(3:08:14 AM) JackALope: It's a cold, rainy, late January day in the city of Dover. Despite being noon, the sun is nowhere in sight, as water falls from the sky onto the buildings and people below. Most of the civilians are staying in-doors, the refugees in their camp staying in their make-shift metallic shacks. Dover Base itself is abuzz with activity, the rumor of a large offensive having spread despite all
(3:08:14 AM) JackALope: attempts to keep it under-wraps. What is everybody doing?
(3:12:05 AM) ***Andrew_Mason is busy working in the technical role he's gotten used to in the 2 years since he was injured. Today he's going about it with an abundance of enthusiasm though. Just recently he was finally cleareed to resume duty as an Eishi!
(3:12:34 AM) Milena_Ogostra: Milena would be eating lunch in the cafeteria. Staring out the window, not really paying attention to her surroundings.
(3:13:41 AM) Vincenzo_Moretti: Vincenzo is also in the cafeteria. He's seated at his usual spot in a back corner, sipping a coffee and reading.
(3:17:10 AM) JackALope: Milena, your bodyguard, Gerry, is sitting across from you, reading a newspaper. He's already finished his lunch, and is waiting for you to be done. He looks up from his paper and asks "Rain any interesting?"
(3:17:48 AM) Milena_Ogostra: "No."
(3:18:01 AM) JackALope: Gerry smiles, and goes back to reading his paper.
(3:22:55 AM) JackALope: Andrew, you're ratcheting and wrenching away at a TSF, when your commanding officer, Chief Technician Richard Keanes, comes up to you. He's a rather stoic man, but he's been fair with you for the two years you've been with him. "Lt. Mason? You're working well, but I'm going to need to ask you to start working a little faster. This TSF needs to be 100% within a few days. I know I told you
(3:22:55 AM) JackALope: a week yesterday, but I just got word from my superiors that everything has been moved up."
(3:24:32 AM) JackALope: Vincenzo, as you sip on your coffee you can hear soldiers nearby gossiping about the upcoming mission. You hear two younger Eishi in particular chatting excitedly. "... I bloody can't wait to get out there and start gettin' into the thick of it!" "I know, right? They said we were going to see action months ago! I hate sitting at this base waiting for things to happen."
(3:25:12 AM) Andrew_Mason: "Not a problem, Chief! I'll have this baby working as well as when it came off the assembly line in no time!" Andrew says with a sharp salute, concious enough to avoid getting grease on his face (again).
(3:26:42 AM) Vincenzo_Moretti: Vincenzo pauses to look up at them, eyeing them with a very unimpressed expression. He snorts loudly, going back to his reading, knowing better than to try and convince them of their folly.
(3:28:08 AM) JackALope: Chief Keanes turns to go, but stops in his tracks. "Oh, by the way." He walks over and hands you a small metallic item - Your pilot's wings. "Doctor said to give these back to you. Once you get this TSF done, you'll be able to get back into one yourself." He scratches the back of his head. "I hate to lose a good mechanic like yourself. The rest of the idiots here barely know what they're
(3:28:08 AM) JackALope: doing..."
(3:32:26 AM) ***Andrew_Mason cracks a smile that would be incandescant if it was possible as he takes his Eishi wings and carefully pins them to his shoulder. "I want to thank you for everything you've done for me these last 2 years, Chief. I'd have gone nuts if i did nothing but physical therapy and sit in my room all day. If you have something particurlarly tricky, and i'm not busy with my normal duties,
(3:32:26 AM) ***Andrew_Mason i'd always be happy to lend a hand."
(3:40:04 AM) JackALope: "Thanks." That's all Keanes says as he waves and heads off to lecture a lazy mechanic nearby.
(3:40:37 AM) JackALope: Vincenzo, you notice a group of three Eishi chatting as they look and point your way. Whatever they're saying, it doesn't seem to be very nice.
(3:42:13 AM) ***Andrew_Mason doesn't take offense, long since used to Keanes' personality, and gets back to work with renewed intensity.
(3:42:43 AM) JackALope: Milena, you can over-hear a conversation that a nearby group of Eishi are having, as they have their attention focused on a grizzled, older-looking man sitting in the corner. "... no way, here?!" "I'm telling you, my brother served in the same Wing as him! His entire squadron, dead, besides him!" "Moretti the Cursed? Shit..."
(3:43:27 AM) JackALope: Gerry glares over their way, but just makes a "Tch"ing noise and goes back to his paper. "Damn rude kids..." He mutters.
(3:44:43 AM) Vincenzo_Moretti: He sighs under his breath, and finishes his coffee far quicker than he'd prefer. Better than missing out on the rest if they start some trouble... but easier to just ignore it. Kids will be kids, and if left alone they're less likely to cause trouble for him. He also makes a mental note of what page he's up to.
(3:47:09 AM) Milena_Ogostra: She listens in on the conversaton, although she doesn't bother looking away from the window.
(3:52:55 AM) JackALope: "... wouldn't be surprised if he acts as some kinda BETA beacon." "Man, don't joke about that. You want to jinx-" His words are suddenly cut off by a blaring alarm, warning lights all around the base flashing. A voice comes over the intercom. "ATTENTION: LARGE FORCE OF BETA ADVANCING OUT OF ENGLISH CHANNEL. ALL MEN TO THEIR STATIONS. ALL CIVILIANS TO THEIR SHELTERS. ATTENTION: LARGE
(3:52:55 AM) JackALope: FORCE..." The warning soon starts going on loop. The Eishi who was speaking shouts "I FUCKING TOLD YOU, MARK!" before rushing out with the rest of his group.
(3:53:38 AM) JackALope: Gerry's face flushes white, but he manages to remain calm. He grabs your arm, and pulls you up. "Come on, Milena, let's get going." He says in a shaky voice.
(3:54:39 AM) Vincenzo_Moretti: Vincenzo pulls himself upright with a humourless, grim smile. He closes his book and leaves the mug where it is, thankful for having finished it after all, and heads off.
(3:55:00 AM) Milena_Ogostra: "...Yes." She gets up and follows along.
