#astrum unit

Recent events, including connections with various settlements throughout the area, and the appearance of stronger tempered monsters, had allowed for the researchers here to sink greater footholds into understanding the complex ecosystems and fine balances maintained in the Forbidden Lands.

As such, a greater workforce was needed to handle the growing influx of samples, the cataloguing, to bolster the field teams and to process the huge amounts of data.

Your own specialty was scientific illustration. It had been something of a risk, choosing to hone your skills in this area. Back home, the ecological research centre prized analytics and novel scientific methods. Your illustrations were the kind more favoured in the field, and those selected to pioneer such efforts in unchartered lands were the best of the best.

In spite of it all, you'd been selected for this expedition. You had lived for this moment, for being here, on the deck of this airship, shifting your weight from one foot to the other in anticipation so severe you thought you'd felt a wave of nausea coming on.

There was something else driving your burning ambition, you see.

You were, undeniably, an absolute fan of the fabled Astrum Unit and their exploits, which had traveled back to you in your dusty little loft at the academy.

You'd spent the last few years poring over the monthly gazettes, the new research breakthroughs that came from the Forbidden Lands, the engineering marvels and innovations, the brand new materials and animal parts, the plethora of new data that your colleagues fluttered over like excited hummingbirds.

But you'd known about the Astrum Unit's members from before the expedition. You'd seen brilliant, eccentric Erik's star rise, the illustrious (and thrilling) career of Captain Olivia and her palico, Athos, the steady path that Werner forged for himself, an engineering attack dog set upon each new puzzle with unerring focus.

You had a collection of all of their exploits pasted across one of your walls, along with the small figurines you'd custom carved from ironwood, each with their own distinctive set of clothing or armour.

You had managed to dig through the academy archives to find prototypes of Werner's earliest projects, Erik's masterful bound presentations of endemic life and pieces of Olivia's favoured training dummy (which was more scrap metal than monster-shaped, as expected of something that had been repeatedly smacked with a huge hammer). 

Of course, little of that cherished collection of items had made it onto the airship with you. They were safely locked away with the rest of your possessions back home (except for your precious figurines which had made the journey in your backpack).

Besides, you had so many new memories to make (and the fact that you wouldn't want your new comrades to think you too weird or obsessive, haha).

A shout from up on the prow caught your attention, and you rushed forward, eager for your first glimpse of the camp you'd been longing to see.

The airship pulled slowly into the dock, sinking until the deck was on level with a sloping gang plank. You gawped at the sheer scale of the camp, which had been steadily expanding over the past few years. It was certainly a lot larger than you seen in those early (amateurishly) sketched illustrations.

You got behind a large barrel and started to help push it out, availing yourself to the crew members and palico teams offloading the cargo into the waiting area.

Once the airship had been fully divested of its cargo, and your belongings were safely carried off deck, you tugged on the straps of your backpack and started to make your way towards the most nerve-wracking objective thus far; meeting the rest of your team.

You had no aspirations of making the acquaintances of the revered leaders today. They'd probably be out on important missions and business. You'd settle for meeting the rest of the research team. Hopefully, there'd be others as green as you clearly were.

You soon found yourself outside the Astrum main tent, which was simple in design and feature. Looking around, you couldn't spot anyone of note.

There was a research station set up nearby, devoid of personnel, and you decided to pitch your belongings there and wait for direction.

You really were itching to get to work, so out came your art supplies, the stack of sketchbooks with custom-made stain-proof and water-proof covers, the grids for proportion, the various tools for preparing your drawing implements. You'd also brought along several scientific journals and reference books as a guideline for your future work.

Scattered over the research table were various objects, small jars of preserved specimens, plants growing in small wooden troughs, larger bones and what appeared to be an interesting collection of animal teeth.

Among them was a Quematrice feather, the outstanding quality of the specimen immediately catching your eye.

What colour! And what form!

You just had to make a sketch. Maybe add more details later.

Occupied as you became with your current task, it did come as something of a surprise when a voice spoke up behind you.

