Avastan: Planetfall

[BackworldTraveller]

Frank

On the command channel:

"All, we have friendly grav vehicle approaching from the north. Major, Colonel East, I would appreciate if one of you might help with casualties, we have two seriously injured."

He turns to Freya, "Can we shift the drone slightly north, I'd like to see what's left of the command vehicles to the north of the HQ building. We ought to try and find someone to officially surrender."

Florence - Colonel wants eyes further north - He's looking for someone who can officially surrender. Can you organise that?

[The Bindoner]

The Aslan do not respond but according to observation from local SEMC units the Aslan have one KIA, two seriously wounded (including their female/medic) - and two still in melee.

Jess growls

Frell. Guess I’m a frellin’ vet now.

On HQ channel:
Boss, I’m moving to aid the Cats. If the Molly stays down we’ll have trouble handling the Toms.

Cav unit comm:
Move to the Deliverance berm, in cover, take up hull-down position. Stay tight, stay alert. Friendly Grav inbound, confirm any target before engaging.

Intercom to Dash:
Driver, destination, female Aslan casualty, ridge of Deliverance berm. Pick your route, but keep us safe.

Driver, advance.

As the IFV nears its target, jess switches the PD system to Auto, grabs a medkit, and moves to the rear doors.

On intercom: Drop me off then cover us. An’ Shug? Don’t fire without permission, I don’t reckon this kit’ll handle plasma-burns

Jess hops out of the IFV onto the berm and sets about assessing the female Aslan. Hopefully she has a race-specific medkit on her, otherwise Jess uses the generic items from her own supply – the biggest problem should be attaching dressings designed for skin to fur.

[BackworldTraveller]

Freya has the gunboat down and meets Jess at the injured Aslan. She has the stretcher from the gunboat and the gunboat's med-kit.

I'm not sure I'm brave enough to approach an injured male alone as I don't speak the language and they seem to react badly to being hurt. But lets see if we can't start with this one

[The Bindoner]

I wouldn't want to go near a wounded Tom either, unless he's sedated. Jess grins back.

This Molly's the important one anyway.

You know much 'bout Cat's? 'Cos me, I've spent a lot of time hurtin' 'em, not so much fixin' 'em up after.

[BackworldTraveller]

I wouldn't want to go near a wounded Tom either, unless he's sedated. Jess grins back.

This Molly's the important one anyway.

You know much 'bout Cat's? 'Cos me, I've spent a lot of time hurtin' 'em, not so much fixin' 'em up after.

They have an outside which is a mix of plush toy and shredder and an inside that shouldn't be their outsides.
Oxygen/CO2 exchange system; Plumbing to move it to useful places. Pipes for processing food. Some form of self-replication chamber. Bio-computer. Several important points that stop the whole working if badly damaged. Not totally dissimilar to us in that respect.

And that they are marginally easier to understand than Droyne.

As to fixing, She's their medic. She must have an Aslan-friendly med pack somewhere near.

[Tiglath]

Avastan: Aftermath(?)

Jakob

Jakob sees that he is joined aboard the G Carrier by Caxton and his fire team. Seeing the available fire support on the Rangers' Carrier Caxton leaves his "Ma Deuce" set up for Kit's unit to use and boards ready to deploy as infantry with Privates Oscar, Jolly, Tango One and Victor.

On boarding the Carrier Jakob finds his orders per inter unit diplomacy pre-empted by a perhaps militarily disconcerting but nevertheless cheerful and welcomingly warm handshake from one of the .50 cal gunners “Compliments of Sergeant Gaughan, howsaboutcher, sir”. The other Ranger with the leg wound neutrally meets Jakob's gaze and returns a laconic nod. Jakob immediately sees a quality in the big silent man that gives him no doubt as to the man's military abilities - despite his wound. Jakob professionally notes that he now outranks (if not commands given their reputation) Rangers Scollan and Lannigan. At the warning of melee both men casually fix their bayonets and while Scollan rapidly checks the load on his snub pistol Lannigan remains entirely unmoved.