(3:57:21 AM) JackALope: Andrew, you hear Chief Keanes shouting orders in the TSF hangar. "I DON'T CARE IF THEY'RE NOT FINISHED, GET THESE THINGS READY TO LAUNCH NOW! THE PILOTS WILL BE HERE IN LESS THAN THREE MINUTES. THAT'S THE TIME YOU HAVE."
(3:59:11 AM) ***Andrew_Mason snaps his head up as the alarm sounds, and heeding Keanes' orders, skips all the normal testing and checks and focuses on getting the TSF he's working on as function as he can in the time left.
(4:00:43 AM) Milena_Ogostra: "...What about Ivana?" She asks with a hint of worry as she's lead along.
(4:01:47 AM) JackALope: Gerry pulls you along hallways, heading lower into the base. The halls are crowded with people - Soldiers, civilians, and everybody in-between. It's hard to get anywhere, actually... People are panicking, trying to push their way through. "What happened to the early warning systems?!" You hear somebody shout. "I don't bloody damn know!" Gerry says to you "Ivana should be in the labs right
(4:01:47 AM) JackALope: now... That's an area that's very well protected. Don't worry about her. Let's just get you to the shelter." "EISHI COMING THROUGH!" The hallway opens up a little bit in the middle as a group of men with pilots wings pushes through, headed for the hangars.
(4:05:05 AM) JackALope: Vincenzo, you encounter the same in the hallways. It's a mass of chaos, really, as you have dozens of different people all trying to head in different directions. As a group of soldiers pass by with their guns, a mother loses hold of her young daughter. "Mommy!" The little girl cries, barely visible through the towering adults. "Daliah!" The mother, however, is swept up in the crowd,
(4:05:05 AM) JackALope: pushed along as the young girl is stranded in the wave of people, crying loudly. If anybody notices her, they're certainly doing a good job of ignoring her.
(4:05:42 AM) ***Andrew_Mason works with single-minded focus on the TSF, flying through reconnecting systems and refitting panels with incredible speed, so much so that he has it ready for combat with time to spare. Andrew uses what time he has left to ensure that the cockpit ejection, armored exoskeleton, and XM3 systems are running flawlessly.
(4:09:13 AM) JackALope: Gerry pushes on the earpiece he's always wearing, shouting "What?! I can barely bloody hear you! Say that aga-" His face suddenly blanches, as he stands in the middle of the moving crowd of people, motionless.
(4:10:03 AM) Milena_Ogostra: She looks up at Gerry, her expression changing into a slight frown. "Gerry?"
(4:10:28 AM) Vincenzo_Moretti: Vincenzo stops. He rolls his eyes at his own behaviour, and then walks over to the girl. With a heave, he picks her up, and heads for the closest shelter. He mutters grouchily, "Come on. You can't just stop there, let's get you somewhere safe, okay?"
(4:12:20 AM) JackALope: Andrew, as you finish up the TSF, you notice Chief Keanes talking on the phone in the hangar office. His mouth is moving, but you can't hear the words through the glass. Suddenly, his stoic face goes even more so, hardening like a rock. He nods, says one word, and hangs up the phone. He grabs the intercom microphone, and you hear his voice come through the speakers in the hangar. "All
(4:12:20 AM) JackALope: technicians, drop whatever it is you're doing at this moment and grab a rifle. Command says we'll have some unwelcome visitors in ETA two minutes." He pauses for a moment, then says. "Now."
(4:13:39 AM) JackALope: Gerry picks you up by under the knees and under the back, and starts carrying you, pushing with all his strength. "It's, umm, nothing, Milena. We just need to keep moving. Quickly."
(4:14:05 AM) JackALope: Vincenzo, the little girl continues to cry as you carry her. "But mooommy! She's over thereee!"
(4:14:06 AM) ***Andrew_Mason gulps nervously despite his years of experience fighting BETA and does as ordered.
(4:14:29 AM) Milena_Ogostra: "...If it was nothing you wouldn't have reacted like that."
(4:15:29 AM) Vincenzo_Moretti: "Yeah, but we can't get to her now. So we'll get you safe, and she'll come and get you later."
(4:16:07 AM) JackALope: Andrew, the technicians line up on the walkways and scaffolding of the hangar, pointing their guns towards the hangar doors. Everybody is sweating, and the tension is so thick you can feel it weighing down on you. Nobody is saying anything, just focusing on the doors.
(4:17:21 AM) JackALope: Gerry speaks as low as he can without letting anybody else hear. "The BETA are already within the base perimeter. We might not have time to get to the shelters, but I have to keep you safe..."
(4:18:13 AM) Milena_Ogostra: "...What."
(4:18:19 AM) JackALope: The girls calms down a little bit as the crowds begin to thin out slightly. "Mister... The BETA won't get us, right?" She says in-between sobs.
(4:19:28 AM) JackALope: Gerry speaks quickly as his eyes dart, navigating the hallways. "Early warning systems failed... We only knew they were here when the ship spotted them in the water. Tank-Class climbed the cliffs. Others are coming up on the beach-heads."
(4:20:32 AM) Milena_Ogostra: "...Go faster."
(4:20:42 AM) JackALope: "Yes ma'am." Gerry responds, succintly.
(4:21:21 AM) JackALope: Andrew, the room is startled by banging on the hangar doors. A shot is fired, and Chief Keanes shouts "HOLD YOUR GOD DAMNED FIRE." The banging continues, echoing throughout the hangar.
(4:22:37 AM) Andrew_Mason: "Everyone stay steady! When the BETA get in let's give them a rain of hot lead as greeting. Ouka was the turning point, it's only a matter of time before there are no BETA left on Earth!"
(4:23:13 AM) Vincenzo_Moretti: His tone is gruff and unwavering. "'Course not. We've managed this long, we survived when we had a lot less, so we'll be fine, don't you worry."
(4:24:57 AM) JackALope: "Ouka..." "Y-Yeah, we've got a veteran of Ouka here, don't we?" The technicians seem to ease up a bit. "Come on, Andrew, show us how it's done once those uglies pop in!" "Yeah! We won't let those fuckin' BETA touch any of our girls!" Keanes smiles slightly, keeping his eyes on the door. "Alright, you all. Pay attention..."
