NationStates Jolt Archive

Aldaris went to the main HQ and turned in his weapon, his only weapon, as well as what of his armor was not grafted to his body, he figured he'd have some trouble taking off things that were attatched to his skin, so he didn't even try.

~snip~OOC: You cannot control someone else's char.

Cougar noticed this, and furrowed his brow. He knew exactly why Iliyakim was doing that... and he also knew what he was thinking. BEcause right now, he was thinking the same thing. The newcomers story, whilst diffferent, bore some resembelence to his own. But in his case, he had no choice. But his was nothing compared to his friends. Cougar didn't make a move, but merely nodded slightly, enough so that Iliyakim would make it out.
The Drow nodded back at Cougar...ever so slightly (So much so that it was good that Cougar was accustomed to the subtlety of Drow guestures) as the pain faded.

He then addressed the boy.

"Dalhar, while I've no doubt that you are a warrior, you are also at a volatile point in your existence. Any actions that may result in the harm of yourself or others will be stopped. And the guns do not shoot real bullets."

"Yeah. ok. I wasn't going to shoot anybody. I just wanted to know..."

"I wasn't speaking of that. I was speaking of the foolish things I did when I was at your stage of adolescence. They are not affordable here."

After turning in his equiment Aldaris went looking for whoever it was that was going to put him through his paces.

"Ah. ok. Yeah, I know not to do anything too stupid."

"Thank you, sir!", replyed MSG Deokumar. "We understand the rules! Would you mind escorting us to our camp?"

Deokumar spoke in Hindi to Bhakta what the place looks like and other things of interest. As another person approached, the Colonel went to the person.
They both walked out of the Colonel's way to go to their tent.

As they were walking. A few of their classmates came out to look at them.

"Hello, comrades!", said SSG Bhakta.

As they walked over to Tylas' tent. Tylas' gave a staring look at Deokumar and Bhakta. Bhakta spoke Hindi to Deokumar about Tylas' and both had a small laugh. They went on their way and saluted to Tylas.


Tylas smirked after they had gone. These two sounded like a couple of privates, with their enthusiastic way and their obsession about saluting.They had obviously been saying something about him that they found funny, but he really couldnt care less. If they wanted to giggle like schoolgirls, so be it. He walked back over to the fire and decided to talk to the young, but experienced looking boy. "So where are you from,kid?"

"I'm from YarenZero. Have you ever been there?"

"cant say I have" replied Tylas. "But who knows, maybe one day I will." There was something distinctly alike between the kid and himself when he had been that age.

"You should. It is a beautiful country." Jason said. "Where are you from?"

Aldaris went to the main HQ and turned in his weapon, his only weapon, as well as what of his armor was not grafted to his body, he figured he'd have some trouble taking off things that were attatched to his skin, so he didn't even try.

It was viewed once more with a queer eye, but the people on duty had become accustomed to odd things... came with the job. They let him through, allowing the armour simply because he could not remove it.

It was viewed once more with a queer eye, but the people on duty had become accustomed to odd things... came with the job. They let him through, allowing the armour simply because he could not remove it.

Since he was done handing over everything he could, he thought he'd ask where to go next. "Excuse me sir, as you no doubt have figured out, I'm new here, what is my next destination now that I have turned in my equipment?"

Since he was done handing over everything he could, he thought he'd ask where to go next. "Excuse me sir, as you no doubt have figured out, I'm new here, what is my next destination now that I have turned in my equipment?"

"Same as everyone else, just follow me"

The officer (for all SESOU operatives were officers), led him to Cougar, and then departed.

"Same as everyone else, just follow me"

The officer (for all SESOU operatives were officers), led him to Cougar, and then departed.

"Thank you sir."

He then addressed Cougar, "Colonel sir, I've handed in my equipment, and I am ready for whatever you can throw at me, I hope."

As both of the Sergeants walked on. Tylas walked toward them and asked a question to one of them.

"My name is Master Sergeant Deokumar and this is my comrade, Staff Sergeant Bhakta." replyed MSG Deokumar, "You would not want to call us kids, unless you were an officer, but if you must ask, we represent the Roman Military and we are basically Drill Instructors."

"May we ask you the same question?" asked SSG Bhakta.
OOC: He was talking to YarenZero. Who are you, that you keep trying to control TCO's character?

OOC: He was talking to YarenZero. Who are you, that you keep trying to control TCO's character?

OCC: my bad. Plus I'm not trying to control someone's character.

"Thank you sir."

He then addressed Cougar, "Colonel sir, I've handed in my equipment, and I am ready for whatever you can throw at me, I hope."

"Settle in for the night is the best I can tell you at the moment"

"Settle in for the night is the best I can tell you at the moment"

"Yes Sir." He saluted and turned to leave.

George sighed,"What is with these kids and saluting?"

Wolf -- "It's drilled into them"

Watt -- "Yeah? It's gonna be drilled out of them if they survive this course"

K -- "Saluting an officer in the field is the biggest mistake you can make... just makes him more of a target."

C -- "We'll just have to see how they develop... hopefully, they will fare well"

K -- "Always the optimist, hey James?"

C -- "Not always, Matt... not always"

Aldaris headed or his lean too, as the colonel had suggested, he wasn't sure what Sergei had done wrong, but he decided he would try to do everything right.

OCC: Snake Eaters, what are we doing now?

OOC: Talking amongst yourselves. Find out about each other, what you think the course will be/is like... it's important to build a team ethos

Fen watched the new peoples arriving, "So who are you guys?" He asked

"so, what have you guys done in the course already?" Jason asked "What was it like?"

"Training, practice, that sort of stuff." Fen replied

"so, what have you guys done in the course already?" Jason asked "What was it like?"

Tylas replied to this (directing it at all the new cadets)
"well, it isnt a walk in the park, but its mainly a bunch of mental stuff more than actual physical.....OK i take that back, it was a bunch of physical stuff but you had to be strong mentally to get through them. There was the fitness testing, the Long Haul, mental torture resistance testing, and camo testing. You just have to try and stay, at best, somewhat optimistic, and just keep going."

A voice from outside the circle inquires, "And what of Sergei? I know he left, but how did he fare here?"

Aldaris stepped into the circle and reveals himself, at just under 7 feet tall, he was of average height for a protoss, his flashing silver-white eyes took in everything at a glance, while his bluish-gey pebbly skin seemed to absorb light like a vaccuum.

A slight sound of derision came from Iliyakim, who was still seated, but nothing else.

A slight sound of derision came from Iliyakim, who was still seated, but nothing else.

Aldaris turned towards him, "Yes, please, speak your mind, we are all friends here, are we not?" He took a seat on the ground as close to opposite Iliyakim as he could get, he wanted to hear what the Drow had to say.

"It is a Kaymirilian custom to speak no ill of the departed. Seek your information from someone else."

"It is a Kaymirilian custom to speak no ill of the departed. Seek your information from someone else."

"I understand, we have a similar custom, I had not realised he had caused so much ill-will though. Never mind, let us speak no more of it then." And that, to him, was the end of it.

Wishing to change the subject, Jason said "I hope we do the HALO and HAHO jumps soon. I hear they're really fun. Almost like flying with the HAHO jump, though it takes a while..."

"They are." Fen commented, "Though there's no rush like a static jump in my opinion."

While the Roman Drill Instructors were in their tent just hanging. Deokumar suggested that both of them should hang with the other soldiers. They both put on their pixel camouflage jackets and hats. The strapped on their Kukris, not to impress the other soldiers but it was part of their Gorkha code not to leave home with out it. After that they both left their tent to find the other soldiers.

ooc: The roman soldiers are from Italy, right? Or am I mistaken?

ooc: The roman soldiers are from Italy, right? Or am I mistaken?

OCC: Yes, they are from Italy.

While the Roman Drill Instructors were in their tent just hanging. Deokumar suggested that both of them should hang with the other soldiers. They both put on their pixel camouflage jackets and hats. The strapped on their Kukris, not to impress the other soldiers but it was part of their Gorkha code not to leave home with out it. After that they both left their tent to find the other soldiers.
Too long to make an effective knife, too short to make an effective sword...too short to be a machete...what the hell are those knives for?

The blades too caught Jason's eye. He took in the same things and also wondered what the blades might be for.

The blades too caught Jason's eye. He took in the same things and also wondered what the blades might be for.

