NationStates Jolt Archive

It was still dark out, but an eventful day was about to begin in the remote Highlands of Gaeltach. Captain Brid Leahy stood outside the female barracks beside another Captain and a Major. Her digital watch read 0426. Almost time. It was Training Day 65 at Ft. Pearse, which meant the beginning of FTX.

At 0430 sharp, reveille blared harshly out of the base speakers, and Training Instructors all across the camp stormed into the bays, yelling and infusing a healthy sense of urgency into the newly awakened trainees. They had exactly 1 minute 30 seconds to be outside, formed up in their units, and on their way to the reveille pad, no different than any other morning.

But there was no flag raising ceremony today. Instead, Lt. Col. Holly consulted his list, breaking the cadets into teams of 7. Each team had one cadet from each company, and was assigned to a Training Instructor. The Exercise always worked so much better when the participants did not yet know each other well. Capt Leahy waited at the southwest corner of the pad and checked her list, calmly awaiting her team to seek her out. There were short profiles of each team member on her roster, thoughtfully written by their respective company commanders. Grif, Romanaovicz, Vanderline, Konovski, LePol, Gorbechev, and Kozinsky in order by company.

In the typical TI fashion, she glanced sternly to her watch as they began to assemble. The order of the day was to create as much stress as possible, therefore her speech was quick and curt. Without bothering to introduce herself, she began dictating their instructions.

“As you know, today is TD 65. And that means you’re all off to FTX this morning. We have an early take-off time, so you have 20 minutes to pack your gear and get to Hangar 8. Your uniform of the day is Battle Dress, and you had better be inspection ready when I see you at the flight line. Dismissed!”



OOC: The OOC thread can be found here (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=474354). I humbly request that you run your posts through a spell checker. Excessive typos are a pet peeve of mine. Additionally and most importantly, here is the list of players.

Gaeltach – Captain Brid Leahy
Theao - Cadet Sasha LePol
Hurtful Thoughts - Corporal Gorbechev
Earth II - Sergeant Kozinsky
Luporum - Sergeant Vanderline
Canadstein – Private Dexter Grif
Kulikovo – Master Lt Konovski
Hype – Sergeant Constantine Romanovicz

OCC: My character's rank is Master Lieutenant, no big deal though

Atticus rushed in silence back to the barracks and assembled what the instructor ordered them to get. He put on his battle dress, picked up his gear, supplies, and ammunition. he grabbed his weapon.

'That captain seems like a real ball-buster' he thought. But, it didn't bother him, he was a veteran, hardened by battle and not would roll over for anyone, he was a tough survivor.

Sergeant Vanderline followed his newly found comrads back to the barracks to grab his equipment. He was never one to go solo; his entire military career had been reliant on a dependable CO. These new soldiers though....

Hey sugar. He thought filling his backpack with explosives, his truest friend. A strange obsession was ahd between Vandy and his equipment, he named everything and developed attachments to his tools. Every explosive he let off was like letting a child go.

Con grabbed his things in a completely orderly fashion. He was used to being berated for the slightest mistake, thus he had become very orderly and efficient. It was necessary in Special Ops.

He was quite curious as to what this would be like, as well as who his comrades would be.

Kozinsky, too, hurried to get back to the barrack and ready for the next step of training.
God, he missed the Empire. He never liked being away from his homeland and was glad that the current Emperor wasn’t one of those expansionists who send their troops around the world.
And now he was here, a “volunteer”. (“Kozinsky, you just volunteered to go to Gaeltach.”
“Jawohl, Herr Oberst” [Where? What?])
He sighed and picked up his Rucksack. Ten Minutes left to get to Hangar 8. The only good thing about the Gael (Gaeltachian?) Army was that they gave you more than enough time to do things. Other than the Imperial Erasian Army where you were given only half the time you would need (unless you were Clark Kent) and then be punished for not doing it in half of the given time.

Five minutes before time ran out he arrived at Hangar 8.

(The Microsoft Word Grammar checker seemed confused. I hope the mistakes aren't overwhelming)

As they were receiving their briefing for the day, Sasha looked over at her new comrades. Looking over the insignia, she noted that she was likely to have to deal with the RHIP problem. She also noticed that save for one, she was the sole female of the unit, which brought a smile to her face, RHIP, but so did gender did also. Getting dressed she headed to the hanger to see what was in store for them.

OCC: Forgive my ignorance, what is RHIP?

Sgt. Vandy noticed the female member in the group. He did his best to hide the disfiguring scar covering the left side of his face without breaking file.

She's a soldier just like you, calm down old boy.

The truth is deep down Vandy was still a very sensitive man and being short on top of it didn't help much.

Atticus stood there, examining his 'comrades'. They were nothing like the soldiers he fought with during the revolution. He didn't think highly of this lot he was with. But, he had to work with them, and would keep his thoughts to himself. hatred towards your allies only brings hardships.

Con barely glanced at the others. He was there to work, and would find out sooner or later what type of soldiers the others were. Con being in Special Ops for several years, had survived seemingly impossible situations. He was calm in situations where others panicked... just as he was calm now.

He was a survivor, as well as a top of the line sniper, and had been on many a mission that would remain classified permanently. Much of his experience would never be known to anyone else. If that made him look green, so be it.

As the team members began arriving at the Hangar, Captain Leahy directed them to a somewhat informal briefing room. Normally, the pilots used this space to discuss flight details and procedures, but now they were all out prepping their aircraft. Stacked on the table were a number of breakfast boxes. Each contained a juicebox, some sort of pastry, a small box of dry cereal, and a piece of fruit. Leahy sipped her coffee with a stoic expression, watching the individuals closely.

"We have a little time before Sgt. Keegan arrives. I suggest you take this opportunity to get to know your teammates before we start with the mission briefing."

On paper, the exercise was slotted for five days, but in truth it was much longer. Savoring her coffee at the early hour, she briefly remembered going through this program herself as a cadet, a little over 5 years ago.

Atticus sat down and ate his food, there wasn't much but he was used to eating little. The man next to him intrigued him.
"Romanovicz, I'm Konovski, nice to meet you comrade" he said to the other teamate.

Sasha looked around at the others and noticed two were already talking. She wondered which, if any would be interesting as she surveyed the men.

"Pleased to meet you as well, please call me Con. I am used to it and it is easier to remember." He grinned, as he ate his breakfast.

"Call me Atticus.What do you think of this? If you ask me, something ain't right, comrade. This seems different than other training exercises. No matter, everyone here looks like they can handle it." said Atticus.

More or less by luck Alexander sat next to the only woman in their team (except Cpt. Leahy). Something else that was different from home. Of course he had seen women in uniform before, but never in such team, never in the fighting branches of the army.
He felt somewhat uncomfortable with a woman readily dressed for combat next to him.
He ate and turned to the man on his other side.
“Sergeant Kozinsky, Imperial Erasian Army.” He extended his hand.

"Master Lieutenant Atticus Konovski, nice to meet you, comrade" replied Atticus. He gave a firm handshake

'Imperial Army?' he thought. Atticus was a socialist through and through, as was his nation and its policies and teachings. He shouldn't be shaking hands with this man, but politics should have no place in war.

Atticus chatted with this man for a bit then he scouted around the room again. He saw their team leader and the other woman. Women weren't uncommon in the Kulikovian Military. They took on all sorts of roles, including combat and command. He knew several women soldiers and they were just as good as soldiers as the men. The team leader seems very stoic and thoughtful, she was examining each of them, trying to learn from how they interact. He had a gut feeling about her. he couldn't tell if it was good or bad, just different.

He turned around to the only female teamate, besides team leader. "How are you called?" he asked. And extended his hand to her, with a smile. Atticus was generally a good guy with a sense of humor. He liked to make friends, never knowing when it might pay off. And it helpd to build bonds with his teamates.

"Sasha LePol." She replied as she gave him what could be best discribed as a sardonic salute rather than shaking his hand. "You?"

Atticus shrugged off her clever insult "Master Lieutenant Atticus Konovski" he drew his hand back. "How did you find yourself here?" he asked.

"What do you mean Atticus?" Sasha asked as she wondered if he was trying to hit on her.

"I'm asking, did you volunteer or did someone volunteer you? I volunteered to come here." replied Atticus. "Some people get a visit from an officer and they're ordered to do these things"

Corpral Gobechev met in the parade grounds, slightly groggy from the previous day's 'celebration' after being selected to attend this joint force exercise. He was informed he had 20 minutes to get ready, and so stomped back to his barracks, and shouldered his main pack and two auxillary shoulder bags and his canteen, followed by his rifle.

His main pack was loaded down with an MMP-1 UAV and control unit, while all the gear and supplies the special equipment had displaced went into one shoulder pack, and ammo into another.

On his web belt he had a shovel, slightly bloodstained from previous use as a battle axe quelling a minor 'uprising' in New Roanoke Island by its prevous owner.

Strapped to each shoulder bag where 4 grenades - 2 fragmantion and 2 Thermobaric, on the main pack where it joined the belt where 2 Anti-Tank grenades (5 pound coffee cans of shaped charge destruction) while obove these where 2 White Phospherous grenades.

His Service Rifle was his only firearm, and decided to lug an extra barrel for sniping. He was a very good shot.

He then rushed off to the hangar for further information, and saw his unit, well, sort of, he was outranked by almost everyone attending. Even the little Mädchen outranked him, who he belived would only slow him down.

He caught a few names, but for the most part spent time picking up his breackfast from a nearby 'table' and getting into his plane hoping to get a comfortable spot before someone else claimed it.

"Both." She replied

Atticus was puzzled "How so?" he asked. It was an odd response in his mind.

"Of those that volunteered, I was voluntold." She replied as she noticed another arrive late, and scowled as he outranked her also, then shrugged, "Shit happens afterall."

Atticus smirked "That's a good way to put it. I just flat out volunteered. maybe I'll learn something different, my superiors want a briefing from me after this is done, perhaps learn some new tactics." he replied.

"Possibly." She replied in an ambigious tone. Atticus was being just odd enought to raise her proverbial hackles.

Gorbechev decided he didn't even know what plane to get on and decided to find someone of lower rank and get to know that person and go from there introducing himself. He had finished stuffing his mouth with the pastry and was sucking down the juice box as if he planned on leaving before he was finished.

Then he found a cadet, a cadet? in advanced training? and a girl at that?. and decided to briefly introduce himself, and [with a straight face] asked what she planned to do after the training mission. While still drinking from the juice box.

Atticus just leaned back in his chair 'the craps gonna hit the fan now' he thought when the other teamate walked up to sasha. 'He's in way over his head' Atticus got the impression that Sasha wasn't there to make friends or any of that, which he respected. But he thought it was wise to at least get to know his teamates a little, but Sasha didn't seem to want to know anyone.
He was a bit annoyed with her lack of respect for his rank. He was an officer, and she, little more than a cadet.

As Sgt. Keegan appeared in the doorway, Captain Leahy finished the last of her coffee and quietly but firmly placed it on the flat surface of a lectern. She had quietly watched her team, noting that some were more inclined to flying solo than others.

"Good morning."

Her tone was firm, though not overly forceful, implicitely demanding their full attention. With her feet shoulder width apart, she clasped her hands behind her back, adopting the usual expressionless countenance of the other TI's.

"I am Captain Leahy. If you'd all have a seat, I can begin your mission breifing."

She waited a few moments for the seven trainees to settle themselves before resuming.

"You are all here for different reasons, of that I'm sure. Some of you have been here since the beginning of this session 66 days ago, and others of you are more recent arrivals. I want it clear that frankly, I don't care. I don't care what your training is, or where you come from. This mission tests your leadership and ability to work as a team in high-stress situations, and that is what I care about. Now. I'm sure some of you have heard the rumors about the FTX we run here at Camp Pearse. Yes, we run a SERE program. You will be trained and expected to demonstrate the core capabilities of survival, evasion, resistance, and escape."

