<div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote"><a href="https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=104145.msg4657322#msg4657322">Quote from: Christopher28 on 17-05-2011, 21:14:51</a></div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">Only the Rogue Trader could give Darius what he truly wanted, however, so Darius sought out Cortez in his office.  "Sir...."  The burly marine was hesitant, but the desire behind his request shown through.  "Sir, I was going through the promotion list, and I notice you still haven't replaced the old Master of Ordinance for the Kobras Aquairre yet.  I know you haven't known me long, or had much experience with my abilities, but I'm a gunner born and bred, sir.  I've got a knack for shooting... I always have.  Could you consider me for the position?  I won't let you down sir, I promise you."  He put his arm across his chest as he swore, then saluted.  "Thank you for your time, Rogue Trader."</blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div>After half a minute had passed without comment, Darius blinked, then peered at the back of Cortez's luxurious chair to the hat, he now realized was perched on top of it, minus a head.  The ex-marine sighed.  The Rogue Trader hadn't even been there to hear his request!  Where was he, anyway?  Retreating for the moment, Darius went back to his new quarters, wondering a little at how much he had been taking for granted.  He had asked Cortez's permission to train up the squad of five he had led on Attica station, and then taken the man's silence for assent.  He had used what growing pull he had in the ship to get them better quarters, a room near his, in fact, and better rations, and had bullied and intimidated a requisition officer into giving him the equipment to better outfit them... but surely Cortez was aware, wasn't he?<br/><br/>Nervously, Darius returned to his quarters, unsure if his newfound authority was anything more than presumption and intimidation on his part.  He had acted like he had the Rogue Trader's ear... he had gone so far as to effectively promote a squad of armsmen into an elite unit, and, granted, he was doing his best to justify it by giving them the benefit of his training, but he was starting to worry that he had overstepped his bounds.<br/><br/>Darius shook his head.  "And we shall know no fear..."  He said quietly, uttering for the thousanth time one of the Ultramarine's most basic oaths.  Renergized, he headed over to his squad's new barracks, determined to give them a second training session today.  They would probably still be a bit tired from all the physical training he was having them do, but it would be a perfect time to drill them on maintaining their new boltguns, followed by some live fire practice down on the range.  If there was anything he knew better than anyone else, it was bolters, and by Macrage, he'd instill his men with some of his knowledge!<br/><br/>Darius set out, determined to turn the simple armsmen he had picked, mostly by chance, into a tool that the Rogue Trader would find useful.