Hunter grinned as he saw Tal throw a 'sharper' at the few remaining heavies, causing them to throw themselves in different directions. He's seen Meanas used a myriad different ways, ranging from High Mages creating whole illusionary battalions, to hiding whole ships from sight. This, however, was simply brilliant... He would have to praise Tal for that, and remember that trick for the future. It will sure come in handy... As long as the whole squad knows that the illusion isn't actually an explosive.

Just as Fyn was about to start beating on the heavy that he tripped, he heard a gruff voice from the crowd, "Enough!"

It wasn't a shout nor a yell, but everybody seemed to simultaneously simmer down and freeze in place.

 A tall man with graying hair, in silver chain armor and a large bastard sword strapped to his back approached from the crowd. He had the darkish skin of someone hailing from the south. Near him was a bald man of frail stature, with the slanted eyes of someone who hails from across the Inaran Sea. Hunter's experience with mages somehow told him that this man was probably one of them.

The man approached the soldier who was in charge of placing squads on the different ships, taking hold of his parchment and looking over it for a few seconds.

"I think it is fair to say that Sergeant Helon's squad will be sailing on the [I]Raggaton[/I]" begun the gray-haired man. 

The heavies squad began to get up, trying to help each other reach the ship as they began limping away. Others had to be carried away with the help of other fresh recruits.

"It is my apologies, Sergeant" said the man as he approached Hunter. "I do try to keep good discipline in my army, but the fact remains the same - someone has to go on that ship. Is it not only fair that squads have the ability to prove themselves, and therefore have the chance to sail on another?"

Fyn looked over the man, and quickly realized that this was the leader of the Fifth Echelon - Eben Ral. He heard of this man in his travels... A general of the Tetrarchy down south, gone rogue for a reason unknown to anybody. It seems like there wasn't a soul in the Fifth Echelon without some mysterious past. 

"With all due respect, sir, it's my squad you should be apologizing too." responded Hunter, eyeing Eben. [I]Haven't been on a good streak making friends, have I?[/I] thought Hunter to himself.

Eben glared back at Hunter for a few seconds, before easing his expression and nodding. "9th Squad... My apologies for this rude introduction to our host."

The army leader looked back at the parchment, scanning through it some more. He turned his head to the soldier he took the parchment from.

"9th Squad will be sailing on my ship."

Eben looked back at Hunter, before approaching him and putting a hand on his shoulder. "Your squad showed it's worth, and therefore there is an important... Situation, that I will explain to you only on the ship. A task. We don't reveal any information on our movements before we set sail, as we don't want the word spreading." With that, Eben walked back to his eastern accomplice, to stand by the port and overview the squads being hurried onto their ship.

Hunter shook his head as he approached Ana by her cart, where most of the squad was gathering. What kind of a task could this be? He hoped it wasn't anything suicidal. 

"Damn good job, the lot of you!" exclaimed the Sergeant as he looked over the squad.

"Tal, that was a nasty trick. Hope you can do that again.... Acele, we'll need you to heal us all up once we're on the ship, I have a feeling we'll need to be fully rested by the time we get to wherever we're going"

Two Fifth Echelon soldiers came up to the squad, looking at the cart with skittish eyes. "We need to inspect all carts and material entering the fleet, Sergeant"

Hunter's eyes darted to Ana - then to the cart - and back to Ana. [I]Shit's probably full of munitions. Blowing up the flagship, with the army leader on board? Ha! That would make an awesome 'Ballad of the 9th Squad.'

... Then again, I've seen these explosives change the tide of battle. Our squad having more then the munitions we are rationed could save our hides... [/I]

Hunter hardened his expression, before straightening up and facing the two soldiers. "You listen to me, soldier. We just fought a whole squad of heavies in order to get access to a normal ship. Your general and leader just assigned us to his flagship. You going to keep fucking bothering us? By Trake's tail, I promise you that we still have a hell lot of fight in us. You want to be next?"

The two soldiers looked at each other, trying to decide what was more important - not having their faces broken, or violating their army's regulation. 

To Hunter's relief, as he wasn't sure if his squad was up for another battle royale, the soldiers sulked away.