Ghosts and Glass [Commonwealth Dominion of Cerea]

[The Upright Man]

[ T H E M E ]

0832 hours, 2.1.849 (military calendar)
Starboard Deck Nine, Mission Board Room,
CRS Surprise, High Orbit,
Cerea, Cerean System, Samagi Sector, Mid Rim​

"Attention," Commander Dean Letham barked. The sweeping murmur of quiet talks silenced. Before him was a room full of marines, with a handful of shock troopers and a pinch of jaguars. A table divided the room, the room itself was enough to fit two-hundred jarheads, but not just that, the room was so overcrowded Dean could see marines lining up outside the door to listen in.

"Lord Admiral Horus is not here to accompany us, and our dear Captain Matthias Hull is on shore leave." There was a tide of whispers, but he spoke over them, "Outpost Coyote tracked the fleet that hit Gannaria. We have since discovered them to be the Vaagari Empire. Ruthless killing machines." A projection of the OpFor fleet appeared on the center holoconsole.

"But intel is informing us they don't travel this far out," Any jarhead worth two brain cells could figure they were no longer in their home territory, this wasn't the Unknown, this was the Mid Rim. "So we're here to ask them nicely why they hit Gannaria, and what they're doing here."

"Initial reports indicate the same massacre they laid down on Gannaria is happening here, but we've got them with their pants down. But we can stop them before it's too late." The projection shimmered, shifted and rebuilt itself, showing the floating globe representing Cerea. The fleet was on a direct path for the planet.

"It is our job to finish what the flyboys started. We are leaving this ship, platoon, and engaging the Vaagari on solid ground. Any questions?" Dean paused, but not long enough for anyone to answer, "Good, dismissed."



| Objectives |
Navy

• [A] Engage Vaagari Empire Fleet.
• Assemble a defensive blockade of Cerea.
  [*][C] Provide air-support for ground troops.
  

Marine Corps

• [D] Engage Vaagari troops within the Outsider Citadels.
• [E] CST's and Jaguars infiltrate low-orbiting Vaagari command ship.
• [F] Organize a forward-base for continued operations.

Intelligence

• [G] Scramble Vaagari communications
• [H] Intercept Vaagari agents on the ground
• Slice Vaagari battle net, provide intel to Navy and Marine Corps on Vaagari movements
  

 

[Neldar Poska]

Outsider Citadel, City Center
(1/20)

It had been a long day, and the jobs were getting fewer. Now it was worth half a days rations to pick up some illegal powercells and amuggle them all the way out here and truck through some muck... Is that muck? It's disgusting, and you can barely walk. Neldar was already in a crappy mood, he had to think of his crew, ship parts, equipment... So much and he was barely getting much out of this backwater mission.

"Mrrve!" Neldar shouted in his odd voice and accent, pushing someone out of the way as he continued down this filth infused path. His Basic was always slurred, as he had more grown accustomed to snarls and growls. His only partner, a single Gank, was being extremely cautious and aiming its weapon at everyone, probably because it hadn't killed in awhile. Neldar usually was accompanied by a few Ganks, but... Not in this crawlspace.

He was about to reach his buyer as he started hearing blaster fire and screaming. He stopped and looked over to the Gank with him, "Go. See." The Gank shook frantically as the sound of cries and blaster fire got it in a fit, but it was trigger disciplined. As Neldar continued to take a few more steps, the Gank cried out in a rage as it started firing back at someone shooting at it - a Vagaari. More started coming as the Gank retreated to Neldar, pushing into him and yelling at him, telling him it was an attack. Neldar was shoved and accidentally dropped the power cells, snarling. He was upset... The mission was over, and no pay. "Call ship! Get Ganks!" Neldar ordered as he took cover by a stall, forgetting his Powercells as the Gank started opening for with his Flachette Launcher and using his internal communicator to send a signal to their ship in orbit

 

[Not Ordo]

[member="Dean Letham"] [member="Neldar Poska"]

Kel stood with arms crossed over his huge chest and still as a statue while the briefing was given. His dark eyes quietly scanned the crowd for people who weren't paying attention, so he could prepare the "sorry your kid died letter".

Kel waited for the to be dismissed and promptly smacked a petty officer in the back of the head.

"Git all hands to battle stations." He said curtly, "We have a job to do."

Kel himself went straight to the command deck and began preparing the command crew of the surprise. He would have to keep the ship running until Hull returned and these Vaagari would pay for it.

 

[Zark San Tekka]

1/20

Knight, Isaac Lieutenant.
Commonwealth Shock Trooper.
Force Recon Battalion, Attached CRN Surprise.
Project Jaguar: FLAGGED FOR REVIEW.


"Aye, sir!"

The chorus of replies rang out throughout the mission board room as Commander Letham adjourned the briefing. Lieutenant Knight could hear the nervous edge in the voices of some of his men, for many of them this would be the first time they had seen a Jaguar powersuit, let alone a member of Fireteam Black. There was no longer any such stunned awe for the Lieutenant, as he had worked ops with the Commander once or twice before. More than that, it felt good to be out in the field again. Gannaria had been Isaac's first mission since he had been cleared for duty after the debacle on Castameer. An MPD with him and his entire platoon had gone down over the frozen world when atmospheric interference had caused a critical systems failure. Men from the 42nd Marines had seen the crash, and pulled him from the wreckage, the only survivor. Joining the battalion as the only Commonwealth unit to successfully assault Voracion Citadel, since that day some of the men had taken to calling him "the Knight", due to his perceived impervious nature, although none would dare say it to his face. For Isaac, the loss of his friends and comrades over Castameer was still too fresh a wound.

