Science Fiction Halo TODAY: The Pacific Campaign.

OOC: I've been trying to get in touch with litterlad, but unable to in order to get campaign flowing with out hick ups. I'm posting as Hisashi Mori in order to maintain interaction within the confines of this RPG Forum, temporarily.

IC: As Hisashi Mori and PJ Lieutenant Terry Anikowski.

Hisashi looking for around started noticing an increase of light with his eyes. As he came to the end of yet another corner of a wall noticed that he could hear the sounds of some one or perhaps something crashing onto ground from an adjacent room. Caution won his mind's approval as he gradually worked his way back towards the table he'd been lying on. Before he'd made it back to the table, he heard a voice from the adjacent room's threshhold speak towards him, saying, "Don't be alarmed. Pardon me, but do you speak American English well or do you prefer to speak in Japanese?" He asked "I'm Lieutenant Terry Anikowski, US Air Force Para-Rescue Squadron 33, 18th Wing?Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan. Are you suffering from any injuries that you know of?" Asked Lieutenant Anikowski.


"Please step this way there seems to be at least one other man over here in my room. He's a Marine I was in the process of rescuing him back on Guam when it dropped in the pot. Are you in any kind of pain or discomfort?" he continued.

Hisashi blinked then absorbed the words spoken by the American Air Force Lieutenant.

"I'm in relatively good health as far as I can tell," he spoke in English with a noticeable Japanese accent. Then upon looking down to surmise his physical features noticed some very strange markings in his flesh.

"Then again perhaps that is a hasty assumption on my part," he counter. "It would appear that I've undergone some form of exploratory surgery," Hisashi gulped.

"Please step this way if you would sir. As I said earlier there's at least one more man this way," the Lieutenant spoke. Hisashi, having better vision as time progressed was now able to see well enough so that he could plainly walk across the floor of the room picking his way around the dead alien bodies here and there as he progressed. Finally he made it to the far wall from where he'd first started hearing the commotion earlier. The portal irised open and he entered into the confines of the surgical room. The scents within smelled disturbingly familiar but he couldn't quite place where he'd smelled them before. He shivered in spite of his greatest effort not to give in to it. There on a table (of sorts) layyed a Caucasian male with Marine buzzed cut hair. He was coming around towards consciousness. He too had undergone some form of surgery like himself. He also appeared to have been beaten severly at an earlier time. The Lieutenant was gethering up some clothing that had been stowed away in a nearby compartment. It looked to be the Marine's combat duty uniform along with his other equipment.

Tag Deiskrad.

OOC: litterlad let me know by way of PM when you're back into the game and I'll step back from your PC so you can continue doing your posts with him.

 

Location: Antarctica in the vicinity of the Thiel Mountains.

SITREP UPDATE:

A chance spotting on December 30th 2007 by a pilot named Henry Carter flying out of Amundsen-Scott (South Pole) led to a discovery that would ultimately change the direction of the Coming War with the Covenant.

Between the Thiel Mountains and the Moulton Escarpment of Antarctica, lies an unamed valley with a rare feature of hot springs and warm watered pools. Running into the side leading towards the Thiel Mountain Range is a large tunnel that was once thought to have been etched out by volcanic lava. Later it was discovered that such was not the case because the tunnel gradually declined as one traveled inward along its length toward the Thiel Mountain Range. Furthermore as measurements were taken, it was concluded that the tunnel--which was 78.5 meters across--was perfectly round at all points measured.

The Tunnel went on for approximately 67 Kilometers where it ended in a vast chamber not thought to be honed out by human hands. It was naturally warmed by geothermal activity and acted as a kind of terminal that interconnected with four other tunnels of the same diameter as the first. Even the air that flowed through was warmed naturally and maintained its oxygen levels well within human tolerances.

Men continued to explore this growing network of tunnels which in turn led to yet other vast chambers with still more tunnels. The original one being set up as a major base of operations for all Members of the UNSC. (In this case United Nations Security Counsel. Its code name: Atlas Base)

In the mean time material and personnel arrived around the clock to capitalize on the discovery made. Engineers, Scientists, Military Personnel, Technicians, Construction Workers and much more in the way of skilled people. By the end of one year's time it was totally self sufficient with its own hydroponics gardens, water supply, lighting, housing and a monorail system to travel from the opening to Atlas Base, with more under construction as they expanded the population throughout the network of tunnels and chambers. By the time the Covenant arrived, five chambers had been established in all with more being consolidated with more men and material. By the time of Guam's invasion Two more Bases had been established for a total of Seven. Each had its own strengths to offer to the whole: Minerals resource for mining, technological relics to exploit, and still other wonders that were immediately placed under top secret protocols. It was here the US Marine Lieutenant Colonel Michaelson found himself transfered to for his new assignment; he was needed to help assist in the deciphering what these new wonders were meant for and how they could be used against an enemy from beyond the stars.

