ALR (ATwT) Chpt 10

==A Legacy Reforged (ATwT) - Chapter 10 ==
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===Getting their House in Order===
High Council Chambers
Isle of Albion, New Avalon 
Crucis March, Federated Suns
10th January 3118
In the carnivorous and tradition chambers of the High Council of New Avalon, and the Federated Suns, Grandmaster of the Warrior House Imarra Sortek stood ready to address the formation. “Lords and Ladies of New Avalon, I am Grandmaster of the Warrior House Imarra Sortek the leader of Warrior House Sortek. Three years ago, my people were brought to the Federated Suns by a freak accident from another universe, from another nation, with no way back we have dedicated our lives to this nation.” She said speaking clearly, she had chosen to wear a standard AFFS uniform instead of the Warrior House robes commonly worn by her people. She had also worn a standard weapon belt with her standard gauss pistol and vibroblade on her belt instead of on the chest sash she preferred. Her uniform had no decorations but the insignia of Warrior House Sortek on the left breast the insignia which was like the emblem of House Sortek which featured an artist’s impression of the Crossroads Prairie on New Avalon where the house had gained its first Barony. Warrior House Sortek added a pair of crossed swords behind the image all set upon a shield, they had chosen to keep the insignia removing only the gold coloring of the Capellan state on the swords since coming to the Federated Suns. “Our Warrior House stands guarding the world of Marduk, where we have built a home, the good grace of House Davion and this Council gifted a portion of this world to my people giving us a permanent home and giving you a force of warriors who were fanatically prepared to defend it. An arrangement I think everyone here is happy with?” She asked leaving the question in the air.
No-one immediately spoke so Imarra Sortek continued “I thought so.” She answered her own question “Warrior House Imarra finds this arrangement agreeable and will continue to guard the Draconis Combine border, but we will not continue as Warrior House Sortek.” She said seeing their surprise, her people had been very vocal up until now about retaining the designation. “The title Warrior House brings an image which is not popular in this realm, which is understandable you have a… different history with the Capellan people than my own do, but we will not give up our name.” She said “Instead we will adopt a name more closely related to our current home and the people who are filling our ranks, we will become the Order of Sortek.” She said announcing the change as she spoke, she saw members of the Sortek family from this universe who looked uncomfortable by her announcement but she had felt it was important for the leadership of the Federated Suns to know about these changes and raise the profile of her people. “Finally, I have a single request…” she said looking around the assembled leaders of the Federated Suns. My people are not a Capellan unit, we were not born to this nation’s long-term foe. But we also have a connection to the Capellan people if not its leadership.” She explained remembering her conversation with First Prince Victor Steiner-Davion when he visited them on New Avalon but wanting assurance from the entire council of the Federated Suns. “I ask that for the next one hundred years the Order of Sortek is not asked to engage Capellan Confederation units unless in an absolute emergency for no less than 100 years. By then those of us with any connection to that state will likely be but a memory.” The Order of Sortek defended a world on the border of a large enemy state, they needed all the support they could gather and she needed to make sure that the people hear did not forget her people, as for their request it was seen as a very small price to pay for the Order’s continued loyalty. 
Recently on Marduk, her people had begun to merge their trainees and inductees with older members of the command who were no longer fit enough to serve on the front-lines essentially giving them an additional double battalion of troops who served in a garrison and training role. The so-called Household Guard were going to be the “stay at home” troops should the Order of Sortek need to be deployed away from Marduk she had them regularly exercising with both her Order and with the Marduk planetary militia. If Imarra had her way the Household Guard and Militia would eventually merge into one unit which could augment the Warrior House and truly secure Marduk in any situation.
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Chapter 10