As they filed out of the mission board room, Isaac exchanged a brief nod of respect towards Letham, before overseeing his men as they made their way towards the deployment hangar and their awaiting drop pods. For most of the soldiers present the Commander's words had been accurate, they would be engaging the Vaagari on solid ground. Knight and his men might make it down there one way or another, but that was not their primary objective. A detachment of shock troopers had volunteered and been assigned to attempt a precision breach of the enemy command vessel. An assault on a mobile target in low orbit was not without extreme danger, each and every one of them was well aware that this may very well be their last drop as the Lieutenant sealed them into their pods. Isaac entered his pod last, checking to make sure his MM101 was secure in its rack. Where some might see the open hatch of the drop pod as a potential death sentence, Knight only saw an opportunity to serve.

And if the worst should happen, at least he would see his platoon again soon.

Spoiler

[member="Dean Letham"] [member="Neldar Poska"] [member="Kel Hamner"]

 

[Alleycat]

Conner, Mia Commander
Commonwealth Navy Pilot
Gold Squadron
(1)


Mia leaned against the back wall of the mission board room sipping a cup of stimtea as Commander Letham gave the sitrep with the mission parameters. The Vagaari were beginning to become an ever growing concern and major threat for the Commonwealth to contain. The humanoid race from the Unknown Regions was pressing further into the galactic-west area of the Known Regions. What was behind this bold move was still unclear, but after ravaging Ganneria it was clear they were on the war path… and Cerea was the Vagaari's next target.

When the meeting concluded, the blue-eyed blonde tossed back the last of the now lukewarm caffeinated drink, then tossed the flimsi cup into the trash receptacle as she exited the room through the wide hatch door en route to the hangar via the turbolift just down the ship's corridor. The birds would be escorting the MPD's and drop pods to start with, then set up a CAP and engage the enemy where needed. Red Squadron would be doing the same minus the CAG as he was still listed as missing in action since the Battle of Thule. Commander Conner was now acting CAG until Captain Talrus' return.

The CRS Surprise's main hangar bay was already a buzz with activity prepping craft for service when "Raven" arrived. Conner would be leading Gold Squadron and piloting a Scythe-class starfighter for this sorte. The Commander entered the aft of the fighter dressed in her full flight suit with the interactive HUD helmet already on, then took the stairs to the upper deck where the cockpit was located at the bow. Mia slipped into the pilot's couch with well-practiced ease, strapping in, then began on the pre-flight checklist as she awaited the rest of her crew to get situated, and the green light to launch.

[member="Dean Letham"] [member="Neldar Poska"] [member="Kel Hamner"] [member="Isaac Knight"] [member="Corrax Talrus"]

 

[Alleycat]

Starkos, Sasha Sergeant
Commonwealth Shock Trooper
Marine Sniper
(2)


The Vagaari. Well not so much the aliens themselves, but the conquerors and slavers' brutal methods they used both in fighting and taking of hostages. The humanoid species were relatively primitive, but they had highly developed suspended animation tech. They were able to make effective use of captured interdiction fields too. Their starships utilized living shields made up of sentiments being trapped in transparisteel-like plastic bubbles that were mounted on the outside of the hull of their ships. It made it a hard choice for those fighting them to engage the enemy or risk killing innocents; a pretty smart deterrent though.

Also in their arsenal of weapons were strange unique creatures the warriors carried with them. Wolvkils were feral creatures with long-snouted heads and clawed forepaws. The warriors carried them on a blue and yellow collar where the creatures were kept in stasis until needed. They were hard to kill because the Wolvkils were quick and had decentralized organs. One shot to the head wouldn't stop them, sometimes not even multiple kill shots. Cutting the creatures in half with a melee weapon, blowing them up, and/or using an acidic compound of some sort was really the only quick and efficient way to kill them.

Some Vagaari also had schostri on them inside their loose robes to use for personal attacks, which were a black and yellow insectoid species with wings, stingers and were hard to see due to their slightly translucency. Their stings were rumored to be deadly, hopefully not so much for humans.

As the meeting was finishing up, the green-eyed redhead elbowed [member="Eli Brooks"] next to her. They would be reporting to their assigned MPD here soon. The massive Staff Sergeant had become a good friend and workout partner over the last few months since the spirited Corellisi had joined the Commonwealth. He was a good guy, and a very capable Marine to have next to you in a fight.

"Better load up on grenades and extra power packs for our vibroblades huh if we have to go toe to paw with those Wolvkils? I wish the Vagaari just fought straight up, you know?"


[member="Dean Letham"] [member="Neldar Poska"] [member="Kel Hamner"] [member="Isaac Knight"]

 

[Other Space Kaiden]

[Theme]​

​

​

​

Aboard Vagaarian Capital Ship "Eminence"​

On the Edge of the Cerean System​

15 Vagaarian Warships Present​

(These Ships Have Followed the Vagaarian Fleet in Orbit, but are not the Vagaari themselves)​

__________________________________________________​

Hunger. Deep, craving hunger.

A hollow creak echoes down the empty corridors of the Vagaarian ship, the ominious hum of the engines shaking the cold air. The shadows line the walls, a thick ooze that slides its way down the halls; consuming all signs of life. Even the shimmering blue of the bridge's computers seems somehow shrouded, blocked by the all consuming hand of darkness that has taken the ship.

The Hive has no need for the light. The Hive thrives in darkness.

Four orange orbs pierce through the black shroud, oozing mandables clicking as the souless eyes study the cans of food that had just entered the system. They were not of those who had been fleeing their ascension, no, these ones were not known to the Hivemind. They had not yet been graced with the gift of assimilation, nor the honor of becoming feed for The Swarm.