(4:28:37 AM) ***Andrew_Mason nods and steadies his rifle's aim on the door, saying "You got it! Try and concentrate your fire so the BETA get slowed down climbing over their dead. Every extra second counts."
(4:28:44 AM) JackALope: Vincenzo, you're making it down to the shelters at a ever-quickening pace, when suddenly you hear a scream from far ahead in the hallway you're in. "THE BETA ARE INSIDE!" Somebody shouts, and the hallway erupts into chaos worse than when the alarms first went off. The course of all of the civilians immediately reverses, and your grip on the girl begins to loosen...
(4:29:06 AM) JackALope: One of the hangar doors jars slightly, sunlight flowing in. The hands of Tank-classes reach in, trying to rend the door open. "FIRE! KEEP THAT DOOR SHUT!"
(4:29:44 AM) Andrew_Mason: "LIGHT IT UP!" Andrew yells as he begins firing short, controlled bursts at the breach.
(4:32:10 AM) JackALope: Vincenzo, the force of the crowd pushes the little girl out of your arms. "Mister! Mister! Help!" You see her small hand reaching out through the wall of people, seeking your own.
(4:33:24 AM) Vincenzo_Moretti: "Ah, merda." He strains to try and reach the girl again, but he's not as young as he used to be.
(4:34:57 AM) Vincenzo_Moretti: With a heave, he just manages to catch her hand again, and puts all his effort into holding on.
(4:35:18 AM) JackALope: Milena, Gerry is about to carry you down a flight of stairs when you hear screams of horror and pain come from down them. "Okay. Not that way." He turns left, and goes down a different corridor, instead. "Milena, dear, I need you to keep a look out for a place where we can hide, okay?"
(4:36:14 AM) Milena_Ogostra: "Y... Yes."
(4:37:47 AM) JackALope: Vincenzo, you can see the BETA at the far end of the hallway. A pair of Tank classes are pushing their way through, tearing their way through the crowd, limbs and gore and blood flying. Screams and the smell of death fill the air. It's only a short while until they reach you.
(4:41:05 AM) JackALope: Milena, you notice what seems to be a small broom closet in a hallway off to the side. It's relatively isolated from the rest of the hallway system, and is small enough to be barely noticeable by human or BETA.
(4:41:08 AM) ***Andrew_Mason has flashes of when he was injured in Ouka, but forces it down and keeps firing, cold sweat on his face. "DON"T FALTER! WE CAN'T LET THEIR DEATHS BE FOR NOTHING!!" Andrew roars as he picks his targets, riddling them with bullets.
(4:42:02 AM) Milena_Ogostra: She points out the closet. "Th-there."
(4:43:36 AM) JackALope: Gerry stops in his tracks, nodding and turning down the hallway. Nobody else is there, all the other people running frantically trying to escape the in-coming BETA. He puts you down gently, going for the handle. The door doesn't open, so Gerry curses and pulls out his pistol. "Cover your ears, dear." He points the gun at where the lock is on the handle...
(4:44:06 AM) Milena_Ogostra: She obediently places her hands over her ears.
(4:45:38 AM) JackALope: Gerry pulls the trigger, blasting the lock off. The door swings open, and Gerry proceeds to pull out all of the cleaning equipment, tossing it in the hallway. He sizes it up, as the screams get closer and closer to the little cubby hallway you're in. His face goes white for a moment, but then a look of resolve appears on it. He turns, and looks at you. "Milena, dear, please get in the
(4:45:38 AM) JackALope: closet."
(4:46:35 AM) Milena_Ogostra: She looks up at him. "...Gerry?"
(4:47:06 AM) JackALope: Andrew, bullets richochet off the door as others hit their mark on the Tanks. BETA fluids begin to fly as the door is slowly torn more and more open... Suddenly, a cheer erupts from the rear of the hangar, as you hear the distinctive sound of TSF engines starting up. "ABOUT GOD DAMNED TIME THE CAVALRY GOT HERE!"
(4:48:01 AM) Andrew_Mason: "YES! GO PULP THE FUCKERS!!" Andrew cheers as he keeps up the fire.
(4:49:59 AM) JackALope: Vincenzo, as you pull, you can feel the girl begin to come to you through the wall of people. She's extremely terrified, and you can smell both urine and feces coming from her. "Mister..." The Tanks are halfway down the hallway, and the wall of people begins to tip over. You can feel yourself being pushed down to the floor.
(4:52:33 AM) JackALope: What seems to be almost a wall of people seems to fall on top of you, Vincenzo. You manage to maintain hold of the girl, tight in your arms, but your vision goes dark as you're covered in squirming human bodies, desperate to escape.
(4:53:35 AM) JackALope: Milena, Gerry just smiles at you and says. "Milena, I'm glad I could have known you for these past few years." He puts a hand on your back, and gently urges you into the closet. You can hear large, loud stomping approaching from the main hallway.
(4:55:29 AM) JackALope: Andrew, two TSFs from the back advance through the hangar, their 36mms opening up on the door. Tanks continue to pour in regardless, some beginning to climb up the scaffolding, towards the technicians. You hear screams as one of the technicians is pounced. Tank bodies continue to fall, dead, towards the hangar floor, but more continue to climb. "FALL BACK! KEEP SHOOTING!" Chief Keanes
(4:55:29 AM) JackALope: shouts.
(4:56:05 AM) Milena_Ogostra: She allows herself to be guided into the clost. She doesn't say anything, the deep frown on her face doing the talking for her.
(4:58:48 AM) ***Andrew_Mason does so, and tries to get a shot off at the poor tech, but just can't.
(4:59:56 AM) JackALope: Gerry puts a finger over his lips, as he says. "Now, Milena dear, you're going to need to be very, very quiet." It's a tight fit, and you have to pull in your body. Gerry closes the door, as you hear him cock his pistol. The bullethole from before lets you see out of the closet. He takes a firing stance, and turns to face the hallway entrance.
(5:01:30 AM) Milena_Ogostra: Milena, as told, doesn't say a word. Her heart is racing, but there's not much she can do about that.