The G Carrier touches down and disembarks its infantry with the driver pulling back into cover to park hull down and then man an HMG. As Caxton marshalls his fire team into defensive fire positions Jakob notes that he is flanked by Lannigan and Scollan. Discounting any considerations of possible breaches of military etiquette Jakob focusses forward to see the API trooper with the AK aim it head high at Tourmaline who has just turned a bayonet thrust to embed her axe halfway through her assailant's torso.

Jakob acts to take out the threat putting an aimed burst through the centre mass of the AK wielder just as what appears to be a massive calibre round also strikes his target from atop the Drachenfels berm. The target drops – very dead.

Drooling inchoate rage Tourmaline screams at the skies and, now unarmed, faces the last enemy in melee with her. She makes a grasping motion towards the API trooper as he lunges at her and he gurgles and collapses. Tourmaline then stumbles and extends a hand to her axe. It twitches towards her but remains in the body it last claimed. She now spots Jakob's team downhill from her and, seeing them, laughs manically. She staggers over and rips her blade free from the corpse's embrace. She then continues unsteadily downhill towards Jakob and his expanded squad.

At his shoulder Jakob hears Lannigan calmly announce with absolute saturnine certainty “I see Lady Nemain, herself – The Morrigan”.

(OOC: First speech from Lannigan? )

[Leitz]

"Back! Back!", Jakob yelled to his squad, keeping himself in the center of the woman's attention. He dialed his HUD's 360 view to map a path backwards so he could draw her down without stumbling.

"Bring it in, trooper! Breathe!" He kept yelling at her as he tried to help her walk off whatever she had going on. It was just like any other high energy mental challenge, get them to walk through the crash without spiking more adrenaline into their system.

[Tiglath]

Jakob

Unfazed by the battle yet visibly surprised when Lannigan speaks Scollan adds quietly "Sure 'tis the red handed Lady herself - or one touched by her". Lannigan says no more but stands with Jakob while waving Caxton's men back. The SEMC squad are grateful to retire being somewhat unnerved by the "Unnatural".

Jakob now surely has Tourmaline's entire focus as she snarls her reply in accented Galanglic "I am no trooper, Imperial, but a Free Captain of the Spinward Main!" She closes on Jakob mostly by taking advantage of both gravity and the mechanics of human locomotion but also with a possible tweak of her grav belt. Her long strides propel her downhill as she absently drags her axe behind her ploughing a furrow painted with reducing shades of red. "Where are my mutinous crew? Are you in league with them, Imperial? Hah, you'll need more than one second if you are to duel with me!"

She makes no overtly offensive move as she purposefully closes in. Jakob notices Skeet taking a grav belt assisted leap from the berm top to land nearby. Seeming to be suddenly startled by Lannigan Tourmaline then seems to lose focus. Her axe falls from nerveless fingers as she mutters "Øx mín..." She then collapses to her knees and asks "Did the drop go OK?" before pitching forwards between the triumvirate of Jakob, Lannigan and Skeet.

[Leitz]

"Colonel, I believe you have things well in hand?" Jakob said to Skeet, nodding to the collapsed trooper. One doesn't salute on the battlefield, it identifies priority targets. Jakob kept his tone respectful, though. Unimpressed, too; he'd seen too many stranger things to be overly concerned. It was just one more data point for the next plan.

Assuming/When there are no more active threats to engage, and before anyone else is around.

"Interesting value you bring to the game, Lannigan. Did you know about it, or was it a guess?"

[Tiglath]

Jakob

"Colonel, I believe you have things well in hand?"

Skeet grins around his stogie “That guy who stands in front of an orchestra waving a baton. He really makes a difference right? I sometimes wonder”.

Stooping to collect the axe he adds “It's just about now she needs her white knights. I'm glad to see some about. There was an outside chance she'd have killed you - even played out”. He gives both men a level stare “I think I could have most likely stopped her but... it's all just ruddy complicated, alright? Nevertheless, I'm grateful”. He smiles “Captain Domici, Trooper Lanningan you both seem capable of the sort of romantic foolishness I admire in a man. In fact, if you'll excuse me Captain, I'll indulge in a little mischief. Lannigan you just passed selection for squad leader with 4DC. So, unless SEMC makes you a better offer you know where I am. Now, I owe you both so you call me when you need a favour, eh?” He “pings” Jakob a one use contact to what may well be his personal comm via lascomm and tells Lannigan “I'll be in touch”.

