Uja'rak: "What's wrong Balam?" Balam: "What's wrong?! You have an Umbra for a geist!!" Uja'rak: "How do you know of..?" Balam: "Some of the people here are damaged soldiers, "sideliners" or non-combatants from Paradiso. We get some pretty crazy stories of the Emerald Hell." Uja'rak: "Balam I need you to remain calm.." Balam: "Geist are supposed to develop according to the needs & psyche of their owners. If your geist is an Umbra.." She turns to look at Vorpella again. "What does that say concerning your own psychological condition?" Uja clenched his teeth harder. Uja'rak: "I'm fine.." Balam: "What is the reason behind..?" Ujar'ak: "I'm afraid of Umbras!" The Morat slightly raised his voice for fear of being heard. "All the species of the Combined Forces are in some way. They are the living shadows that appear, destroy and fade away." Balam: "If you are mentally well or at least consider me a friend then at least tell me why you are afraid of them." Uja'rak: "When I was in the Aggression Forces I was called out by an Umbra. It..spake as both male and female seemingly fluctuating between genders or shifting between the tone of it's voice. That grouped with their reputation made my morale plummet but I hid it from my fellow soldiers fearing their reactions towards me. I've kept this a secret for years. Hiding my geist's true form because of reactions like yours." Balam: "Look I'm not a "normal" person by any means but you can't blame me for acting that way knowing what they are." Uja'rak: "I don't.." Vorpella: "It is quite interesting.." The voice of the geist broke into the conversation. "That you called me "the devil himself". Why that title inparticular?" Balam remained silent for a few seconds thinking upon how to answer. Balam: "On Corregidor we have this superstition or ancient belief that the devil can come as a woman dressed in red. Some of the Catholic prisoners apparently started the saying. It has become a slang as well for a dangerous or evil woman. And.." The tigress stopped mid-speech when she noticed that the Samaritan geist was testing out different shades of red on her cloak. "You can't be seri.." Vorpella: "Why not? It sounds like a great psycho effect on some Corregidorians and besides.." She stops to admire the shade and designs in red on her body & clothing. "Red seems to be my color." Uja'rak: "You're not going in like that." The geist turns her holo-head towards Uja's face. Vorpella: "I don't see why.." Uja'rak: "You heard what Balam said! I will not..!" Vorpella: "Here we go again!" The geist through her arms up in the air & disappeared from Balam's view. Meanwhile inside Uja's head both parties where verbally jousting each other. "You always do this!" Uja'rak: "And for good reason!!" Vorpella: "I'm tired of being hidden just so you don't have to deal with people's reactions..!" Uja'rak: "You saw how Balam acted! That is the reason why..!" Vorpella: "Only caring about your own image while you go chase after..!" Uja'rak: "I'm trying to survive and not make enemies and your presence complicates things!!" Vorpella: "I'm sick and tired of being cooped up here in your head!!" Uja'rak: "I'm sick and tired of you being like this! Always a reminder of something I wish to forget and your attitude..!!" Vorpella: "Is because of you!! If you let me out a bit and be myself then maybe you would see a difference in my attitude!!" Balam: "Excuse me?" Uja's head snapped back to look at Balam while Vorpella appeared in midair beside him. "I hate to interrupt this important conversation but we are late as it is. So can we head inside considering there are people waiting for you?!" Uja took one more look at Vorpella who crossed it's arms and turned away from facing him. Uja'rak: "Lets get this over with." He muttered as he released the anger he previously had. The Morat emotional suppressing training along with some monk techniques had started to kick in. Balam nodded as she opened the door of the main entrance leading inside the building with the Morat in tow.
One of H.I.V.E.M.I.N.D. Drones (the Sniper Models, with a single Oversized Comm-Antenna jutting from the upper back) approached Alistair and Tony studying the map and awaited, at a respectful distance, a lull in their conversation before interjecting: "Greetings, Lord-Officer Mc Elliott and Com-Tech Sergeant Rodriguez !!" "First, a FAIR Warning ! I have YET detached the Sub-Units manning the Compund and simulating Enemy Assetts, from My Main Multiplexed Shared Node Consciousness !! They are operating roughly as a Human Organic Unit of NOT excellent amalgamation receiving delayed Orders by Radio-Comms from a Svengali Shard-Operator !!!" "This means that I can STILL modify their Patterns of Guard Duty and Sentinels Paths if You want to try different Tactical Approaches (after all the Patsies of My Cyber-Nemesis will act differently based on their Background and Situation; Irmandhinos are Aggressive Boarders while Caterans are Passive Snipers prone to lie in Ambush for a prolonged time, and Wulver Thugs will charge recklessly any perceived threat) but that, once the Action will start they will act as if operating under Emergency Parameters. . ." "Soon some Basic Aerial Recon Camera Mini-Drones, like the ones Mayasphere Warcors employ, but Stealthier and Longer Rangers, will start to map the predictive paths of Roving Patrols and Fixed Position Sentinels. . ." "Though I have to warn You that Sniper Units like the ones relay-speaking with You now, have a Limited, but VERY efficient Holocamo Effect that will make them virtually INVISIBLE to USUAL Detection Methods. . .But NOTHING that could NOT be countered by the Enhanced Sense of the Ancillary Cyber-Antipode attached to Lieutenant Alistair or the Advanced Wave-Ranging Analysis Programs of Sergeant Rodriguez hyperspecialized Geist" Then the Robotic Humandroid extended some Clawed Nails from the metallic fingers of the Hand, with a tiny whirr of Nomads-Made Serovomotor-Actuators; also some Metal Sharp Tines extended from sensible points of the Android Frame, such as Hips and Limb Joints. . . Being a "Claw User" Himself, and one provided with Cybernetic Talons of the sharpest Teseum possible, immediatly Alistair recognized those were NOT fashioned for vicious Hand-To-Hand combat, but rather some kind of Blunt Round Nails, more useful to grasp and embed, to latch on surfaces, rather than offensively slashing foes. . . "The Sniper Units are prone to search AUTONOMOUSLY good elevated firing Platforms, much like the Cateran Bandits try to climb roadside treetops or dominating rocky cliff-faces; so they will be PROBABLY hidden in weird places such as Overhead Gantries of stack of Target Crates. . ." "These Guard Towers there, and here, and there will be probably manned by a mix of Rover Ranger Units. . . First approached a lighter unit, whose Servomotors and Endoskeleton was barely covered by a Rough, but Sturdy trench-coat, that make IMMEDIATLY Tony reminds of the infamous "Hollow Men" Remote