(5:02:10 AM) JackALope: Vincent, the screams go silent as you feel the two Tank-classes walk by you. They pull some people from the pile on top of you, but you manage to remain hidden with the girl still in your arms. You can barely move, but you can breathe, at least.
(5:03:35 AM) JackALope: The technician screams in agony as his lower half is separated from his upper half... One of the TSFs finishes the job, ending his suffering quickly, and taking the Tank out along with him. To your right, you see a pilot running for his TSF... Just for a Tank class to jump up onto the scaffolding and crush him. The Tank class turns to you, his jaw full of teeth opening, staring at you
(5:03:35 AM) JackALope: eyelessly.
(5:04:36 AM) Andrew_Mason: "DIE!!!" Andrew bellows as he opens up on it.
(5:04:36 AM) JackALope: Gerry shouts as he begins to pull the trigger. "EAT SHIT YOU BETA BASTAAAAAAAAAAAARDS!" As he empties the magazine, you can hear the sound of the gun clicking, out of ammunition. He continues pulling the trigger regardlessly.
(5:04:47 AM) Andrew_Mason: *at
(5:05:57 AM) JackALope: Andrew, the bullets slam into the Tank. You empty the magazine rather quickly... The tank stands there for a moment, staring... He takes a few steps forward towards you, then falls sideways off of the scaffolding.
(5:06:35 AM) ***Andrew_Mason reloads and finds another target to shoot.
(5:07:30 AM) JackALope: Vincenzo, after what seems like an eternity, you can no longer hear the Tanks, or feel their footstomps.
(5:08:06 AM) Milena_Ogostra: Milena shuts her eyes and places her hands over her head, unable to watch.
(5:08:52 AM) JackALope: Andrew, you see one of the two TSFs that was deployed being crawled upon by Tanks. The Eishi is desperately whacking at them with his combat knife, but they're making their way towards his cockpit, quickly. The other one is making some headway, but the amount of Tanks streaming through seems endless. The TSF the pilot was going for has it's cockpit still wide open.
(5:08:54 AM) Vincenzo_Moretti: Wary, he continues to lie still for a while, waiting to hear anyone else who survived stand up and look around.
(5:10:22 AM) JackALope: Milena, you hear the Tank charging down the hallway, Gerry shouting all the while pulling the trigger on his empty gun. You hear a loud THUD, as you feel the wall at the end of the hallway shake with great force.
(5:11:28 AM) JackALope: Vincenzo, you don't hear anybody else from outside the pile of bodies. The smell, however, soon begins to invade your nostrils, and your mouth. Blood, gore, brains, urine, feces, and some things you'd rather not know what they are.
(5:12:17 AM) JackALope: The girl you're holding in your arms is whimpering, clearly still absolutely terrified.
(5:13:10 AM) Vincenzo_Moretti: He veeeeeery cautiously tries to rise slightly and look around.
(5:13:12 AM) ***Andrew_Mason races as fast as he can to the TSF and hops in, skipping as much of the startup sequence as possible and strapping in as best as he can.
(5:13:28 AM) Milena_Ogostra: She pushes herself against the back wall of the closet, trying to compress herself as much as possible.
(5:14:47 AM) JackALope: Milena, as you hide as best you can in the closet, eyes closed, you hear the Tank walk away from the end of the hallway, back towards your closet. The footstomps stop, right in front of you.
(5:15:46 AM) Milena_Ogostra: She holds her breath, and silently curses the sound of her panicked heartbeat.
(5:16:14 AM) JackALope: Vincenzo, as you pull yourself up out of the pile of bodies, you can indeed confirm that the Tanks are gone. Everybody else around you seems to be dead, in various states of dismemberment, besides the little girl. Terrified death masks don the faces you see around you.
(5:17:02 AM) JackALope: Milena, you can feel what you can only guess is the Tank's breath seeping in through the bullethole.
(5:17:56 AM) Milena_Ogostra: She definitely does not open her eyes.
(5:19:21 AM) Vincenzo_Moretti: He leans down to the girl, and speaks in a hushed tone. "You need to close your eyes very tightly, now okay? You've been very brave."
(5:19:39 AM) JackALope: After a minute, you feel the hot breath stop seeping in, and the footstomps of the Tank start heading back to the main hallway.
(5:20:16 AM) JackALope: The little girl says. "Okay, mister, but... It's weird... I can't feel my legs..." Vincenzo, you notice she feels lighter to hold than before.
(5:22:04 AM) Milena_Ogostra: She lets her breath out and begins to breathe again. After a moment she brings her hands over her face and begins to silently cry, just barely stopping herself from full-on sobbing.
(5:22:56 AM) Vincenzo_Moretti: He doesn't react. His face stays very, very expressionless as he realizes. "...just try not to think about anything. Don't worry." He picks her up, closing his eyes for a second with anguish, and carries her off.
(5:28:20 AM) JackALope: Andrew! You find yourself rushing with the rest of the technicians to reinforce positions around the base. Organized resistance to the BETA is becoming more and more prevalent, with squads forming up to fight together.
(5:29:12 AM) JackALope: The three of you can all hear the sound of jets overhead, dropping bombs near the base, around the beaches.
(5:30:11 AM) ***Andrew_Mason doesn't let up, exsorcising a bit more of the trauma from his injuries during Ouka with every kill.
(5:31:47 AM) JackALope: Slowly but surely the BETA assault is pushed back. The base itself is cleared of Tank classes, and the beachheads are held against Destroyer and Grappler classes. By the end of the day, the halls of the base are painted red with blood, both human and BETA. The casualty figures are large, and continue to rise as the full death toll is taken. Vincenzo, you manage to get the girl to a triage,
(5:31:47 AM) JackALope: crowded with the wounded. She's taken from your arms by a nurse almost as soon as you get in there.
(5:32:12 AM) JackALope: Milena, you hide in your closet for what seems like days. Eventually, you hear the sound of footsteps coming your way again...
(5:33:26 AM) Milena_Ogostra: She slowly opens her eyes...
(5:35:43 AM) JackALope: You see a man in a blue and white uniform outside, holding a battle rifle. "... bloody 'ell. Poor guy." He says, looking in the direction of the end of the small hallway. He walks over, out of your sight. "... no dog tags. Okay, another civilian then..." You hear him writing something on a paper.