He then effortlessly scoops up* the fallen Tourmaline pausing only to push a skein of blond hair back from her beautiful blood spattered features.

(OOC: * That'll be yer Battledress then! )

"Interesting value you bring to the game, Lannigan. Did you know about it, or was it a guess?"

Lannigan levelly meets Jakob's gaze and gives an entirely enigmatic nod.

[Tiglath]

Frank (and kinda Prerna and Jess)

From Erica Frank receives “Colonel, I have Major Nayar's indulgence – I will assist”. Frank sees Erica and her robot cross the open ground between the berms via gravitics. The robot always exposes itself first but the two cross the potentially hostile/exposed ground with flawless military tactics.

The SEMC ambulance also responds flying into the now stabilised front line from the Trader. Frank sees that Erica triages both casualties and, while continuing treatment on Love, has immediately has Beau placed into one of the ambulance's four emergency low berths.

He also receives another comm from Colonel Skeet who appears to be multi tasking his comm traffic. “Outstanding Red Team. Outstanding – I'll get you a case of beer for that one”. Immediately via a shared "realtime" databurst (it seems SEMC already have a drone over he admin block) Frank sees that the battle group behind the admin block (Unit C) is in a sorry state. The two MBTs are turretless pyres and the AT vehicle pours black smoke from its hatches as flames flicker within. Indeed all the vehicles are wrecked with the odd exception of the SPAA track which has its radar riddled with small charred holes and its crew draped dead in their hatches. The APC has thrown a track whilst heading northwards across the runway and a trail of dead crewmen and HQ staff lead further north to two officer types who, with their hands on their fur hatted heads, appear to have finally worked out that if they are going to die then doing it tired won't make it any better.

Skeet states “That's the rump of their command team right there. First unit that frees up between us gets the glory!” He interrupts his own flow with “Oh, forfekssakes! Um, best your guys deal - I have a thing here” He opens another channel whilst maintaining the link with Frank and starts with an exasperated “Which bit of “In Reserve” was hard to understand???” The reply is in aggressively indignant Trokh. To which Skeet responds levelly “Look, you know that you just don't fit in the jump capsules!” He then drops into Trokh which Frank may be able to follow (or get translated).

Frank notes a fuel shuttle passes overhead (friendly IFF) and five massive forms jump out and freefall towards the berms. He fixes the apparent perspective problem when he realises that they are much much bigger than average troopers – even without the battledress. As they drop they illuminate their holographic sashimono bearing the mon of the Iyhlua clan “quartered” with the logo of 4DC. However, each warrior bears their own “distinctions” of coloured armour lacquer and gear.

Frank (and Prerna and Jess) have seen these very same Aslan before at the storming of the Bartisan.

[Tiglath]

Freya

Florence - Colonel wants eyes further north - He's looking for someone who can officially surrender. Can you organise that?

Florence replies "On it, Ma'am, pushin' one up. Ma'am, I'm getting just glimpses of other surveillance object traffic in our battlespace. These are grav motive units way faster and more agile than our prop driven drones. I've checked a couple of their manoeuvres on playback. They're just too fast - there's no operator interface lag. These are top shelf 'bots".

[BackworldTraveller]

Freya

Florence - Colonel wants eyes further north - He's looking for someone who can officially surrender. Can you organise that?

Florence replies "On it, Ma'am, pushin' one up. Ma'am, I'm getting just glimpses of other surveillance object traffic in our battlespace. These are grav motive units way faster and more agile than our prop driven drones. I've checked a couple of their manoeuvres on playback. They're just too fast - there's no operator interface lag. These are top shelf 'bots".

Ok Florence, - Don't panic on the performance - triangulate the command element. There have been some very high-tech players on the periphery. This may be evidence that they aren't done yet.

Colonel. We have high-tech drone activity over the port. Do you know whose they are?