"Wow! You're really skilled! And so quick at getting down the basics too."

Smiling sheepishly, you added a last touch before setting aside the sketchbook.

"Oh, I've had a lot of practice. Spent the last few years - "

Your voice died in your throat.

Standing before you, in a worn coat with pockets that could probably contain an entire ecosystem, was none other than THE Erik of the Astrum Unit.

Silvery hair cascaded forward over one eye, his elfish visage gave him a deceptively boyish charm, one that you knew all too well hid a razor sharp intellect and an analytic ability far beyond the norm. 

Seeing your dumbfounded expression, his eyes curved upward cheerfully and he gave a small wave.

"Oh, don't worry. I'm from the Astrum Unit."

He leaned towards you conspiratorially.

"I don't know why, but sometimes the newer teams coming in think I'm some kind of weirdo trying to sell them insect repellent."

He spread his hands and shrugged.

"I mean, I'd sell you something, sure. But you can bet it would attract every bug in the area so I can observe their mating habits!"

With that ... concerning pronouncement, accompanied by a small giggle, he promptly turned and bustled over to the research station, exclaiming in delight when he saw that you'd set up already.

Re-discovering your ability to move, you followed him in a half-daze.

Erik! Erik? It was him! It was really him!

You couldn't lose this opportunity to actually unstick your tongue from the roof of your mouth and make a good impression -

Erik was still rambling.

" - and I was just telling Olivia that I need to get out in the field soon to observe more of the Doshaguma herd, because they're already showing signs of competing for the alpha position, and - "

Just name-dropping Olivia so casually!

You nearly choked on your own saliva. Mind scrambling to piece together the information he'd just provided you with, you interjected hesitantly.

"Ah ... you're going into the field soon? For observation?"

"Yeah! If Olivia allows me."

He turned hurriedly and ... was he stuttering? Was he trying to explain himself to you?

"I mean ... not that I need Olivia's explicit permission or anything, haha. It's just a formality. There are other hunters who could accompany me. You know. For safety. And - "

"What's this about other hunters, Erik?"

Erik glanced past you and blanched a little, ruffling his hair with a nervous hand.

"Ah, Olivia! Didn't expect you so soon! I was just telling - "

His words were rapidly vanishing into the depths of the cosmos as you took a moment to absorb what he'd just uttered.

Olivia? Olivia? Was he -

No. No, it couldn't be. If you turned around now -

And doing exactly that, you came face to face with an imposing pair of buckles over white and green armour, those particular shades ingrained in your mind from the sheer number of times you'd re-painted your dozen small Olivia figurines.

Your eyes tracked upward and -

Holy mother of Khezu, what a woman.

Tall, statuesque, blonde hair flicked out in signature rakish style above the simple silver hoops in each ear, Olivia was every bit the charismatic figure you'd imagined, and more.

Her pale, sea-green gaze flicked over you with curiosity, sharp, observant, assessing. She offered a small nod of greeting which you, somehow, shakily returned.

And now she was holding out her hand for you to shake!

No. No, you couldn't let yourself be reduced to a quivering spectator between the two collosi of your dreaming world.

Straightening your back, you took her hand, some unacknowledged part of your brain screaming that you'd never wash that particular appendage again.

Her grip was powerful enough to fling you across the breadth of the camp. Probably.

"Olivia, of the Astrum Unit. That there's Erik, our Head Researcher."

Oh boy, if only they knew how much you knew. Best not to speculate.

You cleared your throat, voice emerging slightly hoarse.

"Um, I do know who you are, Captain. The honour's all mine."

She waved you off, seemingly unconcerned with the title.

"Just Olivia will do. And you are?"

You introduced yourself, internally cringing at how stilted your speech emerged.

" ... and I'm here to assist the Astrum Unit with my particular skill set, scientific illustration."

Erik danced into your view, shaking something in front of Olivia's face. She leaned back and squinted at it and -

Wait, was that your sketch? WHEN DID HE -

He shot you a sunny smile.

"Oh, your drawing was so great that I just decided to borrow it. That's not a problem, right? Look, Olivia! This is the kind of detail I've been looking for!"

