The cadre of the 12[sup]th[/sup] army stood at the back of the ruined temple. Subutai was dressed in plan battle fatigues of his army. It's only adornments were a larger than average unit patch on his left shoulder, a stylized roaring dragon holding a sword in its claws and patch of the flag of the 12[sup]th[/sup] over his heart. He wore no rank pins only the sword and pistol at his sides made it clear he wasn't a common foot soldier who'd wander in lost. Next to him Xiao struck a far more impressive figure. With half a foot of height on his commander, wearing the combat uniform of the Iron Dragons (minus of course the plate armor), his captain's pins polished and his greatsword across his back he simply draw the eye. Subutai preferred it that way. It was a ruse they had used often when they served in the imperial army. The large boisterous Xiao would be the focus of attention while Subutai would fix some trouble or another. That had covered a gambit of situations over the years. From putting back a major's seal after borrowing it make sure their 72 hour furloughs were in order to commandeering a rather fine bottle of brandy at a bar that had been far to expensive for mere sergeants. They had been summoned from the front lines tfor this strategy meeting and Subutai saw no reason to bring attention to him self without cause.

He had not seen Yusai since before the defeat at Saraat and what he saw now filled him with rage and pity. Their "Great Leader" seamed little more than a husk, painted and dressed up to look the part of a strong, vigorous warrior. Then she spoke, it was hard to tell if the slurring was due to the injuries received from her torture of from whatever drugs she was taking to dull the pain. The words she spoke held no surprises for Subutai he'd heard them before every offensive he'd taken part in. He clapped perfunctorily while the others hooted and hollered their crass, blinkered agreement. Xiao leaned over to him and muttered. "Are we to behead them as well?" 

"The biggest pyramid wins." Subutai said wryly. During the minga's conquest they had often stacked the heads of those they killed in pyramids and then covered them in pitch to slow their decomposition as testiments to their might. "Some of these fools will make a game of it mark my words."
"We'll have to show them how well the White Dragon can play then." The large captain grinned.
"I think not."
"No? Ancestors, that means you've got something worse planned don't you."
"Possibly."
"You want to share with the rest of the class?"
"Not particularly."
"Why?"
"You'll object to it, and we're doing it anyway."
Xiao's shoulders slumped. "Fine. Then lets talk about something you won't like. You need an actual rank."
Subutai's eyes narrowed slightly, they'd had this fight 15 times in the last month. "I'm commander of the 12[sup]th[/sup], that's the only rank I need."
"That's a title, not a rank. You lack teeth as long as your place in the command structure is fluid."
"We've been over this, I don't have the background to be an officer."
"And I do?"
"You went through that Lavanian officer course. I wasn't able to, too much to do getting the Dragons back on their feet." This was pretty much the way the argument had gone each time, minor name calling followed by huffy silence was next on the docket. But then Xiao through a curve ball.
"That's fine, I found a rank that doesn't need all that shite."
Subutai's eyebrow lifted slightly. "Really? And what rank might that be?"
"You could be a Warchief of the Bingal, there's not training required as far as I know." Xiao gave a smug smile when Subutai blanched.
"I can not simply proclaim myself a warcheif. That is a rank that that must be bestowed by clan elders."
The smile didn't falter. "We are home you do realize?, I've already sent messengers to most of the clans. If they confirm you as a Warchief recruiting will be much easier."
"You have no right." Subutai's voice was begining to rise.
Xiao shoved his pointer and index fingers into his friend's chest. "I have every right, I am blooded warrior of the Bingal, I can nominate whomever I wish as Warchief. I stand for you and so does every bingal in the white dragons. We singed the petition of our own free will."
"You fool, you gave them a complete list of targets. If any of the clans are working with the royalists they have our names and can going hunting for our families."
"shit."
"Indeed."

Subutai scanned the room needing to distract himself from the impending doom his friend may have inadvertently wrought. He saw the commander of the Aeromarine Corps sidling over towards Yusai. Whatever was about to be discussed would most likely be enlightening.