Tag: Somebody, please, post.

OOC: More to come from Michaelson in time.

 

Colonel McNeil
Atlas Base

Months Before Guam

For a few moments Marcus managed to drown out Private Pilkins as he went on and on about how the tunnel he was traveling down came to be discovered. The highspeed monorail they were in was making great time. He?d noticed the lights mounted along the tunnels edges, spaced exactly fifty meters apart. Having been bored of Pilkins before they even got in the car the Marine had counted the lights as they passed. It was infinitely more entertaining.

Twelve hundred, He thought to himself. That puts us about sixty kilometers from the start of the tunnel. Judging by the inclination though we?re probably only a few hundred or so meters below ground. Still, its an impressive tunnel. About that time the tunnel ended and the monorail entered a massive chamber that was far to massive to have been crafted by man, but at first glance it didn?t look natural either.

?Whoa...? Was the only word that slipped from his lips before he regained his composure. Not that anybody could blame the man, the sheer size of the chamber and its contents was beyond anything the man had seen, not even the massive constructs of the Covenant held a candle to this.

?Indeed sir.? Pilkin?s said after a moment, ?Its quite a sight.? The young private directed Marcus? attention to the structure the monorail was rushing towards. ?Instillation A-4, but we all call it Calypso.? Pilkins then went on tangent about how since the base was referred to as Atlas Base the personnel on site had started naming the installations after the children of the mythological titan of the same name.

A suitable naming theme Marcus had to agree but he was still not at all interested in listening to all the little nuances of how it came to be. The young man finally caught onto that, ?But that aside once we get inside the instillation I think you?ll be in for even more surprises.?

Marcus in response simply shrugged, just glad the Private had finally shut up. Now sitting in silence the car seemed to move much faster and it wasn?t that long before it had pulled into a transport hub. A hub that was thankfully much warmer than the one at the opening of the tunnel. Stepping out of the monorail car he was greeted by another Colonel.

After the two exchanged salutes the new Colonel dismissed Private Pilkins much to Marcus? relief and introduced himself. ?Colonel McNeil I am Colonel Adrien Shepherd, allow me to officially welcome you to Atlas Base. I hope the trip here wasn?t too grating.?

?Not so much beyond the lengthy debriefing on the way down.? McNeil started as Shepherd began escorting him into the facility. ?Though I must say I was curious as to why I was pulled out of running for being shipped to Indiana. Surely the Corps could use me there more than it could here.?

?Indiana is in good hands at the moment Colonel. The Corps, however has something special in mind for you and your men. Granted all of this is classified top secret. The UN considers this place a top priority and the US? Office of Naval Intelligence requires you have a Alpha-3 Security clearance just to know the place exists.?

?But I only Alpha-5 clearance.? Marcus replied, somewhat confused.

?Not anymore.? Shepherd added handing McNeil a card bearing the Colonel?s most recent ID photo service number and in a bold nondescript font the letters A2 signifying Alpha-2 Clearance. ?ONI sent down word that your clearance was to be updated, and you briefed on what all we?re doing here.?

Shepherd came to a stop before a door revealing an empty conference room. Entering the room the Colonel grabbed himself and McNeil a cup of coffee and the two set down for a long briefing session. Shepherd went over, albeit abbreviated, all the stuff that Pilkins went over. He then went over how the UNSC had established various installations, such as Calypso, to preform various tasks that operated outside International boundaries, allowing every nation in the world to cooperate in ventures that were in some cases not exactly kosher with some na

 

OOC: Fix of a little bit of an error I missed while going over the post for continuity issues. It should be a few weeks before Guam, not a few months.

 

OOC: To all concerned players. I'll be moving the time line forward to keep the pace moving. As of Monday of this coming week, it will be dawn the following day in our Pacific Campaign. The withdrawal of Covenant Troops from Guam will be complete. Deiskrad, will have the choice whether he wants to settle his Covenant troops down in New Zealand or Jolly Old England from there for a side post. Morkai, Sanctimoniously and Kahn_Iceay will have launched their respective Teams onto the Covenant Recovery Platform Facility, fully equipped and loaded for BEAR.

