Liberation of Nova Spera Session 5

	CawklesGM	IT IS THE 41st MILENNIUM...
	CawklesGM	And it is 0600, 003.998M41. It has been two days since Operation Bleak Feast, a span of time that was more akin to an eternity than a mere passing of the hours. Despite the rough sequence of events that has led Snow squad here, the flight to the Argo has been a boon for the squad. In the short span of time they've been here, they've managed to get fresh uniforms, hot chow, and even warm showers. Creature comforts like these can go a long way in trying to wipe away what one has brought in from the outside, but nothing short of a mind scrub can clean away all the filth of what has been witnessed prosecuting the Blazing Trail's war. After long delay, Snow Squad has been summoned to appear before their "Superiors". Those in charge wisely waited for Sergeant Kassem and Ziida's squad to arrive before proceeding with the meeting. As Snow Squad walks through the grungy ferrocrete tunnels of the Argo's lower levels, the weight of the events unfolding begin to become clear. The walk through the spacious tunnels is fraught with interruption; all the personnel, aides-de-camp, and men on liberty want to see Snow Squad for themselves. Some of the younger soldiers, green men who have yet to leave the comforting embrace of the Argo, gawk shamelessly. Snow Squad, they say. THE Snow squad. The boys who rushed pell-mell into the Al-Ashur without a single death, the boys who covered the retreat of BT forces by sealing the entrance to the temple, the boys who heroically drove off a Divine Cohort ambush party hell bent on slaying their sisters-in-arms. The closer they approach their destination, the more they hear tales of their exploits get exaggerated.
	CawklesGM	Finally, Sergeant Kassem leads his men to their destination. The hermetically sealed bulkhead of Colonel's quarters is surrounded by serried ranks of desks attended by all sorts of factotums, secretaries, vox-operators, and administrators who create quite a din as they scurry about their business. This large room is replete with propaganda material staring down from the high walls; savage caricatures of Blazing Trail enemies, resplendent red banners extolling the virtues of Syncretism and the "People's Society." It's all very inspiring, sure, but it fails to stir the hearts of most of Snow Squad. To these hardened warriors, such sentiment is worthless. Less than worthless. Many cast their gaze to their wheelchair-bound comrade Izem, still wrapped in bandages, attended to by his dutiful subordinate Kahina. They shudder. That could have easily been them...
	CawklesGM	The sealed doors open up, and attendants quickly usher the squad in. Suddenly, the squad are packed into a tight room covered in loose papers, tactical maps, mugshots, reports, holo-displays...the hurricane of information available is mind-boggling. The room is dominated by a central long table, a massive map of the city and the surrounding ocean sprawled across. Various little tokens dot the map. Three figures hover around the table...a baby faced Arkwrighter with the bearing of an officer, a well dressed Mahdite man with an impeccably waxed mustache and gregarious manner, and an older woman, her seared brown skin and white hair looking haggard with stress. But her face, small and unassuming, looks icy with determination and deep thought. You can't help but be impressed with her composure. It appears you have caught your superiors in mid-conversation.
	CawklesGM	"...thousands of Divine Cohort, here...here...and here." Oliver De Frank points at the Tareb Gate district. "And if our spies are correct the loggerhead between Ya'Mamoto and El'Res'Tanaka is quickly giving way in favor of the Red Knight. Looks like Bleak Feast finally got their attention.
	CawklesGM	"So does this mean we can expect auxiliaries?" The older woman asks.
	CawklesGM	The Mahdite man nods, solemnly. "We have every reason to believe that they are on the way as we speak."
	CawklesGM	A pithy curse comes from the mouth of the woman. "Snow Squad's reports have been corroborated," Continues the Mahdite man. "We now have a time, date, and place for the Divine Cohort's offensive. The Tau and the Cohort are going to go at it in two weeks and counting. We had better prepare."
	CawklesGM	The woman looks up, and sees Snow Squad standing before her. "And speak of the Djinn...Snow Squad. A pleasure to have you." Now that's she's looking at you, you can see clearly who it is. Colonel Sophia Ult Myassa.
	CawklesGM	The Handsome Mahdite man, and older fellow but fashionably dressed, perks up as he hears the name of your Squad. His countenance lights up like Amm, and he looks almost beside himself with mirth. He has to bite his tongue and let the Colonel handle the business with her inferiors.
