UEEF Marines - IC Thread

[Purr]

Pyrrah replies, "Acknowledged, command. We'll look around and give full reports on what we see. Pyrrah out."

She turns to the rest of the team and says, "You heard the orders. Work in pairs. I don't want anyone to split off by themselves and get in trouble. Remember to keep an open comm signal to the Normandy through C'osmo's Silverback. See what is the most critical on the to do list and help as much as you can. I'm going to try and touch base with someone that is supposedly running this ship and tell them that help has arrived. Any questions?

C'osmo raises his finger while making certain Norwood can see and thus record it. "Hey! Uhhh, I have a question! Who's buying the drinks when we get back to base? Because... like... I'm starting to rack up on kills here and it's only my first mission! I must be a Marine or something! Yeaah buddy!"

"Lieutenant, I have a recommendation on pairs...Lieutenant Case should stay with C'osmo so she can help manage the communications links between us, the Silverback, and the Normandy. Corpsman Sable and I can pair up and continue inspection of the ship. If any one else has other suggestions to other pairings, I am open to that too, I was just matching up based on skills and technology." He paused to look at some damage on a console in the wall.

"Yeah! What Onni said! I mean, I recommend that too!" C'osmo works on linking up his Silverback and the Normandy with real-time video and audio. "Hey, LT Case! Torni, right? Can I call you Torni?" C'osmo waves a paw in a beckoning manner. "If you help me with this comm-gear and know-how, I'll help you with anything I know to balance it out! Whaddya say?"

 

[Sherwood]

Torni grins and flashes a quick thumbs up to C'osmo. "Doing good over there, newbie. Keep this up and we'll make a real Marine out of you in no time!" She keeps up the wide smile to show she is razing you in good spirits, and continues with, "The way that Marines are supposed to be is that we take care of our own and work as a team, always. I help where I'm strong and you jump in where I'm weak. That way we all get through this in one piece abs keep Keith from having too much work as a medic. Speaking of, how are you, Keith? You ok after that hit you took?"

He nods and idly rubs his chest where his armor took the hit. "Yeah, I'm just golden. Out of all the squad, who gets hit? The bear in his first live fire mission? No. It's me, the friggin medic that's not even a jar head. Damn. I'll never live this down." He then points over at the approaching bioroids and says, "LT? Looks like we have company."

The two Robotech Master mecha stop a short distance away and the lead one points at Pyrrah. A man's voice can be heard over the external speakers now that there is atmosphere, saying, "You say you are Zentraedi, but that is no mecha that I have ever seen before, and that," pointing at C'osmo this time, "is a Karbarran. Explain yourself."

 

[Psychie]

Pyrrah does her best to not get offended, but it's not easy. "Yes, I'm Zentraedi. Why would I lie about that? Just look at me and it should be fairly obvious. And 'that Karbarran' has a name. He is C'osmo, and he's a valued member of my squad. As I said before, I am lieutenant Pyrrah, and I am an officer in the United Earth Expeditionary Forces, and we just saved your asses, so a bit of gratitude might be in order. My orders are to start to triage the situation so the rest of the resources on their way can be allocated to best effect to save as many lives as possible. Who's in charge here?"

 

[Sherwood]

The bioroid pilot seems taken aback by your brisk tone, but after a moment of reflection says, "You are correct. I do owe you thanks. If it were not for your intervention, we would all be dead or worse; enslaved again and forced to work on the Protoculture farms endlessly until we drop. I do not know your Earth forces, but if you fight the Invid I will count you as allies."

He then says, "I am Rand, and I would guess that I am the leader of the bioroid pilots here. The ship had no real captain; we are simply trying to get as many of our people out of the claws of the Invid as possible."

Keith takes a step up to stand next to Pyrrah and asks, "Do you know how many people are on this ship?"

"Thousands. As many as we could pack in this rusted hulk of a ship. There is a danger that the life support system will not be able to cope, but we would rather die trying to escape than live as slaves. I don't know how to help with what you need, but I will do my best."

At this point, Rand offers to share his database of the ship's layout and the codes to open doors to allow you easier access to look around.

Splitting up, Onni and Keith pair off while C'osmo and Torni team up, leaving Pyrrah to go with Rand to examine the control room.

