DS Broy took the headphones Hendricks offered her. She only listened for a moment before handing them back to the branch's technical specialist. Semmes stepped up as well, the only other 'G' detective left in Minegashi that wasn't dead in a gutter. The city was falling apart outside of their barracks fence; from the window under the eaves she could look out on the burning city for a visual to the steady rumble of heavy weapons fire.
"Something like a day late and a dollar short Jimmy," Semmes muttered behind her, tossing the headset away. Hendricks snorted, far too tired to put up with his over aggressive partner, "First bloody transmission he's made a) in voice b) in the clear c) that's lasted more then thirty seconds. Couldn't tell what or where the fu-"
Broy had quietly leaned in to interpose herself between the two squabbling men without either noticing. A hard edged look told them both to shove it seconds ahead of, "Stuff it, the lot'o ya. Mr. Radio Free Ayanon has apparently forgotten that the RAC is still the law on this planet and in this. City."
Jim Hendricks looked ready to protest that ascertain, but he didn't; for once even the contentious Alex Semmes got the message. Broy was sullen, honest, and never showed a sign of her behind close doors disagreements with their army counterparts in front of her men. Disagreements that involved such phrases as 'loosing this damn planet' quite often from what they could glean. If she had noticed their surprise, Broy didn't show it. Instead the Detective Sergeant was taking down a muddy overcoat off the hooks by the door, having slipped away from them in the seconds they'd been distracted.
"Alex, you've got your gun?" She asked quietly.
"Aye. Right here skipper."
"Excellent."
Hendricks shut down the radio transceiver kit, and quickly began folding it into it's suitcase. The other two were waiting by the door when he came tumbling over arms full of gear and a shotgun. Slightly out of breath from the sudden excitement, he asked, "What's the plan ma'am?"
"The plan is," Edna buttoned the raincoat's last button, "We are not leaving this city alone. Come along, we'll have to grab a couple of bloody auxies before they all scamper off."
Let God do His work, we will see to ours. Bring in the candles.Corporal Charlemagne James Saxton wiped a wave of sweat off of his forehead, and flicked his hair out his eyes, before wincing as another red beam flashed over his head, blinding him momentarily. With a muffled curse, he threw himself sideways out of the floor-to-ceiling office window as his assailant kept up his fire, red beams carving into the formerly tasteful upholstery opposite the window.
He dived onto his stomach as the shooter fired blindly through the wall, light flashing again above him. Another bolt flashed across the floor, slicing through the wood inches from his head, as Charlie rolled sideways away from it, clenching his hands to his head automatically. Even an Imperial helmet wouldn't save you from a direct blast from one of those.
With noticeable suddenness, the suppressive fire stopped, as if cut off. He froze in his prone position, waiting for a long second, listening for the next beam.
He jumped in surprise as his radio crackled to life instead. " Got your sniper Saxton," His headset echoed. " Your in the clear, over."
With a sigh of relief, Charlemagne struggled to his knee, then to a standing position. His body armor made getting up difficult, and with his claymore strapped to his back. Finding his rifle on the floor where it had slipped from his grasp, he resignedly slapped a new power pack into it and took up position at the window once more. " Thanks for the save, Waghner, Saxton out." He responded to his comrade, before sighting down into the chaos below.
His position wasn't a very good one, although considering the position the Imperials were in as a whole at the moment, he should probably settle for it. He was currently in the what had once been a nice third-floor corner in office, in what had once been a luxurious office building, next to what had once been a thriving city square.
As of now, he was looking down through layers of smoke and fire into a hail of laser and plasma, as his ailing company tried to hold the square. Revolutionary scum flooded down the streets from the north and west, while Her Majesty's soldiers tried to hold the bottlenecks, gray-armored troops firing from behind benches, inside shops, and from the roofs. Thick smoke billowed up from burning buildings and grenades alike.
Despite his the Fifth's effort, it was clear to any observer that they couldn't hold for long. They still held the square, and were keeping the rebels from gaining complete control of the two street entrances, but from his position, Charlemagne could tell it would not be long until they had to call a retreat.
...which would put him in a rather unenviable position, cut off from the majority of his squad, providing support from up here.
Below him, he spotted a squad of rebels advancing across the roofs, pushing back his comrades. Clenching his teeth, Corporal Saxton put the thoughts of self-preservation out of his mind, and fired a salvo down onto them from above. He'd worry about himself later, once his duty here was done.
edited 29th Oct '11 5:16:44 PM by rabbitRider
Your legacy shall drift away, blown into eternity, like the sands of the desert.In a block of the city that hadn't been swept up in the chaos of the frontlines, yet had still been emptied of it's population, a few human shadows flitted through housing project's courtyard. As a rule, Edna only brought part of the Royal Ayanon Constabulary's Auxiliary Division if there seemed to be serious trouble in the offing. Tonight, in a city at war, a pack of armed bastards didn't seem amiss. Not that their target would give them any trouble; Edna could see the lone figure moving about every so often through his pitiful excuse for a blackout curtain.
Abandoning the cover of the next door building she slipped quietly across the quadrangle past the empty fountain into the cover of the apartment complex's overhang. Without hesitating, she pushed the door open and continued into the lobby. From the darkness by the door Semmes and Hendricks fell in behind her.
