Liberation of Nova Spera Session 11

	CawklesGM	++3-4 Mortis, 3-4 Mortis to ground crew, come in ground crew. We on approach to objective now, advise, over?++ The pilot's voice is a techno-rasp that whines through the cabin speakers of the Aquila lander. The space is cramped, reeking of sweat and impatience as all those couped up tightly inside had to wait for about three hours as it flew down from the highest peaks of the Chahanda.
	CawklesGM	Silence reigned for the most part, as all those present have gone quite long without sleep and the ride down seemed like an ample opportunity to catch some shut eye. Like all things in Snow Squad's life, this was difficult; between buffeting turbulence, Muffin's snoring, and the groans of De Frank, it was an uphill battle to rest. Most only got an hour or so before the sudden warble of pilot talk makes all feel nervous and on edge. There is silence on the vox for awhile. ++Ground Crew, I say again, this is 3-4 Mortis requesting a landing vector. Advise, PLEASE, over.++ Silence. Maurice, dead asleep, does not respond to the poking and prodding of his assistant, who scurries off into a cramped corner to speak with the pilots. A moment later, there is a violent lurch; the aquila suddenly changes direction. From outside the view port, in the vast chasm of all consuming darkness below, a single point of light shines like a star, flickering weakly amid the dirt and hills of the Chahanda lowlands. The Aquila seems to be heading right for it. The stomach spinning motion rouses Maurice from his rest.
	CawklesGM	"Puh, Throne's teeth...Cynthia, foot rub please. What's going on folks?" Maurice rubs his eyes, yawning and stretching. Abbass, dark rings around his eyes, answers with flat disinterest. "We're here, you lazy bastard. Wake up."
	CawklesGM	And here the squad is indeed. It only takes mere moments for the Aquila to slam into the ground, the roar of its engines steadily dying down as the fumes inside the tank begin steadily dissipate into nothing. One by one the internal lights start to go off, one by one, replaced by back up stab lights that flood the interior with pale green light. There is violent pounding on the ramp of the Aquila. A muffled voice can be heard on the other side, no doubt demanding for the ramp to be lowered.
	Ishmael	        slowly gets up, going for his rifle as he hears the pounding.
	Roland   	readies his triplex pattern lasgun.
	CawklesGM	There is a creak and a whine as the ramp begins to lazily dip towards the ground. As it slowly hits the floor, all inside are greeted by a gaggle of troopers, their faces made anonymous by itchy looking scarves. Their uniforms are echoes of yours, all red and khaki, but matted with dried blood and encrusted with dirt. The lead man shines a flashlight into the cabin. "Get a tarp over this motherfucker right now, and haul ass inside. No lights, not even a lho stick man. Anything shiny that is on for longer than five seconds is just asking to be drone'd. Quickly, please!" With that, the man clicks off his flashlight. Muffin scoffs.
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	groans in the darkness. "These things drop like bricks."
	Roland	        lowers his weapon
	CawklesGM	"Boyo tink e' er bess, fuccboi drongo ass betch tits..." She continues to swear, hustling down the amp. Jurdik follows suit, somber. His mood swings have been quite volatile during the flight.
	Ishmael	        "Who are you lot?" He asks, still somewhat groggy from the crash.
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	groggily gets up, he stretches his body, hearing his body crack a couple of time.
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	starts to rummage around for a tarp. "This thing has a tarp on-board right?" He asks to everyone.
	Ace_Nerat	stands and stretches like a great beast before mumbling some curses and following suit.
	CawklesGM	The man with the flashlight turns to Ishmael. "Sergeant Saffir, who the fuck are you?"
	Ace_Nerat	"A bitch." he mumbles sleepily
	Ishmael	        "Master of Ordnance Rahsingh."
	CawklesGM	Muffin guffaws. "Keemon bawss, pleh noice. Tees boyos lek gren. Cannae ebin clen tah gur..." The woman speedily takes a tarp from inside the Aquila. Abbass helps throw the thing over the aquila. Maurice, Cynthia, and Pounder's boys all exit, looking at the village around. Despite the all consuming darkness, they can all make out the primitive structures and fields of alien grain squatting in this arid place of hills and scree. The bray of wild Grox echo throughout the night, and Manat with its bloodstain twinkles maliciously in the sky.
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	"Snow Squad, Sergeant." Izem says as he approaches the man.
	Ace_Nerat	"Where can I get something to eat?"
	Ace_Nerat	upon getting no reply slams his fist on the nearest *enter here* and asks louder
	Ace_Nerat	"WHERE CAN I GET SOMETHING TO EAT."