Cyborgs of Tunguskan Securitate; armed with a Combination of Light Autoshotguns of Cal.20 / .000 and Cal. 10 / .0 had nonetheless an Impressive array of Sensor-Camera on the Insectoid Robotic Head, from this the Corregidoran Mechanic knew they were a sort of "Anti Camo Multispectral Visors", but cheaper, and rougher of those employed by Elite Command Soldiers. . . Then, after a shallow bow, the Lighter Unit retreacted on a Room Wall, standing at attention at the various arriving High Officers of the Mercenary Company. . . Another different Model then advanced, as if presenting itself, Heavier and with more powerful Servomuscles bulging from a Frame that seemed to have been copy-pasted from Cheap Replicas of A.L.E.P.H. Robotic Soldiers; not only that was protected by an Heavier Plating on the more vulnerable areas, but ALSO wore a Kevlar Jacket and Flak Fatigues identical to the various Organic Soldiers of the Minotaurs. . . "And a fewer of the Assault Units; Heavier and more Armoured, they usually try to have a good overarching position for the 40mm. Grenade Launcher mounted Underneath their 20mm. Automatic Boarding Shotguns . . . ". . . . ." "Ah! My perimetral units assisting Guard of THIS Conference Compound signaled FINALLY Sergeant Uja'Rak'Se'Ok is entering the premises, escorted by Officer LaTigre Balam. . .!!" "Good !!" "Maybe further explanation will need to await the THIRD, and last, member of [OFFICIAL DESIGNATION] "Fireteam Alpha" will join us" . . . . . [Inane Imp. . . With Your Roll You understand that the "Sentry Towers" simply bulky square boxes of LAYERED Cheap Permacrete and Metal Sheets, atop T-Shaped Bars crisscrossed like Eletric Powerline Towers, will NOT stand a COUPLE (1 if VERY GOOD ROLL; 2-3 if POOR rolling on attack) of Fragmentation AND / OR A.P. Grenades from the Drum Riot Grenade Launchers miounted underneath the Belt-Feed L.M.G. of Your Gecko. . . D-Charges are ALMOST a waste on these Towers; there is NOT a Wall on the Target Compound, sturdy AND / OR wide enough, that could resist a SINGLE well-placed D-Charge, and both the Morat and the Dogface could carry easily each a Big Satchel with 5-10 of them. . .!!]
Alistair nodded. He would love to have a Good sniper hidden somewhere as backup and cover should things go south, still they had three people with wildly varying combat experience. "Aye, sniper on overwatch would be nice, but if we have the initiative, we should be doing fine. I still think you should avoid main gate and head from south, through main dock. I think if needed, you can simply submerge once more and that should deal with a lot of firepower they can toss at you, then route towards west and group up with me." Alistair thought for a moment. "Maybe a longer recon and slower preparation can work in our favor. Me and Morat will get charges planted on all the towers, then hit the switch. Infiltration team will have harder work without distraction, but then you are our backup should we find something really unpleasant inside. We will have additional intel. Instead of going all out, we will discharge fireworks when we are in more comfortable spot." Alistair was not precisely having a lot experience at planning, so he was happy to include some outside insight into his main idea. "You may get slightly bored, but then I take Gecko can stay underwater for quite a while, right? Then you get to light them up the very moment sniper towers are out, rest of their gear left you should be more than able to handle, especially with us harassing them within the camp." Scot turned to his liege, the plan laid out for final approval.
While entering the premises of the Subterranean Conference Room, Uja saw that there were colourful, exotic Soldiers hailing from ALL the widespread "Sub-Gangs" of the Multicultural Minotaurs Mercs. . . Very probably there were the Personal Escorts of the various High Commanders of the Company, milling around while their Bosses saw the "Battle Simulator". . . There were a couple of weird Hispanic Men, scruffy and dangerous-looking (even if TOTALLY unkempt) and a very nice, petite South American India girl, (far, Far, FAR more tidy and prettied up than Her "Vatos" Gang-Brothers !!) all of whom Tattooed in "Jaguar Spots" that were remarkably IDENTICAL to LaTigre Balam Gene-Engineered furry livery. . . The Corregidoran Chimera snapped Her fingers imperiously and those trio immediatly arrived at Her beck and call; She whispered something in a hushed Mix of English and Spanish that Uja immediatly did not understood well, even if His Enhanced Comlog reported lip-reading of words like "Probationary Vato. . .", "Mind-Scarred Chico-Loco, but Good Potential. . .", "BE GENTLE, but VERY Firm". . . . . Interestingly enough, nowaday Uja had somehow mastered the complex facial expressions of Humans; while the two males showed wary, but respectful attitude, JUST tinged with a mit of Lustfulness for their fearsome "Gata Chica Muy Loca" Leader, in the smallish woman's gaze there was some sort of "Liquid Adoration" that was far more RELIGIOUS than SEXUAL. . . Uja could have dismissed the India Girl as a sort of "Subservient Slave Fetish" of Balam, but then saw a small Feline Topaz Figurine hung at the neck of the girl, along with a Obsidian (!) Bladed Combat Dagger at Her waist with rough emblems of a Jaguar-like Predator Cat; if His study of Human Religious Culture were right a sort of "Cruel Warrior God" of Mesoamerican People had some powerful resemblanc to Cotoya, the VERY Morat REMAINING Icon of Traditional Martial Arts value. . . Something along "Jaguar God Taazcatlipoqua, the Smoking Mirror". . .!! One of the Jaguar Males, then respectfully approached Uja and asked nonchalantly if the "Gang" could borrow Ricardo for a relaxing, impromptu "Shootout-Bout" with Chaincolts and Chainrifles (that in Corregidor Mothership Underbelly were LEARNED to Shoot at Primary School age, sometime even BEFORE learning how to don properly an Emergency Vac-Suit !!) and a round of LIGHT Cervezas (that in some area of the ROUGHEST Nomad Mothership are SAFER than Current Water to drink, EVEN for Small Childrens !!!) just to know better the "Boy". . . He tried to empathize with the plight of the NEWEST Adoptive Son of Uja, by nonchalantly saying that EVEN He, Juan-Alonso Martinez, had a rough past of ABUSED Sex-Slave-Boy, but there were NOT Rich Women to have "Exploited / Raped" Him, but rather "Malditos Viejos Maricones", old Gay Pedophiles, that He gallivantly killed ALL "By Frag Grenade Enema" AS SOON AS entered the Gang of "Daddy Texcatlipoca Tex" the adoptive pimp-father of LaTigre Balam. . . Weirdly enough the Trio were ALL related (the two males distant cousins, and the small Girl, Mahya, the little sister of Alonso; the other Male, seemed a little more Afro-Mexican and was called "Carlos Nigro") that grew-up together in the FILTHIEST parts of Corregidor, and so could FURTHER help with the complex group dynamics of Not-Brothers of Arryn, Jo Un and Ricardo. . . . .