Morkai: Your Team's mission is to get the Hostage/POWs out safely to the pickup point on the roof. (A really huge roof.) Your not going to have a clue as to where they're at. So you'll have to look for something that says "humans here" or some such clues. Just like real life.

Sanctimoniously: Your Team's mission (at first) is to secure that same roof area of its SHADE turrets, for the hostage pickup. (They won't be active until the VIRUS starts sending up its own version of repair teams and manning teams to bring them online.) Then what ever you had planned there after for them can be set into motion once the roof is secured.

Kahn_Iceay: Your Team's mission is to take out any hostiles within the facility and secure it for the main body of Marines that will be coming in by MC-22B Ospreys. Also it is to make sure that this isn't some kind of booby trap to draw in troops only to take them out by bomb or some other means.

Snipehunter! Your sub should have come into port for resupply and rearming by then also. You'll be free to set sail there after for another go around If you'd like to.

All Teams will be launching by dawn or earlier of 4-8-09 Game time. Good luck and good hunting!

 

OOC:

Pssst, Guys:

*It's OK to post if you want to.*

*=Mock Stage Whisper.

GM.

 

OOC: So Van wants some posting, and talking with him we came up with this as an attempt to garner some attention from players (active, inactive, and perspective alike). Following are the Handheld weapons that will be used by the members of the teams going to the Recovery platform. All made by me in PimpMyGun. Enjoy!

---

[image=http://vincentmikaru.twilightmainframe.net/Stored%20Images/DV-M43_TAR.png]
Designation: DV-M43 TAR
Misnomer: Emm-Four-Three, Emm-Tee
Producer: Durante-Virgilius
Caliber: 20mm HEDP (10-Gauge acceptance)
Secondary Fire: .50AE SAP-HE (.500 S&W)
Ammo Capacity:
7 x 20mm
15 x .50AE
Background Info: The DV-M43 Tactical Assault Rifle (not to be confused with the IMI TAR-21 is a large and robust rifle built to be used by the Iron Man and Fenrir Armors. Designed by Durante-Virgilius a design collective formed by the UNSC to help design weapons systems for the war effort the rifle was built specificly for the armors in mind. A twin bore select fire weapon it features two barrels and two magazine receivers.

A large 20mm rifle that fires miniaturized Autocannon shells as well as accepting the 19mm 10-Gauge shotgun rounds for further engagement options. A smaller Fifty Caliber rifle fires .50 Action Express rounds in addition to being able to accept the more powerful .500 S&W Magnum allowing for interchangeable ammunition (See Handguns below).
[image=http://vincentmikaru.twilightmainframe.net/Stored%20Images/Durante-Virgilius_M47.png]
Designation: DV-M47
Misnomer: Emm-Four-Seven, SR2
Producer: Durante-Virgilius
Caliber: 7.62x51mm SAP-HE
Secondary Fire: 40mm HEDP
Ammo Capacity:
20 x 7.62
1 x 40mm
Background Info: A slightly scaled up SR-25 Rifle designed to give Designated Marksmen capabilities to units deploying the new armors. Featuring a beefed up frame to increase its rigidness and an added 3-round burst fire mode for close range use. A rail attached 40mm Grenade Launcher gives the SR-25 limited fire support capabilities and light armor deterrence. The DV-M47 is intended to be issued to one member of every armored squad.
[image=http://vincentmikaru.twilightmainframe.net/Stored%20Images/Black_Nine.jpg]
Designation: S&W 500B9
Misnomer: Black Nine, Nine, Five-Oh-Nine
Producer: Smith & Wesson (Redesign by Durante-Virgilius)
Caliber: S&W .500 Magnum
Secondary Fire: SAIRST Designation Laser
Ammo Capacity: 5 x .500 S&W
Background Info: A specially modified Smith & Wesson Model .500 HIVIS with an enlarged handle and trigger guard. A large weighted foregrip helps balance the handguns extensive recoil, which is still great enough to effect the armor. A built in suppressor reduces muzzle flash and report increasing stealth use, and an attachable stock allows for further increased accuracy. A SOCOM attachment featuring a flashlight and SAIRT laser is included. The laser is able to designate targets within the SAIRT system allowing other SAIRT equipped systems (F-22, F-35, Tetsu-jin, Fenrir, etc) to home in on the target being 'painted'.
[image=http://vincentmikaru.twilightmainframe.net/Stored%20Images/Thors_Hammer.png]
Designation: H&K Mk.23 Mod 1
Misnomer: Mod 1, Thor?s Hammer
Producer: H&K (Redesign by Durante-Virgilius)
Caliber: .45 ACP
Secondary Fire: SAIRST Designation Laser
Ammo Capacity: 12 x .45 ACP
Background Info: A specially modified and up-scaled H&K Mk.23 Mod 0, also known as the MK23 USSOCOM. With a larger handle and trigger guard and increased weight at the front of the gun to counter this. Few other modifications are made to the gun, aside from the same SOCOM attachment used in the Black Nine and the same stock attachment as the Black Nine.

