Mercenary Dawn: Steel Phoenixes

[DaxxyErin]

"It's an old legend. A band of wild and untamed spirits thag roam the countryside on dark nights."

 

[QuickSmasherEXE]

Abdul blinked a few times. "It sounds a bit uncivilized. I would prefer we avoid associating ourselves with renegade spirits."

 

[Juju]

Tanu deflated when her name was shot down like a pigeon with a blow dart. "Aww..." she grumbled and slumped in her chair, pouting.

 

[AldurSFC]

"Suits this group pretty well on the whole though. I think it's a goer." Akir says, agreeing with Morrigan. "This group is all pretty wild and outcastish. And uh, most of us are renegades."

 

[QuickSmasherEXE]

"It sounds like it may invite misfortune," said Abdul, though he was quickly losing passion for the matter. "I still think it sounds odd."

 

[TheUnknownMarine]

"We could combine some of these if we're having trouble," Irene suggests. "The Renegade Hunt, The Wild Riders, The Dullahan Kickers, The X-peradoes, The Ass Hunt..." Irene pauses. "Okay, probably not that last one."

 

[Omega Entity]

"I kind of like the Wild Hunt," Sara comments. "It's oddly fitting, in a way."

 

[QuickSmasherEXE]

Discretely, with the utmost quietness, Abdul groaned. "I see no reason to accuse ourselves of wildness. We are a diverse group, but disparate does not mean chaotic. A degree of coordination will be essential if we are to succeed." He shook his head and turned to Lana. "Forgive me, I have gotten ahead of myself. To whom will we be presenting ourselves by this name? If it is to clients, it should instill confidence in our abilities. If it is merely for internal purposes, then it would be improper of me to continue dissenting if you are all agreed on the Wild Hunt."

Abdul next turned to the team's newest member. "What about you? Mr. Collins, was it? If I understand correctly, you are also a member of this unit, and are thus equally entitled to your opinion on the matter."

 

[BigBadBlowfish]

Collins quietly appraised the other mercenaries as they bantered back and forth. They were . . . an interesting bunch, to say the least.

"I must admit, choosing a unit name is a foreign concept to me," Collins said in response to Abdul's question. "I suppose it should be something with a bit of flair. The Wild Hunt sounds rather evocative. I think it would work."

Collins looked at Irene and smirked. "Though I'd rank The Ass Hunt a close second."

 

[Omega Entity]

Sara raises a brow as she looks to Abdul. "Not wild? Have you seen Tanu?" she asks, struggling to keep a straight face. "She's the embodiment of chaos."

 

[YsFanatic]

The Analyst is quiet for a moment, waiting for a break in the conversation before she responded to Abdul's questions. "Well, the organization depends on what all of you decide, such as any ranking structure and if you organize your forces by squads or some other structure. As for your second question, mercenary names have historically been split between more 'professional' ones such as the 20th Assault Company from Old Earth to ones such as Death's Fangs and the currently active War Turtles."

 

[DaxxyErin]

Morrigan gestures towards Abdul. "The War Turtles are big and heavy. The Wild Hunt implies we do things others may not. Which we most likely will. If you are looking for professionalism, there it is. The Wild Hunt as a story was also told as a sort of... tale of warning, if I remember correctly. It does everything you want your name to do. And..." She shrugs, "It's fitting when you have the Specter of Death on your squad."

 

[QuickSmasherEXE]

"She's the embodiment of chaos."

"She has her ways, certainly," Abdul admitted.

"It does everything you want your name to do. And..." She shrugs, "It's fitting when you have the Specter of Death on your squad."

"Yes, well." Abdul cleared his throat again. "Thank you. That seems to settle the matter of the unit name."

"Now we may turn our attention towards organizational structure. I am of the opinion that an executive voice would be beneficial. Preferably that voice would be the one among us most familiar with conducting cooperative missions."

 

[DaxxyErin]

"As much as I dislike him on principle," Morrigan gestures to Collins, "our newest member is from New America, and he doen't seem like he was just a grunt." She turns to address him properly. "Would you agree?"