	CawklesGM	Pounder and Maurice seem to be conferring silently among each other. Maurice's easy composure seems to melt away. He glares as Pounder gathers his troopers, scooping up both the Red Guard and the Tech Priest before striking off into the east without saying a word or consulting the squad in which those two men were attached.  Sergeant Saffir suddenly stiffens into a curt salute. "Sorry for my rudeness, Master Rashingh. Nerves. We got rations inside that house over there, where some of the men are sleeping. Follow me. And hurry, please. Drone sight is based off of motion as well."
	Ishmael	        "I don't think that's our main concern..." He then looks at Ace. "Shhhh."
	Ishmael	        looks at Maurice. "Where are they going?"
	CawklesGM	Sergeant Saffir jumps at Ace's command. Maurice and his assistant join up with Snow Squad. "Pounder is taking your boys to look for fuel. I couldn't stop him." He whispers to Ishmael. "We just gotta wait this garbage out. Pray that the Emperor decides to not fuck us on this."
	Ace_Nerat	stomps of in the directions of the house
	Roland	        looks at Maurice before following Saffir.
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	shrugs.
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	"Isn't it a moot point at the moment? We can't get back to your ship anyways."
	Ishmael	        moves to a nearby house. "Here's hoping that changes, Rose... Anyways, mind filling us in, Sergeant?"
	Roland	        stops, and turns around and heads back to the Aquila
	CawklesGM	Muffin spanks Izem's bottom. "git a moov on, dok. Neh wit Kahinny gun, iffa yeh doie nuhbud genna beh leff tah stetch meh cloz." She chuckles, before whispering a silent "Serry", realizing that what she said might be a little poorly timed.
	Roland	        enters the Aquila and looks over at DeFrank.
	CawklesGM	De Frank, face swollen, looks up at Roland with a glare. He says nothing.
	Ace_Nerat	reaches the house and basically kicks the door in, demanding meat.
	Roland	        grabs some rope and ties up De Frank
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	nearly jumps out of his clothes at Muffin's impromptu spank. He gives her a weird look that turns morose for a moment. "She'll be fine...."
	Roland	        After tying up De Frank, Roland looks at him one more time. "Don't go anywhere unless you want to die tonight."
	CawklesGM	As Ace barges his way into the tiny village house, several rifles immediately point in his direction. Over a dozen figures, cramped and huddling around the weak light of a glow globe at its lowest setting, lower their weapons when they see the uniform. These people...they're all so green. Scared. Jumpy. Their eyes are windows in worlds harried by uncertainty and fear, their uniforms a tale of their trip down the mountains and into Rawa Kadan territory. They probably only saw combat recently. One of the women near the door silently presses a ration can into Ace's paws before huddling back into a ball. Sergeant Saffir brings up the rear, looking at the men assembled. "Primus squad, this is Master Rashingh. Treat him like royalty. Now," He turns to his superior. "Here is our sitch. Our CO is holed up in the chief's house. I'd take you to meet him but right now the SOP is no light or movement unless we are attacked. I'm assuming you talked to Sergeant Zaqariyya. let me tell you. That guy is a liar. He probably said things were all good here. They sure as shit aren't. WE came off that mountain with our company. Our platoon is all that's left."
	Roland	        exits the Auila and heads to the house where the rest of snow squad is.
	Ishmael	        "What happened...?"
	CawklesGM	The assembled troopers shudder. The very mention of their journey brings back memories of horrible terror. "We got screamers all around the perimeter. We're expecting an attack. To finish us off."
	Ace_Nerat	shoves the food in his mouth "Wheves the enimeths? he says with a mouth full of food
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	"Fancy that, we just left a shit-show, and are getting into a shit-storm."
	Roland	        opens the door to the house and enters.
	Ishmael	        approaches Ace and whispers. "Think we could salvage some of the guns in the Aquila? Try and bolster defenses?"
	CawklesGM	"What happened?" One of the privates squeaks. "I'll tell you what happened. We walked right into a deathtrap, the jaws of Al-Qaum himself. They watched us come off the mountain. They were waiting. When we entered the Al-Khabeer pass they jumped us. The women and boys had guns, shooting us. The men finished off the rest riding those hoofed braying beasts from off world..."
	CawklesGM	"So where are the enemies?" He continues, answering Ace. "Everywhere. All around. They're waiting for the chance. To kill us all."
	Ishmael	        "What's the plan now?"
	Ishmael	        "I don't want panicking, I want solutions and information leading to those solutions, people."
	Roland	        After entering the room, Roland looks around and moves over to Ace. "So what did I miss?"
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	"Probably hole up, or get Roland to head out and harass our attackers."
	Roland	        looks over to Izem, "Yes?"
	CawklesGM	Maurice, cane in hand, struts into the room. He wrinkles his nose at the stench.