[shaidar]

Frank

"I believe those drones are 4DC, Dubbs can you confirm please. Captain Domici, has the situation stabilised enough so that you can get your ride to take you north of the HQ and accept surrender from their officers?" (he pings a location on the battle map)

[Leitz]

"On it, sir. We'll contain them and make sure they've got religion before you show up," Jakob replied.

Giving Skeet and the 4DC trooper a wide berth, Jakob called in the transport. He turned to Lannigan, voice only, and said. "Skeet's team isn't bad if that's what you want. I'd say the same about Sergeant Gaughan, too, so there's no 'which one is better' option. However, if you're up for the squad leader idea, round everyone up and get them on the transport. We need to secure the enemy HQ staff to accept a formal surrender. If we do it right, they'll convey the good idea to any doubters. Show me what you got, Trooper."

Jakob will let Lannigan run as a squad leader, and only step in if there's a significant tactical risk. Otherwise he'll ask a question, like 'Have you considered...'

Tactics-2, Int-C [_2d6+4]=(4+1)=5+4=9
Leader [2d6+4]=5+4=9
Instruction [_2d6+4]=(3+5)=8+4=12

[Tiglath]

Freya and Jess

Boss, I’m moving to aid the Cats. If the Molly stays down we’ll have trouble handling the Toms.

As to fixing, She's their medic. She must have an Aslan-friendly med pack somewhere near.

Jess determines via immediate triage/examination that the female Aslan has a couple of treatable minor wounds and a more serious "through and through" to her arm that may have fractured the bone. By employing Jess' knowledge of Trokh (and Aslan) and maybe a little more "art" than "science" Freya does indeed find what appears to be a battlefield first aid kit and the pair agree a mode of treatment using the Aslan medical gear.

Jess notes that the gear has a two tier labelling system (which very much helps her deduction as to what does what). While medicines are concisely labelled with recommended dosages there are also pre measured one use very robust autoinjectors and dressings whose labelling consists of simplistic "cartoons" demonstrating their use.

The female Aslan revives and although clearly now in some discomfort (rather than terrible pain) averts her gaze from Jess and then profusely thanks Freya for tending her wounds. This is all as far as Freya can deduce but is confirmed by Jess (who appears to have been classified as "male" by the female Aslan).

The revived female Aslan then recovers her grav "cart" and painfully jogs back along the berm's rim to tend to the wounded male.

Jess notes that the two remaining active male Aslan appear to have completed their clearing of the trench system on the NW face of the berm and are making their way back up the slope towards the sashimono planted at its summit. The trenches are devoid of any movement and the Aslan are unburdened by prisoners.

(OOC: Vet roll 2d6: (5 + 4) = 9 That comes out as more than "good enough" as your bonuses from the above shrewd player insights plus Int plus Jess' Medic skill will outweigh the "practicing xeno-medicine unskilled" penalty).

[Tiglath]

Jakob

Giving Skeet and the 4DC trooper a wide berth, Jakob called in the transport. He turned to Lannigan, voice only, and said. "Skeet's team isn't bad if that's what you want. I'd say the same about Sergeant Gaughan, too, so there's no 'which one is better' option. However, if you're up for the squad leader idea, round everyone up and get them on the transport. We need to secure the enemy HQ staff to accept a formal surrender. If we do it right, they'll convey the good idea to any doubters. Show me what you got, Trooper."

Lannigan replies simply "I'll not leave". He then nods and with easy economy laconically organises the squad. He performs the task efficiently but is clearly making no extra effort to impress. After evaluating his style Jakob recognises that Lannigan is a militarily astute natural leader and is in no doubt that he is also a very capable soldier - or maybe "warrior" is more appropriate. He concludes that Lannigan has all the skills and tools necessary to be a squad leader [Leader 1]. He also perceives something else - the "easy manner" the Rangers have with officers could be deemed confrontational by anyone not willing to "accommodate" to their style. He imagines that attempting to "command" such wilfully contrary soldiers without their consent would simply break lesser officers. Equally their apparent loyalty to each other would give them significant unit cohesion on the battlefield.