She paused a moment and tossed a glance to Sgt Keegan, who fumbled with a large set of keys and nodded to her.

"We will be practicing bare bones survival. Sgt Keegan here and myself will be with you the first few days to teach you a little about the Gaelic flora and fauna. The vast majority is no different than your average forest life, but I don't want anyone dying from a snakebite or some such. Now if you will follow him to the armoury, you are expected to lock up all of your weapons prior to departure. As a group, you will be issued one survival knife. This will serve as your sole weapon for the duration of the training."

Inside the secure arms room stood tall individual lockers to keep everyone's weapons and ammunition seperate.

"Once you're finished, he will lead you to our C-130 transport."

Her request to leave their weapons behind seemed odd at first but it didn't take him long to realize why. Atticus was no stranger to the knife. he used it quite a bit during campaigns. This training seemed similar to the one pilots endure, but he had a feeling it would be much different than that. He took the knife and walked to the transport.

Cpl Gorbechev was relieved, he didn't much care to be carrying the MMP-1 through the forest, and decided that dumping the shoulder bag full of ammo was alright as well, along with his rations and survival kit (after pilfering a bit of the food to eat on the way out). But he sternly insisted on carrying his bayonet, shovel, and canteen, along with his sewing kit and a clip of ammo, but not his gun.

Gorbechev was fairly confident in his abilties at using a spear, axe, shovel or knife, and had no qualms against using one against a machine gunner.

Sasha looked at the guy sipping a juice box with a raised eyebrow. "What I plan to do? Whatever is next on the rotation." She replied when the Captain arrived. The comment about weapons wasn't a bother to her as she'd come unarmed. She also noticed that Atticus seemed irked, "Tough, if he wants something, he should ask for it." She thought.

Sgt. Vanderline was rather displeased with this request. He liked his explosives, neat and compact, always reliable. However, in the wild he would have to mix compounds and there are so many things that could go wrong, or right depending on how big the explosion is.

Vandy was much more of a loner who would eagerly follow a strong presence.

„Fuck“ Alexander thought. Leaving his weapons, his precious, beloved weapons behind (far away from home) was very far atop of his Never-do-this list. He should have expected it, he admitted. But expecting and accepting were to different things.
Of cause nothing of his aversion showed on his face. It was unthinkable for an imperial soldier to openly disagree with his orders.
So he only cursed under his breath (in German, which, surely, no one would understand) while he followed this Sgt. Keegan to give away his weapons and equipment. To hell with Oberst Ballheim who sent him here. To hell with all superior officers, when he thought about it. Bunch of arrogant jackasses. And to hell with women in combat units. This Sasha LePol promised to create a lot of problems; a sole woman among male soldiers? Under “high-stress situations”?
Alexander felt like killing someone. Fortunately he had already given all his weapons away.

(OOC: I don't like different timezones lol)

ooc: I'm going to backtrack a bit, as I got sick and couldn't stay on last night.

Con had introduced or various members of the group introduced themselves. Quite diverse, however some seem to have an attitude. He was quite good at detecting someone's true attitude, as he had studied a vast amount of psychiatry and psychology. It seems some think they are too good to be here. He smiled to himself, knowing that this was not going to be a cakewalk.

He chatted amongst the others until Captain Leahy ended the conversation by beginning her introduction to the program.

Con had no problem giving up his weapons. Less junk to carry, he figured. He also had experience working missions solo, as well as in small teams where one's life was in the hands of the other guy. Con hoped that those who could not adjust to their comrades would be able to be team players when necessary.

This program seemed right up Con's alley, however, he was not one easily fooled into being complacent or underestimating what may lie before the group.

Dexter Grif had pretty much keep to himself the whole time. He was probably the youngest person in this whole group. Not really hungry he ate only the fruit. Grif watched the others eat and talk to each other. Watching the others he listened to Captain Leahy. Then he went to the armoury dropped off his weapons and other supplies, but kept his Medic Kit and Metal Water Canteen. Grif silently walked onto the C-130 transport. Taking off his helmet he looked at his picture of his old squad. Then he put it back on.

Atticus stood there, his thumb running down the broad side of the blade, it was a nice knife, he would put it to good use. He sized up most of his teamates by now. Most of them seemed tough and battle hardened, some were solo, perhaps they did special ops or were just assholes. And a few, no experience whatsoever in his mind. But, he could be wrong.

The Sergeant slowly unpacked all of his explosives and tools in the locker orderly and neatly. It was a shame he couldn't bring them with him as he had no idea about this place's climate, animals, enviornment, etc. While no one was looking he stuffed the fruit into his pocket. There was a picture of a woman and a young child taped to the back of his locker. Vandy paused and rubbed his thumb over the photo.

Alright, let's get this over with

In the bay area of the C-130 transport, Leahy had already begun preparing herself for the trip. She had shrugged a parachute pack on over her camelback, and was adjusting the various straps as her team began filing into the plane. Her ruck remained beneath a pull out seat along one wall of the bay.

Once everyone was inside, Sgt Keegan pulled the cargo doors shut and secured them. At Leahy's request, the pilots gave them some interior light in the form of a few dim bulbs mounted to the ceiling.

"You'll find packs resting along the walls. Once you've got your parachute, get a buddy to help you with the auxilary, and a second person to check all your straps. Those of you who have never done any airlifts, we'll be using a static line, so find a buddy to help you into the harness. We've practiced the landing a few times, if you remember, but come and find me if you need a refresher. Sgt Keegan will be supervising as well to make sure you're all safe."

Leahy held the auxilary pack against her stomach while Keegan secured all the necessary buckles and straps, and doublechecked all safety catches on her main chute and harness. One she finshed strapping him in as well, they began rechecking the trainees.

For the first time, she broke the hard-ass routine, and half smiled.

"We'll be in the air soon, so I can answer some of your questions."

"Hey Atticus," Con yelled over to him, "why don't we help each other out here?" He rather liked Atticus so far. He seemed to know what he was doing. "Grif, you want to check the straps?" He asked.

Another day, another drop...

Finally something he could look forward to. Jumping out of a plane, doing this last step into the deep nothing … a smile crossed his face. The only disturbing thought was that he didn’t know who had packed his parachute. He didn’t expect any problems but he would have felt much better if he had packed the thing himself.
Too late to worry about this. Just enjoy it.

He tried to remember the names (he always had problems with names). Sergeant…Vanderline that was his name.

“Hey, Vanderline,” he yelled and held up his auxiliary pack,” you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours?”

Vandy was surprised someone had actually asked for his help.

"Sure thing buddy." The akward Sergeant responded as he proceeded to look over his comrad's parachute.

Good thing he asked too because a line had been severed. Not much of a problem though.

"Let's see just move this over here and that there, replace this with that. There we go, all set." The sergeant said handing back his 'chute.

"I'm sorry I didn't catch your name." Sgt. Vandy knew his name he just wanted to introduce himself more properly.

Con seemed one of the few pleasent people that Atticus chatted with.
"Sure" he replied. And they helped eachother out with their chutes and gear.

This was nothing new to him. Atticus did several jumps before, though none of them were combat. He was not a paratrooper, but he had some experience parachuting. Hopefully it would all pay off again.

Grabbing his parachute Grif looked at it. Then he looked toward Con. Slowly he said 'Yes". Then moved over to Con. Grif put on the auxilary. He checked the straps and they were fine. He gave a thumbs up. Grif waited to be checked himself.

"I will also help you with your static line. While I'm doing that do my."

Then he helped Con into harness.

Parachutes weren't new to Gorbechev, he donned his briskly, and only fumbled when he didn't emmidiatly recognize the fasteners, then he picked up his auxillary and was ready to have the finishing touches be done by some (he hoped) was yet better qualified (higher rank). To pass the time, he pulled out a stick of gum and started chewing, noteing the unopened pack of cigarrets and lighter in his breast pocket, which he immediately made sure nobody else saw. Such simple things would prove invaluable.

"Now where can I find a towel???"

Sasha frowned. She disliked parachuting, as every time she had to she became ghostly, sweat dropping white. Slowly, methodically she began strapping on the 'chute, then once she thought she'd gotten it all squared away, she looked for someone to ask to double check, and another to triple check the pack.

Vandy was surprised someone had actually asked for his help.
[cut]
"I'm sorry I didn't catch your name." Sgt. Vandy knew his name he just wanted to introduce himself more properly.

"Unteroffizier, ah or say Sergeant, Alexander Kozinsky, Imperial Erasian Army. Nice to meet you." Alex replied. "And thank you for the helping hand."

He prepared for returning the favor.

Grif looked around to see the other people getting ready. Then he looked at Sasha to see that no one had checked her yet. Going over he looked at her. She seemed to be afraid.

"Would you like me to check yours?"

"Thanks Grif, Atticus." Con nodded to each.

Con had jumped so many times it was almost like walking to him. He saw that Grif was helping a very uncomfortable looking Sasha.

"Hey Sasha...” he grinned. "It's not so bad. Look at it this way. Not everyone gets the opportunity to experience this. Once your shoot is open, you can just enjoy the view and be one with the birds." Con chuckled trying to lighten the moment for her. "If you need any help at all, I'm sure any of us would be happy to help." He told her. "By the way, that includes moral support. Not everyone adapts to jumping immediately. I've known plenty of soldiers who were uncomfortable with it."

When the others finished with her chute, Con nudged her and flashed a grin. He whispered to her, "Just remember, your Guardian Angel is holding you while you freefall."

Con was good at relaxing people due to his own relaxed demeanor and the fact that he had led many Special Ops missions. He was top of the line; however, he was comfortable with the rest of them thinking he was 'plain old Sgt. Con', without the outrageous experiences he has had. Of course, he would get more respect if people knew his true background, but he felt it best to be an 'equal', without excessive experience. In this situation, they were all equals. All of them were here doing the same thing. This did not mean he would not use his experience to help other soldiers with any issues they may have regarding tasks they were uncomfortable with, should such situations come up.

Con had a way of soothing even the most panicked higher-ranking officers. It was all experience and his extensive training, as well as the fact that he genuinely liked to help people. This was also absolutely necessary when, in the past, a soldier on a Special Ops mission would start to lose it in a particularly life and death situation. One person down could mean the death off all of them. This was something he learned, and contributed to his easy-going attitude… the guy that helped others believe in themselves.

When Grif came over and asked her if she wanted aid, Sasha replied in a slightly strained voice, "Yes, Please."

As Con came over and joked in, what seemed to be an attempt to relieve her stress, she gave him both a slightly annoyed, and grateful look. She'd heard the platitudes before. thought the part about the guardian angel was new. "I'll try and remember that."

The Captain grabbed a clean rag off the wall at the front of the bay and tossed it casually to Gorbechev. Always watching, Cadet LePol's nervousness did not escape her attention. Neither had the efforts of a few of her compatriots to relieve the anxiety. Half-grinning to herself, she decided to chime in.

"There's really nothing to worry about. Like I said, this is a static line jump, so your 'chute should automatically engage just a few seconds after you exit the aircraft."

Behind her, a yellow light began blinking beside a ladder which led up to the cockpit.

"Time to strap in, kiddos. The pilots need us seated safely before they can take off."

The sides of the bay were lined with more of the small fold-out canvas seats, which she began preparing for the team. Only after everyone was strapped in would she take her own seat.

Grif checked everything and looked fine. Then he helped her with the harness and static line. He turned toward her and gave her a thumbs up. Looking around he wondered when this bird was going to take off. Setting down his helmet he looked at Sasha. Then he sat down in his chair strapped down with his helmet in his hands.