	Ace_Nerat	"So it's the natives eh?"
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	rests his hands on his belt, his right hand laying on the grip of his BR Pistol.
	Ace_Nerat	"Muff, go grab any extra guns off and out of the Aquila."
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	Izem points to Ishmael at Roland's "Yes?"
	Ace_Nerat	"And you boys got nothing to worry about." he says to the assembled plebs, "You got Grade A Snow Squad on the case."
	CawklesGM	Muffin nods. "Soor fing bess." She coots off, and Maurice stare at Ace. "Did you just give her permission to take my things? That harlot already stole my hip flask..."
	Ishmael	        "Ace, you might want to give her a hand. Those things are heavy."
	Roland	        looks at Ishmael, "So what is the plan?"
	Ishmael	        "And Maurice, those things might be what keep us and the rest of these folks alive and kicking. I'll pay you for them later if it bothers you that much."
	Ishmael	        "Roland, just keep an eye out from the windows. Don't want us outside any more than needed."
	Roland	        nods and moves over to the window.
	CawklesGM	The men look better, but not by much. Their hearts are steeled but they still know they're going to die.  Muffin returns, a bundle her in arms. "Meh geddy sum goodiez~!" She coos. She dumps the bundle onto the floor. Charge packs by the dozen, two grendes, a data slate filled with prurient imagery, a spare auto pistol...and a plasma gun. Those assembled can hear Jurdik's jaw hit the floor.
	Ishmael	        "Right... I also have a mortar available. Where do you want it?"
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	"Uhhh, shouldn't you know best? Given your station...Ish."
	CawklesGM	Sergeant Saffir rubs his chin. "Tell your mortar man to run across the street and meet up with Corporal Sudhir and Corporal Mahdu. They command the mortar sections."
	Ishmael	        "Well, yes. But I meant in terms of fields of fire and so on. Want me to go with them? Master of Ordnance and all."
	Ace_Nerat	"Get geared up and get your asses ready, we gonna kick some Dirtlicker asses."
	Roland	        watches out the window, but currently sees nothing.
	Ishmael	        gets going with Jurdik. "We'll get the tubes up and ready."
	CawklesGM	"Okay. We should-" It starts. The screaming. It's like a drunken klaxon, it's wail climbing up and down in pitch and cadence to make the noise sound as discordant as possible. The first cries from the east. Then to the south east. The west. The north. it's like every screamer on the perimeter has started to go completely insane.
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	[Bazir] "Ah shit."
	Ace_Nerat	"WHO ARE WE, BLAZING TRAIL!" he shouts encouragingly to the men "LET'S KICK SOME ASS!"
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	unholsters his pistol and checks it's load.
	CawklesGM	The soldiers inside leap to their feat instinctually. Sergeant Saffir thumbs his microbead. "LOOK ALIVE! LOOK ALIVE! LOOK ALIVE! WE'RE UNDER ATTACK, EVERYBODY TO COMBAT POSITIONS RIGHT FUCKING NOW!"
	Roland	        "Well fuck here we go boys."
	Roland	        "Abbass, follow me now, we going to the tallest building."
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	"I'll hold here then."
	Roland	        makes his way outside with Abbass and heads to the Chief's house as it appears to have the highest vantage point and makes his way to the roof to set up.
	CawklesGM	Abbass nods. Streams of troopers file out of the buildings, taking up defensive positions against the oncoming hordes. Rawans. They're not even trying to hide; this is a massed assault of black clad Al-Isman warriors, their faces obscured except by a single slit that reveals their hate filled eyes. Then there is a sound. A hellish sound. The pounding of hooves. Dozens of them.
	Ishmael	        tries to communicate with the local commander and Ace. "Master Rahsingh, here. Let us know when you folks want flares."
	Roland	        +Me and Abbass are making our way to roof of the building to the west.+
	Ishmael	        +Roland, let me know if you see anything that needs to be shelled.+
	Roland	        +Understood.+
	Roland	        gets on top of the building and gets ready and stealth's up.
	Roland	        "Keep you eyes open for these guys Abbass."
	CawklesGM	Maurice and his assistant deem it wise to hunker down in the building. That you are all woefully outnumbered is obvious. The war cries begin to rumble in the night...
	CawklesGM	[Qom]"IMPERATOR REQBAH! INFIDELS MUST DIE!" IMPERATOR REQBAH!"
	Ishmael	        +Give me a target.+
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	[Qom] "I'll show you infidel, you brick eaters!"
	CawklesGM	Ace and his comrade slip to the west, Muffin tagging beside him. "Ay, iffa meh die Boss, toll meh folkz meh serry an' meh neh regrit a fing."
