Serai pulls the Wyvern's magazine out before appropriately disengaging the loaded bullet and replacing it into the magazine that she so careful placed inside a chest pocket. She then places the rifle but down holding it's balance via the barrel and salutes Langley with her right hand, "SIR!"
I stood firm and saluted towards the professor, still grinning I said "Awaiting orders sir!"
"Well done students, not many of you prepubescent sons of b$&+#es could take on a scorpion."
"Especially good shooting by you Private Audric."
"Consider your extra credit complete, I'll be putting in my request, and by that I mean of course I mean demand; for all of you to be promoted to private first class."
"I hope you found your basic field training enlightening. Good luck in your specialist training."
-Posted with Wayfinder
Sir, thank you Sir! Audric continued to stand at attention.
"Sir, thank you Sir!" I said in unison with Audric. Standing attentive but still grinning a half smile.
Kwartz gives a Lazy Salute
" So about that Sashimi...? "
Klaxons begin to sound in your barracks alerting you all to an incoming announcement.
The intercom blares and rattles off the companies designated to report to briefing, including that of your own. The call of so many different houses and companies for a single operation is very unusual, something big must be going on.
Time passed by as I trained and waited. I was 22 years young and yearning for some dog slaughter.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Kwartz had wished he could go back to that day long ago.. and shoot Langley in the head. The pain would have been better. Ah well no use complaining about it now.
The years blending into a clusterf*%~ of training. Sure they were given honors and had a higher ranking than most rookies but it was luck and turned out a bit more trouble than blessing. He was put trough alot of work, not because it was hard, but because they wanted to push him harder. The trainer knew of Kwartz's talent but he tried to make it seem wrong. He was a Skadi Prospect.. they made that very clear. But his mind never seemed into the act.
'How do Demons taste?'
'Why are they threatening mankind?'
'Why do they eat us?'
'Where do they come from?'
'Isn't there a better way to have these sights work?'
'Wouldn't a mobile turret be fun?'
'Hrmm Should I use a Viper or a Lotus.. maybe Two Hardlines?'
'I failed being a Skadi... but what if I wanted to anyway?'
'What am I scared of that makes me avoid women?'
These question appeared before, during and after Training
He noted the differences between himself and Serai and came to depend on her abilities when it came to longer distances. When the two were together he felt... less lazy. It was an odd feeling most attributed to Longitus he guessed.
As they approached the room he noticed Audrig and Cyrus and gave them his signature half-assed salute.
" Yo.. What's goin' on? " Almost in a bored tone.
The years passed like a dream. Now memories littered my thoughts like blurs of passing cars. Focusing only on that first test I'd taken together with Kwartz, Drahg and Grimm. That one miss always haunted me, and for the following years it only pushed me to practicing day in and day out to better hone her skills. Being the only girl among-st them I often heard comments like:
'Look at her, thinking she's all high and mighty'
'They only let her in because shes playing them'
'What a b&%#%!'
Like I cared, I was here for myself. I wanted to be the best at what I did, saving lives while I did so was the plus. The rush of landing that perfect shot, the kick of my gun, the smell of and sounds of bullets... It was the life I traded in for, and it was worth it to me.
Often I worked with Kwartz, and came to know him the best. His aptitude to back me up as well as work parallel to me made for successful missions.
I was the last to show up of them. Walking in greeted by their stares not alike to those I got from most others. Standing still in the doorway, "Long time Grimm,..." she vaguely would nod in his direction following up the same with, "Drahg..." before sighing and pulling up a seat in the room. "You both seem to be doing well, I mean,... you're both still alive." A sly smile etched its way across my face.
Kwartz shook his head, Serai was always like this but it made things interesting at least. Ironically, very.. military in her thinking or at least outward appearance. He still couldnt tell much.. or tried to. It was a wonder to even analyze such.
" Well ofcourse they lived Serai, those honors we got weren't for show. I wonder what they woke me up for this time, my shoulder is starting to get sore from all the constant interruptions. And the training, they found out I was being lazy.. darnit. "
"yeah? Just like you to be anything less she's say jokingly. Today I finished early, I was in the middle of cleaning my gun before my next training rotation." Serai would begin glancing around the room taking it in, looking for any visible cameras as it was a secret hobby of hers. The thoughts of an upcoming battle rushed through her veins, both in excitement as well as anticipation. Why else would they call them all there?