Aldaris, posessing a bit les tact around humans than most of his race, decided to inquire directly as to the nature of the blades, "I note that you, out of us all, are the only two tha bear weapons other than those provided, may I ask why?" He was as polite as possible, but he would probably end up offending someone anyway, he could not understand why humans were so touchy, but it seemed to be built into them from birth.

When they arrived to meet the other soldiers and just hang with them and ask questions of their culture. But instead they were asked questions about their kukris.

"Well our kukris is considered a sacred blade in our culture. Rather than a tool of war, we use it as a field knife from cutting wood and grass to sacrifaces to our hindu gods." answered Deokumar, "We cannot go any where with out this because you don't know when you might get into trouble. Our knife's purpose in war is to create fear when we charge, shouting the quote 'Ayo Gurkhas' which means 'Here comes the Gorkhas'!"

"But the Colonel Cougar gave us strict rules that we can carry this knife but not to use it in anger." said Bhakta.

Both Deokumar and Bhakta pulled out their kukris to show the soldiers what it looks like and asked if they can demonstrate how it is used.

"So you are both Hindu?" Fen asked

"Yes sir, we both are hindu." Bhakta answered to Fen's question.

"Hinduism is the one with the sacred cow, correct?" He asked

"Yes, that's what our name means, Gorkha or Gurkha means 'cow protector'.", answered Bhakta.

"Then there are a number of the ration packs, you probably shouldn't eat." Fen commented

"Hmm...That's going to be tough for us to eat something that we consider sacred. We'll just ask Colonel Cougar if he could get us vegetables so we can cook our own food." said Bhakta.

"Or we could trade." Fen commented

"What do you mean??" asked Bhakta.

"There are a number of ration packs that have no beef in them, and that I don't like. For example, pork and beans, or mac and cheese." Fen commented

"Sure. I don't mind. I'll trade my meat rations for your vegetable rations." said Bhakta.

"Alright." Fen said as he got the beefless meals out, "And your friend should see if he can get someone to trade as well." Fen commented

"Good." said Bhakta.

Then Bhakta called over Deokumar and explained to him in hindi that Fen would like to trade our meat rations for his vegetable rations.

"Sounds good!" said Deokumar to Fen, "But I left my meat rations in our tent. Would you like me to get them, now!"

"Sure, but I might run out of beefless meals before you two run out of meals with beef." Fen warned

"Okay, if you run out we can always ask the Colonel Cougar for more rations." replyed Deokumar.

Ask Bhakta stood with Fen, Deokumar excused himself and headed to the tent to grab his rations.

"Alright, any other social, religious or cultural areas that might cause problems?" Fen asked

"Not sure, we'll see what happens. Since all hindus are all open, we don't mind how people act, but we have problems for people who insult us for our appearance or how we act." explained Bhakta.

"I have the suspicion that cougar won't give them more rations. It wouldn't happen in the field. they'd have to forrage, hunt, fish, eat the beef, or starve." Jason said.

"Maybe not, but it does give us a chance to build on our team-skills." Fen replied

Bhakta listened to Fen and Jason and their conversation. He join in.

"I would have to agree to you. Since this is a Special Forces camp. We will have to gather food, like Special Forces."

"That we will when we run out of MREs." Fen commented

"Hmm. do you guys know what is safe to eat that grows on this place? I could gather food easily on earth, but this is a different planet. I haven't seen much game here, so hunting is out of the option." Jason said.

"No ideas on food." Fen replied

"We may have to also have to create our own weapons, like bows and arrows." said Bhakta.

"Bows, and arrows?" Fen seemed to almost light up, like a kid at christmas.

"Yes, bows and arrows." replied Bhakta.

"I wonder if we'll actually get to use them." Fen wondered

Tylas walked up to the other Roman soldier, Deokumar, and offered him the same trade that Fen had offered as well. 'Why not' he thought. 'Its win win for both of us.'

"Inthuul can always test a plant to see if it is poisonous or edible. I also recognised some few plants that can be turned to medicinal purposes...that is, if they are similar in chemical makeup to the plants they resemble."

"Inthuul can always test a plant to see if it is poisonous or edible. I also recognised some few plants that can be turned to medicinal purposes...that is, if they are similar in chemical makeup to the plants they resemble."

"Good. That will be a great help. I should take some of the medicinal ones home incase we can use them on earth."

Trafa shrugged.

"I can eat pretty much anything. Even rocks if I have to. I can also eat poisionous foods and warn you, without having too much of a bad stomach."

"Then I nominate you as the test subject, alright?" Fen said

Trafa smirked, and drank some water out of his canteen.

Akldaris had observed all of this in silence, now he spoke, "I believe that will be unnecessary, the plants should be mostly edible, if not truly containing the nutrients we need, and, as for meat, I believe I can handle bringing in some game, as long as others are ready to kill it."

Trafa raised his eyebrow.

"How can you be so sure?"

Trafa raised his eyebrow.

"How can you be so sure?"

"Deductive reasoning, I have noticed terran lifeforms eating this food, many forms of insect I have seen are not native to this polanet, but are safely eating the plants, and even animals, of this world, therefore all of these plants should be reasonably safe to eat."

"Still be safer to let Trafa test it out." Fen commented

Jason nodded "Good thinking, Aldaris. this leaves us with a task of building some means of killing the animal if we are going to eat it. I can build a good spear. Bows and arrows would be harder since the arrows need to be almost perfectly straight or they won't be accurate."

Trafa raised an eyebrow.

"I could make some weapons if you'd like. I know quite a few weapons which are much better than spears and bows, and they can all be made naturally."

"Examples?" Fen asked, "And few 'primitive' weapons can outstrip a bow in the hands of a good archer."

"I can build a Knife, Spear & Launcher, sling shot, axe, net, and three different traps. that's the extent of my knowledge." Jason said.

Trafa girnned.

"I can make twenty different weapons from wood, grass, and rock."

"Maybe so, but a good bow, in the hands of a good archer, is one of the deadliest 'primitive' weapon out there." Fen replied, "So how about you make a few of your weapons then?"

"I can make absolutely no "primitve weapons", but I maybe able to make your success at hunting better, I may be able to call in small game, and, if you wish to risk it, I can call some bigger game as well."

"So you're an ani-path?" Fen asked

"So you're an ani-path?" Fen asked

"Fully functional Empath, I can call almost anything, including you, if I exert myself. I can also act, in a limited capacity, as a firestarter and fetcher, but my strongest gift is Empathy, and my Mindspeech is limited to the People."

"Confident arn't you?" Fen asked with a grin.

"Confident arn't you?" Fen asked with a grin.

"I try, and I am a very powerful Empath, you may resist, but you'll have to really fight it. Luckily, animals are not nearly so challenging as sentients..." Aldaris grinned in reply.

"It'll likely get you shot you know, that over-confidence." Fen commented

"It'll likely get you shot you know, that over-confidence." Fen commented

"Probably, but I take alot more killing than humans do, I grant that I am not very experienced, but I'm still tough. You are a very skiled human, but there are very few Humans that can match one of the People. While I may not be a very good marksman, or fighter in general, in the end I know what my mind is capable of."

"We'll see how it goes down." Fen replied

"We'll see how it goes down." Fen replied

"Indeed we will."

"So do you have any dietery, religious, social, or cultural 'hang-ups?" Fen asked

"So do you have any dietery, religious, social, or cultural 'hang-ups?" Fen asked

"I have moral constrints on the use of my powers, and I will not use them to do much more than help you hunt, I will not kill the animals, you have to do the killing yourself."

"Will you kill if it's required?" Fen asked

"Will you kill if it's required?" Fen asked

"Not if it is avoidable, it is against our nature to kill, Humans are the only race I know, at least the only natural race, that has the ability to kill without an act of will."

"What about Iliyakim, he's certainly not human." Fen commented

"What about Iliyakim, he's certainly not human." Fen commented

"I had not considered that, but you may be correct..."

"So any other info that might be important?" Fen asked

"So any other info that might be important?" Fen asked

"I can teleport things if necessary, would that be qualified in your mind as "useful"?"

"Your arguments are petty and fairly useless. Fen, your skill with a bow makes you next to useless when it comes to guns, as I have seen. You need to work on adaptability. Trafa, your genome will not always save you, and Aldaris, just because you take more "killing" than would an average human, does not mean that you cannot be killed by them. At the moment, we have food. Tracks in the forested areas suggest the presence of potential game animals, and only parts of plants are poisonous, if not all are edible. If we are to all pass this examination, we need to stop treating it as such and start treating it as a matter of life and death. Killing of game is to be done far from camp, as the smell of blood may lure carrion birds, which are a dead givaway to enemy forces. Also, your arrogant pride in those areas you consider to be your specialty is to cease now, from all of you. We all work, and we all work together, or we all fail together, as individuals. Is this understood?"