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	switches to his lascarbine and readies himself.
	Roland	        readies his Triplex Lasgun and set in for precision.
	CawklesGM	As the pair move into position, they hear the chatter of near two dozen Rawa warriors. Looks like they aim to sneak, keeping low and trying to crawl into the fields of alien grain.
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	[Bazir] "Mother Ashura guide my aim as I work to protect your people against those who would harm them."
	Ace_Nerat	Waits until the enemy is withing striking range, slowly moving forward. Just when the enemy is close enough to notice him he leaps to his feet and lets out a guttural roar. He charges in, smashing into the enemy like a human tornado, slaying them in mere seconds.
	CawklesGM	The thunder of hooves grow into a deafening peal of equine energy. The squad that snow squad met with are cut down piecemeal, unprepared to meet the charge of the horse people. Their pitiful cries are horrifying, black waves of pain mingling with the blood and guts. Cynthia cries out in fear; Maurice, to his credit, does not look shaken at all. He does take out his power sword and Ripper Pistol.
        Izem_abn_Anaruz unloops a grenade and pulls the pin, he then let's fly with a frag grenade from inside the house after seeing the friendly squad get butchered. [Bazir] "Ashura preserve us, Ashura preserve us."
	CawklesGM	Izem's grenade elicits a cry of animal fear and pain. One rider is atomized, turned into gristle and black cloth, his horse turning into a gory soup. The leader rider, a woman, is thrown from her horse by the blast, her animal killed in the process. She cries out in pain as the animal traps her under its massive, bleeding corpse.
	Ishmael	        adds the thunder of a trio of mortars to follow the sound of horse charges and screaming.
	Roland	        opens fire at one of the enemy squads, taking out their commander.
	CawklesGM	The Blazing Trail near the fields fight back valiantly, but to not avail. The Horse warriors effortlessly swat away their blows.
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	A single drop of sweat slides into Izem's eye as the cacophony of battle roars. After watching the friendly squad get massacred Izem has a thought, a thought that makes him scrunch his eyes closed as he asks for forgiveness. He moves to the door and yells out to the remaining friendly, "don't let your death be in vain comrade! Use your grenades to take them with you to hell!"
	CawklesGM	Roland's sniper bolt elicits fear from the onrushing infantry horde. They return fire, dealing damage!
	Roland	        "Fuck, damn them." Rolands says after getting shot.
	CawklesGM	The man in the midst of the swirl of horse warriors is the one warrior who bitterly complained of their conditions when Snow Squad arrive. In a moment of clarity, he nods, at peace with his lot. With a great motion, he runs his finger across his belt, taking many rings with him. He rushes into the center of the squad. "IMPERATOR REQBAH!" And suddenly, his body is transfigured, disappearing into a thunderous explosion
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	shuts his eyes and lets out a shuddered breath. "Ashura guide your soul, brother."
	CawklesGM	The horse warriors disappear along with him in the explosion, a swirl of horse guts and human screams. Manat twinkles in the sky, wicked and exulting in the slaughter.
	CawklesGM	Muffin too is delighted with all the murder, her chain axe helping Ace reap a bloody swathe within the Rawa.
	Ace_Nerat	crashes into the river after the men, swatting men down left and right in a murderous rage.
	CawklesGM	The Calvary crushes the Blazing Trail, who run pell mell back into the village, bloodied and beaten.
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	lets out a war cry as he fires at the nearest enemy squad, suppressing them as best he can.
	Roland	        opens fire on retreating enemy taking out two of them.
	CawklesGM	The bloody flurry continues for a few more minutes. Rawa casualties mount. Their war cries become cries of retreat. The attack is repulsed...for now.
	Ishmael	        fires a parting barrage for good message. +Now, can I talk with who's in charge?+
	CawklesGM	The casualties, however, are untenable. An entire squad dead. Another with several dead and more wounded. But the toll this costed the Rawa was far greater. Their mangled and bloodied corpses mingle with that of their steads, and those not yet dead call out to the God-Emperor, their mothers, or Shaban. Many stay silent, taking their deaths with dignity like all men of Al-Isman stock should.
	CawklesGM	Maurice breathes a sigh of relief as he walks out onto the dirty ground battered with blood.
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	+IF there is anyone else left to talk to.+
	Ace_Nerat	returns, covered in blood and soaked. But carrying as many lasguns as he can hold.
	Ace_Nerat	"Might need these." he says, throwing them on thr ground
	CawklesGM	Abbass Clambers down from the roof, giving Roland a friendly pat. Muffin returns with ace, helping him with the load of guns, an idiot grin on her face. Jurdik looks pale, like he's seen a ghost.
