Death From Above 2

<Pavor_GM> IT IS THE 41ST MILLENNIUM...
<Pavor_GM> The field around the commandos is half-harvested with stacked bushels, and narrow clearances preparing further harvest come sunrise. To the West, the howling and churning of the industrial rail system is carried by the steady wind. A short series of clicks sees several commandos relieve themselves of their jump packs, piling them in as concealed a way as possible in the bushels.
<Zaylen> "Is it just me, or are we missing Major Valentine?" Zaylen whispers after doing a headcount.
* Lt_Faust_Johnstone uses his microbead +Major, this be Johnstone. Copy eh, Roger, Can ya hear me?+
<Pavor_GM> When no reply comes, Natalia begins to set up the vox caster near Johnstone.
* Commissar_Hargrave strides over to Lt. Johnstone. "Any luck on reaching the Major, Lieutenant?"
<Lt_Faust_Johnstone> "No response, Commissar."
<Lt_Faust_Johnstone> "Natalia, I don't think we can use the mid/long range for our Vox. Mission Orders."
* Zaylen takes up a position against one of the bushels, kneeling and weapon shouldered.
* Dutch_Miles is checking over his medical equipment.
<Commissar_Hargrave> "The Lieutenant is correct Vox Specialist and might I suggest we move from this area in case we were spotted on the way in Lieutenant."
* Lt_Faust_Johnstone scratches his head "Ehh, yea should move. Does anyone have the map?"
<Commissar_Hargrave> "The Major has the map Lieutenant."
* Leon whispers to the group, "We may have contact north."
<Zaylen> +Confirm, I also hear voices being carried from that direction.+
<Lt_Faust_Johnstone> +Ahh, feck. Group eyes open.+
<Commissar_Hargrave> "Perhaps we should move into position for an ambush Lieutenant?"
* Lt_Faust_Johnstone says to Commissar Hargrave "Agreed" and says +Squad set up for ambush and stay out of sight.+
<Zaylen> +Moving.+
* Admetus takes cover in the bushels and attempts to spot the incoming contacts.
* Dutch_Miles takes cover and sets up.
* Commissar_Hargrave unlimbers his phantom autocarbine and moves into position for the ambush.
* Leon moves into cover and draws his carbine.
* Lt_Faust_Johnstone takes cover to set up an ambush with his mono knife and power maul.
<Pavor_GM> The pre-harvest path up ahead is disturbed, with vegetation crushed beneath boots in a steady pattern. Low, indistinct voices converse getting closer and closer.
<Pavor_GM> Through preysense goggles, the Cobras are able to make out the glowing figures of a dozen or so men. Some carry weapons, others what appear to be entrenching tools. As they make their way across the field, they reach the harvested section fully in the open, not 20 meters from the commandos - utterly oblivious to their presence.
<Zaylen> +Dozen hostiles, some have weapons others tools.+
<Leon> whispers into the mic, +On your command if necassary.+
* Zaylen sights one of the men armed with a proper weapon, just in case.
* Lt_Faust_Johnstone whispers into the mic +Take aim, but hold.+
<Pavor_GM> "Not unless they're delayed. We'll be ready. Right sergeant?"
* Dutch_Miles had his weapon at the ready.
<Pavor_GM> "Right," the reply comes from the rear of their formation.
* Admetus takes aim at the nearest armed with a weapon.
<Pavor_GM> "They'll be hulking down every one of the batteries, so you lot will be digging all night."
<Zaylen> +Vox-caster in the back, next to their NCO.+ Zaylen whispers into his microbead
<Lt_Faust_Johnstone> +Strike at 10 meters. Take out the Vox then anyone holding a weapon.+
<Pavor_GM> "Drop!" one hisses. At a snap, they all drop low to the brush.
* Leon fires into the opposing squad.
<Pavor_GM> Several of the targets fall limp.
* Dutch_Miles opens fire into the enemy squad.