"So Sasha have you ever jumped before?"

Sgt. Vandy began breaking into a sweat, he hated air drops. The sergeant always had a deep seeded fear of heights ever since he was little.

His breathing became heavy as the conversations around him dulled into a vague muffle.

"I'm gonna be fine, I'll be on the ground soon enough." He muttered to himself trying to silence his fears.

"Yes, this will be my eighth." She replied as she noticed another who looked almost as freaked as her. Sasha began strapping in, while trying to get her internals in order in preparation for the jump.

Vandy and Sasha were both nervous. They both needed to be calmed down. Reaching into his medic kit he pulled out two bright-colored capsules. Looking toward Sasha and Vandy he started to talk.

"Here you guys should take one of these. It will calm your nerves and relax muscles. There shouldn't be any side effects. So swallow them and you should be less nervous."

Grif stuck out his hand reveiling the two capsules. He waited for them to take one or not.

Con noticed Grif handing out pills to the two nervous jumpers. Well, I guess I can tell he doesn't follow the rules. If they take them, they may be more prone to accidents and poor landings, as well as not learning from the experience.

Con said nothing and pretended not to notice. In his past training, if he had been caught handing out or taking contraband, he would have been in hell for at least a month.

Con hoped the two would decline, however, he was curious to find out who would take them.

Vanderline wanted more than anything to calm his nerves, but it went directly against his unbending pride. He had the chance to fix the disfiguring scars on the side of his face but chose not to.

"I'm sorry, I think I'll manage without." He said hesistantly.

Grif put them back and put back on his helmet. Before he put his helmet on he put something inside of it. Then he sat back and waited for this show to get on the road. As he waited he remembered back to his younger days. Grif hated being the medic. Having to see people die all the time, but he was damn good at it. In the back of his mind though he could still hear people screaming.

Atticus stood there, ready to jump. His steel nerves rarely failed him. He was calm and cool. Freaking out only makes things worse. He gripped his straps tightly and waited.

Sgt. Keegan finished checking the team, ensuring everyone was stapped both into their harness and into the little seats designed for take-off. Satisfied, he and Capt. Leahy both took their own seats, and waited through taxi and takeoff procedures. Once the plane reached a safe altitude, the yellow light stopped blinking. Leahy stood and paced to the center of the room, holding an aluminium ladder which extended up to the storage compartments near the ceiling for support and stability.

"Listen up. We have a little while still until we get to the drop zone, so you might as well make yourselves comfortable. This sector of the Highlands is quite remote, therefore you will be relying heavily on each other and on your training for a successful mission. Now give Sgt Keegan your undivided attention so he can brief you on a few things to look out for."

The Sergeant stood beneath the weight of his packs and took the Captain's place at the ladder. She stepped back and stood without a support while he began his speech.

"Your greatest concern out there is going to be predators. Gaeltach is home to two major predatory mammals and a handful of venemous snakes. We do have wolves, and we do have tigers in the Highlands. It is unlikely you will see them, but be aware. As far as snakes and spiders are concerned, if you can't readily identify it, leave it alone. It's still pretty cold in the overnight hours so most of the bad ones should still be in hibernation."

He paused, searching their faces for a moment, and paying particular attention to the female.

"Remember, I'm not trying to scare you. I'm trying to prepare you in the unlikely event you encounter one of these critters. Any questions?"

Grif listened to all the whole speech, but he still had a couple of questions. Waiting to let Sgt Keegan finishing talking.

"I have a couple of questions. What happens if we get lost out there and what happens if one of us gets attack by a wolve and I don't have the supplies to make the person better or live alittle longer? So what are suppose to do leave them there for the wolves and tigers."

As he started to finish he took out his medic kid and checked to see what he had and to take a quick inventory.

"If you get lost, you fail the mission. If you lose a teammate, you fail the mission, and I'm sure I don't have to remind any of you what something like that would do to your service record. Honestly, your chances of being attacked are slim. However should an emergency situation arise.."

He paused a moment and looked to the Captain, silently seeking permission to reveal a part of the plot. She nodded quietly.

"..survival is only one part of the mission. Remember, there are three other letters to get through, Evasion being one of them. There will be 'enemy' forces out there tracking you. If a situation arises, they are equipped to help. That said, do not rely on them. If and when they catch you, regardless of the situation, you will not find the experience enjoyable."

"What kind of weapons will this enemy forces be carrying? Also what are you two going to be doing this whole time." Grif was shocked to hear it wasn't that bad. Hell he had for a month during training sat in the same mud hole. Also wasn't as a bad as real combat. So he was fine with all of this, but he wondered if anyone had died on this mission.

Sgt. Vandy smiled when he heard wolves mentioned. He had a deep hatred over them ever since he was little when his family was attacked by a Renegade Luporian Wolf and his father was killed. However, the term "wolf" means something completely different to Luporians. He shook at the mention of spiders though, critters who crawled over trip wire, snuck undetected, and still struck with lethal force.

"What kind of weapons will this enemy forces be carrying? Also what are you two going to be doing this whole time." Grif was shocked to hear it wasn't that bad. Hell he had for a month during training sat in the same mud hole. Also wasn't as a bad as real combat. So he was fine with all of this, but he wondered if anyone had died on this mission.
"The Captain and I will be with you off an on for the training phases. That's all I can tell you."

Grabbed his helmet and pulled it over his eyes. He needed to get some shut eye before the mission. Grif didn't know how long the mission was going to take or when the next time he could get sleep. In a very short time he fell asleep.

Con was quite curious as to what this mission was. He didn't like being in the dark like this... not having a clue as to what they were to accomplish and what some other obstacles would be. He just sat and listened, and waited for more instruction.

Atticus smirked. He liked what was happening. he hated how some programs practically spoon fed you everything. This was different, it was a challenge.

[Looks at rag]

"Ah, not exactly what I had in mind, but it'll do."

[neatly tucks rag in pocket]

He then sat back and semi-intently listened to the briefing, then dozed until he noticed the jump doors open.

"I'll pass." Sasha replied as she listened to the briefing and smiled. This sounded like it would be quite, what was the word, fun.

Alexander listened to Capt. Leahy and Sgt. Keegan.

„I’ve got another question, Sergeant. You said that if the „enemy“ catches one or all of us we won’t find the experience enjoyable. What if we catch one of them?“
A hopeful gleam appeared in his eyes.

"Oh, and what exactly are we supposed to do. I mean, except surviving the whole thing. Do we have to find some special place or leave the area or something like that?"

"I have the same question as Alexander", Con chimed in. "How do we know who the enemy is? I assume they won't have shirts with "ENEMY" printed across the front." He chuckled, although that was out of line, however he thought he could be a little casual in the plane. Con did prepare for an earful in any case, as in his own training, that would have also caught him a month of hell. He assumed this to be a little more relaxed than the usual training, as far as what was and was not out of line. Con assumed everything would be less formal, as it had been so far.

"Of course, knowing what our mission is, where the end point is, and such things... are we to be told after the jump?" Con asked.

Keegan smiled to himself.

"If you manage to capture one, I'll be very impressed. Don't worry about identifying them. You will have no doubt who the enemy is. Now, on to the mission details. You will find a set of coordinates inside your field compass. This is your final destination. Your mission is to get there."

Of course it was several miles between the drop zone and the endpoint. They would be captured long before reaching the destination anyhow. After a moment, Leahy chimed in.

"While we're on the subject, I may as well assign positions. As Grif seems to be the only one of you with medical experience, I am officially designating him team medic. Sgt. Vanderline. I am assigning you the role of team leader."

Sgt. Vanderline was shocked he couldn't lead himself let alone a group of others. He wanted to object but simply responded "Yes sir!"

The only reason Vandy could see such a choice was because of his expertise in guerilla warfare, which if someone were indeed hunting us, would become quite useful.

'They're testing us already' Atticus thought 'putting a more inexperienced team member in charge instead of a more experienced or someone of higher rank like me. They want to see what each of us can do.' Atticus had no problem about not leading the team. He thought it would be interesting.

"Hey, congrats Vandy!" Con grinned. It didn't matter to Con who was leader. He only hoped that they could all work as a team and on their own.

Sasha didn't really care who was in charge, as long as they were competent and intelligent. She tossed off a sardonic salute to the team leader and wondered how he'd turn out.

"Ma'am," Leahy corrected, her ire rising just a touch.

No sooner had she finished speaking than a sudden rumbling violence rocked through the transport's metal hull. The plane pitched roughly to one side, sending Capt Leahy headlong into a bulkhead. She righted herself, loosing a proficient and imaginative string of profanities only the native Gaelic tongue could accomodate. Over the din of the engines and airspeed, alarms just barely sounded in the cockpit.

Keegan, stable from holding the ladder during the incident recieved a harsh rebuke for his offer to help the Captain upright once again. Leahy glanced around the bay, quickly checking it for abnormalities or injuries before hustling up into the cockpit.

The plane seemed to have a hard time remaining level, and therefore Keegan was reluctant to let go of the ladder.

"Everyone OK?" he ventured, glancing about the dim bay in the Captain's style.

Grif was asleep this whole time. He was a very heavy sleeper. The only sound he made was the sound of himself breathing. Beads of sweat came down from his hair. In his mind he thought of his old squadmates. Simmons, Donut, and Sarge were all memories to him.

Gorbechev, while rising to his feet, clipping his static line onto the stringer:

"No injuries here. Uh, just one question: is this going to be a live fire exercise, and are we permited to use lethal force?"

Gorbechev was only slightly surprised that Sgt. Vanderline was team leader. She could have picked worse leaders.

There were various and subtle congratulations throughout the ranks. Vandy replied each one appropriately as he ran situations that might be encountered in his head. Already he stuck with the idea of two pointmen, two rearguard, and the rest in between keeping a thin line.

Sasha had strapped herself in earlier in the flight, so the gyrations only jerked her around. As such she felt it redundent to confirm she was alright.

"Everyone OK?" he ventured, glancing about the dim bay in the Captain's style.

The sudden shaking had surprised Kozinsky and his head had collided somewhat unsoftly with the bulkhead behind him. Fortunately his helmet had protected him.

"Yes, Sir." he answered while rubbing his backhead und the helmet.

Then Gorby asked about using lethal force upon the "enemy".
Alexander looked at him with a slightly incredulous expression on his face. "That guy's more crazy than me." he thought. "I like him."

A faint smile replaced the sceptical look when he turned his gaze over to Sergeant Keegan and Captain Leahy.

"No lethal force!" Keegan amended from his earlier statement. "Those are trainers out there, not real guerillas. Don't you dare kill one of my men. Christ, man, what's wrong with you?"

Another shudder ripped through the plane, this time accompanied by an explosion, and the sound of one engine failing abruptly. Keegan turned back to the Captain, seeming nervous. Leahy dropped down the ladder and grabbed her ruck from beneath the canvas seat. Deftly, she fastened it to the grapples beneath her auxiliary pack and barked an order to Keegan.

"Pilots are calling for ejection. Fasten your static lines, and get 'em out, now!"

She turned quickly and dashed back up to the cockpit to help the pilots make a safe escape. The prop had been completely blown off the right wing, and they were losing fuel from the wing tanks there. Before disappearing up the ladder with 2 spare parachutes, she smashed a button which set off the yellow light again and slowly cranked open the jump doors.

Keegan seemed incredulous, but snapped to action to help the trainees.

"You heard the Captain, time to go!"

Sasha unstrapped herself and, even with the rocking plane, ran and jumped out of the plane. The line snapped after perhaps a second of free-fall and her parachute deployed. She'd done it in such a way as otherwise she'd almost need to be thrown out of the plane.

Con jumped as well, wondering if this was possibly part of the planned mission... Start them off with a jolt. ooc: (no pun intended!)

