Tarsus para bellum

[helvorn]

All at Spion Kop / the Valley of Tears


Dzofin moves through the brush at a crouch until a shrill whistle attracts his gaze to a thorn bush that at a second glance conceals a rifleman armed with the "right" ACR variant. The soldier's (apparantly hand painted camo) FN identifies him as "friendly". The soldier shouts to his left "Hendrik. Back, back". Then keys his comm "Dries, Jaco. Back, back". He then turns back to Dzofin indicating direction "This way Uitlander. Crashed your attack bike, eh? You should get yourself a horse, man! West now back to your friends, eh? Here!" He throws Dzofin a full FN mag "You're out. Not much use use without ammo are you boy? That way. Get ready. Move, move!"

Dzofin finds the running bent double disorientating and the constant "course corrective shoving" possibly disrespectful but unarguably effective. After a short while he notices the sound of firing is no longer "immediate". At one lung searing halt he sees his rescuer (maybe "guide" might fit better in his memoirs? ) hoist his FN and shout "Hey, Mercs. Isselbacher and four coming in! We have your pilot". There is more movement until the "Sword Worlders" turn him over to another human unit this time not dressed in bush camo CES but in combat armour. "Wait there Uitlander. Don't interrupt - Major Nayar's busy killing insurgents. It's important work". The four light infantrymen leave and Dzofin's quite sure one of them casually patted him! However, all he can hear is their departing casual chatter "Nice little bloke wasn't he?" "Ja, no trouble - when I get a farm I'm going to get a Ridgeback for the stock...". Dzofin overcomes his outrage and chagrin as he notices what must be the Mercenary commander before him. He sees two figures: one is standing helmetless in full sight of the enemy to use a range finder. He is armed with an Imperial Marine cutlass and has a large sidearm in a covered holster. He favours a wide brimmed hat against the glare of the veldt. A short distance to the observer's left either a large human child or small human adult lies prone behind a rifle apparently much bigger than its firer. The human wearing the hat drawls "Why, I do declare the wind is still at the target. Fire when ready". The massive rifle sighs and after a more than long pause the hat wearer declares "Well, you were his huckleberry!" On a repeater screen nearby Dzorfin notes a male in a white shift carrying a pistol and bearing a standard comprising with a huge metal star ceases his attempts to rally a group of fleeing infantrymen as his entire torso - just crumples. He collapses leaving a cloud of pink mist in his stead. The handful of infantry who were the audience throw their weapons aside and run towards the viewfinder stripping off any military gear on route.

Dzofin recognizes the weapon on the soldier and easily resists the urge to attack or run. He glances west in the direction indicated by the soldier and wags his tail in agreement. Dzofin also adds a human style nod and short bark. "Yes, a horse would be more suitable to a leader but my bike was a trusty mount and He gave his life for me in the end." He grabbed the magazine out of the air and wagged even more vigorously. Dzofin checked the magazine and then expertly loaded his rifle. "You are not too bad yourselves for lacking proper tails and fur. Thank you for the extraction." He bristles at the casual racism but calms himself with the thought that it was just friendly bantering from respectful and highly qualified troops. If anything he stands taller knowing that his deeds were indeed noticed.

Knowing when to speak up and when to wait, Dzofin carefully observes the mercenary unit operations. He is especially interested in the command dynamics.

[BackworldTraveller]

Freya
Clicks onto the team channel
OK Team - No rest for the wicked. The locals are exploiting north - lets put some drones in that direction and see what survives or what they see.

And on to HQ one

Are we going to go with the "Aid and Abet" plan with the locals or the other plan? Or both?

[Tiglath]

OK Team - No rest for the wicked. The locals are exploiting north - lets put some drones in that direction and see what survives or what they see.

OOC: You have your Essor Recon drones (with their bespoke rogue personalities) parked nearby and you're flying friendly skies according to your gun ship (which both drones confirm). There is near zero ELINT and little other military activity to the north. To your east the last surviving enemy column is retiring while being harassed by your cavalry troop.

That's, of course, if you can persuade yourselves that you want to get back in...

[shaidar]

Frank

Frank

Voss states "Local secure comm call from General Piet Valls, Newland Army Command. He's slightly "Swordy", sir".

