NationStates Jolt Archive

They risked burnout if they didn't... and they couldn't risk that.
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His eyes darkened,"Neither do I"

He began moving his troops again. He couldn't risk them burning out, but he wanted to force the loyalists into burning out.
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"Hey, calm down...even if I get caught, I'm still not entirely out of options. Just mostly."

Troops moved and fought, and then they did all again. After months of fighting, they were tired, worn-down, but they were still eager to fight the good fight. They handed round dog-eared scraps of paper containing the writings of old soliders. Their tone was that of speaking to equals. In the photos, they all looked the same, young men with their arms round each others shoulders, dogtags round their necks. They had been tested and proven... now, it was a brand new generations turn. The only difference was, they now fought their own people.
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"Well, so long as you come out safe. Other people, I can handle. You... thats different"

And the war drags on...
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"Hey, don't worry about me. It's awfully hard to capture something that keeps teleporting here there and everywhere when you're trying to catch her. In any event, I have one more target on this planet before I leave, so I have to get going. Take care of yourself...oh, and take this."

She pulls a football (amercian style)-shaped object from her sleeve.

"Activate it by tearing off the red end and holding it upside down. The spell released is a sheild spell, good for half an hour against both physical and magickal attacks."

Soon, it seemed as if Lyn was the last bastion of enemy resistance. This was not quite the case, but it was the last major bastion. Fighting in city streets is different to fighting in forests or deserts, like the rest of Lyn-da-Vid... it's much closer, much more lethal. Grenades and pistols ruled here, along with assualt carbines and shotguns. Rifles were too long.
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"Half an hour you say? Thanks very much"

This was the sort of battle Iliyakim preferred. Here, he could use his Thalack to the best of its abilities, charging through enemy lines and using his swords, weapons he preferred to the more clumsy and awkward guns, or phasers.
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"Not a problem. See you later. And don't use this building anymore...I've been here three days."

With that, she was gone.

Pulse carbines were still deadly, along with photon grenades. Still, there was no doubt his methods were devastating the morale of the enemy forces.
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He watched her go, and then put the shield in his backpack, before moving out.

Suddenly, Iliyakim was blown off his Thalack. Something had happened...maybe Inthuul had gotten hit.

That wasn't really a problem.

What was a problem was that Iliyakim now only had his weapons in enemy territory.

He put his swords away and took out his guns. He thought he might be already dead...but he'd take as many with him as he could.
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Another day, another reactor, another explosion...

And off to SEP.

Tari had to be very careful with her timing...her skin was crawling, senses tingling, and she was nervous as anything.

Maybe this wasn't a good idea. But she wouldn't turn back now.

A pistol was pressed to his temple,"I suggest you give up now, and I'll make this quick"
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She was right to be nervous... the whole area was crawling with enemy guards and other technological tricks to prevent people gaining access.

Shu...

Iliyakim holstered his guns, but in his left hand drew something out of a different pouch.

He might be able to do something.

If this worked.
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But they can't catch me if...

She shaded, stepping halfway into another plane, becoming shadow.

...I'm not there.

As such, she made her way along.

"Good man... now, you have been plaguing us for too long. You may die now"

The weapon was cocked, the ominious sound echoing around. Suddenly, a shot rang out. Iliyakim was alive, but the solider who could have shot him was lying on the floor, his head pierced by a round from an unseen assaliant. Suddenly, more shots rang out. A hail of bullets sliced into the Black Guardsmen around Iliyakim. Suddenly, they were all dead. Every single one of them. The guns were suddenly silent. Six people stood up, and walked through the bodies, drilling them with two rounds each,"Looks like people need us more than they would like to admit."
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No one noticed her. A good start.

"Only in messy situations."

Iliyakim called his Thalack back to him. He'd need to repair him that evening.

"Thank you."

He then looked beyond Cougar to his effective second-in-command, and motioned for the next "move" to begin.
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When she got to the building, she levitated up...and up...and upandupandup until she got to the top, and she looked in, if she could.

Cougar grinned a wry grin which didn't carry to his eyes,"Looks like it's almost done here"
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She couldn't see in, as the windows were blacked out. Partially security, partially because it was a natural thing.

"Within a few days. After we've taken this, we go on to help the others mop up their areas."
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I seriously doubt throwing rocks would help...so...

She went back down a bit, then went through a window. From there it was straight up as much as she could, toward Constantine's office.

"Looks like we can lend a hand... after all, we're bored of working behind the scenes... want a real fight for once"

He gripped the steel of the weapon he was carrying. His knuckles were bloody, from constant scraps and other such things.
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It wasn't that tough, as Constantine assumed no one would get this far, and thus security was a little lax.

"Then come on...I can use you."

With that, he sent them to a part of the battlefield to play a part in the latest point in the plan. He also let them know what to do and when to initate the third part, after which they would rotate out.
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Very tempted to write on the walls...so white...like paper...

She instead shaded up into Constantine's office, and looked to see if anyone was in there.

They nodded as he explained, before making their own slight alterations. It was to give them the maximum effectiveness, and it wouldn't affect the plan in the slightest.
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He wasn't there at that point in time... no one seemed to know where he was, actually.

Iliyakim went to where he could make the biggest difference. He would stay until the implementation of the fifth "step," and then he would go to sleep and repair Inthuul.
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She went through, setting the curse on all the writing utensils in the office, and looking for the drugs she hoped she might find to take "pictures" of and give to the press.

"It's fecking freezing out here!"

"Oh shut up!"

"What?"

"It's been cold for weeks, and we've waited longer than this"

"I know... I can complain if I want"

"Quiet, all of you!"
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They weren't exactly hidden, being on the desk and all that.

The battles wore on.

The third step thrust deeply into enemy lines, separating them and allowing the rebels to attack more of them at once.

It was time for Alpha to return to rest, before the fourth "step" began...and it was relatively warm at the makeshift base.
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He wants to be caught...

She took multiple pictures, and then went and set the picture-taking-device-thing that the humans used and conveniently "left" it with a paper sympathetic to the rebel cause.

Partially solidifying, she conjured colorful Drow writing utensils, and scribbled many things...threats in Common, insults in Drow, some satire in Elvish, Dwarvish, and something that looked like writing but wasn't.

And pictures. Caricatures were ALWAYS fun.

I'm amused now.

Alpha took the chance to get some sleep, some good food and a drink. They had been behind the lines for over a month, using liberated supplies to keep going. Well, they all slept, except Cougar. He stayed awake, as if he couldn't sleep. His eyes seemed hollow, as if he were dead. He quite obviously wasn't, but the illusion was close enough.
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"In a breaking report today, Lord President Constantine has been revealed to be on a number of drugs, including cannabis, ecstacy and diazepam. This latest revelation in the seemingly bizarre personal life of the Lord President has further eroded his support in the nation. Latest polls suggest as much as 75 percent of the civilian population is against him. With the war turning against him, the Assembly rebelling against him and the military in uproar, questions regarding his actions must be posed."

"In related news, Defence Secretary George was found dead at his family home in the early hours of this morning. The official police line is that he died of a heart attack, brought on by a combination of a congenital heart defect and a love of smoking."

When Step 5 of 7 was underway, Iliyakim returned to get some rest, himself.

"You look more dead than alive, ussta abbil. Can you not sleep at all?"

He sat down, taking out tools to work on Inthuul with.
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Tari, meanwhile, returned to Lyn-da-Vid, to go cause more havoc.

"I don't sleep much anymore. The war is taking a great toll on my humanity... I have dragged this nation to this... despite my convictions, I wonder sometimes if I did the right thing. So many are dead because of me."
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Raven had seen the report, and he smiled,Well done Tari... well done indeed

"One man does not start something like this. Especially not if he works from the shadows. No...this was coming even before. I said to you, months back, that I feared for what would happen. Constantine has asked for actions against him."
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Tari had no more secret, covert places on Lyn-da-Vid to destroy, nor any more supplies to steal.

This was problematic. So she asked Keris to locate Garth, and teleported a few feet away from that location.

"So, what's happening?"

"I know you did... those words have been spinning round my head for many months now. It has been three months, Iliyakim. Two since I have seen my children. Three months... we are making progress, but don't you think the task is too large, in those times when you are doing nothing else. I cannot give up, I will not give up. You might have heard this before, but I'm loyal to the end, to my purpose. If my purpose is to do this, that is what I shall do."
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Raven started from what he was doing, sharpening one of his knives, before returning to it,"Oh, nothing much at the moment. The war is dragging on, as per usual... saw what you did, by the way"

"If I'd thought the task too large, I'd still be back on Osea, fighting to liberate it. If I thought the task too small, I'd be dead. I just don't think about it. I think, though, that sometimes you worry about it too much. This is war...and yes, it is brutal. I know you're loyal to your cause...but I know not what to tell you about your humanity. But you need to rest."
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"It was fun. I haven't been able to paint on the walls since...oh, I'd have come to about your knee."

OOC: Welcome back Snake.

IC: It came from the Direction of Riptide. A ship painted Black like Space. Its design was unusual, it was small and light, yet its armaments seemed capable of defeating ships many times its strength. It was designed by a man thought to be a Genius, and this man was sitting in the Captians chair, his name was Cid, and he was the Designer of the Generation 2.

It symbolicly flew the White Flag of Peace, transmitting a Peace signal to any within the Area, so that they could pick up their Slivers on S.E.P.

"If I'd thought the task too large, I'd still be back on Osea, fighting to liberate it. If I thought the task too small, I'd be dead. I just don't think about it. I think, though, that sometimes you worry about it too much. This is war...and yes, it is brutal. I know you're loyal to your cause...but I know not what to tell you about your humanity. But you need to rest."
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"It was fun. I haven't been able to paint on the walls since...oh, I'd have come to about your knee."

"I've been trying, don't think I haven't... just, the last few months have been a strain of epic proportions."
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"I'm sure."

OOC: Welcome back Snake.

IC: It came from the Direction of Riptide. A ship painted Black like Space. Its design was unusual, it was small and light, yet its armaments seemed capable of defeating ships many times its strength. It was designed by a man thought to be a Genius, and this man was sitting in the Captians chair, his name was Cid, and he was the Designer of the Generation 2.

It symbolicly flew the White Flag of Peace, transmitting a Peace signal to any within the Area, so that they could pick up their Slivers on S.E.P.
What they hadn't bothered to understand was the following things. Number one, the nation was at war. No one was neutral. You were involved, or not. Number two, the borders had been closed. By closing the border, they had violated international law. In other circumstances, this would have warranted them being fired upon. As it was, they could make it to Snake Eater Prime in safety. However, the orbital defence platforms would no longer recognise them as a friend, and as such would open fire on them.

"I know this. I have something that can help you sleep, if you like."
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"What? That wasn't included? I thought it was some of my best work. Ah well. I just want to see his reaction. Probably won't, though."

"I know this. I have something that can help you sleep, if you like."
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"What? That wasn't included? I thought it was some of my best work. Ah well. I just want to see his reaction. Probably won't, though."

"What is it?"
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"Nau. It was funny to hear about on the DAB radio earlier"

"What is it?"
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"Nau. It was funny to hear about on the DAB radio earlier"
"An herb to induce sleep. For a human, it should give an effective four hours. No other side effects."
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"Oh? I was busy."

"That would be most welcome indeed"
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"Yeah, there was a report that someone had daubed things on the walls of the Adminstrium. Funny stuff. Knew it had to be you"

They Realised these possibilities, thus the Reason for only getting getting fired upon once, while a Single Spectral Sliver was Teleported below.

With that, the Generation 2 left for Riptide.

The Spectral Sliver on the Surface below, could find Slivers easily. He chose to Remain unseen, and could do this, since all spectral slivers were the spirits of ancient Slivers.

He floated towards Snake City looking for Slivers.

Iliyakim tosses a small box to him. Inside of it is a pill.
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"It was great. I doubt they'd have been able to translate everything, but I enjoyed it. If we're lucky, they're all confuuuuuuuuuused now."

~snip~
OOC: Great... because I can react to this

~snip~
He tipped it into his hand, and looked at it,"Is it instant?"
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"Well... nothing else changes."

"Quarter of an hour."
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She shrugs.

"I don't really have much to do, unless I try to join in open battle...which may or may not be a good idea."

James looked at it for a moment longer, the sounds of artillery and gunfire still ringing in his ears, before shrugging, and tipping it into his mouth, taking a swig from his water bottle, and swallowing.
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"I wouldn't advise it... I work on the outside looking in... and it's terrible. You fight with magick and close quaters in Kaymiril, which is so much different to pulse weapons and grenades and other such things"

Iliyakim repaired his Thalack in silence, to let Cougar get to sleep.
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"Yeah...but I don't have anything to do, and I'm pretty much here until the war is over, one way or other."

James lay down, and was asleep fifteen minutes later. But even when he slept, his hand rested on his pistol, and his muscles were tense beneath the skin.
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"Do you have to stay?"

OOC: You will in a minuete. He'll do something uncharacteristicly careless. Unless Ghosts of great big Giant snakes are commonplace of course.

IC: The Spectral Sliver made it all the way there. There were so many people, He was having trouble finding any Slivers. Once connected to the Hive mind, they could quickly leave, no problems. Perhaps if he materialised.

So it was that the Apecteral Sliver materialised, a 15 ft ghostly sliver, floating around hissing in Sliverese, which to human and Drow hearing, sounded much like a regular snake hissing. He was somewhere in the City.

James lay down, and was asleep fifteen minutes later. But even when he slept, his hand rested on his pistol, and his muscles were tense beneath the skin.
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"Do you have to stay?"
It's been a long war for him.

When Inthuul was repaired, Iliyakim checked on his troops' progress once more before he forced himself into a restive trance.
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"Yep. Shan'd make my life hell if I went back home, and if I go, then there'll naturally spring up something to do."

She conjured more of the sweet drink...extra sweet for Raven.

What this snake didn't realise was that the basic language of Snake Eaters was based off the snake tongue, and as such they had a rudimentary understanding of any hissing sound. Unfortunatley, it scared the hell out of anyone human, many of whom placed calls to the police.

It's been a long war for him.

When Inthuul was repaired, Iliyakim checked on his troops' progress once more before he forced himself into a restive trance.
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"Yep. Shan'd make my life hell if I went back home, and if I go, then there'll naturally spring up something to do."

She conjured more of the sweet drink...extra sweet for Raven.
James slept. As did the rest of his team. They were mentally and physically exhausted.
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"Poor thing"

He took the drink, and sipped at it, nodding his approval.

Iliyakim rested for three hours...the form of rest he was taking forced his mind to be sharper, faster. After the war, when he finally "slept," he likely wouldn't wake for twelve hours. He went back out to the front, just in time to start step seven.
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"Stop the sarcasm, Raven. I'm just trying to figure out what I'm supposed to do. I don't want to stop moving because if I do, I'll start wondering what the point is."

It sounded like the snake was hissing

Brothers.... Brothers.... Come, let us Return to the planet of our Births.

Though the Rest was not entirely discernable.

A Group of people seemed unafraid of the Snake, and stayed near it. Their skin suddenly became Scales. They looked at the panic striken people curiously.

"Please, do not be afraid, we have lived peacefully here for so long. We wish only to find Our remaing Brethren and we will leave in Peace." One Sliver hissed pleasantly in a common toungue.

With that, they walked ever so calmly and peacefully looking for the remaining Groups.

Everyone slept as much as they could, under present circumstances. It was tough, with all the sounds around them. Well, for anyone except them at least. They revelled in it, soaked it up, lived for the battle. They shunned fame and fortune to do what must be done... modern knights all.
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"My advice, never think about it. It sticks, and you can't stop doing it if you start"

It sounded like the snake was hissing

Brothers.... Brothers.... Come, let us Return to the planet of our Births.

Though the Rest was not entirely discernable.

A Group of people seemed unafraid of the Snake, and stayed near it. Their skin suddenly became Scales. They looked at the panic striken people curiously.

"Please, do not be afraid, we have lived peacefully here for so long. We wish only to find Our remaing Brethren and we will leave in Peace." One Sliver hissed pleasantly in a common toungue.

With that, they walked ever so calmly and peacefully looking for the remaining Groups.
This didn't really help. If anything, a large snake that was see-trought speaking basic only made things that little bit more surreal.

Everyone slept as much as they could, under present circumstances. It was tough, with all the sounds around them. Well, for anyone except them at least. They revelled in it, soaked it up, lived for the battle. They shunned fame and fortune to do what must be done... modern knights all.
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"My advice, never think about it. It sticks, and you can't stop doing it if you start"
Alpha Team were left alone, to sleep as much as they needed. Iliyakim could manuver with or without them.

And currently...it was going very well.
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"Precisely why I don't want to stop moving. I've been able to keep moving until now. Haven't done much, really, though."

They dissapeared from the battlefield the next day... most likely moving to a new battlefield, or maybe to go back to Alpha Two and get some more rest.
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"You'll be fine."

When Iliyakim had taken and secured his part of the continent, he moved on, as well.

He would take this world by storm, if at all possible.
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She leaned back against a wall.

"What time is it?"

With Lyn taken, most of the planet was under rebel control... it was difficult to find the remaining loyalists, who had retreated to the forests. There were two options; go and get them, or bombade them from orbit.
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"About five in the evening"

The Spectral Sliver eventually Realised this, and went to a state where normal people could not see him. By this point, half of them had been found, and they walked seperatly, but near enough to keep in sight of one another.

Iliyakim realized that the safest way was to bombard them.

He also realized that that would do too much damage to the planet.

It was quite the conundrum.
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"What a lousy time."

This was the problem with being in command. Sometimes, you were forced to choose the lesser of two evils... this was one of those times.
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"I suppose you could say that"

She cracked her neck.

"So, what's our status, anyway, on this planet?"

"About halfway there... Iliyakim is doing a steller job of it"

"He sounded like the type to get a job done. Pity we lost him."

"He's suited to the job... problem is, this job is very taxing. Anyone, man or Drow, can only go so long before they crack under pressure."

"He'll be fine. Or not, and just ignore what's happening to him until he's gone much farther than he could ever possibly go, and then probably be out for quite a while to deal with the internal injures he'd have brought upon himself."
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Iliyakim had finally reached a decision.

"We're going in after them. We'll first send Velxunii to locate them, and from there, we will attack them."

"From what I hear, he's had to be forcibly removed from operations before to stop him pushing himself that far"
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The unit commanders nodded, and slowly advanced into the woods. It wasn't dense woodland, but it was still dense enough to obscure their vision substantially. After the rolling plains, it was a stark contrast.

All Three hundred Slivers Gathered in a Large Park. With a Great Rustling, The Slivers Resumed their original Form.

The ancestor Reappeared, and began opening a Gateway back to Riptide, but it would take some time.

"I believe it. Sarnor Zotreth does a job until it's done. It won't stop any sooner, or any later. He's still got that mindset."
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The little spy birds flew out to take a look at what there was to see.

All Three hundred Slivers Gathered in a Large Park. With a Great Rustling, The Slivers Resumed their original Form.

The ancestor Reappeared, and began opening a Gateway back to Riptide, but it would take some time.
They were still being treated with extreme trepidation. It wasn't something that Snake Eaters was used to.

~snip~
"He's been with the unit long enough, he should be out of that idea by now. Working yourself to exhaustion and breakdown means you're no good to anyone"
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The enemy were spread over a large area, and had dug themselves in as best as they could.

The Spectral Sliver began to Glow Brightly.

"Eight years against almost two centuries...He'll be fine. You just don't know what he can do yet."
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There is a human profanity that I believe would be appropriate.

Iliyakim arranged to meet with another "team" on the other side. They would begin at a given signal...in this case, midnight.

"I hope you're right... I won't live to see it though"
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They snuck quietly round, and waited for the signal. They knew the stakes at risk here, and as such were on edge. Highly on edge.

"You might."
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When midnight came, they started moving.

Iliyakim had pinpointed the locations and defenses, and planned accordingly.

Hopefully he hadn't been fooled, or this could go badly.

"If I'm lucky, sure"
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They moved slowly. This sort of thing took time. The enemy may have placed mines, booby traps, other such things. It was slow progress, but Iliyakim's intel had been right. It was much, much easier to get in this way. Going in from the front was suicide.

When they were finally within range, Iliyakim's "heavy guns" opened fire.

This battle would be hell soon.
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"Are you sure there's nothing to do?"

The Spectral Sliver became a Great Rip in Space. Riptide was on the otherside. All 300 Slivers began to Leave Single-file.

"Oh shit, they're behind us!"

"Turn the armour around!"

"They're firing"

The comm-nets were choked with radio traffic. Hell reigned supreme in the enemy encampment that night. It was a slaughterfest on the sides of the loyalists. Almost all of them were wiped out, with a lucky few surviving until the morning.
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"Close enough, I'm just waiting for off-world transport"

Iliyakim took the opportunities he could to capture loyalists.

God knew how many Loyalist POWs there were on Osea at the moment.
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"Great. What other targets are there to hit?"

-snip-

Up. Down. Left. Right. Duck and weave, dive and dodge, tack and parry. The deadly waltz of gunships was repeated over and over, the steps a blazing fast trail of energy in the sky.

Inside the cockpits of all the gunships, an eerie silence held. They had recieved orders: avoid any incoming fire and hold position until the enemy line broke, and take combat designation Lima squadron. Then it would be time to sell their lives as dearly as they could. Strike craft lived on the edge, accepting no foundation more stable than a knife.

A gunship trio broke off from the group. Sighting a smaller ship, they converged their axial weapons on it, firey lances streaking through the inky void. Weaving to avoid counter-fire, they retreated to the relative safety of the line ships.

Iliyakim took the opportunities he could to capture loyalists.

God knew how many Loyalist POWs there were on Osea at the moment.
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"Great. What other targets are there to hit?"

And god only knew how many POW's there were in all. The number was high, to be sure, beaten only by the number of dead. By the time the battle was over, Iliyakim had at least five hundred to add to the tally, the remaining choosing to die rather than be captured.
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"I'm leaving to go to Yuktobania. It's an ice world... fighting is sporadic at best."

He sent them on to Osea, along with the rest.

Now it was time to start the repair work, and really take the planet.

Pacifying civilians was not his strong suit, but he could do it well enough.
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"Well, I could either go there with you or head on to Snake Eater Prime to cause more trouble."

Up. Down. Left. Right. Duck and weave, dive and dodge, tack and parry. The deadly waltz of gunships was repeated over and over, the steps a blazing fast trail of energy in the sky.

Inside the cockpits of all the gunships, an eerie silence held. They had recieved orders: avoid any incoming fire and hold position until the enemy line broke, and take combat designation Lima squadron. Then it would be time to sell their lives as dearly as they could. Strike craft lived on the edge, accepting no foundation more stable than a knife.

A gunship trio broke off from the group. Sighting a smaller ship, they converged their axial weapons on it, firey lances streaking through the inky void. Weaving to avoid counter-fire, they retreated to the relative safety of the line ships.

The battle was hard, and fought for a long time. But, eventually, through sheer tenacity, the rebel forces broke the blockades' collective back. The Hydra sailed through the remains of destroyed enemy ships, taking on survivours... though there were little. One ship, an Intrepid-class, had suffered explosive decompression from Decks 1 through 10... the saucer section was basically gone. It was scary to watch, terrifying even. The ship had been lost with all hands, but now salvage crews from the rebel fleet stripped it down. Engines, weapons, warp coils, rations... anything and everything, except peoples personal effects. Those were left out of respect for the dead, in the large number of cases. The dead were also left... cremation wasn't an option on this scale... not yet. Maybe, one day. But not this day.

Captain Gorbac was in his ready room, compiling the list of ships lost in the battle to transmit to Fleet Admiral Rommel, and then pressed a button on the touchscreen in front of him, opening up a channel to the no Endorse ships,"You're clear. I suggest you move to Osea, and rendevous with the rest of the Second Fleet. You'll be reassigned from there. Sorry, but you're not suited to holding duties. Congratulations though... this battle was one of the toughest so far."

~snip~
Snake Eater Prime
The reports started coming in. Constantine swore, and then chucked a few pills down his throat to calm him down. First Osea, then Mamba, and now Lyn-da-Vid had fallen to the rebels. Not only that, but Tiravano, the site of the main Snake Eater shipyards, was looking increasingly unstable. Still, he controlled the Cobrian system, as well as Yuktobania and Belka. So far, it was all even... now, all he had to was inflict a crushing defeat on the rebels. But where? Tiravano, a water planet... no, too difficult. What about Yuktobania? An ice planet on the fringes of Snake Eater space, it was part of the Tri-System, which consisted of Belka, Osea, and Yuktobania.

He sat at his desk, intent on writing a statement to be distributed to the public. As he reached the end of the first sentence, his pen scribed the star of Kaelis Ra. He swore again, and tried once more. Same result. Eventually, he broke the pen in half, and tried a different one. Same result. He eventually set fire to the pen holder using a Zippotm lighter, and then pressed the intercom,"Ms.George, tell Supplies I need new pens"

"How many, sir?"

"About," he did a quick count,"A couple of hundred, just in case"

There was a pause, but it was brief. She was used to his oddities by now,"Yes, Lord President"

He must be on the downers... he's never this nice normally
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They were actually on his side. It wasn't hard to pacify people who had been oppresed by the loyalists. Although many of them had lost someone, they didn't blame Iliyakim or the rebels. No, they blamed Constantine. They wanted Barbarossa back in office... it was looking more and more like something had been wrong with the last election.
________________________________________________________________________
"Depends, what do you prefer? Thick jungle, or ice-cold snow?"

Ah...but that was the beauty of being a Velkyn...and just how absolutely frustrating it was to have a Velkyn play a prank on you.

After she'd cursed Constantine's pens, she laid another one on the top layer...this would curse Constantine's writing hand...any "dot" on his paper would create the symbol most dreaded in Snake Eaters.
______________________________________________________________________
With Lyn-da-Vid taken, and reconstruction efforts underway, Iliyakim took the chance to rest his troops for a few days, before calling Alpha Two.

"Lyn-da-Vid is ours...where should we go next?"
_______________________________________________________________________
"It really doesn't matter to me. I don't prefer cold or heat, jungle or ice to the other. I can work equally well in either terrain."

And so it went on and on, for any time he attempted to write, he found he couldn't do it. Also, it insisted on leaving the signature as,'Damien Constantine, loyal servant of Kaelis Ra'. This didn't help his mindset any.
__________________________________________________________________________
"Negative, Iliyakim. You're to return to base... all of us are coming home. Something big is going down. Everyone in the unit."
_________________________________________________________________________
"Well, I've been called back to base... looks like something big is being planned. I think it'd be best if you come as well."

The Drow Captain nodded. "Understood. What of the regular troops? Where should I send them?"
_____________________________________________________________________
"All right...sounds like a plan."

"Hand them over to the their commanders, and give them the plans. Then leave. The Argenta is in orbit for you, just give them a buzz when you want to leave."
_______________________________________________________________________

"Yeah... we'll get over there soon. The Argenta is scheduled to take us in the morning"

"Understood. It will take a few hours to gather the rest of Gamma...but we will be gone before morning."
_____________________________________________________________________
"Now I really wish there was some trouble here to cause. Eight hours is more than plenty of time."

"Understood"
______________________________________________________________________
"You could teleport to Snake Eater Prime and do some damage if you want. Your choice though"

Iliyakim closed the channel, and contacted his team. They were pulling out.

He then gave orders to the rest of the troops...some to stay, some to move on to Tiravino...and he sent them with plans.
_____________________________________________________________________
"I would...but what's a good place to hit, other than annoying Constantine again? I shouldn't do that...the last prank I pulled will have 'em reeling for a while."

"I'm not quite sure, actually."

"Then there's really nothing to do. It takes too long to do anything on Belka, or I'd go back there."

"Best get some more rest then"

"Too early."

She started languidly playing with little spell lights.

Raven shrugged, and pulled up a holographic chess board. The pieces were already arrayed as if he'd been playing for days. He stared intently at it, and then his rook moved forward,"Got you"

"Playing with Mantis?"

"Yeah, using nano-communication. He's pretty good actually."

"Never played it, so I wouldn't know."

OOC:
Iliyakim would lose at chess so badly.

OOC: I see...

IC: "Well, it's a way to relax"

He seemed lost in thought, as the black bishop moved forward to attack his king.

She had nothing better to do but watch, so she did.

All across the war, people seemed relaxed in their own way. Some of them played games, some of them drank. Others procreated. It was the way things were. Raven seemed content to play chess, or read, or otherwise. He kept an eye on Tari though...he felt like she was the sister he never really had.

It could work like that...even if she had just turned fifty.

As far as relaxation went, another player in this war (unwilling to think of himself as a key player, no matter who else did), found it difficult.

Even when he was not in a war zone...even when the blood, sweat, and grime had been cleared from his body, Iliyakim was going over reports from other fields, seeing what he couldn't do to help, even from such a distance.

It was probably futile, he thought.

But it didn't stop him from trying.

He knew he'd get reprimanded for it eventually.

But that didn't stop him from trying, either.

Elliot stopped by before morning,"You're going to burn yourself out one day, you know that don't you?"

"Three years."

"Say what?"

"In another war, similar to this -- well before you were born -- I was the tactician for my group. On that field, there were more skilled players of Aklyen...I was out almost constantly. Took me three years to burn out."

"In any case, you need to watch out. Trust me, I've seen it happen."

"As have I. Don't worry, Elliot. I know how far I can go before I need to rest."

"The rest of us are getting a drink before we leave. Come and join us, and stop cooping yourself away."

"Very well."

He transmitted the plans he'd come up with so far, and stood.

"Good man."

Elliot led him to the bar that was located in the city, which was open to the rebel soliders that night, and brought him the drink that he so richly deserved.

The Slivers were finally all gone, but the Spectral Sliver was not. He decided to Float around the City unseen, so as to not scare anybody. All He knew, was that Barvarossa had lost during this country's elections previously, and now there was a Rebbellion against the new leader. Surely he could find out more, listening to the people on the street.

He took the drink, and joined the rest of his team.

"Three planets we've been to and helped to take...and tomorrow, back to base."

He looked around at the rest of Gamma. "You tell me to rest, Elliot, when the rest of you look like you'll keel over any minute."

He took the drink, and joined the rest of his team.

"Three planets we've been to and helped to take...and tomorrow, back to base."

He looked around at the rest of Gamma. "You tell me to rest, Elliot, when the rest of you look like you'll keel over any minute."
"You can't work all the time."

"But nor can you."

"We know that. You, on the other hand, don't seem to understand it from time to time."

"I've also been at this for longer than you have. More time to find out how long and hard I can go."

"You need to find yourself a girl, mate. Don't ask why, you just do."

Iliyakim took a sip of his beverage before responding.

"Maybe after the war. But not until."

"That's the best idea"

They all sipped at whatever they were drinking, and looked around. Rebel troops from all backgrounds were drinking together. They were united by a common cause... fighting Constantine. It was the cement of their wall, metaphorically speaking.

Iliyakim looked around as well.

Three months, they'd been at this. And Gamma with only small amounts of rest. No wonder they told him to slow up...after all, while he could keep this pace, they couldn't. He would have to slow down some, for them, if not for himself.

Still, the war was promising, at least so much as a war can be.

Three months, three planets, with Tiravino tilting more to the Rebels' favor daily. The loyalists still had firm control over three planets...but Constantine's approval ratings had plummeted, even there.

It wouldn't be long now...maybe another three or four months until victory was decided.

And then we can recover from this bloody mess...recover slowly...but recover, nonetheless.

The next morning, the Arganta hailed Iliyakim,"We're ready for transport, Captain."

Raven and Tari had already been beamed aboard, and shown where they could rest.
________________________________________________________________________
Cougar was resting on a firestep in a trench on Lyn-da-Vid. His blond hair was matted with blood and dirt, his hands healing after a long time spent getting damaged. His eyes were closed, and he just sat there, the rifle he carried across his knees. He had been dozing for some fifteen minutes before a young private approached and sat down next to him,"Excuse me"

He opened one blue eye, and looked,"Yes?"

"Are you..."

"The White Devil?"

The private nodded in agreement.

"Yes. Yes, I am."

"Sir... why do we do this?"

Cougar straightened,"Why do we continue to fight this war? Let me ask you, do you have children?"

"A boy and a girl, why?"

"Don't you want them to grow up in a free and prosperous society? Constantine would remove those things we hold dear. That, my young friend, is why we fight"

"But don't you wish it could all be stopped?"

"More than you know..."

Cougar stood up, and then tossed a bottle to the private,"I suggest you drink that. It'll help you recover from that burn you have."

The Spectral Sliver finally managed to find discarded newspapers and read them. Now he knew. But did he have a part in this War? Warhaven thought of Barabarossa as a friend, were not friends supposed to help each other out during their times of need?

He thought so. So he decided to look for a way to help Barbarossa, if only he could find a way to contact him, he could offer the services of the Sliver hive.

He decided to look for a way to help Barbarossa. Even if it meant going to the palace directly and making plans go awry, such as, instead of orders to attack, orders to stand down, orders to move in, become orders to withdraw. Imagine the Chaos!

"One moment, Arganta."

Iliyakim sent a Codec beep out to any other units on the planet...it was time to go.

They all responded quickly. We're ready to go

"All right, Arganta...Take us up."

The Arganta took them all on board, and then turned towards Alpha Two. Within six hours, they were all back at base. James was already there, a serious look on his face,"Briefing in two hours. Make sure you're all there"

And this time, I don't have to fly the shuttle.

________

Back at base, Iliyakim heard the order and nodded. He'd be there, and he knew his team would be, too.

The Spectral Sliver was clearly not going to find a way to get ahold of Barbarossa, so, maybe he could do something for him in the palace.

So the Spectral Sliver went to the Palace, to cause Chaos, disorder, and confusion of all types. An unseen enemy within.

Two Hours later
The entire unit was assembled... it was a near miracle they were all still alive at all. However, James Cougar was not phased by this. Instead, he seemed to revel in it. They had been gathered in one of the cargo bays. A holoemitter had been rigged to provide them with more information.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome back. We're three months in, and still this war is going on. AS you all know, we control Osea, Mamba and, thanks to Iliyakim, have recently liberated Lyn-da-Vid."

As he was speaking, the holoemitter projected these areas onto a map of Snake Eaters. It wasn't detailed enough to show individual ships, but it served.

"As you know, Tiravano is going more our way every day we stay there. However, we must move on. Our next campaign target is that of Yuktobania. By focusing our efforts on only two planets, we can make it that much easier to bear the load of this war. As of right now, we're to concentrate on these two fronts alone. You will each be assigned your area of operations in a short while. Some of you will be assigned to space combat, some to ground, some to aquatic, so brush up on all of them"

He paused for a moment, and then continued,"On a personal note... we've been pushing ourselves harder than ever before, doing incredible things... we are in our element. Continue to do so... and we cannot lose this war. Alright, dismissed"

The Spectral Sliver was clearly not going to find a way to get ahold of Barbarossa, so, maybe he could do something for him in the palace.

So the Spectral Sliver went to the Palace, to cause Chaos, disorder, and confusion of all types. An unseen enemy within.

There was no such thing as a palace in Snake Eaters.

Iliyakim left at the dismissal. He would see where he was going before making more plans.

Until then, he had something he didn't know what to do with.

Free time.

__________________________
Tari just hoped she wasn't assigned to something she didn't know how to do.

She was a mage, not a soldier.

As they left, each team leader was handed a padd with their assignement on it. Iliyakim, as the most expierenced ground commander, was assigned to Yuktobania. Romeo Team were assigned to Tiravano. The assassins and other units could decide for themselves where they wanted to go... and Tari... Tari was hand-picked by Cougar, who approached her,"Tari, you're going to Yuktobania. Until Mantis is back on his feet, work with Raven."

Iliyakim started looking over the pad, and anything he could get on Yuktobania.

Now, more than ever, with them going down to strike FIRST, he had to have plans.
____________
Tari nods. "I can do that."

Cougar took him aside,"Iliyakim, the Colonial Marines are going to be staging their assualt in one week from today. You have that much time to prepare. As soon as they land, they will attempt to create a landing zone. It's your choice when you go in."
_________________________________________________________________________
Raven grinned at her,"Looks like it's you and me then"

The Spectral Sliver knew this, however that is what all of the buildings seemed to him, Palaces. It was confusion between Species, a misunderstanding. He was looking for the Administrum He knew the President had to be in one of these buildings, and thus maybe a spy or two for the Rebels. It made sense to him at least. Though War was never his strong point in life, possibly because it did not exist when he was alive, At least, not on Riptide.

Cougar took him aside,"Iliyakim, the Colonial Marines are going to be staging their assualt in one week from today. You have that much time to prepare. As soon as they land, they will attempt to create a landing zone. It's your choice when you go in."
_________________________________________________________________________
Raven grinned at her,"Looks like it's you and me then"
He nodded. "How many troops are we expecting to have?"
_____________________________________________________________________
"Looks like it. So, what are we doing? I normally go in and make things explode...but what do you do?"

He nodded. "How many troops are we expecting to have?"
_____________________________________________________________________
"Looks like it. So, what are we doing? I normally go in and make things explode...but what do you do?"

"At least sixty to eighty thousand total. It's not much... but it's a start. Don't worry, you're not in overall command. Not a slur against you... just, this is a big operation."
______________________________________________________________________
"Well, blow shit up, kill some high-ranking people... you know, standard life really."

He nods. "Sixty thousand is more than enough to make a start. Out of curiosity, who will I be reporting to?"
_____________________________________________________________________
"Yeah, sounds fairly standard. Like that one thing, what was it? Five years back? Only on a grander scale."

"Major General John Douglas is taking command of the operation overall. Report to him, only when it's needed though. He's a good man, Coldstream Guard."
_____________________________________________________________________
"Kinda like that, I suppose. Well, we can leave now, or leave later. Either one is good"

"I've heard his name. Good commander."
_____________________________________________________________________
"Let's leave now. Well, so long as we have a map."

"Yes, he is. More than capable of this. You can contact if you want, but don't tell him everything. We need to work in the dark as much as possible"
_______________________________________________________________________
"Got a map right here," he said, holding up the padd with the details of the planet on it.

"I'll leave him be for now."
____________________________________________________________________
"Then let's get moving."

"Good idea. Get ready... this looks to be the toughest yet. And wrap up warm...this place is cold. Really cold"

And with that, he vanished, back to work behind the scenes, just like he always did.
_____________________________________________________________________
"I'll get us a ship"

He hurried over to the hanger, leading her there, and chatting with the techs, before signalling her towards a fast, sleek vessel, named the Trickster,"I think the name is apt for you"

Iliyakim nodded, and went off to prepare.

Over the next several days, he could always be seen with two datapads, and a cup of coffee.
____________________________________________________________________
"Perfect."

She hops in, looking over the controls. "Although I think I'll let you fly."

Elliot approached Emily after four days of this,"You've got to stop him working."

"How?"

"He lived in a matriachal society... he's used to women taking control. Why not try that?"

"Something... impulsive?"

"Sounds like a good idea"

Day Five... a Friday
She walked into the room where Iliyakim was, looking hard at him. SHe couldn't believe what she had planned,"Put that work down, solider."
_____________________________________________________________________
He laughed,"A good idea, all told."

He settled himself into the pilots chair, and eased them away from the base, before sending them plunging towards Yuktobania.

Iliyakim started, and looked at her blankly for a moment, then grinned.

"Good day to you, as well."
______________________________________________________________________
While they were on their way, she looked at the map, marking places to hit. They were the places most likely to have enemy supplies or power sources...good places to destroy.

God-damn it

"Do you never stop working?"
_______________________________________________________________________
"You look fairly intent and focused on that map."

"Only when need dictates."
______________________________________________________________________
"I like to know what I'm hitting before I get there."

She seemed to hesitate a moment, and then put her hand under his chin, tilted his head up, and kissed him. It wasn't drawn out, it wasn't designed to entice... well, maybe a little bit. But it would almost be guranteed to stop him working.

She drew back after a few seconds, and smiled a devilish smile,"If that doesn't stop you... nothing will"

OOC: The point of this? Love can bloom anywhere, anytime.
_______________________________________________________________________
"I see that as a fair point... still, haven't you ever just run with it? You know, gone with the flow?"

Shock. Complete and utter shock.

"What just happened?"

Iliyakim hadn't meant the words to come out of his mouth...but they had.
___________________________________________________________________
"Yeah. Found it wastes time."

"Think on it. Maybe it will stop you working for a while."

With that, she made her way towards the exit.
_______________________________________________________________________
"Spoilsport"

"..."

Human women have got to be the most confusing creatures I've ever met.

With that, he picked the pad back up.

They didn't want him to work...but he didn't want to think about what that kiss meant.
_____________________________________________________________________
"I get that a lot. But I also have yet to get shot at, so."

"For gods sake man, are you completely without emotions?"

Elliot came into the room, swearing blue murder.
_________________________________________________________________________
"Don't say that... or you will get shot"

"No. And calm down."
_______________________________________________________________________
"Probably. But I made sure to say that I haven't been shot at yet, not that I won't get shot at. There's a difference. Can't be a mage without knowing about jinxes and how to counter them."

"No. And calm down."


"I mean, come on. She just kissed you, and you... you just sit there!"
__________________________________________________________________________
In a sarcastic manner, he said,"I hate you, you know that?"

"First of all, do you have any idea how long it's been since I've been in a romantic relationship? Second of all, this is war time. We go out in two or three days, we could be plowed down within minutes of landing, or even before we get there. She could be killed on her mission. There are no certainties. I'm unwilling to give that child hope if fate's just going to take it away from her. It wouldn't be fair to her."
_____________________________________________________________________
"Oh, I know. But you get to work with me anyway, so you might as well make the best of it."

She grins.

"You're clear. I suggest you move to Osea, and rendevous with the rest of the Second Fleet. You'll be reassigned from there. Sorry, but you're not suited to holding duties. Congratulations though... this battle was one of the toughest so far."
Those linebreakers did most of the work for us... Next time we need to be more agressive, hit harder and faster. Next time they'll think of us as the black wraiths!

Shaking out of her reverie, the slightly tired flight leader pressed her communications panel. "Yes sir, We're heading out. Unfotionatly we suffered some heavy damage on a pair of our craft. Please call ahead and tell them we'd like to do a few repairs there."

Without waiting for an answer, the formation gathered together and winked out of reality.

------------

Tearing back into realspace at their given coordinates, the formation immediatly took an agressive formation. "All craft stay sharp, let's see what we have here first."

"First of all, do you have any idea how long it's been since I've been in a romantic relationship? Second of all, this is war time. We go out in two or three days, we could be plowed down within minutes of landing, or even before we get there. She could be killed on her mission. There are no certainties. I'm unwilling to give that child hope if fate's just going to take it away from her. It wouldn't be fair to her."
_____________________________________________________________________
"Oh, I know. But you get to work with me anyway, so you might as well make the best of it."

She grins.

"On one hand, you're right. It is dangerous... and what with your past, it isn't surprising that you are cautious. On the other, and forgive me if I sound naive to you, but sometimes you have to forget fate and give it a go. A wise human once said,'It is better to have loved and lost then to have never loved at all.' In this situation, it appears far more pertinent then most would have themselves believe."
_______________________________________________________________________
He laughed,"One day, Tari, I might just start to scratch the surface of you."

~snip~
"Roger that, we'll tell them to expect you"

-----------

AS they emerged in an agressive formation, they were treated as hostile until further notice. A squadron of Cobra's (http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a6/SnakeEaters/Miscellanious/CobraMkX.jpg) took off from the nearest capital ship and came round to flank them. From the hull markings, they were members of the Razgriz squadron, an elite squadron within the Air Force,"State your name and intentions. Failure to comply will result in us opening fire"

"On one hand, you're right. It is dangerous... and what with your past, it isn't surprising that you are cautious. On the other, and forgive me if I sound naive to you, but sometimes you have to forget fate and give it a go. A wise human once said,'It is better to have loved and lost then to have never loved at all.' In this situation, it appears far more pertinent than most would have themselves believe."
_______________________________________________________________________
He laughed,"One day, Tari, I might just start to scratch the surface of you."
"Elliot, I have had too many people close to me die during times such as these. Not only am I cautious for my sake...I do not want to let her close and then lose her...but I am cautious, also, for hers."
____________________________________________________________________
"Why one day? I'd tell you most anything, if you asked."

"If we were civilians and having this conversation, I would be agreeing with you. However, we're not civvies. We're the elite. The best. We're trained to stay alive, to seperate ourselves from others for a reason. But you can't go through life completely alone. Look, I know what you've been through, and I can understand your trepidation... but you'll outlive us all regardless. If you stick to this caution, you'll never be hurt again... but you'll go through life completely alone."

Elliot was no stranger to this. He had lost a lover once... it had hurt him terribly. But he also knew that he had to move on... to love again. The human lifespan was a mere pinprick on the canvas of time, but he intended to live it to the full. By the same principle, a Drow life was not much bigger, and so suffered from the same intrinsic difficulties.
_______________________________________________________________________
"I don't like to pry"

He took a drink and sighed.

"Your principles hold true. But for now, I don't like the situation on Yuktobania. Something...just doesn't seem right."
_____________________________________________________________________
"Well, I remember asking you quite a bit when we first met."

"I agree... it all seems... well, too quiet on that planet. Far too quiet for my liking."
________________________________________________________________________
"Yeah, you did. But that's where you and I differ... after all, theres not all that much you can tell me, right?"

"Mine as well. Even Mamba didn't look this bad."
______________________________________________________________________
"Well, I might be able to tell you some things. Just depends on what you ask."

"Well... we'll just have to see what happens when we get there. Until then... we just have to trust to luck"
_____________________________________________________________________________
He stared intently at the controls,"I don't like asking questions."

"Unfortunate as that may be."
________________________________________________
She shook her head. "Same as ever."

"Too true... far too true."
_____________________________________________________________________

He lapsed into silence.

AS they emerged in an agressive formation, they were treated as hostile until further notice. A squadron of Cobra's (http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a6/SnakeEaters/Miscellanious/CobraMkX.jpg) took off from the nearest capital ship and came round to flank them. From the hull markings, they were members of the Razgriz squadron, an elite squadron within the Air Force,"State your name and intentions. Failure to comply will result in us opening fire"
Kelly didn't like fighters. She hated them with a bloody passion, something important in a gunship pilot. "State your own intentions sir. We've been sent from the planet of Mamba after helping to tear that little royalist blockade apart to rendevous with the second fleet.

I'm afraid that you are most likely not be cleared to know where we're ultimatly from, and I honestly don't want to tell you. However, rest assured that we are on the rebel side, and we'll tell your C-O. Do you guys have some repair facilities where we can fix our damaged ships before we go fight again?"

Pausing for a second, she decided to at least give the pilot something to go on. "By the way, I'm flight leader Kelly, and this is Lima squadron, official designation Zero-Zero-Three."

The gunships fell back to a more neutral formation.

"It doesn't make much sense, either. We have a decent amount of troops, and a spot that if we can clear, we can start from well."
_____________________________________________________________________
She went back to locating places to hit.

"Hey, Raven...you don't have to be afraid to talk to me."

~snip~

The lead fighter was on the verge of firing, before it wheeled over the top,"We're here because we're fleet defence at the moment. You came in an aggressive formation, and you ask us our intentions! Follow our lead, we'll take you to a place you can repair."

~snip~
"Oh well, we shall see soon enough. Just... take care, alright?"

Elliot stood up, and left Iliyakim to do what he wanted.
_______________________________________________________________________
"I know... but I still don't talk to many people."

"Oh well, we shall see soon enough. Just... take care, alright?"

Elliot stood up, and left Iliyakim to do what he wanted.
_______________________________________________________________________
"I know... but I still don't talk to many people."
"You as well."

He went back to making plans. He knew he wouldn't burn out. Not yet.
______________________________________________________________________
"Which is why you need to speak more to those you do talk to."

Time was running out. The battle grew closer. It would be a pivotol battle in the struggle. If the rebels won, they stood a good chance of winning the war before the end of the year. If, however, the loyalist forces won, it would deal severe morale damage to the rebels, maybe extend the war even further.

________________________________________________________________________
"I know I should... but hell, it's difficult in a job like mine"

That, if anything, is what put stress on Iliyakim. In the days before the battle began, he forced himself to both sleep and eat, stockpiling tupora fashka for a time when he would expend more than he would be able to take in.

Other than that, he spent hours going over the planet, and formulating plans, different plans, reworking old plans and throwing some out.

He even got out his old Aklyen "board," trying to figure out what would be best to do.

Aklyen could be set for unequal starting forces and armaments, and for different terrains.

The more Iliyakim worked it out, the less he liked the situation, and the more he worked.
_______________________________________________________________________
"I know it isn't easy. But you'll become very little more than a shell if you don't at least keep some sort of contact. The kind with flesh and blood, and a soul...no offense to your velxun'yrr."

The Spectral Sliver found the Admistrum, where the President would usually be, though he didn't know that, he just rand,oly drifted into buildings until he found the one that matched what the Living slivers remembered from over the past ten years. He wandered through the building, looking for ways to disturb the government.

The lead fighter was on the verge of firing, before it wheeled over the top,"We're here because we're fleet defence at the moment. You came in an aggressive formation, and you ask us our intentions! Follow our lead, we'll take you to a place you can repair."

"We always do. If you're not ready when you come out of hyper, you're liable to get spaced pretty fast, and this comes from the experience of surviving it once.

I apologize for the confusion, but we're used to jumping right into the middle of an enemy formation. Didn't the fellows at Mamba call ahead and say we were coming? ...doesn't matter. We're here now. I'd like make up later, but my wingman needs a dock pretty badly."

The gunships began to follow the fighters, taking a passive formation.

ooc: the hostility is completly IC. Gunships hate fighters almost as much as they hate dreadnoughts.

That, if anything, is what put stress on Iliyakim. In the days before the battle began, he forced himself to both sleep and eat, stockpiling tupora fashka for a time when he would expend more than he would be able to take in.

Other than that, he spent hours going over the planet, and formulating plans, different plans, reworking old plans and throwing some out.

He even got out his old Aklyen "board," trying to figure out what would be best to do.

Aklyen could be set for unequal starting forces and armaments, and for different terrains.

The more Iliyakim worked it out, the less he liked the situation, and the more he worked.
_______________________________________________________________________
"I know it isn't easy. But you'll become very little more than a shell if you don't at least keep some sort of contact. The kind with flesh and blood, and a soul...no offense to your [i]velxun'yrr/i]."
He was left to his own designs. Everyone else was gearing up, getting ready. Yuktobania was an icy wasteland for the most part, with the only people on the planet living in cities buried under the ice. It was dangerous terrain, mountains and glaciers strewn across it. And the average temperature was at least ten below zero in centigrade. Luckily, they all had access to thermal combat suits.
_________________________________________________________________________
"I'm fine... don't worry about me for the moment. Just focus on our mission for now"

Iliyakim had found his early on. He stayed packed...it was easier that way. Besides, all he had was his combat gear.
_____________________________________________________________________
She pats him on the hand briefly, then goes back to looking over what she had.

She didn't like this.

At all.

The mood was somber on the base, and indeed across the entire rebel army.
_______________________________________________________________________
"Not happy about something?"

With good reason, at least as far as Iliyakim was concerned.

At least he wasn't in charge of the entire planet. He only had to worry about his sector.
____________________________________________________________________
"Yeah...I dunno what it is, but I have a bad feeling about this."

"Gut instinct?"

"Mmm. Something like that."

"We always do. If you're not ready when you come out of hyper, you're liable to get spaced pretty fast, and this comes from the experience of surviving it once.

I apologize for the confusion, but we're used to jumping right into the middle of an enemy formation. Didn't the fellows at Mamba call ahead and say we were coming? ...doesn't matter. We're here now. I'd like make up later, but my wingman needs a dock pretty badly."

The gunships began to follow the fighters, taking a passive formation.

ooc: the hostility is completly IC. Gunships hate fighters almost as much as they hate dreadnoughts.
OOC: Then gunships are concieted arrogant tossers. In an IC sense, of course

IC: "Then you need to work on your tracking technology. In any case, they called, and a repair bay on the BelDragos class up ahead... the largest ship in the fleet."

"Mmm. Something like that."

"I know the feeling... I've had it since this war started. You have to rely on instinct to survive. That, and training."

"Yeah. I'm gonna get some sleep...wake me when we get there, if I'm not already awake."

He nodded,"There's plently of time to sleep when you're dead"

With that slice of macbre humour, he took them to the ice planet...

Two days later
Time was up for Gamma Team. They had to leave. Now. The task force designated to attack Yuktobania was ready to leave Osea. Their orders were to rendevous with it in orbit of Yuktobania, and prepare for ground assualt. They were the tenth team to leave, simply because the others had different assignments. Romeo team were due to leave six hours after Gamma. They had been assigned to Tiravano, something that didn't surprise anyone.

"But I'm not going to die for centuries, so I'll take my sleep now."
_______________________________________________________________________
Just before he went to join his team on the transport, Iliyakim had sought out Emily...well, he'd had his velxun'yrr locate hers.

When he found her, he kissed her. Not long, not really much of anything.

"Good luck."

And with that, he vanished, headed toward Yuktobania, with as bad a feeling about it as ever.

There was a brief silence on all sides after this little encounter. Partial shock on her side of things, amazement on his side of things. It was so unexpected, that silence reigned until the transport containing Gamma, Mike and Quebec teams had lifted off.

As she watched him fly away, she smiled slightly,Well... looks like I had more of an effect than I realised

She seemed to be happy constantly until they too left the base. Within twelve hours, the ship had turned from a bustling hive of activity to a ghost ship, almost completely devoid of human life.

Above Osea, Alhuma opened up a hailing channel.

*This is Alhuma of the Zombies. I am ready to be told where the fighting is hardest. I will help out any way that I can. Also, i would like some clearance for members of my Red Hoods unit to enter Snake Eaters space. They are a unit of mages.*

Just to be sure, he broadcasted in a language he knew that the Drow used, and he was sure he had received reports of Drow activity

**Nindol zhah Alhuma d'lil Zombies. Usstan tlun kr'athin tlu della vel'klar lil malarin zhah uyl'udith. Usstan orn xxizz doeb jala i'dol nindel usstan shlu'ta. Mziln, usstan orn'la saph fol clearance whol usuliin d' ussta Red Hoods fashka ulu sultha Snake Eaters jyzumar. Nind ph' natha unit d' m'elzaren.*

OOC: Then gunships are concieted arrogant tossers. In an IC sense, of course

IC: "Then you need to work on your tracking technology. In any case, they called, and a repair bay on the BelDragos class up ahead... the largest ship in the fleet."
ooc: what more could you want in a gunship squadron? Someone with a mercenary/raider personality is still a mercenary/raider even if he's in the pay of a government. Can I quote you on that in my factbook entry?(WIP)

IC: Kelly snorted at the crack about their tracking. The one problem with the craft was its underpowered passive sensor suite, and its active one shone out like a supernova. But it was better not to try any more nerves than they already had, as much as she hated it.

"Confirmed uhh... sir, we're heading over. Can we get a name to thank for not blowing us out of space? Just be careful in the future though. Had we been hostile, you might not have had the liberty of asking questions, and an enemy will always exploit that. When in doubt, ion and ask later."

There was a brief silence on all sides after this little encounter. Partial shock on her side of things, amazement on his side of things. It was so unexpected, that silence reigned until the transport containing Gamma, Mike and Quebec teams had lifted off.

As she watched him fly away, she smiled slightly,Well... looks like I had more of an effect than I realised

She seemed to be happy constantly until they too left the base. Within twelve hours, the ship had turned from a bustling hive of activity to a ghost ship, almost completely devoid of human life.
Iliyakim mentally readied himself for the coming ordeal, the kiss already gone from his mind. There were more pressing things to think about.

ooc: what more could you want in a gunship squadron? Someone with a mercenary/raider personality is still a mercenary/raider even if he's in the pay of a government. Can I quote you on that in my factbook entry?(WIP)

IC: Kelly snorted at the crack about their tracking. The one problem with the craft was its underpowered passive sensor suite, and its active one shone out like a supernova. But it was better not to try any more nerves than they already had, as much as she hated it.

"Confirmed uhh... sir, we're heading over. Can we get a name to thank for not blowing us out of space? Just be careful in the future though. Had we been hostile, you might not have had the liberty of asking questions, and an enemy will always exploit that. When in doubt, ion and ask later."
OOC: I would expect to see it.

IC: The entire Razgriz bristled. They were the elite. And now, some tossers were trying to tell them how to do their job, The sheer nerve of it made Blaze reach for his triggers, but Chopper came alongside, and just shook his head at his friend. Instead, Blaze opened up his comm channel again,"It's Blaze."

Short and sweet were his words. He hadn't become one of the aces of the Air Force by mouthing off. He shook his head at the gunship pilots words... this one would die soon. Her gung-ho attitude, whilst admirable, would eventually get her into a situation she could not get out of. And then, in an ironic twist, she and her squadron would die. All because their eyes were bigger than their guns. But he kept this to himself.

~snip~
And well he might have worried, for on Yuktobania, snowtroopers wer already dug in. And they had something the rebels had never seen before, the first deployment of the CWT-101 Panther Claw bipedal support systems. They were designed for long or close range. True, there were only three of them... but they were more than a match for the light armour that the Colonial Marines would land with.

Above Osea, Alhuma opened up a hailing channel.

*This is Alhuma of the Zombies. I am ready to be told where the fighting is hardest. I will help out any way that I can. Also, i would like some clearance for members of my Red Hoods unit to enter Snake Eaters space. They are a unit of mages.*

Just to be sure, he broadcasted in a language he knew that the Drow used, and he was sure he had received reports of Drow activity

**Nindol zhah Alhuma d'lil Zombies. Usstan tlun kr'athin tlu della vel'klar lil malarin zhah uyl'udith. Usstan orn xxizz doeb jala i'dol nindel usstan shlu'ta. Mziln, usstan orn'la saph fol clearance whol usuliin d' ussta Red Hoods fashka ulu sultha Snake Eaters jyzumar. Nind ph' natha unit d' m'elzaren.*

OOC: Literally, there are only two Drow in the conflict, and neither of them are in overall control of the war. You'd have done best to stick to Basic.

IC: The response was instant,"Your clearance is denied. Magick attracts too much attention and would cause your nation to come under threat. Proceed with all hast to the Yuktobania system, and prepare for arctic conditions"

*On Planet*

"Raven...I think we need to try and deal with these things...or trouble could ensue. Big trouble."

"I would love to see how you are planning to do that. Those things are the pinnacle of Snake technology. Not only that, but what exactly do we have that can help with that? Magick-resistant armour, huge amounts of weapons... essentially, it's a walking deathmobile. The good thing is, they aren't carrying Gatekeepers"

"Magick resistant to a degree. But I'd really like to see them deal with an interior explosion. Besides...I'm not exactly the average mage."

"Alternatively, we can do something a little more subtle. Those things cannot operate without pilots... and those are the only three in existence. No one else can operate them. The pilots should be our targets, not the machines. Without pilots, the A.I can't operate. Not designed to... at least, not yet"

"That is a better idea...but it'll be hard to get to 'em."

"Not with me onboard. Remember, this type of thing is what I am best at."

"Yeah. But it's a long way to go into an enemy base."

He grinned a wicked grin, his face mostly hidden behind the snow-white balaclava he was wearing,"I know. That's what makes it interesting."

*Ok, just thought maybe you could use the help. Proceeding to the snow planet. Out"

The Eagle sped off through space. When it arrived at the Yuktobania system, because the landing pod had been dropped on Mamba, Alhuma piloted the ship down through the atmosphere, looking for a rebel base. He was pretty sure he would not find one, so instead began to broadcast.

*Any rebel bases, the is Alhuma, please send out co-ordinates. Over*

OOC: Was the drow ok though??

*Ok, just thought maybe you could use the help. Proceeding to the snow planet. Out"

The Eagle sped off through space. When it arrived at the Yuktobania system, because the landing pod had been dropped on Mamba, Alhuma piloted the ship down through the atmosphere, looking for a rebel base. He was pretty sure he would not find one, so instead began to broadcast.

*Any rebel bases, the is Alhuma, please send out co-ordinates. Over*

OOC: Was the drow ok though??
OOC: Once translated, it made sense, yes. And I'm not giving you an IC response. Simply because you haven't paid attention to the updates about Yuktobania.

OOC: Sorry, I think I have read up now

IC: Alhuma relised that none of the rebels had landed yet, and that he was within range of Surface guns, if they were fired at his ship. He quickly piloted the ship up through the atmosphere, to find the rebel fleet.

He was lucky in the extreme, as a solid-slug sailed through where his ship had been less than ten seconds previously. The Panther Claw's had identified him, and had opened fire, using their long range railguns to engage him. However, now he was out of the atmosphere, he would be safe from their guns. However, the rebel fleet would be some time. He had streaked so far ahead, and not been patient, he would have to wait.

Artemis realised that since there was no rebel ships in orbit yet, the Loyalist fleet were probably there, and he was alone. Just in case, he quickly poweed up his cloaking device, and turned off the engines, putting all energy into the shields.

JHe called his lone soldier that had some experience of using magic through, and tgot him to add a little magick to the ships hull.

The entire Razgriz bristled. They were the elite. And now, some tossers were trying to tell them how to do their job, The sheer nerve of it made Blaze reach for his triggers, but Chopper came alongside, and just shook his head at his friend. Instead, Blaze opened up his comm channel again,"It's Blaze."

Short and sweet were his words. He hadn't become one of the aces of the Air Force by mouthing off. He shook his head at the gunship pilots words... this one would die soon. Her gung-ho attitude, whilst admirable, would eventually get her into a situation she could not get out of. And then, in an ironic twist, she and her squadron would die. All because their eyes were bigger than their guns. But he kept this to himself.

"Well thanks Blaze. I hope we have the pleasure of meeting again under better circumstances... or at least ones where we're not about to shoot each other. Sorry for the trouble."

Kelly closed the link and headed towards the ship. "Twelve Gunships Lima Squadron requesting landing clearance."

"Well thanks Blaze. I hope we have the pleasure of meeting again under better circumstances... or at least ones where we're not about to shoot each other. Sorry for the trouble."

Kelly closed the link and headed towards the ship. "Twelve Gunships Lima Squadron requesting landing clearance."

Being a man of little words, the jet black fighters swooped off back onto their patrol.

"Lima Squadron, this is BelDragos' Wrath, you are cleared for entry into Bay 156."

He grinned a wicked grin, his face mostly hidden behind the snow-white balaclava he was wearing,"I know. That's what makes it interesting."
"Right...this is your version of fun. So, fearless leader, what's the plan?"

"Right...this is your version of fun. So, fearless leader, what's the plan?"
"Get in, kill them, get out. That's basically it"

"Nice and detailed. Excellent."

He waved his hand in the manner that said,'Ah, sod detail'. He grinned another wicked grin, the type that would get other people locked up in small white rooms for the rest of their lives, before drawing his knife,"Follow me, and stay close."

Using every ounce of skill he had with regard to infiltration, he managed to breach the first line of defence on the place the pilots were staying. It was simple work really, and being a master of parkour, he could do this sort of thing. He seemed to run up a concrete wall, and crawled across the roof, drawing a pair of macrobinoculars from his belt, looking out over the snowfield,"Just as I thought"

Tari followed Raven...not running up the wall, but levitating along it. It wasn't too hard...after all...she was only half there.

"Lima Squadron, this is BelDragos' Wrath, you are cleared for entry into Bay 156."
"Confirmed. We're coming in." The twelve ships powered into the bay and landed silently. Well, almost. One of the damaged gunship's main gear collapsed, causing the craft to hit the hangar floor slightly harder than intended.

Kelly swore as she saw this, tossing her headset down. "This'll take at least hours to fix! Hours we might not have! Okay, everyone available, go over there and see what you can do with the help of the hangar staff. I'm going out to see the C-O."

Striding down the landing ramp of the craft, she headed over to the most official looking person nearby. Giving him her name, rank, and the reason she was here, she asked if she could see the person in charge to find out what to do.

"You know, I hate it when I see you doing that"

He looked out over the field, and nodded. One of the Panther Claws was in a firing position, the railgun evidently having been fire moments earlier. He jumped down, landing softly on the snow beneath. It was compacted, so he didn't leave footmarks. In one hand, he carried a knife. In the other, a pistol. He didn't like using firearms, but one was useful to have in this case. He crouched low behind a pile of boxes, and then looked at her,"Listen, I have an idea where they might be... I just need a distraction of some sort."

"Easiest way to get around." She resolidified, and followed him over the wall. She wouldn't have left footprints, anyway.

She grinned at the thought of a distraction.

"How big, where, and when?"

"Confirmed. We're coming in." The twelve ships powered into the bay and landed silently. Well, almost. One of the damaged gunship's main gear collapsed, causing the craft to hit the hangar floor slightly harder than intended.

Kelly swore as she saw this, tossing her headset down. "This'll take at least hours to fix! Hours we might not have! Okay, everyone available, go over there and see what you can do with the help of the hangar staff. I'm going out to see the C-O."

Striding down the landing ramp of the craft, she headed over to the most official looking person nearby. Giving him her name, rank, and the reason she was here, she asked if she could see the person in charge to find out what to do.
She was shown to Fleet Admiral Rommel, who turned as she was brought onto the bridge of his ship. He was tall, clean shaven, and had the air of a man who knew seemingly everything there was to know about naval warfare,"Welcome to the Second Fleet, Ms. Kelly"
_______________________________________________________________________
The gunships were quickly repaired for the most part, aided by droids and humans alike. The one with the damaged undercarriage was suspended in magnetic fields roughly five and a half feet above the deck, in order to aid access,"This shouldn't take too long. An hour at most"

"Easiest way to get around." She resolidified, and followed him over the wall. She wouldn't have left footprints, anyway.

She grinned at the thought of a distraction.

"How big, where, and when?"

"Small to medium... give it two minutes. And anywhere. Looks like a fuelling station for vehicles over there... no good.... ammunition is all underground... actually, just blow the building we went over."

"Okay. You have two minutes until this thing goes skyward."

She looked at the building, and her eyes went white as a spell began gathering in her hands.

He nodded, slightly creeped out by the glow, and slipped away into the snow. His plan was simple. Distract the guards, slip in, and slit the throats of the pilots. It couldn't be more simple than that. He hoped, at least.

Rebel Fleet
At the head of the task force, the Leviathan-class Dragon's Crucible led them towards Yuktobania. Col. James Cougar stood, watching the stars go by as they approached. He was slightly nervous about this whole thing... gut instinct.

3...2...1...

The explosion was incredibly big, loud, and colorful...it would be visible for miles around...and the destruction would be close to total.

Fading from view, Tari went to wait for Raven.

"I think I see something!"

One of the guards fired a burst at where Tari had been. The shooting quickly intensified. Raven shook himself from the sick fascination of watching, and went and did his job.

It was quick for all of them. He refrained from killing them with a knife, instead finishing them quickly with a bullet to the head. He then left the same way he had come in, and moved to where he knew Tari should be waiting for him.

OOC: When will you be in range of my scanners?


IC: "Boost power to the long range radar, I want to know immediately when the rebel fleet is picked up" Said Alhuma to Wulf

"Sir, a large explosion has just occured on the surface, near to where we were flying over."

"Well keep watching, if it happens aggain, tell me."

This makes sense...I'm being shot at...

She'd only been half gone...so she simply teleported behind them, causing snow to lurch up beneath them to claim two. She let out a laugh that would both haunt and echo, dodging blasts and causing more chaos before returning to the spot she was supposed to be.

"Sorry...got a bit delayed."

This makes sense...I'm being shot at...

She'd only been half gone...so she simply teleported behind them, causing snow to lurch up beneath them to claim two. She let out a laugh that would both haunt and echo, dodging blasts and causing more chaos before returning to the spot she was supposed to be.

"Sorry...got a bit delayed."

The laugh sent a chill down their spines, and they tried to shoot her, a machin gun burst even singing the edges of her clothes before she vanished from their view,"They can't have got far! Spread out, standard search pattern. Shoot to kill!"

Raven was crouched there, and raised his eyebrow at her,"I noticed as much. Come on, let's get out of here before they find us. All the pilots are dead. The Panther Claws are effectively disabled"

"Not a problem."

She grabbed ahold of his arm, and teleported them to the place they'd been staying the last day or so.

"That wasn't really so hard."

She looked at the singe mark. That was kinda close...

OOC: Night all

IC: Alhuma decided that the explosion on the surface was not worth bothering about, and decided to get some shut eye, while he waited for the fleet.

-snip-
"Hello Admiral. They said we'd be sent to aid you, but I never thought I'd actually meed you in person. I'd like to apologize for the little spat when whe jumped in, it was a misunderstanding." Smoothing back her short hair, she leaned in a little. "However, I was told that if I did meet you, I should tell you that there are more ships that can be sent to aid you.

Now how is this new area looking? Any prime targets for some insane hit-and-runners?"
________________________

In the landing bay, a frustrated gunship gunner was pleased to hear the news. "Well, at least we'll be flight ready soon enough. It makes me anxious to be unable to hit the void in case of emergency."

~snip~
He too had noticed the mark, and it was way too close for his liking,"Just be more careful next time."

"Hey, this is the first time all war I've been shot at. But I will try, or else you'll probably get broody again."

"Hello Admiral. They said we'd be sent to aid you, but I never thought I'd actually meed you in person. I'd like to apologize for the little spat when whe jumped in, it was a misunderstanding." Smoothing back her short hair, she leaned in a little. "However, I was told that if I did meet you, I should tell you that there are more ships that can be sent to aid you.

Now how is this new area looking? Any prime targets for some insane hit-and-runners?"
________________________

In the landing bay, a frustrated gunship gunner was pleased to hear the news. "Well, at least we'll be flight ready soon enough. It makes me anxious to be unable to hit the void in case of emergency."

Rommel was on the verge of saying something that being insane would not help matters, but refrained. He had not become the Fleet Admiral without taking some risks, but he always put his ship and his crew first,"This is a plantery assualt, and they have already left. There is no real place for, as you put it, insane hit-and-runners."

~snip~
He laughed,"Alright, calm down. All we do now is hole up, and wait for the assualt forces to get here"

"A day or two...so, how's this chess game go?"

He sat back, and projected a chess board,"This could take some time to explain..."

*Some hours later, after dinner*
"...That's about it."

"I think I get it. Maybe."

He smiled,"Alright, let's give it a go."

He set up the game, and gave her white,"Your go first."

On board the Eagle, Alhuma woke up. He decided to take the ship back towards where he thought the rebel fleet would be flying from. As soon as he thought that the scanners of those on Yuktobania would not be able to pick up as small a ship as his, he took his cloaking shield off.

That way, if he kept his engines running on full, then the scanners on the fleet would be able to pick his ship up.

He smiled,"Alright, let's give it a go."

He set up the game, and gave her white,"Your go first."
She looked down at the board, thoughtfully.

Pawns...more like common footsoldiers. They aren't even strong enough to attack directly, but if one gets all the way into enemy territory, it can change the game completely. Perhaps the most potentially dynamic piece in the game...and they outnumber any other piece. They can also cause a lot of trouble...blocking ways for more powerful pieces.
The Rooks...Like Haldosir and Rildorath...powerful warriors, but with so much honor that they can only attack directly. Unlimited in how far they go, so long as it is in one direction, and one only.
The Knights...like riders on Thalacks...Iliyakim and Faris. They can only go so far in any given time period, but they change direction...their greatest strength and their greatest weakness.
The Bishops. Like Mages...they cannot attack directly, only diagonally...but they can travel diagonally as far as they like (unless they're blocked)...closest to the Royal Pair.
The King...a weak piece, can only move one space at all, and if it's captured, the game ends. A bad piece to count on so much, but easier to keep an eye on.
The Queen...very truly indeed. The most powerful piece, can move any direction (in a straight line) as far as she likes, can attack as she pleases, in her own time. Also a prime target for the enemy, capture even more critical than a King. Pawns can become second Queens...which makes little sense, but I suppose if the Queen gets captured, then you need a new one...I guess they become the Princesses. In any event...what the hell am I doing?

She reached for a piece, only to have her hand go through it. "It's really weird when you do that."

She conjured up a more or less solid board, and then moved the King's pawn forward one.

-snip-

Feeling justly chastsized for her use of language, she decided to try again.

"Maybe insane wasn't the correct word. What would you like us to do at this planet? We were sent here to follow your orders, I would just like a decent idea of what we're going to be up against when we hit the sky."

~snip~
She reached for a piece, only to have her hand go through it. "It's really weird when you do that."

She conjured up a more or less solid board, and then moved the King's pawn forward one.
He laughed as her hand went through the piece,"This type of hologram isn't the solid one."

He watched her move, and made the same opening gambit. He had a plan in mind... but he doubted if he should execute it or not.

Feeling justly chastsized for her use of language, she decided to try again.

"Maybe insane wasn't the correct word. What would you like us to do at this planet? We were sent here to follow your orders, I would just like a decent idea of what we're going to be up against when we hit the sky."

Rommel motioned to a door just off the bridge,"Please, step into my ready room."

He led the way into a room that was not overally large, but well furnished. A mahogony desk sat near a full length window that looked out over the Cosmos. At the moment, it showed the blue and yellow surface of Osea. He sat behind the desk, and directed her to a seat in front of him. He pressed a button on the desk, and a holoemitter began projecting a map in front of him. He seemed to reach within the field, and tap on a planet, which was then zoomed in on, and brought into sharp relief,"This is the currently-loyalist occupied world of Yuktobania. It's an ice planet on the far edges of Snake Eater space, and is part of the Tri-Systems. It's home to an ECTA - Extreme Conditions Training Area, as well as roughly five hundred million civilians. The main reason for settling here was that it was found to contain sizeable natural resources in the form of minerals, primarily titanium and other such metals. The main population centres are Cinigrad, on the western continent, and Jarus, on the Northen edge. Around the equator is a band that is highly inhospitable to humans. As such, it was here that the first field tests for both Project:Panther Claw and the Gatekeeper Project were conducted."

He pressed another button, and the display changed to show a man in standard Snake Eater combat equipment (http://photobucket.com/albums/a6/SnakeEaters/Colonial%20Marines/?action=view&current=halo-1.jpg),"This is a standard Ice Warrior. They are the main regiment on the planet, and are highly adapated to this extreme enviroment. The air force isn't particulary interested in the region, nor is the navy. However, the army like to use it due it's terrain. Large mountain chains, low temperatures and other such things mean it is perfect to train them in survival techniques. As for your task whilst here, the only thing I can think of intially is close air support for the troops on the ground. You'll recieve more detailed orders on your arrival at the battlezone."

He laughed as her hand went through the piece,"This type of hologram isn't the solid one."

He watched her move, and made the same opening gambit. He had a plan in mind... but he doubted if he should execute it or not.
"I know that now...but still...you make things come out of your eye...I make things appear. Which is the weirder one, of the two?"

So many moves...the humans identify this with war...much like we view Aklyen.

She picked up a knight, moving it forward.

He smiled,"Depends on the society. Bear in mind that for the vast majority of Snake Eaters, this technology is limited merely to identification... military has much more functionality. You would expect it to."

He noticed her move, and played his own...

*2 Days Later*
"Here is the battle plan. We will land in three companies, designated Sierra One, Sierra Two and Sierra Three. These first landings will be tasked to establish a landing zone for further troops and heavier equipment. Now, the enemy positions are heavily defended. Bunkers buried into the ice are formidable in ground assualts, but I think we can deal. In order to cover the landing, we will be laying down suppressive fire from orbit for as long as is feasible. Once the Bravehearts are on the deck, they can take over."

Major General Douglas looked at his commanders, each of whom had been assigned a seperate area. Iliyakim had been given the intial landing to deal with, as his track record warranted it. Other commanders would follow, but Iliyakim would retain these three companies throughout the campaign,"Captain Iliyakim, you are but one of five assault forces going in today. We only need one or two to be successful. Take risks, but in moderation."

-snip Admiral Rommel-
"That sounds great. We can home in on heat sources like their power plants and maybe some of their camps and cause some trouble. Do you have a layout of their facilities? Or would you rather we try to keep them as intact as possible? And could you provide us with some winter camoflage paint and some extreme conditions survival gear? I'm afraid we came a little underprepared for an ice planet."

Iliyakim merely nodded. "Understood."
_____________________________________________________________________
It was early morning.

Far too early for any sane person to be up.

Not too early for a sane Drow, though, and Raven...well, sometimes Tari doubted his sanity.

"We're getting company. Soon."

"That sounds great. We can home in on heat sources like their power plants and maybe some of their camps and cause some trouble. Do you have a layout of their facilities? Or would you rather we try to keep them as intact as possible? And could you provide us with some winter camoflage paint and some extreme conditions survival gear? I'm afraid we came a little underprepared for an ice planet."

"We have no layout, since the war began things have changed. The cities are under the icesheet, so bombarding them is pointless. Like I said, provide close air support to the landing troops, targetting frontline military installations and troops. Be aware, they are more than capable of putting a round through your armour. The gear is already being loaded onto your craft, and holoemitters have been rigged to provide you with some form of camoflague."

~snip~
"Good. Now, I suggest you get to the dropships, and fast. Operations begin in fifteen minutes"
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Raven was making a cup of coffee when she said this, and he looked up,"What makes you so certain?"

Iliyakim left, no more slowly than a shadow caught in flame. He checked his dropships, before boarding the one he'd be on.

Cry havoc, then.
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Tari also had a coffee liquid energy that isn't quite as bitter as what they make back home!

"Call it a hunch."

The Eagle had picked up the fleet (OOC: That ok?) and had sped towards it with all speed. Once within hailing distance Alhuma had opened up a channel.

*This is Alhuma, Requesting permission to land upon any ship.*

The dropships soared away from the ships, a huge number of them. They were all going to war, back to battle. In the cockpit of Sierra-One-Zero, the ship on which Iliyakim was now strapped, the pilot guided the ship into the frigid atmosphere of Yuktobania with a small amount of fear rising into his gullet. The weather reports he had seen did not paint a pretty picture, and although he had never had a white-out in a snowstorm, he had known men who had whilst training on this planet,"Three minutes to drop-off!"

In Sierra-One-One, Platoon Sergeant Chuck Marshall said a Hail Mary,'And pray for us sinnners now, and at the hour of our death, amen.'. Aboard the ships, men waited with a heady mixture of fear and hope. They went through last minute mental checklists, saying prayers, checking weapons, performing little rituals... whatever it was that prepared them for battle.

"Two minutes"

They sat oozing sweat inside their armour. The tension was nerve-wracking.

"THIRTY SECONDS!" cried one of the crew chiefs, manning the machine gun at the head of the ramp. There was the sudden jolting impact as the pads of the feet hit the soft snow, and the hissing of the hydralics as the ramp was lowered. Immediatley, the firing started. The blizzard was freezing cold, and they could barely see through the storm. Pulse blasts lanced out at the enemy, and came right back at them,"GO!GO!GO!"

The Marines charged down the ramps, hastily getting out. The dropships were prime targets when landing and taking off again, so they had to be in and out extremely quickly....
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Raven nodded, pointing at the sky, where the flaming trails of dropships were apparant even through the snow,"Looks like you were right"

The Eagle had picked up the fleet (OOC: That ok?) and had sped towards it with all speed. Once within hailing distance Alhuma had opened up a channel.

*This is Alhuma, Requesting permission to land upon any ship.*

"Alhuma, permission denied. Proceed immediatley to staging area Gold (the same area Kaymiril is working in) and commence operations against hostile personnel."

Iliyakim rushed out, trusting his men to remember the plans. Some of these men had worked with him, others only knew him by reputation.

But here, it didn't matter. Here, they would fight. Some would die, some would live (hopefully...Constantine's beliefs in "take no prisoners" made that unlikely in the event they were trounced...), but they would sell themselves dearly.

Jal l' tresk'ri t'puuli orn morfeth whol l' mzilst phish vlos l' tresk'ri uriu rin'ov izwin. Natha bwael tangi ulu malar...mayoe ulu el, mayoe ulu dro...mayoe ulu hojh, mayoe ulu nez.
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"Yeah...so, what are we going to do?"

*This is Alhuma proceeding to area. Out*

He swung the ship back around and rushed through the atmosphere. He would have to leave Spodor on board the ship, he was more than capable of piloting it in a fight.

The ship went through the atmopsphere again, straight for landing area Gold. The Eagle landed, and the twenty men jumped out. They were all wearing snow DPMs, and they scanned the area for potential targets. Behind them, the Eagle once again lifted off.

The Eagle has dropped it's men off in the same place that Iliyakim's dropship had deposited it's platoon of Colonial Marines not five minutes before. The scene was chaotic... a true battleground. Already, some had been hit. One man had been struck by a 35mm grenade launched from the enemy lines, and had lost the bottom half of his torso, his legs as well. He was screaming, but the medic's could not help him. His blood stained the crisp white snow a deep shade of crimson. He eventually just fell silent, his body ceased convulsing. It was horrific, but it was war.

Cougar had been dropped off in the same area as well. This area was deemed one of the more important places, and as such he had chosen to come here. It was oddly exhilarating to be in the middle of battle. It demanded all you had, and more. That's why he loved it. It seperated his men from the others. War was ugly and evil, but it was still the only way things got done in most of the galaxy. Right now, his weapon was blazing, and he had slipped into his routine. Look, shoot, move, and repeat. It was always the same. All around him the battle raged, but the only thing that he noticed was the nearest round to him. Everything else could afford to be ignored.

Alhuma told his men to fan out, in pairs. Protect each other while the other one reloads. The came forward, their rifles blazing every now and then in three round bursts. One small group of four split off, and wormed their way as far East as they could, to come up around the enemy from the flank or rear.

Alhuma and Wulf came forwards, Wulf firing his underslung grenade launcher at the biggest clump of Loyalists he could see. Alhuma fired off three rounds in the opposite direction.

It was carnage, but his men were well trained, and the small flanking party were going steadily.

Alhuma told his men to fan out, in pairs. Protect each other while the other one reloads. The came forward, their rifles blazing every now and then in three round bursts. One small group of four split off, and wormed their way as far East as they could, to come up around the enemy from the flank or rear.

Alhuma and Wulf came forwards, Wulf firing his underslung grenade launcher at the biggest clump of Loyalists he could see. Alhuma fired off three rounds in the opposite direction.

It was carnage, but his men were well trained, and the small flanking party were going steadily.
The group moving east were spotted by enemies using thermal goggles, and were fired at almost instantly. Trying to move was a fools errand. Someone, somewhere, was going to die. There was no question about this.

"Inthuul...let's go."

Iliyakim stepped into his glider as it took a form none on the field had seen before. It flew close to the ground, dodging rebel troops, deflecting enemy shots.

As soon as it flitted close enough into the enemy lines (not a safe place to be, but he had a very good battlefield awareness), it spread out razor-sharp "wings"...with the strength a hundred times that of steel.

He would mow them down like the grains in the autumn are mown by the reapers with their dreadful scythes.

Evasive moves he was forced to take would only make it worse, and he was moving at speeds of up to 50 mph...fast enough to dodge any of his own men that he could see, and also enough to make him very difficult to dodge.

He just prayed his men wouldn't move in too fast...

The barbarian leading the group was hit, by several rounds of energy. His amulet was not enough to protect him, and it was overloaded. Two of the dwarves returned fire, while the third quickly dug into the ice, to provide a bit of cover for the four of them. The barbarian was groaing, a hole burnth through his bullet-proof armour, and into his abdomen.


Alhuma saw that, and his eyes glinted. He lay down, and looked through his scope at the soldiers who had pinned down his small group. He took aim at one with goggles on, and aimed right for the lenses. He pulled th trigger, and without waiting to see what had happened, was rolling sideways looking for a new target.