"I can teleport things if necessary, would that be qualified in your mind as "useful"?"
"Cougar told me that teleportation is forbidden when I first came. I would suppose it goes the same for you as well. I suggest that any type of magick and the use thereof be limited. After all...there are materials which cause those abilities to cease to function."

OOC: Don't miss this (http://forums2.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=9580979&postcount=1350) post.

"Yes that's important." Fen commented

"Cougar told me that teleportation is forbidden when I first came. I would suppose it goes the same for you as well. I suggest that any type of magick and the use thereof be limited. After all...there are materials which cause those abilities to cease to function."

OOC: Don't miss this (http://forums2.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=9580979&postcount=1350) post.

OOC: I remember, but I felt it was worthy of mention, and it can be used as a weapon as well, for example, by teleporting the air out of a subjects lungs, or teleportng something into their heart.

IC:

"The only material that usually disables a psion is a blunt object applied to the skull, that's something I want to avoid at all costs..."

"Teleportation is grounds for instant failure."

"Teleportation is grounds for instant failure."

"I was not aware, he never told me that. I think I'll not be teleporting antything then..."

Trafa sipped some more water from his canteen, but said nothing.

I thought I made myself clear earlier, arrogant Dro-...

Trafa stopped that train of thought. They were allies, so he had to think positive about them.

"Actually, Iliyakim, is there anything else that is grounds for instant failure, something less than obvious I mean, not self evident things like attacking your team mates?" He wondered why Cougar had not told him thaqt when they met, Cougaqr knew his race were psionically gifted, he should have been warned...

"I don't know. He said nothing when I used the Orbb Killian against Sergei, so I must assume that some magicks are accepted. However, I believe it must be kept to a minimum, so that the officers see the best of what we can do on our own."

Trafa stood up, and finished his canteen.

"I'm going to scout out the surrounding area, and try out some of the flora. If I'm not back in an hour, assume the worst."

Checking over his rifle and his pistol, he nodded, satisfied. Shouldering the rifle again, Trafa ensured the pistol was loaded, and then, holding it tight in his hands, he walked off into the darkness.

"Trafa, take Zarbus with you. No one goes anywhere alone."

Trafa stopped, and shook his head.

"He doesn't do recon, he's stealth mainly. And I've been trained to do this especially."

He turned around, and faced the group.

Who the hell put him in charge?

"Although if you really want, I'll take someone else."

Trafa stopped, and shook his head.

"He doesn't do recon, he's stealth mainly. And I've been trained to do this especially."

He turned around, and faced the group.

Who the hell put him in charge?

"Although if you really want, I'll take someone else."
"Aldaris, are you up for this?"

The instructors had bedded down for the night, as it was growing dark. Two of them were on stag (sentry duty). They knew their routine well. The recruits hadn't even noticed them, they'd done it so quietly and efficiently. They were what the cadets should be aspiring to do, instead of arguing amongst themselves. Major Konig smiled in his hide, listening to the arguements and Iliyakim taking charge... they had expected this to happen. Now, the training could really begin. Until they had accepted a leader, the training was pointless. Although trained to have a great degree of individuality on the battlefield, all SESOU agents knew one thing. The only things that were going to save them was either their training or the man next to them. This group had to learn that... or there was no point in the training at all.

Iliyakim doused the fire swiftly, as night drew on. Inthull had predicted rain, so he put the wood in his little lean-to, unpegging it and making it a tarp over all his supplies.

He, himself, would face the elements that night...no reason not to.

"Aldaris, Trafa, wake myself and Jason in two hours time that we may stand guard."

He then sat, with his back against a tree, meditating.

"We will all serve sentry duty at some point tonight."

As Illi put the fire out, Fen headed to the 'tent', after moving the tent to the leeward side of a hil, about mid-way up, he used the tarp as a 'blanket' wrapping it around him and his gear and fell asleep.

"Fen, get back inside the established perimeter. There is an 82 percent chance of an attack tonight, and unless you want to 'die' on your own out there, you'll get back here now."

"And where is this the perimeter?" He asked

Jason Went to his small lean-to and fiddled with his watch a little. He set the knock out for two hours, and pumped up his hearing. If anything sounded funny, his implants would wake him up. He laid down to sleep.

"And where is this the perimeter?" He asked
"Get back where you were."

Trafa strode off into the darkness.

Right, I'll do a sweep 700m outward from the camp. I need to make note of any particular landmarks, and try and find out what the flora and fauna out here is like...

Double checking that his pistol was loaded and ready to be used, Trafa mentally counted his footfalls. However, his instincts kept firing up.

Someone is watching me...

Stepping over a stream, Trafa pulled up a blade of grass. He nibbed at it, and then tested it's flexibility and how brittle it was.

Definately not poisonous, although not digestable for normal humans. Quite flexible and well hydrated, not very brittle either.

Dropping the blade of grass, Trafa trudged on for a few more meters, and then stopped.

I've reached the 700m limit, time for me to go round...

Using the stream as a marker, Trafa began to walk around the the area he'd assigned himself. Eventually, he had to step over the lake again. Keeping his wits about him, he went on, pistol held loosely in front of him.

He noticed that the amount of life around here wasn't too great.

Hmm, this area is used by sentients...

Trafa sampled a leaf on a tree, and also found a hive full of buzzing insects.

Nothing too bad about the leaf, and I smell sugary stuff from the hive...

Moving on, he eventually made a complete sweep of the area he'd set himself with a few minutes to spare. Trudging back, he paid careful attention to his surroundings.

Something is watching me...

Sighting the camp, Trafa jogged to it. Entering the perimeter, he spotted Iliyakim sitting by a tree. He walked up to him, and leant down.

"It's your shift. Gather up the others in the morning, I need to make a presentation." He whispered.

Iliyakim stood, and went over to nudge Jason.

"We stay within view of the camp."

And, preferably, where we can see Cougar and his camp, but that would look more than a little suspicious, wouldn't it?

Satisfied, Trafa went over to where the fire had been. Gathering up ash, stone, and small bits of twig, he began to build a map of the area he'd surveyed.

Jason removed his trenchcoat. he was wearing a black shirt and black pants. He tapped buttons on his watch and lowered his body temperature to blend in with his surroundings and finaly, enhanced his vision to see in the dark.

Iliyakim went off on his way, searching, waiting, listening, watching.

Inthuul served well enough as a heat dissipator in this time of night, so Iliyakim walked softly, walked unpredictably, and kept low...and in very clear sight of the camp.

The moment anything happened, he would activate Inthuul's Thalack abilities.

Fen had moved back closer to where he had been and promptly feel asleep.

About 0245, there was a rumble of thunder, the harsh light of sheet lightning, and the steady downpour. It was steady, and it was harsh. The tarps they had been given offered next to no protection, as the sheer weight pentrated, the rain was that heavy.

As the rain poured down, Fen shifted so he was covering the gear, especially the non-water proof/resistant gear with his body. He continued to sleep even throught the rain.

Iliyakim's shift had ended, as had another team's. Currently, it was Fen and the other Brutus on sentry duty.

He noticed the rain that he sat in, to a degree. He also ignored it.

It continued for what seemed like an age. The instructors didn't notice, sleeping as best they could. To keep their cadets in the mindset, they had adopted the same idea, and thus were suffereing the same problems. But, when the morning came, they would be bone dry, as would their kit. And then, they could teach.

Trafa didn't mind the rain. His body seemed to morph and stay the same, when in fact he was redistributing the blood flow from the micromuscles near to his skin to those nearer his core. As his heat signiture died down, Trafa, grinned. The ash was getting wet, but it didn't matter, it made it easier to manipulate.

For over an hour he knelt on the ground, creating the diagram of the surrounding enviroment. When he finished, he grinned, and sat back on one of the logs.

I'll need to gather up everyone soon.

Trafa looked around, and bit his lip. He knew they were near, but he couldn't see them. Seeing Iliyakim, he gestured for him to come over.

Iliyakim almost sighed.

He had taken leadership only because no one else was moving in that direction, merely arguing pointlessly.

But now that he had, it seemed that already there was a rival for that position. And since it was an unofficial position, there was no way he could properly convince the Brutus to accept this.

