NationStates Jolt Archive

The mighty engines of the Expeditionary Force Transport Pisces wound down, pistons slowing down and stopping, and the growl of machinery replaced with the gentle splashes of waves against the sides of the vessel. They had arrived at Manium. Well, actually they were around two kilometres out.

The southern tip of Manium was one of the few parts as yet uninhabited, although from the deck of the ship it was hard to see why. It looked just the same as the rest of the island, only less inhabited. The sandy shore led up to a grassy plain ahead, reminding all those who could see it of North Taldaan. No signs of life at all.

With a creak, the front ramp was lowered, the hydraulic pistons keeping the end just above the water. Then, at an order from an unseen officer, five landing craft slid down into the water, each one carrying armed marines and cargo. They were followed by several more, and then a wave of amphibious APCs. Meanwhile, on the deck, helicopters launched and clattered away towards the beach. The troops inside would secure the area for the landers and APCs.

The same was happening aboard the other transport that had come with the Pisces, the landing force heading towards the undefended beach. The colonisation was going smoothly.

It was around ten minutes later when the helicopters arrived, marines dropping down by rappel line. They immediately fanned out, assault rifles at the ready. They advanced up the beach, wary for ambush. When none came, the sense of relief was almost touchable. They sent back a radio message that the beach was secure.

A little later, the landing craft and APCs started to hit the beach, the landers disgorging marines and equipment. Light artillery pieces were immediately deployed, ready to repel any assault on the beachhead. The APCs raced up the beach and onto the plain. There was exploring to be done…

OOC: Actually, knowing the history of this continent, your people are likely to come across ruins of failed colony attempts of rather recent vintage.

As yet, the natives of this continent on this side have been mostly peaceful... but we did pull a few fast ones on them to get them to that peaceful state... :D

ooc: Thanks for the heads up. I'll find some ruins ICly.

IC: The three APCs pulled up sharply at the top of a small ridge, sliding slightly on the muddy ground as the wheels locked. There was a camp of some sort dead ahead. Huts and tents were liberally scattered over a fairly wide area, and at the centre of it all was a larger building, apparently rigged for communications as a large sattelite dish was fixed to the top.

"Park the APCs here. B Squad, stay here and guard them. A and C, break out the white flags. We don't want to start a firefight straight away. Proceed to the camp on foot."

The marines disembarked neatly, weapons clutched in hands, scanning the terrain around for any possible resistance.

"A and C, form up. We're going in."

They moved at a fast jog towards the camp, nerves on hair triggers. It was as they got closer that they began to see the camp more for what it was. The tents were worn, many ripped in places. A few were nothing more than frames with scraps of canvas attached. The prefabricated huts were no better, many of them falling to pieces. A group of five-ton trucks were parked over to one side, but the windows were smashed and the metal was beginning to rust. The command building at the centre was still in fairly good shape, but creepers were growing across the sattelite dish.

They crossed the perimeter of the camp, seeing the ruin of what must once have been a sentry tower. The searchlight was on the ground nearby, smashed beyond repair, wires tangling around it. A flock of birds flew up out of a nearby hut, disturbed by the marines.

"Whole damn place is deserted. Looks like someone got here first."

Tuning the radio set, they told the officers back at the beach-head of this fact, although they did mention that the command centre and many of the huts were probably still useable.

There was a tearing crash and a shower of splinters as the massive blade of the bulldozer slammed into the trunk of the tree. The wood groaned and buckled under the assault, before it finally gave way.

"Heads up!"

The mighty tree collapsed, pounding against the earth and sending up plumes of sand and dirt. The bulldozer's engine roared as it reversed. Inside, the driver's sunburned arm thudded the gearstick forward again, then ground the snarling machine over the fallen tree and into its neighbour. Branches snapped off under the weight.

All over the abandoned camp were men and women wearing the characteristic green armband of the Taldaani Engineers over their camouflage. They walked back and forth across the camp-in-progress, carrying power tools and materials as well as more mundane things such as ration packs and water bottles. Trucks had been parked in a neat row over by one side, and every now and then one or two would arrive or depart. Bulldozers were being used to clear some of the trees near the camp, as the space available would most likely not be sufficient. A steamroller rolled along its straight course, preparing the ground for the construction of an airstrip.

The Taldaani Engineers were not only using what they had brought with them, they were also salvaging the remains of the old camp. The tents had been stripped of everything worth taking. The improvised piece de resistance, however, was the old command centre. It had been transformed from a derelict building into an almost operational one. The old electronics had been judged both obsolete and broken, and swiftly disposed of, although it was only five minutes until they were cannibalized for spare parts. Using modular builing parts, they had added an entire new wing with a helipad on the roof. A sentry tower jutted out from the roof, and the lights inside were lit to brighten the evening gloom.

The exploration had been going as planned. Once the base had been constructed outposts would be positioned at marked points. The dock was also going to schedule, although it would be some time before it was complete. So far, everything was working fine.