#NervSiberia
Episode 05

<@Night10194> WHEN LAST OUR INTREPID PARTY MET!
<@Night10194> EVA snowball fight.
<@Night10194> Revenge On The Pallet Rifle.
<@Night10194> Miko puking for *hours*.
<@Night10194> Speaking of which...need to do Miko's Synch Test for the week.
<@Night10194> SR on the Rise!
<@Night10194> It's been three days since the impromptu snowball fight that accidentally gave the lab so much to work with.
<@Night10194> Current Date: January 12th, 2015 (or 15 AI).
<@Night10194> Miko has finally gotten over her stomach virus.
<@Night10194> Since the first phase of this is going to mostly be the OD's show, we'll begin the static defense phase as everyone finishes up.
<@Night10194> Pilots, you're awakened at 3 AM by the piercing wail of what sounds like an air raid siren, and the base's loudspeakers blaring: "All civilian personnel to appointed shelters! All pilots to your EVAs! Vizy Vraga! I repeat, Vrag sighted! All pilots to your EVAs, this is not a drill! Captain Duround, Report to the bridge! This is NOT A DRILL!"
<ElsaFaustus> I wake with a start, falling out of bed, curse loudly, then get the plugsuit on and run off to my EVA.
* Griet , a light sleeper, sits bolt upright and on alert.
<MikoNakamura> "Ah! Elsa-chan! It's an attack"
* MikoNakamura jumps out of bed and clumsily begins preping.
<ElsaFaustus> "Nein scheist!  Schnell!"
<TanyaIvanova> Tanya is up and at 'em without a fuss, dons the plugsuit, and runs off without heed for anybody else.
* Dostov manages to throw on a few bits of clothing, keeping his plugsuit in the lockerroom.
* NathanielDurond sits bolt upright in bed. "It begins." he murmurs, carefully placing his gold watch on his left wrist. Louder he yells out. "This is it pilots!" before heading for the bridge, putting on his uniform shirt as he goes.
<MikoNakamura> (To myself in Japanese) "They come...but we have our spirits..."
<@Night10194> You arrive to find the bridge already getting populated quickly, the skeleton crew on duty already as the General gives a few orders, then grabs Nathaniel by the shoulder. "Captain! Take the con! I must go and organize the possibility of a strategic strike in case the pilots fail!"
<@Night10194> Kurinov: "Vrag is following predicted probable patterns, coming from the north at 3 kilometers. Tanks are already on patrol!"
<@Night10194> Take the Con and check your tactical feeds?
<NathanielDurond> "Aye, I have the con, feed me data as it comes. Are VTOL and interceptors for launch?"
<@Night10194> Kurinov: "Da, both VTOLs and a wing of fighter-bombers from a nearby airbase."
<@Night10194> He nods, and rushes to the back to get on the radio to Moscow. "President Putin, sir, it has begun..."
<@Night10194> Bridge Officer (Male): "Captain, we're getting video feed. Patching it through."
<@Night10194> On the first security feed of the creature, the first thing you're struck by is its sheer *size*. The thing has to stand 100 meters tall, with a long, thickly muscled body stretching 220m long from chest to tail, built almost a bit like a centaur.
<@Night10194> The head is a wickedly toothed, long, dragon-like maw, with four glowing, red eyes lining either side of the massive, biting muzzle, leading down into a well-armored body with a huge, red Core organ built prominently into the chest, massive, clawed arms, joining into a long, six-legged body built for strength and speed. A huge, yellowish organ seems to be built into the creature's forehead, as well.
<@Night10194> The entire thing is pure white, except for the glowing red core in the center. It's currently 300 dm north of the base, 200 dm north of the secondary umbilical post line. Where are your tanks and VTOLs?
<NathanielDurond> Lets put the VTOL at 350 and tanks 250.
<NathanielDurond> 50 behind, tanks 50 short.
<NathanielDurond> Alright, this is it. "Tank commanders, advance to 250 dm from the base of operations, point Bravo. Fire as the Vrag comes while slowly retreating to the secondary post line. VTOL squadrons, assume position 50 dm behind the Vrag, approximately 350 dm north of the base of operations in two groups bearing 125 and 145, pointing straight at the Vrag, then fire at will. Interceptor-bombers, launch
<NathanielDurond> and target the organ. Lets get to work comrades!"
<@Night10194> Tank Commander: "Govorit Pokryshkin, our shots are getting through! The shield is imperfect!"
