RESIDENTS MEETING
Dining Room
"Excellent question, Ms A'delvi," Neste nodded. "We'll need fluidity between branches in order for this to work. We simply do not have enough people to go 'round. That is why we've included specialists on teams. I've cover this in detail momentarily.
It was Klaus that addressed Amanda's question. Face pinched in stern expression, he surveyed the room with an imperial air. "Ms Bela, I know people are not familiar with military practices or with my methods. Those unfamiliar with my methods are in for a great, big fuckin' surprise! For those of you who do, you can expect an infinitely more horrible time than they can remember! Any man here who steps out of line - I will kill stone dead. It will not worry me in the slightest!"
Neste's ears nearly shot off her skull in shock as she rounded on the war god. A wide smile had replaced the sour expression however, and his warm laughter disarmed her.
"I'm sorry," he rubbed a tear from the folds under his eye. I have always wanted to use that line from The Wild Geese. Good movie, you know." Klaus sighed and mentally crossed the task from his bucket list before offering a more-kindly expression to Amanda. "Alright, joking aside, please accept my apologies if I startled you with my nonsense."
He stood once more to address the room. "Perhaps a bit of my history would be beneficial after all? Yes, I am a war god. No, I am not a tyrant. My pantheon cast its avatars onto the earth long ago. I set foot in the materium shortly before the forging of the Taetel peoples. Pre-Roman Iron Age. I stayed with them throughout the ages, though my legend does not intrude upon the Teutonic gods - it wasn't my place to usurp their pantheon. I was one of the Four Brothers - warriors that came when most needed, and departed after the battle."
He scratched his nose. Too much history to cover, and too many stories. "I don't subscribe to modern military approach. I do not believe in breaking men down to build them up as a cohesive unit. However, we do need to find cohesion with our varied fighting styles. We do need to learn a common vernacular. We must put ourselves in situations where we learn to trust each other. There will be dirt involved, and sweat. I'll also use this to gauge the effectiveness of each individual, correcting improper techniques that have the potential to compromise an entire team. We see these techniques most in lone wolf fighters - those that have never had to rely upon anyone else."
His shoulders rose and fell. "We also have people accustomed to leading massive forces on a battlefield. We don't have massive forces. We have four- or five-person covert teams. The techniques are different because the objective isn't the same. We have people that have never been in battle. Their only references are movies, video games, or books. These people tend to die because they were not prepared for the reality of the work. Basic will allow people to learn how to defend themselves, yes, and how to fight. But it will also retrain those veterans that have never done covert operations."
A quick glance at Neste confirmed her worry that people didn't understand the premise itself. "Covert," he repeated gently. "Navy SEALS conduct covert operations so people's minds jump to that as a means to define it. Covert operations are simply an operation that is so planned and executed as to conceal the identity of or permit plausible denial by the sponsor. A team may need to disguise themselves as physicians or nursing staff in order to slip into a hospital. Teams may be sent back in time to prevent an agent from altering a dimension's time line. Our people will need to adapt, improvise, and overcome. That is why our specialists can be non-combatants. Our identities must remain unknown. If discovered, we must not reveal Demens' operation lest we jeopardize other teams or the purpose behind these missions."
He glanced at Insidious, recalling a footnote he had managed to leave off his earlier speech.
"We are not asked to worship Demens as a god. He is not a god. He is a Greater Being, an entity that dwells outside the cup. Demens does not rely upon a followership to empower him. He expects us to retain our respect for our individual pantheons. He is pleased that our faith - for those of us that ascribe to a pantheon - that our faith bolsters our resolve and enriches our lives." It was a summary only. Klaus didn't have the time to outline the hierarchy. Perhaps later, he thought to himself, and for those most curious about it. "Demens does work with the Greater Beings responsible for the gods of most of your pantheons. That is, in part, why many of you are here. Azathoth, the Greater Being of the pantheon Insidious swears her loyalty to, slumbers. Out of kinship for a fellow Chaotic Greater Being, Demens supports and respects her. Elohim, the Greater Being of the Abrahamic faiths, is a Creator Greater Being, as is Pearlelei. An alliance exists between Demens and each of them. And so Giovenith is here, and our Christian, Muslim, and Jewish Residents are welcomed among us. Demens Chosen are but one faction in a greater Body which serves him. And other Greater Beings like him have their own Bodies which serve them. All work together to restore balance and keep the Devourers - also Greater Beings - in check."
Neste raised a brow. "And the atheists?"
"There aren't any atheists in foxholes, but there are plenty here in Demens Chosen. I've never quite understood it. But I respect their choice to disbelieve in gods and Greater Beings. It's not my place to meddle, is it?"
"We need a chaplain corps," the Overseer hummed to herself.
"We need more brandy, as my brother, Fritz, would say," Klaus' eyes twinkled. "But I'm only prolonging this meeting with my rambling."
