[NSMC 309th] Mission 2: Creating Hope

"Hes the cook." Minnie stated matter a factly as if it where common knowledge. "When we deployed here, The lieutenant armed just about everyone. I was scrubbed up and sanitized to receive wounded when they threw me in some Golem armor and evicted me from the HQ. Shortly after i caught up with them, Private Mallan was the one suiting up in he Aggressor and duking it out with some scrap job PA the pirates fielded."

"With all the new arrivals i think the lieutenant is holding onto the support staff in reserve again. Hes a pretty decent cook too."

The two-ton teal chipped-metal giant did a girly wave back to their bomb expert counterpart on the tank, still holding that galactic sized building-killer gun like she was intending on watering the daisies. Internally she was blushing, too, completely forgetting to act cool whilst being praised by the more battle-hardened veteran. Autumn just gave off this super chill indestructible big sister demeanor, and her positive attitude was bringing free-flowing vibes of good luck to the whole affair.

Of course, the hulking Nepleslian was doing this daydreaming whilst whilst also kicking clean through shrubs, stone crossroad markers, and the odd abandoned wagon. This dirt track was wide, but not like, NAM battletank wide...

"...Hey, erm... Any of you hungry?..." A new channel, including both the tank riders and the actual tank crew. "...There are like... erm, fancy sandwiches in here?... Like, bacon and almond or something?..."

Yeah. It used to be Private Mallan's PA. Zhou only noticed that the 'chest shelf' in the spacey interior was filled with snacks after she had gotten inside, and now was fairly certain her Fang-ness was going to make it all warm... On the positive side, her psychic game was strong today. It was a walking fridge.

Inside Soko Neko

"Without a doubt you will," Juno spoke first to Fitz as he too witnessed the display of the ships, having sat in his own imparted silence for some time. The discussion and chatter of the duo outside the tank had gone unnoticed until he finally slipped the thumb from the set and their words spilled in. Part of it was a question about Mallan, which Minnie thankfully answered, as the tank rumbled closer and closer to the tank. At last, Chiaki could see the various other members ready for combat, the elevator shuttering beneath him. The massive Jackdaw had set-down in a cleared field ahead, the massive ship making the Maximus crew seem miniscule as it entered the shadow of the warship. They could see the large lift lowering down, however, along with various troops and resources that drew the attention of Juno once more. Only then did he finally spot the new arrival among them. It was hard to miss the profile of the last of the transfers to his platoon.

"Slow to a halt ten meters away from the lift," his voice cut over the tank comms before he looked to Joe, "Radio ahead that we're going to stop up here. These supplies are early..."

Turn't Out, Soko Neko

Slowly looking back up, he reached up and grasped the hatch to pop it open and upward. While the others atop the tank and the struggling-to-keep-up Fang were the first to get a proper look at the reinforcements, Juno's visage appearing actually made many of them shake and scatter away to leave Chiaki alone. His eyes looked to Autumn, back to Fang trailing up the rear like a fat kid on her last breath thanks to the slow land speed of the Aggressor, before finally setting his eyes ahead at Chiaki. The smog from the slums were within sight even if the area itself wasn't, setting a backdrop for the metal-handed lieutenant as he pointed over at the Golem-wearing transfer.

"You're the new Second, right? Hurry up and get your ass over here!"

His attention wasn't on the man for long though, looking back up to the large vessel. The gun on the Maximus was powerful enough to harm smaller ships... but the design of the new vessel was unlike any he had seen. It was one of the smaller ones out of Nepleslia, though, when one compared it to the legacy of their massive fleet. Gently finger the radio, he gave a sigh to his tank crew over their communication line.

"Let's shut her down... I'll talk to our new arrival and then head up into the ship to figure out what the hell the Navy is doing here already. For now, you three lock the beast down and relax with the others."

Only then did his eyes shift to the pair atop the tank, since the locals had already dismounted and were looking up with their own impressed looks at the new warship.

"Make sure you two get the huge one out of the Aggressor, too. We're going to take a breather... it might be a while until I figure out what's going on. Everyone is going to need to buckle down, watch these new guys," he emphasized with a wave out toward the rookies standing rather far from them as if they were a bit intimidated by the tank crew, "And see if you can dig up any info from the locals if you decide to hoof it over there. Understand? Maybe they know something we didn't receive in our intel updates."