<@Night10194> The creature's blue field of hexagons rises to meet the incoming fire, but doesn't seem capable of covering so large of a body completely, only partially deflecting the immense barrage of incoming fire as it roars in rage...
<@Night10194> VTOL Commander: "All missiles impacted through the field, target is unaffected!"
<@Night10194> Bomber Commander: "Tvyu Mat, suka!"
<@Night10194> (Fuck your mother, bastard!)
<@Night10194> The organ cracks slightly, and the thing shivers in pain as the smart bombs from the fighter-bombers slam into just the right spot on its core. Did 12 damage.
<@Night10194> It decides it is not well pleased with the fighter bombers, and its head organ begins to glow softly, before a stream of its AT shields surround the organ and act like a conductive barrel, firing some kind of beam at your interceptors.
<@Night10194> They Dodge!
<@Night10194> Creature also advances forward towards the tank line, moving 30dm.
<@Night10194> Tanks retreat a bit and fire?
<NathanielDurond> "First blood!" Nathaniel exults. "Tank squadron continue retreat and target the core! Interceptors, hit the vrag with another pass then break into evasive maneuvers by elements. VTOL, strike the rear right hind leg."
<@Night10194> VTOL Commander: "VTOL Squadron 2, weapon malfunction!"
<@Night10194> The core is slammed with a series of tank shells, but they don't seem to be able to penetrate an armored film that's appeared around it, or the advanced biology. 1 damage, total. Tank Commander: "Oh hell, it's charging!"
<@Night10194> The creature rears up, spreading its field around its mouth, and begins to spit huge globs of...something yellow and sickly from its mouth, hyper-accelerated by its AT field. Fires a Volley.
<@Night10194> Two tank squadrons are hit!
<@Night10194> Tank Squadron 3 and 4 are destroyed! The globes wash over the tank platoons, and you can see the vehicles melting and hear the crew screaming as the acidic bile dissolves their flesh and gear.
<@Night10194> Tank Commander: "Chort! Sir, we are taking losses! Retreat, or continue engagement!?"
<@Night10194> Tank Commander 2: "Govorit Pokryshkin, I see survivors from squads three and four evacuating their vehicles!" (Govorit+Name means 'This is (Name) Speaking'.)
<NathanielDurond> "Tank squadrons, retreat. VTOL, spread out into a semicircle and target the head, Interceptors, smack it in the eyes."
<@Night10194> Interceptor Pilot: "Sir, we are out of ammunition!"
<@Night10194> VTOL 2: "Sir, missile launchers are jammed!"
<@Night10194> Tank Commander 1: "C'mon, Tovarischi! Advance in the other direction, all speed!"
<NathanielDurond> "With the smokescreens then pilot!"
<@Night10194> Interceptor: "Da, laying down smoke cover for the tanks!"
<@Night10194> The creature takes another beam shot at the interceptors as they try to cover the retreat.
<@Night10194> Missing! Uses Distance Fighter reroll...
<@Night10194> And misses.
<@Night10194> They're able to drop smoke and begin to head for home at all speed. They will be getting a medal for this.
<@Night10194> Meanwhile, 270 dm away, the Evangelion Units are emerging from the base elevator. Even at this range, you can see just how *enormous* the creature you're going to have to fight is, as well as the burning wreckage of two entire tank platoons, seeing the beast charging through a smoke screen like some kind of demon out of a bad horror film...Fear test time.
<@Night10194> Also, are the Conventionals retreating or remaining on the field to support the EVAs?
<@Night10194> The VTOLs are out of ammo.
<NathanielDurond> Retreating
<@Night10194> Griet freezes up as soon as she spots the thing...
<@Night10194> Initiative!
* MikoNakamura squeeks in her cockpit.
<@Night10194> Elsa: 9, Miko: 8, Dostov: 13, Tanya: 13, Griet: 17 (Frozen), Colossus: 4.
* Griet freezes, forget keeping her hands from shaking. Forget everything. These people are clearly nuts.
<@Night10194> Tanya, Impetous save succeeds. Do not just have to charge. Can stop and raise your shields, first.
<@Night10194> You have 60dm of cable, target is 270dm north of you, secondary cable line is 100dm north.
<Griet> The lion and the screaming with-terror lamb?
<@Night10194> Duround, you may also use OD abilities at your leisure or issue orders.
