|
Post by Kaikelx on Dec 4, 2009 22:37:39 GMT -5
Lieutenant Viran Rosh took a quick look at the assembled men. About a squad's worth. The usual amount. He briefly wondered who would make the cut, and who would simply die, another casualty of war.
The offer of a "Get out of Guard" card had lured many a capable guardsman to this outfit, enough that he had a waiting list of volunteers.
Pushing aside the big picture, Lieutenant Rosh stood in front of the squad.
"For attendance purposes, state your rank, name, and specialty."
The way he had said it made him sound more like an orderly than a capable Lieutenant. That changed when no one answered after three seconds, and his voice took a deeper and darker tone.
"That was not a request."
Immediately, a carapace armored trooper answered. He was wearing a helmet with a tinted visor, making it hard to see any facial features, although one could discern a scar on his (her?) left cheek.
"P.F.C Slyati, plasma gunner, sir!"
Next was a Cadian woman, of a rather thin and wiry build, with short cropped blond hair, and light blue eyes. Her face was dirty and serious, and on her back was a long rifle of some sort.
"Lance Corporal Kellet, recon sniper, sir."
Third in line was burly soldier, with a standard guard uniform, hefting his vox caster with ease. His las carbine seemed ridiculously tiny in his hands. He was marked with buzz cut black hair, and various scars on his face, with dark brown eyes.
"Corporal Derald, Comms, sir!"
The fourth seemed totally out of place. He wasn't even wearing a Guard uniform. Instead, he had on a naval flight suit, colored blue. His pilot helmet was on obscuring his facial features, but he was of medium build and slightly short.
"Lieutenant Adley sir, pilot, sir."
Nodding to himself, Rosh moved down to the next in line, sizing up the next trooper.....
|
|
|
Post by Cadian 117 on Dec 5, 2009 2:46:23 GMT -5
"Guardsman Alexei Volkov, Heavy weapons sir!" Alexei said in his thick Valhallan accent.
He had never really wanted to be a guardsman. He was conscripted, and lived long enough to outrank his entire platoon. Well, thats because he was the only survivor left in his platoon.
|
|
|
Post by Lord General Armstrong on Dec 5, 2009 3:23:25 GMT -5
"Guardsmen John Smith of the Corilithian Engineer's sir. Speciality AT and Assault sir. I'm a mixed roller sir and have seen a decade of service. Sir!" John said in a carm and direct voice.
John knew that he talked alot and looking down the line he saw many different faces. He moved back to postion before the officer saw him and he thought to him self.
...
John was left behide from his corilithian regiments and has been trying to find them ever since he has found many homes within other imperial armys and has found him self on different sides of the universe at times as well.
|
|
|
Post by Laughing Man on Dec 5, 2009 3:50:23 GMT -5
"Sergeant Wes Klivian of the 83rd Elysian"
Wes said in a laconic tone.
|
|
|
Post by Scarper on Dec 5, 2009 4:01:12 GMT -5
The next troop in line was a gaunt, tall guardsman with cropped brown hair. His face was marked with a horizontal scar, the twin snakes of the medicae sevices embossed on his shoulder. A cameleoline cloak hung from his shoulders, shimmering through browns and yellows as he stepped forward with an inaudible whir.
"Corporal Levin Rutteau, sir. Medic. Sir." His voice was deep, but halting.
|
|
|
Post by Laughing Man on Dec 5, 2009 5:46:58 GMT -5
"So what's the op LT?"
Klivian spoke with the casualness of a senior NCO.
|
|
basalisk
Conscript
No matter how Epic or powerfull your commander is. I bet he can't handle 50 gaurdsmen for long
Posts: 22
|
Post by basalisk on Dec 5, 2009 7:09:23 GMT -5
"Stealth Platoon leader Jackson. Hunter" Shouts a strong thin man entering the room.
Acidic burns cover almost every patch of his body. His robotic eye scanned the room automatically showing names and faces of all the men in the room.
His cameo cloke covering his back and body. Hiding his weapons and equipment. Except for his tyrant blade. Which was clear for all to see.
