CHAPTER 4 - HARD TARGETS

[JuanPerez]

June 7, 2189
Location: Outer Veil, Neroid Sector, Near Former Penal Labor Colony
Mission Time: 07:03:18
End-Of-Turn: 02.02.2019

Scout Squad's Combat Technician Pushkin could confirm an active USCM distress beacon signal, coming from within the former Penal Labor Colony and some kind of jamming signal, coming from the smaller starship. Thereupon the USS Heimlich dropped down to the surface, landing in safe distance to the colony to avoid detection. The marines boarded the advanced stealth APC. Bishop, the synthetic, drove the APC out of the lowered hangar ramp with supernatural precision. Lieutenant Harper took her seating in the APCs tactictal operation centre. As soon as the APC was on the surface, she remotely ordered the USS Heimlichs artifical intelligence ship's computer to close the ramp and dust-off. The APCs advanced sound surpressing and adaptive camouflage systems were activated. The APCs surface changed from the usual steel gray color to match the snowy surface and surroundings. Bishop accelerated the carrier closing in to scout squads position. The sound surpressing system did its job well and the ride was nearly smooth.

"ETA two minutes, Sergeant Major Sykes, gear up and get the squad ready for dispersal" ... she ordered to the NCO

<Game Master Note: the approach takes place parallel to scout squad's turn 4 first actions and, depending on the outcome, we may come in hot or cold >

[Corporal Hicks]

"Alright marines, you heard the lady, two minutes!" barked Sykes . "Get hot, get set, check your safeties, and get ready to kick some ass!" he barked with real enthusiasm. "I think somebody should take this SADAR anti-vehicle rocket launcher, just in case we need it. Sarafian or Morse, one of you would probably be the most experienced with it. Depending on what Screaming Eagle does, we will either be stealthy or going in hot. I want us to be over-prepared for the latter. We are gonna show those jumped up little fucks who they fucked with! Oorah!" Danny wanted to keep everyone feeling motivated, and not give them time to think about what they were getting into.
<Tag everyone>

[StConstantine]

"I think somebody should take this SADAR anti-vehicle rocket launcher, just in case we need it. Sarafian or Morse, one of you would probably be the most experienced with it."

"On it" Karl said, grabbing the launcher and strapping it to his pack. "They won't know what hit them, oorah"

He checked his rifle for the upteenth time, the display showed a full clip and a flashbang was ready in the tube.

"Time to earn that honey lads!"

[BarbarianMathematics]

The voice of Corporal Pushkin comes over the radio:

"Echo squad to actual, we've come across at least 6 mercenaries along with a xenomorph and what looks to have been a civilian, likely KIA. Eagle is trying to capture a hostile in the area. Do you copy?"

[JuanPerez]

Harper answered Pushkins call immediately ...

"Echo squad, actual speaking, proceed with your plan. ETA one minute to your position. Actual out"

... turning her head to the troopers ...

"Bishop, get the APC over there between the two snowy hills. Dawgs, get out, move up to position of scout squad and lay low, awaiting further orders. Maybe the intel of the captured merc will come in handy."

Bishop drove the APC to the position and stopped. The hatch opened and a cold and snowy air greeted the troops.
<Tag Dawgs>

[Corporal Hicks]

As the APC pulled to a halt, Danny Sykes glanced at Lieutenant Harper. "Yes, ma'am. Just don't get too comfortable back here, if we get into trouble we might need your help." He winked at her and shot her an irresistable grin. Without hesitation, he turned back to his duty. As the door opened, he followed the others out into the snow, pulling his white mask over his face. Cold weather gear or not, he felt the air bite his lungs and any exposed skin.

Sykes signalled to the other five marines to fan out in twos and advance toward the hostile landing site.
<Tag everyone>

He buddied up with Sarafian, as he had brought additional rounds for the massive SADAR rocket apparatus. He reached out, offering to carry the heavy weapon up the slope, seeing that Sarafian was already weighted down with explosives.
<Tag Sarafian>

[Morse]

"Stompin' time." Morse muttered as they approached the point to evacuate. The scope of their mission was calling for a wide array of weaponry, and it became a toss up of who would carry the SADAR. Ironically that was a piece of firepower Morse wanted nothing to do with. Though he had experience with rocket launchers, it was not with the significantly more advanced SADAR, he had previously been utilizing the older anti infantry rocket system which the USCM still fielded. In his present role as a medic however that was not the most helpful.

The fact was he did not want to hold it because the SADAR was very heavy. He'd probably wind up dropping it halfway through the mission.

The door slid open, the order was given, the cold weather thrashed at the lungs, and Morse was outside. He charged forward, weapon at the ready, prepared to kill whatever lay before them.

Though they were simply linking up with the scout team, he did have ideas on how to interrogate the mercenary prisoner. Mercenaries were hardly people, and half the time fought for the bastard colonial insurgencies they were always called to put down.

Sophistication wasnt necessary. Brute force would ever win out, even in the modern days.

He followed the lead and kept eyes open.

"This cold is bullshit. Why the fuck we colonizing shitshows like this?" Morse asked rhetorically.

>tag anyone
>roll awareness

[StConstantine]

He buddied up with Sarafian, as he had brought additional rounds for the massive SADAR rocket apparatus. He reached out, offering to carry the heavy weapon up the slope, seeing that Sarafian was already weighted down with explosives.

Karl handed over the SADAR, nodding his thanks. He took the opportunity to scan the the horizon over the Sergeant Major's shoulder, looking for anything that might suggest an ambush. "Thanks sarge, this thing weighs a ton".

>roll awareness

<Tag Sykes>

"This cold is bullshit. Why the fuck we colonizing shitshows like this?" Morse asked rhetorically.

"My buddy in Colony Sec. once told me that its cheaper to heat Habs than it is to cool them." Karl commented with a cold grin, "It's always about the Company bottom line."

Now down the slope, Karl re-shouldered the the rocket system with a grunt and regained position. "You think they can't make a rocket system that doesn't weigh a fucking ton? Of course they fucking can, it's the bottom line breaking my back right now"

[Oliver Grisham]

"tis a bit fresh out here." said the Oliver. The cold air made his lungs feel like they'd shrunk a few sizes. His movements were deliberate and mechanical, his crumpled tissue of a face grave, as he methodically observed their surroundings appraising the situation.

<<rolls awareness>>

[JuanPerez]

As the APC pulled to a halt, Danny Sykes glanced at Lieutenant Harper. "Yes, ma'am. Just don't get too comfortable back here, if we get into trouble we might need your help." He winked at her and shot her an irresistable grin

... Lieutenant Harper was busy checking all the feeds and bio-readouts from the troopers helmet cams and personal data transmitters. As Sykes threw his sentence at her, she stopped for a moment, looked at him, rolled her eyes and nearly managed to surpress a smile, thereafter being her professional self again, turning her attention back to the monitors in front of her ...

"Everybody is online, camera feeds are good ... Dawgs, move up to Scout Squad and bring our missing boys back. Harper out."

<Tag Dawgs>

[Corporal Hicks]

Danny caught the Lieutenant's smile and he felt good, grinning again to himself. He still had the charm and the looks.

As they ascended the slope, Sykes ignored the bitching of his marines. It was a good way to relieve stress in this type of situation. His feet compressed into the snow as the heavy weapon weighted him down. He saw his breath as he exhaled, and it served as a reminder. "Respirators in. That means everybody." He put his own respirator in his mouth.

(Roll Awareness)