 

[TheUnknownMarine]

"Eh? What's to dislike about Coller here?" Irene asks. "You two have a run in at a bar or something?"

 

[DaxxyErin]

"I don't like New American military." Morrigan retorts flatly.

 

[BigBadBlowfish]

"You're right, I was no simple grunt," Collins said. "I was an officer at one time. But my departure was. . . not exactly clean. Now I'm just a mercenary. I no longer hold any military rank."

Collins turned his attention to Abdul.

"I agree, we should figure out how we're going to run this unit. If we do appoint an 'executive voice', what would would their responsibilities be?"

 

[AldurSFC]

"A very open mind and good skills at wrangling people as a minimum I would assume." Akir says with some amusement.

 

[QuickSmasherEXE]

"This person would be the ultimate decider on tactical matters," said Abdul. "For this role, they should have wisdom and foresight, as well as firmness in their decisions. I assume that most of us would rather not die in battle because some ill-conceived plan seemed good to the majority in the heat of the moment."

 

[AldurSFC]

"Well we're more of a team of experimental projects who got pulled medically or politically or criminally out of our respective Jams. I kinda doubt any of us have the background on each other or even the trust for what you're proposing right now. So I'd personally not be up for having any kind of commander not knowing what any of you can do...and vice versa." Akir shrugs.

 

[DaxxyErin]

"Plans never survive contact with the enemy. Resistance to suggestion is a good way to have an 'ill-concieved plan'." Morrigan offered. "Akir is right. We didn't get asked to join this group because we are good at following orders like good little puppets. We got asked because we are outcasts who are good at our jobs. Also," Morrigan pointed at Tanu spinning in her chair. "No one can control that."

 

[QuickSmasherEXE]

"Plans may be useless, but planning is indispensable." Abdul sat quietly for a moment, visibly thinking. His knuckles rapped on the table. "I do not propose slavish obedience. However, spontaneous chaos will be no better at utilizing our talents. It is because of our vast differences that some degree of order is necessary. We are unlikely to arrive at a plan democratically, and doing what we think best without knowing what to expect of our companions can hardly be expected to work out."

 

[DaxxyErin]

Morrigan points to Akir, then Irene. "Those two work in tandem, set them on something you want dead fast." She then points to Abdul, "You are artillery, set you on the big target or many small ones." She points to Sara, "Skirmisher and Scout. Also no real military training from what I've gathered. Aim her at the small ranged units." Points at Tanu, "Opportunist. Flanker. Specialist of some kind, move where needed." She gestures vaguely, "Null is electronics, dazes the enemy, can act freely." Points to herself. "Tank." And finally she points at Collins. "He is an outlier, he's new, and we don't know what he can do. We all have our place in a fight, even without a plan. We don't need a leader."

 

[AldurSFC]

"It sounds good on paper Abdul but considering what and who we're working with, you're advocating a brand of order that won't work for a number of us. We can all be adaptable and reactive without someone telling us what to do next.

We can achieve consensus before a mission and go over any difference in strategy there and on a tactical on the ground level we all equally want to live so I'm sure no one will do anything stupid. But hey, maybe my bet will be wrong, that's the joy of life. It's a gamble.

if it doesn't work out we can look at it down the line but you're asking us to place our bets before everyone's even seen their hands or the cards on the table properly. It's a no from me. Sorry."

 

[YsFanatic]

When Akir makes the comment about them being experimental projects, Michael and Stella exchange worried glances for a moment before he looks back down at his tablet. Stella however looks at each pilot, trying to keep her expression neutral. Meanwhile Roger freezes for a moment before continuing like nothing had happened.

Lana glances briefly at Akir after his comment before adding her two cents to the conversation about leadership. "There is only one recorded mercenary unit to have any success without an appointed leader. They did manage to make a name for themselves, but the unit broke apart before too long. It is believed that they lacked someone that could hold the unit together."