A true leader does not merely command his nesstren, he uses their unique gifts and abilities to the best advantage for the entire group.

Iliyakim stood, and began walking over.

Besides, if I acted like I couldn't work with other races, this whole experiment would be a failure, and where would I be then? Meh, easy to figure that one out.

Iliyakim crouched by the firepit, next to Trafa.

"What do you have?"

Trafa looked at Iliyakim.

"This is a diagram of the surrounding area. It's pretty accurate, and I only went out by 700m approximately, give or a take a few cm."

Trafa pointed at the small protruding twigs coming out of the ash.

"These are trees. Many of them are just normal trees, some are higher than others, and some have fauna living inside them. I spotted a few hives."

Trafa pointed to the stones.

"These are low-lying flora, bushes, groups of flowers, etc. The gap in the middle of this is the camp. The other gap," Trafa ran his finger along the straight-ish gap in the ash, near the edge nearest to him, "Is a stream. Not too deep, has some pebbles in, which we can use for projectiles if needed. However, I noticed this area here..."

Trafa hovered his hands over an area of the diagram, deviod if twigs or stones.

"Was severely lacking in wildlife, and flora. I think that somewhere in this direction, they're camping. Either that, or this area just hasn't got good soil, although I'd expect a lack of good soil to have a bigger effect and a less isolated one.

There are quite a few insects around, some dwell in hives that contain honey. There are also some small mammals, however, only the ones that hop about seem edible, although I expect more wildlife North of the stream. There were alot of trees there."

Trafa then looked back at Iliyakim.

"I suggest we get the group up at the crack of dawn. By then, I'll have a few things drawn up, like possible areas to trap, perimeters to patrol, etc."

He looked down for a moment, and put a curled finger over his lip.

"We also need to work out a team structure. While you have skills Iliyakim, I don't like the idea of you being the leader overall. I think we need people to be in charge of areas they're specialised in. That way, we'll be able to run more effectively, and hopefully there'll be less chance of people being dissatisfied with the team as it is."

Fen began snoring, his buzzsaw hitting a rusty nail snore.

ooc: Kay, can you contact me on MSN?

Iliyakim let Trafa continue his assessment.

"I'd like to wake everyone before dawn. At dawn, everyone is just beginning to stir...in other words, the optimal time for attack. And especially after a night like tonight...sluggishness is expected."

The Drow then listened to the Brutus's opinion on leadership.

He comes from a democracy, doesn't he?

"The problem with having many leaders is that then there are no followers. The demolitionist will see every problem as something to be exploded. The sniper will want to shoot everything from afar. In the democratic process of debating every point until one is finally, grudgingly agreed upon, time has been lost. Time, in the armed forces, is equated to lives and equipment. Lose time, lose men. In a situation like this, a leader is needed for multiple reasons. First, he will be able to make the decisions and not lose any time. He must analyse from all angles, find the weaknesses, and correct them. A leader must be proactive, and understand the basic plight, but be able to rise above it...with his men. A capable leader is able to save time, supplies, and men. Tomorrow, yes, we should set up some sort of system...democratically...but after that, democracy gets us very few places, very slowly."

OOC: No, Theao, I cannot get on MSN.

Trafa nodded.

"Alright, but I'll be honest with you now Iliyakim. I see the logic, I even agree, but if I feel it's neccessary, I will take charge. Bear in mind that while having a set leader is good and it allows us to do things quicker, if we're in a sticky situation, the person best equipped to deal with that situation should take charge. Agreed?"

"Agreed. But I will tell you now...for well over a century myself and another man were the leaders of a group of a hundred men. Before that, I was the leader of a regular unit for almost a century more. The biggest mistakes I have ever seen made...ever... were when some younger officer decides that he knows best and takes over."

Fen stopped snoring as he woke up. A squirrel had woken him.

ooc: Sent you a TG in WC

Trafa nodded.

"Well, now that's settled, I'll let you get rested. I'll go on duty when this shift comes back."

Trafa stood up, and brushed himself off. He then looked at Iliyakim. He lowered his voice.

"Be careful, they were keeping an eye on me while I was out on recon. I know they're spying on us. I guess you know the same, but still, be careful with what you do, and make that clear to the others. I smell trouble, and I want to make my own back, without them knowing what I might do."

With that, he unshouldered his rifle, and sat down. Checking it over, he loaded it, and begin wiping off some mud on the barrel that had accumulated during Trafa's hike through the muddier areas of the surrounding enviroment.

Iliyakim stayed in the rain a moment.

"Inthuul, go scout it out."

The 'shoulderplate' changed into a huge bird, and sped into the sky.

In the dark, at two miles up, the chances of its being spotted were slim to none.

Iliyakim went back to under his tree, where he wiped off some of the excess water, more out of force of habit than anything else.

Sitting down, he resumed meditation for another half hour before he no longer required rest.

Deokumar accepted Tylas deal for a trade for his vegetable rations for his meat rations.

Bhakta followed the other soldiers whom were experimenting with something.

"If your going to build spears, bows, arrows, and other hunting and gathering tools, let me use my kukri to help you build those." said Bhakta.

When the Colonel arrived, Bhakta asked what his sentry job he will have to do.

Jason woke up. he had slept through the rain. he was very cold. He adjusted his temp back to 98.6 degrees F. He kept his coat off, looked at his gun. the extra sock kept water out of the rifle, the pistol was under his coat. He walked out to join the others, rifle at the ready. He knew the instructors had Night Vision, but to the un aided eye, he was invisible in his black clothing.

Fen continued to sit in the shelter of a tree, gun in hand as he watched te others.

Deokumar accepted Tylas deal for a trade for his vegetable rations for his meat rations.

Bhakta followed the other soldiers whom were experimenting with something.

"If your going to build spears, bows, arrows, and other hunting and gathering tools, let me use my kukri to help you build those." said Bhakta.

When the Colonel arrived, Bhakta asked what his sentry job he will have to do.
OOC: Night has fallen. it is raining. The instructors are elsewhere. Iliyakim has set up the sentry duty for lack of anyone else taking initiative. You guys have a turn at some point.

OOC: Night has fallen. it is raining. The instructors are elsewhere. Iliyakim has set up the sentry duty for lack of anyone else taking initiative. You guys have a turn at some point.

OCC: Thanks.

Jason Walked over to fen, his Rifle in his hand.

"What's up?"

Inthuul eventually came back to Iliyakim, reporting his findings ((Which will be told to me by SE later)).

Barely four in the morning, and yet the wakefulness is incredible. Probably due to what we have in the circumstances.

"Name, pass?" Fen asked, training the rifle on Jason

"Woah, easy Fen. It's Jason."

OCC: when is it my turn for patrol missions.

Iliyakim went over to Fen.

"Get some sleep. Paranoia does no good. You have an hour before gray dawn."

"I knew it was Jason, Iliyakim." Fen replied, "It's just good policy, and I ain't paranoid." Fen said as he ejected the cartridge and promptly fell asleep.

"Iliyakim, if you want to sleep, I can watch."

As Bhakta was walking, he pulled out his kukri incase something might attack him. He decided to go back to camp to get a some sleep. He walked over to the came enterance.

"Iliyakim, if you want to sleep, I can watch."
"I've already gotten four hours...all that is generally recommended, and more than I require."

As Bhakta was walking, he pulled out his kukri incase something might attack him. He decided to go back to camp to get a some sleep. He walked over to the came enterance.

Bhakta, be carefull with that knife. you can get ejected for that.

Bhakta, be carefull with that knife. you can get ejected for that.

"Sorry, I took it out incase anthing might attack you. This knife is not intended to kill my fellow classmates." explained Bhakta. "You can trust me! I will not turn against anyone."

Jason stood over by his lean-to, softly humming the YarenZero national anthem to himself. When he got to the line "Strength in Isolation" he heard something. He unslung his rifle and turned around in less than half a second. He saw nothing through the night vision.

Fen slept, and as he slept, he fell over.

Fen slept, and as he slept, he fell over.

Relieved it was only Fen, Jason turned back around to continue watching.

"Would you like me to take him to his tent?" asked Bhakta to Jason. "He reminds me of my son who tries to stay up with his daddy."

Jason Squat lifted Fen onto his back, and then carried fen to his respective tent.

"Pass me your rifle and NVGs. I'll take guard until you comeback."

