Adventures of The House Guard 6

	RosenkrantzGM	It... it's, uh... it's that one time when everyone's fucked 'n all y'know?
	-->|	KrumVergian (chatzilla@sux-7A43C419.hsd1.mi.comcast.net) has joined #rosenkrantz
	RosenkrantzGM	From what you have been able to gather, Sergeant Biggs is now in command of a Garrison composed of a mixed group of people.
	RosenkrantzGM	You have passed the night without incident, and have come to know some of the imperial colonials.
	RosenkrantzGM	One of them, is a Captain from one of the original PDF regiments. A quick morning patrol to gather your wounded, and the medicae servitor, brings you all back once more to decide what to do next.
	RosenkrantzGM	The matter of rank, however, is brought up. Not by Captain Juppe, but by his subordinates.
	Joe_Biggs	"Are you fecking kidding me? You wanna worry about rank when our collective asses our out in the wind?" Biggs says in a fume.
	Emil	is near by listing to the argument while leaning up against a wall.
	RosenkrantzGM	"Way I see it," one of the rescued prisoners begins, "Captain's a Captain. This is his garrison."
	RosenkrantzGM	"Look 'ere, you good for nuthin' piece of shit!" Little Joe approaches the colonial,
	Joe_Biggs	"Easy! EASY Little Joe!" Biggs puts an arm out in front of him.
	Joe_Biggs	"And what does Captain Juppe think, then?" The Sergeant turns to the apparent CO.
	KrumVergian	"Can't we just shoot em and be over with?" he says, lighting a Ilo stick
	RosenkrantzGM	"Been meanin t'start me own scalp collection, anyhow..." Cutter says, cleaning his boarding axe.
	RosenkrantzGM	Juppe holds a hand up, to bring his men to order.
	KrumVergian	grins at Cutter's statement and winks at the PDF trooper
	RosenkrantzGM	"This is a matter between myself, and the good Sergeant. You men will fall in line. Until this is resolved, don't you forget we are all that remains of 3rd Batallion. Act accordingly."
	Joe_Biggs	scratches his chin before motioning for everyone to leave the room except the good Captain.
	RosenkrantzGM	"Watch where you're going, boy," Cutter says to a young colonial trooper as he nearly knocks him down, pushing past him on the way out.
	KrumVergian	Is uneasy with the idea "Sarge, you sure that you don't want someone around to...watch your back?"
	Emil	nods to Joe and make his way out of the room.
	Joe_Biggs	"I've been around long enough to make my pips in the House Guard, Krum, now get outta heah."
	KrumVergian	shrugs "When he makes your choke on his cock, don't cry to me." he then walks out, shoving past the PDF colonial agressively
	RosenkrantzGM	Little Joe lingers for a while, before making his way out withour a rush about his step.
	RosenkrantzGM	Soon, only Captain Juppe and Sergeant Biggs remain.
	KrumVergian	as soon as he is outside the room, mutters to Cutter "Like Briggs will ever let some groxshit PDF Captain run the show."
	Joe_Biggs	pinches the bridge of his nose. "I'm gonna be straight with ya, I didn't ask to have so many of these Emperor-damned mooks under my command. Including some of my own. But if the Lord-Protector has taught me anything, a split in command is the death of a unit."
	RosenkrantzGM	"I know this well, Sergeant." Juppe nods
	Karl_Silverfinger	connects to the servitor with his MIU and checks on the status reports of the patients.
	Joe_Biggs	"Granted this is ya own turf, and I respect that, but this operation is under the Rosenkrantz Dynasty and it's forces. You are of course in-charge of your own forces, but for now at the very least you'll have to answer to me temporarily." Biggs scratches his chin again. "Any problems with that?"
	RosenkrantzGM	"What you did for us, Sergeant, indebts us. But a chain of command must be established, and as it stands," he pauses as if looking for the right words, "you are only a Non-Commissioned Officer."
	Emil	walks around the compound, paroling the area to keep his eyes out for anything.