Looking about the ship, it quickly becomes apparent the level of desperation that these people had in order to risk their lives like this. They are malnourished, weak, and many have serious injuries that continue to make them suffer. Your hearts go out to these poor souls.

The ship looks like it was pulled from a scrap heap on a bad day. If it were a building it would be condemned as unsafe for anyone to live in, let alone risk themselves in space in it. It is in bad shape.

 

[Sherwood]

It takes about a half hour before the Normandy is able to pull up along side and extend a docking collar to connect the two ships and begin the slow processes of providing aid to the refugees. From what you have been told, the Command Cruiser Potemkin and the Escort Carrier Nevada are boosting in and will be on site soon to help with the evacuation of the people to safer accommodations. The Three Star Ship Atlas will be able to do repairs if it determined that the Robotech Master vessel is worth the effort to repair it.

In any case, you are all kept very busy before you are given the chance to get back to your ship for some much needed food and rest. By then, the Normandy is hosting several dozen people from the wreck, providing them with what little space that the troop ship can offer. Because of this, security in critical locations on the Garfish is now tripled. Most everyone agrees that this is a sensible precaution, even while the Marines grumble about the extra duty shifts that they are pulling.

While the squad are sitting in the packed chow hall, talking about the past twelve hours of refugee assistance, a sudden hush falls over the room. Looking up, you see a pair of aliens come floating into the room with an escort of three soldiers in CVR-3 armor.

The strange pair make no sound as the they move through the room to stop a short distance from your table. In a somewhat mechanical sounding voice, one of the two beings says, "You. Were the first of the UEEF force. On the refugee ship. Why. Did you risk yourselves. In the fight against the. Invid."

 

[Sherwood]

 

[Psychie]

Pyrrah looks at the two strange aliens and raises an eyebrow. What the hell are these things? I've never heard of any race that matches their description. Huh. I guess I don't know everything after all.

She leans back in her seat and says, "Well, the UEEF came out here to try and see if it were possible to make a truce with the Robotech Masters, but that was before we discovered that the Invid had spread across known space and enslaved many of the races that were once in the Master's empire. As for us specifically, we were responding to a call for help. Our commanding officer sent us in with the mission to save as many lives as possible, and that's what we did."

She takes as sip from her drink and says, "I am LT Pyrrah, a Zentraedi that now works with the humans- and other races, too - to stop the Invid. You now know a bit about us, but I've never encountered your race before. If you don't mind sharing, who and what are you?"

 

[Sherwood]

The strange alien is quiet for a moment, then says, "We are Haydonites. My designation is -" a horrid screech comes out of the thing, "but I have learned. To respond to the designation Loran. We are. Grateful. For your aid. We can provide. Assistance. And technical help. Technology that your people lack. To combat the Invid."

They then turn to leave, but before they go, the speaker pauses. "LT Pyrrah. You will be. Remembered. With your squad." They then drift away, still flanked by the three security guards.

Torni lets out a shudder. "Am I the only one to be more than a bit freaked out by those two? They are creepy!"

 

[Purr]

Torni lets out a shudder. "Am I the only one to be more than a bit freaked out by those two? They are creepy!"

C'osmo's ursine smile is wide with glee as he slips in between Torni and Pyrrah. "'Creepy?' Just... creepy? Is that the only adjective you can think of? Oh, Torni! Haydonites are more than that!" C'osmo begins pantomiming to his heart's content. "Why they're... 'chilling' or 'fearsome' or maybe even... oooh! 'Otherworldly?' Ooh, I like that one!"

"And Pyrrah!" He springs before her with paws wide. "They chose to approach you! You! Do you realize this might be the first time in cosmic history that Haydonites spoke with a UEEF-trained Meltrandi?" He raises his fists high. "You could be part of some great, grand, otherworldly, chilling, fearsome scheme!" Then he gets ahold of himself. "Oh. And uh, creepy too. Can't forget creepy, now can we?"

 

[Psychie]

Pyrrah is feeling a bit of the creepy that Torni mentioned, especially when the one made a point to single her out to be 'remembered'. Is that a good thing, or a bad thing? Only time will tell.