Uja'rak: "I'll be trusting you concerning this." He looked straight into Martinez's eyes. "As someone who has similar past experiences my hope is that Ricardo will bond with you all easily. But also that your shared suffering will be a buffer from any of you from becoming like your abusers or the pimp that took you in." Uja scanned the area for Balam. He wouldn't be going ahead without her leading the way. Perhaps a future visit to get to know the gang better was required. Maybe Ricardo would have that aspect covered when he returned from his training with the group if he was talkative about his experience.
"We can probably split the difference. They're flimsy enough that a couple of grenades will clear them out. If I break concealment to the south-west, destroy that tower enroute and then assault the dock. It means that the two of you will only need to cover the north and east sides. From that point it will be punching them in the face, and keeping on punching. Never done it. O2 won't be an issue, she's sealed. What's the terrain like underwater?" Betty responds to his question by displaying the bottom topography. He's looking for approximately 5 metres depth until quite close into the shore, to keep him concealed, and no-more than about 10-15 metres deep from the insertion point, so he doesn't need to worry about pressure issues. OOC: the tower I'm referring to is in the bottom left of the map.
"MWAH!-HA!-HA! Like ALL sturdy Corregidoran Tech the Geckos are capable to do EVERYTHING!!" "While they are OPTIMIZED to Board Starships and Space-Stations, BOTH Deep Void and Orbital Colonies, the murky waters of shallow harbours are NO PROBLEMO, ZERO SWEAT Boyos!!!" "Was saying so to my pals here, this LOOOVELY Couple that so well represent the intermixing of Rough'N'Tumble Rustic Ruggedness of Ariadnans to the SLIGHTLY more refined Haqqislamite Rural Outriders Culture!!" "My good friends there, King Mynos and his adorable Desert Queen, had YET invested in the Made-In-China Guijia Heavy Exoframes, further enhanced by JUDICIOUS application of the rich Teseum of Planet Dawn! One of their MANY offsprings is EVEN a promising pilot of one of these Mecha-Minotaurs !!" "But when is NOT a Massive Firepower Platform that You need, but Stealth, Dexterity and NUMBERS, with the price of ONE Guijia than You can obtain THREE customizable Geckos !!" "But, My dear friends, You could say that MAYA pages say that a Guijia is worthy more! That BARELY two Measly Geckos will fill the price!!" "BALDERDASH! I say!! As ANY savvy, world-wise Nomad worth His salt will tell You, my dear Friends . . .NEVER TRUST MAYA!!" "And why? Why, simple, because THERE HERE IS THE PREMIERE MECHANIC of the wondrous GECKOS!! The ONE, and ONLY, my Maaaaann. . . . . .Rooodriguez TONY !!!!! Simply the BEST Nomads Light Exoframe Technician available on the Mercenary Market !!!" Thus spoke Moonriser, in a perfectedly pitched stage-voice of an Afro Caribbean Mountebank, loudly proclaimed, as if interjecting INSIDE the Tactical Ruminations of Alistair & C. His "Stage Helpers", the Desperado Gang Boss Mynos, and His wife (& Partner in Crime) Leylah Bey, the Kum Ladyboss, amused by the antics of the Brigada Veteran, made appreciative "ooohs" and "aaahs" at the Adoptive Corregiodoran theatrical shehanigans. . . But the spots of the limelights were aimed towards Tony anyway, and a couple of the most tech-savvy High Officers of the Company were opening Arachne-Pages that ran Cost-Profit comparisons between Magharibas, Guijias, Geckos and the two "Ariadnan Superheavy Armours" the Blackjack and the Kazak hammer-wielding, rocket spewing Ratnik. . .