	KrumVergian	"Why are we even debating this? we saved their collective asses!" he says loudly in the direction of the PDF soldiers
	RosenkrantzGM	"Don't, Creedy..." you hear one of the PDF implore a comrade.
	RosenkrantzGM	That's when you see this man push past his comrades straight for Krum, sleeves rolled up, and head low.
	Joe_Biggs	"Yeah, yeah, I'm just a lowly runt of an NCO. But things change, and I've been in weirder places. This isn't gonna be a permanent thing, Juppe, so I need you to work with me here." Biggs extends a hand.
	KrumVergian	"I wouldn't do that buddy." he yells at the man coming his way
	RosenkrantzGM	Juppe stops for a moment, considering his position.
	RosenkrantzGM	The trooper, further pushed away from anything resembling a cool head, leaps for Krum, in an attempt to tackle the insolent House Guard.
	RosenkrantzGM	"My men remain under my command," he begins, dryly.
	RosenkrantzGM	"This will remain your garrison, but I will schedule my men's patrols. We will, naturally, coordinate with you."
	RosenkrantzGM	Before the Captain can continue his thought, a loud crash echoes from the former comms array room just outside where he and Joe are talking.
	RosenkrantzGM	His face takes on an expression of deep disapppointment.
	Emil	stops in his place after hearing the crashing noise, he then turns around and runs back toward where the noise came from, weapon at the ready.
	RosenkrantzGM	Speeding up his speech pattern, the Captain utters, "Any men we encounter from the remnants of the PDF will be under my command, as those from your ship will naturally be under yours," he reaches out for Biggs and quickly shakes his hand before making towards the door.
	Karl_Silverfinger	"...The feck was that?". He says while still connected to the medical servitor.
	RosenkrantzGM	The trooper is enraged by the side-step and gets up, grabbing for a nearby chair.
	Joe_Biggs	nods and shakes the Captain's hand firmly before following after him, "If it's Krum I'm going to shove my boot in his arse."
	RosenkrantzGM	The trooper spins in place, hurling the chair in your direction.
	RosenkrantzGM	Captain Juppe's pace is that of an angry father about to lay down the law on his unruly children. The echo of his boots would be heard, were it not for the cacophanous engagement Krum and Trooper Creedy are no involved in.
	Karl_Silverfinger	gives instructs to the servitor for emergency medical procedure. Patching up the heavily wounded soldiers so they might be able to fight in a desperate situation.
	KrumVergian	Turns just so that his face is covered by the armour of his arm, and twists and braces himself so that the chair only strikes the Carapace of his back. Leaving him unhurt but steaming
	KrumVergian	"YOU FECKER." he says, hands instinctively going for his guns
	Emil	burst in to the room with his weapon slightly razed to see what caused the noise. "What the fuck is going on in here?" he says as be then lowers his weapon seeing that a fight has broken out between Krum and one of the PDFs.
	Karl_Silverfinger	"COULD YOU KEEP IT DOWN? TRYING TO WORK HERE."
	Joe_Biggs	"EMPEROR-DAMMIT KRUM, CEASE YOUR FRATERNIZING WITH THE LOCALS BEFORE I EMBARASS YOU BEFORE THE EMPEROR, THE LORD-PROTECTOR, AND WHATEVER XENOS OF A MOTHER POPPED YOU OUT."
	KrumVergian	"Joe! He threw a fecking chair at me!" he says, before deflating and moodily distancing himself
	RosenkrantzGM	"3RD BATTALION, FALL IN!", Juppe calls to his men, who almost instantly fall in line... including Trooper Creedy, who gets in position with a guilty child's look on his face.
	Joe_Biggs	"And you're a big man you, you fecking toddlah! Maybe you should stop trying to incite unrest with our allies and do something with ya life for once. Take ya sorry hid with Cutter and patrol the compound with Emil. ON THE DOUBLE GUARD."
	KrumVergian	Salutes crisply and marches off to do as he is told
	Emil	waits by the door, for Emil and Cutter and then exits to patrol the area again.
