The War Room of the Howling Griffons Strike Cruiser Firefell

  Captain Jeanne DeClisson stood staring out the viewport as she waited for the Officers of the Howling Griffons aboard to arrive. Senior Astropath Louis-Antoine DeBougainville, stood near her resting on his staff. Captain DeClisson was trying to ignore the pompous chattering of Baroness Joan Talbot, Regimental Commander of the 1st Shrewsbury of Dennar IV. Captain DeClisson's ire towards Baroness Talbot was hardly contained.  Sister-Chatelain Zanne Borel, the Order Famulous from the Order of the Veiled Mantle, sat at the table reviewing the dataslate information in front of her. 

   Senior Astropath DeBougainville, has served the Firefell, for just as long as Captain DeClisson. As one of the Junior Astropath DeBougainville she worked her way up beside Captain DeClisson. During a Fleet battle then 2nd Lieutenant DeClisson, was help the human crew of damage area, including Astropath DeBougainville, a beam fell and crushed DeClisson's leg. Since then DeBougainville felt he had a life debt to DeClisson and as they both were from Mancora this was a serious thing. They earned each others trust and would  gain and use life debts with each other time and time again. As DeClisson progressed through the ranks, DeBougainville did too. Their friendship also blossomed. When DeClisson was promoted to Captain of the Firefell, she ensured that DeBougainville, was part of her crew. With their exceptional skills 1st Company Captain Barrau De Sescas, Regent of Mancora took notice. He requested the Firefell to be assigned as the 1st Company's Strike Cruiser. That was 25 Terran standard years ago, half of her life. 

  Twenty standard years ago, former Chapter Master Alvaro along with representatives from the Inquisition, Eccleisarchy, and Adeptus Administration, started assigning Sisters from the Order Famulous, aboard the Strike Cruisers to serve as Diplomats and advisors.  Order of the Veiled Mantle was up to the task and Sister-Chatelains were assigned to the different ships in the Howling Griffons fleet. Sister-Chatelain Zanne Borel was assigned to the Firefell. Like DeBougainville and DeClisson, Sister-Chatelain Borel, did not speak, unless it was necessary or part of her Diplomatic duties.  She was often seen with her nose buried in dataslates.  When she did talk it was crucial that all listened. DeClisson respected her, even though Sister-Chatelain Borel was part of the Ecclesiarchy and a non militant member of the Adepta Sororitas, she was not as "Preachy" as some of the Missionaries, Confessors, Priests, and the Militant Orders of the Adepta Sororitas, DeClisson had dealt with. DeClisson would not consider Sister-Chatelain Borel a friend but she trusted her as one. Which was super rare for DeClisson to trust someone not from Mancora. 

   Ten standard years ago, Baroness Joan Talbot, Regimental Commander of the 1st Shrewsbury of Dennar IV and her forces were assigned to the Howling Griffons. Dennar IV is an aspirant world and since the Dennar IV Suppression, the individuals that did not meet the requirements for being an aspirant, began raising an Astra Militarum force, the 1st Shrewsbury, after the largest City-State full of refuges rescued by the 3rd Company Howling Griffons. Baroness Talbot, daughter of Duke Talbot, choose to join the forming Astra Militarum. Baroness Talbot lived a life of wealth and privilege. She was used to having people hang on her every word and being the center of attention. She is not a military commander,  like Catachan  II  Regimental Colonel "Iron Hand" Straken,  Tallarn Desert Raiders 3rd Regiment "Desert Tigers" Captain Al'rahem or even Colonel-Commissar Ibram Gaunt of the Tanith 1st Regiment. The 1st Shrewsbury is not a hardened Veteran Regiment like the others and is still in there infancy. 1st Shrewbury is commonly used as "Rear Echelon" forces. The 1st Shrewbury Regiment is spread out among the Howling Griffons Companies on deployment and Baroness Talbot bounces between different the Warzones. Currently Baroness Talbot is with the elements assigned to Firefell and the 1st Company.

  "Please be quite, Baroness. Your voice is so shrill when you discuss your victories and battles. We have heard your stories many, many times. I grow so weary of  your tales of glory and self satisfying nature. We are here serving the Howling Griffons Chapter and by extension the work of the God-Emperor of Mankind. I think you have forgotten you purpose here," calmly said Sister-Chatelain Borel without looking up from her dataslates. 

  "Well, I never," gasped Baroness Talbot.

   "You never what, Baroness. Shall I remind you that your entire regiment has fraction of the power that is aboard the Firefell. A fraction. You number in the 10's of thousands. There are less than 100 of the Emperor's finest warriors on the Strike Cruiser, yet you boast how well your regiment fights to 3 individuals that have served the Howling Griffons Chapter longer than you by almost double.  You will behave, Baroness, in front of the Officers of the Howling Griffons Chapter of the Adeptus Astartes, you are attached to.  As the Howling Griffons Fleet Commodore, I can will have your Regiment sent back to Dennar IV, in disgrace," said the Holographic Image of Howling Griffons Fleet Commodore Nelson Horatio that appeared without warning. 

   "Greetings Commodore Horatio," commented Captain DeClisson as she saluted with her hands making the sign of the Aquila against her chest. 

  "Greetings, to you as well, Captain, Astropath DeBougainville, and Sister-Chatelain Borel," said Commodore Horatio returning her salute.

  "As you all are clearance level 5 or above, we can continue before the Officers of the Howling Griffons Chapter are present," continued Commodore Horatio.

The Sparing Chambers of Howling Griffon's Strike Cruiser Firefell

  1st Company Captain Barrau De Sescas, the Regent of Mancora, was dressed in the red and yellow quarter training tunic with the black Howling Griffons logo, brazen on his chest. De Sescas had a wooden sparing sword in his hand, an ax in the other. Sweat was running down his brow into his long white beard, drenching it. De Sescas was two hours in to his two and half hour training session. The muscles in left shoulder were tight and he knew stiffness was part of the healing process, according to Apothecary Sharl Winchester. He rotated the shoulder of his sword arm to loosen the muscle cluster. Three training servitors, were facing him. De Sescas destroyed many training servitors over the past few hours, including one that was speared into the training cage barrier.  Apothecary Winchester was standing outside the cage monitoring Captain De Sescas' vitals on his handheld devices.  Winchester was wearing a white tunic with the Howling Griffon logo on red and yellow quarter pattern on his chest and the double helix below the that. Next to him stood Chaplain Rais Gilles, in all black full terminator plate, the green eyes glowing behind his skull helm. His arms crossed in front of him, he watched his Captain prepare for the next round. 

  "Well," asked Gilles.

  "All signs are normal. The muscle stiffness is part of the healing process," responded Winchester.

  "You know I can hear you both. And yes I feel good, and the shoulder is stiff. Rais, are you ready,,"  commented De Sescas.

  " Of course 1st Captain. The Scout team will deploy shortly with Sister-Chatelain Borel. She will pass on the information, about the ground assets to them and they will make contact with them.