The G Carrier comes up and the squad boards directed by Lannigan. [So Caxton and his fire team plus Lannigan and Scollan acting as HMG gunners]. Recognising Caxton's expertise and his own new role Lannigan gives up his gun to Caxton.

Spotting no threats or opposition the Carrier flies cautiously north skirting the west end of the starport admin block where the main body of the Rangers are effecting entry to the ground floor and have already collected a small knot of enemy prisoners during their advance.

Once over the runway the state of the destroyed API HQ Battlegroup (Unit C) becomes apparent. The 4DC air support have done their job and the pair of MBTs are flaming pyres while the SPAA track has been ruined (by what Jakob would bet on as long range Imperial standard laser rifle fire). On being spared immediate destruction the (command variant) APC has attempted to evade north across the runway only to be crippled by a (high energy weapon/anti materiel laser) shot to one of its tracks. The halted APC has a crewmen dead on its roof and a trail of equally dead occupants (more accurate high tech laser fire) and spent mid tech smoke grenades (which would have been useless) leading to a small group of three officers. The rank distinction is clear as they have better fur hats and more rank pins in the "shoulder boards" on their greatcoats. The men have their hands up and raise them higher for emphasis as they see the approaching G Carrier.

[Leitz]

Jakob surveyed the carnage; efficient use of ammunition to maximum effect. No real sign that the API people had tried to assist their wounded, but maybe there wasn't much need. Jess would hunker over the vehicles to see if anything could be salvaged. Growing SEMC assets was a good thing, and Jakob had his niche in that task.

"Caxton, once the rest of us dismount, take overwatch and make sure there are no surprises," Jakob said quietly. "Lannigan will secure dirtside, I'll talk to the prisoners. We assume Colonel Cross will receive their unit's surrender, so let's keep the risk low."

Making sure his sensors were sending back to command, Jakob headed to the three API officers as Lannigan directed the troops and Caxton lifted off. His rifle was ready, but not pointed directly at them. They probably got the message. "If you are surrendering yourselves alone, name and rank. If you are going to surrender your unit, then ensure that is communicated to everyone under your authority, and those allied to you. Then, senior officer name and rank, and my commanding officer will be on scene shortly."

[Tiglath]

Jakob

Lannigan throws the fire team out prone on the runway in a semi circle about the wrecked command APC and corrals the three officers on the southern side while Caxton maintains overwatch from the G carrier. On Jakob's blood covered approach the oldest exclaims “Они отдают нас одному из кровожадных пиратов из города Авастан!” Given his portly bulk, age and unsteadiness on his feet his attempt to barge past Lannigan was ever doomed to failure. Grabbing the man's greatcoat lapels Lannigan simply says “Colonel”. Jakob sees Lannigan telegraph nothing so the head butt comes as much of a surprise to him as unconsciousness comes to the API commander. The big Ranger then grabs the collar of the next highest ranking API officer and drags him to meet Jakob stating levelly “Acting Colonel”.

The man whimpers and protests, clawing at his collar and hyper ventilating, clearly well on the way to working himself into a “medical episode” brought on by immediate stress combined with chronic physical and mental unfitness for duty in the field. His name badge reads “Medvechek” and he appears to be either a Colonel or Major in the API forces. Lannigan disarms him via the very direct method of stealing his sidearm and shoves him towards Jakob.

Medvechek falls to his knees in the powdered snow dusting the runway and pleads for his life. His Galanglic is broken at best but he points at the unconscious Colonel and repeats “Kredits, kredits. Gold! Gold, yes?”

[Leitz]

Jakob opened up a line on the command channel, "I have no idea what he just said. Colonel, their lack of command and control could be an issue. I'd recommend the Mrs work up a PsyOps message from you while Freya and crew jack the API comms and override their channels. If you send a clip of these guys begging, and then tell the locals to totally and completely surrender, else we're coming after them, it should wrap things up."

He let his armor take some good footage, and then added. "With such pathetic leadership, there may be a few die hards. The locals can't trust their leadership, so they may assue we're just as fat and sloppy. We need to convey the finality of opposing us. Liv would know best, but I think you'd do well to be cut into images instead of soiling your boot lugs in this trash."