	RosenkrantzGM	"Trooper Creedy. Latrine duty. Battalion dismissed."
	RosenkrantzGM	With that, the Captain moves past his men, and into the makeshift medicae bloc.
	Joe_Biggs	"How that spacing grease-ball made it past the PT line I'll never know," he mumbles to himself. "Little Joe! Let's get to work." Biggs gives the Captain a nod before moving off.
	Emil	"So Krum, what did you do this time?" He says to Krum as they patrol the area.
	RosenkrantzGM	Despite the clear differences between the different units, Sgt. Biggs was able to have an important discussion with the Captain. He speaks of a mineshaft, and an old provisions silo which can feasibly shelter survivors. He does warn, however, of the giants. The mutants often used to patrol for small groups in the area.
	Joe_Biggs	With that information in mind, Joe organizes a search patrol using his squad and a couple of locals as guides. During this he orders Little Joe to put out a rally call to any House Guard stranded in the AO on repeat. He is to also conscript one of the PDF and teach him how to answer the vox in case any call in.
	RosenkrantzGM	"Gotta say, sahge... I don't like leavin' her with these shmucks, but she'll be a beacon for our guys," Little Joe expresses his concerns whilst gearing up for the patrol.
	Joe_Biggs	"Sacrifices have to be made, buddy. Besides, she'll be all warm and cuddly for ya when we get back."
	RosenkrantzGM	The medicae servitor dutifully performs its own duties, while re-issuing its warning to Silverfinger that death, for many of these men, is just an infection away.
	Karl_Silverfinger	"Rusted buckets of bolts."
	KrumVergian	"Threw some dirt in the face of those PDF to keep them in their place and one got nice and steamed and threw a fecking chair." he says quickly all in one breathe
	Emil	shakes his head in disappointment, "You know your going to end up in the same boat as me if you keep this up and have to do the Gauntlet like I will most likely have to."
	KrumVergian	remains moodily silent
	Joe_Biggs	"House Guard! Form on me! We're gonna see if we can't find some more locals to join the cause! Captain Juppe will provide some pathfinders for us while they hold the fort. Hop to!"
	Karl_Silverfinger	"Yes, sir. Come on tinman."
	RosenkrantzGM	With Juppe's scouts formed up on you, you make your way out of the compound. There's a certain air of justice, as you pass by Trooper Creedy still digging latrines on an open patch of dirt near the back of the compound.
	RosenkrantzGM	These, the men of 3rd Battalion, had been operating in this area for some time before they were captured. Soon you find yourselves along the canopy of a wooded area, where the locals have built wood and rope bridges and platforms. The scouts explain these were originally placed by hunters, but had become lifelines after the mutant uprising.
	RosenkrantzGM	You carefully make your way across these, as silently as you can.
	RosenkrantzGM	You get to a point where you can see the silo, to a partiularly overgrown area.
	RosenkrantzGM	As you cross, some wildlife is spooked, and the bridge suddenly and sharply sways.
	Joe_Biggs	"Ffffffffffffffeck." The Sergeant hisses.
	RosenkrantzGM	The squad's Sergeant, Medic, and Emil all find themselves dangling on for dear life.
	RosenkrantzGM	"Mind yer footin' doctorman" Cutter teases, with a smile on his face as he manages to hold on with both hands to his position.
	Emil	"Shit!" Emils says.
	KrumVergian	"FECKIN HELL." he shouts before steadying himself, and offering a hand to Joe
	Joe_Biggs	takes the proffered hand to regain his footing.
	Emil	uses his strength to pull himself up.
	Karl_Silverfinger	1d100
	RosenkrantzGM	The unsteady bridge makes things difficult... it takes everyone's assistance to get you back up.
	RosenkrantzGM	It's a struggle... lengthy, and loud.
	Emil	1d100 vs 40
	RosenkrantzGM	Loud enough to catch the attention of a disgusting abomination. You can hear its advance to your position.
	Joe_Biggs	"Feck me and my luck."