Below the NSS Heckler

Autumn said:

"So it's a date then? XD ~<3"

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Chiaki sputtered at that, his balance knocked off kilter as the marine on the other end had a rebound for every little remark he made. There was no beating Autumn in these little games, especially when you played in her field of expertise. Which is why he started to laugh, the warzone started to feel like a familiar place, even with all its strange faces. That was how they coped, how the stress subsided, and how the mind could come to accept what it saw. He gave a little thanks to whoever was watching his back up in the skies that he had found a friend.

"You're talking out your ass and you know it!" guffawed Chiaki, apparently unconvinced but no less entertained, "I'll believe it when I see it Private Wilde."

A little excitement begin to boil in his chilly heart as he caught sight of their tank approaching in clear view. That muted courage was assisted by a frothy sense of discovery and the feeling of seeing something new. The Maximus Tank itself was assuredly a new sight for him in the warzone, considering his conflicts always occured on foot.

The Marines on the lift braced themselves as the alarm for landing sounded. Some were caught by the sudden jarring, some more ready, Kokuten had been knocked off his feet enough times in life to be ready for the bracing stop. It was official now, they were own New Bernese, and at that, Chiaki unsecured his mask and visor to take a deep breath of the air. Their Nepleslian lungs were certainly accustomed to pollution, but less so the dry atmosphere. The smog made it feel like they weren't too far from home, but the dry air was fairly alien.

Then came the Soko Neko roaring to a stop not far from edge of the elevator. Kokuten and the rest of the marines watched with a vested interest at the lone war-machine bedecked in shapely maidens. Certainly it seemed a welcome sight, until Lieutenant Juno emerged from the head of the tank like a dissatisfied Djinn who loathed onlookers. The man was an intimidating sight, his broad, sharp features in start contrast to the women about him; he was smoldered further into the minds of the marines by the whipping storm of war and industry that rose behind his visage.

It was then that the cyborg was left alone, owning the Lieutenant's molten attention.

Juno said:

"You're the new Second, right? Hurry up and get your ass over here!"

Click to expand...

Clack.

Kokuten blinked as he was the first to slam his boots onto the ground from the group of Marines, and began to jog over. He gave the rest of the crew an appraising eye, noting further that strangely lop-sided amount of females in the unit. At that, he gave Autumn a little wave as he approached, but unsmartly took his eyes off of her as he went to regard the Lieutenant.

"2nd Lieutenant Kokuten Gaiasis Chiaki the 5th," reported Chiaki in greeting as he looked up at the towering image of the tank and its commander, "I was told to report to Lieutenant Rickett of the Soko Neko."

His Yamataian accent smoothly slipped in control towards the last part.

Fang’s shy offer from inside the Aggressor was a sharp contrast to both the demolitionist’s appearance and the ferocity of the towering power armor that she was in. The Geshrin marine was going to comment more when the Lieutenant Rickett emerged from inside of the Soko Neko. And barked a set of orders and demanded the presence of her old friend.

Autumn grinned behind her Golem’s mask as Chiaki was routed to them. Her heart thumped in anticipation as he quickly approached, there was so much she wanted to do. He is real. He is here. The presence of their commander forced her to settled for a smart salute as Chiaki closed the distance between them. She turned to Juno and gave him a salute as the man issued their next set of orders.

“Copy, sir!” She waited only a moment for a quick return of the salutes before she turned to the small medic beside her.

She lightly touched Minnie’s arm with a gloved hand, as she addressed her through the general localized broadcast, there wasn’t a point to using private channels any more.“Come on Minnie, let’s help get Private Zhou out of her armor and into something more comfortable. We should be able to cover more ground getting a sitrep from the locals here if we’re working together. Plus, she’s got snacks, which will be perfect for getting information!” She pulled away and hopped down easily off the tank, stopping for a moment to give a sidelong glance up to Chiaki before she walked towards the Aggressor, waving to the Marine inside.

