Matthaus stood in the shade off a side archway as the servants and enlisted busied themselves and impatiently tugged at his collar. The blue wool jacket of his dress uniform had damn well fit him better when he was a softer recruit fresh from the Academy. Still the Captain cut a fine figure in his 5th Cavalry uniform even if it had been sized for the softer man he had been when he arrived in Aiijan six years ago. His boots were highly polished, and the brass buttons of an officer were meticulously aligned and gleamed as the soldier fidgeted in frustration.<br/><br/><strong>"I cannot wait to get this off,"</strong>he grumbled under his breath adjusting the angle of  his pith helmet. Years spent in the back country had forged him like a fine blade, and this sudden summons to H.Q. by the Colonel had been an unwelcome distraction from the recent troubles. The damnable wool uniforms were not designed with the climate of Aiijan in mind, and it had already started to matt his long brown hair with sweat under the helmet. It entirely had placed him into a foul mood. He greatly prefered the native Elvanti cotton garments to his uniform. With a tug Matthaus aligned the embroidered rune of the SNC on his blue armbands before he marched confidently onto the parade grounds to direct the muster as the first bell tolled noon.<br/><br/><em>'The sooner this folly is done and over with the sooner me and the lads can get back to business.'</em>His boots clicked on the cobblestones as he walked barking the occasional order with the casual confidence of his authority. Once the Colonel arrived it would not be to a bunch of roustabouts in an undisciplined display. Not if Matthaus Lawson had anything to say in the matter anyway.<br/><br/><strong>"SNC 3rd Scout company, fall in!"</strong>