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	walks about the dead-strewn battlefield and finishes off any enemy wounded.
	Roland	        relaxes for a moment as he watches the enemy retreat. "Well that was eventful." +Going to need to first aid, got hit by the enemy.+ Roland says as he makes his way down.
	Ishmael	        looks at Jurdik and lightly pats him. "Jurdik...?"
	Ace_Nerat	"WAHOO, WE GOT EM BOYOS, WHAT DID OL ACE TELL YA!" He yells into the night
	Roland	        rolls his eyes and laughs as he hears Ace shout.
	Ace_Nerat	"YOU HEAR ME OUT THERE YOU GROX FUCKERS, COME BACK FOR MORE ANYTIME!" he yells into the night.
	CawklesGM	Izem's rounds bring him to ground zero of the calvary attack, where they killed the BT squad to the man. Their corpses are twisted and mangled by the curved blades the Rawa Kadan wield. As he finishes off the wounded, a keening cry erupts from beneath a horse, followed by a gasp of breath. A form, lithe and athletic, squirms underneath a horse, her lower body crushed by the steed she was riding. She twists to see Izem approach. She tries to fish something from her belt, but is still too weak to move with any sort of vigor. She heaves and spits as he approaches.
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	+I'll see to you soon enough, Roland, sit tight.+
	Roland	        +Copy that I'll be up by the base of the high building.+
	CawklesGM	[Qom]"Kill me, Ra'iib." She says. "Kill me. Kill me. I'm a dead woman. Do it. Don't dishonor me. Kill. Me."
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	[Qom] "Accept your defeat with some dignity."
	CawklesGM	Jurdik pats Ishmael, looking at his superior. "We beat them today. But they'll be back. Tomorrow. The next day. The next day. And the Next. Aaftab are like this. They've done this to my tribe for centuries. We're dead men walking."
	CawklesGM	Muffin whoops alongside her superior. Meanwhile, the drama unfolding between Izem and the wounded woman continues.
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	shuts his eyes remembering, though newly met, comrades getting slaughtered by her formation. He shakes his head before looking at her again.
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	[Qom] "If you wish for the Emperor's Mercy, you'll give me information."
	Ace_Nerat	"Izem, we got a live one?" he calls out
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	"Yeah, alive. Not for much longer though." He calls back.
	CawklesGM	[Qom]"I will do no such thing," She spits. Her eyes, soft and soulful, fill with a familiar intensity. "Kill me."
	Ace_Nerat	"Let me get a shot at it!" he says excitedly before rushing over.
	Ishmael	        "That's why we need to get out of here. And for that I need you to focus. Can you do that for me? We've been through worse, we can make it out of this. We even survived the palace."
	Ace_Nerat	crouches next to the woman, playfully poking her face and ruffling her hair. "Well ain't you a cutie!"
	Roland	        +Izem, I'll be the Aquila actually.+ Roland then makes his way over to the Aquila.
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	smacks Ace's hand away, before giving him a glare.
	Ace_Nerat	continues to mess with her, even shocking her at one point with the maul.
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	Izem has a thought, and it makes his eyes go wide for a moment. [Qom] "Ashura, you're Aaftab aren't you?"
	CawklesGM	Maurice struts over to the woman and watches. Muffin squats beside Ace, ripping off the woman's headscarf. "Less' seh 'ere..." Muffin pauses, looking at the woman's face, hidden behind curls of black hair. A hardy face, a stern glare, and an earthy beauty about her. Her face contorts with pain at Muffin and Ace's attentions, her demands to be killed becoming pitiful begging.
	Ace_Nerat	"Shh shh dolly, no need to pout, cat got your tongue?"
	CawklesGM	[Qom]"Yes!" She gasps. "I am of the people of the Chahanda lowlands, the Aaftab, last preservers of the traditions of our ancestors. If you know of my people, then surely you know that I cannot stand for this torment. Do me honor, and give me a warrior's death! Please!"
	Roland	        opens the ramp to the Aquila to check on De Frank.
	CawklesGM	Jurdik watches the spectacle. His face is hard. He turns to Ishamel. "What do you think, brother? Should we reel this in before it gets too ugly?"
	Ace_Nerat	"Muff, hold her down so I can get the creature off!" he says
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	face contorts with anger. He takes a deep breath and calms himself. [Qom] "You deserve worse for this, know that I give you mercy not for you, but for the one I love, I wouldn't want to see her suffer like this."
	Roland	        has his weapon at the ready as the ramp lowers
	CawklesGM	Inside the Aquila, De Frank is curled into a foetal ball, an attempt to make himself as small a target as possible. He twists to see Roland appear, and actually breathes a sigh of relief.