As long as everyone was OK, no problem, except for possibly a ground fire.

'Gorby' was the first to jump, since for some reason he was aleadt standing, bracing himself against the fusalage, and with his static line already hooked up. But before leaving, he stated one coment:

"Looks like a live fire exercise from up here!"

Then he jumped.

Vandy followed suit as he threw himself into the sky with his heart pounding, and his thoughts racing.

You're the leader now, no fear.

Atticus jumped out of the plane in silence. He always enjoyed the view and tried for a few moments to pretend that he was a bird, albeit a falling one. He knew not what awaited him and his teamates on the ground.
'They said no lethal force, but they didn't give any other restrictions' he thought.

So all we have is one knife. Con thought... pretty sparse, but if that's the protocol...

The mission was the last thing Alexander thought about when he jumped out of the shaking airplane; in the few seconds before his chute opened and blocked his view he had a good look at the plane.

He really liked a good show but the one he saw during this seconds was much too close to enjoy. "Wow, if this is part of the training then it's a very expensive one."
Then his chute opened and he focused his mind on what lay ahead of him. "Stay close to the leader, have a look at the others so no one gets lost when we're down there. My, what a view. And let's just hope the 'enemies' are blind and deaf and didn't see or hear the plane."

Grif was still sleeping. He didn't hear any Leahy had said or the other sounds. As he started to wake up he saw the others start to leave. He fasten his static line then waited in line. Then he jumped out of the airplane. He started to fall now with the others.

Corpral Thomas Gorbechev knew he was the first one out, he wondered how many made it out of the plane, true, any number of things could cause a plane to loose power, but he saw the engine cowlings, it was blown clear off.

He stuggled to look behind himself, in order to see roughly where everyone else was, but did not see any of them, he was seperated from the group. Not a good place. He would have to find them before the 'enemy' found them, or himself; OR try and lead the enemy away from the main group, giving them a fighting chance.

"Well, at least this is a SERE mission, no heavy valise bag to worry over"

He chucked.

As Con's chute opened, he looked down and made sure to guide himself to where he wouldn't land in trees. This had happened to him one time, and aside from being uncomfortable and a pain in the ass to bother with, the constant teasing and being called "Tree Man" wasn't too thrilling.

However over the span of his career, he had never met a jumper who wasn't "Tree Man" at least once.

Con was curious as to where the plane was headed on the way down. Hopefully not on any people. That was unlikely... As far as he could tell, everyone jumped prior to the plane even losing much altitude.

For now, he enjoyed the scenery and the ride, mentally preparing for whatever they may land in.

Grif's chute opened and he started the slow desent. As he made his way down he looked for a good place to land. Getting close to the ground he found a open spot. He tried to aim for it, but a gust of wind blew him right into a tree. In the tree Grif was stuck. He hoped one of his team mates came and got him from here. For know he had to wait.

Con landed in an open area and had seen Grif land in the tree. He chuckled to himself and went over to help him out.

"Hey Grif!" Con grinned as he climbed up to cut the chute cords for Grif. "I guess you're 'Tree Man' this mission!" Con started laughing and explained to Grif about how those in his squad who landed in a tree, were given shit and tagged "Tree Man" for at least one day.

"I don't think you'll be the only one Grif. It's quite windy and wooded down here as well."

After Con extracted Grif from the tree, he asked him if he had seen where the plane went down.

Grif stayed in the tree to see where the others were coming down. Also to keep a watch for the enemy. Looking down at Con he stated. "No I never saw the plane go down. Hey tell me if any of the others come toward us."

Sasha guided the 'chute down, and managed to land on the branch of a tree, rather than getting tangled up in the branches of the trees as others might have. Unstrapping her pack, she looked around for the team leader.

Keegan had watched the trainees for as long as he could. They shrank slowly into the distance and finally disappeared altogether scattered around a clearing seeming to stay more or less tightly grouped. No doubt they would have a little trouble reuniting, but as long as no one did anything stupid, it would be ok. Besides, it wasn't like they were unprepared. He had checked his position via a GPS unit strapped to his ruck, and made note of the coordinates.

He glanced back over his shoulder, but could see no one in the ladderwell leading to the cockpit. Soon the plane would be too low for his chute to open. With little option, he jumped.

"Hey Con, do you want to find are other memebers of the team?" Grif stated as he started to climb down. Once down he took a drink from his metal canteen.

"Yeah... I guess we better start looking. I assume everyone should be pretty close. We need to find Vandy." Con answered.

"Hey, can I have a sip of that, Grif? I promise not to suck it dry."

ooc: What are we supposed to be carrying aside from a knife... a canteen of water, water purification pills... what do we have?

Vandy didn't have much experience parachuting only what he learned in basic training. A strong gust of wind carried him away from his team members and he landed in a dense brush area with a grunt of disaproval.

Grif walked over and handed Con the canteen. "Here well we better get going." Grif started to walk off hoping to find other people.

"Hey... thanks man", Con accepted the canteen. He also began walking.

"I think I'm going to climb a tree and see if I can get a better view."

Con began to search for a tall tree.

"Ok" Grif looked around he saw a tree that looked good enough for him. He climbed up and sat. Noting much was happening right now. Sitting on a branch he waited.

Alexander watched carfully where the others went down, most of them more or less close to a clearing in the all covering woods. The wind was tricky and he had a hard time controlling the direction of his descent. Then he spotted one of his teammates, probably Vandy, being carried away. A second later the same gust hit Alexander and forced him to follow Vandy. He barely had enough time to commit the direction where the cleaning was to his mind, then the clearing dissapeared behind trees and he hit the ground. Experience enabled him to perform a nearly perfect landing ... in the middle of some very thorny bushes.

He swore (and he was a very good and experienced curser) and pulled some long thornes out of his skin and clothes. He still swore when he walked over to Vandy who had landed only a dozen feet away.

Vandy had landed right in the thick of a thorn bush. He did his best not to curse because if did he would do it so everyone in a mile's radius could hear. He was stuck, the bush had a hold and refused to let go, and any struggle resulted in about 30 more thorns digging into him. Frustrated Vandy reahced out and began ripping apart the vines with his bare hands.

Con was looking around from a tree top when he saw a chute blown by the wind, land not too far away.

"Hey Grif... Someone just landed not too far from here straight south. I think we ought to go find them." Con stated as he climbed down the tree. He wanted to get there as soon as possible, before whomever it was started moving themselves.

Gorbechev was waiting to hit ground, which took longer than usual, since his chute caught on a tree. So he climbed up his chute cords to have a look around, then broke off a meduim sized branch.

"Not the best club, but I could have had worse."

He then found approximately where he was on a map he had snuck into his deoderant. And chose to walk around the exercise area, but then saw a few chutes in some trees, and decided he wasn't that far frm the group.

"At least they have a knife"

He then gathered his chute and hiked towards the chute he saw in a tree. Taking an indirect route around a clearing, which he would have been easily be seen in and captured.

Upon reaching the ground he picked up some stones.

Vandy escaped the hellish thornbush with innumerable cuts and scrapes that aggitated him to now end. He saw Alexander and motioned him over to his position.

"Hey you see any of our comrads?" He asked quietly.

Sasha spotted the team leader, and bundling the parachute, began climbing down to ask him a couple questions. She noticed with an amused smile he appeared to have landed in a thorn bush.

Atticus hit the ground, luckily he didn't get caught in a tree. He took off the straps and stood up. It was quiet, he didn't see anyone else. The trees swayed in the wind. He bundled up his chute. Taking out the knife he dug it into the ground, trying to make a small hole to put the chute in. It wasn't very big by he couldn't waste anymore time. He stuffed as much of it as possible, then covered the rest with leaves and branches. The hole was hardly noticebale in the forest.
'Time to find the others' he thought and began to quietly creep through the forest, not knowing if the enemy was already out there. His left arm hurt from hitting the ground, hopefully the pain wouldn't get in his way.

It didn't take long for Con to spot Vandy and Alexander. "Grif... over there." He pointed to Vandy and Alexander, Vandy not looking too thrilled.

Con gave them a wave as he approached.

ooc: Gael TG- part related, part not.

Atticus heard some talking, he hid behind a tree and took a peak. It was just his other teamates. "Is everybody here?" he asked "It looks like most of us had a rough landing" he said while holding his left arm. Looked at Vandy and said "Some worse than others"

"Hey sir?" Sasha asked, "What's the policy with the chutes, keep or ditch?"

"Ditch, they will just take up precious space. Stuff them over here." Vandy ordered as he retraced his steps through the thorn bush.

He smiled as he saw Con and Atticus approach.

Good, more people made it. He thought to himself trying to ignore the annoying pain from the hundreds of cuts over his body.

"Then could I borrow the knife for a second?" She asked as she had plans for parts of her chute.

Atticus thought to himself about the chutes. Perhaps he made a mistake by ditching all of ti. He should've taken some of the harnesses and a few strips of the chute, but he didn't think of it at the time.
"We could use the chute for a variety of things. The harnesses might come in handy and the strips from the chute could be used in case one of us are wounded. I didn't think of it until now." he said. Atticu departed and dug up his chute and took parts of it and reburied the rest of it. He felt better now that he acted on his thoughts.

"Who has the knife?" Vandy asked.

It would have made his march through the thorn bush a hundred times easier. He looked at the ground and there was a sturdy branch about a foot and a half long. He picked it up and carefully tore a long string of thorns then wrapped it around the club tightly. He was proud of his invention, the cave men would be proud.

Gorbechev came across one of the team ditching chutes. And responded in a quiet, though harsh tone.

"Don't dump those! If those are found you'll lead the enemy right to us. Besides, that material could be useful. Anyway, where's Mr Vanderline?"

"Gorbechev, we each can't lug our own chutes towards the target area, and evade capture. They'll just slow us down, That's why we're just taking parts of them. We should also hide what we don't take." Atticus replied. "Besides, the whites of the chutes will make us easy to spot"

Sgt. Vanderline poked his head over the mass of thorns and saw Gorbechev asking for him.

"If someone would hand me the knife then I could cut apart the chutes and take what we need rather than taking the whole damn things with us. Maybe it's just me but these things aren't exactly subtle." He said.

Grif climbed down from the tree and saw the others. "Does anyone have any pain anywhere?"

Atticus unsheathed his knife and handed it to Vanderline. The thorn bush thing was kind of funny, but he kept quiet.

"You complain an awful lot about a 30 pound chute when you've hardly anything else to carry, anyways, my canopy is olive drab, and neatly stuffed in my harness, out of the way, and out of sight."

Romeo 1 sat with his team on a ledge halfway up one of the Highlands many smallish mountains. He grinned to himself beneath a pair of binoculars, white teeth evident amid the grease paint on his face and neck. He watched quietly as the trainees began to assemble, little more than small specks with bundles of canvas in the distance. Lowering the binoculars, he nodded over his shoulder to the others. In utter silence, they shouldered their weapons and disappeared into the trees.

''Fine, carry it. Just a suggestion" replied Atticus as he stepped aside. "Is everyone here?" he asked.

After Vandeline finished getting out of the thornbush and did his work with his chute she spoke, "Toss me the knife, alright?"

"Thank you Atticus." Vandy said taking the knife. "What parts do we need exactly?"

He wasn't familiar with this sort of thing but he knew all about how important it was to remain low key.

"I understand, but I'd prefer not to carry the whole thing if we can just take what we need." He said looking at Gorbechev.

He then turned to Grif and said "Nothing here aside from a few cuts and scrapes. Anyone hurt?"

"We shouldn't linger here much longer. For all we know, they might already know where we are." Atticus replied. He didn't like any of this. "Oh, my left arm hurts, but nothing serious."

