"Rear Admiral Anton Ferner."
Oberstein set the career file down in front of him.
"Tell me about yourself."
Ferner swallowed and prepared his words.
"I'm a soldier I suppose. I worked with the military-police in the Kloppstock Incident and—"
"Tell me about home. Your family."
"Yes sir. I have a wife, named Matilda. She's very fair, if I might say so sir. As for children, I have two, a boy and a girl."
"Names?"
"Yes sir. Their names are Verity and Siegfried."
Oberstein sighed suddenly and stood from his chair. He crossed over to the window, staring down at the street below.
"It seems to be a very common name, doesn't it?"
Ferner nodded.
"Yes sir. To be honest, my son often looked up to Admiral Kircheis as a role model."
"… I see. Rear Admiral, let me tell you something."
He turned, staring Ferner down.
"When the lights go out, the shadows too must dim."
Ferner lowered his eyes to the floor.
"If Admiral Lohengramm were to loose this war, you and your family would most likely be executed for treason and desertion."
Ferner looked up and smiled coyly.
"With all due respect sir, I don't think that's going to happen. And if it does, I have no regrets."
Oberstein sunk into his chair.
"I see. Then let me give you the run down on my working style."
Ferner shook his head, sending gray curls bouncing. They attracted Oberstein's attention, the way the light bent when it bounced off them.
"I've heard the rumors about you."
"Very well, tell me what you've heard."
Oberstein leaned in, weaving his fingers together and examining this new adjutant closely. His body language was closely guarded. He had practice at giving exactly what the nobles wanted to hear for many years. But at the same time, his green eyes shone with a mischievousness light and he was clearly smarter than he seemed. Oberstein silent praised Odin for this new edition to his work pool.
"If I make speak candidly?"
Oberstein nodded and Ferner spoke. His body language was still tight and controlled, but his voice gained a light and springy attitude that Oberstein rather liked. This new one had a sense of fire about him.
"They say you're a real hardass, sir. They call you inhuman and that one day you might get a lot of good men killed."
Oberstein hummed and rested his head on his fist.
"Nothing I haven't heard before. Very well. Rear Admiral, come closer."
Ferner took the three steps it took to reach the front of the desk and Oberstein gathered up an inch-thick stack of papers.
"As a start, get to work on these."
Ferner took then and nodded.
"Yes sir." he said softly, turning on his heel and walking to his desk. It was out of the way, in the corner, but Ferner still had a direct line of sight at Oberstein, who had leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes.
"Light and Shadow huh…?" He found himself smiling. "I get the feeling things are going to get fun from now on."