She took the sketch from his hand and - oh goodness, was Olivia looking over your work and nodding in approval?

Glancing up at you, she offered a small smile which punched the breath right out of your chest harder than a Gravios blast.

"I guess it is as Erik says. You're certainly talented, and I'm sure his research team will benefit from your skills."

She rolled up the paper and whacked him smartly over the head with it, ignoring his plaintive protest.

"Just keep an eye on him. He tends to run off at times and if he does, just report to me and Athos."

Erik huffed ruefully.

"They don't even know who Athos is!"

"Oh, of course I know who Athos is!" you blurted out, "That's Captain Olivia's most trusted partner."

Panic immediately rose in your chest as they both stared at you.

Oh no. Now you'd gone and done it. They'd think you were some kind of crazy-

Olivia's expression suddenly morphed to something much warmer, and she looked you over as if re-forming an opinion.

"You're absolutely right. Not everyone refers to Athos as my partner, but once they see her in action, it's usually a wake-up call."

You had somehow managed to make a good impression with that statement, but you were aware that it all came down  to how well you knew Astrum Unit. Olivia had met with Athos in the early days of her career and they'd been inseparable ever since.

Olivia paused and looked around, brow furrowing.

"Speaking of which, where's - "

"There she is!"

Erik pointed in the direction of the research station. Near your belongings was none other than Athos the palico, resplendent white fur gleaming in the dim lamplight within the cavern, nose glued to ... your backpack?

And ... oh Raving Rathalos, was she focusing on the pocket where you'd kept the only portable items in your collection, the small figurines of Erik, Olivia, Werner and Athos herself?

Hurrying over, you stopped before her, bowing awkwardly in greeting. She stopped her examination, clear, curious eyes taking in your form. You felt sweat break out along your brow. There was something about her gaze that felt like she could plumb the depths of your soul.

After a few moments, she bowed slightly back, responding in the muted mewl of Lynian.

"Well met, mew recruit."

She left your backpack alone, scampering over to Olivia's side.

You breathed a sigh of relief.

Olivia smiled down at Athos before turning briskly to you.

"How do you feel about hitting the ground running? We've got a survey in the plains tomorrow. There've been sightings of a tempered Rathian. Erik, you should be able to observe the Doshaguma herd while I observe you."

She shot him a look that reminded you of a hawk pinning a rabbit to an empty mountainside. Erik grinned in return.

"It's not like I'd run off on you or anything!"

He tugged at your sleeve eagerly.

"Now's your chance to join us. Bring your special sketchpad. Who knows how much more could be accurately recorded if we have you along as illustrator!"

You let out a shaky breath.

"Of course I'll be there! You can count on me!"

Olivia nodded.

"Excellent. We'll re-group at the main entrance at first light tomorrow. Erik, get our newest recruit oriented. Get Fritz to set them up with a seikret and field pouch for their supplies, and brief them on researcher safety protocols in the - "

She cut off abruptly, eyes narrowing as Erik blinked innocently back at her.

"Actually, forget that. I'll get someone else to brief them on safety protocols in the field."

"I'm perfectly capable of that, you know!"

Ignoring him, Olivia placed her hands on her hips and addressed you again.

"We watch each other's backs out there, so look out for your teammates and mind their signals. Welcome to the Astrum Unit, new recruit."

If there was a backing track to your simple academic life, it was at this moment that it swelled to a deafening anthem of heroic exploits.

Here comes adventure! Here come the accolades! Here comes the chance to prove yourself to the very members you've idolized for goodness knows how long and -

A soft tap to your forehead brought you back to focus as Olivia lowered her hand, her expression a combination of amused and concerned.

"Hey, you okay? Looked like you were forgetting to breathe for a minute there."

Erik gave an enthusiastic nod.

"It's exciting, isn't it?"

Athos held out a furry paw.

"Hunting is like catnip, but don't get confused and try to catch your own tail, mewbie."

You adopted an expression of fierce focus.

"I'll do my best!"