Let God do His work, we will see to ours. Bring in the candles."And so the Empire descends forth from the heavens as a rain of lead and light," Mercutio smirked as someone a top the next building roof forced the rebels that had been pinning Mercutio's squad down to scatter for new cover, "Now let's kill these bastards and get out of this cesspool."
He took aim over his cover at the flanked Greens, spraying them with his own munitions before advancing past at a brisk pace. He'd seen a sniper a minute ago take someone out and Mercutio wasn't about to be the another notch on that Anarchist bastard's barrel.
"Rooftop. This is Lance Corporal Ignatius, thanks for the save. Moving in towards Head Quarters, meet us by the back gate."
edited 29th Oct '11 8:22:40 PM by Fauxlosophe
Charlemagne gave the remaining roofs a quick sweep, before deciding that his mission here was accomplished, and that he could best help His Majesty by surviving this encounter. He stood, and called back. " Saxton to Ignatius, this is Roof. Heading down the stairs now, over."
He turned, and poked his head out of the office, checking left and right down the lines of doors. The floor was deserted. He scuttled out of his nest and towards the stairs. He kicked the metal door open, and checked the room. Electric lights flickered with dwindling power supplies, but there was no movement as he scanned the staircase. Satisfied, he began to descend.
He reached the second and first floors without incident. As he approached the bottom, however, he heard something in the lobby clatter and he froze. The door to the lobby was ajar, but he couldn't make out what was happening. He raised his rifle with quivering hands, and held it pointed at the door for a long moment.
About a minute passed before Charle rose, still shaking somewhat, and inched his way to the door. He slowly opened the door with the nose of his rifle, before leaping out into the lobby, assuming a full, ready to fire stance.
The lobby was completely empty.
Breathing heavily from nerves, he made his way across the deserted lobby towards the back exit.
Swinging the back exit open, he was greeted by small squad who were currently covering the alleyway.
Your legacy shall drift away, blown into eternity, like the sands of the desert.Oskar and his militiamen had been sent as cleanup shock troopers, back in the rearguard: Their job was to crush remaining pockets of resistance after the Revolutionary blitzkrieg made their breakthroughs. Their tactics were simple...
They called it SBJ, after Screwdriver, Blowtorch, Jackhammer. It involved a machinegunner (that would be Oskar), a weapons-grade plasma torch (a glorified flamethrower) and an RPG operative. The rest of his squad were shock troopers, armed with either combat shotguns or bullpup assault carbines.
It wouldn't be modest of him to say, but they were kickin' a whole lot of ass. They were attacking a particularly tough fortified position: They'd blown the doors open, but they faced tough resistance from barricades. "Push'em back! Corner those Imperial motherfuckers!!!", he yelled. "We can't slaughter them if they ain't fucking cornered!". He filled the corridor ahead of him with hot lead: Most of the Imperials were behind cover, but his bullets often drilled straight through it.
Screwdriver indeed, he thought.
edited 29th Oct '11 9:29:40 PM by SavageHeathen
You exist because we allow it and you will end because we demand it."Relax Ef," next to her Dan Boise was giving her a wide grin, "the city isn't going anywhere." Boise was a bear of man, dark skinned with thick black hair. He wasn't an Ayanon native, that they knew, but he wasn't very forthcoming with details. Effie knew he was married, and she was fairly sure his wife was an Imperial, but he'd never confirmed that.
Effie never asked.
Across from them a blond man snorted, not looking up. "Reports indicate otherwise. They all say it's going up in flames," he said, gesturing to the city. They were barely on the outskirts and quickly getting even closer, their tiny armoured truck
"Always so contrary," Dan said, wrinkling his nose at his friend. Effie pinned them both with a glare.
"Shut up," she snapped, "just...shut up. And arm up."
"Shut up an arm up," the blond finally looked at them, head cocked at Effie. "Could be a slogan." She flushed at that, shoving her rough knife into her boot-sheath with an amount of force she almost missed it entirely. "Minigashi, is it close to where you lived?"
Effie's lips thinned. "Sort of," she said, "we lived in a large plantation between Minigashi and Rathagan." She shrugged, "to be honest, I'm not sad to see it go. Now stop prying Allons"
In contrast to both Boise and Effie, Yann Allons was incredibly reserved, probably part of the reason he had a higher rank. Tall and pale, Yann was the son of a plantation owner far south of Rathagan. He never hesitated when it came to having to blow yet another hole in part of Ayanon though. His only concern for the planet's southern half seemed to centre entirely on the fact that the Imperials were still there; and his father with them.
In the front of the truck the driver, Theodor Henrison, coughed to get their attention. "We'll be in Minegishi's norther quad in approximately one minute. Allons, you know your orders?"
Allons gave him a razor sharp smile. "We're here as tech support sir," he said.
He nodded sharply, even as they entered the city and he pulled to a stop in a half-destroyed alley. "Then get out of my fuckin' truck," he said.
The three quickly stood, each grabbing their rifles, Boise shouldering a large black duffle as he was the last to duck out. The truck quickly backed up past them, heading back to pick up more people.