Totally UNFAZED by the theatrics of the dark-skinned Mobile Brigada a trio of Red-Turbaned Khawarjis approached Alistair and saluted the Highlander Officer and His "Lord & Liege". . . Their leader appeared to be a Mature Woman with a visible face totally tattoed with Qu'Ran Verses rendered in tiny Arabic Glyphs; the other two, clearly Males, kept their Rebreather Facemasks on and were technically identical, with JUST the one on the left more larger, imposing and broad-shouldered, while the one on the right seemed far Younger and Smallframed, but with incredibly detailed muscles, rippling underneath the Biokevlar Desert Stillsuit. . . "Saaalam-Aleykum! Pleased to make Your aquaintances, Alistair Mc Elliott Pasha Effendi!" "While the noble title of Pasha is MORE akin to the Rank of Royal Duke, as I know of comparison of Old Earth Aristocracy, maybe I should address You rather as a Calyph, that was a Military Noble Rank denoting Highborn Warleaders !!" "Me and my esteemed Colleagues could not help overhear Your rather EXCELLENT Tactical Planning, and is quite sound from a General Point-Of-View. . .!!" "We of the Khawarjis are NOT ONLY Shaikhs well-learned in Neo-Sufi Lore and Imams of Haqqislamite Theology, but ALSO expected to lead Asymmetrical Warfare Fireteams in the WORST confrontations of the Human Sphere !!" "My colleagues and I had led very similar Black-Ops Wetworks in very similar places, and will GLADLY discuss the finer points of Tactical Planning, should You want some good counterpoints and advices!!" "I had personally commanded Mixed Forces, and had the Honour of battling alongside with Ariadnans and Nomads. . .!!" "But the ONLY Morats that I saw in action were Lethal Foes in the Jungles of Paradiso, especially the ones entrenched around the Ruins of poor, devastated Ravensbrücke. . . . .that was ONCE my Home City. . . . .and the place where My Husband . . .and Childrens . . . . .dwelled!!" While the infos were reported matter-of-factly, there were poignant small pauses in the last phrasings, and the larger Red Turban Comrade stiffened a little at the mention of "Husband" and "Childrens" at a rather PAST tone. . . Alistair, himself a Veteran of MANY tours of service on the "Greenhell Battlefront" recognized the fact that the High % Panoceanian City of Ravensbrücke, that was "Ground Zero" of the very FIRST landing of Combined Army forces and had an APPALLING high percent of Civilian Casualties that the Human Sphere had NOT seen in many, Many, MANY years. . . And then, suddendly, some Frontline Stories immediatly happened to Alistair mind. . . The "Crimson-Crescent Scarlet-Widow" an Haqqislamite Sword-Dancer, formerly a Cultural Heritage Performer, that became a fearless, suicidally brave Assault Officer that led Close Combat Specialists against Combined Army Special Forces entrenched in fortified positions. . .
"LORD BE PRAISED!" "Finally You are there, my Alien Friend, and not a moment to waste !!" "Surely this Wanton Wretched Wastrel tried to lead You astray !!" "BACK-OFF, Seductive Temptress! BACK-OFF, You Whore-Of-Babylon!! Your miscegenated ways have NO GRAB on a worthy soul!!!" "How many, Many, MANY Times I have said You, Luciferine-Brothel-Hellspawn, that the VERY FIRST Alien Payinim to SEE THE LIGHT OF OUR LORD & SAVIOUR, to CONVERT to the GOOD WORK OF THE GOOD BOOK, will NOT FALL to Your wanton ways!!" "He was so Purehearted to Marry IN HOLY SACRAMENT a Human Woman, so that ORPHANED YOUNGSTERS will NOT be led further astray down the ROAD OF SIN and AGAINST THEIR WILL, to booth. . .!!" "AVANT THEE! BACK OFF!! Or You will face the RIGHTEOUS WRATH of the HOLY FLAMING BLADE of the Archangel Michael HIMSELF, Leader of the Heavenly Warhost, entrusted to the care of this lowly, unworthy, humble Crusader!!!" "FIE! FIE!! You Catfaced Meretrix, or I, Saint George, The Dragonslayer of Genoa, will SMITE THEE!!!" Then suddendly, Giorgio Santi, the Ex Templar (and "Excommunicate Traitoris" from the Panocean Military Orders High Council of the Papal See !!!!) pounced from the shadows on the unsuspecting Balam; it seemed a sort of Ambush Attack. . . But the EXTREMELY dangerous Templar Broadsword of the mad, crazed zealot was NOT pointed edge-verse towards the Chimera from Corregidor. . . Rather was held in a reverse-blade hold, as if was a peculiarly large, sword-shaped Crucifix to banish a Demonic Devil back to the "Fiery Pits Of Hell". . .!! . . . . . Rather than being surprised, frightened or even merely annoyed, LaTigre Balam nonchalantly rolled with it, hissing and shielding her cat-slitted eyes as if dazzled from a too bright, unbearable light !! And then, almost as if reciting from a well-practiced theatre script. . . "CURSES ! FOILED AGAIN !! Once more Stymied in my Hellish Seduction by None-Other-Than. . . . .THE DRAGONSLAYER PALADIN!!!" "Curses and Thrice-Damned Curses!!" "Usually an High Succubus of My Rank and Peerage, Handmaiden of Lady Lilith HERSELF, will not be TURNED by a measly Charisma Score like Yours, even if You rolled a Natural 20 !!!!" "BUT. . . . .I see that You have acquired an HIDEOUS Holy Avenger +5 Sword; CURSES. . . . .that Sizable Bonus is enough to overcome my Magic Resistance!!!" "MUST FLEE. . . . .FOR NOW! BUT. . .I'll be back! The Red Monkey Butt will be MINE!" "Will be mine! Mine!! MINE!!" "MMIIIINNEEEEEE!!! MWAH-HA-HA-HA !!!!!" "And NOW, TO MY HELLCAT-MOBILE!!!" When the absurd scene played on, many of the spectators were TOO DUMBSTRUCK to intervene, or even react. . . But, as soon as the Feline Chimera ran away, followed by the Heavy Infantry Paratrooper IN FULL GEAR, that screamed incoherently about "Satanic Gibberish from Dungeons & Dragons" then a few seconds of silence ensued. . . Then ALMOST everyone present burst in hysterical laughters, with some of the most undignified, undisciplined Mercs (such as U.S.Ariadnan Desperados and Kum Bikers) LITERALLY rolling on their backs in fits of booming hilarity. . .!! The only "Island Of Calm" in that boiling ocean of laughters was the three armed Tohaa Biotech Geneenginer, that approached Uja with calm aloofnees, but NOT cynical disdain of the antics of the various Humans around. . .!! "Weird! It was very, Very, VERY weird!! Could NOT fathom if it was a Mating Ritual, an Attempt of Expressive Theatre or BOTH!!!" "Aaaaanywayyy! My dear Sergeant Uja (I daresay the MOST helpfully COLLABORATIVE of My Morat Subjects of Bioscence Study. . .) the Long Wait is OVER!" "Before Your acquaintance, that SO