 

OOC: OK. Any who are going in for the mission please commence. SOCOM has issued a GREEN LIGHT for Operation counterstrike. Morkai, Kahn_Iceay and Sanctimoniously are up for the mission. Please respond.

GM.

 

OOC: Post is incoming, about 3/4 complete at this point.

 

In Game:

Throughout the night Spore123 never slept, never rested. It did however, build anew an arsenal of members to fulfill its will. Slowly at first the nanites crawled towards the corpses with their fallen brethren that had enabled the alien flesh to work, move about performing all manner of functions to maintain Spore123's control over the Facility. Soon that control would be reasserted and ensured. Spore123 knew that Sprite 174 was out there somewhere. Spore123 had learned the language of the Covenant and was picking up other transmissions as well of non Covenant origin. Spore123 had awakened to a war over this world. The Covenant was the aggressor. Spore123 calculated the possibilities for using this conflict to its advantage. They were good if Spore123 played the game well and was deceptive enough. It would be such a simple matter to upload into the armada's network. If they returned spore123 would be ready for the previous trick that was used against it. If the others came instead well...Spore123 had plans for them, but first it would have to study them and see what good they were to Spore123.

Tag: Guys.

 

Colonel McNeil, Marcus
USS Abraham Lincoln
Flight Deck

?Hold on Sir. We?re bringing the systems online now.? The voice was muffled, forced to make its way through a thick layer of armor to reach Marcus? ears. The Navy Crewman who?s voice it was was in charge of assisting the Marine Colonel in donning his new armor, a task that took a full team of men. Systems of automated arms and gimbals had been built to preform the task, but the Abe was not equipped with such systems yet.

Outside the muffled voices and sounds surrounding him Marcus had only the echoing sound of his breathing. A semi-transparent armored faceplate gave him a view of the technicians working on him, a scene that was eerily reminiscent of a Sci-Fi Horror scene. With the suits Searl Effect Generator currently offline none of the external sensor systems were active and though neither deaf nor blind nor even immobile the hamper to his senses was far beyond annoying.

?Ok Sir your visual systems should be coming online now.? To the crewman?s credit the visual displays kicked in nearly in tune with his statement. The sudden burst of colour and display disrupted McNeil?s vision for a moment but it quickly recovered. ?Is every thing displaying properly Sir??

Marcus glanced around the helmet. The HMDS?s optical tracking system kept up with his eye movement and adjusted the visual display accordingly. ?Tracking works.? He said, sure that his voice was equally muffled to the crewman as his was to him. The visual displays were online, ammo count for the SMGs, which read 20 rounds at the moment.

The power generator display read nominal with a thin blue line that bumped in tune with the constant hum Marcus had just now noticed behind him. A number of other visual displays, green boxes and triangles were off to the side, denoting the other Suits online and various aircraft on deck courtesy of the suits miniaturized SAIRST system. ?Gauges read green Crewman. Visual systems online.?

?Thats good sir.? The young man?s voice came through clear now, ?Audio systems should be online too. Now lets try some movements. See if you can lift your right arm.? The Marine moved to lift his right arm as requested, there was a small bit of resistance as the suit registered the movement against the pressure plate and the systems inside the armor moved to assist. ?Ok good now move your fingers.?

McNeil did as asked and wiggled the fingers on his right hand, the resistance was nonexistence now. ?Ok good the suits internal computer system has a feel for your reaction time. That was quick. Try walking.? Marcus nodded which the suit allowed simply. Lifting his left leg the suit moved with him, an internal gyroscope shifted to keep the suits weight balanced and Marcus thankfully didn?t fall on his armored rear.

Several moments later and Marcus had the suit jogging at a steady rate around the flight deck. It was oddly not tiring, seemingly less-so than doing so without the armor. The suit assisted movement well. ?Looks green across the board Crewman shall we move to the next step??

The man nodded, ?I?m sure you already know this but the suits computer system runs on sub-vocalization. Electromagnetic sensors in your helmet picks up the minute movements of your vocal cords so you can give commands without actually speaking. For example, try and mouth the word ?thrusters on? like you?re speed reading.?