* Zaylen lets out a breath and squeezes the trigger. Three rounds  spit out, two slapping into the NCO's head, the other hitting the vox-man next to him.
* Lt_Faust_Johnstone moves advances forward while in cover.
* Commissar_Hargrave fires his autocarbine on full auto at the enemy squad, shredding the six remaining with a hail of solid slugs.
* Major (Darkm@BC302DE4.1916861F.8D029FA7.IP) has joined
* Major_Valentine has quit (Ping timeout)
<Zaylen> +All hostiles eliminated.+
<Dutch_Miles> "Well that went well."
<Lt_Faust_Johnstone> +Good work, let's get rid of the bodies.+
<Commissar_Hargrave> "A blessing from the Emperor that we slaughtered these dissidents before they could alert their traitorous masters."
* Dutch_Miles gets to work clearing the bodies.
<Zaylen> +Affirmative.+ Zaylen motions for Braddock to help him move the bodies and hide them. He uses the time to also look for anything of use on the Sergeant and the other armed traitors.
<Zaylen> +Do you want the vox-pack as well, Lieutenant?+
* Admetus and Alex, pile a few of the bodies, and then covers them using some of the harvested crop to make them appear like any other stack of bushels.
* Lt_Faust_Johnstone says to Zaylen +We should inspect the vox caster.+
<Lt_Faust_Johnstone> "Natalia take a look at their vox."
* Admetus walks over from the pile of corpses he hid. "Looks fucked to me doubt we can fix it in field conditions."
<Leon> "Is it allright if I take the laspistol?"
<Lt_Faust_Johnstone> "Go for it."
<Leon> "Thanks Lt."
<Lt_Faust_Johnstone> "Take anything useful. We gonna need it for the mission."
* Zaylen passes out any weapons the squad find useful.
<Zaylen> "What not El-Tee?"
<Lt_Faust_Johnstone> "We gonna move soon and we don't have a map. I am open for suggestions, Commissar Hargrave."
* Dutch_Miles grabs one of the shotguns and most of the ammo for use if needed.
<Commissar_Hargrave> "We continue our mission Lieutenant. We reconnoiter the railway and road, discover exactly how they intend on moving their batteries into position and, if possible, we re-link with the Major. They have the map and know the mission objective. It would make sense they would head in the same direction."
* Major is now known as Major_Valentine
<Lt_Faust_Johnstone> "Sounds simple enough." he says to the rest of the Cobras "Finish up and move out. We gotta railway to find and more people to kill."
* Leon get's ready to move out.
<Zaylen> "Ready and able. Shall I take point?"
<Dutch_Miles> "I am ready when you all are."
* Admetus straps another two grenades to his belt and forms up ready to move.
<Lt_Faust_Johnstone> "You got it, Zaylen. Head the lead."
<Leon> "I'll cover the rear."
<Zaylen> "Yes, sir. Eyes up Braddock." Zaylen covers himself more fully with his cloak before taking point.
<Pavor_GM> "Hunting 'em like rats," he whispers back.
<Pavor_GM> Several miles away, just in front of the busy railstation, Major Valentine is sprung upon by a hissing bipedal beast. Her expert training, however, allows her to dive out of the way to keep her distance.
* Major_Valentine drops a smoke grenade at her feet and makes a run for it
<Pavor_GM> Through the expanding cloud of smoke, Valentine's assailant bursts through, charging clear into her once more.
<Pavor_GM> Once more, the Major reacts with all her training, using the humanoid creature's own momentum against it to avoid taking on the charge.
* Major_Valentine realizing she is caught out postion attempts to swipe at the assailant
<Pavor_GM> In a fierce counter, the avian-like creature slices at Valentine's thigh and abdomen.
* Major_Valentine bleeding Valentine grabs her last Smoke Grenade and throws it into the floor and runs to the nearest cover in sight to break line of sight
<Pavor_GM> As the cloud of smoke expands behind Valentine, she bolts towards the fields. Though the creature does not redouble its assault, its predatory movements are audible to the Major as she is being hunted.