“Good news, Private Zhou! The LT wants us to help peel you out of that thing and go socialize with the locals! We’re going to work on your shyness with good old fashioned exposure!” She stopped beside the Aggressor’s foot, dwarfed by the large Power Armor as she stared up, her visor clear of its tint. “Deactivate that thing and settle down!”

Below the NSS Heckler

"Yes'sir!" Fang-Yin responded to Juno with a salute whilst still in the armour, even if the order was only directed at them passively. "I'll de-shell immediately!"

The larger demolitionist didn't exactly need much help cracking the top of the thing apart and hopping out, ramp or no ramp. Claustrophobia was enough to motivate their bear-like limbs to drag themselves into the outside air quite quickly and efficiently, through they then proceeded to waste several moments choosing a spiritually significant relatives' birthday to use as a boot lockout code for the towering metal monster.

When Autumn approached alongside, there might have also been an element of hiding her sheepish expression behind a veneer of preoccupation, unwilling to directly meet eye-to-eye just yet. For whatever reason, the woman rubbed her hands through that bristly blonde buzz cut and kissed a tooth-shaped trinket attached to her dog tags, before even regarding the veteran.

"You just told me not to get them in headlocks, so I guess I can do that... I'm not s-shy through, Private Wilde... Okay, well I am, but it's only the talking to people I'm b-bad at, o-okay?..." A small, softly measured response, taking a moment to ponder what they spoke about back at the base, before pulling out a sharpie pen and returning to the super important task at hand. "Do you know any animals that begin with n?... I was gonna call it the Savage Narwhal, but then what happens if we get an actual Water?..."

"...I can't just leave him without a name..."

A break in the train of thought, and a glance over to the new squad member talking to the Lieutenant. They looked like they had their shit together. Did that mean they were someone important?

"Oh, here..." Back to Autumn again. They climbed back up half of the frame, and fished out a couple of chilled tin foil triangles. They smelled like fine seasoning, and looked like some kind of tiny cultural artefact by the way Fang cherishingly held them between cumbersome nicked fingers. "I couldn't even tell you what is in half of these, through."

Below the NSS Heckler

"Are we getting power armor?" Minnie stretched as she joined the two demolitionists, Jerking a thumb towards the marines scattering about, Her body somewhat numb from the vibrations of the tank causing her rear and legs to fall asleep. "Think they have any raiders?" She thought out loud, Outwardly hopping for a frame that would work better with her size and be generally less cumbersome to operate for an inexperienced pilot like herself.

With a raised hand she caught a foil wrapped package and stood at the back of the Aggressor, offering a platform for Fang to scale down on while she unwrapped her rather late first meal of the day. She removed her helmet and mask and ogled the marines somewhat, Her eyes hyper enhancing to sharpen details as she took count and measure of potential reinforcements before settling on the figure before the tank, Addressing their commander out of her viable earshot. It was hard to judge someones appearance in Golem armor unless they where unreasonably tall and well built like an ID-SOL or rather short like herself, Everyone generally looked the same so she had to take appearance on bearing alone.

She resigned herself, Momentarily. She knew she wouldn't have to wait long. Some new officer was going to want to prove their authority at some point and make themselves known. Likely barging into her office time some point at the aid station, Confiscating any already secured contraband from her she had acquired since their set down planet side that she was saving to barter back for supplies the locals had stolen from the 309th in the chaos of their landing, And making unreasonable demands of her without caring that she was practically holding the medical action of the unit by herself.

She wolved down the sandwich, the hunger pangs already drawing away with each swallow. And nodded her attention towards the shanty town.
"Lieutenant says we can go mingle with the locals, You guys up to stretch your legs?"

Autumn accepted the small foil packet and moved her head gear, blinking at the bright sunlight. "Thank you. We can hope, maybe we can talk one of those marines out of a delivery manifest or something?" Her eyes followed Minnie's to the marines she was appreciating. She smiled again. She watched the Lieutenants talk to one another idly as she pulled some foil away and took a bite of her sandwich. "I'm up for it! I'll have to catch up with my friend later on when he's not busy. But, there are new people to meet and possibly adventures for Fang to have!" She grinned at the larger Demolitionist.