Grif looked at Vandy. "Can I see where the cuts and scrapes because they might get infected?"

"Just a suggestion Vandy," Con piped up. "We should get moving immediately. Obviously the enemy knows where we landed. We can cut while walking, but staying here for any longer, I believe will be dangerous for us. I actually think we ought to run under the canopy of the tall trees and get about a mile away from here. Do you think that makes sense Vandy?" He asked.

"Also, I'd like to borrow the knife when you're done with it."

Sasha frowned as Vandeline was hoarding the knife. "Then cut me off two five foot sections of the line, six four foot sections, and as many one foot sections as you can get. Also eight foot by foot sections of canopy." She requested.

Vandy finished his operation on the chutes and he buried the useless parts in the middle of the thorn bushes. He stomped his way out handing the knife to Sasha.

"Who here knows navigation? hand to hand combat? stealth?" He ordered. "I want to leave this area in no more than two minutes, we've been lingering long enough as it is."

"What the hell? Did everyone else lose their knife?" Atticus asked 'I'm pretty skilled at hand-to-hand" he replied.

Con walked up to Atticus. "Well, it seems we're on the same page anyway." He whispered. Con stated again "I really think we need to move as we work... fast."

Con was beginning to think he didn't want to stay with the group... that perhaps he'd do better with just Atticus and a couple others. They were making a big mistake by not moving.

Atticus got what he was saying "We need to stick together" he whispered back. Dividing the group seemed that it would be a big mistake. But he understood why he felt that way and he agreed that they need to get moving.

"I actually specialize in all three, Vandy." Con answered. "Who has the knife?" Con was getting a bit frustrated with this...

Grif moved over to a rock and sat down on a rock. He looked up toward the sky. If they didn't leave soon, he was leaving.

Sasha sliced the chute into her requested peices and handed the knife to the next person. "I'm good for stealth and HTH."

"Everyone calm down and enough of this whispering between one another. If you have something to say then you can say it to the entire group, there will be no divisions here." He barked sick of the suboridination, had this been a Luporian excercise there would have been a flogging or two. "Great, Con you take point and pick someone, preferably a hand to hand expert with you. You two will take lead but don't venture out of eye sight of us."

"Everyone else keep a loose file with me behind them, stay fairly close but don't get clump together. Keep a watchful eye for anything." His voice was showing hints of irratation and anger. Vandy hated leading, he was a much better follower but this was his role and he was going to fufill it to his best abilities.

Atticus weas pleased to hear Vanderline take charge 'About time' he thought. The lot of them began to move out.

Con took the knife and quickly shreaded his chute into the pieces he required. He then took some sturdy branches and quickly whittled sharp points on both ends, as well as cutting down some strong vines. He then passed it on to the next one.

"Vandy, we've got to get out of here fast! I'm not trying to supercede your authority, however, I suggest we run, not walk, a mile under the canopy. I'm quite sure they're coming for us now."

Moving over right next to Atticus. He started to whisper. "Hey Atticus I heard about that guy going over Tarayshia to meet that Queen. L something i couldn't really remeber."

ooc: What is point?

"Gorby, why don't you take point with me." Con said.

"Lehana" he replied.

"Yeah that the name. Well that guys is sure luckly. With a beautiful lady and not in this hell hole. You know that guy Atticus?" Grif replied.

ooc: what is point!?

"Our Vice-Minister's name is Atticus Konovski. he's on a trip to Tarayshia. I hear about it all the time about how I have the same name as him. But we're not related, we just happen to have the same name." Atticus replied, he didn't see what it had to do with their present situation.

"Oh thanks that's why your name seemed familiar." Grif got up and sat next to a tree. He waited for them to be done.

ooc: point is lead position, it means you cut a trail and we follow behind.

Vandy shot Atticus a harsh look.

"Alright we're moving out, if you can't keep up give me a signal." He ordered. "Con, keep a brisk pace but not too brisk just enough so we cover a good amount of ground. Just so we can get away from our landing area."

OCC: That's enough, let's have them already running and a distance away from the landing area, how does that sound?

ooc: ty

IC: "Will do." Con began to jog slowly enough that he could cover some ground and knot up the vines, chute parts, and the very sharp sturdy branches in the way he wanted them.

"This pace OK?" he asked.

Atticus had no trouble keeping up the pace. It was good that they were moving. The farther away from the landing zone, the better. The group kept a good stride as well. He didn't know what awaited him or his teamates up ahead.

Vandy sprinted and caught up to Con and Gorbachev.

"This pace is fine, we'll keep this up for about thirty minutes and march from there on." He finished falling back with the others.

"Good." Con replied as he fashioned his spiked weapons and his long pole strapped over his back.

Grif stayed in the back. Also since he was the slowest of the bunch. All the medic stuff he carried was slowing him down a bit, but it was fine. His eyes moved around to see any "enemies".

They had reached about a mile from the landing area. "Do you want us to keep going Vandy?" Con asked.

ooc: Who was told where they were going in the first place. Where they have to get to?

He sprinted ahead and caught up again. "We'll march from here on out, try to locate a body of water for us so we can get some bearings on our location. While dropping in I think I saw a river to the norther." He said before falling back.

We're just getting away from the landing area right now

ooc: Oh, I know... I was just thinking... Were we ever told our destination?

Con followed Vandy's orders. "I believe you are correct Vandy. There are water fowl, ducks and such in the air north of here... and those damned stinking gulls," he chuckled. They always shit on everything.

Sasha took a leisurely pace somewhere in the middle of the column as she listened to the banter.

"The moss on the trees should tell us which direction is north" Atticus said.

"Hey Con can I have my canteen back? Also I have about ten water purification tablets if anyone is going to get water from a river or lake. I don't want any of you to get sick or throw up." Grif told the whole group.

(ooc:missed the whole action, damn)

Alexander followed the others, only Grif was behind him.
While the others had discussed he had inspected the local fauna as far as possible to find out which plants grew there, which grew together and which didn't (of cause his observations were only fragmentary, he didn't have the time for a close inspection). Everything looked like camouflaging would play a major roll in the next days and he didn't want the "enemy" to spot him because he chose the wrong plants to cover his position. It wouldn't be perfect (he looked down on the soft ground; and if they didn't stop laying such a trail not even the best camouflage in the world could safe them.) but better than nothing.

Atticus thought about their mission. 'If we could get our hands on just one of them, it would be very cruciale and give us alot of intel' he thought. It would be valuable to capture an enemy and extract information from him, but how?

OCC: I wonder if Gaeltach is going to post anything

OOC: I'm letting you guys feel it out a little. My guys will be along presently. >=)

OOC: as if being the squad leader wasn't bad enough when nothing was happening >.<

Vandy couldn't help but notice they were leaving footprints rather visably in the dirt. Probably because it had just rained, also the leaves nearby were still turned up. He carried his thorn club with authority.

So far so good he muttered to himself.

Grif looked around for a good weapon to use. Maybe to use against a enemy or kill a animal. They had to eat sometime. A club would do fine, but something sharp would be excellent.

Gorbechev was waiting for a time to ask Vanderline a question:

Would he be allowed to try and lead the 'enemy' away from the main group?

He was a decent navigator, and excellent hand to hand, and could fashon fire hardened spear points with ease. No knife required. And was skilled at throwing such spears to kill game animals.

But if he was to make said spears it would be best made during daylight or in a trench, when the fire would be less visible to the enemy.

Con had already shaved his spears, they were not hardened by fire yet. As they walked, he picked up sharp stones he found, and anything that could be used as a makeshift weapon.

"Here's your canteen Grif. Sorry, I forgot I was still holding it. Don't worry, I didn't drink much, and yes, I would like water purification tablets please. I was concerned about that from the beginning."

Looking down, he also saw they were leaving a trail as the others noticed as well.

"I think we need to spread out just a little or walk in dense folliage to avoid this trail on the ground, which can easily be followed." Con mentioned.

"What do you think Vandy? About walking through brush to avoid obvious footprints. It may slow us down, however our trail will be more difficult to follow." Con waited for Vandy's decision.

In Special Ops, it was likely that he would be moving through dense trees midway up the tree... time consuming, but stealthy. This wasn't quite practical with all these people.

Grif ran ahead and grabbed his canteen. As he started to get at the same speed of Con he looked toward him.

"I will give you one when you need it ok?"

Then he started to slip back. On the way back he picked up a four foot stick and used it to walk with. He would make a pretty good weapon.

Sasha had wrapped one of the four meter sections around each hand, with the rest in various places on her body. She was already exceptionally well armed, without anything so cumbersome as a stick.

Con quickly ran after Grif. "May I have one now, in case we get separated? I would appreciate it." He asked the medic.

Gorbechev knew something had to by done about the trail:

He unsnapped his jump helmet and asked the people next to him to spread out, lines where tacticly horrible ways to move, take a V formation, Vanderline in middle, and an armed flanker on each side. They wouldn't leave a rut any bigger than a meduim sized deer trail that way. And would also make it possable to chase down and catch some food on the way, such as rabbit.

Grif looked up and went up next Con. He handed him a tablet and went back to his position.

"Thanks Grif." Con was grateful for this. He had a feeling that the whole group was not going to end up together.

"Great idea Gorby!" Con commented. This guy was on the ball. All in all, this team seems quite good... all with different specialties. He mused.

Gorbechev decided to flag down Vanderline, nd convince him to change tactics, instead of speed, opt for stealth and security (lines tend to behave rather blindly).

"Mr. V! Mind if I make a suggestion?

Sasha decided to ask a question that had been bothering her, and thus went over to Vandeline, "What are the engagement rules, as well as watch rotation?"

ooc: OOps I thought Gorby made the suggestion aloud earlier.

OOC: sort of did, but I didn't think Mr. V (ommiting usage of rank and name to make his interogation more pleasant.) heard it.

Atticus continued moving, keeping an eye open for anything suspecious. The others kept gabbing but he kept silent. He wasn't very good at stealth but he knew not to keep talking in situations like this.

"Vandy, look at the sky... we need to adjust our angle slightly as we are not traveling straight north. Look at the sun. Also, look where the water birds are congregating." Con stated.

"One more thing... I don't want to be out of line Vandy, however, perhaps you should tell everyone to be quiet. Remember what's out there."

Con thought all the gabbing was ridiculous and bizarre, at least at that volume level. Do these guys want to get caught?

In a little over an hour, Romeo 1 and company had reached the trainee's LZ. He checked the sky as his team began scouring the area for the inevitable traces of the trainee team. This was good training for his men as well. Tracking was a skill, and one that must be practiced often. Only a few short hours before the sun would start descending, and they would all feel the chill of a Highland night.

Patches of discarded and dismembered parachutes littered one corner of the clearing, and trailed away into the woods. However the drop litter soon gave way to a trail of footprints in the damp earth. The depression and spacing of the feet gave valuable clues to their speed. At the wave of an arm, the team moved off again in steady pursuit of their quarry.

Vandy turned harshly towards Gorbechev who was casual beyond respect.

"We'll slow down when we reach the river. I want to get as far away from the LZ as possible before we rest." He said. "Suggestions are welcome though."

He looked into the sky from Con's observation.

"You make any adjustments you have to Con. Agreed, I'll go tell them to be quiet." He finished falling back to the others.

""The rules of engagement are attack on sight if conflict is unavoidable. However that is a last resort scenario, I would rather prefer doing this evasively. By the way, everyone keep your voices down, I can hear you from the point." He added running back up to the front with Con and Gorb.

Atticus kept thinking of the enemy. They were tracking them, like hunters track prey. And thought of what might happen if he or one of his teamates were captured. All Leahy said was that it would be unpleasant. Then he pondered on what would happen if they were to somehow capture one of them. It would give invaluable intel on enemy positions. Also, on whether or not they should split into two groups, that they shouldn't stop and rest, it would give the enemy time to catch up.