Kwartz fidgeted a bit at Serai's words scratching the bridge of his nose. " I wouldn't be me if I exerted more effort than what was needed.. You provide enough exemplary performance for the both of us. "
The man slouched in his chair, " I'm just not all gungho about rushing into death is all. When the time comes you know I'll get serious when I have to.. otherwise your slow butt will get lanced by 'Dogs' and I rather like it's current condition.. I guess. "
Serai would blush at the first comment, melting into a warm smile. "you never do change, at least you're loosening up. That said I only want the best having my back" she would immediately point at Dragh a stern look now apparent, "and don't you dare say 'that's what she said,... Or any other snide remarks"
Her gaze would lighten up, " I am glad that we get to meet up again. I look forward to seeing what it is you were taught."
Audric sits in a chair on a wall closest to the door. His arms and hands lax between his legs. His head droops down, mostly buzzed now, chin on his chest. From the back his head and neck, you can see more cables and tubes jutting out and dissapearing around his skin in his shoulders. Scars adorn his body, new and old. He looks up as each individual enters and gives a nod to each. You see a tiredness in his eyes yet he seems to have bulked up a bit since you last saw him.
When Serai makes her comment, he will look up and smirk at her.
A familiar face, Council Elder Watanabe enters the room briskly and approaches a podium to address the group.
"As of seven minutes ago we have received a distress communications from Skadi Sierra, they've received significant damage and need evac."
"In response we are deploying, Occams Romeo One, Occams Alpha Two, Occams Victor Two, Occams Whiskey Two, Occams Charlie Five, and Occams Oscar Nine."
"In addition, to Titus Papa, Titus Quebec and Titus Tango Two."
"Along with Loki Operatives Lima, and Juliett Three and Kilo Three."
"Finally, with detachments Longitus Foxtrot, Longitus Echo Two, and Longitus November."
"Black Company!?" asks a asks a ranking Occams.
"That's right Lt., because, as of fifteen minutes ago we had reports from Skadi Bravo that priority threat #2; Cancer, was en route to this area."
"You're all to report to armory at once and suit up. November will be in charge of retrieval, all other squads will be on perimeter defense of the area."
"You leave in two minutes. Move!"
-Posted with Wayfinder
Kwartz's eyes gravitated towards the ceiling, so he got maybe a glimpse of her expression before placing his hands behind his head in a lounging position. " The more things change the more they stay the same y'know? In my case I did so to stay the same. " A small chuckle coming from him as Serai mentions a well used joke.
" As for only the best having your back, not sure if I qualify, but I'll try. The often named 'Solitary Sniper Princess' might have high standards, which often caused a little strife. Just like that time a few of the regime's particular female members who harassed you had their undergarments disappear, still not sure who did that. A Mystery. " Kwartz said with a straight face.
" Either way, its good the team got back together after so long, let's hope that lasts longer.. eh? " A slight nod went to no one in particular.
Kwartz stood up and rushed to get suited up.
Audric stands quickly at the command of "Move", his cables and tubes on his neck seem to shudder. His eyes dilate, he give a salute then heads straight to the armory and suits up as he has done countless times before.
Serai, having positioned herself during the prep speech with her legs crossed now responded to Kwartz. Uncrossing her legs, "Is that what they're calling me now? hmm, I never knew" She now stood looking to the others as a whole. "Kwartz, you're the best because I know you are able to make good judgement in any given situation. I trust that instinct of yours as well as you in general." She'd clarify.
"Drahg, I don't know what you're training did for you, but it looks as if some of the training paid off." Her gaze would look him over as if looking over a new car before the test drive. Now walking down the hall side by side with him, she only stared ahead. The sound of her tags jangled under her shirt, her walk becoming brisk. "Don't look for death boys, look to survive,.... if you don't live through this reunion..... I'll kill you myself" With that she moved ahead shifting through the crowded hall to get to the armory.
Kwartz geared up, Cancer was the stuff of Legends and amazingly tough from what he remembered. The Bastard would assault Jotenheim and take turret fire like it was candy. He'd been going through his ind on what he'd equip on this mission. Defense was what they said the mission would be for, but he was never one to assume s@@& WOULDN'T hit the fan. Rather have too much ammo than not enough, Rather waste it all than die conserving it too.
When he appeared, ready for deployment, Kwartz sported the Standard Loki armor. A Hardline on his right hip, a Lotus along his back and a Longfang gripped in his hands at attention.
Audric walks out with what appears to be the standard issue Occams Arms & Armor Loadout.
Kwartz gives Audric a look over, " You really did bulk up. You still do the 'Whoo' thing? "
Sera I walks out in the standard Loki armor, you catch a glance of her putting in an ear bud to her right ear while looking more and more frustrated trying to tie her hair back. Catching sight of the group she makes her way through a small wall of people and with a smile she reaches toward Drauhg, pulling the sword from his person and cutting it short. "there, that's better, thanks" she says handing back the sword."you did get buff huh?