She then nearly jumps out of her seat when C'osmo leaps up. She looks at him in confusion, saying, "Um, ok? I've never heard of these Haydonites before. What are they? I've never seen anything like them before at all."

 

[Purr]

Psychie C'osmo goes into an excited telling of the facts as he knows them - he holds nothing back from his new friends.

With the action point being spent, C'osmo actually thinks he knows of these two aliens. If it's what he's thinking of, they are a race called the Haydonites. Very unusual beings, there has been next to no contact with them for years that you know of.

It is thought that they may be a machine race, but that is only rumor. Other than that, it is known that the Haydonites have a high level of tech, but little else is known of these beings.

 

[Psychie]

Pyrrah raises an eyebrow at the excited antics of the Karbarran, listening with interest to what he says. "A machine race, maybe? That's most bizarre. I wonder where their home world is, and what a planet of machines like that world be like. Hmm. I might have to check with the higher ups about them and relate this encounter. Might be of interest to command."

 

[Purr]

Pyrrah raises an eyebrow at the excited antics of the Karbarran, listening with interest to what he says. "A machine race, maybe? That's most bizarre. I wonder where their home world is, and what a planet of machines like that world be like. Hmm. I might have to check with the higher ups about them and relate this encounter. Might be of interest to command."

"Heck," C'osmo shrugs in a tickled fashion, "I'm just glad to be part of the squad they chose to talk to! Say, what are we calling ourselves anyway?"

 

[Psychie]

Pyrrah thinks for a moment, then says, "Personally, I'd like a name that embodies the fact that we are such a diverse team: Zentraedi, Human, Karbarran, and Garudian. I don't know of another squad that has such a wide variety of beings on it, at least, not yet. So many different backgrounds and abilities, experiences and know-how, that should be addressed. What do you think? Should we find something that goes to that?"

 

[Eonivar]

Onni sat and was eating food like the rest of his squadron when the two Haydonites entered. The Garudan paused putting his fork down upon observing them, his body language was oddly alert and on guard. Onni's eyes watched them carefully as they interacted with Pyrrah. He was unnaturally still.

He then reached up and activated his breather, submersing himself fully into the Hin.

Onni's vision changed as the details such as writing and technology seemed to blur and everyone's auras in the room seemed to glow and shine in his vision. The ship became a hazy background and the room was illuminated by the souls of those on the ship and the occasional soul passing though. The whispers of his ancestors and friends became a bit more coherant, talking to him about the past, present, and future. He mainly focused himself to look at the odd aura of the Haydonites....they did not shine like regular living beings, they did not seem to even have a soul, but there was something there as he could see their power in the absence of living light.

Sherwood Onni while in his full Hin state will use his See Aura ability on the Haydonites:

Spoiler: See Aura Ability

See Aura: While fully in the Hin, the Garudan can see an aura around everything. All things, organic and inorganic, have an aura. The aura has many distinctions and indicates thing to the Garudan normally invisible to the ordinary eye.

Seeing an aura indicates the following:

Estimate the general level of experience. Low (1-3), medium (4-7th), or high (8th and up)

The presence of magic.
The presence of psychic abilities
High or low base of Potential Psychic Energy (PPE)
The presence of an unusual aberration and/or indicates a serious illness, insanity, or that the individual is not what he or she appears to be, could be a mutant or supernatural, but does not specify which.

This ability has a range of 60 feet and the target must be visible.

The Haydonites leave and Onni leaves his Hin state, leaning back in his chair again, seemingly disoriented as his reality readjusts to back its "normal" state. (at least normal for Onni)

"They have no souls...they are just some sort of strange machines...with something unnatural that is driving them."

 

[Sherwood]

With his See Aura power, Onni gains s little bit of useful information. Both of the Haydonites show that they are in the medium level range. Neither one shows any signs of magic, but they both seem to possess some limited psychic powers, even with a total lack of organic components to them.

There is no sign of disease (not surprising) or any kind of aberration or possessing spirit (also not surprising).

Keith says between mouthfuls off sandwich, "LT, if there is a name that might fit for our team, might I suggest a few options? Option one is Rainbow Squad, with the different colors representing the different groups coming together to work as one team. Option two and three are Chimera Squad, or Hydra Squad. Both are multi-headed monsters from Earth folklore, with each head being one of us. Whichever one we pick, we would be making history as the first such Strike Marine squad with so many diverse elements to it."