"What are our first orders?" Effie turned to Allons. "Sir," she added belatedly.
"You never use my title," he responded blithely, "and we're to meet up with another squad, preceding as usual."
Effie laughed. "Right, kill as many bastards as we can find, hopefully by throwing something explosive at them, until we find a ground squad."
The three quickly started down the alley. "Why don't they ever assign us to any specific groups?" Boise demanded.
"Probably has something to do with that one time with the tank at Vieux Plantation."
"That was Effie's fault," Boise groused, "I shouldn't be punished for the fact she can't keep her head on straight."
Effie ignored them, straining to look for two things; something explosive and someone to blow up.
edited 29th Oct '11 10:06:42 PM by AwayLaughing
Save for a total, unforseen disaster Ayanon was going to fall to the forces of the Revolution very soon. Having a great victory for anti-Imperialist forces was wonderful but it didn't make Luka Selanne as happy as she might have been. A battle that had been won already didn't add up to much glory or prestige for her unit; mopping up never did. Luka wasn't about to give up on striking an important blow for the Revolution here though. Even if she didn't like the job, she had to follow orders if she wanted to ever get better assignments for the 42nd. And there were still Imperial forces around, so she could try to eject them from their positions to ease the difficulty of finishing Ayanon's defenses.
The 42nd Lebanon Infantry Regiment had just arrived on Ayanon a day before, and she'd been told she would have to wait to get official orders. Knowing a good deal about military strategy she knew exactly what sort of duties the regiment would be given. Waiting for the official word on where they were to be deployed was the worst part right now. Luka had come to fight, not sit behind the lines and wait like a good girl to be told where to go. So amidst the urban fighting that was going on so close, yet so far, she made up her mind to go to the command building to get her orders directly.
She'd spent a good hour getting ready to do so, brushing out her hair and pulling it back just right so that she looked professional. Her uniform had needed some adjustments after she'd initially put it on, but at long last it looked just right. This being her first visit to her new CO, she intended to make as big of an impression as she could. Luka gave herself another look in the mirror, decided she looked good enough, and at last stepped out of the building she'd commandeered for the regimental command. Her lieutenant, an inexperienced but fairly pretty college student she knew as Vesuvius (the girl's family name she guessed), eyed the captain oddly as she moved out.
"Ma'am where are you going at this hour? Weren't we supposed to stay here and wait for orders?" the lieutenant asked cautiously, not wanting to step on any feet.
"Waiting does nothing for the Revolutionary cause, Lieutenant Vesuvius. I'm just going to go find out where our orders will take us. Get the troops ready to move out upon my return," Luka answered, returning the sharp salute she received thereafter.
Knowing the lieutenant would get things in order Luka put her helmet on and marched over to the forward command base with a determined step. Somehow she'd get her Lebanese troops into this fight and kill some Imperial drones. It would just take the right finessing to get a good assignment from the command, and that could be done much more easily in the Rebel command than the Imperial one. Less structured, more informal. Luka believed in the ideals of the Revolution to be sure, but she didn't mind advancing her own reputation or that of her unit in the process. The Selanne name was famous on Lebanon and Niida, but she wanted her own to become particularly well known on account of what she did.
Her immaculate uniform, complete with gold braiding at the cuffs and collar, were a surprise to the sentries outside the command post. Luka informed them who she was, and after several minutes of small talk managed to convince the guard she was okay to head in to meet the general. She promised the man a drink the next time they met and strode in to find Major General Van Vleet. Once inside she removed her helmet, tucking it under an arm as she stopped another junior officer to ask for the general's location. Once she'd found the woman in command Luka stepped forward, snapped to attention and saluted smartly with her free hand.
"Captain Luka Selanne of the 42nd Lebanon Infantry Regiment reporting for duty, ma'am! We are ready to head into action at your word, ma'am!" she announced, then waited to be recognized.
Avatar from: http://x0whitelily0x.livejournal.com/5953.html N: 5 F, 0/40 SThey waited outside the door for the DJ's latest voice transmission extorting the population of the city to remain in place to welcome their liberators with open arms to end. Hendricks had tucked away his portable direction finder set, so now all three were ready. When the strains of a rebel anthem began thumping through the door, Edna nodded to Semmes, and pulled out a plastic card. Faded away until only 'ousing' was visible on the front. Unlike the popular drama depiction of detectives busting down doors and going in guns blazing, most operations thankfully went like this.
The door swung open, fortunately the target had decided he liked a well oiled door, and the three coppers slipped inside. Semmes checked the door to their left; closet. Edna and Hendricks kept their weapons pointed down the hall at the living room where the main source of noise continued. Creeping along the hall, Edna paused at the corner long enough to peek around. The radio set sat on a desk, the operator on a chair in front of it, presently munching on a snack cake and checking some setting or other.
With a twitch of the hand DS Broy and DC Semmes bolted around into the main room. Their erstwhile Greenie broadcaster had enough time to set down his half a cake before an arm lifted him out of the chair by his collar and another stuck a pistol in his face. For a few brief seconds he hung from Semmes' grip in shock. Then the realization set in and the protesting began as soon as his feet made contact with the floor, "What the hell! Who the hell are you!? Let me go!"
