<div class="floatright">(http://imageshack.us/a/img689/930/7a7e1932c1c8bc0987e1c1f.jpg)</div><br/>Although a number of people seemed surprise by Loran's announcement, Steel Orchid took it in stride.  There never did seem to be enough hours in the day to handle everything.  "Looks like some of you just got upgraded to proper Sunburners!" she called out to the troops, spinning on a heel to address them properly.  "Go home, rest up, and say goodbye to your loved ones.  Tomorrow you show me you're worthy of everything you've been going through!"<br/><br/>As her message was repeated back through the crowd, then matched with the resounding echo of thousands of gauntlets striking chest armor, she looked to her advisers.  "We'll keep scales Ba, De, Ka, and Cha through Chu here to maintain peace and order."  Each of them was strongly dedicated, even if their actual courage was somewhat lacking, and would be more than capable of handling the double shifts while the others got ready for battle.  "Mi is still devastated from their rout; we'll give them one battle as relays before reinstating them.  All the ones who fled are already dead anyway."<br/><br/>"But, General," one of the new colonels, Rising Mountain, spoke up.  Steel Orchid went silent as she faced him.  Having his attention suddenly upon her brought a degree of trepidation to his tone, but she waited patiently to hear what he had to say.  "Talon Ha still isn't ready yet.  The original Ha was completely destroyed and this group only started less than a month ago."<br/><br/>"We'll be putting them close to the rear," she replied.  "They need to see firsthand what we're up against on a regular basis.  It's auspicious when a new talon gets to see combat so early; it shows them that all the glory and honor they've heard about is matched with an equal amount of ruthlessness and carnage.  I need to know who can and can't stand their ground."<br/><br/>He paused and nodded, and she let the corners of her mouth curl up just a little.  It was all she usually showed in public.  "Good thinking, though: I might not have heard you about Talon Ha.  I need more officers who can think and question," she said, but her expression instantly hardened once more to make her point, "during rest periods and off the battlefield.  Understood?"  He saluted as well, and she left it at that.<br/><br/>It was good to hear about Kage being found.  No doubt they would meet up again soon, on the battlefield.  For now, Steel Orchid would catch up on what rest she could.