Before Frank can introduce himself his collocutor speaks "My name is Piet Valls, commander Newland Defence Force. By the gods, Colonel Cross, I like your work! I am committing all my reserve ground assets and air support to reinforce your success at Spion Kop. I spoke with Sergeant Isselbacher - he was busy. If you see him before I do tell him that he's a Captain".

"To business then. We have a heavy lift asset and I'm using it to reinforce you with my immediate armour reserve - two squadrons of The Black Devils in armoured cars and a whole squadron of The Greys. More will follow to exploit north over the river. They're all good men. Their infantry will catch up. I have some unexpected and generous help and so I plan to drop an assault infantry battalion directly into any incursion the armour makes - I'll be leading it. You've seen the Greys at work and my armoured cars eat insurgent main battle tanks for breakfast. I hope your people have left them some!"

"Colonel, I am "advised" to have my air support pilots claim some of your success. I'm a soldier so I don't like that sort of political dealing but I'm told it serves a "deception operation" purpose - so be it. Nevertheless, I personally apologize to your peole and I also pay my land's debts so please accept the case of champagne I'm forwarding to the Kruger ranch to mark that. Colonel Cross, I'm told that you're a decent man so you deliver it for me personally, ja?"

"Thank you general, I'm glad you appreciate our work here, and I appreciate you sending in your reserves. I'm not a political man either, but I don't have an issue with sharing the success this time around. I'll personally make sure that the crate arrives and my troops know it's source. I'll inform our people our your imminent arrival and make sure our communication streams are clear to prevent any confusion."

[gurusql]

Kit

"Sgt Gaughan let us not get greedy. Our mission was to stop the advance, we did that. Our reserves and several of the units are almost out of ammunition. We need watch about over-committing. Let the enemy rear units retreat and we will advance and capture the stragglers that are hiding in the wreckage".

[Tiglath]

Kit

"Sgt Gaughan let us not get greedy. Our mission was to stop the advance, we did that. Our reserves and several of the units are almost out of ammunition. We need watch about over-committing. Let the enemy rear units retreat and we will advance and capture the stragglers that are hiding in the wreckage".

Gaughan eyes Kit and says "Sure an' yer a lovely man Mister Ghoshal. The lads'll be sure to go steady so they will". He reaches over his shoulder to check his falx is ready to draw and then stands to call "SEMC will advance to contact. One LAW per section for "smokers". Make ready to move. Fix bayonets! Move!"

The merc infantry cheer as the surge from their trenches. While the majority of Abel's infantry squad fix bayonets a few draw sawn off shotguns or handguns and Route One hefts his barbed wire wrapped street bat. The Rangers mostly eschew bayonets still relying on their rifles and sidearms (as do Abel's section) although many carry the fearsome falx.

As Gaughan screams "Faugh a ballagh!" the line sweeps downhill to clear the first line of wrecked AFVs. Seeing the controlled advance of aggressive infantry those taking cover in and around the disabled vehicles flee with the majority throwing away their weapons and stripping off the bodyarmour and webbing that encumbers their rout.

[Tiglath]

Freya

Freya scoots an Essor drone a few hundred meters down the (western) spur she and Freddie occupy.

The Essor uses only passive visual and non visual spectra to determine that the Kit's combined platoon of SEMC and Rangers are victoriously advancing from their concealed trenches and that the survivors of the first line of AFVs are a broken force now fleeing before them.

She sees that the most fit (or enthusiastic) routers are now having a terribly corrosive effect on the already rattled and retiring if not yet wholly routing "pockets of cohesion" into which the second line has dissolved. One or two AFVs seem to be pulling back under some form of military discipline albeit under harassing fire by the SEMC mortars which picks casualties from among any not inside an AFV.

She has time to observe the battlefield and monitor comms. On the command net she hears a new fire mission called for the platoon mortar section. "Sniper Two. Mortar section fire on my mark - continuing real time acquistion. Sending my acquistion package. Target AFV with infantry aboard three rounds fire for effect". After an admirably short pause the mortarman simply sends "Hangin' - Ma'am" To which his female co-locutor immediately sends "Send it!"

Fire blossoms from a new wreck midway down the eastern side of the valley.

As Freya observes a sole mid tech combat armoured figure flagged on IFF as SEMC (grav) bounding along the eastern scree slope and onto the valley floor. It appears she has a little "buddy bot" like Freya's

As Freya watches it deploys little "wings" and accelerates to very many kph as a fugitive raises his weapon towards what is surely SEMC Flight Lt / Colonel T'lia.