"I regret to inform you You do not have Combat Implats that co-operate with my NVGs. if I took them off and let you use them, you would see what I see, but in NV. I also have a rifle sling."

As Jason picked Fen up, Fen asked, "What are you doing?"

"I understand, I'll use my kukri."

"Ah. See. You fell over and startled me, so I'm bringing you back to your tent. But since you're awake..." Jason set Fen down.

Fen returned to the base of the tree again and promptly fell asleep again.

"Since your going on your patrol, Jason. I will hit the hay. Wake me up when your going to sleep and I'll take over the patrol duty." said Bhakta. "Good night. May Krishna bless you."

Bhakta yawned as he walked to his tent. He put his kukri back into his sheath.

Jason decided it was time to go to sleep. He nudged Bhakta and told him "It's your turn." Jason put his coat back on, upped his hearing, and fell asleep.

Bhakta woke up from his bed, and wish Jason a good night. Since he got a 1/2 hr sleep, he felt somewhat dizzy. He decided to wake up Deokumar since he took a good sleep. As Deokumar woke up, Bhakta went to sleep.

Deokumar prepared his rifle. He strapped on his kukri. He put on his jacket, helmet and his body armor. Then he picked up his GPS reciever, NVGs, thermal goggles, and grabbed a snack. He then left to take up his position and patrol.

Trafa walked carefully back toward the camp, an invisible silhouette against the receeding darkness.

Soon it'll be dawn. I hope Iliyakim will gather the others up...

Jumping into the fire pit, Trafa checked the diagram he'd made. Satisfied, he made a few slight alterations, and then sat on the log. Keeping hold of the rifle, the Brutus almost immediately dropped off.

The sentinel shifts went as follows:

Trafa and Aldaris: 2100-2300
Iliyakim and Jason: 2300-0100
Dekumar and Zarbus: 0100-0300
Fen, Bhakta, and Tylas: 0300-0500

At 0500 sharp, Iliyakim gathered everyone around. The rain had stopped at 0253, so the Drow was somewhat dry.

"Wake up. Stir around quietly, get your blood flowing again. Gather at the firepit in ten minutes."

Tylas' shift had just ended, so he was already up. He immediatly walked over to where everyone else was assembling. He noticed that Illyakim seemed to have taken over overnight, though Trafa seemed to be grappling with him.

Tylas didnt mind incredibly not being the one in command in the instance. Illyakim and Trafa were both headstrong as well, though slightly opinionated. He might still disagree with something they might order someone to do, but that was what being a soldier was all about. He had time later to take a leadership role, if need be.

He strolled up to the group. "Morning, kids..Its time to wake up for another fun day of Camp SESOU!" He said, grinning reufelly, to the still slightly bleary eyed cadets who had just awoken.

As they all got to the firepit, Tylas turned to Illyakim.

"I understand you seem to have taken a leadership role, so I'm going to tell you this...We should make this meeting brief so that we can still have sentries up at all times. Im sure Cougar and the rest won't only attack at night time."

"Actually, Tylas, now is the best time for attack."

As Tylas was speaking, there was a tremendous bang. Nothing lethal, but it threw dirtclods into the air. From the centre of the camp. It wasn't actually a bomb, it was actually a thunderflash, but these cadets weren't to know that.

This was quickly followed by a second... and a third. It was like mortar shells raining down on them. Pinning them down. Attack at dawn, best time for it. Then, there was the sound of rifle fire. It wasn't clear where from, it seemed to come from two or three directions at once. In the confusion, no one would have noticed that the instructors camp had been deserted for some time. They had risen silently, eaten cold rations, and then pulled away to RV with Delta and Gamma Teams, to give the impression that it was a normal platoon attacking the cadets position. They had bypassed the perimeter, waiting for everybody to be called in for a meeting, leaving the perimeter unguarded. A grave tactical error. Armed with paint rounds, they began to lay down fire. Cougar's voice sailed over the din, commanding his troops with clear, concise commands.

Tylas threw himself to the ground, drawing his rifle. "Take cover! Take Cover!!"

He quickly scrambled behind a tree, scanning for where the rounds were coming from. It seemed that they were incoming from 2 directions, so it was assumable that the officers were split in to 2 different teams.

As Tylas was speaking, there was a tremendous bang. Nothing lethal, but it threw dirtclods into the air. From the centre of the camp. It wasn't actually a bomb, it was actually a thunderflash, but these cadets weren't to know that.

This was quickly followed by a second... and a third. It was like mortar shells raining down on them. Pinning them down. Attack at dawn, best time for it. Then, there was the sound of rifle fire. It wasn't clear where from, it seemed to come from two or three directions at once. In the confusion, no one would have noticed that the instructors camp had been deserted for some time. They had risen silently, eaten cold rations, and then pulled away to RV with Delta and Gamma Teams, to give the impression that it was a normal platoon attacking the cadets position. They had bypassed the perimeter, waiting for everybody to be called in for a meeting, leaving the perimeter unguarded. A grave tactical error. Armed with paint rounds, they began to lay down fire. Cougar's voice sailed over the din, commanding his troops with clear, concise commands.



Rounds flew over Tylas' head. Over the sounds of the shells hitting everything, he could hear Cougar yelling commands. "if no one else is going to, I might as well' Tylas thought.

"Fan out and split up!" Shouted Tylas. The best chance for the group was to try and pick off the attackers, without creating easy targets that a large group would.

"Get to cover, now! Locate enemy units and eliminate!"

The words were out of Iliyakim's mouth before he knew he'd spoken them. The forests were only a few yards away.

He himself flung down his glider.

"Tiu!"

The glider stretched out, and as he hopped into the aerial attack form, it lifted straight up.

Iliyakim flew toward the source of the dirt clods.

"They're already wet, right, Inthuul? So let's remind them of that."

Water began spraying at high speeds down upon the instructors flinging the "grenades."

Major Hooten, commander of Delta Team, made his men concentrate their fire on Iliyakim. An airborne enemy was more dangerous. Using the M249 SAW as a makeshift AA weapon, along with their assualt rifles, they fired on him, trying to bring him down.

Alpha Team and Gamma team were spiralling inwards, making their prescense known. At least one of these cadets was bound to be hit and 'killed', if not all. Hours of training on the range had honed their skills to a fine edge, one that they all maintained through high levels of training.

"Inthuul, focus on evasive. Open top."

Oo?

"Just do it. Lower flyby over Delta, drop sneezing powder."

Iliyakim unslung his rifle as the glider's canopy opened. He focused on his target as Inthuul wheeled and bobbed around, then adjusted for where his target would be.

Cut off the head of the Snake...

Iliyakim fired smoothly, the round headed for Cougar's chest.

Major Hooten, commander of Delta Team, made his men concentrate their fire on Iliyakim. An airborne enemy was more dangerous. Using the M249 SAW as a makeshift AA weapon, along with their assualt rifles, they fired on him, trying to bring him down.

Alpha Team and Gamma team were spiralling inwards, making their prescense known. At least one of these cadets was bound to be hit and 'killed', if not all. Hours of training on the range had honed their skills to a fine edge, one that they all maintained through high levels of training.


While the two teams were concentrating on Illyakim, Tylas crouched behind a tree. He knew they would view Illyakim as more of a present threat. "If its gurullia warfare they want, then thats what there going to get." Tylas sprange from the tree, quickly firing rounds. Not checking to see wether he'd hit anyone quite yet, he instantly shifted his postion, circling around to the other side of the attackers.

Delta Team struggled with the sneezing powder for a moment, the fire from their position dying down momentarily.

Cougar had been moving when Iliyakim had fired, but the round hit him in the thigh. Who knows why, it just did. He dropped to the floor, and made his way behind cover. The wound would not have been fatal in combat. It was enough to make the whole of Alpha Team dive for cover though. Konig popped up briefly, making the adjustments smoothly and fired his battlefield sniper rifle. The round was different though... it was designed for the Thalack.

Tylas was shot as he tried to move around behind Gamma Team. The team leader popped up, and double tapped the trigger, the two round hitting the man's chest.

Trafa cursed. He rolled off the log he was sitting on, lay prone, and unshouldered his rifle. Cocking it, he placed it over a log, and peaked over. Careful to ensure no friendlies were in the way, Trafa began opening fire with his bushes, in the general direction of where he last heard a rifle fired. Firing a few shots, he got down, and checked his clip. Reloading his rifle, he let out a breath. The diagram wasn't destroyed though.

Bugger, if only I'd told Iliyakim to organise a perimeter detail then and not now...

