Commander Hoffen of Foxtrot | #34 | Male | Schnauzer/Wolf cross | M: Maze

They had trotted to the outskirts of the city in silence. He knew Beta would prefer if he made a big schene, but his commander said he could proceed however he wished on the matter. He was sure the citizens of the city didn't need any more fear among them. Those outdoors had rushed inside upon sight of him, oblivious to the fact that he was very clearly not on patrol, nor was it curfew.

He motioned for the female to follow him down an alley, coming out on the other side to a wide patch of dirt. The alley was the only exit, or so it seemed. With rows of houses on one side, and the border wall on the other, it seemed like the perfect death trap, Maze couldn't outrun the Cull here.

But that was not what Hoffen had in mind. There was a heavy silence, Hoffen licking his lips and displaying his sharp fangs absentmindedly before he spoke. His eyes never once were trained on Maze, instead on the dusty ground, or the border wall, seemingly far away. He asked the female a question, his tone low and even.

"Do you have a metal implant?"

Kämpe | Female | Doberman, GSD, Australian Shepard Cross | Cheif Cull | 24 | M: Aayda

Kämpe had been in the process of marching by, imperial and poised, until she heard small pawsteps trotting hastily to keep up. She supressed a flick of her ear. Why had Beta chosen her - the Chief Cull, with much more pressing matters to attend to - in charge of a large rodent with dog - like features?

It was not her place to tell. Her programming forbid her to question the decisions of Beta. She continued forward, paying the small dog little mind, though keenly aware of her presence; the Cull could follow multiple thought tracks at once, this so much was true: She had learned the art of outwards stoicism, yet complete awareness of her surroundings, while ruminating over a thought or order. Although it seemed she had not paid any mind to the corgi, this was not so. Kämpe was indeed keenly aware, anticipating the dog's impending question.

That was when the dog made her first mistake. Addressing Kämpe by her name. As Hoffen had made the similar mistake, the Cull had become quite defensive. She did not wish to relive her past, nor did she care to undergo any sort of 'emotion' again. She halted, snapping her head towards the dog. She flashed chrome fangs, snarling in her throat.

"You have crossed a line, Sixty - Two. You are to address me as "Chief" or "Commander". Nothing else is befitting of my rank. I expect you will pay due respect to your superiors in the future. This is a warning. The next occurance of such a mistake, and I will not be so kind."

Kämpe then narrowed her eyes, regarding her question carefully. The dog was ignorant, that so much was clear. Naive. Pampered. She needed to understand the gravity of their situation; a rebellion was brewing, and there was no tolerance for mistakes.

"Thirty - Three is a weakness, both to her regiment, and the stronger dogs of her fellow regiment. She is not fit for survival, and hinders Beta. Hoffen will most likely dispose of her body behind the training facility walls, so you do not need to worry in regards to proper funeral procedures." Kämpe snapped, blunt and cold. This dog needed to harden up, before she got herself hurt.

Alta glared down the bridge of her muzzle at the figures of the dogs, each displaying varying degrees of emotion. The tall dog nearly scoffed. She had understood that these mutts were unruly, but this was nothing short of chaos. Perhaps proper introductions were in order. She could follow through with formal procedures and introduce herself, or stand back, aloof, imposing, threatening. She decided that her training would require her to follow through with routine introductions.

Completely apathetic, Alta stepped forward. "I am Sixty - Three of Regiment Charlie, First Grade Soldier, trained personally under Cull Eighty - One, Offspring of Fifteen and Seventy - Four." She stated, voice sharp, cold, and clear. She stood regally, imposing, almost as if daring them to defy her.

Orden was fighting her every urge to react. Nightmare - like flashes of her haunting past replaying in her head on a loop. She willed herself to remain calm as Maze was whisked away. In this moment, she hated Kämpe. She hated Beta. For what they had done, and for what they were doing. She had never been close to Maze, but in this moment, it was as if she could feel the dog's terrified heartbeat vibrating in her bones. She remembered this scene, all to well. She had spoken out, she had rebelled, and it had killed her closest friend. She remembered how each pawstep away felt like her heart being torn out slowly by the claws of a Cull.

She flicked her gaze to Pfiel, who seemed to be greatly struggling. She understood. Understood how it felt. Orden disliked being near any other dog; but she felt his pain in her own heart, as if it was her own. In truth, it was. So the female quietly stepped towards him, slightly against him. Nothing but a mere comforting presence.

Aadya | Female | Pembroke Corgi | #62 | Mentions: Kämpe, Hoffen, Maze (briefly)

She flattened her long ears in surprise when the Cull snapped at her, eyes snapping for a second before she regained her composure. Aadya was mildly offended by Kämpe, but wouldn't dare show it. Not to a dog with the Commander's temper.

"My apologies, Commander. I am on a first-name basis with the dogs of Regiment Charlie, and I overstepped my bounds assuming things would be the same. I apologize for that."

Her stomach turned at Kämpe's response to her question. She had known that Beta removed dogs that didn't do their duty, but hadn't thought it would be so gruesome. But there had to be a reason for it, there always was. Beta was kind to her. That last dog must have been aggressive with Beta's humans. Yeah, that was it. Unacceptable. She nodded sharply, flicking her ears in response to the Cull.

"I see."

It would be nice of her to change her tone. No point in being snappy. I can hear her plenty well.