<TanyaIvanova> I'm going to put up my shields and then rapidly advance in Colossus's general direction. :p
<@Night10194> Shield raising takes all of Turn 1.
<TanyaIvanova> Mkay, shields up!
<NathanielDurond> "Pilots, enemy Vrag has an imperfect AT field, some sort of accellerated acidic fluid it spits out of its mouth, and a long ranged energy beam. Conventional forces have managed to do some damage to it, but the rest is up to you. Advance to the secondary cable line with all speed. Pokryshkin, charge and lockdown. Nakamura, Jacobs, head east, and support Pokryshkin,  Pavlichenko and Faustus,
<NathanielDurond> flank it from the west. Faustus, I'm feeding you targeting data. Throw the pallet gun /only if neccessary/." [Precision targeting]
<Dostov> "As you order, Captain."
<ElsaFaustus> "Orders received and understood, sir."
<@Night10194> Who's raising Field this turn and who's starting to move immediately?
<Griet> I believe I sob quietly in a corner.
<ElsaFaustus> I fully raise my field as well as start moving out.
<Dostov> Dostov is making a Sprint for the second cable line.
<@Night10194> Alright. Elsa moves 2dm, lumbering along as her field spreads. Dostov, how far do you move, accounting for Sprint and Pistons?
<Dostov> 120dm, technically. He wants to stop at the secondary post though and reattach.
<@Night10194> Also, guessing Miko also spread and moves a bit?
<@Night10194> Dostov goes screaming off near the speed of an older jet fighter, doing full on sprinting down the snow, leaving huge gashes in the ground as it shakes with his passing.
<@Night10194> Dostov, you will get shot for your trouble.
<Dostov> Unit 41 slams its spear against its shield twice as it moves. "As I live, there are no Vragi that will stand. My life is Russia's, and by failure or incompetence shall that life be ended. Neither are options so long as I serve!"
<@Night10194> The creature's AT field begins to form around its forehead, and that ice beam fires at you. Torso hit. Dodge...Fails.
<@Night10194> Dostov, you hear a screamed warning over your comms about 'energy buildup at the head!' just in time to notice and veer aside, barely being missed.
<@Night10194> Miko, were you spreading and beginning to move?
<MikoNakamura> Yes.
<@Night10194> Alright. Moved...3dm. Next round, you can FLY.
<@Night10194> As can Tanya.
<@Night10194> Next round!
<@Night10194> Vrag-01 has not changed position. Griet, you manage to snap out of it and recover!
<Griet> Shake it off, spread field and start to move East, like Durond said.
<@Night10194> Half spread at a Half action?
<@Night10194> Then move with the rest?
<Griet> Ah, full spread then.
<Griet> Forget the moving, y'all can get shot first.
<@Night10194> Alright. Other pilots? Xeno is still too far to attack, unless Dostov charges.
<TanyaIvanova> Tanya is going to chaaaaarge in preparation for MURDERIN' TIME.
<@Night10194> Running?
<TanyaIvanova> Yep.
<ElsaFaustus> "Hustle up, Griet!  One, two!  One, two!"  I take off at a sprint, heading to the next umbilical.
<ElsaFaustus> Which I imagine is actually embarassingly slow.
* Griet lets out a strangled response, which sounds more or less like a whimper
<@Night10194> 24dm.
<@Night10194> Tanya, you pull off your cord as you rush forward 72dm.
<@Night10194> Cernobog seems to be grinning with anticipation.
<@Night10194> Miko, Run forward?
<TanyaIvanova> Cernobog isn't the only one.
<@Night10194> Miko's EVA begins to sprint, leg pistons working, prayer strips streaming in the arctic wind as it charges forward 60dm, to the limit of its cord.
<@Night10194> Dostov?
<@Night10194> You can actually reach it with a Charge.
<@Night10194> Though your Field is still down and you're not attached to an umbillical.
<Dostov> Hm. Plug in, full spread.
<@Night10194> Can only manage a half spread if you also use a half-action to attach.
<Dostov> Okay, That's fine.
<@Night10194> Colossus snarls and advances 30dm, moving forward towards Dostov and opening its mouth wide, AT buildup hyper-accelerating a jet of acid at him as he plugs in. Hit! Torso! Dodge or Deflect?
<Dostov> Deflect has a better chance.
<@Night10194> Deflect Failed!
<Dostov> Fate!
<@Night10194> Still failed.
<@Night10194> Does 13 damage, Pen-0, get through your armor and TB?