Waiting a few more seconds, Trafa repeated his maneuver, using his vision to identify where some of Cougar's men could be hiding. After emptying his clip, he took cover, and reloaded his rifle. Cocking it, he shouldered it, but hung it so the rifle was leaning on his chest, so he could whip it forward and fire at any moment. Unholstering his pistol, he cocked it, and then prepared himself.

We need to work together...but I can't look for them, I can't get hit!

_________________________________________________________________

Zarbus was currently hiding in a tree, doing his best at picking off Cougar's men. Swinging from his cover, Zarbus placed his foot on a branch, and fired a volley of shots. He quickly rotated back to his cover, and let out a breath. He wasn't trained for this sort of combat, he was trained at 1 vs. 1, and he knew it was only a matter of time before he would be 'killed'. Leaping upward, he grabbed a branch, and swung upward, a few paintballs missing him by mere centimeters.

Landing on one of the higher branches, he repeated his sniping technique.

I'm pinned for the moment...I just have to hope one of them goes under me, then I can incap him...a blow to the head or two bullets to the back should do it...

Tylas used the moments that the firing had stopped because of the sneezing powder to fire round after round. He aimed straight for a female officer, then droppe behind another tree and began moving again so not to give away his position.

'Thank you, Illyakim' Tylas thought to himself.

Tylas used the moments that the firing had stopped because of the sneezing powder to fire round after round. He aimed straight for a female officer, then droppe behind another tree and began moving again so not to give away his position.

'Thank you, Illyakim' Tylas thought to himself.
OOC: You've already been shot, see my last post.

IC: Delta Team had been firing at the two Brutus... there was no structure, no commands, in this defence. It couldn't last.

"Eighteenth form, Inthuul."

The Thalack dropped, changing form. Iliyakim was left, for a moment, unprotected in open air. The round from Konig's pistol passed by him, and he snapped a shot at the already-moving sniper.

Then he was on the ground, and Inthuul, in a vaguely equestrian form, was bearing down on Alpha team.

"Inthuul, Death of 1000 hits."

From the front quarters of the 'beast', paintballs fired out at Alpha team, vaguely aimed, but it was quantity of shot, not quality of shot that the Drow hoped would win the day. Meanwhile, he strapped his rifle to his back and grabbed his pistol.

He had a sheild before him, but his back was wide open, so the Thalack moved from one side to another, unpredictably, as the Drow occasionally stuck his head up just enough to snap off a well-aimed pistol round at one SHADOW member or other.

OOC: sry didnt see the edit..i'll delete my last entry.

Tylas cursed. He had been hit, meaning he was dead. "oh well.." He strolled out of the camp. Being out of the training excersice didnt mean he couldnt do some reconassiance.

"Eighteenth form, Inthuul."

The Thalack dropped, changing form. Iliyakim was left, for a moment, unprotected in open air. The round from Konig's pistol passed by him, and he snapped a shot at the already-moving sniper.

Then he was on the ground, and Inthuul, in a vaguely equestrian form, was bearing down on Alpha team.

"Inthuul, Death of 1000 hits."

From the front quarters of the 'beast', paintballs fired out at Alpha team, vaguely aimed, but it was quantity of shot, not quality of shot that the Drow hoped would win the day.

He had a sheild before him, but his back was wide open, so the Thalack moved from one side to another, unpredictably, as the Drow occasionally stuck his head up just enough to snap off a well-aimed pistol round at one SHADOW member or other.

W -- "Y'know, he's the only one actually managing this"

C -- "Duh. But there's no structure to this... no command."

Wolf -- "Pinned down by him"

C -- "He can't last forever... call Delta, tell them to take the shot when they get it"

Delta Team's sniper watched through his scope, waiting for Iliyakim to expose himself enough. He saw a chance, and took the shot. Then another, maybe two minutes later.

OOC: sry didnt see the edit..i'll delete my last entry.

Tylas cursed. He had been hit, meaning he was dead. "oh well.." He strolled out of the camp. Being out of the training excersice didnt mean he couldnt do some reconassiance.
OOC: You are dead. Therefore, you drop, and act dead. This is training, it's got to be realistic...

OOC: fine, it was worth a try any way.

Tylas cursed, and dropped to the ground, 'dead'

OOC2: Isnt the Thalack sort of cheap in a way? It seems to be doing a whole lot of work, like an extra Illyakim or something.

Jason was in the thick overgrowth. He looked through his pockets for something...

I knew I should have saved them...

Jason found what he was looking for. three small balls, size of a paintball. He slipped them into the gun and fired them into the vicinity of the officers, then got down again.

The three balls missed the officers, just as he had intended. They one landed in the bush behind them, one on a tree, and one behind a rock. Jason set the timer for 5 second shots.

The tiny machines snapped to life. A small microphone popped out of one. Jason pressed the start button. The microphone made a pop like a paintball gun in the direction of the officers, so did the rest. they staggered themselves so there would be a 2 second delay between each shot.

Hopefully that will buy me some time...

OOC: fine, it was worth a try any way.

Tylas cursed, and dropped to the ground, 'dead'

OOC2: Isnt the Thalack sort of cheap in a way? It seems to be doing a whole lot of work, like an extra Illyakim or something.

OOC: It's a tool of war. They couldn't take it away from him... and it's not cheating at all. It's called using your head.

Iliyakim felt the round coming, and spun to avoid.

"Inthuul, we need a more permanent solution to this pest. Tiu."

Again, the glider was airborne.

"Drop a paintbomb here."

The bomb was dropped, and paint splattered over the area Team Alpha was.

"Let's go."

The glider spun and jerked to the general vicinity of Delta. A greenish gas overed that area of the field (not poisonous), and a shard of metal smacked down into the middle of the group.

You have been poisoned. Have a nice day.

In -- Bedoo?

Ik -- "Human humor."

Jason then dove behind a tree. He was going to look for the otheres. Covertly.

Delta team cursed the Thalack... they claimed it was not a real fight if that thing did all the work.

The noise of the paintball guns didn't phase the officers at all. Simply because these rifles were accurate in everyway to normal rifles, inculding the sound. After all, they were only normal rounds, with the propellent and everything else, but instead of the bullet, they carried paint in a small capsule. So the tactic was inefficient... paintball guns don't register on the battlefield.

Jason made it over to Ilikayim

"You're the leader, what should I do? I set up a hopefull confusing distraction."

The microphones could still be heard popping in the distance.

Delta team cursed the Thalack... they claimed it was not a real fight if that thing did all the work.

The noise of the paintball guns didn't phase the officers at all. Simply because these rifles were accurate in everyway to normal rifles, inculding the sound. After all, they were only normal rounds, with the propellent and everything else, but instead of the bullet, they carried paint in a small capsule. So the tactic was inefficient... paintball guns don't register on the battlefield.

ooc: Okay, I was thinking these are like normal paintball guns. I probably should have asked.

IC: Realizing his strategy wasn't working with the microphones, Jason searched for a vine or rope. When he found one, he lashed his pistol to a tree, aimed in the direction of the instructors. He fixed another vine on the trigger, and atatched it to a stick for tension. He then took a handfull of san and a cup, tore a small hole in the side of the cup near the top. He started adding sand to the cup until it spilt back with the stick, firing the pistol. All the sand emptied through the hole. Jason smiled. He got more sand and drank the last of his water in his cantine. he filled it with sand, then positioned it above the cup. with the rate of the sand from cantine to cup, it would fill and fire for the next seven minutes.

Jason made it over to Ilikayim

"You're the leader, what should I do? I set up a hopefull confusing distraction."

The microphones could still be heard popping in the distance.
OOC: Iliyakim's airborne currently...

Tylas lay down on the gtround, stretching out. "Why the hell didnt we set us sentries?" he thought to himself.

With Iliyakim in the air, Jason decide he needed to move again to avoid being shot. He dove behind a large rock. It wasn't the first time he'd acted in the field alone. He unslung his rifle.

With Iliyakim in the air, Jason decide he needed to move again to avoid being shot. He dove behind a large rock. It wasn't the first time he'd acted in the field alone. He unslung his rifle.
The movement gave him away, and a round struck the rock. He was pinned down, and Alpha Team had no intention of letting him go. Officially, their commander was incapacitated, but he could still shoot. He'd done it before.