	RosenkrantzGM	Its steps, and its low growl become louder and louder.
	Karl_Silverfinger	"We have company."
	RosenkrantzGM	The PDF scouts quickly make for the end of the bridge, to the platform on the other side.
	Emil	"Well fuck,"
	KrumVergian	quickly draws his weapons
	RosenkrantzGM	"Shit... shit." one of them says to himself, looking down at the creature.
	RosenkrantzGM	It looks up, and begins to jump up and try to claw at the bridge again and again.
	Emil	pulls out the plasma gun and aims it and the mutant.
	Joe_Biggs	scurries over to the platform after finding his footing. "Kill it!"
	KrumVergian	"I saw we book it."
	KrumVergian	say*
	Joe_Biggs	"What happened to your balls, Krum?!"
	KrumVergian	"I like them attached to my body sarge!" he yells back
	RosenkrantzGM	"Whatever we do, we need to silence it. It will only draw more attention to this area... and the silo is not far. We'd doom any survivors."
	Joe_Biggs	"Exactly my thinking!"
	KrumVergian	"I got this."
	KrumVergian	strides his way towards the center of the bridge and takes aim
	RosenkrantzGM	Krum's shots hit, and spray the abomination's face, and back. A thick dark greenish blood begins to ooze out, corroding through the vegetation when it drips below.
	Emil	takes full aim with his plasma gun and sets it to Maximal and opens fire on the large mutant.
	RosenkrantzGM	The fury of the attack forces the abomination to the ground, just as it winds up for another leap up, falling prone on the ground, with it's hands trying to shield its eyes from the energy. The effects are hideous, as all along its side, the plasma has burned through layers of skin and muscle.
	RosenkrantzGM	The creature begins to howl in pain... loudly.
	Joe_Biggs	+I said to kill that freak, not ta make it scream!+
	Emil	+Well fuck, I though this would kill it.+, Emil says while his plasma gun goes into recharge and swaps to his Hot-shot lasgun
	Joe_Biggs	unhooks a a frag grenade from his webbing and pulls the pin before lobbing it all the way down to the mutant ogre. His aim is dead-center and Biggs is rewarded with a meaty explosion.
	RosenkrantzGM	The grenade lands on its chest, and rolls up towards its shoulder, and down to the ground next to its head... Cutter looks up to his Sergeant at that moment, with a mischevious smile... And then it happens. The sickening effect with which the abomination's skull is popped, followed by the spray of a vile acidic liquid which begins to eat away at nearby trees, and even the rope bridge.
	Karl_Silverfinger	"Run, you fool. RUN."
	RosenkrantzGM	Krum rushes clumsily across the bridge to the platform with his comrades. It's a scare, but he makes it without incident. Before anyone can comment on the situation, your scouts begin desdcending, leaving the corroding bridge behind.
	Joe_Biggs	follows after, letting his adrenaline subside as he climbs down. "What fun times we're havin'. It's like the ship-blocks back on the Aurorae."
	RosenkrantzGM	You find yourselves in a land clearance where once orchards and fields of crops might have been. The silo itself is worn down, and appears to have sunken into the earth somewhat. Nonetheless, it could perfectly well shelter a desperate man.
	Emil	"Think this could be a trap sir?"
	RosenkrantzGM	The Sergeant is able to identify a good spotter position, and for a moment sees that spotter, perched on the precarious position.
	Joe_Biggs	silently points out the spotter to the scouts.
	Joe_Biggs	"One o' yours?" He whispers to them.
	RosenkrantzGM	The scouts look to eachother, and then nod to Biggs in response.
	RosenkrantzGM	The spotter begins to wave his hands almost desperately as your units becomes visible in your advance.
	RosenkrantzGM	You do notice, however, that he doesn't attempt to be heard.
	KrumVergian	"Something in the area?"
	RosenkrantzGM	"Something's wrong..." one of the scouts comments.
	Joe_Biggs	"What an astute observation, Krum. I sure hope not, Emil."
	Joe_Biggs	"Care to elaborate, troopah?"
