Turn 4: The Atmosphere Processing Plant

[Hayden Knutson]

Lieutenant Knutson and Priest set up a makeshift command center in the Med-Bay. Knutson sat and watched the two screens through which he could access much of the information he could access in the APC. He also ordered Wang to set up a third Sentry-Gun in the corner of the Med-Bay, which would cover the entire room, more or less. While at first it made some of the marines uncomfortable to have a turret pointing at them, they all knew that the gun was unable to commit friendly-fire.

After several hours of setting up this barricaded Headquarters, Lieutenant Knutson had come up with a plan for the next stage of the mission.

“Sergeant Jonsson, I am sending you with seven marines to investigate the Atmosphere-Processing Plant, if there’s anything left of it. I will stay here with Priest, Corporal Sykes, Privates Grayham and Honeysett. Grayham is hurt anyway, and I will need at least two active marines in case they attempt a siege. Priest can help me here, and he has enough medical training to take care of Sykes. Eight of you should be more than enough to handle yourselves. I’m sending Wang so that we can stay in close communication.”

The marines had their orders, and those sent out into harm’s way said short farewells to those required to stay behind. Sergeant Jonsson ordered Private Sarah Wang to drive the APC and Corporal Dirk Pitt to man the powerful plasma turret. As they approached the AP Plant, she looked into the view-screens to discover what they were going into.
<Tag Jonsson, Pitt, Caleija, McKenna, Hall, Ragnarson, Perez, Wang>

[Uhtred]

Uhtred entered the operations room and was surprised at the level of destruction he saw. Large uneven holes were melted into the ground. Walls were painted black from grenade explosions.

"How could anything be this corrosive?" Uhtred thought as he stared down into a dark hole. Uhtred peered up and noticed the shredded remains of a foreign body.

"Some kind of insect perhaps? At least they killed the fucker." Uhtred muttered under his breath. He was not squeamish but thinking of what could have happened to his comerades still affected him viscerally.

Uhtred grimaced as he decided to search the room before heading back to his squad.

Roll Search

Uhtred headed back to the APC after investigating the wreckage and hopped inside. He sat there thinking about why the Lieutenant had made such a stupid decision to split them up in the first place. Clearly these creatures were dangerous and they needed to keep the platoon as strong as possible. "If the platoon were to stay together there may even be a chance we could capture one of these things" he said in a loud voice as the APC started to head toward the Atmoshphere Processing Plant.

[Uhtred]

As the apc rumbled toward the atmosphere processing plant, Uhtred pulled out the old steel hammer necklace that had been passed down to him from his father Uhtred, who had received the necklace from his father Uhtred. The necklace could be traced back even as far as Uhtred the bold, who inherited the necklace from his father Uhtred along with Bebbanburg - the impregnable fortress beside the sea.
He toyed with it as it hung around his neck and he wondered if Odin was the reason his ancestors had lived such successful lives. Maybe fate had decided he would lead the fight against the alien scourge and he too would be remembered as Uhtred the bold. In many ways the aliens reminded him of the Danes. His destiny was becoming all too clear.
He slid the hammer back underneath his fatigues as he whispered to himself 'Wyrd bid ful areæd.'
And perhaps after this was over. Perhaps he would return to the fortress beside the sea. Perhaps he would reclaim the land that had been his so long ago.
Fate is inexorable.

[JuanPerez]

<Location: Hadley's Hope, inside APC>

Perez geared up, readied the smartgun, slung the bag with extra ammo and moved with the others carefully through the colonie's dark corridors towards the APC. This was quite a test of nerves. All those shadows everywhere seem to move. But nothing happend so far and they could board the APC safely. Perez stowed the smartgun inside the APC and sat down. A guy of first squad, Ragnarson, commented about capturing one of those things. He shook his head slightly. Those things had nearly taken out three marines and all they could think about was caching one of those fuckers. But he said nothing to it. He closed his eyes and concentrated on his personal mental preparation routine.

[Dirk Pitt]

Dirk flicked away what was left of his cigarette, watching the burning embers fly in all directions as it hit the ground. Turning to the APC he pulled himself into the large matching and into the seat that controls the large cannon on top. Flipping a few switches he ran the weapon through the startup sequence. Lights started to come alive as the machine charged up and got ready to fire.