Trafa flinched as paintball shots impacted the log in front of him. Waiting for the fire to die down, Trafa held up pistol up sideways over the log, using the tiny gap near the ground inbetween two logs to check no-one friendly was in the way. He then emptied his clip in a spread. Retracting his hand, he looked up at a nearby tree, and spotted some minor movement. Paintballs were hitting the tree in a frenzy, it was obvious Zarbus was there.

Good luck man...

_________________________________________________________________

Zarbus shouldered his rifle and took out his pistol, and cocked it. Around him, paintballs were impacting branches and the trunk, sending paint everywhere, a few blots streaking his face. Throwing his arm right, he fired wildly, and then retracted it, a hail of paintballs flying past.

I can't stay here...

Cursing, Zarbus spotted Trafa in the firepit, using the logs as a barricade, protecting him from the worst of the fire. He grinned.

Time to hope I don't break my legs...

He placed both his hands on the trunk. He knew Cougar's men were almost under him, and then he launched himself to the right. Flipping, he dropped and hit the end of a branch. The branch bent, and then Zarbus was catapulted through the air. he felt paintballs fly past him, some near, some painfully close. Flipping around in the air, he fired wildily in the general direction of Delta, he diverted the flow of his blood to the micro-muscles in his legs, and he hit the floor hard. The floor was thrown up, and Zarbus leapt forward, flying into the firepit. Rolling, he hit the log next to Trafa. His legs ached, the shock almost too much for him.

Trafa whirled, and grinned.

"Good to have you bro."

"I couldn't leave you down here alone, you'd die surely!" Zarbus joked, Trafa laughed. A hail of paintballs brought them back to reality.

"We need to keep changing posistion, and firing as well. I suggest rolling and then kipping up. Don't stay up longer than neccessary, and good luck..."

Grinning, they both rolled to the opposite sides of the firepit. Kipping up, they fired a few volleys, and then gamboled backward, and came up again next to each other. They both came up, and fired until their clips were emptied. Rolling back under cover, Trafa heard Zarbus cry out. Zarbus fell, his pistol falling in front of Trafa. Zarbus' right hand was covered in paint.

"I'm alright! But I'm useless, use my pistol damnit!" Zarbus called out, as he quickly scooted back under cover. He was incapped. Trafa grabbed both pistols, and reloaded them, and held one in each hand. Hearing an explosion, Trafa rolled to the left, and came up, emptying his clip at the soldiers, who were currently focussing on Iliyakim...

Dalhar, what are you doing!? Obviously, nothing works anymore. Xsa. And Xsa.

The Drow's hands worked the controls on his Thalack, turning it about.

Cougar couldn't move. This shot would be difficult....

Water spat from the Thalack at Cougar.

"Leave my men alone...focus on me..."

He let more water shoot at other SHADOW members as he flew briefly over the woods, then back out into the open, where he wheeled around again.

"We're outnumbered, and outarmed, for the most part. I dunno if we were supposed to win this one, zhuanth abbil."

Jason sat down to wait for a little while. sounded like his pistol trap was still working. He couldn't tell how acurate it was being.

Cougar moved when he saw the shot coming, the water splashing through the hole in the wood. He waited until Iliyakim came towards him again, and fired. It was hard to miss at that range.

Jason thought "Time for the last resort."

He pressed a red button on his watch. the words "Extra Adrenaline and Endorphins Enabled" Apeared on his glasses for a brief second. He got ready, and with the strength of a (insert animal that can jump extra good here) he dove behind a tree. he was now in a heavier wooded area.

Do!Do!Do!Do!

"Hang in, we'll find a sheltered landing spot. It's just paint."

An electric spark crackled along Inthuul's frame.

"Shu! What sort of paint is this."

The glider, now trailing smoke, ejected its master into a dense foliage patch before coming to a rather hard landing itself.

"Shu."

Jason thought "Time for the last resort."

He pressed a red button on his watch. the words "Extra Adrenaline and Endorphins Enabled" Apeared on his glasses for a brief second. He got ready, and with the strength of a (insert animal that can jump extra good here) he dove behind a tree. he was now in a heavier wooded area.


OOC: Hate to tell you, but all endorphines do is help you recover, and also help your body ease pain (when your running a marathon or half marathon(or some other type of long race), the reason you dont hurt till later is because of endorphines)

thats why Tylas is able to recover quicker, because his one special so called 'advantage' is his upped level of them. But thats basically all they do.

Jason watched Inthuul go down. He then wondered where Aldaris was. He eased out from behind the tree, extra reaction time kicking in, and fired two shots at the instructors, then changed his position to another tree.

ooc: I know what endorphins do.

OOC:sry, just making sure.

Whos all been shot so far?

OOC:sry, just making sure.

ooc: 'sall right.

Tylas watched from where he was lying the chaos that was errupting all around him. He sincerely doubted they had any hope of winning now(if they had even been expected to) but he was incredibly pissed off that he had been taken out so early in the fight.

He wasnt sure how many people were left.

Jason couldn't hear the Snake Eaters anymore, he inched around the corner to look...

They're trying to surround me... Jason thought.

He went off to another hiding spot, where his pistol was. It had stopped firing, so he un-lashed it and put it away after re-loading it.

The surprise of a unplanned attack woke up Bhakta. He rolled over from his bead to the floor. He couldn't get his rifle, because it was across the tent. THe only thing he had was his kukri. Their was no time to grab his jacket and hat, so he would have to rely on his stealth techniques and his martial arts.

The shots even alerted Deokumar on his patrol. He got out his silencer and fixed it on his rifle. He activated his thermal goggles incase the enemy was hiding in the shrub or behind an object.

Fen remained in the 'hollow' of the tree, taking potshots where he could.

The surprise of a unplanned attack woke up Bhakta. He rolled over from his bead to the floor. He couldn't get his rifle, because it was across the tent. THe only thing he had was his kukri. Their was no time to grab his jacket and hat, so he would have to rely on his stealth techniques and his martial arts.

The shots even alerted Deokumar on his patrol. He got out his silencer and fixed it on his rifle. He activated his thermal goggles incase the enemy was hiding in the shrub or behind an object.

OOC:everyone was already up when the attack happened.

OOC:everyone was already up when the attack happened.

OCC: Yes, I knew that. I did not post my prespective of the attack, since I was not on at that time. So I posted it, even if the attack was over.

k just making sure in case you didnt already know.

k just making sure you knew....by the way the attack isnt over yet either, its just a lot of people are dead or not here right now.

Behind the tree, Jason decided it was time to put on his "Make-up". He pulled off his shirt, flipped it inside out, revealing camoflauge print, flipped his pants inside out, also camo printed. He then hung his jacket on the tree, and pulled out a tin with green and brown grease paint. He started dabbing it on his face. After 2 minutes, he was done. He checked his apearance in his sunglasses reflection. He slipped the glasses in the pocket of his jacket, and went over to join Bhakta and Deokumar.

He called from behind a tree "Nice of you to join us. Have you seen Ilikayim, or is he dead?"

Deokumar had his rifle and Bhakta with his Kukri. Both of them began scanning the area for the enemy. They were surprised by Jason.

"We haven't see him," replied Deokumar. "What happened to the others. We heard gunshots but we don't know where they came from."

"Do you have any face paint?" asked Bhakta.

OOC: Weekends suck, I'll try and do some good here now though... Banzai.

IC:

Aldaris had hidden for most of the attack, now he revealed himself to the two Romans and Jason, "Do you have any weapons I can use, I'm not much of a shot, but I'm very good in melee."

"No, melee weapons won't work here. There is no way you can get remotely close to the instructors without being shot."

Jason extends the butt end of the pistol to aldaris

"Take it."

He then pulls out the tin of grease paint, which he gives to Bhakta and Deokumar.

"Don't use all of it."

"No, melee weapons won't work here. There is no way you can get remotely close to the instructors without being shot."

Jason extends the butt end of the pistol to aldaris

"Take it."

He then pulls out the tin of grease paint, which he gives to Bhakta and Deokumar.

"Don't use all of it."

"If you insist, though what they cannot see surely can hurt them." He then fades back into the background, taking the pistol with him.

"Ahh. I forgot dark templar have invisibilty powers. The instructors have thermal goggles though. they will see him even if he is invisible, unless he is cold." Jason went back into the wooded area behind a tree. He then lowered his body temperature to closer blend in on Thermal Readings. Hopefully, at a first glance, he would apear to blend in with the bushes and trees around him. If they looked closer...well... he was probably screwed. He'd have to move every few shots as not to give away his position.