<Dostov> 4dmg.
<@Night10194> Toxic kicks in, then.
<@Night10194> Toughness test failed, as well. Take d10 unreduceable extra.
<@Night10194> 9 additional damage.
<Dostov> 2 crit.
<@Night10194> The acid begins to eat through Unit 41's chest, burning away flesh and armor both, the blast of heat and sudden, serious pain stunning the pilot for a moment.
<@Night10194> Feedback unaffected.
<@Night10194> SR on the rise. Unit 41 is shit-pissed.
<@Night10194> Disrupted 16 points up.
<@Night10194> Wait, forgot to factor in AT Funnel.
<@Night10194> That...actually does 6 more damage.
<@Night10194> Uh...EVA-41 is down.
<@Night10194> Rolling for Plug Breech.
<@Night10194> No breach!
<@Night10194> EVA-41's chest is burned through completely, almost killing the pilot, but thankfully, the ejection system kicks in, working perfectly and pulling the plug out of danger, shooting it off towards the base. Unit-41 is down!
<MikoNakamura> "Dostov-chan!"
<ElsaFaustus> "Damned vragi.  He'll pay for that humiliation...."
<@Night10194> Pilot vitals are stable.
<NathanielDurond> "Pokryshkin is fine, and is being retrieved"
* MikoNakamura grits her teeth as tears well up in her eyes.
<MikoNakamura> "Demon!"
<@Night10194> Next round! Team is charging forward?
<Griet> Yes
<ElsaFaustus> It'll take me a couple more rounds to even enter range, I think.
<Griet> To next station, if i can get that far.
<TanyaIvanova> Tanya is continuing to charge.
<@Night10194> Actually, maximum range is 4x listed range.
<@Night10194> Elsa can actually hit it with AT wave, at a penalty, from here. As can Miko.
<ElsaFaustus> I'll keep moving still.  I was ordered to flank.
<@Night10194> Griest advances 60dm, to the edge of her cable.
<@Night10194> Tanya reaches the creature, charging past Dostov's wrecked EVA. Claw?
<Griet> Also, flank Tanya now that Dostov is down?
<TanyaIvanova> Claw indeed.
<@Night10194> Yes.
<@Night10194> Tanya gets through the AT field and hits the Core!
<@Night10194> Vrag Burns fate!
<@Night10194> For a second, it looks like your berserk charge is going to drive home directly into the cracks in its Core organ, when suddenly, the creature's field solidifies, and your claws are stopped mere INCHES from the core.
<TanyaIvanova> "…what in the hell?!"
<@Night10194> Anyway, is Miko advancing?
<@Night10194> Remember, you get 5 rounds without power if you detach. It's longer than you think.
<MikoNakamura> How close am I to the thing?
<@Night10194> 117dm.
<@Night10194> In range to take a shot with your gun, if you wish.
<MikoNakamura> I'll take a shot.
<MikoNakamura> Aim and fire.
<@Night10194> Even at the long range, even with the pallet rifle, you hit it.
<@Night10194> AT Deflect fails!
<ElsaFaustus> "Mein gott!  These things can fire?!"
<@Night10194> Miko nails the thing directly in the left arm's elbow...for 18 damage.
<@Night10194> Putting it at Critical as she hits exactly the right spot, almost as though something guided the shot to the right point.
<@Night10194> Fails Toughness and loses use of that arm.
<MikoNakamura> (To seemingly no one) "Thank you."
<@Night10194> Elsa Advances?
<ElsaFaustus> Ja, ja.  Keep moving.  If the captain wants the slowest EVA to do a long flanking move, that's what he gets.
<@Night10194> The creature bellows in pain, snarling, and its AT field clashes with Tanya's, nearly eliminating it before the thing simply tries to run her over, scampering forward 90dm.
<ElsaFaustus> A giant colossus... scampers?
<@Night10194> Dashes? Thunders?
<MikoNakamura> Rumbles?
<@Night10194> Misses the attack, Cernobog managing to get out of the way at the last second as it crashes towards the others. Its field seems undiminished by having done that. It's like nothing it does with the field weakens it.
<@Night10194> This puts it at 27dm from Griet and Miko, 39 from Elsa, 90 from Tanya.
<@Night10194> Round 4!
<@Night10194> Pilots' Actions!
<NathanielDurond> "Alright, new plan. All out attack."
<Griet> Properly flanked? A la....not hitting Tanya?
