Shiah cursed and swore under her breath as the masses of prisoners -- now fellow soldiers, she realized -- pressed in around her during their pathetic march towards the showers and the armory. She had no qualms about nudity but there was something especially humiliating about being hosed down by an indifferent prison guard and Shiah whispered a few more curses through chattering teeth. She was about to regret her decision when she was finally presented with her gear.

The mere idea of having [i]possessions[/i] again was good enough to lift her spirits and she enthusiastically accepted all of it, especially the lascarbine. She'd handled weapons before but never anything more dangerous than a stub-pistol. Thrilled, she inspected the rifle as best she could while the line crept forward towards the hangar. It was evidently not anything close to new. The grip was worn, a thin film of rust coated the metal parts of the weapon and the magazine slot struggled to release the charge pack... but it was hers. "Shrike," she cooed at the weapon. "That's your name now. Shrike." The knives were also a welcome, and more familiar, addition. Shiah was good with knives.

She tried not to dwell on the bomb collar. 

Upon the legion's arrival to the hangar Shiah finally took the time to get dressed, snugly fitting the flak armor over her new jumpsuit, and stuffed the various pieces of equipment she'd been given into the webbing and pouches that the jumpsuit was covered in. After that she looked around her at her fellow conscripts and spotted several that stood with their backs straight and their eyes staring ahead. Ex-Guardsmen, she mused, that knew how to stand at attention. Shiah did her best to emulate their posture, clasping her hands behind her back and slowly inching her feet apart until they were just right. If she was going to be a soldier, she might as well make the effort. 

Next to her, a man squatted down, his weapons and gear clattering down onto the floor, clutching his stomach. Dribbles of vomit were visible on his chin. Shiah cast a sidelong glance at the poor wretch and raised an eyebrow. "Get up," she hissed at him. "Before the Arbites come here and beat your ass into the ground."