* Major_Valentine clearly her instincts to survive in full effect, She moves as quietly as she can getting distance
<Pavor_GM> Leaping clear above the tallest of the crops, the vile animal lands on Valentine with full force, knocking her prone.
* Major_Valentine clearly desperate she leaps up and fires a her Bolt pistol clearly try to do something
<Pavor_GM> The animal hisses as it deftly side-steps the shot with disturbing speed.
<Pavor_GM> The shot, however, rings out into the night sky, carried by the winds.
<Pavor_GM> Braddock stops dead in his tracks, holding up a closed fist.
<Pavor_GM> "North-West. Bolt round," he whispers.
* Dutch_Miles listens to the shots.
* Zaylen instantly kneels. +Hard to miss that. North-west Bolt round. Didn't the Major carry a bolt-pistol?+
<Leon> +Yup.+
<Dutch_Miles> +I think so, she may be in trouble.+
<Lt_Faust_Johnstone> +Yes and if she's shooting it, she might be in trouble.+
<Commissar_Hargrave> "We should double-time it Lieutenant."
<Lt_Faust_Johnstone> +MOVE, NOW.+
<Dutch_Miles> +I think she is anywere between 1 to 2 miles.+
<Zaylen> +So much for stealth.+ Zaylen huffs as he moves forwards.
* Leon starts running
<Lt_Faust_Johnstone> +Zaylen and Holt, break off and go as fast as you can.+
<Zaylen> +Waiting on Holt then advancing.+ Once Holt catches up with Zaylen, the scout will lead the way, hoofing it.
<Leon> +Roger.+
* Admetus hikes his gear up to minimise its shaking while attempting, but failing, to not slow the group.
* Commissar_Hargrave secures his autocarbine on it's strap and begins running with the rest of the squad, excluding the scout and storm trooper.
* Dutch_Miles moves with the rest of the group.
<Pavor_GM> With another swipe, the Emperor shows his mercy as the best misses altogether, chopping at the stems of the agri-product.
<Pavor_GM> When Valentine breaks away, it keeps up, going for another attack.
<Pavor_GM> One swing after another, Major Valentine tries to protect herself, receiving cut after cut, until at last she drops from exhaustion, inviting the animal to do horrendous damage to her flesh as she slips from consciousness.
<Pavor_GM> As Zaylen, Braddock, and Leon break through the fields, they spot a horrifying sight. Major Valentine's body is being eaten at the abdomen by the predator. Her synskin covers any "spill" of body heat everywhere else, but the bright streams of light matching her abdomen and the beasts's mouth manifesting on the preysense goggles, tell them all they need to know about what they have
<Pavor_GM> encountered.
<Pavor_GM> The animal shrieks, and leaps towards Leon.
* Leon dodges as best as he can.
* Zaylen fires a semi-auto burst into the alien in two different bursts. Killing it in the second burst.
<Zaylen> "What the feth..." is all he says before remembering the major. +Found the Major, and she's very close to meeting the Emperor's light. I would hustle medic-man.+
<Pavor_GM> Seconds later, the rest of the squad catches up.
<Zaylen> The scout meanwhile goes into a prone position and overwatches towards roughly the North-West area.
* Dutch_Miles sees the scene, "What in the world happened?" he then major, and rushes over to her.
<Pavor_GM> The butchery of Major Valentine becomes apparent to the squad.
* Admetus seeing the major, quickly turns away and secures the perimeter idly playing with a grenade in one hand.
<Lt_Faust_Johnstone> "Fuckin' Hell."
<Commissar_Hargrave> "Lieutenant, have them dispose of this...thing. Burn it. Bury it."
<Lt_Faust_Johnstone> "Miles! Help the Major."
<Lt_Faust_Johnstone> "Someone get dispose of that... THAT thing."
