What is good?--Whatever augments the feeling of power, the will to power, power itself, in man.
What is evil?--Whatever springs from weakness.
What is happiness?--The feeling that power increases--that resistance is overcome.
Not contentment, but more power; not peace at any price, but war; not virtue, but efficiency (virtue in the Renaissance sense, virtu, virtue free of moral acid).
The weak and the botched shall perish: first principle of our charity. And one should help them to it.
What is more harmful than any vice?--Practical sympathy for the botched and the weak.
-FRIEDRICH W. NIETZSCHE
The art of war, then, is governed by five constant factors, to be taken into account in one's deliberations, when seeking to determine the conditions obtaining in the field.
These are: (1) The Moral Law; (2) Heaven; (3) Earth; (4) The Commander; (5) Method and discipline.
-Sun Tzu
All warfare is based on deception.
-Sun Tzu
Rheynard flexed his muscles, smiling toothily as he felt the satisfying ripple of his taut muscles. Despite his age he was in excellent shape, perhaps better than he had ever been in. His work out was brief but efficient, leaving his body covered in sweat and his muscles worn and taut. His dark eyes were deep pools that failed to reflect the moon light. His frame was large for any human, meta or otherwise. He stood just over six and a half feet, and by his looks weighed a good two hundred kilos. His neck and limbs were best described as trunk like, such was their thickness. His body was toned and his muscles rippled as he moved. He performed each Kata from memory.
As he finished his Katas, he gazed out across the water. The Ocean, he liked to think, was his match in every way. Its vast hulking form knew no limits, no bounds to its depth. Its was not so much ruthless, as it was simply unforgiving. Like him, it hid secrets that no man knew, like him it was cold and sometimes inhuman. He liked the Ocean.
He jogged, his steps faster and lighter than any man his size had right to, the two hundred meters to the beach quietly, with out breaking his stride or breathing hard. Despite the late hour the temparture was still in the mid seventies, he speed up and ran towards the water.
Twety meters from the waters edge he leapt into the air, and for a moment he felt as if he was flying. He brought his gigantic hands forward, and arced his body into the water. Sixty meters from the waters edge he hit the surf, diving deep into the water.
He liked the Ocean.
Kiel, North German Federation
The air was thick with salt and the smell of diesel fuel. Kiel was one of the busiest ports in the North German Federation. Saeder Krupps control of the port insured that business was handled swiftly and orderly. Nearly three quarters of the cities population worked directly for Saeder Krupp. The rest almost certainly worked for the corporation indirectly, providing consumer service industry to SK employees.
Almost twenty eight years ago the city had been ravaged by war. He had been a young man then. A Lieutenant in the newly formed Corporate Army. He had lead a battalion of engineers into the city, rebuilding the city had been a public relations coup for the Corporation, but to him, and to his men it had been a matter of pride.
They had rebuilt the city with typical German precision, laying out the streets perfectly, running utility lines deep beneatht he grouns as to not mar the cities beauty. He had supervised the greatest project in his life. it had taken them only two years, and had cost them far less than original estimates. His work had not gone unnoticed and Lofwyr himself had signed the promotion order.
Twenty eight long years ago.He hardly looked a man who was in sixties, a benefit of rank and prestige was the treatmenta that extended his life and preserved his youth. He appeared as a man of forty maybe forty five. his physique was hardened from years of rigourous exercise and military regimine. His uniform was sharply pressed, and had been tailored to fit him exactly. He wore only those medals and ribbons he was required to by policy, thirteen in all. He alos wore his marksmanship badge, 28th award for both rifle and pistol. His cover sat on the seat next to him, as he read thru the mornings dispatches, occasionally looking up to stare at his city. He was head of the First Special Operations Group now, but he was also the highest ranking officer in the city, and that made this city his.
His Mercedes Benz limousine was black, trimmed in silver, and armor plated enough to take a direct hit from an anti-tank weapon and keep 120 kmph.The windows were one way reflective glass and the only thing that betrayed its importance were the official Saeder Krupp liscense plates on both ends of the vechile. is driver was a "Dragon", a member of the elite commandoes he had helped form. His training was the cutting edge of both technology and magic. He knew, in the back of hismind that the young mans profile clearly stated that he could run almost as fast as this Mercedes Benz for three and a half miles.He could also take a hit from almost any conventional weapon with out even feeling it. If this fact bothered him, he failed to show it.
"Schleiermacher is this all of the dispatches for the morning?"
"No Herr General. Herr Director Oberholtzer ordered me to leave one dispatch in the vault this morning sir. He said that Iwas only to tell you of the dispatch after you had finished with the others, and that he would only allow you to remove it from the vault, sir."
Schleiermacher spoke in a confident but quiet tone. He knew the General would be surprised, but would wait until they arrived to see what the Director had found so alarming that he instituted Alpha Communications Protocol.
"Schleiermacher, I would like to stop for coffee, I have a starnge feeling today may be along day."
"Ja, Herr General Eberhard."
Bremerhaven, North German Federation
"Goddamnit Bill they are stone walling. Saeder Krupp thinks just because they ahve that damn oversized lizard in charge we will back down.Well I say fuck them and their iguana."
"Now Waid we have been throug this all before. Proper protocol.."
"Damn it Bill do you ever stop pushing the party line?"
"Waid thats uncalled for.."
"Bill for a minute strap on some balls and be man, not a goddamned toad..."
"Thats enough Waid." William Lyons was not a man used to being insulted. He also didn't care much for Waid Stones casual use of his nickname,"Now I have told you and I have told you, that Saeder Krupp is one of our major suppliers. We will not jeopardize our contract with them over some damn computer irregularity.Period." Lyons face was granite. He was sick of Stones self righteous lecturing and insulting banter."Now I suggest you find your work station and pretend that you are indeed an employee of this corporation."
Waid Stone had seen this look a thousand times. It meant go away Waid or damn it I will fire your ass.
"Fine Bill, fine, have it your way, but I tell you something is up.Something Big is going on, and we are going to be blindsided by it." Stone turned and left, taking care to not slam the door on his way out. He had a wife and three kids, losing hsi job for being an ass was not an option.
After Waid had left the room, Lyons sat silently thinking about Waid had told him.Finally he lifted his cell phone and dialed the number he had recieved some twenty years ago.He had only dialed it a handful of times, but knew it by heart.He waited as the phone rang. Then abruptly some one answered the line on the other end, he could only guess where.
"This is Firehawk."
"This is War Room. I have a priority dispatch."
"Understood. A courier will meet you in twenty minutes, on the corner of Second and Gold Street."
"Understood."
liam Lyons hung up the phone, knowing that the party on the other side had already done so. He walked over to his burn bag, opening it he placed his phone deep inside the bag, ensuring the ringer was off. He then picked up the optical chips Stone had left on his desk and slid them into his briefcase. He stepepd back over to his desk and keyed the intercomm to his secratary.
"Miss Klum I am going to be taking an early lunch."
Shadowrun IC:: In the Dragons Secret Service-Team Blue
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Serious Paul
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- Joined: Mon Mar 18, 2002 12:38 pm
Shadowrun IC:: In the Dragons Secret Service-Team Blue
Last edited by Serious Paul on Sat Sep 07, 2002 3:04 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Serious Paul
- Devil
- Posts: 6644
- Joined: Mon Mar 18, 2002 12:38 pm
Kiel, North German Federation
Brian Svoboda had barely aged to Eberhards eyes. Svoboda still had that devil may care look in his eyes, and a rapscallions smile. He had purchased this small corner cafe along with most of the rest of this block after he had retired from the teams, that much his file spelled out clearly. What the file didn't mention was how Brian had managed to retain his youthful appearence. Eberhard could easily see that Svoboda had been undergoing similar treatments to his own, but as they were exspensive and difficult to obtain.He wondered how?
"You look good Brian."
"You don't seem to be doing too poorly either Jason.So tell me, what brings you to my end of town? Slumming?"
Jason Eberhard smiled. He hadn't seen Svoboda in almost a decade, he had expected his dry but humorous wit."Brian its been too long. I admit I should have come by sooner." The waitress arrived just then allowing him a moment to pause and consider his words. She set their mugs on the table leaving the two of them to their coffee."Brian why'd you leave?"
"You know damn well why.Things changed, you changed, HE changed."
"He never changes Brian. He's just difficult to know sometimes."
The two men paused to sip from their mugs. Jason noticed immediately that this was real Coffee, not the soy served at lot of the rival establishments in town. He took in his surrondings, quickly noting by habit escape routes and noting any significant obstacles, or persons who might be concelaing something. It was a nice neighborhood for an outdoor Cafe. The tables were facing the docks, in htis area the docks were mainly used to berth small noncommericial craft-sailboats and small motorboats, and the like. The streets were crowded at this hour, but mostly with commuter traffic. Small drones monitored traffic and also provided the local authorities-and Saeder Krupp, with file footage of what was happening on the streets.
"Nice place Brian, real Nice."
"Okay lets cut the shit, shall we? What do you want Jason? I don't see you in a decade or so then Bam! You show up on my door step with a smile and a hey pal how ya doing?I don't buy this getting to know each other shit, so what do you want? What does He want?"
"Brian do you remember when we first formed the teams? Remember those days? Wild crazy days, neh?"
Svoboda sipped from his mug and looked at Jason Eberhard." Those days are long gone for me Jason."
"Sometimes not as far as you might think Brian."Jason looked him in the eye, his expression changed from the pleasant smile he reserved for friends and family to one that he used for business or berating his junior staff officers.He slid the folder out onto the table slowly.He saw Brian Svobodas eyes widen only slightly as he reached out and pulled the file across the table.
"Jason you knwo I am not cleared for this kind of shit anymore right?"
"I told you Brian, you're never that far away."He waited as Brian opened the folder and slowly began to read. He sipped his coffee until it was gone and then quietly watched the flow of traffic and pedestrians trying to pick out which ones were his security detail-they rotated often as to keep the general from slipping his tails. Brian closed the folder and slid it back to him after ten minutes, his eyes betrayed the emotion straining to find its way to the surface as he spoke.
"The Scorpion is back? I thought he was dead?"
"Me too."
Bremerhaven, North German Federation
William Lyons couldn't remember the exact point in which he had betrayed his Company. Once he had been a loyal sariman, he had done what was best for the Company. He had worked hard. He had promoted far beyond his meager background and upraising. He was no longer just the poor son of a Sinless Bastrad. He was the European Vice President of Operations. He made six figures in a bad year, he ahd a three million Deutsche Mark home in the Hills South of the City. He had a trophy wife, his third, and all the worldly posessions a man in his position could expect and more.So why did he do it?Before he could honestly think about the answer his contact sat down next to him.
"Good afternoon William."
"Good afternoon to you as well."
"Do you have the package?"
"Of course."
He slid the samll black brief case he was carrying to the man on his left. He was careful not to look directly at him or mention any names other than his own. His own coutnerespinoage people had taught him that once. The other man slid the case under his closest arm and spoke softly.
"Thank you herr Williams.", As he stood he turned toward the smaller man. His reflexes were enhanced far beyond that of a normal human beings.He drew a small Walther PB-120 with a built in silencer. He fired a single shot into the middle of the other mans forhead. Few if any of those nearby saw him do anything other than than turn slightly towards the smaller man. He walked slowly away allowing yons body to slump over on the bench. As he walked away he whistled an Old Duran Duran tune...
Brian Svoboda had barely aged to Eberhards eyes. Svoboda still had that devil may care look in his eyes, and a rapscallions smile. He had purchased this small corner cafe along with most of the rest of this block after he had retired from the teams, that much his file spelled out clearly. What the file didn't mention was how Brian had managed to retain his youthful appearence. Eberhard could easily see that Svoboda had been undergoing similar treatments to his own, but as they were exspensive and difficult to obtain.He wondered how?
"You look good Brian."
"You don't seem to be doing too poorly either Jason.So tell me, what brings you to my end of town? Slumming?"
Jason Eberhard smiled. He hadn't seen Svoboda in almost a decade, he had expected his dry but humorous wit."Brian its been too long. I admit I should have come by sooner." The waitress arrived just then allowing him a moment to pause and consider his words. She set their mugs on the table leaving the two of them to their coffee."Brian why'd you leave?"
"You know damn well why.Things changed, you changed, HE changed."
"He never changes Brian. He's just difficult to know sometimes."
The two men paused to sip from their mugs. Jason noticed immediately that this was real Coffee, not the soy served at lot of the rival establishments in town. He took in his surrondings, quickly noting by habit escape routes and noting any significant obstacles, or persons who might be concelaing something. It was a nice neighborhood for an outdoor Cafe. The tables were facing the docks, in htis area the docks were mainly used to berth small noncommericial craft-sailboats and small motorboats, and the like. The streets were crowded at this hour, but mostly with commuter traffic. Small drones monitored traffic and also provided the local authorities-and Saeder Krupp, with file footage of what was happening on the streets.
"Nice place Brian, real Nice."
"Okay lets cut the shit, shall we? What do you want Jason? I don't see you in a decade or so then Bam! You show up on my door step with a smile and a hey pal how ya doing?I don't buy this getting to know each other shit, so what do you want? What does He want?"
"Brian do you remember when we first formed the teams? Remember those days? Wild crazy days, neh?"
Svoboda sipped from his mug and looked at Jason Eberhard." Those days are long gone for me Jason."
"Sometimes not as far as you might think Brian."Jason looked him in the eye, his expression changed from the pleasant smile he reserved for friends and family to one that he used for business or berating his junior staff officers.He slid the folder out onto the table slowly.He saw Brian Svobodas eyes widen only slightly as he reached out and pulled the file across the table.
"Jason you knwo I am not cleared for this kind of shit anymore right?"
"I told you Brian, you're never that far away."He waited as Brian opened the folder and slowly began to read. He sipped his coffee until it was gone and then quietly watched the flow of traffic and pedestrians trying to pick out which ones were his security detail-they rotated often as to keep the general from slipping his tails. Brian closed the folder and slid it back to him after ten minutes, his eyes betrayed the emotion straining to find its way to the surface as he spoke.
"The Scorpion is back? I thought he was dead?"
"Me too."
Bremerhaven, North German Federation
William Lyons couldn't remember the exact point in which he had betrayed his Company. Once he had been a loyal sariman, he had done what was best for the Company. He had worked hard. He had promoted far beyond his meager background and upraising. He was no longer just the poor son of a Sinless Bastrad. He was the European Vice President of Operations. He made six figures in a bad year, he ahd a three million Deutsche Mark home in the Hills South of the City. He had a trophy wife, his third, and all the worldly posessions a man in his position could expect and more.So why did he do it?Before he could honestly think about the answer his contact sat down next to him.
"Good afternoon William."
"Good afternoon to you as well."
"Do you have the package?"
"Of course."
He slid the samll black brief case he was carrying to the man on his left. He was careful not to look directly at him or mention any names other than his own. His own coutnerespinoage people had taught him that once. The other man slid the case under his closest arm and spoke softly.
"Thank you herr Williams.", As he stood he turned toward the smaller man. His reflexes were enhanced far beyond that of a normal human beings.He drew a small Walther PB-120 with a built in silencer. He fired a single shot into the middle of the other mans forhead. Few if any of those nearby saw him do anything other than than turn slightly towards the smaller man. He walked slowly away allowing yons body to slump over on the bench. As he walked away he whistled an Old Duran Duran tune...
Last edited by Serious Paul on Sat Sep 07, 2002 3:07 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Serious Paul
- Devil
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- Joined: Mon Mar 18, 2002 12:38 pm
Bremerhaven, North German Federation
The body had been here on this damn bench for at least twelve hours. Jesus. At least the patrolman arriving on the scene had the common sense to mark the scene off and keep the rubberneckers back. He looked down at his notebook and Detective Augustyniak couldn't help but sigh.
The victim was a fifty one year old male, his ID was corporate and when he scanned it declared he was William J. Lyons, of Transys Neuronet. From the looks of him a midlevel sariman. He had been shot at close range with a small caliber weapon.
"Probably a .32 or a .25."He spoke the words mainly to clear his mind and get back on track.
The man had been shot in broad daylight in the middle of a busy intersection. And no one had sen a thing. He had sat their bleeding for twelve hours. Finally one of the citys many homeless denziens had sought to beg borrow or more likely steal something from tre man and had ben shocked to find that he had been shot. Some time later he had been called to the scene.
He slowly took notes, writing them by hand on a small spiral bound notebook. He denoted the direction of lights, and reference points. He denoted the bodies position and condition. He denoted the time, date and the names of the officers he saw in the area.
For a moment he was so caught up in his notes that he hadn't noticed the men unloading from a large black and green step van. He looked up and muttered under his breath.
"Fuck me."
They were Corporate, Saeder Krupp of course. Hee watched as the men in green and black coveralls slowly begin to erect screens and video equipment. One of them was wearing a suit, tailor made, exspensive not like his own. And he was wearing sunglasses.
"Who the fuck wears sunglasses at night?"
He turned back to the corpse and slowly reached out and pocketed the mans ID.
"Detective Augustyniak?"The suit smiled wide, his chrome glasses reflected Augustyniaks face, distorting it slightly. The suit was tall and like a lot of the Saeder Krupp agents he'd encountered in the past, he appeared young and fit.He'd once found out and had since tried to forget, that these guys made four times a smuch as he did.He spotted the suits hand cannon with ease, and wondered again why all these corporate types carried such large caliber handguns?
"Making up for something Inspector?"
"Exscuse me Detective?"
"Nothing..nothing..."
"I am afraid I am taking over this crime scene Detective."The suits smile said he was anything but sorry.
"But he's not even an SK employee? What gives?"The other man smiled and waved his hands, his movements were deliberate and practiced-he was wired. A lot of these Suits these days were. This one was chromed up pretty good.
"Detective I am sorry, I hope you realize I can't reveal that information."Of course he thought, Corporate Secrets demand tight security, local yokel cop wouldn't understand that.
He stood up and began to walk away, he gripped the mans ID tightly as he walked slowly and deliberately away. As he walked off he swore he could hear the Corp Cop humming an old Duran Duran song....
Cidade de Nacala,Mozambique
The two men ahd been in the prone postion on the roof for over eight hours now. They both were of similar build and wearing desert camoflauge utilities, dumping the body armor had been a forgone conclusion in this damn heat.Both carried a heavy pistol, and each also had a SMG, silenced with a rangefinder attachment. Their small rucksacks contained all sorts of electronics surveillance equipment-including a laser target designator, and a small collapsable satellitte dish. Both wore plain brown boonie covers to shade their eyes and necks. They had dropped their extra ammuntion for water-both had started the day with four two quart canteens and a 135 ounce camelback. One of them had a large snipers rifle on a bipod laying next to him, and the other had a portable master unit for their communciations system.
Cidade de Nacala was a port city, and being located just south of the Equator made it a hot wet heat, humidity was a killer. They were on an old warehouse, it had once been used by the church but once the Shangaan Tribe had won the civil war in the early part of the century, Europeans and their church had been forced to flee the country. For five short years the killing had reached a bloody pace, as Shangaan, Chokwe, Sena and Makua tribes ahd fought for control of the country. In the end they had all lost, and the events surronding the awakening and the bloody birth of the sixth world had ground the civil war to a stand still. Corporations of all sorts had moved back in, slowly.Intrested in Titanium, natural gas,graphite, and awakened pharaphenilia of all sorts, Saeder Krupp was one of those corporations.
As the country slowly tried to pull itself out of the economic rut the civil war had left it in, new War Lords had emerged. Some were independent, but most of them had some sort of Corporate backing. Only Saeder Krupp had not sought to put one of these petty War Lords in its pockets. This had made the Corporations assets a target for the War Lords. They had increasingly sought to strike out at the European Industrial giant.
"Quim?"
"Nope got that."The two men ahd been playing a word game all day. The had sougth synonyms for the a word each day. Over time the game had gotten quite vulgar.. Todays word had been Cunt. So far they had eliminated the words Box, Cunt, Vagina, Honey Pot, Twat, Crack, Slit, Velvet Palace,Uterus- a technicality awarded after an hours worth of arguement, Pussy, crotch, love canal, Quim and Nidus Canal.
"Oh.Damn."
"Try again?"
"Yeah in just a second. We have movement down there." They both picked up their binoculars and stared down at the warehouse on the docks. A Shangaan War Lord named Joaquim B'nai Anusium had control of this district. He had been particularly virulent in his hatred of the Dragons Operations in "his" country. Intelliegence had placed Aztechnology as a possible backer, maybe even a small religous organization by the name of the Lylseburg foundation that apparently sold weapons and salvation.
They watched as an old five ton truck pulled into the warehouse.. Several men ran out and surronded the truck, none were very old, nor did the move with real confidence as they pointed their Kalishnikov rifles outward.
"God dmaned pot bellied fly catchers what are you doing now?"
They watched as the warehouse doors opened and a fork lift was rolled out. A ramp was lifted out onto the truck.
"I think this might be important."
"I concur."He lifted the headset into position and spoke quietly as he keyed the mike,"Piper this Sand Rat over."He waited for the response he knew as coming.
"Sand rat this is Piper go."
"Piper be advised that Zulu target is a go, over."
"Solid Copy Sand Rat, stand by for further instructions."
The two men slowly began to pack their gear up. In the ware house men frantically unloaded the truck, moving crtaes out of the way do the Fork Lift could get at what ever was on the back end.
"Sand Rat this is Piper, instructions as follows."
"Lima India Uniform, how copy over?"
"I copy Lima India Uniform over."He pulled the laser targte designator out of his bag.As he moved into position his partner leveled off the snipers rifle.
"Piper this is Sand Rat, be advised we are in postion over."
The body had been here on this damn bench for at least twelve hours. Jesus. At least the patrolman arriving on the scene had the common sense to mark the scene off and keep the rubberneckers back. He looked down at his notebook and Detective Augustyniak couldn't help but sigh.
The victim was a fifty one year old male, his ID was corporate and when he scanned it declared he was William J. Lyons, of Transys Neuronet. From the looks of him a midlevel sariman. He had been shot at close range with a small caliber weapon.
"Probably a .32 or a .25."He spoke the words mainly to clear his mind and get back on track.
The man had been shot in broad daylight in the middle of a busy intersection. And no one had sen a thing. He had sat their bleeding for twelve hours. Finally one of the citys many homeless denziens had sought to beg borrow or more likely steal something from tre man and had ben shocked to find that he had been shot. Some time later he had been called to the scene.
He slowly took notes, writing them by hand on a small spiral bound notebook. He denoted the direction of lights, and reference points. He denoted the bodies position and condition. He denoted the time, date and the names of the officers he saw in the area.
For a moment he was so caught up in his notes that he hadn't noticed the men unloading from a large black and green step van. He looked up and muttered under his breath.
"Fuck me."
They were Corporate, Saeder Krupp of course. Hee watched as the men in green and black coveralls slowly begin to erect screens and video equipment. One of them was wearing a suit, tailor made, exspensive not like his own. And he was wearing sunglasses.
"Who the fuck wears sunglasses at night?"
He turned back to the corpse and slowly reached out and pocketed the mans ID.