It watched The Commonwealth ship approach the planet, the Vagariaan ships in orbit scrambling to answer their movements. The Swarm would feast on both their fleeing Vagaari and The Commonwealth.

"Children lost. Still in ignorance." the one who stood in the darkness voiced in the words of a thousand assimilated souls. The words are heard through the waves of thought that linked it and it's people, thoughts unknowable by those not graced with the gift. "We shall make them see"

The creature in the darkness raises his hand, claws dripping with blood and glowing eyes focused on the ships of those who lived unknown to the glorious mind.

"We strike at the children"

There were no words spoken, the commands were made known to the fleet of Vagaarian ships through the sheer will of he who stood in the darkness. Men and women, eyes deep black and flesh growing black with mold, obeyed their greater mind. Obediant hands glided across the consoles in unison across the small fleet of warships, faster than any organic fleet should be able to respond to orders.

Within seconds the entire fleet was already pressing forward from the edge of the system, their weapon systems acquiring targets throughout both the Commonwealth and Vagaarian fleets. The hulls shimmer in the light of the local sun, yellow light casting over the twisted scene of gore and organic abominiation stretched across the hulls. Slaves, trapped between plasteel, writhed in pain with their bodies impaled and twisted into veins of strange organic crust growing across the durasteel hulls.

The veins pulse with an unnatural life, coating the vessels with an exo-skelton that beat like a heart.

"We hunger"

_______________________________________________________

Swarm Player Objectives

Naval Objectives:

[A] Engage Vaagari and Commonwealth Fleets

Deploy boarding parties aboard enemy vessels for assimilation

[C] Breach/Prevent blockade of Cerea


Ground Objectives [Warriors]:

[A] Commence Invasion & Assimilation of Tecave City

Establish "ascension zone" to transfer joiners and prisoners to the orbiting fleets

[C] Assimilate all Vaagari and Commonwealth troops at the Outsider Citadels



Ground Objectives [Spies & Prophets]:


[A] Turn the Council of Elders and Cerea President into Joiners (By force or through persuasion)

Spread the Gospel of the Swarm to the populace and establish a Swarm Cult on planet

[C] Sabotage Vaagari & Commonwealth Intelligence Operations on the ground

 

[The Upright Man]

Objective: Echo
Post: 2/20
Tag: [member="Warfield Lester"] | [member="Isaac Knight"]
________________

[ T H E M E ]

0837 hours, 2.1.849 (military calendar)
Port Deck One, Drop Pod Launch Room,
CRS Surprise, High Orbit,
Cerea, Cerean System, Samagi Sector, Mid Rim​

The room buzzed and the tide of bodies slowly began to vacate the board room. Dean spied Isaac Knight in the far corner as he was leaving and returned the friendly nod. His attention was quickly swept away by the presence of Hadiyya Sa'ad and Marguerite Podolsky. "Hadiyya, Podolsky, I want you two on the surface. I need eyes on the ground to find out just what in the Force these Vaagari are doing here. Find one, do what you need to to make them talk."

"Warfield," Dean barked, the marine was one of the last to leave, "You're on me, fall in." Dean shuffled out of the room behind Hadiyya and Podolsky. "Take a detour to the armory, you'll need a new suit, get yourself equipped for a hot drop." Dean indicated with a a quick two-fingers towards a narrow corridor that opened up into one of many of the ships armories.

"Knight," Dean chirped over his intercom, hailing the CST. Heavy boots thudded beside the bulkhead and snapped left, an elevator transitioned him to the lowest port deck and home to the CSTs drop pods. "Immediate insertion on that command ship, punch a hole and clear an LZ for my pod." He marched past Isaac's possible tomb and thundered his fist against the outer casing. Good luck, it signified.

 

[Neldar Poska]

Outsider Citadel, City Center
(2/20)

T H E M E ​

The gank that was with Neldar was still trying to get into contact with the ship. There was bits of static and sounds, but nothing much. The Gank started making sounds of distress and struggle. A Gank chirped up over the comms from a flying Warpod overhead, zipping by as it was being trailed by an enemy ship. As the Gank got word of what was going on, he spoke up to Neldar. Apparently their ship had got engaged in battle long before they could contact Neldar, and they were trying to locate him to let him know. The ancient ship that was above had instantly sustained too much damage, as its defensive capabilities were not enough for the enemies that were attacking. It didn't even know it, but its Comms array had been one of the first losses before they could open fire back. The ship was going down. A distorted distress beacon sounded off but it was too late. Thankfully, most of the Warpods were able to deal damage and sustain hits enough for them to stay in combat, and not dead... but a few were already falling.

Neldar looked with distraught at the Gank before coming to his senses as a Vagaari charged him. Neldar grabbed the Vagaari and picked him up, throwing him into the side of a wall before giving his attention back to the Gank, "Shrttlez??" he asked. The Gank nodded his head with some more non-descript words. Thankfully, his shuttles made it out of the hangar as well, and they were being escorted as best the Warpods could do, but one had taken a hit and it couldn't maneuver wel;l enough to dodge enemy fire and land. Neldar shook his head furiously in anger, "Land! Retreat!" Were all the words the Gank needed and he knew what the plan was. He spoke up over his silent comms again to the other Ganks and they began to establish a landing zone.