Nothing new, Edna noted, everyone seemed to react the same way when arrested. Though in 'peacetime' there had been notably more protests of innocence. And most criminals shut up with a gun three inches from their nose. Without blinking, she leaned in nearly parallel to the pistol. Narrowing her eyes slightly, she said, "We're the G-Men lad, RAC's finest, we've been on your case for weeks, decided today was as good as any to haul you in for ten counts violating the Sedition Decree. Trust that won't put you out too much?"
"H-H-How!? How did you get in? The cameras-" he continued to stammer, weaker then before after Edna stepped back to holster her sidearm. It was Jim's turn to laugh, "You think a few tricks out of the Revolutionary's Handbook can outsmart G Division? Mate, next time you might want to use something other then the government installed camera system."
Semmes snapped the cuffs on the now despondent broadcaster, Jim had set to work doing something to the transmitter. It didn't take long before he nodded at the watchful Broy, who now had a bag full of documents and recordings under her arm, "It's done skipper, should kick in thirty seconds after we're out the door."
In a van on the next block Sergeant Allen of the Auxiliary Division sat, grumbling that that overbearing statue from G Division insisted he listen to this Greenie drivel on the vehicle set. He was about to call the other Sergeant when the song ended, except, there wasn't a break for more propaganda messages this time. Instead it launched into the next song, one he recognized.... the Imperial Navy Choir's rendition of 'God Save the Empress' thundered across the city on the rebel channel.
edited 30th Oct '11 11:00:49 AM by hotelkilo
Let God do His work, we will see to ours. Bring in the candles."You know where we're headed? Call back to the headquarters. Termites have swallowed the city, we're getting out before digestion sets in," Mercutio jerk his head as if he was spitting, an old Tyonii gesture of disgust and/or contempt.
He turned, around the corner of the building and looked over at the street, his rifle at the ready.
edited 30th Oct '11 12:08:42 PM by Fauxlosophe
" Nice timing there." Charle greeted Mercutio informally. " I know we're pulling out to the south, but that's about it." He explained. " We could hook up with the rest of the Fifth but..." He jerked a thumb over his shoulder towards the street, where a burst of laser fire roared past, melting asphalt. He raised his eyebrows. " That might not be the best idea right now. Strength in numbers and all, yeah, but we'll lose the square within an hour at this point, and our best use is just survival right now."
He nervously checked both sides of the street over his shoulder. " I know there's a tube station a block over that we were supposed to use to retreat if we got split up, that's probably our best bet now. I'll call HQ, find out what our rally point is, and we can take the tunnels south a few miles to the closest station."
He put a hand to his helmet, trying to make it clearer over the heightening sounds of chaos and destruction in the streets around the squad. " Saxton to Overwatch, come in Overwatch..." He called, hoping to get a signal through. " We need urgent location of rally point for retreating points, can you assist? Over."
Your legacy shall drift away, blown into eternity, like the sands of the desert.The fighting was bloody and vicious: The defenders fought well, making every bullet count. Still, cops and grunts were barely a match for the vicious militiamen. The defenders had an edge in tech, but the attackers had much more firepower. After twenty minutes of frenzy, the defenders' last line of defense broke, and they were cornered like rats on a collapsed tunnel (courtesy of the jackhammer).The defenders yielded, disarming to avoid being massacred. Then, after victory, the cull began:
Commissioned officers who were nobles were killed on the spot. Some of his troops had deep-seated grudges against nobility, and they rarely spared nobles unless told to. Unless Oskar had no choice, he didn't tell them to. Other military captives were treated as POW and treated humanely: Brandt's men soon had them handcuffed, soon to be shipped to a POW camp. Police officers were another beast altogether: They treated captured rebels like criminals, not POW. In a ruthless show of tit-for-tat, the militiamen treated them like vermin. Unless the cops had been very soft on the rebellion, or surrendered without a fight, they didn't survive to see a POW camp. Their leaders never did.
As far as Brandt and the guys saw it, cops should be shown that cooperating with the Empire's campaign of oppression would mean certain, painful death. Fear, after all, was a powerful motivator. Police could be terrorized into inaction: If they feared Rebel reprisals more than Imperial discipline, they wouldn't cooperate with Imperial intelligence. If they feared fighting the Rebels more than they feared their own officers, they would mutiny rather than fight.
On that world, the Empire had cracked down hard on rebel activists. Reprisals were ruthless and proportional: Out of all the captives Oskar's Red Squadron made that day, only military rank-and-file made it. All captured cops and nobles met the bayonet: They were "Not even worth a bullet." Having neutralized the bunker, the squadron spray-painted their logo on the entrance: Their red flag with a black, clenched fist. As they marched the prisoners outside, he praised the troops for a job well done.
edited 1st Nov '11 6:09:15 AM by SavageHeathen
You exist because we allow it and you will end because we demand it.Two vans rumbled south out of the city with lights doused. The lead vehicle was under the control of a PC from motor transport, with the most recent pair of prisoners in the back under the care of Semmes, Hendricks, and another PC. Minegishi's 'G' Squad had made another, impromptu, stop on the way out of town. Uniformed division had, somehow, managed to collar Richard 'Dick' Hyde earlier in the day (probably seized by the revolutionary spirit like his van-mate). Wanted for the assassination of two constables and the attempted bombing of the Dock Green Station last November, the Chief Superintendent had thought it wise to spirit him out ahead of the Greenies.