"Detective Augustyniak?"The suit smiled wide, his chrome glasses reflected Augustyniaks face, distorting it slightly. The suit was tall and like a lot of the Saeder Krupp agents he'd encountered in the past, he appeared young and fit.He'd once found out and had since tried to forget, that these guys made four times a smuch as he did.He spotted the suits hand cannon with ease, and wondered again why all these corporate types carried such large caliber handguns?
"Making up for something Inspector?"
"Exscuse me Detective?"
"Nothing..nothing..."
"I am afraid I am taking over this crime scene Detective."The suits smile said he was anything but sorry.
"But he's not even an SK employee? What gives?"The other man smiled and waved his hands, his movements were deliberate and practiced-he was wired. A lot of these Suits these days were. This one was chromed up pretty good.
"Detective I am sorry, I hope you realize I can't reveal that information."Of course he thought, Corporate Secrets demand tight security, local yokel cop wouldn't understand that.
He stood up and began to walk away, he gripped the mans ID tightly as he walked slowly and deliberately away. As he walked off he swore he could hear the Corp Cop humming an old Duran Duran song....
Cidade de Nacala,Mozambique
The two men ahd been in the prone postion on the roof for over eight hours now. They both were of similar build and wearing desert camoflauge utilities, dumping the body armor had been a forgone conclusion in this damn heat.Both carried a heavy pistol, and each also had a SMG, silenced with a rangefinder attachment. Their small rucksacks contained all sorts of electronics surveillance equipment-including a laser target designator, and a small collapsable satellitte dish. Both wore plain brown boonie covers to shade their eyes and necks. They had dropped their extra ammuntion for water-both had started the day with four two quart canteens and a 135 ounce camelback. One of them had a large snipers rifle on a bipod laying next to him, and the other had a portable master unit for their communciations system.
Cidade de Nacala was a port city, and being located just south of the Equator made it a hot wet heat, humidity was a killer. They were on an old warehouse, it had once been used by the church but once the Shangaan Tribe had won the civil war in the early part of the century, Europeans and their church had been forced to flee the country. For five short years the killing had reached a bloody pace, as Shangaan, Chokwe, Sena and Makua tribes ahd fought for control of the country. In the end they had all lost, and the events surronding the awakening and the bloody birth of the sixth world had ground the civil war to a stand still. Corporations of all sorts had moved back in, slowly.Intrested in Titanium, natural gas,graphite, and awakened pharaphenilia of all sorts, Saeder Krupp was one of those corporations.
As the country slowly tried to pull itself out of the economic rut the civil war had left it in, new War Lords had emerged. Some were independent, but most of them had some sort of Corporate backing. Only Saeder Krupp had not sought to put one of these petty War Lords in its pockets. This had made the Corporations assets a target for the War Lords. They had increasingly sought to strike out at the European Industrial giant.
"Quim?"
"Nope got that."The two men ahd been playing a word game all day. The had sougth synonyms for the a word each day. Over time the game had gotten quite vulgar.. Todays word had been Cunt. So far they had eliminated the words Box, Cunt, Vagina, Honey Pot, Twat, Crack, Slit, Velvet Palace,Uterus- a technicality awarded after an hours worth of arguement, Pussy, crotch, love canal, Quim and Nidus Canal.
"Oh.Damn."
"Try again?"
"Yeah in just a second. We have movement down there." They both picked up their binoculars and stared down at the warehouse on the docks. A Shangaan War Lord named Joaquim B'nai Anusium had control of this district. He had been particularly virulent in his hatred of the Dragons Operations in "his" country. Intelliegence had placed Aztechnology as a possible backer, maybe even a small religous organization by the name of the Lylseburg foundation that apparently sold weapons and salvation.
They watched as an old five ton truck pulled into the warehouse.. Several men ran out and surronded the truck, none were very old, nor did the move with real confidence as they pointed their Kalishnikov rifles outward.
"God dmaned pot bellied fly catchers what are you doing now?"
They watched as the warehouse doors opened and a fork lift was rolled out. A ramp was lifted out onto the truck.
"I think this might be important."
"I concur."He lifted the headset into position and spoke quietly as he keyed the mike,"Piper this Sand Rat over."He waited for the response he knew as coming.
"Sand rat this is Piper go."
"Piper be advised that Zulu target is a go, over."
"Solid Copy Sand Rat, stand by for further instructions."
The two men slowly began to pack their gear up. In the ware house men frantically unloaded the truck, moving crtaes out of the way do the Fork Lift could get at what ever was on the back end.
"Sand Rat this is Piper, instructions as follows."
"Lima India Uniform, how copy over?"
"I copy Lima India Uniform over."He pulled the laser targte designator out of his bag.As he moved into position his partner leveled off the snipers rifle.
"Piper this is Sand Rat, be advised we are in postion over."
Last edited by Serious Paul on Sat Sep 07, 2002 3:09 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Serious Paul
- Devil
- Posts: 6644
- Joined: Mon Mar 18, 2002 12:38 pm
Cidade de Nacala,Mozambique
The Saeder Krupp "Sturmfaust" was powered by four Saeder Krupp S-293 Engines, 17,300 pounds of thrust for each engine (7,847 kilograms), giving it an intercontinental range unrefueled. It was 69 feet in length (20.9 Meters),17 feet High with a wingspan of 170 feet. It had a operating ceiling of 50,000 feet (15,152 Meters). Fully loaded the craft weighed 336,500 pounds. (152,365 Kilograms) It hada payload of 40,000 pounds. (18,000 Kilograms) Its sleek form had been painted with Radar absorbant materials, giving a slightly patchy grey and mottled black look, that might seem haphazard to the untrained eye. Its exhaust was baffled and dampened to prevent detection, not that any one in Mozambique or neighboring Nations had any sort of technology that could even hope to track the fighter bomber.
The pilots, one a Colonel, the other a Major, eased the air craft into an attack pattern, slowing thier speed and dropping their elevation slightly. They were both at ease as Colonel Borhmann flipped the weapons free switch. Neither spoke as they brought up the targteing information. The ground team had a laser target designator trained on their target.
A large warehouse, sensors showed that at least one hundred humanoid lifeforms and at least one dog in the warehouse itself. Not that it mattered, as the 2500 pound bomb would most likely destroy the warehouse and then the blast from the ordinance stored in the warehouse would destroy everything within several blocks.
"Piper this is Condor, we are weapons free, please advise?"
"Condor this is Piper Six actual, you are Golf October"
"Roger that Piper, Condor out."
The Pilots didn't flinch as they loosed the weapon. They watched impassively as the smart bombs camera display on their forward screens showed them the city looming in larger and larger.
Finally they could see the men loading and unloading trucks, brief seconds later they could even see the horror on the faces of those men as they realized they were going to die.
International News Network, Wire Service
Earlier today in Cidade de Nacala,Mozambique an ammunition warehouse exploded in a fireball, that left 145 dead and another 200 critically injured.
Sources indicate that the warehouse was owned by War Lord Joaquim B'nai Anusium, who was believed to have been in the warehouse when a faulty high explosive artilery shell misfired, detonating he hundreds of other high explosive and fragmenting artillery rounds.
Joaquim B'nai Anusium was 45 years old, and left behind a wife and six children...
The Saeder Krupp "Sturmfaust" was powered by four Saeder Krupp S-293 Engines, 17,300 pounds of thrust for each engine (7,847 kilograms), giving it an intercontinental range unrefueled. It was 69 feet in length (20.9 Meters),17 feet High with a wingspan of 170 feet. It had a operating ceiling of 50,000 feet (15,152 Meters). Fully loaded the craft weighed 336,500 pounds. (152,365 Kilograms) It hada payload of 40,000 pounds. (18,000 Kilograms) Its sleek form had been painted with Radar absorbant materials, giving a slightly patchy grey and mottled black look, that might seem haphazard to the untrained eye. Its exhaust was baffled and dampened to prevent detection, not that any one in Mozambique or neighboring Nations had any sort of technology that could even hope to track the fighter bomber.
The pilots, one a Colonel, the other a Major, eased the air craft into an attack pattern, slowing thier speed and dropping their elevation slightly. They were both at ease as Colonel Borhmann flipped the weapons free switch. Neither spoke as they brought up the targteing information. The ground team had a laser target designator trained on their target.
A large warehouse, sensors showed that at least one hundred humanoid lifeforms and at least one dog in the warehouse itself. Not that it mattered, as the 2500 pound bomb would most likely destroy the warehouse and then the blast from the ordinance stored in the warehouse would destroy everything within several blocks.
"Piper this is Condor, we are weapons free, please advise?"
"Condor this is Piper Six actual, you are Golf October"
"Roger that Piper, Condor out."
The Pilots didn't flinch as they loosed the weapon. They watched impassively as the smart bombs camera display on their forward screens showed them the city looming in larger and larger.
Finally they could see the men loading and unloading trucks, brief seconds later they could even see the horror on the faces of those men as they realized they were going to die.
International News Network, Wire Service
Earlier today in Cidade de Nacala,Mozambique an ammunition warehouse exploded in a fireball, that left 145 dead and another 200 critically injured.
Sources indicate that the warehouse was owned by War Lord Joaquim B'nai Anusium, who was believed to have been in the warehouse when a faulty high explosive artilery shell misfired, detonating he hundreds of other high explosive and fragmenting artillery rounds.
Joaquim B'nai Anusium was 45 years old, and left behind a wife and six children...
Last edited by Serious Paul on Sat Sep 07, 2002 3:11 am, edited 1 time in total.
-
Serious Paul
- Devil
- Posts: 6644
- Joined: Mon Mar 18, 2002 12:38 pm
Essen, Westphalia
"He will see you now Herr General Eberhard"
No matter how many times Jaon Eberhard had been in Lofwyrs "office", he still couldn't bring himself to cal it anything but "Lair". The cavernous room was larger than some homes, and more than a few hotels. There were actually several tiered levels in the room itself, each level was crammed full of high tech communications and computer equipment. The equipment was manned by men and women of Saeder Krupp Prime, who all wore colored overalls that desiganted their function and ranks.
Esen was a lowland city that was bordered in the South by Mountains. Saeder Krupps Headquarters, and Lofwyrs "Lair" were located just outside the city in these mountains. The lair was on the side of the mountainous complex.. It was afforded an excellent view of both the compound, and the city of Essen, by a massive ballistic composite "window" that was at least three football fields in width, and polarized on the outside.
Lofwyr himself sat on a platform surveying all that was occuring in the lair. Unlike traditional tales of Drgaons, Lofwyrs lair did not contain heaps of gold coins and gems, but was instead crammed with ultramodren equipment and staffers of all sorts. (Eberhard had learned once a long time ago that Lofwyr did indeed have piles of gold coins and heaps of gems laying about in a traditional lair of old, but he had no idea where that lair was located.
He did know that, unlike others of His kind, Lofwyr had been active during the downcycle, dabbling in human politics and power struggles, quietly building his empire behind the scenes. With the awakening Lofwyr made his presence known by purchasing Saeder Krupp nearly outright.
Eberhard never got over the sight of the Dragon. His scales were polished and buffed to high gloss shine. His heavily muscled form was sleek, despite the fact that he was as large as jet liner. His claws were as large as a full grown man, and sharp enough to rend steel-Eberhard had seen that for himself once, the very memory of that nigth made him shudder. But for all the Dragons physical fearsomeness, it wasn't his physicall attributes that first struck you-it was the foreboding sense of fear, an overwhelming sense of doom that hit you right in the gut. To the General it felt an awful lot like getting kicked in the balls.
When he had been a younger man, he had worn his lunch on his boots at least three times before he head learned to stomach that fear, to deal with it. Even though he never quite got over the sense of fear and foreboding, no matter what he did, no matter how old he got, no matter how many men had killed.
He wouldn't describe his relationship with Lofwyr as close, but he had been a loyal employee, who had been in Lofwyrs confidence for some time now, and he knew he was a trusted employee who knew more about the corporations operations than anyone except Lofwyr and maybe a handful of others.
He waited patiently for Lofwyr to address him, reflecting on what he knew so far. When the Dragon finally spoke, his voice rumbled like quite thunder through his mind.
'General Eberhard, as always I am pleased to see you healthy.'
"Thank you sir."
'I trust your trip was pleasant?'
"Indeed sir, although I am thinking we need to increase some of our security spending for the freeways."
Lofwyr rotated his head to face the General
"Although our motorcade was not attacked by hooligans, I couldn't help but notice that other motorists have not been so lucky."
'Truly. I will assign someone to take care of this General, it is good that you have the publics best intrests in mind.'
"Yes sir. Thank you sir."
The Dragon paused for a moment and in the distance Eberhard could hear people speaking int hat absent tone that denoted the Dragon himself was speaking through them. He shuddered, hoping to never know what it was like to have something control his mind.
'We need to deal with this situation General.'
"Yes sir. I have assembled dossiers on two teams, both are young and relatively untested, but they are good. Perhaps the best we have ever produced, sir."
'Do you understand everything General?'
"Yes sir I do. Prepartions are underway per your orders. I expect e can be ready to move with in the month, maybe sooner."
'Keep me advised of your progress, General.'
"Yes sir."
"He will see you now Herr General Eberhard"
No matter how many times Jaon Eberhard had been in Lofwyrs "office", he still couldn't bring himself to cal it anything but "Lair". The cavernous room was larger than some homes, and more than a few hotels. There were actually several tiered levels in the room itself, each level was crammed full of high tech communications and computer equipment. The equipment was manned by men and women of Saeder Krupp Prime, who all wore colored overalls that desiganted their function and ranks.
Esen was a lowland city that was bordered in the South by Mountains. Saeder Krupps Headquarters, and Lofwyrs "Lair" were located just outside the city in these mountains. The lair was on the side of the mountainous complex.. It was afforded an excellent view of both the compound, and the city of Essen, by a massive ballistic composite "window" that was at least three football fields in width, and polarized on the outside.
Lofwyr himself sat on a platform surveying all that was occuring in the lair. Unlike traditional tales of Drgaons, Lofwyrs lair did not contain heaps of gold coins and gems, but was instead crammed with ultramodren equipment and staffers of all sorts. (Eberhard had learned once a long time ago that Lofwyr did indeed have piles of gold coins and heaps of gems laying about in a traditional lair of old, but he had no idea where that lair was located.
He did know that, unlike others of His kind, Lofwyr had been active during the downcycle, dabbling in human politics and power struggles, quietly building his empire behind the scenes. With the awakening Lofwyr made his presence known by purchasing Saeder Krupp nearly outright.
Eberhard never got over the sight of the Dragon. His scales were polished and buffed to high gloss shine. His heavily muscled form was sleek, despite the fact that he was as large as jet liner. His claws were as large as a full grown man, and sharp enough to rend steel-Eberhard had seen that for himself once, the very memory of that nigth made him shudder. But for all the Dragons physical fearsomeness, it wasn't his physicall attributes that first struck you-it was the foreboding sense of fear, an overwhelming sense of doom that hit you right in the gut. To the General it felt an awful lot like getting kicked in the balls.
When he had been a younger man, he had worn his lunch on his boots at least three times before he head learned to stomach that fear, to deal with it. Even though he never quite got over the sense of fear and foreboding, no matter what he did, no matter how old he got, no matter how many men had killed.
He wouldn't describe his relationship with Lofwyr as close, but he had been a loyal employee, who had been in Lofwyrs confidence for some time now, and he knew he was a trusted employee who knew more about the corporations operations than anyone except Lofwyr and maybe a handful of others.
He waited patiently for Lofwyr to address him, reflecting on what he knew so far. When the Dragon finally spoke, his voice rumbled like quite thunder through his mind.
'General Eberhard, as always I am pleased to see you healthy.'
"Thank you sir."
'I trust your trip was pleasant?'
"Indeed sir, although I am thinking we need to increase some of our security spending for the freeways."
Lofwyr rotated his head to face the General
"Although our motorcade was not attacked by hooligans, I couldn't help but notice that other motorists have not been so lucky."
'Truly. I will assign someone to take care of this General, it is good that you have the publics best intrests in mind.'
"Yes sir. Thank you sir."
The Dragon paused for a moment and in the distance Eberhard could hear people speaking int hat absent tone that denoted the Dragon himself was speaking through them. He shuddered, hoping to never know what it was like to have something control his mind.
'We need to deal with this situation General.'
"Yes sir. I have assembled dossiers on two teams, both are young and relatively untested, but they are good. Perhaps the best we have ever produced, sir."
'Do you understand everything General?'
"Yes sir I do. Prepartions are underway per your orders. I expect e can be ready to move with in the month, maybe sooner."
'Keep me advised of your progress, General.'
"Yes sir."
Last edited by Serious Paul on Sat Sep 07, 2002 3:15 am, edited 3 times in total.
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Serious Paul
- Devil
- Posts: 6644
- Joined: Mon Mar 18, 2002 12:38 pm
Essen, Westphalia
Jason Eberhard slowly sifted through his files. He had selected his two teams, that had been the easy part. Now he was selecting his Command Staff.
Colonel Dennis Childers was a decorated ex Dragon, who had seen combat and proven his command judgement for the last three decades. He was also an elf, which meant he might continue to command for the next six centuries. The idea boggled the Generals mind. Childers file included several digital pictures which showed that Colonel Childers was a tall dark black skinned elf with extremely tight cropped hair that was also black.
Childers was an obvious choice to run this operation, his tendency to blood and guts his way thru things would be balanced by his long time XO, Liuetenant Colonel Hodges.
Hodges was as cold and calculating as they came. He had the singularly bad fortune of having a reputation for seeing his men as equipment instead of human beings. However despite allof that, Hodges had landed fewer men in caskets than any other commander in the last forty years. He was smart.He pushed his men to their limits, even if they didn't know where that limit was. Childers led with his heart and a big pair of brass ones, Hodges lead with his drill foot.After all it was a thinking mans game.
Hodges was digipics showed a sharp contrast between him and Childers. He walked with a limp, courtesy of an ill placed land mine that had nearly ended the mans career, his complexion was pale and his hair was just barely in regs for an officer, even one with his rank.
They'd make a good team. Considering who their target was they'd need to be.
Eberhard sighed and turned his screen down, dimming it, then he spoke quietly dimming the lights. He sat back in his chair and relaxed for a moment.He'd have planty of sleepless nigths ahead of him.
Somewhere in the South Pacific aboard the SKS Bolt Grinder
Captain Alex Scheibe stood quietly observing his men. They were good men. It was the third time this month he had run this firing drill, and each time they had shaved off another five seconds, this time it looked liek they migth shave another ten off. He was lucky to have command of this ship. He smiled as he thought about the name of his ship.
Named after a twentyth century philospher who had worked for NASA, and had died in the Echo Mirage project. Bolt Grinder was named in honor of that mans favorite weapon, and the wepaon that had stopped the virus from killing several other team members. It was a name that carried a sense of honor to the Captain.
Bolt Grinder was a forward observation frigate, a firebird loaded up with sensors and enough ECM/ECCM to buy several small nations. His ship could relay information across the globe in real time, providing valueable data for his Corporation.
"Captain, we have flash traffic."
"Hmm..yes, thank you Petty Officer Schmidt." He reached for the microphone that would allow him to secure the drill, and spoke in a loud clear voice," This is the Captain speaking. All decks secure from launch drill, General Quarters is secure."
"Ensign, take us to one seven niner, three quarters ahead."
"Aye aye Captain."
He wondered what was happening, Flash traffic was a rare occurence, as no one was at war, and he was sure that the fleets alert level was still at green. Whatever it was, he hoped it was exciting...
Jason Eberhard slowly sifted through his files. He had selected his two teams, that had been the easy part. Now he was selecting his Command Staff.
Colonel Dennis Childers was a decorated ex Dragon, who had seen combat and proven his command judgement for the last three decades. He was also an elf, which meant he might continue to command for the next six centuries. The idea boggled the Generals mind. Childers file included several digital pictures which showed that Colonel Childers was a tall dark black skinned elf with extremely tight cropped hair that was also black.
Childers was an obvious choice to run this operation, his tendency to blood and guts his way thru things would be balanced by his long time XO, Liuetenant Colonel Hodges.
Hodges was as cold and calculating as they came. He had the singularly bad fortune of having a reputation for seeing his men as equipment instead of human beings. However despite allof that, Hodges had landed fewer men in caskets than any other commander in the last forty years. He was smart.He pushed his men to their limits, even if they didn't know where that limit was. Childers led with his heart and a big pair of brass ones, Hodges lead with his drill foot.After all it was a thinking mans game.
Hodges was digipics showed a sharp contrast between him and Childers. He walked with a limp, courtesy of an ill placed land mine that had nearly ended the mans career, his complexion was pale and his hair was just barely in regs for an officer, even one with his rank.
They'd make a good team. Considering who their target was they'd need to be.
Eberhard sighed and turned his screen down, dimming it, then he spoke quietly dimming the lights. He sat back in his chair and relaxed for a moment.He'd have planty of sleepless nigths ahead of him.
Somewhere in the South Pacific aboard the SKS Bolt Grinder
Captain Alex Scheibe stood quietly observing his men. They were good men. It was the third time this month he had run this firing drill, and each time they had shaved off another five seconds, this time it looked liek they migth shave another ten off. He was lucky to have command of this ship. He smiled as he thought about the name of his ship.
Named after a twentyth century philospher who had worked for NASA, and had died in the Echo Mirage project. Bolt Grinder was named in honor of that mans favorite weapon, and the wepaon that had stopped the virus from killing several other team members. It was a name that carried a sense of honor to the Captain.
Bolt Grinder was a forward observation frigate, a firebird loaded up with sensors and enough ECM/ECCM to buy several small nations. His ship could relay information across the globe in real time, providing valueable data for his Corporation.
"Captain, we have flash traffic."
"Hmm..yes, thank you Petty Officer Schmidt." He reached for the microphone that would allow him to secure the drill, and spoke in a loud clear voice," This is the Captain speaking. All decks secure from launch drill, General Quarters is secure."
"Ensign, take us to one seven niner, three quarters ahead."
"Aye aye Captain."
He wondered what was happening, Flash traffic was a rare occurence, as no one was at war, and he was sure that the fleets alert level was still at green. Whatever it was, he hoped it was exciting...
Last edited by Serious Paul on Sat Sep 07, 2002 3:17 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Serious Paul
- Devil
- Posts: 6644
- Joined: Mon Mar 18, 2002 12:38 pm
South China Sea, Just South of Indonesia
The MF Akihito-Class Supercarrier was perhaps the most fearsome Naval Weapon ever built. It was powered by three Nuclear Reactors and the Hirohito was no different.
The Flagg Ship of the Imperial Japanese Navy carried almost one hundred attack craft,all of them ultramodren, and their pilots battle hardened. It also had a drone compliment that doubled its effective firepower. With almost 6000 sailors the Hirihito was an awesome wepaon, when combined with its picket ships it was one that had few matches.
35 vessels traveled with the Hirohito, some were missile frigates, others were supply ships, still others carried an amphibous Japanese Marine Battalion that could be deployed at a moments notice any where in the PacRim.
Admiral Junghyeon Kwon was the only Korean Admiral in the entire Japanese Navy. His family had emigrated to Japan after World War Two, his father had been a career Naval Officer, and his father before him had fought in the jungles of Vietnam alongside the Americans, and his father before him had fought the Americans on the Beaches of Tarawa and Guadal Canal. Junghyeon had already been decorated for personal heroism by the Emperor himself at the young age of 35. His ascension to the coveted Admiralty had eben guarenteed. At the age of 45, one of the youngest Admirals in the fleet had been given command of the Flagg ship of the Empire of the Rising Suns Navy.