	Ishmael	        readies his lasgun and takes aim at the woman, just in case.
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	makes ready to kill the woman with a lasbolt to the forehead.
	Roland	        looks at De Frank, "Get back up and stay in your seat." Roland says before entering to help De Frank back into his seat.
	CawklesGM	The woman stares at Izem. [Qom]"You know one of my tribe? Who? I wish to tell the God-Emperor to curse her name for mingling with heretics such as yourself."
	CawklesGM	De Frank groans, getting back into his seat. "Roland, I hope you and the rest of your friends have a plan. If I am to die, I'd rather it be AFTER I give Arwa my report. Not before. Be considerate."
	Ace_Nerat	attempts to move the creature(horse) off the woman
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	[Qom] "Her name is Kahina, your tribe threw her out." His finger curls around the trigger.
	Roland	        "Be happy its me in here right now and not the others or those that attacked us right now, or you would be dead."
	Ace_Nerat	pushes the creature off with the help of Muffin, then begins disarming the woman.
	CawklesGM	The woman sighs, almost sounding...frustrated? A "there-she-goes-again" sort of sentiment. [Qom]"Kahina Seif-Al-Din bint Shaban. Her crime: disobeying her elders. We thought she'd return to us someday, but it seems her failure has consumed her completely, and she now moves among the damned. Shaban and God-Emperor, forgive my wayward sister. She knows not what she does."
	Ace_Nerat	"Looks like you and your dirty friends got your teeth kicked in, shame."
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	[Qom] "She's always had my forgiveness, before I give you your mercy, what is your name?"
	Ace_Nerat	attempts to tickle the woman under her armpits
	Ace_Nerat	"Come on! give us a smile."
	CawklesGM	[Qom]"Hasmiq Al-Bari Bint Shaban. Kahina was my elder sister, the one whom = I looked up to the most. The day she left I was the only one who shed tears on her behalf, God-Emperor forgive me. I shamed my father that day with my outburst the same way I shame him now. A chieftain's daughter should never be defeated in battle. Alas, here I am. If you are to kill me, do it. I die without a husband or children, and thus my death will swiftly be forgotten. You will gain nothing from this."
	CawklesGM	Maurice produces a thick cigar from his jacket, lights the thing, and puffs away as he watches the scene unfold. He reaches for his hip flask but swears. It's gone.
	CawklesGM	Jurdik, the only other one who understands the exchange, swears loudly. [Qom]"You psycho Aaftab assholes..." He growls.
	Ishmael	        turns towards Jurdik, lowering his rifle. "Something the matter?"
	Roland	        after securing  De Frank back in his seat and exits the Aquila. He the looks over at the at the others members of snow squad as he watches for the edge of the ramp.
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	[Qom] "Go in peace Hasmiq, I'll at least commit you to memory for your sister's sake." Izem then puts a lasbolt between the woman's eyes.
	CawklesGM	"Yeah," he says, furious. "These people are all nuts. They don't live in the real world. That'd be fine...but my people have suffered for so long because of SHITSTAINS like that!" He jabs his finger at Hasmiq. The report of the bolt causes him to shudder. Hasmiq's head, so similar to that of her sister's, is blasted into charred chunks. Her lower jaw remains untouched, her tongue spasming in her mouth for a few moments before finally ceasing. The woman is dead.
	Ishmael	        looks away. "Guess that's that..."
	Roland	        Roland watches for a moment and then takes a seat on the edge of the ramp.
	CawklesGM	Muffin scratches her head. "Yooz 'ad a convo longa tan tah deek o' me coozin. Wass yeh seh boyo?"
	CawklesGM	Abbass takes out a lho and puffs away. Even after battle he still manages to look so suave. "Does it matter, Muff?"
	CawklesGM	Maurice raps his cane against the ground. "I for one am kinda curious."
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	"She was Kahina's sister." He says as he collapses onto the dirt, cradling his lascarbine.
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	"That, and the both of them are the daughters of the Aaftab's chieftain." He heaves a heavy sigh, "I thought it couldn't get worse, man Ashura keeps proving me wrong." He then hold his head with his hands.
	CawklesGM	Abbass purses his lips and teeters side to side. "Oooookaaaaay..." Muffin looks at the woman's corpse and scratches her chin. "Goos tah splane tah semblen unh?"
	CawklesGM	Maurice puts a consoling hand on Izem's shoulder. "Look kid, this kinda thing happens.  I know this sounds really NOT helpful, but...you just gotta shake it off. And probably not tell your lady friend that you did this."
	Ace_Nerat	"We'd better shore up these defenses ."
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	"Just leave me be, Rose."