	Kassem_Marqus	braces, and calls "ATTENTION!"
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	gives his superiors a weary salute from where he sits.
	Rajh_Tara	salutes.
	Roland	        salutes
	Kassem_Marqus	His hand snaps to his brow in a salute.
	XMB-173	        hesitates and looks to his fellows, then salutes
	Ace_Nerat	pulls out a sloppy salute
	Ishmael	        sharply salutes.
	CawklesGM	The comrades follow suit, their weary forms making the motion difficult. "At ease. Lord Proctor Nageswa, take down what is said. Debriefing begin."
	CawklesGM	Oliver De Frank immediately slides in front of the table. "Sergeant Marqus and all present, during the duration of Operation Bleak Feast, you claimed you went up against two highly trained Imperial Soldiers. Did you, perchance, see them kidnap an al-Isman man? Middle aged?"
	CawklesGM	Kahina coughs. She was not there for Bleak Feast, but she heard stories. The very idea of what happened seems to make her visibly uncomfortable.
	Ace_Nerat	"I got shot with a crossbow if that helps."
	Ishmael	        keeps quiet for now, trying to stay still and out of mind.
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	rests his interlocked hands as he listens.
	CawklesGM	Oliver De Frank scoffs. "Colonel...This is the second time I have been addressed without respect for my rank, both offenders coming from this squad. I think this calls for a flogging."
	Ishmael	        coughs softly.
	CawklesGM	The Mahdite man steps out of the darkness. "You won't lay a hand on my nephew and his brothers, Captain."
	CawklesGM	"Gentlemen." The colonel says impatiently. "Back to business."
	Rajh_Tara	[Mahdi] "During the assault, we didn't see that man. We were clearing out the rooms before we were cut off by the storm troopers."
	CawklesGM	Uncle Nageswa smiles, a twinkle in his eye. "He says that they saw no such man."
	CawklesGM	De Frank and Myassa sigh, dejected. "Did any of the Storm Troopers mention a 'Muse', 'Rose', or 'Dietrich'?" Oliver De Frank asks, desperate for answers.
	CawklesGM	Muffin, speaking out of turn, blurts: "Naw, wenna weh tek tem sturm trups tay sed nuffin o tah sert..."
	Ace_Nerat	"Kind of busy fighting, /Sir/."
	CawklesGM	De Frank recoils in horror. "Good god woman, do you speak Low Gothic?"
	Kassem_Marqus	shoots a piercing glance at his Corporal
	CawklesGM	Muffin glows red, her fists balling. "Meh spek diffy...seh."
	CawklesGM	De Frank shoots her a hostile glance. "Don't 'spek' again, please."
	CawklesGM	"Aye seh."
	Ishmael	        stares at De Frank but says nothing.
	Ace_Nerat	looks like he is about to respond, but catches the Sergeant's eye and relents.
	Rajh_Tara	[Mahdi] "Unfortunately, it doesn't sound familiar.."
	CawklesGM	De Frank looks to his colonel. The colonel returns his looks and sighs. "Well..." She begins, "Well...at least there is some good news in your report. Those children you rescued will be bringing a handsome sum when they are ransomed."
	CawklesGM	De Frank smiles. "They could also make fine messages, if we returned them to their families in installments."
	Kassem_Marqus	"Ransomed..."
	CawklesGM	Proctor Rajesh rolls his eyes.
	CawklesGM	Abbass, Issam, and Jurdik move uncomfortably in place. The children, especially Tali and Iqbal, have been growing on them.
	Ishmael	        sighs softly. "Colonel, what will happen if the ransom isn't paid...?" He asks with concern.
	Ace_Nerat	"Because murdering children is great for our image, sir."
	Kassem_Marqus	"Colonel, I must protest against this."
	Rajh_Tara	[Mahdi] "Those children's parents are probably dead. Who will be ransoming them to? The Tau?"
	Ishmael	        "The corporal has a very good point. Those children are part of the people just like the rest of us."
	Ishmael	        [Mahdi]"Uncles and such."
	CawklesGM	The Colonel looks at all before her. "I will kill these children only if we stand to gain something from it. As of right now, they are more useful to me alive than dead."