Under his command, the Hirohito had already recieved three Meritorious Citations and would likely receive at least two more. As he walked the decks of his ship he could only feel pride. His men were ready. They were enthusiastic, and vibrant. Their uniforms were worn with pride.To Junghyeon Kwon there was nothing in life that compared to Commanding this ship.
As he reached the hatch to the Bridge he watched the Marines guarding the Bridge snap to attention and render a razor sharp salute, with a loud greeting.
"Good Afternoon Admiral, Sir!"
"Good Afternoon Sargent Saito.Corporal Kinshiro."He returned their salute with one of his own, and the Corporal immediately undogged the Hatch allowing him access to his Bridge.
As soon as he cleared the hatch Admiral Kwon knew something was happening. His command crew was bustling with activity. He picked up some snippets of the conversation and realized they were tracking something. Before he could make his third step into the room, the Watch Officer announced his presence.
"ATTENTION ON DECK!" Everyone froze at the postion of attention."Admiral on Deck!"
"At ease gentlemen" His crew immediately returned to their duties. His XO, Captain Liu Bo Wu immediately approached him.
"Good afternoon sir!"
"Afternoon XO, whats the sitrep?"
"We picked up a fast moving unidentifeied target about a nine hundred miles South of us. Forward RDS has no siganls on this bird and she's clearing about Mach Two right and picking up speed. Just after she showed up on our screens two more birds on a direct intercept course showed up. Looks like a chase to me. The two chase birds are using a private channel boad band signal. Probably Corporate."
Admiral Kwon nodded as he satred at the screens. From what he could see his XO's assesment made sense.He waited for his XO to continue.
"I decided the men could use the practice tracking staelth targets liek this. She's a real low sig bird, she wouldn't have shown up on our screens normally, my guess is she has suffered some damage. The other two birds are using some RAM and IR dampers but they just appear to be fast attack craft. I put up our eyes and ears", By which he meant he had authorized spotter drones and retrans units to be put out, and had keyed up the fleets own radars and sensors. The most powerful Navy in the world was watching a high speed car chase at thirty thousand feet.....
Three Hundred Miles South, at thirty thousand feet.
The alarms were screaming in his head and pounding in his ears. He had taken a single SAM in the midsection of his bird on take off. he had lost 20% of hsi power plant and all of his wepaon ssystems some how. How he had managed to survive the hit was something he didn't have time to think about. He had two boogies gaining on him and he was loosing power.He checked his coordinates again and from memory crosschecked them against his emergency rendevous cordinates and instructions.
'The Bolt Grinder had better damn well be there', he thought, 'or I am so fragged..'
He dumped hsi external fuel tanks and decided since his weapons were useless, that he could jetison the external missile racks.
'That should lighten the load.' He needed to make another 300 miles West Soth West. The missile lock siren blared, jerking him back into the moment. He realized, not for the first time, that he was bleeding badly. He had been shot seven times and stabbed twice. He needed medical attention, but first he needed to loose these fraggers. He dumped what he had left into his thrusters and dropped altitude like a rock, heading for the Ocean, hoping the waves and ground clutter might help him, even if he lost some speed.
The Bridge aboard the JIS Hirohito
"Target has just made an extreme vector change. Target is descending. Thirty thousand feet...Twenty Five Thousand feet...Twenty Thousand feet."
"Jesus Admiral, at this speed he is going to hit the Ocean hard."
Admiral Kwon had to grimace. Who was this guy? He was dropping altitude like it was his business, he was laready down to ten thousand feet and dropping faster."What about the two trail craft?"
"They are dropping altitude as well sir, but no where near as fast."
Aboard the Bridge of the SKS Bolt Grinder
"Captain, we have him on screen. He is 275 miles East North East, sir!"
Captain Alex Scheibe watched the screen intently. The Bolt Grinder had not been designed for this sort of mission, but he was determined to be succesful.
The Flash Traffic had informed him that a Saeder Krupp Dragon, one of SKs elite Special Operatives was inbound with vital intelligence. The plan had been hastily scraped together, and involved the Dragon, whose name he ddin't even know, HALO jumping from a Stealth Fighter moving at more than six hundred miles an hour. It was suicide. But they had to make it work.
They had hastily lowered the Corporate Flag, and had used Tarps to cover up most of their weapon systems. They still looked like a poorly disguised War Ship but they had done their best.
Scheibe watched as the two trail craft drew closer. They were certain to to intercept the other plane, if that happened, his mission was a failure. He wouldn't let that happen.
"Wepaons this is this Bridge. Can we modify one of our SKCMs to work as a SAM in a pinch?"
"Sir?"
"I want you to shoot at them. I don't car eif we hit them as long as we get close, I want them to try and evade. We need to give him time."
Aboard the Bridge of the JIS Hirohito
"Admiral we have a launch, we have a launch."
"What is it?"
"Looks like a cruise missile sir, but its vectored wrong."
"What do you mean?"
"It looks like they are trying to use it as a SAM sir."
Admiral Kwon was Impressed."Whats the source of the Launch?"
"Unknown sir, we are trying to get a vector on that right now."
"Get me a lock on whatever launched that missile."If there was something out there he wanted to know."Captain get me some birds in the air. I want options if we need them."
Four Hundred miles South West
He had managed to eek out another 250 miles, but he was sure this bird was almost cooked. He stuffed the data chips into his ballistic case and jammed it between his life vest and his chest. It would hurt like hell when he hit the water, maybe even kill him, but that was part of the job. He brought the craft up to 15,000 feet., his radar advised him that a cruise missile had just passed him. Would wonders never cease?
He reveiwed his survival kit quickly-and then realized it hardly mattered. He was bleeding and had lost lots of blood. He was also jumping out of a fricking plane at six hundred klicks an hour at fifteen thousand feet-having a full canteen of water was about as useless and futile as it got.
He took three deep breaths and then pulled the eject lever. The next he felt was the cockpit windsheild slamming into his helmet. He felt his body being whipped end over end as he fell from the plane. The wind hit him hard enough to drive the air out of his lungs. The last thing he saw as he lost conscious was his plane blossoming into a large fire ball.
The MF Akihito-Class Supercarrier was perhaps the most fearsome Naval Weapon ever built. It was powered by three Nuclear Reactors and the Hirohito was no different.
The Flagg Ship of the Imperial Japanese Navy carried almost one hundred attack craft,all of them ultramodren, and their pilots battle hardened. It also had a drone compliment that doubled its effective firepower. With almost 6000 sailors the Hirihito was an awesome wepaon, when combined with its picket ships it was one that had few matches.
35 vessels traveled with the Hirohito, some were missile frigates, others were supply ships, still others carried an amphibous Japanese Marine Battalion that could be deployed at a moments notice any where in the PacRim.
Admiral Junghyeon Kwon was the only Korean Admiral in the entire Japanese Navy. His family had emigrated to Japan after World War Two, his father had been a career Naval Officer, and his father before him had fought in the jungles of Vietnam alongside the Americans, and his father before him had fought the Americans on the Beaches of Tarawa and Guadal Canal. Junghyeon had already been decorated for personal heroism by the Emperor himself at the young age of 35. His ascension to the coveted Admiralty had eben guarenteed. At the age of 45, one of the youngest Admirals in the fleet had been given command of the Flagg ship of the Empire of the Rising Suns Navy.
Under his command, the Hirohito had already recieved three Meritorious Citations and would likely receive at least two more. As he walked the decks of his ship he could only feel pride. His men were ready. They were enthusiastic, and vibrant. Their uniforms were worn with pride.To Junghyeon Kwon there was nothing in life that compared to Commanding this ship.
As he reached the hatch to the Bridge he watched the Marines guarding the Bridge snap to attention and render a razor sharp salute, with a loud greeting.
"Good Afternoon Admiral, Sir!"
"Good Afternoon Sargent Saito.Corporal Kinshiro."He returned their salute with one of his own, and the Corporal immediately undogged the Hatch allowing him access to his Bridge.
As soon as he cleared the hatch Admiral Kwon knew something was happening. His command crew was bustling with activity. He picked up some snippets of the conversation and realized they were tracking something. Before he could make his third step into the room, the Watch Officer announced his presence.
"ATTENTION ON DECK!" Everyone froze at the postion of attention."Admiral on Deck!"
"At ease gentlemen" His crew immediately returned to their duties. His XO, Captain Liu Bo Wu immediately approached him.
"Good afternoon sir!"
"Afternoon XO, whats the sitrep?"
"We picked up a fast moving unidentifeied target about a nine hundred miles South of us. Forward RDS has no siganls on this bird and she's clearing about Mach Two right and picking up speed. Just after she showed up on our screens two more birds on a direct intercept course showed up. Looks like a chase to me. The two chase birds are using a private channel boad band signal. Probably Corporate."
Admiral Kwon nodded as he satred at the screens. From what he could see his XO's assesment made sense.He waited for his XO to continue.
"I decided the men could use the practice tracking staelth targets liek this. She's a real low sig bird, she wouldn't have shown up on our screens normally, my guess is she has suffered some damage. The other two birds are using some RAM and IR dampers but they just appear to be fast attack craft. I put up our eyes and ears", By which he meant he had authorized spotter drones and retrans units to be put out, and had keyed up the fleets own radars and sensors. The most powerful Navy in the world was watching a high speed car chase at thirty thousand feet.....
Three Hundred Miles South, at thirty thousand feet.
The alarms were screaming in his head and pounding in his ears. He had taken a single SAM in the midsection of his bird on take off. he had lost 20% of hsi power plant and all of his wepaon ssystems some how. How he had managed to survive the hit was something he didn't have time to think about. He had two boogies gaining on him and he was loosing power.He checked his coordinates again and from memory crosschecked them against his emergency rendevous cordinates and instructions.
'The Bolt Grinder had better damn well be there', he thought, 'or I am so fragged..'
He dumped hsi external fuel tanks and decided since his weapons were useless, that he could jetison the external missile racks.
'That should lighten the load.' He needed to make another 300 miles West Soth West. The missile lock siren blared, jerking him back into the moment. He realized, not for the first time, that he was bleeding badly. He had been shot seven times and stabbed twice. He needed medical attention, but first he needed to loose these fraggers. He dumped what he had left into his thrusters and dropped altitude like a rock, heading for the Ocean, hoping the waves and ground clutter might help him, even if he lost some speed.
The Bridge aboard the JIS Hirohito
"Target has just made an extreme vector change. Target is descending. Thirty thousand feet...Twenty Five Thousand feet...Twenty Thousand feet."
"Jesus Admiral, at this speed he is going to hit the Ocean hard."
Admiral Kwon had to grimace. Who was this guy? He was dropping altitude like it was his business, he was laready down to ten thousand feet and dropping faster."What about the two trail craft?"
"They are dropping altitude as well sir, but no where near as fast."
Aboard the Bridge of the SKS Bolt Grinder
"Captain, we have him on screen. He is 275 miles East North East, sir!"
Captain Alex Scheibe watched the screen intently. The Bolt Grinder had not been designed for this sort of mission, but he was determined to be succesful.
The Flash Traffic had informed him that a Saeder Krupp Dragon, one of SKs elite Special Operatives was inbound with vital intelligence. The plan had been hastily scraped together, and involved the Dragon, whose name he ddin't even know, HALO jumping from a Stealth Fighter moving at more than six hundred miles an hour. It was suicide. But they had to make it work.
They had hastily lowered the Corporate Flag, and had used Tarps to cover up most of their weapon systems. They still looked like a poorly disguised War Ship but they had done their best.
Scheibe watched as the two trail craft drew closer. They were certain to to intercept the other plane, if that happened, his mission was a failure. He wouldn't let that happen.
"Wepaons this is this Bridge. Can we modify one of our SKCMs to work as a SAM in a pinch?"
"Sir?"
"I want you to shoot at them. I don't car eif we hit them as long as we get close, I want them to try and evade. We need to give him time."
Aboard the Bridge of the JIS Hirohito
"Admiral we have a launch, we have a launch."
"What is it?"
"Looks like a cruise missile sir, but its vectored wrong."
"What do you mean?"
"It looks like they are trying to use it as a SAM sir."
Admiral Kwon was Impressed."Whats the source of the Launch?"
"Unknown sir, we are trying to get a vector on that right now."
"Get me a lock on whatever launched that missile."If there was something out there he wanted to know."Captain get me some birds in the air. I want options if we need them."
Four Hundred miles South West
He had managed to eek out another 250 miles, but he was sure this bird was almost cooked. He stuffed the data chips into his ballistic case and jammed it between his life vest and his chest. It would hurt like hell when he hit the water, maybe even kill him, but that was part of the job. He brought the craft up to 15,000 feet., his radar advised him that a cruise missile had just passed him. Would wonders never cease?
He reveiwed his survival kit quickly-and then realized it hardly mattered. He was bleeding and had lost lots of blood. He was also jumping out of a fricking plane at six hundred klicks an hour at fifteen thousand feet-having a full canteen of water was about as useless and futile as it got.
He took three deep breaths and then pulled the eject lever. The next he felt was the cockpit windsheild slamming into his helmet. He felt his body being whipped end over end as he fell from the plane. The wind hit him hard enough to drive the air out of his lungs. The last thing he saw as he lost conscious was his plane blossoming into a large fire ball.
Last edited by Serious Paul on Sat Sep 07, 2002 3:25 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Serious Paul
- Devil
- Posts: 6644
- Joined: Mon Mar 18, 2002 12:38 pm
Essen, Westphalia
Dennis Childers had seen things that would make normal men scream and pass out. He had been tortured by Aztech Blood Mages, he had had his arms and legs shot off, blow off and even one time chewed off by a large shark. One time he had been thrown from a plane with out a parachute at thirty thousand feet, and had lived. For all of that he was still thankful every day for Terry Hodges.Childers could make his men follow him into the ehart of a volcanoe, but Hodges would get them there and back alive.
"So what do you think Terry?"
"Sir?"
"Don't fuck around with me XO, what do you think?"
"Sir, I think we are fucked. No matter how we finess the numbers, my bet is high causalities."
Childers nodded Hodges was right. He had reviewed the file a hundred times, and no matter what he did, no matter how he finagled the numbers, he was going to lose some good people in this."Damn it Terry, there has to be a way."
Terry Hodges set his pocket secratray down, and drank from his coffee mug."I can run the numbers again Sir."
"Do that Terry. We need to have our shit locked on tight when we meet with the boss man."
Bremerhaven, North German Federation
Detective Augustyniak had once been offered a job with the Corporation. In Germany there was only one of course. Saeder Krupp had approached him after his third year as a Detective. They ahd offered him a 75KDM a year job, with all the fringes and perks that went with being an Inspector for SK. He had turned it down with out even thinking twice. He was a German born Pole, a patriot and Eco-conscious. Working for the worlds largest MegaCorporation, the worlds largest Polluter wasn't in his make up. He was fiercely independent, which had helped and hindered his career with the Stasi. He had been promotedt o Detective Lieutenant three times in Ten Years. By all rights he should have been the Chief Lieutenant for hsi Precinct House.The fact that he was anticorporate and politically unconnected had slowed his career as well.
He sat at his desk thinking about all of this and about the ID in his desk drawer. If his Chief Lieutenant found out he had withheld evidence in a murder case his already stunted career would come to a screeching halt. Withholding evidence from a crimescene was a federal crime, and one that carried a decently long sentence, but more importantly one that would end his career. Why had he done this?
Detective Augustyniak sighed and decided to he would sleep on it. He could always tell the Inspector it had been a late nigth and he had forgotten he had put it in his pocket. He could also just come right and admit he was an asshole.
He grinned. He'd see a man he knew. A man who specialized inj ust this sort of thing.
Dennis Childers had seen things that would make normal men scream and pass out. He had been tortured by Aztech Blood Mages, he had had his arms and legs shot off, blow off and even one time chewed off by a large shark. One time he had been thrown from a plane with out a parachute at thirty thousand feet, and had lived. For all of that he was still thankful every day for Terry Hodges.Childers could make his men follow him into the ehart of a volcanoe, but Hodges would get them there and back alive.
"So what do you think Terry?"
"Sir?"
"Don't fuck around with me XO, what do you think?"
"Sir, I think we are fucked. No matter how we finess the numbers, my bet is high causalities."
Childers nodded Hodges was right. He had reviewed the file a hundred times, and no matter what he did, no matter how he finagled the numbers, he was going to lose some good people in this."Damn it Terry, there has to be a way."
Terry Hodges set his pocket secratray down, and drank from his coffee mug."I can run the numbers again Sir."
"Do that Terry. We need to have our shit locked on tight when we meet with the boss man."
Bremerhaven, North German Federation
Detective Augustyniak had once been offered a job with the Corporation. In Germany there was only one of course. Saeder Krupp had approached him after his third year as a Detective. They ahd offered him a 75KDM a year job, with all the fringes and perks that went with being an Inspector for SK. He had turned it down with out even thinking twice. He was a German born Pole, a patriot and Eco-conscious. Working for the worlds largest MegaCorporation, the worlds largest Polluter wasn't in his make up. He was fiercely independent, which had helped and hindered his career with the Stasi. He had been promotedt o Detective Lieutenant three times in Ten Years. By all rights he should have been the Chief Lieutenant for hsi Precinct House.The fact that he was anticorporate and politically unconnected had slowed his career as well.
He sat at his desk thinking about all of this and about the ID in his desk drawer. If his Chief Lieutenant found out he had withheld evidence in a murder case his already stunted career would come to a screeching halt. Withholding evidence from a crimescene was a federal crime, and one that carried a decently long sentence, but more importantly one that would end his career. Why had he done this?
Detective Augustyniak sighed and decided to he would sleep on it. He could always tell the Inspector it had been a late nigth and he had forgotten he had put it in his pocket. He could also just come right and admit he was an asshole.
He grinned. He'd see a man he knew. A man who specialized inj ust this sort of thing.
Last edited by Serious Paul on Sat Sep 07, 2002 3:28 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Serious Paul
- Devil
- Posts: 6644
- Joined: Mon Mar 18, 2002 12:38 pm
Aboard the Well Deck of the SKS Bolt Grinder
The Well Deck was normally used to allow hovercraft access to his Ship for OnReps, and the occasional Water Op. Its large walls were normally covered with cargo netting, its floors covered in supplies and the occasional Sailor participating in some form of PT. Today was different.They had fished the pilot, who was doing surprisingly well despite the wounds he had received, from the ocean. He had of course lost a lot of blood, and his ribs had been cracked in a dozen spots, but his titanium bone lacing had prevented most of his injuries from being too serious.Captain Alex Scheibe watched as his ships Surgeon checked the mans vitals.
Out of the corner of his eyes he saw his men securing the well deck from dive operations. His divers had done well, and his crew had proven to be every bit as good as he had hoped.A single Saturn Class Fast attack Boat was assigned to The Bolt Grinder, and it sat in the well deck. His divers were stowing their gear, and strapping the boat down.He crossed the deck to his Cheif surgeon.
"Doc, status?"
"He's beat up a bit Sir, but otherwise he'll live. we need to get some blood in him ASAP."
"Copy Doc take him to sick bay."
He keyed the Mic to his Radio,"XO Sit-Rep?"
"Sir the Japanese ship has kept its distance, and the figthers broke off their attack after the Japs put some Interceptors in the air"
"Copy that bring us up to full speed XO get us to the nearest friendly port."
Captain Alex Scheibe hoped his luck would hold out.
Essen, Westphalia
Terry Hodges reveiwed the files for his team. He had each file pulled on a seperate screen.As he scrolled thru the files he studied each man and woman.They were good, perhaps the best ever to wear this unifrom. he studied their files, noting their strengtsh and weaknesses.
"Sargent notify Colonel Childers everything is in Order."
He reveiwed the Order. It was ready to be published.
The Well Deck was normally used to allow hovercraft access to his Ship for OnReps, and the occasional Water Op. Its large walls were normally covered with cargo netting, its floors covered in supplies and the occasional Sailor participating in some form of PT. Today was different.They had fished the pilot, who was doing surprisingly well despite the wounds he had received, from the ocean. He had of course lost a lot of blood, and his ribs had been cracked in a dozen spots, but his titanium bone lacing had prevented most of his injuries from being too serious.Captain Alex Scheibe watched as his ships Surgeon checked the mans vitals.
Out of the corner of his eyes he saw his men securing the well deck from dive operations. His divers had done well, and his crew had proven to be every bit as good as he had hoped.A single Saturn Class Fast attack Boat was assigned to The Bolt Grinder, and it sat in the well deck. His divers were stowing their gear, and strapping the boat down.He crossed the deck to his Cheif surgeon.
"Doc, status?"
"He's beat up a bit Sir, but otherwise he'll live. we need to get some blood in him ASAP."
"Copy Doc take him to sick bay."
He keyed the Mic to his Radio,"XO Sit-Rep?"
"Sir the Japanese ship has kept its distance, and the figthers broke off their attack after the Japs put some Interceptors in the air"
"Copy that bring us up to full speed XO get us to the nearest friendly port."
Captain Alex Scheibe hoped his luck would hold out.
Essen, Westphalia
Terry Hodges reveiwed the files for his team. He had each file pulled on a seperate screen.As he scrolled thru the files he studied each man and woman.They were good, perhaps the best ever to wear this unifrom. he studied their files, noting their strengtsh and weaknesses.
"Sargent notify Colonel Childers everything is in Order."
He reveiwed the Order. It was ready to be published.
Last edited by Serious Paul on Sat Sep 07, 2002 3:32 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Serious Paul
- Devil
- Posts: 6644
- Joined: Mon Mar 18, 2002 12:38 pm
The Order
Orientation
Squama
Squama
Squama
Squama
The Cook Islands are situated between 9 degrees and 22 degrees south longitude comprises 15 widely-dispersed islands in the South Pacific Ocean between French Polynesia and Fiji (see Maps 1 and 2). The total land area of the country is 240 square kilometres, while the Cook Islands' exclusive economic zone covers a maritime area of nearly 2 million square kilometres.
The country is broadly divided into Southern and Northern Groups. The Southern Group, comprising Rarotonga (the main island), Aitutaki, Atiu, Mangaia, Manuae, Mauke, Mitiaro, Palmerston and Takutea, are all (except the small atolls of Manuae and Palmerston, and Takutea, a sandy key) of high volcanic formation (up to 652 metres on Rarotonga) with fertile soils and lush tropical vegetation. The Southern Group possesses about 90% of the total land area of the Cook Islands, Rarotonga being the largest island (6,719 hectares) and Takutea, the smallest (122 hectares).
The Northern Group comprises Manihiki, Nassau, Squama, Pukapuka, Rakahanga and Suwarrow, all except Nassau (a sandy key) being low-lying coral atolls with sparse vegetation (coconut and pandanus trees etc) and large lagoons. Penrhyn is the largest island (984 hectares) and Suwarrow, the smallest (40 hectares).
The closest Outer Island to Rarotonga is Mangaia (204 kilometres distant) while the farthest is Penrhyn (1,365 kilometres away). The two most widely-separate islands of the country are Pukapuka, in the Northern Group, and Mangaia in the Southern Group (1,470 kilometres apart).
