RP Reactivated M3: Dune Prowling

[Commissar Farzi]

RP Date

YE 44.2.16

RP Location

Sandraker

It had been over two weeks since the failed mission to the outpost-it hadn't kept them from sending in a drone and shelling it, but Steiner had been less than pleased by the results. They'd found a patrol, skitter mines-which had turned out to be a genuine concern, but had nothing else to show for the expenditure of resources. Several patrols had already encountered them-though while they were easy enough to spot once they started moving the trick was seeing them before that happened. Conventional minesweeping equipment was out of the question, so until they could figure out exactly how they worked-or even if they could be jammed, all they could do was set their sensors fine enough that they went off at even the slightest feedback.

Not ideal in the least.

At the moment, the grandmaster was currently pouring over a tactical map he'd brought up on his hud. "So you're saying engagements with patrols are ramping up?" He looked at Revjak; the squire nodded. "Yes grandmaster." He pointed down-indicating as a series of rolling dunes to the east labeled with a bright red four; "Mainly coming from east/southeast-most of it's just light ordinance; the odd scout vehicle and mechanized infantry, even a few technicals, oddly enough-though one of the patrols did report what looked like a giant bug of some kind disappearing into the duststorm; though we haven't been able to confirm as of yet." There wasn't any native life present on this world-at least none that they were aware of-a problem that they'd have to deal with at some point. The mechanoid filed that away for later, returning to the subject at hand. "Any indication as to why the shift?" A shrug, followed by Revjak taking a sip from the bottle he'd been drinking from and grimacing; probably swamp water. "At this point we don't know; it could be they're trying to find another route of attack, maybe trying to find away around-hard to say." A pause.

"Take your cohort and move to cover the area to the south-intercept any patrols that move through the area." The grandmaster replied, indicating the aforementioned sector; Revjack looked at him for a moment, seemingly taken aback. "Grandmaster-are you sure-if we head east we should-" Steiner silenced him with a raised hand. "I am certain; you have your orders-carry them out." The man hesitated for a moment, then saluted; he knew it wrinkled the squire's pride as a noble, but he had his reasons. Now he just had to hope they were up to the task. With a sigh that sounded like tearing paper, he toggled his comm. "Yeomans Auli'li, Morris, and Tacho-report to the main Gantry."

-----
The airlock cycled as Morris shook the last of the dust off his hardsuit-guard duty was guard duty; no matter what planet you were on. Patrolling trenches, manning posts and the occasional bit of blood-pumping combat when some gribbly trooper decided they were feeling lucky and decided to take a few potshots. They and a few of the Common Guard had taken bets to see how many times a sniper would take a shot at them. Despite their technological superiority-they had lousy aim-hell anyone would have lousy aim on this planet-but they were still going to get made fun of. The big man was looking forward to a good meal and possibly seeing his family tonight when the words that every yeomen dreads came through: "Yeomans Auli'li, Morris, and Tacho-report to the main Gantry."

"Thurok-Fucking Ancestor's damn it!" He snarled as he grabbed his shield and weapons; he'd just gotten off his watch too! Morris stomped down the corridor that would take him to the main gantry, cursing all the while as his fellows looked on in sympathy-and in some cases laughter before turning back to their work. Arriving minutes after the call he did his level best to keep his irritation out of his voice. "Yeoman Sergeant Jacob Morris reporting." He said with a sharp salute.

 

[HarperMadi]

Yeoman Andrake listened to the overhead call as she stepped from her hydroponics Bay towards a well deserved shower. Fuckin' safe! Her thought rAng like a bell as she pumped her fist. "Still off mission, fuck yes! Been saving my ale rat, I'm'a have a good night!"

 

[Commissar Farzi]

"Andrake!" Morris shouted, seeing the short woman emerge from one of the bays-he could smell the tangy sweet smell of oil fruit wafting past, "Get your sorry ass over here-Grandmaster's got a mission for us!"

 

[HarperMadi]

"Fahaawk!" Mike cried out, her shouldersfalling back as she bent her knees, craning her head back to cry out. "I been saving my ale rat for months! I didn't hear my name called. And I just wanna get drunk and get some dick!"

Nonetheless, she complied. "My world burned and I have to deal with you people? Only thing worse than this rock's facking climate! I swear,some days I wished I'd stayed on Waterfall! Stuck in a new facking 'verse! Be a good girl, Daddy said, join the Navy, he said! It'll be fun, he said!"