PECULIAR Human Gaotarsos, went a little OVERBOARD with the Visions from his Ancestors Gene-Inspiration Rituals, we finalized the last checks on Your EXOPLATES Armoured Frames. . .!!" "As You can see inside there is TWINNED Gene-Matched Biofiber on all the attachement places! They will latch on the Skin of Your Symbiosuit and further be secured by these bolt-screws!! And then will activate the Reactive Bioelectrical Neuromatrix!!!" "A PITY then that We could NOT properly make You wear it now! But as far as I know the START of the Simulated Battle will be done with You and the Noble Hybrid Antipode-Human with MINIMAL equipement!! So I will put it back in the crate that the Gunsmith Cats Ladies will bring with Your new Heavy Guns. . .and that rather. . .crudely EFFECTIVE. . .Big Blunt Implement!!" "As You will probably reach the crate under POTENTIAL Enemy Fire, and then wear the Armoursuit under EFFECTIVE Fire, now will send You a Geist-Tutorial to do it speedily, even under EXTREME duress !!!"
Vorpella: "This is ridiculous." The geist mentally echoed in Uja's head. "A mockery concerning the forces you once battled with." Uja'rak: "Those days are unfortunately over.." The Morat inwardly sighed. "Sometimes I feel that I was better off on Paradiso then this madhouse stationed on a rock." Vorpella: "Incoming, approaching Artichoke." Uja'rak: "A child from a union of those two..I dare not think about it. As for your other statements..what do you mean Morat subjects?" He paused to let the Tohaa speak for itself. "I take it that I'm with Alistair in this battle arena? Also where is the crate placed?"
Alistair checked the map one last time, counting towers, making sure the camp would be cut the camp between them, and keep the defenders properly distracted. Truth be told, he was worried about Morat being forced to infiltrate the most watched part of the camp, but at the same time, Dog-Warrior preferred to be already inside and first to check the enemy strength. "Galahad, upload the plan for Uja, mark his targets." Scot turned his head to Haqqislamite and answered politely. "Commander Crimson Crescent. I heard the stories. You did a fine number on those aliens in return." He sincerely didn't knew how he felt about the crowd here, so instead Dog Warrior focused on planning, making sure, the idea of attack would be well described and cover the camp properly, while his Geist was transmitting the data. "Alright lads, This would be the basic gist. Tony hits as we press on step three. With smoke, fire and defenders scrambling he should have a while before any Anti armor becomes an issue. Then we assault from inside of the main fortification. Should give me an Uja most cover and leave enemies with only bad options. Patrols should be removed as needed. With that I think we should have good part of camp covered." Alistair turned to two other members of his team. "Any further questions?"
Insertion and extraction. Tony pauses to think. Water makes sense for both. Drop the two of you up the coast a little, and then you can leg it in. Tony smiles evilly. He doesn't envy them that 'walk'. Drop me off just outside sensor range and then have the boat loiter offshore. Once we've got the package, extraction via the main dock? Only problem is it'll need you guys to fight through to me after grabbing the package, so secondary RV on land to the north east if you can't achieve that? You two break contact while they're still engage with me to the front? His smile has slowly to a grimace. Combined with his scare this contorts is face into an ugly visage, it's not a good look. That'll leave me isolated on the pinche dock, but I'll at least have the boat for extraction. He shakes his head very slightly; they really are a hand short. Looking at the assembled officers, who so far hadn't been much help: I assume you have a boat, something fast? Ideally with lots of guns? Tony looks back at Alastair: The only other question is time? Traditionally you groundpounders do these things just before dawn, right? Circadian rhythms are less of a consideration when you're assaulting a ship running multiple different watch cycles, but Tony smiles as he says it, in an attempt to appear friendly. It's probably a gentler look than his earlier grimace but not by much: the combination of facial scaring and cybernetic eyes means his facial cues take a while to get used to.
Uja'rak scanned the map that his geist plastered in front of his visage. Uja'rak: "So the target seems to be nearby the entry point but I'm confused. Are the targets themselves labeled with a Roman Numeral next to them or is that just the planned out cover on the path I'm supposed to take?" Vorpella: "No clue, better get some more info. We wouldn't want to look stupid after so much praise has been heaped upon us."
On the shores of an unused part of a very far-off corner of New Knossos Island, sat an abandoned, disused Wharf Pier of the old, dilapidated Teseum Mining Company, that seemed to have start rustying and flaking off even before the allotted failure of that unlucky venture. . . Now a new, fresh hub of activity blossomed anew on the structure and harsh lights of portable Actinic-Led Lamplights had started to cut the gloomy, murky fog-like dampness of the pre-dawn hours with their glaring beams, similar to blades of pure whiteness knifing that ruined structure and the dark haze that had rested, unperturbed for so many years. . . The "Humanoid Drones" of the Artificial Intelligence allied to the Minotaurs Mercenary had taken possession of the place and started to create a good enough approximated simulation of what was the typical Smugglind Deopot of the short-sighted Criminals that squandered (for petty cash and hi-tech trinkets of the Human Sphere) the most sought-after resource of the Colonists of Planet Dawn. . . While their aspect was clearly robotic, anyone who fought the various Renegades of Ariadna could see that they had an uncanny, weird, almost disturbing, "Copied Behaviour" of the Organic Smugglers, as if their Digital Minds were very good to ape and mimicry these typical Submondo Thugs of Dawn. . . . . . . . They approximated quite a very attentive, almost paranoid complex, multi-layered shift of roving patrols and fixed sentinels, but, unbeknowst to their Limited Artificial Consciousness they were YET in deep trouble. . . Their Enemies were YET behind their primary lines, ready to deploy undetected, move further stealthily and strike. . . . .!!!