	RosenkrantzGM	"We should hurry. But keep quiet."
	Joe_Biggs	motions for them to lead on.
	RosenkrantzGM	You cross this field, up the small incline towards the silo. The spotter appears to throw something down to ground level.
	RosenkrantzGM	Soon, you see a trooper just outside of an opening.
	RosenkrantzGM	But he's hardly the only thing that catches your attention.
	RosenkrantzGM	All around him, are bodies.
	RosenkrantzGM	Mutants, and human.
	RosenkrantzGM	"Emperor's Teeth! Viccer, is that you?!" one of the scouts calls, and picks up the pace to greet the trooper.
	RosenkrantzGM	"Pretty sight, ain't she?" Cutter comments.
	KrumVergian	"The hell happened here?
	RosenkrantzGM	In truth, it's not just a sight you're forced to take in. It's the smell. The awful smell of rotting, and burnt flesh.
	Joe_Biggs	"Not the worst I've seen but this ain't fun to look at."
	RosenkrantzGM	The trooper looks spooked, out of breath.
	Emil	"Must of been one hell of  a fire fight." Emil comments looking at all the dead bodies.
	RosenkrantzGM	"They found us... just last night... Lt's all kinds of fucked... ain't gonna make it," he says between breaths.
	RosenkrantzGM	The scouts have heard enough, and rush in.
	Joe_Biggs	"Time to work, Doc."
	Karl_Silverfinger	"Understood, Sarge."
	Karl_Silverfinger	runs up to the wounded.
	Joe_Biggs	ushers everyone inside.
	Emil	moves in watching the rear as they enter the silo.
	RosenkrantzGM	Their lieutenant is indeed in very poor condition. He is badly bruised, swollen in parts. Lascerations and cuts, broken bones. His injuries are like those Silverfinger has treated in pilots who have had to crash-land; it's a concerning situation.
	Karl_Silverfinger	performs field operations with his robotic assistant, trying to stop the internal bleeding. Afterwards, splintering the fractured bones and quickly patching up the cuts.
	Karl_Silverfinger	commands the Servitor to inject the patient with tranq from it's build in narthecium.
	RosenkrantzGM	With the patient stabilized and his pain relieved, his men are full of gratitude.
	RosenkrantzGM	"Emperor be praised... you saved him. He'd been in that condition for some 10 hours."
	Joe_Biggs	"Alright, we need to get you all out of here. We're rallying survivors wherever we can to the Comms bunker. You'll be glad to know a Captain Juppe is still alive and kickin'."
	RosenkrantzGM	"Juppe? We saw his whole unit get overwhelmed... we were sure he'd died."
	RosenkrantzGM	"I won't ask how you got control of that bunker, but you can count on us."
	RosenkrantzGM	"CONTACT!"
	RosenkrantzGM	The lookout calls below.
	Joe_Biggs	"Of course."
	Joe_Biggs	"How many?" He calls back up.
	RosenkrantzGM	The men inside reach for their weapons, many of them on their last reload.
	Emil	places himself against the wall and peaks out the door.
	RosenkrantzGM	"A dozen or so!"
	Karl_Silverfinger	"Oh, hell."
	Joe_Biggs	"Huh, not too bad." Readies his shotgun.
	RosenkrantzGM	"Must've been yer loud mouth," Cutter teases Krum.
	RosenkrantzGM	"More! Emperor save us, there are more!"
	RosenkrantzGM	"Shit... shit. Shit." A corporal near their Lt begins to consider the danger of the situation.
	Karl_Silverfinger	gets his las gun ready.
	RosenkrantzGM	Soon enough, you hear it. The growling and calling of the horde, and their steps as they charge your position.
	Joe_Biggs	"I had to say it. READY UP! WE'VE A FIGHT ON OUR HANDS YOU MOOKS!"
	Joe_Biggs	+I recommend grenades boys.+
	Emil	grabs one of his grenades.
	Karl_Silverfinger	gets a fraq grenade ready.