Rarotonga is approximately 3,010 kilometres northeast of Auckland, 1,140 kilometres southwest of Tahiti, 2,300 kilometres east of Fiji and 4,730 kilometres south of Hawaii.
Your Target is the Island of Squama. It is apporoximately 984 Hectacres in area.
Climate
The Cook Islands is situated between 9 degrees and 22 degrees south longitude and possesses a tropical oceanic climate with two seasons. The drier months, from April to November, have an average maximum temperature of about 26 degrees centigrade and an average minimum temperature of about 20 degrees centigrade. The wetter, more humid months, from December to March, have an average maximum temperature of 28 degrees centigrade and an average minimum of 22 degrees centigrade. During the latter season, the Cook Islands is subject to occasionally severe tropical storms and even hurricanes. The Island is also occasionally surronded by Mana Storms, of hellish ferocity that are as yet unpredictable.
Situation
Saeder Krupp intelligence sources have developed solid information that places an Artifact known as the Anandaprana on the Island of Squama. Intelligence has also identified this man, Rheynard Lylesburg, as the controlling force on the Island. Electronic Intelligence assetts have identified at least Regiment sized emplaced opposition forces on the Island. Island forces have hardened bunker style buildings, and an exstensive defenseive net in place including satellitte jamming and blinding facilities, an exstensive Radar emplacement, an exstensive SAM network and mines in the surronding waters.
Random Air Patrols operate in radial patterns at a distance of about sixty kilometers and less. Patrols are staggered and usually consist of two patrol vechiles. Immediate Air Support is believed to be available in five or less minutes.
Naval patrols also operate in random radial patterns around the island in a 45 kilometer radius. Naval forces mainly consist of patrol style boats that rely on speed and low signature to operate. It is believed that the Island Naval forces have access to two CSS Stuart-Class Corvettes, 5 Wuxing Zhen Wu-Class Frigates, with nonstandardized armaments, and 35 GMC Avengers. It also likely they use hover craft and vectored thrust vechiles.
The island itself is exstensively monitored by ground patrols, closed circuit simsense and cameras, exstensive sensor systems are believed to be emplaced. Patrols generally consist of four man teams who patrol on foot or in a single GMC HMPUV. Armaments and armour vary.
Magical Secuirty is layered and tightly monitored. Speculative Intelligence estimates that the island uses a wide combination of bound elementals, spirits and paranormal animals. It is also believed that at least one or more free spirits may operate in conjunction with the islands facilitator, Reynard Lylesberg.
Mission
Gold Team
Retrieve the Anandaprana, and eliminate Reynard Lylesberg. If you are unable to retrieve the tome switch to secondary objectives.
Secondary Objectives:: Caues as much collatoral damage as possible, close with and destroy enemy forces by fire and manuever.
Blue Team
Penetrate the islands secuirty perimeter, deactivaye the island security perimeter, and destroy the island security perimeters capabilty to operate to provide cover fro the insertion of Gold Team.
Loacte Achmed Parker and elimintae him.
If you are unable to accomplish your primary ibjectives switch to secondary objectives.
Secondary objective incapacitate the Two Corvette Class ships by destroying them, and destroy the Air Field.
Tertiary objectives for both teams is completion of the other teams objective.
Execution
Your team will be inserted via HALO drop by a Tactical Fighter Wing just outside effective surface radar range. You will rendevous with the SKS Erradicator for transport to just inside radar range. From there you will infiltrate the Island andcarry out your objectives by fire and manuever;close combat.
Extraction and Escape Routes
Upon succesful completion of your objectives you will send a satellitte encrypted message to the SKS Devastator and primary extraction will be a SK TF-6 Attack helicopter. Both teams will rendevous with the choopers at the airfield.
Secondary extract is by sea. Teams extracting in this method will use Zodiacs to rendevous with the SKS Devastator.
Escape routes will designated by individual team leaders in their own briefings.
Command and Signals
Chain of Command is per Standard Operating Procedure with in each team. Team Blue has operational command until its primary objective is achieved, at which point Team Gold will have operational authority.
The Captain of the SKS Erradicator has theater and operational command.
Order of sucession is per SOP.
Signals
Smoke and pyro will be designated by the individual team leaders, except for Red Smoke and red Pyro which will designate immediate Fire Suppression Mission.
Radio Signals will also be designated by individual Team Leaders. Team Leaders designate call signs for both teams, indivdual team members and on call targets.
Standard hand and arm siganls will be used by all team members.
All teams should be aware of communicational security.
Administration and Logistics
Administrative control of this operation is in the First Special Operations Group Command under General Johann Schmidt. Operational command is Captain Friedrich Reifsnyder.
Higher Units
The SKS Devastator, the SKS Erradicator, Charlie Comapny 47th Tactical Wing and 1st SOG
Adjacent Units
The SKS Hammer, the 45th Light Scout Brigade, and Delta Comapny 47th Tactical Wing
Logistics
Herr general Tschantz in Supply will as usual take care of any needs prior to the start of operations. Team Leaders will issue Frag Orders detailing all nessacry weapons and equipment.
Orientation
Squama
Squama
Squama
Squama
The Cook Islands are situated between 9 degrees and 22 degrees south longitude comprises 15 widely-dispersed islands in the South Pacific Ocean between French Polynesia and Fiji (see Maps 1 and 2). The total land area of the country is 240 square kilometres, while the Cook Islands' exclusive economic zone covers a maritime area of nearly 2 million square kilometres.
The country is broadly divided into Southern and Northern Groups. The Southern Group, comprising Rarotonga (the main island), Aitutaki, Atiu, Mangaia, Manuae, Mauke, Mitiaro, Palmerston and Takutea, are all (except the small atolls of Manuae and Palmerston, and Takutea, a sandy key) of high volcanic formation (up to 652 metres on Rarotonga) with fertile soils and lush tropical vegetation. The Southern Group possesses about 90% of the total land area of the Cook Islands, Rarotonga being the largest island (6,719 hectares) and Takutea, the smallest (122 hectares).
The Northern Group comprises Manihiki, Nassau, Squama, Pukapuka, Rakahanga and Suwarrow, all except Nassau (a sandy key) being low-lying coral atolls with sparse vegetation (coconut and pandanus trees etc) and large lagoons. Penrhyn is the largest island (984 hectares) and Suwarrow, the smallest (40 hectares).
The closest Outer Island to Rarotonga is Mangaia (204 kilometres distant) while the farthest is Penrhyn (1,365 kilometres away). The two most widely-separate islands of the country are Pukapuka, in the Northern Group, and Mangaia in the Southern Group (1,470 kilometres apart).
Rarotonga is approximately 3,010 kilometres northeast of Auckland, 1,140 kilometres southwest of Tahiti, 2,300 kilometres east of Fiji and 4,730 kilometres south of Hawaii.
Your Target is the Island of Squama. It is apporoximately 984 Hectacres in area.
Climate
The Cook Islands is situated between 9 degrees and 22 degrees south longitude and possesses a tropical oceanic climate with two seasons. The drier months, from April to November, have an average maximum temperature of about 26 degrees centigrade and an average minimum temperature of about 20 degrees centigrade. The wetter, more humid months, from December to March, have an average maximum temperature of 28 degrees centigrade and an average minimum of 22 degrees centigrade. During the latter season, the Cook Islands is subject to occasionally severe tropical storms and even hurricanes. The Island is also occasionally surronded by Mana Storms, of hellish ferocity that are as yet unpredictable.
Situation
Saeder Krupp intelligence sources have developed solid information that places an Artifact known as the Anandaprana on the Island of Squama. Intelligence has also identified this man, Rheynard Lylesburg, as the controlling force on the Island. Electronic Intelligence assetts have identified at least Regiment sized emplaced opposition forces on the Island. Island forces have hardened bunker style buildings, and an exstensive defenseive net in place including satellitte jamming and blinding facilities, an exstensive Radar emplacement, an exstensive SAM network and mines in the surronding waters.
Random Air Patrols operate in radial patterns at a distance of about sixty kilometers and less. Patrols are staggered and usually consist of two patrol vechiles. Immediate Air Support is believed to be available in five or less minutes.
Naval patrols also operate in random radial patterns around the island in a 45 kilometer radius. Naval forces mainly consist of patrol style boats that rely on speed and low signature to operate. It is believed that the Island Naval forces have access to two CSS Stuart-Class Corvettes, 5 Wuxing Zhen Wu-Class Frigates, with nonstandardized armaments, and 35 GMC Avengers. It also likely they use hover craft and vectored thrust vechiles.
The island itself is exstensively monitored by ground patrols, closed circuit simsense and cameras, exstensive sensor systems are believed to be emplaced. Patrols generally consist of four man teams who patrol on foot or in a single GMC HMPUV. Armaments and armour vary.
Magical Secuirty is layered and tightly monitored. Speculative Intelligence estimates that the island uses a wide combination of bound elementals, spirits and paranormal animals. It is also believed that at least one or more free spirits may operate in conjunction with the islands facilitator, Reynard Lylesberg.
Mission
Gold Team
Retrieve the Anandaprana, and eliminate Reynard Lylesberg. If you are unable to retrieve the tome switch to secondary objectives.
Secondary Objectives:: Caues as much collatoral damage as possible, close with and destroy enemy forces by fire and manuever.
Blue Team
Penetrate the islands secuirty perimeter, deactivaye the island security perimeter, and destroy the island security perimeters capabilty to operate to provide cover fro the insertion of Gold Team.
Loacte Achmed Parker and elimintae him.
If you are unable to accomplish your primary ibjectives switch to secondary objectives.
Secondary objective incapacitate the Two Corvette Class ships by destroying them, and destroy the Air Field.
Tertiary objectives for both teams is completion of the other teams objective.
Execution
Your team will be inserted via HALO drop by a Tactical Fighter Wing just outside effective surface radar range. You will rendevous with the SKS Erradicator for transport to just inside radar range. From there you will infiltrate the Island andcarry out your objectives by fire and manuever;close combat.
Extraction and Escape Routes
Upon succesful completion of your objectives you will send a satellitte encrypted message to the SKS Devastator and primary extraction will be a SK TF-6 Attack helicopter. Both teams will rendevous with the choopers at the airfield.
Secondary extract is by sea. Teams extracting in this method will use Zodiacs to rendevous with the SKS Devastator.
Escape routes will designated by individual team leaders in their own briefings.
Command and Signals
Chain of Command is per Standard Operating Procedure with in each team. Team Blue has operational command until its primary objective is achieved, at which point Team Gold will have operational authority.
The Captain of the SKS Erradicator has theater and operational command.
Order of sucession is per SOP.
Signals
Smoke and pyro will be designated by the individual team leaders, except for Red Smoke and red Pyro which will designate immediate Fire Suppression Mission.
Radio Signals will also be designated by individual Team Leaders. Team Leaders designate call signs for both teams, indivdual team members and on call targets.
Standard hand and arm siganls will be used by all team members.
All teams should be aware of communicational security.
Administration and Logistics
Administrative control of this operation is in the First Special Operations Group Command under General Johann Schmidt. Operational command is Captain Friedrich Reifsnyder.
Higher Units
The SKS Devastator, the SKS Erradicator, Charlie Comapny 47th Tactical Wing and 1st SOG
Adjacent Units
The SKS Hammer, the 45th Light Scout Brigade, and Delta Comapny 47th Tactical Wing
Logistics
Herr general Tschantz in Supply will as usual take care of any needs prior to the start of operations. Team Leaders will issue Frag Orders detailing all nessacry weapons and equipment.
Alexis pulled the lateral bar behind her back with a determination that was uncharacteristic to the elven woman. A dull ache had plagued her data jack the entire morning, and now she would find herself scratching at it absentmindedly between the stages of her work out. She switched her grip on the bar and pulled the bar into her chest, with a little less determination, but with the strength of someone raised in the specialized hands of the Dragons.
Something’s up. Once again ‘gut intuition’ and ‘no logic.’ Ty would not be happy with me right now. Ah well, he still needs to lighten up. Maybe it’s going to rain, the ‘headware’ always starts to throb before a big storm. Don’t remember seeing anything in the forecast though.
Alexis finished her workout on the machines and moved to the treadmill for her daily ten-mile run. With a small flip of her auburn hair, it was tied back into a tight ponytail that rested just above her shoulders. She pulled a chip from her bag, slotted it into the data jack and soon she was immersed in the sounds of Stravinsky ballets; humming along to the Firebird and The Rite of Spring between the pounding of her foot falls.
Something’s up. Once again ‘gut intuition’ and ‘no logic.’ Ty would not be happy with me right now. Ah well, he still needs to lighten up. Maybe it’s going to rain, the ‘headware’ always starts to throb before a big storm. Don’t remember seeing anything in the forecast though.
Alexis finished her workout on the machines and moved to the treadmill for her daily ten-mile run. With a small flip of her auburn hair, it was tied back into a tight ponytail that rested just above her shoulders. She pulled a chip from her bag, slotted it into the data jack and soon she was immersed in the sounds of Stravinsky ballets; humming along to the Firebird and The Rite of Spring between the pounding of her foot falls.
It's amazing how just the right pressure, applied at just the right time, can extinguish the flame of life in a person.
The slow intro to the classic "Stairway to Heaven" winds its way through the room as the Ares Predator III's slide moves forward swiftly, stopping right where it was supposed to.
The slightest twitch of an already tight trigger finger... How many have unnecessarily died because of some nervous Dummkopf was holding a gun.
The heavy pistol snaps upwards, aiming at a spot on the wall as if it were a target, the hand holding it tightening a finger across the trigger, a mere ounce away from tripping the mechanisms inside. Seconds tick away slowly, five, then fifteen, then thirty, a minute, two, each moment bringing more of the dark smile to the face of the man holding the gun.
No twitches and, more importantly, no dummkopfs here.
With purposeful motion, the finger squeezes, snapping the internals of the pistol into action, sending the hammer towards its inevitable impact with... nothing. The click of an empty chamber seems to echo through the room, or maybe only it seems that way to the man holding the pistol. He walks past a guitar in a stand and an amp to lay the pistol on the kitchen table, picking up the glass of Scotch on the Rocks again. He didn't remember why he had poured the drink, since he knew that he couldn't risk the alcohol still being in his system.
That is the crux of the matter, he thought. By this time next week I could be dead. However, if I get the team dropped because of my foolish desires, I might as well be dead anyway.
William Michael Dunne turned to look out the window of his flat in Bremerhaven, his nigh-perpetual smile turning itself into a scowl. He was not a superstitious man, but he had learned that there was a pattern to things in life. For every day you got off easy, God gave you your work back threefold. This bothered him, mostly because of his last job.
As the leader of one of Saeder Krupp's elite Dragon teams, he was directly responsible for five other lives, and indirectly unknown thousands more. The team, most commonly known as Blue Team, had been on a good number of missions together, but it was only the last one that had bothered William.
It had been what those in the field call an "Easy Breather." In his opinion, it had been too easy. Only three shots had been fired, and one kill recorded. Günther had been on night watch when a large panther had sprung out of the underbrush. One quick burst from the Troll's Ares Alpha combat gun had cut the big cat down, but that was all that happened. The insertion and extraction were both flawless, and they didn't even hear anything from the nearby installation that they were setting up systems to watch.
You're going to have to really be on the ball with this one Will. You can't let your people down.
As the song winds down, William Michael Dunne, known as Chord to his team, sits down to call up the members of his team. They have a lot of planning to do.
The slow intro to the classic "Stairway to Heaven" winds its way through the room as the Ares Predator III's slide moves forward swiftly, stopping right where it was supposed to.
The slightest twitch of an already tight trigger finger... How many have unnecessarily died because of some nervous Dummkopf was holding a gun.
The heavy pistol snaps upwards, aiming at a spot on the wall as if it were a target, the hand holding it tightening a finger across the trigger, a mere ounce away from tripping the mechanisms inside. Seconds tick away slowly, five, then fifteen, then thirty, a minute, two, each moment bringing more of the dark smile to the face of the man holding the gun.
No twitches and, more importantly, no dummkopfs here.
With purposeful motion, the finger squeezes, snapping the internals of the pistol into action, sending the hammer towards its inevitable impact with... nothing. The click of an empty chamber seems to echo through the room, or maybe only it seems that way to the man holding the pistol. He walks past a guitar in a stand and an amp to lay the pistol on the kitchen table, picking up the glass of Scotch on the Rocks again. He didn't remember why he had poured the drink, since he knew that he couldn't risk the alcohol still being in his system.
That is the crux of the matter, he thought. By this time next week I could be dead. However, if I get the team dropped because of my foolish desires, I might as well be dead anyway.
William Michael Dunne turned to look out the window of his flat in Bremerhaven, his nigh-perpetual smile turning itself into a scowl. He was not a superstitious man, but he had learned that there was a pattern to things in life. For every day you got off easy, God gave you your work back threefold. This bothered him, mostly because of his last job.
As the leader of one of Saeder Krupp's elite Dragon teams, he was directly responsible for five other lives, and indirectly unknown thousands more. The team, most commonly known as Blue Team, had been on a good number of missions together, but it was only the last one that had bothered William.
It had been what those in the field call an "Easy Breather." In his opinion, it had been too easy. Only three shots had been fired, and one kill recorded. Günther had been on night watch when a large panther had sprung out of the underbrush. One quick burst from the Troll's Ares Alpha combat gun had cut the big cat down, but that was all that happened. The insertion and extraction were both flawless, and they didn't even hear anything from the nearby installation that they were setting up systems to watch.
You're going to have to really be on the ball with this one Will. You can't let your people down.
As the song winds down, William Michael Dunne, known as Chord to his team, sits down to call up the members of his team. They have a lot of planning to do.
Guardian sat contentedly at the knife scarred table, ignoring the crowd noise thanks to the selective ability of his aural modifications, his head bobbing gently to the loud music being generated by the house band Trollshlag. His eyes drifted around the room, playing over the normal crowd in the popular waterfront bar - the usual collection of longshoreman, off duty sailors from the local navy base and merchant marine seamen all busy working on one of the two reasons people came to Miss Kitty's - good beer.
His eyes drifted over to the stairs and up along to the balcony area where scantily clad women either leaned over the railing and bantered cheerfully with patrons on the ground floor area or with those who'd made the climb and were entering into negotiations. His face split into a gentle smile and he momentarily considered climbing the stairs himself before glancing at his watch he decided to wait until the band finished this set. The guitarist Tatiana smiled when he raised a querying eyebrow and gave a faint nod to which Guardian responded with a broad grin - he'd get to have some soon enough and no sense in disturbing one of the working girls - they were busy anyway and whoever he selected wouldn't really appreciate having to take an hour off to keep Miss Kitty's silent partner happy.
He finished his steinbacher with two long swallows and was preparing to make the journey to the bar for another when his eyes caught sight of something that wiped the smile from his face. Six burly ork sailors were busy arguing with a pair of longshoreman and the discussion appeared to be growing heated. Gunther sighed and stood, leaving his empty mug on the table and mentally commanded his hearing filters to allow all sounds to reach him even as he eased his massive frame through the crowd. The babble of voices and the sounds of shouting reached him now and he could hear the sailors berating the longshoremen, trying to incite violence with insults. His face turned thunderous as he saw one of the sailors slip a knife from his belt.Some people just aren't content with drinking and girls, they have to have fights.
Guardian approached the orks from behind, his peripheral vision picking up the form of the troll bouncer C.J moving in from his post near the front door. The patrons scattered from the path of the two trolls, several smiling in anticipation of the upcoming fight. Guardian snorted then as one of the orks raised his arm to attack with the knife he acted, cybernetic and bio enhanced flesh blurring into motion. His hand clamped down on the ork's bicep and with ease arrested the motion of the arm, a firm squeeze causing the knife to drop from numbed fingers.
"Why don't you put that away before you get hurt, finish your drinks and get the hell out of here."
The ork gaped at him and Guardian smiled briefly - then sighed as one of his drinking companions smashed a bottle on the table and thrust at him with the jagged glass. He stepped right, smashed his fist into the kidney area of the knife wielder and then as that one collapsed instincts took over - the orks rushing him and CJ as their drunken confidence told them they could win. Guardians body flowed into the familiar ebb and tug of the tides of battle.
The jagged glass shot past his ribs as with motions impossibly smooth for the unaugmented Guardian swayed aside, then clamped hands to the orks wrist and elbow. With a tug on the wrist and a firm push against the elbow he snapped the arm cleanly then tugging on the now broken arm he swung the glass wielder face first into the wall with stunning force, ignoring the pounding on his armoured back by two of the orks friends. As that one collapsed with his face a bloody mask and he swung to deal with another he became aware that his headware radio signalled an incoming priority call.
His body smoothly moving through battle he acknowledged the signal though to outside eyes there were no signs of the inner conversation thanks to the thought to words transducer. Armoured forearm guards deflected blows of chair and fist and his own massive hands pounded home punches while he listened - *Acknowledged. ETA...60 minutes.*
The last of the orks stepping back away from CJ never saw Gunther until one hand on his shoulder spun him around - too late to do anything about the uppercut that started from near Gunthers knee and laid him out several meters away with a broken jaw. Guardian glanced at CJ - "Strip them of their wallets for the damages and throw their sorry asses into the alley. You better call in Max - I've got to go."
Twenty minutes later freshly showered and changed he emerged from his room in the back of the bar, stepped out through the back door and past the orks recovering from their beating and made his way through the lightly crowded streets to the parking garage a block away. Ignoring his Porsche sports car he chose the BMW Blitzen bike - fired it to growling life and was off through the light traffic, a grin stamped onto his features at the prospect of action.
Life's been dull these last few days - it will be good to be busy again.
His eyes drifted over to the stairs and up along to the balcony area where scantily clad women either leaned over the railing and bantered cheerfully with patrons on the ground floor area or with those who'd made the climb and were entering into negotiations. His face split into a gentle smile and he momentarily considered climbing the stairs himself before glancing at his watch he decided to wait until the band finished this set. The guitarist Tatiana smiled when he raised a querying eyebrow and gave a faint nod to which Guardian responded with a broad grin - he'd get to have some soon enough and no sense in disturbing one of the working girls - they were busy anyway and whoever he selected wouldn't really appreciate having to take an hour off to keep Miss Kitty's silent partner happy.
He finished his steinbacher with two long swallows and was preparing to make the journey to the bar for another when his eyes caught sight of something that wiped the smile from his face. Six burly ork sailors were busy arguing with a pair of longshoreman and the discussion appeared to be growing heated. Gunther sighed and stood, leaving his empty mug on the table and mentally commanded his hearing filters to allow all sounds to reach him even as he eased his massive frame through the crowd. The babble of voices and the sounds of shouting reached him now and he could hear the sailors berating the longshoremen, trying to incite violence with insults. His face turned thunderous as he saw one of the sailors slip a knife from his belt.Some people just aren't content with drinking and girls, they have to have fights.
Guardian approached the orks from behind, his peripheral vision picking up the form of the troll bouncer C.J moving in from his post near the front door. The patrons scattered from the path of the two trolls, several smiling in anticipation of the upcoming fight. Guardian snorted then as one of the orks raised his arm to attack with the knife he acted, cybernetic and bio enhanced flesh blurring into motion. His hand clamped down on the ork's bicep and with ease arrested the motion of the arm, a firm squeeze causing the knife to drop from numbed fingers.