Sasha nodded as she returned to her position and kept quite.

If it was up to Con, they wouldn't be traveling on the ground at all, but through tree branches, swinging, and definitely not in a line. He knew they would be easily tracked. Silence and unpredicability on our team is vital, he mused.

Alexander was quite satisfied with the situation. Now with everyone being as quiet as possible the troop did just fine.
Most of them were too inexperienced to avoid a trail visible to everyone except, maybe, a blind man without his dog. So it seemed futile to him to even try it. Vandy was right; at the moment they needed speed, not stealth. Their pursuers had to be careful if they didn't want to run into a trap and could hardly keep the same pace as their prey (as Alexander hoped).
After nightfall the trainees would have to change directions and look for solid ground or walk in the river; there they could avoid footprints etc. Not here.
He would ask Vandy about it later, when they had found water.

Gorbechev pulls out a scrap of paper and writes the following, then hands it to Vanderline.

I suggest that we eatheir do one of three tings...

1> we all split up, and make best possable speed to the objective, or split into small groups.

2> we all turn 90 degrees to the right - whereever they are standing - and march in V formation, except for two people, one becomes point for the group, the other continues straight forward fo a ways then doubles back, that person becomes rear gaurd. After a few yards of this we continue on the course we are on now in ther same manner we are now. This might force them to lose our trail, with minimal loss of time.

3> we set up a rear gaurd, a small amount of the team, and try and fool them into thinking this small group is the whole thing, buying yourself time and cover to get rest and develop a better plan.

I would also suggest you not take a direct or fast route to the objective, but through the most dense foliage, so that when we do contact the enemy many of us will be able to slip away.

I also suggest we use niether each others full name or rank, and assign people letters or call them by their task.

Con just continued with the group, picking up any sharp objects, strands of thorns, strong branches, rocks, and a pile of dirt he was trying to get to dry by holding it loosely in a shread of chute. He also wrapped chute around his hands, just enough for a little bit of extra protection for hand to hand, but not enough to be cumbersome with tasks. He used extra when he was winding thorny vines around strong branches, and was accumulating a decent amount of very sharp rocks.

Con ran up to Vandy. "Hey Vandy, do you think we ought to make some plan for eating before the sun goes down, so that we can light a small pit fire and get some fish or rabbit? Getting sustinance from berries and folliage isn't that energizing." He grinned. "Just an idea. We will have to drink as well. Grif has a few water purification tabs. If we purify a large amount of water, we should all be just fine. Dehydration can really be nasty."

Con was thinking about a desert operation he was part of a couple years ago. Just hell. Crawling through desert, some of his team becoming delerious as they ran out of water... one almost dying. This terrain was different, but if they drank unpurified water, that could well end the whole mission right there. Amoebic Dysentary would put them all down, so lots of water with minimal tablets would be the key. They should maximize that. He would ask Grif what the maximum ration of water to one tablet was as soon as they decided to drink somewhere.

Alexander heared Con asking Vandy something. He was not close enough to understand everything but it was something about fire and eating fish or meat. He hurried to close up with the two of them.

"You want to make a fire and hunt game?" he asked Con a bit incredulously.

Then he turned to face Vandy and tried to sound respectfull : "Sir," Vandy was a mere Cadet, nothing else but he was the leader of the team which meant he was "Sir" to everyone else. (as far as Alexander was concerned), "may I suggest that we don't waste our time searching for rabbits while we ourselves are the prey. And a fire is out of question. The enemy would smell it long before he sees it. If something crosses our way, fine, let's eat it raw. I don't thing we have the time to do more than find us some water and a place where we can extinguish our trails. This is no camping trip."

The sun was dipping towards the mountain tops, elongating their shadows somewhat. Soon the mountains would provide an early dusk. The trail had thinned somewhat as it went along, suggesting that the trainees had adopted some method of stealth or at least trail concealment. But the earth was still damp, leaving clear impressions of boot marks. These were accompanied by freshly broken branches and trampled grass and moss.

One member of Romeo paused, crouching beside a thorny bush. A few of the vines had been broken off, and their was no sign of them on the ground nearby. But as the breaks were still quite fresh, the team could assume the trainees were not terribly far ahead. And they were improvising with what the environment had to offer.

Grif picked up a stone and started to sharpen the end of the stick. This was going to be a spear now. Thinking back quart sized canteen would hold enough water for a while. So far he had only taken a few drinks. Also the other nine water purification tablets could make 1 quart of clean water. Good enough for him. The stick was slowly become a spear. He also wondered if they would see Captain Leahy again or she made it out ok.

Campng trip. Con rolled his eyes and spoke up, "I completely understand the smoke issue and that is why I suggested an underground pit, covered with brush to cook something during the day. Yes we have to move, but we can't afford to get weak either. If you think we should wait to eat, that's fine." Just then, he took out one of his sharpened makeshift spears, jumped into a bush, and stabbed a rabbit.

"It's not a matter of wasting time hunting... just getting what is there as you go." He smiled to himself. He borrowed the knife and skinned the rabbit and began to eat it raw. Con never liked raw meat, but Vandy was in charge, so his orders were law.

"No fire, Sir." He stated to Vandy.

He munched as they went along.

"Just to tell you now. We need to set up a guard shift. Also I'm sleeping in a tree." Grif stated then he went back to sharping his spear.

Sasha looked at the others with and shook her head. Sharpening sticks, leaving a blood trail and various other sillinesses. The suggestion for guard duty was smart, thought best would be two man teams. As it was she just kept silent while they argued.

Gorbechev decided to try something, he swagered his path (very noticeable on one side, less so on the other) in and out of the trail, in order to make it look as if the group was sneaking left but left the man with the knife to continue up a ways, as a decoy, when in fact it was going to be the other way around. Counting on the enemy to think that the group was playing dumb for the first leg, after awhile he'd double back parrellel to their current trail and see if they where being followed.

ooc: I'm accelerating the timeline a bit.. bear with me.

Darkness had fallen by the time the Romeo team had reached a thin trail of blood. Romeo 1 motioned for his team to halt while he stooped to examine the crimson marker. They automatically fanned out, dropping to positions of lower profile. The blood was dry and cold, not as fresh as he'd hoped. There was also quite a bit of it staining the path ahead. A kill perhaps, or was one of the trainees injured?

But there was more. Here the path spilt in two. More people to the left, while the blood continued onward. He followed the blood for a few meters until he was satisfied from the pace and placement of the footsteps that whomever was bleeding was not themselves injured. Glancing upward at the last fading purple rays, he donned a set of NVG's. The team followed suit. He then made up his mind to follow the heavier trail, though swung wide of it on a widening course. HIs destination was not the trail itself, but a distant ridge hidden along an ascending slope. His men were utterly silent, moving over patches of dead leaves and ditritus only when there was a breeze to mask the sound.

This was the point at which teams usually tried some trickier evasion techniques. The problem was, it was hard to predict just what tactic they might attempt.

The group made it to the river, except for Gorbechev, who came up with a lame excue to lag behind. And was no longer with the group, in fact, he didn't even reach the river. He doubled back, about 200 yards to the right and parrellel to the trail, and stopped, unfurled his parachute, and rubbed it down in deoderant, then folded it back up. Then it started to get dark, he dug a slit trench with his slightly sharpened club, and laid some foliage over it, then climbed into a tree and made use of his parachute harnes to make a sling to sleep in.

(don't know if vandy used any of the suggestions so I'll leave that detail blank)

Sometime during the late afternoon Vandy had contracted a high fever and a migraine. Thinking was equivelent to a jackhammer coupled with TNT in his brain. He motioned for everyone to gather around, they had rested enough.

"Where the hell is Gorb?" He demanded.

Sasha looked at the others with and shook her head. Sharpening sticks, leaving a blood trail and various other sillinesses. The suggestion for guard duty was smart, thought best would be two man teams. As it was she just kept silent while they argued.

ooc: who said anything about a blood trail... skinning it wrapped in chute... drinking the left over blood, burying the remains... not so silly... Sharpening sticks... not so silly either. If you have a spear that, will do more than only hand to hand... or sharp rocks between the fingers...

"No clue Vandy." Con told him. "He was concerned about Vandy." Shit where did that guy go!!!

Con asked Vandy to follow him to a close clearing area. "Here," he handed a big chunk of chute to Vandy to wrap up and stay warm. You aslo need water." He stated. "If you become dehydrated, you could become delerious. I'm going to go find Grif. I'll bring back some chute soaked in water for your head."

Con headed for the river. Damn it! These symptoms mimic a thousand possible causes! he was pissed that their medic was not right there.

Con asked everyone to look for Grif in the trees due to Vandy's illness. They needed the canteen for Vandy, plus likely some morphine if Vandy's migraines were as bad as Con's. And more than anything a diagnosis, and a possible leadership change. Someone needed to be in charge of Vandy while he was ill, should he become unable to walk or something worse.

Con ran and got ice cold rags for Vandy's migraine.

Vandy waded into the river, it was roughly waste deep, even on a short man like himself.

"Perfect." He muttered to himself.

The cold water made him feel a hundred times better until he was struck by the fact they were being hunted and moving through the river is the first thing they would expect. Given the river's condition's and a vanished set of footprints they would certainly check the river.

We could simply walk on the other side and make sure we leave no obvious marks right at the river bed. As they check down the river we'll be on the other side moving further away. Sure they'll figure it out but it'll give us some time to gain some ground on them.

There it was - chaos. Nobody knew anything and the leader was ill. Great. The idea of leaving the group emerged inhis mind. But that was out of question. The mission included testing their teamwork-abilities; and that would be difficult when there was no team to work with.

ooc: Luporum, that was an odd post, a bit inconsistant with the one I posted previous to yours. I'm lost now.

There, in the center of the river stood a lone figure, little more than a brilliant green shape through the NVG's. Romeo 1 grinned to himself. His men made no motion to descend on the team. Afterall.. it had only been one day. Let them gain a bit of confidence first.

OOC: He went into the river after you ran off to find ice cold rags

There was way too much pride for this squad to be at all effective. Each one of them thought they knew what was best and they were actually acting on it. Vandy was considering letting them split up just to end the excercise in failure; it would be better than having to physically beat them to get them to follow orders.

No, I'll see it to the end no matter how unbearable it may be.

His head began to pound furiously as his anger rose in frustration.

I said rest and they plan to stay the night, we've only been out here one day; we could move for days without food and we have water. I swear these may be the wimpiest bunch ever. Now we can't even leave until we find were Gorb went. Screw it, he can find his way back to us.

"Everyone we're moving out follow me." Vandy barked through his surmounting pain.

"Vandy, Sir. I apologize. I thought you were too ill to make it over here. Are you sure you don't need to conserve your energy? I just want to be sure you are OK." Con added.

"Vandy," Con said quietly, "this is not of your doing, but all of us seem to be doing things the way we have done them on our own separate squads, teams or missions, and we aren't melding together well. I am no exception, and I apologize. I harbor no distain for any of these people, however, I do notice some others looking down at this or that particular person." He added, Unfortunately, I'm sure you're well aware of this, and I don't know what it is you plan to do about it."

Con dipped his hands in water and splashed it on his face, careful not to get it in his eyes, while exhaling through his nose, and wiped them quickly with a wet chute. "I'll follow whatever command you give. I hope somehow everyone will come together. The truth is, none of us knows anyone's real background. As far as we know, we have experts in this field and don't know it... fake ranks, and such... who knows. Just so we accomplish our mission."

Con grinned at Vandy, "You got it in ya Vandy, Sir!" He saluted. "If I may make one suggestion. Please let Grif check you over quickly. We don't need a sick team leader."

