She smiled as she opened the flap, but paused.
"Oh, Tacitus and Oberon, they might want to see their ruthless trainers as well..." Not seeing whether they followed or not, she turned and headed out.
Outside, a large group of one hundred and fifty men and women stood outside waiting. As soon as Elena walked outside, they snapped to attention. Ah, well trained indeed. She walked over to a small platform and stepped up on to it so they could all get a clear view as she spoke. Elena glanced over the group before letting the silence and anticipation wash over her. She fiddled with her steel plated bracers on her arm as she made eye contact with as many different individuals as she could. Taking a breath she began to speak.
"I want to start by saying thank you. Four months ago we revealed ourselves, stuck our flag in the ground, and took a stand for the first time in twenty years. You, each and every one of you, decided to believe in us, believe in the Cause. Freedom. For that, we are entirely grateful. After all, none of this would be possible without your faith and dedication. So, now, after several months of rigorous training you are ready. You, are ready to finally begin taking back what the Empire stole from us. You will be sent to secure supplies from a Zankor convoy, and, if all goes well, choke and secure the routes to halt the reinforcements from Zankor. It is critical we accomplish this, but we have the utmost faith you will succeed. So, go. Give the Empire ten fold what they gave us!"
The soldiers cheered and roared with excitement; their enthusiasm spreading throughout the camp as they dispersed. Elena folded her arms behind her back and smiled to herself. This was it. It was finally beginning.