	CawklesGM	Maurice chuckles. "Look kid, let me tell you a story. My first boss, a totally swell guy, married this totally swell girl. Except the girl's folks weren't such a big fan of the marriage and they came to blows. One thing led to another, and daddy dies with a power sword in his gut and mommy is stuck in a statis pod about my ship. What I'm trying to say is you can't let this shit slow you down. It happens all the ti-" Cynthia swats Maurice, who then gets the message. He skulks off towards the village's CP.
	CawklesGM	From the west, a black rider gallops towards the group, a white flag waving above his head. Everybody, including the battered BT squad going back to CP, watch as the man approaches.
	Ace_Nerat	stalks out and stands in the riders path, one hand gripping his new blade and the other holding out a hand to stop
	Ace_Nerat	"Stop before I fist you to death." He says, loudly and calmly.
	Ishmael	        takes aim with his rifle once more. +Prepare another flare and a pair of shells, just in case.+
	Roland	        gets up from the ramp and aims his weapon as well.
	CawklesGM	The rider stops. He speaks in Gothic, heavily accented, but still understandable. "I wish to parley," The proud figure asserts, looking dashing on the back of his steed. It seems like they sent the most impressive of their lot to negotiate. A white band bearing a medicae sysmbol adorns his right sleeve. "The sole daughter of my chieftain, honored Shaban Al-Matiq, lays dead or dying 'pon this field of battle. We wish her body and belongings returned."
	Ace_Nerat	"Well, If you can bring back all the men you killed here I'll call it an even trade." he says coldly
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	picks himself up and heads over to the parley. He gives a quick prayer for himself and the fallen as he makes his way over.
	CawklesGM	"Comport yourself like an honorabl man, Ra'iib. It would behoove you to do so. Are you in charge, then?"
	Ace_Nerat	"As far as you know." he says, crossing his arms
	CawklesGM	Muffin looks at the man with hungry eyes. "Meh inna cherge, akshully. Wenna cum ober to taht shed an' tolk?"
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	"Ace! What's the man want?"
	Ace_Nerat	"And get off that dirty beast."
	CawklesGM	"Muffin, Throne's teeth!" Jurdik says as he joins his comrades.
	Ace_Nerat	"He wants the prisoner of no face."
	CawklesGM	The man pinches his nose as he descends from his horse. "We're going to burn this place to the ground, Ra'iib. I want my half-sister's body and belongings. If you do this, I will gurantee all of you an honorable and painless death."
	Ace_Nerat	"Make another threat like that and I can't assure yours."
	Ace_Nerat	"Muffin here likes to experiment with blades."
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	[Qom] "Hardly a fair trade for Hasmiq, don't you think?"
	Ishmael	        screams. "You want more shellings, boss?!" He asks, trying to intimidate.
	Roland	        aims his sights on the head of the man.
	CawklesGM	[Qom]"How do you know her name?" He blinks. "No matter. What I'mn saying is no threat. It's fact. We have you surrounded. With each attack we kill more of your number. Your defeat is inevitable. Please, for the sake of us all, let's minimize the bloodshed here and settle business."
	Ace_Nerat	"I. For one. Enjoy killing your family and friends, so you're going to have to persuade me more."
	Roland	        +Hey pilot, can you have the Aquila guns aimed at they man over by the road+?
	CawklesGM	A figure, from behind, is charging down from the CP. A harried, old looking man, his wrinkly head looks as if somebody squeezed his neck and forced his head to balloon outwards. His pale skin and penetrating eyes make him look near crazed. "Stop that!" He screams. "Stop!"
	CawklesGM	The man looks down at Ace. "Fine, if this is how you'll act, I'll sweeten the deal. I will only ask for your surrender, not your death. But you must give me Hasmiq's body."
	Ace_Nerat	turns and watches the man with a bemused expression
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	takes a long swig from his canteen as he watches the scrawny man come towards the the exchange.
	CawklesGM	The Lieutenant pushes his way through the crowd. "Now listen here sonny, Ashura as my witness, you boys better leave my men alone. My comrades are gonna be here anyday now and they're gonna kick your butt. I swear on my life! It'll happen! Treat us nice now and maybe you'll be spared!"
	Ace_Nerat	"Silence."
        CawklesGM       The man on the horse guffaws. "Lt. Jobab Ben Mazara, I take it? Weakling Mahdi fool. Your men are two weeks out. And-" The man watches as the Aquila's turret moves underneath the tarp, pointing at his direction. He suddenly looks more severe. "And I don't think you're in any position to negotiate."
        Ishmael         tries to rush for the best vantage point possible. +Jurdik, keep the mortars ready.+
        Ace_Nerat       "We will let you have the body, and we will extract, that's my offer."
