Offscreen Producer: Alright… so we’re just going to have a standard Talking Head style interview here.
Sorak Pokedno: Yeah, I’ve seen your work before, you do good stuff.
Producer: Thank you… so like I said, a standard interview, just respond naturally to the questions and we will splice it in with footage that complements the contents of your words. Does that make sense?
Sorak: Definitely. I’ve been told I’m the most camera ready of my family, so I thank you for giving me this opportunity.
Producer: For sure. So to start, How would you describe the Varkh?
Sorak: How would I describe the Varkh? Well the word Varkh itself literally means Dominion. We hold dominion over the galaxy. We bring order where there is none. You go to any planet where we have a presence and you will see plenty of happy citizens proud to serve.
Producer: And how is this Order maintained?
Sorak: We actually have specialized our military in many different ways, we have our standard Rekt-Tarn legions, which hold our stable planets. However, we are also a diverse fighting force, for example, my favorite is the Krumm. As well as our Virex program which enables us to have Orclan Titans, Chimerans, and our Starforged.
Producer: Let's go into both of those, let's start with the Krumm. For myself when I think of a Krumm I always picture those hippo-headed warriors that we celebrate on Crucible Oathday.
Sorak: Hah... Well there is plenty more to it than just the holidays we have to celebrate them. The Krumm were once simple people who knew nothing but the violent savagery of their clan fighting. The day the Varkh met the Ironborn tribe we knew that we were a perfect match to control the galaxy.
Producer: Tell us a bit about that.
Sorak: To begin, the Ironborn have a strict training regiment that allows only the strongest to join the Varkh.
Cut to Krumm Interview B Take 14
[The frame is tight on Krumm soldier. He is enormous, his face heavily scarred and weather beaten resulting in a missing ear. His crisp blue uniform is far tighter than is comfortable on him. He is sweating profusely]
Producer: Hello, Tarnvek, is it?
Krumm: I am Krumm-Tharn Ekt-103… but you can call me Tarnvek [He smiles, looking like a snarl]
Producer: Can you tell us about your training?
Tarnvek: … [His eyes dart to the right, off-camera]
Producer: Tarnvek?
Tarnvek: I apologize. My training was… standard for a Krumm. The trail of flesh demands its share. [He lets out a wheezing laugh]
Producer: “Demands its share”, what exactly do you mean by that?
Tarnvek: The…uh… [Looking past the camera to Sorak Pokedno. The silence scratches for three ticks] Am I allowed to talk about the Cradle? … No? Yeah, that's what I figured…
[He clears his throat, low enough to rumble the room. Straightens up in his chair and tugs his uniform downward]
Well I spent the first five years of my life…training, the next five years surviving the… hospitable wonders of Ka’Krumm. and then the next eight years specializing. After that I swore my Tarn to the Varkh, they gave me purpose.
[Tarnvek holds his smile and you see his cheek twitch in response to the unfamiliar strain]
Producer: And… Cut. That was great work. Can we get some towels in here? There’s sweat everywhere.
Cut back to Sorak Pokedno
Sorak: Our ironborn are used for command typically, as well as astral bombardment. Our latest action with the Krumm involves Cragspire.
Producer: Moving on from the krumm, and into our Virex program. By the name it sounds scary. What can you tell us about that?
Sorak: Well, while the name may sound scary. I can personally assure you, the only danger is to our enemies. The Virex program is essentially our way of creating the necessary tools for war. We have the Titans, the Chimerans, and the Starforged.
Producer: Let's begin with the Titans, they sound impressive.
Sorak: The titan initiative is one of the oldest in the Ascendancy itself. These are soldiers that contain the sum of knowledge of our greatest commanders. Given enhanced strength and an oversized build.
Cut to Titan Interview C5 Take 30
[The frame is centered on the chest of a large warrior, his skin tone a mix of grey and green. As the camera pans up we reveal his face, complete with tusks protruding from his bottom jaw. Absentmindedly scratching his chest]
Titan: So, how this work again?
Producer: I’m just going to ask you some questions about your years with the Varkh.
[The titan looks to Sorak Pokedno off screen]
Titan: These orders? … Okay. I is Grunt of Clan Ghor-Maug. What is orders?
Producer: Oh, alright. Can you tell us about your training period?
Grunt: Training… oh, you mean gun learning? Titan is born with that learning.