"Cannon is green across the board and ready to engage" he said into the comms"
<Tag LT>

[- JR -]

"Cannon is green across the board and ready to engage" he said into the comms"

Sara flicked a switch on the control panel. "Roger that!"

Sergeant Jonsson ordered Private Sarah Wang to drive the APC and Corporal Dirk Pitt to man the powerful plasma turret. As they approached the AP Plant, she looked into the view-screens to discover what they were going into.

She drove the APC cautiously around piles of rock and rubble, her eyes bulging even more than usual as they moved from screen to screen. She was being very cautious, trying to give her passengers as smooth of a ride as she could manage. She scanned the area nervously, keeping a particular eye out for more lifeforms. The vehicle's movement was interfering with her motion tracker.

"Geiger counter's been quiet so far!" she reported to the sergeant. "Means nothin' too nuclear went down. But I'll keep it runnin' in case there's little pockets of the crap around."

[Pale Rider]

The Geiger counter began to beep as the group drew near the Atmosphere Processing Plant. The monitors showed the group the extreme devastation that had taken place. Wang had to suddenly slam on the brakes as the roadway suddenly vanished before them. A large crater was all that remained of the Southern face of the planet. Most of the walls looked like someone had taken a knife and simply sliced away a portion of the permacrete and metal. The remainder of the building extended back into the horizon the sun beginning to reach its zenith cast long shadows throughout the complex. The possibility for survivors was nil however, supplies could possibly be found.

<Action>

[- JR -]

"Whoah, whoah, whoah, whoah, whoahhh...!" Sara brought the APC skidding to a halt. She sat quietly, surveying the devastation in awe. She let the Geiger counter speak for itself, allowing a moment of silence for the presumably massive loss of human life the crater represented.

[Uhtred]

Uhtred acknowledged Sara's compassion for the fallen. He pulled out his silver hammer and clutched it. He unintentionally thought out loud "by Thor's hammer I will catch one of these things before I die. We need to study them so we can finish them off."

After the moment of silence Uhtred began inspecting his gear to make sure it was battle ready. He wouldn't be caught off guard again.

[Corporal Hicks]

Sergeant Tora Jonsson had been watching over Private Wang's shoulder, and almost fell over when the APC stopped. She looked down at the geiger counter on Wang's belt. "Well, it's not a dangerous amount. If it was, that thing would be squealing. If it does, you just let me know and we'll get out of here."
<Tag Wang>

She left the tiny driver's cubicle and barked orders to the main group. "Alright, marines, Let's get locked and loaded! We're gonna go check out that facility. I want us close together but not bunched up. Be ready to hit hard if any more of those things show up. They won't get the jump on us this time! Thirty seconds, let's go people! Smartgunners, take point! I want Ragnarson and Hall watching our six! The rest stick with me in the middle and cover the sides. Move!"
<Tag everybody>

[JuanPerez]

<Location: Hadley's Hope - Processort Plant Destruction Site>

Perez finished the mind game just in time. The APC came to a sudden stop, but his seat restraints prevented any harm. Wang's geiger counter came to life, but Seargant Jonsson stated ...

"Well, it's not a dangerous amount. If it was, that thing would be squealing. If it does, you just let me know and we'll get out of here."

... great, just fuckin great, at least he would not need any light the next few days while peeing, because that stuff would glow for itself. Perez opened the seat restraints and began to ready himself. He took an anti-radiation pill from the dispenser, a last sip of energy drink, slung the bag of extra drum magazines, put on protective eye-googles and readied the smart gun. Just in time, because the sarge gave out the orders:

"Alright, marines, Let's get locked and loaded! We're gonna go check out that facility. I want us close together but not bunched up. Be ready to hit hard if any more of those things show up. They won't get the jump on us this time! Thirty seconds, let's go people! Smartgunners, take point! I want Ragnarson and Hall watching our six! The rest stick with me in the middle and cover the sides. Move!"

"Yes, Sir"

After activating the smartgun system and running a system check succesfully, he positioned himself in front of the closed door. As the APC sliding door was pulled open, he let the tracking system search for a potential target, and as nothing was detected, he jumped out and ran a few yards forward towards a piece of debris, providing natural cover. His barrell pointed towards the ruins as he took his time to take a look around.