@Golem2God . . . Uja'Rak'Se'Ok could easily approach a desired insertion path, navigating between the debris of the dilapidated warehouses and ruined service buildings of the failed Teseum Mining Consortium that colonized New Knossos Island more than 50 Human Years ago. . . As a sad state of affairs that the Humans-Made structures with whom the Morat Race was more accustomed to were Burned Rubbles and Crumpled Housings; hard-earned skills and natural prowess honed by countless battles in the "Niemand Zone" of the Paradiso Frontlines made effortlessly a silent shadow of the Krakot Renegade, unseen and unheard by the more advanced "Humanoid Drones" simulating Bandit Sentinels on the premises. . . A Young Daturazi was trained, ruthlessly and mercilessly, in Athlethic Efficiency at the peak of Morathood, but even without the grueling training regimen a Veteran like Uja was able to keep fit without an hassle. . . A little "Naked" in the brand new Symbiotic Muscle-Suit provided by the Tohaa Renegades (whose Artificial Exomusculature undulated and rippled, in a weird, but not disturbing, manner. . . . .while quickly adjusting to the Morat Xeno-Biology) , anyway Uja had his Ceremonial Martial Arts weapon panoply (whose "Crown" was the Vorpal "Triskelion Boomerang Star" housing the Geist Hardware) to silently kill at close, and the Light Autoshogun "Pistol" loaded with those strange "Teleshot" Subsonic Silent Slugs (whose Armor Piercing Efficacy was JUST lower than a Normal Shell). . . . . . . . At His side the Snakewolf "Knucker" slithered smoothly, in Its Draconic-Serpentine way, without even making a small chip of rubble fall down; Uja was surprised that the Human Ariadnans that He faced on Paradiso had not thought beforehand to employ EVEN this Breed of Native Predator of Dawn in their Military Ops. . . Morats had started SOON to respect the brutal efficiency of the Antipode Assault Packs and K9 Units; but those were rather like a Noisy Maul, where the Venomous Reptiles could be likened to a Silent Scalpel. . . But from the garbled communications with the handlers that had "Gifted" Uja's household with the Acidic Snake-like being, was apparent that these fiendish critters had started just soon to multiply and colonize other parts of Planet Dawn rather than their limited Ecosystem Niche. . . Probably was the slight modifications of the Ariadnan Climate done by the Early Colonists, or their wars of attrition against the SUPREME "Apex Predator" of Dawn, the Antipodes, had allowed these monsters to flourish. . . . . . . . Anyway "Knucker" was a sort of "King" amongst the other Snakewolves that Uja had seen in the Kennel Pits (tended by burly, half-savage Wulvers AND a "Freak Circus" of Nomad Mercs so weird that sometimes was NOT easy to understand WHO was a Chimera Handler and WHO a Bestial Pupnik !!); those others were slimy creatures wallowing in the mud, while silently approaching an usnuspecting prey. . . As soon as the Snakewolf had bonded with Uja, had started to exhibit different behaviour, stalking regally with a silent pride not unlike the marvelous Apex Monsters of the Morat Homeland Planet (one of the MOST dangerous Planet of the Galaxy with an active Ecosphere. . .far worse than Dawn). . . It was NO Demarok, undisputed ruler of Ugarat Ecosystem, but for a Krakot Renegade Daturazi was even MORE apt to be useful. . . . .!!! . . . . . Ahead of the bonded pair of stalking predators was a clumsy Patrolling Humanoid Drone; it would have been childishly easy to avoid His blundering path before the Northern Wall (designated entry point of Uja) but MAYBE an Enemy silently disposed of NOW was a "Less Gun" to fight later. . . . .
@Beodren . . . On the Eastern Side of the crumbled walls of the Dockside Warehouse there, well hidden amongst the rubble of one of countless failed Mining Depot structures, the Young Caledonian Lord awaited in Ambush. . . Still in Dogface Form, as the first "Stealth Incursion" part of the Training Simulation was meant to check, the Highlander Lieutenant was a little "Too Lightweight Armed" for its tastes; especially telling and disturbing was the ABSENCE of the familiar weight of the Heirloom Family Claymore (properly reforged by His Grandfather Smiths for a truly devastating Dogwarrior Size), hidden somewhere inside the compound, along with His trusty Heavy Molotok Autorifle and the brand new "Werewolf Sized" Mormaer Breastplate Armour. . . . . . . . But, even without these PRICELESS Pieces of Hardware, Lord Mc Elliot was far from unable to slay His foes; in the Cybernetic Arm was firmly held a Caledonian Assault Blade (shaped like an oversized "Dirk" Scottish Dagger) and in the still organic one a sawed-off Autoshotgun "Pistol" whose recoil and weight were quite familiar for the "Veteran Youngster". . . And was totally cloaked in a new Highlander Greys Camo-Poncho (that Alistair had YET precticed be able to fashionly re-wrap as a Kilt Mantlepiece-Vest when assuming Dogwarrior Battleform) that was excellently done. . . The Tohaa Renegades had cultivated some sort of "Chameleon Smart-Fiber" developed from Gene-Engineering of Native Crops of Ariadnan "Woolgrass". . . . .that was rendered into still-living silky tissue by smart Haqqislamite Biotechs. . . . .finally Caledonian Shieldmaidens had expertly woven and crafted it in an attire befitting a Lord of the high station of Alistair. . .!! . . . . . An half-whimpered sound from the Heavily Cybernetized Antipode at His side (whose posture was totally "Beta Submissive" to Alistair "Alpha Role" !!) and a more efficacious "Comlog Ping" drew His attention to the roads ahead the brighly illuminated compound. . . His keen more-than-human senses, trained from birth in the uneasy Wildlands around Scone and then forged anew in the Crucibles of the Human Sphere warzones (especially the so devastating Paradiso Frontlines) alerted Him that a lone patrolling Drone, squeaking in the hydraulic joints and reeking of cheap oil, had reached an edge of the allotted patrol zone and would soon go back. . . Time to act in concert with the other "Fireteam Alpha" Squadmates. . . . .!!!