 

[Purr]

C'osmo stops what he is doing, looks up the definitions on his computer, looks startled, looks over at Keith, and blanches. "'Rainbow Squad?' I'm glad it's Pride Month as much as the next bear, but really? Keith, are you tryin' to get us kicked off of the Normandy? Fellas, in Earth history, chimeras and hydras - those are the names of Evil Bad Guys! See this movie? Captain America here fights Hydra all day long! Can we be the Good Guys? No offense meant, Keith, maybe stuff like that works when you're regular Navy, but we? We are Marines!

Spoiler: Movie Clip.

"Captain America VS Hydra . The First Avenger (2011) (6/11)"

"And 'Rainbow Squad?' Really? For Marines?"

Spoiler: Video Clip.

I'll be the first to admit I'm a Brony, but My Little Pony and Robotech mixed is a fan-fic, not a squad name. =)
"Between the Ponyville and Cloudsdale Team (Rainbow Falls) | MLP: FiM [HD]"

"And I say we oughta have a name that only sounds like the good guys, but something bad-to-the-bone! You want diverse?" C'osmo think about all things Marines. "You want a name that screams Marines? How about... Gunslingers?"

Spoiler: Top 10 Badass Anime Gunslingers.

I could go for military videos here, but we're gamers. So let's go talk about gaming gunslingers. =)

"That's a name with meaning, history, and bad-to-the-bone written all over it!" C'osmo stops himself before he gets into his own serious love of firearms... and his abilities to tweak them which he has done for just about every other squad he has been a part of until this one.

 

[Psychie]

Pyrrah almost chokes on her drink and is caught up in a coughing fit that lasts a good minute. When she can finally breathe without choking, she says, "Damn! It's pretty bad when you get told by the greenie of the team that your idea sounds gay. Ouch!" She shakes her head in disbelief, and says, "I don't mind the idea of the Gunslingers. Is that a name that can be acceptable to all? If so, I'll make the change in the roster and make it official."

 

[Eonivar]

After their perception seemed to come back to normal Onni reengaged as to what was being bantered about his squadron. His ears flicked back and forth as he listened.

"Gun-slingers? I have this image in my head of us picking up our weapons and throwing them at our enemy, is that what we want to be known for? It's kind of a bizarre concept to me. Humans do strange thing with their many, many languages. I kind of liked Chimera, a monster with many different heads. Even Rainbow was nice...the various frequencies of light together in one beam, that has fascinating imagery."

Onni head bobs, that strange gesture he uses when he is indifferent. "In the end I suppose it does not matter much what we designate ourselves to be. We are Marines and..umm.." Onni glances at Keith to be polite. "Corps-man?! We are a part of the United Earth Expeditionary Force and Fighting the Invid. It does not matter to me what we call ourselves I suppose."

 

[Sherwood]

Keith looks mildly insulted and hurt that his ideas were not met with outstanding support. "It is not a gay name, but ok, I'll let it go. I can go with the Gunslingers."

 

[Purr]

Keith looks mildly insulted and hurt that his ideas were not met with outstanding support. "It is not a gay name, but ok, I'll let it go. I can go with the Gunslingers."

C'osmo grins down at Keith in an attempt to look the human in the eye. "It is a gay name! Keith, 'Rainbow Squad' is as gay as gay gets!" The hulking Karbarran takes a knee to better see Keith's face. C'osmo's voice softens as he speaks from his heart.

"Except I don't think it's our name. Somewhere out there, this bear is willing to bet there's a bunch of gay Marines. They're in a squad together. Maybe they're getting razzed for it, maybe they're even outcasts just like I was! Who knows? But'cha know what? A name like Rainbow Squad? Remember how I want our squad name to mean something? Well, I think 'Rainbow Squad' belongs to them! I say let them be the first to own it, to love it, and to carry it into battle. Show everybody out there that 'gay' isn't an insult or a thing to feel bad about, but something to be proud of! Just like when people use the name 'Leathernecks' for us Marines!