Producer: What do you mean titans are born with that knowledge. That must be a very impressive thing to see.
Grunt: Squad of Orclan… Titans are good at doing.
Producer: How are the titans generally utilized within the Varkh military?
[Grunt looks genuinely confused with a small hint of anger]
Grunt: What this mean You-tell-lies’d? I speak truth, I only know Veru!
[Grunt stands up and begins to look around for a weapon, before the Sorak steps forward and attempts to calm his demeanor]
Grunt: Where is hammer? I smash liar!
[Sorak steps into frame]
Sorak: Cut the feed! Sedate him!
Cut back to Sorak Pokedno
Sorak: They are a passionate bunch. I’ll answer this one for Grunt. Typically the Titans are utilized as our elite guards, they have a real dedication to following commands.
Producer: Now lets hear about the Chimerans, they sound scary.
Sorak: [lets out a chuckle] The chimeran are our shock troops. They are meant to be the troops we send in to spearhead our attacks.
Producer: And how were the Chimerans created for the Virex program?
Sorak: I’m not sure on the specifics, however, we take volunteers within our untethered community and their DNA is spliced with that of the ancient Chimera.
Producer: Volunteers? These are people who would willingly become a monster?
Sorak: Yes, it's all voluntary, the ascendancy operates on enthusiastic consent. The transformation is… a spiritual journey for them.
Cut to Chimeran Interview D Take 2
[The frame closes on a scaly figure that looks exhausted and is breathing heavily, its dull white scales matched by the frost leaking out of her mouth, staring at the sorak with a hint of fear]
Sorak Offscreen: Ask your questions. Quickly!
Producer: You said your name is Zirel? Why did you choose to become a Chimeran?
[Her eyes do not stray from camera right]
Chimeran: Because I had nothing else before this.
Producer: What can you tell us about the Chimerans?
Zirel: There are five types: Frost, Fire, Lightning, Acid, and Poison
[Zirel attempts to move her arm but we zoom out and see that they are strapped to the chair]
Producer: Is it true that each chimeran can utilize their element in a unique way?
[Zirel smiles]
Zirel: Yes. Would you like to see?
Producer: Absolutely, a small demonstration would be great.
[Zirel takes a deep breath and releases a blast of cold air towards the camera causing the lens to freeze, the audio continues]
Sorak: Grab her! Shes trying to escape!
Producer: My camera is broken!
[Sound of straps snapping and the thunder of footsteps, along with a scream of fear from the producer]
Cut to Sorak Pokedno
Sorak: [Chuckles] Highly spirited! As I said… Shock Troops. They require a… firm hand
Producer: Let’s move on and talk about the Starforged. I know when the average person pictures them they see a regular person, but the eye is always drawn to those metallic horns.
Sorak: They are made from our highly specialized Engineers and the Praxis nano-blood©.
Cut to Starforged Interview 1 Take 1
[The frame shows a gaunt figure whose skeleton appears to press the flesh from the inside. Its face is framed by three sets of horns growing from his skull. Each glowing in a different color]
Starforged: This unit is Ulk-10, how may I assist?
Producer: [to Sorak] any way we can make it seem more human? …
Producer: Can you tell us about your horns?
Ulk-10: This unit’s horns are specialized, they are capable of many things. The green tinted horns emerged when this unit was dropped on a radioactive planet. They allow the radiation to leave this unit unaffected.
Producer: And how about those red tinted ones?
Ulk-10: Those were this unit's first horns they allow this unit to exist in a high temperature engineer room of the Stellar ships.
Producer: And those small ones on your neck?
Ulk-10: These allow this unit to exist in the void, they are capable of regulating oxygen where there is none.
Producer: That is truly fascinating. And do you enjoy your service for the Varkh?
Ulk-10: [its eyes go wide momentarily] This unit… This… I-I-I-I-I-I [It begins to twitch mildly] Accessing deleted memories [A flash of fear comes across it’s face] Wh-where am I? How did I get here?
[The Sorak steps forward and smacks the side of Ulk-10’s head, hard]
Ulk-10: Resetting… [It’s head drops as if losing consciousness]
Cut to Sorak Pokedno
Sorak: I hope this look into our Military has taught you a lot. And if you would like to join up, come to any one of our recruitment centers, conveniently located on every planet within the Ascendancy.
