House of Servants

We begin with the sound of a high heel clicking on tile, and the opening of an elevator door. Valentina Terris walks down a long, white corridor — the common breed found in any corporate office, passing locked doors and open windows with little interest. Hefting her suitcase, she wrangled a set of keys from a pocket in her coat, and opened the gilded door at the end of the hall.
The sound coming from within burst into the hall — dozens of men and women in a locker room, shouting at each other while they pull on black-and-red armor — which falls to silence as Valentina entered the room. The occupants all stood as one, fists shooting to their chest, where they engaged in the slightest of bows.
Valentina Terris: "House Popov. I see you received my message. Where is Krezia?"
From the back of the room, a middle-aged woman pushed her way to the forefront, and gave Valentina a similar bow. As her arm twisted to her chest, the numerals 'XLI" are visible on her pauldron, accented in the gold and purple of House Terris.
Krezia Popov: "We are ready to serve, as my mother did, and my mother before her. When do we deploy?"
Valentina opened her suitcase on a locker bench, and handed Krezia a thick paper file. She flipped through it quickly, taking time to identify names and faces, which included all the allies of House Terris, and their enemies. As Krezia passed the Director of the Pact Worlds, she hesitated only for a moment, and then moved onto the next page, and began scanning the schedule.
Krezia Popov: "We'll get on ships today."
Valentina Terris: "No need. That door is aligned to an office building in the Burning Archipelago — you have lodging with Silver Sync Contracting, located in Dawnshore. Any overflow can bunk at the Shadeless Precinct, speak to Golonos Egras Seh if necessary, and tell him I sent you."
Krezia Popov: "Yes, ma'am."
Krezia stopped at the last page, as Valentina knew she would.
Valentina Terris: "What is it, Krezia?"
Krezia Popov: "The evac orders... You sure?"
Valentina Terris: "Sure enough to put it in print. Your colleagues all have similar orders. Any other questions?"
Krezia's brow furrowed, processing her thoughts. Valentina smiled. She was looking for the respectful way to voice her opinion, without watering down the message. It was a trait Rowan had practically bred into the Krezia's... Well, those were her mother's tastes, not hers.
Valentina Terris: "Out with it, darling."
Krezia Popov: "Why does this Isra girl have priority? Do you expect the House of Servants to leave you on the battlefield in favor of a whelp?"
Valentina laughed, and dug back into her suitcase, drawing out another file and tossing it to Krezia.
Valentina Terris: "Just you wait and see, darling. Were we going into a small conflict it would be different, but at this scale Isra is our glue. She is the key to winning — read up, it'll make sense soon."
Krezia clearly didn't like her answer, but she saluted anyway. Satisfied enough not to voice a complaint, which suited Valentina just fine. She stayed for a while, checking on old friends and even older soldiers, but eventually the hour ran long, and the time to move on came. On her way out, she glanced over at Krezia, who was at the end of the Dream Team's file. As the two met eyes, Krezia shrugged, a smirk playing on her lips.
Krezia Popov: "Orders received, ma'am. Glory to House Terris."
Valentina Terris: "Glory to House Popov."
On queue, the other soldiers snapped to attention, and echoed her farewell. Then Valentina left out the door she came, gliding down the hallway, and entering the elevator. As the doors close, accented by a little ding, the camera goes black, and the vision fades.