	RosenkrantzGM	The men take cover, and set up positions which they likely were able to 'rehearse' in the night attack. Their familiarity with the situation is almost disturbing, as their comrades' bodies lay dead ahead.
	RosenkrantzGM	The scout's calculation was, perhaps, originally right. But the additional mutants that joined are now quite clearly bring that number up closer to 30.
	RosenkrantzGM	"Ave Imperator... "
	Joe_Biggs	"HOUSE GUARD, DO YOUR DYNASTY AND LORD-PROTECTOR PROUD, PRAISE THE EMPERAH."
	RosenkrantzGM	The horde closes in quickly, they clearly knew the location of this hideout.
	KrumVergian	double checks his weapons before watching the approach
	Emil	"Ave Imperator."
	RosenkrantzGM	The variety of mutants is disturbing, and yet you know of one thing in common that binds them as one. They can be killed. And they can be killed with inpunity by the House Guard.
	RosenkrantzGM	Your training and instincts then tell you... they are within a skilled grenadier's range.
	Karl_Silverfinger	toss a grenade into the approaching horde.
	Karl_Silverfinger	The explosion kills 4 mutants.
	Emil	throws his grenade at the approaching horde, killing 4 mutants as well.
	RosenkrantzGM	The blasts disorient and push back the horde momentarily, disrupting the charge.
	Joe_Biggs	readies a frag grenade and let's fly. He watches more mutants get cut down by the scythe of shrapnel.
	RosenkrantzGM	Sergeant Biggs and Krum follow up with grenades of their own, shattering their formation in a mass panic. As fierce as they may be, these creatures are no warriors.
	RosenkrantzGM	The individuals remaining flee in separate directions.
	RosenkrantzGM	Sgt Biggs fires, hitting a fleeing mutant in the arm. The shot shreds its flesh, and shatters the bone, leaving the creature holding onto the hideous wound on its arm.
	Emil	opens fire on the retreating mutants, hitting two of them in the body and causing them to set on fire and killing them in the process.
	RosenkrantzGM	Then, in the span on a few seconds, you hear a cry.
	RosenkrantzGM	From one of the fields, you see a figure take down the last of the mutants.
	RosenkrantzGM	A struggle ensues. Melee.
	RosenkrantzGM	Grunting, and heaving...
	Emil	"Who the fuck is that?"
	Karl_Silverfinger	"No idea. Sarge?'
	RosenkrantzGM	and then, as quickly as it all began, all movement stops.
	Joe_Biggs	"Friendly more than likely. Go sort it out Emil."
	Emil	nods and move out of the building with his weapon at the ready.
	RosenkrantzGM	Emil approaches, to find the carcass of the mutant. Alongside him, a man. Breathing heavily, eyes firmly shut.
	Emil	"Nice kill sir." Emil says to the man.
	RosenkrantzGM	He's holding a lasgun, baynoet fixed. His helmet is badly damaged, his uniform badly worn.
	RosenkrantzGM	Without a word, he stretched out his hand.
	Emil	reached out his hand to help the man up.
	RosenkrantzGM	As you pull him up, you notice a patch on his uniform. Underneath a layer of dried mud, and blood...
	RosenkrantzGM	the fighting raven.
	Joe_Biggs	+So is he friendly or what, Emil?+
	Emil	+Seems so, and he has the Rosenkrantz symbol sir.+
	Joe_Biggs	+......Get him back here.+
	RosenkrantzGM	The unexpected arrival follows Emil, with a limp to his step.
	Emil	leads the man over to the silo
	Joe_Biggs	"Doc, see to the man."
	RosenkrantzGM	As soon as he finds shade, he drops to the ground for a much needed rest.
	Karl_Silverfinger	"On it."
	RosenkrantzGM	"Water..." his dry raspy voice communicated.
	RosenkrantzGM	s***
	Joe_Biggs	hands the old man his canteen.
	Karl_Silverfinger	starts a diagnostic test.
	Karl_Silverfinger	"He needs food as well."