<TanyaIvanova> "Copy that, Captain." And Tanya is, once again, going to charge with the intent to murder the thing as soon as possible.
<@Night10194> She's 90dm behind it, so not at all.
<@Night10194> Tanya will reach 18dm of it.
<@Night10194> From behind. And angry.
<Griet> Well, in that case.
<Griet> Killity kill.
<@Night10194> Full auto? Semi-auto? Single? Full Auto is +20 to hit, 1 extra hit per 10 under your to-hit, Semi-auto is +10, 1 extra per 20 under.
<Griet> Oh why not, let's go with full.
<@Night10194> Commander, who's getting Precision?
<@Night10194> The shots spray into the creature like a naval barrage, nailing it in the shoulder and blowing the wounded left arm off entirely before walking up the body into the head for 8 damage. Vrag Incapacitated! (Taking -10 to all actions).
<@Night10194> Miko, Elsa, your actions.
<Griet> Yegh...blood. Albeit alien blood.
<NathanielDurond> "Oh, and Faustus, please execute that maneuver you discovered. The one that baffeled all of us and requires no destruction of thrown objects"
<MikoNakamura> Can you aim the Soul Guilotine?
<@Night10194> Yes.
<@Night10194> It still requires an attack roll and hits a body part.
<@Night10194> Full Soul Guillotine, Core?
<MikoNakamura> We'll do a double-Soul Guilotine with a side of aiming.
<ElsaFaustus> "Yes, sir."  I send a full power Wave at it's Core.
<@Night10194> Dump all your ATP into it?
<@Night10194> That'd make it...13 automatic damage, Penetration 5.
<@Night10194> Both hit...Both would do 1 Collateral were you not in the middle of Siberia...
<@Night10194> The two AT fields strike like an X right as the creature is preparing another blast of acid. It falters for a second, its Core cut into quarters, staggering, and then, suddenly, the entire, massive body explodes into an enormous cross-shaped burst of energy, visible for miles. All pilots take d10+5 Energy damage.
<@Night10194> Griet Deflects, other two cannot.
<@Night10194> Elsa, 6 damage (Armor and Toughness still count, use your Torso), Miko, 7 damage. I don't think that actually hurts either EVA.
<ElsaFaustus> Hell no.
<MikoNakamura> "Ah!"
<@Night10194> A lot of the body is actually still left behind by the blast.
<@Night10194> Just the Core and front section was vaporized.
<@Night10194> Vrag-01 is down!
<@Night10194> The bridges erupts into cheers!
<@Night10194> Collateral Damage And Battle Result! 1 EVA Damaged, 1 EVA Down, 7 Deployment...2 Negated.
<@Night10194> Result: Very Successful Battle!
<@Night10194> Excellent work, Pilots!
<NathanielDurond> "Begin recovery operations. Drinks on me this weekend!"
<ElsaFaustus> "We get to drink, captain?"
<@Night10194> Kurinov: "Cancel N2 strike, Vrag is destroyed...Excellent work, everyone. Tanks, VTOLs, pilots, all of you have done your duty and should be proud this day."
<Griet> Immediate crisis averted, Griet begins to shift back into panic mode. Eyes locked on the remains of the Vrag.
<NathanielDurond> "We'll talk about it pilot" Pause, then to the room. "Do you folks even have drinking age laws?"
<@Night10194> Dostov, you're picked up by medics and quickly checked for injury, discovering only light wounds.
<@Night10194> Kurinov: "Drinking age suggestions." :P
<@Night10194> Medic: "Are you alright, Lt?" Also, Dostov gains...1 Insanity from being Defeated.
<Dostov> "...da...more or less."
<@Night10194> Battle EXP is 400+100 for Epic Victory and having to face a particularly mean motherfucker for your first Vrag.
<@Night10194> Kurinov: "Captain, when the pilots have returned, assemble them and meet in my office when ready."
<NathanielDurond> "Aye General."
<ElsaFaustus> I dust off xeno bits from my EVA, looking around.  "Huh.  This is a lot easier when they come to me instead of me going to them."
<ElsaFaustus> "Orders, captain?"
<NathanielDurond> "Return to base pilots, and congratulations"
<ElsaFaustus> "Yes, sir.  Returning to base."  I head back on in.
<TanyaIvanova> "Of course, sir." And Tanya also heads back in.
* MikoNakamura looks longingly at the downed Unit 41 "Aye, sir."