"sorry i missed the beginning of this meeting. The security had trouble believing i passed quarantine" Noticing the commander was actually in the room he dropped the casual tone, drew his Tyrant blade (placing it against his chest). "Pleasure to meet you Lieutenant Viran Rosh. How may i be of service to your Operation!" He then placed his blade tip on the ground with his hands resting on the handle. The proper greeting to authority figures, on what was once his planet, he would never forget his traditions.
|
|
|
Post by Kaikelx on Dec 5, 2009 10:04:10 GMT -5
A stricter commander might have enforced conduct. Rosh didn't. He didn't care if these men-and women- respected him, loved him, or downright hated him.
As long as they got the mission done.
Turning, he activated a nearby holo-table, which started showing images of a Tau commander.
"As you all know," started Rosh, "What you are about to see is highly classified."
The table then started showing video clips, of the same commander diving in and out of Tyranid hordes.
As it landed, it smashed apart some of the smaller bugs, and ripped the others apart with a plasma cannon, before it rocketed into the air again, pelting the bugs in the distance with a rocket pod.
After a few more instances like it occured, the feed switched, this time with both the commander, and his forces.
Unlike other Tau forces, who seemed content to pick apart their opponents from range, these Tau dived straight into the conflict headfirst, using carbines, and ripping apart the Tyranids from extreme close range. The Battle Suits used the above tactic, swooping in and out of the swarm.
Rosh spoke again.
"Our mission is to locate and kill Commander Stormsurge. As you have just seen, he is member of a rare, but growing, cadre of commanders who favor extreme close combat, their suits making it so that they can survive in close combat even with Orks.
So far, Stormsurge has been content to harass the Tyranid hordes. However, he has learned of a planned offensive into Tau territory, and is now there, preparing the defenders. If he is to remain alive, the success of the invasion will be in question, as his Battle Suits alone would be able to carve through our men like a hot knife through butter.
The reason the frigate we are on now has managed to come this far is because we are posing as diplomatic envoys enroute to another system.
There are those who wish to see Stormsurge.....removed.....for his rather aggressive tactics, and his policy of 'take-no-prisoners'. They seem him as rebelling against the Greator Good, like many commanders have done.
Long story short, we will take a Valkyrie, land on the planet's capital, and search for, then kill, Commander Stormsurge."
Slyati nodded his (her...?) head. Slyati wasn't as experienced as the others might be, but she(he?) was damn well going to prove that she(he?) could do this.
Kellet made no move, short of to head off to the Valkyrie. Just one more mission, and she could just leave the Guard....Provided that she survived. And she was going to survive.
Derald headed off to. He hadn't been paying attention to most of the briefing, but he knew he had to kill something. Either way, everyone seemed to be moving to the hangar, so he decided to stick with them.
Adley all but sprinted ahead of the group. Being the pilot, he was the most likely to get killed, if/when Tau fighters shot him down. However, he also had the best chance of survival on the ground, simply since the rest of the squad needed him so that they could fly off that rock. Still though, he needed to get into the cockpit well before the others boarded, or else they would be waiting for a while, as he got the craft ready.
|
|
|
Post by Laughing Man on Dec 5, 2009 12:11:35 GMT -5
Klivian studied the mission documentation "DZ looks good sir, recommend we make a high alt drop with grav chutes to ensure steath"
|
|
|
Post by Kaikelx on Dec 5, 2009 14:16:31 GMT -5
Slyati and Kellet both glanced at Kilivan. Kellet spoke up first.
"No can do LT, never even trained for a grav chute drop. Sir."
Rosh let the statement go. He knew that recon/scout units often weren't big on formalities, and Kellet was trying her hardest to remember them.
Slyati shrugged too.
"Sorry sir, I've never trained for it either."
Rosh thought about it for a second, and then spoke up again.
"Those of you trained for grav chute operations will do so. The rest of you will follow Lieutenant Adley. His goal is to find someplace safe to land the Valkyrie. Once we accomplish the mission, we will have to use that Valkyrie to get back to a different frigate, also posing as an envoy. Those of you following Adley will follow his orders as if they were mine. Your goal is to secure the Valkyrie, and once that is complete, stay there and ensure its safety."
|
|
|
Post by Laughing Man on Dec 5, 2009 14:23:35 GMT -5
Wes cursed under his breath.