"You mission today, Private Zhou is to have a conversation with a stranger without blushing! I think you can do it, what do you say, Minnie?"

"Works for me!" She grinned, Just glad to be anywhere that wasn't on the back of the tank again. Drawing her Sterling 45. and waiting to offer it to Fang as she waited for her to scale down even as she realized she was making decisions on her behalf and offered a somewhat apologetic glance towards her larger comrade.

She needed some entertainment to cleanse her pallet before all the shooting inevitably started again...

As the Tank powered down Joe was being thorough and straightened out his area. A tidy work area is a happy work area. He left his seat folded up, his headset secured to the radio and double checked that the munitions were properly stored and secured. He could only imagine if one of those came loose while he was out and about.

He crawled out of the tank and gave a big stretch and a broad smile to all those witnessing. His eyes blinked rapidly as he adjusted his goggles against the bright light on the open world. He stepped up on to the tank and dismounted with ease. He patted the tank on it's armoured hull before meandering over to the huddled (hens) squad members.

"You all heading out? I may stand by for Corporal Wallace and or Private Duville."

Inside Soko-Neko -> Outside

Through the sights of the canon, Fitz could see as everything unfolded. This was going to be a much bigger operation than she expected, there was no room to be a hero with such a setup, but that wasn't what she came here for.

When asked to shut the tank down however she grumbled but did as told. She went through procedures to shut down the primary weapon systems, but since they were on the battlefield she made sure not to do a full shutdown, in case they needed to start back up quickly. Once that was all situated she made her way out of the tank as well.

At hearing her name she showed up being Joe, tempted to put him in a headlock, but decided against it, for now. "Wait for me for what?"

Beneath the NSS Heckler

With Fang's legs being long enough to still reach the shins of the mini-mech whilst it was bent over, what Minnie's armoured back ended up being was a compression spring for the simian's hunkering down again. They misjudged the exact difference in height, and basically bear hugged the medic for the moment before their boots met the dirt again.

"Oh, you like the Styrling too? It's totally more convenient that those big ball busters!" Honest eyes peered around their shoulders at the dinky pistol, before producing their own identical sidearm from down the front of their tank top. "Like, who wants a giant ass TV remote? It doesn't do anything different than the regular kind..."

Breaking off, and a look up at the huge looming shadow of the ship, breathing in the oddly tinged fumes that mingled with the otherwise fresh forest breeze. Apparently they didn't have quite the same fear of proximity with Minnie as they did with Autumn, because it was all one natural flowing movement. They'd been in a real blitz together, so perhaps it was just the feeling that they already knew-knew each other, subconsciously or not.

Next thing to be produced was their 33 Cap, calmly snapping it into place before risking a open palm into the scorching open daylight, out of the shade of their hulking protective mobile skyscraper.

Should have brought sunscreen. And probably a canteen of water.

And, well, bombs and hand grenades and stuff. You, know, the things that demolition specialists tended to have.

"...You... Erm, think we can start this mission by having a chat with some logistics guy, then?..." Zhou put on a faux-stern face whilst regarding back to Autumn, as if to try and shoot down the notion of shyness by acting more how she looked. "Either that or we find a local watering hole or something... Not, like, to get drunk, but like... That's were weirdos are bound to go through, isn't it?..."

An odd look, rubbing the back of her head. Two space cyber-troopers in full blitzkreig armour, and a hulking she-marine with enough tattooed heraldry for a company standard. She didn't want to say they also counted as those kind of weirdos in these parts, but it was pretty much a concrete truth.

Inside Soko-Neko

With the order to halt and lock it down, Ella did just so. The tank slowly rolled to a halt before she cut the engine. No point in idling it and wasting good fuel. With the tank being commanded by a testosterone inhaling macho-man, there was no telling if she'd had drive the tank off the PR tour to run down someone that looked at the LT funny.

But her despite her silent despising off the others in the tank, they began to shut down their stations and hop out. And as she was left alone, it was like being home alone. "Finally," she mumbled to herself. "The uncultured rabble is gone." She leaned back in as much as the cheap, mass produced seat would allow here, crossing her legs, and placing her datajockey in her lap. With a few taps and swipes of the screen, her mind was dimensions away from the tank, far off into a fictional universe of poorly written dialogue and plot devices.