Grif listened to the whole speech. Climbing down from the tree he faced Con. "Mr.C don't say my name you don't know whose listening." Then facing Vandy he threw him the cateen. "Drink some water. Also what are your symptons?" He looked down at Vandy.

"All right then." Con replied to Grif. "Perhaps we should come up with some permanent aliases. If I were to have said "the medic", they know who that is."

Con looked to Vandy in between Vandy's explanation to Grif regarding his symptoms. "Perhaps we should come up with permanent aliases until all this is over."

Gorbechev woke up from his tre haven, apparently unfound. And decided now was the time to go boomstick hunting.

He checked what he managed to bring with him:

One clip of "K" bullets (30 rounds, 5.56 mm) for his CM-16, most likely useless in any gun he was going to find (and even if they did fit, they'd most likely blow the chamber), but that wasn't why he wanted them in the first place.
One 'doped up' parachute and harness.
A pack of cigaretts, not for smoking.
A book of matches.
His club, slightly sharp, good for digging, hiking, foraging or fighting. 5' long.
60 Push pins and sewing kit with one spool thread.
One canteen, still full of water for the most part.
One mostly used stick deoderant.

He set to work, starting with the bullets, he fed out 15 bullets by hand, being careful not to set off PROHT's notoroiusly sensitive primers. then made three clumps of holes, three holes each, in a triangle pattern, about 10' apart from the nearest clump of holes, and put a pin and bullet in each hole. he then spread out his parachute, so as to cover the above mentioned 'mines', lit a cigarett, pulled out another unlit match, and wraped it around the cigaret at a point he calculated it would burn down to in 15 minutes. The clock was set.

He then hurried off to the main trail, 200 yards away, and planted the other 6 'bullet mines' over 'push pin' firing pins, so that the pressure of a man steppining on them would set it off, in groups of 2, middle, right flank, left flank.

He then went into the pit he dug out the night before, and waited for the fire to cook off the bullets he planted.

The perfect one man improvised ambush he thought to himself.

OOC: [Cough] Mr V [cough]

Sasha had been crouching in the bush, in the hollow of a tree as Vandeline was treated for whatever. As they decided to move out, she slid out of the bushes and prepared to leave.

As new motion presented itself in the woods, Romeo team remain still as death on the high rocky ridge, always watching. Whatever the lone individual had been up to, it would have to be checked out eventually. This trail needed to remain natural for each training group. One man wanted to check it out, but Romeo 1 resisted, waiting instead to see how the trainees would move.

----

About 2 miles downriver, the smoldering wreckage of the C-130 cooled in the night air. Part of the fuselage and cockpit lodged just over the bank amidst a thick stand of trees. The wings and tail were nowhere in sight. Leahy tried to focus on the night sky, half her body pinned beneath a twisted length of metal. She couldn't remember where the pilots were. But within a few moments, it no longer mattered as she succumbed to the welcoming darkness.

Grif looked up toward the black sky. Something was different. He noticed the smoke. Taking off his helmet he looked at it more closley. Then he faced Con and Vandy. He started to whisper. "I saw some in the sky smoke do you want to check it out?"

Con whispered, "Maybe not all of us should go, or any of us. It could be a trap, and the enemy could be watching, but it is completely your decision, Vandy. I just wanted to bring up that point."

Con did not want to seem like he was trying to take over. He believed that they all should chip in suggestions.

"Sergeant Vandy Sir, I would like to speak with you about two things I believe may be important. Hell, I'll just tell you now. I was hoping you would address the team if you agreed... a small meeting so to speak. One issue is that we might be safer coming up with permanent aliases, as Grif mentioned. I agree. We could possibly do that ASAP. The other would be that you, if you agree, and I think you will as this is a team effort, encourage everyone to put in their two cents and speak up if they come up with any ideas about anything, or any objections. We will do better with many minds, all trained differently, coming up with pros and cons and ideas, rather than people keeping their ideas and objections to themselves. Then you can make your decision." Con looked earnestly at Vandy.

Con grinned... the usual shit-eating grin he was for which he was known. "For example, I making this suggestion to you to have people make suggestions to you." Con chuckled under his breath.

"We don't need alias' as our identities are unimportant for such a mission. Also we are not meeting together because this isn't a democracy we're moving out across the river ASAP." He barked as his fever started to overwhelm him.

"We've spent long enough sitting around, it is paramount we keep moving and any suggestions can be brought up later." He said quickly wading through the river.

Con with Vandy in the river. "Vandy, this isn't a democracy, but it is turning into anarchy at this rate. For example, where is Gorby? Hmmm?" He was pissed.

"Look, we all know you are team leader." He stated. “However, you are not the number one guy in all abilities. None of us is. Those who are experts in an ability or situation should speak up if one of your decisions will attract attention, if someone comes up with a better idea, or sees someone else doing something that they know will help the enemy."

Continuing, Con's easy-going look was all but gone. "There are people here who specialize in certain abilities, and their input is paramount. For example, if Atticus were more experienced in 'X', it would be idiotic not to listen to his opinion and advice on 'X', as it may likely be something no one else thought of, and the best idea. If someone should see another one of us doing something that will be likely to attract attention, they should say so!" He yelled in a whisper.

"You are not Ubermensch! None of us is! We all have our best abilities, including you, but you don't carry all the best abilities. I have seen some of our team look disgusted at a decision, or at what they saw another member doing, because it was obvious they had a better idea, or knew the decision might get us caught.

“TEAM... We're a team. What we have now is this; a group of loners, all brimming with information on their specialties, and they are being stifled. I can plainly see they are not happy about it.. Why in the world would you decide not to use the wealth of knowledge around us? Aside from that, we'll all learn from those who know more regarding an ability or situation!"

Looking at Vandy, Con hoped his reasoning reached him.

If he doesn't get it, I'm going to ask each member to tell me to come to me if they have a better idea, or to tell me if we are definitely making a mistake, and specifically, if I, myself, am making a mistake or bad decision. I want to learn from the best, and we have some of them here. If Vandy doesn't care, fine, but I'm going to get all I can from everyone.

Con stepped back and began walking with Atticus. "Atticus, I have a favor to ask of you. If you come up with a better idea than Vandy's decision... perhaps in something that you specialize, will you tell me, and Vandy? If Vandy decides not to go with it, at least I will have learned something and can perhaps protect myself. I would also like you to let me know if I'm doing something fucked up that will attract attention or help the enemy. Could you do that for me?" he asked Atticus. "If Vandy decides not to listen to reason, I would still like to learn from the experts in this group. None of us really knows each other’s backgrounds, and my guess is there are situations we have been in, are in, and will be in, that someone here specializes in, and will or has had a better idea and has or will continue to keep quiet. This isn't teamwork. And again, I want to learn from someone if they know I'm fucking up." Con continued to walk along side of Atticus.

Alexander followed when Vandy finally made his decision (he didn’t know if it was because Vandy had finally grown a spine or because he was simply pissed of by the whole situation and feeling sick (ooc: Vandy, not Alexander. I’m lacking words to describe it more precisely)). Whatever the cause, it was good to have a leader. Imperial soldiers even sergeants followed, they didn’t lead.
He wasn’t close enough to understand what Con said to Vandy but that wasn’t necessary. Con’s look and the expression on his face told enough. Alexander nearly interrupted him. Nobody had the right to act like this in front of a superior officer. But then he remembered that this wasn’t his army. This was a so called team of members of different armys with different traditions. In a very complicated situation. As the Captain had said before: High stress situations. So he kept his mouth shut

Then Con walked over to Atticus. This time Alexander was close enough to understand nearly every word. And he agreed.

“Sorry for interrupting you but I thing you’re right. We need something like a XO. Vandy can’t listen to every little idea and he lacks experience in leadership. Which,” he added,” might just be the cause why he is our leader.”

"I never said any of that, all I'm commanding is that we keep moving because we've been sitting here for far too long." Vandy began commanding more ferociously.

"Vandy," Con replied. "Calm down. I am telling you what I have observed so far and how I think we, as a team, can work far better together. I'm saying that as Team Leader, you need to get everyone working as a team. Tell them to pipe up if they have a better idea, because obviously they are not. Perhaps they haven't... it is likely they haven't because they haven't been ordered to do so. Some people won't speak up to a commanding officer. Remember... these are different nations with different traditions. Some are going to have to be told 'Hey! If you know more about this, what do you think we should do?' or direct the members to inform other members when they are doing something that could get us caught or leave a trail. This is all I'm going for. So far everyone is keeping to themselves and becoming frustrated. You as team leader, have the responsibility of integrating all of us together into one entity, moving in unison, with the methods I spoke of before."

Con slapped him on the back. "I have confidence in you Vandy. I am already doing what I think the others should do; telling you my observations, and from my experience, what is likely to work best. We need unity, and you are the one who has to create it. I'm sure you can." He gave Vandy a salute and his shit-eating grin.

Sasha followed, but was viewing the verbal dissension with annoyance. They were being silly and that was likely to get them pounded. She much prefered to solo ops, something she was quite good at, than working with those who had the general temperment of REMFs.

OOC You fools HAVE been sitting rather in the open without moving for a very long time. It was this reason entirely why Gorby made an attempt as reargaurd. And keep in mind Gorb gave vandy a very detailed list of recommended options before he left.

Somewhere (or is this elsewhere?)
Gorbechev was waiting in his pit for the fire he started to cook of the ammo he laid, the pit would provide protection from the bullets, but would soon become a deathtrap to him as the forest fire grew.

Poppopop...
poppopop...
poppopop...

Finally, he heard the ammo going off, three sparadic 3 round bursts, he waited a gew seconds for the bullets to return to the ground, then took a look around:
.
One BIG fire

The flame front was getting closer to his hole every moment, and so he crawled out, and slunk away to a safer ambush point.

Such a fire has to get someones attention/curiosity, and chances are that will be when I can spring the trap.

Con noticed Sasha's obvious disgust with the whole operation thus far. It showed on her face.

Con dropped back to where she was. "Sasha, I can't help but notice you are disgusted, and have been since this mission began, for the most part." He said this in a non-threatening and non-accusatory manner.

"I would appreciate very much if you would share with me what is bothering you, other than the conversation we were just having. This is a team effort, whether we want it that way or not. Thus, we have to become one entity. If we keep to ourselves, we'll all be fucked." Con said looking at her.

"I sense you are used to solo missions. Well, this is not a solo mission, so you must adapt, and for God's sake, if you see mistakes or have ideas, say something! Your input is important, and from the looks I've seen on your face, I believe you have plenty of input. Would you tell me what you know, that, according to your demeanor, no one else does, or what is being done wrong in your eyes. My guess is that some of what you have seen were poor actions, however, you need to tell the person, or Vandy. You aren't on your own here, even if you want to be, as many of us do."

Con didn't, couldn't tell her what he did. That he was special ops, worked with a small team at times, but usually needed to be separated from his group as a solo sniper in high profile hits... the type from which many a man never returned. Moreover, he was highly decorated... which was ironic, as no one could know as his missions were highly classified. ooc: if they do that for classified missions. Pretend they do.

He did understand in these situations that a snide 'I'm better than you and this sucks' attitude would be disastrous for everyone eventually.

They needed to be ONE ENTITY.

OOC You fools HAVE been sitting rather in the open without moving for a very long time. It was this reason entirely why Gorby made an attempt as reargaurd. And keep in mind Gorb gave vandy a very detailed list of recommended options before he left. <snip>

ooc: HT, why did you ooc that rather than use that as a char. thought? It seems a bit rude. We fools? Because our char does something required of them by another doesn't make us, as players, fools. It's an RP and we're following protocol.