So that would be scythes then. Not like her bot then... at all...

[Tiglath]

Prerna/Dzofin

Prerna sees that the enemy HQ appears to comprise a core of milspec command and control AFV variants, what might amount to a defence platoon or reserve and then at least twice that number of quasi military transports including a number of very recently stolen civilian ground vehicles.

As the advance of the HQ / Impedimenta meets the survivors of the recoiling second line chaos ensues.

A number of the commandeered civilian transports at the rear of this echelon either stop or attempt sudden an ill advised manoeuvres. One wheeled bus sized example overturns and rolls which is no benefit at all to those riding on the roof.

Sergeant Isselbacher contacts Prerna "Ma'am, we have Intel that the Son of the Star might be within that HQ element. He is a priority criminal. We're also waiting on an ammo resupply. My men are on single shots but they're making every round count! Reinforcements are on the way - the Regiment's inbound. Do you have advice for a tactical LZ?"

Dzofin sees the above (but does not hear the comm chatter). This likely doesn't help him comprehend the next exchange at all. The obvious leader (standing up with the hat) says "Dang it Love take the shot! I myself will form the required assault element. Uncle, spot for the Major and do not fuck up". He trades his brimmed chapeau for the helmet to his combat armour, draws and instinctively cocks an Imperial Navy autosnub before drawing his Marine cutlass and then boosts on a grav belt towards an AFV deploying troops just recently struck by a plasma bolt calling "Scout/Sniper section. 'Oorah!"

As the "hat human's" close family (his uncle no less) fumbles with the range finder and his mate/girlfriend on the PGMP slots a plasma bolt right "under the tail" of a reserve element MBT stopping it dead and making it burn. No crew escape. So, the big Marine (they're scary but never admittedly so) is maybe not "Leader"... it therefore logically suggests that there is a more impressive and surely more charismatic leader... a being with yet more "tail"... and impressive dress sense... here??? Humans very are confusing...

Meanwhile the smaller prone human sized similar to Dzofin fires the rifle that's nearly bigger than her again but her target is way beyond 's immediate view. He recognizes that this is an Imperial Tech "uber" gauss rifle - surely a "hero weapon" if yet somewhat "unadorned" or possibly even "uncelebrated" to be such a thing. Maybe with the addition of velour grips, some more upholstery on the receiver and... some furry dice on the bipod... it would amount to at least "noticeable" if not "Bling"?

Dzofin notes that the firer appears focussed on events through her sight and dropping the mag on the anti materiel behemoth states "Beau, load me".

(OOC: Could this be an opportunity for PC interaction, an invitation to a terrible battlefield breach of etiquette or merely another desperate attempt at GM innuendo...

All will be revealed! )

[helvorn]

Prerna/Dzofin

Prerna sees that the enemy HQ appears to comprise a core of milspec command and control AFV variants, what might amount to a defence platoon or reserve and then at least twice that number of quasi military transports including a number of very recently stolen civilian ground vehicles.

As the advance of the HQ / Impedimenta meets the survivors of the recoiling second line chaos ensues.

A number of the commandeered civilian transports at the rear of this echelon either stop or attempt sudden an ill advised manoeuvres. One wheeled bus sized example overturns and rolls which is no benefit at all to those riding on the roof.

Dzofin sees the above (but does not hear the comm chatter). This likely doesn't help him comprehend the next exchange at all. The obvious leader (standing up with the hat) says "Dang it Love take the shot! I myself will form the required assault element. Uncle, spot for the Major and do not fuck up". He trades his brimmed chapeau for the helmet to his combat armour, draws and instinctively cocks an Imperial Navy autosnub before drawing his Marine cutlass and then boosts on a grav belt towards an AFV deploying troops just recently struck by a plasma bolt calling "Scout/Sniper section. 'Oorah!"

As the "hat human's" close family (his uncle no less) fumbles with the range finder and his mate/girlfriend on the PGMP slots a plasma bolt right "under the tail" of a reserve element MBT stopping it dead and making it burn. No crew escape. So, the big Marine (they're scary but never admittedly so) is maybe not "Leader"... it therefore logically suggests that there is a more impressive and surely more charismatic leader... a being with yet more "tail"... and impressive dress sense... here??? Humans very are confusing...

