[center][color=8dc73f]Ruben Verislav[/color]
[color=8dc73f]Level[/color]: 1
[color=8dc73f]Day/Time[/color]: Day Three - Evening
[color=8dc73f]Location[/color]: Forest of Skyrim
[color=8dc73f]Tag[/color]: [@Holy Soldier][@Lugubrious][@Zarkun][@DracoLunaris]
[color=8dc73f]Word Count[/color]: 817
[/center]

Ruben kept a bead on the enemy force as they retreated, letting off a final volley as they scattered. His rifle, while powerful, was woefully inaccurate at range, and at best he may have clipped one of them in the arm. Satisfied with two confirmed kills, he removed the magazine from his rifle and slid it into an empty slot on his belt. It still contained enough cartridges for two more bursts. He made a mental note as he slipped a fresh mag from another slot and slammed it into the magazine well with a satisfying click. He tugged the bottom, ensuring that the magazine was locked in place, and lowered the weapon to his side. He observed the other soldiers collect weapons from the enemy and realized that the weapons were not unlike those wielded by Sectoids he had encountered on Earth. Dr. Vahlen had requested collecting alien corpses and weapons for research to help give the planet an advantage. As far as he knew, XCOM hadn't developed any laser or plasma-based weaponry. 

He looked at the Boss for approval, but decided that Vahlen took precedent. It may be a different world, but ultimately his allegiance would be to the XCOM initiative. If they hadn't transferred him, he wouldn't be here in the first place. If he didn't act soon, the others would claim all of the weapons and he wouldn't have access to anything. Besides, the Boss appeared to be in an argument with someone else. Wordlessly, he stepped away from the group and laid hands on the first laser rifle he could find. It was intact, unlike the weapons used by Sectoids that disintegrated on death. A complete rifle would be extremely valuable. Ignoring any complaints or protests from the locals, he flipped it over his shoulder and locked it onto his back. He would have to be content to carry his rifle in hand from here. 

As he returned to the party, a thunder echoed over the landscape, shaking the ground. Ruben spread his feet and gripped his rifle, maintaining his balance and preparing for some kind of retaliatory attack. At this point, he didn't know what to expect. Fortunately, the event was explained by the leader of the other soldiers, whom Ruben had now concluded was the aforementioned Ulfric Stormcloak. Some form of supernatural shout made by "The Greybeards," apparently. They were calling for someone, though Ulfric did not know who and Ruben hadn't made out any names. The Boss was, fortunately, totally against the idea. He was right. This had nothing at all to do with the mission. Unfortunately, the rest of the party did not agree. Azura was the first to speak, and Ruben again thanked his training for helping him keep his mouth shut. He was thoroughly annoyed with her by now. She actively disobeyed orders (if they were even orders), she tried to surrender to an aggressive force, and she hid in the snow while the others returned fire. Now she was in favor of dispatching a member of the Crew to go somewhere and talk to someone about something. 

Vent followed by volunteering himself and Piper volunteered Azura. There was a moment of silence as he realized the party was waiting for his input. For once, just once, he was going to offer an opinion, since they wanted one so bad and the Boss hadn't told them to stand down. He lifted the rifle and rested the barrel casually on his shoulder.

"[color=8dc73f]Allow me to summarize[/color]," he said, loudly enough for everyone present to hear him clearly. "[color=8dc73f]For anyone unfamiliar, we have been sent on a mission to investigate the situation, find out what happened in Markarth, and figure out what the steel gods were searching for. We were also told to meet a man named Ulfric Stormcloak and his militia.[/color]

"[color=8dc73f]We were not briefed of Greybeards, High Rothgar, or any secondary missions or objectives. There are only four of us, and as the previous engagement has made clear, we are outnumbered and outgunned, and even then only three of the four returned fire. The remainder of you have, in light of this, suggested reducing the size of our party by sending one member to an unknown location to communicate with unknown individuals who speak an unknown language about an undisclosed subject. If my experience with the XCOM initiative has taught me anything, it is that you fight together. You do not split up, and you do not dispute with authority. Our party has been placed under the authority of the Boss and he has made it clear that this is irrelevant to the mission. If you were not prepared to funciton as a team, you should not have come.[/color]

"[color=8dc73f]We have our orders. And orders[/color]," he said, returning the rifle to his front to grip it with his other hand and standing at attention, "[color=8dc73f]are orders[/color]."