Iliyakim, meanwhile, blended into the surrounding area. There was plenty of underbrush, which the instructors were doubtless thinking would give them ample warning when a cadet was approaching.

Not so. The brush merely served to hide him, give him more shadows in which to participate. His hair, usually ice-white, had become so grimy in the few hours that it was indistinguishable from the uniform brown of the woods. And so he slunk around the woods, silent as the death he would deliver.

His first target would have been the already incapacitated Cougar...but that would have been a dead givaway, and for the moment, he had to assume that at least one more was alive...or that they'd assumed him 'dead.'

You may have gotten Inthuul, Colonel...but I'm still part of this game.

Iliyakim slipped the silencer onto his pistol, and checked his load. One more shot, before he had to switch to his spare.

But the pistol won't last forever. My rifle has four more rounds...and no spare clip. I should make Konig my primary target. That would only serve to alert Cougar, though...stupid aim, just a little bit higher...

He spotted another of the SHADOW members, and took careful aim, his Drow eyes focusing narrowly on the target. The round should hit in the temple.

He squeezed off the round, but no sooner had it left the gun than he slipped back into the forest, nothing more than a shadow again.

Mental note, code taking over. Time noted. Situation noted. Status noted. Activate.

"Ahh. I forgot dark templar have invisibilty powers. The instructors have thermal goggles though. they will see him even if he is invisible, unless he is cold." Jason went back into the wooded area behind a tree. He then lowered his body temperature to closer blend in on Thermal Readings. Hopefully, at a first glance, he would apear to blend in with the bushes and trees around him. If they looked closer...well... he was probably screwed. He'd have to move every few shots as not to give away his position.

Protoss had a lower body temperature than their Terran or Zerg allies(or minions, depending on who you asked), but they would still appear on thermal as Sensor Ghosts, hartd to spot, but these guys were good, they'd probably get him. Oh well, he had to try. He moved of into the shadows of the trees, where he would hopefully blend in better, and as soon as he had a target, he'd try and fire this damned gun, ompared to his psy-blade t was clumsy and inelegant, but he figured it would get the job done, assuming he could hit anything with it, when he had told rthe other he wasn't a marksman he had meant it, but maybe a little telekinesis would help him hit his targets...

Inthuul, meanwhile, had had a bad reaction to whatever it was that had happened.

Maybe the paint from the rounds had interfered with his programming spells.

Maybe Cougar had shot him at just the right angle.

But he picked himself up, in no particular form (looked like a cross between the crab and the 'horse'). Iliyakim was gone...probably killed...and the only thing he understood at the moment was side.

BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRTTTTTTTTT! BEBEBEBEBEBRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRTTTTTTTTTTTTTT!

So saying, it streamed into the area where Cougar was, spewing the green gas, among other things. None of it was deadly, as Iliyakim had had the foresight to set him to training mode, at his base programming.

However, now SHADOW had to deal with the wrath from Inthuul...meaning that until he was taken down (which, being a metal thing, wasn't easy to do with regular rounds), any SHADOW member with a heat signature was in the closest thing to danger they could get.

Inthuul, meanwhile, had had a bad reaction to whatever it was that had happened.

Maybe the paint from the rounds had interfered with his programming spells.

Maybe Cougar had shot him at just the right angle.

But he picked himself up, in no particular form (looked like a cross between the crab and the 'horse'). Iliyakim was gone...probably killed...and the only thing he understood at the moment was side.

BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRTTTTTTTTT! BEBEBEBEBEBRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRTTTTTTTTTTTTTT!

So saying, it streamed into the area where Cougar was, spewing the green gas, among other things. None of it was deadly, as Iliyakim had had the foresight to set him to training mode, at his base programming.

However, now SHADOW had to deal with the wrath from Inthuul...meaning that until he was taken down (which, being a metal thing, wasn't easy to do with regular rounds), any SHADOW member with a heat signature was in the closest thing to danger they could get.

Ithnuuls distress was very audible, but Aldaris had no idea what it was, he had never interacted with the Thalack, but he recognsed an ally when he saw one, he decided to move in under thew cover of Ithnuuls charge, due to their slightly different body chemistries he hoped the attack, whatever it was, wouldn't effect him too badly.

Iliyakim grinned. At the present time, Inthuul wasn't too badly damaged, and would make the perfect distraction.

Iliyakim moved a touch more swiftly, but just as stealthily, picking off SHADOW operatives as he could.

Iliyakim grinned. At the present time, Inthuul wasn't too badly damaged, and would make the perfect distraction.

Iliyakim moved a touch more swiftly, but just as stealthily, picking off SHADOW operatives as he could.

Aldaris sensed a mind in front of him, it was calm, too calm, that meant either Cougar or one of his higher ups, the rest were less calm than the Colonel himself.

Only one way to find out...

Aldaris fired at the opponent he thought was there, guiding the bullet to an extent with telekinesis, unfortunately, at this short range he had little toime to correct his flight path, and was already moving as the recoil bucked against his hand.

Jason edged around the tree. He fired on the instructors. three rounds, then behind the tree. He crawled along the ground to another tree.

The 2 Roman Instructors, Bhakta and Deokumar, went their own way but kept a close proximity to the others. To them it was strange that a few of their classmates could do magic and change their temperture.

Fen remained in his hollow, continuing to fire at those(Instructors) he could.

The battle had drawn on longer than was thought to be absolutly necessery. Whilst many, if not all, the cadets had shown that they could fight, to some degree. Top marks to Iliyakim for ingenuity, using his Thalack to maximum effect... but at the same time, it had alienated him from his comrades, and thus even he did not get full marks. There was an advance and a fight through from the instructors, who eliminated the remaining trainees quickly, before Cougar walked in,"All right, gather round, and take a knee, all of you"

When they had all gathered round and taken to one knee,"That was impressive... for the most part. There was one thing lacking though, can anyone tell me what it was?"

"Teamwork?" Fen asked as he rubbed his chest where he got 'shot'.

snip
ooc: RR, the 'ambush' ended, all the students were assembled and Cougar is addressing them

"Teamwork?" Fen asked as he rubbed his chest where he got 'shot'.

Jason nodded.

"We had no teamwork, and no plan. we basicly ran around fighting every man for himself."

ooc: welcome back, snake eaters.

"Good, you identified your problem. I'll tell you all what you should already know. A firefight is scary, alright? Anyone who has been in a firefight and can claims to have not been afriad is a liar. But, despite the fear, you have to remember one thing. The only thing that will keep you alive is either the man next to you or your training."

He looked around, and spied Iliyakim,"That was a very good shot, well done. However, you are, unfortunatley, most at fault. By taking to the air at first, and then using a steed, you alienated yourself from the rest of the group. Besides that, you have again proven that you are an excellent solider"

OOC: Kay, you know it's just C speaking here, right?

He looked at the whole group,"Now, heres what I want you to do. Break down in pairs, and then come to me. I have an assignement for each pair. No two are the same"

Iliyakim, meanwhile, was stuggling with Inthuul, and fearing that the Thalack might be beyond his means to repair.

"I had considered that, Colonel."

At the moment, Inthuul wasn't even responding to his master's commands, and the Drow had already been cut and burned by his raging glider. Eventually, though, the Drow managed to at least deactivate his glider, after which he took some spider webs and stretched them over the cut.

"Fen, you want to work with me?" He rubbed the paint off his face and turned his shirt inside out again.

Fen looked over, "Sure." He replied

Jason aproached cougar.

"Right, I'm working with Fen. what is our task?

Tylas glanced toward Illyakim. "If you want to, we can work together."

Zarbus rubbed his sore chest, which only moments ago, had been pummelled by a barrage of paintballs.

What I get for trying to jump an instructor after they took Trafa down...

Zarbus waited to be picked, while Trafa looked around, and then groaned.

All the good ones have paired up

Tylas glanced toward Illyakim. "If you want to, we can work together."
"That's fine."

Both Deokumar and Bhakta started running to find were the other classmates were. They propably heard the Colonel or the other instructors calling out their names. They didn't want to miss anything important, so they had to search everywhere for the others.

Jason aproached cougar.

"Right, I'm working with Fen. what is our task?

Cougar handed them a file,"Intel gathering. There's a military encampment ten miles west of here... infiltrate it. There is be zero body count, and don't get found. Report back here in fourty-eight hours and deliver your information. Take whatever you need from the camp. You will have no longe range surveillance equipment, so you'll have to go close. Good luck"