Up in the sky, Neldar could see a battle ensuing, but it was like three different kind of ships - one set being his. It seemed he only had about seven Warpods, but they weren't being targeted as much as another set of fighters. "Gank, get ally!" Neldar said as he pointed up, seeing ships that weren't attacking his own. The Gank wasn't talking, but he made the Warpods send a S.O.S. to the Commonwealth ships above. Unfortunately, this nightmare of a day wasn't over, and it wasn't going easy on Neldar. His Corona, that had been sending a distorted distress signal had lost its gravity projectors and engines, it was being lit up, and dipping into the atmosphere. It wouldn't be able to last much longer.


While Neldar stood in amazement as his beaten ship swayed, he was surprised by more Ganks that found his position - they had landed, with only one of the shuttles, the other was shot down. He nodded and followed them, running to where the Shuttle was located as the Ganks followed suit, covering him, but he wasn't allowed to miss this party. The Warpods escorting the shuttle had to pull away as they came under attack, and the shuttle was defenselessly bombed. Neldar covered his face as the debris flew and turned to the rest of the Ganks. Thankfully they didn't drop and run - maybe because there was nowhere to run. But Neldar wasn't done yet, even if he already had a good run. As the debris cleared, he took cover again, and so did the Ganks. They would fight until they couldn't anymore. There was about twenty-two Ganks holding position with him.

Spoiler

Forces

Corona-class Frigate (Disabled) (1)
2 Warpod (7)
Gank (22 on ground)

[member="Horus"]

 

[Warfield Lester]

Objective: Echo
Post: 1/20
Tag: [member="Dean Letham"] │ [member="Isaac Knight"]

Boots thudded against the ground as marines of all shapes and sizes walked towards their respective corridors, and onwards to their drop pods and troop transports. In the rumbling’s midst, Warfield heard his name called out by the commanding officer, [member="Dean Letham"].

“Take a detour to the armory, you'll need a new suit, get yourself equipped for a hot drop."

“Yessir!”, Warfield forced back in a resounding retort. As fast as he responded, he turn and sped down the narrow corridor the commander motioned to.

As he entered the armory, he quickly followed the instructions he was given. Trading out his MM-C Infantry Kit with a MM-C SpecOps kit, and quickly grabbing both a MM100 and a MM99 sidearm, but his mind grew flustered despite the upgrade in equipment. He was about to go on a mission with CST’s and Jaguars, and while his service record thus far isn’t unimpressive; this is certainly the highest grade of mission he would have ever undertaken. Still, he needed this new life as much as he needed to breathe, and if it meant pushing himself into the eyes of his superiors, then so be it.

The helmet slid on and formed a vacuum seal as he turned back towards the drop pods. It only took a few moments before he ended up where he was supposed to, Commander Letham standing before him. He struck a quick salute before shouting the cadence of every ready soldier;

“Ready for action, Sir! What’s my mission?”, he said with both a hint of curiosity, and a copious amount of confidence.

 

[Rayce Tharelle]

Spoiler

​>>To: Tharelle%CIC@CMC.gov
​>>From: Adalle%Adjunct@CMC.gov
​>>ENCRYPTION GRADE: 2/3
​>>Re: Cerea, Vaagari Assault

>>[Full Text]
​​As of now, little is known regarding the attack. There is no safe forward base as of yet and there is little that you could do on site. Marine Intelligence reports indicate that your presence on board the CRN-Surprise​ is unnecessary until further information is available. I must urge you to reconsider this action and remain on Alexandria until further developments warrant your departure.

Lieutenant Adalle, CIC Adjunct

>>​To: Adalle%Adjunct@CMC.gov
​>>From: Tharelle%CIC@CMC.gov
​>>ENCRUPTION GRADE: 2/3
>>Re: Re: Cerea, Vaagari Assault

>>[Full Text]
​Adalle,
What's the use of having executive privileges if I never use them? Get me a karking shuttle.

Tharelle, Commander-In-Chief
​

Tharelle, Rayce
Commander-In-Chief, Commonwealth Marine Corps
Aboard CRN-​Obsidian Well​, Heavy Transport
En Route to Cerea
​Post [1/20]

___________________________​

If flying a starship was intimidating during the best of times, then flying while the Commander-in-Chief of the Commonwealth Marine Corps (and third member of the Security Council) was hovering over your shoulder had to be hell. Tharelle hated space, but the expansion of the Commonwealth demanded that he get over it. He'd fought in countless engagements during his youth, and led men into battles that he knew were unwinnable. He'd stormed entrenched enemy positions and stood toe-to-toe with superior officers threatening to execute him for treason ... and every frakking one of those situations had scared the blazes out of him. Fear was healthy, so long as it didn't control you. He'd lived through those fears and he'd live through this one. Eventually, he'd get used to it. Or so he told himself.

The pilot in front of him lifted a nervous hand to wipe sweat from his brow. ​"Dropping out of hyperspace now, Commander," he said shakily. The man would be glad to drop his passenger off on the Surprise​ and leave it in his rear-views. Tharelle watched out the main viewport as space around him inverted, seemingly changing the direction of the streaking starscape ahead of him before materializing to stationary pinpoints of light in the distance. His hands clenched firmly on the back of the helmsman's chair as his mind fought a sense of vertigo.

"Thank you, Lieutenant,"​ he said as he stood upright, straightening his uniform. ​"Inform the Surprise that we'll be docking."