<Roll Awareness - Level Professional>

[- JR -]

Uhtred acknowledged Sara's compassion for the fallen. He pulled out his silver hammer and clutched it. He unintentionally thought out loud "by Thor's hammer I will catch one of these things before I die. We need to study them so we can finish them off."

Sara seemed to be getting used to Uhtred's outbursts. "Sorry, big fella. I think the crowds' spoken on this one. Maybe next time."

Sergeant Tora Jonsson had been watching over Private Wang's shoulder, and almost fell over when the APC stopped. She looked down at the geiger counter on Wang's belt. "Well, it's not a dangerous amount. If it was, that thing would be squealing. If it does, you just let me know and we'll get out of here."

"Sure thing!" She glanced around the interior of the vehicle. "Um. Should someone stay with the APC in case we need to burn rubber outta here, or should we just lock 'er up tight?"

[Uhtred]

Uhtred acknowledged Sara's compassion for the fallen. He pulled out his silver hammer and clutched it. He unintentionally thought out loud "by Thor's hammer I will catch one of these things before I die. We need to study them so we can finish them off."

Sara seemed to be getting used to Uhtred's outbursts. "Sorry, big fella. I think the crowds' spoken on this one. Maybe next time."

Uhtred thought about what Sara said intently. She had been openly scolded for speaking up about capturing one earlier. Maybe it really wasn't a good idea to capture one. But there is also a chance Wang was just biding her time so as to not disturb her fellow comrades with the radical suggestion of capturing an alien. Uhtred decided on the latter.

"Oh don't worry Sara I understand," Uhtred said with a noticeable wink.

All in good time Uhtred. Wang is on your side.

[maxvale76]

Samantha Hall had enjoyed the time spent with Nicole and talking about the differences between water-skiing and 'real' skiing. Now, she was in the APC, driving into a nuked area to see if they could find more of the hellish alien monsters that had hurt her friend and a couple of other platoon mates....

She had taken the case of riot-control grenades that Priest had brought back and distributed them to any who wanted some*; keeping a pair for herself. She loaded 3 standard grenades in her Pulse Rifle's grenade launcher, but left the breach open in case she had to slip a riot control 'nade in quick....

Popping out of the APC with the others at the Sarge's orders; she over heard Perez call out "Yes sir!"; and teasingly said to him; "Hey Corp; you DO know the Sarge is a Lady AND she works for a living right?"; razzing him about NCO's HATING to be called 'Sir' or "Ma'am" as that was reserved for Officers. Then she fell back with Ragnarson to take up rear guard....

Glancing over at the strange, Nordic Marine; she started to say something; then decided to just keep her mouth shut as she had NO IDEA what to say to somebody who apparently called out to 'Thor' and liked to wear medieval armor and carry a SWORD around. Instead, she just kept a sharp eye and ear out and her M41 at the ready....

<Tag Perez>

*Anybody who wants a Riot Control Grenade, Samantha would have given them one or two

[Cassiopaja Caleija]

And out, out and away they went again.

The Med-Bay and had been another mess, but at least it still had walls, and a ceiling. With holes in it, you had to confess.
Not an encouraging though but at least they would be able to defend themselves, so Caleija hoped, despite the corridors they patrolled looking even more threatening.

Then the order to enter the APC was given and again off they went.
Caleija also though about these animals, these aliens.
What were thy? Bugs? Insects? Animals? Beasts?
To be honest, they didn't fit into anything Caleija ever has seen or heard about.
Secretly she agreed that it would be helpful if they could capture one of these beasts but at the same time she knew that they would be lucky if they just would be able just to kill one of them - and to don't get killed first.

Had Caleija though the crash site of the drop-ship as some kind of purgatory, here real hell must have taken place. The Geiger counter buzzed continuously and nothing, absolutely nothing, would had have a chance to escape from the blow.
Absolutely nothing?
Caleija suddenly wasn't so sure at all ...

The rumpling of the APC stopped. Caleija, along with the other marines, got up and grabbed her weapon, the good old smartgun.
As the door opened and the first comrades run into the debris she too followed, looking for cover and let her weapon look for targets.