"And as for Gunslingers? Guys? You know what?" C'osmo turns with great confidence to the whole squad. His bear-voice rises. "We're gonna have the best guns on the Normandy! Y'know why? Because you chose me! That's right! Because you have accepted me when no other squad would take me! Accepted me just like somebody out here oughta be accepting Rainbow Squad!

C'osmo eyes your firearms and raises his fists high with pride! "I held back when I tweaked the guns of my other so-called squads. But you?By the time I'm done with your firearms, even the Invid are gonna know where they came from! Who they belong to! Third Heavy Assault Division! Dragon Slayers! Gunslinger Squad! Raaaaaawrrr!!"

 

[Sherwood]

Torni chuckles, then says, "I like Gunslinger Squad much more than the razzing we would get as the alternative. Poor Keith! First he's the first of us to take a hit in live combat and now this!"

Keith looks sour, but says nothing, knowing that it was a losing battle. He finally says, "Ok, Ok. If that's how it's going to be, I'll remember that the next time you need to get patched up and whoops! I just ran out of painkillers right before I treat you."

Torni gives the medic a playful punch on the arm. "Do it and I'll perform my own operation on you with my K-bar knife, and trust me, what I'll cut off is something your going to miss."

 

[Sherwood]

After getting some food and track time, the newly minted Gunslinger Squad are put back to work aiding the refugee situation, but this time your are not alone. Hundreds of aid workers are moving non-stop to evacuate the space-going wreck before it gives out completely, getting the population of clones onto the largest ship available; the Atlas. From what you are hearing, there is a drive to try and recruit as many of the refugees into the UEEF as possible, trying to find a way to make these poor people feel useful and not so lost.

When the Robotech Master ship has finally been cleared of its passengers, it is determined that it can be repaired, so it is maneuvered along side the manufacturing vessel where scaffolding is quickly being erected in order to get the vessel back into full fighting trim again. It is expected not to take long before it is ready to be operated safely once more.

While all of that is good news, the members of Gunslinger Squad are kept busy with maintaining your gear and getting ready for the expected planetary assault to liberate the small settlement that the refugees came from out of the claws of the Invid.

During this time, C'osmo is able to do a few tweaks to the squad's weapons, giving everyone one upgrade to their primary firearm. Purr what do you wish to add, since you are the one doing the upgrades?

 

[Psychie]

Pyrrah is not a weeaponsmith, so while C'osmo works on the trigger housing of Mikah, she is there, watching carefully but staying back far enough to keep out of the way. When he is finally done with his adjustments, Pyrrah decides that the best way to test the trigger pull is by sending some rounds downrange, and she takes the AP Cannon to the rifle range to do just that. She makes sure that the range is properly set up for her to use live ammo, and she checks out a magazine and slaps in a fresh Protoculture power cell before dropping down to a prone position and lines up her sights on the target.

Practicing her breath control, Pyrrah sets the range to mimic a target 2,000 feet out. Once that is done, she fires, feeling with satisfaction the effects of the work done on Mikah's trigger. Six more rounds follow the first, all catching the target and shredding it to bits. Changing targets, she then switches to burst fire and tests the feel of the cannon. When she is done, she stands up, clears the weapon and removes the power clip. Looking over at C'osmo, she gives him a thumbs up. "Solid work there, Marine. Solid work indeed. Five stars."

 

[Purr]

Looking over at C'osmo, she gives him a thumbs up. "Solid work there, Marine. Solid work indeed. Five stars."

With a smile from ear to ear, C'osmo does a happy dance. "Ahaaa! I thought a four and a half pound trigger-pull would do the trick for you! Not too stiff and not a hair-trigger either. And I got that sweet spot on the first try!" He puffs up his chest and in his deepest, bear-iest voice, exclaims with great pride, "That's Karbarran power!"

Not three heartbeats later, he turns back to Pyrrah with open and able black-tipped paws. "So what kinda paint job you want? She's upgraded but now you can add bragging rights! You want UEEF flags? Meltrandi power armors? Exploding Invid? Cool Marine stuff? Whaddya want, Pyrrah?"

He points a claw at the other Gunslingers. "You guys better start getting your noggins joggin' too! See me for ideas!" He holds his fine-tuned laser cutter at the ready. "Norwood and I are ready for you!"

The sleek hovering bot beside him nods vigorously. "Yes!" says Norwood.