@inane.imp . . . Tony Rodriguez was more than ready. . . All system were nominal on "Green"; His trusty Geist "Betty" was taking care of anything untoward relating the unusual placement of a Void-Forged Gecko Exoframe under the murky waters of a Mining Outpost Waterfront (along with silencing the almost-complains of the Onboard "Combat Assistant" L.A.I. about being "Immersed in Muck" !!) and the Mindlink Neuralware connection with the Tactical Armoured Gear was smoothly swerving on Pre-Combat Settings. . . . . . . . In front of the Hololitic Displays of the Virtual Sight of Tony a clear Multi-Dimensional Layered Map of the Target Compound was clearly displayed; with just a Mental Impulse parts of the Map could have been enlarged or analyzed in detail. . . It was a limited Map of course, as it was based on "Extant Blueprints" of the Structure crossed with a recent (no more than half an hour of Planetary Time) passage of an Ariadnan Satellite. . . The Warsats of Planet Dawn were WOEFULLY inadequated to a Modern Nomad Corregidoran Techie like Tony (that stuff was practically STONE-AGE even if compared to Asteroid Warning Buoys built with half-welded wreckage in the scrapyards by Tony's teen relatives, back in the Mothership !!); but AT LEAST they had a competent Infrared Scanner and a passable Thermographic Analyzer that allowed Tony to draw a "Rough Canvas". . . . . . . . Lying in wait in the shallow waters like some sort of Reptilian Amphibious Apex Predator, the Mechanic could yet check all visible items on the Holomap. . . There were a couple of clearly blinking blips indicating His team-mates; their Stealth Insertion skills were adequated enough, at least if compared to the High, but not unsurmontable Senses of the Drone Patrols (underscored as moving arrows in Neon Violet on Tony Virtual Mind-Map). . . A little more worrying were the "Crossed Hairlines" representing VISIBLE Snipers perched on high positions (such as Streetlights and Industrial Supports); their Limited Camouflage, along with Cybersenses TOTALLY focused on Visible / Nonvisible Spectrum would have been a problem. . . . . . . . The "Tactical Suggestions" by the Exoframe Combat Library would have been to have the Snipers as "Primary Targets" of a Comm Scrambling, but Tony's wide experience in all manners of Orbital Assault Black-Ops offered Him countless possible variations on that basic attack plan. . . . .!!!
Decisions, decisions, war is full of choices. What was once considered a good tactical course of action could become tomorrow's greatest regret. That is If you survived to live another day. Uja was now making one of those tough choices. On one hand bypassing the drone seemed to be an easy task. So easy he could do it blindfolded. On the other hand if the situation got heated then leaving that drone functioning would mean more cautious mentality if the thing decided to double-back and open fire on him or the other two members of this exercise. As the Morat stood confounded on which action he should take he noticed the small reptile next to him had stopped wagging it's tail. From the look on the creature's face it seemed to realize that it's Alpha didn't know what to do. Signs of panic set in mostly in the form of the snake-like beast remaining as still as possible. The idea that his pack leader was in a mental bind brought it as much fear as being surrounded by Antipodes. If the leader didn't know what actions to take then he, the Snakewolf, was as good as dead. At least in it's own eyes. Uja'rak: "Enough." He spoke in a quite but stern voice. "We're not going to die." These words seemed to have no effect on the Snakewolf's current state of mind. Uja grumbled at this display of animal cowardliness. Looks like he would have to "show" the beast how the situation they were in wasn't detrimental like it thought. Taking matters into his own hands the Morat strode forward in near silence towards the bumbling automaton. While the fact that the controlled scenario was making this easier than normal entered his mind, Uja pushed out any thoughts of doubt and pressed on. After a couple of steps the Morat was in range of a melee strike thanks to his large body and long reaching weapon. Using "Quick Draw" he gripped the Vorpal bladed polearm and performed an effortless double cut. Slicing the head in two and the torso in the next motion. The esoteric Vorpal Blade made cutting through the material a breeze. One would think that the blade simply cut through air if not for the downed remains of the drone lying in front of him. Turning around to check his surroundings Uja noticed the Snakewolf peering it's head around the corner watching the action from a safe distance. Uja'rak: "See?" The larger male tried to instill confidence into the smaller creature. "Told you we're not in any danger." Knucker seemed to understand the meaning behind these words and trotted over to his Alpha as Uja began to walk back to the path set earlier on his map. The thought of a map caused a desire in the Daturazi to recheck the path laid out before him. He opened his cube communications to bring up the map but nothing came. Noticing this Uja quickly checked the devices other functions but much to his relief & perhaps slight dismay everything was working fine. All except the data of the map which held his predetermined path. Knucker once again sensed that something was wrong and began to tense up upon the realization that an unknown problem was hindering his Alpha. Despite any troubleshooting done nothing seemed to bring the map back to be viewed. Uja discerned he was starting to use up too much time on this slight difficulty. Any gains made from taking out the drone had to be gone by now. He would have to continue the practice session blindly due to this data hiccup. So after taking a deep breath he continued down the long corridor hoping to that some details of the map would come to his remembrance. Meanwhile Knucker followed behind howbeit with stiff body movements as the reptile's trust in his Alpha was wearing thin. P.S. "The reason I included Uja losing all data of the map the last part into the segment was due to the actual map not showing up on CB's forum. So in this case me and in retrospect Uja are currently running blind in this training session. I think this turn of events makes for an interest aspect to current events in the story and I'll play off of it. Just don't be surprised if the Morat ends up wondered around a bit bumps into a teammate or something else. Thought I think he will be quite enough to remain unheard until any fighting breaks out."