"Why don't you put that away before you get hurt, finish your drinks and get the hell out of here."
The ork gaped at him and Guardian smiled briefly - then sighed as one of his drinking companions smashed a bottle on the table and thrust at him with the jagged glass. He stepped right, smashed his fist into the kidney area of the knife wielder and then as that one collapsed instincts took over - the orks rushing him and CJ as their drunken confidence told them they could win. Guardians body flowed into the familiar ebb and tug of the tides of battle.
The jagged glass shot past his ribs as with motions impossibly smooth for the unaugmented Guardian swayed aside, then clamped hands to the orks wrist and elbow. With a tug on the wrist and a firm push against the elbow he snapped the arm cleanly then tugging on the now broken arm he swung the glass wielder face first into the wall with stunning force, ignoring the pounding on his armoured back by two of the orks friends. As that one collapsed with his face a bloody mask and he swung to deal with another he became aware that his headware radio signalled an incoming priority call.
His body smoothly moving through battle he acknowledged the signal though to outside eyes there were no signs of the inner conversation thanks to the thought to words transducer. Armoured forearm guards deflected blows of chair and fist and his own massive hands pounded home punches while he listened - *Acknowledged. ETA...60 minutes.*
The last of the orks stepping back away from CJ never saw Gunther until one hand on his shoulder spun him around - too late to do anything about the uppercut that started from near Gunthers knee and laid him out several meters away with a broken jaw. Guardian glanced at CJ - "Strip them of their wallets for the damages and throw their sorry asses into the alley. You better call in Max - I've got to go."
Twenty minutes later freshly showered and changed he emerged from his room in the back of the bar, stepped out through the back door and past the orks recovering from their beating and made his way through the lightly crowded streets to the parking garage a block away. Ignoring his Porsche sports car he chose the BMW Blitzen bike - fired it to growling life and was off through the light traffic, a grin stamped onto his features at the prospect of action.
Life's been dull these last few days - it will be good to be busy again.
The cell phone rang, but Alexis didn't hear it. It was one of the small joys SK had given to her, for all of the equipment in her head, she still had to answer a telephone by picking it up and placing it to her ear. Now, however, she had to wait until the final hectic measures of the Rite of Spring died away to nothingness before she could here the soft beeping of her cell. Embarrased she forgot to turn it off, and wondering how long it had been ringing, she picked it up.
"Hello, Alexis here. Oh hi, Wi...What? We're on call...now? Bu...Alright, fine, where?" she coughed once, away from the reciever, "Your place? Sure, whatever, but you know that's a long drive...what, like teleconfrence? That can happen. Just...As soon as possible? Well as soon as possible is going to have to wait five minutes while, Alexis bathes herself...No, I'm not showing up dirty, I'll be there when I can. Thanks for the call."
She flipped down the phone and sighed a second time. Life on the line for the company. Another mission for you Mom, she crossed herself, I hope I'm making you proud.
Alexis dropped the phone into the bag and grabbed her towel from the treadmill bar, heading for the shower at a run.
"Hello, Alexis here. Oh hi, Wi...What? We're on call...now? Bu...Alright, fine, where?" she coughed once, away from the reciever, "Your place? Sure, whatever, but you know that's a long drive...what, like teleconfrence? That can happen. Just...As soon as possible? Well as soon as possible is going to have to wait five minutes while, Alexis bathes herself...No, I'm not showing up dirty, I'll be there when I can. Thanks for the call."
She flipped down the phone and sighed a second time. Life on the line for the company. Another mission for you Mom, she crossed herself, I hope I'm making you proud.
Alexis dropped the phone into the bag and grabbed her towel from the treadmill bar, heading for the shower at a run.
Last edited by Starburst on Wed Sep 04, 2002 9:57 pm, edited 1 time in total.
-
Serious Paul
- Devil
- Posts: 6644
- Joined: Mon Mar 18, 2002 12:38 pm
Nine Degrees South, Twenty Two Degrees West
He had many names. At various times he had been known as one or all of them to his peers and enemies. Over the years one name had never seemed to be far from his mind. The Scorpion. He had once been a member of the worlds most elite team of black operations commandoes that had ever exsisted.They had done things that would have been the stuff of legend if it had ever seen print. He had betrayed all of that. He had watched as most of his team mates had died horribly. He had seen the anger in the Dragons eyes, felt the Dragons rage-his burning flames had nearly killed him. And he had survived. He had crawled from the rubble, dazed, burnt and bleeding. He had crawled through the blast zone, his hands cut by irradiated shrapnle and debris, his eyes seared by the heat, nearly blinded by that final flash, his body slowly dying.
He had nearly given up all hope that day. He lay there dying, retching his internal organs out onto the blackened dead earth, when he saw his savior. His eyes glowed a deep blue, that like the ocean seemed endless. He had lost himself in those eyes. He had seen thm once before as a child, and once again he reached out......
He stood upon the sole beach the island had allocated for recreation. At this time of night it was empty, all of his men were in their Barracks, asleep, or on duty ensuring the safety of their home.He scrunched his toes, his feet were bare, in the sand. He clenched his toes gripping the sand, then allowed the water to wash the sand away. He marveled at the waters warmth, its strength, its depth. It was a vast, endless unyeilding force. As was, he liked to think, his will.
Out of the Corner of his eye he noted his security detail approaching him with a TacCom. He sighed and centered his mind. Duty called.
Essen, Westphalia
Colonel Childers turned to his Staff Sargent and spoke quickly in precise words.
"Staff Sargent Bacher assemble both teams here in Essen. I want them here in the next sixteen hours. Uniform of the Day will be class Cs, with Garrison cover. No sidearms are needed as yet."
"Aye Aye sir."
"Also have the S3 guys get our map projectors online and get me some coffee and snacks for the teams as well. Arrange for Temporary Quarters for them to be housed in. I want Security to be tightened as well, instruct the Captain of the Guard to cordon off that floor and run sweeps every two hours. I also want some Wards up."
Even though he spoke rapidly, he knew his cybernetcially enhanced aid would record every word as if it were the last he'd ever hear. He had work to do....
Cidade de Nacala,Mozambique
He surveyed the damage astrally. The background count still lingered making it slightly discomforting to stare at any one spot for too long, but he was a professional, he would make sure this job was done right. He had spent the last several hours sifting through the buildings wreckage, directing recovery efforts and helping local authorities to disarm the remaining live ordinance. His employer was indirectly owned by Saeder Krupp through about a dozen shell companies. He had been seconded from an SK Engineering Company for this particular assignment. He had been flown from his current assignement in Russia, with Top Secret Orders.It would have made for some good spy novel stuff if wasn't so damn mundane.
The work was very slow, and painstaking. Debris had to be removed by hand, as to not risk any tertiary explosions. He had supervised the work for the last 36 hours straight. He thought again about what his orders had contained, and shuddered. He checked his geiger counter agian, but the needle stayed steady at zero. Was there really a nuclear weapon beneath this rubble?
He had many names. At various times he had been known as one or all of them to his peers and enemies. Over the years one name had never seemed to be far from his mind. The Scorpion. He had once been a member of the worlds most elite team of black operations commandoes that had ever exsisted.They had done things that would have been the stuff of legend if it had ever seen print. He had betrayed all of that. He had watched as most of his team mates had died horribly. He had seen the anger in the Dragons eyes, felt the Dragons rage-his burning flames had nearly killed him. And he had survived. He had crawled from the rubble, dazed, burnt and bleeding. He had crawled through the blast zone, his hands cut by irradiated shrapnle and debris, his eyes seared by the heat, nearly blinded by that final flash, his body slowly dying.
He had nearly given up all hope that day. He lay there dying, retching his internal organs out onto the blackened dead earth, when he saw his savior. His eyes glowed a deep blue, that like the ocean seemed endless. He had lost himself in those eyes. He had seen thm once before as a child, and once again he reached out......
He stood upon the sole beach the island had allocated for recreation. At this time of night it was empty, all of his men were in their Barracks, asleep, or on duty ensuring the safety of their home.He scrunched his toes, his feet were bare, in the sand. He clenched his toes gripping the sand, then allowed the water to wash the sand away. He marveled at the waters warmth, its strength, its depth. It was a vast, endless unyeilding force. As was, he liked to think, his will.
Out of the Corner of his eye he noted his security detail approaching him with a TacCom. He sighed and centered his mind. Duty called.
Essen, Westphalia
Colonel Childers turned to his Staff Sargent and spoke quickly in precise words.
"Staff Sargent Bacher assemble both teams here in Essen. I want them here in the next sixteen hours. Uniform of the Day will be class Cs, with Garrison cover. No sidearms are needed as yet."
"Aye Aye sir."
"Also have the S3 guys get our map projectors online and get me some coffee and snacks for the teams as well. Arrange for Temporary Quarters for them to be housed in. I want Security to be tightened as well, instruct the Captain of the Guard to cordon off that floor and run sweeps every two hours. I also want some Wards up."
Even though he spoke rapidly, he knew his cybernetcially enhanced aid would record every word as if it were the last he'd ever hear. He had work to do....
Cidade de Nacala,Mozambique
He surveyed the damage astrally. The background count still lingered making it slightly discomforting to stare at any one spot for too long, but he was a professional, he would make sure this job was done right. He had spent the last several hours sifting through the buildings wreckage, directing recovery efforts and helping local authorities to disarm the remaining live ordinance. His employer was indirectly owned by Saeder Krupp through about a dozen shell companies. He had been seconded from an SK Engineering Company for this particular assignment. He had been flown from his current assignement in Russia, with Top Secret Orders.It would have made for some good spy novel stuff if wasn't so damn mundane.
The work was very slow, and painstaking. Debris had to be removed by hand, as to not risk any tertiary explosions. He had supervised the work for the last 36 hours straight. He thought again about what his orders had contained, and shuddered. He checked his geiger counter agian, but the needle stayed steady at zero. Was there really a nuclear weapon beneath this rubble?
-
Serious Paul
- Devil
- Posts: 6644
- Joined: Mon Mar 18, 2002 12:38 pm
Bremerhaven, North German Federation
Not for the first time Detective Augustyniak wondered why the hell had done this. He stood in the alley way waiting for his "contact" to arrive. The alley was narrow, and and filled with trash. it smelled of sewer and urine. he had walked it twice looking for any thing that might hint of a set up, but other than nearly wearing the contents of some old womans chamber pot, he had found nothing unusual. As he paced the alley for the hundreth time a small, battered station wagon pulled up to the mouth of the alley. It was a 2007 Passat that had once been green once, maybe brown. Its paint job was scored with what looked like a combination of gunshots and rust. The fenders where dented and misued. He noted with a smile that the two tires facing him were of two different makes. Stickers advertising a wide variety of illicit services, smoke poured from the windows-at first sniff he'd guess some Turkish Hashish. Rapcore music was played at a deafening level inside the vechile. The vechiles occupants, there were four, were all Orks. All were dressed in leathers and East German military fatigues. Their clothes were covered in paint, stickers and spikes.
As the vechile stopped two of the Orks got out. The one on the rear left stood, using the wagon as partial cover,in his hands Detective Augustyniak could see a chopped down UZI III, with a muzzle break on it. Not quite silenced, but just soft enough to not attract attention in this neighborhood. The other, front right, had a pistol holstered on his left side, but made no move to bear it. He wore thick reflective glasses, almost like welders goggles.
"Herr Augustyniak?"
"Ja."
"Please get int he car, Detective."He motioned for the Detective to step into the back seat.
He nodded, and slid over the Ork in the right seat and into the middle. The two Orks sat back in the vechile and, and it lurched into motion. His nostrils were assaulted with the smell of burning hash, beer, and the foul smell of the Orks who had obviously been in between bathes for some time.....
Essen, Westphalia
The conference room was large, and spacious in its lay out. Screens were able to be hid in the walls, and desk tops, allowing access to high tech equipment that was actually in other areas. Players, paly back units and all sorts of media devices made it possible to use anything for planning anything froma surprise birthday party to Global Thermonuclear War.
Coffee machines, and microwaves allowed some amenities,as did the air conditioning. Colonel Childers awaited the arrival of his team leaders, and their teams. It was time for the sharp end of the spear to do their work.Childers grin was feral....
Not for the first time Detective Augustyniak wondered why the hell had done this. He stood in the alley way waiting for his "contact" to arrive. The alley was narrow, and and filled with trash. it smelled of sewer and urine. he had walked it twice looking for any thing that might hint of a set up, but other than nearly wearing the contents of some old womans chamber pot, he had found nothing unusual. As he paced the alley for the hundreth time a small, battered station wagon pulled up to the mouth of the alley. It was a 2007 Passat that had once been green once, maybe brown. Its paint job was scored with what looked like a combination of gunshots and rust. The fenders where dented and misued. He noted with a smile that the two tires facing him were of two different makes. Stickers advertising a wide variety of illicit services, smoke poured from the windows-at first sniff he'd guess some Turkish Hashish. Rapcore music was played at a deafening level inside the vechile. The vechiles occupants, there were four, were all Orks. All were dressed in leathers and East German military fatigues. Their clothes were covered in paint, stickers and spikes.
As the vechile stopped two of the Orks got out. The one on the rear left stood, using the wagon as partial cover,in his hands Detective Augustyniak could see a chopped down UZI III, with a muzzle break on it. Not quite silenced, but just soft enough to not attract attention in this neighborhood. The other, front right, had a pistol holstered on his left side, but made no move to bear it. He wore thick reflective glasses, almost like welders goggles.
"Herr Augustyniak?"
"Ja."
"Please get int he car, Detective."He motioned for the Detective to step into the back seat.
He nodded, and slid over the Ork in the right seat and into the middle. The two Orks sat back in the vechile and, and it lurched into motion. His nostrils were assaulted with the smell of burning hash, beer, and the foul smell of the Orks who had obviously been in between bathes for some time.....
Essen, Westphalia
The conference room was large, and spacious in its lay out. Screens were able to be hid in the walls, and desk tops, allowing access to high tech equipment that was actually in other areas. Players, paly back units and all sorts of media devices made it possible to use anything for planning anything froma surprise birthday party to Global Thermonuclear War.
Coffee machines, and microwaves allowed some amenities,as did the air conditioning. Colonel Childers awaited the arrival of his team leaders, and their teams. It was time for the sharp end of the spear to do their work.Childers grin was feral....
Jeremy floated in that half-sleep, drifting between the waking world and the dream. Was it day? Night? He couldn’t tell; his estate room, buried within the bow of his 20 meter yacht, was currently sealed from all outside light. Not that he really cared either way.
A touch on his bare chest brings him back from the brink of oblivion. He turns his head to the left, and is greeted with Anna’s dazzling, if half-asleep smile. Her long, pale-blonde hair is loose and is draped around her as if placed carefully by a photogropher. Perfect. She runs her hand lazily across his chest and stomach, her fingertips sliding over the hard, rounded outlines of muscle.
“So smooth and firm...like warm marble. You’re a living statue.”
Her laugh isn’t anything more than soft exhalation of breath; she’s further under than he was a moment ago, and well on her way down. Her comment isn’t all that surprising, either. He’s heard it, or things just like it, countless times before. He’s well aware of the...aesthetically pleasing nature of his physique. His was a body capable of exploding into blinding movement at the blink of an eye. Sure, there were other members of his team capable of similar speed, but his body absolutely looked the part. His frame was wrapped in tight, perfectly defined muscles; the body of a dancer. Body fat percentage was virtually nil. He liked it as well; it’s what allowed him to do the work that he loved.
He took a breath, let it out slowly. He let his head flop down to the right. There was Tara, deep in a content, if exhausted, sleep. She was darkness to Anna’s light, but certainly no less beautiful. He smiles lazily at the memory of the activity that has put her, and her companion, in their current state. A late night clubbing; dancing, drinking, and then back here for more of the same, only with far less clothing involved.
A sudden chirping sounds throuigh the cabin. He lays utterly still, thinking that maybe he’s imagined it. No, there it comes again, a note well above the hearing range of normal metahumans. That signal can mean only one thing. He raises his head and looks at the telecom. Sure enough, there’s a light flashing, in the infa-red portion of the spectrum.
It’s work time.
He slides himself to the end of the bed and presses a button on the unit.
“Acknowledged. Be there in 5.”
He stands and quickly changes into comfortable, loose-fitting pants, t-shirt, and light jacket. He checks the load on his pistol, and slides it into the jacket’s concealed holster. He takes a look back at the women asleep on the bed and steps out the door, making his way through the narrow hallway and up the stairs to the rear deck.. They’ve been here before, they know the drill.
Chord’s place was less than two kilometers away. He'll run; it should take less than three minutes.
A touch on his bare chest brings him back from the brink of oblivion. He turns his head to the left, and is greeted with Anna’s dazzling, if half-asleep smile. Her long, pale-blonde hair is loose and is draped around her as if placed carefully by a photogropher. Perfect. She runs her hand lazily across his chest and stomach, her fingertips sliding over the hard, rounded outlines of muscle.
“So smooth and firm...like warm marble. You’re a living statue.”
Her laugh isn’t anything more than soft exhalation of breath; she’s further under than he was a moment ago, and well on her way down. Her comment isn’t all that surprising, either. He’s heard it, or things just like it, countless times before. He’s well aware of the...aesthetically pleasing nature of his physique. His was a body capable of exploding into blinding movement at the blink of an eye. Sure, there were other members of his team capable of similar speed, but his body absolutely looked the part. His frame was wrapped in tight, perfectly defined muscles; the body of a dancer. Body fat percentage was virtually nil. He liked it as well; it’s what allowed him to do the work that he loved.
He took a breath, let it out slowly. He let his head flop down to the right. There was Tara, deep in a content, if exhausted, sleep. She was darkness to Anna’s light, but certainly no less beautiful. He smiles lazily at the memory of the activity that has put her, and her companion, in their current state. A late night clubbing; dancing, drinking, and then back here for more of the same, only with far less clothing involved.
A sudden chirping sounds throuigh the cabin. He lays utterly still, thinking that maybe he’s imagined it. No, there it comes again, a note well above the hearing range of normal metahumans. That signal can mean only one thing. He raises his head and looks at the telecom. Sure enough, there’s a light flashing, in the infa-red portion of the spectrum.
It’s work time.
He slides himself to the end of the bed and presses a button on the unit.
“Acknowledged. Be there in 5.”
He stands and quickly changes into comfortable, loose-fitting pants, t-shirt, and light jacket. He checks the load on his pistol, and slides it into the jacket’s concealed holster. He takes a look back at the women asleep on the bed and steps out the door, making his way through the narrow hallway and up the stairs to the rear deck.. They’ve been here before, they know the drill.
Chord’s place was less than two kilometers away. He'll run; it should take less than three minutes.
The shower had almost been refreshing. It was refreshing in the way that it feels good to get the grime and bitter scent of sweat off after a hard days work. Iit didn't make her feel clean. A call from her CO always made her feel this way, somehow the knowledge that she was to ship off again, the knowledge that another mission, another death was soon at hand. She had sixteen kills to her name, and she'd been congratulated by her compatriots for each, after all, a death in their column was survival in her own.
She pulled on her clothes, shaking them gently from her bag: a long pair of hospital scrubs and a loose fitting t-shirt (her prefered apres-workout attire) She tied her hair back into a pony-tail, the end dangling at her shoulders. She sat for a long moment on the bench, wondering if Tyler had gotten the call, and whether she should be the first to break the news...
The taste of shampoo lingered, bitter in her mouth. She popped an Altoid mint from the small metal container and sighed. Shaking her head gently, she slung her bag over her shoulder and headed towards Tyler's apartment.
She pulled on her clothes, shaking them gently from her bag: a long pair of hospital scrubs and a loose fitting t-shirt (her prefered apres-workout attire) She tied her hair back into a pony-tail, the end dangling at her shoulders. She sat for a long moment on the bench, wondering if Tyler had gotten the call, and whether she should be the first to break the news...
The taste of shampoo lingered, bitter in her mouth. She popped an Altoid mint from the small metal container and sighed. Shaking her head gently, she slung her bag over her shoulder and headed towards Tyler's apartment.
0900 local time, Rhine-Ruhr Megaplex, Essen, Germany
As usual, it's early and the windows of the house are vibrating. Of course, the sound-proofing is excellent, and the neighbors wouldn't know that the music was playing at an ear-splitting decibel level.
Geist steps out of the shower, relaxing after his morning workout. He moves out onto his enclosed deck, eating his breakfast and listening to the fading guitar chords of "Lose Yourself."
"She'll hate this song. Another one to annoy her with. But she told me she was coming here. She gets to deal with my bad taste this time." Tyler smiles as he thinks of Starburst's future disgust with his newest addition to his hip-hop collection. He had received the message from Chord earlier this morning. The teleconference would start soon, once Tyler's elven friend arrived. "Finally, it's time to get to work. The Dragon calls, and I answer, as always, as it should be. Enough rest. It's time to begin." Making sure the telecom is set for the call, and the display screen, microphones, and speakers are adjusted, Tyler finishes dressing, wearing a navy blue turtleneck and a light pair of khaki dress slacks. Speaking to no one in particular, he smiles to himself, "I will not grow old in Salem's Lot. This world is mine for the taking."
As usual, it's early and the windows of the house are vibrating. Of course, the sound-proofing is excellent, and the neighbors wouldn't know that the music was playing at an ear-splitting decibel level.
Geist steps out of the shower, relaxing after his morning workout. He moves out onto his enclosed deck, eating his breakfast and listening to the fading guitar chords of "Lose Yourself."
"She'll hate this song. Another one to annoy her with. But she told me she was coming here. She gets to deal with my bad taste this time." Tyler smiles as he thinks of Starburst's future disgust with his newest addition to his hip-hop collection. He had received the message from Chord earlier this morning. The teleconference would start soon, once Tyler's elven friend arrived. "Finally, it's time to get to work. The Dragon calls, and I answer, as always, as it should be. Enough rest. It's time to begin." Making sure the telecom is set for the call, and the display screen, microphones, and speakers are adjusted, Tyler finishes dressing, wearing a navy blue turtleneck and a light pair of khaki dress slacks. Speaking to no one in particular, he smiles to himself, "I will not grow old in Salem's Lot. This world is mine for the taking."
Starburst made it a point to turn down the reception of her aural enhancements and turn up her dampers. She was always surprised to find that Tyler hadn't made himself go deaf yet, but, and she smiled wrly at this, he did sometimes seem to be headed in that direction. It's not his fault, she would think, he's had it rougher than the rest.
She knocked gently as she always did, prefering it to the doorbell, but when she could feel the door vibrating underneathe her knuckles. She reached for the buzzer instead.
"Tyler!"
She knocked gently as she always did, prefering it to the doorbell, but when she could feel the door vibrating underneathe her knuckles. She reached for the buzzer instead.
"Tyler!"
Hearing the door chime and Alexis yell his name, Tyler walks into his living room. "Volume level decrease to background. Display front door camera image." Knowing that the computer system installed by the corporation will log the image, he realizes that of course it is Alexis at his door. Old habits die hard though. Knowing that the system will activate the external speaker, he begins to speak. "It's open Lex, come on in. I'm downstairs. Tea's on the stove." Waiting for his companion in the basement living room, he relaxes, changing over to a lighter dance playlist. Something with less bass and less offensive language for Alexis and her delicate ears.
