[h1][color=steelblue]Gabriel Rivera[/color][/h1][hr]
Gabriel wasn't entirely what to expect as the shuttle landed. He'd been given scant information on what exactly it was he was doing. Not that he needed much instruction- The Second Fangs acted largely independently. Their Aoshen Lords trusted that all of the Second Fangs' actions were taken to further the safety and prosperity of the House, and the Second Fangs never gave House Aoshen any reason to doubt their loyalty. Their exhange was a simple one, House Aoshen protected and provided for the village of Vera, ensured that all of its members were given proper education and a peaceful life, free from the stress of galactic conflict. In return, the humans of Vera trained the warriors of the Second Fangs to return the favor, ready to give their lives in the defense of House Aoshen, just as House Aoshen had done for them generations ago. 

Gabriel had long distanced himself from the term 'human' ages ago. He might not have been a dragon, but he considered himself Kanarusii before he considered himself human. Humans were destructive, callous supremacists- or at least the Ascendancy was. Interesting, almost ironic, that if Gabriel had completed his training just a few years earlier, he might've been fighting these 'Star Marines', not helping them. More than one Second Fang had died when Master Doruva's team had been ambushed during the war. Though Gabriel's personal feelings towards them were not the lightest, Master Doruva had reminded Gabriel more than once that the children were victims of the Ascendancy as well. They were deadly, dangerous tools of war, but ultimately, they were just unfortunate tools- it was the Ascendancy that was pulling the trigger.

Still, Gabriel couldn't help but feel some measure of apprehension, unease, as they prepared to board a freighter that contained what would've been a ship full of deadly enemies a few years prior. Master Doruva didn't seem to share any such misgivings though, no, he seemed as cheerful as could be, as he almost always was. Exuberance was a perk of the Kanarusii's longevity, he recalled another Aoshen Lord telling him, unlike humans, Kanarusii lifespans exceeded theirs practically threefold. They literally had time to 'stop and smell the roses', as the human idiom went. 

Gabriel perked up immediately as the shuttle shuddered to a stop. They'd landed. He snapped himself out of his thoughts immediately and stood. Time to meet these 'Star Marines' he'd heard so much about. Master Doruva stepped out of the airlock and onboard the Xuangzang, Gabriel trailing little more than a few feet behind him, an ash gray head of hair bobbing slightly, quickly stepping out from behind Doruva and taking a position a few feet off to his left and ahead of him. Even as Master Doruva met with the Xuangzang's representatives and introduced himself, Gabriel was scanning that area of the ship for potential threats, hidden corners that might hide a blade or rifle scope. Technically, everyone on board that ship was a potential threat- he had little knowledge on any of them save for their names and faces. Not everyone on the ship was a Star Marine, there were several older folk as well, likely crew of the freighter itself.

No one jumped at them, weapon in hand, no shots were fired, obvious attempts noted, so Gabriel reluctantly shifted to a more casual stance, allowing himself to stand up to his full height, and loosened his grip on the sheath of his weapon, allowing his hand to return to its resting place at his side. He didn't relax fully, but if this [i]was[/i] all an elaborate trap, it hadn't been sprung.

[color=6ecff6]"You might feel the temptation to be very formal, but no need! I think we should all be friends. Right, Gabriel?"[/color] Master Doruva said, finishing up his greeting- seemingly already aware of what Gabriel was doing as he called out to him. Gabriel grimaced slightly.

[color=steelblue]"Yes milord."[/color] Gabriel replied curtly, bowing his head slightly in Doruva's direction before turning to the rest of the welcoming party. He offered them a shorter, marginally less stiff bow.[color=steelblue]"My name is Gabriel Rivera Aoshen. Thank you for welcoming us onto your ship."[/color]

Gabriel spoke with a thick Kanarusii accent, thicker than even Doruva's who at least had experience travelling to different cultures and observing different languages. Gabriel had no such luxury, and spent most of his life until this point well within Kanarusii space. His eyes flitted from one face to another constantly, his face was blank, but his eyes conveyed a combination of curiosity and suspicion at his surroundings.

[color=steelblue]"((I detect no immediate threats, Master Doruva.))"[/color] Gabriel reported quietly in Kanarusii, it seemed they were, for the moment, safe.