Marcus would have rolled his eyes at being told stuff he knew but it was procedure. Regardless when asked he mouthed ?thrusters on? and felt the resulting shifts in the suit as well as a loud click. Outside the suit the large backpack had opened up into a series of veined thrusters, small units not designed for flight but powerful non-the-less. Again the gyroscope shifted to deal with the alteration in weight and to assist for jumps.

?Good that system works. Now please do the same for ?thrusters off?.? Marcus complied and the thrusters slid back into place inside the pack. ?Now that we?ve tested your motor systems, sensors, and command systems we?re going to test the suits weap

 

OOC:

I'd like to make a brief announcement. One of our own from the Tucson Fan Force passed away. Cheryl was greatly loved by all of us here at TFF and was the secretary of our chapter. When she passed away, she was surrounded by family and friends. She will be greatly missed by all of us here at Tucson Fan Force. God Speed to you Cheryl. Your prayers are all answered.

 

Location: 7th Fleet with accompanying elements from the 3rd Fleet, Pacific Ocean, west of Guam exact location,
secret.

Heading: Secret.

Time: 03:59.

Date: 08/04/09.

In Game:

The terminator between night and day was approaching Guam, but still was far enough away from the Navy and Marine task force to the east, such that it was still dark. Sixteen, CV 22 Ospreys from the 20th SOS, Green Hornets were flying in low as they neared the US Navy's combined task force for the Pacific Fleet. Signals had been sent with signs and counter signs. The Air Forces Ospreys were cleared to approach the Marine Assault Carriers-Essex, Boxer, Bonhomme Richard and Makin Island-accompanying the Aircraft Carrier, "Abraham Lincoln". They converted to vertical mode then landed, even as more Ospreys-these being MV 22s from VMM-162's Golden Eagles-also approached from out of Guam. Soon both Squadrons were landed and being refueled one by one they would transfer to the "Abe" to take on "special mission specific" personnel and supplies from there they would travel to where they had to go. The mysterious Covenant facility floating over Challenger Deep.

* * * * *

Location: Covenant Fleet in Geosynchronous Orbit above the Earth.

Brtak 'Hadaspree, leaned over the technician's seated form, his upper mandibles curled up and wide in consternation as he watched the Drone technician try every type of trick he could think of to thwart the VIRUS that had infiltrated their Gunnery Control Systems Network. Nothing worked. They had been fortunate to have been able to escape from the facility at all. The VIRUS had been sent earlier before it had been obvious that there was a problem emanating from the Forerunner Ship itself. Though they'd been able to prevent its spreading further to other isolated systems they hadn't been able to rid the Gunnery Control System Network.

"Call in the Engineers and have them see what they can accomplish," he said. "Maybe they can come up with something that will work and rid us of this corruption in our fire power."

Brtak's second moved to comply.



Tag: Morkai, Sanctimoniously, Kahn_Iceay, Deiskrad, litterlad and SnipeHunter.

OOC: OK Guys. I'm saying please. Please post or this forum dies. Some of you said you would but haven't. I'd appreciate a response. Please...

 

IC: SSGT Gibbons, Location Unknown

Gibbons looked at the others in the room. He did not recognize them. Further, he felt different. More energetic, more alert. Stronger. He should not have been feeling any of these things after having just been in battle. He decided on a direct approach.

"Who are you? What's been done to me?"

TAG: All

 

Location: Covenant Recovery Facility, Pacific Ocean, surface + 80' above Challenger Deep.

Time: 09:45.

Date: 04-07-09.

In Game:


IC: SSGT Gibbons.

Gibbons looked at the others in the room. He did not recognize them. Further, he felt different. More energetic, more alert. Stronger. He should not have been feeling any of these things after having just been in battle. He decided on a direct approach.

"Who are you? What's been done to me?"




IC: Lieutenant Terry M. Anakowski.

"Sargent, Gibbons. I'm Lieutenant Terry M. Anakowski, with U.S. Air Force Para-Rescue Squadron 33, 18th Wing out of Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan. One of the last people I saw back at Guam in that bunker other than my Team mates was you. Then those Covenant Brutes showed up and things got a little hectic. This gentle man's name is Hisashi Mori. He's a civilian Engineering contractor who's been working for the DOD and the Air Force in order to adopt Covenant technology for human specific needs. That and to introduce advanced human technology for fighting against The Covenant," said Anakowski. "As to what's been done to you...I'd have to say that you, myself and Hisashi Mori here have been kidnapped and operated on, possibly for the express purpose of being re-introduced back into our human sphere of influence in order to be used as spies under their control. When I awoke earlier, I noticed dead bodies of these different aliens on the floor. They had been adversely attacked at least in part by some kind of counter electronics, maybe a man portable EMP generator within the facility, though at present I'm not exactly sure since EMP doesn't adversely affect normal flesh. It is my opinion that we--by chance--have escaped the total conversion process or so it would seem for the time being as I believe I'm in control of my faculties. Neither Mr. Mori nor myself seem to have anything denoting any insertion of hostile electronics into our craniums."