(5:37:45 AM) Milena_Ogostra: She comes to a stand on shaky legs. "They're gone?" She asks from the other side of the door.
(5:38:30 AM) JackALope: You hear the man outside fall over. "Oh shit! Is there someone in there?" He comes back into view, looking at the door.
(5:39:54 AM) Milena_Ogostra: "Y-yes. They're gone?"
(5:40:41 AM) JackALope: "Yeah, we pushed 'em out." The man opens up the door. "You okay?" He asks, looking you over.
(5:41:58 AM) Milena_Ogostra: She wipes her face on her sleeve. "Do you know if Professor Ogostra is... Alright?"
(5:43:34 AM) JackALope: "Professor Ogostra?" He looks confused for a moment. "Oh, the Russian broad down in R&D. I... Oh, you're her daughter, aren't you? Hey, I can find out for you, okay, that sound good?" He pulls out a radio from his bag.
(5:43:53 AM) Milena_Ogostra: She nods.
(5:45:46 AM) JackALope: "CP, this is Sargeant Howard." "Go ahead, Sargeant Howard." "Do we know if Professor Ogostra is safe? I have her daughter here, and she's anxious to know." "Give us one second, Sargeant Howard... Confirmed. Professor Ogostra is safe, as is the rest of the research team. The BETA were stopped in the elevator shaft by a squadron of Typhoons." The soldier smiles at you, giving you a thumbs
(5:45:46 AM) JackALope: up.
(5:46:23 AM) Milena_Ogostra: "Can you take me to her?"
(5:46:59 AM) JackALope: "Yeah, come on." He offers you his hand.
(5:47:52 AM) Milena_Ogostra: She takes the man's hand. "Thank you."




(3:37:55 AM) JackALope: Milena, you're led by the soldier through hallways filled with the dead and the dying, emergency triages operating wherever they can. There are several hallways blocked with the corpses of Tank Classes, their mouths agape in death. Eventually, you manage to get to the research team shelters, and are led in. A worried looking Ivana is standing there, biting her nails, pacing the floor.
(3:40:38 AM) Milena_Ogostra: She slowly approaches the woman. "Ivana?" She asks, her face expressionless.
(3:42:11 AM) JackALope: Andrew, you're part of the team that re-breaches the TSF hangar you were in before the attack. There are dozens of Tank Classes lying dead on the cement far below the scaffolding. One is dragging itself along the floor, looking up at you. A rifleman takes aim and puts him down. "... fuckers." He mutters to himself. There's a few TSFs lying amidst the dead. You see one with it's cockpit
(3:42:11 AM) JackALope: torn open, one with the cockpit missing, and one that is missing a few limbs, but it's cockpit intact. Rescue crews head down to them. You see a rookie vomit after looking into the one with the cockpit torn open, but you see crews scrambling on the one still intact. One of them shouts "WE NEED A TECHNICIAN DOWN HERE NOW! SOMEBODY GET THIS COCKPIT OPEN!"
(3:43:11 AM) Andrew_Mason: "ON MY WAY!" Andrew shouts as he rushes over.
(3:43:12 AM) JackALope: Ivana turns around, and rushes towards you, pushing past the rest of the assembled scientists. "OhmygodMilenathankgodyou'restillalive." She's speaking extremely fast and nervous as she wraps her arms around you and pulls you into a tight hug. "Idon'tknowwhatI'ddoifyouweredead."
(3:44:40 AM) JackALope: Vincenzo, after dropping off the girl at one of the makeshift hospitals dotting the base, you make your way back to the Cafeteria. As you walk in, you realize that this is one of those dots. Moans of pain fill the room as doctors and nurses scramble around, doing what they can to save patients, or make things less painful for those they can't.
(3:45:21 AM) Milena_Ogostra: She gives into the hug and wraps her arms around Ivana. "...You're alright?"
(3:46:23 AM) JackALope: Andrew, you climb down the scaffolding and get to the fallen TSF. The rescue crew leader grabs you as you approach. "Okay, vital signs say the guy in there is still alive. We have no fuckin' clue how to open that, so you need to before he runs out of air." He gives you orders, then, without much grace, pulls you over to the cockpit of the TSF.
(3:47:25 AM) ***Andrew_Mason nods and gets to work getting the cockpit open
(3:48:11 AM) JackALope: "I'mokay..." Ivana takes a deep breath in, beginning to cry a bit. "Yeah, I'm okay. Now that you're here, now that I know you're safe..." She looks around. "... where's Gerry?" The look on her face suggests she already knows.
(3:48:34 AM) Milena_Ogostra: "...He protected me."
(3:50:37 AM) Vincenzo_Moretti: Vincenzo grumbles slightly on seeing it. He casts his eye around the area, looking for anything that stands out, but resigning himself to the fact that he probably won't get that coffee.
(3:52:01 AM) JackALope: Ivana looks angry, pulling one arm out of the hug, and slamming it on a nearby wall. "God damnit... This wasn't supposed to happen... The early warning system was supposed to let us know, and..." She slumps her shoulders, and says "... I'll have to write a letter to Gerry's family later."
(3:52:47 AM) JackALope: Andrew, you manage to get the hatch open without much trouble. Inside is a young Eishi, who begins screaming as soon as the hatch is opened. "PLEASE NO! PLEASE GOD NO! PLEASE DON'T KILL ME!"
(3:53:29 AM) Andrew_Mason: "It's ok! The BETA are gone! You're safe!"
(3:55:53 AM) Milena_Ogostra: She involuntary flinches at Ivana's display. "...I'm sorry."
(3:57:25 AM) JackALope: "They... They're gone...?" He calms down, and breaks down. "Oh thank god... Oh thank you..." You're moved out of the way as the rescue team scrambles into the cockpit, pulling him out. He can barely stand on his own, and has to be supported by the others. When he sees the two other TSFs in the hangar, though, his relief quickly fades. "... Greg? ... Andy?" He moans a cry of despair, and
(3:57:25 AM) JackALope: the rescue crews have to hold him back from running over to the other TSFs. "NO! WHY?! WHHHHY?!" He struggles as the rescue crews continue trying to pull him out of the hangar.