"All is well in this world."

If Autumn was aware that she was making Zhou uncomfortable, she gave no indication or rather, she persisted in standing close to the larger demolitionist with her helmet tucked neatly under her arm and a foil packet of food in her free hand. Once the foil packet was empty, she smiled again and stuffed the trash into her pocket.

"...You... Erm, think we can start this mission by having a chat with some logistics guy, then?..." Zhou put on a faux-stern face whilst regarding back to Autumn, as if to try and shoot down the notion of shyness by acting more how she looked. "Either that or we find a local watering hole or something... Not, like, to get drunk, but like... That's were weirdos are bound to go through, isn't it?..."

Click to expand...

"Talking to Logistics guy would be a good start! I'm sure we can ask around to see where people are unwinding. You don;t need alcohol to just cut loose, you know? Alcohol is really just an excuse to do things. I wouldn't necessarily call them weirdos, this planet is kinda... you know... mud and dust so there isn't much to do. I'm sure we can get people talking if we started a match of topless wrestling with the locals!" Autumn grinned with a wink at Zhou. "My money's on you though! I think you can kick some ass!"

Her attention shifted to where personnel were offloading equipment. "Over there should be someone with a datapad and look of absolute boredom we should be able to get information out of. What do you think, Minnie?"

"logi. Then we find a bar." Minnie nodded righteously to herself, Agreeing with Autumns proposal as she holstered her sterling again and started a slow pace back the way they came, Careful to stay as much in the blind spot of the tank and to avoid getting too close and reminding the lieutenant they existed before he shit-canned their potential bar crawl across the shanty before it even started.

"What do you guys think of the crew?" Minnie started up a short conversation as they walked, nodding towards the Soko Neko as they drew close. With the exception of treating some light to moderate wounds caused by the Hray after their last engagement, Minnie actually hadn't interacted with any of the tanks crew. Making them as foreign and unfamiliar to her as the locals of this world. Why anyone would want to sit in such a slow cumbersome target filled to the brim with fuel and explosive ammunition ready to cook off at a moments notice should its shield or armor fail was anyone's guess to her.

"Must get pretty intimate being so close in there."

Joe smiled as he turned and faced Fitz. He adjusted his goggles and said, "Oh, the El Tee wants us to mingle. It looks like the foot slogging gaggle is off to either topless wrestle," Joe wagged his eyebrows, "harass as logistics Officer or go on a pub crawl.'

He slightly tilted his head as the group of women walked further away. "And now they are talking about us, the tank crew." His infectious smile stayed firmly in place, although he looked like an oddity he was always thankful for his enhanced hearing.

"I say we get something to eat, maybe find us a stink bomb to drop in on Private Duville."

Below the NSS Heckler

As a self-hating Kuznyetski that wanted nothing more than to be accepted as Nepleslian, the addition of a Yamataian accent to the end of the newly-arrived XO had kept him from hearing much of the booby-battling plans that the others were making. Not that it didn't attract glances from the various marines that had been piled out of the craft. They could see the lift rising back up, the rumbling of a new engine heard above them as another armored beast slowly rolled its way into position to get dropped down. It was likely an old war truck ferrying the tools that would allow a proper FOB to be created on the planet, a good thing for the platoon that they'd sorely need in the coming months of battle.

"You've met him. I didn't expect the General to assign me a second-in-command so quickly, given the pressure being low as it was." Juno silenced for a moment to watch the females heading off before sighing at the lack of Ella among the group. Reaching to his radio, he tapped the feed so the comms buzzed at her from within the cabin.

"Duville, go out and take that pesky doll with you. I want everyone to take a breather for now. You don't have to talk, just... don't be fucking weird."

He released the button in time to finally return his full attention to Chiaki before reaching up and removing his cap. The man's age could just be seen starting to show on his head of hair, the well-kept soldier cut doing much to at least retain some of the youth of a man who had fought for nearly half of his life at the front lines of Nepleslian battles. The red fist might as well have been a small decoration when compared to the steely gaze he fixed on the Second Lieutenant.