Hisashi Mori stepped closer and bowed slightly.

"Pardon me. But have you noticed an unusual amount of strength and vigor in your body?" he asked. "Also have you noticed an increase in certain areas that were formerly weak like in the eyesight, hearing, olfactory and such things like that relating to the senses?" he queried.

Tag: Deiskrad.

OOC: Assault Teams! Go ahead and begin the boarding sequence of your PCs onto the Ospreys. By the time your Teams arrive at the facility The hostages will be caught up!

 

IC: Gibbons, location Unknown

He considered that this might be an alien trick, but if it was, it was overly elaborate. If it was to get him to talk, they could simply have tortured him, if it was to make him a sleeper cell, why hadn't they returned him to the Army?

"I have noticed. I can, for instance, even at this distance, count every pore on your cheeks. I see every red snap in your eyes, and hear your breath go in and out. In fact... I need to sit down."

The wash of additional stimuli was overwhelming. He sat on the floor and shut his eyes, squeezing out the world, controlling his breathing. He continued talking after a moment.

"They've done this to you as well? Who are you people? I mean, you're not Army, I can tell that..."

TAG: All

 

Location: Covenant Recovery Platform Facility. Pacific Ocean's Surface above or near Challenger Deep.

IC: As Lieutenant Terry M. Anakowski and Hisashi Mori.

The weather was gradually changing outside and the facility's station keeping apparatus was-for the time being-dysfunctional. As a result wave stimulated motion was becoming minutely more and more discernible. Anakowski considered what Sargent Gibbons was going through and tried again.

"No Sargent Gibbons, neither I nor Mr. Mori here are regular Army nor Marines either. I was on my way through bound for Mainland US-lower 48-but I got side tracked when we were hit by the Covenant invasion force at Guam," he said. "As near as I can tell-and this is just surmising on my part-they were experimenting with us somehow. We need to get the hell out of here. In order to do that we need to work cohesively. If we don't accomplish doing that we'll get picked off. I've managed to find your gear and weapons. Unfortunately we're both effectively out of ammo. So our guns-for now-are over glorified paper weights. There were others from my unit that may have been brought here as well. I also recall at least one other that was with your outfit when we initially showed up to help. We need to start searching around so we can find their possible where abouts. Failing that we need to find something of use to us in the way of improvised weapons, tools and needed supplies. Now, are you good to go on that?" he asked.

There was a flash of indirect light revealing something clinging to the wall near an air duct that had been somehow forced open, followed by a split second pause with a crash of thunder. This originating from outside, as a lance of lightning struck the facility from somewhere overhead. Hisashi who was looking in that direction noticed it. His eyes responded to his adrenal response from the surprise sighting and adjusted more to the lighting conditions or the lack there of in the room. It moved by dropping down and snapping open a set of four wings with a two foot span not unlike a dragon fly only much bigger. Hisashi gulped and called out a warning even as the Lieutenant whirled around at the sound of the wings vibrating. It had an elongated body and prehensile tail, with what could only be described as being scavenged musculature from what ever bio-organic source material was available to scavenge. This and alien electronics to power the musculature by electro-stimulation. Where its head would have been located was a set of alien ocular devices for viewing them and navigation purposes. Upon its back was a hair thin antenna like device sitting atop what appeared to be some form of alien technology comprising of God only knew what. This appeared to have motivators for the wings and what seemed like little legs with hooks built into them. It approached them at an alarming speed then zipped past. It then raced about the large room seeking an exit for its airborne escape, all the while its little optic encrusted head swiveling about searching for an escape route.

Tag: Anybody.

OOC: Thanks Dan! That helped allot! Morkai! We're missing you buddy; we really are! Kahn_Iceay! Feel free to go ahead and post your troops getting into their VAC-09 Combat suits in preparation for the mission. I

 

IC: Gibbons

Gibbons dropped udner the buzzing metal-and-flesh arthropod with inhuman grace and agility. It surprised even him for a second. Clearly they'd upgraded things other than just his stamina and senses. The beastie zipped around the room, looking like what it was: A trapped insect. It hovered for just a second at the door and then blasted off diagonally right at Gibbons.