 

[Charaa]

Auli sighed as she emerged from another place on base she’d been in doing busy work. “Man, it sucks being small, but atleast I can help” She muttered to herself as she walked, she passed another member on her list of Dirt. Whom made a comment about her. “Inbred shit for brain knucklehead” Auli’I muttered under her breath when she heard the call. “aw man, I need a shower damn it!” Auli said with a sigh, before making her way to the gantry as reported. “Yeomen Apprentice Smith, reporting as ordered!” Auli’I saluted smartly like Morris. Though She didn’t blame her big sister Mike for wanting the showers.

 

[Commissar Farzi]

Tacho was not having a good day-after she'd been forced to direct a number of the less-than-bright knuckleheads(an achievement that the Norian thought she'd never live to see, but yet here she was) after they'd caused a cave-in during an excavation on the lower-levels because someone had forgotten to space a single brace properly. She'd spent the better part of last sixteen hours trying to rescue the dig team-which in turn nearly ended yet another cave in but they'd done it. She was tired, aggravated, and in desperate need of a drink. And of course, Steiner just had to call her in-with a stream of muttered curses in both Nir'las and Trade she stopped by her quarters long enough to grab her Krysis Crixa-and strode into gantry. A feather drone detached, making to buzz around Morris's head-to which the big man did his level best to swat it down again. "Tacho reporting as ordered, Grandmaster." Her tone was somewhat less than respectful, not to mention Morris seemed just as aggravated as she was. "Hey, little fox!" She greeted Auli'li, and gave Mike a nod before ordering the drone to return to its mount figuring she'd tormented him enough. Morris for on his part simply glared at the alien, before returning his attention to the grandmaster.

If he was able to, Steiner likely would have opted, even just for a moment, to indulge in a bottle of strong, bitter ale. With a sigh, he toggled the crude projector they'd been using. "As you all are well aware, two weeks ago the recon in force sent north was a partial failure-while we were able to gather some intelligence as well as destroy a gribbly outpost," He pointed to the basin and an indicator-a tower with a small squid-like figure over it appeared, "We were not able to get a proper picture of their force composition, let alone their defensive response-that will change today."

The projector cycled a new slide, showing the base-the southeastern area had been marked in red. "In the last week, we have had increased reports of engagements with enemy patrols-at this time it is unknown whether or not this is a precursor to something larger or if just simply the enemy has set patrols too close to our holdings." The mechanoid took that moment to reveal a table with what seemed to be pistols, though they had an odd look to them-far bulkier than what they normally used, "Your objective is two fold-intercept and either destroy, or preferably drive them back-these pistols fire a small tracking device-a radio beacon as it were. Standard aerial tracking is somewhat less than useless given the extremely limited operating times of such craft, manned or no." Morris picked up one of the pistol, Tacho doing like wise-she racked the slide-smooth as butter. "Therefore you are tag any vehicles or personnel with these if possible should they retreat. Revejak will be on standby with Sapphire cohort to intercept any patrols that get past you."

"Grandmaster," Tacho said, already seeing a potential flaw in the plan, "If I may-wouldn't it be better for us to act as a Tracking party with the cohort in our role?" It made sense, Morris thought-a cohort would be better suited for their role having the manpower to spread across a wide area. "If such a thing were possible." Steiner replied, "Unfortunately they have grown quite adept at avoiding our larger forces-striking individual squadrons instead and they always outnumber them at least 2 to 1." He'd heard about that. "So you think they're looking to chip away at us?" He chimed in, rolling his shoulders as he holstered the pistol. "Indeed-I believe they are going for a defeat in detail-isolate smaller units with larger forces and destroy them-though their execution is somewhat lacking." Some wounded, a few dead-and while the yeoman accounted for themselves well, these constant actions would eventually sap them of their strength-leaving them vulnerable to a killing blow. "You all will make your way to the eastern sector-there you will begin your search." The aforementioned area was highlighted, "Once you have them tagged, we will track them to their den."

"And before it slips my mind-Andrake, you are now assigned as well-stay alert as we have reports of spider mines out there as well-good luck all of you-dismissed!" Steiner turned back his gantry-a large, empty cargo container serving as a desk for him as he filled out one of what seemed to be an endless stream of paperwork. His duties were unending it seemed...

Spoiler: OOC:

I spoke with Drew shortly after his retirement announcement, and got the go-ahead to take over Tacho as a GM NPC from here on out. I can only hope to do her justice.