<@Night10194> Griet, get the hell out of here?
<Griet> Hell yes.
<@Night10194> Going to get showered off and report to Kurinov's office?
<TanyaIvanova> Da.
<ElsaFaustus> Yeah. Fast as I can.
<MikoNakamura> Yep.
<@Night10194> Alright...Dostov, reporting with them?
<Dostov> Yeah, he shows up last.
<@Night10194> Kurinov salutes you all, and your OD, the moment you enter his office. It's a rather nice one...decent liquor cabinet, a few old trophies of war, including a rugged old AK-47 hung up on the wall and a PPSh-41 SMG, pictures of fellow officers and tank commanders, sufficienty comfy chairs, and of course: Mahogeny desk. Maaaahhhogeny.
* NathanielDurond salutes. "Reporting as ordered"
<@Night10194> Kurinov: "Splendidly done, Pilots. And you did a fine job commanding the delaying actin, Captain. We were almost certain we would need to resort to N2 when we saw the size of that beast."
<NathanielDurond> "Thank you sir. I had fine men and women to work with."
<@Night10194> Kurinov: "I have, however, one suggestion, Pilots. Most of your EVAs are very fast, it is true. But it may be best to match speeds with one another, advance in a more organized fashion. Still...for a first battle, you all showed remarkable courage and skill. Lt. Pokryshkin?"
<Dostov> "Sir?"
<@Night10194> Kurinov: "Your courage is commendable, and your sacrifice did give the others time to organize...But in the future, look to your defense a bit before you charge, perhaps. The fact that you are alive and safe is what matters most, as is the fact that the creature was destroyed."
<@Night10194> Kurinov: "This is definitive proof that the Vragi can be killed, as well. And that the EVA is a fine weapon for it. We can certainly hope future Vragi will have imperfect fields, as well."
<@Night10194> Kurinov: "You should *all* be proud of this victory."
* Griet_ has mostly just stood in the back, pale and shaky the entire time.
* MikoNakamura smiles to herself and nods.
<@Night10194> He fixes his gaze on Dostov as he says this.
<ElsaFaustus> I just keep standing at attention.
* TanyaIvanova is beaming with pride at having served her Motherland well.
<@Night10194> He chuckles. "You all have permission to speak, you know."
<TanyaIvanova> "I've not much to add, sir. I'm proud to have protected the Motherland, and I'm proud of all my teammates."
* MikoNakamura blinks. "Um...It was an honor to aid in the destruction of such a demon in the name of Japan."
* MikoNakamura bows.
<ElsaFaustus> "Nothing to say, herr general.  This is what I am here to do."
<@Night10194> He shrugs. "Well, then, pilots, you are dismissed. Congratulations, once again. Lt. Pokryshkin, I will be asking the Commissary to open its stores to you for a proper celebration of your team's first victory."
<Dostov> "Thank you, sir."
<ElsaFaustus> "Danke, herr general."
<@Night10194> Kurinov: "Captain, a moment before you go, in private?"
<TanyaIvanova> Tanya salutes before making her exit.
<NathanielDurond> "Yes sir."
* MikoNakamura exits, taking a moment to beam at the not-digested Dostov.
<MikoNakamura> *giggle*
<@Night10194> Once the others have saluted and scampered off: "Captain, you did a fine job with the conventional response...I think, in the future, I will allow you full operational control during these battles, and perhaps a promotion to Major to go with it, should NERV agree."
<ElsaFaustus> I salute and depart, following the others.
<@Night10194> Kurinov: "But I should warn you of one thing. You are not simply these children's commander."
* Griet_ salutes in a daze and then dazedly drifts after the others.
<NathanielDurond> "Sir?"
* Dostov salutes, then leaves, hands deep in his pockets. He manages to veer toward the commissary, but his mind is miles away.
<@Night10194> Kurinov: "You are their *keeper*. I would recommend you spend a bit of time getting to know them. Spending time with them. Learning about them. Whether they break or stand in battle is going to fall to you, partly."
* NathanielDurond nods his head slowly. "Yes sir, I will do as you say."
<@Night10194> Kurinov: "They will be depending on you, when all hope seems lost."
<@Night10194> Kurinov: "Good work, Captain." He salutes, and sits back down in his chair, beginning to check over the casualty reports.
* NathanielDurond returns the salute and walks out, looking thoughtful.
* Dostov enters the commissary, glancing around.