"I'll call you Thick, since you'll be trudging through the thick of it outside the tank. Your first job will be to keep those rookies out of trouble. I trust Autumn, but the rest of them haven't been out of training long... the last thing we need is for any of them to get knocked up or lose a limb that makes us have to whip out the equipment to make a new prosthetic." Half-lowering into the tank, he looked to a compartment that bore a simple ID-lock, pressing his metal thumb against it to clear the access of the custom-command storage. As it slid open and he removed a tablet, he tossed it over to the man and began to hoist himself up and fully out of the tank.

"That has the info you'll need on the squad, as well as a briefing our plans heading out to the wall. Memorize it, learn how to keep them out of trouble, and keep things civil while I... well... head up to that damned ship to figure out what's going on."

Juno had moved to the edge of the tank before he stopped, standing upright and looking toward the southern smoke as the natives were the last to clamber down from the tank in silence. The two females were moving around, analyzing Chiaki without the formal nature of a proper soldier. The militia-women had little reason to care for military principle since they weren't under anyone's specific command... but the large ID-SOL who lowered down ignored him outright to walk off after the rest. The rag-tag squad certainly seemed out of place when compared to all the Golem armor around... it was a complete opposite feeling than the one the others had likely undergone while at the Fort among so many of the local militia. At this rate, everyone would have plenty of time to goof off at the town considering Juno would have to figure out what these new warships were doing so ahead of schedule...

But it did mean they could find out what the tourist-trap of New Bernese had to offer. Besides for pirate-raids and tons of death.

Charmaylarg Dufrain said:

"logi. Then we find a bar." Minnie nodded righteously to herself, Agreeing with Autumns proposal as she holstered her sterling again and started a slow pace back the way they came, Careful to stay as much in the blind spot of the tank and to avoid getting too close and reminding the lieutenant they existed before he shit-canned their potential bar crawl across the shanty before it even started.

"What do you guys think of the crew?" Minnie started up a short conversation as they walked, nodding towards the Soko Neko as they drew close. With the exception of treating some light to moderate wounds caused by the Hray after their last engagement, Minnie actually hadn't interacted with any of the tanks crew. Making them as foreign and unfamiliar to her as the locals of this world. Why anyone would want to sit in such a slow cumbersome target filled to the brim with fuel and explosive ammunition ready to cook off at a moments notice should its shield or armor fail was anyone's guess to her.

"Must get pretty intimate being so close in there."

Click to expand...

"Not sure, I haven't gotten to really meet them! I do know the new officer though!" Autumn grinned as she placed an arm around Minnie and the other around Fang, holding her helmet in her hand as they walked towards where the new equipment was being offloaded. "Regular infantry can get pretty intimate too! There's a lot to being shoulder to shoulder in life and death situations with people. You see an honesty in them that you wouldn't normally see any where else." She watched the tank crew wander by. "We could mingle with them too, and all of us could get to know each other better."

Beneath the NSS Heckler, by the Soko Neko

You trust Wilde? Not to stir trouble? mused Chiaki amidst Lieutenant Rickett's explanation, I suppose that's why you've got me.

His arm made a hasty swipe to snatch up the tablet that came coming towards him. There was a moment where it looked like he didn't have it, and was about to drop it. Then, the cradling limb began to bend in an unnatural reverse, resisting the natural shape of the gauntlet, letting him grab the tablet. With a roll of his shoulder, his joints whirred back into a normal form, making for rather strange scene. Chiaki didn't seem to think anything of it as he strapped his rifle to his back so he could more easily access the pad. All the while, he listened to Juno relay everything with a certain, sober patience.

Tall orders were not a stranger to the cyborg, but keeping a band of Marines in line was like trying to keep a band of bulls from whipping around, you were better off just reporting damage done. Remembering back to his prior commanders, it was sometimes the skipper that led the boys into trouble, which went to show that this was indeed a new Corps. That, or Lieutenant Rickett was type of man who wasn't big on big personalities. Either way, it was Kokuten's problem now. The helmeted officer cast a glance down-range at the departing soldiers, eager to get started on their liberty or special duty, or whatever they needed to class this as.

