Another day of paperwork, that proved to be the most stimulating part of his work as a Major. He sat down another neat stack of paperwork organized filled out and even in some cases sent back with feedback on corrections. The other Majors were upset with his progress, it’d be one thing if it was just his bureaucratic skills putting him ahead. He was top of his class in terms of battle prowess as well, there at this time wasn’t another Major capable of beating him in battle. With his recent talk with the General his position as a colonel was all but a formality at this point.  He wanted it to be obvious for anyone to see why, as a result he had taken up more requests from the guild as of late. He'd step out of his office lint roller in hand as he went over his usual magical black tuxedo, today his cloth stripe on his top hat was a light pink. He’d take his handkerchief and wipe his M symbol before heading up to one of the roofs of a building outside headquarters. He had spoken to the shop owner prior, he often used this roof as a launch pad to move through the top side of Era.

He wanted to check Seargent Adler’s cordon work; it was possible they had found their suspect finally. Ittindi had sent a positive report, but he was pretty sure Seargent Adler’s promotion was all on her own merit. As he approached their rendezvous location, he was spotted by one of the knights on duty. Ittindi would lunge quickly appearing right next to the man while dodging his sword swing.

”At ease private was probing to make sure you’re on guard. You’ve done your job greatly son continue to serve our people.”

With that he’d jump off the roof  of the restaurant where he had been spotted. He’d do a quick once over of his reflection through his peripherals as he approached the door. Besides his hair which was in its usual mess of style and the large cross shaped gun on his back, he looked the part of a prim and proper butler. As he walked in he received a couple salutes, which he would always return sharply while thanking whatever rank had issued it. He’d walk over to Seargent Adler and issue a quick salute before he’d start speaking.

” Greetings Seargent, congratulations on the promotion its well deserved. Are we ready to get started here?”

He’d look over at the large array of screens that Seargent Adler had open for the senior members here to discuss strategy. Ittindi had a new goal for today’s journey, he needed to see what kind of motivation Seargent Adler had for being a Rune Knight. Some liked productivity, others the power and some a sense of moral righteousness.  Ittindi hadn’t found which he found the most favorable for group work. Seargent Adler would be one of his first to study for future greatness beyond the first examination.

”Nothing to add lets move out, I’ll let you continue control of operation Seargent Adler nothing I could add here. Were you going to go out there yourself?”

Ittindi planned on going out to see the action, but he didn’t want to shame Seargent Adler if she preferred the desk, Ittindi sure did. He did, however, prefer being in the field if he was going to be out of a forward operating base, he hated desk duty in those situations. Realistically he just liked being at the most important job at his location, when in garrison the greatest impact is through paperwork and it’s the opposite when out in the field. Ittindi strived for efficiency.

He would have to resist the urge to shoot a rocket straight into the building as his own dramatic entrance.  It might lead to some of the criminals escaping, and Ittindi didn’t want o be responsible for that. There were already so many criminals in Era from the time when the Rune Knights were complicit or busy Ittindi never fully understood what was going on in that time. It was when he was a criminal, so he wasn’t overly concerned with the politics of the world.  

It was a shame that General Saturn wasn’t as ruthless as Ittindi had hoped. It’d be nice if they had the clearing to kill more criminals during the mission but only if the gun gives the ok had remained the rule for so long in the Rune Knights. Sometimes Ittindi wondered why they had to wait, he wondered how much happier he’d be if he had already fallen prey to the cycle. Instead they waited until one or two major criminals appeared from the lot and dealt with them. Like some giant breeding ground for the strongest fighter.

It’s to early in your immortality to be gloomy wait until the first millennium passes then come back to me.

WC: 319/825

Ittindi would nod at their shared philosophy on leadership, he wondered if Seargent Adler was from nobility. He’d have to ask her if they were ever on a longer assignment together. The idea of unleashing fiery hell from his newest weapon did appeal to Ittindi. He also hadn’t gotten to test out its more destructive capability in the field, relying on private tests in arenas instead. Though part of him wondered if she wanted him away from the mission for her own sanity. It mattered little to Ittindi since he could just interview anyone who was working with her while he was away.

”I don’t mind taking overwatch, I’ve been meaning to experiment more with this in the field.”

He would indicate his cross when he mentioned this, as he would see her mention a couple of good vantage points. Ittindi would move after every shot so he would need a couple spots to retreat too, better to start in Seargent Adler’s suggested spot in that case. He’d study the screen, before nodding to Seargent Adler that he was good.