With that, he turned and left the bridge of the transport, a flurry of salutes and affirmatives as he did so. Moving to the aft passenger compartment, he waited for the ship to dock, looking over some information on the marines involved in the op on his personal datapad. His decision to come out here had not been popular, everyone insisting that there was little he could do and he was too valuable an asset to lose uselessly. The Vaagari usually kept to themselves in the unknown regions. The fact that they were here, in Commonwealth space, had everyone scratching their collective heads. Stopping their their ​scorched-earth​ dance across Commonwealth colonies also had everyone scratching their collective heads. Tharelle had two reasons for deciding to accompany this mission. The first was practical - if he wanted to be able to defeat this enemy, he needed to be here. He needed to see them in actions. He needed to watch their movements. He needed to know​ them.

The second reason ... well, that was personal.

Tharelle felt the ship set down in one of the Surprise's​ hangar, and moved toward the exit ramp. Moments later, it started to lower, the whir of servos slowly diminishing in volume as the din of the hangar below took over. Hands clasped behind his back, he strode down the ramp and onto the deck of the ​CRN-Surprise​. A junior officer was there to meet him, saluting with a shaky hand. He began speaking to welcome the Commander-in-Chief, but Tharelle impatiently interrupted him.

"Yes, yes, dispense with the formalities,"​ he said as he began walking at a brusque pace. ​"I require a private conference room. Also, there is a Shocktrooper on board. Sargaent [member="Sasha Starkos"]. I need for her to meet me there. See to it, please."

The privileges of rank could be useful he thought, as he arrived in the provided conference room and awaited his guest. He had only met Sargaent Starkos one time, but it had been quite the memorable meeting.

[member="Dean Letham"] | [member="Isaac Knight"] | [member="Warfield Lester"]​

 

[The Upright Man]

Objective: Echo
Post: 3/20
Tag: [member="Warfield Lester"] | [member="Isaac Knight"]
________________

0838 hours, 2.1.849 (military calendar)
Port Deck One, Drop Pod Launch Room,
CRS Surprise, High Orbit,
Cerea, Cerean System, Samagi Sector, Mid Rim​

Dean was investigating his drop pod, final calibrations were being made by technical staff as he supervised the addition of firearms. He wasn't going in with what he could hold, hardly, the drop pod was packed with ammunition belts, pouches, bags and canisters, and what little room was left beside the uncomfortable 'chair' was enough space for an MM102 and MM115. Dean would fit - barely.

"Ready for action, Sir! What's my mission?" A voice chirped over Deans shoulder. The immense Jaguar turned, a titan in his own right. Although he peaked the average height of a human male, his power armor was herculean, standing him at almost seven foot. Warfield was staring back at Dean, visor to visor, silver on gold. "We're performing an insertion hot-drop onto the Vaagari Command Ship sitting in low-orbit."

Dean hiked a thumb at the weapon stashed in his drop pod, "I can't carry all of this on my own, and the Lieutenant here," He thumped Isaacs drop pod again, "He'll be busy leading his men." Dean pointed to the end of the line, right beside the Jaguars own pod, "You'll be jumping with me. The Lieutenant is going to clear an LZ aboard the vessel for us."

 

[Zark San Tekka]

Objective: Echo
2/20
[member="Dean Letham"] [member="Warfield Lester"]


"Knight," Commander Letham's voice crackled in his helmet's comm system, the atmospheric shielding of the drop pod weakening the signal strength, "Immediate insertion on that command ship, punch a hole and clear an LZ for my pod."

In lieu of a verbal response, Isaac pressed a key on his suit. A green icon next to his name would flash on Dean's heads up display, signaling his affirmative. The Lieutenant's attention was focused on the array of pod structural displays and life support readouts projected before his own eyes, the light of the data dancing across his visor in the confined space. There was a muffled thump on the outside of his pod, either an expression of luck from the Commander or an indication that this was about to be a very short trip indeed. Activating his intercom, Knight coordinated briefly with the sensor officers aboard the Surprise, refining their drop prod's flight trajectory for precision boarding. It was certainly a somewhat unorthodox use for the pods, but not one completely outside the realm of their designed capabilities. Soon there was nothing to do but wait the final few moments before the Commonwealth armada entered the drop pod's flight range.

Isaac had always been oddly at ease during combat drops, but even he couldn't help but feel some measure of anxiety as the red light flickered on inside the pod to signal that launch was imminent. Even through the pod, the Lieutenant could hear the distant booming of the Surprise's weapons batteries opening up. Within range of the pod's flight range also meant within firing distance of the Vagaari in orbit, and very soon he would find himself a lot closer than that, certainly within range of the Vagaari's point defense weaponry, and he would not have the reliable bulk of the Surprise to protect him, but a flimsy drop pod. Still, he took comfort in the knowledge that they would be escorted and protected as much as was possible by a detachment of Scythe starfighters.

The red light began to blink accompanied by several short tones followed by one longer tone, then the light turned green and Isaac Knight was fired out of the belly of the CRN Surprise like a slug from an MM99.

Experienced as he was, the Lieutenant was prepared for the momentary weightless feeling follow by the sudden extreme pressure of rapid acceleration. The dazzling and terrifying display of exchanged capital ship fire erupting from behind and roaring past silently all around him, however, was something new and for a few seconds all he could do was stare out into space in childlike awe and fear. But then the first pod's systems on his display went critical and the life support readouts on the marine flatlined, and Isaac shook off the paralysis. His comms burst with chaotic chatter even from the usually stoic shock troopers, cries of alarm or curses or mumbled prayers. Outside his viewport, a Scythe whizzed by, weapons firing. Isaac couldn't tell if it was aiming at an enemy starfighter or oncoming ordnance, and he wasn't sure if he wanted to.