<@Night10194> Sgt. Oleg, the man who keeps track of what's issued here, is a fat chap, as you might expect from the man watching the food, going bald, save the sides of his head and a pair of wire-rimmed glasses. Still wears his uniform, but no cap.
<@Night10194> Oleg: "Molodets, tovarisch! The general has told me you're to be issued whatever you choose, today."
<ElsaFaustus> I follow Dostov in, curious.
<Dostov> "I appreciate it, tovarisch. Pajalsta."
<@Night10194> Oleg: "Ah, a young lady, hmm?" He give Dostov a slight wink.
<MikoNakamura> I'll follow Elsa-chan, because she is following Dustov-chan.
<Dostov> He turns around to only now realize he's been followed.
<ElsaFaustus> "Hi.  You okay?"
<Griet_> Ducklings in a row, Griet follows as well.
<TanyaIvanova> Tanya is not following.
<Dostov> "Yeah, I'm...I'm fine." Everyone but Tanya eh?
<TanyaIvanova> She … is probably going to go find a punching bag or someone to wrestle.
* Dostov thumbs toward the back of the commissary. "I'm going to look around. You can...come if you want, obviously." Done with his poor people skills he heads back to look around.
<MikoNakamura> "He seems sad...what should we do?"
<ElsaFaustus> "Well, I kinda thought there'd be a party or something.  What I thought was being implied, anyway."
<MikoNakamura> "Maybe we...maybe we should make a dinner?"
<Griet_> "Get him to cook for us, he likes that."
* NathanielDurond arrives late at the commissary and hurries over to Sgt. Oleg. "Did you get the items we talked about?" He says with a conspiratorial grin.
<@Night10194> Oleg: "Hmm? Which would those be?"
* NathanielDurond draws out a rectangular shape with his fingers. "That, and the cheese, and the case of the good Vodka.
<@Night10194> Oleg: "Ah, da." He hands over a large, book-like parcel. And the cheese. And the vodka.
<@Night10194> And this herring.
<NathanielDurond> "Excellent. Well lets get everyone down here on the double." Nathaniel says, capping his hands excited. "I hope everyone is prepared"
<ElsaFaustus> "For what, herr captain?"
<NathanielDurond> "you'll see. And upon consideration, the answer to your earlier question is 'yes, one.'" With that, Nathaniel plops an appropriate sized glass in front of Elsa and poors her a drink. "Not yet. Its strong, and you'll need it later for yelling, and the singing."
* Dostov can't help but whistle a bit as he starts collecting items from the commissary inventory.
* ElsaFaustus peers down suspiciously at the glass, tapping it with a finger.
* MikoNakamura eyes the glass of clear liquid suspiciouly. "What is it, Elsa-chan?"
* NathanielDurond gesticulates at Oleg with one hand while pooring Miko a drink with his other "Lets get available staff down here, and someone get Dostov."
<@Night10194> Oleg: "...What are you doing, Captain?"
<NathanielDurond> "Celebrating victory!"
* MikoNakamura scampers off after Dostov.
<MikoNakamura> "I think the captain wants us for something, Dostov-chan."
* ElsaFaustus takes a seat, wondering what the captain has in mind.
* Dostov looks to Miko and offers a brief smile. "Alright." He puts back what he'd collected, then walks over and ruffles her hair. "You did a good job today. Everyone did."
<@Night10194> Oleg: "Why are you drinking in my commissary?"
<NathanielDurond> "Special occasion! You didn't think I wanted the vodka to put on a shelf, did you?" Nathaniel does his best to look charming, instead of merely daft.
<@Night10194> Oleg: "And doing it with children?"
<MikoNakamura> "*squee!*"
<NathanielDurond> "They only get one. Besides, I'd rather they do it while I am keeping an eye out instead of later when sufficient bordom accrues."
<@Night10194> Oleg: "I realize you're french, but usually, one drinks *after* they eat."
<Dostov> "Lets go see what's going on." A nudge and he's off to see whats what.
<@Night10194> Nathaniel is apparently pouring drinks or something?
* MikoNakamura follows happily.
<NathanielDurond> also waiting for a critical mass of staffers so that there can be booming singing
<@Night10194> Oleg: "DO THIS SOMEWHERE THAT IS NOT MY COMMISSARY!"
* NathanielDurond sighs. "Fine fine. We'll use my quarters"
<@Night10194> It's like buying drinks and then throwing a party at the convenience store.