"I'm not disgusted, annoyed, but not disgusted." She replied as Con took a pause in his speech. "What's annoying me is the fact that there is no direction, leadership or cohesion. I've seen politicians from from radically different parties get on better than this."

"This whole situation has been one big cf and doesn't appear to be getting any better." Sasha added

ooc: ...

Romeo 1 clicked off the NVG's as a bright blaze streaked through his visor. There was a fire of some sort. Nothing terribly large, and not likely to grow as the ground and forestation were continually damp this time of year. But a distinctive popping gave away the source.

Goddamn cowboys.. and they wonder why we don't want them armed?

Furious, he signalled for one of his men to radio base and have them dispatch a helo team to deal with it. Engaging the NVG's once more, he scanned the river, catching sight of the wrecked body of a C-130.

"Exactly Sasha," replied Con. "This is what we're trying to fix. Indeed it is currently a mess. However this mess needs to be cleaned up if we're going to complete this mission successfully. This includes experts in certain areas giving their input, soldiers noticing and pointing out mistakes, and Vandy in charge of one unified team working together."

Con was getting weary of explaining this. "I hope this change happens quickly. Morale does not seem too good right now." Con frowned.

"Then he'd better get to it." She replied, "And your morale is based on a body part." In this she was refering to the generic masculine your.

Con laughed and grinned. "I wish it was that easy!" He walked along side her for just a bit. "We are trying to explain to Vandy that he must take control, take advice, and lead us as one cohesive unit. Those disgusted by decisions or things they see around them are far less likely to be so, should they be able to chime in and correct mistakes they see, and offer better suggestions. I think you would agree. The parts must become a whole, even if we would rather not have it that way. I have had such missions and because it was a true mission, lives on the line, those who had any complaints about working together dropped them completely and we all moved as one, while contributing our best knowledge. It is amazing the accomplishments we would see if the soldiers believe their lives were truly on the line. No one is as complacent as we have seen today... me included."

Con continued, "One more thing... if you see me fuck up or have a better method for something that I have been assigned to, I would appreciate your input very greatly. We also have a great opportunity to learn from other here... other cultures and fighting styles." He gave her the shit-eating grin.

"Would you do that for me Sasha?" Con asked.

Sasha listened to Con talk about the concept of gestalt and nodded slightly. "Alright, though if that smile remains on your face much longer, you'll be finding Mr. Face meeting Mr. Ground in short order." She disliked it when men got that grin as it meant, in her experience, that they wished for something that would get them a trip to an intensive care ward, nine times out of ten.

"Uhh... Sorry to disappoint you Sasha." He was now laughing like crazy. "I've always been told I have a shit-eating grin. It isn't like I can control it." Con was a bit surprised at her interpretation. This didn't happen often, actually.

"First of all, my morale has nothing to do with what's below my waist. I don't know what type of soldiers you work with, but they sound a little… twisted, unless it’s just your impression that is twisted.” He stated, amused.

"Sasha, I have a wife and child at home whom I am completely devoted to. I have no thoughts about you in that sort of way and never have. You are a soldier; I am a soldier." He was shaking his head, highly amused and still grinning like crazy. "If you are observant, you might have noticed my stupid grin is like this with all the guys as well... and by the way, I'm not some guy who drives down both sides of the street." He was still amused.

Con stopped grinning for a moment. "Listen Sasha, I'm sorry; I'm not trying to say you aren't attractive or anything like that. Truth is... I don't look. I don't want to look. I love my wife and son with all my heart... and I am a professional. I think you'll find most the men here don't give it a second thought, and if they do, they aren't professional soldiers. I am very observant, and I see you as a soldier, however you are a very observant soldier, and I have seen the looks on your face when you disapprove of something that is happening. My guess is you have a better way. The problem is, you never pipe up and say anything, when you could be helping the team as well as teaching others something new."

The shit-eating grin started crawling across his face again. "If you're looking for a lecherous idiot to beat the shit out of, you'll have to look elsewhere. We are soldiers. We are equals on this team. That's it." Con smiled a more reassuring smile and wondered if other men often harassed her.

Con's face became stern. "It isn't right for a soldier of any gender to be treated differently than any other soldier. However, don't assume that every man that grins or smiles or speaks with you; chit-chat stuff is out to get in your pants." Con's grin returned. "By the way, I am quite sure it would be you in the dirt and the ER." He laughed while thinking what the others would think of him if they knew what he really did, and his experiences. It was worse than Nam in some cases. However, he was strong as a bull and never lost in any hand-to-hand combat. Con knew just about every style of self-defense and martial arts. He was one of those guys that could be punched full force by other solders in the neck and not flinch. He was proud of his achievements, however, he was not arrogant in any way. He had much team experience and much solo experience and was very interested in learning new things that the soldiers from other nations might have to offer. Con, despite his life, was truly a humble man.

Unfortunate if she has to put up with that. She seems like a very competent soldier, and male or female, no one deserves to be distracted or degraded in such a way, Con thought and frowned.

Con spoke up a little louder. "Uhhh... HELLO PEOPLE! I don't think those shells and smoke are my personal hallucination." He stated to get everyone's attention focused on the explosions. He thought of Gorby.

The flame front of Gorbechev's bonfire, though slower than he anticipated (due to moisture), was still growing and picking up speed. As the fire became bigger, it dried the wood faster, and in turn, the wood caught fire and the fire grew bigger still.

The flames had spread at a speed now equal to a steady march, and to egg the fire along, he stuck his club into a flame, and used it as a torch to light a few backfires, in case the wilfire exploded, he would merely run into one of these safe havens. While doing this, he sharpened his club into a fire hardened spear with the aid of the rocks he had picked up shortly after landing.

Romeo 1 was pissed, plain and simple. Rising to a crouch, he ordered two men to head down the ridge. They were still to watch the fire from a distance, but they were also to determine if any trainees might be in that vicinity. The only real reason he had them move, was for a better line of sight. They were not to leave the ridge itself. No sense giving away their position this early.

Steadying a flare gun, he fired two shots in quick succession. They both flew invisibly, exploding in a torrent of white blazing light, one directly over the group in the river, the other on the river side of the flames. In the distance, he could hear the low thrum of helos carrying water to the blaze.

Sasha was about to reply to Con when she saw the flares burst. In an almost automatic reaction, she slid so her back was to a tree. "Con, get them moving. Now." She snapped in a tone that would do a drill sargent proud.

At present in her evaluation, Gorbechev's ass was swinging in the wind right now and if he didn't show up, he was SOOL.

Without conciously deciding to do so Alexander suddenly found himself diving into the river and out of sight. The surface of the water was enlighted by what had to be a signal flare (or Gorb had found a way to build a nuclear bomb out of nothing. Whatever it was, their position was given away, that was for sure) The current drove Alexander away from the team until he swam closer to the shore and emerged behind a fallen tree in the water.
A short look around - nothing; no enemies, only his teammates.

Instincively Vandy dove into the brush; be it a thorn bush again. He crashed into the bristles with an utterence of cursing and grunts.

I'm getting too old for this shit He thought absorbing the stining pain all over his body.

Con also dove underwater and swam quite a distance, but before doing so, urged his teammates to get away from their position, as they had been spotted.

He felt a little badly, as if he was usurping Vandy's authority, but the truth was, Vandy didn't seem to be in control of the group... not that Con wanted that position, but someone had to try to keep some sort of cohesiveness.

When he crossed the river and was next to Vandy, Con asked; "Where would you like us to go from here? We are still far too close to where the enemy found us," he stated while pulling thorns out of his hands.

'Mr. G' saw a flre, and decided, that "if" he were to be captured, moght as well get rid of rank, name and insignia patches. And so he ripped them off and threw them into the blaze, he then pulled out the clip, and its 15 rounds, and was ready to throw the whole thing into the fire to serve as a distraction. the first lump where just bait for the enemy and a prod for those he left.

He then heard the low thumping of a few choppers.

Helicopter descent troops, there sending in the big boys now.

He kept as close to the flame front as he dared, but with each time he had to move, he would set up a further distance from the flames than he did the last time, and was needing to move faster and more frequently, soon he would have to run.

Downstream, Captain Leahy awoke to the distant cries of a wolfpack. However they were quickly silenced by a much closer noise. Maybe they were only drowned out, she couldn't be sure. There was a distant popping, like automatic fire, yet it was sporadic and seemed to lack direction. Before long, a signal flare illuminated a portion of the river upsteam, another flare highlighting smoke coming off the trees. Next came the low thrum of heavy-bodied carrier helos. Slowly gathering her wits, the first order of business was to extricate herself from the pile of twisted metal pinning her lower half.

----

The helos made a close pass of the ridge, dumping massive buckets of water on the flames. In the summer months, thier unit served to combat the occassional wildfire and forest fires in the fall. The blaze was reduced to a smoldering, soaken pile of charred foliage. They made another pass, attempting to determine if a second wave would be needed.

----

The Romeo members at the end of the ridge ducked low as the helo searchlights swept the area. No mere force of nature would compromise the mission. Up the ridge, Romeo 1 signalled, sending four of his men running silently down the opposite side of the ridge to flank the unit at the river under cover of darkness and foliage. All had M-4's loaded and at the ready position, but none would move in until their team leader gave the signal.

Con reiterated; "Vandy, do you wish us to stay here hidden. You have to give the team some order or everyone will be running in different directions."

Con was tired of seemingly having no leader. Vandy had given approximately two orders since the mission began.

Sasha had followed the others, though remaining out of the water. She wasn't planning on getting a cold like the others, but as they were in the water it was best they remain there.

Padding down to the bank she called softly, "I'd suggest you get under some overhang, and stay close together."

Vandy climbed his way out of that damned bush looking at Con.

"We'll proceed slowly as far away from the crash site as possible." He ordered quietly.

Maybe that's what they'll expect us to do, but they surely won't leave the crash uninspected. Best to just take the safest way out.

"Will do Vandy." Con replied to Vandy's order. Sound plan, I guess.

"G"
Was soaked to his ankles, much to his surprise, and the fire was out.

Firefighters... sure, take all the fun out of it, At least I roughly know how close they where, within audiable range to hear the ammo cook off, and they are in two groups (two flares launched seprately, not at same time, and not one after the other)

Slightly soaked, he sulked off to the river, using momentum to 'bounce' from tree trunk to tree trunk (as a kid would), alternately, he would crawl under thickets that otherwise would require a chainsaw, machette and a flashlight to track him through, or creep through dense brush.

His path was never directly to the river. And it would be difficult to tell what part of the river he was heading for.

As long as they don't drag out a K-9 tracker unit I'll be fine.

Con looked up to where he heard the ammo going off and had seen the fire, and there was nothing left but smoke.

Someone put out that fire... and it was a big fire. he thought.

"Vandy, I think it is safe to say that the enemy, or some of them put that fire out. It was too large for Gorby to put out himself that quickly... or at all, for that matter. I think they're all over the place Vandy." Con looked around him.

"Where is everyone else, and exactly how are we to proceed from here?" he asked Vandy.

I hope Gorby's doing OK. Con mused, knowing he must have lit the little ammo/fire "trap" and that it was quickly discovered. We have to be even more discreet than we are now. Much more discreet.

Romeo 1 spotted the unit attempting to scramble for cover in the river before his men were in position. With the fire out, he signalled for the two at the end of the ridge to regroup at his position. He would wait and watch to determine their direction of travel before making his decision.

Romeo 3 led his men upstream from the trainees. He had seen a few of them crash into the river as the flares went off and was determined to make a go of it. Once he was certain they were far enough up the river to be out of contact range, but still close enough to be heard, he signalled his men to cross in the dark. They made just enough noise to make it seem as if they were trying to be sneaky. Just enough to let the trainees know they were there if they were paying attention, but not enough to give away an exact location or count.