Harkim didn't know how he always ended up in these sorts of situations, but there it was.<br/>Standing next to him at a towering eight and a half feet tall, was one of<i>them</i>.<br/>From head his angular deathmask down to his heavy boots, the Immortal stood, quietly. Serenely and utterly unnerving before Admiral Hawkins.<br/>Harkim could tell that the Old Man was just as intimated as he was before the stoic power-armored soldier. A veritable walking fortress of inky durasteel.<br/>Walter felt himself gulp unconsciously under his collar as he took his position just opposite this comrade at the CAC table, flanking the Admiral by just a few feet.<br/><br/>The Admiral looked up at the giant before him, approaching cautiously, but still offering the courtesy of a formal meeting.<br/>He saluted the Immortal, which looked down on him ponderously for a moment, as if perplexed by a rather quaint jesture before returning the salute. Albeit a slow and rather ungracious one.<br/><br/>"Welcome aboard the Flagship, sir." Hawkins clicked promptly in the pomp of acknowledging a superior.<br/>"Thank you, Admiral." the man behind the suit drolled, his voice deep and mechanized. "But formalities are not a necessity."<br/>Harkim felt a chill run up his spine at these words, and from the way the Admiral suddenly tensed, he probably did too.<br/><br/>Immortals were the Elite Guard. The Emperor's finest. They only ever left the Imperator for two reasons: for suicide missions, and to execute disloyal officers.<br/>And the former didn't happen that much.<br/><br/>Hawkins broke the silence,<br/>"Then, may I ask what is your purpose here, sir?"<br/>The Immortal flexed his massive shoulders, his posture becoming slightly more aggresive.<br/>"I am here as the Emperor's personal representative to oversee the mission and insure Imperial interests are being served."<br/><br/>Harkim wasn't exactly sure what  meant by that but he understood that stance well enough.<br/>And evidentally, so did Hawkins, for he did not press the issue further.<br/>"Very well, sir. I shall have some accommodations arranged for your stay. Before you go, sir, I did have one question."<br/><br/>"Oh?"<br/>"Yes, sir. Your name, it wasn't listed on the manifest."<br/><br/>The Immortal shook his head adamantly, the sound of gears and servos whirring beneath his neck.<br/>"No need for one. My rank is Captain. That will be sufficient."<br/>Hawkins looked a bit off but nodded and saluted.<br/>"Aye sir."<br/><br/>With that, the towering soldier stalked off. Eliciting several stares as he went.<br/><br/>Hawkins looked down at the ground, with a soft sigh of relief.<div class="messageTextEndMarker"> </div>