Meanwhile the smaller prone human sized similar to Dzofin fires the rifle that's nearly bigger than her again but her target is way beyond 's immediate view. He recognizes that this is an Imperial Tech "uber" gauss rifle - surely a "hero weapon" if yet somewhat "unadorned" or possibly even "uncelebrated" to be such a thing. Maybe with the addition of velour grips, some more upholstery on the receiver and... some furry dice on the bipod... it would amount to at least "noticeable" if not "Bling"?

Dzofin notes that the firer appears focussed on events through her sight and dropping the mag on the anti materiel behemoth states "Beau, load me".

Dzofin's one regret is that he could not bring along his Zhodani style turban with the peacock feathers. Right now he felt severely underdressed given the impressive headgear of the large, intermediate Marine leader. Since there was nothing he could to immediately to address the nearly fatal clothing faux pax that he could at least take some decisive action to show his value to this strange human pack. Leaping forward he scoops up another magazine for the sadly unadorned anti-material gauss rifle and hits the dirt next to the slim gunner. Given all the large humans about, Dzofin appreciated a human more his size. He slotted the magazine home in the rifle and patted the gunner. "Loaded, standing by."

[joertexas]

Prerna/Dzofin

Dzofin notes that the firer appears focussed on events through her sight and dropping the mag on the anti materiel behemoth states "Beau, load me".

Dzofin's one regret is that he could not bring along his Zhodani style turban with the peacock feathers. Right now he felt severely underdressed given the impressive headgear of the large, intermediate Marine leader. Since there was nothing he could to immediately to address the nearly fatal clothing faux pax that he could at least take some decisive action to show his value to this strange human pack. Leaping forward he scoops up another magazine for the sadly unadorned anti-material gauss rifle and hits the dirt next to the slim gunner. Given all the large humans about, Dzofin appreciated a human more his size. He slotted the magazine home in the rifle and patted the gunner. "Loaded, standing by."

Prerna took a breath's span to piece the strange accent together with the Vargr she'd been helping. "Going hot." She selected a target from the command post AFVs, and visited some hypersonic wrath upon it. She sent a swift thought to T'Lia. "Got our lost Vargr with me."

[helvorn]

Prerna took a breath's span to piece the strange accent together with the Vargr she'd been helping. "Going hot." She selected a target from the command post AFVs, and visited some hypersonic wrath upon it. She sent a swift thought to T'Lia. "Got our lost Vargr with me."

Dzofin was impressed with the human's calm acceptance of his leadership in taking charge of reloading her weapon. As the human, possibly female fired he quickly sorted through the reloads to make sure they were clean and prepared for rapid use. "Roger, hot." Dzofin acknowledged "Roger" the human deity of comprehension. Meanwhile his canny eyes scanned the nearby command post but especially watched the performance of the Uncle as spotter.

[Tiglath]

All at Spion Kop

All command elements are aware of a massive tactical radar contact moving into the battle space from the direction of the Kruger Ranch. Moving with much less than 1G the ex trader rumbles into the area east of the valley cleared by the Fireforce assault of the airborne Light Infantry. The venerable space craft now, per its crew served AA mounts, apparently serving entirely as a strategic lift asset settles on the skids that replaced its wheels and drops its front ramp.

Slowly, as per the animals' nature, what must be archaic horse mounted cavalry deploy into troops then squadrons from the belly of the trader. The troopers expertly riding the horses wear camo CES and carry FN variant ACRs. The squadrons extend to form two lines backed by a clearly marked grav ambulance mounting a .50 cal and a similarly armed grav signals vehicle.

What must be the unit commander rides about 100 meters ahead of the entire command and checks the chinstrap of the wide brimmed slouch hat with a large white plume that he apparently favours instead of a helmet.

The Colonel of the Greys raises his arm vertically then sweeps it down to shoulder height.

The Regiment advances at the walk.

Meanwhile in the valley the SEMC infantry have cleared the first line of wrecked AFVs.

While Kit remains silent Gaughan appears in no doubt as to what to do and urges the Ranger and SEMC line onwards towards the remnants of the second line of AFVs that were shattered by the air strike and then predated by the SEMC gunship and IFV which continues to immolate fleeing groups of but now increasingly individual insurgents.

[joertexas]

All at Spion Kop

While Kit remains silent Gaughan appears in no doubt as to what to do and urges the Ranger and SEMC line onwards towards the remnants of the second line of AFVs that were shattered by the air strike and then predated by the SEMC gunship and IFV which continues to immolate fleeing groups of but now increasingly individual insurgents.