The next couple of moments before the order never seemed to loose its tension, it’d was one of the few things that Ittindi enjoyed about field work. With Seargent Adler’s command to move out, Ittindi would follow behind the shielded warriors, until he was close to his roof. Then he would break off from the group climbing faster, but still aware of his need for stealth. Once on the roof Ittindi would scan his surroundings for retreat points, different firing angles among other things. Onde satisfied he wasn’t being watched he’d pull out his cross, then making as small as a profile as possible he’d get in the prone ready to use the rocket function at a moment’s notice.

It was the typical opening of a Rune Knight, escalation of force was an important concept that was skipped all too often. Ittindi had seen multiple crime lords let off for such reasons, the proper methods ensured a proper arrest. His eyes were sweeping all the exits he could find, as well as any major movements in front of windows. He knew that they would resist, criminals like this kind couldn’t help it. They only saw themselves as getting training in prison not punishment.

Ittindi would wait for an indication he could use his weapon from Seargent Adler, if none were received he’d continue his job of overwatch. Hoping that something interesting would appear before him to shoot, he had yet to die since being able to force an explosion. It wasn’t something he wanted to try Rune Knights or a city nearby.

WC: 442/1,267

A textbook case of criminals being stupid in the sight of superior firepower. The Rune Knights had the monopoly of violence for a reason, and Ittindi planned on enforcing it with maximum prejudice. Seargent Adler didn’t even seem to be fazed by the dangers of the field, firing her gun with precision at the aggressor. Moments after, more individuals started to appear from the building. As they gathered, Ittindi would smile privately for he knew what would come next. With one signal they’d all be burned, cleaned off the street, the first shell would be the strongest followed by a smaller secondary to make sure that any combatants that had decided to step outside were ready for hospitalization. Even from here Ittindi could feel the heat from the explosions and hoped that Seargent Adler enjoyed the sight of an explosive firearm.

Ittindi had managed to avoid using his magic for anything but the most serious situation. That and when he was training with others, thinking of his fellow destruction students that he was unlikely to run into while pursuing the goals of the Council. The explosion had been greater than he expected, he was sure that if the leader was out with the crowd he’d still be in fighting shape. Not to mention the others who were still probably hiding in the building waiting for the right opportunity that’d probably be soon with the screaming Ittindi had created.  

”Hmm, that thing packs more of a punch than I thought.  I’ll have to request a fire fighting squad with me in the future if I use in urban centers.”

His head would do one last quick glance around the building before he’d sling his cross back to his back. Ittindi didn’t stay in the same vantage point after firing, especially something as obvious as an explosive shell. He’d back up and get a running start jumping to a roof adjacent to his current building. He’d roll clearing it easier than he thought. Finding another angle, he’d get back in the prone and go back to overwatch, wondering what fun he’d get to have next.

Ittindi hoped that the main criminal would go for Seargent Adler to pad her record, but he didn’t mind taking care of it himself either. He’d see the glint of a magical item in one of the windows, and Ittindi would wait for visual identification. Sure enough, the criminal inside would move the blinds magical gun visible. Ittindi’s shot would ring across the night as the glass shattered, and the man’s weapon fell out the window, while the target seemed down.  Overall, the operation seemed to be going for the Rune Knights side.  It all felt to easy, which as a result Ittindi was scanning the windows doors even harder.

WC:463/1,730

Seargent Adler and her men took advantage of the chaos perfectly and more importantly precisely. He’d see them quickly dispatch the criminals; he still couldn’t shake that feeling of uncertainty. He knew that it didn’t pose any danger to him since his danger sense wasn’t going off. That was the worse part, when an enemy wasn’t doing anything to hurt him directly there was little he could do but wait. The law was sadly reactive, Ittindi didn’t think it was possible to have a true arbiter of justice capable of being proactive. As he watched the action unfold another door would burst open. Just like that their main prey was escaping, though Ittindi couldn’t let it end this way. He’d run down the building and push off it towards his car. There’d no shot he’d let this pursuit end this way, he’d let Seargent Adler handle finishing the paperwork up for another successful raid.

The best part of a raid was the paperwork really, telling a fantastic story in the standard triplicate was one of the few things Ittindi enjoyed about the Rune Knight. He was being gracious by letting Seargent Adler, someone he assumed was of a similar mind handle the paperwork.  He’d go handle keeping crime off the streets, though it would be hard to drive and shoot. Ittindi had done it before so he knew it was possible, as he turned the last corner his stoic demeanor would break as he laughed.

Sitting beside his car was Seargent Adler he hadn’t pegged her for someone competitive. That was alright, the Rune Knights could stand to gain more Knights who took their job serious besides to flex their muscles. Ittindi would keep jogging towards his car while he shouted at Seargent Adler.

”Driving or Shooting Seargent Adler?”

WC: 299/2,029