<Admetus> "Leave it in the brushes, it'll burn when we set the field on fire in a few days."
<Admetus> "We need to get out of here though, we weren't the only ones to hear that bolt pistol..."
* Dutch_Miles takes out his diagnostor, he finds that by some metrical from the Emperor, she is still alive but bleeding out, now he gets to work.
<Lt_Faust_Johnstone> "Good idea, Admtus. Get to it. Everyone eyes open. We are moving as soon as the Major is well 'stable'."
* Admetus turns to Alex.... "Hey man... can you get it for me... I need a sec."
* Major_Valentine coughs then spits out blood, gasping for air, then grabs Dutch's arm clearly shocked and panicked
* Leon starts moving the corpse.
<Zaylen> "Braddock help Leon move the body."
<Dutch_Miles> "Its ok Major you are in good hands and you are gonna be fine."
<Major_Valentine> "The... Feth was th..at."
<Pavor_GM> "Already on it, Alex says, lifting a leg and beginning to drag it.
<Dutch_Miles> "Jackson hand me a Suture."
<Commissar_Hargrave> "Lieutenant we should find a place to lay low and stash the Major, she is unfit to move at the moment. I advise having Infiltrator Zaylen putting his skills to good use.
* Major is now known as Major_Valentine
<Lt_Faust_Johnstone> "Zalyen, I got a job for you."
<Dutch_Miles> Both Dutch and Jackson get to work and patch up the Major as best as they can. As they finish up he looks to the Lieutenant. "Sir she is stable for now, but I need some sort of stretcher to move her."
<Zaylen> "What's the job El-Tee?" Zaylen picks himself up, resting his hands on his weapon as it hangs from it's strap.
<Lt_Faust_Johnstone> "We need a place to hide the Major. I want yea to take a look at the map and scout a place. Take the vid-relay as well."
<Zaylen> "Sure thing, sir. Nasty fething thing, hope there aren't too many more of 'em." Zaylen goes to retrieve the map and vid-relay, strapping the thing on. +Shouldn't take too long, Emperor be with us.+
<Major_Valentine> "Fau..st, car..ry..on th..th miss..on.."
* Major_Valentine clearly grabbing her wound tightly
<Lt_Faust_Johnstone> "Hey, Major. We ain't leaving yea behind."
<Zaylen> +To the south, found a derelict vehicle depot, plenty of overgrowth and concealment. I'll come back and guide ya too it.+ Zaylen, brings his magnoculars down and sighs. "What a mess." He cricles around and head's back to the group.
<Pavor_GM> "Lieutenant, if you will allow me," Natalia pleas, "I am certain I can get a transmission for medevac in record time. There will be virtually no time to intercept or trace it."
<Major_Valentine> "D...don't"
<Lt_Faust_Johnstone> "...We are to maintain no mid or long vox communication, Natalia. It pains me to say it, but orders are orders."
<Lt_Faust_Johnstone> "We will place the Major in a safe location and finish the mission."
<Commissar_Hargrave> "The Lieutenant is correct Natalia. The Emperor will shield her from harm until our mission is complete."
<Dutch_Miles> "The Lt is right Natalia, we have no way of knowing the enemies ability to intercept any transmission that we may send to the fleet, this is the best, and don't worry, Jackson will watch over her as well."
<Pavor_GM> "Yes, commissar," she replies in a rehearsed voice, strapping the vox caster on her back once more.
<Lt_Faust_Johnstone> +We can't stay here any longer. We move to the Vehicle depot.+
* Dutch_Miles does what he can with Jackson's help to move the Major.
* Major_Valentine closes her eyes in an attempt to try and conserve her strength
<Pavor_GM> With the major brought to shelter, Jackson sets up getting to work on monitoring Major Valentine's condition.
<Pavor_GM> The night winds pick up, and the sounds of heavy machinery out of the North-West die down, and vanish.