Prerna keeps up her fire on the surviving AFVs.

[Tiglath]

Prerna / Dzofin (possibly in NPC mode)

Prerna took a breath's span to piece the strange accent together with the Vargr she'd been helping. "Going hot." She selected a target from the command post AFVs, and visited some hypersonic wrath upon it. She sent a swift thought to T'Lia. "Got our lost Vargr with me."

T'lia responds "I'm the other side of the HQ from you. I can sense a powerful psionic entity tapping into the planet's animus. It's located within the Son of the Star's headquarters unit. The level of activity is building to a significant level".

Meanwhile hundreds of routing insurgents, mostly without any military coherence, stream out of the valley between the two groups of scout/snipers and Greys troopers. The routers are outpaced by their surviving softskinned vehicles who run several over in their panicked escape.

Baker comments "Ma'am, I'm seeing birds in their nighties... er... they're not carryin' shooters but seem to 'ave blades. They looks like farm girls... they're on our side aren't they?"

While the nearby Greys continue to engage the fleeing routers they are clearly making individual choices to not shoot the advancing local women who are still a couple of hundred meters distant.

[joertexas]

Prerna / Dzofin (possibly in NPC mode)

T'lia responds "I'm the other side of the HQ from you. I can sense a powerful psionic entity tapping into the planet's animus. It's located within the Son of the Star's headquarters unit. The level of activity is building to a significant level".

Baker comments "Ma'am, I'm seeing birds in their nighties... er... they're not carryin' shooters but seem to 'ave blades. They looks like farm girls... they're on our side aren't they?"

While the nearby Greys continue to engage the fleeing routers they are clearly making individual choices to not shoot the advancing local women who are still a couple of hundred meters distant.

"Paint the H-Q unit for me."

Prerna keys the general command channel. "There are local women out there carrying only knives, dressed in their under clothing. They may be under psionic influence. Do not, I repeat, do not engage them. Retreat, avoid, but do not engage them."

[helvorn]

All at Spion Kop

While Kit remains silent Gaughan appears in no doubt as to what to do and urges the Ranger and SEMC line onwards towards the remnants of the second line of AFVs that were shattered by the air strike and then predated by the SEMC gunship and IFV which continues to immolate fleeing groups of but now increasingly individual insurgents.

Prerna keeps up her fire on the surviving AFVs.

Dzofin stands by to reload or otherwise assist his new human ally. Meanwhile he admires the outstanding display of charisma put on by the human warriors mounted on the four legged creatures. He definitely needs a hat with a plume like the leader. Definitely a big feather... purple.

[shaidar]

Frank

On the command channel:

"Do we know the location of the psionic doing the influence? That is now the company's number one priority, locate the source of the control and take them out."

[joertexas]

Frank

On the command channel:

"Do we know the location of the psionic doing the influence? That is now the company's number one priority, locate the source of the control and take them out."

"T'Lia and I are working on it, Colonel."

[Tiglath]

Valley of Tears Command Channel

Turret Toss.jpg (51.84 KiB) Viewed 235 times

Gaughan discards the spent LAW tube and shouts "Abel keep them moving forward - clear that second armour line!"

"Command, Gaughan, our infantry can keep up the pressure to keep 'em running but we haven't enough men to take all these lads prisoner. We have about twenty or thirty - some of them wounded but we're having to just chase the rest away. Closin' on their rear echelon now Miss Freya has our left and Miss T'lia has the right - if she'd kindly slow down! Mister Ghosal may have lost his comms".

[Tiglath]

Prerna / Dzofin

On the command channel:

"Do we know the location of the psionic doing the influence? That is now the company's number one priority, locate the source of the control and take them out."

"T'Lia and I are working on it, Colonel."

T'lia sends "The big land train that looks like a circus wagon is the source - looks like it's owned by a troubadour". After a moment's pause she asks Prerna "Do you have wandering minstrels in the Sword Worlds or do the locals eat them?"

Prerna can see the top of the vehicle herself and now also sees it indicated on her battlemap HUD. Due to other burning or abandoned vehicles She's going to need to close in to get LOS (fortunately she has the "officer rig" grav belt on hand).

This would mean going in solo because the belt won't carry another heavily armed and armoured SEMC trooper - but it might carry someone Prerna's size who is wearing less gear...