	Joe_Biggs	fishes out a ration bar and hands that to the man as well.
	RosenkrantzGM	"Fecking hellhole, this rock..." he complains after a long sustained gulp of water.
	Karl_Silverfinger	starts to patch their guest.
	Joe_Biggs	"When you feel right and ready I have some questions for you, buddy."
	RosenkrantzGM	He unwraps the rationpack and takes a bite.
	RosenkrantzGM	"Saw what you did back there" he says as he munches.
	RosenkrantzGM	"How in all living feck do they get that big, anyway?"
	Joe_Biggs	"You're talking to the wrong guy, trooper. Though I'm sure Lord Josef could give you an in-depth lecture on mutants."
	RosenkrantzGM	"Hell, I've been on the mutie purges in the lower decks of the Aurorae. Ne'er seen shit like that one before."
	Joe_Biggs	"Feck me, which block you from partnah? I'm from Block 7 near the gun-decks."
	RosenkrantzGM	"Block 4. We get to see all the freaks going up to the Navigator's Tower... hah..." he takes another bite.
	RosenkrantzGM	"You ever stop to think how we depend on those creepy sorts to not end up as daemonfood?" he shakes his head, and chuckles.
	Joe_Biggs	"Sure. But there's a difference between 'em, like classes a sorts, just like in a hive. Least that's how the Lord-Protector explained it to me."
	Joe_Biggs	"More importantly, what are you even doing back here?"
	RosenkrantzGM	"Anyway, Sarge, I don't mean to be a burden, but as it is, I'm all out of any munitions. Been fightin' with my trusty lasgun n' bayonet combo for the last three days."
	RosenkrantzGM	"Ahh... well, our pod had a bit of a... malfunction. Didn't think I'd see another friendly uniform out here, so far we landed. Tagged along with a few locals and traveled with them ever since."
	RosenkrantzGM	He gives a short loud laugh.
	RosenkrantzGM	"They're all dead now, the green bastards, but boy did you boys make noise! Haha! Made yourselves easy as all hell to track."
	Joe_Biggs	"Glad to be so obvious to ya, and glad to bring another friendly into the fold. We're about to head back to our little HQ, you can get some much needed rest there."
	RosenkrantzGM	"Good to see you boys, too... are... are you going to keep these around?" he asks, eyeballing the locals.
	RosenkrantzGM	Clearly his opinion of them isn't great.
	Karl_Silverfinger	"Better than nothing."
	Joe_Biggs	"Yes, that's why we're out here in the first place, standing orders are to gather survivors, local or otherwise. We're on take n' hold duty for the foreseeable future."
	RosenkrantzGM	"I see hope, Sergeant. Look at that sky. The boys are givin' 'em hell."
	Joe_Biggs	"They've been giving a fireworks show since I got down here. Like Candlemas for a whole week." The Sergeant sniffs before asking, "what's your name trooper? I didn't catch it?"
	RosenkrantzGM	"Matson. Teddard Matson, at your service, Sergeant...?"
	Joe_Biggs	"Joe Biggs." He pats the guy on the shoulder. "Welcome to my band of mooks."
	RosenkrantzGM	"Gotta tell you, sarge, QM's going to be all kinds of pissed. So much shit was lost..."
	RosenkrantzGM	"Damn good thing I'm no NCO" haha
	Joe_Biggs	"Yeah, but that's the Master of Ordnance's problem not ours. He shot us into this hell hole." He chuckles darkly. "NCO has it's benefits....and it's problems." He looks back to the squad and locals. "Get ready to move! We wanna be back to the comms station before sundown!"
	RosenkrantzGM	Matson gives a nod, and grips his 'spear' low.
	Joe_Biggs	"I hope you at least kept your charge packs, Matson."
	RosenkrantzGM	"That's a negative, sarge."
	RosenkrantzGM	"Had 'em charging by the fire. Had to leave in a hurry 'n all."
	Joe_Biggs	sighs "we all feck up sometimes." He pats the guy on the shoulder before moving off to get his people ready to move on the double.