"Civil's a long shot," answered Chiaki, honestly, "but I'll make sure they all make it back for muster, sir."

At that, he unstrapped his helmet, figuring he wouldn't need it for the place they were going. He shook out his hair and blinked his glowing eyes, his helmet was still shaping to his head, so it tended to pinch his temples. As he rubbed the red marks on his head, he caught the pair of eyes staring at him from the militia-women. Unlike the others, he had just arrived, so the sight of the militia was still a new thing for him.

Clack. His eyes blinked at them, little green lights alternating between the two. "Hey."

And that was all he had for them, the XO needed to get caught up on the bodies they had on hand. He also needed to divvy up the personnel list by the 'Thick' Squad and the tank crew. The man wanted a NCO he could bounce off of for tasking and information, but the only ones available were tankers. He could use them for unit duties, but he wanted someone that he'd be dodging bullets with. As he went down further, he found the two women and the ID-SOL that brushed by were his too. He gleaned names and pictures, and found that the unit had split itself up by tankers and troops.

Those glowing eyes caught sight of Autumn, Fang, and Minnie. Valentine was a medic, and he was already familiar with how hellish balancing lifesaver duties and command was. That left the titan, Zhou, and the minx, Wilde, which caused Kokuten's mouth to flatten; the two of them were...

Demolitionists.

The Officer took a deep breath. The obvious choice would have been the PFC, but a part of him wanted to see who'd jump first. He'd need to catch them before they went too far.

"Hey! You three!" called Kokuten, waving at the three foot-slogging women, they were first to be menaced by the red and silver rank-bar on his chest centered alongside a right leaning 'Chiaki' nameplate. "Valentine, Zhou... Wilde. Which of you feels like they know this unit and the planet the best?"

Beneath the NSS Heckler, headed towards unsuspecting Logistics Dude

Autumn stiffened for a moment when she heard her name fall from Chiaki’s lips. She dropped her arms and did an abrupt about face to look at the Second Lieutenant.

Her Golem armor was lightly dusted with dull red dust from the ride from Fort Puckett to the rally point on the top of the tank. Her hair almost fell past her shoulders now, pulled back into a low ponytail and it was mussed from being stuffed under a helmet for Almighty knew how long and her olive skin had seen some sun. The Geshrin Armorer turned demolitionist had no visible scars on her face like she had before her death on Kennewes.. She was a few years older now but she still physically seemed to be the same Marine that Chiaki saw that night on Prime, at least, from what he tell while she was wearing armor.

“Welcome to New Bernese, Lieutenant Chiaki!” The Marine’s posture straightened and a smile played across her lips as her right hand came up to her temple in a brisk salute. Her green eyes were firmly on his cybernetic ones, watching the colors with professional familiarity as she answered his question. “I am extremely familiar with this planet, Sir, I have been here for quite some time training the militia. I am becoming more familiar with the unit at the moment,” her tone was professional, “But as you know, the only way to truly know the unit is to see how they live, fight and love beyond what gets recorded in their personnel files.”

“Are you looking to know the lay of the land? Lieutenant Rickett ordered us to bolster our intimacy of the local population to foster better cooperation with the militia and populace to increase our situational awareness of this tactical theater,” her voice was jubilant as she spoke. Her eyes moved from Chiaki’s to the faces of the others in a moment of consideration before she looked back him again.

“Perhaps, you would like to join us and gain proper insight into the operation? It would definitely help esprit de corps if you took the time to build a rapport with us. So you can become intimately familiar with us.” She beamed, as she gestured to the officer as it occurred to her that introductions hadn’t been made, “This is Second Lieutenant Chiaki, when I saw him last he was a Medical Sergeant on Cirrus Station but we served together the NSS Alliance and we fought on Kennewes together. So you can imagine as a Marine and medic, he’s got incredibly capable hands.”

“Second Lieutenant Chiaki, This is Private Valentine, medic and Private Zhou, demolitionist. These two have been in the 309th for a while, so they can regale you with the juicy gossip and tales of their first engagement her planetside.” She suspected the Chiaki had at least read his HUD but she wanted to give them a proper human introduction since while he might have known their names, they didn’t know his.