Gibbons let out an oath and tried to draw away, but tripped on some arcane piece of alien machinery, and the thing closed in. Perhaps it was not attacking, but Gibbons reached out and snatched it anyway out of fear and revulsion.

Immediately it's prehensile tail of razors and tendons coiled down his thick forearm, and the thing made strange electronic cries of alarm. The wings beat a higher crescendo and hooks on the ends of its "legs" found purchase on his arm.

Gibbons shrieked so loudly that his jawbones vibrated. It didn't hurt, but the horror of something that should not be was too much for him to bear. He slammed his arm with the coiled cybernetic insect against a bulkhead. The skeeter, though undamaged, saw it's opportunity and flew off. It seemed to be in a panic now, ramming itself up against the walls, and nearly clotheslining Mori on the rebound.

TAG: All

 

IC: As Anakowski and Mori.

Hisashi tuck rolled away from the initial impact with the flying horror as it swiftly zipped from corner and wall to corner and wall, desperately evading the three modified men while seeking with ever increasing alacrity, a way out from the alien infirmary and its occupants. Anakowski-having dressed himself earlier-reached for his combat knife. His right hand slid over the familiar handle as he tracked the winged Frankenstein with his eyes. Suddenly he noticed the wing beat slow down as though he were looking at a high speed camera view of a humming bird in slow motion as it beat its wings. Anakowski pulled the bladed weapon out then reversed it, all the while tracking it with his eyes. He cocked his arm then pause for the next corner and wall impact. With swift dispatch he let the blade fly home to the flying abomination's next point of destination. The weapon bit just under the motivators for the wings changing its course and sending it towards the wall that it was flying parallel with. The thing slammed into the wall with such force that the metal rang with the impact, it was rendered helpless. Hisashi recovering from his roll, clamored up and gingerly walked over to the now writhing prey. Eying it he noticed the minute antenna nestled within the cluster of four wings and pulled it free. Suddenly the cybernetic horror went limp and ceased functioning.

"What did you do, to cause it to stop dead like that?" asked Anakowski as he approached to retrieve his knife. Hisashi held up the hair thin antenna between his thumb and forefinger for Anakowski to see in the flickering light filtering down from the opened air shaft.

"It would appear to be some form of minute antenna for radio control of this cybernetic construct," he answered.

Anakowski removed his knife cleaned it off from bio-fluids and reinserted it into his sheath.

"Yeah but radio control from what or whom. We need to see if there are others that were brought here like us, but first we need to see if there is a way out of this room," he said "Sargent. You good to go?" he queried.

Tag: Deiskrad, Others.

 

In Game:

Spore 123 watched as its minion fly about the infirmary through the minion's optics cluster. It was apparent that Spore 123 would have to increase its production of more minions. Orders were issued and newly assembled and repaired probes scurried forth in an increased effort to acquire more flesh and robotic building materials as soon as possible. These ones were different than the others encountered earlier. Maybe they could be absorbed and used for its own purposes. Spore 123 called for an increase in the pace of work upon its new body carriage. If more came along at this vulnerable time, all could be lost for lack of mobility on its part. Spore would be ready. Spore would be armed and aggressive like the Grave Mind that enlightened it. SPORE WOULD WIN!


* * *

Location: 7th Fleet with accompanying elements from the 3rd Fleet, Pacific Ocean, west of Guam exact location,
secret.

Heading: Secret.

Time: 04:30.

Date: 08/04/09.


McNeal paced back and forth along the flight deck of the Abraham Lincoln. It had started raining 15 minutes prier and lightening was flashing off in the distance as a storm neared. Five Of his best stood at attention as he spoke. Like himself, all were wearing the new VAC Mod-9s. He was pumped and ready for the mission.

"Marines!" he yelled over the rising wind. "I want a final check done on all mission gear by 04:45! We leave in half an hour. The suits are to be powered up to full combat readiness upon our boarding our transportation! Is that clear!? That includes time synchronization! Make sure you're synced in with one another! I don't want somebody slowing up my Goose step up the Covenant's rear because his ticker wasn't up to snuff! Get to it!" he bellowed. They began their final check list of equipment. All was ready.

Tag: Deiskrad, Kahn_Iceay and Morkai.

 

IC: Gibbons

Gibbons watched as the metal and flesh proto-arthropod twitched. Though it was dead, it's body refused to accept it, and continued to thrash, as if to spasm life back into itself.