        Ace_Nerat       "Take it or die."
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	"If I may add, that you would be wise to accept, for you might win out in the end, but you will pay dearly, more so than how dearly Shaban paid for his transgressions."
	CawklesGM	+Gotcha boss.+ He replies. The two men stare each other down. The man climbs back onto his horse, an evil glare on his face. "Your men will leave this place by sundown. Go back to your den of heretics. In return, I *want* my sister. Set her and her belongings 60m down this road. Cheat us? You will greet the sun on a crucifix. We are done here." With that, the man speeds off down the road, to his people. The LT looks livid.
	CawklesGM	"What. The. HECK?!" He screams, shouting his feet. "Sundown? Tomorrow? We have no way to move the gear, no way to move the wounded, no way to do ANYTHING at ALL! And how do we know these jerks aren't going to kill us anyway?!"
	Ace_Nerat	"We don't."
	CawklesGM	Maurice, also rather pissy, jumps in. "I'm NOT leaving that Aquila behind. No way, NO HOW! That thing is SPECIAL to me, man! Come on!"
	CawklesGM	Muffin sighs. "Weh inna shet neh."
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	"We should give them the body back either way, it'll buy us time at any rate."
	Ace_Nerat	"Well then, we'd better get to digging in for another assault, unless we got another plan.
	Roland	        "I agree with Maurice this is really our only ride out of here. Plus the rest of use are out there still."
	CawklesGM	Jobab huffs. "Our priority should be moving the wounded!"
	Ace_Nerat	"LT, get you're men digging trenches and preparing traps, anything you can think of."
	Roland	        "Some one should contact Pounder to see where they are at."
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	"Right." Izem moves off to collect Hasmiq's body and her belongings to move her to the designated point.
	Roland	        "I guess I'll take care of that then." Roland then enters the Aquila and gets on the comms, +Sargent Pounder, this is Snow Squad come in over.+
	CawklesGM	The mangled corpse and its belongings are not too onerous of a body physically; mentally, that's a different story. Everybody present scurries off to their posts. Lt. Jobab huffs, looks like he's going to put up a fight, but relents. He gets the meagre remnants of his men to beging work on earthworks (saying over and over that the whole endeavour is a waste of time since they're supposed to abandon this position anyway), and tension once agains is in the air. A trio of somber black riders scoop up Hasmic's remains, and the countdown until sundown begins.
	Ace_Nerat	+Pilots, I want that gun roaring when they come for us.+
	CawklesGM	Maurice glares at Ace. "Mr. Nerat, they're MY employees, ya know."
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	is now in a robotic mode, seeing to the wounded once the grisly deed is done.
	CawklesGM	+Roland,+ Pounder replies. +I think we got something. Further south there's a Rawa Kadan FOB, a mean motherfuckin' compound if I've ever seen one. They use it to raid the surrounding area...and your tech-priest says they got promethium tanks, massive ones, just lying right out in the middle of place. Here's the problem. It's an FOB. It's crawling with the assholes.+
	Roland	+Well Fuck, we need that fuel before sundown, we ran into some trouble and need to leave by then or we will be attacked again.+
	CawklesGM	+Sundown. SUNDOWN? What gormless asshole managed to get this timetable rolling? This significaly complicates things.+
	Roland	        +You can thank the people that attacked us or they would be on our asses as of this minute.+
	Ace_Nerat 	gets the carts moved into place and takes his powerfist to the bridge.
	Roland	        +Izem, Ace get in hear now.+ Roland says.
	Ace_Nerat	after he and a few men get the bridge into place, he meets Roland.
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	After cleaning himself up a bit he head over to the Aquila. By this point Izem is more tired than he can even remember.
	Roland  	"I've contacted Pounder and I have good news and bad news"
	Roland  	"So which do you want first?"
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	"Might as well start with the bad news, not as if it could get any worse."
	Roland  	"Ok well this timetable has significantly complicated shit, for Pounder, as they found a FOB to the south with assholes guarding it, the good is that they have found massive promethium tanks there."
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	"Hmmmmmmm."
	Roland  	"Let me contact them again."
	Roland  	+Pounder you there still?+
	CawklesGM	+Shoot.+
	Roland  	+How many assholes are there guarding the FOB?+
	CawklesGM	+That I can see? Somewhere in the neighborhood of sixty. But lots are coming and going. We were trying to get a schedule together so we can calculate the best time to attack.+
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	"Tell 'em to sit tight for now, we're formulating a plan on our end."
	Roland  	+Keep trying to figure out the best time, we are formulating a plan over here now. We maybe coming to you to help.+
	CawklesGM	+Fucking hurry, PLEASE. If we got until sundown we don't have long.+