[center][h3][color=E3DAC9][b]Kaalia[/b][/color][/h3]
[IMG]http://i62.tinypic.com/21j8tuh.png[/IMG][/center]
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Eyes closed, arms folded, head bent forward, ears perked, and firm, stoic posture, Kaalia  listened and waited for everyone in turn. Never saying a word, she  resolved to remain silent. If one didn't notice her ears twitch  periodically, she would easily be mistaken as asleep.

The reality,  for those who knew, was in tight quarters the tiny, eccentric scents,  sights and sounds tended to be overwhelming. It was often easier to cope  by just closing off one of her senses, and relying on the others. Kaalia  possessed preternaturally keen hearing, capable of perceive slight  changes in tone and pitch which were useful in determining mood,  intensity, and even posture. An open posture makes for an open,  resounding voice, a closed posture delivers a muted voice, one which  fails to project very far. Even the background ambiance of humming  Resonant filled her ears, a strange and persistent noise which only she  could hear.

Sylvia and Shae provided the most predictable responses; though she had served with each of them enough to have adopted certain expectations. Shae was upstanding to a fault and chivalry disagreed with Sigrund sensibilities; the iconic captain has always had Kaalia's respect at a professional level, the Shindani was an exceptional product of her homeland military, Kaalia admits this readily.

While entertaining, Sylvia's cutting words have never delivered the best of comedy. Admirable combatant, of this Kaalia knew well.

While she has never regarded either veteran agent as a "friend", her relationship with those two has always been more of a "soldier's bond".  They would destroy each other enemies, cover each others backs, share a  laugh in the heat of the moment, and while their connection amounts to  little more than this, it runs deep. The thread that binds them together  as fellow comrades is perhaps at its strongest in the field.

The scatter-brained girl she escorted in was amusing, but was in dire need of self-discipline. Kaalia made a mental note to "fix" that issue later.

Special notice was given to the juvenile quips exchanged between Indigo and Linta. If Kaalia hadn't already read through the new recruits' files, she would have a strong suspicion of a previous history between the two feren of Tengu Island. The two would work well together as a pair, but Kaalia was more concerned with their individual merits.

Doubtless  the Harp would put all the recruits through their paces. She tilted her  head slightly, sensing the Harp was about to speak. 
[color=palegoldenrod][i]"I'm aware that all of you have already been told that you will be grouped together today. And this meeting is both so that you can put faces to names and so that I can explain exactly what your team's purpose is."[/i][/color] Obvious... [color=palegoldenrod][i]"There have been some interesting levels of Lost activity recently."[/i][/color] What do you mean by interesting? [color=palegoldenrod][i]"I want you, as team, to get together and go see what's going on. It wouldn't hurt to reduce the Lost population either as the cities have been sending distress calls to us daily, more so than usual."[/i][/color] Here it comes... [color=palegoldenrod][i]"Your captain will be Shae Arca,"[/i][/color]  Everytime. Every. Time!  [color=palegoldenrod][i]"...and your second in command, Kaalia Sigrund."[/i][/color] Kaalia stifled an dissatisfied sigh [color=palegoldenrod][i]"Please take their advice and listen to their commands. They are both well experienced Echo members and, I'm certain, will only lead you on the correct path."[/i][/color] 

Kaalia bided her time and waited until everyone filed out of the room. A nagging thought obsessively occuppied her attention since the Harp began its speech. She would question the scentless, masked enigma in due time, but speaking... "plainly"  to a superior wasn't something she wanted to do in front of a large audience. She knew better and held her tongue, remaining defiantly in her seat until only she, Shae, and the Harp were left. Once the rest were out of earshot, she opened her eyes and directed her glare at Harp. [color=E3DAC9]"I'll be the first to say, I don't like it."[/color] With a set jaw, and unflinching expression, she delivered each word with a calm, crisp directness; the kind of pinpoint, hostile honesty only Kaalia can provide.
[color=E3DAC9]"The reassignment I can live with. And dealing with Lost is nothing new, but what's so interesting about their activity levels? And why do I get the feeling you want us to rile up a wasp nest just to see what happens?"[/color] Her frank manner of speech was nothing new. In all fairness, Harp should have expected it. She's well-known for it. [color=E3DAC9]"I'd appreciate your honesty in this matter."[/color]

Kaalia has always regarded Harp with a peculiar personal bias, lending absolute trust to the leader's decisions and posing unreserved suspicion to its motives.
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