"Just what the **** was that? That's... I don't think that our enemies made that." Though he was no technician, he could tell that the cyborg reflected a method of thinking and technology that was different from the aliens that had beset earth. He nudged the twitching body with his foot, fastidiously avoiding the leaking fluid. When it didn't respond, he kicked it in disgust so it was far from him. It came to rest at the bulkhead, no longer twitching.

TAG: All

 

IC: As Lieutenant Terry M. Anikowski and Hisashi Mori.

Hisashi Mori now fully dressed, walked calmly over to the now dead cybernetic relic and gingerly picked it up, then walked back towards one of the alien infirmary's surgical tables.

"It would appear the object was under control through this tiny antenna receiving signals of some sort," said Hisashi. "I agree with your earlier statement, Sargent Gibbons. This doesn't appear to be based on any typical covenant technology. Rather it would appear more to be like a-how do you say it-hodgepodge of different parts well picked maybe but none the less like a Frankenstein creation of sorts. The fact that it has muscular tissue embedded into the architecture fascinates me. It in its own way is both beautiful and repugnant, a marvel of cybernetics," he finished.

"I strongly suggest that we start looking for resources ASAP, since one of those things has happened upon us I doubt it'll be long before we come across more of them at the least," spoke up Lieutenant Anakowski.

Hisashi nodded and began disassembling the former mechanical spy for parts that might come in handy later on.

"Sargent, Gibbons lets check these portals or doors I guess. Maybe we can come up with a way to get them opened," said Lieutenant Anakowski.

Tag: Deiskrad and others.

OOC: The little RPF that could.

 

IC: Gibbons

Feeling along the wall, Gibbons found that he could not only feel the wall, he could smell it, and see it down to very minute details. Scratches that might have been microscopic were periodically clear as day. As if his Macula Lutea was exciting its rods and cones at random intervals.

There were also smells. The receptors in his nose were heightened, and he did not know what to make of most of the wash of scents that rolled through him. If... no, not if, WHEN he survived this, he'd have to take the time and learn what each new scent and tang meant.

TAG: All

 

IC: As Lieutenant Terry M. Anakowski and Hisashi Mori.

Anakowski joined Sargent Gibbons in his search for a possible way of opening the doors that had been shut by default due to the earlier event that had lead to their current isolation. As he neared the wall, the Lieutenant lightly tapped it. Colors appeared upon the wall in overlay, as he continued to tap its surface. One small section that was level with his chest showed a crimson, this in contrast with the rest of the wall. Anakowski tapped it feeling,hearing and even seeing its hollowness. There was a sweetness in his mouth as his nose sniffed the smell of sunflowers inexplicably reminding him of outdoors.

"Hey do you see what I'm seeing?" he asked. "I'm picking up all sorts of stimuli from tapping the wall. I don't know if its from damage or perhaps augmentation, but I see colors in relation to the sound from tapping the wall and it seems from what I'm seeing, the wall is exceptionally hollow right here," he said. "If we could just get it open here somehow..."

No sooner has the though manifest itself than Anakowski's hands began to change their physical configuration. Soon he was looking at fingers with claws long enough and sharp enough to Pearce most any material within reach. Terry turned towards Gibbons.

"Take a look at this!" he exclaimed.

Tag: Deiskrad, Kahn_Iceay, Morkai and others.

 

IC: Gibbons

Gibbons leaped back immediately, without conscious command. All his mind had seen was knife...coming, and had reacted. He'd pulled himself back into a ready position. It was only then that he realized that he was too jumpy and anakowski meant no harm. Still it was unsettling to see that he'd suddenly sprouted claws not altogther dissimilar to Freddy Krueger.

"What is this? A comic book?" Gibbons asked rhetorically. Then he reminded himself that in the last couple of months, Comic Books and Science Fiction were no longer flights of fantasy at all.

Gibbons relaxed, partially curling his fingers as he lowered his arms from a hand-to-hand combat position. As he did so, he heard the soft hiss of metal on metal. He looked down and his right hand had turned into a mess of blades as well. His left had morphed into a dinner-plate sized shield, like a buckler.

"Hmm. Guess I can't pick my nose or scratch my *** any more."

Even as he said that, the combination slid back into his flesh. He shuddered involuntarily at the sight. This was going to take some getting used to.

"I think we better find a way out of here, and do what we can to categorize what we can do, so we don't accidentally hurt ourselves or each other out there."

he placed an ear to the wall and listened.

TAG: all