(4:00:30 AM) JackALope: Ivana hold you again. "... It's not your fault, Milena. Gerry was the kind of man who'd do that on his own." She waves over a younger looking scientist. "Robert, can you take Milena back to our quarters? I have to get things organized here." Robert nods, and Ivana turns back to you. "You go with Robert now, okay, Milena? I'll come back in a few hours, once things have calmed down here."
(4:01:20 AM) Andrew_Mason: "HEY! I know it's horrible that you lost your teammates, but you need to hold your grief in until later. We've still got a ton of work to do here, and you're getting in the way of it. If you want to make their deaths worth something, live on and kill a shitload of BETA!" Andrew says as he move over and gets in the guy's face.
(4:01:39 AM) Andrew_Mason: *moves
(4:01:45 AM) JackALope: Vincenzo, as you're standing around, a doctor-looking type grabs you by the shoulders. "You. You're not doing anything. Do you know how to tie a tourniquet and put bandages on?"
(4:01:46 AM) Milena_Ogostra: She looks to Robert and then back to Ivana. "Alright."
(4:02:27 AM) JackALope: The man quiets down, but continues to look completely broken. Makes it easier for the rescue crew to carry him out, though."
(4:02:55 AM) Vincenzo_Moretti: He sighs, resigned. "Yeah... yeah. I've done it a few times before. Just show me where..."
(4:03:35 AM) ***Andrew_Mason sighs sadly as images of his dead comrades appear in his mind, but he shakes his head and gets back to work.
(4:03:46 AM) JackALope: "Good." The doctor walks off quickly, assigning you to a post. You spend the rest of the day doing basic medical work. You manage to save a few lives, at least.
(4:08:08 AM) JackALope: A few days pass. Andrew, Vincenzo, you're both drafted into the clean-up operation, hauling corpses, human and BETA, clearing rubble, cleaning up blood and gore from hallways. It's not pleasant work, to say the least, but over time the base looks less and less like the warzone it was not too long ago.
(4:09:49 AM) JackALope: Vincenzo, you're informed that the squad you had just finished training in preparation for the upcoming offensive suffered 100% casualties when they were deployed as reinforcements. Only three out of the 12 survived, all of them barely.
(4:13:01 AM) JackALope: Milena, it's three days after the attack, and you're at home, in your room. School has been canceled for the foreseeable future, and Ivana has been out of the house, managing the recovery on the research end. She's told you to stay in your shared quarters for now, until things completely settle down, and you can be assigned a new bodyguard. Right now, though, you can hear what sounds like
(4:13:01 AM) JackALope: Ivana and two men talking in the living room. Ivana sounds angry.
(4:14:30 AM) Vincenzo_Moretti: Vincenzo has a moment upon hearing that. It's kind of... not unexpected, but still.
(4:14:46 AM) Milena_Ogostra: Milena's going to lie back on her bed and try to listen in...
(4:18:37 AM) JackALope: Andrew, you're put on stand-by and told to wait for orders. You also haven't had the chance to get into a TSF yet, either.
(4:19:37 AM) JackALope: Milena, the discussion is barely audible through the walls, but you can pick up on some words. "... just a girl..." "...need the manpower..." "... won't have it!" "...every warm body counts..."
(4:21:15 AM) Milena_Ogostra: She frowns, continuing to listen in.
(4:23:26 AM) JackALope: "...not even trained!" You can't hear the next words from the men, but you immediately hear Ivana shout afterwards. "ABSOLUTELY NOT. DON'T YOU EVEN DARE MENTION THAT AS A POSSIBILITY." She immediately quiets down, conscious of what she just did. The discussion continues at a lower volume afterwards.
(4:23:42 AM) ***Andrew_Mason keeps himself busy and eagerly awaits his assignment.
(4:26:15 AM) Milena_Ogostra: After a while of not being able to make out any more of the discussion, she returns to studying, although she never totally stops listening.
(4:31:19 AM) JackALope: After another while, you hear the two men leave your quarters. Ivana comes and knocks on your door. "... Milena?" She calls, sounding rather dark.
(4:31:43 AM) Milena_Ogostra: "It's unlocked."
(4:32:23 AM) JackALope: She opens the door, enters, and closes it behind her. She tries to smile. "How's the studying going?" She asks casually.
(4:33:21 AM) Milena_Ogostra: "...What's wrong?"
(4:35:03 AM) JackALope: Ivana laughs, her flimsy facade having been penetrated. She sits down on the bed, looking away from you. "You know you're a very special child, right, Milena?"
(4:35:20 AM) Milena_Ogostra: "...Yes."
(4:38:12 AM) JackALope: "... The UN has decided that, since you're so special, they need you to replace another special child they had prepared for the upcoming operation, who was... Lost, in the incident three days ago. I... Tried to tell them no, but they threatened to throw me in prison and take you anyways..." She begins to cry. "... I'm so sorry, Milena."
(4:40:46 AM) Milena_Ogostra: A frown forms on her face as she processes this. "But I can't. I never could."
(4:42:41 AM) JackALope: "I... Tried to tell them that, but they wouldn't listen." She throws her arms up, dropping them back down with a flop. "They're convinced you're exactly what they need."
(4:44:46 AM) Milena_Ogostra: "...How?"
(4:45:36 AM) JackALope: "They wouldn't say. Just that 'Any Alt III girl is better than none'." She sounds extremely bitter.
(4:47:36 AM) Milena_Ogostra: She pulls her legs in close to her body. "What will I have to do?"
(4:48:28 AM) JackALope: "They're going to come by tomorrow you get you ready. They didn't give me the details, but... They said you're going to have to pilot a TSF, and be deployed in combat."
(4:50:48 AM) Milena_Ogostra: She breaks eye contact with Ivana. "...Alright."
(4:52:53 AM) JackALope: "I... Should have allowed you to train for the TSF. I wanted to keep you away from it, but I..." She chokes up, but regains her composure. "Milena, there is one thing we can do. Since you're one of those special children, we can... It's a complicated process, but it will give you the skills needed to pilot a TSF in less than a day. It... Might not work, though, and you might be seriously
(4:52:54 AM) JackALope: hurt if things go wrong... But I... I want to give you something that can help keep you safe. I'm leaving the decision up to you, though, Milena, if you want to go through with it or not."