Several more marines flatlined as they entered range of the command ship's point defense batteries. On his display, the distance between his pod and the target counted down rapidly, and Isaac knew he didn't have long until insertion. As if on cue with his train of thought, he felt the retroboosters fire on the outside of the pod that would slow it down just enough for the impact not to be fatal. Knight braced himself, planetary insertions were bad enough, but with ship to ship boarding like this the longer you slowed down the more likely you were you be blown out of the void, and the Lieutenant had looked at their flight plan long enough to know that this one would be particularly rough.

The jolt shook his bones when the pod finally struck, burrowing partially into the hull before the explosive charges fired outward on the pod's base clearing the rest of the way, and Isaac pulled the latch that ejected the pod floor. Dropping a concussive grenade down first, he closed his eyes and waited for the blast before dropping down himself. His stomach churned as his body oriented to the vessel's still semi-functioning inertial dampeners, but he still managed to land somewhat gracefully, his MM101 up and scanning the corridor, dimly lit with emergency lighting. Before him, the form of a dazed Vagaari crewman rose from the floor, and he sluggishly attempted to raise an alien weapon in defense.

The assault rifle erupted in Isaac's hands, sustained fire at such close quarters riddling the alien's body before it eventually crumpled back onto the deck.

All around him, shock troopers erupted through the walls, weapons at the ready. From what scans they had been able to gather before initiating contact, their ingress point was supposedly between the engine room and the command ship's bridge, both of which they would have to take if they wanted to prevent the Vagaari from scuttling her before they had completed their objectives. In other corridors, marines were assaulting their way out of their drop pods, before sweeping the corridors as they converged on the Lieutenant's locator beacon. When he was confident there was no imminent threat of a sudden Vagaari counter assault, he opened a channel to Commander Letham.

"LZ secure, holding position until your arrival."

 

[The Upright Man]

Objective: ???
Post: 4/20
Tag: [member="Warfield Lester"] | [member="Isaac Knight"] | [member="Kel Hamner"]
________________

0840 hours, 2.1.849 (military calendar)
Dropping
High Orbit,
Cerea, Cerean System, Samagi Sector, Mid Rim​

"Get to your pod, Warfield, it's show time," Dean ushered him to the end of the line. The pods beside them began to launch, the noise inside the corridor was deafening. Smoke billowed against their visors. Dean couldn't see two-feet in front of him, he took slow steps to his pod, hiked a thumb to Warfields and then proceeded to clasp himself into his own. He pulled the harness over his chest, barely able to strap over the huge armor. He wondered briefly if a drop pod was designed to take so much weight.

Dean leaned out, pulled the hatch down and sealed the pod. The moment of no return. Every time someone got into these pods it was life or death. Drop pods weren't a refined science, they were incredibly useful but equally lethal. Dean hadn't been on a mission in which at least one pod had been wiped out. If the thrusters failed or the emergency chute snapped, that was it, the drop pod was going to dig you your own grave. On the plus side, Navy didn't have to worry about digging a hole or concerns over a coffin.

He had forgotten about the launch sequence, Hadiyya was chatting to Podolsky over the Fireteam Black channel, so it came as a surprise when his entire weight shifted dramatically. He rose in his seat as no gravity took effect, then as he got closer to the planet he was slowly lowered back down onto his seat. He peered out the miniscule viewport, the other CST's had breached the vessel and a moment later Isaac came over the comms, "LZ secure, holding position until your arrival."

"Copy that Lieutenant, sit tight, we're on our way. Over," Dean answered over the channel, formally known as the Commonwealth Battlenet, or simply Battlenet for short. Scythes were cutting up Vaagari pickets that had been caught off guard, but there was something else that made his stomach churn. Was that a fleet in the distance? He wondered, his visor began to magnify the image, it was. "This is Commander Dean Letham hailing the CRS Surprise, you've got enemy contacts far afield. Advise immediate contact with Home Fleet, we're going to need ba-"

His whole world erupted in pain. His drop pod systems crashed, his status flatlined. He tried to open his eyes but momentum was forcing his head against his seat with the pressure of a fire hose. When he finally peeled them open everything was spinning, and something was pushing against his abdomen, he looked down, the drop pod was caved in. The viewport was shattered. He was halfway to the command ship when his drop pod struck a rogue warpod. The result was cataclysmic for both.

The small warpod fighter split into two under the intense pressure of the drop pod, but the pod itself was now crushed, spinning out of control towards the surface thousands of kilometers below. It was gaining speed and soon the momentum of the spin was causing his vision to blur and darken, and soon, darkness overcame him. His eyes could no longer keep themselves open and oxygen was stripped from his brain, Dean Letham slipped into unconsciousness.

 

[Neldar Poska]

Outsider Citadel, City Center
(3/20)


Stranded and cut off, Neldar didn't have much more to do. He hunkered down, telling the Ganks with him to hold their positions. The cruel and unusual devastation of Vagaari from their flachette guns kept them safe. They weren't killing so many as compared to keeping them back, as the ones that were killed were mutilated in front of their squadmates. Although, hunkering down wasn't the best option... The hallways were so tight and there was millions of them. The breathing room was getting smaller and smaller as the Vagaari pushed more and more, finding flanks the Ganks just couldn't stay and defend. The disgusting trash on the ground had started to heat up from the weapons fire, sun, and explosions in the air, and the packed in sardines didn't make it any better; the warzone started to smell atrocious and everyone was sweeting. It all looked like the final stand.


Suddenly, chatter amongst the Ganks perked up, some pointing at the sky. They got Naldars attention, telling him of drop pods or escape pods. They were dropping from one of the ships that weren't attacking his, pwnetrating an enemy ship. An efficient and quick way of boarding a ship, Neldar thought, but less safe cover and foothold for the troops - more like a rush tactic to take the bridge. But one of the later pods didn't hit it's mark; it collided with one of Neldars Warpods and he snarled as he watched. Another of his cover fire, gone.


It hadn't stopped though, slowed down maybe, but gravity and its height turned it into an artillery shell that was going to hit bottom. It appeared to still be mostly intact, but as Neldar watched it hit the ground... Holy... It kicked up houses. Neldar quickly thought for a second. It landed nearby on the Outsider Citadel, and he could make it; it was towards where the Vagaari were thinnest, and it might be safer as they were thrown out of that area.

"Ganks! Crash place, go! Push!" Neldar yelled. It might even be better to take position there than here, or help them survive a little longer. And whoever was in it may be able to help. If not, maybe they have a gun and ammo that is still useful. Neldar ran up with the Ganks and pushed with them. Pushing made the Ganks drop a little as they weren't used to such tight corridors, but they put down what came in front of them. By the time they reached the drop pod, it was smoking and sparking, in the center of a sizeable crater... A lot better to take cover in compared to skinny alleys.

"Uhrund Pod!" Neldar ordered the Ganks to form a parameter around the pod. He ran over and banged on the pod. After he didn't hear anything, and wasn't wasting anymore time, he gripped what seemed to be the hatch and roared something fierce. Whoever was inside would have thought there might be a massive bloodthirsty beast outside trying to eat them. Neldar tore off the smashed hatch and tossed it, heaving as he roared again at the occupant. "Friend?? Alive? Speak!" he aaid as he aimed his blaster at the occupant just to be cautious. "Neldar!" he said, pounding his chest to indicate his own identity

Spoiler

Forces

Corona-class Frigate (Disabled) (1)
2 Warpod (6)
Gank (17 on ground)

[member="Dean Letham"]

 

[Alleycat]

Starkos, Sasha Sergeant
Commonwealth Shock Trooper/Marine Sniper
Aboard the CRS Surprise
(3)


After being supplied well at the ship's armory, Sasha made her way to the hangar where her squad's MPD was prepped and waiting to deploy. She was just about to board when a nervous ensign came walking up quickly looking for her.

"Sergeant Starkos? Commander Tharella requests that you meet with him ASAP. He will be waiting for you in Briefing Room 1-A."

After throwing up a salute, the Marine sniper replied with a "Yes, sir," to the junior officer, then her copper-red head turned towards [member="Eli Brooks"] and shrugged.

"I haven't been here that long to get in trouble, have I?" Sash quipped, then sighed. "I'll catch up to you, Sarge, when I can," she said with a nod, then turned on her booted heel and headed across the busy hangar bay to the designated room on the other side.

The spirited Corellisi saw that the hatch door was open so she stood in the hatchway and cleared her throat as [member="Rayce Tharelle"]'s back was to the door. "You wanted to see me, sir?" the redhead stated to the distinguished looking white-haired Commander-in-Chief of the Marine Corps, then saluted with a way more crisp salute than before with the lowly ensign after he turned around to face her.

"Sergeant Starkos, reporting as ordered!" the tall redhead offered respectfully keeping her dark jade eyes front and center gazing just over the older man's broad shoulder while holding her helmet under her left arm with the sniper rifle slung off that same shoulder.

[member="Neldar Poska"] [member="Dean Letham"] [member="Isaac Knight"] [member="Warfield Lester"] [member="Mia Conner"] [member="The Collective"] [member="Kel Hamner"]

 

[Figure In White]

Captain Maris Jolner
Commonwealth Marines
Outsider Citadel
(1/20)

His head bobbed and rocked a bit as the pod fell, but Maris stared straight ahead within his mask. He said nothing, but was fully loaded for the ordeal ahead. The chances of having to deal with Force Users among the Vaagari was limited, though entirely possible. Believing in preparedness for any situation, he carried his gear for dealing with their like. Of course, he was wearing his Phrik gear, not carrying it. It would serve for protection from blasters anyway, so there was no point in not wearing it. This whole ordeal was straight out of textbook reality. Their forces were always dealing with some military action or other. The Commonwealth was going to end up being the galactic police force.

Not that he was complaining since it gav ehim the chance to deal with the people who worshiped the Force like it was a god.

The pod touched down and he removed the harness before stepping out. The pod hadn't actually landed on the citadel, as that would have caused issues, but it had landed close enough to be within walking distance. There were numerous of these facilities on the world, and they were aimed at dealing with all of them. The unfortunate reality of these was their evolution into slums, which for Vaagari might as well have been a candy store. People sold their siblings for cash, and to free up more space in their homes. Parents sold their kids for the same. It was disgusting, but so was the presence of the buildings. For the Cereans being such great thinkers, they'd been rather stupid to have these things built. They'd have been better off telling people to go away.

Maris was joined by the rest of his Kaleesh squad as they approached the base of the facility. Here the Vaagari had set up a perimeter lined with various cannons, and were already engaged with some Commonwealth forces.

"I want the base of the city secured," he said, looking at his crew. "We'll use harpoon guns and come in from above with cover from the other forces. Sergeant, inform the line commander, everyone else, gear up and prepare for the assault."

 

[Progflaw99]

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---​

Location: Cerea, High Orbit​

Objective: MC-D​

In Vicinity: ​

[member="Sasha Starkos"] | [member="[/FONT][FONT='courier new']Neldar Poska"] | [member="Dean Letham"] | [member="Isaac Knight"] | [member="Warfield Lester"] ​

[member="Mia Conner"] | [member="The Collective"] | [member="Kel Hamner"] ​

Post: 1/ 20(?)​

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---​

​

He didn't like it. He didn't like it at all.

Eli had always hated bugs, even as a child. Something about having too many legs, unnatural movement... The Vagaari themselves weren't insectoids, rather humanoid creatures though according to the records they had a peculiar anatomy. They were short, not particularly intimidating by themselves, and they had two mouths. That was strange. The part that bothered Eli the most though were their weapons. Biological mostly, not gas or nerve agents but literal living weapons. Wolvkil, almost completely blaster resistant, could achieve speeds so fast that even if you were able to see it, you'd have a heck of a time actually hitting it. They were vicious, and if that wasn't enough the Vagaari also had subjugated a species of insect, the primary source of Eli's chagrin. The Schostri were winged creatures that bore stingers, the venom rumored to be lethal to most if not all species though optimistically he noted that there were no records of humans being stung, perhaps there would be a chance for survival afterall. Eli nodded as the woman spoke, they were going to need as much ammo and explosives as they could fit.

"I hate bugs." the Staff Sergeant muttered in response to his fellow Marine's quip about the Vagaari fighting fair.

The pair of Commonwealth Marines followed by others of their platoon had made their way to the armory, loading up with as much ammo as they could carry in addition to handheld explosives and grenades. They were going to go in heavy. Eli had made sure that he'd made it clear to his NCO's what he expected, distributing weaponry appropriately. He'd been part of far too many fights where the lack of appropriate weaponry had negatively impacted their effectiveness, that wouldn't happen today. Each fireteam had been given a marksman, each squad a DMR. On top of that there had been a sniper for each platoon. Scratch one. His.

Eli looked up from where he stood, double checking the functions on his weapon. An officer had approached, nodding Eli kept his hand firmly on the grip of his rifle. Smirking at the red haired woman's remark, he added one of his own.

"Around long enough to get in trouble? Nah, but you've certainly got the look."

He forced himself to keep a straight face for about all of two seconds before jokingly giving the Marine a playful hit on the shoulder.

"Go figure out what they want, but I'l have you know I'm short a sniper now so make it snappy."

He was joking, mostly. He was short a sniper now though, he hoped that wouldn't cause him issues later on. Checking his chrono, he grimaced. They'd have to get going here, they couldn't wait. Making his way to the front of the MPD he clutched one of the metal handholds, rapping on the hatch with his other as he let his weapon hang by the sling around his shoulders. With a light grating the hatch opened, the uniformed pilot prepping the flight controls.

"Locked and loaded back here sir, ready when you are."

A silent nod and the pilot motioned for the Marine to close the hatch once more. Doing so he took the seat at the head of the bay, locking in position and securing his harness. He couldn't count the number of times simply being strapped in while riding in an MPD had saved his life, he wasn't about to get cocky now and forego it. He could feel the engines power on and the ship lift off the deck as they began their flight into the atmosphere. Listening to the comm chatter on the way down he tried to paint a picture in his mind of what the surface would look like. They were on their way towards the Outsider Citadels, rumor was the Vagaari had taken over and it was up to he and his men to root them out. He hadn't given the men many details about the mission, just the basics but as they began to enter the atmosphere he began working on the words he would say as they sped towards their objective.

 

[Darth Caecus]

Location: Cerea, High Orbit
Objective: MC-D
Allies in Vicinity: [member="Eli Brooks"] [member="Cait Falcor"] ???
1/20

"Staff Sergeant Brooks."

The petite marine waited patiently. She was suited up and strapped in, looking about as relaxed as she ever did. Which was to say, not very. Usually fairly tightly wound, Sergeant Zee was positively uptight in comparison to the woman strapped in beside her, Cait Falcor. But, she was patient and impassive- so, par for the course for the blonde woman.

When he looked over, she nodded at him.

"I'm certified on the MM110, and trained on something very similar to the MM115."

That was all. A simple statement of fact. He didn't have to be without a sniper if he needed one. She wasn't going to make a fuss of out it. But if he needed her, well....

 

[Cait Falcor]

SSG Cait Falcor
Commonwealth Marine
Ceres, High Orbit
OBJ: MC-D
___________________
Cait sat, strapped into the MPD. MacArthur, Gomez, other Gomez and a handful of new boots she didn't know from Iskeria were along with her - She knew all of their personnel jackets, of course. But Mac, Gomez and Gomez went a ways back with Cait, they were her people. Cait's Marines wore mostly standard kit, but she was willing to allow some degree of personalization.

She eyeballed her Squad-HUD and noted that everyone's icon had a "Strapped In" logo over them, and nodded with approval. "Just follow P'toon Sarg'n Brook's lead. We're here on a bug hunt, they come fast, they come low. These ain't tinnies (droids) or Bucketheads, so you might have to learn some new tricks. And for you new boots...remember, I've just got four rules - Watch each others' asses, everyone fights, lets all come home...and most importantly - beer's on me when we get back.".

Cait heard over the Platoon Comm as her friend [member="Zee"] informed [member="Eli Brooks"] of her skills with various weapons and couldn't help but smirk. She opened a private channel to her friend, and playfully mimicked the slender woman's voice "Look at me, Staff Sergeant Brooks, I'm soooo proficient!" Cait gently bumped her shoulder into her comrade's side - all she could really manage with the straps. Turning serious for half a second she added - "He knows how good you are. How's the back, by the way?" Cait inquired about the hit Zee had taken back on Iskeria, and the thought made Cait's Tattoo - of the Squadmates she'd lost there - itch.

She desperately hoped she wouldn't be getting any new work done after this Op...