Alexis breathed a sigh of relief as the decibles dropped and Tyler told her that was tea. Something relaxing was what she was hoping for, and Tyler's choice of music wasn't bad, simply different. She smiled as she poured herself a cup of tea and went to the refridgerator for real milk, and real sugar. Only the best for Tyler, of course, she often wondered how many people actually saw that side of him.
She picked herway down the small spiral staircase that led to the basement floor, careful to not spill a drop on the narrow steps. "I do hope you don't mind my weekend wear, but when the Dragon calls you don't always have time to change," she walked over and kissed him on the cheek, "Ready for yet another forray into the 'unkown'? I swear they try and hype these missions like the new season of Survivor: Last Man Standing. If anything I don't want new and exciting, how about a simple find and rescue? Hmmm?"
She looked over at the telecom, making sure it wasn't blinking on, "Your fly is open, hun."
She picked herway down the small spiral staircase that led to the basement floor, careful to not spill a drop on the narrow steps. "I do hope you don't mind my weekend wear, but when the Dragon calls you don't always have time to change," she walked over and kissed him on the cheek, "Ready for yet another forray into the 'unkown'? I swear they try and hype these missions like the new season of Survivor: Last Man Standing. If anything I don't want new and exciting, how about a simple find and rescue? Hmmm?"
She looked over at the telecom, making sure it wasn't blinking on, "Your fly is open, hun."
Tyler gives a quick hug as he stands to greet Alexis. "You just wish so, horn-dog." He winks and chuckles softly. This is one of the few times and places when his defenses are completely down. In his home, safely watched over by the corporation's security, with Alexis here. When he had made the move to Essen, he had truly hoped that this would be a home for both of them. He knew of course though, that he would not ask her such a question. And without asking, it would never happen, for as enhanced as both their senses were, they chose to be blind to each other's feelings. Realizing that he has been staring at Alexis blankly for a few moments as he though, he blinks quickly and turns away.
"It's a new addition to the collection. I'm sure your sensitive ears will hate it, but I like it. Some Caucasian rapper from the late nineties. M and M, I seem to recall. Chord found this one for me. What do you think?" He tries to recover, knowing that he'll fail.
"You want to explain that look, or are you going to pretend like it didn't happen for a bit longer?" Her melodic voice crosses the room, echoing in his ears.
Sighing, he turns back to look at her. "I had the Dream again last night. It's been several months, and I had hoped that I was finally finished with such silly fears."
"You know as well as I do, that fear will never leave people like us alone completely. It's something else though, hun, isn't it. What are you not telling me?" As always she reads through his walls, as she has for these past three years. Her mastery of social interaction and the ability to read and manipulate people far exceed his own. Only his Sight is an equalizer in social situations with Alexis. But he stuck to the promise he made the first time when she had lied to him. No Sight unless he asked first. He remembered how beautiful she had looked as the anger had crossed her face when she realized that he had just read her deepest emotions with a simple glance.
"It was different. During my meditation, I seemed to have some kind of communication with an entity. And also, I have this feeling, a half-formed perception, that ghosts from the past may soon be involved in my life once again." Tyler doesn't need to state aloud his next thought. She knows it. She's heard it enough on his terrible days. She saw him when he lost control after the exposure to the hallucinogenic effects of the Awakened jiuranme flower in the jungles of Amazonia. He fears what will happen if he has to face those involved in the only time that he lost control of his Gift. He fears how he'll respond, and more importantly, if he'll be able to look at those people without forcing them to choke slowly to death on the brutality of his rage and pain. He doesn't speak, simply turning to look at her, a calming spot in the center of his storm. "We need more tea." He smiles, and takes both their cups, walking into the kitchen.
"It's a new addition to the collection. I'm sure your sensitive ears will hate it, but I like it. Some Caucasian rapper from the late nineties. M and M, I seem to recall. Chord found this one for me. What do you think?" He tries to recover, knowing that he'll fail.
"You want to explain that look, or are you going to pretend like it didn't happen for a bit longer?" Her melodic voice crosses the room, echoing in his ears.
Sighing, he turns back to look at her. "I had the Dream again last night. It's been several months, and I had hoped that I was finally finished with such silly fears."
"You know as well as I do, that fear will never leave people like us alone completely. It's something else though, hun, isn't it. What are you not telling me?" As always she reads through his walls, as she has for these past three years. Her mastery of social interaction and the ability to read and manipulate people far exceed his own. Only his Sight is an equalizer in social situations with Alexis. But he stuck to the promise he made the first time when she had lied to him. No Sight unless he asked first. He remembered how beautiful she had looked as the anger had crossed her face when she realized that he had just read her deepest emotions with a simple glance.
"It was different. During my meditation, I seemed to have some kind of communication with an entity. And also, I have this feeling, a half-formed perception, that ghosts from the past may soon be involved in my life once again." Tyler doesn't need to state aloud his next thought. She knows it. She's heard it enough on his terrible days. She saw him when he lost control after the exposure to the hallucinogenic effects of the Awakened jiuranme flower in the jungles of Amazonia. He fears what will happen if he has to face those involved in the only time that he lost control of his Gift. He fears how he'll respond, and more importantly, if he'll be able to look at those people without forcing them to choke slowly to death on the brutality of his rage and pain. He doesn't speak, simply turning to look at her, a calming spot in the center of his storm. "We need more tea." He smiles, and takes both their cups, walking into the kitchen.
-
Serious Paul
- Devil
- Posts: 6644
- Joined: Mon Mar 18, 2002 12:38 pm
Bremerhaven, North German Federation
Detective Augustyniak rode in the vechile silently. The four Orks hadn't said much, and when they spoke it was in english-they obviously thought he didn't understand a word they were saying. He tried to keep track of which way they were going but the windows were covered in stickers in the rear, and the Orks took a winding route that had doubled back several times and wound its way through Bremerhavens small winding back alleys
Finally after fifteen minutes-he tried to calculate how far from where he had started he could be-the vechile stopped. The driver cut the engine, and the Ork in the passenger side stepped out of the vechile. After a minute the rear doors opened and he was lead into a small door that was emblazoned with the words "Vertrauen Sie nie einer Nadel, die sie liegt" and Detective Augustyniak wondered what the words meant as he was ushered inside.
The room he was lead into was a small dank room lit by a single lightbulb that was hung by a bare wire from the low ceiling. The Orks were so tall that their heads nearly touched the yellowed ceilings. The walls were dark; stanking of urine, and vomit. A single table with five chairs, folding metal like the table, occupied the center of the room. In one of the chairs was the man he had come to see.
Zimmerman wasn't the only man in Bremerhaven who claimed to be a "Fixer" of some sort, but Zimmerman was the best and the biggest. His connections to La Costra Nostra was a well known secret as were his connections to the Russian Mafia. Zimmerman owned the shadows of Bremerhaven.
"Herr Augustyniak welcome, what can I do for you?"
Cidade de Nacala,Mozambique
They had assembled in the second rally point. The ambush had been brief and one sided. They only numbered six men, but they had managed to completely wipe out the twenty man column. They had used claymores and heavy weapons-all in all the fight had lasted under a minute.
They had briefly searched the corpses, not expecting much-after all the Sena warriors had been on a standard movement to contact patrol. They just hadn't expected what they ended up running into. The men searched the corses efficiently, and then set about their gruesome task.
An hour later twenty skulls were neatly stacked, flayed of all flesh and rigged with explosives. Whoever found these would get more than one message
They checked their position both with their GPS and the old fashioned way with a compass, just to be sure and slowly set out into the jungle...
Essen, Westphalia
Colonel Childers was as black as the coffee. His face bore a single scar, along his right jaw bone-a trophy from a not so chance encounter with Roach Mother Spirit in Madrid in '55. His eyes were hard, he was a commander of men, a leader in the truest sense. Still he couldn't help but smile as his men and women filed into the room. Captain Alexien Diethelm, was first followed by his people on Team Gold. His eyes lingered on each for a brief second as he compared them to their files. His gaze settled on Rolf Sechs-and for a second he wondered who the hell he was staring at? And what? Was this the same man who had served under him in so many capacities? Whom he had shed blood with? Whom he had laid with in muddy holes as Hellfire and artillery rounds had thundered overhead? Was he a man any more?
He shook his head, and took a drag from his coffee. He cleared those thoughts from his mind. He nodded to Droz in reply to his greeting.
"Thank Colonel Hodges, he brewed it."
He turned towards Captain Konigsamen and said," As soon as Lt. Dunnes people arrive, we will begin the briefing Sir."
He watched as Team Gold settled intot he comfortable chairs. All he needed now as Team Blau.
Detective Augustyniak rode in the vechile silently. The four Orks hadn't said much, and when they spoke it was in english-they obviously thought he didn't understand a word they were saying. He tried to keep track of which way they were going but the windows were covered in stickers in the rear, and the Orks took a winding route that had doubled back several times and wound its way through Bremerhavens small winding back alleys
Finally after fifteen minutes-he tried to calculate how far from where he had started he could be-the vechile stopped. The driver cut the engine, and the Ork in the passenger side stepped out of the vechile. After a minute the rear doors opened and he was lead into a small door that was emblazoned with the words "Vertrauen Sie nie einer Nadel, die sie liegt" and Detective Augustyniak wondered what the words meant as he was ushered inside.
The room he was lead into was a small dank room lit by a single lightbulb that was hung by a bare wire from the low ceiling. The Orks were so tall that their heads nearly touched the yellowed ceilings. The walls were dark; stanking of urine, and vomit. A single table with five chairs, folding metal like the table, occupied the center of the room. In one of the chairs was the man he had come to see.
Zimmerman wasn't the only man in Bremerhaven who claimed to be a "Fixer" of some sort, but Zimmerman was the best and the biggest. His connections to La Costra Nostra was a well known secret as were his connections to the Russian Mafia. Zimmerman owned the shadows of Bremerhaven.
"Herr Augustyniak welcome, what can I do for you?"
Cidade de Nacala,Mozambique
They had assembled in the second rally point. The ambush had been brief and one sided. They only numbered six men, but they had managed to completely wipe out the twenty man column. They had used claymores and heavy weapons-all in all the fight had lasted under a minute.
They had briefly searched the corpses, not expecting much-after all the Sena warriors had been on a standard movement to contact patrol. They just hadn't expected what they ended up running into. The men searched the corses efficiently, and then set about their gruesome task.
An hour later twenty skulls were neatly stacked, flayed of all flesh and rigged with explosives. Whoever found these would get more than one message
They checked their position both with their GPS and the old fashioned way with a compass, just to be sure and slowly set out into the jungle...
Essen, Westphalia
Colonel Childers was as black as the coffee. His face bore a single scar, along his right jaw bone-a trophy from a not so chance encounter with Roach Mother Spirit in Madrid in '55. His eyes were hard, he was a commander of men, a leader in the truest sense. Still he couldn't help but smile as his men and women filed into the room. Captain Alexien Diethelm, was first followed by his people on Team Gold. His eyes lingered on each for a brief second as he compared them to their files. His gaze settled on Rolf Sechs-and for a second he wondered who the hell he was staring at? And what? Was this the same man who had served under him in so many capacities? Whom he had shed blood with? Whom he had laid with in muddy holes as Hellfire and artillery rounds had thundered overhead? Was he a man any more?
He shook his head, and took a drag from his coffee. He cleared those thoughts from his mind. He nodded to Droz in reply to his greeting.
"Thank Colonel Hodges, he brewed it."
He turned towards Captain Konigsamen and said," As soon as Lt. Dunnes people arrive, we will begin the briefing Sir."
He watched as Team Gold settled intot he comfortable chairs. All he needed now as Team Blau.
Alexis coughed, a gentle cough the belied the true extent of her difficulties. "It's this fucking cybeware" she always told Tyler when the coughs would rack her wholebody, "It's taking me over and I fucking hate it." But she never said no to The Dragon. She couldn't bring herself to. 'They' said she didn't have to take it, but they always said it was at The Dragon's suggestion. They gave her medication, they told her it would go away. She knew better.
She coughed again, slightly louder, and she rummaged in her pack for another mint. "At least if we're going off on a mission they'll give me the good stuff," she sat herself down on the couch and tucked her feet under, "A week without this God be damned cough will be a peace I can deal with," she knew better than to ask further about the meditation, to ask about the past. That was the one thing that the two were sure to agree on. Live, learn, adapt, repeat was the phrase she annoyed Tyler with the most. The one she tried to live by.
Her thoughts danced again as she watched Tyler return from the kitchen, watching the man that became so much a part of her life the past few years who still manages to stay so distant. She noticed that he walked carefully, determined to not spill a drop of tea, extending his own control to the cups in his hands. He's a force and that's the truth. Not like me, who's just a means to an end for something I don't even quite understand. But he...he's going to be able to make ch...
"Your tea, Frau Alexis," his eyes smiled briefly, knowing full well she hated the formal address. She slid over on the couch, making room by pressing her body against the arm.
"Dankeschonne, Herr Tyler," her eyes smiled up at the man, returning the favor of formality. "You know how to make the best cup of tea. Now what can we do about your music selction, hmm?"
"You will do nothing about my music selection..." There was a soft chirrup. And both turned to look at the telecom on the table.
"It's time. Let's see what Chord has to say."
She coughed again, slightly louder, and she rummaged in her pack for another mint. "At least if we're going off on a mission they'll give me the good stuff," she sat herself down on the couch and tucked her feet under, "A week without this God be damned cough will be a peace I can deal with," she knew better than to ask further about the meditation, to ask about the past. That was the one thing that the two were sure to agree on. Live, learn, adapt, repeat was the phrase she annoyed Tyler with the most. The one she tried to live by.
Her thoughts danced again as she watched Tyler return from the kitchen, watching the man that became so much a part of her life the past few years who still manages to stay so distant. She noticed that he walked carefully, determined to not spill a drop of tea, extending his own control to the cups in his hands. He's a force and that's the truth. Not like me, who's just a means to an end for something I don't even quite understand. But he...he's going to be able to make ch...
"Your tea, Frau Alexis," his eyes smiled briefly, knowing full well she hated the formal address. She slid over on the couch, making room by pressing her body against the arm.
"Dankeschonne, Herr Tyler," her eyes smiled up at the man, returning the favor of formality. "You know how to make the best cup of tea. Now what can we do about your music selction, hmm?"
"You will do nothing about my music selection..." There was a soft chirrup. And both turned to look at the telecom on the table.
"It's time. Let's see what Chord has to say."
Tyler projects his voice a bit more loudly, knowing it's unnecessary for the audio system to pick up, but he wishes to clear the air a bit. Projecting a bit of Power with his voice, he reaches out to clear the ether of the emotions and past pain brought to the forefront. "Music to mute, hold playlist at current. Digital meeting protocols online. Go secure. Authorization Geist-Bravo-One-Zero-Four-Six-Echo-Lima."
Waiting as a moment as the communications system goes online, and for the security protocols to enable, he speaks again. Speaking in clear German, though clearly lacking the natural accent of a native-born speaker, Tyler sounds off. "Good morn, Lieutenant. Team members Geist and Starburst present. Authorization Geist-Echo-Delta-Bravo-One-Five-Zero-Eight-Seven-Tango. Confirmation....Even in the darkest hour the service of one's Lord will sustain." SK Prime's security will use the final phrase to check his voice comparing it to his current position in his home, standard voice-stress and comparison tests, as well as a battery of other tests, before allowing the video feed to go live. As usual, Tyler has memorized this week's authorization and confirmation phrase, even though it arrived only this morning. Tyler waits as Alexis performs her own authorization.
Moments before the video feed goes live, Tyler smiles finally at Alexis, using a touch of the Gift to plant the lightest of a caress on her right cheek, while she feels an airy kiss planted upon her forehead. As usual, even though he knows that his teammates have their suspicions about the pair, he separates himself from Alexis, seated on an cushioned wooden rocking chair. Knowing that the video feed is now visible to Chord and the rest of the team, he returns to his usual cool and neutral gaze. "So, sir, what's the news? We are on assignment again, then?" As always, with the rest of the team, he is formal and shows the utmost respect. They are afterall, the ones who accepted him, even with his past history. For that, respect and formality is owed.
Waiting as a moment as the communications system goes online, and for the security protocols to enable, he speaks again. Speaking in clear German, though clearly lacking the natural accent of a native-born speaker, Tyler sounds off. "Good morn, Lieutenant. Team members Geist and Starburst present. Authorization Geist-Echo-Delta-Bravo-One-Five-Zero-Eight-Seven-Tango. Confirmation....Even in the darkest hour the service of one's Lord will sustain." SK Prime's security will use the final phrase to check his voice comparing it to his current position in his home, standard voice-stress and comparison tests, as well as a battery of other tests, before allowing the video feed to go live. As usual, Tyler has memorized this week's authorization and confirmation phrase, even though it arrived only this morning. Tyler waits as Alexis performs her own authorization.
Moments before the video feed goes live, Tyler smiles finally at Alexis, using a touch of the Gift to plant the lightest of a caress on her right cheek, while she feels an airy kiss planted upon her forehead. As usual, even though he knows that his teammates have their suspicions about the pair, he separates himself from Alexis, seated on an cushioned wooden rocking chair. Knowing that the video feed is now visible to Chord and the rest of the team, he returns to his usual cool and neutral gaze. "So, sir, what's the news? We are on assignment again, then?" As always, with the rest of the team, he is formal and shows the utmost respect. They are afterall, the ones who accepted him, even with his past history. For that, respect and formality is owed.
Anthony stares at the drain for a few seconds, fixated on the blood clot he had just freed from his nasal cavity. Nosebleeds were a side-effect of his chosen profession - decking - and this one was no different than any he had experienced since his early teens. The neural feedback produced when forcibly severing the neural-mechanical connection between man and machine was almost exclusively referred to as dumpshock, and was the bane of so many like him, but not to him, personally. To him, it means that he had been bested, and that he must work harder to be the best. The feeling makes him grin an almost feral grin. Improving means more time doing what he does best, and loves most in this world: decking.
He stands, fixated on the swirling water for several more minutes, going over the previous events of the day. First, there had been the defeat at the hands of a rival, a rival from another corporation, at that. He snorted, almost inhaling blood, as he remembered the feeling of utter disgust when his rival had called in the help of combat frames and semi-autonomous knowbots for backup. But, it was still a defeat, nonetheless, and one he would have to live with. No, not live with; deal with.
Then as he was waking from the throes of dumpshock and mopping his blood and saliva from the desktop, there had been the call. Nothing special. Just another assignment. Probably just like the rest. He'd given an estimated time of arrival and hung up, not wanting to let his team leader hear the shakiness or strain in his voice - both after-effects of the dumpshock.
The hot water quickly turning to cold brings him back around, and he realizes that he has been standing there, transfixed, for no small amount of time. Long enough for the lone hot water heater that serviced his flat to run out, at least.
He quickly turns off the water and towels himself off, grabbing a fresh jumpsuit as he walks into his bedroom. Rushing is not something he enjoys, but, much to his chagrin, is something he is accustomed to. he quickly pulls on the rest of his "business attire" and heads for the door, stopping only to grab some personal effects - his pocket secretary, sidearm, and the one piece of equipment most valuable to him in this world, his cyberdeck. A quick tapping at a keypad set into the wall next to his door sets the alarm system to auto-arm, and he is out the door.
He only hopes he's on time.
He stands, fixated on the swirling water for several more minutes, going over the previous events of the day. First, there had been the defeat at the hands of a rival, a rival from another corporation, at that. He snorted, almost inhaling blood, as he remembered the feeling of utter disgust when his rival had called in the help of combat frames and semi-autonomous knowbots for backup. But, it was still a defeat, nonetheless, and one he would have to live with. No, not live with; deal with.
Then as he was waking from the throes of dumpshock and mopping his blood and saliva from the desktop, there had been the call. Nothing special. Just another assignment. Probably just like the rest. He'd given an estimated time of arrival and hung up, not wanting to let his team leader hear the shakiness or strain in his voice - both after-effects of the dumpshock.
The hot water quickly turning to cold brings him back around, and he realizes that he has been standing there, transfixed, for no small amount of time. Long enough for the lone hot water heater that serviced his flat to run out, at least.
He quickly turns off the water and towels himself off, grabbing a fresh jumpsuit as he walks into his bedroom. Rushing is not something he enjoys, but, much to his chagrin, is something he is accustomed to. he quickly pulls on the rest of his "business attire" and heads for the door, stopping only to grab some personal effects - his pocket secretary, sidearm, and the one piece of equipment most valuable to him in this world, his cyberdeck. A quick tapping at a keypad set into the wall next to his door sets the alarm system to auto-arm, and he is out the door.
He only hopes he's on time.
Guardian pulled the bike to a halt and killed the engine, glancing around from ingrained habit as he employed the bike's kickstand, eyes raking over the surroundings searching for possible threats. Finding none he dropped his nearly finished cigar, crushed the life from it beneath his steel reinforced bikers boot and strode over the pavement and into the lobby of Chords apartment building, flashing a huge toothy grin at the security guard.
The guard as usual eyed the walking advertisement for Troll Bikers Monthly magazine off with carefully concealed distaste but well aware from previous visits of Guardians constant approval on Chord's guest list made no move to bar him entry. He killed the silent alarm from his position behind the armoured desk when the weapons detectors built into the doorframe began flashing on his screen, telling him about the trolls armaments and quickly confirmed the building had logged and identified him.
As the massive figure strode across the lobby the guards mind flashed back to the last rookie who'd pulled heat on the troll and tried to forcibly bar him entry without first checking if he was actually expected by someone and shuddered briefly. No way was he winding up in Siberia guarding weather stations. As he watched Guardian walk towards the bank of elevators his mind went back to the footage again he'd reviewed with the others - scariest thing had been the utterly BORED look on the trolls face and his matter of fact voice telling the rookie to put the SMG he was pointing at him away before he got irritated...
Guardian thumbed the button for the elevator, hands in the pockets of his battered leather jacket, tapping one massive foot idly to the music playing through his head allowing himself a few last moments before it would be time to put aside civilian life - to once more become that which he was trained to be - a killing machine. The elevator arrived with a muted 'ding' sound and he squeezed in with a mental sigh - Why is it no-one builds elevators that'll take trolls - but damned if I'm going to demean myself and use the fucking service elevator...
A minute later he exited the elevator and raising one huge scarred fist beat a rapid tattoo familiar to those within on its surface - turned and smiled at where he knew the camera was mounted in the doorframe - "Open up already Chord..."
The guard as usual eyed the walking advertisement for Troll Bikers Monthly magazine off with carefully concealed distaste but well aware from previous visits of Guardians constant approval on Chord's guest list made no move to bar him entry. He killed the silent alarm from his position behind the armoured desk when the weapons detectors built into the doorframe began flashing on his screen, telling him about the trolls armaments and quickly confirmed the building had logged and identified him.