(4:57:23 AM) Milena_Ogostra: "Can I think about it?" She asks, staring at her hands.
(4:58:49 AM) JackALope: "Yeah, of course you can." Ivana says, trying to sound happier. "That, at least, you can..." She gets off of the bed, and heads for the door. She squeezes your shoulder as she walks past, standing there for a moment. "... I'm so sorry I couldn't keep you safe, Milena. Please, forgive me." She continues for the door.
(4:59:40 AM) Milena_Ogostra: "It's not your fault."
(5:00:19 AM) JackALope: She stops in the doorway, thinking about it for a moment, but doesn't say anything. She closes the door softly behind her.
(5:02:55 AM) Milena_Ogostra: She sits like that for a while, staring at her hands and thinking.
(5:08:37 AM) JackALope: Milena, the day after, you're taken down to the research labs, where you're strapped into a chair with a mechanism placed around your head. You're unconscious for a few hours, during which time you have terrible nightmares that you can't exactly remember. You wake up disoriented, nauseous, and feeling like you haven't slept for days. You're kept in the infirmary, much to Ivana's chagrin,
(5:08:37 AM) JackALope: for the next 24 hours, constantly being monitored by a variety of doctors. After those 24 hours are over, you're put into the cockpit of a TSF - And somehow you know exactly how to use it. Everything comes naturally to you, although the shaking of the cockpit makes you almost lose the hospital food that was shoved down your throat a few hours before.
(5:10:47 AM) JackALope: Over the course of the next few days, things fully settle back down on Dover Base. The United Nations comes in and takes over, after it was revealed that negligence on part of British High Command caused the Early Warning System to not work properly. New recruits and reinforcements flood into the base, and despite it being a classified military secret, everybody knows they're here to
(5:10:47 AM) JackALope: replace the soldiers meant to assault Europe. Supplies and equipment come en masse, and the base is abuzz with activity.
(5:16:37 AM) JackALope: Vincenzo, you're called back into active duty, and told to report to Squadrom Room E7 at 800 hours. Andrew, you're given the same orders. Milena, you're dragged rather unceremoniously by a Lt. in British uniform from your house, and taken to that same squadron room. The three of you are assembled there, sitting in chairs, and waiting. The Lt. who dragged Milena there is standing up at
(5:16:37 AM) JackALope: the front, filing his nails. He looks rather bored.
(5:17:57 AM) Milena_Ogostra: Milena sits quietly, wearing the same blank expression she usually does.
(5:18:15 AM) ***Andrew_Mason quietly observes the others, managing to restrain his curiocity for now.
(5:19:52 AM) Vincenzo_Moretti: Vincenzo makes just enough effort to look as attentive as will be expected of him and no more, knowing what's happening.
(5:21:17 AM) JackALope: After a while, the door opens, and a man with captain's bars on his shoulder walks in with a female 2nd Lt. following him. The Captain looks stern and cold, and the 2nd. Lt girl looks terrified of him. The 1st. Lt comes to attention, and calls out. "Sah-loot!"
(5:21:56 AM) ***Andrew_Mason stands and snaps off a salute.
(5:22:33 AM) Vincenzo_Moretti: Vincenzo does the same.
(5:22:41 AM) Milena_Ogostra: Milena imitates the others after a short delay.
(5:25:38 AM) JackALope: The Captain stops in front of Milena. He looks at her for a while, before returning to the 2nd. Lt. "... is this the girl?" The 2nd Lt. nods, scrambling for some papers she's holding. "Y-Yes sir. Milena Ogostra, adoptive daughter of Ivana Og-" The Captain interrupts her by grabbing a box from her pile of items and tucking it under one of his shoulders. He then stands and looks at Milena
(5:25:38 AM) JackALope: for a little longer, before grabbing the hand she's saluting with and adjusting it roughly. "Sloppy. Correct that next time, Lt. Ogostra." He opens the box, takes out a brass bar, and pins it to the size-too-large uniform she's found herself wearing.
(5:26:29 AM) Milena_Ogostra: "It won't happen next time, sir."
(5:31:33 AM) JackALope: "Better than the last girl. Took her two weeks before she called me 'sir'." "Yes, Captain, sir." The girl behind him agrees. He walks up to the front of the briefing room, and lays down his folder on the podium in front of him. "The reason you're all here is because the United Nations considers you simultaneously to be the most useful and most disposable people on this base. The two of
(5:31:34 AM) JackALope: you-" He looks to Vincenzo and Andrew "-are veterans who have faced the BETA personally and lived to tell about it. Lt. Ogostra, you know your special circumstances. You're highly skilled, but not very important. That makes you all perfect to be new members of Special Forces Squadron Delta Five."
(5:33:52 AM) Milena_Ogostra: Milena listens, blank-faced.
(5:34:24 AM) ***Andrew_Mason doesn't like the sound of 'most disposable' but keeps it to himself.
(5:36:09 AM) Vincenzo_Moretti: Vincenzo's mouth quirks ever so slightly upwards at 'disposable', but it's barely noticable. "Sir," he acknowledges.
(5:45:30 AM) JackALope: "Delta Five and the other Special Forces Squadrons perform the missions that no other squadron is capable of performing. Entire campaigns will fail or succeed based on whether or not we can accomplish our objectives." He stands up from the podium, and says. "I am Captain John Peterson, Delta Five's commanding officer." He motions to the 1st Lt., who has gone back to filing his nails.
(5:45:30 AM) JackALope: "This is 1st Lt. Hans Goldstein, our Blast Guard." He then motions to the girl standing nervously behind him, fidgeting in place. "This is 2nd Lt. Amile Boulard, my XO. She's new." She laughs nervously, waving at the three of you, before being glared at by Peterson. He then stares at you for a few seconds, before saying. "There were five others who gathered in this room a week ago. We
(5:45:30 AM) JackALope: were the first ones in our TSFs, and the last ones out. I expect out of each and every one of you the same that those five gave me. Is that understood?"
(5:46:23 AM) Vincenzo_Moretti: "Sir." If Vincenzo has a reaction to this, he doesn't show it.
(5:46:48 AM) Andrew_Mason: "Perfectly, sir."
(5:47:37 AM) Milena_Ogostra: "Yes, sir."
(5:52:19 AM) JackALope: "Very good." He nods over to Boulard, who walks over and hands each of you a packet, labeled "CONFIDENTIAL: OPERATION NORTHERN HAMMER". "United Nations high command has decided that, in order to prevent another BETA attack such as the one last week, we will be assaulting the European mainland tomorrow. Before you complain about short notice, I was only told two hours ago."
(5:53:03 AM) Vincenzo_Moretti: Vincenzo's eyebrows go up, and his mouth is pressed thin.
(5:53:22 AM) ***Andrew_Mason winces, and nods in understanding.
(5:53:45 AM) Milena_Ogostra: Milena opens the packet, her expression unchanging.
(5:58:59 AM) JackALope: There's a finely detailed report filled with words that you don't understand, and maps with lots of arrows that don't make any sense. Peterson goes on, as Boulard begins to draw a simpler map on the board. "At 700 hours, Orbital Divers and Amphibious TSAs will commence an attack on the former French city of Calais. At 720 hours, us, along with the other Special Forces Squadrons, will drop
(5:58:59 AM) JackALope: out of planes behind enemy lines. The Orbital Divers and Amphibious TSAs will have taken care of the Laser Classes to allow us to drop, but our objective from then on will be to eliminate any Laser or Heavy Laser Class reinforcements that appear. At 730 hours, bombers will be over the French mainland, ready to drop their payloads on the BETA forces. The horizon must be clear of Laser and
(5:58:59 AM) JackALope: Heavy Laser Class by then. Is our mission understood?"
(5:59:51 AM) Milena_Ogostra: "...Yes, sir."
(6:00:12 AM) Vincenzo_Moretti: "Sir."
(6:00:16 AM) Andrew_Mason: "Yes sir!"
(6:03:20 AM) JackALope: "Good. If we successfully complete our objectives, then humanity will have gained a foothold in Europe. You are to assemble here at 600 hours, tomorrow morning. Lt Moretti, Lt Mason, you are dismissed. Lt Ogostra, please come see me."
(6:04:14 AM) Andrew_Mason: "Sir."
(6:04:56 AM) Vincenzo_Moretti: Vincenzo nods, salutes, and then leaves without further preamble.
(6:05:13 AM) ***Andrew_Mason follows Vincenzo out.
(6:06:14 AM) Milena_Ogostra: Milena puts the report back in the packet. "...Sir?"
(6:06:41 AM) Vincenzo_Moretti: When he's out in the hallway, Vincenzo stops Andrew. "You... what's your name? Mason? You were an engineer, weren't you?"
(6:07:34 AM) JackALope: "Lt. Ogostra, from today onward, you are no longer quartering with Professor Ogostra. Lt. Boulard will show you to your new quarters. Any questions?"
(6:07:55 AM) Andrew_Mason: "Yes, Andrew Mason, sir. I worked as an engineer on base while i recovered from injuries i suffered during Operation Ouka."
(6:07:57 AM) Milena_Ogostra: "...Why?"
(6:09:10 AM) JackALope: "I was not told why, Lt. Ogostra. I was simply told to inform you. The orders were handed down from High Command."
(6:09:44 AM) Milena_Ogostra: "...I understand."
(6:10:25 AM) Vincenzo_Moretti: "Why in the hells would you want to go back to piloting..." he mutters to himself, not really intending to be heard. "Anyway." he continues, more directly and clearly. "We got any Tornados on base? Or am I going to have to use one of the damn new things?"
(6:11:54 AM) JackALope: "Good. Lt. Boulard, if you would?" "Y-Yes, sir!" The nervous French girl walks up to you, smiling. "Come on, Milena. The rooms are actually really comfy! You'll like them, I promise." She sounds genuine enough. Peterson and Goldstein move out of earshot and beginning talking in low volume to one another.
(6:13:09 AM) Milena_Ogostra: She follows after the girl, not responding to her assurances.
(6:14:59 AM) Andrew_Mason: "Typhoons are the standard TSF for all Eishi on the base, sir. They're really quite impressive from me experience working on them, and i think you'll enjoy piloting one."
(6:16:18 AM) JackALope: Boulard takes you to your room, trying to make conversation, but giving up eventually. You get to a section of the base where the actual soldiers live, far away from where you and Ivana lived together in civilian housing. "Ahh, here it is!" There's a nametag next to the door "2ND LT OGOSTRA". "You'll be staying here from now on, okay, Milena dear?"
(6:17:04 AM) Milena_Ogostra: She nods.
(6:17:05 AM) Vincenzo_Moretti: "We'll see about that," he replies, surly. "Sure, I bet they're real nice and shiny and fast, but I'd be happier and more comfortable with a Tornado... bah."
(6:18:30 AM) Andrew_Mason: "A Tornado? Those are only used as training TSFs now, sir. I'm sure you'll change your mind when you see how much better they perform against the BETA."
(6:18:45 AM) JackALope: Boulard opens the door, and shows you inside. It's... Pretty bleak, actually. Metal walls, metal lockers, a metal table and chair, a metal hangar with a new uniform on it - Hopefully one that fits, this time - And a gray bed with white sheets and pillows. Boulard is trying to make the best of it for you, though. "... the bed is actually really comfy!"
(6:20:17 AM) Milena_Ogostra: "..."
(6:21:17 AM) JackALope: "Ahh, I'll... Let you get settled in, then! I'm sure you can figure everything out." Boulard almost trips over herself leaving the room. Once she closes the door behind her, you're left in there entirely by yourself.
(6:22:34 AM) Vincenzo_Moretti: "Yeah, sure..." Vincenzo wanders off, unconvinced and grumbling.
(6:23:22 AM) Milena_Ogostra: Milena sits down on the bed and holds her head in her hands. After a few minutes she begins to silently cry.
(6:24:32 AM) ***Andrew_Mason shrugs and heads for the hangar. If he's going into battle tomorrow, he's going to make sure his TSFs ready personally.