"Understood sir, permission requisition a supressor for my sidearm from the stores"
|
|
|
Post by Kaikelx on Dec 5, 2009 14:27:48 GMT -5
"Permission granted. Rest of you want anything, now's the time to go grab it."
|
|
|
Post by Scarper on Dec 5, 2009 16:58:34 GMT -5
A valkyrie. It had been a long time since Levin had ridden in a valkrie, and he hadn't savoured the experience. Tau as well. Levin had never fought tau, though he'd heard stories from Riggs and Tanner in his previous unit. Blue monsters that came with promises of alliance and trade, then slit your throat in the night. He followed the others towards the Valk, going over his gear in his head. He chased down the Lieutenant. "Hey! Uh... hey, sir!" The lieutenant turned to face him. "Tau weaponry - that's plasma based, right?" The man nodded impercebtably. He could feel the officer contemplating him. "Does this ship have any medical stores? I'd like to take some more burn kits. Sir."
|
|
|
Post by Laughing Man on Dec 5, 2009 17:01:21 GMT -5
"Bluies ain't that tough kid, take them out of that armour and they're much slower and weaker than us, it's the kroot you gotta watch out for, quick and cannibalistic. They'll sneak up on you whilst your firing at thier blue friends. Don't work though, i've though them before i served on Taros."
|
|
|
Post by Kaikelx on Dec 5, 2009 17:13:11 GMT -5
Rosh grinned. Burn kits. This one was optimistic.
"Let me put it this way. You can take some if you want, but you probably won't need them. Why? Because the Tau are great shooters. If they can hit you once, chances are, they will, and will hit you twice before you know what has happened.
Klivian, don't under estimate the Tau. The hard part in your strategy would be getting the Tau out of their armor. While in their armor, the Tau have excellent ranged abilites. Coupled with their armor support, they can easily wipe the floor with us. Remember, we are only one squad, against an army that we usually fare well against....because we usually heavily outnumber them.
If you are all done, now would be the time to board the Valkyrie."
|
|
basalisk
Conscript
No matter how Epic or powerfull your commander is. I bet he can't handle 50 gaurdsmen for long
Posts: 22
|
Post by basalisk on Dec 5, 2009 17:34:57 GMT -5
Jackson Hunter picks up a grav chute and heads into the Valkyrie, about 80% of his anti tyranid raids involved Grav chutes....
"Rosh.... So are we arriving before or after the invasion hits the planet?" Jackson said with nerves.
He has never been in a full scale assault in his life. The idea of it scared him. The idea of chance and not skill controlling your life was new to him. He didn't like it at all.
|
|
|
Post by Laughing Man on Dec 5, 2009 17:36:30 GMT -5
"Sir, confidence in front of Xenos trickery will help, the superiority of Man's spirit will prevail, if the men get in close, they'll stand a better chance, normal tau are inferior at range especially when you pack one of these"
Wes patted his weapon to accentuate his point.
"Use cover well, try and flank them and get in close and dirty lads, we did it on Taros and it worked."
|
|
|
Post by Kaikelx on Dec 5, 2009 17:59:19 GMT -5
Rosh answered Hunter's question.
"Hunter, the entire point of this operation is to eliminate Stormsurge before the invasion arrives. We have about a week, until the invasion force arrives.
Klivian, thank you for your tactical advice to the rest of the squad.
As I said before, if everyone is done, get onto the Valkyrie."
Rosh boarded, and strapped himself in.
"To reiterate, those who can grav chute, will insert with me covertly. Those who cannot will assist Lieutenant Adley in securing the ship, and, if he deems it necessary, assisting my group in hunting Stormsurge."
Slyati, Kellet, and Derald followed suit, Derald struggling with the harness, while Kellet seemed to almost be in danger of falling out out the harness.
|
|
|
Post by Scarper on Dec 5, 2009 18:10:42 GMT -5
Saying nothing, Rutteau threw a few more canisters of synthskin into his pack from the stores. Good shots or not, he wasn't going to let his own poor preparedness be responsible for the death of a squadmate. Still, the tau sounded like dangerous opponents. Subterfuge was surely the best option.