	Rajh_Tara	sighs in relief.
	Ishmael	        looks slightly more pleased with that answer. "Very well, ma'am."
	Kassem_Marqus	"At least two of them have shown some promise, and can be useful in a more hands-on way. Perhaps here, at camp, or even out there in the field, when they're ready."
	CawklesGM	The Proctor looks at the Colonel, pointedly. She clears her throat. This tension must be a regular part of war meetings. "I will take that into consideration, Marqus. Now...now for the real reason you are here."
	Kassem_Marqus	"Yes?"
	CawklesGM	The Colonel shuffles some parchment on her desk. "Operation Bleak Feast was a bit of an eye opener for us, to say the least, Sergeant Kassem. Our platoons are unwieldy, our junior officers indecisive or incompetent. Our NCOs, it seems, are out greatest asset, as you have ably demonstrated. We need leadership like that at higher levels. We need formations that are smaller, more competent, more capable of lightning attacks into enemy territory beyond that of our standard guerrilla squads."
	Kassem_Marqus	nods in agreement at this assessment.
	Ishmael	        "Ma'am. Wouldn't that need a different logistics structure?"
	CawklesGM	"Sergeant Kassem, it is the opinion of myself as well as Oliver De Frank that you and your squad are the best choice available to lead such a formation." The Colonel, with a flourish, picks up an auto-quill and signs off on a form. "Yes, Specialist Ishmael. It is a part of our restructuring process."
	Kassem_Marqus	"Colonel, what level of reassignment are we talking about?"
	CawklesGM	"Effective immediately, Sergeant Marqus Kassem now holds the rank of Lieutenant of the Blazing Trail, in command of the newly formed Brash Platoon. Lieutenant Marqus, do you accept this commission?"
	CawklesGM	The squad audibly gasps. Even stony Kahina looks shocked.
	Kassem_Marqus	takes a step forward, and snaps a salute. "Yes, Colonel. With honor."
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	A grin slowly creeps across Izem's face at that announcement.
	Ace_Nerat	"Bout time we get recognized."
	CawklesGM	"Very Good, Lieutenant. As an officer, you will need a liaison with our artillery...Specialist Ishmael, your command of ordnance is commendable. Effective immediately, you are Brash Platoon's Master of Ordnance."
	Ishmael	        takes a smaller steps forward and snaps a salute. "Thank you, ma'am. I'll do honor to the post."
	CawklesGM	The Colonel then turns to Ace. "Corporal Ace Nerat...you will now serve as the Lieutenant's Master Sergeant. It is your charge to ensure the discipline and integrity of the Platoon's fighting men. Do the 11th proud."
	CawklesGM	Muffin looks like she's going to squeal. She bats Ace's shoulder excitedly.
	Ace_Nerat	sighs and salutes
	Kassem_Marqus	"Colonel, if Snow Squad is acting as Command for Brash, which Squad-level formations will constitute the rest of the Platoon?"
	Ace_Nerat	"So... what does that mean I have to do?"
	CawklesGM	"As of right now, the roster is as follows: Rattle squad, commanded by Sergeant Ziida. Viper squad, commanded by Sergeant Wrenchman. Trouble Squad, commanded by Sergeant Ali Ra'uf. You will also be getting command of two new squads: Uriah, led by Sergeant Saladin...and Welder, led by Sergeant Abigail Greene."
	CawklesGM	Oliver De Frank cuts in. "These are some of our most crack troops, Lieutenant. They will serve you well."
	Kassem_Marqus	"Understood, sir," Kassem nods.
	Kassem_Marqus	"Where are we to be stationed?"
	CawklesGM	"Right now?" The Colonel scratches her chin. "You will stay here at the Argo. You are to become acquainted with those under your command, acquire whatever resources you need, and prepare yourself to move out in two weeks time. Inspection will be in a week. Dismissed, Lieutenant."
	XMB-173	        wanders off to find an inordinate amount of glue, duct tape, and assorted scrap
	Roland	        salutes.
	Ishmael	        salutes and gets ready to get familiar with his new job.
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	gives the Colonel another salute before waiting to be whisked away.
	Kassem_Marqus	salutes. "Thank you, Colonel."
	Rajh_Tara	salutes.
	CawklesGM	Snow squad files out the room...and as the door seals behind you, Muffin lets out a whoop.
	CawklesGM	"HAAAY ROLLAZ!!!! YAAAAHS!" Muffin capers about excitedly. The rest of the squad is pleased as well.
	CawklesGM	Only Abbass looks nervous. "This is a major change..." He says, sounding displeased. "Think we can handle it?"
	Ishmael	        "I think I've done a good job so far."
	Rajh_Tara	[Mahdi] "Congrats, Ishmael."
	Ishmael	        [Mahdi] "Thanks, Rajh. So, what was that back there?"
	Rajh_Tara	[Mahdi] "What was what?"
	Ishmael	        [Mahdi] "You having an uncle upstairs."
	Rajh_Tara	[Mahdi] "Honestly, I had no idea."
	Ishmael	        [Mahdi] "Just found it interesting, is all."
	CawklesGM	Kahina grunts. "Care to share your conversation, city squatters?"
	Ishmael	        "Oh, just talking about our families." Ishmael responds with a smile.
	CawklesGM	Jurdik growls. "Can you not be a bitch for just, like, one second?"
	Ishmael	        "No, no. It's fine, Jurdik."
	Ace_Nerat	"Shut up all of you, we have a standard to keep up now."
	CawklesGM	Muffin puffs her chest out. "Yeh. Stundurds."
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	"Can't say I expect a pick-up in standards, /Sarge/." Izem then laughs, regretting it soon afterwards.
	CawklesGM	Keeping up standards, however, was harder than expected. Your "crack" troops, though talented, lack discipline and direction. In the two weeks your squad spent recumbent, most of the day was occupied with figuring out the vagaries of your new station. Figuring out logistics, training doctrines, formation combat, raiding, intelligence, counter-intelligence...it's a mountain of work. Your new bunks act more like your offices than your sleeping areas...and with XMB in the squad, it now resembles a workshop as well. Some of the disciples of Zyzek seem to watch your squad from a distance, eying your new Omnissian ally suspiciously as he goes about turning himself into a living weapon. But paranoia and desk work are a welcome reprieve from the outside, which by all accounts is getting far far worse. The Ashuran District has mostly emptied out, its people fleeing to the docks or to Al-Tapir in the face of rampant Tau militarization. What's more, strange *things* have been reported...new forms join the old in the cloying darkness of the city. Strange things that cannot be seen by the human eye and feast on their flesh.  Divine Cohort are pouring into the Tareb Gate District as well as the Gothic District, threatening to choke the life out of the Docks.
"Sultan" Joshua-Ben Shiva and his Qalyatan Auxilia have become the de facto Tau secret police, doing what the Tau can't and won't to the poor people of Qalyat. Worse still, there are rumors that even more settlements out in the arid wastes surrounding the city are simply...vanishing. But there is some good news. A massive Blazing Trail force under the command of General Duster has landed several hundred Kilometers up coast, and are hastily making their way through the Chahanda mountains to get in position to assault Qalyat. But until they get here...The Argo and her troops are isolated.
	CawklesGM	It is a warm evening, the sticky humidity of the air making its way through the air scrubbers of the Argo, when the leaders of Brash Platoon receive dire news...the date is  020.998M41, the time is 2200. There are slight tremors in the ground...
	XMB-173	        "Did I leave the generator running again?"
	XMB-173	        takes a look around the quarters
	CawklesGM	Abbass clicks his tongue, laying on his bunk. "That's not a generator, metal friend."
	CawklesGM	Your well appointed quarters are spacious, comfortable, and accommodating to the work of officers. A far cry from your...former lodgings. There is a rap upon the door.
	Roland	        is in the quarters, looking over his customized Triplex Pattern Lasgun.
	Ishmael	        looks up from his scattered notes, smiling to himself until he recognize the motions. "Artillery?"
	Ace_Nerat	finishes  shaving and showering and rejoins the squad
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	is napping in his bunk, his remaining bandages sticking sweatily to him.
	CawklesGM	Kahina nudges her superior awake. The knocking at the door continues.
	Kassem_Marqus	looks up from his desk, where he has been working on map studies, and requisition forms for his Platoon's equipment.
	Ishmael	        stands up and goes to the door. "Who's there?"
	CawklesGM	"Some guy with important fuckin' news...!" A raspy voice answers. "Open up!"
	Ishmael	        looks at Jardik and then at his carbine before slowly opening the door.
	CawklesGM	"Or...you know, you can leave me out here. Ignore your orders from the Colonel. That would be fine. I'd love to see your ass fry at court-martial."
	Rajh_Tara	is reading "Passions of Battle 2: Electric Boogaloo".
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	groans in annoyance. "Just 5 more minutes." He says in a half-asleep tone.
	Kassem_Marqus	"Just come the feck in..." Kassem says, clearly annoyed.
	Ishmael	        smiles at Kassem. "Hey, fellow officer. Command duty not what you thought?"
	Ace_Nerat	"I'm enjoying my new post."
	Ace_Nerat	finishes putting on his uniform and strapping on CUPCAKE, his new power-maul.
	Rajh_Tara	closes the book and says "This is getting a bit saucy..."
	Kassem_Marqus	"The Platoon needs work. We'll talk about this later," he nods towards the door.
	Kassem_Marqus	sits back in his chair.
	Roland	        looks up from checking his gun over.
	CawklesGM	The door opens and a short man immediately pushes past Ishmael, and even Jurdik. His hair is the most shocking thing about him; a stiff mohawk colored some obscene shade of faded red. What occurs beneath this strange crown is of little note. The man's face is just a boring mask of malicious intent, more akin to the countenance of a rat than a man. He strides up to Kassem Marqus, slams an envelope on his desk. "Orders from the top, boss. Oh...and uh, Private Bartleby reporting fer duty sir."
	CawklesGM	The boog makes a fake bow, before saluting.
	CawklesGM	"Feckin' deek 'ead roight 'ere ned tah lern sum respekt...." Muffin rumbles. Bartleby looks at her and smiles. "Quite a mouth on ya, Sheila. Where ya from, Deeptank?"
	Rajh_Tara	[Mahdi] "What the hell is that thing?"
	Kassem_Marqus	makes eye contact with the Private, his Master Sergeant, and then back at the new trooper.
	Ace_Nerat	"Can I beat him, Kassem, sir?"
	CawklesGM	Muffin nods.
	Ishmael	        frowns as the man pushes past. "You know, other officers would've had your ass raw for pushing like that." He prods, somewhat in jest. Being away from the field did a noticeable bit to improve his mood.
	Kassem_Marqus	"Private, I don't expect you to know anything about this, but I have just about fucking had it today with the lack of discipline and insubordination in this platoon. I will therefore make it Master Sergeant Nerat's mission to beat you until you fall in line, or kill you trying."
	CawklesGM	The envelope itself is unassuming. An autoquil watermark is applied, reading ++DO NOT OPEN UNTIL 2200 020.998M41 OF HIS HOLY IMPERIUM+
	Kassem_Marqus	"Do I make myself clear?"
	Ace_Nerat	smiles and cracks his knuckles
	CawklesGM	Bartleby nods, absent-mindedly...before hearing the crack. "Aye! AYE! Aye sirrah of course I'll serva ya to the best of me ability and such..."
	Roland	        looks at Ace and then at Bartleby.
	Rajh_Tara	sighs and goes back to reading his cheesy romance novel.
	CawklesGM	He snaps off a quick salute. Kahina snickers, saying something quickly in Qom.
	Kassem_Marqus	takes the envelope and puts it inside a pocket in his tunic.
	Kassem_Marqus	stands.
	Kassem_Marqus	"Nerat, see that the Private becomes acquainted with the squad."
	Kassem_Marqus	"Dismissed."
	Kassem_Marqus	"Ishmael," Kassem nods him over, as he reaches into his pocket to read the contents inside the report.
	Ace_Nerat	"My pleasure."
	Ishmael	        moves to Kassem's side.
	Ace_Nerat	Approaches Bartleby and sucker punches him in the gut, then proceeds to introduce him to everyone.
	Kassem_Marqus	opens the envelope and places the open parchment on the table.
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	rolls out of bed at the sound of the new arrival. With groggy eyes he heads into the head and cleans himself up with a quick shower.
	XMB-173	        just boots his servitor up and stands in a corner, looking at the ser- lieutenant expectantly.
	CawklesGM	The contents of the envelope are clear. Operation "Cutter Red", a counter-offensive to throw the Divine Cohort and Tau off balance. Using information gathered by several spy cells and Snow Squad, the Blazing Trail will sneak into position whilst the Tau and the Divine Cohort lock horns and ambush both. At your disposal are specific directions through the tunnel system you discovered, a map leading through a veritable maze of stone leading to one "Objective Albrecht", a large guard spire standing in the center of a small manufactorum complex. It's the job of Brash Platoon to infiltrate the complex, secure Albrecht, use it as a platform to sight in artillery, and guard it until Oliver De Frank arrives on location to use it as a Company CP. Seems straightforward. The orders do warn that "Divine Cohort presence" in the facility is "Highly likely", and a Tau assault is "Extremely likely".
        XMB-173	        "Wish we had a hiver."
	Ace_Nerat	"That would be me Soren."
	Kassem_Marqus	"You so easily forget our common origin, Master Sergeant?" Kassem teases.
	XMB-173	        makes a metallic shrug then gets his weapons ready.
	Roland	        starts gathering his things.
	Rajh_Tara	starts preparing his equipment.
	Ishmael	        sighs. "Why do we always work with De Frank. The guy gets on my damned nerves. Also, don't these tunnels link with the one from the warehouse...?" He then takes a closer look.
	CawklesGM	Abbass, Jurdik, and Issam begin wrangling their gear. Kahina continues to check over Izem, making sure his bandages are still in place before preparing her gear as well. Bartleby, still hunched over from the gut punch, waddles over to Kassem.
	CawklesGM	"Shall I rouse the troops, sirrah?"
	Ace_Nerat	"Well, I doubt you'd get your new fancy armour dirty by leading from the front." he shoots back with a smile.
	Rajh_Tara	[Mahdi] "I don't like the man either, but we do as we are told."
	Kassem_Marqus	"He is our superior, Ishmael. Don't allow yourself to forget. Nerat, prepare the squad. Ishmael, send word for the Platoon to assemble."
	Ace_Nerat	"My job, worm." he spits at Bart.
	Ace_Nerat	"GET READY DIRTBAGS, WE GOT A MISSION."
	Ace_Nerat	straps on his armour and begins to rush the others
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	gets his gear in order after getting fresh bandages and donning his uniform. "Thank you, Kahina." He gives his subordinate a short nod for her help.
	XMB-173	        checks his new rifle "You hear that, Soren? We're going to test out our new gear."
	Ace_Nerat	slaps on his new Beret.
	Rajh_Tara	"Privates, sound off! Don't keep our Master Sergeant waiting."
	Roland	        "Ready Sir."
	Ishmael	        "Jurdik, get our new big tube ready." He then grabs his gear and notes.
	Kassem_Marqus	secures his gear, and walks out to the mustering hall.
	Ishmael	        then goes to help in assembling the platoon.
	CawklesGM	"Private Abbass, ready!" "Specialist Jurdik, ready!" "Specialist Kahina, ready to make war." "Muff gon' fuk um up!"
        Izem_abn_Anaruz	"Specialist Izem, reporting for duty." He says before following the sergeant.
	Rajh_Tara	"Close enough. Now MOVE!"
	CawklesGM	Issam and Bartleby shadow their commander, sluggish.
	Ace_Nerat	"leave it to me Red Guard. This is my job."
	Ace_Nerat	heads out after Kassem
	Rajh_Tara	"Yes, sir."
	Rajh_Tara	follows Kassem and Ace.
	CawklesGM	In the mustering area, four of the five squadrons are milling about, talking...smoking...shooting the shit. They're nervous. They know something is going down. Only Sergeant Saladin Al-Tariq, of Uriah Squad, has his men in formation and ready to receive orders.
	Kassem_Marqus	"Master Sergeant. Sort this shit out..."
	Ace_Nerat	"WHAT THE FECK ARE YOU DOING OUT OF FORMATION." he shouts at the crowd
	CawklesGM	Sergeant Ziids spots Lt. Marqus. With a sharp whsitle, her troops fall in. Malika has already been replaced by a slovenly looking Boog woman, an ugly creature whose mother did not think pregnancy was enough of a motivation to put down the bottle. The other soldiers don't seem to notice Ace's yelling...
	Ace_Nerat	begins walking through the crowd and zapping anyone out of line.
	Rajh_Tara	face palms and sighs.
	Kassem_Marqus	stands in front of the formation, hands behind his back, as his Master Sergeant sorts out the rabble.
	Roland	        face palms as well.
	Ishmael	        stands at Kassem's side.
	Ace_Nerat	"DO YOU THINK YOU CAN JUST FECKING IGNORE ME YOU FECKS?"
	Ace_Nerat	"I WILL SMASH YOU INTO THE GROUND!"
	CawklesGM	Sergeant Abigail, better known as "Madame Roxy", is wholly absorbed in making her soldiers looking presentable and perfect. This old Arkwrighter woman yelps as she is shocked, and falls in with her troops. Ziida, Wrenchman, and Ali do so as well, the shocks sufficient to motivate them.
	Kassem_Marqus	give a long exaggerated sigh, communicating his impatience.
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	clicks his tongue. [Bazir] "Not much for improvements of standards."
	Ace_Nerat	nods when his work is done and returns to his squad
	Kassem_Marqus	nods back to Nerat before he begins
	CawklesGM	The soldiers are now in formation, stiff and disciplined. For crack troops, they really are a bunch of rabble; ragged uniforms, dirty weapons...some even have no boots. The most well equipped of those assembled is the Medic Jain; in her possesion is a shiny new bionic leg, a fine compliment to the searing hate burning in her eyes, still slightly swollen shut from her wounds.
	Roland	        looks over at Jain, giving her a slight smile.
	CawklesGM	The haggard young woman looks back, blankly.
	Rajh_Tara	looks at Roland and then to Jain. He says [Mahdi] "Did I miss something?"
	Kassem_Marqus	"Brash Platoon. We have been given an assignment by Company Command. It seems our noble blue-skinned rulers," he mocks, "and the Divine Cohort will find themselves falling into the jaws of a Blazing Trail ambush. As for our part, we are to take a complex right from under the enemy, to be used as our Company Command. We have the boys in the artillery detachments behind us, and so Master Specialist Ishmael will give the word to rain death upon their positions... softening them up for our unstoppable advance," he says with a grin.
	Ishmael	        smiles softly and nods.
	Ace_Nerat	silently fumes about the conditions of his platoon
	Kassem_Marqus	"Keep comms discipline, follow orders, remember your objectives, and remember your formations and combat training. I will hold you to the highest of standards, squads. And most important of all, no trooper has permission to die, until he has taken the lives of at least two of the dreaded enemy. That /is/ an order."
	CawklesGM	There is muttering among the squads. Ali Ra'uf, The self proclaimed strongest man in Ghadeer, chuckles at the prospect of a fight.
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	nods solemnly at that.
	Ace_Nerat	makes a silent note to test this "strongest man"
	CawklesGM	"AYE SIR!" The assembled troops announce.
	Kassem_Marqus	"Sergeants. Move out!"
	Ace_Nerat       "NEXT TIME I SEE YOU, I EXPECT BETTER OR I'LL TURN THE POWER FIELD ON NEXT TIME." He yells to the crowd.
	Roland	        still looking at Jain and gives her a slight nod before following Kassem.
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	gives a friendly salute to the Cunts before falling in with his squad.
	Rajh_Tara	follows the squad with his shiny new Pulse Rifle.
	CawklesGM	And move out they did. These troops are motivated, you'll give them that; the spirit of the revolution burns brightly inside them. The path out of the Argo went off without a hitch; the Tunnels, though...the tunnels were trouble. The map made navigation easy; the various work tables, lumen globes, and parchment piles seem to indicate that friendlies have been down here since the tunnels were discovered. You can't imagine how they deal...the cold, windy tunnels are heavy with scent of death and ancienty mystery. As you approach the entrance from which you'll reach Objective Albrecht, little particles start to drop from the ceiling...and there is a slgiht tremor to the ground.
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	sends a questioning glance to the new Master of Ordinance.
	CawklesGM	The bottleneck at the entrance was a bit difficult to deal with, but all sixty men of Brash Platoon emerge from a hole in the ground, lying in  middle of some hab floor in the Tareb Gate district. Some rubble had to be moved, but the entire trip could be heardly construed as difficult. Off in the distance, however, the walled manufactorum complex containing your objective looms. The wall is destroyed in several places, and a rising plume of black smoke lazily drifts into the sky above it. The sound of war is near, a constant thrum of las and shot that is near deafening in its frequency. The roar of mortars and artillery guns pound and thunder like angry godlings against some foe you cannot see. Above you, a high pitched crash sounds...a flight wing of strange orange attack craft stream overhead, on some sortie. Being out in the the open, you suspect, won't be wise.
	CawklesGM	The squads arrayed before Lt. Kassem are an index of all expressions fearful and apprehensive. Sergeant Ziida, fire in her heart, stalks forward with her squad, eyes peeled.
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	takes his lascarbine off the strap and shoulders it in a ready stance as he awaits orders.
	Roland	        readies his triplex pattern lasgun
	Ace_Nerat	"LET'S GIVE THEM A TASTE OF WHAT THE BLAZING TRAIL CAN DO!."
	CawklesGM	Kahina mutters a silent prayery. "Try to avoid fire, Izem." She says to her superior.
	Ishmael	        looks at Ace and raises his finger to his lips. "I think we should keep low and quiet. Sticking to buildings might also be a good idea."
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	shivers for a moment at the thought of fire. "Don't have to tell me twice."
	CawklesGM	Muffin, ebuillent as always, snuggles up to XMB. "Seh, Sworen, ya tenk ya canne git meh a pelse roif? Me fink me canne retarn tah fave if ya do taht fer meh..." She runs a hand up and down his soldier, playfully. "Pwetty pless?"
	Ishmael	        chuckles softly. "Muffin... I don't think his kind is interested in that kind of favors..."
	Ace_Nerat	grabs muffin by the scruff of her uniform and throws her over his shoulder.
	XMB-173	        gives her a disdainful look.
	CawklesGM	Bartleby, the new kid, is chatting with Issam about...who knows what.
	Ishmael	        then looks at Kassem. "Orders?"
	CawklesGM	Muffin lets out an elated squeal, her chainaxe dangling from her belt.
	XMB-173	        "That's a ventilation pipe."
	Ishmael	        "I could try and find a vantage point and rain las and shells down."
	Ishmael	        "Mortar only for now, though."
	Roland	        "I could also provide cover fire as well."
	Kassem_Marqus	+Ziida. Take your squad up, and get some eyes on that position.+
	CawklesGM	+For the cause,+ She intones, stealing way into the night.
	CawklesGM	Minutes later...she's back on the vox. +This makes no sense, Kassem. The place is deserted.+
	Kassem_Marqus	+And... the noises? The clash of battle?...+
	Ace_Nerat	+Watch for ambush!+
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	[Bazir] "Fishy..."
	Ishmael	        looks around, holding his rifle at the ready.
	CawklesGM	+I'm not stupid, Master Sergeant. I think these boys left this place in a hurry. Maybe it's because of the fire coming from this downed Tau fighter craft. The battle going on is..I think it's about 4km away. In Manufactorum Jazeera.+
	Kassem_Marqus	+Trouble Squad up front, the rest follow them in to rendezvous with Sergeant Ziida. Move out.+
	Kassem_Marqus	"Snow squad, move out."
	Ace_Nerat	"You heard him, let's go!"
	Ishmael	        "May I take a look at the map? Maybe we took a wrong turn somewhere?"
	CawklesGM	Trouble Squad wastes no time rushing forward. Sergeant Ali is a notorious gloryhound and a bit of a loose canon, and his reckless surge forward is par for the course. The rest of the squads follow slowly into the Manufactorum complex.
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	sweeps his weapon at the roof-tops as he follows along.
	CawklesGM	+Roxy here,+ Sergeant Abigail voxes. +Requesting permission to plunder.+
	CawklesGM	The Manufactorum complex looks like a mess, as if this place was infested with squatters. Land cars, burned and abandoned, are littered about haphazardly, as is rubble and other desitrus. The burning wreck of some strange Tau fighter craft dominates the square, filling it with harsh orange light that plays against the faces of all present. The thunder of guns and the crash of war echo closeby, each canon report rattling your nerves.
TO BE CONTINUED.