As the massive figure strode across the lobby the guards mind flashed back to the last rookie who'd pulled heat on the troll and tried to forcibly bar him entry without first checking if he was actually expected by someone and shuddered briefly. No way was he winding up in Siberia guarding weather stations. As he watched Guardian walk towards the bank of elevators his mind went back to the footage again he'd reviewed with the others - scariest thing had been the utterly BORED look on the trolls face and his matter of fact voice telling the rookie to put the SMG he was pointing at him away before he got irritated...
Guardian thumbed the button for the elevator, hands in the pockets of his battered leather jacket, tapping one massive foot idly to the music playing through his head allowing himself a few last moments before it would be time to put aside civilian life - to once more become that which he was trained to be - a killing machine. The elevator arrived with a muted 'ding' sound and he squeezed in with a mental sigh - Why is it no-one builds elevators that'll take trolls - but damned if I'm going to demean myself and use the fucking service elevator...
A minute later he exited the elevator and raising one huge scarred fist beat a rapid tattoo familiar to those within on its surface - turned and smiled at where he knew the camera was mounted in the doorframe - "Open up already Chord..."
-
Serious Paul
- Devil
- Posts: 6644
- Joined: Mon Mar 18, 2002 12:38 pm
Essen, Westphalia
Colonel Hodges watched as the second team filed into the room, lead by Lt. Dunne. He allowed them a few moments to settle in, and speak with their counterparts in Gold Team. Once they settled he took his own seat.
Colonel Childers silently watched his people take their seats. These were his people and he was sending them into harms way again.
He stood and walked to the podium.when he spoke his voice was loud and clear.
"My name is Colonel Terry Childers, and for the record this briefing is being recorded. To my left is Colonel Dennis Hodges, my executive officer and the operations officer for this Operation. To my right is Captain Konigsamen, the Captain of the SKS Erradicator. He will have operational command of the theater of action."He continued on denoting the time and date for the official record.
"In front of you on your data display screens is the operational order. I will read it aloud for each of you-please follow along, and hold all questions until I am finished."
The Order
Orientation
Squama
Squama
Squama
Squama
The Cook Islands are situated between 9 degrees and 22 degrees south longitude comprises 15 widely-dispersed islands in the South Pacific Ocean between French Polynesia and Fiji (see Maps 1 and 2). The total land area of the country is 240 square kilometres, while the Cook Islands' exclusive economic zone covers a maritime area of nearly 2 million square kilometres.
The country is broadly divided into Southern and Northern Groups. The Southern Group, comprising Rarotonga (the main island), Aitutaki, Atiu, Mangaia, Manuae, Mauke, Mitiaro, Palmerston and Takutea, are all (except the small atolls of Manuae and Palmerston, and Takutea, a sandy key) of high volcanic formation (up to 652 metres on Rarotonga) with fertile soils and lush tropical vegetation. The Southern Group possesses about 90% of the total land area of the Cook Islands, Rarotonga being the largest island (6,719 hectares) and Takutea, the smallest (122 hectares).
The Northern Group comprises Manihiki, Nassau, Penrhyn, Pukapuka, Rakahanga and Suwarrow, all except Nassau (a sandy key) being low-lying coral atolls with sparse vegetation (coconut and pandanus trees etc) and large lagoons. Penrhyn is the largest island (984 hectares) and Suwarrow, the smallest (40 hectares).
The closest Outer Island to Rarotonga is Mangaia (204 kilometres distant) while the farthest is Penrhyn (1,365 kilometres away). The two most widely-separate islands of the country are Pukapuka, in the Northern Group, and Mangaia in the Southern Group (1,470 kilometres apart).
Rarotonga is approximately 3,010 kilometres northeast of Auckland, 1,140 kilometres southwest of Tahiti, 2,300 kilometres east of Fiji and 4,730 kilometres south of Hawaii.
Your Target is the Island of Squama. It is apporoximately 984 Hectacres in area.
Climate
The Cook Islands is situated between 9 degrees and 22 degrees south longitude and possesses a tropical oceanic climate with two seasons. The drier months, from April to November, have an average maximum temperature of about 26 degrees centigrade and an average minimum temperature of about 20 degrees centigrade. The wetter, more humid months, from December to March, have an average maximum temperature of 28 degrees centigrade and an average minimum of 22 degrees centigrade. During the latter season, the Cook Islands is subject to occasionally severe tropical storms and even hurricanes. The Island is also occasionally surronded by Mana Storms, of hellish ferocity that are as yet unpredictable.
Situation
Saeder Krupp intelligence sources have developed solid information that places an Artifact known as the Anandaprana on the Island of Squama. Intelligence has also identified this man, Rheynard Lylesburg, as the controlling force on the Island. Electronic Intelligence assetts have identified at least Regiment sized emplaced opposition forces on the Island. Island forces have hardened bunker style buildings, and an exstensive defenseive net in place including satellitte jamming and blinding facilities, an exstensive Radar emplacement, an exstensive SAM network and mines in the surronding waters.
Random Air Patrols operate in radial patterns at a distance of about sixty kilometers and less. Patrols are staggered and usually consist of two patrol vechiles. Immediate Air Support is believed to be available in five or less minutes.
Naval patrols also operate in random radial patterns around the island in a 45 kilometer radius. Naval forces mainly consist of patrol style boats that rely on speed and low signature to operate. It is believed that the Island Naval forces have access to two CSS Stuart-Class Corvettes, 5 Wuxing Zhen Wu-Class Frigates, with nonstandardized armaments, and 35 GMC Avengers. It also likely they use hover craft and vectored thrust vechiles.
The island itself is exstensively monitored by ground patrols, closed circuit simsense and cameras, exstensive sensor systems are believed to be emplaced. Patrols generally consist of four man teams who patrol on foot or in a single GMC HMPUV. Armaments and armour vary.
Magical Secuirty is layered and tightly monitored. Speculative Intelligence estimates that the island uses a wide combination of bound elementals, spirits and paranormal animals. It is also believed that at least one or more free spirits may operate in conjunction with the islands facilitator, Reynard Lylesberg.
Mission
Gold Team
Retrieve the Anandaprana, and eliminate Reynard Lylesberg. If you are unable to retrieve the tome switch to secondary objectives.
Secondary Objectives:: Caues as much collatoral damage as possible, close with and destroy enemy forces by fire and manuever.
Blue Team
Penetrate the islands secuirty perimeter, deactivaye the island security perimeter, and destroy the island security perimeters capabilty to operate to provide cover fro the insertion of Gold Team.
Loacte Achmed Parker and elimintae him.
If you are unable to accomplish your primary ibjectives switch to secondary objectives.
Secondary objective incapacitate the Two Corvette Class ships by destroying them, and destroy the Air Field.
Tertiary objectives for both teams is completion of the other teams objective.
Execution
Your team will be inserted via HALO drop by a Tactical Fighter Wing just outside effective surface radar range. You will rendevous with the SKS Erradicator for transport to just inside radar range. From there you will infiltrate the Island andcarry out your objectives by fire and manuever;close combat.
Extraction and Escape Routes
Upon succesful completion of your objectives you will send a satellitte encrypted message to the SKS Devastator and primary extraction will be a SK TF-6 Attack helicopter. Both teams will rendevous with the choopers at the airfield.
Secondary extract is by sea. Teams extracting in this method will use Zodiacs to rendevous with the SKS Devastator.
Escape routes will designated by individual team leaders in their own briefings.
Command and Signals
Chain of Command is per Standard Operating Procedure with in each team. Team Blue has operational command until its primary objective is achieved, at which point Team Gold will have operational authority.
The Captain of the SKS Erradicator has theater and operational command.
Order of sucession is per SOP.
Siganls
Smoke and pyro will be designated by the individual team leaders, except for Red Smoke and red Pyro which will designate immediate Fire Suppression Mission.
Radio Signals will also be designated by individual Team Leaders. Team Leaders designate call signs for both teams, indivdual team members and on call targets.
Standard hand and arm siganls will be used by all team members.
All teams should be aware of communicational security.
Administration and Logistics
Administrative control of this operation is in the First Special Operations Group Command under General Johann Schmidt. Operational command is Captain Friedrich Reifsnyder.
Higher Units
The SKS Devastator, the SKS Erradicator, Charlie Comapny 47th Tactical Wing and 1st SOG
Adjacent Units
The SKS Hammer, the 45th Light Scout Brigade, and Delta Comapny 47th Tactical Wing
Logistics
Herr general Tschantz in Supply will as usual take care of any needs prior to the start of operations. Team Leaders will issue Frag Orders detailing all nessacry weapons and equipment.
He allowed them a momento digest all of this.
Colonel Hodges watched as the second team filed into the room, lead by Lt. Dunne. He allowed them a few moments to settle in, and speak with their counterparts in Gold Team. Once they settled he took his own seat.
Colonel Childers silently watched his people take their seats. These were his people and he was sending them into harms way again.
He stood and walked to the podium.when he spoke his voice was loud and clear.
"My name is Colonel Terry Childers, and for the record this briefing is being recorded. To my left is Colonel Dennis Hodges, my executive officer and the operations officer for this Operation. To my right is Captain Konigsamen, the Captain of the SKS Erradicator. He will have operational command of the theater of action."He continued on denoting the time and date for the official record.
"In front of you on your data display screens is the operational order. I will read it aloud for each of you-please follow along, and hold all questions until I am finished."
The Order
Orientation
Squama
Squama
Squama
Squama
The Cook Islands are situated between 9 degrees and 22 degrees south longitude comprises 15 widely-dispersed islands in the South Pacific Ocean between French Polynesia and Fiji (see Maps 1 and 2). The total land area of the country is 240 square kilometres, while the Cook Islands' exclusive economic zone covers a maritime area of nearly 2 million square kilometres.
The country is broadly divided into Southern and Northern Groups. The Southern Group, comprising Rarotonga (the main island), Aitutaki, Atiu, Mangaia, Manuae, Mauke, Mitiaro, Palmerston and Takutea, are all (except the small atolls of Manuae and Palmerston, and Takutea, a sandy key) of high volcanic formation (up to 652 metres on Rarotonga) with fertile soils and lush tropical vegetation. The Southern Group possesses about 90% of the total land area of the Cook Islands, Rarotonga being the largest island (6,719 hectares) and Takutea, the smallest (122 hectares).
The Northern Group comprises Manihiki, Nassau, Penrhyn, Pukapuka, Rakahanga and Suwarrow, all except Nassau (a sandy key) being low-lying coral atolls with sparse vegetation (coconut and pandanus trees etc) and large lagoons. Penrhyn is the largest island (984 hectares) and Suwarrow, the smallest (40 hectares).
The closest Outer Island to Rarotonga is Mangaia (204 kilometres distant) while the farthest is Penrhyn (1,365 kilometres away). The two most widely-separate islands of the country are Pukapuka, in the Northern Group, and Mangaia in the Southern Group (1,470 kilometres apart).
Rarotonga is approximately 3,010 kilometres northeast of Auckland, 1,140 kilometres southwest of Tahiti, 2,300 kilometres east of Fiji and 4,730 kilometres south of Hawaii.
Your Target is the Island of Squama. It is apporoximately 984 Hectacres in area.
Climate
The Cook Islands is situated between 9 degrees and 22 degrees south longitude and possesses a tropical oceanic climate with two seasons. The drier months, from April to November, have an average maximum temperature of about 26 degrees centigrade and an average minimum temperature of about 20 degrees centigrade. The wetter, more humid months, from December to March, have an average maximum temperature of 28 degrees centigrade and an average minimum of 22 degrees centigrade. During the latter season, the Cook Islands is subject to occasionally severe tropical storms and even hurricanes. The Island is also occasionally surronded by Mana Storms, of hellish ferocity that are as yet unpredictable.
Situation
Saeder Krupp intelligence sources have developed solid information that places an Artifact known as the Anandaprana on the Island of Squama. Intelligence has also identified this man, Rheynard Lylesburg, as the controlling force on the Island. Electronic Intelligence assetts have identified at least Regiment sized emplaced opposition forces on the Island. Island forces have hardened bunker style buildings, and an exstensive defenseive net in place including satellitte jamming and blinding facilities, an exstensive Radar emplacement, an exstensive SAM network and mines in the surronding waters.
Random Air Patrols operate in radial patterns at a distance of about sixty kilometers and less. Patrols are staggered and usually consist of two patrol vechiles. Immediate Air Support is believed to be available in five or less minutes.
Naval patrols also operate in random radial patterns around the island in a 45 kilometer radius. Naval forces mainly consist of patrol style boats that rely on speed and low signature to operate. It is believed that the Island Naval forces have access to two CSS Stuart-Class Corvettes, 5 Wuxing Zhen Wu-Class Frigates, with nonstandardized armaments, and 35 GMC Avengers. It also likely they use hover craft and vectored thrust vechiles.
The island itself is exstensively monitored by ground patrols, closed circuit simsense and cameras, exstensive sensor systems are believed to be emplaced. Patrols generally consist of four man teams who patrol on foot or in a single GMC HMPUV. Armaments and armour vary.
Magical Secuirty is layered and tightly monitored. Speculative Intelligence estimates that the island uses a wide combination of bound elementals, spirits and paranormal animals. It is also believed that at least one or more free spirits may operate in conjunction with the islands facilitator, Reynard Lylesberg.
Mission
Gold Team
Retrieve the Anandaprana, and eliminate Reynard Lylesberg. If you are unable to retrieve the tome switch to secondary objectives.
Secondary Objectives:: Caues as much collatoral damage as possible, close with and destroy enemy forces by fire and manuever.
Blue Team
Penetrate the islands secuirty perimeter, deactivaye the island security perimeter, and destroy the island security perimeters capabilty to operate to provide cover fro the insertion of Gold Team.
Loacte Achmed Parker and elimintae him.
If you are unable to accomplish your primary ibjectives switch to secondary objectives.
Secondary objective incapacitate the Two Corvette Class ships by destroying them, and destroy the Air Field.
Tertiary objectives for both teams is completion of the other teams objective.
Execution
Your team will be inserted via HALO drop by a Tactical Fighter Wing just outside effective surface radar range. You will rendevous with the SKS Erradicator for transport to just inside radar range. From there you will infiltrate the Island andcarry out your objectives by fire and manuever;close combat.
Extraction and Escape Routes
Upon succesful completion of your objectives you will send a satellitte encrypted message to the SKS Devastator and primary extraction will be a SK TF-6 Attack helicopter. Both teams will rendevous with the choopers at the airfield.
Secondary extract is by sea. Teams extracting in this method will use Zodiacs to rendevous with the SKS Devastator.
Escape routes will designated by individual team leaders in their own briefings.
Command and Signals
Chain of Command is per Standard Operating Procedure with in each team. Team Blue has operational command until its primary objective is achieved, at which point Team Gold will have operational authority.
The Captain of the SKS Erradicator has theater and operational command.
Order of sucession is per SOP.
Siganls
Smoke and pyro will be designated by the individual team leaders, except for Red Smoke and red Pyro which will designate immediate Fire Suppression Mission.
Radio Signals will also be designated by individual Team Leaders. Team Leaders designate call signs for both teams, indivdual team members and on call targets.
Standard hand and arm siganls will be used by all team members.
All teams should be aware of communicational security.
Administration and Logistics
Administrative control of this operation is in the First Special Operations Group Command under General Johann Schmidt. Operational command is Captain Friedrich Reifsnyder.
Higher Units
The SKS Devastator, the SKS Erradicator, Charlie Comapny 47th Tactical Wing and 1st SOG
Adjacent Units
The SKS Hammer, the 45th Light Scout Brigade, and Delta Comapny 47th Tactical Wing
Logistics
Herr general Tschantz in Supply will as usual take care of any needs prior to the start of operations. Team Leaders will issue Frag Orders detailing all nessacry weapons and equipment.
He allowed them a momento digest all of this.
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Serious Paul
- Devil
- Posts: 6644
- Joined: Mon Mar 18, 2002 12:38 pm
"The next portion of the briefing will be handled by Colonel Hodges."
Colonel Hodges remained seated. He sipped from his coffe mug that was emblazoned with a burning spearhead, the sigil for the 37th Panzer Scout Platoon. Foward Observer Unit-Hodges had received his nearly life ending and career ending wound while working as a forward controller in Siberia.When he set his mug down he spoke quietly but in a firm tone.
"Good afternoon. I am Colonel Dennis Hodges. I will first describe the Anandaprana. The Anandaprana. is a large Platinum, Gold and Silver text that is inlaid with Orichalum and precious gem stones. It measures four feet in width, two feet in thickness and a length of five feet. Its weight is estimated, which ryhmes with guestimated, at about three hundred pounds."
"To my infinite displeasure Intelligence was unable discern the nature of any of the texts protections or purposes. I can say that you should assume that the text is warded and guarded by bound elementals and spirits, as well as technological defenses. Expect the worst people."
"I am now opening the floor up to questions."
Colonel Hodges remained seated. He sipped from his coffe mug that was emblazoned with a burning spearhead, the sigil for the 37th Panzer Scout Platoon. Foward Observer Unit-Hodges had received his nearly life ending and career ending wound while working as a forward controller in Siberia.When he set his mug down he spoke quietly but in a firm tone.
"Good afternoon. I am Colonel Dennis Hodges. I will first describe the Anandaprana. The Anandaprana. is a large Platinum, Gold and Silver text that is inlaid with Orichalum and precious gem stones. It measures four feet in width, two feet in thickness and a length of five feet. Its weight is estimated, which ryhmes with guestimated, at about three hundred pounds."
"To my infinite displeasure Intelligence was unable discern the nature of any of the texts protections or purposes. I can say that you should assume that the text is warded and guarded by bound elementals and spirits, as well as technological defenses. Expect the worst people."
"I am now opening the floor up to questions."
"How much is known about these ground patrols?" Alexis, no, now Starburst, stared at the display, but the information she wanted wasn't there, "And the simsense cameras. Can you give us more than they simply exsist? Locations? We're going in blind as usual aren't we?"
She shrugged, there was nothing she could do, it was just another layer of difficulty in something that already looked impossible, "Another day another miracle."
She shrugged, there was nothing she could do, it was just another layer of difficulty in something that already looked impossible, "Another day another miracle."
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Serious Paul
- Devil
- Posts: 6644
- Joined: Mon Mar 18, 2002 12:38 pm
Colonel Hodges spoke evenly in response to the questions.
"Any sort of bombardment prior to the insertion would create an unacceptable risk of the Anandaprana, being moved a different location or being Magically duplicated. Both of which are unacceptable.This mission relies primarily on the element of surprise. Having evaluated the situation, we have determined that a small infiltration team combined with a manuever element stand a statistically better chance of acheiving our goals."
"Once the element of surprise has been lost, a tactical bombardment of the island in support of the mission is acceptable."Colonel Hodges stared at the teams, his eyes cold,"Surprise is your best friend. Maintain it as long as you can. This means your options for vechicular support are strongly limited. You will most likely have to assert control of localized assetts."
"Ground patrols are limited, and what we know is also limited by our inabilty to plac ehard intelligence assets on the island. We know that the patrols are staggered at random intervals. They use four man teams in light armor, due to the heat and humidity, with light weapons. The patrols are backed by astral spirits and elementals as well as having reactionary teams available for deployment almost immediately any where on the island."
"As for cameras and security systems, assume the island is watched at every square inch."
"If this were an easy job we'd send the Army."
"Any sort of bombardment prior to the insertion would create an unacceptable risk of the Anandaprana, being moved a different location or being Magically duplicated. Both of which are unacceptable.This mission relies primarily on the element of surprise. Having evaluated the situation, we have determined that a small infiltration team combined with a manuever element stand a statistically better chance of acheiving our goals."
"Once the element of surprise has been lost, a tactical bombardment of the island in support of the mission is acceptable."Colonel Hodges stared at the teams, his eyes cold,"Surprise is your best friend. Maintain it as long as you can. This means your options for vechicular support are strongly limited. You will most likely have to assert control of localized assetts."
"Ground patrols are limited, and what we know is also limited by our inabilty to plac ehard intelligence assets on the island. We know that the patrols are staggered at random intervals. They use four man teams in light armor, due to the heat and humidity, with light weapons. The patrols are backed by astral spirits and elementals as well as having reactionary teams available for deployment almost immediately any where on the island."
"As for cameras and security systems, assume the island is watched at every square inch."
"If this were an easy job we'd send the Army."
In Starburst's mind... her face contorted to that of a three year old sticking her tongue out at her mother. She kept her calm and repose. I know if this was simple they'd send the army. I also want to know if we have any chance and things aren't looking like we do. But then, if this were simple they'd send the army. Her mind spun the possibilities over, strategies, possible points of attack. She was secretly hoping they could find one of the patrols right after touch down. Dreams are dreams
Guardian rubbed his chin thoughtfully, mind playing over the data from the briefing, scanning and re-scanning the data pad and calculating, assessing, planning.
This one is going to be hairy. We're going to need every edge we can summon up and a healthy dose of luck besides.
He started jotting down an equipment list for himself, pondering requirements vs encumbrance and the tentative ideas floating in his mind already while listening to the questions of the others and the responses before adding his contributions.
"A few things Herr Colonel. A photograph of Achmed Parker for us to study, his position on the island. Apart from the name you have given us nothing on him. Is the name all you have? And I'm going to need the highest magnification maps of the entire island area on datasoft that are available. The services of the most competent conjurers you have available as well. I'm going to need as full a complement of elementals as is possible - the extra punch they provide is going to be necessary if we are going to pull this one off."
Guardian continued scribbling notes for himself, mind racing through alternatives as his working persona settled fully over him - the ruthless, calculating mindset of a man looking for the best probabilities for success and then the survival of himself and the rest of both teams personnel...
This one is going to be hairy. We're going to need every edge we can summon up and a healthy dose of luck besides.
He started jotting down an equipment list for himself, pondering requirements vs encumbrance and the tentative ideas floating in his mind already while listening to the questions of the others and the responses before adding his contributions.
"A few things Herr Colonel. A photograph of Achmed Parker for us to study, his position on the island. Apart from the name you have given us nothing on him. Is the name all you have? And I'm going to need the highest magnification maps of the entire island area on datasoft that are available. The services of the most competent conjurers you have available as well. I'm going to need as full a complement of elementals as is possible - the extra punch they provide is going to be necessary if we are going to pull this one off."
Guardian continued scribbling notes for himself, mind racing through alternatives as his working persona settled fully over him - the ruthless, calculating mindset of a man looking for the best probabilities for success and then the survival of himself and the rest of both teams personnel...
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JohnnyRico
- Wuffle Student
- Posts: 1254
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- Location: Hell on Earth, in the Greatest state of the Union
- Contact:
"Colonel, what's our timeframe, and where do we leave from? I don't want to miss the flight." Any and all trace of the young Lt's sense of humor and constant smile are gone now. It’s game time, and the ball’s in their court now. "The orders mention that we'll be going in via the Erradicator, but will it be landing us directly, or are we using Zodiac boats, or just plain scuba entry?"
He makes a mental note to remind Starburst that not all officers appreciate the frank and unpadded assessments of the intelligence services that he has come to expect from his people. A time and a place for everything he thinks, looking over some of the climatological information before he forges ahead.
"As for the paranimals, do we have a general species list, or is it just the standard local types? Possibly some lucky shots from a passing satellite that may have caught a patrol or a training group out in the open." He pours over the statistical information again, scowling slightly as he comes to the last section.