Kwartz watches has the hair fall before drawing his eyes back up to the head it once beholden. He was sure that hair was her pride and joy. He had known for Serai to be particular about maintenance when it came to the body, he wasn't sure if it was out of practicality or vanity however. His fingers drummed along the grips of his rifle as he blinked and spoke.
" That's what you look like in short hair hunh? Mystery Solved I suppose. " He initially stated, " I guess I can see the appeal now on you, practical at the very least. Not bad. I could get used to it. "
He glanced at her loadout noting the amount, " ..... You seriously are gunna make my job hard.. aren't you... ? " sighing.
"should I have need for worry?" she gave a smirk as if challenging him, "Maybe you wont be bored this time" Looking to the others she'd then gain a inquisitive look, "Where's Grimm?..,".
Within a minute armories one, two and three are emptied and the sprint to the wall begins.
At the wall, Richard Langley is directing boarding operations. As you approach you hear him talking to an enormous Titus overlooking the wall who is receiving telecommunications.
The Titus says to Langley, "Skadi Bravo has begun engagement with Cancer."
"That woman." says Langley clearly nonplussed.
"Do we have eyes on Rattlejack?" asks Langley.
"Skadi Echo reports Rattlejack at local 1388, - 103." says the Titus.
"Good." says Langley, "Keep me updated on its movement."
"Of course."
The Titus then turns to the others of his squad stationed along the wall, manning large artillery.
"Fire on local 740, 505 on my mark."
The lead Titus waits, apparently waiting to hear back on his receiver. Before he yells out "Fire!"
The guns boom deafening and Langley turns to address the group assembling on the walls as drop ships begin to dock.
"Occams Victor Two, Occams Oscar Nine, Titus Tango Two, Loki Operatives Lima, Juliett Three, Kilo Three, Longitus Foxtrot and November get in."
-Posted with Wayfinder
Four soldiers step up in unison onto the dropship, their navy blue armor emblazoned with Longitus Foxtrot on their backs.
Following them are a large number of men and women in various armor, all of which looks have have been painted over jet black. The back of their suits merely with the designation "November".
Following them are the detachments of Occams and then Titus and Loki.
Once on board you're greeting to a low audible hum. One of the Occams from Victor Two shouts out at the four silent Longitus in the back of the ship. "F&@&ing Longitus stop talking in psych, makes my teeth ache!"
"Would you rather we comment on your stench audibly?" they all ask in harmony.
"Freaks." The Occams spits and turns away.
-Posted with Wayfinder
' Well this is it, just my luck, the standard mission wouldn't be why we were sent out. Even better we get to go with Black Company... that means we are fodder. Great. '
Kwartz would give a resigned sigh, it lifting a bang from his hair up momentarily. He tried to ignore the rest but that wasn't going to happen, this was beyond stressful. Cancer, Rattlejack... he didnt like where this was going. All these people coming out.. Longshanks coming would be the frosting to his despair. So much work.
" Those Freaks might be what keeps you alive man, and his Stench likely the reason the Dogs draw away from you Four. Just sayin..I want to come back alive, let's not make it easier for the Demons to kill us BEFORE we hit the ground. " Kwartz said to both sides before adding a bit as a tack-on, looking to Serai. " Hey, Ice Princess... what's your favorite Ice Cream? "
A man in black nearby to Longitus Foxtrot, sits alone, no one else sitting near him even though there are empty seats; indeed Longitus Echo Two seems to have been able to fit on the drop ship if they were to occupy these seats.
Langley seems to have left them empty intentionally.
The man sitting alone keeps his legs crossed, his foot bouncing up and down across his knee. In his lap sits a Viper, but its red instead of white. The man's eyes are closed and seems to be oblivious to the goings on around him. Unlike the rest of those who don black armor, this man's armor seems to match that of Foxtrot, excepting in color.
Almost everyone on board you notice are almost purposefully looking away from his direction. Excepting a member of Titus Tango Two who seems to be staring him down, "Eya Reaper! What do you think? Is today the day!? Eh!?"
"You gonna take the fight to Cancer and then drop dead? Do us all a favor? No one here wanted in on your little pet project you know!"
The man doesn't seem to acknowledge the calls from the Titus, and the Titus eventually sneers and turns to the other members of Tango Two, "Not that we'd even need his help right boys? That's why I got this beauty right here!" the Titus says indicating to his Titanslayer Shotgun, "Hah! Hah!" he laughs, nudging Cyrus in the ribs.
Kwartz admitted he was a unnerved by the man, a legend both bad and good. One of the sole reasons Longitus are seen as a powerful asset and leech on Jotenheim, He was the leader of Black Company. A group with a brutal record and sole purpose of suicide missions.