So now Broy found herself babysitting two civil prisoners out of the burning city. While law and order collapsed behind them, they rushed through the empty countryside towards the North Camberwick station house in Rathangan. There was little question in her mind what awaited the pair, at least if they were left in her control. Orders had come down the day before that no prisoners were to be abandoned to the enemy under any situation. The few that had remained in Minegashi's Central Holding had met a more swift execution of their punishment then they'd expected from the muzzle of Auxie guns that same afternoon. No one would ever find a trace of them, beyond a transfers to military custody.
A fine cycle of unfair brutality; rebels killed beat cops, Auxies beat up or killed rebels, rebels killed more uniforms and the occasional Auxie. Edna rolled down the window to let in a bit of fresh air; there was a reason she'd always restrained her squad. 'G' Division operated under the radar after all. They raged against the public face of the RAC, she thought morosely, shooting down coppers like dogs when it had been her detectives who'd been responsible for most of the deaths or 'disappearances' of their members that had forced them to bring in off worlders to finish the job.
Such was the way of things, they would live and the poor bastards bloodthirsty enough to stay behind for revenge would probably be dumped in a ditch by morning. The smell of smoke caused her nose to wrinkle; she would have to think of something better.
edited 31st Oct '11 7:18:11 PM by hotelkilo
Let God do His work, we will see to ours. Bring in the candles.As the dust cleared Effie was left looking at yet another small crater in Minegishi's surface. The handful of Imperialists they'd run into was down to two live men, neither able to stand. Effie only bared them a brief glance before she walked over and shot the first one point blank. Boise took care of the other.
"They're retreating quickly," he remarked and Effie sneered.
"They should have sent us here sooner," she hissed, kicking one of the dead Imperialists in frustrations, "we shouldn't be here picking off stragglers."
Boise placed a large hand on her skinny shoulder. "Relax Contre," he said, "some one needs to take care of them."
Allons, who had been looking for any reusable items, nodded, returning to their little group. "He is correct," he said, "it could be worse. Some of the squads are under orders to take prisoners."
Effie bristled at that. "Prisoners? What for? They pulled all the important ones out days ago, everyone they left here they consider fucking replaceable resources, they don't care at all what happens to them. That's what the empire does, it takes people who've spent their whole lives working for it and spits them back out as little bloody lumps." Her entire body was shaking, her red face clashing wildly with her red hair.
Allons said nothing at that, waiting until she'd managed to cool down some. "Better?" he asked evenly, proceeding when she shot him a moody glare instead of a response. "We're too push further in."
"And continue playing clean up crew?" Effie asked sourly. Boise rolled his eyes, shaking her shoulder slightly, his hand never having left, before he turned.
"You're going to die young girl," he said softly and she shrugged.
"It's war, what do expect me to do? Now let's go, we still haven't met up with anyone."
edited 31st Oct '11 9:43:05 PM by AwayLaughing
On her advance, Effie could see Oskar and his militiamen try and to take another dugout: While Oskar's machinegun fire kept the defenders at the window pinned, a young militiawoman ran towards it, her plasma torch burning alive everyone defending it.
"Gonna need some whiskey with those Empire fries!", she joked, among the Imperials' cries of agony. The rest of the militiamen laughed, not even bothering to finish the dying Imperials off. Oskar gave a respectful salute to Effie and her squad from a distance.
edited 2nd Nov '11 3:26:31 AM by SavageHeathen
You exist because we allow it and you will end because we demand it.Charle and Mercutio
Charle got a response in a manner of speaking. It's just that the response was not directed at him. It wasn't even Imperials! "Fire base, this is Apollo Relay One..."
Revolutionary broadcasts had somehow leaked onto their net. This particular bunch were a relay team passing coordinates from the front to the artillery batteries outside the city. Whatever plans the members of the Fifth had, they were about to be complicated. A rumbling of the ground and the distinct noise of engines and large footsteps brought everyone's attention towards the end of the street.
From around the buildings on the corner where the rebels were gathered stepped out a war frame. Almost 18 meters high, with a paint scheme no one could make out in the dark, the bipedal machine's most visible feature was the pair of glowing red eyes glaring down from a squat, cylinder shaped head. One arm had a cannon attached to it, the other held what appeared to be a sword.
The mecha fixed its eyes in the direction of the remaining Imperials and took aim with its left arm....
With Luka
The Revolutionary military was indeed less structured and more informal. But it just so happened that Claudia Van Vleet was formally Lady Claudia Van Vleet, Countess of Sanacere (West Continent, Saffron), was a product of years of military training and nobility upbrining and didn't appreciate people not sticking to the protocols she had set up.
The general glared at the captain "Who the - Who let you in here?"
"God Save the Empress...!"
"And where in the blazing stars is that coming from!?"
A few shouts, comm channels and scampering later someone came up and explained why the radio station had suddenly switched its propaganda.
"It is the moment of victory and people are just going out of their way to piss me off." Van Vleet muttered. She looked again to Luka. "Captain, one does not just walk up on her commanding officer. Etiquette will be followed in my presence. But since you are here, take a company of Lebanese and take back that station. I will not be listening to that godawful music anymore then I have to. Send back whatever prisoners you take and rejoin your regiment afterwards."
A recently arrived colonel chose that moment to speak up, "Ma'am, we're getting reports from the rearguard that some of the men are getting out of hand with regards to the prisoners."
Van Vleet waved her hand dismissively. "It is the locals letting off some steam, it happens everywhere we go."
"General, the Supreme Commander's orders regarding civil treat-"
"What Xamoda does not know will not hurt him." The old man is far too soft for his own good. They let frontier freaks and country bumpkins into the ranks, what did they honestly expect? So long as they brought more glory to her name, Van Vleet would look the other way, though. That suited her fine. Eventually Xamoda would be shoved aside for someone with more training, knowledge, and refinement. Someone like her.
She looked to Luka again. "You have your orders! Go!"
With Oskar and Effie
"Hey! What's the hold up?" a voiced boomed on the headset ears of the squad leaders. "Word from on high says this city is gonna be ours before sunrise and you guys are falling behind!"
edited 1st Nov '11 10:45:33 PM by Parable
"Lt Oskar Brandt here: We've faced hard resistance from Imperial fortifications on the way to City Centre: So far we've crushed it. We're currently enroute to the Government Hall, to slaughter any officials the Imperials ain't evacuated yet. What's going on, do we have a change of target?", he asked.
edited 2nd Nov '11 3:28:39 AM by SavageHeathen
You exist because we allow it and you will end because we demand it.Effie heard the hiss of the plasma, and she was the one who dared peek over their little slab of concrete. Allons pulled her down.
"Are you mad Ef?" he demanded, "that could be-"
"Relax, it's just Oskar." Allons gave her another dirty glare which she shrugged off, standing fully and starting toward the squad. As they got closer they could hear Oskar and his squad muttering to themselves.
Coolly Allons stepped forward, giving a mild cough to catch Oskar's attention. "We were told to continue pushing that way and meet up with anyone else headed the same direction. That appears to be you today, Lt."
Effie rolled her eyes at him, saluting as she did so though. "Lt. Brandt," she said, grinning, "an honour as always." She darted a look at the still dying men, a brief flash of pity going across her face before she pushed it away. "Nice job," she commented instead.
"We're waitin' for orders from HQ.", he said. "Fuckers can nag ya all day long... They'll take a while to confirm a damn thing, though.". He shook Allons' hand, smiling: "Thanks for the back-up: We're gonna need it when we get to Centre.", he said.
Oskar smirked back at Effie: He knew ruthlessness and determination when he saw'em, and that girl had both in spades. He returned the salute. "Nah... Pleasure's all mine, really.", he made a pause, lighting a cigarette. "How's the hunt so far?", he casually asked. "Good ol' shoot the straggler, or actual combat?, he said, winking. He had that whole wild frontiersman attitude about him. He took the chance to introduce some of the members of his squad:
She pointed to a vicious-looking 19-ish girl, sporting a punk style and wielding the plasma torch. "Fry's our very own psycho arsonist: Fan favorite.", he said. "Well thank ya!", she answered, performing a mockery of a bow. She had a perky, upbeat tone. Oskar then pointed to a short, wiry black guy; with short hair and aviator glasses: "There's Click. Doesn't speak much, not since Empire pigs cut his tongue off.You point the dude at trouble, he clicks on that launcher of his, a rocket flies up trouble's ass.", he said. Click nodded. "Twins there are Rip'n'Crush. Can't tell you which one's which, that's classified.", he said, pointing at two large, bald, bearded twins about forty. Both hauled combat shotguns. They chuckled in unison. "Girl with the Bowie Knife's Scalps. Dude with the AM rifle's Joker: Gotta see'im mock his kills: Funny dude. They both smiled and waved.
Then he winked: "Now that we all know each other, time to kick some Imperial ass."
edited 3rd Nov '11 3:46:02 AM by SavageHeathen
You exist because we allow it and you will end because we demand it.Charlemagne squinted at the movement further down the street, where rising smoke from a dilapidated vehicle obscured his vision of impending doom. He could hear movement, and massive thuds, but could make out no details on the source.
" Hey man, you seeing this?" He asked Mercutio, unsure of exactly what was happening down the avenue. He caught sight of movement through the haze, as a massive silhouette shifted. " What the hell is going on?" He raised his rifle, trying to see through the smoky barrier, but had no success. He opened his mouth to ask his comrade another question, when the smoke parted, and he glimpsed the terrifying visage of a war mech, as it raised it's cannon with mechanical precision and pointed it in his direction.
Charlemagne opened his mouth wide and screamed.
" Frame!" He screeched in terror, less a word than a sound, a primal expression of fear, sheer horror emanating from his vocal chords like a banshee's wail. " Frame!" He roared again in fear, scrambling wildly at his helmet for his radio, while pressing deeper into the side alley that he and Mercutio's squad took cover in. He didn't bother trying to fire back, such an effort was futile without weapons capable of leveling buildings.
With shaking hands, Charle after three tries managed to switch his radio back to the 5th's channel. " Frame to the west, frame to the west!" He shouted into his communicator, disregarding standard protocol of orders. " Take cover, we've got a fucking frame!"
edited 2nd Nov '11 10:35:50 PM by rabbitRider
Your legacy shall drift away, blown into eternity, like the sands of the desert."I will be certain to act with more decorum the next time I barge in univited, ma'am," Luka told the general, staying at attention despite her somewhat cynical tone, "We'll see to it that that damned Imperial drivel is knocked off the air permanently. You can count on the Lebanese infantry, ma'am."
She saluted sharply, then turned on her heels and strode out of the command post with a confident smirk upon her face. Terminating a propaganda signal was hardly the most glorious thing she could have hoped for. It was a mop up operation now and that meant that whatever she could get for her unit was going to have to be good enough. Once they succeeded in getting the Imperial music off the radio waves they could get much better missions in the future. A reliable unit was something to prize in any army, especially one that counted very much on volunteers to fill its ranks.
The news about mistreatment of prisoners had caught her attention too, but it wasn't the right time to bicker with Van Vleet about it. Her remarks about the sorts of rural people who helped fill the Revolutionary army's ranks were biting to Luka. Everyone was joining together to further the Revolution regardless of what background they came from. It was certainly more important to hate the Imperials and be a reliable soldier than to be from the city. Once she'd run a successful field mission Luka would be on better ground to argue with the woman who was in command here. For now she had a radio station to recapture and Imperials to kill. After arriving back at her regiment she put her helmet back on, stepped in front of her assembled men, and smiled proudly.
"Soldiers of the 42nd Lebanon Infantry, we have our orders! It seems the Imperialist bastards have taken back a pro-Revolutionary radio station and is using it to spew out their lies. I don't know about you, but I've heard 'God Save the Empress' enough already. Able Company will be deployed to retake the station, with Baker as a forward reserve," she announced, showing special contempt for the Imperial anthem's name, "I will be leading the assault personally. Until I return, Lt. Vesuvius is in command. Able and Baker, form up! Hurrah for Lebanon! Hurrah for the Revolution!"
Cheers rang out from the ranks, and then Able company moved out with Captain Selanne at its head while Baker remained behind prepared to head into the fight should they be needed. They marched past the forward command post, where Luka saluted the general's post in a somewhat sarcastic gesture. She'd see what Luka Selanne and the Lebanese infantry could do. It wasn't very long before the company entered the war-torn streets and began to fan out and advance through cover. Even if the Greens controlled most of this sector, she wasn't going to chance a lone sniper or holdout cutting down her soldiers. Luka stopped a few blocks away from where the station was marked on her map and consulted the nearest squad's radio operator.
"Try to get a fix on that signal. I want to make sure it's coming from the station, not a secondary location," she explained, using field glasses to observe the carnage that was the result of urban combat.
Moments later the corporal nodded, "I think I've got it, ma'am."
"Good job Corporal," she nodded back, then took the radio and gave orders on what was supposed to be a secure frequency, "All right, we're going to flank the station and smoke these Imperial sons of dogs out one way or the other. Lester, I want your squad's anti-armor weapon up front in case this is a trap. First sign of this being fishy, we've gotta destroy the trap before our boys get cut to pieces by it."
Orders given Luka drew her rifle and gave the signal for the squads nearest her to advance towards the radio station. One moved forward while the other covered, and vice versa. As the Imperialist music droned on she started to roll her eyes - it was just getting old, really. So quietly she started singing a Revolutionary song to herself, 'The Forest Green Flag', which a family friend had written. It was catchy and anti-Imperial, thus good for keeping her mind off the enemy tune. Once she was within striking distance she peered through her field glasses again and observed the situation before deciding on a course of action.
Avatar from: http://x0whitelily0x.livejournal.com/5953.html N: 5 F, 0/40 SEffie nodded at Brandt's squad, unable to fight the huge smile that naturally bloomed across her face. She loved meeting new people, and while the bombed out shell of a city wasn't the best place to do so, she didn't much mind.
"This is Dan Boise and Yann Allons, who you probably already know." Boise gave everyone a grin very similar to Effie's.
"You guys don't happen to have any particular plan in mind, so you?" Allons pointed to Boise, and more specifically, the duffle bag. "We can head up and plant some bombs, and if they've got any available tanks we can pretty easily strip those."
"Even if they're currently in use," Boise said, grin still plastered on.
"Especially then," Effie said. Allons smirked.
"At any rate, we're your techies now, point us in a direction and we'll find something tech related to help us all out."
"Our specialty really is blowing shit up though," Effie said, "we may have been the catalyst for the Vieux Plantation incident."
Allons pinched the bridge of his nose. "We're not supposed to brag about that."
Brandt smiled. "Demolitions will make our job that much easier: There's a police station ahead: I want it blown up or burning.", he ordered.
He then made a short pause. "Don't worry about that incident: We see no evil and speak no evil.", he said, winking. Then he raised and gave a brief speech.
"Comrades, the Imperials are falling! Today, the same thugs that oppressed us are at our mercy! They've shown us nuthin' but cruelty, and now we get to pay in kind. They've treated us like vermin: Now it's time to show'em karma's a bitch. We're going to exterminate police and nobles, or do our damnedest best to! They've tried to break us through fear, now they'll know terror: When we're finished, they'll fear us more than they fear their masters!", he said. "Who's with me?", he asked.
edited 4th Nov '11 1:46:07 AM by SavageHeathen
You exist because we allow it and you will end because we demand it.With Charle and Mercutio
If the giant robot could pick up sounds from outside better it probably would have shot up everything in the general direction of Charle. As it was, the smoke was obscuring it's vision too and flames from burning building were playing havoc with heat sensors. Nevertheless, the pilot of the war machine knew that someone was hiding in that vicinity and fired. The already shaky building collapsed like a house of cards. Anyone unlucky enough to be in it was as good as dead. Anyone lucky enough to be in the alleyways, however, just got a lot of flying bricks (which was probably unlucky still if you were not wearing a helmet) and a mouth and eyeful of ash.
The war frame advanced slowly. Even without seeing it there was no mistaking it's lumbering along, crushing whatever was below its metal feet. Size was a hindrance in this instance, though. The frame couldn't fit into the alley, instead leaning over the entrance and glaring through the narrow streetway. Raising it's arm cannon again it prepared to fire -
Until shouting from below made it stop dead. Any Imperial close enough could hear Revolutionaries shouting up at the robot, which seemed to hear them since it responded to whatever they were saying. The machine moved back and lowered its cannon.
Infantry came steadily into the alley instead.
With Effie and Oskar
"Not so fast, Sir Terrance." the voice on the comm came up again, using the old term of a knight from old stories prone to theatrics. "New orders from on high; Bachtrack and find this radio station that got retaken by the Imperials. Don't ask me how they did it, they just did. Knock that shit of the air and grab whoever did it."
With Edna
Sergeant Allen spoke up after keeping an ear glued to the com, "Broy, military guys are pulling out of Minegashi! Say everyone better be in before the last convoy back to Rathangan is in or they'll shoot on sight."
"Hey, look at that." Someone else pointed out the window. Stars were falling from the sky. Except the stars were shuttles, and the shuttles were descending by the scores towards Rathangan.
With Luka
Luka's field glass told her nothing was alive in the vicinity of the building. Night vision, infrared, electro-magnetic, whatever setting she used told her it was quiet as a graveyard in there save for the recorded music.
There was, however, movement in the building next to it, where the wall facing Luka and her Revolutionary troops had been knocked down earlier in the fighting.
edited 3rd Nov '11 9:50:59 PM by Parable

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June 6, 3627
Imperial Headquaters
Minegishi City, Ayanon
Ayanon was lost.
That was not entirely true. As of that moment which was late at night on this side of the planet, the Imperial forces under Lord Selvis Caesar still held Rathangan, as well as all the land south of it on the continent. North, however, was Minegashi City which was the last line of defense between Rathangan and the rebels.
A last line of defense that was rapidly crumbling. Every report General Caesar heard or read, every monitor he looked into, every tactical display he studied showed the same thing: By dawn, Minegashi would be overrun. With that gone, the Imperials were effectively finished on this world and by extension, the entire Sennal System.
"What is the status of the fleet?" he asked an attendant.
"Another hour before they're directly above us, my Lord." Was the prompt reply. Caesar nodded absentmindedly in response. The shuttles should be ready to transport everything they could take with them once the ships arrived. What they couldn't take would have to be destroyed.
Damn. This was the same mistake they had made at the beginning of the war. Spread too thin across to many stars and now his army was the one that was paying the price.
The general looked into one of the monitors from a sky drone. In the dark of the night Minegashi glowing red. Plumes of black smoke illuminated by the fire and explosions below rose from city. Laser fire from air units and rooftop crisscrossed the urban sprawl.
So much blood had been spilled and it was going to be all for nothing.
"Begin the evacuation." Caesar said loudly. "Give the order to abandon Minegashi City and regroup here."
"Yes, my lord."
Revolutionary Foward Operating Base
Outskirts of Minegashi City, Ayanon'
Major General Claudia Van Vleet could practically smell victory. If she could just bag this army them glory was hers for the taking!
"We have them on the ropes." She announced almost gleefully to the staff and officers in the barn they had commandeered as a headquarter. "Continue pressing the attack. Tell all unit commanders to not stop for anything."
"Yes, my lady - uh, ma'am. Yes, Ma'am!" a young staff officer stumbled through his words.
As everyone went about obeying her commands, Van Vleet turned to the large holographic display of the area the armies were gathered. Flushed with victory as she was, Claudia couldn't get too ahead of herself. It would take at least a week before they would clear the planet of Lord Caesar's army, not to mention whatever pockets of resistance the Imperials had left over.
But no matter what, Ayanon was her victory.
Meanwhile, in Minegashi City...
edited 31st Oct '11 9:06:55 AM by Parable