“What is the ruling on the civilian population? Is it still there, has it been absorbed, or exterminated? Also, is there no information later than,” he runs a finger down the list again, “1989 is it? I realize that it is a piddly little place, but I don’t particularly trust any information that’s more than twice as old as I am.”
He makes a mental note to remind Starburst that not all officers appreciate the frank and unpadded assessments of the intelligence services that he has come to expect from his people. A time and a place for everything he thinks, looking over some of the climatological information before he forges ahead.
"As for the paranimals, do we have a general species list, or is it just the standard local types? Possibly some lucky shots from a passing satellite that may have caught a patrol or a training group out in the open." He pours over the statistical information again, scowling slightly as he comes to the last section.
“What is the ruling on the civilian population? Is it still there, has it been absorbed, or exterminated? Also, is there no information later than,” he runs a finger down the list again, “1989 is it? I realize that it is a piddly little place, but I don’t particularly trust any information that’s more than twice as old as I am.”
Last edited by JohnnyRico on Tue Oct 08, 2002 11:12 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Serious Paul
- Devil
- Posts: 6644
- Joined: Mon Mar 18, 2002 12:38 pm
Colonel Childers watched the two teams with seeming disintrest, but he carefully made mental notes. He wondered quietly how these people would fare. He realized the tension level was high,a s it always was in this sort of thing, but he could still feel a slight undercurrent of...what? Anger? Resentment? He reached forward and sipped from his coffee mug, draining the cup. He listened as Colonel Hodges continued.
"As it stands Lt. Dunne, your team is scheduled to be in the air in two weeks. This time table, is of course, subject to change depending on the tactical and strategic situation. You, and your team will leave from Bremerhaven. From Bremerhaven you will fly to target area. Your plane will be refueled twice enroute, once over India, and again in the South Pacific."
"You will be HALO dropped into the water, to meet with the Erradicator, which will be prepostioned with some of your support equipment. From the Erradicator it is our plan to have you use zodiacs until you are with in nine kilometers of the island, from there it will be your decision whether SCUBA or further boat insertion is the viable option."
"Gold Team will be HALO dropped with in five kilometers of the island. They will swim."Colonel Hodges almost smiled at that.
"As for Paranormals, I will have a list prepared for you with exact composition, but I can say off hand that you can expect awakened sharks, Nimues lizards,and spirits of all sorts. If my memory serves me right most of the awakened creatures, and altered creatures you will find are aquatic."
"The maps number is 1989, not the date Lt."
"As it stands Lt. Dunne, your team is scheduled to be in the air in two weeks. This time table, is of course, subject to change depending on the tactical and strategic situation. You, and your team will leave from Bremerhaven. From Bremerhaven you will fly to target area. Your plane will be refueled twice enroute, once over India, and again in the South Pacific."
"You will be HALO dropped into the water, to meet with the Erradicator, which will be prepostioned with some of your support equipment. From the Erradicator it is our plan to have you use zodiacs until you are with in nine kilometers of the island, from there it will be your decision whether SCUBA or further boat insertion is the viable option."
"Gold Team will be HALO dropped with in five kilometers of the island. They will swim."Colonel Hodges almost smiled at that.
"As for Paranormals, I will have a list prepared for you with exact composition, but I can say off hand that you can expect awakened sharks, Nimues lizards,and spirits of all sorts. If my memory serves me right most of the awakened creatures, and altered creatures you will find are aquatic."
"The maps number is 1989, not the date Lt."
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Serious Paul
- Devil
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- Joined: Mon Mar 18, 2002 12:38 pm
Jeremy has been sitting in the back of the briefing room, silently observing the proceedings until now. Some of those present had almost forgotten he was there when he finally speaks up.
"Sir. What, if any, sort of outside fire support can be expected, specifically in regards to Blue's secondary objectives?"
"Sir. What, if any, sort of outside fire support can be expected, specifically in regards to Blue's secondary objectives?"
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Serious Paul
- Devil
- Posts: 6644
- Joined: Mon Mar 18, 2002 12:38 pm
Colonel Hodges controled his emotions, his lips tightening, he kept his face a mask.He took a slow breath, calming himself and spoke in an even tone.
"We do have some indication that the book is being held inside the main complex, which is located beneath the water in the lagoon. Intelligence has placed the book at the lowest level, a cavernous room we have dubbed the Lair."
"The Lair is filled with water as far as we can tell, and is deep beneath the water."
Colonel Hodges pauses, his eyes briefly flicker to Geist. He'd have to check his file again, this time much more thuroughly-How did that man know that?
"While we do believe it is possible that a dracoform involved, however confirmation has been difficult to establish, perhaps you have soemthing to share,Master Gunnery Sargent Meinheim?"
Colonel Hodges sits back down, and waits patiently.
"We do have some indication that the book is being held inside the main complex, which is located beneath the water in the lagoon. Intelligence has placed the book at the lowest level, a cavernous room we have dubbed the Lair."
"The Lair is filled with water as far as we can tell, and is deep beneath the water."
Colonel Hodges pauses, his eyes briefly flicker to Geist. He'd have to check his file again, this time much more thuroughly-How did that man know that?
"While we do believe it is possible that a dracoform involved, however confirmation has been difficult to establish, perhaps you have soemthing to share,Master Gunnery Sargent Meinheim?"
Colonel Hodges sits back down, and waits patiently.
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Serious Paul
- Devil
- Posts: 6644
- Joined: Mon Mar 18, 2002 12:38 pm
Colonel Hodges sets his face, taking a calming breath. After so many years he shouldn't be surprised by his peoples resourcefullness. They were Dragons. They were the best, ever. They had no equals, no peers-theirs was a world of its own. He had seen the people in this very room perform inhuman feats of skill, magic and strength on a disturbingly regular basis.
'Perhaps I have become accustomed to their very nearly superhuman endurance and loyalty.' He thought. He wondered if he had come to see them as tools of war, and not men and women? He pushede these thoughts out of his mind and started to stand.
He was stopped by a restraining hand, Colonel Childers smiled and said," Let me handle this Terry."
"Gunnery Sargent Meinheim I have worked with you in the past, I trust your judgement and your skill. If you say that this Dracoform spoke with you, I believe it."
Colonel Childers gaze left nothing in this staement to question.
"If there is indeed a hostile Dracoform, and possibly a Great involved, we will treat this opponent like any other. Nothing stops a Dragon."
"Nothing."
"If this creature stands between us and our objective-Eliminate it."
'Perhaps I have become accustomed to their very nearly superhuman endurance and loyalty.' He thought. He wondered if he had come to see them as tools of war, and not men and women? He pushede these thoughts out of his mind and started to stand.
He was stopped by a restraining hand, Colonel Childers smiled and said," Let me handle this Terry."
"Gunnery Sargent Meinheim I have worked with you in the past, I trust your judgement and your skill. If you say that this Dracoform spoke with you, I believe it."
Colonel Childers gaze left nothing in this staement to question.
"If there is indeed a hostile Dracoform, and possibly a Great involved, we will treat this opponent like any other. Nothing stops a Dragon."
"Nothing."
"If this creature stands between us and our objective-Eliminate it."
Jeremy folds his hands in his lap and allows himself a small inward smile. As usual, his question had either been ignored, or lost in the 'excitement' of Tyler's announcement. It was all right, though; he was used to things like this happening. His gifts were such that he often was overlooked, even in a small gathering of people. The question wasn't all that important at this stage, anyways. It's possible his team leader had heard, and would address it during the individual planning sessions. If not, he could pose it gain at that time.
With nothing more to add, he sat back and waited.
With nothing more to add, he sat back and waited.
_<font size=2> <font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" color=#5c7898>He is the best of us. The best of our best, the best that each of us will ever build or ever love. So pray for this Guardian of our growth and choose him well, for if he be not truly blesed, then our designs are surely frivolous and our future a tragic waste of hope. Bless our best and adore for he doth bear our measure to the Cosmos.</font>
Damn double. *grumble*
_<font size=2> <font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" color=#5c7898>He is the best of us. The best of our best, the best that each of us will ever build or ever love. So pray for this Guardian of our growth and choose him well, for if he be not truly blesed, then our designs are surely frivolous and our future a tragic waste of hope. Bless our best and adore for he doth bear our measure to the Cosmos.</font>
Guardian stood up, his massive frame as always moving with a smoothness that many found impossible to credit - those that didn't know of the move by wire and enhanced articulation that gave him a fluidity that would be the envy of many a gymnast. He allowed his massive physical presence to manifest by deliberately treading heavily, his near thirteen hundred pound bulk moving over to the coffee pot and refilling his mug as he cleared his throat.
"Herr Colonel, if I may..."
When after several moments there was no negatory sign from the Colonel he turned to face both teams, his icy blue eyes scanning each member in turn as he spoke...
"There's an old quote that springs to mind - 'The impossible we do immediately, miracles take a little longer'." He paused, sipping his coffee while continuing to run his eyes over both teams - paused on Geist for a few moments, narrowing his gaze slightly...
"We've trained half our lives to do the impossible. We are the best at what we do. It's why we draw the pay we do, why we get the perks that we do. We're DRAGONS - the best of the fucking best."
"This one's ugly and it's going to be messy but we wouldn't be being sent in if the brass thought this was beyond our capabilities - or at the very least, they'd assign a couple extra squads to it. I've been eyeing this off and I see no reason to think that it's beyond us. Dracoforms die, same as anything else. Fuck, I've wasted one myself - you just need a plan, the right gear and an ounce of luck."
"We make a plan, we get the gear and we go in and do the fucking job. And we WILL do the job. It's what we are, what we do. You wanna live forever? It's time to go kick some ass boys an girls - I for one am looking forward to it. This is going to be a challenge worthy of us."
Guardian grinned and rolled his neck on his shoulders before walking back to his seat giving Geist a long look as he did so...You and I need to have words little mage...
He sat and waited, still mentally plotting ways and means of getting the job done - all of it - while minimising the risks to the team and the success of the mission - half listening again...
"Herr Colonel, if I may..."
When after several moments there was no negatory sign from the Colonel he turned to face both teams, his icy blue eyes scanning each member in turn as he spoke...
"There's an old quote that springs to mind - 'The impossible we do immediately, miracles take a little longer'." He paused, sipping his coffee while continuing to run his eyes over both teams - paused on Geist for a few moments, narrowing his gaze slightly...
"We've trained half our lives to do the impossible. We are the best at what we do. It's why we draw the pay we do, why we get the perks that we do. We're DRAGONS - the best of the fucking best."
"This one's ugly and it's going to be messy but we wouldn't be being sent in if the brass thought this was beyond our capabilities - or at the very least, they'd assign a couple extra squads to it. I've been eyeing this off and I see no reason to think that it's beyond us. Dracoforms die, same as anything else. Fuck, I've wasted one myself - you just need a plan, the right gear and an ounce of luck."
"We make a plan, we get the gear and we go in and do the fucking job. And we WILL do the job. It's what we are, what we do. You wanna live forever? It's time to go kick some ass boys an girls - I for one am looking forward to it. This is going to be a challenge worthy of us."
Guardian grinned and rolled his neck on his shoulders before walking back to his seat giving Geist a long look as he did so...You and I need to have words little mage...
He sat and waited, still mentally plotting ways and means of getting the job done - all of it - while minimising the risks to the team and the success of the mission - half listening again...
Just when I think I've reached bottom - some fucker throws me a shovel.
-
Serious Paul
- Devil
- Posts: 6644
- Joined: Mon Mar 18, 2002 12:38 pm
Colonel Childers grin was feral, his eyes held a deadly gleam.As he spoke his voice was calm, but held a sharp edge."All of you know that I am not the typ to lead from the rear with the gear. I have dirtied my hands just as much as any of you. IF it were my choice I would be there with you. I would gladly give these silver turkies on my collar up for another chance to do just what you are about to do."
None of you can doubt the sincerity of his words, one of the most decorated Dragons ever, Colonel Childers had a reputation for settling matters permanently, and taking great pleasure in doing so.
"You are the best, maybe ever. Maybe that will ever be."
He paused to let his words sink in. You had his faith, and that meant a lot.
"I'd best answer some of your questions before I forget.
Expect heavy magical resistance. Anchored and quickened spells, as well as the possibilty of some magical weapons. Intel places their awakened forces at a one to ten ratio. One for every ten mundanes is some sort of magically active, most are hermetic, and we have to assume well trained.
Individual background reports are not available, however on site intelligence was gathered and my summation of those reports, which are available, is that these people mean business. Against any one but you, that might mean something. There only strength is in numbers and the possibility of the Draco form.
Awakened critters will always be a variable in this business, but the day one of my people can't beat the ever lasting shit out of an awakened puffer fish is the day I gut each of you personally."
Colonel Childers eyes closed slowly as he leaned on the chair in front of him, and for that brief moment he looks exhausted. His eyes are sallow from lack of sleep, and his uniform, although sharp and worn correctly, looks a bit large, as if he had lost some weight in the last few weeks. For that instant he looks like a tired man.
He quickly opens his eyes, and the intensity of his stare is unsettling.
"Team leaders I expect your FRAG orders in 24 hours. Supply will ensure you have what you need, Herr Captain Konigsamen will be available for the next 12 hours for your questions.
Team leaders ensure your people have completed the necassary paperwork before your departures-I expect updated NOK lists, as well as living wills, and updated insurance profiles. Also dependents should be sequestered as per policy with in the next 16 hours. Remember that their safety determines your success."
"You are the best. You will accomplish your mission. You will do it better than anyone else could hope, and all with a cool stare and a confident gait. None like you have walked the face of this earth. You are Dragons."
Colonel Hodges stood, pulling his back stiffly straight, and his arms to his sides, his thumbs along his fist like a ridge along the trouser seams, just like he had been taught all those years ago in boot camp, with his head held high yelled,"Attention on DECK!"
The room quickly stood at attention, each Dragons body locked rigidly at attention. All eyes faced forward boring holes into imaginary points ahead of them as Captain Konigsamen made his way to the door. He stopped, took one step back with his left foot, bringing the right back he pivoted, facing the room, he rendered a sharp salute. Each man and woman returned his salute with practiced ease, holding their salutes as dictated by custom until he dropped his. Captain Konigsamen pivoted again, facing the door he exited the room.
Colonel Childers and Colonel Hodges stepped over to the door, and as they exited Colonel Hodges nodded to Captain Alexien Diethelm"Carry on Captain with the plan of the day."
None of you can doubt the sincerity of his words, one of the most decorated Dragons ever, Colonel Childers had a reputation for settling matters permanently, and taking great pleasure in doing so.
"You are the best, maybe ever. Maybe that will ever be."
He paused to let his words sink in. You had his faith, and that meant a lot.
"I'd best answer some of your questions before I forget.
Expect heavy magical resistance. Anchored and quickened spells, as well as the possibilty of some magical weapons. Intel places their awakened forces at a one to ten ratio. One for every ten mundanes is some sort of magically active, most are hermetic, and we have to assume well trained.
Individual background reports are not available, however on site intelligence was gathered and my summation of those reports, which are available, is that these people mean business. Against any one but you, that might mean something. There only strength is in numbers and the possibility of the Draco form.
Awakened critters will always be a variable in this business, but the day one of my people can't beat the ever lasting shit out of an awakened puffer fish is the day I gut each of you personally."
Colonel Childers eyes closed slowly as he leaned on the chair in front of him, and for that brief moment he looks exhausted. His eyes are sallow from lack of sleep, and his uniform, although sharp and worn correctly, looks a bit large, as if he had lost some weight in the last few weeks. For that instant he looks like a tired man.
He quickly opens his eyes, and the intensity of his stare is unsettling.
"Team leaders I expect your FRAG orders in 24 hours. Supply will ensure you have what you need, Herr Captain Konigsamen will be available for the next 12 hours for your questions.
Team leaders ensure your people have completed the necassary paperwork before your departures-I expect updated NOK lists, as well as living wills, and updated insurance profiles. Also dependents should be sequestered as per policy with in the next 16 hours. Remember that their safety determines your success."
"You are the best. You will accomplish your mission. You will do it better than anyone else could hope, and all with a cool stare and a confident gait. None like you have walked the face of this earth. You are Dragons."
Colonel Hodges stood, pulling his back stiffly straight, and his arms to his sides, his thumbs along his fist like a ridge along the trouser seams, just like he had been taught all those years ago in boot camp, with his head held high yelled,"Attention on DECK!"
The room quickly stood at attention, each Dragons body locked rigidly at attention. All eyes faced forward boring holes into imaginary points ahead of them as Captain Konigsamen made his way to the door. He stopped, took one step back with his left foot, bringing the right back he pivoted, facing the room, he rendered a sharp salute. Each man and woman returned his salute with practiced ease, holding their salutes as dictated by custom until he dropped his. Captain Konigsamen pivoted again, facing the door he exited the room.
Colonel Childers and Colonel Hodges stepped over to the door, and as they exited Colonel Hodges nodded to Captain Alexien Diethelm"Carry on Captain with the plan of the day."
-
Serious Paul
- Devil
- Posts: 6644
- Joined: Mon Mar 18, 2002 12:38 pm
Colonel Childers grin was feral, his eyes held a deadly gleam.As he spoke his voice was calm, but held a sharp edge."All of you know that I am not the typ to lead from the rear with the gear. I have dirtied my hands just as much as any of you. IF it were my choice I would be there with you. I would gladly give these silver turkies on my collar up for another chance to do just what you are about to do."
None of you can doubt the sincerity of his words, one of the most decorated Dragons ever, Colonel Childers had a reputation for settling matters permanently, and taking great pleasure in doing so.
"You are the best, maybe ever. Maybe that will ever be."
He paused to let his words sink in. You had his faith, and that meant a lot.
"I'd best answer some of your questions before I forget.
Expect heavy magical resistance. Anchored and quickened spells, as well as the possibilty of some magical weapons. Intel places their awakened forces at a one to ten ratio. One for every ten mundanes is some sort of magically active, most are hermetic, and we have to assume well trained.
Individual background reports are not available, however on site intelligence was gathered and my summation of those reports, which are available, is that these people mean business. Against any one but you, that might mean something. There only strength is in numbers and the possibility of the Draco form.
Awakened critters will always be a variable in this business, but the day one of my people can't beat the ever lasting shit out of an awakened puffer fish is the day I gut each of you personally."
Colonel Childers eyes closed slowly as he leaned on the chair in front of him, and for that brief moment he looks exhausted. His eyes are sallow from lack of sleep, and his uniform, although sharp and worn correctly, looks a bit large, as if he had lost some weight in the last few weeks. For that instant he looks like a tired man.
He quickly opens his eyes, and the intensity of his stare is unsettling.
"Team leaders I expect your FRAG orders in 24 hours. Supply will ensure you have what you need, Herr Captain Konigsamen will be available for the next 12 hours for your questions.
Team leaders ensure your people have completed the necassary paperwork before your departures-I expect updated NOK lists, as well as living wills, and updated insurance profiles. Also dependents should be sequestered as per policy with in the next 16 hours. Remember that their safety determines your success."
"You are the best. You will accomplish your mission. You will do it better than anyone else could hope, and all with a cool stare and a confident gait. None like you have walked the face of this earth. You are Dragons."
Colonel Hodges stood, pulling his back stiffly straight, and his arms to his sides, his thumbs along his fist like a ridge along the trouser seams, just like he had been taught all those years ago in boot camp, with his head held high yelled,"Attention on DECK!"
The room quickly stood at attention, each Dragons body locked rigidly at attention. All eyes faced forward boring holes into imaginary points ahead of them as Captain Konigsamen made his way to the door. He stopped, took one step back with his left foot, bringing the right back he pivoted, facing the room, he rendered a sharp salute. Each man and woman returned his salute with practiced ease, holding their salutes as dictated by custom until he dropped his. Captain Konigsamen pivoted again, facing the door he exited the room.
Colonel Childers and Colonel Hodges stepped over to the door, and as they exited Colonel Hodges nodded to Captain Alexien Diethelm"Carry on Captain with the plan of the day."
None of you can doubt the sincerity of his words, one of the most decorated Dragons ever, Colonel Childers had a reputation for settling matters permanently, and taking great pleasure in doing so.
"You are the best, maybe ever. Maybe that will ever be."
He paused to let his words sink in. You had his faith, and that meant a lot.
"I'd best answer some of your questions before I forget.
Expect heavy magical resistance. Anchored and quickened spells, as well as the possibilty of some magical weapons. Intel places their awakened forces at a one to ten ratio. One for every ten mundanes is some sort of magically active, most are hermetic, and we have to assume well trained.
Individual background reports are not available, however on site intelligence was gathered and my summation of those reports, which are available, is that these people mean business. Against any one but you, that might mean something. There only strength is in numbers and the possibility of the Draco form.
Awakened critters will always be a variable in this business, but the day one of my people can't beat the ever lasting shit out of an awakened puffer fish is the day I gut each of you personally."
Colonel Childers eyes closed slowly as he leaned on the chair in front of him, and for that brief moment he looks exhausted. His eyes are sallow from lack of sleep, and his uniform, although sharp and worn correctly, looks a bit large, as if he had lost some weight in the last few weeks. For that instant he looks like a tired man.
He quickly opens his eyes, and the intensity of his stare is unsettling.
"Team leaders I expect your FRAG orders in 24 hours. Supply will ensure you have what you need, Herr Captain Konigsamen will be available for the next 12 hours for your questions.
Team leaders ensure your people have completed the necassary paperwork before your departures-I expect updated NOK lists, as well as living wills, and updated insurance profiles. Also dependents should be sequestered as per policy with in the next 16 hours. Remember that their safety determines your success."
"You are the best. You will accomplish your mission. You will do it better than anyone else could hope, and all with a cool stare and a confident gait. None like you have walked the face of this earth. You are Dragons."
Colonel Hodges stood, pulling his back stiffly straight, and his arms to his sides, his thumbs along his fist like a ridge along the trouser seams, just like he had been taught all those years ago in boot camp, with his head held high yelled,"Attention on DECK!"
The room quickly stood at attention, each Dragons body locked rigidly at attention. All eyes faced forward boring holes into imaginary points ahead of them as Captain Konigsamen made his way to the door. He stopped, took one step back with his left foot, bringing the right back he pivoted, facing the room, he rendered a sharp salute. Each man and woman returned his salute with practiced ease, holding their salutes as dictated by custom until he dropped his. Captain Konigsamen pivoted again, facing the door he exited the room.
Colonel Childers and Colonel Hodges stepped over to the door, and as they exited Colonel Hodges nodded to Captain Alexien Diethelm"Carry on Captain with the plan of the day."
-
Cazmonster
- No-Life Loser
- Posts: 11964
- Joined: Tue Mar 12, 2002 7:28 am
- Contact:
We have our orders
Droz relaxed back from attention and breathed heavily. "You'd think there was a mage's covention on that island," he opened, clearly expressing his main concern with their immedieate future. He began walking slowly around the room, reviewing the firmcopy intelligence packet they had received. The soldier looked tight, as if he was ready to engage the forces protecting the book from halfway around the world.
<a href="http://heftywrenches.wordpress.com">Agent Zero Speaks!</a>
-
Cazmonster
- No-Life Loser
- Posts: 11964
- Joined: Tue Mar 12, 2002 7:28 am
- Contact: