NationStates Jolt Archive

He turned and looked, regarding the grisly spectacle in silence for a few moments.

"Xal dos ragar dosst gre'as'anto, abbilen."

He then turned back to Davenport. "We'll need the rest of them to reiceve medical treatment as soon as we can."

"We just sent a vehicle out to the crashed bird to bring in the SAR (Search and Rescue) crew... they're all trained medics. We've got some supplies, but not enough. Still, this airport is ours. WE have taken the first real step towards the end of this terrible war."

"And let's hope that the rest of them go as well."

*Crashed dropship*
"Hey, all of you, load up!"

The driver of the truck that had been sent to collect them leaned out the window,"This is place is under our control. C'mon, you'll be needed in the main buildings."

Cougar gestured to Wilkinson, who nodded, and together they lifted the dead pilots bodies up to the bed of the truck, before making sure the entire unit was onboard. Leaning on his weapon, James looked out the back,"Hey, you three coming?"
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*Arrivals Hall*
The medics rushed to and fro, treating any wounded civilian or military man who needed it. It was a duty they had to fufill, by the conventions of war.

*Main Concourse*
Davenport nodded, sliding the visor up on his helmet, to reveal his dark skin and swathy black hair,"I'd suggest you go down to the arrivals hall as well, sir. They're setting up a communications array down there, linking it into the antenna. COuld help."

Shan looked up. "I dunno...is anything interesting going to be --ow--. You're as bad as Rhenna."

Tari had slapped him on the back of the head before moving to go as well.

S -- "Fine...but I can't answer for him."
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"Very well."

He went down to see if his help was needed.

Raven looked around, his hand still resting on the hull of the crashed ship. Without a word, he swung himself up to the back of the truck, settling down there for the short trip to the terminal.
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"Captain Iliyakim! Sir, Fleet Captain Bourne would like to speak with you."

The Drow sat together in a little area to the side, trying to be as little memorable as possible.
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"Very well."

He took the communication device. "This is Captain Iliyakim."

Which wasn't hard, as no one was paying much attention to anyone else in the back of that truck. After about five minutes, they came to a halt, and men rushed forward to get the bodies and wounded out of the back, before the others could disembark. The SAR team went inside, and the the driver left to see to his friend, leaving the small group of four inside the back of the truck. After a moment, Raven stood and jumped out the back, landing solidly on his feet, and heading into the main building. COugar watched him go, sighed, and then followed after him,"You two are free to go where you want."
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"Captain, I want your personal assurance that the area is secure, and we can start landing heavier supplies. That airport can support Orca-class transports, you know."

Tari headed out. "Wait for me to call you, Shan. I'm going to find their strongholds, and we can take 'em out like that."

He shook his head. "You're insane."

"I'm also more subtle."

She left, and he went after Raven.

"So...easier to care about someone that has a heart than someone that doesn't, isn't it?"
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"As far as the airport itself goes, the area is secure."

He resisted the urge to sigh. Why HIS personal assurance? It's not like he would know if they had any sort of hidden surprises. It's not like his word was any better than Davenport's, or even the technician that had flagged him down to talk to this man.

He sat himself down in the forecourt of a restuarant that overlooked the main arrivals floor,"I don't know quite what you mean."

It was innocent. He didn't know what he meant.
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Bourne read it right,"I know you want to know why I asked for your assurance. Because, Captain, at the moment, you're the most senior man there, and I trust the most senior man more than the rest. Well done, Iliyakim. You and your men are now to prepare for advances into the city itself. I can't give you a timeframe, but that is what I'm being told by JOC (Joint Operations Commitee)."

"Come on. I'm not stupid, and she's my sister."
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"Very well. Anything else?"

Raven raised an eyebrow, watching the first Orca ship come down and settle over the far side of the airport,"I'm serious, Shan. I'm not sure what you mean."
-------------------
"Not at the moment. Just... get some rest. And stay alert... the enemy aren't beaten yet. This isn't like Yuktobania... war is 24 hour prospect here."

Did he really have to spell things out for him? Oh well.

"Tari. Little Velkyn you've known for a decade, give or take. You've started to develop feelings for her...beyond what I do. I'm not going to tell you what to or not to do...but if you hurt her...if she comes home crying because of you, I will kill you."

He was dead serious.
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"Very well. Good evening, Captain."

This time, Raven looked at him,"Alright, so you guessed. WEll done, do you want a medal? Believe me, Shan, I wish there was another way... but there isn't. No matter what my feelings for her, we could never be, for a number of reasons. I'm sure I don't need to start listing them for you."
----------------------
"Good evening."

Bourne signed off, and Steele, now stripped down to DPM's (worn under the armour), approached Iliyakim,"We've taken the new prisoners to a makeshift holding area and placed them under armed guard for the time being. The main concourse is being used as a refuge point, as well as a place for men to eat. Is there anything else you want doing?"

"Recently, the impossible has become less so. Ask Cougar. I'm not going to tell you no. Not my place. Just my place to say to not hurt my sister."

Just then, Velve beeped at him. "Well, that looks like my cue to do this..."

He teleported out, ending up beside Tari. "A little bit more to the right..."

"And you'd be part of that building. Look."

There were a number of mortar crews in the area, although the Velkyn would little know what to call them.

He looked down. "Hey, fun. Do they blow up?"

She nodded. "I think so. Looks like they're getting ready for a night time assault. There are a bunch of 'em..."

"Cool. Whoever destroys the most wins."

She sighed. "Such a child...let's go."

And so they went...and found that yes, with the right explosive spell, they DID blow up.
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"No...it sounds good. Establish a guard rotation...and make sure those not on duty immediately get some food and some sleep."

Raven watched as Shan dissapeared, and then resumed staring out as the transports brought men and equipment down to the surface. The hangers, almost completley devoid of civilian aircraft, were quickly, and roughly, turned into living quaters for the troops. They could accomadate a large number on their own. Outside these sat UH-60 Blackhawks and AH-6 Little Bird attack helicopters, ready to move at a moments notice. Over the other side, launching on near-constant sorties, were Cobra fighters, fighting to establish air superiority over the enemy, engaging artillery and aircraft alike.

The hell that is war... and heres me, falling in love in the middle of it.
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AS the first spell hit the first mortar, it cooked off the round inside it, causing the tube to detonate, shrapnel ripping through the air,"What the hell was that!"

"One of the mortars just exploded!"

"Where did it come from?"

"I didn't hear a shot. It just..."
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Steele nodded, saluted (even though Iliyakim didn't have to salute back), placed his sand-coloured Ranger beret on his head, and went away to organise the troops inside the main buildings

The mages kept exploding the mortars...and it only took one mage per mortar, so the explosions came from different areas very close together.
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Iliyakim went to find Gamma and maybe catch a meal with them before getting some rest and heading back out into the fray.

He could hear distant explosions...that made him wary...but they didn't seem to be coming closer...

"This is insane!"

"Could they be sniping us?"

"At this range, with this accuracy? Somehow, I doubt it."

One of them drew his handgun and started shooting at a shadowy figure whom he didn't recognise...
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They were all gathered round in a circle, having also set aside a cot for him, in case he wanted to sleep at all. As he approached, they looked up, and all of them nodded to him, a sign of greeting in Snake Eaters.

"Shu!" swore Shan as the rounds went by him. He made the man's weapon explode, just for good measure, and after exploding the mortar, went on to the next target.

A line of blood showed on his cheek, but that was nothing, really.
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He nodded in return, taking his seat in the circle. "Good work today."

"I heard something!"

"No shit, that would be me pulling the trigger!"

"No... speech of some sort... sounded foriegn."

"Forget it, we're falling back. There's no way we're trying this again."

"Agreed. Come on."

The men began to fall back, abandoning their mortars where they lay. They'd taken quite a few casualties, and didn't want to risk anything else.
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"It was not all that difficult in the end," said Elliot, who had his support weapon stripped in front of him, and was replacing the barrel. He needed to, and swore as he touched,"That'll teach me... wait for it to cool."

Tari looked down at the remaining intact mortars and ammunition. "We should probably take these back with us."

Shan looked at the two remaining. "How about I get them, and you get the ammunition?"

"Sounds about right."

They levitated them and carried them back to the airport, then went back out to look for more trouble.

As an added touch, Tari had put a bright red bow on one of the mortars, for when they were found.
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"Perhaps. Have the rest of you eaten yet?"

The mortars were found by a maintance crew for the dropships, who had a good laugh about the bow,"Someone out there obviously likes us."
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"Not yet... we're going to see what the army cooks can whip up on the main concourse."

Shan and Tari would be out most of the night, seeking enemy strongholds, and only going to an abandoned building to sleep near dawn.
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He nodded.

They found a few enemy strongpoints in the surrounding hills, bunkers and pillboxes that would have caused a major pain in the neck when the time came to make the first assualt.
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"What are you going to do? Come with uss, or sstay here?"

Those were under the category "fair game," and were thus destroyed as quickly and efficiently as possible. They also siezed supplies, sending them back to the airport with the characteristic one red ribbon.
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"I'll be going with you."

During the night, Raven found himself unable to sleep. As the night wore on, he wandered the corridors illuminated by the moonlight. He found himself worrying about her... he knew he shouldn't, knew it was completley irrational... but still, there was always that little voice in the back of his head that told him that he had to worry about her... if you love someone, you have to think about them. He shook his head, and stood on the roof, his arms wrapped round himself to ward off the gusting wind that bore an icy chill.
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These supplies were found, checked over, and then stored. You never knew when equipment like this could be used. The mortars were always useful for fire support, especially these ones. 81mm, they packed a mighty punch.
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"Ssounds like a good idea."

They all moved off, and spent some time on the concourse, watching what was happening out on the tarmac. It was a massively complex operation, bringing all this equipment in. From what they had heard, the main bulk of the fleet had departed to quell small uprisings on other worlds. With the war essentially over everywhere except Snake Eater Prime, the enemy forces had mostly lost the will to fight.

Had she been there, she'd have told him to get some sleep. As it was, they didn't return until almost two in the morning, so they could be ready to go by six. They'd changed their minds...better to sleep near everyone else than all alone and vulnerable.

As they approached the airport, they saw Raven, and Tari dropped down.

"What are you doing up so late?"
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If we can win here...then this war is over...odd to think of it like that...it will be an unusual experience to go back to peacetime, should I manage to survive these next days.

"Can't sleep."

His response was curt, but warm.
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They all eventually returned to their cots about midnight, making sure to be ready for the next day. They all knew what was to come... an armoured push into the city, in an attempt to capture the suburbs, and maybe even further.

"That's no good." She conjured a drink. "Don't drink it until you're within three minutes of your cot...it's pretty powerful. Only lasts a couple of hours in effect, though."

Shan had gone on ahead to find somewhere for himself and his friend to sleep.
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Iliyakim slept...the dreamless sleep of the warrior that had to get up in the morning and do something that was questionable to his mind, but that he'd learned to do anyway.

He laughed softly, and smiled slightly,"I'm sure. Oh well, I guess you'd best find Shan... if I don't see you, good luck tomorrow."
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*0530*
Elliot shook his friend,"Iliyakim, wake up."

It was still dark, but the activity on the airfield hadn't abated. If anything, it had gotten more hectic during the night.

"You too." She went off, a little black figure...there, and then gone.
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Iliyakim had been contantly in battle for too long for shaking to go over well...he slept with his pistol in his hand, and as Elliot shook him, his first reflex was to point the gun square at his forehead.

He woke up and set the pistol down. "Sorry. Let's get moving."

He watched her go, and then took her advice, making sure to be sat on his cot before he swallowed the drink. As predicted, he was gone in three minutes...
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Elliot froze as the gun was pointed at his head. It was fairly comical though, seeing as how his eyes had become crossed. He relaxed as Iliyakim did,"It's alright... should have seen that coming really."

He led Iliyakim to the others, who were already up and about. Someway off, another SHADOW team had gotten back together after a week or so of being apart. The oldest of them, who had greying hair, clapped his friend on the shoulder, the sniper rifle clearly present on his back. ALpha Team were on familar ground now... and although their track record was substantial away from here, now... now they could really go to work. Having seen Gamma Team begin to move around, COugar went over to them, talking in low tones, so as not to disturb others more than he had to,"Good morning to you."

Shan and Tari slept for about three hours before heading back out to cause more pre-dawn trouble.
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"Good morning. Good to see you got out of your previous predicament."

Raven didn't sleep too long... his body wouldn't let him.
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"SOmewhat. Looks like we're heading the same way, just to get into position before the main forces moves forward at 0700."

"Is there anywhere in particular you want us?"

"You've got your area, we've got ours. I don't have any real authority in this matter."

"All right. Take care today."

He guestured for Gamma to get ready to move out.

As Iliyakim and Gamma Team left, James muttered to himself,"Taking care? That I can do. Of myself? Not a chance in all that is hell."

He and Alpha Team set out soon after, finding a good place to lie up until the advance. From here, they could see the entire city. As the sun rose, the river glittered in all it's majesty,"Such a shame, that we have to attack such a beautiful city."

Gamma found a good spot to settle in until the advance.

"Well...welcome home..." Ironic, yes...

"Welcome home indeed..."

AS the sun rose from behind them, the rebels began to advance. Viper tanks, Warrior APC's... the lot. All of them packed with rebel soliders of some form or another. Flying above them were the UH-60's and AH-6's, providing them with air-cover and even more men. Above them, came dropships loaded with paratroopers, who had volunteered to be dropped behind enemy lines. They had chosen their time well... with the sun at their backs, it would be that much harder for the enemy to see them. Not only that, but their accuracy was enhanced by the scout teams, including Alpha and Gamma units, using laser pointers to designate targets for the railguns of the Vipers. As they topped the ridge, they opened fire, the deeply-booming guns sending slugs into the enemy lines, with the AH-6's flying over, miniguns blazing, the hail of hot brass flying thick in the air. It was a fearsome amount of firepower for such a minor engagement... but they wanted to end the war as soon as possible. They had overwhelming numbers, for the first time in the war...

Iliyakim stood. "Let's get moving."

Elliot let off a burst with his weapon, killing a man who had been firing at them,"We going behind the lines?"

"Of course. That's where we can be the most effective."

They all grinned,"Let's go."

Justin led them out of the hideaway, and moved them so that they boxed the entire defensive line, allowing them to enter the ghost towns that had once been thriving suburbs. Litter, a rare site in Snake Eaters, along with the leaves of the trees, was strewn all around, blowing in the still icy winds. In the distance, they could still hear and see the battle being waged. Smoke rose from the battlefield, the constant firing causing it. AS they watched, a stick of paratroopers jumped from a passing ship, falling to the ground uphead and taking up positions along Marihan Road, one of the main roads into the city.

He indicated that they should head toward the street the paratroopers had landed in.

Wtf is this? Theres freaking 1303 posts

Eventually, Justin brought them onto Marihan Road. The scene before them was one of utter chaos. The rebel forces had broken through, but the loyalist Black Guardsmen has fallen back to their heavier armour. Another innovation... three metres tall, based off the older Metal Gear Leviathan design, and used as infantry support. One of them fired, the laser carving through the armour of an advancing Viper, slicing the fuel tanks and causing them to explode. The metal tore through a tree next to them, causing it to collapse, tearing a power cable down with it. In a nearby house, a man in a red-beret called over to them,"You might wanna get off that road now."

AS he called, there was a large number of whoosh!s, the smoke trails of missiles working through the air, impacting nearby. One of them sent Justin flying through the air, and he crashed to the ground, twitching spasmodically. There was blood coming out his mouth, but he was still alive.

Wtf is this? Theres freaking 1303 posts
OOC: Yes. And you're not involved. Lesson number one, n00b. Don't jump in where you aren't welcome. Now, shove off, before I get the mods on you. Thank you.

Shu...

"Jack, see to Hawkins. The rest of you, cover him. I'll see what Inthuul and I can't do. When you can get him to triage, contact me."
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Shan and Tari also saw these monstrosities.

*Simultaneously* "Shu."

Tari looked at her companion. "Well, looks like our next targets come predefined. As in...don't get hit."

They sped off, shooting various destructive spells at these...things...

Jack ran over, and started to check Hawkins in the middle of the side road they were on. It was dangerous, but it had to be done. He opened his Codec link,"This is Gamma-Five, I'm requesting an immediate medievac for a critically wounded at my location, over."

"Gamma-Five, JOC are telling me it's too hot to bring in a bird. Can you move him?"

"Roger that."

"Move him five hundred yards back down that road. We'll pull him out from there, over."

"Roger that, see you in five."
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These 'things' were extremely versitile. Bipedal, they seemed to have an odd sense of balance, which led them to limp slightly as they moved. This could be due to the laser they carried on one shoulder, but there you go.

Iliyakim took Inthuul in low and hard. If their balance was that off...

He checked to see if they'd renewed the cable supply after the last time they'd needed them.

Excellent.

Ducking and weaving past one, he had Inthuul fire at another one, and then keep between two of the monstrosities. If he was fired at, they'd get hit. If he was lucky and didn't.
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The big lasers were Shan's priority...he'd use a stronger version of telekinesis to shove the lasers right off the monstrosities.

Tari preferred to mess with their sensors.

These machines tried to fight back, but their balance began to work against them. They weren't designed to fight infantry, despite being equipped with a burst cannon in the lower torso...no, they were designed to fight tanks. Now, they could do neither. What with Shan destroying their main weapons, Tari screwing their sensors around, and Iliyakim just generally doing crazy things that no one else really understood, they did the only logical thing they could, and shut themselves down. It was, the collective A.I decided, the only thing to do.

Jack had managed, with the help of some of the para's, to get Hawkins onto a stretcher and get him to the drop zone. As predicted, a Little Bird came in low, settling down with it's miniguns facing back up towards Marihan Road. The pilot signalled to Jack to load himself and Hawkins onboard. Once they were secure, he took off, heading back towards the airport,"Gamma Zero, this is Gamma Five. Extraction complete, returning to HQ, over."

Shan and Tari looked at each other.

"Now what?"

Tari shrugged. "Shut 'em down permanently, I guess...and then find something else to destroy."
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"Roger, Gamma Five. Good luck."

He set down in Inthuul. "This is Gamma Zero to Gamma Unit...come on...let's go."

They didn't resist. It made it that much easier to destroy them.
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They rallied to him, and began to move again.... there were only four of them left now. Also, it was hard not to be distracted, wondering if Hawkins would pull through.

Iliyakim hoped Hawkins pulled through...but he also knew that they'd never find out if they died, too. He did his best to keep the remainder of his unit focused as they pushed through.
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Shan and Tari didn't destroy them...no.

They made sure they wouldn't activate when not wanted, and took 'em back to the airport, putting a red bow on the first one.

And the gifts of the Drow were well recieved, the techies almost jumping on them to try and see how they worked.
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*End of the day*
"I'm standing here on the boundry between the allies and the loyalists, on the edge of surburbia and the city itself. Tonight, the fires of war still burn with a fierce passion as the allies, bolstered by their wins and the apparant death of Constantine not one week ago. Earlier today, Jacius Barbarossa, whose popularity has surpassed even it's headiest heights when he was in power, told a press conference that the allies would not lay down their arms until the city was captured, the enemy subdued and all vestiges of Constantine's tyranny wiped away. Even as I speak, you can see the gunfire in the background, and hear the noise of the war machine as it rumbles to a halt for the night, both sides digging in until morning. Tomorrow will be another day, but already we know that this battle will exact a terrible toll on the naiton. This is Tom Baker, reporting for SNN, Snake City."

*ABove the battle*
Pilot Officer Chris Ecclestone sat in the pilot seat of his Little Bird, callsign Star Five-One, looking down. All he could see was gunfire, completley unable to tell who was who. He flicked a switch on the control panel,"This is Star Five-One, in position for gun run."

As he turned it off, he muttered over the intercom to his co-pilot,"Jesus, would you look at that."

Down below, the men he was meant to be supporting, led by Staff Sergeant Matt Perino, looked up. Perino grabbed the field telephone,"I can see you, you're right above me, over."

"Perino, I can't tell whose who down there. Too much activity, over"

"I'll mark the target with a strobe."

"Roger that."

Inside the building, Cougar had heard all of this, and he leaned around the corner,"You're gonna need some help."

"Cover me!"

There was a brief pause,"Alright guys, we're gonna give him some cover fire on three, alright. One... Two... Three! GO!"

AS the Dragoons and SHADOW forces opened fire on the enemy positions across the way, Perino lobbed the strobe across the street, before grabbing the field telephone,"Can you see it?"

Eccelstone stared down,"Nah, I can't see shit."

What no one had realised was that the strobe had landed on the other side, but because of the way the building was built, with an overhang supported by pillars to hold up the immense weight. Perino stared out, and saw it,"I'm putting it on the roof! Cover me again!"

As they opened fire once more, he sprinted across the road... well, he looked like he did. As he ran, he thought he was slowing up, the overhang seemed to move away from him. But he made it... barely. He searched around in the rubble, before he became aware of a pulse round smashing into the wall next to him. He raised his weapon, dropping the man who was firing. He scrabbled around, and found the strobe. He picked it up, and then darted out, throwing it onto the roof, before ducking back behind the pillar. Eccelstone focused on it,"I've got the target, we're inbound and hot."

Two birds soared from the sky, opening fire with their miniguns and rockets, tearing the flat roof of the building into cinders, killing the enemy on the top. The brass tumbled down, and Perino managed to avoid it... barely. He then sprinted back across the road, getting back into the building. COugar clapped him on the shoulder,"That was a brave thing you just did, Sarg."

"Thank you, Sir."

"Alpha Zero to Gamma Zero, how you guys faring down there?"

"We're okay, Colonel. We'll probably be going for another hour before we seek shelter for the night."
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"And you call ME stupid!"

Tari shrugged. "The loyalist army likes to think of itself as a snake. In all reality...it's a spider. We've cut off a few of its legs...I just want to make another one immobile is all."

"We're way behind enemy lines. If we get caught, we're screwed."

She grinned. "First of all...only if they can get us to their radioactive cells. Second of all...only if they can catch us." She tossed him some grenades that they'd purloined earlier.

"Now come on, Shan."

They were looking for the building the local Black Guard unit used for HQ, or QH, or whatever they liked to call it.

"Roger that. We're pinned down here for now, but they've got Little Birds on strafing runs and should be going all night. We're RV in the morning and see what we can do."
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The Black Guard prescence was heavy, as you would expect... but they were the ringleaders of this resistance to the allies. Hopefully, without them, it would crumble.

"All right, Alpha Zero. We'll see you then. Out."

The connection cut.

"All right, Gamma. Let's spend another hour out there, then we'll find somewhere relatively safe, check on Justin, and get some sleep."
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Tari got out her knife...there were so many of them.

"Oh no you don't," Shan hissed.

"Go on, Shan. Find the building. I'm going to see if my assassin training meant anything at all."

She slipped out into the dark as Shan tried to grab at her cloak. He cursed softly as she disappeared from his view, blending into the night with her hood pulled up, and then he took his bearings and headed toward where the HQ should be.

Meanwhile, Tari's knives and grenades sought out targets in their more grisly ways.

Elliot nodded, gunning down a few more people as he did so,"Alright... we'll running low on ammo. We might need a resupply
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The havoc they could wreck was high... but so was the chance of getting caught or killed. Raven sat atop a stone outcropping, watching,"I should be doing something."

"That can be arranged."
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She lobbed grenades into large clumps of targets, while a cast or her knives would take down groups of one or two.

Tari knew the danger, but didn't mind it...she didn't feel oblivious to it, but for all she really cared, she could have been.

Shan, on the other hand, was acutely aware of the danger, making his way toward the building as stealthily as he could, avoiding any sources of heat above the ambient temperature by a wide margin, and staying well away from the sounds of the explosions. It was slow going...but relatively safe, especially since he clung to the shadows with his hood pulled up.

"I'm sure... oh well, shall we?"

He gestured over his shoulder to the street, an odd grin on his face.
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Shan was unnoticed, but TAri was a different story. Her antics had caused the entire complex to go onto high alert, making it harder for Shan and Tari alike to do whatever they were doing, be it sneaking in or just trying to kill as many as they could.

"You would scare me if I didn't know you so well...but let's go."

Checking that his pistols were both loaded, he led them into the fray.
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Shan didn't need to sneak in.

Just find the building.

When he did that, he whispered an incantation. The final syllable would trigger the release, which would destroy the building from its very foundations. He would stay on hand during the collapse to make sure unnecessary damage wasn't done.

Tari, meanwhile, had been fired at several times, and crouched briefly in an alley, catching her breath. Okay...so, she wasn't totally bad at this, but not totally good, either.

And why should I be? I'm not an assassin...only partly...

She grabbed hold of the brick, and invoking a different enchantment, clambered up the wall. They were patrolling now.

Looking for me? Then come on.

She ran across the top of the building, jumping down and coming lightly to land in an intersection.

Several spells charged around her, the fully developed ones defensive, and the developing ones designed to kill.

If this doesn't work...goodbye...

They followed him out onto the street, coming under fire instantly. This entire area was a warzone... people lay dead or dying, vehicles had been reduced to burning wrecks of their former selves. It was difficult to see how a nation so wracked by war could pull itself back from the brink, but it had to be possible. That was what drove the rebels... that feeling that they could change the future.

As they moved quickly down the street, laying down some cover fire for other allied troops, they could hear pulse blasts bouncing off the walls before detonating. It was a deafening thing, and truly scary. The battlefield was 360 degrees, 24 hours. Elliot spied something that could be useful, a battered but servicable LAAW (Light Anti-Armour Weapon) 81, the less mobile version of the LAAW 66, generally carried by a single man. He grabbed it, and ducked down behind a wall as 12.7mm rounds splintered the steelcrete,"Whatever that thing is, we've got to take it out. It's pinning this whole area down."

That 'thing' was a SE-12 Viper MBT, the frontline tank of the entire Snake Eater Army. It was built to survive, and the only thing that could really destroy it was another one. Using the older 120mm main gun, it fired at periodic intervals, the HEAT (High Explosive Anti-Tank) rounds taking massive chunks out of the wall. The pintel mounted weapons, a 12.7mm chaingun, was also dealing scores of damage, the large shells punching through armour, such as the allied Warrior that had been advancing on them. In this sort of terrain, armour was either the best defence or the worst offence. It was down to air support, and the men on the ground. A burst of machine gun flew over their heads as Elliot made them crouch,"Any ideas, Iliyakim?"
----------------------------------------------------
Inside the building, alarm klaxons blared as the foundations crumbled beneath the Black Guard's feet. They rushed as fast as they could towards the entrances, a few of them making it out in time, but falling roofs and collapsing walls crushed those who were stuck inside. They would be lucky to survive. For the first time in the war, Shan would see a Black Guard fall to his knees and cry... his son had been inside the building when it collapsed. The man sobbed quietly as the battle waged on around them, or so they thought.

Tari wasn't seen, luckily enough. What with the damage she'd caused, they would have no qualms about using heavy weapons on her at all. In fact, they were more than willing. Perched high above, Raven watched in horror as he saw what she was doing,Is she trying to get herself killed... if so, why? why now!

He felt so helpless, just like that night when his family had been killed. He expierenced those flashbacks every so often... his sister had died in 'hospital', more like asylum, three years ago. In the final hours of her life, she seemed to have recognised Raven, and even croaked out his name through her dying vocal chords,"Nathan."

He shut his eyes, willing the visions aware,Nathan is dead. He died all those years ago... Raven was born right there, at that precise moment.

He remembered a poem he had read once:

Amidst the eternal waves of time,
From a ripple of change shall the storm rise.
Out of the Abyss peer the eyes of a demon,
Behold the Razgriz, it's wings a black sheath.
****
The demon soars through dark skies,
Fear and death trail it's shadow.
Until men united wield a hallowed sabre,
In the final reckoning the beast it slain.
****
As the Demon sleeps, man turns on man,
His own blood and madness spread throughout the earth.
From the depths of despair awaken the Razgriz,
It's raven wings ablaze with majestic might.

The main character had lent it's name to the Razgriz Squadron, but Raven also felt connected to the character. The orginal Razgriz had been Vamp, who had indeed caused fear and death, until together, Cougar and Rhenna had killed him. Whilst the demon had slept within Raven, the civil war had broken out, and from the depths of peoples despair, he and his friend had risen to majestic might, being the strongest, the ones dedicated to protecting the people. He smiled slightly, and jumped off the platform into the night sky, his entire body bristling with anticipation, adrenaline and sheer enjoyment. Finally, he felt at peace, as the small 'chute he had strapped on deployed, the black material not showing against the night sky. He came down slowly enough, landing behind Tari, rolling to absorb the impact,"Thought you might need a hand."

~snip~
FS: "Eagle, you are requested to deploy your men to the front line. Provide air cover until further notice, over."

NE: "Lima Squadron, establish air superiority over the battlefield... we've been having problems with enemy Hunters. Don't underestimate them... they may look ungainly, but they are fast and pack a large amount of firepower. Razgriz Squadron and the 8492nd will accompany you to deal with the fighters."

"Inthuul's more than capable of taking out a tank...we found that out on Yuktobania. The question is...what do you think is the best way to take it out?"
_________________________________________________________________________

Shan felt a brief moment of remorse as he watched the man weep. Whatever else they might be, these men were people.

They laughed, they cried...they loved and they hurt.

He steeled himself against it, though. They were the enemy...they were the life force of the loyalist side. He left the man to his grief. He'd search for Tari...and if he was right, she'd be pulling some of her little suicidal tricks by now.

And she calls me stupid.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Tari whirled around as Raven dropped beside her.

"Gods, Raven, don't do that. And help...sure. We're not here much longer, judging from that explosion...but there are more we can get in the mean time. ... Why are you out in the middle of the street? I have defensive spells against most of their weaponry...but you don't..."

Elliot winced as another shell detonated in a nearby house, collapsing the front wall. It was only now that Elliot noticed they were in what had been someones living room, and he sighed, seeing the scattered remains of peoples lives before this war had started,"Well... we need to distract it. That, I can do. This LAAW will come in useful... just give me five minutes. AS soon as I fire, the tank will try and get me. You can attack then."
---------------------
No one saw Shan leave the man to his grief, as he soon picked himself up, wiped the tears from his eyes, and slid the visor down over his face. Inside that helmet, the icons flashed, showing him targets, friendlies, a map of the battefield... a huge array of information. He gripped the handguard of his rifle, and started to move towards the battlefield.
---------------------
Raven smiled,"That's some of the advantages of Snake technology. I can be in a number of different places at once."

AS he spoke, his sneaking suit began to vibrate, making him harder to see and to target. He pulled a pistol from his belt,"Let's do this."

NE: "Lima Squadron, establish air superiority over the battlefield... we've been having problems with enemy Hunters. Don't underestimate them... they may look ungainly, but they are fast and pack a large amount of firepower. Razgriz Squadron and the 8492nd will accompany you to deal with the fighters."

Lima Squadron roared into the black, tearing into the atmosphere like a pack of rabid dogs.

"Roger command. See if you can get us a fix on their landing fields, there'll be a lot fewer if they don't have an easy home to rest at. Or 'ave you started orbital bombardment on em yet?"

James flipped a switch, leaving the link to command on recieve, but also opening a link to Razgriz and the rest of Lima. "Okay Lima, Razgriz squad will be comin with us. Don't cloak, cause it would not be fun to have them pick up a faint signal and blow us to smithereens. Make sure you all can learn to prounounce Razgriz, tisn't hard.

Razgriz! Can ya try to make sure they don't eat up or dorsals too bad? We don't have very good fire arcs up there. Other than that, try to watch our backs and we'll do our best to watch yours. LIMA! Break to trios and get down there. And don't screw around with our friends, not all fighters are incompetant morons, only the enemy."

"Negative on the bombardment, it's too close to civilian areas, we don't want to risk casualties. Your orders are to ascert air superiority over the battlefield. Do not deviate until further notice."

"This is Blaze, of the Razgriz squadron. We're already engaged with the enemy above the city. Current altitude is flight level one zero (10,000 feet). Don't stray below this if you can help it, as the weapons fire may hit our allies down below."

Elliot winced as another shell detonated in a nearby house, collapsing the front wall. It was only now that Elliot noticed they were in what had been someones living room, and he sighed, seeing the scattered remains of peoples lives before this war had started,"Well... we need to distract it. That, I can do. This LAAW will come in useful... just give me five minutes. AS soon as I fire, the tank will try and get me. You can attack then."
---------------------
No one saw Shan leave the man to his grief, as he soon picked himself up, wiped the tears from his eyes, and slid the visor down over his face. Inside that helmet, the icons flashed, showing him targets, friendlies, a map of the battefield... a huge array of information. He gripped the handguard of his rifle, and started to move towards the battlefield.
---------------------
Raven smiled,"That's some of the advantages of Snake technology. I can be in a number of different places at once."

AS he spoke, his sneaking suit began to vibrate, making him harder to see and to target. He pulled a pistol from his belt,"Let's do this."
Iliyakim nodded. "Good luck."
_______________________________________________________________________
Shan moved on, trying to locate his companion.
-----------------------------------------------------
"..." She looked at him for a moment. "All right. I was going to go this way."

Elliot grinned again, his teeth showing in his dirt-smeared face. A thin trickle of blood was trailed from his cheek where a flying piece of metal had grazed him earlier in the day. He put the LAAW across his back, holding the light machinegun in his hands, the ammo drum still almost full. As he ran across the road, bent at the waist, the Viper's chaingun stiched bullets into the tarmac behind him, the flying tracer showing where he had run. He found himself inside the building he was going for, and made his way up the stairwell to the roof, where he pulled the LAAW apart, making the sights pop up, and he focused on the weaker top armour of the tank. He paused, gathering his thoughts, before he squeezed the trigger mechanism. With a plume of smoke that was inherrent to recoiless weapons, the missile shot down to impact the tank, but his aim was off by just enough to attract it's attention, the rocket hitting the building on the far side, sending a shower of debris onto the tank. The turret turned on it's axis, trying hopelessly to engage him...
-------------------
Raven motioned for her to lead on.

"Now, Inthuul."

The Thalack had served mostly as armor all day...but now he switched to his aerial combat form.

They swooped down on the tank, firing round after round into it, then turned to go for a second pass.
________________________________________________________________________
Tari's cloak seemed to flick, and then she was halfway down the street.

Just put in perspective how fast they really were...since she didn't teleport.

"Commander!"

"I see it.. whatever 'it' is."

"Sir, those shells... they blew out our right-side tread. We're immobilised!"

"Gunner, turn the chaingun on that thing!"

There was no reply, as the shells had also killed the gunner, not withstanding Elliot's missile attack,"Gamma Three to Gamma Zero, hows it going?"
-----------------------------------------
Raven's eyes nearly popped out his head,"Oh my..."

There was no time for him to finish the sentence as a pulse round flew past his head. He swore, running for his life, twisting to get a good shot in with his pistol. He quickly exhausted the clip, and had to change it as he ran towards Tari. He did, however, pull some funky aerobatics whilst he was on the way... his liking for parkour was becoming evident, as it allowed him constant, free-flowing movement over the terrain, no matter how rough.

"I'm about to power up to a better attack...this thing'll be out soon enough, Gamma Three."
______________________________________________________________________
A flying phantom soon joined them, taking out more forces. Tari's work ahead was evident in the bodies and body parts strewn about, but she was going to exhaust herself.

"Roger that, I'm going to keep my head down for the moment then."
--------------------------------
"What the hell is that?"

"Roger, Gamma Three." He cut the transmission, and, finished changing attack modes, went for another, higher powered assault on the tank.
______________________________________________________________________
Shan dipped to a visible level for a brief moment.

"Nothing."

"Someone get on that fifty! (50 cal, the chaingun)"

"Too late!"

The Viper seemed to crumple like so much paper in a rainstorm... it was horrific really. Such a powerful machine, reduced to ashes, in one a few short moments, when it had been holding up the allied advance for almost three hours. As the tank was destroyed, the Dragoons and Rangers who were at the intersection began to move forward, one of them halting to send word to the still orbiting C2 bird,"C2, this is Delta Six-Eight, Location One secure, moving forward."

"Roger that, Six-Eight. All positions, Location One has been captured. Exploit to maximum effect."

In Layman's terms, this meant that Gamma Team could move up if they wanted to, or they could sit tight. No one really knew what it would be like in the centre of the city... close ranges would call for shotguns, grenades and other such methods to be employed.

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

Raven sighed,"I should have known really. You people and your illusions."

As he was speaking, he dropped another man who had appeared at a window, pointing a weapon at him. The bullets hit his brestplate, burrowing into his skin at a weak point,"Where exactly are we going?"

"Gamma Zero to Gamma Unit...that's us for today. Converge on Three's location, and we'll get a few hours' rest."
_________________________________________________________________________
"Probably into trouble. She's not taking much advantage of stealth...which means I probably better stop her soon."

They all reported back, and started to move to where Elliot had thrown out a blue Chemlite to mark his location. As they approached, they heard the click of a bolt sliding shut, but it was just Elliot taking precautions. When you were alone, you had to do that sort of thing. He lowered the pistol, and sighed a sigh of relief,"Oh, it's just you guys. From here, we can get a good view of what's happening... the Dragoons are leading the first spearhead into the centre. Warriors are leading the way."
-------------------------------
"A good idea... if I remember this street plan correctly, the Black Guard command post for this area is just along the Falls Road (the road they were on at the moment). It's heavily guarded... and not being assualted by allied forces."

"Gamma Zero to Gamma Five...how's Justin doing, Jack?"
_______________________________________________________________________
"You're telling me I hit the wrong target. Shu. Well...now's as good a time as ever to stop her from getting us all killed."

He rushed forward, grabbing her and bringing her back. "Okay. Time to come back to reality and off of whatever it is you're on that's giving you these illusions of immortality."

There was a pause as the signal was patched through to Jack,"Gamma Five here... he's stable, for now. They're shipping up to the ships for surgery right now. He'll be onboard the Venture until they release him... it's a Sovereign-class vessel, from what I can gather. Captain Dale Anderson. How are you guys doing?"

The reality was that Justin was fairly beat up, and was most likely out of commision for the rest of the war, given the speed of the allies advance on the first day... and they weren't stopping. Barbarossa had seen to that, and was even now winging his way from Osea to Snake Eater Prime, to take up office. He had already spoken to the House of Commons via videophone, and had been offered their full support in the matter... a first for him.

----------------------------------------
"Oh no, you hit the right target... but its a large warzone. There's going to be more than one command post... multiple links in the chain."

As Shan grabbed her, Raven seemed to hang back, providing them with cover fire using a discarded weapon whose failsafes had gone offline. All SE weapons were equipped with fingerprint identification technology... only the registered user could fire the weapon. However, this ones failsafes had, ironically, failed. So, Raven could use it as well as the next man. He glanced at the shot counter on top. It read: 235.

More than enough... if I'm good.

He stared down the sight, the standard attachement for these weapons. Using advanced holgraphic technology, it picked out where targets were likely to be, increasing effectiveness when coupled with the standard SE battlesuit, whose helmet flagged every person with one of three things using personal IFF data: Civilian, Friendly, and Enemy.

Iliyakim projected an image of his friend for the rest of the unit.

"We're all relatively unscathed. You gonna stay with Justin, or are you planning to come back and fight with us?"
________________________________________________________________________
Tari sighed. "Dos inbal JI lotha eluith'orth."

Shan shrugged. "Yeah, but I think that you've had way too much caffeine. Right, so, we're headed straight toward another enemy command center, and you were pulling all this crazy stuff. How about we let him take the lead, since he knows where he's going?"

"Fine."

"I'm heading up there for a little while, just to make sure everything goes smoothly. Once that's done, I'll be rejoining you."
----------------------
Raven nodded,"Follow me... and be careful. We're in enemy territory... this is basically insane."

He nodded. If anyone else wanted to say anything, they could.
_______________________________________________________________________
Shan chuckled. "You still thought we were sane after this?"

"If he wakes up, I'll tell him you said hi," said Jack, shutting down the commlink soon after that, but then coming back,"Oh, and get some sleep. Doctors orders."

Then he was gone.
-----------------------
"If I'm honest... no."

Iliyakim shut down his end of the link.

"Well, you heard him. Get some sleep. I can take first watch. Who wants what others?"
_________________________________________________________________________
Tari laughed. "At least you're honest. Let's go."

They shrugged,"It's all good really."

Simpkins, their sniper, volunteered to take the watch with Iliyakim.
-----------------
*Tiravano*
Romeo team had just returned from a hard fought mission in the southern seas when the news reached them about Snake Eater Prime. The initial landing had gone well, with Snake International being captured easily enough and now the main stab into the heart of the enemy going well. Still, it didn't pacify them much. Emily was still on a high after that kiss, wanting to know if Iliyakim was alright. But it didn't matter, they still had a job to do... even though this planet was basically theirs now. However, some enemy forces refused to yield, and had taken to attacking both military and civilian ships, using small boats to attack in piratical raids. It was a serious problem at times... not only that, but they also had access to a few small starships, such as Ezekiel-class patrol ships, and they liked to assault the shipyards frfom time to time, trying to destroy the allies chances of rebuilding in the wake of the war.

*En route from Osea to SEP*
Jacius Barbarossa sipped at the water, which was tepid, and stared out at the mottled starscape that was the warp,"How long until we reach the planet?"

"About three hours, sir."

"Very good. Wake me when the time comes."

"Yes, sir."
----------------
Raven led them through buildings that had once been occupied, but now lay empty, until he led them to a position that overlooked the enemy base,"Theres your target."

He'd have preferred it if no one went sleep deprived...but two on a watch was generally better than one.
________________________________________________________________________
Tari looked at it. "Okay...I'll take care of the groundwork...just keep it contained, Shan."

She vanished from the room, and reappeared in a dark shadow cast off a different building.

She cast...letting it fall.

Shan, meanwhile, focused so that no unnecessary damage was done.

With only four of them, each person would have to pull more than one guard duty that night anyway.
---------------
Raven watched with amazement as the building crumbled in on itself for no apparant reason... at least none that the Black Guard would be able to fathom,"I'm not sure what to make of that."

Iliyakim was used to pulling two, though. Still...there wasn't much they could do, otherwise.
___________________________________________________________________________
"Yeah, most people find it pretty odd if they don't know what's up. I just hope she doesn't try to move while they're still...ah shu."

Looking around to minimize the chance of being spotted and hit, Tari had started shadow-hopping, trying to get back to Shan and Raven.

When the time came for the shift change, Simpkins woke Elliot up by nudging him with his foot, and gesturing to the window. Elliot nodded, and took up his position with his weapon, putting NVG's on his head so that he could watch out the window. The fighting seemed to have settled down for now, and there was only the occasional burst as a Little Bird came past on a gun run.
------------------
"Sometimes, I get the feeling she can be a real pain in the ass."

Iliyakim had opted for two watches in a row...they could wake him up for another, if need be.

He nodded to acknowledge Elliot, and went back to silently spectating.
________________________________________________________________________
"You have no idea."
-----------------------------------
She'd found a spot that she could see into the room from, and teleported in.

"No idea about what?"

The hours passed, sporadic gunfire being the only real distraction. This was the major problem with stag duty... it could be the most boring thing in existence.
------------
"Just talking about how you guys do that," said Raven, looking at her,"You alright?"

And so they switched off again...awaiting the dawn.
________________________________________________________
"Yeah. Only shot at a coupla times, so it works well enough."

She looked out.

"Although we really should get out of here."

"You know, I was just thinking the same thing. Come on, I know a way."

He led them back into the maze of buildings, moving deftly over, under or around obstacles, trying not to use the light attached to his weapon unless he absolutley had to. When he finally got them to a place he deemed safe, he called the halt,"You guys can rest here."

They were a little fashka-drained, but nothing too bad.

Tari looked at him. "What about you?"

He looked at her, and smiled, noticing the way her eyes seemed to glitter in the light. She really does have beautiful eyes...

He caught himself lingering, and shook his head,"I'm alright, really."

As he said this, he thought about what he had seen in her eyes. What was it... concern for him? Feelings along the same lines as himself... he couldn't tell.

"If you're sure."

He nodded,"I'll be fine, trust me."

"Okay, then. Garth, take care of him."

Shan tugged at her cloak.

"This way to the nearest one."

And then they were gone.
-------------------------------------------------------
***On the way***

Shan looked at Tari. They'd decided on a slower pace through less tightly inhabited streets.

"So...Raven. You've known him a while, yes?"

"Since the academy. Why?"

He shrugged. "No reason. Just wanted to know how you felt about him, that's all."

"He's been lonely...needs a friend. He can be fun, but he can also be broody."

Shan shook his head, drawing her into an alleyway and pulling up a couple of crates. He conjured a drink for each of them.

"No. I didn't ask what you thought of him. I asked how you felt about him."

There was a long silence as she thought. "I don't know. I can't describe it, now that I'm thinking about it. Come on, Shan. We don't have all night."

They started moving again, but Shan had one more thing to say.

"When the time comes, don't think. Feel."

Garth chirped at her as she walked off, something in the affirmative. Raven waited until they were out of sight before moving off himself. In recent days, he grown secluded... it was good to work with others every so often... but being near Tari was dangerous at the best of times... what with the recent turn of events, he wasn't sure of his own self-control... what if she noticed?

Shan and Tari destroyed just one more building before finding a good place to curl up and sleep. They'd sleep past dawn...long day, late night...but during the day, surely they could do something.

As the sun rose over Snake City on the second day of the fighting, smoke columns could be seen rising from over the city, causing the morning rays to be distorted, the colours seeming to dance around in random patterns. The light fell across Cougar's face, and he woke up with a start, his hand going for a weapon, before he relaxed. Matt saw he was awake, and passed him some of the biscuit brown (think cream cracker type thing) he was eating,"Breakfast of champions."

"What, browns and pate?"

"You said it."

They laughed a moment, before a blast hit the window ledge, and they stopped. There was a moment of silence, before Watt whispered,"Ok, no more of that for either of you!"

Alpha Team were soon back on the street, surprised at how normal it looked given the previous days events. Of course, people were still shooting at them, but they dealt with it like they dealt with almost everything. React only to that which was the most pertinant at that point in time.
----------
Gamma Team had an easy night, what with the two sides having settled in, but by dawn, the fire had been steadily increasing as the sun rose over the horizon. There was a fire burning somewhere near, they could smell it.

Shan and Tari were out almost as soon as the sun rose, but Shan was more rested than Tari. He'd actually made her think about something that she hadn't had to think about. Something that bothered her.

Something she couldn't let bother her at the present.

They were still going after the network of command posts.
________________________________________________________________________
Iliyakim let his team eat a quick breakfast (he barely ate anything at all when in battle conditions), and then they were back out.

They were dotted at various points around the city... it was going to be difficult to find them all. Also, it was a complete unknown as to the position of the main field HQ... that would be more difficult.
------------------------
Raven simply hadn't slept. He couldn't, not at the moment. No, instead, he had slipped behind the lines and was now delivering first class intelligence to the allied ground forces, giving them enemy positions, numbers, and other such information that was vital to such a campaign.
-----------------------
The battle was rejoined as the sun was rising over the horizon, for although they could fight at night, it was sort of accepted practice not continue so. However, sometimes, set practices couldn't be relied on, and so there was occasional fire. But now, the volume of fire rapidly increased as the enemy rose to find the allies almost on top of them, bearing down to destroy them.

They knew that they didn't know where the main HQ was...but a head would find it hard to work without a body, legs, and hands. That was their task...to immobilize, to damage.
______________________________________________________________________
Jack joined them, and until Justin got back, they'd be a five-man team.

However, for now, they were supposed to RV with Alpha Unit, so they made their way to where they'd been pinned down the night before. The battle to that area was brutal...but they'd been accustomed to brutal for a long time now.

And damage they could. Although the enemy didn't have as many men, it seemed as if they were everywhere, like ants underfoot.
---------------------
As Gamma Team approached, the firing in that direction stopped a moment, allowing them into the RV with Alpha team, who were facing down the Falls Road. A column of smoke rose from where Tari and Shan had destroyed that particular command post the previous night. As Gamma entered, a new section took over from Alpha team, who beckoned to Gamma to follow them into a back room,"How's it going?"

They stayed away from the ordinary soldiers, but they killed the Black Guard without hesitation or discrimination.

They were the youngest mages in Rendelmar with so many kills, and it would show in the upcoming weeks and months...but they would be able to handle it.
_________________________________________________________________________
"Easier than expected. Especially after Yuktobania."

Iliyakim still thought that was a waste. Of time, and of lives.

"It's been easy so far, but the enemy doesn't seem worried about this area. No, I think it will get much harder to survive once we cross this defensive line."

Cougar projected a map of the area, marking the locations of all SHADOW teams... twenty of them were operating in this warzone. one hundred and twenty men and women out of one hundred and fifty-six. A huge amount. But warranted,"I suggest we move forward with the regular forces during the day, and then during the night we move into forward positions and get ready for the next day."

He nodded. "Sounds about right. Interesting, though...it seems that many of the enemy command posts in the area have spontaneously collapsed."

"I noticed that as well... and there are no more units operating in this area. I put it down to artillery, but I haven't heard any. It shall remain a mystery for now."

Iliyakim thought there might be more to it than that...but it didn't really matter.

"We should move out if we don't want to miss the action."

A missile came through the window in the front room just then, tearing a chunk out of the wall with it's explosive round. Instinctivly, all the humans in the room ducked. It was a natural thing.

As the noise cleared, Cougar nodded, having heard what Iliyakim had said despite wearing earplugs during a gun battle (it helped to stop him going deaf from all the noise),"Alright, you go to the other side of the street, and we'll coordinate our efforts."

Iliyakim had ducked as well, and as Cougar gave the instruction he nodded, and motioned to Gamma to follow him.

As Gamma Team went across the street, Alpha Team gave them some cover fire, before Cougar called Iliyakim again,"Iliyakim, we can't see that heavy weapons position from here... can you identify it?"

"Looks like a battery of missile launchers and heavy pulse cannons. Give me a minute, though, and you can call it scrap metal."

He motioned to his men to commence fire on the battery.

"Roger that."

His men all opened fire on the positions, drawing their fire. About twenty yards up the road from Iliyakim, a Corporal yelled to one of his men,"When these assholes stop to reload, cover me!"

"Yes, Corporal!"

"Dawkins, draw some of their fire."

Dawkins nipped out, firing off a few shots. The Corporal waved at him,"Again!"

Dawkins hit his weapon,"I'm jammed! The weapons overcharged!"

Suddenly, there was a lull in the firing, followed by one of the other privates yelling,"I got it!"

He ran out, firing the underslung grenade on his rifle. It missed, and he hurried to try and reload. As he was doing this, the men working on the battery were hurrying to reload their weapons. At the last moment, he managed to fire off the second shot, hitting the enemy position, just as another rocket flew towards him,"INCOMING!"

He was sent flying, the rubble covering. As he fell, the Corporal ran over, slinging his weapon over his back. He scrabbled in the dirt to find his man, and he find him he did. The private's eyes flew open. He saw his corporal, but heard nothing for a few seconds, then,"You alright? You ok?"

"Yeah... I can hear bells ringing."

The corporal laughed in joy, an odd look on his face,"Come on!"

Iliyakim scrambled through enemy fire and rubble to get to the two men.

"Is everyone relatively unharmed here?"

"Pretty much... bloody hell, that was a close run thing though."

"Indeed. Good job...it takes more than a little courage to do something like that."

Grimes coughed up some dust,"It was the only thing I could do."

"So you say." He patted the man on the shoulder, then returned to his own unit.

They watched him go, and then got back to the battle at hand.

As the hours wore on and morning turned to afternoon, the allies advanced slowly but surely. However, they hit a sticking point at the Green Bridge. The Green Bridge was one of the hallmarks of the city, one of the most beautiful pieces Snake Eaters possessed. Now, at both ends, dragons teeth tank traps prevent armoured vehicles from crossing the bridge, but they didn't stop firing. However, the bridge was a bottleneck... it was the quickest way to the Adminstrium though. A trade-off... it would cost them, no matter which way they went.

It had been a long day for the two little mages that had stayed well behind enemy lines.

If they got the chance to sleep that night, they would have earned it many times over.

But now...they could help the actual advance.

Shan crouched in the shadows next to his friend. "Right...take out the tanks. I'll prevent damage to the bridge...don't want it to collapse under our troops."

She nodded. "Okay. Ready?"

"Yeah."

They cast simultaneously, she to cause the tanks to explode, him to contain the explosion from the bridge.

"What happened?"

"We didn't hit them!"

"Who cares? Get men across that bridge now. Storm it, and establish a foothold on the opposite bank. Move out, solider!"

"Yessir!"

And that was that. The allied troops stormed the bridge, killing those who stood in their way. They weren't without casualties, but that was the nature of war. More than one man was thrown into the waters of the Cobrian, the crystal clear water becoming stained with blood and oil. Pulse charge packs lay scattered where they had been ejected from weapons, crunching underfoot as men ran across the bridge, going down on their knees. Chunks of tarmac were blown out of the road, but otherwise the bridge was safe. In less than half an hour, they had captured the far side, and were back on track. Less than a week had passed since the allies had landed on Snake Eater Prime, and they were within spitting distance of the final objective. It was a testament not only to their training and devotion to their cause, but how much Constantine's war effort had been based on his putting the fear of god into his troops. By the same token, those who still fought on his side out of blind loyalty or simple fear were also to be credited... the allies had a vast numberical advantage, but they had held them up with a large degree of success at times.

Shan and Tari watched as the allies stormed across the bridge. Then Tari turned to Shan.

"Next target?"

He looked around, and pointed down the street.

"That way."

"There's nothing down that way, I just came from there," said a familar voice from the nearby shadows. Cougar stepped from behind the wall, and grinned his odd grin, one that held no laughter within it,"We managed to cross over by swimming... that was difficult, I can tell you."

He was indeed soaked from head to foot, and his hair was a darker colour than normal. His DPM's were also much darker, a side effect of being soaked,"Let me guess. It was you two who took out those command posts last night."

"Yeah...we've been working around...trying to find as many as we can."

Tari shook her head. "Why swim when you can walk?" She pointed to the bridge.

He shrugged,"There was no other way at the time. We had a job to do, and we took the route we had to. If I were you, by the way, head south."

"All right. What's down that way?"

Cougar sketched a map in the dirt with his finger, using a twig to point out enemy positions,"I don't have blueprints for this place, so this is the best I can do. It used to be the main Intelligence building for the country. Now, with all information going through S.I.O.N, it was revamped and turned into something totally other... I think it was sold off to a big multi-national or something. However, the Black Guard have, shall we say,'Gone back on the deal', and retaken the building, turning into their nerve centre for the entire war."

"It'll be rubble before an hour has elapsed."

Shan grinned, and took off, grabbing onto Tari's sleeve and dragging her along.

"Captain Iliyakim, this is Major Vortres of the 3rd Dragoons! We need your support, and any men who you can get. We've been ambushed up the road from the bridge, about half a mile over!"

The call was frantic, and well it might have been. The armoured column had been fired on by enemy forces who were well dug in, and could repel their attacks. Even though the road was wide enough to take two tanks, it was still a dangerous place to get caught in, and it wasn't like the enemy wasn't being picky. It seemed that even if they missed, it was a victory, as if they no longer cared. This was, in fact, closer to the truth than many liked to admit. The enemy no longer cared about winning... no, all they cared about was leaving the allies with such a broken husk of a city that it would be a Pyrhhic victory indeed.

Scattered around his area, Iliyakim had two platoons of Rangers, along with a sniper team or two, and a platoon of Green Jackets.

Iliyakim split his forces into two parts, and sent them different directions, to ambush the enemy from both sides.

He left a few men to keep the area secure, but this was more pressing. He also ordered most of the sniper team to get to that area and to take out as many of them as they could, while they could.

The sniper team moved forward some distance, using their thermal vision scopes to find the enemy. They closed to less than two hundred metres, and then proceeded to fire into the enemy ranks whilst they could. There were two of them on each side, a sniper and a spotter. The spotter located targets using his binoculars (snipers didn't wear the normal battlesuit, instead wearing similar gear to that of SHADOW), whilst the three platoons (consisting in total of nine sections) split. The two Ranger sections went opposite directions, whilst the Green Jackets held down the corner.

It took time to get into position, but then they moved in with ruthlessness and authority, killing all those who stood in their way. The time for prisoners was long past... the enemy they were up against now would continue to fight to the death.
-------------------------------------
The Black Guard buidling was truly magnificent, and had been built in the golden age of Snake Eater design. This era was currently undergoing a revival, the classical styles being much more popular than the metal and glass of late. It gave it a certain character... but there could be no doubt this was a military buidling. Scores of armed guards, helicopters lifting off, vehicles coming to and fro... the windows were sandbagged, and there was two .50 Heavy Machineguns in nests near the main door.

Tari looked at the building and frowned. "I really don't want to destroy it."

Shan sighed. "We have to."

"So many will survive."

"Not if we detonate all their ammunition."

"But the building..."

"They can rebuild it. Now, are you going to do this, or do I have to do this on my own?"

Tari sighed and focused the spell. Her heart wasn't really in it...but it didn't need to be.

She unleashed it...the same spell that had taken down the other buildings with such ease.

Shan, meanwhile, used a variation on a force-field to keep the Black Guards in, and prevent the damage from leaving that area.

Flying overhead, a Cobra fighter, on the way back from a strike mission, saw the building collapse, and radioed through to the control room,"Control, this is Ofnir 1. I just saw a building on the North side of the river collapse... looked like the old Intel building, over."

"Ofnir 1, are you sure?"

"Positive."

"That can't be possible... there are no units in that area."

"Well, something hit it."

"Roger that, Ofnir 1. Return To Base, rearm, and scope out the area, over."

"This is Ofnir 1, roger. RTB"

"And now," Tari said, matter-of-factly, "we go this way if we don't want to be caught, tortured, and killed."

They slipped away, to seek out a new target.

The rubble was still, the sound of the weapons in the distance, the booming of the big guns of the Dragoons as they tried to fight their way out of the ambush laid on by the fanatics.

Inside the buildings, the fighting was close and dirty. Shotguns, pulse carbines, pistols, knives, even bare hands... things along those lines were the order of the day. Elliot punched one guy, breaking his nose and splattering blood against the far wall even as another came at him with a knife, sending him sprawling across the floor, the man trying to slit his throat. Struggling for breath under his assaliants weight, hs somehow managed to get his pistol out of his holster, and pulled the trigger twice. The bullets thudded into the mans chest, and he collapsed, his blood oozing out the wound and staining Elliot's already well-worn DPM's,"A little help!"

Iliyakim dropped down beside him, dropping another opponent with his blade.

"You call for help?"

"Yeah, get this guy off me, he's dead weight!"

Iliyakim grabbed the guy and dragged him off his team-member.

"You have to learn to be more careful, sometimes."

Elliot hauled himself to his feet, firing two rounds into a man who was firing wildly at Iliyakim with his pulse carbine.

"So do you," he grinned, cracking the pistol over the back of another man's head, knocking him out cold with a single blow. Suddenly, everything seemed to slow down, as a grenade sailed through a doorway. Elliot heard himself shout the words,"GRENADE! GET DOWN," even as he was diving towards the floor...

Iliyakim dropped as well, Inthuul reacting swiftly to become a protective shield.

The grenade went off, sucking the air from around it and then sending it spiralling outwards. It wasn't a frag grenade, but instead a thermo-grenade, designed to send out a wave of intense heat for the briefest fraction of a second, enough to melt steelcrete in long doses. The rapidly expanding air made anyone caught up in it feel like they'd been punched in the gut, before it lifted them high and forced them backwards. As soon as the heat died away, the fighting began anew, as vicious as ever. However, the sheer weight of numbers on the side of the allies was pushing the fanatics back. Sergeant Chuck Thomas had a 12 gauge shotgun in his palms, using the shells to push the enemy backward. That was until he collapsed backwards, a row of smoking holes in his armour, the man who had shot him standing in the doorway, his face a grinning rictus of demented fury, the pulse carbine smoking in his palms. He spread his arms wide, and let the Rangers shoot him, which they did. Pulse fire scorched the air and walls, leaving blackened stains as the man fell to the floor, quite rightly dead.

Fanatics. Damned hard to fight because they don't see reason.

Iliyakim had ceased to hold back. Battle raged around him and within him...whipped through his hair, sang in his blood.

Those that knew him saw someone completely different from the man they'd seen fight...someone that could see and avoid the dangers of a battlefield while causing maximum damage himself.

Soon enough, the fanatics on both sides were dead, and the Rangers started setting up a casualty collection point in one of the buildings. As the battle wound down for the evening, Elliot approached him,"What happened to you back there, man? I've never seen you act like that before."

Iliyakim shrugged. "I honestly don't remember any of the details. How'd everyone else make out?"

"Some wounded, a few dead. They're calling a medical chopper... Jack's coming in on it, so he'll be rejoining us. It's starting to get dark as well.. we might as well begin to bed down for the night."

~snip~
OOC: That post made little to no sense, and made a number of highly n00bish mistakes. I will not list them, as I could be going all night. However, you do show some promise. My advice to you right now would be to find something you can get involved in (I recommed the Jedi or Sith academies, they seem to be doing well) and leave us in peace. You have waived a number of rules, such as coming into an Semi-Closed thread without permission, and also godmodding, assuming a huge number of things, like the colour scheme of my starships that are landing at the airport (you're completely wrong, btw) and also saying how many men are there. Trust me, there are huge numbers in the city right now. Also, the planet is completeley under SE control... that's why it's called Snake Eater Prime, and not Earth. I split from Earth, and did my own thing. Now, leave, and godspeed.

"All right...good."

~snip~
OOC: I will not warn you again, or be so generous this time. GET THE HOLY HELL OUT OF MY THREAD! IF you refuse, I will set the mods on you.

EDIT: I decided it would be better for my reputation as an upstanding nation not to become known as n00b-crusher. I won't attack you... it's not worth it. My military dwarfs your nation, and I have better things to do with my time.

IC: "Hey, Iliyakim, are you alright?"

oooooookkkkkkkkk ... first of all, those men and that ship was mine. second of all, we launched from stuttenguiben to here, where we were here to aid you in the rebellion. so stop assuming things. and quit ruining this awesome thread. and quit being a n00b.

OOC: THIS IS MY THREAD! MINE! You are going to the mods.

EDIT: The mods have been informed of your misdemenours.

"Hey, Iliyakim, are you alright?"
The Drow nodded. "A little weary, but aren't we all?"

an atomic bomb went off, and killed everyone, so goodbye,screw you n00bs, and f*** you.:upyours:

an atomic bomb went off, and killed everyone, so goodbye,screw you n00bs, and f*** you.:upyours:
OOC: Godmod. And it won't do you any good.

Mods, if you see this, your assitance would be most welcome.

The Drow nodded. "A little weary, but aren't we all?"

"You seem... I don't know, odd. Ah well, it might just be me. You want a drink?"

He nodded. "Sounds like a good idea."

Elliot dug into his backpack, and found a flask of something, most likely whisky. He checked it, swigged it, and then did the top up, tossing it to Iliyakim,"Have a swig of that, it'll warm you up. Good stuff."

Iliyakim caught the flask deftly, undid the top and took a swig, before closing it and giving it back to Elliot. "Thank you."

an atomic bomb went off, and killed everyone, so goodbye,screw you n00bs, and f*** you.:upyours:

Svedethleind: Official Warning for Flaming
You were asked to leave the thread and you didn't. You proceeded to continue in with the thread when you weren't allowed to participate, and you attempted to destroy the RP while flaming the RP'ers. Hopefully this warning will show you how wrong that is.

Elliot stashed it again,"You're welcome."

*Ten minutes later*
"We got a bird coming in!"

"Get the wounded ready to move!"

"Yessir!"

As the chopper flared and landed across the road, in one of the many grassy areas within the city, the Rangers began to move their men across the street to load them on. Jack Williamson jumped down from to help them, before heading back to the building to rejoin his team,"Evening all!"

"Welcome back. How's Justin doing?"

Gamma team was almost ready to bed down for the night...or at least part of it.

"He'll be fine, but he's out of this campaign. The doctors won't let him leave until the end... the injuries were fairly severe in places. How'd today go?"

"Fairly crazy. About what you'd expect, really."

"It's weird... from the outside, it all looks so smooth, so simple... but down on the street, it's unforgiving. You're still the furthest forward tonight... Cougar and Zulu Team are pinned down near a crashed chopper about two blocks east of here, but other than that, it's all good, from what I hear."

"I heard that their latest central command post went down today."

"yeah, a fighter reported it. Another one of those weird collapses... I'm telling ya, that shits creepy."

"I've seen it happen...some rebellions...the big ones...buildings important to the enemy would collapse, seemingly of themselves."

Iliyakim swallowed a sip of water thoughtfully. "It seems exactly the same..."

"You've seen this sort of thing before then?"

"About seven or eight times. Heard a few other reports. The way I've heard it, entire city blocks have been demolished in seconds...without a leaf out of place in houses just steps from boundary of the destruction."

"It's odd, I'll give you that. Nothing we have is that accurate without some sort of collateral damage."

"I don't know how to explain it. I just know that it can happen...and it never seems to happen randomly. It always targets the centers of resistance...the most important parts of the enemy command structure."

"You seem to have spent quite a lot of time thinking about this, then. No one else seems all that bothered... just good fortune."

"It's new and slightly eerie to you...I'm wondering why I'm seeing the same phenomenon in Snake Eaters as I have seen before in Kaymiril...very few factors approach similarity at all."

"Whatever it is, it's obviously not worth worrying about. Whoever they are, they seem to be on our side."

"Yes...and believe me...it won't happen to us."

"It had better not. There's life in this old boy yet."

He coughed slightly, and hit himself on the chest,"Never been quite the same since that one time... ah well, I can still do my job."

"We wouldn't be here if we couldn't."

Iliyakim stood. It was time to sleep, and he normally was one of the two on first watch.

Jack insisted on staying up with him... but it was unlikely they would be needed tonight. What with the concentration of troops in the area, the enemy would have serious trouble breaking thorough.

"How badly was he injured?"

"Badly enough. Busted up on the inside... ribs, lungs, stomach... heart was ok. Knocked about a bit in the head as well, and a broken leg."

Iliyakim nodded.

"It will be some time before he is back with us. After that kind of a beating, even James would be out a while."

"They said until after the war," said Jack, rubbing his hand across the stubble on his chin,"And you're right, the Colonel would have some time to wait to recover."

"He should just take his time healing."

"He will, no worries. At least we haven't lost anyone... I heard Tango team lost someone earlier today... first SHADOW loss"

"Amazing that we've only lost one so far...who was it, do you know?"

"'fraid not. It's just one of those things... we can only hope that it will be the last."

He nodded, returning to silence.
____________________________________________________________
Night time was the best time to work, especially this far behind enemy lines.

They thought that most of them could sleep. They thought they were safe.

They were wrong.

Up until this point, Shan and Tari had little concerned themselves with such trivial things as supplies. After all...this was Snake Eater Prime. They could probably get more supplies, even if they stole them.

However, it had been two days since either had eaten, and they raided some food supplies, sending the rest on to the airport. Then they'd gone after the ammo...then the power source...and since these were fanatics, they also made sure to kill any ranking officers they could.

They couldn't spend much time in any one place...but they could do damage while they were there.

The enemy didn't know how to deal with this seemingly invisible menace. RAven watched with a grim smile, not too far from Tari and Shan. He'd been fighting all day, in some form or another, and he was exhausted. He rolled out his bed roll, and curled up in a room with only one entrance...

A figure appeared in the door, a weapon in their hands. It moved towards Raven, a hand reaching out as if to grab him...

"Dude, wake up, it's me."

"Wha... Mantis!?"

"That'd be me, bro."

"What in all that is holy are you doing here?"

"I got out, didn't I? Got released, and tracked you down."

"Ah... ah goddamn it, I was just getting some rest..."

"Go back to sleep... I'll take watch."

"Garth, join him"

Yes, Boss

GArth fluttered up to Mantis' shoulder, and perched there, staring into the night. In the midst of his dreams, Raven smiled... there were worse dreams than what he was seeing...

Shan and Tari eventually settled down for a few hours...no more than four. One would sleep while the other watched.

Shan preferred to sleep early, and Tari late, so she took the first watch.

She disliked watch, it gave her time to think.

Time to think of all the blood she'd shed, just during these past few months, time to think of just how many times she could have been killed...time to think about things far more difficult to comprehend than death.

Emotions.

Emotions were trouble, always had been. She tried not to think of them that much...she had friends and family. Raven had become a friend long ago...

But apparently how she'd felt about him had shifted.

She hadn't noticed, hadn't thought about it until Shan pointed it out.

And if she couldn't control this emotion, how could she ever face Raven? Then the friendship would end because he didn't understand that she couldn't...

The two hours had passed, and Shan woke up.

"Thinking about it?"

"I hate you."

He laughed softly. "You don't see into your own heart...so I have to for you. But come on...go back to sleep. And don't worry about talking to him. You still talk to me."

"But I don't like you."

"Thanks, sister."

Shan took his watch and let Tari sleep.

"Hows he doing?"

Aeehhhhhhh?

"You know what I mean, Garth."

The sparrow seemed to think for a moment, then bobbed it's little head up and down.

In his dreams, Raven was dreaming about how to tell Tari,Tari... I don't know what to say.

DOn't say anything, Raven.

But...

It can't happen... you know that. Let it go.

Wait! Come back!

OOC: Ouch.

IC:
The two Drow moved back out well before dawn...two silent, shadowy figures out to cause more damage to enemy forces.

Raven sat up suddenly close to dawn,"What time is it?"

"Five in the morning. You've been asleep almost six hours."

"Oh god, I hate it when I do that."

"You alright?"

"What... oh, yeah... I'm fine"

Iliyakim woke at about the same time Raven did, and was on the move with his team not ten minutes later.

The streets seemed more derelict than the night before, the war having taken it's toll on everyone and everything. Men were haggard, their faces covered with dust and blood and other such things. They moved at a languid pace, their energy reserves almost completely gone. Most of these men, although they'd eaten, felt as if they couldn't remember the last time they hadn't been fighting in a war. The streets were littered with bodies, ruins, detris that crunched underfoot... a warzone of epic proportions.

Gamma Team were no better off. Ammunition was low, resupply was rare... it was tough, being an elite solider. In their profession, you had to do things that others couldn't, and you had to do it constantly. It was a tax on even the strongest mind. Elliot had taken the lead position, his M249 SAW being the fastest firing weapon they had. He'd had to replace the barrel twice due to overheating, and was beginning to run low on his ammunition. Jack was the only one who had a decent amount left, and he'd brought as much as he could for the others with him, but he was only human, and thus limited in what he could carry. He brought up the rear, the other three members of the team arrayed in the middle. All around them, pulse blasts wizzed through the air, the solid slugs of railguns left burning trails in the air, almost invisible to the naked eye... it was terrible indeed. Up ahead, at the end of the Falls Road, lay the Central Square... the centre of Snake Eaters. At it's Northern end lay the Adminstrium... that mighty building that rose above the city, allowing the Lord President to gaze out over Snake City, and watch as his people continued in their daily lives...

Some distance from Gamma Team, Cougar was standing in a doorway, leaning against the frame. He had his helmet off, and was looking at the stained table. Lying on the table, having died because they couldn't get him out in time, was Second Lieutenant Joseph Forrester.... the only SHADOW casuatly in the war so far. He looked at Nagase, the female leader of Zulu Team, who nodded. He walked in, and moved over to the body. He put his hand on Forrester's now pale forehead, then picked up his weapon. Nagase spun round as she heard the click of a magazine being released,"WHat are you doing?!"

"We need the ammo," said Cougar dispassionatley. He checked the magazine, and then looked back at Forrester. His eyes moved up to Nagase,"You did all you could here."

"They shoulda' sent a medivac."

"If they had, then we'd be out there right now defending another crashed chopper. And more men would get torn up."

"If that Green Jacket... Bloomer, hadn't fallen..."

"Listen, could have, or should have, it don't matter. Lieutenant, you can't control who gets hit in a battle and who doesn't, who falls out of a chopper or why. It ain't up to you. It's just war."

"Yeah, well... Forrester's still dead."

"Listen, you're thinking. Don't. You'll have plenty of time to think about all of this later, believe me. Just concentrate on getting the rest of your men back home alive. That's all you can do, understand me?"

There was a pause..."Yes... sir."

"Good girl. Now, shall we?"

He gestured to the door, the sound of gunfire echoing in the cavernous entrance way of the building they were in. He grinned a sardonic grin, and moved back outside to do battle once more...

Across the city, Mantis nudged Raven with his toe,"Hey, you sure you're alright? You seem kinda stressed."

"It's this damn war, Mantis... that's all it is."

"Oh yeah, right," scoffed Mantis, crouching down next to his friend. He looked at the pale-skinned, raven-haired man before him, and stayed there for a moment in silence,"It's Tari, isn't it."

"What?"

"You. You, the emotionless Eversor... you've fallen head over heels, and you don't know what to do."

"How could you know that."

Mantis tapped his long thin nose,"Male logic, mate. Now, stop worrying, eat something, and let's go do some killing."

Shan and Tari had already been on their little distructive rampage for a couple of hours. Their effectiveness was beginning to become limited, as the rebel forces found more of the enemy strongholds on their own.

So they'd moved to picking off enemy men one by one. It was dangerous at best...and if there was an open firefight between loyalists and rebels, they risked getting hit by either or both.



Iliyakim kept as good a watch on the safety of his team as he possibly could...killed where he could, fought when he could. They were all tired, though.

For all their sakes, and the sakes of everyone else in this Empire, this war needed to end soon.

They would have a few close shaves. What with the rebels pushing forward day by day, the rapid march of change was brooding over all of them. Every man and women wanted this war to be over and done with now, if only to let them see their families again.

It was around lunchtime when a decisive event happened, one that would change the very outcome of this war, and hopefully bring it to a close within days,"This is Foxtrot Lima Five, of the Crusaders. We've broken through the blockades on Marihan Road, I say again, we are within Central Square."

"This is Zero, roger that Foxtrot Five. All units, converge on that breach, exploit and capture that area. AS soon as it falls, this war is effectively over. If we hurry, we can end the war by tea-time. Now, move out!"

There was a huge flurry of radio messages, but Mantis and Raven didn't reply. They were already in the thick of it, Mantis providing Raven with support fire whilst the young Eversor went to town on the enemy troops. He felt oddly alive in the thrill of battle, and he was akin to a demon within in the enemy ranks, his vibrating form and vibroblades making him deadly in close quaters... it was a sight to behold, the massed troops of the allies breaking through the blockades, forcing the few remaining loyalists back towards the steps of the Adminstrium. A fierce firefight like no other broke out. It was like everyone was there... Cougar was at the forefront of the allies, having found the other teams and rallied them to form a unit that was like no other, avoided by the allies and feared by the fanatics... finally, the White Devil was there. His skin and hair blazed in the midday sun, as the sun beat down on the armies, forcing them to sweat and curse and die under the fierce barrage.

"Kill them all! Leave none alive!"

A common cry amongst the allies. These enemies would fight to the death... the allies would deliver.

The fighting was too thick for Shan and Tari to risk it. They stuck to any enemy that might be out of the area of main battle.

Gamma Unit was in the thick of it quickly, Iliyakim and Inthuul working harder than they had yet before.

Cougar was now truly in his element. This war had taken a great toll on him, both physichally and mentally... now, he was getting even with these people. He'd been imprisoned, accused of treason, beaten, almost killed... and now, he could finally finish it all. He moved like water, flowing around any obstacles to eliminate the greatest threat. His rifle was over his back, his hands full of his knife and pistol. Blood, guts... everyone was stained by something. His normally blond hair was almost black from the dust and dirt it had accumulated over the past few days, and it was still short enough to be manageable. He was grateful for the helmet when a pulse blast bounced off it, leaving a smoking scar atop it. He swore, and the man suddenly burst into flames within his armour, a tactic James had learned whilst he had the chance. Then, it was back to basics.

Raven was just as deadly, his form moving like his namesake across the battlefield, his mere prescense an omen of death for those who got in his way and were foolish enough to try and stop him. He slashed across one man's throat, the vibroblade slicing through the weaker neck area with great ease. The jet of crimson blood spurted into the air with great force, like a fountain. Mantis saw this, and sighed,"Maybe... maybe it would be best for him to be able to have a relationship with someone for once."

High overhead, Lima squadron was making sure that fighters had a hard way to go to cause trouble. However, not even they could miss the intense firefight that was brewing.

Firing off a pair of homing missiles, James put his craft into a strait dive, barely avoiding a flurry of railgun fire. Looking ahear, he saw the glow of the firefight below. Leveling out and presenting his ventral fire arcs to the enemies above, he called in to flight control.

"Command, this is Jason with Gunboats Lima. Intense firefight at some sort of central square thing below us. If you'd like, we can move to cut off enemy reinforcements down there. Hard to see from this altitude though, we'd need to almost roof-skim and do some major repulsor warfare. We do have ventral ordinance launchers though."

High overhead, Lima squadron was making sure that fighters had a hard way to go to cause trouble. However, not even they could miss the intense firefight that was brewing.

Firing off a pair of homing missiles, Jason put his craft into a strait dive, barely avoiding a flurry of railgun fire. Looking ahear, he saw the glow of the firefight below. Leveling out and presenting his ventral fire arcs to the enemies above, he called in to flight control.

"Command, this is Jason with Gunboats Lima. Intense firefight at some sort of central square thing below us. If you'd like, we can move to cut off enemy reinforcements down there. Hard to see from this altitude though, we'd need to almost roof-skim and do some major repulsor warfare. We do have ventral ordinance launchers though."
"Lima Squadron, this is Control. You are cleared to move in and bombard enemy. As before, keep collateral damage to a minimal. Once enemy units defeated, fly top-cover until further notice. The fighters will keep the enemy off your backs, over."

Shan and Tari had felt that they were doing less than no good as they were, and had settled into a building (not far from Mantis, as the case may have been), to watch and take down enemies where they could.

Their spells would strike swiftly and silently, dropping enemies that were unsuspecting.

Shan noticed Cougar's instant cremation of an enemy and wincing, while Tari briefly watched Raven ruthlessly slit a man's throat.

It is war...

Iliyakim worked his way over to Cougar. With Justin out, he was working solo, letting the others have partners to watch each other's backs.

"Such hatred for your own countrymen, Colonel."

Inthuul was slick with blood (he was serving as partial armor and a helmet for his master), and Iliyakim's swords dripped red.

"These are no longer my countrymen, Iliyakim. They ceased to be the moment they chose to continue once Constantine was gone."

His knife also dripped blood, and he shot another man,"SO long as they continue to oppose me, they are no countrymen of mine."

"They are misguided...but who are you or I to call them evil, or worthy of anything more than a quick and relatively painless death...such as we would hope for our own men?"

He dispatched another man while moving.

"I'd rather not think about it right now. To think would be to die right now. I will die after these battles are finally over... not before."

"Very well, then."

The Drow moved off, sliding through the enemy as oil does through water.

"Lima Squadron, this is Control. You are cleared to move in and bombard enemy. As before, keep collateral damage to a minimal. Once enemy units defeated, fly top-cover until further notice. The fighters will keep the enemy off your backs, over."

"You heard 'em boys, move in and give em hell! Ball turrets at the ready!"

The ships dove towards the surface, and fanned out over the top of the square, making an unholy racket as they passed over. "That ought to wake em up! Aight, break into trios and commence UMP."

The craft began maneuvering low and fast, sometime a mere few hundred feet off the ground. They started dropping their ordinance on anything that looked to be of help to the Loyalists, their ventral ball turrets being of excellent use here. Crossroads, squads moving forewards, emplacements, and the occasional piece of heavy equipment felt what it was like to be on the recieving end of an anti-fighter beam cannon.

More than once, however, they had been shot at by heavy weaponry. In more than one instance, James's shields had flared out, and he'd been forced to pull up and let it recharge some before rejoining the fray. This was insane fighting, they were within reach of small-arms fire on more than one occasion. But that was what this flight was trained to do, the insane and suicidal. They did not care if the entire flight never left Snake Eaters. So long as they bought time for the rebels, they had done their job.

ooc: UMP=updated mission profile

The battle was bloody, this close type of fighting the kind that killed many so needlessly... but it was the only way. In his heart, James knew that the fanatics would occupy the Adminstrium... and SHADOW would clear the building for Barbarossa to walk back into the seat of power, and reestablish control over this nation, for the betterment of it's people. He slashed in the air, the knife infused with the power of the White Flame, causing the armour of the enemy to ignite as he sliced it, cutting through the armour. It was good armour, built to withstand some forms of magickal attack, but never anything like that...

Mantis fired again, the smoking case landing on the ground next to him. He threw the bolt back, another round popping up into the chamber. In his head, he kept count. Last one in this mag... better make it good. Before he fired, he hit the magazine release button his weapon, the clip clattering to the floor. He was stood, the barrel of his rifle poking out the window, far enough away from the fight for him to be able to shoot well. He scrabbled around his feet for a moment, finding a fresh magazine, and inserting it. His finger tightened on the trigger, his breathing slowed, his mind went blank... The next thing he knew, there was smoke rising from his barrel, and another man fell to his shots. He smiled slightly, not taking any pleasure in the killing of another man, but knowing what must be done. It was his job, and he never missed the target... well, not often, at least.

Ravemn slashed again, the blades finding their mark. Since they had been purchased from Mini Miehm, the blades hadn;t seen much use except amongst the Callidus assasins. They'd been altered slightly, shortened and reinforced, to make them still highly effective, but harder to block. The ones Raven wielded were also slightly out of phase, allowing them to pass through materials with much greater ease than they would be able to normally. He only hoped that Tari and Shan were keeping themselves safe in this melee... Tari for obvious reasons, but Shan for Tari's sake. Losing her 'brother' would be the worst thing possible...

The gunships were prime targets for all kinds of fire, including from the air. The Cobras (http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a6/SnakeEaters/Miscellanious/CobraMkX.jpg) of the allies fought hard to prevent the enemy fighters trying to get in, having run a bombing run almost completley against Murska Airbase, where the enemy jets flew from, for the past day or so. Still, it was a testament to resourcefulness of Snake Eaters everywhere that the enemy continued to send up fighter jets. These jets sported full 3D directional thrust, using the twin tailplanes and front canards as oversized control surfaces in coordination with the engines to produce maneuverability far beyond what one would expect. Coupled with a few design features that were unique to the Snake Eater craft ((Can provide details if you want)), this jet was a masterpiece. Fast, highly maneuverable, and effective in air-to-air or air-to-ground combat, it was truly what ruled the sky. They wheeled above the city, using their three multi-linked pulse cannons, one in the nose and another two slung along the inside edge of the air intakes for the engines whilst within atmospheres. High above the gunships, in their black-bodied fighters, the Razgriz fought a fierce battle, Blaze truly showing how capable he was as a fighter pilot. He wheeled around as the two enemy planes came past him on his left, his HUD showing him the targets. The box over his target turned red, and he grinned,"I got tone. Firing. Fox Two."

The missile dropped from the internal weapons bay, the booster igniting to push it towards the enemy jet, the highly-sophisticated sensor package guiding it right onto the target, piercing the engine housing,"Splash one. Going after the other."

Suddenly, he heard a buzzing in his helmet. The word WARNING flashed up on his HUD, and he strained his head to find it. He found it, as pulse blasts sailed over his left wing tip. Thinking quickly, he tried a technique not many would dare to try in this situation... he slowed down. The enemy surged closer in the mirror he had attached to his canopy, and he continued to smile. His left hand reached out, and pulled the throttle lever right back, his right hand yanking the stick back as far as it would go. The jet braked suddenly, the nose pitching violently up. He quickly regained control, and found that the enemy had gone underneath him, and he was now in perfect firing position,"Too close for missiles, switching to guns."

A circle with a small dot in the middle appeared, a thick band around the outside showing the range. It read 356 and was decreasing slightly, as the enemy began to turn to evade him, knowing that Blaze would try this. The ace shook his head, and squeezed the trigger, the three cannons firing at a single point, peppering the enemy fighter until it exploded. He flew straight through the explosion,"This is Blaze. All Razgriz, report in."

"This is Edge, I'm ok," came back the cool voice of Kei Nagase, the older sister to Lieutenant Nagase of Zulu Team, who were even now involved in the fray down below.

"Chopper here, we're still going strong."

"Archer reporting in."

"Roger that. All Razgriz, form on my wing, and we'll stop that next wave. Lima Squadron, Wardog Squadron will be taking over your cover."

OOC: Sorry not been able to get onto this thred for a while, should I just join in the close combat fighting??

OOC: Sorry not been able to get onto this thred for a while, should I just join in the close combat fighting??
OOC: Sure, go for it.

The battle was coming to an end in the square, so Shan and Tari moved on to the Administratum.

They'd only ever been in there to wreak havoc, but that was good enough.

They teleported to the area they knew best that was yet intact...the hall, just outside of the office. From there, Shan cast offensive spells while Tari cast defensive spells, and they worked their way down, from room to room.

Down below them in the square, the last of the fanatics outside were being pressed back towards the stairs. They fought valiently, using their now ammo-less pulse rifles as clubs to try and stave off the ever-advancing allies. They gradually fell, the last one being shot in the chest at point blank range. The pulse round, at that distance, burned straight through the armour, exploding inside the man's chest. The one who had fired the shot stood tall over the body, and turned to the allies in the square, using the amplifier in his helmet microphone,"VICTORY!"

"Victory! Victory! Victory!" came back the reply, men pumping the air with their weapons and fists. There was a huge sense of achievement... relief... happiness... sadness...

In the crowd, the SHADOW members looked up at the Adminstrium, and sighed wistfully. They knew that the battle was not over. The normal soliders might have thought it was... but the battle was never over for SHADOW. Cougar opened his Codec to every member of SHADOW,"This is Alpha Zero. RV at the base of the steps... five minutes. Move. Now."

He and Alpha Team, Raven, Mantis... all of them started moving to the steps. They knew what that building held inside... a final battle. For this world, and all of Snake Eaters...
------------------------
"Sir!"

The Captain stared out the window, and swore,"They have all fallen. Deal with these pests... and then we will sell ourselves. They will rue the day they set foot inside the hallowed halls of the Adminstrium..."

Tari and Shan, up against overwhelming odds... all of whom carried light-pulse machineguns... it was going to be difficult to survive.
---------------
"Lima Squadron, this is Control. The war is over... for now. You are permitted to Return to Base. That is all."

"Lima Squadron, this is Control. The war is over... for now. You are permitted to Return to Base. That is all."

James rolled, firing one last shot at a small bunker. "Roger Base. Looks like this area is pretty clear, though you may have to go through house-to-house. We're pulling out. All craft Lima, looks like we're in the clear! All craft report in!"

There were seven more responses to the call. Only seven... One craft was missing, but who? "Did anyone see Slick Will go down?"

"Negative. Last time he was on my screen, he was about two clicks north."

They pulled over the area, attempting to make out the craft. After several tense passes, one of the wingmen finally saw the craft skimming low above the buildings, black smoke trailing behind it. The gunship pulled up ponderously and limped to the group.

"Hey boss, there he is! Looks right chewed up though, I'd guess he's lost comm. They're alright though, bloody sonuva... he's wavin!"

All nine craft pulled out, limping slowly up to the orbiting craft above. They would need some significant overhaul...

Down below them in the square, the last of the fanatics outside were being pressed back towards the stairs. They fought valiently, using their now ammo-less pulse rifles as clubs to try and stave off the ever-advancing allies. They gradually fell, the last one being shot in the chest at point blank range. The pulse round, at that distance, burned straight through the armour, exploding inside the man's chest. The one who had fired the shot stood tall over the body, and turned to the allies in the square, using the amplifier in his helmet microphone,"VICTORY!"

"Victory! Victory! Victory!" came back the reply, men pumping the air with their weapons and fists. There was a huge sense of achievement... relief... happiness... sadness...

In the crowd, the SHADOW members looked up at the Adminstrium, and sighed wistfully. They knew that the battle was not over. The normal soliders might have thought it was... but the battle was never over for SHADOW. Cougar opened his Codec to every member of SHADOW,"This is Alpha Zero. RV at the base of the steps... five minutes. Move. Now."

He and Alpha Team, Raven, Mantis... all of them started moving to the steps. They knew what that building held inside... a final battle. For this world, and all of Snake Eaters...
------------------------
"Sir!"

The Captain stared out the window, and swore,"They have all fallen. Deal with these pests... and then we will sell ourselves. They will rue the day they set foot inside the hallowed halls of the Adminstrium..."

Tari and Shan, up against overwhelming odds... all of whom carried light-pulse machineguns... it was going to be difficult to survive.
Iliyakim sought out the rest of his unit and moved toward the base of the Administratum steps. He'd only ever been inside a few times...to get assignments...this would be the first time he searched it thoroughly.
______________________________________________________________________
Shan and Tari were in a room when they were assaulted. Shan fought back, until Tari's sheild began to falter, and then they both took cover and kept up the sheild as best they could, sending through little attack spells when they could chance it.

They could only hope that the rebels would get there before the area's fashka and too much of their own tupora fashka was depleted.

Cougar was sat there, waiting. As everyone arrived, he reached down, and flicked a catch in the ground,"This is the Adminstrium weapon cache. It's the largest of it's kind in Snake Eaters...simply because of terrorism threats."

He reached down, and brought out sub-machine guns, shotguns and assualt carbines, dishing them out. He also made sure everyone had enough ammunition, be it for the weapons they had just recieved, or the weapons they had already been carrying,"Snipers and Demo guys, leave your weapons here. They're all marked anyway, so we'll grab them later."

He slipped a new magazine on his M4, one carrying the right type of round for this type of fighting. There had been bolters (a weapon more commonly seen with Space Marines of the Black Angels Chapter), plasma and melta weapons, weapons commonly seen in the employ of forces loyal to the IMperium of Man (such as Gronde etc), but they were ill-suited for this style of mission.

Once everyone was equipped, he briefed them quickly,"The task is simple. Get in there, clear the building. We'll start on the ground floor, and work up from there. Raven, head straight upstairs, take Tango team with you. I've a feeling you'll be needed. Everyone else, be on the lookout for explosive devices and kill anyone who shoots at you. We don't take hostages. Now, let's move out!"

As the teams fanned out and entered through various entrances, he approached Iliyakim,"You and your team, stick with us. OUr teams can achieve more that way."


Raven had already taken Tango Team upstairs, where they were tearing into the enemy forces besieging the two mages. Downstairs, enemies were abound, firing from wherever they could. More than one took shots at Iliyakim, including one who popped out from behind a corner, spraying the corridor wildly...

James rolled, firing one last shot at a small bunker. "Roger Base. Looks like this area is pretty clear, though you may have to go through house-to-house. We're pulling out. All craft Lima, looks like we're in the clear! All craft report in!"

There were seven more responses to the call. Only seven... One craft was missing, but who? "Did anyone see Hot-Shot go down?"

"Negative. Last time he was on my screen, he was about two clicks north."

They pulled over the area, attempting to make out the craft. After several tense passes, one of the wingmen finally saw the craft skimming low above the buildings, black smoke trailing behind it. The gunship pulled up ponderously and limped to the group.

"Hey boss, there he is! Looks right chewed up though, I'd guess he's lost comm. They're alright though, bloody sonuva... he's wavin!"

All nine craft pulled out, limping slowly up to the orbiting craft above. They would need some significant overhaul...

As they landed on the tarmac, there was a party in full swing. Drink flowed, but not too heavily, as they all knew the risks. But they had earned this... it was the same across the airport. They were all partying... it would be rude not to join in.

Iliyakim's return shots were swift and precise, centuries of training having honed his aim. He was efficient and ruthless...both warrior and Drow.

Tari and Shan were still stuck, and about ready to try something drastic. Shan maintained the spell while Tari ducked down and conjured both her weapon and one resembling his sword.

The man at the end of the corridor fell flat on his back, his weapon clattering to the floor. It would take some time to clear the building, that much was clear... the volume of fire was heavy, far heavier than had been anticipated. Iliyakim was constantly being fired at.

Raven sliced through two men near the door,"You two might want to get moving!"

So was everyone else, though.

Iliyakim did what he had been doing all his life. Perhaps not what he had been born to do...but definitely what he was good at.

He killed people.
_______________________________________________________________________

Shan tapped Tari on the shoulder and took the sword, and they both came out.

S -- "We'd have done that earlier, but it's kinda hard in a room with one door."

People died at the end of a gun. Power flowed from barrel of the gun, in these men and women's eyes. Cougar fired, the bullet burrowed into the men who would die at the end of this all.

For almost an hour, they combed that building with a fine toothed-comb, trying desperatley to find the last nests of resistance. It took time to clear a building this size... time they could ill afford.

Upstairs, Raven grinned,"I guess so. Anyway, come on. The rest of them are clearing the building... the wars over!"

Tari slipped past him, out of the room. "Then let's go so it can be over for the rest of us, too."

Gamma moved with Alpha team, fighting and killing as there was cause to.

The soldiers from The Zombies had been in the thick of the fighting in the square, using their close combat weapons to brutal efficiency. Now that it was over, they were not joining in with the party, they were moving through the crowd silently, nearly all the time their eyes on the big building. They knew that the special teams had gone in, but they still wern't out.


The men and women in the Tribe set themselves up in good observations points close to the building, they didn't want any risks, but at the time, they were simply being cautious.

He grinned,"Alrighty then. Let's get out of here, and have a party! Tango Team, is the area secure?"

"Secure as it's gonna be, Raven. You want some support as you get out of here?"

He looked at the two mages,"Do we?"

After two hours of constant battle, Cougar found himself back in the main lobby of the building, every room in the place checked,"This is Alpha Zero. Is the building secure?"

There was a pause, but then the flurry of Codec calls came in. Everyone was fine, the building was secure. He leant against the wall, and sighed a deep sigh,"This is Alpha Zero. Mission is over. Go about your buisness"

The soldiers from The Zombies had been in the thick of the fighting in the square, using their close combat weapons to brutal efficiency. Now that it was over, they were not joining in with the party, they were moving through the crowd silently, nearly all the time their eyes on the big building. They knew that the special teams had gone in, but they still wern't out.


The men and women in the Tribe set themselves up in good observations points close to the building, they didn't want any risks, but at the time, they were simply being cautious.
More than one solider, be they NCO, buck private or commisioned officer, tried to get them to join the party. SE Special Forces were trained to the highest degree... if anyone could finish the job, it was them.

Shan shook his head. "We're moving into areas with new fashka...we should be fine."

Shan shook his head. "We're moving into areas with new fashka...we should be fine."

Raven nodded,"It's alright, Tango. We'll be fine."

"Alright. See you later!"

"Yeah, you guys as well."

Tango Team nodded, and set off to make sure that the President's office was in some sembalence of order before they left.

Raven walked in front of the two Drow. He'd never actually been on this floor, but the entire building had been used in holosuites as training exercises more than once. It was always a good test. SHADOW made a point of testing the real-life security systems once a month... or at least, they had prior to this terrible conflict...

*Above the planet*
It was onboard the Manticore, a Sovereign-class starship, that the tactical officer noticed something out of the ordinary. It was... large. Large enough to be a starship... but it was like it wasn't there at the same time. He tapped a few panels on the board, and reset the display. The image vanished, and he shook himself,Must just be a sensor ghost...

= Snake Eaters

~snip~



In the end, the men and women of the Zombies joined in the party. The dwarven ten began a drinking contest between them and the barbarian ten, in the end there being only Alhuma and an old dwarf named Gunbad in the running.

Alhuma eventually made the old dwarf to collapse and roll on his back, and went around with a cheery smile on his face.

The Drow moved along behind him, seeking out other human life forms. They'd identify them, see which side they were on, and if they were enemies, they'd wind up dead.

Simple enough. At least until the building was cleared.

The Drow moved along behind him, seeking out other human life forms. They'd identify them, see which side they were on, and if they were enemies, they'd wind up dead.

Simple enough. At least until the building was cleared.

And that didn't take long at all. Indeed, it was not long until Raven motioned to them, and smiled,"That's it... this war... it's finally over."

Shan banished his sword. "What's it been? Six months?"

"Six months, two weeks, three days and sixteen hours," said Raven, as if he'd been counting ever since the war started. He leant against a wall, and closed his eyes, breathing deeply through his nose,"I can't believe it... we managed it. We actually did it."

Shan chuckled. "Yeah...well, I figure I'm in enough trouble already, so I'm going to go home and face Vedt's wrath. I'll see you in a coupla days when they call you back."

He teleported out, leaving Tari alone with Raven.

It felt somewhat awkward, like it never had before.

"So...we should find everyone else."

It was oddly tense... something he didn't like,"I guess so... everyone will be headed to the airport I'm guessing. That's where the party will be."

"Wonderful...hundreds to thousands of humans making lots of noise...let's go." She looked around. "I have no idea where we're going, so you should lead."

"Well... if you don't want to be subjected to that, I know the city will be virtually deserted tonight..."

"Then I'll wander the city...besides, there are probably still pockets of Black Guards out there that need crushed."

"Do you... want some company? I doubt anyone wants to wander the streets of Snake City alone tonight... except maybe Cougar."

"Company would be nice...if you don't mind missing a celebration you played a large part in bringing about."

He shook his head,"Celebrations can wait for now. Come on, let's wander."

"All right."

She quieted for a few minutes, then laughed.

"This also means I stand less of a chance of getting myself lost in this city. Remember last time?"

He laughed as well, leading her away from Central Square,"Yeah, I remember. You got kinda sidetracked... it was ever so slightly odd."

"I'm not perfect, and I'm not used to navigating a big city. My entire hometown probably covers the area of Central Square and the Administratum, if that. Besides...you'd find it hard to navigate my town. Doors that aren't really doors, walls that are really doors...walls that aren't real...it's an odd place."

"I can't imagine what that's like. To me, this is home... always was."

"Which is why you don't get lost here."

"True... you can hear the party from here, can't you. But this part of the city is now so still... so silent.. it's kinda creepy."

"Soon enough, people will come back...the buildings will be rebuilt...better than before. The scars of battle will be erased, and within your lifetime, this war will just be a memory...a history lesson...a moral lesson...not insignificant, but well and truly in the past."

"That's what so many said about the last war... but look at the effect on my generation. None of us can ever forget... many of us lost close family, be it parents or siblings or anything else... You might be right about the scars of this war fading with time... but this is the first, and hopefully only, time that Snake has fought Snake. Hopefully, it will never happen again."

He looked up and smiled,"Hey look, both moons are full."

She looked up. "They are. How often does that happen?"

"Once a year. It's the only time their orbits match up exactly."

He glanced sideways at her,"Hey, you hungry?"

Interesting that this should end on the same day...

She started as he asked his quesiton.

"Actually, now that you mention it, yes."

As they landed on the tarmac, there was a party in full swing. Drink flowed, but not too heavily, as they all knew the risks. But they had earned this... it was the same across the airport. They were all partying... it would be rude not to join in.

They could hardly believe their eyes. People everywhere having a huge celebration. People more than willing to aid in opening the heavily damaged gunships and let them join in. And they were more than willing to break out what little they had of their own to add to the festivities.

They didn't care that their craft would take days to repair enough for the jumps home. They didn't care about how tired they were, or how long they'd been away from home. They only cared about two things: finding out the ultimate fate of their comrades downed over the ice planet, and getting a ton of alcohol into their bloodstreams.

James wandered over to a communications booth, the people celebrating like everyone else. He'd made sure the others would stay in the decent vicinity of the ships, and that they were having a blast. As we wandered up, he couldn't help but feel great. "Hey guys, I hate to interrupt your party, but could you help me find some downed friends? Or if not, could ya radio the boys overhead and get them on it? Some guys picked up off a gunship crash on that damned ice planet, less than six. I just want them to get as slammed as I'm planning on getting, assuming the peace holds." He smiled at the guys and kicked back another draught of whatever he was drinking.

ooc: I just realized that I kept switching between the names James and Jason for the second flight leader. I'm gonna fix that...