Vorpella: "Ok I think I got it." The voice of the geist echoing in his head made the Morat take cover behind the nearest obstacle. Uja'rak: "You mean the map is visible?" Vorpella: "Feast your mortal eyes & gaze upon my success!" As if on que the holo-map that was shown during the short conference appeared before Uja's eyes. Except... Uja'rak: "What is this?" The disbelief in the Morat's voice caused the geist to turn towards the holo-map. Vorpella: "Oh..." Uja'rak: "This is what you call success? If I had boasted to my superior about this shoddy piece of work.." Vorpella: "My work is not shoddy!" Uja'rak: "Then what do you call this?!" Pointing at the map's shrunken size that looked like a preview icon for a holo-vid. Vorpella: "The data transfer didn't come through perfectly." Uja'rak: "I'm surprised it came at all." Angrily waving his hand to cause the image to disappear from his view. "I never had this much trouble in the Aggression Forces." This comment had a stinging effect on the geist's programmed personality. Vorpella: "Then why don't you just go back to them! While you're at it, get out of this situation by yourself alpha male! I'm done!" And with that the geist faded out of the material realm. If Knucker was nervous before now he was thinking of making a break for the nearest exit. Only the voice of Uja stopped the dragon in it's tracks before it could attempt to escape. Uja'rak: "Beast, let's go." Using what he remembered of the map, the Morat began to head west while Knucker followed close behind. Meanwhile outside of the simulated exercise: Balam: "I certainly didn't expect this kind of performance from el grande chico." Kayta: "He does seem...off, you could say." The Russian Dogface remarked. Greywulf: "That's not good." The Scott chimed in. "If this continues I seriously doubt we should let the Morat join the squad we're building. This does not bode well for any future plans..." Balam: "Maybe he has the jitters and is too prideful to admit it. We've had some experience with the red apes before this guy." Greywolf sighed. Greywulf: "Yes the female called Wopk." Kayta: "Why did we allow her on the island again?" The blonde asked aloud. Wayah: "She has a pup." Kayta nodded as her memory was jogged by that detail. Kayta: "Ah yes that was it. I take it that she still hasn't fit into the island's culture." Wayah: "Keeps to herself as much as possible and never lets the kid out of her sight. The fact that the vast majority of the island doesn't have nor want anything to do with the wildlife section certainly makes her self-impossed separation that much easier." Balam: "I don't think anyone realizes that she has a child. We're probably..." Wayah: "Big ape on the move again." Balam: "Lets hope he does something exciting cause this is putting me to sleep." Yawning as she finished her sentence. Back in the simulation: Vorpella: "Here." This time the full map came up on screen in it's intended size. Uja'rak: "I thought you said you were done with me." Vorpella: "I wasn't going to let you have the last word after calling my work shoddy." Uja'rak: "Very well. According to this I'm..at the first target?" Vorpella: "Wait, you basically stumbled upon the first leg of your predetermined path?" Uja'rak: "Perhaps this means things are starting going my way. Now let's see what makes this first target so important."
Nothing. Vorpella: "Well...that's disappointing. Makes you wonder if there really is anything at these stops at all." Uja simply breathed out of his nostrils like a disgruntled bull at this revelation. Uja'rak: "It's probably at the next stop." Keeping his wits and demeanor in a state of hopeful optimism. "I don't see each one being empty." Vorpella: "It better be. I'm getting tired of seeing you in a semi-birthday suit." Uja'rak: "Elaborate on birthday suit." Vorpella: "A human slang referring to nakedness or the lack of clothing on his or her a person. Comes from the fact that offspring are born naked and..." Uja'rak: "I think I understand now." The Morat interrupted the program as he began to continue moving to the next objective. The electronic entity gave a huff & began to speak once again but Uja mentally blocked her to focus on the current task. Making to the second crate was of the upmost importance. Looking around for a brief second Uja makes his move with a burst of speed. His physical make-up and training propelling him at an inhuman pace. It doesn't take the Morat long to round the bend & reach the next crate. After a small feat of strength the crate is opened and the equipment contained inside is finally available to be used. Uja'rak: "So the three-armed one does have some influence.." He muttered to himself as he gathered his stuff. "A jump-pack fitted to my size. Now I can add "demented humor" to his character." Uja harkened back to the first physical he got from the strange Tohaa bio-doc and the Morat's mention to purge his fear of heights. Further remarking how he pushed himself in an attempt to garner the attention of commanding officers so he would be recommended to become a Rasyat diplomat just to overcome his childhood fear. The three-armed Tohaa scientist thought the idea was both interesting and amusing then continued with the physical. Considering no one else knew about this "defect" Uja was certain that the Artichoke spilled the beans to someone with the skill to make the jump-pack he now held in his hands a reality. "I'm not going make a fool of myself and only use this if necessary." Setting the device securely upon his back and placing his "vulkanized" shotgun along with the rest of the equipment. He opened the holo-map once more to view the rest of the route. Looks like he would have to use the explosives recently acquired to break through the walls. First stop the second target and then the last leg of the chosen path. Filled with two nearby patrol bots and a sniper to boot. The need to "create" a pathway to access this final zone would alert all three guards to the security breach. No amount of sneaking was going to get Uja through unseen after the detonation went off. It would have to be a an open gunfight while trying to not get shot from incoming sniper fire from afar.