The newly made Loki stared for a moment before speaking, " Grandmaster Nathan Owens, you have some strong shoulders to carry all that weight. I don't envy you. " Kwarz said thinking of all the possible ways he could say what was on his mind, " Doing these missions over and over... without care for your own well being.. for someone else.. that probably hates you. Can't say I'd do the same or anyone here. You have strong sense of duty. "
He let that hang in the air as he thought of how he would deal with impending death every mission.
Audric stands at attention, waiting for further instructions. His eyes don't even move with the remarks being made between the other soldiers. As long as they do their job, he won't have to worry...
Seemingly minding her own business, when Kwartz began speaking up she removed the earbud from her ear. The looks given between the two at the mention of ice cream in a potential war zone seemed hilarious to her. A few moments passed of silence before she smiled in response, she could tell a couple of the others held on to her every word in curiosity. Her reputation of being cold hearted amused her, eating it up like the icing it was.
"hey Drahg, I think he's talking to you." she'd say jokingly. Serai would let a moment pass, remembering the last person to have asked her that. Long story short she broke his nose and finger.
Serai will stare briefly at the newly boarded member. 'Reaper huh?'
Routine deflection, its something he actually expected from her. It wasnt in any way malicious from what he could tell, just standard. A smirk crept up his face, in general it was like a game, Kwartz simply had little social filter. " What was that, Macadamia nut and Butter Pecan, with a double fudge swirl you said? What a coincidence, that happens to be my favorite. How kind of you to treat me to such a thing after we come back alive from this hellhole. It almost makes the work worth it. " His expresion like that of normal conversation, he didnt skip a beat.
" Drahg can have some too? Your kindness knows no bounds Serai. " Kwartz said with a straight face.
Audric shoulders loosen as the topic takes a turn to ice cream. He turns and smirks at Serai and then Kwartz. His face then recedes to a neutral position slowly. He turns back and faces forward. "If only..." The first time Adric has spoken since the groups initial meeting and his voice is unrecognizable to what it once was. Instead of his smooth voice of that of a human, a vibrating monotone mechanical voice issues from his mouth.
I packed my s&*% and headed out to the battlefield smirking knowing that by my side my allies will never fall. I will die protecting them and kill every last mutt I can see.
The ship goes quiet for about thirty seconds until one of the Occams looking out the ship window says to everyone, "Hey, anyone ever want to see Skadi Bravo in action? You got like two seconds to look out the port side."
For the first time Nathan Owens opens his eyes and peers out the window, as do nearly every other soldier.
Below a soldier in white is running through the street below at incredible speeds, nothing about the figure is discernible as they move, merely a white blur.
The streets are crawling with dogs trying to converge on the figure who seems to pass through them as if they weren't even there. As the figure moves through the packs of dogs some seem to drop limp to the group as the momentum of their missed attacks carries them hard into the ground.
In the second or two of vision you get onto the Soldier they travel from one side of visible street to the next. They seem about to turn a corner when an enormous monster bursts from a building directly in front of them, the monstrous Cancer seems to have found the Skadi.
It's attack however seems totally expected as the white suit had already sidestepped the attack before it looked like it even began.
Cancer's eyes you can tell by it next wild swing were shot out in the opening attack it made, and the Soldier takes the opening to deliver a jumping kick to the demons head, which sends it crashing into the building it just emerged from, viscera exploding out from it.
The force of the kick propels the Skadi backwards several yards, where dogs rush to intercept them. But gun fire from the Skadi deflects their blades as they use the inertia of the kick to then send themselves into a backwards flip that becomes a vaulting jump.
The Skadi hurls itself through the air onto a building at the other end of the street entirely. And then upon landing seems to take off at max speed, disappearing from sight all together.
The totally unharmed Cancer shrieks in outrage and barrels off after the white suits general direction.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Kwartz blinked a few times in awe and boredom at the same time, " And she told people not to show off. Now the pressure is gunna be higher than before... We being taught by her... dammit "
Serai smiles, where most would almost expect her to snap on him, she instead was calm. Unaffected by the comment or so it seemed the silencer that ensued only had a worse effect than the chewing out that was expected of her. The aura left behind was as cold as ever, simply replacing the ear bud and smirking.
As she'd done so is when the great reveal of her teacher down below took place. She simply watched the others as they ooo'd and ahhhh'd at her blinding speed and skill. she'd just close her eyes and imagine the rush her teacher must get being that skilled.
"watch what you say,..." she would open her eyes looking directly at Kwartz.
"if our teachers aren't their hardest on us then how will we survive a real combat?" Serai would then go quiet fully immerse now in what she was listening to through the earbud.