He strapped himself into the valk with the other soldiers who weren't dropping in. Vehicles were rare enough by the end of his days on Caitiff, and he had barely learned to start a truck, let along free fall from orbit. He found himself between the sniper, Kellet, and the front wall of the passenger section. He nodded and smiled to the pilot.
"Keep us alive, ok?" He hoped he was joking.
|
|
|
Post by Lord General Armstrong on Dec 5, 2009 18:27:19 GMT -5
John raced to the armoury he grabed a nice big ammunition box. "Ah this will do nicely." He knew when he grav suited he and his squad mates could use the extra ammo and supplies. he grabed some laspacks, missiles, grenades, basically anything he could fit. He had some medical supplies, weapon barrels, sights, shotgun shells and much much more. He picked up two grav-shoots and proceeded to the valkyrie.
...
John walked as fast as he could till he caught up with one of his comrades. "Well Klivian looks like i'm dropping with you. You want to play a little game when we get down thier. The objective is to count how many enemies you kill and the winner gets the others rations for a day. Sound fun."
John enjoyed seeing new faces and making new friends in every regiment he had fought in he was well liked. But this was different he knew he could be killed in these suicidal missions one day, but he also knew that this could be his ticket home. But that didn't matter now. He had to stay focused and get ready for the drop. He put his shoot on and tide the ofter on the crate.He made sure it was secure and he sat and waited for the other's to arrive.
"Excuse me, if you don't mind me asking is it possible for a medic to drop with us."
He turned his head
"So sir, you've done alot of these missions haven't you. What would you say is the life expectancy rate is for one of us."
|
|
basalisk
Conscript
No matter how Epic or powerfull your commander is. I bet he can't handle 50 gaurdsmen for long
Posts: 22
|
Post by basalisk on Dec 5, 2009 18:46:37 GMT -5
"For an imperial guardsmen or a grave shuter?" Laughed Jackson as he strapped himself in next to John
" Either way were offered the ability to leave the imperial guard. Chances are that we are not meant to survive... isn't that right Lieutenant?" Jackson hinted with his robotic eye facing Rosh. Reading the mans name and rank.
"and john, I'll verse you in a different game, whoever gets shot at first..... losses a days rations to the victor."
|
|
|
Post by Laughing Man on Dec 5, 2009 18:55:29 GMT -5
"Rations? nah, let's make it interesting, a bottle of good Amasec" Klivian said as he quickly found a silencer. Klivian sat down in the seat closest to the exit door, "Survival rates don't matter, stastics happen to other people, i've seen men die in sure thing fights due to bad luck and i've seen regiments stand against enemy divisions before, it's all about how hard you fight, do your duty and it'll serve you well, isn't that right sir?"
|
|
|
Post by Kaikelx on Dec 5, 2009 20:01:08 GMT -5
"That's right Kilvian. Although if you are interested, statistics vary. I've led teams that were wiped out, save for myself obviously. Occasionally, a team walks away with no casualties. Sometimes, a few die along the way. I will be honest. It is more than likely that at least one or two of you will not be alive to board this Valkyrie again. Hopefully, our pilot does survive.
And do not forget, I have personally led every last team in existence. The fact that I am still here means that it is possible to survive, although some missions tend to have higher death rates than others.
If you are still interested in the projected fatality rate, it currently stands at around 60%. For those of you who cannot do the math, this means that around 5 of you will not be walking away."
|
|
|
Post by Lord General Armstrong on Dec 6, 2009 2:55:18 GMT -5
"Ok Kilvian you got your self a deal i'll take your wager and Hunter you appear to be in no matter what the bet." John said with a carming voice. "Those are some stats, I just want that ticket so i can go home. I've fought agianst tau in gruling city battles wear my comrades have been killed by those dam battlesuits with flamers, I've fought those dam traitors with cadia's, I've battled those dam orks and i think i'm ready for this. But how you described it these tau are different."
|
|
|
Post by Kaikelx on Dec 6, 2009 3:02:22 GMT -5
Rosh thought to himself as the Valkyrie doors sealed. There was a secondary transport, intended to carry it into the upper atmosphere. His connections ensured that the Tau would not be searching that area of space for quite some time, due to a rather unfortunate power failure.
As the transport lifted off and flew to the looming planet ahead, Rosh spoke.
"They are different, yet they are still alien scum who will see no mercy."
|
|